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West Central Tribune
Briefs: Former Obama aide calls Trump a 'psychopath'
Second case of switched babies shakes Canadian community
More bodies located beneath rubble in Italy quake zone
Wild about wine: Carlos Creek expands into Xcel Energy Center, other Twin Cities venues
National Guard soldiers return to Willmar after Kuwait deployment
Finally, the Wolves might give the Target Center two good teams
Roundup: Rockets advance in Class C state tournament
Anderson repeats in Match Play tourney
Vikings open new stadium with preseason win
Ridgewater rallies past Ellsworth, opens 2-0
Tickets on sale Friday for tours of Paisley Park
Mislabeled pills seized at Prince's home after his death
J.K. Rowling releasing 3 new 'Harry Potter' books
New Barn play continues this week
R2-D2 actor kenny Baker dead at 81
Milestones launching in September
Live it: Get lost in the art of weaving
Live it!: The changing role of pets in a family
August/September 2016 issue of Live it! Magazine now available online
Live it: How a mentoring program helps Willmar-area girls find their way
Live it!: Local mentoring program has a lasting effect on the young lives it touches
Barbara A. Erickson
Oliver "Ollie" Moldestad
Kenneth C. Hensch
Roland E. "Rollie" Swenson
Cartoonist Opinions for Aug. 27
Letter: Our declining moral values
Cartoon by Dave Granlund
Minnesota Opinion: The long wait for mental health care needs fixing
Thomas: Abolishing 'man' at Princeton
Update: Shots fired outside Zorbaz in Spicer early Sunday
September 26, 2014
Business spending, exports spur big bounce in U.S. economy
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in 2-1/2 years in the second quarter with all sectors contributing to the jump in output in a bullish signal for the remainder of the year.
September 26, 2014 - 11:20pm
March 3, 2014
U.S. auto sales beat expectations, setting up strong March
DETROIT (Reuters) - U.S. auto sales in February were slightly brisker than expected as hefty incentives lured customers into dealerships late in the month despite cold and snowy weather.
March 3, 2014 - 1:18pm
U.S. factory, consumer spending data point to improving economy
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. factory activity rebounded from an eight-month low in February and consumer spending rose more than expected in January, suggesting the economy was regaining some strength after a recent slowdown.
March 3, 2014 - 11:36am
February 28, 2014
Fourth-quarter growth in U.S. economy cut to 2.4 percent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government slashed its estimate for fourth-quarter growth as consumer spending and exports were less robust than initially thought, leaving the economy on a more sustainable path of modest expansion.
February 28, 2014 - 8:09am
February 25, 2014
Macy's sticks to forecast despite slow Valentine's Day sales
(Reuters) - Macy's Inc's (M.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) sales this year were weak until Valentine's Day, the department store operator said on Tuesday, but it stuck to its full-year forecast because it expects business to return to normal when the weather improves.
February 25, 2014 - 10:50am
February 13, 2014
Retail sales drop unexpectedly in January
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales fell unexpectedly in January, and another gauge of consumer spending also slipped. The Commerce Department said on Thursday retail sales fell 0.4 percent last month, led by a drop in automobile sales. Sales fell by a revised 0.1 percent...
February 13, 2014 - 8:30am
January 30, 2014
Household spending seen driving nation’s fourth-quarter growth
WASHINGTON — Strong household spending and robust exports kept the U.S. economy on solid ground in the fourth quarter, but stagnant wages could chip away some of the momentum in early 2014. Gross domestic product grew at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the final three months of last...
January 30, 2014 - 11:16pm
Households, trade boost U.S. fourth-quarter growth
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Robust household spending and rising exports kept the U.S. economy on solid ground in the fourth quarter, but stagnant wages could chip away some of the momentum in early 2014.
January 30, 2014 - 9:00am
December 26, 2013
U.S. holiday sales better than last year: MasterCard Advisors
(Reuters) - Sales during the 2013 U.S. holiday season grew from a year earlier as retailers used higher discounts and promotions to attract customers in a season with fewer shopping days, according to MasterCard Advisors. Holiday sales between November 1 and December 24 rose 2.3...
December 26, 2013 - 2:31pm
December 12, 2013
Retail sales rise in November, boost economic outlook
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rose solidly in November as Americans bought automobiles and a range of other goods, adding to signs...
December 12, 2013 - 8:01am
December 2, 2013
Holiday weekend sales dip on discounts; e-commerce jumps
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Heavy discounting took a toll on U.S. retail sales during the Thanksgiving weekend as shoppers spent almost 3 percent less than they did a year earlier, according to data released Sunday by an industry group.
December 2, 2013 - 7:24am
November 20, 2013
Retail sales beat forecasts, point to firming growth
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A gauge of U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in October as households bought a range of goods, suggesting upside momentum in the economy early in the fourth quarter. The Commerce Department said on Wednesday retail sales excluding automobiles,...
November 20, 2013 - 7:40am
November 19, 2013
Home Depot raises outlook again after strong quarter
By Dhanya Skariachan (Reuters) - A recovery in the U.S. housing market helped Home Depot Inc (HD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) top profit and sales estimates for the third quarter, prompting the No. 1 home improvement chain to raise its fiscal-year outlook for the third...
November 19, 2013 - 7:34am
November 7, 2013
U.S. growth picks up in third quarter as restocking offsets weak spending
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. economic growth accelerated in the third quarter as businesses restocked shelves but the slowest expansion in consumer...
November 7, 2013 - 8:23am
U.S. retailers' October sales rise, but holiday concerns remain
(Reuters) - Costco Wholesale Corp and Victoria's Secret parent L Brands Inc were among the major U.S. retailers to report same-store sales gains for October, but the outlook remained downbeat heading into the holiday season.
November 7, 2013 - 8:04am


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Woman using urine on her face
But this latest fad may be the oddest yet.
Women across the world are now claiming their glowing complexion is down to something you’d ordinarily pour down the loo.
Vowing that it tightens pore and clears the complexion, women are now claiming URINE is a wonder cure for many of our skin ailments.
Known as urotherapy, people are dabbing their own wee on their face topically to treat anything from acne to even wrinkles.
But does the disgusting-sounding treatment really work or are beauty trendsetters taking the pee?
Bizarrely, it is not a new concept, with it originating in Indian culture.
In fact, officials in india have even been promoting urine as an essential for good skin just this week.
Many beauty bloggers swear by using urine to treat skin complaints
The Gujarat Gauseva and Gauchar Vikas Board told MailOnline India they have advised women to use cow urine as part of a facial treatment to ‘leave the skin glowing.’
Women are advised to massage cow urine into the face for 15 minutes after first massaging in cow milk.
A face pack made from cow dung is then applied before being washed off after 15 minutes with neem water.
Apparently it is meant to work because urea and uric acid help to exfoliate the skin.
And some web users have backed up the claims online.
Using wee for acne is not a new concept though
Zelina told Acne.org that she wasn’t too convinced at first.
She said: “When I first heard of it, I thought, EW like the rest of us. But for the past 3 days I have been putting it on my face every morning and just leave it on. I haven't noticed anything yet, but my skin does have a nice glow.”
While SkinDeeply said: “It accelerated healing and promoted cell turnover better than any AHA or BHA I've tried. Also gives you a natural tan.
“If you eat super clean and drink water like a fish, there is absolutely no odor.
“Topical urine therapy has also healed a number of eye infections I've had within hours.”
Meanwhile, PDilley said: “For me it didn't work.”
While web users on the whole have enthused about it, a skin clinician isn’t convinced it’s effective.
Dr Sejal Shah, a specialist clinician from New York, told the Daily Mirror: "Urine is primarily water and there's very little urea in it.
"It contains less than 5 per cent and actual skincare products with urea contain ten per cent or more."

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Published on : Thursday, December 5, 2019
This new milestone in tourism came 38 days ahead of estimations according to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
The arrival of Russian national Marina Kazakova marked the 1.5 million figure, meaning that the Maldives’ international tourist visitation has already surpassed the 2018 figure of 1.48 million.
Kazakova, along with her husband, were greeted with bodu beru performers, as well as a welcome from the minister of tourism, Ali Waheed and other industry officials. The couple were also given six free nights at Mirihi Island Resort and free return flights.
The 2019 figures noted that the Maldives is still one of the U.K.’s top holiday spots, bringing in 102,286 visitors from January to October. This represented a 9.6% year-on-year increase in U.K. arrivals and gives the UK a 7.3% market share of the Maldives’ tourism sector.
A total of 130 promotional activities were managed by MMPRC during 2019, including attendance at international trade fairs and the organisation of international trade roadshows, media FAM trips and joint marketing campaigns.
The Maldives Tourism Promotion Bureau is hopeful that the total visitor arrival figure will increase to 2.5 million tourists per year by the end of 2023.
This aspiration comes as the nation announced its tourism strategy for 2020, including a focus on promoting its culture, as well as tapping into the MICE business industry, and sports tourism.


