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Ever driven to Costco just to get a mouthwatering rotisserie chicken? At just $4.99, it’d be stupid not to – even when you factor in the cost of gas. But when you next chow down on one of these bargain birds, consider this: there’s a big price being paid. And you eventually may be the one having to cover that cost.
You won’t be confronted with that price at Costco, of course. Rotisserie chickens have remained at a steady $4.99 there since 2009.
And plenty of the birds are flying – although not literally! – out of the doors. We know this because a Costco boss spilled the beans.
In a 2018 interview with NPR, Costco head of external affairs Jessica Kolterman revealed something astonishing. At that time, the big-box store was selling about 60 million chickens each year in the U.S.
alone. That’s a whole lot of birds! And it means either the retail giant is missing a trick when it comes to profits – or it’s gone to extreme lengths to secure this price.
But despite growing concern about the brand’s birds, they have become somewhat of a cult item. They even have their own Facebook page with over 18,000 followers!
Not everyone is so smitten, though, and that could be because they know how Costco secures such a plentiful flow of chickens on demand.
It’s weird, too, that Costco is adamant about keeping the cost of its chicken down. Many members wouldn’t quibble about paying an extra dollar or two on top of that $4.99.
We bet sales wouldn’t be much affected, either. So, could the whole thing be an error? And is it Costco that’s having to pay the price?
As one of the largest retailers in the world, Costco has its price points all figured out. That means the low cost of the chicken definitely isn’t an error!
It’s been carefully analyzed and discussed. But $4.99 is the amount the company will continue to stick with.
Even more puzzlingly, as competitors have historically had to increase their prices gradually, Costco hasn’t budged, something customers tend to give two thumbs up. Although, it’s this decision that hints at a darker truth.
It begs the question: if Costco doesn’t have to eat the cost of the chickens, who does?
Obviously, Costco isn’t making all its profit through the chickens alone. How can it when the birds are so cheap?
Maybe there’s something else that Costco is buying low and selling high to make up the shortfall. Maybe it’s the producers of that item who are paying the big price.
Well, you might be surprised! According to Costco's CFO and executive vice president Richard Galanti, there is no secret weapon in the company's arsenal.
It's quite the opposite. The wild truth is that the store continues to lose money by selling the chickens at bottom-barrel prices. And we mean a lot of money.
It turns out that the rotisserie chickens have been setting Costco back somewhere between $30 and $40 million each year. And even after divulging this staggering sum, Galanti remained blasé about the company's decision to stick with its $4.99 price, saying, “That’s us, that’s what we do for a living.”
But what exactly is it that they’re doing?
However, don't think Costco hasn't weighed this risk carefully. According to Galanti, the firm’s finance supremo, Costco has consistently been willing to “eat” close to $40 million in revenue.
This is supposed to reflect the business’ commitment to good value for its customers. This sounds almost kind and caring, right? But there’s a sinister truth behind those cheap birds.
Not everyone is impressed by Costco's consistently cheap chicken. In 2019, the non-profit Food & Water Watch left a scathing review of the retailer’s controversial approach.
In an article on its website, the group claimed, “Costco has been plotting to... wreak havoc on Midwest agriculture so they can keep their hot ticket item cheap.” A pretty bold statement!
Regarding the low-price tactic, Food & Water Watch essentially suggested that Costco is exploiting someone somewhere down the line to maintain the loss. After all, they aren't in the line of doing good deeds for good deed's sake.
So, it likely comes as no surprise that remaining firm on the $4.99 price point has benefitted the company over time.
Let us explain! The scrumptious rotisserie chickens likely work as a lure for customers – or a ‘loss leader.’ By keeping the rock-bottom price artificially low, the highly popular chicken is guaranteed to be in hot demand.
And luckily for Costco, that risky move seems to be paying off. According to figures in a 2014 edition of The Seattle Times, sales come in at close to one bird each for every one of the 78.7 million Costco members.
And by setting itself apart from its competitors by pricing low, Costco guarantees a higher footfall in its stores. So, despite losing out on a few dollars per chicken, the company makes up for it with customers’ other purchases once they’ve stepped through the doors.
Makes sense, right? How many times have you gone into a supermarket with just one thing in mind, only to be enticed into buying more than you needed?
It’s the same deal with the chickens. For example, by placing the coveted birds at the very back of the store, Costco hopes consumers are tempted to pick up other products they pass along the way.
But this merely scratches the surface of Costco's sneakier tactics, including one concerning its signature rotisserie chicken flavor.
Take the taste of Costco’s chicken, for example. It’s not bland, meaning the company must have some special flavoring secret at its disposal.
But as this costs money Costco doesn’t have, what gives? Well, the answer lies with an injection that takes place before the birds have even made it to store.
Each bird is pumped with 460 milligrams of salty liquid. That’s close to a third of your recommended daily intake of sodium, according to the American Heart Association.
Yup, if you’re partial to eating a chicken all by yourself, you may find yourself over the salt limit. And that makes us wonder what else Costco is willing to disregard to turn a profit.
The real secret? Costco’s had to make a controversial business move to sell its popular chickens.
You see, according to the USDA, the number of whole birds sold has fallen from 50 percent in the 1980s to just 15 percent today. And so to get the amount of chicken it needs, the big-box store has had to take things into its own hands.
Over the last 50 years, birds have been bred larger and larger to supply the growing appetite for portioned cuts of meat. Unfortunately for Costco, though, these chickens aren’t a good fit for the rotisserie.
And with the global supply chain no longer an option, the wholesaler had to return to the drawing board. Its approach has caused a real furor, too.
Basically, Costco needed to think faster and think bigger than ever before. And its solution, without compromising on price, was this: an entirely new company, a total overhaul of its business model, and a staggering $450 million investment.
Not dramatic at all! But what did it have to do with chickens?
Well, in order to maintain an ample stock of chickens of the proper size, Costco decided to monopolize the chicken production process – right down to the hatching of the eggs.
The monumental business venture came to life in Fremont, Nebraska, and it didn’t materialize without backlash from the local community, who have proudly farmed the area for generations.
It was a controversial move. Ultimately, this new business was set to provide a staggering 40 percent of Costco’s annual chicken supply.
That’s about 100 million chickens every year! And the threat of such an imposing plant – all 400,000 square feet of it – was indeed felt by those who lived nearby.
The company formed to deal with Costco’s mammoth move into farming, Lincoln Premium Poultry, had its potential sites positioned on the border of Iowa and Nebraska. But that’s a place already brimming with factory farms.
As of August 2018, in excess of 10,000 of these facilities were already functioning in the area. No wonder the locals fought back.
Ruth June had relocated to Nebraska in 1962 with her late husband Bob, and she had always loved the peace in her neck of the woods. In a 2018 interview with Nebraska Public Media, she said, “This is a nice, quiet neighborhood.
Nice people. Everybody gets along.” Until Costco got involved, that is. She predicted, “Now, we’re going to be shut up in our houses because we can’t stand the smell outside?” Fair point.
And Kolterman didn’t do much to dispel Ruth’s concerns about lingering odors, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you you’re never going to have a smell in the course of this operation. It’s a farm...
That’s just the nature of agriculture,” the Costco boss replied. But a bad stench in the air isn’t the worst issue.
There’s the environmental impact to consider, too. Randy Rupper was part of the local group Nebraska Communities United, and he was concerned about the grim reality of all that manure.
In 2018 he claimed that “millions of pounds” of the stuff would cover the surrounding fields. Unfortunately, manure means chemicals, which equals a whole lot of nitrogen and phosphorus making its way into local waterways. And that’s very bad news.
When water from a farm infiltrates other waterways, this is known as farm runoff, caused by rainfall or irrigation. Farms often produce potassium or nitrogen from fertilizers, pesticides, and even certain metals.
And you may have already guessed what can happen when these chemicals come into contact with our water sources.
Yep, you guessed it – pollution. And it’s one reason why Food & Water Watch was particularly opposed to Costco’s mammoth new plant.
According to the non-profit, the area was already crippled by what it described as “severe pollution” from intense industrial agriculture in the Midwest. Apparently, over 1,000 miles of streams and rivers had already been harmed as a direct result of factory farming. But it doesn’t end there.
The adverse effects of farm runoff have also been seen at several state park beaches. Food & Water Watch found that in 2017, the advice at 37 bathing spots was 'Swimming Not Recommended.' And according to the National Water Quality Inventory, this form of pollution was one of the leading causes of contaminated water in 2000.
Worryingly, this is still true more than 20 years later.
But there's a simple solution here, right? Just avoid swimming in those waters, and no harm is done.
Well, the issue is not quite so simple. Iowa – the state located directly next to the new sprawling Costco poultry facility – has already felt the effects of factory farming on its drinking water supply.
The Des Moines Water Works is Iowa’s largest facility for treating drinking water, and it’s revealed the disturbing effects of industrial-scale farming on the surrounding community. In 2015 nitrate pollution surpassed federal limits in 11 of the state’s water supplies.
And in certain conditions, that can be extremely dangerous. It’s no wonder that Nebraskans feared the effects of mass farming in their own region.
Nitrate pollution has volatile effects on the body once it's been ingested. Specifically, this type of water pollution has been linked to birth defects and certain types of cancer.
But for the citizens of Fremont, Nebraska, the health risk was far from the only bone they had to pick with Costco.
Costco’s choice of location for its state-of-the-art poultry facility wasn’t made by sheer chance. The company selected Nebraska as their base, understanding it is one of the U.S.’ largest agriculture states.
For its new business to prosper, the bulk chain store would have to get some of the local farmers on its side.
Seeing as one in four jobs in Nebraska are agricultural, this shouldn’t have been too hard a task. But while Costco was offering 15-year contracts to participating farmers, there were still widespread concerns that signing the dotted line could see them exploited by the mega-corporation.
Skepticism was high. Basically, these deals could trap folks in an unfavorable position.
A young farmer in the area, Marshall Lutjens, raised a concern that was shared by many. In 2018 he told NPR, “My biggest thing is if something ever happened to the company, who's going to fill the barns?
Because you're putting a lot of money down for barns.” In other words, should any unforeseen circumstances crop up, there would be little to no compensation offered to the farmers. And with the livelihoods of so many farmers hanging in the balance, it’s clear that Costco’s low prices really do come at a cost.
These honest, hard-working folks could be left high and dry – and it would make barely a dent in Costco’s profit margins, even with their low-priced chickens. But there’s a more obvious threat posed by the intruding company.
And it’s all to do with Nebraska’s time-honored farming system of family ownership.
Here’s the deal. After the Costco project was launched, a North Carolina investor applied for ownership of a staggering 132 chicken houses.
A generous investment, right? Seems great. The only issue is that North Carolina is more than a thousand miles away from Nebraska. And locals are concerned about these absentee owners for good reason.
Andrew Tonnies lives in Dodge County, and he was worried that people investing from out of state would be less likely to have the best interests of the community at heart. In 2019 he told the website Food and Power, “These people coming in… are they just interested in the economics of extraction?” And he has a point.
Before the plant was even being built, local farmers were reportedly already being pushed out of their right to farm ownership by wealthy folks with their eyes on the prize.
So it seems the true cost of Costco’s rotisserie chickens is a far cry from their bargain price tag. Only time will tell whether the farmers involved in the project will be exploited, or whether the local landscape will be drastically impacted by pollution.
For now, though, let’s take Lincoln Premium Poultry at its word and hope it will stick to its seemingly sound code of ethics.
