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Ben Sherman Group Ltd. plans to close its women’s wear division and focus on its core men’s wear business.
Miles Gray, the outgoing group chief executive officer, said Friday the company, a division of Oxford Industries, planned to focus on its strongest performing division.
“We have a 50-year history in producing great men’s wear with significant success internationally with leading store groups,” he said, adding the company would continue to roll out branded stores “concentrating on our complete men’s wear lifestyle offer.”
Men’s wear generates the bulk of the business, and women’s wear represents 10 to 15 percent of sales. The company said it was seeking to “minimize potential head count reductions” as it plans to wind up the women’s business.
In an interview with WWD last month, Gray was frank about the tough year Ben Sherman had in 2009. For the second quarter ended Aug. 1, Ben Sherman net sales declined 27.3 percent to $23.6 million. In the first half of the fiscal year, net sales declined 30.7 percent to $47.8 million. The company recently underwent restructuring due to declining sales during the recession, reduced its head count and discontinued its footwear and children’s lines, taking a $1.4 million charge in the second quarter. Gray said those categories would relaunch next year via licensing agreements with Hudson Shoes and Flyers Group, respectively.
“Business is tough, and we need to concentrate on our area of expertise,” said Gray last month.
As reported, Pan Philippou has been named ceo and will take over in January. Philippou was group ceo of U.K.-based clothing group WDT and had served as ceo of Diesel USA. Gray will become nonexecutive chairman of the group.
“I was touched by the fact that she lost her father, really before his time, and it was a real shock. She had two young children, she was married and she was expecting that she would have her own life for a good 25 years,” said Claire Foy about playing a young Queen Elizabeth in Netflix’s The Crown. Styled by @mayteallende 📸@jgreenery #emmys2017 #wwdeyeu
“Truth and lies have become a real interesting theme, more than ever, lately,” Emmy nominee Laura Dern told WWD. "It’s a very interesting time to use our voice." Styled by @cristinaehrlich, 📸 @shayanhathaway #wwdeye #emmys2017
“It transcends the genre that is you think of a sci-fi show — you don’t expect it to be so profound or emotionally riveting,” Evan Rachel Wood told WWD of her Emmy nominated role in Westworld. styled by @samanthamcmillen_stylist 📸 @emmanmontalvan #emmys2017 #wwdeye


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As MicroStrategy adds another $177 million in Bitcoin, their total holdings add up to a total of 108,992 coins. The latest purchase added 3,907 coins to their previously very large portfolio. Time and again, the company has shown that they envision BTC as the future and therefore never falter at purchasing more. The company made many purchases while BTC was going down, and now as it’s recovering, they are accumulating again. Microstrategy is also one of the few companies that started their Bitcoin journey back on August 11, which is almost 1 year back. And since they were early in the game, the company’s entire stash has an average price of just $26,769.
Microstrategy and Bitcoin
Michale Saylor, the CEO of Microstrategy, is a strong advocate of Bitcoin. He believes that it is the future and is therefore going all in with the company’s investment. Another important thing is that time and again, he has defended Bitcoin’s quirks and explained how they are not problems. He shed light on the energy usage, citing that Bitcoin is mostly running on renewable energy or the part that is already being wasted.
One big question is, what if Bitcoin fails? What will happen to the company? It will probably suffer heavy losses or go bankrupt and have to shut down. The point is Microstrategy is taking a big risk with Bitcoin. If they succeed, this will undoubtedly be a historic moment, but we will know how important diversification is if they fail. Even Peter Schiff says he would like to see Microstrategy go down and Bitcoin fall; only then will he make an entry.
One big question regarding the latest purchase
Anyone who believes in Bitcoin knows that the more you stack, the better. Microstrategy’s latest purchase was made at an average price of $45,294. When I shared this with my friends and my crypto group, people asked why they didn’t purchase when BTC was at $29,000. Well, there are a few possibilities to this. The company might have thought that Bitcoin could go lower, and they planned to purchase more coins then. It could also be possible that they didn’t have the cash reserves to make a purchase at the time (a little unlikely). And finally, the case could be that FOMO pushed them to make the purchase (adding as much as they can before the bull run).
What are your thoughts on the latest Bitcoin purchase of Microstrategy? And is it a good idea how they are going all-in with the purchase? Let us know in the comments below. Also, if you found our content informative, do like and share it with your friends.

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Why ‘Earn Payoneer Money’ Is A Bad Idea: Payoneers, Paid Apps And Google Pay
A new wave of companies is taking advantage of the pay-to-play model, and in a way that can make you feel bad about paying money for something you might have bought a month ago.
Pay-to, Pay-to Earn, and Pay-To-Play are two of the most popular types of online payment platforms in the United States, and they’re also among the most controversial.
They’re different because they work by allowing users to earn money by paying a monthly fee.
The payment is usually a one-time transaction like a one time subscription to a video service or the like.
The payments can vary based on the quality of the service.
You pay a one percent fee, or you can pay a higher fee and still be eligible for the same service.
PayTo earns money on the way you use the service, and it’s often used by advertisers.
PayTo has grown exponentially over the last few years.
Now PayTo makes up about 8 percent of the internet advertising market, up from 2 percent in the first quarter of 2018, according to data from market research firm comScore.
But there are some concerns with the model, which has been around for years.
Payto is based on a trust model, where users trust that PayTo will give them something, and if they don’t, the service will automatically stop paying them.
It’s also a relatively new type of online platform, and its growth has been slow, especially compared to other payment models like pay-per-click.
And PayTo’s growth has come with concerns about fraud.
The company’s site has been hacked.
In April, a PayTo customer sued the company and an unnamed PayTo representative, claiming that the company violated her privacy by not allowing her to see the payment history of her purchases, which he said he made in order to make money on her behalf.
In the lawsuit, the customer alleged that she had been billed $3.2 million in fees for her purchase of video subscriptions and videos.
The customer also claimed that PayOn’s privacy policies made it clear that PayOne would never use her personal information to sell her ads, and that PayFor refused to let her view the payments history of all her purchases.
The suit claims that PayTheater, PayTo, PayOne and other PayTo platforms are responsible for fraud.
And PayTo is the company’s largest customer.
It has a $25 billion market cap, according, and the company reported $1.4 billion in revenue last year.
But PayTo claims that it’s not a fraudster, and while it may be legitimate to have your payment history as a way to get a better experience, PayTheaters has also recently been caught in a dispute with PayTo over its privacy policies.
In July, Pay Theater sued PayOn and PayOne over their privacy policies, claiming it violated the terms of service.
The dispute, according the lawsuit and a representative from PayTheatre, has been ongoing for years, with PayTheOne claiming that PayToads privacy policies violate the terms and conditions of the terms, and according to the representative, the company “has never been a sponsor or advertiser of PayTheato.
The lawsuit also alleges that PayThisater was involved in the scam that targeted the PayTo customers, which resulted in the PayItowares personal information being used to target ads to PayTots.
In an emailed statement, PayIto said that the PayOne user was paid a one cent fee, but that PayThat user was not charged a fee.
It also said that Paytoad has never been an advertiser, advertiser or sponsor of PayItoads services.”
PayThisater never paid any money to PayTheot, and we never paid a penny to PayItots advertisers.”
“It’s been resolved,” he said.
We have a zero-tolerance policy on advertising and the issue is being resolved.
PayTheAto will continue to work closely with PayThisot and PayTheats advertisers on advertising issues.”
PayThisatre and PayTower declined to comment for this story.
In 2016, the New York Times found that Payoneering was rife with fraud and that many PayOneers had little to no control over what ads they used.
The Times noted that the payoneers site is owned by the company that created PayOneer, which is owned, in part, by an investor


