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Despite the unfriendly operating climate, business is looking good for Unilever Nigeria Plc.
According to the unaudited interim report for the twelve months period ended 31st December 2023, the company recorded turnover of N97.4 billion in the period under review which represents 51% topline growth compared to N64.6 billion turnover recorded in the corresponding period in 2022.
The company recorded a gross profit of N29.8 billion for the period ended 31st December 2023 which is 13% increase versus N26.3 billion reported for same period 2022.
The Net profit for the total business grew 91% to N8.5 billion for the period ended 31st December 2023 compared to the N4.5bn net profit from the corresponding period in 2022.
Besides, the Net profit from ongoing operations, adjusting for portfolio changes made in 2023, grew 106% to N12.3 billion for the period ended 31st December 2023 compared to the like-for-like portfolio net profit of N6.0 billion for the corresponding period in 2022.
In the view of the Managing Director, Tim Kleinebenne, “These positive results show Unilever Nigeria remains focused on the delivery of competitive, consistent, profitable, and responsible growth.
“Unilever Nigeria made great progress in 2023 through operational efficiency, cost optimisation, the right portfolio of purposeful brands and increasing market share across key categories.”
While noting that Unilever Nigeria will continue to strengthen its operations in the country to meet citizen’s needs through “our best brands, our people and our operations,” he added that as the longest serving manufacturing company in Nigeria that celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2023, Unilever Nigeria is here to stay, fully committed to carry on serving Nigerians with great locally made brands while making a positive socioeconomic contribution to the country.
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition, and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day.
Unilever Nigeria is a locally listed business that has been operating for over 100 years selling brands such as Knorr, Royco, Vaseline, Pepsodent and Closeup.


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AMD brings exciting new devices and performance to CES 2013.
AMD has been known for making the PC super affordable. Now, AMD is bringing their x86 SoC technologies to Windows 8 with high style and performance.
Natural user interface (NUI) experiences are clearly in focus for AMD’s next generation processors. Motion-based gestures are now a part of the […]

domain: news


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One of Australia’s best-known discount stores makes spending on staples easier for Aussies with a new alliance with a globally recognised brand. The Reject Shop has signed a new deal with UK retail juggernaut Tesco, which is in the middle of a major redesign.
It means a slew of exclusive Tesco-branded grocery products will arrive at the 354 stores across the country in The Reject Shop from this week.
The first wave of items would include prepared food, fitness, beauty and household goods, with everything from flour to tea, cookies, soups and more bound for Aussie shelves and more expected to arrive in the coming months.
The CEO of Reject Shop Andre Reich said there had been a great response from shoppers so far before any formal advertisement of the new range had rolled out, and that he expected the goods to cater to Australia’s 1,2 million British expats as well as everyday Aussies looking to save on everyday things.
He said Tesco gave consumers “more choice and a range of high quality products that they won’t be able to source elsewhere in Australia”.
“We’ve always gone wherever we can get really good products, and particularly now what we’re trying to do is change some of that opinion about The Reject Shop being cheap and cheap quality, so we’re building relationships with brands … and trying to reset and help re-educate people that we sell quality brands wherever they come from in the world,” he said.
“We always try to look for bigger players that serve larger markets, and we say, ‘give us your bestsellers’. The initial wave will be products they recommended as bestsellers in the UK, but we take that approach with everyone,” he said,
“We buy a narrow range in volume at the cheapest price, and we pass on the savings to customers.”
He said it was “bizarre” that UK grocery stores were about half the price of their Australian counterparts while they cost about a third in the US, and that the three-year Tesco deal would allow Australian shoppers to take advantage of the difference.
“I’m not sure how that happens, but I do know we’ve gone to Tesco and got a standard price from them, which allows us to retail at a very good price in Australia,” he said.
“We’re all facing tough economic times, and The Reject Shop will always help people save money … at the moment we’re selling 500g of pasta for $1, and that helps those who are toughing it a bit to get the things they need.
“Tesco has some of the cheapest prices in Europe and definitely some of the biggest volumes in Europe with similar standards as Australia.”
Tesco Group export director Jack Brabin said the company was “delighted” to be partnering with The Reject Shop.
“As the UK’s leading food retailer, we take enormous care to ensure our products are the best quality and offer great value. We look forward to sharing them with The Reject Shop’s customers,” he said.


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The country’s rice exports increased by 13 percent during the period from July 1 to October 18 of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period last year. According to figures available here, the country’s rice exports increased to 852,425MT worth $477.200 million in the period from July to October 18, 2010 as compared to 762,771MT worth $422.707 million exported during the corresponding period in 2009.
The figure shows that the quantity of rice exports increased by 12 percent while value increased by 13 percent in this period. The average unit price also increased to $560 in this period against $554 in the same period last year. Out of total figures, the exports of basmati rice variety increased to 294,629MT worth $245.523 million during the current fiscal year as compared to 255,922MT worth $220.897 million exported during the same period in 2009.
The exports of non-basmati variety increased to 557,796MT worth $231.677 million in this period against 506,849MT worth $201.809 million rice of this variety exported in the same period last year. Irfan Ahmed Sheikh, Chairman, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) said that increasing figures of rice exports show the long lasting efforts of the local exporters. “We tried to explore new markets around the globe to increase our exports,” he said. “We are also making our efforts to increase our market share in the existing markets.”
He pointed out that 12 percent increase in quantity of rice exports and 13 percent rise in the value of this commodity helped rice exports jump to this level. He noted that rice exports increased by 89,654MT worth $54.493 million in almost three months this year as compared with the same period last year.


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- Le Fat files plans for former Yum Bunz space
- It’s official: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams files plans for second Atlanta location
- Holiday Inn Express files plans to complete 2012 renovations
- Einstein Bagels adding a new Midtown location
- Ponce City Market announces first restaurant tenants
- Chinese Buddha, Spice Brick Oven Kitchen and more fail February health inspections
- Write for What Now Atlanta!
- Le Petit Marché opening new location Feb. 28
- Bad Dog Taqueria opening in Old Fourth Ward
- New St. Regis restaurant costing $1.2 Million
All posts tagged "westside"
Westside Provisions District to get Pure Barre
Workout studio coming to West Midtown "late 2013."
- Posted October 17, 2013
Westside’s Osteria del Figo relocating to new $1 MM dollar space
Italian restaurant relocating Westside location to new Million Dollar space.
- Posted July 7, 2013
Confirmed! Westside’s Yum Bunz opening July 8
Quick service dim sum restaurant confirms opening date on Facebook
- Posted July 3, 2013
Jenis reveals West Midtown ‘Scoop Shop’ plans
Frozen dessert retailer coming to Westside Provisions District late Summer 2013.
- Posted June 27, 2013


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TCL wants to make sure that anyone who buys its midrange TCL 10 Pro and TCL 10L devices know that they will receive plenty of updates for their phones. The company says that they will receive at least one major OS update (which would be Android 11), and security updates for two years.
A spokesperson representing TCL, in a statement to Android Authority, said, â€œWe can confirm both the TCL 10 Pro and TCL 10L will, at minimum, receive one major OS update as well as SMR updates every two months for 2 years.â€�
The key phrase in the statement is â€œat minimum.â€� That means itâ€™s possible owners of the TCL 10 Pro and TCL 10L could receive an Android 12 update as well, though itâ€™s probably best for users not to get their hopes too high for that one. The device shipped with Android 10, so the first update would be Android 11, and if thereâ€™s another update, thatâ€™s where Android 12 could come into play. Of course, weâ€™ll need to wait quite some time to find out if that happens.
As far as the SMR updates, those are Security Maintenance Releases, which are the standard monthly security patches released every other month as bundles.
With any midrange flagship phone, thereâ€™s always the question of whether it will receive enough OS updates to make the purchase worthwhile, and it sounds like TCL is committed to getting updates for at least Android 11 to buyers, which is what weâ€™d expect to see from a midrange device manufacturer.
A new mid-range phone from a trusted company.
More posts about TCL


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Organizing labor has never been easy, And FedEx knows that if it ever gets easy they will be well equal to UPS. Here is the way the regulations are, UPS is regulated by the National Labor Relations board, and FedEx is regulated under the Railway Labor Act. The difference is this, Air Lines and Railroads have a de facto protection against union labor, collective bargaining contracts have to cover all workers nation wide to help prevent paralysis in the industries because of local strikes. There are more details HERE from National Public Radio.
Congress is considering changing the status of FedEx, putting them in the same regulatory mix with UPS and other trucking and delivery companies, and making it much easier to organize workers in local terminals. FedEx does not like this idea at all. They have launched a multimillion dollar ad campaign to get the change in status out of the FAA renewal bill now in the Senate. It has already passed the house.
Public Relations Week, says, “Earlier this week, FedEx launched a multimillion-dollar campaign, Brown Bailout, directly attacking its competitor United Parcel Service (UPS) for supporting legislation that could make it easier for some of FedEx’s workers to unionize. FedEx argues that the bill, currently making its way through Congress, is tantamount to a government bailout for UPS, because it would stifle competition.” You can read that story, if you register, HERE. UPS on the other hand says that FedEx has an unfair competitive advantage. It seems clear they do, since UPS employees have very widespread collective bargaining agreements, along with the resultant Higher Wages, Better Working Conditions, Better Health Care Coverage, Better, fully funded, Retirement Plans, and all the other benefits that go with Union Representation.
An Article in Business Week echos that, and shows the difference in the profitability of Each company. FedEx earned 182 million dollars on revenues of 8.14 billion. UPS earned 718 million on revenues of 10.9 billion. This is NOT a mistake. FedEx had a profit of 182 million dollars on 8.14 billion dollars in revenue with a labor force that is non union, earns less than UPS workers, and UPS made 718 Million on 10.9 billion with almost full unionization. For every 49 dollars FedEx earned on their revenue, UPS earned 59. And, the Union Company did more business.
I am having a REALLY TOUGH TIME BELIEVING THIS. But it was published in Business Week, and they have a better reputation these days than the Wall Street Journal. The Business Week article is HERE. It is hard to believe for a very simple reason, I have been told, since I was old enough to read the newspapers, that unions are bad for business.
But that is not the issue here.
The issue here is should FedEx Continue to enjoy a special status designed to avoid disruptions in rail and air travel or should they play on the same field as their competitors, including UPS and other regional, national and international package delivery companies.
The FedEx Ad Campaign is going to tell you NO…they should be treated the same way the airlines are.


