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Susan Jacobs-Meadows tells customers her Encore Boutique consignment store is in Sandy Springs, but the local post office says she’s in Norcross.
Her business cards say Sandy Springs and she pays Sandy Springs taxes. The post office still says Norcross.
Jacobs-Meadows isn’t having an identity crisis. She knows her business at 7732 Spalding Drive at the Spalding Corners shopping center in the 30092 ZIP code is in Sandy Springs. The city of Sandy Springs knows it’s in Sandy Springs. But if her customers try to locate her with a GPS device using the address she provides, they might come up empty handed because of how the post office sees her business.
“The mapping is an issue because it identifies us as Norcross,” she said. “Most GPS devices will not find us. It’ll call us ‘Norcross.’ ”
Fixing it is in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service, but so far they haven’t recognized the changeover from when the location of Jacobs-Meadows’ business became Sandy Springs more than five years ago.
Mayor Eva Galambos and other city officials are applying pressure to the postal service about 30092, which shows up as Norcross, and 30328 and 30350, that show up as Atlanta.
Galambos said the postmaster informed the city that the post office does not have a way to change the default city of a zip code if only part of it is within a city. Only a small sliver of 30092 is in Sandy Springs, with a majority of it belonging to Norcross. She said the post office currently cannot divide the zip codes.
“We want every resident and business located within Sandy Springs to be recognized as Sandy Springs by our postal service,” she said. “It’s important and we have had – and continue to have – discussions with the postmaster on the subject.”
Monica Robbs, spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service, said requests to review ZIP code boundaries must be made in writing and she said the city has not made a request about 30092.
“Because zip codes are based on the location of delivery post offices, they often do not correspond to political jurisdiction boundaries,” she said. “When zip codes were first introduced, it was not as common, but boundaries of many jurisdictions have changed with growth, annexation, and the incorporation of new communities on the outskirts.”
She said when the post office receives the request, the post office’s district manager will respond to requests and make a determination. City spokeswoman Sharon Kraun said the city has used “all available channels” to get the zip code changed.
District 1 City Councilman John Paulson, who represents the area that includes the shopping center, said he’s asked the city to include 30092 on the list of ZIP codes it wants the post office to recognize as Sandy Springs. He thinks if the city can get the postal service to budge on one of the ZIP codes, it will budge on all of them.
He also wants to hold an event at the shopping center to raise its visibility.
“I’ve asked the city to talk to the police and fire department about having a Sandy Springs Day in that shopping center, where the fire department drags a fire engine out there to put their stuff on display, to help [those businesses] feel more a part of our community,” Paulson said.
Jacobs-Meadows said she wants the city to put more pressure on the post office to recognize that her business is in the city. After all, she says, it’s where she pays her taxes.
She said when she took over the business in April of 2006, she immediately started building her brand around its location.
“I started trying to create brand awareness of us being in Sandy Springs because, No. 1, I was happy to be in Sandy Springs,” she said. “I think it’s a more desirable location to affiliate your retail business with.”


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nevis liquor store
August 13, 2014
Nevis will add security cameras to municipal liquor
By Sarah Smith firstname.lastname@example.org The city of Nevis has a new attorney. The city council voted to approve Steve Peloquin of Peloquin Law Office to replace John Masog. In other business, the city: * Approved adding extra security cameras to the municipal liquor...
News / region
August 13, 2014 - 9:45am
February 18, 2012
Nevis council to advertise for bids for street repairs downtown
Nevis street upgrades are on the horizon. The city will begin advertising for bids, the council determined this week. Streets to receive a new coat of bituminous are Main from CSAH 2 to Village Road, Pleasant Avenue by the Church of Christ and Second Avenue between Our Lady of...
February 18, 2012 - 1:00pm
May 14, 2011
Nevis mayor urges liquor oversight
Nevis mayor Paul Schroeder suggested the council take a more proactive approach in managing the liquor store this week, his three-pronged proposal - calling for the formation of a committee, drafting guidelines and expectations for employees and banning alcohol on the job - earning...
May 14, 2011 - 1:00pm
November 10, 2010
Nevis to advertise for new liquor store manager
Nevis will begin the search for a new liquor store manager, come December. Mark Peterson has resigned, accepting a position with Wirtz Beverage. But he will remain in the area, having developed an affinity for the rural lifestyle. Cammy Johnson will act as interim liquor store...
November 10, 2010 - 1:00pm
October 13, 2010
Nevis liquor store sees earnings in September; in the black overall
The Nevis liquor store continues to see black, reporting earnings of $1,244 in September, $15,774 year to date. This compares with negative earnings of $600 in September 2009, a net change of more than 300 percent. This may be attributed to the customer incentives that continue...
October 13, 2010 - 1:00pm
July 17, 2010
Nevis officials hope summer events bolster liquor profits
Nevis summertime festivities - the pig races, this weekend's Muskie Days and the upcoming Uffda Days, are proving, and anticipated, to boost liquor store revenues. The liquor store reported a net income of $4,051 in June, $3,797 in May. But profits remain in negative territory,...
July 17, 2010 - 3:00pm
Nevis liquor store profits continue downward trend
Despite promotions, Nevis liquor store earnings continue in negative territory, a net income of minus $729 reported in March, a negative net of $12,440 calculated year to date. This compares with a negative net income of $4,305 for the first three months of 2009. The good news,...
April 17, 2010 - 1:00pm
Nevis municipal liquor store profits continue to plummet; games added to bring customers in
The Nevis Council agreed to add a platform with handrails to ensure a safer entryway to the liquor store. Cost is an estimated $500.
March 17, 2010 - 1:00pm
June 10, 2009
Nevis liquor store profits up in May, but year-to-date numbers dwindle
Nevis liquor store profits were in positive territory in May, $5,527, but the net income from January through May is reported to be $2,674. In April, the liquor store reported a net income of a $9,747, bringing the year-to-date total to $5,442.
News / local
June 10, 2009 - 1:01pm
May 30, 2009
Nevis council approves $17,000 in severance pay
The Nevis Council accepted the resignation of liquor store manager Kathy Plumley, approving a severance package of nearly $17,000. The amount, based on Plumley's salary of $17.44 per hour, includes 123 hours vacation time remaining from last year, 145 pro-rated vacation days for...
News / local
May 30, 2009 - 1:00pm
May 13, 2009
Nevis liquor back in the black
The Nevis Liquor Store has moved out of negative earnings territory, reporting a net income of $9,747 in April. The liquor store reported a deficit income of $8,786 in March and year-to-date earnings of minus $4,303 (compared with $1,182 last year.) The year-to-date net income...
News / local
May 13, 2009 - 2:15pm

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As for the 2017 Ford Atlas powertrain, it will use 5.0-liter V8 engine delivering up to 360 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. The engine will paired up with the 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The price and release date of the upcoming Ford Atlas pickup truck is not clear. However, its price should be a tad above the regular F-150 trims. It means that will be in the range of $30,000.
2016 Ford Atlas F-150 Price and release date. 2016 Ford Atlas is the new concept for F-150 truck. There are some rumors that say that the new Ford Atlas F-150 will be available at the dealers at the end of this year, but it is more lightly that it will be at the beginning of the next year.
The Atlas was a concept truck released by Ford in 2013 in order to showcase the design of the future F-150. Well, it now seems that the history will repeat itself because rumors about a new 2018 Ford Atlas Truck started to surface around.
Tacked on to the end of a presentation of its new Transit and Transit Connect commercial vans at the Detroit auto show, Ford added a surprise showing of its Atlas full-size pickup concept. The Atlas is a thinly veiled look at what Ford has in mind for the production-spec 2015 F-150 .
Despite there is no official announcement about its price tag, it is expected to be somewhere around $27,000 to $53,000. Based on the global economy situation, next year will be the best time to release 2020 Ford Atlas. The 2020 Ford Atlas has gone through major facelifts from its 2013 version.
2019 Ford Atlas Release and Price. All new 2019 Ford Atlas truck experienced date of production some time in the program of the following half with the cost at first for the stage model of $21,000. Be that as it may, the cost for your staircase to $51,000, in light of higher end models of accessible capacities discretionary.
2018 Ford Atlas Release Date, Price Rumors The launch date of the awaited design will be by the end of this year, or the majority of recently at first of 2018. The price for the brand-new 2018 Ford Atlas will certainly begin with the $28.000, yet could rise to the $51.000 when this model is completely outfitted.
2019 Ford Atlas Price, Specs By admin April 11, 2018 Ford No Comments The upcoming 2019 Ford Atlas is a full-size pickup truck that is hard to beat when it comes to performance.
2019 Ford Atlas Release Date & Price – Market excitement is that Ford may also make a creation version of some the concept vehicles shown previously. If the rumors get some volume of fact, then the 2019 Ford Atlas concept pickup may allow it to be to creation often in 2019. The company, however, is quiet on the matter.


