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Last week, Hinsch’s, the beloved Bay Ridge diner whose continued existence has been uncertain for years, finally ended its 67-year reign when the current owners turned it into a Stewart’s franchise—the first proper storefront sitdown Stewart’s in New York City. A lot of the admiration for Hinsch’s was rooted in nostalgia—it was the last of its kind, the luncheonette/soda fountain/chocolatier/ice cream parlor that persevered while literally hundreds of others closed or changed.
Before it was called Hinsch (which was the name on the sign, not Hinsch’s), 8518 Fifth Avenue was home to Reichert’s Tea Room, the earliest reference to which I can find are several ads in the Brooklyn Eagle during October 1931 (leading me to believe this is around the time it opened); the earliest reads, “‘Meet Me at Reichert’s’ has become such a familiar phrase among young people in Bay Ridge it is hardly worth mentioning here. The point we like to make is this: If Reichert’s didn’t make the best ice cream sodas in town would they meet at Reichert’s?” Such ads continued running through at least January, boasting of the wholesome food, a chef who knows his pantry, appeals to kids and housewives, and the candies for sale at Christmas, as low as 69¢/lb. for assorted milk chocolate [or $10.76, adjusted for inflation—?!].
A Certificate of Occupancy, issued by the Brooklyn Bureau of Buildings, is dated December 4, 1931, after alterations to the building. (The leasee was Reichert and Schaefer Inc.; the architect’s name is illegible. The landlord was A. Gentile, and the building is still in the Gentile family, passing in 1983 from Josephine Gentile to Lillian Gentile and Anna Tesoriero, and in 2004 from those two women to A & J Gentile LLC. These are not relatives of local Councilmember Vincent Gentile, his spokesperson confirmed.) The building was built in 1921, according to city data, part of the decade-long building boom that followed the arrival of the subway, meaning the address has likely always (at least almost always) been home to a Hinsch’s-style hangout. An electric sign was installed in September 1929; an old tax photo from the 40s shows Reichert’s decorated with neon signs similar to the ones Hinsch would put up ca. 1948.
“Originally, the place didn’t serve food, just ice cream and chocolates,” Time Out New York reported in 2004. “‘They added some light food during the Depression,’ says [John] Logue [Jr., the owner at the time], ‘but even up to 30 years ago there was no heavy cooking.’” Help-wanted classified ads appear in the Eagle as late as 1947: “GIRL FOR SODA FOUNTAIN AND SANDWICHES; EXPERIENCED.” Around the same time (January 1946) a second certificate of occupancy was issued after more alterations to the building, which now officially had an “ice cream parlor” on the first floor (as opposed to the generic “store” on the earlier CofO), with one-family apartments on the second and third.
Two years later, in 1948, Herman Hinsch, who lived at 69 79th Street, bought the business, and named it after himself. (The last Hinsch to own the house on 79th Street was Mathilde Hinsch, who sold it in 1988.) The only mention of the confectionery I could find in the Eagle archives was from May 1954—an ad for ice cream cakes, starting at $2 (or $17.62, adjusted for inflation).
I also found a photo of the Hinsches’ daughter, Dorothy, from the Society page, when her announcement to Robert Carlen of 547 68th Street was announced.
An interview with Logue Jr., on a website about neon signs in New York, claims that Hinsch already had a shop on 18th Avenue when he decided to move and take over the Reichert space. (Back then, the Hinsch family lived at 4716 18th Avenue, according to the 1940 census.) John Logue, Sr., worked at the 18th Avenue shop.
The Hinschs owned the restaurant until 1961, when Herman sold it to Logue, Sr., who put his 12-year-old son behind the counter to serve milk shakes and egg creams. “Logue [Jr.] says that wherever there was a movie theater, you could bet there’d be an ice cream parlor within spitting distance,” Edible Brooklyn reported in 2008. “Bay Ridge’s 86th Street was once home to not one but two movie theaters…and boasted two local ice creameries to boot.”
Logue turned the business into a neighborhood empire which would eventually include Once Upon a Sundae (formerly 7702 Third Avenue) and Logue’s (formerly 6920 Third Avenue). The latter is now Anopoli, and is still known for its homemade ice cream and old-fashioned treats like root beer floats and Lime Rickeys. It was a candy shop as far back as 1931, when the address appears attached to “Hormann & Meyer” in an Eagle ad for local such candy shops (of which there were at least a dozen within today’s Bay Ridge boundaries, plus many more as far as 42nd Street). The present owners claim its history goes back to 1897, according to a 2012 article in the Daily News claiming the space was celebrating its 115th birthday.
While Anopoli Ice Cream Parlor & Family Restaurant is the latest name on the front sign, at least three other clans have managed the 65-seat eatery – all snubbing modernity. “We didn’t want to change old things,” said Manny Saviolakis, 34, who took over the place with his father Steve, 62, in 1995, who had downed desserts there since childhood. “It’s old Brooklyn. It doesn’t feel like old Brooklyn: This is old Brooklyn,” said Manny…“It’s always been like this,” said Harold Boye, 88, who has been eating breakfast [there] for 53 years.
For Once Upon a Sundae, Logue had “transplanted the turn-of-the twentieth century furnishings of Brooklyn’s oldest ice-cream parlor from Fulton Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant to these lodgings in Bay Ridge,” according to the second edition (from 1999) of Ellen Freudenheim’s tourist guide Brooklyn!. And it’s referenced as late as 2002 in a Brooklyn Paper column, but an Internet forum says it was already closed by 2000, which gibes better with my memory. The deli that had been long been next door expanded, taking over the corner spot.
Hinsch’s continued on through the 90s, when Logue Jr. took over from his dad, and 00s, retaining its time-capsule appeal, refusing to change at all with the times; by the time Logue gave it up, it was for better and worse probably the last diner in Brooklyn where you couldn’t get a veggie burger. “The service could be brusque, or sometimes worse: I once took a friend there, who was mortified when our waitress [coughed into her hand] and immediately used that hand to handle our silverware,” I once wrote. “I mostly went to Hinsch’s to indulge my own nostalgia for places like it, and because I knew a day would come when I couldn’t go to Hinsch’s.”
And then that day came. Abruptly, in September 2011, the Logue family closed the shop and hung a sign in the window citing “current economic conditions, customers changing eating patterns, and our desire to retire early.” The landlord also wanted to raise the rent to $10,000, from $7,500, and Logue had problems with the health department, which “shut down the eatery earlier that day after inspectors said it was a magnet for rats with improperly refrigerated food and roaches in the kitchen and common areas. Prior inspections also revealed the presence of mice,” the Brooklyn Paper reported.
Within two months, the shop was bought by Gerard Bell, who co-owns Skinflint’s, as well as Bill Gardell and Roger Desmond. But they were looking to get out by February, putting the business up for sale, according to EaterNY. Then Desmond said the place would close, again; then he said it wouldn’t, but it would become BYOB, and serve fancier food; then he said he had sold it, to Mike Moudatsos. The old sign was disassembled, and the space renamed Mike’s Hinsch. (A sign not unlike the old one went up on the storefront, facing Fifth Avenue, but a sign very different from the one it replaced went above it, facing 86th Street.)
Then, two weeks ago, Meaghan McGoldrick broke the story in the Home Reporter that Moudatsos and his son Lee would turn Mike’s Hinsch’s into a Stewart’s franchise. “Stewart’s is an old brand—even older than Hinsch’s—with the same basic concept of an old soda shop, so we thought it was a great idea to bring it here and kind of merge it with Hinsch’s,” Lee Moudatsos told the paper. “That way, we keep it the same while expanding a little.”
But many people see it as just another example of the sanitization of culture in New York City. “David Ogilvie, 70…said, ‘it’s sadly only a matter of time before a Starbuck’s-type’ takes over the site,” the Post reported in 2011, “adding that Hinsch’s is already surrounded on the same block by fast food joints like Burger King, Popeye’s and Five Guys Burgers.” You don’t have to be that old to remember when this neighborhood didn’t have a McDonald’s; now it doesn’t have a Hinsch’s.


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Croatian commodity exports are at the level of 2019, and despite the challenges, they achieved €7.5 billion in the first four months of this year, which is 35% more compared to the same period last year, it was said at the 9th edition of the conference “mart people know what exports are for”.
“In times that are fraught with problems, starting with the covid pandemic, unfavourable circumstances caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, rising energy prices and difficulties in obtaining raw materials, exports still remain to be good news, something that is positive and is recording strong growth rates,” State-Secretary in the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development Nataša Mikuš Žigman assessed.
The data are extremely good and positive, and were glad to see that the manufacturing industry contributes to the export growth rate with a share of 80%, says Mikuš Žigman.
It is the government’s task to make it possible for these rates to remain stable or continue to rise, she said, adding that the government’s activities are focused on several segments – on measures to ensure enough energy and other raw materials so that the economy can function normally and to continue conducting structural reforms. The focus is also on digitisation and the green economy, she said.
Mikuš Žigman also informed that the share of exporters in recipients of EU support is over 50% and that exporters use the opportunities available from the EU budget to the largest extent.
She also stated that 1,700 more exporting companies were recorded in 2021 than in 2020 and underscored that even in these challenging times there is room for “relative optimism.”
The President of the Management Board of Podravka, Martina Dalić, said that this year turned out to be much more difficult, challenging and uncertain than they thought last year while making financial plans. The consequences of the pandemic have led to disruptions in the market that triggered off an increase in the price of raw materials, transport, and energy while the war in Ukraine led to new risks and a new price hike, Dalić elaborated.
It will be fair to say that regardless of which measures have been taken by the government to protect us, we in the enterprise sector cannot fend off the effects of this crisis as this is a a crisis of global nature and has been caused by extreme shocks on the side of the supply, said Dalić adding that both for businesses and consumers challenging and hard times are ahead.
For more, check out our business section.