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Art Basel Miami Beach 2021 Preview
The actual fair at Art Basel Miami Beach may begin on December 2, but the chic celebrations and luxe satellite events run all week—and all night. Since the 50th anniversary of Art Basel had to be postponed in 2020, this year’s festivities are expected to turn up the heat. Here’s a guide to the top celebrity performances, exhibitions and pop-ups at Art Basel Miami Beach 2021.
Art Basel Miami Beach 2021: A Guide To The Top Events, Exhibitions And Pop-Ups
Taylor Stoddard09:30am EST
|Nov 11, 2021,|14,905 views
Immersion artist Es Devlin will create “Five Echoes,” a multi-sensory installation within a pop-up ... [+]
Rendering of “Five Echoes” by Es Devlin and Chanel No. 5
After a hiatus of large-format live celebrations, Art Basel Miami Beach is due to come back with a vengeance. And lots of champagne.
Organizers of the fair started their 2020 with hopes of celebrating Art Basel’s 50th birthday and suffice it to say, the year didn’t go as planned. Now, nearing the end of 2021, art aficionados, culture vultures, and party-goers will merrily flock to Miami for its usual format.
The official exhibition runs from December 2 through 4, and will host hundreds of artists and prominent international galleries to showcase some of the greatest new works the contemporary art scene has to offer. Outside the main show, of course, Miami will play host to a number of satellite exhibitions, celebrity performances, outdoor installations, hotel collaborations, experiential retail pop-ups, and more, that will usher in a triumphant return of the cultural affair.
From Chanel’s multi-sensory labyrinth in Jungle Plaza to the American Express Platinum Studio, here are the best events you can’t miss.
Roundup to be updated as additional details are confirmed closer to-date.
Monday, November 29
Wynwood Walls “Agents of Change”
Wynwood Walls, the famed epicenter of the Wynwood Arts District known worldwide for its ever-changing collection of curated art, has announced this year’s theme — “Agents of Change” — and the debut of 13 new installations. CEO and Curator Jessica Goldman Srebnick has selected a roster of global artists, a mix of influential names and up-and-coming, to create new murals at the Wynwood Walls for this year’s celebration of art festivities.
Petropias plays on the petrostate, entropy and dystopia, and revolves around the idea of holes, ... [+]
LnS Gallery Presents Petropias: A Solo Exhibition by Tony Vazquez-Figueroa
LnS Gallery is showcasing a solo exhibition by Miami-based artist, Tony Vazquez-Figueroa titled “Petropias” through January 22. Curated by Tami Katz-Freiman, this exhibition is the culmination of three years of work by Vazquez-Figueroa — paintings, photography, and sculptures — which showcase the multimedia artist’s interpretation of the worldwide impact of the petroleum industry and a very personal investigation of oil-rich countries. LnS GALLERY is located at 2610 SW 28 Lane.
Unveiling of “The Bodies Left Behind”
Ben Josef, Olarte Kanavos and the Lowenstein family are hosting a panel and cocktail reception at The Ritz-Carlton South Beach to celebrate Ghanaian artist, Serge Attukwei Clottey’s “The Bodies Left Behind,” a site-specific installation curated by Neville Wakefield. The event will be hosted in collaboration with humanitarian and Michelin-star chef, José Andres.
Tuesday, November 30
Chanel No. 5 Centenary Celebration
The French fashion house is taking over Miami Design District’s Jungle Plaza with a full-size, multi-sensory labyrinth installation by immersive artist, Es Devlin, to celebrate the 100th birthday of its iconic fragrance, Chanel No. 5. The massive sculpture will be flanked by over 1,000 trees, measuring 100 feet in diameter with walls up to 22 feet high, and will be activated with sound, light and scent components. Once the labyrinth is dismantled, the temporary “forest” will be replanted in parks throughout Miami-Dade County. The installation will be open to the public through end of December.
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 20: In this image released on January 21st, models walk the runway during ... [+]
Getty Images for ABA
Louis Vuitton Men’s Spring-Summer 2022
Louis Vuitton is bringing its spring men’s collection to Miami Design District for a sunset runway show, showcasing the latest threads by creative director, Virgil Abloh.
Ruinart’s Unconventional Bubbles
For one evening only, artist David Shrigley’s playful take on the world of Ruinart will come to life at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden from 5-7 p.m. Discover life-size interpretations of the artist’s witty designs, which bring offbeat humor to nature and the wine-making process amongst the lush garden greenery. Bites will be provided by Chef Flynn McGarry to complement the Ruinart champagne service, with tunes by DJ Timo Weiland.
RIMOWA "As Seen By" on display from November 30 through December 5 at their Miami Design District ... [+]
RIMOWA “As Seen By”
Since the first RIMOWA aluminum suitcase was created in 1937, the German luggage company has become synonymous with the striking, minimalist metal. Now, this legacy is being celebrated through “As Seen By,” a curated exhibition of artworks reimaging their aluminum materials through the lens of local artists and craftsmen throughout the world. Following the success of its Paris debut in October, the next stop will be the RIMOWA Miami Design District boutique to showcase unique pieces by local US artists (announced in the coming weeks) through December 5.
Inaugural NFT BZL Conference at FTX Arena
NFT BZL, presented by Mana Tech, will be hosting its first major conference designed to educate, bring ideas and encourage innovation. For one day only, the conference will offer unparalleled access to the biggest names in technology with a lineup of speakers, panelists and a snapshot into the latest industry trends. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with leading NFT platforms and Metaverse partners including event co-host AEXLAB, The Sandbox, VaynerNFT, OneOf, Polygon, Worldwide Asset eXchange (WAX), Algorand, NFT Now and Nifty Gateway. Click here to purchase tickets.
The Confidante x Museum of Graffiti Skatepark
The Confidante and Museum of Graffiti are teaming up with talented female graffiti artists, activists and skaters from around the world from November 30 to December 2 to create, paint and activate a custom, large-scale skate ramp in the hotel’s backyard. Visitors can look forward to skate demonstrations from the Skate Nymphs, a female empowerment panel hosted by Yes Julz on December 2, and an art exhibit by Few and Far Women of 30 pieces throughout the first floor of The Confidante. All work will be available for purchase and a scannable QR-code with a custom audio tour will be open to the public.
Wednesday, December 1
Icons, Transformed: Shutterstock x Bradley Theodore Collaboration at W South Beach
Shutterstock is collaborating with distinguished global artist Bradley Theodore for an invite-only cocktail party at W South Beach. The event will include a pop-up gallery showcasing a selection of Theodore’s latest creative innovation, transforming visuals from Shutterstock’s premium collection of photography into his well-known skeletal design. During the event, the multidisciplinary artist will create a live studio art wall painting in real time over iconic visuals from Shutterstock’s premium collection, encouraging guests to participate. He will also perform a DJ set and there will be limited edition gifts available for guests.
Daniel Arsham Sketchbook Signing
Artist Daniel Arsham will be celebrating the release of Sketchbook, featuring never-before-seen drawings by the renowned contemporary artist. Arsham will be present to sign copies during this exclusive pre-sale event at the Miami Beach EDITION from 4-6 p.m.
Thursday, December 2
La Prairie Beach Club will offer indulgences from the Swiss beauty brand.
La Prairie Beach Club
The La Prairie Beach Club is designed to celebrate the brand’s support of the elevation of culture through contemporary art. The pop-up will offer guests a beachfront installation to enjoy signature indulgences from La Prairie's Swiss Luxury House through “Art of Perfection” beauty treatments, umbrellas and lounge chairs, and a raised deck for seating and mingling. Additionally, La Prairie will reveal its latest artistic collaboration - with Taiwanese new media artist, choreographer and dancer Wen-Chi Su, commissioned Su to translate the magical encounter of light and water into a performance. The Beach Club will take place from 12 - 4 p.m.
American Express Platinum Studio, perched beachfront outside the Miami Beach EDITION hotel.
American Express Platinum Studio
American Express will host Platinum Studio, an oasis on the beach outside of The Miami Beach EDITION from December 2-4. Throughout the week, American Express plans to have curated programs and experiences that celebrate emerging creators. The Platinum Studio Collectable Experience, in partnership with Artsy, will be an interactive and shoppable exhibit featuring upwards of 20 works by diverse groups of contemporary artists. Major Food Group will bring Carbone favorites like the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka on Friday and Saturday, and signature classes by Equinox will be held including yoga, sound bath, and immersive Pilates to unwind in between events. The week will be capped Saturday night with UNSTAGED, featuring a performance by superstar, Lizzo.
Hästens Grand Vividus unveiling with designer, Ferris Rafauli.
Hästens Grand Vividus Unveiling with Designer Ferris Rafauli
Hästens Miami will debut the coveted $500,000 Grand Vividus Bed in the Miami Design District Showroom (112 NE 41 St., Suite 100) alongside Ferris Rafauli, the designer of Drake’s infamous Toronto home. To recharge in between events, Hästens is also offering “Sleep Spa Basel Breaks” in their showroom. Call to schedule a personal trial and private sleep session on the “world’s most comfortable bed,” with spa experiences like acupuncture and massage treatments by Dr. Irina Logman and Rejooviness, along with refreshments, masks, noise-cancelling headphones, lavender scents, mood-lighting, and more.
Cocktails & Chill
CBD-infused sparkling water, Quatreau and VICE are hosting “Cocktails & Chill” at Generator Miami from 5-7 p.m. with craft cocktails made by the mixologists of Bar Lab. If you’re up for a good sweat in the midst of a busy week, limited spots are available earlier that day for an energetic full-body HOUSEWORK workout class by Sydney Miller at 10 a.m., followed by a relaxing Sound Bath experience at 11 a.m.
Friday, December 3
Marea's isgnature Nova Scotia lobster with burrata, eggplant al funghetto and basil.
Marea Pop-up at Osteria Morini
For two days only, Altamarea Group's, Marea is arriving in Miami during Art Basel. Located on the terrace of the Kimpton Hotel which house's Altamarea Group's younger sister restaurant, Osteria Morini, this dinner series will feature some of Marea's signature dishes including the iconic octopus fusilli. From Friday December 3rd to Saturday December 4th, the Marea pop up will allow diners to experience a four-course tasting menu with specially selected wine-pairing for $375/ person. Reservations can be made here.
Playboy & BIGBUNNY Present A Night of the Surreal
In celebration of BIGBUNNY, iconic lifestyle brand, Playboy, will host an extravagant evening at Casa Tua to introduce their surrealist twist on Miami Art Week. The event will feature new commissioned works by artists Nina McNeely, Maurice Harris, Miranda Makaroff, Filip Custic and Maria Forqué as well as a collection of surrealist work from Playboy’s archive, with DJ sets by Mona Matsuoka, Mia Moretti and Boys Noize.


