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Seattle's Best Coffee opens 10 DFW area drive-throughs
Seattle's Best Coffee LLC is launching its new drive-through concept with Monday's opening of 10 locations across the Dallas area. The locations are the first Seattle’s Best Coffee shops in North Texas.
The company, which is a featured brand of Starbucks Corp., has 65 café-style locations across the nation, but chose Dallas to launch the new commuter concept.
"We know Dallasites eat out 70 percent more than the average, and it also has the highest number of commuters," said Frank Sica, vice president and general manager of Seattle’s Best. "So we felt like this was the perfect market."
The 10 shops will feature coffee drinks and what the company is calling "dashboard friendly foods," as well as 12 combos. The company, which has been serving coffee for about 43 years, is hoping to create a new "coffee culture" with a concept that aims to marry speed and quality.
The drive-through shops, which are modeled after a Seattle prototype that launched in November, are in Lancaster, Burleson, Dallas, Rockwall, McKinney and Fort Worth.
Sica said the move is part of bigger expansion plans, the details of which will be released at a later time.
"This is a historic day," he said. "We believe this is the beginning of a new chapter."
Seattle’s Best Coffee drive-throughs are located at:
- 971 S.W. Wilshire Blvd., Burleson
- 160 N. I-35 E., Lancaster
- Love Field – 3036 W. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas
- 3560 Frankford Road, Dallas
- 7441 McCart Ave., Fort Worth
- 1658 W. University Drive, McKinney
- 778 E. I-30, Rockwall
- 4525 N. Tarrant Parkway, Fort Worth
- 6057 Skillman St., Dallas
- 3233 W. Wheatland Road, Dallas
Danielle covers technology, retail, restaurants and hospitality for the Dallas Business Journal. Subscribe to our new TechFlash email newsletter.
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Lithuanian fast-growing robotics industry
The global robotics industry is expected to grow by 114%, i.e. double over the next five years
- December 12, 2018 09:30
- Olya Georgieva
Lithuania is a small country often overlooked by foreign firms, but lately there are more and more reasons for robotics companies to invest in Lithuania. The global robotics industry is expected to grow by 114%, i.e. double over the next five years. And Lithuania is not planning on staying behind. There is an increasing number of companies in Lithuania realizing that there is no tomorrow without robotics, that without robotics they will be unable to compete with other market players.
Lithuania is geared to perform at any stage of the robotic technology development process - not only solutions relevant to industry or business, but also smart consumer products. The country’s science and business cooperation promotes the commercialization of scientific knowledge, and its adaptation to business needs. According to specialists, innovative products offered by Lithuanian developers keep up with the global trends and are able to keep pace with the fourth industrial revolution.
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The Top Fast-Food Chain in New Jersey May Surprise You
They dot the landscape throughout our state. Fast-food joints are everywhere. The web site stacker.com recently put out a list of the top 20 fast-food restaurants. All the names we've come to know through the years are on the list. However, you may be surprised by where they landed on the list.
They say everything happens for a reason. Tom Carvel started his ice cream empire in 1929 as the owner of an ice cream truck. One day, his truck had a flat tire and he had to sell from a set location for a few days. It turned out to be a success, he decided to stay. At its peak, Carvel had almost 900 locations nationwide. Today Carvel still has around 400 locations nationally, and you can buy Fudgie the Whale, Cookie Puss, and the Hug Me the Bear Cake at thousands of supermarkets. Here in New Jersey, they have about 49 locations.
Harlan Sanders opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise restaurant in Salt Lake City in 1952. Through the years the chain grew dramatically, and Sanders sold the company in 1964. Sanders remained the face of the company for years. The KFC brand has changed hands several times, and today has about 62 locations in New Jersey.
#8 Taco Bell
Taco Bell was born out of a California hot dog stand in 1948. Glen Bell, who owned that hot dog stand, saw the long lines at the taco stand across the street, and was inspired to open his own taco restaurant. The first Taco Bell was opened in 1962 and the first franchise was opened 2 years later. Today, Taco Bell has roughly 7,000 locations, including about 104 here in Jersey.
The top fast-food chain in New Jersey according to the stacker report is Dunkin. Talk about changes. At one time, donuts were made on location daily at each restaurant. The phrase, "It's time to make the donuts..." became a part of a massive tv campaign. Several years ago, the company announced that as people were becoming more health conscience, they were going to redirect their focus toward drinks (coffee). They also shortened their name to take the emphasis off donuts. Today they have approximately 885 locations in New Jersey.
You can find the complete list at stacker.com


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KALAMAZOO — An icon of family entertainment since the 1990s is closing its doors in Kalamazoo.
Blockbuster Video is closing both its remaining area movie, DVD and video game rental stores, one on 5063 W. Main St. and the other at 4308 S. Westnedge Ave.
The final day of business at both locations will be Feb. 19, according to information provided by the corporate office in Texas, where Kalamazoo-based employees directed the Gazette.
"These closures are based on store performance and lease agreements. Unfortunately, these stores are being closed for one of these reasons," said a company spokesperson, contacted by telephone at Blockbuster's customer care office in McKinney, Texas. He would only provide his first name, Mike.
The familiar yellow-and-blue signs were once ubiquitous across the country. But in recent years, the company has struggled to catch up to competing movie and media rental operations such as Netflix and Redbox.
Dish Network, which purchased the
company in 2011 in a bankruptcy auction, announced it would close 960 stores nationwide. A
Gull Road location had already closed and four locations were closed in the Grand rapids area this past spring.
Kalamazoo residents looking to rent videos locally still have some choices, including the Video Hits and Family Video locations, and Redbox and Blockbuster automated retail kiosks.
"There's us and there are two Family Videos that are left," said Nolan LaPorte, store manager of Video Hits at 2620 W. Michigan. "We're the only ones left near campus."
The store offers new releases for $2 for the first 30 days after release.
"All our older movies are two for $1," said LaPorte.
He said the business offers anime, classic, independent and foreign films as well as wide releases.
But as streaming movies and TV shows gains in popularity, there's no question it's a difficult environment for a brick-and-mortar store.
"We're doing the best we can — we're hanging in there," said LaPorte. "It is tough, the way technology is nowadays."
Contact Yvonne Zipp at email@example.com or 269-388-2737.


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There have been several developments in recent years that makes WWE programming even more enjoyable. From the usage of top-notch high definition cameras to the invention of the WWE Network, WWE should be applauded for all of the technological advancements in the past few years.
Now it looks like WWE is on the brink of something else and it could result in exciting happenings and new fan experiences. After all, virtual reality isn’t what it used to be either as the technology has gotten even bigger and more important over the years. Many companies use VR capabilities at this point and WWE obviously sees the value in this.
Just imagine a day where it didn’t matter where you lived in the world, all you had to do was buy a VR ticket and a stationary virtual reality camera in the stadium or arena could be your gateway to enjoying any event first hand. After the show is over, you wouldn’t have to worry about parking either because all you’d have to do is take off your headset. The concession stands would be much more price efficient as well if you got to use your own kitchen.
In an exciting announcement, WWE is partnering up with NXTVR to bring fans even closer to the action. The possibilities are endless at this point and if WWE gets ahead of the game, we could be seeing an announcement made for WrestleMania which includes in-stadium attendance along with virtual attendance as well as a separate number.
The future is bright, but depending on who you ask in WWE (especially NXT) the future is now.
NextVR and WWE Bring Fans Closer to the Action with Virtual Reality
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. & STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– NextVR, the leader in broadcasting live events in virtual reality, and WWE today announced a new partnership to bring fans unique WWE experiences in virtual reality, featuring highlights from select 2018 WWE special events.
The virtual reality experiences will be approximately 10 minutes in length and available for free to fans globally on a new WWE channel within the NextVR app following each event. The content will provide fans with a completely new experience, featuring highlights from WWE’s biggest events including the excitement of the fans, athleticism of WWE’s larger-than-life Superstars, pivotal moments, epic showdowns and surprise appearances, giving them the opportunity to see the action as if they were there live.
“WWE is amazing in VR, and we know fans are going to love it,” said David Cole, NextVR CEO. “Our patented VR broadcasting pipeline will bring fans ringside with WWE Superstars to experience the electrifying energy and spectacle firsthand.”
“We are always looking to create compelling content across platforms, and we are excited to partner with NextVR to bring our fans closer to the action than ever before,” said Michelle Wilson, WWE Chief Revenue & Marketing Officer. “As the technology behind virtual reality continues to evolve, this is a unique opportunity for us to partner with NextVR, a leader in this space, to provide new experiences to our passionate fans around the world.”
For each production, NextVR will work alongside WWE’s award-winning TV and production team to position NextVR’s custom virtual reality cameras throughout each event to capture the most immersive views of WWE action.
Fans with a Samsung GearVR headset or Google Daydream View, along with a compatible smartphone, PlayStation VR, or Windows Mixed Reality can download the free NextVR app from the corresponding platform store to access the free highlights.


