text:
Kenya is facing a major shortage of cement due to rising exports to South Africa and to Sudan amid a booming domestic construction industry.
Many hardware shops do not have cement, and the building and construction operations are threatened with closure. Retail prices of a 50-kg bag of cement have also gone up to Sh620.
Distributors in Nakuru, who gave various reasons for the shortage, say they are rationing sales to maintain customers.
One supplier blamed cement manufacturing firms for the shortage.
"They are producing less because their machines are under maintenance," he said.
Mary Nthiwa, another distributor said that a lot of cement is being exported to Sudan leaving few bags in stock.
"Due to the few bags left in stock, the prices are forced to increase," she said.
Unconfirmed reports say South Africa is buying a lot of cement to build hotels and stadiums ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
On Thursday, the country’s major cement producer, Bamburi Cement, moved to assure the industry that the shortage is short term. A director with the firm, Mr David Njoroge, however conceded that routine maintenance undertaken
at Athi River Mining (ARM) and the East African Portland Portland Cement (EAPC) had led to a strain on Bamburi’s production levels.
Last month, Bamburi was supplying ARM with 7,000 tonnes of clinker and was also giving substantial clinker to EAPC. "The three major players in the cement industry need to be producing at normal capacity to supply the demand in the market," he said.
Njoroge said output is reverting back to normal after the two producers started normalising their operations. Last week, a vessel laden with 40,000 tonnes of imported clinker from India arrived at the port of Mombasa with the consignment.


text:
The Orleans Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 19 to celebrate the grand opening of Hidden Gem, 47 Main St., Orleans, according to a statement.
The newest consignment shop in Orleans, Hidden Gem specializes in antiques, primitives and small furniture along with local pottery and framed artwork. Unique collectibles may be found hidden among vintage utensils and old tools, according to the statement.
The shop is owned by Anne Kiefer, who spent 10 years as manager of of the Hope Chest, the thrift shop benefiting the Lower Cape Outreach Council, according to the statement. She is joined in her new venture by her former assistant Nancy Brown.
All profits from Hidden Gem will go to NAMI Cape Cod & the Islands to provide assistance for their local programming.
— Email business news and high-resolution photos to firstname.lastname@example.org. Please include a contact phone number.

domain: news


text:
Please enter your username or the email address associated with the account so we can help you reset your password.
Review sites like Rotten Tomatoes curate the type of customer engagement that would be the envy of any retail brand. Users of the site passionately argue about whether the latest movie was any good—and the users check in regularly, too. Now, Rotten Tomatoes is making an active attempt to further increase that level of engagement.
The brand has announced plans to modernize its audience rating system through a series of product enhancements, with the first phase featuring new functionality for pre-released movies. With the development of its new audience rating system underway, Rotten Tomatoes’ goal is to deliver a destination for fans to share their opinions of movies and TV Shows, while connecting with other fans in a community of pop culture lovers.
“Over the past few years, Rotten Tomatoes has been evolving into a robust movie and TV show recommendations platform that celebrates the views of professional critics and fans alike, and encourages discussion and debate,” says Ara Nalbandian, Head of Product and Technology, Rotten Tomatoes. “We continue to invest in our product to deliver useful and relevant resources for fans and are in development on new tools to help fans express their opinions and connect with others.”
Rotten Tomatoes plans to roll out a range of enhancements to its audience ratings system in coming months, such as new audience score iconography, personalization and community features, verified reviews from ticket purchasers, and enhanced security to protect its data integrity. The first round of product enhancements includes:
Thank you for signing up, please check your email for more information.


text:
This acquisition is the first by the company after MyGlamm announced the formation of Good Glamm Group that aims to consolidate its position as a 'Digital House of Brands', powered by a content-to-commerce strategy. The Group has earmarked Rs 750 crore to make strategic investments in innovative beauty and personal care brands within the next 3-6 months.
Good Glamm Group founder and CEO Darpan Sanghvi said The Moms Co will continue to work as an independent entity.
"The Moms Co. will remain an independent entity and will be run by the founders, Malika and Mohit...the Good Glamm Group will collaborate closely with The Moms Co team to accelerate the growth of the company's direct-to-consumer (D2C) commerce growth through the Good Glamm Group's technology and product-powered content-to community-journeys," Sanghvi told PTI.
He stated that the collaboration will help grow the offline presence of The Moms Co products from 1,500 offline points of sale to over 20,000 leveraging the Group's offline infrastructure, while ensuring conversations with more than 100 million users and 10,000 doctors across the BabyChakra and POPxo user communities.
"Dedicated support from our data science platform and consumer insights team will help The Moms Co identify new levers of growth and category leadership in India and globally," he said.
Being a mom-led brand, The Moms Co will have access to data-driven insights from the group's content platforms into what millennial women and moms are looking for. These will be integrated into The Moms Co's product development engine to accelerate creation, launch and marketing of products across skin, hair, bath and body, and mother and baby personal care.
Malika Sadani, founder and CEO of The Moms Co, said that with the capabilities of the Good Glamm Group, the brand will be able to have an impact on the lives of millions of moms globally via its products, and now through meaningful content and a strong community as well.
The Moms Co had raised three rounds of funding with Series-B round being raised in 2020.
It aims to grow to a Rs 500 crore revenue run rate in the next two years.
"The Moms Co. is currently at a run rate of Rs 150 crore...The brand is launching in the US and Middle East over the next month.
"As the partnership with the group grows, the team will further accelerate international expansion partnering with leading distributors and retailers across countries," Sadani said.
She added that The Moms Co has 75 employees currently and over the next few months, the company will hire aggressively and expanding the team to help drive the new growth and opportunities.
- Front Page
- Pure Politics
- ET Markets
- Smart Investing
- Indices Rally on Positive Cues from Fed Minutes
Indian equities made a dramatic surge in the last half hour of trade on Thursday – the last day of the November derivatives series – with two of the biggest gauges advancing over 1% led by information technology companies and the HDFC twins.Will Implement UCC but After Open and Healthy Debate: Shah
Union home minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that the BJP is firm on implementing Uniform Civil Code (UCC) across the country but keeping democratic norms in mind, this should be done only after healthy and open discussions have taken place.LNG Storage Planned at Major Ports at ₹20,000cr Investment
India is preparing a roadmap for setting up floating storage facilities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) at all its major ports, a senior government official aware of the matter said.
Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
ETPrime stories of the day
5 mins read
4 mins read
3 mins read


text:
Some 1,600 people were secretly livestreamed while staying in South Korean motel rooms where cameras had been hidden by criminals who operated a 4,000-user service for voyeurs, where a $45/month upcharge bought subscribers the right to access replays and other extra services.
South Korea has been rocked by scandals and protests over men who hide cameras in women's toilets and secretly record them and then nonconsensually share the videos; there have also been multiple scandals involving so-called "revenge porn" sites and "upskirt" sites.
The cameras were disguised as "TV boxes, wall sockets and hairdryer holders."
After an investigation, the Cyber Investigation Department at the National Police Agency has arrested two men and is questioning two others.
Two men have been arrested and another pair investigated in connection with the scandal, which involved 42 rooms in 30 accommodations in 10 cities around the country. Police said there was no indication the businesses were complicit in the scheme.
In South Korea, small hotels of the type involved in this case are generally referred to as motels or inns.
Hundreds of motel guests were secretly filmed and live-streamed online [Sophie Jeong and James Griffiths/CNN]
At Reddit, mtietje posted this remarkable photo of their lockdown project: an iPad stand made using an old Macintosh SE/30. The display size is perfect for the 9.7″ iPad, and now that iPadOS can use mice they work much better as “normal” computers. Se/30 shells turn up on eBay now and again. One’s there now […]
A $350 USB device claiming to block 5G radio signals is just a cheap unbranded thumbdrive, report security researchers. The makers of the “5GBioShield” claim their USB stick can block electrical waves through a “proprietary holographic nano-layer catalyst” technology. It purportedly does this by “balancing” all the existing radiations around you to create a protective […]
COOPH put together a video featuring DIY smartphone video rigs put together with stuff lying around the house. Want to make your smartphone footage more creative than ever? In our latest video the COOPH photographers share some of their best hacks on how to create stunning images and videos with your smartphone and everyday tools, […]
With everything happening in the last few months, we all but guarantee no one has been thinking about their taxes. That’s understandable — because, beyond all of our current concerns, nobody enjoys the whole tax filing process during even the best of times. Unfortunately, Benjamin Franklin was right — taxes truly are as inescapable as […]
Most parents know that giving their kids educational toys and other projects will expand their minds. But what many might not realize is that physical play is actually building their mental abilities as well. Studies are still in beginning stages, but some early research supports the theory that kids who get the chance to get […]
Not every house has a fireplace. And to be honest, not every homeowner wants to deal with the hassles and maintenance of a fireplace. But it’s tough to argue that the intoxicating glow and dance of a licking flame isn’t mesmerizing, not to mention all of a fire’s practical uses. For those looking to enjoy […]