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Healthy food is on the rise here in India. With more people trying to go the healthy way, the demand for fresh, wholesome food has risen. Now, online food delivery startup, Healthie.in has been announced the largest brand in healthy and fresh food delivery startups category within three months of its launch.
Healthie.in has a presence in New Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore and serve more than 25,000 people. Rajesh Sawhney started the healthy food company in August with the goal to promote healthy food and a healthy lifestyle.
Healthie.in emerges as the leading healthy food delivery brand in India.
— Rajesh Sawhney (@rajeshsawhney) December 12, 2017
Targeting The Health Conscious
“The tremendous customer response to Healthie.in in the first quarter of launch fully validates our belief that India is on the cusp of a healthy food revolution. More and more people are looking at balancing their occasional indulgent meals with a regular diet of healthy food; however options available so far have been limited. Healthie.in is our attempt to plug this gap with food that is as tasty as it is wholesome and fresh,” said Rajesh Sawhney.
Healthie.in aims to target a growing health-conscious urban population without compromising on taste. “We wanted to break the myth that healthy food cannot be delicious, or that Indian food cannot be healthy.
“It offers special Indian thalis, beverages and desserts, with an overriding emphasis on taste and nutrition which has made it the number one brand in the fresh healthy food category,” added Rajesh. You can order from Healthie.in via Swiggy, or Zomato for a variety of tasty, healthy food.
Feature Image: eatwellandlookwell.blogspot.com


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2022 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R will reportedly get minor cosmetic updates while the powertrain options will remain the same
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) had the Wagon R finish at the top of the sales charts in the 2021 calendar year with a cumulative domestic tally of 1,83,851 unit sales as against 1,48,298 units during the same period the previous year with a YoY volume increase of 24 per cent. The Wagon R comfortably led Swift, Baleno, Alto, and Ertiga.
Three of its aforementioned siblings are likely due an upgrade this year and it looks like the Wagon R will also join the party reportedly. The third-generation Maruti Suzuki Wagon R made its local debut in early 2019 and it has lived up to the expectations of its predecessor. It will reportedly get a mid-life update along the course of February 2022.
Just as expected on the upcoming Ertiga with minor cosmetic updates, the 2022 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R may only gain mild revisions and it could get a tweaked bumper at the front and the rear alongside the addition of 15-inch alloy wheels in the top-spec variants. The wheels could be similar to that of the second-gen Celerio launched late last year in India.
A few weeks ago, the Celerio’s range was quickly expanded with the addition of a CNG variant as well. The report went on to suggest that the 2022 Wagon R may also get a new colour scheme and some upholstery changes might be on the cards. Another key addition could be the availability of the Hill Hold Assist function in the AMT trims while the engine could come with idle start/stop tech to save more fuel.
The equipment list will continue to have features such as a seven-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, electrically foldable ORVMs, steering wheel with mounted controls, a semi-digital instrument console, etc. As for the performance, the same 1.0-litre petrol and the 1.2-litre petrol engine could stay put.
A five-speed manual and a five-speed AMT will continue to be the transmission choices and the entry-level LXi trim also offers a CNG version. We do not expect any major price hike though as it could cost around Rs. 5.3 lakh for the base variant and it could go up to Rs. 6.8 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-end model.


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Rates are up, but container lines face choppy waters ahead
2017 has been a calmer year for global container shipping following a tempestuous 2016, but the industry will once again have to navigate choppy waters in the next couple of years.
The biggest wave that could wash away the nascent recovery is unresolved capacity plaguing the sector and the consequent price war feared by analysts.
"2018 looks tricky to navigate and to predict, so a major recovery in the industry appears a little unrealistic," said Andy Lane, a partner at shipping consultancy CTI Consultancy.
"Without explosive growth, we are unlikely to see the gap between supply and demand close materially, until 2020 at least - and even that is based on the assumption that there is 'sensible' new ship ordering, which is never a given," he tells The Business Times.
Mr Lane acknowledges the market this year has "vastly improved" over 2016 - the year that saw the collapse of South Korea's once-mighty Hanjin Shipping Co - though not so much when compared with 2015.
"We see many of the shipping lines talking up the industry. Some of this is to gain investor confidence, some is wishful thinking, and some is hype about the present reasonable picture. There is little anecdotal evidence, however, that this bubble will be able to stand the test of time," he says.
The cutthroat race for a bigger slice of the market has not died down, even with the unprecedented wave of consolidation that has taken place over the last two years.
Ocean Shipping Consultants director Jason Chiang said major players have unveiled plans to build new ships in recent months - "at a time when demand has barely kept up with supply".
Mediterranean Shipping Co, the world's No.2 carrier, for instance, in September announced plans for 11 new giant ships to be delivered from 2019, each to come with a staggering capacity of 22,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). CMA CGM has also confirmed a US$1.2 billion order for nine such ships from 2020. It also has other vessel deliveries before then.
The 22,000 TEU ships weigh in as the largest vessels on order today.
"This does not bode well for 2018 and 2019. It could result in a decline in freight rates when the ships are deployed," says Mr Chiang. "And if this continues, we might see losses start to come back in 2018."
The new mega-vessel orders outline the shipping lines' efforts to remain competitive in the long haul, given that such ships are typically accompanied by lower operating costs. But Mr Chiang does not expect all of the additional capacity to come into use, "as demand is unlikely to match the increase in capacity".
At the same time, vessel scrapping has also slowed, despite a huge number of container demolition sales seen at end of 2016 and at the start of this year.
One reason for this is that charter rates for vessels have risen, says Mr Toby Yeabsley, head analyst of shipping data firm VesselsValue.
He believes more vessels need to be scrapped in order for the market to find a better balance, but points out that 2018 is set to be a "bumper year" for container vessel deliveries, with 224 ships scheduled to hit the water, compared with 68 in 2019.
The bulk of these ships are of the larger type, such as Post-Panamax container vessels or ultra-large container vessels.
CTI's Mr Lane adds: "So the overall supply will continue to outstrip demand, which will not increase by more than 4 to 5 per cent in the next two years. This will mean that the carriers will need to attract the additional volumes needed to fill their assets, and this is usually achieved by aggressive pricing in a commoditised industry.
"It only takes one or two itchy fingers to drop rates, and unless you are prepared to lose market share, the rest follow, eventually."
A new price war is brewing
For sure, sea freight rates - a key bellwether for sentiment in the market - have perked up in a significant way this year compared with 2016.
This improvement came about after Hanjin filed for bankruptcy in August 2016, putting a halt to an aggressive price war that had broken out. Shippers were forced to switch to carriers that could provide service reliability, and this allowed players to charge higher rates, Mr Chiang explained.
He said the shipping alliances that came into effect in April also helped to sustain freight rates, as shippers now have fewer shipping options.
But weakness in freight rates will likely set in over the course of next year. In a market that is still plagued by a capacity glut, carriers will "jostle for market share", says Alphaliner executive consultant Tan Hua Joo.
The rate-cutting, in fact, has already begun. The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index, a composite index of spot freight rates on multiple trade lanes from Shanghai, has slid to its lowest since the Hanjin bankruptcy. Spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles, for example, is now US$1,078 per forty foot container, compared to $2,211 in January.
"Cosco, in particular, is expected to move aggressively to increase their market share as their operational capacity will increase from the 1.8 million TEUs currently to three million TEUs by the end of 2018," Mr Tan said, noting that its enlarged capacity will come from the merger with Orient Overseas Container Line and new ships it is scheduled to receive.
That said, this time round, freight rates may not sink back to the record lows seen in early 2016.
Nilesh Tiwary, equity analyst at Drewry Maritime Financial Research, said: "We expect the factors that supported the rate increases of 2017 to continue in 2018 - a return of higher trade volume growth and a further increase in fuel prices, triggering higher fuel surcharges, among others."
A long-awaited recovery is indeed in place, albeit more sluggish than expected. "We expect 2018 to be somewhat comparable to 2017 in terms of profitability, instead of being the banner year we had anticipated earlier."
Mr Tiwary added that Drewry is tempering its bullish view on the industry now, even as it retains a positive bias for the longer term. "There are chances that carriers may not fully realise the benefits in 2018 due to pricing ill-discipline and a desire to protect market share. As a result, 'paradise' may be pushed back further away than we previously thought."
Meanwhile, the major lines themselves have a much more buoyant outlook.
Vincent Clerc, chief operating officer of Maersk Line, the top container shipping company worldwide, said in an interview with BT just last week that the order book for the industry as a whole today is "at the lowest it has been for a long time", adding that fundamentals look "quite favourable" for the years to come.
Separately, CMA CGM chairman and chief executive Rodolphe Saade voiced similar sentiments. "Now that consolidation has played an important role by taking out the small- to medium-sized companies and making the others stronger and more profitable, I believe the industry is sound," he said.
"I believe that we should be heading towards better days."
Amid the slew of changes that continue to sweep the broader industry, the Singapore port has held steady to emerge as a winner among transshipment hubs in the region so far this year.
Box traffic here amounted to 27.7 million TEUs in the first 10 months of 2017, up 8.5 per cent from the same period a year ago, as a result of the major reshuffling in alliances.
Both CMA CGM and Cosco have moved a large chunk of their volumes from Malaysia's Port Klang to Singapore, notes Alphaliner's Mr Tan, who expects total container throughput here to hit 33.5 million TEU this year, topping the 30.9 million TEU in 2016. Port Klang's throughput, on the other hand, is forecast to fall to 11.7 million TEU from 13.2 million TEU last year.
Risks PSA faces
"PSA will need to protect its market share gains in 2018, especially since Port Klang will try to regain part of its lost volumes by targeting some of PSA's existing customers," he says.
Drewry lead ports analyst Victor Wai says the growth in volumes here is unlikely to persist at the same rate in 2018, now that the alliances are set to stay intact for the next few years.
He added that the Port of Singapore faces another risk: direct calls, which bypasses the need for transshipment.
"An alliance can better allocate slot capacity, freeing up some vessels that would otherwise be under-deployed. Instead of laying up these vessels, they may be used to string direct services without the need for international transshipment," notes Mr Wai.
The expansion of gateway ports in the region - including Kalibaru Port in Jakarta, Laem Chabang in Thailand, Manila in the Philippines, and Hai Phong in Vietnam - means they are now better equipped to serve direct calls.
"With a pick-up in trade between these Asean countries and the rest of the world, it may be more commercially viable to make direct calls at these ports," says Mr Wai.
"Assuming the productivity and competitiveness of tariffs improve in these ports, Singapore may find it hard to compete when the containerised trade volumes between these Asean countries and the rest of the world expand. From a shipping line perspective, the network cost of making a direct call might then be lower than using a transshipment hub."


