text:
Global ‘The 2021 Upgrade Report’ from Hotels.com, identifies a spike in last-minute reservations and upgrading following a lost year for travel.
- 89% of Americans reveal they intend to be more spontaneous than ever in 2021(1)
- Hotels.com announces the new global report, ‘The 2021 Upgrade’, revealing spike in spontaneous travel to defy a year of rules and restrictions
- Hotels.com booking data reflect an impulsive trend, with same-day bookings up 10% from June – August 2019 vs 2020(2)
- Eager U.S. travelers state they would do all the cleaning in their house (29%), give up sweets (24%), not leave the house (23%), and even stop shopping (22%) or drinking alcohol (22%) for a month to be able to get away and live their best hotel life again
DALLAS – Spontaneity will be the word of the year for 2021 travelers as a new global study reveals 89% of U.S. travelers intend to be more impulsive than ever, following 2020’s canceled trips, boredom, and all-round ‘year of nothing’. The new report from Hotels.com®, ‘The 2021 Upgrade’, has uncovered how this new lust for spontaneity will have a ripple effect on the hotel and travel industries, as travelers say ‘yes’ to more.
Take me away…and quick! The global study showed that 32% are dubbing 2020 the ‘lost year’ for travel prompting more than a third (35%) to be more likely to drop everything to vacay if they can in 2021. Hotels.com’s booking data supports this, with almost half of bookings in June 2020 (when lockdown rules eased for the first time for many) being made three or fewer days from the time of search.
It’s all about being spontaneous AF these days with over a quarter revealing they would say yes to more last-minute trips (28%). All rules are out the window with one in five (26%) saying they would take off on a long-haul trip for just a few days or make no plans for the trip in favor of being spontaneous when they arrive (25%). A further 17% are ready to live their best luxury #HotelLife and will be booking a five-star hotel for their 2021 getaways.
Experts at Hotels.com also predict this extravagant attitude will have a dramatic impact on hotel booking behavior, with 2021 being the year to really ‘treat yo self’. Compared to pre-pandemic times over a quarter (26%) would now book a better hotel room, and nearly a quarter would spontaneously say yes to a room upgrade if offered when booking (24%).
“2020 was the year of staying home, postponing trips and posting old vacation pictures on social media. This year, travelers are ready to ‘seize the stay’ when travel returns and they feel comfortable to take the trips they missed out on” shared Josh Belkin, Vice President, Global brand Hotels.com. “We saw that when travel restrictions eased for many in July and August 2020, over half of bookings were made three days or less ahead of their stay, compared to 40% in 2019. People are ready to channel their inner spontaneous self, dropping everything at the last minute to get away and enjoy the best that hotel life has to offer.”
Dear hotel, we miss you
Travelers are ready to get in that robe and raid the mini bar again with a quarter of people saying the thing they miss most about traveling is being able to stay in an awesome hotel. They have been craving that sweet #HotelLife, missing relaxing in a plush robe (13%), the peace and quiet (30%) breakfast buffets (23%), hotel restaurants and bars (29%), rooms with a view (26%), ordering room service (18%), visiting the hotel pool (20%), treating themselves to the hotel spa (17%) and of course the incredible hotel bed (18%).
This craving means travelers will take a different approach to hotel bookings in 2021 – it will be all about upgrading the experience. When asked what new experiences they would say ‘yes’ to, around one in five (20%) would splurge on a spa treatment, uber-luxe hotel restaurant (20%), or a fancy cocktail in the hotel’s bar (24%).
Travelers will also be finding ways to ‘seize the stay’ as much as they can, with nearly one in five stating they would spontaneously book a fancy hotel for a staycation for the weekend (24%) or take advantage of a mid-week deal in their local trendy hotel (23%).
The rise in spontaneous travel
To plan or not to plan? Travelers want to be carefree and relaxed by making spontaneous decisions (32%), not having to plan and just doing what they wanted (28%) and saying ‘yes’ to new experiences (24%). Time to turn on the ‘out of office’ and switch off for that vacation.
The research also revealed the lengths that many will go to for a vacation and a hotel stay in 2021, with travelers admitting do all the cleaning in their house (29%), give up sweets (24%), not leave their house (23%), social media apps (17%) and even sex (16%) for a month. 2020, you have pushed us to our limits!
Same day travel driven by need to be spontaneous
Travel-hungry hotel-lovers are ready to commit to spontaneity, with 29% claiming they’d be ready to drop it all and leave the same day if given the opportunity.
With spontaneity comes packing pressure. Most would go nowhere without their digital lifelines, with over half (55%) prioritising their phone, laptop and charger – beating out a change of clothes (46%), a swimsuit (29%) and sleepwear (30%).
Hotels.com is one of the most rewarding ways to book a place to stay and we even have a ‘Reward Winning’ loyalty program that includes free cancellations should your travel plans change. Check out our Hotels.com Rewards* program and see for yourself how to bag a reward night.
Notes to Editors 1Research was conducted by One Poll in December 2020. 1,000 respondents across the United States. 2Statistics from Hotels.com booking data pulled on 10th December 2020


text:
Last week it was aluminum from China, and this week the Department of Commerce (DOC) continued its initiatives to combat uncompetitive trade practices by targeting corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) from Vietnam. The DOC recently announced preliminary rulings that certain CORE and cold-rolled steel products from Vietnam, which were produced from substrate originating in China, are circumventing antidumping (AD) and countervailing (CVD) duty orders.
This ruling allows Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin collecting cash deposits on imports of CORE at rates off 199.43 (AD) and 39.05 (CVD) percent. The cold-rolled steel will be subject to rates of (AD) 265.79 percent and (CVD) 256.44 percent. These cash deposit rates were established by previous investigations of cold-rolled steel and CORE from China.
Furthermore, duties will apply to all shipments that entered the U.S. on or after November 4, 2016, that remain unliquidated, or still need to be paid for in full. An exemption can be sought for Vietnamese products that do not use substrate from China.
After duties were preliminarily imposed on Chinese products in 2015, annual shipments of CORE from Vietnam to the United States increased from $2 million to $80 million, and shipments of cold-rolled steel increased from $9 million to $215 million.
These inquiries were conducted based on requests from Steel Dynamics, Inc., AK Steel Corporation (OH), Nucor Corporation (NC), California Steel Industries (CA), ArcelorMittal USA, LLC (IN), and United States Steel Corporation (PA). Final determinations on these inquiries are scheduled to be announced on February 16, 2018.

domain: news


text:
MILAN, Nov 9 (Class Editori) — An agreement was reached to support Italian and Chinese small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Intesa Sanpaolo and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) will offer products and financial and non-financial services to support SMEs interested in industrial and business activities in both markets.
The MoU was reached thanks to Italy China Foundation, of which both the banks are members, and was signed on the occasion of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) underway in Shanghai.
This cooperation will also be developed by finding new possible specific distribution hubs dedicated to the needs of both business worlds.
As explained in a note, the two banks want to provide products and services to support the requirements of the two markets by introducing and then assisting mutual consumers also through the help and experience of Italy China Foundation.
Moreover, the MoU includes the creation of combined promotional initiatives to strengthen business development in the two reference markets.
“Internationalization is an important tool for Italy’s recovery and for the development of the companies, which represent Intesa Sanpaolo’s focus in the plan to support Italian entrepreneurs also with more than 300 experts active on all the territory,” Stefano Barrese, Head of the Banca dei Territori Division (domestic commercial banking), explained. “This agreement represents a development opportunity for Italian SMEs that want to enter a major, ever-growing market, in which Intesa Sanpaolo has been active for years, thanks to targeted products and services able to promote their growth abroad as well. Moreover, thanks to this partnership we aim for the first time to benefit from a distinctive commercial offer to efficiently meet the needs of Chinese entrepreneurs”.
According to Rosario Strano, Head of China Project at Intesa Sanpaolo, “the Memorandum of Understanding with ICBC, within the institutional framework and with the operational support of Italy China Foundation, once again confirms the bank's ability to reach cooperation agreements with key international and institutional partners. Thanks to the potential of two major banks such as Intesa Sanpaolo and ICBC, the development of entrepreneurial initiatives of SMEs will be facilitated. These companies are significantly present in the two countries, and more than others need to be supported through a complete platform of financial and non-financial services during the different stages of their growth”.
“This initiative is completely in line with our mission, which is to support Italian and Chinese partners and companies,” Mario Boselli, President of Italy China Foundation, commented. “For over 18 years we have been the most important Sino-Italian platform operating in our country and this is why we wanted two important international players and strategic partners such as Intesa Sanpaolo and ICBC to join forces. This agreement is the only one of its kind signed by ICBC with an Italian institution during the CIIE and will allow us to provide an innovative tool in terms of system, a further practical support to the companies of both countries in this difficult time”.
Notice: No person, organization and/or company shall disseminate or broadcast the above article on Xinhua Silk Road website without prior permission by Xinhua Silk Road.


text:
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows business leaders have opened registration to a virtual town hall meeting that is to address many questions business owners may have about the gradual reopening of the economy this month.
May 6, the B.C. government announced it’s moving towards cautiously reopening up business and services closed by COVID-19. The “restart plan” did not include specific dates for reopening.
The Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association, city, and politicians are to host the virtual town hall May 14 at 1 p.m.
Participants are required to register for the event, as only 250 people are allowed on the Zoom meeting.
The Local Economy Restart Town Hall Webinar is open to business owners who may have questions about how to safely reopen their business. Business owners may pre-submit questions on the registration page.
The panel includes representation from the City of Maple Ridge, Worksafe BC, Fraser Health, bylaw departments and more.
Registration can be made at https://tinyurl.com/yd33z28h
The registration page provides an opportunity for participants to pre-submit questions. Details about when and how to access the call will be emailed after a registration form is complete.


