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Acreage Holdings (CSE:ACRG.U,OTCQX:ACRGF) Director of Legal Compliance Gary Kaminsky talked about working with regulators and lawmakers in the US cannabis industry, Acreage’s M&A strategy and the impact the Farm Bill has had on the industry on the CSE’s Hashtag Finance podcast. Acreage is one of the largest vertically-integrated, multi-state owner of cannabis licenses and assets in the US with operations in 19 states.
Kaminsky discussed the risk management infrastructure system that Acreage is developing to help it build an institutional enterprise within the US cannabis industry. An important facet of Acreage’s business model is its M&A strategy. According to Kaminsky, Acreage is “very interested” in having the largest footprint in the US and is focused on bringing in partners that will fit under the company’s umbrella as they build out nationwide cannabis program. He went on to discuss the company’s acquisition of Form Factory, a copacking business in Oregon.
Kaminsky also provided an overview of his background in legal compliance before talking about working with cannabis lawmakers and regulators in the US. He believes that the relationship between cannabis operators and regulators is more collegial due to their partnership in establishing an industry together.
He also talked about the impact the Farm Bill has had on the hemp and CBD market in the US. Kaminsky pointed out that the signing of the Farm Bill did not make hemp legal and it is still considered to be a controlled substance by the FDA and USDA. Acreage Holding is looking to the future and the possible passing of the STATES Act, which will make hemp legal federally and allow the individual states to impose its own regulations for the plant.
To listen to the podcast, click here.


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Last year, actual EPS for March quarter was 12.30. Based on CFO's estimates, Analysts are projecting that Apple earnings are declining by 15.10% . You read that right. Analysts are projecting more than fifteen percent decline in earnings.
Apple CFO and team better fix these estimates. This is what is causing the selling.
Check the estimates here: http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ae?s=AAPL+Analyst+Estimates
You are acting as if this is shocking news that only you are privy to. Have you seen what they stock has done since earnings?
We will see what happens. The CFO only gave top line guidance $41 billion to $43 billion which is yoy growth ($39.2 billion same qrt last year)--but they also had pretty good gross margins last year (47.4%).
Apple earning roughly 1 billion per week---so its that bad---China sales growing at 50%, per qtr---so go figure your PE and tell me where you'll find a Milk Cow putting out this kind of milk--
Sentiment: Strong Buy
Based on the guidance from AAPL it will be around 8.23 to 9.18, a much bigger decline. Does this really matter? The real question is what is the proper multiple for the stock? GOOG trades above a PE of 20, MSFT at 15. Even if AAPL trades at 13 to 14, meaning AAPL is less profitable then GOOG and MSFT, which isn't the case, the stock should be trading in the mid to upper $500's. A lot of people lost a ton of money thinking the stock was going to skyrocket, don't be the guy who loses a ton thinking it will go to $0
Sheeple dont get that, stop bringing up facts. Think about the revenue increase for next quarter. From 11 to 12 it was 55%, and from 12 to 13 they are projecting 7%. 3rd and 4th quarter could be negative revenue growth if that trend keeps up and then EPS willl really be f'd. Sure they wont go to 0, but if the EPS drops to $30 by end of 2014 I wouldnt be surprised. Still a cash cow, but they have to spend about 3 billion a year just to stop the dilution, the dividend is pathetic compared to what other stocks are paying (although getting better every day). Absent a new product or better then expected results this could be a $300 stock in a year.
A 7% revenue increase over $50Billion is better for EPS than a 50% increase over 32 Billion. I get the concept of being forward looking but even if Apple remains flat its making 50Billion a quarter and being priced exponentially lower than say an AMZN who loses millions. Please explain that.
You have crazy math. At 8.72 and $100 that would mean that they would have have 11.4 in EPS an eighty percent decline in earnings. In the last two years they have sold 200 million phones, all of which will probably be replaced in the next two years. You were probably the same guy saying the stock could go up to $1000.
Would a CM deal increase EPS? More revenue does not translate to higher earnings. CM deal may mean Apple would sell more iPhones at a lower price too. Apple had more than $8 billion higher sales than last year in the current quarter, although earned the same amount of money. What are your thoughts?

domain: news


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Discount retailer B&M has announced it will set up a new shop in Clifton, which will bring 40 jobs to the area.
The new store will open in Green Lane as part of the Clifton Triangle Project which is seeing the area regenerated to include a Lidl and 24 apartments as well as non-food outlets.
More than 40 jobs will be created at the new shop, which is set to open in May 2018.
Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South, believes that the shop opening is a positive step for the area.
She said: “It is really good that it will be opening in Clifton. My constituents have been saying to me for a long time that they want a better range of shops in Clifton.
“The city council have put half a million pounds in to regenerate Clifton Triangle which is a further show of confidence that the local authority has in the area.
“I really hope in terms of all the jobs created that local people will have a really good opportunity to apply for these jobs.
“Residents have been talking about this for a really long time and it will bring challenges such as parking, traffic and impacting on local residents but overall this is very positive for Clifton.”
B&M is one of the UK’s fastest growing retailers and it offers a wide variety of branded products including toys, food and drink, pet range, health and beauty as well as homewares.
Clifton resident Vanessa Walch - who has lived in the area since she was four years old - said the estate had been "overlooked for years".
She said: "It's fantastic to have our own shopping centre as good as Nottingham city centre on our doorstep.
"I truly believe that the estate has been overlooked for so many years.
"This will also help with employment in the area if the shop gets a chance to choose local people.
"These new plans can only be good for the estate and help to get rid of the stigma that is attached to it."
Area manager for the store, Joe Teague, said that he was excited to bring more variety to Clifton .
He said: “The Clifton community have been with a limited amount of shops for a number of years so it’s really exciting for B&M to be a part of this development.
"We’ll be bringing much more variety to the local community and saving customers money on their shopping.
He added: “We’re feeling really positive about the creation of even more jobs for local people and we hope customers are going to be delighted with their new store.”
Work on the Clifton triangle Project started on July 31 with the demolition of Fairham House, construction work is being carried out by the Clegg Group and it is expected to be finished in March 2018.


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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given Amazon the greenlight to invest £460m in Deliveroo after the food delivery service warned it would go bust without the funding.
The CMA had initially feared the deal would “damage competition by discouraging Amazon from re-entering the online restaurant food market and further developing its presence within the online […] grocery delivery market”.
But Deliveroo’s executives warned the regulator that without the minority investment from the US e-commerce giant, its business would collapse. The coronavirus outbreak has dealt a heavy blow to its business model, with a significant number of Deliveroo’s partner restaurants having been forced to close since lockdown came into effect last month.
“While Deliveroo has sought to expand its supply of convenience groceries during the crisis, these sales are limited and have not made up for losses in its restaurants business,” the CMA said in a statement. “As a result, Deliveroo recently informed the CMA that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its business meant that it would fail financially and exit the market without the Amazon investment.”
A spokesperson for Deliveroo told NS Tech: “We are delighted the CMA has found that Amazon can invest in Deliveroo. This investment is a key part of Deliveroo’s plan to provide an even better service to customers, riders and restaurants and, as we’re a British company, this will be a boost to the UK economy.
“The unprecedented health crisis we all face has disrupted businesses across the country. This investment will help us to overcome immediate and long-term challenges, allow us to continue to improve our service for customers, enable us to develop new innovations and offer people even greater choice.”


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Carl’s Jr. to open five new restaurants in Costa Rica in 2013
After opening its sixth restaurant in Costa Rica earlier this month in the province Heredia, California-based hamburger chain Carl’s Jr. now plans to open five more locations here next year.
The fast food franchise arrived in the country in 2011, and by 2013 plans to open new restaurants in Curridabat (east of San José), San Francisco (Heredia), Alajuela, Escazú (southwest of San José) and Tibás (northwest of San José).
General Manager Andrés Fachler told the weekly El Financiero that the expansion of the franchise means an investment of some $4.5 million, as it includes four free-standing locales and one located in a food court.
According to Fachler, “the chain’s sales have exceeded company expectations, and combined with commercial sector growth, [the company] will boost its expansion in Costa Rica.”
The burger chain, which operates 3,182 restaurants worldwide, plans to open 25 locations in Costa Rica during the next five years, Fachler said during the opening of their first location near Central Park in San José, in November 2011.
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A couple of weeks ago, the Internet was set ablaze with news of Kanye West severing ties with Nike over their refusal to give him royalties for his shoe designs. But, things took another turn last week when Toronto's very own Drake announced that he's designing Air Jordans with the multi-billion-dollar brand. He's even posted a few sneak peeks on his Instagram. Could Drake be paving the way for a career in fashion?
Check out all the looks in our style section.
This Week in Fashion: Billy Talent designs Bluenotes t-shirt, Fashion Society sale, holiday pop-ups galore
Earlier this week, Bluenotes unveiled a limited edition t-shirt designed in collaboration with Mississauga-bred punk rock band Billy Talent, who made our 25 most famous Toronto bands list earlier this fall. The black and white tee retails in-stores and online for $10 a pop, and is part of an initiative to raise $40,000 for non-profit organization Kids Help Phone. Snatch one up - and fulfill your good deed of the day - in stores or online before they're all gone!
Here are a few things you'll find at the Popify storefront.