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It’s not a place you expect to see a Lamborghini Murcielago, but the one of the world’s hottest super cars made an appearance at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. The Italian car maker has partnered with NVIDIA, who have strong ties to Android.
The Lamborghini Murcielago, which was recently replaced by the newer and faster Aventador, has quite a cockpit inside, with center console video display, powered by NVIDIA, that is expected to eventually run Android, and touch screen dashboard interface. NVIDIA powers many of the Android smartphones today and is also entered into many automotive technology partnerships, but those partnerships involve proprietary Linux-based operating systems. However many of those car makers reportedly have an interest in moving to Android in the future.
We may still be a little ways away from a full Android operating system for cars, but reports seem to indicate that we are heading in that direction and perhaps Lamborghini will be the first to run it. It may not get to a lot of drivers, given the price of these cars, but it would make quite a splash in the tech and automotive news.
The video below is courtesy of Phandroid.


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Image received from the new video produced by MEDC May 11, 2011. / MEDC
Sleeping Bear Dunes frame grab from Pure Michigan video on www.michigan.org / www.michigan.org
Photo from 'Pure Michigan' ad campaign. / Travel Michigan
Photo from Pure Michigan ad campaign / Travel Michigan
Is the Pure Michigan campaign reaching a saturation point in the Midwest?
Although the glistening ad campaign drew 2.3 million new visitors from the Great Lakes region last year, the "return on investment" - how many visitor dollars you get versus how much you spend on the ads to attract them - is falling.
The state took in $8.06 in visitor spending and taxes for every regional ad dollar spent in 2012 compared to $9.85 in 2011. The new data was part of a mostly positive report released Monday at the Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism at the Renaissance Center in Detroit.
The numbers represent a slight weakness in a campaign whose returns have been only up, up, up since the slogan was introduced in 2006.
"I just think we have tourism momentum, and that's a beautiful thing," George Zimmermann, vice president of Travel Michigan, said at the three-day tourism conference.
He pointed to strengths: A $13-million spring/summer national cable television advertising blitz will air Pure Michigan ads more than 5,000 times by the end of June. Michigan's hotel occupancy rate in 2012 was the highest since 2004, a good sign.
And when both regional and national visitors are included, Michigan last year had 3.8 million new out-of-state visitors who spent a record $1.1 billion, he said.
"What has Pure Michigan done since 2006? It's generated 4 billion dollars."
Return-on-investment was a key metric used by Gov. Rick Snyder in convincing the legislature two years ago to appropriate a $25 million annual budget for Pure Michigan.
The small decline in that metric for 2012 can be attributed to "a range of issues outside of the influence of our campaign or media buy," said Michelle Begnoche of Travel Michigan Monday. "For us, the number of actual trips to Michigan generated and how much those visitors are spending in the state remain the most important data points.”
For its regional ad campaign last year, the state spent $5 million on ads, which attracted 2.3 million new visitors. In 2011, it spent just $3.8 million but attracted 2 million new visitors
And people do know the brand: 72% of people in the Great Lakes region and 39% of those nationwide are aware of Pure Michigan, travel research company Longwoods International data show.
The pristine slogan had a brush with ugly politics in January when State officials used Pure Michigan's logo in a full page “right to work” advertisement in the Wall Street Journal. That prompted an outcry and a cancellation of plans for further such ads.
A broader report on how Michigan tourism overall fared in 2012 (including leisure travel by state residents) will not be available until June, Zimmermann said. In 2011, total tourism spending in the state was $17.7 billion, up slightly from the previous year but still $1 billion down from 2006.
In 20111, leisure travelers from outside the state actually spent more money in Michigan than leisure travelers from inside the state.


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A new ebook featuring rare photos and personal recollections from Ringo Starr will be released June 12, exclusively via Apple's iBookstore. In the interactive publication, titled Photograph , the ex- Beatles drummer tells his life story through previously unseen images from his archives along with accompanying text, video and audio. The eBook can be viewed using an iPad with an iBooks program, or on any computer utilizing iTunes.
Among the many pics included in the eBook are photos from Starr's childhood, as well as candid shots he took of his Beatles band mates in a variety of scenarios and locations. There also are images of various pieces of memorabilia from throughout the rock legend's long career. In addition, Ringo has created audio and video segments especially for the eBook in which he shares details about the many photos. "These are shots no one else could have," says Starr.
On the same day that the Photograph eBook is released, a new exhibition focusing on Starr, called "Ringo: Peace & Love," will open at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibit will feature the drum sets Ringo played at The Beatles' legendary Shea Stadium concert and on The Ed Sullivan Show , as well as his Sgt. Pepper 's costume, the cape he wore in the Help! movie, the red jacket worn during The Beatles' famed London rooftop concert, and an assortment of photos, documents and mementos from Starr's days with and before the Fab Four.
If you'd rather not go the ebook route, a limited-edition physical version of Photograph is scheduled to be published in December. Starr will personally sign 2,500 copies of the hard-bound volume, which will feature even more images than the ebook edition does.
The Photograph evook is priced at $9.99. You can pre-order it now at iTunes, while the bound version can be pre-ordered at RingoPhotograph.com .
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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More than 70,000 Toyota Prius, Auris and Lexus CT 200h models are being recalled in the UK – after the company discovered a fault that could result in petrol being leaked from the fuel tank.
In a statement released today, the firm said: “The subject vehicles are equipped with an evaporative fuel emissions control unit (canister) mounted in the fuel tank.
“There is a possibility that cracks could develop in the coating of the emissions channel due to improper shaping of portions of the channel. As a result of this condition, the cracks could expand over time and, eventually, fuel may leak from these cracks when the vehicle has a full tank of petrol.”
The firm, which has issued a number of safety recalls over recent years, insists it hasn’t received any reports of accidents, injuries or fatalities connected to the issue.
It affects Toyota Prius, Auris and Lexus CT200h models built between April 2006 and August 2015. Owners can find out if their car is affected by inserting its registration number into Toyota’s website.
For all involved vehicles, Toyota and Lexus dealers will replace the canister with an improved one free of charge. The work should take two to three hours.
In a further recall, the company is also warning that 34,135 Toyota Prius and Lexus CT200h models in the UK also need to be returned to their dealer after a fault with curtain airbags emerged.
Toyota said: “The involved vehicles are equipped with curtain shield airbags in the driver and passenger side roof rails that have airbag inflators composed of two chambers welded together. Some inflators could have a small crack in the weld area joining the chambers, which could grow over time, and lead to the separation of the inflator chambers.
“This has been observed when the vehicle is parked and unoccupied for a period of time. If an inflator separates, the CSA could partially inflate, and, in limited circumstances, one or both sections of the inflator could enter the interior of the vehicle. If an occupant is present in the vehicle, there is an increased risk of injury.”
All vehicles subject to the recall were manufactured between October 2008 and August 2012. To rectify the fault, dealers will install retention brackets on the curtain shield air bag inflators. The repair will take approximately two to four hours.
The company says that, so far, it is not aware of any injuries or fatalities related to the issue.