The next time you're in a Costco store, listen for a ringing bell. At various points during the day, that sound signals the staff have just put out some fresh rotisserie chicken.
Quite a way to announce it, right? And thanks to their low prices, they’ll disappear fast. But read on for more ways to take advantage of Costco's low prices, and to stay ahead of their sales tactics.
When looking at the price tags of your favorite items at Costco, have you ever noticed an asterisk on them? If so, take note.
According to Delish.com, an asterisk indicates that they won’t be coming back to the shelves once the current stock has sold out. Uh-oh. Be sure to grab what you can, then. You don’t want to waste time searching the aisles in vain on your next trip!
For many customers, the pumpkin pie at Costco is arguably the store’s best product. And we can understand why.
For one thing, it’s huge! You could feed a lot of people with this tasty monster. Then there’s the price. Incredibly, the pie will only set you back by $6.99. It used to be $5.99, but that’s still an impressive deal. Don’t sleep on it.
Nowadays, prescription costs can make a real dent in your budget. They’re no joke!
Mind you, that’s not the case at Costco. The medications on offer at its pharmacies are so much cheaper than at a lot of other places. And it isn’t just restricted to Costco members, either. You see, these excellent deals are open to everyone. How cool is that?
Sometimes, it can be easy to dismiss Kirkland items when browsing Costco’s shelves. Surely the brand names are better, right?
Well, that might not be the case. As per the Consumer Reports organization, customers often hail the quality of Kirkland’s stuff and suggest it beats a lot of other brands at the store. Plus, it’s cheaper. You can’t top that kind of feedback!
If you don’t have the Costco app installed on your cell phone, now might be the time to change that. This application houses all of the latest discounts and offers that you’ll find at your nearest warehouse.
Nothing gets ignored. It’s a truly awesome tool. Think of the time and money it could save you on the next shopping trip!
When Costco’s at its busiest, it can be extremely difficult to search for the best deals at the store. If it’s becoming a problem for you, here’s a tip to consider.
According to Money Crashers, mornings are the perfect time to explore the warehouse. There won’t be huge crowds blocking the shelves while you mull over the latest offers.
Okay, you might need a pen to jot this down. The pricing at Costco isn’t random, especially the final two digits.
For instance, a price tag that ends with 97 cents highlights that the product in question has been marked down. Meanwhile, figures ranging between 49 cents and 89 cents come directly from the brands, as part of a “special price.” Still with us? Awesome!
You can’t go wrong with Costco’s meat selection. Not only is it cheaper than a lot of other stores, but the overall quality is unmatched as well.
Don’t just take our word for it. Prime + Proper’s “executive butcher” Walter Apfelbaum told Food & Wine, “Costco sells some of the most beautiful prime beef I’ve seen out of the restaurant industry. They have huge buying power.”
We don’t blame you if the prices of certain brand name products make you wince. They can get pretty high!
But guess what? There are times when Costco will include some of that stuff in offers around the store. For instance, in the summer of 2021 customers could get their hands on a Cuisinart ice cream maker for just under $60. That’s a great deal.
Who doesn’t love Costco’s free food samples? With one bite, you can tell if an item’s worth picking up or not.
We can only imagine the amount of money customers have saved over the years using that method. So when’s the best time to visit those stands, then? According to Money Crashers, more samples are available “during peak hours” at the store.
When you spot a product that’s part of an awesome deal at Costco, do you grab it straight away? Or leave it for another time?
If you often go for the latter option, you could be missing out. You see, unlike at other grocery stores, these items won’t necessarily be staying on the shelves forever, especially at a lower price. So capitalize on the offer and save some cash!
Looking to buy a unit to store your wine? Well, you might be able to pick some up for nothing on your next trip to Costco.
All the bottles arrive at the store in wooden cases before being put on display on the shop floor. Once the boxes have been emptied, they’re usually thrown out. But if you ask, you could walk away with a set — free of charge!
You can always find some excellent bargains in Costco’s seasonal sales. It’s a real feast for the eyes whenever you walk through the door.
But which of them are considered the best? Apparently, summer holds the crown. The offers on things such as swimming pool products and outdoor furniture are ridiculously good during that time. They’re almost impossible to ignore. So stay alert, folks!
Costco and bulk buying go together like peanut butter and jelly. That’s got us wondering, though — what are the best items to pick up in bulk?
As per Money Crashers, “pantry staples” are an absolute must, such as eggs, butter, vegetable oil, bread, and rice. Compared to other stores, you’ll get more bang for your buck grabbing these at the famous warehouse.
With the price of fuel going up, more motorists are being mindful of where they get their gas today. On that note, Costco’s stations are well worth a look.
Money Crashers reported that the “per-gallon savings” were between 5 and 20 cents compared to nearby fueling spots. That’s pretty significant in the long run! Why not drop by on your next visit to the store?
Want to grab a bite to eat at Costco without breaking the bank? Well, this will be music to your ears.
The warehouse sells a delicious hot dog and soda combo at the food court. Seriously, it’s great! And the price tag? Only $1.50. Wow. It’s arguably one of the best value for money deals across the entire store.
Travel agents? Not for you!
Costco members don’t need to head to their local agency to sort out holiday arrangements. Instead, they can get it all organized at the warehouse store through its “travel services department.” Nice. The workers offer up some excellent deals on accommodation and plenty more, saving customers a lot of money. If you’re planning a vacation, give them a try.
Costco’s giant teddy bears are the real deal. There’s no false advertising here — these things are over seven feet in size!
So are they worth the hassle? You bet! Kids will have hours of fun playing around with the huge cuddly animal, making full use of it. You probably won’t have to splash out on new toys for a while, much to your wallet’s relief.
As any wine connoisseur will tell you, bottles don’t always come cheap at the supermarket. In fact, some of the prices will leave you rubbing your eyes in disbelief!
Yet the price tags at Costco are a lot friendlier. In addition to the Kirkland offerings, all the other wines are up to 20 percent cheaper than the standard market price.
How about this for a fascinating tip? Lifehacker revealed that Costco’s most expensive items are usually found scattered across the middle aisles due to the level of customer “traffic” in those spots.
So you’d be hard-pressed to notice any worthwhile deals. Instead, focus on the bordering aisles at the warehouse. Your wallet will feel more at ease there!
After enjoying the hot dog and soda combo at Costco’s food court, you might fancy a delicious dessert as well. With that in mind, give the plant-based acai bowl a try.
The store rolled these items out back in 2018 and they’re still going strong. You can pick one up for just $5 today. Trust us, they’re worth every cent!
Is there anything Costco doesn’t sell? Motorists can pick up new tires at the store when they need them, as well as get them installed.
If you factor that in, it’s still usually cheaper than visiting a local mechanic. But this is what really takes it over the top. Costco’s add-ons are very impressive. You can get lifetime maintenance for nothing, and a “five-year road hazard warranty.”
Before you jump in the car and head off to Costco, grab a snack from your kitchen cabinet or fridge. Why’s that?
Well, shopping on an empty stomach is a very bad idea, especially if you’re trying to save money. Hungry customers are prone to picking up items that aren’t on their original lists. Food in particular. So fill up at home!
For those of us who celebrate Christmas, December can be an extremely expensive month. From the food to the presents, it’s pretty intense.
Mind you, decorations can be picked up for a fraction of their original cost at Costco a few months before. Yes, the store usually pulls out the previous year’s offerings at that time. Don’t sleep on those deals!
To say that Costco’s range of spices will leave you spoiled for choice is a major understatement. Seriously folks, the shelves are loaded!
Chopped onion, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric — take your pick. And if that isn’t enough, they’re not particularly expensive, either. You could easily stock up without destroying your shopping budget. So take advantage of the friendly prices if you can.
Do you receive Costco’s coupon mailers every month? If so, make sure you give them a good read prior to heading to the warehouse.
That way, you can pinpoint the discounted products that you want without searching for them on the shelves. This method will also steer you away from making impulse purchases, too, which is never a bad thing.
While we love browsing book stores, some of the prices can be more than a little off-putting. It’s not like that at Costco, though.
The store has a huge selection, from fiction to nonfiction. And the offers are awesome. You’ll rarely ever overpay for a book during your visit. So if you’re an avid reader, check those areas out. You won’t be sorry.
Given the wealth of choice shoppers have now, it can be really difficult to know which stores boast the best offers. On that note, Costco is a big help here.
Its website includes a function that allows you to compare the costs of certain items with the competition. We’re talking places such as Walmart and Home Depot. What a great idea!
Why visit a florist to pick up an expensive arrangement when you can go to Costco instead? Yep, the famous store sells flowers as well.
And you can get some excellent deals on them. It’s the perfect place to go if you’ve got a big celebration coming up, as you can grab bouquets in bulk. You’ll never be left short.
Food shopping can be pricey enough as it is, but organic products will really push your budget to the limit. The price tags aren’t kind.
At Costco, though? It’s a different story. You can spot plenty of welcome offers in the food aisles. Apparently, the store’s organic beef is especially cheap when compared to other shops. So don’t be shy. Check out the selection.
Before you buy something in bulk at Costco, you want to make sure that its value for money beats a normal purchase elsewhere. A sensible approach, wouldn’t you agree?
Anyway, following previous experiences, Money Crashers revealed that items such as trail mixes and snack bars were perfect for bulk orders at Costco. Plus, peanut butter and pasta sauce made the cut, too.
Want a helpful bit of advice before your next trip to Costco? Okay then — don’t be put off by the valuation of the gift cards at the store.
As it turns out, you won’t have to pay the full amount once you reach the checkout. According to Reader’s Digest, you can get up to 25 percent off the price. That’s a tremendous deal.
Don’t you just hate it when you’ve got to prepare an elaborate meal at the end of a long day? It sucks!
But Costco’s doing its bit to make lives easier. The store has a big prepped food section that sells “pre-assembled” and “pre-cooked” items for decent prices. So browse those shelves and think of the hours you could save throughout the week by picking a few things up.
In case you didn’t know, Costco’s Gold Star membership will set you back by $60 each year. There’s another tier, though — the Executive membership.
It’s double the cost. Mind you, it’s an upgrade worth considering. As Money Crashers outlined, customers get two percent cash-back on the majority of their shopping. Plus, by splashing $3,000 over a 12-month period, the store gives them a “reward” worth $60.
There’s nothing more annoying than seeing a product go on sale just after you bought it. Why didn’t the deal drop earlier?!
Then again, there’s no need to fret if that happens at Costco. Whether it’s online or at the store itself, you can get money back so the purchase lines up with the current price. What a great service!
Need an eye exam? Well, head over to the nearby Costco.
Non-members are allowed to visit the store’s eye doctor. You can also buy vision insurance there, with FinanceBuzz noting that the cost is roughly $70. That’s not bad at all. As for Costco’s members, they get a host of benefits. For instance, the prices of optical purchases are all slashed online.
Yes folks, you can buy home and car insurance through Costco if you’re a member. It’s all managed by CONNECT, powered by American Family Insurance.
And boy, are the savings something. FinanceBuzz claimed that new customers often save $600 on average at the end of the first 12 months. We wouldn’t blame you if you thought about joining!
For those of you who have big celebrations planned in the coming weeks, pop on down to Costco. There’s a certain product in the food aisle that you should definitely pick up.
We’re referring to the store’s sheet cakes. Not only are they absolutely huge, but the prices are shockingly low, too. You can buy one for just under $20. We’re serious!
This might come as something of a surprise. When you buy electronic items at Costco, the store will offer you free tech support in a phone call if need be.
Yet that perk isn’t widely advertised around the warehouse. As Eat This, Not That! put it, it’s a “semi-unknown deal.” Oh, and you can get added extended warranties for nothing as well.


