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ROME, ITALY — Food commodity markets are becoming more balanced and less price volatile than in recent years thanks to improved supplies and a recovery in global inventories of cereals, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Food Outlook report published on Nov. 7.
"The prices for most basic food commodities have declined over the past few months. This relates to production increases and the expectation that in the current season, we will have more abundant supplies, more export availabilities and higher stocks," said David Hallam, director of FAO's Trade and Markets Division.
The sharp increase in 2013 cereal production mostly stems from a recovery of maize crops in the United States and record wheat harvests in CIS countries. World rice production in 2013 is expected to grow only modestly.
Global stocks, ending in 2014, are also anticipated to increase, by 13%, to 564 million tonnes, with coarse grains alone up by 30%, mostly in the U.S. Wheat and rice stocks are also projected to rise, by 7% and 3% respectively.
The expansion in world cereal stocks would result in the global cereal stocks-to-use ratio reaching 23%, well above the historical low of 18.4% in 2007-08.
In 2013, the world food import bill is set to decline by 3% to $1.15 trillion, with import costs of cereals, sugar, vegetable oils and tropical beverages falling, but dairy, meat and fish remaining firm, according to FAO's latest Food Outlook.
The FAO Food Price Index, also published in this report, rose slightly in October, averaging 205.8 points. This was 2.7 points, or 1.3% above September, but still 11 points, or 5.3% below its October 2012 value. The slight increase was largely driven by a surge in sugar prices, although prices of the other commodity groups were also up.
The Index, which is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of five major food commodity groups (including 73 price quotations), has undergone some changes in the way it is calculated, although the new approach did not significantly alter the values in the series. The revised Index has also been extended back to 1961. The revisions are discussed in the Special Feature section of Food Outlook.
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A standout among the Brooklyn Food Book Fair's more agreeable events -- a talk about the Midwest's culinary identity, a conversation on social entrepreneurship -- was a contentious panel discussion on genetically engineered foods, presented by the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD). Two scientists, a ... More >>
The feds see no evil as a belligerent strongman seeks control of America's food supply
In case you missed it: Twin bills are currently moving through the New York Senate and Assembly requiring the labeling of genetically modified foods. After Proposition 37 was shot down in California last year, New York's might seem like a fruitless effort against a monolithic biotech lobby, but it's ... More >>
Food activists against "franken-food" will have to put a pause on taking down genetically modified products. Voters in California rejected Prop. 37, a law that if passed would have made California the first state to label processed food containing genetically modified ingredients. [See More: Mariju ... More >>
NBC reports that Peter Dinklage, the 42-year-old Game of Thrones star who's been a vegetarian since he was a teenager, will spend the show's off-season as a national spokesman for Farm Sanctuary's Walk for Farm Animals.
A U.S. District Court hearing in downtown New York today could determine the eventual fate of several organic farmers from across the country, including some in upstate New York. The hearing centered on a "pre-emptive" suit led by the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGTA), against agr ... More >>
Meat made in a petri dish is apparently a real thing. In what appears to be the culinary world's latest interpretation of Mary Shelley, scientists have already solved the riddle of making animal flesh in a lab, and are now figuring out how to sell it profitably, according to Food Safety News.
Marcus Samuelsson has recently penned an op-ed for the Huffington Post, in which he implores readers to think deeply about food policy during the upcoming elections.
A study conducted by professors at IMD business school, Penn State, and Erlangen-Nuremberg University has led them to conclude that bosses who display narcissistic qualities often perform better than run-of-the mill executives. Frederick Allen, leadership editor of Forbes, writes that the stu ... More >>
Where's Harrison Ford when you need him?
Food Republic revealed five things you should know about fracking and food. The Daily Meal gave us 10 fantastic wine cocktails. And we could really use one right about now. The Feast uncovered great happy hour deals in Midtown and Chelsea. The Food Section looked into reasons to defend GM foods. ... More >>
pointnshoot/FlickrWould you like some fries with your stem cells?Meat. It seems we can't live without it, even if the American Meat Institute, global warming, and the horrors of factory farming keep giving us reason after reason to. Because scientists tend to be a fairly intelligent lot, they ... More >>
Samples of human cheese were offered last night at Feast in Greenpoint. Human cheese is one of those topics you wish would just go away. It first reared its ugly head last year when a blogger-chef from a certain Chelsea bistro suggested he'd milked his wife to make cheese for a private party ... More >>
inhabitat.comIt's alive!In the second edition of his new op-ed column, Mark Bittman examines the regulations behind genetically modified foods. In short, the USDA now allows three types of genetically engineered foods to be used in food production and none of these will be mentioned on the la ... More >>
Oh, Monsanto!"To me, using GMO crops is like making love to a toxic blow-up doll every night." --Fourth-generation farmer Eric Herm, explaining to Leonard Lopate earlier today why he has no plans to use genetically modified crops on his Texas farm. Have a tip or restaurant-related news? Send ... More >>
The great canned pumpkin shortage of 2009-10 has ended. Nestle, which sells about 85 percent of the canned pumpkin in the U.S., said increased demand was to blame for the shortage. [Boston Herald] As the FDA nears the approval of genetically modified salmon, questions over its safety have ar ... More >>
Phil Ross, a San Francisco-based chef and artist, hosted an insect-based meal at Brooklyn Kitchen this past weekend, as a means to promote a tasty, sustainable diet of animals you can raise yourself at home. [NY Times] Less than a month after Eataly was unleashed on New Yorkers, a roundup of ... More >>
Despite so many low-fat and dairy-free ice cream alternatives available, Americans still prefer plain-vanilla ice cream. [Time] Meanwhile, ever wonder how artisanal ice cream can be more expensive than prime rib eye? Vendors say it's the top-quality ingredients. [NY Times] Taco Bell's new l ... More >>
HERE presents Sweet, Sweet Motherhood
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Alfalfa: Not yet genetically modifiedThe U.S. Supreme Court, which has nearly hacked Miranda to death, may very well swing its scythe at environmentalists and consumers. The court's making noises as if it will strike down the current ban on Monsanto's genetically engineered, pesticide-resistant alfa ... More >>
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domain: news


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VITM Can Tho 2019 is the largest event of the Mekong Delta region. Mr. Vu The Binh, Permanent Vice Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association, said: “Until now, there have been more than 300 booths registered, including tourism booth and food stall. VITM Can Tho 2019 is expected to will have more than 300 tourism businesses (travel agencies, hotels, airlines, restaurants, destination management ...) and tourism promotion agencies throughout the country. In particular, countries like Korea, Japan, Malaysia, India, Cuba, Indonesia and Singapore ... will also participate in this event”.
The highlight of Can Tho VITM 2019 is the B2B activity - which is a series of tourism product introduction programs, destinations and cooperation agreements between domestic businesses as well as domestic and international businesses. In addition to meeting in person during VITM Can Tho 2019, the Organizing Board has also conducted an online appointment at www.vitm.vn. Accordingly, travel firms and visitors can arrange an appointment to exchange information and work together. Another main event is the B2C activity. Thousands of promotional products, including domestic and international tours, hotel rooms, air tickets, admission fee ... will be offered directly to visitors.
A special feature only available at VITM Can Tho 2019 is the food festival. Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho, Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association, said: “the Mekong Delta region has a very unique and diverse culinary culture. It is not only about delicious food but also the taste of a land, an impressive cross culture between the ethnic groups living in this land”. Mr. Tho gave an example: Only one bowl of rice noodles but eating in My Tho, Sa Dec, Can Tho or Ca Mau ... is completely different, both in the broth, the cooking methods and cooking ingredients. "If we can exploit these different factors, the cuisine of each province and city can absolutely be a typical tourist product," Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho said. Therefore, the Organizing Board of VITM Can Tho 2019 has determined to organize the Food Festival, expecting to have about 80 booths, introducing Vietnamese and international cuisine, especially in the Mekong Delta region.
The Organizing Board of VITM Can Tho 2019 said: “The activities of the event focus on the field of advertising, tourism promotion as well as becoming a meeting place for cooperation between tourism businesses, not just a place “sightseeing” or have fun”. Within the framework of the event, the Central Economic Board will co-sponsor and direct the Mekong Delta Tourism Development Forum with the participation of the Government, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministries, relevant agencies, leaders of Mekong Delta provinces and travel agencies. The Forum aims to assess the tourism development accordance with the spirit of Resolution 08-NQ/TW of the Politburo released January 16, 2017 on “developing tourism into a key economic sector"; proposing solutions to overcome difficulties and promoting strengths in tourism resources. It is expected that in the future, the Mekong Delta region will be one of the tourism centers of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. In addition, the Conference on Tourism Products of the Mekong Delta region is also expected to solve the "difficult problems" in tourism development in recent years.
As the host of this international event, Can Tho is hurrying up preparations for VITM Can Tho 2019 to take place successfully. Mr. Tran Viet Phuong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said “From now till the day of the event, Can Tho focuses on introducing departments, branches and people the purpose, the meaning, the importance of the event to get their responses. The mobilization of provinces, cities, travel agencies and centers to join VITM Can Tho 2019 has also been actively implemented. In particular, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the city determined the "main role" of the event is tourist companies and how they achieve their goals of cooperating, purchasing and promoting products after participating in the show”.
These days, there are many advertising posters, boards, LED displays promoting VITM Can Tho 2019 on many main roads in the city. Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the city in collaboration with Vietnam Tourism Association held 2 press conferences in Hanoi and 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. Can Tho also mobilizes 3-5-star hotels to join the free and reduced-price program. To date, more than 20 hotels have signed up for the program which will discount 20% -50% of the listed price and have nearly 40 rooms for free. At the end of September, Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also conducted a survey concerning tourist destinations with the participation of press agencies and tourist firms.
Mr. Tran Viet Phuong, Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho city, expectantly said: “Through this Fair, we want to create opportunities to promote Mekong Delta tourism in general, Can Tho in particular with international friends, thereby gradually improving the position of Can Tho tourism”. Mr. Le Thanh Phong, Permanent Vice Chairman of Mekong Delta Tourism Association, shared: “VITM Can Tho 2019 will contribute to creating a new image for Mekong Delta tourism, in terms of culture, cuisine ... On that account, domestic and international visitors can learn more and more fully about the Mekong Delta tourism. This is also a very important advertising and promoting channel for tourists and tourism partners whoever wants to discover and learn about the Mekong Delta to work or travel there”.
VITM Can Tho 2019 limits the use of plastic waste
Can Tho VITM 2019 takes place from November 29th to December 1st at the Can Tho Trade Promotion Agency and Exhibition Fair (108, Le Loi Street, Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District).
VITM Can Tho 2019 will have the program "Tourism to protect the environment and limit the use of plastic waste" launched by Vietnam Tourism Association. Accordingly, Can Tho VITM encourages participants to use environment-friendly materials, limit plastic waste while setting up booths. VITM Can Tho will also have street parades mobilizing people to join hands to protect the environment.
Source: Can Tho Newspaper - Translated by Hoang Dat