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It’s no question that advances in technology has heavily affected how we live life. Much like a coin however, is the notion that we as a species have negatively impacted our planet’s resources in order to perpetuate a global reliance on fossil fuels and precious minerals. What if there was a place where brilliant minds from around the globe convened to tackle our existing problems with how we move people and goods? In short, there is, and it takes place in Montreal each year.
Movin’On Summit is an internationally celebrated three-day event where inventors, designers and green enthusiasts share their contributions to a brighter tomorrow through workshops, discussion panels and product reveals in an effort to strengthen a planetary effort to increase awareness on sustainable mobility. More than 5,000 leaders all originating from their respective microcosms of academia, political science, urban planning and business align their brainwaves to explore new and feasible solutions to address global challenges that will determine the future of mobility. From solar bicycles to autonomous freight vehicles to augmented reality & everything in between, Movin’On Summit has quickly garnered the appreciation of those who look to tomorrow as the beginning of leaving a smaller footprint on our planet. While at the summit, we bathed in the knowledge of our peers, only to be overcome with a wave of awe from our friends at Michelin.
In the midst of a deluge of innovative products, we saw a crowning example of what the mainstream can expect to implement each time they get in their personal vehicles. By partnering with General Motors, Michelin excitedly told the masses about their Uptis (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) airless mobility solution. Utilizing their skillfulness with high tech materials, Michelin assures that the Uptis tire will eliminate the dangers of flat tires and blowouts that occur after unexpected punctures & road hazards. Airless tires are ideal for both autonomous and electric vehicles alike, as the necessity for pressure checks and maintenance are virtually erased from the worrisome laundry list that drivers have implemented in their lives. By 2024, consumers will have the ability to ditch their spare tires, jacks and inflation kits for a futurist solution.
Uptis’s radical design and materials are slated to return massive sustainability benefits, like a reduction of the number of tires that are condemned to landfills. scrap and reducing overall raw materials and energy used in tire production. It’s also really dope that the tires can be retreaded, or “recharged” as Michelin cleverly calls it. Take a look at the clip above to learn a bit more about the Uptis, and the overwhelming splash it made at this year’s Movin’On Summit in Montreal, Canada.
Much love to Subtle T for his ever-useful musical prowess.Want to be featured on stupidDOPE? Reach out and lets make it happen!


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Is Burnt Hair Perfume Good?
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, is following in the footsteps of countless celebrities by launching his own perfume — and the scent’s already a hit, despite its rather disgusting name: “Burnt Hair.”
Created by Musk’s Boring Company, “Burnt Hair” — which the Tesla founder declared “the finest fragrance on Earth” — costs $100 a bottle, ships in early 2023 and is billed as “the essence of repugnant desire.”
“Just like leaning over a candle at the dinner table, but without all the hard work,” The Boring Company’s website promises.
That description didn’t keep shoppers away, however; early Wednesday, Musk, 51, tweeted that he’d sold 10,000 bottles of the stuff.


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(Credit: Getty Images)
Things are about to get tougher for Apple.
Google late Wednesday made an unexpected announcement that it’s selling Motorola Mobility to Chinese PC giant Lenovo for $2.91 billion, or less than a quarter of what it paid for the handset vendor just a couple of years ago. During the years Google owned it, Motorola lost money and market share, and the relationship caused tension between Google and the other Android vendors, particularly Samsung. It also led those other phone makers to develop their own software and services, rather than push those from Google. That amplified Android’s fragmentation in the market.
Overall, Google’s purchase of Motorola turned out much better for iPhone maker Apple than for Google. That’s now going to change.
Google, sans Motorola, can go back to focusing on what it does best — making a really great operating system and apps. It canmend its relationship with Android leader Samsung and the other vendors. And it canconcentrate on unifying and streamlining theAndroid experience, rather than worry about bolstering its own hardware operations. All of those factors mean that Apple may not be able to win over customers as easily as it has in the past.
“Getting rid of Motorola helps Google, and anything that Google can do to create a more cohesive user experience across vendors is competitive to Apple,” Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart said.
But Google isn’t all Apple should be worried about. Up to this point, only Samsung has posed a real threat to Apple in smartphones. A combined Lenovo and Motorola, however, has the potential to take a large chunk of the market. It won’t be easy or quick, but Lenovo has a strong track record for dominating markets it enters. Less than a decade after buying IBM’s PC operations, Lenovo became the world’s biggest PC maker.
Already, Lenovo is one of the fastest-growing smartphone makers in China, a market that’s also getting a lot of attention from Apple. Last year, Lenovo was the second largest smartphone vendor in mainland China by volume, up from eighth place in 2011, according to Strategy Analytics. That boosted its position in the global market in 2013 to fifth place behind Samsung, Apple, Huawei, and LG.
At the same time Lenovo’s market share has risen in China, Apple’s has fallen. In 2011, Apple was the third largest smartphone vendor in the country. By last year, it had dropped to sixth place, according to Strategy Analytics.
“Apple’s lack of presence in the lower end of the smartphone market has cost it sizable volumes in China in recent years,” said Neil Mawston, executive director of Strategy Analytics.
Apple, predictably, has offered no public reaction to the Lenovo-Motorola news. We’ve contacted the company for comment and will update the report when we have more information.
- iOS in the car could look like this
- Apple wins patent for solar-powered MacBook
- What Steve Jobs really meant when he said ‘Good artists copy; great artists steal’
- Apple wins ‘iPen’ patent for a smarter stylus
- Apple’s higher standard: How 51M iPhones is somehow disappointing
- Rich tweet: Icahn ups stake in Apple by $500 million
- Apple eyes magnets to attach camera lenses to iPhone
- Apple on mobile payments and Touch ID: ‘A big opportunity’
- Watch the first public Macintosh demo in newly released video
- Tim Cook touts booming start with China Mobile


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A, CALIF. -- It's a sunny day for Miss Spider this summer. MGM Home Entertainment here will launch the animated "Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids" supported by a national cross-promotional campaign with Ian's Frozen Foods, Revere, Mass., to coincide with the August launch of a "Miss Spider" television show on Nickelodeon. Ian's Frozen Foods frozen-meal packages will highlight the movie release and include Miss Spider-themed games and puzzles. The promotion will be supported with advertising in magazines, newspapers and direct mail pieces. "Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids" is based on the best-selling children's book series, and includes the voices of Brooke Shields and Rick Moranis as the title character and her husband Holley. The release comes with a suggested retail price of $14.95 on DVD and $9.94 on VHS. The pre-order date is June 21.
BOSTON -- Gillette walked on the cutting edge with a fashion show during L.A. Fashion Week to promote the new Venus Divine razor for women. The show, produced in partnership with the design team of New York-based Heatherette on April 1, kicked off a national campaign that includes television and print advertising campaigns, promotional events, and in-store merchandising. Heatherette designed blue Venus Divine dresses, complete with razors, worn by celebutante Kimberly Stewart (rocker Rod Stewart's daughter), pop icon Jenny McCarthy, and "Good Day Live" host Jillian Barberie in the show. Television ads debuted on April 12. Print ads began the week of April 25. The new Venus Divine razors are blue and incorporate new Comfort Coated blades, intensive moisture strips, skin-smoothing cushions and a redesigned handle. The suggested retail price for the shaving system, which includes the refillable razor, storage and two cartridges is $8.50 to $9.50. A four-pack of refill cartridges has a SRP of $8.50 to 9.50 as well.
BELLEVUE, WASH. -- Spare change could earn consumers a lot more than a New York minute through a new partnership between the Olsen twins tween brand and Coinstar here. Coinstar and Warner Brothers Pictures have teamed up to promote the May 7 release of "New York Minute," starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, with a sweepstakes this spring. Consumers who process at least $10 in change at a Coinstar kiosk will receive an automatic entry to win a themed trip for four to New York City. The sweepstakes, which began April 19 and will run to May 30, will be supported by a joint marketing program that includes promotional signs on Coinstar kiosks; national cable advertising on MTV, ABC Family and Nickelodeon; radio advertising; and print and online advertising with teen publications Teen People and Seventeen. Retail chains will also be able to build on the partnership with their own targeted, regional advertising. The trip includes a $1,000 shopping spree, Broadway tickets and a city tour. Additional winners will receive Mary-Kate and Ashley products or memorabilia from the movie.
THIS STORY IS RED
NEW YORK -- Revlon took its brand message to a new level of storytelling when it broke a new ad campaign at the beginning of April. The integrated campaign features all four of the company's celebrity spokeswomen, Halle Berry, Julianne Moore, Eva Mendes and Jaime King. Told in four parts, the campaign follows the four women through a story woven around Revlon products and the brand's signature red color. The campaign began with four television ads that aired nationally beginning in April. The four-part ad aired in its entirety in a two-minute mini-movie format in theaters throughout April as well. Online information and ads also broke in April. Print ads begin in May in 15 beauty and lifestyle magazines. Products included in the campaign include Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, new Super Lustrous Lipgloss, LipGlide, LipGlide Sheer, ColorStay Overtime Lip Color, new Complexion One-Step Compact Makeup, ColorStay Stay Natural Makeup and Lash Fantasy Mascara.