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Small businesses are having a harder time attracting new customers through Google search as consumers are now able to find the information or products they’re looking for directly from the search engine results page (SERP). This means they’re less likely to visit a company’s website and this makes growth more difficult for small businesses.
To better understand how marketers can use SERP to their advantage, TechRadar Pro spoke with the co-founder and CPO of CallRail, Kevin Mann.
- Here are basic steps to try and improve a website's Google ranking
- How to avoid an SEO nightmare when changing domain names
- Boost your SEO efforts by optimising your Facebook page
You mention a study from June 2019 that claims that less than 1/2 of SERP actually generated a click (to a website I presume). Can you tell us more about the background of that research and, in your opinion, whether there were any caveats/pitfalls about it.
The study, run by clickstream data company Jumpshot, found that June 2019 marked the first time less than half of Google searches generated a click to a website. Based on data from 40 million browser-based searches on desktop and mobile devices in the U.S., 50.33% were classified as zero-click, while 45.25% and 4.42% resulted in organic clicks and ad clicks, respectively.
While the study did not give exact data on how many of these searches were performed via a mobile device, all marketers are cognizant of the steady rise in mobile-based searches. As we can expect to see more mobile searches resulting in zero clicks based on the immediate answers consumers are looking for when searching on their phones, marketers need to keep this in mind when tracking Google activity overall.
Jumpshot has a panel of over 100 million devices worldwide. While the company keeps the exact number of devices in the U.S. private, it’s estimated to be 2-6% of the world’s total mobile and desktop internet browsing devices.
One caveat to consider is the numbers are based on data collected only from Android-powered devices. Differences in search behavior between Android and iOS users could create biases in these results, but likely not in a significant way.
In the grander scheme of things, do you consider it to be a good or a bad thing for businesses that rely heavily on Google?
This will ultimately be a challenge for companies relying heavily on Google, especially small businesses that generate a majority of new business leads from search traffic. Now that customers can find basic information about a business on the SERP, such as a phone number or business hours, they’re less inclined to visit a website. Many customers will decide to call a business directly from the SERP instead, and since click-to-call qualifies as a zero-click search, it’s impossible to attribute these click-to-call leads without the proper solutions in place.
What tools or solutions are available that allows you to accurately track a user from a SERP to a website and then to a completed transaction?’
Mobile search advertising and Google call extensions drive large amounts of leads from the SERP, making click-to-call integration key for marketers to accurately track this user activity. To better track calls made directly from the SERP, marketers can implement tools that identify the specific PPC keywords that drove each call, and match the conversion to additional information — including phone call duration, call recordings and full caller ID.
What is the role of smart assistants in shaping that trend?
Smart assistants certainly play a role in driving the trend of increasing zero-click searches. In fact, 91 million U.S. consumers are using voice assistants on some type of device, and by 2020, one third of Americans will use a voice assistant for daily tasks. As more consumers use technologies like Siri and Alexa to conduct searches, companies need to prioritize optimizing SEO for voice. Hiring a designated SEO for voice manager will ensure sustainable expertise and innovation in this area.
How do you see the trend evolving? Will one category of website (e.g. transactional) be more affected than others (e.g. news websites).
Given the steady rise in zero-click searches over the past few years, I don’t see this trend going away any time soon. The rise of voice search and searches on mobile devices point to even higher numbers of zero-click searches in the future. But there’s a caveat here. The types of queries performed via voice search tend to be very direct and loaded with intention. They are more like commands than they are explorations. We use voice search to act on a decision we’ve already made. We ask for directions, contact information or facts about something we’ve already identified. Therefore, transactional sites ought to remain positioned to accommodate these direct actions via voice search and marketers need to ensure they are optimizing SEO for voice.
Does that mean that marketers need to pay more attention to increasing their marketing mix (focusing more on direct, offline and other audience sources?)
What marketers need to pay attention to is how to reduce friction for consumers that are trying to find out more information about their businesses and, ultimately, set up an appointment, make a purchase or sign up for a free trial. Google has gotten more sophisticated and is able to answer questions users have directly on the SERP. Beyond that, consumers are less patient than they once were, and they expect the expediency Google is now offering. Therefore, a well-rounded marketing mix is important to consider, but it’s also imperative to pay attention to consumer preferences and ensure marketers have the proper tools in place to track how well their campaigns are doing across all conversion points.
With zero-click searches on the rise, marketers need to get creative with their campaigns and ensure solutions for full lead attribution are in place for each — allowing them to effectively allocate their budget towards campaigns generating the most leads. While search traffic will remain crucial for generating new business, don’t underestimate other forms of digital marketing, such as content and social, for driving customers to your website.
- Also check out the best SEO tools of 2019
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TRENDING ON ONEINDIA
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- Mount Harriet National Park Showcases The Richly Diverse Wildlife Of The North Andaman
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- Nana Patekar Will Soon Be In Jail For Harassing Tanushree Dutta, Says Lawyer Nitin Satpute
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OnePlus 5T launch is just around the corner and from the number of leaks and rumors that we have witnessed there is little room left for our imagination. In any case, it is the most awaited smartphone right now.
Having said that, we were expecting few details to pop up before the main launch event and it has happened so. A German website named 'hesie.de' has now revealed that OnePlus will likely be ditching the telephoto lens at the back. The device will feature a dual-camera setup though.
According to the website, the secondary 20-megapixel lens will now also come with the same focal length of 27mm and f/1.7 aperture as the primary one. If it is so then users will see a drastic improvement in low-light photography.
The website has further posted a detailed camera comparison between the OnePlus 5 and Oneplus 5T. The result, well it states that the 5T has better overall performance. However, the portrait mode hasn't seen any significant upgrades.
Meanwhile, OnePlus's top executives have been teasing a lot of low-light camera samples supposedly shot using OnePlus 5T. And with this new development, it makes a lot of sense.
But again most of the specs are deemed to remain the same as in Oneplus 5. The differences though will likely be in the display, battery and in the camera as discussed above.
OnePlus 5T is scheduled to be launched on November 16 at an event in New York. The company will be live streaming the event as well. While we are yet to get a fix on the pricing according to reports the handset will be available starting 21st November as a part of Early Access program in limited quantity. Amazon Prime users in India will be able to buy the OnePlus 5T on November 21st and the sale will start at 4:30 PM.


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Dzire is priced between Rs 6.53 lakh and Rs 9.39 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The compact sedan segment includes Hyundai’s Aura, Honda’s Amaze and Tata Motors’ Tigor. Maruti’s Dzire can be purchased in Magma Grey, Bluish Black, Oxford Blue, Arctic White, Phoenix Red, Splendid Silver and Sherwood Brown. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) of the company said, “The company is committed to offer benchmark products with global quality standards across all segments. Dzire is a testament to the customer preference for the company’s products. We are proud of its 25 We thank our customers for achieving the milestone of selling one lakh units.”
It has a 1.2 liter petrol engine. It is available in both manual and AMG variants. The company has offered huge discounts on its cars sold through Arena dealerships in September. A discount of up to Rs 60,000 is being given on eight models of Maruti. Recently, Maruti’s Arena dealerships had crossed the sales of 70 lakh cars.
The benefits offered by the company include cash discount, corporate discount and exchange bonus. A cash discount of Rs 35,000 and exchange bonus of up to Rs 20,000 can be availed on WagonR, one of Maruti’s best-selling cars. Along with this, a corporate discount of Rs 4,000 is being given by the company. Its CNG variant is getting a discount of Rs 54,000 including a cash discount of Rs 30,000. On purchasing the company’s Swift hatchback, you are getting cash benefit of Rs 35,000 and exchange bonus of Rs 20,000. Apart from this, a corporate discount of Rs 5,000 is also available. Maruti expects the sales of passenger vehicles to be more than 10 lakh units in this festive season. The company earns 22-26 percent of its total sales in a year during the festive season.


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Apple has shared a video in which it goes through some cool tips and tricks for how to shoot and edit “otherworldly photos” using the Night Mode feature on recent iPhones.
"Shot on iPhone" is one of Apple's most prominent, and long running, marketing efforts to date. It has been going on for years now, showcasing not only still photography, but also films, shot on the iPhone. And today, Apple's uploaded a new video meant to show off just how easy it can be to capture a cinematic shot on your smartphone.
The camera has been one of the most important parts of the iPhone for years now. Which makes sense, considering it's one of the most popular cameras in the world. As such, there are all sorts of competitions out there focused on iPhone photography (no pun intended).
Apple has been researching bringing light field panoramic imaging to the iPhone camera, a feature that would let you immerse yourself while exploring captured scenes with parallax, clear object separation and other visual effects in virtual or augmented reality.
The new iPad Pro lineup is here. Both the 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro offer some noteworthy changes over the models they replace, with the larger of the two picking up the all-new mini-LED display.
However, it turns out that Apple did some tweaking of the front-facing camera system to make sure that it really stands out, especially with the ultra-wide and the company's new Center Stage feature. According to the folks over at Lux, who developed the mega-popular camera app Halide, Apple's new front-facing camera system in the new iPad Pro lineup is basically a superpower.
You may not be a complete novice when it comes to capturing photos with your iPhone camera. But you may not be an expert either. If you fall somewhere in between and want to take your photos to the next level, we have some terrific tips for iPhone photography.
Aside from an always-on display with limited customizability, the iPhone 13 should debut new photography features like Portrait mode improvements and an all-new astrophotography mode.
Luminar AI is an artificially intelligent photo-editing program for creatives of all levels. With Luminar for Mac, you don’t need to be a pro retoucher to easily make your selfies, portraits, or group photographs stand out. This app provides many handy tools for portrait retouching.
Have you noticed spots or lines in the photos you capture with your iPhone camera? Maybe you picked up the iPhone Pro Max for the beauty of the camera and pictures it takes. But are disappointed with those imperfections in your pictures. Or perhaps you’ve just recently noticed these blemishes in your photos. Either way, what you’re experiencing is likely lens flare.
Lens flare is basically caused by light reflections on your camera lens. So you may see it when snapping a photo of the sun peeking through your window or coming up over the horizon. While many photographers use tools to capture lens flare for a dramatic or artistic effect, most of us find lens flare ruining our pictures.
Here are several suggestions for how to avoid lens flare with your iPhone camera.
The Fuzion app launched in 2019. The developer found a way to make portrait photography even better with some fantastic effects, and now the app is getting even better.
Some people can take the most amazing photos with their iPhone camera. They know just the right settings to use, how to focus properly, and are familiar with every camera option for perfect pictures every time.
But if you’re like me, a non-photographer who just likes to grab moments when they happen and doesn’t spend time experimenting with camera settings, you will get the shot but not as beautifully as you could.
To help you take better photos, here’s a list of tips for beginners just getting used to the iPhone camera and others who don’t take the time to master the settings. With a few simple tweaks, you can have sharper photos, better-lit images, and a happier outcome with every picture you capture.
The Photos app is the best way to peruse the library of photographs you’ve taken, images you’ve saved, and videos you’ve captured via your iPhone or iPad, but that doesn’t mean the app isn’t without its flaws. In fact, there are many ways Apple could make the app better.
iOS developer ahmedmakls realizes the aforementioned fact, and that’s one reason why he just released a new and free jailbreak tweak called PhotosPro. In a nutshell, the tweak offers an allotment of useful features for the native Photos app, allowing you to enjoy more of the app than Apple would typically allow you to.


