text:
PH market stabilizes and gains momentum; APAC RE investment surges 20% in Q1 2022
Supply pressure will weigh down on recovery, but greater optimism can provide legs for market momentum in PH
PHILIPPINES, May 18, 2022 – Investment growth in the Asia Pacific real estate sector continued in the first quarter of 2022 with volumes up 20% year-on-year. According to data and analysis published in the JLL Capital Tracker Q1 2022, $40.8 billion of capital was deployed via direct real estate investment into the region throughout the quarter. Increases in investment volumes were most pronounced in Singapore, South Korea, and Australia. Sector wise, retail and office performed strongly whilst logistics and industrial reported a moderated growth rise of 3.5% year-on-year.
“Investors continue to diversify when deploying capital across Asia Pacific, represented by a swing of investments into retail assets, continued support for the office market, and high growth in Singapore, Korea and Australia allocations. We are optimistic that the region’s real estate sector will withstand rising interest rates and growing uncertainty. We are still seeing intense competition for assets and maintain our projection of over $200 billion in direct investment into Asia Pacific for 2022,” said Stuart Crow, CEO, Capital Markets, Asia Pacific, JLL.
The Asia Pacific retail sector registered the largest growth in the first quarter of 2022 with investments rising by 39% year-on-year. Over $8.0 billion in capital was deployed into retail assets throughout the quarter as foot traffic returned after loosening of pandemic management policies in most markets.
Office remained the most popular sector in Asia Pacific measured by total volume, growing by 9% year-on-year to end the first quarter with $17.3 billion in direct investment. During JLL Philippines’ recent real estate market overview, Janlo de los Reyes, JLL Philippines’ Head of Research and Strategic Consulting said that there was a rebound in leasing volumes (from 75,713 sqm in the fourth quarter of 2021 to 132,385 sqm in the first quarter of 2022) in the Philippines, as occupiers push through with planned entry and expansion. IT-BPOs continue to drive leasing activity, while the rental market also remained stable.
Lizanne Tan, JLL Philippines’ Head of Office Leasing Advisory, added that a lot of companies had been assessing how to move forward with the return to office (RTO). She cited kinds of business and employee functions as some of the factors that organizations consider in their RTO policies.
Activity in the logistics and industrial sector rose 3.5% year-on-year but the pace of growth moderated with the sector only managing to garner $8.3 billion in capital deployed in the first quarter. The absence of large portfolio deals, and limited deal pipelines contributed to slower investment growth in the sector, despite broad interest from investors.
“E-commerce and logistics companies remain key sources of demand in Southeast Asia,” said Charlie McNaught, JLL Philippines Director for Logistics. There was annual rental growth of 2.1% in APAC during 2021, and SEA reached 3.0%. Across all markets, modern stock is the focus of occupiers as they try to modernize their portfolios. “Supply chain networks remain a key focus for occupiers as they shift from a just-in-time supply chain model to a just-in-case. This is essentially leading to more and larger warehouse requirements,” added McNaught.
McNaught pointed out that growth in prime stock, more focus on environmental, social and governance, larger requirements, multi-storey developments as well as the emergence of Grade A logistics parks are the medium-term key trends that could be expected in the Philippines real estate sector.
Hotel transactions remained resilient, reaching $3.1 billion as more hotels changed hands with investors attempting to buy at bargain or to convert underperforming hotels into living product. JLL expects the sector to rebound further in 2022, forecasting $10.7 billion transactions for the full year, up 15% on 2021.
According to JLL research, investors are sitting on over $50 billion in dry powder and have demonstrated in the first quarter their confidence in spreading capital across geography and sector. In the coming months, momentum will shift towards logistics and industrial as supply comes to market, and funds will increasingly focus on income resilient sectors.
In the Philippine hospitality sector, sustained leisure and pent-up business travel buoy occupancy, with room rates now 5.8% higher than the previous quarter, but still below pre-pandemic levels.
Three main points contribute to the improving outlook towards the end of the first quarter of 2022. First, is the increasing RTO, second is the figure for COVID-19 cases in March 2022 is 97.6%, lower than January 2022. Lastly, the forecasted GDP growth for 2022 (according to figures from the ADB, WB and IMF) is at 5.7% to 6.5%. de los Reyes also said that the supply pressure may weigh down on recovery, but greater optimism could provide legs for market momentum.
JLL has been operating in the Philippines about 5.3 million square meters of real estate with a workforce of over 1,200 employees. With more than two decades of local expertise working hand-in-hand with its global legacy, JLL provides to the Philippine real estate market an unparalleled synergy of services with a strong commitment to achieve real estate ambitions through future-ready approaches. For further information, visit www.jll.com.ph
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $19.4 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 100,000 as of March 31, 2022. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.com.


text:
US-based Wahed Inc, an Islamic-finance Fintech firm that’s backed by Saudi Aramco, is reportedly planning to acquire Niyah Ltd, a UK company that operates a digital banking platform for the Muslim community.
Wahed’s management noted that they’re hoping the acquisition will allow them to offer a wider range of products and services. Wahed intends to become a one-stop-shop for Islamic or Shariah law-compliant digital financial services.
The financial terms of the transaction have not been shared publicly.
Founded in 2017, Wahed operates a digital investment management platform in the US. The platform ensures that its asset portfolio doesn’t include investments in businesses that are not permitted in Islam (firearms, gambling, alcohol, and several other activities).
The deal should allow Wahed to offer more interest-free financial products, like digital bank accounts and debit cards in the United Kingdom and in other jurisdictions.
This announcement arrives as many more tech-focused firms try to take advantage of the growing demand for financial products intended for the Muslim community. Notably, Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Ventures has invested $25 million into Wahed’s operations.
Islamic or Shariah law prohibits companies or businesses from charging interest. In order to make digital banking Shariah-compliant, Wahed will let clients hold minimum amounts of their funds in cash so that deposits can’t be used for lending. The company says it will invest the remaining amount.
Company CEO Junaid Wahedna, said that “all the money you keep with us will be invested according to your preference.”
Waheed, which has over 100,000 customers, aims to focus on addressing the rising demand for ethical financial products from a wider client base (which may include certain non-Muslim communities as well).
Wahedna said that there’s “no reason why we should not broaden out the scope of our reach to everyone.”
Wahedna also mentioned:
“Our vision of creating a parallel financial ecosystem that helps minimise wealth inequality is one step closer as clients will now be able to allow their savings to work for them without partaking in the traditional money lending infrastructure. It’s a perfect fit for us and for our customers.”
He further noted:
“Outside the Islamic world the UK has a long standing reputation as a leading fintech hub and a major centre for Islamic finance. Acquiring Niyah and launching our first banking services here enables us to leverage the opportunities that Britain’s unique financial hub brings, and to tap into a wide and underserved customer base that is receptive to our service offering.”
Ali Abdulkadir, CEO of Niyah, remarked:
“Wahed has an excellent track record for delivering services to an underserved market, and with the support of Railsbank, it can continue to expand its banking offering beyond the UK.”

domain: news


text:
For those who still think the new technology Xiaomi infused into the Mi 5S isn’t innovative, perhaps this recently leaked renders said to be of Xiaomi’s latest technology concept would convince them of Xiaomi’s innovativeness. The concept is that of a Xiaomi bendable smartphone.
The Xiaomi bendable smartphone features a display that looks very stunning with ultra sharp output and if we must say, this sort of display would look very good on the upcoming Xiaomi Mi Note 2. However, it is unrealistic at this point that Xiaomi would release the Mi Note 2 with flexible display, curved display on the expected device is very likely.
Xiaomi isn’t the first to unveil a concept device with flexible display,though, Lenovo, OPPO have done that in the past and very recently, Samsung was revealed to have filed a patent for a foldable display.


text:
Everyone wants a cat-eye view
They made it to style magazines in the sixties after Hollywood actor Audrey Hepburn famously wore them in the romantic comedy, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Now, these retro cat eye frames have made their...fashion and trends Updated: Aug 26, 2012 02:24 IST
They made it to style magazines in the sixties after Hollywood actor Audrey Hepburn famously wore them in the romantic comedy, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Now, these retro cat eye frames have made their way to Indian markets, with many desi celebs such as Sonam Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut and Esha Gupta sporting them.
“There is a rise in the demand of cat eye glasses. We are selling around 3000 pieces every week. Apart from metros, we
are getting business from cities such as Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Lucknow as well,” says Peyush Bansal, CEO of the online optical store lenskart.com, where these frames are priced between Rs 499 and Rs 10,000.
Designer and stylist Pernia Qureshi, who styled actor Sonam Kapoor in films such as Aisha and Thank You, says that the look is indeed in. “These glasses are popular abroad and are finally catching up in India too. There is something sophisticated and feminine about this style… it also has a very retro feel to it,” says Qureshi.
Markets such as Janpath and Sarojini Nagar have cheaper version of the glasses. “I recently bought these frames from Sarojini Nagar for R250,” says 20-year-old student Kriti Bhargava.
WHAT ARE CAT EYE GLASSES?
Thick-rimmed curved glasses that form an arch at the corner of the eye. Due to the feminine design, they are worn mainly by women. They were a rage in the 50s and 60s, with style icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor popularising the trend. Cat eye glasses are available at most eyewear stores across Delhi and are priced anywhere between Rs 350 to Rs 80,000, depending on the brand.
First Published: Aug 25, 2012 19:22 IST


text:
Have a Coke and a frown (US News)
Apartments near BART are affordable, but hard to find (Inside Bay Area)
Lytro chairman to take post as Berkeley professor in 2015 (Re/code)
Artisans set to open studios for holiday season (CoCo Times)
A sweet overview of Berkeley’s candy shops (Eating Berkeley)
Former Berkeley shooting suspect killed in Oakland (Daily Cal)
Berkeleyside publishes thousands of stories a year on the goings-on in Berkeley. We need your financial support to help us continue to produce great stories about the city. It’s easy to become a supporter: Just click here.