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After all of the waiting, Apple has finally unveiled a successor to the MacBook Air – and yes, it comes with a high-resolution display (and a few compromises too).
Simply called the MacBook (without an Air or Pro suffix), the new 12.1-inch machine weighs two pounds and measures 13.1mm thick, compared to the 17.3mm of the 11-inch MacBook Air - a difference of 24%.
During its unveiling at the company's Apple Watch event, Apple SVP of Global Marketing Phil Schiller described it as the "most efficient notebook ever created".
The new MacBook sports a Retina display with a pixel-resolution of 2,304 x 1,440. Its panel measures 0.88mm thick, making it the thinnest display built into a Mac and one that consumes 30% less energy than previous models, according to Apple. It's also the first fanless MacBook and operates "silently" thanks to housing Intel's Core M Broadwell CPU.
The new MacBook has a redesigned full-size keyboard that's 34% thinner than previous models with a 17% larger key cap. There's also a new backlight that lights up each individual key.
The new MacBook has a logic board that's 67% smaller than previous models. Describing how Apple achieved that in a video presentation, Apple SVP of Design Jony Ive said that the company took an "extreme approach".
He said: "To maximise performance, we took an extreme approach. Components were optimised to fit together and create the highest density logic board yet, which is two thirds smaller than what had gone before.
"A fundamental goal was eliminating the need for vents or moving parts, allowing it to operating in silence. By consolidating the antenna within the bottom case we were able to design an integrated aluminium hinge. This innovation with a unibody enclosure makes it the fist all-metal MacBook."
Type-C in reverse
As expected, the machine uses the new USB type-C connector, which takes a cable a third the size of a standard USB cable, for connecting and charging devices. The cable is reversible and provides power, HDMI, USB, DisplayPort and VGA in one connection.
Apple has created the MacBook's battery in layered sheets that fit the contours of its enclosure, allowing for 35% more capacity in the same amount of space and provides nine hours of wireless web use.
The trackpad, which apple calls the Force Touch Trackpad, uses Force sensors and employs what apple calls a Taptic Engine to provide feedback when clicking, and the level of feedback can be adjusted using software.
It will start at $1,299 (£1,049 in the UK) for the base model that comes with a 1.1GHz Intel Core M CPU, Intel HD Graphics 5300, 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD. It will be joined by a $1,599 (£1,249) version that comes with a 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Core M CPU, Intel HD Graphics 5300, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. Both will be available in silver, space grey and gold from April 10.
Apple launched the MacBook Air in 2008. It has been one of the company's last devices to get a Retina display after the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, MacBook Pro with Retina and iMac.
- What else is going on at the Apple Watch launch event?


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Imagine a condom that not only stops pregnancy but also kills germs that can lead to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
A condom like this has just received approval for mass production in Australia.
"Consumers can expect to see the 'ground-breaking new sexual health' product on the shelves soon," Peter Carroll, president of the Australian firm Ansell that will sell the product, said.
The key ingredient that kills the germs is 0.5 per cent concentrated astodrimer sodium solution called VivaGel - part of the condom's lubricant.
The VivaGel binds on to germs and does not allow them to interact with human cells in the body.
VivaGel is already approved for supply to Japan's largest condom maker Okamoto Industries.
The new Australian approvals will allow it to be launched in the domestic market in a few months.
VivaGel can disable 99.9 percent of HIV, herpes and human papilloma virus on contact, media reports said.


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Will a mask protect you from coronavirus? We asked the same question about the flu a few months back and found that it may actually put you at a higher risk because it could lead you to touch your face more. We wanted to know if that’s the same situation when it comes to the coronavirus.
With 56 cases of the COVID-19 virus in the United States (14 in the United States and 42 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship), the worry now is of major travel centers becoming a place where the disease could spread.
Many are turning to protective facemasks as an option to keep themselves from getting sick.
However, those same masks are becoming scarce, flying off the shelves because of coronavirus fears.
“But there is a shortage of masks out there, I know a lot of people are ordering masks and you go to stores and they are hard to come by,” said Jeffrei Fishman, who traveled to Fort Myers from Hawaii on Thursday.
While a barrier for germs seems like a good idea, doctors said those masks are best used by people who are already ill in order to contain their germs.
“It’s effective at protecting others because it keeps you from spreading it beyond your cough,” said Stephanie Stovall from Lee Health.
The best way to protect yourself is to keep your hands clean, wash with lots of soap, water, lather and to keep your hands away from your face.
“In the routine walk of life, face masks aren’t recommended at this point because you really aren’t supposed to be that close to people that it would help you,” Stovall said.
© Copyright 2020 WBBH/WZVN (Waterman Broadcasting). All rights reserved.


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Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said the central bank digital currency (CBDC) does not leave a trail with a bank and so, there was no need for creating any fear psychosis of being tracked in the minds of people.
The RBI has launched a pilot for central bank digital currency (CBDC) – retail (e`-R) from December 1. The pilot in e-rupee in the wholesale segment (e`-W) was launched last month.
While responding to a query that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) can ask details from banks on the transactions done through digital rupee, Das said, “Incidently (in case of CBDC), you cannot find out (transaction details) because the information is not available to the bank. Therefore, bank does not know. It goes from my mobile to somebody else’s mobile. So why should we create this fear psychosis.”
“Let there not be any fear psychosis that somebody is going to chase. That would be unfair to the exercise,” Das added.
The governor said as per the amendment in the RBI Act with regard to CBDC, that the currency will also include digital currency and so there is no difference in the treatment of a paper currency and a digital currency.
He said the feedback from the first pilot on wholesale CBDC has been very satisfactory. However, there are some learnings and RBI is working on those.


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The holidays are coming, and for some, especially these next few days, that means lots of food and lots of shopping. But for some, it is also a season for giving and for giving back. Google wants to be identified with this latter group and so it is kicking off a new charity program that starts November 24th all the way until the end of the year. And Android Pay will play a major role in it too. Proceeds of this campaign will go to supporting the eduction of children with special needs.
The process is really simple and you won’t even have to do anything other than use Android Pay to purchase stuff. Every time you use Android Pay from today until December 31 this year, Google will be donating $1 to special needs eduction projects, up to $1 million if it reaches that. But Black Friday is always a special shopping day, so on that day, Google will instead donate $2 for every Android Pay purchase. So not only do you get the convenience of wirelessly payment, your conscience will also have a feast each time.
Google estimates that teachers for special needs spend about $500 annually out of their own pockets just to boost their classrooms with projects and activities to help these special children. That’s no small amount, especially considering how this line of work isn’t exactly the most lucrative. Google’s Global Impact Challenge: Disabilities campaign is trying to relieve some of that burden, ultimately helping improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Putting Android Pay to work this way might be a stroke of genius in roping people into using the services, especially during this season where shopping is at an all time high. The NFC-based payment system is accepted in millions of outlets across the country, claims Google. That said, this charity campaign is void for residents of Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and South Carolina, or any other state where such programs are prohibited.


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Here's what's happening today:
1. Construction at Dilworth Plaza at City Hall is behind schedule.
3. How one local retailer's approach to Instagram could start a retail revolution.
4. AAA has come out with its list of the most dangerous roads for seniors in the Philadelphia area. Grant Ave. and Route 3 are among them.
5. Pat Croce's $7.95 million home is for sale. Take a peek inside.
TODAY'S WEATHER from NBC10: AM Clouds. PM Sun. High 53. Low 35.


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Hong Kong’s regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), is to push ahead with proposals to make intermediary commission disclosure mandatory as part of a wider beefing up of its investor protection regime.
The SFC said it was clear sales staff were sometimes “inappropriately” incentivised to sell products, creating potential conflicts of interest between what was best for the investor and what product paid the most commission.
The proposal is contained in a raft of measures the SFC has set out in a consultation to protect retail investors from intermediaries mis-selling investment products.
It comes in the wake of the Lehman Brothers minibonds scandal, in which thousands of investors were left with worthless structured products backed by Lehman Brothers after the US investment bank collapsed a year ago.
More than 20,000 complaints were received by the SFC about the minibonds, nearly all making allegations of mis-selling.
The regulator wants to see pre-sale disclosure of all commissions, fees and “other benefits” paid by product issuers to distributors for the sale of their products.
Numerous other measures are set out in the paper, including the introduction of simplified product literature in the form of Key Facts Statements, the banning of gifts as inducements to buy products and a ban on selling products that use derivatives to clients who are judged not to possess “derivative knowledge”.
The SFC is also consulting on whether intermediaries should make audio recordings of all meetings with clients to ensure compliance with sales procedures – something banks have been made to do this year. However, the SFC said it acknowledges there could be difficulties for smaller businesses in doing this.
Unveiling the consultation, the SFC said: “The Minibonds incident has exposed issues in connection with the sale of investment products and has negatively impacted on the reputation of our market both locally and internationally.
“In order to restore the trust and confidence in our market we believe that the Government, the regulators and the industry need to collectively demonstrate that the lessons of this incident have been learned and that appropriate action has been taken. This consultation paper offers a number of suggestions as to what this action should be.”
The consultation, which ends in December, can be found at http://www.sfc.hk/sfc/doc/EN/speeches/consult/q3_consult1.pdf


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Amazon announced that it has added programmatic advertising to its live-streaming platform Twitch which boasts some 17.5 million viewers daily.
Via Amazon Advertising, marketers can now buy video and display ads on Twitch alongside Twitch audiences.
All of these are being included in Amazon Advertising campaigns.
For marketers this means that they can target Twitch viewers based on their interests via contextual campaigns.
These are measured using Amazon’s Advertising platform.
Previously, advertisers had to purchase Twitch ads manually.
By rolling out programmatic capabilities, purchasing ad inventory and reaching target audiences is made that much simpler.
It follows significant growth of Amazon’s advertising business. Ad sales rose 41% to $4.22 billion during the second quarter of the year.
According to estimates, Twitch’s audience is set to reach 16% of US digital viewers in 2020. O Overall, viewers are predicted to increase 14% to 37 million.


