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Leveraging a Consumer Database in a Slumped Economy
As more Americans experience a loss of confidence in the economy, reduction in household wealth and shaky employment statuses, some credit card database managers claim their cardholders are keeping their credit in good standing.
In an economic slump, consumer-facing companies may be able to leverage the loyalty they’ve promoted and nurtured through rewards-program databases. It seems frequent, automated communications through database tools encourage responsibility from consumers who are familiar with the retailer. They may not generate many new sales, but the relationship may mean reliable revenue streams nonetheless.
“Co-branded credit cards have loss rates significantly lower than the industry average because people feel very good about those cards and maintain them in good standing,” said Steve Jacowitz, a director at Auriemma Consulting Group.
The Motiva database by Discover is one rewards database not built around a product marketer or retail brand. It is the only credit portfolio in the United States that offers its cardholders account savings for making minimum monthly payments. Perhaps that’s because cardholders in the Motiva portfolio tend to be those who want to keep on top of their finances and manage their credit better than the average American, said Julie Loeger, senior vice president of product management at Discover. They spend smarter, manage debt better and save more, she said.
Further, Discover cardholders are awarded an interest-free month if they have made regular minimum payments for the preceding six months. Through statement reminders about this award, Discover communicates with its database members at least monthly.
“We help consumers keep on top of their credit,’’ Loeger said.
Another Discover rewards program studies its database for common transactions by season and rewards cardholders in the portfolio with 5 percent cash back on purchases with businesses frequented at the particular time of year. In July, for example, gas station payments were eligible for cash-back bonuses, enabling consumers to commute to work and take summer road trips without fiscal concern in the face of record-high fuel prices.
Research from TowerGroup found that empathy through database communication and rewards yields improvements of up to 20 percent in prioritizing payment. But card issuers need not be as generous as Discover to acknowledge their customers’ current struggles with cash flow, said Brian Riley, research director of TowerGroup.
For example, while most credit card rewards programs fine consumers who do not make a payment within 90 days by taking away accumulated points, American Express has a process by which Membership Rewards earners may regain points once they have restored a reliable payment pattern.
For companies that are especially budget-strapped themselves, Riley suggests they search their databases for ZIP codes hit particularly hard by the recession, home foreclosures and industry-intensive layoffs. Then, they can offer rewards for responsible, regular payment behavior to customers only in those locations.
After all, now is the time for creative and flexible database management and credit policies.
Kelly Shermach is a freelance writer based in Chicago who frequently writes about technology and data security. She can be reached at editor (at) certmag (dot) com.


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For 30 days, we are testing the Sellit ADPAK, a $14.99/month advertising program that places a widget advertising our health care reform bumper stickers on various websites. There are two standards by which we will measure results over the 30 days:
1. Sellit’s described click-through rate. Sellit describes two outcomes of advertising through their service, […]
When print-on-demand sticker and shirt shipper CafePress raised prices for customers and cut pay to designers starting June 1, 2009, the manner in which they spoke to designers set the tone for all that would follow. Over the phone, CafePress representatives insisted that their decision to cut pay to designers and raise prices for customers […]
shirtauctions.com is looking for a freelance programmer:
Created: 08/06/2009 at 0:12 EDT
We need a clone of cafepress.com or zazzle.com with exact features….
And with a paycheck of up to $750, these folks will be sure to get a mighty fine program.
When in the early summer CafePress raised prices for customers buying t-shirts and cut pay for designers making graphics for t-shirts, a number of observers predicted that CafePress would lose designers to competitors like Zazzle and Skreened. It was also predicted that CafePress would lose market share to these competitors as a result. Have these […]
On June 2, 2009, we at Irregular Times withdrew from one of the two ways of selling shirts, bumper stickers and buttons at the online merchandiser CafePress. On June 1, CafePress started charging customers more and (paying its graphic designers less) when purchases were made via their search engine they call the “Marketplace.” We didn’t […]


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Angela Ponce became the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe history in 2018. Bernadette Belle Ong, Miss Universe Singapore 2020, made waves with a cape embellished with “Stop Asian Hate”. Nandita Banna, Miss Universe Singapore 2021 wore a crown made up of 677 lab-grown diamonds. Apparently, the world’s most famous beauty pageant appears to be evolving into more than just a parade of physical (and some say mental) attractiveness, but a platform that celebrates diversity and progress.
And rightly so, because the new generation is always seeking to do better. Just ask Marcus Wong, Clarrisa Neo and Adeline Lin (far right, in picture), the trio behind The Better Diamond, the bespoke diamond jeweller that supplied the conflict-free diamonds for the Miss Universe Singapore crown.
“It all started when a friend of ours asked us for help finding an engagement ring. He wasn’t comfortable with the idea of natural diamonds because of the ethical, moral and environmental issues associated with them, so he wanted a better alternative,” shares The Better Diamond’s managing director Wong. “We found that lab-grown diamonds are the perfect substitute because they are chemically, physically and optically identical to natural diamonds, but with none of the negative consequences.”
Boosted by an affinity for disruptive technology, and eager to overturn the many misconceptions surrounding lab-grown diamonds, Wong roped in his friends Neo and Lin to help launch and run The Better Diamond earlier this year.
“Diamond tests classify both lab-grown stones and natural stones as diamonds. Therefore, they are not fake diamonds,” explains Lin, who is the company’s chief marketing officer. “As this is still a niche market, most of our customers already know this and know what they want. Yet there are still a few who ask why there are cheaper options elsewhere. Most likely, they are diamond simulants, which are glass or cubic zirconia.”
The price of lab-grown diamonds is undeniably appealing, even if they don’t have the feel-good factor of organic diamonds. “They’re about 40 to 50 per cent less expensive than natural diamonds,” says Neo, the chief operating officer. The savings could be substantial if clients want bigger stones, such as the 15-carat diamond they are growing for one client.
The Better Diamond’s largest demographic by volume is still 25- to 35-year-olds looking for engagement rings. But its biggest customers are older ones shopping for cocktail jewellery. The diamonds are supplied by a partner laboratory based outside Singapore, while local artisans design the jewellery and set the gems. In the next five years, they plan to launch a daily wear line and open their own lab. They are also excited about upcoming partnerships that align with their support of sustainability, like the one currently in the works with Sea Change Wine, an eco-friendly wine company. “We’re not here to replace natural diamonds,” says Neo. “We just want to give people an option to choose a greener alternative.”


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U.S. Retail Health Clinics Expected to Double by 2015
June 12, 2013 – The number of U.S. retail health clinics is projected to double in the next three years due to the increasing demand of newly insured patients under healthcare reform, according to a new report released today by Accenture (NYSE:ACN) at the annual America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Institute 2013 in Las Vegas.
Increase driven by millions of newly insured due to healthcare reform; clinics projected to save $800 million annually.
The report shows that the growing number of retail health clinics walk-in medical facilities located in pharmacies and retail chains, is expected to drive $800 million in annual cost savings by 2015 and will add capacity for 10.8 million patient visits per year, compared to 5.1 million in 2011. In fact, according to Accenture’s analysis, the number of patient visits at retail clinics is projected to account for 10 percent of non-primary care outpatient visits by the end of 2015.
“Despite that initial growth of retail clinics was halted short of market expectations in 2009, healthcare reform will trigger a significant demand from millions of newly insured patients,” said Kaveh Safavi, M.D., J.D., managing director for Accenture’s North America health business. “The convergence of retail convenience with walk-in care services will provide a ‘release valve’ for strained health systems as they handle the influx of new patients.”
Historically, retail clinics experienced a five-year trend of rapid growth from 2003-2008, ranging from 50-92 percent annually during that time. However, growth in the sector stalled, falling to just 2 percent per year from 2008-2012.
According to Accenture’s report, the number of retail clinics is expected to increase 20-25 percent per year between now and 2015 and double from 1,418 to 2,868 clinics in that time period.
“Although primary care physicians and hospitals once regarded retail clinics as a business threat, in a post-reform landscape, they are viewed as critical to facilitating future growth,” Safavi added. “In fact, retail clinics will reduce capacity constraints by referring lower-acuity patients to clinics while ensuring hospitals have capacity for more complex cases.”
Learn more about Accenture’s Insight Driven Health and Delivering Public Service for the Future.


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Pocket money app RoosterMoney is launching the Rooster Card, as it continues to expand its offering and build on its mission to take children from their first steps in understanding the value of money to their first bank account.
The new Visa prepaid card for kids, being launched in partnership with Cornercard UK, comes with new to market dynamic CVV technology, making it a more secure card for online transactions.
This new offering allows parents to graduate their kids from a virtual ‘tracker’,which offers the fundamentals for building smart money habits, to a prepaid card, ready to take the next step towards independent money management in the real world.
RoosterMoney launched in 2016 with a mission to transform the way the world talks about money with their children. Since then, it has grown the number of currencies being used on the platform to over 50 and tripled its userbase in the last 18 months to over 600,000 users. The Rooster Card will be a premium feature within the app, and is being made available to families for testing, before a full release in June.
Key features include: parent Account with sort code & account number – parents can separate their kids’
pocket money, and family and friends can pay into the account, dynamic CVV, real-time spending notifications and no overdraft allowance.
Will Carmichael, RoosterMoney CEO, says: “We’re delighted to be able to offer families our unique Rooster Card, which is a natural progression for the kids who have learnt the basics with our tracking tool. A bridge between the tracker and a bank account, we are helping parents to empower their kids to make considered spending choices on their own, both online and in store.
“It was important to us that we built a secure product, utilising cutting-edge security technology,
and I’m proud to say we now have a leading offer for families with kids of any age. Kids can start as young as four using the app as a star or reward chart, before graduating to a pocket money tracker and then, ultimately, the Rooster Card whenever the parents and kids are ready.”