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A HELENSBURGH man whose early ventures included delivering newspapers and selling clothes has been one of the most successful business innovators in the United States of the past thirty years.
Former Hermitage Primary and Academy pupil Richard Tait, who is 54, is a partner in Chicago-based Valor Siren Ventures.
The company, which works in partnership with the multi-national coffee house chain Starbucks, strives to be the leading innovation engine and market maker in early-stage food, food technology, agriculture and retail technology investing.
It aspires to create value by generating investment opportunities, applying the intellectual capital of Starbucks and Valor, and accelerating the growth of portfolio companies.
Millionaire Richard is just the man to pursue this aspiration, having been Microsoft employee of the year in 1994, then creating one of the world’s leading game companies, Cranium.
Cranium sold more than 20 million games across the globe before it was acquired by Hasbro in 2008 for $77.5m.
“I love being an entrepreneur and have done it since I was a young boy,” he told the Trust for a profile in 2006.
“I love consumer brands, building great teams, and the opportunity to establish an emotional connection with a consumer and drive differentiation in the marketplace.”
Richard was born in Broughty Ferry near Dundee, and the family moved to Helensburgh where he grew up.
He considers the town to be home, has happy memories of his Hermitage schooldays and playing football, and still keeps in touch with friends from his schooldays.
“I had a paper round and worked in Stewarts of Helensburgh in West Princes Street during the summer where I think I fine-tuned my selling skills!” he said.
“While I was at the Academy I developed a keen interest in computers, and I went to Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh and graduated with an honours degree in computer science.
“I wanted to go to business school but was too young to do that in Britain, so I headed to America. At the age of 21 I went to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school in New Hampshire, where I graduated Master of Business Administration.
“I wanted to work for Apple Computers, but they would not interview me because I did not have a green card. Instead I was recruited by Microsoft in 1988 and I joined the company when there were only 2,400 employees.
“I was there for ten amazing years, and I was even employee of the year in 1994 when there were 34,000 employees.”
He drove innovation and started more than a dozen businesses for the company. He began in operating systems and pioneered client server computing, then helped build Microsoft’s first value added reseller channel on Windows NT, called the Solution Provider Network.
Richard moved on to drive Microsoft’s multimedia reference business with products like Encarta and Bookshelf. His final assignment was pioneering the early consumer internet initiatives, launching more than five businesses in four years.
He focused on building teams and recruiting talent to Microsoft — including the chief executive officer since 2014, Satya Nadella.
Remarkably after achieving such success in one of the world’s most famous companies, he left in 1998 without knowing what to do next.
On a rainy weekend away with his wife Karen and another couple they won one game and their friends another, and it led Richard to think “Why isn’t there a game in which everyone can shine?”
From that came the idea for the Cranium game — and it led to five U.S. Toy Industry Association game-of-the-year awards.
“I set off to create a different type of entertainment company, one that gives everyone the chance to shine. We sold over 20 million games in 30 countries and 10 languages,” Richard said.
He served on the Board of Directors for the Toy Industry as Cranium pioneered new channels of distribution and demonstrated breakthrough product development with multiple award-winning games.
After selling Cranium he created BoomBoomBrands in 2008, of which he is still the chief executive, designed to foster creativity, and provide a safe place for great ideas without corporate critique, and give them the chance to shine and thrive.
“BoomBoom has been not only a place but also a persona for me,” he said. “We embrace the energy and disruption of break-through thinking, the courage to challenge the norms and find a different way, and to maintain a sense of collaboration and fun that is so important when as pioneers you are faced with so many setbacks, and resilience and a pioneering spirit becomes the determining factor for success.
“Hope and fun, the belief that you can do it, that BoomBoom moment — that is what we have tried to create.
“Recently I became the first Entrapeneur in Residence and first Chief BoomBoom at Starbucks, helping to accelerate innovation and support the new CEO lead with Trust Transparency and Teamwork as we pushed to a new phase in Starbucks history.”
Next he set up Golazo, a beverage company selling in Whole Foods and other retailers on the American west coast. Golazo means super goal in Spanish football speech.
He is a board member of Washington-based Aegis Living, a leader in the senior living industry. It provides care and advocacy for community members and their families suffering with dementia, an area his family has a personal connection with.
He said: “I have been inspired and humbled by both their business growth and the impact that they have had on their communities and on those that serve and support their guests. It is a truly remarkable company and culture.
“As more is known about the impact that technology, nutrition, activity and games make to elongate and enrich the lives of our most cherished seniors, it is my privilege to help the Aegis team be the highest quality and most dedicated to ensuring a community and care for the family members we love.”
Richard has also been a mentor at the Michael G.Foster School of Business at Washington University since 2008.
“I have mentored more than 150 students, and I am sure that I have learned just as much from them as they have learned from me,” he said.
He was inducted into the Entrepreneurial Exchange Hall of Fame in Scotland at Gleneagles in 2013. That same year he was presented with an honorary degree from his old university, Heriot-Watt, for his outstanding and innovative contribution to the advancement of business leadership and entrepreneurship.
He is also a member of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization Hall of Fame in the U.S.
Richard, who once climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and his wife have three children, twin girls Remy and Finn, and son Deacon — named after Scottish band Deacon Blue.
His 86 year-old father Tom, who was chief executive of the former Polaroid factory in the Vale of Leven, and his 84 year-old wife Kathleen still live in the burgh. She was admitted to Northwood House Care Home in the summer.
They featured in the Scottish Daily Mail in December 2020 as they are among the first to benefit from rapid Covid-19 testing which will allow them to reunite safely, having been forced to meet outside and use PPE.
Mr Tait hopes that lateral flow tests, which provide results within 30 minutes of him taking a nose swab, will allow close to normal visits with his wife. The home is taking part in a newly-launched Scottish trial scheme which aims to provide an extra layer of protection alongside PPE.
“I am happy to participate in this pilot in the hope that we get to the point where we can spend more time together,” he said.


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The corporate has confirmed as a lot in a tweet and on its forum, including that aside from Google’s personal merchandise the OnePlus 8T would be the first “international smartphone” to launch with Android 11.
In fact, this isn’t inventory Android 11. Quite, the OnePlus 8T will run OxygenOS 11, which is OnePlus’s personal customization of the working system.
Shock! The #OnePlus8T runs #OxygenOS11 out of the field 🎁September 29, 2020
The corporate claims that it features a new format that strikes the contact controls nearer to your thumbs, plus improved one-handed gestures and a spread of always-on show choices. There’s additionally numerous speak about making the consumer expertise intuitive, refined, and customized.
This isn’t the primary element that OnePlus has shared in regards to the OnePlus 8T. We already know the telephone has a 6.55-inch 120Hz screen with 91.9% screen-to-body ratio, plus a 4,500mAh battery with 65W charging, and that there won’t be a OnePlus 8T Pro.
The corporate has a behavior of unveiling many points of its telephones earlier than the official launch, however with that launch being on October 14 – which remains to be weeks away on the time of writing – there won’t be a lot left to disclose on the day if OnePlus retains this up.
TechRadar will make sure to carry you all of the OnePlus 8T bulletins as they occur – whether or not on the official launch day or earlier than, so keep tuned for updates.


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PRIME hosted the Chief Minister’s E-Championship Conclave 2021 in Shillong a few days back, which marked the Graduation Ceremony of the Cohort 1 Entrepreneurs of 2020 and the On-boarding of the Cohort 2 Entrepreneurs of 2021.
While Smt. Catherine Dohling founder of The North East Store and one of the Top-50 Entrepreneurs of PRIME Cohort 1, gave the welcome note, Dr. Subhrangshu Sanyal, CEO, IIMCIP, enlightened the guests and the audience on how the incubation support will benefit the budding entrepreneurs of the state. Thereafter, Shri. Flo Oberhofer, Program Head of PRIME Startup Hub, explained the PRIME incubation process, and Shri. Gaurav Kapoor, CBDO, IIMCIP, nudged the entrepreneurs of both cohort 1 and 2 into a quick team-building activity.
After the lunch and networking session, Shri. Raymond R. Lyngdoh, founder of Rynsan Creation (Savourit), Smt. Shidalin Marbaniang, founder of Syntu Sanitary Pads, and Shri. Badal Nyalang, founder of Marketing Wire, shared their respective success stories, especially their entrepreneurial journey for over a year with PRIME. Dr. Vijay Kumar, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary of Planning, Government of Meghalaya, threw light on PRIME’s one-year journey and its vision ahead.
Further, the Honourable Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri. Conrad K. Sangma felicitated the Cohort 1 Entrepreneurs with Certificates of Graduation and Cohort 2 Entrepreneurs with Certificates of On-boarding and cheques (1 lakh each for the Top-25 Entrepreneurs and 50,000 each for the next 25 Entrepreneurs).
The Chief Minister also launched the Entrepreneur Portal of the PRIME website and the PRIME Annual Booklet 2021. He then went on to talk about his own entrepreneurial journey when he started his business venture in the late 1990s and how the hardships that he had faced back then inspired him to promote entrepreneurship in the state and support the local aspiring entrepreneurs. He emphasized the importance of having a passion and a purpose in life in order to achieve something worthwhile.
The conclave wrapped with vote of thanks offered by Shri. D. D. Shira, MCS, Director MIE and a high-tea networking session among the mentors and the entrepreneurs.


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SALT LAKE CITY, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of deserving moms everywhere, TCBY, The Country's Best Yogurt, will be celebrating Mother's Day 2008 by giving away free small cups or cones to moms nationwide! Mom knows best, so Mother's Day will kick start a summer of healthy indulgence at TCBYs across the country. Every swirl of TCBY soft serve frozen yogurt and every scoop of TCBY hand-scooped frozen yogurt contains the healthy goodness of seven types of live, active yogurt cultures -- studies suggest these cultures may provide numerous benefits such as helping your body maintain a healthy digestive system. TCBY frozen yogurt also provides a healthy dose of calcium, protein and vitamin A.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080505/NYM031 )
"Moms have trusted and loved TCBY for more than 25 years," explains Steve Willes, Director of Marketing at TCBY. "This is our opportunity to thank them for their loyalty and the work they do. It's also important that moms know they are giving their families more than just a great-tasting treat. TCBY offers a healthy serving of delicious real dairy frozen yogurt that is low in calories and low in fat, but still delicious."
The first TCBY store opened in Little Rock Arkansas back in 1981. Now more than 25 years later, the famous frozen yogurt maker is still treating customers to The Country's Best Yogurt.
Based in Salt Lake City, TCBY has been a frozen yogurt product innovator from the day its first shop opened in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981. The great-tasting, low-fat frozen yogurt concept received an enthusiastic response from an increasingly health-conscious public. With more than 1,000 locations both in the United States and internationally, TCBY has long been a healthier alternative for consumers looking to reward themselves. To visit TCBY's Web site, please go to www.TCBY.com.


