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- Neuraxpharm launches its first products in the United Kingdom
- Craig Bowen appointed as General Manager of Neuraxpharm UK
Neuraxpharm Group, a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announces the launch of its first products in the United Kingdom. Neuraxpharm also announces the appointment of new General Manager Craig Bowen, who will run Neuraxpharm UK Ltd., based in Reading (Berkshire, UK).
Neuraxpharm UK plans to launch differentiated and specialty generics in the UK, one of the biggest markets in Europe. The UK’s CNS pharmaceutical market represents 11% of the total CNS market in Europe which is valued at GBP 2.9 bn (EUR 3.2 bn).
Dr. Jörg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm said: “Establishing a strong presence in the UK will enable us to build on our position as a CNS specialist in Europe offering consumer healthcare products, standard generics and added value medicines. We are very pleased to welcome Craig to the Neuraxpharm team. His proven track record of launching new pharmaceutical products will be of great advantage in bringing differentiated products to local patients and healthcare professionals in the UK, one of the top five markets in Europe.”
With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Craig Bowen is an expert in Sales & Business strategy management and offers an extensive knowledge of the UK and Irish markets. Before joining Neuraxpharm UK, Craig was Associate Director and Commercial Head for UK and Ireland in Par Laboratories where he led the creation and initial set up of the Par affiliate in the UK and implemented the commercial strategy to launch Par products into the UK, EU and other international markets.
Prior to Par Laboratories, Craig held senior positions in multinational pharmaceuticals companies such as Sanofi Group, Flynn Pharma and Dr. Reddy’s. Previously he worked for more than 10 years in Mylan Pharmaceuticals, where he was Head of UK Sales Operation, responsible for the UK & Ireland sales and commercial departments, and focused on creating major new business streams for the company. Craig holds UK higher education qualifications in Business & Finance Management from Coleg Glan Hafren in Cardiff, Wales.
Neuraxpharm strategy is to build on its position as a CNS specialist in Europe offering consumer healthcare products, standard generics and added value medicines. Neuraxpharm is investing in its pipeline by developing differentiated and high-tech barrier products in CNS to be commercialised across Europe, now including the UK. The UK launch follows recent Neuraxpharm’s expansion in Eastern Europe through the acquisition of Farmax and an expansion to Poland.


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Covid-19: Wedding bells silenced by a pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has put life on pause for millions of people. Important life events and milestones have had to be canceled or postponed forever to help protect lives and properties. However, a few have been able to find a way around the seemingly dire situation.
India's lavish weddings go online in virus lockdown
Under lockdown and far apart, Sushen Dang and Keerti Narang went online to say their marriage vows -- and pulled off a spectacular Indian wedding complete with thousands of guests and raucous Bollywood dancing. In a country famous for lavish weddings that last for days, the young couple are among a growing number modifying their marriage ceremonies under a virus lockdown that has limited public gatherings.
Hayley Bieber explains why they waited a year for wedding ceremony
Hayley Bieber explains why they waited a year for the wedding ceremony, Stormi refuses to call Kylie Jenner Mommy, and Billy Porter launches scathing attack on Trump.
Big fat Indian wedding goes on a diet as slowdown bites
India's weddings are famously lavish -- lasting days and with hundreds if not thousands of guests -- but this season many families are cutting costs even if it risks their social standing. It's symptomatic of a sharp slowdown in the world's fifth-largest economy, with Indians spending less on everything from daily essentials to once-in-a-lifetime occasions.
Iseyin: Nigeria's home of Aso Oke
Cloth weaving also known as Aso-Oke started centuries ago amongst the Yoruba’s but predominantly amongst the Iseyin’s from Oyo-State and partly from some southwest Nigerian part. GuardianTV took a look at the cloth weaving business from its root.
Has the media turned on UK's Prince Harry and wife Meghan?
Less than a year after their wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have found themselves on the receiving end of some less than flattering media coverage as they prepare for the birth of their first child this Spring.
No to expensive weddings
The Chinese government is set to reform the country’s expensive wedding practice. The ministry of civil affairs has called for an end to expensive wedding gifts, lavish ceremonies, and high bride price demands.
Asia's richest person preps $100 Million wedding
Asia's richest man is scheduled to give away his daughter in a wedding that is estimated to come with a total price tag of about $100 million.
Metro Woman Marketplace: Eftinzz Events Outfit
Francisca Onyinye Ogunlade is the CEO of Eftinzz Events Outfit, creator of Nigeria's first Events Budget and Planning App presently on Google PlayStore and the producers of the pioneer Events and Wedding Exhibition (Beauty and Bride Exhibition) in Southwest Nigeria excluding Lagos State.

domain: news


text: Nearly a quarter of a billion television sets will be sold worldwide this year. A similar number of tablets may be sold, while there will be four or five times as many new smartphones. The communal experience of television has historically been a product of its technology. For some people the television experience will continue to be defined by a large shared screen in their living room. These days video can also be much more personal, more like a book or magazine. For some, the most important screen may be one they can hold in their hand. Many will want to view different screens, according to context. This has important implications for how we think of the future of television and video programming and services.


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Airbnb is now roughly a third (32%) of the size of the hotel sector in London, suggests new research showing there are approximately 64,000 Airbnb listed properties in London compared to 197,970 hotel rooms, says Moore Stephens, the Top Ten Accountancy firm.
Concerns have been raised that Airbnb is taking advantage of an uneven playing field to gain market share from the more formal hotel and bed & breakfast sector in London and across the UK.
The hotel industry has complained that property owners renting out their rooms through Airbnb:
- do not pay business rates;
- do not pay VAT;
- often have lower health & safety standards than hotels – or fail to adhere to formal health & safety standards;
- are often in breach of planning regulations that put the legality of their use as holiday accommodation in doubt;
- are unlikely to be advising their insurers about change in use and the additional risks involved;
- create problems including security issues for other residents in residential blocks as many residential properties do not have the kind of sound proofing, etc. expected of hotels.
Many major cities around the world have already clamped down on Airbnb and have introduced stricter regulations. For example, Airbnb hosts must now:
- be full-time residents and can only rent their property for 90 days in San Francisco;
- pay an annual fee for a tourist licence in Barcelona;
- obtain a general permit from their borough in Berlin and could face a maximum penalty of up to €500,000 for breaking any regulation.
Airbnb is not only taking market share from hotels in the UK’s biggest cities, but also from smaller establishments in other tourist hotspots across the nation. The analysis by Moore Stephens shows that Airbnb listings now represent 30% of the size of formal hotel and bed and breakfast rooms in Brighton.
Moore Stephens says that its research on Airbnb is an approximation based on available sources and that the debate over Airbnb and its impact would be further enhanced if Airbnb presented its data in a more transparent way.
Peter Duffy, Director at Moore Stephens, says: “Airbnb is increasingly taking market share from hotels. Hotel groups say this because Airbnb can bypass industry regulations allowing it to undercut the formal industry.”
“Everyone would welcome Airbnb being more transparent. More statistics are needed so that the impact of Airbnb, positive or otherwise, can be properly debated.
“Airbnb and other similar platforms can offer significant benefits to individuals, for those renting their property out and holidaymakers.”
Airbnb listings now represent nearly a third of number of available London hotel rooms
*Most recent available data; hotel room availability from Visit Britain, data on Airbnb listings from sources including AirDNA, Airbnb UK Insights Report, AllTheRooms.com.


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Affiliate fee increases were on the minds of two top
programmers last week, with Time Warner Inc. chairman
and CEO Jeff Bewkes vowing that subscription
revenue will rise by double-digit percentages over the
next four years and
Zaslav sounding bullish
about new “TV
During Time Warner’s second-quarter earnings call,
Bewkes said the company’s networks are entering one of
their biggest affiliate renewal cycles in years. Almost every
network’s deal with almost every distributor is up between
2013 and 2016.
That, Bewkes said, presents an opportunity to reverse
what he called a disparity between the value the company’s
networks receive from distributors and the value the
networks provide their distribution partners.
“We’re focused on correcting that in the next cycle,”
Bewkes said on the call. “We have every confidence that
Turner will grow domestic subscription revenue at a doubledigit
pace annually between 2013 and 2016.”
Turner’s networks include TNT, TBS, CNN, Cartoon
Network, HLN and truTV.
Bewkes’ comments seemed to overshadow what was
essentially a disappointing quarter: Total revenue was
down 4% to $6.7 billion, and operating income fell 16% to
$1.1 billion. At the networks, revenue increased 4% to $3.6
billion, and operating income was up 9% to $1.1 billion.
Advertising revenue grew just 2% in the period, driven
by increases at the Turner entertainment channels but off -
set by weakness at CNN.
Time Warner said it expects the ad market to be sluggish
in the third quarter but to pick up in the fourth quarter.
Sanford Bernstein media analyst Todd Juenger wrote in
a research note that ad market demand appears healthy,
but that scatter pricing appears hampered by the Olympics.
Still, he appeared confident that Time Warner’s Turner
networks will fare better.
“Ratings volatility and advertising cyclicality aside,
Turner revenues should be expected to grow faster,”
At Discovery Communications, CEO David Zaslav
said the company’s next affi liate renewal cycle should
reap increased value, but he declined to quantify it.
Discovery had a much stronger quarter to talk about
than Time Warner. At the U.S. networks, revenue increased
6% to $700 million, and adjusted operating income
rose 8% to $426 million.
Domestic ad sales rose 7% in the quarter and would have
risen 9% but for some non-recurring revenue items in the
second quarter of last year. Distribution revenue rose 8%.
Discovery predicted third-quarter growth would be in
the mid-single digits, mainly because of a limited number
of premiere hours until “Shark Week” later in August.
Zaslav predicted ad sales should return to normal in the
“We feel very good about [the] fourth quarter, and I
think you can expect to see some strong numbers on the
advertising side, assuming that the market stays as is,”
Zaslav said on the company’s earnings call.
Discovery distribution deals come due over the next
four to five years, Zaslav said. He said he was open to negotiating
deals earlier, especially those that include a TV
Discovery has recently begun to allow some of its content
online, notably via a three-year deal with Netflix involving
shows that are at least 18 months old.
“There are a number of other players that are looking
for content in that window and in a nearer-term
window with TV Everywhere,” Zaslav said. “And I think
that’s one of the reasons why it’s such a good time to be
in the content business right now if you own your content.
Every one of those windows provides additional
consideration for us.”
With numbers for one up and
the other down, two major
programmers look to affiliate
renewal cycles for growth.