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Supplier News Breaks Archives
Next month Walt Disney Co. plans to launch a new fashion line for tween girls that will be sold exclusively at Target discount stores.
Snack makers Lance Inc. and Snyder's of Hanover Inc. have entered a merger agreement to create a combined company that will be called Snyder's-Lance Inc.
Diamond Foods Inc.'s Kettle brand plans to launch a new product line of all-natural tortilla chips called Kettle Brand TIAS!.
Reckitt Benckiser Group has reached an agreement to acquire SSL International, the maker of Durex condoms and Scholl foot care products.
Natural beverage maker One Natural Experience (O.N.E.) has rolled out O.N.E. Active, a new line of coconut water that's now available exclusively this summer at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.
American Greetings has launched a new greeting card line that's designed to convey a lasting, more meaningful message by providing a special note for later.
Procter & Gamble's Tide detergent brand has announced a partnership with Twentieth Century Fox's summer family film "Ramona and Beezus," which makes its debut in theaters this weekend.

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GrowGeneration Corp: Undervalued Pot Stock Expected to Soar in 2022
Why GrowGeneration Stock Could Triple in 2022
After an abysmal 2021 for cannabis stocks, it’s not difficult to find some of them trading at multi-year lows. One marijuana stock that has taken an unexpected hit but could be a big winner in 2022 is GrowGeneration Corp (NASDAQ:GRWG).
GRWG stock had a terrible 2021. As of this writing, GrowGeneration stock is down by:
- 16% month-over-month
- 45% over the last three months
- 74% over the last six months
- 68% year-over-year
Trading around $12.80, GRWG stock is at its lowest level since August 2020. Grizzly, but according to Wall Street, it’s a screaming deal.
Of the analysts following GrowGeneration Corp, their average 12-month target is $31.00, with a high estimate of $44.00. That points to upside of 141% and 242%, respectively. Even their low estimate of $18.00 points to potential gains of 40%.
Few cannabis companies had a better year than GrowGeneration Corp. It reported record first-quarter, second-quarter, and third-quarter financial results.
Yet, despite the company’s record-setting numbers, investors sent GrowGeneration stock into a tailspin.
About GRWG Stock
GrowGeneration is the largest provider of hydroponic supplies in the U.S., with 62 retail and distribution centers across 13 states. It also operates an online superstore. (Source: “GrowGeneration Acquires Mobile Media Inc. and MMI Agriculture,” GrowGeneration Corp, January 4, 2022.)
The company sells thousands of products, including organic nutrients and soils, advanced lighting, and state-of-the-art hydroponic equipment used by commercial and home growers. Among the items it sells are private-label products. (Source: “Investor Presentation,” GrowGeneration Corp, August 12, 2021.)
The company expects to open 15 to 20 more locations in 2022. (Source: “GrowGeneration Reports Record Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results,” GrowGeneration Corp, November 11, 2021.)
Another Strategic Acquisition
In addition to opening its own stores, GrowGeneration has an aggressive acquisition strategy.
To kick off 2022, GrowGeneration announced that it had acquired the assets of Mobile Media, Inc and MMI Agriculture Solutions (an Ellenville, NY-based mobile shelving manufacturing and warehouse facility) for $9.4 million in cash and stock. (Source: “GrowGeneration Acquires Mobile Media Inc. and MMI Agriculture,” GrowGeneration Corp, January 4, 2022.)
In 2021, MMI Agriculture Solutions generated over $14.0 million in revenue.
“This key strategic acquisition is especially important, as we expand in newly legalizing East Coast states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the New England states Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont, where indoor vertical growing will be the method of growing,” said Michael Salaman, GrowGeneration Corp’s president and co-founder. (Source: Ibid.)
Another Record Quarter
GrowGeneration continued its winning ways in the third quarter of 2021, with its revenue advancing 111% year-over-year to a record $116.0 million. Its comparable-store sales increased by 15.7%. (Source: GrowGeneration Corp, November 11, 2021, op. cit.)
The company’s third-quarter 2021 net income went up by 21% year-over-year to $4.0 million, or $0.07 per share. Its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) advanced 63% year-over-year to a record $10.8 million, or $0.18 per share.
The company ended the third quarter of 2021 with cash and short-term securities of $93.0 million.
After reporting record results for 2019 and 2020, GrowGeneration Corp expects to also report record results for full-year 2021.
For fiscal 2021, GrowGeneration estimates that it will report revenue between $435.0 and $440.0 million, up from its previous guidance of $415.0 to $430.0 million. For 2020, GrowGeneration reported revenue of $193.0 million.
The company expects its adjusted EBITDA for full-year 2021 to be in the range of $41.0 to $43 million. In 2020, its adjusted EBITDA were $19.2 million.
GrowGeneration Corp had a transformational 2020 and 2021, with the number of its stores in the U.S. growing from 26 to 62. The company now has the nation’s biggest chain of hydroponic garden centers, which serve both commercial and craft growers.
GrowGeneration has reported excellent quarterly and annual financial results, and that momentum is expected to continue in 2022. This could lead GrowGeneration stock to explode in value.


