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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — Workers at a Summer Avenue clothing store targeted by thieves three times over the last month are relieved police have made an arrest. It’s one of three business theft cases Memphis police have cracked in recent weeks.
Gerald Johnson, 34, is charged with burglary of a building and theft of property in a break-in on May 18 at New Trends.
The store manager didn’t want to be identified but said the thieves got away with boxes of shoes.
Police said several suspects fled the store in a red sports car and a white F-150 pickup truck but left behind a GMC Terrain that wouldn’t start. Officers said they found Johnson’s ID, social security card, and bank card inside the vehicle.
Johnson was arrested Tuesday but has already been released on a $30,000 bond.
This week, police also made an arrest in a smash and grab at the Wolfchase mall in late April.
Investigators said Quintaurus Harris, 33, was part of a group caught on camera smashing several display cases at the JC Penney store and stealing $30,000 worth of jewelry.
Police said a tipster identified Harris as one of the suspects after they released the video.
Investigators said Harris owned a GMC Envoy that matched the description of one involved in the burglary, and his girlfriend said Harris was one of the people in the video with a hammer.
She also told detectives that Harris had given her a diamond ring she knew he couldn’t afford, and they later pawned it for $500.
Police have also made at least one arrest in the December smash and grab at Bad Timing on Highland.
Four people broke into the store in the middle of the night and took at least $100,000 worth of streetwear.
The owner of the store told police after the burglary, he received a link to a Facebook post that showed a man in some of the stolen clothing.
Police said that post led them to Darnell Grayer, 28, and they found t-shirts and shoes belonging to Bad Timing at his house on Porter.
Darnell Grayer and his twin brother Daniel are already facing charges in two burglaries at the City Gear in Frayser.
Police said the brothers were driving a lime green Infiniti that was used as a getaway car in the second break-in, and they were wearing the same clothing as the burglars in City Gear’s surveillance footage.
Employees at New Trends said, unfortunately, they’re dealing with the crime plaguing the rest of the city and much of the country.
The store now keeps its doors locked during the day and has a security guard on the floor.


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Submitted: The Two Sides Team May 10, 2019
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) wants you to celebrate Earth Day every day by embracing the use of paper and wood products. Jeff Bradley, Manager of Forestry & Wood Products Policy, shares some of the benefits of working forests and sustainable forest management. This includes providing clean air, clean water, habitats for wildlife, and biodiversity. He writes: “Demand for paper and wood products supports these forests. Tree farmers are able to make an income by harvesting trees, encouraging them to keep their forests as forests by replanting trees.” He further states that demand for paper products helps protect forests from being “… turned into other land uses like parking lots or cornfields.” Read the full article here.
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Thursday, January 17, 2008
'Organic' Label Disappears from Packaging - Sacramento, CA, April 5 2022
A federal bill was passed that no longer allows producers to put the label 'Organic' on packaging. 75 percent of all food products are now considered to be organically grown following strict USDA guidelines. Non-organic products will be required to carry the label 'Poisonous Substances Included' with a description of the methods involved that make it break the 'Organic' USDA standards. People are required to sign a liability waiver over their Wi-net connection on the magnetic product tag on the package, stating they have read the implications of using the product. Non-organic (or should we say 'Poisonous' products from now on?) are still bought in abundance by the lowest income bracket of the population.


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Ooredoo has announced the launch of three new OSN packages on its Mozaic TV service.
Ooredoo’s newly launched packages - OSN Premier Plus HD, OSN Entertainment Extra and OSN Family - have been designed to fulfil the entertainment needs of every family member in the home and include a comprehensive range of channels, according to a statement.
The OSN Premier Plus HD package includes movie channels such as OSN Movies HD, OSN Movies Action and OSN Movies Comedy, plus a strong Arabic language channel line-up, including OSN Yahala HD, OSN Yahala, Shabab and OSN Yahala Drama, and a wide range of sports, factual and entertainment channels.
The new channels will bring a variety of international programming and up-to-date Arabic content to Qatar, offering viewers more choice on Ooredoo’s network, the statement adds.
OSN Premier Plus HD leads the trio with over 80 channels, half of them available in HD quality for QR310 a month.
For children, the bundle also includes family favourites such as Nickelodeon, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Jim Jam and Nick JR.
Next Generation Mozaic TV packages start from QR250 per month and offer a large range of content in HD picture quality in Qatar, with on-demand features, including Pause and Record Live TV and a Catch-up TV facility, so viewers can see programmes they have
The expansion of Mozaic TV’s OSN packages comes as the latest in a series of moves to enhance the user experience and broaden viewers’ choices, the statement points out. Last year, Mozaic TV signed a content deal with GMA to offer Filipinos in Qatar access to the latest Pinoy news, public affairs and entertainment programmes, as well as a multi-year deal with The Walt Disney Company.
Customers who do not already have Mozaic TV can enjoy free installation and free Mozaic TV equipment when they subscribe. Customers with Mozaic TV need to press the blue button on their remote control to subscribe to one of the new OSN packages.
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Guterres welcomes Qatar mediation role
Qatar to chair Arab League meet on Israeli crimes in Al Quds


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Just as designers are criticised for their size zero sample sizes, shouldn’t retailers come under fire for going too far in the other direction? ‘Tall’ retailer High and Mighty have just introduced the country’s largest off-the rack suit (wait for it…) a size XXXXL. Yes, count them… That’s triple X plus one!
With a 64inch chest and 60 inch waist it’s big enough to fit two average size men.
The retailer says they’re just catering for customers needs.
‘We are leading increasingly sedentary lives; it is hard for parents to keep their children away from the television or the computer, and the consequences of that are visible,’ said High & Mighty director’s John Murphy.
However health authorities say the retailer’s promoting obesity.
‘This is horrifying and just goes to show that we have a huge problem,’ said Tam Fry, a spokesman for the National Obesity Forum, ‘Clearly so many are reaching this weight that clothes to fit them are available on the high street alongside normal sizes. The public health implications are huge, and it is going to take a generation or more to tackle this crisis.’
You could argue that the average UK man has waist 38inches or bigger and that – obese or not – they have to buy their clothes somewhere. Is it hypocritical to then strip size zeros from shop shelves? We want to hear your views…
- Amy Molloy


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The Salvation Army Thrift Store gets a facelift
The Salvation Army Thrift Store is currently getting a bit of a facelift.
Last week a new manager was hired; Jennifer Sanford comes from the Goodwill store in Fairfield where she was the assistant manager.
She hopes to bring a fresh, young perspective to the Ottumwa thrift store and sheâ??s starting with changing a few things.
â??They would price everything separately which takes a really long time. We're going to go to a more structured --where all shirts are one price and all things of whatever kind are you know uniform, more uniform,â?? said Sanford.
Volunteers have been hard at work painting walls and sorting through donations. Sanford hopes the store will be ready to open its doors in the next couple of weeks. There will be a grand opening celebration when the day arrives.
Donations are still being accepted even though the store is currently closed. The profit the store makes goes directly to help fund Meals on Wheels for seniors.


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E-COMMERCE is starting to find a place in some of the world’s emerging economies. Governments and businesses in a growing number of developing nations have begun building the infrastructure needed for online commerce, according to a report released Thursday by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, or Unctad.
“Governments are more and more aware that this can be a tremendous boon to their economy,” said Angel Gonzalez-Sanz, an Unctad economist who spoke by phone from Geneva. “They’re starting to recognize that policy choices matter; the attitude of the government, the business community. When you tackle issues like infrastructure and lack of awareness, results come.”(full story)
My spin: It’s easy to focus on the tech expansion of the US and developed countires but online techonlogy is more and more reaching developing nations. Often via the assistance of national governments.
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Wednesday. Sunny and spring like. Today’s word is fathom.
We may have botched the response to Covid-19, but the good news is that, at least in England, we seem to have eliminated the flu!
In-person sports could be coming back, according to a tease from the governor. Will it be Bruins… or Celtics? Or will we have to wait for a summer game at Fenway. Foxboro in the fall? I’d settle for getting back to normal even by then.
Attorney General Maura Healey is flexing. Matt Stout suggests it might have something to do with a potential gubernatorial shot in 2022.
A new restaurant, Noami, is slated to open in the Derby Street shops in Hingham by the summer. Marc Hurwitz reports that it will be operated by the same team that runs restaurants in Chinatown, Cambridge and at Logan Airport. Good restaurants moving out into the suburbs seems to be a trend. Spread the wealth, I say, especially on the south shore.
And a court has ruled against drummer Joey Kramer, who will not be playing with Aerosmith at the Grammys. It’s a sad story.
Wednesday’s child is full of woe. And in 2020, there are 78 days to go.
At 92, Burt Bacharach is still at it.
As the cold weather moves in, outdoor dining can be very expensive for restaurant owners. The Dorchester Brewing Company is making the investment. Now they need their customers to support them. Also, in Kingston, Regina Pizza has closed its location in the Kingston Mall (or Collection, as it’s known these days. A collection of empty storefronts, mostly.) And on Harrison Ave in Boston, Atlántico, a new seafood tapas restaurant, it hoping to make a go of it despite the tough times.
Sherrin Woods, my old childhood haunt, is in the news. A Universal Hub post reports that there’s a petition that suggests the city purchase a parcel along the tracks near Dale Street to incorporate into the woods, rather than have it be developed into condos. I’m on board.
I was really drawn in by Rukmini Callimachi’s reporting on ISIS. Her sources and online investigative methods seemed to be perfectly suited to the story. So it’s disappointing to see that a big story she reported for the Times may have been based on an unreliable source. It’s a ding both to her reputation and to that of the Times.
And African Americans for Trump are on Twitter. Actually, no, they’re not.


