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European travel giant TUI Group plans to raise about € 1.5bn ($ 1.8bn) through additional share issues and asset dives once demand in key markets begins to recover and the company’s financial performance improves, Bloomberg reported.
The debt burden on the company increased significantly after the allocation of three large loans in the amount of over 4 billion euros, which were also allocated under the guarantees of the German government. The last tranche of 1.2 billion was agreed on September 30.
The company is considering selling some of its 400 hotels, as well as the Marella cruise line, as an option for cash, said CEO of the tour operator Fritz Jussen at a press briefing in Frankfurt am Main. As for the issue of rights (an additional issue of shares distributed among the existing shareholders at a reduced price), then for this step, according to Yussen, it is necessary to restore the share price.
In addition, the company has previously announced plans to ditch part of its air fleet. It is planned to sell up to 30 aircraft of various classes, reducing the total fleet to 120 aircraft. The travel giant also signed an agreement with Boeing to postpone deliveries of new aircraft, which saved about 900 million euros more.
Fritz Jussen noted that after a “very volatile” winter, travel demand could begin to recover from January to March, when most summer travel bookings are usually made.
As for bookings for 2021 at the present time, it is still a transfer of travel that could not take place due to the pandemic this year. Thus, the cash flow will remain at a low level even with a sufficiently high volume execution. At the moment, the tourparator has reduced the planned volumes by about 20% in order to increase the overall marginality.
Let us remind you that this is not the first step of the company to reduce its own low-income assets. In July, the TUI Group had to sell the cruise line Hapag-Lloyd to a newly formed joint venture with Royal Caribbean Corp. According to Yussen, the deal will also help determine the interest of investment funds in buying hotels.
The Group currently owns about 400 hotels of such brands as TUI Blue, Robinson, Magıc Lıfe, RIU, Sensatorı, Sueno, Atlantica, Gunpowder, Blue Diamond, Dorfhotel, Grouphotel, Iberotel, Jaz, Mixing, Nordotel, Sol Y Mar, Tuscany Resort, Castelfalfi, TT Hotels.
Only important. For the pros only.


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How did you hear about the Penn State scandal, Europe’s financial crisis or the Kim Kardashian’s divorce? Chances are it wasn’t from reading the newspaper. In fact, a recent Pew study revealed that 61 percent of Americans get their news online. Of those people, three-fourths read about the latest news stories on a social networking site or in an email forwarded from a friend. Social media is truly changing the way people interact with news stories, and there’s a lot to learn from this revolution.
With social media, anyone can take part in news creation and dissemination. Individuals use social media to write their own opinion piece, comment on a story, post a link to a news story or tag news-related content. What was once only the job of newspapers and TV stations can now be done by anyone with a Facebook or Twitter account. You now have an integral role in news circulation. Whether you want to raise awareness about a local non-profit or promote your business to friends, social media is a great tool for doing so. News is now a shared experience, as eight in ten people report getting or sharing links via email.
The scope of news sources made available by the Internet lets people customize their daily news to fit their needs. In marketing terms, news has moved from being a push to a pull industry. Before news was available on the Internet, it was “pushed” to consumers on the basis of where they lived. People read the local newspapers specific to their location, or whichever news magazines were made available to them. Nowadays, individuals demand the specific news sources they want to read. In fact, 28% of online news readers have customized the news sources and topics that appear on their home page. For example, I have a morning routine of checking The New York Times, AdAge, Huffington Post, and TechCrunch. What’s more, 65% of people don’t have one favorite website for news. As the amount of online news sources continues to grow and become more specialized, people are more likely to find a different news source to fit each need.
This proliferation of news sources gives marketers the opportunity to easily reach specific demographics. With social media, you can post links to relevant articles on your company’s Facebook or Twitter page to start a discussion between fans. If a certain article is connected to your business or target market, commenting on it can help draw readers to your site. You don’t necessarily have to pitch your business in the comment (doing this might come across as spam). Instead, provide an insightful response to the article and sign the comment with your name and a link to your company’s website.
Social media has revolutionized the news industry and created a world of opportunities for new business ideas and marketing strategies. As a result, major newspapers are being challenged to adapt themselves to the current environment. Will they survive, or will their success be threatened by social media-savvy entrepreneurs?

domain: news


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American Trucking Assn. advance seasonally adjusted tonnage for October increased 5.7% year-over-year; ATA chief economist says increase indicates a growing economy
November 22, 2011
– The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 0.5% in October after rising a revised 1.5% in September 2011. September’s increase was slightly less than the 1.6% gain ATA reported on October 25, 2011. The latest gain put the SA index at 116.3 (2000=100) in October, up from the September level of 115.8.
The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 118.5 in October, which was 0.8% below the previous month.
Compared with October 2010, SA tonnage was up 5.7%. In September, the tonnage index was 5.8% above a year earlier. Further, October’s tonnage reading was just 4.4% below the index’s all-time high in January 2005.
“Tonnage readings continue to show that economy is growing and not sliding back into recession,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. “Over the last two months, tonnage is up nearly 2% and is just shy of the recent high in January of this year.”
Costello added that he expects freight and the economy to increase at a slower pace next year, but that truck tonnage can outpace GDP growth.
“Manufacturing output has been the primary reason why truck freight volumes are increasing more than GDP. The industrial sector should slow next year, but still grow more than GDP, which means truck tonnage can increase faster than GDP too,” he said.
Note on the impact of trucking company failures on the index: Each month, ATA asks its membership the amount of tonnage each carrier hauled, including all types of freight. The indexes are calculated based on those responses. The sample includes an array of trucking companies, ranging from small fleets to multi-billion dollar carriers. When a company in the sample fails, we include its final month of operation and zero it out for the following month, with the assumption that the remaining carriers pick up that freight. As a result, it is close to a net wash and does not end up in a false increase. Nevertheless, some carriers are picking up freight from failures and it may have boosted the index. Due to our correction mentioned above however, it should be limited.
Trucking serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy, representing 67.2% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation, including manufactured and retail goods. Trucks hauled 9 billion tons of freight in 2010. Motor carriers collected $563.4 billion, or 81.2% of total revenue earned by all transport modes.
ATA calculates the tonnage index based on surveys from its membership and has been doing so since the 1970s. This is a preliminary figure and subject to change in the final report issued around the 10th day of the month. The report includes month-to-month and year-over-year results, relevant economic comparisons, and key financial indicators.
American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!


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Hyundai is planning on revealing its new flagship three-row SUV on Nov. 28 at the upcoming L.A. Auto Show, according to a recent press release. The SUV will be called the Palisade in reference to the imposing Pacific Palisades portion of California's Sierra Nevada mountain range.
“The future Palisade SUV will convey a bold exterior that commands attention and has strong inherent imagery of safety and security, especially important with parents with growing families and active lifestyles,” according to Hyundai. The full exterior has not yet been revealed but the teaser image provided in this article provides a small look at the tailgate and its shape.
Hyundai has not released any information about what platform this vehicle will ride on or if there will be an upscale Genesis version as well. Hyundai's luxury spin-off brand has struggled for sales lately as buyers transition from sedans into crossovers. Genesis does not currently offer any SUVs, but the Palisade base could potentially change that if Hyundai chooses to go in that direction.
In the crossover and SUV categories, Hyundai currently offers the Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, and Santa Fe XL. The Santa Fe XL is currently the largest model offered by Hyundai and comes in either six or seven-passenger versions.
Hyundai says the Palisade will go on sale in the States in the summer of 2019. Pricing and trim levels have yet to be announced. The Drive reached out to Hyundai for comment and further details and will update this article as information becomes available.
The L.A. Auto Show has press days with numerous reveals and major announcements that will run from Nov. 26-29 before the show opens to the public on Nov. 30.


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Artificial intelligence is transforming logistics
Data-driven and autonomous supply chains will provide an opportunity for “previously unimaginable levels of optimization” in manufacturing, logistics, warehousing and last mile delivery, according to DHL’s 2016 Logistics Trend Radar.
The new report asserts that worldwide supply chains are beginning to undergo a fundamental transformation as more “artificial intelligence” is deployed to handle both the domestic and international movement of goods. The report further states such developments could become a reality in less than five years, despite high set-up costs deterring early adoption within the logistics industry.
Augmented reality (AR) technology is one such development that allows for machine-human interaction and collaboration. One example of this technology in use is “smart glasses” for order picking in logistics (also known as “vision picking”). A pilot program using vision picking by DHL showed a 25% efficiency increase as well as strong positive feedback from the users.
Robotics and automation is another area that will see further adoption within the next five years, particularly “collaborative robots” that work side-by-side with human employees, supporting repetitive and physically demanding tasks in logistics. DHL also said it has made inroads in logistics, with autonomous forklifts and other self-piloted equipment now “reaching a level of maturity” in warehouse operations.
The next step for self-driving vehicles in logistics will be to overcome regulatory and security challenges to deploy autonomous vehicles on public roads, according to the report. While unmanned aerial drone will require more than five years for widespread adoption, DHL believes that some products may no longer be manufactured in large mass-production facilities and shipped around the globe.
Instead, product designs will be digitized and transmitted to small factories closer to the customers, allowing for what DHL dubs “hyper-customization” of products and “batch size one” manufacturing – all requiring new logistics service concepts.
While the “Internet of Things” or “IoT” will also play a large role in more “intelligent supply chains” as well – a trend DHL noted in its trend report last year – security concerns regarding hacking, among other issues, is slowing down its adoption. IoT offers the potential to connect virtually anything to the Internet and accelerate data-driven logistics, DHL stressed; estimating that by 2020, more than 50 billion objects will be connected to the Internet, presenting an “immense” $1.9 trillion opportunity in logistics.
According to DHL, the slower adoption of IoT is largely due to a shortage of standards in the industry, security concerns, and the fact that recent IoT innovations have mainly been developed for the consumer market. Therefore, logistics will have to wait until similar ruggedized versions that meet business requirements come to market.
The digital always-on supply chain is also the subject of the 2016 MHI Annual Industry Report now available for download.