text:
Find a Question:
OnePlus X phone may come at a price of $ 270
It was leaked a propaganda statement for phone company OnePlus which has not yet released and carries the name OnePlus X shows that the small phone price could reach US $ 270, and was OnePlus company has emphasized on more than one occasion that it has another phone will announce it before the end of this year, has appeared in the previous period leaks about the phone confirms that he will carry the name OnePlus X.
Although OnePlus work in secret on the second phone for this year, but the Carl My co-founder of the company had previously told the press that OnePlus working on a couple of new products, which will be presented this year.
The Chinese began OnePlus company in September 13, an advertising campaign Choiqih in their accounts on social networks for a new product Luxury without revealing any information concerning him yet.
The Declaration refers to the price of the phone is also assumed in the Chinese market and that the price may be lower in the global market or the US market in particular, especially as the company is trying hard to enter the global market and get recognition outside the Asian market.
Regardless of the cost of the phone and its capabilities, but it is unlikely that the company is gaining OnePlus positive rating in this area, especially after the company this year witnessed at the launch of her pioneering OnePlus 2.
The company has talked a lot about her and the leading killer of the leading phones in 2016, later exposed to many of the criticisms and talk about her phone and launch system calls and delays in the delivery and the lack of devices sold.
Karl was forced to publish an apology on the official forum of the company OnePlus, and noted that the company failed to launch OnePlus 2 well, even though they promised to launch the phone and selling process would be better than the previous phone OnePlus One phone.
Information indicates that the new phone comes from screen measuring 5 inches and accurately 1080 × 1920 pixels with a layer of protection Gorilla Glass Glass Technology ClearForce 3 and to feel the power of pressure on the screen.
The phone works by MediaTek MT6795 processor from Mediatek company eight nuclei, with 2 GB of RAM and an internal storage space of 32 GB, and rear camera accurately with 13-megapixel Sony IMX258 sensor of the camera, and battery 2.450 mAh capacity.
Information indicates that the phone system will work by Oxygen 3.0 factory by OnePlus company and based on the new 6 Marschmilo Android system.
It is assumed that supports rear camera facial recognition technology automatically but lack the Optical Image Stabilized, The phone supports standard IP67 and communication technology NFC and FM radio and provider of technology Infrared IR and speakers in the front covers and interchangeable background.
All information remains uncertain until the company officially releasing this week in a special conference hosted by the Company in the City of London.Viewing:-140
Answer this Question
You must be Logged In to post an Answer.
Not a member yet? Sign Up Now »
Star Points Scale
Earn points for Asking and Answering Questions!


text:
How The New Yorker plans to double its paid circulation to 2 million
The New Yorker belongs to a rare club of publications whose revenue from readers exceeds that of advertisers. Total paid circulation for the highbrow weekly rose 12.3 percent last year to 1.2 million, even as the subscription price grew 20 percent to $120 for the most popular print-digital bundle. Today, readers contribute 65 percent of the revenue. (At The New York Times, reader revenue is 60 percent.)
Based on that growth and the Trump bump, which helped deliver The New Yorker’s biggest month in subscription growth in January 2017, executives at the news and culture weekly and parent Condé Nast believe they can double the number of paying subscribers by 2023.
Other publishers are trying to see how far they can go to get readers to pay for content, with ad revenue flagging. Elsewhere at Condé Nast, Wired just put up a paywall, and Vanity Fair has said it’s planning to. The New Yorker can charge a high price because it has an especially die-hard fan base (and there’s that coveted tote bag), so the lessons of its experience are limited.
“It was scary to think about charging three-figure sums,” said Pam McCarthy, deputy editor of The New Yorker, recalling the decision to raise the price of the bundle to $100 in 2016. “Then, we thought, people in their 20s are paying for Netflix when we were embarking on this increase. And The [New York] Times’ success is encouraging, as well as The Washington Post’s growth. The lesson of the past five years has been not to undervalue ourselves.”
Monica Ray, evp of consumer marketing at Condé Nast, is spearheading the growth strategy with The New Yorker. She sees growth coming mostly from new groups of consumers based on subject interest. Data has shown, for example, there are a lot of readers who seek out The New Yorker for its political and culture coverage. That understanding has helped inform editorial decisions: Helped by the additional circulation revenue, The New Yorker has hired 15 writers for the site in the past year for a total of 40 (a mix of web-only and web-focused staff writers) and plans to add up to 10 more this year, focused on areas like Washington and health. The publication hasn’t cut back, saying the goal is to offer more to readers, as it’s found that the more kinds of content people read, the more willing they are to pay up.
“They’re in a fairly rarified group of publishers that are seeking aggressive growth,” said Michael Silberman, svp of strategy for Piano, which helps publications with reader-pay strategies. “If it were purely digital, that’d be even more impressive. But even print plus digital is impressive because print is shrinking overall.”
The New Yorker has leaned on its nine email newsletters, the biggest of which, the Daily, has more than 1 million subscribers. The publication has also expanded coverage into areas like politics, business and food, and it’s personalized targeting on its site to grow readership and subscriptions. But the most important driver has been the ability to target affinity groups on Facebook and Google using paid posts and paid search keywords to put articles in front of potentially new audiences, Ray said. The New Yorker is discussing the possibility of joining publications that are testing subscription sales on Facebook, but hasn’t committed.
“Those digital channels are what’s opened up The New Yorker,” Ray said. “That’s changed the way we reach consumers.”
Overseas is another growth area that The New Yorker has just started to explore. The magazine is starting, as most U.S. publications do, with the U.K., to be followed by other English-speaking countries. It’s hired Sam Knight, a writer who’s based in London, and does some Facebook targeting of its articles to people in the U.K. But the weekly doesn’t have bureaus overseas, preferring instead to send writers to places they’re covering, and doesn’t tailor its content for other markets.
Advertising is still important to The New Yorker — ad revenue held steady last year — but the growth in paid circulation has become a huge selling point with advertisers, said Chris Mitchell, chief business officer at Condé Nast with responsibility for The New Yorker. “Circulation was always the most boring slide in your deck, and now it’s the thing you lead with,” he said. “It’s nice to have a more balanced business because advertising can be a more cyclical and fickle thing.”
Like other U.S. publications, there are awareness and cost barriers to growing overseas. The New Yorker charges the same subscription price everywhere (overseas subscriptions are less profitable because of shipping costs), but may lower the price, given awareness of the publication isn’t as strong outside the U.S.
While subscribers haven’t resisted price increases so far, it’s hard to know if and when that’ll happen. Ray thinks there’s still room to increase the price further without sacrificing conversion rate, given The New Yorker’s unique editorial and that the magazine has tested cutting back the number of articles people can read for free before hitting the paywall to four from six, and the conversion rate still went up.
“It is all about the editorial stories and being able to find writers who can write the stories that don’t appear anywhere else,” she said. “We do need to show subscribers the value; we always have to come up with different ways to meet different needs for them.”
‘We’re netting out with higher revenue’: Publishers reaping the benefits of Snapchat’s strong second half
With CPMs up as much as 20% year over year in the fourth quarter, many Discover publishers are bullish on the upstart platform for next year.
How Cosmo is building brand affinity with younger audiences through its focus on commerce
Cosmopolitan's focus on e-commerce through a line of branded wines and its own shopping holiday has led to a 254% increase in product sales.
‘Profitability in the back half of next year’: BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti (and Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan) on their big merger
A special Digiday podcast episode features Interviews with BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti and Verizon Media CEO Guru Gowrappan.
SponsoredPublishers will lead the charge as cookie-less advertising becomes the norm
Steve Wing, managing director, EMEA, Magnite As the advertising industry moves closer to a cookieless world — one in which browserless environments including connected TV (CTV) and mobile in-app are an increasingly large part of ad budgets — publishers will have an increasingly important role in developing the future of identity. Segment creation and identity […]
‘People have had permission to experiment’: Pandemic expedites rethink on 9-to-5 work structures
Starting out as a short-term fix to weather the coronavirus storm, employers are seeing work hours outside the traditional 9-to-5 week as a new normal.
‘A digital Madison Square Garden’: How Complex reimagined the sponsorship opportunities for ComplexLand
The online event, which will combine music, conversation, gaming and shopping in an online world, will have 60 sponsors.


text:
There were teaser videos from Mahindra 2 wheelers across the blogs and earlier we had reported of Mahindra 2 wheelers new plans and somewhere we feel that they are set to launch two new bikes which are expected to be christened as Mahindra Cevalo and Mahindra Diablo. Cevalo will be a 125cc bike and Diablo will be a 300cc bike!!!
Mahindra started givind a teaser ad on TV which shows the bikes are being tested in Italy. The 300cc engine of Diablo is coupled to a six speed transmission and power output is expected to be around 25 bhp. Reports say that the Diablo are with inverted front forks and a radiator and the bike looks thorough track tool.
Mahindar Cevalo is a entry level bike comes with Mahindra’s advance technology and latest eye catching features. The bike which has sporty look and with displacement of 125cc, 4 valve, air cooled, fuel injected engine which produces maximum power of 15 bhp.
It has black coloured alloy wheels with single disc brake system which assure to rider a safety ride even on bump roads, stylish short wind sheet has fitted on the front mask. It has semi digital console loaded with techo meter, speedometer, indicators light and gearshift indicator light. Velociti Magazine: Mahindra to launch 125cc and 300cc !! bikes


