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ISLAMABAD: The documented steel sector has expressed serious concern over a substantial increase in the marking fees for the registration of non-food articles with the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
In this regard, the Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) has made an appeal to the Ministry of Science and Technology for reduction in high marking fee for steel sector to encourage/promote licencing of industry with the PSQCA.
This refers to the most recently floated revised SRO for fixing marking fee for the industry by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The PSQCA/MOS&T has made various slabs of marking fees and according to the new proposal, instead of reducing the marking fees, it has been increased to 0.125 percent of sales volume for the non-food items.
At present, the effective levy of marking fee for non-food articles has been 0.1 percent.
For a long time, the steel industry has been pleading for the reduction of the marking with the government.
The association believes that the levy of 0.125 percent of sales is very high and it will be counterproductive as well as a self-defeating exercise to levy such high marking fee on the non-food items.
If the government take this step it will be damaging for the industry.
The decision will not be helpful for our industry and instead of encouraging the industry to get registered the measure could discourage the industry to get registered with the PSQCA.
Also, this measure will create unfair competition in the steel sector by putting the documented sector at great disadvantage.
This may be mentioned here that the purpose of the MOS&T/PSQCA is not revenue generation but to promote licencing/registration of the industry for effective enforcement of rules and Pakistan standards.
We believe that reduction in the marking fee will not only encourage more and more firms to get registered/licenced but also will increase revenues of the PSQCA manifold.
The industry has urged upon the PSQCA not to take any decision without the consent of the industry and it is suggested to reduce the marking fee for the steel industry to 0.025 percent because it is almost impossible for firms to pay huge amount of fee where the profit margins are very low.
In the start, the PSQCA may charge a smaller amount of fee, say 0.025 percent of the sales and once everyone gets registered then gradually it could be increased.
This may be mentioned here that last year, the PSQCA virtually agreed to reduce the marking fee to resolve the issues of struggling steel industry, it added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021


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Publisher Koei Tecmo and developer Staff Ninja have launched a brand new trailer for the DLC Nioh 2 Darkness within the Capital.
Nioh 2 DLC Darkness within the Capital Launch Trailer
The brand new DLC which releases this week Nioh 2: Darkness within the Capital has gotten a brand new launch trailer that encompasses a new enlargement. The DLC which launches on October fifteenth features a model new storyline, a brand new weapon sort, a brand new greater issue stage, plus new Yokai, Soul Cores and Yokai Skills. There are additionally new Guardian Spirits, weapons, armor and extra.
On this new enlargement gamers will head to Kyoto the place a shrine will transport them to the Heian Interval. It’s right here the place they are going to be joined by some heroes, to crew up and struggle hordes of Yokai.
The DLC is accessible as a part of the Season Go which is presently avaialble for $13.99, or will be bought individually for $9.99. The season go accommodates three DLCs, The Tengu’s Disciple, Darkness within the Capital and The First Samurai. Those that have the Nioh 2 Deluxe Version will have already got the Season Go, so be cautious of duplicate purchases.
Nioh 2: Darkness within the Capital launches on October fifteenth. Nioh 2 launched earlier this yr and presently accessible to play on PS4. Don’t overlook to take a look at our Twitch channel to observe us test the brand new DLC come launch day/
For extra information be sure you learn subsequent Torchlight 3 For Change Releases October twenty second and King Arthur: Knight’s Story Tactical RPG Kickstarter Introduced For Consoles And PC.

domain: news


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116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Amid all the hubbub and fearmongering related to e-cigarettes, Iowa has a refreshing voice of reason. It's someone onlookers see as an unlikely champion for alternative nicotine delivery systems.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has made tobacco control and consumer protection the keystones of his long career. Miller played a part in the historic Master Settlement Agreement established in 1998, binding cigarette manufacturers to pay billions to state governments and prohibiting companies from marketing to youth.
More recently, Miller and his office have built connections with e-cigarette manufacturers, such as the popular Juul brand, in support of their efforts to curb e-cigarette use among minors. That struck some critics as a strange alliance.
'The relationship is especially surprising given Miller's past as an anti-cigarette crusader,” Vice journalist Allie Conti wrote in an August news article that harshly criticized Miller's support of the vape industry.
In reality, the Miller-Juul crossover should be no surprise at all.
Cigarettes have been called the deadliest consumer product in human history, and e-cigarettes have great potential to mitigate harm caused by nicotine. Anyone who has worked as hard as Miller to disrupt the cigarette industry should fiercely embrace e-cigarettes.
'It has the potential to disrupt the tobacco industry as we know it, but more importantly is the lives,” Miller told The Gazette's Michaela Ramm. 'We could do enormous good among adults by having them switch (to e-cigarettes). That's a big driver for me and it continues to be a big driver for me.”
Last month, Miller sent a letter to the Trump administration about governments' ongoing efforts to regulate e-cigarettes. The letter provides a point-by-point rebuttal to some of the most misleading claims made by anti-vape alarmists.
On the recent rash of vape-related illnesses, Miller provides some important context. The latest figures show about 1,600 cases, but with an estimated user base of 14 million Americans, that is not a huge number. What's more, the outbreak has been almost entirely contained to the United States, even though vaping is common in other countries.
The chief cause of the illnesses is cannabis oil from the black market, but officials have been reluctant to rule out nicotine-only products as a cause because some of the afflicted deny they use cannabis. Miller wisely attributes this to misreporting by users who, quite understandably, fear the repercussions of admitting illicit cannabis use.
On teen use, Miller casts doubt on the 'vaping epidemic” storyline promoted by the media. While many young people try e-cigarettes, a tiny portion - perhaps less than 1 percent - of high schoolers are regular vape users with no history of tobacco use.
Politicians' preferred response so far has been to restrict access to flavored vape liquids, which supposedly are uniquely appealing to minors. Miller warns about the unintended but predictable consequences of such policies - people would make risky concoctions of their own, illicit and foreign sellers would flourish through online sales, and many users would go back to smoking cigarettes.
Comments: (319) 339-3156; firstname.lastname@example.org


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President Donald Trump said last week the U.S. is putting 10% tariffs on another $300 billion worth of Chinese goods starting September 1.
The yuan plunged beyond 7 per dollar for the first time since 2008 amid speculation Beijing was allowing currency depreciation to counter President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat.
European stock markets have fallen after the surprise decision by Donald Trump to impose new tariffs on a further $300bn of Chinese imports.
Risky borrowers are running into trouble in China and that is putting pressure on trust companies, an important corner of the country’s shadow-banking system.
The fall of Baoshang has its roots in the off-loan-book transactions that China’s small banks use to work around rules that restrict them from lending to weak borrowers, as well as evade capital and provisioning requirements.
Currently, approximately 99 per cent of Ugandan traders and entrepreneurs have established contacts and purchase most of their goods from the Province. At the same time, the Canton Fair which is held twice a year and is the largest fair in China, attracts hundreds of Ugandan visitors and entrepreneurs to the Province every year.
The company raised alarm bells in January when CEO Tim Cook warned investors that “more severe” economic conditions in China weighed on iPhone sales last year.
The move raises questions about the independence of MSCI as the index giant wields increasing market power. Last summer, the world’s largest index provider added stocks in China to one of its most prominent global benchmarks, leading billions of dollars to flow into Chinese shares and advancing China’s plans to draw more foreign investors toRead More
China has a message for the Davos crowd: Fear about an economic slowdown is overblown. In a speech at the World Economic Forum, Vice President Wang Qishan said that growth remains substantial, and that it’s important for China to focus on the long term. “There will be a lot of uncertainties in 2019, but somethingRead More
While many countries struggled following the 2008 global financial crisis, China appeared as though it had largely escaped unscathed. Key points: China’s rising levels of debt mostly attributed to a “credit boom” post GFC Many large infrastructures are struggling to generate positive revenue Chinese local government debt has been called an “iceberg” with “titanic risks”Read More


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Nordstrom Inc. said Thursday its overall profit jumped 37 percent at its department stores in the first quarter, but a key sales gauge fell short of Wall Street expectations.
Sales at established stores across the Seattle-based chain declined 0.8 percent in the quarter. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected Nordstroms to report a dip of only 0.1 percent.
The figure of sales at established stores is a key retail indicator because it strips out the effects of newly opened and recently closed locations.
The sales results at the company's discount Nordstrom Rack unit were more encouraging, with a 2.3 percent improvement in established-store sales.
But investors still sold Nordstrom's stock, which fell more than 4 percent to $44.25 in after-hours trading. That's after it dropped nearly 8 percent in Thursday's regular-session trading.
Nordstrom reported it earned $63 million, or 37 cents per share, in the quarter. That's up from $46 million, or 26 cents per share, last year.
The latest quarter included a one-time interest expense of $18 million. Without that, Nordstrom's quarterly profit would have been 43 cents per share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings per share of 28 cents.
Nordstrom said its total revenue grew 3 percent to $3.35 billion. Analysts were expecting $3.34 billion, according to FactSet.
Nordstrom reiterated its prediction for full-year earnings between $2.75 and $3 per share.
Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on JWN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/JWN
Keywords: Nordstrom, Earnings Report