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Under Armour Curry 3 “Chinese New Year”
Rocket-Red/ Aluminum/ Black/ Multicolor
January 21, 2017
Under Armour and Stephen Curry will be celebrating this year’s Chinese New Year with a brand new colorway for his signature model. The “Year Of The Rooster” theme is featured throughout with the vibrant red color and festive midsole. These are expected to be available at select Under Armour retailers tomorrow for $140 dollars a piece. Browse through the images below, and don’t forget to to pick these up on January 21st.


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Websites such as eBay offer empty Tiffany blue boxes for sale on their sites that are often counterfeit knockoffs.
The famous blue boxes of Tiffany & Co. are in high demand in the auction market. According to press reports, the boxes can cost between $10 to $30 on auction websites. Quartz interviewed one seller of empty boxes who stated that his empty Tiffany box had 13 bids on it. The final price of the box was sold for $15.50.
Another purchase on eBay found a set of six empty blue boxes, two gift bags and four white satin ribbons from Tiffany sold for $95.
According to eBay, selling a box from a retailer without an acutal product is not allowed.
Tiffany & Co. stated that the blue box is a registered trademark, and that many of the boxes offered for sale are fakes.
Source: Antonia Massa, “Tiffany’s blue boxes are red hot on the black market,” Quartz, February 6, 2014.
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry reported that over 120,000 counterfeit Swiss watches were seized during anti-counterfeiting campaigns in 2013. In a single raid on a warehouse in Dubai, authorities seized about 90,000 fake Swiss watches.
In addition to the counterfeit watches, nearly 700,000 components used to make counterfeit Swiss watches were also seized during 2013.
The counterfeit watch industry is estimated to generate up to $1 Billion in sales each year.
The legitimate Swiss Watch Industry had exports worth $23.9 Billion in 2012.
Source: “Fake watches crackdown deemed a success,” swissinfo.ch, December 27, 2013.
Romania’s Custom Service stated in a report that about 50 percent of all “brand name” products that are available for sale in retail shops in Romania are actually counterfeit.
Counterfeit goods from China enter the Romania market through smuggling routes that pass through Moldova and Ukraine.
Some of the items seized by security services in 2013 included thousands of counterfeit Bulgari, Patek Philippe and Rolex watches, as well as counterfeit cosmetics destined for the Britain market. Romania also has the highest number of counterfeit toys seized within its border each year.
The country has also become the starting point for smugglers moving contraband across European Union members. Fake luxury goods, smuggled tobacco and illicit drugs are smuggled from Turkey through Bulgaria and into Turkey on its way to various EU markets.
Source: Jon Coates, “Britain to be hit with a flood of fake goods as migrants swarm in,” Sunday Express, November 24, 2013.
The regional manager for Virgin Megastore in Dubai stated that their industry believes that it losses between 20 to 30 percent of revenue due to counterfeiting and pirating activities in the Gulf Region.
Other companies in the region state that the loss to revenue could be as high as 60 percent due to counterfeiting.
In a single raid, investigators with the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry found nearly 17,000 counterfeit Swiss watches in a private apartment in Dubai.
Source: Shane McGinley, “10,000 fake watches seized in Dubai raid,” Arabian Business, January 10, 2013.
Between 2003 and 2011, authorities in the United Arab Emirates have seized over 200,000 counterfeit Casio watches within the country.
(Types of counterfeit goods sold worldwide.)
Source: “10,444 counterfeit watches seized,” Gulf Today, August 6, 2011.
A report found that almost half of foreign travelers from the United Kingdom purchased counterfeit goods while traveling abroad.
The most popular countries where counterfeit purchases took place were Greece, Turkey, Spain, Thailand and China.
The most popular counterfeit goods purchased by UK travelers was replica purses, followed by replica clothing, sunglasses, replica watches and jewelry.
Source: “Tourist traps: Over half of UK holidaymakers buy counterfeit goods abroad thinking they’re saving money,” Daily Mail, July 21, 2011.
A civil court case in New York demonstrated the supply chain and profits involved in the counterfeit watch industry.
A group imported fake watch parts from China for the price of 27 cents per watch. After assembling the counterfeit, the group then sold the watches to wholesalers at the price of $12 to $20 per watch. The wholesalers then sold the fake watches to street vendors for $20 to $35 per watch. The vendors then sold the watches to customers for various prices based on street bargaining, with some watches being sold for as much as $250.
Source: “Counterfeit Watches —the Mushroom War!,” Jewelry Insurance Issues, December 2006 Newsletter.
Counterfeit watches made up 4 percent of all counterfeit goods seizures made by the United States Customs and Border Patrol in Fiscal Year 2010. The domestic value (actual cost of the fake goods and NOT the retail price of the legitimate product) of the fake watches seized by authorities was $7,847,865.
The amount of counterfeit watches seized in FY 2010 was down from the previous year. In FY 2009, U.S. Customs seized $15,533,922 worth of fake watches, making up 6 percent of the total amount seized that fiscal year.
(More US security news.)
Source: “IPR Seizure Statistics: FY 2010,” United States Customs and Border Patrol, March 16, 2011.
According to KPMG’s Counterfeit Christmas Index Basket, a basket filled with counterfeit goods purchased in 11 major cities around the world was only 24 percent cheaper then a basket filled with the legitimate product.
The basket was filled with the following products, according to the Daily Finance:
- DVD – movie in current Top 10 chart
- CD – album in current top 10 chart
- Counterfeit software
- High end trainers
- High end polo-shirt
- Leading designer handbag
- High end branded watch
- High end sunglasses
- Branded jeans
- Good quality branded whiskey
- Branded cigarettes
Source: Chris Wheal, “Counterfeit goods are more expensive,” Daily Finance, December 20, 2010.
The net profit of the estimated 40 million counterfeit watches sold each year is valued at roughly $1 billion. The trade is equal to 6 percent of the Swiss Watch Industry’s exports.


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adidas Yeezy 700 v3 “Kyanite” To Release In Early 2021
Kanye West calls our attention once again to his sneaker release plans for the 2021 calendar, the release of his forthcoming Yeezy 350 “Natural”, just days ahead. The popular Yeezy 700 v3, the newest to be welcomed into next year’s mix, will be launching in a brand new makeup entitled the “Kyanite”. The name makes perfect sense why this iteration is styled as it is. For all the non-geology geeks, the search result of its moniker will populate your feed with an aluminosilicate mineral rock that has a marbled blue-white aesthetic.
This rendition would be somewhat similar to the previously releases “Azareth” colorway that dropped back in August, bringing primary hues of blue and white together. The former solely covers the side wall’s streak lines, as the latter wraps its overlaying molds and midsoles identically. The ankle collars/laces are prepared with pitch black skin
Peep an early look right here, and find these dropping likely via adidas.com, Yeezy Supply, and other retailers early next year for $200.
For more updates
Hype Ryno is set to Re-define Indian Sneaker Market as we know it
At a time when the sneaker game is rapidly gaining popularity, and more and more resellers and collectors are becoming a part of this ecosystem, The lack of a proper Authentication system and resale forums have caused inconvenience to a lot of enthusiasts; but not…
Upcoming Yeezy Releases For 2022
As we step into 2022, the past year hasn’t exactly been a cakewalk. The virus continues its presence with habitual lockdowns and strict norms all over the country. Despite this, the sneaker culture slowly but surely experienced a good number of new collaborations, album releases,…


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Volvo strengthens German distribution with sale of Bavarian dealer
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has divested its wholly-owned dealership in south-east Germany, Volvo Baumaschinen Bayern (VBB), to neighbouring distribution partner Robert Aebi.
The deal, for an undisclosed sum, includes the transfer of the company including all assets, employees and sales territory. The distribution in the south of the country, with Robert Aebi, now consists of a well-financed, independent and strategically aligned partner and this latest move strengthens Volvo CE’s competitive position in Europe’s largest market, and heralds exciting possibilities for an improved customer experience, as well as operational synergies and economies of scale, says the company.
“The synergy effects brought by combining Robert Aebi’s and VBB’s territories will allow Robert Aebi to enjoy economies of scale in its operations, strategically invest for the long term and gain greater market penetration and share,” says Tomas Kuta, president of Volvo CE’s EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) sales region .
Robert Aebi’s CEO Marcel Zahner said: “We are extremely ambitious and have clear plans for growth. The acquisition strengthens our position in Germany and, with a newly expanded territory the deal gives us the potential to double our machine sales in Germany in the coming years. This latest move is consistent with our plans to position ourselves as an essential partner within the Volvo sales organisation.”