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Since most companies are exploring the idea of self-driving cars, it seems Apple too is secretly working on its own version of the technology.
A few months ago, news had leaked that Apple was granted permission to develop autonomous cars. Since then, the tech giant has managed to avoid the spotlight and no real development was reported in terms of any vehicles coming out, The Verge reports.
Recently, however, a keen observer named MacAllister Higgins, spotted what looks like the Apple equivalent of a self-driving vehicle.
In a video posted on Twitter, a Lexus SUV rode the streets what could be one of Apple’s “Project Titan” self-driving cars.
Higgins believes the car is the same type of vehicle Apple approved to use for tests on public roads.
Going to need more than 140 characters to go over 🍎's Project Titan. I call it "The Thing" pic.twitter.com/sLDJd7iYSa
— MacCallister Higgins (@macjshiggins) October 17, 2017
Higgins isn’t your typical Apple fan who happened to find an Apple car roaming the streets. He's a robotics engineer and a co-founder of Voyage, a self-driving start-up.
Chinese companies agree to collaborate on internet-connected cars
Referring to the plastic-encased setup as "The Thing," it appears to be outfitted with six LIDAR sensors, along with a slew of cameras and radar units.
I saw one of these a few weeks ago pull up to an Apple shuttle stop-sit there for a few then drove off. pic.twitter.com/gUudZY1TIA
— idiggapple (@idiggapple) October 18, 2017
Apple declined to comment on the authenticity of the images circulating and whether or not they are conducting self-driving tests.
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WASHINGTON (June 29, 2005) — The pros and cons of the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act were debated once again before a House Small Business subcommittee.
Dennis Houska, a Fort Collins, Colo., auto repairer representing the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, said the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF)—the organization created by the September 2002 repair information-sharing agreement made between the Automotive Service Association and major auto makers—doesn't ensure timely or reasonably priced repair information. “I have had technicians attempt to navigate that site, and it takes so long with no results, we end up having to turn away that business,” Mr. Houska said.
But NASTF Chairman John Cabaniss insisted the program was working, and held that the Right to Repair Act would only create a new layer of federal bureaucracy for auto repairers.
In written testimony, Roy Littlefield, executive vice president of the Tire Industry Association (TIA), said it made no sense for auto makers to oppose legislation that turns what they already swore to do into federal law. “The fact that these manufacturers oppose this legislation causes TIA to question their commitment to the agreement and forces us to keep supporting the legislation,” he said.


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British sportswear company Python Performance is set to shake up the sportswear industry and change the landscape for workout apparel. The Kickstarter campaign launched earlier this month has come about to provide athletes with the most innovative and performance enhancing fitness clothing to date.
The unique and innovative technology is based on the prospective principles of Kinsiology tape and is cleverly designed to take sportswear to the next step and is already creating a buzz amongst sports athletes and scientists on an international scale.
Python Performance’s Contour Compression leggings and tops outperform top brand competitors by delivering multiple functionality in a single garment. Each garment includes the innovative new ReForm fabric technology – an unique method of weaving material to deliver pinpoint heat and cooling, pinpoint compression and supportive joint stabilisation in one garment so the wearer feels supported where they need it most.
Python Performance’s Kickstarter campaign goes live today with super-early birds securing a free limited edition item with each pair of Contour Compression leggings or top, plus a 15% lifetime discount.Early backers will be able to purchase the clothing for 50% of what it will cost when it comes to market, at just £44.99 for the top and £49.99 for the leggings and a 10% lifetime discount is also up for grabs.
The clothing athletes wear is a key part of how they perform and the benefits of technologies such as compression, joint support and kinesiology tape are enjoyed by sports professionals every day, around the globe. Until now, experiencing these technologies has been about picking the right garment each time to deal with a particular issue. Python Performance’s approach, working with top class sportswear designers – including former Speedo and compression wear designer, plus exercise physiologists at the University of Birmingham – is completely different and never been seen before. Designed from the outset to offer the best performance support, all in one product, it allows athletes to be ready to outperform themselves in a mere fraction of the usual time.
The ReForm fabric technology in each Python Performance garment provides:
– Proprioceptive support – the Lycra-backed strips are based on the principles of kinesiology tape to help people feel supported – without the need to apply tape each time – and providing postural support, pulling the wearer subtly into a better stance
– Stabilisation – targeting injury prone points to avoid pain and aid performance
– Optimised muscle activation – with pinpoint heat and cooling, plus pinpoint compression just where it is needed most. It allows for heat dissipation and retention in the right places, enhancing performance
– Joint support – the integrated ReForm technology and the way the garment is designed provides support and stabilisation to joints removing the need for additional support products
Python Performance has already trialled its range among sport scientists and athletes performing at the highest levels, with support across the board. In addition, the company’s innovations have sparked immediate interest with top sports institution University of Birmingham – its sport science department is testing the fabric technology as part of the degree, with dissertations on the innovation due later in the year.
World record holding track and field sprint Masters Athlete, Rick Beardsell commented: “I’m really excited, I haven’t seen anything like Python Performance before. As a world champion Masters Athlete I can be quite injury prone, so the ReForm fabric strips will offer support where I need it and is really beneficial.
“With kinesiology tape, you need a trained expert to put it on whereas with the Python Performance clothes you don’t, and you can feel the compression straight away. When I performed in them, I was able to warm up quicker than I normally would’ve done which helps with injury prevention. I’m definitely going to use it, and looking forward to doing different sorts of sessions and seeing how else it performs – it’s been great.”
US fitness model Andrew Jones aka AJ Fitness (10 million YouTube views, 40k Instagram followers) – who rose to social stardom after suffering from a heart disease and posting about his fitness journey and competitions without a heart or pulse – heard about the company through the grapevine and was so impressed with the technology and brand’s vision that he has put his support behind the brand a mere days after transplant surgery to receive a new heart. He will become the first person in the US to receive the clothing when it launches.
He said: “This is the next step in performance sportswear, I’ve never seen clothing like this that incorporates everything an athlete needs. The concept is a no brainer – I can’t believe it hasn’t been done before! It’s going to be huge, it’s the Netflix of sportswear and as soon as I heard about the brand’s ‘outperform’ message, I had to be a part of it.
“When I was diagnosed with a rare heart condition, I realised all my training had been leading up to the biggest battle of my life; my body needed outperform itself to a new level. Now that I’ve had my heart transplant, I’m ready for the next chapter and excited to spread the word about Python Performance in the US and beyond.”
Oscar Ryndziewicz, CEO of Python Performance, commented: “We’ve had an amazing response to the fabric technology we’ve developed, so we’re extremely excited to launch our Kickstarter campaign which will allow us to take the innovations to the people who will benefit. Our ambition is to provide not only athletes but anyone who enjoys sport and fitness with the most innovative clothing, so they can outperform themselves every time. We have created the next step in performance sportswear and we honestly believe none of the big sportswear giants are making their active wear in this way. We want to change the status quo of the sportswear category and we’re working with some of the most exciting R&D talent to ensure innovation sits at the core of every garment we produce.”


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FBI, Apple Investigating Nude Celebrity Photos Leak
The FBI confirmed on Monday that it has joined a hunt for the hacker or hackers who leaked multiple naked and other racy photos of several female stars online, including Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton, which marks one the biggest celebrity privacy breaches in history.
The FBI said it was “aware of the allegations concerning computer intrusions and the unlawful release of material involving high profile individuals, and is addressing the matter,”
“Any further comment would be inappropriate at this time,” the FBI said in a statement Monday.
Meanwhile, as online users have speculated that the pics were stolen from people’s Internet storage accounts, a rep for Apple Inc., which operates the online file storage service iCloud, also said the company is investigating the matter.
“We take user privacy very seriously and are actively investigating this report,” the spokesperson told the outlet.
Lawrence, a three-time Oscar nominee who won for her role in “Silver Linings Playbook,” contacted authorities after the images began appearing Sunday.
A lawyer for Kate Upton, who was also targeted, called the posting of her personal photos an "outrageous violation" of her privacy. Mary Elizabeth Winstead responded on Twitter to the posting of her own personal photos.
No hacking suspects have been identified by authorities. More than a year ago, a man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for hacking celebrity accounts, including Scarlett Johansson's and posting their private pics.


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The premiere of a compartment of Jaguar F-Type should take place already tomorrow and the company let out video of novelties. The car, as a whole, repeats design of the open version which already is on sale.
Land Rover revealed on Tuesday (18) Range Rover Evoque Dynamic Autobiography. This is the new version of top of the line crossover, which will be presented to the public at the next Geneva Motor Show, opening on March 6.
Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, should receive a total salary of $ 14.4 million this year. According to the automaker, Mary can receive $ 10 million in compensation over the long term as part of your package.