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CompassIntel Launches autoXreport.com Program to Include Automotive Tech Research, Advisory, and Awards Program
Compass Intelligence launches new automotive tech research program, advisory, survey, and awards program to include a focus on electric vehicles, autonomous transportation, automotive technologies, connected vehicle, fleet technologies, and intelligent transportation. The autoXreport Innovation awards now open for nomination.
San Antonio, TX, December 06, 2022 --(PR.com)-- Today, December 6, 2022, Compass Intelligence announces the official launch of autoXreport.com and a range of new services and programs targeted around automotive innovation and the technology advancements in electric and autonomous transportation. Services and programs being launched will revolve around market insights, industry trending, innovative vendors, industry feedback through survey research, and more.
Unlike other over-hyped industries, the autonomous, driverless, and electric vehicle markets are accelerating at an even faster pace than the experts predicted 5 years ago. "This industry is now embracing the human machine interface and new driver experiences are on the horizon. The combination of advanced automotive technologies and smart transportation together boost the industry as it continues to undergo a massive METAmorphosis," states CEO of Compass Intelligence, Stephanie Atkinson.
Compass Intelligence works hard to be prepared and ahead of the markets, and while these markets are not necessarily new, the opportunity is opening up due to advancements in technologies such as AI, human-machine interface, data analytics, IoT, edge computing, 5G, and others. Compass Intelligence launched the following new services and programs.
· The launch of autoXreport.com website, an interactive and insightful automotive innovation website and information exchange platform.
· The announcement of the 2023 inaugural autoXreport Innovator Awards (nominations now open at autoXreport.com).
· A 2023 Survey focused on Autonomous, Electrification, Infrastructure, and Automotive Tech (Contact us to Get on Board or Sponsor).
· Executive Thought Leadership Pieces, Advisory, and Market Trending Research.
· Speaking, Events, Marketing, and much more tied to our client needs.
Companies can get involved by signing up to become a sponsor of the new survey being launched in the spring of 2023, and also submit your nominations in 25 automotive tech categories for the inaugural 2023 autoXreport Innovator Awards. Industry participants may also contact CompassIntel to schedule briefings, share your products/services, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Please also check out the website autoXreport.com and follow them at autoXreport on Twitter.


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We've recently added richer sets of location data to our platform as we keep improving the way we source, optimize and display geo-spatial data in our dashboard and throughout our APIs.
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As most of you might be aware, new privacy regulations will be in place by May 2018. With that in mind we are launching a new feature that will allow you to simplify how to discard data that is no longer needed and be compliant with your organization's retention policies.
Last month Google's Project Zero disclosed details about two major CPU vulnerabilities that shook the world and revealed a design flaw that affects almost all Intel, AMD and ARM processors, which, combined, power most of the world's modern computing devices.
Nowadays, almost every retailer incorporates a loyalty program in their mobile apps, which is a great way of rewarding members and keep them coming back. By introducing such programs, brands develop a great experience that engages customers, increase e-commerce conversion or create drive-to-store moments. This is what a mobile app, with the right platform behind it, can do for you! But there is more to mobile loyalty than the app itself…


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It’s that time of the year again!
After another rollercoaster of a year – complete with lockdowns, the easing of restrictions, the swearing-in of a new federal government and a substantial interest rate rise – we now bid farewell to FY22 and look toward the year ahead.
We want to take this opportunity to provide you with an update on the current market (especially in the wake of the RBA rate rise), as well as outline some of the fantastic results that we’ve continued to see here at Upstate over the last 12 months.
We’ll also give you our predictions for Real Estate as we start the new financial year.
Let’s get into it.
Our take on the current market
Residential Real Estate
In just the past month, the NSW state government has announced the trial of a shared-equity scheme aimed at helping first-home buyers get their foot in the door of the property market. Meanwhile, the Premier has also made clear his plans for stamp duty reform, which will see some property owners move to paying an annual land tax, rather than making a hefty upfront payment at the time of purchase.
Amongst all this, the RBA has also moved in consecutive months to raise the Cash Rate to 0.85%. For many homeowners, this increase is uncharted territory, and it has seen more borrowers start to move away from fixed-rate home loans, settling instead on the lower variable rates on offer.
This rate rise has meant that we’ve started to see a correction in property prices across Sydney’s Northern Beaches, however, this is no cause for concern.
Most suburbs in the region have grown by 60-70% over the past couple of years, meaning that even areas experiencing a correction of 20-30% are still ahead by 38% in the long term.
As for the rental market, our Business Development Manager, John Hall, tells us that it is holding stable at a very strong level.
He says, “Upstate are still achieving great results in a quiet market, as we tend to pick trends before they happen. With this, we can tailor our marketing campaigns around new properties for lease to ensure we are still creating competition around open homes and maximising rents and opportunities for our landlords.”
Some recent results from the weekend that was. Our current vacancy rate is 0.9%, we currently have 19 properties for lease and saw 65 prospective tenants through these properties. Our current average days on market sits at 10 – meaning that most of the time we are renting out properties after the first open home.
Commercial Real Estate
On the commercial front, Vincent West, Director and Commercial Licensee, explains that the Northern Beaches commercial market has exhibited resilience throughout the pandemic uncertainty.
“The industrial sector saw an increase in demand and lack of supply resulting in vacancy rates less than 1%. Office space benefitted from the work-from-home shift, with companies moving to smaller satellite offices, causing a flow on effect to retail with increased traffic around local cafés, restaurants and shops,” said Vincent.
Upstate’s results for 2021 – 2022
Once again, we’ve seen great results across the board here at Upstate over the last financial year.
First, looking at our leased properties, we leased 60 additional properties this year compared to FY 20/21! This is all while the number of leased properties actually declined across the Northern Beaches area.
FY 20/21 Total Leased – 690 VS FY 21/22 Total Leased – 751
We also blew our Highest Leased Price for FY 20/21 out of the water.
FY 20/21 Highest Residential Leased Price – $2000 VS FY 21/22 Highest Leased Price – $2900
As for property sales, we’ve maintained a higher than Average Auction Clearance Rate despite the quieter market sitting 12.5% above the Sydney average.
Looking at our recent sales, the brilliant Michelle Jones sold 436/17 Howard Ave, Dee Why off-market in just 7 days, netting $2,004,000 for her ecstatic vendors.
Meanwhile, Tulo Sila and Frank Livoti just set a street record with the sale of 9 Henry St, Dee Why for a whopping $3,139,000. And the highest residential sales price was a whopping $10,000,000.
Truly outstanding results all around.
Our property predictions for the FY23 year ahead
While we don’t have a crystal ball, we do have a great track record of predicting the trends and outcomes that we are likely to see ahead of us.
The Upstate Finance team suggests that the RBA have a Cash Rate target in mind that they’re looking to get to, and they want to get there as quickly as possible. Once there, we will see a period of calm as the effects begin to show in our economy. This may then lead to a Cash Rate decrease in due time.
Our BDM, John Hall, believes the rental market will remain strong with a vacancy rate of 0.9%.
“I think we will see those who don’t need to buy now will instead rent to try and predict a drop in the market and subsequently buy then. I can also see some people selling their home and going back to leasing for a year or two to also try and predict and capitalise on a drop in the market,” says John.
As for the future of Sydney commercial real estate, Vincent West explains that “only time will tell what is to come for the commercial sector, however, with the reducing supply and increasing demand I believe we will see the commercial sector only remain as strong as ever. As we have seen during COVID, the market can adjust even in the toughest of times.”
FY 21/22 highest commercial sales price was $26,000,000.
To help our vendors keep up to date with real-time property updates and activity we have just launched Australia’s FIRST EVER Commercial Vendor App.
This year marks a significant milestone for us, our brand, our team and our community. This year, we are 100 years young, built on a proud legacy of vision, ambition and evolution.
Our story begins when one of our parent companies, ‘Weight and Co’ was established in 1922. Since then, we’ve purchased, merged and evolved to become the market-leading pioneers we are today, based on our confidence, enthusiasm, sincerity, innovation and ultimately, a deep seeded passion for what we do.
While our heritage spans over 100 years from strong foundations, we’ve transformed to help everyone find themselves in a better place. We’re excited for an even more prosperous future by embracing the best technology, delivering exceptional customer experiences for our clients and our people.
To coincide with our 100 year legacy, we are proud to have launched the first edition of US magazine, where we provide you with an insight into the brand through a beautifully finished coffee table magazine. Get to know US by clicking here.
We’ve grown in size with a team of 85 staff members who are here to help you get the results you have longed for.
Whatever the future may hold, we look forward to the year ahead and everything that it has in store for us here at Upstate and across the Northern Beaches.
As always, whether you’re looking to buy, sell, rent or lease, Upstate is dedicated to being right by your side throughout your journey to help you find yourself in a better place.


