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“Many industry observers consider ‘Cyber Monday’ to be the busiest day of the year for online retailers, but the Sunday before Cyber Monday is just as important in terms of Internet visits. Many consumers spend time browsing and comparing products and prices on the Sunday, before making their actual purchases on Cyber Monday itself,” commented Robin Goad, Research Director at Experian Hitwise. “This year, the pre-Christmas online shopping peak moved a week closer to Christmas – over the last couple of years it has been the last Sunday in November rather than the first Sunday or Monday in December. Bargain hunting will almost certainly played a role, with many consumers leaving it later to order in the hope of finding better deals.”
Department stores and supermarkets have been the biggest beneficiaries of the shift towards later online shopping this Christmas. Most of the top 10 websites that experienced the largest increases in visits when comparing this year’s peak in traffic (December 6th) to last year’s (November 30th) were either department stores or supermarkets. Amazon UK experienced the biggest increase in visitors between the two dates, and was joined in the top 10 by high street names including Marks and Spencer, John Lewis and Littlewoods.
“The popularity of established names and stores with a high street presence the closer we get to Christmas clearly illustrates a preference for multiple delivery and dispatch options,” commented Goad. “For retailers to win trust at this time of year they must provide customers with both flexibility and security in this area”
Jonathan De Mello, Experian’s Director of Retail Consultancy adds: “Retailers have been determined to learn from mistakes made last year by investing in a more focused multi-channel strategy this year – offering both online and off-line order fulfilment. The more traditional bricks and mortar retailers have invested heavily in their websites and this has clearly paid off for them, as they have managed to substantially increase their online ‘share of wallet.’ This has been to the detriment of the high street, as according to the BRC November, like-for-like sales rose at a slower rate than anticipated and this is backed up by our own Experian FootFall data, which has recorded a drop in footfall on the high street this week versus the same week last year. This trend will reverse in the next few weeks as Christmas approaches, and those retailers with both a high street and online presence will benefit most because products from their stores can be ordered online and delivered to the location most convenient for the customer.”
Image: Harrods Source: Retail Bulletin


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BBB warns to be aware of e-receipts
CHICAGO — As technology has become more advanced, stores have found different ways to incorporate technology into the shopping experience. In the past few months some retailers and banks have started offering consumers the option of receiving e-receipts. This paperless option helps to reduce clutter and waste, but the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) reminds shoppers to be aware of identity theft while using this new technology.
These e-receipts offer new opportunities for both stores and consumers. For many stores the e-receipts are tied to the store card or the clerk can quickly enter your email address at the end of the purchase. It is a way for the store to save money and offer another option for the customer.
E-receipts also offer an easier way for consumers to keep of track and file away receipts to help with a return or exchange at a later date. They also help to cut down on waste and clutter for the consumer.
If you have any technical difficulties, either with your username and password or with the payment options, please contact us by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org

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Honk Technologies, a towing services market for consumers and insurance companies, raised $ 18 million in a new round of financing just over a year after signing a contract with the insurance company Farmers.
The investment was led by Altpoint Ventures, with the participation of existing investors Capital Structure and Venture 51.
The company stated that it would use the funds to develop its network of 75,000 tugs and road assistants, as well as new services for insurers, fleet managers and manufacturers.
Corey Brundage, CEO of the company, declined to comment on the company's revenue, its path to profitability or valuation in an interview.
Honk applies primarily to the towing business that the same technology uses, allowing trucks to be more responsive and reducing the time that a customer expects for get help when they need it, according to Brundage.
As we wrote last year, roadside assistance is a huge and fragmented market. According to market research firm IBISWorld, customers spend about $ 6 billion on roadside assistance services.
Customers call for a tow directly from Honk via the mobile web or the business application to find a nearby professional and track location and estimated time arrival of their tow truck in real time. Insurance companies, automotive OEMs and fleets use the company's seamless platform to reduce waiting times by more than 50%, improve customer satisfaction, leverage their data roadside assistance and get net scores of promoters.


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Yellow (NASDAQ: YELL), the third-largest less-than-truckload company, which is currently under financial turmoil, has announced layoffs of an undisclosed number of office employees. Yellow, based in Nashville, Tennessee, has a 99-year history and employs around 30,000 workers. Of these, approximately 22,000 are represented by the Teamsters union.
This decision, revealed in voice-only calls, predominantly affected non-union workers, such as technology employees, customer service personnel, and various sales divisions among others.
Tensions have been escalating between Yellow and the Teamsters union for several months over modifications to key work regulations at the trucking fleet, while sources cited by Yahoo Finance speculate that Yellow is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy. Chief Commercial Officer Jason Bergman, in a call with the Yellow sales teams, blamed the Teamsters’ unwillingness to negotiate for the company’s precarious financial situation and indicated the need for further reduction of non-union staff.
“Since last January, we have made every attempt to meet with the IBT. The IBT’S refusal to negotiate for nine months, its freezing of our essential business plan, One Yellow and, finally, its strike authorizations caused customers to find alternative freight carriers and it’s had a catastrophic effect on our business,” he said.
The Teamsters union, however, blamed Yellow’s management for the company’s financial distress, stating that despite years of concessions and a substantial government bailout loan in 2020, Yellow might not be able to handle its massive debt. “Unfortunately, despite more than a decade of concessions totaling billions of dollars given to the Company by Teamster members as well as a massive government bailout loan in 2020, Yellow may finally be succumbing to its enormous debt burden,” the union wrote in a memo cited by FreightWaves.
Information for this story was found via the sources mentioned within the article. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.


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AcouSort takes next step in commercial collaboration with Californian Life Science company
AcouSort and a Californian life science company has conducted a joint project with the aim of testing AcouSort’s trapping technology for adding a new feature to one of the Californian company’s existing products. As part of the collaboration, the Californian company has successfully performed a proof-of-functionality study using AcouSort’s trapping module. The two companies are now developing a business plan together and aim at launching the new product feature towards the end of 2022.
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Consumer Complaints about Airlines up More Than 20 Percent over Last Year
Consumer complaints about airlines filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Aviation Consumer Protection Division during the first six months of this year were up 20.3 percent compared to the same time period last year, according to the DOT's latest monthly Air Travel Consumer Report.
The report shows that, from January 2015 through June 2015, the DOT received a total of 9,542 consumer complaints involving airlines, up from the 7,935 received during the first six months of 2014. In June 2015 alone, the DOT received 2,052 airline complaints, which is up 47.3 percent from June 2014.
Two tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights were also reported in June 2015, both of which are under investigation, according to the DOT's report. There were no international flights in June with tarmac delays exceeding four hours (the maximum allowed).
The Air Travel Consumer Report also includes data on on-time performance, cancellations, chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays filed with the DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting air carriers. Additionally, the report contains statistics on mishandled baggage, passengers denied confirmed space (oversales/bumping), as well as aviation service complaints filed with DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division by consumers regarding a range of issues such as flight problems, baggage, reservation and ticketing, refunds, consumer service, disability, and discrimination.
In terms of on-time performance, the nation's largest airlines posted an on-time arrival rate of 74.8 percent in June, up from the 71.8 percent on-time rate in June 2014, but down from the 80.5 percent mark in May 2015.
Highest On-Time Arrival Rates
- 1) Hawaiian Airlines – 90.5 percent
- 2) Alaska Airlines – 87.4 percent
- 3) Delta Air Lines – 82.2 percent
Lowest On-Time Arrival Rates
- 1) Spirit Airlines – 49.9 percent
- 2) United Airlines – 66.3 percent
- 3) Frontier Airlines – 67.6 percent
Domestic Flights with Longest Tarmac Delays Exceeding Three Hours
- 1) JetBlue Airways flight 2417 from Orlando to Austin, 6/17/15 – delayed on tarmac 228 minutes in San Antonio
- 2) Southwest Airlines flight 2230 from Salt Lake City to Baltimore/Washington, 6/23/15 – delayed on tarmac 181 minutes in Norfolk, Va.
Highest Rates of Canceled Flights
- 1) Envoy Air – 5.2 percent
- 2) Spirit Airlines – 4.9 percent
- 3) ExpressJet Airlines – 3.5 percent
Lowest Rates of Canceled Flights
- 1) Hawaiian Airlines – 0.1 percent
- 2) Delta Air Lines – 0.3 percent
- 3) Alaska Airlines – 0.4 percent


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Social Media Examiner's free new report about the business use of social media is now available. The report has a wealth of data, sharing results of a survey with over 3,700 marketers who primarily work in small businesses. Over half (61%) of the respondents target consumers, while the remaining respondents target businesses.
Not surprisingly, ROI remains a challenges when it comes to social media activities. Only 42 percent of respondents agreed they are able to measure social media ROI. One third of respondents (33 percent) said they spend 1 to 5 hours per week on social media, while one quarter (25 percent) spend 6 to 10 hours per week on social media.
The top two benefits of social media marketing, according to respondents, are increased exposure (90 percent) and increased traffic (77 percent). More than half of all marketers who have used social media for at least 2 years report it helped them improve sales. An overwhelming majority (81 percent) found that increased traffic occurred with as little as 6 hours per week invested in social media marketing.
The three most commonly used social media platforms are Facebook (93 percent usage), Twitter (79 percent usage), and LinkedIn (71 percent usage). The next three are Google+ (56 percent), YouTube (55 percent), and Pinterest (45 percent). When asked what was the single most important social media platform, 52 percent of respondents chose Facebook; however, there is a notable difference in B2C vs. B2B marketers: 65 percent of consumer marketers think Facebook is the most important, while 41 percent of B2B marketers think LinkedIn is the most important (Facebook is second at 30 percent).
For lots more insights, get the free report here.


