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If you’re an online troll who commandeers Twitter and Facebook as if it were a Napoleonic war, you might have just typed yourself out of some free gas, not to mention some friends.
Chevrolet is trying to enhance personal engagement with consumers by pumping some positivity into the socialsphere by partnering with IBM Watson and introducing “Fueling Capabilities,” a new digital campaign that evaluates users’ social media presence to gauge their positive impact on society.
The Chevrolet Global Positivity System is a mobile and desktop website that provides the most accurate snapshot conceivable of a user’s social sentiment by pairing personality to possibility.
How does it work? Twitter and/or Facebook users are asked to enter their account and within seconds the program returns a score that makes you either feel like Mother Teresa or a Kanye West lovechild. The tool was made by IBM Watson’s cognitive computing platform.
The campaign aims at driving awareness for Chevy across global markets under the tagline “Find New Roads.” To promote it, Chevy took over three gas stations in Buenos Aires, Cape Town and New Orleans where patrons were given free gas based on their positivity score. The free gas initiative is also planned for Canada, Dubai and South Korea.
Could Oprah, LeBron James and Pope Francis win free fuel? IBM Watson tested their service on some world leaders and celebrities by applying linguistic analytics and personality theory to infer attributes from unstructured text.
Chevy becomes the latest brand to hitch its consumer-marketing wagon to IBM Watson, joining the likes of Macy’s, Kia and a slew of others.
Stephen Gold, the chief marketing officer for IBM Watson Group and vice president for partner programs and venture capital at IBM, said that there isn’t a single industry that won’t be transformed by their cognitive computing technology.
“Marketers pay a steep price for not understanding their customers’ needs and reactions to their business decisions. Watson can help marketers better understand their customers on an individual level, creating a more personalized experience that can lead to deeper engagement and stronger brand affinity.” Gold told [a]listdaily. “Much of the data explosion that has occurred, especially in the social realm, has provided an incredible wealth of information for marketers to learn from and respond to. But to take advantage of this newfound resource, they need cognitive capabilities.”
Although a dearth of data analytics can work wonders, according to a 2016 PwC’s global data and analytics survey, 62 percent of executives still rely more on experience and advice than data to make decisions.
To better find out why Chevy drove deep into the roads of data, Brian Thomas, director of global creative content for Chevrolet global marketing, joined [a]listdaily to explain.
Why did Chevrolet zero in on cognitive computing to create a social sentiment tool?
What we set out to create went beyond social sentiment. We used both IBM’s Watson Personality Insights as well as the AlchemyLanguage APIs for tonality of social posts. It was our goal to create a tool that could provide a detailed personality snapshot for users that was based on multiple criteria, including a social media analysis to evaluate sentiment and a personality characteristic evaluation to help guide users toward activities for their next adventure. Ultimately, Chevrolet’s point of view in terms of applying technology is that it should make life simpler and better. Partnering with IBM in this way allowed us to create a simple, human experience that encourages real people to find a new road in life.
What is the partnership with IBM Watson designed to accomplish? How does it help you sell cars?
The ‘Fueling Possibilities’ campaign drives awareness for our brand and what we stand for. Chevrolet is at different stages of brand awareness around the globe. A global campaign such as ‘Fueling Possibilities’ helps us create consistency as to who we are as Chevrolet, bringing a unifying message around our global brand promise to ‘Find New Roads.’ Our audience wants a brand that means something to them. These types of campaigns help define Chevrolet globally. There are scores of auto brands producing cars around the world. We need to be clear as to why Chevrolet produces them. Chevrolet exists to help people make every mile count on their life journey.
Is there a specific marketing strategy behind promoting the Chevrolet Global Positivity System?
‘Fueling Possibilities’ is being supported through a global integrated campaign that consists of paid digital media, owned media and earned. Through paid media, we’re utilizing targeted Facebook custom videos based on edited content from the campaign. We also ran a promoted trend on Twitter across multiple global markets amongst other digital marketing tactics. We also had a really strong earned push that started with an employee advocacy strategy developed to get our own Chevrolet employees engaged and familiar with the app itself. Because we incorporated social sharing into the app, there was a viral tide that helped build awareness from the inside-out.
How will you be judging the success of the Chevrolet Global Positivity System? What kind of tools work best to assess the activation?
The campaign will span over a year-long period. We’ll utilize post-campaign analysis and measurement reports specific to standard digital metrics.
How would you describe Chevrolet’s social personality?
I would say that our social personality is commensurate to our brand values. We’re a genuine brand with a strong history. We’re confident, optimistic, young at heart and live for innovation.
What do you plan on doing with the dearth of data that you gather? Will Chevrolet develop tailored marketing campaigns and products with the data?
We aren’t focusing on PII, but more so giving customers who may never have considered a Chevrolet the opportunity to understand more about who we are as a brand. In aggregate, the data we evaluate through ‘Fueling Possibilities’ will help us design better campaigns into the future. We truly believe we can build on this experience.
How is Chevrolet positioning the brand in developing and implementing global creative content along with digital and social media strategies?
We’ve created what we refer to as the global content studio which is made up from a cross-discipline team of blended talent on the client side as well as across multiple agencies, focused on one objective. The global content studio allows Chevrolet to speak with a consistent voice across markets within digital and social while providing us with the right people, processes and tools to support a world where being both agile and responsive is key.
What role do you want to play in the new era of computing moving forward?
We recognize that the world is not only digital, but mobile. How we convey our brand values to our customers has to be built around the tenants of digital marketing—we need to be agile and responsive while providing personalized experiences that lead our customers to feel that Chevrolet is a brand for them.
Follow Manouk Akopyan on Twitter @Manouk_Akopyan


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hspa+ - News, Features, and Slideshows
With the Google Nexus 4, which launches in Australia on 13 November, supporting HSPA+ but not LTE, many Australians may be wondering what kind of speeds they can receive on the top three telcos.
Mobile operators were out in full force at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week, promoting their improved data networks and unveiling new devices. But with their marketing efforts in overdrive, the operators may confuse rather than attract users.
Smartphones and modems are about to get faster mobile broadband connections -- 14.4M bps (bits per second) and 42M bps, repectively -- using HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access).
A recent very high speed data call, using High-Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+) network technology, was the first of its kind in the world, according to Qualcomm Incorporated.
- Smartphone dead? Fuel cells offer instant power anywhere
- Cryptocurrency software bundled with BitTorrent triggers complaints
- Apple to fill in the blanks on Monday on Watch prices, availability and more
- These CompSci programs deliver most bang for buck, report finds
- Two indicted for stealing 1 billion email addresses in historic breach
- Fastway marketing chief: Making the switch from B2B to consumer connections
- How HelloFresh's CMO uses a surprising tool to bring data closer to the business
- B2B marketers splurging on content and digital; struggling with ROI
- ADMA announces new board changes
- CMO Interview: How McDonald's is putting customer centricity back on the menu