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Posted on :Monday , 5th October 2020
Kilimo Fresh an agri-tech startup from Tanzania was declared winner to the MEST Africa Challenge and awarded an equity investment of US$50,000. Kilimo Fresh is a B2B digital distributor in fresh produce made available to Supermarkets, institutions, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers and also export markets. This platform enables produce buyers and smallholder farmers to a market which is reliable and fair, helping buyers have direct access to farms fresh produce and quality at an affordable price and have it directly delivered to the given location.
This platform has given an online access to consumers to make direct purchases of fresh crop produce eradicating any space of food wastage and giving farmers a stable price.
Pan-African training programme, seed fund, incubator and hub MEST Africa ran the MEST Africa Challenge, where Kilimo Fresh won against different start-ups from Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Ghana. The journey for Kilimo Fresh started in 2015 when the co-founders Baraka Jeremiah and Justice Mangu passed from the university.
Jeremiah said, "We started farming because of our interest and cultivated crops like capsicums, watermelons and tomatoes and in Dar es Salaam sell it to wholesalers. At the beginning we were dissatisfied because we lacked market information, earned a low margin, and saw a lot of wastage in food and demand visibility because of which in 2018 we established Kilimo Fresh which would help us in solving this problem in Tanzania for other farmers".
"To a produce to what the farmer is paid the consumers are charged a higher price because the produces goes through a line a mediator. This problem expands where the farmer has a lot of their produce go to waste due to lack of storage space for a lengthy time period and market access."
In Tanzania around 40% of the produced food is lost before arriving to the market, because of lack of storage facilities, farming practices and no proper trading system.
Jeremiah mentioned, "Before 2021 of February our target is to raise US$200,000".
Dodoma and Tanzania are currently the two regions where the company operates with daily need supply of grains, vegetables and fruits. Expansion plans are in motion to Arusha and Zanzibar including in East African countries, especially Rwanda.


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The city council’s debate about plastic grocery bags isn’t about plastic grocery bags. Nothing downtown is that straightforward. It’s about how the city is run and whether the neighborhoods will be allowed a say in how Dallas works.
How do I know this? Because, years ago, I did an interview with a man for a trade magazine who is part of what Observer columnist Jim Schutze describes as the culture of City Hall: “The staff at City Hall does not work for us, because it does not take its orders from our elected representatives. It takes its orders from the Park Cities.”
I was interviewing the man about retailing, and midway through the conversation — and I have no idea how this happened — he went off on recycling, a rampage about how useless it was, what a waste of time and money it was, and how the schools were brainwashing students about it. In his world view, defined by the Park Cities and the people he knew, recycling was stupid and there was no need for it. Because of this, he had a difficult time conceiving that other people might think differently.
Hence the odd directions the plastic-bag debate has taken. Kroger says it will devastate its business — the same Kroger whose CEO announced his retirement after increasing revenue over the last decade by $45 billion. A grocery trade group says a bag ban will cause death and disease, even though this has not happened in other parts of the world, like London and Paris, where people bring their own bags to the grocery store. Another expert says shoppers will desert Dallas supermarkets for suburban stores that use plastic bags, something for which there isn’t a lot of evidence — is someone going to drive five miles instead of five blocks because of bags? — but sounds good on the evening news.
The real reason so many people who don’t live here are opposed to the ban is that they think it’s dumb. In a way, this is understandable. They aren’t here to see the garbage that plastic bags produce; like the retailer I interviewed, it’s not in their worldview. But that doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist. The Morning News reported that plastic bags accounted for 40 percent of the 70 tons of garbage cleaned up from Dallas rivers and greenbelts by one conservation group.
So when south Dallas councilman Dwaine Caraway pushes for a bag ban because he thinks it’s in the best interest of his neighborhood, because he understands about the 40 percent of 70 tons, the ban goes nowhere. Yes, Caraway can be a flake, and yes, he represents south Dallas, and those are reasons why his ideas usually get short shrift downtown. But the real reason the bag ban is stuck in limbo — like so many other things that affect the neighborhoods — is that the people who make the decisions here aren’t interested in the neighborhoods. We aren’t in their worldview.
The question to ask the council members who oppose the ban is not about disease or sales-tax revenues, but about grocery shopping. When’s the last time one of them went to the store? Some of them, I’ll bet, haven’t been in a while, which points to their very limited worldview. The other question to ask? Would their lives be that much more difficult if they had to bring bags with them when they did go to the grocery store?
Because, if the answer is yes, their worldview is even more limited than I thought it was, and it’s not like I expect a lot from the council. The world is full of death and war and starvation, and they’re whining about plastic bags? Your worldview can’t be more limited than that.
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'Are Ye Dancing?' was the title of the last article, perhaps it's more appropriate for Magnus of Blockbuster video fame. Gurnites and Highland News readers were delighted with his Youtube video shot in Blockbusters Nairn ' You make my dreams come true'
Magnus's mum Jewellery Designer Melanie Muir has won a silver award in the Craft & Design selected Awards 2010. These UK National awards, sponsored by the magazine, promote the best craftspeople in the country by selecting the cream to put in their online gallery, and then asking the public to vote in the annual awards. You can see the winners here. Melanie also has a website displaying her work.


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DHL Express almost doubled its UK pre-tax profit last year thanks to a significant rise in inbound volumes and an increase in its share of the global express market. Financial statements for DHL International (UK), which trades as DHL Express in the UK, reveal a 95.9% jump in pre-tax profit to £9.7m (2012: £4.9m) for the 12 months to 31 December 2013. This was off the back of an 11.7% increase in turnover from £544.8m to £608.9m in the same […]
Quiet Cities is the first global summit focused on enabling quieter deliveries of freight in urban environments. The two-day summit, a joint imitative between Motor Transport, TfL, DHL and Route Monkey, and it will take place on 25 and 26 November at Twickenham Stadium. It will bring together key stakeholders interested in seeing out-of-hours deliveries become a normal part of the supply chain. The summit includes a full conference programme, a networking dinner, exhibition, and live demonstration of the latest […]
DHL Express has delivered hundreds instruments for US and Panama-based high school and university marching bands participating in the London New Year’s Day Parade today (1 January).
Kuehne + Nagel and DHL Tradeteam are working with Costa owner and customer Whitbread on an initiative to standardise product information, removing cost and complexity from the supply chain. The project is running in parallel with the Premier Inn-owner’s involvement with the Food Service Directors’ Group (FSDG’s), which also includes Brakes, Mitchells & Butlers, Unilever and Compass in membership. At a launch event last week for FSDG’s report, The Food Service Information Challenge, the authors claimed standardising product labelling could […]


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Tesla is firmly in the lead. It sells nearly 222,000 cars as Model 3 production gains momentum. Volkswagen leads all carmakers with over 1.4 million sales. Renault-Nissan and China’s Geely have also overtaken Tesla.
Is Tesla the biggest electric car company?
BYD’s EVs ranked No. 1 in global sales for six consecutive years ( from 2014 to 2019). … It might be one of the reasons why Tesla still dominates the market and continue to be the biggest electric vehicle manufacturer in the world.
Is Tesla the first electric car company?
Tesla also became the first auto manufacturer to produce 1 million electric cars in March 2020. The Nissan Leaf achieved the milestone of 500,000 units sold globally in early December 2020, 10 years after its inception.
What car companies are going all electric?
Scroll down to read more about what automakers see in their EV future.
- Toyota. The Lexus UX 300e. …
- Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen’s all-electric ID.3. …
- General Motors. The design for Cadillac’s first fully electric vehicle. …
- Ford. The Ford Mustang Mach-E. …
- Volvo. The Volvo XC40 Recharge. …
- Honda. The Honda E. …
- BMW Group. …
Who is Tesla’s biggest competitor?
What is the world’s best selling electric car?
Tesla Model 3
Where is Tesla buried?
January 12, 1943
Why electric cars are not popular?
Electric cars’ overall range, their price compared to a traditional car and charging infrastructure are the top reasons why consumers shun an EV. … Electric cars often have a higher priced attached to them as they are not at a price parity with vehicles powered by an internal-combustion engine.
Is Tesla profitable yet?
Tesla made a profit of $331 million in the third quarter of 2020, its fifth straight profitable quarter and a sign that the electric automaker is hitting its stride. … Tesla delivered 139,300 vehicles this quarter, beating the company’s previous record of 112,000 vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2019.
How fast will electric cars take over?
That means that electric cars will soon overtake internal combustion-powered cars as the more economical choice for consumers, according to the new report. Over the next two decades, worldwide electric vehicle sales will rise from 2 million last year to 56 million by 2040, BNEF predicts.
Are electric cars bad?
According to Plugincars.com, there are a few disadvantages of owning an electric car, including: Electric cars have a shorter range than gas-powered cars. Recharging the battery takes time. They are usually more expensive than gas-powered cars.
Are electric cars really the future?
In the report, BNEF outlines that electric vehicles (EVs) will hit 10% of global passenger vehicle sales in 2025, with that number rising to 28% in 2030 and 58% in 2040. According to the study, EVs currently make up 3% of global car sales.19 мая 2020 г.
Is Tesla overvalued?
Yes, it is
Tesla’s valuation metrics are between eight and 23.6 times those of its nearest competitor by each metric (lower is better). … Any way you slice it, Tesla looks obscenely overvalued.
Is NIO better than Tesla?
Nio Better Than Tesla
CEO William Li said the company test-drove more than 300,000 kilometers (186,400 miles) across 30 major cities. With the map data collected, Nio’s self-driving EVs will fare better than Tesla’s Navigate on Autopilot.
How much does a full Tesla charge cost?
A full recharge to about 250 miles of range costs approximately $22.00. More typically, a half charge (150 miles of range) would cost about $11.00. Cost varies based on the region of the country and local electricity rates.