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A Ford Motor Co. Explorer Hybrid sports activities utility automobile (SUV) is displayed through the 2019 North American Worldwide Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.
Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures
Adhering to a flawed start of its Explorer SUV previous calendar year, Ford says creation and gross sales of the preferred motor vehicle are again “on track” and gaining momentum.
February retail gross sales of Explorer ended up the vehicle’s ideal for that month because 2005 and Ford has regained its retail marketplace share of 17%-18% of the midsize SUV phase, in accordance to Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of U.S. Advertising, Revenue and Services.
“The negative information is we had some delays in the start. The good information is we have a product or service for a number of that appears to be like like we have a winner, and we are optimistic about the harmony of the calendar year,” he explained to CNBC. “We’re undoubtedly off to a very good start.”
The redesign of the Explorer was a full rebuild of the auto as perfectly as the plant that generates the product. Ford has described the start as one of the most advanced in its heritage, together with redoing the Illinois plant in just 30 days.
Ford CEO and President Jim Hackett has explained the start as a “company situation” with fumbled execution, which improved tension from Wall Avenue on Hackett amid decrease-than-anticipated earnings.
“The misplaced volumes in Chicago during ramp-up marred the yr, and there ended up some significant classes that we uncovered,” Hackett said previous thirty day period when discussing the company’s fourth-quarter loss of $1.67 billion that seriously weighed on its $84 million income for the year.
For 2020, the business has recognized the Explorer as a tailwind with improved products combine and pricing toughness. The ordinary selling price buyers paid for an Explorer this 12 months is $39,200, up $2,400 from a year in the past and increased than the section typical, according to Ford.
“We truly feel good. We knew all along we designed the correct solution,” LaNeve explained. “Despite some glitches as we were having likely there with the rebuild of the plant in Chicago, we truly feel we are on observe now and hunting forward to quite a few profitable yrs with this product.”
He mentioned Ford has not observed any impact but on U.S. generation from the coronavirus, but included: “We choose it quite seriously.” He declined to explore profits forecasts for the yr.
12 months-in excess of-calendar year Explorer profits continue to be down 9% overall by February owing to timing of fewer-lucrative product sales to fleet clients, Ford claimed. Even so, those people income are expected to return to usual ranges following the firm filling its retail offer chain.
“Our fleet revenue have been down 46% (in February),” stated Erich Merkle, U.S. sales analyst at Ford, touting retail product sales gains in New York and Los Angeles. “Due to the fact it is a new item, we’re operating to regulate the quantity of fleet we’re going to set via.”
Jeremy Kennedy, a Ford employee, secures the motor and transmission to the subframe of a new 2020 Explorer at Chicago Assembly Plant.
Despite Ford’s retail gains of 24% to start out the yr, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds executive director of market examination, believes it may possibly be difficult for Ford to totally get well from final year’s flawed launch amid greater level of competition this sort of as the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride.
“It experienced been #1 for so prolonged and then dropping to No. 4 previous year, it was certainly a huge strike for them,” she reported. “It is questionable whether some of these individuals will ever occur back again.”
The Explorer led its phase from 2011-2018 prior to dropping to fourth owing to past year’s redesign and creation difficulties, according to Edmunds. Ford states it has regained its major general gross sales place in the section by way of the to start with two months of the 12 months.
On line buyers, according to the automotive study company, are cross-purchasing the Explorer the most with the Telluride, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot.


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Strong adoption of composable commerce by retailers around the world provides huge opportunities for growth and helps Myplanet secure Tercera’s investments
TORONTO, August 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – Myplanetthe composable commerce specialist, today announced that it has received $11 million in financing of Tercerus, a growth-focused investment firm specializing in cloud professional services. With this investment, Myplanet will expand its position in this rapidly growing space by deepening its MACH Alliance partnerships, delivering innovative new pre-packaged accelerators that democratize access to composable commerce and doubling the size of its global talent base.
For over a decade, Myplanet has worked with some of the world’s most influential organizations on their digital experiences, leading over 100 business projects for companies including New Balance, UNTUCKit and Google. With nearly 200 experts, Myplanet is the largest composable commerce specialist in North America and a premier partner of MACH leaders such as commercetools, Elastic Path, Contentful, Contentstack, Fluent and NewStore.
“We’re at an inflection point in commerce. Before it was a shopping cart and a buy button; now it’s experiences, subscriptions, consumption and connected devices,” said Jason Cotrell, CEO and founder of Myplanet. “Composable commerce enables retailers to tap into this future and increase speed, reduce expenses and create interconnection. With this injection of capital from Tercera, a company that deeply understands the space, we can accelerate this shift and become the place to go for composable commerce.”
“Myplanet is an undisputed leader in API-driven commerce,” said Kelly Gotsch, chief strategy officer at commercetools. “There’s a reason our work together has won awards. This team is the complete package and any retailer looking to make the switch will be wise to turn to Myplanet. This investment will further boost their team, and in its tour the entire MACH Alliance ecosystem.”
Today’s retailers are faced with a true “multiple problem” – how to deliver a seamless customer experience across multiple channels, brands, geographies, languages, currencies and business models – and the monolithic commerce solutions of the past cannot not keep pace. APIs and composable commerce solutions help retailers solve this multiple problem. By 2023, Gartner predicts that half of new commerce capabilities will be delivered as API-centric services.
“What the cloud did for computing, composable does for commerce,” said Bill Small, Partner at Tercera. “Myplanet’s rich history in creating digital experiences has given it an inside view of the changing space and customer needs. We are thrilled to partner with Jason and his diverse and incredibly talented team to make Myplanet a world leader and the start -to the MACH service partner.”
Bill Smallwith partner Tercera michelle swanwill join the Myplanet Board of Directors.
Tercera’s investment will also be used to advance Myplanet’s portfolio of composable commerce accelerators, which provide over 35 pre-packaged integrations to different MACH solutions. Nearly 80% of current Myplanet customers use its Composable.comMT Accelerators to move faster to this new architecture, with less risk. The company plans to release additional accelerators for mobile and retail data over the next 12 months.
Retailer of luxury men’s clothing Harry Rosen entrusted Myplanet with the management of its ambitious digital transformation. Using MACH technologies to create a composable commerce solution helped the program win a prestigious award recently MACH Award for Best Retail Project.
“Creating premium experiences for our customers is the gold standard for Harry Rosen and working side by side with Myplanet has made this program a resounding success,” said Ian RosenPresident and Chief Operating Officer of Harry Rosen. “Myplanet’s mix of strategic knowledge, technical expertise and willingness to roll up our sleeves has created a platform that truly sets us apart.”
Tercera is an investment and advisory firm founded to accelerate the growth of people-centric businesses. Specialized in $460 billion cloud professional services market, the Tercera team is made up of committed operators who know first-hand what it takes to build and scale a successful cloud services business. For more information visit: https://www.tercera.io/.
Myplanet, a certified company B Corp, specializes in composable commerce, customer data and retail data platforms. With over a decade of experience in digital programs, the company has worked with leading brands on impactful projects, developing deep capabilities in data-driven design, AI implementation and customization, while forming strong partnerships with technology leaders as a member of the MACH Alliance. . Myplanet shapes the way organizations use technology to deliver contextual, multi-interface experiences that enable them to achieve their business goals. For more information visit: https://www.myplanet.com/
SOURCE My Planet


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Best Time to Sell Your Old iPhone
The longer you wait after the release of the new iPhone 6, the less you’re likely to get for your older model.
Apple just unveiled its new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, both of which go on sale Sept. 19. So if you have an older iPhone model you plan to replace, you might want to act quickly for the best chance to get top dollar for it.
Prices on the secondary market for older iPhones already have dropped slightly in anticipation of the new iPhone release, says Mark Bowles, co-founder of ecoATM, which operates more than 1,100 self-serve kiosks in 42 states that allow consumers to recycle their old electronics for cash. Once the new model actually hits stores -- Apple will start taking pre-orders for the iPhone 6 on Sept. 12 -- older models will fetch even less on the secondary market, according to research by uSell.com, an online marketplace for used gadgets.
USell.com examined thousands of used iPhone sales on its site following the 2013 iPhone product launch and found that prices on older models started dropping within weeks after the release of the model. Among its findings:
-- Two weeks after a new iPhone launch, old iPhones lose about 11% in value. -- Four weeks after launch, old iPhones depreciate about 15%. -- Six weeks after launch, old iPhones depreciate about 18%. -- By week seven, old phones are worth about 21% less.
So that means that an iPhone 5s in good condition that you can sell for about $260, on average, now at trade-in services such as uSell.com and ecoATM – as well as Gazelle and NextWorth – would likely sell for about $204 in two months.
The iPhone 4 will lose more value than other models with the release of the iPhone 6 because it won’t be able to run the new iOS 8 operating system that will be released along with Apple’s newest smart phone, Bowles of ecoATM says. (Apple says the iPhone 4S will be compatible with iOS 8.) The price ecoATM is offering for an iPhone 4 in good condition already has dropped 75% to $52.
Typically, when you buy a new iPhone, you can trade in your older model for a credit toward the purchase of the new one. However, many retailers only accept select phones, Bowles says. And most won’t accept damaged phones. But trade-in services such as ecoATM, uSell.com, Gazelle and NextWorth accept a large variety of smart phones and will even pay for damaged phones (see What to Do With a Damaged Smart Phone).
Even if your phone is in good condition and you can get a credit, you might get more money by selling it. Take the time to compare offers from trade-in services with the credits retailers are offering. And note that ecoATM’s kiosks pay cash on the spot for used phones, but you’ll have to ship your used phone to an online service and wait for it to be inspected before you receive a payment.
Regardless of where you sell your old phone, Bowles says you should turn off the “Find My iPhone” feature (in settings under iCloud), erase all of your data and disconnect that phone from your account so no one has access to your personal information.


