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Kelsey McBride PR, a Los Angeles based public relations agency, launched its new company website on April 3, 2013.
Online PR News – 06-April-2013 – Los Angeles, CA – Kelsey McBride PR, a Los Angeles based public relations agency, launched its new company website on April 3, 2013, offering a more informative and user-friendly experience for visitors.
“Providing affordable public relations services and useful information are the main goals for Kelsey McBride PR,” said Kelsey McBride. “We have updated our site so that visitors can get the information they need quickly and conveniently.”
The new website is designed to be a helpful resource for people interested in learning more about public relations strategies and the company’s public relations services.
New features include improved content and design, the ability to sign up for a monthly Publicity Tips newsletter, social media share buttons on blog articles, expanded public relations services, updated Frequently Asked Questions, and better website structure. Kelsey McBride PR is also now offering the option for visitors to get a free PR consultation to help determine their public relations needs.
“Our new and improved website has everything you need to know about public relations and the services we offer, said Kelsey McBride. “Our website is made up of educational blog articles covering everything from press releases and media coverage for authors, to search engine optimization and social media for small businesses.”
Kelsey McBride PR offers public relations services including social media management, press release writing and distribution, and media exposure for a wide range of clients.
“Whether you are a musician, author, chef, comedian, actor, consultant, nonprofit organization, small business, or in any other industry, our public relations services can help you improve your online presence, attract more potential customers, and get the media attention you deserve.”
The new website can be found at http://www.kelseymcbridepr.com/
About Kelsey McBride PR
Kelsey McBride PR, a Los Angeles based public relations agency, offers affordable public relations services including press release writing and distribution, media pitching, and social media management. We help clients increase their online presence, gain media exposure, build credibility, and attract new customers. Kelsey McBride PR will build your reputation and exceed your expectations.


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The licensed funding specialists at Synergy Merchants have discussed numerous options with their clients concerning…
At Synergy Merchant Services, we work diligently with each and every one of our clients to ensure that the merchant cash advances they receive are put to good use. Growing one’s business by means of expansion, renovations and advertising are some of the top ways to utilize extra working capital.
Money management is an important skill. Every so often both business owners and consumers alike worry about money simply because they find difficultly in balancing their expenses with their earnings. As a result, many Canadians find themselves in a situation where debt is inevitable.
And while we are very thankful that our merchant cash advance program has been continually successful in helping Canadian businesses to grow, not all Canadians have enjoyed the same success as our clients. This is evidenced today by one of our favourite business writers, Madhavi Acharya-Tom Yew, in the Moneyville section of The Toronto Star‘s website.
She writes that, according to an Investors Group survey, more than half of Canadians “feel uncomfortable about their level of household debt and another third are downright embarrassed by it.” Apparently, Canadians are still working their way out of the red in the post-recession era.
Said Jack Courtney, the assistant vice president of advanced financial planning at Investors Group: “Almost everyone has debt. But accumulating debt with purpose and putting thought into how debt will be repaid is very different than spending beyond one’s means and without foresight.”
Acharya-Tom Yew notes that the majority of the borrowing done by Canadians is for everyday expenses. Borrowing money to buy property, she writes, is the main culprit for the debt had by people across the country. Spending money on holiday shopping, entertainment and recreation are other contributing factors.
Sadly, the survey found that a third of the respondents actually lose sleep over their debt situations while a quarter admit that it leads to arguments with their significant others. Some positives did come from the survey, however, as more than half of Canadians do feel that their debt has decreased in the past year. Here’s hoping that this is a trend that continues.

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The Danish Maritime and Commercial Court has in November 2014 pronounced a judgment in a case, which five Danish design manufacturers had brought against the UK-based copy furniture company Voga Ltd. The company has for many years sold copies of famous Danish design furniture to Danish consumers via a Danish language website.
The judgment prohibits Voga to offer, sell and market 28 specific design products and related trademarks, for which the plaintiffs own the rights, on the Danish market. The judgment also prohibits Voga to contribute to import, distribution and supply in Denmark of the products concerned. In addition, Voga pay costs to the plaintiffs.
Since the case was brought up, Voga has tried to change its website, making it not so obviously addressed to Danish consumers. The Court assessed, however, that it was enough to avoid a ban because it could be proved that sales activities aimed at Danish customers were going on until a week before the proceedings.
“The Maritime and Commercial Court’s decision is a clear victory for the Danish original producers, who hereby get one of the most serious violators of original copyright and trademark rights in the Danish market slowed down. Thus, there is a good prospect that other copy furniture companies now must adjust their Danish activities, “says director Flemming Larsen from the industry organization Wood and Furniture Industry (TMI).
The five Danish companies, that had brought the case against Voga, are furniture manufacturers Fritz Hansen, Fredericia Furniture, Carl Hansen & Son, Erik Jørgensen and lamp manufacturer Louis Poulsen Lighting.
See the judgment here (in Danish language only).


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The foods most closely associated with cannabis consumption are best described as “junk.”
Monumental over-orders of McDonald’s, movie theater candy, any chip whose name ends in “-itos” or home-baked goods laced with that distinctly “herbal” tang — this is the cuisine that sits at the traditional intersection of dining and cannabis. Somewhere between decadence and sloppy excess, munchies and edibles are inseparable from cannabis culture, but they’re not exactly fine dining.
Yet, according to the sibling duo behind the cannabis hospitality company Altered Plates, high-end cannabis dining experiences are exactly where the food world and the legal cannabis industry need to head together. Hospitality industry vet Rachel Burkons and professional chef Holden Jagger believe there is an eager audience for 420-friendly eating experiences composed of the same elements that make a more conventional fine dining experience special: high-quality ingredients, carefully considered pairings and excellent service.
“Right now in the cannabis industry, the most interaction a consumer is going to have with a budtender is going to be 10 minutes,” Burkons says. “But when you start to shift that to more of a hospitality and restaurant-focused dining experience, it’s going to really require a whole different level of education and hospitality and those things, for us, 100% go hand-in-hand.”
And the gatekeepers of the culinary realm over at the James Beard Foundation seem to agree. Izabela Wojcik is the programming director for the James Beard House, the foundation’s New York City home base. She says that cannabis-focused programming falls perfectly in line with the esteemed non-profit’s motto: “Good food for good.”
“People have long looked to the foundation as a resource for food, especially in recent years as new, progressive formats and offerings have hit the scene and the plate,” Wojcik says. “Obviously, CBD has become a point of fascination among food conscious consumers and the industry, but a lot of questions remain. We feel like we have a responsibility, now more than ever, to provide education and perspective on the issue.”
That’s where Altered Plates comes in: This spring, Burkons and Jagger hosted a two-part event, a terpene-focused dinner and a CBD-oriented industry panel the following day, both at the Beard House. For chef Jagger, it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I would have been happy to wash dishes at the James Beard House,” he said.
The dinner itself, held in the Beard House’s famous dining area, consisted of five courses. Carrot tangerine soup, duck carnitas and tempura donuts dusted with terpene-infused sugar, to name a few of the dishes, made for a sumptuous menu just as indulgent as stereotypical munchies — only infinitely more sophisticated, paired with Francis Ford Coppola wine instead of AriZona Ice Tea.
And although no CBD or THC was consumed at the dinner, Burkons and Jagger made sure cannabis was still present on the table by including a hemp sprout salad and three hemp flower pairings from Hudson Hemp that guests were invited to sniff and savor.
“We brought hemp and cannabis to the James Beard House and put it on the same table with wine,” Jagger said. “We told people to pick it up, examine it, crush it between your fingers and smell it, and create a level of similarity between how they were experiencing the wine pairing and how they were experiencing the cannabis.”
The next morning’s Q&A, also hosted in the Beard House, featured an admittedly exhausted Jagger on a speaker panel, alongside Burkons, Plant People cofounder Gabe Kennedy, Cowen cannabis investing expert Vivien Azer, lawyer Meryl Holt Silverman and Well+Good co-founder Melisse Gelula.
Each panel member fielded questions from the panel’s moderator and from audience members, including one chef who was curious about how to reliably source cannabis in a grey market and another who wondered about the difference between cannabinoid delivery systems, such as sublingual preparations versus infusions.
The only snag in the process? The fact that the original concept for the dinner focused solely on superstar cannabinoid CBD.
When Burkons and Jagger first coordinated with the foundation earlier this year, they pitched a CBD-oriented dinner, which would have been the second time that cannabinoid had been served in the Beard House. But then, a recent CBD edibles crackdown by New York City officials sparked a change of plans, and the menu was reoriented with terpenes on parade instead.
Ultimately, this change did not impede the Beard House mission, nor did it stop Jagger from serving up a quality dinner menu.
“The terpenes focus proved a better fit anyway, as it allowed [Jagger] and [Burkons] to expand the conversation and to have a more profound teaching experience,” Wojcik says. “Additionally, it allowed diners to more fully understand the connection between food, cannabis, aromatics and flavor perception.”
For Altered Plates, the warm reception from America’s culinary elite bodes well for the future of culinary cannabis as a movement and an artform.
“It’s one thing to have Carl’s Jr. rolling out some burgers,” Burkons says referencing a 420 PR stunt involving CBD burgers, “but it’s another thing entirely when an organization as respected and as hallowed as the James Beard Foundation says there’s clearly something here and you should start looking at it.”
TELL US, are you surprised to see culinary institutions warming up to cannabis and hemp?
Originally published in Issue 39 of Cannabis Now. LEARN MORE


