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Sonic 20th Anniversary Sale Event to Offer Cut Price Sonic Titles
Written Tuesday, June 21, 2011 By Richard WalkerView author's profile
As everyone's favourite blue hedgehog prepares to celebrate his 20th anniversary, SEGA is preparing to launch the Sonic the Hedgehog 20th Anniversary Event on the Xbox Live Arcade, offering a whole range of Sonic games at discounted prices including reductions of up to 50% on titles like Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 and Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing.
The Sonic 20th Anniversary Event will start on XBLA from June 23rd and will run until July 28th. Other Sonic titles set to get the discount treatment include Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic Adventure, with prices starting from 240 Microsoft Points.
And that's about all we know about the Sonic sale on XBLA for now, but you'll be able to see the full sale on the Xbox Live Marketplace from Thursday.


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A few days ago on the 3rd of August during a GDC Europe session “One game across PC, Phone, Xbox, and HoloLens”, hosted by Jaime Rodriguez of Microsoft. Rodriguez spoke about the Xbox Live API (application program interface) being available for any device which is part of the ‘ Universal Windows Platform’ which will include the head-mounted display for Hololens.
During this session, he revealed that the Xbox Live API is an integrated API that is also available for other devices such as, Xbox One, Windows 10, Windows Phone and that the HoloLens is also included in this, meaning any device which is part of the ‘Universal Windows Platform’ that has access to the API this will allow Xbox Live functionality across all supported platforms – including multiplayer gameplay.
The possibility of being able to play multiplayer with anyone across the globe through the holographic display of the HoloLens (especially after the Minecraft display at E3 earlier this year seen below) will interest gamers everywhere, but while this is now a possibility its not going to happen any time soon.
Now unfortunately for you guys at the moment it’s a case of sitting tight a waiting with Microsoft’s CEO Staya Nadella recently announcing that the first run of HoloLens development kits will initially go out to the developers and enterprises within the next 12 months so it looks like consumers are having to wait abit longer than initially hoped for.
My mind was blown back at E3 when they showed Minecraft and what it can do at such an early stage, but after this latest update with Xbox live this is only the start for something most of us are looking forward to, potentially jumping in and out of lands with your friends online, right there on the kitchen table building towns/cities across your living room floor, wow…. let me know your thoughts on HoloLens, if YOU could make any game on HoloLens what would it be? Running along side Messi in Fifa or literally having to duck and dive away from zombies?
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, join our Facebook group and like our Facebook Page, subscribe to our Youtube and follow us on Twitch to keep up to date with all of the latest Xbox One news, reviews, gameplays and competitions.

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Consignment sales in Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Chapel Hill this week
Posted September 21, 2016
I'm counting five consignment sales in the region this week. Here's where to find them:
The Monkey Exchange at North Hills Club, 4824 Yadkin Dr., Raleigh, is open to the public 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon, Friday. Free babysitting is offered from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday. All clothes are 20 percent off on Friday morning. The Monkey Exchange features higher end, boutique children's clothing so expect a higher price point here.
KidzStuff Consignment Sale at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, is open to the public 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday; and 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Some items are half off on Saturday.
Twice as Nice Kids Consignment Sale in the former Macy's building at Cary Towne Center, 1105 Walnut St., is open to the public 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday (when some items are half off).
KidAround KidSale at The Factory, 1839 Main St., Wake Forest, is open to the public 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m., Sunday.
The Chapel Hill/Durham Mothers of Multiples Fall Yard Sale is 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, at Hillsong Church, 201 Culbreth Rd., Chapel Hill.
We have a few more sales coming up. Our consignment sale database has links to all of them.


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It’s nice to see Major League Baseball lighten up a little bit.
The commissioner’s office typically isn’t known for churning out lighthearted content, but Rob Manfred’s crew showed a little flare when it came to introducing fans to a series of major rule changes going into effect this season. Rather than do what it normally does — simply negotiate the rule changes with the union and then declare them enacted — this time MLB showed some sensitivity to its fans who may not be aware of how radically things could change this season.
If you haven’t paid attention: MLB will have a pitch clock for the first time in its history, has enlarged the bases to make them safer for players to slide into and to produce more running, and has prohibited certain kinds of defensive positioning. The pitch clock figures to have an immediate impact on a whole class of rapidly growing in-play bet types, and the other changes also will have sports betting implications to varying extents.
MLB produced a series of humorous ads explaining the new rules. In one, 270-pound slugger Daniel Vogelbach — who has yet to steal his first major league base — contemplates trying to swipe one given the temptation of three extra square inches of bag.
This MLB ad with Daniel Vogelbach and Buck Showalter is amazing 😂
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 23, 2023
Other ads feature some of the game’s more outgoing personalities, including Tim Anderson, Joey Votto, Blake Snell, and Nestor Cortes, as well as actor Bryan Cranston and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
‘Field like Ozzie. Run Like Rickey.’
MLB launches an ad campaign to pitch new rules to casual fans, who may or may not recognize Ozzie Smith and Rickey Henderson.
In here, you’ll find links to ads featuring Joey Votto, Tim Anderson and Blake Snell.https://t.co/02hOQdyZzA
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 23, 2023
The spots appeared first on social media and now are all over the airwaves on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, and the league’s broadcast partners, including FOX/FS1, ESPN, TBS, and Apple. It’s nice to see MLB pay a little more attention to marketing its great young players and, just as important, to letting people enjoy those players’ personalities.
NBC eyeing NBA broadcast rights?
You have to be of a certain age to remember the days when NBC controlled the rights to NBA broadcasts. But CNBC reports that NBCUniversal is once again contemplating a bid to broadcast NBA games after more than 20 years of Disney and Turner Sports owning the league’s rights.
CNBC reports that the media company’s executives have informed the NBA of their potential interest, with the network reportedly seeking a package that would include playoff games. It also could include some exclusive streaming services through Peacock.
Apple and Amazon also have expressed interest in getting in on the streaming action, and interest from tech companies of that size certainly is good news for the league as it attempts to drive up the price — a price that certainly isn’t shrinking with the rise of legal sports betting.
But no formal discussions can take place with bidders aside from Turner Sports and Disney unless those companies agree to waive their exclusive negotiation window, which ends in April 2024, the report said.
The changes wouldn’t go into effect until the end of the 2024-25 season and the league could simply re-up with Turner and Disney as it did in 2014. But streaming has changed everything, opening the door for more and different kinds of bidders, and a robust demand is always good for the seller.
Stewart-Binks joins RSI as brand ambassador
Veteran sportscaster and reporter Julie Stewart-Binks is the latest media member to hop on board the sports betting content train, agreeing to a deal announced this week to appear on shows and elsewhere as a brand ambassador for Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive, the parent company of BetRivers.
She will be tasked with developing sportsbook, casino, and lifestyle content for the brand, hosting a new podcast on the BetRivers Network, and making guest appearances on the Boomsies! podcast hosted by Dan O’Toole.
Even if you think the market is saturated with betting content nowadays, BetRivers producing original audio and video shows is a potential plus for betting-inclined consumers.


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BMW plans to cut as many as 6 000 jobs in Germany by 2022 as part of its ongoing cost-savings effort, according to Manager Magazin.
Most of the positions would be eliminated at the carmaker’s headquarters in Munich under the plan that could be unveiled in December, the weekly publication reported without saying where it got the information.
Klaus Froehlich, the management board member responsible for research and development, is expected to leave next summer because he doesn’t want to work with new Chief Executive Officer Oliver Zipse, the magazine also said, adding that Supervisory board head Norbert Reithofer wants him to stay.
A spokesman for BMW couldn’t be reached for immediate comment. The carmaker’s shares rose 0.5% at 1:50 pm in Frankfurt.
BMW has vowed to boost efficiency as part of an ongoing 12 billion-euro ($13.3 billion) savings program aimed at offsetting increased spending to develop and introduce 25 electrified models. The carmaker is counting on a fresh product lineup and better efficiency to take on rival Mercedes-Benz as waning demand in key markets squeezes profit across the industry.
European car sales fell sharply in August in a further sign of deepening woes in the sector.
© 2019 Bloomberg L.P.


