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Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN
(CNN) — Starbucks is making changes to its rewards program, requiring members to pay more to win popular giveaways.
Beginning February 13th, members will need 100 Stars (a Starbucks term for points) to earn 1 cup of hot or iced coffee or tea, baked goods, packaged snacks, or takeout cups. A member needs 200 Stars to get a latte or frappuccino or a hot breakfast item, while a salad, lunch he needs 300 stars to get a sandwich, protein box or packaged coffee (such as a bag of beans). Is required.
Currently, members only need 50 Stars to get hot tea, coffee, or bakery items, and 150 Stars to get a latte, hot breakfast item, or parfait, salad, lunch sandwich, or protein. It only takes 200 stars to get the box.
Program members earn stars on purchases. If they use a Starbucks card, a $1 payment he converts to 2 stars. For credit card or other payment methods, a member earns 1 star for every dollar he spends.
Starbucks said it notified Rewards members in the United States and Canada of the change Wednesday via email and the Starbucks app. The new tiers are outlined on the Starbucks Rewards Terms and Conditions site. Insiders first reported the changes to the system on Tuesday after seeing an internal memo.
Rewards programs are a key way for businesses to create loyal customers, learn more about their preferences, and encourage repeat purchases.
During a conference call with analysts in November, interim CEO Howard Schultz said: In his three months to Oct. 2, his number of active Starbucks rewards members surged to his 28.7 million, a 16% year-over-year increase.
Starbucks has been experimenting with its rewards program in recent months.
In October, the coffee chain launched a partnership with Delta Air Lines to allow rewards members to earn airline miles. And earlier this month, Starbucks launched his Odyssey beta. This is an extension of the rewards program where users can earn her NFTs.
Rewards members may be enthusiastic about perks, but they can also be quick to criticize companies that make changes.
Dunkin’ fans were quick to bemoan the rebranding announced in October, and Starbucks customers are already complaining online about the new tier.
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.


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WASHINGTON — When Chair Jerome Powell and other Federal Reserve officials gather this week for their latest decision on interest rates, they will do so on the cusp of achieving an elusive “soft landing” — the feat of curbing inflation without causing a deep recession.
After the Fed began aggressively raising borrowing costs early last year, most economists predicted it would send the economy crashing as consumers cut spending and businesses slashed jobs and expansion plans.
Economists Growing Optimistic About ‘Immaculate Disinflation’
Yet even though the Fed is poised to raise its key rate on Wednesday for the 11th time since March 2022, to its highest point in 22 years, no one is panicking. Economists and financial traders have grown more optimistic that what some call “immaculate disinflation” — a steady easing of inflation pressures without an economic downturn — can be achieved. Most economists think this week’s hike in the Fed’s benchmark rate, to about 5.3%, will be the last, though they caution that that rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, will likely stay at a peak until well into 2024.
“I would have been not super-optimistic about a soft landing a few months ago,” said Jeremy Stein, a Harvard University economist who served on the Fed’s Board of Governors from 2012 through 2014. “Now, I think the odds are clearly going up.”
Economists View Moving in Positive Direction
Economists at Goldman Sachs, who have sketched a more optimistic outlook than most others, have downgraded the likelihood of recession to just 20%, from 35% earlier this year.
Even economists at Deutsche Bank, among the first large banks to forecast a recession, have been encouraged by the economy’s direction, though they still expect a downturn later this year.
“We have greater resiliency within the economy than I would have anticipated at this point in time, given the extent of rate increases we’ve gotten,” said Matthew Luzzetti, Deutsche Bank’s chief U.S. economist.
Luzzetti points to durable consumer spending as a key driver of economic growth. Many Americans still have extra savings stemming from the pandemic, when the government distributed several stimulus checks and people saved by spending less on travel, restaurant meals and entertainment.
Indications of Economic Resilience
Hiring has remained healthy, with employers having added 209,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate declining to 3.6%. That’s near the lowest rate in a half-century and about where it was when the Fed began raising rates 16 months ago — a sign of economic resilience that almost no one had foreseen.
At the same time, inflation has steadily declined. In June, prices rose just 3% from a year earlier, down from a peak of 9.1% in June 2022 though still above the Fed’s 2% target.
Even more encouragingly, measures of underlying inflation have dropped. “Core” prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs, rose just 0.2% from May to June, the slowest monthly rise in nearly two years. Compared with a year ago, core inflation was still a relatively high 4.8%, though down sharply from 5.3% in May.
Some economists warn that a recession cannot yet be ruled out. The Fed’s rate hikes, they note, have made the cost of buying a home, financing a car purchase or expanding a business much more burdensome.

domain: news


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At least a few dozen people around the country have now done one-off conversions of hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape to transform them into plug-in vehicles. For those who may not have the hardware hacker gene in their DNA, the first commercially available plug-in conversion kit is now on the market from A123 Systems subsidiary HyMotion. Popular Mechanics Detroit Editor Larry Webster recently had the chance to sample a converted Prius with the HyMotion kit for a couple of days. The
Responding to a Tokyo Shimbun story that said discussions with GM were underway, Toyota says that no decision has been made about potentially building the Prius at New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), the joint Toyota-GM plant in California. The AP reports that Toyota is stepping back from the rumor that the Prius could be built in North America for the first time. The Prius is currently made
Photo by OrangeLimey. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
Don't accuse Seth "Robot Chicken" Green of getting a Prius just because it's the trendy thing to do. At the recent Tribeca Film Festival, Green was talking to Contact Music and said he's most impressed with the way his new Prius saves him money at the pump and that he can drive alone in the carpool lane. Whatever it takes, I guess. Green doesn


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Work will begin next month on a luxury apartment development in the Grandview Heights area, adding to the rapidly growing number of high-end rentals in urban Columbus.
JSDI Celmark, Ltd., a joint venture between central Ohio developers Solove Real Estate and Celmark Development Group, will build The View on Fifth on W. Fifth and Holly avenues.
The development will include a six-story apartment building on Fifth Avenue with 153 units, most with private balconies. Two-story loft/penthouse suites will occupy the fifth and sixth floors.
Another, three-story, 132-unit apartment building will be built along Holly Avenue.
The developers expect the project to be completed by late summer 2014.
The project will also include 24,700 square feet of retail space as well as 377 spots for parking, “so we’ve allowed for restaurant and retail parking as well,” said Mike Balakrishnan, a principal at JSDI Celmark.
While the developers would not disclose the projected cost of the venture, “it’s up there, it’s not a cheap project,” Balarishnan said. “This is high quality. We’re going to be raising the bar, which we think the market needs. There’s a demand for it.”
Rents will range from $850 for the lower end, one-bedroom units up to $2,000-plus for three- or four-bedroom penthouse units. “That’s actually comparable to what is taking place in and around that area,” Balakrishnan said. “Basically we’re responding to this big demographic shift taking place nationwide. People are moving back to the urban core.”


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Having received licence at the end of last month, the company now has an office in Florianopolis and will focus on the delivery, customization and technical support for its IPTV products and wholesale services, developed in Central Europe.
Antik Technology’s main customers for its end-to-end IPTV solution are expected to be ISPs, content providers over public internet and the hospitality sector.
Commenting on the development, Igor Kolla, CEO of Antik Technology, said: “We are very happy to show our deep trust in TV market growth in Brazil.
“Our new joint venture will bring much needed Antik high quality and lower cost IPTV products to South America. We rely on our local partner deep and long-term experience”.
Antik Technology already has a presence in Europe, Singapore and Australia.


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Online shopping is set to account for more than half of retail sales in the next 10 years, a new report suggests.
Some 53% of retail sales will be made over the internet by 2028, the report, The Digital Tipping Point, suggests. The Retail Economics report, commissioned by law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, questioned 2,000 UK adults, and points to three key trends that will drive this growth: digital natives, convenient delivery, and the continued closure of retail stores.
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Mobile application downloads worldwide are on target to increase 144 percent in 2011, eclipsing the 18 billion mark by year's end--up from 7.4 billion a year earlier--according to a forecast issued last week by telecoms analyst Ovum. Premium mobile app download revenues are poised to reach $3.7 billion this year, Ovum adds. The future's even rosier: At the current rate of growth, downloads will exceed 45 billion by 2016, with revenues expected to top $7.7 billion.
Ovum projects total app downloads across Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platform will surpass Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS installs this year by a margin of 8.1 billion to 6 billion--consider that just a year ago, iOS app downloads nearly doubled Android downloads at 2.7 billion to 1.4 billion, respectively. Android is expected to pull even further ahead in the years to follow, with downloads slated to reach 21.8 billion by 2016, compared to 11.6 billion for iOS. "The huge lead in downloads that Android will take on Apple is being driven by the growth of the platform as a result of its increasing popularity and progress into lower price points," said Ovum devices analyst Nick Dillon in a statement. But despite the download disparity, Ovum anticipates that iOS will continue to generate the majority of paid app revenues moving forward, reaching $2.86 billion in 2016 compared to $1.5 billion on Android.
How is that possible? Google's Android Market offers more free apps than Apple's App Store, for starters--earlier this year, app marketplace analytics firm Distimo reported more than half of all Market apps are available as free downloads, compared to roughly a third of App Store offerings. A month later, Distimo issued a follow-up report indicating that 80 percent of all premium Android Market apps have been downloaded fewer than 100 times worldwide. "It is more challenging for developers in the Google Android Market than in the Apple App Store to monetize using a one-off fee monetization model," wrote Distimo data analyst Hendrik Koekkoek on the firm's blog. "We found that only two paid applications have been downloaded more than half a million times in the Google Android Market worldwide to date, while six paid applications in the Apple App Store for iPhone generate the same number of downloads within a two-month timeframe in the United States alone."
But new research from Yankee Group and location services firm Skyhook suggests that Android developer revenues are also victimized by rampant app piracy. Among Android developers surveyed, 27 percent state piracy is a huge problem, and another 26 percent view it as something of a problem--about a third say app piracy has cost them more than $10,000 in revenue, 32 percent indicate it increases their support costs and another quarter blame heavy loads imposed by pirated copies for increasing their server costs. The fault lies with Google, developers say: 53 percent of respondents believe the company is far too lax in its efforts to police Android Market.
"Android apps are living in the Wild West without a sheriff," says Yankee Group director of research Carl Howe in a statement. "With five other major mobile OSs competing for consumer dollars, Google can't afford to simply let pirates kill app developers' businesses. They need to foster some law and order or developers will flee to other platforms and Android will lose customers." Among Yankee Group's proposed solutions: Establishing a market certification program, introducing protocols to verify app payments and adding automatic code obfuscation and tamper-proofing safeguards. "The only solution is a license key policy based on accounts and/or device IDs," Android app developer SmartDyne says in the report. "But this results in higher effort for every purchased app and of course higher costs." The answer is undoubtedly complex. But the longer Google delays taking action, the worse the problem is going to get. -Jason


