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St. Patrick’s Day in America
Considered a pot of gold for business in US, the world wide celebration of the Patrick Carnival was definitely a big hit in America. People have attended to the countless “green” parties, held in different locations and triggering a divergent public.
There has been reported that more than 126 million Americans have plans to celebrate the Irish day. Spending approximately 38$ each, people are going to shell out over 4.5 billion dollars for the event. The expectations have gone up since 2014, when every individual spent only 35 dollars on the known affair. Making it to the end of the St. Patrick’s Day rainbow, U.S. News has announced the most important numbers from the holiday’s consumer spending pot of gold.
Bars and restaurants will be crowded by more than 37 million Americans looking to have a good time. Another 24 million are expected to animate private parties and general events on the theme. Over 103 million people are determined to wear green through the day. There are 33.3 million people who claim Irish heritage in the U.S. Despite the big number, they would only represent 26 percent of the celebrants; if all consider it is in their right to honor their ancestors.
The most festive age group is the 25 to 34 year-old people and they are the most keen ones to decorate their homes into a representative place for celebration. Fortunately, the most affordable card for St. Patrick’s day seems to be the 1$ one, found at Hallmark. Since the starting price to celebrate is considered cheap my most, throw in a green t-shirt and go party!


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Tokyo, March 2 (Jiji Press)–Many financial companies have stopped accepting orders for Russia-related financial instruments in Japan in line with international economic and financial sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Some investors are likely to incur losses as there are many products that cannot be sold immediately even if their prices fall sharply. The negative impact may spread further as the Russia-Ukraine crisis is likely to prolong.
From Tuesday, Daiwa Asset Management Co. stopped accepting buying and selling orders for Daiwa Russia Equity Fund. The product is touted as a way to invest in Russian companies expected to grow thanks to the country’s rich natural resources.
The fund’s net asset value per investment unit, however, has tumbled 60 pct since the beginning of the year.
With the Moscow Exchange closing stock trading, “we have no prospect for resumption” of transactions, a Daiwa Asset official said.
Daiwa Russia Equity Fund holders cannot even settle their unrealized losses.
Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. has stopped taking orders for Short-Term Russian Rubles Bond Open, a fund investing in Russian government bonds.
The company made the move Friday after the Japanese government banned the new issuance and transactions of new Russian sovereign debt in Japan.
“It’s extremely unusual for transactions to be halted due to a war,” a Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset official said. “It’s natural our customers get confused.”
The company will tell its customers as soon as it figures out when the trading can be resumed, the official added.
Since Thursday, Nomura Asset Management Co. has been suspending transactions of its exchange-traded fund linked to the Moscow Exchange’s key dollar-denominated RTS index.
On the currency market, the ruble has plunged mainly due to the expulsion of some Russian banks from the SWIFT global payment network and measures by Japan and some other countries to restrict the Russian central bank’s access to foreign exchange reserves. SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication.
Amid sharp fluctuations in the ruble, SBI Fxtrade Co. is halting new transactions in the currency from Monday. It is only accepting settlement orders.

domain: news


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Technology provider for the gaming and entertainment industry Win Systems announced Thursday the addition of Jerico Gilabert as Sales Manager for its Gaming Division for the Peruvian market. The move comes just a few weeks before Latin American key tradeshow Peru Gaming Show takes place on June 15-16.
Eric Benchimol, CEO of Win Systems, spoke of the importance that Peru has for the company due to the significant growth achieved in the country in recent years, something that they hope will be further strengthened with this appointment.
"Our goal is to ensure that Win Systems does not lose commercial dynamism and good business practices. Since Jerico joined as Sales Manager for the Gaming Division, we are convinced that our future in this important and strategic market will be even brighter, if possible,” the executive said.
Gilabert has extensive work experience, which began in premium customer service in the banking sector. Later, he moved on to the commercial area in the technology sector, and quickly to the gaming and entertainment industry.
In a press release, the company stated that based on his knowledge of the sector in Peru and his close relationship with customers, he has the objective of further "consolidating and strengthening the presence of Win Systems’ electronic roulettes and gaming machines in the Peruvian market."
Unbeatable debut on the French market for the Huo Long roulette from Win Systemshttps://t.co/TPXP6mjkj3— Win Systems (@Win_Systems) May 3, 2022
Inmejorable debut en el mercado francés de la ruleta Huo Long de Win Systemshttps://t.co/qXNH0q5avF#WinSystems #ElectronicRoulette #ReadyToWin pic.twitter.com/EDS0JeHEeF
The Huo Long roulette has recently been launched by Win as part of its strategy "to excel in the market of electronic roulettes" with the Gold Club line, and includes the usual 36 numbers plus zero with a layout with the shape of an eight (a number linked to fortune in the Chinese tradition).
The product allows the player to bet on groups of numbers based on elements of ancient Chinese culture, a press release explains. The supplier is planning new installations of its Gold Club roulettes in the French market soon.


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Hotels put green into greening effort
TARRYTOWN - Steve Sackman knew it would be a major undertaking to replace more than 5,000 light bulbs at the 212-room hotel.
Yet the upscale Tarrytown House Estate & Conference Center expects a major payoff in lower utility bills as a result of the investment. The new compact fluorescent bulbs installed in the guest rooms, hallways, conference rooms and the lobby last 10 times longer and use far less energy than conventional light bulbs. Sackman said it is good news for the environment because each new bulb will save about 450 pounds of power-plant emissions over its lifetime.
"It is the right thing to do from a standpoint of cost savings and being a more profitable organization," said Sackman, the regional director of sales and marketing at Tarrytown House. "But it also is about being a socially and environmentally responsible organization. That is certainly at the front of everyone's mind right now."
Tarrytown House joins growing numbers of hotels nationally in going green during an age of rising public concerns about the environment and global warming.
Seventy-three percent of guests indicate they will participate in green programs if they are aware that the hotel offers them, according to a recent survey by J.D. Power and Associates.
More than 300 hotels around the country are now certified as "green" by state lodging programs, according to Green Lodging News, an online news site. "Offering green programs is a win-win situation for both hotel guests and hotel operators," said Linda Hirneise, executive director of the travel practice at J.D. Power and Associates in Westlake Village, Calif. "Guests are increasingly looking for these types of offerings, and hotels are finding that going green actually saves money."
The Westchester Marriott, a 444-room hotel in Tarrytown, has taken a variety of steps to save energy. In addition to efficient light bulbs, those initiatives include controls on boilers and thermostats. The hotel has cut water usage by limiting use of outdoor sprinklers and replacing showerheads. It also has installed toilets and faucets that use less water.
Environmental initiatives also are a growing priority at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., the White Plains-based operator of more than 800 hotels worldwide.
Element Hotels, the company's new extended-stay brand, said that the hotels would be built from eco-friendly materials such as carpets with recycled fibers and walls partly made from recycled tires. Low-flow sink faucets and dual flush toilets will save an estimated 4,358.6 gallons of water per room each year, Starwood said. Shampoo and conditioner dispensers will eliminate the need for plastic bottles in the bathrooms. Each room will also include a recycling bin.
The first Element hotel is expected to open next year in Lexington, Mass. Additional hotels are expected to debut around the country in 2008 and 2009.
"When you look at the demographics of who our products appeal to, including Generation X and Generation Y, they want products that carry a sense of social responsibility," said Nicholas Lakas, director of Element Hotels.
The focal points of the Tarrytown House Estate & Conference Center are two mansions that date to the 19th century. On a recent hot, humid morning, work crews were at one of the mansions to install new air conditioners that use 30 percent less energy than older units in guest rooms dating to the 1970s. Another recent project involved the installation of motion-sensitive thermostats in guest rooms.
"Let's say you like your room freezing cold and you turn the thermostat way down to pump out the air conditioning," Sackman said. "But let's say that at about eight o'clock, you go out to breakfast and a meeting and don't come back to the room until five or six o'clock at night. Traditionally, at a hotel, the air conditioning would have kept churning all day, cooling no one. These new (thermostats) are motion sensitive. After a certain amount of time with no one being in the guest room, it returns the thermostat to an energy-efficient setting."
During the past 18 months, the Tarrytown House Estate & Conference Center has invested $100,000 in energy efficiency projects.
Other initiatives have involved collecting wastepaper from meetings, shredding it and recycling it; designing notepads with fewer pages to cut the number of blank pages that are thrown away; and installing water coolers outside meeting rooms for refills, rather than using new bottles of water.
The hotel also tries to buy as much food as possible from local farmers and vendors. Executive chef Paul Sant even grows some herbs himself in a garden on the 26-acre site.
"From an environmental standpoint, it is much a smaller carbon footprint working with local purveyors than shipping things from all over the country or the world," Sackman said.
The hotel's environmental sensitivity was welcome news for Steve Johnson, an Australian manufacturing executive who attended a three-day business conference last week.
"I was aware that they were trying to use less water and detergents in washing linens and towels," Johnson said. "That is quite obvious when you are in the room. I think in large establishments like this, low-energy light bulbs, better control systems for air-conditioning units and other types of initiatives are important."
By JAY LOOMIS
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: July 31, 2007)