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Florida has unveiled a restaurant that has sparked debate for having a crypto-themed menu. Some of the enticing offerings available include hot dogs and shrimp cocktails. The menu has been inspired by a wide range of products in the crypto market, including Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and even decentralized finance (DeFi).
The restaurant is known as the “Crypto Street Restaurant.” Earlier this month, it had a grand opening where it unveiled a menu filled with various items that have derived their names from popular terminologies in the crypto sector.
The menu at this restaurant is filled with popular crypto terminologies. Some of the dishes offered include Dogedog, Crypto Cuban, DeFi Caesar Salad, SHIBA Shrimp cocktail and more.
Additionally, the restaurant is also filled with a crypto-inspired décor. The posters, wall art and furniture, have been inspired by Dogecoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, Elon Musk, among others.
The owner of this restaurant is known as Ricardo Varona. During an interview on December 29 with Tampa Bay Times, Varona stated that he was introduced to crypto by his son. While he was initially sceptical about the sector, he endorsed crypto assets and opened a restaurant that accepts crypto payments.
Varona states that the restaurant accepts payments in all Cryptoassets, including meme coins and other not very popular coins in the market. He also notes that the dogedogs item on the menu is a favourite.
Crypto-themed restaurant gains popularity
Varona noted that his first plan was to launch a chain of restaurants that accepted cryptocurrencies. However, the financial and supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic prompted him to a crypto-themed restaurant.
During the interview, he said, “I kept thinking I want to do something different, something fresh, and I kept thinking about crypto… I calculated what it would be to do something new, cut ties with the franchise and started working on Crypto Street.”
He also mentioned that the restaurant was popular with the young population so far. However, the older population curious about the crypto sector was also intrigued, which according to him, helped create conversation.
Varona further added that the restaurant is open to crypto payments made through a merchant or peer-to-peer account.
On the issue of accepting crypto payments, he noted, “so far, we have had a few transactions in crypto, though a lot of people are interested in using it. There’s also some people who just sold it or want to hold it in the long-term instead. But a lot of people understand that using it adds value.”
Your capital is at risk.
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27 Apr 2020
Posted in Influencer
Vaping top discussed trend among tobacco alternatives on Twitter in Q1 2020, finds GlobalData
Vaping has emerged as the most discussed trend, generating 48% of all Twitter conversations related to tobacco alternatives by leading industry experts during the first quarter (Q1) of 2020, tracked by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
An analysis of Tobacco Alternatives Influencer Platform, which tracks leading industry experts and their discussions around emerging trends, insights and overviews, new fields of innovation and technology, and other popular areas on Twitter, revealed nicotine as the top discussed sub-trend among vaping conversations. This was largely led by the investigation by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health partners about association of lung injuries with nicotine vaping products.
Ankita Sinha, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “With discussion around cap on nicotine content in e-liquids and the ongoing regulatory amendments in several countries, it is not surprising that nicotine has turned out to be the most tweeted keyword among vaping conversations.”
In terms of intensity of discussions, the UK, the US, Austrailia, Canada and China emerged as the top five most mentioned locations among vaping conversations. The conversations about the UK were largley related to the fact that the UK’s top public health experts asked tobacco consumers to ignore new warnings about vaping issued by WHO.
An analysis of conversation related to ‘Flavors’ revealed ‘menthol’ and ‘mint’ as the most mentioned flavors among vaping discussions, followed by chocolate, strawberry and ice-cream.
This is quite aligned to consumer preferences, with 47% of global e-cigarettes smokers having a high preference for mint/ menthol flavors, according to GlobalData’s Q4 2019 Global Consumer Survey.
Charles A. Gardner, Director of Health Science and Technology at Foundation for a smoke-free world, was the top contributor on vaping on Twitter, followed by Edward Hubert, American editor and publisher and Gregory Conley, President of American Vaping Association. The conversations by Charles were largely focussed on the benefits of vaping, requesting states to consider roll-back of ban on vaping products.
Sinha concludes: “The outbreak of Covid-19 is disrupting all markets, and vaping is no exception. The impact of strict lockdown on sales of vaping products, as well as the ongoing buzz around supposed linkage between Covid-19 and vaping in affecting the respiratory system has translated into Covid-19 acquiring one of the top spots in vaping related tweets.”


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London, UK, 30th May 2019 – Today, Audoo, a technology start-up on a mission to revolutionise music royalty distribution, has announced £600k in funding in a bid to improve the monitoring of music played in commercial spaces and ensure artists are paid accurately.
Backers include Greg Gormley (co-Founder of Bink), Luke Heron (co-founder and CEO of Testcard), Tim Davies (Director of Ventures and Chief Innovation Officer of Co-op), Ed Matthews (Investment Banker) and Marcus Watson (CEO of Adoreum).
In a $43 billion global industry, artists are currently only paid 12 per cent of the revenue generated. In addition, artists and record companies lose $2.7 billion in revenue annually because SME owners (such as cafes, gyms and barber shops) typically stream music from personal accounts instead of buying a commercial-use license. On top of this, 75 per cent of UK businesses that should have a commercial-use license don’t currently pay for one.
Performance Royalty Organisations (PROs) currently calculate royalty payments from estimations based on popular radio play and by manually capturing small segments of what’s played. These estimations are then typically administered through manual data-entry processes, often leading to smaller artists losing out.
Working closely with PROs, Audoo plans to eliminate and replace this approach with a smart plug-in device, which hears, identifies and attributes actual played music to ensure royalties are accurately monitored and equitably shared with the right parties. Audoo plans to roll out its device to all PRO license holders.
Founder and CEO, Ryan Edwards (ex-Visa Europe and Vodafone) created Audoo in 2018 after spotting a gap in the market when he heard his own top 10 single playing in Selfridges, only to never be paid for it being broadcast. He ultimately aims to invest a level of profits from Audoo back into the industry.
The Audoo plug-in device captures music being played for a few seconds then shuts down, resulting in a digital fingerprint of audio, which the platform analyses and relays to the PROs, without storing any audio data. It can be managed remotely and the analytics platform has a standard set of APIs/reports specific to each business to allow PROs to leverage customer insight and artist payment distribution.
CEO of Audoo, Ryan Edwards, said: “As an ex-musician, I know first-hand how challenging the distribution of royalties can be with its manual processes and lack of accurate data.
“Tracking performance royalties has always been a challenge in the music industry. We aim to change this by providing a tool for PROs to manoeuvre efficiently in the digital age and ensure artists are paid fairly.”
Investor Greg Gormley stated: “I’m delighted to have invested in such an innovative business that will change the face of the music industry and fairly reward artists. As a technology entrepreneur, it was evident very early on that Audoo’s technology has the potential to revolutionise a much-loved industry, making it fairer and more transparent for everyone.”
For more information contact The PHA Group at [email protected] / 0207 4400 781
Audoo is a technology company focusing on ensuring the accurate monitoring of played music, and the fair distribution of music royalties, through state-of-the-art technology supplied to royalty societies and record labels which is rolled out to UK businesses.
Through a data-driven approach to music streaming analytics, Audoo can provide Performance Royalty Organisations (PROs) with expert insight and analysis to ensure musicians are being paid fairly and accurately, and not by estimation, in the modern age of technology.
Founded by Ryan Edwards in 2018, Audoo is backed by high profile investors including Greg Gormley (Founder of Bink), Luke Heron (co-founder and CEO of Tastecard), Tim Davies (Director of Ventures and Chief Innovation Officer of Co-op), Ed Matthews (Investment Banker), and Marcus Watson (CEO of Adoreum).
The business has its HQ in London.