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Plans to legalize Uber raise accessibility concerns
City plans to negotiate voluntary per-trip surcharge to put towards accessibility fund
The City of Ottawa's plan to legalize Uber could park the local fleet of accessible taxis as traditional companies are driven out of business, a representative from the Council for Canadians with Disabilities told CBC News.
"The taxi industry will probably be decimated, which is what's happening in the States. There is a lot of history showing accessible cabs are just being parked," said Bob Brown.
Brown plans to make a presentation on Thursday as a city committee reviews a report recommending the legalization of app-based ride-hailing services, such as Uber.
The city currently has nearly 200 accessible cabs.
Uber recently launched UberAssist in Ottawa, a door-to-door service in which drivers help riders enter and exit their vehicles. But Uber doesn't currently have wheelchair-accessible vehicles in Ottawa, which Brown said cuts people like himself, who travels in wheelchair, off from reduced fares.
"Uber is coming in saying it's a discount service, you know, cheaper, so a person with disabilities would not be afforded the same opportunity to take advantage of the discounted service," he said.
'No intention of sliding backwards'
Coun. Diane Deans, head of the committee overseeing the proposed taxi regulation changes, said the report includes a plan to negotiate a voluntary per-trip surcharge to put towards an accessibility fund.
"We have no intention of sliding backwards, whatsoever," Deans said.
The funds would be allocated based on a yet-to-be determined basis developed with the help of accessibility advocates.
"Would it be some sort of chit system? Would it be more vehicles for Para Transpo? Whatever it would be, we would have a pool of money to ensure we are providing greater accessibility service," she said.
Brown said Para Transpo is not comparable to the convenience of a taxi because of the need to book trips a day in advance.
The report also recommends petitioning the province for authority to create a mandatory accessibility levy for private cabs.
- A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that UberAssist does not operate in Ottawa. UberAssist launched in Ottawa at the end of March. But Uber says that there are currently no wheelchair-accessible Ubers in Ottawa.Apr 05, 2016 9:45 AM ET


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Proctor & Gamble is back on the road to redemption in China
after its SK-II range re-appeared on store shelves this week
following a ban brought about by a scare relating to traces of
heavy metals that were found in formulations.
Rice based cosmetics are again making an impact on the beauty
industry, with the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA)
in Malaysia having agreed a proposal to embark on a joint venture
with a local company in Kedah.
Japanese beauty manufacturer Shiseido is expanding its research and
development centres, opening up facilities in Europe and Asia in an
effort to better appreciate the needs of its customers there and
expand beyond the US and domestic...
Following a pan-Asian scare regarding heavy metal content in
Procter & Gamble's SK-II skin care line, South Korean
authorities have said that it has found only traces of the
suspected substances and says 'it is too little...
Procter & Gamble is on the defensive after authorities in the
Guandong and Hong Kong region of China discovered high levels of
dangerous chemicals in its SK-II skin care line following routine
Once dismissed as a fad, edible cosmetics are starting to make
their mark on the global market as an increasing number of launches
hone in on consumer desires for natural ingredients that often
happen to cross into the realms of the...
ASEAN says it is set to implement a single regulatory system for
its ten member states by the start of 2008, in a move that aims to
help bring it in line with regulations worldwide and attract major
Tupperware Brands, the US-based retailer of kitchenware, cosmetic
and beauty products, has announced a disappointing second quarter
in Europe and the US, further exacerbated by falling cosmetic and
Having soft launched a new range of men's grooming products on the
Australian retail market, Eyre BioBotanics says it is readying to
unleash the naturals-based line on the North American retail