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Tesla founder Elon Musk will attend Delaware court this month, as he is the sole remaining defendant in an approximately $2.2 billion lawsuit filed by shareholders. If ruled liable, this judgement would be among the largest ever cast on an individual corporate executive in history.
The suit alleges that the Tesla’s purchase of major installer SolarCity was an attempt to bailout Musk’s cousin’s struggling company, of which Musk was the largest investor and chairman. The shareholders’ suit also accuses Tesla’s board of having a lax approach to corporate governance.
Much of this lawsuit revolves around why SolarCity was purchased to begin with. Peter and Lyndon Rive founded SolarCity in 2006 with encouragement from their cousin, Elon Musk. By the time Tesla purchased the company, Musk owned 22.2% and was chairman of the board. Though it had grown to be the largest U.S. installer in 2016, earning record revenues of $730 million, losses were mounting, with $820 million in net losses that year. The company had accumulated more than $1.5 billion in debt by the year of the purchase.
SolarCity’s business model relied on marketing, spending heavily on advertising and door-to-door sales, all while offering low-priced, no-upfront cost long-term leases. Post-purchase, the strategy changed, as Tesla began to slash marketing costs, moving sales to direct-from-website and in-store sales. Musk noted in a 2019 deposition on the lawsuit that the door-to-door and other sales channel strategies did not match Tesla’s brand.
Musk also said in the deposition that problems with the Tesla Model 3 caused the company to reassign much of its SolarCity workforce to bolster its vehicle production operations. He could not confirm exactly what portion of the workforce was reassigned.
Tesla’s power division is now mostly focused on the home energy storage system, PowerWall. The product accounted for the largest portion of the power division’s $1.99 billion in revenue last year. Meanwhile, solar installations have fallen behind, with 205 MW installed in 2020, a fraction of the 803 MW SolarCity deployed in 2016.
The development of Tesla’s solar roof program has taken things in a different direction than SolarCity’s model. SolarCity installed panels and equipment from top manufacturers, and focused on getting customers signed to long-term leases. Tesla’s solar program now focuses on direct sales and uses proprietary solar tiles in their “solar roof” installations.
Also included in the purchase of SolarCity was a Buffalo, NY panel manufacturing plant. Tesla aimed for a 1 GW a year of solar production, but its partner, Panasonic, has since walked away from the project. It is now unclear what volume of panels or roof tiles Tesla currently produces at the facility.
While no investor can argue against the fact Tesla has shown dramatic share growth, the SolarCity deal has not panned out the way some, including Musk, had predicted. In 2016, Musk called the purchase as “pretty transformational,” but now he faces significant potential damages in the July hearing.
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Assemblr Studio Web is a web-based AR creator which developers can use with greater ease and benefit from more useful features.
Ultraleap has recently launched the fifth-generation Gemini hand tracking platform with improved performance and faster loading speed.
The XR Association and XR Access partnered to launch XRAccessibility GitHub site, a go-to source of tutorials, strategies and code snippets.
Starting this fall, Ohio University is offering a new undergraduate major in Virtual Reality and Game Development (VRGD).
This television watching system is offering people with low vision a way to watch TV programs, read, and see faces clearly and is improving their quality of life.
AR startup Assemblr has recently launched its own web-based AR player, allowing users to display content without installing their app.
An innovative photogrammetry-based AR and VR app allows users to experience amazing natural landmarks on their mobile devices and VR headsets.
Discover the most desirable AR/VR certifications that will impress employers and will get you started on a successful career path.
Air bp Airfield Automation “safe2go” app innovates by using AR technology to help prevent the risk of misfuelling.
The COVID-19 pandemic has proven a catalyst for AR/VR accelerated adoption, both by consumers and by various industry sectors.
Virtual avatars are increasingly popular in various industries, and may even replace actual people in business meetings to avoid Zoom fatigue.
Discover the most important in-person and virtual XR events in 2021 and save the date for those you are most interested in.
PhotoCatch is a recently-launched 3D scanning app for Mac computers that allows users to create AR objects from photos or videos.
Virtex Stadium is the first “true” virtual reality stadium, developed by a team of esports competitors who aimed to create a more immersive experience.
Planar Studios relies on proprietary technology to create top-of-the-line display solutions for VP and XR with applications in many industries.


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Earlier this week, Disney was involved in a auction to win the streaming and television rights to the Indian Premier League for the next five years. While Disney was unsuccessful in retaining the cricket streaming rights for Disney+ Hotstar, which ended up going for $2.6 billion to the Viacom18 group, it did win the linear television rights for Star Sports for an estimated $3 billion.
Star India (which was owned by 20th Century Fox at the time) had previously paid $2.6 billion for both the streaming and linear rights five years ago, but the cricket association had decided to split the rights into different packages. With Viacom18 and Times Internet picking up some international rights as well.
Disney’s Chairman of International Content and Operations, Rebecca Campbell, said in a statement regarding the cricket rights.
“We are pleased to extend our association with the Indian Premier League and look forward to offering the next five seasons across our portfolio of television channels. We made disciplined bids with a focus on long-term value. We chose not to proceed with the digital rights given the price required to secure that package. IPL is an important component of our portfolio of television channels in India, providing an incredible opportunity for us to showcase The Walt Disney Company’s powerful global brands and iconic storytelling, as well as Disney Star’s impressive collection of local original content, to millions of viewers in India.
We will be exploring other multiplatform cricket rights, including future rights for the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which we currently hold through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively. Additionally, we hold Pro Kabaddi League rights, Indian Super League football rights, as well as various international sports rights, including the Wimbledon Championships and the English Premier League.
At the same time, we are focused on growing our robust slate of original entertainment content for Disney+ Hotstar and our television channels in the region.
Our vast portfolio of more than 70 television channels in India cuts across general entertainment, films, sports, infotainment, kids, and lifestyle content, reaching 90% of pay cable and satellite TV homes in the region.
Disney+ Hotstar has changed the way Indians watch their entertainment – from favorite locally produced original TV shows, to global blockbuster films, and popular sporting events. Last year, Disney+ Hotstar was home to seven of the Top Ten Hindi SVOD entertainment series in India, and we currently have more than 100 local original titles in our content pipeline — with over 80 local originals slated to premiere this fiscal year,”
Ultimately, its expected that the loss of the IPL cricket rights will result in millions of subscribers leaving Disney+ Hotstar, but with the cost of the rights doubling in price from when Star India purchased the rights, Disney decided the loss of subscribers wasn’t worth spending almost another $3 billion on.
Do you think Disney was right to pull out of bidding for the streaming rights to the IPL?
Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom.


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This Saturday, February 27th, marks the 20th anniversary of Pokémon. To celebrate Nintendo Direct is showing it’s “Pokémon Direct” show on Friday February 26th. The five minute presentation is happen at 7am PT. With such a short presentation, everyone is wondering what could they be presenting? Nintendo announced that Pokémon red
In the city of Anaheim, California there is a brewery called “Noble Ale Brewery”. They are located in the middle of the Angels Stadium and the Honda Center. This brewery is most famous for their high quality full flavored craft brews, and their quality of freshness of ingredients in their high profile flavor brews.


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Cara Delevingne has fronted more luxury ad campaigns over the last couple of years than we can count: Her impressive list of clients includes Mulberry, Chanel, Burberry, Fendi and Tom Ford — and that's just from top of mind. While all of those brand pairings have seemed relatively natural for the young model (and the similarly young audience she reaches daily through her millions of followers on Twitter and Instagram) her latest campaign seems much less so.
Delevingne is the newest face of Tag Heuer, a Swiss luxury watch brand that lists its goods for tens — if not hundreds — of thousands of dollars. It's clear that the label is attempting to target a younger customer by casting Delevingne in the campaign.
"We needed someone disruptive yet elegant like Cara to open our minds to the brashness and boldness of today’s youth," recently appointed CEO Jean-Claude Biver told WWD on the brand's decision to hire Delevingne. "Tag Heuer has set its sights on ‘It-ness,’ and Cara is just the person to help us get there."
One of the images (which debuted in WWD) features a red carpet shot of Delevingne from the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, while another is a #selfie-type shot that shows off one of the model's many tattoos. Both feature the brand's new hashtag #DontCrackUnderPressure, which is clearly an attempt to get the kids talking on the Internets. But do you think a youth icon and a social media slant are what it takes to get a new generation shopping for luxury watches? We're not so sure.