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Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know in the world of advertising today.
1. Wall Street is surprisingly bullish on Yahoo’s stock, despite all the drama around the company. Only one out of the 23 analysts who have rated Yahoo in the last three months have a “sell” rating.
2. Victoria’s Secret is recruiting a number of Instagram stars to win over young consumers. This year, the company expanded its What Is Sexy contest to a wide variety of social media stars.
3. Yahoo is the only search company expected to shrink in display and search revenue. A report says Yahoo’s net digital advertising revenues, which includes both search and display ad revenues, will drop 13.9% this year.
4. A complaint about the lesbian kiss in this Kellogg’s ad was dismissed by the Australian advertising watchdog. The anonymous complainant said that she objected to the Kelloggs ad’s “lesbian message [being] shoved in our faces all the time.”
5. The CEO and COO of Elite Daily, the millennial news site acquired by The Daily Mail last year, are leaving the company. David Arabov, CEO and editorial director, and Jonathon Francis, chief operating officer, announced the news to staff on Wednesday morning.
6. Kanye West claims he just made $1 million in two days from his pop-up store.The Pablo pop-up shop was opened from March 18-20 in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.
7. Sir Martin Sorrell has acknowledged sexism is a problem in the ad industry. At the 4A’s annual “Transformation” conference, Sorrell admitted “there is a problem” with diversity in the industry, The Wall Street Journal reported.
8. Some of the biggest news sites in the US are going to start letting readers pay-per-article. In total, 20 publishers, most of which already operate some form of paywall, have signed up as US launch partners with Blendle, the Dutch app that allows people to make micro-payments for individual articles.
9. Facebook has launched Delivery Insights to help advertisers make better ads.The new tool in Ads Manager spotlights underperforming ads and offers suggestions for improvement, Marketing Land reported.


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During the first quarter of 2019, Netflix added another 10 million subscribers to their list.
This is an outstanding performance for the streaming giant, which was expected to take more of a hit due to recent price spikes.
Netflix has had a great first quarter this year. Among the 10 million new subscribers the company landed, 1.74 million were from the US, as Netflix has expanded its reach around the globe. This was also just one of the expectations which Netflix beat, as they were expected to only land 1.6 million new US subscribers. The 7.86 million subscribers that were added from every other country also helped break the previous expectation of 7.3 million.
The price hike that Netflix implemented was supposed to have more daunting effects on their bottom line, too. The reality turned out to by a 16% increase in the number of paid subscriptions since the end of Q1 in 2018. Netflix reported an income of $4.52 billion for Q1 of 2019. This one barely beat Wall Street’s prediction of $4.5 billion, but it beat that expectation nonetheless. Netlflix now has 148 million subscribers worldwide.
The price hikes which are still in the works will not affect all Netflix subscribers. It will, however, affect subscribers in the US and Mexico. The real challenge to Netflix will be all of the new competition in the digital streaming industry.


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Lineage Announces Acquisition of Emergent Cold, Expands U.S. Port Network and Strategic Presence in Asia-Pacific Market
November 18, 2019
Acquisition expands Lineage Logistics’ strategic presence into key new markets within the Asia-Pacific region; transaction furthers Lineage’s international leadership position, adding 46 facilities in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka
Novi, MI – Lineage Logistics Holdings, LLC (“Lineage” or the “Company”), the world’s largest and most innovative provider of temperature-controlled logistics solutions, today announced it has signed definitive agreements to acquire Emergent Cold (“Emergent”). This acquisition strengthens the Company’s leading port presence in the United States and signifies its entry into the Australian, New Zealand, and Sri Lankan temperature-controlled logistics markets, building on Lineage’s existing presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
“Food producers, manufacturers and retailers are looking for cold chain partners who can offer a dynamic and truly end-to-end temperature-controlled logistics solution, and one that can reach every corner of the world,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lineage. “Welcoming Emergent to the Lineage family not only adds significant capacity to our international footprint, but also deepens our commitment to our port strategy and international trade. We are better able to help customers respond to constantly shifting market dynamics, such as global network optimization, tariff impacts, consumer preference shifts, and much more, while at the same time unlocking new potential market opportunities to sell their goods.”
Following closing of the transactions, the combined Company will feature over 1.7 billion cubic feet of temperature-controlled capacity across 260 facilities in 10 countries, with a global footprint that now spans North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. With the acquisition, Lineage adds a newly constructed distribution center in the Dallas-Fort Worth market as well as four U.S. port facilities in New Orleans, Houston and Charleston to its expansive network of locations supporting import, export and customs brokerage services for its customers. The transaction also includes the purchase of real estate at select facility sites currently leased by Emergent under long-term lease agreements.
Emergent, which was founded in 2017 by Elliott Management and Neal Rider, brings to Lineage an experienced management team with a proven track record of growth and longstanding relationships with customers in global markets.
“Joining Lineage accelerates our goal of providing the highest quality global cold chain solutions to our customers,” said Neal Rider, Emergent’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Lineage has established itself as a leader in our industry, and expanding its global footprint and port presence with the addition of Emergent will create incredible opportunities for our collective customers. I also want to thank Elliott Management for believing in and backing us when Emergent Cold was just an idea, and our Executive Chairman Chris Jamroz for his tireless leadership and support. Their partnership, support and expertise has been critical in driving Emergent’s success, and we are looking forward to the next chapter with Bay Grove and Lineage.”
“We partnered with Neal because we saw a compelling opportunity to support his vision for building a globally significant cold storage company,” said Cody Kittle, Associate Portfolio Manager at Elliott Management. “In less than two years, we were able to acquire seven high-performing businesses and launch two greenfield facilities across six countries and four continents, while driving significant top and bottom line improvement across our operations. We congratulate Neal, the Emergent team and Lineage, who we think is a well-suited partner for Emergent. We are looking forward to remaining equity holders in the combined entity.”
“As an innovative leader in global cold storage, we look forward to making Emergent part of the Lineage team,” said Chris Jamroz, Emergent’s Executive Chairman.
“We have been following Emergent’s impressive growth trajectory and have a long-standing respect for their management team. We’re excited to bring their capabilities, relationships and growth pipeline into our organization,” said Kevin Marchetti, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bay Grove, the principal investment firm backing Lineage. “Together, our teams are committed to strengthening our important relationships with customers by leveraging our expansive network and applying innovative solutions to their most pressing challenges.”
The transactions also position Lineage to take advantage of growing demand for cold storage space in Australia – a sector valued at $5 billion – and in neighboring New Zealand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The sector is rapidly evolving and is an integral part of Asia-Pacific’s domestic and international supply chains for food products including dairy, seafood, raw and cooked meat, poultry, frozen vegetables and other frozen or chilled foods. Once the deal closes, Lineage will be poised to help customers meet growing export demand and their need for a more expansive supply chain.
Since its founding in 2008, Lineage has expanded rapidly by acquiring best-in-class cold storage companies, deploying capital into new projects and growing the business organically. The Company’s acquisition of Emergent builds on its past successes in integrating complementary companies into its portfolio.
Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor to Bay Grove and Lineage in this transaction. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP served as legal advisor to Emergent.
The transactions are expected to close in 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.


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Marquis and Carver Yachts have appointed Centerpointe Yacht Services as their newest dealer partner.
CenterPointe has three Lake Michigan locations in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., and a fourth location opening this spring in Holland, Mich. CenterPointe will serve Marquis and Carver owners all around Lake Michigan including Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan.
"The addition of Marquis and Carver allows us to expand our portfolio and reach a market segment undeserved in the luxury boating market," said Craig Duchow, principal and general manager of CenterPointe Yacht Service. "A distinct advantage of Marquis and Carver yachts is that they are high-quality, Wisconsin-built yachts which we intend to leverage as a sales tool with our Lake Michigan customers. Since the recession, these brands have been underserved and [under]represented in Wisconsin and other parts of Lake Michigan. We are proud to be tasked and challenged to return Marquis and especially Carver Yachts back to the powerhouses they once were on the Great Lakes."
"We are excited and looking forward to establishing this new partnership, returning our brands to a position of desire in and around Lake Michigan with Craig and his team in this rich, loyal and vibrant boating community," said Rob Parmentier, Marquis and Carver Yachts president and CEO.


