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TIFA in conjunction with Cheki Kenya have launched the Kenya Used Vehicle (KUV) Price Index, focusing on the price variation of car listings in the Kenyan market.
The Index report compares prices and price trends for different months, quarters or years, enabling users of the index to calculate the rate of inflation in the car market.
Speaking during the launch of the report, TIFA’s CEO Maggie Ireri said “The KUV Price Index growth sustained a downward trend from an index of 102.81 in February compared to an index of 67.87 in March based on a fixed base Index. This decline is attributed to the adverse effects of COVID-19. The price index increased in August to 149.25. I foresee this index being used by car dealers, car buyers, financial and economic analysts as an indicator of pricing trends in the used vehicle market.”
Qualitative research data showed that dealers in used cars reduced prices between February and March in response to a grim demand in an economy reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which was majorly caused by the loss of incomes and inability of many households being unable to service bank loans.
In her observation, Resian Leteipan, Cheki Kenya CEO noted that “sale of cars seized by banks could have potentially increased supply in the market, further putting downward pressure on prices.
“Used car imports in Kenya have been on steady rise since the rise of infections in the country from early this year as many individuals opt for private means of travel in a bid to reduce the chances of being infected with the COVID 19 virus.”Resian Leteipan, Cheki Kenya CEO
Imported second-hand vehicles account for 85 percent of car purchases in Kenya. This has mainly been pivoted by the high internet penetration rate in the country with many Kenyans having access to both local and foreign car importation websites that present a variety of options to choose from.
The data analyzed also showed large declines were recorded for pick-ups, 4-wheel drives and SUVs, saloons, hatchbacks, buses, vans and mini vehicles. The prices increased between April and May 2020, with the station wagons, coupes, and 4-wheel-drives/SUVs registering the highest variation.
Kenyan Business Feed is the top Kenyan Business Blog. We share news from Kenya and across the region. To contact us with any alert, please email us to [email protected]


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Despite testing the technical feasibility of the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) since 2021, and starting the second phase of the experimentation in April, Japan’s central bank has decided to put the plans for its introduction on hold due to the poor interest of the wider public.
Indeed, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is not considering the CBDC implementation in the near future due to the popularity of credit cards, internet banking services, and e-money payment tools among the consumers in the country, Asia Times’ Sayuri Shirai reported on July 20.
Preferable payment methods
As it happens, the private sector also encourages the widespread use of digital and mobile technologies for making payments. In addition, most Japanese citizens reportedly have unimpeded access to the banking system, and the need hasn’t arisen to promote financial inclusion for any marginalized group.
On top of that, the majority of consumers find private sector-based payment tools more attractive due to benefits such as points they can obtain and accumulate and then utilize to pay for other goods or services.
Japan’s CBDC experiment
As Finbold reported, the BOJ launched the experimental phase of determining the feasibility of issuing a CBDC in April 2021 which ran until March 2022, after which it moved to the second phase to determine its extensive functions.
In mid-April, the BOJ’s Executive Director Shinichi Uchida rebuffed the possibility of the central bank introducing the digital yen for the purpose of achieving negative interest rates, while the central bank was still preparing the CBDC experiments.
The third phase, in which the institution envisioned to have private businesses and end-users participate in a pilot program if deemed necessary, has apparently been put on hold indefinitely.
CBDCs and their potential
Meanwhile, a new survey carried out by the fintech and blockchain company Ripple has found that 70% of leaders in the financial sector believe that CBDCs have the potential to drive societal changes in the next five years, with advantages such as financial inclusion and access to credit.
Likewise, the International Monetary Fund stated back in June that some cryptocurrencies and CBDCs can be a more effective payment solution than credit and debit cards, especially in terms of energy consumption.

domain: news


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PayPal CEO Is Betting Big on Crypto for the Future of Global Finance
PayPal CEO Dan Schulman has once again expressed his confidence on cryptocurrencies. In one of his latest interviews with Tech, Schulman shared why he is bullish about crypto and how it can play a major role in changing the future of global finance.
“I'm very excited about what crypto and digital ledger technology can do to the financial system going forward,” said Schulman during his keynote speech at Axis Tel Aviv. He further added he doesn’t see crypto as an investment tool for price appreciation. The PayPal CEO believes that crypto has a larger role to play in the global payments system.
“I think the initial things that everyone thinks about Crypto, buying and selling it, and what the price of bitcoin is going to be tomorrow, that's the least interesting part about digital currencies to me. That is thinking about digital currencies as an asset class. To me, the real exciting thing about digital currencies is what kind of utility can they provide in payments,” he added.
Schulman also visualizes a global crypto ecosystem wherein crypto assets, CBDCs, stablecoins, digital wallets can collectively work in improving the global payments system.
He also commented about the recent race among central banks to launch their central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Big economic powers believe that CBDCs will give them an edge in getting a large pie of the global payments market.
China has already accelerated development in this space since the past two years and has been ready to launch its Digital Yuan in the market. Other countries too have joined the bandwagon.
The European Union is working on having its own CBDC aka Digital Euro which is expected to arrive by the next year of 2023. Similarly, U.S. President Joe Biden has recently stated that federal agencies should start working on their central bank digital currencies aka the Digital Dollar.
Considering all these developments, Schulman added: “Clearly, across the world, central banks are looking at issuing digital currencies. The intersection between CBDC, stable coins, digital wallets, and enhanced utility of payments through cryptocurrencies is not just fascinating but I think will redefine a lot of the financial world going forward”.


text: The world is used to seeing China as an importer of raw materials and an exporter of manufactured goods, but a change is occurring that has global implications for commodities. While China is still the worlds biggest importer of commodities, the nature of its exports are changing. The big growth in exports this year has been in semi-finished products, most of which fit into the broad definition of commodities. While not raw materials, these include steel, aluminium products and refined fuels. What is happening in China is that as the country has overbuilt capacity in heavy industries, it is now being forced by economics to seek export markets for intermediate commodities that had previously been consumed at home. The old dynamic, where Chinese demand for raw materials forced up commodity prices while Chinese exports led to lower prices for manufactured goods, is breaking down. It now appears that Chinese exports of semi-finished commodities are driving down the price of those goods and threatening industries that produce them in other countries. At the same time Chinese demand growth for raw materials is slowing just as producers of these commodities, such as iron ore and coal, have ramped up output in the apparently mistaken belief that Chinese consumption would rise for several years to come. Chinas exports of steel products have jumped 27.8 percent this year to 52.4 million tonnes in the first six months of the year from the same period in 2014. If this pace of exports is maintained for the whole year, it means that about 12 percent of Chinas total steel output will be exported. At the price received for steel exports in June of US$575 a tonne, first half steel shipments were worth about US$7.3 billion. Aluminium has also seen a massive increase in exports, with shipments of semi-finished products leaping 44.3 percent in the first six months of 2015 over the same period a year earlier. Exports totalled 2.22 million tonnes and the June customs value was US$3,364 a tonne, giving a total of around US$7.5 billion for first half exports, at June prices. The major oil products exports in the first half were jet kerosene (up 19.9 percent to 5.537 million tonnes), gasoline (up 14.6 percent to 2.544 million tonnes) and diesel (down 9.6 percent to 1.971 million tonnes). Putting the three together and using Junes customs data, the value of exports of these three refined fuels was about US$6.1 billion in the first half. Commodity exports gaining Putting the value of oil, steel and aluminium exports together gives a first half total of about US$21 billion, or about 8 percent of Chinas total first half trade surplus of US$263 billion. If 8 percent doesnt sound that significant, consider that the trade surplus for the first half of 2015 was almost 2.5 times the amount for the same period last year. The rise in the trade surplus was driven largely by lower imports, with the slump in commodity prices playing a large part in that. The trend of higher exports of semi-finished commodities may have some way to run yet, especially if domestic demand growth in China continues to disappoint. Already other nations are feeling the pressure of Chinese exports, with steelmakers across the globe clamouring for protection. Most at risk would be companies in developing nations close to China, such as India and countries in Southeast Asia. Many of these countries are trying to replicate the Chinese economic story by rapidly expanding their industrial bases, but they lack the economies of scale to compete with Chinese semi-finished commodities. Even developed nations, such as Australia and those in Europe, face increasing risk of further loss of industries. Australias remaining aluminium smelters appear at constant risk of being closed, as does its remaining steel manufacturing, especially since all vehicle production in the country will end by 2018. Its likely that affected industries will lobby for protection from Chinese exports, but this may end up being self-defeating as protectionism is unlikely to lead to long-term economic success.