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The publisher’s CEO says the leak of a slew of early footage of the next-gen Grand Theft Auto won’t affect the game’s development.
It was one of the most high-profile cybersecurity breaches in the history of the industry, with dozens of videos showing various robberies, shootouts and open-world driving Posted to online message boards in September.
The incident led Rockstar, the series’ notorious secretive developer, to be forced to issue a statement acknowledging “a cyber intrusion by an unauthorized third party to illegally access and download confidential information from our systems.”
Rockstar said it was “very disappointed” to share details about the next GTA “in this way” after nearly a decade of speculation about the game.
The last issue has become one of them highest-grossing entertainment show of all time Since its debut in 2013, with the development of the sequel First confirmed earlier this year.
On publisher Take-Two’s second-quarter earnings call reported by VGC, CEO Strauss Zelnick said: “Regarding the leak, it’s very unfortunate, and we do take things like this very seriously.
“There’s no evidence of any physical assets being stolen, which is a good thing, and the leak certainly doesn’t have any impact on development or anything like that.
“But it’s very disappointing and it makes us more vigilant about issues related to cybersecurity.”
The video appears to confirm previous reports that GTA 6 will be set in Sin City, a fictional representation of Miami in previous games.
The game will feature two protagonists in a Bonnie and Clyde-esque story, including the first playable female characters in series history, reports say.
Given the already long wait, fans will be relieved to hear that the leak won’t affect development. This is the biggest gap between new releases since the GTA series began in 1997.
The last game, which has now sold more than 170 million copies worldwide, was revealed on Take Two’s earnings call, thanks to its re-release on current-gen consoles earlier this year.


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Media technology company NEP Group announced that its US broadcast services team released a new mobile unit, Supershooter 6, based on NEP’s broadcast control (TFC).
Supershooter 6 is a single-truck unit featuring a Grass Valley Kayenne X-Frame switcher, a Calrec Apollo audio console, Sony HDC-3500 cameras, two 5500 cameras, a Lawo IP router, multi-viewer and EVS XT VIA servers.
NEP noted that Supershooter 5, released in May 2021, was the first fully IP mobile unit to be powered by TFC. Supershooter 61, a new field acquisition unit, was released earlier this year. In addition, NEP mobile units Supershooter 1, TS2, Supershooter 29, EN1 and NCPXI are slated for upgrades.
TFC is the proprietary software engine behind NEP’s global production ecosystem that was designed to help solve the industry’s issues related to IP control.


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At a time where the astronomical rise of online streaming services continues to sky-rocket, moviegoing rates continue to drop. There’s no denying that the two trends are somehow related. VOD channels such as Netflix and Amazon Prime provide users with the opportunity of watching what they want, where they want, whenever they want. Hollywood production studios, on the other hand, are more than often producing spin-offs of movies that most of us have already seen at some point. The cash cow that is 3D hasn’t produced the desired effects either. Let’s take a quick look at what the future of the movie theaters, and the movie industry as a whole, might hold.
Are Movie Theaters Truly Dead?
Millennials and the Death of Movie Theaters
It is not just theaters that are paying the hefty price of falling behind, even conventional TV viewing is dropping. This can be particularly observed in countries with fast Internet speeds. While the number of millennials who go to the movies to see a horror movies is still somehow acceptable, teenagers are not really interested in indie or drama movies. The number of young moviegoers hitting the movies theaters continues to drop year after year.
While Hollywood fails to evolve, online streaming services are carefully studying Generation Y and provide them with what they want.
Originals Are Taking Over
When the first streaming services started, they heavily depended on purchasing broadcasting rights from movie studios. This was both an expensive and approach, especially if the online channel wanted to offer the movie in several regions. Copyright holders sell broadcasting rights
All of this lead to Netflix is shifting towards their own original productions instead. House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Narcos have all succeeded. Amazon is also following Netflix’s footsteps. Mozart in the Jungle, The Man in the High Castle, and The Grand Tour have driven up Amazon Prime subscriptions as well.
Netflix Signs up with Scorsese
When it comes to online streaming services, there is no doubt that Netflix is setting the trends. Not only did the global streaming giant expand to almost every corner of the Earth, Netflix is now producing its own originals at rates never seen before. While Netflix’s main focus is on TV shows, they are also slowly shifting towards movie production as well.
Netflix has already released several exclusive Adam Sandler comedies. A big-budget action movie with Will Smith is also on the cards.
Recently, Netflix has registered another coupe by teaming up with world-renowned movie director, Martin Scorsese. The deal will see Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, feature in a Netflix exclusive dubbed The Irishman. The movie is excepted to come straight to Netflix, dealing another blow for theaters in the process.
Amazon Has Hollywood Ambitions, Too
Amazon has become the first Internet company to earn an Academy Award nomination. The American retail giant has only been in the original move business for a year, but they are already reaping the rewards. ‘Manchester By The Sea’ has received 6 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. This is certainly not first or the last time an online streaming service will receive a nomination. Netflix earned its fifth Oscar nomination this year for documentary feature “13th.”
At the moment, Amazon only releases its movies 5 months after they debut in cinemas, but it’s hard to see this policy continue in the future.
The Interview Imbroglio
Back in 2014, Sony was forced to release its movie ‘The Interview’ on a handful of independent screens. This was mainly because major chains refusal to screen the movie due to security and safety concerns. At the same time, Sony sold ‘The Interview’ broadcasting rights to Google Play, Xbox Video, and Youtube. Netflix acquired broadcasting rights soon after, too. The revenue numbers were telling. Digitally, the movie grossed $15 millions compared to only $2.8 millions in theaters for the first four days.
Due to the special circumstances surrounding ‘The Interview’, it can in no way be considered a game-changer. However, the writing was on the wall. Given the choice between staying at home or going to the theatre to see the same movie, many moviegoers chose the former.
The Decline of DVDs
Hollywood productions studios also heavily rely on the sales of DVDs and Blu-rays. Again, the rise of online streaming meant that movie lovers no longer had to buy a physical copy to watch their favorite flicks at home. In the UK alone, total digital video revenue rose almost 23% to £1.3bn in UK last year. Meanwhile, sales of DVDs and Blu-ray discs fell 17% to £894m, marking the first time it has fallen below the £1bn mark. Even physical rental markets are struggling.
Binge-Watching and Couch Consuming
With Netflix, Amazon, and the likes you get to watch as many episodes of your favorite TV shows, non-stop. The comfort, ease, and flexibility of accessing content using online streaming services have massively driven up their popularity. The pricing is another factor. In some cases, a monthly Netflix subscription could cost less than a ticket to the movies. If you factor in all the extras you have to buy while at the theater, staying at home starts to make sense economy wise as well. In the end, entertainment is all about value for money.
Is the Death of Movie Theaters Inevitable?
Cinemas have to up their game. 3D didn’t quite push theaters to the heights expected back in 2009 when Avatar was released. The number of movies with the 3D label attached next to them continues to drop on a yearly basis. The truth is that the 3-Dimensional format had failed.
Younger generations are shaping the future of the movie industry. It is clearly too early to claim that cinemas are dead, but their future does look bleak. Digital streaming, on the other hand, is showing no signs of slowing down. Unless ticket prices somehow drastically drop, and the quality of movies rises, the number of moviegoers will continue to fall. Amazon and Netflix’s trial and error process with releasing movies will undoubtedly also benefit them in the long run.
How do you prefer to watch movies? Are you an avid moviegoer or do you prefer to stream your favorite flicks at home? Share your thought below.


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According to the Mazars 2018 Food & Beverage Industry Results Report, most food and beverage companies anticipate a significant jump in sales this year, for the third straight year.
The report — released by Mazars USA, an accounting, tax and consulting services firm — says that 90 percent of survey respondents expect growth in sales, while 84 percent expect growth in profit and 69 percent expect growth in employment. The respondents said the main expected influencers are new customers, improves sales performance and new products.
The top trends expected to drive sales growth are private label foods, healthy/nutritious foods and organic foods. The biggest internal concern for respondents was increasing sales while the top external concerns were rising commodity costs, food safety/traceability and quality assurance.
"The dynamic nature of the food & beverage industry continues to challenge organizations looking for growth," says Howard P. Dorman, a partner with Mazars. "Through this survey, we're pleased to provide executives with comprehensive insight into potential industry drivers and best practices to stay ahead of the competition."
The survey delved into performance, planning, and challenges facing food and beverage companies, as well as addressing how they are adapting to changing consumer trends, tax changes, new companies entering the field, and new product and service offerings. Responses were sorted by organization size, providing more nuanced insights. Survey participants included manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors, restaurateurs and retailers/supermarkets representing a range of annual sales volumes from $1 million or less to more than $500 million.