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SUNSHINE Coast, I love you, but you have too few independent clothes shops.
07th Jan. 2016 9:01 AM
ALL THE large shopping centres open and businesses in the hospitality, entertainment and retail industries trade like it is...
23rd Dec. 2015 9:12 AM
IT’S time to get the wallets out; Christmas is coming. A headline I read yesterday about how much we spend at Christmas...
16th Nov. 2015 5:11 PM
ONE of the certainties in life in the modern age is that there can never be too much shopping.
30th June 2015 8:06 AM
Lesley Apps discusses why having retail and hospitality outlets open at more accessible hours would drive the economy...
16th June 2015 12:06 PM
RETAIL giant Costo has announced plans to open in Queensland. We asked our Facebook followers whether the store should come...
02nd June 2015 4:06 PM
THE topic of seven-day trading is always a controversial one in the Rose City it seems.
27th Oct. 2014 4:10 AM
PLANS for the expansion of Rose City Shoppingworld have once again opened up the issue of seven-day trading for the...
23rd Oct. 2014 5:10 AM
OPINION: I DIDN’T really need another reason to love France.
20th Oct. 2014 10:10 AM
EDITORIAL: Sometimes – in truth often – the Chronicle has a duty to report bad news, be it about tragedy...
31st Dec. 2013 5:12 AM


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The popular vinyl collectible company Funko — best known for its big-headed Pop! figures — has released one of its latest artist collaborations: California thrash metal legends SLAYER. Figures of Tom Araya, Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman are now available from the official SLAYER webstore.
Other artists who have gotten the Pop! Rocks treatment in the past include KISS, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, DEF LEPPARD, Rob Zombie, SLIPKNOT, GHOST and MOTÖRHEAD.
A Funko vinyl Pop! figure, or popularly known as a "Pop!", is packaged carefully inside a box with a transparent front. The figurine is made out of vinyl and may come as a bobblehead.
Funko reported that these figurines increased its sales by 38 percent in the second quarter of 2019. International sales spiked 65 percent to $68.5 million, while U.S. revenue grew 26 percent to $122.7 million.
Headquartered in Everett, Washington, Funko is a leading pop culture consumer products company. Funko designs, sources and distributes licensed pop culture products across multiple categories, including vinyl figures, action toys, plush, apparel, housewares and accessories for consumers who seek tangible ways to connect with their favorite pop culture brands and characters.
Funko's Slayer Set is now available at
Posted by Slayer on Monday, April 13, 2020


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Huawei may not be the first name that springs to mind when you think smartphones and tablets, but the Chinese are certainly one of the major players in both markets. At this year's MWC Huawei declared its intentions to storm the top of the Android food chain with its Ascend D1, D quad and D quad XL. The company also introduced the Media Pad 10 FHD, which is one of the most interesting upcoming droid tablets.
And it turns out, the Huawei ambitions aren't limited to the Android market. The latest rumor suggests that at least 70 people at Huawei are working on developing Windows Phone Apollo-based smartphones, which will become available by the end of 2012.
A particularly juicy bit of the report claims that at least one of those will go for the very attractive price of $300. Also on the Huawei agenda is a Windows 8-running tablet, an LTE-packing one at that.
Well, there is still nothing on the specs of those devices, but we guess we’ll be getting to know more about them as the launch of Windows Phone Apollo and Windows 8 nears.


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SHANGHAI – According to a price decided on Friday night, the gigantic dual listing for China’s fintech giant Ant Group will be the world’s largest, Alibaba founder Jack Ma said on Saturday.
It is the first time that pricing has been decided outside New York for the initial public offering, Alibaba founder Jack Ma told the Bund Summit in Shanghai’s eastern financial hub.
The listing may be the largest initial public offering in the world, surpassing the record set by last December’s $29.4 billion Saudi Aramco float.
“It’s the first time that the pricing of such a big listing — the largest in human history — has been determined outside New York City” he told the Bund Summit in the eastern financial hub of Shanghai.
“We didn’t dare to think about it five years ago, or even three years ago. But a miracle just occurred,” he told the audience, which included officials from China’s regulators.
He did not include the exact pricing specifics that are scheduled to be formally released next week.
In the coming weeks, Ant plans to list simultaneously in Hong Kong and on Shanghai’s STAR Market, backed by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.
Sources have said the listing may be worth $35 billion, beating the record set last December by Saudi Aramco’s $29.4 billion floats.
Ma said the financial and regulatory framework stifles innovation, calling for a revamp on the basis of technology to expand financial services to more small businesses and individuals, an ethos on which Ant is largely focused.
He said the post-World War II global structure is obsolete and too risk-averse, calling the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision “an old men’s club” and warning that risks are piling up in the economy as a whole.
Banks still operate with a strong ‘pawnshop’ mindset in China, requiring collateral and guarantees prior to lending, a model that will not drive future growth, he said.
Instead, he said, it is important to create a modern, inclusive and universal banking system that lends to small businesses and individuals on the basis of big data.
Ant, which has an extensive payment and micro-lending company that is primarily focused on big data, has been faced with growing regulatory scrutiny.
“Today’s financial system is the legacy of the Industrial Age,” Ma stated. A new one must be set up for the next generation and for young people. We have to change the present structure.


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Grocery shopping is one of the few activities permitted by the governor’s recent stay-at-home mandate.
Many stores have adjusted their hours of operation to provide staff plenty of time to sanitize and restock for the next day.
To help those who are at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, local grocery stores are providing excluding hours for at-risk shoppers.
Both Grant County Horner’s Butcher Block locations, 825 E. 30th St., Marion, and 201 N. Main Street Fairmount, are allowing high-risk customers to shop from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., an hour before the stores open to the general public.
“We’re just trying to be available and take care of people if they have special needs,” said Verlin Horner, the owner of Horner’s Butcher Block. “We had a request from a customer for that.”
Holly McClanahan, an employee at Horner’s Butcher Block, said she thinks it is essential to offer these shoppers a designated time to shop for their safety.
“Especially for people with compromised immune systems,” McClanahan said. “I wouldn’t want my family members out.”
McClanahan said the staff is taking extra measures throughout the day and at closing time to ensure that the store is disinfected.
Lance Cannon, a Horner’s Butcher Block employee, said many at-risk people are feeling pressure during this time, especially in a public environment like a grocery store and that these hours relieve some of that pressures.
A resident of Sweetser, Nancy Knee, said she thinks the accommodations grocery stores are providing people at high risk is a good idea that might make people feel safer.
“They are thinking of all people. That’s nice,” Knee said. “That’s what’s going to get us through this, everyone working together and looking out for each other.”
Knee said she is concerned about the spread of COVID-19 but not panicking.
“The Lord is in control,” Knee said. “Something good will come from this. We will learn something and be better people.”
Abiding by the stay-at-home mandate, Knee said she and her husband have only left the house to buy necessities.
While she has found many empty shelves, Knee said it had not been a setback for them.
Horner said he is working hard to keep the shelves stocked for his customers, but all grocery stores are experiencing difficulties at this time.
“Right now, it’s like every store in the U.S. is having a grand opening,” Horner said. “Everybody is having a hard time keeping up.”
On Tuesdays until April 28, Walmart, located at 3240 S Western Ave, Marion, will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. for at-risk customers, and regular hours are from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
By closing at 8 p.m., Walmart employees can restock the shelves and sanitize the stores, according to Charles Crowson, the Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for Walmart.
“It’s to make sure that some of those customers that might be most susceptible and also have other accommodations and needs have access to our stores and products at what would be considered low-risk times,” Crowson said. “...so when our customers come in at seven the next morning, it is a clean store, with the stock we have at that time.”
During this time, the vision centers and pharmacy will be open, Crowson said.
Needler’s Fresh Market, located at 1013 N Forest Ave, Marion, will be open from the regular opening hours until 8 a.m. to at-risk shoppers.
According to a Facebook post by Needler’s Fresh Market, “(Needler’s) will be open for anyone to shop during this window, but request as a courtesy, that those who can delay their shopping, please reserve the early hours for our most vulnerable citizens.”
Meijer, located at 3820 S. Western Ave., Marion, will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. for high-risk shoppers.
Ruler Foods, located at 1129 N Baldwin Ave, Marion, does not currently have designated hours for at-risk shoppers but will release an update if that changes.
According to the CDC, “Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications.”


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We share plenty of similarities with our neighbours in the north, from our passion for food to our love of game development. So, in order to foster and strengthen relations with our Malaysian counterparts. Singapore Games Association (SGGA) organised and led a delegation of 25 on a 6D5N Travel & Learn Program to learn more about the Malaysian game development scene – the mission was also in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic Continuing Education & Training (CET)
The event also coincided with KL’s signature B2B conference Level Up KL 2019 led by Malaysia’s federal agency - the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). The trip was aimed at educating the Singaporean delegation on the Malaysian games and immersive media
ecosystem, and also to facilitate networking with fellow industry professionals in Malaysia.The pre-trip briefing was helmed by Alwyn Lee of Daylight Studios sharing with the delegations the ins-and-outs of exhibiting at game conferences overseas as well as briefing them on the logistics of the upcoming trip.
The first day of the trip was dedicated to understanding the Malaysian development eco-system and networking with our Malaysian counterparts. The delegation toured Komune (a co-working space and home of Level Up Inc) and got to know many of its tenants who were also in the business of interactive entertainment.
The session was organised by Singapore High Commission in KL & Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation with the reception hosted by Deputy High Commissioner Loy Hui Chien at the Singapore High Commission and High Commissioner Vanu Gopala Menon was also in attendance – both of whom were actually huge gamers during their formative years.
Next the delegation visited Malaysian HQ of Razer, where they learnt more about their efforts to bridge the gap between high-performance gaming peripherals and the world of Fintech. Magnus Games was next on the itinerary. Magnus games was the studio behind one of the most funded Kickstarter video game in Southeast Asia Re:Legend with over S$630K raised. The day ended with a networking dinner with the Malaysian chapter of International Game Developers Association (IGDA). The dinner was hosted by Shawn Beck, IGDA Malaysia Chapter Coordinator and proudly sponsored by Koelnmesse the company behind Gamescom Asia.
The next two days were dedicated to Level Up KL 2019 where the delegation mingled and networked with developers and publishers from all around the region. But Level Up was much more than just exchanging business cards and pleasantries, there were also workshops and talks aimed at helping attendees hone their craft. The delegation also had an informal reception with High Commission, Enterprise Singapore (KL Office) and other Singaporean companies in the region. After a warm reception, the delegation stepped into The Rift - Southeast Asia's largest VR/AR Theme Park.
The final business day of Level Up 2019 ended with lessons learnt and opportunities discovered, with the evening dedicated to the Southeast Asia Game Awards. The next few days were dedicated to the public, the event halls lit up and became the game convention that we’re all familiar with – the glitz, the decibels and most importantly, the games. Some members from the delegation even showed off their works to gamers who came from all across the region.
After 6 days of learning and networking, our Singaporean delegation concluded their mission with brand new friends, fresh perspectives and a renewed passion for the industry.
We would like to thank Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Singapore High Commission in KL, Level Up Inc, Razer Malaysia, Magnus Games and IGDA Malaysia for hosting us.