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Today is the final day of the E3 conference in Los Angeles and gaming fanatics have enjoyed a digital nirvana, showcasing all the upcoming titles for PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
The biggest news from the conference was a first look at the long-awaited The Last Guardian from Sony as well as new Call of Duty and Halo titles. As well as the announcement that Xbox One will now play Xbox 360 games.
Many non-gamers may never have heard of E3 (which stands for the Electronic Entertainment Expo) and in fact this was my first ever trip to the annual event.
Colossal booths take over the gigantic Los Angeles convention centre and there are rows of consoles (and weird costumes) everywhere. The whole thing feels like a cross between a video game arcade and a carnival.
In between the gaming fans staring at screens are suited businessmen discussing deals and frantic journalists running around snapping pictures.
Everywhere you go, giant screens are broadcasting the latest games trailers and giant sound systems pump out relentless music.
Queues (or lines, as the Americans call them) are everywhere as fans wait their turn to get a brief go with their favourite game.
Walking around the show floor is a bewildering experience and I got lost on more than one occasion.
The controversial aspects of the show have been significantly toned down. Scantily-clad “both babes” are now banned - although there are still plenty of attractive men and women eager to promote the latest games and gadgets.
And 2015 appears to be the year that female protagonists break through into the gaming consciousness. New games like Horizon: Zero Dawn, Shenmue III, Fallout 4, Assassin’s Creed and Rise of the Tomb Raider all feature female leads.
The show is also an indicator, for me at least, that gaming has become truly mainstream.
The industry already makes more money than Hollywood and many of these top games will outperform the big films.
It’s inherently social too, as games take advantage of internet connections to encourage friends to play with (or against) each other.
E3 is also a chance to test the waters of future gaming technology and it’s clear the manufacturers are betting big on virtual reality.
From the Oculus Rift to Microsoft’s HoloLens and Sony’s PlayStation Morpheus, it’s clear that proper VR gaming lies right around the corner.
For now though, I expect gamers will be more than happy with what 2015 has to offer. From huge franchises like Star Wars to small cult hits like Cuphead, the immediate outlook for gaming is very bright indeed.
Hopefully I’ll be back again for next year’s show - with optimistic hopes for bigger and better games and any kind of decent wi-fi signal.
Want to recap? Here's all our news from this year's event.


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Written by Susannah Streeter, senior investment and markets analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown
On the face of it the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been a roaring success, with bookings between Monday to Wednesday soaring by up to 70% compared to the same period last year as diners make the most of cut price meals. However, Thursday to Sunday bookings in August appear to be well below last year’s rates. Given that many restaurants rely heavily on weekend trade, it may be that spending has just shifted to earlier in the week with potentially a lower spend. But social distancing rules also mean that restaurants can accommodate far fewer bookings than they did before the pandemic which will also partly account for the drop in weekend trade.
What appears to be more encouraging is the ONS survey which shows that there is a growing appetite to eat out – with double the number of people saying they feel comfortable eating inside at a restaurant compared to the start of July.
Rishi’s cut price dishes might have done the trick in enticing more people back into their favourite eateries but the question is will they keep coming back in high enough numbers once the promotion ends? The research also indicates that almost three in five people still don’t feel comfortable with dining inside and that is a huge challenge for the restaurant sector as we head into the Autumn and fears of a second Coronavirus wave mount. Given this, there could be rewards for innovation in the sector and for restaurants that are able to generate income outdoors, even in the colder months.
It’s estimated the scheme will cost the Treasury around £500 million and this sudden inflow of cash to hospitality businesses struggling in the sector could be make or break for some firms. In the short term it will be a welcome boost for family orientated restaurants such as Wagamama and Frankie and Benny’s owner Restaurant Group which in June announced the closure of 125 restaurants with 3,000 employees losing their jobs. However, the group’s long running problems around restaurant location persist with its focus on out of town retail parks and shopping centres already reeling from the closure of big name department stores.
The cut in VAT from 20 to 5 per cent will go some way in helping the sector’s recovery, with most large chains cutting the price of popular items on their menus to entice people in, but with that temporary reduction due to end in January, winter could still be bleak for the industry.


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Traditional banks and marketplace lenders may soon find themselves united in competition against a common threat: Goldman Sachs.
The launch of Goldman's consumer lending platform pits the Wall Street giant squarely against otherwise disparate players in the retail banking industry.
The platform — given the tony-but-friendly name "Marcus by Goldman Sachs" — marks the first foray by Goldman into consumer lending. The company developed the online loan platform from scratch and has spent the past year working with thousands of customers to design it.
The launch Thursday allows Goldman to cast a wide net for a new — and profitable — customer base. The Marcus platform promises loans with no fees, putting it in direct competition with marketplace lenders, including Lending Club and Prosper Marketplace. It also offers lower rates than many credit cards.
Still, while Goldman has found a niche in the market, its success is far from certain. The recent woes facing marketplace lenders have tempered expectations for growth of the highly anticipated platform, according to industry analysts.
And though consumers associate Goldman with high finance, the company is not yet known as a go-to brand among the general public.
"It remains to be seen how quickly customers will adopt it," said Brian Kleinhanzl, an analyst with Keefe, Bruyette & Woods.
Kleinhanzl added that, as a new player in the market, Goldman is not yet known for its ability to manage consumer credit risk.
Others put a more positive spin on the highly anticipated announcement.
"Goldman is trying to have the best of both worlds," said Jeff Harte, an analyst with Sandler O'Neill, describing the Marcus platform as a "novel" way to compete for customers from both marketplace lenders and big banks.
Goldman doesn't have to worry about "cannibalizing" an existing portfolio of higher-rate credit cards, given that most of its business comes from trading, Harte said.
The launch comes as the market for online personal loans has come under scrutiny amid a series of stumbles at marketplace lenders.
For instance, Lending Club — once a fintech darling — earlier this year ousted its founder and is currently under investigation by the Justice Department. Additionally, Avant and Prosper, which have grown rapidly in recent years, have recently announced job cuts.
It is unclear whether the problems facing upstart lenders will affect the growth of the Marcus platform, at least in the short term.
But Goldman — which has a broad base of retail deposits at its disposal — has clearly positioned itself to exploit its fintech rivals.
Through the Marcus platform, the company now offers personal loans of up to $30,000, with terms of up to six years.
During a press briefing at Goldman Sachs headquarters Thursday, the company said its no-fee pitch, in particular, is designed to lure customers who have grown frustrated with a host of unexpected charges — including late fees — at marketplace lenders.
The platform includes a number of other high-tech options. While applying for a loan, prospective borrowers can choose a payment size and monthly payment date that works best for them.
Additionally, borrowers who have made 12 consistent on-time payments have the option of deferring a loan payment for one month, at no charge.


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Detroit ( TheStreet) -- If auto sales are an important economic indicator, then the recent performance of the largest U.S. automaker ought to raise a few concerns.
General Motors (GM - Get Report) reported weak sales in December and January. It missed fourth-quarter estimates, prompting some analysts to reduce future earnings estimates. Its inventories have increased and it is offering high incentives to truck buyers this month. None are good signs.
GM shares closed Monday at $34.90, down $1.21. Year to date, GM shares are down 14.6%, while Ford (F) shares are down 4% and the S&P 500 is down 2.6%.
The reason for Monday's decline was the widespread reporting about discounts of up to $7,000 off list price for Chevrolet Silverado and GM Sierra as part of a Presidents Day promotion. The discounting added to concerns over GM's disappointing fourth-quarter earnings, reported Thursday, which called into question the company's future earnings outlook.
In a recent report, Deutsche Bank analyst Rod Lache wrote that the fourth-quarter earnings call made him "incrementally more cautious," although he retains a buy recommendation on GM.


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Spanish tapas restaurant, Tapeo BCN, is currently looking for franchise owners to expand its concept across the UK.
The company launched its first UK restaurant in London in June and is planning to open further outlets across the UK.
Taoeo BCN restaurants serve Mediterranean foods in a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, so that customers can enjoy their food in a comfortable environment.
As well as launching outlets in the UK, Tapeo BCN has also signed franchise agreements that will see locations open in Germany and Scandinavia this year.
Published: 16 August 2011
Back to news


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We didn't need Le Figaro to tell us that the European Union was mounting a "vast charm offensive", homing on "feel-good" consumer issues in an attempt to regain its "legitimacy" in the eyes of "European citizens".
Thus, in recent months, we have seen proposals to cap mobile roaming charges, on the introduction of child-proof lighters, the regulation of artificial sun-tanning studios, standards for sun tan cream, controls on credit card charges, or rules for airline fare price declarations in advertising – to say nothing of safety regulation of hair dyes.
All of this is quite deliberately designed to overcome the negative image of the EU, brought to the fore with the rejection of the EU constitution by French and Dutch voters as the commission attempts to promote a "Europe of results", demonstrating that "Europe is useful to people".
But the inherent dishonesty of this marketing strategy is that it is so singularly one-sided, failing ever to highlight the down side of the mad regulatory machine, whether it is the estimated €3 billion annually lost to the UK Treasury to VAT fraud, the €1 billion a year to be wasted on translation services, or the £1.7 billion cost arising from the ban on lead solder, adding ten percent to the price of a personal computer and other electrical appliances.
But, as we know, the imposts do not always have a direct financial cost. As often , it is the aggravation factor, the latest of which comes from The Scotsman which is telling us that the EU's working time directive, now applying to lorry drivers, is leading to a shortage of trucks to be used for floats at this year's Edinburgh Festival Cavalcade.
This year, the event celebrates its 30th anniversary and the organisers need around 80 flat-bed trucks to carry performers through the city centre for the parade. But several haulage firms are believed to have been unwilling to allow drivers to take part because of the EU's directive, which means they can work no longer than 40 hours a week.
Because drivers would be behind the wheel for the event, and also need to prepare their vehicle for it, taking part would use up around five or six of the hours that they are legally allowed to work in a week. And several companies are believed to be cautious about letting workers use up their entitlement when they are not working for them. Now several groups of performers have been left scouring the city looking for people to drive floats and at least four trucks are still needed.
Such is the perversity of this law that truck drivers could quite happily spend their weekends on a variety of arduous tasks, ranging from rock climbing and hang-gliding, to motorcycle racing and off-road rallying, but the moment they sit behind the wheel of a carnival float with a view to taking a leisurely and pleasurable jaunt round the streets of Edinburgh, the EU rules kick in and create the problems.
It is even the case that a truck driver can spend unlimited hours at the wheel of a private car, driving to and from work, but waiting at a depot for his truck to be loaded or unloaded counts as "work" within the terms of the working time directive.
No wonder a separate report in The Scotsman complains that EU red tape is "crippling business". That is the real outcome of the commission's "Europe of results". But you won't hear any EU apparatchiks talking about the effects. They, I suppose, are the "wrong kind of results".