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Windstar To Lengthen 3 Ships In US$250 Million Project
Bruce Parkinson, Open Jaw
A rendering of a stretched Windstar Star Class ship.
Windstar Cruises has announced a US$250 million project that will see its three Star Class vessels extended, increasing capacity from 212 pax per ship to 312.
“We are thrilled to announce the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative, a significant investment in the future of Windstar Cruises. This exciting initiative is our 180 degree from ordinary solution to add new capacity and major enhancements to the guest experience in a very time efficient manner,” said Windstar President John Delaney.
“The initiative not only creates beautiful new suites and public spaces, but we will also take the opportunity to re-engine the ships with a more fuel efficient and environmentally responsible propulsion system. This will be a true game changer for Windstar and our small ship cruise experience.”
The work will be done to Star Breeze, Star Legend, and Star Pride in succession between October 2019 and November 2020, and take place at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The project represents an overall capacity increase of 24% for the small ship line.
Each Star Class ship will be cut to allow the installation of a new section of ship that will lengthen each vessel approximately 25.6 metres, bringing the total length to just over 159 meters, a size Windstar says will still enable it to access the smaller ports and harbours that it favours. The project adds 50 new suites per ship, bringing the total number of suites per ship to 156, and represents an investment of more than $267,000 per passenger berth.
“This major investment is an efficient way to build on a winning brand that shows strong momentum and growth potential. Support for this exciting new initiative demonstrates our commitment to Windstar as an important part of the Xanterra portfolio,” said Andrew N. Todd, President and CEO of Xanterra Travel Collection.
Also involved in the $250 Million Star Plus Initiative is the creation of new public spaces including two new dining locations; new shop and retail space; a much enlarged fitness centre; and a new spa.
The renovation includes a comprehensive re-engine project for each ship. This complex undertaking is an uncommon occurrence in the cruise industry and involves the removal of seven current engines and installation of four new, more environmentally friendly engines that will run on cleaner fuel and reduce emissions impact to sailing regions.
Among new guest amenities and accommodations in the planning phase are:
50 new suites featuring new suite categories and open floor plan configurations.
Creation of two new, larger Owner’s Suites, that combines existing suites to create up to a three-bedroom, two-balcony suite – the first of its kind in the cruise industry.
Two new dining experiences including an intimate, alternative dining restaurant, and a casual barbecue space adjacent to the top deck Star Bar, perfect for outdoor grilling during Windstar’s Signature Onboard Barbecue celebration or enjoying while spending time on deck.
Expanded Veranda Restaurant to offer significantly more ocean-view seating and upgraded dining area.
For existing suites, all-new bathrooms and installation of new sliding doors for the Balcony Suites.
Larger pool and hot tub that will be reconfigured and elevated offering outstanding views, along with more and enhanced outdoor deck area for relaxing and sun-bathing.
A completely re-imagined and enlarged spa and fitness centre to invigorate active guests.
A new elevator mid-ship, making access to all decks easy from anywhere on board.
A new tender loading area located mid-ship and two new 90-passenger tenders that will ferry guests to port when ships are at anchor.
In addition, ship staff and crew areas and accommodations will be expanded and upgraded. Additional crew will be hired and the increase will maintain the line’s impressive 1.5:1 guest to hotel staff ratio.
Bruce Parkinson Editor-in-Chief
An observer and analyst of the Canadian and international travel industries for over 25 years, Bruce uses the pre-dawn hours to prepare a daily news and information package to keep industry members up to date.


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It is nothing new that it is said that digital advertising is the present and the future, because that is where brands are betting heavily to reach their target audiences and generate a link. Just to cite one piece of information, in 2016 the investment for this concept reached $ 72.5 billion, according to Columbia Mobile Number List data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) in a report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers. But, one of the great challenges that this advertising format has always faced is to catch users, since it is common that they do not stay long enough to reproduce more than half of the ad, they even press the skip button if they have the option .
The answer may come from a study by Trusted Media Brands (TMB), which indicates that brands are increasingly betting on short videos and pre-roll content . According to the exercise, 58 percent of marketing and advertising professionals consider implementing this format in the next six months. This is interesting, since if we add it to creative elements that advertisers use in their content, such as appealing to humor, affection and empathy, to make their messages more powerful, making them shorter can give them greater chances not only of conserving the audience, but to create a bond with them.
Another format that will stand out in video advertising , according to the TMB survey carried out on a sample of agency professionals and marketing professionals in the United States, involved in digital advertising and who carry out actions in pre-roll digital video , is broadcasting Brother Cell Phone List in live streaming , as reported by 28 percent of those surveyed. The projections are not far from what the main digital and video advertising companies such as Facebook and Google are working on, since both are implementing new actions and models to attract advertisers to their platforms, where a large part of their efforts are aimed at both pre-roll video and live streaming. Even Twitter and Snapchat seek to offer alternatives to compete in this field.


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Coldspring agrees to extension of conditional use permit review period
Coldspring has agreed to an extension of the review period for a conditional use permit for the proposed expansion of its St. Cloud, Missouri, quarry, according to a report from SCTimes.com.
The extension brings the review period through December 31, allowing the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) more time to address concerns and questions.
Coldspring wants to open a 30-acre granite quarry and processing area on its 210-acre site. The company plans to excavate 300 to 350 feet in seven phases over 25 to 30 years at the new quarry.
The board intended to discuss the request this month, but the extension is pushing the discussion to the ZBA’s October 15 meeting.
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Canva makes data beautiful with acquisition of Flourish
It’s the sweetheart of Australian tech, and Canva is looking to further expand its capabilities. The company announced that it has acquired Flourish, a platform for data visualisation.
Growing in popularity since its inception in 2013, Canva saw its most successful year to date in 2021. Its active monthly users grew by over 30 million, with now over 75 million active monthly users to the design platform. As users look for easy-to-use and affordable visual communication, Canva has been able to grow with the demand.
With the acquisition of Flourish, Canva is allowing users who are looking to vibrantly and beautifully display data. Canva, which has previously been a favourite of creative directors, artists and graphic designers, has become common in workplaces across the world for engaging presentations, reports and other visual communications.
“Data storytelling has emerged as an increasingly critical part of visual communication for teams across almost every industry,” explains Canva co-founder and CEO, Melanie Perkins.
“Welcoming Flourish to Canva marks the latest step in our mission to empower the world to design. We’re incredibly excited to welcome their talented team as we work together to combine their world-leading data visualisation technology with the Canva magic our community know,” Perkins continues.
The power of data visualisation
Data is so imperative in marketers day-to-day. Understanding unique data sets and being able to ensure that it’s telling a story can be a challenge though. Flourish, founded in 2016 by Duncan Clark and Robin Houston, was created to make data compelling.
With more than 500 million presentations and over 150 million infographics having been created in Canva, Flourish will be able to integrate its technology which allows for engaging and interactive data to be presented.
“We’re beyond excited for this next step in Flourish’s journey,” says Duncan Clark, CEO and co-founder, Flourish.
“By joining forces with Canva, we can bring the power of data storytelling to the world’s leading visual communication platform, embraced by millions of people across the globe. We can’t wait to help Canva’s vast community of users bring their data to life.”


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Donald Trump might no longer be the president of the United States but his actions during his presidency have far-reaching consequences for the country.
One of which is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or more popularly known as, RCEP.
So what is it, and why is it such a momentous thing to have especially during Covid-19?
Here’s everything you need to know about it, simplified for you.
A Long Time In The Making
RCEP might seem like a timely agreement that’s created for Covid-19 but it’s actually been in the works for a long time.
Eight years, to be exact.
First brought up in Nov 2011, negotiations began in 2012 and the agreement was originally supposed to be signed last year, according to Business Standard.
Unfortunately, things were delayed but ultimately, the signing of the agreement signifies a “needed ray of light” amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
I.e. You can thank Covid-19 for accelerating this, just like WFH arrangements.
Originally comprising 16 countries, India pulled out of the agreement because it was afraid lower tariffs would affect its local producers.
Read: Cheaper Chinese products flooding the India market so much its own local products fall to the sidelines.
The remaining countries in the agreement include 10 Southeast Asia countries, China, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea.
What is RCEP?
RCEP is, in essence, a mega-scale free trade agreement between many countries.
Removal Of A Range Of Tariffs
Basically, whenever you want to import your products into another country, you need to pay border tax, or tariffs, to get your products into the country.
It’s like Singaporeans visiting the local casinos; before you can even start making money, you need to pay for your entry.
One of the components of RCEP to create an “integrated market” is to remove a range of tariffs (or entry fees) on imported products among the member countries.
But, to say that the RCEP tariffs only is like saying McDonald’s only sells McNuggets.
Rule of Origin
FTAs are complicated matters and businesses which manufacture a product with parts from different areas of the world might still face tariffs when importing into another country its home country supposedly has an FTA with.
For example, let’s take a Singapore business which intends to import light bulbs into India, which it has an agreement with.
If everything was produced in Singapore, there’s no tariff imposed.
However, imagine the business had used filaments from China and metal from the mines of Cambodia, tariffs would be imposed on the product.
For RCEP, parts from any member countries are treated equally.
This means a business looking to make a lightbulb is incentivised to look within the trading bloc to source for materials and avoid tariffs.
And this is only possible because…
RCEP is Huge
Consisting of 15 member countries, the RCEP accounts for almost 29% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and makes up nearly a third of the world’s population.
In fact, it’s the world’s largest FTA, in terms of GDP and, according to Business Standard, could account for 50% of the estimated GDP by 2050.
Why Is RCEP Important?
The Covid-19 pandemic could lead to protectionist measures, i.e. nations closing up to protect their own people at the expense of other countries.
While some powerhouses (*cough*US*cough*) might be able to do that, many other states can’t.
The RCEP basically encourages member countries to trade and source for materials from one another, keeping their economies open and helping them grow.
Why Is RCEP Important For Singapore?
If you remember back to PM Lee’s famous speech before GE2020, he brought up one important point:
Singapore needs investments to survive in the future.
The RCEP opens up the path for Chinese investors, among others, to invest in the region and Singapore has primed itself for a while now to make it a place where people can entrust their regional headquarters to.
And with the various regional markets becoming more of an “integrated market”, chances are, more businesses will be looking to set up an HQ to oversee operations in a region.
As you can probably see from the recent news, a single MNC opening up a regional HQ in Singapore could result in the creation of hundreds of jobs.
But that’s not all.
Singapore is considered a well-to-do country but when it comes to market size, we lose out big time.
After all, we only have close to 6 million people.
With the RCEP, the potential market for Singapore businesses to sell to skyrocketed into billions of people.
Remember, the bigger the market, the more room for growth.
Now that the agreement has been signed, it doesn’t mean that it’s active.
According to CNA, the RCEP will start when six ASEAN countries and 3 non-ASEAN countries have made it officially valid within their countries.
Featured Image: tunasalmon / Shutterstock.com


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Renault dealer RH Commercial Vehicles (RHCV) has struck a £750,000 deal with Mitchells of Mansfield, selling the haulier 10 new Renault Range T tractor units.
The 6x2 mid-lift units are Mitchells' first trucks from the manufacturer.
MD Andrew Mitchell said he had switched to Renault because the package deal from RHCV "really stood out".
He added: "We were blown away by the brilliant service. We are growing all the time and will eventually upgrade the rest of the fleet this year to Renault trucks – returning to purchase from RHCV when we do.”
The trucks replace older vehicles on Mitchells of Mansfield's fleet of 38, which could be set to grow after a year of strong growth.
as a result of a strong year of growth, we needed to upgrade our existing trucks to ensure we carried out this service efficiently and continue to grow across all markets," said Mitchell.
The Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham haulier will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.
Paul Pearson, commercial director at RHCV said: “We are delighted to have worked with Mitchells of Mansfield to help them upgrade and improve their service offering. We are looking forward to working with them further in the near future, as part of the company’s significant growth.”
In the market to buy a used Renault Range T? Check out our selection available to buy now.