text:
Kate Hudson slayed the 2023 Oscars red carpet on March 12 when she wore a dazzling sequin gown. The 43-year-old sparkled at the award show in this fitted sequin dress that had an incredibly low-cut neckline that revealed ample cleavage.
Kate’s off-the-shoulder gown featured ruffled sleeves with sheer white tulle details while the shoulder straps were made from thin sheer sequins/ As for her glam, Kate had her blonde hair down in voluminous waves while swept to the side.
Kate has been wearing a slew of fabulous outfits lately and aside from this look, she recently attended the 2023 Producers Guild Awards when she rocked a skintight, pink sequin Armani Privé gown. The strapless dress featured a plunging neckline that revealed ample cleavage while the slinky silhouette highlighted her toned frame. She accessorized her look with gorgeous Rahaminov Diamonds, Effy, and Neil Lane jewels and had her blonde hair down and slicked back on the sides while parted in the middle.
Another one of our favorite looks was at a Stella McCartney x Adidas event at the Henson Recording Studios in LA on Feb. 2, when she put her toned abs on display in a plunging silver bedazzled fringe bralette with a bright blue skirt suit.
For the event, Kate rocked a Stella McCartney Spring 2023 ensemble featuring a baggy blue blazer that was left completely unbuttoned, revealing her bralette underneath. The crystal fringe bra was completely sheer and had a plunging V-neckline that revealed ample cleavage. She styled the look with a matching high-waisted, super-short skirt and a pair of white pointed-toe pumps.
As for her glam, she had her blonde hair down and parted in the middle in loose waves while a subtle blue smokey eye and glossy nude lip tied her look together.
Click to Subscribe to Get Our Free HollywoodLife Daily Newsletter to get the hottest celeb news.


text:
WYES and Dorignac’s team up for a wine auction on Nov. 12 to benefit the public television stations. Wine lovers will have a chance to bid on hard-to-find vintages, magnums and dinners as well as tours and tastings.
A preview party starts at 5:30 p.m. at the WYES Studios at 916 Navarre Ave., next to City Park. Wine lovers can then stay and bid during the live auction, which begins at 6 p.m.
Other than wine, auction items will include: lunch for four on Friday at Galatoire’s Restaurant with wines provided by Trinchero Napa Valley Winery; a one-year membership in Krewe of Cork; and a VIP wine tasting for 10 at Viader Vineyards & Winery in Deer Park, Calif.
During auction time, viewers can bid by phone by calling 504.486.7311. For more detals, visit wyes.org.


text:
Brixham, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/03/2019 -- Now Seeking Community Support via Kickstarter, These Delicious New Chocolate Bars will Show the Giant Corporations how it should be done!
Bandicoot Chocolate Bars are an emerging new chocolate brand that will reshape the way chocolate industry works worldwide. The company aims to show the giant corporations how it should be done when it comes to the manufacturing and packaging of the chocolates, and it will set new trends in the industry. Moreover, the brand is currently being crowdfunded in a recently launched Kickstarter campaign, where everyone can contribute to make this project a reality.
"Our aim is to make the Bandicoot Bars using only fair trade ingredients and with 100% recyclable wrappers." Said Christian Bandicoot, while introducing the emerging company to the Kickstarter community. Christian is 32 and was born with a rare muscle wasting condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The goal of this recently launched Kickstarter campaign is to raise a sum of GBP 2,000, and Christian is welcoming supporters from around the world for their generous backing and contributions.
The Kickstarter Campaign is located on the web at: www.kickstarter.com/projects/christianbandicoot/bandicoot-chocolate-bars-feed-your-inner-beast and backers can contribute in this project by making generous pledges and donations. The project offers a wide range of rewards and each reward is being offered with worldwide shipping. More details are available on the Kickstarter campaign page of the project.
Bandicoot Chocolate Bars is a UK based emerging chocolate brand that aims at using fair ingredients and recyclable wrappers for its chocolates. The company is founded by an inspiring entrepreneur Christian Bandicoot, whose rare medical condition has not stopped him from making his dreams come true. Moreover, Christian hopes to inspire the multi-million dollar chocolate industry by setting new trends in the market.
Contact Person: Christian Bandicoot
Company: Bandicoot Bars
Address: 7 Greenover Close
Country: United Kingdom
For more information on this press release visit:
Media Relations Contact
Email: Click to Email Christian Bandicoot


text:
Numis Securities has cut its stance on Indivior PLC (LON:INDV) to ‘hold’ from ‘buy’ in the wake of the group’s warning that its sales and profits will be lower than expected this year as its star drug comes under pressure from copycat rivals.
Last month, Indian giant Dr Reddy’s launched a cut-price version of Suboxone firm – Indivior’s blockbuster treatment for opiate drug addiction.
A temporary restraining order (TRO) was granted but Indivior said it has already seen the impact from the launch of the copycat into the US market in those few days between the launch and the TRO being granted.
In a note to clients, Numis’s analysts pointed out that they had already substantially downgraded full-year 2018 sales and net profit forecasts for Indivior in anticipation of a generic launch and assumed a loss of share for Suboxone.
They added that although the early launch trajectory for Sublocade - Indivior’s new injectable version of the drug - is slower than they had expected and guidance for Sublocade of US$25mln-US$50mln is light of their US$77mln expectations.
The analysts noted that Indivior will report interim results on the July 25 and does now expect to update guidance until at least third-quarter numbers in early November.
They said: “We now expect significant further downgrades to FY18 EPS (c.20) with US$25mln of cost savings targeted and substantial downgrades to FY19 forecasts c.50% … on the slower ramp of Sublocade and anticipated higher costs.”
The analysts added; “Feeding these changes through our DCF-based valuation with a slightly higher discount reduces our target price to 380p and so our recommendation drops to Hold, with further clarity needed on the impact of generics and the performance of Sublocade to consider the recovery trade.”
In late afternoon trading, Indivior shares were down over 29% at 268.1p.


text:
Commercial Dispute Resolution > Apple victory as CAT quashes CMA investigation
Apple victory as CAT quashes CMA investigation
The Tribunal has ruled that the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority failed to adhere to statutory deadlines in its inquiry into browser dominance.
On Friday 31 March the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled in favour of Apple in its appeal against the Competition and Market Authority (CMA)’s decision to investigate the US tech titan’s supply of mobile internet browsers in the UK. The Tribunal, comprising president Sir Marcus Smith, sitting with Michael Cutting and Anna Walker, determined that the CMA’s decision was flawed in that it did not comply with deadlines laid down in the Enterprise Act 2002 (EA), the legislation under which the investigation was to be conducted.
In its detailed application of 18 January 2023, Apple asked the Tribunal to reverse the CMA’s November 2022 decision for the reason that the decision was ultra vires because it was made outside the statutory time-limits stipulated in sections 131B(4), 131B(5) and 131B(6) of the EA. The company wrote that “the CMA had no power to make the MIR [market investigation reference] against Apple in November 2022. Consequently, the decision and the ensuing market investigation are invalid and of no effect”.
CDR is now FREE
Please type your login details
Register for free access today!
Set up your free account and receive complimentary access to CDR's extensive coverage of litigation, alternative dispute resolution, class actions and regulation, plus all the latest news from the world's biggest and best law firms.