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A lot’s been said lately about the impact of AI on business and jobs—much of it apocalyptic. But what does it mean for hospitality in practice? A special session at Peach 20/20’s Peach @ The Beach unwrapped both the benefits and risks.
The tech expert: ‘It creates some fantastic opportunities’ Yfood founder and CEO Nadia El Hadery said AI was already well embedded in many areas. Insights and forecasting tool KisanHub, farming robotics specialist Tortuga Agtech and autonomous agriculture drones provider Precision AI are three examples of how it can make the supply chain more efficient—and the reduction of waste brings important environmental benefits too. AI can also help people make food part of healthier lifestyles. Virta is enabling people to reverse Type 2 diabetes, while Foodhak is one of a wave of new fresh delivery services. But for operators, some of the most exciting potential is at back-of-house. Tools like Satis.ai help to streamline cooking and packing processes, while salad prep robot Spyce, now part of the US Sweetgreen chain, is saving labour. For more examples of AI innovation coming down the line, look to big QSR brands in the US, El Hadery suggested. “There are challenges we need to address around AI, but it also creates some fantastic opportunities to do things better,” she said. And while some teams might be wary of automation, they soon see the benefits. “There’s a bit of resistance, and AI needs training. But at the end of it they’re happy because it frees up mental and physical stresses… overall, staff performance is better.” The operator: ‘Tech should be a means to an end’ Operators including Azzurri are making good use of AI in restaurants, on tasks like supply chain forecasting, labour scheduling and marketing content generation. “I’m excited about it… it’s going to give us the opportunity to do more for the same [resources],” said digital and technology director Joel Robinson at Peach @ The Beach. He agreed with El Hadery that staff soon get on board, especially at back of house—and removing menial tasks can help with recruitment and retention. “Once our teams get over the adoption curve they love it.” But if AI brings so many benefits, what’s holding some businesses back? As with many aspects of tech adoption, it’s often about cash. With margins under such strain and so many areas competing for investment, it’s not always easy to make the case for more money. But UK hospitality businesses’ spend on tech is a fraction of their counterparts in countries including the US, Robinson said. “We have to be honest with ourselves as a sector about what we need to do to unlock the advantages [of AI]… we need to invest more time in getting the foundations right.” It’s also vital to stay focused on guests’ needs. “We try to understand what consumers are expecting and how we automate to make things more efficient… If it doesn’t resonate, that’s the quickest way to go out of business.” Azzurri’s also avoiding using tech for tech’s sake. “As with every technology that’s ever existed, what are the problems you’re trying to solve? Tech should be a means to an end, not an end in itself.”


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Institute for War and Peace Reporting | Giving Voice, Driving Change
Bosnia: Serb Minister Resigns Over Customs Scandal
The Bosnian Serb finance minister resigned this week over a major corruption scandal that's rocked Banja Luka with charges that crooked customs men filched at least 30 million konvertible marks (15 million euros) from public funds in less than a year.
Senior officials from the international Customs and Fiscal Assistance Office, CAFAO, in the presence of a member of the Office of the High Representative, OHR, disclosed the fraud to leaders of Republika Srpska, RS, at the end of May.
Twenty-seven customs officers were then suspended and Bosnia's top western mediator, High Representative Paddy Ashdown, called for the resignation of the RS finance minister Milenko Vracar, who agreed to step down on Thursday.
The OHR and the RS interior ministry had launched a joint investigation, which is expected to deliver its first results in a few weeks. A spokesman for the OHR, Oleg Milisic, said, " OHR can not comment on the report in detail yet, but expects full cooperation of the RS government in the investigation of these serious allegations. That Mr Vracar, RS finance minister resigned yesterday confirms how important the report is. "
A detailed version of the CAFAO report, which was leaked to the Banja Luka daily Nezavisne novine, stated that the "customs mafia" could not have acted without the knowledge of senior politicians. Independent analysts have suggested that even RS prime minister Mladen Ivanic might have known what was going on.
The report said the "main brain" behind the affair remained unidentified but it indirectly pointed to Goran Popovic, director of the RS customs service and a senior member of the main nationalist Serb Democratic Party, SDS.
According to opposition leaders and independent analysts, Ivanic and two others - Dragan Cavic RS vice-president and deputy leader of the SDS, and Dragan Kalinic, RS parliament speaker and deputy leader of the SDS - may have known about the scheme but were unable or unwilling to do anything about it.
What mainly angered the public was that Popovic himself was not suspended. Ivanic indicated this could still happen but said it was necessary to wait for the OHR and the RS police to complete their investigation. "I strongly believe that everyone should be responsible for their actions and for possibly failing to prevent such things, but I do not wish to pass judgment in advance," the prime minister said.
Opposition leader Milorad Dodik, president of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, said part of the money obtained through this scheme was used to cover security costs of the former RS president and leading war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic.
Analysts also believe that a part of these funds was used to fund SDS pre-election activities. Dodik openly accused the party of running a "customs cartel". No SDS officials have sought to rebut the charge.
The shock waves spreading through the RS politics could lead to a final breakup of the coalition between the SDS party and Ivanic's Party of Democratic Progress, PDP.
CAFAO claims that Nedeljko Milovanovic, head of the RS customs service department for fighting smuggling, was the one who actually ran the scam with the support of 26 of his colleagues, all of whom were named in the original report.
The dossier said a group of senior RS customs service officers formed a secret cartel for the ostensible purpose of "easing" textile imports from Turkey, Bulgaria and Hungary. The system functioned on very simple lines. In cooperation with importing companies, officers invoicing and charging duty gave a fake value to the incoming goods, three times less than their real value. In exchange for these "services" they were highly rewarded.
This group is said to have advised and even forced importers to bring in goods on behalf of non-existent RS companies and to pay a 14,000 konvertible marks "fee" to the cartel so they could pass customs without any problems.
Most of the goods from Turkey and Bulgaria were reportedly entering the RS at the border crossing in Raca, while documentation was "cleared" at the main customs office in Banja Luka. Hungarian products, it is claimed, came in via the Gradiska border crossing, which is also where "clearing" of documents took place.
The report says the bribes were paid to a certain Jovica Joca Bakic, owner of the freight forwarding agency Interkom sped from Gradiska. Because of his alleged role in this chain, his colleagues called him "The Money Collector". It's claimed that junior customs men in this scheme were usually paid up to 2,000 euros, while the senior officers kept the rest for themselves.
CAFAO believes the scam started in September last year, when senior customs officials are said to have approached import companies and told them they must abide by the rules of the new system if they wished to stay in business.
The agency says the first contact with the importers was established by Stevo Filipovic, a customs officer at the Raca border crossing, and Vlajko Kojadinovic, deputy head of the Bijeljina customs service.
According to CAFAO, Filipovic told the importers that they should contact a certain "Nelo" for all further information on making customs agreements and gave them his mobile phone number. It claimed that "Nelo" was actually Nedeljko Milovanovic, then head of customs intelligence.
To all importers who agreed to cooperate, Milovanovic, son of former RS defence minister Manojlo Milovanovic, is then said to have named Jovica "Joca" Bakic as the man who gave the final detailed instructions on the new system of "clearing" goods.
Before Goran Popovic took over as the RS customs service director, Nedeljko Milovanovic, named by CAFAO as "a man at the very the top of the smuggling chain", was the head of the intelligence sector within the department for fighting smuggling. In October last year, a month after the fraud chain was set up, Popovic appointed Milovanovic head of the whole anti-smuggling department.
It has been estimated that duty for approximately 400 import consignments has been collected since September last year through the customs cartel. Most of the goods are said to have ended up at Arizona market near the Brcko district.
Since the majority of the importers of textiles are based in the Federation, the cartel is said to have appointed two company owners from there as its representatives. In this context, CAFAO mentions Senajid Karic, owner of SIDOIL and the Hotel Park in Srebrenik and Kasim Sadikovic, owner of SA Tours, Sarajevo.
The report said every consignment entering the country via Raca meant a bribe for each customs man of 300 konvertible marks. Once they reached the Arizona market, importers are believed to have additionally bribed the local police and financial inspectors with 100 to 300 marks apiece.
The CAFAO report claims that many complaints filed by importers also concerned Nenad Lazic, head of the Gradiska customs. But irregularities were also common elsewhere. For example, on February 2 this year drivers of three trucks carrying goods from Turkey who wanted to declare the goods in Travnik were sent to Visegrad for vehicle and document inspection.
In Visegrad, members of the department for fighting smuggling are said to have "recommended" that they had better declare their goods and pay the customs duty in Banja Luka. The drivers, it is claimed, were asked for money so their goods would not be held up at the customs.
That is when Jovica Joco Bakic, "The Money Collector", gets into the picture again. On behalf of the customs cartel, he is said to have asked for 3,000 konvertible marks per truck from the drivers. The drivers were allegedly advised to declare the goods in future on behalf of a fictitious company named Koming.
According to CAFAO information, a large number of customs service stamps used for paying the duty and tax were forged. It is still uncertain how CAFAO actually came into possession of all this information. The fact that the report cited exact mobile numbers of all key suspects indicated that part of the information came from wire-tapping.
Dragan Jerinic is the editor of Nezavisne Novine
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Jeff Eller is no longer forced to squeeze out those last few minutes of work at the office before rushing to the airport. That's because he carries his office with him-or at least as much of it as he needs. That usually means his Apple PowerBook, which is equipped with an Apple AirPort Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network adaptor that can be used to log on to the wireless network transceivers at half a dozen of the nation's busiest airports.
"It's slicker than all get out," says Eller, managing director of Public Strategies Inc., a public affairs consulting firm in Austin, Texas. "Now I can go to the airport two hours in advance, avoid traffic and still have the bandwidth I'm accustomed to."
Eller, who travels often, takes advantage of the growing number of Wi-Fi connections at airports and hotels nationwide, especially at his hometown's Bergstrom Airport. He arrives early, sets up in a lounge or restaurant, and starts whittling down the 250 or so e-mails he gets daily. Virtual meetings with clients via instant messaging sometimes continue right up to the departure gate.
Meanwhile, back at the office, around 20 other Public Strategies employees are using AirPort-enabled PowerBooks at their desks or in conference rooms to hook up to the company's Ethernet backbone. They are especially useful for note-taking and downloading research and slide presentations from the company's server during client meetings.
Wi-Fi-or 802.11b-is just now starting to penetrate the workplace. But it promises to bring us our product databases and price lists, maps, video-conferences, training clips, CEO pep talks and a lot more-anywhere, any time. Data transfer speeds top out at a respectable 11Mbps at the moment but should reach 54Mbps early next year.
Some of the biggest names in computing are making multimillion-dollar bets on the technology. Most wireless adaptors are sold through the system integrators and resellers of traditional networking companies-3Com, Cisco, etc. But large portable PC sellers like Compaq, Gateway and IBM also have been quick to seize the technology-none more so than Toshiba Computer Systems Group (CSG). Half Toshiba's recently introduced portables have Wi-Fi built-in, and the rest can access it through a PC Card. Toshiba is also investing heavily in installation and support services for companies of all sizes.
"I am betting big on Wi-Fi," asserts Steve Andler, vice president of marketing for Toshiba CSG. "By the end of the year, I think two-thirds of all I sell will have Wi-Fi in it. This isn't the future; this is now."