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The “Apple Watch Series 8“, the second-generation Apple Watch SE, and the new “Pro” Apple Watch with greater durability are rumoured to be released this year.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says the Apple Watch Pro will have a redesigned design based on the Series 4 form factor. Leaks from China offer us a better understanding of the robust gadget today. Pre-model.
The two photographs, tweeted by Sonny Dixon and UnclePan, show Apple Watch Pro accessories.
UnclePan says that “the Pro is not square in the classic sense, but a novel form factor,” and the cases imply that the main body of the device will be rounded and the top edge of the case corresponding to the display will be flat, possibly to provide superior all-round impact protection.
On the right are cutouts for the digital crown and side button, as well as larger-than-usual holes for the device’s two thin speaker bars. It’s unclear if these are for new speakers or physical buttons.
Apple Watch Pro Cases Suggest Flatter Display, New Chassis
According to Mac Rumors, early sightings of Apple Watch Pro companion covers show how it will look when it comes with the iPhone 14.
Apple will soon release new smartphones and smartwatches. Leaks and reports are growing everywhere. A leak from China shows the Pro variant’s design.
A Weibo tweet shows a supposed Apple’s Watch Pro accessory case.
Mac Rumors adds that Twitter leaker Sonny Dickson released a photo of a comparable case on Chinese social media.
UnclePan states in his Weibo post that the Apple’s Watch Pro has a new form factor.
The smartwatch’s casing is rounded, unlike the Series 7. When it meets the display, its top seems flatter.
Mac Rumors notes that the leaked covers have more cutouts on their sides than previous Apple Watch models.
Early peek at cases, supposedly for the upcoming Pro model, offers us a better understanding of the new Apple Watch alternative.
This is not the official look of the upcoming Apple product, so take it with a grain of salt.


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The longer it goes on, the stranger it gets. Here's Nate Anderson at Ars Technica on the latest stunt.
Camp Carreon isn't done with [The Oatmeal's Matthew] Inman yet—a new video depicts the cartoonist as a "Psycho Santa," while a new website suggests that Carreon might like to pursue litigation against those who engaged in a "Distributed Internet Reputational Attack" against him. ... it's up on a site called Rapeutation.com. The site, apparently set up just for the video, suggests that Internet users are (or have been) engaged in a coordinated assault on Carreon's reputation.
Last year, Pittsburgh Police officer Sgt. Stephen Matakovich was captured on camera beating up a 19-year-old outside Heinz Field. After lying about the circumstances, he was charged with assault—only to find the charges dismissed last week by a judge. When video of the attack found its way to the media, however, the story changed: police […]
You travel around a lot. It might be that jet set life from New York to LA to London to Tokyo, or it might be back and forth from the coffee shop to the office, or from the kitchen to the couch. Any which way, you’re mobile and that’s the way to live. When you […]
It’s 2016 and we like our technology really small. Our phones fit in our pockets, our remotes are lighter than ever, and even our cars seem to be shrinking. So your new drone shouldn’t be an exception. This Axis VIDIUS Drone is 21% off right now and it’s so little, your biggest problem won’t be […]
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Wheat Letter is the U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) blog and news source edited for customers, which focuses on covering world supply and demand, trade policy, crop quality and other current wheat industry news. Every other Thursday, USW sends out a round up of recent Wheat Letter stories via email. Click here if you would like to receive this via e-mail.
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Kakao Bank CEO Daniel Yun (Yonhap)
Kakao Bank, South Korea's largest internet-only bank, will seek to expand into new business areas and become the country's No. 1 financial platform, the company's CEO said Tuesday.
"Kakao Bank will strive to emerge as the top financial platform and break into such areas as insurance, fund and asset management," CEO Daniel Yun said at a news conference to mark the lender's planned initial public offering (IPO).
To that end, Kakao Bank will continue to seek the digital innovation of its bank products and services and boost its competitive edge, he said.
Kakao Bank will also try to enable its customers to have a new financial experience by launching a range of financial products and services connected to diverse industries such as e-commerce and travel, Yun added.
In addition, the internet lender will come up with new lending products tailored for customers and low- and mid-range credit ratings, as well as small entrepreneurs, he said.
Yun further said Kakao Bank's customer base has been expanding to people in all age brackets thanks to its new services, with nearly 40 percent of those aged 14-19 using the lender and people aged 50 or older accounting for 15 percent its customers, up from 9 percent in 2017.
Kakao Bank plans to sell 65.45 million shares through its IPO scheduled for Aug. 6.
Kakao Bank has offered an IPO price range between 33,000 won ($28.70) to 39,000 won per share, seeking to raise up to some 2.6 trillion won.
Demand forecasting for domestic and overseas institutions is taking place till Wednesday, while retail investors are allowed to subscribe to shares early next week.
Kakao Bank, led by Kakao Corp., the operator of the country's dominant messaging app KakaoTalk, has gained popularity among mobile-savvy customers in recent years thanks to its around-the-clock service and convenience. (Yonhap)


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Most restaurants welcome 'lingerers,' hoping to gain repeat customers
A group of men who gathered Wednesday morning at The Coffee Tree Roasters in Fox Chapel consumed more than steaming, caffeinated beverages.
They also got their daily fix of discussions about current events, such as the search for missing Malaysian Flight 370, prospects for the University of Pittsburgh's basketball team in the NCAA tournament and the political turmoil in Ukraine.
The men — sometimes as many as 20 — meet in the coffee shop every morning for at least an hour and a half to chat, network and joke around before heading to work, and some even go on weekends.
“It's kind of a good way to start the day. We get a good laugh here,” said Bob Rogers, 68, a Fox Chapel resident who is considered the founder of the informal group.
The men are welcome, and a framed photo of four of them even sits on a shelf in the shop.
“It's like a backwards bar. … They have their drinks together and they sit and catch up,” said Amanda Paul, manager of the shop.
The issue of how long is too long for customers to sit in a restaurant has been brought to the forefront with publicized incidents of customers being asked to leave after allegedly overstaying their welcome.
In February, a McDonald's franchise asked an elderly couple to leave because, the restaurant said, they had stayed past a 30-minute seating limit. A McDonald's in Queens, N.Y., called police recently to remove a group of elderly men who stayed for hours daily — often arriving before 5 a.m. and staying until after dark.
The practice of “lingering” has come to be expected, however, at fast-casual restaurants, such as Panera Bread and quick-service places such as Starbucks. They and other higher-end coffee shops feature homey surroundings such as soft seating, fireplaces, earth tones, soothing music and free Wi-Fi, said Darren Tristano, executive vice president of Technomic Inc., a Chicago-based restaurant industry research firm. And lingerers are staying longer now than in the past, he said.
Coffee shops have become a “third place” where people gather, business experts say. The home is known as the first place, and work is the second.
Mt. Lebanon-based Orbis Caffe has plenty of seating, so lingerers don't prevent new customers from sitting down, said Grant Schutte, who owns the business with his wife, Sonja.
Turnover and profit margins are higher at corporate stores, which can afford to be more aggressive when it comes to customer visits than small businesses like Orbis, he said.
Also, Orbis considers itself to be a community resource, he said. For some people, coffee shops have become “proxy offices,” he said.
Still, when Orbis customers come in just to use the free Wi-Fi and don't buy anything, employees will let the visitors know that “this space is for customers,” he said.
“For us, it's more of a principle issue than a direct economic issue,” he said.
At Commonplace Coffee Co.'s Garfield location, customers who stay for long periods are welcome, said Morgan Stewart, co-trainer and barista.
“Most of the people buy like a couple of drinks and, because they come every day, I feel like they're more invested in us,” she said.
The shop employs practices to encourage visitors to think about buying something, such as requiring those who want to use the free Wi-Fi to ask employees for the password, she said.
“So people think about buying something, and we suggest that it's for customers only,” Stewart said.
Spending money shouldn't be an issue for people patronizing coffee shops, said Bob Elwood, 65, a Fox Chapel resident who was among the group of men gathered at Coffee Tree Roasters on Wednesday.
“It's not a nonprofit,” he said.
Coffee Tree Roasters, which has six locations, doesn't have limits on the duration of visits, but it asks people to share tables at its busiest location, in Shadyside, when it gets crowded, said Bill Swoope Jr., owner of the West Mifflin-based chain of shops.
Not only was Crazy Mocha, a Friendship-based coffee shop chain with 30 locations, founded to be a community gathering place, but its neighborhood stores stay open late, until 11 p.m., owner Ken Zeff said. Its Squirrel Hill store is getting some of the customers from two Squirrel Hill Starbucks that close earlier, at 9 p.m., he said.
“We built our stores for people to hang out and feel comfortable,” he said.
Tory N. Parrish is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-5662 or email@example.com.
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Renesas Electronics Corporation announced its first development kit that includes support for the new Matter protocol and Matter support on all future Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low-Energy and IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread) products.
Akoustis Technologies, Inc. announced that it has completed qualification and released its internally developed proprietary wafer-level-packaging (WLP) technology for the 5G mobile, Wi-Fi, timing control and other markets.
Qorvo® announced that it has secured multiple design wins in collaboration with MediaTek that extend Qorvo’s leadership in 5G smartphones and include mobile Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi routers and 5G/Wi-Fi automotive platforms.
The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) announced publication of “Rural Wi-Fi Connectivity: Challenges, Use Cases and Case Studies,” a report that demonstrates why Wi-Fi is the most economical and effective technology for bridging the digital divide in small towns, remote communities and other sparsely populated areas.
Akoustis Technologies, Inc. announced that it has joined the Wi-Fi NOW industry association as an Official RF Filter Partner, alongside major thought leaders including Cisco, Eero, Linksys, Intel, Netgear and many more.
Renesas Electronics Corporation unveiled plans to deliver a comprehensive set of advanced Wi-Fi offerings to complement its broad portfolio of industrial and IoT products with its acquisition of Celeno.
Akoustis Technologies, Inc. announced that it has received three new Wi-Fi 6E design wins for carrier-class applications, two design wins are for a leading European carrier-class Wi-Fi OEM and the third is for a global network communication solutions provider.


