text:
By Lizzy Lawrence
Hulu works with some of the biggest stars in the world. Selena Gomez, one of the leads of Only Murders in the Building, has 364 million Instagram followers. Kim Kardashian of The Kardashians: 336 million Instagram followers. Fame and followers, though, don’t automatically turn into viewers.
“Our talent is tier-one, we’re very lucky,” says Brittany Mehciz, VP of social for Hulu Originals. “But how do we more authentically connect with our consumers and our fans? It doesn’t necessarily have to be about the followers and the reach.”
Streaming competition is fierce, especially during a tumultuous economic period with consumers cutting down on subscriptions. Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Apple and HBO are all duking it out for a finite number of potential subscribers. Hulu also benefits from its relationship with corporate partner Disney (subscribers can bundle it with Disney+), but even Disney’s service is also a competitor for people’s time. People subscribe to these services because of the shows they offer, and they tend to watch shows after hearing about them from friends or trusted creators. This makes social media, the word-of-mouth machine, absolutely critical to streamers’ business strategies. “It’s a symbiosis or two-way-street with social media, rather than a one-way pushing out,” says Paul Hardart, director of NYU Stern’s entertainment, media and technology program. “It’s more of a conversation.”
Hulu hired Mehciz away from Amazon in 2019 to lead that conversation for its original series. The streamer, which deserves more credit than it usually receives for popularizing TV watching over the internet, was amping up its original programming with a broader slate of series, movies, and documentaries. Under her leadership, Hulu’s social presence for its home-brewed series has grown tremendously, as have its subscribers and viewers. Breaking through the noise is not easy. This isn’t 2019 anymore when Netflix was one of the first streamers to truly take advantage of social media as a way to boost viewership (remember the #BirdBoxChallenge?). Brands have become increasingly unhinged as they try to capture consumer attention in a chaotic social media landscape. They want to know what works—and do that. But as Mehciz and her 17-person team reveal, you need a number of playbooks when you’re dealing with programs as disparate as The Kardashians and Only Murders. And you need to know when to throw them all out and write a new one.
Rolling with the punches
The Kardashians features many moments that are ripe for social media explosion: Khloé Kardashian revealing that ex Tristan Thompson proposed to her before impregnating another woman, or Kim Kardashian telling her grandmother that she had sex with Pete Davidson in front of a fireplace in her honor. But Kendall Jenner cutting a cucumber so poorly that a legion of fans rise up to make fun of her, culminating in the reality star dressing as a cucumber this past Halloween? You can’t make it up.
“We can plan as much as possible off of what we think is going to take off,” Mehciz says. “But when you see a clip of Kendall Jenner cutting a cucumber, it just fully takes off and has a life of its own. Then it’s, how do we position our IP to engage with that and fuel that conversation?”
A lot of brands do “social listening,” so they know what people are saying about them. But it’s what you do with the chatter that matters. After a show airs, Mehciz notes what clips resonate with fans, and then adjusts her strategy accordingly. After the cucumber moment, her team met with the Kardashians’ team to brainstorm other clips that might prompt similar reactions. They decided to flood TikTok with other lighthearted clips and see what sparked attention. “Sometimes, we don’t need to be so heavy-handed in things,” Mehciz says. “We can let the fans be that word-of-mouth spreader.”
Another unplanned viral moment came from The Dropout, Hulu’s series about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Hulu’s TikTok account released a clip from the show of Amanda Seyfried dancing uncomfortably to Lil Wayne’s “How to Love.” The clip quickly became a meme, spawning dance videos from fans and a recreation of the dance from Seyfried on the red carpet.
“We plan as much as we can, we’re very thoughtful,” says Mehciz, “and then when those moments arise, really try and double down on it.”
Finding the right influencer
Influencers are crucial in helping Hulu attract fans. The streamer works with several agencies to find the right ones depending on a show’s target audience. One of Hulu’s partners is BEN, which helps Hulu tap into its desired internet niches.
“Every single title is, in some ways, its own brand,” says Jade Handley Glenn, director of client development at BEN. “You have your own strategy for every single title: who we’re trying to tap into, the story we’re trying to tell, and the social conversation we want influencers to drive for each of the campaigns.”
BEN connected Hulu with the pop culture influencer Amanda Hirsch (@notskinnybutnotfat) to promote The Kardashians. The Kardashians are arguably the most influential influencers in the world, but Mehciz wanted to engage fans with an outsider’s voice. Hirsch had already talked about the show on her platform, even interviewing members of the family for her podcast. Mehciz and her team decided that Hirsch would be the perfect person to interview the family during the red carpet premiere, creating interview soundbites for Instagram and TikTok.
“She was able to bring something out in them that felt very authentic, that we couldn’t have mimicked ourselves,” Mehciz says.
View this post on Instagram
“I think people love to see the family being real. Any candid moments on the show, whether it’s a sister fight, or even some banter!” says Hirsch via email, adding that she would have promoted the show even without the Hulu partnership. She finds that her posts about more unfiltered or suspense-filled moments tend to get the most engagement from users. “We also love being internet sleuths and trying to figure out any unknowns together (I call it spiraling)! I think humor goes a long way, and those are definitely the best performing posts!”
Hulu has also relied on influencers for what they call their “ripped-from-the-headlines” titles: shows based on true stories. This content is trickier to promote because a lot of attention-grabbing posts are legally off limits. For example, Welcome to Chippendales posts couldn’t feature real-life footage of male dancers because Chippendales still exists in Las Vegas. Instead, Hulu worked with TikTok influencer Alex Wong to choreograph a Chippendales dance challenge and brought in other influencers to spread the trend.
Keeping up with innovation
Marketing strategies depend upon—and are limited by—the social media platforms themselves. BEN’s Handley Glenn started her career in the “mommy blogger” era, coordinating Pinterest influencer campaigns like blogger viewing parties of a new Disney Blu-ray DVD (talk about a blast from the past). The landscape has changed dramatically since then. She says that TikTok and the prevalence of short-form video have completely shifted entertainment giants’ social media strategies.
“Everyone’s authentic and silly and the content is so fun,” Handley Glenn says. “You’re able to provide reactions and introduce cast members, and even have sound clips take off.”
NYU’s Hardart says that it’s smart to diversify approaches for different platforms. Facebook skews older these days, for example, so it’s not the best place to market a show meant for younger audiences. But sometimes the best practice is to throw things at a wall and see what sticks.
“The nice thing is that social media is a giant experimental sandbox,” Hardart notes. “They’re all trying different things.”
Mehciz is in constant contact with Hulu’s platform partners and stays up-to-date on the latest feature and tenor changes. Twitter, given all its uncertainty under Elon Musk, is a daily topic of conversation among Hulu’s social teams. Mehciz says that she’s always keeping her eye out for emerging platforms as well. Her team has been chatting with Tumblr, which has seen a bit of a resurgence in the wake of Twitter chaos. Most importantly, she monitors social media trends not just as the Hulu originals social mastermind, but as a user.
“It’s important to not only be close partners with the platforms, read industry trends,” Mehciz says, “but also to just be a consumer yourself.”


text:
Samosa heads to space while wine to make a splashdown in the Atlantic
Wine returns from space and the samosa that defied Brexit: Some stellar tales.
A ‘samosa’ floating in space ready to be grabbed by some famished astronaut. That was not the thought behind sending the samosa to get a taste of space.
Niraj Gadher, the owner of the popular Chai Walla restaurant in Bath, UK, tried thrice to send the much savoured samosa to space.
Bizarre attempt meets its goal of fun
The snack went flying as it was loaded into a weather balloon equipped with GPS and GoPro camera, but came crashing just next door to the UK in France, in defiance of Brexit.
The snack didn’t quite get close to even leaving the Earth’s atmosphere, but it served the purpose it was meant for- fun!
“I said as a joke once that I would send a samosa into space, and then I thought during these bleak times we could all use a reason to laugh,” Niraj was quoted by news website UPI.
The snack may or may not make a good combo with wine but there’s some wine too that travelled to space.
12 bottles of Bordeaux wine waiting to enter Earth
Watch out for 12 bottles of Bordeaux wine and hundreds of pieces of grapevines that will dive into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Tampa onboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule on Wednesday night. The wine was left to age for a year at the International Space Station and vines may also be accompanied by mice. The bottles were secured a steel cylinder to prevent breakage – and to prevent astronauts from drinking them up while orbiting the lab. The Space Cargo Unlimited sent the bottles zooming to space and will therefore be the first to open the bottles and taste the wine with space effects in Bordeaux. Some of France’s top connoisseurs will also drink it. But, it’s not all about fun!
Wine to be subjected to months of chemical tests
“We believe that micro gravity has a lot to offer for the future of viticulture and agriculture on Earth,” the company tweeted when a twitter user called it a farce. Researchers will also have their angles to analyse it for how space altered the sedimentation and bubbles.
“Our goal is to tackle the solution of how we’re going to have an agriculture tomorrow that is both organic and healthy and able to feed humanity, and we think space has the key,” Nicolas Gaume the company’s CEO and co-founder told the Associated Press.
Gaume said agricultural produce such as grapes will need to adapt to harsher conditions due to Climate Change. Climate Change resilient or not food space odysseys surely cause mood change for some.
She said ace filmmaker Mani Ratnam presents all his characters in an "impactful" manner.
Janhvi Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Suhana Khan: Here's how Bollywood's reigning celebrities looked as babies

