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Car dealers are maintaining marketing contact under GDPR by securing consent for nine-out-of-10 new customer sales enquiries, according to Marketing Delivery.
The eCRM and social media specialists evaluated more than 30,900 sales enquiries from 103 dealers, during April 2018 and found that customer email addresses had been collected for 86% of all enquiries, with consent for future communication secured in 87% of cases.
In a quarter of the cases looked at, it would not be possible for the customer to be re-contacted by email, either due to the lack of an appropriate address or because consent was lacking, Marketing Delivery said.
Jeremy Evans, managing director of Marketing Delivery, said: “With GDPR coming into force this month, the importance of maintaining data quality and accuracy has predictably been a hot topic across the industry.
“Our analysis indicates that dealers are responding well, capturing crucial data and consents in the overwhelming majority of cases.
“There is, however, still


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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Does the high price of gas have you thinking of trading in your set of wheels for something smaller? If so, we’ve got some good news for you. Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan tells us that the latest crash test results are out, and all signs point to the fact that smaller cars are getting safer.
Drivers of small, fuel-efficient cars no longer have to skimp on safety. Researchers with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an insurance industry financed research group, say a record 6 gas “sippers” have earned the distinction of being a “Top Safety Pick.”
They are the 2012 Ford Focus and 4-door Honda Civic and the 2011 models of the Hyundai Elantra, Lexus CT 200h, Nissan Juke, and Toyota Prius.
Researchers ran the cars through a battery of tests, including front, side, rollover and rear impact crashes. They say none of the cars earned a poor rating in any test, and that is a big change from the last few years when small cars struggled to earn top ratings.
Watch the video…
Those researchers say the credit goes to the car companies that are making what used to be extra features, now standard. For example, all have standard side air bags and most have electronic stability control that can prevent many kinds of crashes.
Still, researchers say nothing beats the protective armor of a bigger, heavier car, proving that the laws of physics are always in effect, even when gas prices seem to defy gravity.
For more info on the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, click here.
Reported by Jim Donovan, CBS 3

domain: news


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Extension of City B&O Tax Deadline to Oct 31
At its April 7 video meeting, the Mercer Island City Council passed an ordinance that temporarily allows Island businesses to delay Business and Occupation (B&O) tax payments. Over the past few weeks, the City has heard from the Chamber of Commerce as well as a number of business owners about the undue financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 emergency and mandatory closures.
For businesses that submit their B&O tax payments quarterly, the Council amended the City’s code allowing the Finance Director to extend payment deadlines this year during the declared COVID-19 emergency. The extensions would apply to businesses earning gross receipts of at least $250,000 per quarter; all other businesses (earning at least $150,001 per year) pay their B&O tax annually.
The Director has announced that first and second quarter payment deadlines will be extended to October 31, 2020.


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Ginebra expands, to put up 4 plants
Hard liquor-maker Ginebra San Miguel is finalizing plans to put up four new production plants as part of the group-wide expansion program of parent conglomerate San Miguel Corp.
“Ginebra is coming back to be number one,” SMC president Ramon S. Ang told reporters yesterday after the annual stockholders’ meeting of SMC’s controlling shareholder, Top Frontier Investment Holdings Inc.
Ang said Ginebra—which currently has six production sites across the country—was choosing from among eight potential sites for the four new distilleries.
In line with the expansion program, Ang said Ginebra would launch new products, including flavored beverages with lower alcohol content.
He added that Ginebra would also boost its logistics capability and ease bottlenecks in existing plants.
SMC is embarking on its biggest expansion program across various units that will cost an estimated P742 billion through 2020.
As traditional food and beverage businesses are folded into a new consumer powerhouse under San Miguel Food & Beverage Co., this unit is expected to complete within the next three years a total of 17 new food production facilities plus five to six new beer breweries.
Ang also told Top Frontier shareholders that SMC was expanding its poultry and piggery facilities.
For the packaging business, SMC is set to put up a new glass packaging plant in Cavite, the third production line in this facility. This will be operational by the first quarter of next year.
Ang said SMC was likewise increasing the capacity of Mindanao Corrugated Fireboard Inc. (Mincor), which produces corrugated carton boxes.
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This year in an industry first, late-model used electric vehicles held their value better than the market as a whole, according to Black Book, although only briefly. Alex Yurchenko, chief data science officer for Black Book, speculated higher gasoline prices made a difference.
However, there’s been a “very steep drop” in the percent of sticker price held by 2- to 4-year-old EVs, Yurchenko told the Auto Finance Summit on Oct. 28. Black Book data indicates this started in July, about a month after a slightly milder plunge in retention began among all vehicles. By October, late-model EVs had fallen below the market in the percentage of value held.
The reversal, which began this spring, is an example of what Black Book and Yurchenko’s fellow Auto Finance Summit panelists suggested would be closer parity between the ability of gasoline and electric vehicles to hold their value.
Kristen Lanzavecchia, director of industry solutions for J.D. Power, said the company’s residual value forecast for EVs has “come up a lot,” with prices approaching 50 percent of sticker compared with the mid-50 percent seen on internal combustion engine vehicles.
“It’s a pretty high number,” she said.
New EVs competing with Tesla in the premium segment show “a lot of positivity” on residual values, while even mainstream EVs from manufacturers such as Hyundai are competitive, she said.
Lanzavecchia said a “scarcity premium” also will buoy used EV values until supply catches up with demand.
Black Book estimates the average of all 3-year-old vehicles will fall from 73 percent of sticker in October to 61 percent in October 2025; pre-pandemic, the value had been in the 50 percent range.
The average 3-year-old EV never broke 35 percent of sticker that month pre-pandemic, according to Black Book. But 3-year-old models held 66 percent of sticker price in October and are expected to keep 55 percent in October 2025, according to the company.
Jeremy Robb, Cox Automotive senior director of market insights and business solutions, said recent EV leases anticipate comparable value retention to gasoline-powered models.
Three-year contracts on 2022 models are being written with 66 to 67 percent residual values when the leases end in 2024 and 2025, according to Robb.
“We’re seeing the same thing for EVs,” he said. EV leases for the 2022 model year set residuals at 64 to 65 percent sticker, he added.
“That’s pretty high,” Robb said.
Lanzavecchia said EVs have made up about 5 percent of the market this year, and J.D. Power expects this share will double in the next two years.


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The classic 1989 HeroQuest board game is getting a remake, and it's coming to retailers soon - as in, 'this December' soon. If you're based in the USA, you can pre-order it now at Zavvi for $125.99 or with Entertainment Earth for the same price. Meanwhile, UK fans can jump on the sword and sorcery bandwagon by securing their copy for £99.99 via Zavvi.
Because the tabletop adventure was only available to those who backed last year's Hasbro Pulse crowdfunding campaign before now, this is a chance for everyone else to get their hands on the HeroQuest board game remake. Considering how quickly it shot past the project's $1,000,000 target to land at a (frankly absurd) $3,721,949 pledge total, we're guessing more than a few people will be interested.
Unfortunately, it's not clear when or if the crowdfunding stretch goals for Hasbro's HeroQuest remake (including extra miniatures, expansions, and quests) will be made available at retail. As it stands, the retail version will feature 65+ models - including mini furniture like treasure chests - to go with 14 pre-written quests.
Originally published by Games Workshop (the company behind Warhammer) in the late '80s, HeroQuest went out of print for decades before finally being picked up by Hasbro and Avalon Hill. Now reimagined for a new era, this dungeon-crawler has been given an overhaul with all-new miniatures to go with an abundance of reworked cards and plastic terrain.
However, that isn't to say the final product is unrecognisable. Even though the Games Workshop elements have been stripped out, the board and rules seem very similar to the first incarnation. Even its models carry the same spirit as the original, with many poses being recreated (albeit in a lot more detail).
Because roleplaying epics like Descent: Legends of the Dark, the Skyrim board game, and Gloomhaven (regularly dubbed one of the best board games from the last decade) have been creating such a stir over the past few years, it's not surprising that HeroQuest is making a comeback now - after all, it's often regarded as the one that kickstarted this trend in the first place.
HeroQuest pre-order deals
HeroQuest (UK) | £99.99 at Zavvi
You can now pre-order the revamped HeroQuest ahead of its release sometime in December. While you're getting the base version of the game here (there's no word on when or if the expanded editions will be available, unfortunately), it's not bad value compared to similar games that charge a whole lot more.
Seeing as it's due to ship in December, there's a slim chance pre-orders will be roped into this year's Black Friday board game deals or Cyber Monday board game deals. Although we don't expect anything in the way of offers, it's worth keeping an eye on the listing over the next week or so just in case.


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Google says it has resolved the email delivery problems that plagued its Postini message management service for several hours yesterday, telling customers that no data was lost. The company has also acknowledged the problem affected users in Europe. Previously, the company had indicated it was a US-only issue. According to …
The Problem Has Been Resolved
The Google Reputation Management Team have determined that the problem resided in the Non-Google World and is therefore by definition not a problem. The Non-Google World has been updated to ensure that this does not happen again.
You regret any inconvenience this problem may have caused to Google.
"Many users also said they had difficulty contacting the company during the outage/delay"
Well, DUH, their email was down...
US-based customers means
those with MX records on US based systems. I know an international company that is based in the US that was affected by this clogged email. It affected senders sending to this organization from all over the world.
- Mounties always get their man: Heartbleed 'hacker', 19, CUFFED
- Analysis Oh no, Joe: WinPhone users already griping over 8.1 mega-update
- Leaked pics show EMBIGGENED iPhone 6 screen
- AMD demos 'Berlin' Opteron, world's first heterogeneous system architecture server chip
- OK, we get the message, Microsoft: Windows Defender splats 1000s of WinXP, Server 2k3 PCs


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One of the brands most appreciated silhouettes – the New Balance 990 was first introduced way back in 1978, and would go on to be one of the most recognized kicks in the brands history. Now the Boston based brand is paying tribute to the classic with the New Balance Made 1978.
Inspired by the original 990 concepts, but with a more modern twist – the Made 1978 feature a three piece premium suede and leather upper, with a series of varying perforated details throughout the build. Just like the original 990s, the MADE 1978 uses a Vibram sole for a combination of lightweight and durability.
The New Balance MADE 1978 is scheduled to release on March 18 for $150 at New Balance and other select retailers.