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A new restaurant and bar could soon bring Ethiopian and Thai food to a vacant building in Shaw.
The forthcoming business, dubbed “Kiss Tavern,” is currently in the works at 637 T St. NW, according to a liquor license application recently filed with D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Administration (ABRA).
When it opens, Kiss Tavern will serve “modern” Thai and Ethiopian dishes alongside “unique cocktails,” the application reads.
Though the District has many Thai and Ethiopian restaurants, it has few — if any — that serve both kinds of food at the same time.
The space, which once held a copy, printing and shipping business called DC Postal, has been under renovation for months.
A representative for Kiss Tavern was not immediately available to comment on the opening. We’ll update this story if we hear back from someone.
A new watering hole near U Street is set to start welcoming pups and people by mid-December.
Wet Dog Tavern, a new “dog-friendly” beer garden, is set to open its doors at 2100 Vermont Ave. NW in a matter of weeks, according to general manager Raj Lal. Though the bar was originally slated to open over the summer, some construction and permitting issues have delayed that process.
When the bar finally opens, it will serve beer, wine and seasonal cocktails. The idea, Lal said, is to keep things simple and unsophisticated.
“I want to focus on producing great, balanced cocktails that patrons can connect with and really enjoy,” Lal said. “I’m a huge fan of a well-made perfect manhattan, so you can expect to see something like that offered. Perhaps a twist on a margarita and a warm cocktail or two for our winter opening.”
The bar will also pour some beers “that are being brewed for us out of a Pennsylvania brewery,” Lal added. “For the rest of the taps and bottle choices, we’ll be focusing on nationwide brews, not just the same local breweries that are commonly found around this area.”
Patrons can sip their drinks in a heated outdoor beer garden that will be large enough for about 75-100 people. The tavern’s interior will hold between 35 and 50 people, Lal added.
As the name implies, customers seated in the outdoor area can bring along their canine companions.
“We plan on having tables outside where people can bring their dogs,” Lal told us in April. “You want to walk your dog, you can bring them here.”
Photo courtesy of Raj Lal
A new Cuban restaurant is in the works for Adams Morgan.
The forthcoming eatery, called “Barada,” is planned to open at 2309 18th St. NW, according to a liquor license application recently filed with D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.
The business will be a “full service restaurant that will offer Cuban cuisine,” managing member Eduardo Barada wrote in the application. Barada will also have seats for 124 people inside and 35 people in a summer garden area.
The eatery will occupy the space that formerly held Czars 11, the tapas bar that closed in August.
A representative for Barada was not immediately available to comment on the opening. We’ll update this story if we hear back from them.
A fast casual restaurant centered around quinoa bowls and semi-automated ordering is slated to start serving breakfast and lunch downtown in one week.
San Francisco-based chain Eatsa will open its first D.C. location at 1627 K St. NW on Tuesday, Nov. 29, according to a representative for the company.
Borderstan got the scoop on the forthcoming eatery in July.
Ordering works like this: Instead of talking to a cashier and moving down an assembly line Chipotle-style, customers order on tablets at kiosks or on their phones, then retrieve their food from glass door “cubbies,” all without saying a word.
The restaurant’s menu includes quinoa bowls and salads topped with ingredients such as kale, arugula, chickpeas, paneer and avocado.
The “home of the sweet potato pie” is back in business on U Street.
Henry’s Soul Cafe reopened its location at 1704 U St. NW this morning at 11 a.m. Today’s opening marks the first time the U Street soul food eatery has served customers since it closed after a fire in 2014.
A small handful of people gathered at the restaurant this morning to place their orders for pies, fried chicken and fish, mac and cheese, ribs and cornbread.
Owner Jermaine Smith said the reopening has been “pretty good” so far.
“We’re working out some of the kinks with the new system we have,” Smith added.
Locals can start picking up Thanksgiving orders on Sunday, Nov. 20. The store is open 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
Photos and additional reporting by Andrew Ramonas
Two employees of Cleveland Park’s Cactus Cantina have plans to open a new dining spot in Adams Morgan.
The eatery, dubbed “Alfresco Tap and Grill,” could soon come together on a plot of land at 2009 18th St. NW, according to Cindy Sanchez, one of the forthcoming restaurant’s managing partners. As we reported last week, that land is currently being used as a parking lot for Cactus Cantina’s sister restaurant, Lauriol Plaza.
“Alfresco will be a full service restaurant that will provide its patrons with an indoor and outdoor garden experience and will feature a menu based on American comfort food, such as burgers, sandwiches, pizza, steaks and gourmet specials,” Sanchez told Borderstan. “We will also serve an array of craft beer on tap, creative cocktails and great wines.”
According to plans filed with D.C.’s Historic Preservation Review Board last month, Alfresco Tap and Grill would be located inside a new building.
“We are excited to go heavy on the fresco with a large outdoor garden and patio, an outdoor terrace and a rooftop vegetable and herb garden,” Sanchez explained.
Though it’s unclear when workers might break ground on the new building, Sanchez said the company is set to “start the lengthy permitting process soon and construction would start shortly after that.”
U Street’s newest neighborhood bar is set to start serving seasonal cocktails and fried chicken sandwiches when it opens its doors next week.
Service Bar (928 U St. NW) co-owners Glendon Hartley, Chad Spangler and Chris Willoughby are scheduled to host a grand opening event next Thursday at 5 p.m., a representative for the company told Borderstan.
When Service Bar opens, its bartenders will shake, stir and serve a list of cocktails that includes classics like mint juleps, old fashioneds, and daiquiris alongside contemporary specialties such as the “Sumo Punch,” a concoction of clarified lime, yuza, smoked apple mint, Midori and Japanese whiskey infused with green tea and Asian pears.
The hangout’s food menu is composed of five chicken dishes. Offerings include a fried chicken sandwich on a pretzel bun, chicken quesadillas and fried chicken salad. Service Bar will also sell Good Humor ice cream cones and have a happy hour with $7 cocktails that “literally never ends.”
Read the full event listing for the grand opening below:
(Updated at 9 a.m. Thursday) The chef behind a sushi restaurant in Bethesda has plans to open a new eatery in downtown D.C.
Yoshi Ota, executive sushi chef at Yuzu in Bethesda, will open a new restaurant called Sushi Gakyu at 1420 New York Ave. NW later this year, he told Borderstan.
The forthcoming eatery will serve “traditional and modern sushi, sashimi, and varieties of Japanese fish menus with my 30 years experience as a sushi and fish expert,” Ota said.
Ota is a veteran of Sushiko in Chevy Chase and the late Kushi in Mt. Vernon Triangle, according to his bio. He also previously owned a restaurant called Ginza Gakyu in Tokyo, Japan.
If all goes according to plan, Sushi Gakyu should open “around the end of 2016,” Ota said.
The rumors are true. A shop known for its eclectic ice cream flavors will open a store near the 14th Street corridor.
Ice Cream Jubilee is moving into the space at 1407 T St. NW, founder Victoria Lai told us today. The store will share the space with local bakery BakeHouse, which closed the retail portion of its business in May.
“We’re really excited to be working together with them and to bring ice cream to the northwest D.C. neighborhood,” Lai said.
When the new shop opens this September, it will sell Jubilee’s menu of ice cream flavors along with “some new things,” she added.
Read more about the opening in a press release from Ice Cream Jubilee:
A new bar aimed at local artists and photography enthusiasts could soon develop along Florida Ave. NW.
The hangout, dubbed “The Darkroom,” is in the works at 207 Florida Ave. NW, according to a liquor license application recently filed with D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Administration (ABRA).
The forthcoming business will be “a venue dedicated to building community through the art of photography,” the application reads.
If all goes according to plan, the bar will feature “a working darkroom, photography studio, bar and art gallery,” and will host screenings, art shows, lectures and classes “designed to preserve the history and and explore the future of the medium.”
The Darkroom will also serve charcuterie, cheese and olives in addition to alcohol, the application notes.
We were unable to reach a representative from the business to comment on the opening. We’ll update this story if we hear back from them.
It looks as though a new restaurant is in the works on 14th Street.
An LLC called “Chicken and Whiskey” has plans to open a to-be-named eatery at 1738 14th St. NW, according to an application recently filed with D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA).
Though little is known about the forthcoming restaurant or the LLC behind it, the application says simply it will serve “American food” and drinks.
Star Restaurant Group principals Stuart Damon, Kristopher Carr and Desmond Reilly are listed on the application as managing members behind Chicken and Whiskey, LLC. We were unable to reach them to comment on the opening.
The space at 1738 14th St. NW previously held Planet Pet, a business that closed last November but promised to reopen with a “new name [and] a new vibe.”
District residents interested in tasting dishes from forthcoming poultry-centric eatery The Bird will have only one more chance to do so before it opens in Shaw this October.
The Pig (1320 14th St. NW) is slated host two pop-up tasting events to showcase selections from its new restaurant’s menu on Sept. 17 and 18.
During the special “Taste the Bird” brunch, chef Michael Bonk will prepare a variety of fowl dishes that include a “Birdcuterie board” with capon rillettes, duck prosciutto, pheasant galantine; smoked chicken benedict; and Tennessee-style hot chicken.
Though the brunch will showcase The Bird’s menu, pork fanatics will still be able to order some of The Pig’s popular menu items during the pop-up, Bonk said.
Photo via Facebook / The Bird
A long-awaited distillery pub will open near the intersection of 14th and U streets NW next week.
District Distilling Company (1414 U St. NW) is slated to open Friday, Aug. 26, according to a press release.
The new business will merge “a state-of-the-art craft distillery [and] retail store on the first floor, and a full-service kitchen [and] bar with seating for 140 guests on the second floor,” the release said.
Diners can expect to find “seasonal American dishes” and vodka, gin, white rum and bourbon made onsite. A walk through the company’s dinner menu reveals grilled rockfish, crispy skin suckling pig and cast iron steak.
District Distilling Company will also offer distillery tours starting next month, the company said.
More information from a press release:
An Italian restaurant tomorrow is set to mark its arrival in Adams Morgan with a multi-course wine dinner, for diners with tickets only.
Al Volo Osteria (which its owners also have called Osteria Al Volo) is scheduled to christen its space at 1790 Columbia Road NW with a meal of oyster mushroom ravioli, stuffed lamb loin and other food at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Dinner tickets are available online for $49.
The complete menu is slated to include:
The duo behind Adams Morgan’s Grand Central is looking to open a restaurant that would serve deli sandwiches and drinks near U Street.
Brian Vasile and Andy Seligman, who also own a sports bar in Bethesda called Brickside, have plans to open a new eatery called “Capo” at 715 Florida Ave. NW, according to Linda Roth, a PR rep for the forthcoming restaurant.
Though Vasile and Seligman are still hammering out many of the details, Roth said the new concept “will not be your grandmother’s deli.” The restaurant would seat 120 people with room for 150, according to a liquor license application filed with D.C.’s Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration.
If all goes according to plan, the co-owners would open Capo next spring, Roth said.
As we reported last year, a Vietnamese restaurant called Hoa Tuc previously planned to open a restaurant in the same building, but those plans appear to have fizzled.
Hoa Tuc’s social media accounts have been inactive for nearly 10 months and we’ve been unable to reach co-owner Suzy Duong since publishing our original story.