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Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s manuscript sells for $306K at auction to Russian billionaire
Manuscript had Capote’s hand written corrections on it
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AMHERST, N.H.—Truman Capote’s 1958 typed manuscript of Breakfast at Tiffany’s with the author’s handwritten edits has sold for about $306,000 at auction to a Russian billionaire.
The manuscript, which was expected to net at least $250,000, was offered for sale online by the Amherst-based auction house RR Auction.
RR Auction says the winning bidder is Russian retail billionaire Igor Sosin, who plans to display it in Moscow and Monaco.
Capote’s handwritten notations include changing the femme fatale’s name from Connie Gustafson to the now-iconic Holly Golightly.
Its plot — built around a woman who supports herself through trysts with wealthy lovers — was scandalous. Harper’s Bazaar bought serialization rights, then balked at its explicit content. Esquire magazine purchased it from Harper’s and launched it to its 1961 silver screen adaptation starring Audrey Hepburn.
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Judging by the rows of punters in dark glasses staring at the TV screens at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the future has finally arrived. And it’s in 3D. All the big players from Panasonic to LG, Samsung to Sony have been in a sharp-elbowed race for the past five years to get 3D TVs into our living rooms - and this year, after much hype, they have finally got there, bringing a new wave of 3D movies, sports and nature programmes with them.
Leading the fray is Sony’s LX903, with superior picture quality and ‘active shutter’ glasses that look better than any of those of its rivals. The LX903 will be out this summer, promising to provide a depth of content that finally moves beyond old school 3D's shock shark attacks that had us reaching for the Valium.
At a Panasonic press conference John Landau, producer of 3D hit movie Avatar explained: ‘New 3D content won’t just be about gags coming off the screen but will be more subtle. Just as we now expect stereo sound, we will come to expect 3D.’ And although we’ll be able to watch the FIFA World Cup in 3D this summer, when it comes to the glasses, fashionable folk will need convincing. You get two free pairs when you go 3D, but subsequent pairs cost 120euros, come in limited sizes and have to be placed clumsily on top of regular specs (worn by 20 per cent of the population). But with Sony and Panasonic rumoured to be in talks with the likes of Ray Ban and Oakley about modifying designs, there is hope, so watch this space.
Also big this year are ‘connected TVs’ which enable content to be streamed from the Internet. At a typically glitzy press conference, Sony was suggesting that this was all about bringing the living room back as the hub of the house; ‘Miniaturisation and personalisation mean that we all have our own isolated experiences, away from each other at home,’ says Sony design director Takuya Kawagoe, whose new generation Bravias are designed to have us all entranced as a family unit. They come with built-in Wi-Fi to access online content, sensors that can recognise your viewing habits and suggest programmes you might like, as well as detecting brightness and then adjusting the picture accordingly.
CES is the alpha male of consumer electronics trade fairs, so as well as seducing shade-wearing geeks, it also pulls in serious techno innovators and insta-culture creators from around the globe. More than 2500 exhibitors take part, and stretch from big guns such as Ford, Casio, Panasonic and Kodak to corner shop cable companies from Shenzhen and start-up widget makers from Hangzhou.
The show provides a glimpse of the TVs, cameras, music systems and in-dash devices that we can expect to see rolled out throughout the year, as well as showcasing innovations that range from the super smart to sub-par Dragons' Den. Need a robot to wash your parquet floors? Check. How about a grabber that converts all your VHS home videos in to digital format for $15? Check. Or the surveillance kit that allows anxious parents to monitor their teenagers’ every move? Check.
This year, more than 300 first-time exhibitors showed up - the highest number ever apparently - which led to lots of positive sound bites about technology in the new decade. Among them was a dazzling parade of App makers. The iPhone has spawned an Apps revolution and despite the fact that Apple has never appeared at CES and famously doesn’t do trade shows, there was a whole section called the iLounge Pavilion dedicated to accessories for iPods and iPhones.
With more than 100,000 Apps available today that help you do anything from catching a cab to managing your stocks and shares, the next big thing is location-based Apps that let you pinpoint the whereabouts of friends and family. So no more sneaking to the pub when you’re supposed to be in the office.
Among the Elvis impersonators and décolleté booth babes in sequins unveiling shiny black but mostly unexciting products was Kodak’s Pulse digital photo frame. Not especially pretty, but better than the rest, it comes with Wi-Fi and its own email address so you can send pictures directly to it without having to collate the millions of snaps taken on phones, camcorders and cameras; Polaroid, which has hired Lady Gaga as ‘creative director’ to bring it back to life (she put in a 30 second appearance on the stand) is to re-release the Polaroid OneStep camera later this year. It‘s comfortingly retro, comes in lots of
colours and uses classic old school
instant film to produce those iconic white-bordered pictures.
Meanwhile, digital cameras have got smaller, slimmer and smarter; like Sony’s updated Cyber-shot cameras, which simply need to touch to transfer pictures between each other using a teeny bit of new technology.
So what else can we expect for 2010? More smart phones as Nokia, Motorola and others jump on board, and rev up for Android, Google’s mobile platform, though Blackberry and the iPhone still present very tough competition. Be prepared too for smart phones to do a million chores, such as turning on the heating remotely, locking the front door, and letting in the cleaner when you are away.
Many companies are heading towards doing away with the remote control altogether, and smart phones will step in as remotes for TVS and games consoles. LG, the Korean electronics company, has launched a motion-sensitive Magic Wand remote, rather like a Wii stick with only four buttons, that lets you wave your commands at the screen, and at the Toshiba stand a woman was demonstrating ‘motion gesture’ whereby you control your TV with your hands only, with all the vigour of a sheep dog trainer at Crufts. Hand waving was afoot too, at Microsoft, where a wall of abstract screens could be operated with a wave of the hand - an oblique reference to Project Natal, its much-anticipated game, which is controlled by body movements and speech only and which launches later in 2010.
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Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
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Chevron Corp. has bought a majority stake in a federal government–supported “green” hydrogen project in Utah that, once completed, will “produce massive volumes” of the renewable energy source, according to E&E News’ ENERGYWIRE (subscription).
What’s going on: Chevron said on Tuesday that it had completed a deal with fuel-storage developer Magnum Development LLC to take over full ownership of the Utah salt caverns where green hydrogen production and storage is set to take place.
- This purchase gives the energy giant “a majority interest in the joint venture that is developing the [Advanced Clean Energy Storage] project.”
- ACES—in which Mitsubishi Power Americas Inc. and private-equity firm Haddington Ventures LLC are also partners—won a $504 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy in 2022.
- The project is part of a larger effort by Chevron to develop emerging energy technologies through 2028.
Why it’s important: “We seek to leverage the unique strengths of each partner to develop a large-scale, hydrogen platform that provides affordable, reliable, ever-cleaner energy and helps our customers achieve their lower carbon goals,” Chevron New Energies Vice President Austin Knight said in a statement.
- The plan is to make the hydrogen in the salt caverns in Delta, Utah, “for use at a nearby power plant” looking to diversify its energy mix—and aiming to run entirely on hydrogen by 2045.
Another effort: In partnership with ExxonMobil Corp. and Shell PLC, Chevron is also part of a Texas industry group asking for $1.25 billion in 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to construct hydrogen “hubs,” large-scale demonstrations of hydrogen production, transportation, usage and storage.
A model project: “Currently under construction, the ACES project could become one of the western U.S.’s most important demonstrations of what a low-carbon hydrogen industry might look like,” ENERGYWIRE reports.
The NAM’s take: “Manufacturers view clean energy solutions, such as hydrogen, as an important part of our country’s energy present and future—and the industry is used to leading the charge in developing and scaling hydrogen projects for widespread use,” said NAM Vice President of Domestic Economic Policy Brandon Farris.
- “The NAM is committed to ensuring that the hydrogen tax credit and other incentives help build the appropriate market conditions for hydrogen projects to succeed.”
A measurement of wholesale inflation rose more than expected in August, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What’s going on: The Producer Price Index for final demand goods and services rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7% last month, and 1.6% on a year-over-year basis.
- The increase was the strongest monthly gain since June 2022.
- Core producer prices rose 3.0% year-over-year, an increase from July’s 2.9%.
Final demand goods: Producer prices for final demand goods jumped 2.0% in August, buoyed largely by a 10.5% rise in energy costs.
- Excluding food and energy, producer prices for final demand goods inched up 0.1% last month.
Final demand services: Producer prices for final demand services, meanwhile, increased 0.2%, with transportation and warehousing prices rising 1.4%.
Our take: “Despite the uptick in wholesale inflation in August, the overall trend remained encouraging,” said NAM Chief Economist Chad Moutray. “The data continue to reflect moderation in pricing pressures year to date, particularly as core producer prices continued to moderate. The deceleration in producer prices will likely take some pressure off the Federal Reserve, even as it remains concerned about lingering inflationary pressures overall.”
The owner of seven oil-and-gas leases that were recently canceled by the Biden administration is readying for a legal fight, according to POLITICO’s ENERGYWIRE (subscription).
What’s going on: The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority—which bought the leases from the federal government in 2021—“has vowed to pursue legal action against the federal government for the cancellation of the leases spanning 365,000 acres in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.”
- Last week, the Interior Department announced that it would nullify the leases “based on what the administration called an inadequate National Environmental Policy Act review process.”
- “A willingness to circumvent laws passed by Congress has consequences reaching far beyond ANWR’s boundaries, and will impact future development across this country,” the economic development organization responded in a statement.
Required by law: While canceling the leases appears to fall under Interior’s purview, the agency is obligated by the 2017 tax law to offer two lease sales in ANWR, according to former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, ENERGYWIRE reports.
Why it’s important: ANWR is estimated to hold more than 10 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil. Drilling for it would create more than 100,000 jobs while generating hundreds of billions of dollars in new government revenue, according to data from the House Committee on Natural Resources cited in USA Today.
Our take: “The administration should be taking actions that strengthen energy security, not weaken it,” said NAM Vice President of Domestic Economic Policy Brandon Farris.
- “The cancellation of the ANWR leases based on the NEPA review process underscores our need to continue to reform our broken permitting system. The NAM continues to push Congress and the administration to develop policies that cut through red tape to develop all energy projects, including renewables, nuclear, oil and gas, hydrogen and more.”
Looking to make the most of the AI computer chips they have, technology companies are increasingly “turning to software that can squeeze more performance out of available chips and help reduce costs,” The Wall Street Journal (subscription) reports.
What’s going on: While larger firms are using hard-to-get graphics processing units to build multiple different AI models that “do things such as detect cybersecurity threats and help improve network performance,” other businesses are using central processing units to do similar tasks.
- CPUs aren’t as powerful as GPUs, but they are easier to find.
- And when “tuned with open-source software tools to get more performance out of them,” CPUs can help businesses meet their processing needs.
Boosting performance: As GPU demand continues to outpace supply, companies are using third-party software to squeeze additional performance from existing GPUs, too.
- One Israeli start-up installs optimization software on client GPUs to “automatically put idle computing power to use to gain better processing efficiency,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
- A Seattle-based startup “is betting that most businesses won’t want to deal with owning and managing an array of AI hardware … so it rents out access to processing power from cloud providers that it speeds up on customers’ behalf.”
Renting the cloud: Indeed, cloud-company giants can offer access to much-needed processing power “by renting it out as they do with computer services,” one source told the Journal.
Real estate companies are turning to artificial intelligence to help cut emissions from commercial buildings, according to The Wall Street Journal (subscription).
What’s going on: While developers and builders have begun using more energy-efficient design and building methods in recent decades, and governments are introducing stricter energy-use codes for commercial spaces, “more than 80% of buildings don’t have smart systems to efficiently manage their energy use.”
- Commercial real estate manager JLL “has been making a string of investments to bring AI systems to companies looking to cut their emissions. … JLL says it expects 56% of organizations to pay a premium for sustainable spaces by 2025.”
- One of its investments is in a firm that installs electric motors and small computers into building systems to better control heating and cooling.
Why it’s important: “AI building systems learn from historical patterns and the daily habits of occupants to predict and power things on and off.”
- “For instance, software and hardware that automatically manages lights, heating and cooling can help buildings cut 20% or more of their yearly energy use.”
A caveat: Just 10–15% of buildings have systems in place to collect the data needed to make these predictions.
- As one source told the Journal, “Bad data means you can’t do any kind of schedules, rules or more sophisticated use cases around artificial intelligence. You have to have the data.”
Check it out: Speaking of data collection, the Manufacturing Leadership Council (the NAM’s digital transformation division) is hosting an event in December that will help manufacturers envision what a data-driven industry might look like by 2030. Learn more and register here.
Factory orders for manufactured products declined 2.1% in July, after having risen for four consecutive months, while factory shipments increased 0.5%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Orders: Durable goods orders fell 5.2% in July, mostly due to declines in orders of aircraft and aircraft parts.
- However … excluding transportation equipment, factory orders increased 0.8% in July, with durable goods up 0.5%.
- Nondurable goods orders rose 1.1% in the same period.
A spending proxy rises: New orders for core capital goods—nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft, a proxy for capital spending in the U.S. economy—inched up 0.1% in July to $73.60 billion, just shy of the record high of $73.87 billion in May.
- Year-over-year, core capital goods orders have increased 0.8%.
The long view: Orders for new manufactured goods have decreased 0.7% in the past year, with factory orders excluding transportation declining 2.5% year-over-year.
Shipments: July marked the third consecutive month of increases for factory shipments.
- But in the past 12 months, total factory shipments have declined 0.6%, or 2.3% year-over-year excluding transportation equipment.
- Core capital goods shipments fell 0.3% in July, pulling back for the second month in a row from May’s record high of $74.05 billion.
In related news: Economic activity in the U.S. services sector continued to grow last month, with the ISM® Services PMI recording its eighth straight month of growth, the strongest pace since February, according to Markets Insider.
Late last week, West Coast dockworkers voted to ratify a long-term employment contract that was agreed upon earlier this summer, The Wall Street Journal (subscription) reports.
What’s going on: Approximately 75% of International Longshore and Warehouse Union members voted in favor of the six-year labor contract with the Pacific Maritime Association.
- This ratification vote formalizes the tentative agreement reached in June, which was preceded by several brief work stoppages, and is the culmination of negotiations that began in May 2022.
- “The ILWU represents about 22,000 workers at 29 ports from California to Washington state.”
Why it’s important: These negotiations, which ultimately took 14 months to resolve, were at times tumultuous, and the resulting supply chain disruptions led to a significant loss of West Coast cargo business to the East and Gulf coasts.
- Together the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach constitute the busiest ocean trade gateway in the U.S., handling almost 40% of U.S. imports from Asia, according to the Los Angeles Times.
- The NAM consistently advocated for a resolution to these talks and commissioned an economic impact study in 2022 that found even a 15-day shuttering of these two West Coast ports would cost the U.S. economy nearly half a billion dollars a day and 41,000 jobs.
The NAM says: “Ratification of this six-year contract provides manufacturers with the supply chain reliability they need for operational planning and stability,” said NAM Director of Infrastructure and Labor Policy Ben Siegrist.
- “NAM members have overcome countless shipping challenges over the past few years and were at the forefront of calling for this resolution. We are pleased the contract has been ratified.”
Supply chain problems, PALIoT Solutions is coming for you.
This fall, the New-York-state-based startup, whose name derives from a combination of “pallet” and “IoT,” will begin production of its smart shipping pallets. According to company leaders, these products will do nothing less than revolutionize the way food and goods are transported.
From vision to reality: PALIoT cofounders Paul Barry and Richard MacDonald envisioned pallets “whose positive impact on the environment keeps increasing as more of them are manufactured and deployed,” according to the firm’s website.
- To accomplish this feat, the pallets had to be both far lighter and more durable than typical pallets, which are made of wood and nails.
- After significant research and development, Barry and MacDonald came up with the solution: a polyurea-coated, engineered-plywood pallet that was 20 pounds lighter than its traditional peers and contained a proprietary sensor capable of instant communication with the cloud, making inventory tracking a cinch.
The “secret sauce”: “The ‘secret sauce’ is essentially a smart mesh network,” said Barry, who hails from Ireland and has an electrical engineering and investment banking background. “The PALIoT pallets in a shipment will all talk to each other, say, ‘Hey, I’m here.’ And [after shipping,] because they know they’ve been on a truck, they know they have to report all that valuable inventory and environmental data back to the cloud.”
- PALIoT, which will rent its pallets to customers using a per-pallet, pooling model (with an optional subscription service), acquired exclusive global use of the mist® Mesh Networking protocol. This ensures that communication is highly secure and battery sensitive at all times.
- The company estimates it will initially produce between 650,000 and 700,000 pallets a year in the first phase of the launch.
Read the full story here.
An overtime pay rule proposed last week by the Biden administration could cost employers—including manufacturers—up to $664 million over a decade, according to Inc. magazine.
What’s going on: A draft regulation set forth last week by the Labor Department “would require employers to provide overtime pay to salaried workers who earn less than $1,059 per week, or around $55,000 per year. The current overtime threshold is $35,568. The Labor Department is responsible for setting the threshold that requires employers to pay out overtime.”
- In compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, many companies already pay overtime to hourly employees who work more than 40 hours a week. While the FLSA doesn’t apply to salaried workers, the new requirement would.
Why it’s problematic: If the rule goes into effect, its cost to employers could be as high as “$664 million (with a 7 percent discount rate) over a 10-year period,” according to the Labor Department—and that’s a price manufacturers can ill afford, according to the NAM.
- “Manufacturers have spent the past several years adapting operations and personnel management resources to meet the evolving needs of their workforce in a post-pandemic environment, including through improved wages and benefits and productive workplace accommodations,” said NAM Managing Vice President of Policy Chris Netram.
- “The … proposed rule would inject new regulatory burdens and compliance costs to an industry already reeling from workforce shortages and an onslaught of other unbalanced regulations.”
What’s next: Once published in the Federal Register, the draft regulation will be subject to a 60-day public comment period.
Workforce challenges and the regulatory onslaught against manufacturers were some of the key topics covered during a recent NAM meeting with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) in Princeton, Minnesota.
What’s going on: Emmer met NAM leadership last Monday for a facility tour of heavy-gauge metal spinnings company Glenn Metalcraft, led by its president and CEO, Joe Glenn.
- On the walkthrough, Emmer got to see and hear the impact of the current legislative deluge hitting manufacturers.
- “My visit to Glenn Metalcraft demonstrated the need to address the regulatory state overwhelming manufacturers in the heartland,” Emmer said. “Small and medium-sized manufacturers are working hard to grow their businesses and increase compensation for employees, but those efforts are undermined by new regulations and the lack of permanent, competitive tax policies to promote research and development and capital investment.”
“Fighting to thrive”: Glenn spoke candidly about his and other manufacturers’ current struggles with the excessive mandates handed down by federal agencies.
- “Manufacturers across the country are fighting to thrive under the weight of an increasing number of unbalanced and often unfeasible regulations from agencies across the federal government—all amid an uncertain economic environment,” Glenn said before thanking Emmer for “giving us a voice.”
- The majority of manufacturers—more than 63%—say they now spend over 2,000 hours a year complying with federal mandates, according to the NAM’s Q2 2023 Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey.
Tax treatment of R&D: Emmer’s support of the American Innovation and R&D Competitiveness Act—which would permanently restore immediate research-and-development expensing for small businesses for 2022 and all subsequent years—has been instrumental in the legislation’s progress, NAM Managing Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Jamie Hennigan told the whip. Now we just need to move the issue forward, he added.
- Glenn underscored the importance of full expensing when he told Emmer that it had helped his company open new facilities.
- Emmer agreed on the necessity of competitive tax provisions and said he, too, wanted to see them reinstated.
A persistent problem: NAM leaders and Glenn also addressed another ongoing challenge for manufacturers in their discussion with Emmer: the acute shortage of skilled workers.
- The difficulty of attracting and retaining skilled workers has consistently ranked among the top problems cited by manufacturers in the Outlook Survey, as Hennigan pointed out.
The last word: “Manufacturers have made it clear that the [Biden] administration’s regulatory agenda could easily derail manufacturing’s recent success,” NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said in a statement after the visit.
- “Glenn Metalcraft and so many others are forced to make tough decisions as agencies issue unbalanced regulations that threaten our sector’s ability to grow and compete.”
- “The positive effects of tax reform, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act are all being undermined by the growing regulatory burden, and I want to thank Whip Emmer for spotlighting this threat in his home state of Minnesota.”