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‘Asos Instant’ launches in the capital today for orders placed before 10am.
Derbyshire lingerie retailer recruiting staff to deliver excellent customer service
Online sales are estimated to have risen 15.1% year-on-year and by 0.3% month-on-month.
Retail giant Tesco has announced it will immediately begin the process of eliminating hazardous chemicals from garment brand F&F.
Fashion and lingerie retailer is short listing candidates who it hopes will turn around its clothing arm
High-street retailer to offer affordable range of wedding-wear in footsteps of many other fashion firms.
Frillys in Oldham shuts shop amid online competition and consumers ‘happy to buy without being fitted’.
Supermodel and businesswoman believes she has achieved the ‘perfect t-shirt bra’
Chain in 'advanced discussions' to enter Irish high street
Debby and Jilly Lingerie to send more than 100 bras to refugee camps


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About 75 Floridians who worked for Fresher Cooker Inc., which closed its two South Florida and four Central Florida restaurants last month after filing for protection from creditors, are still wondering when they`re going to get paid.
Workers in restaurants owned by the company in Central Florida said they had been reassured by company managers there were no problems and no plans to close the restaurants. But the next day, the restaurants were shut down.
More than 110 employees not only suddenly were put out of work, but about 75 of them who worked for the Central Florida locations also have not received paychecks for their last two weeks of work.
Billie Brown, manager of press relations at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Louisville, said last week that all 45 hourly workers and seven salaried South Florida employees have received their paychecks and accrued vacation time.
Employees in Central Florida are owed about $13,000, the company said.
The company closed its South Florida restaurants, on 8880 State Road 84, Davie, in the Pine Island Ridge Shopping Center and, at 808 SE 17th St. in Fort Lauderdale, which had been open for less than six months, in the last week of May.
The Fresher Cooker restaurants, which had appealed to diet-conscious restaurant-goers, were franchised to QSR Cos., a Kentucky Fried Chicken subsidiary that tests new ideas for KFC`s parent, R.J. Reynolds Industries Inc.
Frank Dwyer, president of Fresher Cooker Inc., said Reynolds had agreed to buy 200 Fresher Cooker franchise restaurants. His company is considering legal action against Reynolds, he said.
Fresher Cooker Inc. last year said it had planned to open 100 outlets in the state. The chain has 12 restaurants still open -- five company- owned and seven franchises. Six of the restaurants are in Louisville.
The last one open in Florida is a Clearwater franchise operated by Granpa Inc. of Saginaw, Mich. Assistant Manager Sandra Harper said the employees have been paid normally and business is good.
Brown said Reynolds has no plans to open any more franchises.
The company posted a loss of $218,196 in the first quarter of 1985. It had a loss of about $2.2 million in 1984.
In addition to closing its Central Florida restaurants in Orlando, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs and Melbourne, Fresher Cooker shut its Altamonte Springs training center and its main kitchen facility in Orlando.
Fresher Cooker filed for protection from creditors on June 7 under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky.
Dwyer said the corporation is waiting for the bankruptcy court to release the money to pay the Central Florida employees. He said employees still working for Fresher Cooker in the Louisville area also have not been paid for the two weeks before the bankruptcy filing. They are, however, being paid for their work since the court filing, he said.
The company is raising cash to meet the back payroll by selling some assets, including the equipment and furnishings from the Central Florida restaurants, and it plans to ask the judge presiding over the case to release the paychecks at a court hearing scheduled for July 11, Dwyer said.
``We`re trying to move as rapidly as possible,`` he said. ``We will pay them as soon as possible.``
At a bankruptcy court hearing June 14, the company was granted permission to sell off assets to pay back wages, Dwyer said. The contents of the Central Florida restaurants already have been auctioned off and the company is waiting to receive the proceeds, Dwyer said. The restaurant buildings also will be sold, he said.
Dwyer became president of the company in January after Fresher Cooker`s founder, Mark Weiss, resigned after suffering a heart attack, he said.


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New York – Amazon.com (NASD: AMZN) is developing a TV episode and movie
streaming subscription service to compete with Netflix’s (NASD: NFLX) similar offering, The
Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
service is expected to be included as a bundle with Amazon Prime, the company’s
premium shipping service, which currently costs $79 annually.


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London, The earlier timing of Easter this year helped retail sales in the UK grow at their fastest rate in nearly a year during March, a leading lobby group said today.
In its monthly survey, the British Retail Consortium revealed that like-for-like sales — those that exclude new office stores and space — rose by 3.9 pct in March from the year before.
That is higher than the 3.3 pct recorded in February and ahead of analysts' expectations for a more modest 3.5 pct increase. The last time retail sales grew by more was in April 2006 when they rose by a mighty 6.8 pct.
Meanwhile, the BRC said total retail sales, which do include new stores and space, were up by 6.2 pct on the previous year, ahead of February's 5.6 pct increase. The March rise was the biggest since last May, when they also rose by 6.2 pct.
The Bank of England has raised interest rates three times since August and many economists foresee another rate hike next month, but most surveys have portrayed a fairly robust retail performance in recent months.
The BRC/KPMG monitor said the strong rise was helped by weak sales last March when like-for-like sales fell an annual 1.4 percent.
"With Easter falling in April (this year), the March results do not represent a high volume month in the context of the year as a whole," said Helen Dickinson, head of retail at KPMG.
"However, they do highlight a continued level of resilience in the market."
The three-month trend rate for like-for-like sales rose to 3.5 percent in March from 3.0 percent in February, the highest since June 2006, while the 12-month moving average hit a four-year high of 3.1 percent.
The survey showed stronger food and drink sales as consumers stocked up early on Easter confectionery while warmer weather boosted clothing and footwear sales.


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CannaInsider’s Matthew Kind interviewed one of the cannabis industry’s leading entrepreneurs, Ralph Morgan, CEO of O.penVAPE. Morgan, who used to sell joints (knees and hips) before building an empire that sells vaporizers and cartridges, launched the company in Colorado in 2012 and now operates in nine states.
Morgan explained why vaporization is gaining share so rapidly, with concentrates representing about 42% of the market. He described the evolution of the company’s products, which were originally sold with an excipient exclusively, to a majority no longer including it. Instead, the company’s licensing partner purifies during the exaction process and follows with the reintroduction of terpenes. The company launched a dry herb vaporizer earlier this year with Ziggy Marley, and Morgan says that the company is working on incorporating other botanicals, like chamomile, into its cannabis products.
[2:53] – Ralph talks about his background and starting Open Vape
[5:45] – Advantages of being a dispensary owner prior to Open Vape
[7:31] – The key attributes of Open Vape products
[9:07] – How has the vape pen market changed over the last couple of years
[12:33] – Terpenes and flavonoid considerations
[13:56] – Vape pens customizing the cannabis effects
[16:08] – Dealing with surprises in the market
[18:07] – New dry herb vaporizer
[20:38] – Opearting in different states
[22:00] – The future of the vape pen market
[23:39] – Ralph’s book and web tool recommendations
[28:17] – Contact details for Open Vape
Read the transcript or listen to “Vape Cartridge Leader Talks About The Market – Ralph Morgan of O.penVape”: http://www.cannainsider.com/ralph-morgan-open-vape/


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Almost everyone has a sweet tooth, and thanks to the National Confectioners Association (NCA), we now have an entire month to celebrate all the chocolate, candy, gum and mints our hearts desire. And, thanks to honey — we can do it with a little less guilt while trying to keep our summer bodies in shape.
Like honey, candy has a long history. The NCA says that candy has been produced in the United States for over 100 years, and the industry now amounts to about $37 billion dollars. That’s a lot of chocolate! It’s expected to grow around 2.4% by 2024, and there are many reasons that honey fits right into the category. Consumers, Confectionary News reports, are looking for certain attributes in their confections: All of which these new made-with-honey products fit into perfectly.
Better ingredient information. What’s the calorie count? Is it organic or gluten-free? Ritual’s Honeycomb Toffee dark chocolate bar has a clean label with clear ingredient listings: wildflower honey, honeycomb toffee and organic cacao. The 75% chocolate bar’s description contains information about ingredient sourcing, sure to delight consumers celebrating National Candy Month.
Social responsibility and transparency. 62% of consumers said, “the way a brand behaves will have an impact on their purchases,” and they also want to be able to source chocolate and other ingredients back to its origins. CocoaBee’s new Dark Chocolate Whole Almonds bar is sweetened with honey in an 85 gram bar. The bar is clearly labeled as Fair Trade Certified, and it’s made with 73% cocoa.
Sustainability. Does the product harm the planet? What about packaging waste? Companies that are able to answer these questions are faring much better in the confectionary world. Godiva’s Belgian Truffles are part of the “Our Latest Innovations” lineup, and there are two made-with-honey truffles that are perfect for mixing and matching assorted chocolate gifts either for yourself or a loved one. The Truffe Mousse Vanilla Miel pieces are made with wildflower honey, infused ganache, light vanilla mousse and dark chocolate. Truffe Amande au Miel are almond pralines with honey and almond pieces, encased in a milk chocolate shell and rolled in caramelized roasted almond pieces. For more information on Godiva’s sustainability efforts, visit godiva.com/godiva-cares.
We always want to hear from you! Which of these made-with-honey confections are you celebrating National Candy Month with? Do you have another favorite honey candy? Tell us in the comments below!