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Also in this playlist...
This transcript is automatically generated
In one corner CEOs of some of America's biggest corporations that pay.
Corporate tax rate in the other entrepreneurs who pay their company taxes at individual rates because they have.
-- pass through entity like a partnership LLC are subchapter S corporation.
The CEOs are lobbying to get their company tax rates lowered through reform of the corporate tax system.
In the meantime the president wants to raise personal tax rates on families that earn more than 250000.
Dollars a year which would cost some small business owners.
It came as a shock to some small business advocates when the business roundtable this week endorsed higher individual tax rates as one way to raise new tax revenue and a deal to avoid the -- flat.
First its opposition to higher rates out of fear of the impact of falling off the -- It's letter was signed by a 168.
The national federation of the defense.
Business which represents 350000.
Small businesses and opposes higher rates went ballistic.
You take from Peter debate all.
-- ignored one huge saying that the economy did this small and midsize business segment which is.
Of the -- business income employs over half.
Private -- workforce.
As saying that the corporate side is.
Is more important.
But the roundtable is also demanding spending cuts including an entitlements as part of any fiscal deal.
It's also telling small business owners that what's good for corporate America is good for them.
It says the average big company buys from 6000.
Small vendors -- roundtable says that falling off a cliff would harm.
All of them and quote to reach a compromise we will all need to give a little.
That's it for this edition of the small business report I'm Peter Barnes Fox Business Network.
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Funky names seem to be the order of the day in the soft-drink arsenal of Coca-Cola USA.
The latest is OK Soda, a new carbonated beverage the company plans to market in the U.S. and other countries.
OK Soda, unveiled at a luncheon for media representatives in New York Wednesday, is said to have a citrus taste.
A Coca-Cola spokesman confirms that OK will be targeted at the 12- to 25-year-old market, primarily males.
Less than two months ago, Coke unveiled a line of non-carbonated fruit drinks called Fruitopia, also targeted at the younger crowd.
OK Soda sounds like it comes out of the same marketing vernacular as Like Cola, a soft drink of the distant past that was a flop at the old Seven-Up Co. prior to a merger with Dr Pepper Co.
Coke contends that OK is recognized and understood by more people worldwide than any other expression. The Atlanta-based company contends that Coca-Cola is second best known.
Whether OK can fly may well depend on advertising and promotional support. Wieden & Kennedy, a Portland, Ore., ad agency best known for its work on Nike, has the assignment.
Cola drinks still drive Coca-Cola Co.'s business, but tastes have changed and consumers are looking for alternative or "new age" drinks, even those with bizarre names.
Sunrise at Sunset?
Sunset, like sundry other magazines and media, has taken a hit in the advertising recession. But under a revamped management, this unit of Time Inc. Ventures appears to be building new momentum. Such moves as more focused promotions, including coming "Tastes of Sunset" food-and-wine fairs, would seem to negate the trade gossip that has parent Time-Warner considering unloading the magazine, acquired in 1990. A sale is "highly unlikely, beyond any logical explanation," said Stephen J. Seabolt, Sunset's publisher, who was in Chicago Wednesday for the magazine's annual Dungeness crab and sourdough bread luncheon at the Drake Hotel for advertising decision-makers. This was the 32nd year that Sunset has hosted such a feast, but whereas in previous years invites were plenty and two luncheons were held, it's now a one-day deal, with a tight invitation list. So the bottom line has come into play at Sunset. The "taste" fairs, the first scheduled in Long Beach, Calif., in October, can draw as many as 20,000 visitors, "further building our brand image," says Seabolt, a former Chicagoan. He's based in the Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters of Sunset, a 1.4 million-plus circulation monthly distributed primarily in the West. Sunset's ad pages fell 6.5 percent from the previous year to 1,205 in 1993, according to Media Industry Newsletter. Ad pages are off this year so far, so Seabolt and crew have their challenges.
`U2' or `Friendship Express?'
United Airlines still hasn't set a shareholder meeting to vote on its employee buyout, but speculation already abounds on the name of an airline within United that will be competitive with discount or lower-price competitors. `U2' has been the code name at United, and it could well become the official name for the new carrier. There's also been talk of `RU2.' And some observers are leaning to `Friendship Express,' which makes sense with the "Friendly Skies" and "Friendship" banners well-established in United's promotional vocabulary. United in the past has held annual meetings in April, but the carrier still has to hear from the Securities and Exchange Commission about its proxy, which includes information on the employee acquisition.
- Thomas A. Koehler, recently vice president of sales and a 22-year veteran of Miller Brewing Co. in Milwaukee, is joining G. Heileman Brewing Co. in the same post, effective May 2. Koehler, who will be based in Heileman's offices in Rosemont, will assume responsibilities of Ian Crichton, Heileman's executive VP, who is leaving, for personal reasons, to return to his native Australia. Both are 46.
On the move: Steven E. Meisner became Midwest advertising manager in the newly-opened Chicago office of Weider Publications, publisher of such magazines as Shape, Men's Fitness and Muscle Fitness. . . . Sharon Roy Maddex named VP-marketing at LaSalle National Bank.
Strictly Personal: Birthday greetings to Robert J. Witt, Dorothy Pirovano, George Mulvaney, T.R. "Rocky" Shepard III, William J. McCarthy and Michael Ginn.
- Leo Burnett Co. uncovered a cash shortfall, leading to the dismissal of three cashiers at the giant Chicago-based agency, which is near the 2,000 level in employment. An internal memo says the agency has taken steps to recoup the losses, which outsiders believe to be in the $25,000 to $50,000 range.
Campbell Mithun Esty tapped former Chicagoan George Guimaraes as president-chief executive of its New York office, a move the company hopes will revive agency fortunes there. Campbell Mithun Esty a few weeks ago lost Brown & Williamson Tobacco as a client. Guimaraes, recently CEO of Publicis/Bloom in New York, succeeds Tony Wainwright, who becomes chairman of Campbell Mithun Esty New York. Wainwright also is a former Chicagoan.


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Forget walking, they’ll be skating in a winter wonderland.
At 2:30 p.m. today there will be a holiday skating show at Treadwell Ice Arena, 105 Savikko Road, Douglas. Admission is free and doors open at 2 p.m.
Winter Skating Wonderland will be presented by the Juneau Skating Club.
There will also be a dessert auction beginning at 2 p.m.


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Tesla is now back to delivering its full vehicle lineup after Model X deliveries started this weekend.
However, it will be a while before the automaker catches up to the pent-up demand that was created over the last year as delivery timelines for the electric SUV slip to almost a year now.
The automaker updated all its delivery delays for new orders across all models this weekend.
Tesla spent almost a whole year without delivering at least one of the four vehicles in its lineup as it experienced delays in bringing its refreshed Model S and Model X to production.
With the start of refreshed Model X deliveries in the US this weekend, Tesla is now officially back to delivering its full lineup.
At the same time, Electrek noted that Tesla updated its delivery timelines for new orders across the lineup.
The most interesting update is to the Model X, which had almost a year to accumulate new orders.
Tesla now expects that someone placing a new order for a Model X Long Range in the US would receive it around September 2022:
That’s basically a full year of wait as Tesla works through its backlog of orders in the US and despite a significant price increase that came with the refresh.
The Model X Long Range now starts at $100,000.
Even if you decide to go with the more expensive Plaid version, which comes with the tri-motor powertrain, Tesla still pushed the wait from “May-June 2022” to “July 2022” in an update this weekend.
As for the new Model S, which Tesla has already been delivering since June, the delivery timeline for the Long Range version has been updated from “April-May 2022” to “June 2022”:
The production ramp-up for the Model S went well last quarter as Tesla already managed to accelerate production to 9,000 units between July and September.
It looks like demand for the more expensive and higher-performance Plaid version has stabilized as Tesla actually shortened the delivery timeline for new orders from “January-February 2022” to “December 2021.”
Interesting to note that the Model S Plaid is still $10,000 more expensive than the Model X Plaid. Traditionally, it has been the other way around at Tesla.
As for Tesla’s less expensive and more popular vehicles, they also saw some updates, but delivery timelines have been more stable as the automaker continued to deliver them in the US throughout the last year.
The Long Range Dual Motor and Performance versions are quick to get with new orders being delivered as fast as December and November respectively:
But for the Model 3 Standard Range Plus, which is Tesla’s cheapest vehicle, the delivery timeline for new orders just slipped from “April 2022” to “May 2022.”
That’s a seven-month wait for Tesla’s cheapest vehicle in the US.
The Model Y wasn’t affected by Tesla’s updated delivery timelines with April 2022 for the Long Range version and December 2021 for the Performance version remaining the expected delivery delays for new orders in the US:
Model Y is now becoming Tesla’s most popular vehicle, and the automaker has been putting a focus on increasing production.
Once the automaker ramps up production at Gigafactory Berlin and Gigafactory Texas, Model Y should become Tesla’s first vehicle with more reasonable delivery timelines across all versions.
Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.


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PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has been undergoing a lot of changes recently as developer Bluehole prepares for the release of PC version 1.0 and an Xbox One release. While features such as vaulting, killcam and improved physics are being tested on the game's PTR, a release date still hasn't been confirmed for version 1.0 and the highly anticipated new desert map.
However, it seems it won't be long until the desert map is ready. An image datamined from the game's files by serial reddit hound bizzfarts shows what appears to be the desert map's latest design, looking almost complete, with spanglish names and everything.
Unfortunately this means there is no more Murderland or Kill Box, but instead Santa Domingo, El Pozo and other poorly-translated spanish names.
The map has clearly come on leaps and bounds since the last datamined image we saw two weeks ago, once again by the wonderfully-named bizzfarts.
On top of this, bizzfarts also datamined images of three new weapons which could make an appearance in the new map: a Winchester 1894 (Lever-action rifle), a Rhino (Revolver) and a sawed off double-barrel shotgun. Though all three weapons would be a great addition to the new sandy, Wild West-style map, there is no confirmation they will actually be seen in the future.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds will come to Xbox One via Xbox Game Preview on 12th December, with PC version 1.0 (and the desert map) expected to be released before the end of the year.


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Surprising Study Reveals That, Yes, People Still Go Holiday Shopping in Stores
Despite the growth of online shopping, many people plan to go the old-fashioned route this holiday season and head into stores.
A new survey has revealed that 88% of shoppers will do their holiday gift-buying at traditional brick and mortar stores, even though 93% have anxieties about doing so.
Shopping in stores comes with all sorts of hazards come the holidays. About 42% worry about the big crowds, while 29% are concerned about lines and 15% fret over whether the merchandise they want will be out of stock. Strangely, no one seems too stressed out over the fact parking will be a major hassle.
A good chunk of the public will drag their weary bones into actual stores, but that doesn’t mean online shopping is a fad that’s over now. Seventy-five percent of shoppers also plan to do their holiday shopping via the Internet, while 16% will make purchases over a mobile device.


