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When Steak 'n Shake announced it planned to open its first restaurant in Fresno, people couldn't wait.
They buzzed about it on social media, stopped by the restaurant daily asking when it would open and formed long lines for opening day March 6, 2017.
A little over a year later and the Kings Canyon Road Steak 'n Shake – and the Del Taco built next to it – are closed.
"We had to close down. We could not get the area to turn out for those brands," said Eric LeVaughn, vice president of San Dimas-based Sater Oil, the company that owns the restaurants, and owns and developed the land they're on in front of the Walmart Supercenter on Kings Canyon Road near Peach Avenue.
The company was losing $60,000 a month by keeping the restaurants open, he said. Both businesses closed May 31st.
Steak 'n Shake's sales were 75 percent below the sales of the next-lowest performing Steak 'n Shake in the state.
"That Del Taco ended up being the slowest Del Taco … in the country," LeVaughn said.
When Steak 'n Shake opened, many people wondered on social media why the owners chose the location they did. The developers likely thought the property on busy Kings Canyon Road and the nearby Walmart would be enough of a draw.
Some people argued that point on Facebook posts, saying that the restaurant would do better if it were in north Fresno.
LeVaughn said something different was at play. "We really believe that California is not familiar enough with Steak 'n Shake and the corporate roll-out is insufficient," he said.
Although people who have been to Steak 'n Shake in other states were quick to sing its praises, that word of mouth wasn't enough. Its fans came, but others unfamiliar with the brand didn't.
Of the 10 Steak 'n Shakes opened in California, four have closed, LeVaughn said.
It's not clear how much the decision to locate in southeast Fresno played a role.
Two of the other Steak 'n Shakes that closed were in densely populated areas like Campbell and Daly City.
And that doesn't explain Del Taco's closure. The area has several other Del Tacos that appear successful. That includes a Clovis Del Taco owned by the same franchisee, Sater Oil, is doing well, he said.
The company still owns the property on Kings Canyon Road and the restaurants, and is looking to either lease the restaurants or sell them.
Steak 'n Shake has more than 500 locations nationwide, most of which are company operated.


text: Original Post by: NorthPoint Pets & Company A few months have passed since the FDA released a report about a potential relationship between grain-free pet foods and Dilated Cardiomyopathy or, DCM. We've all had customers walk through the door with concerns, some even have those same concerns shared with their veterinarian. However, very little research and data are available surrounding this potential relationship, and some within the industry have failed to recognize a greater problem. DCM is just one of many concerns pet owners have to face, along with cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, and allergies just to name a few. The reality is that hyper-focusing on avoiding any one of these can increase the risk for the others.

domain: news


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Twenty years ago, Wendy’s first attempted to break into the UK’s market to rival McDonald's and Burger King, but to no avail. They left the market in 2001 to focus on their domestic North American market. But now they’re back with a vengeance.
The firm is looking to open 400 restaurants across the country, and they hope to create at least 12,000 new job opportunities in the next couple of years. Furthermore, they have decided to opt out of using the heavily criticised zero-hours contracts for their employees.
Expansion into Europe
Their launch in the UK is just the beginning of their expansion plans. After this, they want to conquer Europe as well. They divulged their intentions in a statement saying:
The UK launch will spearhead a European-wide expansion as Wendy's looks to build on strong growth on the other side of the Atlantic, where the brand last year dethroned Burger King to become the No 2 player in the US hamburger market.
Although the firm wants to rival established chains like McDonald's and Burger King, they will remain a relatively small fast food joint given that McDonald's has over 1,300 outlets in the UK. Due to the current circumstances, their expansion will be also slower than anticipated, but they hope that at least their quality and service will beat out the competitors.
First Wendy’s restaurant
The first joint is set to open next month in Reading, and the subsequent restaurants will be in Stratford and Oxford.
For now, most of the menu still remains a mystery but the firm has confirmed that one of their most popular items, Dave’s Burger, will be available to the Brits. Similar to every international food chain, they are planning to customise their menu according to the market, and they will also be adding more vegetarian options.


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Sturgess Motor Group has completed the sale of its Volvo Car UK franchise in Leicester to TMS Motor Group after revealing a pre-tax loss of £1.26 million in its 2018 annual financial results.
Former Sturgess Motor Group chairman Robin Sturgess died peacefully at his home in Rutland more than 60 years after being bitten by a motor racing bug that would help put him on the fast lane to a career in car retail.
Sturgess Motor Group has announced plans to invest in its Jaguar Land Rover and Mazda facilities as it marks its 120th year in business.
Sturgess of Leicester apprentice Will Allen won Outstanding Student – Light Vehicle at this year’s IMI Outstanding Achievers Awards ceremony.
Automotive Management Live: Where franchised and independent dealers will find everything they need to know about operating a modern showroom and service and repair facility fit for the digital age.
When: November 12 2020
Where: Birmingham NEC
Find out what features are in this month's, and future, issues


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That is what Rockmelt’s new browser for the iPad does. The browser, which became available in the App Store Thursday, does not look like a browser at all. Instead, it is full of boxes showing you things you might like from around the Web.
“The Internet is vast,” said Eric Vishria, Rockmelt’s co-founder and chief executive. “We are trying to take the portion of the Internet that is interesting to you and pull it together.”
Rockmelt landed with a splash when it introduced its desktop browser in 2010, in large part because it was founded and financed by Netscape alumni who know a thing or two about browsers. They include Marc Andreessen, Netscape’s co-founder and a Rockmelt investor, and Tim Howes, a Netscape executive and Rockmelt’s co-founder.
Yet it has been slow to get traction. Four million people have downloaded it, the company says, and a few hundred thousand of them use it daily. That is tiny compared with usage of the biggest browsers — Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox. But still, Mr. Vishria said, active users seem to like it, keeping it open seven hours and 15 minutes a day.
The idea was that people need a browser for the social era, with updates from friends and social networks incorporated. The new iPad version goes a step further, filling the blank space in a typical browser with images, posts and articles from around the Web. Browsers should incorporate new visual interfaces on sites like Fab and Pinterest and new ways of communication on sites like Facebook and Twitter, Mr. Vishria said.
“If you think about how we all use the Web today, it’s radically different from 10 years ago,” he said. “But browsers are the same dumb window they were.”
People log in to Rockmelt’s new iPad browser with their Facebook credentials. Over time, Rockmelt learns what people are interested in based on what they click and share, to construct a stream of content, and users can manually add feeds as well. They can save tabs or pages to read later, and those tabs or pages are stored in the cloud for access from another device.
Though it sounds similar to other apps like Flipboard and Zite, Mr. Vishria said it was different because it tapped into the whole Internet and there was a search bar to travel elsewhere on the Web. Other companies, like Google, are also trying to fold social networking information into Web results and show people what it thinks they want before they ask for it.
Still, it is unclear that people want to slap together a browser, social media and their favorite sites. It can be distracting to see an avalanche of content every time you open a browser. And while some people do not even know what a browser is, they have an option to download one different from the one their computer or iPad came with.
That is one reason Rockmelt’s users so far are young people who have grown up online, Mr. Vishria said. Two-thirds are under 25 and 83 percent are under 35.


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A PRACTITIONER is to step down from his part-time role as a finance director to focus his efforts on his firm.
Shane Moloney, a principal at Top 50 firm Shipleys, has also served as FD of Equatorial Mining and Exploration (EME) for more than three years.
In a statement to ISDX (formerly PLUS Market), the mining company said that Moloney wants to commit more time to his professional work – particularly as the EME finance role is set to expand.
“Shane has been with us from the very beginning as a founder member of EME and has helped steer us along a journey lasting more than three challenging years towards what we believe is the breakthrough point,” said chairman Nicholas Nelson.
“In considering a replacement finance director, the board will consider candidates with past experience in African natural resources related companies.”
Last year Shipleys debuted in the top 20 list of auditors with the most stock market clients.
Join Financial Director, Oracle and a host of ‘Fast Data’ experts to discover how financial professionals can help create a Fast Data business
Wolseley is to cut up to 800 UK jobs and close around 80 branches costing the company about £100 million, the plumbing and heating supplier said on Tuesday despite reporting rising sales and profits
GoCompare is to demerge from esure and and be floated on the London Stock Exchange with the aim of boosting growth and performance
Three former Tesco executives, including the former finance director of Tesco UK, have been charged with fraud in relation to a £263m accounting scandal at the supermarket chain


text: According to a report on trade site MCV, two "big-name digital retailers" for the PC market are staring down the barrel of financial ruin, while two major British retailers are reportedly considering a ban on games that include Steam integration. "Publishers don't give a shit, they don't care what happens to the customer. Which is the crucial point, because Steam do," the director of "a fledgling Steam rival" told the site. A fledgling rival, eh? Direct2Drive, perhaps? GamersGate? Impulse, maybe? The criticism of Steam - an online multiplayer platform and digital shopfront run by Half-Life developers Valve - doesn't stop there. "I've fought hard for my customer, and never before have I had to give my customers away. Steam is killing the PC market and it is no wonder digital retailers are failing", the unnamed director continues. "Steam is locking down the market." See, here's where these digital competitors have it wrong. Yes, it's hardly an ideal set of circumstances that a single company is effectively taking over the mainstream PC downloadable market. More competition would be good for everyone. But there's a reason Steam is so dominant: it's the only service that's doing things right. The sooner competing services quit bitching and start putting together comparable platforms where you can shop, play and communicate as easily as you can on Steam, the sooner we'll take their criticisms as something more than just sour grapes. As for the bricks-and-mortar retailers, there are reportedly fears that selling boxed copies of games that include mandatory Steam integration is only going to encourage customers to not only shop online in the future, but shop with Steam, which is a competitor to these own retailer's digital shopfront ambitions. As a result of this, "two major retailers" in the UK are threatening publishers that they will cease stocking games that include such a requirement in any form. Source: Valve Is Killing The PC Market, Apparently I don't think I've actually used anything but Steam to buy games online. The few times I've tried through either EA or another site have been terrible. Steams weekend sales don't help the competition either as I doubt they'd be able to match Steams prices but like the author in the article said, unless the competitors up their game they have nobody to blame but themselves. It is a bit frightening thinking how much of a monopoly Steam seems to have right now but I'm sure if they hiked up their prices and started charging for the service people wouldn't use it and there'd be uproar. Hence why I'm not too bothered about the situation right now.