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When given the opportunity to question those who lead Facebook's privacy team about proposed changes to the social network's data use policy before voting on the matter, Facebook users were more concerned with how the site currently manages its data.
Questions during today's half hour live Web talk (archived here) included ones about how posts on Timeline are displayed, what information is shared with advertisers, online bullying, what happens if your account is hacked and, of course, what about that viral copyright post. (It's fake.) One user wasn't even sure there was a vote: "… Read more
Trading on Wall Street is closed until tomorrow in light of Hurricane Sandy, though a slew of new analyst notes offer a peek at how investors should view recently announced changes near the top of Apple's management.
The consensus: it's surprising that Apple's iOS chief Scott Forstall and retail chief John Browett are leaving the company, but a very good thing some of the key executives are still there.
CNET has collected some of the highlights from this morning's flurry of notes below.
Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray says the big takeaway is that design chief … Read more
Apple is hitting shuffle on its top management.
The company today announced that it's rejiggering its executive lineup to add extra responsibilities for some, along with the planned exit of iOS software chief Scott Forstall in 2013.
A more immediate departure is John Browett, the head of Apple's retail unit, a move that appears to be sudden given that the company says it's currently seeking a replacement.
Meanwhile, Jony Ive, Bob Mansfield, Eddy Cue and Craig Federighi will stay on with expanded roles.
Apple says Forstall will effectively be replaced by Craig Federighi, who will oversee both … Read more
MorphVOX Pro is a voice changer application with sound effects and background tracks built in. (There is a free application called MorphVOX Junior from the same publisher if you want to evaluate the software.) The MorphVOX Pro software is aimed at those who want to communicate online either with a change in voice characteristics, or with different effects applied. The $39.99 software installs easily.
The MorphVOX Pro has two interfaces. The Studio interface is divided into five panes, one each for selecting preconfigured voices (Goblin, Shade, Cyborg, etc), pitch and timbre controls, sound effects, voice effects and a graphic … Read more
It's the logical next step in iPhone development: a much, much, much longer screen. It's 18 percent thinner and 795 percent taller than the previous iPhone. A parody video has popped up on YouTube to tout the phone's ability to reduce "scrolling fatigue" and offer full-body FaceTime.
The video, called "A Taller Change Than Expected" comes from YouTube comedy troupe Satire, makers of the "We're NASA and We Know It" video. NASA Mohawk Guy, complete with stars in his hair, makes a cameo appearance rocking his extra-long iPhone 5 as a guitar.… Read more
Beginning today, Facebook users will have one week to vote on whether the company should adopt proposed changes to its privacy and user rights policies.
Facebook allows people to vote on revised policies if a revised policy gets more than 7,000 comments, which both its proposed Data Use policy and Statement of Rights and Responsibilities documents have in recent months.
To be binding, more than 30 percent of Facebook's 900 million-strong base of active monthly users (people who have either logged in or taken some action on the site in the last month) will need to cast votes. … Read more
Since launching in February 2004, Facebook has proved highly effective at creating opportunities for the average Web user to create campaigns that reach a mass audience. Most recently such opportunities have extended to organ donation, an area that could benefit from the social network's attention -- controversy over its recent initial public offering aside, Facebook's membership is more than 900 million and growing.
Indeed, with demand for healthy organs for transplantation growing worldwide, Facebook has already become a popular channel for people soliciting kidneys, livers and other potentially lifesaving organs. Earlier this month the social network began offering … Read more
Apple fans were seething.
In January, they heard actor Mike Daisey describe during a radio broadcast the intolerable working conditions he witnessed at Chinese factories where iPads and iPhones are assembled. Many found their way to an online petition started at Change.org by a man named Mark Shields. The petition demanded Apple improve safety at these facilities, and it would eventually include 256,000 names.
At first, the petition appeared to have simply bubbled up from an outraged public.
Not quite. Apple fan or not, the 36-year-old Shields is a professional advocate and activist. The public-relations firm that has … Read more


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JPMorgan Says Tesla Options Understate Risks in SEC Vs. Elon Musk
(Bloomberg) -- Tesla Inc. is facing multiple legal events and rising key-man fears regarding billionaire CEO Elon Musk that aren’t being adequately priced into options, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.
“The option market is embedding no volatility premium for upcoming legal events in the case of SEC v. Elon Musk,” strategists led by Shawn Quigg wrote in a note Monday. “Surprising given these fears previously caused a significant decline in Tesla shares and a surge in volatility to multi-year highs.”
They recommend buying Tesla puts expiring in April to take advantage of the mispricing.
While it’s difficult to determine what the result of the legal developments will be, JPMorgan said “another slap on the wrist (i.e. a larger fine) appears unlikely” given Musk’s “ongoing public belligerence” toward the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, among other things. He could even be removed as chief executive officer, they noted.
JPMorgan auto analyst Ryan Brinkman is one of Wall Street’s most bearish on Tesla -- he’s underweight the stock, with a 2019 price target of $230. The shares have lost 17 percent this year, closing Friday at $275.43, their lowest price since October.
Also Read: Musk Defends Tesla Tweets That SEC Says Violated Court Order
In addition to the legal issues, Tesla shares aren’t rebounding from negative news and are failing to gain on positive headlines, the strategists wrote. They cited the resignations of the chief financial officer and general counsel, softening demand for Tesla models, the Model Y reveal and erratic behavior by Musk as examples.
“The once impenetrable Tesla narrative appears to be eroding,” the strategists said. “Tesla remains a story of vision, steered, for better or for worse, by Elon Musk.”
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


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Because it’s belief in raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of prevention "Go Sport" store donates to QCS with a percentage of sales for women's sports clothing in support of the breast cancer campaign which has been held last October to raise awareness about breast cancer and importance of self-examination.
Commenting on the donations, Mr. Andrew Ferrol general manager of Al Manna fashion group said “Breast Cancer is a very important global issue at hand, and October has forever been a specific time for the community to shift its attention and join hands in support of those in need and to provide all the support to those who mean to fight it. We are delighted to cooperate with Qatar Cancer Society on this matter. We would like to thank those who are taking part and helping us reach our goal in delivering a generous amount of money to the organization
For her part, Ms. Sara Ali, head of marketing department at qatar cancer society said “QCS know the importance of such events in increasing the public awareness towards cancer in general and breast cancer in particular” she also thanks “Go sport” for their great support to QCS which helps the society in Achieving success in breast cancer awareness.
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The Federal Circuit has overturned a 2018 noninfringement verdict for HP and HP Enterprise (HPE) against Network-1 Technologies, Inc., ruling on September 24 that a Texas jury’s finding on that issue depended on an erroneous claim construction and remanding for further proceedings. However, the appeals court also reversed and remanded a ruling by District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III that the defendants were estopped from challenging the validity of the asserted Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) patent due to the defendant’s joinder to another company’s inter partes review (IPR), a decision that had resulted in the reversal of that same jury’s finding that the patent was invalid. Rather, the Federal Circuit ruled that HP and HPE could not “reasonably . . . have raised” their district court invalidity arguments—which were different than the grounds raised in the IPR—under its recent decision in Facebook v. Windy City Innovations, which in part bars the joinder of new issues to an already instituted IPR.
A Texas judge has upheld a noninfringement verdict for HP and HP Enterprise (HPE) in a Network-1 Technologies, Inc. lawsuit but overturned the jury’s finding of invalidity as to the asserted Power-over- Ethernet (PoE) patent (6:13-cv-00072). In a sealed August 29 order addressing a variety of post-trial motions, as well as issues from a May 2018 bench trial, District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III denied Network-1’s motion for a new trial on infringement yet granted judgment as a matter of law of validity, ruling that the patent is not invalid as obvious as found by the jury. Publicly traded Network-1 previously disclosed to investors that the newly revived patent-in-suit had been responsible for the majority of its licensing revenue prior to the invalidation of the claims asserted against HP and HPE.
The Federal Circuit has upheld a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision that a media content identification patent held by publicly traded Network-1 Technologies, Inc. is not invalid over certain prior art (2017-1379). In a two-page order issued on January 23, the court affirmed the PTAB’s October 2016 holding in a covered business method (CBM) review filed by Google (CBM2015-00113) that the patent at issue is not invalid as obvious, ruling that the Board did not err in its construction of a key claim term.
Following reported settlements over the past year with Apple, Dell, Sony, and others, publicly traded Network-1 Technologies, Inc. announced this week that it has reached an agreement with Polycom, ending its litigation against the company over the NPE’s 6,218,930 patent. In a press release issued on October 4, Network-1 reported that under the terms of the settlement, Polycom has agreed to license the patent and pay a license initiation fee of $5M “for past sales of its Power over Ethernet (“PoE”) products” plus ongoing royalties based on its sales of PoE products. To date, Network-1 has sued over 20 companies for alleged infringement of the ‘930 patent, which generally relates to detecting PoE compatibility of networked devices. Active defendants in the campaign currently include Avaya, Canon (Axis Communications), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and Juniper Networks.