domain: news


text:
H Moser & Cie have been teasing a new swiss watch for a month now. They have claimed it the “Most Swiss Watch Ever Created.” And wow did they ever.
Back with the ruling that “Swiss Made” must now be made with at least 60% swiss made and sourced parts, Moser made an announcement that they will be removing Swiss Made from their label, as it doesn’t mean what it used to.
#MakeSwissMadeGreatAgain became a trending hashtag in the community, and alongside of that, Moser announced it would be making the most Swiss watch in existence, and it would not feature the “Swiss Made” label. Introducing the Swiss MAD watch (note the no “e”).
Coming out as a satire on the absurdity of the ruling, Moser created the most irreverent and disruptive watch I personally, have ever seen. I recently wrote an article on Moser’s stance, and have been anxiously awaiting what they had in store and I am certainly not disappointed.
What’s the most Swiss thing ever? Is it watches? No, the ruling demanded that it only had to be 60%. Swiss Chocolate? No, not even that has a threshold.
Cows. Cows are Swiss. And you what cows produce? Milk. And you know what the Swiss use milk for? Why, Swiss Cheese of course. The new watch features a, erm… Swiss Cheese Case. Moser literally injected a composite material into Swiss Cheese to polish and harden it.
Bringing on the Red dial, with 4 double induces representing the Swiss Flag, really makes it hard not to see Swiss in ever aspect of the case. Pair that alongside the cowhide strap, and you’ve got a, well, Swiss cow inspired watch.
Is the watch the important part? Or is it the message that it sends to the industry?
“Our Swiss Mad Watch sends a clear message to the Swiss watchmaking industry, the authorities and watch enthusiasts: the Swiss Made label is meaningless. Worse than this, it gives credibility to the worst abuses in our industry.” Claims H. Moser & Cie CEO Edouard Meylan.
He hopes this will make enough ripples in the industry to make some real changes. H. Moser claimes over 95% Swiss Made on their watches, and are fed up with the abuses and disregard for quality in the Swiss watch market.
This piece will Debut at SIHH 2017, and will come with a hefty 1,081,291 Swiss Francs (Duh!) price tag. All proceeds from selling the watch will go towards the funding of independent Swiss suppliers suffering from the hard times In the Swiss Watchmaking industry. They believe the key to Swiss artistry is held by these Ateliers, and it’s hard to blame them. I wish them the best of luck.


text:
The Calgary tech sector continues to defy the economic slowdown as another company secures significant Series-C funding.
On Thursday, Symend announced that it has raised about C$56 million to accelerate its growth and global market expansion. The fintech company was founded in 2016 and has expanded across North America, into Latin America and the United Kingdom.
“In the last 20 months, we have been hyper focused on investments in our technology, our platform, our solutions,” said Hanif Joshaghani, co-founder and CEO. “This round has really been about focusing now on spending to market and growth.”
The funding round was led by Inovia Capital and a consortium of investors including Impression Ventures, Mistral Venture Partners, BDC’s Growth Venture Co-Investment Fund, BDC Capital’s Women in Technology Fund, Plaza Ventures and EDC.
Joshaghani noted that much has changed in the tech ecosystem since their previous funding round in February 2021, including the economic slowdown and rising interest rates.
“Given the size of the (previous) rounds we did, there was a lot of due diligence as well, it’s just you could feel the extra pressure in the market when we entered the market this time,” he said.
It’s a challenge Calgary companies have been able to meet. This is the second major announcement this week, with Attabotics announcing nearly $100 million in Series-C funding on Monday.
While investment did not hold up in other jurisdictions, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver all fell from their record funding levels of 2021. These two announcements will push Calgary past its record mark of $490 million last year. Calgary was at an estimated $433 million through three quarters, according to preliminary data from CVCA, before these announcements.
“The overall tech ecosystem, especially over the last half decade in Calgary, has come a long way,” Joshaghani said, pointing to the tech intensity of oil and gas as a foundation for this recent growth.
The Alberta government is looking at reviving tax credits for video game developers
Alberta is now home to 3,000 technology companies; new report shows an industry making strides
Compelling Calgarians: Hanif Joshaghani and Tiffany Kaminsky lead others out of debt
Symend is going through a period of exponential growth, doubling the number of customers served for the third consecutive quarter and is on track to serve 40 million consumers this year in some of North America’s largest companies.
The company was No. 7 on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 ranking of Canadian technology companies on Thursday, citing 4,366 percent growth. It was the highest-ranked Alberta company, with Edmonton-based AltaML in 13th place with 2,309 percent growth.
“Enterprises are seeing the value of Symend through its ability to help reduce delinquent payments and retain revenue, while delivering a hyper-personalized approach that increases customer loyalty,” Dennis Kavelman, partner at Inovia Capital, said in a news release. said. “The demand for Symend’s technology continues to increase and we are excited to help fuel the next phase of growth.”
Symend seeks to position itself as a world leader in the study of behavioral science so that companies can better serve their customers digitally and at scale. This is something that has developed over the course of the pandemic.
In its latest consumer study, it found a 15 percent rise in digital fatigue over the course of the year, as well as an increase in decision fatigue. Meanwhile, there is a growing scarcity mindset due to market volatility with rising inflation and a looming recession.
All of this makes the type of information they provide to their customers that much more important.
“This is an opportunity for us to help more of those customers through these challenging times,” said Tiffany Kaminsky, co-founder and chief impact officer. “It definitely fits the demand and the need for a solution like Symend to help your customers when they need it most.”


text:
HANOVER, VA (WWBT) - While today brought some rain and even some thunder and lightening in the early hours of the morning, this isn't the type of day that insurance companies are going to have their phones ringing off the hook for claims, but it's the perfect time to think about something like taking inventory at your home.
Kevin Hamilton and his wife Diane own Binary Formations, and they say selling a product to help inventory your home is personal.
Kevin Hamilton says, "as I started buying more guitars because I'm a guitar collector, I thought well maybe I need to document this stuff, and that's sort of where it came it from."
Diane Hamilton says, "I have a family member who was hit by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, and that was prior to our product, they didn't have a home inventory; they lost their house to flooding."
Along with the software, the Hamilton's are really selling advice on how to plan for the future. The program also helps you keep track of your insurance policies to make sure you have enough and the right coverage.
Kevin says, "you want to document that in advance before something happens; in fact, you want to do it before you even go in and buy your insurance policy."
People are starting to take inventory seriously.
This start up company had five customers five years ago, and now has nearly 4,000.
The Hamilton's product is only for MAC, but Diane hopes everyone will get something similar.
Diane says, "if you don't have a MAC, go find a piece of software that runs on windows; it's that important, just to be prepared."


text:
Blue-chip stock status drives Lenovo shares to 13-year high
Morrisville, N.C. — Lenovo stock was added to the elite "blue-chip" stock list of the Hong Kong stock exchange earlier this week, and the move is already paying dividends as shares in the world's No. 2 PC maker vault to their highest value since 2000....
WRAL TechWire Publisher and Editor Rick Smith dishes out tidbits from the local technology sector. Read more articles…
Please Log In to add a comment.
Latest for Insiders
- Want a job in the 'Next Evolution'? Try analytics
- Incoming NC IDEA leader: Change to foundation offers many benefits to startups, state
- Jobless future? NC Science and Math robotics team remains gung ho
- How can workers avoid becoming obsolete? A Q&A with Dr. Mike Walden
- Raleigh forum's focus: How can NC deal with threat of jobless future?
- At Super Bowl, Lenovo will power NFL's tech lineup
- Startup SoloPro kicks off real estate revolution with own Super Bowl blitz
- Amazon launches one-hour delivery service in Raleigh
- Frontier: 'We applaud' ConnectHome net plan, touts own efforts
- AT&T applauds Google Fiber's 'free' offer to community centers, notes its own efforts to bridge 'digital divide'


text:
In a strategic move aligning with consumer trends and surging demand, Tyson Foods has unveiled plans to invest $355 million in constructing a state-of-the-art bacon plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This marks the eighth major investment by the meat giant this year, solidifying its commitment to meeting the growing retail and foodservice demand for bacon products and propelling long-term growth.
Expected to commence production in late 2023, the new facility is anticipated to create 450 jobs, adding a significant economic boost to the Warren County and Kentucky communities. Noelle O’Mara, Group President of Prepared Foods for Tyson Foods, expressed excitement about contributing to these communities and continuing to provide consumers with iconic products such as Wright Brand and Jimmy Dean.
“As people actively look to add more protein to their diets, Tyson is uniquely positioned as a category leader to meet that growing demand,” noted O’Mara.
The upcoming facility, spanning 400,000 square feet, will focus on the production of retail and foodservice products under the Wright Brand and Jimmy Dean brands. To enhance production efficiency and ensure team member safety, the plant will incorporate the latest in robotics and automated technologies. Situated in the expanded Kentucky Transpark in Bowling Green, this state-of-the-art facility represents a significant stride towards modernizing Tyson’s operations.
Governor Beshear praised Tyson Foods’ vision for the future, highlighting the substantial economic impact the investment will bring to Warren County. He remarked, “Today, I am proud to announce one of the largest investments in Warren County’s history, and this is a community that has had no shortage of economic success in recent years.”
Tyson Foods, already a significant player in Kentucky, employs over 3,900 people across the state with an annual payroll exceeding $168 million. In the 2020 fiscal year, the company paid Kentucky growers and suppliers more than $35 million, estimating its total statewide impact at $425 million. With Prepared Foods operations in Claryville and Poultry operations in Albany and Robards, Tyson Foods continues to solidify its footprint in the region.
While hiring for the new facility will begin in the coming months, those interested in joining the Tyson Foods team are encouraged to regularly check the Tyson Foods Careers website for updates. This investment underscores Tyson Foods’ strategic focus on growth, innovation, and meeting the evolving needs of consumers in the protein market.