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Beware of the new scam that spammers have thought up. Now they're sending fake e-cards which can trick a recipient into opening a website or even downloading a virus without realizing it. The problem with e-cards is that people are already used to receiving these randomly (since you never know when you might get an e-card) and they have always required that you click the link in the e-mail to get your actual card.
It looks like e-card companies are going to need to address this by only putting the card reference number in the e-mail and making people come to their site directly and enter it instead of using in-email links. Chances are that the e-card companies will be reluctant to do so since any added steps or difficulty will reduce the number of users willing to look at the cards, but they may not have a choice if this scam gets out of hand.
It looks like Consumer Affairs has this story too.


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Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre has forayed into jewellery designing, in association with Pradeep Jethani of Jet Gems brand. The designer has created a rare collection of jadau gold jewellery and named the line Pinkcity.
Anita released a statement in which she described the new line as a natural extension of their fashion line, as jewellery forms an important part of the wedding trousseau.
For the launch, the fashion designer invited her friends from B Town, including Shabana Azmi, Isha Koppikar and Sangeetha Bijlani. Dongre was earlier known for designing women’s wear and was reportedly most excited about creating jewels for the menfolk. The designer might be a well-known name in the world of fashion, but she still took proper training before she began her work as a jewellery designer.


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Below some apps in the market, a text highlighted in red appears: “Recent data from similar devices indicates that this app may stop working on your device.”
Apps may not work properly on a particular smartphone for a variety of reasons, from screen resolution to hardware to Android version.
It is not yet clear when the new feature will be available to all users.
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.


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Gen Z — young adults currently ranging in age from 18 to 24-years-old — is a powerful consumer block. The group spends an estimated $143 billion a year and indirectly influences $333 billion in household spending annually, according to a Barkley report. That’s a lot of dollars up for grabs for brands who know how to connect with this audience.
To help advertisers understand what motivates Gen Z consumers, Facebook commissioned a survey by Crowd DNA, polling 11,300 people ages 18 to 24 from eleven different countries, including the U.S., UK, Australia, Germany, India and Nigeria.
More than half (52%) of the participants from the U.S. said they consider themselves to be “global citizens” — meaning they are aware of the world around them and realize their actions can have global consequences. That number was low compared to other countries like Australia where 90% of the survey participants identified as global citizens and 87% in Nigeria. (Only 40% in Germany identified as global citizens.) Of the eleven countries included in the study, six had more than 60% of Gen Zers identify as global citizens.
“This generation often puts aside its differences and rallies around causes that will benefit the greater good,” wrote Facebook. But, what does this mean for brands?
Gen Z wants brands to be socially conscious. Per the report, 68% of the survey participants expect brands to contribute to society, and 61% said they are willing to pay for more products that were produced in an ethical and
Read more here: https://marketingland.com/want-to-connect-with-the-gen-z-crowd-dont-shy-away-from-social-issues-269572


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El Salvador’s President Najib Boukele announced yesterday that he would send a bill to Congress next week, which would bitcoin will become legal money in the country.
“In the short term, this will create jobs and help the financial integration of thousands outside the formal economy,” Boukele said in a video presented at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami.
Strike, a mobile payment app, has launched on El Salvador In March, it welcomed the bill in a statement and stressed that it was working with the country to successfully use bitcoin technology.
“This is a worldwide rifle for bitcoin,” said Strike founder and CEO Jack Mahlers at the Miami Conference.
“Adopting a digital currency as legal tender provides El Salvador with the most secure, efficient and globally integrated open payment network in the world,” Mahlers said.


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Slow Food USA Blog
Reflections, insights and news about the food movement and “going Slow”
Aug. 2, 2013
In small town squares and big city centers, farmers markets delicately balance new food innovation with old food traditions. These community-centered markets celebrate the dignity of labor that brings nourishment from field to fork, and provide a safe haven for newcomers to become old friends.
Jul. 8, 2013
The Good Food Awards – the first national initiative to recognize American craft food producers who stand out in both taste and sustainability – is looking for America’s best food producers.
Sep. 13, 2012
Lester & Linda L’Hoste have been working to preserve the organic Ark of Taste satsuma on their citrus farm in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and now Isaac.
May. 18, 2012
Want to impact the food system? You can! The House Agriculture Committee is accepting comments until May 20th. Learn more...
Apr. 6, 2012
The Thousand Gardens in Africa project has already engaged 608 communities in developing sustainable food plots. Through funding from Slow Food’s international network, 561 gardens have been adopted so far.


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[ Manila Bulletin Online ] July 22, 2008
By MALOU M. MOZO
CEBU CITY – Momentum Plus, a US-based telecommunications company, is upbeat about the Philippines as a strong market for expansion through its multilevel marketing (MLM) strategy.
It intends to expand its distributor base to 25,000 members by yearend.
Lance Lomako, Momentum Plus chief executive officer, said the company is anticipating that the bulk of its membership growth will be coming from the Visayas area, particularly in Cebu, as the region chalked up a 420 percent increase last year.
"It is the No. 1 performing region in the entire world," Lomako said, but added the country, in general, contributes to about 80 to 90 percent of the company’s development.
Momentum Plus is a networking company with presence in 50 countries. It offers telecommunication services capitalizing on the voice over internet protocol (VoIP), among others.
Its handsets plug directly into one’s computers and USB ports, enabling the users to avail himself of unlimited call worldwide for $ 4.95 per month.
It also provides a portable device that can be used from an internet café while talking for free whether in the Philippines or abroad.
John Cicotte, the company’s chief operations officer, said the huge bulk of overseas Filipino (OFW) market in the country makes it a big market opportunity to grow its customer-base considering the need for many Filipinos to communicate with their families.
At present, Momentum Plus has 5,000 independent owners nationwide, with majority of them are family members and friends working abroad.
OFWs and their dependents here spend not less than $ 100 on phone calls per month, making them a potentially attractive market for Momentum Plus, Lomako said.
He said Momentum Plus’ rate would reduce rates for international calls, especially in the United States, which usually costs $ 0.15- $ 0.17 centavos per minute.
On top of easing telecommunications cost, customers can also earn residual income by participating in the company’s MLM strategy for a membership fee of $ 99.
"We are excited to grow our distribution centers here," Lomako said in a press conference as he bared the company’s plan to enlarge these centers to 100 sites all over the country.


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'Still pent-up demand waiting to be released'
Consumer demand for replacement tires increased slightly in April, and industry analyst Nick Mitchell sees more room for growth as Tier 1 products continue to lead the way.
“Our contacts continue to report that the average tread depth and overall quality of tires coming off light vehicles today remain at lower-than-normal levels. In our opinion these two factors are clearly an indication that there is still pent-up demand waiting to be released,” Mitchell says in the latest Tire Demand Index report. Mitchell is senior vice president of research for Northcoast Research Holdings LLC and the author of Modern Tire Dealer’s monthly Your Marketplace column.
The index measures the demand for tires across the country and includes a monthly poll of approximately 100 independent dealers. The index has been in expansionary territory for 17 of the past 19 months. Mitchell believes the most recent blip in those numbers – in February – was a result of an especially harsh month of winter weather and nothing more.
For the index, a number above 50 shows growth, while a figure lower than 50 shows retraction in the market. For April, the Tire Demand Index was 51.9, just .1 of a point above April.
“Although the index was only slightly above the expansion/contraction threshold in April, it is important to note that this year’s results came on the back of a strong performance in the prior year’s period,” Mitchell says. “We believe that volume trends should improve as weather patterns normalize and the spring and summer maintenance season heats up, especially given the favorable trend in gasoline prices relative to the previous year.”
As has been the case in five of the last seven months, dealers reported the strongest demand for Tier 1 tire brands in April. At the same time, dealers reported a slight shift from Tier 2 to Tier 3 products, “likely reflecting that the downwardly revised terms of the tariffs on Chinese import tires being passed on to end-market tire prices.
“The tariffs continue to narrow the pricing spread and the value proposition between these segments of the market,” Mitchell says.