domain: news


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AM ONLINE –
The new chief executive of AM100 car dealer Marshall Motor Group has been revealed to be Pendragon veteran Martin Casha.
Casha will leave Pendragon, where he is chief operating officer, in November this year to lead Marshall, which was acquired by Constellation Automotive in 2022 - a move which was accompanied by the exit of Marshall's high profile chief executive Daksh Gupta.
In a statement today Pendragon revealed that Casha, who co-steered the one-time biggest UK motor retail alongside Trevor Finn after it was split off from Williams plc in 1989 with just 19 dealerships, will not be replaced and his reporting lines will be redistributed across Pendragon's senior leadership team.
Casha said: "I have been very fortunate to have enjoyed a fantastic career at Pendragon. It has been a privilege to be part of a first-class organisation and I would like to thank the team that I have had the pleasure of working with. I wish them every success for the future."
MOTOR TRADER –
GWM ORA UK has announced a new partnership with Sinclair Group. The brand will launch initially with one site in Swansea.
GWM ORA UK has announced six new retail group partnerships this year already and is on track to achieve a total of 20 full sales sites by the end of 2023.
Toby Marshall, managing director, GWM ORA UK, said: “As a new entrant to the UK market, it is important that we ensure consumers have the right introduction to the GWM ORA brand. Our network strategy is centred around working with established and trusted retail partners that can deliver exceptional levels of service. As Wales’ largest automotive retailer, Sinclair Group is a fantastic partner to have on-board and I look forward to working closely with the team in Swansea.”
Andy Sinclair, managing director, Sinclair Group added: “We’re delighted to welcome GWM ORA to the Sinclair Group portfolio. The brand’s first model, ORA Funky Cat, offers fantastic looks, a premium interior and amazing value that we think customers across Wales will love. As of today, our first site in Swansea is now live and the team is ready to deliver exceptional sales and service support to all GWM ORA customers and the unrivalled retail experience that the Group has become renowned for in representing our other marques.”
CAR DEALER MAGAZINE –
In a letter sent to Stellantis’s dealer network today and leaked to Car Dealer, Willcox, 59, said he hadn’t made the decision to leave lightly.
‘This was not an easy decision as I will be sorry to be departing such a committed and professional team as we have in the UK.
‘I want to thank you all for the support that you have given me both in my previous position of Vauxhall MD and more recently UK group MD.’
He added: ‘I am looking forward to spending time relaxing with my family and friends after such a long and interesting career which started with Peugeot in 1988 and finished with my return to the group in recent years.’
Since starting his automotive career at the French carmaker in 1988, Willcox has held senior roles at Nissan and Volkswagen before joining Stellantis’s predecessor, Groupe PSA, in July 2019 as head of the Eurasia region.
AM ONLINE –
Stellantis is reorganising its Distrigo parts network across Europe and the UK and will now distribute parts across the full breadth of the group’s brands.
Distrigo has one national warehouse, 20 hubs and 67 Relay and market trade parts outlets in the UK and previously stocked Citroen, DS, Peugeot and Vauxhall, but as of July 1 will now also stock Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep and Lancia.
A spokesperson for Stellantis confirmed to AM that Maserati's parts distribution will remain separate in the UK.
The parts distribution business has 148 locations across Europe and is hoping to scale up to 100 locations in the UK before the end of 2023.
It means Stellantis authorised repairers and independent repairers will now be able to order genuine parts and accessories from 11 Stellantis Brands, along with the multi-brand Eurorepar range, the Sustainera circular economy parts and supplier ranges from Distrigo parts distributors.
MOTOR TRADER –
TrustFord has opened its new dealership in Carlisle. Mike Bell was promoted internally to the role of general manager.
The new site also includes a seven-bay EV equipped aftersales workshop.
TrustFord’s Mobile Service operation, which already operates in the area, allows a qualified Ford technician to visit customers who would prefer to have their vehicle serviced at their home or workplace.
Stuart Mustoe, chief executive officer of TrustFord, said: “At TrustFord we’re always looking for ways to drive the standard in customer care and that’s why we’re investing across our network. The opening of our site in Carlisle is an important milestone for us and represents our desire to bring the TrustFord experience to more customers. I would like to thank our colleagues who worked so hard to get the site ready to open.”
CAR DEALER MAGAZINE –
The new ‘Sell 2 Swansway’ website was devised by bosses at the Car Dealer Top 100 group as part of a bid to meet the demands of modern consumers.
The platform allows sellers to get a valuation on their vehicle is just 60 seconds, by simply enterring their car’s reg number and mileage.
The valuation is then guaranteed for one week to allow them to make a decision on whether or not they want to sell to Swansway.
From there, the site uses a similar process to other car buying sites, such as We Buy Any Car, with customers given the choice of how and when they want the car to be appraised.
Once a final price has been agreed, Swansway will pay an instant ‘on-the-driveway’ payment when collecting the vehicle.


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Maybe soon you’ll be able to get free shipping, free streaming movies and a cure for the common cold from Amazon.
Yes, you read that right. Amazon is reportedly working on a cure for the common cold.
The company is secretly working on a cure for the condition that causes a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, low-grade fevers and other symptoms, according to CNBC.
Amazon representatives did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment Friday.
CNBC reported that Amazon has assigned more than 100 people in its Grand Challenge division to pursue the cure.
The mission is to develop a vaccine or some other form of treatment, according to the report.
These cleaners kill coronavirus:Lysol, Clorox, Purell products make EPA’s disinfectants list
Can’t find hand sanitzer?:Here’s how to make it at home with vodka or rubbing alcohol
But it might be too early to get your hopes up. The cold, which is usually caused by the rhinovirus, comes in many different forms. And that has made it notoriously hard to cure.
And even if the company comes up with a cure, who will pay for it?
The drug would need to have “almost zero side effects” and there would still be “a major question of whether insurance would pay for it,” venture capitalist and veteran diagnostics executive Mike Pellini told CNBC.
The market opportunity for Amazon is obvious. American adults get about two to three colds per year, and they typically last about seven to 10 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The best way to protect yourself from getting a cold is to wash your hands often with soap and water, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and avoid people who are sick, according to the CDC.
Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.
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The U.S. could soon be sandwiched between two countries with federally legalized marijuana.
Mexico is moving forward with legislation to make the cannabis plant available for a variety of uses.
Canada did the same several years ago.
Here in the U.S., there are states where marijuana is legal, but nothing universal.
There are still a few steps to go through, but the bill that would make Mexico the world's largest cannabis market has been approved by the Mexican Senate.
What kind of impact could this have on the U.S. economy?
Do you think the U.S. will ever have federally legalized marijuana?
Read the full story here.


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One of the World’s leading smartphone maker, OnePlus is all set to host an event, tomorrow, 29th October, in New Delhi, to launch their latest device OnePlus X aka OnePlus Mini for the Indian market.
OnePlus had earlier released a teaser about the launch of their upcoming smartphone. The teaser shows an image of a large ‘X, indicating that the device might be titled as OnePlus X aka OnePlus Mini. OnePlus had also posted the news on its Facebook and Twitter India pages along with the tagline, “See you on October 29, India.”
Check Also : Xiaomi Mi 4c Vs OnePlus 2 : Features Comparison
The company will also hold events in Beijing, London, and Jakarta along with other major cities of the world.
According to the leaked image we get, the OnePlus X is seen to carry a price of CNY 1,699 which roughly translates to €242 or $267 or Rs.17,346. But we believe it will cost approximately Rs. 20,000.
This Chinese company also posted the news on their website and stated that they would start taking reservations for attendees for the event on October 29, which is scheduled to begin at 4:30PM IST.
As per the report published in Android Headlines, the smartphone was recently certified in China as the OnePlus E1001 and the device would run on Oxygen OS, and will feature IP67 certification for water and dust resistance.
The report further stated that “during the China certification, the unknown device came with the model number E1001 and this is the same model number, which has now been spotted on the FCC listings, further fuelling the notion that this is actually the OnePlus X.”
According to the past leaked reports it is now clear that the device is expected to have a MediaTek Helio X10 (MT6795T) SoC, 5-inch IPS display covered in 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3 or 4,2GB of LPDDR3 RAM, 32 GB of eMMC 5.0 storage expandable via microSDXC and a 3,000-3,100 mAh non-removable Li-Po battery.
OnePlus X aka OnePlus Mini is also expected to come with a USB Type-C connector with Quick Charge 2.0 capabilities, Bluetooth 4.1, FM radio, a MT6630 wireless SoC, a 1.2W front-facing speaker, an IR Blaster and an NFC chip that supports Android Pay.
OnePlus X will be available from Amazon India website in a short while though the price has not been declared yet.