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Flywheel Sports Will Close, Adding to Fitness Chain Wreckage
(Bloomberg) — Flywheel Sports Inc., the operator of spin boutiques beloved by fitness-obsessed city dwellers, filed for bankruptcy with plans to go out of business after the coronavirus shut down its studios.
The fitness chain’s Chapter 7 petition filed in New York late Monday estimates as much as $100 million in liabilities and no more than $50 million in assets. Flywheel will use the court-supervised process to gather and sell assets so it can pay off debts and close its locations.
New York-based Flywheel offered in-studio and on-demand cycling and strength classes across U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago, Washington and Seattle. Its filing comes a day after its former suitor, Town Sports International Holdings Inc., the parent of New York Sports Clubs, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Both chains are among fitness centers that suffered after shelter-at-home policies in virus-hit regions kept their locations closed. Gold’s Gym International Inc. sought court protection from its creditors in May, followed by 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide Inc.’s bankruptcy in June.
Read More: New York Sports Clubs Owner Goes Bankrupt After Gym Shutdown
New York and New Jersey recently allowed certain gyms to reopen at limited capacity. But New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio has expressed safety concerns over reopening and some local officials opted to extend a ban on indoor classes, hindering efforts by smaller boutique chains to return even on a partial basis.
Before the pandemic, Town Sports was looking to buy Flywheel’s spin studios to gain potential new business and financing. Combining the two fitness companies would have given NYSC’s approximately 600,000 members access to Flywheel’s cycling studios as part of a premium package.
Town Sports and Flywheel terminated their plan in April amid the shutdown. Flywheel, known for its high-intensity indoor cycling classes with around 300,000 members at the time of the proposed transaction, was taken over by creditor Kennedy Lewis Investment Management last year. The investment firm is also a major debt holder in Town Sports bankruptcy case, filings show.
Started in 2010 by Ruth Zukerman, one of the founders of SoulCycle, Flywheel emerged as a darling of the Manhattan boutique fitness scene. The company later focused on expanding into the at-home bike business in competition with Peloton Interactive Inc.
The case is Flywheel Sports Inc., 20-12158, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York
For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com
©2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Video: The sale of Arm is part of Softbank’s efforts to free up value: Wisdomtree (CNBC)


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What Impact Will the Ethereum PoS Have On Online Gambling?
As concerns for the environment have grown, cryptocurrencies are taking notice. Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization, had made the switch towards a Proof of Stake concept in a bid to reduce its impact on the environment and ensure that it provides consumers with a better overall experience.
Since the Ethereum cryptocurrency or ETH is used in online gambling, many consumers have started wondering how the switch towards a Proof of Stake protocol will affect the current blockchain network on which ETH transactions are based. The Switch was completed on Thursday, September 15.
Well, there is no reason for concern as you can expect PoS to bring much-necessary changes and streamline the cryptocurrency in a way that will guarantee its longevity and sustainability. Let’s first explain what a PoS is and why it’s better than the current operational model, Proof of Work.
Proof of Stake: The Future of Cryptocurrencies and Gambling
The Proof of Work crypto model was borne with Bitcoin back in 2009. Back then, Satoshi Nakamoto, the pen name of the enigmatic Bitcoin creator, thought that it would be best to award Bitcoin based on the amount of work and energy used to “mine” a cryptocurrency of BTC denomination.
The idea was simple. People will use their computer power (CPU and GPU) to solve complex mathematical problems and unlock new currency. As this process continued, the entry-level to mining raised, and with it – the energy demand grew. Cryptocurrency mining began emitting overwhelming amounts of green gases through the monstrous use of energy.
This is what a Proof of Work del works like – the Bitcoin, and any other cryptocurrency coin, is minted only if a sufficient amount of work is first invested. But this is clearly not the best way, as soaring prices of transactions and energy use have made such cryptocurrencies unwieldy – or getting close to this point.
Proof of Stake was pioneered in 2012 by a new cryptocurrency at the time called Peercoin. The idea behind this technology was quite elegant and simple – if you validate a transaction, you are an owner. Validators are selected at random, and the model is said to cut the electricity need of blockchains by 99%. With Ethereum now having switched to the Proof of Stake model, it’s time to explore some of the broader implications for cryptocurrencies and online gamblers.
How Is Proof of Stake Going to Impact Online Gambling
Proof of Stake is now a reality, and the implications will definitely be explored in the future. However, some of the immediate benefits are that Ethereum should now become a far more stable cryptocurrency.
While this is not necessary too impactful on gamblers, it’s important for the long-term sustainability of the currency. There is another added benefit that is clearly there, and it’s the low-energy upkeep of the Ethereum blockchain. Ethereum has also struggled with gas fees, which undercut some of the winnings people realized online gambling, but this is going to now improve rapidly as the lack of energy-hungry currency mechanism would mean that players can benefit from much cheaper and lighter transactions.
On a more technical level, the network is also benefitting from better decentralization which will help Ethereum to improve its security and expand the use of the cryptocurrency. While there is clearly a downside to the Ethereum mining industry collapsing, the fact that the Proof of Stake concept is now available means that more people can join the network as a result.
Another reason for why a Proof of Stake network is actually a good thing for online gamblers is the fact that owners will be more motivated to hold their cryptocurrencies rather than sell them, meaning that abrupt trades leading to rapid price swings will be a rare occurrence.
Of course, much of this is new, but an overall stable cryptocurrency is much better than online gambling. There will be definitely immediate benefits to people who use a PoS Ethereum as it would mean a more stable, quicker, and cheaper-to-move token, and many new people adopting the token. With this said, we need to speak of some of the potential downsides as well.
A Few Qualms
Clearly, there are benefits to a quick cryptocurrency that is stable, has low gas fees, and generally offers you an excellent medium of exchange and storage of value. Then again, there are a few things that consumers need to be vigilant about.
Proof of Work is one of the safest and most secure validation protocols. While Proof of Stake has been around for a fair while it is still often questioned by security experts as a model that needs to prove itself in time to be dependable. Bad actors can hurt the Ethereum network.
Another downside of using the Proof of Stake model is that in order for it to work, owners must “stake” their Ethereum and they may not withdraw it until the staking period – pre-agreed at the time of staking – is over. This means that in the event of a decline in prices, owners are unable to sell quickly and cut losses, for example.
Of course, both of these things concern online gamblers even if not always directly. On the whole, it’s safe to say that Proof of Stake is a positive change in the Ethereum network, but how well it holds up will only be known after it goes through the test of time.
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The excitement has only increased since the opening of the new PFresh Target in Colonial Brookwood Village. The store buzzes with customers coming to shop for their favorite products.
Among those customers are Samford students, who now have less than a two-mile drive to a Target from campus. Samford student, India Stallings thinks it’s easier to travel to this new Target because before it opened, the closest Target was located on Highway 280, which is notorious for bad traffic.
“It’s just a lot closer,” Stallings says. “It’s easier to get a bunch of things right across the street from Samford.”
The new Target features a parking garage located on the lower level and a traditional Target store layout located on the upper level. Customers can walk up stairs or ride escalators and elevators to the upper level. Even the shopping carts have designated escalators, or cartveyors, to transport them between the two levels. The store carries fresh groceries and has a pharmacy and Starbucks.
“I love it. I’ve always been a big fan of Target and I’m still a big fan,” Stallings says. “The store was impeccable.”
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony March 5, Target store steam leader Erin Seago expressed the team’s excitement for opening the unique prototype, as she described it.
“It has been overwhelming and just amazing the support that we’ve seen, from months ago when we announced our max hire event to as soon as we let team members in the door; we’ve had guests trying to shop two months ago,” Seago says.
Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer stated that Target made a wise decision by choosing Homewood, and that Target fits right in Homewood.
“We believe we have the greatest residents, the greatest businesses and Target, in my opinion, they really exemplify what Homewood is,” McBrayer says.
Photos by Jennifer Ferry


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Our law firm has been dedicated to clients like you for 90 years. We care about each one of our clients.
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from auto accidents to defective product injuries to workers’ compensation claims, we’re here to help.
We value building relationships with the many people and organizations that make Cleveland a great place to live.
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September 10, 2012
Because of the risk of babies falling out of the seats, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Bumbo International Trust of South Africa have announced another voluntary recall of four million Bumbo Baby Seats in the U.S., reports OV Parent.
After an October 2007 voluntary recall, there have been at least 50 more incidents of babies falling from Bumbo seats while the seats were being used on raised surfaces, according to CPSC and Bumbo International.
Nineteen of those incidents included reports of skull fractures. Other incidents reported bumps, bruises, and other such minor injuries, even when the Bumbo was used on the floor.
Consumers should stop using the Bumbo seat immediately and order a free repair kit, which includes a restraint belt and installation instructions. The belt should always be used when the child is placed in the seat. The seat should never be place on a raised surface.
CPSC also advises consumers to stop using the Bumbo seat covers, which could interfere with the installation and use of the seat belt.
To order the free repair kit, do not go to the retailer, but instead go to www.recall.BumboUSA.com.
If you or someone you know has suffered an injury from using a Bumbo baby seat or any defective product, the Ohio personal injury lawyers at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy may be able to help.
Whether you got your license before rearview cameras were required in all new cars, or you remember when airbags were…
Whether shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, a winter birthday, or another special occasion for a child in your life, December is…
Headlines from news outlets across the country have spread awareness about the link between glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup…