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Coimbatore, May 19 Textile machinery manufacturing major Lakshmi Machine Works (D.Jayavardhanavelu Chairman and MD) plans to set up a greenfield project in China to manufacture textile spinning machinery.
“It would be a wholly owned subsidiary of LMW and only complement our operations,” LMW’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr Rajendran.
The company has identified three geographies and would select one, Mr Rajendran said, preferring not to reveal the location and estimated investment. He, however, indicated that the company would opt for an industrial park.
“Since the infrastructure in such industrial parks would be in place, though not according to our specifications, the gestation period will not be long. We envisage to kick start the operations in about a year and will start with one product,” he said.
He said the company proposed to mop up the investment partly through equity capital, loan assistance from LMW and borrowings in China.
Asked why China, Mr Rajendran said “it is the largest consumer of textile machinery with an installed spindleage of 90 million, compared to 38 million spindles in India. We cannot afford to keep out of China.”
Reverting to performance, he said the company has not effected a price revision in the last three years.
LMW posted a net profit of Rs 60 crore for the quarter ended March 2008 compared with Rs 68.62 crore the corresponding quarter of the earlier fiscal, its top line increased to Rs 603.99 crore (Rs 549.18 crore). The board recommended a final dividend of Rs 25 equity share of Rs 10 each for 2007-08 , taking the total to Rs 450 against Rs 400 a share in 2006-07.
Asked if the company was contemplating a price revision, Mr Rajendran said “we want to watch the steel price movement. It has not stabilised yet.”
Can LMW afford to maintain the price at the existing levels? “If there is an unabated increase in the cost of inputs, we would probably review. But, the prices are market-driven today and not based on production cost.”
To tide over such situations, the company constantly evolved and rolled out newer products. “Such roll outs add value and absorb a portion of the increase in cost,” he said.
LMW has exhibited three new products — both in the preparatory and spinning line — at the Munich show this year. These are expected to be introduced to the India market soon.
He admitted that the operational costs had gone up by 2- 2.5 per cent in the last one year, but VAT and deemed export due to EPCG benefit went a long way in helping the company tide over the crisis.
Mr Rajendran further said that LMW benefited from the interest earnings. The company has parked over Rs 500 crore in banks and the interest from these deposits “is better”.
In keeping pace with demand, the company has reduced its delivery period from 24 and 30 months to just about a year now. “We take about 8 to 10 months for projects and 4 to 8 months on unitary demand proposals. Invariably, we negotiate and refix delivery schedules.”
To a query on the market prospects, he said “we may not grow as in the past. TUF has been a driving force. We however are confident of maintaining our present market share of 60 to 63 per cent. The present lull is only a temporary phenomenon. The mills would have to eventually modernise, automate and upgrade their plant and machinery to sustain, grow and compete. And, we will introduce newer value added products at regular intervals.”


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Elon Musk gives Labor secretary a Giga-tour
Elon Musk hosted Labor Secretary Marty Walsh yesterday at Tesla's Gigafactory Texas outside Austin, during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival.
The big picture: The visit came just ahead of a planned April 7 grand opening for the $1.1 billion plant, which is also Tesla headquarters.
I'm told the 75-minute conversation at 1 Tesla Road included inflation, American innovation and, of course, job creation in Texas.
- Musk said he wants to keep the conversation going.
Walsh speaks Monday at SXSW.
- Watch a 1-min. time-lapse drone video of the Gigafactory construction.


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- by Mariella Moon09.13.2023
Scarecrow, the largest independent video store in the US, has launched its own rent-by-mail service that will send DVDs and Blu-ray discs straight to your door.
- by Saqib Shah08.20.2021
Neon Genesis Evangelion is getting its first Blu-ray release in North America as part of a limited edition box set.
- by Kris Naudus03.02.2021
Star Trek fans rejoice as animated parody 'Lower Decks' hits Blu-ray this May, with plenty of special features and a steelbook edition.
- by Jon Fingas06.28.2020
A software engineer has discovered that you can 'hack' the PlayStation 2 to play homebrew games by feeding it specially crafted DVDs.
- by Kris Naudus03.04.2020
The PlayStation 2 was the first game console I ever bought. Heck, it was the first big ticket item I ever bought, period. That was a big deal at a time when I was only making $135 a week, and most of that cash was going toward college costs: tuition, textbooks and transportation. So I had to save up for months, while also finding a way to justify the high cost to myself (and my skeptical mother). The PS2 had one trump card in its deck, one thing that I could point at and say, "Look, it's not just a game machine, I didn't waste my money on such a single-use luxury!" It could play DVDs. It was in fact, my first DVD player.
- by Jon Fingas11.16.2019
Disney's lawsuit against Redbox is over, and it's not great news for Redbox. The two sides have agreed to a settlement that will have Redbox stop the sale of movie download codes from Disney disc packs. Attorneys for Disney had accused Redbox of violating copyright by offering the codes separately from the discs that went into rental kiosks. Redbox had accused Disney of anti-competitive behavior and succeeded in thwarting a preliminary injunction that would have blocked sales, but its defense fell apart after Disney reworked the disc packs' terms to make code access contingent on how you bought the movies rather than physical ownership.
- by Jon Fingas08.26.2019
Streaming dominates Netflix's universe, but don't think its disc-based service is dead yet -- in fact, it just marked a big milestone. The other part of Netflix's business just shipped its 5 billionth disc (Rocketman, if you're curious) 21 years after deliveries began. Many of those discs shipped back when streaming was just a nice-to-have bonus at Netflix, but it's still a significant achievement at a time when fewer and fewer people have disc players.
- by Kris Holt06.17.2019
The latest episode of Netflix variety talk show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj focuses on the digital divide. In it, Minhaj breaks down some of the many reasons why internet access is so terrible across much of the US, including the roles of carriers and the Federal Communications Commission.
- by Amrita Khalid06.12.2019
Lionsgate has signed a multi-year agreement with Redbox on its titles, including day-and-date distribution for its discs. Films from the studio will be available to rent at Redbox's 42,000 kiosks on the same day they go on sale. It's a good sign for the DVD rental operator, which continues to stay in business despite declines in disc sales and rentals since the advent of streaming.
- by David Lumb06.27.2018
Redbox's new deal with Warner Bros. to make all its movies available for rental the day they're released on home video. The previous agreement delayed arrivals until a week after they'd come out for consumer market. Now, not only can folks pick them up on DVD in the company's signature kiosks, they can also access them via the provider's Redbox On Demand service.
- by Daniel Cooper06.22.2018
When the histories of this golden age of television are written, they will likely begin with The Sopranos. But that would be a mistake because the template a lot of modern-day TV copies was instead created by Babylon 5. A decade before The Wire would be hailed as a "novel for television," B5 was a hyper-serialized grand story that was conceived as a single five-year epic.
- by Jon Fingas12.19.2017
Do you miss the days when finding a movie to watch meant browsing the local video store, hoping that you'd stumble across some rare gem? Alamo Drafthouse sure does. After amassing collections from small shops, the enthusiast-driven theater chain is opening a "reimagining" of rental stores, Video Vortex, that will sit in the lobby of the company's future Raleigh location. It'll include Blu-ray and DVD titles, but the real highlight will be a "massive" selection of rare VHS tapes, some of which never made the leap to digital. Alamo will even rent you a VCR (complete with an RCA-to-HDMI adapter), since you probably don't have one hooked up to your 4K TV.
- by Timothy J. Seppala12.01.2017
Disney isn't too happy with Redbox at the moment. The short-term movie rental service has been selling the download codes that come with the Disney discs it buys and subsequently lends out to customers. The Wall Street Journal reports that unlike other studios, Redbox doesn't have a distribution deal in place with Disney and as a result, it has to buy discs at retail. Then, it sells the download slips to customers at its kiosks for between $7.99 and $14.99.
- by Jamie Rigg10.26.2017
When the Sky Store's "Buy & Keep" option first launched in 2014, it offered the best of both worlds: A digital copy of a film (and later, TV box sets) to download and watch immediately, followed by a physical DVD copy to add to your collection when it eventually turned up in the post. Times have changed since then, though, and these days physical disc sales are dwindling as streaming and downloads become ever more popular. Embracing this shift, Sky is changing how Buy & Keep works this week, allowing you to sack off the DVD or Blu-ray copy for a cheaper, digital-only purchase.
- by Mallory Locklear10.25.2017
Earlier this year, Netflix released a new app that allows users to manage their DVD queues. That feature had previously been available on Netflix apps until an update in 2011 removed it, but surprisingly the now separate DVD portion of Netflix is still profitable and used by around four million people. So while it may have seemed like a "why now" sort of move, it apparently made sense with so many people still choosing to rent DVDs. However, that app was released in January and only for iOS and it has taken until now for the company to release an Android version.
- by Saqib Shah08.02.2017
The cult of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 is currently in full swing. There's the gleefully cheesy Netflix revival, which came off the back of a successful Kickstarter from the show's creator Joel Hodgson. And, Twitch recently aired a six-day long MST3K binge-fest for b-movie devotees. While streaming services have stepped in to continue its legacy, those seeking physical copies of the show are in for a hard time. Distributor Shout! Factory's plans to release more DVDs of the series just hit a speed bump. In a post on the show's Facebook page, it claims that MST3K Volume 39 will "likely" be the last collection of unreleased episodes of the show.
- by Jon Fingas05.14.2017
Redbox has spent years trying to reduce its dependence on disc rentals, and not without reason. You don't have much as incentive to rent from a kiosk when online video (including from Redbox) is just a heartbeat away. That doesn't mean the company is giving up on the idea, though -- in fact, it just made a fresh commitment to the concept. CEO Galen Smith has revealed that Redbox will add a net total of 1,500 new DVD kiosks across the US, and will add more still in 2018. Don't think of this as an attempt to pretend the internet doesn't exist, mind you. Instead, it's about a smarter use of resources.