text:
Guy Phillipson to step down as CEO of the IAB UK after 12 years
Posted on: Monday 18 July 2016
Guy Phillipson, the Chief Executive of the UK’s Internet Advertising Bureau has announced his intention to step down in January 2017 after exactly 12 years heading the industry body. Phillipson will stay involved in the media business through advisory and non-executive roles.
Since his appointment in January 2005, the UK online advertising industry has experienced rapid growth, from £825m to £8.6bn in 2015, representing a world record 43% of total UK media expenditure. During his time as CEO, Phillipson transformed the IAB to become a valuable, free resource for marketers, encouraging best practice and setting standards for audience measurement, brand safety, and ePrivacy through the global AdChoices programme.
He also devised and launched the IAB's Engage conference which endures as the focal point of the year for the digital advertising industry in Britain.
IAB UK, CEO, Guy Phillipson said, “For me, leading the IAB has been the most rewarding and exhilarating job in the world, navigating the growth of video, social, mobile and programmatic advertising – none of which really existed when I took over. But the best part has been recruiting and nurturing a team of top professionals and working with incredibly bright and supportive member companies right across the global digital industry. So to be moving on at a time when the UK is so far ahead, and digital advertising is a large, vital ingredient to the success of all ad campaigns, is a big decision for me. But the time feels right”.
Richard Eyre, CBE, Chairman of IAB UK said, “Guy has transformed the IAB, creating a model trade organisation of 1200 businesses which has played a consistent role in building confidence in online marketing. He has achieved this with tenacity, humanity and a lot of laughs. His place in the history of online advertising is assured. We'll all miss him, but he’s played a blinder”
The IAB UK will be considering internal and external applications for the position of CEO, with a view to appointing Phillipson’s successor before the year-end.
An update on our Special Category Data workLearn more
IAB UK Connected | Episode 3: Joe EvansLearn more
Ads for the players: getting in-game experiences right
How can in-game advertisers ensure that ads don’t just work for their environment, but fully integrate within it? Bidstack’s CEO James Draper takes a...Learn more


text:
The cryptocurrency community is headed to clash with government regulators and centralized banking systems, the consequences of which could significantly impact digital currency models based on decentralized finance and peer-to-peer trading around the world. there is.
The following clash had such a great impact on the minds of those present Bitcoin Amsterdam this week, Billed Event organizer Bitcoin Magazine has rated it as “Europe’s largest Bitcoin conference.” The Dutch setting offered a bit of irony.The Bank of Amsterdam was founded in 1609. The world’s first true central bankand the Siboth A central bank meeting was being held simultaneously at another venue in town.
“Are they talking about which nations they want out of the financial system?” BTC Inc. CEO David Bailey It was asked in the opening remarks. “I can promise you that’s not what we’re talking about here. As we say with Bitcoin, fix money and fix the world.”
Central Banks Pursue Digital Options
The problem facing Bailey and the rest of the Bitcoin community is that the very powers given to control the centralized banking model are competing with and stifling the largely unregulated cryptocurrency space. about it. The current battlefield involves his two four-letter acronyms: CBDC and FATF.
CBDC or central bank digital currency A digital form of a country’s legal tender.according to International Monetary Fund, China and India, the most populous countries in the world, are the most advanced CBDC launchers.Recent European Financial Leaders firm plan Key White House Policy Advisor Towards Digital Euro 2023 shown That the US is “very close” to options for issuing a dollar-based CBDC.
“Bitcoin is serious all over the world and central banks are working on it,” he said. Frank HolmesExecutive Chairman of Hive Blockchain Technologies during a panel session at the event. “They’re trying to imitate. It’s only a matter of time.”
While major countries are moving to digitize their existing fiat currencies, the cryptocurrency community has expressed concern about the implications of such moves. In September, the Bitcoin Policy Institute announced report China’s use of CBDC is cited as a lesson for the US to consider in its own plans.
Chinese authorities indicated CBDCs should not be anonymous like cash, and the move to CBDCs has raised privacy concerns among other digital currency proponents that governments will track individuals’ spending habits. . Jerome PowellChairman of the United States Federal Reserve Board, Said If the US issues a CBDC, it’s not anonymous either.
“CBDC stands for control” Allen FarringtonAn independent journalist covering bitcoin said at a panel session at the conference: “I would rather stand for liberty.”
Growing Privacy Concerns
The battle to anonymize digital currencies and keep them under state control spills over into regulatory spheres within the European Union. Concerns about global money laundering dating back to 1989 prompted the G-7 countries to Financial Action Task Force or FATF. Since then, the group has emerged as a significant concern in the cryptocurrency world over regulation of digital currencies.
Earlier this week, the European Parliament moved forward We have plans to regulate digital currencies under the same provisions as traditional finance by making all digital transactions traceable according to the FATF Charter. The move has raised additional concerns about the privacy of future digital transactions across much of Europe and exposed vulnerabilities within the crypto community regarding how to deal with regulatory threats.
“As far as I am concerned, this FATF panel [blank] himself,’ said Matt Odell, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of CoinPrices.io. “I have no faith that financial regulators will withdraw their oversight.”
Kevin Murko is the founder and CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinmetro, advice Regulators and government bodies on how to apply governance to new financial markets.Murko’s position, as recently outlined blog post On his company website, decentralized finance should be regulated to control fraud and make DeFi accessible to a wider audience.
However, Murko expressed concern this week that unless the crypto community can come up with a stronger defense, the double freight train of CBDC and FATF could ruin the fledgling industry.
“We have all the tools we need to get rid of onerous regulations, but they don’t understand the technology,” says Murcko. “We have to control the narrative. We have an awful narrative now.”
WikiLeaks and Bitcoin
Nevertheless, its narrative, based on technological change and challenging established institutions, finds appeal in other areas of social change. One of his Bitcoin Amsterdam keynote speakers was Stella Assangethe wife of Julian Assange, who founded WikiLeaks, a publisher of classified information provided by an anonymous source.
When Wikileaks almost posted Half a million Confidential documents related to the 2010 U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan show that PayPal accounts used by nonprofits for donations closed. One year later, payments companies account for over 97% of the global market shut off Wikileaks fundraising tap.This forced the website to look to the Bitcoin community and WikiLeaks over his decade-plus. $37 million with a bitcoin donation.
“The PayPal shutdown cut off 99% of revenue for WikiLeaks, making WikiLeaks one of the early adopters of Bitcoin,” said Assange. “Bitcoin and its technology are trying to fight censorship the same way Julian did. Anyone who challenges the hegemonic order has lessons to learn there.”
Photo: Mark Albertson/SiliconANGLE
Show your support for our mission by joining our expert Cube Club and Cube Events community. Join a community of celebrities and experts including Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services and Amazon.com, Michael Dell, Founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, and more .


text:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — One small purchase can make a big difference. Small businesses want you to skip the big box stores this holiday season. You’re invited to do your holiday shopping at the Women and Minority Small Business Market. Two of the event’s organizers stopped by FOX59 to show off some of the products that will be available.
This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.


text:
Even Congress understands – Strong cybersecurity strategy is a must
Recently, Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) posted an op-ed on CNBC titled: Strong cybersecurity strategy is no longer a luxury for small business. I invite you to read the piece here.
As a cyber evangelist, it is always heartwarming to see our legislators acknowledge, openly and honestly, the danger to small business that ransomware and other online schemes represent.
In the article, Sen. Risch paraphrased a recent FBI press release, which characterized the number of online schemes to swindle both businesses and individuals out of money and personal data as “truly breathtaking.”
The article goes on to list a variety of explanatory facts to substantiate his statements, including: “in 2019, a single data breach cost businesses an average of $200,000”; and, “studies show that 60% of small business victims go out of business within six months of experiencing such a breach.”
These truths are self evident; everywhere you look the media is driving the point home. Sadly, too many business leaders stick their heads in the sand and dismiss the message, focused on spending only where there is a tangible return on investment. Hopefully, this Bill will drive the significance of the message home.
The op-ed then turns to its focal point: the bipartisan SECURE Small Business Act, introduced to help small business owners access information on data protection practices and enable them to band together to purchase cybersecurity products at lower prices. While this Bill still awaits passage, I salute the effort and look forward to taking part.
As the article makes clear, budgeting for security isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity. Data risk management doesn’t have to cost a fortune; we can help you set appropriate, attainable goals. Together, we can help you understand what “just enough” might look like.
Layer 8 Security will always be here, ready to help businesses large and small protect their data: confidentiality, integrity and availability, all on a budget that makes sense for your business needs.
—BACK TO BLOGS