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Recently, Instagram announced that they would be testing out a new way your feed would display the content, getting rid of chronological ord…
All products will be released on March 31.
When does ‘monitoring’ cross the line into spying? And do kids have a right to privacy?
Only about a third of Americans get enough quality sleep.
Picture this, you’re out on a date night and checking your phone, only to find your babysitter posted pictures of your kids on Facebook with…
The cryo sauna cools the air around you to negative 220 degrees Fahrenheit. The extreme cold decreases pain and inflammation throughout the …
Talking to your Smart TV is not one-way communication — anything you say will be gathered by a third party.
All of the presidential candidate’s personal information was released, including his social security number and date of birth.
The device helps monitor what children are looking at online and what apps they are using.
Even though you’re using a newer, safer, “chip” credit card, hackers still have a way to steal your personal information.
Apple says it’s challenging government efforts to overcome encryption on at least 14 devices nationwide in addition to the phone of a San Be…
Pew Research Center studies show a majority of teens own a smart phone, making staying informed tricky for some parents.
NASA announced Friday it received a record number of applicants – some 18,300 – for its next astronaut class.
Thanks to the Hubble Telescope NASA believes they found the largest black hole ever.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have created the “5-D Memory.”
Many can’t go a day without their smart phone, but the easiest way to protect your phone if you’re heading out in frigid temps is to leave i…


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Harrison CIC Creates Downtown Business COVID-19 Loan Program
Shannon David Hamons, CEcD
City of Harrison
The Harrison, Ohio Community Improvement Corporation recently established a Downtown Loan Program for businesses affected by loss of sales due to the Ohio COVID-19 rules. Applications were provided to 27 Downtown businesses, and eight of the businesses chose to apply for the $5,000, 1% simple interest loans.
Funds for the program were provided to the eight businesses thanks to the CIC’s sale of a Downtown building last year. The term of the loans is four years, with the repayment start delayed for one year. The types of businesses that applied for the loans included restaurants, a home decor retailer, a women’s clothing store, a salon, an antique shop, a sports apparel store, and a flower shop. A requirement for application was a sales loss of at least 35% due to COVI-19 retail rules. Some of the stores experienced a 100% loss of sales, while the combined average of sales loss was 71%.
Harrison Mayor Bill Neyer commented about the importance of the loan program.
“It was very perceptive of our local CIC members to recognize that some of our home-grown businesses were facing tremendous stress,” Neyer said. “While the loans are relatively small, for these community members the funds could mean the difference between staying in business or closing. Our Downtown has realized a great resurgence in recent years, and it was important to keep that momentum going.”
CIC Board member Tim Kern said, “While many Harrison businesses were greatly challenged during this time, we felt it was especially important to reach out to the Downtown businesses. ‘The District’ as it is called, serves as Harrison’s ‘living room’, where most of our community’s special events are conducted. We believe as our Downtown District goes, so goes our City.” Kern is Senior V.P. of JTM Food Group, Harrison’s largest employer with 550+ associates.
The Harrison CIC was created near the end of 2018 to promote business development in the Hamilton County community 20 miles northwest of Cincinnati. Before the loan program, the CIC had entered into an agreement with Harrison Building & Loan to utilize the company’s Downtown parking lot for customers of the area’s other businesses. The Harrison City Council had also recently approved an Entertainment District in its Downtown, leading to the renovation of no less than four buildings for restaurants and pubs.
Housing demand outstrips supply so much that developers can be – and are – very selective about where they choose to invest. Factors like land price, annexation and zoning processes, infrastructure costs, density, and community design specs will make or break a developer’s go-or-no-go decision. This panel discussion will provide insights into developers’ decision-making processes, as well as help direct the focus of local economic developers to those areas in which they can add value in housing discussions.
The Call for Presentations for the OEDA Annual Summit to be held September 4-6, 2024, at the Glass City Center in Toledo, Ohio, is now open. The Annual Summit offers a unique platform to highlight innovative solutions, spark discussions, and share impactful strategies that have positively influenced communities. The Annual Summit organizers are seeking speakers to provide a variety of high quality educational sessions to attendees.
The Ohio Economic Development Association has announced JP Nauseef and Dr. Ned Hill as the keynote presenters for the upcoming Ohio Basic Economic Development Course, April 29-May 2, in Dublin, Ohio. JP Nauseef, the President and CEO of JobsOhio, which has been described as the “best in class state economic development partnership,” will welcome the Basic Course students and Keynote the course. Dr. Ned Hill, a recognized national expert in economic growth, regional development, and economic development, will kick off the course by covering “What is Economic Development and What is the Job of an Economic Development Professional?”


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Karbonn Titanium Mach One
Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear headphones review
Tonino Lamborghini 88 Tauri
Sigma DP2 Quattro digital camera
Creative MUVO mini
First Impressions: Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro
An overview of Digiflip Pro tablets
App of the Week: Frankly.Me
Don Bosco Institute of Technology hosts Teknack, an online tech fest
Why Sony is exiting smartphone business
Don't read this, lest you get offended!
How tech is taking football to the next level
Classic FPS games are a dying breed
Slowly gathering steam...
The obsession within
Google withdraws ban on 'explicit' adult content on Blogger
Karbonn Titanium Dazzle smartphone launched at Rs 5,490
The new Blackberry Classic does not have a camera, costs $400
Google may separate Hangouts and Photos from Google+
Moto E second gen 3G version to launch at Rs. 6999
Videocon VAB163 150 L Single Door Refrigerator
Videocon VA163B 150 L Single Door Refrigerator
Electrolux REF ECL093SH-FDW 80 L Single Door Refrigerator
Electrolux EBP203 190 L Single Door Refrigerator
Electrolux REF EBP163SM-FDA 150 L Single Door Refrigerator
How to use Intel XDK plugins for Sublime Text
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Steps to add x86 support to Android Apps Using Unity
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Fly Snap Smartphone First Impression
Fly Qik+ Smartphone: First Impression
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Wowsome Augmented Reality mobile app
15 top displays in tech products today
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At a glance: Digiflip Pro range of tablets from Flipkart
Moto E (2015): An Overview
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Intel Developer Zone
Intel Windows Developer Zone
Dsk International Campus Zone
Microsoft will be holding its next AppFest on February 26, which is expected to see the participation of more than 10,000 students from 50 engineering and technology institutes across the country. The Microsoft AppFest will be held at more than 50 hub centres.
On the day of AppFest, young developers will get to develop apps under the supervision of Microsoft mentors, trainers and Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs). The apps, to be submitted online, could later be added to Microsoft's Windows Store.
To make app developing easier, Microsoft will be assisting the budding developers with free software such as Visual Studio Express for Windows 8, and with free Windows Store registration codes through Microsoft DreamSpark
"On one hand, the trends in the IT space have evolved over the past few years, creating greater opportunities for students and budding developers. On the other, the global youth unemployment rate is currently at 12.7 percent - double the overall unemployment rate," Microsoft director (strategic audience marketing) Pratima Amonkar is quoted as saying.
The Microsoft AppFest even will focus on broad-based consumer applications, as well as education and games apps. “In addition to submitting the apps for evaluation for a chance to get on the Microsoft Store, the training and experience received via this program will boost the students' employability, and create a more capable developer ecosystem in the country," says a Microsoft statement.
Microsoft's previous Windows AppFest was highly successful and even set a Guinness World Record with an 18-hour coding session and a little over 2,500 developers registered. The event holds record for the maximum number of developers coding for a single event at a common location. The total number of coders was logged at 2567 by the Guinness officials present at the venue.
Those interested in known more details about the Windows AppFest click here.
Source: Times of India


text: Digital content firm LoveLive has acquired one of its US peers, Show Cobra, as part of a push into North America. Both companies specialise in producing music-related video for online and broadcast use, including concert livestreams and branded content. Show Cobra has worked for the likes of Beyoncé, Eminem, The Black Keys and Vampire Weekend, while LoveLive has Adele, Florence + The Machine, McFly, Madonna and Rihanna on its clients list. Its official YouTube channel also has more than 130k subscribers. “The breadth and depth of the team’s exceptional capabilities to execute projects across formats, production and live streaming will be of huge benefit to our IP creation, ownership and exploitation worldwide,” says LoveLive CEO Richard Cohen. The company also says the acquisition will help it expand its UK partnership with Universal Music to the US.