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Media invention company and podcast creator WaitWhat raises $4m Series A
This article is at least a year old
New York NY, USA—WaitWhat, the media invention company founded by former TED executives June Cohen and Deron Triff, and the team behind the 2018 Webby Award- winning podcast Masters of Scale — announced today that it has raised $4m in Series A funding. This latest round coincides with the launch of the company’s latest media property, Should This Exist? which aims to answer the question: What is technology doing to our humanity?
Ms. Cohen and Mr. Triff, whose combined leadership built TED Talks from a concept to 1 billion views/listens each year, quietly launched WaitWhat in January 2017 as a media invention company that would create its own portfolio of boundary-breaking properties. Where most media companies focus on a specific genre, format or demographic, WaitWhat is betting on a strategy aimed at creating premium quality, original media experiences that can scale horizontally across multiple formats and mediums.
“While some media companies think narrowly about the demographics of their audience, we think about how we want our audience to feel,” said WaitWhat Co-founder and CEO June Cohen. “In everything we create, we aim to evoke ‘contagious emotions’ — awe, wonder, curiosity and mastery. Those emotions open up a sense of possibility — and that’s the world we want to live in. They also make people want to share the content.”
In May 2017, WaitWhat launched Masters of Scale as its prototype for a completely original, media format, born as a podcast, and evolving into other formats that expand how audiences access each episode’s timeless content. With guests like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, NetFlix’s Reed Hastings, Spotify’s Daniel Ek, Starbucks’ Howard Schultz and Nike’s Phil Knight; 15+ million downloads in more than 200 countries; 2,500 5-star reviews on Apple Podcasts; and a listen-through rate of nearly 90%, Masters of Scale has become one of the most prestigious media properties in the world of business.
In January 2019, WaitWhat began to re-imagine form factors for Masters of Scale and forged a partnership with Harvard Business Publishing. The organizations have created an offering of “Podcases,” which adapt Masters of Scale content into an audio-first version of Harvard’s world- renowned business cases. The first 3 Masters of Scale Podcases are now being licensed to universities around the world.
“In creating the TED Radio Hour and other media innovations during my time at TED, I fell in love with the idea of completely rethinking format. The initial body of content is the ‘first format,” and it acts as a precursor to what ultimately becomes an entire eco-system of media products and experiences surrounding it,” says Deron Triff, Co-founder of WaitWhat. “When June and I think about growth, we think horizontally, not just vertically. With this raise, we’re able to build the kind of team that will continually invent both new properties and format extensions.”
WaitWhat continues to expand: Today, the company launched Should This Exist?, a podcast created in partnership with Quartz, and hosted by Caterina Fake, the Silicon Valley investor and Internet pioneer who’s known as an eloquent dot-connector on technology and the human condition. In each episode, an entrepreneur or scientist with a radical new technology joins Caterina on a journey to peer around corners, and glimpse their technology’s wildest potential to
change human lives for the better — and the hidden forces that might send their vision sideways.
WaitWhat is in stealth mode on two new properties slated for later this year, in partnership with other world-class organizations. In addition, the company will soon announce extensions for both Masters of Scale and Should this Exist? that will extend each property’s relevance beyond the world of podcasting.
In identifying potential investors for WaitWhat, Ms. Cohen and Mr. Triff sought out a diverse, gender-balanced group of backers who think boldly about reinventing media, understand the advantages of building gender-balanced and ethnically diverse teams, and believe in the long- term value of creating premium media properties.
Cue Ball and Burda Principal Investments led WaitWhat’s Series A around. Other investors include Reid Hoffman, Jacki Zehner, Joi Ito, Julia Popowitz, Roy Martin, Julia Popowitz, Will Allen, Maria Thomas, Joshua Schacter, Ann Lovell, Scott Green, and Taryn Fixel. The company has set aside an additional $1.5 million dollars for a “second closing,” specifically for women and minority led investment funds. Victress Capital in Boston will be making the first investment in the second closing.
WaitWhat — founded by former TED executives June Cohen and Deron Triff — is a media invention company that invests in, develops, produces and distributes wholly-owned media properties with the specific purpose of creating new genres, categories and formats of content that scale. WaitWhat creates and owns the Webby award-winning Masters of Scale podcast — hosted by LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Should this Exist? a new property hosted by Caterina Fake that will unpack what technology is doing for us and to us. The company is founded upon a culture of possibility-thinking, courageous experimentation, originality, integrity and diversity.
About Cue Ball
Cue Ball is a venture capital firm built on a distinct, human capital-centric philosophy. Our mantra is manifest in our unique investor base, the entrepreneurs we back, and our General Partners, who have all been successful business-builders. We seek that rare intersection of extraordinary people, pioneering ideas, and sound business fundamentals. We partner in areas where we hold differentiated experience, sense a cultural simpatico and see a clear opportunity for value-add. We are committed to working tirelessly with such entrepreneurs as we join them in the next chapter of their stories.
About Burda Principal Investments
Burda Principal Investments, a division of Hubert Burda Media, provides long term growth equity for fast growing digital technology companies including marketplaces, direct-to-consumer and digital networks. BPI is a partner for visionary entrepreneurs and internet-centric businesses, leveraging Burda’s capital, brands and sector expertise, particularly in the areas of business expansion, internationalization and localization. BPI has invested in a portfolio of highly successful consumer internet companies in Europe, the U.S. and Asia. Examples include Etsy, Baublebar, M.Gemi, Notonthehighstreet, Vinted, nebenan.de or Zilingo.
This is a press release from MCP Strategies which we link to from Podnews, our daily newsletter about podcasting and on-demand. This is reprinted verbatim; we may rewrite headlines and descriptions.


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Derek Brink was thinking about where he would put his hope when it comes to data security.
It wouldn’t be with end users and customers, the Aberdeen Group analyst said, and most enterprises are thinking about growing their businesses and profits and want to ensure that complex security products don’t interfere with those efforts. Where Brink is putting his hope is with the vendors, who have the financial and competitive motivation to drive innovation, and the engineers and technical capabilities to make it happen.
And they have a broad view of what’s happening in the security segment in particular and in the industry as a whole.
“They have the data,” Brink said.
The analyst’s comments came at the tail end of a recent far-reaching, 90-minute discussion about security—from the importance of awareness and education among end users and the at-times overwhelming number of threats facing the industry to the desire to go on the offensive against hackers, the need to move beyond passwords and the security challenges presented by the rapidly growing numbers of connected devices that make up the Internet of things (IoT).
More than a dozen analysts, journalists, end users and Dell officials met in a conference room in Boston this week to talk about security, part of Dell’s ongoing 1-5-10 Series of discussions that touch upon key issues within the tech industry now and a decade down the road. This was the second such meeting regarding security.
An array of opinions and ideas were tossed around, but a thread that ran throughout the discussion was that while other actors—such as users and businesses—play key roles in combating the increasingly aggressive and sophisticated cyber-criminals who are taking aim at their data, ultimately the responsibility lies with vendors like Dell to ensure the tools are there to address the rapidly changing security challenges.
One thing that was made clear is that users—those people who unwisely open the email attachment or click on the wrong URL—should no longer be used as the scapegoat, to be viewed as the weakest link in the chain. It’s incumbent on vendors to make security technology less complex and easier to use.
“The user is not the enemy,” said Carrie Gates, senior distinguished engineer and chief scientist for Dell Research, adding that if users do something wrong, it can be seen as an indication that vendors have not done enough to give them the kinds of tools they can easily use. “How do we do security without looking at the users like they’re the enemy?”
Businesses themselves are looking for help when it comes to security. The top technology concern among smaller businesses is security, and a key challenge is finding the products that would work best for them, SMB Group analyst Laurie McCabe said. Brett Hansen, executive director of end user computing software product marketing for Dell Endpoint Security, said he hears the same things from Dell customers.
“We know it’s a priority,” Hansen said customers will tell him. “So what do we do now?”
Dell officials said they understand that security ultimately starts with the vendors, and that they have multiple projects under way to make security easier, more intuitive and more suitable for the current IT landscape. The company over the last several years has aggressively built up its security capabilities—through acquisitions (like SecureWorks, SonicWall and Quest) and internal development—as part of its larger transition from a PC box maker to an enterprise IT solutions and services provider.
End Users Not the Enemy When It Comes to Security
Hansen noted that Dell tries to put as much integrated security—such as 256-bit encryption—into its PCs before they ship. And researchers at the company are looking at what they can develop for a world of mobile devices and clouds. The “old security paradigm” of protecting the data that is stored within a customer’s firewall no longer works given that data is constantly moving in and out of a company’s environment and from one mobile device to another, he said.
“What we have to recognize is that the world is changing, and it’s changing very, very fast,” Hansen said, adding that the emphasis for security is expanding beyond securing the devices to include securing the data itself.
Dell researchers for the past year have been working on a technology that would embed intelligence and policies into the data, enabling it to know what it is, on what device it’s sitting and who is trying to access it, and then to act accordingly. The data would be self-protected, with the security traveling with it regardless of where it is going or what device it’s on.
Hansen told eWEEK that the technology could begin appearing within the next calendar year.
Dell’s Gates said there are other projects that researchers are working on. One is looking into how the way a person uses his or her device can be used as an identifier. People’s type and swipe patterns on keyboards and device displays can vary from user to user, so they possibly could be used to identify users and determine access, she said.
Analytics also will play a role, according to Don Ferguson, a Dell Senior Fellow, vice president and CTO of the Dell Software Group. Businesses can collect a lot of information about what’s happening in their environments, and analytics can help unlock what that data means, Ferguson said.
“If analytics detect what’s unusual, because it’s unusual, it’s probably a security issue,” he said.