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The wait is over! Hearst Magazines announced today that Samira Nasr has been named editor in chief of Harper’s Bazzar’s US edition where she replaces Glenda Bailey, who resigned earlier this year. Nasr was most recently executive fashion director at Vanity Fair and spent five years at ELLE as fashion director. Prior to that, she was style director for InStyle. Nasr also styles campaigns for fashion and beauty brands, including Laura Mercier, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, Clarins and more. She began her career as an assistant to Grace Coddington, after earning a graduate degree in Journalism at New York University.
“Fashion and BAZAAR are synonymous,” Nasr said in a statement today. “It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with moving this legacy brand into a new era — one that is colorful, inclusive and celebrates the beauty of fashion on every platform — while carrying on the tradition of innovative art direction and great style that the BAZAAR audience loves so much. The most beautiful part of working in magazines is the teamwork and creating a community. I can’t wait to get started.”
Nasr will report to Hearst Magazines chief content officer Kate Lewis. “BAZAAR has always presented the world of fashion through a unique lens — smart, vibrant, adoring,” Lewis said today. “Those words could not better describe Samira, who understands and delights in the world of fashion, but has a thoroughly modern and distinctive take,” Lewis said. “She innately understands the BAZAAR woman because she is the BAZAAR woman: passionate about fashion, culture and the issues that matter today. I know she will make something magical here.” She begins her new role on July 6th and is the magazine’s first black editor in chief.
Nasr talked about her new role in an Instagram video today.
View this post on Instagram


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The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are facing increased congestion this President’s Day weekend, with work partially halted amid a labor dispute between port employers and the dockworkers’ union.
As of Friday morning, as many as 27 ships waited at anchor outside the two ports, with just as many at berth, according to Port of Los Angeles spokesman Phillip Sanfield.
The shipping yards — “chock full” of cargo — are 95 percent full, well beyond the “efficient” ideal of 80 percent, Sanfield said.
The ports are at a “breaking point,” and there are fears this latest labor dispute could drive companies like Walmart, Target and others to shy away from West Coast ports, opting instead for Canadian, Gulf Coast and even East Coast ports, he said.
Lee Peterson, spokesman for the Long Beach port, echoed this worry, saying that once the dispute is resolved, “we would hope to try to win back the business we are losing, but it will be difficult.”
Sanfield noted the amount of cargo from Asia will likely taper off for about two weeks when production shuts down in observance of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday on Feb. 20. This could allow terminal operators to “get some catch up work done, clear up docks,” he said.
Under an order by the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents port employers, vessel loading and unloading activities at the ports were suspended Thursday — which was Lincoln’s birthday — and will be suspended again today, Sunday and Monday — which is Presidents Day — so companies will not be forced to pay holiday and weekend salaries to union workers, whom they have accused of slowing port operations during the contract dispute.
Although vessel operations will be halted, yard, gate and rail operations will continue at the ports, according to the association.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has repeatedly denied taking part in a coordinated effort to slow port operations. Union officials have said employees are not given enough training opportunities so there are not enough qualified employees who can come to work.
The two sides are engaged in talks facilitated by a federal mediator, who is speaking to each side separately, according to ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees.
Congestion at the ports in recent months has also been attributed by the union to industry-wide changes that include larger ships dropping off and picking up more cargo at the ports.
According to the PMA, longshore workers and clerks would be paid between $54 and $75 an hour on the holiday and weekend days, while foremen would receive $77 to $92 an hour.
“PMA members have concluded that they will not conduct vessel operations on those dates, paying full shifts of ILWU workers such high rates for severely diminished productivity while the backlog of cargo at West Coast ports grows,” according to a statement from the association.
Vessel operations also were halted last weekend. The action by the PMA affects not only the Los Angeles/Long Beach complex, but all West Coast ports.
The ILWU blasted last weekend’s halt of vessel activity as “crazy and irresponsible.”
— Staff and wire reports


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Diablo Immortal isn't the only mobile game Blizzard has in development.
In a recent article, Kotaku reported on some of the inner workings at Activison Blizzard HQ after the Diablo Immortal controversy. Fans have been desperate for Diablo 4 for years and many reacted angrily when a mobile game was announced at Blizzcon.
However, it seems as though Diablo Immortal isn't the only mobile game coming from the studio. Blizzard is reportedly working on a World of Warcraft game that's loosely based on the concept of Pokémon Go, which remains hugely popular all over the world.
A World of Warcraft game like this would earn incredible revenue, and one of the previous lead designers of WoW, Cory Stockton, is a massive Pokémon fan to boot.
After spending a gruelling amount of time on Diablo 3 and its DLC, some of the teams at Blizzard are keen to work on smaller mobile games like this.
Mobile games are massive in the Chinese market, though Western fans would have preferred a PC-only Diablo game.
Blizzard is yet to give a release date for Diablo Immortal.


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OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – Convenience-store shoppers are looking for more variety and value when it comes to over-the-counter medicines, which means convenience-store retailers have a growing opportunity to boost their private-label, or value brand, health-and-beauty-care (HBC) sales.
Value is critical for c-store shoppers, according to Chicago-based research firm Technomic. The vast majority of c-store foodservice users (89%) say it’s important that the convenience stores they visit offer a good value through low prices, making this attribute one of the most important for c-store shoppers, on par with convenience and speed.
And lower-income consumers are not the only ones driving value sales during c-store visits. Monthly c-store shoppers skew slightly to those earning between $75,000 and $150,000 annually, according to Technomic. “While these consumers have more discretionary income, they prioritize value and low prices to the same extent as lower-income shoppers,” said Colleen Rothman, senior manager of consumer insights for Technomic.
Opportunities for value-brand sales
The opportunity for emphasizing value exists across all categories, and for convenience retailers, it’s especially relevant for HBC. A majority of consumers (over 60%) prefer value-brand (private-label) over-the-counter medicines (OTC), according to an independent study conducted by Harris Interactive.
This can be attributed in part to consumers’ increasing acceptance of value brands as they increasingly know these products typically contain the same active ingredients as traditional branded OTC products. In fact, 75% of North American shoppers believe private label is a good alternative to name brands, according to research from AC Nielsen.
What’s more, a study conducted by Frank N. Magid & Associates found that 32% of c-store shoppers consider themselves regular value-brand buyers.
Despite the fact that many consumers prefer value brands, sales of these products account for just 3% of HBC sales in the convenience sector, lagging way behind overall sales in other retail channels at 17%.
As a result, there is opportunity to boost sales in this area, and many c-stores appear to be doing just that. According to Nielsen, sales in the HBC category have continued to increase year-over-year among all outlets, including convenience. HBC sales increased 5.6% to roughly $40.65 billion in June since the same period last year, according to Nielsen.
Variety remains key
Convenience stores that offer a wider variety of branded and value-brand products can take advantage of new sales opportunities. This helps position them as a one-stop-shop for consumers, especially value-seeking ones.
“From a retailer’s perspective, offering a wider variety of value-brand products can help c-stores compete with larger chains,” said Doug Marquardt, marketing director for Lil' Drug Store Products Inc., the leading supplier of HBC products to the convenience channel. “Stocking value-brand products helps retailers capture valuable private-label sales and profits.”
Lil' Drug Store Products recently launched a value line of 19 SKUs to help convenience retailers gain a larger share of value shoppers’ dollars. The expanded product selection includes everything from pain relievers to allergy meds, cold and flu aids, sleep aids and even bandages and children’s medicines.
Offering a wider range of OTC products can also help simplify the distribution process for retailers, because they can look to one company to source multiple SKUs.
Offering a wider variety not only enhances incremental sales and profit from value-oriented consumer segments, but it also creates stronger merchandising on the shelf. “One of the benefits of the Lil' Drug Store line are the larger pack sizes that provide multiple doses at a competitive price,” said Marquardt.
In addition, Lil’ Drug products have c-store-specific packaging, which means that these products can either be shelved alongside branded items or pegged depending on the store layout. “This offers versatility as far as display options,” Marquardt said.
Many of the company’s value brands also feature colorful graphics resembling major national brands that helps add interest and fullness to a display.
By taking advantage of the various benefits these value-branded products offer, c-stores will be able to compete, not only in a growing OTC category, but in the larger HBC segment overall.
This post is sponsored by Associated Distributors