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Qualcomm Wants Apple To Pay $31 Million For Infringing Patents
Dhir Acharya - Mar 09, 2019
Behind the calculation is managing director and economist Patrick Kennedy of Torrey Partners which was called by Qualcomm to the trial as an expert witness.
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On Friday, Qualcomm said that it wants Apple to pay compensation of $31 million for the damages caused by Apple’s infringement on its patents.
In the most recent twist in a long-running legal battle between the two tech giants, the trial focuses on three of Qualcomm’s technology patents that the chipmaker accused Apple of using in some iPhone models without its consent. The company argued that the number is calculated from $1.40 per iPhone that carries the infringed tech.
Three patents centered this time include one that enables faster Internet connection when turning the device on, one that enhances battery life and graphics processing, and the other boosts download data by directing traffic between the modem and the chip.
While $31 million is no considerable a number to a trillion company, a victory in this lawsuit would help Qualcomm confirm consolidate its reputation as a pioneer regarding mobile components.
Behind the calculation is managing director and economist Patrick Kennedy of Torrey Partners which was called by Qualcomm to the trial as an expert witness. He counted the damages for iPhone sold from July 2017 with Intel chips. In 2016, Apple started using Intel modems instead of Qualcomm modems for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Now, Apple has used Intel modems for all of its latest iPhone models.
Apple counsel Joe Muller, in cross-examination, said that Kennedy overstated the patented technology.
At the current stage, the trial has focused more on the technical aspect rather than the legal aspect. Apple’s counsel said on Friday that a key witness would appear to testify after yesterday when he said he had backed out.
The iPhone maker has argued that its former engineer co-invented one of the three technologies and should be included in the patent. On Thursday, however, the company said that Siva would not testify.


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It seems that everyone at Google is wildly successful--right down to the company chef.
The Internet search company likes to boast of the fine cuisine it provides for free to employees, and in chef Charlie Ayers it had a winner. He so pleased everyone that he was introduced to investment analysts who visited the company's Silicon Valley headquarters in February. All good meals must come to an end, however. Ayers, once the cook for the Grateful Dead, was an early employee of Google and therefore earned valuable stock options. So in May, he left to start his own restaurants.
Now Google is so intent on maintaining the quality of employee cuisine that it has launched a worldwide search for two new chefs, according to the Reuters news agency. That includes issuing a news release for the two openings. The chefs, according to the release, will oversee menus "from vegan entrees to pad Thai, grilled burgers, and wood-fired pizza--all while using organic ingredients whenever possible."
Google also said it will sponsor a cook-off between its top four applicants. It did not specify who gets the thankless job of choosing the winners.
Source: Reuters, via Yahoo!


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Ford India, on Thursday, said that it would launch a second production shift at its plant near here. The move followed tremendous response to the just-launched Ford Figo, said a release from the company. Ford Figo, the release said, had received more than 10,000 orders less than one month after it went on sale.
The Figo launch helped Ford India's overall March sales more than triple from the same month a year ago, rising an impressive 203 per cent to 9,478 units. The exceptional March performance, which also included strong sales of Ford Ikon, Ford Fiesta, and Ford Endeavour, were nearly triple Ford India's February sales, increasing 194 per cent.
“We are delighted at the initial response to Figo, and are incredibly proud to have struck such a positive chord with Indian consumers,” the release quoted Michael Boneham, President and Managing Director of Ford India, as saying. “The launch of Figo is the start of a transformed Ford in India, and a true reflection of our commitment to delivering world-class products that allow Indian customers to feel the difference,” the release quoted him saying.
Part of Ford's $500 million investment in India, Figo was designed and engineered with Indian customers in mind – including months of exhaustive customer clinic research and thorough testing in both simulated and actual road evaluations.
Aimed at more than 70 percent of the country's new vehicle market, Figo had significantly bolstered Ford’s competitive position, the release claimed.


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come through. Those retailers, plus five other outlets she has targeted for 2006, have hundreds of locations that could sell her hosiery.
Using a list of hosiery manufacturers provided by The Hosiery Association, Franklin began contacting potential manufacturers in search of one willing to take a chance on a startup. She also spent months studying major hosiery marketers and learning about her market. The research reported that, on average, African American women purchase 24 pair of hose annually and make up 24% of the pantyhose market. Rather than target the niche
BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND
While choosing a niche strategy may seem risky, because the size of the potential market is reduced, doing so can actually fuel a small business’s growth. By zeroing in on its very best business prospects from the beginning, a company’s marketing dollars yield a much higher return on investment. The business costs are comparatively lower, viral or word-of-mouth marketing occurs much faster, and customers are generally far easier to identify. They’re also very loyal, say Jennifer Basye Sander and Peter Sander, co-authors of Niche and Grow Rich: Practical Ways to Turn Your Ideas into a Business.
Despite their many advantages, niche businesses are the exception rather than the rule. The Sanders estimate that no more than 10% of all businesses today are niche-focused. The tendency on the part of most entrepreneurs is to target demographic markets with huge populations, such as the 18- to 25-year-old crowd, or everyone within a certain zip code, rather than zeroing in on customers with common interests and needs.
As business owners marvel at the success of niche-oriented businesses — think Starbucks or Curves, for example — some are adopting a similar strategy. This may explain why the number of niche-focused enterprises is increasing. “Niche businesses are on the rise because people are recognizing that their biggest competitor is a Wal-Mart” says Jennifer Sander. “They’ve also seen how mid-sized companies have struggled against the big guys.” Trends show that if mid-sized companies can’t compete by emulating Wal-Mart, smaller businesses will likely face the same challenges. To succeed, a new approach is necessary. For an increasing number of entrepreneurs, that approach is choosing a niche.
However, in business, there are never guarantees. Even playing in the smaller sandbox comes with its own set of risks. There is the possibility that sales won’t materialize from your niche customers, for example. At least that’s what Franklin feared, though she has since seen that her market is both broad and deep, yet still very focused.
Another risk, says Falkenstein, is straying from your niche. Once you become known for one thing, moving too far from your specialty may encourage customers to shop elsewhere. Also, it’s important to stay ahead of your niche — to anticipate what your customer base will want next. Expecting your business to remain the same is risky, she says. “A good niche is dynamic,” she points out.
MARRYING EXPERIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY
When it comes to planning a wedding, attention to detail is important. Rena Puebla knew this when she


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Update: It appears that it might actually be a standalone product and not exactly a part of the current Rock Band platform. We’ll see where this goes as new details emerge.
Yeah, it finally happened. The first truly major exclusive has been scored in the battle between Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and it’s Harmonix/MTV that dropped the first nuke. MTV and Apple Corps (Beatles rights holder) announced in a press conference that The Beatles music would be coming to the platform. Alex Rigopulos said that details of distribution and implementation are still being worked out, but we do know that Harmonix has secured the world’s most influential band on its side.
Which way to Harmonix?
While this in no way should be considered a killing blow to the Guitar Hero name, it’s definitely going to be huge for the Rock Band platform. I can only hope that they don’t get cute and try to milk the exclusivity and make you do silly things to get the songs *cough* AC/DC pack *cough*. Obviously The Beatles are the biggest name to hit either franchise, so here’s hoping it happens soon.


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Archant's Subscriptions Marketing team have been shortlisted for five awards at the industry-leading PPA Customer Direct Awards.
Subscriptions & Loyalty Team Manager Paul Upton said: “This year we submitted five entries, and we are delighted to have all five of them shortlisted. The team have worked extremely hard on these campaigns, all of which delivered better than expected results.”
The shortlisted entries which the team have worked on are as follows:
In-Magazine Promotion of the Year: National Retail Inserts
In-Magazine Promotion of the Year: Regional Retail Inserts
Offline Campaign of the Year: Pellpax Gift Incentive
Customer Retention Strategy of the Year: Christmas Renewals
Subscriptions Team of the Year: Archant Subscriptions Team
The Customer Direct Awards are aimed at subscriptions, direct and digital marketing professionals working within magazine media.
The winners will be announced at an awards dinner at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel on November 16.
© Archant Ltd 2013


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Over the next two weeks, the Christmas and New Year holidays will delay trash collection for residents with Friday trash pickup.
These customers will serviced on Saturday, Dec. 26, and Saturday, Jan. 2. The trash collection schedule for all customers resumes as normal on Monday, Jan. 4.
Recycling collection days will not be impacted.
Also, customers with extra holiday trash may bag, box, or bundle up to three 50-pound items for collection. Just place the extra items at the curb next to the trash container.