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Mumbai: Buoyed by a vibrant video game industry that is enjoying unprecedented growth, eMarketer projects that US in-game advertising spending will increase from $295 million in 2007 to $650 million in 2012.
The Video Game Advertising report analyzes this exciting, fast-moving, multi-channel and exploding new advertising medium. In web-based games alone—including sponsored sessions and display ads in or around the online game space—eMarketer expects that ad spending for will jump 133% between 2007 and 2012.
The advergaming segment will also contribute to growth, as will console- and PC-based games.
The report aggregates the latest data from marketing and communications researchers with eMarketer analysis to provide information for smart and accurate business decisions.


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US stocks gain slightly, ahead of tomorrow’s hotly awaited jobs report, but for the most part, it’s another dull session.
DJIA adds 33 to 10607, S&P gains 5 to 1142, Nasdaq Comp slips 1 to 2300.
Boeing comprises more than half the Dow’s gains, after reporting 2009 deliveries rose 29% – although net new orders fell 79%.
December retail sales come in better than expected, which is good, but keep a little perspective: they’re being compared to the worst December in decades.
China unexpectedly raises interest rates, with an eye toward stanching inflation – or, perhaps we should say, a bubble.


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Smartbuy partners with the postie
- 19 July, 2000 12:37
Australia Post fulfilment service Sprintpak will form the backbone of e-tail Start-up Smartbuy in a move away from traditional IT distribution.
Smartbuy has announced the company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sprintpak for it to provide outsourced tracking services, specialist packaging and goods despatch from its Villawood, Sydney facility. The move follows an aborted partnership with Dataflow and comes after Smartbuy evaluated potential partners such as Tech Pacific, Express Data, and non-IT distributors such as TNT and e-Fill.
Smartbuy will also lease warehouse space from Australia Post to store products from some of the e-tailer's suppliers who lack the sophisticated e-commerce facilities needed to participate in the exercise. The company will also use the services of Australian Air Express, 50 per cent owned by Australia Post.
According to Smartbuy managing director Tony Gattari, the MOU is the first step to signing a commercial agreement within six weeks, once pricing issues have been finalised.
Once in operation, a customer order will travel from Smartbuy to the product supplier's distributor, which in turn will ship the product to Sprintpak.
Sprintpak will then ship direct to the customer via Australia Post. The company also boasts a system of cross docking where products from different distributors, together with any from its own warehouse, will be packed together to give a customer a single delivery.
"I'm led to believe we're one of the pioneers for Sprintpak," Gattari said.
The announcement comes at a time when many dot-com investors are losing faith in e-tail operations. In fact, falling investor confidence and the fallout from Smartbuy's aborted partnership with Dataflow, have delayed Smartbuy's official launch, expected in the coming months.
According to Gattari, his investors - Allco Finance Group, Brait Capital and Hambro-Grantham - remain confident with Smartbuy because it has changed its business model.
Gattari is also hoping the partnership news will reassure his suppliers. "It's pretty important [to communicate] that we are still in existence."Meanwhile, Smartbuy is clearly happy to have found a distribution and fulfilment partner outside the politics of IT distribution. "Australia Post is non-conflicting. It is not going to upset anybody," Gattari said.
With obvious reference to the furore caused by his partnership with Dataflow, Gattari commented in a press statement: "Suppliers are sometimes uneasy about sending their product to be stored in the warehouse of a traditional distributor who may also be their direct competitor. With Sprintpak this is obviously not an issue."One of Smartbuy's industry peers and competitors, estore MD Steven Spilly, told ARN his concern centres on Smartbuy's intention to hold stock.
"As far as the fulfilment service goes, I'm sure Australia Post will have no problems. The problem lies in the fact that they are trying to be an e-tailer with a retail model."Spilly added that he was "baffled" as to why companies like Smartbuy persist with the idea.
"The perfect e-tail model is cash positive, the supplier holds the stock and sends it out on demand. If you have to pay for holding you're sustaining massive expenditure. You can't run an e-tail business on a retail model. Even Harvey Norman has said this isn't working for them. Toystore tried it and they just went broke.
"We'll never hold more than 50 pieces of stock here at the one time, but at the same time we are sometimes the only one who has stock of products."


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Shimla, 30 Aug 2023: The HP High Court yesterday granted two weeks more to the Drugs Manufacturers’ Association to file its reply on the issue of manufacturing substandard and spurious drugs in the state.
While giving more time, a Division Bench,......
- Sriganganagar: Massive crackdown on drug traders, 14032 pills and capsules seized (23-09-2023)
- Action against three traders in Jamnagar city for selling duplicate beauty products (23-09-2023)
- Hoshiarpur: Action against person running medical store without license, 35 types of banned medicines seized (23-09-2023)
- Pharma exports grow 4.53% in August, imports grow 20% (23-09-2023)
- Fujifilm India installs 125 AMULET Innovality digital mammography machines across India (23-09-2023)
- Abbott India warns of laxatives shortage in tussle with Goa regulator (23-09-2023)
- J&K: 'Fake doctor' enters LD hospital's labour room, Govt appoints inquiry officer (22-09-2023)
- In Sriganganagar and Raisinghnagar, One family is running a dirty business of drugs (22-09-2023)
- Four persons involved in cheating in the name of fake pharma company arrested (22-09-2023)
- Two patients' health deteriorated after injection in Halat Hospital, Kanpur (22-09-2023)


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This morning Fitbit landed FDA clearance for its long-awaited photoplethysmography atrial fibrillation (AFib) detection algorithm. The algorithm will be part of Fitbit’s new Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification feature, which was designed to alert users of potential AFib.
The technology is able to run passively on Fitbit wearables and assess heart rhythm when a person is sleeping or not moving. Users with suspected AFib will get a notification suggesting that they see a healthcare professional.
“When your heart beats, tiny blood vessels throughout your body expand and contract based on changes in blood volume,” the Fitbit team wrote in the blog announcing the clearance.
“Fitbit’s PPG optical heart-rate sensor can detect these volume changes right from your wrist. These measurements determine your heart rhythm, which the detection algorithm then analyzes for irregularities and potential signs of atrial fibrillation.”
Users were previously able to use Fitbit’s ECG app for a spot-check assessment. This new clearance allows an alternative approach, which uses the PPG-based algorithm for a long-term heart-rhythm assessment. According to the company’s release, the new feature and algorithm will soon be available in the U.S.
In March, the company announced that it submitted the AFib detection algorithm to the FDA. At the time the company also highlighted the Fitbit Heart Study, which was launched in 2020 with results released late last year. The research, presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, found that the Fitbit PPG detection was able to correctly identify AFib episodes 98% of the time.
THE LARGER TREND
According to the Mayo Clinic, AFib can increase a patient’s risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. The health system reports that AFib by itself isn’t typically fatal, but it does require treatment to prevent a stroke.
Fitbit is pitching its technology as a way to help users detect potential AFib.
“AFib is a form of irregular heart rhythm that affects nearly 33.5 million people globally, and individuals with AFib have five times higher risk of stroke. Unfortunately, AFib can be difficult to detect as there are often no symptoms and episodes can come and go,” Fitbit wrote in a release.
THE LARGER TREND
It’s no secret that wearable companies are looking to expand their reach into the heart health space. In 2018, Apple became the first consumer tech company to roll out an ECG feature.
Fitbit shortly followed in 2020, landing regulatory clearance in the U.S. and European Union for its Fitbit Sense to monitor heart rhythm and detect atrial fibrillation. Other companies including Withings and Samsung have also added ECG features.