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London-based VenueScanner, an online venue booking platform, has raised £800,000 in Seed funding.
The company, launched in June 2016, will use the money to support its nationwide expansion as it seeks to expand into one new major UK city a month.
Rebecca Kelly, VenueScanner co-founder, commented on the news: “Digital marketing in the venue and events industry is still in its infancy, leaving a hugely exciting opportunity.
“We often see individual venues paying more than £3 per click on Google, with no guarantee of a booking. We’re here to help venue hosts reach high value audiences and connect with event organisers at low cost.
“With funding in place, we’re now able to fully potentialise our digital marketing expertise, rollout to venues nationwide and deliver an effortless online venue discovery experience for event organisers.”
Singh spoke about his decision to back the young company and praised the way in which it was seeking to disrupt the market.
“ [Co-founders] Rebecca and Benjy are enabling communication between organisers and hosts in a way that hasn’t been done before. They’re innovating the venue booking industry much like Skyscanner innovated the flight booking industry.
“I believe that in the not too distant future you won’t be able to have a meeting, event or celebration without checking VenueScanner first.”
Mills, investment director at the Angel CoFund, added: “The challenge of navigating the marketplace for meeting spaces and events venues is a familiar one to many people and offers a great opportunity for a business that can ease friction for all of us when planning those important and special occasions.
“With VenueScanner the team’s vision of a simple, easy to use and comprehensive shopfront for thousands of places and spaces has really begun to take shape and is set to scale across the UK. At the Angel CoFund we always seek to invest in and support innovative UK businesses that have clear vision and the skills to take industries to the next level. As such we have been particularly impressed by the experience and drive of the VenueScanner team and look forward to them delivering the next stage of growth,” he concluded.
Check out our UK tech investment tracker for the latest industry deals.


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Wiggins to land first airline deal
Wiggins, the property company that hopes to develop the former RAF airfield at Manston in Kent as London's sixth airport, plans to sign its first deal with a scheduled airline next year.
Currently only cargo planes and a handful of charter flights from America use the Kent runway, but Wiggins finance director Geoff Lansbury said congestion at existing London terminals was forcing airlines to consider alternatives.
He said the Manston runway was long and wide enough to handle every passenger aircraft operating, as well as the Airbus A380 super-jumbo which will be flying to and from London by 2006.
Wiggins is building a global network of small airports near major centres of population called Planestations. It hopes to acquire up to eight terminals this year.
The company reported a pre-tax loss of £6.8m in the six months to end-September on revenue of just £3.9m. However, analysts expect Wiggins to make a substantial profit for the year as a whole.
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Leaders in Wellness
Nearly three decades on, DMark Beauty and DermAsia continue to lead the way in providing world-class beauty solutions throughout the country.
In today’s highly competitive beauty industry, companies that innovate are the ones that are best primed for success. Here in Asia where countries like Japan and South Korea are running neck to neck when it comes to developing new products to meet the evolving requirements of clients, it pays to be able to bring effective solutions and cutting edge aesthetic technologies to one’s target market.
Over the past two decades, DMark Group of Companies composed of DMark Beauty Corporation and DermAsia has risen high over the competition, bringing in top quality dermatological solutions and methodologies from some of the world’s foremost names in skin care and aesthetic surgery.
According to CEO Nikki Tang, the group’s success has been built upon two key elements: a clear vision of where she and her brother, Managing Director, Charles Mandy, want to steer the companies as well as a highly personal approach to dealing with clients and other stakeholders.
“We are committed to sustaining our market leadership as one of the most innovative distribution companies in the field of beauty and aesthetic dermatology”, Tang explains when asked about the longstanding vision for the company. “Our aim is to revolutionise the Philippine beauty industry by investing in our cosmetic and dermatological portfolio. We make sure that the products we bring in are backed by state-of-the-art technology, the latest in scientific research and proven clinical safety.”
Throughout its history, DMark Beauty have brought in numerous global skincare lines which offer products that address different skin problems, each one delivering on the promise of healthy, beautiful skin at any age.
Among the innovations the brands have introduced over the past couple of years are a two –serum regimen from Endocare that helps strengthen the skin barrier against environmental contaminants; revivifying probiotic skin care from American dermatological brand Glowbiotics MD, daily care solutions from Bioderma and restorative hair growth modalities developed by Regenera.
In terms of aesthetic technologies, DermAsia offer high - precision Alma – Q lasers as an aid for skin remodeling and the removal of pigmented lesions and other blemishes, as well as skin imaging technology by Foto Finder.
But even innovative companies have not been spared by the ravages of the ongoing pandemic. Over the past year, Tang and her team have had to make significant adjustments to their core business. Fortunately, the beautypreneur had the foresight to introduce the necessary measures.
“It pays to be flexible these days,” she explains. “We have chosen to be open to controlling costs. We have also pivoted to digital technology to improve our brand visibility.”
This approach involves using the most practical means to stay relevant and well ahead of the competition. But if there is anything that hasn’t changed where DMark Beauty and DermAsia are concerned, it’s the way they continue to take a personal approach when dealing with both supplier and clients. For Tang, it’s the best way to strengthen working relationships and to stay abreast of a constantly evolving industry.


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Potato based foods as effective as sports supplements for female athletes
MISSOULA - Endurance athletes are attracted towards commercial nutrition products to reach target of victory even if they are expensive.Researchers at University of Montana have discovered that common "edge," sports nutrition products, are no more effective at promoting recovery in female athletes as regular, carbohydrate-rich, often less-expensive potato-based foods.The study has...
MISSOULA - Endurance athletes are attracted towards commercial nutrition products to reach target of victory even if they are expensive.
Researchers at University of Montana have discovered that common "edge," sports nutrition products, are no more effective at promoting recovery in female athletes as regular, carbohydrate-rich, often less-expensive potato-based foods.The study has been published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology.
"Athletes are vulnerable to strategic marketing. We are easily swayed," said UM Research Professor Brent Ruby, a veteran endurance athlete who knows all too well the allure of sports powders and gels.
As director of UM's Montana Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism, Ruby and his team have done extensive work in the field of athletic performance and examining the role that post-exercise carbohydrate nutrition plays in the replenishing of spent muscle mass. The center's 2015 study that showed a McDonald's Happy Meal is just as effective for exercise recovery as commercial nutrition products garnered national attention.
Again, always the edge.
The difference in the latest study is the inclusion and focus on female recreational athletes.
"There's been a great deal of research into what sets the stage for muscle recovery after exercise," Ruby said. "But women have been poorly represented in these studies. It is common to only study men and then make broad recommendations, which is wrong."
With funding from the Alliance for Potato Research & Education, Ruby's team established and employed a study similar to the McDonald's research, this time looking at muscle recovery between male and female recreational athletes using potato products and sports supplements.
Eight men and eight women participated in the study, which involved 90 minutes of intense cycling followed by rest, recovery and refueling and a 20-kilometer time trial. After a lot of sweat was spent, blood drawn and muscles biopsied, the results showed that muscles in both men and women replenish carbohydrate stores similarly - and just as well with regular foods as with sports supplements.
These new results will help female athletes, as well as male, make better-informed choices about their refueling programs.
Ruby said"Endurance athletes love to talk about how hard they train and how special their diet is," "But we need to take a deep breath. It doesn't have to be complicated. As long as you are getting adequate carbohydrates, your diet can be as diverse as you want it to be."
For further reference log on to:
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: firstname.lastname@example.org. Contact no. 011-43720751


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Holistic Pet Source’s inventory, customer and vendor contracts will be integrated into ASC’s east region effective immediately.
Einstein Pets announced its partnership with PupScouts.Org, an international organization dedicated to raising money and awareness for dog charity organizations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), six cats in Idaho tested positive for plague after symptoms including fever and enlarged lymph nodes.
For the first time, an Italian delegation organized by Zoomark International took part in the China International Pet Show (CIPS) held in Guangzhou this past November.
BuddyRest has acquired the PetNV brand from Envision, Inc.
The conference will gather the industry’s top executives for a unique opportunity to network, discover service providers and attend educational presentations covering a wide variety of issues affecting the pet care market.
Offering new distribution channels and entry into new product segments, the add-on will further advance Outward Hound’s mission to improve the lives of pet parents.
Gina S. from Maryland and her Newfoundland, Oliver, are the grand prize winners of the Petmate and MuttNation Fueled by Miranda Lambert Spotlight Sweepstakes.
K. Sutherland PR has been selected as the agency of record for Planet Dog, hired to manage and execute all aspects of the brand’s media and public relations strategies.
In consideration of recent changes and the future direction and focus of the company, it has determined that this change in its corporate identity will reinforce the primary purpose of the company, to support the health of animals through balanced and wholesome ingredients.
GAMMA2, Inc. launched VittlesVault.com, a new website to serve the manufacturer’s end customers.
Ruffwear has been named one of Outside Magazine’s 100 Best Places to Work.
PetSafe is shedding light on why cats are convinced their owners have ulterior motives for scooping their poo in a new digital campaign to promote once of its self-cleaning litter boxes.
With the tagline “Saving the Environment One Dog at a Time,” Chicago-based pet food newcomer BareItAll Petfoods offers an all-natural, nutrition-packed pet snack.
PetLondon will serve retailers within but not limited to the UK, France, Finland, Japan and Iceland.
Three staff members from the American Pet Products Association (APPA) have earned certifications from the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).
According to the World Pet Association, more than 6,500 guests visited the fourth annual Aquatic Experience - Chicago, a 75 percent increase in attendance over the show’s first four years.
PetSmart Charities Inc. is expanding its mission to help the “people behind the pets” and “connect people and pets” by focusing on strategic grant making. The
Following a period of unprecedented growth in the U.S. market, the board at CASCO Pet has voted to invest in and expand its U.S. business significantly.
Pet Sitters International has been named a recipient of a 2016 Torch Award for Ethics, presented by the Better Business Bureau of Northwest North Carolina.