text:
A larger variety of foodservice options has driven an increase in the amount of diners in Europe eating out of home, a new report has found.
More flexible menus and an increase of meal occasions, from breakfast and all day brunch through to dinner, has led to a €4.1 billion (£3.8 billion) increase in foodservice sales in 2017 to €335.9 billion (£298 billion) according to a new report launched today by IRI GIRA Foodservice.
The study revealed that the UK foodservice market increased by 6.2% since 2015 to £58.2m of sales in 2017 and that one in five meals (18% of all meals) are consumed outside the home.
Virginie Pernin, chief analyst at IRI GIRA Foodservice, commented: “Restaurants and other food service outlets have capitalised on these trends by providing options for more meal occasions including breakfast and brunch. It is easier to eat out rather than buy food and cook at home. Food delivery services such as
Deliveroo that provide easier ways to order, pay and deliver, are behind the boom in restaurant food at home.”
IRI GIRA Foodservice predicts the number of commercial kitchens that are dedicated to food delivery through companies like Just Eat, UberEats, Amazon Restaurants and Deliveroo, which has just launched a global advertising campaign, will increase by 2020 with a particular focus on healthier and premium options.


text:
HONDA SAYS IT is prepared to market its previously announced electric motorcycle by 2010.
Honda first revealed its plan to produce an electric cycle in December 2008, when it announced the planned creation of a joint venture company with battery specialist GS Yuasa Corporation.
As previously reported by Dealernews, the new company, Blue Energy Co. Ltd., was established April 1 to manufacture, sell and conduct R&D for high-performance lithium-ion batteries for use in Honda hybrid vehicles. Blue Energy Co. Ltd. is 51 percent owned by GS Yuasa Power Supply Ltd. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of GS Yuasa Corporation) and 49 percent owned by Honda Motor Co. Ltd.
Honda is the second major motorcycle manufacturer to announce the planned creation of an electric cycle. KTM also is working to develop a model for production.
Honda sold 10.114 million motorcycles and ATVs during its business year ended March 31, up 8.5 percent compared to sales of 9,320 million units during the previous year. Growth occurred largely in burgeoning markets such as Brazil and India. The OEM sold 320,000 units to North America during the recently ended 12-month period, down from 453,000 units in the prior year.
—Submitted by Guido Ebert


text:
On September 1, the Reserve Bank of Australia's final standard on excessive surcharges will come into effect, meaning the way large Australian retailers are allowed to charge card payments is about to change.
Sounds pretty boring, right?
Except it actually comes down to money -- your money -- and how much of it retailers are allowed to take when you select a specific payment option. So you know when you spend ages researching the cheapest flights from Sydney to Melbourne, only to get to the payment form and be whacked with a fee for using your credit card? This is what we're talking about, and it's all about to change, especially when it comes to travel.
In a nutshell
The new Competition and Consumer Amendment (Payment Surcharges) Act 2016 comes into effect on Thursday, 1 September, 2016, and will be regulated by the ACCC.
It's designed to reduce excessive surcharges and, at the moment, applies to large retailers (smaller retailers will go through the same thing this time next year).
What does it mean?
Firstly, this doesn't mean surcharges are no more. Merchants are still allowed to surcharge, but how much they are allowed to surcharge on particular payment cards has changed.
As outlined on the RBA website, "the new standard will ensure that consumers using payment cards from designated systems (eftpos, the debit and credit systems of MasterCard and Visa, and the American Express companion card system) cannot be surcharged in excess of a merchant's cost of acceptance for that card system."
In other words, depending on which card you choose to pay on, while you still may face some kind of surcharge, big businesses aren't allowed to charge you excessively.
Where this gets particularly juicy is when it comes to booking flights, as "merchants will not be able to impose high fixed-amount surcharges on low-value transactions, as has been typical for airlines."
Booking flights: then and now
"So traditionally what has been happening with airlines is the domestic surcharge has been around $7, plus GST," Tim Murphy, Managing Director of Media Travel told The Huffington Post Australia.
"For an international ticket it's $30. That's kind of been the benchmark.
"What they are going to do now is change that, so the surcharge will be based on a percentage of the actual airfare you're purchasing. Which means for domestic flights, you are going to be paying a lot less than $7.
"For international flights, it's going to be based on a percentage of the international airfare. So it really depends on what ticket you buy."
If I was looking at buying an international ticket, I would probably want to do it today as by tomorrow you would be worse off.
"A business class ticket could be $9000," Murphy continued. "I wouldn't want to be paying a percentage on that. You could easily be paying $200-$300 in surcharges, though luckily [the allowable surcharge amount] has been capped at $70."
It's worth pointing out you can already avoid paying surcharges at all when booking flights online, simply by opting for the PayPal or direct debit option. However, it's not every day we have the money just sitting around in our actual accounts, right? And, let's be real, you're even less likely to have that cash lying around if you're the sort of person who has been trawling the internet for hours looking at ways to save every single cent.
"Essentially for people who buy low cost seats on carriers, there will be an immediate saving," consumer advocate and Surcharge Free spokesman Christopher Zinn told HuffPost Australia. "That's a plus. But for those with more expensive seats, they may pay more, though there will be a cap on that."
When to book
In short: if you're a cheapskate, wait until after September 1.
If you're planning a fancy-pants holiday, you might want to lock down those flights today.
"If I was looking at buying an international ticket, I would probably want to do it today as by tomorrow you would be worse off," Murphy said.
"If you're looking at a cheap domestic fare, I would hold off until tomorrow."


text:
Dubai: The world's first multi-entertainment metaverse, MaziMatic, today announced its anticipated partnership with Saitacard, a renowned virtual crypto debit card, powered by ePayme, widely recognized for its tap-to-pay feature through Apple and Google Pay with a spending limit of USD 50K and no KYC. Representing a significant milestone in the fintech-crypto industry, the powerhouse collaboration between MaziMatic and Saitacard redefines the future of crypto debit cards.
With limited access to traditional financial services, 1.7 billion people across the globe remain "unbanked," thus hindering financial freedom for low-income individuals. Saitama, a web 3.0 technology company focused on simplifying and making decentralized finance (DeFi) safer for mainstream users, builds tools to make a living on crypto a reality.
Saitacard, in partnership with ePayMe and Saitama, has emerged as a prominent crypto debit card providing unparalleled spending power to individuals worldwide. Supporting over 14 cryptocurrencies and with regulatory free reporting, Saitacard aims to change how people think about crypto assets and their usage.
The collaboration will also highlight the bold and disruptive approach by MaziMatic to eliminate top-up fees. Traditionally, crypto debit cards charge top-up fees ranging from 1% to 10% of the total amount. Integrating MaziMatic's native token, $Mazi (BNB), on Saitacard, eliminates the standard 3.5% fee and, in return, offers users a 5% bonus on every top-up.
Shifting towards a fee-free model creates new opportunities for incorporating cryptocurrencies into mainstream financial systems. To date, this does not exist among tokens, including Bitcoin-based debit cards, which offer this advantage to cardholders.
Karan Bhandari, CEO of MaziMatic, stated, "By eliminating fees on card top-ups, we aim to drive a change in the market, breaking barriers while creating financial freedom. In addition, our partnership with Saitacard aims to bring unparalleled value to users."
Manpreet Singh Kohli “Mkay”, CFO of Saitacard, said ‘"We are thrilled to partner with MaziMatic, the pioneer in the multi-entertainment metaverse, to redefine the future of crypto debit cards. With Saitacard's tap-to-pay feature, users can enjoy unparalleled spending power and financial freedom. Our collaboration eliminates top-up fees and offers a 5% bonus on every top-up, creating new opportunities for mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. With support for over 14 cryptocurrencies and seamless integration with popular payment platforms, Saitacard is revolutionizing the way people think about crypto assets and their everyday usage."
Saitacard allows users to transact up to $50,000 daily, offering greater financial flexibility for day-to-day global transactions, except for North Korea and Iran. To further support Saitacard users, MaziMatic has established a dedicated 24/7 support team accessible via WhatsApp and Telegram.