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Online Startups by Former Newspaper Staffers
Former staffers at the St. Louis Post Dispatch are launching their own online newspaper - the St. Louis Platform. Here's a story about it in the Chicago Reader.
We're beginning to see a trend here - reporters and editors quitting their newspaper jobs or taking buyouts and launching online alternatives to their former employers. MinnPost, founded by a former Minneapolis Star Tribune editor and publisher, is another example.
Let's use the comments section to start a list of these ventures - and explore whether they're doing a better job of exploiting the unique characteristics of the web than traditional newspapers.


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January still dragging on?
Luckily, we’ve got a fine set of stats to see you happily through to February.
This week we’re covering news about cart abandonment, adspend, dodgy ads, and lots more. Don’t forget to download the Internet Statistics Compendium for even further info.
76% of marketers see ad blocking as a positive
According to a survey by YouGov and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the majority of marketers believe that ad blocking will be a positive for the industry, encouraging better practice and greater levels of creativity.
On the other hand, 38% of respondents believe that it could lead to a decline in online marketing.
Other key stats from the research include the key areas of focus for the year ahead, with 42% of marketers citing personalisation, 37% citing data-driven marketing and 31% saying influencer marketing.
Emojis generate 17% more interaction on Instagram
A new study by Quintly has revealed that emojis result in 17% higher interaction when used on Instagram.
From analysis of 22,000 profiles and 6.2m posts, those which included emojis were found to have a 2.07 interaction rate compared to 1.77 for those without.
Other findings include the most popular emojis of 2016, with the most-used being the camera emoji, followed by the ‘OK’ hand signal and the pink hearts.
43% of marketers still experimenting with influencer marketing
According to Altimeter’s Traackr report, 71% of marketers rate influencer marketing as a strategic or highly strategic area of marketing.
However, 43% of those that agree are still experimenting with the practice, and 28% are only involving influencers at campaign level.
The report also found the influencer budgets are still small compared to other areas of focus, but a shift in prioritisation means that 55% of marketers plan to spend more on influencers in 2017.
Trump’s inauguration generates 15m social media engagements
4C has revealed how social media users reacted to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The day’s event saw over 15m engagements across Facebook and Twitter, with the new President generating over 5m of them.
Engagement peaked for the inauguration when the Obamas met the Trumps at the White House – a moment that’s now famous for Michelle Obama’s awkward reaction towards that Tiffany box.
While the #inauguration hashtag generated 2.6m engagements on the day itself, the #womensmarch hashtag drew 7.3m engagements the day after.
Google removes 80m misleading ads in 2016
Google’s Bad Ads report has revealed that 80m bad ads were removed in 2016 for deceiving, misleading or shocking users with false information or clickbait headlines.
Similarly, Google also took down 7m bad ads for intentionally trying to scam consumers or deliberately trying to trick its detection systems.
In 2016, 1.7bn ads were removed overall, which is double the amount of ads removed the year previous.
82% of customers over 55 feel undervalued
A new study by ICLP has found that customers over the age of 55 often feel overlooked, with 82% saying that retailers do not understand their needs.
Consequently, 95% of over 55s would consider abandoning their favourite retailers in favour of others.
ICLP’s survey also discovered what would make this demographic more loyal. The results found stronger reward programmes, communication and reliability to be the top three factors.
Adding touch to mobile ads increases engagement
In a study of 1,137 Android users, IPG Media Lab discovered that capitalising on consumer’s sense of touch during mobile video ads can produce a 50% uplift in brand favourability.
While a standard video ad achieved happiness and excitement levels of 37% and 30% in consumers, video ads with touch-enabled elements resulted in rates of 44% and 38% respectively.
This also resulted in a halo effect, with a 6% increase in positive brand perception overall.
Global cart abandonment rates up 2.4%
SalesCycle’s Remarketing Report details the latest global cart abandonment stats. It shows that global cart abandonment rates were 76.8% in Q4 2016, a figure up 2.4% on the previous quarter.
In terms of industry, fashion cart abandonment remains the lowest at 67.4%. Meanwhile, utilities is the highest, with an abandonment rate of 84.4%.
58% of B2B buyers distrust vendor claims
Research from TrustRadius has found that tech vendors are failing to keep up with expectations, as nearly 60% of B2B buyers cite vendor-provided materials as the least trustworthy source.
Despite many feeling sceptical over claims, buyers still acknowledge that vendors play a significant role in the purchasing process, with 62% saying they help answer questions, facilitate basic demos, and provide technical support.
Additionally, the report found product demos and free trials to be the best and most trustworthy resources for buyers.
UK adspend increases following Brexit
According to the latest figures from the Advertising Association, UK adspend increased 4.2% in the quarter following Brexit.
This news comes on the back of a Deloitte survey which found that 22% of advertising businesses have lost contracts since last June, and 62% believe the decision has negatively affected their business.
On the other hand, the survey also found that 23% see Brexit as an opportunity for growth, and as a result, 8% plan to increase investment in the UK.


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This is a blown, pressed, cut and enameled perfume bottle, 'Bouchon Mures (Berry Stopper)' by artist René Lalique that will be part of the Corning Museum of Glass' exhibition.
- Filed Under
René Lalique was an artistic pioneer who designed jewelry, automobile hood ornaments and fancy perfume bottles and helped launch the Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles of artistry.
"He was a trend-setter," said Kelley Elliott, assistant curator of modern and contemporary glass for the Corning Museum of Glass. "He embraced a lot of innovations that were happening in the world."
Nearly 200 pieces of the French artist's work will go on display at the Corning Museum of Glass beginning Saturday and continuing until Jan. 4, 2015, as part of a new exhibit called "René Lalique: Enchanted By Glass." ...


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Sentiment regarding budgets continues to steadily improving among global marketers, finds Warc in its April 2012 Global Marketing Index (GMI). The budget component score of the index moved to 53.7 in April, improving from a level of 51.5 in March, when it first passed the threshold score of 50 that indicates a generally improving environment. April’s score is about 10 points higher than 6 months ago, when the GMI was first launched and it was at a low of 43.9. April was also the first month that the budget index score for Europe passed 50 (50.4).
Warc’s headline Global Marketing Index (GMI), which tracks overall industry opinion as a composite of marketing budgets, staffing, and trading conditions, rose from 57.4 in March to 58.1 in April. Respondents from the Americas were again the most positive, with headline GMI growing from 59.7 to 61.3 (a score over 60 indicates rapid growth). Sentiment among marketers representing the Asia Pacific also showed some growth, up from 57.9 to 58.3. While Europe remained behind in sentiment, it increased marginally from 55 to 55.2.
As with previous months, digital (excluding mobile) and mobile channels continued to attract global spend in April, with index scores of 78.3 and 70.2, respectively, although both fell slightly from the previous month. Print again experienced the largest reduction in expenditure, with a score of 37.1, although that was a slight increase from 36.1 last month. TV was the only traditional medium to show net growth, rising from 48.8 in March to 51.6 this month.
Marketers are clearly allocating their budgets to the fastest-growing media: according to April 2012 figures from the IAB and PricewaterhouseCoopers, internet advertising revenues hit a record $31.7 billion in 2011, representing almost 22% year-over-year growth. Among the various digital advertising formats, mobile showed the fastest growth, up an impressive 149%.
In terms of the worldwide staffing component index, recruitment showed a slight dip in April. The global staffing index dropped from 59.8 in March to 58.5 in April, which Warc insight suggests may reflect seasonal factors rather than the start of a trend.
Within the US, the marketing employment outlook is stable, says Bernhart Associates in its Q2 2012 Digital and Direct Marketing Report. According to its survey, half of companies plan to add staff this quarter, down slightly from 52% in Q1, though up from 45% a year ago. On an encouraging note, the proportion of respondents with a hiring freeze dropped from 19% in Q1 to 13% in Q2, with a corresponding drop in those planning layoffs (from 6% to 4%).
About the Data: Warc compiles the Global Marketing Index by tracking the opinions of an online panel of 1,295 experienced executives working for brand owners, media owners, creative and media agencies, and other organizations serving the marketing industry. The data was collected from April 2-13, 2012.
The GMI results are calculated by taking the percentage of respondents that report that the activity has risen (“Increasing”) and adding it to one-half of the percentage that report the activity has not changed (“Unchanged”). Using half of the “Unchanged” percentage effectively measures the bias toward a positive (above 50 points) or negative (below 50 points) index. As an example of calculating a diffusion index, if the response is 40% “Increasing,” 40% “Unchanged,” and 20% “Reducing,” the Diffusion Index would be 60 points (40% + [0.50 x 40%]). A value of 50 indicates “no change” from the previous month. The more distant the index is from the amount that would indicate “no change” (50 points), the greater the rate of change indicated. Therefore, an index value of 58 indicates a faster rate of increase than an index value of 53, and an index value of 40 indicates a faster rate of decrease than an index value of 45. A value of 100 indicates all respondents are reporting increased activity while 0 indicates that all respondents report decreased activity.
The Bernhart Associates findings are based on survey results from 384 organizations conducted in April.
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‘About time’: Optimistic Bali businesses hail end of lockdown – Fri 11 Feb 2022
Amahl S. Azwar (The Jakarta Post)
Fri, February 11, 2022
Tourism in Bali has been hit hard by the pandemic over the past two years. When Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan announced last week that international travelers would be allowed direct entry to the island from February 4, local businesses welcomed the plan. eagerly.
“We have been waiting a long time. So any plan to encourage tourism in Bali should be welcomed and supported with optimism,” said Ida Bagus Kharisma Wijaya, 42, a Balinese businessman who runs Segara Village Hotel, Byrdhouse Beach Club, Kejora Suites (all in Sanur, southeast Bali). ) and Bapak Bakery (in Kerobokan, Badung, Bali) said Jakarta Post in an interview.
“The pandemic has been going on for two years. [We hope] that this announcement will mark the renewal of [tourism] in Bali.”
read the full story
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On a per-share basis, the Atlanta-based company said it had net income of 79 cents. Earnings, adjusted for pretax expenses and amortization costs, came to $1.08 per share.
The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of $1.08 per share.
The industrial distributor posted revenue of $1.62 billion in the period, which fell short of Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.64 billion.
For the current quarter ending in November, HD Supply expects its per-share earnings to range from 96 cents to $1.05.
The company said it expects revenue in the range of $1.62 billion to $1.67 billion for the fiscal third quarter.
HD Supply expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.45 to $3.60 per share, with revenue ranging from $6.1 billion to $6.2 billion.
HD Supply shares have climbed almost 9% since the beginning of the year. The stock has fallen 4% in the last 12 months.
Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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The Valve Corporation has confirmed that it is adding DualShock 4 support for its Steam games for the PC. Currently, the only way to play Steam games using the PlayStation 4 controller is through third-party apps.
“Believe it or not, when you use the PS4 controller through the Steam API, it’s exactly the same as a Steam Controller. You make the exact same API calls, you only get actions, not inputs, and the Steam API takes care of everything,” Valve’s Jeff Bellinghausen said in his presentation during the Steam Dev Days conference (via Gamasutra).
“Now, why start with the PS4 controller? Well, not only is it a really nice, high quality controller, but it’s also got a gyro and a touchpad, so it’s got a lot of overlapping functionality with the Steam Controller.” Bellinghausen also confirmed that similar support for other third-party controllers are incoming, but Valve isn’t ready yet to announce which ones.
Once Valve releases this update to the Steam Controller API, developers would be able to easily integrate DualShock 4 support to their games. PC gamers, on the other hand, will no longer need third-party apps to emulate keyboard controls with the PS4 controller. The most popular apps right now are Joy2Key and DS4Windows.
Another added advantage here is that all of the DualShock 4’s buttons, including the touchpad and gyroscope, will be usable without any additional customization, as pointed out by Engadget. Bellinghausen also gave a comprehensive presentation on the Steam Controller and upcoming updates to its API. He said that the company has already sold nearly 1 million units, and that they expect to cross the 1 million mark by early next year, according to VG24/7.
This past August, Sony released a Bluetooth adapter dongle to bring DualShock 4 support for Windows PCs and Mac computers. However, that solution was mostly for allowing users to play games on PlayStation Now, Sony’s own game streaming service that's available for the PC.