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2021 Ford Ranger Raptor has longer organized the name of the most impressive automobiles in the marketplace, and some restoration can provide a sharp and modern look to allow it to be more attractive. Unfortunately the show is aged, and at present it’s time for them to redesign the others. Hopefully 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor introduces a whole new look, powertrain, and more.
Visually, there is absolutely no full information and facts presented, although you can get exciting spy photos. Hopefully to observe the corporation update the old fascia deep presence and offer a round 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor fascia that includes updated headlights and a shorter hood. Spying pictures also illustrate more glass right behind the A-pillar, that helps expand visibility going forward, will continue. We also anticipate the taillights to take a horizontal arrangement, eliminating the existing vertical taillights.
Although there is absolutely nothing valid from the Manufacturers about 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor powertrain, hopefully to knowledge biggest improvements. The great adjust will eliminate the used engine that supports a 1 liter turbocharged system. In the old form, this engine creates large hp, however this can change before the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor launch.
While this car in a similar category sometimes competes in accident tests. Nowadays, this auto has done well in most checking IIHS has completed four accident tests and front crash prevention tests, and this automobile has become getting the best score in all. We will not anticipate 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor to get a step back in safety devices or even ratings.
The manufacturers has not publicized information about 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor, so there is no information on when it is going to launch. With the upcoming year’s design coming instantly, we don’t need to wait long for official reports about this.
Even though hopefully that everything is going to be new for next yr, we do not expect a major fee change from the current price range including destination bills.


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Because it’s such a great time to be alive, this edition of Short Takes looks at a ton of Coronavirus-related news, including Azure capacity issues, Microsoft/Office 365 service throttling, certification retirement extensions, unprecedented Xbox Live demand, and much, much, more.
Coronavirus: Azure is “full” in Europe
Remember how the central promise of cloud computing was that businesses would be able to dynamically add capacity during busy times, saving them tons of money? Well, we forgot the converse to that, which is that cloud computing providers, like Microsoft Azure, would thus need to have all that capacity on hand all the time. And with more and more people sheltering in place and working from home, the problem with this approach is becoming obvious: Cloud computing infrastructure is being stretched past its limits, and with Azure in particular, customers in Europe are experiencing massive outages and unavailable resources. Azure, it appears, is “full.” There are many news reports about this issue, but I’ve also personally heard from a major Microsoft customer that is finding that virtual machines it restarts are being handed off to other customers on the fly, making them unavailable to the original user. This is a real problem because it’s not clear how or even if Microsoft can possibly add capacity immediately or in the near future in the affected areas. And it’s almost certainly going to happen worldwide.
“Microsoft staff struggle beneath the weight of a 52,000-person Reply-All email storm”
If only Microsoft made a decent email client.
Coronavirus: Microsoft throttles Microsoft/Office 365 services
And speaking of capacity issues, Microsoft this week said that it would throttle certain Microsoft/Office 365 services to meet the additional demands of workforces suddenly working remotely because of Coronavirus. OneNote in Teams will be read-only for non-EDU commercial customers, and Microsoft has lowered the download size and sync frequency for attachments. Backend SharePoint operations are being rescheduled to evening and weekend hours regionally, and video playback will utilize lower resolutions. And the People timeline in Stream has been disabled for newly uploaded videos; this won’t impact previously-uploaded videos. Remember, Teams usage alone surged from 32 million daily active users to 44 million in just one week. It’s going to get worse.
“Microsoft Issues New Windows 10 Update Warnings”
Yes, we call that Patch Tuesday.
Coronavirus: Microsoft extends certification retirement dates
Microsoft stunned many a month ago when it revealed that it was retiring three of its most popular certifications—Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)–as of June 30. Regardless of the rationale for this retirement—Microsoft said at the time that it was instead investing in “role-based” certifications going forward, here’s some good news. The firm revealed this week that it will extend the retirement deadline by six months, to December 31. And yes, it cites the Coronavirus as the reason. “Authorities around the globe are responding to the [Coronavirus outbreak] with stricter measures that are disrupting normal routines, which changes the landscape in which we operate,” the firm noted in an update. “The current environment could potentially hamper your ability to finish your certification before the original retirement date of June 30, 2020. To address this issue, we are extending the retirement date.” Microsoft is also working with its exam delivery partner Pearson VUE to temporarily waive exam reschedule and cancellation fees, which is nice.
“Microsoft gets ready for a new era of Windows”
The plague years.
Coronavirus: Xbox Live under “unprecedented demand”
With many people home—working, if they’re lucky, or just killing time otherwise—thanks to Coronavirus, we’re seeing a surge in Internet usage. And among that surge, naturally, is video gaming. And given the issues that Microsoft is having meeting demand with Azure and Microsoft/Office 365, as noted above, it should come as no surprise that the firm is likewise having issues with Xbox Live, its game service. “We understand the important role gaming is playing right now to connect people and provide joy in these isolating and stressful times, and our teams are working diligently to ensure we can be there for our players,” Microsoft’s Phil Spencer wrote after a string of outages. “To that end, we are actively monitoring performance and usage trends to ensure we’re optimizing the service for our customers worldwide and accommodating for new growth and demand.” I’m curious how Microsoft will divvy up its resources moving forward. What’s more important to the collective psyche of its customers? Halo or Office?
“Pandemic will push Microsoft to repeat 2019’s major-minor Win10 upgrade cadence”
Whatever, we’ll take this as the win it is.
Coronavirus: Microsoft says it doesn’t expect any Xbox Series X delays
And speaking of Xbox, Microsoft this week said that it doesn’t expect the Coronavirus to delay the release of its next-generation video game console, Xbox Series X, which is due in the fourth quarter. “The supply chains are coming back,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said. “We feel good about where we are in terms of manufacturing.” Of course, that’s only half of the problem: Microsoft has a rich history of making lots of hardware that no one wants. Will there be any demand for an expensive new console when much of the country is now unemployed and worried about the basics? Nadella is obviously wondering the same, but he says only that Microsoft will evaluate “the situation in terms of demand as well as safety in terms of people” as it pushes forward with its product launches. I think Sony and Microsoft should both agree to delay their next-gen consoles until 2021. This is pointless.
“Blame AMD for Xbox Series X GPU Source Code Hack, Not Microsoft”
Oh, we did.
Microsoft expected to launch consumer Microsoft 365 plans next week
Microsoft’s push to replace the Office 365 brand with Microsoft 365 will apparently continue next week when the firm is expected to announce consumer-based Microsoft 365 subscription plans. On the commercial side, Microsoft still maintains Office 365 and Microsoft 365 plans, but it has already positioned the Office 365 as entry-level Microsoft 365 plans. And on consumer, my expectation is that it will simply rebrand the two existing plans, Office 365 Home and Personal, with two Microsoft 365-branded plans, that will closely resemble their predecessors. That is, they won’t offer access to Windows 10 or device management functionality, as we see on the commercial side. That said, many expect Microsoft to pump up the newly-rebranded services with some new offerings too, but they’ll be more consumer-focused than business-focused. I assume a major piece of this push is adding Microsoft Teams to the consumer side and taking the first steps towards replacing Skype for good. We’ll know more soon.
“Microsoft acquires 5G specialist Affirmed Networks”
It’s for all those phones they sell.
Microsoft delays its unified search plans
At Ignite 2018—yes, that long ago—Microsoft announced that it would make search consistent across Bing, Edge, Office, and Windows and unify it all under the Microsoft Search banner. Since then, alas, little has happened on that front, though we did see the needed separation of Cortana and Search in Windows 10 in 2019. Now, Mary Jo Foley is reporting that Microsoft has delayed its plans for unified search until late 2020 at the earliest. Microsoft Search is coming to Windows 10 in Q4 2020, a quietly-updated roadmap notes, but it’s not clear yet when the changes are coming elsewhere in the Microsoft ecosystem. Perhaps the firm’s ill-advised attempt to jam a Bing extension into Chrome-using Office 365 subscribers’ PCs is part of the delay. Or maybe we’ll just blame Coronavirus, conveniently.
“How much is Microsoft Office?”
Slack says its working on Teams integration
And, no, it’s not April 1st, so this can only mean one thing: The end of Slack is nigh. “We’re working on Teams integrations for calling features,” Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield said during a call with analysts this week. That’s quite the capitulation for a company that stupidly “welcomed” Microsoft when it announced its Slack-killer, Teams. “Wow, big news! Congratulations on today’s announcements!” a Slack full-page ad in the New York Times read. “We’re genuinely excited to have some competition.” Yeah, I bet they’re not so excited right now, given that Teams usage surged passed Slack earlier this year and has since exploded (in a good way) because of the Coronavirus. Ah, hubris.
“Apple finally admits Microsoft was right about tablets”
Yeah, outselling Surface 10-to-1 really hurt them.


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A new Gartner research report, “Predicts 2019: The Ambiguous Future of Privacy,” takes a wide-ranging look at the impact of privacy and data protection regulations on brands and their customers.
According to the report, within the next two years, “backup and archiving of personal data will represent the largest area of privacy risk for 70% of organizations” compared to 10% in 2018. The report also predicts that by 2023 more than one-fourth of “GDPR-driven proof-of-consent implementations will involve blockchain technology” up from less than 2% in 2018.”
While “proof of concept” consent management initiatives and vendor solutions are relatively few in number due to immediate emphasis on GDPR implementation, the application of blockchain to consent management is noted as an “emerging scenario.” As part of the report’s detailed exploration of blockchain and decentralized consent management,Resulticks is named as a sample vendor with an existing initiative for GDPR compliance.
Other key findings are that the increasingly stringent regulations focused on “restoring the sanctity of individual privacy rights” pose both financial and personal risks, including jail sentences, for non-compliance. The report’s recommendations offer specific guidance to security and risk managers on how to maintain “a long-term competitive advantage and a sustainable customer-friendly operation.”