text:
You all should know about e-commerce by now, but what the hell is ‘v-commerce’? Dale Beaumont (pictured below), founder and CEO of BRiN – the world’s first artificially intelligent business adviser – provides the lowdown on this new AI-driven trend.
The e-commerce revolution of 20 years ago brought us the freedom of buying goods and ordering services online. What started as a novelty quickly became a way of life and is now something few of us can imagine getting by without.
We order everything from pizza to party supplies on the web, all with a few taps, swipes and clicks.
E-commerce has changed the world, shifting products faster than ever and creating incredible business opportunities for anyone with a device and an internet connection.
We are now about to enter the next phase of digital commerce thanks to artificial intelligence and voice recognition technology.
The click of a button is about to become a distant memory. Instead of placing orders using a screen, consumers will simply speak out loud.
Artificially intelligent voice assistants will soon help us book flights, find hotel rooms and even order flowers for Aunt Mary’s birthday. By referring to our purchasing history, they will be able to make recommendations and place orders on our behalf.
This evolution towards v-commerce is already well underway. In the US, Amazon’s voice-activated Echo device has pride of place in over eight million homes. Consumers can use ‘Alexa’ to turn on the lights and check local traffic. They can also say “Hey Alexa, order some laundry powder”. This smart machine will place an order based on previous purchase history and the product will show up in the mail the very next day.
Voice-activated technology is proving to be a goldmine for Amazon, with the company forecast to hit a whopping $10 billion in total revenue from device sales and shopping by the year 2020. Investment bank RBC predicts the online shopping giant will have 500 million active customers by this time.
Not to be left out of their slice of the v-commerce pie, Google and retailer Walmart recently joined forces to offer a similar service. This will make thousands of products available just by saying “Ok Google…”. Shoppers who link their Walmart account to Google Home will benefit from personalised recommendations based on previous purchases.
Australians may not be able to shop at Walmart, but we can get our hands on Google Home. No doubt major local retailers are already in discussions to make shopping easier than ever.
The undeniable popularity of voice
The rapid ascension of voice-activated technology means our voice assistants are able to help us with an ever-increasing list of tasks. As a global population, we are getting used to the convenience of a personal assistant in our pockets.
According to a recent Business Insider report, changes in consumer behaviour and habits are leading to greater adoption of voice assistants. As BI’s Voice-Assistant Landscape Report states, “Chief among these are increased overall awareness and a higher level of comfort demonstrated by younger consumers”.
Improvements in AI, natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning are combining with more powerful smartphones and faster cloud computing to make voice an increasingly attractive proposition.
For businesses of all sizes, this represents one thing: opportunity.
Joining the v-commerce bandwagon
An ominous warning came from eBay CEO Devin Wenig at this year’s ShopTalk conference in Las Vegas: “If you don’t have an AI strategy, you are going to die in the world that’s coming.”
Amazon’s incredible success is taking its toll. As shown in KPCB’s 2017 Internet Trends report, the shopping giant and its quick delivery are affecting once popular retailers like American Apparel and RadioShack, causing them to close stores around the US.
V-commerce is a matter of sink or swim. Now is the time to get on board with artificial intelligence and voice capability.
As a first step, it’s important to make sure a website is discoverable by assistants like Siri, Cortana and Google. Review the content strategy and include search terms people are likely to say rather than type (e.g. “Find the nearest salon” and “Where can I buy outdoor furniture?”).
Make sure the business is listed and verified on Google with an address and phone number. Ask Siri or Google to find a similar business and see what comes up – it may be that more attention needs to be paid to online discoverability.
Leveraging the v-commerce explosion doesn’t mean investing millions the way Amazon has. In fact, Amazon and high-level IT developers have made it easy by doing the hard yards. They have paved the way for talking fridges and air conditioners. Voice assistants have the technology to offer unprompted reminders and sale notifications, and special offers that can be personalised for individuals.
What’s left is to figure out how integrating with voice technology will prepare business for a future where we forgo typing to talk.
The sexiest singles in the nation (according to Channel Nine, at least) are back on airwaves with Love Island Australia on Monday, October 4, at 9.00pm after The Block on Channel 9 and 9Now. Aussie sweetheart Sophie Monk will return to host (and play Cupid) alongside new addition, comedian Stephen Mullan a narrator, in the world-renowned reality TV […]
Yotpo is officially expanding into Australia, off the back of significant market growth with massive Aussie names, a landmark investment from Shopify and a plan to help local Aussie e-comm explode. Yotpo’s ANZ userbase includes names like Zoe Foster Blake’s $180M Go-To Skin Care, e-commerce fashion queen Princess Polly, and billion-dollar streetwear brand Culture Kings, […]
Progress has today announced the availability of Progress Sitefinity DX 14.0. This agile, flexible and extensible platform allows organisations to create an ideal digital experience platform (DXP) tailored to their unique needs and objectives with new capabilities for low-code integration and chat-driven engagement, as well as enhanced headless content delivery. The digital world is transforming […]
Tangram has announced that they have signed a partnership with monday.com. the work operating system (Work OS) where organizations of any size can create the tools and processes, they need to manage every aspect of their work. Israeli-based monday.com and Australian-based Tangram form an irresistible team of experts offering unique solutions to agency problems. monday.com […]
Leading Australian market research data brand, RDA Research, provides actionable consumer intelligence to help businesses inform decision making and growth strategies. RDA Research wanted to make its unique consumer data available for addressable digital targeting and required a data onboarding partner to help activate their data in an online environment.
Storytelling agency Enthral has appointed Channel 7 reporter and sports presenter Sean Sowerby as its new senior PR and content manager in Melbourne. Sowerby (pictured) started his award-winning career at 3AW before spending more than 15 years in television. Enthral founder and manager director, Cameron Smith, spoke of the significance of Sowerby joining the agency. […]


text:
Laura Desmond steps down as Publicis Groupe's chief revenue officer
Rishad Tobaccowala replaces Desmond
“I am very grateful to Maurice Levy and everyone at Publicis Groupe for their support during my leave. The family health issue is significantly better,” said Desmond in a press statement.
“This sabbatical allowed me to consider where my greatest entrepreneurial and leadership opportunity existed. After thoughtful reflection and discussions with Maurice, I have concluded this is the right step for me. I leave the Groupe with nothing but thanks and appreciation for the opportunities and support I’ve received throughout my career and during my leave.”
“We are all very grateful to Laura for her many important contributions to Publicis Groupe and are sorry to see her go,” added Maurice Levy, chairman and CEO, Publicis Groupe. “I know that Laura will continue to be as incredibly successful in the future as she has been with us. With my colleagues of the management Board we wish her only the very best.”
During Desmond’s leave, her responsibilities as chief revenue officer, have been coordinated by Rishad Tobaccowala, who will continue in this role as strategy and growth officer, Publicis Groupe.
Prior to her current role, Desmond served as Global CEO of Starcom Mediavest Group, more than doubling its size and nurturing relationships with the world’s biggest marketers including Samsung, Bank of America, Visa, Coca-Cola, as well as new establishment brands such as Airbnb and Twitter


text:
TOKYO — Shiseido continues its push to become a bigger player in the international cosmetics industry with a newly opened global innovation center in the Japanese city of Yokohama, about an hour southwest of Tokyo. With a total of 17 floors and 604,730 square feet of space, the building will include a variety of research and development facilities, as well as areas that will be open to the public starting from April 13. The company invested more than 40 billion yen, or nearly $400 million, in the center.
“Our goal is to become the most trusted beauty company in the world, by being the most innovative, aspirational to youth, selected by diverse talents, and trusted by society and shareholders,” Masahiko Uotani, Shiseido’s representative director, chairman and chief executive officer, said at the press unveiling of the new center on Tuesday.
The shiny new center in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai section makes quite the first impression on visitors, with a large, split-level lobby area that is also home to a vegetable-centric café and the world’s largest crystal LED display, a 33-by-66-foot 16K screen developed by Sony. Also on this floor is Shiseido’s new Beauty Bar, where customers can have a specially trained researcher create


text:
Over the years, drive-thru ordering at places such as Sonic, Taco Bell or Braum’s has become fast, easy and efficient. But what most people don’t realize is that they wouldn’t be able to place that order without help from Oklahoma City’s OrderMatic Integrated Solutions.
For more than 60 years, OrderMatic has provided point-of-sale equipment, menu boards, digital signage, backlit signs and drive-thru communication systems to companies including Sonic, Braum’s, Taco Bell, Chicken Express, Subway and more. And now that the company has moved into 11,000 square feet of office space near Grand and Reno, it has its manufacturing, technology and printing all on one campus, according a press release from the company.
“We are excited about our new facility, which will provide greater efficiency in how we serve our customers. We expect to improve internal and external communications and reinvent our culture with creative and innovative products and exceed our customer expectations with our services,” said Robert Powell, president and CEO of Order-Matic Electronics Corp. LLC.


text:
Yestime, an event enhancement platform, has just announced a partnership with experiential based media company spoiled Media.
The objective of the partnership, the Yestime team says, is to offer added incremental revenue by surrounding spoiledNYC.com events with pre and post event recommendations.
Along with driving more revenue, Yestime will also work with spoiled Media to share data in order to enhance insights regarding events and consumer mobile habits.
Founded in 2015, Yestime has patents pending on their technology platform that will be released in Beta in partnership with spoiled Media. Yestime developed a proprietary application that drives additional revenue for event producers. The company’s platform promotes early and on time attendance for events big and small, helping event organizers maximize early attendance at their events, and provides event recommendations for attendees.
As with any new technology, the proof is getting the software into the hands of consumers. Yestime is “positioned for growth with spoiledNYC.com,” a site for millennials with over 1 million visitors a month.
“We’re excited to work with spoiled Media and bring our knowledge of event industry and interactive technology to this partnership,” says Yestime co-founder William Brown. “We’re united in building strategic assets and channels that offer the highest level for successful event integration opportunities.”


text:
Share this Article
[..]it would be intended to bridge the gap between internet-based content – presumably such as YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand – and users’ big-screen TVs, with Dell hoping it helps bring their product line out of the office and into the living room.
Dell is evaluating new devices from set-top box makers and Original Design Manufacturers that can bring seamlessly Internet content to TVs.
They are also considering the Google TV platform, which merges broadcast TV and Internet into one interface.
Chris Camilletti, desktop product manager at Dell said that it has not yet officially announced any product or device, and is still investigating the marketing opportunities.
WorldTVPC reports that on Thursday Dell announced the Inspiron Zino HD desktop, saying it as an entertainment hub that can bring Internet movies to high definition TVs.