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Aenova moves tablet production from Berlin to Bavaria
Permanent and temporary staff with appropriate skills will be given opportunity to transfer
The Aenova Group, a European manufacturer of medicines and dietary supplements, is moving its tablet production facility from Berlin to two sites in the Bavarian region of Germany.
Faced with the ending of a leasing contract for the Wallenroder Strasse site in Berlin, which has been bought by a competitor, Aenova has decided to transfer all machinery, equipment and operations from the tablet production and packaging plant to Tittmoning and Bad Aibling.
As all the facilities at the Berlin plant are being transferred, Aenova says its overall capacity for manufacturing and packaging tablets will not be affected.
The firm says the 60 permanent employees in Berlin will be given the opportunity to move to one of the two Bavarian sites, and up to 50 temporary staff in Berlin with appropriate skills will be offered permanent positions.
Aenova says the move is a continuation of the strategic development of its production network, which has included leasing a new site in Lyon, France to serve the US market, as well as taking over a development facility near Basel, Switzerland, which has increased its capacity for the contract development of medicines.
The company says it will close its production plant for effervescent tablets in Ticino, Switzerland in June and move the operation to Bad Aibling.


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Perhaps Fisker is mirroring its efforts to spur owners’ bonding amongst themselves and loyalty to itself on similar nicely catered events put on by Tesla, but Fisker’s get-togethers have also tended to be described with plenty of superlatives.
For example, at the end of last month the “largest gathering” of owners of the “world’s first luxury Electric Vehicle with extended range” met at the “world’s highest-volume Fisker retailer” in Southern California, and not to be outdone, on Sept. 2 a “world record” was set by Karma owners in the Netherlands.
The Netherlands world record in question was 45 electric vehicles all charging together in one place. But maybe this was a Netherlands phenomenon as much as a promotional brainchild by Fisker, as the previous record set in May of 43 EVs from different automakers all charging together also happened in that electric-vehicle friendly country.
In the Netherlands, the government places onerous five-figure taxes on CO2-emitting high-end gas guzzlers effectively serving as a sales-stifling ugly stick ready to financially whop buyers of wasteful luxury cars on their not earth-friendly heads.
In that progressive country, Fisker’s series-hybrid Karma is happily exempt, well subsidized, and its sales of just 88 Karmas in May let Fisker place second-highest among all luxury sedans sold in the Netherlands, besting the long-established, better-funded efforts of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.
Things look pretty bright in the Netherlands for Fisker, and just to celebrate green motoring, 45 of its Karma owners were able to occupy 60 available charging spots to set a novel world record too – and this time it was set by one type of car, not a hodgepodge. By the looks of the party-goers/world record winners in Venlo, the Netherlands, it was all in good fun, and held with fine taste at that.
None of this is surprising really. The start-up automaker is doing what it can to generate positive publicity for its sleek and stylish cars and create synergy for its nameplate.
As mentioned, this is nothing less than Tesla also does to engender the love by pushing the chutzpah-threshold-meter at times to the limit as it otherwise cultivates social connectedness among its growing flock of owners and enthusiasts.
That company has been known to put on lavish events where enthusiasts might also rub elbows with top executives with the not-unintended consequences of making supporters feel special and a part of something significant. The cascade of benefits for Tesla’s perceived giving back has been like fertilizer on the roots of its fans’ allegiance, driving them deeper into the soil of their feelings of good will and serving the EV maker as it seeks to strengthen its brand identity.
Having suffered fewer public relations miscues, and perhaps being just plain better at throwing a good party and social networking, Tesla still seems to be winning in the stoking-the-flames contest, but Fisker is also hard at work scoring positive points – superlatively at that.


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By Jeff Bercovici, Forbes
“Study Finds Broad Wariness Over Online Tracking” is the headline The New York Times put on its story about the results of a new survey by researchers at the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology. “Study Finds Broad Ignorance Over Online Tracking” would have worked just as well.
A poll of 1,203 adults demonstrated three things. First, Americans
don’t like the idea that marketers are collecting data about their
online behavior and shopping habits. Second, Americans have only the
foggiest understanding of how their data is being collected and what can
be done to limit that collection. Third, Americans are confused about
what they actually want.
Anyone trying to gauge Americans’ feelings about tracking quickly
runs into the ignorance problem. What can you really learn by asking
people how they feel about something they didn’t know anything about
until you asked them about it?
Since only 13 percent of survey participants had ever heard of the Do
Not Track initiative, the Berkeley researchers were forced to resort to
a hypothetical: What do you think choosing an option that calls itself
“Do Not Track” ought to entail? Here’s how they answered.
When they can be bothered to think about, then, most people feel like
they should have the option to choose not to have any of their online
behaviors monitored in any way, even though that’s not remotely what
current Do Not Track proposals seek to provide.
(Nor, need it be said, is the capacity to opt out of internet advertising altogether.)
But for the most part they can’t be bothered to think about it. Maybe
that’s because so many of them are laboring under the false belief that
they’re being tracked far less than they are. Asked whether advertisers
must first obtain an internet user’s permission before tracking them
across multiple sites, a plurality of respondents believed that to be
The researchers asked specifically about medical websites, assuming
participants would be more mindful of privacy considerations in such a
So most people think they’re being tracked less than they are, but
would like to be tracked even less than they think they’re being. At the
same time, they’d like not to be bothered by irrelevant ads. Asked how
often they find ads useful, 69% of respondents said either “hardly ever”
or “never,” leading the researchers to conclude that support for Do Not
Track might be rooted in “an aversion to advertising more generally,”
not just privacy concerns.
Of course, it’s behavioral tracking and targeting that allows advertisers to serve users the kinds of ads they’ll find relevant.
To summarize: Consumers would like advertisers to serve them ads that
are more relevant to their lives, but without knowing anything about
those lives. Alternatively, they’d like to see no ads at all. But don’t
take away their free content. They like that.


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Favorite Quad-City Chinese Restaurant Could Be Reopening Friday
We lost a few great businesses last year as a result of the pandemic, but there's a chance one of those businesses is coming back.
Last year Ming Wah, a Chinese restaurant, in Moline closed during the pandemic. It was one of my favorite Chinese joints and a huge loss to all of us who love Asian food. But now there's a rumor on a popular Quad City restaurant group page that indicates this restaurant might be reopening.
If you search "Ming Wah' on Facebook you'll find Ming Wah, but there hasn't been a new post on the Ming Wah Facebook page since March, 2020, although the listing says it's 'open.' I don't think it really is open. But the 'We are Closed' sign isn't there either.
We all saw the 'closed' sign in the window months ago and rumor had it the owners were not going to reopen. The restaurant has been closed ever since.
As of April 15, 2021 there's a Facebook post on the QC take out and delivery group page that shows a pic of the Ming Wah window that says, 'Open April 23 Friday' in the restaurant window.
Reading through the post this morning (there are about 350 posts in this thread) I gleaned some information. Some say the restaurant was sold to new owners who plan to reopen Friday, April 23.
Another commenter suggested the plan was to reopen with similar recipes and menu items. Most of the comments listed their favorite menu items, like sizzling rice soup, egg rolls and garlic chicken. Many of the posts indicate the restaurant will be deluged by rabid Quad City Chinese Ming Wah fans.
I hope I'm spreading a good rumor here. I hope the food is every bit as good as it was. And I also hope they're slammed in the best possible way.
You'll find Ming Wah at 1315 41st St, Moline, near the Family Video.