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Samsung has announced four new phones to join its line-up comprising of refreshed handsets for its Galaxy Core, Ace, Young and Star ranges that aim to affordably offer 'exceptional performance'.
Amazon Echo Review: "Alexa, why are you so cool and frustrating at the same time?"
amazon echo promo
Windows 10 for phones news
Windows 10 for phones
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HTC's plastic variant of its One M8 flagship has finally become public. The device features a plastic exterior inspired by the M7 and very powerful internals mean to rival Samsung's Galaxy S5.
If you have been waiting for more information about the Nokia Lumia 900, specs and a few other details have leaked about the upcoming handset which will also debut on AT&T.
Nokia's new Windows Phones are eagerly awaited but concrete info is hard to come by on the first three devices: Searay, Sabre and Ace. A leaked image from Orange adds a new name to the mix: Nokia Sun.
A new rumor claims to have the hardware specifications for three of Nokia's upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices including the newly revealed Nokia Ace smartphone.


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Thousands of plastic bottles have turned beaches on England’s Cornish coast pink. Since last Sunday, bottles of detergent have been washing ashore. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) reports that the bottles have been identified as Vanish which contains a caustic bleaching agent.
The bottles possibly come from the freight ship MV Blue Ocean which lost a number of containers off Land’s End, the most south-western point of England, in May 2015. An estimated 27,000 tons of plastic bottles fell overboard; so many more bottles are expected to wash ashore.
A similar disaster took place 19 years ago. Back then, around 5 million Lego pieces washed into the sea when a huge wave hit the container ship Tokyo Express and sunk it. As a result, 62 containers sunk around 50 kilometres off Land’s End. Lego pieces are still being washed up on Cornish beaches today.
According to the research institute of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, up to 10,000 sea containers are lost at sea every year. Ocean currents eventually disperse the shipping freight across the whole world.
In a report MCS concludes that twice as much litter washes up in Cornwall than in the rest of the United Kingdom. The reason for this lies in its location as the Gulf Stream carries sea water directly towards the south western coast of England.


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Lara Croft To Arrive in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Later This Week
To coincide the impending release of the Tomb Raider film, Square Enix has announced a new crossover event with Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.
Today, Square Enix announced new information regarding its free-to-play role-playing title Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, which will include a limited time crossover character into the game.
According to the press release, to celebrate the impending release of the upcoming film adaptation of Tomb Raider (which is out in theatres on March 16), starting Friday, March 9 until Thursday, March 22, one of gaming’s most notable female protagonists and legendary treasure hunter protagonist Lara Croft will be a playable character in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.
To obtain Lara as a playable character, players will be required to complete the first event stage or gather daily login bonuses, which will also be available from March 9 through March 21 and reward players with bountiful rewards including 10+1 Summon Ticket and Lapis.
In addition to Lara Croft as a (limited time) playable character, Square Enix also confirmed that this crossover event would provide players the opportunity to battle the Apep boss during the Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris raid. On top of that, all the characters in the game will be reskinned based on characters from Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris; this includes the Explorer Aileen and Pharaoh Abe; these skins can be acquired for a limited time via gacha summon pickups.
You can check out the announcement trailer below this article for more information on the game, check out an article regarding a special event happening later this month to celebrate the game reaching 30 million downloads worldwide. Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is available now on Android and iOS devices.


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On average less than 40% of the food and beverage industry decision-makers place complete trust in the industry to ensure food and beverage safety
Zebra Technologies Corporation has announced the results of its Food Safety Supply Chain Vision Study. The study highlights the views of consumers as well as the food and beverage industry decision-makers worldwide from distribution and warehouses to grocery stores and restaurants around safety, traceability and transparency.
Surveyed consumers reported their top food safety concerns include restaurant kitchen and wait staff hygiene, foodborne outbreaks, illness from contaminated food, and food and beverage recalls. Consumers can be quite unforgiving if they experience a food incident as approximately six in 10 reportedly would never eat at a restaurant again if they contracted a foodborne illness or food poisoning. Slightly more than 80% of surveyed consumers said companies have an important role to play in implementing food safety solutions and ethical responsibility to ensure the safe handling of their food. Most consumers (70%) said it is important to know how their food and ingredients are manufactured, prepared, and handled, while 69% agreed knowing how their food is sourced is also important.
Given the increased focus on health and wellness, it’s unsurprising both consumers and industry decision-makers are showing a great level of interest in the source, quality and safety of their food. However, a disconnect exists between what consumers believe and what industry decision-makers think. Almost seven in 10 (69%) decision-makers say the industry is prepared to manage food traceability and transparency, but only 35% of consumers agree. Furthermore, only 13% of consumers felt the industry was extremely prepared today to manage food traceability and be transparent about how food travels through the supply chain, whereas 27% of decision-makers reported feeling this way. Unfortunately, this is not just a short-term challenge as approximately half (51%) of surveyed food and beverage decision-makers said meeting consumer expectations will remain a challenge in five years.
“The F&B industry in Southeast Asia is already taking measures to ensure more transparency in the supply chain. However, our study found that a lot more work still needs to be done in order to increase consumer confidence and improve food traceability in this region,” said Fang-How, Lim, Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Zebra Technologies. “Due to the digital world we live in today, businesses have more information available to them. Businesses should leverage this and provide consumers access to the same information, which in turn can increase consumers’ faith in their food sources.”
One bright spot identified in the research is the role that technology can play in closing both these gaps in both the short- and long-term. An overwhelming majority (90%) of decision-makers acknowledged that investments in traceability-focused solutions will provide them with a competitive advantage by enabling them to meet the expectations of consumers. When asked about the top benefits that technology-based track and trace solutions would provide, nearly six in 10 decision-makers cited risk reductions with proper handling, transportation and storage and tracking product perishability. 41% of industry decision-makers reported RFID tags to improve food traceability within the supply chain more than any other technology, yet only 31% currently use them within their own organizations.
Mobile computers and tablets, mobile barcode label printers, scanners and speciality labels and tags will also be key enablers in winning consumer trust and delivering more transparent information to consumers.
Approximately 90% of surveyed industry decision-makers expect to use rugged handheld mobile computers with scanners, barcode scanners and mobile barcode label printers within the next five years to digitally manage and track food products and related information.
“Zebra offers a portfolio of solutions that transform the food supply chain from farm to fork,” said Aik Jin, Tan, Vertical Solutions Lead, Zebra Technologies Asia Pacific. “Businesses can choose from basic track and trace solutions by pairing up of the likes of the ZQ511 and ZQ521 mobile printers with the CS60 Series companion scanner for barcode printing and scanning. Otherwise, they can opt for RFID solutions by pairing up the likes of the ZQ511 and ZQ521 RFID mobile printers that produce RFID-enabled labels with handheld RFID readers and RFID-enabled scanners. By doing so, businesses will be empowered with real-time visibility that takes their track-and-trace efforts to a whole new level.”
- 93% of surveyed food and beverage decision-makers believe their companies have an ethical responsibility to ensure the safe handling and management of food.
- Nearly three-quarters (73%) of consumers listed illness and deaths caused by contamination as their biggest concern for risks posed by the food supply chain.
- 89% of industry decision-makers believe investments in traceability-focused solutions would provide their companies with a competitive advantage.
- Only 15% of surveyed consumers completely trust food and beverage distributors to ensure the food and beverages are safe for public consumption.
- More than six in 10 (62%) consumers listed a foodborne outbreak as their top concern for food-related issues.
- Approximately half (53%)of surveyed industry decision-makers completely agree their companies have an ethical responsibility to ensure the safe handling and management of food – the lowest of any region.
- Almost nine in 10 (87%) consumers cite restaurant kitchen staff hygiene as their top concern for food-related issues.
- The vast majority (97%) of surveyed industry decision-makers believe investing in food safety and traceability technology will provide their companies with a competitive edge.
- Seventy-nine percent of consumers responded that having access to accurate information on where their food came from was important to them.
- The average trust level in companies and brands to ensure food and beverages are safe for public consumption is two and a half times higher in industry decision-makers (45%) than consumers (18%).
- 91% of surveyed food and beverage decision-makers believe their companies have an important role in implementing food safety solutions.
- More than six in 10 (64%) consumers cite fear of foodborne illness/disease as their primary reason for wanting more information about their food source.
SURVEY BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY
Zebra’s Food Safety Supply Chain Vision Study included approximately 4,957 consumers and 462 food and beverage industry decision-makers in the manufacturing, transportation & logistics, retail and wholesale distribution markets in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe who were interviewed in January 2020 by Azure Knowledge Corporation.


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According to the trade balance, purchases made in millions of dollars into consumer goods fell by 6.5% overall. However, the amount of tons that entered the country was higher at 19.6%.
In the case of raw materials and capital goods, products related to the industry, both figures in tons and in dollars fell. Was purchased 6.1% fewer tons of raw materials and 6.6% fewer in capital goods.
The decline in imports is a trend that has been noticed since early this year and economic analysts have linked to the new import regulations imposed by the Comex in December last year.


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Here's the press release, and a snippet:
Bazaarvoice, the market and technology leader in hosted social commerce applications that drive sales, today announced that it has received an Austin Business Journal “Tech Innovation” award for its hosted Ask & Answer™ service. The award recognizes Bazaarvoice for pioneering an important new way for multichannel businesses to tap into the social nature of the shopping experience to drive sales, satisfaction, and loyalty. Bazaarvoice manages social commerce capabilities for more than 150 leading online businesses including Bass Pro Shops, Dell, Macy’s, Overstock.com, PETCO, QVC, Sears, and ZipRealty.
Bazaarvoice was presented with the award, sponsored by Eureka Software, on Thursday, November 29 at a ceremony held at the Sheraton Austin Hotel. Bazaarvoice was selected as a finalist for the award from among dozens of Austin-based software companies, and then chosen as a winner by the public.
Let us know if you want a demo. Email email@example.com. We already have conversion and call reduction case studies…very exciting!