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Yesterday Google announced it was introducing a free-listening, Internet radio-style component to its Google Play service. The new feature will round out a music experience that already includes paid downloads, cloud storage of owned music, and on-demand listening for a subscription fee.
The announcement, coming mere days before arch-competitor Apple launches its Apple Music project on June 30, was widely viewed as a positioning tactic that adds a no-cost, lean-back platform that Apple has staunchly refused to include in Apple Music.
Apple, meanwhile, is primarily focused on Spotify, as the world’s fiercest competitor in the subscription music game. Spotify has sold premium music subscriptions to 20-million people, a number that far exceeds the efforts of Rhapsody, Deezer, Rdio, and Beats Music (Apple-owned predecessor of Apple Music).
Google’s new initiative puts a friendly consumer-facing listening outpost in front of its subscription offering, and in a blog post positioned the ad-supported radio service as an on-ramp to full subscription: “We hope you’ll enjoy it so much that you’ll consider subscribing to Google Play Music to play without ads, take your music offline, create your own playlists, and listen to any of the 30 million songs in our library on any device and as much as you’d like.”
That is the essential pitch of freemium: It’s a free taste of what you’ll get with a paid subscription. Spotify has succeeded with that on-ramp, probably by offering more interactivity in its freemium plan, which allows users to stream one artist’s entire discography on demand. It’s that level of control which angers some musicians and labels, and is the reported crux of Spotify/label negotiations. In the furor surrounding Taylor Swift’s withdrawal from Spotify, freemium became a hot-potato word. No brand reputation manager in music wants to advertise the word freemium.
But it is really Spotify’s brand of freemium which is a flame point for the record industry, and which Apple is conscientiously separating from. The truth is, Apple has freemium too, already in place — it is iTunes Radio. That non-interactive service, along with Google’s new play, market-leader Pandora, and many others, uses statutory licensing regulated by the U.S. government. Spotify’s freemium plan is attached to an interactive service which licenses music through open-market negotiation.
What we really see here are the world’s two major mobile operating systems (Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android) each assembling three major music components into a listening suite designed to prevent customers from migrating out of the ecosystem:
- Downloads plus cloud storage (fading, but still generating money)
- Ad-supported listening (competes with broadcast radio for lean-back listeners)
- On-demand subscriptions (competes with the record industry for music collectors)
Nobody thinks there isn’t a big market for freemium. FM radio is a type of freemium — ad-supported, and traditionally an on-ramp to buying singles and albums. Pandora’s 79-million monthly listeners, most of whom don’t bother paying $5/month to scrub the commercials, represent a whole freemium market.
Free listening is here to stay, and might always have the bigger share of ear. Nobody knows what the subscription market can become — whether consumers can overcome the conceptual difficulty of leasing music as they lease TV. Spotify adamantly insists that giving a generous taste of interactivity is the best way to cross users over the conceptual divide. Record labels want the higher margins of paid use now, and want Spotify to try pushing users into paying by choking off the interactive oxygen after a few months. Apple buys into that tactic with the reported three-month trial period for Apple Music.
In the meantime, it was easy for Google to slap a freemium layer on its subscription service — it doesn’t appear to be much more than a re-skinned version of Songza, the activity-based listening platform Google acquired last July.


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Bob Evans Farms Inc. same-store sales at its restaurants fell 1.8 percent in the second quarter ended Oct. 28, the company reported Monday, the latest in a long series of declines at the New Albany, Ohio-based family-dining operator.
But in those numbers, the company sees glimmers of hope. For instance, same-store sales improved as the quarter progressed, and then improved further in November, to a decline of 1.3 percent, the company said.
Bob Evans is also selling more breakfast. Same-store sales at breakfast rose a modest 0.1 percent, but they increased 6.5 percent for off-premise orders. And sales of breakfast items were strong all day, the company said during an earnings call Tuesday.
Overall, a third of Bob Evans sales come at breakfast, but breakfast items represent 40 percent of overall sales.
“Throughout the second quarter, sales improved month over month, and that trend continued through the third quarter,” Bob Evans CEO Saed Mohseni said on the call. He said the November election did not change the trajectory, and instead named the company’s service improvements and its recent menu upgrade.
“The feedback continues to improve as our efforts to improve the customer experience” gain traction, Mohseni said. He noted that positive customer comments increased 37 percent in the quarter, while negative comments decreased 32 percent.
Meanwhile, Mohseni said Bob Evans’ same-store sales increased in six states, while the figure had increased in just one state in the past quarter. And the number of units with positive same-store sales rose 65 percent.
He also sees traffic improving, but Bob Evans is still losing customers. Since transactions fell 7.3 percent in June, the results have improved every month, although they remain in decline. Transactions fell 2.6 percent in October, and 2.8 percent for the quarter. Transactions had fallen at least 4.2 percent in 14 of 15 months entering the quarter.
Bob Evans’ heavy presence in the Midwest could be one factor dragging down results. The chain has 192 of its more than 500 restaurants in Ohio, plus another 49 locations in Michigan and 34 units in Pennsylvania.
Executives on the call said weak economies in those states were partly to blame for Bob Evans’ weak performance. But the company is performing well in Indiana, where it has 53 locations, and Florida where it has 47 units.
“We continue to see strength in markets in Indiana and Florida,” Mohseni said. “We look forward to the day when Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania can join them from an economic standpoint.”
Potential BEF Foods spinoff looms
Improvement at Bob Evans Restaurants is key for the company, which is under growing pressure to spin off its packaged foods division, BEF Foods.
The company said Monday that it has hired J.P. Morgan to look at alternatives, and Mohseni hinted during the call that a split of the restaurant and the packaged foods division is a possibility.
“We’re positioned to thrive regardless of the structure,” Mohseni said.
The move was enough to satisfy Sandell Asset Management, an activist investor that owns 8.1 percent of Bob Evans stock and has been pushing for a spinoff. Sandell, frustrated that the company wasn’t exploring the idea more aggressively, had recently said it would go directly to shareholders through a consent solicitation.
Sandell backed off that idea Tuesday, saying it was “encouraged” by the move.
“We would be open to many alternatives that would maximize shareholder value, even if the ultimate alternative did not involve a separation and delivered value different from those we have estimated, as long as it was the result of a robust and transparent process aided by a reputable financial advisor,” the activist said in a statement.
Bob Evans stock rose more than 6 percent Tuesday on the news.


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The coronavirus pandemic may be hurting the travel influencer industry, but it might be a different story for fitness influencers.
Kelli and Daniel Segars are the couple behind home workout YouTube channel Fitness Blender, which has nearly 6 million subscribers. They told Business Insider that they saw their daily new subscriber counts double in the first five days after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic on March 11.
That day, they received around 1,200 new YouTube subscribers, according to analytics the couple provided to Business Insider. That was already slightly above the 800 to 1,000 new daily subscribers analytics show they had been averaging since the beginning of February. Less than a week later, on March 16, the daily number of new subscribers jumped up to 2,400.
Kelli and Daniel founded Fitness Blender as a side project for extra income in 2008 during the Great
according to The Seattle Times. Today, they have a total of 886 videos on their YouTube channel. Their videos run from five to 90 minutes in length — typically around 30 minutes — and feature one or the other of them leading viewers through a variety of exercises. Among their most popular videos are a 10-minute ab workout featuring Kelli, which has gotten 68 million views since it was posted in January 2012, and a 37-minute cardio workout, also featuring Kelli, which has gotten 58 million views since it was posted in April 2013.,
In addition to these videos, Fitness Blender offers two- to eight-week workout programs for purchase for those who prefer a schedule rather than a single workout. It also offers a paid membership, Fitness Blender Plus, which includes extra features, such as exclusive workouts and access to personal health and fitness statistics.
The membership program also saw a spike in new subscribers under each paid subscription option — one month ($11.99 for pay-as-you-go), monthly recurring ($8.99), and yearly recurring ($79.99) — according to internal analytics that Business Insider viewed. Kelli and Daniel declined to comment on specific subscription numbers for Fitness Blender Plus.
The increase in people looking for access to both free and paid workouts says a lot about quarantine life right now. As social distancing becomes the norm in many places, fitness junkies are trying to make the best of their gym game at home.
More viewers are seeking bodyweight and HIIT workouts
Daniel and Kelli said there isn’t a need for them to change much of their production strategy to cater to this increased demand. “We’re always locked into what we can do to make fitness as accessible to everyone as we can,” Daniel told Business Insider.
They already have a vast range of at-home workout content to fulfill the desires of any exerciser. According to analytics site Social Blade, Fitness Blender’s daily video views increased from 287,163 to 448,999 in the same five-day time period after the WHO’s announcement. By March 19, just over a week after the coronavirus was declared a pandemic, those daily views more than doubled to 613,482.
Kelli said that on YouTube, they’ve seen the biggest viewership jump among their no-equipment workout videos, specifically for strength training and HIIT (high-intensity interval training). Considering that many people may not have weights or machines in their homes, these bodyweight workouts and cardio alternatives are a natural alternative to hitting the gym.
The one adjustment Kelli and Daniel said they are making is to remove the barrier of cost on some videos. To make fitness more financially accessible, they’re putting some of their home workout programs on sale. Several four-week $14.99 programs have been cut to $4.50. “Our goal is to kind of hopefully use this as a positive thing, to help provide a sense of normalcy for people,” Daniel said.
On social media, talk from the Fitness Blender community has shifted to trying to figure out how to cope and sustain through the pandemic, he added. It’s about “focusing on what’s within your control and doing what you can where you can,” he said.


