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The federal agency has received expanded powers in the past decade, allowing it to oversee e-cigarettes as well as other products and devices.
Are flavored tobacco products getting kids hooked or helping smokers quit?
That’s one of the central questions the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating as it makes a preliminary move to potentially limit flavorings allowed in tobacco products.
The FDA announced last week that it’s seeking comments from the public on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to gather information about the role flavorings play in “initiation, use and cessation” of tobacco products.
“The thought of any child starting down a path of a lifelong addiction to tobacco, which could ultimately lead to their death, is unacceptable. We need to take every effort to prevent kids from getting hooked on nicotine,” said Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA commissioner, in a
“We are taking a closer look at flavors in tobacco products to better understand their level of impact on youth initiation,” he said.
The ANPRM marks the second action this month by the FDA on tobacco products.
Agency officials also
Flavored tobacco products have long been known to appeal to teens and encourage smoking at a young age.
But, if that’s a known fact, as cited by the FDA and major health organizations such as the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association, why is there a need for any additional input?
It turns out the tobacco marketplace has actually changed quite rapidly over the past decade, as has the FDA’s regulatory power over tobacco products.
In particular, vaporizers and other noncombustible forms of tobacco consumption — sometimes referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS — have had a polarizing effect on members of the healthcare community.
Some argue the products are less harmful than traditional cigarettes. Others say that vaping is just another form of tobacco initiation.
Gottlieb cites this dynamic as one of the reasons for the ANPRM published earlier this month.
“Here, it’s possible for flavors to do both harm and good,” he said.
“I’ve talked to ex-smokers, who’ve told me that they quit cigarettes altogether and that they now vape. And they’ve also told me it was the flavors that helped them make that transition off combustible cigarettes. Now I know anecdotes aren’t the same as data. And the ANPRM specifically seeks data on this issue,” said Gottlieb.
In a statement to Healthline, a spokesperson for the FDA explained that the purpose of the ANPRM is to look for information related to different age groups who use flavored tobacco products.
So, are the flavors that help a 60-year-old lifelong smoker kick the habit the same phenomenon that’s getting middle schoolers to take their first puff on a vape?
The FDA’s recent announcement on flavored tobacco is also indicative of the agency’s greater consolidation of regulatory power over tobacco products.
Beginning in 2009, the
However, it did maintain that menthol cigarettes could still be sold, despite the fact that they tend to be more popular with teens.
Since then, the FDA was also granted the power to regulate other tobacco products on the market besides cigarettes through the
The “deeming rule” allows the FDA to “deem” whether or not certain tobacco products are subject to regulation.
E-liquids, for example, aren’t explicitly tobacco products, although they may contain nicotine. But the FDA says they still meet the statutory definition for a tobacco product.
The deeming rule also extends to other tobacco products, including snuff, cigars, small cigars (cigarillos), pipe tobacco, and hookah.
Additionally, components and accessories used with these products are also regulated by the FDA, including vaporizers and other ENDS.
While the FDA hasn’t announced any action in particular related to flavoring yet (comments from the public on the ANPRM are open until June 19), there’s a sense that new regulations governing flavored tobacco products are likely on the horizon.
The FDA spokesperson reiterated to Healthline that they’re taking this opportunity to “look more broadly at the issue and consider all flavors, including menthol, as we comprehensively explore their public health impact and receive information to inform what regulatory action, if any, the FDA might take.”
While the organization is taking its time in a final decision, other organizations have voiced criticism.
The American Heart Association and American Lung Association have both issued statements urging the FDA to move forward with regulation on flavored tobacco products as soon as possible.
“Flavored tobacco products are on the market for one reason: to attract youth and get them hooked using tobacco products. The lung association believes the FDA is long overdue in requiring that all flavored tobacco products be removed from the marketplace,” Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy for the American Lung Association, told Healthline.
“Congress prohibited all flavored cigarettes except menthol cigarettes in 2009, and in 2011, the FDA’s own Scientific Advisory Committee urged that all menthol cigarettes be removed from the marketplace, which the American Lung Association strongly supported,” Sward said.


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It’s no secret that, when it comes to the modeling industry, having a famous last name or famous parents goes a long way. Over the past year, the uptick in celebrity spawn appearing in front rows, ad campaigns, and on the runways has reached nearly comical proportions. And that’s not even counting established stars like Kendall Jenner, the Hadids, or Hailey Baldwin.
Chanel has become perhaps the biggest champion of this new patrimonial world order in modeling. For proof, look at Karl Lagerfeld’s past few eyewear campaigns for the French house, the latest of which (out today) stars Lottie Moss, the younger sister of Kate. She joins the ranks of Willow Smith and Lily Rose Depp, who have also appeared in Chanel sunglasses ads (and, in Depp's case, runway shows).
Moss recently walked Chanel’s Pre-Fall show in Paris, which featured a very celeb-heavy cast including Sofia Richie (daughter of Lionel), Ella Richards (granddaughter of Keith), Selah Marley (granddaughter of Bob), Sistine Stallone (daughter of Sylvester), Gray Sorrenti (daughter of Mario), and more.
These kids are suddenly landing on “It girl” lists everywhere, and there’s so much more where that came from. Iris Law (daughter of Jude) landed a new contract with Burberry beauty last month. And just a few days ago, Fay debuted its Spring 2017 campaign featuring Clara McGregor (daughter of Ewan) and Levi Dylan (that would be the grandson of Bob). The icing on the cake? The Fay ads were lensed by Mary McCartney, the other daughter of Paul and Linda. Looks like they’ve invaded the photography biz, too.
Photo: Karl Lagerfeld / Courtesy of Chanel

domain: news


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Those ever-present TV ads for prescription drugs will soon reveal prices, too, the nation's top health official said Wednesday, responding to a public outcry for government action to restrain medication costs. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the Trump administration has finalized regulations that will require drug companies to disclose list prices of medications costing more than $35 for a month's supply. "What I say to the companies is if you think the cost of your drug will scare people from buying your drugs, then lower your prices," Azar said. "Transparency for American patients is here." The AP has standout details and reaction:
- Drug companies responded that adding prices to their commercials could unintentionally harm patients. "We are concerned that the administration's rule requiring list prices in direct-to-consumer television advertising could be confusing for patients and may discourage them from seeking needed medical care," said a statement from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the main trade group.


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LEAVING AND JOINING: Marking a transition at Jil Sander, the brand will forgo a runway show during Milan Men’s Fashion Week next month, opting for a presentation to be held on June 22. Rodolfo Paglialunga’s first collection as creative director of the brand will bow in September, while the men’s collection for spring 2015 is still being designed by the team that took over after the unexpected departure of the label’s founder last year.
On the other hand, after several years of presentations, Tod’s has a slot on June 22 at 3:30 p.m. at the PAC contemporary art museum in Milan, where it is expected to stage a performance. The brand’s men’s line is designed by an in-house team, while the women’s division is under the creative direction of Alessandra Facchinetti.
This story first appeared in the May 28, 2014 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.


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Jacques Coetzee is a freelance journalist in Cape Town, formerly an editor at Ventureburn. He is passionate about startups, business development, social impact and contemporary philosophy. He tweets @feeblefruits.
- BEATING TRAFFICUber has started mapping South Africa’s ‘most congested’ cityQuartz Africa • December 27, 2016
- SHARKSPOTTINGDrones are being used to keep Cape Town’s beachgoers safe from shark attacksQuartz Africa • December 21, 2016
- SMARTA Johannesburg company will build Africa’s first homegrown smartphonesQuartz Africa • December 7, 2016


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One of the biggest challenges facing the datafication of the trucking industry is getting everyone to speak the same language. The integration of complex technology systems is not unlike the integration trend you see within today’s powertrains. For systems to share data, they need to be able to understand each other. The same goes from the heavy-duty aftermarket. Recently, the HDDA: Heavy Duty segment of the Auto Care Association completed a study to determine the viability of establishing product information standards for the heavy-duty aftermarket supply chain.
“Our key finding—the number one most important takeaway—is that there is a significant opportunity to create a product data standard for the heavy-duty industry,” Sheila Andrews, Auto Care Association director for HDDA, told a packed meeting room at the Mirage Hotel and Casino during the Heavy-Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW). “One of the misconceptions about the study was that we were going to create a heavy-duty catalog based on year, make and model, and then throw it at the industry. That’s the exact opposite of what we were doing. We were studying whether it was feasible to [create a product standard], and how and what we needed from the industry, as far as resources, to do it.”
The Heavy Duty Industry Feasibility Study concluded that:
- Developing a heavy-duty data practice is feasible through leveraging the work of others and creating a data superset to support all segments.
- Rich content is beneficial to the heavy-duty industry including vehicle vocation, product specifications, interchange data, VMRS coding and images.
- Conducting data planning and management, and learning from others, will help ensure that data standards can be useful to all industry participants.
- Stakeholders must understand that this effort is one of collaboration, not competition, seeking to standardize existing available data, not to divulge proprietary information.
As a fleet manager, you know VMRS. While VMRS codes are a starting point, Bill Hanvey, president and chief executive officer of the Auto Care Association, said that VMRS only takes the industry so far.
“There are opportunities for other product categories that are not contained within [VMRS] for us to create this superset of data, which includes all of the data, not just the product categories,” he said. “It expands the offerings, in terms of the data, that distributors would be able to provide their customers.”
The heavy-duty aftermarket is a complex network of data senders and receivers, all with their own datasets of product specs, box sizes, part numbers and a cornucopia of other product data. The HDDA does not aim to gather any data that suppliers aren’t already providing to the industry. Its goal is to standardize the data that is already available to distributors and end users.
“The way I like to put this is that it’s the industry’s opportunity to write the alphabet of that product language—where you can be the creators of the A’s, B’s and C’s,” Andrews explained. “What we’re asking from everyone—from the data receiver side, distributors, retailers and third-party data managers—is to please tell your suppliers that you want a standardized system, and that you’d like everyone to be able to speak the same language. We’re also looking for suppliers that interested in joining the working group.”