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As it turns out, no. In fact, the FDA has already gone on the record stating it will not require any special labeling of genetically modified salmon. You, the consumer, just have to take a wild guess because you’re not allowed to know what you’re really eating.
The biotech industry takes this absurdity one step further by claiming that labeling GM foods would just “confuse” consumers. David Edwards, the director of animal biotechnology at the Biotechnology Industry Organization, explained it in this way: “Extra labeling only confuses the consumer,” he says. “It differentiates products that are not different.”
Except that they are different. If they were really no different, then…


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All weekend papers reported on a USTR announcement on Friday on the goals that the Trump administration aims to accomplish in the upcoming trade talks with Japan, explaining that Washington is set to seek discussions on a number of issues, including provisions on currency and autos, competition policy, investment, intellectual property, e-commerce, and agricultural trade. As the U.S.’s goals cover a range of areas almost equivalent to the comprehensive TPP11 accord, the dailies underscored that the Trump administration appears determined to pursue an FTA with Tokyo, which has stressed that the new trade talks will only address trade in goods.
According to Mainichi, a GOJ source noted that the goals presented by the USTR constitute a wish list and that the scope of the actual negotiations will be decided through bilateral discussions. The daily projected that if the U.S. aims to reach a conclusion by the end of next year, the scope of negotiations may be limited.
Meanwhile, Mainichi published an interview with Nick Giordano, vice president of the National Pork Producers Council, who said his organization is hoping for an early conclusion of bilateral trade talks and that his organization and most other U.S. industrial lobbies will be satisfied if the Trump administration is able to cut a deal with Japan at liberalization levels equal to the TPP11’s.


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It’s bad enough when consumers see an ATOL logo on a website and assume, often incorrectly, that everything on that site is protected.
Just ask the thousands of Freedom Direct clients who are probably still scratching their heads about what went wrong.
But if the boss of a big consortium and the CAA can’t agree on a major supplier’s use of the ATOL logo then alarm bells really ought to ring.
TTA operations director Gary Lewis is a bright guy who’s totally immersed in travel. But the CAA insists he’s got the wrong end of the stick when he says that the use of the ATOL logo on Globespan documents related to a time when the operator’s flight-only sales were protected alongside its packages.
If the CAA is right and one of the country’s top agency figures was mistaken, what chance would a consumer have?
And is it really good enough for the CAA to agree it isn’t clear, and then place the onus back on the agent or buyer to check?
It seems to me that ABTA chairman John McEwan is spot on when he calls for the ATOL logo to be used only when the buyer’s money is safe, regardless of what they book.
Our exclusive consumer poll this week suggests that four out of five customers still pay attention to ATOL or ABTA logos. But the 20% that don’t are likely to become a growing minority if they feel the logos stand for nothing.
It’s only when the ATOL logo stands for a 100% guarantee that an effective education drive can start in earnest.


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Damac Properties were quick out of the blocks as they announced the launch of their 270-unit Tenora Tower, adjacent to the Expo site near to Dubai World Central. Prices will start from US$ 166k and should be completed within eighteen months.
Emaar is making great use of the current buoyancy in the property sector. At the beginning of the month, the first batch of 70 properties in its up-market Dubai Hills Project was sold out, within minutes, at prices ranging from US$ 7 million – US$ 10 million. The same sales mania occurred this week with its two-tower Vida Residence Project, comprising 136 units, at starting prices of US$ 790k, selling within minutes of release.
It is expected that Deyaar Development’s Fairview Residency will be complete by March next year. The 18-storey, 172-apartment building is located in Business Bay. The Dubai-based developer is fast recovering from its troubles, following the GFC and Dubai property collapse; the company’s shares surged the next day by 10% on this news.
Dubai’s latest five star hotel is set to open on Christmas Eve. The Al Habtoor Group announced that the Waldorf Astoria, located on Palm Jumeirah, will become the group’s seventh hotel, four of which are in Dubai. Three more are currently under construction on the Metropolitan site on SZR.
The RTA has announced the arrival of the first batch of eleven coaches for use on the upcoming Sufouh Tram System – with the official opening due late next year. 27k passengers are expected on a daily basis, with each coach having a capacity of three hundred users.
Designed to handle 7k passengers at any one time, Mina Rashid has been voted the best cruise port in the world for the sixth consecutive year. The DP World facility, covering an area of 24k sq mt, has recently been upgraded.
Majid Al Futtaim Group (MAF) has announced a US$ 5 billion investment programme as it launched a single branding for its numerous entities, including Mall of the Emirates, Carrefour, Ski Dubai and VOX cinemas. The conglomerate is planning to double its size within the next five years, to an asset size of US$ 20 billion. Part of the plan includes several ski slopes in the MENA region, similar to those of the eight-year old Ski Dubai, and Ski Egypt, which is due to open in 2016.
Following their 2010 release of a US$ 500 million convertible bond, Emaar Properties has issued 18.7 million new shares at a reduced price of US$ 1.29. This is because bondholders wanted to cash in with the share value having now reached a 5-year high of US$ 2.00.
Arabtec Holdings have refuted claims that it was considering purchasing Drake & Scull – this despite the two companies working together on several local projects, including the Louvre in Abu Dhabi.
It does seem surprising that the UAE is the 11th largest importer of clothes with a value in excess of US$ 4 billion (or 0.89% of the global total). With the retail sector set to increase to US$ 41.1 billion by 2015, it seems inevitable that the clothing industry will continue to grow in tandem.
A sign that Dubai is getting more of a profile as a hub centre was news that Hino Motors Limited has opened its new parts facility in Dubai World Central. The bus and truck manufacturer will use the 5.4k sq mt facility to import directly from Japan to expedite deliveries with the GCC and surrounding region.
It has to be Dubai when a bra, costing US$ 10 million, goes on display in the Dubai Mall. Loaded with 4,200 gems, and a 52-carat ruby, the garment was designed by Mouawad, the Swiss-based jeweller.
The Dubai Investments subsidiary, Glass LLC, estimates that it has seen a marked improvement in business and has picked up at least US$ 38 million of new business in Q4.
There is no doubt that the local auto sector is thriving and set to hit record high sales by the end of the year. This expansion is set to continue into 2014 and, as a result, Arabian Automobiles, the Nissan, Infiniti and Renault exclusive dealer, has announced that it will be taking on an extra 250 staff to meet the increasing demand.
Thirteen years ago, fast food chain ChicKing did not exist. Now the Dubai-based fast food chain has 100 outlets in thirty countries and has plans to increase this number tenfold by 2020; it has just signed an MoU with Malaysia’s Dual Super Food to set up stores in that country and others in SE Asia.
Dubai Health Authority have indicated that all companies, with more than 1,000 employees, will have to introduce mandatory staff health insurance before October 2014 with smaller companies (100 – 999 employees) having to follow suit by July 2015, with another year’s grace given to entities below that size.
There was a welcome bonus this week for many in the Dubai public sector with salary increases of between 30% and 100%, paid retrospectively from June. It is reported that some doctors and financial controllers will see their pay packets double!
With his recent decree, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has laid down his three-year plan to make Dubai the centre of a potential US$ 6.7 trillion Islamic global economy. The Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre will be set up with the specific aim of making this a reality.
The Dubai Financial Market General Index continues to flourish and is up 109.1% YTD. It started the week on 3158 points and moved 2.7% higher to close at 3243.
The Institute of International Finance have estimated that Expo 2020 will add an annual 1.5% to Dubai’s GDP for the next six years whilst official figures estimate a spend of US$ 24 billion which will inevitably add to the emirate’s debt. The end result seems to indicate an 18.7% jump in debt to US$ 168.5 billion. However with an estimated 5.5% annual growth, Dubai’s debt to GDP ratio will actually fall from its 106% level last year to 70% in 2020. Funding will be from a variety of sources including internal (profit and sale of assets), local (federal and Abu Dhabi assistance) and global capital markets.
It is reported that Istithmar World, Part of Dubai World, has sold its 50% share in the celebrated Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami which it acquired for US$ 375 in the halcyon days of 2008. (In 1976, Muhammad Ali stayed at the hotel, when filming ‘The Greatest’). The amount paid by the Florida property developer is unknown but should bring in a profit for the Dubai GRE.
European golf received a major boost with Emirates announcing that it would sponsor another nine tournaments, making nineteen in all, as well as becoming the tour’s official airline. The airline’s agreement is for the next four years, running until 2017.
Good news and bad news for Ireland as the country formally exited its 3-year US$ 115 billion bailout programme but it will still face several years of painful austerity programmes, as it battles an unemployment rate of 12.8% and depressed market conditions. Fellow eurozone strugglers – Cyprus, Greece and Portugal – are still under the control of the troika (IMF, EU and ECB) and will continue to have reduced input into their own finance policy.
In recession for six years, Greece has been relying on bailout funds for over three years and again this week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was requesting a further write-off of his country’s debt. This will be dependent on whether the troika consider that Greece has fulfilled the terms of its bailout deal.
There is no doubt that the Chinese economy is undergoing problems as growth levels, although still high on an international comparison, are expected to fall below a two-decade low of 7.5%. The world’s second largest market is set for a bumpy 2014 and this, in turn, will be depressing news for the global economy, with many countries still reeling from the effects of the GFC.
On the back of a slowing China, the Australian economy is going into a tailspin, as it faces a possible US$ 42 billion deficit this financial year, unless immediate action is taken. A major driver in this turnaround in fortunes is a softening in resource investment along with a weakening economy. The sorry state of the national airline, Qantas, increasing unemployment levels and a collapsing auto industry are further indicators that the lucky country is facing turbulent times.
As expected, the US Federal Reserve has announced the scaling back of its quantitative easing policy by US$ 10 billion a month, with the taper being equally split between mortgage-backed securities and treasury bonds which will both fall by US$ 5 billion in the first month to US$ 35 billion and US$ 40 billion respectively. As the markets have become addicted to so much cheap money (US$ 85 billion a month), it comes as a relief to some that the days of easy money have ended. It’s All Over Now.