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Worldwide announced Small-Cap M&A deals valued up to $50 million (including undisclosed value deals) totaled US$163.1 billion in 2016 – a 4.1% increase year-on-year.
The Asia-Pacific (ex Central Asia) region (by target domicile) led the Small-Cap market, with US$83.9 billion of announced deal activity.
Europe (by target domicile) led the market in the number of deals announced, with 14,308 transactions for 2016, representing 35.1% of the 40,743 deals announced worldwide.
The High Technology sector captured 15.5% of total announced Small-Cap value deals, followed by Industrials and Financials, each respectively registering 12.3% and 11.3% of the overall market.
KPMG tops the worldwide Mid-Market rankings for deals valued up to $50 million for 2016, working on 357 deals with a combined value of $1.4 billion.


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send payment between regular individuals but now corporations are looking at Bitcoin as a potential global currency. It is worth noting that the total value of all gold ever mined is about.8 trillion. Ripple Xrp Price Prediction 2018 Ripple XRP: Price Prediction Moon Math Ripple XRP 589 Price Prediction And November 5th Future Of Ripple - Price Of Ripple In 2018 - Invest In Ripple Or Not? Currently, Ripple (XRP) is trading.73 which is a 17 rise from a yesterday low.62. Ripple XRP has been outperforming the top coins lately and just passed Ethererums market cap of 22 billion. Allow me then to compile 4 of the major price predictions that I have come across on the web.
According to Ripple, xRapid is set to launch sometime in mid-October. This means that the little coin is really living up to the big shoes that the financial institutions expect it to fit into. (very Likely) 11:21 Huge Ripple Xrp News! I am a fan of Ripples proof of concept and I think given the various partnerships it continues to acquire there is an argument to get involved and buy it at some point.
Forexcoin price, Ripple price prediction 2018 chart, Forex price action scalping bob volman pdf free,
I hope Ripple (XRP) takes the steady but sure route to the top. Ripple partners with PNC Bank, a guide to buying Ripple, a look at other popular cryptocurrencies. The Reason Why Ripple XRP Is Going. But it does not hurt mentioning and analyzing them. According to Ripple more than 120 banks tested xCurrent which is a blockchain-based product. According to Ripple, xRapid is set to launch sometime in mid-October. This brings new utility to the cryptocurrency, XRP for banks and payment providers. Therefore,.45 price prediction is a conservative and welcome price to guarantee price stability for Ripple (XRP) in 2018. Earlier this year Expedia announced a partnership which allows Expedia customers to pay for travel using bitcoin.
Bitcoin, price, predictions - Future Bitcoin Value for 2020, 2022, 2030
Model for price binary options, Trading forex price action only, Forex course price,


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Posted by Sheila Shayon on August 15, 2012 03:03 PM
Brand USA, the government marketing arm pitching America as a travel destination, is getting into the branded entertainment business, with a new website now seeking television programming pitches. But is America lacking for TV shows about America?
“We know how incredible a destination can look on television and that, for many viewers, it’s what may inspire a booking for their next holiday,” commented Jay Gray, VP of Business Development, Brand USA. Continue reading...
chew on this
Posted by Dale Buss on August 2, 2012 02:55 PM
The need for jobs in a job-starved America can create some interesting political dynamics. Witness how New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo is going out of his way today to praise practically every other politician in the state for having anything to do with bringing new PepsiCo jobs in yogurt-making to upstate — and implicitly thumbling his nose at New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has put PepsiCo on the Most Wanted list with his proposed big-soda ban.
"This is a new New York State, partnering with the private sector to create jobs and grow new industries," Cuomo said in a PepsiCo press release today. He's been notably lauded even by some Republicans for making economic development (tagline: "New York - Open for Business") a priority of his administration, including a high-profile TV campaign promoting economic investments in New York State, with not only PepsiCo but Fage bringing their yogurt works to upstate New York.Continue reading...
Posted by Mark J. Miller on July 17, 2012 05:25 PM
With less than two weeks to go before the Summer Games kick off, London Olympics organizers have suddenly discovered that they’ve got a major problem on their hands: Security. And rain. A backlash to the so-called "brand police." And what to do with thousands of tetchy journalists?
Post-Cool Brittania, We Stand on Guard for Thee
After spending years prepping to make the Olympics a shining moment in the city’s history that should help make its brand shine, London is hurting for security help. Nick Buckles, the head of the firm that is providing what security will exist, G4S, admits that the whole thing has been a “humiliating shambles,” according to the Guardian. Even so, London city officials are hoping that somehow they can turn things around quickly in hopes of rescuing the city’s brand.Continue reading...
Posted by Abe Sauer on July 3, 2012 12:06 PM
As tentpole movies increasingly become vehicles to move items off store shelves, one "product" that has excelled at leveraging onscreen placements is "geography." And when it comes to comic book titles and their real life cities, probably no hero is better at local marketing than Spider-Man.
No surprise then that, with a brandtastic new Spider-Man reboot hitting cinemas today, Sony and Marvel marketers leveraged Peter "Spider-Man" Parker's real life New York City home as part of its amazing marketing campaign, with one mild-mannered exception.Continue reading...
Posted by Abe Sauer on June 25, 2012 11:51 AM
Brands Spotted: 0 (if you don't count Scotland)
Standout Placement: N/A
Most Memorable Placement (positive): N/A
Most Memorable Placement (negative): N/A
Overall Product Placement Integration Grade (1-10): N/A
Comments: Some critics have called Brave, Disney/Pixar's new film, formulaic. It's an easy conclusion to reach. The idea behind Brave appears to be taking the popularity of young women archers (cue The Hunger Games, and already a Brave-themed attraction at Disney Parks), pinching some themes from other recent popular franchises (How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek), updating the Disney Princess juggernaut, and wrapping the whole thing in the aura of an earlier epic Scottish tale of bravery (Braveheart*). But Brave's guts aren't the only formulaic element of the film.Continue reading...
Posted by Abe Sauer on June 22, 2012 11:54 AM
Disney Pixar's latest film Brave opens today and promises to clean up at the box office. The film's official partner, Visit Scotland, is hoping audiences will want to "Experience the land that inspired Disney-Pixar’s Brave" (even as the Atlanta Braves have their legal issues with the movie).
Brave's opening means that Madagascar 3, the nation's top film for two weeks running, is about to be forgotten until DVD time. As Madagascar 3 pushes off, and with Brave's Scotland tie-in in mind, we have one nagging question before it goes: why the hit animated franchise failed to make the obvious marketing tie-in with New York's Central Park Zoo? Continue reading...
Posted by Mark J. Miller on June 7, 2012 02:03 PM
Many small businesses steer clear of anything controversial or political so as not to offend any potential customers. After all, the customer is always right, even if they are saying exactly the opposite thing from what the last customer said.
Brooklyn Industries, a 14-store outfit that's based in (where else?) Brooklyn, NY, and sells hipster-licious clothing, bags, and small household goods, is not afraid. Its store windows are provoking conversations about subjects that not everybody wants to talk about, necessarily, when all they want is to grab a t-shirt.
The retailer explained the thinking behind its thought-provoking window displays: "Inspired by Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever, we wanted to take a closer look at race in Brooklyn. We asked local residents about their lives and experiences growing up here."Continue reading...
ready for takeoff
Posted by Mark J. Miller on June 5, 2012 05:03 PM
London Heathrow is the third-busiest airport in the world, moving close to 70 million people down its two runways each year. It can feel a bit cramped there and anybody who has walked its floors might tell you that all 70 million of those folks were in the place the day they were there.
The government has threatened to scuttle a proposed third runway, which has Heathrow operator BAA threatening to sue as it's eager to expand capacity. And from the "you can't please all the people all the time" dept., one group of Brits would love the 83-year-old airport to be leveled and converted into landscaped gardens, a residential area, and a university. Yet customer surveys indicate that over 70% of passengers at the airport rate their experience as 'Excellent' or 'Very Good.'
As it looks to become more efficient and truly "make every journey better" in order to bump those customer survey results even higher, Heathrow's retail partners and shoppers are certainly happy. According to an airport spokesperson, “Heathrow has the highest retail sales of any airport in the world ahead of Incheon airport in South Korea in second place.”Continue reading...