text:
Home Tags Miami Business
Tag: Miami Business
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Empire License, Inc., owners of a wide variety of trademarks and brands, are proud to announce the launch of their new apparel and more licensing agency, located in Miami, Fla.
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Aclaro, the leading provider and developer of Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain-based technology solutions, announces the launch of their newest Fintech App in conjunction with the opening of a new office in San Francisco, California.
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Answer and control phone calls, text via voice, listen to music, receive notifications and access WhatsApp without the need to take your smartphone out of your pocket, and still be able to hear the world around you. Say hello to Lucyd Loud, the latest technology in smart eyeglasses.
Vertical3 Travel, a boutique agency dedicated to growth of Miami Hospitality and Travel Businesses, launched by Vertical3 Media
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Vertical3 Media, the Miami-based digital advertising and marketing agency, announced today that it is launching a new division, Vertical3 Travel, to boost the already booming hospitality and travel sector in Miami.
For Homes, Businesses and Facilities, New Advanced Mold Prevention Product Line Launched by Miami Mold Specialists
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- South Florida based indoor environmental services and mold removal company, Miami Mold Specialists, releases innovative line of aerosol based mold removal, mold inhibiting, and mold preventative products.
Florida Vacant Property Inspection and Seasonal Service Packages Now Offered by Miami Mold Specialists
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Travelers, rental owners, property management companies, REALTORS, foreclosure companies, banks, property investors, developers, commercial leasing companies can all benefit from Miami Mold Specialists' new vacant property inspection service offering.
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- High Tech and eco-friendly indoor environmental and mold removal service provider, Miami Mold Specialists, nominated by Google My Business for high class services rendered, excellence in community service, and impeccable customer feedback; achieving over five hundred real 5 star reviews in Google's My Business reviews and ratings system.
Miami Mold Specialist Announces Advanced Radon Testing and Radon Mitigation Services Business Division
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Premier South Florida mold removal company, Miami Mold Specialist, diversifies business, adds Radon Testing and Radon Mitigation services to extensive line-up of indoor environmental service offerings. Unbeknownst to most people, radon gas exposure is attributed as one of the top leading causes of lung cancer in the United States.
New Aclaro TrueView is the Blockchain-powered Fintech Solution Set to Revolutionize Lending Risk Analysis
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Aclaro, the leading provider in blockchain-based open platform solutions, recently released its latest A.I. solution. The new tool, Aclaro TrueView is designed to provide automotive and other lenders with a competitive advantage through robust features that save them time, money, and facilitate better lending decisions.
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Aclaro, the leading provider of blockchain based open data platforms and solutions, has announced that it has launched a new Fintech Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution focused on the lending industry. The new solution is Aclaro TrueView(TM). Aclaro aims to equip lenders with the innovative tools needed for competitive advantage with its tech savvy, blockchain based predictive analytics platform that can be utilized without incurring heavy costs.


text:
Gettin’ possessive: Let’s hear it for International Apostrophe Day!
I was excited to have been interviewed by The Washington Post yesterday, and then delighted to have this article by John Kelly published today to mark International Apostrophe Day!
It’s always a good day to celebrate the apostrophe, but Aug. 15 may be the best day: ’Tis International Apostrophe Day, the annual commemoration of a crooked little line that punches above its weight.
Not “it’s” weight, obviously, though that’s just one example of the many ways the apostrophe is misused.
Bob McCalden has seen ’em all. He’s chairman of the Apostrophe Protection Society, which he oversees from his home in the south of England.
“It’s not an important date for people’s calendars, but it’s a way to help remind people that [the apostrophe is] more than just an annoying scribble on a page of text,” Bob told me over Zoom.
And text is what we’re talking about. There’re no apostrophes in spoken English. But written English depends on ’em. Here’s an example that John Richards, the society’s late founder, was fond of, something you might see on a sign outside an apartment building: “Residents’ refuse to be placed in trash cans.”
Take away the apostrophe and you’re left with a very different meaning.
Tuesday will be International Apostrophe Day’s 12th observance since its creation by David Marsh, a copy editor at the Guardian newspaper. And it’s the second since Bob took over the society after the founder’s death in 2021, when Richards was 97.
Bob, 66, isn’t a professional wordsmith. He worked in IT at a large international accountin’ firm. He’s retired now, but for the last 10 years of his career he worked with people for whom English wasn’t their first language. The experience underscored for him the apostrophe’s importance in clear communication.
Some people might blame the collapse of the apostrophe on the smartphone’s rise. Bob’s not one of them. Someone’s text is like a comment in the pub: There’s no need to call the grammar police. (Though Bob’s grown children are careful to double-check their texts to him, he said. “Probably because it’s me.”)
What’s dispiriting to Bob is when a big company gets it wrong on a product, a sign or in its marketing materials.
“That area is possibly getting worse and it shouldn’t be,” he said.
For example, the label on a bottle of sparkling water sold by upmarket food retailer Marks and Spencer thanked customers for “helping to make our beaches and sea’s a safer place to visit.”
If that “sea’s” makes you nauseated, the society might be right for you.
In England they call that the “greengrocer’s apostrophe,” the sort of thing you see in a grocery store where an overeager sign maker has sprayed apostrophes on every plural noun: banana’s, apple’s, pear’s …
When it comes to apostrophe misuse, Bob said, “The majority of issues that I see are where they’ve been erroneously included rather than omitted.”
Bob’s advice: “When in doubt, leave it out.”
Sometimes, though, it’s the opposite problem. Bob saw a painkiller bein’ sold as “childrens ibuprofen.”
“It’s just wrong,” he said. “That shouldn’t slip through.” It should be “children’s ibuprofen.”
Said Bob: “I’m in the process of getting that fixed.”
He’s had success in correcting such errors, including a headline on a Mirror newspaper website story that read “Marks and Spencer to close stores across UK — see if you’re local is on the list.”
Bob’s justifiably proud of the website he built: apostrophe.org.uk. It has a really good section on correct use, reader submissions of erroneous usage, a monthly newsletter, and a store where you can purchase society T-shirts, various grammar books and wines from Australia’s Apostrophe vineyards.
“I have bought a case of that, and it’s very good,” Bob said.
The society’s website notes: “Becoming a member of the Apostrophe Protection Society is easy and doesn’t cost you anything! It does mean that we can proactively send you periodic updates on what’s happening in the world of the apostrophe.” Membership’s currently at about 400.
And what opinions do Bob’s friends hold about his gentle obsession?
“They’re generally amused by it, but very supportive,” he said. “They may think I’m slightly obsessive about the apostrophe, but I think you can be slightly obsessive about something like that and gain people’s full support.”
Go get ’em, Bob! In honor of International Apostrophe Day, I’ve included an apostrophe in every single sentence of this column.


text:
Breast cancer survivor set to reopen popular ice cream shop this Friday
Ivanna Cone owner: “I'm really excited that ice cream tastes like ice cream again to me.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – For 24 years, ice cream shop Ivanna Cone in Haymarket has brought scoops and smiles to the city of Lincoln.
Days before reopening her ice cream shop for the first time since closing in November, Ivanna Cone owner Amy Green reflected on the year that was.
“It was a really powerful year,” Green said. “It started out beautifully.”
The initial beauty of 2020 was short-lived.
In February, Green’s daughter Grace fractured her ankle. A month later, the pandemic forced Ivanna Cone to pivot to a takeout business model.
“Changing everything kind of created more work in a weird sort of way,” Green said. “I was exhausted.”
Green knew something was wrong when that feeling of exhaustion refused to subside. That summer, she learned she had cancer.
“It just wouldn’t go away and finally, I had a blood test taken,” Green said. “Within an hour, my doctor called and sent me to the ER and I had some scans. Later that evening, I was told that I had Stage 4 breast cancer.”
Green tells Channel 8 that cancer took the life of her mother. She says seeing the way her mother struggled did not leave her with much hope in her own fight.
“I didn’t really have a lot of optimism,” she said. “So I was preparing not to be around.”
With the love and support of her family, friends, and a community of Ivanna Cone enthusiasts affectionately known as “Coneheads,” Green was found the strength to fight, one day at a time.
“In a weird sort of way, treatment can deplete you so that you focus on the bare minimum,” she said. “You just don’t have time to really think long term. That might have been one of the most beneficial things: I just kept focusing on each minute versus what’s going to happen next.”
Now, Green says she’s ready to get back to living her dream, serving ice cream to a community she loves.
“The lives and the moments that we get to be part of and touch, we’ve shifted the world,” Green said. “That’s all I really wanted to do when I was growing up is shift the world. Now it’s just out of sweetness.”
Green reports that she currently cancer-free. She says she will have treatments for the indefinite future and scans every three months.
As for her ice cream shop, Ivanna Cone is set to reopen at noon this Friday. Green can’t wait to have a taste of her favorite flavor, Dutch Chocolate.
“I’m really excited that ice cream tastes like ice cream again to me,” she said.


text:
The 2019 Audi Q3 unveiled Wednesday has a face that might look familiar, but only if you've been shopping the high end of the automaker's crossover SUV lineup. That's because the smallest Audi crossover now shares much of its design with the company's new Q8 flagship.
Sergio Marchionne, the man credited with saving post-bankruptcy Chrysler by merging the Detroit automaker with Italian-giant Fiat, died Wednesday. He was 66.
If you think your commute is long, try driving for Waymo… or sitting behind the wheel, rather. The Google-owned autonomous vehicle development company announced that its vehicles have reached 8 million miles on public roads, an average of 25,000 combined miles daily.
2019 Porsche Macan
From Motor Authority:
Like the Cayenne before it, the Macan has been a huge hit for Porsche. It’s the marque’s most popular model, with more than 97,000 delivered in 2017 alone.
The heyday of the Detroit muscle car era certainly was fun while it lasted. But with high insurance premiums, government safety and emission regulations, and the first of the petroleum shortages cut the party short.
Former Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO and Ferrari Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne has succumbed to the complications that arose following recent shoulder surgery at a hospital in Zurich, Switzerland. He was 66.
Gyon electric car brand launches August 8, 2018
From Green Car Reports:
Add one more to the ranks of boutique luxury electric carmakers.
Following a public spat over climate change legislation, oil giant ExxonMobil has pulled its membership from the Koch brothers-backed anti-climate-change lobbying group, American Legislative Exchange Council.
Competition improves the breed. And that’s exactly what the Kia Niro brings to hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Prius Prime.