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Walmart Black Friday Is Walmart Black Friday The Most Trending Thing Now?
Best Buy is black Black Friday shoppers from “camping out” in advanced of its stores, as abounding accept done in years accomplished to save their atom in line.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The American attitude of “Black Friday” arcade will attending altered this year in food like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target due to the coronavirus pandemic, as bloom admiral acquaint adjoin crowds acquisition for the annual arcade extravaganza.
Retailers are emphasizing online and curbside delivery, arising advice adjoin “camping out” to defended your atom in line, and accretion deals beyond several weeks to abash crowds from overextension COVID-19. Food are about universally touting they will booty the accepted precautions, from affectation requirements to condoning surfaces and attached the cardinal of shoppers central food at one time.
North Carolina accompaniment bloom admiral “strongly recommend” that bodies do not participate in acceptable Black Friday shopping, including cat-and-mouse alfresco for food to accessible and spending time central awash stores.
In fact, the NCDHHS has even issued appropriate guidelines for Black Friday, which encourages bodies to opt for online shopping, curbside pick-up, arcade during beneath awash hours, and blockage to see if food accept appointed hours for high-risk people. They additionally acclaim condoning arcade carts, application touchless acquittal methods, and abstain awash places with appropriate contest like Santa Claus visits.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has labeled arcade in awash stores, like on Black Friday, as a “higher accident activity” for overextension the coronavirus.
Greensboro’s Friendly Center has fabricated changes, too. Santa will access on Black Friday, but this year visits will be contactless with masks and crave online reservations.
Consumer Reports recommends that bodies alpha planning their anniversary arcade beforehand this year, due to aircraft delays from resource-stretched commitment services. Because so abounding bodies are alive their purchases from in-person to online, this year’s anniversary division has been alleged “shipageddon.”
The electronics mega-store Best Buy will be bankrupt this year on Thanksgiving Day, and is black shoppers from “camping out” on Black Friday in advanced of food to defended their atom in line.
“Because of the accepted pandemic, COVID-19, Best Buy does not acclaim that our barter affected out at food above-mentioned to Black Friday. Bounded bloom guidelines do anticipate gatherings of assertive sizes and camping is in battle with those guidelines,” a Best Buy FAQ advises.
Certain deals are accessible all ages continued in November — in food and online.
Best Buy has transitioned all abundance pickups to curbside pickup, including availability afore and afterwards approved abundance hours. The banker is additionally alone affairs anew appear gaming consoles from Playstation and Xbox online.
Walmart is overextension out its deals beyond three weekends in November, instead of alone the acceptable Black Friday accident and online analogous deals.
On Black Friday 2020, all Walmart food will accessible at 5 a.m.
“Customers will anatomy a single, beeline band to access the store. Associates will duke out sanitized arcade carts to barter to advice with amusing distancing, and Bloom Ambassadors will be placed at entrances to accost barter and admonish them to put on a mask,” Walmart said in a statement.
Customers will additionally be counted to abate numbers and cut bottomward on crowds, and directed to boutique bottomward the right-hand ancillary of aisles.
New this year, retail behemothic is additionally acceptance barter to aces up online purchases on Black Friday through curbside pick-up.
Target is aggravating to innovate on Black Friday 2020, including with online anxiety to save your atom in line, and advisers application handheld checkout accessories to let bodies pay appropriate in the aisle. Target will be bankrupt on Thanksgiving Day.
The banker is additionally addition out its deals beyond the absolute anniversary and ages of November. Target is extending its amount bout agreement through December 24th. It’s additionally accretion curbside auto options, like added big box stores.
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Walmart Black Friday Is Walmart Black Friday The Most Trending Thing Now? – walmart black friday
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Speaking on the first day of the Media 360 conference, Howe talked about the changing nature of advertising from the "noble art of distraction", to a time where we "no longer have the luxury of the consumer's attention".
He pointed out that now consumers are constantly browsing on laptops, tablets or mobiles while watching TV or walking down the street, "they are not looking around, they are not seeing what is there," he said.
This makes it harder for advertisers to get the consumers attention, but he said: "What we can do is build a much better picture of the individual from their connected choices ultimately offering much better customised communications."
In this world of constant connectivity he argued that brands that are prepared to listen will succeed and will be invited to really get in.
He said: "If brands know more about their customers then they can communicate really effectively with them."
One of the main challenges is that disruption and interruption no longer cut it any more, brands must now engage, be entertaining, perform and provide a utility.
He said: "One thing that we have seen is that connectivity is the game changer of our times.
"Creating a single view of the customer on their online and offline journey and being able to interact with that customer at times that suits them will be our biggest challenge."
He also pondered what the world would look like when we are fully connected, how new inventions such as Google Glass will encourage people to look up and around, giving advertisers an even bigger opportunity to connect and interact.
He said: "It is about changing the way we think and the way we work to always be on and always engaged across all screens."


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Colin Haggerty has not slept more than 10 nights at his Melbourne flat in the past four months.
The Scot has spent his first 100 days as the global head of retail at troubled
Mr Haggerty, who was poached from Target Australia (the former employer of Billabong’s new chief executive
Billabong is also piloting ways to interact more with its customers, encouraging video or picture uploads in store of their best wave or skate trick.
“It’s about bringing this alive in our stores," Mr Haggerty told The Australian Financial Review.
“We want people to come in Billabong stores to see the latest surf event. We need to bring the brand to a customer experience.
“We are looking at how in Europe we encourage customers to upload photos and videos."
In New Zealand, at multi-brand retailer Amazon, a skate ramp is installed in store where skaters can also register for classes.
Billabong moved into owning retail outlets to try to capture more profit margin as its wholesaling business came under pressure in recent years. The Gold Coast surf and board sports company increased its retail outlets from 50 in 2004 to a peak of 677 in late 2011 after buying Canada’s West49, Queensland’s Rush and Surf Dive and Ski.
As part of a four-year revamp, Ms Inman flagged 140 store closures.
A key part of Mr Haggerty’s job is to get the 40 unprofitable stores that are not being shut to at least break even. Company-owned retail now represents about half of Billabong’s sales.
Mr Haggerty defended the move to store ownership, but said the network didn’t appear to be integrated properly.
“Where the criticism has come from is where it has been integrated. My priority is to bring a much more improved way of operating the retail formats. We don’t envisage more stores closures."
Billabong is investing in better sourcing and improving its supply chain, focusing on better stock management.
“After seeing those businesses and meeting the teams, now my job is to improve the retail standard and performance," he said.
Mr Haggerty first met Ms Inman in 1997 when she called him about a candidate applying for a job at the discount chain. At Target, Mr Haggerty was in charge of store operations and omni-channel and format development.
He has more than three decades of retailing experience as an executive at Walmart, Danish furniture store ILVA, British department store Marks and Spencer and Europe’s largest home improvement retail group Kingfisher.
The Australian Financial Review


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ARTISTS OPEN UP
Published 4:00 am, Sunday, October 3, 2004
Once again, San Francisco is opening its art. Beginning this weekend, the 29th annual San Francisco Open Studios paints the town -- and draws, sculpts, weaves and carves it -- as more than 800 artists open their studios weekends through Oct. 24.
The free "Art Made Here" event features thousands of original paintings, sculptures, photography and jewelry, all made -- you guessed it -- right here in San Francisco.
"We spend about six months thinking about it and the last 45 days pushing to get it done," says artist Maura Kendrick, describing what the impending onslaught of visitors -- and potential customers -- is like for artists. "I guess that's the way art evolves." Kendrick makes Warholesque photography silk screens in a Potrero Hill studio she shares with her sister Christine.
The Kendricks, like hundreds of other participating artists, spent the past few weeks matting, framing, pricing and putting on finishing touches, not to mention straightening up, sweeping messy supplies under the carpet, baking cookies and doing whatever else it takes to make a good impression on you.
This weekend's open studios spotlight South of Market, Potrero Hill, North Beach, Russian Hill, the Tenderloin, Bayview and Portola. Next weekend covers the Castro, Duboce, Mission, Noe Valley, Glen Park, Bernal Heights, Eureka Valley, Diamond Heights and Excelsior neighborhoods. Weekend three (Oct. 16-17) includes the Richmond, Sunset, Marina, Pacific Heights, Fort Mason, Haight, Hayes Valley, Buena Vista, West Portal, Twin Peaks and Mount Davidson areas. And the event wraps up Oct. 23-24 in Hunters Point and Hunters Point Shipyard.
Open Studios is an opportunity for Bay Area art lovers to get to know San Francisco artists better, abstract artist Francis Berry says.
"This monthlong celebration of art is so important because it enables artists to compare notes and get to know people you otherwise might never meet, " he says. "Sometimes it's hard even for artists to find out what others are doing, let alone art lovers."
Now is your chance.
SAN FRANCISCO OPEN STUDIOS: Artists studios are open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 24. For maps and schedules, go to www.sfopenstudios.com .


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Samsung Electronics confirmed on Tuesday that it is planning to invest more than $1 billion in its chip manufacturing facilities in Texas.
Microchip technology Inc. bought rival chipmaker Atmel Corp. for a price of $3.56 billion. This acquisition beats other bidder Dialog Semiconductor PLC due to its sudden share price drop.
Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) has agreed to buy chip maker CSR Plc (CSR.L) for $2.5 billion, pushing out its rival Microchip Technology (MCHP.O) to win the British bluetooth specialist.
Britain's CSR (CSR.L) has rebuffed an approach from Microchip Technology (MCHP.O), saying that the undisclosed price proposed by Microchip was not enough if its U.S. rival wants to bolster its role in the "Internet of Things" with the chipmaker's radio technology.
Acquisition Will Expand Microchip’s Smart Connectivity Solutions for Embedded Markets