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Nokia has begun issuing invitations to the press and media outlets for an upcoming event they’ll be hosting in London.
Scheduled to run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, Nokia is keeping their motives under wraps — but with such a long time-frame, we’re expecting some rather sizable announcements from the Finnish telecommunications company.
Typical of events as such, the only detail conjured up from the vague announcement is that the occasion will focus on what the company has planned with their Lumia flagship line of mobile devices. The invitation says (in a rather difficult-to-read font) “See what’s next,” followed by “The Nokia Lumia story continues.”
Calling for six hours of time, it must be a huge installment to their story, huh? We’re assuming some new products will be unveiled; Lumia smartphones, perhaps their first tablet — a Windows-powered tablet?
We’re expecting some leaks and rumors to surface from now until, so keep with us as details roll out.
<Source: The Verge>


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Benedek Lampert is a Hungarian photographer specializing in cinematic photos of scenes created with LEGO blocks and toys. After finding success through social media, Lampert was selected by LEGO to shoot an official marketing campaign with his style.
Benedek Lampert is a Hungarian photographer who has attracted a following online for his imaginative small scale photos of toys. His work recently caught the attention of LEGO, which hired him for a special campaign.
25-year-old toy photographer Benedek Lampert isn't gonna let a pandemic stand between him and Formula 1 this season. Since he can't go to a Grand Prix, he decided to build his own using cardboard, card stock, water, dust, smoke, and some toy cars.
Toy photographer Benedek Lampert recently teamed up with LEGO Hungary to recreate some of the most iconic photographs from the Apollo 11 mission in honor of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. The resulting images are truly impressive and are captured almost entirely in camera.
A few months ago, the Czech car brand Škoda got in touch with Hungarian photographer Benedek Lampert and asked him to shoot car photos. But instead of expensive shoots featuring real Škoda cars, the company asked that Lampert only use 1:43-scale models of the cars.


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Genetically modified (GM) dairy cows in China are being bred by scientists to produce ‘human’ milk.
The cows, which produce the human protein lysozyme, were created by implanting genetically modified embryos into surrogate cows.
Lysozyme is found in human breast milk and helps to boost the immunity of babies.
The scientists believe their research, published last month in the Public Library of Science One journal, could lead to an alternative for infant formula or breast milk.
Dairy Futures CRC chief executive David Nation said Australia’s dairy industry had looked at this type of technology five years ago.
However, Dr Nation said the research was scrapped because of unresolved technical and ethical issues.
“It is not new work to make a difference to cow’s milk,” Dr Nation said. “This research will continue in China. At this stage, the journal is only describing the discovery.”
Dr Nation said the discovery would not have an impact on Australia’s larger dairy markets, such as cheese and fresh milk products.
However, he said it could create an important niche market, particularly in countries like China where such products could be of nutritional benefit to children.
Western Dairy chairman and Harvey dairy farmer Dale Hanks said he was not surprised by the scientific discovery given it was occurring in China, but he did not believe production would take-off in Australia.
He said to make it viable in Australia, a substantial premium would be needed for farmers to convert their herds to produce that type of milk.
“It would be that small a market,” he said. “Let’s face it, who wants to drink human milk?”
Turning his attention to WA, Mr Hanks said most dairy farmers were anxious for a better season.
“While milk prices should be better, the season has dealt the biggest blow this year,” he said.
Mr Hanks said ex-Challenge Dairy suppliers had been the most affected, because they were being paid well below the cost of production.
He said some producers were on a “knife’s edge”, and others were considering changing to beef.
“Those that are left in the industry are dinkum about the future of dairy, but if you can’t make a profit, you can’t keep doing it,” he said.
Mr Hanks said many Challenge and Fonterra producers had sold heifers this year to increase their cash flow, which would result in a drop in milk supply.
“Hopefully, this may result in some sensibility in milk pricing,” he said.
“If supply drops, we’re unlikely to see the silly tendering for pricing that is occurring because of the Coles and Woolworths war on milk.”
Meanwhile, Mr Hanks fears nothing will come of the Federal inquiry into milk pricing.
“The most frustrating part is that it devalues our product,” he said.
“There is a lot of hard work that goes into producing milk, and for it to be worth less than a litre of water or petrol is disheartening.”
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America’s leading wireless carrier, AT&T, says it will alter (but not
eliminate) a flat fee it charges for early termination of wireless services.
The $175 fee, which is charged to all customers that renege on a one or
twoyear service agreement, is designed to reduce customer churn and prevent
postpaid subscribers from jumping to other carriers.
Beginning May 25, the fee will be reduced by $5 each month that a customer is
under contract. A user who canceled his or her service 16 months into a twoyear
contract, for example, would only have to pay $95 in cancellation fees.
This new policy will give greater flexibility to consumers, according to the San
Antoniobased company, while continuing to deter subscribers from breaking their
contracts on a whim.
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My editorial from the latest issue of International Tax Review
Contrary to the tin-hat theories on Mayan prophecy, 2012 is over and the world has not ended. But the year brought great change for multinationals and how they conduct their corporate tax affairs.
Tax avoidance has dogged companies in the mainstream press like never before. What was once at best an issue for the business sections has become front page news as governments desperately search for means to plug gaping budget deficits and the public feels the pinch of service cuts and cries unfair.
Rightly or wrongly, household corporate names are being denounced as poor citizens because of the tax planning they have employed for years that has suddenly become unacceptable in the eyes of the media and the public. Most notably of all are Google, Amazon and Starbucks, hauled before the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and its unforgiving chairwoman Margaret Hodge last month where their inability to make a compelling business case for their corporate structures only sharpened the public perception that they have been too aggressive in avoiding tax.
France has also demanded that Amazon pay more tax, while the Australian government referred to Google Australia directly in November when it unveiled draft revisions to transfer pricing laws.
The companies have done nothing illegal. And they are keen to trumpet that the amount of corporate tax they pay is not their only contribution to society. But from the hostile reaction they have received, it is clear that these kinds of arguments no longer wash with public – and customer – opinion. Now the argument comes down not simply to whether businesses are acting legally, but whether they are acting morally.
Starbucks, whose highly visible brand-orientated business has perhaps been hit hardest by customer revolt, has agreed to pay £20 million ($32 million) in UK corporate tax over the next two years. This is more than it has ever paid in its 15 years operating in the country.
Its most strident critics are unlikely to be satisfied by this move, but it is a start and a sensible one. Other companies would be wise to take note and learn from Starbucks’ misjudgements and how it is attempting to rectify them.
It is high time that tax became more of a boardroom concern. Starbucks has gone to great pains in recent years to improve its reputation by promoting fair-trade products and environmentally sustainable practices, but all that good work on CSR has been undone by one tax scandal hitting the press.
Companies planning their tax affairs can no longer afford to think only about their exposure to risk, but also their reputations. Governments around the world are closing loopholes, while transparency is shooting up the agenda with the proliferation of FATCA-like legislation promoting automatic information exchange. But tax authorities are not the only ones watching. The media and the public will be looking on too.
The world may not be over. But companies must face the fact that it has changed. Tax planning will never be the same again.


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For the past year, the press has been inundated with news regarding Trump’s trade war with China. U.S tariffs against Chinese imports has caused the price of Chinese goods to grow, increasing U.S manufacturing costs and taxing U.S consumers. A prudent investor would expect the U.S economy to slow or decline as China is the U.S’s largest trade partner with a total exchange value of $636 billion according to Fortune magazine.
Interest Rate Manipulation Eases Ramifications of Tariff War
Economic growth is ominous as Trump is threatening to implement tariffs against Mexico who is apart of NAFTA. Fortunately, the Fed has strategies to circumvent possible domestic economic volatility and decline by manipulating interest rates. Amid the trade war, the 10-year treasury note traded at 2.14% “after reaching its lowest level in 20 months.” according to CNBC.
When we compare the 10-year treasury note yields pre-tariff war to present, the variance is dismal. According to CNBC, in May of 2018, the yield was 3.03%, since then, the yield has dropped by 0.89%. The trade war has had a significant role in this decline. However, by manipulating interests rates, the Fed has the ability to accelerate investments and consumer spending– creating economic growth, according to CNBC. After all the noise, the stock market is linked to economic growth and low-interest rates are the rocket fuel.
The tension between the U.S and China has eased, creating an opportunity for both President XI and Trump to discuss mutually beneficial trade policy. Recently, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 jumped 2.1% while the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.7%, according to CNBC. Despite ongoing trade disputes with China and Mexico, the U.S economy is achieving growth. Growth amid the trade war reveals the U.S’s ability to maintain growth with a decline in Chinese imports/goods.
Declining Relations with Mexico
Aside from the U.S easing tensions with China, President Trump has revealed interests in placing tariffs on Mexican imports. According to CNBC, Trump has agreed to place a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports beginning June 10th if Mexico doesn’t secure its border. The U.S and Mexico are apart of an FTA (Free trade agreement) that is designed to benefit both countries economically. One of the stipulations of this FTA is the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, according to trade.gov. A dispute with Mexico could lead to damaged relations and economic decline as Mexico is the U.S’s third largest trading partner with an exchange value of $557 billion. Some of the U.S’s largest corporations have manufacturing plants in Mexico such as Ford and Nestle.
Aside from labor and production, many large U.S companies rely on Mexico for sales. For example, according to CNBC, Whirlpool receives 4.1% of their total sales exposure from Mexico. Potential declines in U.S exports to Mexico due to increased tariffs may negatively affect the bottom line of U.S corporations. Absent other factors, this will inevitably lead to losses in the S&P 500 unless Jerome Powell is able to strategically manipulate (lower) interest rates to induce consumer spending and positive economic growth.
Key Provisions of NAFTA
1. Elimination of tariffs
2. Elimination of non-tariff barriers
3. Implementation of rules of origin
4. Uniform customs procedures and regulations
5. Investment Provisions
6. Free trade in services
7. Protection of intellectual property
8. Government procurement policy
9. Implementation of environmental and other standards