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A new market study from Companies & Market estimates that web-to-print will represent around 2017 an overall market of $869 million, with an annual 15% growth.
I find this study really interesting as :
- it confirms a previous study released last year by GIA
- it breaks former estimations done by Infotrends in 2009 : only 3 years ago, Infotrends estimated w2p market at... $200 millions, with "only" 7.5% growth per year.
This new study confirms the importance of web-to-print as a major trend in printing industry. What's new in this study is the increasing interest for w2p in Asia-Pacific area.
I'ld add that, in my own opinion, South and Latin America should be the next place to be, especially in Brazil.


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AFNA’s Big Ideas conference will air virtually beginning at 9 a.m. CT on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Spanning 12 sessions – offered modularly so customers can attend the entire day or pick-and-choose the sessions that interest them – Big Ideas brings together packaging experts the likes of Mintel and the Association of Plastics Recycling (APR) for a full day of no-cost sessions devoted completely to making our customers successful.
“It’s been a challenging year for brands, retailers, and consumers,” said Amcor Sales and Marketing Vice President Laurel Spencer. “One of the things we’ve missed most during the pandemic is connecting face-to-face with our customers, sharing insights and innovation that can help them to succeed. We didn’t want to close out 2020 without taking the opportunity to share this kind of data with them.”
The Big Ideas line-up includes session on recycle-ready packaging solutions, high-performance packaging with shelf appeal, liquid packaging products and equipment, fresh meat automated packaging solutions, and healthcare packaging.
Highlights will include Mintel’s What’s now and what’s next: trends insights, and point of view on consumer habits, innovation, affordability, responsibility and the impact of COVID-19 on packaging; as well as APR’s co-presentation, Designing for sustainability: Understanding the role of flexible packaging in a circular economy.
The sessions will close with Mintel on Solutions vs. disruptions: Engaging consumers with emotionally-based packaging solutions.
Big Ideas has limited registration, so customers should register early at www.amcor.com/afna.


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American corporations can work with Huawei Once more
President Trump is now permitting corporations within the US of A to promote items to the Chinese language tech agency following greater than a month of uncertainty.
Huawei has undoubtedly been by means of the wringer because the American authorities added it and 70 of its associates to the “entity listing”, forbidding U.S. corporations from doing enterprise with it.
Affect to Huawei
The affect on Huawei’s networking and shopper units enterprise has been fairly substantial. A variety of chip corporations reportedly compelled to sever ties whereas Google, which gives Android for Huawei units, additionally froze its relationship.
Huawei founder and chief government Ren Zhengfei stated lately that the ban would price the Chinese language tech agency — the world’s third-larger vendor of smartphones — $30 billion in misplaced income of the following two years.
Now, nonetheless, the Trump administration has supplied a reprieve, at the least primarily based on the President’s feedback following a gathering with Chinese language premier Xi Jinping on the G20 summit this weekend.
The U.S. President said:
US corporations can promote their gear to Huawei. We’re speaking about gear the place there’s no nice nationwide safety drawback with it,
Regardless of the excellent news, will probably be a while earlier than any mutual belief between the corporate and the US returns to anyplace close to the place it was earlier than this debacle. We truly doubt that this can ever be a cushty relationship once more.
Huawei has taken steps to hedge its reliance on America, together with the event of its personal working system to interchange Android, in addition to its personal chips. Even after this newest information, we expect that these tasks will proceed to develop to make sure that Huawei doesn’t discover itself in an identical place once more sooner or later.
In fact, decoupling its provide chain from US companions is not any simple job each when it comes to software program and elements. That is very true if you realise that the sale of 59 million smartphones within the final quarter and complete income of $107.four billion in 2018 must be achieved with out US elements or software program. Nevertheless, the current rocky street could have jolted Huawei to make sure that it will need to have a strong contingency plan prepared in its again pocket.
Past aiding Huawei, Trump’s transfer will increase Google and different Huawei companions who invested vital time and sources into creating a relationship with the Chinese language tech firm.
Trump admitted that US corporations promote “an incredible quantity” of merchandise to Huawei. Some “weren’t precisely pleased that they couldn’t promote” to Huawei and it seems to be like that will have helped tipped this resolution.
Sadly, we don’t suppose that is the final we’ve heard from this saga. Nevertheless, we’re glad that issues are nearly again to regular for one of the vital spectacular telephone manufacturers on the market.


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Marvelous Games has uploaded a new video for Fate/EXTELLA Link in Japan today.
The video demonstrates to players how multiplayer works in Fate/EXTELLA Link. Fate/EXTELLA Link is scheduled to launch for Nintendo Switch worldwide in Q1 2019.
Check out the trailer below:
In addition, if you RT the following tweet by January 14, you may win autographs of the game’s voice actors:
— 【公式】Fate/EXTELLAシリーズ (@FateEXTELLA) January 8, 2019


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The $20 phone: proving that technology is even better cheaper
Forget your over-priced Apple watches. The really exciting thing about technology is how it can get amazingly inexpensive.
Microsoft has given its lowest-cost phone a shower and brush-up. The Nokia 105 was originally launched early 2013 and was spec’d to be ultra-affordable. It offered 2G (voice and texts) a few games and little else except an excellent battery life. It was aimed squarely at users who didn’t necessarily have constant access to mains power in developing and emerging markets and it was to be priced at a stunning $20 (or so).
In effect, the 105 was probably about as low-cost and low-spec as you can get without things getting silly. And to prove it Microsoft has relaunched it for about the same price but made a few incremental improvements to give it some marketing momentum.
The new 105 can now store 2000 entries in its phonebook (instead of 500 as before) and is claimed to offer 20 per cent louder call quality and 15 hours of talk time. On top of that it has an FM radio, a jack for headphones, calendar, and a couple of games. It’s also a little bit rounder.
Interestingly, the 105 has a flashlight - a proper flashlight not an app which just brightens the screen. If you don’t have constant mains power, the flashlight could be one of its most important features
Yesterday we highlighted Ericsson’s projections for near smartphone ubiquity by 2020. Today, the 105 is a reminder that even in 2020 there will be a substantial tier of potential global users that still earn just a few dollars a day and to whom even a sub-$100 smartphone is way out of reach.
But a $20 phone, without the smart stuff, IS a feasible option and might represent just a week’s wages - probably less on a wages basis than the first GSM phones cost the average European in the early 1990s. And those phones didn’t have a radio or a flashlight.
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March 13, 2020
As new cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across the world, LiveAuctioneers has been closely monitoring the latest reports and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and New York city and state authorities.
We’ve taken a proactive approach in implementing precautionary measures so that we can be as effective as possible in supporting our auction house partners, keeping employees safe and doing our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, March 11, the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Given the escalated guidances to contain the coronavirus disease, we are sharing additional tips for auction houses on navigating through this challenging time, along with updates on what LiveAuctioneers has done to ensure service continuity while maintaining the health and safety of our team.
Latest updates from LiveAuctioneers:
- Our NYC-area employees are fully remote. Our technology and infrastructure was built to ensure all our staff can operate remotely. Over the past few weeks we’ve made preparations to ensure all NYC-area employees are equipped to work from home. This week, our NYC-area employees have begun doing so.
- Our servers are protected. With regular server backups and redundancies across multiple locations, auction house partners and customers can expect uninterrupted service.
- We are here to help. Aside from reduced in-person visitations in our NYC office, auction house partners can expect to reach us in the same ways as usual – email, phone and online chat.
- As always, LiveAuctioneers employees are reminded to:
- Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, frequently
- Stay home if they notice any symptoms (e.g., mild cough, low fever)
- Notify their supervisor if they’ve been in contact with someone who has or had COVID-19
- Check the news only once per day at a set time, if experiencing stress related to COVID-19. More tips here.
[ps2id id=’march14′ target=”/]COVID-19 and Live Auctions: Tips on Adapting
While new COVID-19 outbreaks in some parts of the world have begun to slow as communities take precautions to prevent spread, we still don’t know how much longer it will be until we can resume normalcy. That said, we want to make sure you are equipped with the proper tools and resources to adapt as clients and buyers spend more time online at home to minimize risk of coronavirus exposure.
- Consider training understudies for your staff with cross-training where possible. While most COVID-19 patients fully recover, now may be a good time to ensure you have full coverage in the event of a sick staff member. Even though sniffles are typically not a sign of COVID-19, they can be off putting to an event attendee so you’ll want to guide your staff to stay home if sick.
- Collect payments online. The World Health Organization reports that cash could be helping to spread COVID-19, so online payments is the safest option for your staff and your customers. According to WHO the virus could linger on money for days after exposure, so people should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer after handling cash.
- Automate where possible. Our global bidder approval settings allow you to automatically approve bidders based on custom criteria, while our Autopay functionality automatically collects funds from winning bidders and updates invoice payment statuses. To learn more about these tools, contact our team.
- For consignments, move to virtual appointments with contactless delivery. Consider offering contactless delivery options with doorstep pick-up and delivery for consignors. Consignors who prefer to remain at home may appreciate virtual appointments via FaceTime or video conferencing tools like Zoom.
- Collect signatures electronically. Reduce risk of exposure by sending and requesting consignor signatures online, using tools like HelloSign or Docusign.
- Renegotiate credit terms. Interest rates are the lowest they’ve been in a long time, and in some parts of the world, the lowest levels in history. If you use credit for business purchases, now might be a good time to renegotiate rates.
Read our March 4 update for additional tips on navigating through the COVID-19 challenge. As always if there’s any way we can provide support for you and business during this challenging time, please reach out to us at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Google’s Android operating system has certainly grown by leaps and bounds, and we would say beyond most people’s wildest imaginations. Well, with the slew of Android-powered handsets already in the market and more to come in the year ahead, the Motorola Atrix 4G is certainly one of the hottest ticket items out there. Powered by Android 2.2, it seems as though the release date has been pushed back from February 22nd instead of March 6th, although pre-orders already began on February 13th, making it just a few more days away – guess if you have waited this long since it was first announced at CES last month, surely a few more hours of waiting won’t hurt, right? Image courtesy of Engadget.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Is First Smartphone To Pick Up TCO Certification
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini Benchmark Results Leaked
Verizon 3G Prepaid Plans Data Cap Increased
Galaxy S4 Nexus Edition Reportedly Akin To T-Mobile Variant