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Los Angeles-based vegan restaurant Native Foods Café opened a new location in Culver City, Calif., on Monday, November 15. The new restaurant marks the seventh Native Foods location, all of which are in Southern California. It will feature the extensive vegan and organic menu options the eatery is known for, including Native Chicken Wings, Nuevo Native Nachos, tacos, Reuben sandwiches, and more. The restaurant will also serve vegan cupcakes, beer, and wine. Native Foods, founded 15 years ago, prides itself on creating delicious plant-based foods for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike.
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The President of the French Representative Council of Black Associations has met with Reverend Al Sharpton after Jean-Paul Guerlain, the former perfumer for the Guerlain fragrance house, used a racial epithet on television, WWD reports. The council has also slammed Guerlain's parent company LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton for its lack of response after Guerlain's comments.
Patrick Lozès, president of the council, told WWD, "It has been six days since Mr. Guerlain made these comments, and for six long days LVMH has not moved to distance itself from them." Lozès also mentioned that he talked about the topic with Sharpton, who will travel to Paris in early November.
Lozès added, "All of the major civil rights leaders told me: 'This is not the image we have of France.'"
Last Friday, Jean-Paul Guerlain used a racial epithet on French TV while discussing the making of his fragrance Samsara, saying:
"One day I told her -- and I still called her Madame -- 'What would seduce you if one was to make a perfume for you?' and she told me, 'I love jasmine, rose and sandalwood.' And for once I started working like a [racial epithet]. I don't know if [racial epithet] ever worked that hard."
Jean-Paul Guerlain later apologized via a statement reading, "My words do not reflect in any way my profound thoughts but are due to an inopportune misspeaking which I vividly regret." And the Guerlain brand was quick to point out that he retired from the company in 2002 and hasn't been a shareholder since 1996.
On Wednesday, the Guerlain house released another statement. According to WWD:
The company asserted that Guerlain's comments were "intolerable" and went against the "culture, values, and ethics practiced by the enterprise, which promotes the diversity of talents of all origins."
The Association of United African Nations will hold a silent march outside Guerlain's Champs-Elysées store on Saturday and has been vocal about customers boycotting the label's products.
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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are all the rage in the music industry right now.
DJs like 3LAU and Steve Aoki have sold theirs for seven-figure sums. Kings Of Leon has just raised around $ 2 million and sold it along with their new album. And as a writer, Grimes recently sold a bunch of NFT artwork for around $ 6 million in just 20 minutes.
The dirty little secret of these transactions? People buy unique digital collectibles – but they’re not buying underlying rights. And when you consider that most digital works of art (including music) can be easily replicated with the swipe of an iPhone, questions about the uniqueness of the assets actually backed up by splashing large sums of money on NFTs keep getting louder.
Pitchfork put it earlier this month: “NFTs emerged from the world of visual art and create a sense of scarcity that is inherently artificial – the sign is rare, not the artwork itself.”
This could change soon.
Bluebox is a suite of blockchain-based tools introduced by distribution and service company Ditto Music.
Bluebox uses the blockchain to record all or part of the ownership of recorded music and / or publish copyrights, and divides the royalties accordingly. Ditto assumes that the platform will lead to “higher collection rates” [while] massively reduce the loss of earnings of the artists ”.
NFTs are the final piece of the puzzle. This Thursday (March 18th) British artist Big Zuu is selling 75% of the rights to a song on his upcoming album, which is split into different parts and packaged in NFTs.
Taylor Bennett, the brother of Chancellor ‘Chance The Rapper’ Bennett, is selling 75% of the rights to an upcoming recording, including through separate NFTs.
Both artists retain 25% of their respective copyrights.
A 75% stake of two copyrights – a song by Big Zuu and a recording by Taylor Bennet – is available this week through an NFT sale from Bluebox
This will get interesting after these NFT sales are closed, according to Lee Parsons, co-founder and CEO of Ditto Music. Because this means that several people can automatically collect digital license fees from their share of this music via Bluebox.
“This year, Bluebox is launching both a copyright swap and an IRO platform for the first-version offering,” he explains. “Similar to websites like Polkastarter or Coinlist, where blockchain projects use the power of the community to fund initial offers, artists can use Bluebox IRO to pre-sell music to a community, which can then own a work of art as an NFT. ”
For astute collectors, this offers the opportunity to buy “shares” in an artist’s work before it is even published. This also creates an alternative source of funding for the artists themselves.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is NFT’s first real music copyright.”
Lee Parsons, Bluebox / Ditto
According to Parsons, NFTs are the missing component for this process to run smoothly.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first real NFT music copyright,” said Parsons of the upcoming Big Zuu and Taylor Bennett sales. “As a true copyright NFT, both the copyright owners and their NFT investors receive monthly royalties from streaming stores through a bluebox wallet.
“Currently this is only possible in the Bluebox architecture. The NFTs can also be traded on the upcoming Bluebox NFT exchange. “
According to Parsons, this is just the beginning of Bluebox’s potential.
“What we’ve created here is ultimately a way for thousands of fans to invest in music as an asset,” he says. “I’m looking at what 3LAU has just achieved with NFTs, thanks to a clearly dedicated fan base. If his fans pay millions to own an exclusive copy of his music, how much would they be willing to spend to actually own a piece of his catalog? “
Parsons adds, “Right now there is a lot of headline news about NFTs, but at its core it’s really just about token assets.
“We expect you will see more token assets like that [house] Properties coming on the market soon. Realistically, you will soon be able to trade your music copyright NFT for a piece of property for as long as it’s worth enough. That possibility is much closer than people think. “
“If 3LAU fans pay millions to own an exclusive copy of his music, I wonder how much would they be willing to spend to actually own a piece of his catalog?”
Bluebox is based on the R3 Corda blockchain, which has gained a reputation for being the blockchain that some of the world’s largest banks trust, having worked with clients such as Microsoft, Natwest and HSBC.
MBW has heard from sources in the blockchain world that R3 is an investor in Bluebox after participating in a seven-digit round on the platform with Kosmos Capital last year. Parsons will not comment on this suggestion, but confirms that this investment round has given Bluebox a pre-launch valuation of $ 20 million.
As Parsons puts it, the combination of bluebox and NFTs could spark a revolution in copyright sales with fans who will be able to buy songs and recordings before their favorite artist hits the big time – and then the rewards of that investment to reap the line.
He claims that such an “ecosystem” can currently only be implemented on Bluebox, as the platform can not only process the copyright-based NFT, but also the subsequent payment flow for license fees. He suggests that this combination could also lead to Bluebox quickly becoming an important technology in the future of acquiring proven evergreen copyrights for large sums of money.
“This is the end of the big record labels, publishing organizations and the music industry as we know them.”
Taylor Bennett, artist and manager
However, why do such transactions have to be based on blockchain and NFTs rather than trusted and traditional fiat currencies?
Parson replies: “In a word: liquidity. Buying a copyright is very difficult. You need to know where to buy it; You have to spend thousands on legal fees; and you certainly can’t buy it in small pieces.
“In contrast, NFTs and blockchain make the asset liquid and easily tradable. It therefore offers the possibility of an immediate transfer of ownership – a real first for the music industry. “
Taylor Bennett, who this week is selling 75% of its copyrighted music on a Bluebox NFT, goes even further: “This is the end of the big record labels, publishing organizations and the music industry as we know them.”
In the future, Parsons will be particularly enthusiastic about the use of Bluebox and NFTs at Opulous, which the team behind Ditto launched last month.
Opulous is a decentralized finance platform (DeFi) that allows artists to hedge loans against their previous streaming revenue, using the copyrights they own as collateral.
Artists and other investors can also deposit into Opulous’ Music Copyright Pools (from which loan capital is drawn) and learn that they can earn 10% per year on their contributions.
“The Bluebox platform for managing copyrights already provided the backbone for the credit process in Opulous,” explains Parsons. “Now the platforms are even more integrated.
“With Bluebox and NFTs, any non-music person can buy a piece of copyright and then use the monthly income from that asset to either earn interest [via the Copyright Pools]or get a loan right away. “
He adds, “Opulous and Bluebox are very closely related to the vision we have in the music industry for the next decade. And it’s a vision in which NFTs promise to play an important role. “Music business worldwide


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Today’s Apple announcement was marred by an absolutely atrocious streaming experience. Sure, the products were cool (and I’ll cover some initial thoughts on those), but the fact that Apple couldn’t get the live stream to work until more than halfway into the presentation was an embarrassment. Don’t be surprised to see Apple recruiting for new positions in the media group, and I would suggest that the two internal candidates for the head marketing job not get their hopes up.
With Facebook’s official switch to requiring Messenger for Facebook messages, there has been plenty of backlash. Some of the arguments against it, though, are specious. Many certainly have merit. But not everyone has a problem with it. For example, me.
The keynote for WWDC 2014 came and went yesterday (had to watch it last night, given I was travelling on business all day Monday). Despite all manner of bold predictions, absolutely nothing really earthshattering happened. Apple didn’t change anything all that radically. They didn’t invent any new categories of product or service. Basically, what we got are what appears to be reasonable software upgrades.
So the Beats/Apple deal is official (and at a slightly lower price than originally expected). Now, of course, the next question comes up: what next? Specifically, how does this deal potentially impact Pandora and Spotify? Both are the biggest players in the streaming music space. Conventional thinking is that Spotify is under the biggest threat, but that conventional thinking also appears to be making conventional assumptions about how the threat will appear. Just having more money won’t make Beats Music a threat to Spotify. And thinking Apple/Beats isn’t, or won’t be , a direct competitor to Pandora? Well, that’s dangerous and limiting as well.
Rumours started swirling yesterday that Apple was in talks to buy Beats. The supposed price tag is somewhere around $3.2 billion. All manner of speculation has arisen as to why Apple would want Beats, and why they would pay that kind of price for them. Almost all of the discussion has focused on Beat’s rather modest streaming service, which should’t be overlooked. But perhaps there is a bigger thing going on here.
A recent piece on Forbes outlines 5 reasons why the author believes Apple could be the next Sony. The ideas are interesting, and conceptually reasonable, but the author makes some mistaken assumptions about a couple of things. He isn’t wrong on many facts, but there are some underlying assumptions that are incorrect.
The “Don’t Learn To Code” movement continues to chug along in the background, attempting to counter the “Learn To Code” folks. A recent post, along with a seminal piece on Coding Horror, all express opinions on to why learning to code really isn’t that important, or in some cases may be either inappropriate or even dangerous. A lot of these “don’t learn to code” pieces tend to focus on the technical elements of why coding is harder than you think, why it takes more than a quick weekend course, and lament the state of development tools. But few address a more fundamental question, one posed as a popular argument for learning to code.