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This week, Windows Insider members have been able to install the 22H2 build of Windows 11, which will be available in just a few months (around October). For some reason, the same build was sent to computers running Windows 10 with an offer to update.
Owners of computers that are not officially compatible with this operating system have been informed about the possibility of installing Windows 11 22H2 (for example, because they have older Intel or AMD processors installed. Microsoft does not allow you to install test builds on such computers.) (And Windows 11 22H2 has been given the status of a ready-to-release RTM assembly).
Microsoft says it was a bug and now experts are investigating why it happened. He also advised those who have downloaded and installed Windows 11 in this way to roll back to Windows 10. It is unlikely that anyone who has installed this update will decide to take such action, as they may no longer have the opportunity to update. .
Officially, Windows 11 can only be installed on computers that are not older than the processor Intel Coffee Lake (eighth generation) or AMD Zen 2. However, using bootable media, this OS can also be officially installed on incompatible machines, but in this case Microsoft does not guarantee and warns of potential problems until the equipment fails.


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A top-of-the-range BMW could surely leave a small Hyundai standing in a flat-out car race. When it comes to maneuvering a way through the crisis-hit European car market, the tread is very much on the other tire.
Hyundai Motor Co. opened a car plant in the Czech Republic in 2008 when the financial crisis was already starting to hammer the global car industry.
That turns out to have been pretty good timing for the South Korean car maker as its smaller, cheaper models have found a ready market among Europe’s cash-strapped consumers.
While Europe’s deepening economic downturn has caused it to expect slower growth in coming years, it reckons demand for new types of small vehicles and increasingly customized models will continue boosting its European market share through 2018, according to its senior vice president and chief operating officer for the region.
“We have been conquering sales over the last four years and we have benefited from the economic crisis as European consumers became willing to consider a broader range of vehicles,” Allan Rushforth told the Wall Street Journal when he visited the Hyundai plant in the Czech town of Nosovice, 370 kilometers east of Prague.
Unlike many European car factories, Nosovice has been running at full speed, turning out 302,000 cars last year. The plant started with one model back in 2008 but now makes a range. That includes the ix35 compact sport-utility vehicle–known as Tuscon in the U.S.–, the ix20 mini multi-purpose vehicle and several body variations of its popular small family car, i30.


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Mintel Reports Ice Cream Sales Dip in China, Though Value Rises as Consumers Trade Up
Ice cream remains a popular summertime treat for people around the world, and newly published data from the Mintel market research organization reveals interesting details about consumption of the sweet treat in the PRC. Today, almost half (49%) of urban Chinese consumers say they eat ice cream at home as a snack, compared to four in 10 (39%) who said the same in 2015. Meanwhile, 39% of urban Chinese consumers report eating ice cream as a dessert this year, compared to just over one in four (28%) who said the same two years ago.
Overall, the ice cream market in China has seen a decline in retail volume, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -1.6% between 2014 and 2016. However, the total retail market value is on the rise due to consumers trading up for new formats and flavors.
“Better-for-you” options are among the more popular premium features. Indeed, 59% of urban Chinese consumers are willing to buy ice cream products that feature a “100% natural/no additive’ claim,” especially among soft-serve ice cream users (68%). What’s more, consumers aged 30-39 say they are willing to pay more for “100% natural/no additive” products (65% compared to 59% of consumers overall).
Health is Wealth
“Urban Chinese consumers are paying more attention to their health, while still looking for opportunities for indulgence, which should not be compromised,” said Cheryl Ni, food and drink analyst at Mintel. “Given the fact that more consumers today are eating ice cream as a snack or a dessert at home compared to previous years, family-size tubs or multipack offerings will have further opportunities. Also, there is scope for ice cream to be positioned as ‘mood food,’ allowing consumers – especially the younger generations – the ability to soothe life’s stresses away as they indulge in a treat while paying a premium price for it.”
Meanwhile, declining consumption appears in both retail and non-retail channels. Mintel research indicates that the percentage of ice cream non-users has risen from 4% in 2012 to 11% in 2017. In all, net purchases at retail channels (76%) is lower than non-retail channels (93%), with the number of urban Chinese consumers who bought ice cream from supermarkets/hypermarkets declining from 85% in 2012 to 52% in 2017. Similar declines can be seen at grocery retailers, which dropped from 42% to 12% in the same time period.
Online Sales Growth
That said, the market has experienced significant growth in online channels – including online brand stores such as Tmall – increasing from 3% to 16% between 2012 and 2017. Mintel research indicates that this growth is driven by high earners [defined as those with household income RMB 16,000 or greater in tier one cities; RMB 14,000 or more in tier two and three cities], who are more likely to be fans of online channels (23%).
“Shopping for ice cream products from online retailers is usually more expensive given the cost of cold chain delivery. However, we are seeing a growing number of imported ice cream brands available in online stores, providing more premium choices for consumers with a higher spending power,” Ni noted.
More Chinese consumers in tier one cities claim to eat packaged ice cream as a snack during their leisure time, especially those residing in Shanghai (57% vs. 49% of consumers overall). On the different occasions for eating ice cream that is made on-the-spot, consumers in Shanghai show a higher interest in this format when they are hanging out (54%, compared to a total 47%) or when they are craving something sweet (41%, compared to a total 34%). When it comes to location, ice cream parlors, dessert shops and coffee shops seem to be their favorite venues for eating ice cream.
Finally, it appears that young urban Chinese consumers aged 20-24 are particularly interested in value-added features, such as “edible containers that taste good” (42%), “customized flavors/shapes” (35%) and “innovative packaging” (33%). Products with clean label claims and added nutrition will encourage trading up in this category.
“The shift in consumption occasions redefines the ice cream market which is no longer an alternative to a cold drink, but an indulgent treat that can bring a sense of enjoyment and happiness. Consumers in tier one cities prefer healthy versions of ice cream, but they don’t want to compromise on enjoyment, and this is why manufacturers should optimize recipes to achieve a balance of both,” Ni concluded.
Mintel's Ice Cream China 2017 Report is available for purchase £3,081.32. For more information, contact the London, England-headquartered company at www.mintel.com.