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Peggy Carter can't catch a break. She never got that dance with Cap, and now even Netflix won't pick up her TV show.
ABC canceled "Marvel's Agent Carter" after two seasons, and even though star Hayley Atwell has landed her own new show at the network, many fans were hoping Netflix would swoop in like a superhero and add "Agent Carter" to their growing lineup of Marvel series. After all, Netflix is now the home of "Jessica Jones," "Daredevil," and -- soon -- "Luke Cage" and "Iron Fist."
So why didn't Netflix adopt Peggy's show? Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos explained the reasoning to Entertainment Weekly: "We're looking for truly original brands to own, and in that Marvel space we already have [original comic book shows] -- so that was mostly why."
But it's not the only reason why. He added that it was"a business decision more than a creative one," because Netflix wants to own and distribute its titles around the world and Marvel's existing international deals for "Agent Carter" would be a complication. As he put it, "They also have some output deal complexities. So when you pick it up, being able to pick it up globally is difficult even after it's canceled. Some of those output partners still had it on the air, so they would argue its covered by their output."
That's a lot of corporate speak covered in red tape wrapped in a bureaucracy. They potentially could've fought for Peggy, but ... it sounds like Netflix just didn't think her story was worth it. Maybe another streaming service or network will pick up the series, or Peggy's story could be continued in another section of the MCU. Or do you think it's just time to let her go?
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The shutdown of the federal government is threatening to shut the tap on three new Connecticut craft beers planned for release in December.
The beers are produced by Top Shelf Brewing Company in Manchester, one of Connecticut's few craft beer makers.
The ales themselves are ready to go. The problem lies with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, a government agency that's been stalled by the shutdown.
Without the bureau's approval, Top Shelf's newest additions will have to be shelved.
"Warning labels have to be in the correct spot," said Mike Boney, who founded Top Shelf, along with two partners. "The size of the glass, the amount of alcohol in the actual beer have to be a certain font size, so it's stuff like that."
Boney said label approval for Top Shelf's first three ales took just a couple weeks. But the release of the brewery's new imperial stout, Marathon IPA and seasonal Holiday Cheer brew could now be delayed.
The new brews will be ready for roll-out Dec. 6, provided the shutdown doesn't have an impact.
But Boney said he's bracing himself for the worst-case scenario. Even if the bureau does go back to work soon, he's concerned the shutdown will still take its toll.
"It's probably gonna be backlogged," said Boney, about the bureau, "so it's gonna be tough to get them out in time."


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Magazine Street has a new women's boutique. Sorella (2036 Magazine St., 309-6256), which opened the day after Thanksgiving, carries lines such as Karli, Whish, Parasuco Denim and Jordi Labanda. Because sorella is Italian for "sister," the word appealed to owners Angelina and Christina LoCicero as a name for their new venture. The sisters plan to have grand opening event early in 2007.
There will be an after-hours holiday party at Ele Shoes (3316 Magazine St., 309-8674) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Enjoy wine, cheese and savings — take 10 percent off any pair of shoes!
NOLA Cooks (5212 Conti St., 218-7103) has introduced its own line of cook "wear," including a selection of matching aprons and towels as well as recipe aprons. After hearing story after story of recipes and cookbooks lost to Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters, owner Valerie Turgeon decided to preserve some of her own family recipes — seafood gumbo, redfish couvillion and eggplant stuffed with shrimp — on aprons. A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to the Katrina Crop Circle, a project organized by the Crescent City Farmers Market (www.marketumbrella.org) to raise money for its vendors who lost crops, barns, boats and homes during the hurricane.
There will be two family book events —10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 15 and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 16. — at Zeitgeist Multi-disciplinary Arts Center (1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. ) during Holiday on the Boulevard, a celebration organized by Ash Cultural Arts Center.The book events feature a group reading and custom book activity. For more information, contact Erik Gregory at Erik.Gregory@pearsonfundation.org.


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The Bank of England (BoE) has published recent findings for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) that indicate such a government-issued currency is no longer a possibility, but an inevitability.
The BoE’s recent findings suggest that a CBDC is entirely feasible and can be introduced with a minimum of risk, although it is unclear exactly what form it will finally take, once commercial banks are forced to adopt a new system.
In line with several countries around the world, the BoE is beginning to examine the credentials of a CBDC in order to streamline its banking procedures, enabling funds to be expedited quickly and efficiency, updating outmoded banking systems.
The possibility of a government-issued cryptocurrency being not too distant is not that surprising, given the current mood at top levels of government in the UK. A ‘Cryptoassets Task Force’ is currently underway to examine the space to see if it can become a feature of the UK financial environment. British Chancellor Philip Hammond recently launched a task force to help safeguard consumers which include representatives from the Treasury, the BoE and financial watchdog FCA. He said the taskforce would help the UK “manage the risks around crypto-assets”.
Such calls for regulation were also made recently by the Governor of the BoE, Mark Carney, when he discussed the impact of cryptocurrencies’ core technology indicating that he was not against innovation provided by cryptocurrencies, stating that regulation could potentially “serve the public better”. This following his comments that cryptocurrency “had pretty much failed” as a source of money.
Three models suggested
The Financial Institution Model (Model F1) is a system where only financial institutions will be able to access the CBDC. The report suggests this is a safe approach offering a stable approach to banking, reports Finder.
The Economy-Wide Model (Model EW) where financial institutions can directly access CBDC, and businesses and households can access CBDC through financial institutions. Under this model, all banks, non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), CBDC exchanges, households and businesses can have a CBDC account at the central bank itself. But only banks, NBFIs and CBDC exchanges can trade CBDC directly with the central bank. Households and firms can go through the exchanges, which might be standalone entities or banks/NBFIs, to convert deposits between CBDC and pounds.
The Narrow Bank Model (Model FI+). A system where financial institutions can access CBDC, and then use a spin-off “indirect CBDC” (iCBDC) for its business and household customers. This system is designed to include CBDC as the actual central bank money, and iCBDC as the connected digital currency that people interact with on a day-to-day basis.
The main question being asked now that the bank has made these significant moves towards a CBDC is what kind of currency will emerge. Will it be a digital currency for all to streamline the population’s everyday banking needs or will it simply be an instrument with which banks can save costs?
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The GPU leader in the high-end gaming PC market has two new powerhouse components to sell ahead of the flurry of fall video game releases.
We go hands-on and test the new GTX 880M and 860M GPUs from Nvidia in gaming laptops from Asus and MSI.
The chipmaker's Maxwell graphics architecture is twice as energy-efficient and 50 percent faster than its predecessor, Kepler.
The company reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and revenue as graphics chip sales climbed.
The company's technology is designed to save a notebook's battery life and enhance the overall performance of those devices.
Researcher Jeremi Gosney has used five servers, 25 Radeon GPUs, Infiniband and Virtual OpenCL to crack passwords at a scary rate.
The most important things to know when shopping for a new laptop, hybrid, or Windows tablet.
New mobile GTX 980M and 970M graphics cards promise desktop-like performance for laptops.
New GPUs, but if you wait another week or two, you can probably get Intel's new CPUs as well.
Using its new top-shelf graphics processing unit, Nvidia tackles one of the most persistent conspiracy theories in American history: the veracity of the 1969 to 1972 Apollo moon landings.


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BALLY has joined forces with Central Saint Martins to design a women's footwear collection. In 2009 the label, now headed up by Michael Herz and Graeme Fidler, challenged 15 students to create shoe designs that had editorial appeal while still maintaining Bally's siganture aesthetic.
SEE OUR COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS HERE
"We are very excited about this collaboration with the students from CSM," said Berndt Hauptkorn, the label's CEO. "We see this as a long term partnership and a key part of Bally's evolution as a modern heritage brand in the world of luxury."
Focusing on unusual heel shapes, five students were selected from the original 15 to have their work developed at the brand's workshops in Switzerland and Italy. The chosen few include Estefania Cortes Hawker, William Hendry, Frida Hofslgare, Stephanie Turner and Charles Youssef.
"It is always good news when brands choose to support young creative talent; Bally has given these students the opportunity to realise their designs and an invaluable insight into the operations side of their chosen field," said Professor Louise Wilson.
Bally will celebrate the collection's in-store arrival in September with Vogue Fashion's Night Out.
YOU SHOULD SEE: Michael Herz on his new role at Bally...
YOU SHOULD SEE: Our highlights from the Central Saint Martins BA show...