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The Hunter’s retail workers union has slammed the NSW Government’s decision to legislate Boxing Day trading, saying Christmas was at risk for the region’s retail workers.
The NSW Government announced on Thursday it would legislate to allow Boxing Day trade to continue in all parts of NSW in accordance with an independent review of a two-year trial.
The trial allowed boxing day trade in tourist precincts and city centres such as Westfield Kotara and Charlestown Square.
The review by Professor Percy Allan AM considered feedback on the trial from retailers, employees and shoppers.
But the retail workers union SDA believes the report was “fundamentally flawed”.
SDA Newcastle and Northern secretary Barbara Nebart said the report’s recommendations were incredibly disappointing and didn't match its findings.
“The recommendations are based on myths – that there is some economic benefit from Boxing Day trading and the idea that workers have the ability to freely choose whether to work or not on Boxing Day,” Ms Nebart said.
Retailers who pressure employees to work could face fines of up to $11,000 per employee.
“On paper workers may have the right to refuse to work, but anyone who has spent any time in the industry knows that if the shop is open that’s far from the reality,” Ms Nebart said.
“Boxing Day is a time for families. Shops can open almost every single other day of the year, but Christmas only comes around once.
“The sales can start on December 27th and retailers will lose nothing.
“Our politicians now have the opportunity to right the wrong of this report, reject its recommendations and give NSW families back their Boxing Day.”
Parliamentary secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said he had only received strong positive feedback for Boxing Day trading in Hunter areas that didn't previously have boxing day trade.
He said before the two year trial, Hunter shoppers were restricted to Port Stephens or had to travel to Wyong or Sydney.
“It has benefited Hunter businesses, supported local retail jobs including giving many young people a chance to earn holiday money. It has kept shoppers in the region,” Mr MacDonald said.
Legislation to enable the 2015 reforms to continue will be introduced in the coming months.


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SA’s number one acoustic rock band, Watershed, and Tsogo Sun’s Southern Sun Waterfront hotel hosted a private gig to mark the launch of the dynamic ensemble’s latest, and quite possibly, greatest album, Watch the Rain.
For the second consecutive year Tsogo Sun has taken top honours for total wines purchased by a single bidder at the prestigious Nederburg and Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auctions.
The world’s largest Whisky Live Festival takes place from 11 to 13 November at the Sandton Convention Centre.
In the lead up to International Vulture Awareness Day on 5 September, BirdLife South Africa announced a recently discovered, rare and exceptionally beautiful species of scavenging bird, and offered a stunning visual of the enchanting Read More
Household odours can have a significant effect on many of the decisions we make around our homes. This was evident from the results of a survey* conducted among South Africa women, to identify some of Read More
Luxury car brand BMW has implemented a campaign that harnesses the innovation and flexibility of digital television channel airport.tv. The campaign is not only turning heads but is showing the legacy of the 3-series in Read More
By: Christo Maritz, Owner/founder of INFESTATION Design and founding member of Open Design Festival Cape Town In days gone by, when people said ‘design’, cities like Copenhagen, Milan and New York may have sprung to Read More
As the celebrations and charitable projects of Mandela Day come to a close, the changemakers at No Danger Diaries are determined to turn Mandela Day into Mandela Month.
Ask any PVR user what they love most about the technology? They can fast-forward through ads. Going to the movies? Chances are, you won’t arrive on time because the first half hour is all commercials Read More


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LX is excited to be named by Analytics Insight Magazine as one of the Top 10 Most Valuable IoT Companies to Watch in 2019. “It’s a huge honour to be included in this list of companies”, says Founder and Director, Simon Blyth. “We are excited about where the industry is going, and our part within it.”
The accolade recognises companies offering intelligent and highly scalable IoT solutions, laying a path to success for thousands of global companies planning to shape their digital transformation journey across industries.
LX is an award winning innovative IoT electronics product development company specialising in the creation of next-generation IoT devices. LX offers a range of tracking & sensing solutions (CATM1, NB-IoT, LoRaWAN, Bluetooth and WiFi) to help enterprises across a wide range of industries focus on generating value.
LX’s full-stack platform, IoT Cores, accelerates the development of the bespoke IoT devices from custom IoT hardware design through to the cloud backend. LX also undertakes the turnkey design of custom embedded systems and wireless technologies from concept through to production.
Contact LX Group for more information about our IoT products and bespoke solutions.


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Iran exported 16.9 million tons of non-oil commodities including gasoline, polyethylene, methanol, iron and steel ingots and steel products to foreign destinations in the mentioned two months, said IRICA head, Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi, IRNA reported.
Meanwhile, some 5.3 million tons of goods valued at $6.5 billion were imported into the country in the said period to register a 26.5 percent rise compared to the last year’s same two months.
In total, Iran traded 22.2 million tons of such goods worth $12.8 billion with its trade partners in the period under review, up 6.6 percent and 38 percent in terms of weight and value, respectively, Mir-Ashrafi said.
Iran's top five non-oil export destinations during this period were China with $2 billion worth of exports, Iraq with $953 million, the UAE with over $849 million, Turkey with $388 million, and Afghanistan with $365 million.
According to the official, the said five countries accounted for 68 percent and 73 percent of Iran’s total non-oil exports, respectively.
The country’s top five sources of imports during March 21-May 21 were the UAE with $1.8 billion, China with $1.5 billion, Turkey with $642 million, Germany with $285 million, and Switzerland with $283 million worth of imports.
Mobile phones, corn, sunflower oil, meal, wheat, soybeans, rice, barley and sugar were the most imported items during the period.
These commodities accounted for 69.5 percent of the weight and 33 percent of the total value of imports, according to Mir-Ashrafi.
The official also noted that over 1.8 million tons of goods were transited through Iran in the said period, registering a 142 percent rise compared to the same period in the previous year.


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Gameplay has surfaced... Finally.
Alan Wake meets Control... A pipe dream that only fans could dream of. However, with the announcement of the new Control DLC 'AWE' (Altered World Event) opening the doors to a large Remedy Video-game Universe, they are looking to combine the worlds of Control and Alan Wake.
The DLC title Altered World Event is the key to the formula. As the foundation of Control centers around reality breaking events, it's an easy lead in with different realities becoming accessible. In the game, Alan Wake has been missing for the last decade (If you didn't know, Alan Wake was released in 2010) and has spent his time imprisoned inside "The Dark Place".
“Alan Wake is writing again, and you’ll be finding pages of his writing,” Remedy creative director Sam Lake said during the stream. “The story he’s creating is affecting reality here. You can experience the full pages through the hotline menu in the game.”
The expansion is an estimated 4-5 hours of game play as well a healthy amount of additional side mission. The DLC also introduced a new enemy type, the Airborne Range, as well as new light-based mechanics that clearly pay their respects to Alan Wake.
AWE set for release on August 27, the same day as Control Ultimate Edition on Steam.


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Lisa, co-owner of Red Red Wine Bar, shares with us their philosophy and a recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Apricot Marmalade.
The Maryland nonprofit Partners In Care has taken the idea of paying it forward and increased its viability and visibility in the community.
MD Hall for the Creative Arts kicks off this year’s Showcase Artist Series with Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Karter Jaymes October 3.
There's still time to get tickets to this must-attend event happening Thursday, Sept. 26th. We'll be there--will you?
The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s (ASO) 2013-2014 season-opening concerts at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts will be held this weekend.
Trawler Fest is the ideal place to browse your favorite boats, socialize with other seafarers, and browse dozens of exhibitors.
A great accent for darker blues, blush pinks, sage greens, and, of course, crisp whites, brass and gold accents are making interiors pop.
Tailored approach supports innovation while protecting consumer safety
Win Tickets to see They Might Be Giants on Saturday,October 12 at 8:00 PM.
This week's food and restaurant news for the week of September 25th, 2013. The Westfield Annapolis Mall will be opening new eateries soon.


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AdHang Is Set to Focus in Providing Services to Foreign Companies in Nigeriaby Abi D. Marketing
This Digital Marketing Agency has just announced the company’s plan to put their concern mostly at the foreign companies in Nigeria. The service provider will help foreign companies to reach more customers in the country through digital marketing.
This Nigeria online marketing agency recently announced the company’s plan to put their main focus on giving services to foreign countries that intend to reach more clients in Nigeria through internet marketing. With the services provided, the foreign countries from USA, India, UK, etc, will be able to create the best digital marketing strategy to popularize their brands in Nigeria.
AdHang is one of the best marketing agencies in Lagos, Nigeria. The company focuses on providing digital marketing services for the customers to improve their business. The agency has more than 10 years of experience and helped many big companies and institutions in Nigeria and Africa. The team will help the customers to engage with millions of Nigerian people through mobile marketing, social media marketing, online display advertising, content marketing, search engine marketing, and influencers marketing strategies provided by the company.
The current plan of AdHang to focus more on the foreign companies will make it possible for them to improve their business in Nigeria through the digital marketing solutions provided. This is also aimed to increase people’s awareness toward their brands. AdHang will help foreign companies to create short internet videos, search engine optimization (SEO), online banners, online ads, email marketing, forum posting, and much more. In this way, the companies will be able to reach their marketing goals easily.
“We like AdHang – online agency from Nigeria because they work in simple steps that are explained nicely. The process is designed to be easy to understand for every customer. After you acquire them choosing the plan that suits you, the teams will start working for you. In the end, it is easy to say that AdHang the Online Advertising Agency in Nigeria is a great solution to any business. They work professionally, with great ethics, skills, and dedication. They represent a real refreshment in the advertising world”, said one of the customers.
AdHang is a company that specializes in providing full service in digital marketing. The company is headquartered in Nigeria and has become the leading company in the country’ digital marketing industry. It has 10 years of experience in serving many companies and organizations not only in Nigeria but also most countries in Africa. The services provided by the company include content marketing, online display advertising, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and more. This is one of few digital marketing agencies in Nigeria with a respected reputation both in local and international.
Office: Office: D 07 Century mall, St.Patrick's junction, Ojo Alaba international market, Lagos, Nigeria.
Created on Oct 17th 2018 00:23. Viewed 121 times.