text:
PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Digital Trends, the world’s largest independently owned technology review site, has unveiled its picks for the Best Products of 2017. After evaluating more than 600 products this year, editors selected top contenders across 10 categories: Cars, Computing, Emerging Tech, Entertainment, Gaming, Home Theater, Mobile, Outdoors, Photography, and Smart Home. Nintendo’s Switch, the much-coveted portable gaming device, earned top honors for the year.
“We’re looking for technological advancements that make modern life easier, less complicated, and more fun,” explained Jeremy Kaplan, Editor in Chief, DigitalTrends.com. Expert editors selected a winner in every category, along with two runners up. More than 30 full-time editorial staff convened to decide on an overall winner, which was sealed with a final vote.
“We are especially excited with the advances in new and emerging categories like Outdoor and Smart Home, where revolutions seem to be happening every month,” Kaplan said.
The 2017 Digital Trends Best Products
Overall: Nintendo Switch
Cars: Honda Civic Type R
Computing: Microsoft Surface Pro
Emerging Tech: Formlabs Fuse 1 (3D Printer)
Entertainment: Blade Runner 2049
Gaming: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Home Theater: LG C7 OLED
Mobile: iPhone X
Outdoors: BioLite Firepit
Photography: Sony A9
Smart Home: Google Home Mini
For more information on Digital Trends’ Best Products of 2017, please visit https://www.digitaltrends.com/best-products-of-2017/
About Digital Trends
Digital Trends is a leading consumer technology publisher helping people navigate an increasingly digital world. With easy-to-understand product reviews, entertaining news and videos, Digital Trends serves more than 24 million unique visitors each month. Digital Trends reaches 90 million tech influencers through their own media network, and its syndicate partners include Yahoo!, FOX News and more than 200 broadcast news stations. Digital Trends is headquartered in Portland, OR with offices in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Chicago. For more information, visit www.digitaltrends.com.
Bay Area boy living in the desert. You’ll usually find him playing some type of Blizzard game or tinkering with some electronic device in his house.


text:
On September 30th, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) turned down the request by the Postal Service for an exigent price increase averaging 5.6 percent across all market-dominant products, such as First-Class Mail and Periodicals. Although current law cape increases in these products to the inflation rate, the PRC can consider rate increases beyond the cap if the Postal Service has been affected by “extraordinary or exceptional circumstances.”
In 2001 First-Class Mail (FCM) hit an all-time peak of 104 billion pieces. Fast forward to today and it is down more than 40 percent.
Well, if you’re a reader of this blog, you also know that despite this, First-Class Mail remains the biggest provider of revenue and contribution (profit...Read More


text:
Restaurant chains are devising long-term plans to keep dining rooms open whenever and wherever possible as the coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of remission.
McDonald’s Corp., Starbucks Corp. and other chains are serving customers inside, in line with safety standards they say they’ve been training for for about nine months struggling with the virus. Executives say they see an immediate increase in sales as the dining rooms reopen.
However, with the Covid-19 case rising to new heights, these chains and other restaurant owners are having to close some dining rooms again, where officials have instructed them to do so. Illinois suspended statewide in-house dining on Wednesday, while a two-week home stay order led by El Paso, Texas, until November 11, closed dining rooms.
FULL SERVICE RESTAURANTS MAY TAKE 5 YEARS TO RECOVER FROM DEMAND: REPORT
McDonald’s and Starbucks have said they will not close large-scale dining rooms this time. Instead, they are the refined plans they say allow them to safely serve customers inside, even as the virus continues to spread across the United States.
McDonald’s says it has told US franchisors it can reopen dining rooms when coronavirus infections decrease locally for three consecutive weeks.
In October, Starbucks executives said the reopening of cafes with spacious tables and enhanced cleaning had boosted sales. “When we opened a coffee shop with a limited number of seats, the response was immediate,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson.
Several chains, including Wingstop Inc., have decided to close dining rooms, reflecting a situation of struggling restaurants – and others – operating in uncertain and volatile circumstances. From manufacturers to malls, businesses are overhauling their operations to stay active during the global pandemic. As Covid-19 cases rise again, companies are reviewing their recently developed policies and procedures and changing them as needed.
Health experts say that while restaurants can take steps to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus inside, take-out services and outdoor dining are still safer.
“I do not recommend eating indoors,” said Thomas Russo, head of the University’s Infectious Diseases department at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Buffalo University.
CEO of WENDY DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DRIVE-THRU ONLY RESTAURANTS
The lack of widespread link tracing in the United States has made it difficult to determine whether restaurants are facilitating the spread of coronavirus, but federal and state studies indicate some connection. A September survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that people who tested positive for Covid-19 were twice as likely to have dinner at a restaurant within two weeks. for people who test negative for the virus.
Scientists say, the virus thrives in enclosed spaces and eating in restaurants puts diners in close contact with others for long periods of time while they are talking and not wearing a mask. The well-spaced ventilation, air purifier and tables can help eliminate the risks of eating indoors as cases increase, says Dr. Russo of the University of Buffalo.
Common food chains include Cheesecake Factory Inc., Texas Roadhouse Inc. and BJ’s Investors Inc. installed glass partitions to maximize the dining space away from society. The median strips are longer lasting than the glass divider, and cost millions of dollars for dozens of restaurants. The California-based BJ restaurants told investors last month that the zoning allows them to add dozens more tables to service in one location while complying with social regulations.
The CEO of Bloomin ‘Brands Inc. David Deno said Outback Steakhouse owner is investing in equipment and training to protect customers. “I don’t mean to clear things up, but they like to go back to our business and like to eat out,” Deno said in an interview.
Executives say keeping dining rooms open is more important for their business as temperatures drop across much of the United States, leaving outdoor spaces that help less summer sales. tenants over.
SECRET FOX BUSINESS SECURITY BY CLICK HERE
According to labor scheduling software company Homebase, the number of restaurants and bars opening is decreasing in states with declining and rising temperatures, including Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. Data from online booking platform OpenTable shows that dining bookings have increased or decreased in many states over the past month.
Many restaurants are struggling to stay afloat amid regulations that require them to limit the number of customers eating indoors or to shut down indoor dining altogether. The National Restaurant Association expects that at least 100,000 restaurants will close this year, double the usual annual rate. The trade association wants officials to take into account the effectiveness of spaced tables, air purification systems and other safety measures before banning indoor eating and drinking.
McDonald’s has kept most of its dining rooms closed this year as Burger King and others continue to add in-house service again. The company says about 2,000 of McDonald’s 14,000 restaurants in the US are serving customers in dining rooms.
McDonald’s said it is not expecting a reopening with the rise of Covid-19 cases. “We are in no hurry to reopen the dining rooms just to make a few more dollars,” Bill Garrett, McDonald’s US senior vice president of operations, said in an interview.
But while McDonald’s sales in the US have rebounded, mostly driven, pickup and delivery, dining rooms remain an important source of revenue. McDonald’s executives put a great emphasis on improving the chain’s in-house dining service before the pandemic through amenities such as digital kiosks and table service. Many US franchises have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on upgrades, and the company also finances a portion of the cost.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS
McDonald’s executives told US franchisees in late September that they could continue reopening dining rooms if cases were reduced in their jurisdiction, based on data. State and county and local regulations permit face-to-face dining. The company said it is looking at feedback from consumers and employees about the prospects of its dining service. Playgrounds will remain closed.
Whether or not they decide to reopen is up to the franchisees, and many McDonald’s franchisees say they are generating high revenue without dining room service.
Tracy Johnstone, owner of seven McDonald’s restaurants in Florida that remained closed to customers during the majority of the pandemic, said she was used to serving only take-away customers. “It’s just part of responsible business,” she said.


text:
Ashby stars Mickey Rourke and Nat Wolff with Emma having a supporting role. Awkward Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff) needs help fitting in and turns to his neighbor Ashby Holt (Mickey Rourke) for help. Ashby’s unforgiving brand of tough love soon tests their friendship, and it hardly helps when Ed learns that Ashby is a former CIA assassin. The film will make its debut at the Tribeca film festival in New York in April so hopefully soon will see a theatrical release (most likely limited).
More Info | Photos
Emma was spotted on set of We’re The Millers today(August 20th), mostly the back of her head while Jennifer Aniston is pictured showing off her bra in the scene. Check out the candids below!
NANETTE’S MOMENT: Luxottica and the Council of Fashion Designers of America have tapped Nanette Lepore as the latest designer for the 2012 Design Series for Vogue Eyewear, its third designer collaboration to date. The designer chose actress Emma Roberts as her muse when creating the cream-colored cat-eye sunglasses. “I looked to glamorous actresses from the Twenties to the present while I was designing and fell in love with Emma,” said Lepore. “She’s chic, youthful and confident in her style. I really wanted to make every element of my sunglasses unique, from the metallic cyan packaging to the inlaid gold filigree on the frames.” The limited-edition frames (only 1,200 have been made) will be carried at select Sunglass Hut stores and sunglasshut.com for $129.95 in October. Past CFDA collaborators include Rebecca Minkoff, Monica Botkier, Yeohlee Teng, Devi Kroell, Kara Ross and Matt Murphy.
Emma was spotted at an airport in Wilmington, NC on August 9th, which is where We’re the Millers is filming. Check out HQ candids below!
Click photo above to watch video!
WILMINGTON — It was a busy day for filming in downtown Wilmington. Special effects and big stars filled Front Street for the filming of “We’re the Millers,” but some business owners say the film traffic does not translate into traffic for their stores and restaurants.
There were some familiar and famous faces populating Front Street Monday afternoon.
Stars like Jason Sudeikis and Emma Roberts were on hand for some special effects scenes being shot downtown.
And while crowds came out to see the stars, some local business owners say Hollywood coming to Wilmington is more of a hindrance than a help.
“I’ve had some customers mention they’ve been stopped on the sidewalk, asked not to pass through, things like that, or divert to a secondary street. For some people that’s enough to make them turn around and go back,” said Paul Brown, owner of Java Dog Coffee House.
More than 600 residents and businesses downtown were warned they may lose water pressure while rain scenes were shot, but most said they didn’t notice a problem.
What Brown said he did notice Monday was a lack of business, even with signs that were put up by the movie’s crew informing people businesses were still open.
“A lot of people don’t see the signs, don’t read the signs, I’ve found in my experience,” Brown said.
But not everyone agrees. Some store employees said the cameras rolling outside actually bring film fans inside.
Assistant Manager at F.I.F.I., a downtown boutique, Cindy Stanforth said, “It’s just had people coming downtown who maybe wouldn’t have been. They stop in and ask lots of questions about what’s filming.”
When it comes down to it, Stanforth said any traffic downtown, whether people are shopping or not, is better than no traffic. And with tourists and locals alike swarming scene locations for a glimpse of their favorite actors, foot traffic won’t be a problem.
Some store owners also blame downtown road construction for periods of slower business.
Check out some fan photos from on set of We’re the Millers yesterday(August 13th) courtesy of Hannah Broders!
Misc. >> Official Twitter/Instagram Photos
Check out many more photos added of Emma having lunch and shopping in LA on Friday(August 10th). I noticed didn’t have HQs of a It’s Kind of a Funny Story press conference at the Toronto Film Festival in 2010. Also one photo missing from a Guy Aroch photoshoot in 2010.