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Wikispeed has just unveiled their new SGT01 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It is envisioned as a futuristic four-seater that will cost $20,000.
If you're rich and love investing in risky projects, Wikispeed wants to hear from you as the automotive startup has just unveiled their new SGT01 and is looking for backers to get the car into mass production.
While we certainly have our doubts, the 1,300 lb (590 kg) vehicle is envisioned as a futuristic four-seater with an extruded aluminum chassis and a carbon fiber body.
Powertain details remain mysterious, but the car reportedly uses a mid-mounted 1.8-liter four-cylinder Honda engine and a five-speed automatic. This theoretically allows the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds, hit a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h), and return 114 mpg highway.
If you're feeling lucky, you can pre-order one for $28,800 but the price is expected to drop to $20,000 when (or if) mass production ensues.


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New York, Oct 1- ADT Corp dominates sales of home security monitoring in the United States, its shares are up 27 percent since March and the size of its business market is tripling, as a non-compete agreement with its former parent expired this week. It claims 6.4 million customers, roughly as many as when it split from Tyco International two years ago.» Read More
SAN FRANCISCO, July 15- Google Inc's Nest Labs on Tuesday unveiled an industry group to encourage makers of "smart" home gadgets like locks and lightbulbs to use Thread, a new standard for devices to communicate on a network.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 15- Google Inc's Nest Labs on Tuesday unveiled an industry group to encourage makers of smart home gadgets like locks and light bulbs to use Thread, a new standard for devices to communicate on a network.
*Google, Apple lead; Nokia, TomTom face make-or-break moment. Chip-makers or tech giants such as Infineon and Google are among a variety of companies involved in the rapid development and testing of intelligent cars from those that drive themselves to those allowing a driver to use mobile phone apps through the dashboard.
SAN FRANCISCO, July 1- Microsoft Corp has joined Qualcomm Inc and other technology companies in a bid to establish standard ways for household devices like light bulbs and thermostats to talk to each other.
MANILA, July 2- Sweating under their hard hats, renowned Polish architect David Libeskind and interior designers from Italy's Armani trooped to a construction site in sweltering, downtown Manila, to perform the ground breaking for a new tower in the Philippine capital.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 23- Nest, the Google Inc- owned maker of smart thermostats and other home automation products, will allow other companies to create apps that communicate with its devices. Nest said that it was working with companies including washer-dryer maker Whirlpool Corp and automatic garage door opener company Chamberlain.
The U.K. and U.S. governments spent millions stockpiling a flu drug that is no better than paracetamol, according to a new report.
Moves by Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to put his finance minister in charge of the central bank is leading to concerns that he may be seeking someone more malleable to run the state coffers in the run up to next year's elections.
Taiwan's columbaria products and funeral services provider Lung Yen Life Service, which recently invested $40 million to set up a subsidiary in China, has an analyst bullish on its future earning prospects.


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LONDON, England – Would you believe men are spending over £400 ($625) on beauty treatments before they go on holiday?
Women may get flack for taking their time to get ready in the morning but it’s apparently the men who are over-preparing for their holidays.
New research has revealed a staggering 19 percent of holiday-making males admit to spending over £400 on beauty treatments and clothing before jetting off.
In comparison, only 8 percent of women spent the same amount – who said gender stereotypes were still in place?
Leading brand Gala Bingo commissioned the independent survey to celebrate its search for the most ‘Marbs’ person in the UK.
The survey found over a quarter of people who have been to the popular Spanish city of Marbella spent £200-£300 on beach prep alone.
When that figure is compared people who holiday in France, Italy and Portugal, it is gobsmacking.
Those who dodged Marbella spent a modest £50 or less on their pre-tan and holiday wardrobe.
Alison Digges, Brand Director at GalaBingo.com, said: “It’s interesting that our research has shown The Only Way is Essex has influenced many holiday-goers, and made them want to enjoy the glamour of Marbella.
“As we’re currently running a competition for one lucky person to go Galalala and win a 5-star inclusive holiday to Marbella, we thought it would be fun to look at the lengths UK adults go to when preparing for a holiday there.”
Is this a peak for metro-sexual men, finally out-spending the women when it comes to looking good?


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The historic city of Gdańsk, Poland’s main seaport, is home to a growing number of international business service centres that are attracting talented multilingual employees. Metsä Group’s Finance and Procurement teams have been located here since 2012, and have now been joined by colleagues from Metsä Board’s Supply Chain organisation.
There are already more than 100 people working in the newly established modern centre providing customer service and last leg logistics services to customers in EMEA. The centre also includes a Supply Chain Excellence team who handle customer feedback.
“The Supply Chain Centre was set up to help us further develop our customer service and logistics model so that we can provide high-quality, efficient expert services across EMEA. We now have more than 70 customer service specialists serving over 1,000 customers in 13 languages. Along with the customer service specialists we have almost 30 logistics specialists who look after logistics operations in close to 30 countries and cooperate with around 100 vendors,” explains Maarten Florizoone, Vice President, Supply Chain at Metsä Board.
A growing hub for supply chain and logistics excellence
“As a growing international business hub and a familiar location for Metsä Group, Gdańsk was naturally high on the list when we were discussing where to establish the new Supply Chain Centre,” says Eeva Kokkonen, Supply Chain Director, EMEA at Metsä Board.
The new centre welcomed its first employees in 2022. The centralised service model brings increased opportunities to better meet the needs of Metsä Board’s multinational and regional customers and to take advantage of digitally advanced services that will improve service quality, consistency and efficiency.


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BBI Contributing Editor
The laser vision correction (LVC) market is losing steam, according to various year-end 2000 reports. Compared to the previous year when the growth rate of procedures was estimated as high as 50%, 2001 may only see a 25% expansion in terms of LVC volume in the U.S.
Last year was stellar for this market, with procedures increasing to about 1.4 million vs. 900 million in 1999. But fourth-quarter volume slowed and industry watchers are predicting that the U.S. economic slowdown will have a serious impact on elective procedures such as LASIK due to tightened consumer spending. As a result, 2001 procedures may fall far short of the 2 million goal set by some optimistic analysts.
Laser center companies, which are reluctant to acknowledge the effect of an economic slowdown, have blamed the decrease in procedure growth on other more ambiguous factors, such as "consumer confusion over the variety of refractive surgery methods," or "potential patients waiting for prices to stabilize."
One market influence that they definitely ignore is the widespread press coverage of serious LASIK complications. More and more consumers are now aware that there are many dissatisfied patients with vision loss or impairment due to LASIK surgery mistakes. In fact, we are now witnessing a rise is class action lawsuits as opportunistic lawyers see the profit in finding disgruntled patients and filing actions against laser centers. The biggest targets are the LASIK discounters, due to the sheer number of problems stemming from cost cutting. But no laser vision correction provider will be immune from this legal backlash, and the negative press surrounding this topic will certainly put the chill on wary consumers. A few savvy surgeons have turned the situation around to their advantage by alerting the media to the problems of inexperienced surgeons at LASIK discounters.
The entrance of LASIK discounters over the past two years rapidly eroded price structure in the U.S., taking the profitability out of laser vision correction for nearly all companies. Private practices fared somewhat better without the management and fixed-cost overhead that burdens the corporate laser center business models. However, all providers have suffered in a market that saw average LASIK prices drop from $2,500 in 1998 to less than $1,500 per eye in 2000. And heavy advertising of $500 per eye by discounters has ensured that prices will drop even further due to consumer conditioning to these lower rates.
Increased competition is another factor. The number of refractive surgeons performing LASIK in the U.S. doubled from an estimated 2,000 in 1998 to more than 4,000. This pool of surgeons is expected to grow to more than 5,000 within a few years. About 40% of these surgeons perform fewer than 20 procedures per month. Collectively, they operate from an installed base of more than 1,000 excimer lasers, about half of them defined as private practice, 400 as corporate centers and the remainder at hospitals or universities.
The corporate laser center segment accounted for nearly half of the procedure volume, or close to 700,000 surgeries last year. That translates into an estimated $1 billion in revenues, shared by almost 20 companies. Laser Vision Centers (St. Louis, Missouri) is the largest corporate laser center chain, operating a total of 100 fixed and mobile excimers. TLC Laser Centers (Toronto, Ontario) is second with 53 fixed centers, followed by LCA Vision (Cincinnati, Ohio) which has 33 fixed locations. NovaMed (Chicago, Illinois) has 25 sites, ICON Laser Centers (Toronto) operates 24 and privately-held ClearVision (Lakewood, Colorado) has a total of 10 fixed and 14 mobile units. These companies may have more than one laser at each fixed location.
Financial results and stock prices reflect the difficult laser vision correction market conditions for corporate laser centers. Share prices and market values of these firms are at historical low points as losses continue and investors lose faith. For example, TLC said 27,100 paid laser procedures were performed at its centers in the quarter ended Nov. 30, a 12% decline from the same year-earlier period. Net revenues for the quarter were $38.4 million, and the net loss before restructuring charges was $13.4 million, compared to a net profit of $1 million in 2Q00. Elias Vamvakas, TLC chairman and CEO, noted that "recent statements from other industry participants, both service providers and laser manufacturers, have echoed what we've been saying for some time. The market is hyper-competitive and characterized by a great deal of consumer uncertainty over pricing." TLC is the only company that has attempted to maintain a premium pricing structure. It is unclear if that business model is sustainable.
LCA-Vision, which significantly adjusted its prices downward during 2000, reported record fourth-quarter procedures of 16,411, up 92% from 8,541 procedures for the same period a year earlier. For all of 2000, LCA reported 59,144 procedures, up from 33,266 in 1999, a 78% gain. Although the company is not profitable, management puts a positive spin on the situation. "Fourth quarter 2000 procedure volume reflects continued growing consumer demand for our value-priced services during what is our seasonally slowest quarter of the year," said CEO Tom Wilson. Commenting on plans for the 2001, Wilson said, "While we intend to open approximately the same number of new centers as we did last year, the first rollout won't occur until some time in the second quarter."


text: In December last year, Google rolled out a feature to search results on desktop called ‘topic filters’. It works by suggesting topics based on your search term. If you search on Google for Pixel 7, the results will be categorized into topics like ‘details’ and ‘reviews’ on the right side of normal search tabs like ‘shopping’, ‘images’ and ‘news’. Recently, the tech giant rolled out the feature to the desktop version of Google Search. Google says topics are dynamic and change as you tap on results.