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Facebook's Evaporating Growth Story
Facebook (FB) has been an incredible growth story stock since the company went public in 2012. While Facebook priced its IPO at $38, shares hit a low of about $18 several months after trading began. However, since then, Facebook has been one of the top performing stocks due to its remarkable revenue and earnings growth prowess. In fact, Facebook appreciated by over 1,100% from peak to trough, going from a low of $18 to a high of $218 in roughly 6 years.
Unfortunately, it's been a downward slope ever since the stock peaked earlier this year. Facebook has been seemingly stuck around the $150 lately, about 30% off its highs. What's the problem? Slower growth, in fact much slower, especially earnings wise.
The company's core and most profitable platform has reached an incredibly high penetration level, especially in its highly monetized regions. Additionally, revenue per user (RPU) growth has decelerated, and could be nearing a top in Facebook's most profitable geographic areas. Furthermore, the company's margins are being compressed due to increased operating expenses and other costs.
Therefore, in the short to intermediate term, Facebook's stock likely has very limited upside, and could move sideways, or even decline a bit lower from here. Nevertheless, longer-term shares should continue to move higher as moderate growth continues and operating expenses subside while the company grows into its mega market cap valuation.
This is not an end to the Facebook growth story, but likely a temporary pause in it. Once Facebook goes through its current transformational process, the company should transition into a more mature and more profitable enterprise, ultimately capable of producing steady growth and substantial profitability for shareholders.
Why the Stock Declined
30% is not an insignificant decline for a company like Facebook. In fact, it equates to a market cap decline of nearly $150 billion. The reason why the stock declined so much is because Facebook's growth problem became evident after the company's Q2 earnings announcement. Revenues came in lighter than expected, but more tellingly Facebook's DAUs missed estimates by roughly 50%. As a result, the stock cratered by more than 20%, and has been in a downward trajectory ever since.
Q3 Earnings: Growth Not Improving
One quarter does not necessarily make a trend, yet Facebook's latest quarter had an eerily similar undertone as Q2, solidifying its slowdown in growth.
- Revenues came in lighter than expected by $50 million, $13.73 billion vs. estimates for $13.78 billion.
- DAUs missed estimates by 20 million coming in at 1.49 billion vs. estimates for 1.51 billion.
- MAUs also missed by 20 million coming in at 2.27 billion vs. estimates of 2.29 billion.
- The company also said it expects to spend $18-20 billion on CapEx in 2019 vs. estimates for $17.29 billion.
- While revenue increased by about 33% YoY, operating costs also rose sharply, as operating margin declined from 50% to 42% YoY.
- EPS rose by just 10% YoY to $1.76 surpassing estimates of $1.47.
Facebook's Growth Problems Up Close and Personal
After delivering a second consecutive quarter of significantly lower-than-expected DAUs, it appears clear that Facebook's growth story is slowing down dramatically. DAU and MAU growth is not likely to return to 3% QoQ growth, as was the case for numerous quarters throughout past years.
After all, many markets appear to be fully or highly saturated with Facebook. Overall, the world market appears to be too saturated by Facebook to deliver any more growth than the modest 1.5% we've seen in the latest two quarters. Investors should get used to just 1-1.5% growth while it still exists.
Facebook Monthly Active Users
In Facebook's most important and profitable market, the U.S. and Canada, segment DAUs and MAUs have been flat for three quarters now, and are at the same level they were at this time 1 year ago (185 million DAUs). So, one year, no growth in Facebook's most important geographic region.
We can see a very similar phenomenon in Facebook's second most profitable geographic region, Europe, where growth has actually begun to decline. In fact, DAUs peaked in Q1 of this year at 282 million, and came in at just 278 million last quarter, a second consecutive sequential decline.
Essentially, all that is left for fueling user growth for Facebook is Asia Pacific and other parts of the world that bring in very little RPU relative to Europe and the U.S. Another factor to consider is that China is largely immune to Facebook, due to extremely popular social networking platforms offered by Chinese companies.
There is also the concern of Facebook becoming less popular amongst young people. Statistics show that young people find other platforms like Snap (SNAP) and YouTube (GOOG) (GOOGL) much more preferable to Facebook's core platform.
Favorite Platform to Spend Most Time on Amongst Teens in U.S.
A troubling stat is that out of 13-17 year olds, only about 6.8 million appear to use Facebook in the U.S. Moreover, amongst teenagers that use multiple social networking platforms in the U.S. 35% use SNAP, 32% use YouTube, 15% use Instagram, and just 10% use Facebook as their most frequently visited "social networking" site.
Facebook Users by Age
Yet, another element to consider is Facebook's relatively high RPU, which appears to be close to leveling. By far Facebook's most profitable geographic areas, U.S., Canada, and Europe, are about fully saturated as the user base has been largely stagnant for several quarters now. Additionally, RPU of $27 per user in U.S. and Canada, and Europe's relatively high RPU, appear to be reaching a plateau and will likely produce very limited growth going forward.
We've seen very little RPU growth lately in all areas relative to prior years. Some areas even show sequential RPU declines, suggesting that it is going to be increasingly difficult for Facebook to continue to squeeze out higher RPU going forward.
Therefore, revenue growth could slow down substantially, possibly to the mid or low teens level in 2020 and beyond. Also, do you know what will happen with RPU in a significant market downturn or a recession? Yes, RPUs will likely go lower, followed by Facebook's stock price.
Current Valuation: Fair to Slightly Overvalued Even
Right now, at $147 a share, Facebook is trading at around 19.9 times this year's projected earnings. Given that Facebook's EPS is only expected to advance by 1% YoY in 2019, the company is trading at around the same multiple, 19.7 times next year's earnings. However, revenue growth is projected to increase sharply, from about $55 billion to $69 billion in 2019, an impressive increase of about 25%.
So, how is it that revenues are set to increase by a substantial margin yet EPS is likely to be flat? It's all about the margin. We've seen that Facebook's operating margin has contracted dramatically YoY from 50% to 42%.
It appears that Facebook may have come too far too fast, and the company now needs to fill in various gaps with more human oversight. In general, it seems that Facebook needs to spend more money now to ensure that its businesses run smoothly, and to comply with all of the recently imposed and/or upcoming government requirements.
In fact, even 2020's EPS is projected to rise very modestly. The consensus is for $8.20, which translates to a 2020 PE multiple of roughly 18. A company trading at an 18 times 2020 multiple expected to grow EPS by fewer than 10% in 2020 does not appear particularly cheap now in 2018.
Nevertheless, Facebook is an extremely dominant market leader, a monopoly in the Western social networking world essentially. So, it deserves a little premium in its multiple. Also, the good news is that while Facebook's costs will likely weigh on margins and profits in the near and in the intermediate term, longer term the underlying costs are likely to mitigate with time. This implies that the upcoming rout in profitability could be more of a transient phenomenon than the start of a lasting trend.
What Will Reinvigorate Growth Going Forward?
With Facebook's core platform running out of available humans, the company's future largely depends on the continued growth and monetization of its other platforms. WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram don't offer nearly the same RPU possibilities as Facebook's core platform, yet the company will need to look towards these services for future growth. Instagram appears to be the big one as it is the one with the least number of users, thus most room for growth, and is also easiest to monetize effectively.
The Bottom Line
Despite Facebook's substantial slowdown in user growth, reduction in operating margin, and EPS stagnation, revenue is still expected to rise by 25% next year. With this kind of epic momentum, Facebook's current slump is likely more of a transitory phenomenon. The company is currently transforming into a mega-cap global enterprise capable of sustaining and growing multiple social networking platforms on a perpetual basis.
Yes, the company's revenue growth is likely to slow down after next year, possibly into the low teens even after 2020. However, by this time, Facebook is likely to have a much better infrastructure in place capable of supporting its businesses. This should allow the company to expand margins and create more profitability for shareholders.
In 2021, Facebook should have little problem delivering $10 in EPS. Coupled with a revenue and EPS growth rate in the teens, this makes Facebook's stock appear cheap at $147, roughly 14.7 times earnings. However, the problem is that 2021 is still several years away, so expect some volatility and sideways price action for a while in Facebook.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. If you enjoyed reading my work please hit the "Like" button, and if you'd like to be notified about my future ideas, hit that "Follow" link.
Disclaimer: This article expresses solely my opinions, is produced for informational purposes only, and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Investing comes with substantial risk to loss of principal. Please conduct your own research, consult a professional, and consider your investment decisions very carefully before putting any capital at risk.
Want more? Want full articles that include technical analyses, trade triggers, trading strategies, portfolio insight, option ideas, price targets, and much more? To learn how to best position yourself for a rally in Facebook please consider joining Albright Investment Group.
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Disclosure: I am/we are long FB, GOOG, SNAP.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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UPDATE 1-Polish competition watchdog accuses Amazon EU of misleading consumers – Yahoo Finance
GDANSK, Feb 1 (Reuters) – Poland’s competition watchdog has accused e-commerce firm Amazon’s European unit of misleading sales and delivery practices, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) said on Wednesday.
The office said consumers on Amazon’s Polish website were misled as to the moment a sales contract is concluded, product availability, delivery times and consumer rights, which if proven could result in a penalty for Amazon EU of up to 10% of its turnover.
Amazon.pl representatives were not immediately available for comment.
According a statement published by UOKiK Amazon …….


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Amid the coronavirus crisis, Americans have largely abandoned cash in favor of credit cards or contactless payments. As a result, there are not enough pennies, nickels, nickels, and quarters for everyone.
Now the US Mint, which makes coins, is asking for help.
“There is an adequate amount of coins in the economy, but the slow pace of circulation has meant that sufficient amounts of coins are sometimes not available when needed,” the Mint said in a statement.
“We ask that the American public begin to spend their coins, deposit them, exchange them for foreign currency at financial institutions, or take them to a currency exchange kiosk.
Still, new habits can be difficult to break. Americans are finally embracing digital and contactless payment methods after years of reluctance.
“The pandemic has accelerated many of the digital trends that were already underway, but it has probably powered us five years in five months,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com.