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Adams & Knight Named Finalist for PRSA Silver Anvil Award in Travel and Tourism/Hospitality Marketing
â€œSo Good To See You, Connecticutâ€ campaign drives immediate visitation, long-term intent to visit
AVON, Conn., (April 29, 2021) – Adams & Knight, one of the leading integrated marketing agencies in New England, was recently named a finalist in the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) 2021 Silver Anvil Awards, honoring outstanding strategic public relations programs that meet the highest standards of performance in the profession. The agency was recognized for its results-generating marketing campaign, “So Good To See You, Connecticut,” together with its client the Connecticut Office of Tourism (COT).
Adams & Knight is joined as a finalist by some of the globe’s largest public relations firms and leading organizations, as well as iconic travel and lifestyle brands including Delta Airlines, Discover Puerto Rico, Hilton, American Express, Clorox and General Motors.
Following weeks of pandemic-related stay-at-home orders that halted travel and temporarily shuttered hundreds of tourism businesses, the “So Good To See You, Connecticut” campaign was developed to promote safe travel experiences in Connecticut and drive revenue to state tourism businesses amid the state’s “reopening” in summer/fall 2020.
In less than two months, Adams & Knight and COT planned and executed an over $1 million research-based, integrated marketing campaign. Focused on messages about safety and proximity—two key traveler priorities—the campaign featured six, 30-second TV spots; 3 digital videos; hundreds of pieces of original content; paid social media on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat; an online interactive quiz; and a robust public relations campaign, all of which featured over 1,500 Connecticut tourism businesses and experiences and welcomed targeted Northeast consumers to see the state from a fresh perspective.
The campaign garnered over 41.4 million TV/video views, 87 million social media impressions and over 500 earned media placements, as well as generated over 795,000 clicks to www.CTvisit.com—helping the site greatly exceed the performance of all other New England state tourism websites during the campaign period.
Most importantly, the latest post-campaign research revealed that those who saw the campaign showed a 90% increase in interest in visiting Connecticut in the next two years and a 122% increase in intent to visit in the next 12 months. According to GPS tracking, 10% of those who saw the digital videos or visited the website actually visited Connecticut tourism businesses within the campaign period.
“We are honored to be recognized by the PRSA for a research-based, results-generating campaign that not only exceeded marketing goals, but also drove immediate visitation to Connecticut tourism businesses during a challenging time,” said Jill Adams, CEO/Principal, Adams & Knight. “In today’s fragmented media environment, we focus on bringing our clients integrated marketing programs that meet target audiences where they are with messages that resonate.”
The 2021 Silver Anvil Awards ceremony will be held virtually on June 10 at 4 p.m. ET.
About Adams & Knight
Adams & Knight is a branding and marketing consultancy based in Connecticut that specializes in results-driving advertising, digital marketing, PR, social media, content marketing and marketing technology services. For more than 30 years, the agency has been serving leading healthcare, financial services and travel/lifestyle brands that help others live financially, emotionally and physically healthier lives.


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Kellogg's (NYSE:K) share price is achieving record highs as it expands operations into emerging markets, capturing the growth of an international middle class. Emerging markets have become a target for Kellogg in recent years as demand for cold cereal in the U.S. has fallen. Consumers in the U.S. have more options now, and are choosing to diversify away from Kellogg's products. This has weighed on revenue, as has currency headwinds of international sales. While Kellogg has seen its share price rise spectacularly in recent months, its valuation multiples remain attractive, leaving more room for price appreciation in the future.
The renewed optimism for the company has come from both acquisitions, and strategic partnerships between Kellogg and international food makers. In September, the company announced it was buying Egyptian cereal maker Mass Food Group for $50 million in cash. Mass Foods makes widely known international brands Temmy's cereals and NutriFit cereal bars. The company was established in 1996, and has grown annual revenue to over $18 million since. The company sells its products domestically, while also exporting to Europe and Asia.
The Mass Food acquisition comes on the heels of other emerging market moves made by Kellogg in recent months. The cereal maker bought an Egyptian packaged biscuit company, while also adding a joint-partnership with Tolaram Africa to produce snack foods for West African countries. Kellogg has taken the approach of buying into areas it wants exposure to in an effort to overcome the cultural miscues that large multi-national corporations make when simply putting operations in a new country. For example, in Africa, noodles are often eaten as a breakfast option. By Kellogg acquiring established firms in the region, it allows the company to expand revenue, while also meeting the demand of local buyers.
With the emergence of a larger middle class in many African and Asian countries, demand for cereal has grown in those regions. The speed of life is increasing, making cereal a more viable option for consumers to eat quickly on the go. As incomes rise, and palates seek more variety, cereal makers are seeing demand rise now, and well into the future. As a testament to this, cereal sales by volume have risen by double-digit percentages in Asian emerging markets over the last year, according to Zacks Advisory.
While growth forecasts are optimistic, currency headwinds are currently weighing on revenue. Kellogg generates nearly 40% of its revenue internationally, meaning the strong rise in the U.S. dollar has weighed on foreign sales. This has adversely affected top-line growth for the past year, and could continue to be an issue into the future.
The chart below is of company revenue. It is clear that since 2013 sales have slumped, with declines accelerating in recent months due to currency headwinds. Additionally, U.S. cereal demand in the U.S. has almost forced Kellogg to seek opportunities abroad as the market has become saturated. Breakfast options in the U.S. now range from fast food, to yogurt, eggs, and other alternatives to cereal. As U.S. consumers move further away from cereal, the company is becoming more reliant on its international expansion.
While sales in the U.S. are floundering, overseas growth is exciting investors. The price to earnings growth multiple is currently at 0.2 for Kellogg, representing much potential. Although the company's share price has risen nearly 50% since the summer of 2012, investors continue to price in value due to recent acquisitions. While domestic demand may be slipping, investors are optimistic that Kellogg is heading in the right direction, and that management has a control on things. For this reason, Kellogg presents a strong opportunity to buy at current levels.
Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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The government’s support for smaller energy suppliers has been criticised by members of the big six, who claim that it gives up-and-coming companies an unfair market advantage.
In a bid to break the dominance of the big six – British Gas, npower, EDF, E.ON, Scottish Power, and Scottish and Southern Energy – the government has introduced a number of measures to help smaller energy suppliers.
Those with fewer than 250,000 customers are exempt from taking part in schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which is mandatory for the market leaders and requires them to help insulate the properties of vulnerable customers.
It means that smaller companies can then use the money that would usually be spent on ECO improvements to meet overheads and other costs that would otherwise prevent them from gaining a greater market share.
According to the coalition, reducing the big six’s market share (which currently stands at around 95%) will help to drive innovation and competition in the market, which will ultimately mean consumers benefit through lower energy bills and better tariffs to choose from.
However, the big six argue that exempting smaller firms from obligations gives them an unfair market advantage, and enables them to knock approximately £100 off energy bills that the bigger companies are obliged to include in order to meet ECO obligations and other mandatory measures.
A spokesperson for British Gas told the Daily Telegraph that the company has concerns about what this will mean over the longer term.
“The operation of small supplier exemptions is already causing a gross market distortion,” the representative added.
The views were echoed by npower, which spoke of a “serious issue of distortion of competition in the retail energy market” as a result of the “ever-increasing” exemptions that the government is offering to smaller energy suppliers.
The best solution, npower says, is to cut these exemptions because they now “markedly outweigh” any large supplier economies of scale, while reforms undermine the scope of the larger suppliers to compete with smaller competitors.
“Recommendations designed to improve the comparability etc. of competing prices should not be put forward at a time when there is such an unlevel playing field in favour of small suppliers,” the company added.
Though independent research has suggested that consumers can often get a better deal by switching to a smaller supplier, npower claimed that the big six offer greater security, protecting people against the possibility of smaller firms exiting the market.
The provider also acknowledged that people prone to switching suppliers to find the cheapest deal may cause costs for those who remain with bigger suppliers to rise – many of whom are the intended target of help measures such as the ECO.
Addressing these concerns, Stephen Fitzpatrick, managing director of OVO Energy – one of the smaller suppliers in question – told the Telegraph that he was actually in favour of some of the measures called for by big firms, such as the removal of the exemptions from the ECO.
However, he added that the big six continue to saddle the most vulnerable customers with these costs, and will continue to do so unless more is done to bring about greater competition and fairness in the market.


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Salvador's Super Repuestos celebrates anniversary
The Salvadoran auto-parts retail chain Super Repuestos aims to close the year with three new stores, one in El Salvador and two in Honduras -- one i making 28 stores in all.
The new stores in Honduras are to be ,located in San Pedro Sula and Comayagua.
Super Repuestos is now completing its 50th anniversary. The chain not only trains its 1,000-strong staff but also its customers, who are provided with workshops on maintenance and driving skills.