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It’s safe to say that 2016 was a big year for the food and wellness industries. Sugar hit the headlines for its dangers in excess and while the paelo, plant-based and vegganism (that’s eating vegan but with eggs) trends dominated the blogs and high-end restaurant menus.
With more and more information available to the average foodie, our interest in healthy, delicious food is increasing every year, and 2017 will be no exception. But how do we expect 2017 to influence our shopping baskets and our dinner tables? Here, we break down the top 10 food trends for 2017 and share a taste of what’s to come…
There’s no doubt that 2016 was a fundamental year for increasing awareness of mental health issues, with everyone from celebrities to political figures sharing their experiences to underline that emotional wellness is as important as physical health.
Various holistic practices such as mindfulness have been explored, and 2017 is set to be the year of mindful eating. Jess from JS Health predicts a focus on the association between gut function and mental health, saying: “There is some great research about gut health linking to anxiety disorders”.
Harvard Health Publications explains that the association of the digestive system and the brain is due to the fact that the gastrointestinal tract is sensitive to emotion: “The brain has a direct effect on the stomach. For example, the very thought of eating can release the stomach's juices before food gets there. This connection goes both ways. A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. Therefore, a person's stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety, stress, or depression. That's because the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system are intimately connected.”
Following the surge in communication around mental health and more taboo aspects of dieting, Jess continues: “I think bloggers will feel more comfortable talking about certain topics that were previously off limits.” Meaning that 2017 could be the year that the health world really begins to understand the complex relationship between psychology and eating, allowing for diets and eating plans that are emotionally-sensitive and sustainable throughout the ups and downs of life.
Key ingredients in this trend will be vitamin-D rich foods like kale to counter Seasonal Affective Disorder, plus probiotics such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus.
Gastrointestinal health is a mainstay of health trends in 2017 with a significant amount of research discussing the links between gut health and weight loss. As Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology, told Body and Soul, “The more diverse your gut microbes, the more likely you are to be healthy and lean, and the more sparse your microbes, the more likely you are to be overweight.”
This is why health professionals are set to steer away from advocating for exclusion diets in 2017, because, as each individual’s “microbiome” is unique, every person will respond to carbohydrates, fats and sugars differently. Drastic diets therefore disturb the stomach’s microbial balance and cause fatigue, which releases the fat-storing stress hormone, cortisol, kicks in, increasing blood sugar and insulin levels.
As an alternative to dramatic diets, in 2017, wellbeing professionals are promoting attentiveness to gut health as a way to maintain a healthy weight. One interesting way that this research interacts with the food industry is, perhaps strangely, fermenting. The Telegraph says: “With gut health still a wide concern, fermented drinks such as kombucha, a raw, fermented tea, are no longer niche. Several restaurants make their own, including Rawduck in London and Silo in Brighton, while Jarr, in Hackney, claims to be Europe’s first kombucha tap room.”
These fermented beverages are likely to be a major element of any health-conscious foodie’s day, boasting health benefits such as improved digestion, weight loss, increased energy, immune support and reduced joint pain.
There has been a significant amount of discussion around the topic of detoxification in 2016, but the overarching consensus going into 2017 is that detoxing must be a natural and holistic process.
Extreme, long-term exclusion diets are a thing of the past, and instead detoxes must be facilitated through eating whole foods. Shannon from Whole Foodie Booty suggests that a particularly noteworthy resource this year is the work of Dr. Mark Hyman. She says:
“His work in functional medicine and optimizing your metabolism and genes through proper nutrition is sound and effective. He's all about eating real foods and avoiding all of the unnatural denatured fake foods we so often find in the supermarket. Any time I've wanted to detox I've turned to his Ultra Simple Diet, which is great for people who don't want to commit to anything long-term. They can just jumpstart their results and transform their health.”
As 2016 saw the revelation that sugar industries had been skewing the results of scientific research to reduce the emphasis on the links between sugar and conditions such as obesity and diabetes, it is likely that low-sugar diets and detoxes will be even more popular in 2017. The reduction of sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods is set to be a non-negotiable basis for any detox plan, with the remainder of the programmes being focused on consuming a balance of natural whole foods. Guided detox plans will move from books to interactive experiences, such as detox programmes as part of luxury spa breaks, where expert nutritionists coach participants on how to eat fulfilling and healthy meals whilst ridding the body of toxins for a more balanced and energetic body and mind.
In 2016 we saw the rise of a huge international movement against food wastage. From supermarket leftovers to ‘ugly veg’, individuals are being encouraged to buy food that doesn’t fit the mould of the ‘perfect’ specimen, and to use everything they buy rather than throwing items away. In 2017, this trend is set to expand into meals themselves, as restaurants and home cooks alike endeavour to use leftover ingredients in dishes.
Whole Foods Market explains:“Whether it’s leftover whey from straining Greek yogurt or spent grains from beer; brands are finding creative — and delicious — ways to use every edible component of food production. For example, Sir Kensington’s, a condiment brand, has created Fabanaise, a vegan mayo made with aquafaba — the liquid left behind from cooking chickpeas. And a company called ReGrained produces granola bars from the spent grains used in making beer.”
This will be matched in the home by ‘root-to-stem’ cooking, where every part of a vegetable is used, or meats being cooked ‘three ways’ to make use of not just traditional cuts, but adding in stocks made out of nutrient-rich bones and crispy skins as garnishes.
As we move further into 2017, the traditional mantra of three meals a day will be even further deconstructed. Snacking is no longer shameful, but we are being encouraged to ‘snack mark’. BBC Good Food claims: “According to our trends panel, a continued blurring of mealtimes will mean more of us opt to graze instead of eat three meals a day. Picking and sharing small plates are on the rise, as are healthier snack solutions, so expect to see lower-sugar and high-protein bites.”
Food bloggers are increasingly finding that their most popular recipes are for easy, nutritious snacks that readers can cook and then take to work or spread out over a number of days. Rather than succumbing to the mid-meal sugar craving, smart snackers are planning ahead by making small dishes that deliver the energy they need to last through the day, which, more often than not, are packed full of flavour, too.
While there are always going to be the hardcore dieters and the more lenient eaters, in 2017 health bloggers are moving away from the promotion of strict diets. Formerly, ‘cheat days’ were all the rage, but more and more people are recognising that bingeing on unhealthy foods on one day a week and fasting for the other six days is not sustainable.
Instead, a balanced approach is key. According to Whole Foods Market, “People are finding flexible ways to eat “cleaner” or “healthier,” and they’re discovering the mix of foods that make them feel best without having to be so stringent about it. We’re seeing folks go vegan before 6pm; 80/20 eaters who do paleo on weekdays; pescatarians who eat the occasional burger. It’s all about figuring out what makes you feel good.”
Last year, turmeric was one of the superfood stars of the health industry. As its powerful anti-inflammatory properties were explored, some researchers even began to believe that cooking with the ingredient could help to prevent cancer. The popularity of this ingredient is set to continue in 2017, but it will also open healthy eaters’ minds to international approaches to nutritional health.
Food Business News claim, “The remarkable rise of turmeric as a trending ingredient in recent years has become a gateway to American exploration of Ayurveda”, and particularly the Indian concept of dosha. This is the study of the body’s constitution, and turmeric occupies a central role in the belief as a balancing additive.
Liz Moskow, culinary director of Sterling-Rice Group, told Food Business News:
“The reason we’re predicting people will start eating more towards the philosophy of dosha is that we’re riding this wave of yoga and Indian street food and bringing that mainstream. Once people realize turmeric is enhancing their lifestyle and preventing disease and helping with inflammation, they will to start to look into Ayurveda more and see what foods they should avoid and what foods might be good for their constitution.”
Plant-based diets are already huge in the UK, popular with everyone from ethical eaters to dieters and even athletes. However, in 2017, even steadfast omnivores are set to substitute meat dishes for plant-based alternatives as a regular part of their diet.
Last year, the health risks of over-indulgence in red meats and processes meats was exposed, leading to many to increase their intake of the trusty greens. The Telegraph predicts, “Expect to see more broccoli, aubergine and cauliflower, among others, replacing meat as mains.”
Both in restaurants and at home, vegetables are set to comprise a focal point, being more cleverly infused with meat-like flavours and textures to appeal to all palates. The Telegraph adds: “Many of next year’s cookbooks will major on vegetables, while we’ll also see developments in “plant butchery”, which uses soy, pea and other proteins to create realistic-looking, and tasting, meat alternatives.”
While Jess forecasts that the paelo trend will come to an end in 2017, many of us will continue limiting our intake of refined carbohydrates. Consumer Reports cites pasta as one of the main dishes where this will become evident. They say: “Alternative pastas made from chickpeas, lentils, and other legumes are gaining ground because people want more protein and fewer refined carbs in their diets. They have the same amount of calories as regular pasta (200 per cup, cooked), but bean pastas are higher in fibre and protein.”
Last year, we saw the rise of spiralised ‘courgetti’ and various other route vegetables as pasta alternatives, this year these more authentic alternatives will come out on top. Particularly for fitness enthusiasts and those looking for satisfying main meals that don’t give that heavy feeling, these pasta alternatives are set to take over 2017.
Although many of us are aiming to maintain a healthy diet in 2017, no-one wants to sacrifice flavour. Formerly, this was an area in which health-conscious foodies could come unstuck, as many sauces and condiments used to get that perfect balance of aromas are often full of sugars and salts.
However, in 2017, this issue is being overcome by the rise in homemade condiments. As Eater explains, “Restaurants offering house-made sauces are increasingly popular. Whether it’s a special type of sriracha or a made-from-scratch ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise, chefs will see consumers clamouring for it. Homemade condiments are experiencing centre-of-the-plate popularity.” The trend will follow into the home kitchen, where individuals will create their own flavourings from scratch, from curry pastes to marinades.
Image credits: Rawpixel (Shutterstock) / Antonio Guillem (Shutterstock) / Brent Hofacker (Shutterstock) / Foxys Forest Manufacture (Shutterstock) / Monticello (Shutterstock) / Woodley Wonderworks (Visualhunt) / Yana Vasileva (Shutterstock)


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Retail spending by U.S. consumers rose 1.1 percent in September, representing the best two months of sales in two years, according to Commerce Department numbers. Gains were observed in nearly all retail categories, with sales of electronics and appliances rising 4.5 percent, sales at auto dealers increasing 1.3 percent, and apparel, building materials, and garden supplies sales also climbing.
The boost in sales came shortly after the government’s report that joblessness fell 7.8 percent, its lowest level since President Barack Obama assumed office. Naroff Economic Advisors’ Joel Naroff reports that consumers “are spending at a more normal pace that is consistent with a moderately growing economy.” Another Commerce Department report estimates that companies boosted their inventories by 0.6 percent in August following a 0.8 percent gain in July.
Sales were generally up 0.5 percent in August after a 0.9 percent increase in July. IHS Global Insight’s Chris G. Christopher Jr. says the debut of the Apple iPhone 5 played a role in the September sales gain, noting that 4 million units were sold in the United States in the latter half of the month.Back To Blog