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The retail sector is officially adopting the hybrid business model. The global supply chain crisis that limited product choice has once again fundamentally changed the way consumers shop. Inflation and currency issues have also affected the prices of commodities globally. Adding to these pressures, consumer expectations have risen. Now, consumers are looking for retailers to accommodate their personal shopping preferences, both online and in-store.
According to SOTI’s new global research report The Tech Effect: Strengthening the Omnichannel to Meet Consumer Demands, retailers that don’t leverage technology to enhance online and in-store shopping experiences run the risk of losing their consumers to competitors faster than in previous years.
2022 Created Consumer Shopping Challenges
The 2023 Retail Report shows that economic and supply chain issues made it difficult for the United States consumers to shop, as 85% experienced availability, pricing, and shipping issues. This has prompted consumers to keep an eye out for solutions to these factors before making an online or in-store purchase:
|Delivery charges are more expensive||62%|
|Items are more expensive||55%|
|Items are no longer available||53%|
|Delivery times are slower than usual||36%|
The Best of Both Worlds
With consumers identifying a number of challenges, it is retailers that have thrived by offering the most seamless shopping experience, online and in-store. The report found that 47% of U.S. consumers still prefer to shop online. The research confirms that e-commerce strength is growing, with more and more customers turning to hybrid shopping models. This provides an opportunity for retailers to merge strategies from both worlds and meet consumer needs.
In hybrid shopping model, consumers want their retailers to provide them with better and more personalized experiences. In fact, 51% of U.S. respondents have agreed that they prefer to shop with retailers that provide experiences based on their personal preferences.
“It wasn’t long ago that retailers could put their different channels in silos and report strong bottom lines,” said Shash Anand, SVP of Product Strategy at SOTI. “Now, they need to deliver a seamless and personalized shopping journey that can only be achieved through technology. With a connected and digitized backend infrastructure, as well as mobile tracking technology, retailers can instantly obtain real-time information, remain transparent with consumers and give online shoppers the choice of how they want items fulfilled.”
Transaction Deal Breakers
Both the buying and fulfillment processes are significant to consumers. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. consumers expect to know where their order is always within the delivery process, while six out of ten continue to shop with brands that can deliver goods the fastest. In fact, more than a third of American consumers agree that knowing a retailer’s delivery partner determines whether they will fulfill an order.
When it comes to ordering the items, the top choices for U.S. consumers are in-home delivery by any method (66%) and in-store delivery or a designated pick-up point (28%). Furthermore, 68% said that delivery time and speed are still most important to them, followed by returns, with 55% saying they are more likely to buy from an online retailer that allows returning a product.
“With delivery charges increasing and delivery options broadening, retailers need to carefully vet their delivery partners to ensure they can fulfill heightened consumer expectations. In updating both hardware and software across their entire supply chain management processes, physical warehouses and stores, retailers and their partners can better inform consumers of product availability and delivery timelines while ensuring they are getting the most bang for their buck,” added Anand.
The Grass Can Be Greener on the Other Side
As consumers become more conscious of their spending and the brands they buy from, carbon footprint is becoming the new deciding factor. The report echoes this sentiment, with more than half of US consumers (55%) agreeing that they prefer a more sustainable method of returning goods. Additionally, 41% of respondents agreed that they would prefer to shop with a retailer that offers carbon offsets and more recyclable packaging.
“Looking ahead, retailers will need to prioritize how they communicate with logistics partners. Optimizing and increasing the deployment of mobile device fleets across the entire supply chain for sustainable, smooth delivery and returns while creating a flexible hybrid business model and communication across supply chains will become vital in mastering the consumer-retail experience. Retailers who understand consumer pain points will lock in consumer loyalty at a time when markets are volatile and goods are more expensive,” concluded Anand.


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Indian police arrested two men after they allegedly sold tainted liquor to residents of a village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, killing at least 18 people and leaving another four dozen hospitalized. Read More »
Jan 13, 2015
By Suryatapa Bhattacharya
When organizing the vote in the world’s largest democracy, you need some rules. The Election Commission of India has it covered. Read More »
The site of a riot by foreign workers that rocked Singapore last week was relatively quiet on Sunday after the government implemented strict security measures and temporarily banned the sale and consumption of alcohol there in an attempt to restore order. Read More »
The Scotch Whisky Association, which for years has been battling against India’s fake Scotch whisky, has won a rare victory in court here.
India’s rapidly growing $22-billion market for alcoholic drinks is flooded with products that label themselves as Scotch whisky and use Scottish imagery like bagpipes and tartan, and yet are made locally and have nothing to do with Scotland. Some of these imposter Scotches are even more like rum, made from molasses, than Scotch whisky, which is distilled from grain or malt. Read More »
In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Anna Hazare said drinkers of alcohol should be beaten. Tongue firmly in cheek, we wondered what might happen if Mr. Hazare got to enact his vision for India.
The candles were lit. The misty Delhi autumn air cast miniature halos around the garden. My wife and I were looking forward to a bottle of 2009 “Ecard Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru Les Serpentières,” described by WSJ wine critic Jay McInerney as a “dark, ripe, medium-bodied extrovert that really shows the exuberance of the vintage.”
Read more after the jump
Harbhajan Singh is sponsoring a campaign against drunk driving – an interesting choice considering the cricketer is also associated with a popular whisky brand.
Mr. Singh, who has campaigned against drunk driving before, is the main sponsor of “Drunk Driving Awareness Week,” an initiative organized by the Community Against Drunken Driving [CADD], a non-profit group. Read More »
The battle for India’s massive spirits market has taken a new turn, with New Delhi agreeing to allow the Scotch Whisky Association to use “geographical indications” on its products sold in India to differentiate them from fake – that is locally made – “Scotch” whiskies. Read More »
It bills itself as the world’s most important wine trade event. The London International Wine Fair, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, consists of three days of discussion, masterclasses, seminars and tastings. Lots of tastings.
And On Wine will be there, keeping you updated on all the news and gossip, from the delights of Slovenian wine to Indian exports and 2009 Bordeaux.
First up is the wines of India stand.
India is beginning to develop a taste for wine. After years of drinking Scotch whiskey and beer, the upper class and upper-middle class have gravitated to wine. Continue reading on On Wine Read More »
India Real Time offers analysis and insights into the broad range of developments in business, markets, the economy, politics, culture, sports, and entertainment that take place every single day in the world’s largest democracy. Regular posts from Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires reporters around the country provide a unique take on the main stories in the news, shed light on what else mattered and why, and give global readers a snapshot of what Indians have been talking about all week. You can contact the editors at indiarealtime(at)wsj(dot)com.
Check out the main contributors to the blog and their bios here.
Content engaging our readers now, with additional prominence accorded if the story is rapidly gaining attention. Our WSJ algorithm comprises 30% page views, 20% Facebook, 20% Twitter, 20% email shares and 10% comments.


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A national chain that sells industrial and construction supplies is expanding locally — despite the economic woes that have tormented the industries it serves.
Fastenal Co., which has more than 2,500 stores nationally and a dozen locally, is finding ways to boost its business through new stores, vending machines and new contracts.
The company (Nasdaq: FAST) opened a midtown store in March, expects to open in Grass Valley toward the end of this year, and is considering setting up shop in Davis early next year, said Jon Schultz, Fastenal district manager.
The Minnesota-based company’s strategy is to locate stores near its customers and build face-to-face relationships instead of relying on drop shipping orders, he said. Schultz hopes to add one store a year in the four-county region over the next three or four years. Then the Sacramento region might be saturated, he added.
Fastenal is picking up some business, like the San Juan Unified School District, from budget-tightening employers that previously bought products as needed at stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s, but missed out on the savings offered through a contract.
Another driver is Fastenal’s increased vending machine use, Schultz said. Thirty vending machines that dispense such things as safety gloves and glasses, batteries, cutting tools and respirators, operate in the region.
The machines automatically control and track what’s dispensed. Employers aren’t charged until the individual item is dispensed. Vending customers include manufacturers, construction and maintenance companies and the city of Sacramento, Schultz said.
Because of the accountability, Schultz said, employers find that they’re buying fewer of some products. Some national competitors offer vending machines, but smaller players don’t, he said.
Fastenal is one of three vendors chosen for a multi-state contract with the Western States Contracting Alliance. The contract is for tools, industrial supplies and such. California joined the contract Aug. 1.
“In the past it was held by a single company,” Schultz said.
Fastenal expects to pick up $70 million worth of business in California for the contract that runs until early 2014. Fastenal’s Northern California stores will get about $30 million of that, with roughly a third going to Fastenal’s stores in the Sacramento region, he said.
San Juan Unified School District’s maintenance and operations department chose Fastenal through the WSCA contract. Bob Davis, the department’s director, expects to spend about $60,000 a year for day-to-day maintenance items. He estimates savings of 35 to 45 percent.
“It reduces travel time and increases productivity time,” Davis said.
W.W. Grainger Inc., a $7.2 billion supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products, previously held the WSCA contract alone, but now is one of three.
Grainger (NYSE: GWW) has two local branches in West Sacramento and Citrus Heights, and has boosted staff in the field.
Like Fastenal, some of Grainger’s growth is from gaining market from other wholesalers.
Unlike Fastenal, Grainger, which has nearly 50 locations across California and has operated here since 1965, isn’t relying on new locations for growth.
Instead, it recently added an 820,000- square-foot distribution center in Patterson. The center will get products to customers faster, said Andrew Guzzon, regional vice president of government sales. The company is investing more in e-commerce.
Grainger also is growing business through vending machines.