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SEATTLE – Amazon’s profit and revenue both grew in the latest quarter but its results fell below what Wall Street was expecting and shares of the world’s biggest online retailer declined after-hours.
Amazon has long focused on spending the money it makes to grow its business and expand into new areas, from movie streaming to e-readers and even grocery delivery.
Investors have largely forgiven thin profit margins and zeroed in on the company’s solid revenue growth and long-term prospects. It’s posted losses in two previous quarters due to rising operating costs but the stock hit an all-time high of $408.06 last week.
However, Thursday’s disappointing results and modest revenue forecast for the current quarter sent shares tumbling up to 10 per cent after the closing bell. In recent aftermarket trading, shares of the Seattle-based company were down $20.91, or 5.2 per cent, to $382.10.
Amazon.com Inc. also said it is considering a $20 to $40 price hike on its popular Prime service, which currently costs $79 a year in the U.S. and offers free two-day shipping on most items. The company said it has not raised the price on Prime in the 9 years since its launch, even though shipping costs have increased and it has added new services, such as video streaming.
Amazon earned $239 million, or 51 cents per share, in the October-December period, which included the key holiday shopping period. That’s up from $97 million, or 21 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.
Revenue grew 20 per cent in the fourth quarter, to $25.59 billion from $21.27 billion.
Analysts were expecting earnings of 74 cents per share on revenue of $26.05 billion, according to FactSet.
For the current quarter, Amazon is forecasting revenue of $18.2 billion and $19.9 billion. The midpoint of that range is below analysts’ $19.67 billion estimate.


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Hotel developer buys West Milwaukee site
A former West Milwaukee industrial property has been sold to a Madison-area group that plans to develop a hotel at that site.
The former Milwaukee Boiler factory site, 1101 S. 41st St., has been sold to Macro Hospitality LLC, based in Verona, for $770,000, according to state real estate records posted Friday. The 2.2-acre site is just north of a Walmart store at 4140 W. Greenfield Ave. and about one-half block south of W. National Ave.
Macro's registered agent is Shariff Syed, who operates liquor stores and other businesses in the Madison area.
Syed said he will soon submit plans to village officials to develop a four-story, 123-room WoodSpring Suites hotel on the property. The site is vacant after the recent demolition of the former Milwaukee Boiler building.
RELATED: Hotel plan at Masonic Center site proceeds
Macro Hospitality in 2015 announced plans to develop a $5.2 million, 124-room WoodSpring Suites hotel in Madison, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Those plans didn't proceed, but Syed said he hopes to develop a WoodSpring Suites at another Madison-area site.
Wichita, Kan.-based WoodSpring Suites is a value-priced extended-stay hotel chain.
A four-story, 124-room WoodSpring Suites was proposed last year for 1701 W. Layton Ave., just west of I-94. But the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Appeals voted in September to deny WoodSpring's request for a variance to allow the project to proceed as designed.
Milwaukee Ald. Terry Witkowski, whose district includes the site, and nearby homeowners opposed the hotel. Witkowski said WoodSpring has a "low rate" reputation, and he and residents were concerned about the type of customers who would stay at the hotel.
Similar concerns were raised by Greenfield city officials in 2015 when a WoodSpring Suites was proposed for 4040 W. Layton Ave.The hotel chain dropped those plans after facing Plan Commission opposition.
A WoodSpring Suites executive defended the hotel chain, telling Plan Commission members that the hotels have secure main entrances, security cameras and proper exterior lighting.
The former Milwaukee Boiler site in 2015 was considered for a commercial development by Mike Masterson, president of nearby Masterson Co. But that project didn't proceed.


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A half and half pizza picked up from Sisters Pizza in Hillcrest
Last week began a terrifying ride for the restaurant industry as public policy coping with the Covid-19 pandemic moved quickly from sanitation and social distancing advisories, to a full prohibition of dining in restaurants. The industry landscape shifted so quickly, restaurateurs have had to adapt on the fly. Some restaurants have closed indefinitely while the community health crisis unfolds. Some may never re-open. Some have already re-opened with limited hours and carry-out menus.
I was picking pizza when word came down Governor Gavin Newsom had directed all California restaurants to operate at no more than half capacity — that policy lasted two days. I passed my credit card across the counter, signed my name on the touchscreen. The cashier and I shared a moment of anxiety, from our prescribed six-foot distance. The threat had gotten real. What would come next for restaurants in these unprecedented modern times, when every communal surface, every sniffle leads to anxiety?
A week later, Californians have been asked to stay at home and isolated from one another, except for certain exercise and essential business. As of press time, restaurants are still considered essential businesses, along with grocery stores, and for the moment it looks as though restaurants may remain open in the event San Diegans are ordered to shelter in place. Which is important news: grocery stores are having a tough time keeping items in stock, and grocery delivery services were operating on a three-day delay. Restaurant take-out and delivery will serve immediate needs..
Call your favorite local restaurants or check their social media to see whether they’re open, and what their take-out policies are. And remember, restaurant workers are assuming a lot of risk to keep their public fed, often with reduced hours and income. Whether your order take out or delivery, tip better than usual. Take precautions while unpacking your take-out, and more than ever before: wash your hands before eating!
Here are your options, as they stood at press time:
Some restaurants have switched to delivery only, but most serve in-person take-out. The big news here is that the California ABC has relaxed regulations to allow restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages to-go. Booze sales are restricted to bottles and cans, while beer and other fermented beverages may be sold in growlers. The same take out rule is in effect for local breweries and distilleries.
The best practice for take-out to complete and pay your order online if possible, as it eliminates the need to pass cash or card between hands during pick-up. Even if your favorite restaurants have never offered online ordering in the past, check again. Many have scrambled to add the function for this very purpose. The alternative is to give your credit card payment during a phone order.
Many restaurants will take to-go orders out to your car to limit exposure as much as possible, and those who are will be advertising curbside pick-up.
Meaning they’ll send a server out to your car with your to-go bag: just call them when you park.
As with online ordering, that restaurant that never offered delivery may do so now, as a means of repurposing workers. But right now, the infrastructure of third-party delivery services could be the thing that keeps a lot of local restaurants afloat. Grubhub, Seamless, Doordash, Postmates, and Uber Eats are all offering no-c ontact deliveries. Because full payment goes through online, the driver can effectively leave the bag on your doorstep.
The delivery apps Grubhub and Seamless (really the same company) were the first to announce they’re suspending the commissions they collect from restaurants for this service, which could prove relief to restaurants needing cash flow to pay their employees. DoorDash has followed suit. Uber Eats has waived delivery fees for the consumer.


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A study published March 18th from Princeton University concludes that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), the overwhelming sweetener of choice in the U.S. snack food and soda pop industries, causes much more weight gain than table sugar.
A Princeton University research team has demonstrated that all sweeteners are not equal when it comes to weight gain: Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same.
In addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats called triglycerides. The researchers say the work sheds light on the factors contributing to obesity trends in the United States.
“Some people have claimed that high-fructose corn syrup is no different than other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, but our results make it clear that this just isn’t true, at least under the conditions of our tests,” said psychology professor Bart Hoebel, who specializes in the neuroscience of appetite, weight and sugar addiction. “When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they’re becoming obese — every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don’t see this; they don’t all gain extra weight.”
From my own professional soda pop drinking experience, I find that my thirst is quenched much faster with sugar sweetened drinks. I can swill down several HFCS-based 12-ounce soft drink cans, but usually one can of sugar-based pop is my limit. Moreover, I prefer the taste of sugar over HFCS.


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Thursday, September 3, 2020
Printed Matter's lobby shop is open again on St. Mark's Place and 2nd Avenue
Printed Matter recently reopened in the lobby space at the Swiss Institute on Second Avenue at St. Mark's Place.
For now, three customers are allowed at a time inside the shop specializing in art books, zines, prints and posters.
The hours are currently 2-8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday...
Printer Matter, founded in 1976, opened the EV outpost in June 2018. The Swiss Institute will reopen to the public with a new exhibit on Sept. 9.


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“Initially building off the momentum of the brand's strong performance and nationwide exposure on ABC's highly-rated 'Shark Tank' program, we believe that partnering with key licensees in cornerstone categories will further the positive relationships consumers across the country have with HillBilly," says Shon Lees, co-founder of HillBilly Brand.
“HillBilly is a fantastic addition to our portfolio of clients brands," says Bob Horton, president and chief executive officer of TRI. "With its strong appeal in a surprisingly large geographic area and across a diverse array of demographic strata, HillBilly is a great way for consumers to have fun while showing the world that there's a little HillBilly in everyone."
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- Fashion group Armani said it would use all its factories in Italy to make medical overalls for healthcare workers.
- Shortages in personal protective clothing for healthcare workers is one of the biggest issues the country is facing during the coronavirus crisis.
- Armani is among the world's most prominent luxury brands and retailers to be producing products or making donations to help healthcare workers during the coronavirus crisis.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Fashion group Armani said on Thursday that all of its Italian production plants would start producing single-use medical overalls, in an effort to support healthcare workers in the coronavirus crisis.
The shortage of protective equipment and other medical devices has been one of the biggest problems dogging the Italian health system since the contagion surfaced in the wealthy northern region of Lombardy at the end of February.
The fashion house, run by designer Giorgio Armani, added it had increased to 2 million euros ($2.20 million), from an initial 1.25 million euros, the funds it donated to Italian hospitals to help them face the virus emergency.
A consortium of Italian textile and fashion companies, coordinated by business association Confindustria Moda, is soon expected to start producing millions of protective face masks, with the aim of making Italy self-sufficient in manufacturing the masks.
Armani is among the luxury brands and global retailers to have announced efforts to support the coronavirus crisis either by producing products for healthcare workers and those most in need or donating money to various causes to help fight the spread of the infection.
LVMH, the world's largest luxury house, announced earlier this month that it would start making alcohol-free hand sanitizer in its factories that are normally used to manufacture its perfumes. This hand sanitizer is then sent to French health authorities free of charge.