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Nintendo Switch has now leap-frogged the NES in total lifetime sales, it’s been reported during Nintendo’s latest earnings release. Having crept up on Nintendo’s first foray into the home console market back in August, the Switch has now reached a total of more than 68 million consoles sold since March 2017. For comparison, that’s more than the total lifetime sales of the Wii U, Gamecube and N64 combined. All that stands in the Switch’s way for best-selling Nintendo system now, is none other than the Wii — itself standing at a massive 101.63 million units.
The Nintendo Switch, across the past six months, sold through an additional 12.5 million consoles with software also seeing a significant increase compared to the same period last financial year. Surpassing more than 100 million units, as a result. Part of that increase was aided in no small part to the continued runaway success of games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Having reached more than 20 million copies sold less than five months after its original March release — at the time, only the second game to achieve such a milestone on the platform — 14.27 million units were sold during this six month period, bring the game’s total now to a total of 26.04 million units.
Animal Crossing wasn’t the only successful release during this period, with the bundling of Mario’s past 3D releases — via Super Mario 3D All-Stars — managing to sell a total of 5.21 million in the span of twelve days. Though it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that Nintendo’s limiting the availability of the game — both in physical and digital form — for six months, played its part in early sales. Other new releases, such as Paper Mario: The Origami King, also performed well with total sales reaching 2.82 million units. But perhaps the biggest improvement no doubt goes to Ring Fit Adventure, having sold an additional 3.1 million copies in the past six months — bringing that game’s total to 5.84 million copies sold since its original release back in October, almost a year to the day.


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Digitimes, the premier source for all news about the rumored Amazon Android tablet, is back with another interesting piece of news.
Apparently, Amazon is working to time the launch of its Android tablet around the peak sales period before Thanksgiving in the US and year-end holidays in the US and Europe.
It will launch its Android tablet in August or September, and is estimating sales of about 4 million tablets globally in 2011, which seems to be quite a realistic estimate.
The Amazon Android tablet will be powered by processors by Texas Instruments, touch panels by Wintek, and LCD driver ICs by ILI. The tablets will be assembled by Quanta Computer.
Amazon will provide movie streaming services to its tablet users via the Amazon Prime program.
The Amazon Kindle has been a bestseller, but Amazon needs to launch a tablet soon, in order to prevent B&N from further capturing the ebook market with devices like the Nook Color. Amazon is in a very good position currently, to launch a viable competitor to the Apple iPad.


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New malls, commercial centers will add around 54,000 sqm of retail spaces
Property giant Megaworld is expanding its commercial retail portfolio this year, with the opening of around 11 commercial properties across its townships all over the country.
By end of the year, the company will open new retail spaces in Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City; Alabang West along Daang Hari in Las Piñas City; McKinley Hill and Uptown Bonifacio, both in Taguig City; Arcovia City in Pasig City; Boracay Newcoast in Boracay Island, Aklan; and Davao Park District in Lanang, Davao City.
These new commercial properties cover around 54,000 square meters in gross floor area.
“The biggest chunk of the new retail spaces will be in Uptown Bonifacio, as we embark on an expansion of our new retail row in front of Uptown Mall and Uptown Parade. We are also launching a new retail development inside Arcovia City, our newest and must-visit township along C-5 in Pasig fronting Valle Verde. Down south, there is something exciting coming up in Alabang West, which is part of our Beverly Hills-themed commercial row,” revealed Kevin L. Tan, chief strategy officer, Megaworld.
During the second half last year, Megaworld opened its first full-scale lifestyle mall in Iloilo Business Park, the P2.2-billion Festive Walk Mall, offering around 90,000 square meters of retail spaces. It also opened three new community malls in Alabang and Makati, namely, The Village Square in Alabang, Muntinlupa City; Three Central in Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City; and San Lorenzo Place in EDSA corner Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City. These three new commercial centers offer around 26,500 square meters in retail spaces.
“Every mall that we build has curated spaces that evoke the character of the township where it is located. We want to create commercial properties that are not just for shopping and dining, but those that help drive tourism,” explains Tan.
By year-end, Megaworld’s commercial retail footprint will reach around 771,000 square meters, with presence all over Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.


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The departure ceremony for eight hundred Ankai high-end buses exported to Saudi Arabia was held in Hefei on the morning of April 10. After the ceremony, the buses were bound for Lianyungang where they would be loaded on the ship heading to Saudi Arabia along the “Maritime Silk Road”. The deal is the biggest export order of Chinese high-end buses so far in 2018 since Anhui Ankai Automobile Co., Ltd. exported 600 model A9 buses to Saudi Arabia in 2017.
Anhui Ankai Automobile Co., Ltd. is the largest automaker producing full load buses in China. As early as in 2007, Ankai began to explore Saudi Arabia market. In 2011, the company exported 3,000 school buses to the country. It was the largest export order of buses from China at that time.
Last year, 600 model A9 high-end buses made by Ankai were delivered to Hafil Transport Company L.L.C. in Saudi Arabia. It became a pioneering act to export large amounts of high-end buses. This year, Hafil Transport Company L.L.C. signed a sales contract with Ankai again to purchase 800 buses including those in model A9. So far, Ankai has fully entered high-end passenger transport market of Saudi Arabia.
In addition to Saudi Arabia, Ankai buses have been also exported to other countries along the Belt and Road. Since 2017, Ankai has successively won bulk orders from Myanmar for 500 buses, Saudi Arabia for 600 buses and Kazakhstan for 70 buses. Furthermore, the company has broken the monopoly and entered the markets of Mexico and Ghana for the first time.
At present, Ankai buses have been exported to more than 80 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Australia, the UAE, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. The company has established a global marketing network and obtained some highest-grade product certifications in the world such as ADR, GCC, DOT, e/E-mark and GOST.


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Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
Akoo International, Chicago-based media and technology innovator, has been awarded new patents in major global markets – including Canada, Australia, and Israel – for its interactive technology, which allows smartphones and tablets to search and select on-demand television content via mobile app or text messaging.
Akoo already holds patents for the technology in the United States, China, Russia and Mexico.
“Akoo’s technology has been proven in the marketplace, successfully integrating TV, mobile, social and local to deliver magnetic and rewarding consumer entertainment experiences in out-of-home environments,” says Niko Drakoulis, Akoo CEO. “Our vision is integrating Akoo’s technology in set-top boxes, media servers, game consoles, and TV apps to drive the next generation of in-home on-demand television experiences.”
A recent study by Altman Vilandrie & Company, Boston, and Research Now. London, U.K., found that nearly half of TV viewers aged 18-34 would prefer their smartphone or tablet over their remote to control their TV.
Akoo’s technology supports plug-ins for on-demand and subscription billing services and includes advanced ad delivery capabilities that drive targeted advertising based on individual profiles, rather than geography, household, or demographic.
“We think the market is ready for this, and, while our DOOH TV network offering and its new production are our prime concern, our long-term vision is for our technology’s use in-home, as well,” says Andy Stankiewicz, Akoo’s executive vice-president and chief communications officer. “We’re currently evaluating various scenarios. We’re creating an entertainment brand in the DOOH space, and see that it can be extended across into the in-home market, as well.
“A lot of the funtionality is the same, and we think that consumers are going to demand this, going forward. Our patent allows activation of on-demand content beyond what we believe anyone else offers.”
Akoo’s technology currently powers the Company’s out-of-home television network, which research firm Nielsen recently certified as having the largest audience of any U.S. digital out-of-home network reporting age 12+. Akoo’s television network is available throughout the U.S. in 161 ‘Akoo Pavilions’, which attract 64 million consumers each month in the most highly trafficked seating environments across premier shopping malls.
In addition to making on-demand content selections using their personal mobile devices, visitors to Akoo Pavilions can access free Wi-Fi services, connect with friends via Facebook and Twitter, and receive mobile coupons and exclusive special offers.
Viewers spend an average 20 minutes per visit seated in front of Akoo’s programming, Nielsen research certifies, an on-demand transaction occurring every four seconds on the network. As a result of this consumer engagement, Akoo drives unmatched marketing effectiveness and ROI for its brand advertisers.
Akoo is a sponsor of the upcoming Digital Place-based Advertising Association’s 2011 Digital Media Summit, and will be demonstrating its in-home on-demand possibilities at the event.


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BELCHERTOWN – It’s Christmas tree season, and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Scott J. Soares visited Radebaugh Christmas Tree Farm on Friday to talk about the benefits of buying trees fresh and local.
“Historically, the day after Thanksgiving… we go to a farm and cut down the first tree of the season,” Soares said.
“We’re trying to showcase the diversity of the agricultural industry here in the Commonwealth and Christmas trees are one of them. This allows us to keep many acres, around 5,000, in working landscapes,” he said. -he declares.
Cutting down a tree is an eco-friendly alternative to buying a fake from a store, said Soares and David B. Radebaugh, the owner of the tree farm.
Radebaugh said the fake trees are made with petroleum byproducts and made in other countries. Buying a fresh tree supports the local economy and also helps ensure that the land remains agricultural, he said.
Soares said the trees are specifically grown to be cut and new trees are being planted in their place.
He said there are about 200 Christmas tree farms across Massachusetts. They can be found by visiting www.arbres-de-noel.org.
Radebaugh is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the Christmas tree business and, in addition to the Franklin Street location, also owns a tree farm in Wilbraham at 930 Stony Hill Road. Prices for trees range from $ 30 to $ 90. He has over 1,000 trees to choose from between the two farms. Varieties include blue spruce, concolor, white pine, and fraser fir. Some are up to 12 feet tall.
“I get people from all over the place,” said Radebaugh, who quit construction 15 years ago to work full-time in the Christmas tree business his father started.
People can chop the tree down themselves or enlist the help of a Radebaugh employee.
Tips for the Christmas tree from David Radebaugh
• Make sure the trunk is straight
• Make sure there are no bird nests inside; they might have mice inside
• For more information on how to find local Christmas tree farms, visit
• To learn how to pick and care for a tree, visit
David Radebaugh owns Radebaugh’s Tree Farm at 191 Franklin St. in Belchertown and 930 Stony Hill Road in Wilbraham
Radebaugh offered the following advice to those choosing a tree for the first time: Make sure the trunk is straight and there are no bird nests in the tree. Mice can live in nests, he said.
The rest is up to the individual, he said. Some people like big trees, others like small ones. He said concolor smells of citrus and frasers have soft needles and tend to last a long time.
John B. DiNuovo of Palmer was there with his 22-year-old daughter Emily, picking out a tree for the holidays. DiNuovo said going to Radebaugh’s was a 20-year tradition in his family.
“In our house, it was always about the tree. We always go there the day after Thanksgiving,” said DiNuovo.
DiNuovo ended up with a blue spruce because that’s what his wife, Lorraine, loves.
“We will decorate tomorrow,” said DiNuovo.