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Update 12-19-07: Data Mobility Group’s Robin Harris has a very interesting take of his own on this phenomenon over on his blog, StorageMojo.
Did you know Sun now has a Chief Gaming Officer? That EMC demonstrated its latest NAS product’s interface with the XBox 360 at its most recent EMC Innovation Day? That Cisco’s next big business plan involves not just the virtual data center but the digital home? That Seagate has its sights for expansion set on … automobiles?
SMBs have been a focus for still more storage companies, which have been busily overhauling low-end product lines. But they haven’t been all that successful. So why are all the big boys suddenly focused not only on small businesses, but on homes as well?
I put this question today to Forrester Research senior analyst Steph Balaouras on Instant Messenger. “In order to grow at the rates that Wall Street expects of them, [vendors] have to find new green field opportunities for their storage technologies,” she replied. “Small and medium businesses and consumer are two opportunities.”
Me: Is it just that other opportunities have been tapped or is there a particular trend making that a hot space too?
Balaouras: I think the enterprise has been tapped, it’s basically a struggle to maintain market share in that space and incremental opportunities in backup, disaster recovery, archiving etc. SMB and consumer are untapped. I don’t believe the traditional storage vendors have the marketing expertise to penetrate the consumer market, however. This is a retail channel. The vendors have struggled with products appropriate to the SMB.
Balaouras has no shortage of historical evidence to back her up, of course. Just look at the languishing of EMC’s low-end backup software, Retrospect, over the last few years, or the ill-fated Dell / EMC AX150. NetApp, too, has admitted its approach to midrange storage and the channel has been lackluster in the past. Dell is currently groveling to EqualLogic channel partners in the hope of shoring up its midrange storage business, and IBM is on its second low-end iSCSI array offering in as many years. And that’s just for the midrange and low end of the business market, let alone the consumer space.
Then again, it’s not hard to see how stories like Apple’s with the iPod and iPhone are too tantalizing for technology companies to resist. Apple’s example shows it can be done–it takes lots of design genius and guts and the right timing, but it can be done. Meanwhile, if you’ve been paying attention to enterprise IT this year, you already know that “edge” devices from laptops to PDAs to flash drives are beginning to give enterprise storage managers a headache. If professionals are using these “toys” at work, it’s a good bet they’ll want tech toys for outside the workplace as well.
Remember the post I wrote a while back called The Bill Gates Dream House and Your IT Career?
Think, also, of the possible career opportunities this represents for those in the IT field. Putting this much technology into the home could bring the IT guy out of his traditional data center, transforming him into the plumber of the 21st century. It’s already happening to some extent with businesses like Best Buy’s Geek Squad.
Someday there may be no such thing as a data center, at least not outside of a few select service-provider companies. Someday telecommuting may be the only way to fly. And someday those plumbing-like computer components to the digital home may be all there is to IT.
Like the behavior of wild animals before a weather event, the segments where vendors place development bets can be an early indication for alert observers of trends to come. And right now, for what it’s worth, it looks like they’re all getting fitted for Geek Squad clip-on ties.


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Chamber searching for fiberglass cattle
Published 10:57 am, Wednesday, October 28, 2015
The Plainview Chamber of Commerce is mounted up and ready to find any stray cattle -- fiberglass cows to be exact.
“The Chamber’s is in search of loose cattle,” says Plainview Chamber of Commerce Executive Diredctor Linda Morris as she explained that group’s efforts to find fiberglass cows.
For the past 15 years, uniquely painted fiberglass cows has been a Plainview trademark, as dozens of brightly dedicated longhorns, heifers and Herefords are scattered throughout the community.
The molded bovines are painted in fun and creative ways to represent a specific business or organization. Since 2000, it’s been an art exhibit with a distinct West Texas flare.
“You’d be surprised how many people still go out and take pictures with the cows,” Morris said.
With the resurgence of Plainview’s economy, the popularity of the cows is beginning to rise, and new businesses in the community are looking to lasso one of their own for their storefronts.
“I think a lot of that is, we have a lot of new retail businesses coming in and they see those cows other places and want one,” Morris said.
“They see it as a way to belong, and as a way to show they are invested in Plainview.”
But the cost of the cow and the paint job can be steep, so before placing an order for new cows, the Chamber of Commerce wants to find out if any decommissioned cows are locked away in a storage building just waiting to get refurbished and put back on the street.
Morris said she wants to see if anybody in Plainview or any business in Plainview would be willing to donate or sell a cow they no longer want or need to one of the new businesses.
And Morris said she knows loose cows are out there, from cows painted with businesses that no longer exist to cows which were pulled off the street because of damage.
Morris said people are willing to buy them and the Chamber has the resources to help get them repaired and repainted.
The cows can also just be donated to the Chamber of Commerce.
To give the cows a new coat of paint or make repairs, the Chamber maintains a list of willing artists and body shops.
“If you’re a painter and you’re interested in painting a cow for somebody, gives us your name and we’ll put you on the list,” Morris said. “We have the resources to re-invigorate this program.”
Businesses that already have expressed an interest in securing any unwanted fiberglass beef include Stripes, Plainview Wash and Dry and Wendy’s.
Contact the Chamber at 806-296-7431.