text:
Health conscious, lifestyle coffee shop chain, ICONS Coffee Couture is continuing its stead-fast growth in the Middle East through its recently signed partnership with ABL Company. Presently, the brand is considering expanding across Kuwait with six branches. The total number of franchises open in the GCC will touch 40 by 2020. The brand is also looking at 10 company-owned store expansion in the UAE within the next six months. The newest Icons branch opened its doors this month at Manar Mall in Ras Al Khaimah.
ICONS as a brand is looking upwards in terms of its new launch across Kuwait, bringing its German Bio Coffee and its mix of healthy and indulging sweets and savouries for a balanced lifestyle. The brand vision is to be pivotal in creating healthier communities around its coffee shops through nutritious and balanced food offerings, education and promotion of an active lifestyle.
Since the café concept has started to franchise, its growth has been continuous around the GCC and Europe. The chain is now available in six countries and counting, including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Austria.
Talking about the current speed of expansion, Elena Weber, Founder and Managing Director, ICONS Coffee Couture, says, “We are blessed to be attracting amazing partners worldwide to build something bigger than ourselves. It is wonderful to be able to impact communities for the better around the globe. We acknowledge the responsibility we have and continuously strive on being the best partner we can be and uplift our Icons branches to be welcoming, empowering and nourishing, yet fun to be at.”
The ICONS franchise chain concentrates on a coffee shop plus concept, offering a range of food preferences such as vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free solution, designer desserts and more, with the expansion in Europe to serve hard drinks for the evenings. The ICONS development concept is based on a ripple-effect framework, with a concentration to expand across the world, one region at a time.
Words by Katie Streten Experiential Strategy Director, VMLY&R COMMERCE Throughout the last year,June 13, 2021 | By Shruthi Nair
UAE-based grocery retail chain, Grandiose has opened its first hypermarket in Abu
UAE-based Carrefour announced its theme and plans for Ramadan 2021. The brand
Locally owned supermarket Spinneys celebrates 60 years of doing business in the
UAE-based Carrefour will become the first retailer in the region to offer new levels
The Organic Farmers’ Market is back in Bay Avenue for its 12th
UAE-based Lulu Group recently inaugurated its first-ever all-female staff store in Jeddah,
Jones the Grocer, the gourmet grocer and cheese retailer launches the Jones
UAE-based Al Maya Supermarkets is hosting a two-week food festival at select
Locally-owned supermarket Spinneys has launched its ‘Power of Plants’ initiative in the
Carrefour UAE has launched “Cookit Yourself” — a curated recipe box created
UAE-based Al Islami Foods, one of the largest frozen food companies in
Marks & Spencer’s plant-based range now offers over 25 vegan products including meat-free
Food trucks may have seemed like a good idea at the time,
British retailer Marks & Spencer, operated by the Al-Futtaim Group has announced
The once powerful department stores that anchored malls and streets around the
Who isn’t a sucker for discounts? Customers today are spoiled for choice
The various e-commerce and virtual retail stores that cater to different product
A private helicopter carrying the chairman and managing director of Lulu Group,
Dubai-based Thai street food and tea bar restaurant, Cafe Isan is launching
Sunset Hospitality Group is stepping into 2021 with optimism and a load
In a virtual webinar held to announce the launch of Noon Food,
Tighter restrictions on hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment venues on account of
Walid Hajj and Fahad Alhokair, have officially launched the region’s first hybrid,
Dubai announced the suspension of entertainment activities at restaurants and hotels last


text:
Emma Wang, Taipei; Isaac Chang, DigiTimes.com [Friday 1 August 2003] Xabre Graphics Inc (XGI), a subsidiary of Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS), yesterday announced the signing of distribution agreements with World Peace Industrial (WPI), Fullerton Technologies,...
...of Windows devices with tiny prices, iCortana, and an amazing little Pi
LG 65" 4K OLED Curved TV review
First Look: LG V10
Hands-on and first impressions of Microsoft's Lumia 950 flagship
As general release nears, what do you think of Windows 10 Mobile?
Hands-on and first impressions of Microsoft's Lumia 950 XL flagship
lumia 950 xl
Looking to break into the end-user market for add-in graphics boards, Silicon Integrated Systems Corp. (SIS) plans to release an upgraded version of its Xabre graphics chip in July, according to a company executive. ...
@dek has found some new SiS Xabre Performance drivers. They were just released today, and are v3.07.55. No work on whats fixed/updated except that they come with a brand new version of...
Warp2search have found the first official drivers for the Xabra 400/200/80 v3.03.51 for W98/ME/2k/XP. And these are in one package of 9,007 KB. There is no Word of the Performance Yet.. ...
Thanks xStainDx from our BPN Forum Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation (SiS), a leading core logic and graphics chip supplier, today unveiled its brand-new graphics chip - the Xabre400(pronounce like "saber"). The world's...


text:
Insulin is certainly a wonder drug. It has saved millions of lives since it was discovered nearly a century ago. But there is a problem. Insulin can be expensive — so much so that people have died because they can’t afford it. In the United States, the price of a 10-milliliter vial of insulin has gone up in the last 20 years from $35 to $275, but even in countries where the price is comparatively low, it remains unaffordable because incomes are also low. According to a recent study by Health Action International, “access to insulin is beyond the reach of millions of people with diabetes around the world.”
To get cutting-edge diabetes news, strategies for blood glucose management, nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and more delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletter!
To address this problem, the World Health Organization (WHO), an agency of the United Nations, has just announced a pilot program aimed at increasing the supply of insulin worldwide. One of the main reasons for the high cost of insulin is that it is largely made by three major manufacturers. In the initiative, which will be rolled out over the next two years, WHO will use its Prequalification program to encourage manufacturers of generic insulin to have WHO assess their products.
The WHO originally launched its Prequalification project in 2001 to expedite access to medicines that met certain standards for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, but it has since expanded to include other therapeutics. Manufacturers who want their medicines to be put on the prequalified products list need first to apply and then to allow assessment teams to evaluate their products for safety, quality and effectiveness and to inspect their manufacturing sites. With this newly announced initiative, makers of generic insulin can now participate in the process. According to Mariângela Simão, MD, WHO Assistant Director General for Medicines and Health products, “Prequalifying products from additional companies will hopefully help to level the playing field and ensure a steadier supply of quality insulin in all countries.”
While announcing the inclusion of insulin manufacturers in the Prequalification program, the WHO also said that it was exploring other diabetes projects, such as updating treatment guidelines, developing price-reduction strategies and improving delivery systems.
Want to learn more about saving money on insulin? Read “Insulin Prices: Four Ways to Pay Less” and “Cheaper Insulin: Older Insulins May Be Answers to High Prices.”
A freelance writer and editor based in the Chicago area, Gustaitis has a degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Source URL: https://dsm.diabetesselfmanagement.com/blog/increasing-insulin-supply-lowering-cost-insulin/
Joseph Gustaitis: Joseph Gustaitis is a freelance writer and editor based in the Chicago area. (Joseph Gustaitis is not a medical professional.)
Disclaimer of Medical Advice: You understand that the blog posts and comments to such blog posts (whether posted by us, our agents or bloggers, or by users) do not constitute medical advice or recommendation of any kind, and you should not rely on any information contained in such posts or comments to replace consultations with your qualified health care professionals to meet your individual needs. The opinions and other information contained in the blog posts and comments do not reflect the opinions or positions of the Site Proprietor.
Copyright ©2022 Diabetes Self-Management unless otherwise noted.