text:
Chilean avocado growers and shippers have a world of customers with whom they can do business, but more of them are sending fruit to customers inside Chile.
“Our economy is strong and will grow at least at 4% during 2013, so we expect to have a strong demand (for) avocados,” said Adolfo Ochagavía, president of the Chilean Hass Avocado Committee.
That has been the trend for some time, said Rankin McDaniel, owner of Fallbrook, Calif.-based McDaniel Fruit Co.
“Chile’s domestic market plays a big role in the avocado deal because the demand for avocados domestically in the national market has grown very much larger than we thought it would ... and done a very good job of building their markets,” McDaniel said.
A more prosperous consumer base has led to higher avocado sales, McDaniel said.
“The Chilean organizations that are responsible for building programs domestically have done a very good job, and Chilean society, if you will, has become more middle class-oriented, and there’s more money to spend on these types of products, so they’re building their market,” he said.
That affects what is exported, McDaniel said.
The growth of Chile’s domestic avocado market is one of the industry’s “biggest success stories,” said Rob Wedin, vice president of sales and marketing with Santa Paula, Calif.-based Calavo Growers Inc.
“At some point, they’re going to max out on that, but just about any food that’s eaten down there is eaten with avocados,” Wedin said.
Per-capita consumption of avocados is growing in Chile, said Chris Varvel, sales/distribution manager for Henry Avocado Corp., Escondido, Calif.
“When they’re processing where to market their fruit, exporters have turned and looked at their own domestic market as maybe the best market for fruit they’re getting from growers there, without dealing with the time involved in shipping and the exchange rate,” Varvel said.
It’s a limited market, though, with only about 14 million people, Wedin said.
“That’s got to spread into Argentina and eventually into Brazil and Colombia and places like that for that concept to pay off,” he said.
But, there are still plenty of avocados to ship to the U.S. and other markets, McDaniel said.
“The global market is expanding just as fast as the U.S. market ... and there are opportunities globally from Chile’s perspective that they’re making sure that they’re totally aware of and taking advantage of, if it’s the right thing to do at that given time,” he said.
Currency exchange also plays a role in how much goes in which direction, McDaniel said.
“That has had an effect in previous years, and I’m assuming that will continue to play a role in determining what is exported to the U.S. when you compare the U.S. dollar vs. the peso in the exchange rate,” he said.
The exchange rate likely won’t be a factor this year, McDaniel said.
The peso was trading at about 510 pesos to $1 as of Sept. 1. A year earlier, it was about 480 to 1.
“I’m not aware that that is a big issue at the moment,” McDaniel said.
European sales also have a say in how much Chilean volume makes its way to the U.S., and Europe will compete for that product this year, Ochagavía said.
“We are looking at the recuperation of the economies like the U.S. and Europe, so our expectation is that we will have a good demand from both,” he said.


text:
Metro Bank has chosen to champion women's and girls' cricket in its first ever foray into sports sponsorship.
Paddy Power leveraged its World Darts Championship title sponsorship rights in support of the charitable organisation Prostate Cancer UK.
Sportingbet ran an influencer-led campaign in Brazil to tee up its sponsorship of the 2023 Copa Libertadores.
The WeAreFearless agency’s shirt sponsorship deal with Hackney Women’s FC highlighted its expertise in women’s sport and followed the launch of a dedicated women's sport division.
Mars Snacking delivered an augmented reality experience to activate its NFL sponsorship rights at Super Bowl LVIII.
‘United. Near and Far.’ was an integrated consumer experience campaign from Marriott Hotels and the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme that fused the worlds of travel and sports to engage the more than 13 million Manchester United fans in the US with British event and hospitality culture.
Cadbury used the renewal of its sponsorship deal with English Premier League club Chelsea to extend its ‘Sign with Fingers’ campaign, designed to support the UK’s deaf community.
US-based car rental agency Enterprise Rent-A-Car launched a bespoke and informative football content series to activate its sponsorship deal with the Uefa Europa League.
The 2023 Sponsorship Works casebook contains 15 case studies: our pick of those sponsorship activations from the last 12 months which demonstrated best practice in planning and delivery.
In August 2021, Heineken created a global campaign to mark its new move into women’s European football sponsorship with Uefa.
SportBusiness Sponsorship looks at how DP World activated its sponsorship agreement covering this year's ICC Cricket World Cup.
In January 2022, Southeast Asian esports organisation ONE Esports and smartphone manufacturer Samsung entered a long-term agreement with the intention of launching an esports app, exclusive to Samsung…
Budweiser created a buzz around last winter’s World Cup in Qatar, despite the unexpected ban on in-stadium alcohol sales.
The Sponsorship Works: 2023 Football Activations Casebook is out now
EA Sports created the FC Futures project to invest meaningfully in community-level football and has committed $10m to multiple grassroots football projects under the scheme.
Small business accounting software firm Xero improved brand perception in the UK with its ‘Dream Bigger’ 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign.
Mobile services provider Smart wanted to use its sponsorship of the Fiba Basketball World Cup to create an uplift in brand awareness and association in its home market through digital and out-of-home executions.
Starling Bank has grown affinity among fans of Southampton FC Women via its 'Coaches of Tomorrow' campaign.


text:
|Hong Kong, August 26, 2010 – The South China Morning Post Group Limited today announced the audited interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
The operating results improved significantly as a result of careful cost management and a more positive economy. Total revenue rose 22%, or HK$75.2m to HK$411.7m compared with HK$336.5m in 1H, 2009. Operating profit totaled HK$69.6m for 1H 2010 after staff costs, production materials, rental and utilities, depreciation, amortization and marketing costs, up from a loss of HK$8.5m in the same period in 2009, and net profit attributable to shareholders for the period was $52.3m, compared with a $14.9m loss during 1H in 2009.
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations came to HK$0.034 per share, compared to a loss of HK$0.01 per share in 1H, 2009. Interim dividend per share was HK$0.02.
The newspaper publishing division, which generated 83% of the revenue and 70% of the operating profit, reported an increase of 32% from advertising and marketing services, driven by a higher volume of display advertising. Unaudited first half circulation of South China Morning Post and Sunday Morning Post remained stable at 101,800 and 77,400, an increase of 1% and 2% respectively compared to the same period last year.
"Our continued vigilance with cost management, maintaining a quality product and creating innovative advertising solutions, has enabled us to recover from the turbulent economy of 2009" said Ms Kuok Hui Kwong, Managing Director and CEO of SCMP Group Ltd. "We are confident that with the continued stabilization of the economy, our business will also see further growth. However, we are cautious and will continue to remain cost conscious and efficiency driven as we approach the second half of the year."
The Group is aggressively developing new revenue sources from consumer products. The iPad edition of the South China Morning Post enjoyed a successful launch in July.
|For further information please contact:
Director of Marketing


text:
Hadoop Meets Near Real-Time Data
Sidestepping HDFS and using Informatica's messaging software, MapR says it will be the first to stream data into the big data platform.
How To Become An App Millionaire
Fire Maple Games owner Joe Kauffman says his secret is great entertainment. But his success story also includes Corona SDK, a programming tool that fuels iOS, Android, and soon OS X apps from one code base.
4 BYOD Security Strategies For Small Business
Whether or not your company embraces the bring-your-own-device approach, don't ignore the data integrity and retention implications of all the personal smartphones and tablets showing up in the workplace.
Should NSA Be Scanning Business Networks?
After NSA presses for such a role, DHS argues it's better suited. But security experts at RSA conference say there's an alternate approach to strengthening company networks.
iPad Apps: 10 Hidden Gems
Apple's iTunes Store has more than 140,000 apps just for the iPad. You can't try all of them, of course, but here are 10 hidden gems worth the effort.
UPS Handhelds Learn Smartphone Tricks
UPS' new device, which will go out to 100,000 brown-clad drivers, has some amazing features. But like any mobile device these days, it's already on the road to obsolescence.
Samsung Galaxy Beam Turns Heads: MWC 2012
Samsung launches its slimmest projector phone ever, the Galaxy Beam, along with a stylish, updated version of Galaxy Note tablet, at Mobile World Congress. Check out our video coverage.
Android Malware Continues To Surge
Mobile threats increased six-fold between 2010 and 2011, says
Kapersky Lab, as security experts at RSA debate whether
Android or iPhone is more secure against malware attacks.
NASA Breaches Leak ISS Control Code
A laptop computer--one of 48 devices that went missing from the space agency between 2009 and 2011--contained algorithms to command the space station.
Windows 8 Beta: Visual Tour
Take a closer look at Microsoft's radically revamped Windows 8 OS, out now in a consumer preview version. Here's the lowdown on features, apps, hardware, and more.
15 New Rules For IT To Live By
The old IT rulebook is obsolete, but the new one that accounts for the rise of mobile, social, and analytics hasn't been written. Consider this a first draft, so your revisions are welcome.
Anonymous Retaliates For Interpol Arrests
Hacktivists use DDoS attacks to knock Interpol website offline following arrests of 25 alleged Anonymous associates. FBI official at RSA credits Anonymous for accelerating international law enforcement cooperation.
iPad Mini Reports Resurface
Apple is believed to be targeting a third quarter launch for an iPad with a smaller display, to more directly challenge Amazon and Barnes & Noble's e-readers.


text:
Distributor Exertis has extended its smart technology range to include a host of new products and vendors.
The products expand Exertis’ smart tech range in smart thermostats and security devices – categories that have demonstrated huge growth throughout 2015 for resellers and retailers.
Exertis will now distribute Guardzilla – described as an affordable, easy to use, customisable security system that streams video to users’ smartphones in real time and captures pictures.
It has also added Tile to its portfolio. The tiny Bluetooth tracker and app helps users find everyday items in seconds.
Finally, Exertis will distribute Momit thermostats that let you control home temperatures from anywhere and at any time through the app using your mobile, tablet or computer.
In addition, Exertis will be extending its range even further with new vendors and products set for launch in the next couple of months in security, energy control and system automation.
“We have built the strongest line-up of market leading vendors, some of which are exclusive to Exertis, in the smart technology category across sectors that are creating consumer and business demand,” said Rod Slater, Exertis head of Smart Technology.
“Our portfolio in security, environmental control, system automation, home entertainment and wearables provides resellers and retailers with a wide choice of incredibly innovative, high quality products that are not only desirable but also increase efficiency and add value for users in today’s connected world.”