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A retail data service says Superstorm Sandy knocked off nearly $4 billion of retail sales last week in the hard-hit Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region, nearly 20 percent of the usual total.
MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse says Tuesday that the region, which accounts for about 24 percent of retail sales nationwide, typically generates $18.7 billion in sales for the week ended Saturday. But revenue came in at about $15 billion. The figures exclude auto sales.
MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse tracks spending across all forms of payment, including cash.
Superstorm Sandy slammed into the Northeast on Oct. 29, disrupting business activity up and down the Eastern Seaboard and causing stores to close due to power outages, flooding and other problems. Meanwhile, many shoppers stayed close to home because of the weather and gas shortages.
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- A movable feast
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Consumers have started tipping more during the Covid-19 pandemic, but that generosity may be slowing.
Earlier in the pandemic, Americans — many of whom were holed up and saving money as their local restaurants lost business — were willing to tip up to 30 percent. Since restaurant employee wages were so low, consumers were willing to help fill the void.
Now Block Inc last 12 months tracking data.
Square’s payment unit suggests that in the wake of the widespread availability of vaccines, mask mandates evaporating and inflation rising, tipping habits are changing again. Among purchases made by phone or online, the share receiving a tip across all business types decreased to 84.4% on February 28, from 85.7% on March 1, 2021.
Nearly a year earlier, that number had risen from less than 50% during pre-pandemic levels to almost 90%.
“Overall, tipping standards seem to be increasing over time, and Covid may have just kicked it off,” said Mike Lynn, a researcher and professor at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.
At Chilo’s, a Brooklyn bar and taco truck, general manager Carlos Cruz has noticed a slight dip in generosity in recent months. What used to be 20% tips has shrunk to $1 or $2, he said, and customers don’t leave any tips for pickup orders.
“There’s been a shift,” said Mr. Cruz, 41, who has worked at Chilo for about two years and also oversees two other sites. “Now that the business is getting back to normal in quotes, we’ve noticed that people aren’t tipping as well as they used to.”
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
How has the higher cost of restaurant meals changed your tipping habits?
One place where tipping stays the same and, in some cases, gets better: full-service restaurants. Data from Square shows the average tip amount remained around 16% for remote transactions and increased to an average of 21.2% from 20.6% for in-person purchases over the same period. 12 months.
As many restaurants use Square’s POS system for internal transactions and services such as Grubhub and DoorDash for deliveries, the full scope of restaurant tipping remains unclear.
Peter Dougherty, general manager of hospitality at commerce company Lightspeed,
said U.S. restaurants using its platform saw average tips rise to 18.2% in February from 16.4% in March 2021, though that includes remote transactions.
“We’re extremely good at tipping, but we have a very small establishment,” said Malik Rhasaan, 49, chef and co-owner of Che Butter Jonez, an Atlanta-based restaurant that defines its cuisine as “fine ratchet.” , with a menu like the B’More Careful, soft-shell crab on a brioche bun, served with a potato salad or fries.
“It’s kind of intimate, so I think people feel like there’s no barrier between us and them, so they tend to tip a lot, and often,” M added. Rhasaan.
The increase in tips at the height of the pandemic is consistent with existing research focused on how people show monetary appreciation under different circumstances, said Kwabena Donkor, a behavioral economist and professor of marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Additionally, a recent study by Federal Reserve Board research assistant Sarah Conlisk of taxi rides in Chicago suggested that people tip more when they perceive some kind of service-related danger.
“This should be consistent with the case that if people go to a restaurant in person, they would be more likely to tip more than in pre-pandemic times,” Mr Donkor said.
Things are also starting to change in other types of businesses, according to data suggesting that people are less likely to tip when there is no waiter or waitress service. Among remote transactions at quick service restaurants, which include cafes and cafes, the average tip amount decreased on average from 17.2% to 15.2% from March 2021 to the end of February.
For the beauty industry, which typically has its busiest days in the spring and summer, the average amount tipped as a percentage of total purchase fell slightly to 24.9% from 25.4%, said Square.
Steven Garrett, 37, owner of Resurrection Cuts barbershop in Tuskegee, Alabama, said he’s noticed tips are dropping by about $25 a day since he started using an appointment-based app. you that lets customers book, pay, and tip from their phone. avoid crowding in the shop after confinement. One of his regular customers who usually tips generously used the app for the first time recently and left a $5 tip on a $25 haircut, he said.
“I was like, man, if it was money, it would have been a $15 tip,” said Mr. Garrett, who added that his barbershop saw an average price increase of around 15% on hair cutting products such as razor blades, neck bands and nitrile gloves. Mr. Garrett was reluctant to raise prices.
“The problem is that we are eating more costs on our end,” he said.
Square data doesn’t tell if tips fluctuate due to higher prices. However, Mr Donkor said there is research that suggests overall free rates could fall if inflation continues to rise.
Kashena Sampson, 39, said tips vary depending on the show and the crowd at The Basement East in Nashville, Tennessee, where she works as a bartender.
The specific price also matters. When a beer is $6, people usually leave at least a dollar. When the price has risen to $6.50, some people leave just 50 cents while others may leave $1.50, said Ms Sampson, a freelance singer-songwriter who relies on tips to pay her rent and release his music.
“Sometimes I say, ‘Hey, when you have a drink, you have to include the tip in the price,’ she said, referring to what she tells young customers.
Allison Pohle contributed to this article.
Write to JJ McCorvey at [email protected]
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Myers Industries (NYSE:MYE) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 6th. The industrial products company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.09, Bloomberg Earnings reports. The company had revenue of $140.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $140.70 million. Myers Industries had a positive return on equity of 15.86% and a negative net margin of 1.74%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis.
Shares of Myers Industries (NYSE MYE) traded down $0.15 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $21.70. 55,983 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 74,964. Myers Industries has a 12 month low of $13.65 and a 12 month high of $22.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $654.42, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.43 and a beta of 1.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.04.
The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 20th will be given a dividend of $0.135 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 19th. This represents a $0.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.49%. Myers Industries’s payout ratio is -174.19%.
Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in Myers Industries in the third quarter valued at approximately $107,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new position in Myers Industries in the fourth quarter valued at $174,000. Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC. grew its position in Myers Industries by 124.4% in the third quarter. Cornerstone Capital Management Holdings LLC. now owns 9,200 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $192,000 after purchasing an additional 5,100 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Myers Industries in the fourth quarter valued at $208,000. Finally, KBC Group NV grew its position in Myers Industries by 83.6% in the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 10,454 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $219,000 after purchasing an additional 4,759 shares in the last quarter. 87.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on MYE shares. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Myers Industries from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $24.00 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Wells Fargo & Co raised shares of Myers Industries from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $24.00 target price for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Myers Industries currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $20.67.
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About Myers Industries
Myers Industries, Inc is an international manufacturing and distribution company. The Company operates through two segments: Material Handling and Distribution. As of December 31, 2016, the Company operated 15 manufacturing facilities, 20 sales offices, four distribution centers and three distribution branches located throughout North, Central and South America.
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Google agrees to alter ad practices after France imposes fine - Reuters
Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O) agreed to make changes to some of its widely-used online advertising services under an unprecedented settlement with France's antitrust watchdog released on Monday, as Reuters reported.
The authority also fined the Mountain View, California-based company 220 million euros ($267.48 million) after a probe found it abused its market power in the intricate ad business online, where some of its tools have become almost essential for large publishers.
The French watchdog's decision is an attempt to rebalance the power struggle over online ads in favour of publishers, which held sway in the business in the pre-Internet era, but lost considerable ground with the rise of Google and Facebook.
The watchdog said the decision opens the way for publishers who felt disadvantaged to seek damages from Google. Many publishers globally have expressed unhappiness over ad practices employed by the tech giants.
De Silva said the fine was reduced because of the settlement, but she did not give specifics.
A Google spokesperson didn't immediately reply to a request seeking comment. The watchdog said Google will not seek to appeal the authority's decision in court.
The French competition authority's investigation focused on the tools Google offers publishers online to sell and manage online ads. The settlement with Google shows the firm is ready bend to antitrust pressure and make operational changes to some of its most popular ad business tools, whose success relies on the trove of data it has amassed over the years.The watchdog found that Google Ad Manager, the firm's ad management platform for large publishers favoured AdX, its own online ad marketplace, where publishers sell space to advertisers in real-time. It did so notably by providing AdX strategic data such as the winning bidding prices. The watchdog also said Google AdX offered Google Ad Manager superior interoperability features than for rival so-called sell-side platforms (SSP), the crucial technology that allows publishers to manage advertising spaces available for purchase, fill them with ads and receive revenue.
The watchdog said it had accepted these commitments and that they were binding in its decision. The case follows a complaint by News Corp. (NWSA.O), French news publishing group Le Figaro and Belgian press group Rossel
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Last year when Disney announced it was starting its own streaming service in 2019 and would be removing all of its content from Netflix at the end of the year, most assumed that meant all of its content, including the Star Wars films. As it turns out that might not be the case.
Bloomberg is reporting that Disney is actively seeking to buy back the TV rights to their “Star Wars’’ movies from AT&T Inc.’s Turner Broadcasting, which would also included any future streaming rights. Turner Broadcasting paid $275 million for the six Star Wars movies in 2016 that were released between 1977 and 2005, plus any new titles being released. As of right now, Turner has the rights to show the films on its cable networks, which includes TNT, TBS and online until the year 2024.
Disney is hoping to change that but the AT&T-owned broadcaster has no desire to give them back, at least not at a price that the heads of Disney consider acceptable. They are also reporting that part of the deal would have to include unnamed programming to replace the lost content.
For a film first franchise such as Lucasfilm/Disney, this is obviously a big setback as being able to stream its entire library of feature length films would figure heavily into its streaming strategy. I'm sure a huge part of the reasoning behind starting their own streaming service was to be able to offer fans access to the companies ever growing library of films, which continue to be some of the highest grossing movies of all time.
Disney is guilty of being late to the streaming service game and deals like this which may have seemed beneficial at the time, have now come back to haunt them a bit.
Here's hoping the two sides can come together and work something out. I for one look forward to having all the Star Wars content in one spot, readily available with the touch of a button.
Stay tuned for more information as it comes in.
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Multiple Star Wars Shows Confirmed For Disney Streaming Service
Bob Iger Announces Marvel And Star Wars To Migrate To New Disney Streaming Service


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Resources to help economic development and site selection professionals connect with new places and locations. The archive for GA articles.
GA | Business Facilities - Area Economic Development, Site Selection & Workforce Solutions
BF Staff https://businessfacilities.com/2009/09/ivc-us-invests-70-million-in-dalton-ga-facility/ IVC US is investing $70 million in an upgrade of its Dalton, GArnfacility, installing what it says will be the longest vinyl productionrnline in the world. IVC Group unveiled plans for construction ofrnits new IVC US, Inc. headquarters to include manufacturing andrndistribution facilities. The 520,000 sq. ft. facility — which morernthan doubles the size of […]
GreenTech Manufacturing Digs Deep in Douglas
In March, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced that an environmentally friendly manufacturer of construction products, GreenTech Manufacturing, plans to...
Zibo is listed as one of China's Top 50 Cities in Competitive Strength year after year since 1992. In 2015, Zibo ranked 40th in China's Top 100 Cities of Comprehensive Strength and 35th in Forbes' Best Commercial City in Mainland China.
New York, home to the fastest-growing tech sector in the U.S., one of the best-educated workforces in America, over $1 billion in incentives and tax breaks, and the lowest middle-class tax rate in over half a century. This is an economy that launched over 50,000 new businesses last year alone.


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For those that have been around Las Vegas for some time, many are aware that even though a new construction project is announced, it takes a lot to get it off the ground. According to one report, four new major entertainment and casino projects will come online this year. From MSG’s The Sphere to the long-awaited Fontainebleau Las Vegas casino, significant additions will definitely be to the Vegas skyline in 2023. For some of Vegas’ most prominent construction players, seeing some of these projects get completed, some after 20 years of preparation, is a huge achievement and a boon for the region. An area that is no stranger to growth, Sin City is an area ripe for continued expansion.
In this article, SBS will be going over the latest gaming news coming out of Las Vegas along with more notes about Vegas wagering.
Per one report, you can only talk about Vegas construction after first glancing over at The Sphere. What is interesting here is that The Sphere will not be just an arena or concert hall, but rather a “first-of-its-kind venue built to essentially be the perfect place for big-name artists.” Though construction costs have gone up since the project first started, the MSG company has shared that the arena will be open in the fall of 2023. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, The Sphere will be covered with 580,000 square feet of fully programmable LED panels, forming the largest LED screen on Earth. There also will be the world’s largest beam-forming audio system as well in addition to potentially in-house gaming options too.
In addition to The Sphere, the Fontainebleau Las Vegas is also scheduled for opening this year after being under construction for almost two decades. This resort is also on schedule to open later this year and will feature a 67-story hotel, a casino, meeting rooms, and entertainment options as well. A massive property, once completed, the Fontainebleau will cover 25 acres on the Las Vegas Strip, at nine million square feet directly adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center per multiple outlets.
According to one report, Stanton Social, a New York favorite, will open later this month at Caesars Palace on March 21st. Per a press release, the restaurant will feature sharable dishes its original location has become famous for in the Big Apple. Though the restaurant has multiple signature dishes, steaks are the star of the show per Caesars. In addition to sensational dishes, the location also will have tableside presentations, delectable desserts, and also charming cocktails.
On a final note, with new gaming, entertainment, and dining destinations, the city is also set to welcome 63 Las Vegas. For those familiar with the region, Vegas has all kinds of mall experiences from the Miracle Mile Shops to more upscale malls like the Forum Shops at Caesars. This new shopping experience will be set up at the southwest corner of Las Vega Boulevard. Per Las Vegas Weekly, about half of the shopping center’s tenants will be open by the end of 2023 with the rest slated to open by early 2024.
Once you are all squared away regarding the latest gaming news coming out of Las Vegas, make sure to check out the variety of information that SBS has put together for you. For more information related to Sin City gaming, our SBS online Vegas sportsbooks rundown covers the latest gaming news from the city and the Silver State. Moreover, if you are perhaps uncertain about how you would like to place your deposits and withdrawals, we have your back. The SBS payment methods guide makes it easy for you to see the variety of options when it comes to gaming payments with everything from crypto to more mainstream routes. On a final note, given the topic of big-dollar construction projects, our VIP sports betting sites breakdown might make sense to check out.