text:
European Economics Preview: Germany's Factory Orders Data Due
(RTTNews) - Factory orders data from Germany is due on Wednesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.
At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is slated to release Germany's factory orders figures for October. Economists forecast orders to fall 0.2 percent on month, following September's 1 percent increase.
At 3.00 am ET, retail sales from the Czech Republic and industrial production from Hungary are due. Retail sales are forecast to grow 7.4 percent on year in October following September's 3.6 percent rise.
At 3.15 am ET, the Federal Statistical Office releases Swiss consumer prices for November. Inflation is expected to rise slightly to 0.8 percent from 0.7 percent in October.
At 3.30 am ET, Germany's construction PMI data is due for November.
SHARE THIS POST
your MARKET VIEW
Your Personalized Market Center


text:
Japanese brewer Asahi and a consortium led by Swiss investment firm Jacobs Holding have made it onto the shortlist of bidders for SABMiller’s eastern European beer brands, sources familiar with the matter said.
Following its acquisition of SABMiller’s well-known European beer brands, Asahi Europe has appointed the brewer’s group senior counsel commercial Edward Perks as its head of legal and company secretary.
The brands, which include Pilsner Urquell in Czech Republic and Tyskie and Lech in Poland, are worth more than 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion).
The fiscal year 2015-16 was a positive year for the beer industry with a return to volume growth despite regulatory issues. SABMiller India was able to grow sales revenue by circa 5% in the face of an increasingly competitive market … Continue reading
Asahi Group Holdings plans to offer more than 500 billion yen ($4.87 billion) for British brewer SABMiller’s beer operations in five Eastern European countries, aiming to firm up its footing on the Continent amid a slew of global market shifts.
AB InBev’s president for India and South Asia, Pedro Aidar, on making Budweiser a viable business in India, and leveraging the SABMiller merger for growth.
China Resources Beer Holdings Co., maker of the world’s most popular beer, is considering a bid for SABMiller Plc’s central and eastern European assets, valued at about $6 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.
Aidar has been with maker of Budweiser and Corona beer for over 15 years and previously held the position of vice president — finance for APAC region based out of Shanghai, after which he moved to India last year.
Japan’s beer makers keep a grip on their home markets while branching out abroad. In an era when Budweiser is sold by a Belgium-based company and California’s Lagunitas IPA is partly Dutch-owned, Japanese beer has remained in Japan’s hands, away … Continue reading
SABMiller shareholders can be treated as two separate groups when they vote on the brewer’s 79 billion pound ($103 billion) takeover by Anheuser Busch InBev, a court in London ruled on Tuesday, granting a request from SAB aimed at making … Continue reading


text:
Kia America delivers the future at the Los Angeles Auto Show
Iconic New Year’s Eve 2022 Numerals Powered by the All-Electric Kia EV6 on Display at the Los Angeles Convention Center, November 19-28, Before Heading to Times Square
Now through November 28, Kia will present the iconic 2022 New Year’s Eve Numerals at the Los Angeles Auto Show where attendees can take the perfect selfie and get a closer look at the seven-foot tall, 1,130-pound numerals that will light up at midnight atop Jamestown’s and New Tradition’s One Times Square on New Year’s Eve and remain there throughout the 2022 year.
At the conclusion of the auto show, the 2022 Numerals will be hitched to an award-winning Kia Telluride SUV – and flanked by an all-electric Kia EV6 – for a cross journey through 18 states before arriving in New York City’s Times Square on December 20.
“We are thrilled to be delivering the Times Square New Year’s Eve Numerals to their home at One Times Square to celebrate the coming of 2022,” said Russell Wager, vice president of marketing, Kia America.
Nov 19, 2021 at 13:13


text:
WEBSTER, Mass., April 13, 2020 – MAPFRE Insurance today announced its Staying Home Refund program, which will return 15 percent of April and May premium to its voluntary personal auto policyholders in Massachusetts, totaling over $30 million. On average, most policyholders will receive a credit of approximately $40.00. A similar credit will be provided to the company’s personal auto policyholders in its other states of operation for the same time period. The MAPFRE Staying Home Refund program is subject to regulatory approval.
“We understand that our policyholders are facing a number of challenges, as we all focus on the health and safety of our loved ones,” said MAPFRE USA President & CEO Alfredo Castelo. “We know that many of them are driving less as they stay at home during this time, and our program recognizes this change in driving behavior. We are committed to being there for our customers, so they can focus on what is most important to them.”
MAPFRE is also offering flexible payment options, and urging customers to contact them with any questions or concerns about their policies.


text:
In news you may not know about because you pay attention to real things, designer Tom Ford said he would not be dressing Melania Trump for the White House because his clothes are “too expensive” for a First Lady and that she should relate more to the people she represents. Or something.
What happened next is some excellent drama, assuming you’re into the whole fashion scene. I’m writing about it because I have a wealth of knowledge that stems solely from my experience watching Project Runway.
Donald Trump went on Fox & Friends and seemed a bit flabbergasted at Ford’s statement, considering (according to Trump) that Ford was never asked to dress Melania.
‘Never asked Tom Ford, doesn’t like Tom Ford, doesn’t like his designs,’ said Trump.
He then went on to say: ‘Tom Ford is an example. “I will not dress the First Lady.” He was never asked to dress – and Steve Wynn just called me and he said he thought it was so terrible what Tom Ford said, that he threw his clothing out of his Las Vegas hotel.
However, his clothing line was never in the store to begin with. Just his beauty line. The Daily Mail, where this story originates, called the Wynn Las Vegas and confirmed that Ford’s products were no longer being carried there.
What is honestly so aggravating about the criticisms of Trump that you see made by celebrities and public figures like Ford is that many of them just make up controversies when there is plenty that is real to criticize him about. Why make things up?
I don’t get it. Was Ford really asked and Trump is now lying? Or was Ford never asked and just wanted a headline? It’s impossible to tell without proof of communication between the two parties.
Melania will be wearing Ralph Lauren on Friday, in case you were wondering. I was.


text:
Venture capitalist Gullit VC launches startup accelerator in Ethiopia
Venture capital firm Gullit VC, has launched a new office in Addis Ababa to support a state-of-the-art accelerator program for startups in the country. The facility with provide startups with access to free legal and financial services, as well as a 300-meter co-working space.
Early beneficiaries include G-Media, a branding and advertising agency, who have been availed a small animation studio, and KBI, a software development company focused on business intelligence in Africa that has also been given an office suite.
Gullit’s accelerator facility is equipped with cutting-edge amenities including coding pods, gaming areas, a cafeteria, an outdoor garden workspace, two conference rooms, and a yoga room; workspace designed to optimize productivity and enable startups to thrive.
G-Media, the media arm of Gebeya, (a Pan-African talent marketplace), is a branding and advertising agency that offers services to a wide range of local and international clients. They feature an animation studio that showcases African folklore in an original and authentic way. G-Media’s campaigns for Ethiopia Telecom’s new super-app and Ethiopian Airlines’ mobile app have successfully driven engagement. In collaboration with Carry1st, G-Media is developing digital marketing content for African games to be introduced and published globally.
KBI, on the other hand, is the US entity of ETM Software, an Ethiopian software development firm that is focused on building business intelligence software using Generative AI to help corporations and Non-Governmental Organizations analyze, understand, and visualize their big data. Currently, KBI is working closely with the UNHCR to develop its refugee tracking software (Compliance and Service Request System), which it has deployed in East Africa.
“Gullit, for the past few years, has provided us with mentorship, advice, and exposure,” Mikiyas Amdu, KBI’s spokesperson, said. “We are looking forward to the next growth stage for our company in terms of making more revenue. With Gullit, we feel like we’re in this unique space where we can grow exponentially by working together and utilizing the services and coaching their teams provide.”
After the 18-month accelerator program, the startups will be given the option to continue their membership with a nominal fee.
Innovation and creativity are on the rise in Africa, as entrepreneurs and startups tackle local challenges with innovative solutions across a range of sectors, including Fintech, healthcare, and Edtech. With a young and tech-savvy population, growing technology adoption, and the availability of funding, these creative minds are driving economic growth and job creation, making it an exciting world of adventure where innovative ideas meet boundless enthusiasm. Moreover, the African startup ecosystem is experiencing a significant boost, thanks to the emergence of venture capital firms like Gullit VC, who are pushing for change and supporting the next big thing.
Gullit has provided critical support for numerous early-stage startups, such as WellaHealth, BuuPass, Qene Games, and Gebeya, enabling them to attain groundbreaking achievements.


text:
Real Magnet Named a High Performer for 2016 by G2 Crowd
Washington, DC | 10.25.16 — Real Magnet, a leading provider of email marketing and marketing automation solutions, has been named a High Performer for 2016 in the Marketing Automation software category by G2 Crowd. Real Magnet received this recognition from G2 Crowd, the world’s leading business software review platform, thanks in part to their high level of customer satisfaction.
G2 Crowd is an impartial compiler and aggregator of customer reviews, which focuses on criteria like ease of use and quality of support. Real Magnet ranks in the Top 10 of G2’s list of Marketing Automation Software providers, according to the G2 Crowd Grid for Marketing Automation.
“Real Magnet has been recognized as a high performer in our Fall 2016 Marketing Automation Grid Report,” said Marty Duffy, director of research, G2 Crowd. “The performance and reliability of this product have been rated at 92 percent, well above the category average. These strong ratings are supported by the fact that 94 percent of users believe that Real Magnet is headed in the right direction.”
“We’re excited to be named a High Performer for 2016 because it means we are delivering industry leading software and support to our customers,” said Tom Pines, Real Magnet CEO. “We are continuing to strengthen our core marketing automation and social functionality, as well as building out cutting-edge technology like predictive analytics.”
ABOUT REAL MAGNET
Real Magnet is a leading marketing automation platform that helps businesses attract, engage and deliver better email, marketing, social and mobile campaigns. Real Magnet simplifies marketing automation with its intuitive design, seamless integration with leading CRMs and dedicated consultative team that ensures smarter engagement.
Real Magnet’s easy to use platform, intelligent analytics and exceptional email deliverability helps the modern marketer navigate and succeed in a complex digital marketing landscape.
ABOUT G2 CROWD, INC.
G2 Crowd, the world’s leading business software review platform, leverages more than 100,000 user reviews to drive better purchasing decisions. Technology buyers, investors, and analysts use the site to compare and select the best software based on peer reviews and synthesized social data. Monthly more than a half-million people visit G2 Crowd’s site. Co-founded by the founder and former executives from SaaS leader BigMachines and backed by roughly $12 million in capital, G2 Crowd aims to bring authenticity and transparency to business technology research. For more information, go to G2Crowd.com.