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2015 20 in their 20s
April 3, 2015 7:00 AM
Anna Stork, 29
Anna Stork and her business partner, Andrea Shreshta, 31, stood in front of five venture capitalists on ABC's "Shark Tank" in February, answering questions about the portable, low-cost light they had invented. Their company, LuminAid, already had $1 million in sales, and each of the VCs offered the pair money, a rare occurrence. They accepted a $200,000 offer from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in exchange for 15 percent of the company and an option to lead the next round of financing. The due diligence process could take six months to a year, Stork says, but "we've been working closely with (Cuban's people) and are very excited."
She has come a long way since graduate school for architecture at Columbia University, where she saw a need for a lighting product in the wake of the 2010 Haitian earthquake. She and Shreshta, a fellow student, developed a prototype, and LuminAid, now based in Chicago, was born.
Alan Monroe, interim executive director of ShelterBox USA, a Sarasota, Fla.-based pro¬vider of emergency supplies and housing for victims of natural disasters, has bought about 10,000 of the "incredibly innovative" lights. "It's really important that supplies be light, packable and easy to use," he says.
LuminAid's basic solar-powered light packs flat and inflates into a lightweight, waterproof lantern. Manufactured in China, it retails for $19.95. It's marketed to disaster relief organizations, hikers and campers, and sold through mom-and-pop retailers as well as L.L. Bean. Recent additions include an LED light in eight color modes with a fade function, a light cube with a hook that can be hung in a tent or on a tree and an emergency-flasher system.
By Jan Parr


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WILSON DANIELS PARTNERS WITH SICILY’S FEUDO MONTONI
New York, NY, January 3, 2019 – Fine wine importer Wilson Daniels has announced its partnership with renowned Sicilian brand Feudo Montoni, the company’s first venture into this dynamic Italian wine region. Feudo Montoni has been producing top-quality wines on its historic grounds for hundreds of years, and is currently overseen by Fabio Sireci, the third generation of a family dedicated to producing the most refined expressions of this long-cultivated terroir.
Rosario Sireci purchased the Feudo Montoni estate in the late 1800s upon discovering a wealth of ancient vines, and passed down the property and closely held “secret knowledge” to his son and grandson. “Our wines are manipulated as little as possible by human intervention,” says Fabio Sireci of his family’s methods. The certified organic winery’s portfolio now includes some of Italy’s most celebrated styles: Perricone, Nero D’Avola, Nerello Mascalese, Catarratto, Grillo, Inzolia and Passito.
“We are proud to establish ourselves in the Sicilian wine market with Feudo Montoni, an exciting addition to our prestigious portfolio,” said Wilson Daniels president Rocco Lombardo. “The opportunity to import several of Italy’s most celebrated wines will allow Wilson Daniels to stay ahead of global trends, and we look forward to bringing these remarkable bottles to American tables and cellars.”
Sireci is particularly proud of the organic farming methods and renewable energy sources he’s implemented and maintained, which he says preserves the grapes’ natural flavors and nuances. “I want the vines a little messy, so the foliage is free to express itself,” he says. “The vineyards are not fertilized—we condition the land by sowing broad beans and peas, and we do not use any chemical products.” All operations in the vineyard are undertaken completely by hand, and the results speak for themselves: thanks to the Sireci family’s dedication and the vineyards’ high altitude, fluctuating temperatures, plentiful rainfall and neighboring olive and wheat plots, Feudo Montoni wines have staked their claim among the finest in the region.
January 3, 2019


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Retail sales fell last month for the first time since January despite strong sales of replica football shirts, watches and jewellery, official figures have shown.
Sales fell 0.5 per cent month-on-month as it slowed from April‘s ten-year high of 6.9 per cent, according to the Office of National Statistics.
The fall is in line with economics expectations after a late Easter holiday boosted the retail industry in April. Despite the monthly dip, sales were 3.9 per cent up on May 2013.
“It was another disappointing month for food and grocery retailers,” concluded Lloyds bank commercial banking MD Keith Richardson. “Although the prolonged discounting campaigns are good news for consumers, they continue to have a detrimental impact upon retailer‘s margins and share price.”
Tesco, Morrisons and Asda have pledged to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in slashing prices of staple food products in a bid to see off pressure from discounters. Morrisons‘ is in a £1bn process of transforming itself into a fully-fledged discount store while Tesco is spending £200m.
Sales of sports clothing and equipment soared in the run up to the tournament, up a an impressive 28.9 per cent year on year as World Cup fever gripped the UK.
Online retail jumped 1.5 per cent month-on-month to £727.7m in May and has risen 15.1 per cent compared with the same month last year. Food shopping online rose 12.9 per cent year-on-year while department store online spend rose 26.5 per cent. 3.7 per cent of all grocery shopping is now done online while the figure is higher in department stores (10.5 per cent.)
Online now accounts for around one in three purchases at department store John Lewis as sales jumped 22.6 per cent over Christmas, the latest figures available.


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According to Ripple’s press release, Tranglo’s acquisition will enable it to create a standard integration for regional cross-border payments in Southeast Asia. While no details about the acquisition were revealed to the public, Ripple said the completion of the transaction is expected to occur in 2021.
Ripple acquired Tranglo — which has processed over 20 million transactions totaling $4 billion in value — to meet the growing customer demand for its service in the region. The partnership will also enable the company to expand the reach of its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, which utilizes Ripple’s native XRP token to instantly settle cross-border transactions.
Broadening its ODL footprint in Southeast Asia will enable eligible RippleNet customers to leverage Ripple’s Line of Credit and repay their transactions at a later date.


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The sudden outbreak of the COVID 19 epidemic all over the world has forced many economies to resort to a total lockdown of non-essential operations, forcing them to revisit their economic strategies in the current scenario. The effect of this major outbreak can be seen in major cities across the globe and life has generally come to a standstill.
A COVID 19 infected person can spread the disease to another through the droplets that are led out of the nose or mouth while sneezing or coughing. These droplets contaminate the air and generally remain in the air for quite some time. This is called aerosol transmission. As per the WHO website, coronavirus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or through contact with surfaces that have been used or infected by a person carrying the virus. Studies indicate that the coronavirus can last on surfaces for several days until it is cleaned with a disinfectant. The virus does fade away gradually. Contact with such contaminated surfaces increases the risk of getting affected by the virus.
With the world facing the major crises due to the rapid spread of the diseases from one human to another, the total confirmed cases worldwide have risen to 14,30,453 with a death toll of 82,133. (source Wikipedia)
In India alone, the total confirmed cases have risen to 5360 cases with a death toll of 164 people as on 8th April 2020. (source Business Standard).
The Government of India took a prompt step in announcing the 21-day lockdown early on starting from 25th March 2020 till 14th April 2020. Under the lockdown, several restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the general public. Ban on public gathering, suspension of public and private transport service, the prohibition of all religious, social, cultural, sports gatherings, etc, closure of all places of worship, malls, markets, parks, etc was announced due to the nature of the disease. Only essential services such as grocery, vegetable and fruit, hospitals, petrol pumps, and Banks shall remain open.
In view of the given circumstances, it is essential that we minimize our exposure to public places unless it is extremely essential. However, with no delivery options available due to the lockdown and to meet the daily needs, it is essential to move out of the house to purchase the daily essentials.
In such circumstances, many Telecom, Insurance, Credit Card Companies, and the banking sector have started encouraging their customers to use electronic mediums such as net banking to make payments for their EMI’s and dues. This helps the customer to not only manage their time and work but also eliminates the risk involved in getting in contact with those who might be infected. In times like these, digital platforms have served as a rescue to the major problem. Companies like Airtel, Vodafone, Jio, etc offer exciting plans on their website and the customers can recharge their prepaid number easily through net banking and use of plastic money. Payments can also be made through net banking, credit card or debit card for payment of post-paid number monthly bill.
Those who are living in a rented house can try options such as Paytm, google pay, mobile payment etc to pay their rentals. As the corona virus is spreading through the nation, digital platforms have helped in easing our transactions at these times. Many grocery stores do accept debit and credit card as well, which eliminates the need to withdraw money from ATM and eliminates the exchange money, both of which could be a potential carrier of the virus. Apart from the plastic money, the customers can also look at payment methods such as google pay and Paytm for buying groceries from the store. These apps have become very popular in India after demonetization & can be easily downloaded from google play store.