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Ted Burdett, Instructor of Industrial Design, received 1st Prize at the UIC Startup Challenge, for Fourneau, a bread baking device that fits within a home oven. Cofounded with Ted’s partner Sharon Burdett, Fourneau was originally launched last year through a successful Kickstarter campaign, and has received critical acclaim since then. Fourneau 2.0, a newly designed version of the product is currently being launched into the market.
Industrial Design student Nabeeha Hussain was recognized with the 3rd Prize for Abstruse, a customizable organizer—a product also launched through Kickstarter.
Image: Abstruse by Nabeeha Hussain


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At the time when country is encouraged to be aatmanirbhar, the Commonwealth Games medallist shuttler Chetan Anand will be sporting India’s first-ever homegrown professional badminton brand “Transform” that was launched on Wednesday and Anand has been signed as the face of the brand along with his academy in Hyderabad.
Made out of the military grade graphite, Transform racquets have the best weight to strength ratio which is at par with the best racquets available in the market that are currently imported from abroad for playing in India.
“It’s an amazing feeling to get associated with the first-ever Indian badminton brand which is 100% in quality yet Indian. I have tried the Transform racquets myself and they are of extremely high standards. I believe, ‘Transform’ can and will script a new era for Indian badminton,” the Arjuna awardee, who will also be having his own signature line homegrown products launched soon, said.
The initiative is promoted by VICKY Sports-- one of India's top 3 sports brands having a mass appeal— and specialising in sports good manufacturing since 1978; the racquets are equipped with perfect balance and have the ability to appeal to the new age badminton players with its design, style and colours.
While it will be the first time India’s most successful Olympic sports discipline will see an Indian company manufacturing world-class badminton racquets and other accessories at an affordable price compared to the existing brands for the sports and fitness enthusiasts.
Led by the promoter, Ram Malhotra, who was toying with the idea of launching his own badminton brand for some time, after extensive research in technology, raw material procurement and not compromising on the quality and designs- Transform was given shape.
“Extensive R&D has gone into to perfect the quality of all the racquets and they have been tested in the country’s elite testing centre for quality and class compared to the available brands in the market, Transform visions not only to promote aatmanirbharta but as a unique Indian brand will help to give a sense of pride to the players and sporting enthusiasts every time they buy the brand and play to transform change,” Malhotra said on the sidelines of Transform’s e-commerce online portal launch.
“All age categories of racquets are manufactured using the best quality military graphite. The nylon shuttles are also at par with the best in the world and 100% made in India. The shoe and apparels are also currently developed in India though the raw materials are still being procured from abroad which we hope can change in the near future with government intervention and support,” Malhotra added.
The racquets are priced in the range of INR 2990/- to INR 11990/- and are available to purchase online on www.transformbadminton.com. Currently due to COVID19 pandemic, various products are not all available online, the brand will soon be available offline and in retail channels too, across India.
VICKY Sports- 'One of India's top 3 sports brands having a mass appeal' will be the first time India’s most successful Olympic sports discipline will see an Indian brand manufacturing world-class badminton racquets and other accessories at an affordable price compared to the competitors for the sports and fitness enthusiasts.
VICKY has been in the business of manufacturing high quality sports products since 1978 and has the expertise and understanding of manufacturing nuances and managing sales channels. Led by the promoter Ram Malhotra, Transform was given a shape following extensive research in technology, raw material procurement and developing attractive designs, and put to production after the lockdown.


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When it comes to the beer business, the Fourth of July weekend is as big as it gets, with consumers spending a billion dollars on beer by some estimates. So, perhaps it's fitting that as beer drinkers reach for a few cold ones this weekend, there are fireworks erupting over "independence" in the beer industry.
The Brewers Association (BA), the nonprofit trade group which represents "small and independent" craft brewers, has announced the launch of a new seal to designate beers that are produced by "independent" craft brewers. Craft brewers are an increasingly popular segment of the $107 billion U.S. beer market, comprising around 1/5 of brew sales in 2016.
The seal—a beer bottle flipped upside down with the words "certified independent craft"—is aimed to "capture the spirit with which craft brewers have upended beer, while informing beer lovers they are choosing a beer from a brewery that is independently owned" according to the BA.
The seal will be made available free of charge to any of the over 5300 craft breweries in the United States which meet the BA's definition of "craft brewer." Those requirements include annual production of 6 million barrels or less, and less than 25 percent ownership or control by a non-craft entity.
The "certified independent" seal will appear on packaging, retail displays and in brewery communications and marketing materials. The move comes as craft brewers face increasing pressure in the marketplace.
Total production volume growth of BA defined craft beer slowed to six percent growth in 2016, marking the first time in several years the segment did not post double digit growth. Further complicating matters is the fact there are a record number of breweries in operation, and more on the way. It's making the competition for distribution, shelf space and tap handles as fierce as ever.


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What Do the Letters BUZZ Stand for in the Volkswagen ID. BUZZ?
There is a lot of buzz going on in the automotive industry regarding the reinvention of the infamous Volkswagen (VW) Microbus. The highly-anticipated release of the all-electric variant is scheduled for later this year, with North American sales expected to begin in 2024.
A brief history of the iconic VW microbus
First introduced to the U.S. market in 1950, the VW Microbus became the calling card for hippies protesting war and promoting free love. The first generation model only pumped 25 horsepower with a top speed of 55 mph but carried countless fun-loving passengers to 1960s music festivals such as Woodstock and beyond.
According to AutoTrends, it took 18 years for the second generation of the Volkswagen Microbus to evolve. It featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a three-speed automatic or four-speed manual transmission that generated a mere 47 hp.
In the early 1970s, the vehicle left the U.S. market but continued being sold in other countries, with plants located in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, and Mexico. In 1980, the third-generation microbus returned briefly to the U.S., carrying the Vanagon name. By 2009, the Brazilian plant was the only factory left open, and in 2013 all production of the iconic microbus ended.
What does BUZZ stand for?
The iconic VW bus is back and better than ever, with an all-electric variant that promises to impress fans of eco-friendly vehicles and hippies searching for a bit of nostalgia. According to Dezeen, the head of design for the German automaker claims, “With the ID Buzz, we’re transferring its DNA into the age of electromobility. It’s conveying the icon’s genes and design elements into the digital age.”
As far as the name goes, Volkswagen says “the ID. abbreviation stands for intelligent design, identity, and visionary technologies.” Moving forward, future all-electric vehicles in the brand’s product lineup will carry the ID name.
Calling it “VW’s reborn hippie bus for the Tesla generation,” Top Gear says, “The new all-electric sliding door van’s zany name is actually a bit of a pun – in Germany these things are known as ‘bus,’ so add in the hum of an electric motor, and Franz is your Onkel. The silly name is just one of the touches that aims to give this car what EVs sorely lack. Character. Personality. Soul.”
When will the Volkswagen ID. Buzz be available in the U.S.?
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz concept car debuted at the North American International Auto Show in 2017. Five years and four concept designs later, the production vehicle was revealed. In June 2022, production of the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo van began at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles headquarters in Hanover, Germany. Deliveries started at the end of 2022, strictly for the European market.
The electric bus is currently only available to order in Europe, featuring a rear-mounted 150 kW electric motor and 77 kWh battery that can charge from 5 to 80% in under 30 minutes at a quick charge station. It has an estimated driving range between 250 and 264 miles. The ID. Buzz Cargo Van model is not yet available.
The North American market can expect to see a long-wheelbase version of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz revealed later this year, with long-awaited sales anticipated to begin in early 2024.


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11 DiscoverVideo streaming products have been nominated for Streaming Media Magazine Reader’s Choice Awards. Voting through October 1, 2019. Winners to be announced at Streaming Media West November 20, 2019
According to Decision Market Reports for 2019-2025, Discover Video ranks as a major player of the closed captioning and subtitling solutions market for the next ten years.
Discover Video’s Pat Cassella will be speaking at The Gameis Conference this year about an economical way to make streaming easier for ed tech managers.
Making Your Streams Come True at InfoComm 2019
Spider is a multi-channel HD live encoder, designed for streaming and recording events, lectures and training sessions. It combines audio/video switching and processing with multiple high definition H264 streaming encoders in a compact appliance.
Webinar with Wyebot on how to optimally deliver video over Ethernet and WiFi networks.
WALLINGFORD, CT – August 9, 2018 Discover Video today announced its new partnership with video data solutions leader, cielo24, for video captioning and metadata services. Discover Video (DEVOS) customers will now have the ability to automatically add captions to any media on the award-winning DEVOS enterprise video platform. With a simple click, DEVOS customers can…
May 29, 2018, WALLINGFORD, CT — Discover Video today announced its new live 360 video system for streaming and recording events, lectures and training sessions. The system allows any organization to deliver live 360 4K video to viewers on computers and mobile devices. It includes a revolutionary new Insta360 camera and the award winning DEVOS…


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After the slight respite in April, prices rose again in May in a scenario in which inflation is no longer temporary but becomes structural. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose four tenths in May, to 8.7%, due to the rise in fuel and food prices, according to advanced data published this Monday by the INE.
Statistics also highlights, although in the opposite direction, the decrease in electricity prices, compared to the rise registered last year.
Inflation increased again in this month of May after falling 1.5 points in April, to stand at 8.3%, and two months after almost reaching double digits in April, when it stood at 9.8%.
The May data, which must be confirmed by Statistics in the middle of next month, is 1.1 points below the March peak, when the CPI reached 9.8%, its highest rate in almost 37 years .
The skyrocketing prices are entrenched in the Spanish economy and the idea that inflation is a passing phenomenon is diluted like a sugar cube. Proof of this is that the estimated annual variation rate of core inflation -general index without unprocessed food or energy products- soared five tenths, to 4.9%. This figure was the highest since October 1995.
The CEOE already showed its concern about the underlying inflation data for April 15 days ago: “The upward evolution that this component has been registering is worrying,” the employer said in a statement. The basic shopping basket soars for families: in April, the prices of food and beverages registered a double-digit increase due to the rise in the prices of oil, pasta, flour or eggs, among others
In monthly rate, the CPI registered a rebound of 0.8% compared to April, in contrast to the 0.2% cut that marked the previous month. In the fifth month of 2022, the Harmonized Consumer Price Index (IPCA) placed its interannual rate at 8.5%, two tenths more than in April. For its part, the advance indicator of the IPCA increased by 0.7% in the monthly rate.
The INE will release the final CPI data for May on June 10.