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2020 was a challenging year that plunged the world economy into turbulence. But there is a bright side: increased market volatility creates new money-making opportunities for Forex traders. It’s good news for millions of people worldwide who are currently considering a career change.
Fortunately, the latest technological advances make trading more accessible — and, therefore, more popular — than ever before. Also, the intense competition between the leading brokers has lowered the barrier to entry: today, everyone with basic computer skills and a stable Internet connection can earn money trading.
As it might be hard to choose between different service providers, attending The Forex Expo is a good place to start. In 2020, this key industry event will take place on December 16 — 17, in Dubai World Trade Center, Hall 1. During these two days, the capital’s first major tower will host more than 50 Forex brokers displaying their products to 3,000+ traders from all over the world.
The participants and guests will have a chance to attend the industry gurus’ presentations and get updated on the recent developments in the sector. For those unable to travel, the show organizers have prepared a special online event, so everyone will be able to network, visit the booths, and listen to selected speakers.
Among the industry leaders taking part in the Forex Expo 2020, there is Olymp Trade, one of the event’s Gold sponsors. This global trading platform has been successfully operating for six years. By now, it has over 68,500,000 registered users from 139 countries.
The list of supported languages is constantly expanding, as the increasing number of small-to-medium-sized investors get access to the company’s services. Apart from being cosmopolitan and multilingual, Olymp Trade offers a wide variety of trading instruments and educational resources to enhance their clients’ profit potential.
It’s the first time Olymp Trade comes to Dubai. Despite the pandemic, the company couldn’t miss the opportunity to rub shoulders with other industry trendsetters and present its products to potential clients and partners. The most important of these products are:
● Fixed Time Trades (FFT), a basic easy-to-leverage instrument;
● Forex, a simple and clear trading interface designed for beginners;
● MetaTrader 4, an advanced-level terminal for professional traders.
Therefore, the company’s stand may be interesting for all the traders, regardless of their expertise level. While the beginner-friendly products are likely to attract those taking their first steps in Forex trading, the sophisticated interface of MT4 appeals to professionals seeking to make the most of their skills and experience.
Whichever financial instrument you prefer, the Olymp Trade leading analysts will be available to answer your questions and receive constructive feedback. For customers, it’s an excellent opportunity to get first-hand information, share their personal experiences, suggest new features, and receive some nice welcome gifts.
If you have already added the Olymp Trade stand to your must-see Expo list, you can visit the platform's website to explore how it works and get your questions prepared.
As for non-attendees, they can connect by joining a live-stream by one of the company’s representatives. By enabling online translations, Olymp Trade promotes its products to a broader audience and shows commitment to all its clients.
Both offline and online participants of the Forex Expo will have an opportunity to compare Olymp Trade against dozens of other prominent brokers, listen to celebrity speakers, make useful connections, and attend some thrilling award ceremonies. You can find all the schedule, floor plan, and other details here.


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Morningstar's Mansueto views next horizon: rating RIAs
Company announces new forward-looking fund rating systems but how to rate advisors still has puzzling aspects
Jeff Mello is latest to join eMoney's talent exodus but CEO Ed O'Brien says it's healthy renewal at a firm that added several hundred people since Fidelity bought it
The ex-Goldman Sachs director of strategy and planning at eMoney joins a growing list of departures exacerbated, sources say, by Fidelity putting a wobbly performance reporting software project -- and staff -- on its plate
February 28, 2020 – 11:09 PM
Pete Giza and Damon Deru go for Holy Grail of portfolio rebalancing with software that shuffles stocks, bonds... and asset classes; Believe it?
The RedBlack and TradeWarrior executives see old systems as 'archaic' yet know that the Black Diamonds, Morningstars, Orions and Tamaracs see rebalancing as a loss leader
June 11, 2019 – 9:49 PM
Mike Alfred scores headhunt coup by hiring brother, Ryan -- and, oh yeah, he raised $6 million
The co-founder and CEO of Digital Assets Data not only got his ace sibling but co-founder Kurt Fenstermacher, ex-Bridgewater, took over as COO changing the trajectory of the startup
April 30, 2019 – 5:25 PM
I’m pleased to read Mansueto’s commitment to releasing a rebalancing software component to the Morningstar Office platform. It’s a needed function that will help Office catch up to its competition.
Rating RIAs will be very helpful to the growth and professionalization of the industry. This will force RIAs to take discretion on their client’s portfolios to allow Morningstar to compare their performance. All good news and hopefully the end of self reported non discretionary RIA performance!
Apple new superior item is really a line of proprietary, graphical operating devices created, promoted, and marketed by Apple Computer system, the newest of that’s pre-loaded on all presently shipping and delivery Macintosh computers is usually a Mac OS X. Mac OS X would be the successor for the authentic Mac OS, which were Apple’s major running method since 1984.
world-wide-web lookup engine featuring shoppers the opportunity to compare cosmetic and surgical procedure costs and status from.The Assist for Creatures


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This week begins in the shadow of the recent airstrikes over Syria which took place over the weekend. The action taken by the US, UK and France were well telegraphed, Theresa May will face questions on the UK’s involvement in the House of Commons this week. Markets appear to be treading water at the moment, not quite sure if robust economic growth will drag it through this rough patch or if recent volatility heralds the latter stages of the global economic cycle. Airstrikes over Syria and potential confrontation with Russia will not help to settle the nerves with investor sentiment as finely balanced as it is today. ▪ Geopolitical rumblings aside, markets typically look past shortterm noise which means investors will be trying to understand what the more medium term drivers might be. This week that will, to some extent, be guided by corporate earnings results in the US. This quarter’s set of results take on more significance as analysts attempt to decipher just how much more profitable companies have become since the recent tax reforms were implemented by the Trump administration.
As always with ‘earnings season’ we’ll get a real-time check on the health of the US consumer when the banks report. Last Friday JPMorgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo reported broadly stronger than expected earnings but this week sees retail giant, Bank of America reporting. Analysts will be looking for clues within the consumer loans business – are consumers borrowing more money to buy cars, are they spending more on their credit card than they were last year? Today we’ll also see US retail sales data, thereby getting further insight into current consumer spending habits. ▪ UK inflation data will be released this week. The consumer price index (CPI) is forecast to be 2.7% for March, thereby continuing to hold beneath the 3% level recorded in January. The day before we’ll also see labour market data, where expectations are for the unemployment rate to remain at 4.3%. Much of the focus will be on wage growth data which has been a bit stronger in recent months.
These data will be important in the context of the upcoming Bank of England monetary policy meeting in May where there is a growing expectation that they will raise interest rates for only the second time since the great financial crisis. Inflation and the labour market remain key indicators in their dashboard. Should the data suggest rising inflationary pressures, we would expect a rate hike to become a formality next month.
Finally Chinese economic growth data for the first quarter of this year are also released this week. Forecasters expect the headline rate to remain stable at 6.8% (on an annualised basis) but there are some downside risks. Some of the leading indicators in China have weakened in addition to recent trade war spats with the US, will bring the Chinese growth story into greater focus this year and whilst we expect little impact in the short-term, they remain a concern for longer term growth in the economy.
A tough week for Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg who testified in front of both Congress and the Senate over allegations the company’s privacy laws had been compromised following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. He emerged with his reputation unscathed and indeed the share price of Facebook moved higher over the two days of testimony.
We received the minutes of the most recent Federal Reserve meeting last week, where the tone was relatively hawkish. One key takeaway was the relaxed attitude towards the recent trade war rhetoric, with the Committee noting that an increase in tariffs would not (in their current form) be enough to derail the US recovery. This attitude is in stark contrast to the European Central Bank meeting minutes which were released the following day. The Committee there noted that they were, in fact, worried about the US-China trade war and the potential negative impact on European economic growth.
Markets now expect a significant chance of another US interest rate increase at their meeting in June. This expectation has been propelled higher by the release of US inflation data last week. As measured by CPI, inflation dropped by 0.1% in March. However, when stripping out the volatile food and energy component (known as core CPI) inflation actually increased to 2.1%. This core figure is now a
It hasn’t been a great week for Chief Executives in the world of big business. Over the weekend it was reported that Sir Martin Sorrell is to leave WPP following an investigation into his conduct. Little detail has been released on this but he leaves behind the world’s largest advertising business where he has been in charge for the last 33 years.
Larger German companies have already identified leadership issues and spent last week rectifying their mistakes. At banking giant Deutsche Bank, the sword finally fell on John Cryan who oversaw a three year period where the bank struggled for profitability. At car manufacturing giant Volkswagen, Matthias Mueller was replaced as part of a broader managment overhaul following the diesel emission scandal in 2015.
Source: Bloomberg. Figures are for the period 9th April to 15th April 2018.
Where the index is in a foreign currency, we have provided the local currency return.
If you are interested in receiving this communication every Monday morning, please use the button below to fill in your details.
The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you can get back less than you originally invested. Past performance or any yields quoted should not be considered reliable indicators of future returns. Prevailing tax rates and relief are dependent on individual circumstances and are subject to change.


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ImpactAlpha, March 7 – Koolboks makes affordable, renewably-powered refrigerators for food-based and other small businesses in Africa. The woman co-led company is based in France and operates in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. It offers its technology on a lease-to-own basis.
Nigeria-based Aruwa Capital, a gender-lens investment fund, backed Koolbok’s first equity round. Aruwa’s Adesuwa Okumbo Rhodes told ImpactAlpha that the fund backed Koolboks after seeing “first-hand the enormous impact their product is having on the lives of business owners in rural off-grid areas,” nearly three-quarters of whom are women. Many of its customers use Koolboks’ devices to store and sell frozen foods, she explained.
Koolboks will largely use the funding for working capital.
Koolboks is Aruwa’s sixth investment. Its portfolio also includes consumer goods company Agroeknor, health products company Wemy Industries, fintech ventures Crowdforce and Pngme, and pharmacy chain Lifestores Pharmacy.
Aruwa Capital invests in small and mid-sized businesses that are founded and led by women or which have a substantial base of women customers. Aruwa expects to close its first $25 million by mid-year.


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Fast Retailing Q1 profit contracts 9.1% in FY2023
This is despite a 14.2YoY revenue growth.
Fast Retailing Group’s profit attributable to owners contracted by 9.1% year-on-year to JPY85b in the first quarter of 2023.
This is despite a 14.2%YoY growth to JPY716.3b in consolidated revenue recorded between September and November 2022.
Read more: Fast Retailing profit climbs 60% in 2022
“That result was due primarily to a large decline in profits at our UNIQLO operation in the Mainland China market caused by COVID-19 restrictions on movement,” the group reported.
“Having said that, UNIQLO operations in all markets, with the exception of Greater China and Japan, performed strongly and reported considerable increases in both revenue and profit.”
In addition, the group has once again started the expansion of its GU operations.