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Listowel Crabby Joe’s Set To Host Annual Christmas Day Dinner
Christmas Day just wouldn’t be the same for many without the traditional Christmas Dinner and every year, one Listowel based business owner goes out of his way to make that a reality for those who might miss out.
Now in his 10th year, Dean Darrah will once again host a free Christmas Dinner at his Crabby Joe’s restaurant in downtown Listowel and the best part is, it’s open to everyone and anyone.
The traditional yuletide meal comes complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables and all the trimmings and Darrah makes sure that he cooks enough for at least 100 people.
“We make lots [of food] probably for about a hundred and if there’s any extras we send it out to shelters. We just make tons and if it’s left we make sure it finds a home,” says Darrah.
The door is open to anyone who wants to volunteer their time and help out and in past years, there’s been been no shortage of help or participation in the event.
“We have lots of room for volunteers, I always encourage people to come out, you know, it’s a good feel,” adds Darrah.
The Annual Crabby Joe’s Christmas Dinner runs from 1pm until 3pm on Christmas Day (December 25th, 2016) at Crabby Joe’s in Listowel (110 Main St., Listowel, ON).
The dinner has become such a tradition that Darrah even brings his whole family down to take part in the 2 hour event.
And the best part is, the smiles on people’s faces at Christmas time.
For more information, call (519) 291-1010.


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Does barbie make girls want to be thin the effect of experimental even if dolls cease to function as aspirational role models for older girls, early exposure to . “as a brand that inspires the limitless potential in girls, barbie will be honoring its largest line up of role models timed to international women’s day, because we know that you can’t be . Read time’s cover story on mattel’s radical makeover of an american icon the first thing mazzocco did in that role was survey barbie’s haters barbie had careers at a time when . Barbie recognizes all female role models the inspiring women series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time courageous women who took risks, changed rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before. We all loved our barbies, right well, now barbie is giving us reason to love them even more with some amazing dolls to add to our collection just in time for international women’s day (march 8th), barbie has released some inspirational, new role model dolls.
Barbie celebrates all role models, big and small, that inspire girls to dream big amelia became the sixteenth woman to receive a the report laid out . Barbie is marking international women's day with a new line of role model dolls, from aviator amelia earhart to katherine johnson, the barrier-breaking nasa mathematician. Barbie was a single woman, not a mother, designed to give them another idea of what their futures might look like handler designed a career barbie line in the 1960s, which was in itself .
Unlike most editing & proofreading services, we edit for everything: grammar, spelling, punctuation, idea flow, sentence structure, & more get started now. But move over, computer engineer barbie—today we have home-grown role models here are the women who are making waves even as they champion others to charge into the tech industry reshma saujani , new york. In honor of international women's day barbie is honoring 17 accomplished role models from different backgrounds and fields with their own dolls though the 14 modern-day role model dolls are . Barbie is marking international women's day, which is march 18, by honouring some of the inspiring women of the past and present the brand has chosen 17 modern-day and historic role models to .
The case of amelia earhart “has been cracked,” according to a new report meanwhile, barbie also recently announced a doll in honor of the late american aviator the daily mail reported on wednesday that found bones from nearly 80 years ago are now said to be a 99 percent match for amelia . Marilyn monroe died 50 years agobut she is as much a role model to cutting-edge young women today as she was in 1962 the world said goodbye to marilyn on aug 5 of that year, after she was found . The new full-frontal: has pubic hair in america gone extinct she's both a role model and a sex symbol schick found in a recent study that nearly 60 percent of american women between 18 . “we are thrilled to shine a light on real-life role models to remind them that they can be anything,” lisa mcknight, senior vice president and general manager for the barbie line at mattel . Explore this list, full list: barbie role model dolls for 2018 (new), on peoplemaven peoplemaven lets you discover and save amazing people.
Barbie releases inspiring role model dolls in honor of international women’s day barbie and her pals have become women of the 21st century and we’re so here . Voices mattel unveiled 'role model' barbies for international women's day and i've never felt less inspired if we take away their muscles, their body hair, their natural proportions and their . Media caption nicola is one of 14 role models to be selected to join barbie's 'shero' range boxer nicola adams has been turned into a barbie doll ahead of international women's day later this week.
“being able to provide this variety, this diversity of powerful women and important role models, kahn contrasted barbie with american girl, a direct-line product introduced in 1986 by a . Some writers, feminists and psychologists think barbie is a positive role model and a healthy image for young girls to have for example, deb mehecke writer of the article rethinking barbie, explains that barbie gives children a chance to use their imaginations and the opportunity to mother something .
By examining the influence of role models, role models in the community, and role models in the media, we will be able to determine the true effect that role models have on the lives of youth [tags: a role model's impact on youth]. Middle eastern dolls are role models for arab the popular american barbie doll in the a woman’s beauty is public women are encouraged to make. Eeo public file report inspiring dolls, new collection, international women's month - barbie unveiling 'role model' collection for international women's day - 13 . Mattel, the maker of barbie, conducted a survey of some 8,000 moms worldwide, only to discover that 86 percent were worried about the role models their daughters were exposed to the inspiring women dolls apparently come with educational information about the contributions these powerful, fearless women made to society.


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'Overwatch' Update: Blizzard Reveals Season 4 End Date, Hints Season 5's Release
The current season of Overwatch competitive is nearing its end, with players wondering what sort of things the next season will bring. Nevertheless, the exact date and time the fourth season will end have finally been revealed. It should give fans enough time to keep things going in the current season.
According to the official forum site of Overwatch, the fourth season is expected to end come May 28 at 8 PM ET. It was the principal designer of the game named Scott Mercer who announced the official date and time. Interestingly, he got some news that will definitely interest most of the fans of the titular shooter game.
Mercer iterated that unlike before, the window between each season from here on will be shorter. He is basically referring to the off-season, which happens before a new season arrives. He also added that Blizzard is working on a timer that will help players know the end times of the current season.
As of this writing, it remains a mystery as to when the fifth season of Overwatch Competitive Play will happen. However, game director Jeff Kaplan mentioned in the past that they plan to unleash it sometime in early June, as reported by PVPLive. However, of course, until this is officially announced, it should still be taken with a grain of salt.
Forbes, on the other hand, reports that it is probably time for Blizzard to introduce some brand new permanent items to Overwatch. The publication is referring to a supposed event, which is believed to run until June 5. Hence, if this is true, then it should start a week from this time of writing.
The idea is for the video game company to bring permanent items to the Overwatch loot pool. These are items that do not stop spawning from loot boxes soon after a select period ends. Think about the skins, which are removed soon after an event ends. Perhaps Blizzard can do something about them and make them available even in new events.
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With all eyes constantly concentrated on China, it’s necessary to know what’s going on in the powerhouse Asian nation that still commands the majority of the world’s sourcing.
The latest? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised China’s growth forecast for 2016, profit growth from industrial operations has slowed and retail sales are slated to double over the next three years.
What’s happening with China’s economy
Despite forecasting global growth down to 3.1% from April’s 3.2% projection, the IMF raised China’s economic growth forecast 0.1% to 6.6% for 2016.
“We have witnessed the determined and decisive implementation of reforms, and there was also support given to the economy in order to encourage growth,” IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said.
China’s GDO rose 6.7% in the first half of the year, stable—and notable—growth compared to other global economies. That growth, according to the Chinese government, comes from upgrades to the country’s economic structure and stable employment. Domestic demand and consumption have increased, too, further fueling economic development.
Though positives are apparent, China’s transition to greater growth will still take some time.
“In the second half, the world economy will still see sluggish growth. There will be pressures from economic downturn for the Chinese economy and more dilemmas in macro policies,” the government noted on its website.
What’s happening with China’s manufacturing
Growth in profits from China’s major industrial firms rose 6.2% year-over-year in the first half of 2016, slowing from a 6.4% increase in the first five months of the year.
June saw an uptick to 5.1% profit growth compared to May’s lower 3.7% due to increased sales, a milder decline in factory prices, lower business costs and destocking, the government noted on its website.
The outlook for manufacturing, however, is still bleaker that it has been in four months.
The government’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), an indication of economic activity in the country, came in at 50 (bang on the line between expansion and contraction). The number was down from May’s 50.1 and the weakest it’s been since February’s 49.
Economic conditions were weaker in the second quarter of the year than the first, indicating that downward pressure on growth isn’t easing.
In response, Chinese premier Li Keqiang has said China is transforming its manufacturing sector by incorporating the latest technology, like cloud computing and big data, and shifting to accommodate more market demands like customization.
The premier also said the country will continue to open its service and general manufacturing sectors, keep its currency stable and treat both local and foreign businesses equally.
“Manufacturing is the foundation of China’s development and the key for China’s manufacturing sector is to move up the value chain,” Xinhua reported Li Keqiang as saying.
What’s happening with retail in China
Between brick and click, China is banking on the latter when it comes to retail.
Online shoppers in China are expected to grow to more than 40 percent of the total population by 2018, or 587 million people, and online retail sales are expected to double from their current level.
Last year, China’s e-commerce sales grew 39 percent over the prior year to 3.9 trillion yuan ($580 billion), or 13 percent of total retail sales, compared to 10.6% of total sales in 2014 and 8.1% of total sales in 2013, the South China Morning Post reported. In 2015, U.S. online sales reached $342 billion, or just over 7 percent of total retail sales.
“This era is witnessing speedy application of new technology and vigorous cross sector M&A to facilitate e-commerce penetration,” Jessie Guo said in a Jeffries Group research note. “China’s e-commerce is the sweet spot of retail.”