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This honesty helps customers understand where a concept stands on sustainability, Mintz says. “Being honest with customers goes a long way toward building trust,” she adds.
“We sell a lot more meat than we do vegetarian options,” Chipotle’s Arnold says, adding that this makes marketing meat very important to the brand’s identity, and that keeping consumers informed is a top priority. “We have a compelling meat story. … It is where our quest for sustainability began.”
Of course, while sustainability is a trendy, important part of marketing campaigns, it is not the only thing customers want to hear about. It’s key for brands to also appeal to diners who want quality meat at a reasonable price, Mintz says.
With the increasing costs of beef and other expenses, a sustainable meat product could come at a much higher price for consumers, which can be a turnoff the value conscious, she says. It’s up to the brand to convince customers that its product is worth the extra cost.
As sustainability continues to be emphasized in the industry, Mintz says, even value-conscious consumers will still ask questions about where the meat is sourced, and restaurants should have an answer.
“You have to include meat in your marketing messages. Otherwise, you can’t have an authentic conversation,” she says.
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text: Apple’s upcoming iPhone 13 series has been awaited for a long time. Earlier, several leaks suggested the iPhone 13 series was claimed to launch with a matte black color option. But according to YouTuber Filip Koroy (Everything Apple Pro), the upcoming iPhone 13 Pro will come with a dark black shade color variant. Along with this, Koroy has also shared a video explaining the color code of iPhone 13 Pro. According to other leaked reports, iPhone 13 Pro smartphone will come with a 120Hz refresh rate display, A14 Bionic chipset and iOS 15 OS. A triple rear camera setup is also expected in this upcoming premium range device.


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Ford has declared it will break even in two years and claimed again it does need government help.
The company is the only one out of the top three American automotive manufacturers not to need government support.
In the first three months of this year Ford made a net loss of $1.43 billion compared with a profit of $70 million in the same period last year, reports TimesOnline.
However the results were not as bad as expected.
In the past two years Ford has sold Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar and put Volvo on the market.
It's been reported that at the end of March the company had $21.3 billion left in gross cash.


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via NEWMEDIAWIRE — ADVANTIS CORPORATION (OTC PINK: ADVT) CEO, Darren Cherry, recently took a moment to reflect on Advantis’ 2018 progress, and provided a look ahead into what 2019 has in store. Cherry related that the record growth of 2018 has set the stage for a “massive expansion in 2019.”
Advantis grew its overall revenue by almost a hundred percent in 2018; the first three quarters of last year are independently a 36% increase over 2017 full-year revenue. Cherry says that Q4 revenue will reveal that Advantis almost doubled its revenue last year. “I am so proud of my team and the work that we do,” Cherry reflected. “We have significantly expanded our client base and developed significant relationships that will help propel us to the next level. The time and resources spent on developing key products last year that are soon to be rolled out will super-charge our growth in 2019. Q4 was our largest revenue quarter yet, and we continue to see ongoing quarter over quarter growth.” The company had a 21% revenue increase in the first quarter, a 30% increase in the second quarter, and 10% decrease in the third quarter of last year. Cherry says that the last quarter of the year will be a significant revenue increase, due to a number of factors. “Some revenue expected in Q3 that was expected to keep us on track for our 20% quarter over quarter growth was received in Q4. Our expenses were a bit high in Q3 also, due to booking major supply orders in those months. We also just began packaging edibles last quarter, so we’ll see some of that along with our usual Amster-Can revenue growth in our final numbers of the year.” After starting the year with two consecutive quarters of profit, Cherry says that he sees it possible that the company may have turned a profit for the year. He intimated that, “depending on how items are booked in the last quarter, I think we may be able to say, when the accountants are done, that we may have just witnessed Advantis’ first profitable year.”
Cherry says that 2019 will be the year that Advantis significantly expands its brand name in the marketplace. “The relationships we have built lead to new synergies, new product development, and ultimately new revenue streams,” Cherry explained. “The Pet Division is already negotiating with major chains for national distribution. Advantis is also in negotiations with major distributors to launch its sublingual strips nationally, along with distribution agreements for the new edible line of Advantis products. Our Amster-Can clients continue to refer us new business and increase their orders.” Cherry said the company has just begun building upon these relationships, and they continue to grow. He continued, “Last year, we saw Oregon expand and request a larger, more efficient canning machine; we’ve established amazing partnerships to develop our proprietary and private-label product lines; we’ve been working with our Nevada partner to ramp up production; and we just began packaging and making our own edibles, with our partners’ help. This year, efforts will come to fruition with all we were working on last year.”
Cherry concluded by adding that he expects the upward revenue trajectory to continue for the foreseeable future. “Revenue will continue to increase quarter over quarter,” he said. “We will continue to find success as these new products roll out, and maintain our laser-focus on what generates revenue. We will continue to expand our Amster-Can client base and revenue, while finding new ways to penetrate the marketplace. We are still on track to become an SEC fully-reporting company this year. And we will continue to develop new, scalable products and potential revenue streams as this industry evolves. I am very excited with what 2019 has in store.”
Advantis wishes to thank Investors Hangout for mentioning the company in their podcast.
Links to Advantis websites can be found at advantiscorp.com, rosin6.com, elixicure.com, and amstercan.com
About Advantis Corporation
Advantis Corporation (ADVT) focuses on the development of innovative products that supply the medical, research, and pharmaceutical industries. The company additionally establishes partnerships with businesses that develop and sell proprietary pain management, and consumer products and services.
Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements made by ADVANTIS CORPORATION. All such statements included in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these statements. The following risk factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in any forward- looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions, changes in the law or regulations, demand for products of the Company, the effects of competition and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or represented in the forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, and similar expressions or which by their nature refer to future events. The Company is not entitled to rely on the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 because it is not registered under either Act.
For further information, contact:Media Relations Contact Name: Woo Kim, DirectorOrganization: Advantis Corporation Phone: 949-354-3585Address: 1048 Irvine Ave. #900 Newport Beach, CA 92660E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org


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Gold traders in India, the world's biggest buyer of the yellow metal, refrained from striking fresh deals on Monday as prices rose to their highest in more than a month.
Gold imports into India fell about 81 percent in June from the previous month after the government raised import duty and stopped consignment imports.
"Demand has slowed down," said Suresh Jain, director of Bombay Bullion Association, adding that if prices fell sharply, traders would stock up for upcoming festivals and weddings, which start in mid-August and peak with Dhanteras in November.
At 2.56 p.m., the actively traded gold for August delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was 1.59 percent higher at 27,1130 rupees per 10 grams, after having hit a high of 27,180 rupees, a level last seen on June 20, in tandem with overseas markets.
Global gold rose 1.7 percent to a one-month high on technical buying after the U.S. dollar slipped, but the precious metal is still down more than a fifth this year.
Traders and investors also eyed the movement in the rupee, which plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the dollar-quoted yellow metal.
Silver for September delivery on the MCX was 1.87 percent higher at 41,108 rupees per kg.


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POLESTAR has drawn a line in the sand. A very big line in the sand. Volvo Car Group’s performance brand has today revealed its future as a new standalone electric performance brand, confirming it will launch the first of three new models with the unveiling of the 447kW Polestar 1.
Exhaust Notes Australia is your destination point for the latest automotive news and reviews, on two wheels and four, as well as features and opinions.
We'll bring you the latest motoring and motor sport news from around the globe - and we'll have some fun doing it - because nobody said we had to be serious all the time.