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Smaller luxury cars are ideal for small families and couples who want to add flash to their lifestyle while still being able to park in town. This October saw strong activity among buyers in the segment who turned to revered German brands as well as U.S. and Japanese upstarts. Here are eight small luxury cars that are selling big across America.
Ford (NYSE:F) has taken a lot of heat for its Lincoln brand, but the luxury division showed some bright spots among American consumers in October. Especially encouraging was the performance of the Lincoln MKZ, which found 2,909 U.S. buyers despite a government shutdown getting in the way.


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“InMobi tracked the locations of hundreds of millions of consumers, including children, without their consent, in many cases totally ignoring consumers’ express privacy preferences,” Jessica Rich, director of the consumer protection bureau at the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said in a statement from the agency on June 22. “This settlement ensures that InMobi will honor consumers’ privacy choices in the future, and will be held accountable for keeping their privacy promises.”
InMobi, which is registered in Singapore has its headquarters in Bengaluru, India, violated the US Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by collecting information from apps that were clearly directed at children, even when it was not authorized to do so, FTC said.”
Apps marketed at kids, getting permissions to the sensor suite and broadcast that back.
Who allows that?


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According to federal officials – hundreds of people, in 37 states, have now gotten sick because of onions contaminated with salmonella. Those onions – imported from Chihuahua, Mexico – are now being recalled. The FDA says there have been 652 reports of illness, and 129 hospitalizations, but no deaths associated with the outbreak.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has identified onions imported by Idaho-based ProSource Inc., as the source of the outbreak.
Those affected onions were sold to restaurants and grocery stores across the country and ProSource Inc. has agreed to recall red, yellow and white onions with any import dates between July 1st and August 27th, 2021.
Alabama and Georgia are among the states affected (AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV)
Anyone experiencing symptoms of salmonella infection, including cramps, fever, and aches, should contact their healthcare provider immediately.


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Blog: Aamir Khan too old for Coke?
Michelle Russell | 28 February 2011
The Coca-Cola Co has become the latest global firm to drop its high profile celebrity brand ambassador in favour of a younger model.
According to The Economic Times, Coca-Cola decided not to renew its brand endorsement contract with Aamir Khan, who has been the face of the brand in India for some ten years. It seems the soft drinks giant is on the lookout for a younger face to connect with the young target market of brand Coke.
Two years ago, PepsiCo made a similar move when it dropped Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, replacing him with a much younger Ranbir Kapoor as the ambassador of brand Pepsi.
While nothing has yet been confirmed, if it is 'young' that Coca-Cola is indeed looking for, how long before we see Justin Bieber as the new face of Coke...?
It seems even 250-year-old Cognac houses want to be like Google these days....
It's not even available on pre-order yet, but Apple's latest piece of kit has already got a breathalyser app....
just-drinks is now closed for the Easter weekend....
Last year was tough for The Coca-Cola Co. So staff in Atlanta won't be pleased to read that Pepsi has overtaken Diet Coke as the no. 2 soda brand in the US. ...
- Is Diageo on the Brink of a Brain Drain?
- SABMiller edges Diageo as beer trumps spirits
- Comment - Heineken's move for Pivovarna Lasko
- Will Keurig Kold come to Coca-Cola Co's Rescue?
- Focus - SABMiller's FY Sales Performance by Region
- Rémy Cointreau eyes recovery after Q4 bounceback
- Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne's So Sauternes
- Bacardi cuts jobs at Global Brands unit
- Carlsberg exec joins Diageo as Africa chief steps
- Diageo targets Millennials with DeLeon ads


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by Shawn L Fitzpatrick
It is now buyers beware as big airlines fully embrace ‘Basic Economy’ fares. As more airlines embrace Basic Economy fares, consumer advocates and some members of Congress argue this new class of fares is simply an attempt to squeeze more money out of travelers at a time when airlines are making already astronomically healthy billion dollar profits.
When Michael Zwirn recently booked tickets for his family of three to travel from Washington, D.C. to Chicago to Boston, he snagged what he thought was a great deal – until he read the fine print. It turned out he’d inadvertently purchased “Basic Economy” tickets on United Airlines, which meant that he got a: 1) Non-refundable ticket with no itinerary changes allowed to his trip 2) Low to no frequent flier miles credit 3) No access to the overhead luggage bins (meaning only bags big enough to fit under your seat) 4) No pre-assigned seats (meaning you can only check in at the airport and only then be assigned your seat) 5) No guarantee a group will be seated together (yes that means even when travelling with your twelve year old) and 6) You will be the last group to board the plane.
Those up until now standard “perks” are now apparently only available from here on out with higher-priced tickets.
For Zwirn, a think-tank program director who travels frequently for work and prides himself on keeping up with the latest in transportation trends, it was an important lesson. “If your first cut is on the basis of price, you have to read very, and I mean Very, carefully,” he said.
Call it the age of “a la carte” flying. What was once exclusively the domain of ultra-low-cost carriers such as Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air is now being embraced by the nation’s biggest carriers. Delta Airlines was the first to experiment with no-frills fares on select flights in 2014. Last year, United and American also followed and adopted the “Basic Economy” model. Now all three big carriers have further expanded thier offerings. Recently United, American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia Air, Finnair and Virgin Atlantic Airways have also started offering Basic Economy Fares on select international flights with no checkin bags allowed. Expect other carriers to follow soon.
Airlines have long worked to differentiate themselves, encouraging loyalty by offering generous perks for frequent fliers and those who can afford to fly first class. But the reality is the vast majority of the nation’s travelers fly infrequently, and for them, price is paramount.
That is part of what has driven the success of bare-bones carriers such as Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air. The airlines say Basic Economy fares are about offering personalized choice. Travelers can pick and choose the options that appeal to them instead of having to pay for things they don’t want or know that they will not use. “Carriers are responding to the increased competition by offering customers a variety of additional amenities, price combinations and service offerings to choose from that meet individual needs, and Basic Economy is an example of that,” said Alison McAfee, spokeswoman for Airlines for America, or A4A, a trade group that represents several of the nation’s largest carriers.
United Airline spokesman Jonathan Guerin said, “It is a competitive product designed to compete with other carriers who offer unbundled product, another opportunity to offer our customers a choice in how they are traveling.” What you get for the price of a Basic Economy ticket varies by airline and in some cases is still evolving. Generally, though, Basic Economy gets you a seat plus space for a tote or bag that could fit under your seat – but not much else. No changes are allowed, and if you don’t fly and use the ticket on your set dates and times, then you lose the money that you paid.
Consumer advocates and some members of Congress argue this new class of fares is simply an attempt to squeeze more money out of travelers at a time when airlines are already making more than healthy profits. “While these Basic Economy fares may seem to the average traveler to be a good deal, in reality they may end up costing you more,” said Florida Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson. Senator Nelson, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, recently released a report that examined all such Basic Economy fares.
In a 2015 earnings call, Glen Hauenstein, now Delta’s president, emphasized that basic economy is not necessarily a lower fare but the lowest fare the airline has available. “We want people to buy the products and services they want, and this is really not about lowering fares but allowing people to select what features that Delta offers they want,” Hauenstein told investors.
Said Sylvester Wellington, of travel agency LastMinuteFlight.com: “I absolutely think this is the new normal. It is kind of sad – things now considered perks used to be given for free and part of the flying experience. Of course the airlines’ taking away of standard perks is now repackaged in a nice way – PR spinning it nicely by calling it “more choice” and “more flexibility” of travel.” But overall, Wellington said, the trend could be a somewhat positive one, possibly opening the door for more people to go out and travel.
Others disagree. “I don’t see an upside, to be honest,” said Zach Honig, editor at large for The Points Guy, a travel advice website. “It’s great for airlines and their shareholders, either from people buying up or paying [extra fees] later, but it is definitely a no-win for customers. The airlines will suggest they have lowered fares, but they have not. They basically are offering the same priced ticket fare as before but with less perks and called it “Basic Economy”. And then renamed the Economy Class ticket fare with perks that they offered before – calling it now Standard Economy but with a higher price.” Presently there are now three distinct classes offered in Economy Coach Class – Basic Economy, Standard Main Cabin Economy and Premium Economy.
It is hard to know how much airlines make, since they are required to report revenue only from ancillary charges such as baggage, cancellation, seat assignment and date change fees. In 2017, U.S. carriers made $2.2 billion on those fees alone.
But there is no denying that “a la carte” flying has proved profitable. According to the report released by Senator Nelson, basic economy fares contributed roughly $20 million in incremental revenue for Delta during the first quarter of 2016 alone. United said it expected adding a no-frills fare option would lead to at least a $200 million in incremental revenue in 2018.
For the larger legacy carriers, the shift to charging for options that were once included in the price of a ticket began nearly a decade ago in 2008, when a spike in fuel prices prompted American Airlines to begin charging baggage fees. Other airlines followed. Airlines soon discovered they could charge for other services – early boarding, meals, pre-assigned seats, extra legroom, premium bulkhead or exit row seats.
Public sentiment has been mixed. “Providing you the option to customize your trip is a good thing, but I also worry that airlines use this as an excuse to give you fewer things for the same price,” said District resident Maggie Brown, 33, who works for a trade association and flies traditional and discount carriers.
R Edward Webber, a 42-year-old realtor from Los Angeles, said that “if it’s cheap enough, it might be worth it.” The shift has made it even more important for travelers to pay attention when booking flights, Webber said. “It does make the process of buying a ticket much more difficult,” he said. “It’s very hard to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples.”
Do note that some third party websites does its best to differentiate between standard economy fares and basic fares, listing for example whether there are extra charges for carry-on bags, advance seating assignments, priority boarding or ticket changes.
A recent search for a round-trip ticket between Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport and Los Angeles International via United yielded three options: a basic economy seat priced at $307, economy at $334 and economy flex (a refundable option) at $457. But the basic economy price did not include the cost for seats with more legroom ($99 to $119 on the outbound flight plus additional $34 to $95 for the return flight), priority boarding and check-in options ($88) or baggage charges ($25 for the first bag, $35 for the second). A passenger flying basic economy on United who brings a large carry-on, in addition to a small personal item like a backpack, will be charged an extra $50 – the standard check-in luggage fee of $25 plus an additional service fee of $25 for checking it at the gate.
A few months ago, Mr. Webber, the realtor from Los Angeles, was headed to D.C. to meet friends. He used Orbitz to check airfares and spotted a cheap ticket on Delta and clicked “purchase.” “I just thought it was a really good deal,” he said. After paying and receiving confirmation of purchase – it was only when he tried to pick his seat that he realized it was a Basic Economy fare. However it wasn’t so bad. On the way to D.C. via Salt Lake, he ended up in a “premium economy” seat toward the front of the plane. But on the trip home he was assigned a middle seat toward the back of the plane. There was less legroom and the seat had less cushion than those closer to the front, he said.
Given his recent experience, however, Mr. Webber said he’d book basic economy again – but only for short trips on short haul domestic flights and if travelling alone. “Fortunately, it worked out great for me,” Webber said, “but I know there are stories where people think they’re getting a great deal and then once they add all the other extra fees, it’s not that great.”
As for Zwirn and his family trip – he ended up rebooking the tickets so he could guarantee his family would be seated all together. The cost was nominal – only about $60 more – so it was worth it for him.
And that is exactly what the airlines are counting on – that given the option, travelers will opt to pay more. The $60 here for four seats together one way and $25 there for one checked in luggage on only one flight – all add up to the airline’s now increasingly hefty bottom line.
“Do not go where the path leads, travel instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” @wbbrjp