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Phnom Penh, 22 July 2011
By Sok Lak
Gigabyte Company, Taiwan, was giving official distribution of Gigabyte brand, which is a famous brand selling around the world with $US783 million earning income in 2010 and except to continue growing for 2011, to Cambodia. The ceremony of giving official distribution to Cambodia for USC Technology Company launched on July 19 in Phnom Penh.
According to Regional Director for Indochina Ceritia Wei, said that after connecting partnership with USC Technology Company for Cambodia market, Gigabyte products is getting support from all Cambodian people especially students, employee and employer in organization.
“Cambodia market demand is increasing in progress especially for the beginning of 2011,” she added.
During giving official distribution and product launching for Gigabyte brand ceremony, Bruce Yin, President and CEO of USC Technology, said that Gigabyte brand will gain big market share and become leading product in Cambodia soon.


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Westgate Mall in Brockton to be put up for auction
The Westgate Mall will be put up for auction next month, according to a legal notice.
The notice says the mall will be auctioned at 11 a.m. on Nov. 18.
Mayor James E. Harrington and Ward 7 City Councilor Chris MacMillan said today they only learned in recent days that the mall had been placed into foreclosure.
Both officials said they don’t expect the mall to close for any period of time as a result.
The 532,135-square-foot mall has been foreclosed by Bank of America Large Loan, Inc., according to the legal notice. A Bank of America spokesman did not immediately have information available.
The auction will be held in the parking lot next to Modell’s at the mall.
The mall sold for $58.59 million in 2004 to Gregory Greenfield and Associates Ltd. of Atlanta.


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“With its leading, standards-based technology, roster of very talented people and strong international operations, Open Market represents a key acquisition for
divine,” said Andrew “Flip” Filipowski, divine chairman and CEO.
Under terms of the acquisition, Open Market stockholders will swap each share they hold for approximately 0.8230 and 0.8598 shares of divine common stock.
Pending approval buy shareholders and regulators, the pact is expected to be completed by year’s end.
Another component of the agreement, which allows divine’s sales force will begin selling Open Market products, takes effect immediately. Open Market’s platform is
used to deploy portals, marketing campaigns, and online publications.
“We see a tremendous opportunity to combine our technology offerings and leverage divine’s technology, sales, and services expertise to help our customers
efficiently manage and deliver all of their content resources to reduce costs and strengthen customer loyalty,” said Harland LaVigne, Open Market’s
chairman, president and CEO.
In addition to its technology, Burlington, Mass.-based Open Market, was attractive because of its overseas offices. The company, which had sales of $89 million in
2000, has offices in the Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Chicago-based Divine gave no indication about post-merger staff cuts. More details are expected to be released during a conference call this afternoon.
The value of the deal is a result of both company’s stock free fall in the last year. OMKT, which opened down 0.09, or 8 percent, to 1.02, had traded as high as
9.625 in the last year. DVIN, which saw shares edge up 0.07, or 6 percent, to 1.29, has a 52-week high of 9.375.


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The company issued a first image of Citroen-teaser of a new model of the Citroen line of premium DS.
Judging by the picture, the novelty will be the largest model in a line of Citroen DS.As expected, the new leader would be called the Citroen DS9.
Stylistically reminiscent of the novelty concept Citroen Metropolis, first shown at the Shanghai auto show two years ago. Recall that the basis of ”Metropolis“ went to the modernized platform borrowed from the Citroen C6.
So we are likely new flagship model of the French, which will replace the model C6.


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Covid-19 has completely upended the shopping industry and smaller retailers have been hit particularly hard. In a recent survey, the Society for Human Resource Management found more than 60 percent of small businesses experienced revenue losses due to the coronavirus. Estimates from ratings site Yelp show more than 97,000 businesses — both small and major — have permanently closed over the course of the pandemic. And while Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday sales are dominating the current shopping landscape, with the National Retail Federation expecting approximately $760 billion in total sales over the shopping period, a roughly 5 percent increase from 2019. If you want to help direct some of that into the hands of small businesses, there are simple ways to do so, and the most important one is buying from them. Shopping small can help retailers who shuttered earlier this year and lost sales due to the pandemic, noted Jovita Carranza, who heads of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
“There is a tremendous impact made when we shop at businesses in our communities – these are the locally owned mom-and-pop stores, boutiques, gift stores, craft shops and eateries that provide unique products and a personal touch,” Carranza said. “Supporting these businesses that are pivoting and retooling helps to strengthen, rebuild, and boost our economy.”
Around 75 percent of Americans say they feel more compelled to support small business as a result of the pandemic, according to a survey from Ware2Go, a UPS-owned company which helps businesses scale their production. And over half of those surveyed say their main reason for shopping small is the benefit to the economy. If you also want to get involved and send some dollars the way of small business, you’ve likely got plenty of brick-and-mortar options in your neighborhood, from the corner store to the beauty salon, where you can invest in both products and those businesses. And you also have plenty of online alternatives. To help give you a sense of those, we compiled some of the best options, from artisan marketplaces to larger retailers like Etsy and Amazon that offer small businesses storefronts with global reach.
What is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday is on Saturday, Nov. 28, an annual holiday encouraging consumers to shop locally. Like Amazon’s storied invention of Prime Day, it was credit card giant American Express that started Small Business Saturday ten years ago. The date typically occurs at the start of the holiday shopping season, encouraging shoppers to buy their gifts from smaller brands. Consumers can find unique, handmade goods they might not be able to get at a larger retailer. Shopping local can mean personalized service, unique product offerings and greater levels of service overall compared to big-box retailers, said Steve Denton, the CEO of Ware2Go.
While the pandemic may have severely restricted in-person shopping, many smaller brands have pivoted to online stores, including selling on social media, using third party platforms, offering curbside pickup and introducing contactless delivery.
“So whether online, curbside, safely in-store or shouting out your favorite small business on social media, we can all help make an impact by shopping small, said Andy Goldberg, SVP of global brand management and planning at American Express.
Where to shop online during Small Business Saturday
Given various ongoing constraints to in-store shopping, advised Tom Sullivan, vice president of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, check your local store’s website first for deals and discounts. If you’re looking for local brands but don’t know where to start, one resource might be Merchant Maps from American Express. Amazon and Instagram often highlight smaller independent retailers, too, making it easy to support local vendors.
In addition to buying, consumers can indirectly support local businesses by offering positive online reviews. Online engagement can drive traffic (and revenue) to your favorite local business, a low lift for you and a high gain to help businesses stay in business.
“We know that word of mouth goes a long way and is helpful for businesses to reach new customers and audiences. Sharing products from businesses you love on Instagram is super easy via DMs and Stories,” said Leigh Belz Ray, Instagram’s @Shop editorial lead.
Ready to start spending to support small and local businesses? Here are some marketplaces rife with options to safely and responsibly shop locally online, including how to shop small on major retail marketplaces like Amazon, Instagram and Etsy.
The massive retailer’s internal Small Business Impact report argues that half the products sold on the site come from small and medium-sized retailers.
- Shoppers can shop local via the Support Small page, which highlights smaller businesses and allows users to search for products they sell.
- It also lets you navigate to small businesses by region, from the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains and Southeast.
- Shoppers can also filter their local businesses by product type or business owners like Black-owned, family-owned and women-owned. Finally, to help your gifting list along, Amazon also has a small business-centric gift guide.
This online marketplace provides a platform for local bookstores to sell their collections with the reach of a mainstream retailer. The retailer promises that all profits are split among independent bookstores, giving 75 percent of its “profit margin to stores, publications, authors and others who make up the thriving, inspirational culture around books.”
- Shoppers can find specific local bookstores on Bookshop’s map.
- Bookshop’s creative books curations also make book shopping somewhat fun and intriguing, from options like Activist, Solutions-Oriented books and Cozy Reads to Award-Winning Indigenous Titles, Man Booker Prize Nominees and the Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2020.
- As with other booksellers, you can also navigate by genres, from science fiction to LGBTQ+.
The reader-favorite online retailer, which provides a platform to uncountable independent makers and sellers and small businesses, is days into its Cyber Week Sales Event, which gets you up to 60 percent off across the site through Dec. 2.
- The sale allows shoppers to navigate discounted options across categories, from personalized gifts for him and her and face masks to home decor and furniture.
- Outside of the sale, Etsy is home to virtually any type of product you might want, from art and collectibles to crafting supplies and jewelry.
Novica features products from artisans around the world. Products are hand-crafted and are typically based in specific cultures and traditions.
- Shoppers can navigate home decor, jewelry, face masks and more.
- You can also shop by world regions or countries, from West Africa and India to the Andes and Mexico.
- Expect to find one-of-a-kind gifts all over the site, from unique gifts to paintings.
Novica’s offering a staggered sale during Black Friday, discounts depending on the total order amount.
The social media company launched Shops earlier this year in response to the pandemic, a tool for small businesses to create online stores on Facebook’s platform. Shops is accessible from Facebook, Instagram and the company’s other apps. Consumers can shop and buy within their account without switching apps. If you don’t know where to start shopping, Instagram also highlights some small businesses on their Shop account, said Ray.
This product advice company created a Small Biz Shopping Directory to help consumers find products from smaller retailers. The directory organizes small vendors by product type, from hobby supplies and clothes to health and wellness and pets. Each vendor listing has a link to the business’ website so you can buy directly from them. The Product Boss also pushed shoppers to take the Shop 1 in 5 pledge, a promise to buy one in every five gifts from a small business.