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The full-time primary school teacher, spends five nights a week distributing surplus food from her local supermarket (Picture: PA real life)
A primary school teacher from Middlesbrough, Tyne and Wear, has been dubbed the Whoopsie Queen after saving 60,000 items of food from being thrown away.
Over the past 19 months, mum-of-four Deborah Doloughan, 41, has saved thousands of pounds worth of food from being binned before distributing them to people for free.
While studying primary school teaching at university in 1999, Deborah worked as a cook at a fast-food restaurant.
During her time, she grew disgusted by the amount of food being thrown away, and she has become passionate about fighting needless waste ever since.
Deborah spent the following two decades as a yellow-sticker shopper.
During lockdown in November 2020, she came across an app called OLIO, which helps to distribute surplus supermarket produce destined for the bin to people for free – and decided to train to become one of their ‘food waste heroes’.
The mum of four has been dubbed the Whoopsie Queen by her friends (Picture: PA real life)
Now, with the help of husband James Doloughan, 43, and children, Millie, 11, Jacob, 10, Luke, seven, and Isaiah, one, Deborah, collects food and hands it out, saying: ‘This app was made for me!
‘I became so passionate about food waste and shopping in the reduced section that my friends started calling me the Whoopsie Queen.
‘Now I feel like joining the Olio app and making sure as much food doesn’t go to waste has been my calling.’
Deborah receives help from husband James Doloughan, 43, and four children, Millie, 11, Jacob, 10, Luke, seven, and Isaiah, one (Picture: PA real life)
As well as working full-time as a primary school teacher, Deborah now spends five nights a week collecting surplus food from her local supermarket before taking pictures of it and listing it on the app – waiting for people to come by and pick it up.
With food prices soaring, in the face of the cost of living crisis and the highest inflation in 40 years, Deborah says more people than ever have dropped by her home to collect free goods.
‘I have noticed a massive influx of new people, as I know the regulars and their names,’ she noted.
‘But with the food price crisis, more and more people are relying on services like this.
‘I have seen so many people who rely on free food.
‘One Friday I didn’t collect any as I was at a party and a woman came to me the next week and asked me why I wasn’t there.
‘That was going to be her family’s food for the next few days.’
Food waste hero Deborah has saved 60k items from being binned (Picture: PA real life)
Across the five nights, Deborah will head to her local supermarket at 8.30pm.
Then she goes home with the food she collects and gets it photographed and listed on the app, ready …read more
Stock Market: Suez Canal Update! Floating!
The Suicide Squad | Official IMAX® Red Band Trailer
From the horribly beautiful mind of James Gunn and filmed in IMAX. Experience


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Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has had an astounding year across the Middle East region with a 15 per cent sales increase on 2011 across all models.
The regional Porsche representative has witnessed a dramatic rise in demand with an overall total sales growth of almost 60 per cent over a five year period between 2007 and 2012. At the close of the year a record 9,171 vehicles were delivered to customers across the region compared to 7,945 in 2011 (+ 15 per cent).
The highlight of this record-breaking year was December with a total of 1,099 vehicles sold, the highest monthly deliveries of Porsche cars in the region in its history.
George Wills, Managing Director of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, says: “2012 was a phenomenal year; demand across key model ranges was extremely positive with the Cayenne and 911 proving to be extremely popular with customers. Order banks for the new Boxster are bulging and the Panamera GTS has proven a real success, too. We have continuously offered new product highlights throughout the last 12 months and this strategy has paid off.”
The popularity of the Cayenne continues to rise in the region with a 19 per cent year on year sales increase of the model. It contributed more than 60 per cent of the overall sales figures for 2012.
Together with the recently announced Panamera Platinum Edition, Porsche will unveil the new Cayenne Turbo S at the upcoming Qatar Motor Show (29th of January till 2nd of February 2013). With an engine power of 550 hp, it ranks at the very top in the sports car manufacturer’s SUV model range and represents one of the fastest SUV available today.


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Most online retailers -- 72 percent -- believe selling on the Web can better withstand a slowing economy, according to a new study by Shop.org.
“Internet retailers have good reason for optimism as budget-focused shoppers head to the Web for value and convenience,” said Scott Silverman, executive director of shop.org, a division of the D.C.-based National Retail Federation. “Online retailers are well-positioned to make the best of a potentially lean holiday season.”
According to the report, 81 percent of online retailers said their business was profitable in 2007, and 75 percent were also more profitable last year than in 2006.
About one-third (35 percent) of online retailers surveyed said they expect their business to perform better than expected in the next year, while another third (33 percent) anticipate their online business will perform the same as expected.
Almost half (49 percent) of online retailers said that their average conversion rate in 2007 was higher than in 2006. And 36 percent of total sales were driven by repeat customers, which is up from 2006.
But 37 percent of respondents have lowered their expectations for their online business performance in the next year.
“Although the online sales growth rate will be lower than in years’ past because of lowered consumer confidence and credit working against all of retail, the good news is that this growth will still outpace nearly every other sector of consumer spending,” said Sucharita Mulpuru of Forrester Research Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR), which conducted the study.
The report draws from two surveys of nearly 200 retail respondents.


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The former treasurer and head of tax at supermarket group Wm Morrison has been charged with two offences of insider dealing by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Paul Coyle was arrested in December in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, in connection with an investigation the City regulator said was related to trading in shares in Ocado, the online grocer, between February and May 2013. It was not immediately possible to reach Coyle and the FCA provided no further information.
In a short statement, the FCA said: “The Financial Conduct Authority has charged Paul Gerard Coyle, the former treasurer and head of tax at Wm Morrison Supermarket plc with two offences of insider dealing, contrary to Section 52(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1993. The offences relate to trading in Ocado Group plc shares between February and May 2013”.
Morrisons responded, saying that none of its employees were implicated. “Morrisons is satisfied with its governance and procedures concerning the handling of market sensitive data in this case and found that the company’s procedures had been properly followed. These accusations if proven would be a result of an individual acting alone,” the supermarket said.
“The FCA’s insider dealing investigation did not concern Wm Morrison supermarkets plc nor any other Morrisons employee,” the company said.
The charges come at a time when supermarkets are under pressure. Tesco’s accounting scandal has led to concerns about the way the sector handles payments from suppliers for promoting products or hitting sales targets, and UK grocers are operating under fierce competition from discounters such as the German company Aldi which has reported a 65% rise in profits in the UK.
Tesco’s shares remained under pressure on Monday a week after warning the market that it had overstated its profits estimates by £250m while Matthew Barnes, Aldi’s UK joint managing director, said yesterday that attempts by Tesco and Morrisons to match its prices had actually worked in its favour. He is aiming to open 54 new stores in the UK this year.
On Monday Tesco reportedly secured £2.5bn in bank financing as a safeguard against possible credit rating downgrades that would make it more difficult to borrow.
The FCA, and its predecessor body the Financial Services Authority, said it had secured 24 convictions for insider dealing since March 2009 when it first started to use its tougher powers to clamp down on such market practices.
Morrison’s shares slipped 0.7% to 169p while Ocado’s were down 1.3% at 263p.


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JCPenney is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting a virtual reality experience that lets customers take a flight with Santa. Working with Reel FX, the retailer created a VR experience powered by Facebook-owned Oculus headsets, and it is available in four store locations across the nation for now. Product placements from JCPenny’s suppliers, such as KitchenAid and Nike, will be featured in the experience as gifts in Santa’s sleigh.
What Brands Need To Do
In the past year, we have seen more and more brands and media owners experiment with virtual reality technology. Before JCPenney, brands such as Marriott Hotel, Birchbox, and Target had started developing their own branded VR content to entertain and connect with their customers. Last month, the New York Times sent out 1 million Google Cardboards headset to its print subscribers to promote the launch its VR content app. With increasing momentum building in consumer-facing VR, brands would be smart to start developing their own branded VR content today to engage consumers with immersive experiences.