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An ad for Gillette’s Venus razor featuring a plus-size model is sparking outrage.
This is 33-year-old Anna O'Brien. Anna is an Instagram model with a huge following on many social media platforms. Fans love her for accepting her body as it is, loving herself, and loving life. The Gillette ad, posted on their Instagram page, features this photo of Anna frolicking in the ocean, with the inspiring message: “Go out there and slay the day.”
In response to body-shamers on social media, the Instagram star spoke out to "Good Morning America." "For a lot of people, all they can see is fat. They don’t see the joy. They don’t see the happiness," O'Brien said.


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Maplin brings 3D printing to the high-street
We’ve reported on 3D printers before and now we’re going to do it again. This time, we’re introducing you to the Velleman K8200 – a 3D printer that will be sold by Maplin, making the popular electronics store the first UK high-street retailer to sell a 3D printer to the general public.
Up until now, 3D printers have been available for purchase online and have been rather costly. Maplin is breaking this trend and not only selling the Velleman K8200 in select stores, but it’s releasing the nifty gadget with a price tag of only £699.99 (which, if you do your 3D printer research, is rather inexpensive).
The ins and outs
Before your mind runs wild with all sorts of things you’d like to print though, just note that you’d first need to design said items before the printer creates them. So whether it’s a mobile phone case you want to design, or some jewellery, or perhaps an ornament for your mum for next year’s mother’s day…you’d first need to use the digital software that comes with the printer to design it. Your design is then sent to the printer, which gets to work constructing the layers of your object with the PLA (polylactic acid, which is 3mm plastic wire) provided. 5 metres of PLA are provided with the printer, and replacement cartridges cost £29.99 for 1kg and come in different colours such as blue, orange, green, white, black, red, yellow and pink.
With this new 3D printer, you can literally let your imagination run wild within the boundaries of the printer’s print area (being 20 x 20 x 20cm). According to Maplin’s Commercial Director, Oliver Meakin, “Until now, the cost of 3D printers limited their use to the professional market. However, the Velleman K8200 has enabled us to introduce 3D printing to the mass market. We selected this model primarily because it offers high performance printing at an affordable price, making it accessible to our customers.” How long the printer takes to print your creation is dependant on how complex your design is. By way of example Maplin states that printing a smartphone case, for instance, would take roughly 30 minutes.
The Velleman K8200 – which comes as a self-assembly kit and reportedly doesn’t take up much more space than a normal inkjet printer – will be available in certain Maplin stores this week or can be pre-ordered from Maplin online (but currently has a 30 day wait).


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VOV.VN - A statement made by the European Commission (EC) on June 30 officially announced the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), signed on June 30, 2019, will officially come into effective as of August 1.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation have signed an agreement to establish a new Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation.
Squid and octopus exports fell by 21.2% year-on-year in the first five months of the year to US$192 million as demand was hit by COVID-19, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
VOV.VN - Despite the first half of the year seeing Vietnamese export turnover to China only reach a mere US$34.8 billion, equal to a slight fall of 2.2% from the same period last year, the northern neighbour retained its place as the country’s largest import market, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
VOV.VN - Japanese news publication Nikkei Asian Review released an article detailing the EU’s desire for Vietnam to resume international flights once the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) comes into force.
VOV.VN - Cashew export prices experienced a downward trajectory during the first 20 days of June, hovering between US$2.4 and US$3.35 per 0.45 kilo, according to figures released by the Import and Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
VOV.VN - In line with the terms of the European Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the EU will eliminate tariffs on fresh and frozen Vietnamese tuna products once the trade pact comes into effect with a tariff quota of 11,500 tonnes annually for canned tuna.
Legislators adopted a resolution recognising and permitting the enforcement of rulings issued by dispute settlement agencies under the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) with 95.3% of votes in favour, during the ongoing ninth session of the 14th National Assembly in Hanoi on June 18.
VOV.VN - The impending European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is expected to create a range of high-quality FDI flows from Europe to the country, according to Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Italy Nguyen Duc Thanh.
VOV.VN - By mid-May, Vietnamese Tra (Pangasius) exports to the European Union were valued at US$53.4 million, down by nearly 36% compared to the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh and Chairman of the EU Military Committee Gen. Claudio Graziano looked into Vietnam-EU defence cooperation during their teleconferenced talks on June 11.
Vietnam is now ready for implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
VOV.VN - The early implementation of the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) will ultimately contribute to creating long-term stable frameworks that will benefit the prospects of the comprehensive Vietnam-EU co-operation partnership.
VOV.VN - Several of Vietnam's major export sectors such as garments and textiles, footwear, seafood, and fruit and vegetables have been significantly affected by the economic impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with each of these industries recording a double-digit decline over the opening five months of the year.
VOV.VN - The ratification of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) by the National Assembly signifies the start of a new phase in the relationship between Vietnam and the EU, according to the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham).
VOV.VN - With the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) poised to come into force, many believe that it will present more diversified market opportunities for local businesses, therefore helping them to regain growth momentum following the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
VOV.VN - The steady recovery of the Chinese and Japan markets has served to boost the total export of aquatic products in May to nearly US$ 3 billion, representing a 6% fall in comparison to the same period last year, according statistics released by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
The agro-forestry-fishery sector recorded a trade surplus of close to US$3.3 billion in the first five months of 2020, a decline of a mere 2.3% year-on-year.
VOV.VN - Vietnam has recorded a trade surplus of US$1.9 billion during the first five months of the year despite the COVID-19 impact, according to the latest statistics released by the General Statistics Office (GSO) on May 29.
VOV.VN - In their respective current capacity as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), both Vietnam and Indonesia have spoken highly of the EU’s leading role in promoting multilateralism during a UNSC teleconference held on May 28.