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New supply chain commitments to promote environmental best practices amongst small and medium farms
Walmart yesterday hailed a "new era" in its approach to the agricultural sector, launching a major new initiative designed to promote sustainable farming techniques amongst its global network of small...
Germany, France and Sweden are among the countries advocating a faster transition to a clean economy, in a critical year for strengthening ambition
Hospitality giant to stock cohort of mid-range and budget hotels with natural coloured towels, robes and bedlinens in bid to cut carbon footprint
Danish wind giant announces first foray into commercial storage with plan to build 20MW battery near Liverpool
EXCLUSIVE: Labour's Barry Gardiner attacks government over Clean Growth Strategy's failure to meet either current emissions targets or mooted net zero goal


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Hot on the heels of a Samsung-focused handset rumor, a new report claiming to have details about an upcoming HTC handset has made its way online. According to a source speaking to Stuff.tv, HTC is prepping a follow-up to the One X, which may be codenamed the Endeavour C2 (the One X was the Endeavor). The Endeavour C2 is said to feature a 1.7GHz quad-core processor and an improved battery under its hood, and we're also told to expect a new color variant and UrBeats headphones bundled in (so much for that "unlikely to bundle headphones" thing?). HTC is reportedly packing in ClearVoice software for better call quality, which should be helpful for those times you actually use the thing as a phone, as well as a new HTC Watch 2 app. Finally, the Endeavour C2 will reportedly be compatible with the One X's accessories, meaning that it'd likely feature a similar form factor.
We've recently heard rumblings of a device referred to as the "HTC One X+," which is said to feature a 1.7GHz quad-core chip just like this Endeavour 2. Considering that device's One X+ name and today's claim that the Endeavour C2 may work with the One X's accessories, and therefore have a similar body, it's entirely possible that the One X+ and Endeavor C2 are actually the same device. The rumor mill claims that the One X+ might be hitting T-Mobile here in the U.S. as soon as September 26, which also fits nicely with Stuff.tv's claim that the Endeavour C2 could arrive in the U.K. around October 1. If those dates hold true, an unveiling may not be far off, so keep it locked to PhoneDog for more.


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OneCare marks Microsoft'sinto the consumer antivirus market. The product combines antivirus, anti-spyware and firewall software with backup features and several tune-up tools for Windows PCs. It will be sold online and in stores, , Microsoft has said.
As OneCare hits the homestretch, Microsoft is putting the final touches on the product. The "beta refresh" released Thursday adds anti-spyware functionality to the software, the one main feature that wasn't yet part of the beta product. The anti-spyware features come from Windows Defender,that's also in beta.
The integration of anti-spyware in OneCare isn't completely done--the usability and ease of management could be better, Yoav Schwartz, OneCare's lead program manager, wrote on a Microsoft corporate blog Thursday. "As Windows Defender comes out of beta, you'll see the level of integration improve," he wrote.
Aside from the addition of spyware detection, Microsoft also made a host of smaller changes to improve the stability and speed of the security product, Schwartz wrote. Furthermore, the name of the product was changed from Windows OneCare Live to Windows Live OneCare, to better fit with Microsoft's.
Users might also notice that the refreshed beta no longer has a beta tag in the user interface. This doesn't mean, however, that the product is now out of the testing stages, Schwartz wrote. "Dropping the beta tag simply means we're getting closer to final availability," he wrote.
Microsoft announced itsin May 2005. Invited testers have been since last July, and a was released late last year. About 170,000 people are testing OneCare. The final version is due in June and will cost $49.95 a year for use on up to three PCs. As a thank-you, testers can get a discounted rate of $19.95 per year for the product if they sign up in April, Microsoft has said.


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In the United States, credit cards remain the dominant payment method for adult websites whether they are membership sites or sites specializing in tangible goods (such as sex toys and BDSM equipment). But unfortunately for adult ecommerce — and mainstream ecommerce as well — American banks are much tighter with credit than they were before the economic crash of September, 2008. More credit applications are being declined, existing credit lines are being reduced, and banks have been eliminating credit cards they consider "dormant" even if the person has a stellar credit history.
For adult ecommerce, America's credit crunch raises a number of questions. Will credit cards remain the dominant online payment method for adult transactions in the U.S.? And will more American adult webmasters be turning to billing methods other than credit cards in the future?
"I think the credit crunch is primarily affecting the extension of new credit to consumers, and its greatest impact is in sectors that rely on a high risk tolerance on the part of lenders — like real estate, small business loans and other areas in which banks have been hesitant to extend large lines of credit," explained Q. Boyer, director of public relations for TopBucks/PinkVisual. "Certainly, it has also affected the ability of some first-time applicants to obtain credit cards, but the impact of that on our sales and revenue is difficult to gauge. As a company, our sales have actually been on the increase over the last year, due in large part to the growth of our mobile sector."
Raphael A. Berkien, business development manager for the alternative payment solutions provider 2000Charge, pointed out that in Europe, credit is less of an issue for adult webmasters because in many European countries, credit cards are the exception instead of the rule for online adult billing. Berkien, who grew up in Holland but now lives in Los Angeles, noted that in Europe, credit cards take a back seat to bank account debiting and SMS/phone billing for adult Internet transactions, saying that alternative payments have been increasing for adult ecommerce in the United States and will continue to do so, although credit cards remain the country's primary adult online payment method.
"The U.S. is so credit-driven, whereas most of the European countries — including Holland, where I'm from — are not credit-driven," Berkien said. "In Holland, they don't have a credit score per se like they do here in the United States. If you apply for a car here, they check your credit. Credit cards are never going to disappear in the United States, but will the credit crunch inspire more Americans to look to alternative billing methods? Absolutely. American consumers have less credit than did four or five years ago, and bank-driven payment solutions — as opposed to Visa or MasterCard — have made progress in the U.S. because of the tightening of credit."
Another thing that will likely inspire more Americans to look into alternative payment methods for online adult transactions, Berkien added, is the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, which went into effect on February 22, 2010 and mandates, among other things, a minimum payment explanation on credit card statements.
Now, credit card statements must tell consumers how long it will take to pay off an existing debt and how much that debt will increase if only the minimum monthly payments are made and no additional debts are added. When American consumers see that information on a statement, Berkien said, more of them will consider alternative billing methods for adult Internet transactions.
Combine that minimum payment explanation with an overall climate of reduced credit, Berkien said, and you have a recipe for more Americans turning to alternative billing.
"The credit crunch has been good for us because alternative payment methods have grown. Tighter credit doesn't mean that credit cards will go away, but it means that there won't be as many credit card sales in this country," Berkien explained. "I think that more Americans will switch to alternative payment methods because (1) the amount of credit is being limited, and (2) your statement now has evidence that shows you how expensive it can be to use a credit card. When Americans get their credit card statements in the mail and see how long it will take them to pay off their balances if they make the minimum payment, they are going to think twice about the purchases they make with their credit cards."
"People will realize that even a recurring $24.95 charge for an adult membership site can become expensive if you are only paying the minimum on your credit card bill," Berkien concluded.
Boyer said that he would like to see SMS billing become an online payment option for erotica in the U.S, but he noted that consumers won't have that option as long as American telecoms continue to distance themselves from adult entertainment.
"I highly doubt that the American billing landscape will become significantly more like that of Europe in the future," Boyer said. "There are such fundamental differences in law, attitude, and corporate risk tolerance with respect to pornographic materials that I just can't see the U.S. moving in a 'European direction,' so to speak. For example, as it stands now in Europe, SMS billing for erotic materials is commonplace, whereas in America, it is entirely nonexistent."
"This is something that will change only if American carriers/telecoms change their policies with respect to adult materials and SMS," Boyer added. "As it stands now, no American carriers permit or support billing for adult content via SMS, and I strongly doubt any of them are going to change their tune any time soon. I would very much like to be proved wrong in that last assertion, however."
Despite the economic downturn, business has been good for Lisa Lawless, founder of the Colorado-based Holistic Wisdom Corporation. Lawless, whose company specializes in online sex toy sales, said that "Our credit card sales are still going strong and are over 95 percent of our sales."
Lawless noted that because credit has become tighter and consumers have grown savvier about how and where they spend their money, she has been making a point of offering bargains for her customers such as coupons and gift certificates.
How long American banks will remain tight-fisted with credit remains to be seen. But however long the credit crunch continues, Boyer said, credit cards are ingrained in the consciousness of so many American consumers — including those who use the adult Internet.
"I believe that credit cards will continue to be the dominant billing method in the U.S. for the foreseeable future," Boyer concluded. "Among other reasons, there are relatively few alternatives to credit card billing for the American consumer, and I think there's something to the notion that we are a 'credit card culture' in this country. Americans are accustomed to pulling out their credit cards to pay for just about everything, and I think it is going to be pretty difficult for another form of payment to gain penetration and user adoption that would significantly erode the stranglehold credit cards have on American consumer purchase habits."