text:
A U.S. court has charged Trevon Gross, the former chairman of a Jackson, N.J. federal credit union, with accepting $150,000 in bribes to turn the credit union’s functions over to the operators of Coin.mx, an illegal bitcoin exchange, according to NJ.com, a New Jersey news site.
The office of Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Gross surrendered to the FBI today. Gross faces one count of corruptly accepting payments as an officer of a financial institution, which has a maximum sentence of 30 years in jail, according to Bharara’s office.
Gross, the former chairman of the Helping Other People Excel Federal Credit Union, is listed as the pastor of Hope Cathedral in Jackson, N.J. on that organization’s website.
Gross conspired with Anthony Murgio, who operated Coin.mx, an unlicensed bitcoin exchange, and Yuri Lebedev, the exchange’s computer operations manager to fund the exchange’s operations, according to court records.
Murgio in November of 2015 pleaded not guilty to money laundering in a Manhattan court room Tuesday, according to CCN. Murgio also pleaded not guilty to running an illegal bitcoin exchange, wire fraud and conspiracy.
From October 2013 to July 2015, Coin.mx exchanged millions of dollars for bitcoins from U.S. customers, according to the indictment. Murgio and the others miscoded debit and credit card transactions and limited the amount of dollars of individual transactions to trick banks into permitting the transactions to complete.
Lebedev and Murgio also operated a front business to launder the exchange’s proceeds, the indictment said.
To evade scrutiny, Lebedev and Murgio gained control of the credit union by bribing Gross, who helped them get onto the credit union’s board of directors, the indictment said.
They ran the credit union as a captive bank for Coin.mx until early 2015 at least, the indictment noted.
The National Credit Union Administrators forced the credit union to halt operations when it discovered the payment processing for bitcoins. The organization liquidated the credit union on Nov. 20. The credit union had assets of $626,529 and served 110 members in 2015.
Authorities arrested Lebedev and Murgio on July 21 and charged them with one count of conspiracy to make payments corruptly to an officer of a financial institution, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
Murgio also is charged with corruptly making payments to a financial institution officer, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, the indictment said.
The indictment also noted that Murgio has been charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and one count of operating and one count of operating such a business, each of which has a maximum five-year prison sentence; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence; and one count of money laundering carrying a maximum 20-year prison sentence.
Featured image from Shutterstock.


text:
1980s Funny Feet ice cream favourite returns to the shops after web campaign by 7,000 fans
- Foot shaped ice-cream voted favourite forgotten treat in online campaign
- Will walk back onto shelves this week after producers found original model
- Other treats making a come back are Trio chocolate bars and Toffo toffee
Confectionery giant Walls is stepping back in time to recreate a forgotten favourite, Funny Feet.
The strawberry flavoured ice-cream will be relaunched after online voters chose it as the brand they would most like see back on British shelves.
The popular foot-shaped treat was axed from production in the 1990s, but is set to make its come back this week.
Bringing back a classic: Funny Feet will make their way back onto supermarket shelves tomorrow after 6,500 online voters chose it as their favourite forgotten treat
An old favourite: Original packaging shows how Funny Feet was bought and sold in the 1980s. Its production was halted by more modern treats such as Magnum
Its relaunch is the result of the Facebook campaign, Bring back a brand, created by The Grocer magazine.
After a long search, confectionery producer Unilever tracked down the original Funny Feet model to ensure the popular ice-lolly was made exactly as fans remembered it.
Assorted toffees, Toffo, will also make a come back after the Bring back a brand Facebook campaign was launched by The Grocer magazine
Toffee flavoured chocolate bars Trio are also set to make a comeback. Online voters were given the opportunity to vote for new packaging designs too, but many suggested sticking to the original look
Noel Clarke, who works for the company told the Sunday Mirror: 'There wasn't a conscious decision to get rid of Funny Feet. It was just pushed out by innovation.
'The 1990s saw the launch of the Magnum, for example.'
If the relaunch goes well, Walls will consider bringing back its chocolate variation too.
Write caption here
Funny Feet trumped brands such as Banjo, Turkey Twizzler and Fuse bars among others to win one of the three top spots.
The competition gave voters the chance to nominate their favourite sweets for reproduction.
With a winning score of 6,500, Funny Feet will make their way back onto shop shelves this week.
Other winners were assorted toffee sweets, Toffo, and toffee flavoured chocolate bar, Trio.
Funny Feet is available to buy in supermarkets from September 2 onwards.
Most watched News videos
- 'I waited 30 years!' Orioles fan steals a baseball from kids
- Tense clip shows Chernobyl engineers beneath burning reactor
- Terminally ill Mastermind contestant appears in semi-final
- Old Navy employee accused of racially profiling a black woman
- Trump gets visit from next generation Marine One helicopter
- Surveillance video shows Cuba Gooding Jr. puts hand on accuser
- New surveillance video shows moment hitman shoots David Ortiz
- Campaigner welcomes Blue Badges for mental health issues
- Couple who were violently beaten in homophobic attack speak out
- Jo Brand bats away questions on her 'acid attack' remark
- Giant octopus attacks wraps tentacles around deep sea diver
- Sweet moment boy with Down Syndrome meets Donald Duck


text:
High street travel agents could be among the companies taxed on energy usage under new proposals to reform the business rates system.
The British Retail Consortium today published a report calling for the current system of charges on commercial properties to be scrapped and replaced with a new focus on energy use and contributions to the economy through corporation tax and employment.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the BRC had described the current system, where the tax is calculated according to a property’s rateable value, as “outmoded” and “anachronistic”.
The subject of business rates has long been a bone of contention for high street retailers in particular, who claim that the basis of the rates and high levels discourage retail expansion.
The Government has postponed a regular revaluation of the system from next year to 2017.
Helen Dickinson, director general of the BRC, said: “We have a once in a generation chance to fundamentally change the business rates system and the time is right to think creatively and in the best long-term economic interests of the UK.”
This is a community-moderated forum.
All post are the individual views of the respective commenter and are not the expressed views of Travel Weekly.
By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms & Conditions.


text:
Design house taps new licensees for sleepwear, luggage, dolls and hairbrushes.
First, Undercolors of Benetton recently launched a summer collection of Gorjuss nightwear and loungewear for women and girls. The range also includes sleepwear for newborns. The collection is now on sale worldwide in Undercolors of Benetton stores and concessions.
Additionally, licensee Joumma Bags has released a collection of Kori Kumi luggage and travel bags in Spain. The collection, Under My Umbrella, includes ABS trolley cases, overnight bags, laptop backpacks and beauty cases.
Additionally, Santoro and Selfridges have joined forces
at the retailer’s London store this month.
Read more about:
Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes, it’s completely free.


text:
Voters in Tennessee will get to choose this fall whether to allow wine sales in grocery stores. And New York rolls out a new Taste NY campaign to promote wine and spirits produced in the state. [level-members]
The change won’t take place until mid-2016, but will allow wine to be sold in grocery stores across as many as 78 communities in the state. (Each needs a majority vote in favor; it’s not an all-or-nothing statewide vote.)
As the article says, “Surprisingly, neither the effort nor the question on the ballot garnered organized opposition from either churches or mom-and-pop liquor stores. Organizers of the wine-in-stores movement had made an early compromise with liquor store owners: Liquor stores could begin selling food and beer last July, but wine won’t go on grocery shelves until July 2016 to give liquor store owners time to prepare to compete with grocery store chains.”
That’s an interesting route around the usual opposition from retailers, though it seems pretty short-sighted. If you are a smaller version of the big store – selling the same items – then you’re unlikely to compete on price and you’re very likely reducing your audience to convenience shoppers – those people on whose paths to and from work and home you are located.
Tennessee is poised to become the 37th state that allows wine in retail food stores. One more reason to be sure you’re focused on a higher level of service, more interesting selection, and better customer experience than bigger, generalist retailers.
Meanwhile, back in New York state, they are rolling out the Taste NY campaign that features local wines, spirits, and hard ciders. The pilot begins in 6 stores around the state and will expand to “dozens more” in the near future.