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He can be found in magazines and on billboards. Sometimes he is wearing sunglasses and is surrounded by palm trees. Other times he is sporting a tuxedo or a leather jacket. But he always has a cigarette hanging from his lips.
He's the "Smooth Character," the camel that is used by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. to sell Camel cigarettes. Anti-smoking organizations say the "Smooth Character" was deliberately designed to lure teens to start smoking.
"Who responds to cartoon characters? Every American child from 18 months is conditioned to respond to cartoon characters," says Joe Tye, president and founder of Stop Teenage Addiction to Tobacco (STAT), a nationwide organization based in Springfield, Mass.
Anti-smoking experts say the "Smooth Character" is one of countless examples of cigarette advertising that is targeted at the teen market.
Other examples include Magna ads that feature a rebellious-looking male in a leather jacket smoking a cigarette as he sits next to a sports car, and Virginia Slims ads (dubbed "Anorexic Slims" by STAT) that show elongated photographs of slim, sexy models.
"Girls are so diet conscious. Virginia Slims target that feeling," says Myra Wisotzky, executive director of the Lehigh Valley organization, Coalition for a Smoke-Free Valley.
The tobacco industry denies it is targeting minors. "We're adamantly opposed to young people smoking," says Maura Payne, spokesperson for RJR Nabisco Inc., parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco.
Payne says a camel has appeared on Camel packs since 1913. She says the "Smooth Character" was created in 1988 to coincide with the cigarette's 75th birthday.
"He is the pack camel of the '80s and '90s, a modern personification," says Payne, adding that cartoon characters are routinely used to sell adult-oriented products.
Thomas Lauria, assistant to the president of the Tobacco Institute in Washington, D.C., says the public has "misperceived" the tobacco industry's intentions. To clear up the misunderstanding, the tobacco industry recently launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to discourage people under 18 from smoking.
As part of the campaign, the tobacco industry will eliminate cigarette advertising on billboards near schools and will support legislation raising the legal age to buy cigarettes to 18.
The tobacco industry will encourage retailers not to sell to minors and will provide parents with a booklet to help them convince their children not to smoke.
Anti-smokers say the tobacco industry's campaign is nothing more than a smoke screen. "The tobacco industry makes $220 million a year in profits from sales to minors. It spends $3.3 billion a year in advertising. The ($10 million) it is spending on this project is only a drop in the bucket," says Wisotzky.
Lauria says the tobacco industry's concerns are genuine. "It's the least we can do in the midst of all this controversy," he says. Lauria goes on to point out that 40 percent of all smokers don't start the habit until after age 18.
Tye says the tobacco industry is only trying to "freeze the status quo." He explains there is a big legislative push nationwide to limit teen access to cigarettes. Cities like Allentown and Bethlehem are passing laws to ban cigarette vending machines from public places. The legal age to buy cigarettes is already 18 or over in all but 10 states.
Tye says he views the tobacco industry's campaign with suspicion because cigarette companies have shaky records when it comes to living up to their own code of ethics. Just a year ago, Tye got ahold of a letter in which an RJR Nabisco district manager asked his sales force to place special promotions in stores near high schools.
Payne says the memo, which was intercepted before the sales force received it, "was a clear violation of our policy." As a result, the manager was disciplined.
With the tobacco industry clearly having the upper hand when it comes to money, anti-smoking organizations have resorted to aggressive publicity campaigns to draw attention to the problem.
Wisotzky says cigarette advertising is the biggest reason why the number of teen smokers has remained unchanged for the last five years.
"The cigarette companies say kids smoke because of peer pressure. What creates peer pressure? It's a desire for an image. And who creates that image? It's the tobacco industry," says Wisotzky.
As part of the publicity campaign, STAT gives annual "Pied Piper" awards to the ads it says are clearly targeted for teens.
The 1989 winner was a "Smooth Character" ad that, in suggesting ways to get a date, recommended that readers "run into the water, grab someone and drag her back to the shore as if you saved her from drowning." STAT, calling the ad violent and insulting to women, dubbed it the "Beach Rape" ad.
Payne says calling the ad "Beach Rape" is "by far a stretch of the truth." However, she says R.J. Reynolds will never run the ad again and has since established an ad review board to screen future ads.
Teens disagree that advertising is affecting their decision to smoke.
Ann Marie Stefanik, an Allentown Central Catholic High School senior who has never smoked, says, "I opened up a magazine yesterday and for the first time I noticed a cigarette ad."
David, a 16-year-old William Allen High School student who asked that his real name not be used, says teens are more influenced by their friends than advertising.
"Kids smoke what other kids are smoking," David says.


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After spending a year and a half sailing the Asian market, Norwegian Joy is now sailing 5,000 miles to North America to begin her new life.
Built exclusively for the western market, Joy started sailing from Asia in Spring 2017. A year later, Norwegian decided to bring Norwegian Joy to America to sail Alaska cruises alongside Norwegian Bliss.
Norwegian Joy is a Breakaway-plus class ship, making her a sister to Norwegian Escape. However, after the recent $50M dry dock, the ship is more like Norwegian Bliss.
A Massive Dry Dock
Here’s a rundown of what changes were scheduled to take place during the recent dry dock.
- The karaoke rooms on deck six will be replaced by a conference and card room (not to be confused with the chess and card room on the same deck), as well as part of the new photo studio.
- Also on deck six, the current atrium cafe will be replaced with a Starbucks, while the Sakura & Hibiscus (think Korean barbecue) will be replaced with the Teppanyaki found on other NCL ships.
- The VIP casino — which is on a completely different deck than the regular casino — will be replaced by an entertainment venue of some sort.
- Deck seven’s Joy Tea Room will become The Local (the line’s 24/7 restaurant which had been known as O’Sheehan’s until the name-change when Bliss was introduced).
- What had been The Grand Tea Room on deck eight will become the District Brew House, while Le Cave will be renamed The Cellars. Some of the high-end shopping outlets currently occupying this deck will be cleared out to make room for the Sugarcane Mojito Bar and the photo gallery.
- Neptune’s Seafood Restaurant, currently across from Cagney’s on deck eight, will become the Mexican restaurant, Los Lobos.
- One of the biggest changes will be on deck 15, where the Concierge Lounge and some of the accompanying staterooms will be replaced with the Observation Lounge, which was first introduced on Bliss.
- The Serenity Park, which currently occupies much of deck 16, is gone and replaced with more space for the sun deck, as well as a stage for entertainment.
- The fitness center will be relocated from deck 16 (where it appears the Mandara Spa will expand) to deck 17, replacing the Noodle Bar.
- The biggest change to the Haven will involve the removal of deck 18’s Haven Casino, which will be replaced with the Haven Library (which is on the second level of the Haven Observation Lounge).
- On deck 19, a sun deck which is currently located beyond the go-kart race track will be replaced with mini-golf.
Joy will spend the summer sailing to Alaska from Seattle, and will then reposition to sail Panama Canal voyages between Miami and Los Angeles.


text: EnvironmentScience & Tech Bitcoin climbs as Elon Musk says Tesla 'likely' to accept it again by admin July 22, 2021 written by admin July 22, 2021 The firm had said in May it would no longer accept the cryptocurrency over environmental concerns. Source link 039likely039acceptagainbitcoinclimbsElonlikelyMusktesla 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail admin previous post Biden Predicts F.D.A. Will Give Final Vaccine Approval by the Fall next post The U.S. softball team again needs few runs as it gets win No. 2. Related Articles Take Control of Your Home Screen July 28, 2021 Electric car charging prices 'must be fair' say... July 28, 2021 Ever Feel Your Skin Crawling? Maybe You Can... July 27, 2021 Google’s profits soar as revenue rises 62 percent. July 27, 2021 Microsoft had its most profitable quarter. July 27, 2021 Google Plans To Expand Its Campus — Which... July 27, 2021 Instagram Introduces Changes to Protect Teenagers on Its... July 27, 2021 An Obsession With Secrets – The New York... July 27, 2021 BuzzFeed Is Going Public. Now What for Vox... July 27, 2021 ‘A Wild 15 Months’: Pandemic Spurs Conversion of... July 27, 2021 Leave a Comment Cancel ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment.


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EU finance ministers battled Saturday over a controversial proposal to slap a European tax on US tech giants amid rising worries that it is ineffective and protectionist.
US President Donald Trump called Saturday for Apple to make its products in the US instead of China to avoid suffering the consequences of his trade war with Beijing.
Engineers are deploying a trash collection device to corral plastic litter floating between California and Hawaii in an attempt to clean up the world's largest garbage patch in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.
As facial recognition technology use generates intense scrutiny, a new system unveiled at Washington's Dulles airport is being touted as a "user friendly" way to help ease congestion for air travelers.
Alibaba's charismatic co-founder and chairman Jack Ma plans to retire from the Chinese e-commerce giant on Monday to devote his time to philanthropy focused on education, he told the New York Times in an interview.


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Google is introducing a new label to highlight Black-owned businesses in Google Shopping search results.
This is intended to help shoppers prioritize minority-owned and operated businesses or products when shopping online if they desire.
The search engine originally launched the label in July 2020 to highlight Black-owned businesses in Google My Business pages and local searches.
The label is small and unobtrusive, simply reading “Identifies as Black-owned” when viewing a company’s Google My Business or Google Shopping listings. You can see what it looks like in action below:
Who Can Get The Label
Notably, the label doesn’t appear to require any verification, which may explain the “Identifies as” part of the tag. For the moment, though, the label is only launching in the U.S.
“Starting today, we’re extending the Black-owned attribute to Google’s shopping tab, so people can easily identify and but-from Black-owned businesses on Google … [This] feature will become visible to shoppers and available to all U.S. Google Merchants in coming months.”
How To Add The Label
The process of adding the tag to your own product listings is managed entirely within the Google Merchant Center.
To do so:
- Sign in to your Merchant Center account
- Select the “Tools and Settings” menu in the top-right corner of the page.
- Find the “Business information” page.
- Go to the “About your business tab” and scroll to the “Business identity attributes” section.
- Select the “Identifies as Black-owned” attribute and any others relevant to your business.
- Select “Include my business in promotions for Black-owned businesses” if you would like to be highlighted in pages showcasing Black-owned businesses.
Why Google Is Expanding The Black-Owned Business Label
As the search engine explains in the announcement, over “the past 12 months, Google search interest for ‘Black-owned businesses’ has skyrocketed 600% based on Google Trends data comparing January-December 2019 to January-December 2020. Across the country, people have been looking for ‘Black-owned restaurants,’ ‘Black-owned bookstores,’ ‘Black-owned beauty supply’ and more, which speaks to the diversity within the Black business community.”
Even more, Google says it wants “to make it easier for people to support and spend dollars with the Black businesses they love.”