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Tobacco companies advertise through social networks
- From: The Advertiser
- October 07, 2009
TOBACCO giants are targeting people through Facebook and MySpace, researchers say.
A study released today warns of the "alarming sophistication" of companies that have turned to the unregulated internet to market their wares.
Sydney Medical School researcher Becky Freeman said tobacco companies had become "more creative" since the introduction of advertising bans in the 1990s.
She will speak today at the Oceania Tobacco Control Conference in Darwin.
"The ban forced the industry to become more creative at promoting their products and it didn't take them long to see that this new and unregulated medium is often more effective at engaging consumers than traditional advertising," she said.
She said many cigarette retailers were using Facebook pages to recruit "members" to the habit of smoking.
"Public health cannot afford to ignore these emerging media and should be using them, not only to beat the tobacco industry at its own game, but to capitalise on the ability to better engage the public with health promotion messages," Ms Freeman said.
Cancer Council Australia chief executive Professor Ian Olver said there was a danger public health messages were being "left behind" as people turned to the internet for information.
"Monitoring the volume and impact of online health messaging and looking at the potential to regulate alternative forms of advertising being employed by the tobacco industry must be a priority for chronic-disease prevention," he said.
South Australia has steadily tightened the restrictions on smoking. It has banned smoking in clubs and pubs and is planning to ban smoking in hospital grounds.
The state, however, still won the 2009 Dirty Ashtray Award this year.
The award singles out the state that has the "least activity or progress in tobacco control", the Australian Medical Association says.


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You build castles and attack castles in Stronghold: Crusader 2—and shoot diseased lion corpses to spread illness among your foes.
We hit the show floor at E3 2014, looking for unusual sights and sounds at the annual gaming expo. And we weren't disappointed.
A deluge of computer-focused announcements at E3 promise that PC gaming will enjoy more of the limelight than ever before.
Doom is being rebooted, and its hellish first trailer will have your trigger finger itching for a BFG.
Contrasting sharply with Microsoft's game title heavy Xbox briefing, Sony kicked off its presentation with a new glacier white PlayStation 4 bundle which will be available in September.
It may be called PlayStation TV, but this itty-bitty console is all about playing games.
While customers have bought into the increasingly blurred lines between the desktop, tablet, and mobile, Microsoft and its Xbox One console have quickly learned that the living room can be much more unforgiving.
It's real! The Internet whined and Rockstar listened!
There were a ton of PC games on display at E3 2014's press day, if you realized that the "exclusive" in "Xbox exclusive" or "PlayStation exclusive" doesn't apply to PC games.
The PlayStation 4 is going to have a rocking sophomore year if the slew of hardware, PlayStation Plus, and exclusive game announcements are any indication.
Sure, there was Assassin's Creed, The Division, and Just Dance—just like you expected. But nobody saw a new Rainbow's Six coming.


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Britain has announced it will begin phasing out the one-bag carry-on rule that’s proved frustrating to passengers who can carry two bags onboard almost everywhere else in the world. That’s the word according to this USA Today article.
That’s good news for passengers traveling through the U.K. since cramming two bags into one or checking the larger piece has been a source of frustration for travelers coming through the U.K. (from the U.S. to other points in Europe, for example).
Why the change? Well, the rule went into effect back in 2006 after a foiled bombing plot—the same one that precipitated the restrictions on liquids. The policy was meant to be a temporary measure while screening processes were improved. According to the article, the rule may be relaxed as soon as January 7.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.


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Lucinda Chambers announced that she will step down from her role as fashion direct for British Vogue after a career spanning 36 years this summer, British Vogue reported today, May 17.
On British Vogue’s website, Alexandra Shulman said: “Lucinda has been the most wonderful creative collaborator, as well as friend, throughout my whole editorship.
“She has produced many of the most influential and inspiring fashion shoots in the world during her time as fashion director of this magazine as well as a huge number of our most remarkable covers.
“It is impossible to overstate her vision, commitment, imagination and her ability to bring the best out of teams that work with her.
“I, like her many admirers, will be excited to see what she produces in her next chapter.”
Chambers departure from the title, where she has worked for 25 years, comes as long term editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman steps down after it was announced that Edward Enninful will take over the publication in August.
I had the privilege of meeting Lucinda during my second year of university and she was such an amazing and inspirational woman. She gave me some brilliant tips and advice for working in the industry. I have continued to follow and adore her work, and it is very sad to see her go – who could possibly replace her?!


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The free-spirited, bohemian atmospheres of URBN Group’s stores: Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, had me imagining myself swaying in a white cotton gauze dress, surrounded by butterflies in a wildflower meadow. In college, I’d browse through the shelves and racks, and go home having settled with a $15 pink crystal or a hat with a piece of a feather attached, found in the discount section. My idyllic imagination then would be shattered by URBN’s accountability score of 2/150, based on Remake’s accountability criteria.
Upon a quick glance at URBN’s impact report for 2021-2022, the brand has made progress on several fronts. On circularity, there is the repurposing program of Urban Outfitters – Urban Renewal, as well as a subscription and resale brand Nuuly. URBN’s existing donations and future pledges to support social causes are at least 12.5 million dollars. The company seems to be on some sort of path to becoming more sustainable, especially with its recent investment in textile reusing and recycling through the nonprofit Fabscrap.
URBN, which has at least 10 suppliers in Pakistan, [is] essentially free-riding on the improved safety conditions of “Accord factories” by sourcing from these manufacturers [that have already signed onto the Accords]
On Earth Day and during April every year, Anthropologie launches its eco campaigns. This year the brand highlighted the sustainable materiality of bamboo. The campaign, in partnerships with The Nature Conservancy, details the practicality and ethicality of bamboo, illustrating the harvesting process of these materials and all the ways in which bamboo could be a great alternative to more harmfully sourced materials. The comment section of the post is littered with comments calling for Anthropologie to stop “virtue signaling” and for the brand to be wary of its consumption and harvesting of the bamboo it touted as a solution to “fighting climate change” and living more ethically. Anthropologie’s sustainability has long been questioned for its authenticity, and while URBN’s sustainability facade is well constructed, the reality is, URBN lags far behind its industry peers in social and environmental commitments.
In closely reviewing its public records, Remake discovered in its 2022 Fashion Accountability Report that URBN’s supplier code of conduct does not even meet the Fair Labor Association standards when it comes to worker compensation and working hours. Furthermore, the company’s darling, Anthropologie, still needs to pay money it owes to suppliers for orders canceled during the pandemic. Urban Outfitters has also since been implicated in a wage theft case in Cambodia related to pandemic-induced factory closures.
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To add heat to the fire, URBN is not a signatory to the International Accord (for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry) nor its expansion program into Pakistan. The Accord is a landmark legally binding agreement between brands and trade unions to improve workplace safety in the fashion industry through conducting independent inspections, monitoring remediation, training workers, and offering a complaints mechanism for workers. The financial feasibility of these activities requires the financial contribution of each signatory brand. By refusing to sign the Accords for Bangladesh and Pakistan, companies like URBN, which has at least 10 suppliers in Pakistan, are essentially free-riding on the improved safety conditions of “Accord factories” by sourcing from these manufacturers, which have been made possible by other companies’ financial contributions, without contributing to the costs. Furthermore, if URBN sources from a factory that is not simultaneously being utilized by an Accord signatory brand, then workers at that factory, sewing for URBN, receive no Accord safety coverage.
A decade has passed since the Rana Plaza collapse, the life-taking tragedy that lead to the implementation of the original Accord protection program in Bangladesh. But Bangladesh is not the only country in need of these types of bind safety agreements. In 2012, 250 individuals lost their lives in the Ali Enterprises factory fire in Karachi, Pakistan. Since then, at least 135 workers have died in Pakistan’s textile and garment industry due to dangerous working conditions. The Pakistan Accord will improve workplace safety which is urgently needed for many garment workers, just as the Bangladesh Accord continues to do so. It is vital that brands, like URBN, sign onto these life-saving agreements.
Disappointingly, URBN’s refusal to sign the Accord, “a low-hanging fruit” initiative to improve the working conditions of its value chain, reveals the company’s hypocrisy in proclaiming how it cares and respects workers.
Worker Safety Isn’t the Only Thing URBN is Faking
URBN appears to have introduced some more formal ESG leadership committees, policies and targets in recent years; however, both the disclosed goals themselves and the reporting on progress are written in a way that seems purposefully vague. For example, on the more environmental side, URBN states that by 2023, it aims to source at least 30% of its “direct-sourced” cotton consumption more sustainably, either through “sustainably farmed” virgin fibers or recycled textiles, and that as of February 2022, 5% of its “direct-sourced” cotton is recycled, or “sustainable virgin fiber.” The company fails to define what it means by “direct-sourced” or “sustainable.” Furthermore, according to the Paris Agreement, emissions are on their way to peak by 2025, thus needing reduction by 43% by 2030 if we are to limit global warming to 1.5°C. URBN has yet to disclose its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, nor has it set science-based emissions reductions targets.
URBN’s strength as a conglomerate has been its marketing, as many see its brands as alternatives to fast fashion — but that is simply not the case.
URBN’s refusal to sign onto the International and Pakistan Accords while also failing to reach adequate sustainability requirements demonstrates the company’s profession of sustainability as a farce. URBN’s usage of Earth Day initiatives continues to fall flat as it fails to enact practices that would lead to safer working conditions for garment workers and more transparency in the quest to appear more environmentally ethical. URBN’s strength as a conglomerate has been its marketing, as many see its brands as alternatives to fast fashion — but that is simply not the case. The bohemian aesthetics and greenwashed marketing of URBN’s brands have led consumers to believe the brand is more committed to ethicality than the reality. However, the brand’s scores are not so different from its counterparts as both URBN and Forever 21 scored a 2/150 in the 2022 Fashion Accountability Report.
Is Anthro using its bohemian vibes to fool consumers?
When discussing URBN, many consumers have remarks about its practices, however, many of the complaints up until recently have been URBN’s habit of stealing designs from smaller brands. But URBN has many more skeletons in its closet.
Even during Earth Month, when the brand installs storefront art made from sustainable materials to promote its image of environmental friendliness, it continues this “damage out” practice.
In a May 2022 article published by Remake, we learned that the brand engaged in a “damage out” practice, destroying perfectly good but unsold products after speaking to a former employee that worked on the sales floor of Anthropologie during the pandemic. The irony of this is that even during Earth Month, when the brand installs storefront art made from sustainable materials to promote its image of environmental friendliness, it continues this “damage out” practice. The employee shared that Anthropologie would “flip” its inventory every two weeks, resulting in waste that contradicts the brand’s supposed commitment to sustainability.
Anthropologie recently started selling products from Reformation, a poster brand of sustainable fashion to many (scored 33/150 by Remake). This partnership with Reformation is the brand’s latest attempt at gaining credibility in the sustainability conversations. The partnership highlights Anthropologie’s image as a brand upholding sustainable practices; however, it is also highly possible that it is using its adjacency to Reformation to polish up its sustainability facade without taking any concrete action to work on its own business practice. Along with its eco campaigns like its Earth Month feature on pollinators and bamboos, an unknowing consumer might be influenced into thinking Anthropologie is more sustainable than it really is, negating the reality that the brand is merely another fast fashion conglomerate. With the increasing awareness among consumers about the unsustainable practices of the fashion industry, this unsubstantiated facade of sustainability could one day soon turn into a liability.
[URBN] is not taking enough meaningful action to address its environmental impacts or uphold decent labor conditions.
The lack of evidence and concrete action to back up URBN’s sustainability claims is the fundamental reason that it scored so low in Remake’s Accountability Report. The ethical brand rating app, Good on You, made the same assessment for Urban Outfitters, URBN’s namesake brand: the brand is not taking enough meaningful action to address its environmental impacts or uphold decent labor conditions. Its supplier code of conduct falls short of the industry standards, while the group has at least two outstanding cases of unethical business practices unaddressed since the pandemic. URBN’s absence from the International Accord’s signatories in Bangladesh and Pakistan along with its vague, unsubstantiated environmental claims (the total absence of action regarding textiles, chemical and water usage, as well as emission reduction) show that there is unfortunately little substance behind the company’s well-crafted facade of sustainability. Lest one forget, URBN also destroys unsold products that are in perfect condition.
URBN ought to step up before it suffers legal consequences. Governments around the world are drafting legislation to stop companies from greenwashing and misleading consumers regarding the environmental merits of their products, namely in the EU. In the face of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, coupled with the intensifying social challenges, URBN is in a position where adopting transparent reporting, setting ambitious and measurable sustainability goals, and implementing ethical practices throughout its value chain would bring invaluable change to its impact on people and the planet.
Remake reached out to URBN for comment. The company did not respond.
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September 2, 2009 —The results of Restaurants & Institutions Consumers’ Choice in Chains study have been announced, naming CiCi’s Pizza as the silver award-winning pizza chain in America.
In the Consumers’ Choice in Chains study, conducted by Restaurants & Institutions magazine, 3,000 consumers were asked to rate nearly 120 chain restaurants on eight customer satisfaction attributes: food quality, menu variety, value, service, atmosphere, cleanliness, reputation and convenience. Winners have been named in thirteen menu categories based on scores given to each restaurant chain.
“This award holds great significance for us because it means that our guests enjoy their experience, and take time to cast their vote for our brand,” said Craig Moore, President of CiCi’s Pizza. “Earning this award takes persistence and dedication from our entire team, and we wouldn’t be here without everyone’s effort on a daily basis.”
Now in its 29th year, the Restaurants & Institutions Consumers’ Choice in Chains award is recognized as a key measure of success by restaurant chains across the country.
“The R&I’s Consumers’ Choice in Chains award is a people’s choice award that sends a powerful message to the industry and beyond, which restaurants have earned business and guest loyalty, and the attributes that set them apart from others in the segment,” said Dan Hogan, Restaurants & Institutions’ Publisher.
Founded in 1985, CiCi’s Pizza is a family-oriented restaurant serving guests fresh pizza, pasta, salad and dessert, all you want for about five bucks and change. CiCis mission then and now is to exceed each guest’s expectation in food, service and cleanliness at an affordable price. Since opening its first restaurant in Plano, Texas, CiCis has grown to almost 650 restaurants in 32 states.
Industry professionals have taken notice of CiCis Pizza’s continuous growth and success. Nation’s Restaurant News has ranked CiCis number one for sales and unit growth in the pizza chain category for the past three years. In its recent 2009 ranking, Entrepreneur magazine’s Annual Franchise Top 500 issue, ranked CiCi’s Pizza as number one in the Italian restaurant industry category an honor the company also received in 2007. Men’s Health recently included CiCi’s Pizza in it’s list of America’s Healthiest Restaurants. StartupJournal.com, The Wall Street Journals guide for entrepreneurs, ranked CiCis as one of the top 25 highest-performing brands in the nation and Franchise Today placed the company in the top 200 of all franchise concepts. Other honors include Best in Value award among national pizza chains in Restaurants and Institutions magazines 2006 Consumers Choice Report and Best Customer Service from Corporate Research International in 2007, 2006 and 2005. For more information visit www.cicispizza.com.