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By Jamie Elona
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said it has mapped out plans to address the anticipated increase in the number of returning Filipino workers who will process their overseas employment certificate (OEC), or exit clearance, as thousands arrive to spend the holiday season in the country.
Part of the proceeds of “Handog ng FASO sa Pasko,” a Christmas benefit concert and festival, will be set aside for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) through ABS-CBN Foundation’s Sagip Kapamilya, the event’s sponsors announced.
By Tina G. Santos
MANILA, Philippines — Christmas is the season of giving, but not in the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac has issued a memorandum regarding the agency’s “no gift” policy, especially during the Christmas season. The memorandum was directed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), private recruitment agencies, suppliers and contractors, [...]
On Dec. 21, more than 200 children and their parents packed the cafeteria of Bessie Carmichael Elementary School to celebrate the annual “Pasko sa SOMA” (Christmas in SOMA) event. The holiday celebration is hosted by the Filipino Education Center and its Galing Bata Afterschool Program, the only K-8 Filipino bicultural after school program in San Francisco.
By Momar G. Visaya
The decision to ban holding masses in the Philippine Center may very well be a blessing in disguise.
By Casiano Mayor Jr.
When he flew home two weeks before Christmas, Arnold Barrion knew he could expect a holiday mood in their house in Taguig City, with Christmas decor already set up by his wife and two teenage children. This would be his fourth Christmas vacation in the Philippines since he came to work in Saudi Arabia six years ago.
By Matikas Santos
A Filipino public school teacher is on a mission: to teach the world about the beauty and culture of the Philippines.
By Philip C. Tubeza
Now you don’t have to be in the Philippines to experience the age-old tradition of Simbang Gabi and the iconic food that comes with it—bibingka and puto bumbong (native rice cakes).
By Casiano Mayor Jr.
As early as September, Alex de Vera and his family had fixed up a Christmas tree in their living room. Like most Christian Filipinos in Saudi Arabia, the de Veras tuck away a Christmas tree ready to be set up for the season.
By Benjamin Pimentel
Our Christmas tree was made of wood, wire and strips of glittering green foil paper.
OFWs and balikbayans returning home for the holidays can now enjoy a more meaningful and convenient Christmas shopping experience as Duty Free Philippines Fiestamall extends its shopping hours to 4 a.m. until December 23.
Raymond Marc tries to fight off tears as he watches a short video. He failed. “Coke has made me cry,” he posts on his Facebook, after watching the 4:27-minute “tearjerker” video of Coca-Cola that is now going viral on the internet.


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Susan Rockefeller pushes for the need for ocean conservation.
'If you love something, you're moved to save and take care of it.'
Documentary filmmaker Susan Rockefeller's eponymous ocean-inspired
jewelry line is filled with treasures inspired by an overworked
sea. Sea creatures carefully crafted in gold, silver and precious
gems are the tools she uses to spotlight the plight of our world's
The campaign against using coral in fashion results in
eco-friendly bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Along with ivory
and conflict diamonds, the jewelry aficionado now has another
exploited treasure from which to refrain: sea coral, which is
finding itself under attack worldwide.
Recently, Beijing Ayong Jewelry Store, one of the three
stores of aypearl, has announced a new series of hot sell jewelry
sets, with unique design and fashion style. (PRWeb April 19, 2014)
Read the full story at
Worth Avenue jeweler Christopher Kaufmann satisfied a
$585,000 court judgment Tuesday by returning resident Judith
Knudsen’s 15.07-carat diamond ring, which she alleged that he
wouldn’t give back after taking it for a complimentary holiday
cleaning in December. “Kaufmann returned the ring and the matter
was amicably resolved,” said attorney Steven Schwarzberg, who
represents Knudsen. Knudsen ...
Green Bay (WFRV ) Many of us have old jewelry
stuffed in jewelry boxes or drawers that we don't wear, but we keep
it because it may have been handed down
from a loved one. Deborah Meyer has a knack for taking those
old pieces and turning them into a new heirloom to treasure.
"I always thought I should have been born in a different era," said
Deborah Meyer/Kremer Sisters Jewelry ...
[African Arguments]Diamonds and Rubber in Sierra Leone, oil
in Angola and Sudan, tantalum and gold in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, copper in Zambia - the list of the natural resource
wealth the Africa possesses is a long one. However, these riches
have not always been a blessing for the continent.
The jewelry collection of Riki and Jerome Shaw achieved more
than $8.6 million with all proceeds going toward cage-free animal
shelters as part of the couple’s ongoing fight against animal
cruelty. The private collection was led by a 6-carat fancy intense
pink diamond ring by Harry Winston, which sold for more than $5.7
Today, Beijing Ayong Jewelry Store, one of the biggest
jewelry stores on aliexpress, has a big discount that is up to 10 %
off. (PRWeb April 16, 2014) Read the full story at
PITTSFIELD -- A city jeweler facing criminal charges for
allegedly ripping off customers defaulted in a civil case Tuesday
and will now be heading for a hearing to determine the amount of
damages he owes a local woman.
Australian Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander has named Melbourne
Vixen rookie Elizabeth Watson in her 18-player squad to contest the
Commonwealth Games selection camp in Canberra next month. Watson,
20, is the only new inclusion to the squad and will join fellow
Vixens teammates Karyn Bailey, Tegan Caldwell, Bianca Chatfield,
and Madi Robinson vying for selection in the Australian
Commonwealth Games ...
When Claire Beirne Haslett was looking for a jeweler to sell
her diamond to, she went to Worth Avenue and walked into
Christopher Kaufmann Le Salon. Haslett left the 4.5-carat diamond,
appraised at $80,000, with Kaufmann in August in return for a
receipt and contract stating she would receive $55,000 for the sale
of the jewel. On March 28, the Riviera Beach woman got her money,
but only after ...
Well-known Fort Lauderdale jeweler Patrick Daoud was
sentenced to ten months of house arrest and two years of probation
on Friday for helping to hide a huge 12.08 carat yellow diamond
that Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein's wife was attempting to conceal
from federal authorities.
Pele has unveiled an unusual line of diamonds using strands
of the football legend's own hair, local media reported Monday. The
diamonds are made using a high-pressure, high-temperature process
during which strands of Pele's hair are charred. The gems cost
about $7,500 a piece and come in a gold-plated box featuring Pele
-- born Edson Arantes do Nascimento -- on the pitch scoring a goal.
It’s looking like the fake diamonds a Williamsville jeweler
is accused of selling were only the tip of the iceberg. Other
precious gemstones purchased or repaired during the past 20 years
at the former RSNP Diamond Exchange on Main Street also are being
called into question, Amherst police said.
James Avery, a Texas based family-owned jewelry retailer
opens its new store today at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, Texas.
The new location will feature an updated new store design,
reflecting the same craftsmanship, meaning, and inspiration behind


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Cat burglar strikes in Clyde
A Clyde woman concerned that someone was breaking into her house and stealing her clothes has found the culprit, an old, deaf, white cat.
Sergeant Derek Ealson, of Alexandra, said the woman contacted police saying she would awake from sleeping to find her folded washing piles disturbed and clothing missing.
However, a few days after reporting the incident to police she spotted a white cat stealing clothing items.
She went door-knocking in the neighbourhood and after some ''great detective work'' found the home of the cat.
The cat's owners said they had noticed extra items around the house but were unsure what to do about it.
Mr Ealson said it was believed the pair were on holiday from Southland and the cat had ''gone a bit wild'' after being brought along too.
''It's just a very odd cat,'' Mr Ealson said.
Another witness saw the cat going climbing through a fence with a shoe in its mouth.
''Some people might be wondering where their tennis shoe went. Anyone who notices they are missing anything can contact Alexandra police,'' Mr Ealson said.
The Southland Times


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Matalan Yoga Bag, £12
More Matalan Pictures
11th November, 2014
See what happens the behind the scenes on Pixie Lott’s new music video for her Christmas single Caravan Of Love! Pixie has teamed up with Matalan and their scarf campaign to create a never been done beofre music...
28th October, 2014
It's always nice when celebs do their bit for a good cause, and it seems that pretty much all of our favourite A-listers have come together to support Matalan's new fundraising initiative. To raise money for Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, the high street brand has created a...
24th October, 2014
Designer to the stars (Nicole Scherzinger and Katy Perry to name but two), Philip Armstrong, has created a brand new collection for Matalan, launching...
More Matalan News
We take a look at the Christmas video made for both Pixie's new single and Matalan's TV ad for their children's charity scarf campign.


