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Clear Lake Covid restrictions limit summer services
June 9, 2021, 8:55 am
Spencer Kemp, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
With beautiful weather expected over the coming weeks, many might be considering heading to the cabin for a weekend.
Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park is a prime location for many to enjoy the warm day’s summer has to offer with a beach, boat rentals, and ice cream shops a-plenty.
But there are some restrictions travellers need to be aware of before hitting the beach.
Under the current Manitoba Covid-19 restrictions, only a single person per household is permitted to enter a business with the exception of caregivers.
Retail stores must restrict capacity to 100 customers or 10 per cent maximum capacity, whichever is less.
Restaurants are not permitted to offer dine-in services but can offer takeout or delivery.
Indoor and outdoor gatherings are not permitted with individuals outside of your household.
Contact must be limited exclusively to a single household.
And people travelling interprovincially are required to isolate for 14 days.
But even with these restrictions in place, businesses in Clear Lake are doing their best to continue to offer services.
Whitehouse Bakery restricts restaurant but bakery remains open
The historic Whitehouse Bakery, well known for its cinnamon rolls, is continuing to operate, though services are limited.
Co-owner Karlin Krieger says that the bakery remains open. The restaurant side of the business is not open, but orders can still be placed through the bakery counter.
“The only thing we’re not able to offer is dine-in services at the moment. That said, people are welcome to call in for any take-out food orders. We also have our regular bakery counter service so people can come in and physically be at the bakery counter as normal. They can also come in and order takeout food there as well. You can come in, see what we offer and place an order for takeout, or you can call in and have an order placed,” said Krieger.
Krieger says that under the current Manitoba Covid-19 restrictions, only one person per household is permitted at the bakery counter.
“It’s limited to one person per household at a time, but if you’re with a friend they can come in as long as they remain distanced. We just only allow one person per family group inside at a time.”
Under the Covid-19 restrictions, Krieger notes that there has been a decrease in business, but he remains optimistic.
“There’s been a drop in business, but we’re fortunate because a lot of our business is geared towards takeout anyway, so we’re able to offer our services as people would expect, it’s not a full change from what it used to be versus another business that maybe only ever offered dine-in. A lot of people are used to taking our cinnamon buns to go. We’ve been able to keep reasonably busy. It’s all about the positive outlooks, we have to focus on the positives, not the negatives,” said Krieger.
Mooswa Resort stays busy, hopes for border restrictions to lift
For those who want to rent a cabin at Clear Lake, the Mooswa Resort is one of the many options in the park.
Owner Pam McMillan says that under the current restrictions, people hoping to rent from out of province are encouraged to wait until the current Manitoba Covid-19 restrictions lift.
“If somebody were to call today I would tell them that we have the quarantine in place and only one family can stay in the cabin. I would advise Saskatchewan residents not to book right now and wait until we hear the next announcement so that we’re not taking a deposit and having to refund it.
“For people who have already booked with us, I’ve notified them that they need to follow the Manitoba regulations. We’ve had some cancellations which are to be expected, but some people asked if I would wait to see what the next announcement would be and what the restrictions will be, and I encouraged them to wait.”
“Many of the weekly rentals here are waiting and holding out that the regulations change and they are allowed to come. That’s where we’re at right now, we’re just waiting for the next announcement.”
While Saskatchewan residents are encouraged to wait for eased restrictions, McMillan says the resort remains open to Manitobans looking to enjoy the summer.
But under the current restrictions, only members of the same household can stay together in a cabin.
“We are open for rentals, but we can’t have friends staying with each other or groups of people staying together. It’s restricted to families that live in the same residence that can stay in a cabin together,” said McMillan.
But even under the restrictions, McMillan says the Mooswa Resort has kept busy. While reservations are down, McMillan says people are still trying to enjoy what Clear Lake has to offer.
She hopes that border restrictions ease, noting that Saskatchewan residents make up a large part of her clientele.
“It’s actually been really busy. We’ve had lots of cancellations and we’ve been trying to refill vacancies. Our numbers are down in our larger cabins because people usually try to rent those for larger families and extended families or groups of friends. So those have been cancelled, but we’ve had lots of Manitoba renters step up to the plate and rent our cabins.
“We’re just hoping and waiting to see what happens. It’s looking a little more positive now and I’m hoping in the next couple of weeks they will open the borders up. That’s what we’re really hoping for. We’d love to have our Saskatchewan people come and stay here with us,” said McMillan.
Poor Michael’s Emporium remains open with restricted services
In a regular year, Poor Michaels Emporium offers a quiet place to sit down with a cup of coffee and a book, but services have had to change under the current restrictions.
Co-owner Murray Evans says that under the current restrictions, food and drink cannot be consumed while in the store.
“Normally we have a patio that people eat food on or have a beer on then they come in and shop inside. Our bookshop is normally a place where people hang out, it’s all about the hang, but with the Covid-19 restrictions, it’s the reverse of that. We can only have five people in. You can’t be on the patio or anywhere on our property consuming food or beverage and only one person per family is allowed in.
“We’re abiding by the regulations and putting up with it and doing the best we can.”
But Evans remains optimistic, looking at the bright side of the situation.
He says that last year, the shop was unable to open until May because of restrictions.
“Last year at this time we were barely open. We didn’t open until the end of May last year and this year we’ve actually had a good spring but now we have these restrictions. But hopefully, it will be over soon and we will be back to normal soon.”
The Lakehouse enhances online services
The Lakehouse offers a variety of services to those visiting Clear Lake. With a retail store, cafe, and restaurant there has been no shortage of adaptations required to keep the doors open.
Cafe supervisor Jess McInnes says that the Lakehouse continues to offer its services, and much of it has moved to an online platform.
“It’s been turbulent over the last few months here with the ever-changing restrictions. Under the current rules and regulations that we have going on, we are only allowed to have one person per household at a time. It’s an unfortunate rule and it’s one of the hardest to monitor. We do like to be able to have that customer interface, but that’s difficult right now with having limited capacity able to be in our retail store especially because we have now had so much more retail merchandise in,” said McInnes.
“It has actually allowed us to adapt our online ordering system though. We have a Squarespace ordering website that we were just doing our food and beverage menu on there for takeaway, but now we have our retail merchandise on there as well that people can look at. As long as you have internet access things are pretty accessible for curbside pickup.”
Like other restaurants and places that offer food across Manitoba, McInnes says that the Lakehouse restaurant can only provide takeout services and must monitor group sizes in the cafe.
“We can have people inside. The max capacity in our cafe area for browsing and waiting in line to order is at four people and only one person per household. That has slowed down the traffic in the building but we can still have people order inside. It’s just a little more having to monitor the number of people and the group size, but we’re still able to have that face-to-face customer interaction,” said McInnes.
“Nowhere is able to have in-person dining either in the building or on the patio at the moment. It’s unfortunate because our patio is usually super busy and it’s a prime location in the middle of town and it’s a very sought-after place to grab a seat. It’s tough to send people on their way, but we hope that restriction will lift soon.”
She says that the hotel has seen cancellations following Manitoba’s strict Covid-19 restrictions, but Clear Lake remains busy.
“In the days after new restrictions, we have had cancellations after those restrictions and regulations go into effect. But then it’s also cabin season and everybody is gearing up to get their cabins ready for the summer, so the town itself is very busy and bustling and the beach on warm days is definitely busy. We have seen a similar amount of traffic around town, it’s just a little bit slower with people coming in and out of the businesses.
“People are still ordering and all the restaurants in town are in the same boat where we’re just doing the best we can,” said McInnes.
Boat rentals restricted to family groups
Boat rentals will be available through the Clear Lake Marina however cruises will not.
Under the current Covid-19 restrictions in Manitoba, the Clear Lake Marina notes that the provincial maximum group size will apply to the rental boats.
Renters will also be required to remain in family groups and members from outside of family groups are not permitted to be on the same boat.
The Marina will also continue to offer e-bike rentals with increased sanitization measures in place.


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PENANG (Jan 25): Hotel Equatorial Penang announced cease of operation from March 31 this year due to adverse business conditions caused by Covid-29.
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 18): Local hoteliers say the RM15 billion Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (Permai) assistance package, which was just announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, falls short of expectation as the tourism industry continues to grapple with struggling businesses amid the on-going Covid-19 pandemic and recently imposed Movement Control Order (MCO 2.
PETALING JAYA (Jan 18): Singapore-listed Hotel Royal purchased the Royale Chulan Bukit Bintang Hotel Kuala Lumpur at RM177.
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 17): The Malaysia Budget Hotels Association (MyBHA) yesterday demanded that the government act fast to help its association members, their employees and all tourism players who are hugely impacted by the reinstatement of the movement control order (MCO).
KUALA LUMPUR ((Jan 12): While he agrees with the need for the movement control order (MCO) to imposed in the six states, Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) chief executive officer Yap Lip Seng (pictured) has to admit that it will further damage the local tourism and hospitality industry.
LUMUT (Dec 27): The occupancy rates in hotels nationwide are expected to continue to increase next year when the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) is lifted end of this year.
PETALING JAYA (Dec 23): The tourism industry is asking for more assistance as the situation has not improved -- the industry is in need of higher wage subsidy, discounts for utilities as well as waiver of fees, licenses and permits, said Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH).
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 21): KSK Land, the property division of KSK Group Bhd, has obtained a RM650 million syndicated facility from Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) and Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (BPMB) for the completion of 8 Conlay Kempinski Hotel & Residences (Tower C), part of the 8 Conlay integrated development.
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 18): Bleeding hotel operations continued to drag the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2020 (3QFY20) of TA Enterprise Bhd (TAE) and its 60% subsidiary TA Global Bhd deeper into the red.