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Google has removed an application from its Play store that purported to be AdBlock Plus, a well-known application that blocks online ads.
Alex Holden, founder of security company Hold Security, is in the business of bringing companies bad news.
The cybercriminals behind ZeroAccess, one of the largest botnets in existence, have lost access to more than a quarter of the infected machines they controlled because of an operation executed by security researchers from Symantec.
A piece of malware designed to launch brute-force password guessing attacks against websites built with popular content management systems like WordPress and Joomla has started being used to also attack email and FTP servers.
A recently announced and yet-to-be-patched vulnerability that affects all versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) has been exploited in targeted attacks against organizations in Taiwan since the beginning of July, according to security researche...
A hacking group that targeted Japan's parliament in 2011 is believed to have conducted nimble data thefts against organizations mainly in South Korea and Japan, including defense contractors, over the past two years.
Spam volumes took a usual seasonal drop in August, but phishing spiked, including a noticeable interest in hijacking Apple accounts.
South Korean organizations that conduct research on international affairs, national security and Korean unification are under siege from cyberspies whose attack may have its origins in North Korea.
Android malware is following in the footsteps of Windows malware with attackers adopting some of the same distribution and monetization techniques despite the major differences between the platforms.
The spike in the number of clients using the Tor anonymity network was likely caused by a botnet, according to Tor and third-party security researchers.
Following through on an order earlier this year from U.S. President Barack Obama, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is rapidly developing a set of guidelines and best practices to help organizations better secure their IT syst...
The cyberattack that resulted in nytimes.com and some other high-profile websites being inaccessible to a large number of users Tuesday started with a targeted phishing attack against a reseller for Melbourne IT, an Australian domain registrar and IT...
Recent versions of Orbit Downloader, a popular Windows program for downloading embedded media content and other types of files from websites, turns computers into bots and uses them to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, according to...
A malicious software tool perhaps most famously used to hack RSA's SecurID infrastructure is still being used in targeted attacks, according to security vendor FireEye.
A new variant of the Ramnit financial malware is using local Web browser injections in order to steal log-in credentials for Steam accounts, according to researchers from security firm Trusteer.
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Alliance 2022: New plan outlines autonomous and electric future.
Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Alliance recently discussed the company’s plans and targets, including future goals for electrification and self-driving technologies.
The Alliance plans to introduce twelve new zero-emission electric vehicles by 2022. Over the same period, 40 vehicles will be introduced with different levels of autonomy, all the way to fully autonomous capability.
On the electrification front, the Alliance plans:
• Common, scalable EV platforms for multiple segments by 2020, with a forecast that 70 percent of EV volumes will be based on shared platforms by 2022;
• A new family of EV motor and batteries to be introduced from 2020, shared across the member companies;
• 12 new pure electric vehicles to be launched by 2022;
• More than 600 km EV range reached by 2022;
• 30 percent decrease in battery cost from 2016 to 2022;
• 15 minutes charging time to deliver range of 230 km by 2022, up from 90km in 2016 ;
• Optimized, flat packaging of the battery, providing additional cabin space and greater styling flexibility ;
• Adoption of Mitsubishi Motors’ new PHEV technology by 2022.
The Alliance also plans to launch 40 vehicles with different levels of autonomous drive (AD) technologies by 2022.
The timetable for AD deployment includes:
• 2018: Highly autonomous drive vehicle for use on highways – with a human driver’s continuous monitoring of the environment.
• 2020: Highly autonomous drive vehicle for use in cities – with a human driver’s continuous monitoring of the environment.
• 2020: Highly autonomous drive vehicle for use on highways – with occasional human driver intervention.
• 2022: First fully autonomous drive vehicle – with no human driver intervention necessary.


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Caterpillar layoffs won't hurt AgCo
JACKSON -- Although Caterpillar Inc. cut 20,000 jobs Monday after a plunging profit report, the production of Caterpillar Challenger brand track tractors in Jackson's AgCo facility will continue, a company representative said Monday.
AgCo owns the facility in Jackson. It purchased the design, assembly and marketing rights to the Challenger from Caterpillar in 2002 and its business operates independently of Caterpillar.
"We acquired the rights and we will continue to manufacture (them)," said Nancy Klentak, AgCo's Corporate Communications Manager.
All eight models of Challenger track tractors are built at AgCo Corporation's Jackson facility.
Caterpillar engines and components are used in some of the Challenger products, including combines, according to AgCo's corporate Web site.
Klentak was confident that AgCo would still be able to get the parts it needs for the Challengers.
"They may have laid off 20,000 people, but they still have 100,000 people," Klentak said. "We're going to get our parts."


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Samsung's "buzz score" has overtaken Apple's in a key demographic, says YouGov
The chart at right says it all.
Starting around Nov. 28 -- six days after Samsung began airing its Galaxy Nexus ads mocking Apple's (AAPL) customer base (see here) -- the Korean conglomerate's "buzz" started rising and the iPhone's drifting down.
And on Wednesday, according to a press release issued by YouGov, something unthinkable happened:
"Samsung has just edged past the iPhone in consumer perception in the US (adults 18+), likely powered by their new set of ads bashing the Apple fanboys who camp out for hours to buy the new iPhone."
YouGov's Brand Index tracks the public perception of some 1,100 consumer brands -- including Apple -- by interviewing 5,000 people every weekday and asking them "If you've heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?" Scores can range from 100 to -100.
The recent shifts in the public's perception of Apple and Samsung, according to YouGov, were driven mostly by adults aged 50 and up.
This is not the first time Apple's brand has taken a beating in YouGov's index. In the spring of 2010 -- at the height of the Gizmodo affair, the Flash brouhaha and a Jon Stewart take down, its score fell from a high of 80.2 to a low of 66.1, prompting the New York Times to ask "Has Apple lost its cool?"
Those TV spots are No. 1 in Jon Friedman's list of ways the phone can regain its "swagger"
You might think that Apple (AAPL) would know best how to promote its own products.
You would be wrong, according to Jon Friedman, the media columnist for Dow Jones' (NWS) MediaWatch. His Monday offering starts with the premise that the iPhone has lost its "swagger," and then helpfully offers seven ways the company can MOREPhilip Elmer-DeWitt - Jul 11, 2011 11:48 AM ET
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Forecast for 2024 apple and pear harvest up after challenging years
The annual apple and pear crop estimate from New Zealand Apples and Pears forecasts the national crop to be up 12 per cent on the 2022 crop total, a rebound from the 2023 crop total that suffered significant damage from Cyclone Gabrielle.
Export volume is estimated at 21.2 million boxes, known in the industry as tray carton equivalents or 382,000 metric tonnes. The fruit is expected to have excellent size, colour, eating and flavour properties, and higher dry matter, which enables better storage of the fruit.
Karen Morrish CEO of New Zealand Apples and Pears says the favourable forecast, after an incredibly tough few years with economic losses due to COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle, is down to near-perfect growing conditions and hard work.
“The weather conditions in all growing regions have been excellent, with the warm and dry conditions pipfruit needs. From Gisborne down to Central Otago, spring and summer conditions have set the trees up with a typical crop load of high-quality fruit with exceptional eating quality.
“While conditions have been great, the season’s expected success is also down to sheer hard work. Growers work hard every season, but for those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, the past year has been tough and continues to be tough for those still recovering. Many growers had to dig their orchards out of silt, so it is amazing and surprising to see where we are today after where we were a year ago. Apple trees have proved to be resilient and so too are our growers.
“New Zealand apples and pears are the best in the world. Our industry is world-leading, with home-grown innovations in orcharding and the development of exciting new fruit varieties. Our fruit is healthy and sustainable – good for people and the planet. We should be really proud of this.”


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Mango begins to reopen stores in Europe
“The commercial activity of Mango in the Covid-19 crisis has reached a turning point," said the Catalan label in a press release issued on Monday April 20, marking the start of the gradual reopening of Mango’s European stores. As of today, 135 Mango stores are already operating, and this figure is expected to rise to 620 by the end of April.
Mango stores have begun to reopen in Austria and the Netherlands, where national authorities gave the go-ahead for commercial activity to start up again in 4 and 16 Mango stores respectively. In the course of this week, Mango is planning to reopen its remaining 16 Dutch stores, as well as 42 shops in Germany, another country where lockdown restrictions are being eased. This relative return to normalcy will be further bolstered by the reopening of 27 stores in the Czech Republic, Latvia, Georgia, Cyprus and Ukraine.
“Mango’s priority is the health of its employees and customers. In compliance with local regulations, extraordinary safety and hygiene measures have been adopted in all [of Mango’s] shops,” stated the company in the press release, specifying that the number of customers entering stores will be regulated, and that opening hours will be reduced. In addition, Mango has provided for the stores to be constantly sanitised and for protective equipment, for both employees and customers, to be made available.
In addition to the stores mentioned above, 62 Mango shops have never stopped operating throughout this period. They are located in 17 countries where the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact has been less hard. Among them, Finland, Norway, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia and Belarus. At the same time, in markets such as in China, another 53 stores have reopened in the last few weeks.
Mango’s 400 Spanish stores have been closed since March 14. Because of this situation, the company decided to furlough 79% of its workforce in Spain, for a total of 4,767 employees. Mango has collaborated in the effort to purchase and distribute 2 million masks and to produce 13,000 gowns for medical staff. In addition, the company has introduced special policies for its top executives. The salary of senior managers has been reduced, and Mango's CEO Toni Ruiz decided to forego his remuneration during the pandemic.
Mango was founded in Barcelona in 1984. In 2019, it posted record results, its revenue rising to €2.374 billion, equivalent to a 6.3% increase. In the same year, online sales accounted for 24% of Mango's total sales. During the shop closure period caused by the Covid-19 crisis, Mango has continued to do business online, “since distribution has not been disrupted and deliveries have continued (with the exception of some areas where restrictions were in place).” In addition, Mango has tweaked some of its retail services, extending the return period and allowing in-store collections once the stores are operational again. The label’s warehouse and its logistics contractors have taken steps to ensure maximum safety in operating conditions for employees and customers.
Copyright © 2023 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.