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HAMMOND | John Rogers of Rogers Roofing has been selected by Remodeling magazine to join the Remodeling Big50.
The 2013 Big50 winners are featured in the May issue of Remodeling, a national trade publication read by more than 98,000 professional remodeling contractors.
Each year since 1986, the Remodeling Big50 inducts 50 owners of remodeling companies that have set high standards for professionalism and integrity through exemplary business practices, craftsmanship, and impact in their community or the industry.
“We are very honored to receive this distinction,” said John Rogers, president of Rogers Roofing, in a statement. “The award recognizes excellence and leadership, and we are privileged to be named to this select group of remodelers.”
For more information, visit www.rogersroofing.com or call (219) 933-9145


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The toast of Chinese liquors, baijiu, is becoming an international luxury brand thanks to a dedicated Frenchman. Cyril Camus, president of the fifth-generation Camus Cognac that began its distillery in 1863, slowly fell in love with the drink of Chinese heritage.
Camus says, “I was fortunate enough to live in China in the mid-1990s for a number of years. Going out to dinner with my friends as well as some business partners, I started being offered Moutai and that’s when I first developed a taste for it. That’s also when I started to develop an interest in the brand’s history and its qualities.”
In 2005, Camus Cognac partnered with China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co, a leading producer of baijiu, to market the Chinese white liquor globally. Camus will not reveal global figures but he insists, “From zero to one of the top 15 luxury brands of spirits around the world, we have started achieving some results on Moutai’s internationalization but we know it is a long-term job to make it widely recognized by Westerners.”
The first challenge this partnership faced was in marketing. Camus grappled with how to make baijiu appealing to Western consumers, many of whom had no associations with baijiu or, even worse, bad experiences with the formidable drink. To disassociate the drink from bad preconceived notions, the partnership developed a special blend of baijiu specifically for the Western market — Small Batch Blend Moutai. Keeping Moutai’s signature bottle, Camus altered the label to make it more appealing and informative for a Western buyer.
To make the beverage accessible to everyone, the partners set about placing Small Batch Blend Moutai in what Ji Keliang, honorary chairman and chief technical adviser of Kweichow Moutai, calls “the windows into the world of luxury”: the duty-free markets.
Ji says, “The duty-free exposure offered an incomparable platform for Moutai – thousands of high-end and high-spending travelers who are exposed to such a small and saturated shopping space come up close with Moutai’s presence, which is likely to allow the brand to have maximum impact on the international market.”
The partners also took a more grassroots approach to marketing: they educated Western consumers in the stores. “We have our own staff in the shops talking about the history of Moutai, detailing how it is produced and explaining why it is a national heritage of China and the soul of this liquor,” Camus says.
Even with all of this effort, it still took awhile to get the project off the ground. “The sales were not very high at the beginning. I remember a time when I was receiving the monthly reports and we were counting the number of bottles, not cases. It was hard because non-Chinese consumers still had not heard very much of the brand, because the promoters were not used to it and all that took time,” says Camus. Different drinking habits and more choices limit sales of Moutai outside of China.
Once a few stores started to do well, interest in the liquor began to spread from Asia to Europe and the United States. Kweichow Moutai plans to increase production to about 100,000 tons this year from 60,000 tons in 2011. The company’s sales increased by 58% in 2011 to 18.4 billion yuan ($2.92 billion).
According to the company, biajiu sales continue to grow. Camu says, “We believe it’s an exciting challenge. We can make a brand so famous and iconic in its home and then get recognition in the rest of the world.”
photo credit: moutai usa


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- Victoria's Secret launched a new gymwear collection this week, featuring leggings and sports bras.
- It's part of the brand's turnaround effort, during which it has also ditched its iconic Angels.
- Former staffers said the old management team refused to sell sports bras, which were deemed unsexy.
Victoria's Secret launched a new collection of gymwear this week, signaling it wants to take on Lululmeon and cash in on a booming market that former staffers say it neglected for years.
It comprises a mix of leggings, sports bras, and other clothing in three different fits and fabrics. Victoria's Secret said each fit is tailored to a specific activity: one for running errands, one for yoga, and one for high-intensity workouts.
Its "sweat" leggings, recommended for high-intensity sports, cost $60, while sports bras across the collection cost between $40 to $50.
The push into gymwear is a major shift in strategy for the lingerie giant, and is part of its turnaround effort under a new management team.
It ditched its iconic Angels earlier this year, saying they were no longer "culturally relevant." At the time, it said that it would partner with activists and entrepreneurs for its new image.
In recent interviews with Insider, former longtime senior employees said that under the leadership of former L Brands CEO Les Wexner, and CMO Ed Razek, the company had missed key market opportunities — including athletic wear.
"If it wasn't a push-your-boobs-up-to-your-chin bra, they didn't want anything to do with it," one woman who worked in a management role at Victoria's Secret's New York office for more than 12 years told Insider.
"To them, sweat is only sexy when you're having sex," she said of their refusal to sell sports bras.
This potentially cost the company market share as brands such as Lululemon and American Eagle's Aerie grew in popularity. Victoria's Secret's market share dropped from 33% to 24% between 2016 and 2018.
The founder of Lululemon, Chip Wilson, revealed in his book, "The Story of Lululemon," that Victoria's Secret once made an offer to buy his brand in the early 2000s.
"We were flattered, but it didn't take us long to agree that wasn't a direction we wanted to go," he wrote in his book.


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Facing another U.S. Tariff hike, Chinese President Xi Jinping is getting tougher with Washington instead of backing down.
Beijing fired what economists called a "warning shot" at Washington by letting its yuan currency weaken in response to President Donald Trump's latest threat of more punitive import duties on Sept 1.
Chinese buyers canceled multibillion-dollar purchases of U.S. Soybeans. Regulators are threatening to place American companies on an "unreliable entities" list that might face curbs on their operations.
Both sides have incentives to settle a trade war that is battering exporters on either side of the Pacific and threatening to tip the global economy into recession.
But Xi's government is lashing out and might be, in a revival of traditional Chinese strategy, settling in for prolonged wrangling in response to what it deems American bullying and attempts to handicap China's economic development.
On Tuesday, though, the Trump administration may have eased frictions at least slightly when it announced that it would soften the impact of the 10 per cent tariffs it had said would begin Sept. 1 on the $300 billion in Chinese goods it hasn't already taxed.
It will delay until Dec 15 the tariffs on cellphones, laptop computers, video game consoles, some toys, computer monitors and some shoes and clothing.
Negotiators are to meet in September in Washington, but China's political calendar makes progress unlikely.
The ruling Communist Party is preparing to celebrate its 70th anniversary in power on Oct. 1 — a nationalism-drenched milestone that puts pressure on Xi, the party leader, to look tough.
"The downside risk of no deal has increased," said Raoul Leering, chief trade analyst for Dutch bank ING.
Six months ago, Chinese negotiators were discussing possible concessions, including more purchases of American farm goods, market opening and changes in business rules.
But by May, Chinese leaders had turned skittish in the face of what they saw as constantly shifting American priorities on a list of demands that range from narrowing their trade surplus to opening markets to possibly scrapping their economic development strategy.


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FISME to hold consultations on amendment in MSMED Act on 4th Feb in New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 28 (KNN) The Federation of Indian Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME) with the support of the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is holding a consultation meet on February 4, 2020 with Industry associations on amendments in the MSMED Act.
The consultation will be held to review and propose changes in the MSMED Act in order to give a representation to the Ministry.
The said meeting will be chaired by Ram Mohan Mishra, Special Secretary & Development Commissioner MSME.
”To provide the administrative and promotional framework for MSMEs, the MSMED Act was enacted in 2006. Ministry of MSME has now constituted a Working Group to review and propose changes in the Act based on experience of last 14 years and also propose additions to address new challenges,” FISME said in a communication to the industry bodies.
‘As a member of the Working group, FISME in support with the Ministry of MSME is holding Consultations with Industry associations.
The MSME body further requested the participants to actively share the views on the issue. (KNN/ AS)


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MediaBrix Brings Its Brand Of Mobile Ads To Messaging App Kik
New York City-based company is the latest to try its hand at user-rewarded advertising on this booming service.
If you’re a teen or a young adult in North America, you probably already know about Kik. The Ontario, Canada-based messaging app claims over 240 million users and average user sessions of 35 minutes, which is why brands want in.
Teens and young adults are “the first mobile-first generation,” MediaBrix CEO Ari Brandt told me, adding that they are “also the first generation growing up in a media world where ads are skippable.”
Today, MediaBrix is bringing its user-centric approach to mobile advertising to Kik. It joins others that are trying to create Kik-appropriate ads, like a Washington Post trivia game about March Madness, a promotion from Burger King to push its Chicken Fries stickers, or an invitation to watch a branded video in exchange for points by footwear maker K-Swiss.
Points are the key medium of exchange for users on Kik. They can be used to buy coveted emojis and stickers, and you can only gain points in ways that Kik offers with brands.
MediaBrix specializes in delivering the right ads with rewards at just the right moment, as determined by location, time of day, user behavior, game play and other factors.
In its ads on Kik, a user gets a push notification or notice during a conversation that there’s an opportunity to get some points. Clicking on that brings up a screen that says X Kik points are available from, say, Snickers, for watching a 15- or 30-second video.
Here’s a mockup sequence from MediaBrix, which said it couldn’t provide actual brands because the ads are not yet live:
If you click to proceed, you watch the video, and then get the points. On each screen, Snickers gets co-credit with Kik for delivering those points.
Brandt calls this “brand contextualization.” Because it’s part of a user flow and not interruptive, he contends it’s a kind of native ad. But regardless of the classification, MediaBrix is keeping with the messaging service’s emphasis on giving the user an option to exchange attention for rewards.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily MarTech. Staff authors are listed here.