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Harley-Davidson has turned all its attention on the Street range of motorcycles as the company looks at tapping the urban crowd. While the Street 750 will be launched in 2014, the Street 500 will come in next year and the automaker will put all its energy marketing these affordable products. Amidst this, Harley-Davidson does plan to bring new products to the Indian market, which are part of the global lineup. The Breakout is one such Harley model which could be launched in India later this year. The Harley-Davidson Breakout belongs to the Softail range.
First the styling, we feel the Softail Breakout looks out-and-out gorgeous, more so when viewed from the rear. The bike is quite hefty, having a length of 2445 mm and weighing 308 kgs dry. It sports 130/60/21 tyres at the front and 240/40/18 section tyres at the rear. The massive rubber is bolted on to 10-spoke cast aluminium wheels. Powering the Harley-Davidson Breakout is a 1690cc, air-cooled engine which belts out 130 Nm of torque at 3000 RPM. The claimed fuel economy is 17.85 km/l while the tank capacity is 18.9-litres.
Harley-Davidson is likely to locally assemble the Breakout in India which will lead to an attractive price. Expect the bike to be priced at around Rs. 18 lakhs, competing against cruiser alternatives from Triumph. While 18 big ones doesn’t seem cheap, one must remember the Breakout isn’t your entry level cruiser but instead one of the top bikes from the America automaker in recent times. The demand for leisure motorcycles is increasing in India and both Harley-Davidson and Triumph are looking at tapping into the growing popularity of its brand in emerging markets like India and China.


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McDonald’s decided to dip its toe into the plant-based meat market last month with the Beyond-based P.L.T. (Plant, Lettuce, Tomato) by testing it in 28 locations in southwest Ontario. Now, a third of the way through the 12-week testing period, MarketWatch reports that the P.L.T. is not the rousing success that McDonald’s and Beyond hoped for. Beyond stock plummeted 22.2% in yesterday’s trading, and it’s unclear whether McDonald’s will adopt the P.L.T. permanently after the trial period is over.
“Based on our channel checks with select McDonald’s based in Ontario, Canada that are currently testing the Beyond P.L.T. burger, the initial feedback has been largely positive, although it seems that the trial has not been a blowout success thus far that justifies an immediate nationwide rollout across both Canada and the U.S.,” analysts from Bernstein Research wrote in a report.
MarketWatch notes that Tim Horton’s also did a trial run with Beyond Meat and chose not to put the items on its permanent menu. Beyond executives, however, remain optimistic. “While we recognize short-term reactions to these milestones are often marked by heightened uncertainty, we believe that Beyond Meat is in a stronger position today than at any other time in its history,” Seth Goldman, Beyond’s executive chair, said in an earnings call.
Why are Canadians not embracing the P.L.T. when rival Burger King’s Impossible Whopper has done so well? (Burger King reports that the quarter following the Impossible Whopper’s national rollout was its best in four years.) Is it because it’s immediately clear from the name what an Impossible Whopper is? Does the name P.L.T. bring back sad memories of the 1980s McDLT whose only distinguishing feature was the special packaging that separated the warm and cold elements of the sandwich? In an analysis shortly after the P.L.T.’s debut, financial site The Motley Fool pointed out that the P.L.T. is not fully vegan (it has cheese), not actually healthy, and costs more than the Big Mac. Micheline Maynard—a Takeout contributor— drove to Canada to try one and reported for Forbes that there was very little signage and no one seemed very excited about it. Would a P.L.T. by any other name taste salty-sweeter?


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After investing heavily in an international team, online home goods and decor retailer Wayfair announced it will broaden its global reach to include Canada and Western Europe. While there are still many pieces to tie together, Wayfair is moving full steam ahead with its global initiatives, see what those initiatives are and what they will mean for the brand.
The MCM Outlook 2016 survey results are in… and it looks like Canadian consumers are U.S. merchants’ cross-border buddies. While Canada may not be a surprise as the most-popular country U.S.-based merchants sell into, the other four may be a shot. Click through to find out, and let us know which countries you’re selling into.


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Various community groups, residents, business owners, and stakeholders came together to look at all sides, pros, cons, and possibilities associated with one issue—mobile vending in Golden.
The Town of Golden, Tourism Golden, Golden Area Initiatives and the Kicking Horse Country Chamber of Commerce welcomed more than 25 people to a Let’s Do Coffee event on Oct. 30 to discuss mobile vending—not only if it is something the town wants, but also what that picture would look like.
“The Town has afforded everyone an active role in public policy,” said Lori Baxendale, president of the Chamber.
“I hope we can do this again for a number of issues,” said Jon Wilsgard, manager of corporate affairs for the Town of Golden.
Right now mobile vending is not permitted in Golden, either on public or private property. (Big Cones Ice Cream, located on private property near the Petro Canada, was grandfathered in).
The issue is being looked at by the Town after it received some attention this summer when Golden Fries, a mobile food vendor who tried to set up in Golden this summer, was unable to do so. They remained in town, and are now working out of the Golden Arena for the winter.
Golden Fries was only able to set up at the Farmers’ Market (an exception within the Town policy), or several kilometres east on Highway 1.
There was a very wide range of opinions expressed. There were some who were excited about the prospect of mobile vendors coming to town, bringing in new products, cuisine, and economic opportunities.
Others were less than thrilled about the idea, suggesting that these vendors would be taking business away from local storefront business owners who pay property taxes, and that there is not a large enough population base support to both mobile and traditional businesses.
The largest group was in the middle, receptive to the prospect of mobile vending, but still wanting to make sure these vendors paid fair share (in business licenses and fees), and that it was properly regulated.
Several people suggested that it could bring in tourism, turning Golden into a “food destination.” It could bring people downtown, and keep them outside and walking around. It was also suggested that these vendors could double as information stands, carrying pamphlets and maps of Golden attractions.
The possibility of new and innovative products was a plus, as some people noted that with a low startup cost (lower than a storefront business), entrepreneurs may be willing to take some bigger risks with their creations.
It was also noted that these vendors would come into town, already having a job. And if things go well, they may one day expand into a storefront.
However, attendees wanted to make sure the Town took several factors into consideration when regulating the practice, including: parking, litter, hours of operation, duration of license, duration in a single location, security and vandalism, number of licenses issued, aesthetic standards, as well as penalties for non-compliance.
Several other municipalities already have mobile vending policies in place that dictate where vendors can set up, how long they can stay, and how much they pay. Invermere, for example, issues four licenses to mobile vendors (the town has four specific sites where they may set up), and they pay a “rent” of $400 a month.


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AirPlay poll ends, Apple media device polls begins
With over 1,100 votes from iLounge readers, our latest poll—“Will you buy AirPlay-compatible speakers?”—has ended. Readers were given a range of positive options, including yes they’d buy them, yes, they’d buy them but only if they carry a $25/$50/$100 or less price premium, as well as negative options including no, they don’t need wireless speakers, no, they aren’t interested, and no, they already have an AirPort Express or Apple TV.
While votes were scattered across the seven choices, an overall majority of readers—54 percent—said they wouldn’t buy AirPlay speakers. Among the negative responses, 38 percent said they wouldn’t buy because they generally weren’t interested, while 32 percent said they wouldn’t buy because they already have an AirPort Express or Apple TV, and 30% said they didn’t need wireless speakers. Out of the positive responses, 41 percent said they would buy AirPlay speakers, but only if they carry a $25 or less price premium over non-AirPlay sets. 25 percent wanted to see a $50 or less price premium before they’d buy, while 21 percent said they’d buy AirPlay speakers regardless of the price, and only five percent said they would buy them but only if the price premium over standard speakers is $100 or less. Thanks for all your votes!
Our new poll focuses on Apple’s media playback products. We’d like to know which Apple media device is currently your primary playback device. Do you primarily use an iPad, an iPhone, an iPod touch, an iPod nano, or perhaps an iPod shuffle, iPod classic, or Apple TV? Our new poll, “What do you use today as your primary Apple device for media playback?” lets you answer that question. As always, you can find the iLounge Poll in the left-hand column of the main iLounge.com homepage. Cast your vote today!
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- Tim Cook allegedly tells customer AirPods to ship in ‘next few weeks’
- Apple Pay reportedly launching in Spain tomorrow
- iHome iZBT10 Zenergy Bedside Sleep Therapy Speaker
- Twelve South HiRise Duet for Apple Watch and iPhone
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The current global economic situation is one of the most challenging and uncertain in recent memory says Paul Haarman. The 2007-2008 financial crisis plunged the world into recession, and while economists and policymakers have made progress in recovering from that event, there are still significant risks to the global economy. In this article, we will explore some of the key factors that contribute to financial crises and their impact on the global economy.
What are Financial Crises?
A financial crisis is a situation in which the value of financial assets drops rapidly and there is a widespread loss of confidence in the financial system. This can lead to a collapse in the value of stocks, bonds, and other investments, as well as a freeze-up in the credit markets. A financial crisis can have a significant impact on the global economy, as businesses and consumers lose confidence in the ability of the financial system to provide liquidity and credit.
What Causes Financial Crises?
According to Paul Haarman there is no single cause of financial crises, but a variety of factors can contribute. Some of the most common causes include:
– Over-leveraged banks and other financial institutions
– Asset price bubbles, such as in housing or stocks
– High levels of private and public debt
– Excessive borrowing by governments
– Political instability
How do Financial Crises Affect the Global Economy clarify by Paul Haarman?
A financial crisis can have a significant impact on the global economy. When banks and other financial institutions are forced to sell assets due to concerns about their solvency, it can lead to a downward spiral in asset prices. This can cause a contraction in economic activity as businesses and consumers reduce their spending. Additionally, when governments or individuals are forced to borrow more money to finance their activities, it can lead to higher levels of debt. This can create instability in the global financial system and make it more difficult for businesses and consumers to borrow money. and conflict
What are Some Possible Solutions to Financial Crises?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to financial crises, but various policy measures can be use to address them. Some of the most common solutions include:
– Monetary policy, such as increasing the money supply or lowering interest rates
– Fiscal policy, such as increasing government spending or reducing taxes
– Regulation of the financial sector
– Bank bailouts and other financial assistance to struggling institutions
The global economy is still facing significant risks, and a financial crisis could occur at any time. It is important for policymakers to be prepare to address any potential problems. There are a variety of policy measures that can be use to mitigate the effects of a financial crisis. And it is important for countries around the world to work together to ensure a coordinated response.