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Thanks to the Turner Broadcasting System and ActMedia, the nation`s leading in-store marketing company, people standing in grocery store checkout lines soon will have something upon which to fasten their attention other than supermarket tabloid headlines.
The two firms last week announced a joint venture called Checkout Channel which will bring television programming to checkout stands in more the 5,000 supermarkets in a month-long rollout early in 1991.
Wayne W. LoCurto, CEO and president of ActMedia, said, ``In aggregate, Checkout Channel will deliver more than 10 million impressions each week.``
Programming for the new television service will originate at Turner`s CNN ``Headline News,`` with additional material drawn from the WTBS Superstation. It will feature news, weather, sports and business and consumer information across 70 percent of the total schedule.
The remaining 30 percent will be available for commercial use and TBS and CNN promotion. LoCurto said costs to advertisers will be comparable to daytime television shows on a cost per thousand basis.
``Consumers say that their least favorite part of shopping is standing in line,`` LoCurto said in a statement. ``Checkout Channel will make waiting in the supermarket line entertaining and informative, as well as make the time in line appear to go more quickly.``
Programming will be relayed to individual supermarkets from TBS headquarters in Atlanta via satellite and ActMedia`s investment will include purchase of 50,000 television sets and other satellite hardware. LoCurto said projected revenue from the service will reach $100 million a year by 1993.
As with commercial network programming, Checkout Channel will target specific demographic groups. The daytime cycle will feature news programming appealing to women, evening will target working singles and couples, and the weekend menu will feature reports on family oriented issues.
Checkout Channel will get a test run from August through October in a dozen stores selected from five of the top 10 supermarket chains, with participation by up to 16 national advertisers.


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Chaleo Yoovidhya, the second richest man in Thailand, died of natural causes in a Bangkok hospital at the age of 89 on Saturday. Chaleo’s claim to fame is the creation of the energy drink Red Bull, known for being the first energy drink to win over consumers across the globe.
According to Forbes, in 2011 Chaleo’s net worth exceeded $5 billion. Not bad for a man born into a poor Sino-Thai family who made their living from duck farming and fruit trading.
Red Bull was founded in 1984 by Chaleo and Austrian marketing genius Dietrich Mateschitz, who had first become aware of the drink while traveling in Asia. In 1987 they started selling Red Bull in Austria and proceeded to take the brand global. Red Bull is now sold in more than 70 countries worldwide.
The pair each owned 49 percent of the company, with Chaleo’s son Chalerm holding the remaining two percent.
His funeral is being preceded by bathing rites, a Thai Buddhist tradition before cremation, sponsored by Thailand’s royal family, a high honor for someone not born into the aristocracy.


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Legislation recently reintroduced in the U.S. House would support our national freight mobility network through investments in critical freight infrastructure.
The Freight Infrastructure Reinvestment Act (FIRA) of 2020 supports construction projects that make roads and bridges safer, improve marine terminals facilities, and expand rail and highway tunnels to accommodate increased cargo.
To accomplish this goal, the bill expands the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act and creates a new National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Fund. The fund is supported by a 1 percent fee on the shipment of freight cargo.
Grants would be awarded for infrastructure projects that improve the efficiency, capacity, and safety of our freight mobility system.
“Investments in our freight transportation system support our continued economic development by expanding our capacity to transport goods, encouraging competition, and providing job opportunities across the country,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), who reintroduced the bill, said. “Freight infrastructure is critical to our future economic growth and stimulates the demand for goods and services that will ultimately benefit millions of people.”
FIRA has the support of numerous organizations, including the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors.
Smith originally introduced the bill in September 2017.


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Top Tips for Improving Your Cybersecurity Practices
May 24, 2022
We hear about the worst or most high-profile cyber attacks, but the reality is that attacks occur thousands of times a day. These cases don’t make the news partly because they are smaller in scale but mainly because it would take endless stories to cover all of these attacks. As a result, we often underestimate how serious the issue of cyber security has become.
We also fail to understand who the actual targets are. A 2016 study found that 50% of all small businesses were cyberattacked. The following year, that figure rose to 62%. Another 2018 report showed that more than half of all companies attacked by malware were small businesses. Such attacks rarely make the news, but they profoundly impact victims.
Tracking cyberattacks through small businesses
Hackers, like all criminals, look for the easiest and lowest risk targets they can find, which often means small businesses. Companies with limited resources can afford to invest a lot of time, money, and energy into cyber security; the cyber defenses of many small companies are pretty simple.
Sophisticated and motivated hackers have little difficulty circumventing these defenses, meaning that a hacker can attack small businesses almost at will or trap them in massive random attacks.
Minimizing damage is difficult without robust tools, and some small businesses may not even be aware of infections on their networks.
Scarce resources also make responding to an attack a challenge. Detecting and resolving an attack requires technical expertise that many small businesses lack. Customer service may not be possible, resulting in a long-term loss of revenue and reputation.
Cleaning up after an attack is no easier. Expensive information technology may be destroyed, confidential data may be lost, and large sums of money disappear from accounts. Small businesses may face lawsuits, loss of customers, regulatory fines, and other costly sanctions.
When you add up all of these consequences, it’s clear why most small businesses close their doors after a cyberattack. Instead of treating cybersecurity as an isolated IT issue, it should be seen as an existential threat.
An additional risk for small technology companies
Limited cybersecurity is half the reason hackers attack small businesses; the other half is that these businesses are profitable targets despite their size.
Data is the most important asset for any company, even more important than a physical storefront or home office. Losing or destroying data can lead to disaster, and getting it into the wrong hands can have even more severe consequences. Because data is so valuable to small businesses (and everyone else), it is also helpful to hackers.
Any company potentially can be exploited, but some targets are more valuable than others.
For example, small technology companies often collect and process megatons of data. This data can include customer account information, proprietary algorithms, valuable intellectual property, or information about other companies, which have tremendous value, especially in the wrong hands.
Technology companies are somewhat aware of this risk. One study found that 58% of small business executives consider a cyberattack a severe security threat. Broken down by industry, 62% of technology CEOs rated this risk highly. That’s an improvement, but technology companies need to show a greater sense of urgency.
The problem is compounded by the fact that, paradoxically, smaller tech companies may have fewer cyber defenses than companies in other industries. Working quickly and unhurriedly in the technology sector is common, focusing only on maximizing progress towards the most immediate goals. In such an environment, it is easy to neglect cybersecurity. And when cybersecurity is in the spotlight, it’s often about protecting the technology product or customer data, not the company itself.
For all these reasons, technology companies are more likely to be attacked – and suffer more damage. Going out of business is a real risk, but cyber attacks can create severe obstacles to growth even if the situation is not as difficult.
The connection between trust, security, and growth
We must recognize that the frequency and severity of cyber attacks will only increase.
Companies of all stripes embrace digital initiatives as an essential part of their growth strategies. But the same technologies that allow companies to interact seamlessly with consumers – artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data – also present new targets for hackers and new tools to exploit. As the digital landscape evolves, the threat landscape inevitably grows as well.
This is alarming for all companies because consumers are tired of being victimized repeatedly. Most people have already compromised their data, even if they are not directly affected. Disgruntled consumers are rightly tired of being put at risk by companies they patronize, so they will increasingly turn to companies they can trust to keep them safe.
Keeping data secure will be an advantage for those companies that do it well.
Any data breach will erode trust for those who don’t, alienating existing customers and scaring away potential new ones. Companies that don’t protect data may survive the immediate consequences, but they face an uphill battle to regain growth. Instead of a quick death, they face a slow slide towards insolvency. Neither of these options is desirable.
Enabling growth through cybersecurity
We have already found that small companies in technology and other industries have limited funds to invest in cybersecurity. This means that every investment needs to be impactful. Focus on these three pillars to effectively and inexpensively improve your cyber security:
Small businesses are often focused on maximizing value or increasing revenue. Since you already understand your company’s primary asset, take the time to plan security around it. Too often, small businesses try to address cybersecurity in the most general way without focusing on the assets and threats that matter most. Figure out what those assets are, and then focus your efforts on them.
Working in the cloud is the best option for small businesses as it provides a higher level of security at a lower cost. The cloud provider handles patches, updates, and maintenance, ensuring that security risks are dealt with immediately. The cloud is also flexible and scalable in nature, which helps businesses adapt to new threats or changing regulations. Implementing the same capabilities on-premises would be costly.
The only risk of the cloud is when companies are locked into a single cloud ecosystem. The price structure may change, and the quality of service or security may decrease, but data cannot be moved elsewhere because of contractual agreements. When a business moves to the cloud, make sure your assets can be moved between clouds at any time.
Improving cyber security expertise
Cybersecurity is a confusing and complex topic that is constantly evolving. Companies can only keep themselves safe if they are constantly on guard, like animals in the wild. In reality, this means having a cybersecurity expert on your side who understands the threat landscape and existing defenses.
Ideally, such an expert should be on staff, but hiring an in-house cybersecurity expert isn’t easy or cheap. As an alternative, many companies turn to managed security service providers – third parties who manage cyber security for you. These companies can assess current security, make necessary improvements and maintain protection in the face of new and emerging threats. In the best cases, MSPs provide world-class cyber security at a fraction of the cost of new hires, making them the obvious choice for cautious small businesses.
Matching security budget to the level of threats
No company is looking to spend more on cyber security, but isn’t the investment worth it if it keeps the doors open? All companies need to periodically review the size of their security budget in the context of their current threat environment. Best practice recommends allocating at least a few hundred dollars a year per employee. This money goes towards things like email security, MSP services, and possibly remediation technology.
Small business decision-makers should open their wallets, but remember that increased investment does not automatically mean increased security.
As discussed earlier, the most critical and vulnerable assets require the most attention. If you choose to spend more, focus it on the front lines of defense.
One of the many misconceptions in cyber security is that attacks are an all-or-nothing proposition – you either survive, or you don’t. But staying is not the same as getting back to full strength. And for a small business, especially a technology start-up with big ambitions, even a minor setback can have long-term consequences. Instead of planning for recovery, focus all your efforts on avoiding cyberattacks altogether.