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MABS encourages Ulster Bank and KBC customers to switch soon
One in five Ulster Bank and KBC customers have made no action to switch accounts.
That’s according to a survey from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, as the two banks prepare to exit Ireland.
One fifth of those polled by the watchdog said they have yet to take any action at all to switch banks.
Karl Cronin, from the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, ‘MABS’, is encouraging people to switch soon:
“If you have a short transition period where you have your old account and your new account opened at the same time, you will avoid falling into that pitfall of maybe a missed payment or maybe your wages not going in to the new account.”


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Tech for Britain 2016: building a better tomorrow
As the UK’s tech sector continues to grow and flourish, Roar Media explain how you can get involved in Tech for Britain 2016; an exciting event that will explore the UK’s tech landscape.
The tech sector in Britain is booming. It’s transformed the economy and put the UK on the map as a formidable tech nation. Tech has transformed the way businesses operate up and down the country.
The UK’s digital economy has grown at such a significant pace, creating over 1.6m jobs and growing 32% faster than the rest of the economy. The tech sector is giving power to growth in business like never before and offering many more opportunities than previously seen. Traditional businesses have undergone a marked change with much to back this up through brilliant figures uncovered by the recent Tech Nation report. In short, talent is thriving, salaries are increasing and businesses are succeeding.
UK startup Roar Media has identified the need to explore the UK’s tech landscape in thorough detail through hearing from those working in and around the sector leading initiatives. Our breakthrough event, Tech for Britain 2016, will welcome true leaders in the space to offer insight into the ever-expanding space through presentations, panel discussions and debates.
Tech for Britain will welcome the likes of Bruce Daisley, UK Managing Director & European Vice President at Twitter, who has lead Twitter on a transformation journey on our shores. We will also hear from those leading digital technology initiatives in the Government, and a keynote presentation from Mayank Prakash, Director General, Digital Technology at the Department for Work and Pensions, the country’s biggest public services department.
As well as keynotes highlighting UK vision, business transformation, trends and future technologies, the event sheds light to gender diversity, with a session dedicated to women in technology. Presentations, fireside chats and panel discussions will explore the barriers to entry, journeys taken and insights into a hugely popular topic.
The need for such an event is highlighted by the need to ‘get to grips’ with how we can continue this magnificent journey and to understand our booming tech and digital sector better.
Taking place at London’s Stamford Bridge on 9 June, Tech for Britain 2016 will feature over 20 speakers, 150 attendees and countless networking opportunities to accompany great content. In addition, blog readers can save 20% on tickets using the Digital Catapult discount code DIGICAT20. We hope to see you there.


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News stories about China Biologic Products (NASDAQ:CBPO) have been trending somewhat positive recently, Accern Sentiment Analysis reports. The research firm rates the sentiment of news coverage by reviewing more than twenty million blog and news sources. Accern ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores closest to one being the most favorable. China Biologic Products earned a daily sentiment score of 0.11 on Accern’s scale. Accern also gave media stories about the biopharmaceutical company an impact score of 45.0597400886958 out of 100, indicating that recent news coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an effect on the stock’s share price in the near term.
Shares of NASDAQ CBPO opened at $86.84 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2,809.00, a PE ratio of 17.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.45. China Biologic Products has a 52 week low of $71.85 and a 52 week high of $120.46.
China Biologic Products (NASDAQ:CBPO) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.89 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $90.10 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $85.15 million. China Biologic Products had a net margin of 18.34% and a return on equity of 21.30%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 16.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.95 earnings per share. sell-side analysts anticipate that China Biologic Products will post 5.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.
A number of equities analysts have weighed in on CBPO shares. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of China Biologic Products from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. BidaskClub cut shares of China Biologic Products from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Jefferies Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $97.00 price objective on shares of China Biologic Products in a research report on Thursday, March 15th. Deutsche Bank set a $105.00 target price on shares of China Biologic Products and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 2nd. Finally, TheStreet cut shares of China Biologic Products from a “b-” rating to a “c+” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $101.00.
COPYRIGHT VIOLATION WARNING: This news story was originally reported by Dispatch Tribunal and is owned by of Dispatch Tribunal. If you are accessing this news story on another website, it was copied illegally and republished in violation of US and international trademark and copyright legislation. The original version of this news story can be accessed at https://www.dispatchtribunal.com/2018/04/11/china-biologic-products-cbpo-receiving-somewhat-favorable-media-coverage-study-shows.html.
China Biologic Products Company Profile
China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of human plasma-based biopharmaceutical products to hospitals and inoculation centers in the People's Republic of China. It offers human albumin for treating shock caused by blood loss trauma or burn; raised intracranial pressure caused by hydrocephalus or trauma; oedema or ascites caused by hepatocirrhosis and nephropathy; and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, as well as for the prevention and treatment of low-density-lipoproteinemia.
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In other words, Apple has decided to suspend the Apple Car production negotiations with Hyundai due to the South Koreans spilling the beans on the project way too early.
Apple is known as a company obsessed with keeping everything secret and prevent leaks about critical products, so back in January when Hyundai confirmed it was in talks with the iPhone maker over the production of an electric vehicle, Cupertino’s head honchos had clearly been taken by surprise.
And a new report reveals CEO Tim Cook and the other executives have recently decided to pause the talks with Hyundai just because they are upset over how Hyundai handled the whole thing. And the really bad news for Hyundai is that Apple is now said to be discussing with other automakers, though it’s believed it’d be rather difficult for the company to find another carmaker with local production capacity and willing to build the Apple Car.
In the meantime, it’s not yet known if Apple plans to resume the talks with Hyundai, but a recent report indicated the company would be ready to invest no less than $3.6 billion in Kia Motors in order to manufacture the EV at its plant in Georgia.
Whether or not Apple comes to terms with Hyundai on this apparently unintentional confidential information disclosure is something that remains to be seen, but at the end of the day, the two might actually have no other option than to do it anyway. Apple needs Hyundai, especially given finding another partner to produce the Apple Car could end up becoming quite a challenge, even for a company as powerful as Apple.


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Every year, Apple updates their lineup of iOS devices with a major new firmware version. This year at WWDC 2016, Apple announced iOS 10, and it not only includes an array of new features for users to take advantage of, but it also comes with some subtle UI changes that will be easy to spot in day-to-day use as well.
Of course, when Apple adds new features to iOS, sometimes those features aren’t 100% original. Sometimes, they’ve existed in the jailbreak community for a long time in one form or another.
In this roundup, we’ll go over 10 features in iOS 10 that appear to be derived from jailbreak tweaks and have already existed for those who have been pwning their devices to get around what Apple doesn’t want you to have.


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Опубликовано в "Бизнес", язык - English. 20 страниц.
Wire News - September Edition brings you the latest news from around the world for the Wire and Cable industry Еще
Keeping up to date with news online is easier than it has ever been, no matter where you are in the world you can now take five minutes to explore, understand and learn from a wide range of subjects available to you. Еще