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Retail stores are slowly reopening across the country as provincial governments ease up on COVID-19 closures.
Ontario allowed retail stores located outside of indoor shopping malls to reopen as of May 19, and Quebec will allow some retail stores and businesses to reopen in the Greater Montreal area on May 25.
But the way stores operate and how people shop within them will not be the same — at least for the foreseeable future.
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“Until a vaccine or treatment has come up, regardless of what the retailer does, the consumer is going to be very cautious about going back to retail,” said Kenneth Wong, a professor of marketing at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business.
Retail stores are thinking about customers’ in-store experience and how to make it as safe as possible,


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To acknowledge the yeomen contribution made by Women Entrepreneur towards our economy, the Entrepreneur Forum of VIA chose 10 leading Lady Entrepreneurs of Nagpur for felicitation on the occasion of International Women’s Day. These ladies have not only done us proud but also have made a significant mark nationally as well as Internationally.
Ms Shruti Sancheti(Pinnacle), Ms Shyamla Sanyal (Bharat Barood Udyog); Ms Abha Chowdhary (Abha Chowdhary label); Ms Reema Sial (Celeberation Events); Ms Nikita Mhaisalkar (Nikita Mhaisalkar label); Ms Rina Sinha (NIIT Limited); Ms Sharmila Vali (RevAyur Cosmetics); Ms Satnam Thoor (Kutz Salon); Ms Vidhi Wadhwani (Vidhi Wadhwani Label) & Ms Rakhi Bhutani(Aura) were the 10 successful entrepreneurs of Nagpur who were presented with mementos for their exceptional achievement.
All the ladies were extremely vocal about the opportunities they could exploit in Nagpur and most of them admitted that it was after marriage and with extremely supportive family they could climb the staircase to success and make a name for themselves. While Ms Shyamla Sanyal and Ms Sharmila Vali mentioned the role of their employees who immensely contributed to their growth, Ms Abha Chowdhary, Ms Rakhi Bhutani and Ms Reema Sial attributed their success to e-commerce which helped them to explore new markets, Ms Nikita Mhaisalkar acknowledged the support of her mother-in-law and of course her team of very talented manpower which helped her to supply to 25 stores across the nation. Ms Rina Sinha a Chemical Engineer heading NIIT Ltd, said that her success was in building dreams for the young generation through information technology which was in a nascent stage in the early 90’s. Ms Vidhi Wadhwani said that balancing work and life is the toughest challenge a women entrepreneur faces, while for Ms Satnam Thoor not having much personal support the biggest hurdle.
All the awardees said that the mantra to success was hard work , dedication, passion and the will to succeed. They advised the young generation to follow their dreams with a single minded devotion and not lose focus half way through.
At the outset, in his opening address, Chairman of the forum Mr Akash Agrawal complimented the lady entrepreneurs on the occasion of women’s day. He said that it’s high time more and more women came out of their cocoons and bloom into entrepreneurs and contribute to the nation’s economy as like other Asian countries like China and Japan, where women contributed majorly in all work spheres.
In his welcome address Mr Atul Pande warmly welcomed all the awardees and wished them on the occasion of the women’s day. He said that it was heart warming to see so many women do well in business.
Chairperson of Marketing forum of VIA Ms Shilpa Agrawal shared the dais with the other dignitaries . The program was moderated by Ms Anita Rao, Convenor of the Entrepreneur Forum.


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PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – Black Friday and Cyber Monday are past, and businesses are looking at a fast sprint to Christmas.
Nathan Sanderson, Executive Director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, says these last few weeks are very important to many small businesses.
Sanderson says the final rush each year depends on the calender.
Many towns are seeing long time retailers retire and close their stores. Sanderson says that is part of the business evolution.
Sanderson says most retailers are hoping to match last years numbers due to the issues ag producers have faced all year.


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If you own a Windows phone 8.1 device, you will be happy to know that Microsoft is finally upgrading your device to Windows 10 Mobile. Not all devices will be getting the update at once and Microsoft has released the first list of devices that should be getting this update. We have been waiting for this ever since Windows 10 was announced last year and we are glad it is finally here.
The first devices that will be getting this update include the Lumia 1520, 930, 640, 640XL, 730, 735, 830, 532, 535, 540, 635 1GB, 636 1GB, 638 1GB, 430, 435, BLU Win HD w510u, BLU Win HD LTE x150q, MCJ Madosma Q501. The update has started rolling out to these devices so it may not be available to all the devices at the same time. The Lumias will most probably get the update first before the other brands.
This is the real Windows 10 Mobile version and is not a development version neither is it meant for Windows Insiders only.
If your device is listed above, you need to download the Microsoft UpdateAdvisor app from the Windows store as this will tell you if and when the update is finally available for your device. Open the app and the select the “Enable Windows 1o upgrade” option and choose next till it says it is ready to upgrade. You need to know that Microsoft is implementing the ‘Pull model’ which means that the devices selected to receive the update will have to initiate it manually. You can do this by heading to settings > Phone Update and check for updates. There will be no notification informing you of the update so you have to do it yourself.
This is the first phase of Windows 10 mobile rollout limited to a few devices but Microsoft has not said if and when the remaining Windows 8.1 phone devices will be updated.


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Walmart announced that some stores will start selling the new iPad at 12:01 a.m. Friday, beating even Apple stores, which don't open their doors until 8 a.m.
"Starting at 12:01 a.m. local time on March 16, a limited supply of the new iPadswill be available at local 24-hour Walmart stores," Walmart said in an email.
Of course, Walmart suggests customers call ahead to make sure their stores have the iPads in stock.
This is Apple's third version of the iPad but instead of being called the iPad 3 or iPad HD, it will simply be called "iPad."
The new model comes with a faster processor and a much sharper screen. It also boasts an improved camera, similar to that of the latest iPhone.
In the U.S., the new iPad starts at $499, the same as the previous model, the iPad 2, when it debuted a year ago. The iPad 2 remains in stock, for $100 less.
Despite competition from cheaper tablet computers such as Amazon's Kindle Fire, the iPad remains the most popular tablet computer. Apple has sold more than 55 million iPads since its debut in 2010, including some 40 million last year. Researchers estimate that the iPad has more than 60 percent of the market for tablets.
Apart from the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the new iPad goes on sale the same day in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
A week later, another 25 countries will get the device, altogether making for an unusually fast product roll-out for Apple.
— Ryan Ruggiero contributed to this report.


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A dog trainer says the reaction to his TikTok videos has been “insane” after he attracted a million followers during the pandemic, as people sought help with their lockdown pets.
Adam Spivey and business partner Evan Norfolk turned their attention to social media when lockdown meant training sessions could no longer take place in person.
They have since amassed fans from all over the world and run coffee mornings for those in the UK, where Adam said he had been asked to sign T-shirts like a celebrity.
He said: “A million people interested in me, a small-town boy from Essex. I’m thinking, this is insane.
“It’s just straight to the point, no filter, easy-to-follow advice.”
Share this news on your Fb,Twitter and Whatsapp


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Financial Fitness 411: SMART Money Management
January 14, 2015
Let Us Pay Your Bills®
Recognized as the national leader in consumer financial services two years in a row, SMART PaymentPlan, makes its first appearance on Lifetime Television. Join company CEO David Engelman as he explains how this unique service is helping consumers save money on mortgages, car loans, and other consumer debt. Engelman will also explain how to cut payment time. Reduce your debt and your stress!
Hearing loss is a serious health issue. Phonak provides the world’s most innovative hearing solutions for virtually every degree of hearing loss, regardless of age, lifestyle, or cosmetic preference of the user.
You may not consider your digestive system when you think about your overall well-being — but that's where good health and proper nutrition begins. For 80 years, people around the world have been making Yakult a part of their daily diet.
Acute hepatic porphyria, or AHP, refers to a family of rare, genetic diseases characterized by potentially life-threatening attacks and, for some people, chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms that negatively impact everyday life.