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Internet gambling (and perhaps gaming companies) got a huge present from Santa over the Christmas weekend, in the form of a Justice Department ruling that may open the door to legalizing Internet gambling.
The Justice Department issued a legal opinion that the Wire Act of 1961, prohibiting wagering on telecommunication systems that cross state and national borders, does not apply to states selling lottery tickets to its citizens to adults within its own borders.
Internet gambling is not yet legal, but the door is open. If you don’t think this has an impact on the world on online and social gaming, then you’re betting on the wrong horse.
Here’s why. The freemium (free-to-play) model is the biggest thing to happen to the entire games industry, because it makes more money than everything else. That’s a fact. Yet, less than five percent of all gamers pay for virtual items (Zynga admitted one to three percent tops in its public documents). And online gambling dwarfs the virtual item revenue model, which is estimated at $100 billion (and that’s the number when it’s illegal).
Social, mobile, and online game companies will be tempted to jump on the Internet gambling bandwagon, because frankly, it’d be a small jump.
Most social games are designed around the same addictive principles behind the design of casino games. Next time you play a Zynga game, click on the little coins that appear, close your eyes, and tell me it does not sound like a slot machine. Most social games have a mini-game where you spin a wheel to earn a prize. This is not a coincidence.
This is by design.
There are a lot of roadblocks.
One, Internet gambling has to be made officially legal in the US. Congress has to jump in and decide on the rules of what is and is not legal based on the latest Justice Department decision. Though Congress deserves an “F” grade on understanding anything about technology (see the latest SOPA debate fiasco), they get an “A” on accepting lobbying money, and casinos have a lot of lobbyists to make things happen.
Two, Facebook and Apple are the gatekeepers in the US for social games and surely they will place limitations due to the age restrictions and possible moral issues (I neglect to mention Google since they are hands-off with Android). Neither company will allow gambling on any app sold within their system soon, but if there is momentum outside their walled gardens and it is made legal, all bets are off.
Three, game companies will have to make the decision whether they want to cross to the dark side of Internet gambling to make more money. There is already an addiction issue with social games where the money is virtual. Once you add gambling to social games, you are opening the floodgates to addictive gamblers everywhere as well as sucking in kids into online gambling at a much younger age.
Today, game addiction is an issue to be concerned about. Add gambling to the social gaming mix, and you have the making of a gambling epidemic.
Internet gambling will be made legal in 2012 because the first legal barrier has been broken, US states need to raise revenues for their budget deficits, and politicians are too weak to do the right thing (it is easier to create a nation of gambling addicts than raise taxes).
The question is: what will game companies do? If I were a gambling man (and I do like to play an occasional hand of Blackjack…legally of course), I’d place my bet on following the money.
Image courtesy JoelK75.


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Médecins Sans Frontières UK, Tastemade and Rexona are DMAAE winners
The European brands, agencies, media companies and technology providers that succeeded in the past year did so in the face of ever-expanding privacy regulations, the death of cookies and an increasingly omnichannel content environment — not to mention other global upheavals that upended standard models for content creation, distribution and revenue generation.
Despite all these challenges, winners of the 2020 Digiday Marketing and Advertising Awards Europe — presented by MoPub, a Twitter company — served their audiences with the right messages at the right times. They did so with a relentless willingness to experiment, an unparalleled understanding of data and technology and an enthusiastic embrace of new storytelling tactics designed to reach younger audiences.
Crafted and MSF UK — Supporting the frontline of humanitarian care: Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is widely lauded for its efforts to provide medical aid wherever it’s most needed, including conflict zones and natural disaster areas. MSF UK turned to the creative agency Crafted for a new campaign supporting the organization’s Emergency Team, which always deploys within 72 hours. Winning for Best Social Good Campaign, the effort included display, video, audio and social components, and successfully encouraged audiences to contribute donations. When it comes to social good, MSF UK and Crafted proved that a successful marketing campaign can help save lives.
Tastemade and Castello: Winning for both Best Media Plan and Best B2C Branded Content Series, Tastemade partnered with cheese brand Castello — along with creative agency Mother — to launch an innovative new campaign that replaced traditional advertising and native storytelling with a long-form, episodic series exploring the science of taste. The winners proved that telling a compelling story — one that utilizes expert sources and explores intriguing themes — can be infinitely more effective than a brief native ad. Engagement is everything.
Rexona, Initiative Russia and Unilever Russia — ‘Generation Z chooses Rexona’: When Deodorant brand Rexona recognized that the entire European deodorant market lacked effective products for teens, the brand sprang into action to reach the increasingly important demographic. And while Rexona — winner for Best Brand/Influencer Collaboration — already enjoyed success amongst adults, efforts to reach Gen Z demanded new approaches, including a new line geared entirely toward teens and a TikTok-focused influencer campaign to back it. The brand enlisted influencer Katya Adushkina as a brand ambassador, and embraced a message of healthy living and self-improvement. Rexona ultimately recognized the need for growth — and wisely recognized that Gen Z was finally ready for its product.
Explore all the winners of the 2020 Digiday Marketing and Advertising Awards Europe below. In each section, you’ll find a quick rundown of the campaigns, along with insights into why they won and what we can learn from them. You can also download the full guide here.
More in Awards
Typeface, Reveal Mobile, Calendly, Minute Media and Yahoo are among this year’s Digiday Technology Awards finalists
Micro-personalization with AI, e-commerce technology, privacy compliance and partnerships proved the driving factors for success in this year’s Digiday Technology Awards shortlist. As the judges’ choices illustrate, the submissions that came in a cut above demonstrated brands’ passion for balancing data privacy and highly effective personalization — adopting technologies and integrating with partners to achieve […]
The 2023 Digiday Media Awards featured a rising tide of collaborative brand partnerships and influencer collaborations. This year’s winners also used emerging tech to revitalize the customer experience, prioritizing diversity and inclusivity. One program that hit on both themes secured two wins — one for Best Branded Content Program (B2C) and one for Best Custom Advertising […]
The Brazilian Report, Paramount Brand Studio, New York Times Advertising and The Wall Street Journal are among the 2023 Digiday Media Awards finalists
Personalization, authenticity and inclusivity emerged as significant themes among this year’s Digiday Media Awards shortlist. With the expansion of digital media’s global reach and influence, brands are recognizing the importance of investing in emerging channels to engage diverse communities. The Brazilian Report was shortlisted for several categories, including Best Podcast for its weekly series, ‘Explaining […]
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With the U.S. economy and employment growing robustly in 2021 and 2022, interest rates remaining low by historical standards, many of the supply-side constraints that held back housing over the past half-decade resolved, and high pent-up demand, Jannke says that he expects housing starts will continue to grow from an average of 1.584 million units in 2021 to 1.618 million in 2022. Ultimately, he expects lumber prices will continue to be volatile in 2022.
News in covid 19
USDA to Issue Final Pandemic Payments to Timber Harvesters and Haulers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Thursday (12-2-21) it will begin issuing final pandemic assistance payments to timber harvesters and timber hauling businesses through the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers (PATHH) program starting next week. In total, $200 million will be provided to loggers and log trucking businesses.
Chinese City of Manzhouli Temporarily Halts Rail Imports After a Sudden Spike in COVID-19 Cases
Starting on Wednesday (12-1-21), authorities said its railway port will “suspend the import of non-containerized goods including timber, coal, mineral powder, chemical fertilizers, and other products that require manual loading and unloading.” The aim is to “strengthen prevention and control” of the outbreak at ports and “effectively block the spread of overseas epidemics through imported goods.”
EACOM Timber Corp. Resumes Production at Timmins Ontario Sawmill After COVID-19 Outbreak
EACOM Timber Corp. has announced that their Timmins sawmill is back in operation after a temporary shutdown last week due to a COVID-19 outbreak that was reported on May 12, 2021 at the site. The sawmill is currently running one shift instead of the usual two.
EU27 +UK Imports of Plywood Drop for Second Year in a Row
Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the United Kingdom (UK) leaving the European Union (EU) has resulted in the EU27 +UK in -7% decrease of plywood and other woods in 2020, this on the heals of a -14% decline in 2019.
Fannie Mae Tightens Standards Loans on Investment Property
In a letter sent to sellers on Wednesday (3-10-21), Fannie Mae, the government sponsored entity (GSE), said it was tightening the underwriting criteria for second homes and investment properties.
New Family Home Size Stabilize in Q4 2020 as Pandemic Shifts Consumer Preferences
According to Q4 2020 data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Starts and Completion by Purpose and Design and analysis provide by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), new home sizes did level off in 2020 after years of decline. This was driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and home buyers’ need for additional space as people use their homes for more purposes.
Construction Job Openings End 2020 Lower
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that the unemployment rate fell by 0.4% point to 6.3% in January, while nonfarm payroll employment changed little (+49,000).
Total Consumer Credit Ends 2020 Flat
According to the latest (2-5-21) Federal Reserve’s G.19 Report, the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the consumer credit’s trajectory growth rate for all of 2020. Revolving credit, of which credit card debt is a major component, shrank by -11.2% over the year, while nonrevolving credit increased 3.9%, thus producing an overall growth rate of 0.0%.
Canadian Unemployment Increases 0.6% in January to 9.4%
Statistics Canada (StatCan) is reporting that January employment fell by 213,000 or -1.2%. The decline in January followed a 53,000 decline or -0.3% in December, bring employment to its lowest level since August 2020. Most of the January losses were in part-time work and concentrated in the Ontario and Quebec retail sectors and in Newfoundland and Labrador.