text:
ALSO READToyota lifts profit outlook on weaker yen prospects Toyota lifts outlook, first-quarter profit falls less than market expected With new Camry, Toyota eyes bigger share of ailing U.S. sedan market Toyota plans truck, possibly SUV production in Mexico after Trump threat Toyota, Intel, others to form auto big data consortium
Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Wednesday said it has increased prices of its products -- Innova, Fortuner, Corolla and Etios -- effective from September 12 across all its dealerships.
According to the company, the decision was prompted by the raise in cess from 2-7 per cent across mid-size to large-size cars and SUVs (sports utility vehicles) as amended by the GST Council.
"Following the ordinance on GST amendment, we have to revise the price of our products in line with the cess hike which may nearly reflect the prices in the pre-GST scenario," said N.
Raja, Director and Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
The company added that prices of "Hybrids" and small cars remains unaffected post the cess hike.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


text:
Excitement is mounting for the Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials, with more than 45,000 people expected to journey to Perthshire for Scotland’s premier equestrian event.
Visitors will travel from across the globe to watch an estimated 1,800 horses compete in the extravaganza, which runs from Thursday until Sunday.
Set against the stunning backdrop of fairytale Blair Castle, attendees will be able to watch a number of events taking place during the four days, including the exciting cross country, Highland pony show, British Show Jumping and Pony Club mounted games.
One of the major highlights of the weekend will be watching international riders competing in the finale of the Event Rider Masters series.
World number one Oliver Townend has seven horses entered for the event while Piggy French has several including Quarrycrest Echo who has just been named in the squad for the World Equestrian Games. She’ll also be competing on Cooley Monsoon, owned by actress Jennifer Saunders, so there might be an opportunity for a bit of star spotting.
The unique Bruadar Country Fair will also be on site, featuring falconry displays, terrier racing, pig racing, a vintage and classic tractor cavalcade, the famous antics of the ducks and dogs in Quack Commandos and the excitement of the Horsepower Cossack stunt show.
The historic grounds will also host a pop-up shopping village foe the duration of the event, with more than 200 stalls catering for all tastes – horsey and non-horsey – with culinary delights, gorgeous home accessories, stylish country clothing and gifts just some of the things on offer.
Whisky lovers can book tickets to an exclusive tasting session with official drinks partner Bruadar, with all proceeds being donated to the chosen charity for this year’s International Horse Trials, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Andrew Bruce Wooton, the general manager at Atholl Estates, said: “The Land Rover Blair Castle International Horse Trials always prove to be an incredible few days, with a wealth of local and international visitors coming together to cheer on talented equestrians.
“Blair Castle is the perfect setting for this prestigious event, with both the venue and the Horse Trials steeped in history.
“The perfect summer day out for families and individuals alike, we look forward to welcoming both participants and visitors to the Estate and would like to wish everyone taking part the best of luck.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of events, added: “The event is a key fixture in our annual calendar of events, helping drive Scotland’s visitor economy by attracting equestrian fans from across the world to our shores.
“With Blair Castle providing the perfect stage for Scotland’s biggest equestrian event, the packed programme of events and activities alongside the trials makes for a great day out.”
Tickets are available online and start at £12. They can also be bought on the day. www.blairhorsetrails.co.uk.


text:
YouTube-based Global Cycling Network is to launch a streaming TV service on February 15th, starting with a roster of 24 feature-length travel documentaries.
By Carlton Reid, Senior Contributor. Forbes. Mon, 08 Feb 2021 08:32:49 -0500.
Wetland methane cycling increased during a rapid global warming event 56 million years ago and could foreshadow changes the methane cycle will experience in the future, according to new research.
Science Daily. Wed, 13 Jan 2021 12:07:19 EST.
Peloton has built a global following for its bike, treadmill and at-home fitness classes. Today's new product introductions and lower prices mean more home workout options.
By Larry Olmsted, Senior Contributor. Forbes. Wed, 09 Sep 2020 07:00:00 -0400.
Air traffic has been steadily recovering since the week of May 18, fueling a broad cyclical rally in industrials and airlines, according to Sheila Kahyaoglu of Jefferies, which has been tracking global flight schedules. ...
CNBC. Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:24:17 GMT.
The coronavirus lockdown has accelerated a digitalisation drive in a global shipping and logistics sector that still routinely delivers many documents by bike messenger in some countries, according to industry leaders.
Reuters. Thu, 28 May 2020 05:25:53 -0400.
DUBLIN, July 25, 2019 -- The "Global Bike Sharing Market: Size, Trends and Forecast (2019-2023)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. ...
PR Newswire. Thu, 25 Jul 2019 11:15:00 +0000.
Global positioning system (GPS) units pick up signals from GPS satellites to calculate the latitude and longitude of the user. Hand-held units are convenient for cyclists, hikers, mountain climbers, and hunters.
The word global is an adjective. Global means (1) involving the entire earth; not limited or provincial in scope, (2) having the shape of a sphere or ball.


text:
This article originally appeared on Forbes.com
Filipinos are natural hoarders because they’re sentimental and like to hold on to everything, says Austin Avila, one of the folks behind Philippine startup Kahon.ph.
But living in places like Metro Manila means that space is at a premium. It’s one of the reasons why demand for affordable and convenient storage solutions is growing, with young professionals and small and medium-sized business owners having to hire reliable local movers and navigate Manila traffic.
Kahon provides an alternative through its web-based storage service that lets consumers manage their belongings virtually without having to drive to a warehouse, rental space or mom and dad’s house, which is where many Filipinos store their stuff.
Established 3 years ago, Kahon (“box” in Tagalog) calls itself a mix of Uber/Grab for storage and Airbnb for warehouses.
The company matches customers with stuff to store (individuals or businesses) with warehouse owners who have space to offer, and Kahon is the middleman that handles all of the packing and transportation.
So when you want to store something, a Kahon team shows up at your place, packs up your stuff, logs the contents, and stores everything with one of its facility partners. Your information is entered into the Kahon system, and you log onto the website to choose items and schedule deliveries.
“We use technology to make our service more accessible, bringing 21st century conveniences to our customers by allowing them to manage their inventory through a personalized online dashboard,” says cofounder Nick Padilla, who calls himself a “space captain.”
He says he was inspired by a similar service in San Francisco.
Padilla is creating an ecosystem that benefits both storage facility owner and customer, whether it be a family looking to do renovations and needs everything cleared out, or a corporation required to keep 10 years worth of physical documents.
Unlike traditional self storage facilities, Kahon charges for the space your stuff takes up, from $4 (200 PHP) per month for a Kahon storage bin to about $15 (750 PHP) per square meter per month.
One drawback to the service is you don't have immediate access to your stored items 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Kahon operates during traditional business hours, not early mornings, late nights, weekends or holidays. So expect to wait at least a couple days before you can receive your items, depending on when you schedule your delivery.
“The real challenge is changing the mindset of the typical Filipino who stores ‘bodega’ style,” Padilla says. “Most of the time our no. 1 competition is their parent's house, and it is a tough battle because how do compete with free?!”
“Our focus now is really on scaling the service across the country, then eventually grow regionally,” Padilla adds. “The really exciting part is scaling as a platform for warehouses and/or traditional storage facilities. They will be the landlords and we will be the service providers for the customers.”


text:
In a preliminary ruling, the US International Trade Commission has again found that Apple's iPhone did not infringe
on a Motorola patent regarding proximity sensors, another win for the Cupertino company in a string
of almost-exclusively favorable
ITC rulings. Judge Thomas Pender ruled again that the Motorola patent, now owned by Google, is invalid. The ruling came as a part of an appeal against his earlier August decision
, which covered both the sensor patent and several 3G-related ones. The ruling is preliminary, and will be reviewed by a full panel.


text:
Its not been long when Lenovo-owned Motorola has launched its Moto M in the Indian smartphone market, but reports are started surfacing on the Internet suggesting that the company has confirmed that the device will be soon updated to the latest Android flavour, Nougat. Out-of-the-box the handset comes running on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS.
With the new OS, the phone will be backed by an improved battery-saving mode alongside the options of upgraded notifications, tweaked Doze, multi-window, and in-line replies.
Coming to specs, the Moto M comes with a fingerprint scanner at back and waterproof metallic body design, the mid-range smartphone Moto M sports a 5.5-inch full-HD screen mated on 1080×1920 pixels display resolution. It is powered by a 2.2GHz MediaTek Helio P15 octa-core processor coupled with 4GB of RAM alongside a massive 32GB of native storage that could be expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card. The dual-SIM smartphone features hybrid SIM slot which means it supports a Micro-SIM or microSD card in the second SIM slot.
The smartphone is backed by a non-removable 3050mAh battery. In the optical part, the phone is packed with a 16-megapixel rear camera accompanying dual-LED flash, an f/2.0 aperture and PDAF together with an 8-megapixel front snapper for selfie and video chat. In the commercial listing, Motorola reveals the Moto M is enriched with a twofold layer of nano-coating which will shield it from the split, dribble and splashes.
The smartphone also comes featured with 4G with VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C (USB 3.1), NFC, and 3.5mm connectivity options.
Talking about the prices the Moto M comes in two variants, one with a price tag of Rs. 15,999, which features a 3GB RAM with 32GB of storage, while, the another is priced at Rs. 17,999 which offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It is available for purchase now exclusively through Flipkart.