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“centralrisk” contains news items, advice and insights in to the important discipline of risk management which affects all companies and commercial enterprises regardless of size.
The first issue will carry features ranging from road safety to travel risks for employers to consider when sending staff abroad on business, cold weather precautions needed to protect businesses, and legislation updates.
Edited by Central Insurance’s risk manager, Mark White, the bulletin will be sent to hundreds
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- Up to 275 jobs at risk at Axa XL in the UK
- Legal Protection Group confirms loss of Inter Hannover capacity
- Towergate’s Andy Parkin resurfaces at Gauntlet
- Consolidation opens up opportunities, says Romero boss
- Laurent Matras takes interim Axa retail MD role as Gareth Howell departs
- Profits up at Allianz in 2018


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High street footfall drops for third month in a row as shoppers stay at home in October
Shoppers across the UK stayed away from the high streets in October as the average footfall declined for the third month in a row.
Trips to high streets, shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks fell by 2.9 per cent compared to October 2012, after falling 2.4 per cent in September and 0.9 per cent in August.
The British Retail Consortium figures follow a surge during the summer heatwave, and retailers now will be hoping for a reversal in fortunes as Christmas approaches.
Decline: High street footfall fell by 2.9 per cent in October.
Helen Dickinson, BRC director general, said: 'Although recent months have hinted at economic recovery, many of us are still cautious and keen to manage budgets ahead of Christmas.
'Despite the tentative optimism in the air, it's clear that conditions remain challenging.
'Retailers will be hoping that a festive boost to browsing and buying puts things back on a more even keel over the coming months.'
Regionally, the worst performance was in Northern Ireland, where footfall dropped 9.8 per cent.
It was down by 2.7 per cent in London, with East Anglia the only region to register an improvement with a 0.8 per cent rise.
Figures from the Local Data Company found that the level of shop vacancies remained unchanged during October at 14.1 per cent.
But the LDC has warned this could rise following the high-profile woes of Barratts Shoes and DVD retail chain Blockbusters, both of which have recently gone into administration.
Figures from financial services firm Markit released today found that people believe their finances have worsened during November, the first such fall in sentiment since March, and one which could spell trouble for retailers hoping for a boost during the festive season.
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City sidewalks, busy sidewalks. Dressed in holiday style …
Indeed, downtown city sidewalks are coming back into fashion all yearlong. And as increasingly more visionary municipalities shed their old downtowns’ ashes, the fresh ambience they create is attracting people of all ages — benefiting businesses and cities on the whole. In “Regenerating America’s Legacy Cities,” a 2013 report from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, the authors say strong local leadership, a shared community vision, inclusive growth, creative problem-solving, crowd-sector collaboration and placemaking are the tenets of success for these types of revitalization efforts.
Boosting revitalization efforts
Shannon Haney, executive director of Main Street Batesville in Arkansas, gave some tips of incentives that may attract businesses to a new downtown locale.
“We’ve put a lot of work into paving the way for relocating or starting up a business downtown,” she said. “As a certifi ed organization of (our) state’s Main Street Arkansas and the national Main Street America program, our district’s businesses automatically have a team of free consultants — an interior designer, an exterior facade designer, a historic tax credit consultant and a business consultant. Also, as a certified Main Street organization, we are to give out mini-grants each year to downtown businesses.”
Another resource is also available, with Haney noting, “A local bank, Citizens Bank, has started a grant program in addition to our own for downtown businesses, and they are also providing easier access to capital with low-interest downtown loans.”
In addition to funding improvements, Main Street Batesville and the city of Batesville host events and festivals all yearlong in the downtown area, attracting both residents and new visitors. Other means of attractions have been investing in infrastructure projects over the past four years.
“We’ve completed an all-new pocket park for community events like the farmer’s market, and we’re in the process of cooperatively building a new one,” Haney said.
She added that another part of these building projects include working with the city to pave the way for loft apartments and lodging, which will be a huge boost to their local economy. The organization is also supporting local sustainable business practices with its plan to fund a series of customer relations workshops.
Haney said, “Through our associate organization, the Batesville Downtown Foundation, two remaining empty storefronts have been purchased and are being renovated for occupants. This is the only place in town that has an organization constantly working to bring people to your business doors for you.”
Glens Falls, N.Y., is just beginning its revitalization journey after six months of planning and another three months of state review, said Ed Bartholomew, president of Economic Development Corporation of Warren County and the local administrator of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
“We applied for and won a $10 million dollar award by the Capital Regional Economic Council in competition against other municipalities on Aug. 18, 2016. This competitive DRI grant is an initiative of Governor (Andrew) Cuomo’s downtown revitalization program,” Bartholomew said. “Though we are in early stages of the event, earlier efforts include utility reconstruction, streetscape improvements, individual building renovations, walkability and traffic improvements have been ongoing for approximately 10 years.”
The effect of the award has heightened interest in Glens Falls’ downtown, both from regional store operators and developers. For example, earlier this year Northeastern Fine Jewelry, which has three other stores, opened its fourth store in downtown Glens Falls, utilizing an existing storefront once occupied by Scoville Jewelers. Future additions include the relocation of SUNY Adirondack’s culinary school to the downtown; the construction of a farmer’s market on South Street; new streetscapes and infrastructure on Park, School, Elm and Exchange streets; and a downtown park on South Street with green infrastructure.
Prior successful planning grants and proposed downtown projects for Glens Falls include the 2011 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Challenge, a sustainable planning grant initiative advocating the public arts trail, a focus on arts and entertainment, plus the development of mixed-use residential projects with parking; and the 2015 Upstate Revitalization Initiative, where downtown Glens Falls was selected as one of two prime areas for large-scale revitalization efforts by the Capital Region’s Economic Development Council.
As for changing the attitude and overall image of downtown Glens Falls, Bartholomew said, “This has primarily been achieved by trumpeting each project and gaining momentum to continue additional investments. The commitment of downtown businesses and the arts and entertainment community has created wonderful collaboration and a very positive attitude with results.” He added, “Cost-wise, Glens Falls and affiliated economic agencies expended approximately $40,000 to $50,000, plus countless hours by key staff contributed to our renewal efforts.”
Elizabeth City, N.C., has also embraced revitalization through a team-oriented approach, according to Deborah Malenfant, executive director of Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. She noted that her harbor-front city’s renewal efforts and events began years ago when the organization was originally formed to beautify and revitalize the downtown while maintaining its historical integrity.
“We are working on placemaking initiatives to create public spaces for the community to come enjoy being downtown,” Malenfant said.
Successful revitalizations bring people downtown for the holidays
Thanksgiving through Christmas marks the biggest retail shopping season in the U.S., with a Visa Insights report noting an uptick in holiday spending in 2016 versus the past five years. Cities, through continued enhancements, can harness some of that holiday season spending. Bartholomew recommended a collaborative effort between the city, members of the local business development district and the arts and entertainment communities to attract Black Friday shoppers and beyond.
For Batesville and its mom-and-pops stores, Black Friday doesn’t offer much; however, the city does look forward to the following Saturday. Haney said, “The day after Black Friday is known as Small Business Saturday, and that’s a day we care about a little more because it’s more ‘us.’ Yes, there will be sales, but also there will be activities on the street for kids, opportunities to meet the people who made the thing you’re buying, food, music and places to lounge. It will be a day to converse with your neighbors, rather than push them down rushing toward a checkout line.”
Elizabeth City is much the same, with Malenfant saying, “We also coordinate, host and partner with other organizations and individual businesses to promote holiday shopping. We don’t focus on Black Friday as much as we do the Small Business Saturday initiative.” She noted, “ (Small Business Saturday) is held each year on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday to encourage the support of small businesses nationwide. This is an American Expresssponsored event that ECDI supports and promotes.”
Elizabeth City Downtown Inc. also presents key events, which the city supports, to attract visitors. Some of these include First Friday Art Work, Holiday Celebration and Downtown Illumination, the Christmas parade and the lighted boat parade.
Revitalization doesn’t come without its challenges, with some people proving resistant to change. But with all the benefits to local economies all yearlong, the benefits outweigh the headaches and a united front can help overcome any challenges. Haney said, “We could never have done this without the cooperation of the city, the county, local financial institutions, local businesses sponsors and volunteers. Other cities now contact us and want to know how we did a streetscape so quickly and so cheaply, and now, four years later, the answer is with help.”