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Hanergy, a Chinese manufacturer of thin-film solar panels, has acquired US-based Alta Devices, and its technology which converts record amounts of solar energy in low-light conditions.
Hanergy will use Alta's technology in several applications including emergency charging of mobile phones and in cars, the Chinese firm said in a statement.
The firms did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
California-based Alta Devices' thin film solar technology has a conversion efficiency of 30.8%, the highest among solar energy technologies available in the world, according to the statement.
Alta Devices uses gallium arsenide (GaAs) so its dual and single-junction solar cells can produce record-breaking conversion efficiencies of 30.8% and 28.8% respectively, as certified by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
The deal will help Hanergy take on US-based First Solar, the largest maker of thin-film panels by shipments.
Hanergy chief executive Li Hejun said in the statement: "Alta Devices' thin film solar technology allows more energy to be produced in lower light conditions than any other type of solar cell, giving it greater potential to power a wide range of mobile devices and equipment from phones to cars.
"It has the potential to change the way solar energy is used. This acquisition advances Hanergy's goal to become the world leader in the solar technology of the future."
The Alta acquisition comes a year after Hanergy took over Arizona-based Global Solar Energy, which in turn followed the purchase of Silicon Valley start-up MiaSole in January 2013.
Earlier, in June 2012, Hanergy acquired German firm Q Cells's subsidiary Solibro.


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Well it's the Tuesday news day and I'm Here Yeah pretty congested host Andrew but Enough about me this is crypto espresso Your teeny tiny daily shot of Caffeinated crypto headlines phlegm or No flim first up the US Department of Justice has appealed a decision by the FTX bankruptcy judge not to appoint an Independent examiner to investigate the Exchange's collapse Judge John Dorsey Has raised concerns that this could cost As much as 100 million dollars Especially considering that FTX Customers would end up footing the bill But trustee Andrew Vara disagrees Arguing that it's important to have an Independent investigation because of the Wider implications that ftx's collapse May have for the crypto industry the Judge believes that this would be a Wasteful exercise that doubles up on the Work being done by current management It's unclear how successful this appeal Will be a judge has already ruled that Meta birkin's nfts violated air misses Trademarks but that isn't enough for the Luxury fashion brand it was the art Artist behind them Mason Rothschild to Give them every penny that he's made Through selling the Collectibles and After that the company would like him to Stop selling them all together and Relinquish control of the Project's
Smart contract Hermes doesn't like the Fact that he makes 7.5 percent from the Resale of these nfts Rothschild's lawyer Rhett Millsaps is not impressed and they Aren't going down without a fight saying This latest filing is a gross overreach By airmes in an attempt to punish Mr Roth's child because they don't like his Art but what's new Mr Roth's child will Be responding in the court in due course Hugo Labs the makers of board ape Yacht Club have made 16.5 million dollars with The sale of 12-fold its first collection Of Bitcoin nfts each collectible has Been inscribed onto a single Satoshi as You might expect this project has a lot Of connections to the number 12 given How 144 blocks which is 12 multiplied by 12 are minted by the Bitcoin Network Every day overall 288 of these nfts were Sold with 12 served for contributors Future donations and philanthropic Efforts the top bid was 7.1159 Bitcoin And the lowest was 2.2501 which is about A hundred and sixty thousand dollars and Fifty thousand dollars when the auction Closed on March 6th unlike many ethereum Nfts which simply linked to jpegs on a Server the art on twelve folds ordinals Is actually inscribed on chain which Makes it immutable and finally Babel Finance has set out exactly how it wants To dig itself out of a 766 million Dollar hole which was caused by steep
Losses stemming from Risky trades it Wants to launch a Bitcoin and ether Collateralized stablecoin that will Maintain its dollar Peg through Arbitrage algorithmic stable coins have Well they've got they've got divided Opinions especially following the Dramatic collapse of UST and Luna last May bables hopes are centered on the Well hope stablecoin which can be used On decentralized finance platforms like Hope swap which is a decentralized Exchange modeled on uni Swap and a Peer-to-peer lending platform ever since Tara's collapse governments have been Pushing for stable coins to be backed 100 by cash or near cash Investments and I for one are very bullish on Hope but Specifically the hope that you will like This video subscribe to our YouTube Channel and click on that little bell Icon to get buzzed whenever a new crypto Espresso video goes live and what did You think about today's episode do you Like when my nose is all clogged up like This you sicko anyway let me know in Those comments below because I read them And I tend to take them far too Seriously curious for more info on Today's headlines or crypto in general Well just ask Alex in that description Below Alex is always a great resource For all things web 3 and the metaverse And that amount does it for today again
I've been your host Andrew these have Been your headlines and we'll see all of Your beautiful and Shining faces Tomorrow
Coinbase is a popular cryptocurrency exchange. It makes it easy to buy, sell, and exchange cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Coinbase also has a brokerage service that makes it easy to buy Bitcoin as easily as buying stocks through an online broker. However, Coinbase can be expensive due to the fees it charges and its poor customer service.


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Some things are instant hits — smartphones, television and voice-controlled personal assistants are all good examples of technologies that more or less hit the ground running and were popular as soon as marketing people were done explaining the concept to consumers.
Other innovations are late bloomers. ATM cards, Febreze and the FICO score were all around for a while languishing in relative obscurity until something happened to push them into mass consciousness.
Point of sale underwriting — installment loans offered to consumers at the point of purchase that let them finance their buy over time, usually three to six months — is more an example of the latter case. Though installment lending is far from new, and installment loans offered at the point of sale (POS) have been an popular form of alternative payment in other parts of the world, they had been relatively uncommon in the U.S. until a little over five years ago, when digital innovators and startups began developing the form as an alternative to store cards or consumers.
And while it might be a bit much to say that POS financing had a full “A Star Is Born” experience last week, it would not be an exaggeration to note that the last week’s various sizzles strongly indicate POS financing is no longer a fringe financial product so much as a mainstream financial tool gaining traction with some very established players.
Chief among them was was JPMorgan Chase, arguably the most mainstream and established bank in the country. The bank this week announced the launch of “My Chase Plan,” a tool that allows card customers to finance purchases of more than $500.
According to reports, Jennifer Piepszak, chief executive officer of JPMorgan’s card business, said that with the tool, customers can pay off purchases already made over a longer period of time and will be subject to monthly fees rather than charged interest.
“My Chase Plan” is being rolled out alongside “My Chase Loans,” which will enable customers to borrow money against unused credit card balances. Using the Chase mobile app, customers will be able to take their unused credit lines and transfer them to their checking accounts. Piepszak noted during Chase’s investor meeting that the loans will be for bigger purchases, such as a kitchen remodel.
“This will allow us to compete in the personal loan space, importantly without taking any incremental risk, as this will be a targeted product feature for our existing customers,” Piepszak said.
One might assume Affirm — the POS financing startup founded by PayPal Co-Founder Max Levchin — would be upset that the nation’s largest bank is throwing its hat into the vertical that Affirm more or less created with its launch in 2012.
One, however, would be assuming wrong. Levchin views JPMC’s new rollout as an excellent endorsement.
“It’s probably the greatest endorsement we’ll ever get,” Levchin told Cheddar. “Chase does not have to do anything, they're already the world’s largest credit card issuer … They're basically telling the world what Affirm's got is pretty valuable and important.”
It was, in a manner of speaking, Affirm’s second big endorsement of the week, with the first coming from Walmart.
The two firms announced that they’ve inked a deal that will bring Affirm’s POS financing product to Walmart.com and to about 4,000 of Walmart’s retail locations nationwide. The rollout, according to reports, has already begun and will continue for the next few weeks.
As is the case with other Affirm partners, potential customers can check their eligibility on Affirm’s website without risk to their credit score. Once approved, customers can finance amounts of $150 to $2,000 over a term of three to 12 months. To complete a purchase, consumers are offered a barcode that is scanned in store by a Walmart associate. The companies said “select items” such as alcohol, tobacco, groceries and money services, are not available for purchase through the Affirm/Walmart offering.
“Walmart serves millions and has become a leader in the retail landscape with its commitment to help shoppers ‘save money and live better,’ which closely mirrors our own mission to ‘improve lives’ with our products. I’m looking forward to introducing Walmart customers to a modern and innovative way to buy the things they need,” Levchin said of the pair-up.
Affirm does not charge fees for its product beyond what is quoted at the time of the original underwriting — customers know what they will be charged in total and every month, Levchin explained to PYMNTS in a December conversation.
“We see it as our responsibility to deliver products that don’t just say ‘hey here’s a tool, do what you will with it,’ but one that actually come with batteries included and an instruction manual that explains the best way to use it,” he said.
And it is a method, he noted, that is taking off — among consumers of all profiles at a wide variety of merchants.
“Many, many, many Americans are deciding this is a better alternative for them than [using] a credit card,” he said.
And perhaps many more still might, if the concept of POS financing is getting scale at the Walmart level. Or they might still use those credit cards — but in a very different way than they do now when it comes to big purchases, particularly if more issuers look to JPMorgan Chase’s offering and follow suit (and even if they don’t, given Chase’s size and scale as America’s largest card issuer).
It’s not enough to say that installment lending is a sure bet as the next big thing — all good payments peeps know there is no such thing as a sure thing.
But it’s certainly enough to hand over the Sizzle of the Week crown.
SWIFT: Reaches a tipping point as more than 50 percent of its cross-border payments have been completed using gpi, and marking a year-over-year increase of more than 270 percent. SWIFT also noted that more than $40 trillion was transferred over its gpi service in the past year.
Etsy: Strongest growth in four years seen across the eCommerce site, and where fourth quarter sales of about $200 million were up 47 percent year on year. In addition, buyers using the platform were up by 18 percent, and active sellers gained 9 percent. The company has said that it is gaining share in its arena of handmade goods.
CBD: Where there’s smoke, there is fire, the saying goes — and the U.S. cannabidiol market may be throwing off sparks. As many as 7 percent of Americans say they’ve used the substance. Elsewhere, Cowen & Co. has estimated that the market could be worth as much as $16 billion by 2025.
Crypto scams: The same week that JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said he would not rule out crypto for use in consumer applications, news came that in India, an individual tricked 12 victims out of $250,000, with a fake initial coin offering named after a popular game show in that country.
Identity theft: The three chiefs of the three credit reporting bureaus — TransUnion, Experian and Equifax — went to Capitol Hill and got an earful about protecting consumers’ sensitive data amid massive breaches. Turns out that really nobody is safe — Equifax CEO Mark Begor stated that he has been victimized by identity theft three times in the past 10 years.
Brexit: No deal, maybe a deal, or maybe no exit at all. PM Theresa May agrees to a vote that may delay Brexit beyond the March 29 deadline that had been set in place years ago. In the midst of all the uncertainty, it is estimated that a disorderly Brexit process could cost businesses as much as $17 billion, as calculated by the U.K. government.