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In a press-stopping announcement today CDV Software Entertainment announced that they were the only German publisher with " strong chart positions in both games and software market", ranking number 5 in the games category and number 11 in the distribution of software category. The only other company to rank in the top fifteen in both areas is French publisher Vivendi. CDV Sales Director Stefan Quisdorf, enthralled with this development, said "the outstandingly strong market position in both fields underlines the huge success of CDV Software Entertainment AG on the games and software market."
A second release said something about software for kids, but I originally didn't care enough to make a news story out of it. That was until Steve threatened to throw me back in my cage and beat me with a broom unless I wrote an enthusiastic news story about CDV's agreement with Hortus Soft. to publish a new, exciting line of kids software!!
And finally, CDV announced that the website for their upcoming divine role-playing game, Divine Divinity, is now up and running. For information on the game or to waste time, visit the new site here.
[ed. So where's the exciting news story? Someone get me my broom.]


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Myanmar companies jockey for business in a fast-growing environment05/14/2019 | Soybean Exports, Soybean News
By Joseph L. Murphy, ISA senior communications manager
The Myanmar livestock feed industry is poised for expansion, but experts say U.S. soy will need to establish customer preference before others to fully capitalize on the market.
A three-day trade mission to Myanmar this week revealed an untapped market that, combined with other Southeast markets, could drive demand in a supply heavy U.S. soybean market.
By some estimates, the Myanmar feed industry could experience double-digit growth for the next five to seven years. For U.S. soybean meal to be part of that growth, soy representatives say an understanding of infrastructure and logistics in Myanmar will be key. U.S. representatives will also need to educate owners of feed mills about the quality of U.S. soy.
"If we aren't here someone else will be," Peter Mishek, an Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) consultant and owner of Mishek Inc. & Associates, said after visiting Crystal Diamond Livestock Company's feed mill south of Yangon, Myanmar.
Crystal Diamond is an integrated business native to Myanmar that specializes in feed, poultry, eggs, duck and swine. The company has already experienced growth in its feed industry. Members of the ISA, Nebraska Soybean Board and Kansas Soybean Commission told the company they want to be the preferred supplier of soybean meal for their operations.
The company has two feed mills in Myanmar. One in Mandalay and one in Yangon. Crystal Diamond's Mandalay facility produces 86,000 metric tons (MT) of feed per year. The feed is bagged and transported by the company to farms. The Yangon location produces 240,000 MT of feed per year. The company utilizes modern facilities that have large commodity bulk storage bays and hydraulic assisted truck unloading.
Hla Hla Thein, the owner of Greenfield International Company and the vice chairman of Myanmar Livestock Feed Association, was one of four Myanmar feed mill representatives that attended a meeting with the U.S. trade team while in Myanmar. She owns a 60,000 layer farm and a dairy that produces about 607 gallons of milk per day at a farm near Yangon. She said she would like to purchase soybean meal for her farm but it comes down to logistics.
"We would like to buy our soybean meal directly from the U.S., still we can't buy directly from the U.S. because the problem is logistics and payment," Thein said.
Sunjin, a Korean based company with holdings in Vietnam, Thailand and China, has been operating in Myanmar for seven years. Byung-(Ha)Bruce Lee, CEO and part owner, believes Sunjin will expand in upcoming years.
"The livestock market is growing but still very small," he said. "We (Myanmar) have broiler stock of one million, but if you go to Indonesia, they have 30 million. It's a big difference."
Lee also compared Myanmar to Thailand because both countries have similar populations at 53 million people. Currently, Myanmar produces 3 million metric tons (MMT) feed annually and Thailand produces almost 20 MMT of feed. Sunjin imports 500,000 MT of soybean meal annually from the U.S and South America according to Lee.
"We hope someday that feed production may reach 10 MMT," Lee said. "That is why I came here, because of the opportunity."
Total animal feed demand in Myanmar increased 13-15 percent from 2016 to 2018 due to the rapid growth of the livestock sector. The USDA forecasted that aggregate animal feed demand will increase to 4 MMT in 2020. The growth of the industry that attracted Sunjin to Myanmar is now attracting larger companies.
"The big companies, the big players will eventually integrate and the market here is going to shift very fast," he said. "There is no big investment from the U.S. yet because there are still sanctions in place."
In 2017 the U.S. Treasury Department issued economic sanctions on Burmese security forces and also indicated Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, was guilty of human rights abuses. But Mishek and others believe the sanctions will be lifted soon.
As trade tensions escalate between China and the U.S. countries in Southeast Asia are becoming valuable pieces in a trade puzzle that doesn't include China. The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) has held multiple workshops in the area to educate farmers and feed companies about the benefits of U.S. soy.
Last week, the U.S. raised tariffs to 25% from 10% on $200 billion in Chinese goods. Since the tariff war began last year, USSEC has been conducting a global tour, called Experience Today's U.S. Soy Advantage, to expand markets around the world. The meetings are a part of USSEC's efforts to maintain and further build relationships with U.S. exporters and stakeholders in markets around the world.
"This is an industry that thrives on a clear and transparent market," Timothy Loh, USSEC regional director for Southeast Asia, said in regards to the damage being caused by the China trade war. "When uncertainty creeps into the market, we see restraint. That uncertainty doesn't lend itself well to the type of work we want to do. We want to sell and the U.S has plenty of beans to sell. I hope this process comes to an end soon."
Brazil has experienced a windfall the past year by being the preferred supplier of soybeans to China. But Mishek said all is not rosy for Brazil. He believes they will have difficulties exporting their crop in upcoming years due to the scourge of African Swine Fever on the Chinese pork industry.
"We have a year head start over South American competitors to establish these markets," Mishek said." We need to work to establish these relationships and make deals."
Contact Joseph L. Murphy at email@example.com.
Additional Recommended Articles for this topic:
For media inquiries, permission to republish articles or to request high-res photos, please contact Katie James, ISA Public Relations Manager at firstname.lastname@example.org. © 2020 Iowa Soybean Association. All rights reserved.