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U.S. pickup truck sales boomed in April, contributing to double-digit sales gains at Detroit auto makers as improving home construction spurred new-vehicle purchases by contractors and tradesmen.
Chrysler Group LLC said Wednesday that sales of its Ram pickups rose 49% in April from a year earlier, while Ford Motor Co. F -0.63% Ford Motor Co. U.S.: NYSE $16.31 -0.10 -0.63% Dec. 12, 2013 11:38 am Volume (Delayed 15m) : 9.56M P/E Ratio 11.17 Market Cap $64.73 Billion Dividend Yield 2.45% Rev. per Employee $855,585 12/12/13 Not on Ford Board's Agenda: Mi... 12/12/13 Questions Swirl on Mulally's F... 12/11/13 Holden Road Trip Memories More quote details and news » said its F-series truck sales jumped 24%. At General Motors Co. GM +0.59% General Motors Co. U.S.: NYSE $40.40 +0.23 +0.59% Dec. 12, 2013 11:38 am Volume (Delayed 15m) : 7.32M P/E Ratio 15.72 Market Cap $56.11 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee $724,174 12/12/13 Peugeot Hit by $1.5 Billion Wr... 12/11/13 Companies Grapple With Passed-... 12/11/13 'New' GM Doesn't Owe $450 Mill... More quote details and news » , combined sales of its Silverado and GMC Sierra climbed 23%.
Overall, industry sales for April rose 8.5% from a year earlier to 1.285 million cars and light trucks, according to researcher Autodata Corp.
Most people buy a car with the goal of getting as much out of it as possible before trading it in. MarketWatch's Jim Jelter discusses five cars Americans are most likely to trade in sooner than planned. (Photo: Getty Images)
For the Detroit auto makers, a resurgence in demand for trucks especially among contractors in the home building industry has been long-awaited. Full-size pickups are big moneymakers for the companies, producing margins that can be as much as 10 times that of a sedan, some analysts estimate.
Rich Savino, the owner of All American Ford in Old Bridge Township, N.J., said his dealership's F-series truck sales are up a "spectacular" 74% this year through April, with tradesmen replacing old trucks as new home developments pop up.
"I am getting the contractors coming in and expanding their fleets," said Mr. Savino. "This is the start of it. When the trades and contractors are coming in and complaining they can't hire enough people—that kind of stuff to me is a better indicator of the direction we are going" than other economic indicators.
Sales of pickups have historically been tied to housing construction. Real estate has been rebounding this year, with prices up and new housing starts surging by more than a third over the first quarter of 2012. Pickup truck sales have risen by 20% this year through April—three times faster than the other vehicle segments, Ford said in a conference call.
Vinny Sessa, owner of New Jersey Best Lawns, Sprinkler and Fencing, bought nine F-series trucks from Mr. Savino to replace his aging fleet. "We were busy; we had to add to the fleet. But we were replacing some old trucks too," Mr. Sessa said.
The surge in demand has prompted Ford to step up truck production. It said early Thursday it would add a third shift to its Kansas City, Mo., plant due to demand for F-150 pickup trucks.. Chrysler, which is majority owned by Fiat F.MI -0.85% Fiat S.p.A. Italy: Milan €5.28 -0.04 -0.85% Dec. 12, 2013 5:23 pm Volume : 10.51M P/E Ratio 44.00 Market Cap €6.66 Billion Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee €393,742 12/10/13 Holman Jenkins: The U.S. Bailo... 12/02/13 Chrysler to Challenge Ford's T... 11/26/13 HEARD ON THE STREET: Fiat Coul... More quote details and news » SpA, said in March it would add a third shift to its Warren, Mich., truck plant.
"We are building everything we can right now," said Erich Merkle, Ford's sales analyst.
Chrysler's big increase came in part because of greater availability of its heavier duty commercial Ram pickups, which were recently redesigned and have just begun rolling into dealerships, a spokesman said.
In 2011, GM added a third shift to a Flint, Mich., factory expecting a housing upturn. The recovery appears to be kicking in now, but for a period GM had too much inventory.
GM's overall sales rose 11% in April, while Ford's sales of cars and light trucks rose 18% and Chrysler logged an 11% gain. Toyota Motor Corp.'s 7203.TO -0.80% Toyota Motor Corp. Japan: Tokyo ¥6170 -50 -0.80% Dec. 12, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 6.89M P/E Ratio 13.82 Market Cap ¥21446.54 Billion Dividend Yield 1.94% Rev. per Employee ¥71,033,100 12/12/13 Toyota Warns Australia That Au... 12/11/13 GM Hits End of the Road in Aus... 12/06/13 Toyota Tundra Leads Crowded Fi... More quote details and news » U.S. sales fell 1.1%, while Nissan Motor Co. 7201.TO -0.45% Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Japan: Tokyo ¥893 -4 -0.45% Dec. 12, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 12.73M P/E Ratio 10.57 Market Cap ¥4055.08 Billion Dividend Yield 3.36% Rev. per Employee ¥58,958,200 12/10/13 China's Auto Market Is Marked ... 12/04/13 GM, Ford Stocks Wobble on Worr... 11/30/13 Takeda Taps French Glaxo Execu... More quote details and news » , Honda Motor Co. 7267.TO -1.19% Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Japan: Tokyo ¥4165 -50 -1.19% Dec. 12, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 5.41M P/E Ratio 18.95 Market Cap ¥7635.17 Billion Dividend Yield 1.92% Rev. per Employee ¥57,240,600 12/05/13 Toyota Hits Back in Battle of ... 12/05/13 Honda Offers Dealers Incentive... 11/28/13 Toyota, Honda Raise Output More quote details and news » and Hyundai Motor Co. 005380.SE +0.44% Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. S. Korea: KRX KRW230000 +1000 +0.44% Dec. 12, 2013 3:00 pm Volume : 826,526 P/E Ratio 7.55 Market Cap KRW50443.31 Billion Dividend Yield 0.83% Rev. per Employee KRW1,472,300,000 12/10/13 China's Auto Market Is Marked ... 12/04/13 Super Bowl Ads Are Sold Out 11/26/13 Hyundai Seeks to Improve Statu... More quote details and news » reported U.S. gains of 23%, 7.4% and 1.7%, respectively.
Rising truck sales helped the Detroit Three reach 46.9% of the U.S. market last month, up from 44.8% a year earlier.
Among German brands, Mercedes-Benz sold 23,635 vehicles in April, up 5.8% BMW BMW.XE -0.83% Bayerische Motoren Werke AG Germany: Xetra €79.91 -0.67 -0.83% Dec. 12, 2013 5:23 pm Volume : 1.48M P/E Ratio 10.04 Market Cap €51.81 Billion Dividend Yield 3.13% Rev. per Employee €721,448 12/03/13 Buyers Illegally Shipping BMW ... 12/02/13 A Profitable Trade: Illicitly ... 12/02/13 Mercedes-Benz Outruns BMW in U... More quote details and news » sales rose 10% to 23,225 and Volkswagen AG VOW.XE -0.76% Volkswagen AG Germany: Xetra €183.35 -1.40 -0.76% Dec. 12, 2013 5:23 pm Volume : 84,513 P/E Ratio 10.54 Market Cap €87.18 Billion Dividend Yield 1.91% Rev. per Employee €353,101 12/11/13 GM Hits End of the Road in Aus... 10/22/13 EU Court Dismisses Case vs. Ge... 10/15/13 Guns in the Parking Lot: A Del... More quote details and news » 's Audi brand rose 14% while its namesake brand sales declined 10%.
U.S. Auto Sales
Take a look back at U.S. monthly auto sales by car maker since 2005.
"Car-buying conditions are strong and will continue to release pent-up demand," said Kurt McNeil, GM's vice president of U.S. sales operations. He added: "the economy continues to move forward and important car and truck launches are just getting under way."
Ford said its April sales were aided by strong demand for its Fusion midsize sedan, F-150 pickup truck and Escape crossover models. Sales were particularly strong on the U.S. East and West Coasts, said Ken Czubay, Ford's vice president of U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.
GM hit a 52-week high on Wednesday before retracing and dropping 66 cents to $30.18. Ford lost 23 cents to $13.38, both in 4 p.m trading.
GM, Ford and Chrysler said it was their best April sales since at least 2008, before the recession of 2008-2009.
"Our sales last month were solid across the board with seven Chrysler Group vehicles recording their best April sales ever," said Chrysler's U.S. sales chief Reid Bigland.
Sales of Chrysler's Jeep Grand Cherokee were up 27% and its Ram Cargo Van more than doubled, all from a year earlier.
—Christina Rogers contributed to this article.
Write to Mike Ramsey at firstname.lastname@example.org