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Described as “damning,” “scathing,” and “brutal,” a Forrester report says Facebook is all but useless as a marketing tool, bluntly declaring “Facebook is failing marketers.”
“Don’t dedicate a paid ad budget for Facebook,” advises Forrester. “Marketers tell us Facebook ads generate less business value than display ads on other sites. It’s time to make decisions based on facts, not on faith or fascination. You’re just buying display ads!”
In a blog post addressed to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the author of the report says,”While lots of marketers spend lots of money on Facebook today, relatively few find success… Facebook ads were less valuable than any other marketing tactic (marketers) could use on your site.”
“Less business value” than other opportunities
Written by Nate Elliott, Forrester vice president and principal analyst, the report is based on surveying 395 marketers and eBusiness executives at large companies across the U.S., Canada and the UK. “And these executives,” writes Elliott, “told us that Facebook creates less business value than any other digital marketing opportunity.”
Despite the dramatic pronouncements, Forrester’s score sheet puts Facebook behind top-ranked Google by only .3 points. Google scored 3.84 (out of 5) in satisfaction with the business value it provides marketers. Facebook, which came in at the bottom, got an average 3.54.
Noting that it has “a million active advertisers,” Facebook labeled the report illogical and irresponsible. In an email response to Business Insider Facebook said:
While we agree that the promise of social media is still in process, the conclusions in this report are at times illogical and at others irresponsible. The reality is that Facebook advertising works.
Facebook: “More effective than traditional display ads”
Standing with Facebook, Webush analyst Michael Pacther told MarketWatch, “The ‘social’ promise of Facebook suggests virality, and that is secondary to most marketers. Rather, targeting is what they care about most, and Facebook gives them that in spades.”
Ratko Vidakovic, marketing director at online ad buying platform SiteScout, defended Facebook saying, “There is a heavy social component to Facebook ads, making them far more effective than traditional display ads… The quality of its targeting data is top notch.”
Some of Forrester’s harshest criticism was directed at company and brand pages. Calling the format of these pages “unloved,” Elliott complained in his blog post, “Everyone who clicks the like button on a brand’s Facebook page volunteers to receive that brand’s messages — but on average, you only show each brand’s posts to 16 percent of its fans.
A lack of “genuine engagement?”
“Your company,” he told Zuckerberg, “focuses too little on the thing marketers want most: driving genuine engagement between companies and their customers.”
Facebook’s stock price dropped Monday after the report and blog entry were posted. Today, the stock hit a low of $49.27 before recovering and going up just above $50.40 in early afternoon trading in New York.
Facebook is scheduled to report its third quarter results tomorrow after the market closes. Analysts expect the company to report earning 19 cents a share on revenue of $1.91 billion.


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This time, another wrestler will take down terrorists in high-definition this December.
In an early announcement to retailers, 20th Century Fox says 'The Marine 2' starring Ted DiBiase Jr. (son of The Million Dollar Man) will be heading to Blu-ray on December 29.
Specs and features haven't been announced yet, but suggested list price for the Blu-ray has been set at $29.99.
You can find the latest specs for 'The Marine 2' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 29.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The Marine 2 (Blu-ray)


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Deflation rate contained in November
Deflation has been partially contained in November 2015, in comparison to the past seven months, figures from the Cyprus Statistical Service showed on Tuesday.
Specifically, deflationary pressures on the Harmonised Index of consumer prices has declined for the twelfth consecutive month.
The inflation for November 2015 decreased at a rate of -1.5 per cent compared to -1.8 per cent in October 2015, according to figures released Tuesday by Statistical Service.
The corresponding rate for November 2014 was 0 per cent.
The fluctuation of the deflation over the past seven months was between 1.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent. After July 2015, when the harmonised consumer price index had recorded a decrease of 2.4 per cent, a de-escalation of deflationary pressures is being observed.
In January - November of 2015, inflation stood at -1.6 per cent, compared with the corresponding period last year.


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GEORGETOWN, Texas - Over the weekend, retailers across the area were allowed to open their doors. Popular shopping spots The Domain, Lakeline Mall, Barton Creek Square, and both San Marcos and Round Rock outlets were among those with a grand "reopening." However, things won't be the same for a while.
Wolf Ranch Town Center announced its reopening on Monday, May 4. Shoppers should expect some changes.
“Guests should expect to practice social distancing, to stay at least six feet away from people per code of conduct. We are trying to stay consistent with the CDC guidelines. We recommend that our guests cover their mouth and nose," said general manager Rhonda Pritchard.
You'll also see more frequent disinfecting by staff, and hand sanitizing stations in high trafficked areas. Malls and shopping complexes across the area are all doing this.
Get breaking news alerts in the FOX 7 Austin News app. It is FREE!
“We've been really inspired by the resilience of our community and have really been looking forward to safely welcome our guests, tenants, and employees back to Wolf Ranch,” said Pritchard.
Businesses are having to adapt and also operate at 25 percent occupancy during this first phase.
“Right now the concerns are centered around when is the next order going to take place. Are customers going to come back to them? How long is it going to take for them to return to normal? But overall businesses are trying to navigate this interesting and trying time,” said Jim Johnson, president and CEO at Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.
Johnson said one of the biggest takeaways for everyone is adaptation during uncertain times.
“I think many of our businesses are going to continue to embrace technology. We've seen toy stores start doing virtual shopping for their kids so they can still have a birthday or holiday like they normally would. We've seen places that sell beer and women’s clothing to do food deliveries,” he said.
For more information on what businesses are open and what is closed in Georgetown, visit the Georgetown Chamber's website.
FOX 7 Austin is working to keep you up to date with coronavirus, with both local and national developments. Every weekday we're live at 12 p.m. with a special show reporting the latest news, prevention tips and treatment information.
You can also get the latest COVID-19 news from around the country at coronavirusnow.com.


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TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Local farmers are encouraging people to shop local, especially during this time.
The week of August 2nd is National Farmers Market Week, a period of time dedicated to shopping from local vendors.
Dan Brunin of St. Marys has sold produce for 24 years, making up about 15% of his income, he said.
People should buy local produce because they know where it came from, and that it’s fresh, Brunin said.
However, the experience is an additional advantage.
“You get to talk to a lot of different people and hear a lot of stories, recipes, and the things that go along with it,” Brunin said.
The Downtown Topeka Farmers Market is open on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to noon.


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ET Startup Awards 2019: Nominees for the 'Bootstrap Champ' category
Excelling the art of running a bootstrapped business successfully, these firms are making a names of their own in the startup industry.
Balochistan is back in spotlight after ban against Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)
Devasher argues that the proposed Chinese settlement in Balochistan has dangerous implications as this would change the demography of a sparsely populated region.
Why Sameer Narayan finds value in midcap power utilities
10-year govt bond yield signalling that there is risk aversion in the private bonds.
Wi-Fi on the go: Government pushes to keep Bharat connected
DoT clears interoperability to help users access internet in all public hotspots; wants industry to set up 1 m Wi-Fi hotspots by Dec 2019.
Apple stops selling iPhone SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s Plus in India
Apple has stopped selling the ‘lower priced’ smartphones iPhone SE, 6, 6 Plus and 6s Plus in India.
Hyundai to invest Rs 2k cr for Rs 10 Lakh e-car
Hyundai aims to have a mass-volume affordable electric model for wider sections of the market.
AP source: No charges for officer in Garner chokehold death
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors won't bring civil rights charges against a New York City police officer in the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday.
Goldman Sachs profit beats estimates, boosted by strong equities trading
The bank's net earnings applicable to common shareholders in the second quarter fell 6% to $2.20 billion.
30% driving licences in India are fake: Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari minced no words in criticising the current system of licensing and penalty system for traffic violations as he introduced the bill.
AAP's free WiFi promise for Delhi still a dream
With the Arvind Kejriwal government about to complete its tenure, the people of Delhi continue to wait for free WiFi internet access across the national capital with the AAP's promised project still in the pipeline.
It’s a ‘request’ on your UPI. Only, you’ll lose money
The rising popularity of UPI apps, coupled with users’ unfamiliarity with a certain feature in them, could be responsible for many falling victim to the fraud, say experts.
East India leads with 40% microfinance business
These four states account for about 40 per cent of the total MFI loan book.
Economic Survey 2019: Of Gods, Gandhi, myths & ‘mental models’
Survey emphasises social, cultural and religious norms for changing behaviour.
Kia Motors to commence Seltos bookings from Tuesday
The company said the bookings would commence online as well as on its 206 sales points in the country from July 16.
Infosys cutting costs to contain drop in margin
Infosys is taking a number of measures to contain the fall, salary hikes to senior employees postponed.
Copyright © 2019 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service


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LG Optimus F5 releases in France, other regions to follow
The LG Optimus F5 is a mid-range smartphone that we first brought you news of back in February. LG has now announced that the Optimus F5 will launch first in France on April 29, that’s tomorrow, with other regions to follow soon.
The Optimus F5 is targeted at markets where LTE networks are now arriving and will also be released in regions including Central America, South America, parts of Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Although there’s no sign that it is also heading to the US, recent rumors have suggested Verizon as a possible future carrier.
A recap on specs reminds us that the LG Optimus F5 is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm dual-core processor, has a 4.3-inch IPS display with 256 ppi, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. It also has a 5-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, 4G LTE connectivity, a 2150 mAh battery and runs the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system. Dimensions are 126.04mm x 64.46mm x 9.30mm.
Features for the Optimus F5 include QSlide allowing the opening of multiple apps simultaneously and Live Zooming on videos. There’s also VideoWiz enabling video editing directly from the device as well as QTranslator that uses the camera to scan text and translate it.
LG’s press release makes no mention yet of pricing for the Optimus F5 but it won’t be too much longer before we will get a clearer idea on that. Are you interested in the LG Optimus F5 and hoping that it’s released in your region?