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Google today introduced a new range of Chrome OS products, including its cheapest Chromebooks to date and a brand new device that can be best described as a computer on a stick.
At $149, the new Haier and Hisense Chromebooks are Google’s most affordable laptops since the company launched the line back in 2012. Previously, the cheapest Chromebook started at $199.
These are the first Chrome OS devices from Haier and Hisense. Both laptops feature 11.6-inch displays, two gigabytes of RAM, 16 gigabytes of storage and promise all-day battery life. They’re also among the first Chrome OS products to be powered by Rockchip processors — a new partner for Google.
The Haier Chromebook 11 will be available from Amazon, while the Hisense Chromebook will be sold through Walmart. Preorders begin today.
Coming later this spring is Google’s first convertible Chromebook for consumers, the Asus Chromebook Flip. Similar to hybrid PCs like the Lenovo Yoga 2 and HP Pavilion x360, it has a 360-degree hinge that allows you to bend its 10.1-inch HD touchscreen all the way back to use the laptop as a tablet.
The Chromebook Flip measures just 0.59 inches thick and weighs less than two pounds. It also uses a Rockchip processor and can be configured with up to 4GB RAM and a 16GB solid-state drive. Pricing starts at $249.
Perhaps the most interesting of the new products is the Asus Chromebit. Packed into a device about the size of a mobile broadband stick is a full Chrome OS computer. You simply plug it into a display via the built-in HDMI port (or you can use an HDMI-to-VGA adapter), and then connect a keyboard or mouse using the integrated USB port or Bluetooth. (Intel introduced a similar device for Windows or Linux in January.)
Google said Asus was able to design such a small computer in part thanks to the Rockchip processor. The chips have been optimized for power consumption and heat dissipation, so the Chromebit should be able to provide all-day battery life and shouldn’t overheat.
The company envisions Chromebit helping consumers, schools and businesses upgrade their old computers with a faster, more modern system on the cheap.
While Asus is still finalizing pricing, Google said it will cost less than $100 and will be available later this summer. The company also expects other device manufacturers to come out with Chromebit models.
In addition to the new hardware, Google will be updating Chrome OS with some new features. One is a more touch-centric user interface built to work with convertible devices. So, for example, whenever you tap in a text field, a virtual keyboard will appear as an input option. In addition, the screen will switch from landscape to portrait mode whenever you rotate the device.
Also, more Android apps will be coming to Chrome OS.
A few months ago, Google launched a program called App Runtime for Chrome that allows Android app developers to port Android apps to Chrome OS. The company has been working with a small number of developers to start, including Evernote, Vine, Viber and Duolingo, but will open up the program to everyone starting today.
Along those lines, Google is working to provide a more seamless experience across its Android and Chrome OS devices. A redesigned app launcher in Chrome OS now brings Google search and Google voice search right to the top, similar to the Android experience. The launcher also incorporates Google Now cards.
Another feature called Smart Lock allows you to log into your Chromebook with your Android phone. Whenever your Chromebook detects your Android phone is nearby, you can simply log into your account by clicking on your profile picture rather than having to type in your password. It works over Bluetooth, and in case your phone gets stolen, you’ll be able to remotely disable the devices.
While there seems to be more merging between Chrome OS and Android, Caesar Sengupta, vice president of product development at Google, said that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to combine the two operating systems.
“Users really don’t care about what code runs underneath,” said Sengupta during a meeting with journalists on Monday afternoon. “What they care about is the overall user experience, and so we’re gradually trying to bring that experience to be seamless across both platforms.”
“When we started out with Chrome OS, we were little nothings compared to the Windows ecosystem … but if Microsoft is reacting to it, that’s fantastic. We love it,” he said. “But the broad argument we’ve always made that’s resonated with users is that you can’t just drop prices by dropping specs. Users will see through that. You have to be able to maintain the overall quality and the experience. And that’s what we’ve been focused on.”
In total, Google plans to launch around 10 new Chrome OS devices over the next few months, including models from Dell, HP, Lenovo and LG.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.


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RENO — In a first for the Great Reno Balloon Race, officials are auctioning a ride for two people in the Darth Vader hot air balloon during the 30th anniversary event on Sept. 10. The auction bidding started at $500 and ends at 8 p.m. Monday. The Vader balloon is the most popular, highly photographed and sought after hot air balloon in the world, making the value of the rides priceless.
The Great Reno Balloon Race is the largest free hot-air ballooning event in the nation and 100 percent of the proceeds from this auction will go directly toward 2012 operating expenses. For more information and a link to the auction, visit www.renoballoon.com.


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A common language and strong mobile infrastructure means that the UK is becoming an attractive for US web companies planning on expansion. The past week has seen two major announcements that illustrate this neatly.
First Google announces that London will a major focus for it in the coming months, as it looks specifically at mobile devices and services as a key part of the next phase of its expansion.
Now MySpace announces that its going to be promoting itself more heavily in Europe, beginning with the UK and will be looking at link-ups with "old media" and mobile operators.
Chris DeWolfe, MySpace's co-founder and chief executive said in an interview with the Financial Times that “the United States is so far behind in mobile technology that it may be not as important as it is here [Europe] or in Asia."
There are some fantastic innovators and players in the mobile space in the UK. Looks like the next couple of years are going to be very exciting for all of them.


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The Margaret River Chocolate Company has made what it believes to be the World's Largest Giant Chocolate Freckle to coincide with its 20th Birthday and the production of its 500,000th giant chocolate freckle.
Giant chocolate freckles were one of the first products ever created by the company and they have been a consistent best seller for 20 years since the business began in 1999.
In making the World's Largest Chocolate Freckle the company is giving customers the opportunity to guess its weight and win $1000 worth of chocolate products.
Once the competition is over the giant freckle will be broken into pieces and given out to visitors to the company's two factories in the Swan Valley and Margaret River.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company's co-owner Martin Black said almost 80,000kgs of chocolate had been used to make the company's popular giant freckles over a 20 year period, as well as ten of millions of hundreds and thousands.
He said a substantial trail of hundreds and thousands could be made between Perth and Margaret River using the same quantity.
"We wanted to do something quirky and fun to mark our 20th birthday so a giant, giant freckle was an obvious choice," Mr Black said.
"We're actually having a Festival of Freckles through until the end of the July school holidays featuring some limited edition Ruby Freckles as well as mini freckles of all varieties."
Customers who can't visit the Swan Valley factory to see the giant, giant freckle to guess its weight can enter at the Margaret River factory or Perth city store or alternatively look at it on-line at the company's website www.chocolatefactory.com.au and then enter on-line.
The competition will run until the end of the July school holidays.


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Cable news has been predominately focused on the Charter and Time Warner Cable deal for $79 billion; Will regulators allow it? How is it good and bad for the cable industry? What should consumers expect from their cable providers moving forward? Over the next few days, I will be giving you a look at the good and bad outcomes for both cable and its consumers.
Positives for the Cable Industry
Charter could potentially be seen as a stronger competitor towards Comcast because of its buying power and ability to deliver better rates for customers. There is also the discussion of an “a la carte” model, which again would enable Charter to negotiate their rates and integrate an internet model that customers want. Charter will be closer to Comcast in a customer base situation; Charter will now have 24 million customers, compared to Comcast’s 27 million.
Charter acquiring TWC vs. Comcast
Charter would acquire more than 19 million high-speed Internet customers nationwide, 17.3 million cable TV customers and a growing list of commercial customers with the TWC deal.
The deal values TWC at $195.71 a share, gaining them over 7% of their current stock three days ago, and Charter has risen over 2%. The deal also requires Charter to pay at least $56.7 billion for TWC’s outstanding shares; the value of the deal could increase for TWC if the stakeholders take advantage of the option to receive more cash and less stock.
Customers could potentially see lower prices for cable services because Charter and TWC combined would be in a stronger position to negotiate rates from content providers and equipment manufacturers.
Charter is so confident in the deal’s approval and its benefits for consumers that they included a $2B penalty to TWC if the deal falls through.