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Here's a thorough look at the car in images from our road test review
The latest title features a revenge-based story plot, in game characters and some really cool cars!
The brand launched the car in three variants – the standard Turbo, Turbo Executive and Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo
Prices have already been revealed on the website for the three Turbo variants Porsche will be bringing to India initially
For India, Porsche will get the Panamera Sport Turismo with the full-fat V8 motor
The new Panamera comes with a choice of three engines, a twin turbocharged 4.0-litre diesel , a 2.9-litre twin turbo V6 and a 4.0-litre twin turbo
Here is a wrap-up of the important news, events and launches from the day


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by Ian Harvey
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is no stop-loss or pre-determined sell price recommended – this is left to the discretion of the individual trader.
Option Trade – Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE) Calls
Friday, March 17, 2017
** OPTION TRADE: Buy the NKE APRIL 21 2017 60.000 call at approximately $0.75. Sell price is left to your own judgment.
Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE), a seller of athletic footwear and athletic apparel worldwide, is slated to report third-quarter fiscal 2017 results after the closing bell on Mar 21.
In the last quarter, the company posted a positive surprise of 16.3%. In fact, it has delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 15.8% in the trailing four quarters. Nike's bottom-line beat the Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters.
Nike mainly sells under two brands: Nike and Converse. The Nike brand is the most important and accounts for ~95% of the company’s total business. Nike brand sales continued to show momentum during the first half of the year and grew 10% and 8% in Q1 and Q2. Direct-to-customer revenues were particularly impressive with 22% and 23% increases during the two quarters. Growth is primarily driven by strength in the overseas markets.
The nike.com website had a strong quarter, growing more than 45% during 1H17. Sales comps were also impressive and jumped 8% and 11% in Q1 and Q2.
Influencing Factors to Consider
Nike's earnings surprise history remains impressive, backed by constant focus on capitalizing on growth opportunities and efficient risk management. The company has delivered positive earnings surprises for 18 straight quarters, while the top line surpassed estimates in the last two quarters.
The top line beat in the last two quarters can primarily be attributable to constant innovations, efficient supply chain, a great sync between digital and physical worlds and strategic investments. Notably, the company's second-quarter fiscal 2017 sales came on the back of eCommerce growth as well as a revival in basketball shoes category. Further, the rebound in the basketball shoes category positions the company well to tackle competition from peers in 2017.
Moreover, Nike's stock performance reveals that the company has outperformed the broader industry in the last three months. The stock improved 12.5% in the past three months, outpacing the Zacks Categorized Shoes & Retail Apparel industry's growth of 9.1% in the same period.
The company’s footwear business, which
accounts for 60% of its total sales, grew 6% YoY in 1H17. Apparel sales were
also robust and improved 8% during the period.
Sportswear, running, and basketball were
the best-performing categories. While sportswear posted its 12th consecutive
quarter of double-digit growth, running, Nike’s largest performance category,
also recorded a double-digit increase.
Basketball, Nike’s most-talked-about and
successful segment, gained back the momentum it had lost over the last year.
Tough competition from Under Armour’s (UAA) Curry series had put a lot of pressure
on Nike’s basketball segment.
To revive sales, the company redesigned
and relaunched several of its shoes that had failed to click with customers.
Based on the stout second quarter performance, the management has predicted
that Nike’s basketball segment will return to growth in the second half of
Analysts and Hedge Funds Opinions
UBS reiterated its Buy rating on Nike
Inc. Analyst Michael Binetti expects Nike to report EPS of $0.51, global
revenues up 5 percent and futures growth of 2 percent. He projects NA revenues
to increase 1.7 percent.
“Closeouts” could remain a 30bp drag (suspended MAP to clear inventory), we
believe lower clearance at outlets should allow the DTC impact to GMs to
improve from flat YOY in F2Q to the LT 30-40bp lift,” Binetti wrote in a note.
Looking ahead, the analyst expects Nike
to reiterate FY2017 revenue outlook at low end of +HSD/LDD.
Importantly, the analyst believes
initial FY2018 guidance will also point to the low end of the LT algorithm for
+HSD/LDD revenue growth, driven by potential uptick in unit growth at
factories, premium pricing and big DTC push.
Further, Binetti sees gross margins should expand by the first quarter, given lower markdowns, less FX pressure, and lapping of FY2017 gross margin accounting rebase.
The analyst also raised his price target to $67 from $61 as he believes Nike’s challenges are temporary and cleaner inventories in the full price channel should help reverse recent gross margin headwinds.
Moreover, Binetti still believes the company can deliver at least the low end of its +HSD/+LDD long-term revenue growth target.
“With rev growth potentially bottoming & a believable +mid-teens EPS algo, we think NKE’s P/E can start to re-expand. Reiterate Buy,” Binetti added.
Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating to the company. The stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $62.09.
Three months ago, Nike's full-year forecast called for 2017 sales gains in the high single-digit range -- paired with slowly rebounding margins. The profit half of that prediction is easier to achieve considering the stronger inventory position it entered the holiday season with compared to what it carried six months before. Earnings should also continue to benefit from Nike's cost-cutting program and the fast-growing direct-to-consumer sales channel.
There's likely to be a surprise on the revenue side. If Nike's portfolio of apparel and footwear products resonated with customers in key markets over the holiday season, then the company likely captured valuable market share from rivals while making progress toward a sales growth rebound.
Nike Inc has a market cap of $95.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.42 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $55.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.41. Nike Inc has a 12 month low of $49.01 and a 12 month high of $65.44.
Option Trade – Tiffany & Co. (NYSE:TIF) Calls
Thursday, March 16, 2017
** OPTION TRADE: Buy the TIF APRIL 21 2017 95.000 call at approximately $1.20. Sell price is left to your own judgment.
Luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. (NYSE:TIF) has been a top performer since last summer, with the stock currently trading just shy of its 52-week high. The stock has a chance to build on its recent gains and hit a new 52-week high when it posts its fiscal fourth-quarter results March 17. The company will post its quarterly numbers before the market open, with the consensus calling for earnings of $1.37 per share, down from $1.46 during the same period last year.
It has been a mixed earnings season for retailers, but higher-end retailers such as Tiffany have done pretty well. Tiffany has good earnings track record, posting better than expected results the last couple of quarters, and it is expected that another decent report for Q4, with a whisper number that is in-line with the overall consensus.
Tiffany's omni-channel platform, store expansion programs, tapping of new markets and venturing into new revenue generating avenues may help improve performance, as evident from back-to-back positive earnings surprises in the second and third quarters. These facilitated the stock to outpace the industry in the past six months. In the said time frame, the stock has surged 23%, while the categorized Retail-Jewelry Stores industry has advanced 7.5%.
Tiffany shares have risen almost 15% this year.
Influencing Factors to Consider
1. Tiffany is succeeding in its efforts to revive customer interest in fashion jewelry. The reinvigoration of fashion jewelry is underway, and is beginning to show in the numbers.
Last quarter, fashion jewelry posted a modest increase year-over-year and sterling silver stabilized with sales up slightly due to the popularity of the Return to Tiffany Love Collection.
2. Tourists have long been a major source of sales for Tiffany, accounting for about 25% of total US sales and 40% of sales in its flagship New York store.
While challenges exist on the tourism front, travel and spending data indicate trends are stabilizing or improving. Total international passengers traveling to the US increased +1.0% y/y for the most recent fiscal quarter measured.
3. Despite competition, Tiffany has built a strong brand with enough pricing power to protect margins. Given the market that Tiffany operates in, along with a strong brand that affords significant pricing power, the company is not susceptible to Amazon or Walmart.
4. Tiffany also trades below peers both on a P/E and EV/EBITDA basis.
5. Tiffany is an earnings short-squeeze prospect. The current short interest as a percentage of the float for Tiffany & Co. stands at 9.1%. That means that out of 123.43 million shares in the tradable float, 11.23 million shares are sold short by the bear.
6. A management shakeup is producing the turnaround they've been waiting for. Cumenal announced in February that he's stepping out of the chief executive role just as the board of directors welcomed three new members.
Analysts and Hedge Funds Opinions
Tiffany & Co.‘s stock had its “positive” rating reaffirmed by equities research analysts at Jefferies Group LLC in a report issued on Wednesday. They presently have a $102.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Group LLC’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 14.44% from the company’s current price.
"With a strong brand that has supported pricing power historically coupled with recent and future talent upgrades, we believe shares can still rise from here," said a team of Jefferies analysts led by Randal J. Konik.
Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock.
TIF shares have been strong in 2017, and if while earnings are forecast to drop from the same period last year, that earnings drop has already been priced into the stock, which should continue to trend higher.
Tiffany & Co. has a market cap of $11.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.96 and a beta of 1.89. Tiffany & Co. has a 12 month low of $56.99 and a 12 month high of $92.74. The company’s 50-day moving average is $84.69 and its 200-day moving average is $78.10.
Option Trade – Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) Calls
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
** OPTION TRADE: Buy the ORCL APRIL 21 2017 45.000 call at approximately $0.23. Sell price is left to your own judgment.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), a provider of products and services that address all aspects of corporate information technology (IT) environments, including application, platform and infrastructure, is expected to show ongoing progress in its transition to cloud services when it reports fiscal third-quarter earnings after the close Wednesday.
The consensus is for the enterprise software giant to report adjusted earnings of 62 cents a share, down 3% from a year ago, and a revenue increase of 3% to $9.25 billion. While fiscal second-quarter revenue missed estimates in December, Oracle showed continued progress in its transition to the cloud.
This will be the first time Netsuite's full quarterly results are included in the report after Oracle acquired the cloud software company for $9.3 billion in November.
Software-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service unadjusted revenue jumped 87% to $912 million, as total cloud revenue reached $1.1 billion. In January, Oracle's CloudWorld conference also got positive reviews from analysts.
During Oracle's 2017 second quarter conference call, founder Larry Ellison claimed that the company could book over $2 billion in annual cloud sales for the year. In addition, CEO Mark Hurd said, "Q3 has a chance to be our best quarter ever, period."
Jefferies said in a note on Monday that it's expecting the company to follow through on its claims by delivering stronger-than-expected cloud bookings. Drexel released a similarly upbeat note, saying "Oracle began pushing aggressively into the cloud, negatively impacting sales and EPS along the way; however, we believe the worst of this cloud transition is over and we expect Oracle will return to annual EPS growth in FY:18 for the first time since FY:14."
Analysts and Hedge Funds Opinions
Three years ago, Oracle began pushing aggressively into the cloud, negatively impacting sales and earnings along the way, wrote Drexel Hamilton analyst Brian White in a research note.
"However, we believe the worst of this cloud transition is over," White wrote. White has a buy rating on Oracle and price target of 47.
Rosenblatt Securities analyst Marshall Senk has a buy rating on Oracle and price target of 48. RBC Capital Markets last week raised its price target on Oracle to 46 from 43, with an outperform rating.
According to analyst ratings on FactSet, the company currently has 22 buy ratings, 12 hold ratings and 1 sell rating.
Oracle has a 12-month low of $37.62 and a 12-month high of $43.26. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $41.41 and its 200 day moving average price is $39.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $174.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.32 and a beta of 1.14.
Option Trade – Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRI) Calls
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
** OPTION TRADE: Buy the SIRI APRIL 21 2017 5.500 call at approximately $0.15. Sell price is left to your own judgment.
While Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:SIRI) is only $5.44, the company is valued at $24.5 billion dollars. And so far this year, shares are up 35%.
Also, since the last earnings report for Sirius about a month ago, shares have added about 7.5% in that time frame, outperforming the market. And this recent positive trend is expected to continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release.
Sirius XM reported fourth-quarter 2016 financial numbers wherein the bottom line met the Consensus Estimate while the top line surpassed the same. Earnings were in line with the Consensus Estimate of $0.04 per share but improved on a year over year basis. Total revenue of $1.3 billion grew 9% year over year and also surpassed the Consensus Estimate of $1.28 billion. Subscriber revenues grew 8.5% to $1.1 billion. Advertising revenues climbed 16.2% to $38.9 million. Equipment revenues climbed 5.6% while revenues from other sources increased 10.7%. Operating expenses climbed 7.9% to $973.4 million in the reported quarter. The company added over 1.75 million net new subscribers in2016, ending the year with approximately 31.3 million subscribers. Self-pay net subscriber additions in 2016 were 1.66 million. Annual revenue increased 10% to a record $5 billion on the back of a 6% increase in subscribers and a 3% increase in average revenue per user.
Adjusted EBITDA climbed 13% in 2016 to touch a record of $1.88 billion. The company expects Self-pay net subscriber additions of approximately 1.3 million in 2017. Revenues in 2017 are expected at approximately $5.3 billion. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are projected at approximately $2.025 billion, and $1.5 billion respectively.
As well, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who prefers strong cash flow, sees plenty to like about this company.
Influencing Factors to Consider
CEO Jim Meyer and his executive team are forecasting another year of records in 2017 as the business adds 1.3 million paying subscribers and achieves solid growth in average revenue per user. Together, these trends should push adjusted earnings to $2 billion -- up from $1.88 billion last year. Investors should also see another year of solid free cash flow generation, along with hefty returns to shareholders in the form of stock repurchases and dividends. If Sirius XM continues improving its content portfolio while making smart investments in its satellite network, its business should have many more record years ahead.
Berkshire Hathaway became an investor in Sirius XM Radio late last year, and that's an investment that may soon include Pandora (NYSE:P) if the cat-and-mouse game between the satellite-radio monopoly and leading streaming service keeps heating up.
Sirius XM is a money machine. It generated $1.32 billion in free cash flow in 2015, and topped $1.5 billion last year. Its guidance calls for another $1.5 billion in free cash flow this year, and this is a company that has historically been conservative with its guidance.
Folks are paying big money for premium radio, and the business clearly works.
Sirius XM has become a steady and predictable business. Sirius XM has been consistently profitable for years. Top-line growth has been steady, with revenue growing between 9% and 13% in each of the past five years. The scalable model is a well-oiled machine, and net income has grown faster than revenue in five of the past six years.
Sirius XM is the undisputed champ of premium radio.
It can get away with charging $15.99 a month to tens of millions of subscribers because the growing numbers of cheaper alternatives aren’t as appealing. Sirius XM offers seamless coast-to-coast access to premium content for drivers, and the competition isn't even close.
Analysts and Hedge Funds Opinions
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. has been assigned an average rating of “Buy” from the nineteen ratings firms that are currently covering the company. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have issued a buy recommendation on the company.
TheStreet upgraded shares of Sirius XM Holdings from a “c+” rating to a “b-” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th.
Macquarie reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $5.00 price target on shares of Sirius XM Holdings in a research note on Wednesday, January 11th.
Sirius XM feels that it can squeeze more juice out of Pandora -- especially as it promotes it to its growing audience or uses it to provide a stronger value proposition to its customers -- it could be a bargain at current levels. It is not a case of having to like Pandora, or even use it, to know that it's a good fit for Sirius XM.