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The Outriders Pyromancer Class has taken the spotlight in the new highlight video, showcasing the abilities and combat tactics it can use.
Search Results for PS5
The PS Plus 10th anniversary theme is now available to download in the US and UK!
Iron Man VR is one of the most well-written and immersive VR games ever made, but something holds it back from being the greatest. Read our review.
The Madden NFL 21 campaign has been detailed by EA, confirming the story-focused mode will feature Snoop Dogg among other performances.
Check out the latest Hitman 3 video as developer IO Interactive reveals more details about the sequel, which is ‘the end of a journey’ for the team.
Is a Recompile PS4 release on the cards? The game is coming to next-gen and PC, but what about Sony’s current-gen system?
A few weeks removed from its formal announcement at the PS5 reveal event, Resident Evil 8 is still the title …
Sony has launched the PlayStation Indies iniative, which will help spotlights independent games, and is led by Shuhei Yoshida.
The excellent A Plague Tale Innocence has passed a major sales milestone, Asobo Studios has announced!
The developer behind The Last of Us Part 2 has revealed that it will be sharing its accessibility options with other studios going forward.


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Essex detective 'sold police kit on eBay', misconduct hearing told
A detective sold police equipment issued to him for specialist roles on eBay, a misconduct hearing was told.
Det Con Andrew Copley is alleged to have sold goggles, jackets and boots given to him for use while serving on firearms, covert surveillance and marine teams for Essex Police.
Items including a red Musto jacket and a camouflage suit were sold from his eBay account, the hearing was told.
But Det Con Copley denies the claims, saying he had bought the items himself.
The misconduct hearing at Chelmsford Civic Centre will decide if the officer breached police standards for honesty and integrity, orders and instructions and discreditable conduct.
The detective is alleged to have sold the equipment between 2012 and 2017 after he had stopped serving on specialist teams.
Mark Ley-Morgan, acting in behalf of Essex Police, said an investigation into Det Con Copley had begun after several items had been listed and sold on eBay.
When a search was carried out at the detective's home, seven bags with a "substantial amount of equipment" believed to belong to Essex Police were found, Mr Ley-Morgan said.
Det Con Copley told officers he had kept the equipment as he had hoped to maintain his accreditation for covert surveillance despite moving to another role, the misconduct hearing was told.
His solicitor Rakesh Sharma said: "Some of the items he purchased himself, others he acquired as gifts but the items offered for sale were all the officer's own property."
Mr Ley-Morgan said the force did not accept the items were not the property of the force.
The hearing continues.


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The first steps are being taken by Universal, TIDAL and Deezer to develop a more artist friendly music streaming service.
The first steps are being taken by Universal, TIDAL and Deezer to build a new music streaming model that that will ensure the growth of streaming, yet also values artists and fans alike.
Read all the latest product & music industry news here.
By the end of 2021, paid subscription streaming revenues were worth US$12.3 billion with 523 million subscribers, with 46% of music listeners using subscription audio streaming.
Leading the charge is Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group, the largest record company in the world.
“Streaming has evolved in a way that undervalues the critical contributions of many an artist as well as the engagement of many fans,” Grainge said.
This is, he added, against “the basic unarguable truth that is: The artists are the centre of everything in the music ecosystem.
“Ensuring the artists’ work is properly valued should be a critical goal for everyone who wants to keep the industry growing.”
In recent weeks, Universal signed partnerships with TIDAL and Deezer to develop such a concept.
TIDAL already has some of the highest streaming rates in the industry, being one of the few to pay over 1 cent per stream when the average is $0.0128 per stream.
Creatives need about 80 streams to generate a dollar and 80,000 streams to earn $1000.
Deezer pays artists an average of $0.0064 per stream, or about 156 plays for $1 and 156,000 for $1000.
Comparatively on average, Spotify’s rate is $0.003 to $0.0084 a stream, Apple Music’s $0.0078, YouTube Music’s is $0.008, and Amazon Music’s is $0.004.
Nodding To UCPS
TIDAL and Deezer have been partial to the UCPS, or user-centric payment system.
Most streaming services pool their subscription fees and divide it, with the most number of streams getting the lion’s share.
But a UCPS sees each artist get $10 from each subscriber from the track they’ve streamed.
However, when TIDAL entered the Universal partnership, it also dropped its UCPS support.
Who Would Lose?
The current problem with the UCPS idea, according to various European studies, is that hip-hop and rap are among genres likely to see a decrease in royalties.
But classical music, blues, jazz, folk and metal would benefit, because listeners of these genres tend to more musically single-minded.
For that reason, Universal Music is insistent that a new equally-equitable model be found – and believes that a number of new models could be the answer.
Is Fan Monetisation the Key?
Grainge and Universal’s Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash say it’s too early to describe the new model, as it’s still being researched with partners.
But paramount will be rewarding artists who bring fans on to streaming services and keep them there longer, as will offering fans different returns for coming on board.
Nash ventured that streaming services could do “a better job of monetising these high integrity, high intense artist-fan relationships.
“That will come with superfan monetisation.
“We’ve been speaking with platforms… about the enhancement of offers to the consumer that reflect the engagement with artists that are really driving the economic models of the platform.”
This could mean artists would be able to offer exclusive content to consumers for a premium price.
For Deezer’s Paris-based CEO Jeronimo Folgueira, increasing fan experience would include super fan rewards, in-app live-streaming and VOD concerts, lyric translations and music quiz functionality.
He told Music Week:
“The current system has clear issues that need to be addressed, such as increasing amounts of non-music tracks uploaded on platforms, poor quality covers with misspelt artist names, songs [being used to] to ‘steal’ streams, and people trying to trick the system with the length of tracks.
“This hurts true artists, makes it harder for new ones to emerge and also damages the fan experience.”
Size Does Matter
Keeping fans on platforms longer would mean longer tracks get a greater slice of the revenue pie.
One analyst suggested that with this business model, the 31-second track would be relegated to history.
It could see a reversal in the trend of rock songs getting shorter – today one minute and 13 seconds shorter on average than 20 years ago.
Streaming has been blamed for this, although the shrinking attention spans of music fans is also a major reason.
At the moment, it’s in the interest of artists to keep their tracks under 3 minutes and 15 seconds, Mark Ronson told The Guardian, and snip the intros and outros to the minimum.
If a listener doesn’t tune in throughout, Spotify picks it up, puts it in the ‘non-complete heard’ file, and won’t recommend the track to anyone else.
Learning From Gamers
Gamer superstars showed their music counterparts how to find new ways to monetise their appeal, and their willingness to experiment with new business models.
There has been no foot-dragging when it comes to trawling for donations, endorsements, direct subscriptions, daily features to bring fans back regularly, and charging extra for exclusives such as Q&As, advice, requests and remixes, limited edition virtual gifts or having their comments left up for extra time.
A new model will change the way music fans behave, and the way the music industry markets to them – spending six to seven hours on a platform won’t necessarily mean listening to more music.
Like gamers, users will be multi-tasking, also chatting to friends or watching SOVDs on their laptop on the side.
Robert Price of influencer marketing agency Fourth Floor Creative pointed out that with so much content available, it’s “natural” for users to flick through, making it more important for creators to grip them from the start.
The New ‘New’
Gaming changed what’s considered “new” for music fans.
For instance, in some quarters, an album is no longer seen as being delivered as a finished product of 12 to 14 tracks, with biggest sales in its first six months.
It’s instead a “work in progress” with new tracks and packaging added at regular intervals, followed by sales spikes.
More Changes Of Behaviour
Any successful new model would have to adapt to further consumer behaviour changes in recent times.
The amount of fans with multiple streaming subscriptions continues to grow – to 19% in the second quarter of 2020 from 13% in the same period a year before, according to Midia Research.
This increase of choices also means there’s nothing to stop subscribers from cancelling.
This puts the heat on services for more compelling content with a focus on finding new things quicker.
Will Fans Pay More For an Indie-Friendly Model?
Many in the indie music sector argue artists and indie labels will never be compensated fairly as long as streaming services charge a low $10 to $15 a month.
If fans are dinkum about fair pay, they should be looking at a model of $40 to $60 a month.
As music writer Anil Prasad via Medium some years ago, an effective new model can’t be based on the way current major streaming services are, focused on making profit for investors.
“It needs to have a rock solid ethical and financial core.
“And it doesn’t have to put rampant profitability ahead of sustainability for artists and indie labels.”
The global indies sector made up US$10 billion of the music industry’s total $28.2 billion in 2021.
Direct-releasing artists alone turned over $1.5 billion with a 5.3% share.
In other words, this occurrs as indie labels get next to nothing from the major services, pull their tracks out and put them exclusively in a new indie-friendly model.
The piece highlights an idea by North American singer songwriter and activist Joe Mendelson of experimental hip-hop act Rise Robots Rise, and alt-rock band Quodia, where 90% of all revenue goes to either the artist or indie label.
The first listen is free, and after that you rent it for 10 cents a play, or pay $1 to stream or download, or pay a subscription of $40 to $60 to stream the catalogue.
The Spotify Factor
Spotify, the pinup bad-guy for low streaming rates, this month opened the door for more fan monetisation by announcing a new slate of features to create stronger bonds been creators and consumers.
‘Marquee’ recommends (for payment) a new release for users who showed interest in an artist’s music, while ‘Showcase’, which introduces an artist to likely listeners, will be expanded in the future.
Through ‘Discovery Mode’, an artist’s team pick their priority tracks, which Spotify will add to the algorithms that shape personalised listening sessions.
Spotify users are about to see more merchandise and concert listings in more places across the app, too.
“Spotify recommendations drive close to half of all users’ streams,” revealed Gustav Söderström, Spotify co-president and chief product & technology officer.
“When listeners decide to follow a creator, they listen to, on average, five times more of their music.
“That’s why discoveries on Spotify – unlike many other platforms – give creators so much more than just a fleeting moment of viral fame…(for) meaningful, long-term connections.”
Read our article about the history of music streaming here.