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(Image source from: narfa.com)
The coronavirus pandemic has made people go haywire over their safety. Hence, it is crucial to know when to use a face mask for coronavirus protection rather than using it everywhere.
Whether to wear a mask or not has become a datable topic these days. Instead of going by the baseless allegations, it always preferable to go by what the scientific studies say.
According to a study published in the journal health affairs, about 2,30,000 cases have been prevented just by the usage of face masks.
Though we cannot fully control the infection spread, wearing proper face masks is the only thing we can do by ourselves to sustain the pandemic. However, people are either wearing face masks all day long or not them wearing at all. The perfect solution lies in knowing when to wear a face mask for maximum protection.
Let’s dive into the topic and know the do’s and don’ts of face masks.
Places where you must consider wearing a face mask:
Though it is not appropriate to say every State must make face masks mandatory, they must be used in accordance with the severity of the situation. If you are living in a place where the coronavirus cases are soaring, here are some of the places where face masks are mandatory.
At Work Place
(Image source from: zenefits.com)
While some businesses may weigh out the necessity of face coverings, but remember, using a face mask is not just for you but to protect your co-workers too. Since 80% of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic you never know what’s going to happen.
The recent studies predict that face masks are going to be necessary at the work place until 2021.
It can get quite uncomfortable while attending phone calls at office wearing masks, businesses have to figure out a way to ensure even if the masks are removed for a certain time, the infection doesn’t spread.
Hospitals and health care areas
(Image source from: healtheuropa.eu)
Hospitals are the high-risk zones and it is advisable to skip going to these facilities unless it is an emergency. But, if you are compelled to go in case of an emergency, use a proper face or even a PPE kit for utmost protection. Use only medical masks when you visit the hospitals.
Grocery stores and other public places
(Image source from: voiceofoc.org)
Not visiting a grocery store at least once in a week is inevitable. So, wearing proper face masks is necessary whenever you step out.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has recently issued guidelines stating, cloth face masks are efficient in curbing the spread of the virus.
Cloth face masks are readily available everywhere and you can also make your face mask at home.
You must also consider using face mask if:
- It is difficult for you to main the standard 6-feet distance in any public place, be it a busy street or a pharmacy.
- You are abided by the law. There are certain places where face masks are mandatory.
Places where you can skip using face masks:
- If you are in your personal space, like your house or even a backyard.
- In any other secluded location where people are sporadically spread and you won’t end up meeting them within 6-feet distance.
- You are below 2 years old.
- In your cars.
Why should you consider using cloth face coverings?
Surgical masks or N-95 respirators are for health care workers and medical responders. If you are not one of them, a simple hand-made cloth mask would also suffice for daily use, according to CDC. Moreover, cloth face masks are inexpensive and can be used by everyone. CDC also recently advised people to use cloth masks as it would be a greater help if you do not know if you have coronavirus and cloth mask can help curb the transmission.
Here’s how you can make your own cloth mask at home:
Now that you know the importance of face masks and how to use them effectively, it’s time to start implementing the measures to keep yourself and your family safe from the spread of COVID-19.
By Gayatri Yellayi


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Casino operator Mohegan Gaming & Leisure on Wednesday launched Mohegan Digital, its interactive division, as on-line on line casino gaming and sports making a guess maintain simply turn out to be loyal within the firm’s dwelling impart, Connecticut.
Mohegan mentioned that its on-line playing arm will “lead the fee” within the availability of “lowering-edge” digital gaming solutions to its actual fan corrupt and would maybe grow the industry to meet the wants of most contemporary playing customers on a world scale.
Beneath an settlement the Mohegans and the Mashantucket Pequots reached with Governor Ned Lamont in March, Connecticut’s two federally identified tribes would be in a station to present sports making a guess and on-line on line casino companies and products to their local gamers for as a minimum ten years.
As fragment of their address the impart, the 2 tribes agreed to pay an 18% tax on their on-line on line casino revenues within the principle five years, and 20% for the subsequent five years. Sports actions making a guess will most certainly be taxed at 13.75% on all wagers taken.
In gradual Would maybe well even, a invoice authorizing on-line casinos and sports making a guess cleared its closing hurdle within the impart Legislature and became positioned on Gov. Lamont’s desk. Connecticut’s high reputable signed the fragment into law a couple of days later. It is taking perform this day, July 1.
Alternatively, it desires to be notorious that sports making a guess and iGaming are detached as a minimum a couple of months some distance from open as the deal between the tribes and Gov. Lamont will most certainly be topic to federal approval and is currently being reviewed by the US Department of the Inner.
The Upright Timing
Mohegan mentioned that a precedence of its fresh Digital division would be to make an iGaming abilities for the firm’s flagship property, Mohegan Sun Connecticut. The elevated neighborhood has tapped Rich Roberts as President and Aviram Alroy as Vice President Product to oversee the operations of its fresh unit.
Commenting on the open of their interactive division, Mohegan Gaming & Leisure President and CEO Ray Pineault mentioned that the maintain considered a consistent solid growth in digital gaming precise through their properties, particularly over the past yr, and that as loyal sports making a guess continues to magnify precise through the US, they idea the timing became comely for them to open Mohegan Digital.
Mr. Pineault additional notorious that they’ve got made “enormous technological advancements within the digital internet page” over time, working with industry-leading partners and that they are now having a examine to magnify and presents a enhance to these efforts to “elevate the abilities and produce on our promise to invent world-class leisure for our company on a digital scale.”
Earlier this yr, Mohegan opened its first on line casino in Nevada. Beneath a address Virgin Accommodations, the hospitality industry of British entrepreneur Richard Branson, the on line casino operator is now responsible of the gaming operations of Virgin Accommodations Las Vegas, which opened doorways in gradual March.
Source: Mohegan Gaming & Leisure Announces Mohegan Digital, the Tag’s Sharp Expansion into the iGaming Industry, Mohegan Gaming & Leisure Newsroom, June 30, 2021


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Connect to the World.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) January 19, 2013
An article posted on Reuters, on the 3rd of January, stated that SMEs may in fact be looking ahead at a brighter future. The recent recession and the fiscal cliff may have dimmed the prospects of growth for a certain time, but last month the sector was seen hiring more people than before by creating more jobs. The private sector is thought to have successfully opened up 150,000 job positions in December. The news was posted on http://reut.rs/UJaBNA and it further stated that the industries which have been benefiting from the rise in employment are professional services, finance, transport, insurance, manufacturing, as well as real estate.
XSM stated, an increase in employment invariably means that the economy and the business sector are doing well. The increase in sales that results from this will gives a rise to profits too.
SMEs could benefit by the extra revenue flowing in by investing in services that guarantee efficiency and cost-minimization. One such investment that will guarantee long-term benefits is website development. Having a company website does not only make marketing and advertising cheaper, but also ensures that a global audience can be reached. Websites are easy to maintain, entail no future costs, and are a convenient platform for consumers to acquire information and provide feedback. Furthermore, businesses that have the capacity to start delivering goods to consumers’ doorstep can attract more people by offering online purchase and payment options.
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Irvine-based Rivian Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: RIVN) opened the first fast charging site of its Rivian Adventure Network the company is setting up nationwide.
The first opened in Salida, Colorado on Monday while two more are slated to open in California this week near areas like Yosemite National Park and the Sequoia National Forest.
The electric vehicle manufacturer’s charging sites provide four chargers and over 200 kilowatts of power, also hosting Rivian Waypoints chargers that support any EV. The sites of the Adventure Network are steps towards reducing environmental impact while offering “sustainable adventure far from home,” according to officials.
“In addition to scenic or off-the-beaten-path destinations, our fast charging rollout is designed to ensure travelers have places to charge along major transportation corridors coast to coast,” Senior Director of Energy and Charging Solutions Trent Warnke said in a statement.
Rivian plans to open 600 of its Adventure Network sites with a goal of 3,500 fast chargers in North America. The EV maker currently has a market cap of $24 billion.


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GPS At Your Fingertips
Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment maker Trimble Navigation announced today that it had developed the Copernicus GPS receiver, a surface-mount, low power GPS module the size of a thumb-nail. The firm developed the receiver for use in Bluetooth devices, sport accessories, personal navigators or cameras, computer and communication peripherals. Trimble says the module could also be used in vehicle tracking, navigation, and security products.
The firm says the Copernicus GPS receiver can acquire satellite signals and generate position fixes with high accuracy in difficult environments and under poor signal conditions. The receiver is expected to be available in the third quarter of this year.
If you're wondering why the big push for smaller and smaller GPS devices, well Reuters explains that part of the demand is being driven the government. A current article details how U.S. law requires all mobile phones to have an electronic signal, giving the owner's location. To comply, U.S. mobile phone operators now sell mobile phones that contain a GPS chip.
The article goes on to explain how the law has opened up a new market for web services firms like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft.See also:
GPS Use To Take Off: Majority Of Cellphones GPS Enabled By 2011
MapBiz: GPS Boom Yields Record Earnings For Trimble
Cell Phone Maker Takes Stake In GPS Firm
GPS Receiver The Size Of Baby's Fingernail Developed