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Back in July we posted about Prince Adventures: Anointed, an upcoming short animated film from Fantasy Soft Entertainment and voice actor Chuck Huber (Android 17 in Dragon Ball Z, Hiei in YuYu Hakusho, and more). With the short set to premiere soon, Fantasy Soft recently released a handful of new stills to promote the project. More after the jump.
Square Enix's The Irregular at Magic High School - Lost Zero smartphone game has a string of events planned, including a Halloween battle next week, featuring costumed 3D models and cards, a hot spring battle next month with yukata outfits and special bathing card drops, and, coming up this winter, a collaboration based on the A Certain Magical Index: Endyumion's Miracle anime movie, the details for which will be announced later.
Attendees of the Crypton panel at the recent New York Comic Con were treated to an English version of "Just Be Friends," along with a teaser silhouette and news that V3 of the Megurine Luka Vocaloid software is planned for the first quarter of 2015. She'll be followed by a V3 of the Lin and Ren pair, due in the third quarter of the year. More after the jump.
Mobile RPG Divine Gate has had its fair share of anime and manga-related crossovers, from Fairy Tail to Steins;Gate and beyond. Next up for Acquire's game is a crossover with Durarara!! x2, set to kick off in Japan this week. Hit the jump for some pics.
Bandai Namco Games has more lightgun-blasting action on the way, with the announcement that a new Time Crisis is in the works for arcades in Japan. Time Crisis 5 is currently scheduled to make its arcade debut in March 2015. Hit the jump for more.
Of World of Warcraft's many races, few inspire such ferocious fan loyalty as the orcs, who are the focus of upcoming expansion Warlords of Draenor! Hit the jump to check out a new trailer for Warlord of Draenor and see what story developments are coming! FOR THE HORDE!
Nintendo has another Nintendo Direct event planned, and this one will heavily focus on the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. Specifically, Nintendo will be showing 50 new things for the console version, with the broadcast set to kick off on Thursday, October 23 at 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET. More after the jump.
Square Enix has more Final Fantasy Type-0 HD and Final Fantasy XV to show off, so another live stream is set for October 31. Previously dubbed Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Flash Talk Show, the next broadcast switches over to Director Tabata's Active Time Report, and is scheduled for 8:00pm Japan Time. More after the jump.
Nippon Ichi Software is giving Japanese Disgaea fans a chance to leave their mark on the strategy-RPG series' next entry. A site recently opened to let fans submit their own names for NPC characters located in the main headquarters of Disgaea 5. More after the jump.
While we don't have a concrete release date to mark down, we now know we can look forward to the latest in the Atelier series making its way west sometime next year. Koei Tecmo Europe confirmed plans to localize Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea, with a release set for 2015. More after the jump.
Atelier Escha & Logy Plus was recently announced as the next enhanced Gust port for PS Vita, and now we have a big batch of screens courtesy of 4Gamer. The new portable version of Gust's RPG adds new story developments, new enemies, new costumes, DLC from the PlayStation 3 version, and more, some of which is showcased in the images below. Hit the jump for more.
With more information set to be announced on October 27th, a site has launched for Yoru no Yatterman, the latest incarnation of Tatsunoko's 1979 comedy superhero, which got a 2008 TV anime revival, 2009 anime movie and 2009 Takashi Miike live-action film. More after the jump.
Designed by Kunihiko Morinaga (Anrealage), "Focus: Life Gear" aims to help the wearer live their life by using radio frequency shielding fabric for pockets or pouches to carry mobile devices without them being a distraction. So, no social media while enjoying a moment with friends or appreciating the world. What would be a more natural fit for an Attack on Titan collaboration?!
Following last week's Good Smile Company preview of the Rei Ayanami: Evangelion Racing Ver. Nendoroid, inspired by the young woman who accompanies Studio Khara sponsored Team Evangelion Racing in their Super GT and Endurance Road Race efforts, their Kahotan Blog has now posted an earlier look at her Asuka companion figure. Pre-orders for the two launch on October 23rd.
Spike Chunsoft has posted a new preview for Attack on Titan ~ The Last Wings of Humanity CHAIN. Set to be released December 4th, this updated version of their 3DS game features onlne multiplayer support, more stages, missions, character voices, weapons, costumes, and, of course, titans! Get a look after the jump.


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Fiat, which took a 20 per cent stake in Chrysler Group last year as part of the US car manufacturer's bankruptcy restructuring, is also close to deciding whether to reintroduce Alfa Romeo vehicles to US consumers.
"We need to be realistic on what Alfa should do," said Mr Marchionne.
Last month, Fiat Chairman, Mr Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, dismissed a suggestion by analysts with asset management fund Sanford Bernstein that Volkswagen could be the right buyer for money-losing Alfa Romeo.
"We will present the new Alfa that substitutes the 147, and we think there are also very important opportunities for Alfa Romeo in the United States," Mr Montezemolo said at the time.
Alfa's new-car sales have declined steeply in the past decade as its range became older and new products were delayed.
Last year, Alfa sold 103,000 new cars in Europe, down from 203,000 units in 2000. The brand has lost between 200 million and 400 million euros (AUD$315 million to $630 million) a year in the past 10 years, according to industry sources. Fiat does not release separate financial results for any of its brands.
Mr Marchionne is expected to announce the future of Alfa early next year, when the Italian automaker presents its 2010 to 2014 business plan.
In Detroit on Monday, Mr Marchionne, who heads both Fiat and Chrysler, said Chrysler's iconic Jeep brand would be the most immediate way for the companies to tap China's rapidly growing auto industry, which overtook the United States as the world's largest car market last year.
Mr Marchionne said the Fiat-Chrysler alliance has started to discuss ways to promote the Jeep brand in China and boost the combined company's presence there.
With Autonews EU


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Local Fintech firm based in South Africa Centbee has launched its Bitcoin cash wallet app on beta. Following a successful alpha test of the app, Centbee has been listening to its early users about ways to improve the wallet. Centbee wallet is the easiest way to send money and Consumers will see the benefits of this fast, cheap and easy way to pay. While the alpha testing made use of Testnet coins, the beta version of the Centbee wallet will use real Bitcoin cash.
The app also allows users to send Bitcoin cash to people in their contact list.


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Khmer Times’ Sok Chan discusses the country’s agricultural policy with Ho Puthea, the director of horticulture and subsidiary crops at the Ministry of Agriculture’s General Directorate of Agriculture.
KT: What is the government’s official policy on horticulture and subsidiary crops, particularly for vegetables?
Mr Puthea: Our department has prepared a master plan for the development of horticulture in the country, and, as we are all aware, Cambodia currently lacks the capacity to meet local demand. The aim is to boost vegetable production. We are striving to adhere to good agricultural practices (GAP) and working on the introduction of organic farming principles.
We are working on a project titled “Boosting Food Project 2016-2019”, which aims to increase the production of fragrant rice and vegetables. The government has allocated $6 million for this project over a period of three years.
The project will target three areas. In Phnom Penh, it will centre around Neak Meas Market and Deum Kor Market. In Tboung Khmum province, it will be Suong Market. Finally, we will also be working in Siem Reap.
Vegetables for Phnom Penh come from Kandal, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu provinces, while those for Suong Market are from Prey Veng, Tboung Khmum and Kampong Cham provinces. The markets in Siem Reap are supplied with produce from Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces.
We have advised all farmers to follow the GAPs to ensure consumer safety and health.
KT: What’s the general feeling on chemical-free farming?
Mr Puthea: Nowadays our people are well-informed and aware of the risks posed by chemical substances in food, and most of them choose fresh vegetables. Now is the time to attract more consumers and grow the local market. Producers will be able to increase profits if farmers adhere to GAP principles.
We can clearly see a trend now: people are eating more vegetables and the general awareness of the importance of a vegetable-rich diet is spreading. At the same time, the number of malls where producers can sell their produce is also on the rise, while the growing middle-class is also shopping for quality, healthy produce.
KT: The country now imports more vegetables than it produces. What is the key to reducing our dependency on imports and boosting local production?
Mr Puthea: We are working on this. Not just the government, but also the private sector, NGOs and the public. My hope is that we do not blame each other, but instead work together to reach solutions. The government is preparing policies and strategies that local governments and developments partners need to follow. If our partners can implement our policies, we can all focus on meeting market demand.
KT: Price pays a huge role in consumers’ decisions to choose local or imported products. In this regard, what is your strategy to make local produce more attractive?
Mr Puthea: This is an area that involves multiple parties and sectors. It’s all about productivity. We are trying to reduce the price of production to increase our competitiveness. To reduce the price of production, agricultural materials, such as fertilizers, need to be cheaper, so that producers and farmers can sell lower. Farmer and producers, likewise, must strive to adhere to GAPs to ensure food safety and attract consumers’ attention.
KT: As the country continues its assimilation into the global market, and protective measures become harder to implement, what is the government’s strategy to reduce the number of vegetables imported from abroad and increase consumption of local products?
Mr Puthea: This is a key issue, particularly as an Asean nation. Asean is a free-trade area, a single market, and we cannot just impose tariffs, or other restrictions, on products from neighbouring countries. But we do have certain tools at our disposal, like sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Based on these measures, we can ban certain products that contain too many chemicals and are
not safe for consumption.
The standard across the region has been harmonised. If products do not meet those standards, they can be banned. We check on a case-by-case basis, paying special attention to products that are also grown here in Cambodia.
KT: What are, in your opinion, the biggest challenges for vegetable production in Cambodia, now and in the future?
Mr Puthea: There are a lot of challenges, actually. A lack of land is one of them. We are growing vegetables on a very small amount of land. Only 1.8 percent of arable land is used to grow vegetables and it is hard to increase that share because these crops are competing with rice.
Droughts are also a big challenge. During the dry season, many farmers don’t have enough water to grow their crops, and many of them stop growing their vegetables altogether. Some of them can only grow small quantities during the rainy season.
Production costs are high because the production chain is not as developed as we would like it to be, and there is not enough cooperation between producers, transportation companies, wholesalers and retailers to make the prices more stable.
Finally, some farmers who borrow from microfinance institutions (MFIs) find themselves in debt because they are being charged high interest rates. The market is also lacking young labour.
KT: How are Cambodian products performing in the region?
Mr Puthea: We export herbs and vegetables to the European market. Trade across our borders is also on the rise, as our neighbours – particularly Vietnam and Thailand – believe that our products are safe and our land is not polluted as we use less chemicals. They are glad to buy our products and send their products to Cambodia.