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As part of his new vision for the brand, Mulberry Creative Director Johnny Coca is reinventing the iconic Bayswater bag, and the results are set to be unveiled next week.
“I want to push the boundaries and give a more modern feel for the brand, but keeping all the DNA and authenticity,” he told the Financial Times, “I’m not here to completely change it. It’s really imported to respect where it comes from.”
Called, fittingly, the Bayswater 2016, this new version is more pared-back and minimal – fans of the original will note the Mulberry tree logo has gone and is replaced by etched brand lettering from the 1970s, and the postman’s lock is smaller. This new look is inspired by the different attitude women have now and also lifestyle elements – iPhone pockets feature on these latest styles. As well as the classic burgundy, black and clay colourways, pinks and yellows will also feature in the collection.
Many observers have noted that Mulberry’s recent misfortunes have come down to price, and it’s something Johnny Coca is keen to address. “Sometimes people say ‘you know what, I’m going to redesign,’ and the price is double. It’s not right,” he explained to the FT. The Bayswater 2016 will retail at £895, with a smaller version available for £795.


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Home > News > Apple TV
Play YouTube Videos on Apple TV
- YouTube is popular for its multiple video resources and the freedom of hosting, tagging and sharing videos. The videos are all FLV video formats ( http://www.winxdvd.com/dvd-ripper/ ) downloaded from Youtube. Google-owned video website made YouTube's television debut in June through the Apple TV set-top box.
- Before this announcement, Apple TV owners looking for content were mostly limited to move their own home videos to Apple's set-top box or to stream television programs they had previously purchased through the iTunes Store on a Mac or PC.
- "This is the first time users can easily browse, find and watch YouTube videos right from their living room couch, and it's really, really fun," said Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive. "YouTube is a worldwide sensation, and Apple TV is bringing it directly from the internet onto the widescreen TV."
- With this deal, Apple TV owners could begin extending their offerings through select, controlled partners.
- Unfortunately, this could also put Apple in the middle of a copyright infringement battle over videos shown on the web. YouTube is currently being sued for $1 billion by MTV-owner Viacom. "We are always vigilant about protecting our copyrights," said a Viacom spokeswoman. "But we would welcome the opportunity to license our content to Apple as we do with all distributors."
- With the YouTube deal, Apple also announced it will start selling a new version of the Apple TV with a 160 GB hard drive for up to 200 hours of video, 36,000 songs, 25,000 photos or a combination of each.


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Further validating that wireless advertising is on its way, Verizon Wireless, typically the most conservative operator when opening up its network to this stuff, says it is testing a program to open up its phones to advertising through a two-tier payment model. Currently, advertising has been limited on the cell phone primarily to text messaging and short code promotions. Verizon predicts that as much as 25 percent to 30 percent of the $100 billion spent each year on brand advertising will find its way onto the phone. Video on handsets looks to be the primary enabler here as marketers are now taking a closer look at this medium.
For more about Verizon Wireless' advertising plans:
- read this article from Advertising Age (reg. req.)


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PayPoint has launched its multi-operator smart ticketing service across the Greater Manchester area. The new service will allow passengers to purchase selected current System One travelcards to load onto a get me there or other ITSO compatible smart card at any of the 1,334 PayPoint retailers in the region.
The launch is the latest in a growing number of major smart transport services operated by PayPoint, using ACT’s Cloud Ticketing Service. It follows successful launches in Merseyside and Cardiff over the past two years, bringing more value to retailers and giving customers extra reasons to do more at their local store.
The get me there travelcard is designed to make bus travel across Greater Manchester easy. Passengers using an ITSO smart card loaded with a 7-day or 28-day get me there travelcard have the flexibility to travel on the most convenient bus service using a single smart card. Passengers can purchase new travelcards to load onto their smart card whenever they need to travel.
Lewis Alcraft, Commercial Director at PayPoint, commented: “We’re excited to be launching our next multi-operator smart ticketing scheme with Greater Manchester Travelcard Limited (GMTL) and giving passengers greater choice and access to topping up their smart cards at a nearby store. Our relationship with ACT and our portfolio of smart ticketing services continues to grow and we’re looking to add more regions in the near future.”
GMTL General Manager, Gradyn Thompson, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with PayPoint to extend the availability of get me there travelcards. Being able to purchase travelcards prior to boarding buses was a major element of the smart card scheme delivered by Greater Manchester’s bus operators and Transport for Greater Manchester”.
PayPoint integrated its payments service with ACT’s Cloud Ticketing Service in order to offer passengers a convenient way to top up their smart cards using ACT’s established, secure, ticketing platform.
Gary Watts, CEO, ACT, said: “We’re delighted to welcome GMTL and the get me there brand to our Cloud Ticketing Service, using PayPoint retail channels. Our smart ticketing platform services many of the country’s largest smart ticketing and payment schemes. Our retail partnership with PayPoint has already proven popular with passengers in Cardiff and Merseyside and we look forward to continuing this service to passengers across Greater Manchester.”


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The new edition of the Bib Gourmand Benelux guide recommends a total of 431 restaurants, this year with 18 new Belgian additions.
The Bib Gourmand Benelux guide is a Michelin restaurant guide that bundles places that offer three-course meals for maximum €39. In total, there are 154 Belgian restaurants on the list, with 18 new ones, but also 21 scrapped ones compared to the 2019 edition.
The focus of the 2020 edition will be on local delicacies and traditions.
In Flanders seven new restaurants were added, l'Amitié (Antwerp), Quatre Mains (Bruges), Les Eleveurs (Hal), Station 3 (Kraainem), De Gebrande Winning (Sint-Truiden), and Bistro Bis and Le 54 (both in Tongeren).
In Brussels, three new restaurants, Car Bon (Elsene), La Charcuterie (Saint-Gilles) and Mon Fou de Mari (Berchem-Sainte-Agathe), were added.
In Wallonia, eight new restaurants, Gaston Vouzote (Dottignies), Robertissimo (Embourg), Pépite - Cave à Manger and Vino Vino (both in Namur), Le Coin des Saveurs (Verviers), Au gré des Saisons (Achet), La Maison Thai (Pessoux) and Le Victor (Arlon).
The growing importance of home-grown products is a clear trend in the new edition. "Vegetables and local products are becoming increasingly important," said Werner Loens, the selection director of the Michelin Guides in the Benelux in a press release. "The chefs also want to do their bit for the environment. It creates a fresh dynamic. It feeds their creativity. Add to that the many international influences and you get an exciting selection of new Bib Gourmands," he added.
The guide also added 17 new Dutch restaurants, as well as two extra ones from Luxembourg.
The Brussels Times


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On August 12 the president said that measures taken so far to curb alcohol abuse and other addictions in the country had been insufficient, and ordered the government to develop new rules for the sale of alcohol.
The proposals include tougher sanctions against retailers who break alcohol sale laws, which may lead to criminal proceedings against repeat violators.
The law will also enable regional authorities to introduce restrictions on the times, conditions and locations of alcohol sales.
The measures also include a ban on selling low-alcoholic drinks in containers of more than 330 ml. . . . . . .


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HMRC has announced that 2 of its new Taskforces will be assigned to North Wales in order to seek out fraudulent tax evaders. The areas under scrutiny are self-employed traders in the construction industry, and private landlords who own 3 or more properties. Individuals under suspicion could expect an in depth compliance review, which would include looking at accounting records, invoices and declarations for tax returns to ensure there has been no understatement.
Whilst honest businesses have nothing to fear, anyone caught out by the task forces can expect to be treated with very little symp... read the full story
On the day the new Salisburys web site site goes live...
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are owed a record £33.6bn in late payments, according to new research by payment company Bacs.
Bacs said the figure - a rise of 10% over the last year - is the highest since records began in 2007.
SMEs are owed an average of £39,000, and are waiting up to two months to get paid, claims the report.
It added that half of all UK SMEs - 861,000 firms - are currently experiencing late payments.
Full storyMike Hutchinson, head of marketing at Bacs, said: "The issue of late payment ... read the full story