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- Digital Cameras
Thursday, 9 Jul 2015
Does 15.5 stops of dynamic range sound good to you? Rumors are that the upcoming A7000 will feature on-sensor HDR, much like what is found in the Xperia Z smartphone. More after the jump.
Wednesday, 8 Jul 2015
Nikon has just launched a new lens aimed for DX users that’s compact in size but boasts impressive optics - the AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/2.8-4 ED VR.
Tuesday, 7 Jul 2015
Nikon has just announced the launch of the world’s lightest 500mm and 600mm FX-format telephoto lenses, bringing lighter options to nature photographers worldwide.
The original Polaroid Cube was an anomaly in the action camera field when it launched late last year. It's also successful enough that the next generation, called the Polaroid Cube+, is set to debut soon.
Monday, 6 Jul 2015
GoPro today unveiled its smallest and lightest camera yet, the Hero4 Session. Compared to the Hero4 lineup, the Hero4 Session is 50% smaller and 40% lighter. Read on to find out more about the Hero4 Session.
Canon has been celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EOS 5D line, and they've just posted two movies that will be of interest to fans.
Tuesday, 30 Jun 2015
A patent showing an EF/EF-S adaptor for a non-existent full-frame Canon camera has appeared online and it seems to be causing a bit of a stir online. Is this a possible full-frame mirrorless body from Canon?
Venus Optic's new Laowa 15mm f/4 is full-frame wide-angle macro lens that has an ultrawide 15mm field of view and 1:1 Macro ability.
Monday, 29 Jun 2015
Here's a video to lessen your Monday blues. YouTuber Naturbeobachtungen von Lothar Lenz pointed a Nikon Coolpix P900 with its 83x optical zoom at the moon on a clear day and got this amazing video out of it. Just watch it for yourself.
Wednesday, 24 Jun 2015
To celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday this year, Canon has released a special edition of the PowerShot G7 X (SG50 Limited Edition) exclusively for the local market.


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I've never quite understood why people cheat at online multiplayer games, but it happens, and Titanfall has an interesting approach to combating the issue. Instead of banning cheaters outright, Titanfall isolates them from the rest of the population. These flagged accounts are only permitted to join online games with other known cheaters, creating what developer Respawn Entertainment describes as "the Wimbledon of aimbot contests."
Respawn didn't deploy its anti-cheating measure right away. Instead, it spent the first couple of weeks silently collecting data on cheating players. Then, last Friday, it dropped the hammer and started separating offenders from the herd.
Interestingly, Respawn isn't preventing folks who abide by the rules from playing with their more mischievous friends. Regular players will have to engage cheaters on their turf, though. So-called "banned" accounts aren't permitted on public servers, even with an escort in tow.
Players who are classified as cheaters will see a "FairFight: Cheat detected" message in the game's private lobby inteface. I haven't noticed any reports of people banned in error, but Respawn has posted a contact email address for those who think they've been flagged incorrectly. The anti-cheating system appears to be limited to the PC right now, probably because the open nature of the platform makes it more vulnerable to exploits. Thanks to Rock, Paper, Shotgun for the tip.
|AMD's Ryzen Threadripper 1920X and Ryzen Threadripper 1950X CPUs reviewed||48|
|Asus Vivobook Pro N580VD-DB74T can do offices and kids' parties||0|
|Thermaltake View 71 flaunts its glass on all angles||4|
|Deals of the week: mobos, CPUs, displays, and more||4|
|Alphacool HDX5 keeps a pair of M.2 SSDs cool||0|
|AMD weighs in on Radeon RX Vega pricing controversy||65|
|Intel expands its Atoms' radius with C3000 SoCs||42|
|Shuttle XH110G packs a PCIe x16 slot into a three-liter package||22|
|I Love My Feet Day Shortbread||17|
|Thanks Jeff, and congrats! Have a beer... and a nap.||+31|


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The University of Rhode Island’s annual Holiday Mini Mall will return to the Memorial Union ballroom on Dec. 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For 46 years, the Holiday Mini Mall has brought festive cheer into the lives of URI students during the holiday season. When the event first made its debut, there were only a few retail shops in the area, and the mini-mall became the only opportunity students had to grab some last minute gifts for loved ones before the holidays. Although there are a lot more retail stores in the Kingston area now, students still delight in the opportunity to shop from the local artisans and specialty shops that arrive at their school each year.
Sheri Davis, URI coordinator of Conferencing, Events and Marketing said that she is beyond excited for this year’s show.
“We invited retailers from Wickford and Narragansett and all around Rhode Island to come and share their art with us,” Davis said. She said she was excited about some of the vendors they have attending this year. There will be handmade accessories from Serendipity, scented candles, balms and soaps from a local bee farm, and a company Davis was especially excited about that does all of their work with cotton candy.
“My favorite tables every year are the ones that work wonders with sustainability,” Davis said. “The URI Student Action for Sustainability club had a booth last year where they sold art pieces they had created from melted vinyl records—it was amazing!” She connected their work to another vendor at the mini-mall, Treasures of the Vine, who sells handcrafted cheese boards from recycled wine and liquor bottles. Davis said that their products are extremely popular every year.
For the past 40 years, this theme of sustainability has been showcased at the event through the local artisan company, Simply Natural. Simply Natural sells eco-friendly and unique products and promotes upcycling, recycling, using organic and natural goods and local artists. The store has been attending the Holiday Mini Mall since the very beginning. Store Co-owner Jerry Fortin said that this year he is bringing more than one thousand items with him to the show.
“There will be jewelry, scarves, organic soaps, natural skin care products, etched glassware, reusable bags and tons of amazing work from local artists,” Fortin said. Fortin said that their use of sustainability can get quite creative, adding that they will also be bringing candles with them that are encased in old beer cans.
According to Davis, last year’s mini-mall was attended by at least 800 URI students and staff members. Year after year, the mini-mall never fails to excite students. Whenever she discusses the event with alums, Davis said that even if they haven’t been on campus in years, they speak of it fondly and with a smile on their face.


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Jimmy John’s sandwich chain said Wednesday that it believes customers’ credit card data was stolen from 216 of its shops between June and September.
If you’ve used a credit or debit card at a Target store in the last few weeks, your financial information might be compromised.
Dearborn police are looking to identify the person who used a credit card that was stolen from an 86-year-old woman’s purse.
While Americans are still using plenty of cash, checks, credit and debit cards to pay their bills, new electronic methods such as paying by cell phone or digital wallets are emerging. But what are there drawbacks?
Police near Orlando say an East Lansing-area dentist tried to use a military veteran’s lost credit card to buy dinner.
Canton Police are looking for the public’s help in identifying a man suspected of using a stolen credit card.
Nancy Nall Reporting It isn’t just young people prone to miring themselves in credit-card debt. Between 1992 and 2001, people age 65-69 saw their average credit-card balance rise 217 percent — to $4,041, according to […]


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Jil Sander became a fashion designer ''by chance'' and never set out to have the career she has got.
Jil Sander became a fashion designer ''by chance''.
The German sartorialist says she has always had a huge interest in clothes but didn't think about making her own line until she was working as an editor at a fashion magazine and didn't like the outfits that had been sent through for a shoot.
She said: ''I started dressing my family when I was a child. But the actual decision to design came quite late and almost by chance. As a fashion editor, I was unhappy with the clothes we received for shoots. So I contacted the producers and made suggestions. After that I opened a store where my creations were just a sideline. Then things evolved rather quickly.''
Jil has become famed for her minimalistic fashion and she believes the look has become popular in recent years because the economic downturn means people don't want to dress in an extravagant way.
She told Britain's ELLE magazine: ''In a serious economic situation like this, people opt for understatement. They don't feel like disguising and 'dressing up'.''
Corgan took to Instagram to confirm rumours of new Pumpkins material, saying the first songs could arrive as early as May.


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Mumbai, Nov 9 (IANS) Tata Motors said Tuesday its second quarter profit increased to Rs.2,223 crore as compared to just Rs.22 crore in the same quarter last year, on higher sales and turnaround in Jaguar Land Rover business.
The company’s total revenue surged 36.5 percent to Rs.28,782 crore for the quarter ended Sep 30, 2010 from Rs.21,088 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous year.
The Jaguar Land Rover business continued to show strong profitability, with healthy volumes in the second quarter, reporting a profit after tax of Rs.1,715 crore, Tata Motors said in a statement here.
‘Both wholesale and retail volumes improved favourably as compared to the corresponding quarter in the prior year on the back of improved market conditions,’ it said.
The company has made a significant turnaround in the last one year. For the first six months of current fiscal Tata Motors has posted Rs.4,211.72 crore profit as against Rs.307 crore loss in the corresponding period last year.
The company’s South Korean commercial vehicles subsidiary Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Co. Ltd, however, reported a decline of 8.5 percent in its net revenues, due to lower exports.
The financial subsidiary of the automotive major Tata Motors Finance Ltd.’s net profit increased to Rs.45 crore from Rs.21 crore.
On a standalone basis, Tata Motor’s net profit for the second quarter of the current fiscal year decline by 40.60 percent and stood at Rs.433 crore as against Rs.729 crore in the like period of last year.
‘Cost pressure, supply chain bottlenecks resulted in a dip in the operating margins to 9.7 percent,’ the statement said.
Last year, the company made an additional profit of Rs.370 crore by selling of its investments on which it was not liable to pay tax.
‘Good macroeconomic conditions, good monsoons and good finance availability led to robust domestic demand during the quarter, resulting in volume growth across all segments,’ the statement added.


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The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 38 has just completed the 2021 Shop with a Cop in February with much success.
The restrictions with the COVID-19 have created obstacles to the annual shopping trip for kids normally held around back-to-school in the late fall.
The Shop with a Cop program assists those children who may need items to have a positive school year by purchasing those needed items for success.
This year, instead of law enforcement personnel shopping with children, kids of all ages were shopped for by local law enforcement personnel, their spouses and volunteers from throughout the community.
The items selected were clothing, shoes, book bags, jackets, and other much needed items to promote a positive school year.
The funds to support this program continue to provide such a positive effect on local children were donated by the great and caring citizens of Cumberland County.
The members of the Fraternal Order of Police Frank Clement Obrien Lodge #38 express thanks to all those that were able to shop this year.
“The time and dedication you put forth will never goes unnoticed contributing to such a worthy investment and in the hopes of making bigger and brighter futures for the community’s most precious assets for years to come,” said Fred Sherrill, an organizer of the annual event.