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Unilever boss wields axe in exec clearout
The new boss of consumer goods giant Unilever has cleared out almost half his senior team.
Back to square one: An ad for Unilever's Lynx deodorant.
Paul Polman removed 40 of his top 100 managers over a whirlwind six months, it emerged yesterday after the maker of Ben & Jerry's ice cream posted better-than-expected half-year sales.
Rather like the company's Marmite, staff found they were either loved or hated, as Polman took a hacksaw to the Anglo-Dutch firm's staid and bureaucratic culture.
The shares rose 84p to 1629p as underlying sales for the six months grew by a better-than-expected 4.4%. But the company also reported a 4% fall in operating profit to £1.1bn after it was forced into price cuts and boosting marketing spend.
Crucially, Polman delivered on a pledge to kick- start growth - putting the brakes on four quarters of falling sales volumes in Europe.
But this came at a cost. The increased advertising spend needed to attract customers dented profit margins, which slipped 0.6 percentage points.
Polman said he is not worried about this: 'We are not just going for volume growth
at any cost. In fast-moving consumer goods you need to grow with discipline.
'We have also been cutting down on cost which is key to driving profit out of the extra volume. The markets are not easy-peasey Japanesey at the moment.'
However, Martin Deboo, an analyst at Investec, said: 'The volume performance has been bought at a high cost to margins. However, we think he will be given some leeway on this by the market given top line turnaround in Western Europe is so crucial.' Polman yesterday announced he has launched a series of new initiatives to shake up the business.
They include a programme under which senior managers have just 30-days to come up with a plan to fix an under-performing business, preventing them from dragging their feet.
Part of this scheme means struggling brands and divisions are put on report so the senior team are able to keep a close eye on the strugglers.
'You can debate things until the cows come home,' he said. 'We are moving from a culture of discussion and analysis to action and results.'
In the UK he said Hellmann's mayonnaise had received a boost as hard-up consumers opted for packed lunches rather than dining out at work. Across the pond its Lifebuoy anti-bacterial soap has benefited from a swine flu boost.
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- Rolls-Royce release new £250,000 limo called Ghost


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Senior citizens are connecting to the Internet in greater numbers every year. According to the findings by the Pew Research Center, 53% of American seniors age 65 and over use the Internet or email. This makes seniors are among the fastest group of internet users.
Unfortunately, seniors are vulnerable to identity theft & various internet scams due to their lack of internet and computer skills. They are also more trusting. These factors make them easy targets for cyber criminals to prey on.
The infographic below reveals some important internet safety tips to protect seniors from scams, hacking and malware attacks, and identity theft.


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Eyeing expansion, the Indian online furniture seller Pepperfry plans to go public by filing its draft papers for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the October-December quarter. The company looks to be listed sometime next year.
The Goldman Sachs-backed startup postponed its IPO plan earlier this year due to an adverse market. As per reports the company is in talks to raise about $250-$300 million via slated IPO. The company will however, take a final call on the matter by November.
The company has appointed JP Morgan and ICICI Bank to lead the IPO effort. The ecommerce platform was last valued at around $500 million when it raised capital in 2020. Pepperfry – among the last few standalone online furniture platforms – said revenue from operations grew over 22% to about Rs 247 crore in FY22.
This came on a drop in the metric by 10% in FY21 because of Covid-19. Pepperfry earns revenue from the commissions it charges for sales on its platform.
The company posted a gross merchandise value (GMV) of Rs 1,185 crore in FY22. Losses increased by 83% to Rs 194 crore in the same period.
While Pepperfry is in fray to get listed many tech companies have put their public market listings on hold. Healthtech startup Pharmeasy recently decided to withdraw its IPO application despite Sebi's clearance, citing market conditions, while SoftBank-backed Oyo Hotels and Homes and ecommerce company Snapdeal have yet to get the capital markets regulator's nod to go public.


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TXF Africa 2020 Virtual
A premium online event focusing on recent and forthcoming developments across regional export & project finance with unbeatable networking opportunities across each market.
Tat Yeen Yap. the former head of product management Asia, trade finance, for Societe Generale, argues that the crisis could be a catalyst for electronic presentations of trade instruments. India’s lockdown will be a test case.