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Resolution has been awarded the Agency of the Year Award 2018 in Google’s prestigious Honours program. The awards recognise the achievements of the very best Search and YouTube marketing agencies and providers across Australia and New Zealand — and more than 60 companies entered the competition in this, it’s second year.
Without a doubt, 2018 has been the year of voice. Adoption is rising, millions of devices are being shipped and for the first time ever, brands have a voice. But navigating this all-new space can be quite the task.


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Sources tell Reuters that Kroger is in the second round of an auction process that’s also seen interest from buyout firms Apollo Global Management LLC, KKR & Co LP, and TPG Capital LP.
We really like the formulation of Up Mountain Switchel's new Cayenne and Yerba Mate varieties, but the 12 oz. jar package (one most often used for jelly or condiments) might not be the best for format for the liquid.
Mucho Gazpacho has added two new varieties -- Beet and Green -- to its line of shelf-stable bottled gazpacho drinks.
We often ask event speakers to consult their crystal balls for the future of the beverage business. This time, we reached out to friends so that you wouldn’t have to travel. So here’s what they’re thinking about as they look down the road, and also, what we think some of our biggest questions are for the industry in 2016.
Watch it again. BevNET Live Winter 2015 took place on December 8 and 9, 2015.
The makers of Miron Energy Drink have set out to deliver a unique beverage experience that combines energy with excellent taste. Like every energy drink that comes to market, there’s a big challenge of establishing a niche that is both meaningful and is otherwise unoccupied.
Monster Beverage Corp. is facing new lawsuits whose plaintiffs allege that consumption of the company’s energy drinks resulted in serious injuries
Clearly Kombucha has introduced two new lemonade-flavored products. The company's Ginger Mint Lemonade Kombucha and Raspberry Lemonade are both well-executed additions to the brand.
Company founder Chris Cooper said that the capital investment was necessary because he views ownership of the production process as the optimal way to maintain a consistent level of quality and control profit margins in the long term.
Designed to give new and growing food and beverage companies a fast and comprehensive look at the challenges facing startups, BevNET Boot Camp leverages experts’ insights, successful entrepreneurs’ experiences, and a healthy dose of networking into an inspirational day of education and connection.
Forager has a launched a pair of cashew milk-based smoothies that are infused with probiotics. Available in Banana Date and Strawberry Banana varieties, the products are a nice extension for Forager's nut milk line.
While Gatorade may be the beverage of choice for most professional footballers, defensive players on the Super Bowl-bound Carolina Panthers have been chugging alkaline water all season.
Alta Palla is a new brand of organic and fair trade-certified sparkling juices. Produced by the makers of Hiball, the juices come in four varieties. We sampled the Lemonade and Grapefruit products for this review.
Duffy said the company will be aggressive in its efforts to expand its operations and earn more business.
It’s fair to say that tea-based tonics, birch tree water and canned wine are beverage concepts that might not be ready for mainstream grocery aisles. However, they may represent the kind of bleeding-edge innovation that has propelled significant change on beverage shelves over the past decade.


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The Audi A3 2.0 TDI is currently the only model that the automaker has indicated as having the emissions-cheating software.
Audi rolls out 'goodwill package' for diesel A3 owners
Stop-sale order issued for implicated Canadian-market Audi, VW and Porsche models
November 20, 2015
The A3 2.0 TDI from the 2009-15 model years is the sole Audi model with the emissions-cheating software that was installed in a number of diesel Volkswagen and Audi models sold in Europe and in the States. That A3 uses the EA 189 engine, shared with approximately 482,000 U.S. Volkswagens.
Audi is extending the goodwill program announced by Volkswagen days ago to owners of this model; they will receive a $500 prepaid Visa Loyalty Card as well as a $500 Audi dealership card that can be used for products and services at all Audi dealers in the country, in addition to 24-hour roadside assistance for three years. This offer is identical to that extended to owners of affected VW models, some 120,000 of whom have already contacted VW to take advantage of the program.
"We are cooperating with authorities to investigate the issues affecting these TDI models. In the meantime, we issued a voluntary stop sale on 2013-2016 model year new and Certified pre-owned vehicles with the Gen II 3.0L TDI engine," Audi states on its diesel information website.
The first proposed fix for one of the VW diesel engines affected by emissions-cheating software has been delivered to transportation authorities in Germany, Automotive News Europe reports.The ...
However, Audi is not extending this program to owners of models equipped with the 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine, which includes the A6 Quattro, A7 Quattro, A8 and A8L sedans, as well as the Q5 crossover; that engine's compliance is a point of contention with the EPA at the moment.
Immediately following the EPA's notice on Nov. 2 Audi stated that it did not believe that the named models had emissions compliance issues, but nevertheless issued a stop-sale order for the models named above, stretching from the 2013 model year through the 2016 model years. A single Porsche model, the Cayenne Diesel, was also implicated by the EPA, and Porsche has also issued a stop-sale order for the SUV without admitting any emission discrepancies.
Volkswagen of America will offer $500 to owners of 2.0-liter diesel vehicles with illegal emissions test-rigging software, part of a “goodwill” package aimed at calming ...
"The Goodwill Package being announced on November 13, 2015 is only for affected 2.0L TDI vehicles," the automaker states on its diesel information website. "Audi is currently investigating the allegations regarding 3.0L V6 engines set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board on November 2 and is cooperating fully with the agencies."


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Miami Kids Magazine Christmas Drive thru at Shops at Merrick Park!
Miami Kids Magazine and Shops at Merrick Park Holiday Toy Drive, Drive-Thru Celebration Benefiting Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
On December 12, Miami Kids Magazine and Shops of Merrick Park hosted the drive-thru Holiday Toy Drive celebration benefiting Nicklaus Children’s Hospital who was also the sponsor of the event.
Attendees brought hundreds of unwrapped toys to donate in support of hospitalized children. We provided 500 goodie bags and other holiday giveaways to everyone driving thru the event under the magic snow that gave a special holiday spirit to the celebration.
This year’s drive-thru holiday celebration featured Safari Sam who sang MKM Holiday songs Jingle Bells, Feliz Navidad, Wash Your Hands, and many others. We had Gymbo the Clown, Vineyard Vines's famous character Whale, Snowman, Rudolph, and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus dancing and waving hello to everyone in their cars.


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Trade War: insights and understanding of macroeconomic issues
The College of Management of Technology helps you understand the news: Prof. Luisa Lambertini, professor of Macroeconomics and International finance explains the Trade War, as it is currently happening between the United States and China.
Prof. Luisa Lambertini, what is a trade war?
All countries engage in international trade, namely they export goods and services produced domestically and import goods and services produced abroad. According to the World Bank, world trade measured as the sum of exports and imports amounts to more than 50% of world gross domestic product. Tariffs and quotas are the main instruments of trade policy. Tariffs are taxes levied as percentage of the value of imported goods and services that ultimately raise the price paid by importers; quotas are limitations on the quantity of imports. Both trade instruments affect imports and restrain international trade. A trade war between two countries happens when country A raises tariffs or quotas on imports from country B, which then retaliates by raising its own tariffs and quotas against country A, which then responds by further raising tariffs against country B and so on. The current escalation of tariffs between the United States and China is an example of a trade war.
What is Donald Trump’s goal?
From an economic point of view, tariffs and quotas reduce trade and the economic-wellbeing of all countries concerned. The goal is most likely political. During his campaign, Trump promised to raise tariffs on goods imported into the United States, to renegotiate or end NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico), and to cut the U.S. trade imbalances. These promises to engage in protectionism, which is the use of tariffs, quotas and other policies to protect domestic industries against foreign competition, played an important role in the 2016 election. Trump won in counties with a higher share of manufacturing employment by promising to restore coal, manufacturing and other type of jobs that moved outside the United States over the last few decades. Not surprisingly, the renegotiation of NAFTA required use of workers earning at least $16 as well as an increase in the North-American content of imported cars from Mexico. With mid-term elections approaching, this renewed emphasis on protectionism is not surprising.
What is the likely effect of Trump’s tariffs on the US trade deficit and the U.S. economy?
A country has a trade deficit (surplus) when its imports exceed (fall behind) its exports. Another reason why the United States are imposing tariffs on imports is that Trump promised to cut the U.S. trade deficits, which have persisted since the late 1970s. Trump and his administration believe that these protectionist measures will reduce U.S. imports and improve the U.S. economy thanks to the switch in demand toward U.S. produced goods and services. However, years and years of studies show that tariffs and quotas reduce trade but they do not necessarily improve the imposing country’s trade balance. If the other country imposes reciprocal tariffs, bilateral trade will fall but the trade deficit may not improve. Moreover, tariffs and quotas have many consequences on the rest of the economy. Consider for example the tariff on U.S. aluminum and steel imports. Trump believes this will shift demand toward U.S. producers and increase jobs. The necessary increase in aluminum and steel prices, however, will increase production costs of U.S. industries that use these raw materials, so that demand and jobs in these industries will fall. The increase in price of these products will hurt consumers.
What are the likely effects on world trade?
Tariffs and quotas unequivocally reduce trade. The years between World War I and II witnessed an escalation of tariffs and retaliatory responses that led to the collapse of world trade, with all countries being worse off relative to their initial condition. Looking into the future, world trade will suffer if tariffs persist and become widespread. Trump also threatened to pull the United States of the World Trade Organization (WTO), a move that would put an end to many years of trade diplomacy. Interestingly, this could potentially hurt U.S. exporters because the United States would lose the most favored nation status it enjoys with many other countries.
How is the rest of the world going to be affected and how it is going to respond?
Aggrieved countries are likely to retaliate and enter a trade war with the United States. Producers and consumers in these countries will be affected. Because so much of today’s production is global, consumers around the world are likely to see the prices of certain goods go up. For example, China may tax U.S.-based corporations, like Apple, that manufacture in China. This will lead to higher prices of their products around the world. In addition to the direct effects on trade and consumers, a trade war is going to have indirect effects of uncertainty and confidence, particularly on business investment. Emerging economies will suffer most – see the sharp depreciation of the Turkish lira after Trump announced he was doubling tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey. A multilateral trade war will end up in losses for all.
A better response by the rest of the world to Trump’s tariffs is to tackle the roots of U.S. trade deficits. For several decades, global savings have allowed the U.S. government to borrow at extremely low rates, reducing borrowing costs for everyone in the United States and making it cheap for the U.S. government to run large fiscal deficits. A reversal in this trend would depreciate the U.S. dollar, raise savings and reduce investment, closing the U.S. trade gap.