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Whole Foods Market plans to close its Englewood store after opening the grocery store to great fanfare just six years ago.
The Englewood store along with another in the DePaul University Visitor Center in Lincoln Park are among six stores the grocery chain plans to close nationwide. The company did not specify closing dates, saying stores will close in the coming months.
“As we continue to position Whole Foods Market for long-term success, we regularly assess the performance and growth potential of each of our stores, and have made the difficult decision to close six stores. We are supporting affected team members through this transition and expect all interested and eligible team members to find positions at our other locations,” a Whole spokesperson said Friday. Foods.
Shoppers at Englewood Market were shocked to learn of the store’s closure on Friday.
Phillip Backstrol was delighted when the store opened six years ago. The 65-year-old prefers to shop at Whole Foods for the variety of organic vegetables.
“I thought it was awesome,” Backstrol said.
Now Backstrol will need to travel downtown to find these vegetables.
Local alde. Stephanie Coleman (16th) could not be reached for comment.
Aldus. Jeanette Taylor (20th) said she was “sad” but not at all surprised that the store known as “Whole Paycheck” is closing.
Taylor represents a south side neighborhood that includes Englewood with a border across from the Whole Foods store.
“The community needs a grocery store. Whole Foods was just expensive. And a lot of people didn’t shop there. So I understand it. But it should have been a community request” to reduce store prices, Taylor said.
“It’s sad. But hopefully we’ll do one of two things: That we convince another grocer to come. Or we have our own house grocer. We have to do something, though. We can’t wasting that TIF money. And the community needs a grocery store.
With relentless pressure from then-mayor Rahm Emanuel, Whole Foods agreed to open the Englewood store amid concerns about whether residents of the impoverished South Side could afford to shop there. shopping.
The project depended on an $11 million municipal grant for site preparation, which also required the extension of a tax increase funding district expiring while the money was “transferred” from a TIF next to.


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Nathan Wheeler, CEO and Co-Founder at Entropix, demonstrates the company's latest embedded vision technologies and products at the 2019 Embedded Vision Summit. Specifically, Wheeler explains how the company’s patented and potent computer vision products combine deep learning and modern AI software with low-cost dual-sensor cameras to extract extreme levels of detail from video and still images for ultra-accurate intelligent video analytics.
Machines see the world differently from humans – Entropix technology radically improves the accuracy and efficiency of any computer vision application. From facial identification to cashierless retail to logistics to self-driving cars. Entropix is revolutionizing the way machines consume pixels with its Resolution on Demand™.


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HTC and China Mobile to Partner on 5G Virtual Reality (VR) Devices
Faster and more reliable mobile connection will undoubtedly boost the market demand for standalone VR headsets. At the Mobile World Congress Shanghai (MWCS) 2018, HTC collaborated with China Mobile to launch a 5G Device Forerunner Initiative. The companies aim to advance the development of 5G devices and infrastructure in China as well as push for VR adoption and sales for HTC Vive VR headsets. According to HTC Chairperson Cher Wang, “the proliferation of 5G networks will facilitate new classes of use cases for VR/AR [Augmented Reality] not possible in the past, leading to more rapid mass adoption and more natural interaction models for immersive technologies.”
There is high consumer interest in the standalone VR market in China. HTC’s launch of a China-focused standalone VR Head-Mounted Display (HMD) is likely to accelerate the standalone VR market in China starting this year. ABI Research forecasts that VR HMD shipments for China market will reach 20.5 million units in 2022; 30% will be standalone V…
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WICHITA — Sometimes a person's best partner in business can be a friend.
That's what Ilham Saad discovered.
Saad, who owns Byblos Restaurant, Catering and Imported Grocery, is going to start selling three salad dressings internationally thanks to her friend Connie Hamilton of Connie's Cookies.
As Have You Heard? reported in June, Hamilton is now selling her cookies internationally with the help of Arthur Kerr, chief executive of Kerr Enterprises in New York.
Kerr is in sales, marketing and supply chain management and represents several artisan products, such as gourmet popcorn, internationally in places like Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Hamilton has been friends with Saad for almost 20 years and remembered Saad first bottling her dressings 15 years ago.


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Tag: New Mexico Partnership
2022 Deal Of The Year: Impact Awards
The 2022 Deal of the Year Impact Awards recognize project investments that will have significant impact in their new or expanded locations, focusing on a specific aspect of the project.
In New Mexico, Tier-1 research universities, national labs, and a strategic location offer business opportunity in many industry sectors.
New Mexico: Diverse And Driven To Success
Despite the challenges of 2020, New Mexico saw growth and success across a wide range of industries and is preparing for even more growth in 2021.
New Mexico: Development As A Recreational Activity
New Mexico is moving to create a new Division of Outdoor Recreation, a unit the governor says will boost economic development.
New Mexico: Intel Moves 3D XPoint Tech Development To Rio Rancho
The microchip giant is developing a new class of faster, denser storage and memory technology at the New Mexico facility.
New Mexico: Simply Enchanting
New Mexico offers a combination that’s hard to beat, with scenic beauty and benefits to business that continue to entice.
State Focus: New Mexico – Welcoming the World
Exports are surging, making New Mexico a magnet for manufacturers with world-class ambitions.


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Could we be seeing Marvel's Avengers getting a PS5 release soon?
After pushing back the release of the next-gen version of the game, Square Enix has been fairly quiet about it.
However, after a recent mention of the next-gen upgrade, fans have been searching for information about when this might be.
As it turns out... It could be soon! Here's everything we know about the PS5 release for Marvel's Avengers.
Leaked Trophy List
Well... If there was ever a sign a game is on the way, the Trophy List isn't the worst place to start.
The PS5 version of Marvel Avengers' Trophy List can be found on PSNProfiles right now, which would suggest that it is on the way soon given the fact that they usually go live shortly before launch.
READ MORE: Is Spider-Man: Miles Morales Coming To PC?
In addition to this, a Russian Retailer has reportedly listed the launch for February 16th.
Hey! That's the same time as something else in the works...
Upcoming War Table
In addition to this, the "Deep Dive: Hawkeye" War Table that is due to be uploaded on February 16 will be showcasing a number of important things.
READ MORE: Gran Turismo 7: Everything You Need To Know
Not only will fans get another exciting look at Operation: Hawkeye - Future Imperfect, Square Enix will also be showcasing the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game.
Below, you can see the tweet from PlayAvengers that confirms this:
Along with the leaked Trophy List, you have to wonder... Is Square Enix planning a surprise launch of the upgrade?
Or, at the very least, will it launch alongside the next major update featuring Hawkeye?