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WhatsApp is the most widely used cross-platform instant messaging app. In addition to Android and iOS, the WhatsApp app also works for KaiOS devices. At the end of each year, Facebook officially announces that it will be removing WhatsApp support for older operating systems. So far, Facebook has announced that it will no longer have WhatsApp-enabled iPhones and Android smartphones.
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) December 9, 2020
According to the announcement, WhatsApp will no longer be available for Android 4.0.2 and iOS 8 devices. That means you need a smartphone running Android 4.0.3 or iOS 9 to use WhatsApp. WhatsApp is no longer available on Apple iPhone 4, Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Desire, LG Optimus Black and Motorola Droid Razr smartphones.
Finally, the WhatsApp app is now available for iPhone 4s (iOS 9), iPhone 5 (iOS 10) and iPhone 5s (iOS 12) to the latest iPhones. When it comes to Android smartphones, the WhatsApp app works on every phone running Android version 4.0.3 and above.


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‘We are local moms who are here to help,’ according to one business
Companies owned by mothers of grown children now offer college students personalized concierge services to assist with adult life tasks and habits.
These entrepreneurs are “seeing the demand for having a mom away from mom,” The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Concierge Services for Students in Boston, which bills itself as “a mom away from home,” charges $10,000 per student per academic year. Founder Tammy Kumin, 74, launched the business 30 years ago to help international students at boarding schools but expanded it to help college students, who now comprise three-quarters of her clients.
“Each student has access to as many as five women, collectively referred to as their second mom,” according to the paper.
These “moms” begin the school year by shopping for the student’s dorm and ironing their sheets. They assist students with registration and recommendations for professors. They connect students with tutors, and Kumin hosts them all at her home once a month.
Services such as Kumin’s, growing near college campuses around the country, commonly provide services such as furniture assembly, package receipt and delivery, medication pickup, rides to and from the airport and accompaniment to doctors’ offices.
Their business model has grown in popularity since the pandemic, when parents had difficulty reaching students at far-away campuses.
Rachelle Arnold (pictured) of Daisy Bug Delivery, near the University of Tampa in Florida, receives students’ packages at her home and charges $25 per day for same-day delivery to their dorms, apartments or storage elsewhere. Arnold sends photos of the parcels to the students’ parents.
Arnold’s business also offers long-distance rides, grocery shopping and delivery and “special surprise deliveries,” among other services, according to her website.
“With over 55k shopping trips and almost 7 years experience between the Daisy Bug Crew, why not trust us to do the shopping for your [University of Tampa] kids?” her website reads.
Mindy Horowitz, another concierge professional and the mother of three grown sons, “performs some of the same duties students would expect from their own mother,” The Journal reported.
Horowitz, who began her business, mindyKnows, with students at Washington University in St. Louis, once loaned a client a sports coat borrowed from her son when the student called her in a panic the night before his event. Her base rate is $450 per year.
The business website advertises “local mom support for college families.”
“We are local moms who are here to help,” it reads.
The service offers membership options by the month, the semester, the school year or throughout a student’s entire four years at college.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Horowitz recently broadened her business to service young people at nearby Northwestern University, Skidmore College and University of Hartford. She hires as workers “locals with a measure of maternal instinct.”
One parent, Douglas Feirstein, hired mindyKnows to assist his daughter, Emma, at Washington University in St. Louis after her move there from Florida two years ago.
During Emma’s freshman year, Horowitz brought her to the hospital for a severe infection, brought her chicken soup, recommended a hair service, seamstress and other services and gave her an unpaid internship at her own company.
Feirstein said hiring Horowitz allowed him “to spend more stress-free time with Emma.”
Horowitz told the paper she “can do locally what a mom in Michigan can’t.”
“Some things are possible from afar, some aren’t,” she said.
Her website promises parents and students “from the moment you sign up, you’re treated like family.”
IMAGE: Daisy Bug Delivery/LinkedIn


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The official news hit today that the Houston Dynamo and Greenstar Recycling have agreed to end their relationship 11 months before the completion of their three-year contract. No immediate replacement was announced, leaving the new 2013 Dynamo jersey that has yet to be released without a sponsor for the start of the new season.
Rumors about Greenstar wanting out of the deal surfaced recently amid reports of financial troubles and the potential of the company being purchased.
Waste Management, who has reportedly have shown interest in the past, announced the purchase of Greenstar today. Based on today's press release, the relationship ends under financial terms that are satisfactory to both parties.
According to reports, the Dynamo could be talking to at least five prospective suitors for jersey sponsorship. No companies are named, but based on Dyanmo President Christ Canetti's comments, a local company is preferred.
With the time it takes to negotiate a deal like this, it's likely the Dynamo start the 2013 without a jersey sponsor. In addition, it's possible that we could see the negotiations drag on and finish the season without one.
It's not that big of a deal, and I'm sure many fans would welcome the "Dynamo" and "Houston" on the front of the jersey like we had back in 2006.
Since it's highly possible and likely Chris Canetti reads Dynamo Theory on a regular basis, we figured we could aid the front office in their search for a new sponsor. So we started with a Twitter and Facebook post, and now the comments of this post will add to the prospective companies that Dynamo fans would like to see sponsor our great club.
We asked you - our faithful readers and die hard Dynamo fans who you'd like to see grace the front of the best jersey in MLS. Here's a handful of highlights from Twitter:
Greenstar has ended their partnership with the Dynamo. Who would you like to see take over as shirt sponsor for the team?— Dynamo Theory (@dynamotheory) February 1, 2013
@dynamotheory dr pepper, (orange crush)— Eduardo Aguirre (@Aguirredo) February 1, 2013
@dynamotheory Saint Arnold, obviously :D— Andy S (@andy065) February 1, 2013
@dynamotheory patron! Wait their Mexican based huh? Well some kind of liquor company! Lol— Melissa Ramirez (@meldr84) February 1, 2013
@dynamotheory also, Hooters ;-p— Eric Carl Nordstrom (@ecnordstrom) February 1, 2013
@dynamotheory United Airlines .!— Erick Bush (@dynamoerick) February 1, 2013
And one that made me laugh...
As for Facebook, our post got one of the best replies and one of the worst (even if it was a joke... but not even sure it is).
Nice one Kip - another star is probably what all of us would prefer. As for Victor... I'll leave it to the comments section. We'll see what the DT readers have to say.


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Since the inception of cryptocurrency back in 2009, the idea to create internet money came into existence. In the subsequent years, this idea got more acceptance from the leading investors due to the increasing value of the Bitcoin, the creation of Satoshi Nakamoto.
As the value of Bitcoin got high it made many people millionaires from the scratches, and its potential surprised everybody. But the story did not stop there as more and more tech experts entered into it and started creating their cryptocurrencies. The ones who have projects having potential were able to survive, such as the Ethereum project with its native cryptocurrency Eth token.
More than crypto, big tech giants attracted more to the underlying technology called the blockchain. This technology has changed the whole scenario of storing information free from any error, manipulation, and hacking.
With the benefits of crypto assets, there also came drawbacks as illegal activities boomed with the usage of cryptocurrency in suspected activities. The rapid surge in illegal actions had caused most of the governments to ban the digital currencies.
Stablecoins Minimize Crypto Volatility
Another weak point that was noticed in crypto was its high rate of fluctuation. The high volatility of the cryptocurrency forced tech scientists to roll out stablecoin. A stablecoin is the one that has the qualities of both cryptocurrency and fiat currency because it is a peg to some physical entity.
Stablecoin reduces the volatility rate to its minimum, and that’s why most people use stablecoin to create an immediate hedge against crypto’s volatility. However, legal bodies and government still have some concerns about it due to crypto roots in non-legal actions.
However, stablecoins forced government authorities to rethink about digital currency and to create their national cryptocurrency based on the blockchain technology. For example, Facebook is now creating a digital currency that will be pegged by fiat currencies.
Next Plan: CBDC
Many governments announced to layout plan to issue central bank digital currency (CBDC). China is on the top of the list to officially launch its digital currency. However, due to Coronavirus, the plan has got delayed.
The onset of COVID-19 has also diverted the attention of leading authorities to go for more contactless payment methods. In this respect, the idea of digital US dollar and digital Euro also popped up by their respective finance officials.
However, the next two to three years will decide the future of the digital currency as official bodies are now thinking upon it.


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Clément Beaune, Secretary of State at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European Affairs, has been visiting Le Havre last week. The
Motorists and other road users have sent 52,174 dash
Green NCAP has released the results of 24 cars
UK commercial vehicle activity is performing stronger during England’s
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Today, The Pokémon Company International unveiled Pokémon TCG Live, a new app that enables Trainers to benefit from the Pokémon Trading Card Game in an up to date digital format. The new app marks the primary time that Trainers can have interaction in Pokémon TCG gameplay on smartphones, along with tablets and desktops, and displays new improvements to the beloved Pokémon TCG franchise through the model’s twenty fifth anniversary 12 months.
“As we look back on 25 wonderful years of Pokémon, we are once again reminded of how the Pokémon Trading Card Game has always been a strong pillar of the franchise and beloved by young and veteran Trainers alike. Pokémon TCG Live will go hand in hand with the tabletop version that fans know and love, and welcomes a new era of digital play where Trainers around the world can play together regardless of their preferred platform.”
Barry Sams, vp of the Pokémon TCG at The Pokémon Company International.
Pokémon TCG Live will likely be coming quickly to supported iOS and Android units, in addition to PCs and Macs through Pokemon.com. Trainers trying to preview the game previous to broad availability will be capable of take part within the cellular tender launch in Canada and the worldwide open beta for PCs and Macs later this 12 months.
Source: The Pokemon Company


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You searched for 'SFX entertainment'...
...and we found 38 results
SFX surfaces from bankruptcy as the new anti-EDM LiveStyle Inc.
A shift in the brand's focus led by Randy Phillips
Beatport will not be sold by SFX
"SFX has determined that retaining ownership of Beatport is in the best interest of the Company"
Stereosonic founder to launch new festivals
Richie McNeill has teased plans for two new festivals
SFX to auction off Flavorus
The sale will be finalised next month
Stereosonic may have been permanently cancelled
Reports say the Australian festival juggernaut is over
Stereosonic 2016 cancelled as organisers plan 2017 return
A 'bigger and better' event will be hitting Australia after a year off, says Totem OneLove
Disney to purchase SFX and acquire TomorrowWorld
TomorrowWorld could face major changes
Line-ups for Spring Awakening and Electric Zoo revealed through SFX documents
Artists for the summer festivals are out