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With the appearance of powerful but simple-to-use new systems such as Microsoft’s Xbox, Nintendo’s GameCube and Sony’s PlayStation, sales of games for consoles and handheld devices rose more than 6 percent in this year’s first quarter, according to research firm NPD Group Inc.
Sales of games for personal computers, meanwhile, fell 5 percent. The market for PC games is now about a fourth the size of the console game market.
“With consoles, you pick up a game and you know it’s going to work” when you get home, said Pete Myhre, manager of a GameStop store in Austin, Texas. “With PCs, you have to look at system requirements, make sure your machine is compatible,” and sometimes spring for an expensive upgrade, Myhre said.
At the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo, the traditional launch party for new video games that wraps up here Friday, it’s clear that console games now rule.
Amid the roar of digital dragons and screech of virtual tires, game developers and retailers can try the latest version of best-sellers such as “The Getaway” or “The Legend of Zelda” on a GameCube or PlayStation 2 console, but not on personal computers.
With about 57 percent of all new games designed primarily for consoles and 16 percent for other platforms, compared with 27 percent for PCs, even finding a traditional computer on the show floor is tough.
And now, even more competition is coming to the industry created by the computer.
Wireless phone giant Nokia took the wraps off a $299 game-playing cell phone at the show. The N-Gage, due on the market in October, is the most ambitious of several attempts by cell phone makers to get into the gaming business.
Separately, Sony announced plans for a handheld gaming device aimed at helping it build on its dominance of the home console market. Sony didn’t put a price on its new PSP device, scheduled for sale this fall.
Both Sony and Microsoft this week cut console prices well under the $200 mark, making them much cheaper than any standard PC.
Even the biggest fans of PC games admit growth is getting hard.
“It’s a maturing market,” said Stuart Moulder, general manager for PC games at Microsoft Corp. “We seem to be nearing a point where growth from now on is flattened out.”
Forty years after Massachusetts Institute of Technology students used a giant mainframe computer to create and play “Spacewar,” the first video game, nobody is declaring that it’s Game Over for PCs just yet.
On the contrary, some highly anticipated games scheduled for release this fall _ sequels to titles such as “The Sims” and “Medal of Honor” _ are geared toward PC players.
Electronic Arts Inc., the world’s biggest video game maker, makes those titles. EA raised some eyebrows here this week when it announced its latest line of online sports games would be designed specifically for Sony consoles.
But while the company is snubbing Microsoft’s Xbox with its online sports games for now, it has no plans to quit making games for traditional computers, said spokeswoman Trudy Muller. And for good reason: EA still gets about 25 percent of its sales from PC games.
“The PC (games) market may have very small growth … but it’s still a huge market,” Muller said.
To attract more gamers and rejuvenate business, some in the computer industry are trying to put more pizzazz in PCs.
Dell Computer Corp., for instance, introduced a computer configured and designed specifically for gamers late last month.
Computer processor giant Intel Corp. recently teamed up with Atari Inc. and DreamWorks SKG to collaborate on a video game connected to the forthcoming “Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas” movie.
And Intel arch-rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has long marketed itself as the chipmaker of choice for PC gamers and other users of graphics-intensive software.
Nonetheless, the PC may be facing a future as a platform primarily for older, hard-core gamers, analysts and others say.
Among regular PC gamers, about 40 percent are over age 35, and the majority are older then 18, according to figures from the Interactive Digital Software Association, a trade group for video game developers.
Among regular console game players, only 18 percent are over age 35 and nearly half are younger than 18.
So as console game players get older, sales of PC games may continue to slide.
Computer gaming is “really starting to be a niche business,” said David Cole, president of research firm DFC Intelligence. “It’s a fairly stable audience, but it’s not growing much.”
(Story can end here. Optional add follows.)
While some of the most popular new video games are geared toward consoles, the PC will likely remain the primary platform for some types of games.
So-called “massively multiplayer” online games, for instance, in which thousands of players pay a monthly subscription fee to interact as wizards or ogres in pretend Internet worlds, are almost exclusively for PC users.
“I’m pretty bearish on consoles altogether,” said renowned Austin, Texas game developer Richard Garriott, creator of two of the best-selling Internet games, “Ultima Online” and “Lineage.”
Consoles hold some potential, Garriott said. “But in my mind, it’s still the next generation of consoles,” he said. “I’m not going to design a game for the first Xbox or PS2.”
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Pub owner complains that independent hotels and pubs are being ‘snuffed away’ by excessive business rates, while Airbnb doesn’t pay any
- Credit: Archant
The co-owner of a popular Suffolk pub-hotel is bemoaning that he claims he is coughing up more each year in tax, proportionally speaking, than Airbnb.
The Crown is a pub and boutique 11-bedroom hotel in the picturesque village of Stoke-by-Nayland. Its co-owner, Richard Sunderland, says that the returns he used to see from the pub-hotel industry are “not anymore,” and he sees no reason this will change in the foreseeable future. The crux of the problem, he claims, is the business rates.
According to CAMRA, 48 pubs closed in the East of England in the first six months of 2018, representing 1.1% of the total, and CAMRA is calling on the Government to abandon any upcoming increases to the tax paid by pubs in November’s Budget. Current plans will see beer duty rise by around 2p per pint, and pubs are set to lose £1,000 in business rate relief.
The Crown’s current rateable 2017 value is £178,000 and the owners pay £87,753 per year in business rates – this is a 29% increase on the rateable value of £138,000 they paid in 2010.
The American company Airbnb, on the other hand, is not required to pay business rates. But the accommodation website does pay corporation tax (less than £300,000 in the UK last year) and collected £657m of rental payments for property owners last year.
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“Airbnb does not have to bear the same costs traditional hotels do,” said Mr Sunderland. “It is far removed from the cuddly, warm, sharing economy that this Government is trying to portray.”
Airbnb is becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Nights booked with Airbnb in London rose by 45% in 2017, according to figures from Colliers International.
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But for Mr Sunderland, the tax that Airbnb pays is not enough, and he would like to see more of a level playing field. “The likes of enormous platform companies like Airbnb will thrive, despite contributing absolutely ‘zero’ to this country’s greater good,” he said. “The all-powerful might of the corporate giants can soak up the financial tax pressure that this government is placing upon us.
“Unfortunately, small independently owned businesses, which I firmly believe should be and have been the heartbeat and backbone of the great British economy, are being snuffed away and we will all live to regret it unless we have a dramatic rethink in our business strategy.
“It will be boring for people to hear it repeated, but the two significant factors remain that are contributing to significant holes in profits are wage costs and business rates. In the end unless we see a ‘u-turn’ in the governments thinking, all we are doing is creating huge great divides in the retail industry that will benefit no one, especially the country.”
An Airbnb spokesperson responded to the accusations by saying that treating hard-working families looking to boost their income as commercial hotels seems “patently unfair.” “It shows a fundamental misunderstanding of how local hosts share their homes on Airbnb. The typical host in the East of England earns less than £3,000 by sharing their home for around 3 nights a month, and unlike other forms of accommodation, local families keep 97 percent of the accommodation cost.”
Explainer - how are pub business rates set?
Ian Berry, a Sudbury bookshop owner who is an expert in the field of business rates, explained that the rates pubs pay are not based on size of building and property, but mainly on “fair maintainable trade” based on type of premises, area, the service it offers (such as food or gaming), the number of bedrooms, and rent, profit and turnovers. “This would, of course, be open to challenge by the owner or tenant,” he said. “They are able to receive a reduction if a new pub opens near them.”


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Now is a great time to save on a streaming media player. Take advantage of this Black Friday deal at Best Buy and save $10 on the already affordable Roku Premiere.
If you have a 4K TV and need a capable streaming device to binge ultra high-def content from, there's never been a better time to grab Roku's latest Ultra model.
Score savings on a Roku streaming stick or Roku wireless speakers this Mother's Day. You can even save on select streaming channels on Roku devices for a limited time.
The new Roku Voice Remote Pro makes using Roku devices about as convenient as it can get. But will it work with your specific Roku product?
Roku today launched 'Roku Originals', its own slate of original programming. Quibi content will be the first to debut under this line, with a fuller announcement coming in May.
With roughly 3,000 Roku Channels available right now, it can be hard to decide where you want to start. Here's a breakdown of the best Roku channels, what's free, and what's not.
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Packages move along a conveyor at an Amazon fulfillment center on Cyber Monday in Robbinsville, New Jersey, U.S., on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Amazon was fined 1.13 billion euros ($1.28 billion) on Thursday by Italian antitrust regulators for abusing its market dominance.
The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, or AGCM, said that Amazon had harmed competing operators in the e-commerce logistics service.
It concluded that Amazon leveraged its dominant position to encourage sellers on Amazon.it to use its own logistics service — Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA).
This was done “to the detriment of the logistics services offered by competing operators, as well as to strengthen its own dominant position.”
AGCM said it will impose corrective steps that will be subject to review by a monitoring trustee.
Amazon said it “strongly disagrees” with the fine and that it plans to appeal. “The proposed fine and remedies are unjustified and disproportionate,” an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC.
Amazon said over 50% of all annual sales on its platform in Italy come from small and medium-sized business, adding that their success is key to Amazon’s business model.
“Small and medium-sized businesses have multiple channels to sell their products both online and offline: Amazon is just one of those options,” the Amazon spokesperson said.
“We constantly invest to support the growth of the 18,000 Italian SMBs that sell on Amazon, and we provide multiple tools to our sellers, including those who manage shipments themselves.”
Ruhell Amin, global head of retail equity research at William O’Neil + Co, told CNBC’s “Street Signs Europe” on Thursday that it’s a “significant” fine for the e-commerce giant.
“It’s part of a broader trend that we’ve seen in Europe around trying to regulate some of these Big Tech companies,” he said.
The concern for investors is that the Italian fine could signify a broader trend toward regulating Amazon more heavily in other parts of its business as well, and in other parts of the world, Amin said. “This certainly seems like the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
“This case is interesting because the European Commission opened its own probe into this practice but carved Italy out of the scope of the investigation to allow Italy’s antitrust watchdog to proceed on its own merit,” Amin added. “Typically the European Commission is quite unified in its approach.”
Elsewhere, regulators in China are cracking down on e-commerce giant Alibaba while Latin American regulators are targeting Mercado Libre.