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SK innovation participated in the AVPN Northeast Asia Social Investment Summit on Nov. 11 and held a panel discussion session with the case of the 'EG' program, an eco-friendly startup ecosystem fostering model in which the government, large corporations, and impact funds united for the first time in Korea.
AVPN (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network) is Asia's largest network of impact investors and social innovation institutions, including about 600 global investment institutions and companies, including BlackRock and the Rockefeller Foundation.
A large number of large corporations, foundations, investors, support organizations, and innovative companies interested in creating sustainable investment and social impact participated in this summit held in Seoul from November 10 to 12.
Various topics such as ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance)-linked impact investment, sustainability management, and public-private cooperation were covered.
'EG', which started as a 'Startup Leap Package-based Collaboration Program for Large Enterprises' in collaboration with SK Innovation, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development(KISED) Agency, aims to create an eco-friendly startup ecosystem by selecting 20 eco-friendly startups since September and supporting them to grow into green unicorns
Startups selected for the EG will receive up to 300 million won in commercialization support fund based on the Startup Leap Package for each company.
In addition, up to 3-5 excellent start-ups will be selected to provide opportunities for joint commercialization with SK Innovation affiliates, and will review joint investment with the Impact Fund, which invests for social innovation.
In this session, CEO Nam Bo-hyun of HG Initiative, an impact investment company, Director Kim Mi-ae Kim of Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development(KISED), PL Cho Hwan-Sung of SK Innovation ESG Strategy Office attended the discussion on the importance of a coalition model for startup growth.
CEO Lee In of Ecoin Energy said, “SK Innovation is filling in the weak spots of startups such as investment, technical support, and regulatory improvement.”
CEO Shin Min-jeong of Right Route said, “Through cooperation with SKIET, a subsidiary of SK Innovation, we were able to speed up the material development by receiving a sample of the battery waste separator, and we were able to get help through customized education for startups such as IR coaching and ESG certification.”
The eco-friendly startups selected for 'EG' are SOFT BERRY, Ecoin Energy, Boomyung, Evits Company, Green, C&LD, Green Package Solution, J&K, Chemifolio, Right Route, Air Green, The Road, Cyclops, etc.
The panelists who participated in this session acknowledged that creating an eco-friendly ecosystem is a difficult task to achieve within a short period of time, and said that they will continue to expand our eco-friendly impact by developing a model for mutual cooperation.


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Kim Kardashian is closer to busting the thieves who broke into her apartment and stole her jewelry, because a CCTV camera reportedly caught a reflection of them in a mirror during their getaway.
Paris cops seized the footage Tuesday morning from the Bel Ange nail salon near Kim's apartment, according to The Sun. A camera inside the store faced a large mirror outside and reportedly got a clear shot of the crooks as they fled through a small retail area.
We spoke with the nail salon owner ... she insists they did not turn over any video to cops, but says the footage might be from another store in the shopping area.
A second camera reportedly caught the robbers as they continued through an unlocked backdoor down a parking lot corridor ... according to European press.
Cops reportedly have collected evidence -- including cigarette butts -- from the shopping center and they're doing DNA tests ... the assumption being the crooks have a record and their DNA is on file.


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Arjun Rampalís Signature Perfume To Be Launched Soon
Arjun Rampal will soon have a perfume which will be launched with his signature on it. With this, Arjun gets added to the list which already has names of Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty.
After it is launched, people can carry his fragrance home by buying the perfume. Arjun said, "That's right, there is a perfume being launched that would have my signature on it along with its own brand name." The possible name of the perfume is 'Alive' as claimed by sources.
Arjun added, "Well, all I can say is that yes, it is indeed a great moment. To have your own signature on a perfume is indeed a high."
It’s going to gain a lot of popularity for the actor because the perfume will be launched in the global market.


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Trade mission 'will secure jobs'
A week-long trip to the Middle East will help Irish companies land export deals, Trade Minister Batt O'Keeffe said Monday November 01 2010 A week-long trip to the Middle East will help Irish companies land export deals and secure new jobs at home, Trade Minister Batt O'Keeffe has said.
Join the discussion below, or Read more at The Sligo Champion.
#1 Nov 1, 2010
#2 Nov 2, 2010
Our Marxist rulers lie constantly.
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Co-founder and chief creative officer at Pereira & O’Dell, PJ Pereira has been named top CCO in Adweek’s Creative 100.
I woke up with my body shaking. In San Francisco, land of the earthquakes, that’s a big deal. My son had his face four inches from mine. “Dad, we have to talk about something.” Francisco is 10, and I thought the big dad-son conversation was about to happen. But no. He continued, “You gotta leave this advertising thing, dad. Serious. It’s really annoying.”
Case in point: Kids of his generation, and increasingly adults, know they can avoid ads by choosing content on Netflix or other platforms. But since the world’s leading online video provider started to place ads in the middle of his videos, he had enough.
If advertising were invented today, we simply wouldn’t do this. What kind of user experience specialist would support the idea of interrupting someone’s entertainment to sell pickles, then disappear? Still, we do it. We put up with it and fund it. For a lack of alternative, or perhaps out of habit, we place our brands in experiences consumers dread. Marketing and ad agencies continue to scramble to find the Holy Grail in capturing audience attention. We’re seeing the money move from traditional to digital media; according to eMarketer, "digital spending will see double-digit growth ... soaring from $83.00 billion in 2017 to $129.23 billion in 2021. Digital ad expenditures surpassed TV for the first time in 2016, and the gap will widen by roughly $10 billion this year."
And there is an alternative: a new trend towards what marketers call branded entertainment, the ambitious initiatives where companies dare to create interesting content people actually seek.
This year I presided over the branded entertainment jury at the Cannes Festival of Creativity, a group comprised of creative agencies, media specialists, advertisers, talent agents and filmmakers. We awarded the Grand Prix to a short film produced by Santander, the Spanish bank. The film depicted a future where people could sell their memories to illustrate how experiences are worth more than money. Out of Greece came a web series for Lacta Milk Chocolate, which became so beloved that the country's leading TV station ran the series as a feature film during Valentine’s Day. From Singapore, we saw a digital Nike infinity running stadium pitting you against a pixel version of yourself. From South Africa, an epic musical endeavor celebrating African Creativity for Absolut Vodka. Globally, ambitious ideas are brimming, showing that it’s possible for great creative content to be both worth ad dollars and consumers’ time.
This critical evolution, where brands carefully consider their spend against public attention is the biggest development in our generation of marketing professionals.
But producing quality entertainment poses the big challenge of funding: Are brands willing to pay for the big ideas, and how? Conventional wisdom suggests that paying for original films, music or events is way more expensive than producing the average ad. My experience shows that in fact, it is not.
After working in the field for a few years, I’ve learned some tricks to get branded entertainment funded:
Right now, the ground is fertile for creative ideas and new ways to monetize them. There are kids and teenagers like my son rebelling against commercial breaks, and even older generations have figured out that ads are optional in most content. Entertainers and creatives are seeking new ways to fund content opportunities created for a multi-platform world. And some of the biggest advertisers in the world are trying to find new ways to connect to consumers. But we have to earn their attention with ideas and entertainment in order to even create a chance to talk. Until then, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities to sell pickles to anyone sitting in front of a screen.