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Today marks the end of the national lockdown, and although some parts of the country still find themselves in Tier 3, London has been placed in Tier 2 which means retail shops have been allowed to re-open.
Oxford Street has been busy from the early morning with customers flocking to shops such as Primark and JD sports which have been sorely missed by many during Lockdown 2.0.
Primark recently released a list of 11 of their stores which will be open 24 hours a day after December 2, including the stores in Bluewater, Stratford and White City. Press here to find out which ones will be open 24 hours.
Moreover, Debenhams on Oxford Street saw a queue of customers, hoping to get their hands on some discount deals after the company announced its closure earlier this week after being in business for an impressive 242 years.
The department store has slashed prices by up to 70% which led to the online site crashing after being flocked by those eager not to miss out on any bargains.
— Chloe Kerr (@ChloeKerr_) December 2, 2020
Like Debenhams, well-loved high street shops such as Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins are all at risk of closure after the Arcadia Group also announced that they have fallen into administration.
The collapse of 207-year-old department store group Debenhams and Topshop-to-Burton fashion giant Arcadia threatens the livelihoods of 25,000 people and raises questions not just about their future, but what that means for the wider industry.https://t.co/yXxw3l1axk#FMCG #Retail
— The Supply Chain Consulting Group (@sccgltd) December 2, 2020
According to the BBC, 12,000 jobs are at risk at Debenhams when all 124 shops stop trading and 13,000 jobs are at risk under the Arcadia Group.
Reactions to the news of both Topshop and Debenhams falling into administration have not been taken well, with many going to Twitter to voice their views.
As traditional shops of the British high street landscape continue to close, it begs the question which will be next?
Words by: Ella Webster | Subbing: Grace Staley


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Lantern recently announced the launch of their new online platform, a single point solution that provides consumers with online tools and resources to help them navigate all aspects of the end-of-life and death process. The mission of Lantern is to ensure that every individual who is going through the end-of-life process can easily access the resources, websites, books, and services needed to cover every phase of the challenging end-of-life process.
According to Elizabeth Eddy, co-founder and chief executive officer of Lantern, the organization is able to support consumers throughout the entire end-of-life process, from pre-planning to post-funeral (e.g., navigating account closures and cancellations; finding grief counseling services in an individual’s surrounding community; practicing self-care after experiencing a loss). A consumer’s length of engagement can vary depending on each individual’s circumstances, ranging from a few weeks to a few months.
Lantern’s services are available nationwide and are currently offered at no cost to consumers; this includes customized checklists, articles, a chat feature with a live person to answer questions, and other related resources. However, over the next few months, Lantern will continue to produce new products, as well as a premium subscription option.
Lantern, which launched September 2019, is a mission driven for-profit company seeking to assist grieving families by providing a single point, online solution for the end-of-life and death process. Lantern helps consumers navigate the challenging process with step-by-step guidance through articles, checklists, a chat feature, among other online tools and resources. The company understands that the process is overwhelming and has made it their mission to ensure every grieving person has a simple, trustworthy, comprehensive place to turn.
This was reported by Lantern on October 7, 2019.


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P&M makes grilling easier with recyclable all-in-one EZ Grill
NEW YORK P&M is rolling out its new environmentally friendly all-in-one EZ Grill, perfect for the summer season.
According to manufacturers, the portable EZ Grill is a 100% recyclable instant grill, complete with foil pan, grill grate, stand and charcoal.
The disposable instant grill is all-natural and free from all additives, chemicals and fillers. It lights with one match and is perfect for tailgating, camping or a barbecue.
EZ Grill can be found at Winn-Dixie stores, Red Apple Markets and drugstore.com and is available in two sizes.
Cub Foods launches nutrition information program in stores
MINNEAPOLIS Cub Foods announced the launch of Nutrition iQ, a unique nutrition information program designed to help consumers make better-informed, better-for-you food choices right at the grocery store shelf.
Nutrition iQ was developed in collaboration with Joslin Clinic, part of an academic medical center affiliated with Boston’s Harvard Medical School. The Nutrition iQ program is available in the 73 Cub Foods stores located in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.
The Nutrition iQ program comes as research shows that consumers are having difficulty making sense of nutrition guidelines and are looking for an easier way to make informed food choices for better health. For example, approximately three-in-five consumers think diet and nutrition are very important, yet more than half say they need practical tips to help them eat right and 41% don’t know or understand nutrition guidelines, according to the American Dietetic Association.
The Nutrition iQ program uses easy-to-see, color-coded shelf tags – hung just below an item’s price tag – to help consumers quickly identify healthier food choices for themselves and their families.
“Cub Foods is committed to helping its customers lead healthy lifestyles. With more than 60,000 items on our grocery store shelves, it can take considerable time to read and compare nutrition labels. The Nutrition iQ program provides a convenient way for consumers to evaluate food choices on the spot as they shop,” said Chuck Lynch, SVP operations at Cub Foods.
“Poor food choices contribute to many health problems, including obesity and heart disease,” said Nora Saul, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., nutrition services manager, Joslin Clinic. “We’re pleased to have been able to contribute our nutritional expertise to a program that offers people a way to make healthy eating choices.”
Cub Foods is the second of Supervalu’s nationwide family of grocery stores to receive the Nutrition iQ program, which initially launched in January 2009 at the company’s Albertsons banner. Preliminary data from Albertsons suggest that the program has helped steer consumers to purchase better-for-you foods. Supervalu will roll out the program to its other stores, including Acme in Philadelphia, bigg’s in Cincinnati, Farm Fresh in Virginia, Hornbacher’s in Fargo, Jewel-Osco in Chicago, Shaw’s/Star Market in New England, Shop ‘n Save in St. Louis and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, this year.
CVS Caremark Charitable Trust invests grant to Easter Seals
CHICAGO The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust has invested a $300,000 grant to Easter Seals’ autism services for young children nationwide, CVS Caremark announced on Tuesday.
The grant, made possible through the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Program, enhances nearly $6 million already provided to Easter Seals through the All Kids Can Program in which Easter Seals is a national partner.
“CVS Caremark is committed to helping improve the quality of life for children with autism through this grant,” stated Eileen Howard Dunn, SVP corporate communications and community relations for CVS Caremark. “By supporting Easter Seals in enhancing evidence-based therapies, our reach can impact families living with autism now and those who many be diagnosed in the future.”
As many as one-out-of-150 children is diagnosed with autism, and the need for treatments continues to grow exponentially. Getting the right support at the earliest stage in life is critical. Known as early intervention, this type of service gives children the skills they need to be successful, stated CVS Caremark.
Established in 2006, the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Program selected Easter Seals as a national partner in the five-year, $25 million initiative to support children with diabilities.


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Destiny 2 is quite a massively popular video game, and it’s free-to-play. That’s a pretty easy way to get an audience to at least try a game out. However, few free-to-play games can keep an audience sticking around. Fortunately, that’s not the case for Bungie, as players have continued to enjoy the latest updates and content found in this futuristic fantasy FPS series. Much like all online video game titles, there’s always cheaters to deal with.
Cheating has become a problem on PC for Destiny 2. Bungie is aware of this problem, too, as they have been working on an anti-cheat software rollout. A report went out that Bungie is bringing on the BattlEye anti-cheat software, which has been popular in the past. For instance, we’ve seen Ubisoft games use this software. With it, we’ll be able to see Destiny 2 get cheaters out of the gameplay. Still, it’s a waiting game to see just how effective this software ends up being for the video game.
Just like other anti-cheat software, this is a program that downloads with the game. With it enabled, the game will be able to load up and play as usual. Those that tamper with the software will find that the game won’t run. It’s all a means to keep the game free from hackers and other potential attacks. Likewise, this could be a good alert to potentially bring back former players that have stopped due to cheating.
Right now, we don’t know just when the BattlEye Anti-Cheat software will get added into the game. According to Tom Warren from The Verge, this software has been going through internal testing for the past few months. As a result, a rollout should be coming out soon. The rollout can’t get here fast enough for some players, but at least we know the update is in the works.