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Jessica Alba: My kids love my makeup
Jessica Alba uses her Honest Beauty makeup as a bargaining tool when her two daughters, Honor and Haven, are fighting.
(Cover) - EN Star Style - Jessica Alba’s daughters are obsessed with her Honest Beauty makeup.
The 34-year-old actress and entrepreneur launched The Honest Company’s cosmetics line last month (Sep15).
And as she attended Honest Beauty’s pop up shop at The Grove in Los Angeles on Thursday (01Oct15), Jessica spoke about how seven-year-old Honor and four-year-old Haven are huge fans of the collection.
In fact, they are so taken with the range that Jessica has even started using it as a bargaining tool when they start arguing.
“My girls are in my makeup all day long,” Jessica told People. “They love putting it on me. Whenever they’re fighting, I’m like, ‘Stop yelling at each other and I’ll let you put my lipstick on!’ ”
Jessica has already found huge success with The Honest Company. And with her new beauty range, the actress wanted to ensure the line of skincare and cosmetics only uses safe ingredients.
It was becoming a mother that first encouraged Jessica to explore the use of natural ingredients.
“I discovered chamomile and calendula when I had Honor,” Jessica said. “They smell good and they take down inflammation. So we put a lot of that in our skincare.
“My grandmother loved aloe. Anytime I had anything wrong with me, she would come in with a green hand and smear it on me. I used to hate it as a kid, but now it’s a fond memory.”
Jessica is known for her stunning appearance whether it’s on the red carpet or out and about running errands.
While she prefers a “no makeup makeup” look for everyday life, she can also turn to her own range of cosmetics when it comes to preparing for a star-studded occasion.
“Whether it’s for mums on the go who want makeup with staying power, or for someone who wants to really go glam, these products can do both,” Jessica added.
© Cover Media


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De Beers, the London-based diamond prospector, has opted to adopt blockchain technology to stem the gems’ illegal runoff. The company is rolling out its blockchain-based Diamond Source platform. The name of this platform is “Tracr” and De Beers advertises it as the “world’s only distributed diamond blockchain”. The purpose of this launch is to provide a “tamper-proof” guarantee of legal origin for the diamonds retailers purchase.
The decentralized blockchain platform is able to provide immutable information at the source of the De Beers diamonds. The company expects that this will make De Beers diamonds 100% authentic.
“The Tracr platform combines distributed ledger technology with advanced data security and privacy, ensuring participants control usage of and access to their own data,” the company said in a recent statement.
“Each participant on Tracr has their own distributed version of the platform, which means their data can only be shared with their permission and only they decide who can access their information.”
One of the key elements of the blockchain is its ability to provide transparency. Blockchain networks store information in such a way that it cannot be changed without recording the changes made.
The blockchain platform’s release comes amid rising cases of diamond smuggling, adding to concerns from producers, retailers and end buyers.
According to Bitcoin.com, diamond producers like De Beers are under pressure to ensure illegally obtained diamonds don’t end up on the formal market.
The report also states that end consumers also insist on inquiring about the source of diamond jewelry anywhere in the world that is anything but cheap.
“We are proud to join our sightholders in providing the industry with an unwavering guarantee of the provenance of large-scale diamonds. Tracr, which enables the delivery of provenance information from source to sightholder for storage on a secure blockchain, will increase trust in natural diamonds and represents the first step in a technological transformation that will improve standards and expectations of what we do can offer to our end customers,” said Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers Group, in a statement.
Artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, advanced security and privacy technologies have combined to form Trackr.
https://gadgets360.com/cryptocurrency/news/diamond-miners-de-beers-blockchain-platform-curb-illicit-smuggling-2966613 Diamond Miners De Beers uses blockchain platform to optimize authenticity and curb illegal smuggling


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Our Lady of Good Counsel to hold garage sale on Nov. 5
Township of washington
Counsel holds garage sale on Nov. 5
Our Lady of Good Counsel will hold an indoor garage sale at its location, 668 Ridgewood Road, on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All proceeds go to the O.L.G.C Religious Education program and youth group. Call 201-664-1679 or email olgcreligioused@gmail .com.


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CHARLESTOWN - Americans' low-carb, no-carb, high-protein diets are beefing up revenues for one local meat processor.
Devault Foods noticed the growth pattern last year, said Gerry Mello, vice president of sales and marketing at the family-owned and run meatball, burger patty and Philly-style steak maker headquartered on White Horse Road in Devault.
"We recognized the trend and jumped on the bandwagon," said Mello, who set about to "get the word out."
Indeed, no-carb or low-carb foods are the hot ticket as 35 million Americans, or about 12 percent, are on carb-controlled diets, according to Cambridge, Mass.-based Opinion Dynamics Corp., an opinion/market research company.
The trend is a result of the South Beach and The Zone weight-loss diets which came out of the low-carb program developed by the late Dr. Robert Atkins, a cardiologist who published his first diet book in 1972.
Devault is not the first to notice the trend.
Research company Mintel International Group reports since the start of 2004, some 994 new low-carb products have gone on the market compared to 392 in 2003 and 26 in 2000.
Meanwhile, pasta makers are trying to use their noodle to find ways to hold on to their slippery market shares.
Not all have been successful.
Harrisburg-based New World Pasta, makers of San Giorgio and Ronzoni brands, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month, in part due to America's new obsession with carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are certain organic compounds including sugars and starches and found in such things as breads, potatoes and pasta.
For Devault, it was not a matter of producing new products. Beef products are by definition protein with low or no carbohydrates. In addition, Mello notes, among Devault's big sellers, its burgers are 75-90 percent lean and its Philly-style steaks 85-95 percent lean.
Although burger patties are traditionally served on a carb-heavy bun and Philly-style steaks on a roll, Mello said Devault sales are going up as restaurants have developed new menus with low-carb sections where beef entries are served with steamed vegetables and without the bread.
Mello said the continuing uptick in beef sales is surprising because it comes at a time when beef prices are at an unprecedented high. Mello blames mad cow disease, which has halted beef imports and exports coupled with rising feed grain and fuel costs.
Mello said truck shipments from Devault carry a fuel surcharge to its customers.
"Prices are high but, despite that, people still want it," Mello said. "Demand has outpaced production."
If the international market opens up and the U.S. can once again export beef to Canada, Mexico and Japan, beef prices will go even higher, Mello warns.
Devault Foods started in the beef business in July 4, 1949, with a one-room butcher shop. Later, Tom DiFillippo Sr. built a small slaughterhouse on a parcel of his father's 100-acre dairy farm.
DiFillippo operated the butcher shop until 1960 when the company switched its focus to the fast-food industry.
By 1968, Devault was exclusively a portion-controlled meat processing business.
Tom DiFillippo, DiFillippo's son, took over as company president in 1971.
Devault no longer operates a slaughterhouse. Meats are brought in either fresh or frozen for processing.
Today Devault Foods has 200 employees with a corporate footprint covering the East Coast and Midwest states and annual sales of $85 million. It serves food distributors, national and regional restaurant chains, hotels, school, hospitals and the military.
Mello said the company plans to build a new corporate office on its Charlestown property next year. Its long-term plan is to double its space, add employees and expand its sales force, he said.


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Celsisus Game Studios founder Colin Walsh says an Xbox One port could happen “at some point” though.
While games like Star Citizen are still a ways off, there are still titles like Celsius Game Studios’ Drifter that will tackle deep space exploration and fill in the gaps. Of course, that’s for PS4 and PS Vita – the indie title isn’t currently planned for Xbox One.
GamingBolt spoke to studio founder Colin Walsh about why there was no Xbox One version planned and Walsh replied, “There’s certainly no technical reason preventing Drifter from running on the Xbox One and I haven’t ruled out a port. The only real issue is that adding yet another port to deal with would be incredibly time-consuming.”
The dreaded ID@Xbox launch parity clause may also determine whether it comes to the Xbox One at all. “Assuming that the much talked about launch parity clause for titles on Xbox One doesn’t prevent Drifter from going there I could see a port happening at some point.”
Speaking about the PS4 version and whether it would run at 1080p/60 FPS, Walsh replied, “I can’t say for 100% sure because I don’t have the game fully running or optimized for PS4 but given the PS4’s system specs I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t run at 1080p and 60fps.”
Are you looking forward to Drifter? Do you want to see it arrive on the Xbox One as well? Let us know in the comments.


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Monday, September 17, 2007, 03:00 pm PT (06:00 pm ET)
iTunes 7.4.2 addresses iTunes Plus ringtone bugApple on Monday evening released iTunes 7.4.2 to address an issue with creating ringtones from iTunes Plus songs and several other unnamed glitches.
"iTunes 7.4.2 addresses an issue with creating ringtones using iTunes Plus song purchases and includes bug fixes to improve stability and performance," the company wrote in a brief set of release notes.
The software is available as a 38.8MB download for Macs and a 49.1MB download for Windows PCs.
iTunes 7.4 lets users create custom ringtones for iPhone from some of the songs available from the iTunes Store. It allows users to play purchased videos with closed captioning (when available), easily rate their favorite albums from one to five stars, and watch videos at a larger size inside the iTunes window.
On Topic: General
- Apple to give $20K in college scholarships as part of diversity initiative
- With Apple's 'iWatch' around the corner, Wellograph releases sapphire smartwatch
- Apple says iCloud is safe and secure, stolen celebrity pics were targeted accounts
- Exclusive new aerial videos show Apple's 'spaceship' Campus 2 taking shape
- Review: Razer's Kraken Pro analog gaming headset


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Polybatt Technology Inc. is a Taiwan based tech company that was founded in 2005 and has years of experience in manufacturing high quality batteries and power banks. The company has recently announced the launch of its all-new charging device called 65W GaN, which is basically a PPS, fast, compact, and foldable charger that can be used to recharge laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and headsets, etc. To introduce this ultimate charging solution to the world, the Taiwanese company has recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, and it is welcoming generous community support and backing.
“65W GaN is a power charger but with the charging speed that is beyond the traditional charger, and we are exciting to launch it in the United States.” Said the spokesperson of Polybatt Technology, while introducing this project to the Kickstarter community. It weighs only 105 grams and has three ports including 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A port. Furthermore, it also features overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, over temperature protection, short circuit protection, and many other intelligent features.
The Kickstarter Campaign is located on the web at:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/polybatt/65w-gan-for-work-travel-home and backers from around the world can become a part of this project by making generous pledges and donations. Moreover, the goal of this Kickstarter campaign is to raise a sum of only US$ 330 but due to the overwhelming response of the backing community, this campaign has already exceeded this original goal by nearly tenfold, while more backers continue to pledge. Polybatt is offering this charger as a reward for the backers with nationwide shipping across the United States and more details are available on the Kickstarter campaign page of the project.
About This Project
Polybatt Technology Inc. is a Taiwan based tech company founded in 2005 and is the proud creator of 65W GaN. The company is now launching this ultimate charging solution in the United States, and it has launched a Kickstarter campaign in this regard. This PPS fast and compact charger is packed with a wide range of features and benefits, and the company is welcoming everyone to support its recently launched crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.