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Telenor Hungary has announced the launch of new tap-and-pay functionality in its Telenor Wallet application. The service, developed and operated by internationally renowned mobile transaction solutions provider Cellum, has thus become the world’s first telco-offered converged wallet with fifteen remote and proximity payment functions in one app.
The new tap-and-pay functionality makes Telenor Wallet a truly 360° digital wallet, covering almost any payment scenarios that consumers might find themselves in. Launched in late 2014, the service already represented major milestones in mobile payment services when it introduced support for MasterPass™, making it the world’s first carrier-owned wallet to support Mastercard’s global payment network. The app also features an in-app marketplace for food delivery, entertainment ticketing and purchasing Telenor accessories.
Telenor Wallet’s NFC functionality uses special SIM cards to secure card data, and works with purpose-made bank cards issued by Budapest Bank under the brand “Telenor MobilPass”. Android users can initiate the onboarding process inside the application. Once the onboarding process is complete, the bank card is installed automatically and the user can pay at any PayPass-compatible terminal around the world. Thanks to the SIM-based technology, payments can be made even when the phone is turned off.
Telenor Wallet is based on the Cellum Mobile Next platform, a market-tested and fraud-proof technology that Cellum is currently rolling out in the APAC region.


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Pantone has announced its new colour of the year and anyone thinking about redecorating or refurbishing a room in 2023 may be interested in considering it.
Viva Magenta (18-1750) is a gorgeous red that could be ideal in a cushion, throw or even small accents, such as mugs, vases and coasters.
For those seeking to go even further, it could make a striking feature wall or be a bold statement if you brought it in when you invest in that new chair or sofa.
Described by Pantone as: “A shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength,” Viva Magenta is said to “brave and fearless.”
The idea is that evokes a desire to be self-empowering and promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, according to Pantone.
“Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a colour that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all,” it says.
And Leatrice Eiseman, executive director, Pantone Color Institute, adds: “In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real.
“PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.
“Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter.
“Invoking the forces of nature, it galvanises our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”


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Omnichannel merchandise retailer Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (BBBY) reported disappointing second-quarter results, with both revenue and earnings missing expectations. Results were impacted by the COVID-19 Delta variant in the last leg of the quarter, as well as ongoing supply-chain constraints and inflationary pressures. Shares plunged 22.2% on the news, closing at $17.27 on September 30.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $0.04 per share, down 92% year-over-year, and significantly lower than analysts’ estimates of $0.52 per share. (See Bed Bath & Beyond stock charts on TipRanks)
To add to that, net sales declined 26% year-over-year to $1.99 billion, and also failed to meet the consensus estimate of $2.06 billion. The decline in net sales included a 15% planned reduction due to the divestiture of non-core banners related to the company’s store fleet optimization activity. Notably, comparable sales fell 1% compared to the year-ago period.
BBBY mentioned that customer demand slowed towards the end of the quarter due to unexpected external factors, such as the re-emergence of the COVID-19 virus, rising prices, and industry-wide supply-chain issues, which the company failed to mitigate. Having said that, the company is positive about the progress of its three-year transformational strategy, with its remodeled store openings and buybuy BABY banner continuing to gain momentum.
Commenting on the results, Mark Tritton, President, and CEO of the company, said, “As a group, we continued to leverage our enhanced digital channel, with significant growth above 2019 at nearly double the proportion of sales. Operationally, we entered the next phase of our supply chain modernization through our partnership with Ryder which is instrumental to our strategy. We are committed to executing over the short, mid, and long term, especially during these early stages of our multi-year plan.”
Tritton added, “We are well-positioned to continue our planned investments in our business and pave the way towards a more profitable future. We have the plan, the team, and the resources to unlock our potential.”
Based on the current economic environment and the company’s performance to date, BBBY guided for third-quarter net sales and adjusted earnings to fall in the range of $1.96 – $2.0 billion and $0.00 – $0.05 per share, respectively. Consensus estimates for net sales and earnings are pegged at $2.02 billion and $0.28 per share, respectively.
The company also revised its full-year 2021 outlook and now forecasts net sales to be in the range of $8.1 – $8.3 billion, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.31 billion. Additionally, FY21 earnings are projected to fall in the range of $0.70 – $1.10 per share, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.51 per share.
In response to the company’s poor financial performance, Wells Fargo analyst Zachary Fadem drastically lowered the price target on the stock to $14 (19% downside potential) from $28 while maintaining a Sell rating.
Fadem said, “We believe Q2’s hiccup undeniably casts doubt on BBBY’s ability to deliver on its aggressive multi-year turnaround plans. And considering a more challenging environment featuring low supply chain visibility and enhanced execution risk, we’re taking the under, lowering estimates and reducing our price target.”
The analyst went on to state that despite the encouraging new leadership and a thoughtful multi-year transformational plan (FY21-23), he views BBBY as a structurally challenged asset with low visibility and a bumpy path ahead.
Overall, the stock commands a Hold consensus rating based on 3 Buys, 6 Holds, and 3 Sells. The average Bed Bath & Beyond price target of $29.10 implies 68.5% upside potential to current levels. Shares have lost 7.9% over the past year.
Papa John’s Announces Largest Domestic Franchisee Development Agreement; Shares Pop 2.5%
Dollar Tree Raises Share Buyback to $2.5B; Shares Soar 16%
Cintas Exceeds Q1 Expectations, Lifts FY22 Guidance
The post Bed Bath & Beyond Crashes 22% on Disappointing Q2 Results appeared first on TipRanks Financial Blog.


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More funding to help town centres and high streets thrive
Communities across the country can bid for up to £50,000 to help make local areas more attractive for business
Communities across the country can bid for up to £50,000 to help make local areas more attractive for business, High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP has today (24 January 2019) confirmed.
The latest round of the £500,000 British Improvement Districts (BIDs) Loan Fund will support business owners and local leaders to set-up a BID, which allow communities to come together to deliver additional local services and upgrade commercial areas for the benefit of business.
From Altrincham to Watford, Business Improvement Districts serve as a tried and tested model of how local business can work together to realise the potential of towns and high streets by engaging strategically with local authorities, developers and communities.
High Streets Minister Jake Berry MP said:
"BIDs have a proven track record of upgrading commercial areas to enable business owners and entrepreneurs in our town centres and high streets to thrive.
"Whether through promoting longer opening hours, more security for shops or pedestrianised shopping districts, BIDs are a go-to vehicle through which you can reimagine your high street or town centre.
"Those on the ground know what works. Our Loan Fund is designed to provide them with the means to drive regeneration forward and meet local needs."
British BIDs, a BIDs sector body, hold the contract of managing and operating the fund until September 2020.
Professor Christopher Turner, British Bids Chief Executive said:
"Business Improvement Districts have been shown to be hugely successful in regenerating town centres.
"There are now over 300 BIDs across the UK and the Loan Fund that the government set up has been vital in helping key BIDs to emerge.
"Thus far 29 loans of between £10,000 and £50,000 have been allocated through the British BIDs application process, and BIDs have been able to use this loan funding to develop their proposals and support the ballot process."
Case study: Altrincham BIDs
In July 2014, the Altrincham BID was awarded £40,000 from the 3rd round of the BIDs Loan Fund, which supported it to overcome prohibitive start-up costs during development.
The BID was launched in April 2016 and supported Altrincham town leaders to take forward an ambitious plan to transform their historic market hall into a food and culture hub at the centre of the town.
This bold vision paid off, turning around a shop vacancy rate of 30%, one of the highest shop vacancy rates in the UK.
Last year the town scooped the prize for England’s best high street at the 2018 Great British High Street Awards. Altrincham was recognised for its “ongoing events throughout the year to drive footfall to the local high street”, which the town’s Business Improvement District Altrincham Unlimited has done much to lead.
There is up to £95,000 available for this latest round of funding, which we estimate will be able to provide funding for up to 4 prospective BIDs. Successful applicants to the fund can receive up to £50,000. The average received by successful applicants has been £33,000.
Expressions of Interest in the Loan Fund are to be received by 8 March 2019, with completed applications by 10 May 2019.
To register your interest and receive an application form, please contact email@example.com.
Key ways the government has backed the high street in 2018:
• the Budget saw business rates relief cut small retailers’ bills by a third, building on over £10 billion of business rates support since 2016
• the government appointed an independent expert panel, headed by Sir John Timpson to diagnose and respond to the challenges facing the high street
• in response to recommendations from the expert panel, the government has announced a £675 million Future High Streets Fund to help improve infrastructure and access to high streets, put historic buildings back to use and make town centres fit for the future
• the Open Doors scheme will see empty shops being opened up to community groups offering services to the most vulnerable in our communities
• the Great British High Street Awards was a hotly contested competition to find Britain’s best high street, and the huge response highlighted retailers and community groups across the country working in innovative ways keep town centres vibrant and strong


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York DA to hold Black Friday auction
High-end vehicles, including several from Mercedes-Benz, BMWs, Infiniti and Lexus, will be available for purchase at the York County District Attorney’s Fall auction on Friday in York, according to a news release.
The auction will start at 10 a.m. at the Schaad Detective Agency, 1114 Roosevelt Ave., York.
More than 50 vehicles will be offered for sale that day, in all shapes, sizes and conditions. In addition to the four-wheeled vehicles, a 2008 Harley Davidson Glide and a 2001 Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle will also be auctioned. There will also be 75 smaller items, such as televisions, electronic components, video gaming systems and bicycles, the release states.
Vehicles are sold “as is” – there are no warranties or guarantees. Successful bidders should be prepared to place a $500 cash deposit for vehicles won. The remaining balance must be paid off within 7 days. Vehicles will not be released until they are paid in full.
Title, tag and notary services will be available the day of the auction. All miscellaneous items are cash and carry at time of sale. Personal checks will not be accepted for payment.
Vehicles may be viewed prior to auction at Schaad Detective Agency, starting Monday.
Contact Ted Czech at 717-771-2033.