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14:06 18th Nov, 2021
Apple to start retail stores in Delhi and Mumbai | TechTree.com
Apple to start retail stores in Delhi and Mumbai
Apple is planning to open up official stores and manufacturing facilities in India.
Apple is gearing up for the launch of its retail stores in two big cities in India. Though the stores were initially supposed to open last year, the launch was delayed thanks to the pandemic. Though it’s unclear if the stores will open this year, perhaps early next year is our guess.
The store in Mumbai may be located at the Maker Maximity Mall in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Apple has reportedly leased about 20,000-25,000 sq ft space for the store.
Aside from Delhi and Mumbai, we might see stores in Bangalore and other cities. Reports also suggest that Apple may open more than one store in Delhi and Mumbai.
Apple is also asking for job applications from anyone interested in store roles. The careers section on Apple’s site shows that they have over 13 job openings for various roles.
The timing of this announcement is perfect. Not only has Apple substantially increased its user base in India thanks to discounts and offers, but its manufacturing facilities in India are also churning out more products every year.
As Apple looks to gradually lessen its dependence on China, opening brick and mortar stores in India will only help them strengthen its grip on the fastest-growing smartphone market in the world.
- DRIFE Begins Operations in Namma Bengaluru
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- Inbase launches ‘Urban Q1 Pro’ TWS Earbuds with Smart Touch control in India
- Airtel announces Rs 6000 cashback on purchase of smartphones from leading brands
- 78% of Indians are saving to spend during the festive season and 72% will splurge on gadgets & electronics
- 5 Tips For Buying A TV This Festive Season
- Facebook launches its largest creator education program in India
- 5 educational tech toys for young and aspiring engineers
- Mid-range smartphones emerge as customer favourites this festive season, reveals Amazon survey
- COLORFUL Launches Onebot M24A1 AIO PC for Professionals


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Just yesterday, we reported that the first set of 2021 Maruti Suzuki Alto had emerged on the interwebs. Turns out, it was not the only one to have been spotted on a test run recently. Next gen Maruti Suzuki Celerio's spy shots have surfaced as yet another entry-level Maruti Suzuki car prepares for a complete overhaul. Much like the new Alto 2021, the upcoming iteration of the Celerio too looks much bigger than the existing model. It also appears to ride higher than the current model and also features a longer wheelbase. That last bit ought to translate into more space in the cabin, by the way.
The upcoming Maruti Suzuki hatchback will be underpinned by the same Heartect platform as the new generation Maruti Suzuki Alto. Other Maruti Suzuki cars based on this platform include Maruti Suzuki WagonR, Maruti Suzuki S-Presso, Maruti Suzuki Baleno, and Maruti Suzuki Swift.
(2020 Maruti Suzuki Celerio; Image Credit: AutoX)
Anyway, as mentioned above, Maruti Suzuki Celerio 2020 is expected offer a much more spacious cabin on account of the longer wheelbase. This ought to be complemented by a better cabin and provisions. We reckon Maruti Suzuki will equip it with relatively modern features like reverse parking camera, SmartPlay Studio infotainment system, etc. over and above what the current model comes equipped with.
The final bit, then, i.e. the engine. 2020 Maruti Suzuki Celerio will use the same engine as the current model, i.e. a 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine that generates 66 bhp along with a peak torque of 90 Nm. For transmission, Maruti Suzuki will continue offering the Celerio with a choice between a five-speed manual gearbox and a five-speed AMT automatic.


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DAYTON, OHIO – June 22, 2010 — C2G, the preferred provider and trusted expert of high performance cabling and connectivity solutions, today announced it has more than doubled the number of C2G products being offered by Ingram Micro Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM).
With the expanded offering, nearly 1,000 C2G products are now in stock and ready to ship through Ingram Micro Canada. In order to support the digital signage, SMB and education segments, the greatest increase in product availability is within the A/V and networking categories. To build greater awareness among Ingram Micro's channel partner community, C2G and the distributor are engaged in a number of co–operative marketing programs.
“Strict building code requirements for cabling in plenum spaces have created installation challenges in schools, hospitals and other commercial buildings,” said Gary Hess, vice president of innovation for Lastar™, parent company of C2G. “Previous solutions have needed to convert the digital signals to run over Cat5 or Cat6 and then convert them back. This adds complexity due to the signal conversion, requires a power source and introduces the possibility of signal degradation. With digital plenum cables from C2G, commercial installers have a simple, flexible means to transmit digital signals through plenum spaces.”
“Ingram Micro is a great partner for C2G, and we're pleased to expand our inventory and work together to generate greater demand for C2G technology,” said Tim Turner, senior sales director of C2G. “By doubling our available inventory with Ingram Micro Canada we are bringing new alternatives to a market that is poised for explosive growth in high–definition audio/video connectivity.”
Ingram Micro Canada began distributing C2G products just over 18 months ago. According to Ingram Micro Canada's Tim Billing, vice president, vendor management, the IT distributor's proven success in selling connectivity solutions that include C2G's products and attracting new resellers were two of the primary drivers for increasing C2G product inventory.
“We're seeing increasing demand for connectivity solutions among SMBs and key verticals such as education,” says Billing. “Technology categories such as digital signage are also seeing an uptick in demand which bodes well for C2G and its channel partners. We're pleased to expand our portfolio of C2G products and will continue to build upon our success.”
C2G's expanded portfolio of product inventory is now available through Ingram Micro Canada and can be ordered online at Ingram Micro.
C2G, a brand of Legrand, is a global leader in Audio/Video and PC cabling and connectivity solutions since 1984. C2G delivers connectivity solutions renowned for superior quality, value, and innovation—all backed by an uncompromising commitment to customer service. C2G is widely known as the cabling and connectivity supplier of choice for industry leading integrators, technology resellers, and distributors across North America, EMEA, and Asia. In 2019 C2G joined Legrand | AV, a leading provider of innovative connectivity, mounting, racks, and display solutions for various audio video technologies. For more information, please visit C2G.
Product Marketing | C2G


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August was a challenging month for retail in general and CE and appliance dealers in particular.
According to the latest monthly sales estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, sell-through for tech and majap dealers slipped 3.1 percent year over year to $8.5 billion, and was essentially flat from July.
Also struggling were department stores and gas stations, whose sales fell 5 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively.
By comparison, August sales rose 1.6 percent for furniture and home-furnishings stores, 11 percent for e-tailers, and 1.4 percent for retail overall in August. (Figures were adjusted for seasonal variation and for holiday and trading day differences, but not for price changes.)
The numbers could be troubling: While the dog days of summer are a traditionally slow time for tech, August marks the start of the back-to-school season, which many consider a bellwether for the coming holiday sales period.
“The pattern of summer slowing was evident last year and that is what we’re seeing again this year,” observed Jack Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation, an industry trade group. “Despite this drop-off, other indicators suggest that this is a temporary dip and that consumers will remain a driving force in the U.S. economy. Last month’s data may also reflect a drag from ongoing retail price declines that have affected the industry for several years.”
Kleinhenz added that rising incomes and steady employment gains “should provide the fuel for spending as we look ahead to the holiday season.”


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Even though consumer fraud remains a large issue for millions to billions of people annually, many tend to forget about the significance of business fraud.
According to The 2018 Global Fraud and Identity Report, 45% of business executives were significantly more concerned about how the risk of fraud will impact their companies in 2018. Moreover, this same report (released in January 2018) showed that 63% of businesses had experienced the same amount of fraud or more in the past twelve months.
With these concerning stats, it’s essential to be aware of the various types of ways in which an organisation could be vulnerable to fraud. In this article we examine a few of these examples, as well as explain which organisations and industries are particularly prone to fraud. Finally, we outline the important role that blockchain can play in reducing the risk of fraud.
Cyber Attacks and Security Vulnerabilities
Protecting data is becoming more expensive and more difficult to achieve in recent years. This is largely due to new types of attacks that most organisations are not prepared enough for to stop. Here are just two examples of these emerging threats.
Some attacks are quite simple and can be mitigated through basic education like telling employees not to click on a link to an unknown site within a suspicious email. Others are more advanced. For example, in early 2018, a new type of phishing called conversation-hijacking attacks quickly became a popular choice for cybercriminals. These attacks occur “when hackers manage to infiltrate legitimate email threads between people, and use highly-customised phishing techniques to make it look as if the victim is the one sending messages back and forth.”
Additionally, new types of cybercriminal activities are putting business efficiency at risk. Throughout Q1 and Q2 2018, cryptojacking emerged seemingly out of nowhere to displace ransomware as the most popular cyberthreat. In August 2018, one in three organisations reported that they had been affected by mining malware that uses computing power to illegally mine cryptocurrency. As a result, this activity significantly reduced the capabilities of devices to perform normal operations.
Businesses want to make the customer onboarding process as simple as possible, while also still complying with various regulations and keeping information secure. The main issue is that current systems used for important processes like KYC and identity checks are oftentimes unable to detect cases of application fraud. As a result, businesses that require these processes waste capital, human resources, and time. Meanwhile, long processes can serve as significant barriers that drive legitimate customers away.
Application fraud is often caused by synthetic identity schemes (SIFs). The Wall Street Journal listed SIF as one of the top three risks facing the banking industry in 2016. Since that time, this issue has only continued to grow. On the dark web, criminals are capable of finding sensitive financial information belonging to real people. With this info, they can make partial or complete identities. These scammers are able to pass existing KYC checks by creating a variety of fake documents that expand far beyond basic financial and identification information. For example, SIF criminals can falsify payment statements and even entire businesses.
While using the same password for multiple accounts seems like a rather obvious bad choice, you might be surprised just how many people actually still do this today. According to a May 2018 survey from LastPass, 91% of survey respondents knew that using one password was a security risk. However, 59% of those surveyed admitted to being mostly guilty or always guilty of using the same password. An even worse result is the fact that 55% of respondents said they wouldn’t update their password if that account had been hacked.
It’s easy to imagine what sort of negative implications this could have on businesses of any size or industry. Think of how one account being hacked could easily lead to every account being hacked. By not focusing on password security, an organisation account hack could affect everyone within an organisation as well as negatively influence customer opinions, which could impact customer retention and/or long-term profitability.
Changing a password after a hack occurs or using different passwords across various accounts certainly isn’t a guarantee to preventing all security issues within an organisation. However, it’s a useful (and simple) method that too many companies simply ignore.
Which Industries Are the Most Vulnerable to Business Fraud?
In the early days of the internet and data storage, the answer to this question might have been limited to only a couple of industries. Today, this answer is much different. When examining the three examples listed above, any organisation could be a victim of these types of fraud. A number of businesses, especially those that are responsible for storing and processing sensitive financial and identity information, are highly vulnerable to a wide range of fraud types.
Traditional financial institutions (i.e. banks) are probably the most likely target since they provide the most direct way for cybercriminals to steal funds. However, the targets of large-scale data breaches in recent years have become more diverse, spanning across a number of industries. These have included e-commerce websites, brick-and-mortar shops and restaurants, social media platforms, traditional consumer credit agencies, and other businesses.
If you’re concerned that your own organisation might be prone to fraud, what are some effective prevention strategies? Besides being knowledgeable about the various types of fraud mentioned above, leaders within organisations can implement innovative technologies that have proven to reduce fraud risk.
Blockchain for Fraud Prevention and ID Management
As demonstrated in this article, modern businesses have to be better prepared to prevent various types of fraud from an array of sources. While there are a few fraud prevention methods that are simple for companies to implement, some vulnerabilities are too difficult to solve with traditional fraud detection technologies.
Blockchain technology can help any organisation enhance data security. Blockchain can help organisations (and individuals) prevent malicious cyber attacks and application/synthetic identity fraud. It can even improve login and access management across many websites and mobile applications.
If you’re interested in learning how exactly blockchain can empower more efficient, cost-effective KYC/AML compliance, identity checks, and risk scoring, read our detailed guide on blockchain for ID management.