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Apple’s iTunes could face a run for its money in the coming months from a competitor that knows how to compete on price. Wal-Mart announced the launch of a new “DRM-free” zone on its website featuring tracks from major labels including EMI and Universal for the bargain price of 94 cents each or $9.22 per album. (In comparison, Apple is selling a limited number of DRM-free EMI songs for $1.29).
Wal-Mart will also continue to sell WMA-formatted 128 kbps downloads for 88 cents each. Digital music has only accounted for 15% of all recorded music sales in the U.S. until now. Will that number increase as DRM-free tracks open the market up to more competition?
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Omnipresent Robotics, an industrial drone and machine learning solutions provider, has hired ClassVerse founder Rukaiya Kanchwala as chief business officer.
Kanchwala confirmed the development but didn't give any details of her responsibilities at the robotics venture run by New Delhi-based Omnipresent Robot Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Kanchwala's move to join Omnipresent comes after she shut Delhi-based ClassVerse earlier this year. She had launched ClassVerse last year and operated the fitness studio marketplace for nearly 10 months.
Kanchwala, who has an MBA degree from INSEAD, has about 12 years of experience in the technology industry across the US, Singapore, Japan and India. She spent eight years at Dell before coming to India to join Rocket Internet.
At Rocket Internet, Kanchwala helped establish Groupon India and expand the company's operations across India. She then moved to Jabong, where she last headed the fashion e-tailer's marketplace division. She founded ClassVerse after leaving Jabong. She has also co-founded DropGifts, an e-commerce gifting platform.
Omnipresent Robotics was founded in 2010 by Aakash Sinha and Jyoti Sinha. Aakash Sinha studied robotics at Carnegie Mellon and worked with US companies including Lockheed Martin and iRobot Corp for about 10 years before launching his own venture. Jyoti Sinha has a postgraduate degree in computer science from the University of California Berkeley and worked at iRobot Corp as a lead engineer for five years. She has also worked with companies such as Siemens, Docomo and Bharti Airtel.
One of the company's products is Garun, a multi-functional drone developed specifically for industrial inspection. The drone can also be used for aerial crowd control and monitoring. Its clients include the Tata group, the Indian Space Research Organisation, Bharti Airtel and Jabong.
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The legislature’s Finance Committee on Dec. 20 approved an amendment to lower the import tariff on champagne from 20 percent to 10 percent. Although the proposal only applies to champagne and not other sparkling wines, it shows the legislature’s willingness to boost Taiwan’s diplomatic relations with the EU.
The change makes sense. Taiwan’s import tariff on red and white wines is 10 percent, but the tariff on champagne and other sparkling wines is twice as much, even though the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Act (菸酒稅法) defines traditional and sparkling wines simply as “brewed alcoholic beverages.”
The only questionable aspect of the proposed amendment is why the tariff on champagne — wines from France’s Champagne region — would only be half of that for other sparkling wines.
Some East Asian countries, including Japan, Singapore and South Korea, do not impose tariffs on imported wines, while the Philippines’ tariff is only 5 percent. Cutting the existing tariffs would therefore be an effective step toward reducing trade barriers between Taiwan and France.
Still more important is the timing of the proposed tariff adjustment. In the summer of 2020, France agreed to allow Taiwan to open a new office in Aix-en-Provence to bolster bilateral economic and cultural exchanges, and in May last year the French Senate voted unanimously to support Taiwan’s extensive participation in international organizations.
The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan has for many years called for this tariff cut. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Michelle Lin’s (林楚茵) decision to bring this proposal to the committee at the end of last year is a positive and timely response to the aforementioned developments, symbolizing that Taiwan attaches great importance to meaningful relations and cooperation with Europe, and especially the EU’s 27 member states.
The final aspect to consider is the proposal’s effectiveness. The Ministry of Finance reported that reducing tariffs on champagne would lower revenue by about NT$59.67 million (US$2.16 million), but could generate greater importation and consumption of champagne that would in turn generate NT$5.97 million in tariffs, NT$3.27 million in alcohol taxes, NT$4.46 million in business taxes and NT$1.03 million in income tax.
If those estimates are correct, the annual net loss of tax revenue would be about NT$44.94 million, a mere 0.04 percent of the treasury’s NT$1.8 trillion annual tax revenue. This would have a negligible impact on the nation’s finances.
The champagne tariff reduction would also have little effect on Taiwan’s alcoholic beverage industry, given that there are no competing or alternative products in the domestic market.
Meanwhile, consumers would benefit from lower prices resulting from the reduced costs borne by wine importers, while also seeing a wider range of choice in the market.
France is Taiwan’s fifth-largest European economic and trade partner and its 20th-largest in the world.
The first half of this year happens to be the period in which France holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, as it does only once in every 13 years.
If the Legislative Yuan speeds up passage of the proposed amendment, it is sure to help Taiwan develop multilateral relations with the EU and its member states, and bring new opportunities for international trade.
Elvis Lee is an adjunct assistant professor in Fo Guang University’s Department of Public Affairs.
Translated by Julian Clegg
With the fall of Kabul not yet six months past, Washington faces a fresh test of its ability to sustain Pax Americana, as more than 100,000 Russian troops, heavy artillery and tanks mass on Russia’s border with Ukraine. The mounting crisis looks set to become the greatest test of US President Joe Biden’s administration to date — the outcome of which could have far-reaching implications and send ripples through the Taiwan Strait. Moscow’s Ukraine gambit appears designed to probe the Biden administration — to ferret out its red lines and ascertain whether Washington is willing to commit troops to defend its
The start of any new year is always a good time for introspection, reflection and resolutions. This advice is appropriate for all. In Taiwan, it should clearly be heeded by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), which continues to have its share of troubles. The KMT has had so many difficulties in the past decade that it almost seems to revel in them with the celebration of each new year. What then could be done? The KMT can begin by examining the present and slowly tracing backward to see how the dots are connected. Whether the party admits it or not, it
Last year, China entered into a spat with Lithuania over Vilnius allowing Taipei to open a de facto embassy using the name “Taiwan.” Beijing recalled its ambassadors from Lithuania and downgraded its diplomatic ties with the Baltic state to the “charge d’affaires” level. In hindsight, China should realize that this move handed Lithuania on a plate to Taiwan. China used its economic leverage as punishment. First, it tried to pressure German industry giant Continental AG to stop using Lithuanian-made components. When an EU trade commissioner said that Chinese customs were refusing to clear goods containing Lithuanian parts, China denied it was at
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is floundering. Over its past two years of politicking, it has racked up a staggering number of losses on votes that it initiated. Two of its four recall drives failed, and each of the two that succeeded only served to add another Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) seat to the legislature. This is not to mention the slap in the face that was last month’s referendum, with all four of its proposals soundly defeated, despite the money and effort that the party put into them. For all of its talk about upholding the duties of the opposition


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Ingco Tools SA opened its in-store in Dreiers last weekend with a grand opening celebration on Saturday.
Ingco Tools is a well-known brand that was founded 16 years ago in China when its founder realised there was a gap in the market for a wide range of professional tools at affordable prices.
He started with one hacksaw frame and 16 years later INGCO has 2 000 products selling in 180 countries worldwide.
Every day 40 containers are sent from the INGCO warehouse to every corner of the globe. It is a massive organisation and they are growing in leaps and bounds.
From the lowly pliers to the cordless impact drill, their passion and dedication to creating excellent tools can be seen in each Ingco product. Couple outstanding quality with affordable price and you have an unbeatable combination.
“It has been an exciting journey with Dreiers and we want to thank Dreiers for its support of the Ingco vision which has led to the Ingco in-store shop we are celebrating. We look forward to continuing this amazing journey with Dreiers into the future,” said Angelo Angelos, managing director of Skillcraft Agencies


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As spring turns to summer, ACSH anticipates better beach weather, plenty of summer movie sequels, and a new seasonal scare from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Well, the EWG has yet to disappoint us, and this time, they’re warning us about sunscreens that may contain phototoxic and “dangerous endocrine disrupting” chemicals such as retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone, respectively. According to their database of sun products, consumers can only expect three out of five sunscreens to offer adequate sun protection. But the EWG goes on to criticize the FDA for failing to address the use of the vitamin A derivative retinyl palmitate, which the group says is found in 30 percent of the sunscreens in their database.
ACSH’s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan thinks the EWG has predictably preyed upon people’s confusion in order to create yet another unproven chemical scare. “Their claims are enhanced by the fact that there’s general confusion about what level of protection is best, and for whom,” she says. “They jump on the sun protection factor (SPF) issue to take on so-called ‘endocrine disruptors’ and other chemicals they don’t like — meaning all chemicals.”
Adding fuel to the summer bonfire, another article, featured by MSNBC — which was initially intended to recommend the most cost-effective sunscreen — also jumps on the chemophobia bandwagon and warns pregnant women and children against sunscreens containing retinyl palmitate. Basing her story on a Consumer Reports study, MSNBC’s Linda Carroll says that “animal studies have linked retinyl palmitate to an increased risk of skin cancer. The ingredient also readily converts to retinoids, which are found in some acne medications and which studies have linked with the risk of birth defects.”
Retinyl palmitate does in fact break down into a retinoid, says ACSH’s Dr. Josh Bloom, but the retinoid is retinoic acid, best known as vitamin A. “When taken orally in large doses, vitamin A is a known but mild teratogen. However, there is no evidence that the vitamin, when applied to the skin, is associated with birth defects, as absorption into the blood stream is minimal to zero. If the Consumer Reports story had substituted the term ‘vitamin A’ for ‘retinoids,’” notes ACSH’s Dr. Josh Bloom, “their scare piece would lose all its sensationalism. This is an obvious and disingenuous tactic: when nothing of substance is there, use scary chemical names to fool people. Sorry, folks — but it didn’t work this time.”
Carroll also warns consumers to avoid sunblocks containing oxybenzone, because the ingredient allegedly interferes with sex hormones and “might have an impact on sexual development and reproduction.” The Skin Care Foundation, however, disagrees. In a recent public statement, they noted, “There has never been any evidence that oxybenzone, which has been available for 20 years, has any adverse health effect in humans. The ingredient is FDA-approved for human use based on exhaustive review. The Foundation’s volunteer Photobiology Committee reviewed the studies on oxybenzone and found no basis for concern.”
Our advice: do add sunscreen when sun exposure is planned, check SPF values and choose a sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater. Otherwise, ignore the scares about common products from this alarmist group.