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Palantir's Skykit is Really Cool
In a bold move that surprised even the most seasoned tech industry observers, Palantir has announced the release of a new hardware product line called Sky Kit. The tech company, known for its cutting-edge software solutions for government agencies and private corporations, has ventured into the hardware arena with a range of products that promises to change the game in intelligence and operations.
Sky Kit is a self-contained Intelligence Center designed for use in disconnected, adverse, hostile, and extreme environments. It comes with a range of integrated monitors, onboard battery packs that can power the entire unit for days, and a secure storage area for the included devices. The kit also includes satellite communications with commercial and government options available, making it an all-in-one solution for the most demanding mission-critical situations.
What makes Sky Kit truly revolutionary is its integration with Palantir's Meta Constellation software. This innovative software uses AI at the edge, which means that all the data integration and real-time data updates occur on the device itself, rather than relying on a centralized server or a particular cloud that requires an internet connection. This capability makes Sky Kit an invaluable tool for those operating in remote areas or in situations where internet connectivity is unreliable or non-existent.
In addition to its AI at the edge capabilities, Sky Kit also includes commodity sensors and can integrate with other sensor capabilities, enabling users to operationalize their own data. Palantir's AIP software powers the computer vision algorithms deployed on board the devices, which send detections directly to the base station. Sky Kit has a modular design with variants for different use cases, such as the lightweight backpack form factor Sky Kit L or the C and Maritime use-focused Sky Kit S.
Palantir's move into the hardware market is a significant departure from its usual B2B software solutions. The Sky Kit product line is a clear indication that the company is looking to expand its offerings and diversify its revenue streams. With a TAM of $900 billion, Palantir has the potential to capture a significant share of the defense market, which is estimated to be worth $100 billion.
Palantir's move into military hardware is a significant one, and it makes sense given the company's focus on mission-critical use cases. Palantir has already established itself as a major player in the defense industry, with contracts from the U.S. government and other nations. With Skykit, Palantir is now offering a complete solution that includes both hardware and software, which could be very attractive to government customers.
One reason Palantir may be entering the military hardware business is to capitalize on the growing demand for intelligence and operations in extreme environments. As the world becomes more complex and dangerous, there is a greater need for real-time intelligence and operations capabilities that can be deployed quickly and effectively. Palantir's Skykit is designed specifically for these types of environments, with its self-contained Intelligence Center, on-board battery packs, and satellite communications capabilities.
Another reason Palantir may be entering the military hardware business is to protect and operationalize sensitive data. Governments around the world are increasingly concerned about the security of their data, and Palantir's Skykit could provide a solution to this problem. The device comes fully loaded with Palantir's software, including its AIP (Advanced Analytics Platform), which allows users to operationalize their own data. The device also includes commodity sensors and can integrate with other sensor capabilities, making it a versatile tool for intelligence and operations in a variety of environments. Overall, Palantir's move into military hardware could be a smart one, as the company looks to expand its offerings and capitalize on the growing demand for real-time intelligence and operations capabilities.
While the hardware side of the business may present some challenges, Palantir's reputation for delivering cutting-edge technology solutions suggests that the company is well-equipped to meet them. The hardware components of Sky Kit, including a drone, laptop, and sensor device, are all integrated with Palantir's software, making them a cohesive and efficient solution for government agencies and private corporations alike.
In addition to its potential in the defense industry, Sky Kit has broader applications in the commercial space. Palantir's integration of its software and hardware could pave the way for new consumer products, such as a device that accesses and optimizes data points to provide personalized health and nutrition recommendations. The possibilities are endless, and Palantir's move into the hardware market signals a new frontier in intelligence and operations.
Palantir's Sky Kit is an impressive new offering that could change the game in intelligence and operations. With its innovative use of AI at the edge and integration with Palantir's Meta Constellation software, Sky Kit promises to be an invaluable tool for those operating in remote areas or in mission-critical situations. While the hardware side of the business presents some challenges, Palantir's reputation for delivering cutting-edge technology solutions suggests that the company is well-equipped to meet them. Palantir's move into the hardware market signals a new frontier in intelligence and operations, and the possibilities for new consumer products are endless. As the world becomes increasingly disjointed and less globalized, Palantir's Sky Kit could be the solution that governments and private corporations need to stay ahead of the game.
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Massachusetts Driver Faces Murder Charge After He Crashed Through Apple Store Window, Claimed Foot Got Stuck On Accelerator
Apr. 24 2023, Published 11:44 a.m. ET
The man accused of crashing a vehicle into an Apple store in New England pleaded not guilty on new charges, including murder, officials said.
Prosecutors southeast of Boston say Bradley Rein, 53, is now accused of second-degree murder, motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, and 18 counts of aggravated assault and battery.
According to the Springfield Republican, a grand jury indicted Rein on the updated charges in March.
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Before now, Rein was charged with reckless homicide and reckless operation involving a motor vehicle.
New Jersey resident Kevin Bradley was killed when a four-by-four with Rein driving smashed into the mostly-glass front of the Apple Store in Hingham, Massachusetts on Nov. 21, 2022.
At least 22 others were injured, some of them trapped against a store wall by the vehicle.
WFXT-TV reports Hein claims his foot became stuck on the accelerator in the parking lot. He tested clean with a breathalyzer.
Some of the people who survived the crash are suing not only Rein, but Apple and the owners of the Derby Street Shops center where the store is located.
The crash renewed a debate over whether Massachusetts retailers should be required to have barriers in front of their stores as a precaution.
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Original story, March 13, 2019: Yakuza spin-off Judgment has been pulled from shelves in Japan after one of its performers was arrested over allegedly using cocaine.
In a statement, Sega said that "for the time being" it will halt both digital and retail sales of the game while it confirms the facts and decides what how to proceed. The publisher apologies for any inconvenience to its customers and partners.
The decision follows the arrest of Pierre Taki -- who plays a character in Judgment -- as reported by Japanese news site Mainichi, spotted by Kotaku. The 51-year-old actor admitted to using a small amount of cocaine, the penalty for which can be up to seven years in prison.
Authorities searched his car and home last night but, according to Nippon, found no cocaine. However, Taki's urine sample tested positive for cocaine after his arrest.
Judgment was released back in December, with a localised version due to launch in the West this June. GamesIndustry.biz has contacted Sega to find out if these plans have been affected.
Kotaku notes that the publisher has even started deleting tweets about Judgment while it considers its next move.
In addition to his role in Judgment, Taki is also the Japanese voice of Olaf from Disney's Frozen -- a character he most recently played in Kingdom Hearts III. There is currently no word on whether Square Enix is planning a similar cessation of sales.
Update, March 14, 2019: Following Taki's arrest, Square Enix has announced it will be changing the Japanese voice of Olaf in Kingdom Hearts III from Taki's voice to that of another actor, which will be done via a future update to the game.
Additional reporting by Rebekah Valentine.


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Starting next season, Puma will be in charge of alternating the colour of Man City’s shorts every year after agreeing a huge deal to supply the club with their kit.
The deal is said to be worth £600million over 10 years, which puts it roughly on par with the £60million-per-year deal Chelsea have with Nike.
Indeed, as far as the Premier League is concerned, the only kit supply deal that will eclipse City’s new terms is the £75million-a-year partnership that Adidas have with Manchester United.
By spending big on a rising footballing super power, Puma are apparently hoping to break the duopoly that Nike and Adidas currently have when it comes to the global sportswear market.
In fact, Puma will be pinching the City account from Nike, who are in the final year of a six-year contract at the Etihad worth roughly £20million per annum.
However, according to the Financial Times, there’s a chance Puma won’t end up paying the full amount, as some of it is dependant of performance-related clauses, such as City winning the Champions League, etc.
A solid start would be to never, ever furnish any football club with anything as horrid and flimsy as the 2018/19 Arsenal home strip.
Food for thought.


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Diageo Philippines recently announced the launch of an exciting new regional responsible drinking campaign in Asia Pacific (APAC) with SUHO of K-pop boy group EXO to promote responsible and moderate alcohol consumption. The campaign kicked off in South Korea and will run in the Philippines.
“At Diageo, we are dedicated to promoting moderation and investing in programmes that encourage responsible alcohol consumption. This groundbreaking campaign with SUHO enables us to tap into the growing influence of K-Culture, engaging adult consumers across Asia Pacific in a creative way to make more mindful choices and embrace moderation,” said Wilson Del Socorro, Corporate Relations Director, Asia Pacific.
The ‘Enjoy the Flow, Savour Every Moment’ campaign will feature an original song recorded by SUHO, a music video, and behind-the-scenes footage that emphasizes the importance of savoring each moment and enjoying alcohol in moderation. The track blends familiar sounds from a bar, such as glasses clinking, with sounds of nature and flowing water to produce multiple layers of music. The accompanying lyrics include messages like “take it easy”, “slow down”, and “savour every moment” to remind listeners to drink slow and pace themselves with water. The song, music video, and behind-the-scenes video will be shared across select Diageo social platforms as well as EXO’s social channels.
SUHO, a renowned South Korean singer-songwriter, and actor who leads the group EXO, brings his own unique perspective to the campaign. SUHO, with his superpower ‘water’ in the EXO universe, is expected to align well with one of the key messages of the campaign – that staying hydrated by drinking water regularly is an important way to encourage moderation.
On the campaign, SUHO said, “I’m happy to participate in a purposeful campaign, where I can share meaningful messages for a good cause. Occasionally when I do have a drink, I make sure to drink in moderation. I really like how we’ve weaved into the song and music video messaging around pacing yourself, savouring the moment and not losing yourself.”
In line with other responsible drinking campaigns, this new activation will direct consumers to DRINKiQ.com, a dedicated, responsible drinking website available in 16 languages and 35 country sites. DRINKiQ shares valuable information, practical advice on alcohol consumption, and a range of resources to encourage moderate drinking. During the campaign, the site will spotlight a letter from SUHO on the importance of moderation and practical tips such as pacing drinks with water and enjoying beverages with food.
Diageo is committed to transforming global drinking habits for the better, promoting moderation, and addressing the harmful use of alcohol. This commitment is integral to Diageo’s 10-year sustainability plan, Society 2030: Spirit of Progress that aims to educate consumers on facts about alcohol and reach one billion people with moderation messages by 2030.
Learning more about DrinkIQ, you can visit www.drinkiq.com/en-ph/savour.