text:
Jump to navigation
Call of Duty
Brands lend a hand to help veterans in their life after service.
Getting your employees on board with a healthy-lifestyle mindset goes a long way in the fight against obesity.
IFA Honors Foodservice Businesses and Charities
The International Franchise Association's (IFA) Franchise Education & Research Foundation announced Tuesday the winners of its second annual Franc...
Edible Arrangements CEO Launches Tech Company
Tariq Farid, founder and CEO of Edible Arrangements, announced that he is launching a new technology company, Naranga, offering software solutions des...
Edible Arrangements Crafts Bouquet for 'Taste of Home'
Edible Arrangements announced it has created a fruit arrangement exclusively for Taste of Home, the world’s largest food and entertaining magazine.
Edible Arrangements to Adopt New Employee Education
Edible Arrangements announced Thursday that it has partnered with the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe training program.
Edible Arrangements Selects DTT as Security Provider
DTT announced a partnership with multi-unit Edible Arrangements franchisee, Dennis A. Jolicoeur, with Lauden Corporation.
Edible Arrangements Debuts Apple Fruit Truffles
Edible Arrangements, the fresh fruit arrangements purveyor, announced the addition of a new line of signature chocolate dipped Apple Fruit Truffles.
Edible Arrangements Targets Guests on the Go
Edible Arrangements is making it easier than ever for guests to enjoy their fresh fruit treats, chocolate dipped fruits, and premium fresh fruit bouqu...
Edible Arrangements Adds New Faces to Its E-Commerce Team
Edible Arrangements announced three new additions to its e-commerce team to support the company’s online and social media expansion efforts. ...
Edible Arrangements Debuts 6 New Fresh Fruit Bouquets
Edible Arrangements wants everyone to have a chance to “Make Today a Little Sweeter” with the launch of its new collection featuring six personal-size...
Edible Arrangement Readies for Corporate Staff Expansion
While the economy continues to take baby steps toward recovery, it’s full speed ahead when it comes to growth at Edible Arrangements International. ...
Subscribe to QSR
Health & Wellness
Back of House
In the Store
START TO FINISH: WHAT INSPIRES EXECS
Food & Beverage
Ingredients & Dayparts
Marc Halperin: Resident F&B Expert
Find a Supplier
Culver's Gives $250K to Aid Agricultural Education Center
16 Handles Launches Cookie Butter Flavor
McAlister’s Deli Giving Away Club Sandwiches Next Week
How Starbucks is Fixing its Ultra-Popular Mobile Business
Is The End Near for Starbucks' Teavana Experiment?
How One Fast Casual Faced the Menu Labeling Rule
Papa John’s, PepsiCo Expand Global Partnership
Smoothie Factory Rolls Out Refreshing New Juice Program
Einstein Bros. Bagels Donates Nearly 2 Million Meals
Arby’s Reports 26th Consecutive Quarter of Growth


text:
Profit warnings are an unpleasant experience for existing shareholders. But for bargain-hunting investors they can offer tempting opportunities if the subsequent fall in the share price seems excessive.
Old hands often say that profit warnings come in threes, however, implying that anyone who considers buying into an apparently cheap stock after a single warning needs to be on their guard.
So when a share falls heavily after a profit warning, how can you tell if it’s a buying opportunity or a signal of more pain to come?
In this column we look at the actions of those professionals with a keen interest in getting it right: either fund managers, preferably with a personal stake in their fund, or the managers of the company concerned.
Today we’ll investigate the profit warning issued last week by a recently listed car dealership chain called Motorpoint.
It was the kind of update that many firms would love to issue: the company, which specialises in selling nearly new vehicles and is Britain’s largest independent dealer, said it expected sales growth for the six months to the end of September to be 11pc.
But this impressive figure was substantially less than the 18pc previously predicted by analysts and as a result the shares lost a quarter of their value.
There are a couple of reasons to think that this particular profit warning may offer an opportunity to buy shares in a quality business on the cheap.
First, and perhaps most significantly, the firm’s senior executives themselves saw the share price fall as a chance to increase their already substantial holdings. Mark Carpenter, the chief executive, bought shares worth £717,600, while the chairman, Mark Morris, bought £358,800 of shares and a non-executive director, David Shelton, spent £717,600.
All paid 138p per share, compared with 167p before the profit warning and 200p at flotation. Mr Carpenter now owns 8.9pc of the £142m company, according to Morningstar, the investment analyst, while Mr Morris has 8.6pc. Mr Shelton owns an even larger stake.
Second, the deterioration in trading seemed to result from an unusual series of causes that will hopefully not be repeated. The firm feared being left with too much stock after the EU referendum, when many expected nervous consumers to hold back on spending, so it cut its profit margins and bought less stock, which hit sales.
But the firm concluded its profits warning on a more optimistic note, saying that the stock position and margins were both improving. It also has a pipeline of potential new sites.
Motorpoint, which began trading in 1998, has been growing steadily. Average annual growth in sales has been 9pc over the past five years, while pre-tax profits have increased by 17pc annually over the same period, and earnings per share by 20pc. The recent fall in the share price puts them on an undemanding price to earnings ratio of 9.7.
There is no dividend yet, although analysts expect one next year. Several respected fund managers hold shares, including Harry Nimmo of Standard Life Investments and Gervais Williams of Miton.
As Motorpoint is a newly listed firm, the reaction of investors to the profit warning was understandable. But there is good reason to think it was overdone. A somewhat risky buy.
Questor says: Speculative buy
Another profit warning that we reported on recently was from Capita (CPI). We advised shareholders to follow the lead of several respected fund managers who held the stock, including Neil Woodford.
At the time Mr Woodford said he would decide on Capita’s future in his portfolio after meeting the management. He has now done so and issued a reassuring update.
“We have met the management and are reassured that the company is already doing some of the things it needs to do in order to restore the business to a healthier growth trajectory,” the update said.
“Although the market is clearly worried about the sustainability of Capita’s dividend and the prospect of a dilutive rights issue, we are confident that the dividend is safe and that an equity issue will not be required. We added slightly to the holding towards the end of the month [September] at a very depressed share price level.”
Recent Questor tips
- Questor: Buy Morrisons in the hope of a dividend treat
- Questor share tip: National Express looks right on schedule
- Questor: Park cash in this Aim-listed storage firm to protect it from inheritance tax
Questor archive: telegraph.co.uk/questor
Contact us: firstname.lastname@example.org


text:
GENEVA -- Dufry, the world's largest duty-free store operator, is set to grow its business in Asia, after winning a five-year contract to run stores in a new station in Hong Kong that is part of a controversial new high-speed railway connection with mainland China.
Under the contract announced on March 26, Dufry will operate duty-frees shops with total floor space of 1,500 sq. meters on both the departure and arrival sides of the West Kowloon terminal for the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, scheduled to be fully operational by the end of this year according a plan by the local government.
The Swiss company pursued the deal on the expectation that demand for duty-free retail services will grow among Asian travelers, especially the Chinese. In addition to airports, Dufry aims to open outlets in train stations, on cruise ships and in other locations in Asia frequented by travelers.
The new stores at the Hong Kong train station represent "another important milestone" in the company's drive to expand in Asia, and "a great opportunity to showcase Dufry's capabilities in the highly competitive market of Hong Kong," said Andrea Belardini, head of Dufry's operations in Asia, the Middle East, Australia and Eastern Europe, in a statement. The stores will sell beauty products, liquor, tobacco, confectionery and fashion accessories, among other things.
Dufry operates more than 2,200 shops in 64 countries and regions under the brands World Duty Free, Hudson and others. It is the world's largest operator of duty-free shops in terms of sales, followed by Lotte of South Korea and DFS of Hong Kong, according to the Moodie Davitt Report, a U.K. journal on the duty-free and travel retail industries.
The new West Kowloon station is part of a 140km express rail link operating between Guangzhou in the south of mainland China and Shenzhen, which is adjacent to Hong Kong. Construction on the Hong Kong side is more than 90% complete. The new railway link is supposed to cut travel time between Hong Kong and Guangzhou roughly in half, to about 50 minutes, bringing an expected rise in tourist and business traffic, though neither of its terminals are located in the central business or commercial districts of the cities.
However, the high-speed railway plan faces staunch opposition from pro-democracy groups, legal bodies and concerned citizens in Hong Kong, as the proposed arrangement will effectively allow mainland authorities to exercise immigration procedures in accordance with mainland laws on Hong Kong soil. The Basic Law, or the mini-constitution of the territory, which was enacted under the principle of "one country, two systems" upon the handover of sovereignty to China from the U.K. in 1997, prohibits the application of mainland laws in Hong Kong, with a few exceptions.
The bill to enable the operation of the new railway link has come under scrutiny in the local legislature, with the Hong Kong Bar Association issuing its latest opposition to it on March 29. In a statement, the association said, "there is nothing in the arguments of the [Hong Kong] government that could provide even an arguable constitutional and legal basis for the bill. The arguments are both wholly unconvincing and unsatisfactory."
Apart from the controversy over the rail link, the business environment for duty-free stores is likely to remain healthy for the time being in light of strong global demand for travel.
Dufry's earnings have been growing steadily. In mid-March, it posted 8.4 billion Swiss francs ($8.73 billion) in sales for 2017, up 7% from the previous year, and an 8% rise in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to 1 billion Swiss francs.
In the business year ended in December, sales from Asia, the Middle East and Australia accounted for 10% of Dufry's total sales. The company divides the global market into five areas, with the one that includes Asia the smallest, suggesting potential for an increased presence in the region.
As more than 90% of Dufry's sales come from stores at airports, the company is opening more outlets beyond airports due to a diversification in how people travel, and the increased risk of airport closures from terror attacks and natural disasters.
In September 2017, Dufry announced it would jointly operate a duty-free store in a shopping mall in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur with a local company, selling products including watches and cosmetics to foreign tourists.
Cruise ships are also attractive duty-free markets, as passengers are often wealthy, and middle-aged or older. The company now operates duty-free shops on 17 cruise ships, including the Norwegian Joy, a large vessel that caters primarily to Chinese tourists. Julian Diaz Gonzalez, chief executive of Dufry, said in a statement in the company's annual report on March 15 that this new arrangement was among "the most relevant ones [in the] expansion of our cruise ship business," as the ship had been "built exclusively for the Chinese market and [was] mainly sailing the Asian seas."
According to industry trade body Cruise Lines International Association, the number of cruise ship passengers has increased steadily in recent years to an estimated 25.8 million in 2017, up 4% from the previous year.
Dufry has built its strong market position through an aggressive strategy of mergers and acquisitions. Describing its future strategy in the annual report, the company said it expected "to capitalize through M&A on such small and mid-sized opportunities that may arise in the future, with a focus on Asia and the Middle East". The management recognized that the travel retail industry remained relatively fragmented, with the top 10 players controlling just over half of the market despite consolidation in recent years.
The challenges facing the industry include the growth of online shopping, and travelers spending less time at airports as check-in and other procedures become streamlined. Duty-free stores may need to respond by expanding their product offerings and incorporating information technology.
Nikkei Asian Review Chief Business News Correspondent Kenji Kawase in Tokyo contributed to this story.