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Pokémon Go has become one of the most used and famous games of this summer. People have gone crazy, well this was certainly a great big benefit for the company. Pokémon Go has become the most recognizing game even after its failure in the past. The new upgrades and features made this game what it truly is. And, now it has caught the attention of its customers again. According to the Niantic, there has been a tremendous 35% increase in the usage of this game. The game is playing by gamers actively which is making the summer reports look successful. The game has the highest active people since its new upgrades.
Pokémon Go was once the most popular game and there was such a hype about it. People of all ages across the globe went gaga over it which lead to people expecting more from the developers of Pokémon Go. The tardiness on the part of developers led to a fluctuation in the number of users as they could not stay hooked to it for a long while. This is why we saw a sharp increase in the number of people, who played Pokémon Go. However, this summer has brought a tremendous increase in its user base leading the developer company to succeed once again.
What Caused Such A Big Change In The Trend Of Users Of Pokémon Go?
The research shows that the increment of numbers is not because the old users have come back to it. Rather it is because much more new people have joined the user base of Pokémon Go. The credit for this huge turn over goes to the new upgrade in the Pokémon Go app. The developers launched games like Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! Which brought Pokémon Go back in the running too.
The new trading feature has launched and has attracted a huge gaming population back to the game. Niantic has reported a development of over 113 million connections since the feature came out in June. What’s even more encouraging is the fact that more than 2.2 billion have sent gifts to their friends since the new upgrade. The inclusion of a trading feature has made the Pokémon Go app exceedingly popular in the gaming community once again. This is why we have seen such a huge increase in the number of people, which are playing the game currently.
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Tuum Tech and Elastos team member, Kiran Pachhai, gave a bi-weekly Elastos developer update for the community. Topics included new dapps like Feeds and Vouch, along with updates on DID, Carrier, and Hive.
Vouch began development two weeks ago, with an early demo release planned soon. It’s a KYC app that will validate email addresses. An email validator service matches and verifies user emails and DIDs. Users can save their verified credentials on their app. Future use-cases for the Vouch app are age and name verification, both without having to reveal information to third parties.
Elastos Assist will take care of submitting and publishing a user’s DID profile to the blockchain. This dApp will be used to onboard users quickly.
Academy added a new DID function that adds people to friends list automatically. Soon, community members can challenge their friends in its game. This feature will be available in the next version, due in about a week.
Feeds dApp works similar to twitter on elastOS. Feeds utilizes DID, Hive, and decentralized messaging through Carrier. People can create channels and become publishers, similar to a telegram news channel. Development of Feeds is ongoing, and the UI/UX design has started.
There’s a new page for developers called Elastos Schema. Schema contains info and a set of instructions on how you can request data from the Elastos DID, Carrier, and Blockchain into a dApp. Developers don’t have to import logic by scratch.
Elastos DID dApp now supports image data in a user’s credentials, such as a profile pic. dApps like Academy app and Playchat can request this info as a part of their DID logins.
Any developer looking to test out the Hive Demo needs to download the latest elastOS release from GitHub.
NativeSDK will support DID, and there will also be a Python version of the DID SDK. Hive ++ is underway with more updates in a couple of weeks. Elastos Carrier can now send up to 5 MB with large data blocks, a much larger number than before.
Video and audio streaming has been implemented to android SDK on carrier through webrtc. elastOS will utilize this tool down the road.
The DID side chain is slow to sync on the SPV wallet. The SPV wallet node connection has been optimized along with synchronization speed that will improve sync speeds. SPVSDK has completed the development of the ETH side chain for the ETH wallet and other modules.
Supernode operators should upgrade the DPoS 0.1.4 app. This app utilizes the DID side chain, which syncs quickly. Tuum Tech is looking to onboard external Ionic developers on try.elastos.org/ionic-framework. Ionic developers only need to use Angular or React and don’t need to know blockchain.
Stay tuned for the next Tuum Tech Elastos Biweekly update.


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Can there be any clearer indication of the summer news doldrums than Ylan Q. Mui's piece this morning that posits that a man's underwear drawer may hold clues to such mysteries of the universe as
"when will the recession end?" Here's the crux of the theory: When times are tough, men don't buy as much underwear as they do when times are flush. They'll try to get more mileage out of a pair of
boxers, just like they will out of their jalopies.
We are informed that "no less an oracle" than former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan gave the theory credence in a radio report a few years
ago. (But isn't he the same guy who claims he was "mystified" by the subprime market at the same time we thought he was overseeing it?)
Anyway, Mintel expects underwear sales to fall 2.3%
this year, but only by 0.5% next year, which can be construed as good news. So can this quote from NPD Group senior analyst Marshal Cohen: "If this were a true, deep, long, embedded recession, [men]
wouldn't even be buying underwear." As for me, I bought a package of Jockeys last week with a waistband a size smaller than usual. Talk about optimism.
Read the whole story at Washington Post »


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Recent headlines were made by Qualcomm today. The company was slapped with a €997 million ($1.2 billion) fine by the EU in recent days. The lawsuit in opposition to Qualcomm has counterparts with the 2009 Intel litigation – a multinational compensates the CPU constructers to shut-out less significant opponents. The company is at present under inquiry by the EU for marketing chipsets for internet dongles at below-cost to hamper Icera, these days acquired by NVidia.
The reports say that the chipset company had paid Apple to brush-off competitors amid 2011 and 2016 respectively. Rendering to the European Court, “billions of dollars” were included in the pact for the 4G microchip in the iPhones and iPads by Qualcomm.
EU Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager said that “The deal meant that “no rival could successfully defy Qualcomm in this market, no matter how worthy their merchandises were in front of the company”.
This deal and arrangement by Qualcomm and Apple mainly affected Intel more than anybody else. Intel is the one who supplies iDevices from the time when the unveiling of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus took place.
Margrethe also said that “The fine, which is equal to 4.9% of Qualcomm’s revenue, must aid as a notice to other tech corporations.” She also added that “Apple is in free as there is no indication of unlawful activity from the companies end.”
When we got hold of these details obviously it was surprising to us, but we know and understand how this monopoly works. Any thoughts, if this came as a surprise to you guys too?


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Airline catalog SkyMall files for bankruptcy
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Supreme Court rules states can require shoppers to pay online sales tax03:01
Trump tariffs & the threat to new jobs at Volvo factory02:47
How the trade war is affecting the stock markets04:46
Why separating families is bad fiscal policy11:03
China is targeting ‘Trump-country’ with latest tariffs06:46
U.S. vs. China: The impact of Trump’s trade war07:45


text: Israel, in November 2016, welcomed 5,617 travellers from India, which was 50% more than 2015, thus creating a new record in outbound travel to Israel from India.“I am delighted to see the numbers growing and I am looking forward to see more Indian travellers visiting and exploring Israel,” said Hassan Madah, Director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism Office in India.2016 at the Israel Ministry of Tourism has been successful in maintaining the growing travel relationship between India and Israel. Not only did the Israel Ministry of Tourism have a very successful marketing campaign in 2016 through television, newspapers, magazines and multiple digital platforms, they have also seen a growth in travel from India to Israel.Israel saw a growth of five percent in Indian arrivals during the first six months of 2016. In 2015, it achieved a growth of 13.2% by welcoming 39,529 Indian tourists as compared with 34,920 in 2014. Top destinations include Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Haifa, Dead Sea, etc. Apart from these traditionally popular destinations, Israel is also making efforts to pro-mote new destinations like Akko and Eilat, situated on the shores of Red Sea.


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With Three joining the list of networks to bring back roaming fees for using data in Europe, we look at the costs for all of the main providers.
Share this article
Three is the third major UK mobile network to bring back charges for customers who travel to Europe.
Free roaming came about in June 2017 when the UK was still in the EU, meaning people could use a reasonable amount of their existing package in other European countries without being stung by a huge bill.
Brexit meant operators could reimpose charges, though the main four – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – initially said they had no plans to.
We explain the fees smartphone users can now expect on their network.
Three not only allowed free roaming across Europe but also in other countries worldwide, including the US and Australia.
But that offer is now drawing to close – for new and renewing customers at least.
From October 1, if you join Three, or if an existing customer starts a new contract or upgrades, they will no longer have free roaming included.
Instead, they will have to pay a flat fee of £2 per day when in EU countries and £5 per day for other countries previously covered.
But the charges will not start until May 23, 2022 and roaming in Ireland and the Isle of Man are unaffected.
Three said customers who roam will be protected from bill shock with warning text messages, as well as a worldwide data cap of £45.
However, if you are already with Three and make no changes to your current plan – even if you are a pay as you go customer – you will be able to retain free roaming for now.
EE was first to announce a reintroduction of roaming fees in June.
New customers who joined the network from July 7, as well as those who renewed or upgraded, face a charge for using their data, making calls, or sending text messages in EU countries from January 2022.
A flat fee of £2 per day will apply to use your full allowance, though EE is also offering a 30-day Roam Abroad Pass that costs £10 for those with an Essential plan.
Smart and Full Works packages can add the pass at no extra cost, as long as it is done before travel.
If you make no changes to your current plan, you can continue to roam for free.
New Vodafone customers who joined on or after August 11 will be charged when roaming in European countries.
Though it does not include existing customers, anyone who upgrades and renews their contract from the same date will also have to pay as well – so if your contract ends and you leave it rolling and unchanged, you will not fall under the new rules.
The charges do not come into effect until January 6 2022 and anyone on the company’s Xtra plans will be unaffected by the move.
A daily fee of £2 will apply to use your full data allowance, though multi-day passes are available to purchase in advance that work out £1 per day, in eight day or 15 day bundles.
O2 has not announced a return to roaming fees.
In June, it implemented a fair use data cap of 25GB a month when roaming in Europe, only charging users who exceeded that allowance – something the firm said would only impact around 1% of its pay monthly customers – and a practice that is already common among mobile operators.
But it is worth noting that around the same time Three also lowered its data cap. Fast forward a few months to today and Three is now reinstating fees entirely, so all eyes will be on O2 to see if it decides to do the same.
– What about other networks?
None of the smaller networks have revealed plans to bring back roaming fees at present.
However, all of these piggyback on the infrastructure of the big four, so they could eventually be squeezed to follow suit.