text:
It is stressful adequate providing calls out-of debt collectors to possess expense your in reality owe. But if you previously already been harassed and endangered getting bills you've never ever also heard about, aside from accrued, it can be outright traumatic and you may quite possibly unlawful.
Now, the fresh new FTC announced you to a beneficial U.S. section court possess briefly stopped good Georgia-mainly based operation from using deception and you may threats to gather millions when you look at the phantom payday loans debts. The latest FTC claims Williams, Scott & Partners and you will business chairman John Williams lied and you may endangered individuals to spend on expenses they did not owe or costs the company didn't have the authority to assemble.
Depending on the FTC, the debt collectors stated to get federal and state representatives, investigators, or members of a government ripoff task push, or they pretended to be with a law firm.


text:
Every manufacturer ensures their vehicle is the best it can be. They test every component to its limits and tyres are no different. Typically vehicle manufacturers undertake more than 100 rigorous tyre tests, including resistance to aquaplaning, braking, handling, rolling resistance, noise levels and many other areas covering safety, comfort, cost and environmental impact. It can take over 3 years and thousands of miles before a tyre achieves the required excellence and is approved for OE fitment. Continental have over 800 OE approvals. Testament to the quality of every tyre that is fitted to a new vehicle.
The trade press don’t take manufacturers word for anything - they like to test things themselves. So tyres that win tests have proven their qualities during independent scrutiny. Some magazines have great reputations for their independence, and at the pinnacle of this is Auto Express magazine. Here, Continental achieved a record no other tyre manufacturer has come close to… winner of best, summer, winter, all season and overall product of the year in a single year and have just backed it up with another win in the latest summer tyres test carried out by TyreReviews for the PremiumContactTM 6.


text:
Today is day three of Cramer’s weeklong series on private equity plays. If you’ve been reading all week so far – which you should have – you’d know that PE firms love lots of cash flow in a company that’s not living up to its potential. Their hope is to snatch it up, make a fix or two, then spin it off at a nice profit.
Cramer's pick tonight is Cheesecake Factory. CAKE’s got a pristine balance sheet with no debt, which is very attractive to a PE group that will most likely have to take on a load of its own to buy the restaurant chain. But the company isn’t perfect. Cramer says CAKE is selling more than its competitors to more diners, but its checks are lower. The only rise in prices is coming as a response to cost inflation and not a drive to raise cash.
Cramer understands that as a public company CAKE doesn’t want to raise prices too much in fear of driving customers away, which might cause it to miss the numbers. But that’s where private equity comes in. If a PE group were to take CAKE private, prices could be upped and more money could be made. A quick check of the lobby at any Cheesecake Factory could show investors that there’s plenty of demand to warrant a bump in prices.
There’s another side of the business Cramer thinks is worth a look, too. CAKE has two bakeries that supply all its cheesecakes, but 67% of its production goes to outside accounts like Costco and Sam’s Club. Cramer bets that private equity owners would try to bolster this business.
The fear of missing the numbers, which is a worry of every public company, is also holding CAKE back from spending more on advertising and expansion. Going private should remedy that, Cramer says.
There is a catch, though. CAKE’s CEO is the son of its founders, and he owns 5% of the stock. There are some big funds with ownership stakes as well. That could make a private equity takeover tough. But Cramer thinks that everyone has a price, and CAKE’s price could be a lot higher if it gets taken private – and that’s good news for investors.
Make sure you remember a key rule from the Cramer canon: Never speculate on a takeover unless the company’s fundamentals are still good. He doesn't think you have much to worry about with CAKE, though.
Bottom Line: You can’t have your cake and eat it, too, but you can buy CAKE and try to make yourself some mad money anticipating a private equity takeover.


text:
By Jolene Njambi.
Solar technology for irrigation can triple profits for growers within one to two crop seasons, compared with using other forms of irrigation systems and rainfall, according to a new report.
International non-profit organization Winrock International, which specializes in solving social, agricultural and environmental challenges, has found solar water pumps increase farmers’ gross profits by up to 186 per cent within two crop seasons.
However, farmers frequently rely instead on inexpensive diesel water pumps, which are readily available to farmers who have limited resources to begin with. However, in the long-term, fuel and transport costs in buying fuel prove costly, even before the additional costs of employing staff to operate and manually irrigate the farms.
RELATED CONTENT:Farmer buys a cow from solar irrigation savings
“For me, a solar irrigation kit is very important. Without it, we spend $300 a month, if not more, to buy diesel and employ three staff to water the crops throughout. With a solar irrigation kit, you reduce that to one, which brings about a 30 per cent reduction in the cost of labour as well as the savings on fuel,” said Peter Mathenge, a bullet chillies and garlic farmer.
.“If we are ever to get a breakthrough as farmers, we have to start embracing technology, and that’s what I’ve done,” adds Mathenge. “Without technology, on my eighth acre farm, I would harvest about 90 kgs per week of bullet chilies, now I am harvesting on average 160 kgs. And with my garlic, I would harvest a maximum of 4,000 kgs after four months, now I get up to 10,000 kgs which is 2.5 times more than I would have previously harvested.
”For John Mutugi, a farmer from Meru who grows and exports baby carrots, installing solar panels in his field has similarly helped to power a drip-fed irrigation system and improve his yield at minimal cost.
“I used to have problems with water but now I have none. Then, I used to use a water pump and during a dry spell I never got a good harvest or export. But now I’m exporting from January to December from the time I got the solar system installed,” he said.
However, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) AQUASTAT datasite, only 6 per cent of cultivated land is under irrigation in subSaharan Africa.
This is partly due to the lack of access to micro-irrigation systems for smallholder farmers, who together still produce up to 80 per cent of Africa’s output. This has led to increased urgency in finding alternatives to ensure that farmers can move to constantly reliable output.
A major challenge is the high initial costs and lack of smallholder credit options for solar irrigation, with a small portable kit for irrigation, for example, costing about $500, which is quite expensive for smallholders.
The Ministry of Energy has been promoting use of solar energy, but this has so been concentrated in funding the Solar for Schools programme and now extending this to off-grid clinics and dispensaries.
However, the private sector is also viewing solar energy as a business opportunity and venturing into providing climate friendly energy to poor communities. Through initiatives such as highly subsidized prices, social marketing and loan schemes, both businesses and non-profit organizations are now promoting the uptake of solar energy solutions by smallholders.
One such private entity is Sunculture.
“Food security in this continent is wanting. One of the biggest things we observed is that smallholder farmers in Africa don’t have access to the knowledge, capital or technologies that help them improve their yields,” said Samir Ibrahim, CEO and Co-Founder of SunCulture. To address this, his company has created the AgroSolar Irrigation Kit, which combines solar powered water pumping and drip irrigation. To prevent the cost from being a barrier to farmers in obtaining their solar kits, SunCulture has also adopted a Pay-As-You-Grow payment method, which allows farmers to pay in installments as their businesses progress.
With food security and nutrition as a leading item on the Big Four Agenda, optimizing solar energy use to empower small-scale farmers now promises the hope of a permanent solution
SunCulture can be reached on Phone: 0700 327002


text:
GERMANY: BMW cancels Z9 supercar plans - report
German auto-maker BMW has cancelled plans to produce the Z9 convertible supercar, say Scottish news reports (15/10/00). According to the report, adverse reactions to initial viewings, criticism of its design alongside rumours of declining standards at BMW contributed to the decision to cancel production.
Get full access to all content, just $1 for 30 days
A Message From The Editor
just-auto gives its paid members access to the very best automotive market coverage.
And now there’s just-auto plus, our premium membership that gives you exclusive component forecast data, company profiles and extended news coverage - just for premium members.
Today I can offer you 30 days access for $1 - and that includes just-auto plus.
Dave Leggett, editor of just-auto
* plus VAT if applicable


text:
We've heard a lot about the shortage of bottles and other containers for hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes and other cleaning products.
Catherine Kavanaugh has the story from the perspective of machinery makers who found themselves part of a very tight supply chain.
At W. Amsler Equipment Inc. in Bolton, Ontario, orders started pouring in for bottle-making machines in the February to March time frame, CEO Bruce Coxhead said.
"Business went topsy-turvy because of COVID-19," Coxhead said. "I sold two machines from my house on a Saturday night off my shop floor. That's how crazy the market demand went."
The same was true for suppliers to food packaging companies.
"People staying at home are buying more products to cook at home, and many of those come in plastic packaging," R&B Plastics Machinery LLC CEO Fred Piercy said. "Food and personal care applications have increased."