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New INSANE $15,000 Tesla House For Sustainable Living!
🔔 Subscribe – https://bit.ly/3myAZOn
Everyone has heard about Tesla revolutionizing the entire transport sector. But you probably haven’t heard how Elon Musk and Tesla are trying to change every aspect of our lives. From putting electric cars in every garage to solar panel roofs on every house, Musk is looking to create products to ensure that our little blue planet doesn’t become a smoking ruin,
In today’s video, our focus isn’t on the Tesla solar roof or Tesla cars. We will be talking about the latest step Elon Musk just took, which is the affordable green homes that Tesla is offering. The first model was just unveiled in California. With $15,000, you could be a landlord without having mortgage fees breathing down your neck. What’s there to know about Tesla’s $15,000 sustainable home? Keep watching to find out.
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#ElonMusk #Tesla #SustainableLiving


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North Central Outdoor Power Cuts Through the Competition
Writer / Matt Keating
Photographer / Jason Graves
Brad Zeck, co-owner of North Central Outdoor Power, says his growing outdoor equipment business started out of his tool shed.
“We started this whole business as just a side deal,” Zeck says. “It was something else we wanted to do to make money. In 2009 we started off selling Dixie Chopper lawn mowers out of that tool shed. I started off small, built the business and just kept going.”
In 2016 Zeck moved the business, which he co-owns with his wife DeDe, to a new location on Elizabeth Street.
“This has been a great spot for us where we have really been able to grow,” Zeck says. “After we moved, we were able to have a lot more new lines of high-quality equipment. I have always been able to achieve more, and grow the business, by offering more equipment. We have the latest and best in outdoor equipment. We have the right mower or compact tractor for both your home and business outdoor needs.”
Zeck notes that customers will likely find what they are looking for.
“Customer satisfaction is everything to us,” Zeck says. “We not only have the great Dixie Chopper mowers, but we also have Kioti compact tractors, and our other lines that include Ferris, Cub Cadet, ECHO and Altoz. We have a wide selection. You will be able to find just what you need.”
Zeck, who previously worked at General Motors, says he is glad he decided to go into business for himself.
“The best part of this business is just taking care of people the right way,” he says. “Do a good, high-quality job, and people will recommend you to their family and friends. We have a lot of repeat business.”
Zeck enjoys having a family business.
“DeDe is the manager and my son Mitch is the service manager,” he says. “They do a great job. We also have an outstanding staff.”
Zeck and his staff make sure customers know their products will be taken care of for years.
“Our service department is incredible,” Zeck says. “The best way to keep a product going is to make sure it gets taken care of for the long run.”
Zeck says some of the best ways to keep your lawn mower going at peak efficiency include mowing with a sharp blade, and mowing in the early morning or early evening, to avoid putting a stress on your grass. This also helps to prevent the person cutting the grass from suffering heat-related problems.
“It also helps to get an oil change and keep away from wet grass that clogs your mower blades,” he says.
Zeck notes that North Central Outdoor Power also offers pickup and delivery when a piece of equipment is being worked on.
“We also offer winter service specials, and storage for equipment that is being used during the cold weather months,” Zeck says.
North Central Outdoor Power is located at 1947 South Elizabeth Street in Kokomo. For more info, call 765-457-1633 or visit northcentraloutdoorpower.com.


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Every year, the Music Industries Association (MIA) get together to celebrate and award the greatest products in the musical instrument industry. The 2012 MIA Awards recently took place at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, London and it was at this event that Korg were awarded "Music Hardware of the Year award"
Korg say "[we] are very proud that our flagship Korg Kronos Workstation won The Future Music, Music Hardware of the Year award. We would like to send our thanks to everyone who voted for us."
In the time since our last news items were posted, Yamaha has added numerous demonstration videos of the brand new CVP-600 Clavinova piano series - played by the fantastic Peter Baartmans. Take a look here!
This has been recorded straight from the new Yamaha CVP-609 piano, sounds brilliant!
A big thank you to James Woodcock for putting this video online. We can expect more media from Yamaha in the very near future.
Once again Yamaha justifies it's position as the largest and leading manufacture of musicial instruments in the world with the launch of the brand new CVP Clavinova piano series.
The CVP range is a versatile combination of the finest Clavinova piano technology with sounds, styles and featues from the market leading Tyros4 and S-Series keyboards.
There are three models in the range, the CVP-601, CVP-605 and CVP-609. The 605 and 609 have an exciting new interface and operating system, with a huge colour touch screen at its heart.
For more information, head ... Read more.
The fourth in a series of articles from The Yamaha Club magazine. Written by Tony Ross this series looks at Yamaha instruments and although first published in 2006 and aimed at Tyros1/2 and 1/2/3000 instruments they still hold a lot of interesting items that apply to the latest instruments. Read more.
Just added to our articles page is a must read newsletter for all interested in Theatre Organs.
See the latest developments in the renewal of the Trocadero Wurli... Read more.


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Google hardware pop-up shop now open in NYC
Google has officially opened a pop-up shop today at 96 Spring St. in New York City, where the company now has its new hardware products on display. Of course, this includes the new Pixel and Pixel XL, Google Home and Daydream View VR headset. While you can wander in to the new shop and play around with the new hardware, this pop-up shop doesn’t actually sell products, it just has them on display. This means you’ll still have to buy items online or from Verizon or Best Buy retail locations.
Coincidentally, though unsurprisingly, today is the day the Pixel and Pixel XL are officially on sale through the online Google Store, Verizon and Best Buy. You can also buy the Daydream View headset and Google Home online if you’re interested.
Interestingly, the pop-up store is in close proximity to one of Apple’s shops at 103 Prince St., though fierce competition between the two titans would be far from happening as Google’s space isn’t actually selling products.
Now that the company has begun to set its pop-up shops in motion, will you be taking the time to visit any of them? Let us know in the comments!


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Swift Managed Services are delighted to announce their recent acquisition of Dolphin Communication Solutions Ltd and Aretel Ltd.
In the last decade with the arrival of convergence and the merging of traditional IT and telecoms functions, the majority of businesses are now familiar with the concept of VoIP and unified communications (UC). Indeed more than 30% of small companies and 55% of mid-sized companies plan to deploy some form of unified communications in the next 12 months. However, there is still much confusion over what these technologies offer to modern day businesses and not all are aware of the real commercial benefits and how this technology can help them prosper and grow.
With the groups partnerships in place with Mitel and Microsoft; a true Unified Communications Solution is now available, using Hosted Microsoft Lync & Hosted Mitel without incurring the substantial initial outlay, normally associated with these solutions.
Mark Salvin (pictured), CEO of Swift Managed Services said: “The acquisition is a major development for Swift managed services, we are delighted to be bringing The Diverse Integration Group which consist of Aretel Limited and Dolphin Communication Solutions Ltd into our business. This addition significantly strengthens our unified communications offering and also adds some significant important businesses to our customer base. We are also delighted to be adding a strong engineering team, strong brands like Mitel, Siemens and Panasonic to product portfolio. Swift has a long history of providing quality service and with this acquisition we believe can offer our customers and partners a complete converged solutions.”
Omar Shafiq, COO of Swift Managed Services said: “Through this combination, we have created a unique strategic opportunity by combining both Dolphin Communication Solutions Ltd & Aretel Ltd multiple years of expertise and unparalleled content with Swift Managed Services expansive footprint and product delivery capabilities. We will remain focused on our customers and strengthen and build on our offerings to deliver even greater value.“
Over the next few months Swift Managed Services plans to integrate Aretel Ltd and Dolphin Communication Ltd fully into the business and roll out a comprehensive telephony service portfolio to complement its highly successful fully managed IT, Telecom, Internet and Cloud solutions.
Latest posts by David Dungay (see all)
- Avaya considering $5 billion buy out - March 27, 2019
- Mitel Appoints Graham Bevington as EVP and Chief Sales Officer - April 10, 2015
- Exertis is the New Name for Micro-P - October 24, 2013


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The bike you see here is powered by compressed air, generates no harmful emissions, and – in all likelihood – will never get past the design phase … but what a design! Compressed air cars may be boring, but this things is HOT!Read more
The search for an alternative fuel source other than oil should leave no idea untested. Still, there are some ideas with more potential than others, and some alt-fuel concepts are just plain strange. Compressed air vehicles have been around for around 150 years, but the technology has never caught on with automakers. There’s a reason for that, and it’s called torque, or the lack thereof.Read more
In the race to develop an alternative to petroleum, no stone is going unturned. Some researchers and automakers are even looking into cars powered by compressed air. But a new development could make cars powered by liquid nitrogen feasible, powerful, and cheap to build and fuel. Sounds cool…heh.Read more
The auto industry isn’t in an easy spot these days. First world nations are reaching a critical mass of automobiles, and stringent regulations add weight and cost to cars just as consumers are demanding cheap and fuel efficient vehicles.
But Nissan seems up to the challenge, as their next big move is building a car to sell in developing nations for between $3,000 and $5,000.Read more
It’s happening. Tata is building a car that runs on the very air we breathe. Compressed air has been makingRead more
[social_buttons] In January, Scientific American writers unleashed an ambitious plan to halt global warming, eliminate our dependence on petroleum andRead more


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What you need to know to understand Alexey Navalny, one of Vladimir Putin’s loudest critics
How some North Dakota farmers and two former Cheesecake Factory execs are reinventing casual dining
Campaigns to raise the minimum wage are finally coming to fruition
The Salesforce.com CEO is pushing his fellow tech billionaires into giving back to the city
From the U.S. jobless rate to the ruble to pollution in Beijing, here are 10 key indicators that you'll want to keep an eye on
Irate parents find an "extruding tool" for decorating cakes unsavory
Reward points suffer from inflation, too. Here are three strategies for getting the most out of the points you have, before their value falls
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The Zappos CEO is spending $350 million to build a startup paradise in downtown Las Vegas. It hasn't been all unicorns and butterflies
By Businessweek.com staff
"Salsa has now passed ketchup as America's favorite condiment. Isn't that amazing? You know it's bad when even our vegetables are starting to lose their jobs to Mexico." When Jay Leno spoke these words in his nightly monologue on the Tonight Show in October 2006, it probably made a lot of late-night viewers sit up in bed. Ketchup is as American as cola and baseball, but as the nation has become increasingly weight-conscious and Hispanic culture more mainstream, in hindsight it makes sense. What might come as an even bigger surprise, though, is that sales of mayonnaise—in both total sales and units sold—dwarfs both salsa and ketchup. According to SymphonyIRI Group, a market research firm in Chicago, more than 396,376,100 units of mayo were sold in the 52 weeks to Sept. 5, 2010, generating more than $1.258 billion in sales, compared with 271,312,400 units of salsa for $764,299,900, or 256,891,700 units of ketchup for $481,278,800. That’s a lot of tuna salad.
Click here to see the 25 best-selling condiments in the U.S.