text:
Jan 2, 2020
Espoo, Finland – Jan. 2, 2020 – The Qt Company will share the latest in HMI design and development from January 7-10, 2020 at CES 2020 in Las Vegas, which bills itself as “the global stage for innovation.” Attendees from around the world will see Qt in action through live demos by top global brands like Autodesk, LG Electronics and more. Qt will showcase how it helps organizations deliver a superior user experience and a faster time-to-market with its HMI platform and collaborative designer/developer tools.
Qt’s HMI development platform will take center stage at CES, featuring digital cockpit displays from top global OEMs, as the automotive industry moves toward producing software-defined vehicles at scale. Through a wide range of use cases, Qt will demonstrate several of its new innovations, including:
Several of the world’s leading brands will showcase innovative use cases from industrial automation to consumer electronics. Partner demos in the Qt CES suite will feature:
• LG Electronics: webOS Auto Reference Platform
• Renesas Electronics: Cockpit Reference Solution
• STMicroelectronics: Smart devices with Qt for STM32 family
• NXP: Smart Thermostat on Crossover MCUs
• Autodesk VRED: Immersive Design Experience with Qt
• Open Synergy: Safe Multi-Display Cockpit Controller
• siili_auto: Motorcycle Simulator with Qt
• German Autolabs: Automotive Voice Assistant
The innovative Qt demos will take place at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Suite 2010, on Jan. 7-10, 2020. CES attendees may visit The Qt Company at CES 2020 to connect, collaborate and advance their HMI UI/UX strategies. Walk-ins are welcome, but booking a meeting is recommended to ensure a full tour of the Qt demos and enjoy a completely immersive experience.
For more information and details about Qt’s participation in CES 2020, view the Qt at CES 2020 page.
The Qt Company
About The Qt Company
Qt Group (Nasdaq Helsinki: QTCOM) is a global software company with a strong presence in more than 70 industries and is the leading independent technology behind millions of devices and applications. Qt is used by major global companies and developers worldwide, and the technology enables its customers to deliver exceptional user experiences and advance their digital transformation initiatives. The company's net sales in year 2018 totaled 45,6 MEUR and it employs some 300 people. To learn more, visit http://qt.io.


text:
Fijian travel retailer Tappoo Group is to open a new multi-million TappooCity shopping complex in Lautoka City, Fiji’s second-largest city, which will feature a duty-free offering.
The firm was chosen by the Fijian government following a transparent selection process.
The design of the complex, based on a circular, glazed atrium along with an expansive structure, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
This latest development follows calls for expressions of interest to develop areas around Churchill Park. The deadline for submissions was June 28 2013. Tappoo Group’s submission was considered best-suited for the area by Lautoka City Council, given the need for sustainable economic growth. An investment of around $20m to develop the shopping complex will provide Lautoka residents with a range of products from leading brands and various services.
The project includes the construction of a gateway to Churchill Park adjacent to the proposed shopping complex, five corporate booths and development of car-parks on the East and West sides of the complex.
The new 100,000sq ft. (9,290sq m) TappooCity Lautoka complex will be built along Vitogo Parade and located beside the entrance of Churchill Park when operations commence, It will consist of Tappoo department stores, specialty shops, entertainment, an international food-court and ancillary services such as banks. It will also have a duty-free element, details of which will be revealed in due course.
Construction work will begin shortly and the project is due for completion within 18 months. The Tappoo City Lautoka complex is expected to create approximately 250 jobs during the construction phase and in excess of 300 jobs once operational. Other developments for the company in Lautoka include the expansion of its bottling company, development of a new Tip Top ice-cream factory and creation of the first-ever Tappoo Industrial Park.
Tappoo Group executive director Harnish Tappoo told DFNIonline: “There will be a duty-free offer within the complex which will also cater to the local market and we are very proud and excited to set this benchmark for Fiji. The government has been very supportive and they are very proud of it as well.”
Speaking at the ceremony Bainimarama said: “Anyone who has been fortunate enough to visit TappooCity in Suva knows what it has done for our capital city. It’s not just a world-class shopping experience and a jewel in the retail crown of Suva. It is has done a huge amount to lift the overall tone and image of the capital.
“Now the same standard if not the same size is coming to Lautoka. And every resident of the city and the surrounding area looks forward to the same experience.”
Group chairman Kanti Tappoo (pictured above) added: “We have consistently demonstrated our faith in the Fijian economy, and in the ingenuity and intelligence of the people of Fiji, by devoting every effort to the continued expansion of our operations here.”
Referring to the government’s support of local investors and its forward-thinking policies Tappoo said: “It is this type of forward-thinking that gives us increasing assurance to continue to invest in the country that we proudly call our home.”
The Tappoo Group runs duty-free departures and arrivals stores at Nadi and Nausori international airports and a variety of specialist shops at Nadi airport.
Last year it secured a franchise agreement with UK specialist news, convenience and bookseller WHSmith to introduce the WHSmith brand into resort corners and some of its destination stores.


text:
The market for yearling feeder cattle has stayed quite strong this summer and has appeared to trade without much of a freight basis. For example, 850-pound steers in Nevada are trading at or near the same price as they are in eastern Wyoming. Demand is quite strong for this class of cattle even though cattle feeders are placing them with what seems to be a negative margin.
However, watching the video sales, the calves that are source and age verified, natural and on a weaning and vaccination program are clearly bringing more in some cases, up to $15 more than calves just weaned off the cow and put on the truck.
One thing for certain is that cattle feeders don’t want to feed calves, and especially heifer calves. This past year, the market has sent a clear signal to producers that the top money is in the yearling cattle, and if cow/calf producers are able to hold them over and make yearlings out of them, it will be worth it. With hay and grain costs much lower than a year ago, there could be some opportunities for producers to do just that. With a near non-existent freight basis, it could make that option a bit more attractive, especially if you can cover that basis premium with a contract.
Still, beef consumers hold the trump card for the cattle and beef markets. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be much in the press about the general economy to suggest consumers will be running back to the meat case soon. The hog industry asked USDA for some help last week, wanting them to immediately purchase $50 million in pork products for the various food programs they administer. They also asked them to drop another $200 million on other programs to help hog producers. Ag. Secretary Tom Vilsack said USDA wouldn’t have the money to help pork producers clear excess inventory until the next fiscal year, which starts in October.
Perhaps it´s not so odd that the feds can find $3-4 billion to help the auto industry, but not a couple hundred million bucks to help pork producers. But, all that would do is put more pork on the market and lower the price of all meats. USDA did come up with an idea to help dairy and hog producers with some loan modifications, more than likely with Farm Credit loans only. I would have to imagine that there are a few cattle feeders that would like to have some loan modifications as well. It’s ironic to think that meat supplies are too large when every meat segment has cut back on production a minimum of 2 percent. The beef herd is at a multi-decade low which is leading many to think that beef supplies are in good order. With a smaller cattle supply, we have processed over a million fewer cattle than a year ago. The export markets have been another slow spot for meat producers. The H1N1 “swine flu” craze cost the pork industry a lot of their export markets.
Now, all that excess product must be consumed in the U.S. The industry has been processing over 2 million hogs a week and carcass weights have been going up. They reached a new record slaughter last week with 2.24 million hogs going through processing plants, showing us that they won’t be cutting pork supplies any time soon. Sow liquidation has been pretty poor and needs to be accelerated to get their supply situation in order. Sow slaughter is 11 percent below last year’s level when it should be up 11 percent to adjust to pork demand.
The dairy industry started another cow buyout last week, clearing another 85,000 dairy cows. It looks like the Cooperatives Working Together may continue to buy out dairy cows as their cash flow permits. It could be a few more months before the dairy guys get their inventory problems straightened out. But the up side for beef producers is much lower hay and feed costs as supplies increase.
If we can get pork supplies cleared out, the dairy buyouts complete, meat exports back on track, and a bit more consumer confidence, the beef industry will find some better days ahead. I wouldn’t expect to see all this happen in the next 120 days. But, let’s assume all this did happen, this fed cattle market could turn around pretty fast. — PETE CROW


text:
MSC has rejected any accusation of impropriety. File Image / Pixabay
Container line MSC has responded to the lawsuit filed against it by a furniture company in the US, saying it does not recognise the allegations made in it.
It was reported earlier this week that MCS Industries had filed a lawsuit with the Federal Maritime Commission late last month claiming violations of the 1984 US Shipping Act, and was suing Cosco and MSC for $600,000, arguing they have 'unjustly and unreasonably exploited customers' and manipulated the spot container freight market.
"MSC received no formal complaint by MCS Industries in advance of the filing, or in relation to the subsequent accusations made in the media, many of which remain vague and unsubstantiated and are incorrectly targeted at MSC," MSC said in an emailed statement on Thursday.
"While MSC is still studying some of the contents of this particular complaint, the company does not recognise the alleged shortcomings in booking the cargo allocations provided for this shipper.
"Furthermore, MSC is not illegitimately selling space allotted to MCS Industries under its service contracts to other shippers.
"MSC also rejects the accusation of collusion between carriers put forward in the complaint.
"MSC and the shipping line COSCO are not in the same container-carrying alliance and as such have no operational cooperation by way of Vessel Sharing Agreement (VSA) or Slot Charter Agreement (SCA) anywhere in the world."
Container freight rates have surged over the past two years, leaving shippers with much larger transportation bills than expected at a time of economic uncertainty. The Federal Maritime Commission has said it is investigating the issue.