text:
Amazon has taken its model of checkout-free shopping from a convenience store to a larger grocery store for the first time.
The first Amazon Go Grocery shop has opened on Seattle’s Pike Street, close to the business’ US head office.
Like the Amazon Go convenience store, the grocery shop uses ‘just walk out shopping’ to enable shoppers to pick up an items from fresh fruits and vegetables to meat, fish, baked goods and ready meals.
Both store formats operate via the Amazon Go app. Shoppers scan a QR code from the app to enter the store in the first place. After that, sensors, computer vision and deep learning combine to detect when products are taken off – or returned to – a shelf. The app stores items in a virtual shopping trolley, and when shoppers leave the store Amazon sends a receipt and charges their Amazon account automatically.
That, says Amazon, means that store staff are freed from the tills and can concentrate on greeting customers, replenishing stock and answering questions. “We’ve simply shifted how our associates spend their time so they can help delivery a great experience for shoppers,” says Amazon in its overview of the new format store.
Amazon now has 26 Amazon Go convenience stores open in the United States. The first opened in 2018, following a trial that started in 2016. Since then a number of UK grocery retailers have innovated with similar formats, from the Co-op offering pay-in-aisle technology, to Tesco’s payment app that shoppers use to scan and pay for items in store, and Sainsbury’s development of SmartShop cashless shopping experiences.
Commenting on today’s news, Tim Reay, head of grocery at Wunderman Thompson Commerce, said: “Amazon’s next step into the disruption of the grocery market has finally materialised, as the ecommerce giant seeks to absorb even more of shoppers’ spend. Ultimately, success will be defined by whether Amazon Go can meet expectations of quick delivery, immediacy and convenience in every step of the buying journey. The ceiling cameras and shelf-weight censors are not simple gimmicks either. Combined with the direct billing system that is connected to shoppers’ Amazon accounts, the system is yet another way to lock customers in and to reinvent the physical grocery shopping experience by removing friction points.”
He said physical food retailing still offered scope for expansion as 40% of consumers said they would never buy their groceries online, but when they do, they are more likely to shop on the site operated by a retailer (27%). “This means,” says Reay, “Amazon has an entirely new market to win over and convince as they start to move into more physical stores. In addition, this move will go further to help Amazon solidify its vital role in customers’ purchasing – it already accounts for 52% of all online shopping in the US, and that’s without a mature online grocery offering.
“Amazon’s physical retailing initiatives give brands another opportunity to work alongside Amazon and take advantage of its innovations. Of course, brands must think about how they retain relationships with their customers and retain equity in their brands.”
Tjeerd Brenninkmeijer, EVP of EMEA at Bloomreach, said: “Amazon keeps challenging the entire retail industry, and the expansion of the cashier-less GO model to a complete grocery store is only taking retail technology one step further. But embracing technology for technology’s sake is not always the right answer. Instead, brands need to ensure they use AI and automation in ways that suit their customers’ needs – and that may mean only using these technologies in the background.
“Amazon’s entire brand is based on being tech-savvy; to retain this image and its customers, it needs to deploy innovative solutions across all its channels on a regular basis. On the other end of the spectrum, Tesco’s and Morrison’s have looked at their own audiences and found out that what their loyal customers want is a local feel. These two models may come across as completely opposed at first glance, but they are really a response to the needs of these brands’ customers, based on data acquired by these brands across both online and offline touchpoints.”
Paul Kirkland, director of retail and hospitality at Fujitsu, said: “Amazon’s recent successes have made one thing clear: after dominating the ecommerce landscape, it’s setting its sights on physical grocers next. From acquiring Whole Foods in 2017 to launching Amazon Go convenience stores, the ecommerce giant has been steadily laying the groundwork for its own brick-and-mortar grocery proposition. And this move now takes it one step closer to competing with the likes of Walmart.
“However, while the cashier-less store approach can provide a potentially more seamless shopping experience, it’s imperative that Amazon avoids prioritising speed and efficiency at the expense of a positive and engaging customer experience.
“In order to compete with long-standing grocers, Amazon must place the customer experience at the centre of the store; it is vital in driving footfall and getting brand buy-in from shoppers. One way to achieve this is, for example, is by giving more control to those that know the customer best: store colleagues. By giving individual stores more choice when it comes to stock, store design and logistics, stores can ensure that the customer is at the heart of what they do. By creating positive customer experiences this way, Amazon will be able to help drive footfall, which can in turn help increase sales and awareness.”
Image: Screenshot from Amazon.com


text:
FinTech for Breakfast
Held on Wednesday, January 17, 2017.
With support from Dentons
Kadhim Shubber (FT Alphaville)
Tim Jones (Tibado)
Naeem Aslam (ThinkMarkets).
2018 is off with a bang – of the worst possible sort. The “Meltdown” and “Spectre” vulnerabilities have users of cloud services seriously concerned, and we’ll be waiting to see whether the chip giants have their patches in order in time for our next meeting.
But it’s not all gloom. Crypto-currency markets seem as upbeat as they were at the close of the year; UK tech investment reached an all-time high in 2017; PSD2 will go live any minute; and Funding Circle is reportedly eyeing a jumbo IPO.
Walking us through the byways of FinTech this month we are delighted to welcome back Kadhim Shubber of FT Alphaville. Joining Kadhim will be Tim Jones, the co-founder of Tibado, former CEO of NEST and of Natwest’s retail bank, and an independent director of ITG Inc. Alongside them will be Naeem Aslam, a columnist for Forbes and chief market analyst for online broker ThinkMarkets – which has recently added a number of crypto-currencies to its trading suit.
As usual, this is a caring and sharing experience – so please do share your thoughts on agenda with email@example.com, or register for the event by calling 0207 621 1056 or emailing firstname.lastname@example.org. Thanks to Dentons, I can promise excellent coffee and buns.


text:
Cannabis legalization in Switzerland looms as parliament approves coffee store studies
Cannabis is unlawful in Switzerland. But, the control of tiny levels of the medication had been decriminalized in 2012.
In 2016, four towns and cities when you look at the nationa nation – Zurich, Geneva, Bern, and Basel – stated which they had been establishing pilot cannabis clubs and coffee stores. These pilot jobs could have examined cannabis and gauged its use.
Nonetheless, the pilot jobs had been turn off in November 2017 because of the Federal Workplace of Public Wellness. Medical ministry has maintained that there surely isno appropriate foundation for such exceptions become carved from the Swiss Federation’s Narcotics Act. Medical ministry pointed out that an “experiment paragraph” must be added to amend the Narcotics Act.
Global CBD Exchange
The after month, a total majority of the people in both the smaller and larger parliamentary chambers desired to alter this ruling.
Smaller chamber approves bill making it possible for cannabis studies and pilot tasks
The Swiss Council of States, which can be small chamber of parliament and has 46 people, has recently unanimously adopted a bill that enables cannabis studies and pilot jobs in the nation. The Council is pushingfor an experiment article in the Narcotics Act that could make means for medical research programs including studies of cannabis distribution under a cafe model that just like compared to holland.
Based on MP Roberto Zanetti, whom represents the Social Democrats, the future regulation of cannabis requires for systematic decision-making concepts.
The balance will advance to the now nationwide Council, that will be the larger chamber of parliament and it is composed of 200 people.
The 2 chambers of parliament make up the Swiss Federal Assembly. The Assembly satisfies in Bern, the main city city.
The town of Bern alone had required to be allowed to carry a cannabis out pilot system times that are several. Beneath the populous city’s proposed trial, 1,000 people who already use marijuana will be permitted to get it legitimately through pharmacies. This test task would be scientifically then Evaluated and the total outcomes would act as foundation for the country’s future cannabis policies.
This time around, observers anticipate that the National Council will concur with the plans associated with the Council of States, at the least partially. But, given the Relatively majority that is narrow within the National Council, no one may be therefore certain.
Switzerland currently commonly tolerates cannabis
In accordance with federal government quotes, 200,000 to 300,000 individuals cbd in the united kingdom frequently utilize cannabis.
In 2012, the possession as high as 10 grms of cannabis happens to be decriminalized. Penalties for possession of lower amounts differ among cantons, however in a lot of them, offenders are not any longer penalized.
You will find currently many coffee stores that legitimately sell CBD-dominant cannabis plants that have significantly less than 1% of THC. THC or tetrahydrocannabinol may be the component that is psychoactive of and it is exactly exactly what produces the high therefore the effect that is mind-altering of medication. CBD or cannabidiol could be the non-psychoactive part of cannabis and high-CBD items are mostly useful for medical purposes.
Making use of CBD is extremely extensive that the authorities Zurich began to make use of quick evaluating unit that could see whether a cannabis flower has low-THC degree and it is within appropriate limitations or has high-THC degree and it is currently considered unlawful.
Under Swiss Federation law, any cannabis item with as much as 1% THC is thought to be appropriate dietary fiber hemp. Having its 1% THC limitation, Switzerland currently has an increased limit set alongside the rest of European countries, the usa, and Canada – where in actuality the top limitation for appropriate hemp services and products is just 0.3per cent THC. And because Switzerland isn’t an element of the eu, the nation is liberated to set its very own cannabis policies.


text:
Sacramento, Calif. – With over 50 businesses nominated, fan and community voting for the Republic FC Kickstart program will begin today at SacRepublicFC.com/suncrestbank. The second edition of the program is focusing on supporting Latinx-owned small businesses in the greater Sacramento Region facing economic challenges as a result of the pandemic. With the support of Suncrest Bank and the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the program will distribute a $5,000 grand prize grant, as well as a $2,500 award and three $1,000 grants.
Over 50 Latinx-led small businesses across a wide array of industry – restaurants and culinary creators, service providers, education, health and fitness, retailers and more – have been nominated to reach the next round of Republic FC Kickstart. To help bridge the resources gap that many minority-owned businesses experience, all nominees will have access to free educational services and consulting opportunities from Suncrest Bank.
Voting is now open and will run through November 24. Fans can vote for up to five businesses, casting one ballot daily. For a full list of nominees, visit SacRepublicFC.com/suncrestbank.
The top five businesses as selected through open voting will have one final opportunity to make their case for the $5,000 grant. The five finalists will create a sixty-second video that will be presented to a panel of community leaders including Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Members Mary Flores and Esmeralda Peña, Lisandro Madrigal of Chando’s Tacos and KCRA 3’s Lisa Gonzales, as well as representatives from Republic FC and Suncrest Bank.
Republic FC Kickstart awarded its first set of grants in October to support Black-owned, small-businesses in the region. Over 5,000 votes were cast to select the five finalists who each received a grant to help their business. An additional 50 businesses were granted opportunities through Suncrest Bank to receive free educational and consulting resources to help their business.
For additional information about Republic FC Kickstart, visit SacRepublicFC.com/suncrestbank.
Follow Republic FC on social media.