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Two reports illustrate how global 3PL market remains strong
A new report shows that the global third-party logistics market will likely exceed $1.1 trillion in five years.
The report, by the Milwaukee-based supply chain market research firm Armstrong & Associates, shows that the global 3PL market generated just over $800 billion in 2016 and will reach $1.1 trillion in 2022. Global logistics costs were at $8.2 trillion last year; those are expected to surpass $11.1 trillion five years from now.
Armstrong reports that the largest logistics region in the world is Asia-Pacific, which accounts for 39 percent of total global logistics costs and 38 percent of total global 3PL revenues. Its growth rate for both will expand at 8 percent a year through 2022. China is largely responsible for driving logistics demand upward, representing more than $1.7 trillion, followed by Europe and the U.S.
An increase in domestic consumption within Asia-Pacific is shifting services away from export-related activity and toward supporting intraregional ground distribution involving warehousing and distribution as well as cross-border transportation management services. In past years, growth was attributed primarily to outsourcing and offshoring manufacturing from wealthier nations.
Ecommerce is another strong driver. Even though it represents just 5 percent of the market, its growth is outpacing the total market. Armstrong says that its market share will increase to 72 percent of total revenues by 2020.
Armstrong suggests that U.S. firms that don’t operate outside North America should find ways to leverage operational strengths through acquisition, which will help them enlarge their global footprint. Partnering with companies already in the region will help them when navigating languages, cultures, currencies, and other factors involved in foreign markets.
Another 3PL survey, this one from Penn State University released last week, shows that total logistics expenditures as a percentage of sales revenues has increased, reaching 11 percent, up slightly from the previous year. Last year, the percentage of transportation spend managed by 3PLs increased to 55 percent, just 2 percent more from the previous year. The percentage of warehouse spend by shippers managed by 3PLs remained unchanged.
Other highlights include:
- Sixty-one percent of shippers say they are increasing their outsourced logistics services this year, up from 58 percent last year. However, 28 percent of shippers say they plan to insource many of their logistics services, which is slightly higher than the 26 percent the previous year.
- Fifty-three of 3PL users say they are reducing or consolidating the number of 3PLs they use, compared to 47 percent the previous year.
- Nearly all (92 percent) of shippers say that their relationships with 3PLs have been successful.
Are you on the “right side” of consolidation like the majority of respondents in this survey? How has it helped your business? Let us know in the contact form!


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With Windows 10 getting hit with updates from all direction and a great deal of anticipation resting on the Creators Update, Microsoft is also brushing up ol’ Cortana, the Windows personal assistant. The company announced the upcoming availability of brand new features that will target Windows’s digital assistant.
It seems that Cortana will be making appearances in various new tech pieces in 2017, as Microsoft has released an SDK for devices. The SDK will help OEMs develop and assemble tech gear which will use Cortana. Companies interested in developing products based on the device SDK from Microsoft are welcomed to contact the tech giant through an online form. One of these devices is the upcoming smart speaker developed by Harman Kardon.
If you have ever checked out Amazon Echo or Google Home, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this Harman Kardon product. It’s basically the same concept of a digital assistant powered smart speaker which will act as several devices in one. The device is based on the idea of giving vocal commands to the speaker while it can be used as a music station for the entire house.
That’s what you can expect if the product will be similar to Amazon Echo or the Google alternative. However, if it turns out to be something different, we will have to wait until 2017 to find out more. Lips are currently sealed tight in regards to this Microsoft-Harman Kardon collaboration, but we at least know that the device will include Cortana. Microsoft has been looking for ways to improve Cortana and increase her popularity in the tech ecosystem for a long time. It looks like the company might have finally found a solution to get Cortana on Siri’s (Apple’s voice assistant) level.
RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:
- Microsoft Home Hub: New information available about this elusive project
- Windows 10 Build 14986 issues: installation fails, Cortana problems, and more
- Cortana now controls music playback in Windows 10


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Viator in Amer Experience
Industry speculation that Tripadvisor could sell Viator – following Tripadvisor’s announcement that the tours and activities brand would operate independently in January – has been put to rest by Viator president Ben Drew.
Speaking at Arival 360, Drew says, “I think that people were reading into the changes with great imagination, but the reality internally was quite different.
“What we were aiming to do was to separate the teams of the businesses enough to allow both sides to go quickly and to each achieve their different but linked business objectives. This was not a preparation or prelude for a sale, by no means.”
Earlier this year, when Tripadvisor said Viator would operate independently of Tripadvisor Experiences with its own marketing, product and engineering teams, Drew was appointed president of Viator from his previous position of vice president of business development and strategy for rentals and attractions.
Meanwhile Dermot Halpin, who has been president of experiences and vacation rentals, left the company.
At the time, Viator founder Rod Cuthbert said he had been concerned about Tripadvisor’s neglect of the brand since Tripadvisor acquired it in 2014.
Although much has changed in the travel industry since January, Drew emphasizes that the strategy allows Viator to focus on speed and “do the right things for Viator rather than being linked closely with Tripadvisor and having to do that coordination.”
Viator “has its own mission to solve,” Drew says, which is “solving the OTA experiences problem and being the biggest OTA in the [experiences] industry.”
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Drew says Viator has seen an increase in last-minute bookings, with the proportion of last-minute bookings on Viator and Viator “affiliates” like Tripadvisor increasing by 38%.
Viator is also seeing more bookings close to people’s homes, with the proportion of bookings within 500 miles of a home location doubling, as well as an increase in outdoor activities.
The migration to mobile that was happening prior to the pandemic is also continuing, Drew says, adding that the shift to mobile is “very closely linked with this idea of last-minute booking windows.”
— Read on www.phocuswire.com/viator-ends-speculation-of-tripadvisor-sale-talks-quality-strategy-google
Viator in Amer Experience
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The House Regulatory Affairs Committee today unanimously passed a bill proposed by Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam to protect consumers from fraudulent and deceptive charity activities.
“Our proposal will help prevent fraudulent and deceptive organizations from preying on generous Floridians in the name of charitable causes,” said Commissioner Putnam. “Thanks to Rep. Jim Boyd for sponsoring this bill and Rep. Doug Holder and this committee for supporting our effort to strengthen Florida’s network of reputable charities.”
The legislation would:
Ban organizations that have violated certain laws in other states from soliciting funds in Florida.
Prohibit felons from soliciting funds for charity.
Require professional solicitors who operate like telemarketers to provide fingerprints for background checks if they collect sensitive financial information, submit scripts used to conduct solicitations and report the percentage of contributions collected that will be provided to the charity.
Require a charity that receives more than $1 million, but spends less than 25 percent on its cause, to provide detailed information, including board members and family relationships between board members and staff.
Increase fines for fraudulent or deceptive acts in violation of the law.
The legislation, filed as HB 629 and by Sen. Jeff Brandes as SB 638, would also create an interactive online database where consumers can access the information charities will be required to report. Information made available online would include: leadership, location, contact information, financial reports and actions taken by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for violations. With this information, Floridians can make informed decisions when choosing which organizations deserve their support.


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Milk 2.0: How the Dairy Industry Intends to Save Milk
For years, bovine milk sales have been falling steadily
It's been a rough few months for the American milk industry.
Cow milk sales have been falling steadily for years. And its volatile prices — which are determined by an archaic system — squeeze dairy farmers and processors with each swing. The pressures have made it difficult for milk producers and buyers to compete with vertically integrated retailers, such as Kroger, which process milk themselves.
Please select this link to read the complete article from CNN.


