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Physiotherapy chain Back in Motion has been forced to amend its franchise agreements after the competition watchdog alleged unfair terms were erecting barriers for partners looking to exit their network.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from the franchisor on Monday, striking restraint of trade terms that prevented former franchisees from involving themselves with nearby physiotherapy competitors within 12 months of leaving the network.
The franchisor had also been charging franchisees a “buy-out fee” equal to four times their annual royalties if they wanted to be released from the restraint of trade clause, in what ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said made it more difficult for partners to operate new businesses.
“Effectively, this clause in the franchise agreement meant that most former franchisees could not operate in many parts of metropolitan areas of Australia because of the existence of other Back In Motion Physiotherapy franchise outlets in those locations.
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“We were concerned that this clause may cause detriment to franchisees seeking to exit the Back In Motion Physiotherapy franchise,” Keogh said in a statement.
Back in Motion, which has more than 500 franchisees across Australia and New Zealand, had maintained the terms in their standard franchise agreements for more than 15 years, but accepted on Monday they “may be unfair” under Australian Consumer Law.
The franchisor has also promised not to enforce either the restraint of trade or buy-out clauses in the future, or for franchisees that have left the group in the past 12 months.
The case is just the latest example of unfair contract terms in the scandal-plagued franchising sector, as the ACCC continues to try and enforce the franchising code of conduct.
However, unfair contract terms are still not illegal under existing laws, meaning while courts can void unfair provisions, there can be no penalties imposed on companies.
The ACCC has previously called on the federal government to outlaw unfair contract terms, but thus far, the Morrison government has only committed to an ongoing consultation process about strengthening the laws.
SmartCompany contacted Back in Motion for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.


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Consumer products giant Unilever said Thursday it is aiming for a “more inclusive vision of beauty” in its skin care products and will remove words like “fair”, “whitening” and “lightening” from its products, a movement that occurs amid an intense global race debate sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement.
As part of the change, Unilever will change the name of its “Fair & Lovely” product that is used to lighten skin and sold in Asia in the coming months, the company said.
“We are fully committed to having a global portfolio of skin care brands that is inclusive and cares for all skin tones, celebrating a greater diversity of beauty,” said Sunny Jain, director of Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever. “We recognize that the use of the words ‘fair,’ ‘white,’ and ‘clear’ suggests a unique ideal of beauty that we don’t think is correct, and we want to address it.”
A statement from Hindustan Unilever Limited said the change would involve dropping the word “fair.” He said a new name was awaiting regulatory approval.
Unilever said its Fair & Lovely range “has never been, and is not, a skin whitening product.” The global consumer company said its advertising for Fair & Lovely products has changed since 2014.
“In 2019, we reflected this evolution in the Fair & Lovely package in India, eliminating before and after impressions and color guides that could indicate a transformation; and we have progressed in all communication of the product’s benefits toward skin brightness, even tone, clarity and radiance, ”the company said.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration along with the CDC are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella. The outbreak is linked to pre-cut melon products, which contain cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon or may be mixes of some of all of these.
Caito Foods, LLC of Indianapolis recalled the products because they are potentially contaminated with Salmonella. The company has also temporarily suspended producing these products.
The FDA and the CDC have traced the distribution of pre-cut melon mixes from individuals who got sick back to Caito Foods, LLC. Salmonella Carrau is a rare type of Salmonella, but it has been historically seen in imported melons.
The FDA is looking into the shipping records and trying to determine a country, and possibly, a farm of origin for the melons.
The same company was linked to a similar outbreak in 2018, in which there were 77 cases in nine states.
Consumers should not eat the recalled pre-cut melon products that were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers and distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
People who bought pre-cut melon products and cannot determine if they were produced by Caito Foods, LLC should throw them away.
The products were sold at:
- Kroger under the Renaissance Food Group label
- Kroger under Boar's Head Private Label
- Target under the Garden Highway Label
- Trader Joes under the Trader Joes label
- Walmart under a Freshness Guaranteed label
- Amazon/Whole Foods under the Whole Foods Market Label
These products were distributed by:
- Caito Foods Distribution with the label “Distributed by Caito Foods”
- Gordon Food Service with the label “Distributed by Caito Foods”
- SpartanNash Distribution with the label “Open Acres”
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Israeli early stage high-tech startup VC fund Magma Venture Partners, whose current portfolio includes online video-editing software developer Magisto, mobile analytics company Onavo, and navigation app maker Waze to name three, has completed fundraising on its third fund — Magma III — exceeding its target of $100 million. Magma said it manages more than $300 million to-date. → Read More
Apple finally confirmed earlier reports that it bought Israeli semiconductor startup Anobit Technologies. Apple did not confirm the price, which is believed to be between $400 million and $500 million.
Apple bought Anobit for two reasons: its flash memory controllers are a key component of all Apple’s leading products (from iPads and iPhones to MacBook Airs), and in one fell swoop it just added… → Read More


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Amgen earnings more than double, raises yearly forecast
- Staff L.A. Biz
Drugmaker Amgen Inc. said its third-quarter profits more than doubled, helped by sales of its arthritis drug Enbrel and other key products and because of a $780 million legal charge it took last year.
The Thousand Oaks-based company reported net income of $1.11 billion, or $1.41 per share, for the three months ended, up from $454 million, or 50 cents a share, a year ago. The company said last year it recorded a $780 million charge, or per share, to settle investigations into kickbacks and marketing practices.
Adjusted income was $1.31 billion, or $1.67 per share, beating the average Wall Street forecast of $1.47 per share on revenue of $4.24 billion.
Revenue for the quarter rose 10 percent, to $4.32 billion, with 8 percent product sales grwoth driven by strong performance across its drug portfolio, the company said. Revenue in the third quarter last year was $3.94 billion.
Sales of Enbrel inreased 17 percent from last year due to increases in average net sales and unit demand, while infection drugs Neulasta and Neupogen grew 1 percent. Neulasta sales rose 4 percent on higher prices in the U.S., while Neupogen sales declined 6 percent.
"We delivered solid growth in revenues and earnings," Amgen Chief Executive Robert A. Bradway said in a statement. "Our marketed products are performing well and we continue to make progress with key pipeline projects."
Amgen also raised its 2012 forecast to adjusted earnings of $6.50 to $6.60 per share on revenue of $17.2 billion to $17.3 billion. Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting earnings of $6.33 a share for the year.
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REPOST ARICLE SOURCE: http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=208745
Working from home is no longer the realm of new moms and start-up companies. Since 2000, the number of individuals working from home has increased to 13.4 million, or 9.5 percent of the workforce, according to a new report by the government. That represents an increase of 11 million people since 1997.
Small business owners and self-employed individuals make up the majority of home workers. According the U.S. Census Bureau, about 45 percent are self-employed, a trend that has increased as business owners attempt to cut costs. The recession has also affected the percentage because the number of overall individuals employed has declined.
Ani Afshar is an example. She owned a jewelry boutique in Lincoln Park for eight years during the 2000s. When the recession dragged on, she moved her business home in 2009.
“Operating the store when there is no one in the street was costly. Now the same people just come to my house,” said Afshar.
Afshar sets up appointments with clients to show jewelry, which allows her to pay more attention to each customer and increases the chance of the sale. However, there’s been a cost to her business. “We don’t get new people as much, but we weren’t getting them at the store anyway,” Afshar said.
The move did affect her business model. Instead of selling mostly jewelry, Iranian-born Afshar switched back to weaving, her original art form. When she closed the store three years ago, she had already booked a show at the Hyde Park Art Center in 2012. Now she works at selling art in addition to retailing her jewelry. She didn’t find the shift too abrupt.
“I’m an artist, so I’ve always done things at home, so the adjustment wasn’t difficult for me. In fact, it’s been good to focus on my art.”
Larger companies also have delved into the at-home work force, allowing more and more full-time employees to work remotely. Melanie Holmes from Manpower Group Inc. says that the increased number of home workers has resulted from employee demands.
“People are asking for it more. Employees know that flexible working is an accommodation at other companies so we have to offer it as an option,” said Holmes.
That flexibility makes for happier employees, she says. Manpower has actually seen an increase in productivity for these employees: “The foundation of this system is trust. When I work at home, I know I have to get my work done because senior management expects it from me. “
A large number of those in the computer, science and engineering industry have been affected by this change. Home-based work in these areas has increased by 69 percent, according to the report. John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., a Chicago outplacement firm, says that’s not surprising.
“The jobs done in front of a computer are easily moved home by their nature. They are usually more comfortable with the technical adjustments,” Challenger said.
Challenger said more companies need to jump on the at-home bandwagon because the model will benefit employees at little cost.
“There are risks there. But today companies have become so thorough in measuring productivity, they know who is producing and at what rate. They can reduce the privilege for those that can’t produce.”


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Due to the crisis in the country with the Kovid epidemic, the importation of vehicles was stopped.
The government stated that this problem arose due to the shortage of dollars in the country.
However, the President had given some hope to those who are hoping to buy a vehicle yesterday.
To import electric vehicles for each fuel powered vehicles.
The President was speaking at the opening of the new Kelani Bridge at the Kalyani Gold Gate yesterday (24th).
We have no coal, we have no oil. We have no gas. But we have water. There is wind. There is sunlight.
If 71% of our fuel is brought to vehicles, why can't we bring electric vehicles to this country.
We need to think about these and come up with solutions.