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NYC restaurant 'getting killed' by inflation, crime spikes
Inflation for April hotter than expected
FOX Business’ Cheryl Casone reports on the highly anticipated consumer price index report moments after the Labor Department posted the data.
Bobby Van's Steakhouse owner Joseph Smith said that soaring inflation and a rise in crime in New York City has caused him to lose about a million dollars in business on a monthly basis between his eight restaurants.
"You take all that together and we are getting killed," Smith told Fox News Digital, stressing that crime and inflation has been "absolutely devastating" for business.
"Everything has gone up from gas to my employees’ rents," he said, noting that his workers have been asking for raises to account for the higher costs.
Smith said that he has been raising wages by $2 to $3 an hour depending on the position, but that the move further impacts his bottom line.
"You can’t really say no when you know they have three children and their rent is going up, their gas is going up, to buy food is going up," Smith said, noting that he also gives his employees chicken, rice and beans every Friday to help them out with the inflationary pressure.
Smith also noted that he has been "forced" to raise menu prices 10 to 20% depending on the item as his labor and input costs have soared.
INFLATION SOARS 8.3% IN APRIL, HOVERING NEAR 40-YEAR HIGH
"We are taking a second look now again, and we might have to make another move, which is the feeling of most restaurateurs," Smith said. "We don’t want to do it because there is only so much you can charge for a meal [and] there is only so much you can charge for a drink."
Smith noted that he had to raise meat prices by 15% because "it went up 30% from my purveyor."
"I couldn’t pass the 30% on to the customer, otherwise I’d have no customers," he continued, noting that he is "having to eat a lot of that cost – 15 % of it."


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Published on : Wednesday, January 9, 2019
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) successfully completed the first ‘IATA Pay’ ticket purchase transaction in a live test environment. The transaction was conducted in partnership with ipagoo, a UK-based fintech company. European Commission’s second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), and the UK’s Open Banking regulation made the transaction possible. The live test conducted with ipagoo was done under the UK’s Open Banking framework with IATA Pay pilot airlines, including Cathay Pacific Airways, Scandinavian Airlines and Emirates.
This method allows for the so-called direct debit transactions in which payments are made from the customer’s bank account directly into the bank account of the merchant. This instantaneous method offers an extremely high level of security to both the user and the recipient.
For airlines, the advantages of IATA Pay inlcude:
Aleksander Popovich, IATA’s Senior Vice President of Financial and Distribution Services says that, “Airlines are trying to manage significant card payment costs — $8 billion per year and rising. A large part of this cost is incurred in direct purchases from airline websites. One of IATA’s strategic objectives is to support airlines’ financial sustainability including controlling costs.”


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Oops! Phillip Lim Hits Target Early ... On Accident
Posted Tuesday September 3, 2013 3:49 PM GMT
A Target store in Duluth, Georgia got one big surprise this morning.
According to Racked, Phillip Lim’s Target collection hit the shelves of an Atlanta-based store Tuesday (September 3), even though the line isn't officially set to launch until September 15.
“Obviously this was an operational oversight,” said Target spokesperson Joshua Thomas.
Unfortunately for us, the duds have already been pulled from the floor. “If there are any fashionistas from New York headed to Duluth, Georgia right now to get their hands on the collection early – I apologize but they won’t find it at the Target store,” he said.
Thomas also noted that they're still looking into whether or not any Phillip Lim items were actually purchased.
“We know how excited people are about the collection but they’re just going to wait a little bit longer." Sigh.


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Notchless iPhone shown at the show
In episode 6 of Season 2 of the comedy show Signal, a notchless iPhone is spotted by viewers, who took to Twitter to highlight that the show featured a notchless iPhone. The notchless iPhone has surfaced not once but twice in the same episode. Both times, the iPhone had the normal iOS interface, but without the notch.
read this also- Smartphones can explode like a bomb! If you are doing these 10 mistakes; Please read these carefully and avoid accident
The first notchless iPhone is visible in the photo below
Could be a prototype of the future iPhone
Now, it is not clear if this is one of the models in the upcoming iPhone 13 series that will arrive in September this year. Or a prototype of a future iPhone model. Rumors have already suggested that Apple is expected to introduce a smaller notch with the iPhone 13 series and to completely ditch the notch in the coming years in favor of under-display technologies like under-display cameras, Face ID or Touch ID. will remove from
New iPhones to be launched in a few weeks
The launch of the iPhone 13 is just a few weeks away and it is highly unlikely that Apple will introduce the most significant change feature of the upcoming iPhones through product placement on a TV show. PhoneArena has also reported that in one scene, the back of the alleged iPhone 13 has also been revealed with a fake-looking camera module that apparently resembles the housing of the iPhone 11.
read this also- New or old computer will run at rocket speed, junk files will be lost; All the work will be done in minutes, see
Meanwhile, whether or not Apple will announce an iPhone without a notch this year, we will know only at the Apple event next month. The official date for the same has not been announced yet, but several leaks and rumors are hinting at September 14 as the date of the event. Take this as a pinch of salt until Apple starts sending out official invites for the event.


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eMarketer forecasting analyst Eric Haggstrom and principal analyst Nicole Perrin talk about the US political ad spending landscape. How much money is being spent, where and why? They then discuss smartphone voting, consumer attitudes on privacy jargon and how Google can profit from government search warrants.
The role of political advertising in social media will be a key discussion topic in 2020—an easy prediction to make. Kantar Media expects that US digital political ad spending will reach $1.2 billion this year, and we believe the social platforms that continue accepting political advertisers will be major beneficiaries of that spending.
eMarketer principal analyst Mark Dolliver and vice president of content studio Paul Verna talk about a new subscription ad-avoiding service, data privacy in 2020, TV show companion podcasts, Pinterest's new AR tool, giving up on newspapers, Atari-branded hotels and more.
eMarketer principal analysts Nicole Perrin and Yory Wurmser check in on the ongoing privacy debate, looking at data privacy, device privacy and privacy legislation. They also discuss child privacy laws in the US, telemedicine adoption and an Apple Watch partnership.
Pinterest surpassed Snapchat as the third-biggest social media platform in the US in 2019, and it will continue to stay ahead in the coming years, according to our latest social user estimates.
The US has been relatively late in introducing contactless cards, which are credit or debit cards that include a near field communication (NFC) chip that can complete a transaction simply by tapping on a reader. But those cards are starting to arrive in the US now that most point-of-sale (POS) systems have the NFC capabilities to accept them.
Amid all the handwringing about screen time—plus the demise of Toys "R" Us—one could easily imagine that kids have lost interest in toys. But they haven’t.
Consumers are constantly in search of convenience, particularly in the form of timesaving. In the past 12 months, numerous direct-to-consumer (D2C) meal plan services have emerged, offering consumers an alternative solution to home cooking without paying a dreaded visit to the grocery store—or spending time trying to figure out a recipe.
eMarketer global director of public relations Douglas Clark reveals our first-ever forecast for mobile reddit users in the US and the platform’s new live streaming feature.
Social networks are no longer what they used to be. Case in point: The rise of short video-app TikTok in 2019 is a sure sign that what defines a social network will be very different in 2020.
Mobile dethroned TV in 2019 as the channel where US adults spent the most time. While it may be a symbolic threshold for now, it’s still notable that the average US adult spent 3 hours, 43 minutes (3:43) on their mobile devices in 2019, compared with the average 3:35 spent watching TV. As recently as 2016, US adults watched nearly an hour more of TV than they spent on their smartphones and tablets (4:05 vs. 3:08).
eMarketer senior forecasting analyst Oscar Orozco breaks down our adoption estimates for Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and reasons behind its popularity.
eMarketer principal analyst Yory Wurmser discusses one thing that summed up 2019 for him and some of his predictions for 2020, focusing on the promise of 5G.
Marketers have embraced location data for several reasons. It can help personalize experiences for customers, better isolate customer paths to purchase, create better customer segments, and identify opportune moments to target potential clients. But new restrictions on collecting location data will make it more costly for advertisers in 2020.
eMarketer junior forecasting analyst Nazmul Islam compares our mobile messaging app usage numbers with our mobile social networking usage figures and the factors behind the increasing gap.
eMarketer global director of public relations Douglas Clark breaks down our usage figures for Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp worldwide.
eMarketer principal analyst Debra Aho Williamson and junior analyst Blake Droesch discuss TikTok's US image, whether competitors can copy it out of business and how in-app buying will affect the platform. Then they talk about the ANA Influencer Marketing Conference, why Facebook is introducing Stories to its dating service and whether Americans will miss seeing Instagram likes when they go away.
eMarketer global director of public relations Douglas Clark explains our usage estimates for mobile messaging app KakaoTalk and why a growth slowdown may be on the horizon.
In 2019, we estimate that 577.4 million people in China made a purchase via proximity mobile payment within a six-month period. Those users account for 49.6% of the country’s population. Next year, more than half of the population will utilize this payment method, with that figure rising to 60.5% in 2023.
eMarketer forecasting analyst Rini Mukhopadhyay shares our usage numbers for WhatsApp in Brazil and what’s behind its successful adoption.


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Since Nov. 3, workers represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers’ International Union (BCTGM) Local 37 have been on strike against Rich Products at the Jon Donaire Desserts plant in Santa Fe Springs, California. Working in perpetually cold and wet conditions, these workers make ice cream cakes for household-name stores like Baskin-Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery, Walmart, Costco, Ralph’s, Vons, Smart & Final, and Safeway.
As Cristina Lujan, a worker at the Santa Fe Springs plant and BCTGM Local 37 member, recently told Forbes: “We are on strike because we’re fighting for higher wages, affordable health care and to be treated with respect and dignity.” In this interview, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez speaks with Lujan about the current state of the strike and what brought workers to the picket line in the first place.
Pre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Dwayne Gladden
The transcript for this video is being processed and will be posted as soon as possible.