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— Legal Talk Network (@LegalTalkNet) March 16, 2017
Let me share a secret with you that you might not hear anywhere else: the legal industry isn’t perfect. One of the biggest issues lawyers are facing right now is, due to cost, more and more people are opting to represent themselves rather than seeking help from a professional. Avvo was created as an answer to this problem. The site is an online marketplace where clients can find legal help that fits their individual needs. It’s Match.com for lawyers and clients, as CEO Mark Britton describes it.
But the industry at large hasn’t exactly welcomed Avvo, or other companies like it, with open arms. On the contrary, Avvo was sued after only nine days of existence.
In this report from TECHSHOW Today, hosts Dennis Kennedy and Steve Best talk to Mark about Avvo, why it works, and the issues it addresses that continue to plague the legal industry. From offering a broader array of services to using analytics to make business decisions, maybe Avvo shouldn’t scare lawyers as much as it influences them.
What even is Avvo?
As Mark says, “Avvo is a marketplace in its simplest form that puts consumers and lawyers together.”
He goes on to explain that Avvo was founded ten years ago based on the needs of both lawyers and consumers that weren’t being met. Lawyers needed business while customers needed legal help.
Right away, the company met resistance via a lawsuit. But really, all the suit did was give Avvo press earlier than they would have experienced otherwise.
“To effectuate any change you just have to push forward and push forward hard.” Mark says.
Sure enough, aspects of Avvo now seem normalized, including their rating system and user-generated content.
Mark comments on this, saying, “I think the true distinction for Avvo regarding any of the other sites that are out there is our community. Our site is built around consumers coming in and adding content and lawyers coming in and adding content.”
But as a company, it is still growing and investigating new features and content. “One of [Avvo’s] challenges today is how to continue to be innovative and push the conversation forward,” Mark says.
Innovation in the Legal Industry
Even after ten years of existence and with thousands of users, a number of legal professionals still don’t understand what Avvo is and how it operates. This ignorance often surprises Mark.
“When it comes to the web there is a very real and big movement happening here that is largely being driven by your customers and yet you’re not familiar with it,” he observes.
This may be partly due to the slow-moving nature of the legal industry, which always seems to be one of the last to accept technological advances. But, according to Mark, bar leadership is starting to accept the customer-centric premise of Avvo. He says, “I feel like there’s been a tipping point probably within the last three years where there’s much more open-mindedness around the problems and potential solutions.”
In Mark’s experience, the focus of the industry has often centered around lawyers and their needs, but this mindset is slowly shifting to acknowledge the needs of the client. Mark says, “This has been happening in almost every other industry other than legal, where they let the customer drive the conversation, and you’re starting to see more of that in legal.”
The Number One Problem in the Legal Industry
One of the biggest issues legal professionals currently face is the do-it-yourself mindset. Mark comments, “You have so many people that feel frozen out of the legal services supply chain.” This “freezing out” can cause potential clients to forgo legal aid altogether because they cannot afford it or cannot adjust services to fit their needs. In this situation, no one benefits.
“Outside of the simplest legal transactions I would never advise anyone to take that road, but because they feel frozen out they’re going down that road,” Mark observes.
He calls for legal professionals to take action. “Collectively, what we should be focused on is how we can get clients very simple, entry level services,” he says. “We must serve the consumer and give them a broader range of services.”
Using Data Analytics for Legal Business
Part of what has made Avvo successful is its production and use of data to improve their business. A lot of legal businesses, though, are intimidated by big data or don’t know where to start.
To Mark, analyzing data is an important part of running a healthy business, whether large or small. And to do it successfully, you don’t even need a PhD or an analytics team. All you need an intern who knows how to use Excel and pivot tables.
He says, “It is valuable and we use it for our business. I think you’re going to see more, much more, data-driven decision making coming out of the legal profession in the next 20 years.”
One of the problems, according to Mark, is that a lot of lawyers don’t see their practices as a business. The trick is recognizing a firm as a business and desiring to run it as you would any other business. “There is no way that you are going to run your business successfully without being a student to business principles,” Mark says.
Another problem Mark recognizes is that lawyers claim to not have time to dedicate to learning how to collect and analyze their data. But to him, learning how to use Excel and being willing to set business objectives defines a successful practice. As he says, “The world is limitless for you if you can just get solid footing with some of the most basic principles and some of the most basic tools.”
For more about Avvo, legal innovation, and data analytics, watch the full video below.
Legal Talk Network is a podcast network for legal professionals with hosts from well-known organizations and brands in legal. Over 20 active podcasts cover important legal news and developments, including access to justice, law school, industry events, legal technology, and the future of law.


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While we have a pretty good idea about what the Galaxy S8 will look like thanks to several leaks ahead of its March 29th unveiling, the latest photo to appear on Weibo appears to show off a gold variant of Samsung’s newest device.
There have been some interesting rumors surrounding the color of the upcoming Galaxy S8. Last week a noted leaker stated that in addition to black and silver, we could see the phone available in a violet color. This wouldn’t be the first time that Samsung has released a violet-colored device, as the Galaxy S4 also featured a color called Purple Mirage.
That particular rumor didn’t mention a gold version of the phone, so it’s interesting to see this color turn up.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Specs
- Snapdragon 835 processor or Exynos 8895
- Dual-curved AMOLED display
- Android 7.1 Nougat
- 4GB/6GB of RAM
- 64GB/128GB/256GB storage
- microSD slot
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- IP68 water-resistant
- 3,250mAh battery
Rumors suggest the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will be released on April 21st, but other rumors have suggested that Samsung has internally pushed that release date back to April 28th.


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Property giant Hibernia Reit recently announced its results for the latest financial year, returning profits of €124 million. It was a good year too for the company's chief executive, Kevin Nowlan, as suggested by his recent purchase of a 410sq m (4,413sq ft) pile in Killiney for €2.275 million.
Saintbury House on Saintbury Avenue, the one-time home of actress Maureen O’Sullivan, hit the market in 2016 and took 2½ years to sell, with Nowlan and his wife eventually picking it up for about 23 per cent less than its initial €2.95 million asking price, in spite of significant overall price increases in Dublin’s residential market in the interim.
The house occupies a prime hillside site of about 0.25 hectares (0.62 acres) with uninterrupted views across Killiney Bay. Nowlan, who lives in a large refurbished house in nearby Sandycove, has plans to partially demolish existing structures on the site in order to create a very sizeable 514sq m (5,532sq ft) home complete with gym, sauna and wine room. No objections to Nowlan’s plans were lodged with planning authorities by neighbours.
The sale is yet further evidence of the extreme divergence between Dublin’s higher-end homes, many of which are languishing on the market for years, and the rest of the residential market, which has experienced exponential price rises.
Nearby Nowlan’s new home, a Victorian home named Ulverton on Dalkey’s Ulverton Road sold for €2.8 million after 12 months on the market, representing an 11 per cent reduction. Elsewhere in Dublin, 29 Temple Road in Dartry sold for €4.8 million one year after hitting the market for €5.75 million (17 per cent reduction). 17 Temple Gardens in Rathmines sold for €3.5 million, a year after its vendors marketed it for sale at €4.5 million (22 per cent reduction). Around the corner, Hadleigh, 42E Palmerston Road, took a 19 per cent drop from its €3.25 million asking price, selling for €2.65 million nearly three years after it was first marketed for sale.
It seems there is value to be had in the market after all – if you’re a multi-millionaire that is.


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Organizations are seeking solutions to their most pressing environmental impacts, and carbon offsets can be an affordable and credible path to carbon neutrality.
The leading automotive technology company is working with Schneider Electric to purchase low-carbon energy ...
A Practical Guide to Basic, Better, and Best Corporate ESG Reporting
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Allegiant engages Schneider Electric to develop ESG program, which will result in Allegiant’s inaugural ESG report to communicate company’s sustainability journey
The result of energy volatility in Europe has been increasing interest in energy security and the development of new technologies, making now the perfect time for corporations to engage.
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Here’s the actual Superbowl 2015 ad Sarah and Chelsea Handler did for T-Mobile.
UPDATE: Turns out that controversy has followed the airing of this ad. Some people are on the Internet ranting about the “Sorry, it’s a boy” line in the hospital delivery room. We’re not posting any of those comments; we just mention their existence as news here, and respond: Get a sense of humor. It was obviously a joke in a commerical whose concept was total irony.


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Another month goes by and the debate over the sale of 3G licenses gets a headline. For a country that led the region in terms of GSM implementation, we have taken our usual approach to life by settling into a silo and remaining comfortable with what is there.
Across the border, 3G will celebrate a year of operation by the time the clock strikes 2011 out. And this is the same country where MNP (mobile number portability) was the biggest rollout of 2010.
It is hard for a balanced comparison to be made on Pakistan’s cellular industry with the surrounding nations. Factors like population and GDP vary in large proportions. Take cellular penetration as an example; both India and Pakistan officially report a 60 to 65% mobile communication uptake, but that percentage represents almost 600 million subscribers for the former and just 105 million for the latter.
Out of all these subs, Pakistan reports only 5% to be data users, whether utilizing Blackberry services or GPRS/EDGE. Across the border, Vodafone India alone has 26 million data subscribers.
Moving to factors like economy and social setting, the climate for investment is greatly hampered in Pakistan. The boom times of 2005 to 2008 cannot be replicated and the local cellular companies are well aware of the reduced returns on any capital expenditure.
With all the operators being under foreign ownership in some way or form, the current strategy seems to be aligned towards reducing costs and extracting as much profit out of the re-milked cow of a consumer.
But the mobile communication industry is a rapidly innovating one, which has moved leaps and bounds in the last decade. Even the African continent has been at the forefront of the bandwagon, in spite of the lack of development in other sectors.
The consumer perspective in Pakistan is to question the reluctance of the operators to innovate and remain at par with international standards, on both voice packages as well as faster data options. The operator response is to question the high cost of licenses and infrastructure, as well as the lack of high-paying customers in a country where the ARPU is under $3.
What has eventuated is a stalemate. The lack of alternative options by the PTA, which appears resigned to using the telecommunication industry as the principal earner of FDI for the country, means that the local mobile operators will continue to delay the 3G process as long as possible, especially keeping in mind the cost of the license being propositioned.
The idea of inviting an international company to enter the already saturated market may be a little too optimistic.
For now, the consumer has to make do with what is available. While the line of high-end Smartphones continues to roll out, it will some time before equivalent level and variety of services arrive for them.


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Fresh off dumping its electric vehicles project, Apple appears to be pivoting to something fairly different: household robots. Engineers at the iPhone company have been working on some sort of “personal robotics” device that can cohabitate with you and follow you around, Bloomberg reported Thursday. So, basically a robo-roommate.
This product is reportedly still very much in the research and development phase and it is unclear whether it will ultimately be released. The report states that the company has also developed an “advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around”—which basically sounds like some sort of “responsive” TV screen. These developments are occurring within Apple’s hardware engineering division, with collaboration from its machine-learning group, according to the report.
Gizmodo reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story if it responds.
Unless you count the Roomba, the tech industry has had very little success in cracking the household robotics market. The boldest move was made by Amazon in 2021, when it debuted its underwhelming iPad-on-wheels, Astro, to a fairly muted response. The bot, which is arguably a creepy privacy disaster, did not sell well, and the company has struggled to find a marketable purpose for the product. Last we heard, Amazon was trying to market it as some sort of small business “security guard” which, to say the least, seems dubious.
Will Apple succeed where Amazon has failed? Only time will tell. They say never bet against Apple, but the company known for its beautiful and captivating product lines has made some notable stumbles in recent years. First, its heady VR product, the Vision Pro, debuted to mixed reviews and now the Apple Car is dead. Should we hold our breath for Apple’s domestic helper or just roll our eyes and patiently wait for the iPhone 16?