text:
- Subscribe NowLimited Time Offer
Apple fined again by Beijing court
- Staff San Francisco Business Times
A court in Beijing has ordered Apple Inc. to pay 1.03 million yuan (about $165,000) to eight writers and two companies who claim that unlicensed copies of their work were distributed by Apple online.
The group had sought 10 million yuan in damages, saying that software available through Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) app store contained copies of their books.
Apple is appealing a separate ruling from the same court made recently that ordered it to pay 520,000 yuan to a Chinese encyclopedia publisher for alleged copyright infringements.
Read more at the Wall Street Journal.
Recruiting Research and Sourcing Associate Waldron | San Francisco, CA
Manager, Cloud Solutions Practice Armanino, LLP |
Loan Officer Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC | Concord, CA
Chief Clinical Officer - Kindred Hospital San Francisco Bay Area - San Leandro, CA Kindred Healthcare | San Leandro, CA
Mobile Developer Nelson | Redwood City, CA
- Most popular
- Photos: Thousands still without power in wake of Bay Area superstorm
- Exclusive: Tishman Speyer plans two more residential towers in SoMa
- Raiders view San Antonio as a viable NFL market, Texas official says
- Is the deck stacked against modular housing, the Bay Area’s latest
- InterContinental scoops up Kimpton Hotels for $430 million
- Fireman's Fund flames out: Parent company seeks to retire famous brand
- First look: How Kilroy is trying to make Mission Bay hip
- Photos: Thousands march in Oakland, S.F. to protest police brutality
- How the architect of the Warriors arena is pitching the new design
- Former Onyx CEO Tony Coles leads East Coast biotech startup
A look at the day's business stories from media outlets around San Francisco


text:
More Warnings Against Coronavirus Scams
As stay-at-home measures were introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several scams and cybersecurity risks emerged as more people began spending more time on digital devices. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) notes that cyber criminals are targeting companies and individuals with scams involving vaccines and treatment, shopping, charities, phishing and malware, apps, investments, and vulnerable populations.
Like many regulators in recent weeks, the Utah Insurance Department has been alerting consumers to various COVID-19 related scams, including fraud aimed at Americans’ economic stimulus dollars. Utah insurance regulators also have been concerned with COVID-19 fraud aimed at seniors. To that end, the Utah Insurance Department recently showcased tips from the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, such as never responding to robocalls, unknown texts, emails, or door-to-door solicitors; avoiding “free” COVID-19 tests, vaccines, supplies, or treatments; and verifying any requests for Medicare or Medicaid information before responding


text:
The Victorian Coalition Government will boost rebates on water-efficient products, making them available to all households from July 1, with up to $1,000 being available towards the installation of rainwater tanks, said Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.
“The Coalition Government was delivering on a key election commitment by doubling funding for rebates on water-efficient products to $40 million over the next four years and in the face of rising utility prices I welcome another initiative to assist rural households.”
“Following years of drought in the East Gippsland region, we have come to learn how precious our water supplies are and the need to be smarter with our water consumption and indentify solutions for better managing the water we have.
“Those households who install a rainwater tank or purchase water efficient appliances will make great savings, with up to $1000 being available to those households who install rainwater tanks that are designed and manufactured to Australian standards and are connected to a house’s toilet and laundry.
“For the first time, rebates for water-efficient products will also be made available to help all Victorians, including those on non-reticulated systems, to become more water conscious and efficient throughout their homes and gardens.
“A rebate of $200 will be introduced for the first time on the cost of pool covers and the Coalition Government had also made rebates available on a new range of appliances including $150 rebate towards washing machines, one of the biggest water users in homes,” said Mr Bull.
For more information about what rebates are available under the “Living Victoria Water Rebate Program”, contact your local water authority or visit www.water.vic.gov.au/rebates.


text:
Home-grown chef-led QSR concept Max’s All About Chicken, which operates four outlets across Dubai and Sharjah, is aiming to triple that figure in the UAE by 2020. The brand, conceptualised by Foodmark – part of Landmark Group – in Dubai and Max’s Group Inc., opened two more outlets in Mall of the Emirates and Sahara Center this summer.
“Since we opened our first Max’s All About Chicken outlet in City Centre Deira in 2016, we haven’t looked back. The brand identity has been clearly defined and our product range expanded to reflect varied audiences and changing palates and we will continue to innovate as we drive the brand’s growth across the UAE,” said Rakshak Puri, head of operations – casual dining & QSR, Foodmark. “Add to this the value we promise and you have a winning combination. Sales remain buoyant in all outlets. Our aim is to sustain this momentum here in the UAE and use it to buoy our expansion.”
With the successful roll out of the brand in the UAE, Max’s Group Inc. has plans to take the brand to other markets as well.
As the name suggests, Max’s All About Chicken is a chef-led concept specialising in 24-hour marinated, char-grilled chicken.
“When you take the world’s most popular protein and add authentic flavours made with the best ingredients, you can’t go wrong. Great food, great service and value for money all in one place is what makes Max’s All About Chicken a popular choice for diners of all ages,” added Enrique Suarez Jr., executive chef for Foodmark, Landmark Group.
For added convenience, Max’s All About Chicken also offers delivery and take-out directly from the outlets in City Centre Deira, Ibn Batutta Mall and Sahara Centre. It is also available on all major delivery platforms including Talabat, Zomato, UberEats, Deliveroo, Careem.
According to a report by the United Nations, the fashion industry accountsFebruary 18, 2021 | By Shruthi Nair
The jewellery making industry has been under tremendous scrutiny over the yearsFebruary 11, 2021 | By Shruthi Nair
UAE-based Carrefour will become the first retailer in the region to offer new levels
The Organic Farmers’ Market is back in Bay Avenue for its 12th
UAE-based Lulu Group recently inaugurated its first-ever all-female staff store in Jeddah,
Jones the Grocer, the gourmet grocer and cheese retailer launches the Jones
UAE-based Al Maya Supermarkets is hosting a two-week food festival at select
Locally-owned supermarket Spinneys has launched its ‘Power of Plants’ initiative in the
Carrefour UAE has launched “Cookit Yourself” — a curated recipe box created
UAE-based Al Islami Foods, one of the largest frozen food companies in
Marks & Spencer’s plant-based range now offers over 25 vegan products including meat-free
World’s largest fully integrated online brand in fresh fish and meat e-commerce
Homegrown, organic and plant milk company, Koita has announced its expansion into
Dubai-based Thai street food and tea bar restaurant, Cafe Isan is launching
Sunset Hospitality Group is stepping into 2021 with optimism and a load
In a virtual webinar held to announce the launch of Noon Food,
Tighter restrictions on hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment venues on account of
Walid Hajj and Fahad Alhokair, have officially launched the region’s first hybrid,
Dubai announced the suspension of entertainment activities at restaurants and hotels last
All hotels and restaurants have been directed to temporarily hold entertainment activities
The new Dubai Gold Souk is “very much on track”, according to
Gone are the days of traditional brick-and-mortar as well as purely e-commerce
The Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group’s ongoing jewellery campaign, held in association
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)


text:
Facebook-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp and telecom operator Jio plan to work with 30 million corner stores across India to help them transact digitally with customers in their neighbourhood. The companies will then extend the digital payment service to farmers, teachers, students and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The move will help WhatsApp directly take on established players Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm, possibly even dominating the sector. WhatsApp has more than 400 million users in India and is waiting for final clearance to launch its WhatsApp Pay service, which is designed to run on the Unified Payments Interface.
WhatsApp has technology and reach, while Jio has huge network among corner stores across India. Other fintech players have spent years building a network of merchants from scratch, something WhatsApp will not have to do. “Both of them combined will constitute a formidable player in the payment space. It will surely make it difficult for other companies to compete,” said Sanjay Khan Nagra, partner, Khaitan & Co.
The combination could potentially be for India what WeChat-WeChat Pay, Alibaba-Alipay are in China, Nagra said. “In the payment space, only a select few are expected to emerge as winners. Pretty sure, this will also lead to some consolidation in the space,” he added.
Read More News on
ETPrime stories of the day
13 mins read
14 mins read
12 mins read


text:
Want more coverage of the World Cup in South Africa instead of those #^%$& vuvuzelas? Tough luck on that one, but Consumer Reports does have a free solution for minimizing their sound. Look for more innovative methods of turing down the volume on vuvuzelas until they are banned. R.C.J.
Here's what Consumer Reports says about turning down the volume on vuvuzelas: Despite calls to ban the vuvuzela, the long plastic trumpet blown by thousands of strong-lunged fans at the World Cup games, the racket they make probably isn't going to diminish on TV broadcasts anytime soon. That’s despite complaints about the horns' incessant buzzing from some high-profile players (who can't communicate over the drone), concerns from health experts (who say the loud blaring may affect hearing loss), and claims by World Cup broadcasters that they've stepped up audio filtering to screen out the vuvuzela racket.
Fortunately, TV viewers who can't stand the noise have a few options, as we cover in this video...
Full Text: http://bit.ly/NextGenLog-cuAK