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Microsoft Tests Windows 10 OS Performance Optimizations Based On User Workloads
can be used for just about anything due to its versatility, from running services to simply being a basic client PC. Soon, Microsoft
will add more functionality to hopefully make the operating system even better for specific usage scenarios.
In the past few months, we have heard about Microsoft testing new workflows, designs
, and other features to improve user experience. Internally, Microsoft has also been testing a new “Device Usage” page in the Settings App, according to Windows Latest
. This new page would allow users or organizations to customize Windows 10 for "specific use cases, such as schoolwork, entertainment, gaming
This feature is being referenced, and has seemingly gone live, in preview builds that are currently accessible. Microsoft has made this a user-selectable feature with the following six main usage categories, of which multiple can be selected:
Based on what a user or organization selects, Windows will more accurately tailor the user experience for the selection. For example, if "Gaming" is select, Windows will show off games to users and help them discover new titles.
At present, it is unknown if this feature will also optimize Windows for the specific use case. Again, in the case of “Gaming,” the toggle could disable services that could impact gaming performance which could come in handy. In any case, let us know what you think of this new feature in the comments below. Is it just a new way for Microsoft to collect data, or is it legitimately helpful?


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Yoox Net-a-Porter is extending its resale offer to Mr Porter, the group’s luxury men’s online retailer, in a bid to connect with younger, sustainably-minded shoppers.
Mr Porter customers can now sell their used items in exchange for store credit with an extra 10 per cent incentive, or bank transfer, via a new service, Mr Porter Resell. Reflaunt, a resale technology provider, will manage photography, item authentication and quality control, and then upload onto international marketplaces, such as Tradesy, Hardly Ever Worn It (HEWI), Miinto and Goat, among others. The secondhand items won’t be sold on Mr Porter itself. Only authentic designer items that are considered “brand new”, “excellent” or “very good” will be accepted; and users must list a minimum of three items for resale.
“Our strategic intent stepping into resale was both to create an opportunity for our existing luxury customer base to extend the lives of their designer items, while also exploring how we can serve our future customer who already has an affinity for re-commerce,” says Alison Loehnis, Yoox Net-a-Porter's president of luxury and fashion. Already, the resale launch on Net-A-Porter has attracted “a new generation of younger customers to our brand, with over half of womenswear resellers aged below 35-years-old”. The majority have opted for store credit over bank transfer when using the service, “signalling an evolution in conscious luxury shopping behaviours and brand loyalty from a new generation”.


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Rihanna's Uncle Busted For Selling Fake Puma/Fenty Gear
(AllHipHop News) Rihanna's uncle is reportedly facing charges of selling fake copies of items from her Puma x Fenty line.
Leroy Fitzgerald Brathwaite, 53, who is reportedly related to the pop superstar's mother Monica, appeared in court in Barbados this week accused of falsely passing slippers and T-shirts as Puma products.
According to Barbados' Daily Nation newspaper, police officers said they began investigating Leroy after a tip-off from the singer herself.
During a visit to her homeland, she reportedly noticed knock-off versions of her Puma line and reported the matter to company executives, who alerted officials.
Leroy, a musician who has performed under the names Daddy I-Roy and De Warrior has been charged under the country's Fair Trading Commission's (FTC) Consumer Protection Act.
He has denied the allegations, and his lawyers have claimed the charges were improperly laid as authorities failed to serve him with a warning under the act. He has been released on bail ahead of a hearing on November 28.
Rihanna, 29, real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty, unveiled her Fenty x Puma fashion line last year at a star-studded event during New York Fashion Week.
After debuting her first collection, the musician told The New York Times she hoped that her father, Ronald Fenty, who is separated from her mother, would be proud the brand shared his name.
"It makes me think of my dad and how proud he must be," she said. "It's his name. He grew up with this name. Now it's a name that's on an international brand."


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World Tallest Cut Christmas Tree
Downtown Christmas tree: The tallest Christmas tree in the world will be lit in Enid, Oklahoma. It will be 140 feet tall and will be decorated with 20,000 LED lights and 10,000 ornaments. The event will also feature holiday fireworks and live music. The event is free and open to the public.
|Height: 140 foot|
The story of the world’s tallest Christmas tree began in 1948 when a small group of businessmen in Bellingham, Washington, got together and came up with the idea of building the tallest tree. The group, known as the Jaycees, announced their plan to build a tree on December 11, 1948. The group wanted to make a mark in the history books by establishing the record for the tallest Christmas tree.
|Height: 221 foot|
|The Northgate Company, which owned the mall, and the Bon Marche, the mall’s anchor tenant, sought to celebrate the opening of the new Northgate shopping centre in 1950 with an accomplishment that would establish Northgate as a landmark. Christmas tree competitions for the “tallest” had been popular for a while, and Jim Douglas (1909-2005), president of the Northgate Company in 1950, later recalled this in a People’s History for HistoryLink: “The suggestion was made that Northgate should put an end to this contest for the tallest Christmas tree. Text source: historylink|
Phoenix Christmas tree: Downtown Christmas tree
|Height: 80 foot|
In the American city of Phoenix, another city has a taller Christmas tree. The tree in Phoenix is 80-110 feet high and is larger than the tree in New York City. The city doesn’t have its own Rockettes, but the tree is still the tallest in the world.
Read more at:
|Tallest Tree in the World, Hyperion|
|The Tallest Tree in Dublin|
|Where is the Tallest Tree in Dublin in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla?|
Checkout more tallest experiences at thetallest.net ..!!


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Keysight commissioned Dimensional Research to conduct a survey measuring preparation and attitudes toward 5G deployment across the globe. The results showed very clearly that nearly half of global businesses are already deploying 5G networks, or plan to deploy them within the next 12 months. These findings underscore the pent-up consumer demand for 5G: the technology is here, it is real, and customers want it.


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American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is scheduled to report first quarter 2019 earnings results on Wednesday, June 5, before market open. Earnings is estimated to decline 8.7% year-over-year to $0.21 per share while revenue is projected to increase nearly 4% to $855 million.
The company has consistently topped earnings forecasts for the trailing four quarters and can be expected to continue this trend in the first quarter as well. American Eagle’s top line results in the first quarter are likely to benefit from the company’s significant investments in its store network and digital channels.
The retailer has seen strong comparable sales growth over the past several quarters and expects comp sales to increase in the low single digits for the first quarter. American Eagle has been seeing healthy growth in its brands and this strength is expected to boost the company’s performance in the first quarter. However, higher expenses could impact margins negatively.
In the fourth quarter, American Eagle beat earnings estimates while revenues fell short. Revenues inched up by 1% to $1.24 billion while adjusted EPS was $0.44. Comparable sales rose 6%. For the Aerie brand, comp sales grew 23% while for the AE brand, they grew 3%.
For the first quarter of 2019, the company has guided for EPS to be around $0.19 to $0.21. At the end of fiscal 2019, American Eagle expects its store count to be in the range of 1,072 to 1,092 stores.
American Eagle’s shares have fallen 5% so far this year and over 20% in the trailing 52 weeks.
Last month, the IPO market was in a full swing. IPOs of Snowflake (NYSE: SNOW) and JFROG (NASDAQ: FROG) had an impressive opening day in September, the former creating a
PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) beat market expectations on both revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2020. The company saw the momentum continue in its snacks business while the
With more and more people turning to virtual entertainment sources, amid the virus-related movement restrictions, video game publishers like Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) are witnessing unusually high demand. Not surprisingly,


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The mood at the fair was one of new-found confidence, with exhibitors who are at the top of the game in their sectors, Debra Cobb reports.
Divided into six themes, the new colours for swimwear and bodywear celebrate bright tones, Africa-inspired frenzy, clashing designs, and sculptural, romantic looks.
From setting strategy to marketing sustainability, attendees have gained expert advice at the summit this year.
The show has received overwhelming responses from exhibitors and more booths have been reserved this year.
Demonstrations will be performed on Shima Seiki's SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system that is at the core of the company's 'Total Knitting System' concept.
With more than 15 months to go before the exhibition opens, many companies already plan to launch their products in Milan.
With 10,501 visitors, there was a strong international dimension to the show, with higher attendance from Spain, China, Mexico and India.
With a total buyer attendance of 5,200 visitors, feedback from the latest edition of Pitti Filati exhibitors was extremely optimistic. Carlo Volpi reports from Florence on Italy's leading yarns show.
An international knitwear exhibition at Pitti Filati connects the students with the best Italian spinners to produce innovative garments for the trade show.
The leading textile exhibition had to be moved following the demand from participating brands and exhibitors.