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Technological advances coming down the pipeline for the equipment leasing and finance industry will both challenge and bolster vendor finance relationships, if the predictions described in a recent vendor finance roundtable for The Monitor come to fruition.
Monitor panel addresses key topics
In the article, Adam D. Warner, president of Key Equipment Finance, is one of three industry thought leaders describing his experiences from 2018, changes to the vendor relationship over the last 10 years, and thoughts on the vendor market in 2019.
When asked about takeaways from the past year, Warner shared that he was pleasantly surprised that business and consumer confidence remained strong in spite of federal policy uncertainty and heightened partisanship in Washington, D.C.
"I think much of that can be attributed to the positive financial impacts from tax reform," Warner said. "Additionally, Washington dysfunction almost seems to have become the status quo, so it isn’t having the same impact as it did initially."
Financing equipment is still a viable alternative to cash, even in this economy, he added.
Vendor relationships evolve
Asked how the process of developing a new vendor relationship has changed over the last decade, Warner said he doesn't think it has changed all that much.
When pitching a new vendor, the most important thing to determine is the maturity of the financing culture that exists in their sales process. Large, established manufacturers understand the benefits of offering financing at the point of sale, so finance companies must differentiate themselves with price, service levels, and training. When a newer, emerging manufacturer enters the market, the finance company must spend more time and resources helping to build the finance culture across their sales organization.
Asked his predictions for 2019, Warner described managed services financing as becoming increasingly prevalent in equipment finance markets.
Initially, it was thought that many manufacturers would fill this need by offering more rental options, he said.
"That has happened to some extent, but manufacturers selling product still want to recognize and record the initial sale, which is not possible when renting," Warner said. "Additionally, many manufacturers would prefer to receive the sale price up front rather than over time. It will be important for equipment finance companies to find the right balance of usage-based options while limiting their risk on equipment usage or essentiality."


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Shares of Starbucks (SBUX) dropped 9% today as investors digested the company’s disappointing update about its expected growth this quarter.
Specifically, management now expects just 1% growth in global same-store sales (locations open at least a year) in the current quarter, below prior expectations for 3% growth.
Additionally, Starbucks announced plans to “optimize” its U.S. store portfolio at an accelerated pace in its 2019 fiscal year. Management plans to close about 150 underperforming stores, which is up from a historical average of around 50 annually.
While 150 store closures represents only around 1% of the company’s total U.S. locations, it sends a signal that America’s coffeehouse market could be more saturated than investors previously believed. Perhaps increasing competition and a greater focus on healthier beverages is hurting Starbucks’ ability to sell many of its high-priced, calorie-heavy drinks.
If so, management could have to reduce its long-term sales and earnings growth targets, just like it did late last year. After all, the U.S. remains the firm’s most important market accounting for over half of total revenue, and sales growth has certainly cooled in recent quarters.
Adding to investors’ angst, same-store sales growth in China, a key long-term growth market that accounts for approximately 13% of company-wide sales today, is expected to be about flat this quarter, decelerating significantly from its 8% pace of growth just several quarters ago.
Management blamed the shift primarily on the acceleration of mobile ordering and third-party delivery services in China. Starbucks is working with a large tech company on a delivery partnership that it expects to be in place by the end of the calendar year.
The company’s outlook on profitability and revenue growth in China has not changed, and management still expects Starbucks to generate at least 20% revenue growth in China this year thanks to new store openings.
Clarity can be hard to achieve in these situations, and investors hate uncertainty – especially when it involves a growth stock with fairly high expectations. The “shoot first, ask questions later” approach tends to drive short-term performance as long-term growth expectations adjust.
Prior to the stock’s drop, shares of Starbucks traded at a forward P/E ratio of 22.1, well above the S&P 500’s multiple near 16.5. The stock’s premium valuation reflected investors’ expectations for strong and sustained long-term growth.
This week’s news clearly rattled the confidence behind Starbucks’ growth story. If Starbucks’ growth runway isn’t as long as investors thought, the stock no longer deserves such a rich multiple.
On the bright side, Starbucks is accelerating its return of cash to shareholders and announced a 20% increase to its regular quarterly dividend, marking its eighth annual increase. The stock’s forward dividend yield now sits at 2.8%, an all-time high.
Management also remains confident in their long-term growth targets of:
- 3% to 5% global same-store comps
- High single-digit revenue growth
- Double-digit earnings and free cash flow per share growth
So how should dividend growth investors handle Starbucks going forward? The bad news is that the stock still trades at a fairly lofty forward P/E ratio of 20.1, even after its large decline today.
If the company’s same-store sales growth cannot return to management’s long-term guidance, the stock’s valuation premium will likely continue to contract. Starbucks’ dividend will remain on solid ground and should be able to continue increasing, but it will take time for the stock to “grow into” its current multiple.
On the other hand, it is possible that the headwinds facing Starbucks are transitory in nature. From delivery issues in China to the company’s recent PR disaster in Philadelphia, there have been several challenges that seem unlikely to be remembered a year from now. Furthermore, the company continues making significant progress growing its number of digital relationships with customers, which is expected to strengthen its U.S. business over time.
If I held Starbucks as part of a well-diversified portfolio, I would stay the course. Volatility is to be expected with growth-focused companies and one or two quarters of deceleration doesn’t necessarily make a trend. However, given the stock’s still-steep forward P/E ratio near 20, I would prefer to have a more conservative position size.


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Patterns; By Woody Hochswender
Published: October 9, 1990
Some Aren't Crying
Name a fashion business that thrives when times are slow. (Hint: When it makes an entrance, Wagner is playing; as it exits, Mendelssohn.) You got it: the bridal business. Even in hard times, makers of wedding dresses can depend on a steady demand. In 1989, a rocky year for fashion, there were 2,404,000 marriages, the seventh greatest number in United States history, according to Government reports. That adds up to millions of high-ticket sales that don't require a lot of retail romancing.
Last year, the average wedding dress cost $794, not including veil, which cost about $170, according to a survey by Bride's Magazine. This is market week for New York's wedding suppliers, and the orders have been encouraging, they say.
''The bridal business is pretty much recession proof,'' said Vincent Piccione, the president of Alfred Angelo of New York, the largest bridal manufacturer in the country. ''In tough times, more people get married. Two can live better than one.''
Last year the company made more than 750,000 dresses, including bridesmaid dresses, which are half of all sales, and expects business to increase by 10 percent this year. Although the number of single women in this country has been declining, second marriages are increasing and formal weddings for such marriages are becoming more acceptable, Mr. Piccione said.
At Carolina Herrera, where wedding dresses cost $2,500 to $6,000, business is up about 30 percent. Stylewise, there's a movement away from ornate, beaded, body-hugging looks toward pretty, classical looks with full skirts, fitted bodices and sparing use of lace and beads.
''I don't like these very sexy gowns with decollete and masses of embroidery,'' Ms. Herrera said.
To Benefit AIDS
With Seventh Avenue gearing up for a huge AIDS benefit next month, European designers are contributing to another effort. Rifat Ozbek and Jean-Paul Gaultier have designed special lines whose profits will be donated to AIDS causes.
It's all part of ''Red Hot and Blue,'' a benefit that will include a record album and video of musicians singing Cole Porter tunes (for example, Sinead O'Connor sings ''You Do Something to Me,'' U2 renders ''Night and Day'' and David Byrne croons ''Don't Fence Me In).
Samples from the two designers were being shown to New York retailers last week by Anneliese Estrada, widow of the designer Angel Estrada. The sweatsuit styles in psychedelic and harlequin prints will be available in February.
The Mood Wasn't Woolly
It was a beautiful weekend, unless you happen to be in the coat business. The Columbus Day weekend is considered pivotal to outerwear manufacturers, who look to retailers to reorder, for November and December delivery, based on October sales.
The 80-degree weather, with potential shoppers wearing shorts and strolling outside in the sun, was the last thing they needed. Several of New York's large retailers had advertised their fall-winter coats last week. On Sunday you could send a bowling ball down the aisles and not hit a shopper.
What About 'Maybe'?
One can now purchase all kinds of fashions with a message, from Iraqi-made watches with portraits of Saddam Hussein to T-shirts that read, ''Nuke the Simpsons.'' But a pair of Joe Boxer pajamas sold in Bloomingdale's sends out ambiguous signals.
The cotton pj's have the word ''No!'' printed in black letters all over them. When you switch the lights off, they say ''Yes!''
At $42, they are perfect for those times when the lips say no but the eyes say yes, yes, yes.