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ePHOTOzine brings you a daily round up of all the latest photography news including camera news, exhibitions, events, special offers, industry news, digital photography news, announcements and launches.
The Nikon D200 digital SLR today won the Platinum Award for Best Digital System Camera 2006 from the Digital Imaging Websites Association (DIWA).
The National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) announced today a call for entries for its 2007 Photoshop User Awards – the only worldwide competition exclusively for Adobe Photoshop users.
Mark Cleghorn, one of Europe’s leading award-winning portrait photographers, is set to run a pioneering seminar programme across the UK at just £15 per delegate.
The SWPP awards and dinner were held in London on Sunday night and ePHOTOzine member Darren Chaplin got a nice surprise.
Following Jessops' plans to axe 81 of its shops as announced last Thursday, the photographic retail giant have unveiled exactly which stores it plans to close down.
Remember those beautiful tapestry style camera straps that were so popular in the 70’s? Well they are back – but with a twist. Gone are the elastic film loops and in their place are three Velcro tabbed pockets perfect to store digital memory cards, batteries, and all kinds of accessory items.
This month, you can win a Nikon D5300 kit by showing us your best 'Travel' photos, plus be sure to enter the HIPA 2014 competition!
Epson launch the new Stylus SX200 and SX400 series offering cost-effective printer, scanner and copier functionalities in a stylish and compact unit.
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After Microsoft and Sony jumped onto all of the Fortnite hype by introducing exclusive skins for their respective platforms, PC players felt the need to be addressed as they roamed through the sheds of Fortnite. After a long wait, Nvidia has surprised everyone by introducing a new skin to Fortnite that would come with not only the skin but a whole lot of goodies to follow it.
In a recent post published by the folks over at Epic Games, beginning today, Nvidia has finally announced their first skin for PC gamers.
With a purchase of a new GTX 1060, 1070 or 1070 Ti GPU or a laptop equipped with either of the GPUs, players would be able to get their new exclusive skin in Fortnite.
Dubbed as the Counter-Attack Set, Nvidia has made sure that players get the most out of their character. Along with the character, players would be able to get a glider, a pickaxe, and an exclusive back-bling to show off your new skin in style. However, in addition to adding flair to your character, the new Counter-Attack set also brings 2000 V-Bucks to the table as well.
Since a lot of the new skins that are being introduced to Fortnite are covered with jackets and sweaters, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the introduction of a snow-engulfed Fortnite map in the near future as Fortnite Season 6 comes to an end within the next week or two.
Despite the advent of Nvidia’s new RTX GPUs, it’s definitely unorthodox to see Nvidia to exclusively bundle the new skin for their so-called “last-gen” cards. However, we’d say this move could come to get rid of their Nvidia GTX 1060, 1070 and 1070 Ti stocks before the new Turing-powered GPUs arrive at the scene in the upcoming months.


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Samsung is wrestling with the same headwinds as Apple: slowing global smartphone volume growth and falling prices. Bloomberg reports that Samsung’s unaudited results show a first-quarter drop in operating profit to 8.4 trillion won, or roughly $8 billion. That figure is down from 8.78 trillion won in the same quarter last year. This is the first time since 2011 that Samsung has delivered back-to-back profit declines in two consecutive quarters. The company is facing pretty stiff criticism over the launch of the Galaxy S5 in its home market of South Korea — the new model is regarded as too derivative and boring by many local observers. Samsung seems to be aware that S5 is not going to be a barn-burner though, and it opted to price the model about 10% lower than S4 one year ago.
Galaxy S and Note devices are now estimated to generate only 59% of the profits of Samsung’s mobile unit, down from over 65% a year ago. Samsung’s triumphant rise to the top of the smartphone industry was built on the strong profitability of the Galaxy S and Note ranges. That twin-engine is now starting to sputter; the lower launch price of the new Galaxy S5 model is an acknowledgement that the flagship can no longer demand the sort of fat premium it could just a year ago.
What is going to happen when Apple launches its jumbo screen iPhone 6 and starts attacking Samsung directly in the 5-inch screen niche? Will Samsung be forced to cut prices to maintain even slim volume growth? Or does it have new tricks up its sleeves for the Christmas quarter?
Eventually, the only thing that is really going to reignite profit growth for Samsung is new technological innovation that will tempt consumers to pay top dollar for upgrade models.
Half a decade ago, it was expected that 3D displays or possibly pico-projectors throwing images on walls would have become upgrade drivers by 2015. Those dreams are fading away. At the moment, the most likely big new thing is bendable phones and displays that fold or roll into the body of the device. But it’s not clear when radical structural innovation is actually going to arrive to mass market models. Or whether this is what will really excite consumers.
It is suddenly beginning to look possible that the smartphone industry may be locked into an extended period of stalling sales and profit growth.


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Google's DeepMind announces upcoming launch of ChatGPT competitor
Bosses at Google will have been spitting feathers behind closed doors in recent weeks as OpenAI has grabbed the world’s attention and put its ChatGPT model at the forefront of the conversation on consumer AI tech. Google has been involved in the development of OpenAI’s tech, but it is Microsoft that has jumped all over the hype train generated by OpenAI, as the company looks set to invest $10 billion in the company as well as making moves to incorporate its tech into various products.
However, whereas Microsoft looks set to pay its way to the leading positions in these emerging AI markets, Google has been continuing to develop its own AI products and the search giant looks set to launch, via its subsidiary DeepMind, a rival chatbot to ChatGPT in the near future. The new chatbot, which is called Sparrow, was introduced last year as a proof-of-concept in a research paper. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said that Sparrow could be released for a "private beta" in 2023.
Hassabis also went on to mention why the project has been delayed compared to ChatGPT’s release saying that caution Is warranted when dealing with these types of products. This approach has certainly been borne out by the variety of risks associated with generative technologies like this, as has been the case since ChatGPT launched. As well as plaudits and high levels of what could legitimately be called hysteria, ChatGPT’s release has also caused alarm thanks to how easy it has been to get past the guardrails designed to prevent it from generating harmful and biased text outputs and even the fact that scammers have been using it to craft phishing emails and even malicious code.
Another key consideration that DeepMind is taking into account with Sparrow is factual accuracy. Essentially, when querying these types of language models, they output text that reads legitimately but that has only been created to look like what a real answer would be. The tools themselves don’t have any conception of whether what they have told you is true or not.
To help deal with this, Sparrow is expected to have important features such as the ability to cite specific sources of information. According to the research paper outlining how Sparrow works, it supported its plausible-sounding answers with evidence 78% of the time. DeepMind is also working on behavior-constraining rules and a willingness to defer to humans in certain contexts.
The above innovations sound like important steps for these types of tools. The addition of links to cited information definitely gives Sparrow a much more Google flavor than what you currently get from ChatGPT. As to how this will address some of the fears that have been raised relating to areas such as education remain to be seen, however. While citing sources that have been used to formulate answers could offer an excellent starting point for research, it could also come out like a ready-made essay for submission complete with relevant references.Advertisement


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To mitigate service disruptions caused by potential consolidation, APL, CMA CGM, China Shipping Container Lines and Cosco could elect to participate in more than one major alliance during a transition phase, Federal Maritime Commissioner William Doyle said last week.
14 Dec 2015
CMA CGM’s $2.4 billion acquisition of Neptune Orient Lines and the forthcoming merger between state-owned Cosco and China Shipping are unlikely to spur a fresh round of consolidation in container shipping, according to Drewry.
09 Dec 2015
The price Temasek will get for NOL from CMA CGM if the deal goes ahead is below the book value of the company, according to Alphaliner.
08 Dec 2015
CMA CGM’s plans to bring APL into the O3 Alliance once the NOL acquisition is done has put the spotlight on the G6 Alliance and what the loss of its Singapore-based member would mean.
07 Dec 2015
CMA CGM plans to bring NOL’s liner division APL into the O3 Alliance that the carrier operates in with China Shipping and United Arab Shipping Co., the France-based line’s vice chairman Rodolphe Saadé said.
07 Dec 2015
CMA CGM has made a $2.4 billion cash offer for Singapore’s Neptune Orient Lines in a transaction that will proceed once anti-trust approval has been received from authorities in the EU, the U.S. and in China, which is expected in mid-2016.
03 Dec 2015
CMA CGM has reportedly secured commitments from its banks to finance a planned takeover of Neptune Orient Lines, owner of ocean carrier APL.
03 Dec 2015
Acquiring container lines is rarely easy, but CMA CGM’s track record will give it a good foundation to bring Neptune Orient Lines into the fold — if the France-based carrier’s exclusive talks with the Singapore-based company lead to a deal.
02 Dec 2015
CMA CGM has until midnight on Monday, Dec. 7, to decide if it wants to bid for Singapore’s Neptune Orient Lines, but reports that the French line is seeking finance from banks for what could be a $2.2 billion purchase shows that the carrier is serious about the acquisition.
25 Nov 2015
The potential acquisition of Neptune Orient Lines by CMA CGM would mark the biggest consolidation in container shipping based on the capacity of the targeted carrier, according to Alphaliner.
22 Nov 2015
CMA CGM moved a step closer to acquiring Neptune Orient Lines after entering into an exclusivity agreement with the Singapore carrier that could see a formal offer made in early December.
16 Nov 2015
There is little prospect of a bidding war for NOL between prospective suitors Maersk Line and CMA CGM as the risks involved in acquiring a loss-making line in a weak market will lean heavily on the sale price, Drewry believes.


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Criteria for the Sustainability Awards Has Been Released!
The Tea Association of Canada and The Tea Association of the USA are delighted to introduce the first Annual Sustainability Awards for the tea sector. These Awards are in recognition of all the hard work being put forth globally across the tea industry to further the goals of sustainability.
Purpose of the Sustainability Awards
The purpose of these new awards is to:
- Celebrate good work
- Bring such work to the attention of the tea industry more widely
- Encourage others to replicate good practice
We want to recognize the holistic efforts of companies in addition to specific projects. We want to celebrate companies and projects that are helping accelerate tea towards becoming a crop that not only delivers a delicious cup of tea, but also does so in a way that is socially just and has a positive impact on the environment.
For this inaugural year, we are inviting entries in the following two categories
- Best Social initiative of the year. This will award an initiative designed to advance social sustainability within the tea sector. The initiative can be focused on social conditions such as empowering women, improving the quality of life, and increasing diversity.
- Best Environmental initiative of the year. This will award an initiative designed to advance environmental sustainability within the tea sector. It recognises a company that advocates environmental benefits that may include reduced carbon emissions, waste or pollution, protecting biodiversity and ecosystems.