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Eric has noticed that when he's recording U-verse on AT&T, his internet bandwidth drops dramatically. Leo says that's because U-verse DSL shares his internet with the TV. U-verse fiber optic is the other way. Leo says it's a crime that we can't get decent internet in the country that invented it all.
A federal judge approved the merger of Time Warner and AT&T this week, opening the floodgates for even more large mega corporate mergers. Comcast moved almost instantly to provide a massive bid on 21st Century Fox, outbidding Disney by over 15%, setting off a huge bidding war. Leo says that the judge got it wrong and this represents a serious problem for consumers, even though customers like it because it saves them money in the short run.
Bob bought a Samsung Galaxy S9 and he thinks it's too large for his hand. Leo says that larger phones are the future, as people prefer a larger screen to hand comfort. Bob also has hundreds of contacts on his phone that aren't his after he synced it. Leo says it's possible that AT&T or Samsung sold Bob a phone that was returned and hadn't wiped it before doing so. But if they sealed it up to make it look new, that's against the law.
Jane had DSL Extreme, but she says that AT&T won't allow it over the phone lines anymore. Leo says there's something going on with her particular neighborhood. She's still getting phone service, though. Jane says that AT&T isn't offering DSL either, but they're trying to push UVerse. Leo says that AT&T has decided to eliminate copper in her neighborhood and start using fiber. Fiber is glass and works better than copper.
Dan has AT&T and a new TP-Link router. Can he use his own with the AT&T DSL modem that has a router built-in? Leo says yes. He can turn off the AT&T's router radios and network address translation. He could try putting it into bridge mode. He'll have to open up the browser IP address and look for a place that will enable him to turn off the router altogether. He'll also have to disable DHCP. If he can't do that, then he can put the TP-Link into bridge mode and it will just pass the signal along. He should also look for a passthrough mode.
Mark ordered an iPhone X from Apple and he's worried about the order. He ordered an AT&T model, but his wife moving to Verizon. Can he swap it through the Apple store? Leo says that's probable. He'll definitely want to do that since the phones are locked to the carrier. The Verizon model would work with AT&T, but not the other way around. That's because Verizon's phone is unlocked, but have different radios in each. Leo suggests not even opening the box. He should just take the phone to the Apple Store and swap it out.
John has issues with coverage in his home town. Leo says that the irony is that AT&T is considered to have total universal coverage, but that doesn't seem to be the case entirely. Leo says to go to the carrier he's with and ask them for a FemToCel. If they want to keep his business, they'll give him one for free. With it, it will route his calls over the internet for cell service to his phone.
Paul and his wife are traveling to Croatia Saturday and he's worried about data roaming charges. Leo says that international data is rapidly changing thanks to T-Mobile's free Edge data plan that started last year. As such, AT&T has changed from offering an expensive data package to a "day pass."
Google Fi is a solid option, because they would pay as they go at $10 a month. If they have a Google phone, then they'll be in good shape.
Pete still has the unlimited data plan with AT&T and they're trying to get him to give it up. He uses about 60GB a month and he doesn't want to give it up because they watch a lot of video. AT&T has a cheaper unlimited data plan now, and he's thinking of moving to it.
Rob wants to know who best provider is for the iPhone in Los Angeles? Leo says that in a huge metropolitan area like LA, he'll have his pick of the litter. He shouldn't trust the carrier coverage maps, as they are too optimistic. There are third party sites like OpenSignal.com that will give an independent assessment. T-Mobile and Sprint are also good, but they have dead pockets in the suburbs. AT&T and Verizon are best in LA.


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Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. has entered into a strategic partnership with renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani to create a new entity that will launch a contemporary men's ethnic wear brand.
In a regulatory filing, the company stated that the new brand will operate in the premium occasion wear segment and has plans to launch retail stores by September this year.
20% stakes in the new entity will be held by Tarun Tahiliani while 80% by ABFRL. Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. will even acquire a 33% stake in Tarun Tahiliani's existing luxury couture business.
Just last month, Indian luxury designer Sabyasachi sold 51% stake of its Couture division to Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.


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Tesco says meeting with Anand Sharma on retail policy reassuring
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Tesco Plc's (TSCO.L) chief executive said on Friday that a meeting with India's Trade Minister Anand Sharma on the country's retail policy had been reassuring, even as Britain's biggest retailer awaits clarifications on foreign investment.
Foreign retailers have been awaiting more clarity on the issues of mandatory sourcing from the country and investment in backend infrastructure after India opened its $500 billion retail sector to foreign supermarkets in September last year.
"I think it was important today that we heard from the minister about some of the small concerns we have. There'll be important points of clarification in the months ahead, Chief Executive Philip Clarke told reporters.
"We're very pleased with the meeting. Reassured. And now we need the important points of clarification and then you'll be hearing more from us."
Tesco has business ties with Tata Group owned Trent's (TREN.NS) Star Bazaar hypermarket chain.
(Reporting by Matthias Williams; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
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The Australian government on Monday approved Indian firm Adani Mining Pty Ltd's $15.5 billion Carmichael coal and rail project in Queensland, subject to strict conditions to protect groundwater. Full Article


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Data Protection Bill: Is A Vote Finally Approaching?Bill Nearly Finalized; Parliament Could Vote in Winter Session
The long-delayed data protection bill is on track to be finalized in time to be voted on by the parliament in its winter session, says one official on the committee that's been drafting the measure.
See Also: Facebook Used to Market Banking Trojans
"In all likelihood, it will get cleared during the winter session," the official, who asked not to be named, tells Information Security Media Group. "Currently, the bill is in the final stages of consultation. There are certain aspects for which we would like to have more opinion."
The Parliament's winter session will run from Dec. 11 to Jan. 8.
A draft of the bill, which was unveiled by the Srikrishna Committee in July 2018, includes several major provisions. For example, a "data localization" provision would require companies to store data about Indians domestically. The bill also would require organizations to appoint a data protection authority to deal with privacy complaints. And it would give citizens more control over their data.
A Top Priority
Ajay Prakash Sawhney, secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, tells Information Security Media Group at a conference hosted by IoT India Congress that enactment of a data protection bill is one of the top priorities for the government.
"The bill is a work in progress and the government is in the process of seeking clarification from some eminent people in the field," says Ravi Shankar Prasand, union minister of electronics and information technology, according to Economic Times.
"We need to have a balance between data availability, data utility, data innovation, data anonymity and data privacy," he said at a summit organized by the Economic Times. "I am aware that some degree of movement is inherent in a data economy, but one thing is very clear - the government of Narendra Modiji will never compromise on data sovereignty of India; that should be very clear."
The draft version of the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018, calls for requiring every data fiduciary to ensure that Indian's data is stored in a server or data center located in India. Companies dealing with data that's not considered sensitive would still have to store a mirror copy of that data in India.
Under the draft, personal data determined to be critical would be required to be processed only in India, with cross-border transfer prohibited.
Although the government had taken a strong stand in favor of data localization, many global companies - including some based in the U.S.- have protested that proposal, calling for relaxation of the requirements to help ease business operations.
The Reserve Bank of India already is requiring payment companies to store data related to payments in India.
In August 2017, the Supreme Court of India declared that privacy is a fundamental right. But there's no law setting penalties for those who violate privacy. That's why a data protection law is seen as essential by many privacy and security experts.
"The Supreme Court declared privacy as a fundamental right. This declaration has little meaning if there is no law to protect it," says Vicky Shah, a Mumbai-based cyber lawyer. "The problem of social media companies misusing our data will get addressed if a law on data protection takes shape quickly."


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Chick-fil-A opens a new spot in the U.K. for the first time ever
Chick-fil-A has reportedly opened a ‘pilot’ location in the Oracle mall in Reading, England, marking the restaurant’s first expansion into the U.K.
“We can confirm we opened a pilot licensed location in the U.K. on Oct. 10 and we are pleased to have already served several hundred customers in our first day,” a Chick-fil-A spokesperson told Fox News. “This location will help us understand more about consumer interests in our brand and signature menu items.”
According to Think Progress, in 2012, the Chick-fil-A Foundation donated millions to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Paul Anderson Youth Home and the Salvation Army. Campaigners have said these three organizations have a history of being hostile towards LGBT rights. But Chick-fil-A told BBC News its donations have solely focused on youth and education and that they have never donated with the intention of supporting any specific agendas.
“We are the sum of many experiences, but what we all have in common is a commitment to providing great food, genuine hospitality and a welcoming environment to all our guests,” the company said. They also added that they stopped donating to the Paul Anderson Youth Home in 2017.
In September, Chick-fil-A opened its first international location in Toronto, an event which was boycotted by LGBT activists, claiming the chain owner’s reputation for holding anti-LGBT beliefs would create a culture clash.