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During an interview on the The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has confirmed that the successor to the Meta Quest 2 will be at the Meta Connect conference in October, which is an annual event that Meta (previously, Facebook) hosts to announce upcoming features and products from the company.
Mark stated the following while talking about how the new headset will be focused on tracking facial expressions and displaying them on the virtual avatar, focusing on areas such as eye contact through VR and making it more seamless:
"When you're on a video call, you don't actually feel like you're there with the person. To me, what virtual reality unlocks is that it really convinces your brain that you're there"
Considering that Meta recently announced that the Quest 2 headsets will receive a $100 price increase this month, and without a targeted price or spec sheet for the new headset, it remains to be seen where it will fall in the lineup of VR hardware that Meta provides.
Looking to the future of VR and the Metaverse, with other companies such as Apple looking to enter the market, it will be crucial for Meta to get the price to value ratio correct on this new headset.
Source: Ars Technica


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On Monday, Apple announced that it was expanding the integration between Siri and Apple Music. Zane Lowe, Apple Music’s co-head of Artist Relations and radio host, said the company’s team of music experts had created hundreds of playlists for moods and activities.
Now, as noted by MacStories, the playlists have begun showing up on Apple Music. The article says there are over 250 playlists each designed to fit a mood or activity that use animated cover art with simple line drawings to set them apart from Apple’s other playlist.
MacStories says that, although they were announced as Siri playlists during the event on Monday, anyone with an Apple Music subscription can view and play the new playlists in the Music app like any other playlist in the service’s collection.
Article provided with permission from AppleWorld.Today


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Just last week we were pleased to announce our developer community surpassed 2000. We love seeing new applications using the Klout API and today one more has joined the Klout family.
MarketMeSuite is a social media marketing dashboard for small businesses and teams. Similar to other management platforms using Klout like Hootsuite, Cotweet, and Seesmic, MarketMeSuite makes it easy to respond and engage in social media. Their Klout integration introduces influence into this mix, making it easier for businesses to prioritize and learn more about their followers and customers.
Tammy Kahn Fennell, of MarketMeSuite, adds “As a social media marketing dashboard for small businesses, we realize the importance of being able to measure the quality of your lead, as well as monitoring your improvement. Klout is helping our users decide who to interact with, and is giving them a great standard to measure themselves against to see how using MarketMeSuite is helping them raise their score. MarketMeSuite users have been really enjoying the integration, and we look forward to what the future holds!”
If you’re a small business looking to manage it’s social media presence definitely check out MarketMeSuite. Let us know what you think!


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Leading Brands at the Taglich Brothers
3rd Annual Equity Conference
May 2nd 2006 at 9:00am ET
Le Parker Meridien, New York City
Estimated Duration: 30 minutes
Launch Archived Webcast
Leading Brands, Inc. is pleased to be participating in the exclusive Taglich Brothers Small Cap Equity Conference. Mr. Ralph McRae, CEO of Leading Brands, is scheduled to present at the event where institutional investors will obtain insight into the small-cap sector through direct interaction with company management teams.
An archive of this webcast will be available online (from this page) shortly after the live event ends.
More information about the conference can be found at: www.taglich.com.


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Mobile video monthly #14 July 2021 : longer TikToks, restricted ad personalization for minors on Facebook and the end of Fleets
October 12, 2022
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July was a busy month in the app world! Fleets met its end and Pinterest banned fat-shaming ads, not to mention the plethora of new tools coming to TikTok. Learn about all the latest news below!
Changes to Google Play fees
Starting on July 1st, the service fee for developers on the Google Play Store became 15% for the first $1M (USD) of earnings made each year when selling digital goods or services.
Announced in March 2021, this change officially came into effect at the beginning of the month. If you have multiple ADAs (Associated Developer Accounts), the 15% service fee will be applied if the total earnings of all your ADAs are under $1M (USD). If that’s the case, every ADA will receive the 15% service fee. Once your total earning exceeds $1M (USD), the service fee will become 30% for all ADAs for the rest of the year.
Because earnings will be calculated on a yearly calendar basis (From the 1st of January to the 31st of December), the earning limit will be prorated to the start of the program. If you start the program on July 1st, the earnings limit will be $500,000 (USD).
Google specifies that the 15% service fee tier only went into effect on July 1st for developers who completed enrollment before this date. The reduced charges will only apply after the registration process is finalized.
Twitter is removing Fleets
Not even a year after it was launched, it’s already the end of Fleets. Fleets was Twitter’s way to try and compete with Instagram’s Stories and Snapchat but it never met its intended audience. The feature allowed users to post text and/or pictures that would disappear after 24 hours. Released in November 2020, the function was polarizing, people either hated it or loved it, as you can see on Twitter’s official goodbye tweet for Fleets.
For those who enjoyed sharing fleets, not everything is lost. In a blog post, Twitter explained that even though the feature didn’t work as intended (they wanted to make people more comfortable creating content instead of just retweeting) they will implement what they learned from it in their future tries. Their focus is to get people who don’t tweet to start tweeting, and even though Fleets didn’t help them reach that goal, there is something to learn about this failure: the best-performing element of the feature was media sharing of photos and videos.
They are looking to introduce some of the Fleets features to the Tweet composer such as a full-screen camera, text formatting options, and GIF stickers. Spaces will replace Fleets on the spot at the top of the timeline to keep users updated on what’s going on in the app.
As for advertisers, while Twitter only launched ads in Fleets last month, they are still interested in pursuing full-screen vertical ads in the future. How will they do it, now that Fleets is gone? Only time will tell…
Android App Bundle will replace APK as the standard publishing format on the Google Play Store
Starting August 2021, the Android App Bundle will become the standard publishing format for the Google Play Store, replacing APK. This requirement only concerns new apps while existing apps and private apps are currently exempted from it.
If you haven’t switched to AAB yet, now’s the time to do it!
TikTok introduces longer videos and other new features
TikTok is extending video length to 3 minutes. The Chinese company announced on the 1st of July that after letting some creators experiment with longer videos, they decided to roll out the option to everyone in the upcoming weeks. What made TikTok’s success was the fact that it produced short and easily consumed content. How will this new opportunity fare for the video app? We’ll just have to wait and see…
And for the existing users who already have established followers on the app, they’re also testing a feature very similar to Cameo (a platform that allows you to pay celebrities to receive a personalized message from them). With this feature called Shoutouts, viewers will be able to request and pay (with in-app currency) for personalized messages from their favorite TikTokers. So far Shoutouts is only available to some creators in Turkey and Dubai, there’s no information about when it will be available to the rest of the world. They’re also making their branded toggle accessible to everyone, allowing users to showcase paid partnerships more easily.
For marketers, TikTok also launched Spark Ads, they describe it as “a native ad solution that enables businesses to boost their own organic posts or relevant content posted by creators as In-Feed Ads or TopView ads.” It will help brands promote their organic posts in a way that will feel more genuine to users scrolling on the app.
But wait, there’s more! TikTok is also helping you find a job! Yes, you’re not dreaming, they launched TikTok Resumes, a special platform where TikTokers can share their resumes in the hope of being noticed by companies.
TikTok is having a busy summer, after all, they’re the first non-gaming app that doesn’t belong to Facebook to reach 3 billion installs, it’s a good reason to bring more changes to the platform!
Netflix is diving into mobile gaming
Netflix is dipping its toes into mobile gaming. So far, we don’t know much about this potential new feature. In a letter to their investors shared on July 20th, they announced they were “in the early stages of further expanding into games”. Their main focus will be games for mobile devices, they will be included in all Netflix’s subscriptions at no additional cost.
Facebook is limiting ad reach for minors
Facebook announced that advertisers would only be allowed to target users under 18 based on their age, gender, and location. Previously available targeting options such as those based on interests and activity on other apps and websites will no longer be available to advertisers. These restrictions, put in place to protect minors, according to Facebook, will be international and impact Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.
Pinterest bans weight-loss ads
On July 1st the image-sharing platform announced that it would ban all ads promoting weight loss on their platform. This updated policy will now prohibit any weight loss language or imagery, testimonials regarding weight loss or weight loss products, referencing Body Mass Index (BMI) or similar indexes, any products that claim weight loss through something worn or applied to the skin, and any language or imagery that idealizes or denigrates certain body types.
This is in addition to ad content that was already barred from Pinterest like before and after weight loss imagery, body shaming, unrealistic cosmetic measures, etc. Ads promoting healthy lifestyles or fitness services are still allowed, as long as they don’t mention weight loss.
Pinterest worked on this policy change with the guidance of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). They explain that, with the arrival of Summer, its unrealistic body expectations, and the rise of eating disorders in young people since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year, they wanted to make sure their platform would be welcoming to all.
It is the first major social media to ban all weight-loss ads, and they encourage their counterparts to take similar measures.
What we talked about this month:
- YouTube finally launched Shorts globally after introducing it in India in September 2020, will it rise to the challenge that is TikTok?
- Instagram wants to become video-centric to compete with YouTube and TikTok
- What was announced at Apple’s WWDC and what can we expect from iOS 15 in the Fall?
- Mobile Video Monthly #38 – November 2023 - 5 December 2023
- Disturbing ads, a new trend for mobile gaming creatives? - 28 November 2023
- The Power of Holiday Marketing in Boosting Mobile Game Engagement - 21 November 2023


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Zynga Reveals Another Acquisition of a Mid-Core Game Maker
Zynga is confirming today that it has acquired November Software to help expand into the “mid-core” game market.
Zynga declined to disclose terms of the acquisition, but said the team has been working on a new mid-core mobile game title called Battlestone since joining the company a few months ago.
In a blog post today, Szymon Swistun, a co-founder of November Software, wrote: “We realized we could accelerate game development by combining our team’s expertise building blockbuster console games and Zynga’s strength in building social games on a massive scale.”
Over the past several months, Zynga has become increasingly interested in building games that go after the core gaming demographic. While its original audience on Facebook was vast, the core gaming audience tends to monetize better.
In September, Zynga announced it had acquired A Bit Lucky, a small game studio also focused on making mid-core games. November’s Swistun said they’ve been working on building a cross-platform 3-D engine, focused on high-quality graphics to take combat and action to a new level on mobile.


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Samsung has announced about the development of world’s fastest 2.5-inch SSD. The new disk runs on SATA II interface, has a mammoth 256GB of space and is just 9.5mm thick. This SSD has a writing speed of 160MB/s and a reading speed of 200MB/s.
Samsung says that this disk has been developed on Multi Level Cell (MLC) technology and is as reliable as a Single Level Cell (SLC) SSD but costs less to produce it. The drives will also boast a data encryption process which will make it impossible for the data to get leaked.
These SSDs will go into mass production later this year.