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Found footage: the first guy in the iPad line at 5th Avenue Apple Store
It's not surprising at all that someone has already been sitting in front of the iconic 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York City. This video was posted this morning (April 1, 2010) and from the discussion with the person who is sitting there, he was in line yesterday.
He kind of looks lonely, but if past practice is any indicator of the next few days, he'll make a lot of new friends as the line begins to grow in the hours leading up to 9 AM EDT on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010.
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Chi-nnati’s Pizza, 7980 Hosbrook Road in Madeira (not far from Kenwood Towne Centre), is closing, effective May 5. Owner Don Laden sold the restaurant; its new owners are planning to open a Mexican restaurant in the space. (Before it was Chi-nnati’s, the space was a Mexican restaurant, Jalapeno’s.) Meanwhile, Laden is seeking a new space [...]
04/23/13 at 5:03pm by Shauna Steigerwald | Comments
Eli’s BBQ won’t be opening a new spot in Over-the-Rhine after all, Polly Campbell reports: I reported here that Eli’s BBQ, the fairly-new-but-already-beloved barbecue joint on Riverside Drive, was going to open a second location on Vine Street among all the other new restaurants in the Gateway Quarter. Alas, it is not to be. Elias Leisring [...]
You can now get a scoop of Graeter’s before or after flying from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Graeter’s now has a kiosk in Concourse A (near Gate 12) where they’ll serve black raspberry chip and several other flavors, plus candy and bakery products. CVG is the first, and currently the only, airport in the world [...]
The owners of Bakersfield OTR are planning another restaurant in the neighborhood, to be called Eagle Food and Beer Hall. Polly Campbell writes: Bakersfield OTR, the Mexican bar/taco joint on Vine St., was supposed to be a laid-back, neighborhood-oriented bar. Instead, it’s been “a runaway hit,” said Joe Lanni, who owns it with his brother John. “It’s [...]
The Incline Public House now offers brunch, Polly Campbell reports: The Incline Public House in Price Hill has added brunch to their menu. It’s served 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday. Their regular menu is then available from 3-9 p.m. The menu includes breakfast drinks such as traditional and ultimate bloody Marys (The ultimate includes bacon vodka, [...]
04/18/13 at 11:26am by Shauna Steigerwald | Comments
Updated 2:20 p.m.: Jefferson Hall, the bar/live music venue at Newport on the Levee, is set to close by the end of this month. Its last night will be April 28, according to Tony Cafeo, who owns Jefferson Hall, as well as the Incline Public House in Price Hill, with his brother, Dominic Cafeo. Jefferson [...]
Great Scott has closed its Oakley location, Polly Campbell reports: The Oakley location of Great Scott restaurant is closed, according to a recording at their phone number. It also says that it will be re-opening in May as an antique, specialty wine/beer and dress resale shop. I haven’t spoken to the owners yet; more info [...]
04/17/13 at 11:02am by Shauna Steigerwald | Comments
Walt’s Hitching Post has an opening date, Polly Campbell reports: Walt’s Hitching Post in Fort Mitchell has posted on their Facebook page that they’re having two open house evenings on Thursday and Friday. You can get a preview of their menu with appetizers that will feature some signature flavors. Cash bar, with proceeds to benefit Shriners [...]
04/17/13 at 10:16am by Shauna Steigerwald | Comments
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill will open its first area outpost at Rookwood Exchange, 3831 Edwards Road in Norwood, May 1. The fast-casual chain owned by Ruby Tuesday, Inc., previously announced that it would open two local stores, the Rookwood outpost and another at U Square. The latter, 237 Calhoun St. in Clifton Heights (near the [...]
04/16/13 at 4:44pm by Shauna Steigerwald | Comments
Indigo Casual Gourmet Cafe in Fort Mitchell is set to close at the end of this month, Cindy Schroeder of the Kentucky Enquirer reports: FORT MITCHELL — After more than 20 years in business, Indigo Casual Gourmet Cafe is closing its Fort Mitchell restaurant at the end of the month. Indigo’s last day of business [...]
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City Attorney Dennis Herrera Ups Ante in S.F.-Minnesota Credit Card Credit-Hogging Dispute
|Don't worry, hypothetical Michigan Tech alum Chris L. Martin! Dennis Herrera has got your back.|
Herrera's office actually deserved partial credit for that suit, because he filed a related complaint in San Francisco last year. But Swanson gave nary a nod west. Today, Herrera announced that he'd leveraged the arbitration litigation to pressure Bank of America to get out of the bogus arbitration business entirely, and in the process offered Swanson a similar flip of the bird.
Consumer advocates have long cried foul that mandatory arbitration has been quietly slipped into the fine print of millions of credit card, cell phone, and other consumer contracts, causing consumers to unknowingly sign away their rights. Swanson's office forced a settlement by showing that the top arbitration firm was owned by the same hedge fund that owned a major collection agency, unearthing memos suggesting the resulting amalgamation would efficiently shove inflated credit card charges down consumers' throats.
But Swanson's case actually got its start in San Francisco, where Herrera's office alleged that arbitration proceedings were systematically rigged in credit firms' favor, resulting in anti-consumer resolutions 95 percent of the time. San Francisco attorneys kindly guided Minnesota state barristers through the details of their suit when they came calling last year.
Today, Herrera issued a press release announcing Bank of America had "dropped a requirement that consumers with disputes over their credit card debt enter into binding arbitration. The change will enable consumers to file civil lawsuits against the bank to allege unfair or illegal treatment. Bank of America, the nation's largest bank, is the first major institution of its kind to announce it is ending its use of mandatory arbitration."
Herrera's release described Swanson's July settlement with the arbitration firms, without mentioning her, or her office, by name:
"Today's Bank of America decision follows an announcement last month by the National Arbitration Forum that it would cease handling consumer credit card arbitration matters."
While two parties targeted in Herrera's lawsuit have now voluntarily addressed some of the case's objectives, the litigation remains active in pursuit of "financial penalties and other relief that may be deemed necessary," the release said.
We'll have to give Herrera credit: He's a real card.