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According to notices issued by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) so far this month, seven new projects totaling more than $81 million have been approved. Five of the projects are in the manufacturing of textiles, while the other two are in the production of light bulbs.
The CDC, the government’s top body for major investment decisions, says that the seven ventures will generate an estimated 12,173 new jobs, in the most recent notification on January 16.
The factories of Technomate (Cambodia) Precision Metal Co Ltd and Technomate (Cambodia) Technology Co Ltd will manufacture light bulbs, solar lights, and electrical appliances, respectively, as well as LED, string, and solar lights, plastics, and repair tools.
Each of these projects, which are both located in the Svay Rieng Giga Resource Special Economic Zone (SEZ), has a registered investment capital of $10 million and a projected employment benefit of 750 people.
On the textiles front, the $36.6 million apparel factory of Aroma Success Garment Co Ltd in Kampong Speu province’s Samrong Tong district and the $8.8 million bag and footwear plant of Qi Heng Xin Factory Co Ltd along National Road 21 in Kandal province’s Takhmao town will generate 3,158 and 2,930 new jobs, respectively.
The CDC predicts that Windara International Co Ltd’s $5.4 million knapsack, sleeping bag, tent, apparel, and bedding factory, Yue Wing Cheong Manufactory Co Ltd’s $5.4 million bag venture, and Xin Shun Jie (Cambodia) Leather Co Ltd’s $5.2 million bag and apparel plant will generate 2,714, 738, and 1,133 new jobs, respectively, in Kampong Speu’s Kong Pisei district.
The Ministry of Commerce lists Greater China addresses for all seven enterprises except Qi Heng Xin Factory, which could not be located in the company record at the time of publication. Taiwan was responsible for registration for Aroma Success Garment and Windara International, while mainland China is responsible for the remaining four.
The cumulative total FDI inflows into the Kingdom between August 5, 1994 and December 31, 2021, according to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), were reported at 168.8 trillion riel ($41.0 billion), up 11.2% from the roughly 152 trillion riel recorded at the end of 2020.
By industry, manufacturing came in second ($8.5 billion; 20.8%), real estate was third ($4.9 billion; 12%), hotels and restaurants were fourth ($4.4 billion; 10.7%), agriculture was fifth ($4.2 billion; 10.3%), electricity was sixth ($2.6 billion; 6.2%), and construction was seventh ($1.6 billion; 4.1%). Other industries made up $5.3 billion, or 13.0%, of the total.
Source: PhnomPenh Post


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A 3D car configurator by ZeroLight has been shortlisted for The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) 2015 Award for Innovation.
UK car production increased by 15.5% in September to 158,281 units, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The amount of cars the UK produces will reach over two million vehicles by 2020, beating the former high of the 1970s.
Light commercial vehicle registrations saw a 19.6% increase to 65,453 units during the plate change month of September.
Automotive Management Live: Where franchised and independent dealers will find everything they need to know about operating a modern showroom and service and repair facility fit for the digital age.
When: November 12 2020
Where: Birmingham NEC
Find out what features are in this month's, and future, issues


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SEATTLE Starbucks Corp. pledged today to rid the milk and dairy products served in its cafes of recombinant bovine growth hormone, a synthetic compound injected into cows to increase their milk output, according to media reports. The 8,500-unit coffee chain has been under pressure from bloggers and activists to discontinue its use of milk or other products containing the hormone, which is commonly known as rBGH. Last summer an alliance of 30 activist groups choreographed a 23-city ...
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The Mean Weenie, a food truck serving creative twists on traditional hot dogs, has officially gone brick-and-mortar. The restaurant opened on Monday morning along Livernois Avenue in Troy. Owner Chris Matthews and his wife Tracy Antenucci launched the business four seasons ago and have grown quickly, adding a smaller trailer last year. The company signed a lease on the former China Gourmet building in February and have spent the last three months transforming the space.
The 1,800-square foot restaurant offers takeout as well as approximately 12 seats indoors and additional picnic table seating outside. Diners can expect the truck's standard menu, which includes signature dogs served with toppings like wasabi ginger coleslaw and macaroni & cheese. The company has also expanded its offerings to include a selection of desserts, tater tots with toppings, and shakes made with Treat Dreams ice cream.
The Mean Weenie plans to continue operating its mobile business for catering, food truck rallies, and other events. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday.


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The small print on the Xbox One website has revealed that voice commands won’t be supported in all countries at launch.
In fact, only five of the thirteen countries getting the Xbox One on the November release date will actually be able to use the voice commands using Kinect.
Microsoft has already delayed the Xbox One release date in eight countries across the world due to localisation and language support for the dashboard and Kinect, but now it seems that those countries that will be getting the next-generation console this November won’t be able to unleash its full capabilities straight away.
In the small print of the official Xbox One website’s “Get the Facts” page, it reads:
This means only the US, UK, Canada, France and Germany will have access to the Xbox One voice commands.
Gamers in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and New Zealand will lack access to Xbox One voice commands.
Failing to give any reason as to why the above countries will miss out on the feature, it seems strange that Microsoft would delay a functionality it made such a feature of during the Xbox One unveiling back in May.
Usually, gamers would be able to instantly change channels, access menus, start games and more on the Xbox One. However, it seems that Xbox One gamers in the majority of launch countries will have to do all of that using the Xbox One Wireless Controller.
Of course, the Xbox One can function completely without Kinect, and now doesn’t require the peripheral to plugged in all the time. However, Microsoft has always reiterated the importance of Kinect to complete the Xbox One experience.
“We have no plans to introduce an Xbox One without Kinect,” said a Microsoft spokeperson. “We believe in Kinect and the value it brings to both games and entertainment, and believe $499 (£429 in the UK) is a great value for what consumers receive with their Xbox One.”
Next, read 7 reasons why the Xbox One is better than the PS4.