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Man, May—or “wild rumor month”—certainly is kicking off with a bang this year. With rumors circulating the web earlier in the year regarding a new Nintendo console featuring a unified portable and stand-alone unit, tentatively titled “Fusion,” recent reports across the gaming world suggest these claims may have a little more weight to them after all. It appears Nintendo’s may be set to unveil new hardware in some capacity at this year’s E3, but what exactly does that mean for the greater Nintendo community?
According to IGN’s own co-founder Peer Schneider, “[Nintendo’s] absolutely going to show new hardware this year. No doubt in my mind.” He claims that multiple sources, including a former employee at Nintendo, have all but confirmed the video gaming giant is set to formally unveil their new console at the year’s biggest gaming expo, and all signs point to this console being the notorious Nintendo Fusion detailed earlier in the year.
For those who may have missed it, the Nintendo Fusion was documented as a unified home console with an interconnected, yet separate, portable controller—much like a Wii U GamePad—that would serve as a handheld when removed from the console’s proximity. Boasting impressive technical specifications, this new console would thrust Nintendo in direct competition with the high-end specs of its competitors, even surpassing the offerings from Microsoft and Sony in certain areas. With the 3DS flourishing and the ailing Wii U less than two years old, it seems baffling to be discussing a new console so soon, but these claims aren’t without merit.
In 2013, Nintendo merged its home console and handheld divisions into one concise unit, stating that, in the future, the company would develop both parts of their business side-by-side, creating a unified approach that would synchronize the portable and home console strategy. Adding fuel to the fire, in their most recent investors’ meeting Nintendo announced that they were set to launch a third pillar to their business model, something they call, “Quality of Life.” It stands to reason that this newly announced pillar hasn’t been integrated into its current hardware, and this could be a key reason Nintendo’s moving forward with new hardware so soon—though it should be noted that there is no indication that this hardware will release any time in the near future.
As of now, this is all merely part of the wild rumor mill that begins the month before E3, but with some of the biggest news outlets in the gaming industry reporting on the matter, it appears there’s more fact than fiction in this particular claim. What’s our community think on the subject? Is it too soon to be talking about new hardware? Or is it time to move on from Nintendo’s struggling home console? Express yourselves in the comment section below.


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Carlyle Group LP is exploring a sale of one of the largest US herbal supplement maker, Nature's Bounty Co, Bloomberg reported on Friday. Carlyle has held talks with potential advisers about selling the Ronkonkoma, New York-based Nature's Bounty, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Full investment news articleRelevent to this post: The Carlyle Group,


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Hannover Re’s life and health reinsurance segment performed well in the opening six months of 2018, however, the reinsurer’s decision to increase rates across a block of U.S. mortality business, in light of its negative earnings situation, is expected to result in considerable strains during the second-half of the year.
The German reinsurance giant decided last year to analyse its U.S. mortality business amid rising losses that had been adversely impacting the company.
Overall, and excluding mortality business, Hannover Re’s life and health reinsurance segment performed better than expected in H1 2018, recording an operating profit of €219 million, which is an increase of 33% on the previous year.
The reinsurer noted, in its H1 2018 earnings release, that the performance of life and health reinsurance in H1 highlights the potential for healthy profits in this business, but in order for this to be fully realised, the negative earnings situation in U.S. mortality needs to be contained.
Based on analysis of the business, and particularly with respect to a large block of business acquired in early 2009, in Q2 2018 Hannover Re decided to implement consistent reinsurance rate increases across “all similar treaties that form part of this business,” which gives ceding companies the right to recapture treaties.
“The right of ceding companies to recapture treaties will, however, lead to considerable strains on the IFRS result in life and health reinsurance in the second-half of 2018,” warned Hannover Re.
Adding that, in the third-quarter of 2018, it’s already been notified about recaptures from ceding companies in the period until August 6th, 2018, that will drive a pre-tax charge of $264 million.
In an extreme scenario, says Hannover Re, this figure could jump to between $500 million and $600 million. Should the recapture charges amount to this much, the operating profit of €200 million expected for the life and health reinsurance unit in 2018, would not be attainable, warned the reinsurer.
While the impact of rate increases across the block of business and subsequent recaptures is expected to result in short-term strains, in the long-run, the recaptures will have a positive effect as Hannover Re avoids future losses that would have occurred absent the rate increases.
“On the other hand, the charge to earnings from US mortality business in subsequent years would be extensively eliminated, and we could therefore anticipate a substantial surge in profitability,” continued Hannover Re.
Hannover Re’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ulrich Wallin, commented: “Bearing in mind the business development to date, we confirm our net income target of more than EUR 1 billion for 2018, although strains will be incurred in the second half of the year from portfolio management actions in connection with our US mortality business. This is something that we are willing to accept because we are thereby avoiding higher losses in subsequent years.”
The reinsurer clearly sees the potential for its life and health reinsurance segment to produce solid profitability and generate increased value for the firm, but, recognises the need to take a smaller hit now, by taking actions on its poorly performing U.S. mortality book, in order to reap the benefits in the future and ultimately ensure the unit can operate more profitably.


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A closer reading of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations regarding R-22 from several sources within the HVACR industry seems to say that equipment can no longer be pre-charged by the manufacturer with virgin R-22 as of 2010. But there does not appear to be any prohibition from manufacturers shipping R-22 units without virgin R-22, leaving it up to the buyer to figure out how to get enough R-22 to have the system later charged by a contractor.
In general, unitary manufacturers appear committed to a preponderance of R-410A coming off the assembly lines in 2010. But what, if any, new R-22 unitary equipment might still be in production in 2010 is unclear.
Entering into the mix is the fact that several refrigerant manufacturers have already introduced to the industry a number of HFC refrigerants designed to work with mineral oil and being marketed as retrofitable into R-22 systems.
“Basically there is no ban on the production of R-22 equipment as long as it is not pre-charged with virgin R-22,” said Talbot Gee, vice president of the Heating, Airconditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI). In fact, Gee said his reading of regulations indicate that manufacturers would even be allowed to pre-charge systems with reclaimed R-22.
Gee said one concern has been the lack of adequate promotion of R-410A equipment. “Building and facility owners have no interest in R-410A. They still see R-22 equipment coming off the assembly line.”
A DANGEROUS ASSUMPTIONThat may be a dangerous - and costly - assumption, according to a statement from Trane. “While there may be ways around the R-22 phaseout regulations starting in 2010, such as shipping equipment less refrigerant and allowing customers to charge the unit with recycled/reclaimed/recovered refrigerant, the economics do not make this feasible.”
The reference was to the rising cost of and phaseout of virgin R-22.
“The recent Montreal Protocol changes and an updated look at supply-demand scenarios reveal that supplies in 2010 may be much tighter than originally anticipated, including the possibility that virgin R-22 supplies may be short,” said Kevin P. O’Shea, North American marketing manager for DuPont Refrigerants.
Rather than continuing to order new equipment formatted for R-22, O’Shea said owners need to look at what R-22 equipment they already have and make sure they have adequate supplies of refrigerant through the life of the equipment.
“Equipment owners that have a large base of HCFC systems in place today will need to actively implement plans to retrofit or replace equipment so they have sufficient time and budget for an orderly transition away from HCFCs.”
He went on to say, “Unless the HVACR industry immediately steps up actions and promotes techniques to ease demand for HCFCs and minimize potential supply shortfalls, accelerated HCFC phaseout targets in 2010 may significantly impact the availability and cost of R-22 in the marketplace sooner than originally thought. Contractors and equipment owners can mitigate the potential for a shortfall by taking action now to reduce demand for R-22 and reclaim the supply that is currently available. Additionally, they can implement proper maintenance and repair practices to increase the amount of viable R-22 that can be reclaimed.”
For the record, Trane said its approach “will be to stop offering new R-22 compatible equipment to the U.S. market post 2009. We do not anticipate much, if any, field-installed R-22 systems being implemented post 2009.”
Trane said it would continue to offer components, such as compressors, for R-22 equipment already in the field as part of the company’s commitment to the aftermarket sector.
NEW HFCSEntering into the equation is a current preponderance of HFC refrigerants that a number of refrigerant manufacturers say will work with equipment originally designed for HCFC-22. These blended refrigerants usually have a small amount of propane or similar refrigerant to assist in oil return and also work with mineral oil.
For the most part, the refrigerant manufacturers see such refrigerants as interim solutions in the transition from R-22 equipment to R-410A equipment. But at least one refrigerant producer sees the value of such refrigerants for OEMs who want to continue to produce R-22 equipment.
Steven Mella, CEO of ComStar International Inc., said a refrigerant his company has with an ASHRAE designation of R-434A “can be adapted by equipment OEMs that want to continue to use their R-22 systems without going through the re-engineering required for a R-410A system.”
But Ted Gartland, who once worked for a refrigerant manufacturer and now works for the refrigerant management company Verisae, wonders about using refrigerants for which a piece of equipment was not originally designed.
“Take, for instance, a field-built walk-in. A contractor could use HFC-407C equipment and charge it with recovered R-22. R-407C could be used in 13 SEER R-22 equipment, but would it still be 13 SEER?”
WHAT ABOUT WARRANTIESHARDI’s Gee said the aftermarket use of refrigerants for which the equipment was not originally designed raises questions about manufacturers honoring warranties. One development contractors should watch for in the next few years, he said, is for any OEMs designating certain refrigerants beyond those originally designed for use in a certain piece of equipment as acceptable for that equipment and honoring warranties.
The EPA regulation generating the questions is 40 CFR 32.16(c). It became part of the “frequently asked question” part of the agency’s Website. The Q&A dealt primarily with the issue of import and export of R-22 equipment. But within the language of the rule and the answer, some saw a connection to the issue of domestic production of R-22 equipment.
In part the reply said, “The current provisions limit production and import of virgin R-22 or R-142b as of Jan. 1, 2010. However, these provisions apply to bulk shipments only. They do not address products that contain or are manufactured with R-22 or R-142b. The EPA is concerned with the environmental impacts that could result from the potential continued imports of HCFC pre-charged products after the phase out of production and importation of bulk substances. Therefore, the EPA is evaluating options for addressing these concerns.”
The fact that the regulation relates to imports is yet another aspect of the equation. Gee said wholesalers are interpreting current regulations as allowing domestic manufacturers to continue to produce R-22 equipment offshore and import such products into the United States for sale, provided it is not actually charged with R-22.