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This article is more than 1 year old
BBC abandons 3D TV, cites 'disappointing' results
Hypegasm collides with reality
The BBC will suspend its 3D TV transmissions indefinitely, citing poor demand among viewers – its last hurrah will be a Dr. Who anniversary special in November.
"I have never seen a very big appetite for 3D television in the UK," said Kim Shillinglaw, the BBC's head of 3D. "After that we will see what happens when the recession ends and there may be more take up of sets, but I think the BBC will be having a wait-and-see. It's the right time for a good old pause."
She said that around half of the estimated 1.5 million 3D TV owners in the UK turned on the BBC's 3D coverage of the Olympics, but only 5 per cent of viewers bothered to watch the Queen's Christmas message to the Commonwealth, figures Shillinglaw called "disappointing." Given Her Majesty's customary scowl during such coverage, the 5 per cent figure is understandable.
The BBC started broadcasting in 3D in 2011, showing the Wimbledon tennis tournament finals as part of a partnership with Sony. Since then it has taken a softly, softly approach to the technology to see if it takes off, and now evidently feels it's not worth the effort, although Shillinglaw was at least diplomatic about it.
"I am not sure our job is to call the whole 3D race," she said.
The BBC isn't the only one pulling out of 3D TV. American sports network ESPN confirmed last month that it is shutting down its dedicated 3D TV, citing weak consumer demand. It's all very different from three years ago, when the 3D hypegasm was climaxing.
In retrospect, 3D predictions look rather silly
Back to the heady days of the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, the world's content providers and hardware builders were assuring all and sundry that 3D was the way forward. James Cameron's 3D epic
Dances with Smurfs Avatar was breaking box office records, and the industry was all a-flutter about the possibilities for 3D's future.
At Sony's press conference, attendees were handed 3D glasses at the door and the session was opened by a 3D Jimi Hendrix, no doubt rotating in his grave at 45rpm at the thought. The then-CEO Sir Harold Stringer told us that 3D was going to be the most important technological change to TV since the shift to color, and after exchanging a rather creepy conversation with American songstress Taylor Swift, declared content partnerships with ESPN and the Discovery channel.
Sony wasn't alone – pretty much every consumer-electronics company seemed to have a 3D product of some kind at the show, and there were lofty predictions about how the technology would be in every home and cinema before long. Sports bars would be full of spectacle wearing punters living the on-screen action, Stringer said, and manufacturers were hoping for an upgrade orgy that would fill corporate coffers.
As it turns, out the response from the buying public was largely "meh." Few buyers were interested in spending money on the technology, the glasses are unpopular and expensive, and most 3D TV hardware was limited to the very large and expensive units that only addicts would consider stumping up for.
As for content, the success of Avatar was followed by a succession of dire 3D movies such as Mars Needs Moms and Piranha 3D, proving that Cameron's epic was the exception that proved the rule. 3D can work in film – take Ang Lee's Oscar-winning Life of Pi as an example – but cinema-goers are still somewhat put off by having to wear the eyewear needed and the high ticket prices.
The situation is even worse in the home. While there are some dedicated 3D channels (smut-mongers Penthouse 3D is still in business), consumers who are upgrading their televisions are more likely to pick a "smart TV" with an internet connection rather than 3D TV with a pair of dorky glasses.
"I think when people watch TV they concentrate in a different way," the BBC's Shillinglaw said. "When people go to the cinema they go and are used to doing one thing – I think that's one of the reasons that take up of 3D TV has been disappointing."
With the closure of the BBC service it looks likely that 3D will remain a niche thing, for those who really, really want the content. As for Shillinglaw, she'll go back to her day job as head of science and natural history at the BBC once the 3D unit is shut down – probably with a huge sigh of relief. ®


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BMW has announced that over the next three years, it will invest a further £500 million in its UK production network as well as confirming that the next generation MINI models will be produced in the UK.
"We have started preparing our UK plants for production of the next generation MINI and this investment underlines that the UK will remain the heart of MINI production," announced Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. "The MINI brand has made a significant contribution to BMW Group's success in markets around the world and we anticipate that this will grow further in the future."
At a meeting with Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, the BME Group chairman outlined the plans, with the majority of which will be used to create new production facilities and equipment at MINI Plant Oxford, which will help to safeguard over 5000 jobs in MINI vehicle assembly plant in Oxford, the pressing plant in Swindon and the company's engine plant at Hams Hall near Birmingham.
Since 2001, MINIs have been produced at the Oxford Plant, with nearly two million vehicles having been produced since then, and more than 1.5 million MINIs have been exported.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "I welcome this major investment by BMW Group in UK manufacturing. The production and export of iconic British cars like the MINI is making a real contribution to the rebalancing of the economy that this government is determined to achieve.
"It's a tremendous vote of confidence in the skills and capabilities of the company's British workforce and in the future of UK manufacturing.
"The MINI plant in Oxford has been one of our great manufacturing success stories, they should be hugely proud of their achievements. They have shown once again that the UK is a major player in the global automotive industry."
In 2010, 216,302 vehicles were produced, with exports to more than 90 countries across the world. MINI was the third largest vehicle manufacturer in the UK, which accounts for 17% of national automotive production. Part of the expansion plan includes the MINI Coupe (launching in 2011) and the MINI Roadster (launching in 2012) being produced in Oxford.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Today's announcement by BMW is a real tribute to the success of British automotive manufacturing.
"The firm's workforce in Oxford is now set to repeat the international success of the current MINI in producing the next generation model over the coming years.
"The competitiveness of automotive manufacturing in this country is shown by the commitment of the biggest global firms to make serious investments in long-term production here and as a government we are determined to make sure this success story remains a big part of the future economic growth we must secure."
"Oxford has been the heart of MINI for the last 10 years and we are proud of what has been achieved here," said Jurgen Hedrich, head of Plant Oxford. "Naturally we are delighted to confirm that the next generation MINI will be built here too and look forward to the continued worldwide success of these great cars."
This is a 11-year+ news article, from our MINI archive, which dates back to the year 2000.
If in doubt check with your local MINI dealer as car prices and technical data will have changed since 2011.
Although our car news is published in good faith, we cannot guarantee it to be error free or complete or up-to-date.
MINI Images may not be UK specification cars. Colours and exterior and/or interior elements may differ from actual models.
The car news and images remain the copyright of the rights holder and may not be used without their consent.


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Spotlight Graphics Gains WBE, DBE Designations
SOUTHWICK — Spotlight Graphics announced that is now a certified women business enterprise (WBE) and disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), as designated by the state’s Supplier Diversity Office.
Spotlight Graphics is a locally owned and operated business specializing in full-service, large-format printing. It offers a full array of printed products, including banners, posters, signs, and complete trade-show booths. It also provides large-format printing for individual needs, such as banners for parties, personal photography printed on canvas, political yard signs, and more.
“This certification puts Spotlight Graphics in a great position to enhance our potential and grow the business,” said President Diane DeMarco. “We are pleased to say that we are WBE-certified.”


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Operations are expected to start in 2019 and will serve a growing demand from food and beverage multi-national companies.
The flexible packaging market in India is expected to show double-digit growth in the mid-term, driven by megatrend urbanization and expansion of the retail sector.
Anurag More, Rajesh Nath, MD, VDMA India (part of the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association) said the packaging industry in India, is worth $17bn and constitutes around 4% of the world’s packaging industry.
“Over the last five years, the industry has seen an annual growth of 15% and the development of packaging machinery is on an upward trend. Both primary and secondary packaging have tremendously grown over the past few years. The Indian packaging industry is expected to become the fourth-largest packaging market in the world,” he said.
More than 80% of the total packaging in India constitutes rigid packaging. The remaining 20% comprises flexible packaging. There are about 600-700 packaging machinery manufacturers, 95% are in the small and medium sectors.
More than 60% of Indian imports are processing equipment for foodstuffs such as confectionery, bakery, beverages and fruit and vegetables.
Stefan Grote, executive VP, Food, Constantia Flexibles, said major FMCGs are demanding the highest level of sustainability for their packaging material and they will have to comply with the upcoming Indian Plastic Waste Management (PWM) regulations that promote only fully recyclable flexible packaging.
High barrier laminates
Constantia Flexibles already broke ground last year on a greenfield site close to production at Parikh which will become home to a polyethylene blown film extruder, Flexo printing press and laminators to produce high barrier laminates that can be fully recycled. It already has a label producer in the US and flexible packaging and folding carton producer in Mexico.
Parikh Packaging has been part of Constantia Flexibles since 2013 and owns a production unit in Ahmedabad, including rotogravure printing machines, PE extruders, lamination technologies and pouch making.
According to Euromonitor, India will become the third-biggest market for packaged food in 2020, after China and the US.
It claims the food packaging industry is India’s fifth-largest sector worth nearly $40bn. Due to rising incomes, urban lifestyle changes and modern retail trade, the food packaging market will expand distinctly.
As urban regions account for more than 80% of the demand for packaged food, there is a huge growth potential in the semi-urban and rural regions. By 2020, it is expected to reach over $65bn.


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The year that businesses large and small Netherland phone number will start to take digital more seriously across the organisation. The wave of digital transformation has gathered speed over the last year. With large scale research pieces from the likes of Cap Gemini. MIT Sloan, Boston Consulting Group and EY to name a few, statistical evidence now exists to help prove a business case. This is also backed up by the emergence of brand examples such as Burberry and Starbucks demonstrating the tangible success to be had from a commitment to transforming current digital tactics into a cohesive digital strategy embedded throughout the business.
How did we Get to Here?
We’ve had a pretty amazing time in digital CMO Email List over the last few years. A time that has hyped up the adoption of digital channels, applications and strategies time and time again. Social Media is a must, then Mobile is a must, then Apps are a must, Big Data is a must…and the list goes on. What strikes me most about this very short period in our recent history is that we’ve been drawn to each of these channels in a linear way as the research, analysts, consultants and influencers have hit the press with warnings and stats driving a adoption. This isn’t unusual or necessarily a negative thing.
Digital Maturity, Buzzword or Serious Agenda Item?
So, with all this hype and the growing demands and expectations from our customers many organisations have disparate digital presence. Most recently the story has changed to one that is urging businesses to become more integrated in their digital thinking and tactics. That’s the paradigm shift. Yes, mobile has changed our world forever but so did the motor vehicle and the electric light bulb – the paradigm shift that’s difficult to grasp is the need to re-address our business models. Businesses have to become more holistic in their approach to making money. It’s that simple. Digital has changed the business internally forever. It has changed the business externally forever.