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Samsung boasts about QLED, bashes OLED
QLED, short for quantum dot light emitting diodes, is the name of Samsung’s high-end TV lineup that has a quantum dot film attached to an LCD screen to enhance the color.
Samsung, a global leader in the television market with a 31 percent market share, said sales for QLED TVs are rapidly increasing each year. During the year’s first half, it sold 2 million units, which is a 127 percent increase on year.
“Our forecast for the year’s second half is 3 million - so combined, our annual performance is expected to increase 92 percent from last year’s sales unit of 2.6 million,” the company said.
In its Sunday statement, Samsung made a brazen comparison with OLED, short for organic light-emitting diodes, TVs. Samsung’s local rival and key competitor LG Electronics is the global leader in OLED technology.
“OLED TV sales in the year’s first half stopped at 1.22 million units, which represents merely 15 percent growth from last year’s 1.06 million,” it said, adding that the “market gap will expand in the course of time.”
Samsung also stressed its upper hand in the competition for large TVs of over 75 inches, which for years have been the main battlefield for high-end TV makers. According to data from market research firm IHS Markit, Samsung took a 54 percent market share by sales in the large-size TV segment during this year’s second quarter.
“Among the QLED TVs Samsung sold in the year’s first half, 14 percent were larger than 75 inches, whereas for OLED TVs, sets larger than 70 inches only accounted for 2 percent of units sold,” Samsung said, implying that its QLED was more popular among consumers of large, and therefore more expensive, TVs.
OLED TVs are currently available from 15 electronics brands that receive OLED panels from LG Display.
Samsung’s boast comes amid a row between Korea’s top two electronics company over tech leadership in the TV segment.
Earlier this month, LG called out Samsung, saying that the name QLED was confusing customers. Among engineers and tech experts, a “true” QLED panel has quantum dots emitting light on their own without a backlight, LG claims, but Samsung is nonetheless using the term to sell a product which structurally is essentially an LCD TV with a quantum dot film.
BY SONG KYOUNG-SON [firstname.lastname@example.org]


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Using cars like you would stream music is the way of the future, and VW wants in
VW SA says 95% of all its electric cars in Germany are being leased, and VW’s Guaranteed Future Value concept, along with a lease option, will allow SA customers to drive the ID.4 and future EVs
Leasing an electric vehicle (EV) is a new concept in SA. Mini was the first to offer this option for its Cooper SE, which can be leased for between one and three years.
Earlier in 2022, Volkswagen SA told Business Day it would lease its upcoming electric ID.4, which would be the only way consumers could get their hands on one.
The ID.4 is one of the best-selling EVs in Europe. The vehicle is expected to make its way to SA within the next two years.
Steffen Knapp, head of passenger cars at VW SA, said 95% of all its electric cars in Germany were being leased, and the company’s new concept called Guaranteed Future Value (GFV), along with a lease option, will allow customers locally to drive the ID.4 and future EVs.
Knapp said GFV means a customer won’t own a vehicle, which has historically been a problem in SA because of high inflation rates.
One of the GFV options is based on a residual value that will allow the customer to get a new car, which Knapp said would be a huge advantage for VW because it will be in possession of the EVs, thus allowing it to control the second-hand market.
“This is what we potentially got wrong in the past. We didn’t care about used cars. We didn’t know where our vehicles were being sold. They don’t come back to the dealer because they are not getting the best price.”
“With electric vehicles, the second owner is interesting to us because in the future you will have a concept called functional demand,” explained Knapp.
He described a scenario BMW offers through its controversial monthly subscription. If you’re driving in Johannesburg during winter and need heated seats for three months, you can get this on its app store.
“That generates revenue for us because EVs have massively lower maintenance costs and things to repair. There’s a big revenue stream going away from us so we need to make sure we are selling these options to customers.
“Today we don’t know who the second owner of our vehicles are and therefore it’s important for us to know who the second, third or fourth owner will be.”
In addition to GFV, there will be the leasing option. “The leasing concept is interesting for companies because the vehicle won’t be an asset on their balance sheet.”
Knapp said the offering makes sense strategically because they will get a better understanding of customer fears around residual values, have the cars come into their workshops, and get used to the concept of “using” cars.
He said using cars is the concept of the future and likened it to streaming music and movies vs buying CDs and DVDs.
“With a using model, you only restrict your discussions around the actual total cost of ownership with the customer.”
There won’t be talks about price, but rather monthly instalments and cost to charge, with a maintenance plan built in.
“That’s the idea of using. It’s easy. You only have to worry about plugging it in to charge and that’s it.”
Knapp believes the offering ties into consumer lifecycles across all industries that are moving at a faster pace. Consumers want to use, they don’t want to own, but at the same time they want develop wealth for their families with long-term goals, he said.
“The initial success of GFV will support customers who want a monthly instalment rather than owning something they must pay back. They will be willing if there is an interesting offer,” said Knapp.
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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Aimed at bridging the gap between availability and accessibility of local content millenials love, Malaysian streaming platform sooka has recently been launched, which will offer a diversity of global content such as live sports, as well as hyperlocal content.
According to the company, sooka is on the path to create more hyper local, relevant content, and making it more accessible than ever before to a mobile-first entertainment audience. These include Malaysian dramas and entertainment programs, and of course, sooka exclusives and originals that aim to resonate with millennials on a mobile-based streaming platform.
Aside from the free tier the streaming service offers, sooka is also offering two-tier options: ‘VIP+Sports’ plan priced at RM41.90 per month for avid sports fans to experience unlimited and first-hand access to the best live sports actions all year round; and ‘VIP Entertainment’ plan which is priced at RM15.90 per month that unlocks the best Malaysian entertainment content from local dramas, variety shows, and movies, as well as sooka exclusives and originals.
As part of the ‘VIP+Sports’ plan, there is also an exclusive promotion in conjunction with the upcoming football event UEFA Euro, where sports enthusiasts can enjoy all 51 UEFA EURO 2020 live matches, and other ground-breaking live sports actions, alongside much-loved Malaysian entertainment and local exclusives and originals under the price of RM15.90 per month.
According to Emarina Mohd Kamal, head of programming at sooka, they believe that the platform’s launch comes at a time where users today are now embracing a mobile-first lifestyle and as such are attuned to consuming content online. Furthermore, Kamal states as well that the shift in viewing trends had consumers rapidly embracing the ‘new normal’ digital lifestyle, and great content has become a vital digital asset.
“It is of no surprise that they are reliant on their smartphones and active on social media, and constantly search for great content that they can consume on-the-go immediately from their mobile devices. sooka’s content is curated for this immediate consumption, at affordable price points and simple plans, and we invite all millennials to try sooka,” Kamal said.
She also explained that the platform’s main differentiator is its ability to deliver live sports streaming for passionate fans to enjoy on their mobile devices, enabling them to get their sports ‘fix’ anytime and anywhere. She added that the platform has a strong sports content line up until year-end and will continue to strengthen their sports proposition in order to bring the best for Malaysian sports fans.
“In addition, we are thrilled to offer a deep, current and curated library of premium Malay day-date drama series, movies, LIVE variety, and entertainment plus Chinese and Indian shows to satisfy local viewing preferences. We are also working with the industry’s best creators and production houses to create fresh and engaging originals specifically targeted at millennials, so expect to see more of these in the months to come,” she concluded.


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Nokia Pure View Mobile World Congress teaser appears
Nokia has released its first teaser video leading up to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, hinting at a new camera-centric announcement. "Get ready to capture a pure view," the teaser reads before flashing February 27, the first day of the trade show, on the screen.
While it’s not clear what Nokia plans to announce, it will almost certainly have something to do with snapping a picture on your smartphone. The teaser video shows a series of snow-covered vistas followed by short one-liners such as "pure detail," "pure depth" and "pure definition" followed by the message about capturing a "pure view".
Some critics are guessing Nokia will be bringing 12MP cameras to its Windows Phone this year such as a rumored Lumia 910. Another possibility is that the announcement will bring new high definition video capability to upcoming Nokia devices.
Nokia has produced smartphones with excellent cameras in the past. Nokia’s Symbian-based N8, released in 2010, was widely acclaimed for its 12MP camera with a Carl Zeiss lens and Xenon flash.
Nokia says it will be releasing updates about the company’s Pure View plans on its Twitter account during MWC. The fun starts Monday.
IDG News Service


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NEWGEN LABS, a metaverse gaming studio and Web3 creative lab building the next generation of video games, announced that its first-person shooter game Forge Arena will hit the Epic Games Store!
The Forge Arena was the first (2018) competitive FPS game to utilize Web3 technology via NFTs and P2E mechanics. NEWGEN LABS invites everyone to join Forge Arena and experience their new map Island for a limited time. Users who participate will receive a free commemorative custom weapon skins of an AK or M4, both called: Epic Kill.
The game will be Free-to-Play (F2P) on the Epic Games Store but will require a WAX wallet if players desire to participate in the Play-to-Earn (P2E) economy. The only difference is that traditional gamers will not have skins in their inventory!
Creating a wallet might seem complicated for traditional gamers as they have zero experience with Web3. Skins in-game will require a wallet that’s why the Forge Arena is working on a system that will easily allow players to create a wallet with a few clicks.