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In most areas of the country, November is the month that kicks off the tanning season; my salon chain celebrates its anniversary this month, and we ramp up our marketing efforts with anniversary specials that are some of most successful of our season. So for the last 35 years, November has signaled the return of the tanners in my neck of the woods. I hope all of you had a great summer… now it’s time to get back to business.
The season is off to a very good start for Sun is Life® Training & Certification. I was proud that SIL was chosen to be the exclusive training and certification program at this fall’s first trade show, the FS Expo in St. Louis. For those of you who didn’t attend, all accounts confirm that you missed an event that everyone will be talking about this season. A very energized, standing room only crowd enjoyed the “secret keynote speaker” who was reintroduced to our industry: Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman, a great guy and the most motivating speaker I’ve witnessed at a tanning event. FS Expo attendees were the first to see the new products from all the industry’s major vendors. Add to that a rockin’ rooftop party provided by Devoted Creations – what more could you ask for? I tip my hat to Four Seasons’ Ed Jerger for inspiring the attendees with his message focused on a unified direction for our industry – staying away from making health claims. The buzz is that the entire theme for the Expo made it a real game changer. Rumor has it that a bigger and better event is already being planned for next fall.
As the season takes off, be sure to keep reading your ist Magazine, particularly the features written by both John Ribner and Adjunct Professor/Sun is Life Director, Tony Brown. Sun is Life has taken a strong position regarding the negative impact of making health claims in our salons. It should be clear to everyone that promoting vitamin D to the public – which a segment of our industry has done for many years to their own benefit – has been destroying our reputations and our future depends on stopping it NOW. In fact, I learned as I wrote this that someone representing our industry made headlines just today by and pushing the vitamin D agenda in my own state’s capital (MI); nothing came out of it but more bad press. If you’re still not convinced that the health claims must STOP, look for an upcoming article in IST which will detail the significant damage the health claim agenda has done to our industry’s image.
Our goal at IST has always been to help salon operators be more professional and move our industry forward. Don’t miss the special “Tips of the Trade Compendium” section in this issue – John Ribner has gathered tons of great business advice from a group of successful industry leaders. And, tanning’s frontrunners are certainly represented by the Industry Choice Awards Nominees which are listed in this issue, as well (see pg. 154). I can say with certainty that even though the tan biz has been under attack, these people have stepped up their game to offer the new and innovative products to help our industry grow. Look for the ICA winners in our December issue.
You’ll find a sample of the new lotions from your favorite manufacturers in our 2014 Product Preview (see pg. 148). When you call your distributor partners to order these great new products, don’t forget to tell them you saw it first in ist Magazine.
Thanks for reading and a very Happy Thanksgiving to all!
is the Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of ist Magazine.
Copyright 2020 ist Magazine


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Former Director, Center for Global Regulatory Cooperation
June 01, 2021
In a few weeks, President Biden will meet with European Union leaders in Brussels. With global economic recovery a priority, and bilateral trade and digital cooperation on the agenda, one test of whether the renewed U.S.-EU partnership can deliver results is the conclusion of a new Privacy Shield. A new pact will inject much needed certainty into the transatlantic economy, which relies on the ability of all firms to transfer personal information from Europe to the United States. Without a new Privacy Shield, U.S. exports and American affiliates in the EU will continue to be targeted by privacy regulators and other proponents of forced data localization. U.S. businesses will consequently face diminished access to a market of 450 million consumers, threatening American competitiveness and millions of American jobs.
Transatlantic Data Flows in Disarray
Transatlantic data flows have been in disarray since the European Court of Justice’s decision last July to invalidate the Privacy Shield. The Court’s ruling in the “Schrems II” case centered on European concerns about U.S. government access to personal information, not on U.S. consumer privacy protections. U.S. businesses have nonetheless found themselves in the middle of a dispute between the U.S. Government, whose lawful surveillance practices keep Americans and Europeans safe from shared threats to our security, and European privacy regulators insistent on a fundamentalist reading of the Court’s ruling. The Biden Administration’s decision to appoint a seasoned privacy leader as its chief negotiator, together with a joint U.S.-EU statement in March that talks were “intensifying,” offered hope that a successor agreement was in sight.
Europe’s Privacy Regulators are Changing Facts on the Ground
As negotiations drag on, however, U.S. businesses are facing the very real specter of forced data localization in Europe. A ruling on May 14 by the Irish High Court against Facebook means that the Irish Data Protection Commissioner may be one step closer to invalidating the use of standard contractual clauses, a legal tool used by 90 percent of companies to transfer data out of Europe. Meanwhile, smaller companies are already seeing their access to the market disrupted. In April, Bavaria’s data protection authority ordered a German fashion magazine to discontinue using Mailchimp, because the Atlanta-based newsletter service transferred European email addresses to the United States. Weeks later, Portugal’s national statistics authority was ordered to immediately stop using Cloudflare, because the San Francisco company’s terms of service did not guarantee that it stored and processed European personal information exclusively in Europe.
With vocal support of the European Parliament, the EU’s privacy regulators are embracing forced data localization. Last year, the EU’s caucus of privacy enforcers, the European Data Protection Board, issued draft guidelines to implement the Schrems II decision. The Board went well beyond the Court’s ruling, proposing to ban companies in the EU from using U.S.-based cloud or software services and entirely cutting off U.S. services exporters’ access to commercially meaningful data. While the Board is currently finalizing its guidelines, privacy regulators are already citing them in enforcement actions against U.S. companies. Importantly, neither Chinese nor Russian companies, nor EU data transfers to these jurisdictions, face this kind of scrutiny. No doubt China’s state-backed and heavily protected tech giants see a business opportunity. For American businesses and the U.S. government, there are now legitimate and intensifying questions as to why European regulators seem more inclined to grant better treatment to Chinese and Russian tech companies than their U.S. counterparts.
Protecting American Commercial Interests in Europe
A new Privacy Shield will ward off the worst threats of data localization. Absent a deal, however, European regulators are changing facts on the ground, threatening to undermine U.S. economic interests—and transform Europe into a digital island. In 2019, the U.S. exported more than $245 billion in digitally enabled services to Europe, double what it exported to the entire Asia-Pacific region. This trade supports millions of good paying U.S. jobs and is key to U.S. competitiveness in the data-intensive industries of the future. Transatlantic data transfers enable an array of essential activities, including multi-country clinical trials for innovative medicines such as COVID-19 vaccines, cybersecurity threat information sharing, and anti-fraud and anti-money laundering efforts.
Supporting U.S. digital trade exports has long been a priority of U.S. policymakers on both sides of the aisle. Leaders in Congress and across U.S. administrations have pushed back against discriminatory digital services taxes levied against U.S. companies in Europe and beyond. The U.S. business community is eager to see a revitalized transatlantic partnership. However, advancing a shared digital economy and trade agenda will prove exceedingly difficult if the U.S. is considered a singularly untrustworthy destination for EU personal information. In lieu of a swift conclusion to the Privacy Shield negotiations, U.S. policymakers may need to act to protect American commercial interests in Europe.
About the authors
Evangelos Razis is former Director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Global Regulatory Cooperation.


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7-Eleven committee reviewing buyout offer
DALLAS - Convenience-store operator 7-Eleven Inc. said Monday a special committee of its board was still reviewing the buyout offer by the company's Japanese parent, and it asked stockholders to delay tendering their shares.
The committee said it expected to complete its review of the tender offer by Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd. "in the near future." The committee could recommend that shareholders accept or reject the offer, or it could withhold a recommendation.
Seven-Eleven Japan Co., which owns about 73 percent of the U.S. company's stock, announced Sept. 1 it was making a $1.2 billion tender offer, $32.50 per share, for the remaining shares.
Fossil, Guess bring halt to watch discussions
RICHARDSON - Fossil Inc.'s bid to win a lucrative deal to replace Timex Corp. as the maker and distributor of watches for Guess Inc. has broken down.
Fossil said Monday it had discontinued talks with Guess over a 10-year deal beginning in January 2007 to make Guess and Guess Collection watches. The companies had said last month they were in advanced negotiations for a deal expected to result in wholesale sales of $1.36 billion.
Norwegian firm to buy Spinnaker Exploration
OSLO, Norway - Norsk Hydro ASA, a Norwegian petroleum and aluminum producer, said Monday it agreed to buy U.S.-based oil and gas company Spinnaker Exploration Co. for $2.45 billion to boost its presence and growth potential in the Gulf of Mexico.
Hydro said it will pay $65.50 per share in cash for all outstanding common shares and options of Spinnaker, a 34 percent premium to the stock's Friday closing price of $48.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Compiled from wire reports
Hydro also said it will assume approximately $110 million in Spinnaker debt. The deal is subject to approval by Spinnaker shareholders and U.S. regulatory authorities, Hydro said.
The Oslo-based company said the deal had been approved by the boards of both companies and was expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.
Houston-based Spinnaker has production and exploration assets primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. Following completion of the acquisition, Hydro expects annual international production growth in 2005-2008 of approximately 40 percent, the company said.
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The Oracle Retail 2025 set out to answer those questions and others.
Shopping mall operator repurposes old department stores into Kidzania’s playgrounds.
DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, Spain:
The megastore located in the main trade district of the city and have 2000 m² of selling space.
DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY, USA:
Plans have been unveiled for an entertainment complex near the historic Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, Ca.
Mar 22, 2017, United Kingdom:
The company announced at the ICSC ReCon Europe its partnership with international brands, who coming to the Russian market.
Mar 21, 2017:
The IoT connects devices, vehicles, buildings and items by allowing for the collection and exchange of data.
Mar 20, 2017, USA:
A number of investors are going against the crowd and snapping up older malls on the cheap.
Mar 20, 2017, United Kingdom:
The retailer thinks to drop 30 womenswear brands, open yoga studios, champagne bars, and refresh its website.