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Be Aware: Scammers Are Trying To Trick People Out Of Money By Using Miranda Lambert’s Likeness Without Permission
The internet can be the Wild West sometimes. Those with bad intentions will often impersonate famous figures to scam unsuspecting people, usually in an effort to get money.
Some will use a celebrity’s name and likeness to trick people into thinking that celebrity endorses the “product” they’re selling. Miranda Lambert is one celebrity scammers have been using to scam people recently, and increasingly so.
Lambert’s team wanted to warn her fans about these scams since they’re on the rise. In a post on her Instagram Story, they said:
“There are more online scams going around than ever before, so please be aware. These scams use Miranda’s name/likeness and voice without permission to sell their wares.”
Taking things a step further, Lambert’s team listed all of the brands she officially works with, and where the products can be found. See that full list in the image below.
Lambert’s team said if fans ever question if something is legitimately supported by Lambert, they should reach out via the contact section on her official website.
Why Are These Scams Increasing Right Now?
The increase in scams using Lambert’s name and likeness is surely due in part to the recent release of her cookbook, Y’all Eat Yet. The book features recipes from Lambert’s family and friends, as well as some personal stories.
Not long after releasing Y’all Eat Yet, Lambert attended the ACM Awards. She delivered a stunning performance of “Carousel,” which you can watch below.
Hopefully those who love Lambert, her music, and her products will see her team’s message so they don’t get tricked by any scammers in the future.


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Using the combined technologies of the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, a Kinect motion sensor and a stationary bike outfitted with a Bluetooth-enabled Kickr training device, tech company Globacore has created an immersive first-person homage to classic Atari arcade game Paperboy.
Dubbed PaperDude VR, the game is built in Unity and captures the essence of Paperboy, if not wholly recreating it. Thanks to the Oculus Rift, players get a full 3D view of their virtual paper route, while Kinect tracks the motion of thrown newspapers based on arm movement and hand position. The Kickr, paired with an iPad, tracks speed and cadence as players pedal their way through an on-rails course, according to the developer.
Players are rewarded for accurate throws, but penalized for whiffing (and breaking a subscriber's front window). While there are obstacles in the road, more serious threats like sidewalk surfing skateboarders, angry neighborhood dogs and grim reapers aren't in the current "early prototype" version of PaperDude VR.
Toronto-based Globacore says it has plans to add more Paperboy-authentic features to the project, addressing the "lack of breakdancers, ghetto blasters and rogue lawnmowers" in the game. The developer says it might even add the dirt bike course that capped each stage of Paperboy and internet-based leaderboards. For now, virtual reality home delivery of newspapers will have to suffice.


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You will have heard of the expression “there’s loads of meat left on that bone.” For Safeway and Albertsons shops in Oregon the meat had some huge cash left on these kilos.
Safeway and Albertsons lately agreed to pay a $107 million settlement for a buy-one, get-one-free promotion which allegedly tricked shoppers into pondering they have been getting a deal.
The lawsuit was submitted by a pair of shoppers and stated, “They’re paying extra per pound than usually priced meat, and they’re shopping for extra meat to be able to receive the illusory ‘free’ product.”
The lawsuit, which was filed again in 2016, went on to listing an instance: boneless pork chops have been usually $4.49 a pound, however underneath the buy-one, get-one-free promotion they have been listed at $12.99 a pound.
Safeway and Albertsons haven’t admitted to any wrongdoing, however as an alternative agreed on the settlement that can solely be utilized to these clients who purchased meat at Oregon Albertsons and Safeway shops utilizing the Safeway Membership Card at Safeway shops and coupons at Albertsons grocery shops. Class members can obtain an equal share, estimated to be about $200, of the web settlement fund.
The ultimate approval listening to for the Safeway settlement is schedule for July 10.


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How Retail Underdogs Can Avoid An Amazon Holiday Blowout
During the holiday shopping season, countless consumers will use digital payments and commerce technology to buy gifts from distant companies — some overseas, some just in neighboring time zones — and have them shipped seamlessly to their destinations.
But the same technology that enables those transactions also can bring the benefits of consumer intimacy to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that are often struggling to win more market share in a retail world dominated by the likes of Amazon, Walmart and other large retailers.
That was the main message of a recent PYMNTS interview with Peter Spee, vice president of strategy and general manager, Americas, at AEVI, a FinTech player that wants to bring acquirers closer to their merchants.
Among the most important tasks for SMBs during the 2018 holiday shopping season — and, of course, beyond — is to, in Spee’s telling, keep abreast “of the moods and trends of consumers” and know what they are looking for in terms of “pricing, inventory and product comparisons.” From that work should spring a “seamless” consumer experience that includes not only payments — and relevant payment options — but delivery and even financing services.
That might sound obvious. But that doesn’t mean every SMB is on board with such thinking — or has made the financial commitments to do so. The new Retail Innovation Readiness Index from PYMNTS, powered by AEVI, found that 65.4 percent of retailers said they innovate to improve customer loyalty — a finding that underscores the importance of Spee’s comments about SMBs.
But that report also documented the existence of an innovation divide that is based on company size — SMBs tend to face more challenges when implementing innovation than do larger firms. That said, about 88 percent of smaller businesses surveyed for the Index believe that innovation is essential for survival. That means, at the least, the idea of innovation in this digital payments and commerce world has taken root, even among businesses that might need more of a helping hand to achieve innovation than bigger retailers.
The rise of apps are helping SMBs in the innovation game, Spee said. Those businesses “have access to similar tools that consumers are using” — which can, at times, be a double-edged sword. Apps make it easier for SMBs to dig deeper into consumer behavior — to get to their consumers and offer them personalized offers and upsells, along with associated features like delivery — but it also means consumers are more sophisticated and demanding when it comes to browsing, shopping, buying and post-purchase services. SMBs cannot afford to fall behind.
Among the areas where SMBs could use more focus are pricing and price comparisons. Larger rivals often have entire departments tracking those details, Spee said. During the holiday shopping season, SMBs might have the advantage of, say, a warm, inviting store that draws in consumers off the street. But those same consumers can simply use their mobile devices to compare prices. What happens when those consumers learn that the SMB prices are higher — even significantly higher — than the prices offered by competitors?
Well, that SMB might have to get creative, Spee said. They might “install the product in a consumer’s house,” he said, “or offer a combination of products” in some package deal that makes up for the price difference. “SMBs can offer the personal touch.”
Providing a personal touch requires consumer data and an understanding of consumer data that necessitates a well-trained staff, who will need at least a few hours — ideally, “an entire day,” Spee said — to get familiar with the retail data systems in play. Still, that’s an especially challenging tasks for SMBs, given staff turnover. A robust loyalty program also could provide information about consumer behavior and lead to more personalization on the part of the SMB, he said.
As important, if not more, is “orchestrating all these interactions into one seamless experience,” he said. That can mean, for instance, making delivery an easy option to select during purchase or having a simple, flexible point-of-sale system instead of a complicated operation fixed to specific points in a particular store.
“You want to be able to take the sale to anyone in the SMB’s store or retail environment,” he said, adding that such a capability not only works to increase consumer satisfaction but increases efficiency in that retailer’s daily operations.
Digital technology can certainly bridge distances but, as Spee explained, it can also help SMBs better know their customers and keep them loyal even as larger merchants boost their own offerings.


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After examining the growing online culture of “fitness inspiration”, they will discuss their findings at a conference on women and physical activity in Adelaide tomorrow.
They examined posts on social media sites, such as Instagram and Facebook, featuring images, hashtags and inspirational quotes.
Flinders University health sciences lecturer Dr Ivanka Prichard conducted three studies, each of about 100 women aged 17 to 25.
In two of the studies participants were put on a treadmill for 10 minutes after viewing such online content.
“These images are supposed to inspire people but they don’t seem to be making people exercise any more,” Dr Prichard said.
“It sounds like it should be a good thing if it’s inspiring fitness and health in people but my concern is because the images are also (of) very thin (people) … they’re likely to lead to the same body dissatisfaction as the thin ideal.
“Fitspiration images seem to lead to greater body dissatisfaction and negative mood in comparison to control images, say, of just gym equipment.”
Flinders University PhD candidate Stephanie Jong was inspired to look into the issue after a friend posted a before and after “bum selfie” online after completing a leg squat challenge.
Ms Jong spent months analysing online content and interviewed 22 Australian women aged 18 to 24, including 14 from South Australia.
“We’ve seen a big push towards the fitness ideal (online),” she said.
“What is normal is being pushed through posts and comments (on social media).”
Ms Jong said producers and consumers of such online material rarely considered socio-economic issues, such as the cost of expensive “superfoods”, gym clothing or workout equipment.
“We also need to think about the credibility of the health information that’s online,” she said.
Ms Jong hoped to create an app which could help people “to be a bit more critical about the messages that they’re getting online”.
Basketballer Mollie McKendrick, 22, said perceptions of “the ideal body” have always been a feature in society.
“Now instead of our trend towards skinny … they’re trying to put a fitness twist on it,” said Ms McKendrick.
“It’s always good to encourage fitness and being active but we’ve got to be careful because … you can get people being obsessed with it.”
Novak, L. (2015) Fitspiration Messages on Social Media Can Do More Harm Than Good. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/fitspiration-messages-on-social-media-can-do-more-harm-than-good/story-fni6uo1m-1227635813171?sv=6deabf05553e3ef6b97b68d94fbc8ebd#load-story-comments. [Accessed: 07 December, 2015].