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A TikTok video has broken the internet this week after a user shared footage of a “ghost” removing their dog’s collar…
We all love TikTok.
It’s pretty unlikely that you’ll see a teenager who isn’t obsessed with the social media platform.
And it’s not just the kids.
The majority of us adults are too, with us posting every inch of our lives on these apps and communicating with others through them solely.
It’s not just about funny videos though.
People can actually earn a living through social media, such as selling things on Instagram or starting a business through Twitter.
But there are some apps that aren’t so productive…
And TikTok is one of them!
What is TikTok?
Basically, it is an iOS and Android app made for creating and sharing short lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos.
It went viral pretty quick…
It was the world’s fourth most downloaded app in 2018, beating Instagram and Snapchat – which is a pretty big achievement!
It reminds many people of Vine.
Who remembers Vine? Launched in 2012, Vine was a short-form video hosting service that allowed users to share 6-second-long looping video clips.
And TikTok videos are similarly weird.
And it has to be said, the majority of them are rather entertaining.
Animals and TikTok are the best combination.
More and more people jumped on board the TikTok bandwagon and started getting their beloved pets involved.
This is a classic.
People began getting more and more creative, including autotuning this kitty’s annoyed yowls.
Some are just plain weird…
It’s a mystery as to what goes through people’s heads when these types of TikTok videos are made…
It can now be established that TikTok is just a space for weird videos.
But some people still cannot get their heads around it!
But there’s one new TikTok that’s taking the internet by storm.
It’s truly bizarre!
People can’t stop talking about it.
In the niw-viral video, the TikTokers shows video from his home security camera.
And in it, something spooky appears to happen to his dog.
Watch the video for yourself right here.
Are you feeling spooked?


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The LG Rainbow’s pre-discharge field tests have supposedly been dropped
LG’s next leader, the apparently called LG Rainbow, may have been deferred inconclusively after reports arose that the telephone’s pre-discharge field testing has been required to be postponed. While the Mobile phone was required to turn out in March, it’s hazy on the off chance that it will come out by any means.
LG and portable organization administrators decided not to continue with field testing that was planned for the finish of February, which would go before a March discharge window, a source revealed to Korean outlet Chosun.
The Rainbow, which followed a year ago’s LG Velvet, had gotten far enough being developed to have delivered a model that pressed a Snapdragon 888 and utilized a pointer, the report proceeded.
LG Rainbow: dropped with the remainder of LG’s Mobile phone business?
It’s indistinct whether the testing will be impermanent or bring about the perpetual retraction of the Rainbow, particularly given the opposing gossipy tidbits on LG’s Mobile phone business. Soon after CES 2021, the organization’s CEO unequivocally rejected that LG’s cell phone office was covering, however, he purportedly told workers the organization was thinking about pulling out from telephones (among other expected activities) in an interior notice later in the month.
Normally, that prompted the question that the organization’s LG Rollable, which it had freely uncovered during a CES 2021 introduction and affirmed to CNET would be coming later in 2021, may not arrive at the market by any means. The brand denied it has postponed or dropped the rollable, yet the truth will surface eventually if LG’s extraordinary jump in telephone tech gets delivered.
All things considered, on the off chance that you are in that little rate section of those with more mileage obviously going on with their drive, that will be a worry, obviously – and ideally something Apple will address now this has been hailed up.
Another chance is that there is some sort of glitch in the product detailing the SSD utilization levels. At any rate, ideally, Apple is as of now exploring this and will give a report on what’s happening here soon.
We’ve reached Apple for a reaction on this matter and will refresh this story in the event that we hear back from the organization.


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To Better Service Commercial Customers in the Western United States
MEDFORD, OR., April 19, 2011 — King Plastic Corporation, worldwide supplier of polymer sheet, slab and massive shape products in a broad range of materials, has opened a new warehouse facility in Medford, OR, to better service its commercial customers in the western United States.
“The new warehouse lets us take advantage of our ability to deliver products quicker to customers in western states. Now we can reduce both freight costs and shipping times, while providing our commercial customers more immediate access to our products,” said Jeff King, president of King Plastic Corp.
“Storing products and palletizing inventory in Medford, Oregon will allows us to provide next-day service – if not same day service – which will be a great benefit to our west coast customers,” added manager, Steven King.
All orders will still be placed through our corporate office in North Port, FL 34288.
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About King Plastic Corporation
Founded in 1968, King Plastic Corporation is a leading manufacturer of quality polymer sheets, slabs and massive shapes – including several products pioneered by the company. Its polymers are sold worldwide through a network of plastics distributors and markets in marine, architectural, healthcare, signage, industrial, food service and many other markets. The company headquarters is a 250,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in North Port, FL.