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Hearst to Rename, Reinvent O, the Oprah Magazine
WWD: As O, The Oprah Magazine transitions from a monthly to a quarterly with a renewed focus on digital, its new leadership team has been revealed. Alison Overholt has been named general manager, a newly created role, and will oversee content, brand management, membership strategy, e-commerce and audience development for what publisher Hearst describes as a “multiplatform lifestyle brand,” while Arianna Davis has been promoted to senior director of editorial and strategy, also a new position. Overholt joins from ESPN, where she was most recently SVP of multiplatform storytelling and journalism, and Davis, who will report to Overholt, was previously digital director of OprahMag.com... O editor-at-large Gayle King, creative director Adam Glassman and books editor Leigh Haber will remain with the brand... The shrinking of the print publication resulted in 59 staff being laid off... More recently, O’s longtime editor in chief, Lucy Kaylin, was named VP of print content for Hearst Magazines. Hearst, which runs O in partnership with Winfrey, said the next iteration of the brand will include a new name, reimagined website and a membership program offering unrestricted access to all-new digital content, a searchable digital archive of past issues of O, a weekly newsletter and a print publication that will debut in late March. Until now, O has not had a paywall, but memberships have become a key part of Hearst’s business strategy. Similar programs have also been recently unveiled at Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health and Bicycling, while Runner’s World has had one since 2019. Winfrey began her partnership with Hearst Magazines to produce the title in 2000. It claims to have a print audience of 10M and 7.8M unique visitors to Oprahmag.com. The latter has increased by 608% over the past year.
Outside Magazine Sold, New Owner Plans Expansion
Santa Fe New Mexican: "Lawrence J. Burke is letting go of Outside magazine and its parent company, Santa Fe-based Outside Integrated Media, in a seismic shift of the outdoors journalism business. Boulder, Colo.-based Pocket Outdoor Media announced Monday it acquired Outside Integrated Media for an undisclosed amount in a sale that closed Friday, after months of discussions between Burke and Pocket CEO Robin Thurston. Burke had owned Outside since 1978, almost the entire life of the publication. “The timing was right for a number of reasons,” Burke, 78, wrote in an email to The New Mexican. “We have been fortunate to stay independent and profitable for all of these years and that speaks volumes for the talented team that built Outside into an iconic brand. Our industry has weathered all kinds of challenges over four decades, including recessions, the digital explosion and now the pandemic.” Pocket Outdoor Media already owns a slew of outdoor publications, but Outside will be its magazine with the largest circulation: a print audience of 675,000 and an estimated readership of 3.75 million. Burke reduced the frequency of Outside‘s print publication from 11 issues per year to eight at the end of 2018. But the company had in recent years expanded into television, podcasts, international editions, a travel service and an “enormous digital presence.” Thurston immediately renamed his company Outside. “The incredible reputation and relevance of the Outside brands across multiple lifestyle categories made our decision to change our company’s name a logical choice,” Thurston said. Outside was created in 1977 by Jann Wenner, who also founded Rolling Stone magazine. Burke had previously created Mariah, another outdoors magazine, and briefly went with the Mariah/Outside title before dropping the Mariah name in January/February 1979. The Mariah Media Network LLC corporate name remained in place until January 2019, when Burke adopted the Outside Integrated Media moniker. The name change reflected the company’s offerings beyond the flagship magazine, including Outside Go, Outside Media Productions, Outside Studios and Outside TV. All were included in the sale to Pocket Outdoor Media, which on Friday separately acquired Peloton Magazine, Gaia GPS and athleteReg. “Today’s content and experience delivery platforms fail to deliver your typical active enthusiast with the type of information they need, in one single location,” Thurston said in an email to The New Mexican. “By bringing a myriad of outdoor enthusiast companies together under one brand, POM, now Outside, is connecting the dots of the entire outdoor ecosystem.” Thurston regards Outside as the jewel to what is becoming a sprawling outdoors periodicals collection. Pocket Outdoor Media acquired Paleo Magazine in November; Big Stone Publishing and its Rock & Ice, Trail Runner, and Gym Climber magazines in October; and Active Interest Media, owner of Yoga Journal, SKI, Climbing and other titles, in June. By then Pocket already had in its stable VeloNews, Women’s Running, Triathlete, PodiumRunner, Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloPress, VeloSwap and Roll Massif, an event production company. Thurston also co-founded and built the fitness track platform MapMyFitness, which was acquired by Under Armour. Outside Integrated Media has 60 employees at its Santa Fe headquarters as well as other offices in Boulder, Denver and New York City. “We are thrilled to be retaining all of the employees at each of the acquired companies and welcoming them into a company where every individual is granted equity and is appreciated for their unique talents and authentic selves,” Thurston said. Burke appreciated his magazine becoming the centerpiece of a “young growing company … [with] a big vision.” “Outside has had many offers over the years, but with Pocket Outdoor Media I knew the fit was right,” Burke said. “I know I am passing the torch to the right company. Their leaders, under the stewardship of Robin Thurston, are ‘outside’ people, and that was extremely important to me.” Outside was founded and operated in Chicago until Burke moved its headquarters to Santa Fe in 1995, where he owns the 220-acre Mariah Ranch. “This is a transformational day for our company and our customers,” Thurston said. “Everything we do is driven by a belief that a hike, run, ride or yoga practice can change your life, and these new brands will help us fulfill our mission to build the world’s best consumer experience across a wide range of activities"... “Now at age 78, I will finish that memoir I have been writing for the last five years and proudly watch the next chapter of Outside,” Burke said.
Vogue Names Global Creative Director
MediaPost: "The Vogue brand could be getting a new look with the appointment of Juan Costa Paz as global creative director, effective immediately. The publication announced on Monday that Costa Paz will oversee creative direction for Vogue in the U.S. and U.K., and guide the brand’s approach to content in all formats. “Juan's approach to storytelling across platforms, his optimism and humor and his strong belief in collaboration make him a natural fit for this role,” states Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue-Chief Content Officer of Conde Nast. Costa Paz replaces Raúl Martinez, Wintour’s “longtime right hand,” who left the company in December, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Costa Paz and Nordine Benotmane founded Convoy, an interdisciplinary creative agency, in 2013. They have worked on content for clients such as Nike, Miu Miu, Gucci, Off-White, Balmain, Louis Vuitton, Farfetch and Google Prior to that, Costa Paz ran Costa Films, developing and acquiring film projects for distribution. Born in Buenos Aires, Costa Paz has worked out of Paris for the past decade... Edward Enninful, European editorial director of Vogue, noted Costa Paz’s “unique creative vision and design innovation will undoubtedly maximize our unrivaled content, engage our growing audiences and excite our industry partners.""
Congressman Vows to Rein in Amazon, Other Monopolies
PW: "Yesterday, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance hosted a seminar on the topic of "Reining in Monopoly Power: Small Businesses and the Push to Strengthen Antitrust Laws"... The keynote talk was delivered by Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI), chairman, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, who explained that the country's Democratic legislature was ready to act to defend small and local business against predatory companies. "We know that small and local businesses are going to be key to our economic recovery after the pandemic," he said. Cicilline noted that for a long time, companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook were given a free pass and Congress didn't want to be seen obstructing the growth of entrepreneurial American companies. But times have changed, and Cicilline said, "we must level the playing field"... Danny Caine, owner of the Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kan., appeared on-screen and asked Cicilline about the possibility of breaking up Amazon. Cicilline's reply was pragmatic: "Breaking up Amazon may just result in 10 companies that behave just as a badly, but it will improve competitiveness." Cicilline advocated passing a Glass-Steagall Act for the retail marketplace. "How Amazon is working creates a tremendous amount of unfairness," he said. "It fosters anticompetitive behavior, favors self-preferencing for their own products. I think you either need to be a seller of goods and services or you can control the marketplace — you cannot do both." Cicilline continued, "Right now it is impossible for small stores to compete with Amazon and we have a responsibility to fix it. They do what they want and engage in a set of behaviors that is disturbing. We want the marketplace to work, so you can make space for other companies to work. We want all great companies to survive and flourish""...
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
Walgreens Expands Same-Day Delivery with Instacart
Grocery Dive: "Walgreens has linked up with Instacart to expand its same-day delivery service at nearly 8,000 stores nationwide, the companies announced Tuesday. Stores in Illinois will offer the service Tuesday, with stores in other states joining over the coming weeks. Shoppers will be able to order over-the-counter medications, health and wellness items, grocery, personal care and beauty products for delivery in as little as an hour. The move continues Instacart’s expansion beyond grocery as it reportedly approaches an initial public offering. For Walgreens, the tie-up is one more step in a digital transformation that has included investments in its app, media network, loyalty program and online fulfillment"...
Dollar General Preps for CEO Successor
Reuters: "Dollar General Corp, one of the few U.S. retailers thriving during the COVID-19 pandemic, is taking steps to find a potential successor to Chief Executive Todd Vasos, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. While no decision has been made about Vasos stepping down, Dollar General has started conversations with headhunting firms and is considering candidates, the sources said. Dollar General has been looking within its ranks and will assess the performance of its top executives against those at rival companies, the sources said. Dollar General Chief Operating Officer Jeff Owen is under consideration, one of the sources added... A Dollar General spokesman said Vasos had not communicated any plans to the company regarding a potential departure after his contract ends in June, noting it was “merely good governance” to plan for a transition. Vasos’ contract renews automatically on an annual basis in June unless terminated or renegotiated"...
After COVID Pullback, Factories Still Struggling to Meet Consumer Demand
WSJ: "After carrying out an orderly retreat from assembly lines as the pandemic arrived in the U.S., many manufacturers pulled out the playbook they followed in past recessions, cutting costs and preserving cash. That left them unprepared for the sharp rebound in consumer demand that began just weeks later and never let up. Without restaurants to visit and trips to take, Americans bought out stocks of cars, appliances, furniture and power tools. Manufacturers have been trying to catch up ever since. Nearly a year since initial coronavirus lockdowns in the U.S., barbells, kitchen mixers, mattresses and webcams are still hard to find. A global shortage of semiconductors has forced many car makers to cut production in recent weeks. “Everyone was caught flat-footed,” said Jack Springer, chief executive officer of Malibu Boats Inc"...
Walmart Starts 'Bagless' Pilot
Grocery Dive: "In an effort to cut back on the use of disposable plastic bags, Walmart has started a “bagless” pilot in Vermont, according to a blog post on Monday from the retailer. The pilot started Feb. 15, and Walmart stores in the state are now asking customers to bring their own reusable bags or containers, according to several local media reports. The outcome of the pilot will help guide the company’s future bagless efforts, wrote Jane Ewing, senior vice president of sustainability at Walmart. The Mexican and Central American Walmart division is also going bagless, and more than 72% of the retailer’s stores in Mexico have already stopped providing plastic bags, Ewing wrote. The bagless efforts come at a time when Walmart and other retailers are continuing to ramp up their sustainability initiatives.
Meijer Aims to Give 17K COVID Shots In Indiana This Week
SN: "This week, Meijer plans to conduct a round of more than 60 COVID-19 vaccine clinics at stores across Indiana. Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer said Monday that the clinics will administer up to 17,000 doses of coronavirus shots by the end of the week. In line with state guidelines, the free vaccinations will be provided to residents ages 65 years and older who have enrolled through the company’s online COVID-19 vaccine registration website. Due to high demand for immunizations, the clinic locations aren’t being released. Meijer said registered customers will be contacted directly with an appointment time and site once an appointment window becomes available. Meijer is one of a host of partners in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination program launched earlier this month by the Biden administration. “We are very proud of the role our stores and pharmacies continue to play in this massive effort to vaccinate people against COVID-19,” Meijer President/CEO Rick Keyes said in a statement. “As a pharmacy partner to both the state of Indiana and the federal government, we have been able to receive vaccines and quickly administer doses to thousands of people in our communities, usually within 72 hours.” Meijer noted that its participation in the federal program — through which it receives COVID-19 vaccine doses directly from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — enables the company to undertake an aggressive vaccine schedule in Indiana. Plans call for Meijer to hold 64 vaccine clinics at stores in Indiana, including several large-scale clinics in which Meijer pharmacy teams will vaccinate up to 1,200 people in a single day"...
Americans Are on the Move
CNBC: "Nearly 20% of people in the country are working from home full time as of December and 28% of Americans have considered relocating during the pandemic, NPD said. In addition, 20% more consumers are planning to move this year compared with the prior year. As people get more comfortable with the ability to work from anywhere, they are realizing that they don’t have to be pinned down to a certain location near an office in order to provide for themselves or their families. This gives them the ability to live in an area with a lower cost of living or that is closer to family, NPD said"...
Retail Renaissance: Brands Share Outlook For 2021
MediaPost: "Email marketing is the most important tool being used by retailers to improve online conversion rates, according to The Retailer Speaks: 2021 Performance and Conversion Retail Survey results, a study by Digital Commerce 360.Of the retailers polled, 51% cite email, while 48% specify branding and 48% list social media. Another 36% mention free shipping and 24% cite free return shipping. This is happening as 70% report revenue being up overall in 2020. For 53% it was up 25% or more. Traffic was up or 85%, website revenue for 76%, conversion rates for 75%, profitability for 67%, marketplace revenue of 65% and AOV for 50%.At the same time, retailers report these top ecommerce accomplishments in 2020: topline growth/increased revenues, 61%; online marketing growth, 52%; more efficient marketing spend, 48%; significant customer acquisition, 42%; greater profitability, 35%; optimized customer experience, 35%; improved site performance, 31%; better customer service, 30%; mobile sales growth/penetration, 28%; improved customer retention, 26%; faster fulfillment, 24%; heightened customer satisfaction, 22%; improved warehouse operations, 20%; omnichannel offerings (BOPUS, curbside), 18%.“Both positives and negatives round out the top five with promotions like free shipping still being important to retailers,” the study notes. What had the biggest impact on 2020 online holiday sales performance? The respondents' list: overall ecommerce growth, 62%; shifts in consumer spending as a result of the pandemic, 56%;online marketing growth, 37%;promotional strategy, including free shipping, 37%; fulfillment challenges and related costs, 33%; upgraded experience including performance, 27%; issues with supply chain, 26%; expanded assortment, 26%; customer service improvements, 25%; new marketing initiatives, 24%; new business models, 22%; technology investments, 22%; faster delivery, 19%; omnichannel initiatives (BOPUS, curbside pickup), 16%;alternative payment options (PayPal, Amazon Pay/Affirm, etc.), 16%; elevated mobile experience, 14%; platform change, 10%. What’s next? Retailers plan to increase their investments in the following areas in 2021: digital marketing, 78%; customer experience, 65%; technology and systems, 62%; personalization, 59%; customer service, 58%; ecommerce platform, 53%; web design, 53%; performance marketing, 51%; mobile commerce, 49%; supply chain, 48%; marketplace initiatives, 47%; inhouse (operations, automations, etc.), 43%; logistics, 41%; artificial intelligence, 35%; omnichannel (BOPUS, curbside), 26%; virtual reality, 14%. Digital Commerce 360 surveyed 103 retail marketers earlier this year."
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:


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The traditional press release has moved on as news publication platforms proliferate.
The traditional press release, usually accompanied by a 5" x 7" glossy print and mailed to the editorial desk is presumably no more. Maybe some traditional agencies continue to issue double spaced stories typed on client headed press release paper and avoiding paper clips that might scratch the glossy photo in transit and render it unsuitable to scan. The double spacing was to give space for the editor to scribble notes and changes on material selected for publication. There has been a gradual move away from postal delivery to e-mail often now to a news desk address rather than the editor. It was once quite a big deal developing a press release, researching the story which may have involved an onsite interview at a location where the client had installed product, all accompanied by a professional photographer - it all added up to a substantial fee and took some time before the client signed off on a final copy and the release was ready to go.
Today it is rare to visit a location for a story, interviews are more typically by email or telephone and everyone has a digital camera or phone to take some pictures and e-mail them across - mainly because clients don't want to pay much for it. But with the immediacy of the Internet and new publishing opportunities the demand for content is growing. Not from the printed trade press where editorial pages are shrinking and publication intervals extending due to the relatively high costs of putting together, printing and mailing a magazine, but from blogs, Twitter, Facebook and online news sites. When the trade journals were the only show in town getting stories published was vital, but now print media is just one route to reach customers and prospects. Indeed for many trade journals one that can be bought just the same as space for display and classified advertising.
Savvy companies are investing marketing pounds in not just news creation, but in publication and with that building readership and a following amongst their target audiences. But the news piece itself no longer needs to fit the old formula of say 150 to 200 words. It can be a headline piece published on Twitter which typically will include a short link to a more expansive story that might be on a blog. Or go to more detail on the company web site, or a White Paper that sets the whole scene. All this information provides valuable research material for prospective buyers who are now far better informed when they are ready to buy than ever before. It is not just text, but good use of photographs and videos are becoming more and more important influencers in that decision making process that leads to making a purchase.
The ability to editorially control the publishing platform allows the tone of voice to be more conversational and less formal than before and give a personality to brands previously mainly communicated by logos and icons.


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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Kia Motors America said Tuesday said March sales in the U.S. fell to 24,871 vehicles from 27,567 in the year-ago period. March sales of the Spectra jumped to 8,022 vehicles from 5,675 last year, and Optima sales declined to 2,404 vehicles from 4,318 a year ago. Kia is an affiliate of Hyundai Motor America and the sales and marketing arm of Kia Motors Corp., based in Seoul, Korea.
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THE owner of a chip shop in Donegal town Muff called ‘The Fishy’ has revealed how her daughter begged her to change the name.
Mary Doherty said business has been booming since it opened its doors last Tuesday.
Mary said her daughter now sees the funny side of The Fishy Muff takeaway after their Facebook page was widely shared online earlier this month.
Mary, who has been living in Muff for 30 years, told the Irish Sun: “The first night I put it online, there was a lot of comments about it — jokes, cracks and laughs.
“But now in general when the shop is open, the feedback is unreal. We didn’t think of it a lot at that time.
“Now looking back on it, it is bringing attention to the shop, to Muff and people can have a laugh about it.”
But it wasn’t all plane sailing as her 16 year-old daughter, Eimear, was getting slagging from her from on Snapchat.
Mary, 47, said: “At the beginning all her friends were snapping her. She said ‘mammy you really have to change this.’ All my friends are snapping me, please, please.’
“And I says, ‘Eimear it’ll be all right.’
“I was a wee bit worried then about her then cause she was getting stick. But now it doesn’t bother her one bit.
“Eimear is working in there with me. She is absolutely brilliant.”
Mary reckons that now the businesses is up and running — serving the Muff burger and Juicy Lucy burger — people can see it is set to be a success.
She added: “Like there’s very few negative things.
“I’ve had quite a few private mails sent to me about it, saying it doesn’t sound very appetising . . . to make sure they have plenty of deodorant in the shop . . . silly things
MOST READ IN REAL LIFE
“I don’t even know who they are, they’re just people at random. You just really need to keep an open mind. At the end of the day it’s a chipper. The younger generation love it.
“They just think it’s a laugh and they say ‘good on ye Mary’ or whatever. You’re gonna have to take the stick.”
Mary added: “We actually had people stopping taking selfies in the middle of the road getting out of their cars. It’s doing really well so far now.”