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Supported by Greenhaven Road Capital, finding value off the beaten path.
In a Real Vision interview, Marc Cohodes said he was now friends with Rick Federico of P.F. Chang who called him and said, ‘Whatever your issues, at least reach out to me first.’ Cohodes was impressed by this, by a leader who welcomes good arguments.
Who’s this Federico guy? I wondered. Thanks to the serendipity of search I found his talk with Patrick Doyle, former CEO of Domino’s Pizza and it was fantastic.
Doyle oversaw a revitalization of Domino’s Pizza, with stock market returns that rival any FAANG save Netflix.
Domino’s Pizza is a great story, starting in Michigan in the 1960s and pioneering home delivery. Before we get into the notes on Doyle we should note the half-century build up for food delivery. Christopher Payne, COO of DoorDash, called the switch to convenience from experience is “the biggest shift in commerce.”
The economic of everything is changing. Both ride sharing and meal delivery have affected restaurants said, Dave Chang. What took so long is that food delivery was too early until it wasn’t. Brian McCullough said, “The lesson of the early internet is that sometimes just good enough technology is good enough.”
Before mobile lots of business like Instagram, Airbnb, and Uber weren’t businesses, they were ideas. Timing matters.
But that cuts both ways. Domino’s Pizza had to change too. Doyle said in 2011:
“Are you willing to view the dislocation we had in our economy as an opportunity to drive change and innovation in your business, or do you take a very conservative view and say, ‘Times are tough so we’re going to ride this out until things go back to how they were.’ The people who are taking that approach are going to fail.”
After lackluster years of 2006 and 2007, Patrick Doyle and the Domino’s Pizza team needed to transform. Unlike school, there’s more than one way to solve a problem. Domino’s Pizza might have succeeded in any number of ways. What they actually did was these four things.
- Change the culture, remove silos.
- Improve the pizza, but don’t perfect it.
- Use social media, don’t hog the brand.
- Build the future around data and technology.
Listen on iTunes, Overcast, or Soundcloud.
It wasn’t that Domino’s Pizza was bad so much as badly perceived. “All the research told us that our pizza was as good as our national competitors. The bad news was that once you put our brand on that pizza consumers thought less of it.”
Domino’s had negative brand equity. People liked it less if they knew who made it. In third-party research, they also found out that “We were tied for taste with those fine purveyors of fine dining over at Charles E. Cheese.” As any sane parent knows, nothing good comes from Chuck E. Cheese.
Good feedback is hard to get and fatal if you don’t. Two stellar sellers are Jenn Hyman and Peter Rahal who each hounded their customers in test after test asking is this best?
Knowing about the pizza problem was only half the battle. Domino’s had to come up with a solution but they had the to a hammer everything looks like a nail problem.
Doyle’s predecessor, Dave Brandon “inherited perfect silos.” The company needed new ideas. They needed what Greg Lindsay spoke about, “Google started a beekeeping club so that engineers who are interested in beekeeping might meet each other and actually have discussions about unrelated subjects.”
Domino’s Pizza started promoting from within, transferring around, and changing the culture. “We’ve established a program bringing people in early in their careers, starting them in stores learning the basics of the business and then moving them around.”
Some solutions are intellectuizable – I think therefore I get.
Other problems you have to feel to understand. Robert Cialdini told Barry Ritholtz, “I realized that in a laboratory with college students I was missing the power of these (Influence) techniques.” Mike Lombardi wrote, “Blackboard coaching is a killer.”
Domino’s Pizza’s transfers, promotions, and scrambles led to better empathy, stronger teams, and a challenge culture. “We have a lot of really nice people who play well with each other, have a high level of trust, and challenge each other.” That challenge is important. James Mattis said to protect the mavericks in your service, the ones that upset people in the bureaucracy, “because if they are not nurtured in your service, the enemy will bring their contrary ideas to you.”
Good arguments, said Geoff Mulgan, are “one of the things which is essential to collective intelligence.” Warren Buffett likes Carol Loomis because she’ll tell him when he’s full of baloney.
But good arguments take time and respect, two things Domino’s cultivated as they grew from within. Doyle said, “If you trust the people you work with you can get twice as much work done.”
With the plan for new roles and experiences as well as employees that respect each other, Domino’s Pizza was ready for a decentralized command structure. “Decisions that come to me that have an 80-90% probability of being correct should not have gotten to me, that decision should have been made a long time ago.”
Alex Blumberg was in a similar situation to that of Doyle when he started Gimlet Media and immediately tried to arrange a workable structure. “I don’t have the right information to make every decision so you have to set up a process for who’s making a decision and how they are making it.”
Doyle said about a hypothetical one million dollar investment with a 50/50 chance of working out but a ten million dollar payoff, “We will do that all day long.” He wants the Domino’s employees to be empowered. He needed to provide top-down support. Here’s Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN on this idea:
Chris Douvos got this advice, “But David Salem said to me, ‘I want you to be unafraid of being wrong and alone because if you’re unafraid of being wrong and alone every now and then you’re going to be right and alone and that’s the box where fortune and glory reside.'”
When Domino’s decided to change the Pizza Doyle said, “The folks were told that you can change anything, everything is on the table. And two years they came back with the answer and the answer was that they changed everything.”
And he went with it. That’s what Netflix does too. Ted Sarandos said that they don’t use their data to make shows, they use their data to find directions and director but once something is done they put it on the platform as is.
Domino’s new pizza didn’t have to be great. Taste is not their point of differentiation, service was. The pie had to be good enough.
Quantifying ‘consumer preferences’ makes it seem real, tangible. It’s not. Humans are funky and full of contradictions interpersonally and intrapersonally. Quantifying leads to numbers and numbers lead to mathematics which interacts terribly with psychology.
The Wharton Moneyball often notes the non-transitive nature of sports. If Team A defeats Team B and Team B defeats Team C then Team A must be better than Team C. But based on the labyrinthian tie-breaker systems the different leagues have this can’t be true. Ditto for consumers.
Consumers ‘think fast’ and most decisions are binary, like pass/fail in college rather than graded.
Domino’s Pizza didn’t need to enter the top-quartile of pizzas so much as be more edible. Many cheeses, doughs, and sauces later they had a New and Improved Pizza.
But ‘New and Improved’, “…is wallpaper. People don’t pay any attention when brands say, ‘We’ve got this new product and it’s new and improved.'”
“One of the lessons is that great communication uses tension.”
Domino’s Pizza needed breakthrough (attention) and persuasion (action). “We finally landed on honesty, to accept the criticism and play it right back to consumers.” And this, the most important thing in the Domino’s transition, “What we think about our pizza doesn’t matter. What our customers think about our pizza matters a lot.”
Doyle points out that Domino’s brand is like a Modern Monopoly, it is what the customers say it is. Brian McCullough said this about eBay, “They were the first company who succeeded with the business model of the platform, of whatever the users are doing.”
Domino’s Oh Yes We Did campaign was one of honesty, action, and tension. But the effects went beyond the marketing. “What it did culturally was probably more important than what it did for consumers. If you’re trying to create a culture where people are comfortable taking risks, the most powerful way is to do it publicly, to consumers, and that is who we are (publicly and privately) and that energized the organization.”
With a new pizza and a new plan Domino’s created this ad:
“We put this ad on the air and our sales were up double-digit the first week.” It was much bigger than Doyle and his team expected and it showed them something else. “People trust each other. They don’t trust big institutions.”
Doyle said in the old days they could spend money “and we could tell people what the truth was.” That’s not true anymore. Now, “What consumers say about the brand is the brand.”
Social media now leads the thinking at Domino’s marketing. But they still follow David Ogilvy‘s advice and talk to consumers.
When Domino’s expanded their menu to include artisan pizzas they noticed that it was a healthier offering. Could they sell that? Nope. “As we tested the different ways of marketing it, the taste as the primary focus was the most compelling.” People want pizza that’s easy to get, doesn’t cost too much and tastes good – whatever that means to them.
Part of ease means tech and Domino’s is looking more like a technology company. “Over half the people working in our headquarters work in technology.” Doyle also said, “We now base our decisions around customer behavior and we test everything.” That’s something Andrew Ng would be proud of, who noted that being a technology company means acting like a technology company.
Chris Dixon and Fred Wilson talked about the difficulty of finding the next killer app but with examples like Domino’s we get a glimpse of what it kinda-sorta looks like. It’s native and does things in a new way. Like ordering, “We will look back in ten years and say that thumbing things into a tiny screen is the most absurd interface.”
So Domino’s is invested in voice. So Domino’s has Hot Spots. So Domino’s will A/B test new ideas. They removed the internal silos and the company flourished by getting feedback, pushing ideas up, and embracing social.
Thanks for reading.
6 thoughts on “Patrick Doyle”
[…] also need to think in terms of sharing. Patrick Doyle of Dominos and Ashley McCollum of Tasty both say that consumers now own the brand. Chen said, […]
[…] Patrick Doyle of Domino’s faced this problem during the pizza company’s turnaround. In blind taste tests, people liked Domino’s pizza more if they didn’t know it came from Domino’s. If you put the name on the box, it was about as good as Chuck E Cheese participants said. […]
[…] brains and surveys reported liking Pepsi more. If asked, participants said they liked Coke. Like Dominos pizza, Pepsi had negative brand equity when compared to […]
[…] blind-taste-test shows home important branding, labels, and marketing is for consumer goods from Domino’s Pissa to […]
[…] Domino’s Pizza turnaround was built around changing the culture, improving but not perfecting the pizza, allowing […]
[…] strategy is homeotelic, single actions work toward multiple goals. Aldi has a good strategy. Dominos has a good strategy. Trinny of London has a good […]


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Crypto personality: There will be no bull market for bitcoin this year
Joel Birch, co-founder of the crypto investment platform Stacked and a popular Twitter personality, does not believe that bitcoin will see any...
Low volumes and the markets trade pretty much horizontal.
The last 24 hours was pretty calm for the crypto markets around the world, both regarding prices and volume. A good example of this is bitcoin (-0,06%), which now trades at an almost identical price as it did 24 hours ago. The rest of the top five shows similar patterns.
The only winner on the top five was xrp (+0,27%), while bitcoin cash (-2,81%) and ethereum (-1,64%) lost almost as much as they gained the previous 24 hours.
The price of one bitcoin is now 3 661,41 dollar.
On the top 100 list, the biggest winners was populous (+14,77%) and repo (+13,60%), while hypercash (-14,72%) and buggyre coin zero (-10,80%) was the biggest losers.
*All numbers in this article are from Coinmarketcap.com.
The US cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has been granted a banking license in the state of Wyoming. This opens up a number of opportunities for the...
The suspected multi-level marketing (MLM) fraud Mirror Trading International seems to be spreading in Sweden.


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Overall TIV for the passenger vehicle closed at 533,202 units in 2018, a 3.6% rise as a result of the tax-free period along with new launches
By RAHIMI YUNUS / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL
Perodua and Mazda were the big winners among passenger car players last year, taking over a size-able market from other popular brands including Honda, Proton and Toyota, amid uncertainties which unfolded during the historical election year.
Based on the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) figures, Perusahaan Otomotif Kedua Sdn Bhd’s (Perodua) market share rose 2.8% to 42.8% last year.
Bermaz Auto Bhd (BAuto), the OEM for Mazda, increased its market share by 1.2% to 3% during the same period.
In terms of sales volume, Perodua sold 227,243 units in 2018, up 10.9% from 204,887 in 2017, while Mazda saw its volume jumped 66.8% from 9,454 units to 15,765.
The bulk of the deliveries were boosted by Perodua’s new Myvi which was launched in November 2017 and the sales momentum glided into 2018.
Similarly, BAuto’s success story was largely driven by the new CX-5, which was launched in October 2017.
Mazda strode two steps upwards to the sixth position in market share rank, relegating the country’s leading premium brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW one rank down to the seventh and eighth positions respectively.
The SUV CX-5 sales volume rose to 15,765 units, primarily during the three-month tax holiday and the model achieved a 66.8% jump in volume in 2018 from the previous year.
“The zero-Goods and Services Tax (GST) from June to August 2018 helped increase our sales. Our stra-tegy of selling and absorbing the Sales and Services Tax post-GST period announced in July helped propelled our sales volume,” BAuto CEO Datuk Francis Lee told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR).
On hindsight, 2017 was not a great year for the BAuto as it pared down outgoing models.
Meanwhile, Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Proton Holdings Bhd and UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd saw a decline in volume and market share last year, but still held the second, third and fourth rank in terms of market share respectively as in 2017.
Nissan, which is placed in fifth position, enlarged its sales volume last year by 10.3% to 21,956 cars at a total 3.9% market share.
Other carmakers registered negligible changes in terms of sales volume, which hardly rocked the market’s dynamic.
“It is within expectations as Honda, Proton and Toyota did not launch any new models like Perodua and Mazda,” TA Securities Holdings Bhd analyst Abel Goon told TMR.
Honda, the No 1 non-national car brand in Malaysia, captured a 19.2% market share, ahead of Proton’s 12.1% and Toyota’s 8.1%.
JF Apex Securities Bhd analyst Nursuhaiza Hashim said Perodua and Mazda may have an advantage in terms of car design and pricing.
“I think they offer designs which are market complementary with more sophisticated models at affordable prices. Mazda’s pricing does not differ much from Honda and Toyota cars in the same segment,” Nursuhaiza told TMR.
In the premium segment, Volvo Car Malaysia Sdn Bhd and BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd recorded double-digit growth in volume and outpaced Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
Volvo’s sales gained 34.8% to 1,384 cars, while BMW soared 13.1% to 12,008 new owners in Malaysia.
Mercedes-Benz sold over 13,000 cars in 2018, a 9% increase to a record year consecutively since 2014.
Overall, total industry volume for the passenger vehicle closed at 533,202 units in 2018, climbed 3.6% as a result of the tax-free period along with new launches.
This year, MAA forecasts a flat growth of 0.15% to 534,000 cars on the back of challenging economic and environmental factors.
Carmakers are expected to step up their game as competition heightened in a static consumers’ demand.
The two national automakers Perodua and Proton entered the SUV market to seize new breed of consumers to the brands, while breaking into the current players’ market.
BAuto is expected to launch at least two new SUVs — the Mazda CX-8 and CX-3 — this year.
UMW Toyota has recently launched its new Vios, the first model to roll out from the company’s new RM2 billion manufacturing plant in Klang, Selangor, with the Yaris expected to follow suit in the near future.