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In a bold move that has sparked controversy around the world, China under consideration Extending the real-world social credit system into the realm of virtual online worlds and the Metaverse.
Entitled “Digital Identity System,” the controversial proposal, created by state-owned telecoms giant China Mobile and being reviewed by experts, has raised concerns among digital privacy advocates.
In the proposed system, each individual using a virtual online platform or metaverse will be assigned a unique digital identity. This ID includes “identifiable signs, natural and social characteristics” and personal details to form a comprehensive profile of the user.
Under this proposal, such information would be stored indefinitely and made accessible to law enforcement agencies, facilitating rapid response to instances of misconduct within these virtual territories.
A relevant example is outlined in the proposal to show how the system works in practice.
This example assumes that a user named Tom has acted destructively within the metaverse. With a digital ID, Tom’s behavior can be quickly identified, appropriate action taken against him, and effective regulation of his behavior in the virtual space.
The effort may seem reminiscent of China’s infamous social credit system operating in the physical world.
Implemented nationwide, this dystopian system assesses the credibility of individuals, businesses, and government agencies based on their actions and actions. Various versions of this system are currently in use within China, but plans are underway for a unified nationwide version.
A proposal by China Mobile sparked discussion at an international conference. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a United Nations agency dedicated to global communications standards.
In December, the ITU established the Metaverse Focus Group to discuss emerging concepts of virtual worlds. This group of regulators, academics, tech companies and non-governmental organizations evaluates and votes on novel ideas.
China Mobile’s proposal was presented at the 2nd Metaverse Focus Group Meeting in Shanghai on July 5th and will be voted on at the next General Assembly in October.
But there are growing concerns about data privacy and personal freedoms.
Critics argue that the concept of unique identifiers and long-term storage of personal data can violate online privacy rights. Such measures may be seen as acceptable within a single-party state, but in a democratic society they may be seen as invasive and intrusive.
As expected, this proposal is expected to face significant opposition within the ITU. Nevertheless, global law enforcement agencies Interpol advocates early adoption of virtual reality technology to stay ahead of potential lawbreakers, scammers, and terrorists who might exploit the Metaverse.
Want to learn about IoT from industry leaders? check out IoT Tech Expo It will be held in Amsterdam, California and London. The comprehensive event will be held at the same location as: digital transformation week.
Check out other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars from TechForge here.
https://www.iottechnews.com/news/2023/aug/22/china-wants-metaverse-users-traceable-ids/ China wants Metaverse users to have traceable IDs


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| Jul 5, 2014
| 2:30 PM
Could Davros be returning to "Doctor Who"?
A new teaser for the upcoming eighth season features a familiar voice that sounds eerily like it belongs to the founder of the Dalek Empire. Davros was last seen facing off against the 10th Doctor in "The End of...
| Jul 2, 2014
| 4:32 PM
"Although the Chevrolet Volt has received a big price cut, it still retains its novel extended-range electric car abilities ??? as well as its poor visibility, questionable touch-sensitive panels and cramped interior," said Cars.com reviewer Aaron D....
| Jun 27, 2014
Dear Amy: I am worried about my best friend and her husband. They are always short of cash and do not have any savings. Their electricity has been cut off twice. They've been through numerous cars and have been in trouble with their mortgage company for...
| May 29, 2014
| 10:30 PM
Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, on Thursday unveiled an upgraded passenger version of the Dragon cargo ship NASA buys for resupply runs to the International Space Station.
Rather than parachuting down into the ocean, the new capsule is...
| May 28, 2014
| 4:37 PM
Despite study after study showing that climate change may already be upon us with a host of unpleasant consequences, the public has not developed a sense of urgency about it. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change drew a consensus from scientists...
| May 9, 2014
| 3:46 PM
Americans eager to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels — especially foreign oil — recognize the importance of alternative energy sources. Today, solar panels, fuel cells and combined production of heat and power, or CHP, reflect the move...
| Jun 12, 2014
| 6:28 PM
The Tesla Model S just became the world's first open-source car.
Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla Motors Inc., said Thursday that he was opening up the electric car company's patents to all comers.
"Technology leadership is not defined by patents,...
| May 28, 2014
| 5:59 AM
Google is building cars that don't have steering wheels, accelerator pedals or brake pedals, in an ambitious expansion of the Internet company's efforts to develop self-driving cars.
The small electric cars, which seat two passengers, are currently...
| May 12, 2014
| 12:14 PM
Same great hatchback flavor. Now with less fuel!
That’s the theme behind Audi’s forthcoming 2015 A3 Sportback e-tron, a compact hatchback due in early 2015 that will be the first ever plug-in hybrid from the German automaker.
Audi A3 fans...
| May 27, 2014
| 9:26 AM
Hyundai has upset Honda for the title of the Greenest Automaker in the United States, according to the latest ranking by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), an independent nonprofit organization.
The Korean automaker and its sister brand Kia have...
| May 5, 2014
| 4:47 PM
Attention, eco-chic speed freaks: Set aside your Teslas; you have a new toy to covet.
The 2014 BMW i8 plug-in hybrid and the all-electric i3 are the first offerings from the automaker's new i subbrand. Equal parts sex appeal and efficiency, the cars...


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THOUSANDS of ice cream lovers flocked to Garon Park, Southend, to take part in a world record attempt.
Organisers of the Relay for Life and Rossi Ice Cream bosses teamed up to break the record for the longest chain of people licking ice creams.
It is thought some 2,000 people turned up for the event on Saturday, but organisers are waiting for officials from the Guinness Book of World Records to find out if the record – 2,728 – was broken.
With Rossi boss Colin Gray giving out free ice cream, organisers are hopeful they have smashed the record.
Mr Gray has supported the Relay for Life for the past six years.
He said: “It’s been brilliant to see so many people to turn out and support this event for such an important cause.
“I want to say a big thank you to all the volunteers and people who made the event and the record attempt possible.
“I’m not able to confirm at this stage if we have broken the record, but let’s hope we have.
“It’s been a fantastic day. I had cancer 20 years ago so this is very close to my heart. We’ve donated all the ice cream for the attempt and all money from the ice cream van today will go to Cancer Research.”


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CUCUMBERS are still very much on the menu on Sheffield’s fruit and veg stalls - as shoppers carry on buying the vegetable despite it being linked to a potentially fatal bug spreading across Europe.
More than 1,000 people on the continent are ill from viruses rumoured to be carried in contaminated cucumbers, sparking one of the largest ever scares in fresh food produce.
The outbreak has been put down to E coli, as well as a syndrome which causes life-threatening kidney problems, with the first cases being reported in Germany.
But in Castle Market in Sheffield city centre, traders were still offering cucumbers for sale - albeit mostly of the home-grown variety.
Ian Bingham, aged 43, who runs the Bingham and Brown fruit and vegetable stall, told The Star he hasn’t seen any dip in trade since the scare began.
“It’s just made us more aware,” he said. “We’ve put an extra sign on the stall saying our cucumbers are English. I don’t think it will affect us. It scared people at the beginning, but it will pass, I’m sure.”
Ian, who lives in Sothall and has worked on his family’s store for 27 years, said he won’t be selling Spanish cucumbers after the country’s produce was blamed for starting the virus outbreak.
“We’ll normally buy Spanish at certain times of the year, but we certainly won’t in the near future,” he said. “We try and have as much English gear as we can.”
Shopper Charles Moxon, 76, from Bolton-on-Dearne, said he wouldn’t be put off buying cucumbers.
“There’s no problem with cucumbers from this country by the sounds of it,” he said, adding some reports have brought leaf lettuce and tomatoes into the frame as well.
“It doesn’t sound like they know what it was in, they’re going all over the place with it. It’s a mystery.”
An 84-year-old customer, who didn’t want to be named, happily bought half a cucumber for her summer salad - then admitted she’d “completely forgotten” about the virus scare.
“I don’t think I’m at risk,” she added. “The world is a big place. When you think of the numbers of people who have got this, it’s like dropping a pea in the ocean. They’re creating a panic about it.”
Cucumbers were selling at the bargain price of three for £1 at Stuart McClarnan’s stall, Stuart’s Fruit and Veg.
Stuart, 38, said: “The confidence seems to be there, they are selling. People are asking about it, but because we’re selling English cucumbers we’re not affected by it. They’re grown in Hull.
“We won’t touch Spanish cucumbers now. Why would I buy Spanish anyway when the English are cheap enough?”
Ian Cull, 31, who runs the Fruit Fayre stall, said the virus scare hasn’t affected his sales of cucumber, but said the Spanish variety is going to waste at his suppliers.
“There’s pallets in the wholesale of foreign cucumbers that people won’t buy,” he said. “I think it’s sad to leave something behind straight away rather than finding out exactly what the problem is.”
Elsewhere, Marks and Spencers on Fargate were displaying a tray piled high with British cucumbers, and lunchtime shoppers were snapping up wild red salmon sandwiches - with slices of cucumber.