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French lawmakers approve bill to ban disposable e-cigarettes to protect youth
December 6, 2023 | by b1og.net
Imagine a future where disposable e-cigarettes are a thing of the past. That reality might be closer than you think, as French lawmakers have just approved a bill to ban single-use, disposable electronic cigarettes. The aim of this legislation is to protect young people from the allure of these devices, with their enticing flavors, and also to address the environmental impact of the disposable products. With unanimous approval from the National Assembly, this bill is expected to be adopted by the Senate and could go into effect as early as September 2024. This move follows a global trend, with other countries like the UK, Ireland, and Germany considering similar measures. Joining the fight against disposable e-cigarettes, France is taking a proactive step to safeguard its youth and protect the environment.
In a move to protect young people from the allure of disposable e-cigarettes and mitigate the environmental impact of these products, France’s National Assembly unanimously approved a bill to ban single-use, disposable electronic cigarettes, commonly known as “puffs.” The bill, supported by the government, will now move to the Senate for further consideration. If approved, it could go into effect by September 2024.
Approval of the Bill
Lawmakers in France’s National Assembly approved the bill to ban single-use, disposable electronic cigarettes in a late-night vote, with 104 in favor and none against. The unanimous approval signifies the recognition of the need to protect young people from the harmful effects of nicotine addiction and to address the environmental consequences of disposable e-cigarettes.
Reasons for the Ban
Disposable e-cigarettes, which are popular among teenagers for their sweet flavors, do not contain tobacco but often include nicotine, a highly addictive substance. The ban on single-use e-cigarettes aims to protect young people from the dangers associated with nicotine use. Additionally, the disposable nature of these products leads to a significant amount of electronic waste, specifically the non-rechargeable lithium batteries used in these devices. By banning disposable e-cigarettes, France seeks to mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with their production and disposal.
Popularity Among Teenagers
One of the driving factors behind the ban on disposable e-cigarettes is their popularity among teenagers. These devices, with their sweet flavors and discreet design, have become particularly appealing to young people. The ban aims to protect this vulnerable demographic from the allure of nicotine addiction and the potential long-term health consequences associated with its use.
Disposable e-cigarettes contribute to environmental degradation due to the non-rechargeable lithium batteries they utilize. As these devices are not designed to be refilled or recharged, their batteries often end up in landfills, posing a significant environmental threat. By prohibiting the use of single-use e-cigarettes, France hopes to reduce the amount of electronic waste generated and promote more sustainable alternatives.
The ban on disposable e-cigarettes in France aligns with a broader international trend. Countries such as the UK, Ireland, and Germany are considering similar measures to address the appeal of flavored e-cigarettes to young people and the environmental impact of disposable devices. New Zealand and Australia have already implemented restrictions, including lower nicotine levels and regulations on vape shop locations near schools. These global efforts highlight the need for collective action to protect youth and the environment from the harms associated with disposable e-cigarettes.
Comparison with Other Countries
France is not alone in its efforts to regulate the use of e-cigarettes. Various countries have implemented measures to address the concerns surrounding these products. The ban on single-use e-cigarettes in France complements the existing restrictions on kid-friendly flavored reusable e-cigarettes implemented by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the surge in unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes, primarily from China, has posed a challenge to existing regulations. France’s move to ban disposable e-cigarettes demonstrates a commitment to adapting and improving regulations to address emerging issues in the market.
Regulation on Kid-Friendly Flavors
The ban on single-use e-cigarettes in France seeks to address the appeal of sweet flavors to young people. Flavored e-cigarettes have been criticized for enticing teenagers to experiment with nicotine products. By prohibiting the sale and use of disposable e-cigarettes, France aims to reduce the availability of kid-friendly flavors and discourage young people from starting nicotine use.
Surge in Unauthorized Disposable E-cigarettes
Despite previous regulations targeting reusable e-cigarettes, unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes, primarily from China, have flooded the market. The ban on single-use e-cigarettes in France is a response to this surge in unauthorized products, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and enforcement. By implementing a comprehensive ban, France aims to curb the availability and use of unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes.
The approval of a bill to ban single-use, disposable electronic cigarettes in France marks a significant step in protecting young people from the allure of nicotine addiction and addressing the environmental impact of these products. The ban aligns with international trends towards regulating flavored e-cigarettes and highlights the need for collective action to safeguard youth and the environment. Through this ban, France’s commitment to protecting its citizens and promoting sustainability is evident. As other countries consider similar measures, it is crucial to prioritize the well-being of young people and the planet by implementing comprehensive regulations on e-cigarettes.


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Former Starling Bank co-founder and chief technology officer Mark Hipperson is preparing to launch a new cryptocurrency startup.
After leaving the digital challenger bank in 2016, he started working on the new venture in late 2018 and has an application in for e-money licence from the Financial Conduct Authority.
Named Ziglu, the mobile app will let users hold both fiat and up to five cryptocurrencies in an e-wallet, connecting with crypto exchanges for currency transfers and enabling spending via a Mastercard debit card.
The startup has so far been funded by a combination of Hipperson’s own money and several angel investors. He has ambitions to to process up to $1 billion in transactions in its first year after launch, with an expansion from UK to the US by the third quarter.
“We’ve built an account that breaks all the currency barriers – geographic and technological – and puts you fully in control of your money whatever you want to do with it,” reads the website.
“While we intend to expand our offerings to other countries in due course, currently only UK-residents who are at least 18 years of age may use our services and are eligible to apply for a Ziglu account,” notes the terms of service.
For those trading cryptocurrnency, Ziglu will charged an as-yet-undetermined percentage fee based on the value of each transaction.


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- Samsung has a long and illustrious history of trolling Apple in its smartphone commercials.
- In 2017, it poked fun at Apple for ditching the headphone jack in the iPhone 7.
- Now Samsung's new phone, the Note 10, has also removed the headphone jack.
- As for that 2017 commercial, it has disappeared from some of Samsung's major YouTube channels.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Samsung has a long and illustrious history of trolling Apple in its smartphone commercials. But now the South Korean firm is cloning one of the iPhone features it once mocked, and it has quietly deleted records of the ads.
Samsung unveiled its Note 10 on Wednesday and, as has been widely observed, the phone falls in line with other new devices on the market in that it does not come with a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
"It's looking more and more likely that Samsung, one of the last holdouts of the standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, is phasing out the onetime industry standard," Business Insider's Antonio Villas-Boas noted.
It represents something of a volte-face for the phonemaker, which poked fun at Apple for ditching the headphone jack on the iPhone 7 in 2016.
Samsung released a memorable advertisement in November 2017 titled "Growing Up." It features an iPhone user through the ages becoming increasingly frustrated with the limitations of his phone. In the end, he caves and buys a Samsung Galaxy.
In one section, he ruefully inspects an adapter cable, which enables iPhone users to turn their charging portal into a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Fast forward to 2019 and Note 10 customers may need a similar bit of kit to use wired headphones with their device. And as for that "Growing Up" ad, it has disappeared from some of Samsung's major YouTube channels.
Business Insider found that the ad had been removed from the Samsung Mobile USA page, which has nearly 1.8 million subscribers. It is also not available on the main Samsung channel, which has 3.8 million followers. You can still see the Samsung Mobile USA YouTube page that hosted the ad via the internet archive Wayback Machine.
A follow-up to the "Growing Up" ad released in May 2018 has also disappeared from Samsung YouTube channels. It means articles written about the two ads when they were released (such as these two stories on The Verge) now feature dead YouTube embeds.
Samsung has not completely expunged the ad from its official channels, however. It is still available on some regional channels. So here, courtesy of Samsung Malaysia, is the "Growing Up" ad that trolled an iPhone feature Samsung has now adopted:


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Indianapolis — hhgregg said it will open its doors at 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
The retailer will then shut its doors at midnight and reopen at 7 a.m. on Black Friday, putting its strategy in line with many other CE chains for the holiday weekend.
Doorbusters will include an iPad Air for $299, a 60-inch LG HDTV for $488, and Toshiba tablets for $59. It will also have a 40-inch smart TV for $178 and washers starting at $199, although specific brands weren’t provided.
hhgregg will also begin a 10-day promotion beginning Nov. 20 that offers up to 40 percent off storewide.
“We’re doing things differently this year,” said Dennis May, CEO of hhgregg. “We’re offering more doorbusters than ever, free delivery on our major appliances [over $497] and big savings before the shopping frenzy begins. This means that consumers who are wanting a deal but are not interested in Thanksgiving or Black Friday lines can shop hhgregg as early as Nov. 20 for unbeatable prices on the brands they love.”
Other CE retailers opening on Thanksgiving include Best Buy, Walmart, Kmart, Target and Sears, while BJ’s, Costco, P.C. Richard & Son, GameStop and Sam’s Club have pledged to stay closed. RadioShack will open at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving but will then close from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- 2019 TWICE Top 100: Hottest Products - May 28, 2019
- Walmart To Offer Free Next-Day Delivery On Orders Over $35 - May 14, 2019
- Amazon Bringing Two-Day Prime Delivery Down To Just One Day - April 26, 2019


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While the second edition of Narendra Modi leadership is setting tone for next level growth, Indian Startups have started expressing their wishlist for Union Budget from the new regime. They have demanded that the Modi 2.0 government should immediately remove the Angel Tax being levied on them as it haunts both entrepreneurs and investors.
For a Make in India versus Register in India, founders of startups have huge expectations from the upcoming budget to make India the preferred Hub, especially for the startup sector. “Tax woes like Angel Tax continue to haunt Indian entrepreneurs and investors. Several Indian startups, although operating in India, have registered their companies in Singapore to benefit from the mature funding opportunities, ease of doing business, lower capital gain tax from selling of shares by investors; Continue the policy of reducing corporate taxes, and stable economic policies (Lowering the Compliances required to be met by Startups, reduced or zero rate of TDS, encouraging VCs by requiring less stringent paperwork). Indian startups are literally going places today & the overpowering regulations can dampen the spirits & the Pride of Make in India & Registered in India,” this was quoted by Vinay Agrrawal – Founder & CEO at Hubbler in country’s leading media — Zee Business.
While advocating the aspect of removal of the Angel Tax, Vinay Singhal, Co-Founder & CEO, WittyFeed also said in the same report, “The plight of dealing with Angel Tax has been intact for long. Angel Tax has emerged as one of the key issues faced by the Indian startup ecosystem. A lot more regarding the same needs to be addressed by the Government to boost angel investments in the country.” Vinay Singhal went on to add that the startup ecosystem is expecting the government to provide for simpler regulations surrounding the tax levied upon Employee Stock Options (ESOPs). The same goes for StartUp India, Government of India’s flagship initiative wherein policies abound but the realization on the ground differs the expectation. It will help if the intent on paper is transformative enough to change the landscape of startups in India for real.