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Since its launch in 2000 with a staff of four, Connecticut-based SL Financial — a subsidiary of Germany’s Landesbank Baden-Württemberg — has grown its staff five-fold, opened offices both north and south of the U.S. border, and broke half-a-billion dollars in managed assets. In recognition of its debut on the Monitor 100, we asked CEO Klaus Knuth to tell us how the company did it.
Klaus KnuthCEO, SL Financial Services
Among the 13 new entrants to this year’s Monitor 100, we welcome two companies whose parent is domiciled overseas. Coming in at number 62, Connecticut-based SL Financial Services traces its roots back to 1818, when Queen Katharina of Württemberg founded Württembergische Sparkasse, one of the first savings banks in Germany. More than 150 years later, an offspring of that bank, Stuttgart-based Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), or “State Bank of Baden-Württemberg,” entered the leasing business in Germany through a subsidiary, SudLeasing (South Leasing).
In the more than three decades since its founding, the unit has grown to become a major player in the European market with some 800 employees, and now does business all over the continent. More recently, it reached across the Atlantic and SL Financial Services was born. The U.S. arm of SudLeasing, launched in 2000, began with a core staff of just four people, headed up by an ambitious Frankfurt native named Klaus Knuth.
A longtime employee of LBBW with a background in corporate banking, Knuth had come to America a decade earlier to help establish the bank’s first U.S. branch. So when it came time to expand the brand into the leasing space, he was a natural choice to take the helm.
“We started very small initially,” Knuth explains. “It was a real boutique. I had the opportunity over the previous ten years to build contacts in the finance community in and around New York, so we were very quickly able to build a balance sheet; we were profitable by year-two.”
After spending about a year in the heart of the New York financial district, Knuth decided the company needed some breathing room. He moved SL Financial out of the city — where LBBW still maintains its U.S. headquarters — and set up shop at its current location in Westport, CT.
From the start SL Financial maintained a singular strategic focus: to introduce financing services to the U.S. subsidiaries of German firms. Today, the company’s vendor list reads like a who’s who of leading European industrials, and includes Liebherr Cranes, printing press manufacturer Heidelberg, construction equipment company Putzmeister, and Eurocopter Helicopters, a subsidiary of French firm EADS (European Aeronautic, Defense & Space Company), the maker of Airbus.
“The basic idea, and where we found our niche, was to help medium-sized companies that are not large enough or didn’t want to set up their own financing arm in the U.S. to compete with companies like John Deere or Caterpillar or GE; to put them on a similar footing so that they could go out and offer their clients not just the product but the financing,” Knuth says.
The company also made an early effort to court the syndication market, a move that paid off initially and helped fuel the new firm’s growth spurt. But by its third year in business, Knuth says shifting market factors made the secondary market less appealing. As the company matured, so did its approach to the market.
“When we started with a fairly small staff, the secondary market was quite interesting to us because it was fairly deep; but in 2003 as liquidity started flooding the market and what we now call the housing bubble had an effect on spreads in the secondary market, we went back to the drawing board to focus on middle-market vendor financing,” he explains. “But we followed this up by starting to hire people who are able to go after clients directly and serve them.”
The strategy had its intended effect. Between 2007 and 2008, SL Financial’s indirect originations shrunk from $49 million to just over $5 million, while its direct business more than doubled. Meanwhile SL Financial’s vendor business continued to flourish, accounting for roughly 65% of it $210 million in new business volume in 2008.
SL Financial specializes in deals ranging from $500,000 to $5 million in three main industry sectors: trucking, construction and printing. As anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of the current recession knows, those three sectors comprise a trifecta of the hardest hit industries. Knuth says the economic crisis has had the biggest impact on the company’s construction and printing assets — given the severe pullback in residential and commercial building and the less dramatic, but equally worrisome decline in print advertising.
“We certainly have more requests for restructures than we’ve ever had before in pretty much any industry, but the hardest hit is certainly the construction sector,” he says.
But the company is also cleverly opportunistic, which has enabled it to offset some of the effects of the economic crisis. Knuth says given the effect the economy has had on its bread and butter industries, SL Financial is presently looking for new partners in areas such as packaging, infrastructure and pharmaceuticals — sectors in which the company has recently gained a foothold.
“We are pretty diversified so for instance we see a stable situation in everything that has to do with infrastructure; and we still see a fairly stable business in helicopters,” he says. “Then there are other areas, like special packaging for the food and drug industries, for example in plastic molding machines for companies that cater to the pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals in general is one area where we do quite a bit of financing. This area is stable if not growing.”
Over its decade of existence, SL Financial’s staff size has grown more than five-fold, and now consists of 23 people — still tiny by market standards. But the company is also branching out geographically, and is now scouting business both north and south of the U.S. border. In Mexico City, SL Financial maintains an office of five employees. The Mexico operation is headed up by Volker Helms, who joined LBBW following assignments with Deutsche Bank in Mexico and New York. And in Toronto, a single “pioneer” as Knuth calls him, is laying the groundwork for SL Financial’s new Canadian office.
Knuth has a positive outlook for the future of his company, but at the same time he maintains a realistic view of the challenges the market will bring for the foreseeable future. Last year, new business volume declined slightly, while the company’s net investment in equipment-related loans and leases broke $500 million for the first time. He admits the company’s forecast for 2009 — a 22% increase in new business volume — is optimistic; but, he adds, even in a down market there are chances for growth.
“Obviously the market could be in better shape but we think it’s still a good strategy; we actually see that, especially in this difficult market, if you play anti-cyclical it can be very beneficial,” he says. “We put new people on board and hope that we will get additional business through those channels.”
What’s more, the company is now looking to push back into the syndication market, influenced by some of the same factors — albeit in reverse — that promoted its gradual withdrawal five years ago.
“We definitely see an opening up of the secondary market where other big players are pulling back or setting the bar so high that they do not book business themselves anymore but would rather sell it, so if you’re very selective there are actually chances to grow,” he says.
With a total of eight children ranging in age from their teens to mid-thirties (three of his own, plus his wife’s five) Knuth says much of his time out of the office is spent with family.
Christopher Moraff is an associate editor of the Monitor.
Chief Digital Officer,
The equipment finance industry “owns the invoice,” putting lessors at the nexus for helping customers connect among a growing list of sectors. Scott Nelson details the steps necessary for defining the good, the bad and the ugly for invoice methods and techniques.
Managing Director, Head of Leasing National Sales,
The Bancorp Commercial Fleet Leasing
The global shortage of semiconductor chips has had far-reaching consequences spanning multiple industries. The supply chain is fragile, priority is given to those who need the chips most and incentives are projected to be low throughout 2022. This lesson in supply and demand is not all bad news, however, as Jeff Barron of Bancorp Bank details.


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In a setback to Samsung Electronics, 527 owners of Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in South Korea on Monday filed a class-action lawsuit against the company for the inconvenience experienced after the discontinuation of the device.
According to the Harvest Law Office here, the plaintiffs filed the case with the Seoul Central District Court, seeking 500,000 won (US$440) in compensation each, Yonhap news agency reported.
Ko Young-yeel, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said the rights of the consumers were infringed upon as Samsung halted production of the device and asked them to get replacements for other models.
“The consumers were also deprived of their rights to get after-sales service,” he said during a press conference held in front of the court. “(Samsung) should compensate for the mental distress caused by such a situation,” Young-Yeel added.
Earlier this month, Samsung permanently halted sales and production of the fire-prone Note 7, about two months after the device’s launch.
“Customers have been experiencing inconveniences, which caused several visits to the after-sales service centres in person at their own expense and time for battery check-ups and exchanges even though the purchased products are worth 1 million won,” Ko added.
Ko said the number of plaintiffs is likely to increase as the law firm is still receiving applications from those who want to join the suit.
Three US customers from three different states — Nevada, Pennsylvania and California – have already complained about the fire-prone devices and may go for a class-action lawsuit against Samsung.
The suit filed in the US District Court in Newark, New Jersey, accuses Samsung Electronics America of fraud and breach of warranty and good faith, NBC News reported last week.
The suit — whose class-action status must still be approved by a judge before it can proceed — seeks unspecified damages over what it alleges was Samsung’s mistreatment of its customers because they had to keep paying on their contracts during the weeks after Samsung recalled the phones but before replacements were made widely available.
The South Korean conglomerate began selling the phone on August 19 this year, but in September announced an unprecedented withdrawal following reports of more than thirty cases of combustion by terminals in multiple countries.
In the recall affecting about 2.5 million phones, the company proceeded in mid-September to deliver replacement phones, but the new batch continued to suffer from battery overheating, ultimately resulting in the definitive withdrawal of the product.
The South Korean tech giant last week estimated that it will lose $3 billion in operating profits over the next six months due to the withdrawal of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.