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COLUMBUS, Ohio, (June 12, 2018) — Beam Dental, a dental insurance company for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced it has raised $22.5 million in Series C funding led by Kleiner Perkins. The company will use the funds to expand its data-driven technology platform beyond the three states in which it currently operates (Ohio, Texas, and California). Kleiner Perkins’ Lucas Swisher will join Beam’s board of directors.
Founded by Alex Frommeyer (CEO), Alex Curry (COO), and Dan Dykes (CTO) in 2012, Beam is transforming the $78 billion dental insurance market by providing a better experience for its ecosystem: insurance brokers, businesses, and members. Beam has rebuilt the dental insurance model with a customer-first focus. It eliminates headaches for brokers and businesses alike when onboarding customers and managing claims; and provides members with unique dental care perks and a mobile app experience.
“Innovation in health and dental insurance has been virtually non-existent and has not prioritized the needs of the customer first,” said Alex Frommeyer, CEO, Beam Dental. “We’re excited to partner with Kleiner Perkins to change how nearly 100 million Americans who don't have coverage today access affordable dental care.”
Beam’s technology enables it to gather real-time, segmented customer data to assess risk and price premiums better than its competitors, leading to lower loss ratios. The company has automated critical pieces of the operations stack — from enrollment to premium assessments to claims processing and ongoing member management — to improve the speed and efficiency of its customer service.
Additionally, Beam has reinvented the member experience to differentiate itself from the competition. The company offers members unique perks to better connect with their dental plans. With the Beam® brush, a Sonic powered, smart, electric toothbrush, the company helps consumers lower their premiums the better they brush. Beam has also expanded its offerings in response to customer demand. The company recently recently announced a partnership with VSP VisionCare to offer high-quality vision plans as a bundle with its core dental insurance product line.
“Beam’s customer-centric focus at all stages of the value chain - from broker to business to member - is what initially attracted us to the business. They’ve also optimized their cost structure in a unique way using software to automate key parts of the administrative stack. This combination is powerful, enabling Beam to find the right customers and offer them a better experience, often at a lower price,” said Lucas Swisher, Kleiner Perkins.
Beam will use the funding to further accelerate its market expansion and to develop new product offerings. Beam Dental and Georgian Partners are both investing deeply in machine learning and conversational AI and believe that trust, data security and privacy are crucial to long-term success. The funding brings Beam Dental’s total equity raised to $80M.
About Beam Dental
Beam Dental is a dental benefits company that offers employers a fundamentally unique approach to coverage by incorporating dental hygiene behavior into policy pricing. All of Beam's plans also Beam Perks, a quarterly subscription service with an electric toothbrush, replacements heads, toothpaste, and floss. Beam delivers world class support and service to all members, making easy to find and access dental services with the tap of a finger from a broad, nationwide network of dentists.
About Kleiner Perkins
Kleiner Perkins partners with the brightest entrepreneurs to turn disruptive ideas into world-changing businesses. With $10 billion raised through 20 venture funds and four growth funds, the firm has invested in over 850 companies including pioneers such as Google, App Dynamics, Amazon, Flexus Biosciences, Nest, Waze, Twitter, JD.com and Square. Kleiner Perkins offers entrepreneurs years of operating experience, puts them at the center of an influential network, and accelerates their companies from success to significance. For more information, visit https://www.kleinerperkins.com/.
Thanks for your interest in Beam. If you're a member of the news media with an inquiry, please contact email@example.com for more information.


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Green Man Lounge in Ipswich reopening to offer vegan and gluten-free takeaway food
- Credit: GREEN MAN LOUNGE
Ipswich business the Green Man Lounge, which had to close down because of lockdown, is reopening to offer a vegan and vegetarian food takeaway service.
Jessie Carter, who runs the cannabis lounge in Eagle Street together with partner Darryl Noe, said: “We had set up a lounge with sofas, but then we had to shut everything.
“We have had to massively adapt our business to survive. We have transformed the inside of our lounge to be a fully-functioning takeaway, to be able to serve a delicious vegan and gluten-free menu.”
Green Man Lounge opened up in 2018, as Suffolk’s first cannabis lounge. It sells a range of cannabis-derived products, including oils, pastes and powders containing CBD, a non-psychoactive constituent of cannabis.
Jessie said many of their customers were people with poor health who had needed to self-isolate during the pandemic.
She added they also sold hemp-based cosmetics, and said: “It is all in a legal form.
“We have taken all of our retail products out of the store and they can all be purchased through our website.”
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Jessie said the lounge had been a place for people to meet and socialise, so the relaunch during lockdown was a big change.
READ MORE - Suffolk takeaways open for delivery and collectionThe couple have busy been home-schooling five children as well as running their business.
Jessie is a vegan herself and said there was a growing demand for vegan food around Ipswich.
The Green Man menu takeaway menu includes the various “munchies” they had been selling in the lounge - with savoury dishes such as paninis, pizzas, vegan “chicken” nuggests and pasties, and desserts including gluten-free New York cheesecake.
Also on the takeaway and delivery menu are drinks including ice-cream milkshakes, smoothies and soda floats,
The food delivery service will start operating on Friday, May 22. Customers will initially be able to order food via Just Eat and from Tuesday, May 26 they should also be able to order via Deliveroo.
Jessie added: “If anyone outside the Ipswich area wants to order, they can order via the telephone, but there will be a delivery charge. Also if anyone wants a whole cake, cheesecake or brownie tray they can call up and order one, we just need a few days notice.” The number for these orders is 07523 876276. You can also find out more about Green Man’s food by visiting their Facebook page, @GreenManLounge


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Apple has shared photos of Apple BKC in Mumbai, celebrating the opening of its first retail store in India. Apple CEO Tim Cook and SVP of Retail Deirdre O’Brien attended the store opening in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.
The stunning Apple BKC features a triangular handcrafted timber ceiling that extends from the store’s interior to the exterior. It goes beyond the glass facade to the underside of the exterior canopy.
Apple BKC features a triangular handcrafted timber ceiling that extends beyond the glass façade to the underside of the exterior canopy, reflecting the unique geometry of the store. Each tile is made from 408 pieces of timber, forming 31 modules per tile with a total of 1,000 tiles that make up the ceiling. There are over 450,000 individual timber elements, all of which were assembled in Delhi.
Upon entering the store, customers are greeted by two stone walls sourced from Rajasthan and a 14-meter-long stainless steel staircase connecting the ground level and the cantilevered mezzanine.Apple Newsroom
Apple is also bringing its Today at Apple sessions to India through Apple BKC. In addition to regular Today at Apple sessions that bring visitors, local artists, and creatives together, the company will offer a special Today at Apple series named “Mumbai Rising.” It includes different activities centered around music, photo, design, and art, beginning from Tuesday, April 18 (the store’s opening day) through the summer.
Apple BKC is one of the most energy-efficient Apple Store locations in the world. With a dedicated solar panel, the store has zero reliance on fossil fuels for store operations. Apple says it is operationally carbon neutral, running on 100 percent renewable energy.
The team at Apple BKC has more than 100 team members who collectively speak over 20 languages. The retail store is now open to customers during usual business hours. You can find more information about store timings and Today at Apple sessions from Apple BKC’s website.


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- Articles tagged "radeon hd 6450"
AMD has released the last member of its Northern Islands GPU family - Turks. Known as the new Radeon HD 6670 and the Radeon HD 6570, do these entry level graphics card improve on their predecessors? We also check out the recently released retail editions of the Radeon HD 6450 and GeForce GT 520 to figure out how the Turks fares.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Eid-ul-Adha festivities in Jammu and Kashmir as people are refraining to step out for shopping, as a result of which markets in the Valley are witnessing less rush and traders seeing unexpectedly low business.
Bashir Ahmad, a shopkeeper at an apparels store, told ANI, “Due to the COVID-19 lockdown all the businesses were witnessing either closures or losses. But after the administration permitted us to open shops on the occasion of Eid, it brought us some relief. With Bakrid is round the corner, customers have started to come for shopping. The last two Eids saw complete closure. But this time, by the grace of Allah, we are getting some business.”
“I have come for Eid shopping but markets are less crowded. Due to COVID, things have changed a lot. Earlier, people used to throng the markets before Eid, but that is not the case this time. Even the markets do not have as much variety and quantity of products as they used to have earlier. But I am grateful to God that the market is open and we are able to purchase things ahead of the festival,” said Qadeer Ahmad, a customer.
Intiqab Saquib, a local who was purchasing sweets on the occasion of Bakrid, said, “There is no business due to the pandemic which is why many people are financial losses. The enthusiasm with which people used to go shopping ahead of Eid is no more visible here.”
“Fewer people have come out for shopping this time due to the pandemic. But we are thankful to the administration which kept the market open for three days in view of Eid which is one of the biggest festivals of Muslims across the world. Through your medium, I would urge the administration to provide financial assistance to the people belonging to the weaker sections in the union territory,” said Asif Rashid, a customer.
Bashir Ahmad, General Secretary, Kashmir Traders Federation Kashmir said, “We are thankful to the administration which permitted the shops to open in view of Eid despite a COVID-19 lockdown in place in Srinagar. But traders did not get business as per their expectations. The sales were not as expected. Traders had bought products in good amounts hoping that due to Eid, sales will pick up, but that did not happen at all. Now, we will keep this stock for another season.”
Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid) is likely to be observed on July 21. However, it depends on the sighting of the moon.Eid-ul-Azha is also known as “Sacrifice Feast” is marked by sacrificing an animal, usually a sheep or a goat to prove their devotion and love for Allah. Post the sacrifice, people distribute the offerings to family, friends, neighbours and especially to the poor and needy.