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The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) is investigating the conduct of online food and grocery delivery platforms to pose regulations and policies on the sector, Tech Crunch reported.
According to the report, the competition regulator in the country claimed the move would steer healthy competition and bear rules that will protect the consumer.
CAK will probe the role of data in the operations of the platforms, data portability, how they acquire customers, consumer protection issues and redress mechanisms used by the marketplaces.
The findings will help the regulatory body to review if the existing regulatory framework can be applied in digital markets.
Acting Director General of CAK, Adano Wario noted that the market inquiry will seek to uncover how food delivery and groceries platforms work in practice and suggest regulatory and policy options for competition and consumer protection enforcement.
“The inquiry will identify players and services involved in the food delivery and groceries platforms business model in Kenya and examine the relationships between the platforms and the users with a focus on the competition parameters (market power and conduct) and concerns amongst the players,” the director general said.


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The company produced a total of 1,41,834 units in November as against 1,35,946 units in the year-ago month, MSI said.
The company had sold 1,53,539 units in November last year, Maruti Suzuki said in a statement.
The company produced a total of 1,19,337 units in October as against 1,50,497 units in the year-ago month, MSI said in a regulatory filing.
MSTI will set up its vehicle dismantling and recycling unit in Noida, Uttar Pradesh within 2020-21.
Net sales in the period under review stood at 847.9 billion yen as against 941.9 billion yen in the year-ago period.
Maruti Suzuki said it would take at least few more months to get clarity if the industry is finally on a revival path.
This is the first time in the last seven months that Maruti Suzuki has seen an increase in its domestic sales.
The company had sold 1,46,766 units in October last year, MSI said in a statement.
The company had sold 1,62,290 units in September last year, MSI said in a statement.
Maruti is counting on festive season, S-Presso launch and revival of demand in rural segment to ease some pressure on sales front.


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The US-based premium motorcycle brand Harley Davidson will be officially shutting down their business operations in India. In order to boost sales and attract customers, Harley-Davidson has announced multiple cost-saving measures in the past couple of months. However, the company has not been able to perform well in their sales numbers. This is basically the company’s new rewire business strategy. It further reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission of the USA about ending its sales and manufacturing business in India.
Following this, Harley-Davidson India released a statement stating that it will be shutting down its manufacturing plant in Bawal, Haryana. But the Harley-Davidson dealer network will continue to serve the customers in India on a contract basis. Thus the downsizing of Harley-Davidson’s sales office in Gurgaon will lead to the termination of around 70 jobs.
“The Rewire is progressing very well and substantial work is being done to eliminate complexity and get Harley-Davidson on a path to winning. Our new operating model is simpler, more focused, and enables faster decisions across the entire company. We’ve taken a hard look at our entire setup, our spending, and how work is getting done, to align our operating model, structure, and processes. We are building a strong foundation to drive a high-performance organization in the future,” commented Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President, and CEO of Harley-Davidson.
The India plant was opened back in 2011. Since then the brand has been struggling to find a foothold in one of the world’s most competitive two-wheeler markets. The iconic American brand had made quite an effort to drive up volumes and derive cost efficiencies. But the lifestyle that goes with owning a Harley bike is not fully developed in India. The brand recently celebrated 10 years of existence in the country. While the company is wrapping up its business in India, we can expect that this will clearly not be the last time that a Harley Davidson Motorcycle is sold in India.


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The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman and the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council; Mr Hassan Bello are billed to attend the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) one day talk shop on how to develop a sustainable logistics for effective port system and administration in Nigeria.
According to MARAN Secretary General, Bayo Bernard, the talk shop with the theme; “The Prospects and Challenges of Logistics Services as the Life-Wire of Nigerian Maritime Sector” is to create "a viable platform for vibrant discourse by industry stakeholders and other interested parties on the subject"
Bernard, who disclosed that the event will be chaired by the immediate past President of Nigerian Institute of Shipping; Mr Patrick Egesi. He added that it will also have perspectives from terminal operators, logistics providers, regulatory agencies, freight forwarders and customs brokers.
The event is scheduled to hold on Tuesday February 27th, 2018 at the International Maritime Press Centre/MARAN Secretariat, 23/27, Wharf Road, Atlantic House – 1stFloor, Apapa, Lagos, February 27, 2018, at 10:00 am.


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From Sept. 1, 2011, to June 5, 2015, I managed Tier 1 Investments, a Motley Fool real-money portfolio that outperformed the market by more than 40% from inception to close. Within Tier 1, I sought out companies with the strongest competitive advantages, largest growth opportunities, and best management. I call these businesses Tier 1 enterprises, and no company fits that description better today than Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN). In fact, if I could buy only one stock, Amazon would be it.
A deep and widening moat
Amazon is dominating the war for online commerce: 55% of consumers begin their search on the retail juggernaut's website when shopping online -- up from 44% in 2015 -- according to a recent report [opens in PDF] by BloomReach. Even more impressive, 90% of consumers will check Amazon even if they've found their product elsewhere.
Helping drive these results are Amazon's powerful competitive advantages. First, the fact that Amazon doesn't have to maintain physical store locations gives it a lower cost structure than its traditional-retail competitors, which Amazon then passes on to customers in the form of lower prices. Second, Amazon is able to offer a wider selection of items than could be housed by bricks-and-mortar storefronts. Third, Amazon is a trusted brand with tremendous mindshare among consumers, as the BloomReach survey results show. Together, these advantages create a wide moat around Amazon's core online retail operations that its competitors simply can't surmount.
Massive growth opportunities
Even after two decades of torrid growth, the rise of e-commerce is still in its early innings. Online sales comprise less than 10% of retail sales, with research company eMarketer estimating that retail e-commerce sales will increase to more than $4 trillion in 2020, up from about $1.5 trillion in 2015. With millions more people gaining access to the internet every year, and an expanding global middle class ushering in a time of increased prosperity for millions of emerging-market consumers, e-commerce appears set to grow at a rapid pace for at least another decade, and likely much longer. Amazon stands to benefit from this megatrend perhaps more than any other company.
Incredibly, Amazon has another growth driver that may be even more powerful than its core online retail operations. Amazon Web Services has taken the world by storm, quickly becoming the dominant provider of scalable cloud computing services. AWS has a massive market opportunity -- so large, in fact, that Amazon's management believes it could eventually rival the company's retail operations in size. The business is already making progress in that regard, with AWS's third-quarter revenue surging 55% to $3.2 billion and operating income more than doubling to $861 million. But AWS has just barely scratched the surface of its potential, and it should continue to turbocharge Amazon's revenue and profit growth for many years to come.
Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos is relentless in strengthening Amazon's competitive position. Whether it's expanding the company's massive global distribution system to reduce shipping times, or investing heavily to bolster the content and service offerings of Amazon's fast-growing Prime membership service, Bezos is constantly working to deliver more value to Amazon's customers. He's proven time and again that he's willing to sacrifice short-term profits in order to maximize the long-term value of the business. That's served Amazon's shareholders well, and I expect it to continue to do so for many years to come.


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Kabir Singh Bhandari
Senior Associate Editor
Latest: Page 9
After Sonu Sood posted a puzzling tweet about his upcoming venture, the rumour mills have gone into overdrive trying to guess what it might be.
On World Environment Day, the 'Sustainable Squad' featuring Virat Kohli, Janhvi Kapoor, Disha Patani, Harbhajan Singh, Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday and many more, comes together as partnerships with Give India and Dolce Vee to power a mass movement to save the environment.
World Environment Day: How skincare brands are moving towards sustainability and becoming more environment friendly
On World Environment Day, observed every year on June 5, we look at how increasingly beauty products are consciously becoming sustainable and environment friendly.
Fandom in cricket is about to undergo a change in the next few years with the entrance of NFTs in the market, and Rario, the world's first officially licensed cricket NFT platform seems to be steering us in that direction. Rario was founded in 2021 by Ankit Wadhwa and Sunny Bhanot.
Actor Anita Hassanandani To Launch Her Own Range Of Clean And Scientific Skincare Called Better Beauty
Better Beauty is a sustainably crafted skincare brand that shall be soon exclusively available on clean beauty platform Vanity Wagon.