text:
Expedition cruising is a growing sector amongst Australians, and more cruise lines are keen to get a slice of the market.
Lindblad Expeditions launched a new brochure this year featuring its expedition ships, including the National Georgraphic Orion vessel. Earlier this year, Silversea announced it would bring the Silver Discoverer to the Kimberley in Western Australia for the first time next year. And now, French line, Compagnie du Ponant is planning to enter the market with a new ship.
This week Compagnie du Ponant and its Australian representatives, Travel the World, announced the line would bring a new expedition ship in and around Australia from late 2015.
The announcement follows the appointment of former Orion Expedition boss, Sarina Bratton to lead Compagnie du Ponant’s Australasian operations.
The new yacht will arrive in winter 2015 and is expected to offer luxury and exhibition cruising within an intimate private yacht atmosphere.
In a statement, Ms Bratton said Australia has “never seen ships like these”, and says the line has all the ingredients to become a global leader in the small and five-star expedition sector.
“The majority of the world’s small expedition ships are old, having been built in the late 1980’s and 1990’s,” she said.
“But Compagnie du Ponant has a fleet of four, brand-new, ‘state of the art’ ships and a touch of that unique French avant-garde style.”
Settle in for a luxury voyage as you sail from Sydney to Singapore on board Cunard’s elegant Queen Elizabeth.
Free flight and hotel stay
In Sydney, you’ll embark the exquisite Queen Elizabeth. Stunning accommodation and the most exceptional fine dining you’ll ever experience at sea are just some of this ship’s glamorous delights. Settle into your luxury surroundings as you set sail for Singapore, discovering a wealth of captivating destinations along the way.


text:
Although India has somewhat relaxed and liberalized many of its foreign investment laws, special economic zones (SEZs) are popping up throughout the country to make it more attractive to foreign direct investment. One such SEZ has been created near Chennai and will be dedicated solely to the leather and footwear industry, as was announced at a special dinner held during the week of the 2007 India International Leather Fair, which ran in Chennai from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3.
The proposed SEZ should be in place within roughly three months. The land set aside for the leather industry has not been developed and lacks infrastructure, but it is arable. The SEZ awaits partners. It will be the first SEZ in the country that will be specifically related to the leather and footwear sector.
Located on 300 acres of land and about an hour’s drive from Chennai, the new SEZ is dangling in front of potential investors the prospect of a 100 percent repatriation of profits and duty-free imports of goods and materials. In addition, the government has promised to subsidize all necessary training for fresh workers.
The plan is to eventually grow this particular SEZ to nearly 1,000 acres of land, but promoters of the SEZ admit that land prices will be high and acquiring the additional land could take a while. One such worry could be an underlying resistance from farmers and peasants who live in certain parts of the land being bought. In some pockets of the country the government has met stiff resistance from these kinds of groups, who claim that they are not being fairly compensated for the lost property.
But the Indian government maintains that the SEZs springing up throughout the country should offer one million new jobs. This could be true for industrial SEZs, while others that involve mainly real estate could be more self-serving. However industrial SEZs carry their own set of issues. Since the zone is almost completely devoid of government interference, labor laws, workers’ unions and other such rights are also generally unprotected. One of the perks noted in an “Investment Opportunities” booklet handed out by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) was that in an SEZ there are no fixed wage norms.
There are other incentives for investors, besides the 100 percent repatriation of profits, duty-free imports, etc. Foreign investors can write off unrealized export bills by up to 5 percent, will have full freedom to subcontract within and outside of the country and will not be subject to routine examinations by customs officials of import and export cargo. There are taxes only when you sell into India.
Currently there are a total of 23 operational SEZs for various sectors in India, and another 237 have been approved. Through the leather sector’s proposed SEZ and future zones, it is hoped that an additional 500,000 jobs will be created.


text:
Shares of Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) rallied Tuesday morning as shareholders cheered the collapse of AT&T’s (NYSE:T) $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile USA that would have further isolated Sprint.
Late Monday AT&T, the No. 2 wireless provider, disclosed plans to drop the acquisition and take a $4 billion charge to cover the break-up fee. The deal collapsed under intense pressure from consumer groups, the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice, which sued to block it on antitrust grounds.
Sprint also sued to block the transaction, saying it was uncompetitive.
“From the beginning, Sprint has stood with consumers who spoke loudly and clearly that AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile would create an undeniable duopoly that would have resulted in higher prices, less innovation and fewer choices for the American consumer,” Vonya McCann, Sprint’s senior vice president of government affairs, said in a statement.
Speculation has swirled that T-Mobile could now be forced into a tie-up with Sprint, combining the industry’s No. 3 and No. 4 players. Before the AT&T deal was unveiled, reports indicated Sprint considered acquiring T-Mobile.
“In the long term, we need more spectrum and network capacity. We are working on that. But we will not speculate about any inorganic steps or deals," Rene Obermann, CEO of T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom, told reporters on a conference call.
Shares of Sprint initially spiked about 8% on the AT&T news, but have since retreated. Recently they were up 2.55% to $2.22, cutting their 50% 2011 plunge.
“We look forward to competing fiercely in the robust, competitive market that exists today and continuing to deliver the world class service and products that consumers have come to expect from Sprint,” McCann said.


text:
According to Ars Technica, the Trump Administration is using pseudo-economics to prove that eliminating consumer-protection rules has boosted consumers’ income by billions of dollars.
Last month, the Trump Administration released a report stating that its ‘Restoring Internet Freedom’ order, also known as the repeal of net neutrality rules a few years back, will “increase real incomes by more than $50 billion per year and consumer welfare by almost $40 billion per year,” Ars Technica says.
The Trump Administration turns to a 2008 study on digital subscriber line sharing to back its boost in income claims. “Previous research shows that vertical pricing restrictions in broadband significantly reduce the quantity and quality of services received by broadband consumers…” Looking at “open access” restrictions applied to Digital Subscriber Line service, but not Cable Modem access for three years, the Digital Subscriber Line service subscriptions grew more than 30 percent relative to the trend, and Cable Modem subscriptions “increased slightly.” Additionally, the average revenue per Digital Subscriber Line fell across those three years, and the average revenue per Cable Modem subscriber was constant.
The Trump Administration said that by applying similar tactics from these findings to internet service providers in the years 2017-2027, i.e. removing vertical pricing regulations, its “Restoring Internet Freedom” order will increase real incomes tens of billions of dollars per year.
The Truth About These Alternative Facts
Ars Technica suggests that it’s not clear how that 2008 study is applicable to the effects resulting from the administration’s repeal of net neutrality. The “net neutrality rules were hardly similar to the old DSL line-sharing requirements. The line-sharing rules let DSL Internet providers offer service over the phone lines controlled by incumbent telephone companies, letting consumers choose from many DSL providers instead of just one.”
On top of that, unlike line sharing, the net neutrality rules don’t address the “competition problem” that forces consumers to choose between one or two high-speed providers, Ars Technica says. “Instead, the rules prohibited certain kinds of anti-consumer behavior that [internet service providers] are more likely to pursue when they have virtual monopolies over Internet access,” like paid prioritization and vague explanations about pricing to consumers.
Finally, the White House failed to point to the effects that resulted from the years of net neutrality rules, including an increase of broadband speed. Plus, broadband networks grew at the same rate before and after the net neutrality repeal. As a result, “If anything, the evidence points to regulation and deregulation having little effect on broadband growth,” Ars Technica says.
As a result, it appears that the Trump Administration’s claimed success isn’t what it appears to be. Harold Feld, a broadband-industry expert says that it’s common practice for administrations to “pseudo-economics” to show how their policies are positively impacting consumers when they’re really not. “One of the fun things about how folks use pseudo-economics in public policy is that you can use it to justify all kinds of price gouging and other consumer harms as ‘efficiencies’ and then make up a model that produces some suitably impressive number of ‘consumer surplus’ that makes it all seem OK,” he told Ars Technica.


text:
The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has said that Nigerian skit makers, bloggers, comedians and other content creators using digital platforms will, henceforth, be punished for not getting approval before publishing their online advertisements.
According to a statement released on Monday by Olalekan Fadolapo, ARCON’s director-general said that the agency is making the decision as part of its plan to force the group to comply with its Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice.
“ARCON has received complaints on the advertisement, advertising, and marketing communications activities of skit-makers, comedians, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers, vloggers etc on digital media platforms.
“Most of the advertisements exposed by this group are not only unethical with unverified claims and misinformation, but also in violation of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice.”
According to the statement, by this notice, brand owners, digital agencies, secondary digital media space owners – bloggers, skit-makers, comedians, influencers, content creators/producers, bloggers vloggers and other advertising stakeholders in the digital/ online space – are advised to obtain pre-exposure approval of all advertisements, advertising and marketing communications, in accordance with the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and the ARCON Act No 23 of 2022.
Fadolapo said: “ARCON will take necessary actions, including sanctions and prosecution, against violators of provisions of the Act to ensure compliance.”
Earlier in the year, ARCON had rolled out plans to regulate online advertising in the country to sanitise the industry and curb inflammatory advertising messages.
The DG had said the council would clamp down on individuals and organisations that engage in advertising without being first licensed by ARCON.
He added that the council was ready to ensure compliance of online advertisement with the provisions of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice, sales promotions, and other rights/restrictions on the practice.
He had urged brands, marketing communications professionals and other stakeholders to ensure the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) vetted their online adverts before they were run.
Further, Fadolapo revealed that the council had been inundated with petitions over unethical advertisements exposed on online media platforms targeting the Nigerian market by both the primary and secondary digital media platform owners.
A recent online advert by a bank triggered national outburst that many described as offensive. The advert compared the resurrection of Jesus Christ with a local Lagos bread. The advertisement reads: “Like Agege Bread, He Rose!” Since then, the call for sanitising the online space has become more intense than ever.
Without ARCON’s vetting, he noted, lot of advert materials pops up on blogs and social media, which are not meant for children or against the belief of some of the people in the country among others.