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OAI: Recent Award Shows Importance of Auto Insurance Companies' Online Presence
December 30, 2011 (PRLEAP.COM) Business NewsThis week's announcement that Progressive has once again been lauded for its user-friendly website highlights how important it is these days for auto insurers to have an effective online presence, according to Online Auto Insurance (OAI).
Consumers are browsing free online auto insurance quotes and purchasing coverage over the Internet more than ever before, and forward-thinking coverage providers are profiting by catering to consumers who prefer to conduct their insurance business via the Web.
One of the best examples of cashing in on the online trend is provided by Progressive, which was singled out this week by Keynote Competitive Research as having the best website in the industry in terms of customer service and the ease with which it allows users to get quotes and make a purchase.
Federal communications officials say that 7 of 10 households across the country now have access to high-speed Internet service, and experts say that share continues to increase. And according to a survey released in May by marketing research company comScore, 1 in 5 respondents had purchased a vehicle policy online-an increase of 5 percentage points from two years ago-and just over 60 percent had used the services of an agent. That was a 6 percent decrease from 2009.
Regulatory agencies in many states say shopping for coverage online can be an efficient way in which to obtain coverage, but officials say the process will go a lot more smoothly for those consumers who figure out exactly what sort of policy they're looking for before they start to search.
State regulators say online shoppers should gather all their policy, registration and driver's license information before getting started, and they should be prepared to answer questions involving the type of vehicle, who will be driving it and the driving history of each individual to be covered by a policy.
Focusing on online sales is nothing new to Progressive, which industry experts say has taken advantage of an increasingly wired world to become the fourth-largest private vehicle insurer in the U.S. The share of policies Progressive sold over the Internet has climbed from about 34 percent in 2005 to nearly half as of last June, according to financial data from the company.
To learn more about this and other coverage issues, readers can go to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/quotes/free/ where they will find informative resource pages and a helpful rate-comparison generator.


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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection released a study this month (March 2017) indicating that business entities could be doing more to stop malicious emails from hitting the inboxes of employees. The goal behind many malicious emails is to trick individuals into turning over either their own confidential, personal information or confidential business information to which the individual has access due to his or her job responsibilities. Cyber criminals use social media sites such as LinkedIn, an entity’s own website, Internet search engines and other public resources to identify individuals with likely access to valuable information. The attacker uses such information to compose an email that spoofs an otherwise legitimate sender, such as a bank, mortgage company, Internet service provider (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, Spectrum, etc.), a business partner or even another employee. These malicious emails are commonly referred to as “phishing email” or “spoof email”.
The FTC’s report, titled Businesses Can Help Stop Phishing and Protect their Brands Using Email Authentication (Report), states that many businesses are not taking advantage of Continue reading


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School holidays, check. Christmas coming, check. Gift giving time, check.
All the signs are there but seasoned visitors to SITEX, which started yesterday, noted that the event was a little quieter than normal — and we’re not talking about noise level.
Missing from the run up to the show are thick supplements that used to appear in the dailies earlier in the week and on the opening day of the event. Digital Life did run a 10-page supplement on SITEX but this pales in comparison to past years and past events. Other than that, only a smattering of vendors did mention SITEX in their ads in the main paper.
Is Singapore suffering from IT show fatigue? Or is this just a sign of the economy?


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When Good Eggs Inc. began delivering fresh, locally farmed food in San Francisco two years ago, the Web startup leased a warehouse and hired a team. Total cost: as much as $1 million.
The need for cash escalated as CEO Rob Spiro moved into Los Angeles, New Orleans and Brooklyn. To fund the expansion, investors backed Good Eggs with $2 million in April 2013, $8.5 million five months later, and $21 million a year after that, in September 2014.
“We’re building this as we go,” Spiro said in an interview. “The pitch is that we can build an operation on the ground that looks fundamentally different.”
Good Eggs is part of a growing breed of city-by-city Web startups that are hiring staff and setting up offices in every town they move into. Since they burn cash more quickly, there’s a higher chance of a bust when times get tough. While that reduces their appeal for some investors, other backers are betting that the first to build out operations will be able to fend off new competitors because of the high up-front costs.
(Good Eggs declined to disclose its costs, but based on the current number of employees, the company is now probably spending more than $3.7 million in San Francisco each year.)
The list of city-by-city startups includes mobile car-booking companies Uber Technologies and Lyft, food delivery startup Munchery, parking provider SpotHero, shopping service Instacart and laundry startup Washio. While they rely on technology to deliver new products and services, their business models are a departure from the low-cost ventures built by a few programmers working in a cramped office. Instead, they’re setting up kitchens, renting warehouses and hiring local staff.
Although Good Eggs started out as a software company, Spiro sought funding as he pivoted and rolled out distribution operations.
“The real value was in building physical distribution infrastructure city by city, driven by technology,” Spiro said. “Investors were open to it.”
Among the startups that raised a third financing round in 2013 or 2014, 14 are expanding from city to city and have attracted an average of $65 million in funding, more than double the amount raised by the rest, according to PitchBook Data, a financial information provider.
Uber is leading the pack, with a presence in almost 300 cities in 55 countries. Valued at $40 billion, the mobile car-hailing startup is on a hiring spree for operations staff, with more than 200 job postings for staff outside of the company’s headquarters in San Francisco, from Miami to Moscow.
CEO Travis Kalanick’s steady ramp-up has required Uber to raise an enormous amount of cash totaling more than $5 billion. In January, Bloomberg News reported the car-booking startup raised $1.6 billion in convertible debt, and that it was still on the lookout to collect more financing.
Some investors warn that cash-intensive startups are at risk of flopping, pointing to previous attempts by delivery companies Kozmo.com and Webvan, which also sought to expand city to city in the late 1990s, only to crash when the dot-com bubble burst in the new millennium. Marc Andreessen, Silicon Valley investor and startup veteran, cautioned last year that enterprises rapidly burning cash may be unable to survive in an adverse environment.
Apoorva Mehta, Instacart’s CEO, is betting his delivery startup will be nimble enough to avert a crunch. The San Francisco-based company, which raised $220 million at a $2 billion valuation in January, initially sold groceries to customers with a markup. Now, Instacart is more focused on cutting deals with food stores to deliver produce and other goods for a fee. Instacart needs less cash to expand (compared with Amazon, which also delivers groceries in some urban areas) since it doesn’t have to build warehouses or large stores.
“You have an operations team that is on a city-by-city basis, but you make sure your engineering team is not city-by-city,” Mehta said.
Such startups have an edge because they’re building sophisticated logistics operations, which are difficult to displace, according to their founders and backers.
That’s the bet Annie Kadavy, a partner at Charles River Ventures, made when she invested in food-delivery company DoorDash in 2013. DoorDash has deals with some restaurants to take a percentage of the total value of food orders. While margins are thin in the begnning, Kadavy contends that the company will make more money as the enterprise grows.
“Investing in companies with any level of overhead can be boiled down to simply understanding their unit economics, payback period and cost to acquire users compared to the life time of that customer,” Kadavy said.
Tony Xu, DoorDash’s CEO, said the company sends out a team to scout out a city before they start operations. Then another group of employees goes in as the company rolls out software and services for a new city. In Boston drivers use bicycles and in San Jose, California, cars. Each city is different, Xu said.
“You’re dealing with people and you’re not just sending bits flying around the world,” said Sequoia Capital’s Michael Moritz, who is on the board of Instacart. “The whole secret for this breed of company is to make sure that you understand the major issues that govern performance because it’s a complicated, logistical jigsaw puzzle.”
*Publish by Bloomberg Business on March 12th, 2015