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The well-know company SYTECH, which operates in the field of digital forensic services, is finally working in the Bitcoin world and also accepting digital coin as a form of payment.
The firm recently announced its move into cryptocurrency with two new features: “a stolen Bitcoin tracing and recovery service” and also a data recovery service that can “salvage coins from damaged hard drives, mobile phones and other storage mediums”.
In a press release, the UK-based SYTECH explained they are “offering a Bitcoin retrieval service to individuals, companies and businesses around the globe who may need Bitcoin recovered from damaged hard drives, memory cards and mobile phones. With its professional standing, years of experience and fast turnaround, SYTECH is poised to become the service Bitcoin companies, businesses and enthusiasts will utilise to urgently recover Bitcoin from damaged or compromised storage devices”.
As a welcome gift, the firm is offering a 5% discount to any client who currently pays with Bitcoins. SYTECH hasn’t advertised the new services on the company’s website yet, but that will happen soon.
SYTECH, which has been around since 1978, is registered with the United Kingdom Register of Expert Witnesses, is Bond Solon Courtroom Trained and also checked by Sweet & Maxwell.


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- Safaricom estimates that its smart electricity meters will help to track power use, outages and transformer loads, giving Kenya Power additional Sh71 billion revenues in five years.
- Of this collection, the power distribution monopoly will earn a net of Sh17.9 billion when the technology cuts system losses to eight percent from the current 23.93 percent.
Safaricom #ticker:SCOM estimates that its smart electricity meters will help to track power use, outages and transformer loads, giving Kenya Power additional Sh71 billion revenues in five years.
Of this collection, the power distribution monopoly will earn a net of Sh17.9 billion when the technology cuts system losses to eight percent from the current 23.93 percent.
From the onset, this is an idea whose time has come, considering that the power distributor has been grappling with electricity theft and weak transmission that have seen it drop from a top earner to a loss-making utility.
For the first time in 17 years, it made a loss of close to Sh1 billion last year.
Some of Kenya Power’s large consumers have resorted to own production and installing solar kits, further hurting the once giant utility.
Safaricom says it has identified four manufacturers of the more than 300,000 meters that will serve more than 1,200 Kenya Power distribution feeders, 73,000 transformers, and 256,000 consumers that use an average 200 kilowatts monthly.
Kenya Power’s system losses have been rising from 17.51 percent in 2015 to the current 23.93 percent as it has upped connections helped by the subsidies like the Last Mile programme.
For a huge service provider like Kenya Power, meter tampering and the system losses were sure to push it into bigger commercial problems when power thieves run roughshod, exploiting technologies that are not water-tight.
Apart from the prospects of enhanced revenues, the use of smart meters is expected to keep power affordable, which is one of the demands manufacturers have been making on the government to enable them become competitive across the world.
And when manufacturers can produce competitively, the economy will benefit through increased jobs, better remuneration and improved dividends to the shareholders.
Because this development is coming at a time Kenya Power is grappling with procurement troubles that have seen workers call for the ousting of the board, this smart metering deal must be seen to be above board, including negotiating a revenue share that will make sense to the ownership.


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Samsung Galaxy F22
South Korean electronics maker Samsung on Tuesday launched in India the Galaxy F22 smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy F22 comes in 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB configurations priced at Rs 12,499 and Rs 14,499, respectively. It will be available in Denim Blue and Denim Black colours on Samsung Online Store, Flipkart and select retail stores from July 13. As an introductory offer, Samsung is providing Rs 1,000 off to consumers on prepaid transactions on Flipkart. The introductory offer brings down the effective cost of the Galaxy F22’s 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB variants to Rs 11,499 and Rs 13,499, respectively.
As for the specifications, the Galaxy F22 sports a 6.4-inch HD+ super AMOLED Infinity-U screen. The screen is touted to attain brightness level of up to 600 nits in the High Brightness Mode (HBM). The screen is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The Galaxy F22 packs a 6,000mAh battery supported by 25W fast charger. The phone, however, comes with a 15W USB-C fast charger in the box. The The phone is powered by Mediatek Helio G80 system-on-chip, paired with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB on-board storage.
Imaging is covered by a quad-camera system on the rear, featuring a 48-megapixel primary sensor (GM2) based on Samsung’s ISOCELL Plus technology, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor of a 123-degree field of view, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, the phone sports a 13MP camera sensor for selfies, videos and phone unlock mechanism. The Galaxy F22’s camera comes loaded with several camera modes like Hyperlapse, Slow motion, Food Mode, Pro mode and AR zone.
The Galaxy F22 boots Android 11 operating system-based OneUI 3.1 user interface, pre-loaded with Samsung Pay Mini for digital transactions.


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Brands can now design emails to more easily create a uniform brand experience across platforms and devices. Len Shneyder on April 26, 2019 It should come as no surprise by now that if you’re designing emails with a mobile-first ethos and aesthetic, then you’re already late to the game. Nearly 56% of emails are now … Continue reading Here’s why you need to make sure your email design is mobile-first
Taylor Gordon — April 26, 2019 — April 26, 2019 Increasing your freelancing or consulting rates is the key to generating more income. In a service-based business, there are only so many hours in a day that we can work. Eventually, you hit a point where there’s a limit to your income unless you’re interested … Continue reading 3 Mindsets You Need to Adopt to Successfully Increase Your Rates
Kara Perez — April 24, 2019 — April 24, 2019 Business growth is a hot topic in the news. ‘Grow as fast as you can’ seems to be the message that every CEO and headline blares at us. Going from $ 1,000 months to $ 10,000 months as fast as possible. Going from one employee … Continue reading Does Your Business Need to Grow? (Hint: Maybe Not)
Emily Sidley — April 22, 2019 Follow @EmilySidleyPR — April 22, 2019 One of the most common digital marketing goals these days is to measurably increase online visibility. Whether your customers buy on your website or at your brick and mortar store, a strong internet presence helps consumers find, learn about and ultimately purchase from … Continue reading Keywords & Your Digital Marketing Strategy: What Do You Need to Know?
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Lacy Boggs — April 16, 2019 Follow @blogspiration42 — April 16, 2019 Over the last two weeks, I’ve had two calls with two different people — who have totally different business models — both of whom seemed to be looking for permission NOT to have an email list or do a lot of promotion/drive a … Continue reading How Much Traffic Does Your Business REALLY Need?
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Karl Sakas — April 10, 2019 Follow @KarlSakas — April 10, 2019 Frustrated things aren’t getting done? Consider my Desire, Competence, and Capacity model. (larger) Frustrated that an employee isn’t completing their important assignments? Or maybe you’re the one struggling as the overloaded agency leader? Perhaps you’ve told someone—or yourself—“Just do it!” That’s a good … Continue reading Not Doing That Thing? You Need Desire, Competence, and Capacity