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PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) furniture industry is bearing the adverse economic impact of prolonged coronavirus lockdowns and electricity load-shedding and power cuts that have led to a slowdown in business.
According to sources, almost 50 per cent of furniture manufacturing units in KP run the risk of coming to a standstill if uninterrupted power supply is not ensured.
Currently, thousands of families in Peshawar, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Swat, Mardan, Shangla, Chitral, Charsadda Buner and other cities of the province are associated with the furniture industry.
Mohammad Qasim, who owns a furniture business in KP, told Profit that more than a thousand small and large factories employing around 6,000 to 8,000 artisans are currently operating in the province.
Mohammad Qasim said that despite the furniture industry providing employment to thousands of individuals, no incentives were provided by the past and present government’s to further develop the industry and enhance skills of artisans associated with it.
“Due to the coronavirus lockdowns and increased load-shedding and power cuts, almost 50 per cent of the furniture industry is on the verge of shutting down, which will render thousands of people jobless,” said Qasim.
He further said that Covid-19’s adverse economic impact and the surge in inflation have reduced the purchasing power of consumers which has led to a fall in sales of furniture factories across KP.
According to Qasim, around 30 per cent of the labour force associated with the furniture industry has lost their jobs due to the slowdown in demand.
He urged the government to announce a comprehensive financial package to revive KP’s furniture industry.
Anwar, who works as a labourer at a furniture factory in KP, told Profit, that orders received by the furniture businesses in the province have gone down considerably compared to the level of orders received in the past.
“In the past, artisans working in furniture factories could easily earn Rs40,000 to Rs60,000 per month. However, due to the recent reduction in sales, even senior artisans are being forced to quit the furniture industry,” he said.
In the past, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) used to provide training to the artisans working in KP’s furniture industry, however, such training activities have been discontinued.
Craftsmen and business owners associated with KP’s furniture industry while talking to Profit, demanded the resumption of training activities for artisans. They further urged the government to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity and timber so that KP’s furniture industry can operate without interruption.
They also urged the government to reform the tax system for the furniture industry and ensure that the industry only has to pay taxes to a single authority.


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LAS VEGAS Las Vegas hosted the milestone 50th annual Clio awards show and conference program from May 12 to 14, recognizing excellence in advertising, design, and interactive media—marking the event's departure from Miami. The three-day event, held at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, hosted a gathering of more than 500 advertising professionals and enthusiasts from around the world, down from 600 attendees in 2008.
With the backdrop of the rock 'n' roll-inspired Hard Rock, daily conference sessions were followed by a decade-themed award reception, highlighting the best in advertising from each era of Clio's history.
The awards are named for the Clio of Greek mythology, the muse of history and recorder of great deeds and accomplishments, and are produced by Nielsen Business Media, a division of the global information and media firm the Nielsen Company.
Each night, inside the dimly lit Rogue Joint lounge—only recently remade, reopened, and renamed—guests encountered a generous flow of appetizers, music thumping behind boisterous chatter, massive screens broadcasting international ad images, and a dancer, dressed according to each evening's theme. The award show and poolside after-party followed.
The recipient of the honorary Clio in the category of communications was Matthew Weiner, creator of Mad Men, AMC's drama about a '60s ad agency. And this year's winner of the new media award, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, challenged the next generation to pick up the new media gauntlet. The program wrapped up with an honorary Clio going to Barry Manilow, the singer and songwriter behind some of the industry's most successful jingles, who gave a live performance featuring a medley from some of his most popular ads. In the culminating event, some of the industry's most recognizable brand names walked the red carpet for the “Ad Icon Walk of Fame," posing for photos with fans.
In recognition of the 50th anniversary, the awards' executive producer, Brad Hurtado, was tasked with creating an event that surpassed its predecessors but also remained true to the style and prestige of the award. “One of the things [Karl Vontz, director of events for the Clio awards and Adweek Media] wanted was to bring back the warmth, the heart, soul, and emotion that is the Clio brand,” he said.
The event moved to Las Vegas to attract media attention for the move, as well as budgetary reasons. The new location made for lower costs to attendees, and according to a Nielsen Business Media survey of 1,800 advertising industry professionals conducted in August 2008, Las Vegas was cited as the most preferred, attractive, and affordable option for the awards.
Another significant change for the show was the use of social networking tools. The group used Facebook and Twitter to reach out to its international audience. “In four months, 1,200 creatives from all over the world had signed on to our Facebook page,” Vontz said.
In addition to the honorary Clios, other winners included BBDO Worldwide as network of the year and Volkswagen as advertiser of the year. Moving forward, the Clios will expand its brand with the addition of an October healthcare advertising award show in New York.


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If business activity generally slows down in the heart of August in most countries, the same cannot be said for Brazil. This week, the 18th Forest Products Latam Conference is taking place in Sao Paulo, organized by Fastmarkets. With more than 250 delegates in attendance, experts are delivering their analyses of the pulp and paper markets in the region and around the world.
The trend for 2023 is a slight increase in produced and consumed volumes, with prices declining for market pulp after the historical highs of the past three years. The year 2024 is already anticipated to bring a significant recovery. Next year’s capacity expansion projects should lead to improved product availability, and supply chain issues are expected to resolve.
Among the speakers are numerous leaders from regional producing companies, such as the 2023 CEO of the Year, Walter Schalka of Suzano who received his award, Francisco Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of CMPC Chile, Per Olofsson, President of Paracel, Fernando Pinheiro, CEO of Copapa, Luis Gonzalez, CEO of Cartomicro, and Fabio Mortara, President of TwoSides Brazil.
Fastmarkets’ upcoming conferences in the paper sector will be those of North America in Boston and Asia in Shanghai next October, followed by the European event in Great Britain in March 2024.


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Gov. Reynolds highlights Healthiest State program expanding SNAP shoppers’ access to fresh foods
Gov. Kim Reynolds highlighted an Iowa Healthiest State Initiative program at her weekly press conference on Tuesday that expands Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers’ access to fresh foods.
“The Double Up Food Bucks program puts healthy food grown by Iowa famers on the plates of vulnerable Iowa families,” Gov. Reynolds said. “Everyone wins when we increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables. We grow healthier communities while strengthening local economies.”
The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative launched Double Up Food Bucks as a pilot produce incentive program in 2016. Iowa is a national agricultural leader, but according to the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index, it ranks last in fruit and vegetable consumption.
Double Up Food Bucks aims to serve nearly 5,000 vulnerable Iowa families by matching SNAP benefits at participating farmers’ markets (up to $10 per day). The doubled dollars can be used to buy more locally grown fruits and vegetables.
The program will also benefit more than 300 Iowa farmers. The program expects $100,000 in fresh produce sales at Iowa farmers’ markets, keeping more food dollars in the local economy. This year, there are 13 sites in eight counties.


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LVMH takes Italy's Bulgari for 4.3 billion euros
LVMH, the world's top luxury retailer, said Monday it will take control of Bulgari for 4.3 billion euros ($6.0 billion) in a deal to challenge Cartier and Tiffany in the jewelry business.
Bulgari, whose jewels are worn by stars such as Sofia Loren, Tina Turner and Keira Knightley, will receive 16.5 million shares from LVMH worth 1.9 billion euros for the family's 51 percent holding.
The deal initially failed to impress investors, with the French company's shares sliding 0.26 percent on the announcement, but they ended the day up 1.26 percent to 112.95 euros on a market down 0.74 percent.
Bulgari's shares shot up nearly 60 percent in Milan, as under the terms of the agreement LVMH will also offer other Bulgari shareholders 12.25 euros a share, a 63 percent premium from Friday's closing price.
LVMH said it would finance the remaining 2.4 billion euros of the operation from its resources and through bond issues.
Bulgari will become the second largest family shareholder in the LVMH group, taking two seats on the board.
Founded in 1884 by Greek immigrant Sotirios Bulgari, the small jewellers in Rome's historic centre shot to fame when actress Liz Taylor wore one of its diamond and emerald broaches at her 1964 wedding to Richard Burton.
In the 1970s, Bulgari opened stores in New York, Paris, Geneva and Monte-Carlo. By 1993, the jewellers had branched out into perfumes and has since extended their luxury brand to bags and ties, accessories and hotels.
A Bulgari statement said that the company found in LVMH and its French multi-billionaire owner Bernard Arnault everything it felt it needed to guarantee its future.
Arnault called the deal an "ideal arrangement at every level."
LVMH, which counts among its brands Givenchy, Dior and Guerlain perfumes alongside Moet and Chandon and Dom Perignon champagnes, is one of the most successful luxury retailers in the world.
Analysts said that Bulgari would help strengthen LVMH in jewelry and watches, two areas where it has been relatively weak.
"LVMH doesn't have for the moment a brand with international appeal" in jewelry, said Francois Arpels of the Bryan Garnier investment bank.
Luxury jewelry and watches usually generate higher margins, he noted.
"With Bulgari, we can become a real challenger to Cartier," said a source close to the deal who called it a "rare and strategic opportunity" for LMVH.
Bulgari ranks number three in the world in jewelry behind Cartier and Tiffany.
"It is a win-win deal," said a source close to LVMH.
"The operation is completely friendly, the (Bulgari) family is joining with LVMH and it wants to work with Bernard Arnault," the source said in a reference to LVMH's smaller French rival Hermes.
LVMH recently bought a large stake in Hermes, spurring the Hermes family to erect defences to keep their control of the company.
LVMH has insisted that speculation it wants to ultimately control Hermes company is without foundation.
© 2011 AFP