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The Investment Column: Smart returns from Moss Bros
Tuesday 07 April 1998
But under managing director Rowland Gee, Moss Bros has built a menswear retail business that now accounts for 3.1 per cent of the UK menswear market, up by a fifth on last year. It sells 12 per cent of men's suits and also has a large share of the shirt market.
Moss Bros's formats cover the entire scope of the market, with stores such as the Suit Company, Savoy Taylor's Guild, Cecil Gee, the Blazer chain - acquired from Storehouse - and designer label stores under the Yves Saint Laurent and Boss names. Add in the hire business for which the group is still best known and it is an impressive portfolio.
A succession of good results have contributed to an almost nine-fold rise in the shares over the last five years. The going has been tougher more recently and the shares have trailed the market by 31 per cent over the last two years. However, this owes more to smaller retailers being out of favour following profits warnings from the likes of Oasis.
Moss Bros itself remains as sharp as a well-pressed suit. On top of profits up by 23 per cent to pounds 19.6m last year, like-for-like sales rose by 7 per cent. This is double the sector average. Same store sales are 5 per cent ahead in current trading which, though a slight slowdown, is still double the industry average. Margins have been maintained.
And the company is benefiting from the trend towards smart-casual dressing at the expense of sportswear.
With cash balances of pounds 20m, the balance sheet is strong. Around 10 more stores will open this year and Mr Gee reckons there is room for another 40-50 in total.
This year will be tough with higher interest rates taking their toll on high street spending. But Moss Bros trades cleverly with planned promotions that do not harm its margins.
On analysts forecasts of pounds 22m this year, the shares trade on a forward rating of 15. This is a little mean for a well-managed company, even though the shares, up 7p to 260.5p yesterday, have jumped sharply in the last couple of months. They remain a solid hold.
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The people who used to play with the PlayStation know what PS Plus is. It consists in subscribing on it, and this subscription allows the person who has subscribed to play online and taking some video games on the Play Store for free. It was a rumour that Sony was working on a reboot of the Ps Plus, and the Japanese brand has confirmed it.
It is going to be launched in June, and an important change is that PS Now is going to be discontinued when this update arrives. Another thing that will change is the introduction of more than 700 new games, because Sony notices that a lot of fans have mentioned they are tired with current offerings on PS Plus, so they have decided to introduce a lot of new games.
The previous PS Plus only had one version, but this reboot brings three different options. The first one, is the Essential, with the same benefits as the previous PS Plus, that is playing online and the same video games, with the same cost $9.99 per month. The second one is the Extra plan with a cost of $14.99 per month, which includes 400 more titles. And the last one is the expensive one, the Premium, for $17.99 per month the user have 340 more video games than the Extra, it means more than 700 games, and includes extended version of some video games and access to classic games.
That was something that the fans of the Japanese’s technology brand were waiting for. The PS Plus has not been changed since a long time ago, so it needed a change and it will be launched in June, and with more than one option, so it looks like a good idea, and seems that the brand has listened to their community.


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Spotted on the streets of Surrey and North Vancouver, dozens of brightly painted orange bicycles chained to street signs and trees. Nearly 60 of them have been spotted across town and according to insiders, they have only been installed less than 48 hours ago. Alas, there is a cause of action for these random orange bicycles: They are part of a marketing campaign to promote Orangetheory Fitness, a new fitness concept that is joining forces with Trevor Linden's Club 16 in Surrey and North Vancouver later this year.
Spot some orange bicycles in your 'hood? We want to see.


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December 5, 2013 8:08 AM
Nintendo's latest console is analyzed from a sales standpoint and what's coming in the future. Do you agree?
December 3, 2013 11:24 AM
Mobot Studios is bringing its hit iOS title Paper Monsters to Wii U with brand new levels and all new graphical overhaul.
November 28, 2013 8:58 AM
John Zaccari explains why people should consider going with the Wii U to fulfill your their gen gaming needs.
November 26, 2013 10:26 AM
The headline says it all. It's new footage of Mario Kart 8, but with a slight caveat. Captured with some over the shoulder, shaky cam action, nevertheless it's still...
November 24, 2013 2:45 PM
Nintendo's new TV ad has kids pitching the new Wii Sports Club to their parents.
November 23, 2013 12:02 PM
New trailer shows all the great things various reviewers had to say about the new Mario game.
November 19, 2013 7:48 AM
Check out this commercial from Nintendo that helps explain the differences between Wii and Wii U this holiday season.
November 17, 2013 10:47 AM
Super Mario 3D World release date is just a week from now, and some lucky gamers out there …
November 12, 2013 7:40 AM
Nintendo has released a brand new commercial for Super Mario 3D World, focusing on the multiplayer aspects of the game.
November 8, 2013 12:19 PM
The new trailer for Wii Sports Club shows off the HD graphics and online play features.


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Start Up Loans set to unlock the potential of NI entrepreneurs
Start Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has set out its commitment to unlock the talent of hundreds of people in Northern Ireland by helping them to start their own business.
Start Up Loans part of the British Business Bank, has set out its commitment to unlock the talent of thousands more people across the UK by helping them to start their own business.
The disruptive impact of Coronavirus on the UK’s economy and traditional working patterns has catalysed many to reconsider their careers, whether because of additional time to reflect during lockdown, furlough or a change in employment status.
Since 2012, Start Up Loans has delivered over 387 loans to unemployed people in NI, worth over £2.1m. Since 2012, 30% of people to have received Government-backed funding in the region were unemployed.
Of the 80,000+ Start Up Loans recipients across the UK since 2012, a third (31%) were unemployed at the time of application. Start Up Loans data also indicates that the scheme is particularly effective in enabling young entrepreneurs to start up a business, with millennials representing more than half (54%) of all previously unemployed loan recipients since 2012.
The Start Up Loans scheme has also seen this trend continue with the youngest generation of entrepreneurs, with double the number of Gen Z (18-24 year old) applicants using the scheme as a route out of unemployment in 2020 compared to 2019.
The Start Up Loans scheme was initially set up as the UK economy was recovering from the 2008 credit crisis, with a mission to make business ownership a viable career for individuals who would struggle to raise finance. Building on a nine-year track record of success, the scheme is set to play a vital role as our economy starts to rebuild after the impact of Covid-19, providing both funding and wider support for people starting up their own business for the first time.
Richard Bearman, Managing Director, Start Up Loans, said: “Start Up Loans is uniquely positioned to drive the nation’s investment in creative, entrepreneurial talent of any age, thanks to our extensive network of delivery partners and support services. As well as a loan, we support individuals with the practical steps they need to take to begin their own enterprise from writing business plans, accounting and marketing, as well as access to learning with partners such as The Open University.
“It is paramount that we do everything to empower the next generation of young working talent, who have an important part to play in unlocking the UK’s economic recovery, by giving them every chance to succeed, whatever their circumstances. Unemployment can have a catastrophic impact on an individual’s financial security, self-confidence and ability to apply for finance from lenders, and the support provided by Start Up Loans can be of particular use to younger, less experienced business owners.”
UK Small Business Minister Paul Scully, explained: “NI gave the world artificial fertiliser, milk chocolate and Derry Girls, and the UK Government is doing everything it can to champion that world-leading innovation and entrepreneurial spirit through the British Business Bank. The Start Up Loans programme has helped more than 1,200 pioneering NI businesses to get off the ground, including many owned by young or unemployed people, and so I encourage aspiring entrepreneurs in NI to explore the support on offer from the UK Government.”
Coleraine business owner Tracy McAllister, founder of BTS Concept Store, continued: “The best part about being your own boss is the freedom; the feeling that I am following my dream. What I put in I get out. I also love that my customers love my store and product range. It keeps me motivated and makes me want to keep things fresh. Firstly, have a strong, cohesive vision for your business and be passionate about it.”
Andy Fishburn, Managing Director of Start Up Loans Delivery Partner, Virgin StartUp, added: “Virgin StartUp exists to help founders in the UK to start and scale early stage businesses. We’re proud to be working with the British Business Bank to deliver the Start Up Loans scheme to ensure that applicants receive the right combination of funding and support, to not only start up and survive, but thrive. Small businesses have such a vitally important role to play as we look to rebuild communities, the economy and the world more broadly. We look forward to continuing to work with future founders, in our shared mission to inspire entrepreneurs around the UK.”
The Start Up Loans programme provides finance and support for businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs who struggle to access other forms of finance, working with a national network of Delivery Partners based across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Specialty retailer Chico’s FAS has partnered with gift card e-commerce solutions provider CashStar to launch a consumer gift card e-commerce programme.
Powered by CashStar Consumer, the new programme offers real-time digital gifting experience with personalisation.
CashStar Consumer is designed to provide branded prepaid commerce experiences to attract, convert and retain customer loyalty.
Chico’s FAS executive vice-president and chief information officer Ann Joyce said: “At Chico’s FAS, we consistently look for ways to improve the customer experience in this evolving digital environment and make it as seamless as possible.
“With CashStar Consumer, we are better equipped to deliver our company’s promise of the ‘Most Amazing Personal Service,’ our unique service proposition, and commitment to our customers and their continued loyalty.”
CashStar group vice-president Ben Kaplan said: “CashStar’s technology enables Chico’s FAS to scale its egift card programme over the next year by meeting customer desires for more personalised options and faster delivery.”