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Greenpeace has claimed there is unapproved GM corn in Kellogg’s meat-free hotdogs. The environmentalist group says that Kellogg’s MorningStar Farms corndogs contain Starlink corn, which is not approved for human consumption. Although Kellogg is still testing the batch, there’s a good chance it is indeed tainted. The reputation of US corn will be further damaged by the claims, damaging consumer confidence and harming exports.
Starlink genetically modified corn is back in the news – and allegedly back in the food chain. Just five months after the Kraft taco shell recall, Greenpeace claims to have discovered traces of the genetically modified corn in Morningstar Farms’ meat-free corndogs, a popular product in Kellogg’s vegetarian food range. Starlink has been approved for animal food but not for human consumption due to fears of potential allergies.
Kellogg has sent the product for testing and, although it is still too soon to tell, the US food maker’s products may well be contaminated. Only last week, the US department of agriculture announced that around 1% of the country’s corn-seed supply is likely to be contaminated by the biotech corn. The USDA is planning to spend up to $20 million to buy and destroy all affected produce.
Greenpeace bought the corndogs in February in a Safeway supermarket in Maryland. According to the environmental group, a UK laboratory found traces of both genetically-engineered soy and genetically-engineered corn. An Iowa laboratory then tested for Starlink specifically and found that the corndogs contained around 1% Starlink corn. Kellogg has stated that it believes the product was made last October from corn grown in 1999. Although Starlink has not been approved for food, Environmental Protection Agency officials have stressed that the corn represents no immediate health concern and that any potential risks are extremely low.
The findings are bad news for Kellogg, but far worse news for US corn producers. Worries about the purity of the crop look certain to harm international sales. The USDA reduced its forecast for this year’s corn exports again on Thursday – the fourth time in as many months. Prices are also expected to be hit, possibly reaching their lowest level in 15 years. And while Kellogg has made no plans for a recall just yet, other corn-using food producers will also now be worrying about the financial ramifications of Starlink tainted products.
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More to ties than copper and energy
Updated: 2015-06-16 01:15
(China Daily Latin America)
Jorge Heine, Chile's ambassador to China, said he hopes more Chileans will get to know of China's tremendous capacity for innovation. Provided to China Daily
Chilean envoy looks for more Chinese investment in country and closer personal connections, Pu Zhendong reports.
Chile has its eyes set on more Chinese investment to support key industries such as copper refining and energy, in addition to money from China to fund its infrastructure, said Jorge Heine, Chile's ambassador to China.
"The China-Chile relationship has a strong basis in trade, but Chinese investment in Chile is lacking, or lagging behind that of other Latin American countries," Heine said. "We would like to change that and give more impetus to Chinese investors."
Trade between the two countries has increased fourfold since Chile signed a free trade agreement with China in 2005 and vowed to reduce tariffs.
Relations between the two nations have reached a turning point. From the beginning of this year, the two countries finally phased in zero duty treatment that covers 97 percent of their exports, including Chilean products most significant to the Chinese market, including copper, vegetables, fish oil, meat, cherries, plums and nectarines.
Heine, 66, praised the China-Chile free trade agreement as "a classic example" of how such agreements can benefit two economies despite claims that multiple overlapping agreements will lead to discriminatory trade complications.
"We will not see all countries lower their tariffs to zero any time soon. In the meantime, bilateral and plurilateral agreements allow us to continue to liberalize international trade," Heine said, adding that Chile has so far signed 23 free trade agreements with 63 countries.
Chilean customs said bilateral trade soared to $33.9 billion last year, accounting for more than one-fifth of the country's entire trade flow. China has been Chile's largest trading partner for the past five years.
Heine said the Chinese market is critical as Chile is ramping up efforts to rank among the world's top 10 food exporters by 2020.
"Chinese consumers have strong confidence in Chilean food products," he said.
Copper exports account for a substantial part of the bilateral trade, as Chile is the world's biggest producer and exporter of copper, while China has been the biggest consumer and importer. In 2013, China brought in Chilean copper worth $15.2 billion, 79 percent of the country's total exports to China and 37.5 percent of its total copper export.
"Much of the copper exported to China is in its basic form, and then gets refined in China, because China has more advanced refining technology," Heine said.
"There is room for collaboration with Chinese companies to enhance Chile's refining capability. Many Chinese importers are quite open to the possibility of investing in that area in Chile."
However, compared with thriving trade, Chinese investment in Chile is low, considered largely inadequate by observers. Heine said the country has been working to facilitate further investment of China in Chile, especially in infrastructure and energy.
"Chinese companies, having comparative advantages in those particular areas, are now going out of the country. We see tremendous room for them to invest in Chile, a country that has enjoyed the best performance of Latin American economies during the past 25 years," he said.
Last year, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Latin America, China extended a $20 billion loan to the region for infrastructure development, which Heine said is likely to alleviate infrastructure demand on the continent.
"Although historic figures have shown comparatively low Chinese investment, there are signs suggesting a bright prospect as we have been receiving increasing visiting Chinese business groups," said Jorge Pizarro, executive vice-president of Chile's Foreign Investment Committee.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Chile and China. Describing Premier Li Ke-qiang's first official visit to Santiago and Latin America as "especially significant", Heine said the visit keeps good momentum in the relationship between the two countries going.
Leaders of the two countries met twice in July last year on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brasilia, Brazil, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing in November, and vowed to strengthen economic cooperation.
Heine, the author of 15 books and some 90 academic articles, was previously ambassador of Chile to India, and South Africa. He assumed his current post in July.
He said he would commit to promoting tourism and people-to-people exchanges between China and Chile during his tenure, as he believes "art and culture can bring people together".
"We do so much trade, but we do not know each other as much, as people," Heine said. "I'm hoping more Chileans will get to know China's tremendous capacity for innovation and breaking new ground in so many human endeavors."
Contact the writer at firstname.lastname@example.org


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The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has again warned citizens against unauthorised foreign-exchange trading as analysts asked for a ban on third-party payment-service providers handling unapproved currency trades.
The warning on the flourishing trade comes two years after stringent rules to protect consumers took effect.
The CBK warned of the unlicensed and unregulated online foreign exchange (forex) dealers and platforms and urged Kenyans to only deal with “genuine and licensed financial institutions and entities.”
The regulator urged consumers to check the licensing status of dealers from the CBK website (www.centralbank.go.ke) and/or CMA website (www.cma.or.ke).
In 2017, new rules took effect requiring Kenya’s online currency traders to obtain a licence from the Capital Markets Authority. Sources, however, say many rogue firms have refused to seek licences, exposing users.
“Many have failed to register. We are warning them first. The business is not illegal but it requires approval. It means clients must be informed about the risks, investing experience, leverage limits; the trader/dealer must be fit and proper, should be formally admitted into a trading platform like LIFFE,” said an official who sought anonymity to speak freely.
To effectively rein in the rogue firms, analysts on Friday urged CBK to issue a decree warning third-party payment-service providers not to handle unapproved currency trading.
“One smart move might be to stop banks accepting instructions to transfer money to these brokers,” said risk analyst Deepak Dave of Riverside Capital who added that there was a precedent in the late ‘90s when pyramid schemes started.
The CMA, the capital markets regulator, earlier estimated about 50,000 people, including brokers, dealers and money managers, are in the business and are mainly using offshore platforms that are not overseen by Kenyan regulators to offer the service.