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This article is part of a series by Inc42 that will bring to the fore the voices of key stakeholders to help you cut through the noise and decode the Indian Startup Ecosystem. As part of this effort, Inc42 is also hosting The Ecosystem Summit — an invite-only summit curated to bring together an unparalleled group of CEOs, founders, investors, and industry experts — on November 16.
Most readers of this article are likely to be living in metro cities or in the ever-expanding IT hubs of India. Many others who live in Tier II or Tier III cities might be open to moving to other cities seeking better opportunities without giving it much thought.
Young India is mobile and, thanks to easy access to the Internet, young India is also aspirational.
The Economic Survey of India 2017 estimates that the magnitude of inter-state migration in India was close to 9 Mn annually between 2011 and 2016.
If you are an Internet company in India wanting to make your millions and, thereafter, billions, then this is the code you need to crack — how do you fulfill the global aspirations of Indians, considering that at $1820, the country’s per capita annual income is ranked at 144 out of 189 countries as rated by the World Bank.
This is the mythical Hanging Gardens of Babylon that Indian startups are looking high and low for, and among them is Geetansh Bamania, CEO of online rental and financing marketplace RentoMojo. When it comes to new-age customers and the rise of the rental economy, Bamania may know a thing or two.
For starters, Bamania prefers not to use the word ‘rental’ and instead uses the word ‘subscription’ and always makes it a point to draw out the distinction.
“I find ourselves to be more a part of a subscription-based economy and not just a sharing economy… we are seeing an adoption of subscription services all around us with Flipkart Plus and Amazon Prime, Ola Select, Swiggy Pop, HealthifyMe, Cult, all of these platforms are evangelising subscription as a commerce and that is a better way to go about it in my opinion,” Bamania said.
According to the IIT-Madras alumnus, one of the bigger difficulties for businesses especially such as his is the marketing budgets, wherein one is supposed to reacquire a consumer over and over again. Keeping this in mind, most services and product classes in the future will shift to the subscription model, the wheels of which are already in motion.
”Rather than we acquiring more and more consumers, I would rather focus on consumers who subscribe to me for the longer term,” Bamania said.
So how has the Indian consumer evolved over the years along with the Indian startup ecosystem?
From the mid-nineties till the first few years after 2000, consumers were fixated with owning houses and cars. Indians took on big loans for homes and vehicles. Now, however, consumers don’t want to get stuck with long-running loans that restrict mobility and expendable income. More and more people are moving to a rental apartment, car-pooling etc, Bamania said.
According to the RentoMojo chief, the psychology of today’s consumers is that they want the products but not the hassles of maintenance and depreciation that come along with ownership. The same goes for furniture, phones, and appliances, where consumers are gradually moving from owning to leasing.Order The Report Now
The Power Of Sharing
In the past few years, ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber have introduced the country to the concept of a sharing economy, which has replaced the need to own cars for travel. Now, slowly and steadily, companies like RentoMojo, Zefo and Furlenco are piggybacking on this change in mindset.
RentoMojo, which leases out furniture, electronics, and bikes, is not only trying to redefine the way people consume products and services but is an early mover in reaping the benefits of deep tech.
RentoMojo is one of the first companies in its sector to use machine learning (ML) to analyse the credit profiles of its customers.
“We are using machine learning to evaluate consumers but one thing to keep in mind is that different companies have different ways to evaluate consumers. For example, a lending company might check the probability of a consumer to default on a payment, we, on the other hand, use a combination of close to 100 plus variables as metrics,” said Bamania.
Along with easy EMIs, rental and subscription services are offering more products from couhes to TVs that customers can easily subscribe to but could this lead to excess consumption and with it bring its own set of challenges ?
Bamania disagrees with the notion of excess consumption and believes the values vary from customer to customer.
“We are creating deltas (bond between the company and customers) from the perspective of creating affordability. This is why we are seeing the latest smartphones, which are more economical, finding more value and getting more retention than expensive ones, from a market share-data perspective,” he said.
So, the question is whether the consumer is spending more or less. “I think it’s going to be a function of spending online versus offline, wherever he or she finds the delta,” said Bamania.
The Convenience Ecosystem
According to Ernst and Young (EY), a common myth associated with the sharing economy is that it will replace ownership of assets. But considering the already-low ownership of personal assets in India, consumers will continue to buy new products, and this will happen alongside the growing middle-class population. The sharing economy will ensure improved utilisation of these assets.
“Currently, a majority of the lending industry is horizontal, however in the near future, it will move to become vertical. Considering this, we will see the emergence of a lot of vertical lending platforms providing services like sports loans, medical loans and so on,” said Bamania.
Along with this, he believes we will see more algorithms tailor-made for specific use cases instead of generic ones — for example, an algorithm that will be only used to assess customers who are applying for a sports loan. “Subscription is going to be the underlying thesis across all new-age businesses,” he concluded.Order The Report Now


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New Zealand’s March food prices rose 1.2 percent versus the same month a year earlier, pushed higher by grocery foods, non-alcoholic beverages and restaurant and ready-to-eat food.
Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 0.9 percent on the year while restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices lifted 2.9 percent, Statistics NZ said. Grocery food prices lifted 1.4 percent and non-alcoholic beverages were up 2.1 percent.
Fruit and vegetable prices, however, fell 2.6 percent.
The 1.2 percent annual rise followed a 1.7 percent annual rise in February, which was the highest since April 2018 when food prices rose 2.3 percent on the year.
Food prices lifted 0.5 percent in March from February but were flat after seasonal adjustment. The monthly rise was largely due to a 3.7 percent lift in fruit and vegetable prices. According to Stats NZ, avocado prices more than doubled in March compared with February 2019.
“Avocado prices usually rise early in the year, and reach their highest levels around June,” consumer prices manager Gael Price said. “However, this March’s increase was much bigger than usual. Avocado prices were $4.29 per 200g avocado, up from $3.12 per 200g in March 2018.”
Tomatoes cost an average of $5.20 a kilo in March 2019, 44 percent higher than in February 2019.
The food price index accounts for about a fifth of the consumers price index, which the Reserve Bank uses to pursue its inflation target when setting interest rates.
The central bank kept rates on hold at 1.75 percent at the most recent meeting and surprised markets when it changed its language to say the next move was likely to be a rate cut. Next Wednesday’s CPI data for the March quarter will be closely watched for any further direction.
The central bank has a mandate to keep inflation in a 1 percent to 3 percent range over the medium term with a focus on the mid-point. December quarter annual inflation was 1.9 percent.


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It’s been rumored since back in spring this year that Apple would launch their first Mini-LED iPad in 2021, and it’s been believed to be some version of the iPad Pro 12.9.
Since then there’s been a flurry of reports on future iPads, including a very credible leak that Apple will in fact transition over to OLED displays altogether from 2022.
But despite that, it’s once again been reported that Apple is still on track to launch a Mini-LED iPad Pro, and according to industry news , this new iPad is strongly believed to launch in the first quarter of 2021.
It’s previously been estimated that this Mini-LED iPad Pro 12.9 will launch with an Apple A14X chipset. What other specs we might be able to expect has not been leaked yet. But if we speculate, then the introduction of 5G on an iPad is one possibility.
Very particular digitizer features is another option, since the iPad Pro 12.9 tablets that have been launched so far have become something of a darling among people working with graphics in the movie industry and related workplaces.
LG Display has been rumored to be Apple’s supplier of the Mini-LED display for the next iPad Pro 12.9.
The first Mini-LED laptops started launching in April last year, but they have not generated any form of notable fan base yet simply because of the display technology.
– Tom Bowen


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Today Bandai Namco released a large batch of 1080p screenshots of the upcoming fighting game by Arc System Works Dragon Ball FighterZ.
The screenshots showcase a mix of cutscenes and gameplay, including quite a few looks at the newly announced characters Goku Black, Beerus and Hit. They all look like they could be coming straight from one of the anime series, but that’s Arc System Works for you.
On top of the screenshots, we also get the dates and precise timeframes for the open beta, that will come in January. It will include an early access period for those who pre-ordered the game before the floodgates open for everyone.
|Session||Start Date/Time (JST)||End Date/Time (JST)||Start date CET||End Day CET|
|Only Pre-Order users access gameplay||Saturday 13th at 17:00||Sunday 14th at 16:59||Saturday 13th at 9:00 CET||Sunday 14th at 8:59 CET|
|All Users can access gameplay||Sunday 14th at 17:00||Tuesday 16th at 17:00||Sunday 14th at 9:00 CET||Tuesday 16th at 9:00 CET|
You can enjoy the screenshots in the gallery below. If you want to see more of the game, you can also watch a trailer from earlier today, another trailer featuring the story mode, a trailer featuring adult Gohan, one featuring Kid Buu, one for Gotenks, one for Android 18, one featuring Cell, another focusing on Android 21, one showing Majin Buu, another starring Android 16, and one more another featuring the young version of Gohan.
Dragon Ball FighterZ will launch both in Europe and in North America for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on January 26th.