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When Google Glass was first launched two years ago, Google took the strategic approach of most modern tech phenomena: penetrate the consumer base and enterprise will be forced to follow. But with a lack of compelling content, poor battery life, and some unexpected cultural resistance (remember the ‘Glassholes’ of Silicon Valley?), the product flopped. In early 2015, Google sent Glass the way of The Terminator, declaring “I’ll be back.”
This week, Glass fulfilled its promise to return and was re-launched with Glass Enterprise Edition. Support for prescription lenses, a better battery, and more processing power mark the product’s hardware improvements, but Google’s shift in go-to-market approach is the real story. Google announced they’re ready to move forward and will pursue an enterprise-first approach for the product, but why?
Not surprisingly, industry research finds that the adoption of AR in the enterprise hinges on three core drivers: business need, device availability, and content accessibility. With two of the three pieces in place, Google is demonstrating readiness to fill the gap and complete the picture.
Business Need: Digital transformation initiatives are maturing, and companies have evolved their IT infrastructure to enable rapid adoption of new technology. Gone are the days where successful companies fear technology innovation – those who did have not survived. In 1958, corporations listed in the S&P 500 had an average stay of 61 years. By 1980, numbers from research firm Innosight reveal the average stay declined sharply to 25 years, and in 2011, the average tenure dropped to 18 years. With AR pilots and studies showing massive gains in productivity like GE’s Wind Turbine Assembly showing 34% increased productivity on first use, the business opportunity is clear and anxiously waiting to be filled.
Content Accessibility: With the wealth of information available through the IoT and the resulting digital information captured and stored by maturing digitization of business processes, companies now recognize that data is their biggest asset. While automation capitalizes on some of this value, companies are eager to get data into the hands of their human workers to act on it and derive value. PTC, with its Vuforia technology, and others have been fine tuning content development tools and platforms for some time. Now many others are getting into the space. Apple released its ARKit at the Worldwide Developer Conference in May, which is the software kit that turns their developers loose building the types of AR apps that can run on phones/tablets today, but would run on head-mounted displays tomorrow.
Device Availability: While AR can run on phones and tablets today, for many use cases the killer AR experiences happen on wearable head-mounted displays. Microsoft, Apple, Google, and others are all making big bets here. Google was first with Google Glass, but it was rushed to market and wasn’t ready for business or consumer use. Google is reprising Glass, perhaps as a placeholder while other bets mature, including glasses forthcoming from Magic Leap or from devices already in the Android ecosystem from companies like ODG and Vuzix. There is definitely a battle of the titans brewing, and the reason they are all moving so aggressively is because they know that head-mounted displays will ultimately disrupt the phone/tablet market as we know it today.
In a rare turn of technology evolution, devices are last to the party – quickly solving the final technical challenges in ergonomics, technical capabilities, and computer vision and mapping. With the profound investment taking place within the hardware community, it is clear the question is no longer if, but when the final piece of the puzzle will fall into place. With Google’s latest news about Glass, the future of AR is bigger, brighter, and closer than many may have anticipated.
Image by Kārlis Dambrāns on Flickr (CC by 2.0)


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”Whatever You Drive, Drive a Firestone.”
That short, somewhat perplexing message is the underpinning of the new advertising campaign for Bridgestone Americas' Firestone brand.
“People are keeping their cars…now longer than ever—on average 10.8 years—and are in need of a trusted partner to keep them running stronger for the long haul,” said Philip Dobbs, chief marketing officer for Bridgestone Americas' consumer tire division, who argues that Firestone's “extensive line of durable and dependable tires” coupled with broad coverage through the firm's 1,600 Firestone Complete Auto Care service centers and thousands more affiliated independent dealers nationwide make Firestone “that trusted partner.”
“We created this brand campaign to celebrate the many stages of our lives, and how Firestone helps you reach your destination—time after time after time,” Mr. Dobbs said.
The commercials debuted Sept. 1 during the television broadcast of the IZOD IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Baltimore, and use scene set-ups reminiscent of a new car commercials only to reveal more seasoned makes and models as the stars of the campaign.
The “Drive a Firestone” campaign is built on the premise that while Firestone doesn't make cars, Firestone is a car company, said Charley Wickman, executive vice president and executive creative director, Leo Burnett, the Chicago-based agency selected recently to help create and manage the multi-faceted Firestone brand campaign.
To drive home the point, Leo Burnett points out Firestone has more than 112 years in tire experience; 86 years of service experience; has serviced more than 500 million vehicles in 11,000 makes/models during that time span.
“…(I)n all their years in business, they've helped to make millions run better, faster, longer and stronger,” Mr. Wickman added.
The campaign will comprise four broadcast ads celebrating Firestone's tires: one 60-second spot titled “Anthem,” as well as a traditional 30-second spot and two additional 30-second spots. The campaign will also feature print and radio executions.
The company did not disclose the cost of creating the campaign or what it expects to spend on airing the commercials.
Giving a nod to Firestone's brand heritage, the “Anthem” spot includes a cameo appearance by 3-year-old Adam “Brooks” Firestone, the great-great grandson of Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. founder Harvey Firestone and son of Andrew Firestone of TV's “The Bachelor” fame.


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Foxconn is a stealth giant company. You may have never heard of them. But the good news is that you own some of these products. Apple, the Taiwan-based electronics maker, makes the iPhone for AAPL.
The Kindle for Amazon AMZN,
Xbox for Microsoft MSFT,
Sony Most PlayStations for Sony,
Most Nintendo NTDOY,
Gaming systems, and many computer components. The company doesn’t make cars, but it’s about to change.
Three designs, and one Ohio factory
Today, Foxconn 2354,
Unveiled three electric vehicles that are expected to go on sale globally in two years. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. But just three weeks ago, the company bought an Ohio car plant owned by the first startup, Lordstown Motors Ride.
Under the purchase agreement, Foxconn will continue to build the Lordstown Endurance Pickup by Lordstown Motors. But its new American car manufacturing footprint could mean that Foxconn plans to launch its EV here.
Read more: Lordstown stocks rise 21% after agreement to sell Ohio plant, EV maker to manufacture new vehicles and Foxconn seal deal
Foxconn today unveiled three vehicles under the Foxtron brand name.
The Foxtron Model C is a medium-sized SUV designed to accommodate the interior of a large luxury car. Foxconn claims that it will reach speeds of 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.8 seconds and will have a range of 434 miles on a single charge.
Next, the Foxtron Model E is a mid-size sedan with exterior design by the famous Italian design house Pininfarina. The Model E’s electric drive train boasts 750 horsepower and boasts 2.8 seconds at 0 to 60 mph. It opens with facial recognition and is designed to act as a “mobile office”. The company says it can travel 466 miles between charges.
The third vehicle is the electric city bus, which Foxconn has named the Model T. We assume that Ford F,
The name will not be allowed to fly in the United States.
It’s a challenge, but it’s only recently
Clearly, we are not sure if we will ever see one of these cars in the United States. Starting a new automaker is a big challenge. For each Tesla TSLA,
Whoever succeeds in entering the US market, many others fail.
Next read: Should you buy an electric car? Here are some advantages and disadvantages.
But Foxconn has tremendous financial resources. It has rapidly become the owner of a factory in the United States since its inception in the car market and is showing three vehicles in the media. It could include new competitors such as Tesla and Lucid Motors LCID,
And Raven RIVN,
List of startups to bring a new EV to market.
The story originally ran on KBB.com.


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Just as the online auction giant launches a plan to bring its proprietary technology to Web sites and programmers, a Lehman Brothers analyst expresses concern that eBay's business is slowing down.
eBay taking its technology on the road
The Internet giant launches an initiative to bring its proprietary technology to Web sites and programmers, aiming to become the de facto operations system for online auctions.
eBay pulls auction for U.S. presidency
After an eBay auctioneer puts the U.S. presidency up for bid, the online auction giant yanks down the item, as it has done with undeliverable or illegal auctions in the past.


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MILAN — Furla SpA ended 2013 with a 7 percent gain in sales compared with the previous year, but chief executive officer Eraldo Poletto said there are “still margins for improvement.”
The Bologna-based accessories firm has been raising the quality of its products, developing its footwear division and expanding its lifestyle content, said Poletto. “The year 2014 will be very important for Furla to be at the next level,” he said.
The company is expected to close 2013 with sales of 228 million euros, or $300.9 million at average exchange. At constant exchange, sales would have risen 14.5 percent. Over the past three years, the company has grown 45 percent.
Poletto said, “The main challenge is to grow, in order to reach a size that can compete with bigger players to secure top real estate locations,” for example. His goal is to bring Furla to sales of 500 million euros, or $680.7 million at current exchange. “It’s important to reach that size, it’s easier to grow once you get there,” said Poletto.
Over the past two years, the company has been investing in the renewal of its existing sales points and in new openings. In the 2012-13 period, Furla opened 167 units, with 97 in 2013 (51 new and 46 renovations) and 70 in 2012 (13 openings and 57 renovations). Furla has 344 monobrand stores, of which 164 are directly operated, which generate 59 percent of sales, and 180 franchises. There are also 1,100 points of sale carrying the brand.
Geographically, last year Italy accounted for 24 percent of sales, up 8 percent on 2012. The EMEA, or Europe, Middle East and Africa, region accounted for 30 percent of revenues and Japan for 23 percent. The APAC, or Asia Pacific, area represented 14 percent and the U.S., 9 percent.
In 2013, e-commerce grew 41 percent and the travel-retail channel was up 37 percent given the increased number of airport shops from 33 doors in 2010 to 175 today, in 44 different countries.
Poletto said the company has spun off its real estate properties belonging to the Furlanetto family, which owns Furla, streamlining the structure of the Bologna-based firm.
Speculation periodically arises over a possible initial public offering, but Poletto said that this is “a decision up to Furla’s shareholders. My job is for the company to eventually be ready.”