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A freight train departs from Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, for Moscow, Russia, on June 28 (XINHUA)
For people living in Yantai, a coastal city in Shandong Province in east China, catching an international flight to the Republic of Korea (ROK) takes just about an hour due to the short distance. That is one of the reasons Yantai was chosen to build the China-ROK Industrial Park in 1984, attracting major ROK enterprises such as electronic giant LG and construction machinery maker Doosan Group.
Now due to the ROK link and its strong industrial foundation, Shandong has been chosen along with five other provincial-level regions to launch six new pilot free trade zones (FTZs), a first for border areas.
The other new pilots are located in Jiangsu, Hebei, Yunnan and Heilongjiang provinces as well as Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, taking the total number of FTZs in the country to 18.
According to Nie Pingxiang, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, the new zones will connect as clusters and lift regional growth. "The move aims to expand cooperation with other countries as well as cope with the domestic downward pressure caused by China's economic restructuring," she said.
Since the launch of China's first pilot FTZ in Shanghai in 2013, 11 more came up in both coastal and inland regions by 2018. In the first half of this year, together they attracted nearly 70 billion yuan ($10 billion) in foreign investment, or 14 percent of the national total, Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce, told a recent press conference.
The FTZs have explored different modes of development based on local edges. For example, the Guangdong FTZ in south China and the Tianjin FTZ in the north focus on opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei integration, respectively. The Liaoning FTZ is functioning as a demonstration zone to facilitate the transformation and upgrading of economic development in northeast China, promoting overall competitiveness of old industrial bases in the region.
Supporting policies and an improved business environment are making the FTZs more attractive for foreign investment. According to Wang, the six new FTZs will enjoy more autonomy in making policies on trade and investment facilitation, financial services for the real economy, management of talents as well as innovation of systems and rules.
"It is the first time that pilot FTZs have been set up in border areas, a move that will promote economic and trade cooperation with neighboring countries," he said.
The new FTZs will have differentiated tasks like the veterans. The Shandong FTZ comprises three parts—Jinan, the provincial capital, and Qingdao and Yantai, two coastal cities. To develop new growth drivers, it will develop the marine economy and explore China-Japan-ROK economic cooperation.
"The Shandong FTZ is set to promote high-standard trade and investment facilitation and develop sound financial services," Ren Airong, Vice Governor of the province, said at a press conference on August 30.
The Guangxi FTZ in south China will focus on the digital economy, new-energy vehicle components and cross-border tourism, improving cooperation with Southeast Asian nations. The Yunnan FTZ in the southwest will also dedicate itself to cross-border economic cooperation.
The Heilongjiang FTZ in the northeast will upgrade heavy industries and seek more cooperation with Russia and other Northeast Asian countries.
The Jiangsu FTZ in east China will support innovation and development of the manufacturing industry, giving priority to independent innovation, international transportation and cooperation with other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Since Jiangsu has a strong manufacturing foundation, it will see fast growth in innovation-related industries," Nie said.
The Hebei FTZ consists of four segments. Of these, the Xiongan area will focus on hi-tech industries such as biotechnology as well as digital commerce. It will support international trade in commodities and open up biomedicine- and healthcare-related industries. Located about 100 km southwest of Beijing, Xiongan New Area is being developed to divert functions nonessential to Beijing's role as the capital and has seen a stream of relocations by research institutions, schools and markets.
The new FTZs can provide useful references for other domestic regions, which can be promoted across the country and promote opening up, Bai Ming, Deputy Director of the International Market Research Institute at the Ministry of Commerce, said.
The official portal of the China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone goes online at the launch of the zone in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province in southwest China, on August 30 (XINHUA)
According to Huo Jianguo, a senior researcher with the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies, the FTZs have made key contributions to widening China's opening up, attracting foreign direct investment and stabilizing domestic economic growth.
Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that the 12 older pilot FTZs saw foreign direct investment up 14.6 percent year on year during the January-July period this year, accounting for 14.2 percent of the national total.
Their business environment has improved steadily along with upgraded services, tax and fee cuts, widening market access and streamlined administrative procedures. Goodrich Aerostructures Service (China) Co., which specializes in aero components maintenance and repair, has seen remarkable changes in the customs clearance time since it opened in the Tianjin FTZ in 2014.
Previously, the procedure often needed three days. But with accelerated customs clearance and hi-tech systems, repaired components can be delivered to clients in less than half an hour, which has helped the company stand out in market competition. The fast-track clearance is drawing more aero component enterprises from home and abroad.
The Shanghai FTZ announced its expansion on August 20 with the Lin-gang area that is the hub of key industries like integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, biomedicine and civil aviation. The area is also home to U.S. electric carmaker Tesla's giga factory, the first wholly foreign-owned new-energy vehicle manufacturing plant in China.
The FTZs have the support of the Foreign Investment Law adopted in March, which provides institutional guarantee for foreign investment. The Chinese Government has also shortened the negative list which outlines sectors off-limit to overseas investors, easing restrictions in sectors such as service and manufacturing.
Opening the door wider
As China opens wider to the outside world, the U.S. is trying to close down more global trade channels. U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced that Chinese imports worth $300 billion, the only part of Chinese imports that had not been taxed by his administration, would be taxed at 10 percent on September 1 and then threatened to hike it to 15 percent. About $250 billion of Chinese goods that are already being taxed would see the tariff hiked from 25 percent to 30 percent on October 1.
Despite the trade tension, China is steadily opening its markets wider and the new FTZs are a channel to explore more cross-border economic cooperation, Nie said.
China will continue to expand the FTZs and focus on developing free trade ports, especially the Hainan Free Trade Port in the south, Yu Miaojie, a professor at Peking University, said.
Nie said the FTZs need to further open up the service sector along with upgrading the manufacturing industry. Market access to industries such as medical care, elderly care and education can also be further eased.
"For higher-level opening up, efforts are needed to improve services for enterprises and further facilitate trade and investment, especially by removing institutional barriers," she said.
Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar
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* Dow posts largest percentage drop since July
* Wal-Mart hits record high, FedEx jumps the most in 2012
* Fed's Beige Book indicates modest economic expansion
* Dow off 1 pct, S&P 500 off 0.6 pct, Nasdaq down 0.4 pct
By Rodrigo Campos
NEW YORK, Oct 10 (Reuters) - The S&P 500 fell for a fourth day on Wednesday, weighed down by disappointing news from Chevron and Alcoa as earnings season got under way.
Chevron shares dropped 4.2 percent to $112.45 after it said third-quarter profits would be "substantially lower" than the previous quarter, while Alcoa fell 4.6 percent to $8.71 after it posted a quarterly loss. The company cut its outlook for global aluminum demand, citing a slowdown in China.
Both stocks are Dow components, and the blue-chip average posted its biggest daily percentage drop since early July.
"The market is worried about what is going to happen with earnings," said Randy Warren, chief investment officer of investment advisory firm Warren Financial Service in Exton, Pennsylvania.
"All expectations are for a softening."
The market continues to focus on weak global demand as S&P 500 companies' third-quarter earnings are expected to fall 2.9 percent from a year ago, according to Thomson Reuters data. It would be the first decline in three years.
Stocks briefly trimmed losses after the Federal Reserve's Beige Book showed the overall economy had expanded modestly, with most districts seeing strengthened home sales in the last month.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 128.56 points, or 0.95 percent, to end at 13,344.97. The S&P 500 dropped 8.92 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,432.56. The Nasdaq Composite lost 13.24 points, or 0.43 percent, to end at 3,051.78.
The declines in the Dow and the S&P 500 were partially offset by gains in Wal-Mart Stores Inc, which hit an all-time high, and FedEx Corp, which posted its largest daily advance this year.
Wal-Mart shares climbed 1.7 percent to $75.42 after hitting an all-time high of $76.81 as it cited strong sales at its U.S. grocery stores and a big start to holiday layaway sales in its annual meeting with analysts and investors.
FedEx rose 5.2 percent to $89.99, its largest daily percentage jump this year, as the package delivery company laid out plans to sharply cut costs at two divisions, seeking to improve profits there by $1.7 billion over the next four years.
Yum Brands shares climbed 8 percent to $70.99 as the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and other fast-food restaurant chains raised its full-year profit forecast.
Warehouse chain Costco Wholesale also hit a record high at $104.43 after it reported a jump in quarterly profit. Shares closed at $101.56, up 1.9 percent.
Engine maker Cummins Inc lowered its 2012 forecast for a second time this year and its shares dropped 3.4 percent to $87.79.
About 5.9 billion shares changed hands on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and NYSE MKT, below the daily average so far this year of about 6.53 billion shares.
On the NYSE, roughly eight issues fell for every five that rose. On the Nasdaq, six shares declined for every five that advanced.
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Friday, February 24, 2017
2017 Smart Energy Summit contest winners announced
Parks Associates held its eighth-annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer this week at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas. The annual conference included research presentations from the firm’s analysts, with industry leaders examining the expanding market for energy solutions and home controls and its impact on utilities, service providers, retailers, manufacturers, and consumers.
During the event, Parks Associates held several contests for attendees and would like to congratulate the following winners:
Michael Ladin, Aprilaire ($50 Amazon gift card)
Mike Mostransky, Jasmine Universe ($75 Amex card)
Shawn Beus, Daikin North America($50 Amazon gift card)
Ladin was the winner of this year’s “I am attending” Twitter contest, Mostransky won the social media scavenger hunt, and Beus won the sponsor passport contest. Congratulations to the three winners!
For more information on the Smart Energy Summit, visit www.SES2017.com. For free research from Parks Associates’ energy management and smart home research, click here. Available downloads include energy and IoT research, as well as event materials from previous Smart Energy Summit events.
Previous: Easy to use smart products will have big impact on energy solutions: Insights from Trusource Labs
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Food-aceuticals: Drink - and Eat - to Your Health
Is the recipe for better health found in the pantry instead of the medicine cabinet?
By Jennifer Warner
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
From omega-3 fatty acids to flavonoids, the ingredients in foods you eat every day may be potent weapons in the battle against disease.
Once-forbidden foods like chocolate, nuts, and wine made headlines in 2004 for their potentially healthy benefits, and new research suggests that the key to avoiding heart disease or cancer may be found in the cupboard rather than the medicine cabinet.
But the secret may not lie in a single wonder food. Instead, researchers say that variety may really be the spice of (long) life. To get your plate in order, WebMD asked the experts for their top picks from this year's newsmakers.
Flavonoids: What Makes Chocolate and Wine Good for You
The discovery of flavonoids and the bevy of heart-healthy benefits they possess has been a boon to wine and chocolate lovers.
The antioxidant-rich compounds found in the seeds and skins of plants, such as grapes, cocoa beans, and citrus fruits, first gained the attention of researchers in the early 1990s as a means of explaining the so-called French Paradox. Researchers proposed then that French people had lower rates of heart attacks because they drank moderate amounts of red wine with their meals.