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Europe’s Cannabis-Friendly Hotspots Could Trigger an Economic Shift
by Bethan Rose
For the second time, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to help resolve an ongoing legal battle between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and various cannabis businesses in Colorado. The Court’s justices have repeatedly declined to hear the appeals from Eric Speidell, owner of the Green Solution, as well as Denver-based cannabis company Standing Akimbo and various other legally operating businesses.
The tedious argument centers around Section 280E of the federal tax code and the negative implications that it has on the $61 billion U.S. cannabis sector. Plaintiffs unsuccessfully made their best effort to encourage a positive hearing that might result in the overthrow of the federal tax provision.
Section 280E was established back in the 1980s in an attempt to prevent illegal market drug dealers from making tax deductions associated with the trafficking of controlled substances. To put it simply, Section 280E of the IRS tax code makes it unlawful for cannabis businesses to deduct the same standard operating expenses that are permitted by mainstream businesses.
Although cannabis companies in Colorado function legally at the state level, it remains impossible for business owners to sidestep the rules laid out under Section 280E of the IRS tax code. Well, until lawmakers deschedule cannabis at the federal level, that is. To put things into perspective, Section 280E of the IRS tax code makes it compulsory for state-legal cannabis businesses to pay sky-high federal tax rates, sometimes as steep as 80% to 100%.
Since legal cannabis companies are forced to pay such extortionate tax rates, scaling and generating healthy profit often proves difficult; particularly for companies that lack sufficient capital. Many business owners even choose to operate illegally as a way of saving money.
Justice Clarence Thomas announced in June that federal cannabis prohibition “may no longer be necessary.” Considering his powerful words, it is understandable why the plaintiffs felt hopeful about their case. Sadly, in spite of the fact that the IRS has unfairly slammed the plaintiffs with additional tax assessments, their hopes were still shot down.
Based on Standing Akimbo’s argument, the IRS lacked the legal power to access the cannabis company’s state tax records amid a federal tax audit. Speidell tried to convince the justices that the IRS overstepped its boundaries when it claimed that the Green Solution’s business operations were forbidden under the Controlled Substances Act and federal law.
The Supreme Court has rejected the plaintiffs’ hearings on two more occasions and it’s likely that the argument will now be dismissed indefinitely. Initially, the cases fell flat last year at the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Unlike other mainstream industries, businesses that operate in the legal cannabis space are much more likely to be audited by the IRS.
Earlier this year, the IRS declared that they have been focusing their time and effort on implementing extensive initiatives for auditing cannabis businesses. Referred to as “Compliance Initiative Projects” (CIPs), the IRS’s cannabis company audits assessed business scores in no less than four states based in Detroit and the West. At least five multi-year audit programs were prioritized during 2021.
CIPs, the IRS affirms, are being proposed and executed following ongoing incidents involving cannabis companies violating Section 280E of the federal tax code. The audits were reportedly carried out by three distinct IRS field offices with one main goal in mind: to implement federal tax code compliance.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury disclosed information pertaining to several of the CIPs in an official report that was issued in 2020. However, more documents have since come to light; four of the five cannabis-focused IRS audits were released to the public after MJBizDaily filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which requires the government to provide access to certain federal agency records.
The process of filing taxes is not exactly enjoyable. This is particularly true for cannabis business owners since the cost of filing taxes can seriously cut into profit margins and overhead budgets. Unfortunately, due to cannabis’ federally illegal status, business owners specializing in this nascent market are four times more likely to be audited than businesses in other more “ordinary” sectors.
Regardless of the expense(s) associated with being federally tax-compliant, business owners ought to follow the rules if they wish to operate legally and avoid hefty fines — which unfortunately means adhering to 280E. Companies that misappropriate expenses will almost always be tracked down by the IRS, which utilizes an algorithm capable of detecting tax returns with a larger probability error.
To avoid potential pitfalls, cannabis business owners should focus on document retention and organization. Legal and licensed companies must refrain from discarding supporting documentation for a minimum of seven years since documentation counts as proof that a company is abiding by Section 280E.
No matter how promising the outlook for U.S. cannabis reform might seem, the IRS is closely monitoring the cannabis industry. Data gleaned from the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s March 2020 report suggests that 59% of cannabis companies in California, Oregon, and Washington deprived the IRS of payments under Section 280E. Report authors estimated that the IRS is owed at least $48.5 million.
According to research, “Migraine is highly prevalent, affecting 12% of the population, attacking up to 17% of women and 6% of men yearly. Among children, it tends to happen more in girls than boys.” A migraine can be very disabling and last from hours to two or three days. Migraines are considered to be the…
PTSD can have far-reaching effects on health, functionality as well as on quality of living, which is why having access to effective treatment is so important. If you are living with PTSD or are living with someone who has PTSD, you would have first-hand experience with how challenging it can be getting through life on…
Up until recently, lack of cannabis education meant that people were blissfully unaware of the fact that the plant is not limited to just one strain and, therefore, does not produce just one type of effect. Fortunately, agricultural experimentation has led to the market exploding in terms of strains that can satisfy everyone, from beginners…
Using cannabis to help combat anxiety is a tricky business. Studies have given us significant evidence that cannabis can be used to help cope with anxiety and because anxiety is so common, that’s an extremely welcome piece of information. In fact, 72% of daily cannabis users reported consumption to relax or relieve tension and 58%…
A cannabis compound that has been described as “cutting-edge” and “so elusive, laboratories often misidentify the compound as CBC (cannabichromene) or CBL (cannabicyclol)” is finally becoming better understood. Delta-10-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-10 THC) is a need-to-know cannabinoid, and here’s why. What Is Delta-10 THC? Does Delta-10 Get You High? Is Delta-10 Safe? How Is Delta-10 Created? Is…
The anti-nausea and vomiting effects of cannabis have been known for several centuries. The evidence eventually became so compelling in clinical trials…
Experts are taking a bird’s eye view of an exciting and rapidly evolving area in cannabis research known as the endocannabinoidome (eCBome)….
Spliffs and joints, while similar, are different cannabis products rolled up in paper. If you are a seasoned cannabis smoker, you’re probably…
Kevin Hamlett Jr says:
September 22, 2021 at 4:49 pm
– Business is under legal practice, by nature, selling product is legal.
– IRS oversteps boundaries by calling product illegal
– If business is protected under legal practice, then sell of product is therefore a legal business practice. IRS is overstepping boundaries. Business practice law effectively legalizes distribution of this controlled substance.
Joseph Michael Frisbee says:
September 25, 2021 at 9:58 pm
I hope they keep this law in affect indefinitely. Cannibas is medicinal, and thus should b made available at the lowest cost, and of the highest quality. Profit motivated business practices, will always lead to the consumer having to bear the tax, of one’s selfish desire to prosper off of the People. Death to the idolatrous false God of Satan that we call the dollar😇😇!!


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For the past couple of months, the idea of wearing a second mask to better protect against COVID-19 has spread. And now, a major health agency, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, has come out in favour of double masking — wearing a cloth mask on top of a medical mask — or ensuring your mask is secured tightly.
The key issues are a snug fit and layering in order to stop aerosols from getting past the mask. The can mean two masks — such as a medical mask paired with a cloth mask, but never two medical masks — as well as other options to improve fit, such as nose wires and mask fitters.
The CDC released its new research on the hot-button topic on Wednesday. Universal masking is important for stopping transmission and “the effectiveness of cloth and medical procedure masks can be improved by ensuring that they are well fitted to the contours of the face to prevent leakage of air around the masks’ edges,” the agency writes.
In the release, the agency also notes that cloth masks and medical procedure masks fit more loosely than respirators such as N95 masks. So wearing a second mask that secures snugly to your face may help stop transmission by providing a better seal.
Using dummies in laboratories, researchers found that exposure to potentially infectious aerosols decreased by up to 95 per cent when they both wore tightly fitted masks. The CDC says exposure to aerosols was reduced with a cloth mask over top of a medical procedure mask (double masking). A three-ply cloth cotton mask alone blocked 44.3 per cent of cough particles while an unknotted medical procedure mask by itself blocked 42 per cent. Together, they blocked 92.5 per cent of the particles.
Other situations that helped involved a medical mask with tucked in sides that featured knotted ear loops that could be adjusted to fit more snugly.
The CDC also suggests using a mask fitter, a brace-like contraption that goes over the mask to stop air from leaking out. Fitters are also often advertised as a way to prevent glasses from fogging while wearing a mask. Another option is putting a nylon covering over a mask to reduce edge gaps. The full CDC guidelines for improving fit are available here.
“These laboratory-based experiments highlight the importance of good fit to optimize mask performance,” the news release says. “Innovative efforts to improve the fit of cloth and medical procedure masks to enhance their performance merit attention.”
Thus far, Health Canada has not changed its mask guidelines. For face masks, it recommends using a three-layered mask with one of the layers featuring a filter-type fabric, such as non-woven polypropylene. The Canadian agency also highlights the importance of fit when wearing a mask.
Don’t miss the latest on COVID-19, reopening and life. Subscribe to Healthing’s daily newsletter COVID Life.


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Online furniture retailer Temple & Webster (ASX: TPW) has revealed that integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into its business has been driving sales conversion and customer benefits as the company moves to have the technology implemented across all customer interactions and internal processes.
As part of a trading update, Sydney’s Temple & Webster says that AI-based language model ChatGPT is now powering all pre-sale product inquiry live chats - 25 per cent of all customer enquiries - and that AI is enhancing product descriptions across all 200,000-plus items on the site.
The retailer says it sees ‘significant potential’ for AI to enhance the customer experience, and as such it has increased its investment in Israeli AI startup Renovai by $2 million, following on from its first investment in the tech firm back in 2020.
Temple & Webster says Renovai is ‘disrupting the way in which customers shop’, and it currently powers product recommendation mood boards on site.
In a further sign of how keen the retailer is on the rapidly accelerating tech, Temple & Webster says it has also assembled an internal team dedicated to AI consisting of software engineers, data scientists and product managers.
Overall, TPW says integration of AI has led to ‘an increase in live chat customer satisfaction, an increase in customers adding products to their carts and an increase in conversion rates from this channel’.
“We have been excited about the potential game-changing technology of AI for many years now, with our first investment in Renovai in 2020,” says Temple & Webster CEO Mark Coulter.
“The pace of this next technology revolution is only getting faster. As the leading pure play online retailer, we have the resources and capabilities to ensure we are at the forefront of this revolution.
“For an online-only business without physical stores or in-person sales staff, the potential for AI to significantly lower our CODB (cost of doing business) per cent, drive conversion and customer benefits is going to be material. We believe this will further drive our competitive advantages and allow us to win market share.”
The company’s commitment to AI comes as Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI which is behind language model ChatGPT, testified in front of the US Congress overnight and called for stricter regulatory intervention to mitigate the risks of the emerging tech.
As reported by The Guardian, Altman has suggested the US Government could consider licensing and testing requirements for deployment and release of AI models, and proposed establishing a set of safety standards.
It also comes after global tech leaders including the likes of Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Getty Images CEO Craig Peters and more signed an open letter calling for a pause on “out-of-control” AI development.
“We call on all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4,” the open letter published by the Future of Life Institute, a non-profit backed by Musk, stated.
“Advanced AI could represent a profound change in the history of life on Earth, and should be planned for and managed with commensurate care and resources.
“Unfortunately, this level of planning and management is not happening, even though recent months have seen AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one – not even their creators – can understand, predict, or reliably control.”
Temple & Webster returns to year-on-year growth
In addition to the company’s update on its AI integration, Temple & Webster has today reported that the business has returned to year-on-year growth as it completes cycling comparisons against COVID-impacted periods.
Trading in the last four weeks was up 10 per cent vs the prior corresponding period, while over the entire half sales were down by 5 per cent compared to a decline of 7 per cent for the first five weeks of the half.
The company offered full-year EBITDA growth guidance of 3 to 5 per cent, and noted cash levels remained at approximately $100 million with no debt.
It follows a slump in first-half profits, with Temple & Webster posting a 46.7 per cent dip to $3.87 million in February.
“In the face of turbulent macroeconomic conditions, it’s incredibly satisfying to see Temple & Webster back in growth mode as we cycle out of periods impacted by COVID,” Coulter said.
“We recognised early that in this inflationary environment, customers would be looking for choice and value and we have successfully adjusted our range, promotional activity, pricing and on-site merchandising to reflect these changing customer needs.
“The Australian furniture & homewares category remains highly under-penetrated in terms of its shift to online compared to other leading markets such as the US and UK. As the pure-play online market leader, we believe this period will allow us to aggressively grow market share as we leverage our data capabilities, asset light model and strong balance sheet.”
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New Delhi : The third Covid wave, as well as semiconductor supply issues and rural distress, dented India’s January 2022 automobile retail sales on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, FADA said.
Data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) showed a YoY fall of 10.69 per cent in overall automobile retail sales during the month under review.
The overall retail sales fell to 14,39,747 units last month from 16,12,130 units sold during the corresponding month of 2021.
Also, last month’s overall retail sales figure, when compared to the January 2020 period, showed a decline of 18.41 per cent.
In January 2020, the overall vehicle retail sales stood at 17,64,691 units.
On a YoY basis, passenger vehicle (PV) retail sales last month fell by 10.12 per cent to 2,58,329 units last month from 2,87,424 units sold during the corresponding month of last year.
Similarly, two-wheeler retail sales declined last month YoY, by 13.44 per cent to 10,17,785 units.
Tractor retail sales fell by 9.86 per cent to 55,421 units.
However, the commercial vehicle (CV) retail sales rose by 20.52 per cent to 67,763 units last month from 56,227 units sold during the corresponding month of last year.
“In spite of good demand, passenger vehicle continues to face the brunt of semi-conductor shortage resulting in void of a healthy inventory. Coming to two-wheeler category, the rural distress coupled with price rise and Omicron wave played a villain’s role for this segment,” FADA President Vinkesh Gulati said.
“With the revival in economy, CV segment continues to show YoY growth especially in HCV category. With increased infrastructure spending by Central as well as state governments, overall CV segment remains in momentum.”