text:
Members of the IPR’s measurement commission and PR News got together with communications pros for a discussion on Twitter, using hashtag #PRChat, to discuss some of the challenges around measurement and what best practices to take into the new year.
Stories by Melissa Hoffmann
Members of the Commission on Public Relations Measurement and Evaluation at the Institute for Public Relations point to the biggest measurement myths they’ve seen emerge as the world of PR measurement evolves. For a deeper dive on the future of PR measurement, join members of IPR and PR News for a Twitter chat on Tuesday, Dec. 4, using hashtag #PRNews.
Communicators and marketers are continually adapting and learning new digital strategies to expand their brand reach and recognition. And each year, PR News’ Digital PR Awards recognize the year’s top digital communicators and campaigns in… Continued
It’s critical to measure your communications efforts. Don’t stop there, however. With so much data available, it’s important to be certain you are measuring and reporting metrics that are relevant to your organization and the C-Suite, panelists said during PR News’ Healthcare Social Media Summit.
Communicators pointed to four major tactics that they have successfully implemented to earn trust, get their more difficult clients in the press, open their minds to spend, and change their opinions of the value that PR can bring to business.
Lawsuits are a part of doing business, which is what makes litigation PR such a crucial part of the overall communications industry and part of every brand’s communications strategy.
But now it’s happening to your brand. You know a suit is being released publicly later today. It’s potentially damaging.
So, what should you do?
With all of the measurement options that exist, it can be easy to forget that the social platforms themselves track loads of data—but native analytics should nevertheless be a part of your measurement plan. To that end, here are some tips to best utilize them.
PR professionals from agencies around the country came together to celebrate each other at PR News’ Platinum PR and Agency Elite Awards luncheon at the Grand Hyatt in New York City on Sept. 21 to… Continued
Technology: friend or foe? For global consumers polled by We Worldwide for its Brands in Motion 2018 survey, the answer is both. Consumers value technological innovation and want brands at the forefront, but they want this innovation to be balanced by regulation and ethics.
It was a quick switch. IHOP, a household name, became IHOb. Not long after, the ubiquitous pancake house went back to its roots. It was stunt perhaps worth replicating, because a few months later, people are… Continued


text:
NetFlix has been the undisputed leader when it comes to streaming services, and it was in fact NetFlix that gave rise to the word Binge watching. It was NetFlix that made several DVD rentals shut shop as it provided for a well curated content at a single place.
Reed Hastings, the Netflix co-founder and CEO explained in his keynote how the number of hours watched on Netflix has gone up from 12 billion hours in Q4 up from 8.25 billion a year ago. The service boasted of Adaptive Streaming and a decentralized network covering 190 countries with 125 million hours of content being delivered each day. Netflix has added a whopping 130 new countries as announced in the keynote today and here is the list of all the countries where Netflix is available. Virtually, every country in the world is now covered except for China, North Korea, Syria and Crimea.
We at India however were deprived of Netflix until today when the streaming giant announced that it will be starting the service in India. The subscriptions start at Rs 500 and go all the way up to Rs 850 per month. As an introductory offer, Netflix will be offering the first month free of charge and will start charging for the subsequent months.
Until now, if one had to access Netflix in India, they had to use VPN services else usually folks would download pirated content. The very fact that piracy has been reduced considerably after Netflix had been launched in some of the countries comes as a relief to the entertainment industry who would otherwise be suffering huge losses.
The Basic plan entitles comes without the HD feature, Ultra HD and will allow you to view on only one screen at a time and this costs Rs 500 ($7.81), which is a bit steep indeed. The middle level plan will allow for viewing on two simultaneous screens and will serve HD content, this plan costs Rs 650($10). The top of the line premium plan will allow four displays and also serve HD and Ultra HD content, this costs Rs 800($12.5).
Caveat comes in the form of a limited shows offered, and many users have already taken it to twitter and are complaining about the missing shows from the US Netflix. Lastly, Netflix is including some Indian movies and TV Shows, but the catalog is pretty barebones for now.
Streaming as a service is still something that hasn’t really caught up in India, blame it on the crippled Internet speeds or the lack of comprehensive streaming services. Services like Ogle, Hooq and Hotstar are still struggling to make a name for themselves. At this juncture, Netflix is assigned with the uphill task of getting people to use Internet to watch shows but the limitations like the higher subscription price might slow them down considerably.


text:
On March 4, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a policy change that will have big repercussions for public health. The FDA issued a guidance document that will allow the tobacco industry to circumvent the Tobacco Control Act, and introduce new or modified products with little or no review. After rescinding this guidance in the face of an industry lawsuit, the agency reissued the guidance on September 8, without making significant changes to the policies outline in the guidance.
The Tobacco Control Act requires tobacco companies to receive authorization from the FDA before they can begin to market a new product. For decades, tobacco manufacturers have manipulated their products to make them more addictive and attractive. As a result of these industry practices, many products sold today are more deadly than those sold in the past.
All of that was supposed to end when the Tobacco Control Act was passed in 2009. This law makes the FDA the gatekeeper of the tobacco product retail market. The agency must authorize the sale of all new products before they can be marketed. The process is intended to keep products off the market that would harm public health even more than the tobacco products that are currently killing 480,000 Americans each year.
Despite Congress’ effort to stem the tide of new products flooding the market, the tobacco industry is still selling brand new products and modified products without the FDA’s authorization. While the agency has the power to firmly clamp down on this activity by enforcing the law, instead the FDA has decided that it will simply allow the tobacco industry to continue selling these unauthorized products, and has created a new process that will allow the tobacco industry to begin selling thousands more new products before the agency authorizes their sale.
This practice defies the letter and the spirit of the Tobacco Control Act. The law requires the FDA to protect public health, but this action only serves tobacco industry interests.
Please take the time to explain to the FDA that using the agency’s enforcement discretion to promote industry at the expense of public health is a terrible idea.
If you have any questions about this action or anything else related to the FDA’s regulation of tobacco products, don’t hesitate to email us.


text:
Manufacturing content marketers have done the big things to adapt in a COVID-19 world. Seventy percent have changed their targeting/messaging strategy, 60% have adjusted their editorial calendar, and 57% have put more resources toward social media/online communities.
Those are a few findings from the Manufacturing Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends: Insights for 2021 report from the Content Marketing Institute, sponsored by GlobalSpec. The report presents the responses from the manufacturing content marketers who took part in our broader 11th annual content marketing survey.
Like their peers in other industries (as reported in the main B2B report), many manufacturing content marketers (84%) were quick to make changes to their content marketing when the pandemic hit this year. Ninety-one percent expect some of the changes to stay in effect for the foreseeable future.
The importance of digital
According to the survey, the top three types of content that manufacturing marketers use for content marketing purposes are email newsletters (81%), blog posts/short articles (79%), and videos (79%).
Email continues to be an effective way to reach engineers, another recent survey found. According to the 2020 Smart Marketing for Engineers research, produced by TREW Marketing and GlobalSpec, two-thirds of those surveyed subscribe to at least three newsletters. Forty-three percent reported that they “open most or all newsletters and either read every one or at least scan for content.” Another one-third scan subject lines and open the ones that intrigue them.
It’s no secret that manufacturers traditionally relied heavily on trade shows to generate new business leads. With the loss of in-person events in 2020, it’s no surprise that many manufacturing respondents reported an uptick in virtual offerings. Use of virtual events/webinars/online courses increased to 55% from 39% the previous year.
The Thomas Industrial Survey’s May/June 2020 report also found that webinars are becoming more important to industrial professionals. In that study, the percentage of respondents who indicated that webinars/virtual events were important avenues to reach new customers more than doubled from before the pandemic (35% vs. 15%).
Top-performing content types
When we asked manufacturing marketers which content types — among all they used in the previous 12 months — produced the best overall content marketing results, videos came in at the top, followed by virtual events/webinars/online courses, and email newsletters.
Regarding videos, more than half the engineers and technical professionals surveyed for the 2020 Smart Marketing for Engineers report indicated that they spend at least one hour per week watching videos for work (those 45 and younger reported spending the most time watching videos). It will be interesting to see if those video-viewing hours increase as the pandemic continues.
Paid social media advertising is top paid method of content distribution
Eighty-two percent of manufacturing respondents say their organization used paid channels to distribute content in the last 12 months. The top paid method is social media advertising/promoted posts (79%), followed by search engine marketing (SEM)/pay per click (70%).
This finding also aligns with the Thomas Industrial Survey May/June 2020 report, in which 45% of respondents said “digital advertising (e.g., search and social media) was an important avenue to reach new customers after the pandemic began vs. 31% before the pandemic began.”
Marketers continue to build trust, loyalty, subscribers
Manufacturing marketers continue to report growing success using content marketing to reach numerous business goals:Building credibility/trust increased to 74% from 66% the previous year. Building loyalty with existing clients/customers increased to 65% from 51%. Building a subscribed audience increased to 45% from 32%.
To achieve these types of goals, you must “keep it real,” advises Hailey Cassidy, global branding and digital marketing leader, Americhem, and presenter at Content Marketing World 2020’s Industrial Manufacturing Forum.
The top, most trusted people on digital are tech experts, then academics, then a person who has characteristics similar to the reader, Hailey notes. “Be the real deal. Be credible and upstanding. Never promote false advertising. If your tech experts speak in a video about how fast your lead times are, those rates better qualify as what one in that industry would think of as fast. It’s easy to get caught up in a lack of content and want to fill in the blanks, but make sure all content is up to industry standards.”
Regarding their overall success with content marketing over the last 12 months, 30% of manufacturing respondents report that their organization has been extremely/very successful, with another 61% indicating moderate success. Sixty-nine percent think the pandemic will have a major or moderate long-term impact on their organization’s overall content marketing success.
When asked, “What do you think your organization’s biggest content marketing challenges will be during the next 12 months,” many named content creation as well as getting and keeping their audience’s attention.
“Becoming heard in the ever-growing sea of voices now shifting online is an issue,” one manufacturing content marketer wrote. “Companies still stuck on traditional marketing tactics will see the value in digital and shift their dollars/focus, making it more crowded. We will need clever strategies to stand out in the crowd.”
View the report today to see other findings, including information about team size, outsourcing, content marketing spending, social media platforms, and more.
To ensure that you are among the first to get CMI’s latest research findings, subscribe to the free weekday blog.
Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute


text:
(Pocket-lint) - Apple is experiencing problems with iPhone 5S production, causing supply constraints until October or November and delayed shipping through to the end of September, according to a new report.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on Monday issued a new report that said Apple's upcoming iPhone 5S would feature the same form factor as the iPhone 5, but with a better camera with higher megapixels and new slow-motion capabilities. The new smartphone will also have a fingerprint sensor, which is reportedly the source of production difficulties.
Kuo, who is typically reliable in regards to his Apple-related news, also noted Apple’s budget/plastic iPhone will cost between $450 and $550 with a contract. It will land in early September alongside iPad 5. Speaking of the iPad 5, it will have a thinner, more iPad mini-like design - complete with smaller bezels. It'll also be the only iPad that Apple releases this year.
Kuo said a Retina-optimised iPad mini is suffering delays because of the strain of the powerful display on the battery in conjunction with the size of the device. Therefore, a Retina mini will probably release in spring 2014. Lastly, a Haswell iMac will launch in late August followed by a Haswell Retina MacBook Pro in mid-September.
Who knows if any of this is true, but Kuo has been accurate in the past. Also, autumn is just around the corner, even if the hot weather indicates otherwise, so time will soon tell what Apple plans to release.