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In 2020, Jigsaw was facing up to its 50th anniversary in bad health. Founded by John Robinson in 1970, the high-street stalwart looked successful, with 76 stores employing around 900 people in the UK, plus locations in the US and Australia. A generation of loyal women who reached adulthood in the 1990s might have still felt a certain nostalgia for the bias-cut crinkle silk skirts, lacy camisoles and beautifully tailored coats Jigsaw was famous for at that time, but the store had become somewhere you might pop into for a reliably boring cashmere knit to wear to the office. Sales had been falling for about four years, and in 2021 Jigsaw declared a loss of £21mn due to the Covid-19 lockdowns.
To get back on track, a new team was hired at the end of 2019, including CEO Beth Butterwick, a former Karen Millen executive, and creative director Jo Sykes, a former Nicole Farhi and Aquascutum designer and founder of her own (now paused) tailoring and occasionwear label, Sykes.
Ask Butterwick today what had gone wrong at Jigsaw and she pulls no punches. “No one was talking about the customer,” she says, talking to me from the brand’s west London headquarters. “There was a lack of obsession of understanding data and how you could use it to your advantage and make the right decisions. Menswear and kidswear had become a distraction to the womenswear business and the women’s offer had become bland and homogenised. It had lost that bravery of the original brand and a point of view.”
Competition in the category had also become stiffer, and Jigsaw struggled to hold market share against the fast-fashion giants who had shot up around it on the high street and online.
A three-year plan was put in place to stabilise the business. The pandemic gave the team some cover under which to action it. “Why waste a good crisis [and miss a chance] to really remodel a business so it’s fit for the future?” says Butterwick now. She has perhaps earned her right to be breezy. After closing 30 stores under company voluntary arrangement, including all overseas operations, halting the men’s and childrenswear ranges and putting into place a “digital-first” strategy, in July this year the company announced a return to profit of £1.2mn for the financial year 2021/22.
“Jigsaw was a pretty traditional business, we weren’t set up to think about multichannel and a smooth customer journey,” says Butterwick, who adds that the company has invested significantly in digital and data over the past two years.
None of this would have happened without the right personnel, she adds: “Having two women who understand the product and the customer, having conversations with the board and other people in the business about what’s right, is critical.” Female CEOs are still a rarity in the UK, with just 18 women leading companies in the FTSE 350. Even among industries such as fashion and beauty, which cater largely to female consumers, women CEOs are in the minority — and on a current downward slide, according to a recent report from data analytics firm Nextail.
Another important part of the relaunch was the complete redesign of the product by Sykes, who has also overseen the stores’ new, warmer look. Far from the dated, white-box model, the shops (eight are planned for new sites in the UK this year) have a boutique feel, with soft lighting and bold mid-century furniture. But the larger share of Sykes’s attention has been given to the clothes currently filling the rails.
Fashion-industry insiders already familiar with Sykes’s output were pleased to hear of her appointment. But her changes have come gradually — as requested by the ownership. I had started noticing small differences, such as the more contemporary-feeling T-shirts in cotton slubs and boyfriend cuts. Then, last summer, there was an ivory trouser suit in a gorgeous Baird McNutt Irish linen, and in the autumn, a suddenly covetable pair of flat knee-high suede boots. My fashion journalist peers started talking. Was it possible, we asked each other, that Jigsaw was becoming relevant again?
“The product has completely changed and we’ve got the best sell-throughs on record,” Sykes says cheerfully. The challenge she was set was to evolve and attract new customers but not alienate the core. “The customer who has grown up with the brand wanted something cool from us again. When she was buying Jigsaw in her twenties and thirties she was very cool and she still is now. She just happens to be 55 or 60.”
With her long bob, black linen jumpsuit and studded tortoise-shell earrings and chunky sandals — everything, apart from the bob, by Jigsaw — Sykes cuts a cool, chic figure. Her sartorial choices are at the more understated end of what is currently selling so well for the brand — vivid resort dresses and separates, jewel-coloured tailoring, well-crafted footwear and leather handbags stamped not with the brand name but the more anonymous “EST 1970 ENGLAND”, and a magpie-enticing range of Italian resin and gold-plated costume jewellery starting at around £40.
“Print is the biggest thing we’ve moved on. Whilst we’ll keep some of the signature florals, ditsies, which are very popular and commercial, we’re trying to maintain a modern style and colouration with them and they’re now sitting next to bolder print,” she explains.
The point about colour is true and probably the reason why I was compelled to buy a chiffon miniskirt in a blue and orange floral in the sale this month. And while the offering has not been taken over by the very cool, very minimalist, luxury design that Sykes has been known for, there are hints of it.
Besides, would that be right for Jigsaw? “When I started, the vision was slightly different from what it is now,” says Sykes. “But I think that’s a combination of getting to know the brand as a persona, and getting to know the customer and also the time that we’re living in, because we’ve gone through this colour explosion of dopamine dressing. It’s happening everywhere, not just at Jigsaw.”
The AW22 collection, inspired by the eclectic interiors at the Fife Arms hotel in Scotland, will put the emphasis on tailoring. Sykes has noticed bright suits taking the place of dresses for going out, having already had success with a hot-pink belted tuxedo she introduced earlier this year (jacket £240, wide-leg trouser £150, jigsaw-online.com). “We sold out in half a day, reordered it and it’s about to drop again.”
The cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine have seen the price of raw materials shoot up — cashmere is up 30 per cent, says Sykes — but both she and Butterwick agree that refusing to compromise on fabric quality is one of the major reasons Jigsaw has been in business for half a century. “It’s the major differentiator between us and what you get in Zara or the high street,” says Sykes.
She’s right. This summer’s linen dresses have been particularly good, some with very elaborate embroidery and finishes that are a cut above other high-street offers. I have a voluminous tiered navy blue gauze linen maxi dress (currently reduced from £155 to £108) with a long cotton lining that would be neglected or scrimped on by many other brands.
But the company will raise prices — slightly. “We’re maintaining our entry prices but we’re grabbing our exit prices, so we’re moving away from our high-street peers by improving quality and price and experience,” says Butterworth. “I think that’s the right way to go because we capture people who can’t afford luxury items, who will shop down.” It’s a healthier place to be.
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The company shut all its 738 stores and three distribution centers in March, along with other "non-essential" retailers, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus throughout the United States.
Non Essential Items
As ecommerce firms get ready to open up completely, more sellers are also signing up on some of these platforms, anticipating recovery in offline demand to take longer in view of the nationwide lockdown being extended to May 3.
"The company’s factories manufacturing essential items like atta, noodles, biscuits, snacks, soaps, sanitisers etc. are operating partially with limited workforce. Apart from the factories manufacturing essential items, as stated above, the company has suspended operations at its factories and plant locations," the company wrote to BSE.
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Major U.S. movie-theater chains, seeking to accelerate the surge in revenues fueled by such 3-D hits as "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland," are imposing some of the steepest increases in ticket prices in at least a decade.
The new prices take effect Friday in many markets across the country in theaters owned by such major exhibitors as Regal Entertainment Group, Cinemark Holdings
Inc. and AMC Entertainment Inc.
The increases, in one case as much as 26%, vary from theater to theater, but many cinemas are raising prices most—or even solely—for 3-D showings, which accounted for the vast majority of last year's 10% jump in domestic box-office sales. 3-D movies generated 11% of domestic ticket sales in 2009, up from just 2% in 2008.
At an AMC theater in Danvers, Mass., a Boston suburb, 3-D ticket prices are jumping more than 20% to $17.50 from $14.50, while the adult admission price for a conventional film will remain at $10.50. At one Seattle multiplex, adult admission is rising to $11 from $10 for a conventional film, to $15 from $13.50 for a regular 3-D showing and to $17 from $15 for Imax 3-D.
A 3-D Imax movie at New York City's AMC Loews Kips Bay will cost $19.50, up from $16.50.
The increases weren't announced by the theater operators, but were reflected in prices posted Wednesday on movie-ticketing Web sites, such as Fandango.com.
AMC and Cinemark declined to comment. Comment from Regal wasn't immediately available.


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Argos to hire 10,000 seasonal workers as UK retailers look forward to seasonal shopping spree
- Recruitment drive comes amid growing confidence and higher retail sales
- It follows a deal with eBay for 'click and collect' services
- Amazon also hiring 15,000 festive season staff
Argos will recruit 10,000 seasonal workers across the UK in the build-up to the festive season,the high street retailer revealed today.
The seasonal staff will join the firm's existing 30,000 employees. It follows an announcement by online retailer Amazon earlier this week that it would be recruiting 15,000 short-term staff in Britain for the Christmas period.
Initial contracts are for around three months, with the potential for some jobs to become permanent, where vacancies exist in the 735 stores.
Christmas confidence: Argos is hiring 10,000 temporary staff over the festive period in a show of increasing confidence that consumers will return to their traditional Christmas spending habits
John Walden, managing director of Argos said: 'As we approach our busiest shopping period of the year, we need the extra support in our stores from enthusiastic colleagues to ensure that we continue to deliver brilliant customer service to the millions that shop with us at this time of year.
‘We are looking for people who are customer focused, passionate and enthusiastic to join our teams.’
The size of the seasonal intake suggests both firms are anticipating a bigger peak trading period than ever. Last year, Amazon hired an additional 10,000 temporary workers.
Amazon said jobs were being created in a variety of roles across its eight UK fulfillment centres and Edinburgh customer service centre, and it expected 'many hundreds' of these new staff to end up joining its permanent workforce. Some 1,000 were offered posts after last Christmas.
New of the recruitment drives comes as the Centre for Economic and Business Research said consumer confidence rose for the ninth month in a row in September. It forecast economic output was on course to be as strong this year as it 2010 adding it expected the economic growth would be its strongest since 2007 next year.
Festive staff: Amazon is recruiting 15,000 staff for the Christmas period, 5,000 more than last year
It also comes a day after Argos announced a deal with eBay that will allow the online auction website’s customers to collect selected goods from it’s the Home Retail owned store’s ‘click and collect’ desks.
The scheme is being piloted by the e-commerce giant in about 150 Argos stores. It is thought the move could help eBay challenge Amazon's Locker delivery.
Amazon lets people order online then pick up their package from a growing number of secure passcode-protected lockers situated in local shops or other public venues.
Both Amazon, eBay and other online retailers are also involved in the separate Collect+ scheme, which allows parcels to be collected from participating corner shops, avoiding the risk of missing a delivery.
At least 50 eBay merchants are taking part in the scheme but have not been named yet.
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Austin Entrepreneurs’ New Business — Free Mobile
Austin entrepreneurs Robinson Cocke, Trey Ikard and Dave Powell, have launched MobiTX, Inc., a mobile advertising company that offers Free Mobile Airtime to its subscribers. The Free Mobile Airtime service is subsidized by advertisers and marketers. The service will launch in the summer of 2008.
Additionally, the Austin based company offers its Transactional Mobile MarketingTM platform to advertisers and marketers that are looking to target the 250,000,000 US mobile phone users. In addition to its Transactional Mobile Marketing platform, the company also offers GPS and SMS-based marketing solutions to its clients.
MobiTX is be led by CEO, Dave Powell, former senior executive at Austin based MessageOne (acquired by Dell in February 2008). Prior to MessageOne, Powell served as President and CEO of Metapa, (now Greenplum) in Los Angeles, CA. “We are all very excited about this new venture and operating in the mobile advertising sector,” said Dave Powell. “The business of using advertising to subsidize services is well understood in the market and it is about time this model was brought to the mobile phone marketplace.”
Trey Ikard will serve as President of MobiTX. Ikard was formerly an executive with MessageOne and was the founder, President and CEO of HillCast Technologies, Inc. (acquired by The Charles Schwab Corporation in 2005). “I am very excited about launching MobiTX and our Free Mobile Airtime offering,” said Trey Ikard. “With Austin’s strong background in advertising along with its strong support of mobile and wireless, Austin is the perfect location for MobiTX’ headquarters.”