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Thursday's announcement comes eight months after NBCUniversal launched Telemundo Streaming Studios to produce shows for various streaming platforms. Based in Miami, the studio started with 35 projects in development, including "El Marginal," which has been popular on Netflix.
Telemundo recognized that, in a more competitive Spanish-language market, shows must have higher production values than the soapy telenovelas that have long run on TV.
Telemundo Streaming Studios will provide content for Tplus.
The competition for Latino viewers is steep. Last year, Telemundo arch-rival Univision launched PrendeTV, a free, ad-supported streaming Spanish-language service for the U.S. Hispanic market. Netflix is spending more than $200 million a year to produce content in Mexico. Walt Disney Co., which launched Disney+ in Latin America in late 2020, has said it plans to make 70 original programs for the region.
"As the #1 producer of scripted Spanish-language content in the U.S., we are tapping into our deep production expertise and understanding of our audience to launch Tplus, the first and only content brand at scale focused on serving U.S. Hispanics who feel 100% Latino and 100% American," Beau Ferrari, chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, said in a statement announcing Tplus.
This is not the first time that Telemundo has experimented with a dual-language strategy to reach Latino viewers.
Years ago, it tried to revamp Telemundo's sister cable channel, then known as Mun2, to appeal to bilingual Latinos. But the company did not invest heavily in the channel, and it eventually was rebranded as a sports channel.
Separately, Univision and Disney's ABC News invested heavily but failed at their experiment to reach young, multicultural Latinos — a cable channel and news service called Fusion. Disney bailed on the money-losing joint venture in 2016, and Univision pulled the plug on Fusion at the end of 2021.
____©2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


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GLOBAL AIRLINE’S PEOPLE-FIRST APPROACH CONTINUES WITH LANDMARK MOVES THAT BOOST LOYALTY REWARDS, SIMPLIFY TRAVEL AND REIGNITE THE EXPERIENCE
Delta customers can now look forward to industry-first loyalty rewards, digital tools that make it simple and seamless to satisfy travel requirements, more seats to more destinations, and new and classic onboard refreshment options.
Consumer confidence and demand for travel are growing as COVID-19 vaccinations accelerate, and Delta is welcoming customers back with new travel experiences – all while enhancing the Delta CareStandard health and safety commitment the airline has become known for during the pandemic.
Delta is launching new digital resources to make travel planning easier, including an interactive map that is searchable by price and destination type; offering SkyMiles Members the ability to earn up to 75 percent more toward Medallion Status on most ticket types, including Award Travel, in a first for the industry; reintroducing onboard snacks and beverages; and extending the validity of all tickets expiring in 2021 – as well as all new tickets purchased this year – through the end of 2022.
“Our customers have always been the voices that guide us at Delta, and that was amplified during the pandemic,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “During the past year, we transformed our service to ensure their health, safety, convenience and comfort during their travels. Now, with vaccinations becoming more widespread and confidence in travel rising, we’re ready to help customers reclaim their lives.”
More available seats to choose from starting May 1
“While Delta’s decision to block middle seats has given many customers a reason to choose Delta over the past year, the signature hospitality of our employees and the experiences they deliver to customers every day have also deepened their trust in our airline,” said Bastian. “The relationships we’ve built, together with the knowledge that nearly 65 percent of those who flew Delta in 2019 anticipate having at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1, are what’s giving us the assurance to offer customers the ability to choose any seat on our aircraft, while also introducing new services, products and rewards to support the journey. We take great pride in the trust we’ve built with customers by listening and delivering on what they said was most important, and that is the approach you can continue to expect.”
Since Delta introduced its middle seat block in April 2020, consumer behavior and vaccination rates have been the baseline for Delta’s decision to remove or extend the block throughout the pandemic. While scientific studies showed the risk of transmission onboard a full aircraft with everyone wearing a mask is nearly one in a million, Delta was the only airline to continue its middle seat block for an entire year to give customers peace of mind.
Masks will continue to be required and Delta’s industry-leading cleanliness standards will remain in place. Experts at Mayo Clinic and Emory, as well as our own Chief Health Officer Dr. Henry Ting, are helping to guide our way back.
More digital planning power, less guesswork for ever-changing travel landscape
Customers can use a new interactive digital map to search by price or destination type – or use miles to discover somewhere new. This tool is at the center of Delta’s streamlined digital Travel Planning Center, a one-stop guide to resources to manage travel restrictions, testing requirements and everything else along the journey as the carrier continues to add service to popular leisure destinations including Alaska, the Mountain West, beaches and abroad.
Delta is making each flight count for more. Starting April 1 through the end of 2021, customers can earn up to 75 percent more toward Medallion Status on most ticket types, including Award Travel – a true industry first. These offers follow Delta’s pace-setting status extension program and ensure Medallion Members can continue to enjoy Status and benefits for flights now and in the future. Members also have more time to plan travel with select Consumer and Business Delta SkyMiles American Express Card benefits extended through June 30, 2022. For more ways to earn Status at home or on the go, Delta also continues to offer special opportunities to get closer to Status on Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve American Express Cards.
More to enjoy with reimagined snacks and beverages, refreshed IFE content, and more open Delta Sky Clubs
Snacks are back on April 14. After an exhaustive redesign process that included flight attendant feedback and tips from our partners at Mayo Clinic, onboard food, and beverage service is taking the first step toward a safe return with classic favorites and new treats. In early June, customers flying in Delta One or First Class on select domestic coast-to-coast flights will see hot food options return, and First Class customers on other key U.S. routes will enjoy fresh boxed meals beginning in early July. Catch your favorite movies or shows while you sip and snack, and stop by more open Delta Sky Clubs once your feet hit the ground.
More flexibility to protect your travel plans
Delta is giving customers more time to plan and rebook a trip than any other U.S. airline with a travel credit extension that allows for unmatched flexibility. Tickets normally expire one year after purchase, but Delta is extending the validity of all tickets expiring in 2021, and all tickets purchased in 2021, to now expire Dec. 31, 2022. Additionally, to provide more protection for more tickets, Delta is extending its existing change fee waiver for all Basic Economy tickets purchased through April 30, 2021 – as well as all tickets that originate outside North America. Delta has already made lasting changes to help simplify travel into a seamless, stress-free experience, including permanently removing change fees for premium and Main Cabin tickets (for travel originating in North America).
More science-backed health & safety efforts
Beginning last year, teams across Delta quickly and effectively established a new standard of cleanliness for the airline and our industry. Delta’s Global Cleanliness organization is one of the unique ways Delta continues to innovate on cleanliness as part of the layers of protection offered to customers. In recent months, the team has led efforts to: develop a strict quality assurance program with input from partners at Mayo Clinic, Emory and Reckitt, the makers of Lysol; install onboard hand sanitizer stations and antimicrobial lavatory lighting; introduce contactless payment technology onboard to minimize touchpoints during the payment process; provision Lysol Disinfecting Wipes to clean customer-facing areas at airports and on aircraft; and work with TSA to ensure checkpoint cleanliness in airports nationwide.
Delta remains focused on delivering innovation in the air and on the ground, having been recognized as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies worldwide this year. Delta also recently announced plans to bring high-speed Wi-Fi onboard in 2021 – a key step in offering free Wi-Fi in the future – and launched a new digital identity test in Detroit aimed at providing a touchless curb-to-gate experience.
Learn more about where Delta is flying, and explore the other ways Delta is taking the stress out of travel with more control over travel plans and a new standard of cleanliness.


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It seems like anywhere you go, Google is there. My co-worker described them as all-knowing, omniscient, and “most likely to become a real-life Cyberdyne corporation.” (You know, from the Terminator movies?)
Google is now even delving into our childhoods with their recent musical experiment/customized user experience in Chrome: The Wilderness Downtown. Teaming up with popular Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire, a few Google programming geniuses have helped launch what could be the next generation of music videos for the new single “We Used to Wait.”
The “music video” has already gone viral (if not mainstream) and is, simply put, a revolutionary step in marketing using the brand new HTML 5 technology.
So how soon is it before Google shows us hyper-local ads based on our personal tendencies and preferences?