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Last fall, Chipotle Mexican Grill began testing a point-based system of rewards called 'Chipotle Rewards,' in an effort to make the brand more digitally innovative as well as accessible. The results are so positive that the company is now expanding its loyalty program nationwide, as its digital sales grew 66% in Q4 of 2018 accounting for nearly 13% of overall sales.
The rewards systems needs customers to enroll via the website or app, receiving 10 points for each dollar spent. Upon reaching 1,250 points, customers earn a free entrée. First time users will also earn free chips and guacamole and can accrue rewards online, in store or on the app.
As digital sales grew, the company deemed it fit to collaborate with Venmo, a digital wallet company, depositing surprise amounts of $1 to $500 in fan’s accounts through March 15. This will make Chipotle the first ever company whose presence will pop up in another company’s website or app, thereby sharing the payments. Phone numbers registered with Venmo account can be used to log in at ChipotleRewardMe.com.
Under the current CEO’s guidance, digital innovation has remained the company’s top priority. It has now dedicated kitchens for online orders with the app and delivery drivers so that customers receive their orders in the fastest time. It has also installed new pickup shelves for digital orders.
With customers increasingly going online these days, just having an app is not enough. The digital platform has much to be explored and Chipotle seems to be on the right track. According to the Wall Street Journal, Chipotle’s stock in 2018 had its best year since 2013 and is up more than 40% this year.


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A Southern Arizona pecan farmer says he's had enough of the Trump administration's trade conflict and wants it stopped immediately.
Dick Walden, who operates Green Valley Pecan Company in Sahuarita, cited China's tariffs on U.S.-grown pecans, walnuts, almonds and pistachios. China's move was a response to U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made products. Walden said his pecan inventory is stacking up in cold storage because of the tariffs.
He believes the federal government should stop unilateral tariff imposition and start negotiations.
"In terms of Arizona and California, it's affecting the tree-nut industry. In terms of the Midwest, it's affecting corn and soybean farmers, pork producers," Walden said.
Green Valley Pecan Company promotes itself as one of the world's premier suppliers of fresh pecans.
Walden attended a meeting of farmers discussing the tariffs' impact this week. He said the tariff duty on pecans has risen from 7 percent to 47 percent in the past three months.


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Compulsory Licensing and Healthcare Patents
Legislators in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America are currently focused on regulators, respirators, and masks. These devices are critical in the fight for life that millions are facing at this moment. However, these are not the only devices affected by the crisis. Indeed, the production of everything from MRI machines and bedpans to pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments has ground to a halt around the globe. Thus, all medical patent holders should be aware that legislatures could grant compulsory licenses on their patents for the duration of the crisis.
Article 31 of the original TRIPS agreement allows the production of generic copies of pharmaceuticals and other products so long as they are used within the domestic market. The agreement explicitly prohibits the export of these products. And, it’s that provision that did not foresee problems such as the current pandemic. Presently, as production within one country is able to restart, another country that desperately needs certain products remains shut down.
Source: Global Patent Solution


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Following the July 15 appointment of Fiona Pargeter as head of diversity and inclusion at Chanel, Gucci on Tuesday announced that it has filled a similar position. Announced five months ago as part of a larger diversity and inclusion initiative, the position of global head of diversity, equity and inclusion at Gucci has been filled by Renée Tirado.
An attorney, Tirado previously served as the chief diversity and inclusion officer at Major League Baseball and in similar roles at global finance and insurance corporation AIG and the United States Tennis Association. In the new role at Gucci, she will hire a global team to develop and execute plans “to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace and increase workforce diversity as it relates to Gucci’s business initiatives,” according to a brand statement.
Tirado will join the Gucci Changemakers Council (committed to social change in communities through scholarships and a $5 million fund to aid communities of color), the advisory board of Chime for Change (created by Gucci in 2013 to advocate for gender equality worldwide) and other company initiatives that support the LGBTQIA community and inclusivity efforts. She also will lead Gucci’s culture awareness learning program for employees, global multicultural design fellowship program and internal global exchange program.
Gucci faced backlash in the past year for culturally insensitive or racist products, including “blackface” balaclava sweaters that were pulled from stores in February and an “Indy full turban” resembling a Sikh headdress that debuted at Milan Fashion Week in February. Other luxury brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Burberry faced similar criticism over products and campaigns. Chanel, Prada and Burberry have all introduced diversity initiatives.
“Since 2015, [Gucci creative director] Alessandro [Michele] and I have worked to put culture — self-expression and inclusivity — at the center of what we do,” Gucci president and CEO Marco Bizzarri said in a statement. “This appointment is a fundamental building block to further our commitment and support the initiatives already in place. As a learning organization, we have challenged ourselves over the last few months to accelerate our vision to develop a strong organization. I am confident that Renée will help us create the meaningful change we want to see not only in our company but in the fashion industry … Renée believes that diversity and equity should be a daily way of being.”
Noting that Gucci stands out as a leader in the fashion industry on diversity and inclusivity with its “breadth of initiatives,” Tirado said: “I am in the business of making human connections that start with the foundation of inclusivity, respect, and diversity to ensure Gucci remains culturally relevant and economically competitive. I am honored to join a company that puts these non-negotiable values at the forefront of their business model, not as a ‘nice to have’ but as a key component of its business strategy.”
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Continuing its tradition to bring the latest flagship features, Vivo is all ready to launch its another Y-series smartphone. This time, Vivo Y17 is in the pipeline. Now, Vivo Y17 Leak Shows 20MP Selfie Camera and 5,000 mAh Battery. The phone is expected to launch by the end of this month.
Vivo Y17 Leak Suggests 4GB RAM
The smartphone will have the same design language as of previous Y series smartphones like the Y91. It will have a waterdrop notch display on the front with a multi-camera system on the back. Moreover, there will also be a fingerprint scanner at the back as well.
The Y17 will have 4GB RAM and 128GB storage. Moreover, it will also have a 5,000 mAh battery. It will feature a 20MP selfie camera. However, we are not sure about the camera set up yet. Moreover, the previous leak suggests the Vivo Y17 will be powered by Helio P35 SoC and built around a 6.35-inch screen. An exact date of its launch is currently unavailable.
Let’s see when Vivo will launch this smartphone. Till then, stay tuned for more updates.


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US Foodtech Startup C3 Expands into KSA with $100M Joint Venture
After securing a joint venture with WK Holding, American food tech startup C3 is expanding into Saudi Arabia.
U.S.-based foodtech startup Creating Culinary Communities, a company frequently referred to as C3, is expanding into Saudi Arabia. Through a new joint venture valued at $100 million with Saudi investment firm WK Holding, the stakes will be split with C3 holding 49 percent, and WK Holding having a controlling 51 percent.
Launched in 2019 by Sam Nazarian, C3 currently cooks its operations in 250 food locations and hopes to more than double the number to 550 outlets by 2026. A division of WK Holding, Smart Food Holding, will be funding C3’s expansion into Saudi Arabia in its entirety, with the first outlet set to launch in Riyadh early next year.
WK Holding’s Founder and CEO Layla Abuzaid was upbeat in the wake of the announcement, saying that “C3’s expansion throughout Saudi Arabia will democratise haute cuisine by owning the food tech space in the region and we will assemble a best-in-class hospitality hub in the Kingdom for the region, and for the world.”
“We will unlock local talents, celebrate our vibrant culinary culture, and export globally,” she added.
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Avanti Feeds stock has a good rating on a year-on-year basis (YoY) basis, dropping by 31%, the firms lowest level in 15 weeks . Avanti Feeds reported a total revenue of Rs 1,247.2 crore (Rs 12,472 million) for the quarter ended September 2022 .
Avanti Feeds' share price has fallen sharply on the bourses.Avanti Feeds' stock has a good rating on a year-on-year basis (YoY) basis, dropping by 31%, the firm's lowest level in 15 weeks.Poor quarterly results Avanti Feeds reported a total revenue of Rs 1,247.2 crore (Rs 12,472 million) for the quarter ended September 2022.This is 15 percent lower than the June 2022 period.The same period's net income came in at Rs 665 million (m), which is 10 percent lower than the previous year's results.In 2021 and early 2022, there was a rise in shrimp demand from the United States and Europe.However, recently, the demand has plummeted.Until recently, China was a major shrimp importer.However, the enactment of new lockdowns has stifled the demand. The price of 50 counts of shrimp has decreased to Rs 270.In the month before, it was Rs 360.The price for 60 counts of shrimp has fallen to Rs 250 per kilo, down from Rs 345 the previous month.Traders also bought products at low prices, indicating that the decrease in exports has also impacted the aquaculture industry.The company's revenue has also been affected by a drop in demand as a result of a higher cost of production, low demand, and a decrease in demand. The company has also suffered a market decline due to a delay in commissioning its new feed plant in Andhra Pradesh.Industry analysts also agree that if the state governments intervention in feed prices continues, the same effect could have on profits.This has dampened optimism and made the company's near-term future uncertain.Nonetheless, this is not the first time it has been attempted Avanti Feeds' shares fell by 20-25% in 2018, the country's largest shrimp feed maker's worst annual decline since it was listed in 2011, according to Bloomberg results. Avanti Feeds was able to profit from the escalating demand for seafood products and the government's emphasis on seafood exports.Will history repeat itself?Will Avanti Feeds become one of the multibagger stocks in 2023?We will have to wait for the future.About Avanti FeedsAvanti Feeds is an Indian firm specializing in the production of prawn and fish feeds as well as a shrimp processing. The shrimp feed segment generates the most revenue.Its most income comes from India, and it has a presence in the United States and the rest of the world.Its food includes prawn feed, scampi feed, and fish feed.Avanti Feeds declared a 625 percent dividend per share for March 2022 (roughly Rs 6.2 per share) (A disclaimer:.)