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Hain Celestial teases new products that it hopes will offset financial drains
Ongoing costs associated with the MaraNatha nut-butter recalls in the U.S., a factory fire in the U.K. and the negative impact of the strengthening U.S. dollar prompted the New York-based firm to lower its expected net sales for the year by $125 million to between $2.65 billion and $2.676 billion. It also lowered its expected earnings per share 3% to $1.85 to $1.89, according to the firm’s second quarter earnings report Feb. 4.
The company has a history of conservative guidance, though, and could well surpass these predictions, but even if it does not, these figures still represent a 20% growth in revenue from last year.
This silver lining gives the firm something to be happy about, as does the growing consumer interest in healthy and better-for-you foods that are free from GMOs, gluten, antibodies, dairy and other elements perceived as unhealthy, CEO Irwin Simon said during a same day call with analysts.
“Consumers increasingly want food options that are better for you and we have the options for them,” said Simon, adding: “We feel more optimistic about Hain today than ever before. We are in the right categories.”
He touted that the firm offers products in 10 of the 15 highest penetration categories across organic and natural, 99% of its products do not have GMOs and more than 50% of the products it sells in the U.S. are certified organic – placing it smack on trend with consumer demands.
He also noted that the firm plans to roll out a whopping 75-plus “new exciting products” at the upcoming Expo West Natural Products tradeshow in March.
Among the new products will be several ready-to-drink beverages, including a line of Chia Tea Lattes that Simon says will be boldly flavored, “barista quality beverages that are brimming with the goodness of real brewed tea.”
Hain also will expand its line of raw and organic fruit and vegetable BluePrint juices to include a basil colored green fresh juice, Simon said. It may even expand the brand into the soup category farther down the line, hinted Chief Financial Officer Steve Smith.
“If you can cleanse with juice, you can cleanse with soup,” he quipped.
Simon confirmed the firm will display prototypes of fresh refrigerated soups at Expo, where it will gauge consumer interest.
In the snack category, Hain will expand its Sensible Portion line to include vegetable puff snacks that will have 30% less fat than potato chips, Simon said. In addition, he noted, two SKUs of the Sensible Portion line will be introduced to 4,000 7-Eleven convenience stores – bringing the firm into a channel where it has very little presence but which represents a significant growth opportunity as more consumers seek healthy snacks at c-stores. (Read more about what c-store shoppers want HERE.)
In the frozen food aisle, Hain will launch Dream brand coconut bites, which will be coated in thick chocolate for a decadent lactose- and gluten-free treat, Simon said.
Finally, he called out the firm’s “tremendous” line-up of gluten-free products sold under Hain’s recently acquired Rudi’s Organic Bakery brand, including garlic and cheese toast that will debut at Expo. (Learn more about the firm's plans for the brand HERE.)
With so many new products in the pipeline that are on trend, Simon is confident the firm can overcome its current troubles and deliver products that consumers like and results investors like.
Posted by Josie Poduti,


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Loaning cash hasnвЂ™t been simple for payday and auto-title loan providers operating in San Antonio the couple that is last of.
Some of those lenders are shuttering stores and, in some cases, getting out of the short-term lending business altogether as a result. Numbers through the city show thereвЂ™s been a web lack of a lot more than 60 payday and lending that is auto-title because the the beginning of 2013. Along with the current disclosure by Austin-based EZCorp. plus some smaller loan providers that theyвЂ™re taking out aswell, the decrease that is net go beyond 100 shops. That could express an even more than 40 per cent fall in 2ВЅ years.
Numbers through the state show payday and auto-title loan providers running when you look at the San Antonio area that is metropolitan 20 % less loans this past year weighed against 2013. Meanwhile, the buck worth of these loans dropped nearly 27 per cent.
вЂњTheyвЂ™re simply not because lucrative as they was previously,вЂќ said Juan Salinas, a previous region supervisor for the payday lender. The fall in loan amount likely will stay much more shops near.
Many different facets may give an explanation for downturn, industry observers state. Possibly the biggest explanation is the cityвЂ™s ordinance, which took impact in 2013, restricting the dimensions of payday advances and auto-title loans.
Loan providers вЂњwere building a complete lot more income back when there werenвЂ™t any earnings demands or limitations,вЂќ Salinas stated.
Oversight will still only increase, too, with a comparatively brand brand new agency that is federal created into the wake for the economic collapse вЂ” poised to impose tighter limitations on payday loan providers. That, along side legislation by San Antonio as well as other urban centers, has spooked some businesses.
Too competition that is much the industry is cited by some for the consolidation. Although the wide range of shops is down sharply since 2013, you can still find more available in San Antonio than in 2004 when there were 109 in operation today. In the exact same time, thereвЂ™s been a growth in payday financing on the net.
A economy that is rebounding with jobless at its lowest levels in years, also may mean less importance of customers to turn to those subprime loans to leave of a jam.
The trend is not restricted to San Antonio, either. The stateвЂ™s Office of credit Commissioner reported there have been 2,958 payday and lending that is auto-title in Texas at the time of final month, down 15.5 % from 3,502 2 yrs early in the day. Besides San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas have actually passed away ordinances managing lenders. Nevertheless, the latest figure is significantly more than increase the 1,300 stores which were running a business in 2004.
The different ordinances that are municipal pending rules proposed because of the customer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, have created вЂњan environment where it is very hard, if you don’t impossible, to keep to use,вЂќ said Michael Grimes, a consultant for the customer Service Alliance of Texas, which represents operators in the market. The regulated item вЂњis flawed into the degree it to a consumer and make it economical of these companies. which you canвЂ™t offerвЂќ
State Rep. Diego Bernal, whom being a city councilman introduced guidelines regulating alleged вЂњcredit access companiesвЂќ in 2012, had a various take.
вЂњFor the absolute most part, the business enterprise model is dependent on peopleвЂ™s desperation,вЂќ Bernal stated. вЂњFor the longest time, people would get into these agreements rather than have a means out. TheyвЂ™d be spending costs and interest rather than arrive at the main. Our ordinance necessary that the key receive money down simply speaking purchase. And thus because we created a far more reasonable environment, (companies) understood that (itвЂ™s) perhaps perhaps perhaps not nearly since lucrative.вЂќ
San Antonio desired to get rid of exactly exactly what the ordinance defines as вЂњabusive and predatory lending practicesвЂќ by some businesses that trap consumers in a period of high-interest financial obligation. The ordinance limits payday loans to a maximum of 20 % of the borrowerвЂ™s gross income that is monthly. Auto-title loans are limited by either 3 % of a borrowerвЂ™s earnings or 70 per cent of a vehicleвЂ™s value, whichever is gloomier. Loans are also limited by three rollovers or renewals.
Fort Cash that is worth-based America Inc. had been among the first businesses to stop providing pay day loans in San Antonio. In it notified the city it would be exiting the business at 20 locations, part of its plan to вЂњde-emphasizeвЂќ the loans in more than 350 locations nationwide, company spokeswoman Yolanda Walker said in an email october. Money America has turned its focus to its core pawn company.
The payday loan product was eliminated in locations governed by the ordinance,вЂќ Walker saidвЂњAfter the ordinance passed in San Antonio. вЂњWe think the reduction of a short-term loan item, as a result of a neighborhood ordinance, will leave clients without a significant means to fix their monetary requirements.вЂќ
EZCorp announced in July it is closing 480 areas across the country that provide payday and auto-title loans and other personal lines of credit. That features about 30 San Antonio shops which have operated underneath the true names EZMoney and EZPawn, in accordance with notices delivered to the town. Week the closings are scheduled to be completed by the end of next. EZCorp will consider its pawn company and worldwide operations.
EZCorp officials did respond to requests nвЂ™t for remark. However in a July meeting call with securities analysts, Executive Chairman Stuart Grimshaw stated the choice https://getbadcreditloan.com/payday-loans-tn/ to close ended up being driven by legislation, competitive pressures therefore the companyвЂ™s own вЂњkey capability inadequacies.вЂќ
вЂњRegulation always drives consolidation, from just just just what IвЂ™ve experienced, and you also need scale toвЂќ succeed, Grimshaw stated. вЂњWe will have to spend greatly to re-establish ability in ecommerce. вЂ¦ The close option had been really the only optimal option.вЂќ
Grimshaw added that pending guidelines through the CFPB should be вЂњdetrimentalвЂќ to your industry. In March, the agency that is federal different proposals that вЂњwould end payday financial obligation traps.вЂќ They include needing loan providers to find out in the outset that the customer can repay that loan when due and restricting the sheer number of loans a debtor might take call at a line and during the period of per year.
The principles could trigger a far more than 70 % lowering of pay day loan amount, predicted credit reporting agency Clarity Services Inc. in might.
вЂњSuffice it to state we donвЂ™t understand of every retail company that might survive a 70% income decrease whenever that company involves the significant fixed expenses of a thorough branch system and attendant payroll,вЂќ the Clarity report states. The report ended up being published by Rick Hackett, a former CFPB regulator, whom couldnвЂ™t be reached for comment.