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Posted on Friday, Jul 11 2008 @ 00:46 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Shipments of the low-cost Asus Eee PC fell short of expectations. The firm announced
it sold 1.7 million Eee PCs in the first half of this year and that's 300,000 less than its original forecast but Asus is still confident that it will be able to ship 5 million Eee PCs this year. Some analysts blame the shortfall on component the shortage of Intel's Atom processor.
Asustek announced that it shipped 1.7 million of Eee PCs in the first half of 2008, 300,000 less than its original forecast. Some industry watchers explained the shortfall to delayed shipments due to the shortage of Intel Atom processors. Despite the present component shortages and gloomy economy, Asustek still aims to ship five million Eee PCs in 2008, according to company sources.
In other news, Acer believes shipments of its Aspire one notebook are on track to reach 5-7 million units in the second half of 2008:
Acer, however, has not been discouraged by the unexpected dip in the market with Lin noting that the first batch of more than 5,000 Linux-based Aspire ones has completely sold out already. Acer is confident it can ship 15,000 units per day following the launch of a Windows XP version in late July, he said.
Aspire one shipments are expected to reach 5-7 million units in the second half of 2008, Lin said. Lin claimed that Acer was one of the partners that motivated Intel to speed up the development of the Atom CPU, and as Acer is confident about its netbook sales, Intel has already guaranteed a fixed allocation of CPUs to the company.
Lin indicated that netbooks are expected to reach a penetration of 10-15% of total notebook sales, but did not specify a time-frame.


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At an event in New York City today, Instagram announced Instagram Direct, a new feature that allows users to share private photos and videos with their friends and loved ones. It will be baked into the existing Instagram app for Android and iOS with an update that’s rolling out today.
All items tagged with "google play"
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 was undoubtedly a reason to buy a Sega Genesis back in 1992, but if you thought it was decent then, you should check it out the new remastered version for Android and iOS.
The title has been completely rebuilt for mobile devices, and it boasts exclusive new content including access to the mysterious Hidden Palace Zone and an all-new “Boss Attack mode,” plus improved graphics and audio.
Google’s official Android Device Manager application launched earlier today – not to be confused with the ADM Play Services feature which was released three months ago - and is available to download directly from the Google Play Store. This new app allows users of the service to remotely track, ring, lock, encrypt, or wipe their other devices, directly from their Android-powered smartphone or tablet.
Treating yourself to a new Nexus 7 this Christmas? You may want to add a Chromecast to your basket as well. If you buy both devices at the same time, Google will give you $35 of Google Play credit to spend on apps, games, movies, music, and more — effectively making the Chromecast dongle absolutely free.
Google is currently rolling out an update for its official Google Play Books application, which comes pre-loaded on all Android devices. This upgrade doesn’t bring any drastic user interface changes, but there are some pretty impressive performance tweaks and new sharing features included.
Google has started rolling out a new Hangouts update for Android that should alleviate a number of the problems users have been experiencing with the app. It lets you import SMS messages into the app when they aren’t appearing as they should, and adds a new option that allows you to disable MMS for group messaging.
Today, Google officially updated its Play Store support page, to notify consumers that it will soon be launching its Google Play gift cards in Japan with ¥1500 ($15), ¥3,000 ($29), ¥5,000 ($49), ¥10,000 ($97), ¥15,000 ($146) and astonishingly ¥20,000 ($195) denominations.
This weeks Apps Of The Week is solely dedicated to launcher applications. Launcher apps allow users to completely customize and add a touch of personality to their Android-powered smartphones and tablets. As you can imagine, there are tons of them on the market, ranging from overlays which are specifically produced to emulate a past or present version of Android, to “smart launchers”, which are designed to increase a user’s productivity when operating their device. Today we are bringing you a roundup of 5 of our favourite launchers that we’ve been using over the course of this past week.
A seemingly harmless flashlight application built for Android has tricked tens of millions of users into handing over personal data, the Federal Trade Commission has revealed. Developed by GoldenShores Technologies, the Brightest Flashlight app took device ID and location data without informing users, then passed it on to advertisers.
HP Chromebook 11 owners are still being advised not to use their standard factory chargers following a recall notice which was implemented because many owners found that their chargers were overheating after just a couple of charge cycles. However, it looks like they may be able to get their hands on a new charger in the next few weeks. Google has put up a listing for a new Chromebook 11 charger on its website.


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Must-See Whenever You Feel Like It TV
(FORTUNE Magazine) – After a decade of hype and dozens of trial runs in the hinterlands, video-on-demand over cable TV is finally ready for prime time. That may be welcome news for viewers--but it threatens the economic underpinnings of ad-supported television.
Cable TV giant Comcast will roll out video-on-demand in its hometown, Philadelphia, in September; soon after, Time Warner Cable, which like FORTUNE is a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner, will deploy it in New York. By the end of the year, more than 25 million cable homes will have access to on-demand television.
It's about time. Video-on-demand is ready now that cable companies have made $60 billion worth of infrastructure upgrades, and the costs of storing and streaming programs have fallen dramatically, as have the prices of the digital set-top boxes that deliver the shows. Most important, cable operators that have lost subscribers to satellite services DirecTV and Echostar see video-on-demand as a potent competitive weapon. Satellite TV can't match the service.
"The satellite guys have taken a 23% market share in five short years, and we're fighting back," says Michael Willner, CEO of Insight Communications, which will make video-on-demand available to its 1.3 million subscribers this year. Says Steve Burke, president of Comcast Cable: "The goal is to have a product that's better than satellite."
To that end, Comcast's Philadelphia subscribers, who pay an extra $14.95 for a digital box that gives them about 250 TV and music channels, will get access to about 1,500 hours of on-demand programming. That is expected to include Hollywood movies, sold individually, a month or so after they hit video stores; films and shows from pay-cable services HBO, Showtime, and Starz, at a price to be determined; and news, entertainment, and sports such as replays of Phillies, Flyers, and 76ers games, which are free.
Because viewers can start, stop, and rewind at will (read: skip commercials), that's a big problem for networks that depend on ads. They must decide whether to adopt video-on-demand, fight it, or pray that it doesn't catch on. For its part, ABC is unwilling to play ball so far. "We have to be careful to deploy strategies that are not cannibalistic," says Disney President Bob Iger. "Giving product away free is very dangerous."
By contrast, NBC plans to provide Comcast with Nightly News and Today, along with news programming from its Philadelphia station, WCAU. And Discovery Communications is marketing an on-demand package of the best shows from its dozen or so cable channels. "We've learned that you can't stop technology, and that consumers want choice," says Judith McHale, Discovery's president.
This may sound self-destructive, but the hope is that the added window will build brands as well as new hits. That's why Fox has offered the prime-time show 24 and FX's The Shield to Cablevision's video-on-demand subscribers on Long Island instead of its biggest hits. Still, News Corp. President Peter Chernin says, "we're not sure this is the model."
Some clever innovations may eventually resolve the dilemma. The companies that make video-on-demand software say they can disable the fast-forward function when commercials come on. But they'd prefer to adapt advertising to the new platform, by targeting ads to particular viewers, embedding them in programs, or sponsoring messages on demand. A potential car buyer, for example, could fetch videos about any make or model.
"I can give a different ad to each user at the same time," says Jim Kelso, a VP of SeaChange International, the leading supplier of video-on-demand technology. "The advertising dollars get bigger, not smaller." Who says we've heard the last of the hype?


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Apple has announced that owners of its Apple TV will be able to stream videos from the online video sharing site YouTube beginning in mid-June. Initially introduced as a way to easily move videos from a personal computer to the living room for viewing on a big screen (or via a home theater setup) via Apple’s iTunes application, the YouTube connection marks the Apple TV’s first departure from the iTunes ecosystem—and may foreshadow Apple’s willingness to let the Apple TV tap into the rapidly growing world of online video.
The YouTube capability will be available as a free software update in mid-June. Users will be able to search, browse, and watch YouTube videos using the Apple TV and included Apple Remote without having to go back to their computer, download or save the videos separately, or reconfigure their existing Apple TV setups within iTunes. YouTube members will be able to log in to their accounts and access their favorite videos.
“This is the first time users can easily browse, find and watch YouTube videos right from their living room couch, and it’s really, really fun,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, in a statement. “YouTube is a worldwide sensation, and Apple TV is bringing it directly from the Internet onto the widescreen TV in your living room.”
Apple also announced it is offering a larger 160 GB hard drive as a build-to-order option with the Apple TV. The 160 GB version of the Apple TV carries a $399 price tag; an Apple TV with the original 40 GB drive is currently priced at $299.