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Thomas Kurian: 5 Big Remarks On Google’s Generative AI Future
Here are Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian’s boldest statements regarding Google’s generative AI strategy and future following the unveiling of new AI offerings this month for Google Workspace and Google Cloud.
Making Generative AI Accessible Through APIs
One huge strategy Kurian said Google Cloud is doing and will continue to do better than the competition is making its AI accessible and open-sourced for the developer community.
“Over the years, we have made our language advances and NLU [natural language understanding] capability, for example, available to the broad developer community either directly in open source or even embedded in our products like Google Workspace or in Google Search,” said Kurian.
However, he said this month’s unveiling of new generative AI capabilities is historic.
“This is the first time we’re taking our new generative AI models and making them directly accessible through an API to the developer community, as well as making a number of these new products available,” said Kurian.
Google’s new PaLM API can be used for a variety of applications and provides access to models that are optimized for multi-turn use cases—such as content generation and chat, and general-purpose models that are optimized for areas such as summarization and classification. With embeddings generated through the PaLM API, developers can build applications with their own data or on top of external data sources. Alongside the new PaLM API, Google unveiled a tool that lets developers start prototyping quickly and easily: MakerSuite.


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Usually trains on wedding dresses are long and need a couple of bridesmaids to keep them in place. But, Romania has taken this concept to a whole new different level!Previously, Chinese bride walked down the isle astonishing the world with her long wedding dress trail. That held the title of the longest wedding dress train in the world. But, it was not so long until Emma showed up showcasing the 1.85 mile long ivory train. This week, the Guinness Book of World Records has officially named the train as the world’s longest.
The ivory train, designed by a local designer, Andree Salon fashion house, billowed out in Bucharest, Romania’s capital, as she rose over the city in a hot air balloon. The fashion house spokeswoman told the Associated Press that the taffeta and other fabrics were brought from Italy and the lace was imported from France. And according to the Telegraph, 18 feet of lace, 15,420 feet of taffeta and 147 feet of lining were stitched together using about 2,000 sewing needles and 150 spools of thread to create the train and the gown.
An effort of 100 days of intense work by 10 seamstresses and a budget of $7,000 were enough to hit the new world’s record.
LUXURY NEWS I WOMAN I LUXURY AUTOMOBILE I LUXURY GETAWAYS
LUXURY TECHNOLOGY I LUXURY WATCHES I THE MOST I NEWZY.NET I


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Partnering the Porsche Motorsport LMP1 team since its return to the Endurance championship in 2014, Chopard is launching a limited series to celebrate the many successes achieved by the Stuttgart-based manufacturer in the World Endurance Championship. Thanks to the 919 […]
This new Chopard Mille Miglia GTS collection, composed of a three-hand and date chronometer, a power reserve and a chronograph, sees the introduction of a Chopard movement: for the first time, the chronometer and power-reserve models will be equipped with a Chopard movement from the workshops of Fleurier Ebauches.
Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition is a new sporty timepiece dedicated to the Mille Miglia classic car race, for which Chopard has been serving as partner and official timekeeper since 1988. The Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition picks up the design codes of the classic cars that took part in the Italian race between 1940 and 1957.


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Xiaomi is expected to launch a number new product today at its Smarter Living 2020′ event in India. The products which are expected to be announced at today’s event are the Mi Band 4, a 65-Inch Mi TV and a new water purifier. Among other products, the Mi Band 4 is highly anticipated fro today’s event. Notably, Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is already listed on the Amazon India website for pre-registration for users interested in the Band. However, the listing doesn’t reveal the price of the Mi Band 4. Now, it looks like the Indian price of the Mi Band 4 is already leaked ahead of its official launch today.
According to the leaked retail box of the Mi Band 4 courtesy of reliable tipster, Sudhanshu Ambhore has revealed the India price of the upcoming Mi Band 4. The leaked retail box of the Mi Band 4 has an MRP of Rs. 2,499, but this could not be the actual price for the Mi Band 4 as we expect it to be priced slightly lower than this.
#Xiaomi Mi Band 4 India MRP price leaked; ₹2,500.
Mi Band 3 MRP- ₹2,200
Sold at- ₹2,000
Mi Band 2 MRP- ₹2,500
Sold at- ₹2,000 pic.twitter.com/lFB45NE5HR
— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) September 16, 2019
Other than the India price of the Mi Band 4, the retail box also has several other details about the band, such the Mi Band 4 color as black.
To recall, Xiaomi Mi Band 4 launched in China earlier this year. The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 fitness tracker comes with a 0.95-inch AMOLED screen with 120 x 240 pixels resolution. It is powered by a 135mAh battery and also has Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity. Xiaomi’s Mi Band 4 also comes with 5ATM making it water-resistant up to 50 meters.
More details will be available soon. Xiaomi ‘Smarter Living 2020′ event will begin at 12 pm (noon) IST today.


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Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft’s operator-based first person shooter, is currently in its third season of the third year. As more and more operators are added to the game, the developers have begun offering discounts on the previous ones. Starting from September 25th 2018 till March 4th 2019, the original year one operators will be available to purchase at a reduced price.
A total of eight operators from the first four seasons, Black Ice, Dust Line, Skull Rain, and Red Crow are currently available to purchase cheaply. The list of operators is as follows:
The discounted price applies to both renown, the in-game free currency, and R6 Credits, the premium currency. The nearly 50% discount takes the renown cost of each operator down from 25,000 to 15,000 renown per operator. The cost for R6 Credits has also been reduced from 600 to 360 R6 Credits per operator.
Since launch, over 20 new operators have joined team Rainbow in the form of free seasonal updates. Every new operator added costs 25,000 Renown, which equates to approximately 8-10 hours of normal playtime (without using boosters).
Previously, the base operators of the game would occasionally be up for discounts, allowing new players to unlock them all quickly. Shortly after, however, Ubisoft kicked it up a notch and unlocked the original operators for everyone, excluding Starter Edition owners. This change, together with the removal of the weapon attachment purchase system, allowed people to save renown for more important purchases, like DLC operators or Alpha Packs.
While the time window provided is definitely a long one, the discount is only temporarily. Be sure to pick up the year one operators that you want before March next year.


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Ford Motor Company in China is reportedly ready to start trying out direct-to-consumer car sales online in China, selling through China’s Alibaba via its retail site Tmall. The automaker is also reportedly considering a new “Automotive Vending Machine” concept in the country.
Reuters reports that Ford CEO Jim Hackett and Executive Chairman Bill Ford are expected to be in Hangzou Thursday to sign a letter of intent regarding the retail partnership with Alibaba. Ford’s Global Chief Spokesperson, Mark Truby, has confirmed that Ford Motor Company will make an announcement Thursday in the city of Hangzhou, where Alibaba is based, but hasn’t disclosed anything about the nature of the pending announcement.
Reuters‘ source says that new cars purchased through Alibaba’s Tmall service might still be shipped to buyers by dealers, who would then provide maintenance and servicing. The Automotive Vending Machine model, meanwhile, could stock cars sourced either through dealers or directly from the manufacturer. Customers would be able to access the machine using their smartphones, see what’s in stock, and either purchase one or take it for a test drive.
Ford believes that many Chinese dealers would be on-board with this new direct-to-consumer sales model, as dealers would still generate revenue from servicing the automobiles. However, customer financing would take place through Alibaba’s affiliate Alipay, meaning that dealers would lose out on both new vehicle sales and lucrative auto financing revenue.