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Yesterday at the trading session a 5.18% increase was seen in the stock of Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE:ARO) and later on in the extended trading period a further 24% rise was seen as well. Moreover the company revealed its fiscal 2014’s fourth quarter’s results which exceeded expectations. Hence, it can be said that the company’s sales for the holiday period were substantially strong.
Another company that revealed similar results as Aeropostale(NYSE:ARO) yesterday was Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ:URBN). The company able to boost its stock by 7% during yesterday’s after market hours.
On the other hand Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) lifted its outlook for fiscal 2014 on the basis of a reduced tax rate as well as the strength that the company observed during its fourth quarter. However, Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) was unable to generate sales which could exceed expectations during the weeks that followed the busy holiday season.
As per the National Retail Federation, the retail industry in the US saw a 4% increase to $616 billion in its overall sales amid the holiday season. The prediction for the holiday season sales showed a growth of 4.1%. Generally speaking, during the holiday period most retail companies managed to generate around 30% of annual sales along with the annual profits of 40%.
Around this time, the Black Friday and Super Saturday did not go in favour of the sales of the retail companies. However, the sales gained momentum by the end of December and the fall in the gas prices played a role in it. Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE:ARO) revealed an 11% decline in its sales to $594.5 million. Although the sales were lower than last year’s $670 million, they were still higher than what Wall Street had anticipated.
According to Wall Street, the company should have gathered sales of $597 million. The company’s revenues went down 9%; however, it is better than the revenue dip that the company had seen in the previous year along with the estimated decline of 9.2%.
Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO) revealed that its CFO, Marc Miller will now act as the company’s Operating Chief Officer and will look after some important segments of the company like logistics, real estate, construction etc.
The position of the CFO will go to David Dick who is the former CFO of Delia, but since the company filed for bankruptcy David Dick decided to apply for the position of CFO at Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO).The quarterly sales of Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN) increased 12% YOY to $998 million. The company’s sales stayed at par with the expectations.
The company also shared that it will be stepping into spring season with fresh inventory for two of its brands Anthropologie and Free People. Gap’s (NYSE:GPS) sales increased 2% amid the holiday period based on the 11% growth that is generated due to the affordability of its brand Old Navy. However, the increase in sales did not have much impact due to the consistent 6% decline that the brand faced.
Gap anticipates that there will be a 3% increase to $4.71 billion in its quarterly revenues. The company revealed a 3% decline in its January sales while the analysts had estimated a 1% decline.


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Death Waltz has secured the rights to release the 1954 Godzilla soundtrack in full for the first time.
It’s hard to believe that in over fifty years, nobody has managed to release the entire soundtrack in full before, but it’s more proof that the heads over at Death Waltz are doing the work of saints in their mission to make sure the best cult soundtracks get the releases they always deserved.
While it’s Gareth Edwards’ brand new Godzilla redux that’s getting most of the mainstream attention right now, the reissue is a remastered version of Akira Ifukube’s brassy accompaniment to Toho’s 1954 original. This was the movie that kicked off a craze that’s clearly still in effect today, and the soundtrack is just about as essential as they come.
As usual with Death Waltz releases, there are a couple of editions – the regular edition features fantastic new artwork (above) from Cheung Chung Tat and liner notes from Japanese cinema expert Jasper Sharp and Film On Wax editor Charlie Bridgen and comes on green vinyl, and there’s a special limited edition version (400 copies only) on blue and white “atomic breath” vinyl.
Godzilla will be released on June 21 via Death Waltz. [via Empire]


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Chrysler's all-new 2004 Crossfire is a two-seat coupe that combines American design with German engineering. Look underneath the Crossfire and...
Chrysler Group has hit another bump in the road on the way to putting a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) in some of its vehicles.
Read This Article
Chrysler is hoping the new 2012 300 sedan will make as great an impression as the original model did years ago.
Earlier this month, Chrysler announced it would be calling back 109 of its pickup trucks and 23 minivans from the streets.
Before DaimlerChrysler disbanded it hit a homerun with the introduction of the Chrysler 300 back in 2005.


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RECon 2012 LAS VEGAS-Scott Kaplan, senior vice president at CBRE, talks about how the San Bernardino County retail market has bounced back. He spoke with GlobeSt.com’s Ian Ritter at the RECon show here.
They also discussed:
- The Inland Empire housing market.
- The retailers expanding in San Bernardino.
- The state of retail real estate development in San Bernardino County


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Your 2012 Plans: Preparing for the Uncertainty of the New Year
What is the outlook for next year’s economic growth? It’s the $64,000 question.
In the United States, some economists predict slow, single-digit GDP growth for 2012. Others, however, suggest the United States will face more severe headwinds as credit tightens due to the worsening European sovereign debt crisis. These economists believe the European banks’ credit squeeze on companies will spill across the continent and ultimately affect businesses all around the world. Recently, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development projected the U.S. economy would grow at a 2-percent rate next year, down from its earlier forecast of 3.1 percent due to the European malaise.
And yet, throughout the summer and into the fall of 2011, finance ministers from countries that use the Euro currency have scrambled to approve more loans, bolster bailout funds and manage to temporarily calm the financial markets. Meanwhile, in the United States, Black Friday, which traditionally kicks off the holiday shopping season, registered an increase in retail sales over recent years, and Cyber Monday’s 2011’s online sales increased 20 percent over Cyber Monday in 2010.
These observations point to a tremendous amount of conflicting, perplexing data that sheds little light on the answer to the question: What should we expect in 2012? More importantly, what should suppliers to the natural products industry expect in 2012? Will next year usher in a doom-and-gloom scenario, or simply be business as usual?
Fundamental social-economic trends that have fueled growth in the natural products industry—concerns over food safety, the increasingly high cost of health care and an aging population of Baby Boomers–remain prevalent.
Nevertheless, many still ask whether increased consumer interest in organically grown products will continue, or if the natural nutrition industry can continue to outperform the GDP growth and avoid the pitfalls of slower growth or a recession as it did in 2009 and 2010.
While the 2012 growth outlook remains difficult to forecast, we can confidently predict one trend—2012 will be a year of great uncertainty. And as all shrewd business executives understand, great uncertainty demands businesses manage this uncertainty and the potential risk with solid business plans.
To prepare for the uncertainty of next year, your 2012 plan should involve initiatives that address four important themes. While these themes are familiar to many and regularly find their way into annual plans, next year, in particular, it will be crucial to address their finer points.
- Address the middle market in emerging economies. While participation in emerging markets has probably been a part of your firm’s strategy in the past, next year, it will be necessary to intensify attention on these markets. Marketplace transition will continue throughout 2012 as the middle markets in these economies grow. Success in 2012 will require execs to determine how to shift from exclusively serving Western companies and elite customers toward building a presence with customers who are part of the much larger and more challenging emerging country middle market. Expanding into these areas will help bolster your firm’s presence in countries and economies that are growing far faster than Western economies. Furthermore, as the purchasing power and disposable income of the middle class increases in these countries, nutrition-based suppliers should target this evolving new consumer segment and begin to teach these consumers about the benefits of purchasing organic foods, dietary supplements and other natural products.
- Become a solutions provider. Plans should be in place to help your company evolve from “selling a product” to becoming a “solutions provider.” Competition from low-cost countries such as China will challenge product-centric businesses by offering attractively priced, almost-as-good products. In order to respond to this challenge, stop commoditization and prevent its adverse implications on prices and margins, your 2012 plan must include how to move toward offering an integrated package of products and services that addresses the key challenges facing your customers. Natural product suppliers should offer next-gen, innovative products, aimed at improving overall nutrition and enhancing quality of life. These products can be cleverly bundled together in aesthetically pleasing packaging that has thorough nutritional information and superior functionality.
- Address sustainability. Sustainability should also be elevated in 2012 plans. Sustainability is now viewed as an economic concept. Using fewer resources or shifting to less-expensive resources can improve your bottom line. For many years, specialty retailers who promoted healthy, organic natural products have long advocated for sustainable products with sustainable packaging. In recent years, some mainstream retailers have begun to embrace sustainability, opening the door to the natural product suppliers.
- Create headroom for growth. Responding to the strong balance sheet that your firm has developed since the 2008 to 2009 recession, you will hear about interesting opportunities for acquisitions and investments. Consider investments that will create headroom for growth and that can be justified by both top- and bottom-line arguments. In addition to looking for growth through acquisition, consider expansion into adjacent product and market spaces. Nutrition-based companies should create a plan in 2012 to identify and select adjacent opportunities using a systematic methodology to effectively facilitate the process and examine these opportunities from a strategic perspective. A formal plan next year to address acquisitions and adjacencies will ensure that your firm doesn’t fail from inaction, missed opportunities or bad investment decisions.
Successfully planning and executing these plans will reward your firm with growth. To ensure the good ideas underlying your 2012 plans don’t fail because of implementation issues and resistance to change, it will be important to include the appropriate funding for the implementation team into these 2012 plans.
Author: Atlee Valentine Pope