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Microsoft knew of the patent held by i4i as early as 2001, but instead set out to make the Canadian developer's software "obsolete" by adding a feature to Word, according to court documents.
The patent infringement case brought by Toronto-based i4i resulted in a $290 million judgment against Microsoft, and an injunction that bars Microsoft from selling Word 2003, Word 2007 and Word for Mac 2008 in their current forms.
In a 65-page summary opinion dated Aug. 11, U.S. District Court Judge Leonard Davis said that evidence presented during the May 2009 jury trial showed Microsoft had met with i4i executives as far back as 2001, knew of the firm's patent for XML editing, and yet did nothing to guarantee that its implementation of "custom" XML would not infringe the i4i patent.
Davis highlighted an internal Microsoft e-mail that was presented by i4i during the trial as "particularly damaging." The e-mail was sent by Martin Sawicki, a member of the XML for Word development team, as a reply to another Microsoft employee who forwarded a message from i4i that described both its software and patent.
"We saw [i4i's products] some time ago, and met its creators," said Sawicki in the Jan. 23, 2003, e-mail. "Word 11 will make it obsolete. It looks great for XP though."
Word 11 was the in-development code name for what was eventually dubbed Word 2003.
"The trial evidence revealed that Microsoft's intention to move competitors' XML products to obsolescence was quite bold," Davis said in his opinion.
During the trial, i4i's expert testified that 80% of the market for the company's products was made moot when Microsoft added custom XML capabilities to Word 2003.
"My main concern with i4i is that if we do the work properly, there won't be a need for their product," stated another internal Microsoft e-mail submitted into evidence.
Last May, a Texas jury awarded i4i $200 million in damages for Microsoft's patent infringement. Davis added another $40 million in "enhanced damages" for Microsoft's "willful infringement," and additional damages and interest that brought the total to $290.6 million.
Davis slapped an injunction on Microsoft that blocks it from selling Word 2003, Word 2007, Word 2008 for Mac, and when it's released, Word 2010, unless the company changes or removes the word processing programs' custom XML feature. Microsoft has until Oct. 20 to comply.
One patent attorney said last week that Microsoft should be able to work around the injunction with an "easy technical" fix.
"All Microsoft has to do is disable the custom XML feature, which should be pretty easy to do, then give that a different SKU number from what's been sold so it's easy to distinguish the two versions," said Barry Negrin, a partner with the New York firm Pryor Cashman LLP who has practiced patent and trademark law for 17 years.
Microsoft, however, has said a work-around would be arduous. "Microsoft argues that redesigning current and upcoming Word products is an enormous task," said Davis in his summary.
"Microsoft suggests that compliance with i4i's proposed injunction would take approximately five months to re-release the currently infringing products."
By the terms of the injunction, Microsoft does not have to retroactively update already-sold copies of Word, but only insure that versions sold after Oct. 20 do not infringe the i4i patent.
"Thus, i4i's proposed injunction would have little effect, if any, on the daily operations of Microsoft's current customers," said Davis.
Microsoft had asked Davis to issue a stay of the injunction "pending reexamination of the [i4i] patent," but Davis denied the request.
Interestingly, Microsoft also pitched the idea that its upcoming Word 2010 -- part of the Office 2010 that is now in preliminary public testing and slated to ship in the first half of next year -- be allowed to hide the custom XML functionality from users.
The feature would be turned on at customer request. Microsoft said it would track the use of the feature and pay an ongoing royalty for each such use.
"This option would amount to a compulsory license," said Davis, "while ignoring i4i's ongoing injury by way of loss of brand recognition and market share. It is clearly improper, and Microsoft's request is denied."
Davis was clearly puzzled by the contradictions in Microsoft's allegations that it would take months to remove the feature from Word, but yet it could modify Word 2010 relatively easily.
Finally, Davis took a shot at Microsoft's continued determination to do business as usual. "Even after several years of litigation and a jury verdict of infringement, Microsoft requests the ability to continue selling the accused products and release an upcoming product with the same infringing functionality," he said.
Microsoft said last week that it will appeal the verdict and the injunction. The company has not yet filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
This is not the first time that Office file formats have been taken to task. Two weeks ago, Microsoft said it would add a file format "ballot" to Office 2010 as part of a campaign of concessions to ward off European Union (EU) antitrust regulators.


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The World Health Organization reports that an estimated 7 million people in Nigeria alone were killed by diseases related to air pollution in 2012. In one of the country’s biggest cities, Lagos, only 40% of their garbage is collected with the rest ending up in heaps which results to the spread of pollution-related diseases.
This Nigerian-based waste recycling and social benefit venture however, RecyclePoints, might just be the solution to curbing air pollution in the country. It operates as an incentive-based scheme which collects recyclable materials from consumers and in turn, reward them with points which can be accumulated and used to shop for household item through the start-up’s iRecycle store.
According to a statement on the company website, subscribers to the scheme are given Green Cards, were items collected and counted are recorded against each week of the month. Recyclers get an SMS notification at the end of the week on the number of “Points” gained. Thereafter, the points gained could be traded in exchange for equivalent tagged items available at the RecyclePoints’ iRecycle store.
Redeemed items can be collected from their office or delivered to the Recycler directly on request. The social venture also awards bonus points for any environmentally friendly actiavities.
Reports indicate that in the newly released Little Green Data Book 2015, 94% of the Nigerian population is exposed to air pollution levels that exceed WHO guidelines and air pollution damage costs about 1 percentage post of Gross National Income. Although the WHO has taken action and supported a number of initiatives in the fight against pollution, more still needs to be done.
This is why such ventures play such a critical role in society, entrepreneurs are key in solving social issues and the team from RecyclePoints are proof of that.
According to a study published by Nature magazine, the sources of pollution are many: car exhaust, wood burning, garbage burning, cooking indoors with fuel stoves, the use of millions of diesel electricity generators, petrochemical plants. It is believed that pollution within homes, often from fuel stoves and diesel generators, is believed to have contributed to as many as 600,000 deaths in Africa in 2012, the highest deaths per capita from indoor pollution of any region in the world.
To register and start earning point, you simple visit their website http://recyclepoints.com/


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Do business and politics mix? Increasingly, the answer seems to be yes. Here, we cover brands that have taken a political stand and share what we've learned from their varying approaches. With corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives on the rise, and more CEOs taking a socially outspoken stance, brands should be asking themselves if this approach is right for them. And if so, proceed with their eyes wide open.
Prepping your CEO to be active on social media? Read our eBook on how to do it right, filled with examples from top brands that are harnessing the power of executive influence on social media.
So, Should Brands Take a Political Stance?
That exact question has been tossed around PR and communication departments for decades with many deciding to shy away from mixing PR and politics because of the overall risk.
However, we’re starting to see a monumental shift in how brands approach highly-political situations. Brands like Nike, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Dove are starting to see political situations as an opportunity to take a stand for what they believe to be right.
And it’s working. According to the 2018 Edelman Earned Brand study, 64% of consumers reported they make purchasing decisions based on a brand’s social or political position.
This is why we’ve collected three of our favorite examples of brands taking a political stance and how powerful it can be in rallying your audience and attracting customers.
3 Brands That Mix PR and Politics
Combining PR and politics isn't just for campaign consultants and lobbyists. Big brands have been getting in on the action. Here are examples of bold moves three brands made and the reactions they got.
1. WeWork Goes Vegetarian
In July 2018, WeWork shocked the startup industry by announcing it was going vegetarian (more or less).
In a statement to the 6,000-employee co-working behemoth, Miguel McKelvey (co-founder and chief culture officer) stated that the company will no longer serve meat at company functions, nor will it reimburse employees who want to order a hamburger during a lunch meeting.
According to McKelvey, the decision was driven largely by concerns for the environment, which is a key strategic public relations move in how WeWork chose to frame their announcement.
Obviously decisions like this don’t come lightly and there will inevitably be both supporters and critics of the decision, but WeWork seemed to draw a positive reaction from their audience and reports alike. Major publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Washington Post all covered the news in a positive light.
Key PR Lesson: When making a potentially controversial political decision, it’s important to frame your reasoning in terms of the bigger picture. Make it less “personal” and more about serving the greater good.
2. Salesforce Votes “Yes” on Prop C
In one of the bigger political brand moves of 2018, Salesforce CEO, Marc Benioff, made a pledge to support Prop C – A measure to tax the biggest businesses in San Francisco to raise as much as $300 million for homeless programs:
What’s most interesting about this particular situation is that Marc Benioff personally led the charge as opposed to Salesforce as a brand overall. However, Salesforce reported nearly $5.9 million in contributions, while Benioff was personally in for $2 million.
The PR and communication teams at Salesforce successfully navigated what might have been a tricky situation by allowing Benioff to be the “face” of the marketing campaign, rather than tying it back to the brand.
Key PR Lesson: Mixing PR and politics can garner support from your customers as well as potential backlash. By allowing a key executive to take the lead on an issue, you can help disassociate your brand from any negative press.
3. Patagonia Launches “The President Stole Your Land”
Patagonia has long been known for its pro-environment mantra—often speaking out publicly about land conservation and other highly-political issues.
But perhaps their biggest stand yet was what they called, “The President Stole Your Land.”
What’s so intriguing about this campaign is how well it fits into the Patagonia narrative.
Today, many PR and communication teams fall into the trap of commenting on issues that don’t necessarily fit their overall message or brand image. What brands should be doing is carefully assessing whether or not to take a stand on a political issue by determining if the issue is truly a part of their identity.
In other words, does the issue build upon and strengthen the brand reputation we have built?
In this case, it strengthened Patagonia’s ongoing fight for conversation, with the hashtag #BearsEars gathering more than 80,000 mentions across social media (according to our social media monitoring platform).
Key PR Lesson: When mixing PR and politics as a brand, it’s important to strategically evaluate the impact that it will have on your overall reputation. If you’re looking for PR coverage inauthentically, people will see right through it. But if you believe in the cause and taking a stand fits your brand identity, that’s where you can have a major impact.
What Audiences Think About Brands That Speak Out on Social and Political Issues
While traditional CSR campaigns focused on a brand’s philanthropic activities, today’s efforts take on issues including climate change, immigration, race, health, and more.
But not everyone appreciates the idea of brands taking a stand.
“Knee-jerk decisions to engage in an activism campaign can spell disaster if prompted primarily by a CEO’s or marketing department’s political itch, an in-the-moment media spotlight grab, or as precedent-setting relief from a protestor boycott,” said public relations consultant Mary Beth West.
Research conducted by PR firm Sword and the Script says that most consumers think brands should stay silent on political issues.
“Nearly half (49%) of overall respondents said brands should not weigh in on political issues,” says Frank Strong, founder, Sword and the Script. “However, it’s not a majority because about one-third said they believe brands should get involved, while another 22% were unsure. Sentiment analysis around this question suggests context matters.”
PR firm Clutch found that while businesses that speak up on social issues and those that choose to stay silent both risk losing customers, staying silent may have less severe consequences. Their study found that nearly two-thirds of those surveyed (63%) say they’re likely to continue shopping at businesses that stay silent on issues they care about.
Aligning a Brand with the Right Cause Matters
Alignment comes into play when companies build a campaign around a social or political issue. Some brands are clearly aligned with their causes. Take, for example, Patagonia supporting environmental issues.
But when Gillette came out with its controversial “The Best Men Can Be” campaign, there was significant blowback, primarily because some thought the brand was trying to appear “woke”—without it taking any action to back it up.
“We should all be asking Gillette: Where can we find your authentic commitment and action to changing this problem?” says Phillip Haid, co-founder, and CEO of Public, in Fast Company. “If brands are going to lean into a social purpose to sell products, we have to expect them to do so with substance. Raising awareness is not enough. There needs to be a genuine, informed, long-term commitment to the issue with a clear plan to achieve the change the company is seeking to create.”
Brands Must Walk Their Talk to Be Believed
If brands do decide to launch such an effort, they must be mindful. If a campaign is just words—and isn’t backed up by the way the brand does business—a company can find itself in hot water.
“Surely no company is going to launch an advertising campaign if it thinks it will lose money; therefore, by definition, any social justice-orientated marketing is driven primarily by money, not advancing the cause of human progress,” says this piece in The Guardian.
If a brand’s commitment extends just to communicating, rather than considering how it conducts its own business, it’s liable to be called out, says Sophie Lewis, chief strategy officer at VMLY&R London.
“The lack of a real plan of action seems to follow a worrying trend of brands appropriating social purpose for compelling advertising creative and quickly moving on next quarter to another ‘cool’ trend to sell their product. Sprite’s ‘I Love You, Hater,’ Audi’s wage gap ad ‘Daughter,’ Heineken’s ‘World’s Apart’ experiment, and State Street’s ‘Fearless Girl’ all speak to this worrying trend of inauthentic activity that does little to walk the walk on the issues they are addressing,” Haid says.
To Support or Not to Support — Which Is Better?
So, at the end of the day, how should brands proceed down the slippery slope of supporting social issues?
“CEOs’ advocacy rationales of ‘standing up for our company’s values, no matter what’ certainly can have an appropriate and advantageous time and place, but applied to the wrong scenario, they can present a come-back-to-bite-you outcome, aimed directly at their own bottom lines,” says West.
The prevailing advice seems to be that if a brand chooses to go down this path, it should proceed with caution. It should select an issue that’s a fit and be prepared to back up its promotional efforts with REAL actions to support the message it puts forward.
Next Steps: Be Prepared
There are many examples of brands that have successfully taken outspoken stances on environmental issues, health, and more, but as we’ve seen here, there are plenty of cautionary tales as well. To prepare yourself, be sure to read our essential guides to working with influencers to expand your reach, prepping CEOs for social media, and taking proactive steps to avoid a brand crisis.