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Justice Department studies GM's recall of compact cars
DETROIT — General Motors faced more pressure over its handling of a deadly defect in certain compact cars Tuesday as word leaked of a criminal investigation and two congressional committees opened inquiries into the matter.
The Justice Department is investigating whether GM broke any laws with its slow response to a problem with ignition switches in compact cars from model years 2003 to 2007, according to a person briefed on the matter. The probe is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the investigation has not been made public.
Spokesmen for the Justice Department and GM would not comment. The investigation was first reported by Bloomberg News.
13 deaths in 31 crashes
At issue is why GM waited until February to recall 1.6 million older-model compact cars worldwide, even though it admitted knowing about the problem for a decade. The faulty ignition switches have been linked to 31 crashes and 13 deaths. Committees in the House and Senate also want to know why the government’s road safety watchdog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, didn’t take action sooner.
GM announced last month it will replace ignition switches that can shut off car motors unexpectedly. When that happens, drivers lose power-assisted steering and brakes and can lose control of the cars. The ignition can slip from the run position to accessory or off, due partly to heavy key chains dangling from the steering column.
Also, if the ignition switch isn’t in the run position, air bags may not inflate if a crash occurs.
An Associated Press review of a NHTSA database found that drivers started submitting complaints about the problem in early 2005, shortly after the first Chevrolet Cobalt went on sale. The review of complaints about the Cobalt, GM’s top-selling small car in the mid-2000s, found 173 instances of engine stalling or air bags failing to deploy, both symptoms of the ignition problem. Many drivers reported problems with keys sticking in the ignition in addition to the stalling.
Fred Upton of Western Michigan, the chairman of the House committee, said in a statement Monday that a hearing will be held in the coming weeks.
Congress passed legislation in 2000 requiring automakers to report safety problems quickly to NHTSA.
“If the answer is yes, we must learn how and why this happened, and then determine whether this system of reporting and analyzing complaints that Congress created to save lives is being implemented and working as the law intended,” Upton said.
NHTSA has said the rate of problems in the GM cars was not significantly different from similar vehicles.
More bad publicity
The prospect of congressional hearings means more bad publicity for GM, which is trying to distance itself from a reputation for building lousy cars. The company has said it’s more focused on quality since emerging from bankruptcy protection in 2009.
“It’s the old GM haunting the new GM,” said Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports magazine. “They have a lot of the old products still hanging around.”
Fisher said GM’s new cars and trucks will have to be better than the competition to lure back buyers who swore years ago to never again to buy a GM car.
NHTSA already has demanded information from GM about when it knew of the ignition problem. The agency could fine GM up to $35 million for a delayed response. Automakers must report safety problems to NHTSA within five days of learning about them.
GM executives, government agency regulators face many questions
DETROIT — General Motors’ executives and government regulators will soon have to explain to Congress why it took years to recall 1.6 million compact cars with a known defect linked to 13 deaths. And the Justice Department is investigating whether GM broke any laws with its slow response, according to a person briefed on the matter.
Members of two congressional committees will likely ask why a proposed fix to the problem was never implemented and why GM didn’t immediately tell car owners about the defect. Here’s a look at the developments so far in the recall and what’s ahead.
Q: Which cars is GM recalling?
A: GM is recalling a total of 1.6 million vehicles that were sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The recall includes the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 from the 2005-2007 model years; the Saturn Ion from the 2003-2007 model years; and the Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky from the 2006-2007 model years.
Q: What’s the defect?
A: GM says a heavy key ring or jarring from rough roads can cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position and shut off the engine and electrical power. That can knock out power-assisted brakes and steering and disable the front air bags.
Q: What is GM doing to fix the problem?
A: Dealers will replace the ignition switches for free. GM will notify owners when the parts are available and repairs can begin, likely in April. Until then, it is warning owners to remove all items from their key rings, including key fobs if applicable. Only the vehicle key should be left on the ring.
A: Yes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also received dozens of complaints from owners about the issue, dating as far back as 2005. NHTSA conducted several investigations into the problem but never ordered a recall.
A: In 2004, around the time that the Chevrolet Cobalt first went on sale, GM learned of at least one engine losing power and started investigating the problem. By 2007, it had received more reports, including at least one involving a fatal accident. According to a company timeline that was given to NHTSA, the company approved a redesign of the key head in 2005 but later canceled that plan. The company also alerted dealers that an insert on the key head could fix the problem, but warranty records show only 474 customers have gotten the insert.
Q: Why didn’t GM act more quickly?
A: GM opened at least two investigations after reports of engine stalling but closed them after taking no action. At the time, the company was juggling eight U.S. brands and losing billions each year, which led to its eventual bankruptcy in 2009. Now, GM has cut excess brands and bureaucracy and is solidly profitable. GM’s new CEO has promised “an unvarnished” investigation into what happened.
Q: Why is Congress investigating?
A: Rep. Fred Upton, of Michigan, who heads the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote a 2000 law that was intended to improve communication between automakers and NHTSA and help NHTSA identify potential threats to consumers’ safety. He wants to know if GM or NHTSA missed opportunities to fix the problem sooner, or if the legislation needs to be strengthened.
Q: What’s at stake for GM?
A: It’s unclear how much the recall will cost. Toyota Motor Corp. paid $48.8 million in total fines to the U.S. government for its handling of unintended acceleration recalls. It later paid more than $1 billion to settle a lawsuit from owners claiming their cars lost value. It still faces other lawsuits.
Q: Where can I get more information?
A: Owners may contact Chevrolet at (800) 222-1020, Pontiac at (800) 762-2737 or Saturn at (800) 553-6000. They also may contact NHTSA at (888) 327-4236, TTY (800) 424-9153 or go to www.safercar.gov.
It’s the old GM haunting the new GM. They have a lot of the old products still hanging around.”
Director of auto testing at


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LOS ANGELES (CN) – The Thomas Kinkade Company sold computer-generated art as “unreleased” original work after Kinkade died, and used it and other schemes to hurt Kinkade dealers, an art dealer claims in court.
Colorado Seasons dba The Incredible Art Gallery sued Pacific Metro dba The Thomas Kinkade Company, and Art Brand Studios, on April 8 in Superior Court.
Kinkade, known as “the painter of light,” enjoyed immense success as an American painter from 1997 to 2012. His syrupy sweet art has been reproduced as paintings and in books, cards, calendars, and ornaments, via the Kinkade Company.
Colorado Seasons says that at least one-third of American households own some form of Kinkade’s art. His paintings were sold as either “limited editions” or as “open editions” or reproductions.
Colorado Seasons became an authorized Kinkade dealer in 2005. It says that in 2013, it was the second-largest selling gallery in the Kinkade system, relying heavily on Internet sales.
Kinkade died from an overdose of alcohol and Valium in 2012, which sparked a run on his art.
The Kinkade Company “suddenly went silent,” however, leading Colorado Seasons and other galleries “to worry about the future” of the company, according to the complaint.
With no new inventory forthcoming, Colorado Seasons claims, the Kinkade Company “developed schemes of false advertising intended to cheat both galleries and members of the public into believing that TKC would continue to release artwork which had been completed by Thomas Kinkade prior to his death.”
The Kinkade Company’s initial scheme was the purported discovery of a vault of original, completed and unreleased Kinkade art, plus partially completed and unfinished work, according to the complaint.
The Kinkade Company released sold the art as “vault paintings,” in an effort to evoke comparisons to the posthumous work of artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, Colorado Seasons claims.
The Kinkade Company also sold “‘Studio Releases,’ which TKC’s advertising inferred were painted by ‘apprentices’ personally selected and trained by Thomas Kinkade, disciples who shared Tom’s dreams and visions,” the complaint states.
Colorado Seasons claims that the rumored apprentices did not exist, and that the so-called studio releases were actually computer-generated art.
“Each of the ‘studio releases’ is a computer drafted piece of art work composed and complete by computer technicians,” the complaint states. “The only aspect of art is the highlighter on the computer-generated prints.”
In a third scheme, Colorado Seasons says, though Kinkade had completed only nine of 12 paintings on Disney themes when he died, on a contract with nonparty Disney, “TKC’s announcement that the remaining three paintings would be completed and released led the public to falsely believe that each of the remaining three paintings had been sketched or worked on to some extent by Thomas Kinkade. The inference was further enhanced by the company’s announcement that the price of the remaining three pieces was to be the same as the price of the paintings created by Thomas Kinkade before his death.”
That’s not true, Colorado Seasons says in the complaint. “The truth is that neither the vault paintings nor the studio releases nor the remaining Disney pieces were in any way the work or creation of Thomas Kinkade. … The truth is that the new releases of Kinkade art which have been released following his death are the work of computer technicians, which have been generated on a computer by multiple people.”
Colorado Seasons says it “openly and vigorously objected” to this but was “discouraged on multiple occasions from questioning the validity of the artwork.”
It claims the Kinkade Company has used Colorado Seasons’ trade secrets and proprietary data to sell Kinkade art online, in direct competition with Colorado Seasons, since 2013.
It also accuses the Kinkade Company of unfair trade and predatory pricing. It claims the Kinkade Company largely eliminated retail galleries in 2014 when it launched a website so as to be the primary online source for Kinkade’s work; and that in 2015 it enacted a minimum pricing policy that required all dealers to sell products at or above costs that it established. This in effect created a monopoly and shuttered virtually all authorized Kincade dealers, including Colorado Seasons, according to the complaint.
“Because TKC could lower its retail prices and market them as such, but independent galleries such as CSI [Colorado Seasons Inc.] could not, TKC was thus assured that none of its galleries could compete with TKC with respect to sales obtained through the Internet,” the complaint states.
Neither Colorado Seasons nor The Kincade Company could be reached for comment Monday.
Dealers have long complained that Kinkade flooded the market with his mass-produced paintings. Lawsuits from Kincade dealers began as early as 2006, according to the complaint, which says a court concluded in that year that the company had defrauded gallery owners Karen Hazelwood and Jeffrey Spinello.
In 2009, the Ninth Circuit reinstated a $2.1 million award to two gallery owners who claimed they were duped into pouring their life savings into a doomed partnership with the company.
Colorado Seasons seeks an injunction and punitive damages for false advertising, predatory pricing and misappropriation of trade secrets.
It is represented by Michael McIntire with McIntire & McIntire, of Big Bear Lake.
- LAUSD Must Pay Charter School $7.8 Million
- Class Settlement


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'From the Plant a Tree feature to the Clean Energy Offsets and their work with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Oboz has truly committed to protecting our environment,' said Phil Meynard, President of Planet, Inc.
Waltham, MA (PRWEB) November 06, 2013
PlanetShoes.com, a lifestyle retailer committed to helping people live healthier, more eco-friendly lives, is pleased to announce the addition of Oboz shoes to their unique assortment of outdoor footwear. Oboz is all for dirty shoes and clean energy, highlighting their commitment to both outdoor recreation and environmental protection. Everything they do is true to the trail, from creating lacing systems and insoles that tackle tough inclines to planting a tree for each pair of shoes sold.
The employees at Oboz are consistently testing their footwear throughout both the open and hidden trails of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. “From the Plant a Tree feature to the Clean Energy Offsets and their work with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Oboz has truly committed to protecting our environment,” said Phil Meynard, President of Planet, Inc. “This commitment is important to us here at PlanetShoes, and we are therefore more than excited to now carry tried and tested Oboz adventure footwear.”
PlanetShoes.com is carrying a variety of women’s and men’s footwear from Oboz.
About Oboz Shoes
Started by a group of shoe and outdoor enthusiasts with some unconventional ideas—from unique lacing systems and insoles to corporate responsibility and the environment—Oboz has been thriving since 2007. Oboz strives to help people better tackle their trail, be it a lunch hike, backpacking trip, crag approach, or off-trail adventure. Their goal is to protect the wild space that serves as their testing grounds and therefore have committed to planting trees, partnering with conservation groups, and powering their headquarters with 100% clean energy. Their shoes are perfect for an adventurous, outdoor lifestyle.
PlanetShoes.com is an innovative lifestyle retailer committed to helping people live healthier, more eco-friendly lives. The first in the industry to offer a CarbonFree shipping alternative, PlanetShoes.com specializes in products that blend function, style, comfort and value with eco-ethics. The company proudly offers a wide selection of shoes, bags, and other accessories from more than 190 brands. For more information, visit http://www.planetshoes.com.