text:
Long-standing Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) portfolio director, Craig Moyes, has left the company to take up the role of CEO of the Society of Garden Designers.
Moyes had been with Reed for 10 years, and had, in the past, been responsible for the ibtm brand portfolio.
Meanwhile, new figures released by RTE’s World Travel Market London, indicate that the 2016 edition of the event facilitated a million on-stand business meetings.
The show organiser claimed the event helped generate up to £2.8bn in industry deals.
In total, 923,916 on-stand business meetings took place at WTM London 2016, said the organiser, with each exhibitor hosting around 200 on-stand meetings on average over the course of the show. This number excludes business meetings at pre-scheduled appointment events such as ILTM at WTM. It also excludes the WTM Speed Networking session, which takes place on the first day of the event for WTM Buyers’ Club members and on Wednesday for digital Influencers (bloggers).
RTE said WTM London 2016 recorded a joint-record 51,500 participants, including a nine per cent increase in WTM Buyers’ Club members to 9,910.
WTM London, senior director, Simon Press, said: “To host approaching one million on-stand meetings at World Travel Market London is testament to the value of exhibiting at the event.”


text:
The Toyota Hilux is turning 50 and what better way to celebrate the occasion than with the unveiling of a new Hilux.
Okay, so this isn’t a new Hilux as such, instead it’s a special edition version designed specifically to celebrate 50 years of one of the most iconic vehicles ever made.
Christened as the Hilux Invincible 50, this joint venture between Toyota and Arctic Trucks builds upon a regular Invincible-spec double-cab Hilux and maximises the attitude you would expect from a rough-and-ready Hilux pick-up. And the result is one tasty truck.
Over the last 50 years, the Hilux has been put through some gruelling paces, having conquered both Poles, driven up the side of an erupting volcano, been submerged in the sea – funny, but all that links to the exploits of three guys on a TV programme called TOP GEAR.
Some epic moments then over the last 50 years, so naturally you would expect this new and exclusive special edition Hilux to be just as epic…
Well, just 50 people in the UK will be able to become the judge of that. Each Invincible 50 will have a numbered commemorative plaque and even the new 16 x 7.5 ET05 rims, complete with a satin black finish and machined lip, will let people know this is no ordinary Hilux.
While the Hilux may have been to every corner of the globe, on each corner of this limited-run vehicle, you’ll find 265/75R16 KO2 all-terrains from BFGoodrich and a performance suspension setup engineered by Arctic Trucks and Bilstein.
Those new boots and suspenders mean there’s more ground clearance to play with, in total the Invincible 50 sits 40mm higher at the front and the 20mm at the rear, improving articulation and those all-important approach and departure angles for when you find yourself in the rough.
The Invincible 50 mimics other offerings from Arctic Trucks with its inflated arches giving it the sort of presence only the Hulk can better. A sports bar – not the kind you get drunk in – sits on the rear overlooking the load bed, laying the perfect place in which to strap a set of powerful Vision X lights.
There’s other, less blindingly obvious tweaks here, too, like the Arctic Trucks mudflaps, a tailgate carrying the old-school Toyota decal and in front of it, a bed liner treated with Line-X for an extra durable workspace. Invincible 50 badging, crafted in chrome, has been machine-gunned about the vehicle and you can have your Invincible 50 in the choice of black.
It’s likely these special edition Invincible 50s will sell out quickly, and you can order yours now with deliveries taking place throughout December and into early 2019. There’s no word on the price just yet, but expect to pay a premium for the privilege of owning such a rare – and wonderful – truck.


text:
ReachLocal CEO: Commerce Solutions Becoming Alternatives to Local Search
Amid a kinetic startup scene, ReachLocal is looking to find its foothold for the future. The lead generation specialist, which IPOed in 2010, remained fairly quiet until a year ago, when the company launched an ambitious new project, ClubLocal, that aimed to create a commerce platform for local services. Earlier this month, the company removed the beta sticker and expanded the service from its home market in Dallas to San Francisco.
The company is part of a wave of well-funded businesses looking to build an “Amazon for local services.” Startups like Thumbtack and Booker have raised double-digit growth stage rounds, and others like MyTime have snapped up big seed funding to build and scale new products. ReachLocal’s new initiative however, is unique. Whereas most companies have built either a consumer-brand or a back-end for merchants, the company has spun out a SaaS tool, ReachCommerce, from its branded ClubLocal platform.
Street Fight recently caught up with Zorik Gordon, ReachLocal’s chief executive, to talk about the origins of the new project, the challenges with bring local services online, and the impact a shift from advertising to commerce might have on local search companies like Yelp.
We’ve seen a number of services pitching an Amazon for local services. Tell me a bit about the how the concept for ClubLocal developed, and how it relates to the company’s core lead generation business.
We always knew that local required such a large transformation that it would take place over multiple phases, and that our original product was just the start. About three years ago, it became very clear to us that the next phase was beginning, and we saw that the market was shifting from advertising and to a focus on commerce and the transaction. We realized that the endgame for local is not only getting ad dollars moving into digital, but getting these business and consumers to move from buying these local services offline to online.
In a certain sense, Groupon opened up Pandora’s Box. Whether you love or hate the company, they were really the first to sell local services online. And once you’ve done that, you can start to bring the power of the Internet to bear. You can send it to billions of people, you could track it, you could charge only if it was purchased. It was a transformational moment for us, and it became very clear that that was going to be the next phase.
Local services tend to be priced on a case-by-case basis, making automation a bit more difficult. How has ClubLocal introduced some standardization into the pricing structure without asking providers to change behavior?
Form a consumer perspective, the lack of pricing transparency is a big impediment. There’s something like $1 trillion in transactions annually with zero price transparency or standardization. So, we went ahead and standardized the SKUs for everything a local service provider might do in a given vertical. In plumbing, for instance, we’ve come up with 3,000 plus SKUs that cover 98% of what a plumber typically does in a day’s work. We do market checks and mystery shopping to get a sense of the standard cost, and then we pre-negotiate prices for each SKU with these merchants.
At the end of day, what one plumber does and what another plumber does is generally the same thing. You’ve got to create a single taxonomy, standardize those activities, and then you can negotiate and adjust prices. A lot of these industries in the offline world have been moving to these pricing paradigms where they have these fixed SKUs already. That’s helpful because we’re not asking them to change behavior.
So we’re actually functioning the exact same way that most merchants are functioning today. The price for a service is made up of a combination of the hours of labor and the average material for those instances. When [a service provider] makes visits your house, they have a range of separate SKUs that cover nearly everything they might come across. As they diagnose the job, they’re able to create estimates within the system by adding each SKU, and our system calculates the total cost based on the pre-negotiated prices for labor and as well as the standard markup on materials.
ClubLocal has been in the works for over two years. How has the product evolved since the its conception.
What we found is that there’s a huge software-as-a-service (SAAS) opportunity as well. Where ClubLocal is the consumer brand, we had all of our merchants on our pilots asking to use this system for their own jobs. There’s just a huge opportunity here to sell the product, which we originally build for consumers, as a transaction software to local merchants. So we’ve started a pilot, which we’re calling ReachCommerce, that allows merchants to put a booking widget on their site, enables consumers to track visits, and use some of the other technology we originally developed for the consumer product.
We didn’t envision we would also have a SaaS business, but we’ve made a big push and will start to beta that product soon. That’s somewhat of a controversial approach because a lot of people just stick to a branded product, but i think SaaS opp will be huge for us. We have a lot of these businesses already [using our core product] and we have a bunch of salespeople — so we’re very well equipped to penetrate quickly. So we’re taking this two-pronged approach to local commerce where we’re building our own brand and at the same time selling the software as well.
Do you see these commerce initiatives as an addition to, or replacement for, ReachLocal’s core lead generation product?
What local is solving for is what we call the full-funnel. It’s powering the commercial experience from generating a lead, to converting that lead, to booking the appointment to buying the actual service. What we’ve added on with Reach Commerce is the booking and buying piece. We already have the lead generation and lead conversion component with ReachLocal, and there’s great synergy in having one system that runs everything.
Today, [ReachLocal and ReachCommerce] will run lightly integrated. One integration we’re considering for later this year is the ability to track a lead [generated in ReachLocal] all the way to the end of the transaction [in ReachCommerce]. Over time, there’s a vision here that sees a single interface. Whoever can build that is going to have a very powerful position with the local business: you’re bringing in my customers, your powering my website, you’re handling my booking, and you’re purchasing on the system. That’s the end state, from a b2b perspective.
We traditionally talk about local marketing spending in terms of search and display advertising as well as more direct efforts like SMS campaigns. Do you believe the emergence of commerce platforms will materially impact the spending allocated to those products?
History gives us the answer. A lot of what’s happening here is the online retailing of services. If you look at the balance in e-commerce between a directory or search model and Amazon, there’s a very large percentage of people that go directly to Amazon, and circumvent Google altogether.
That’s a similar case with Uber. I would bet that in San Francisco, Uber has captured a large enough market share that the number of Yelp searches for black car services has gone down. As these commerce-base solutions evolve, they will become a very viable alternative to searching largely because it’s more efficient for the consumer.
Steven Jacobs is Street Fight’s deputy editor.