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Despite rumors of the return of the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Apple seems to have favored Face ID for the iPhone 13.
For several months, rumors have suggested that Apple had decided to reintroduce Touch ID on its future iPhone 13. This fingerprint sensor is sorely missed by users, especially since facial recognition is proving difficult in times of a pandemic. , with the wearing of the mask. Bloomberg media reporter Mark Gurman says Apple has abandoned the project and wants to keep Face ID as its primary unlocking solution.
Key ID disappears in favor of Face ID
In theory, Face ID facial recognition is faster than the Touch ID sensor. However, with the requirement to wear a mask, iPhone users often find themselves forced to manually enter their unlock codes. The only solution to avoid this constraint today is to wear an Apple Watch.
Unlike Android manufacturers, which have mostly integrated the fingerprint sensor into the back of the phone or opted for eye-based facial recognition, Apple has continued to bet on Face ID. The rumors on the next iPhone had however largely put forward the return of Touch ID for this year. Prototypes of this kind have been tested internally but were eventually abandoned by Apple.
Gurman says Apple is working on facial recognition technology hidden under the screen, on a model similar to the front sensor in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3. Although on trial, this feature is unlikely to be released with the iPhone 13. It also seems to be designed for high-end iPhones. For slightly cheaper iPhones, Apple seems to continue to integrate Face ID instead.
Ultimately, there is therefore little chance of seeing Face ID and Touch ID coexist on an Apple smartphone. However, facial recognition technologies tend to improve in the years to come, as suggested by the new functionality being tested by Android.


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Vivo has announced that it will be launching a new smartphone in China next month. The brand has revealed that it will introduce Vivo S7 5G smartphone in the country on August 3.
Vivo confirmed this development on its official Weibo handle. The company has also posted a teaser of the upcoming smartphone that reveals a sleek design language. The front and back panel has not been shown in the video, but it is expected to feature dual-selfie camera.
As per previously leaked details, the Vivo S7 5G will come with a price tag of 2998 Yuan (approx. Rs 32,100) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage and 3298 Yuan (approx Rs 35,400) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB of internal storage option.
The phone will come with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. The phone is said to come with a dual-selfie camera with a combination of 44-megapixel primary lens and an 8-megapixel Wide-Angle lens. On the rear, it is reported to feature a triple-camera setup with a combination of 64-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 13-megapixel tertiary sensor with a portrait lens.


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World's most expensive Scotch
True, it's not just any bottle of whiskey. In this case it's "whisky" and it's a Dalmore 62, of which only a dozen bottles were released in 2002.
This makes it the world's most expensive whisky at £125,000, or $193K, and it's on sale at Singapore's Changi Airport. An unidentified 62-year-old Chinese businessman has agreed to pay that amount and already has put an $80,000 down payment, setting a world record.
As The Guardian of London comments, "Back in 2002 a bottle went for what then seemed an insane £22,000 and in 2005 someone bought a bottle at a hotel bar for £32,000 and drank almost all of it. But that was nothing. The lure of owning what no one else can now buy despite an immensely naff bottle which features a platinum stag's head is seemingly worth over £100,000 more than it was 10 years ago." To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Brews Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd's Guides home page.
Posted by William M. Dowd at 2:08 PM


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YIWU, China, Aug. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Yiwugou.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, which is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world, found that the Summer Games galvanized Brazilian purchasers into buying more in Yiwu for the event, leading to increases of varying degrees in the turnover of Olympics-related stationery and sporting goods -- most notably among suppliers committed to quality and innovation.
Olympics reassures Yiwu of the Brazilian market
Merchants on Yiwugou once grumbled about a sharp decline in orders from Brazilian customers starting from 2014, mainly as a result of devalued Brazilian currency. The Summer Games, however, spawned new orders from Brazil, as best exemplified by Yiwu Sunnytad Toys & Crafts Co., Ltd., which produced a total of one million "Vinicius", the Olympic mascot, coming in ten series.
Many merchants, such as Hebei Yongtao Sports Equipment Firm, Jiahua Sports Products Firm, and Rongya Sports Products Firm, registered and increased trading volume in Olympics-related stationery and sporting goods. In 2016, Hebei Yongtao Sports Equipment Firm has posted a turnover of RMB20.67 million, more than double compared with that of RMB8.38 million within the same period in 2015.
"This year, I feel a significant rise in the number of Brazilian customers. Their orders come in respectable quantities, though at slightly lower prices compared with those from other countries," said the person-in-charge of Zhangweichao Socks Firm.
Yiwu embraces quality and innovation to win the market in post-Olympic era
Indeed, given this year's grim export situation, the Summer Games played a positive role in boosting foreign trade exports of relevant industries. Yet according to insiders, firms must develop new products, channels, and brands, among others, in order to thrive on a long-term basis in the post-Olympic era.
Prior to the Games, Yiwu Sunnytad Crafts & Co., Ltd. was the mascot maker for 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup and other events. Hong Chengfang, the company's general manager, said, "Yiwu used to be synonymous with squeezed prices. But now, Yiwu products have entered a new period with more focus on quality than on quantity. And the future products to be intelligently made in Yiwu are sure to compete better in quality, added value, and price."
"Innovation is critically important. We must make the most up-to-date products and market them on well-established e-commerce platforms like Alibaba and Yiwugou," said the person-in-charge of Hebei Yongtao Sports Equipment Firm.
Cross-border e-commerce emerges as a new growth engine for foreign trade in Yiwu
In the first half of 2016, Yiwu recorded RMB 29.8 billion in the turnover of cross-border e-commerce, up 14% YoY; meanwhile, the city saw an average daily express orders of 600,000, surging 33% YoY.
E-commerce, especially cross-border e-commerce, has substantially increased the sales volume of Yiwu products. In the foreign trade-oriented city of Yiwu, cross-border e-commerce is now coming to the fore.
"Yiwugou, launched three years ago, has become a landmark e-commerce platform in specialized markets. In the future, Yiwugou will deepen online & offline integration. It will strive to offer more professional, fine-tuned, and tailor-made services to its suppliers and purchasers, and help Yiwu firms, brands, and products shine more brightly in the post-Olympic era," said Wang Jianjun, CEO of Yiwugou.


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Online gambling sites offer a wide range of games to choose from. In order to enjoy the games, players must first create an account on the site. This allows them to place bets and receive winnings into their account. Once a player has registered with the site, they can play for money or just for fun. The websites accept credit cards, debit cards, and online payment services, as well as wire transfers and electronic checks.
Online gambling is considered legal in many states. However, in some jurisdictions, gambling is banned entirely. Antigua and Barbuda, for instance, argues that it has a negative impact on their economy. This is not the only dispute about online gambling. The United States is also at the center of several cases involving gambling.
Several countries have taken the steps to legalize and regulate online gambling, but the process is far from complete. In addition, states such as Delaware and New Jersey are enacting regulations that will allow online casinos to operate legally. In addition, the number of online gambling sites in the U.S. is increasing by leaps and bounds. While the United States is the largest gambling market in the world, online gambling is illegal in many jurisdictions. Therefore, it’s important to know where you stand before entering the world of gambling.
Unfortunately, some people are willing to ignore the new law and gamble online. Although UIGEA has prevented banks from transferring money to online gambling sites, it’s hard to know which companies are legitimate. Besides, there are numerous privately held companies that are not regulated by U.S. law, and they are not required to share how they make their money. This means that if you want to gamble online, you’ll have to take a chance on a foreign private payment processor.
Online casinos also rely on slot machines for their revenue. To access these games, players must log into the casino site and navigate to the games page. There, they’ll be able to see the available games and play them. There’s no need to wait for a long time before playing. The convenience of online casinos will make them more popular than ever.
Researchers have concluded that Internet gambling is more addictive than traditional casino gambling. Because online gambling is anonymous and solitary, it is harder to resist the urge to gamble. Many people who are addicted to online gambling are able to resist visiting a physical casino. But with the increased accessibility of the Internet, they can’t avoid it.
Many online gambling websites offer signup bonuses to new players. However, these bonuses are often not real cash. These bonuses are given away by the casino as a way of attracting new players to the site.


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When asked about the iSCSI EqualLogic PS-M4110 Blade Arrays that Dell launched Monday, several customers said they’re unsure about the storage blade concept. A few said integrating storage, servers and networking into a condensed system is too new of an approach, while others wondered if it would have the same performance as traditional rack-mounted storage.
“The performance is not there to stick everything in a single box. You would need to stack a ton of them together just to get decent high performance, especially if you have high I/O loads,” said Tibor Pazera, a senior technology specialist at Irvine, Calif.-based Advantage Sales and Marketing LLC and a Compellent customer. “Convergence is nice for ease of deployment, but there’s not enough spindle capacity to maintain high I/O performance.”
Other customers characterize Blade Arrays as unproven.
More from Dell Storage Forum 2012
Dell introduces EqualLogic storage blade arrays
“We get concerned about risk, partly because it’s new,” said Alex Rodriguez, vice president of systems engineering and product development at Cleveland-based IT services company Expedient Communications. “If a blade chassis has a failure, it’s gone.”
A virtualization and storage architect at a major New York-based retailer, who asked not to be identified, said he “dabbled with the idea, but it’s a bit too new for us.”
Compellent customers crave continuity
Compellent users said they want Dell to go forward with the Copilot support program and roadmap it had before Dell bought the Fibre Channel storage-area network (SAN) vendor for $820 million last year.
Mike Fowler, an IT manager with a company that uses Compellent storage, said he wanted to learn about the introduction of 64-bit architecture and the hardware upgrade. But his company also has concerns about whether there would be any changes to Copilot.
“We wanted to see the roadmap going forward,” he said.
Ben Holbert, an IT administrator with Grand Rapids, Mich.-based health care provider Hope Network, said his organization has been a Compellent customer for six years. He said he’s noticed no change in Copilot, which Dell has pledged to expand into other products.
“We’re hoping things don’t change with Copilot,” Holbert said. “It sounds like they may roll it into their other lines.”