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Turkish brands, which have 4,396 shops in 125 countries, continue to open an average of two new shops abroad per day, the head of the United Brands Association (BMD) said.
"I believe they will continue to open shops rapidly and reach around 5,000 shops abroad in the second half of 2019," Sinan Öncel told Anadolu Agency (AA). He added, in other words, Turkish brands will double the number of their shops abroad in 3 years. Öncel also said local brands have some 12,884 sales points across 125 countries. He noted that Turkish brands have 2,500 shops abroad in 2016, and that they managed 650 and 850 new shops in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Russia is the main destination for Turkish brands with 636 shops, followed by Kazakhstan with 320 shops and Saudi Arabia with 294 shops, he stressed.
Romania, Iraq, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Iran, Morocco and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are other top destinations for Turkish brands, he noted.
The Turkish government's program, named Turquality, supports firms that aim to become international brands with cost incentives for branding, education, advertising and consultancy.


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Income among hosted travel agents is up this year, according to a new study from Host Agency Reviews. According to the website’s latest travel agent income report, average income for established agents is up 10 percent in 2019 over the previous year. (Host Agency Reviews defines established agents as those with three years of experience or more.)
According to the report, income for established agents was up even as the average income among all hosted agents held steady at $33,732. By comparison, the average income for established hosted agents was $44,312. Overall, 84 percent of agents reported that their income increased from the previous year.
Additionally, established agents who reported selling travel full time earned 39 percent more ($61,427) than the overall average. The number of agents selling travel full time was up as well: 61 percent of hosted agents reported selling travel full time in 2019, as compared to 51 percent in 2018 and 47 percent in 2017, representing a 10 percent increase from last year and a 14 percent increase from the year prior.
Host Agency Reviews said that this trend aligns with 60 percent of hosted agents reporting that selling travel is their primary source of income, up 13 percent from last year and up 23 percent from 2017.
The travel agent income report polled hosted travel agents with an income of $500 or greater and with at least one year of experience selling travel. Income was reported before deductions as the sum of commissions, service fees, consultation fees and related income.


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The bank listed the top 5 company stocks that could give investors exposure to the metaverse, and considered Facebook the best option.
The Wall Street banking giant, Morgan stanley, recently shared his vision for the future for the metaverse market, a concept that refers to the virtual world and that has been gaining popularity in recent weeks.
The term metaverse, which refers to the confluence between virtual reality and the physical world through online spaces, has attracted general attention after the announcement of the rebrand of Facebook becoming the next great technological promise that will revolutionize the world, similar to how the Internet did at the time.
Facing this scenario, the investment bank has anticipated that the metaverse could become a potential market of USD $ 8 billion, opening a new business opportunity for investors.
The metaverse will be a “Next-generation gaming, streaming, and social media platform”Which will initially operate as an advertising and e-commerce forum. So indicated Morgan stanley in an investigation last week that was reviewed by various news outlets. Forbes collected a quote about it from analyst Brian Nowak, who wrote the report:
Like current digital platforms, we expect the metaverse to initially and primarily operate as an advertising and e-commerce platform for offline products / purchases.
Facebook is the most obvious investment, but there are others
In its report, the investment firm highlighted some of the actions investors can take advantage of to expose themselves to the potential gains from this growing trend. As expected, analysts from Morgan stanley they considered the actions of Meta (formerly Facebook) as the most obvious to gain exposure to the metaverse market.
Facebook (rated overweight) is the most obvious way to invest in the space, according to the report, thanks to the durability of its core business growth. And whatever success you have in building and monetizing the metaverse is “all bullish and will represent another multi-year monetization layer“Adds the report.
But the social media giant is not the only one that can make it easier for investors to capture the potential bullish performance of this market. Morgan stanley He also mentions four other actions in his report that could offer exposure to the metaverse.
The analysts highlighted the game company Roblox, highlighting as advantages its 47 million daily active users and its monetization algorithms “solid”With the advertising and e-commerce opportunities of the metaverse. Likewise, the report also mentioned the companies Alphabet, parent company of Google, the social media platform Snap and the video game search engine Unity Software as actions that can benefit from the growing adoption of the metaverse concept.
“US daily users already spend the total equivalent of ~ 11 billion days per year consuming digital media“, Which are considered”metaverse hours to captureThe report noted.
Metaverso could favor the luxury market
On the other hand, the report highlighted that the metaverse and tokens Non-fungibles (NFTs) could represent a growth advantage over the next 10 years for the luxury digital goods market.
The metaverse and NFTs could represent a $ 56 billion revenue opportunity for the luxury market, Held Morgan stanley, as quoted CoinDesk. By 2030, luxury brands could expand their total addressable market by more than 10% and industry earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) by approximately 25%. NFT’s demand for collectibles will lead to strong demand for luxury items in the medium term, analysts said.
NFTs and social gaming present two short-term opportunities for luxury brands, allowing them to monetize their vast intellectual property built over decades.
Morgan stanley He noted that luxury goods companies are already exploring collaborations with gaming platforms and metaverse, with an increasing number of deals. In this regard, they also mentioned the company Kering, based in France, owner of luxury brands such as Gucci and Yves saint laurent, as the one in the best position to take advantage of the metaverse due to its “Brand demographics and their advantage in innovative digital collaborations”Added the analysts.
The bank also estimated that the total NFT market will grow close to USD $ 300 billion by 2030. The report also added that the metaverse has the potential to increase crypto payment volumes; although Morgan stanley considered that the income opportunity is smaller and occurs in the long term.
According to analysts, the “The challenge here is that the uncertain regulatory environment around cryptocurrencies in the long term creates more uncertainty about how big this monetization opportunity could be.“.
Hannah Estefanía Pérez’s version / DailyBitcoin
Image from Unsplash


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V's, inlines, W's and more. Brian Cooley tells you how engines are arranged.
Here's everything you need to know before taking the plunge into DIY home security.
The consumer-electronics company has refreshed its Satellite C, L and S series clamshells as well as its Fusion and Radius touchscreen convertibles with prices starting at $395.
Shiro Nakamura, the man behind the current GT-R, 370Z, Juke, Cube and most other current Nissans, sits down with CNET trackside at the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans to talk about how design is changing.
NASA's Dawn spacecraft cozies up to the fascinating dwarf planet Ceres and sends back the best look yet at its oddball bright spots.
The MSI GT72 concept features eye-tracking software by Tobii EyeX, letting you interact with your laptop with your eye movements.
Just ahead of its Tech World event in Beijing, Lenovo reveals three new low-cost consumer laptops, including the entry-level 14-inch ideapad 100 starting at just $249.
New smartphones come in a bit larger and smaller than the company's flagship G4.
The new operating system can work on everything from wearables to connected vehicles, Huawei said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Using an exotic form of carbon called graphene, researchers print antennas on paper and other materials with a process that could bring network links to many cheap devices.


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On the road to Damascus there's a gleaming new shopping centre.
Dan Isaacs found evidence of a new Syria on the road to Damascus
It sits in glorious isolation tucked into the rocky hillside in no-man's land between Syria and Lebanon.
In the car park the sun gleams off the bonnets of rows of expensive foreign vehicles.
Within the shopping complex there's an emporium of "forbidden" delights, all available for US dollars only and largely unavailable at any price within Syria's borders.
There are strict limits on imports of foreign goods into Syria proper, particularly from its arch-nemesis the United States.
Syrians of modest means and without access to the mighty dollar are of course, effectively excluded.
So only the can come into this duty-free haven to buy their fancy perfumes and the latest fashions - and to relax at the Dunkin' Donuts coffee shop.
The shopping centre is owned by one of the most powerful businessmen in Syria.
Rami Makhlouf not only runs a chain of duty-free outlets on the country's borders - he also, amongst many other business projects, controls the country's mobile phone network, SyriaTel.
With friends at the highest level in government, Mr Makhlouf, who just happens to be a cousin of the president, is a very powerful man.
It is said that no foreign companies can do business in Syria without his consent.
A BBC request to meet Mr Makhlouf was turned down with the comment that he does not do media interviews.
When pro-government demonstrations "spontaneously" occur, it is coaches from Mr Makhlouf's businesses and schools that can be seen carrying supporters to the rally.
Syrian flags and posters of President Bashar al-Assad are ready to unfurl to accompany the familiar chant of "Assad, our spirit and our blood is yours."
Syrian business leaders often help organise pro-government demonstrations
Ask the demonstrators themselves, and they will say they came to show their support for the president.
But ask them what would happen to them if they refused to come when the buses were loading up at the factory or university gates, and their answers are less forthcoming.
Economic activity in Syria is dominated by who you know and who owes you favours.
So when President Assad promises reforms, and to "modernise" the Syrian economy, reformers look to dismantle this culture of patronage - to untangle the Gordian knot of bureaucratic regulations that effectively strangles small independent businesses.
On Syria's fertile Mediterranean coast lies the port of Latakia.
It's a thriving city, the window through which the country does much of its international trade.
Cotton, tobacco, bitumen and a wide range of fruit and vegetables all leave from here.
Electronic products, cars and a whole range of other products for the domestic market are unloaded from the giant ships moored at the dockside.
"There's no doubt that things are changing for the better," shipping agent Kamal Darwish Ahmad says.
"There has been a growth in both imports and exports over the past few years, partly as a result of improved legislation, but also because the Syrian market is expanding."
But there are those calling for a faster pace of change.
The Syrian government wants to modernise the economy
"It's not easy to make economic reforms," Latakia businesswoman Yasmina Azhari argues, "when there are powerful individuals doing very well out of the existing system.
"These are people who have been educated over the past 30 years in a particular way of thinking and are resisting the reforms."
Is it possible for someone without business connections to do well in Syria?
"It's possible, but it's hard," she responds. "Connections are less important now, but we are all suffering from bureaucracy.
"We all have to stop accepting things as they are, and I believe it will change."
What if Syria were to face the threat of economic sanctions?
That is very real possibility if it fails to comply fully with a UN resolution calling for complete disengagement from neighbouring Lebanon.
But Mr Ahmad, the businessman and shipping agent, is not concerned about the possible effects of such measures against Syria.
"Nobody likes to see sanctions.
"If they were imposed by the United States alone, that's only a very small market for us anyway. Wider sanctions are unlikely in the present political climate," Mr Ahmad says, "but the effect would be slight. Syria could cope."
For ordinary Syrians, exporting their agricultural produce and relying on imported goods from all over the world, any gains they may achieve from internal economic reforms could well be undermined severely by sanctions.
But probably of most concern to the government and its friends in the business community, is over the possibility of sanctions on its oil exports.
With oil being one of the country's principal foreign exchange earners, oil sanctions would drastically limit the availability of foreign currency.
If this were to happen, not only would fledging reforms be placed in serious jeopardy, but the car park outside the Dunkin' Donuts duty-free franchise at the border would no doubt become a lot emptier than it is today.