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The new chairman of the US Federal Trade Commission took office with the Obama administration in January. However, Chairman Jon Leibowitz and many of his key deputies have been with the agency for years, so much of the work continues seamlessly. In a DMA/Email Experience Council webinar last week, Peder Magee, Esq., FTC Privacy and Theft attorney in the Bureau of Consumer Protection said, “The FTC is bipartisan and works on consensus. Typically things are done with unanimous vote. We’ve had a fair amount of consistency from where we’ve been.”
For now, that stance seems to suggest that the self regulation of the industry is working. Magee noted that some concepts “transcend the medium” when it comes to self regulation. “Transparency, prominent notice, use of personal data, and providing the ability to opt out easily” all are areas the FTC continues to watch.
Certification and feedback loop programs were noted by panelist Tom Bartel, CPO of Return Path, as an example of how the industry cooperates in order to make self regulation work. Especially for certification programs, “Email marketers put themselves forward voluntarily to be held to high standards,” Bartel says. “Including the things Peder listed about prominence. Once they are vouched for by the third party, the ISPs can make good decisions about what to do with email from those senders.
“Participation in these programs shows marketers are willing to go way past the law, and well past best practices,” Bartel says.
The FTC remains aggressive about prosecuting offenders under CAN-SPAM. Magee says, “CAN-SPAM and some of the filtering technologies have reduced the spam that consumers were getting a lot more of.” He notes that the agency also brings cases against phishing scams, often initiated through email. Webinar moderator and DMA VP of Government Affairs Jerry Cerasale noted, “The FTC is the most active regulatory body in this area. Opt-in laws in Europe have not resulted in as many cases as the FTC.”
Panelist Rick Buck, Director of Privacy/ISP Relations at eDialog said that the clarifications to CAN-SPAM released in the amended rules which took effect last July was of great benefit to the industry. “The new rules took all the confusion out of the sender definition and made marketers look at their practices,” he said. As a result of the ruling, marketers have updated their preference centers by adding choices, updated privacy policies and tested where to place the unsubscribe button in the message, he said. “The new rules have flexibility and clarity,” he added. “Definitely an improvement.”
The panelists discussed the clarification around “designated sender” in the rules, which governs who needs to use a suppression file for the mailing. “The sender must be an advertiser,” Cerasale said. “You can’t falsify the header, which still must apply to the initiator or list owner, but the opt-out must apply to the advertiser,” Bartel agreed.
1. Write it for consumers
2. Keep it short
3. Index it or give it headers so people can find what they want quickly
4. Audit the policy at least once a year (and have non-lawyers read it for clarity)
5. Link out to relevant sections of your policy to “contact us” features so readers with questions can get answers
6. Inform customers about policy changes, but be sure to do so before the changes go public and give people a chance to change preferences prior to launch
7. Highlight the policy throughout the site
Primarily, Dayman advises “Don’t think for the customer.” He urges marketers to never assume that subscribers or visitors will want new information or want you to share their information. “Give them control over their own information. When you do this, customers stay more loyal,” he says. Cerasale added, “There is an FTC report that says people don’t read privacy policies, but maybe that’s because we tend to hide them. Have them, update them and celebrate them!”
The FTC’s Magee commented on this issue of effective notice and consumer control, referencing the recent report (available on the FTC website) on behavioral advertising and targeting. “What we discussed in the report is that it’s increasingly seen that privacy policies are long and legal-speak, and the average consumer is not interested nor has the time or energy to shift through them.
Dayman agreed on this strategy of “firewalling” subscriber data in certain areas. “We’ve seen some clients actually start a new program, and re-opt folks into multiple files/policies,” he said.
Going forward, Magee and Cerasale discussed that while the FTC has no particular agenda item around email now, there may be some activity in Congress around both privacy, use of data and CAN SPAM protections. “There may be some bills proposed on the Hill in this Congress session,” Cerasale said. The DMA is working on guidelines for consumer data protection as well. The DMA will be vetting those with members and marketers over the next few months.
The DMA/eec has made the recording of the full webinar available for free for one week only. After May 14, it will be available for a fee. The download includes a list of privacy and regulatory websites, a list of anti-spam website that you can share with subscribers and a recommended action plan from the panelists. You can also share your questions and comments here, and we’ll try to get answers from the panelists to help you!


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Reshoring -- the practice of businesses transferring manufacturing operations to the U.S. from foreign locations – has remained strong during the first half of 2020, despite the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by the Reshoring Initiative. “We publish this data annually to show companies that their peers are successfully reshoring and that they should reevaluate their sourcing and siting decisions,” according to Harry Moser, founder and president of the Reshoring Initiative. “With 5 million manufacturing jobs still offshore, as measured by our $800 billion/year goods trade deficit, there is potential for much more growth.
From 2010 through 2019, according to the Initiative, over 900,000 announced new manufacturing jobs are attributable to reshoring and foreign direct investment (FDI.) Allowing for a conservative two-year lag, the trend will have resulted in 600,000 jobs, it estimated. “This figure accounts for 44% of the 1.41 million increase in U.S. manufacturing jobs since the manufacturing employment low in 2010, and 5% of total 12/31/19 manufacturing employment of 12.9 million,” it stated.
For 2019, combined reshoring and FDI announcements totaled more than 117,000 manufacturing jobs, which is the Initiative’s third highest pre-revision annual rate on record. Furthermore, 1,100 companies reporting new reshoring and FDI in 2019 represents the second highest annual level in history.
During the current year, job creation due to reshoring activity is exceeding that of foreign direct investment (FDI), the Initiative reported, adding that the same trend will continue to influence manufacturing growth and U.S. economic recovery in 2021.
Further, the Initiative observed that, due to the pandemic, during 2020 reshoring is outpacing FDI for the first time since 2014. “COVID uncertainty is causing companies to emphasize operations in their home countries,” according to a release.
Also continuing to reshoring activity is U.S. manufacturers’ determination to shorten or close supply-chain gaps for essential products – which is a notable factor in PPE, medical, technology, and defense manufacturing.
The Reshoring Initiative’s 1H2020 Data Report contains data on U.S. reshoring and FDI by companies that have shifted production or sourcing from offshore to the United States, and includes cumulative data from 2010 through 2019, as well as projections from 2020 1st half data and provides data.
The full report is available for download.


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L&M Companies Inc., is expanding its Union Gap, Wash., office through a sales additions and promotions.
The Raleigh, N.C.-based grower-shippers, importer and distributor promoted Donna Feltrup to sales manager and added Craig Barnes as a sales specialist.
Feltrup has worked for L&M for 10 years and has achieved successes in expanding the company’s export business, according to a news release.
Working in the industry since 2010, Barnes was previously with Rainier Fruit Co., in Yakima, Wash.
He brings experience in domestic retail sales and wholesaling along with export sales expertise, according to the release.
The changes position L&M well for the 2014-15 apple season and for the years ahead, John Long, sales and operations director, said in the release.
“Donna takes on new and broader responsibilities, Craig brings experience and energy,” he said in the release. “She’s one of the very best in the industry. Together, this allows the team to handle significant growth while still providing the service L&M is known for.”


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The rise in consumer prices in Germany slowed down somewhat in November. However, the inflation rate remained in double digits at 10 percent. The Federal Statistical Office confirmed an initial estimate on Tuesday. “Despite a slight relaxation in energy prices, the inflation rate remains at a high level of 10.0 percent,” said the President of the Wiesbaden authority, Georg Thiel. “We are also increasingly observing price increases for many other goods in addition to energy.” In October, the inflation rate reached 10.4 percent, its highest level in about 70 years.
Economists see no reason to give the all-clear in the weakening in November. Many economists do not expect a more significant drop in inflation until spring. High rates of inflation reduce the purchasing power of consumers and eat away at growth in income. People can afford less for one euro.
Inflation has been fueled by energy and food prices for months. Energy cost 38.7 percent more in November than a year earlier. The price increase weakened somewhat after growth of 43 percent in October. Consumers had to pay 21.1 percent more for food than in November 2021. Compared to the previous month, consumer prices fell by a total of 0.5 percent in November.
Inflation rates at the current level have never existed in reunified Germany. In the old federal states, rates of around 10 percent and above were measured in the early 1950s. However, the calculation method has changed over time.
Rising course – the euro is currently trading above 1.05 US dollars


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Following their announcement from last year, Google and denim jeans company Levi’s have developed a new jacket that lets users interact with their smartphones by swiping at the garment in various ways.
Called the ‘Commuter Trucker Jacket’, the garment is aimed at cyclists who may be too busy riding and concentrating on their surroundings to reach into their pockets and fiddle with their phones, Forbes reported on Friday citing Paul Dillinger, company head of global product innovation.
The jacket is apparently waterproof – except for a detachable electronic smart tag that activates a wireless connection between the clothing and a mobile device. “If you get this thing dirty, you put it in the washing machine,” said Dillinger during Google’s annual developer conference in Mountain View, California, this week.
The garment is powered by Google’s Project Jacquard technology developed by the internet giant’s Advanced Technology and Projects Group.
Hope it was helpful to you. Do send us your comment and you can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ , on LinkedIn or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from, Technology world.


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State Farm to move 70 workers from Collinsville office
- Staff St. Louis Business Journal
State Farm said it will relocate 70 jobs from its Collinsville operations center to Indianapolis by the end of January.
The insurance company initially notified employees about the move in May 2011 and were given the option to move with their job, the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
State Farm previously has said its reason for the move was based in part on a study analyzing office space capacity and efficiency. The company also is consolidating other offices throughout Illinois, Indiana and Michigan into fewer locations.
Interim County Auditor County of Kaua'i | Lihue, HI
Commercial Credit Analyst First Community Credit Union | Chesterfield, MO
Audience Development Director St. Louis Business Journal | Saint Louis, MO
Director of Real Estate Development University of Missouri - St. Louis | Saint Louis, MO
Executive Director Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis (JCRC) | Saint Louis, MO
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Citroën UK Officially Welcomes Drivers of Prestatyn to the Dealer Network
Citroën UK continues to renew its dealer network, welcoming Drivers of Prestatyn into the franchise. Drivers officially opened to Citroën customers in north Wales at the end of 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the inaugural visit of Citroen UK Managing Director, Eurig Druce, to mid-August. In the meantime, a close – albeit distant – working relationship formed during lockdown.
Citroën UK’s dealer network continues to strengthen, thanks to a string of new openings – including the recent appointment of Drivers of Prestatyn in north Wales. Drivers of Prestatyn opened its doors in November 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic significantly delayed the inaugural visit of Citroën UK Managing Director, Eurig Druce to earlier this month.
Drivers of Prestatyn previously enjoyed a successful partnership with fellow Groupe PSA brand, Peugeot over the last 25 years.
Founded in 1986, Drivers of Prestatyn began working with Groupe PSA in 1995 and has since played a leading role in their local community. Led by Managing Director Mark Edgley, Drivers of Prestatyn saw collaboration with Citroën as a next logical next step for the dealership and their team of highly trained specialists.
Speaking about his team’s work with Citroën, Mark said: “Drivers of Prestatyn is proud to welcome Citroën to the company. We opened the franchise in November last year and we saw keen interest in the brand from the get go. Customers can rest assured that our sales and aftersales teams will deliver the excellent service they expect from both Citroën and Drivers of Prestatyn.”
Drivers of Prestatyn is the latest franchise-holder to join Citroën’s 135 strong UK dealer network. Despite the setbacks due to COVID-19, Citroën dealers are looking forward to welcoming the recently unveiled New C3, C5 Aircross Hybrid, ë-Dispatch van, ë-SpaceTourer MPV, and New Citroën C4 & ë-C4 to the range. New Citroën ë-C4 is the brand’s latest compact hatchback with a 100% electric powertrain.
Built on Groupe PSA’s Common Modular Platform (CMP), New ë-C4 has a WLTP range of up to 217 miles. Available to order in the UK from the autumn of 2020, this will be an exciting next step for Mark Edgley and his team, adding to Drivers of Prestatyn’s existing portfolio of Citroën car and van models available to order from the dealership.
New Citroën ë-C4 just one element of Citroën’s pledge to provide an electrified version of every car and van in its range by 2025.
Eurig Druce, Managing Director of Citroën UK said: “We are all incredibly excited to welcome Drivers of Prestatyn into the Citroën UK dealer network. Mark and his team have a wealth of experience and are already experts in all things Citroën. The success they have had over the past 25 years working with Groupe PSA is testament enough to the hard work and effort Drivers of Prestatyn put in to delivering an outstanding service. We will be supporting them every step of the way and wish all the team good luck.”
To ensure customer safety, Drivers of Prestatyn have gone to great lengths to make their dealership fully compliant with all COVID-19 guidelines. The dealership operates a dedicated one-way system to make sure customers and staff observe social distancing, and there are sanitising stations and stringent cleaning protocols in place. All staff have their temperature taken regularly and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn at all times.