text:
OCALA, Fla. (WFLA) — A massive hole that opened up in a Florida vitamin store’s parking lot has forced the store to close.
The 20-foot-deep sinkhole stopped shoppers from picking up their vitamins.
“That is big,” customer Virginia Hargarten told WESH. “I feel sorry for the shop owners too, they have to be closed.”
Darren Park with the Ocala Public Works Department told the news station that the pavement collapsed due to a rainstorm.
A photo from WESH shows a car in the hole but officials did not say if anyone was hurt.
“What it looks like is a drainage pipe failed over time, washed the underlying soil away … heavy rains from Friday night put a lot of weight in the pipe which caused the pipe to collapse,” Park said.
A few years ago, WESH reported that a hole roughly the same size opened up in the Checkers parking lot next door. Park said the problem is old pipes.
“Over time, things will wear and fail. They have a service life. Some have more than others. My guess is they’ll be looking to make some changes over the next few years,” he said.
Park predicts the city will continue to see sinholes as rain picks up following a long dry period in Florida.
“It’s been a very dry year so far. You get those heavy rains; sinkholes are common, particularly in retention areas. We’ve been dealing with this all week long,” he said.
WESH said the construction to fix the hole is expected to finish in mid-June. The Vitamin Shoppe will be closed for several weeks.


text:
YG recently took sixty underprivileged children on a shopping spree so that they could share in the holiday celebrations. The kids selected were from regional group homes and were the winners of a statewide essay contest. Winners were able to visit the mall and pick out their gifts courtesy of YG, who was on hand to witness the kids’ excitement.
YG’s debut album, My Krazy Life, will be released March 18th, 2014.
Video: YG – First Annual Holiday Shopping Spree
Subscribe to UPROXX


text:
The automotive group is aware of seven injures tied to the problem, but is not aware of any accidents.
The airbags at fault were not supplied by Takata, which faces a major recall after its airbags were tied to eight deaths, according to a statement.
The recall affects certain model-year 2003 Jeep Liberty SUVs and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees
Additionally, on Wednesday Fiat Chrysler posted adjusted earnings of 22 cents per share on revenue of $30.6 billion in the 2015 third quarter. Analysts had forecast for earnings of 20 cents per share on revenue of $27.21 billion.
Shares of the company are higher by 1.51% to $14.78 in midday trading on Friday.


text:
This originally appeared in Newsweek.
The traditional fermented tea kombucha is gaining rapidly in popularity as fans tout its supposed health benefits. But is it really good for you?
Growing up in New York City, Sandor Katz couldn’t get enough deli pickles. As a child in Virginia, Jessica Childs skipped the pickles and drank the briny juice directly from the jar. Devon Sproule was surrounded by fermented foods growing up on a hippie commune, but she didn’t start drinking kombucha, a fermented tea, in earnest till she was an adult, to stave off illness during prolonged periods without health insurance.
Call them “fermies”—fermentation foodies. They are everywhere, from small towns to foodie-central Brooklyn. And the mounting interest in live-culture fermentation owes some of its success to their blend of locavorism, raw and probiotic diets, artisanal and do-it-yourself foodmaking, and, yes, a lack of health insurance. Mostly, though, it’s the foods’ reputation as detoxifiers and immune-system boosters that is pushing fermentation into the mainstream. But do the benefits of live-culture fermented drinks or foods extend beyond the anecdotal into scientific fact?
Though live-culture fermented foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir (a fermented yogurt drink with grains), the current clamor is for kombucha, a fermented tea with ancient roots in Russia, China, and Japan. Corporations have taken note: companies such as Coca-Cola (Honest Tea Kombucha) and Celestial Seasonings now sell their own versions of the drink. While extremely small, the beverage-market share of kombucha skyrocketed from $80 million nationwide in 2008 to $324 million in 2009, according to Kombucha Brooklyn, a small-batch brewer and distributor. But much of kombucha’s appeal may come from its do-it-yourself applications.
“We always sell out our fermentation classes, whether it’s kimchi or kombucha,” agrees Taylor Erkkinen, owner of The Brooklyn Kitchen and The Meat Hook, which hosts four to five fermentation classes per month. Her store has sold out of home-brewing supplies.
“There’s a revival, a resurgence of interest in fermentation, a huge amount of do-it-yourself activity in this realm,” says Katz, who lives in Tennessee and teaches fermentation workshops throughout the country. He’s the author of the fermenting bible Wild Fermentation. “I don’t think it’s happening in a vacuum. There’s a major resurgence in people wanting to feel connected to their food, as well as some nutritional movements that emphasize the importance of live bacterial cultures.”
Most fermented foods are not revolutionary: bread rises because yeast ferments it, grapes ferment with the assistance of yeast into an alcohol known as wine, and coffee beans are placed in a warm-water bath to ferment until a slimy outer membrane disintegrates, thanks to lactic bacteria. To make each of these, yeast, bacteria, or both release enzymes that break down a food’s sugar and convert it to lactic acid or alcohol. Fermentation foodies, in contrast, create and consume live-culture ferments—foods that maintain living bacteria or yeast (and sometimes both) at the time of consumption. Bread is baked, coffee beans are roasted, and many other commercially available ferments, such as types of yogurt or pickles, do not qualify because they are heat-treated after the fermentation process, killing off living microbes.
In the case of kombucha, the fermenter adds a slimy silicone-like pancake called a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) to a jar of sweet tea, starting a 10-day process. In the end, the bacteria will have consumed 95 percent of the sugar, leaving behind lactic acid, alcohol, and several B vitamins, according to a study of AIDS patients who used kombucha therapeutically during the 1990s.
Recently, the FDA cracked down on unpasteurized commercial kombucha, which has an unpredictable alcohol level. The high-end Whole Foods grocery chain removed unpasteurized bottled and on-tap kombucha from its stores as part of a recall from suppliers after allegations that the alcohol content went as high as 3 percent, far above the 0.5 percent limit for nonalcoholic beverages.
Devotees of kombucha say the live cultures have helped clear up their acne, soothe their heartburn, and quiet headaches. “There are some microbes that have found a competitive advantage by living in animals—typically they are toxins like salmonella and E. coli—and these are bacteria that use our bodies to replicate themselves, making us sick,” explains Jessica Childs, a professional tempeh maker and former microbiologist who owns both Tempeh Shop Brooklyn and Kombucha Brooklyn with her husband, Eric. “So because microbes are in constant competition for limited space, the best defense we have against the microbes that make us sick is ingesting the ones that can survive and colonize our bodies while protecting us against the microbes that hurt us.”
Devon Sproule is a touring musician in Virginia who is married to another touring musician. She credits ferments with helping her maintain her current lifestyle as she gets older, and with helping her husband with his acid reflux. “Being a nighttime person and a drinking person who doesn’t have health insurance,” says Sproule, “kombucha and other fermented foods are a lot about prevention.”
But scientists and nutrition experts aren’t convinced.
“Oh, please. Fermentation is a way to preserve foods and, therefore, the nutrient value of those foods,” says Marion Nestle, Paulette Goddard professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. “But I’m not aware of convincing scientific evidence that they have special health benefits beyond [the preserved item’s] basic nutritional value.”
The evidence for kombucha’s health effects is indeed slim: a 2003 study published in Biomedical and Environmental Science found that it improved and stimulated the immune systems of rats that had symptoms that mimicked Parkinson’s disease and other disorders. However, that same year, a German review of all scientific research on kombucha found that it could not be recommended for therapeutic use because the risks outweighed the benefits. Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Cancer Center warns immunosuppressed people—such as patients undergoing chemotherapy—against using kombucha because of the possibility of contamination with a fungus called Aspergillus. A few cases of contamination with anthrax have also led to recommendations to avoid kombucha.
Meanwhile, those same live cultures are also found in non-heat-treated kinds of yogurt. Studies into the health benefits of Lactobacillus acidophilus in yogurt are more plentiful, possibly because yogurt has been on the market longer. An American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that women who ate yogurt reduced their chances of yeast infection by two thirds. And a 2000 Tufts University study found that consuming the bacteria helped maintain intestinal-tract health, especially for people with weakened immune systems, through an “immunostimulatory effect” in which the body reacts to the bacteria ingested, bolstering the immune system.
Despite the success of yogurt live-culture studies, one major impediment to studying the health properties of fermented foods is that they can vary widely because no two ferments form exactly the same way. So while kombucha may have some beneficial effects, it’s really too new to the market for anyone to know. Nonetheless, as long as fermies continue to sing the praises of the fermented brew, it’s likely to gain in popularity.
We will definitely continue to sing those praises! If you feel the same way, you can get a copy of the fermentation bible, Wild Fermentation, in our bookstore. You can also pre-order one of Sandor Katz’s popular fermentation workshops on DVD, available this fall.