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Folks, we have some big, big news to share. Auto Expo 2022 in India has been postponed for now. Yep, originally scheduled to take place between 2 February, 2022 and 9 February, 2022 at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida, the biannual motor show in the country has been put off for now in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), i.e. the people responsible for organising the event, issued a statement just now, explaining that the uncertainities regarding how the coronavirus pandemic will develop and move over the next few months have compelled the decision.
In a statement announcing the decision, Rajesh Menon, Director General, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), said, "Safety of Exhibitors, Visitors and all stakeholders involved and present at the Expo is the topmost priority for SIAM. It is in this context that the Indian Automobile Industry and SIAM recognises the inherent risks in organising the Auto Expo due to the on-going Covid-19 Pandemic and the apprehensions of a possible 3rd Wave. There is uncertainty around how COVID-19 would develop in the coming months and at the same time organising Auto Expo would need a lead time of preferably a year. The magnitude of the risk of spread of infection is extremely high in a B2C show like Auto Expo which is visited by large crowds and maintaining social distancing would be difficult. It has therefore been decided to postpone the Auto Expo – The Motor Show for now. "
Before you ask about the Auto Expo 2022's new dates, we are sorry to disappoint, but the organisers have not decided a new date yet. SIAM, however, did say that the dates for the next edition of Auto Expo in India will be decided later this year, based on both the COVID situation in India as well as the OICA's (Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles) calendar of auto shows across the globe.


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CEO ‘blown away’ as Parachute pioneers drive-thru pot
PARACHUTE — A steady flow of cars waited around the block Thursday afternoon outside the Tumbleweed Express to be among the first customers of the town’s new — and the state’s first — drive-thru marijuana retail store.
The event drew food trucks, camera crews filming for the “Today Show” and other national programs. Despite a little rain, nothing was going to spoil the grand opening that has turned a local shop into an industry forerunner.
“I didn’t set out thinking this would be national news,” CEO Mark Smith said. “I didn’t have some big epiphany. I just saw a need for our customers.”
Ever since the project was announced, employees at both the drive-thru and nearby storefront location have been inundated with social media shout-outs and direct messages from customers excited to test out first drive-thru dispensary in Colorado and perhaps the nation.
“To have people wait in line when there’s a store next door just to go through the drive-thru is amazing,” Smith exclaimed. “I’m blown away by the response we got.”
One employee even admitted that she knew of friends driving from Ohio just to check out the drive-thru, according to Smith.
“I thought it was so cool I decided to go through twice,” said Silt resident Pete Toborek, who likely became the shop’s first repeat customer less than an hour into the opening.
Evan Eastham, who arrived from Grand Junction nearly two hours before the opening, couldn’t get over how convenient an option the drive-thru now is for Parachute and nearby residents.
“It’s pretty cool to see a drive-thru here seeing as how Grand Junction doesn’t have any recreational marijuana,” he added.
Parachute resident Deanna Seitz watched from the sidelines as the customers rolled through. She said she can’t wait to see what all the publicity will do for the town.
“It’s like having Disneyland open,” she admitted. “I think for a lot of people that didn’t know where Parachute was before, this will help put the town on the map.”
The original Tumbleweed store opened in Parachute in February 2016, and the business has since expanded to Edwards, Eagle-Vail, Frisco and beyond.
Because it is out of a former car wash, Tumbleweed Express will be the first recreational marijuana shop to have cars actually pull into the building, thereby complying with state marijuana laws.
“As far as I can tell we are not aware of this business model ever coming up before,” Robert Goulding, spokesman for the Marijuana Enforcement Division, told the Glenwood Springs Post Independent. “It will have to follow all the rules and regulations that apply to every dispensary.”
Goulding specifically pointed to three rules that regulators made sure the Tumbleweed would follow. The first is that nobody younger than 21 is allowed in the premises, even if they are in the backseat of the car.
The second is a requirement for security and surveillance at the point of sale.
The third is that no marijuana can be visible from outside the licensed premises.
“The same laws apply to the drive-thru as do the main dispensary,” Smith explained.


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Advent to snack on Crax maker DFM Foods as promoters, Westbridge seek exit
The move is likely to trigger an open offer for another 26% of the share capital of the company.
Advent, the US headquartered buyout fund, that is looking at announcing two transactions in as many weeks, will buy out the promoters as well as Westbridge, an existing investor that owns almost a quarter of the company, the company said in a late evening statement on Monday.
The move will trigger an open offer for another 26% of the share capital of the company at Rs 249.50/share. If fully subscribed, Advent could end up owning up to 89.12.
ET broke the story online ahead of the announcement.
The promoters own 38.12 per cent while Westbridge, a public market focussed fund, owns 24.85 per cent held via two entities. DFM Foods’ market cap as on Monday was Rs 1,353.93 crore. The stock moved up over 7% intra day before closing at Rs 270.20/share.
DFM Foods was spun off from the Delhi Flour Mills, which was launched by RP Jain in 1993. It is now run by Jain’s son Mohit. The company sells packaged salty snacks such as CRAX Corn Rings that alone contributes half the total sales, CRAX Namkeen and NATKHAT. The firm has a strong presence in North India which contributes 75% of total sales and also sells its products in central, western and southern regions. It has been trying to expand its reach to the eastern region as well. South has been its smallest market.
The product portfolio comprises of Corn Rings, Corn Puffs, Wheat Puffs, Cheese Balls, Corn and Potato Sticks and traditional Namkeens in 13 distinct product variants sold through an extensive distribution network. The company has two state of the art processing units located at Ghaziabad and Greater Noida.
Since 2014, Westbridge bought into the company buying from the promoters at Rs 259.1 share. In 2016 it launched a voluntary offer to acquire up to 51 per cent at a purchase price of Rs 1320/share translating to a cumulative price tag of Rs 344 crore. But with shares of the company shooting up five time in 1 year then, the offer was much below the then prevailing price of Rs 1530/share and thereby failed.
Over the last 10 years, the company has grown at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.9%, with sales increasing from approximately Rs.72.2 Crores in 2009-10 to approximately Rs.483 Crores in the financial year ending March, 2019 with EBITDA margins also expanding from 11.95% in the previous year to 13.4%, PAT in FY19 was also up 40.5% Y-O-Y at Rs.32.76 crores.
Keeping in mid the growth potential, the company has also announced setting up additional production line by Q2FY20 at Greater Noida to add roughly 5000 metric tons per annum of incremental production capacity translating into an incremental revenue of nearly Rs 100 crores.
The Indian savoury snacks market is estimated at Rs 33,500 crore according to research firm Euromonitorm expected to grow a massive 22% over the next five years and is largely restricted to salted snacks category. The high growth has prompted several M&As and consolidation dialogues such as Pepsico’s attempt to buy Gujarat based namkeen maker Balaji or Kellogg’s exploring a strategic in Haldiram’s. In May, an Avendus fund invested a minority stake in Bikaji Foods International Ltd, one of India’s largest manufacturers of branded ethnic snacks from two existing investors.
“Any control deal in the foods sector would continue to attract good interest due to paucity of quality of assets & limited sellers in the market. Also, several businesses are still subscale. Globally, food & beverages shows one of the highest activity in terms of M&A,” said Navroz Mahudawala, Founder, Candle Advisors.
Like biscuits, across categories in snacks, there is a major transition happening from unorganised to organised players, feel analysts.
ICICI Securities and KPMG were the advisors in the deal.
Investors like the fact that despite the large base, the organised market is growing at 12-13% yet it is still approximately 40% of the total market.
Because of the high growth category, multiples have stacked up and are close to FMCG multiples (35 – 45 (x) trailing P/Es). While there have been limited strategic activity in this sector as yet it would increase as players scale up.
Even then, establishment of supply chain remains a challenge for many regional brands since the product can’t be freighted over very long distances due to cost compulsions. Most players will have several manufacturing capacities -- either owned or contract manufactured). For example, Prataap has 14 manufacturing units. The other major challenge is the price points – majority of the packs are in standard pricing of Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 30. This limits the scope of any pricing power and scope to earn a premium.


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EU greenlights Philips $5.1B Respironics purchase, overcoming monopoly fears
Certain products manufactured by Philips, such as light boxes and baby monitors, will overlap with existing products produced by the Murrysville, Pa.-based Respironics and the EU was concerned that as a combined entity, the companies would have an unacceptably large market share.
“The European Commission concluded the operation would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area or in any substantial part of it,” the European Union said in a statement.
The approval was issued on the last day of a 25-day, deal-review period that the EU was given to accept or reject the transaction.
“The Commission’s market investigation confirmed the proposed acquisition would be unlikely to raise competition concerns as the combined market share of Philips and Respironics would not exceed 25 percent in any national market,” the EC said in an official statement.
Phillips had extended its tender offer twice for Respironics to accommodate the European review. The first extension expired Feb. 22; the second is set to expire today.
Respironics agreed in December 2007 to a $66 per share, all-cash deal with Philips. When the deal was announced, Philips said that Respironics' Pennsylvania office would become its U.S. headquarters for Royal Philips' Home Healthcare Solutions unit.


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Abu Dhabi inflation eases to 1.1pc in 2012
Abu Dhabi, January 12, 2013
The annual inflation in Abu Dhabi for the 12 months in 2012 eased to 1.1 per cent due to a drop in the housing and utilities prices, according to data from the Abu Dhabi Statistics Centre.
The largest increase in prices was in restaurants and hotels, which jumped 14.5 per cent in December over the last month of 2011, while clothing and footwear prices rose 4 per cent, said the SCAD data.
Housing and utility costs, which account for almost 38 per cent of consumer expenses, fell 1.1 per cent year-on-year in December, it added.
Analysts polled by Reuters in September expected average inflation in the UAE at 1.3 per cent in 2012 after 0.9 per cent in 2011. -Reuters


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