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It’s almost like we never thought it’d come, but the dawn of a new decade is upon us. The 2010s ushered in a technological and informational shift unlike anything humanity has seen before. Technology has connected us, driven us apart, and brought a new depth to global relations that would have been unimaginable a decade before. Without further delay, here’s a countdown of five innovations that defined the 2010s as the birth of a new tech revolution.
5) The Birth of Ridesharing
Traffic and commuting are problems as old as the workforce itself. With more people living in cities than ever before, congestion began to really take a toll on urban life. But with the introduction of Uber, Lyft, and others, the ability to call a ride from anywhere with a driver willing to take on a passenger added a new means of transportation to infrastructure in need of traffic relief. It also signaled a shift towards a more decentralized economy, with drivers working as independent contractors to help make extra cash with their own car, on their own time, without a boss or an office to report to.
4) Instagram Changes Social Media
At the turn of the decade, Facebook was king. But by swapping text chains and friend requests for pictures and visually-based posts, Instagram created an entirely new market. The development of Instagram not only as an outlet to post pictures, but as a cultural platform for athletes, entertainers, musicians, politicians, and other public figures to directly interact with their base represents a major shift in the way people interact. Instagram revolutionized consumerism, online advertising, and the spread of information in previously unpredictable ways, and allowed the influence of those with a large following to reach ever than before, creating an alternate reality for those who choose to live within it.
3) Spotify Streaming Flips the Music Industry
No more paying for individual songs; with the advent of Spotify, listeners can gain access to a seemingly unlimited catalogue of songs for one flat fee. It allowed artists to gain followings without radio plays and tours, and let music listeners expand their palate beyond their wildest dreams. But it didn’t always help the creators; after protesting the incredibly low royalty rates paid to artists, famous musicians like Taylor Swift and Jay-Z pulled their music from the platform. But even though strides have been made, Spotify is playing an important role in the way musicians and the industry get along.
2) The Data Management Debacle
For years, we browsed the web without a care, with the underlying thought being that our data was out there, somewhere, but like trash in a landfill, it was just wasting away. In a decade where “data has become the new oil,” we’ve come to see that it’s all out there, and it’s all being used in marketing efforts to target individual consumers based on their habits, which makes all a bit unsettled. But when companies like Facebook began to play coy with how they use our data, and how our data is used to funnel information to each person individually, it became a great cause for concern. Undoubtedly, the next decade will set the mark for how to handle data going forward.
- Amazon Takes Over the World
Never before in human history has one establishment been able to offer as many services as Amazon does. What started as a bookstore become an online home to any item one could possibly need, delivered free of charge in two days. Amazon has gone on to pioneer one-day and even same-day shipping, and their ordering process is meant to be streamlined and easy for the user. In what is arguably the most wide-reaching ecommerce innovation of all time, shopping went from the malls to the palms of our hands. Amazon revolutionized consumerism as we know it, while also taking over grocery stores, cloud computing, and shipping, making Jeff Bezos the richest man in the world and leaving us to wonder what the future of business looks like.


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During today’s massive 15-concept rollout, Toyota has unveiled a pretty cool-looking electric model that caught our attention. The Toyota Compact Cruiser EV is an off-road-focused SUV with compact dimensions that is borrowing several design features from the legendary Land Cruiser heritage.
From afar it’s clear what it is: a reborn FJ Cruiser, albeit smaller, electric and almost certainly a crossover. The front end styling is unmistakable even if the trademark round headlights have been swapped out for more modern LED units. The profile indicates a more conventional squared-off rear end and four proper doors. The FJ Cruiser had rear-hinged half doors. It also barely looks like a concept. If Toyota doesn’t build something that looks 90% like this, we’d be stunned.
An image of its interior that could be captured during the unveiling of the Toyota Compact Cruiser EV reveals a digitized front panel with a floating screen infotainment system, digital instrument panel and a peculiar steering wheel due to its shape.
There is not much to say about its mechanics yet as there is no data provided by the manufacturer. It would be built on the latest dedicated TNGA EV platform. It is very logical that the model has a four-wheel-drive system with one or two electric motors.
In terms of market placement, the Compact Cruiser could be an electric rival to the Ford Bronco Sport as another rugged-looking SUV based on a mainstream unibody chassis. Another direct rival could be the next generation of the Jeep Renegade, especially if it gets a fully electric variant.


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Many in the Georgia produce industry say consumers aren’t buying as much fresh produce as they have in past years and aren’t sure how demand will be this year.
Steven Johnson, sales manager for South Georgia Produce Inc., Lake Park, Ga., said the economy has affected demand in the industry.
“Without a doubt, demand has been down,” Johnson said. “I believe many consumers have been reluctant to pay higher prices for fresh product. Also growers have not gotten help from the retail customers as far as lowering their prices to promote increased movement and consumption.”
Joey Johnson, president and co-owner of J&S Produce Inc., Mount Vernon, Ga., said he hopes consumers will continue to buy his company’s produce, but sometimes he is concerned consumers may skip fresh produce.
Shay Kennedy, vice president of Georgia Vegetable Co. Inc., Tifton, Ga., concurred.
“I think the produce industry has been affected by the economy because, when people make less money it causes them to buy mostly can or frozen foods,” Kennedysaid. “Unfortunately, fresh produce has to be eaten quicker. Therefore, they don’t buy as much fresh produce
However, Jon Schwalls, director of operations for Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable Inc., Norman Park, Ga., said the economy has not affected Georgia’s fresh produce industry terribly, Schwalls said.
“I’ve been surprised at times with how movement has been,” Schwalls said.


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Video conferences have largely been confined to offices. Not anymore.
New technologies let employees use them where anywhere they are.
Google Search for iPhone has gotten a complete overhaul that makes the
app much cleaner, speedier and a bit user-friendlier, if you will.
A Minneapolis-based company is seeking to shake up the world of
Facebook by adding new buttons of endearment linked to the social
Cuba, with its authoritarian communist government in control of the
Web, has the lowest Internet-penetration rate in the Western Hemisphere.
When it comes to socking away savings, most people think of their bank
accounts, their 401(k)s or their stocks. What about websites?
The appearance of your digital documents could hinder you in the
workplace, say experts. Education, employment and even, credit scores can be affected. In order to look professional in cyber space,
there are things you should keep in mind.
The watch may be making a comeback — and it will do much more than just tell time.
The Barnes&Noble Nook Tablet was announced on Monday as the
bookseller’s answer to the coming Amazon Kindle Fire and Kobo Vox
With its latest operating system update, Apple Inc. is poised to strike a
blow to wireless carriers by making free texting more ubiquitous.
Jobs gave music lovers unprecedented new freedom to find,
store and enjoy music with an ease previous generations only dreamed of.


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It seems like the wave of cannabis reform that has been sweeping through America is not going to stop any time soon. More than 30 states have already allowed the consumption of cannabis in one form or other within their borders, and this year at least four states have passed cannabis reform legislation. With lawmakers considering federally rescheduling cannabis, activists in several states are also working on putting cannabis legislation before voters next year. The following are some of the states that will likely vote on cannabis legislation measures in 2022.
Arkansas will likely vote on cannabis legislation next year if activists are able to collect enough signatures for a recreational cannabis proposal. Prepared by Arkansas True Grass, this bill would allow adults aged 21 and older to purchase and possess up to four ounces of marijuana as well as grow up to 12 plants at home for personal use only. Additionally, qualifying adults would have no limit on possession as long as the cannabis is kept out of public view.
Idaho officials recently gave activists the go-ahead to start collecting signatures for a cannabis legalization initiative that would legalize the purchase and possession of up to three ounces of cannabis on private property. However, since the initiative doesn’t create a system for cannabis sales and taxation nor does it allow home cultivation, consumers would be expected to buy cannabis from neighbor states with legal markets and bring it back to Idaho. Activists are also collecting signatures for a separate measure that would legalize medical cannabis and allow patients to possess as much as four ounces of cannabis.
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne Jones recently said in a press release that early next year, state lawmakers will pass legislation to put the question of whether or not to legalize cannabis before Maryland voters as a referendum. In February, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on a cannabis proposal, while in March, a separate cannabis legalization measure sponsored by top lawmakers was subject to a Senate Finance Committee Hearing. Despite these hearings, the legislature didn’t hold a vote, and the two chambers are hoping to reconcile the differences between the two bills and send a bill to Governor Larry Hogan’s desk.
In Missouri a group of cannabis activists is working to put cannabis legislation on next year’s ballot via a number of initiatives. Fair Access Missouri, for instance, has filed several proposals that would allow adults aged 21 and older to purchase and possess cannabis as well as modify Missouri’s existing medical marijuana program.
Nebraska voters will most likely see two complementary medical cannabis initiatives on the 2022 ballot after the state Supreme Court voided an initiative that qualified for the 2020 vote. Senators Adam Morfeld and Anna Wishart are known to support medical cannabis reform, and they have previously said that they would work to put the question of legalizing cannabis before the voters in 2022.
If the states above start implementing legal marijuana programs, the people and companies in those states will potentially see the kind of growth that entities such as Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) enjoy in California, one of the most mature marijuana markets in the country.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Grapefruit USA Inc. (OTCQB: GPFT) are available in the company’s newsroom at http://cnw.fm/GPFT
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
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US Monthly Retail Sales Overview
Tuesday’s US economic docket highlights the release of monthly retail sales figures for July, scheduled later during the early North American session at 12:30 GMT. The report is expected to show that the US consumer has grown more cautious in response to the latest surge in COVID-19 cases. In fact, the headline sales are expected to decline 0.2% during the reported month as against 0.6% growth recorded in the previous month. Excluding autos, core retail sales probably rose by 0.1% in July following the 1.3% rise in the previous month.
According to FXStreet’s own analyst, Yohay Elam: “everyone visiting the US has seen its shopping culture, either at the mall or by seeing piles of carton boxes outside houses. However, it seems that economists forecasting the upcoming Retail Sales report for July are either underestimating consumers or at least, being a tad too cautious. That implies figures could beat estimates, boosting the dollar.”
How Could it Affect EUR/USD?
Against the backdrop of a sharp fall in the US consumer confidence, a weaker reading might force investors to further scale back their expectations for an early policy tightening by the Fed. This, however, might fuel worries about the economic fallout from the fast-spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus and overshadow any disappointment from the report. The market concerns should continue to weigh on investors’ sentiment and lend some support to the safe-haven US dollar.
Conversely, a surprisingly stronger reading might be enough to provide a modest lift to the greenback. That said, investors might refrain from placing any aggressive bets, rather prefer to wait for the Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech for clues about the next policy move. Hence, any immediate market reaction is more likely to remain limited. Nevertheless, the set-up remains tilted in favour of bearish traders and suggests that the path of least resistance for the EUR/USD pair remains to the downside.
Meanwhile, Yohay Elam offered a brief technical outlook for the EUR/USD pair: “Euro/dollar is trading in a narrowing wedge, or triangle. Technical analysis textbooks suggest that the narrowing ranges are set to make way for substantially stronger volatility. To what direction? Momentum on the four-hour chart is to the upside and the currency pair trades above the 50 Simple Moving Average. However, it failed to break above the 100 and 200 SMAs. All in all, the picture is mixed.”
Yohay also provided some important technical levels to trade the major: “Support awaits at 1.1755, a swing high from last week, and it is followed by 1.1720 and 1.17. Resistance is at 1.1805, which is Friday’s high and where the 100 SMA hits the price. Further above, 1.1825 and 1.1860 are the next levels to watch.”
About US Retail Sales
The Retail Sales released by the US Census Bureau measures the total receipts of retail stores. Monthly per cent changes reflect the rate of changes in such sales. Changes in Retail Sales are widely followed as an indicator of consumer spending. Generally speaking, a high reading is seen as positive (or bullish) for the USD, while a low reading is seen as negative (or bearish).