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Apple has recently announced a new iPhone lineup. With the advent of the new iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S, people have several new options to upgrade to. Which Smartphone should you upgrade to or purchase? Should you wait for things to settle out? Is switching to Android a better thing to do? In this article, we examine several different options along with their pluses and minuses.
Skip the iPhone 5C


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According to Teresa Mastrangelo (picture), Directing Analyst, Cable, Satellite, and IPTV Video - "In the fourth quarter of 2010, we witnessed the dramatic growth of over-the-top services, as service providers and equipment vendors hit the ‘sweet spot’ for pricing. However, these services continue to complement pay TV rather than replace it .. We also are seeing increasing demand for hybrid set-top boxes, which leverage the existing broadcast infrastructure, but utilize the broadband connection to incorporate OTT content and increase interactivity and on-demand services".
More OTT related findings:
- Netflix added more than 3 million subscribers in 4Q10—nearly twice as many as in the previous quarter, and 3 times as many as during the same period in 2009—now supporting a subscriber base that exceeds 20 million
- Hulu introduced its paid service, Hulu Plus, last year at a similar price point; its subscriber base is expected to exceed 1 million in 2011
- Amazon UK’s purchase of LOVEFiLM will likely drive increasing OTT media server demand in Europe


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Cudahy, WI — With holiday season well underway, now is the time to start thinking about the best way to mail those cards and letters to loved ones. For a quick, easy and convenient solution, postal blue collection boxes are the way to go.
“Our postal blue collection boxes are always open and ready to accept cards and letters during the holidays – even on Sundays,” says Cudahy Postmaster Mark Groshek. “In fact, when cards and letters are deposited on a Sunday, they are the first pieces to be processed for Monday. This gives customers a head start on the week and gets their mail on its way faster to its destination.”
So whether it’s December 1st, 8th or the 15th, customers are advised to drop off cards and letters at their local postal blue collection box to ensure the best service during the holidays.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm. For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.
A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation: 152 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With more than 31,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world's mail. If it were a private-sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 42nd in the 2012 Fortune 500. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for seven years and the fourth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
- INTERFAITH TEAMS UP WITH LA CASA FOR TRAVELING ART EXHIBITION BY OLDER ADULTS
- Cudahy National Night Out Thursday August 4th
- Return to Packard Avenue celebration part of Cudahy National Night Oout
- Back To School....BBB Reminds You To Shop Smart!
- Railway Adventure Trip
- Magician Tim Stolba to Perform at Oak Creek Public Library
- Queen of Diamonds Fastpitch Tryouts
- 15th Stu's Flooring Benefit Golf Outing Tees Off
- 40th Anniversary of the SM 1976 State Basketball Champs
- South Milwaukee Downtown Market temporarily moves for Evening on the Avenue Street Festival


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Holmes Report 15 Sep 2014 // 11:03AM GMT
LONDON—Four Communications has announced an offer to acquire 100% of long-running UK consumer PR firm Consolidated PR.
The offer is being recommended by the board of Consolidated PR and more than 90% of shareholders have agreed. The deal is expected to complete successfully in early October.
Formed in 1990, Consolidated is one of the oldest independent consumer PR firms in the UK, with offices in London and Edinburgh.
The addition of Consolidated PR would take Four Communications Group fee income to £15.5m. Consolidated MD Nick Clark would join the Four Communications Group operating board, while directors Will Holt, Elspeth Rothwell, Liz Fay and Anne Clarke would become practice directors. Elspeth Rothwell is also promoted to deputy MD of Consolidated PR.
Four has demonstrated considerable growth in recent years across its operations in the UK and the Middle East. The company has acquired three firms — bgb, Colman Getty and Kinross+Render — over the past couple of years, growing to 165 staff.
"Consolidated PR is an excellent fit alongside our other communications teams and does exceptional work for an amazing list of clients,” said Four CEO Nan Williams in a statement
Upon completion Consolidated PR will "initially" retain its brand, according to the statement. The firm's London staff will move to Four’s offices.


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The Motorola comeback flagship must be near, as the leaks are picking up steam. We’ve heard about Motorola Edge+ specs, seen shadowy images of its waterfall display, and nodded at CAD renders. It’s almost as if Motorola is past due for announcing it (they are, it was supposed to be announced at MWC). Today, to continue to add to his pre-release story, we’ve got official looking press renders that typically accompany a phone at launch.
The images come courtesy of @evleaks and they bring us all the angles and two possible launch colors. We also get to see that large front display with its waterfall edges, the hole punch camera, placement of buttons, and a clear shot of the back’s camera setup.
For the front, the only real discussion here is around that big display. It’s still rumored to be around 6.67″ and sport a 1080p resolution with 90Hz refresh rate. That should be fine for most people, though I’m sure there will be those who expect nothing but QHD at this level of phone. Let’s just hope Motorola has figured out how to ignore all of those palm presses that are coming.
For the back, we can see that the main camera will be branded as 108MP. My guess is that it’ll be accompanied by ultra-wide angle and telephoto lenses too. At 108MP, we’re in Galaxy S20 territory, which is exactly where Motorola wants to play with this phone. We’ve just got hope they have dialed in that experience further than Samsung did at launch to really grab our attention. This is Motorola’s chance.
Finally, the rest of the phone is rumored to come with up to 12GB RAM and a battery bigger than 5000mAh. It’ll most definitely have 5G and be sold by Verizon.
Guys, is this the one that brings you back to Motorola?


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The site of a former Retford store is set to be turned into a car park.
Land at the bulldozed Spar/Londis store on South Street will become 28 spaces for the Northern Tower Retail Park, which is still being finished.
The development, which will consist of nine shops, is set to generate 100 jobs and deliver 60,000 sq ft of retail space.
Bassetlaw District Council approved the decision.
Adam Jones of Strawsons Property, the firm behind the development, put forward the application for additional parking to the 142 spaces already included in the development.
According to the planning officers report: "The application is the location of the former Spar/Londis shop which used to lie on the corner or London Road and South Street.
"The building has now been demolished to facilitate the erection of a retail park which encompasses the former Spar site and the much larger former Icon Polymer site which lies to the south west of the application site."
It added: "The former Spar/Londis store was not of an attractive design and was site in the contact of attractive design and was site in the context of industrial/commercial development to ts rear and car garages with their respective signage and buting on both side and also a petrol station."
In July it was announced that supermarket giant Lidl will be the first to move into the park.
Graham Burr, Lidl's regional head of property, said: "We are delighted to be opening a new store in Retford, which marks another milestone in our ambitious store expansion programme.
"We've seen incredible demand for Lidl stores across the country and look forward to offering our quality products and incredible value to shoppers in and around Retford very soon."
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Facing trouble raising money (and other problems), Tesla Motors today confirmed cancellation of its planned San José factory. The factory was only announced four months ago, and — in the light of the high government subsidies and deteriorating US economy — seemed dubious even then.
The scoop was researched Wednesday and reported Thursday by the San Jose Business Journal.
As also reported by the Merc this afternoon, the nominal reason for the cancellation was government loan conditions, although the company earlier announced (and then cancelled) plans for a New Mexico factory.
Tesla today still has two dealerships, one in Menlo Park (for Silicon Valley gazillionaires) and Santa Monica (for eco-conscious movie stars). While normally a good strategy for cutting-edge technology — let alone cool sports cars — nowadays California is a bad basket to put all your eggs in. The Merc also reported that 2008 new car sales in our state fell 23% in one year, to the lowest levels seen in 15 years.


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Nice review here of the Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec. Enjoy!
The big news is that M-B will now offer the only diesel-powered flagship luxury sedan here in the States – Audi, BMW and Jaguar don’t offer an oil-burning version of their high-rollers here in the U.S.
Mercedes-Benz neglected to release any technical specifications about the new S350 Bluetec, but as its nomenclature would suggest, it’s powered by the same 3.5-liter Bluetec V6 found in the E-, ML- and GL-Class vehicles. Mercedes has clearly proven that the business case for Bluetec here in the United States is indeed valid, and we’d much rather opt for a diesel S-Class as opposed to the S400 Hybrid.


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Prime Day 2020 We've found all the best Amazon Prime Day book deals and brought them straight here so you can grab a saving this week.
Prime Day 2020 Spend money to make money with this Whole Foods Prime Day deal, which you can claim without leaving your home
Prime Day 2020 Enable two-way talk between your Ring Video Doorbell and your Alexa-enabled Echo Dot in this Prime Day 2020 deal
Google Assistant is stepping up its usability with custom voice commands and shortcuts for 3rd-party apps.
In addition to delays on The Batman and other WB films, The Rock's Black Adam and the Minecraft movie no longer have release dates.
Coming in November with changes to the player builder, myCareer, the Neighborhood and in-game physics
Production delays forced Samsung to use the punch-hole cam for the S21, but the Z Fold 3's OLED display should be uncovered
While YouTube TV costs more per month than the dongle, you'll save money compared to shelling out for both
Launching exclusively on Prime Video on October 23, Borat: Subsequent Film will see Borat disguised as Trump to bribe Michael Pence
The update to iOS 14 and watchOS 7 is deleting health data, breaking fitness apps and crippling your iPhone and Apple Watch battery life
The live-action series will reboot the swords-and-sorcery series, but likely won't use Schwarzenegger's King Conan script
Sacha Baron Cohen filmed the sequel in secret this year, and allegedly had made such dangerous appearances the he wore a bulletproof vest in scenes.
While a long way off from being practically implemented, these fuel cells could wean Apple devices off of electric power.
The LG Wing 5G will finally be available for pre-order on October 1st through Verizon, but no word yet on non-US pricing or AT&T / T-Mobile variants
The new expected launch date would come a year after the Z Flip 5G release date. And a new Z Fold phone could appear in the interim.
TechRadar Deals Audible has taken 33% off its annual audiobook membership, launching an early Prime Day deal.
Listed storage size totals for Miles Morales and Demon's Souls make us concerned about the PS5's 825GB SSD
This free update 'doubles' the wildlife, adds more planets, improves the UI and visuals, and introduces new dangers
With updated 7-day case averages aggregated from WHO, NYT and others, Maps will provide live data in all 220 countries it operates in


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AAA predicts busiest Memorial Day travel weekend in decadeFARGO – A travel federation predicts that this Memorial Day will be the busiest for travel in almost 10 years.
By: Forum News Service, INFORUM
FARGO – A travel federation predicts that this Memorial Day will be the busiest for travel in almost 10 years.
AAA Travel estimates that 36.1 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Memorial Day weekend, a 1.5 percent increase from last year, according to a news release.
“Steady economic growth combined with a long, cold winter has given many Americans the travel bug,” said Gene LaDoucer, a spokesman for AAA in North Dakota. “For families in the Upper Midwest, lower fuel costs compared to record-high averages of a year ago should also help boost numbers to a new post-recession high.”
The forecast is 2.6 percent higher than the 10-year historical average and the second highest since 2000. Travelers set the record in 2005.