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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) has acquired a stake in a Chinese maker of surgical instruments for $46.5 million, the latest bid by the world's largest medical device maker to expand in a fast-growing market.
Medtronic bought a 19% stake in LifeTech Scientific Corp., and also spent another $19.6 million on a note that is convertible to a stake of about 7.4%.
China is one of the world's fastest-growing markets for medical devices. Last year, Medtronic added 1,500 employees, predominantly in China and India. In September, the company paid more than $800 million to acquire Chinese spine and joint implant maker Kanghui Holdings.
In buying LifeTech, the Minneapolis company also won rights to distribute LifeTech products. Medtronic said it may also help the Chinese company with product development.
LifeTech makes surgical instruments used in heart surgery and related procedures. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong, and has sales forces in 30 countries.
Medtronic shares rose 12 cents to $46.76 in afternoon trading Wednesday.
The Motley Fool owns shares of Medtronic. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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KEMIN Industries announced Oct. 13 that it is selling its companion animal health line of veterinary supplements, RESOURCES, to Garmon Corp. of Temucula, Cal...
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Fleet management systems company Omnitracs unveiled a Halloween-timely PR effort in the form of an online game called Zombie Dispatch. And while it’s meant to be for fun, there are serious undertones. Sure, a zombie apocalypse is the stuff of popular fiction. But real emergencies such as the extensive flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew can reach a similar feel very quickly as you’re cut off from things you need, the powers out and you can’t get through on roadways.
“Whether it’s a natural disaster, day-to-day supplies or a zombie apocalypse, truck drivers are critically important,” said Jim Gardner, vice president of marketing at Omnitracs. “That’s exactly the message we wanted to get out with this game. The public needs to recognize not only the professionalism of the drivers, but the critical role they play in the economy in normal times, let alone during natural disasters and emergencies.”
The game touches on driver shortages and the difficulty many fleets have recruiting and retaining drivers as well. “There aren’t as many truck drivers on the road as there were just a few years ago, and the numbers of those still driving have been thinned by the virus,” the game explains as you get started.
The game also manages to fold in a message about the role of technology and fleet management systems, and how they keep trucks rolling and getting through post-disaster. Playing the game, the user gets an occasional humorous message like “Rest in peace, unsafe and inefficient fleets!”
Regarding the day-to-day importance of trucking, here’s the game’s message: “If trucks stopped rolling, in just 24 hours, gas prices would skyrocket and hospitals would exhaust basic supplies. In 2-3 days, supplies of bottled water and non-perishable goods would be exhausted. By the end of the week, hospitals would run out of critical supplies of oxygen and medicine.”
In short, the country would quickly grind to a halt without trucking.
To check out the game, go to http://playzombiedispatch.com.
While Davis Transport Inc., is one of the leading flatbed freight carriers in the nation, we consider ourselves a company built for flatbed owner operators by flatbed owner operators. Our flatbed lease purchase program has facilitated hundreds of truckers’ transition from employee to business ownership. To learn more about our flatbed lease purchase program lease click here.