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STEPS Step A. Download/Install Adobe Flash Player - http://www.flash-player-android.com/Step B. Install Firefox Browser for Android...
Showing results 1 to 20 of 108
Microsoft is rolling out its first version of a new, free video chat app for Android, iPhone and Windows Phone devices that is part of its Skype family.
Most smartwatch fans are holding out for the round Moto 360, but there is a preview video from LG that shows they have a round Android Wear device too.
HTC is starting to introduce their unique software experiences to other Android users and the first launch is Zoe. Take a look at what you can soon expect on your non-HTC device.
HTC opens up a new door to the software business with Zoe for all Android devices.
Miracast is a signature feature of Windows 8.1 and newer Android versions. In theory, it allows you to project a presentation or HD video wirelessly from your mobile device to a large screen. How well does it work in the real world?
Pavtube Video Converter Ultimate is the best BD/DVD/Video solution for Windows users to backup BD/DVD, compress disc and transcode...
We have seen a couple Android laptops in the past, but a video leaked online from HP shows a new Android-powered touchscreen laptop may be coming soon.
Opera has released a stable version of its Android browser that supports web-based video chats and peer to peer communications.
liteCam Android allows you to record the screen of non-rooted Android devices. It works on Android 4.1 or higher version. Just connect...
Microsoft plans to release its Lync unified communications app for Android tablets this summer. It also will deliver federated video across Lync and Skype before the end of 2014.
Google has done a good job with the Chrome browser on mobile platforms. The beta version rivals the desktop experience on Android and is lightning fast, which is shown on video.
Skype has added a new video messaging capability to Skype on iOS, Mac and Android. Windows support is coming too... some day.
The five arrested are allegedly responsible for distributing malware in video apps for Android smartphones which affected 90,000 people, in what is Japan's largest information theft case.
Ericsson Research has launched Bowser, an experimental mobile browser for Android and iOS that works with WebRTC technology to allow developers to make more imaginative use of video.
Chinese telecoms gear maker plans to introduce a TV set-top box running on Google's Android OS, and equipped with 3D, video-calling and HTML 5 capabilities.
The bank has rolled out a swathe of technology initiatives, including in-branch video conferencing and a NFC contactless payment trial on Android phones, to improve customer experience.
Maps, video conferencing, voice to text, a great screen, Jelly Bean, and more make this Android tablet the one to beat.
Apple's iOS has cool video streaming apps for the 2012 London Summer Games. So does Google's Android. But tough luck if you have a Jelly Bean device.
Computex 2012, the world's second-biggest computer show, is expected to showcase numerous innovations based on Microsoft's forthcoming Windows 8 operating system and Intel's trade-marked Ultrabook specification. This will include systems based on both Intel and ARM processors, and there is a vague possibility that one system will run both Windows 8 and Google Android, based on an extremely unspecific "teaser" video released by Asus.
The Hulu Plus monthly video streaming service is now available for certain Android tablets.
Google is combining its music, movie, video, e-book services and Android Market to create a do-it-all, on any device entertainment hub: Google Play.
Windows 8 is coming this year, Windows 8 Consumer Preview will be out later this month, and the burning question is: does anybody care? ZDNet editor and long-time Linux proponent Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols claims Windows 8 will be DOA. Meanwhile, ZDNet Government and DIY-IT editor David Gewirtz (who claims all operating systems annoy him to one degree or another), claims Windows 8 is here to stay, that it matters for "real work," and so will Windows 9. In this video, originally presented as a live webcast on Feburary 15, 2012, here two opposing views on whether Windows is still relevant in a world where iPads, Android devices, and even Linux are grabbing more and more consumer attention:Discover why SJVN (as he's known to the blog-o-sphere) claims that the new Windows Metro user-interface is already stillborn and why Windows is just no longer relevant.Explore why Gewirtz (who recently vowed to move his servers back to Windows, with mixed technical results, and thousands of crazed ZDNet comments), claims that Windows is here to stay, new Microsoft UIs are often imperfect at first, and the Microsoft juggernaut will not be defeated.Learn about why the Post-PC era isn't really here yet and why most productive people can't really survive without a desktop PC or laptop.If you use computers in your business, Windows will be a factor. Don't miss this video featuring CBS Interactive's Distinguished Lecturer David Gewirtz, one of America's leading cyberdefense experts, and ZDNet Contributing Editor Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, one of America's most-read technology journalists.Bring popcorn. Three ugly, middle-aged men argue about operating systems. It just doesn't get any better than this! Sparks will fly and there will be fireworks


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While the Razer Blade 14 and Razer Blade Pro are not officially available in Malaysia at the time being, local game shop Gamer’s Hideout apparently have taken the initiative to import them into the country. At this moment, we have no knowledge whether this is an official arrangement with Razer or otherwise but nevertheless, the shop have pointed out that servicing and warranty for these devices will be done by Razer Singapore.
According to GH’s Facebook page, they will be bringing in the 256GB version of both laptops with a price tag of RM 6,999 for Razer Blade 14 and RM 8,999 for Razer Blade Pro. Somehow, these pricing are actually much lower than Razer Singapore’s own web store which are listed at RM 7,271 (SGD 2,799) and RM 9,347 (SGD 3,599) respectively.
They also stated that customers will be able to receive their laptops within 14 working days after putting their orders. If you are interested to know more, do contact GH directly at facebook.com/GamersHideout.
[Source: Gamer’s Hideout @ Facebook]


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From a compact hatchback and compact SUV, to mid-sized saloons and even an electric S-Class, the new EQ lineup seems to have it all
Mercedes-Benz’s interest in electric vehicles (EVs) isn’t just temporary. And as if to prove its dedication to electrification, the storied marque just announced plans to drastically expand its EQ range of EVs with not one but six new vehicles.
Days after announcing its second fully battery-powered motor vehicle, the smart eScooter, the German automaker made public its ambitious expansion plans for the EQ line. While details are still scarce, the announcement makes clear the zero-emission line will echo its gas-powered counterpart, with vehicles based on the A-, E- and S-Classes.
We were already aware of two of the vehicles that will join the EQC as part of the automaker’s latest line. The first of these is the EQS, a “progressive” luxury sedan with 700km of range that’s expected to be the line’s flagship vehicle, and also part of the S-Class range.
The sleek EV is expected to go on sale next year and will be the first luxury or executive car built on Mercedes’ new electric architecture. The other is the EQA, a crossover based on the GLA. The compact utility vehicle is expected to go into production by the end of the year and on sale in 2021.
These vehicles are to be followed by the EQE and the EQB. The former is based on the Mercedes E-Class and is described as the “business limousine of the future”, in a video accompanying the announcement. The latter is another crossover, this one based on the just-released GLB hatchback. The EQA and EQB are expected to be on the more accessible end of the price spectrum, according to Car & Driver.
Rounding out the newly announced vehicles are two full-sized SUVs, one based on the EQS, the other on the EQE. The EQS SUV will also act as flagship of the EQ line and is expected to reach the market in 2022, the year after its sedan sibling. No time frame was made public for the EQE SUV at the time of writing.
This was first published on Robb Report US


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iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 release date may come earlier than the previous year, according to a reliable Apple analyst.
KGI Securities Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believed the second-generation iPad Air could come earlier in the year than the previous iPad Air, which was released in October 2013.
The analyst added in his research note to investors Apple will pack the touchID fingerprint sensor in the upgraded iPad Air and Retina iPad mini that will be released later this year.
Meanwhile, Macrumors reported iPad Air 2 features will include the touch ID, A8 processor and improved camera with a resolution of 8 Mbps.
The famous analyst of Apple products also retracted what he said earlier stressing a newer version of iPad Mini with Retina Display will come this year.
"We previously thought Apple would not release a new version of the iPad mini this year, but we now think Apple will launch an upgraded version with same form factor, A8 processor and Touch ID (fingerprint recognition) to boost shipments of iPad mini with Retina display," Kuo said.
He added the tech giant will most likely to cut the price of the existing Retina iPad Mini. He said there will be not much upgrade on the next generation of Apple's miniature tablet and the newer model will feature the same form factor with an upgraded processor and Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
The researcher also hinted about the long rumoured 12.9-inch iPad dubbed as iPad Pro. He claimed Apple was working on the device earnestly.
The new slab's focus will be on entertainment and productivity. But Kuo retained his claim saying the product will not come out this year. The tablet may come as early as 2015.
Deals and discounts on the current iPad Air and iPad Mini Retina emerged online despite the device became available in November.


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The largest daily trading volume, Binance cryptocurrency exchange, has launched a public testing of a decentralized trading platform based on its own blockchain
So, users can already create wallets and interact with the Binance DEX interface. At the same time, the exchange introduced the block explorer for Binance Chain.
It is noteworthy that traders in the Binance Chain network can act as nodes and independently store private keys.
Trust Wallet and Ledger hardware wallets have been added to Binance DEX.
Representatives of the exchange said that the feedback from the community will help determine the date of the official launch of the decentralized platform.


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Since its launch in May 2011, less than two months ago, D3ALS has presented its users with an incredible 100,000 group buying offers.
Online PR News – 22-July-2011 – Dublin, Ireland – When the economic going gets tough, the savvy among us get group buying - and the success of daily deals aggregator D3ALS.ie (known as D3ALS.co.uk in UK and D3ALS.us in the USA) shows just how eager consumers are to find bargains on some of life's little luxuries.
Since its launch on May 26, 2011, less than two months ago, D3ALS has presented its users with an incredible 100,000 group buying offers.
The website aggregates UK daily deals (D3ALS.co.uk); daily deals in Ireland (D3ALS.ie); and the best daily deals in the USA (D3ALS.com). It offers users access to daily deals in the region of their choice so they can capitalise on unique experiences and substantial savings.
The likes of Groupon, KGB and Living Social are well-established for presenting internet users brand new deals every day ranging from weekend breaks; to restaurant offers; and reductions on spa and beauty treatments. Customers then agree to "buy" a deal and if enough people sign up for the same offer then they receive a voucher via email. There is no risk for the consumer because if not enough people sign up, then the deal is simply cancelled with no charge. Merchants benefit by securing new business and cheaply promoting their products; while consumers benefit from enjoying unusual experiences at affordable prices.
Where the D3ALS concept comes into its own however, is that it acts as an aggregator for all of these websites. Just as comparison websites list quotes from 100s of insurers, D3ALS collaborates these daily offers from all leading group buying websites so users don't have to trawl around the internet and can instead find all of the best offers in one place.
Daire McCarthy, the founder of D3ALS and owner of discount voucher website 5HOP5, believes the success of the concept is all about good timing.
"Society is facing so many economic pressures - through raised food, energy and fuel prices - that to find deals that offer a little bit of indulgence at affordable prices is such a welcome relief," he said.
"For D3ALS to aggregate 100,000 deals in less than two months just emphasises how much the group buying concept is catching on. By collaborating offers from so many of the leading websites, D3ALS has a unique position in the marketplace as the obvious first port of call for consumers' group buying needs."