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Individuals enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can now temporarily use their benefits to purchase hot foods due to the recent California wildfires, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This hot foods exception applies to 14 California counties, including Santa Barbara, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Plumas, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Sutter, Tehama, Ventura and Yuba.
Any individual from those 14 counties enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (S.N.A.P.) program can purchase hot foods with these benefits until Dec. 17.
This includes all S.N.A.P. benefit recipients within those counties, not just those who have been affected by the recent fires.
“Thousands of California residents are trying to piece their lives back together even as these wildfires continue blazing,” said Brandon Lipps, the acting deputy of Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, in a press release sent out last Wednesday.
“This waiver will allow residents more flexibility to use in feeding their families as they get back on their feet.”
Ordinarily, those in the program can only purchase cold foods, such as bread, cereal, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats, as stipulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.
S.N.A.P. benefits typically cannot be used to buy alcoholic beverages, pet foods, soaps, household supplies, vitamins, medicines and hot foods among other restrictions.
Hot foods are the only temporary exception on the aforementioned list.
The department will also provide “mass replacement of SNAP benefits” for those who experienced food losses due to power outages in the Butte and Plumas counties, the press release stated.
There are currently five fires burning across California, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
More than 80 people have died in the Camp Fire, according to CAL FIRE.
A full map of all current fires in California can be viewed below:


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Awards honor Tulsa regionís small business stars5.14.2012
The Tulsa Metro Chamber honored emerging entrepreneurs and Tulsa-area small business leaders at the 2012 Crystal Star Small Business Awards luncheon May 14 at The Tulsa Convention Center. Behfar Jahanshahi, CEO and president of InterWorks, Inc., was named Small Business Person of the Year.
“The small businesses in our region create two out of every three jobs and have an estimated economic impact of $1.4 billion,” said Billy Kulkin, chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Council and president of Cubic, Inc. “The entrepreneurial achievements of the Tulsa region’s emerging businesses and small business leaders make a significant contribution to our regional economy.”
The Small Business Awards luncheon featured a keynote speech by Paul J. Corson, acting director of the U.S Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
“We succeed at the federal level when you succeed at the local level,” Corson said, noting that the Tulsa region is an emerging leader in cultivating successful small businesses. “In Tulsa, you are walking the walk, not just talking the talk,” he said.
The Crystal Star awards are presented annually following a rigorous nomination, application and judging process. Award winners potentially can go on to compete for state and national honors. The Chamber’s awards were created to recognize that small business is the foundation of the American economy. In the Tulsa area, 84 percent of all businesses are small businesses.
Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber President and CEO, stated: “We are honored to recognize the contributions of the Tulsa region’s thriving small business sector and the entrepreneurs and innovators who are playing an integral role in the economic development of northeast Oklahoma.”
2012 Small Business Award recipients include:
• Small Business Person of the Year: Behfar Jahanshahi, CEO and president, InterWorks, Inc.
• Tulsa Metro Chamber Entrepreneurial Success: Don Thornton, owner, Don Thornton Automotive Group
• Home-Based Business Champion: David White, founder and owner, Hathaway 51
• Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year: Tim Jackson, founder and owner, Jackson Technical
• Women in Business Champion: Teri Aulph, owner, Teri Aulph Consulting, LLC
• Family-Owned Business: Amy Bates, owner, Merry Maids Tulsa
• Financial Services Champion: Donnie Cox, executive vice president of lending, Summit Bank
• Young Entrepreneur: John Davey, co-owner, Andolini’s Pizzeria
Additionally, the Tulsa Metro Chamber awarded its “Small Business Pioneer” award to Lynda Wingo, executive director and owner of Miss Helen’s Private School.
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BOSTON (AP) — Toy guns, kiddie pools, hoverboards and backyard trampolines are among the playthings that made a consumer watchdog's annual list of hazardous summer toys.
The Massachusetts-based World Against Toys Causing Harm, or W.A.T.C.H., presented its annual report Tuesday at a children's hospital in Boston.
Joan Siff, W.A.T.C.H.'s president, said the toys specifically named on the list aren't the only risky playthings on the market. She says they're simply meant to represent the range of hazards faced by children with summer toys.
The nonprofit group notes that some toy guns shoot projectiles with enough force to cause eye injuries while toy helicopters, boomerangs and other flying objects have rigid or sharp edges that can cause facial injuries.
They warn that self-balancing scooters, as known as hoverboards, remain on the market, despite being banned by some retailers, airlines and schools because of ride-related injuries as well as the risk that some models can spontaneously catch fire.
The group also urges parents to take caution when their children use baby pools, inflatable pool toys and flotation aids. It says some 87 percent of fatal drownings to children under 5 years old occur at someone's home.
Inflatable bounce houses and backyard trampolines also made the list. The group says trampolines have been associated with fractures, cervical spine injuries, paralysis and other catastrophic injuries.
The summer months account for nearly half of all injury-related deaths to children and over 2.5 million children are injured in accidents each summer, according to W.A.T.C.H.
W.A.T.C.H. has released a "worst toys" list for more than 30 years.


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Start-Up Quarterly Statistics, Q3 2012
This article was originally published in Start Up
In the third quarter of 2012, start-up companies raised a total of $682 million across all industries, roughly 19% more than in the previous quarter. Of that money, 65% went to biopharmas. Several large molecule-focused companies inked deals during Q3. Four start-ups were acquired – three biopharmas and one medical device company.


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Besieged by road construction, Kaladi's fights for customers
It’s possible to get to Kaladi’s Bistro without navigating orange cones on Minnesota Avenue.
The coffee shop and other nearby businesses have a parking lot with access to Dakota Avenue—no need to worry at all about congestion on Minnesota.
That’s what Mark Gillespie tells people.
Road construction just outside the café’s main entrance has been hurting his business, said Gillespie, who co-owns Kaladi's and manages daily operations.
“We’re trying to stay as positive as we can,” Gillespie said.
Crews have already been busy for months upgrading the road surface and underground utilities along Minnesota Avenue, between 22nd and 28th streets, and occasionally as far south as 41st Street.
And they have months to go.
The $3 million upgrade started in May and is scheduled to last until November.
It’s a busy stretch of road that served more than 27,000 drivers a day before construction started. Nearby 26th Street is also an otherwise popular roadway where it connects with Minnesota, serving about 27,000 drivers per day.
The work was needed to replace the old pavement and underground sewer lines, while updating the streetlights and traffic signals, according to the city.
Construction has had a dampening effect on what typically a bustling commercial area. The corridor is home to a gas station, a car dealership, restaurants, banks, coffee shops, administrative offices and other locally run businesses.
Piper Custom Framing and Fine Art Gallery opened near the corner of Minnesota and 27th about 14 years ago, and this is at least the third time the street out front has undergone construction, owner Jon Piper said.
Thankfully his business is more of a destination for customers, including corporate clients who use Piper’s for its art consulting services, Piper said. He has noticed fewer drop-in customers, even though they’re only a portion of his business.
“I’m patient, and you know to have any progress you’re going to have to put up with the pains,” Piper said.
For Kaladi’s, sales have slowed enough to cause uncertainty for staff, who rely on tips as part of their wage, Gillespie said. Summer is already one of the bistro’s slowest seasons, and there are even fewer customers this year as drivers avoid Minnesota Avenue.
It’s not as much of a problem of access than it is a problem of perception. Sioux Falls residents are just avoiding the area because they know traffic is affected.
“People get construction in their heads,” Gillespie said. “They think it’s probably more difficult than it is.”
Strange thing about less business: It actually creates more work for Kaladi’s management. The café’s leadership has worked hard to counteract the effect of construction. They've focused more on catering and delivery, adjusted staffing levels and limited business hours.
Kaladi’s is closing an hour earlier during the week. It also closes Saturday afternoons instead of staying open Saturday night as it did prior to construction.
Gillespie expects full Saturday hours to resume later this month. He hopes business picks up in the next couple of months even though construction will continue into the fall. Autumn is usually Kaladi’s busiest season, Gillespie said.
“We’re a little worried we’re going to lose out on our September and October,” Gillespie said.


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Egyptian developer Sixth of October Development and Investment Company (SODIC) made first half net profit of LE 51 million ($8.9 million), according to a company statement released Wednesday.
SODIC said it is planning to launch a new project during the first quarter of 2011 that will be developed over a 500,000 square meter plot.
The real estate firm, which does not fully recognize revenues until it delivers units, previously said it made a loss of LE 20.8 million in the same period a year earlier.
SODIC recorded revenues of LE 123 million, and said it is “beginning to reap the benefits of over LE 4 billion of unrecognized contracted sales achieved over the last three years… and are expected to be recognized over the next three years as the company delivers its backlog of sold units.”
Maher Maksoud, SODIC managing director, said, “We have expanded our diversified land-bank by 25 percent to reach some 7.5 million square meters with the addition of our investments in Syria and Mansoura.”
The company said it is planning to launch this year projects including Esplanade, a residential apartment development in Eastown and Eastown Square, a commercial development in Eastown.
SODIC will begin construction on its Mansoura Retail Center, which should be operational by early 2012. And in Syria, the Telal Al Yasmin project is expected to be delivered in 24 months.


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MADRIDJOYA | From 12 to 16 September 2018
A segment that is essential to the activities of any jewellery company
So far 17 top-level companies in this industry have confirmed their attendance
Advanced machinery for the design and manufacture of the pieces, technological solutions applied to the jewellery production processes, the latest in comprehensive management software and trends in packaging, among many other novelties.
Among the novelties of the next edition of the Madridjoya, International Urban and Trendy Jewellery and Watch Exhibition Fair, organised by IFEMA from the 12th to the 16th September at Feria de Madrid, professionals will be able to view the latest ideas, solutions and services of the Ancillary Industries sector, an essential segement for jewellery company activities.
So far 17 top-level companies in this segment have confirmed their attendance, among which are Analisis de Metales Ampcor; Capala Built; Chamorro y Moreno; Co Com-Forsa; Coimpack- Embalagens; Colido Ibérica; Compack; Delarosa; Engine Software; Gravotech España; Herramientas 3H; Laval; Limjoy; Novobox; Orostudio Italy; Sun Enterprises,Teinor and Urrobi, who will show multiple proposals aimed at increasing business efficiency and profitability.
Advanced machinery for the design and manufacture of the pieces, technological applications for jewellery production processes, 3D printing, trimmings, milling, engraving...; the latest in comprehensive management software for jewellers; security system solutions; jewellery cleaning products as well as the latest trends in packaging: bags, trays, decorative ribbons and bows, gift paper, decorative boxes; showcase decoration, and many other options can all be found at the Show.
The international jewellery industry will meet again from the 12th to the 16th September at MadridJoya, the benchmark event in Spain, where around 300 national and foreign brands will present their new lines for the Christmas season. Organised by IFEMA, and with an exhibition area of around 7,000 square metres, the International Urban and Trendy Jewellery and Watch Exhibition Fair will be held at Hall 10 at Feria de Madrid, where it will be an ideal setting for industry commercial exchanges and a unique opportunity to find out how the jewellery industry is doing in Spain.