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CATL (300750.SZ) announced recently that it is developing a new technology to install the battery directly on the chassis of an electric car, allowing more batteries to be loaded into the car. This will extend the total range of the vehicle to beyond 800 kilometers, Chinese tech media 36Kr reported.
The chairman of CATL, Zeng Yuqun, declared at the China Auto Blue-Book Forum (CABF) that this groundbreaking new technology will be launched before 2030, according to 36Kr.
36Kr reported, citing Zeng, that the technology first integrates the battery cell with the chassis, then with the motor, electronic control, and vehicle’s high voltage through innovative architecture. Furthermore, it optimizes power distribution, and reduces energy consumption through an intelligent power domain controller.
Zeng said in the forum that he believes that rising fuel prices are accelerating the globalization of electric transportation technologies. He added that by 2025, the first purchase cost of electric vehicles is expected to be on par with traditional gas-combustion vehicles, Chinese media cnBeta reported.
In addition to its internal technology development, CATL plans to enter the stock market as an investor.
On August 11, CATL announced that it would invest in high-quality listed companies on the upstream and downstream of the domestic and foreign industrial chains through securities investment. The total investment will not exceed 50% of the audited net assets at the end of 2019, that is, up to 19.967 billion yuan, of which the total overseas investment does not exceed $2.5 billion.
As of press time, CATL bucked the market and rose 0.57% to 197.1 yuan on Shenzhen Stock Exchange.


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eToro added two decentralized finance tokens, Aave and Yearn.Finance YFI, to its trading offering this week, alongside crypto tokens Compound COMP and Decentraland MANA. DeFi has gained traction amongst crypto investors in recent weeks after having been long overlooked on account of its complex nature.
Aave uses smart contracts, which allow users to receive different types of interest, and can be selected based on individual needs. It ranks among the top 30 largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization and was last trading at around $331 per token based on Coinmarketcap data.
Yearn.Finance YFI encompasses several DeFi programs that are designed to optimize investing. Investors can earn profits through YFI contracts, or add tokens based on initial investment. YFI is ranked 61st based on market size and valued at just above $42,000, according to Coinmarketcap.
With the four new tokens, there are now 23 crypto assets available on eToro, one of the largest retail trading platforms.
DeFi has gained traction and popularity within the crypto community in recent weeks, as sector heavyweights have signaled their support. “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary announced earlier this week he was planning to launch a DeFi investing company and Chainlink’s co-founder Sergey Nazarov said he believed a shift towards DeFi was unavoidable.
DeFi is based on blockchain technology and aims to remove any middlemen from the investing process. It has a variety of uses, including digital currency exchanges, stablecoins and wrapping bitcoin to link them to the ethereum network. Smart contracts also allow users to earn interest on their investments.
So far, DeFi has been widely regarded as too complex and inaccessible to especially retail investors as it requires significant expertise. Security issues and past crashes of DeFi investment vehicles have also led investors to be cautious.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has seen a number of hacks and attacks on DeFi products based on its systems. Most recently BurgerSwap, a DeFi platform on which users swap digital burgers, was attacked by hackers and lost over $7 million of its clients funds.
Regulators including the SEC chairman Gary Gensler have urged caution, saying the DeFi was challenging for investors due to its volatility and the novelty of products included under the umbrella term.


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Last Updated on April 5, 2020 by Mark P.
In the midst of this global health crisis which has now turned into a financial crisis for the foreseeable future, General Motors (GM) is offering a deal to consumers in order to stay afloat as well as increase aggregate demand, which is almost too good to pass up.
According to a report this week from CNBC, “GM Financial is offering a 0% financing for seven years- two years more than recent programs – and four months deferred payments for those with A+ credit.” There is a catch however, this offer isn’t going to stay around for good.
GM Spokesman Jim Cain notified dealers of GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles this past Monday of the new offer, and that they only plan on offering this deal until March 31st of 2020. This once in a lifetime offer through this program is a direct response to the Coronavirus outbreak which immediately impacted U.S. auto sales as well as manufacturers because of the federal “social distancing” policies which in turn, disincentives not only going out to buy vehicles and so discourages consumer spending as a whole (basically anyone who started hoarding toilet paper knew this immediately this past week).
According to RBC Capital, they are expecting U.S. auto sales “to fall to 13.5 million vehicles, 20% below last year’s sales, as a result of the coronavirus.”
In the official statement from GM, Cain stated that they “wanted to reassure customers that we’re here for them and our dealers are here for them” and that the vehicle manufacturer has “never done this combination before,” stressing the importance of taking advantage of this deal before it ends in less than several weeks from time of publishing.
However, GM isn’t the only large vehicle manufacturer jumping into the deals fray. The same CNBC report states that Ford Motor and its financing announced Monday as well that they are offering a similar program to customers “who buy new vehicles with the option to delay their first payment for 90 days. This play is to incentive US customers to “contact the company to discuss potential delay of payments to provide relief” during the extent of the Coronavirus crisis caused by China’s deliberate hiding and misinformation of the threat of the virus to the global population.
These decisions by the two vehicle giants are but one example of the private sector coming to the aid of US consumers during this time of financial uncertainty long term as millions of Americans are now facing the greatest financial and health crisis in a generation.


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Mermade Seafoods is an Israeli company developing cultivated scallops. The company claims to be the first in the world to use aquaponics technology in cellular agriculture.
Essentially, Mermade takes nutrient-rich spent growth medium — a byproduct of cultivated meat and seafood production — and places it in a bioreactor with microalgae. The resulting algae biomass can be used to feed more cells, a circular process with the potential to drastically reduce the cost of cell cultivation.
Mermade says it is focusing on scallops as their shape and texture is relatively easy to replicate. Additionally, conventional scallops are expensive, meaning the cultivated variety will not be significantly more costly.
"We're making the same seafood that we all know and love, just without fishing," CEO Daniel Einhorn said. "IntegriCulture is the first to implement cell culture by a serum-free basal medium that cell-cultured meat producers around the world are working on. There is a wide range of potential industrial applications in cell cultivation such as cosmetics, leather, pharmaceuticals, and others.'
Read the complete article at www.vegconomist.com.


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Swiggy partners with HealthifyMe after its health-food orders rise by 249%
- Fitness platform
HealthifyMehas partnered with Swiggy, a food delivery startup to curate and deliver ‘FitPicks’ — listing restaurants that offer healthiest food.
- The collection, curated by dedicated nutritionists will offer food from over 700 restaurants that are partnered with Swiggy.
- The Fitpicks are rated on a health scoring algorithm that keeps a check on micronutrients in the restaurant menus.
Health-conscious users in Delhi, Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bangalore can benefit from this. The collection, curated by dedicated nutritionists will offer food from over 700 of Swigg’s partners.
The Fitpicks are rated on a health scoring algorithm that keeps a check on micronutrients in the restaurant menus. “Only restaurants with predominantly healthy dishes find a place on the ‘FitPicks’ collection,” HealthifyMe said.
The users can avail the option by clicking on the FitPicks banner on Swiggy.
“We’ve had ‘healthy’ as a key filter on the app for many years now. With the Fitpick collection, we’re making it simpler for health-focused consumers to find the healthiest restaurants on the platform, especially curated by nutritionists and the health scoring algorithm at HealthifyMe.” said Srivats TS, VP Marketing at Swiggy.
In a bid to woo its customers, the companies have rolled out ‘personalised diet plans’ for those ordering in January. “Consumers who place more than two orders from FitPicks before January 31 will also receive free access to HealthifyMe’s AI-powered personalised diet plan for a month,” the startup said.
The development comes after the food aggregator found that there was a massive 249% surge in healthy food orders. This includes salads, keto and millet based dishes. The health and fitness app claims to have over 12 million users.
Binge watching on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar hit India's fitness goals in 2019
This startup helping 9 million Indians lose weight may soon turn profitable
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Last week, Giorgio Armani criticized the menswear by today’s top fashion houses (Prada and Dolce & Gabbana, specifically), calling them ridiculous-looking and griping that “fashion today is in the hands of the banks and of the stock market and not of their owners.” His complaint was seen as a direct attack on Prada’s recent IPO, which Tod’s chairman Diego Della Valle defended at a luxury conference yesterday:
That kind of attack does not make any sense, and it was the least opportune moment … Prada’s listing] was a beautiful operation, with global visibility … Rather than criticizing Prada’s strategies, Armani should do the same thing, invest in the territory, as I did in Rome, contributing to the restoration of the Colosseum. In a moment of crisis, it’s important to be part of a team, and it’s our duty to give a signal, not waste time in useless attacks.
Diego Della Valle Strikes Back at Giorgio Armani Comments [WWD]
Related: Giorgio Armani Thinks Menswear by Prada and Dolce & Gabbana Looks Ridiculous