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- August 16, 2017 / 2 min readThe group will also use the fund for the repayment of loans of the company and its subsidiaries.
Casual dining chain Barbeque Nation Hospitality Ltd has filed draft documents for an initial public offering (IPO) with Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).
The group is planning to raise about Rs 700 crore to expand the restaurant chain in India and global market.
Barbeque Nation files IPO papers to raise Rs 700 crore The IPO of company, which operates Barbeque Nation restaurants, comprises of a fresh issue of up to Rs 200 crore besides an offer for sale of up to 61.79 lakh equity shares by company’s promoters, including Aajv Investment Trust, Tamara, Azhar Dhanani, Kayum Dhanani, Sanya Dhanani and Sadiya Dhanani, according to a release issued by the company.
The group will also use the fund for the repayment of loans of the company and its subsidiaries. “The offer includes a reservation of up to 1.5 lakh equity shares, for subscription by eligible employees,” it added.
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Mrs Hinch gives cleaning tips for using 'Zoflora'
Briton's across the nation have been forced to take strict measures against the coronavirus crisis. To stop Covid-19 from mutating and spreading further, many have been forced into self-isolation, which has lead people into a stockpiling frenzy, leaving the cleaning sections of UK supermarkets bare. So, with many on the lookout for Mrs. Hinch's "must-have" cleaning essentials, where can you get them?
With Mrs. Hinch’s growing influence, many shoppers are turning to her for guidance on what essential cleaning products Britons might need amid the coronavirus pandemic, especially if a homeowner has to go into self-isolation.
Clearitwaste.co.uk has scoured UK supermarket website's to find Mrs Hinch's Must Have essential cleaning products and found THESE products still available at some of the UK's favourite supermarkets.
They identified the products below as Mrs Hinch's Must Have essential cleaning products - do you have them all?
Supermarkets stock Mrs Hinch's 'Must-Have' items amid coronavirus crisis - where to buy?
Mrs. Hinch's Must Have essential cleaning products
For the highest chance of bagging Mrs Hinch’s Must Have essential cleaning items, shoppers should head to B&M and Asda.
At the time considered, both stores stocked all but one product, hence stocking 25 out of the 26 items. Asda doesn’t currently have multipurpose spray (Dettol) and B&M is missing soda crystals.
In second place is Sainsbury’s. Stocking 23 out of 26 cleaning essentials, it currently doesn’t have white vinegar spray, multipurpose spray (Dettol) and fluffy dusters (Pledge) in stock.
Next is Waitrose with 22 out of 26 products in stock, followed by Tesco (21/26) and then Morrisons (18/26).
In last place is Aldi. The store famous for its cheaper alternatives doesn’t appear to be as prepared or well-stocked as its competitors. It is missing 18 out of 26 possible cleaning products. The only products it currently stocks are:


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San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 01, 2013
San Diegos favorite automotive company Cash for Cars Quick is busy posting new ads all over the internet with a sell my car fast in San Diego slogan. The company has been operating in the city for years and gives multiple quotes every day in San Diego. The campaign is just one of many improvements the company has been implementing to further dominate the San Diego automotive market. The city has many cash for cars companies in operation, but none that advertise as aggressively and efficiently as Cash for Cars Quick. The Nation estimates that 10 to 14 million vehicles are recycled each year, and with a large population this city contributes plenty to that figure. The company offers same day pick-up and they offer a no cost tow as well. The beat the competition by offering a price quote guarantee, and expert car and truck buyers are available 7 days a week 12 hours a day. Their customer car department can schedule all pick-ups based on the vehicle owners needs. The company also claims to pay the most cash for junk cars in San Diego also, saying that their Nationwide contracts with recycling companies all them to pay the most. To discover more about the company or to read more about their new campaign visit, http://www.sandiegocashforcarsquick.com
The automotive buyer picks up older cars and trucks and starts the recycling and disposal procedure. The process followed by Cash for Cars Quick and its affiliates are very different from the age old practices like land filling etc. Interestingly, only 25% of all parts in an a junk vehicle consist of non-recoverable wastes. The company works with recycling companies that not only recycle all recoverable materials, but they also follow all the advanced waste minimization procedures. The company tries to minimize any hazardous fluids or acids that may end up in the storm drains and eventually into the bays and ocean. Unlike, some of the other cash for cars San Diego operations, the company provides cash within hours of the initial phone quote. The car and truck owners can easily make anything between $ 150 and $ 2000, and even more by selling their broken-down or wrecked cars and trucks, To speak to a cash for car specialist call 888-728-7177
The San Diego office works with a SEO company to help with the sell my car fast in San Diego promotion pushing the message about the importance of utilizing a reputable cash for cars San Diego California Company if a vehicle owner is considering selling their car or truck. Cash for Cars Quick continues its online presence by offering an instant quote over the phone, and regularly posts auto recycling information on the company blog and social media pages. By utilizing a SEO company along with instant pricing the company hopes to attract more Southern California residents looking to sell their vehicle. To read more on the companys cash for cars San Diego CA Facebook page,https://www.facebook.com/CashForCarsSanDiego.
About the Company:
Cashforcarsquick.com is a growing cash for junk cars service that offers junk car recycling and that provides a high return to the car and truck owners in San Diego and throughout the United States. The company and its partners follow environmentally friendly disposal practices to safeguard the future of the planet. To learn more about the cash for car San Diego CA service visit the company website or call the corporate office.


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I Used To Scavenge For Food Now I Get £10k An Hour Says Dragons Den Star
A host of different grocery store tips make life onerous for these least capable of afford food. The Competition and Markets Authority recently identified several practices that it thinks are “problematic”, including complicated in-store advertising and missing pricing data. “If we purchase eggs which have come via the meals chain, from a reputable provider, and ultimately a good retailer, then we’ve a much larger expectation of very low risk of food poisoning,” he says. Here’s what meals security specialists want you to find out about meals poisoning. Many low-income households without a automotive depend upon smaller, local shops, but few of the supermarkets’ lowest-priced essentials are available there.
“There’s an infective course of and the salmonella has to contaminate the gut, grow to a stage the place it is affected your physique, and that is when you start to see signs,” he says. The suspected mushroom-poisoning deaths in Victoria of three individuals following a lunch has put a focus on the potential consequences of eating the mistaken thing. ‘Four companies, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Aldi, now management 66% of the market.’ A employee replenishes supplies at Sainsbury’s.
The coverage would have made meals waste reporting obligatory for giant and medium-sized businesses in England. According to analysis by the environmental campaign group Feedback, if it led to just a 1% discount in food waste, meals companies would save an estimated total of no much less than £24.4m a year. Supermarkets attempt to paint themselves as the consumer’s friend, however Food & Cooking News the figures don’t add up. In the monetary 12 months as a lot as 2022, the most important three retailers took £3.2bn in profit. As meals inflation kicked in, Tesco and Sainsbury’s made their biggest underlying earnings since 2014, and this year are passing on £1.2bn to their shareholders. Two-thirds of farmers who responded to the session also backed the introduction of necessary food waste reporting.
Food Waste: Are You Throwing Your Money In The Bin?
There was a smaller festival before, though, and Jeff Reser, mayor of Bucyrus, can recall it like yesterday. Foght handed the prized sausage sandwich to Hannah Feldman, the 2022 Bratwurst Festival Queen, to make sure the meal would pass her royal test. Tim Souder, assistant principal of Bucyrus High School, flips a row of sausages Thursday morning through the 2023 Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival. Some of the delicacies were served in buns, others on rye bread and some stuffed into pitas, however all had been welcome during the first day of the 2023 Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival.
That’s why there were one hundred twenty of them on one grill alone Thursday morning exterior the Bucyrus Boosters wagon. The historic legacy of the county’s namesake is remembered each summer throughout Living History Days, permitting town’s premiere festival the prospect to expand past one man to embrace the German heritage of the world’s earliest European settlers. Doug Foght runs the official first sausage of the yr to the stage Thursday morning during the opening ceremony for the 2023 Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival.
If you get meals poisoning from fried rice, he says it is probably you may discover pretty rapidly, as a result of a bug’s already grown and produced a toxin. Professor Cox, who’s also a director of the Food Safety Information Council, says for that reason, food poisoning may not at all times be a results of the final thing you ate. Julian Cox says food poisoning signs can take a while to point out up.
Although he dropped out of college on the age of 18, by his early twenties he turned his life around. DRAGON’S Den star Steven Bartlett admitted that he used to virtually scavenge for meals. © 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated corporations. Among these expressing disappointment with the scrapping of the law are the retailers Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado.
For many individuals, uncooked or undercooked meats like fish and rooster are sometimes synonymous with food poison. “Typically once we think of salmonella and E. coli and what we name infective pathogens, usually it is a quantity of days till we actually start to expertise signs and symptoms,” he says. In an business defined by centralisation, concentrated possession and world supply chains, things go wrong, typically, and the issue for us – the consumer, the consumer, the citizen – is our lack of any actual options. But life was not always easy for the TV character, and he used to shoplift pizzas and scavenge for leftover food in in takeaway outlets. “After a decade of failed voluntary reporting, it’s a dereliction of responsibility for the government to abandon this coverage,” he stated. Campaigners say that the decision by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to backtrack on the laws additionally dangers exacerbating environmental challenges.