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Nike Cutting 7-10% of Workforce as Part of Reorganization
October 8, 2020
Nike CEO John Donahoe sent a letter to employees in June where he wrote the company would overhaul its management structure that would likely result in job cuts. Nike has already laid off more than 100 vice presidents over the summer, and in a note to investors, its overall job force will be reduced by 7% to 10% once the reorganization is complete. Read more on Front Office Sports.


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Valpak adds augmented reality coupons to iOS and Android apps
Augmented Reality uses innovative technology to combine the real world and the virtual, making the consumer experience interactive and in 3D
LARGO, Fla., Oct. 16, 2013 — Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, will now feature Augmented Reality coupons on the Valpak app, making finding coupons for restaurants and services easier than ever.
Augmented Reality – or AR – uses innovative technology to combine the real world and the virtual, making the consumer experience interactive and in 3D. In August, Valpak introduced the AR feature exclusively on The Blue Envelope®, which directed consumers to the Valpak app where coupons and offers would “pop up” and allow them to interact with businesses on a real-time basis. Only those who received the envelope had access to launching the Augmented Reality coupons.
Now, consumers can download the Valpak app onto their smartphone and tap the AR icon for the feature to launch. They then hold their phone to the horizon and can see nearby businesses offering a Valpak coupon. The AR feature is available on the Valpak mobile and tablet apps, which is available on iOS® and Android® platforms.
“Using AR is a fun and new way to receive and use coupons – and a surprisingly easy way to find business
es around you,” said Michael Vivio, President of Cox Target Media, provider of Savings.com, Valpak, Valpak.com, Favado and Valpak apps. “It’s also great for businesses because it offers advertisers further reach and gives them the added bonus of attracting nearby customers at the same time they’re ready to make a purchase.”
To see how the Valpak AR coupons work, please view the video.
The original Valpak app and the AR feature were both developed by WillowTree® Apps. In addition to the new feature on its app, Valpak has past experience using AR, first partnering with junaio in spring of 2010.


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Uber and similar ride-hailing apps have had their run-ins against authorities before, but it looks like the town car service is finally getting a reprieve, at least in California. Last October, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency issued a cease and desist order plus a $20,000 citation to private car ventures like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar over an apparent lack of permits and licenses. However, the commission changed its tune in December when it decided to evaluate the safety of such services, and has now suspended those complaints altogether as it works toward a resolution. More over, the CPUC officially approved ridesharing -- where the drivers are not specifically licensed to drive a limousine or a taxi -- thus legitimizing Lyft and opening the door for others to offer such services in the future. The CPUC states it'll still require "continued proof of insurance, Department of Motor Vehicle checks and national criminal background checks," especially if the service uses "non-licensed charter party carriers." Regardless, it's still a victorious day for lazy smartphone-wielding commuters in the Golden State.
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Uber, other car-hailing apps now a-okay with California regulators


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Anglo American’s profit more than doubled in 2016 and with most commodities rebounding, it’s easy to guess why.
Sugar-refining capacity across Africa and the Middle East will probably jump by a third in the next five years as a growing population drives demand
The rand firmed on Monday, shaking off a sluggish start to rise along other emerging currencies.
Stocks were down on Monday as precious metals producers weighed on the bourse.
Malawi's maize production may rise a third this year, to 3.2 million tons, despite damage inflicted by armyworm.
South African farmers are expected to harvest 68 percent more maize this season as increased rainfall has boosted plantings.
Stocks, led by big resource companies, declined on Friday after a broad-based commodity sell-off but some gold and platinum ...
Asian shares took a breather on Friday, slipping from one-and-a-half-year highs.
The rand hit an 18-month high against the dollar on Thursday as the greenback slipped after minutes of the latest US Federal Reserve meeting.
Stocks climbed slightly on Thursday, led by gains from retailer Massmart, which said it planned to increase its stores outside SA.
Barclays Africa apologises for its role in a rand-fixing affair involving more than a dozen banks.
Wal-Mart Stores experience in controlling costs is helping South African grocery and general goods retailer Massmart Holdings improve profit.
Mining shares were under pressure on faltering commodity prices on Wednesday, with AngloGold Ashanti topping the decliners ...
Domestic bond yields spiked on Wednesday before easing back after Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan targeted the wealthy with tax hikes.
President Robert Mugabe hints he would prefer the adoption of the rand in Zimbabwe despite a reluctance to adopt the currency from his government.


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Wholesale inventories rise in May
Published 4:00 am, Saturday, July 10, 2010
Inventories at U.S. wholesalers rose in May for a fifth month as companies ensured they had enough goods on hand to keep pace with demand.
The 0.5 percent increase in the value of stockpiles followed a revised 0.2 percent gain the prior month that was smaller than previously estimated, the Commerce Department said Friday in Washington. Sales at distributors dropped 0.3 percent, the first decline since March 2009, after a 0.9 percent rise in April.
The amount of goods on hand compared with sales was close to a record low, indicating production will be sustained in coming months. Corporate spending on equipment, export growth and inventory rebuilding have contributed to growth since 2009 and may remain a source of strength for the rest of this year.
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The inventory-to-sales ratio "suggests that firms are likely to continue to rebuild stock levels in the coming months," Peter Newland, an economist at Barclays Capital Inc. in New York, said in a note to clients.
Economists forecast inventories would increase 0.4 percent, following a previously reported gain of the same amount for April, according to the median of 33 projections in a Bloomberg News survey. Estimates ranged from a drop of 0.4 percent to an increase of 0.8 percent.
Wholesalers make up about 30 percent of all business stockpiles. Factory inventories, which comprise slightly more of the total, declined 0.4 percent in May, the Commerce Department said last week. Retail stockpiles, which make up the rest, will be included in Wednesday's business inventories report.
Friday's report showed wholesalers' stockpiles of durable goods, or those meant to last several years, increased 0.7 percent in May. Machinery, computer equipment, electrical gear and cars led the gain.
At the current sales pace, wholesalers had enough goods on hand to last 1.14 months, up from 1.13 months in April that was the lowest on record.
Reports for June suggest firms have built up inventories, potentially to the detriment of future production. The Institute for Supply Management said last week that its factory index fell to 56.2 in June.


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NEW DELHI: Lumax Auto Technologies Limited on Thursday announced its joint venture (JV) with the JOPP GMBH to manufacture Automated Manual Transmission and other components, the company said in a press statement . Under the joint venture, both the partners will hold an equal 50% share in the new entity to be named Lumax JOPP Allied Technologies.
While JOPP will bring technology for its products to the joint venture, Lumax will provide its 7 decades’ rich experience towards the management of the JV in India.
To start with, the JV will engage in design, development and production of gear shift towers, automated manual transmission (AMT) kits, all gear sensor (AGS) and forks.
The focus of JV is towards self-reliance in technology & establish an R&D centre in India along with manufacturing operations.
Commercial production is expected to begin in Q4 of FY 20 from an existing Lumax facility in Manesar, Haryana. The JV company will make an investment of Rs 75 crores over a period of 5 years.
JOPP is a European company with expertise in transmission & shift systems parts serving OEMs worldwide. Gear Shift Systems are a major focus area with high in-house value add for Shift Towers, Integrated all gear sensor technology & AMT kits for various applications for Manual & Automated transmissions.
Deepak Jain, Promoter Director said “We continue to forge partnerships with global leaders, in JOPP we have found a reliable partner, sharing the same values, ethos and a strong legacy.”
With the JV, Lumax will get the full access to JOPP product know-how in Manual, Automated and Dual-clutch transmissions. Lumax along with its other JV companies & new JV with JOPP can now offer complete transmission shifting solutions to its customers in the Indian market including sophisticated, light-weight and smart shifting solutions for additional comfort in Indian mid segment vehicles.
Martin Büchs, Managing Director, JOPP said, “We believe that this joint venture will allow us to provide a wider array of services with world-class technology and depth to a large growing market. We conducted an extensive search to find a strong, dynamic, technologically strong partner with a pan India footprint and customer connect. Lumax was the perfect fit.
“Shift function is the most important part of the transmission. The JV focuses on Manual and Automated shift tower kits. Being a market leader in shift levers in India, it was a natural progression for Lumax to become a Shift system supplier. This brings an immense technical edge to Lumax as the single supplier responsible for “shift feeling.” said Anmol Jain, Managing Director, Lumax Auto Technologies Limited.
Martin Büchs, Managing Director & Promoter and Richard Diem, Managing Director of JOPP, and Anmol Jain, Managing Director and Deepak Jain, Promoter Director signed the Joint Venture agreement.
The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of the Indian automotive manufacturers, which reflects their support and commitment towards this decision.
Even as the company attracted very high-level talents from the industry yet the top deck remained very volatile. Since 2020 on average at least 31 senior executives quit the group while it appointed close to 40 senior officials in the same time period.


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Tags: real-time online bidding
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, an on-site and online auctioneer of heavy equipment and trucks, reached and exceeded $1 billion in online equipment sales for 2011 alone, the company announced on Dec. 7. Ritchie Bros. introduced its real-time online bidding service in ...
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