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Smith brings decades of sales leadership to strengthen Kajeet’s public sector and private wireless networks business
MCLEAN, Va. — January 18, 2023 Kajeet®, a world-class provider of managed IoT connectivity solutions and private wireless networks, appointed Jamaal Smith as vice president of sales. Smith joined Kajeet in 2022 to help lead the sales organization for Kajeet’s fast-growing private wireless business. In his new role, he will be responsible for leading sales and business development activity for the company’s public sector and private wireless business.
“Jamaal earned this leadership role at Kajeet through his experience, energy, and determination on the sales side,” said Ben Weintraub, CEO and founder of Kajeet. “He is acutely focused on customer needs and building a strong, laser-focused sales team to not only meet, but exceed our goals at Kajeet.”
Smith brings over 25 years of sales experience within the telecommunications and wireless infrastructure spaces, including public sector, IoT, and the federal market. Prior to Kajeet, he worked at Geoverse as vice president of sales for the eastern region. He also spent 18 years at Verizon, where he held multiple leadership roles, including area vice president of federal sales, managing director of sales for wholesale, and director of business sales.
“I am honored to take on this new leadership role,” said Smith. “The culture at Kajeet allows people to grow in a strong, team-driven environment and I look forward to leading this group to incredible success.”
Kajeet® is a leading IoT connectivity services provider that enables thousands of schools, healthcare providers, government organizations, and world-class enterprises to better connect with their students, employees, and customers. Kajeet’s Private 5G Platform simplifies private wireless, allowing education and enterprise customers to easily build and manage their own private wireless networks. Kajeet holds 43 U.S. patents in the field of wireless technologies. To learn more, visit kajeet.com and follow us on Twitter at @Kajeet.


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AMBITIOUS PLASTOMAC COMPANY LTD Q2 RESULTS
Coffee Day Enterprises reports Q2 loss of Rs 190 crore
Revenue from operations stood at Rs 843.16 crore compared with Rs 979.73 crore.
Vodafone Idea tanks 7% ahead of Q3 results; here’s what brokers expect
The brokerage expects average revenue per user (Arpu) of Rs 113 (up 6 ...
Sheela Foam scales new 52-week high post Q3 results
Total income of the company also jumped 15.19 per cent to Rs 665.15 crore during the quar...
IOC Q3 results preview: Profit may jump up to 5 times on higher marketing margins, inventory gains
Kotak Institutional Equities sees 378.80 per cent yearly growth in Q3 profit.
The push to appoint women directors has brought diversity to an all-boys’ club
Regulatory push has made it mandatory for companies to have at least one independent woman director on boards. While most of the top 1,000 listed companies have complied with the directive from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), boards still have a long way to go before they become more inclusive.
JSW Steel shares decline 4% post Q3 results
The company recorded a total income of Rs 18,182 crore during the period under review.
Dr Reddy's Q3 results preview: Experts see double-digit growth in profit, revenue
A steady market share gain in generic Suboxone is expected to benefit Dr Reddy’s.
InterGlobe Aviation shares gain 2% post Q3 results; should you buy?
HDFC Securities maintained a ‘Buy’ call on InterGlobe Aviation with a target price of Rs 1,750.
IHCL reports Rs 69 crore profit for September quarter
IHCL said exceptional items during the quarter under review also comprise of a profit of Rs 2.12 crore on the sale of long term investments.
Reliance Retail m-cap surpasses HDFC, ICICI Bank, Kotak and SBI
Reliance Retail shares, in the unlisted market, have risen over 75 per cent in the five months.
L&T Finance Holdings Q3 profit inches up to Rs 591 crore
The NBFC said it continued to deliver top quartile return on equity at 16.51 per cent.
Torrent Power Q2 profit rises 83% to Rs 755 crore
Total income rose to Rs 3,891.29 crore in the quarter under review from Rs 3,488.66 crore.
High gold prices hit Titan’s jewellery sales in Q2; key takeaways
The watches business recorded an income of Rs 719 crores against Rs 676 crores in the previous year
Grasim Industries Q2 profit at Rs 1,473 crore
Grasim Industries had reported a net loss of Rs 1,319.79 crore in the September quarter a year ago.
DHFL postpones release of financial results
DHFL was scheduled to announce its financial result on November 25.
Copyright © 2020 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service


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If you’ve got a sweet tooth, feast your eyes on Songbird Bakery.
Bedford Street’s latest business will be welcoming its first customers tomorrow.
And if you like cupcakes, you’re in for a treat.
From smooth vanilla to Jaffa Cake, and chocolate peanut to Oreo - there will be no shortage of flavours for cupcake connoisseurs.
But if that was not enough, there will also be a range of cakes by the slice, such as rainbow and red velvet. Brownies and cookies are also planned.
Songbird Bakery is the brainchild of friends Shelley Tyreman and Claire Philpott.
The pair met while working a Teesside Park store, Hobbycraft, and went on to turn their love of baking into a business three years ago.
“We got talking one day and discovered we has the same passion,” said Shelley, who lives in Stockton.
“We used to run the business from home on weekends and evenings. Facebook was a big pull for business, and we would also attend fairs.
“But we always knew we wanted to take the next step and get a shop, and so when the opportunity to open up on Bedford Street arose, it was too good an opportunity to miss.”
So having been chosen as one of the eight businesses on the street, the pair quit their jobs at Hobbycraft to dedicate their time to their venture.
“Songbird will be a place where people can come in and have a sit down and enjoy a cupcake and a hot or cold drink, or a place where they can buy one to go,” said Shelley.
“We want that community, family feel to it - a place where people can feel comfortable.”
Claire, who lives in Acklam, added: “We will be mainly doing different flavoured cupcakes, some of which will be permanently on the menu and some which will be seasonal.
“We will also be baking big cakes that people can have a slice of.
“We are also still taking orders.”
Shelley added: “Bedford Street is something to be proud of so we are delighted to be a part of it.”


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We've added nine new bars and restaurants to our guide to our favorite spots in the East Bay.
Juhu Beach Club's Preeti Mistry is opening a second East Bay restaurant, Navi Kitchen, Blue Bottle is finally about to open in Berkeley, Bowl'd is opening a fried chicken joint, and much more.
Pacific Standard has set an opening date, Forage Kitchen opens, Halal Guys raises funds, and much more East Bay food news in this week's Bites.
Jake Freed and Hiroko Nakamura are looking to open The Periodic Table, a chemistry-themed taproom, next door to Emeryville's Shiba Ramen by next summer.
Emeryville Public Market has announced exciting new tenants, two East Bay restaurants are opening tomorrow, and much more food news in this week's Bites.
This week's food news includes details on Shiba Ramen's expansion into Oakland, the opening of the revamped Triple Rock in Berkeley, and much more.
The café has replaced Farley's on 65th, which closed Aug. 30 after six years in Emeryville. New owner Channarith Vanthin hopes to continue the Farley's emphasis on community.
We've got news on Herbivore and Belli Osteria's replacements, the closure of a favorite Emeryville café, and much more in this week's Bites.
Pal's Takeaway sandwich shop is headed to the new Forage Kitchen café space at the end of August, Lemat Ethiopian restaurant is open in Berkeley, and much more East Bay food news.
We're already ready for these new restaurants and bars headed to the East Bay later this summer and fall!
In this week's Bites, Handlebar changes its name to Doc's Refresher, Nido plots a new restaurant, a socially-conscious Southern restaurant gets ready to open in Emeryville, and much more.
It can be hard to keep up with all of the restaurant openings and closings in the East Bay. Here's our tally of all the changes since Memorial Day.
Even more beer is headed to the East Bay, plus T-Rex has new owners, Temescal has a new breakfast joint, and much more East Bay food news in this week's Bites.