text:
On March 11, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky was finalizing the paperwork for a highly anticipated June IPO of the company, when the World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic.
Over the next 24 hours, more than $1 billion in Airbnb reservations were canceled and Chesky suddenly found himself at the helm of a company in freefall. Airbnb is a travel business, and suddenly travel all over the world had come to a virtual standstill. “It was like slamming the brakes on a car that’s going 100 mph,” Chesky recalled in a recent Thomson Reuters Newsmakers interview where he discussed his handling of the crisis and the future of the travel industry.
Compassion in a scary world
Since then, Airbnb has put its IPO on hold, laid off 25% of its global workforce, suspended many of its side projects (such as Airbnb Experiences, Airbnb hotels, Airbnb Studios, Airbnb transportation services, and Airbnb Luxe), secured $2 billion in emergency financing, and charted a new path that Chesky said is based on returning the company to its “roots” as a company that fosters “belonging and connection.”
In business circles, Chesky is also being lauded for his transparent and compassionate handling of the Airbnb crisis, even though a number of hosts, investors, and board members have called for his resignation. In an open letter to employees posted on the company’s website, Chesky laid out the company’s entire pivot strategy, including severance and healthcare, and closed the letter by telling employees that he had “a deep feeling of love” for all of them.
“In a time of need, when millions of people are losing their jobs and people are afraid for their lives, they want to know that people entrusted with power and responsibility have compassion [for them],” Chesky said of his decision to publicly share the letter, adding that if leaders don’t demonstrate compassion, “it’s a scary world, because they’re the ones who are supposed to be looking out for us.”
The New Normal of travel redistribution
All of Chesky’s business decisions were difficult and controversial, but Airbnb has seen a surprising rebound in bookings, he says, as people emerge from COVID-19 lockdowns and engage in whatever travel possibilities are available to them. “The world has permanently changed,” he declared, noting that business travel will likely never return to its pre-COVID popularity. “As of January 2020, travel as we used to know it is over — and it’s not coming back.” People will continue to travel, he clarified, but the industry will be “fundamentally reshaped” as people around the world adapt to the strange new reality ahead.
The term Chesky used to describe this evolution in the industry is “travel redistribution,” a catch-all phrase that refers to all the many different ways people are re-thinking the use of their time and resources, not to mention their appetite for risk. “The pandemic has been a reset moment,” Chesky said. “Most people don’t want to get on a plane right now, but they will get in a car and drive 200 miles. People are not doing mass tourism to big cities, but they are going to small cities where there’s less population density.” People are also going to national parks and “rediscovering” small towns and regional attractions, he added. Also, international travel may still be problematic, but people around the world are “traveling inside their country” rather than vacationing abroad.
Not coincidentally, Airbnb is there to help these itinerant pioneers. “There aren’t many hotels near national parks,” Chesky explained, “but there are a lot of homes.” Homes that, thanks to a recent partnership with the National Park Service, now have more rooms to rent.
Another boom market: Unique homes. “Tree houses, Airstreams — anything that’s special, unique, or one-of-a-kind. People want something more private, intimate, smaller.”
Reasons for optimism
Airbnb’s go-local strategy appears to be paying off. In fact, Airbnb’s resurgence during the summer vacation season has been so strong that it “defies logic,” Chesky claimed. “We don’t want to be premature, because nobody knows what’s going to happen. But we’re incredibly optimistic, because things have far exceeded our expectations.” On July 8, Chesky said the company had 1 million room-nights booked, an amount he described as “beyond all reason.”
One likely reason, however, is that people are still leery of mingling with strangers in a hotel, and Airbnb offers a safer, more socially distanced travel experience. To reassure Airbnb guests that coronavirus hygiene is a top priority, the company even hired former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to develop its new “Enhanced Cleaning Initiative,” a series of cleaning protocols that all Airbnb hosts are required to adhere to during the pandemic.
Despite all the setbacks and second-guessing, Chesky said he believes his company will rebound because “society wants us to exist” and because Airbnb provides the “essential service” of “connecting people” in a world where connections everywhere are frayed and crumbling. Also, in a recession, more people may be eager to sign up as Airbnb hosts, a market Chesky described as “massive.”
Indeed, despite the crushing hit to his bottom line, Chesky said he still believes his company has a bright future ahead. “We made a lot of hard decisions, but we’re more focused as a company than we’ve ever been,” he insisted, adding that managing the company through the COVID-19 crisis is the “hardest thing I’ve ever done.” On the positive side, however, he said it did give the company and its leadership an opportunity to re-think their priorities.
As for reviving that IPO, Chesky would not speculate about Airbnb’s plans, but he did offer an upbeat assessment of the company’s performance. “Airbnb is still a great business, and many investors are impressed by how we handled the pandemic,” Chesky said. “We’ve shown that we can move quickly and make difficult decisions, all while sticking to our core principles.”
The additional pressures and responsibilities that would come with running a public company do not seem to faze him, either. “Whatever pressure there is as a public company CEO, it cannot be worse than losing 80% of your business in eight weeks,” he said.


text:
December 10, 2019
Related Articles (1324)
Since their introduction in 2015, Progressive Web Apps have been viewed as a potential way to break the grip that native apps have had on the mobile app ecosystem. The most effective way to reach users still is to publish your app to one of the major app stores, but which one plays best with PWAs?
The Amazon Web Services team has announced a new "Requester Pays" pricing model for their Simple Storage Service (S3). Amazon's S3 service, which provides scalable access to Amazon's online data storage infrastructure, enables customers to rapidly scale their platform using a cost effective pay-as-you-go model. Now, the new S3 Requester Pays Model gives S3 customers the built-in ability to charge their users for specific data transfers. Furthermore, Amazon takes care of the billing for the requested data, eliminating excess accounting overhead for the data providers. From their announcement:
In January, OnStar announced an API would allow third party developers to integrate their applications with OnStar's platform. Last week, General Motors announced its first partner for API integration: RelayRides. RelayRides is "[t]he world's largest peer to peer carsharing marketplace." The partnership with GM allows OnStar users to leave their keys in their cars when renting a car to a fellow RelayRider. The renter can then unlock the car with a smartphone app or by responding to a text message.