text:
We’ve been encouraging people to Rethink what the Web can be, by creating innovative, real-world site experiences that push the limits of what’s possible on the Web. We’re humbled to learn that several of these Rethink experiences have been recognized by The 18th Annual Webby Awards – Atari Arcade is nominated in the Web: Games category and Red Bull Rampage in Web: Sports. Two more projects – Hover! and Everest: Rivers of Ice – were named as honorees. Over their 18 year history, The Webbys has played a huge role in spotlighting the best of the web and has become the standard by which online achievement is measured. We couldn’t be more honored to be included amongst this year’s nominees and honorees.
We’re also excited to continue our partnership with The Webbys Winners Gallery + Archive – showcasing the last 18 years of Webbys winners in a redesigned online hub that’s fast, beautiful, and perfect for touch. And starting today, the gallery has been updated with all of the nominees for the 18th Annual Webby Awards.
“We’re excited to announce our continued partnership with Internet Explorer this year as we announce the Webby Winners. Last year, we partnered with the IE team to bring a new immersive online Winners Gallery to life, and today we continue that mission, integrating with the team to showcase the beauty and innovation we see every year on the web,” said David-Michel Davies, Executive Director, The Webby Awards.
The Webby Winners will be announced on Monday April 28th and you can watch The Webby Awards show hosted by the hilarious Patton Oswalt on demand on May 20th at www.webbyawards.com. We look forward to celebrating the best in web innovation and congratulating this year’s Webby winners.
Product Marketing Manager, Internet Explorer
Updated November 8, 2014 2:13 am


text:
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT)- For many people, after the Thanksgiving food comes the shopping. If you plan on getting your Black Friday start in Topeka, you’ll now be able to get around a little easier.
The intersection of 21st Street and Wanamaker Road is now completely open for traffic as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The street project was delayed several times over the last several months.
Many businesses nearby tell us they saw a slow-down in foot traffic during the construction. On Wednesday they say business is picking back up just in time for the long holiday weekend.
“We’re starting to see a heavy flow in traffic starting to come in now. I’ve had a lot more business today than I’ve had in the past few months due to the construction,” said Mattress Firm Manager Ana Hidalgo.
“We’re expected to have a great turnout on Black Friday. We’re going to be open and I’m sure with both entrances open now, it’ll be great for our business and great for our employees,” said PepperJax Grill Employee Ashley Young.


text:
Over the last 25 years, the specialty equipment market has grown from $7.2 billion to $36.2 billion, according to the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Market Report. AGRR companies may want to consider carving out a larger piece of this diversification pie as consumers increasingly looking to personalize their rides.
Some of the hot areas include paint and body finishing products, truck accessories, sunroofs, window film, seats and upholstery, alarm and security products, in addition to audio accessories.
“With that growth came a lot of changes,” writes Gavin Knapp, director of market research for SEMA. “New vehicle technology is developing rapidly as computers increasingly control all of a car’s systems. Advanced manufacturing systems can develop prototypes in a matter of hours. The world has gone online, connecting our industry to customers more quickly but often less personally. As all these systems grow and intertwine, data is becoming a key business asset and need.”
The SEMA report culled out facts on variety of trends.
Paint and body finishing products make up $0.95 billion of the specialty market, representing about 5 percent of drivers, according to the report. This segment includes body decals, graphics, body emblems, window tinting and lamination.
Truck bed liners and other truck accessories account for an estimated $0.14 billion piece of the specialty market. The customer base is about 1 percent of drivers. This segment includes pickup bed rack systems, drop-in or spray bed liners and toolboxes.
Other exterior accessories make up about $1.2 billion of the market and include windshield wipers, mirrors, sunroofs, moon roofs, window shades, mirrors, custom grilles, side steps and other accessories. About 7 percent of drivers seek out these services, according to the report.
Seats and upholstery work represents a $0.57 billion portion of the specialty market, covering approximately 3 percent of drivers. This segment includes seat belts, harnesses, restraints, custom seats, headliners and upholstery.
Alarms and security products carve out a $1.27 billion segment of the specialty market, representing 4 percent of drivers. The products include alarms, security systems, remote starters, backup cameras, custom horns, locks and entry kits.
When it comes to music, sound systems and audio accessories represent $1.14 billion of the market, covering 4 percent of drivers. These products include MP3, iPod integration products, satellite radio, in-dash stereo systems, in-dash stereo system with video, speakers, subwoofers and other mobile electronics products.
“Consumer spending on automotive specialty equipment parts and accessories is on a rise, reaching $36 billion in 2014. This number, which represents an 8 percent growth over the previous year and the fifth consecutive year of growth,” according to SEMA.
The 2015 SEMA Market Report is available to SEMA member companies for free by clicking here.
To learn what add-on services are most popular with AGRR companies look to our upcoming July/August issue.


text:
New "Star Wars" Trilogy to Feature Original Cast
March 8, 2013 12:45 PM
comment(s) - last by
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher are back
For those of you who shuddered at the thought of
Disney buying Lucasfilm Ltd.
and releasing a new (potentially terrible) trilogy in a couple of years, here's a bit of news that may ease the pain: the original Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo may be back.
George Lucas, the creator of the "Star Wars" trilogies, slipped in a
interview that Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford (the original Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in Episodes IV-VI) will resume their roles in the upcoming trilogy made by Disney.
"We had already signed Mark and Carrie and Harrison -- or we were pretty much in final stages of negotiation," said Lucas. "So I called them to say, 'Look, this is what's going on.'"
Lucas stopped a moment in the interview, realizing he probably wasn't supposed to unveil that detail quiet yet.
“Maybe I’m not supposed to say that," continued Lucas. "I think they want to announce that with some big whoop-de-do, but we were negotiating with them.
"I won’t say whether the negotiations were successful or not.”
Nice save, Lucas.
The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilm Ltd. (Lucas' film production company) for
$4.05 billion USD
in late October 2012.
Along with that acquisition came news of a new trilogy, which would be Episodes VII, VIII, and IX. The new trilogy will follow Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo once again beyond "Return of the Jedi," which was Episode VI in the original trilogy.
Episode VII is set to release in 2015.
Another cool factoid about the upcoming Episode VII? It will be directed by J.J. Abrams.
Die-hard "Star Wars" fans accused Lucas of losing his mind over the last decade or so when he created the second trilogy (Episodes I-III) with ridiculous characters like Jar Jar Binks. He also
made huge changes to the Blu-ray release
of "Star Wars," where Lucas only wanted to keep 25-30 percent of the original theatrical content. The nine-disc set contained new “content” like Darth Vader screaming "Nooo!" in the final battle scene of Episode VI.
Of course, we can't forget a very crucial mistake Lucas made in changing Episode IV: A New Hope -- Han shot first.
This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
George Lucas is still in charge?
3/8/2013 6:13:52 PM
BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! The best part about Disney buying Star Wars is that George Lucas no longer has creative control and the hopes that the new trilogy would actually be good and NEW especially for the new generation why would they want to please the original fans is beyond me. Like others said we need new hereos new faces a new direction!!!!!! Sure this is big news but it won't help in selling me a box office seat.
“And I don't know why [Apple is] acting like it’s superior. I don't even get it. What are they trying to say?” -- Bill Gates on the Mac ads
Disney Purchases Lucasfilm Ltd. for $4.05 Billion USD, Episode VII Set for 2015 Release
October 30, 2012, 7:47 PM
Lucas Makes Drastic Alterations to Upcoming Star Wars Blu-Ray Release
September 3, 2011, 3:00 PM
Quick Note: Amazon UK Offers £10 Back on Any Order £50 or Over
August 3, 2015, 12:05 PM
Editorial: Reddit Allows Itself to be Hijacked as a Hate Platform For Racist Bigots
July 21, 2015, 6:32 PM
Mozilla and Facebook to Adobe: It's Time to Kill Flash
July 20, 2015, 6:30 PM
Instagram Bans "Curvy" From Hashtag Searches, Provokes "Plus Sized" Outrage
July 16, 2015, 1:20 PM
Mozilla Promise Punctual Windows 10 Firefox Release, Teases at iOS Arrival
July 7, 2015, 3:08 PM
Netflix Announces 7-to-1 Stock Split, Eyes Explosive Overseas Growth
June 23, 2015, 8:18 PM
Most Popular Articles
Samsung Gear S2 Borrows Circular Icons From Apple Watch
August 21, 2015, 2:48 PM
Kentucky Man Faces up to 10 Years in Prison for Shooting Drone Trespasser
August 13, 2015, 2:58 PM
Future of Lumia Uncertain as Microsoft Lays Off 2,300, Closes 1 of 3 Finnish Offices
August 24, 2015, 6:14 PM
Microsoft's Windows 10 Leaves Lumia 530 Behind w/ 8 GB Storage Requirement
August 25, 2015, 4:02 PM
Exclusive: If Intel and Micron's "Xpoint" is 3D Phase Change Memory, Boy Did They Patent It
July 29, 2015, 10:52 PM
Latest Blog Posts
Sceptre Airs 27", 120 Hz. 1080p Monitor/HDTV w/ 5 ms Response Time for $220
Dec 3, 2014, 10:32 PM
Costco Gives Employees Thanksgiving Off; Wal-Mart Leads "Black Thursday" Charge
Oct 29, 2014, 9:57 PM
"Bear Selfies" Fad Could Turn Deadly, Warn Nevada Wildlife Officials
Oct 28, 2014, 12:00 PM
The Surface Mini That Was Never Released Gets "Hands On" Treatment
Sep 26, 2014, 8:22 AM
ISIS Imposes Ban on Teaching Evolution in Iraq
Sep 17, 2014, 5:22 PM
More Blog Posts
Copyright 2015 DailyTech LLC. -
Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information