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In Hindu mythology, Mount Meru helped the gods and demons extract nectar during the churning of the ocean. In many ways, Meru Cabs, named after the mountain, has sped past road-weary, inefficient taxi services in India and taken metered cabs to a new level.
Neeraj Gupta, Founder and MD Meru Cabs, was inspired by similar services in London and Singapore, where he would often travel with his wife.
Gupta sensed an opportunity in running a fleet of air-conditioned, GPS-linked, electronic metered taxis in Mumbai when the Maharashtra government invited tenders for such a service for 10,000 cabs, replacing the old black-and-yellow taxis in 2006.
His confidence stemmed from running taxi services for BPOs and corporate clients. He was certain such a service would be an instant hit in India if a service provider could cash in on urban Indians’ aspirations.
So he took the plunge, but money was a problem. To attract private equity investment, Gupta corporatised his operations by creating a holding structure. A holding company, V-Link Travel Solutions, was floated to own two wholly-owned arms, V-Link Fleet Solutions which was running the pick-up services for BPOs and V-Link Taxis, the new firm launched to run air-conditioned taxis in Mumbai.
India Value Fund invested Rs 50 crore in the parent company in December 2006 to help finance Mr Gupta’s foray in the air-conditioned taxi market. The fund promised to pay another Rs 160 crore when required. Further, it enlisted the services of Accenture, KPMG and E&Y; to prepare the accounts and audit. Three India Value Fund representatives and Gupta make up the company’s board. Gupta says his association with the PE investor has been his best bet yet, as without it, it would have been impossible to get marquee consultants on board.
Meru now runs a fleet of 5,000 taxis in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi and has 700 employees. The company has a topline of Rs 100 crore. It is likely turn in a profit in 2011, and targets sales of Rs 180 crore that year.
The market, says Mr Gupta, has grown from zero to 10,000 units in the past three years.
What has also stood Meru in good stead is its investment in technology. The company has developed its own software which directs the nearest taxi driver to pick up customers. “We spend Rs 60,000 apiece to set up the device, including the credit card swipe machine, in each taxi,” says Mr Gupta.
Meru is working on a technology to offer TV services in its cabs. It earns 10% of revenues from advertisements painted on the car front. The company plans to launch a dedicated workshop for the 1,700 cabs it runs in India, in association with India Value Fund.
Gupta’s entrepreneurial journey began with an automobile garage he opened with a friend in Mumbai with an initial corpus of Rs 1 lakh. The garage, ‘Elite Class’ entered into long-term contracts with corporates.
One such deal, for pick-up and drop services with Tata Infotech, was the turning point. A new company, Travel Link, was formed to execute the service. An 18-seater bus was acquired for Rs 14 lakh in 1999.
Gupta’s main challenge is to keep pace with the rising demand for Meru cabs, and the Mumbaikar crib that cabs are not always available. “The demand for our service has grown manifold but we are unable to scale up driver numbers rapidly,” says Gupta.
State government norms, which make it mandatory for drivers to read and write Marathi and stay in Mumbai for at least 10 years to get driving licences, are partly to blame. Meru also carries out rigorous checks of drivers’ records, to maintain the spotless reputation it has enjoyed so far.
Through it all, Gupta uses an old road saying to guide him. “I’d better be safe than sorry,” he says.


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Supply chains have come under increasing pressure during the last couple of years. Not just the covid-19 pandemic, but rising costs, material shortages, and geopolitical and ecological changes have disrupted supply chains all across the world. Furthermore, changing market forces, such as security regulations, industry mandates, and shifting customer demands, pressure supply chains to be more adaptable, agile and resilient.
Among the most affected industries by the havoc caused by supply chain disruptions, is the life sciences industry. As covid-19 caused the world to come to a standstill, supply chains were disrupted and broken due to limitations on import/export, travel, and personnel shortages. Furthermore, environmental catastrophes, trade disruptions like the Ever Given obstruction of the Suez Canal, and geopolitical tensions have caused multiple disruptions to the life sciences supply chains. Recently, the war in Ukraine has caused new massive disruptions in all life sciences sectors, including the food sector. As one of Europe’s largest grain suppliers, the entire Ukraine grain production and trafficking has been heavily impacted. Sanctions and increasingly high tensions have caused further delays and disruptions.
Due to broken or bent supply chains, industry leaders are now looking at how to adapt to this new reality and discover what it means for their business. A new model is needed to accommodate inevitable disruptions. At the same time advancement in medical, pharmaceutical developments and the technological field, have made supply chain and logistics more intricate than ever. In this article, I explore the disruptions and issues facing supply chains, the effects on the life sciences industry, how companies can adapt to the challenges facing the industry, and how Amoria Bond can help companies attract professionals with the right skills.
The impact of covid-19 on the life sciences supply chains.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to life sciences supply chains in a very short period of time. Effects were felt immediately after countries all across the world implemented strict lockdowns to combat the spread of the virus. For example, many hospitals struggled to receive supplies of Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE), due to the large demand caused by the pandemic. Meanwhile, hospitals in many countries were operating at maximum capacity and required the equipment to safely interact with covid patients. Unfortunately, the supply chains were unable to keep up with demand and not enough protective equipment could be delivered, causing shortages in some hospitals. Hospital staff in a New York City hospital went so far as to create makeshift protective clothing out of garbage bags to have some form of protection while treating patients - a last resort that provided insufficient protection.
Furthermore, certain consumer goods like toilet paper and pasta were in short supply, as consumers started panic buying. The supply chains were unable to keep up with the increased demand due to people being confined to their homes, while businesses and restaurants were closed and demand for the same commodities in those sectors dropped significantly.
At the same time, manufacturers had to adapt their working process to lockdown rules and regulations within the countries they were operating. They had to deal with social-distancing protocols, employee quarantines, working from home, and an increase in sick leave - often resulting in a decrease in production.
For example, one of Europe’s largest meat producers and exporters, Vion, had to cope with multiple lockdowns due to large scale covid outbreaks in their facilities in The Netherlands, rising absenteeism from quarantined and unwell staff, and social distancing restrictions on the facility floors. The virus was able to spread especially fast in those locations due to cold temperatures and limited air circulation. As a result, they started testing employees every day when entering the facility, requiring a huge steady supply of testing material and an increase in costs. Vion reported a net loss of €29 million in 2021 stating the volatile market conditions, supply chain disruptions, and higher costs as reasons for the loss.
Companies soon discovered there was another different impact as a result of the supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic: a large number of customer orders went unfulfilled as companies struggled to maintain the supply of their goods. These customer complaints resulted in lasting damage to brand reputation, which in turn resulted in increased reputation costs. For healthcare and pharmaceutical firms especially, damage to the firm’s image and customer complaints have been a major consequence of supply-chain disruptions over the past three years. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) undertook a survey of senior supply-chain and procurement executives from the US and Europe. Their research found that disruptions have incurred substantial financial costs (from 6-10% of the annual revenues) and reputational costs in the form of customer complaints and brand reputation damage, and increased costs of operations.
Companies tried to adjust to the changes brought by the pandemic, and many managed to adapt. Suppliers adjusted their operations, companies found alternative suppliers, and supply and demand found a new equilibrium. In early 2022 the global pandemic is slowly coming to an end as many countries are completely lifting restrictions. This doesn’t mean that all issues facing supply chains are gone. Disruptions are increasingly common and most businesses face the challenge to adapt to these continuing changes. Most companies expect that disruptions will only increase in the coming decade. Trade disputes, cyberattacks, price fluctuations, geopolitical tensions like the Ukraine war, and an increase of natural disasters will impact supply chains far beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thriving during the pandemic.
The covid-19 pandemic didn’t only cause disruptions in supply chains, it also provided an opportunity for certain pharmaceutical companies to adapt and thrive. Never before had the world seen how fast supply chains could adapt and change, as during the covid vaccine development and roll-out.
It was unprecedented how incredibly fast the development and roll-out of the covid-19 vaccines happened. Large Pharmaceutical companies managed to produce and test vaccines in record time, utilising new mRNA technologies. Not just that, they also managed to produce these vaccines on an incredibly large scale and distribute them all over the world. Just Pfizer alone produced over 3 billion doses of their mRNA vaccine in 2021 and is planning to produce over 4 billion doses in 2022.
After solving the production puzzle, all of these vaccines needed to be distributed to almost every country in the world. To make matters more complicated, Pfizer’s vaccine needed to be kept between -90° and -60° celsius during shipping. To solve this issue Pfizer manufactured a specialized thermal shipper, nicknamed a “cool box”, for transporting the vaccine. These thermal shippers are about the size of a carry-on suitcase and are filled with dry ice made from carbon dioxide. They are equipped with a device that has a continuous GPS and temperature monitor. This advanced coolbox allowed the safe distribution of the vaccine to every corner of the globe. It’s a great example of how Pfizer utilized advanced technology to enable a streamlined distribution of their vaccine.
The development, distribution and rollout of the covid vaccines highlights the extreme capabilities that supply chains have to adapt and thrive in difficult situations. Furthermore, it shows a huge potential for the pharmaceutical industry to streamline medication production. Could a structure like this be adapted to medication for heart failure, dementia, or even cancer? Large pharmaceutical companies are now asking themselves the question, what can we learn from the covid-19 pandemic vaccine roll-out and apply to our other processes and supply chains?
Sourcing the right professionals
The market is moving fast and companies need to adapt to the speed of the market. We see a tendency for companies to continue business as usual, missing important opportunities to adapt to new technologies and move with the market. Agile and resilient supply chains are essential for organizations that want to stay ahead. Companies can’t afford to continuously let disruptions impact their business. A reinvention with a focus on agility and resilience is necessary.
To move forward, companies have to attract professionals that are capable of adapting supply chains and implementing new technologies into their supply chains. Companies that are succeeding in attracting new talent are moving fast. They are closing gaps and cutting down on processes. If you want to learn more about new technologies that impact supply chains read more in this article I wrote here.
What Amoria Bond does to help, is adopt new practices to speed up the hiring process of highly skilled industry professionals. We’ve developed specific methods and tools that streamlined the hiring process and we move fast. For example, we incorporate video interviews in a more engaging and revealing way, allowing companies to immediately get a good feeling about candidates without meeting them, making the next step easier and faster. Even if you don’t have time to interview candidates immediately, Amoria Bond can do the video interviews for you and show the company the completed videos, saving you time.
We’re able to fill roles in continuous improvement, demand planning, forecasting, OPEX/CAPEX and other supply chain process improvements for worldwide customers. Our teams have outstanding industry knowledge and will work with you to find the best person to fulfil your next supply chain and logistics position.
Amoria Bond wants to progress people's careers everywhere through our multi-award-winning recruitment company recognised by Global Recruiter, R.E.C and Talent Partners for providing the Best Client Services. We're proud of our reputation and track record for delivering quality, relevant professionals. We work quickly to get you the right people when you need them. Find out more about our recruitment and staffing services and how we can help hire your next supply chain and logistics specialist today.