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After numerous reports of Moto G Lollipop update’s soak test being performed in India, Motorola has finally rolled out the latest version of Android to its budget smartphone Moto G. The latest regions to get the latest update are Bangladesh and India.
Users from these countries are reporting the latest update popping up on their device. Some might need to go to their phone’s Settings -> About Phone -> Software Update to be able to download the latest version. Motorola is pushing out Android 5.0.2, the very latest version that Google released, to both Moto G first and second generation edition. So whether you have the first generation or second generation of Moto G, you won’t be left out of the Lollipop flavor.
Android 5.0 Lollipop brings some new features. The most prominent of them all is the new Material Design, a design philosophy that Google has taken up since its I/O conference last year. The new design pattern follows bright and colorful animation that makes sense of each interaction with the interface.
Another new feature is a brand new battery saving option that can make the battery run for a long time when in low charge by saving power at an extreme level. The notification bar has been revamped, adding more options to manage how and when you receive notifications. They also show up right at the lock screen; no need to pull out the notification bar or unlock the phone to interact with the apps that send you those notifications.
Whenever new Android updates are rolled out, it takes quite a bit of time before manufacturers can release those updates to their smartphones. The new updates go through the manufacturer and the career before they are approved and pushed to the users. Motorola promised that it’d break the traditional way and push out updates at the soonest possible time even on its low cost Android phone, Moto G. The company has kept its promises by being one of the first companies to deliver Android Lollipop update even to the old first generation Moto G smartphone.
To check whether your Moto G Android Lollipop update has arrived, to go your settings and navigate to About Phone and Software Update. The update is about 350 MB of download. Motorola advises to have your battery charged before you attempt to install the update.
Are you a Moto G user? Have you received/updated your Moto G to the latest version?


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Turkish delight as Tarfin raises $5m Series A for its smallholder lending app
Tarfin, an Istanbul-based provider of agricultural inputs to farmers with extended payment terms, has completed a $5 million Series A investment round.
Led by Quona Capital, a venture firm focused on fintech in emerging markets, the round also saw participation from Elevator Ventures (the VC arm of Raiffeisen Bank International), Syngenta Group Ventures, and Tarfin’s seed investors Collective Spark Fund and Wamda. Tarfin says it will use the new funds to further enhance its data analytics tech and mobile app with the aim of reaching more farmers in Turkey and nearby geographies.
Every season, farms have to fork out serious cash for huge stacks of inputs, whether that’s feedstuffs, fertilizers, or pesticides. For large-scale farmers in developed economies, it is more advantageous to extend those payments to fit with a farm’s yearly cash flows. But access to these sorts of formal credit systems – and on reasonable terms – is lacking for smallholder farmers in emerging markets like Turkey.
Here, established lenders tend to be more risk-averse when it comes to farmers, with at best patchy data to assess creditworthiness. Consequently, interest rates on these schemes are high, if existent.
Otherwise, lending is left up to local retailers or other middlemen to provide informal credit at their own discretion. These come with high premiums and – in emerging markets in particular – cost is compounded by a high risk of inflation, said Tarfin’s founder and CEO Mehmet Memecan.
Memecan told AFN that his company starts with algorithmic risk modelling, focusing “less on collateral-based repayments” and more on “real-time ability to pay.” That way, it can offer credit with lower rates.
Offsetting lending risks
There will always be defaults in the lending business, Memecan said, but his firm’s models seek a “portfolio effect” across diverse geographies and crop varieties to offset risks like natural disasters, poor harvests, or political instability.
Sourcing the finance is different, too. Rather than going down the commonplace intermediary route of stumping up cash to input vendors while they await repayment from farmers, Tarfin is creating pools of receivables – comprising of farmer input sales on credit – and offering them to institutional investors as asset-backed securities.
That said, there’s still a role for retail middlemen in Tarfin’s ecosystem.
“It’s not about cutting out the retailer at all,” Memecan said, highlighting how intermediaries continue to serve as “the point of contact” for Tarfin. They also use the startup to help decide whether or not they should offer delayed payment terms to farmers, either through Tarfin or from their own working capital.
Since launching in early 2017, the startup has financed over 18,000 transactions for fertilizers, seeds, feedstuffs, and chemicals through its 240 partner retail locations. The team says it has facilitated farming on over 440,000 acres.
In deciding to invest, Quona Capital partner Johan Bosini said his firm liked the focus on Turkish smallholders. “Turkey is the seventh-largest agricultural producer globally, and the impact of supporting independent farmers [there] is significant.”
Syngenta’s Shubhang Shankar said his group invested because of Tarfin’s dedication to portfolio effects and the way it has been able to offer low interest rates compared to local informal lenders. “That’s actually the holy grail of agricultural financing,” he added.
His team’s due diligence involved a trip to Turkey just before Covid-19 arrived in the country, and he said they had observed “real and positive” impacts among farmers and retailers on the ground. Shankar anticipates that Tarfin will expand into other countries in eastern and southern Europe where smallholders face similar challenges. Equally, he looks forward to the company layering on additional financial or insurance services.
Ag marketplaces worldwide; E-agronom funding
Elsewhere in the world, other similarly minded startups are hard at work building dynamic, digital-first agribusiness marketplaces. AFN recently reported on the $23 million Series B round of Argentina’s Agrofy – at the time, the largest fundraising effort for a South American agtech startup on record. Agrofy is an online marketplace matching buyers and sellers of a wide range of agricultural products ranging from machinery and crop inputs to farmland and financial services, often through existing retail relationships. The company has already expressed plans to enter the European market.
In France there’s Agriconomie, which works with incumbents to offer an agribusiness marketplace for farmers and their suppliers with advanced logistics capabilities and a streamlined value chain that removes some of the mark-up for growers. In the US, there are offerings like Farmers Business Network – a farm data startup that has pivoted to selling inputs with uniform, transparent pricing – and HarvestPort, which did a pivot of its own from machinery lending to inputs sales last year. India has myriad startups cropping up in this space; one among them is DeHaat, which raised $12 million in a Sequoia Capital-led round in April. [Disclosure: DeHaat is a portfolio company of AgFunder, which is AFN‘s parent company.]
Even in the tiny but tech-savvy Baltic nation of Estonia there’s room for an ag marketplace. E-agronom just raised €1.2 million ($1.4 million) to expand its digital consultancy services and launch operations in Australia. That round included SuperAngel VC, IronWolf Capital, Cats.VC, Martin Villig – founder the mobility unicorn Bolt – along with Salv founder Taavi Tamkivi and other angel investors.


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AmEx- American Express, one of the leading giant card service providers is on a transitional journey. After a long time Mr. Kenneth Chenault, the Chief Executive Officer, is leaving the office for his successor, Mr. Stephen Squeri. The change of guard is coming at a time when the company is facing a big challenge in its operation having lost to its competitor one of their largest customers, Mr. Christopher Burch. Burch is no stranger to the business as his dealings with the company can be traced back to 1979. The seasoned entrepreneur switches all his spending to AmEx competitors, JP Morgan.
The new CEO, Mr. Stephen Squeri, has a tall order to pull the card company back to its respectable position in the market with the first order of business being to change the strategy. For a long time, AmEx has faced stiff competitions from different industry players; the banks included. However, thanks to the innovative products and services, the company has been able to pull through. Going forward, Stephen’s new strategy is to ensure that he attracts the millennials to the business. While this may look hard, the new CEO is optimistic in achieving these objectives.
Speaking about his tenure at American Express, Mr. Kenneth Chenault noted that amidst his successes, he has faced numerous challenges. Competition from other industry players is just but a tip of the ice bag. The CEO was able to pull through the infamous 9/11 attack, and he is quite confident that his predecessor will equally be able to pull through the stormy waters. For the latest news and follow on investments, click on prnewswire.com.
About Chris Burch
When it comes to the entrepreneurial world, Christopher (Chris) Burch is one of the names you will hardly miss on the list. With experience stretching from college years, Mr. Burch is one person whose excellence in the entrepreneurial world speaks volumes for itself. From an initial investment of $2000 in 1976, Mr. Burch has been able to grow himself to one of the wealthiest and reputable industry players today. His dedication has been able to secure him a spot on the 2014 Forbes list of Millionaires. Refer to bjtonline.com for an additional article.
Check this wonderful entrepreneur’s getaway, hit this.
Currently, he is the CEO of Burch Creative Capital, his own business venture. Through this business, Burch has been able to influence and control directly over 50 businesses and indirectly a vast number of companies. Burch Creative Capital specialty is in the hospitality, retail investments, luxury brands, and technology sector. Read and learn more about the diversity of his investments, head over to burchcreativecapital.com.
Take a tour to this awesome resort investment of him on http://www.businessinsider.com/chris-burch-nihi-best-hotel-in-the-world-2017-7


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When paying for products online, you almost always need to pay with a credit card. Until now.
Wal-Mart announced a new program today, called "Pay with Cash," that allows online shoppers to sift through a broad selection of products, and after deciding what to buy, pay with cash. Of course, there's no cash terminal sitting in the average person's computer, so in order to complete the transaction, customers will need to head down to their local Wal-Mart store or Neighborhood Markets.
According to Wal-Mart, users will be able to fully check out online, and will be … Read more