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The message has to fit
More and more companies are shifting budgets into social media. This increases the risk that advertising will annoy users.
Ten million viewers for a video about the Mini: about a tenth of them wanted to know more about this BMW model, and 1500 even showed up at the dealer. These are the figures for a BMW social media campaign in Austria. They show that social media works. It’s not without reason that BMW has already shifted a fifth of its advertising budget to Facebook, Instagram & Co.
Don’t overstrain social media
Like the car manufacturer, more and more companies are integrating social media into their advertising planning, while communities and networks are responding to this development with improved ad formats. But the growth of Facebook is stagnating in the USA and Europe. Users are complaining not only about the lack of security of their data in the largest community, but increasingly about the growing flood of advertising as well. “Social media offers many possibilities for personal contact, but companies should not overstrain it; otherwise they will simply be clicked away and lose reach,” warns Max Anzile, Managing Director of the agency Socialmediapiraten in Munich. “Social media requires a strategy and good content.”
Inaccurate data on the success of good targeting
In fact, users ignore banners and display ads and rarely click on them. In the communities, however, marketers are reliably reaching younger consumers in particular. According to market research firm Yougov, 32 million people in Germany currently use Facebook. 30 percent of members under the age of 35 can imagine buying something on Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook, or have already done so. The networks also offer marketers many opportunities to narrow down members according to demographics, regions or even personal criteria, and to address them with advertising.
While targeting on Facebook, Instagram & Co works very well, measurement of success remains inaccurate. All that is available is reach data and figures on how many users shared or commented on a post. Data on the groups of people reached or comparable campaigns are not disclosed by the communities. And external market research organizations do not (yet) collect such data.
Create your own social media goals
Social media specialists therefore recommend defining real turnover, sales, lead and other economic targets for campaigns and then measuring success by the number of contacts or sales actually generated. An approach that makes social media managers sweat: social media is considered the most personal channel to the consumer. According to widespread opinion, this should be reserved for special insights into the company or into products, i.e. for brand image and brand building, and should not be clogged up to promote sales.
Targeting, offer and creation have to fit
“Social media have proven to be an effective way to prepare sales and generate leads,” says Torsten Oppermann, Managing Director of the agency group MSM.digital, in response to these reservations. “However, targeting should be carefully thought through and the message or content should be relevant. Users have significantly higher demands on social media than on conventional media.” In his opinion, the problem is not the economic goals, but the choice of wrong customers and badly made content including photos, videos or posts: “Sales advertising”, Oppermann says, “is boring on social media if the offer does not fit the target group or reaches the wrong customer groups”
Although user numbers on Facebook are stagnating, Instagram and newer communities such as Snapchat and Whatsapp are currently experiencing very strong growth. However, users in all networks pay attention to the quality of the content. On Instagram, the quality and mood of the images and films is particularly relevant; and generally, younger target groups in particular want to gain inspiration for their hobby, life and work in the communities. They are looking for pictures and posts that entertain and amaze them. “It is not economic goals that destroy social media, but a boring implementation of the message,” observes “social media pirate” Anzile. “Companies still underestimate the effort involved in social media and merely serve the channels incidentally and without a strategy.”
Just posting pretty product pictures and a crisp slogan is not enough for advertising on social media. Users here are looking for suggestions and information, and therefore offers, which really benefit them. Therefore, advertising in the social media can be associated with hard economic goals to promote sales or increase turnover. Advertising in the communities, however, should not be a nuisance to users. Companies should carefully define and limit the target groups. And, above all, they should create content that attracts attention, amazes and satisfies.


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COMAG managing director David Garratt is to leave the group after 22 years. The National Magazine Company and CondÃ© Nast, the owners of COMAG, last week announced his impending departure.
Garratt said: “Other horizons beckon; it’s time to check out and undertake some personal reengineering.
COMAG has become a global brand during the past 20 years. I would like to record my thanks to the hundreds of publishing clients, wholesalers and retailers who have supported us.”
Duncan Edwards, managing director of NatMags, said: “David has been an important and influential figure in the news-trade business. He has done a great job, leading COMAG for the benefit of its shareholders and clients over the past 15 years.”
A five-month interregnum is planned to allow time for Garratt’s successor to be appointed.


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PlayStation 5 is currently hard enough for people to get their hands on, with Tekken 8 director Katsuhiro Harada being no exception.
Director of tekken The series revealed that despite making the latest game in the series for consoles, he still can’t get his hands on the PlayStation 5.
Katsuhiro Harada posted a tweet reiterating an amusing conversation he had with Sony and Bandai executives around the official announcement. Tekken 8 for the people. However, the conversation led to Harada admitting that he doesn’t own a PS5 yet, which surprised all parties involved.
RELATED: PlayStation 5 Price Will Increase in Some Countries
Harda’s followers also expressed their disbelief, while others responded in solidarity and acknowledged that they too were struggling to get their hands on one. Some even offered to share their consolation with him. The popular PS5 is notoriously difficult to find, with Sony and other major tech companies still struggling to keep up with demand due to the effects of the global pandemic on production. Scalpers are also a major problem, with retailers buying PS5 consoles in bulk to resell them at exorbitant prices despite efforts by retailers to limit the number each customer can buy to prevent this.
Tekken 8 Bandai is an upcoming fighting game developed and published by Namco Entertainment. This is the 18th main and 10th overall installment in India tekken Chain. The series of 3D fighting games was initially developed for arcades, but versions of several sequels as well as updates and spin-off titles exist for various platforms, including PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS included. Wii U, WonderSwan and Game Boy Advance. The latest addition was revealed at Evo 2022 with a brief teaser showing off gameplay from the Playstation 5.
RELATED: Tekken 8 Goes for a High Kick with a Glorious Reveal Trailer
PS5 is the newest in the Playstation family of consoles developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to PlayStation 4 in 2019, PS5 was released on November 12, 2020 in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North America and South Korea with a worldwide release a week later. Over 21.4 million units have been sold as of July 29, 2022, making it Sony’s fastest-selling console unit to date. The company later confirmed that as of June 30, 2021, it had shipped 10.1 million consoles, indicating that almost every console had been sold as soon as it hit the market.
Tekken 8 Will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. At the time of writing, no official release date has been confirmed for the title.


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Bal Seal Engineering Achieves ISO/TS 16949 Certification for Colorado Facility
Foothill Ranch, Calif. – U.S.A. – November 21, 2014 – Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. recently announced the certification of its Colorado Springs, Colo., facility to ISO/TS 16949, a standard that sets strict quality requirements for suppliers to the automotive industry.
A U.S.-based manufacturer of custom sealing, connecting, conducting and EMI/RFI shielding components, the company received the certification following a year-long process that involved an exhaustive audit of the systems it employs to design, produce and deliver its products.
“We’re very proud of this achievement,” said Jesse Flores, the company’s vice president of quality assurance. “Our many automotive customers already know that we have achieved ISO/TS 16949 certification at our headquarters in California. Certification to this standard at our Colorado site further validates our commitment to providing high-performance, high quality solutions and informs the automotive industry as a whole that we’re a credible source for solutions to its toughest engineering challenges.”
ISO/TS 16949 is an automotive industry standard for the development of a particular quality management system that is recognized and accepted throughout the global automotive supply chain. Specifically, it applies to the design, development, production, installation and servicing of automotive-related products. Based on ISO 9001 and certification rules issued by the International Automotive Task Force (IATF), it examines a supplier’s process efficiency, product quality and ability to deliver on time.
According to Flores, Bal Seal pursued the certification as a means to further its growth in hybrid and electric vehicle markets. The company’s Bal Spring™ canted coil springs are already used as critical current-carrying components in the charging units of many electric vehicles, and its spring-energized polymer seals can be found in shock absorption and other vehicle systems worldwide.
In order to maintain the ISO/TS 16949 certification, Bal Seal will be required to participate in annual follow-up audits. Flores said these audits will help the company “improve against established performance benchmarks, and ensure customer satisfaction.”
About Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. is a provider of custom-engineered sealing, connecting, conducting and EMI shielding solutions for industry worldwide. The company’s products employ unique Bal Spring™ canted coil spring technology to enhance the performance and reliability of equipment at work everywhere – from deep sea to deep space. For the latest news and information about Bal Seal, visit http://www.balseal.com/media or call 800.366.1006.


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by Nicole Tutino –
To limit the fashion industry’s accumulated waste throughout apparel production processes and growing environmental concerns, solutions, such as a circular economy, change local businesses’ frameworks to offer more sustainable options to consumers.
A circular economy model increases the use and recyclability of any type of product through efficient design processes while limiting environmental impacts, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“With fashion in particular, some of the biggest ideas are this idea of using materials that are recovered from the economy — the existing things that we already have — instead of having to manufacture new ones from either natural resources or petrochemically-derived materials,” said Jennifer Russell, Virginia Tech assistant professor in the Department of Sustainable Biomaterials.
In her work with apparel company H&M, Russell observed the companies’ difficulties in implementing a circular economy framework across the brand’s divisions.
“The advantage of small businesses is that they tend to be less stuck with the infrastructure, supply chains [and] relationships that they have,” Russell said. “They can be a little bit more agile, and so if demand or if interest changes in their community, they can respond quickly.”
Business models associated with a circular economy include resale, repair, and rental services. Russell notes clothing rental options allow companies to increase the circularity of the items within the economy and remove consumers’ responsibility for caring for the garment. While continuing the usage of the products, the business models face increased transportation expenses for larger business initiatives.
Russell explains local businesses can engage consumers with circular economy methods efficiently due to close proximity.
Renewable inputs, like cotton and wool, offer environmental benefits, but Russell warns that consumers need to be aware of how natural fibers are sourced. The circular economy framework ensures renewable resources, like natural fibers, are not consumed more than they can be replaced, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
A Blacksburg art supply business, New River Art and Fiber, sells yarns composed mainly of natural or renewable fibers. Synthetic materials, such as polyester, can feature plastic particles, called microfibers.
“We buy synthetic yarn, wear that fabric, wash that fabric and then shed it into the oceans to the point where we are eating that fabric,” said Jessica Jones, owner of New River Art and Fiber.
Jones said the business’s focus on selling more natural fibers in yarns began as a personal choice, and her understanding of the environmental benefits developed over time.
“I like to think that by not putting it [synthetic fibers] out into the world I’m having a generally positive impact on our local environment,” Jones said.
New River Art and Fibers’ loops groups allow community members to knit or crochet together. Repair techniques can emerge from these collaborative sessions which help extend the use of garments.