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Small Cadillac SUV At Least Four Years Away
One of the key vehicles in Cadillac’s future product strategy is at least four years away.
At the Washington Auto Show last week, Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen said that he doesn’t have a firm date in mind yet for the new small SUV, but that he doesn’t expect it to arrive for at least another four years. The plan to launch a new utility vehicle underneath the Escalade is part of the brand’s plan to launch eight new models over the next five years.
Before de Nysschen’s installation as the current Cadillac chief, former brand boss Bob Ferguson said the company would consider introducing another utility vehicle under the Escalade name. Last August Cadillac chief engineer Dave Leone confirmed that the plan was still under consideration despite Ferguson’s departure as CEO.
Cadillac plans to invest $12 billion in order to execute its eight-model future product offensive.
Discuss this story at our Cadillac forum
Luke is an energetic automotive journalist who spends his time covering industry news and crawling the internet for the latest breaking story. When he isn't in the office, Luke can be found obsessively browsing used car listings, drinking scotch at his favorite bar and dreaming of what to drive next, though the list grows a lot faster than his bank account. He's always on Twitter looking for a good car conversation. Find Luke on Twitter and Google+.
More by Luke Vandezande


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By Madelain Roscher, MD of PR Worx
For people, corporations, and global brands, 2020 went from "twenty plenty" to "twenty empty". While the pandemic blindsided most, some reputational damage suffered by brands, organisations and even governments this year, could have been avoided if they focused on improving their communication or crisis management efforts.
Here are some of the most notable crisis and communication brand fails in 2020. 1. Covid-19 election calamity
Everyone will agree that during a pandemic, communication from experts, scientists, governments, or global organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) must be timely, accurate and consistent. While the rest of the world recognised the need for quick, constant, and factual communications, the outgoing United States President Donald Trump doubled down on trivialising the deadly effects of the Coronavirus. He said 40 times that Covid-19 “would go away”. Media analysis believes that because Trump downplayed the pandemic, his followers also disregarded health precautions, and with the spread of the virus, he lost critical voting regions. According to the media, Trump could “have won re-election if positive cases had been between five and 10 percent lower”. His miscommunication and the trivialising of Covid-19 led to Donald Trump’s defeat. 2. Clicks catastrophe
Closer to home, one of the most recent brand blunders came from Clicks. SA's leading health, beauty and lifestyle retailer came under fire for calling black women’s hair “dry and damaged” while in the same TRESemmé advert, said white women’s hair was “fine and flat” or “normal”. Having focus groups to provide independent input or even having a diverse group of people review and greenlight a campaign before it goes public, could be the difference between going viral for the right or wrong reasons. While Clicks was quick to apologise, reputational damage happened even quicker. Clicks were also slapped with a series of punitive actions for their gross oversight. It included practising constitutional values of equality and dignity in their work culture and across all their stores; and identifying areas that have not been transformed, and that are not inclusive in marketing departments and advertising agencies. Clicks are also supporting social initiatives that set out to build the self-esteem, dignity, and identity of young, black, South African girls.
3. Dis-Chem gets dissed
Dis-Chem, one of SA’s largest pharmaceutical retailers, found itself in a similar position as Clicks when a white mannequin donning an Ankara dress posing next to a makeshift “African homestead” was spotted - with a ‘blackface’. But when the picture went viral on social media and Dis-Chem were called out for it, they claimed the incident was just a “bad make-up job”. When you have made a serious error and offended hundreds of thousands of people, it is not enough to come up with excuses or a lukewarm apology. Communications must be sincere, heartfelt, and companies must open themselves up to learning from their mistakes to avoid committing similar fails later.
4. Insulting influencers
In the age of using celebrities or influencers to increase a brand’s awareness, make sure those partnerships not only ring true for both the brand and influencer but are authentic. Diamond Mist, a United Kingdom vaping company, used a celebrity lookalike as their campaign influencer. Rather than getting the clearance from the athlete Diamond Mist were impersonating, they associated his face and name to a brand he does not endorse. When the campaign eventually reached the attention of the athlete, he sued Diamond Mist, which had to settle out of court for their transgressions. In a bid to chase brand visibility, make sure your campaign is authentic, original, and most importantly; legitimate.
How to do it right
Brand blunders are not unique to specific sectors. External forces can lead to communication crises breaking out when they are least expected. However, how a brand, organisation or government conducts its communication efforts during those tremulous times, can assist it to better weather those storms. Some crises erupt simply because of bad planning and poor execution, which could be attributed to conducting marketing-communication strategies haphazardly. To get the most out of your communication efforts and marketing budgets, thoroughly understand your target audience; your brand’s unique selling proposition; smart messaging that resonates with your consumers and communities; the mediums that will be the most effective to disseminate your messaging; and knowing how to measure success – beyond just sales. If you are uncertain about which approach will maximise your returns, utilise the services of a consultant to ensure that your brand resonates with its stakeholders – even during a crisis.


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Chandrakant 'CK' Isi
21:16 07th Feb, 2012
Iran Could Ban Samsung Products
Persia fears the power of GALAXY Tab showcased in an Israeli ad.
Samsung is feeling the heat over an Israeli commercial, which features a GALAXY Tab 750 involved in the destruction of Iran's nuclear facility. The ad shows four characters from the popular Israeli TV series, Asfur. Disguised as women, the quartet bumps into an undercover Mossad agent, and accidently blows up Iran's nuclear facility. Needless to say, neither Ali Khamenei nor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was amused.
Reportedly, Iranian officials are finding the commercial insulting as it portrays Israel capable of easily destroying such an important target in Iran. What's more, the ad has been surfaced within a month of the alleged assassination of the Iranian scientist by Mossad agents in Tehran. Therefore, Iran is considering a complete ban on Samsung products.
Samsung's Tehran office has claimed that the company wasn't involved in making this video, and the comercial was an independent production of Israel's HOT cable network. I doubt, Iran will go soft on Samsung, considering the company's home, South Korea is among the countries that have slapped sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
Finally here's the controversial Israeli ad:
- Havit launches high bass neckband with 12 hrs battery in India at 1299/-
- ADCOM Launches “Vision” - LED Headphones for Ultimate Gamers
- LAVA Launches Z71 with Dedicated Google Assistant Key
- Detel launches Amaze – Truly Wireless Bluetooth Speaker in India
- Airtel Wi-Fi Calling’ crosses One million users
- Fujifilm India unfold its innovation prowess by showcasing Photo Imaging Product Portfolio at CEIF 2020
- DOLBY RAISES THE BAR FOR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AT CES 2020
- Playshifu Announces New Augmented Reality Toys at CES 2020
- CES 2020: Haier Defines the Future of Smart Homes
- CES 2020: Audio-Technica Exhibits Its Truly Wireless Noise-Cancelling In-Ear and Exotic-Wood Audiophile Headphones


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There are many challenges that European online retailers have to deal with. According to new research presented in DynamicAction's Retail Index: Spring 2019, €11 billion of online consumer transactions to 15 April 2019 were analyzed.
8 percent more returns are finding their way back to the online shops where they came from, as well as more goods being shipped for free. Ecommercenews report that short term promotions also helped to push sales by 29 percent. Consumers are also exhibiting some peculiar ways of ordering.
Buy 10, Return 9
Consumers have every intention of sending goods back to the online shops from whom they ordered. According to DynamicAction's research, there is a growing trend of consumers ordering multiple products online with the intent of returning some of the items. In this way, they can find out, for example, which colour shoes look best by ordering all the colours and trying them on.
Free Shipping Up
The research was done over the first 4 months of 2019, with free shipping being used as a sales tactic up 3 percent. Researchers explained that many online retailers want to attract customers, and use this method to remain competitive. Still, many major online retailers such as Zalando are stepping away from free shipping as a viable marketing solution.
29 percent of products purchased were due to short-term promotions, including strategies like one-day sales or site-wide promos on seasonal items. This is increasingly seen during small holidays like Valentine's Day.
Marketing Costs Are Up
In Europe, online retailers saw marketing costs increased quite a lot, up 74 percent from the same time period last year. New customer acquisition was found to decrease by 10 percent. Prioritizing customer lifetime profitability with immediate sales can help to ensure efforts to match ever increasing consumer expectations do not hinder overall profits.