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Royal celebrations continue – at Buckingham Palace!
Our royal celebrations continue – this week we met with The Queen!
Precision Dippings Manufacturing’s directors Kate Richards and Douglas King attended a reception at the Palace on Thursday evening, hosted by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh for winners of the 2016 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise.
In April, the company was announced as a winner, for the innovation behind its range of reusable waterproof arm and leg protectors for plaster casts, Bloccs.
Co-director Kate commented:
“We’re so proud to have received this recognition, and completely honoured to have met with The Queen as a result.
“Bloccs are the first product Precision Dippings has designed, marketed and sold to consumers.
“Every year, they help thousands of people during injury recover, to be more independent and continue to enjoy much awaited holidays”.
Sales and export figures for Bloccs have increased year-on-year since the waterproof protectors were launched in 2013.
Kate added that the product’s growth had exceeded all expectations and the Queen’s Award win could provide a springboard for further success.
“We see potential for growth in Australia and the United States” she added.
“Bloccs are the first consumer product we’ve taken to market since Precision Dippings started in 1964, so we’re incredibly proud of this award win.”
Read more about Bloccs’ 2016 Queen’s Award win.
Previous news story | Next news story


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Durban - There was much anticipation ahead of Apple’s launch of its new iPhone on Tuesday night – and it appeared most of the rumours about what to expect were true.
Apple launched two products at a media event at its Cupertino campus in California.
The iPhone 5C and 5S will replace the current iPhone 5.
The iPhone 5C is the cheapest iPhone Apple has ever released and will help the company “serve more customers”.
Its case is made of “hard-coated polycarbonate” and will come in five colours: green, white, blue, coral and yellow.
Apple’s Sir Jonathan Ive said the iPhone 5C was “beautifully, unapologetically plastic”.
Other features included a 4-inch screen with retina display, widescreen video, integrated touch, an A5 processor and a slightly longer battery life than the iPhone 5.
In the US it will cost $99 (R990) for the 16GB model and $199 (R1 999) for the 32GB version on a two-year contract, significantly cheaper than previous versions. It is highly unlikely that it will be this cheap in South Africa.
The high-end iPhone 5S was described by the developers as “the most forward-thinking phone we’ve ever created”.
It comes with a 64-bit A7 chip which will make it the first 64-bit smartphone and, according to Apple, it will be up to 50 percent faster than the previous model. The battery life will also last longer.
The iPhone 5S will not be available in silver, gold or “space grey”.
A new security feature called “Touch ID” will allow users to unlock their device using their fingerprint. The iPhone 5S also comes with a new camera. In the US the 5S starts at $199 for 16GB on a two-year contract.
Both phones will be available on September 20 in the US, Australia and Canada.
Apple said it planned to have the phones in 100 countries by December. - The Mercury


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Published on Apr 2, 2009
Google provided a look inside its data center operations at the Google Data Center Efficiency Summit held Wednesday in Mountain View, Calif. The presentations included a video tour of a Google data center, which showcased the companys use of shipping containers to store servers and storage. Each of these 40-foot data center containers can house up to 1,160 servers, and Google has been using them since it began building its own facilities in 2005. The company will post complete videos from the event next week.


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Scott Technology to boost staff in local markets
Investors in Scott Technology, the industrial robotics firm, have been told its order book remains at a high level, with moves afoot to increase its manufacturing capacity and the number of staff.
Chief executive Chris Hopkins told the annual general meeting in Christchurch that he expected the biggest opportunities to come from the mining and meat processing sectors in the near term, where he said new products are already being commercialised.
The Dunedin-based company completed a scheme of arrangement in April which raked in $41 million of new capital after Brazilian meat processor JBS took a 50.1% majority stake, some existing shareholders sold down, and others took up their entitlements under the associated rights issue. At balance date, the company had $34 million of cash in the bank and no debt.
According to notes published on the NZX, Mr Hopkins told investors that they would look to put more people into local markets.
"Supporting engineering sales and marketing efforts with local staff ensures we pick up and respond to emerging trends impacting on our customers," he said.
Chairman Stuart McLauchlan sounded a note of warning about a world in which governments were becoming increasingly protectionist.
"We are hopeful the incoming leadership in the US States the work of previous administrations to liberalise trade flows around the world, which have brought substantial benefits to many nations and their people over the past few decades," he said. "Talk of tariffs and punitive actions against trading nations selling into the US market has raised the prospect of trade wars and the undoing of all the progress that has been made to lift many tens of millions of people around the world out of poverty."
Scott Technology has sales and service offices in Dallas, Texas and Marion, Ohio in the US. McLauchlan said that 84% of its revenues in the past 12 months had come from outside New Zealand.
Shares in Scott Technology were unchanged at $2.06 and have risen 39.8% since the start of the year.


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Martin Lewis fumes at the 77% price cap increase on bills
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The price cap announcement was made by Ofgem yesterday, with the regulator warning customers face a very challenging winter ahead. Cornwall Insight suggested the typical household is set to pay £3,358 per year from October, with further hikes due in January.
Ofgem states the change to the price cap is designed to provide stability needed in the energy market, given rising prices.
However, Express.co.uk readers hit back against the news of the price cap change, with many worried about the future and the prospect of higher bills.
Pope remarked: “Nothing ever goes down as much as it goes up in this country.
“I remember the fuss there was when petrol hit £1 a gallon – it’s what, now, £7? We are the victims as usual, and this is no longer tolerable!”
Karma34 said: “No! Something has to be done! This is daylight robbery under a false agenda.”
Simo69 penned: “GREED, GREED, GREED. Nothing more, nothing less than just greed. There is no need for any of it whatsoever.”
While Ter Minator wrote: “Every three months. Prices increases more often by moving to a three monthly review.
“Very few decreases in the prices of electric and gas, and loads of price increases. Give it time, the prices will be changing every day.”
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Heidi611 said: “While these companies make massive profit out of our misery, this has to stop!
“The Government must help us by putting the cap back on gas and electricity or people will definitely die in the winter.”
And Crockett42 stated: “Seriously, what’s going to happen when your hard working class customers simply cannot afford to pay their energy bills?”
However, the measure has been explained as helping to prevent price shocks for consumers.
Ofgem stated the change means price rises and falls will be passed on to customers more quickly to help keep them in the know.
The regulator acknowledged many households will face struggles, particularly as the colder months draw closer.
Jonathan Brearley, CEO of Ofgem, said: “I know this situation is deeply worrying for many people.
“The trade-offs we need to make on behalf of consumers are extremely difficult and there are simply no easy answers right now.
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“The changes ensure the price cap does its job, making sure customers are only paying the real cost of their energy, but also, that it can adapt to the current volatile market.”
Ofgem has vowed to continue working closer with the Government alongside consumer groups and energy companies.
The regulator states it will be looking into further support measures to assist Britons with higher prices.
Greg Hands, energy minister, acknowledged the potential benefits of the price cap change.
He added: “It makes sense for the cap to be adjusted at a reasonable frequency.
“If energy prices were to start to fall people would see those benefits more quickly.”
Source: Read Full Article


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City: Little Rock
Category: Business Executive of the Year
Kevin Lamb is a textbook entrepreneur: He spotted a small but growing void in the market and jumped in to fill it.
Since he and his wife, Sharon, founded Advanced Tissue in 2000, its revenue has grown to "significantly" more than $10 million per year with no end in sight.
Advanced Tissue sells about 700 different products, but it really does one thing: ship precisely prescribed wound-care kits to patients, mostly for use at home.
Non-healing wounds can be caused by a variety of conditions, but about 70 percent of Advanced Tissue's customers have diabetes, the ballooning medical problem that has created a potential market of $1 billion and "keeps me in the gym every day, I promise you," Lamb said.
Lamb, 51, has worked in the health care field for almost 30 years. In the late 1990s, he was working with pain management and noticed that patients, some with non-healing wounds, were being pushed back into home settings.
"We got to looking around in this market and thought, wow, this is emerging. This was not even a trend then," Lamb said.
Thirteen years later, Advanced Tissue has 135 employees and operates in 50 states. Unlike other businesses that cater to the growing diabetic market, Advanced Tissue doesn't market directly to patients. Instead, Lamb's 35-person sales staffers cultivate relationships with doctors, who order the exact products needed for the individual patient, whose needs typically change from month to month.
Most of the orders are paid for by Medicare, Medicaid or private health insurance, and Advanced Tissue is "brand neutral," Lamb said, delivering whatever the doctor says the patient needs.
Twelve employees in Lamb's west Little Rock warehouse ship out 115,000 to 120,000 orders per month. Proprietary software developed in-house allows Advanced Tissue to turn over its inventory every three weeks, controlling inventory costs.
Lamb said he had no plans to expand into any other services besides wound care. Why would he? "Of all the companies like us, only about $200 million in revenue is being produced. There's $800 million not being serviced."