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The Chicking outlet in Al Rigga, Dubai.
PHOTO BY SUPPLIED
DUBAI – Homegrown UAE fastfood chain Chicking is offering 15 percent discount on home deliveries in the UAE on Sunday (December 30).
The Sunday saver is in celebration of Chicking’s 150th outlet. Chicking recently opened its newest global outlet in Malaysia.
Customers can call 600595958 or order online on chickingdelivery.com to avail of the 15 percent discount on December 30.
Chicking is also running a grand draw for round-trip airline tickets to the Philippines for customers who buy the Dh20 Super Meal. More details here.
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HARVEY Nichols Christmas pop-up shop is set to return to Liverpool. But not to Liverpool One, its home for the past few years. This time it has a new home at Metquarter.
Opening next week the pop-up store will trade into the New Year and will be an "exciting addition to Metquarter over the Christmas period", it says here.
Shoppers can expect a wide variety of luxury gifts, food and hampers including the award-winning Harvey Nichols own label range.
Here in Liverpool, we like a luxury biscuit as much as anyone, as Iain Mackenzie, store director of Harvey Nichols Manchester, probably recognises.
“The Harvey Nichols Christmas pop-up has always been warmly welcomed in Liverpool," he said, "and we’re thrilled to be returning to such a vibrant city for the festive season. Our food and drink offering has a very loyal following in the region and our devoted customers eagerly anticipate our return. We’re looking forward to opening our doors this October in the heart of the city at Metquarter and celebrating our new retail position."


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Date Published: 05/22/2021
Paris, France May 25, 2021 – Akorbi Digital, a part of the Akorbi group of companies, announced today the successful acquisition of Fujitsu RunMyProcess (RMP), a French company owned by Fujitsu Limited. In a seamless transition, Akorbi Digital is maintaining the RunMyProcess brand, now powered by Akorbi Digital.
“Fujitsu welcomes this important milestone as Akorbi Digital prepares to take the RunMyProcess platform to the next level”, Takashi Fujiwara, SVP, Head of the Software Product Business Unit of Fujitsu Limited said, “Akorbi Digital will continue seamless service delivery to all current Fujitsu clients”.
RunMyProcess creates state-of-the-art automated workflows to integrate enterprise business applications at significantly reduced development time and increased efficiency. Along with innovative technology solutions, Akorbi Digital RMP brings with it the full capabilities of the Akorbi group of companies which includes comprehensive language, workforce, technology, and business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions. Together, the Akorbi and RunMyProcess teams will create and deliver enhanced language and digital capabilities to clients around the world with robust low-code applications and workflow automation.
When asked about the recent acquisition, co-owner Claudia Mirza said, “This is part of the Akorbi growth strategy – investing in technology and adding to the portfolio of digital solutions. This is how Akorbi Digital was born. Akorbi uses technology today, it’s always been at our core. This acquisition aligns well with what we do and strengthens the direction we are going”.


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The global recession isn’t just making jobs scarce and spending money tighter – it’s also turning more people into thieves. According to an annual survey released Tuesday, incidents of shoplifting rose by nearly 6% over the past year, representing nearly $115 billion in losses for businesses. And one of the more surprising findings: a growing number of new shoplifters are outwardly reputable, middle-class people who are walking off with French cheeses, quality meats, cosmetics, mobile phones, clothing and other goodies that they feel they need to maintain a quality of life they can no longer afford.
“People already feeling, or merely anticipating, the negative impact of recession have taken to stealing … at the very time retailers also suffering from the downturn have had to cut back on security staff,” says Joshua Bamfield, director of the Britain-based Center for Retail Research, which documented the findings in its annual Global Retail Theft Barometer. “In addition to the usual criminals, you have lots of newcomers to stealing who figure they don’t run much risk at getting caught, won’t pay much of a price if they are and justify their action on the hard times we’re all facing.”
The researchers found that shoplifting – or what’s euphemistically known as product “shrinkage” – jumped by 5.9% in the past year at the more than 1,000 retail chains the group surveyed globally. In previous years, the increase only hovered around 1.5% annually. Though the problem was documented across all regions, the steepest increases occurred in North America (8.1%), the Middle East (7.5%) and Europe (4.7%). In terms of total losses, retailers in North America topped the charts at $46 billion, followed by Europe’s $44 billion and $17.9 billion in the Asia-Pacific region. In North America and Latin America, store owners and employees were the leading pilferers; in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, it was customers who were swiping the most loot.
Though Bamfield says theft by organized criminals for the purposes of resale remains the biggest segment of shoplifting, there’s been a noticeable increase in the number of middle-class people stuffing their pockets – people who are not “stealing necessities to keep themselves and their families alive,” he adds. Worse still, more than a few of these individuals regard this kind of stealing in the current economic crisis as fully justified, as the researchers discovered through interviews with shoplifters and police.
“Though most thieves rationalize their acts, the current situation has many people feeling the entire system is broken, that politicians are too corrupt or inept to fix it, and that there’s nothing wrong with stealing from these big companies and fancy stores that – the thinking goes – are themselves making out like thieves,” Bamfield explains. “There’s a real perception among many new shoplifters that if you work hard, put money away and play the game, you’re asking for someone to come along and rip you off.”
Of course, the idea that shoplifting is a victimless crime is easier to believe when the prey involved is a faceless business – or better yet, an international retail chain. In reality, however, shoplifting comes back to bite all consumers in the billfold in the same way that higher plane tickets do when airlines face increasing gas prices. Anytime businesses have to absorb a cost, they pass it along to their clients in some form or another. Retailers make up the money lost to shoplifting by marking up the prices of their goods. According to the Center for Retail Research, this ended up costing each U.S. household $436 in the past year and each European household $250. So much for a victimless crime.
But don’t expect this to deter the world’s swelling ranks of shoplifters. Even if a return to economic growth and job production weakens the rationalization for stealing, Bamfield says many people will likely continue to shoplift out of habit – and because they’ve gotten away with it for so long. The only way to effectively combat these thieves, he notes, is for retailers to invest in better security and for authorities to treat shoplifting cases not as “individuals stealing $50, $100, $200 worth of goods,” but rather as something more serious – part of a $115 billion annual heist.


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NEW YORK — Aerin Lauder, who has been a high-profile face for the Estée Lauder brand as well as senior vice president and creative director for the division of the Estée Lauder Cos. Inc., is in the process of creating her own beauty line — fragrance and color cosmetics — under the name Aerin.
The brand is expected to be marketed by the Lauder division, as the exclusive beauty licensee of her new company, Aerin LLC. Details were still being worked out at press time.
A Stella McCartney sketch of a custom dress made from protein-based silk in partnership with biotech lab Bolt Threads. The dress will be displayed at The Museum of Modern Art's upcoming design exhibition, "Items: Is Fashion Modern?"


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The first catwalk show hosted by Roberto Cavalli since the departure of its CEO and CFO in January, with owner and Creative Director taking over all executives role, marked the grand opening of Roberto Cavalli largest global flagship store in Milan, on Via Montenapoleone. Watch the extravagant catwalk show here. Entitled ”Dance of Energy” the centrepiece of Roberto Cavalli’s Fall Winter 2014-15 catwalk was a giant circular fire, with models walking up at a fast pace around.
Located at 6, Via Montenapoleone the new Roberto Cavalli store in Milan is the largest store of the brand globally, being spread over 5 floors and featuring the entire Roberto Cavalli universe, including ready to wear, accessorie and home collections.
After the departure of its CEO and CFO in January, rumours have been intesifying of Roberto Cavalli selling a majority stake in his company. Labelux Group (Jimmy Choo, Bally, Belstaff etc), Qatar’s Mayhoola and Renzo Rossi (OTB/Diesel) are among the most likely contenders.
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images via Cosmopolitan
Last week, Time Inc. announced that they have acquired HelloGiggles, a web-only lifestyle blog and community for young women. Why? Because since its founding in 2011 by adorkable and influential “it” girl, Zooey Deschanel, the website exploded in popularity though its clever use of social media and digital influencer star power. In the time between then and now, the website has developed a active and devoted readership. Its success is profiled in Forbes’ 2011 article, “How Great Word of Mouth Went Above and Beyond for HelloGiggles.”
Time Inc. is undoubtedly an established and powerful organization, and HelloGiggles is certain to benefit from the established resources that the company offers. It’s not a one way street, though. By absorbing a young, tech-savvy organization like HelloGiggles, Time stands to draw in a whole range of advertisers who never would have purchased space in one of its print publications. Time will also bring on a slew of new, social-media-conscious employees. The purchase signifies Time’s embrace of fresh, new media and a desire to appeal to younger crowds. As AdExchanger puts it, Time Inc. “expects HelloGiggles to help infuse its other brands with knowledge about how to thrive in a digital world.”
HelloGiggles draws in 17 million unique visitors each month, up 12 million from last year. Three in four of those readers are women under 35, looking for news and lifestyle info written from perspectives similar to their own. While the old-school print publications that make up most of Time’s holdings are still important in today’s media landscape, they don’t reach nearly the types of audiences that they used to. We know that print consumption among Millennials is nearly non-existent, and that most of Generation Y gets its information digitally. It’s no surprise, then, that media companies—who rely heavily on brand sponsorships and advertising to generate revenue—would turn to successful websites like HelloGiggles to spearhead their digital operations.
The absorption of smaller, niche publications by huge media companies seems to be part of a larger, growing trend. Earlier this month, Conde Nast (owner of such prestigious magazines as VOGUE, New Yorker, Wired, GQ, et al.) acquired Pitchfork, the indie music review site. Millennials are a powerful demographic with ever-increasing buying power and the messagee is finally getting throug. With these mergers, media companies are finally taking the first steps toward marketing to Millennials on their own turf.
Investors put $1.2 million into the company and, though the terms of Time’s acquisition have not been released, LA Times projects that the deal may be worth over $30 million. The website, which is free to read and engage with, generates most of its revenue from ads. Digital pure-play sites like HelloGiggles have immense, untapped audiences for brands.
The Takeaway lesson:
Large publishers, brands, advertisers are marketing with influential blogs, social media influencers, and creating sponsored content to get in front of a new generation of consumers. Consider your own marketing strategy and how you could be reaching Millennials better.