text:
Escaping the big lull in shopping that usually hits the week after Thanksgiving, and lasts until about 10 days before Christmas, retailers on Monday reported better-than-expected business last week, even with Thursday’s snowstorm. By the weekend, traffic returned, bringing retailers back on, or slightly ahead of, their plans for small gains on the week.
"You start one way as a baby, but why shouldn't you be able to choose your own path as opposed to culturally people telling you which way to go?" - Thom Browne at his men's spring 2018 show, where he celebrated gender fluidity. #pfw #wwdmens (📷: @delphineachard)
"I think that all anyone really wants in life is to have people understand us for who we actually are, despite everything," says Ruth Negga. The actress talks "Preachers" season 2 and more on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: Dan Doperalski)


text:
Ubisoft this week announced a partnership with Storyland Studios to evaluate the possibility of creating a “full-scale Ubisoft theme park” based on the French developer’s popular brands. Storyland Studios has worked on other theme park projects including Universal Studios and Legoland.
Theme Park Insider first reported on the news, and spoke to Storyland Studios chief Ben Thompson, who described Ubisoft’s franchises, like Assassin’s Creed, as being “iconic and globally recognizable.” Which is probably the bare minimum for a theme park, if you ask us.
A virtuous cycle — A theme park could help Ubisoft create stronger connections and love for its brands. LARPing through theme park worlds allows fans to create lasting memories around their favorite titles, which could lead them to be even more loyal and continue buying new games.
At some point, Ubisoft could be like Disney: the park draws in guests who end up seeing promotions for its latest games, while the games bring guests to the park, and so the cycle continues. The theme park is a sales outlet for games; this cycle is a well-oiled machine for Disney with its parks.
Another company that has been dabbling in theme parks? Nintendo, which has begun opening a series of “Super Nintendo World” parks from Japan to Florida. Its latest park opened in Japan earlier this year.
Second time’s the charm? — Ubisoft previously said in 2015 that it would open a “next-generation” theme park in Malaysia, only to squash the idea for being a complex project. The company now says that it learned a lot from that experience that it will apply to the new project.
Ubisoft has tasked Storyland Studios with creating a “pitch” for a potential park, so it will likely be quite some time before it actually sees the light of day — if it ever does.


text:
“Alexa: What’s the news today?” That depends. If a consumer wants to get news from a voice assistant such as Amazon Echo or Google Home (or the hundreds of devices that support them), the process isn’t always easy and the results are inconsistent. People have complained that the news reports on voice assistants are too long, or don’t answer questions accurately, according to a recent Reuters Institute report.
But the devices aren’t going away. In fact, they are multiplying like rabbits, if last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was any indication, with more voice assistants in U.S. households and more of them built into other “smart home” devices such as refrigerators, mirrors, home security and yes, “Intelligent Toilets” (“Alexa, flush!”). So: What should publishers do? Experiments so far have been mixed, but that doesn’t mean giving up is an option. Instead, publishers need to fight to get better deals for content. They also need consider new types of business models such as product placement, as Meredith is doing.
Amazon Alexa vs. Google Assistant, Part 2
If you want to understand how big the voice wars have become between Amazon and Google, you just need to go to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show. Last year, Google was the upstart taking on the incumbent at Amazon. This year’s battle was more evenly matched. Google plastered ads all over town and even had an “It’s a Small World” Disney-style ride as part of its booth. Amazon opted for a lower key approach with “Works with Alexa” tags on all the associated products.
Amazon touted selling more than 100 million Alexa devices. But Google shot back by saying it had 1 billion devices with Google Assistant – though that includes all Android phones sold with it built-in. While CNET had its writers decide who won the Amazon vs. Google voice war at CES (Google got the nod), the real question is how can publishers use this battle to their advantage? Will the tech companies ever give more credence to news and information on voice assistants, and what will that value be in the long run?
What People Want
Before we answer, we first need to understand how people are using voice assistants in their everyday life. People typically use these omnipresent devices in the morning and evening. And people mostly want them to play music, answer general questions and get weather updates. In an analysis of the Reuters Institute report, Nieman Lab’s Laura Hazard Owen noted that people love using smart speakers, but not really for news. Even though 42% said they used smart speakers for news, only 1% said news was the most important feature for them.
Users also have a lot of complaints about news on voice assistants: The updates were too long, they aren’t updated enough, many use synthesized voices to read the news, and there’s no way to skip or select stories. Even worse, when people asked specific questions related to news stories, the answers were inaccurate and inconsistent.
While people do use the devices to stream live radio (19% of all NPR online listening happens on smart speakers), they aren’t keen to listen to longer form audio or podcasts. Maybe that’s just a factor of podcasts being an on-the-go commuting format, while smart speakers are in the home.
What Publishers Can Do
In the wake of Reuters Institute study and many experiments by publishers, how can they better reach consumers via voice assistants? As with all new formats, publishers must understand how people use the devices and tailor their content appropriately. The New York Times announced a new briefing for Alexa-enabled devices based on “The Daily” podcast. It is in a much shorter format for smart speakers and they are promoting it through the print edition of the paper. The Times has developed a weekly News Quiz taking into account the popularity of trivia quizzes on the devices.
As The Verge’s James Vincent pointed out: “Audio content won’t necessarily drive subscriptions, but it could be a relatively easy way for the paper to reach millions of new listeners before — maybe — turning them into readers.”
Meanwhile, Meredith announced its new Innovation Group at CES. The new division includes a Voice Network that brings together all of the company’s audio, voice, and podcast products under one umbrella.
Meredith has experimented with “content-to-audio” where someone reads story content. However, what’s most interesting is their initiative to create skills or actions for smart speakers. One example would be using Alexa to open an AllRecipes skill with an option to order ingredients for a recipe. “The skills are actually the best place to do the product placement and direct links to commerce,” Meredith’s head of innovation Corbin de Rubertis told Folio.
Publishers are still feeling their way to what works best on voice assistants. (And the payoff is difficult to envision right now.) However, growing use of these proliferating devices means that publishers can’t dismiss them. Instead, they need to start with shorter briefings, try out some new interactive skills, and as the platforms become more mature. And perhaps they can even get compensation for offering the most up-to-date relevant answers for users.


text:
Odisha has a vast potential for the development of tourism. It is one of the critical sectors of the state’s economy, in terms of foreign exchange earnings as well as employment generation opportunities. In 2017, 14,011,229 domestic tourists & 100,014 foreign tourists visited the state of Odisha.
Over 12 million tourists arrive in Odisha every year, and the sector sees a growth of 9-10 percent annually. The Odisha government had even announced investments to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore in the tourism sector by 2021. Several initiatives have been taken in recent times along with a pro-active tourism policy.
It is in this backdrop that the PATA India Chapter Executive Committee meeting comes handy. Under the chairmanship of Union Tourism Secretary Yogendra Tripathi, a meeting with the travel trade of Odisha was held on September 4th where the travel trade came up with several suggestions.
Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy, IAS, Tourism Secretary Vishal Dev, and Tourism Director Nirmal Chandra Mishra too were present. Chairman – Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha & IATO Eastern Region and Co-Chairman – FICCI National Tourism Council J K Mohanty represented the trade body.
Several suggestions were made in regard to the growth of tourism in Odisha:
- The potential of Odisha Tourism should be highlighted in all presentations of the Incredible India Campaign of the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India.
- Brochures of Odisha Tourism should be made available for the information of tourists in all India Tourism Offices abroad.
- Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India should l examine the development of Chilika lake as a place for water sports and other activities and take advantage of the natural gift of the 1100 sq km Chilika Lake which is the largest lagoon in the Northern Hemisphere.
- The Buddhist Circuit of Odisha doesn’t figure prominently in the Buddhist Circuits promoted by India Tourism. Therefore, it was suggested that infrastructural development facilities in the Buddhist Circuits be developed.
- As Bhubaneswar has been declared the No.1 Smart City of the Country, it was suggested that w a mega Convention Centre as conferences and conventions should be set up. Since a number of new hotel projects are also coming up in the State, a mega Convention Centre us badly needed which could cater to different stakeholders.
- Hotels with a room tariff of Rs.7, 500/- and above are facing a severe constraint for being placed in the highest GST slab of 28%. It is the highest tax rate on hotels in the World (Indonesia 5%, China 6%, Malaysia, China, Singapore & Spain 7%, France 10%, Nepal & Sri Lanka 13%, USA 15%. The levy of 28% GST thus constitutes a serious tax-driven economic barrier for foreign tourist arrival to India and would prove unfavorable to the growth of foreign exchange earnings of hotels. The hotel industry needs to be rationalized and made tourist-friendly for this GST rate. It was suggested that GST on hotels having a tariff of Rs.7, 500/- and above be reduced from 28% to 8%.
The final suggestion was that hotels should be included in infrastructure category under section 80-IA of the Income Tax Act to avail deduction of 100% profits and gains obtained from the business for a time period of 10 consecutive years out of 15 years from the date of its commencement like projects such as Airports, Bridges, Highways, Sanitation, Telecom Sector, Power Plants etc.
The Union Secretary assured the travel trade of Odisha to take these suggestions forward with the Ministry.