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While card issuers downplay the risks, a technology increasingly found in credit and debit cards could allow those with the know-how to reach into your wallet without you ever knowing.
The technology is called Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID. Its "contact-less" nature is billed as a way to make shopping easier, with about 200 million cards using the technology in circulation.
But with a device hidden in an iPad case, a security consultant demonstrated how easy it is to lift credit card numbers from passersby on the street.
"We found it’s convenient for thieves, very convenient," said Walt Augustinowicz, the owner of a consumer protection business called Identity Stronghold. He makes protective credit card sleeves and wallets that prevent your credit card from transmitting your information. Aluminum foil also works.
But credit card companies questioned about the potential for fraud downplayed the potential, stating that names and cards and the card's security codes aren't transmitted.
"There have been no reports or complaints from consumers who have been issued cards with RFID technology," said Randy Vanderhoof, an industry advocate with Smart Card Alliance.
Augustinowicz wasn't appeased.
"To tell people don’t worry about it, it’s almost criminal," he said. "We’ve made phone purchases. We’ve made Internet purchases.”
He said he's even been able to scan the information onto a hotel room key, walk into a store and make a purchase. He says
It's "everything you need to clean out your account," he said.
Credit card issuers also said they issue refunds to customers who have fallen victim to fraud.
Smart Card Alliance: Contactless Payment Security


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Micron to shift some chip supply to data centers as cloud powers earnings beat
(Reuters) - Micron Technology Inc on Monday forecast current-quarter revenue above Wall Street estimates as home-bound employees and students spur demand for its chips that power notebooks and data centers, sending its shares up 6% in after-market trading.
The work-from-home boom has also driven demand for data center chips, with Micron, one of the biggest DRAM chip suppliers, working to sell more profitable solid-state storage drives rather than the raw NAND memory chips that go into the drives. The company said sales of the drives hit a record in its fiscal third-quarter and that three-quarters of its NAND chips were sold as part of higher-value products rather than raw chips.
Micron said it expects consumer demand for smartphones and other consumer electronics to fall below its initial expectations in the second half of 2020, but data center demand is strong enough that supply shortages are emerging. The company said it plans to shift its supplies from the smart phone market to the data center market, for both DRAM and flash memory chips.
The company also said its factories were operating normally again after some interruptions when lockdown orders hit and that it has taken some chip assembly functions in-house that previously were performed by contractors.
"Proximity to existing sites just makes it easier to de-bug issues that may come up as we bring up some of these products to high-volume manufacturing," Sumit Sadana, Micron's chief business officer, told Reuters in an interview.
Micron reported revenue for its third quarter ended May 28 rose 13.6% to $5.44 billion, beating estimates of $5.31 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.
Excluding items, the company earned 82 cents per share, above estimates of 77 cents per share.
The chipmaker expects revenue in the current fourth quarter to be between $5.75 billion and $6.25 billion, the mid-point of which was above analysts' estimates of $5.48 billion.
Net income attributable to the company in the third quarter fell to $803 million, or 71 cents per share, in the reported quarter, from $840 million, or 74 cents per share, a year earlier.
(Reporting by Neha Malara in Bengaluru and Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie Adler)
The Top 3 VPN Apps
The article will explain Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), what they are, how they work, and suggest three of the best out there to help keep you safe online. Read on below to see our top picks. But for those who need a bit of information before getting started. Let us explain:
South Korean retail investors are stampeding into Chinese stocks in record numbers, ploughing hundreds of millions of dollars into a tech sector rush far removed from punishing taxes and regulations on investment at home.
Sunrise Communications Group and French billionaire Xavier Niel's Salt Mobile launched a broadband joint venture on Tuesday targeting 1.5 million Swiss households, a new challenge to the country's largest telecoms provider, Swisscom's.


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Cadillac has sent prototype versions of the 2014 CTS to Europe, and they’re now wearing less camouflage. These spy photos give us our best look yet at the design of the next-generation CTS luxury sedan.
We previously spotted the 2014 Cadillac CTS, but that mule was wearing much heavier camouflage. The latest photos allow a clearer look at how Cadillac’s latest design language will translate onto the larger, longer new CTS. Although it’s been stripped of its chrome and badging, the nose bears a large Cadillac grille inspired by the Ciel concept. The headlights – which are merely prototype assemblies at this point in time — appear to have a small collection of LED running lights, while the rear bumper features a pair of integrated rectangular exhaust tips.
Although Cadillac engineers have cleverly taped off the rear windows to make the car look like a coupe, close examination confirms this is a CTS sedan. Its rear windscreen, however, slopes much more dramatically than that of the current sedan. Not only is that change likely inspired by aesthetic reasons, but it also should make the new CTS more aerodynamic to help bolster fuel-economy figures.
Close inspection also reveals the presence of Brembo brakes. Cadillac previously announced that both the 2013 ATS and 2013 XTS would receive high-performance Brembo brake calipers manufactured in Michigan.
As we’ve reported before, the 2014 Cadillac CTS will move to General Motors’ “Alpha” rear-wheel-drive platform. (The next-generation Chevrolet Camaro also is rumored to switch to this platform in 2014.) As before, coupe and high-performance V-Series variants will be offered.The new model grows a bit and will be positioned to compete with the likes of the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. That means that the new 2013 ATS can take up the fight against the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, in place of the current CTS.
The 2014 Cadillac CTS will likely adopt the turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the new ATS, likely with 270 hp, marking the first time a CTS has been offered with four-cylinder power. That enginewill be supplemented by GM’s ubiquitous 3.6-liter direct-injection V-6, with at least 318 hp. Cadillac is also said to be working on a twin-turbo V-6 for the top models of the new CTS, but so far no details on that mill have emerged.
All of the clever safety gizmos that have debuted on the 2013 ATS and XTS will also be offered on the new CTS. Those gadgets include lane-departure warning, seats that vibrate to warn of oncoming traffic, adaptive cruise control, and automatic braking.
The 2014 Cadillac CTS is expected to go into production in Michigan in September 2013, meaning it will likely make an auto-show debut early next year.


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Hurricane Harvey is one of the most devastating storms to hit the United States since Wilma in 2005. The extent of the damage seen in the country is huge. As the saying goes “one man’s loss is another man’s gain,” even the worst of certain situations could bring some positives for somebody.
This catastrophe has led to the rise in demand for rental cars in the region since life started getting back to normal. According to a report by Cox Automotive, Houston, being the nation's fourth-largest city, is majorly dependent on cars, with 94.4% of households owning a car. An earlier forecast suggested that the city lost around 500,000 vehicles, more than were destroyed in New York’s Hurricane Sandy which saw a loss of 250,000 cars. This disaster has left many residents of the water-logged metro area dependent on rental car services to reach their offices or head out of the region altogether until their homes are repaired.
Accelerating demand for cars in the region has forced rental car service companies to charge a higher price for their services. Let’s have a look at two major car rentals in the region, which are expected to see a positive turn in their top line owing to the crisis in the region:
Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR - Free Report) provides vehicle rental services through a network of approximately 10,000 car and truck rental locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Asia. About 71.5% of total first-quarter revenues of the company was from its businesses across North America, South America and the Caribbean, including operations at Budget Truck Rental.
Avis Budget reported first-quarter 2017 results wherein the company reported wider losses than the expected estimates. Owing to its disappointing performance, the company carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). However, this is expected to change in the near future, as we expect it to see an increase in demand for its rental services in the hurricane affected areas. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The company has significantly outperformed the industry in the last month, with an average return of 13.5% compared with 2.6% gain for the latter.
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (HTZ - Free Report) operates a car rental business, primarily across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand.
Hertz is currently trying to move more cars into the region. The company is sending around 15,000 cars to Houston from various other regions. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Owing to the given situation, we expect the company to see an improvement in its business in the days to come.
Majority of the rental-car shortage stems from brands reserving vehicles for Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel, insurance staff and clients and employees of corporate accounts who are currently getting priority in the storm’s aftermath. Maximum of the company’s locations across Southeast Texas remained open but disaster-relief personnel were being given priority.
The company has dramatically outperformed the industry in the last month, with an average return of 28% compared with 2.7% gain for the latter.
Rental companies continue to raise rates in Houston since pulling cars out of other markets tighten the supply of vehicles and can increase costs.
The current adversity is likely to generate additional revenues for these rental car companies. As these stocks hog the limelight, investors can also expect to benefit with their healthy fundamentals.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
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