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Flippy is a brand new, burger flipping robot now cooking at a chain called CaliBurger , which serves up California style burgers and fries. Miso was founded with a mission to leverage AI technology to help chefs cook food perfectly and consistently and enable restaurants to increase labor productivity, reduce costs and drive profitability while improving the overall dining experience.
Ameriprise Fincl Inc has invested 0% of its portfolio in Antero Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:AM). The stock increased 0.02% or $0.03 during the last trading session, reaching $122.53. Victory Cap Mgmt has 425,916 shares for 0.11% of their portfolio. As of December 31, 2016, its asset portfolio, including the assets of its joint ventures, consisted of its refined products segment, consisting 9,700-mile refined products pipeline system with 53 terminals, as well as 26 independent terminals not ...
Murphy also said he didn't think Trump would pass legislation that went against the will of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Nicole Hockley, who lost a child at Sandy Hook, has attended two White House meetings with Trump and said she remained optimistic.
Saga (LON:SAGA) had its stock rating noted as Buy by analysts at Peel Hunt. The company has a market capitalization of $3,050.00 and a PE ratio of -1,314.41. The stock decreased 2.70% or GBX 10 during the last trading session, reaching GBX 360. About 354,472 shares traded. Saga plc (LON:SAGA) has 0.00% since March 5, 2017 and is.
It's up for debate as to whether states can enforce their own net neutrality laws, but several are trying. They claim that without net neutrality protections, internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon can speed up or slow down traffic from specific websites and apps, privileging their own content.
When the hack became public last fall, Shapiro's office investigated and, on Monday, filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia . A second claim in the lawsuit against Uber alleges the company's conduct violated the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.
On Monday, the 30-share Sensex closed 300 points, or 0.88 per cent, down at 33,747, while the Nifty50 index shed 100 points, or 0.95 per cent, to 10,359. In the broader market, the BSE Midcap and the BSE Smallcap indices outperformed to rally 0.9 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively. Indian shares look set to open higher on Tuesday as global markets regained some ground amid easing worries about an imminent trade war.
It closed at $43.15 lastly. Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) has risen 19.40% since March 5, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 25.36% the S&P500. (NYSE:MMP). Caprock holds 0.05% of its portfolio in Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN). Natixis reported 0.02% of its portfolio in Franklin Resources, Inc.
Under the system proposed by Kirby, more than 1,300 workers would win cash prizes of as much as $100,000. Now, the company will have an opportunity to revise its bonus system and minimize any damage to its reputation. "Being "caring" can not be choosy", he said. "Awful idea. [Current] bonus program has everyone pulling in the same direction with a common goal", a captain commented.
Soon after, the man went to the restroom and tried to hug a female crew member. While describing the weird incident, witnesses said the man became violent when asked to wear clothes and attacked the head stewardess. "The disruptive passenger was accompanied by a Dhaka security team upon arrival and has been jailed by authorities in Dhaka due to this offence".
Carranza as his new pick to lead New York City's schools on Monday. Here's hoping that Richard Carranza is a smashing success as city schools chancellor - and that Mayor de Blasio gives him the freedom to bring the "system change" that First Lady Chirlane McCray says Carranza wants.
Walmart's convenience meal options serve two people and range in price from $8 to $15. The food kit meals were created in Walmart's Culinary and Innovation Center. Amazon introduced meal kits sometime a year ago through its AmazonFresh grocery delivery service, albeit with a higher price tag. The Bentonville, Ark.
Trump criticized Europe in remarks at a fundraiser, according to video posted online Saturday, and suggested they would not increase tariffs . Trump has since publicly championed his move, bragging that " trade wars are good, and easy to win ".
Amazon declined to comment on the story. It's important to note that Amazon wouldn't be operating as a bank; it would be working as a partner with existing financial firms. The effort is still in its early stages and may not come to fruition, the people said. With services like Prime Instant Video and Prime Music on offer alongside a recent slew of products coming from Amazon's acquisition of Whole Foods , it's clear the company wants to become their customers' one-stop shop for ...
Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that Graco has recalled about 36,000 highchairs (Graco Table2Table 6-in-1 Highchairs) sold exclusively at Walmart . To verify if your highchair is affected, locate the model number and manufacturing date which are printed on the label. The chairs were sold at Walmart stores nationwide from October 2016 through December 2017 for about $100.
The new orders sub-index ended six months of contraction and output expanded as new projects increased. January's reading had been the weakest for that month since 2009, when the economy was deep in recession, and February's data remains weaker than the euro zone PMI.
SMMT chief Mike Hawes said: "February is typically a quiet month as buyers await the March plate change so the rise in demand is welcome news". This will be emphasised by the fact that March 2017 was a record month as registrations were pulled forward to avoid VED changes.
Broadcom Ltd.'s hostile $117 billion bid for Qualcomm Inc. faces a major roadblock after the powerful Committee on Foreign Investment in the US ( CFIUS ) issued an interim order for the target to delay its investor meeting. Broadcom is now based in Singapore, but expects to move its headquarters to the U.S.no later than May 6, the company said. In a Monday statement, Broadcom said Qualcomm had "secretly" asked the CFIUS to investigate back at the end of January.
XL has already agreed to AXA's offer, and AXA, which ranks as Europe's second-biggest insurer in terms of market capitalisation behind Germany's Allianz, will look to de-list XL's shares . "In our view, the acquisition of XL fits AXA's strategy of growing in commercial insurance". "However, acquiring XL does give global commercial P&C lines exposure and further accelerate AXA's exit from more volatile business lines in the US", it added.
The Polish global leads as Bundesliga's top-scorer this season and has been in prolific form for the German giants more generally, scoring 139 goals in all competitions in 181 appearances. Yuya Osako had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee after goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was adjudged to have control of the ball before Vincent Koziello kicked it out of his hands.


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Free Trade - moved from other site
Say it costs a US manufacturer $100 to make 1 ton of a product.
Say it costs a Chinese manufacturer $100 to make the same 1 ton of product, but the Chinese government kicks in enough money to reduce their cost to $.50 per ton.
Guess who can sell their product cheaper?
This is one of the reasons the US steel industry almost went extinct.
It's not a level playing field for free trade if one of the players is getting financial help from their government.
Tariffs are one way to even things out.
Say some of what you are saying is true. How is it "illegal" as the author of the article puts it?
I assume we have some sort of trade agreement with China, and the U.S. is claiming China is in violation. Sure can't tell from the article though.
You are supposed to take author's word for it. Afterall, this is COMMUNIST China, as CNN puts it.
So they're communists, and they're illegal. Got it! That's all we need to know, courtesy of the newspaper that more than carried its weight in helping sell the invasion of Iraq.
IMO, communists shoud still never be trusted. Am I a dumb-ass redneck republican, or have I just learned my lesson from a long history of communist killers and liars?
The US props up the domestic steel industry. We should let it die, as we should let all non-competitive industries die.


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Scout and Molly's Boutique has opened its first store in Southwest Florida.
The downtown Sarasota store is the 14th location to launch under the Raleigh-based franchise and the first on Florida's Gulf Coast. The boutiques feature a classic, chic collection of women's clothing and accessories that Maryalice Keller, the Sarasota store's owner, describes as tailored with sass. The store will host its grand opening on 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. April 9
The 1,100-square-foot store, at 1413 First St., near the intersection with Central Avenue in downtown Sarasota, has attracted a wide customer base since it opened quietly this month, including young professionals, young mothers and women a little bit closer to retirement. Keller can outfit a woman for a night at the opera or an afternoon on the water with her inventory mix of tees, jeans, tops, skirts and floor-length dresses. Price points typically fall in the low-hundreds, with tees ranging closer to $40 and a tote bags reaching up toward $300.
The shop carries more than 30 brands, including BCBG, French Connection, Tolani and Shilla.
Keller, a native of Rochester, New York, moved to Sarasota late last summer with plans to open her own store. The transplant has a long history of vacationing in the area and was married on Siesta Key.
Now that the shop's doors are open, Keller said she is excited to become part of the community. She intends to contribute to a variety of local events that support animal-rescue initiatives, women's issues and veterans.
The Scout and Molly's franchise is named for founder Lisa Kornstein's two Labrador retrievers, and the boutique is dog friendly. A water bowl sits out front of the shop, and a portrait of the two dogs hangs behind Keller's counter.
Downtown boutique expands to Southgate
While Keller welcomes her first shoppers, another downtown boutique is branching out.
Rue, located on the second floor above Caragiulos restaurant at 73 South Palm Ave., has launched a satellite location at Westfield Southgate. The boutique, which opened in December, carries an array of handbags, jewelry and scarves as well as high-end modern, contemporary and resort wear.
The shop's owner, Natalie Rue Morgan, has joined the conglomerate of local retailers that make up Trebor Style inside Westfield Southgate. The mashup was launched in early 2014 and brought nine retailers into one space at the site of the former Williams-Sonoma.
Trebor Style was one of the first new stores to open at Westfield Southgate after several businesses closed and moved to the Mall at University Town Center. Since then, more than a half-dozen new tenants have joined Westfield Southgate.
Furniture Warehouse store reopens
Furniture Warehouse has announced the grand reopening of its store at 1100 Cortez Road W., on the northeast corner of the U.S. 41 intersection. The 27,500-square-foot store includes an updated concept with LED lighting designed to highlight the chain's selection of living room, dining room and bedroom furniture. The store also carries artwork, area rugs and accessories.
Furniture Warehouse also has stores in Ellenton, Sarasota, Venice and Port Charlotte.
— Maggie Menderski, the Herald-Tribune's retail and tourism reporter, can be reached at 361-4951 or at email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaggieMenderski and her daily blog at whatsinstore.blogs.heraldtribune.com.