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Tesco v Unilever: what the analysts say
Thursday 13th October 2016
Food and drink expert Mark Jones comments on the Tesco v Unilever price war. Unilever wants to raise its prices by about 10% to compensate for the steep drop in the value of the pound following the Brexit vote earlier this year.
Mark said: “The difference with Unilever is that, unlike most suppliers, it usually trades on its own terms, not the retailer’s terms. In most cases, the suppliers have an agreement for at least one year and the price payable for the goods is fixed.
“When asked if prices can be increased because of currency fluctuations, in almost all cases the retailer will say ‘no, we have a contract and an agreed price’. Persuading retailers to give some ground on price is even more challenging at present because of a grocery price war.”
“Unilever however is one of the few suppliers who can negotiate with the big retailers on a level – or in most cases higher – playing field. In fact, with so many big name brands, Unilever claims that 98% of households in the UK have at least one of its products in it.
“For that reason, a compromise looks inevitable. Tesco will not allow its customers to go elsewhere to find the products they like, and Unilever will not want its products to be off the shelves in such a large retailer. I doubt many Tesco customers will be left reaching for Tesco’s own yeast extract in place of Marmite.”


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Legal & Regulatory
First introduced in the lower house of parliament as the Companies Act (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in March of last year, the Bill seeks to make important changes to the Companies Act of 2013 in relation to the structuring, disclosure, and compliance requirements for companies.
After incorporating feedback from the Standing Committee on Finance, the respective government chambers of commerce and industry, as well as professional bodies, the draft bill was finally approved by the lower house as the Companies Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 on July 27, 2017.
Companies (Incorporation) Amendment Rules, 2017 Announced
The government announced new rules that will amend the Companies (lncorporation) Rules, 2014. These will come into effect once they are published in the official gazette.
Two changes have been made, by way of substituting Rule 28 and Rule 30 in the existing framework of the Companies (lncorporation) Rules. These regulate the shifting of a company’s registered office within the same state (Rule 28) and shifting of a company’s registered office from one state or union territory to another (Rule 30).
The new rules are notified on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website, with an official circular dated July 27, 2017.
By Vasundhara Rastogi
In June, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified significant policy changes regarding the issuance of ‘masala bonds’, bringing them in alignment with the other elements of the External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) framework.
Masala bonds are a popular debt-financing instrument used by Indian entities to raise funds in the overseas market.
Invoice upload utility on GSTN portal from July 24
Businesses registered on the Goods and Services Network (GSTN) portal will be able to upload their invoices starting July 24. GSTN serves as the information technology platform that administers the GST regime. Once the portal launches the facility, businesses can upload their invoices on a weekly or daily basis – if they wish to avoid the month-end rush.
The GST kicked in on July 1, in a major reform of the indirect taxation system in India. Under the new regime, businesses need to generate invoices for transactions above US$3.11 (Rs 200) and maintain these invoice records in serial number – if they want to claim input tax credit (ITC).
Previously, the GSTN portal introduced an offline MS Excel format for businesses to record their invoices; now these can soon be uploaded.
By Dezan Shira & Associates
Startups in India will now benefit from more relaxations under the Companies Act, 2013 – a move that will reduce compliance requirements and allow for operational flexibility. These are in addition to exemptions announced in June 2015.
NCLAT issues clarifications under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) recently clarified what constitutes the ‘’existence of a dispute” under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
As per the Apellate Tribunal, the term ‘dispute’ includes proceedings initiated or pending before consumer courts, tribunals, labor courts, or subject to mediation or conciliation.
By Bradley Dunseith
On May 24, India’s Union Cabinet effectively eliminated the foreign investment promotion board (FIPB) – established 25 years ago as a single-window clearance for all foreign direct investment (FDI).
India’s regulatory landscape has undergone some major overhauls since the FIPB was first created: between 91 and 95 percent of FDI now comes through the ‘automatic route’ while only 11 sectors still require government approval.
In this article, we explain the new regulatory landscape for foreign investment that the FIPB previously governed.
Relaxation in filing GST returns till September 2017
The GST Council meeting on June 18, 2017 delivered key resolutions ahead of the GST launch at midnight of June 30. The Council opted for a relaxation in return filing until September, meaning no late fees or penalties will be levied in the interim period.


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Insurance brokers Atlanta Group find customers more accepting of digital methods as the market changes
Rachel O’Brien, Chief Technology Transformation Officer, describes how the transformation plans changed and benefited CWT as the pandemic clouded global business travel
CIO Sean Hunter reveals how OakNorth Bank was able to build a knowledgeable FinTech with AWS
Neurology specialist NHS trust Walton Centre has always placed interoperability top of mind, says tech leader
Apps, serverless and Salesforce form the tech trident for resident and business services at Vita
Siemens Mobility has developed data led services to offer a deep and results based partnership with rail network operators
Walmart has agreed to sell Asda to the UK's Issa brothers, CIO Anna Barsby will lead the tech change that is part of new ownership.
Group CIO Phil Jordan explains how a data-centric approach enabled the UK supermarket chain to respond to the global pandemic
Tech leader of global shipping organisation reveals how a new data-led rigging will provide a safe harbour for growth.


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Home > Tech > Tech News
Friday October 18, 2013 MYT 4:18:00 PM
Friday October 18, 2013 MYT 4:31:40 PM
SMARTER AND SMARTER: The Moto X handset has a number of contextually aware features built in. — ©AFP/Relaxnews 2013
Smartphones are set to get even smarter and network carriers are going to have to reconsider their current network plans as consumers start to shun subsidised handsets and long-term contracts.
Speaking at the GigaOM Mobilize conference, Google Ventures general partner Rich Miner stressed that despite what many commentators are saying, there is still a lot of innovation to come in the smartphone space and that the key to new features will be context.
"Let's talk about knowledge and context: the fact that I'm moving, the fact that I'm in a meeting, that I'm talking to you," Miner explained.
"There's a huge layer of information in that context which could be used to make those devices and applications smarter ... knowing your calendar, knowing who you call, knowing which restaurant you're in, knowing who you're with. I still think there's a lot of innovation still to be made even at the platform level."
Google has already invested heavily in contextual awareness — its Google Now system understands where a consumer is, his or her preferences and has access to schedules so that it can automatically push information to a smartphone or tablet, such as traffic news, the sports results and special deals at restaurants in the local vicinity.
This contextual awareness extends to knowing when a user is at the cinema or an airport boarding gate and displaying a digital ticket or boarding pass on a device's screen.
And although Google Now is an opt-in service on Android and a stand alone app for iPhone users, the Moto X — the first handset built by Motorola since it was taken over by Google — has a number of these contextually aware features baked in. The handset knows when the user is in a car and is always listening to respond to voice commands.
During his talk, Miner suggested that this contextual awareness will migrate from smartphones and tablets to other smart and connected devices, and that he believes the role of network carriers is set to change as more consumers look to buy unsubsidised, contract-free handsets. — ©AFP/Relaxnews 2013
Samsung announces US pricing and availability for new Galaxy Tab S2
'VAN Beethoven' using VR to bring classical music to greater LA
Barcelona mayor's tourism crackdown puts Airbnb in firing line
Konami launches final Kojima 'Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain' trailer
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What you need to know
- Apple has released a new developer tool in the form of an installable profile.
- The tool prioritizes 5G over WiFi if the WiFi connection is found to be slow or insecure.
A new tool for developers might fix the dreaded situation of slow performance because you are hanging on for hope with a slow WiFi network.
As reported by MacRumors, Apple has released a new tool that will enable developers to prioritize a 5G connection over WiFi if the WiFi connection is insecure or slow. The feature will work with iPhones and iPads running iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.
The tool comes in the form of a profile called "5G Preferred Over Wi-Fi" that developers can install on devices running the fourth or later beta of iOS 15 or iPadOS 15.
As mentioned in the report, iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 already contains a feature that will prefer a 5G connection over a WiFi connection if the performance of the 5G connection is better. This latest tool will seek to improve that capability even further.
5G first came to Apple with the introduction of the iPhone 12 back in 2020. Apple is expected to launch iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 this fall alongside a slew of new products, including the iPhone 13.
Master your iPhone in minutes
iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!
Joe Wituschek is a Contributor at iMore. With over ten years in the technology industry, one of them being at Apple, Joe now covers the company for the website. In addition to covering breaking news, Joe also writes editorials and reviews for a range of products. He fell in love with Apple products when he got an iPod nano for Christmas almost twenty years ago. Despite being considered a "heavy" user, he has always preferred the consumer-focused products like the MacBook Air, iPad mini, and iPhone 13 mini. He will fight to the death to keep a mini iPhone in the lineup. In his free time, Joe enjoys video games, movies, photography, running, and basically everything outdoors.