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By Bobinec, Greg on March 18, 2020.
As the City of Lethbridge continues to take additional steps to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Government of Alberta has released new public health measures to limit the time Albertans spend in large crowds and crowded spaces.
As of Tuesday, all events over 50 people are to be cancelled, with no attendance at rec centres, casinos, bingo halls, bars, theatres and other facilities. Sit-down restaurants can remain open at lower capacity.
In Lethbridge, Access-A-Ride service will be limited to essential travel only. Essential travel includes things like trips for food, required supplies, medical appointments or getting to work. It does not include social outings. In order to properly triage essential travel, online booking has been disabled and Access-A-Ride trips must be booked via telephone at 403-329-6464. This change will remain in effect until further notice.
The Animal Shelter is taking precautionary measures to limit the number of people coming and going at the facility. Volunteer programs and public access will be suspended for an initial period of two weeks from today. After this time, they will re-evaluate the situation. To ensure lost pets may be returned home and adoptions are able to continue, individuals are asked to contact the shelter at 403-320-4099 ahead of time and arrange a time to pick up their pet or view and socialize with prospective dogs and cats they may be looking to adopt.
The City offers many online services that may help you avoid a trip to city hall or other in-person interactions. To find a full list of online payments and services visit lethbridge.ca/onlineservices.
The City of Lethbridge reminds residents to practise social distancing, be cautious of your actions and keep clean by washing hands and not touching your face regularly. In order to protect residents and staff, the City is committed to continuing with all necessary measures to limit the transmission of COVID-19.
Follow @GBobinecHerald on Twitter


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Popular CES2O11 Articles for 2010
Two days ago, images and performance specs of the as yet unreleased Dell Alienware m17x R3 were posted on the NotebookReview discussion forums. The latest revision includes the unreleased Intel[...]
New information has been leaked about upcoming ASUS notebooks based on Intel's upcoming "Sandy Bridge" platform.
Christmas isn't here yet, but the team at NotebookReview.com can barely contain our excitement as we prepare for the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Keep reading to[...]
Intel has released the latest product in its Solid State Drive (SSD) storage line, the 310 Series mSATA, which are just 1/8 the size of regular SSDs.


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Fifteen New Zealand-based actors participating in "Lord of the Rings" trilogy have placed lawsuit against New Line Cinema for breach of contract.
Not yet done with the dispute against acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema now has to face another lawsuit concerning profits drawn from the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
Fifteen New Zealand-based actors showing up in various appearances throughout the course of the films have carried legal action against the studio, claiming they have been ripped off of their cut in an estimated $100 million in profits from the sales of movie merchandise, their attorney Henry Gradstein said Wednesday, June 13.
In their lawsuit filed May 30 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the group was supposed to earn five percent of the net revenue from videogames, lunchboxes, mugs, clothing, and other merchandise featuring their likenesses. Those sales generated an estimated $100 million for the studio but none of the actors, the suit contends, have yet enjoyed their share.
"What New Line did was just arbitrarily take 50 percent right off the top because 'We're the company,'" Gradstein told Page Six. "There's not a dime for them in the way New Line is doing the accounting - it will always be something like 104 percent in deductions against what they are owed. What they didn't realize is that 'gross merchandising revenue' apparently became 'net merchandising revenue' after certain unexpected expenses were deducted. The 50 percent distribution fee is something they never saw mentioned anywhere in their contract."


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Credit and Finance for MSMEs: Public sector banks have disbursed the majority of the applications among other lenders including private banks, regional rural banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), state and urban co-operative banks, small finance, and district co-operative banks, and more.
Credit and Finance for MSMEs: The Modi government has enabled sanctioning of over 54.8 per cent of applications received under its micro-credit scheme PM SVANidhi for nano or micro-entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and enhance their earnings. Launched on June 1, 2020, applications received as of January 28, 2020, stood at over 33.22 lakh out of which more than 18.21 lakh applications involving Rs 1,817 crore were sanctioned, according to the available data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Out of the sanctioned applications, nearly 13.63 lakh applications involving close to Rs 1,344 crore have been disbursed.
Financial Express Online had reported in December 2020 about the total number of applications crossing the 30.60-lakh mark out of which over 16.52 lakh were sanctioned. The lending process for the scheme began July 2, 2020, to offer collateral-free working capital credit up to Rs 10,000 of one year to around 50 lakh street vendors in India including vendors and hawkers selling fruits, vegetables, tea, footwear, local snacks, books, artisan products apart from cobblers, cigarette shop owners, tailors, etc. The average number of days taken to sanction a loan application is 27. Public sector banks have disbursed the majority of the applications among other lenders including private banks, regional rural banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), state and urban co-operative banks, small finance and district co-operative banks, and more.
SBI was the leading lender under the scheme disbursing 3.84 lakh applications followed by 1.77 lakh applications disbursed by Union Bank of India, 1.46 lakh applications by Bank of Baroda, 1.17 lakh applications by Bank of India, and more. Borrowers in the fruit and vegetables segment were the biggest beneficiaries of the scheme with 46 per cent of the applications disbursed to them followed by 22 per cent to vendors of fast food and food items, 13 per cent to cloth and handloom item vendors, and 5 per cent to businesses in business and fashion accessories.
PM SVANidhi intended to benefit street vendors who were impacted due to the Covid pandemic and have been vending on or before March 24, 2020. The working capital credit accessed by these nano entrepreneurs is repayable in 12 monthly installments. Borrowers are also eligible for a 7 per cent interest subsidy as well for timely or early repayment while there is also a provision of earning Rs 1,200 per annum in cashback. The total cashback paid to street vendors as of January 28, 2021, was over Rs 5.76 lakh up from Rs 56,050 as of November 17, 2020.


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PubMatic Launches Industry-First Analytics Featuring Real-Time Reporting and Natural Language Processing. Press Release
From mixers, sponsored events, conferences, company milestones, networking or simply a gathering of thought leaders in the online display advertising industry. Latest Events
Whether you are a recent graduate looking for your first job or a seasoned expert trying to advance your career, at PubMatic we're always on the lookout for talent. Open Positions.


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With Summer now officially over, what happened to Wake Up Club, Travel Bug, [email protected] and Imaginstruments on the PS Vita?
What also happened to Frobisher Says coming to North America? I remember seeing it at E3 but no news on it so far.
That and Ecolibrium.
And Ecolibrium. Saw a review for it a while back, still no download.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


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Tue, 25 Jan | News
Florida’s Youngest-Ever Winner Takes Home $235.4 million
Florida’s youngest ever Powerball winner has stepped forward to claim the $235.4 million prize he won last month.
The 23-year-old Thomas Yi from Land O' Lakes, Pasco County matched all six winning numbers. The white balls were 6, 14, 38, 39 and 65, the red Powerball was 6.
"Even after matching all six numbers, I was in disbelief and took my ticket to a retailer to have it checked," he said. "The clerk at the counter instantly became excited and kept repeating that I had won the $235 million Powerball jackpot. I knew then that this would be life-changing."
He went to the Florida Lottery HQ in Tallahassee straight away to claim his prize, deciding to take the lump sum and receiving a one-off payment of $160,038,447.
Despite having enough money to never need to work in his life, Yi nonetheless plans to study either business or medicine.
The lucky ticket was bought from the Publix at 16560 North Nebraska Avenue in Lutz. The retailer is set to receive a $95,000 commission for selling the ticket.
It is reported that Yi lives with his parents but it seems very likely that he’ll soon be buying his own home. Neighbour Monica Williams said,
Reportedly Yi lives with his parents but it seems probable that he will soon be buying his own place. In the meantime, Tampa Bay neighbour Monica Williams said, "I hope he invests well; don't run through the money."
Florida is among the highest-selling Powerball jurisdictions and over the years has seen many amazing wins.
Two huge Powerball wins took place in the state during 2020. William Kruger scooped an enormous $168.5 million prize in August. Earlier in the year, in January, an even more astonishing prize was won, a monumental $396.9 million jackpot by Sheryll Goedert.


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The demand for low-speed vehicles in gated communities, resorts and across college campuses is expected to fuel demand through 2022, according to a Research and Markets report.
The low-speed vehicle market is expected to grow from $3.57 billion in 2017 to $4.15 billion in 2022, the report said.
In the low-speed vehicle market, personnel carriers seating two to eight people, are projected to be in high demand by consumers with an increase in shorter commutes.
The golf cart market is expected to be the largest segment of the low-speed vehicle market for North America due to an increase of interest in electric cars and golf courses in the region.
The U.S. market is estimated to dominate the low-speed vehicles market through 2022, due to high purchase orders from the U.S. military for utility vehicles.


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Britain’s biggest car dealer is returning £100 million to investors in a share buyback after delivering record profits.
Inchcape, which sells and distributes upmarket cars in 26 markets for manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover and Porsche, said that it was returning the surplus cash and would continue to monitor bolt-on acquisition targets.
The £78 million cash purchase in March of Trivett, the leading luxury dealer in Australia, and strong sales in Asia and emerging markets helped Inchcape to post a 6.6 per cent rise in revenue to £3.3 billion in the six months to June 30. Pre-tax profit was up 11 per cent on last year to £147 million. The results exceeded analysts’ forecasts.
André Lacroix, the chief executive of Inchcape, said that the…


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T-Mobile has announced that they have turned up their first 600MHz LTE areas here in the United States. The company rolled out the new spectrum, which they acquired at auction from the FCC earlier this year, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The new low-spectrum will give T-Mobile a greater reach, particularly in rural areas and where they have not rolled out 700MHz yet.
The company is leveraging Nokia equipment for the rollout in Cheyenne and if you are curious as to why they started in Cheyenne, it’s a pretty straightforward reason. 600MHz, in some parts of the country, are occupied by television broadcasters. That’s not the case apparently in Cheyenne so rolling out could happen immediately. T-Mobile will continue to roll out the spectrum as it is cleared in other areas of the country.


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With Star Wars: Battlefront only weeks away, EA has released a new gameplay launch trailer for the upcoming game which shows off the gameplay, the different maps, and most importantly, the playable famous characters from the films.
Outside of the general infantry there will be six playable characters and all six of them will have unique abilities and attributes. Also there were three more Battlefront modes were revealed which brings the total playable modes to eleven.
EA released an infograph about the Beta earlier this year and said that over 9.5 million people played the beta and those players logged over 1.6 Billion minutes of playtime.
Star Wars: Battlefront launches November 17th on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.