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Anheuser-Busch sued over 'hold my beer' videos
ST. LOUIS — A Montana-based craft brewer is suing the world's largest beer-maker, alleging that popular YouTube videos for Bud Light violate its trademarked phrase, "Hold my beer and watch this."
Big Sky Brewing Co. filed its lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch in U.S. District Court in Missoula, Mont. The company says it has used the slogan since at least 2004, and has a trademark.
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By most accounts, 2019 was a tough year for the cannabis industry, what with Canadian stocks in freefall, investment capital drying up, and little progress on federal legislation. Still, by year’s end operators were cautiously optimistic about 2020, but it was anybody’s guess what the new year might bring.
Then the coronavirus pandemic struck, delivering a curveball that instilled panic and uncertainty for nearly every business that wasn’t deemed an “essential service.” But when cannabis joined that elite group—right beside hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores, and hardware stores—companies found long-awaited legitimacy and reassurance.
Indeed, 2020 likely will go down in history as a monumental year for the U.S. cannabis industry and a breakthrough moment for a plant that has been demonized and stifled for the better part of a century. The pandemic also likely will leave a lasting impact on the prevailing business models in the industry, as well as consumer buying habits and product preferences.
With voters in a host of states legalizing medical or recreational use (or both) in November, young markets in the Midwest and on the East Coast maturing, and a burgeoning consumer base nationwide, 2021 is shaping up to be a banner year for cannabis.
After voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota gave a thumbs up to adult-use cannabis, weed is now legal for both medicinal and recreational use in fifteen states and the District of Columbia. Many of them are poised to become billion-dollar markets. Who’s next? All eyes are on New York and Florida to pass adult use to satisfy a combined 40 million residents.
Over the past few years, one of the biggest stories has been the rise of multistate operators (MSOs) that have built vertical operations state by state, slowly but surely creating a brand presence even without access to traditional marketing and advertising channels. Some of these companies are stretched thin and on shaky ground, while others are thriving and methodically expanding into new territories.
With operations in twenty-three states, Curaleaf is one of the largest MSOs. The company plans to increase production in the Midwest and on the East Coast, where business is picking up at a steady pace. Patrik Jonsson, Curaleaf’s regional president for the Northeast, predicted some MSOs will continue to struggle in 2021. Others, he said, are seeking partnerships that can help them expand and enhance their supply chain.
“We believe the large MSOs that have done a good job creating a network with their own cultivation sites and partnerships with other operators to get the product they need are the ones who will succeed,” he said. “There is definitely going to be an ongoing need and want for small operators to continue to produce high-quality products. It’s going to be similar to the craft beer industry, more or less, going forward.”
“There is definitely going to be an ongoing need and want for small operators to continue to produce high-quality products. It’s going to be similar to the craft beer industry, more or less, going forward.”Patrik Jonsson, regional president for the Northeast, Curaleaf
Entourage Effect Capital is a canna-centric private equity investment firm that has invested in dozens of cannabis companies across the spectrum, from cultivation, retail, and manufacturing to research, technology, and real estate. Managing Partner Matt Hawkins said he believes companies will continue to focus on the bottom line and revenue growth in 2021 as investment capital remains in short supply.
“The big players have started to really separate themselves from the pack,” he said. “We’ve seen MSOs that are successful on their own and their stock price indicates it, so that should continue. The larger ones will probably continue to operate independently, but in California, for example, you may start seeing some large, single-state operators creating business combinations between northern and southern California to generate more revenue.”
Hawkins believes 2021, like 2019 and 2020, will present a difficult environment for companies looking for investment. “It’s still very, very hard to raise money in a climate like this,” he said. “And you combine that with the lack of institutional capital, and it’s really just groups like us that are having some success in the market.”
One of the easiest and best ways to measure the health of any industry is by looking at the number of jobs it creates. In this respect, cannabis has weathered the pandemic better than most.
Liesl Bernard is founder and chief executive officer at San Diego, California-based staffing agency CannabizTeam, which annually publishes a salary guide for the top fifty-two jobs in the industry. She said cannabis businesses employed 300,000 people in 2020, and she expects the number of jobs to double over the next few years as the industry matures and new states are added to the mix.
Massachusetts, the East Coast’s first legal adult-use market, saw a 333-percent growth rate and created more than 10,200 jobs in the past twelve months, according to consumer-information-and-education hub Leafly’s annual jobs report, which anticipates about $700 million in sales on the East Coast in 2020. Meanwhile, both Colorado and Washington, the nation’s two oldest rec-legal markets, continued to grow at 8 percent annually while Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania doubled the number of legal jobs in just one year. Oklahoma’s medical market grew by 221 percent in 2019 with medical sales tripling to $350 million, and the industry now supports more than 10,000 jobs across the state.
“I really think 2021 will be the year of the beverage. We’re going to see new beverages take more of a market share than we’ve traditionally seen.”Camille Roistacher, co-founder and CEO, Voyage Distribution
“We’re seeing a huge uptake as each state needs to operate completely independently, and salaries are definitely going up because people with cannabis experience are still very limited,” said Bernard. “As other states legalize, the demand for people with experience in the cannabis industry is getting higher, and because of that salaries are increasing.”
Some of the hottest positions for which her company is recruiting include branding, supply chain logistics, and manufacturing. The new markets she is most bullish on include Arizona, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.
The more established markets in California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado continue to set the product trends in the market. According to those who play in those realms, in 2021 consumers will be seeking higher-quality flower and extracts, while edibles and beverages are expected to continue to gain market share. The latter two categories grew in popularity during 2020 because users feared respiratory illnesses during the pandemic and therefore hesitated to smoke or vape flower and extracts. A report published by Grand View Research claims the global cannabis beverage market was $902 million in 2018 and is expected to reach $3 billion by 2025.
“I really think 2021 will be the year of the beverage. We’re seeing more spritzers and lighter-dosage drinks hit the market so people can enjoy it at their leisure,” said Camille Roistacher, co-founder and chief executive officer at Voyage Distribution in Los Angeles. “It’s not really those strong edibles that kind of knock you out and you just feel like taking a nap. We’re going to see new beverages take more of a market share than we’ve traditionally seen.”
Raw Garden, a dominant player in the California extract market, steadily drove down the price of sauces and live resin as the company scaled up after California’s Proposition 64 legalized adult use in 2016. While extract retail prices ranged from $60 to $100 per gram a few years ago, Raw Garden currently sells its high-end extracts at wholesale for about $16 per gram, said Chief Commercial Officer Darren Clark.
“One of the things we’ve definitely seen in the second half of the year, and this might be more about COVID[-19] than anything else, is the macro-economic impact has been just more price sensitivity among consumers,” he said. “In the second half, if you look at some of the brands that have taken more share, it looks like consumers are becoming more price-conscious. We’re hearing that from our dispensary partners as well. That is a trend that’s going to continue, especially with some of the suppliers out there offering an amazing value to consumers. With our dabs and vapes, we feel like we’re a fair value, so we probably won’t be touching price too much.”
Although edibles, beverages, and extracts typically win more market share as consumers become more familiar with those products, there also is a push to produce more high-quality flower to satisfy a growing consumer base.
“One thing we saw happen was the climb of flowers, which were on a tear once the market kind of got back into growth mode over the summer,” Clark said. Roistacher agreed. “I think it’ll stay pretty steady, and everyone wants affordable indoor [-grown flower]—which is pretty challenging to either produce or find,” she said. “We are seeing a lot of really large cultivations coming online soon, so that will be fascinating to watch. Also, the high-end [mixed-light greenhouses] that almost look like indoor, there’s a huge demand for those because it’s cheaper than indoor, so those go really, really fast.”
In addition to the popularity of high-end flower, consumers also are beginning to appreciate more balanced strains and extracts that display the full potential of the plants from which they are sourced. “There’s so much in that chemistry, and one of the things we’ve seen is a readjustment or reassessment of the THC arms race in Oregon and California,” said Jeff Gray, co-founder and chief executive officer at SC Laboratories, which operates testing labs in California and Oregon. “I think Oregon got out of hand for quite a while, when 50 percent to 60 percent of the shelf had strains with THC content of 30 percent or more. The distillate market is still strong but is being overshadowed by things like live resin, full-plant extract products that offer a richer terpene profile or a better offering of the full, rich, and complicated chemometric profile of a plant.”
Just as Amazon and DoorDash have become even more dominant players during the pandemic, one of the most immediate impacts in the cannabis industry was the way delivery menus became the de facto shopping experience for most consumers.
“The distillate market is still strong but is being overshadowed by things like live resin, full-plant extract products that offer a richer terpene profile or a better offering of the full, rich, and complicated chemometric profile of a plant.”Jeff Gray, co-founder and CEO, SC Labs
“I definitely think delivery models got accelerated, and we saw them really surge back in March and April and had a big question about how much of that was going to hold on,” said Clark. “The large delivery services in the state have really taken a lot of share through the pandemic. A lot of times people go into a dispensary for the consultative aspect of it, because they want a budtender to help them navigate the product landscape. But once a consumer figures out what products and brands they like, more of them move over to delivery.”
Likewise, consumer buying habits have shifted in ways brands and retailers are only beginning to analyze and understand. If brick-and-mortar retailers want to bring customers back into stores in 2021, they will need to find creative ways to lure consumers off the couch. “The best thing for the retailer is to really figure out how to add value to the shopping experience, whether it’s product knowledge and education, consultation around new offerings and new brands, or new categories,” said Clark.
Licensed retailers will continue to feel the heat from the black market, too. “California has been kind of tough,” said Roistacher, who works with hundreds of farms and brands throughout the state. “If you look at Los Angeles, licensing is about to add 200 retailers, so they’re moving forward. We need more retailers open to hopefully channel customers toward the licensed market versus the unlicensed market.”
Despite all the progress the industry has made on a state-by-state basis, it’s unlikely 2021 will bring any major breakthroughs at the federal level. The combination of a Senate led by Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell and Democrat Joe Biden in the White House means progressive cannabis legislation may be an uphill battle. That said, there is some optimism that access to banking and other traditional business services are reasonable goals for the near future.
“We are very encouraged and excited about safe banking [the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019],” said Curaleaf’s Jonsson. “We believe that’s something that could be coming and give our customers access to credit cards or allow equipment purchases and give our operations in different states access to banking and our employees safe banking as well. I think that’s going to be something that’s going to be instrumental to legitimizing this industry. We all want to pay taxes, and we all want to do it the right way. Having reliable banks in all our states, which we still don’t have, is something we are very much looking forward to.”
The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act is another federal legislative reform many people in the industry are optimistic about in the near term. It would amend the Controlled Substances Act to allow companies that comply with state laws to avoid prosecution under money-laundering statutes and similar federal legislation.
“In the second half of 2020, if you look at some of the brands that have taken more share, it looks like consumers are becoming more price-conscious. That is a trend that’s going to continue.”Darren Clark, CCO, Raw Garden
“I think the country finally can take some last steps toward ending the war on drugs,” said Gray. “I think that’s a powerful thing, and expunging some of it is incredibly meaningful. I don’t want to look past that. But at the same time, I just don’t think enough people can get away from their belief that somehow cannabis is bad or harmful. Do you see McConnell voting for that? In my mind, it is going to take the next generation of people to really push for this.”
While legislative victories at the federal level remain elusive, industry operators merely hope the feds will at least stay out of the way and let states determine their own regulations. “It’s critical for the STATES Act to be able to allow each state’s program to operate on its own without federal interference,” said Jonsson. “That is the only way these programs will survive. For a region like the Northeast, if product from California was allowed to come in here, it would hurt the existing operators that are trying to grow product in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, because we can’t necessarily compete with outdoor growers in California and Oregon. But we feel like that’s a long way out.”
Regardless in which state companies operate, competition is heating up fast. MSOs are entering new markets and driving down prices to win over customers, setting up a David-versus-Goliath battle for smaller companies determined to compete. The industry’s steady growth, if it continues apace in 2021, could bode well for companies seeking investment that will allow them to take the next steps to grow their businesses.
“I think competition is going to get more intense, and as more people in the capital markets turn around, people are going to have access to capital again,” said Raw Garden’s Clark. “The closer we get to [federal] legalization, the more investors are going to be willing to throw money in.”
Another trend that bodes well for the industry is the infusion of professionals from other business sectors who have been hesitant to join companies working with a federally illegal substance. They’re becoming more comfortable with the idea now that the vast majority of U.S. states have legalized cannabis in some form.
When she started recruiting professionals for cannabis jobs in 2016, CannabizTeam’s Bernard said she had to “really beg and convince people to take a chance on cannabis. But today it’s sort of the sexy industry. With unemployment rising during COVID and the general acceptance of cannabis, there’s a lot more sophisticated talent out there who are very excited and eager to get into the industry.
“There’s still only 12 percent of the population that uses cannabis, so there’s such a huge opportunity for the industry,” she added. “Just imagine what the market is going to look like five years from now and how sophisticated it’s going to be.”


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Facebook said Wednesday that it will extended its suite of anti-suicide tools to users worldwide, simplifying the process for worried users to flag postings by friends who may be considering harming themselves.
Napster, the brand that popularized online music sharing in the early days of the Internet, is back.
Millions of people use free livestreaming websites to watch sports and other live events online, but this comes with a considerable security risk. Researchers from KU Leuven-iMinds and Stony Brook University have found that ...
Columbia Engineering Professor Steven K. Feiner and Ajoy Fernandes MS'16 have developed a method of combating virtual reality (VR) sickness that can be applied to consumer head-worn VR displays, such as the Oculus Rift, HTC ...
Los Alamos, a once secret city where scientists participated in the nation's classified World War II nuclear development program, can now be experienced much like it was then with a new app.
Several suitors are bidding $5 billion or more for the core business of struggling Internet pioneer Yahoo, CNBC reported on Thursday.
Ephemeral messaging app Snapchat by year's end will have more US users than either Twitter or Pinterest, a market tracker said Wednesday.
According to the Pew Research Center, more than two thirds of U.S. adults own smart phones and more than 85 percent of millennials own the devices. As the journalism industry searches for ways to adapt to this changing technological ...
In 1960, when the America computer scientist Ivan Sutherland developed Sketchpad, described as the first computer graphical user interface, it changed the course of architecture.
Police don't need a warrant to obtain mobile phone location data for a criminal investigation, a US appeals court ruled Tuesday in a case closely watched for digital-era privacy implications.


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When you think of custom cars, the Toyota Prius is probably one of the last that comes to mind. In Japan, however, hybrids and EVs get the tuner treatment.
7:30 pm on Jan 23, 2015 by J.T. Quigley
China sold only 6,900 domestic electric cars in 2013, subsidies and sweeteners just not sweet enough
5:05 pm on Jul 1, 2014 by Steven Millward
China sold only 6,900 domestic-brand electric cars in 2013. These are the many hurdles that EVs face in China right now, despite a raft of incentives.