text:
Here’s the latest roundup from the Business Beat newsletter, published every two months by the City of College Park
College Park Day
College Park Day 2012 will be on Saturday, October 27. If you’re interested in joining the planning committee, email cpdayevents at gmail.com for more information.
Buy Local and Independent Week:
The Mayor and City Council have proclaimed the week of August 12th to 18th as “Buy Local and Independent Week,” which coincides with the State of Maryland’s “Tax Free Week” for clothing and footwear. For this week, the City is encouraging residents to spend their dollars in College Park and particularly with independent businesses. City staff has compiled a list of deals for the week, which can be presented to a participating business by showing a printed certificate or smart phone version. The certificate is available here.
College Park Farmers’ Markets:
Returning for a second year, the Downtown Farmers Market at City Hall is open every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through November and features Miller Farms as the primary vendor. Miller Farms offers a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, while Bill’s Backyard Barbeque serves delicious eats including pulled pork, brisket and salmon. Additional part-time vendors include Heavenly Created Desserts, Honey Glow, and Shearer’s Mountain Veiw Farm.
The College Park Farmers Market at Wells Ice Rink/Linson Swimming Pool is open every Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to Noon through October. The market’s offerings include local produce, baked goods, flowers, and pottery.
A new option this year is The Farmers Market at Maryland, which is open on Wednesdays from Noon to 4:00 p.m. outside Cole Fieldhouse. Offerings include local produce, baked goods, meat products, and eggs among other items.
Shop College Park Website:
The City-run website, Shop College Park, is hosted through a cooperative effort between the City of College Park Department of Planning, Community and Economic Development and local merchants in an effort to market all that College Park has to offer. The website will undergo a redesign and upgrade in the next few months, so if you’d like to offer input on the current site please fill out this brief survey.
August 2012 Business Activity
– College Park Barbers (Rt. 1 & Hartwick Rd, Terrapin Station)
– District Dumpling (Rt. 1 & Hartwick Rd, Terrapin Station)
Offering six types of potstickers along with dumplings and multiple side items, District Dumpling provides numerous options for a quick and casual dining experience under $10. Featured in this Diamondback article.
– Campus Dollar Store (Rt 1 south of Navahoe St, Campus Village)
– Metro SolarMatics (Rt 1, south of Berwyn Rd.)
– Pho D’Lite (Rt 1 south of Navahoe St, Campus Village)
A new venture from the owners of Hanami Japanese Restaurant, Pho D’Lite is a unique Asian fusion concept that provides healthy options focused on Vietnamese soup and Southeast Asian delicacies.
– Lime Fresh Mexican Grill
Opening planned on October 3rd, former location of California Tortilla on Rt. 1. Mexican grill that uses fresh, organic ingredients, with vegetarian, low carb & low fat options. There’s already locations in DC, Clarendon & Pentagon City.
-Vegetarian Restaurant (to be named later):
Lease Signed: going into Terrapin Station.
– Terrapin Turf:
Expected to open in Fall 2012 at former location of Santa Fe Cafe. The operator ran Saloun earlier, a bar featuring jazz, blues, and soul music, in Georgetown for many years until it closed in late 2011. Live music along the lines of Saloun is expected to continue at Terrapin Turf. Previously covered in Patch and the Diamondback.
– Roti Mediterranean Grill
Opening scheduled next week (Aug 22). Ground floor retail in Varsity Apartments. Fast casual chain, offering Mediterranean fare.
– Newaabsaab Kabobs:
Expected to open in Fall 2012. Sharing the same location as Rita’s Italian Ice (8900 Baltimore Ave)
– Johnny’s Carry Out:
Expected to open in Fall 2012, in the Hollywood Shopping Center (by MOM’s & REI).
– Pollo a La Brasa:
Lease signed, going into Hollywood Square (9925 Rhode Island Ave).


text:
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is something of a cult beverage among Starbucks devotees, coming around just once a year for a limited time to spread autumnal cheer among coffee drinkers.
But as the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, something terrible is afoot: Starbucks stores are -- gasp -- running low on the flavored sauce used to concoct the precious potion, all due to sheer demand:
Baristas are hitting the street, searching for stashes of the flavored sauce at other stores. Customers denied their fix—which costs about $4 for a small cup, or "tall" in Starbucks speak—are tweeting about their dismay.
"My world almost ended this morning when the local Starbucks told me they were out of Pumpkin Spice Latte," tweeted Jason Sizemore, 38 years old, of Lexington, Ky.
Cynthia Smalls, a barista at a midtown Manhattan Starbucks, said steamed customers have grown emotional on days her location runs out of pumpkin sauce. "They go crazy. The day we first found out we had a shortage, forget it," she said.
Her own surprised reaction: "You guys do know it's just a drink, right?" she said.
Starbucks officials told the Wall Street Journal there's no actual widespread supply shortage, instead blaming "infrequent deliveries" to stores. In their urgency, some customers have turned to Starbucks' instant version of the drink, but even that can be hard to come by:
Edmond Lorts, a 29-year-old freelance photographer in Austin, Texas, capitalized on demand for the instant treat. He started an eBay auction for a $6.95 box at $15. Within a day, someone picked it up at the buy-it-now price of $17. "I was blown away," he said. "People go nuts for this for some reason."
Ben Neal, 26, a librarian who lives in Bristol, Va., sensed the impending shortage of the instant version, and when his local store received a shipment of 10 boxes, he purchased three. He is rationing the packets, savoring only one or two a week, he said.
For those who've never tried it, the drink is described as tasting like a "sweet, liquid pumpkin pie—heavy on the nutmeg and cinnamon, with a hint of clove" -- though there isn't actually any pumpkin in it. Or, as Neal put it, "It just tastes like fall."
Stay strong, coffee lovers. Hang in there.


text:
Apple supplier GT's bankruptcy filing surprises even Apple
Apple, which partnered with GT Advanced on sapphire goods, says it will continue to work with state and local officials as it considers its next steps.
Ben Fox RubinFormer senior reporter
Ben Fox Rubin was a senior reporter for CNET News in Manhattan, reporting on Amazon, e-commerce and mobile payments. He previously worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and got his start at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
This week's bankruptcy filing of GT Advanced Technologies, a supplier to Apple of scratch-resistant sapphire goods, appears to have caught even Apple by surprise.
Amid speculation about what caused GT's bankruptcy filing, Apple on Wednesday indicated that it didn't see the filing coming and it's figuring out what to do next.
"We are focused on preserving jobs in Arizona following GT's surprising decision and we will continue to work with state and local officials as we consider our next steps," an Apple spokesman said in a statement Wednesday, adding that the company was "proud" to help bring manufacturing jobs to the US.
Apple's comments come after GT on Monday shocked investors and industry watchers by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, claiming an undefined "severe liquidity crisis." The move wiped out nearly all the company's market value, roughly $1.5 billion, in a matter of minutes.
Since then, GT has provided little explanation of what exactly caused that sudden turn of fortune, after the company's stock was riding high just a month ago on predictions (now known to be false) that GT would supply the new displays for the next Apple iPhone smartphone. Some answers could start to be revealed as hearings begin Thursday morning in a US bankruptcy court in New Hampshire.
"Every one of the stakeholders was caught off guard, including the shareholders," said bankruptcy lawyer Peter Tamposi, who represents a Boston construction company owed $500,000 for helping build an expansion at GT's Merrimack, NH, headquarters.
A GT representative didn't respond to a request for comment.
GT Advanced, which has about 1,100 full-time employees, late last year signed a deal to develop artificial sapphire goods for Apple. The deal started GT into a new business of making artificial sapphire, after it was previously only selling the equipment to make the material. Apple agreed to loan GT $578 million to start up a 1.4-million-square-foot facility in Mesa, Ariz., that Apple owns to create sapphire products exclusively for Apple. The final $139 million installment was expected by the end of this month. GT is required to repay that money over five years, starting in 2015, though Apple has the right to accelerate the repayment if GT fails to meet certain obligations.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, said Wednesday that Apple had been working with GT so it could remain solvent. The people also told the publication that Apple hadn't called for repayment of its loans.
Many analysts expected Apple would use the scratch-resistant material for new displays on its next iPhone, but Apple instead revealed last month that it stayed with a glass display for the new iPhone 6, likely sticking with Corning's Gorilla Glass. GT's stock had fallen since that announcement, but took a huge tumble Monday.
Since the bankruptcy filing, some analysts predicted that Apple decided to call in the funds it loaned to GT -- potentially because the sapphire being created wasn't good enough, Apple changed its plans on using sapphire, or GT overpromised and underdelivered on what it could do.
Another view is that GT ran out of money as it tried to build up the Arizona plant. The company in August warned that it was experiencing cost overruns at the facility, which were causing it to post quarterly losses. The firm reported about $45 million in expenses related to the plant in its second quarter -- which caused the company to swing to a loss for the period -- and expected to post another $45 million in similar expenses for the rest of the year, mostly in the third quarter. While this issue wasn't generally seen at the time as a major red flag, it could point to where GT's cash crunch originated.
The company said Monday that as of September 29, it had about $85 million in cash. It's now seeking debtor-in-possession financing, which would provide the company with additional funds. As of June 28, GT said, its assets totaled about $1.5 billion and liabilities totaled about $1.3 billion.
Despite the major setback, several analysts predicted that the bankruptcy filing won't affect next year's launch of the Apple Watch smartwatch, which will use sapphire as a cover in some designs. Apple also uses sapphire for the camera cover and home button on newer models of its iPhone.
"The amount of sapphire needed for the Apple Watch is small, relative to the amount needed for [iPhone] covers, so the industry could easily supply that amount to fabricators," said Andrew Abrams, managing director for JG Capital.


text:
It’s been said millions of times over: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now it seems Americans might finally be getting the message.
The latest round of research from Mintel finds that 69 percent of U.S. consumers who eat breakfast foods during the week consider low-cholesterol or heart-healthy claims to be important when choosing what to eat. Nearly as many (65 percent) regard low-fat and high-fiber as significant health-related attributes when selecting breakfast foods.
Even better news for makers and sellers of breakfast foods: 57 percent of respondents say they would be willing to spend more on better quality prepackaged breakfast foods; 41 percent would like to see more organic options in this category.
Interestingly, the study finds that even those whose tastes run more toward items typically considered less healthy expressed interest in improved options. More than half (52 percent) call for healthy variants of waffles, 48 percent would like to see more health-oriented pancakes mixes and 37 percent are pining for healthier sausages.
Overall, Mintel reports that the breakfast foods category has experienced solid growth of late. Sales increased 20 percent, to $12 billion, between 2007 and 2011, and the market is forecast to grow at an even greater pace over the next five years.
- Welcome to the neighborhood: Maryland retailers show off their state
- Why Americans must tell Congress to keep debit swipe fees in check
- Goodwill of Greater Washington evaluates program, promotion effectiveness with big data
- MailChimp gets real to understand customer experiences and challenges
- Fossil dives into data to fully engage customers