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Houston restaurants are getting creative in order to sell food to residents during shutdowns due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. As shoppers at grocery stores face picked-over shelves, here are a few restaurants turned-pop-up markets that can help fill pantries.
Local Foods & Benjy’s Pop Market in Rice Village
In Rice Village, Houston residents can now not only pick up to-go meals from Local Foods and Benjy’s, they can also snag a few essentials. The space now hosts a pop-up market with produce, fresh cut meats, and cheese for sale. Offerings include olive oil, hot sauce, wine, beer, and Katz coffee. The shelves include products from local purveyors like Slow Dough, Blue Horizon, Katz Coffee, Black Hill Ranch, Dairymaids, and 44 Farms.
Local foods is also offering a family pack for $99 that includes a dozen or so items — everything from vegan queso with chips to boiled eggs to local strawberries and hot sauce.
Either shop inside or call 713-521-7800 for curbside delivery.
Address: 2424 Dunstan Road, Houston
Good Dog Houston
In addition to iced coffee and root beer, this Montrose hot dog shop is selling “produce, dry goods & paper products.” Throw in family-size containers of egg salad, chicken salad, or soup to round out a purchase.
Address: 1312 W. Alabama Street, Houston
Hailed as one of the best new restaurants in the country, Chef Jonny Rhodes is about to transition his 13-seat Indigo into a pop-up market to serve the surrounding Trinity Gardens community during coronavirus social-distancing.
Shoppers will find fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy, in addition to preserves that the restaurant usually incorporates into its tasting menu. The plan is to also serve stocks and broths; homemade ice cream; fresh pastas; pre-prepared frozen items like duck confit croquettes; and drinks like juniper and sage soda.
The market will launch next week on Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, with hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Per a press release, the market will only allow eight patrons at a time given the limited property space and will operate via cashless transactions.
Address: 512 Berry Road, 77022
In addition to burgers for curbside pickup, Bernie’s Burger Bus is adding grocery items like fresh produce, eggs, and meat.
Address: 5407 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire
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This morning we were greeted with tickets for orders before we even opened, and we can’t thank our bad ass community enough. We also have to shout out our team who are just rolling with the punches and helping us day by day. EXCITING UPDATES: Bernie's Bodega – You need it, we‘ve got it. We’re making the most of our kitchen's stock and helping the community by providing access to fresh produce, eggs, meat and yes, even produce, to turn into a corner store. Skip risking a run to a supermarket or waiting days for deliveries and instead drop by our curbside service to inquire about what groceries you can pick up. Daily Field Trips to the Unknown! – Chef Justin is wiling out, offering daily family-friendly dishes like enchiladas, for one to four people. To order call the Bellaire location, skip the prompts and press 9. Buckle up, it’s the Wild West, y’all.


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Its service is still growing, and it faces legal challenges from taxi companies. But Uber, the company whose app pairs drivers with passengers, was a hit it big in a financing round, bringing in investments of $1.2 billion and sending its valuation skyward.
Four years after it began operations, San Francisco-based Uber is now valued at $17 billion, based on figures the company's CEO, Travis Kalanick, released today.
Uber is creating 20,000 jobs a month, Kalanick said, and it's operating in 128 cities in 37 countries.
As for the money raised, the figures are "jaw-dropping," says Venture Beat.
Bloomberg News puts it into perspective:
"Uber's new valuation is a record for technology startups in a direct investment round, said Anand Sanwal, CEO of research firm CB Insights. At $17 billion, Uber is worth more than public companies including car-rental service Hertz Global Holdings Inc. and retailer Best Buy Co. Startups such as cloud-sharing company Dropbox Inc. and short-term rental service Airbnb Inc. have recently raised money at $10 billion valuations."
As we've reported before, Uber and similar firms such as Lyft have been challenged in cities that include Seattle, where critics say they're both less regulated and less taxed than their competitors in traditional cab and limousine companies.
Just yesterday, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles issued a cease-and-desist order to Uber and Lyft. The companies said they were surprised by the move — and they added that they would keep operating in the state.


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Toyota Ireland promised us a hybrid ‘invasion’ earlier in the year. Now the brand has revealed pricing for the new Corolla Hybrid, RAV4 Hybrid and much anticipated Camry Hybrid, all arriving in Ireland from January 2019.
The new Toyota Corolla will be available with a brand new 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain, along with the 1.8-litre hybrid and 1.2-litre petrol engine variants.
The hybrid is available from €26,370, and the 1.2-litre petrol is priced from €25,995.
The new Toyota Corolla Touring Sports, which is the estate version of the new Corolla, is also available as a 1.8-litre hybrid (122hp), 2.0-litre hybrid (180hp), or 1.2-litre petrol (116hp).
It goes on sale from €28,420.
After a 14 year absence, the new 8th generation Toyota Camry returns to Ireland in early April 2019 with a newly developed 2.5-litre hybrid engine with a power output of 218hp.
There will be three trim levels for the Camry Hybrid, with prices starting at €39,750.
The new RAV4 Hybrid has a 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain and will go on sale from €35,900.


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T-Mobile's Plan to Disrupt the Wireless Industry: 10 Takeaways
T-Mobile Is Finally Getting the iPhone
In 2013 T-Mobile will offer the iPhone—though the company didn’t specify which model. T-Mobile CEO John Legere shared, however, that T-Mobile's terms with Apple are nothing like Sprint's volume agreement for which it had to pay billions up front to get. . When T-Mobile rolls out the iPhone "it will be a dramatically different experience [for customers]."
LTE Is Ahead of Schedule
T-Mobile's original plan was to start its LTE rollout in mid-2013. For a number of reasons, Legere said, that plan has been accelerated and by mid-year T-Mobile will have a "really smoking" LTE network that will cover 200 million to 225 million people in key markets.
T-Mobile Wants to Be the "Un-Carrier"
Legere said he listens to an hour's worth of customer calls each day. "Customers are really still pissed off at the very unpredictable billing, very unclear pricing, restrictive and confusing upgrades and unfair treatment of loyal customers in this whole way that we sell them a phone and bury the costs into a long-term contract and tie them in," he told investors. In undoing all these established ways of doing business, T-Mobile wants to be the "un-carrier."
Moving to 100 Percent 'Value Plans'
T-Mobile plans to move entirely to Value Plans, which 80 percent of its customers are already choosing. Those who do accept the plans statistically tend to stay with the carrier two months longer than those who don't. The plans offer subscribers low upfront costs, even on a device like the iPhone and save T-Mobile from having to pay a hefty subsidy.
While Value Plans are based on a two-year contract, customers can trade in their devices at any time and stay on the contract services they have. T-Mobile has a plan to refurbish the traded-in devices, said Legere, enabling it to "actually make a margin" on the process.
T-Mobile is aggressively targeting AT&T and what it calls "AT&T switchers"—AT&T customers who have a poor opinion of that carrier's call quality and network capabilities and so are open to switching. "You love your iPhone, you hate AT&T," said Legere. "I want you to get used to that tone, because that is the way we're going to play," Legere advised.
For about nine years, said Legere, T-Mobile lead the industry in customer care, but over the last few years, "we slipped a bit." That's changing, though. Calls to customer care are down 13 percent, handset exchanges are down and dropped calls have decreased by 10 percent.
The combination of the MetroPCS and T-Mobile spectrum holdings will create a unique swath in the AWS band, said CTO Neville Ray. "It will be highly performing—we can double speeds. This network is going to pack a significant punch at a critical time in the U.S. marketplace, one that I think will be the envy of our competition,” Ray said.
T-Mobile Rules the No-Contract Space
The real growth opportunity for carriers, said CFO Braxton Carter, is in the no-contract space. T-Mobile believes that, with MetroPCS, it is "uniquely positioned to play aggressively in that space." During the third quarter, said Legere, T-Mobile added 365,000 no-contract customers, making it the "No. 1 player in the no-contract space."
No More Nice Girl
There's a three-phase marketing agenda in place. Phase 2 is a shift away from the "nice-girl advertising" T-Mobile has been doing to something "more edgy." The week before Thanksgiving, T-Mobile tried out this edgy approach. "We actually had almost a 70 percent year-over-year traffic increase on the Friday that we launched this," said Legere. "So we can move the needle."


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Apple (AAPL) is likely to give March-quarter guidance below the consensus estimate of analysts despite the expected launch of the Apple Watch, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said Tuesday.
Apple is widely expected to report strong December-quarter results thanks to its iPhone 6 smartphone lineup, so attention is shifting to the current quarter, she said in a research note.
Apple is scheduled to report fiscal first-quarter earnings after the arket close on Jan. 27. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect Apple to earn $2.59 a share, up 25% from the year-earlier quarter, on sales of $67.32 billion, up 17%.
For the current quarter, analysts are modeling earnings per share of $2, up 20%, on sales of $53.71 billion, up 18%.
March-quarter guidance "may be slightly below consensus revenue estimates, especially with a large (foreign exchange) headwind, but this is in line with recent guidance trends," Huberty said.
Apple has guided...... Continue Reading »


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Now, the team behind this breakthrough is hoping to bring it to market this year.
Last year, I profiled a company called UbiquitiLink that wants to launch thousands of satellite ‘cell towers’ into space. Now named Lynk, the company says it has used its satellite technology to send a text to an unmodified Android phone https://t.co/lLJaoyUKeV pic.twitter.com/XHoNGxk5p9
— Loren Grush (@lorengrush) March 18, 2020
SOURCE: Android Authority