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Teaming up with fitness brand USA Pro, Jesy Nelson, Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock look hotter than ever as they work up a sweat in the gym.
Though you don't find girls like this down your local when you're pumping iron.
The British foursome can be seen seductively draped over the equipment, proudly displaying their toned bods in the process.
Within minutes of Perrie taking to Twitter to share a snap from the shoot, the northern gal was bombarded with messages of admiration.
"You're my Queen of Fitness," one supporter wrote, while another added: "Fitspo everyday."
A third continued: "So hot it's illegal."
Chatting about the new range, Jade said: "In Little Mix we're all different body shapes and we've all got different ideas about how we like to stay fit.
"But with such a busy schedule of gigs and appearances it's important to choose an exercise regime that is user-friendly and realistic.
"Being comfortable and confident when you work out is so important."
Last weekend Perrie celebrated her birthday, enjoying a boho style bash to mark the occasion.
Dressed in John Lennon style shades and a flowing number, Zayn's ex looked carefree and relaxed as she partied with her closest pals.
But what do you get the girl who's got everything?
Well, while we wouldn't even know where to begin, it seems the bright sparks at Cornetto have an idea.
The ice cream giants sent the birthday girl choc 'n' caramel crunch ice cream cake topped with not one but three of the iconic wafer cream cones.
To watch the behind the scenes video from Little Mix’s latest USA Pro campaign shoot, click here.


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Jews eat potatoes in everything. There’s cholent, potato kugel and potato knishes. There’s even tzimmes. However, the absolute most perfect use of potatoes, better even than French fries, is to turn them into potato pancakes — latkes, which have crunchy mahogany edges, crispy golden midsections and tender, rich, meaty interiors.
Hash browns on steroids.
When it comes to latkes, the best recipes are always those that started with great- (or great-great-) bubbie in the Old Country. But today, with our busy lives and microwaves, it’s easier to get latkes to go.
The JT editorial staff decided to do just that. Late last month, our team went on a hunt for the tastiest latke at four local kosher eateries: Accents Grill on the Atrium, Carmel’s, Knish Shop and Tov Pizza. The winning latke: Accents Grill.
“The latkes at Accents Grill are spectacular,” said Patrice Williams, editorial intern. “They are large, filling and tasty.”
Second place: Tov Pizza.
“The texture was pleasantly crispy, but oily,” said Simone Ellin, staff reporter. “The customer service was really good.”
Carmel’s and Knish Shop were tied for third place.
“The Carmel’s latke was hands down the most original of the bunch,” said David Snyder, staff reporter. “Rather than a crunchy disc, it was light and fluffy — almost resembling the texture of a coddie. However, when it came to sheer taste, the Carmel’s version tasted more like a hockey puck than a potato pancake.”
“I loved the smell, and the texture was what I hoped for in a latke,” said staff reporter Ron Snyder on Knish Shop’s latkes. “But it lost some points for being too greasy. I want to taste the potato, not the oil.”
Larry Franks of Accents Grill on Smith Avenue said he started making latkes about eight years ago, when the establishment opened. Today, he sells 2,000 to 3,000 latkes in three sizes throughout the Chanukah season.
Franks was not asked to reveal his recipe, but he noted that he “made it up,” using his potato kugel recipe as a base. He added certain spices and other ingredients until he found one that works. The true secret of his latke success, however, is the way he shreds his potatoes.
“Most people in Baltimore use a grinder, a vertical cutting machine. You throw in the potatoes, and it just minces them. That gives [the latke] more of a mashed potato texture,” Franks explained. “If you shred the potatoes, it is aesthetically more pleasing — it gives it almost a braided look. It also gives the latke a firmer texture, so you are biting into something more substantial.”
Franks allocates two full-time staff to latke duty. One of them, Orby Marquez, spends three to four days making nothing else all day long.
“She’s never complained,” said Franks.
This year, Franks rolled out a new kind of latke: sweet potato. He said he tried them out at a recent Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore event to rave reviews.
“We had really great reports on it,” he said, noting they will now be available throughout the Chanukah holiday.
Franks’ tip for latke makers: “Use your imagination. If you have a favorite ingredient, throw it in there.”
Tov’s Good, Too
The second choice was not far behind the first, and that was the potato pancake at Tov Pizza on Reisterstown Road. Owner Ronnie Rosenbluth said the store has been frying them up for 27 years, but “like everything else, the recipe evolved over time.”
Rosenbluth said Tov’s sells as many as 3,000 latkes over the eight-day period, and all of his staff gets in on the action.
“Different people take care of different parts of the job. Some people peel, some grind, some fry — everyone chips in,” he said.
Rosenbluth said what puts his latkes toward the top are that they are homemade and handmade: “We form them and put them into the frying pan on premise.” He said that for every four or five latkes he makes to sell, one is tossed aside for taste-testing or giveaways.
“If it is not large enough or thick enough [we don’t sell it],” he said. “We have to have some quality control, and presentation is important, too.”
This really is a labor of love for Rosenbluth, who has burned himself more than once while popping the potatoes into the pan. He said the oil splashes when you are working close and quickly.
Rosenbluth’s tip: “Preheat the frying pan and the oil. Be careful!”


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Hip-HopVibe.com Staff Writer
Please, be careful out there, as the holiday season is the time when people try to “prove themselves” the most. This, in layman terms, means doing something stupid. Worst of all, is that they choose to risk the lives of others, not simply themselves.
Clinton, North Carolina is a small town, but a town with everything in it, so it’s a place where people come for local shopping. Their Walmart has been there for ages. During the summer, it was the site of a massive brawl, in the food section, where people fought with melons.
Tonight, on Facebook, there was a person who said Clinton’s Walmart was home to more drama. Apparently, a bomb threat was called, and it has left people outside of the Walmart for hours. Please, be careful out there.
See the Facebook post below:
Follow Hip-HopVibe.com on Twitter @HipHopVibe1.


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Bundy Rum growls at rumours
THERE is no sign of a last drinks call in the Bundy Bear’s future, despite what you may have heard.
As the much-loved Bundaberg Rum brand announced a change to the Bundaberg Distilling Company’s logo, rumours began flying that Bundy R Bear was getting the axe from his home of more than 50 years.
However Bundy Rum’s mother company, Diageo, yesterday has assured us the popular polar bear would be staying put, both on the bottle and in advertising campaigns.
“Bundaberg rum’s mascot, Bundy R Bear is still featured on the product range,” the company said.
Bundaberg Rum marketing manager Matt Bruhn added the rum brand would also continue to use Bundy R Bear in future advertising.
The only changes to the brand will be a redesign of the Bundaberg Distilling Company’s logo, which does not feature on the spirit bottle.
The new logo shows the faces of Bundaberg Rum’s founding fathers, Frederic Buss, AP Barton, and FL Nott.
Together, they rescued the now famous Bundaberg Distillery from liquidation in 1894.
“This is the first redesign for the brand since 2004,” Mr Bruhn said.
“Bundaberg Rum’s new iconography and packaging enhances the brand’s strong credentials, whilst highlighting its origins and reputation as quality rum.”
Just hours after the announcement, a Facebook page, Save the Bundaberg Rum Bear, was established.
However media and marketing website MuMbrella has slammed the page, saying the whole process was one big publicity stunt.
Writer Tim Burrowes investigated the page and claims he found “a remarkable coincidence” — that employees of a publicity company were some of the first to join the page, which had only 59 members on Thursday afternoon.
“Here’s another coincidence,” Mr Burrowes said.
“Via Facebook, I was invited to ‘like’ the group this morning. The person who invited me works at digital agency Amnesia Razorfish. Guess who’s on Amnesia’s client list on their website? Diageo, owner of Bundaberg Rum,” he wrote.
Misunderstanding or media stunt?


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Europe’s share of semiconductor production will need to more than double to reach the EU Chips Act’s target of 20% of global output by 2030, which will also generate demand for warehouse space across the continent.
Savills’ experts suggest that more than 10.8 million sqm of warehouse demand will be generated over the next seven years by investments in semiconductor fabrication labs, for which the EU has a budget of €43 billion.
In the next decade, the semiconductor market will be boosted by investments in AI, electric vehicles, cloud computing and automation. Furthermore, if the EU successfully increases its share of semiconductor production as set in the EU Chips Act, then it is expected to create an additional 1.6 million jobs in direct and indirect employment, generating 4.2 million sqm of demand for logistics space from consumer spending.
“Poland is an excellent location for international businesses and a `gravity center` for logistics serving Western and Central-Eastern Europe, as well as the Baltic countries. Semiconductor production, previously concentrated in Asian markets, is now shifting to Poland. We can already see the first investments of this kind, including Intel’s planned facility, which is expected to create jobs for over 2,000 people,” said Katarzyna Pyś-Fabiańczyk, Director of Industrial Services Hub at Savills.
Intel’s investment will serve as a catalyst for further development of the entire technological innovation environment in the Lower Silesia region, added Paweł Kurtasz, President of the Board of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency. The company will invest $4.6 billion in a semiconductor assembly and test plant in Poland. Intel has an operational wafer fabrication site in Ireland and plans a similar one in Germany.
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