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Five steps to help your business stay in the game as the COVID pandemic plays out
The COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly disrupted every aspect of business operations, leaving many companies scrambling to craft an effective strategic response. In the wake of the crisis, it seems as though we’ve been hit with an overabundance of information and news content focused on doom and gloom. In order for businesses to remain effective and competitive during this epidemic, the focus must be shifted away from fear and towards being proactive. It’s been incredible to see how many brands have been able to spin the narrative already.
We’ve re-imagined the five-step approach1 crafted by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, and applied it in ways relevant to the “new normals” in marketing and advertising to help businesses prepare for the future.
Companies looking to soldier on must begin by addressing any immediate challenges they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Plans must be escalated to facilitate both continuity of business operations and the health and safety of employees and customers. There must be a common sense of resolve to get things back on track and remain top of mind among your customers as much as possible. Many retailers have done an exceptional job of this through new business collaborations, new ways of servicing customers, new product offerings, and more. Take Airbnb for example – a company whose business is stapled in travel. They’ve been offering up virtual visits with dogs in Chernobyl, cooking with a Moroccan family, and meditations with buddhist monks in Japan2. This type of resolve is something that isn’t just here for the time being, but likely to remain even after things get back to “normal.”
Resilience is no longer an option—it’s a necessity for persevering through these hard times. How resilient are you? How resilient is your business? Now is the time to address any immediate resiliency issues.
Recent research by the IAB found that most companies surveyed reported they had already begun to make changes in their ad spending. Many companies are focusing on decreasing ad spend across the board, but specifically, the billboard. OOH, digital OOH, and terrestrial radio has been substantially cut due to the current context and nature of the pandemic3, but it becomes less about halting all ad spend and more about making necessary adjustments, such as advertising nearby locations that have essential businesses where foot traffic may be higher. However, while there have been large cuts in advertising dollars, a recent survey found that consumers don’t think brands should stop adverting.
Research by advertising analytics firm, Ace Metrix, reported that 86% of US ad viewers were open to brands mentioning COVID-19 in their ads4. Brands should be focused on making sure that whatever they are putting forward around messaging and content is reassuring and fits within the context of the content.
“It’s less about being very commercial and promotional in our messaging and a lot more about how do we really express the heart of this brand.”5 – Marisa Thalberg, Lowe’s VP and Chief Brand and Marketing Officer
It’s evident that brand purpose will be a strong component to messaging during this time.
Now is the time to craft a detailed strategy to return business to scale. Businesses looking for a more concrete approach should focus on the following actions:
- Information/Education – Keep employees and customers well-informed and regularly updated on the most recent news about the status of your operations and any potential changes that may affect them.
- Reassurance – Reassure employees and customers that they can trust you during the hard times. Give them confidence in your brand and detail the steps your company is taking to ensure they receive the same level of care they are used to.
- Entertainment – Consider the current climate and context. Focus on messaging related to being homebound and find interesting ways to engage your customers and provide them with novel experiences online. Think of new ways to inform, educate, and interact. For instance, now is the time to start experimenting with new forms of content, such as videos, live streams, or podcasts.
- Loyalty – Now is the perfect time to shift your focus towards cultivating loyalty and long-term relationships. Consumers will continue to seek deals with the threat of a recession, throwing brand loyalty to the wind at times, so concentrating on your current customer base and finding ways to make your customers feel special and cared for is extremely important.
However, this also lends an opportunity to engage new audiences. For instance, several fitness companies such as CorePower Yoga and others are offering certain classes for free to entice new customers to sign up down the road. Others have been offering Instagram Live classes during certain hours of the day while promoting additional subscription models for access to more online classes.
Understanding Location Will Be More Important Than Ever Before
As states begin opening up in different stages and at different times, there are many strategies brands can take to build market share back up. Neighborhood shops and other local establishments may want to target particular customers with personalized offers based on their past visitation behaviors and current whereabouts. By analyzing visitation patterns, restaurants can target their most loyal customers with messaging around “first-dibs” on reservations with limited seating.
Similarly, retailers can offer loyal customers early access to their stores or be the first to book an appointment-only visit. Using geofence technology, sales associates can be alerted that customers are nearby the store and prepare to meet them once they arrive. As well, the customer can get a notification on their phone once they are at the store that the sales associate will be right out. Or maybe retailers want to send limited time offers to those who haven’t engaged with them or visited a store in the past 6 months, but have frequented competitor locations in the past.
It all comes down to creating compelling, differentiated offers, by taking a customer-centric approach and developing a deep understanding of each shopper as an individual, and location can help.
Brands will need to begin reimagining the “next normal” and take the appropriate steps to prepare for the future and, possibly, reinvention. The pandemic has brought a lot of things that many businesses had swept under the rug. While some companies are learning a lesson about their vulnerabilities, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be used as an opportunity to adapt and improve for the future. Perhaps your business operations could benefit from a greater degree of flexibility or efficiency, i.e. BOPIS, curbside pickup, or other contactless solutions. The result will be an increase in strength, resiliency, and productivity.
What will the store experience look like? What will the live event experience look like? The fitness experience, and so on? Nike for one already began reinventing the in-store experience prior to the pandemic with “scan-to-learn” allowing customers to scan a mannequin to learn more about the product6. Models like this will become even more important as retailers adopt more contactless solutions.
Companies should begin thinking about and preparing for the future and how both the regulatory and competitive environments may potentially change. Approaches and strategies will vary greatly between businesses and industries, but the goal should be to ensure that your company comes out better prepared for potential obstacles than it was before.
Brands across all verticals should be prepared for the ways consumers have adapted to the new normal and as such, new channels of communication and shifts in marketing strategies should not be thrown out. In fact, brands will likely continue to use these new channels in creative ways. It’s likely that restaurants will create permanent partnerships with delivery service platforms or expand their geographic reach, and smaller stores will strengthen (or create) an online presence that goes beyond their local neighborhoods.
What Lies Ahead
It’s important to take this time as an opportunity to be proactive, increase your ability to adapt under pressure, and get creative. The pandemic has not brought an end to brick-and-mortar, but the way stores operate will change. Local businesses that have historically relied on foot traffic for their main source of income will need to develop different revenue streams to proof for future scenarios. The digital and physical channels will be even more closely connected as the adoption rate for an omnichannel presence becomes greater.
If ever a silver lining, the way brands have banded together by building on community has opened up more authentic connections with consumers. Now that’s a new normal we can all get behind.
1 COVID-19: Implications for business. McKinsey & Company. April 13, 2020
2 Airbnb has launched Online Experiences so you can meditate with Japanese Buddhist monks and make pasta with Italian nonnas all from home.Business Insider. April 9, 2020
3How Advertisers Are Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis. eMarketer. March 30, 2020
4How Brands are Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ace Metrix. March 19, 2020
5Lowe’s new CMO on pandemic marketing in the age of social distancing. Ad Age
6Nike’s Heidi O’Neill on the brand’s digital — and coronavirus — strategy. ModernRetail. May 11, 2020


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Young automaker global start-up NIO is to launch autonomous electric vehicles in U.S. by 2020
NIO, a next generation Shanghai based automotive startup, announced that they will provide first autonomous electric vehicle in the US market by 2020. The startup company discloses its “NIO EVE” the embodiment of their vision for future of autonomous cars.
But the point of discussion, is the young automotive company will face a lot of competition and will it be capable of making its place in global race to create a big effect on the market conditions?
According to Padmasree Warrior, NIO’s United States CEO, we are excited about having autonomous electric cars for US consumers by 2020. Further she said the company revealed its vision for the car of the future which is focused on delivering unmatched user experience through leading edge, software defined hardware.
Moreover she said in 2015 the commuters in the U.S. spent over 8 billion hours in their cars commuting. NIO’s automatic electric cars will make the journey safe, more productive and enjoyable. The cars will be able to know your needs and tastes and will be your companion and there will be always welcoming living space that will move you definitely every time.
The company provided the technical specifications sheet that shows a target driving range of about 966 kilometres per charge, although the electric range was not discussed.
The company in November 2016, the company launched its electric supercar, the NIO EP9, which achieved a new lap record of 20.8 km in 7m 05.12s and leaving behind the previous EV lap record held, making it the fastest car in the world.
Warrior said the car will be completely capable of driving itself in constrained environment. At the outset, we were targeting solving the problem of commute that all of us face around the world.
Moreover there are automobile maker including Nissan, GM, Volvo, Ford and Mercedes are introducing their range of more innovatory vehicles. It will be tough challenge for the automobile startup to set up its market and develop the popularity in the country.
The company US CEO, Padmasree Warrior announced that the NIO is partnering with , NVIDIA and NXP. Warrior did not put up emphasis on describing the specific technical characteristics of the autonomous electric vehicle. But the company has good potential to bring themselves into existence and expand the number of customers and clients in the U.S. automobile industry.


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Join Mbanq CEO Vlad Lounegov on Day 2 of the 2022 Wolfe FinTech Forum, as he takes part in the panel discussion entitled “Bank Tech – Non-Stop Innovation Train Rolls On”.
📅 Wednesday, 09 March 2022
🕝 2:20-2:55pm ET
📢 Panel: “Bank Tech – Non-Stop Innovation Train Rolls On”
📍 2022 Wolfe FinTech Forum
Wolfe FinTech Forum is a 3-day virtual event packed with presentations and insights from leaders of some of the most respected companies in FinTech, payments, processing and technology.
CEOs of Visa, Mastercard and MoneyLion are just some of the notable chief executives with speaking roles at this year’s Forum, while the list of topics includes digital and omnichannel payments, evolution at the point-of-sale, e-commerce/m-commerce, digital wallets, B2B payments, money transfer, and more.