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WASHINGTON – Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, released the following statement in response to a “study” funded by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA). During its launch, Growth Energy called on GMA and its members to come clean about the smear campaign it operated to blame ethanol production for higher food prices. Growth Energy challenged GMA to apologize for its propaganda campaign or lower its prices. In November 2008, Growth Energy launched a countdown clock to track the hours and days elapsed since it called on Big Food to lower prices for consumers at the grocery store. See the countdown clock at GrowthEnergy.org.
“Here we go again. The same people who spent millions last year in a well-organized, well-orchestrated campaign to shift the blame from themselves to hard-working American farmers and renewable fuel producers are at it again. Their claims are directly contradicted by the comprehensive research conducted by the widely-respected Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). In the study release by FAPRI last week, it showed that increasing the amount of ethanol in our fuel supply to 15 percent would result in a ZERO percent change in consumer food expenditures and minimal changes in land use. The truth is that increasing the amount of ethanol in our fuel supply will help create new green-collar jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve our national security, and green our environment. As always, Big Food manufacturers are trying to stand in the way of this progress to protect their profits at the expense of hard-working Americans.”
About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.


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Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information. Here is the news that has attracted our attention this week ...
Ardbeg - Run for charity
The Ardbeg Half Marathon took place on the whisky brand's home island of Islay last weekend and one group of drinks writers, retailers and Ardbeg brand ambassadors took part. Over 20 people formed the group (pictured, above after finishing), which was a decent proportion of the overall 165 entrants, and included our good friends Marcin Miller of Quercus Communications and Joel Harrison of CaskStrength.
They were all running to raise money for the National Brain Appeal in support of Alan Lodge, a fellow drinks writer with The Spirits Business who passed away last year after a brain haemorrhage at the age of just 29.
Sian Deegan, the Senior Brand Manager for Ardbeg, said "On behalf of everyone at Ardbeg I'd like to congratulate all the runners who raised money for the National Brain Appeal this weekend. We are delighted to have extended some proper Islay hospitality to all the participants and proud to have raised a glass of Ardbeg to the memory of our late friend and colleague Alan Lodge."
Ballantine's - Gets musical
The popular blended Scotch whisky brand continues its recent interactive consumer experiences with a new competition - the Ballantine's Soundtrack of You. The brand had teamed up with British DJ legend Pete Tong and invites fans from around the world to portray their life stories through music by submitting and sharing a playlist of five influential songs.
The competition will run until September 13 2013 and can be entered via a special Soundtrack of You Facebook app - http://apps.facebook.com/soundtrackofyou. This will allow you to upload the five tracks that represent your personality and life stories. Each entry will be subject to a public vote, with the selection that receives the most votes being the winner.
The prize is a two night trip to Edinburgh in October, which includes tickets to the Ballantine's Soundtrack of You event at which Pete Tong will be DJing. Check out the short video, where Pete Tong reveals his 'soundtrack' ...
Laphroaig - Celebrates Coronation
The best selling Islay single malt brand of Laphroaig has taken part in the recent Coronation Festival, which was held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in London. The festival was to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen's Coronation and featured many companies which hold Royal Warrants, of which Laphroaig is one. It was granted its Royal Warrant by Prince Charles in 1994.
The SMWS have announced a partnership with the Musa Bar in Aberdeen. The partnership will see the bar stock a selection of SMWS malts and host events. To celebrate the link Musa Bar will be hosting a whisky dinner on Wednesday 14 August, which will include food pairings with SMWS whiskies and a competition to win a complimentary annual membership. For further details and to book tickets, go to www.musaaberdeen.com.


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CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Many Heartland farmers who raise livestock are dealing with a multi-state hay shortage that is being caused by hot dry weather.
Two hay producers in Southeast Missouri say it is affecting the quantity and quality of the hay, which in turn can impact the health of cows who produce beef and dairy products on our tables.
Dennis Hemmon, a beef cattle farmer in Cape Girardeau County feels fortunate to be busy bailing his second cut of hay.
Hemmon said four different farmers approached him Friday afternoon to ask if he had any hay for sale.
Even though prices are up because of demand, Hemmon said he is not planning to sell any yet. Instead he's building his inventory so he can last the winter.
"If you can get $60 for a round bail its awful tempting to sell some cows and sell some hay," Hemmon said. "The hay prices really fluctuate around. Years ago you had a hard time getting $10, $15 for a bail. Now all of a sudden I've heard reports that they're needing hay bad in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas."
Kaitlyn Niederrecker, a nutritionist with Buchheit Agriculture, said hay that is being bailed right now is high in fiber in low in protein.
She said many farmers will be customizing a feeding plan so they can afford to use what they have and keep their livestock healthy.
"Quality is probably the most important thing to consider when you're thinking of hay," Niederrecker said. "The cows will feel full but they are really starving on a full belly, but it's a simple fix. We can say we're going to feed this hay and then add this commodity blend to help meet the requirements of those cows."
Both Hemmon and Kaitlyn Niederrecker are hoping the temperature drops and they get more precipitation so more hay can be produced in late fall.


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What Your Agency Won’t Tell You About Retail Media
Our study’s insights give a blueprint for RMNs who want to be proactive rather than reactive in meeting buyer needs, writes Parbinder Dhariwal of CVS Media Exchange.
Media agency executives gave retail media network (RMN) leaders rare insights into the minds of their CPG brand clients in a revealing study on the exploding RMN industry.
The study, in partnership with the Path to Purchase Institute and our team at CVS Media Exchange (CMX), confirmed the momentum of RMNs shows no signs of slowing.
The study involved 86 CPG-focused media agency professionals with a focus on the present and future of RMNs. Our study’s insights give a blueprint for RMNs who want to be proactive rather than reactive in meeting buyer needs.
Insight #1: RMN investment is no longer a sliver of the marketing pie — it’s now half of it. Eighty percent of CPG buyers are going to spend more in retail media next year than they did this year. This increase is coming as they shift retail media dollars from 35% to closer to 50% of future budgets.
RMN takeaway: Now is the time to double down on showcasing your ROAS and highlighting exclusive inventory. We can track spending in ways other advertising channels can’t and reach audiences at a granular level. Dollars are being allocated to RMNs that tell that story best.
Insight #2: There’s a healthy debate in your buyers’ leadership meetings on deploying new dollars on in-store media vs. new channels like mobile app placements. You may feel like you have multiple RMN media channels worth investing in, but our study shows that senior leaders and mid-level leaders disagree on the value of each. Senior leaders showed a preference for in-store digitization, with 59% believing it’s necessary for success. Compared to 34% of mid-level leaders with the same belief, it’s clear that your media mix presentation may be received quite differently based on the audience.
RMN takeaway: Know your audience. Mid-level leaders are more open to app and other off-site placements, whereas senior leaders value the in-store experience.
Insight #3: ROAS & ROI still dominate measurement, but incrementality is climbing the charts. ROI and ROAS are rated by agencies as the most important measurement for their CPG clients. But going beyond “How much revenue are we driving?” are key questions about whether retail media can bring additional buyers into the brand, category and store, with approximately 30% of respondents indicating “incrementality to category/brand” tops their measurement wish list.
RMN takeaway: Everyone is using different KPIs for measurement and effectiveness. It’s confusing for media buyers to compare effectiveness with other media channels. To meet the demands of increasingly sophisticated marketers, incrementality will be a metric that networks will need to accurately measure against to demonstrate positive ROI. The industry is still early in its inception, and there is a big opportunity for RMNs to partner with independent industry bodies to develop standardized metrics.
Insight #4: Agencies rely on RMNs’ ability to innovate with new channels and analytics to meet goals. Eighty-four percent of agency respondents said that retail media will be a strategic priority over the next two years for their CPG clients, with the innovative channels leading the evolution — especially shoppable video content, increased personalization, omnichannel audience tracking and in-store digitization.
RMN takeaway: Continue to innovate your offering, but always keep the consumer in mind. Build a product that is additive to their experience, in retail or otherwise.
About the Author: Parbinder Dhariwal is vice president and general manager, CVS Media Exchange (CMX).


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China retained its position as the US largest soybean importer in 2013, with 24.6 million metric tons in imports, said Michael Schechtman, biotechnology coordinator for the US Department of Agriculture, on Tuesday in Beijing…Full Article: CRIENGLISH.com May 2014
- In 2013, China imported approximately 4 million MTs of corn for use primarily in their animal feed industry
- From January-Oct 2012, China imported 16.4 million MTs of soybeans from the U.S., 22.2 million MTs from Brazil, 4.2 million MTs from Argentina, and 1.3 million MTs from other countries (e.g. Uruguay, Canada, etc.). From 2006 to 2011, Chinese imports of U.S. soybeans increased from 9.8 million to 22.2 million MTs, or by 125%. The second largest supplier was Brazil, with Chinese imports rising from 11.6 million to 20.6 million MTs, or by 77%. Argentina, the third largest soybean supplier, saw their exports to China rise from 6.2 million to 7.7 million MTs, or by 25%.
- From 2006 to 2009, Chinese corn imports were relatively flat and ranged from 79,000 to 164,000 MTs per year. Imports began to take off in 2010 (specifically from June-November), and topped 1.6 million MTs. The following year saw a slight uptick to 1.7 million MTs imported, with values climbing past the US$500 million mark. From Jan-Oct 2012 (latest available data), imports surged to unprecedented levels, exceeding 4 million MTs.