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PARIS, 2014-12-11 — /Travel PR News/ — On 10 December 2014, the cruise line Ponant and the airline Air France signed a new commercial and marketing partnership to strengthen their cooperation on the French market. This agreement will offer customers of both French companies a high quality of service throughout their trip, during their flight and their cruise.
THE GUARANTEE OF A TOP-OF-THE-RANGE TRIP
With this agreement, Air France becomes Ponant’s non-exclusive preferred airline partner. This partnership will improve customers’ travel experience, by offering a consistent and controlled quality of service, as well as by attracting and retaining a particularly demanding clientele, while developing synergies between the two companies.
On the occasion of the signing of the new agreement, Patrick Alexandre, EVP Commercial Passenger Business at Air France-KLM said “Ponant and Air France share very strong values, all geared towards exceptional service offered to customers. With this partnership, we want to offer “designer” travel in the sky and on the sea”.
Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, Chairman of Ponant added: “I am happy and proud to be signing this new partnership with Air France today, and to be promoting French excellence in the sky, on land and at sea.”


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You don’t need to wait for a long month for you to receive a call from the Hyundai showroom dealer on your delivery of your car. Yes folks, soon after the launch, Hyundai India plans to delivers its car to the prospective customers. The Hyundai Creta will be showcased to media on July 25th with a drive happening soon. Now that, it will be launched on 21 July; Booking for the car will start from early next month with deliveries commencing soon after the car gets officially launched in India.
Hyundai Motor, the Korean car maker, has confirmed the launch date of its conpact SUV creta as July 21. Now that, Hyundai had brought forward the launch date by a couple of months to take advantage of the festive season.
The Hyundai Creta isn’t a crossover like the Hyundai i20 Active but is a proper SUV based on the Hyundai ix25, albeit in a petite dimension and will be marketed as a compact SUV. The compact dimensions and the butch looks make the Creta a great SUV option for the urban landscape.
The Hyundai Creta will be offered with both petrol and diesel powerplant options to further expand its appeal. The 1.6-litre displacement motor will be sourced from the Verna sedan.
The Hyundai Creta will carry forward features from the i20 Elite like keyless entry, start/stop button, day time running lamps, reverse camera, Bluetooth connectivity, steering mounted controls, rear AC vents, auto folding mirrors etc. Also the interiors of the Hyundai Creta will be more plush and car like as opposed to the rugged ones of its rivals.
The 1.6-litre Hyundai Creta diesel motor will generate 128PS of maximum power and healthy 260Nm of torque which makes it significantly powerful than its rivals. The Hyundai Creta petrol variant will house a 1.6-litre petrol mill under its bonnet good enough for 123PS of peak power and 155Nm of torque.
Hyundai India hasn’t revealed the mileage figures for the Creta yet. But given the fact that the Creta will employ the same motor as the Hyundai Verna it is safe to assume that the car will boast an ARAI fuel efficiency figure of around 22kmpl for the diesel mill.
The 1.6-litre diesel motor will be offered most likely with a 4-speed auto transmission. Given the fact that the Hyundai Creta is more of an urban SUV, the auto transmission will find many takers owing to the arduous traffic conditions in metro cities.
The Hyundai Creta will be positioned between its arch rivals with respect to pricing i.e. the Ford Eco Sport and the Renault Duster along with Nissan Terrano.


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The U.S. Travel Association announced the recipients of the 2021 Destiny and Mercury Awards and the State Tourism Director of the Year at the annual ESTO (Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations) conference, held August 15-17 in Los Angeles. Awards for 33 categories were presented for excellence in destination marketing and inspiring visitation, a critical component for the continued recovery of the travel industry.
Destiny And Mercury Awards
The Destiny Awards recognize excellence in destination marketing on the local and regional level, while the Mercury Awards recognize achievements on the state level. A judging panel of marketing experts from organizations, including HarperCollins Publishers, Hylink North America, Hilton, Tourism Cares and Socialisssima selected honorees in these award programs.
Visit Panama City Beach was the winner of the “Destiny People’s Choice” award, and the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism took home the “Mercury People’s Choice” award. Voting for this category was open to U.S. Travel’s destination marketing organization members, as well as all ESTO delegates. U.S. Travel created the People’s Choice award to increase delegate engagement at ESTO and allow for sharing of best practices and inspiration.
State Tourism Director Of The Year
The National Council of State Tourism Directors selected Brad Dean of Discover Puerto Rico as 2021’s State Tourism Director of the Year. This annual award recognizes a state tourism director who has successfully raised the profile of his or her state or U.S. territory as a travel and tourism destination. Each year’s honoree is selected by a panel of their peers; prior to ESTO, state tourism directors from all U.S. states and territories vote for the individual exhibiting the most impressive achievements in state-level destination marketing.
Puerto Rico’s New Travel Series Highlights Secluded Locations
ASTA Heads to Chicago for Global Convention
Puerto Rico Drops COVID Test Requirement for Vaxxed Travelers
Hotel Industry Establishes Arne Sorenson Award
Originally Appeared On: https://www.travelagentcentral.com/your-business/u-s-travel-honors-destination-marketers-tourism-leaders


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Joe Browns to open second store in York
Multichannel fashion brand Joe Browns has announced the opening of a 1,500 square foot store in the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York at the beginning of July.
The announcement comes on the back of record sales for the brand and after a successful first year of trading for its flagship store, which opened in Meadowhall Shopping Centre in November 2017.
Simon Brown, Managing Director and Founder of Joe Browns, said: “This is the next phase for us in exploring retail and means more people will be able to access remarkable garments at great prices.
“Our Meadowhall store captures and really brings to life the essence of our fun and liberating brand, so we’re really looking forward to replicating this and delivering a true point of difference to the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York.”
Despite a challenging retail market, direct sales for the retailer have risen by a staggering 17% year on year since the start of the financial year in July 2018 and the company is currently tracking 5% up on a tough budget. Since opening in November 2017, the Meadowhall store has reported gross sales of over £3.3m.
Darren Abbott, Finance Director at Joe Browns, added: “The continued success of the business allows us to continue investing in new customer recruitment and we see our second retail store very much a part of this strategy.”
The store, which will be situated on the South Mall of the designer outlet, will stock discounted men’s and womenswear collections and a selection of accessories.
Mike Thomas, Centre Manager at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York, commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Joe Browns in to the Centre. Joe Browns is a fun and vibrant brand which we feel embodies the spirit of our McArthurGlen customers and will be a great addition to our existing retail offering.”
Dalziel and Pow, the same London agency that designed Joe Browns’ 4,000 square foot store in Meadowhall, have been brought in to create an equally eye-catching and intriguing space in the outlet.
David Dalziel, Creative Director at Dalziel and Pow, said: “This second store for Joe Browns is a significant step forwards for the brand. Carrying on from the bold and distinctive store at Meadowhall, this opening promises to be equally striking. Lofted dark ceilings with a vibrant selection of interior finishes make this an even more theatrical space.
“We have refreshed the colour palette but maintained the iconic black frames that divide the space into three clear rooms to segment the collections. We are naturally hopeful this is the second of many successful physical stores for Joe Browns in the future.”
Mr Brown added: “There are challenges out there in retail but there are also opportunities. We’re only a fraction of the way through our journey. Joe Browns can get as big as our imaginations want it to be.”


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As demand for environmentally sustainable products continues to grow, PUMA lends a hand in the fight for a better future with an experimental version of its most iconic sneaker, the Suede. Named the RE:SUEDE, the shoe is designed to be biodegradable and is constructed from more sustainable materials such as Zeology tanned suede, biodegradable TPE, and hemp fibers.
The RE:SUEDE experiment is the first circular program to launch under PUMA’s new “Circular Lab” innovation hub and aims to improve waste management within the footwear industry. The first trial will launch in January 2022 with 500 selected participants in Germany testing the RE:SUEDE for six months, noting the biodegradable construction’s durability and structure. Following the test run, the sneakers will then be returned and undergo an industrial biodegradation process in hopes of creating Grade A compost for agricultural use. The findings from this experiment will lay the foundation for the future of sustainable shoe consumption.
RE:SUEDE is an advancement in PUMA’s exploration of the sustainable footwear space, which started in 2012 with the brand’s first attempt to create a biodegradable sneaker as part of its InCycle collection. Improvements since then include the use of Zeology suede, which is made using a more eco-friendly tanning process and ensures better comfort when compared to other biodegradable materials. Outsoles on the RE:SUEDE have also been improved to ensure optimal wear.
“We hope that progress made during the RE:SUEDE experiment: ‘No Time For Waste’ will help us continue to raise the bar in circularity testing – enabling our consumers to make better fashion choices in the future, so their sneakers can go ‘from Suede to Soil’, without compromising on product style or durability during ownership,” said PUMA’s Creative Director Heiko Desens.
As for PUMA’s overarching sustainability goals, the brand aims to reduce overall waste through its various pillars in the FOREVER BETTER campaign. This includes increasing the level of recycled polyester materials in its products to 75% by 2025, setting up product takeback programs in major markets, and developing recycled material options for leather, rubber, cotton, and polyurethane.