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The music streaming service Spotify was offline for more than an hour for users around the world on Wednesday.
Users could only play songs that were already downloaded to their devices. And in many cases, songs are cut out after just a few seconds.
The problems started around 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday and affected both free and paid users. The company has nearly 300 million users.
Spotify didn't say what was causing the problem.
The tech giant tweeted of its customer care account, just saying it was "aware of some issues right now".
About 90 minutes after the initial reports, the company tweeted with no further explanation that "all is well to look happy."
Downdetector, a website that tracks outages on popular services, registered thousands of reports around the world – including the US, UK, and Australia.
However, podcasts in the Spotify app seemed to work for some users during the interruption.
The company saw a surge in paying users during the coronavirus pandemic, adding six million new premium subscribers in the first quarter of the year.


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Headline: US FDA Allows Over-the-Counter Sale of Life-Saving Opioid Overdose Medication Narcan
In a major move to combat the rising opioid crisis in America, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the life-saving medication Narcan can now be sold without a prescription. This comes as deaths from opioid overdoses continue to increase in recent years.
Leading retailers such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid have pledged to make Narcan available both in-store and online, making it easily accessible to the public. Narcan, a nasal spray, can be safely administered by anyone to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Recent data reveals that about 40% of overdose deaths occur when someone else is present, highlighting the urgent need for immediate action. By making Narcan more readily available, the FDA hopes to empower individuals to intervene during emergencies and potentially save lives.
Narcan is already accessible without a prescription in many states and a number of pharmacies. The new initiative expands its availability to mainstream retailers, aiming to remove barriers that may prevent individuals from obtaining the medication when they need it most.
Priced at $45, each Narcan pack contains two single-dose nasal sprays, specifically designed for simple and quick administration. CVS has already started shipping Narcan, while Walgreens is expected to offer online sales soon.
Opioid users and those who know someone struggling with addiction are being strongly encouraged to carry Narcan with them at all times. Being familiar with the signs of an opioid overdose can also prove crucial in saving lives. Symptoms include pinpoint pupils, loss of consciousness, choking or gurgling sounds, slow or shallow breathing, and a limp body.
If someone displays these signs, it is vital to administer Narcan immediately and call 911. The process involves checking their responsiveness, placing the person on their back, inserting the nasal spray into one nostril, waiting for a response, and administering a second dose if necessary. It is crucial to remain with the individual until medical services arrive.
Laws in most states protect those who administer Narcan, shielding them from legal consequences associated with drug use. Paramedics and healthcare workers have been using a similar drug called naloxone for decades, and its use has proven to potentially save lives.
The introduction of over-the-counter Narcan sales marks a significant step in combating the opioid crisis, enabling individuals to take swift and potentially life-saving action. With major retailers now offering easier access to this medication, the hope is that more lives can be saved by averting tragic opioid overdoses.
“Travel aficionado. Incurable bacon specialist. Tv evangelist. Wannabe internet enthusiast. Typical creator.”


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©IDG Communications, Inc. Photo contributed by Matthew Mikaelian.
Wall Street Journal, 12/18/10
A WSJ Investigation finds that iPhone and Android apps are breaching the privacy of smartphone users
Few devices know more personal details about people than the smartphones in their pockets: phone numbers, current location, often the owner’s real name—even a unique ID number that can never be changed or turned off.
These phones don’t keep secrets. They are sharing this personal data widely and regularly, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found.


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The company behind the electrified London taxi has revealed a new eco-friendly van that is say will transform inner city deliveries.
Based on the same platform and hybrid drivetrain as the LEVC TX cab, the new LCV van is designed for businesses operating in low-emissions zones which also need access to out-of-town distribution centres.
Its makers say it is aimed at drivers who cover around 100 miles a day and offers a cleaner distribution-to-door solution than the one-tonne diesel vans that currently dominate the sector, as well as offer more flexibility than existing low-emission “last-mile” systems.
Using the same e-City range extender technology as the TX taxi, the LCV will offer 80 miles of all electric running, with a total range of 377 miles.
The thinking behind the van is that operators will drive from distribution centres outside major urban areas using the van’s petrol engine before switching to all-electric running in city centres, where low-emissions zones are becoming commonplace.
The ‘Amazonisation of retail’
LEVC CEO Joerg Hofmann said: “Future urban transport is already changing rapidly and we have a golden opportunity to bring something new and disruptive to this market.
“The light commercial vehicle sector is the only growing vehicle traffic segment in London. This is due to the rapid rise in internet shopping – the Amazonisation of retail.
“Every day there are 65,000 unique LCV journeys into London, but mobility must not come at the expense of air quality. London’s ULEZ is a blueprint and all major UK cities will introduce a Clean Air Zone by 2020.
“There is huge demand for a medium-sized zero emissions capable light van and the solution we offer will be more than capable of meeting the requirements of a rapidly evolving green logistics market.”
The LCV will be built alongside the TX taxi in Coventry and go on sale in 2020. Full details will be revealed closer to launch but its makers say it will target best-in-class total cost of ownership, thanks to savings in fuel and servicing, as well as class-leading safety technology comfort and ergonomics benchmarked against conventional passenger cars.
The LCV van was unveiled by Mr Hofmann and London Mayor Sadiq Khan at London’s Institution of Engineering and Technology – where the Mayor announced plans to improve the capital’s EV infrastructure, including Installing new ultra-rapid charging points at London petrol stations later this year, creating five charging hubs, with the ability for multiple cars to quickly be charged in one place, and a ‘one-stop-shop’ for Londoners to request new charging infrastructure from their local authority.


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Yesterday, we entered a position in Mosaic Co. (NYSE:MOS). So far, the stock has not been the gem China Automotive Systems (NASDAQ:CAAS) was last week, but we still have some time to go before this one needs to be sold. Last I checked it was at 59.90, which puts us down about 0.66%. We are continuing to hold, and I think tomorrow will be a big day for MOS.
Today, we are looking towards an Overnight Trade of the Day that I think has some big potential to make a jump tomorrow in the discount store sector.
Overnight Trade of the Day: Dollar General Corp. (NYSE:DG)
Analysis: I have been a huge fan of the discount stores for quite some time. My first long term trade of 2009 was in Family Dollar (NYSE:FDO), which worked wonders for me over a four-month period. These companies came under some hard times towards the end of 2009, especially in the ultra-discount sector with dollar stores and wholesale sellers. Yet, they seem to be bouncing back strong in 2010 with reinvested free cash flows and some better efficiency.
One relative newcomer to the NYSE is Dollar General Corp. (DG), which had its IPO back in November of 2009. DG is expected to report earnings of 0.43 EPS tomorrow. The company saw the potential of the economic markets as a chance for it to gain market share, increase its revenues, and it has improved its stock just under 10% in its handful of trading. The company will be reporting their second earnings as a public company, and I think they should be pretty solid. Dollar General’s closest competitors are Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR), Family Dollar, and Fred’s (NASDAQ:FRED). Dollar Tree just reported some extraordinary numbers this for their Q1 of 2010, hitting an EPS of 1.52, which was over 100% better than one year prior. The company took off towards the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010. We have seen similar success from Family Dollar, Wal-Mart, Big Lots, and nearly every portion of the discount sector other than wholesale.
This type of success has given me a lot of confidence around Dollar General. Another tidbit of information that I like to examine before making any Overnight recommendations is how many times an industry has been upgraded versus downgraded in one month. In the past month, there have been seven upgrades to only one downgrade for the discount sector. That sort of pattern shows that many analysts see the potential in this market.
Potential and actuality are two different things. Yet, potential often means overpricing, anticipatory buying, and stocks thathave gotten away from themselves. Dollar General, however, has not gotten away from itself by any means. The stock has seen a 10% increase over the past couple months, but it has been healthy sustained growth. In the past two weeks, the stock has seen a 5% decline, as well. The company has had a pretty narrow trading range of $22-$25 since its release. Its Bollinger bands have narrowed around the current price, and it is definitely ready for a breakout.
DG has good beta and enough trading volume to allow it movement. The company is expected to report earnings that are definitely shattering quarter-over-quarter, but the pattern of being able to do so from other companies is definitely there. I think we can expect big things. Additionally, the stock needs to just continue to attract attention. A nice quarter or even modest one will allow the company just to gain market interest, which is good for the price if things were good that attracted buyers.
Get in today, and let’s make some money. Make sure you exit within the first couple minutes of tomorrow’s open.
Entry: We are looking for an entry of $25.10 - $25.20.
Exit: We are looking to exit within minutes of tomorrow’s open for whatever loss or gain we can accrue.
Stop Loss: None.