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GREENVILLE — Ron Bonfiglio is predicting Saturday is going to be a long day.
It’s the day of Greenville Pharmacy’s liquidation auction at 530-532 S. Broadway.
“I don’t know how they’ll get it done in one day,” he said. “I’m ready to get rid of everything. There is so much; it’s unreal. We’re selling the fixtures and inventory.”
Bonfiglio said the drugstore closed its doors a year and a half ago.
“The older people are dying off and the older customers are going to chain stores to get their medications,” he said.
Everything that will be sold Saturday includes items that were there when he and brother Richard “Bud” opened at that location on April 30, 1956.
Ron and son Steve, and other family members as well as a team from Midwest Auctioneers have been busy the past month preparing for the auction. And, it’s been overwhelming, they admit.
“We’ll be working up to the end,” Ron said.
Ron, who worked at two pharmacies in Lima before opening one up in Greenville, said his brother, Bud, was working in Fostoria at a pharmacy when they decided to go into business together.
“Bud told his boss he bought a pharmacy and right away he was fired,” Ron recalled. “But, Bud was already packed and ready to move.”
Ron’s son, Steve, and Bud’s son, Randy, took over. Later, Randy went off to become a doctor.
“We bought Central Drugs across the street when Jackie Gueth developed breast cancer,” Ron said. “We bought out John Whitecotten’s pharmacy on the circle because he went to moved away. We moved Frank Langdon of Central Drug to Whitecotten’s and turned Central into a soda fountain, and we bought Bob Startzman out in Ansonia. We also bought one in Versailles that is now an insurance agency. We had prescription files and merchandise in Versailles a couple of years.”
Another pharmacy was purchased in Winchester, Ind., which they operated for five years and they opened the one up at Sutton’s Super Valu in Arcanum, which they closed two years ago.
“We had five stores at one time,” said Ron, who retired four years ago.
Some of their longtime employees were Ruth Harris, Thelma Collins and Ruby Allread.
“Ruby was still working here even after I quit,” Ron said.
He misses the customers.
“We had a lot of loyal customers,” Ron said. “When I came in 1956, we didn’t fill one new prescription a day. Thelma Collins was a great cook and kept us in business.”
According to Bonfiglio, the pharmacy on South Broadway had been a funeral home owned by Charles and Edna Albright.
“Her art work hangs in Garst Museum,” he said.
When the Bonfiglios bought it, it was known as Engelken Nyal Drug Store, which they purchased for $16,000. The sign from the Nyal Drug Store will be auctioned off Saturday among the other items.
While going through the items to be sold, Ron found a comic strip that was written the day he graduated from high school. It was in an old newspaper used for packing.
The inventory that will be auctioned off will include 10 cases of collectible Coke bottles; other bottles that held medications; Beanie Babies; wheelchairs; walkers; electric scooters; collectibles and antiques that have been preserved since the late 1800s; display cases; stained glass windows from the funeral home; apothecary jars; pill boxes; neon signs; scales; clocks; soda fountain/cooler; cigar store size humidor; cabinets; dairy bottles; office equipment; cash registers; children’s books; jewelry; greeting cards; colognes/perfumes; figurines; medical and dental care products; shelving; and leather sports jackets.
It’s probably going to be an emotional day for the Bonfiglio family, too.
“I put my four kids through pharmacy school and Bud put three through medical school,” Ron said. “It was all paid for out of our store.”
John Neiswander, who started Midwest Auctioneers 35 years ago, has been helping a lot in preparing for the sale. Mike Baker will be auctioneer.
“I was lucky to be born into a family that worked together,” Ron said. “Our business continued to grow. At one time, we ran four retail stores, the hospital pharmacy and served three nursing homes. We were filling more than 600 prescriptions a day.”
He concluded, “Trust is vital to our lives along with service and crucial to our dealings with others. Always demand respect but know that it is something that is earned.”


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News - Nissan
Nissan unveils wireless charging
Lighter EV cords, plus improved convenience and security, claimed by Nissan
12 Dec 2011
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS in TOKYO
NISSAN is looking to introduce a wireless charging system in Japan by the middle of 2013 as an easier and more attractive means of topping up EV electric vehicles.
Still in the development stage, a working prototype of the coil and circuit design inductive battery charger was demonstrated near Tokyo late last month, with Nissan claiming efficiency losses of as little as five per cent.
No pricing or export plans were announced, though one spokesman believes that the indirect magnetic induction mat and charger might cost somewhere upwards of $1000 to install.
Others believe the figure to be much more, though the price of the new technology will undoubtedly tumble as it becomes more popular.
Tested for weather and temperature variations worldwide, and with potentially universal applications beyond Renault-Nissan Alliance vehicles, the wireless system is activated once the vehicle is backed directly onto the correct spot on the mat with the aid of a guidance device.
A special receiver located on the lithium-ion battery pack then starts the charge, which takes roughly the same amount of time as with a regular cable device – up to eight hours on Australia’s 240V system.
Incorrect vehicle positioning means the mat will either not operate or recharge inefficiently.
Inadvertently stepping on the wireless recharge mat is harmless, even while it is in operation, but it cannot be moved once installed.
There is a 10mm ground-height adjustability to cater to different models’ needs and some structural modifications to a Leaf’s battery pack, for example, is necessary for the interface to begin.
Nissan envisages women being especially attracted to the wireless technology, particularly as the existing charge cords are heavy and cumbersome.
The Road to Recovery podcast series
7th of December 2011
Renault-Nissan alliance sets 1.5m EV target by 2016
Electrification goals set out in Renault-Nissan push toward zero-emission motoring
11th of November 2011
Nissan slashes cost of EV fast chargers
New Nissan EV quick charger to hit US market at a third of the cost of current units
5th of October 2011
Nissan Oz chasing more EV parts trade
Mystery electric vehicle from Nissan might get Australian-made castings
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Motor industry news


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Sanjay Galal stories
Adapting & diversifying to take advantage of the recovery
COVID-19 has forced manufacturing and distribution companies to diversify and invest in new markets and innovations to survive and thrive.
Video: 10 Minute IT Jams — SYSPRO's advice for today's financial leaders in the manufacturing sector
We chat to SYSPRO CFO and CRO Sanjay Galal about the challenges and benefits of being a manufacturing financial leader in the current economic climate.
Manufacturing CFOs optimistic due to economic recovery, resilience and reshoring
Australia's manufacturing industry CFOs are optimistic about the future, focusing on reshoring and upskilling in the post-pandemic world.