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Epic Video games Retailer Mega Sale 2022 went stay on Thursday and can final until June 16 at 11am ET / 8:30pm IST. There are reductions of as much as 75 % on over 1,600 video games and add-ons. Additionally, you will get limitless Epic Video games Retailer Mega coupons all through the period of this sale that may present a further 25 % low cost on video games purchases price $14.99 (roughly Rs. 1,160) or extra. The Mega Sale 2022 additionally brings the Vault and Mega Offers that may refresh each week with new gives.
The Epic Video games Retailer Mega Sale 2022 will final for 4 weeks and sees Ghostwire: Tokyo go on sale for the primary time since its launch on the platform. Listed below are a number of the different nice reductions presently obtainable.
Epic Video games Retailer Mega Sale 2022 finest reductions
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland at Rs. 2,639.20 — 20 % off
Ghostwire: Tokyo at Rs. 1,649.33 — 34 % off
Far Cry 6 at Rs. 1,499.50 — 50 % off
Far Cry 6 Evaluate
Crimson Useless Redemption 2 at Rs. 1,599.50 — 50 % off
Cyberpunk 2077 at Rs. 1,499.50 — 50 % off
Murderer’s Creed Valhalla Customary Version at Rs. 1,199.60 — 60 % off
Murderer’s Creed Valhalla Evaluate
Horizon Zero Daybreak Full Version at Rs. 1,649.50 — 50 % off
Horizon Zero Daybreak Evaluate
Riders Republic at Rs. 1,499.50 — 50 % off
Hitman 3 at Rs. 944.50 — 50 % off
Kena: Bridge of Spirits at Rs. 610.35 — 35 % off
Kena Bridge of Spirits Evaluate
Mafia: Trilogy at Rs. 1,649.50 — 50 % off
Mafia: Definitive Version Evaluate
As talked about earlier, there’s additionally the Vault, which is able to open each week of the sale to supply a brand new free sport. For the primary week, Borderlands 3 has gone free until Might 26 at 8:30pm IST.
Epic can also be making a gift of free in-game gadgets and extra as a part of the Mega Offers provide. Proper now, you possibly can seize unique gadgets from fashionable titles just like the HNY Inverted wheels in Rocket League. Moreover, a legendary bundle is accessible in Warframe and Fortnite is providing the Volcanic Assassins Quest Pack.
Epic Video games Retailer Mega Sale 2022 runs from Thursday, Might 19 to Thursday, June 16.


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Nasa has launched a competition to design a toilet for astronauts to use on the Moon.
Going to the loo in space is not particularly comfortable for astronauts, and the last time humans landed on the Moon in 1972 they had to wear big adult nappies!
For the next mission to the Moon in 2024 Nasa wants to do things a bit differently.
So they launched the "Lunar Loo Challenge", which is asking for people to send in their design ideas for a toilet which will work for male and female astronauts, in space, and on the surface of the Moon.
"Nasa is looking for a next-generation device that is smaller, more efficient, and capable of working in both microgravity and lunar gravity." said Nasa.
There is a category for adults, and for children to send in their designs. A prize of $35,000 will be shared between the top three teams, and the winners in the children's category will receive public recognition and an item of official NASA-logoed merchandise.


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As it stands, students can join Apple Music at a discounted monthly rate for up to 48 months; but soon, for a limited time, this deal will also include Apple TV Plus.
After UNiDAYS verifies your student status, you currently get access to Apple Music for $4.99 per month. Now, Apple has given financially-stretched students an incentive to switch over from Netflix with their latest offer.
To celebrate its launch tomorrow, Apple is bundling Apple TV Plus in together with the discounted student plan.
Offering a meagre nine series, Apple TV Plus is priced at $5/month for non-students. While it may seem pretty reasonable, Apple is just testing the waters; and a positive reception would most likely invoke a price rise down the road, especially when the range of titles expands.
For those who aren’t students, Apple is offering another deal. With the purchase of selected Apple devices also comes a free subscription for a whole year. For anyone else, there’s a 7-day free trial to take advantage of (just don’t forget to cancel).
Check out the offer on the Apple website.


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Ford Motor Company today announced key leadership appointments as it continues to accelerate its customer-focused Ford+ transformation.
Elena Ford, Ford’s chief customer experience officer, is named chief dealer engagement officer, effective today. In this role, she will work closely with Ford’s 10,000 dealers worldwide to accelerate their transformation into a competitive differentiator across Ford’s global businesses. Elena Ford and dealers around the globe will collaborate to increase the consistency and efficiency of Ford’s global dealer council’s governance, improve retail facilities, modernize training and development, become more diverse, further raise community engagement, and amplify best practices.
“I have worked hand-in-hand with dealers throughout my career and I am excited to now partner with our 10,000 dealers globally to make our retail network a competitive advantage for Ford,” Elena Ford said. “Our dealers are the face of Ford with millions of customers, and part of the fabric of communities around the world. We can build on that strength through better training, deeper engagement and more diversity.”
Ford also announced that Lisa Materazzo, formerly Toyota’s top marketing executive in North America, is joining Ford as global chief marketing officer effective today, reporting to Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. At Toyota, Materazzo also held key leadership roles at Lexus and Scion.
At Ford, Materazzo will lead advanced product planning and all marketing activities across Ford Blue, Ford Model e and Ford Pro. She will also oversee Ford Performance and Lincoln.
“The automotive industry is going through a sea change with the electric and software transition, and the more I looked at the bold bets Ford is making on the future, the more I wanted to be part of this mission,” Materazzo said. “Great marketing can supercharge the Ford+ plan because we have the opportunity to win the hearts and minds of customers with seamlessly connected product, service, and ownership experiences that create brand advocates for life.”
Materazzo’s lifelong passion for the auto industry and motorsports traces back to growing up in Upstate New York in the shadow of the famed Watkins Glen racetrack. She learned to drive in a 1981 Ford Mustang Cobra.
“I grew up in a family of auto enthusiasts and have dedicated my career to automotive. I’m a huge motorsports enthusiast. My idea of a vacation is going to F1 races around the world,” Materazzo said. “I feel incredibly blessed to be joining this iconic company at a time when it’s making bold bets on the future – from the three new divisions of the company to the audacious performance and motorsports plan. I am especially excited to work with Lincoln President Dianne Craig and the whole Lincoln team to reinvigorate this iconic and powerful brand.”
Ford also announced William Clay “Will” Ford III is joining the company as general manager, Ford Performance, later this month. In the role, Will Ford will build out Ford Performance as a business and lifestyle brand, working closely with product development, marketing, dealers, merchandising and other Ford teams.
Ford is entering one of the most ambitious periods for performance and motorsports in its 120-year history – from joining Formula 1 with Red Bull Racing, to competing at LeMans next year with Mustang, to starting a new Mustang racing series. At the same time, the company is developing an unprecedented lineup of performance cars and trucks, such as the Mustang GTD, Mustang Darkhorse and F-150 Raptor R.
“Nothing matters more to me than Ford’s reputation and brand, and Ford Performance is in a unique position to grow the passion for our brand throughout the world,” said Will Ford, son of Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford and a fifth-generation member of the founding Ford family. “We have the best high-performance product lineup and the most exciting motorsport schedule that I have seen in my lifetime, with more to come. I’m excited by the opportunity to use Ford Performance to create new ways for our customers and fans to experience and love our brand, whether or not they own one of our vehicles.”
Will Ford graduated from Princeton University and received his MBA from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He spent a decade working at the intersection of automotive corporations and early-stage mobility startups as a venture capital investor and entrepreneur.


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Alliance posts second quarter, first half results
Alliance Tire Co. Inc. posted $41.7 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2006 versus $40.9 million during 2Q 2005.
During the first half of the year, Alliance topped $78 million in revenue.
However, Alliance's sales costs during 2Q 2006 rose nearly 9% to $33.9 million and $63.4 million during the first six months of the year "mainly because of an average 14.6% rise in the cost of raw materials," according to Alliance officials.
The result was a drop in operating profit to $1.5 million for the second quarter and a drop to $3.1 million during the first half.
"This has been a challenging period for Alliance and for all tire manufacturers, especially in light of the rising cost of materials," says Joseph Anglister, Alliance's president.
"But we are encouraged by our continued success with original equipment manufacturers around the world, and by our growth in the OTR, forestry and other markets." (Alliance recently signed a $4 million supply contract with Caterpillar Inc.)