text:
Before Walt Disney (DIS) bought the franchise, get Walt Disney Company Report reported buying it for $4 billion, as well as a few other titles, including "Indiana Jones."
The company has a new trilogy that has been successful with financial success, but isn''t particularly pleased by supporters.
It''s not that people universally dissipated the conclusion of the Skywalker saga, but that it certainly did not receive the universal acclaim of the original trilogy.
Disney also produced the well-known standalone film "Star Wars: Rogue One" and the much less well-liked "Solo: A Star Wars Story."
That movie, a bomb under "Star Wars," has basically put the franchise''s theatrical future on pause.
This might have been a blessing as it expanded its focus to "The Mandalorian," a Disney+ streaming program that brought the fan base to life, which may be bringing new people through Baby Yoda.
"The Mandalorian" was accompanied by "Book of Boba Fett," which served as a companion series, and which has boosted the appetite for the late-May "Obi-Wan Kenobi" series.
Disney has made "Star Wars" a major part of its theme parks, but the experience has been limited.
Disney Is Having a Baby
Star Wars the Theme Park Attraction
Disney''s theme parks building two Star Wars: Galaxy''s Edge is landing at Disneyland in California, but at Disney''s Hollywood studios in Orlando, Florida, the company has chosen to bet big on "Star Wars."
Both parks were interactive spaces designed to make visitors feel like they were on a different planet.
The lands, which depict the fictional planet Batuu, shut out the outside world and put visitors into a "Star Wars" adventure.
Comcast Corporation Class A Report Universal Studios have built their Harry Potter lands, making a very bold bet.
The first thing that appeared to be flopping was that the land was faced with construction delays and opened with only the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run fully operational, and Galaxy''s Edge''s main attraction, the ROTR, had a lot of problems.
Disney used a lottery system for slots on the ride when ROTR began to operate normally, which left some theme park visitors to be dissatisfied.
UST and Luna Coins collide, creating crypto chaos
Musk has called for a break from his Twitter conversation over a bot dispute.
Carnival Unveils a Surprise Answer to Royal Caribbean''s CocoCay
This led to initial skepticism that Galaxy''s Edge would be a hit.
On both sides, time has investigated the kinks and elucidated those fears, with Galaxy''s Edge becoming an unparalleled hit.
Despite that, the company had no advantage of the doubt about its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel project.
This two-night immersive experience that includes time at Galaxy''s Edge for two and $5,999 for a four-part party.
This is a huge number that sparked a lot of displeasure in the project.
Disney Disproves Its Doubters
Hundreds of media reports uncovered that people were forced to cancel their reservations following an early preview of the Galaxy Starcruiser''s launch.
There were reportedly a variety of unidentified dates, and a narrative was developed that Disney had likely reached too many terms on price.
During the onset of predicted doom and negative publicity, Disney expressed its delight.
With the "Star Wars" themed hotel opening, CEO Bob Chapek sent an emphatic surprise to anyone who doubted the project during his company''s earnings call for the second quarter.
"Response to next-generation science fiction like Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has been fantastic," he said.
"In fact, guest ratings for this immersive experience, which started March 1, are tremendously high and in line with our finest-in-class offerings. Demand is strong, and we expect 100% utilization until the end of Q3."
It''s difficult to do better than 100% usage.
Due to a lack of labor, Disney has repeatedly demonstrated that it has pricing capability.
Because of its added-fee limited capacity after-hours events, it can charge higher prices during busy hours.
It has now clarified that it is aware of the "Star Wars"udience and that they will pay pretty much what it takes to become acquainted with the world.


text:
The Bluewater Shopping Centre in Dartford is under fire today by animal lovers after a picture of Melanie the raccoon being forced to ride a bike started circulating the web.
The raccoon act was part of a 3-day Pet Expo held at Bluewater, where the theme was “responsible pet ownership and animal welfare”.
Melanie is owned by trainer Kimberly Unger, who brought her to the expo to perform.
The RSPCA said in a statement: “The RSPCA is shocked to learn that a raccoon was made to wear a bow tie and ride a bicycle at Bluewater Shopping Centre this weekend, and fears it could encourage others to host a similarly irresponsible show in the lead up to Christmas.
Open letter to Bluewater shopping center from the RSPCA: “The event occurred as part of a ‘Pet Expo’ which aimed to promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare, but the animal welfare organisation strongly disagrees that this aim has been achieved by an animal performing such a circus-style stunt.”
RSPCA Head of Communications David Cowdrey said: “If ‘responsible pet ownership and animal welfare’ as it states on the Bluewater Facebook page was truly the theme of the ‘Pet Expo’ this weekend, we are left wondering how the deeply saddening spectacle of a raccoon in a bow tie riding a bike promotes this message?
“Using wild animals in crude circus-style acts under the guise of ‘responsible ownership’ is entirely misjudged.
“We were however heartened to see so many members of the public equally shocked that Bluewater would find such a show appropriate. What kind of message does portraying wild animals in such a demeaning light send to young people? That animals are here for our amusement. It entirely contradicts the idea of ‘responsible ownership’ and consideration for the interests of animals.
“The RSPCA and other animal welfare charities work tirelessly to promote responsible pet ownership and help educate people to prevent them falling into common traps such as impulse buying a puppy from an unscrupulous source or buying an exotic animal which have specialist needs and so often make unsuitable pets.
“However, when the message doesn’t get through it’s the job of the RSPCA to clear up the mess created by a throw-away society, which all too often sees animals as disposable. With animal abandonments soaring and thousands of discarded exotic pets finding themselves in RSPCA care each year, exhibitions like this are certainly not helping with ‘responsible ownership’. We would be happy to come and discuss some of these issues with you and help you shape an exhibition which genuinely does promote responsible ownership.”
The Bluewater stated on their Facebook Page: “Bluewater is aware that some of the content within the Pet Expo show staged over the weekend caused concern.
“We take the concerns raised by the public very seriously, they will help to inform the development of Glow’s calendar of future events and the associated content has been removed. In the meantime, we would like to apologise for any concerns the show has raised, and confirm that there are no plans to run Pet Expo again.”


text:
Tech news and business reports by CNET News. Focused on information technology, core topics include computers, hardware, software, networking, and Internet media.
- Intel reportedly in talks to sell Web TV service to Liberty Global
Chipmaker has reportedly been looking to unload the service, which was expected to be launched this year but has been delayed. [Read more]
- Homebrew Computer Club reunion lights up Silicon Valley
Thirty-eight years after the famous club had its first meetings, spawning Apple and many other companies, many of its members got together to share stories of the beginnings of the PC era. [Read more]


text:
Wing Yip has completed its £16 million expansion of its Croydon store.
The revamp includes a new cold warehouse, entrance lobby, extended shopfloor and additional parking. The shopfloor and warehouse space has been doubled to 60,000 square feet. There are also wider aisles to give customers a more comfortable and safe shopping experience and a large array of solar and PV panels to enhance the store’s use of green energy.
The project on Purley Way, which began in 2017, has reached completion just as Wing Yip marks its 50th anniversary.
The store has been supplying authentic Oriental food and products to local restaurants and takeaways, as well as members of the community, since 1995. The store also attracts customers into the Croydon area from as far afield as the south coast.
Albert Yip, director of the Croydon store, says: “We are thrilled that the expansion of our new and improved Croydon store is now complete. We have been an integral part of the community here in Croydon for a quarter of a century and the store expansion means we will have more opportunities to expand our range and enhance shopper experience.
“As well as the local community, we have many customers who travel from outside of our catchment area to shop, and the expansion means we have become more of a destination for those customers.
“The store now also provides us with additional space to ensure our customers are shopping safely in the current climate. We have implemented specific health and safety measures to ensure the safety of our teams and customers. This has been applied across all four of the stores and includes managing the total number of customers in store at any time, adding line markings at checkout and around the store to aid safe distancing, and carrying out shopfloor replenishment at quieter times. The store also conducts a health screening process before staff begin work, regular deep cleans and provides sanitiser supplies for customers to clean trolleys.”
Yip concludes: “As the nation’s demand for more adventurous and authentic tasting foods increases, we strive to develop our offering in keeping with consumer demand. We’re really excited by the prospect that this opportunity brings.”
Tel: Wing Yip 0121-327 6618
Published Date: June 19, 2020


text:
Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola announced that it is planning to launch an alcoholic drink for the first time in the 125 years of its existence.
In September, the West African arm of the company revealed that there were plans were in place to spend $600 million on expanding its production lines.
Peter Njonjo, President of the West Africa operation at Coca-Cola said the company wants to be a total beverage company and reduce reliance on carbonated soft drinks.
The new product which will be launched in Japan will contain between three and eight percent alcohol by volume. It will be marketed as an alcopop like Smirnoff Ice and Snapp — a term used to describe sweet but alcoholic drinks.
According to BBC reports, Coca-Cola Japan President Jorge Garduno said the drink will be a,
“modest experiment for a specific slice of our market. We haven’t experimented in the low alcohol category before, but it’s an example of how we continue to explore opportunities outside our core areas. It is unlikely the drink would be sold outside of Japan.”
Nigerian Bottling Company, bottlers of Coca-Cola Coke in Nigeria, is partnering with Scotland-based spirit firm Edrington to oversee the management and distribution of its premium spirits category.
Under its business division, Premium Spirits Nigeria, the giant beverage company will promote a wide range of premium Scotch whiskies such as Macallan, Famous Grouse, and Highland Park.
“Under this partnership, there will be expanded distribution of these brands,” said the Director, Premium Spirits Nigeria, Idowu Adedoyin during the media launch in December 2017.
“PS Nigeria will be wholly engaged in the sale and distribution of premium spirits pan-Nigeria, with innovative plans to grow its product offerings to include other top globally ranked premium spirit brands,” Adedoyin said.
According to the Regional Director (Africa), Edrington, Derek Brown, the decision to partner with PS Nigeria was due to its strength as well as a high distribution network and experience in the Nigerian market.
“Over the years, Edrington has distinguished itself in the premium spirits segment in other markets where its brands are well established and are fully committed to marketing and promoting responsible drinking in line with local regulations,” Brown remarked.
Adedoyin further stated that PS Nigeria would continually engage Nigerian consumers across several platforms to increase awareness, drive engagement and build brand affinity.
Dear customer, kindly note: door to door delivery is only available in Lagos and Abuja also payment on delivery is NOT available. Thank you. Dismiss