text:
Incredible Lotus/Hope track bike revealed for the Olympic games
Read the full story: British cycling reveals incredible Lotus/Hope track bike
British Cycling revealed the new bike that the GB track stars are to ride at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.
The incredible looking bike was designed by British brand Hope Technology and Lotus Engineering with input from a third engineering company Renishaw and is a nod to Chris Boardman's gold medal winning 1992 Barcelona Olympics bike, the Lotus Type 108.
The new bike has had extensive testing and production around the UK to make it as lightweight and aerodynamic as possible. It was is due to be used for the first time in anger at the Track World Cup in Minsk, Belarus this past weekend.
Gore collaborate with Romance on new Shakedry jacket
Read the full story: Gore collaborate with Romance on beautiful new Shakedry jacket
Until recently, Gore's Shakedry jackets had only been available in dark colours. But new digital printing techniques and high-tech ink now means that it is possible to print in a broad spectrum of colour.
To celebrate, Gore has partnered with Romance - a company well known for its creative collaborations - to create a limited run of 200 Shakedry jackets in a new beautiful design.
Trek-Segafredo unveil ec0-friendly recycled Santini kit for 2020
Read the full story: Trek-Segafredo unveil eco-friendly Santini kit for 2020
While the design may not have changed for 2020, Santini and Trek-Segafredo have approached their team kit with a new sustainable eye.
The clothing is to be made from two sustainable fabrics – one made using yarn recycled from materials discarded in the environment and the other from yarn that doesn't use any polluting chemicals – to reduce the consumption of natural resources and non-renewable power.
The kit was launched by Lizzie Deignan, who said “I think the team kit is excellent again for 2020. I like the fact that they haven’t changed it too much because I think our 2019 kit was striking and popular".
Best front and rear road bike lights
The Cycling Weekly Tech Team has been doing a lot of bike light testing recently and we've updated our best front and rear road bike lights for 2019/2020. Be sure to check it out.
Be sure to keep an eye on the Cycling Weekly homepage for the latest news and reviews
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1


text:
Ophthalmologist-surgeon Natalya Koval told how to minimize the effect of blue light, or
The specialist explained that blue light is actuallyin fact, medium-length waves, which project HEV radiation. Blue radiation negatively affects the eyes, but it comes not only from computer monitors and smartphone displays, but also from warm light lamps.
In this regard, not only people who work a lot at a computer or use a smartphone, but also doctors, TV presenters, etc. are at risk of eye damage from light radiation.
Koval told how to protect yourself from the blueSveta. According to her, the means for this are protective glasses for devices with filters that will not only protect the glass from cracks when dropped, but also limit the emission of blue light from the screen.
Night mode is also effective for this, whenthe screen light becomes muffled, softer, yellowish in color. The doctor advised to use protective filters of computer glasses that can be worn during work. But to fundamentally improve the situation will allow limiting the time spent on the smartphone.
“In addition, all modern gadgets have"night mode", when the screen light becomes muted, yellowish. It also reduces the level of HEV radiation. You can also use the protective filters of computer glasses, which are recommended to be worn during everyday work. However, you can drastically minimize the harm from blue light by limiting the time you use gadgets. This applies to children, whose eyes are much more vulnerable than the eyes of an adult, ”explained the expert.
News stories cannot be equated with a doctor's prescription. Before making a decision, consult a specialist.


text:
A RECORD house price in Knoxfield is expected with a dated home drawing developer attention as a multi-unit site.
Being offered for sale for the first time since it was built over 50 years ago, 56 Kathryn Rd has a price guide of $3.2 million-$3.52 million.
If sold within the price range, it would more than double the top sale of $1.512 million fetched for 66 Applewood Drive in March 2017.
And Ray White Chelsea director John Shore is confident of a sale from the feedback from buyers.
“The buyer can develop eight, 10 or 12 townhouses on the site and we are confident of a sale because of the size and development potential,” Mr Shore said.
“There are lots of local and out-of-area developers who have expressed interest and we hope to sell by Christmas.”
The large 3947sq m block has an original four-bedroom home on the site plus a garage and sheds.
“The vendors are ready to downsize to a low-maintenance property,” Mr Shore said.
The suburb has seen huge price growth over the past two years, with the median house price reported at $795,500 in the 12 months to August, CoreLogic figures show.
Its annual median price growth was 12.2 per cent and a stunning 49.7 per cent over a three-year period.
Knoxfield is popular among developers for its large blocks that offer development potential.
SUBURB PROFILE KNOXFIELD


text:
Facebook Users Can Convert Their Facebook Profile To Website
Posted On 01 Apr 2011
The worldwide social network, Facebook, implemented a new feature which will allow users to transform their profile on a website as a brand or company could have.
Thus, both companies and public figures that began their activities through this network will make your personal profile page in a more professional profile page Difference between, making them ideal sites for business, companies, brands and public figures.
For more information: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php?migrate
Source: El Universo Newspaper


text:
Is it Time to Take Your Digital Health Marketing In-House?
When you’re ready to make the transition to in-house digital health marketing, finding the right partner is key. Small marketing teams often lean on third-party providers to run their marketing campaigns. As these teams develop skills in digital marketing, they gain the confidence to staff up and bring campaign management in-house.
By 2020, VCU Health’s digital marketing and engagement team had grown to eight and it was the right time to make the shift to managing campaigns internally for the enterprise. “We oversee the digital marketing operations for the entire health system, providing governance for other teams that might be doing some digital marketing work,” says Jennifer Vazales, VCU Health’s director of digital marketing and engagement.
The health system had been using Salesforce CRM for four years by the time the decision was made to manage CRM initiatives internally. “Salesforce now requires an implementation partner,” says Beth Cronin, digital marketing manager. “Jennifer and the team looked at a number of vendors and chose Cured. We partnered very closely with them on implementing our Salesforce instance.”
Cronin comments, “They’ve definitely encouraged us to become more self sufficient, so this is a journey we’re taking together as we are learning more about how to own and use the system. They’re really our partners in helping guide us on that.”
VCU Health recently implemented Epic as its EMR, and this was another reason the digital team chose to partner with Cured. Andrew Sawyer, CEO of Cured, and his cofounders all came from Epic. The focus at VCU Health today is mainly on generating leads and converting them to patients, as well as engaging current patients. Once the organization has completed the Epic installation, the plan is to leverage the EMR and the CRM to engage current patients as well.
“We have seen VCU advance significantly in their digital marketing initiatives, ultimately creating better outcomes for their patients and driving revenue to the health system,” says Carolyn Williams, vice president of customer delivery at Cured.
The digital marketing team is just scratching the surface of what’s possible and has already chalked up some wins, attracting broader attention within the organization.
In our newest article, you’ll gain insights from VCU Health’s journey to take their digital marketing campaigns in-house and advance their technology capabilities.
Specifically, you’ll learn:
- How a strengthened alignment with the patient appointment center helped increase lead generation and conversion for the health system
- How establishing a unified communications platform can help give marketing teams greater control and consistency in messaging
- How VCU Health’s in-house marketing efforts led to a fourfold increase in website traffic and engagement.
Read the full article here: VCU Health Lays Down a Solid Foundation to Take Digital Marketing Campaigns In-House


text:
In December, a report by The Information indicated that well-funded startup Magic Leap wasn't nearly as close to producing its vaunted augmented reality headset as demo reels had suggested. CEO Rony Abovitz responded by claiming it had completed a "PEQ (Product Equivalent) build of our target form factor," and now Business Insider has what it says is "the first public photo" of the device. Delivered by an unnamed source, it shows a person wearing not only a headset, but also a backpack-like setup with an exposed circuit board and processor, and apparently holding the battery pack.
If this is the current hardware, then it's in rough shape, but hardware prototypes often are, and what's most important is what one sees in that headset. According to BI's source, next week the company's board will see a demo unit with belt loops instead of a backpack that looks "more finished."


text:
Ford is testing a new high tech brake light that can communicate with cars that are behind it.
Ford is testing a new high tech brake light that can communicate with cars that are behind it. Ford tests early warning car-to-car communication feature that alerts drivers to vehicles braking ahead – even around corners and through traffic. How does it work? The technology called “Electronic Brake Light” transmits a wireless signal to illuminate a dashboard light on following vehicles. According to Ford, the technology could enable drivers to brake earlier and potentially mitigate or avoid a collision.
“Car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications represent one of the next major advancements in vehicle safety,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford’s chief technical officer and vice president, Ford Research and Innovation. “Ford is committed to further real-world testing here and around the world with the goal of implementation in the foreseeable future.”
The technology is one of 20 potential future systems Ford tested as part of Safe Intelligent Mobility – Testfield Germany (simTD), a four-year joint industry research project. Ford used specially-equipped Ford S-MAX models to help test the potential of car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communication; also testing Obstacle Warning system, which alerts to the presence, position and type of potentially hazardous objects in the road, and Traffic Sign Assistant, that keeps in contact with traffic management centres for up-to-date information.


text:
Today's Top SOA Links
From the Wires
Carvel Pledges $50,000 to the American Red Cross
Enjoy America's Freshest Ice Cream for Free on November 15th and Also Help Victims of Superstorm Sandy
By: Marketwired .
Nov. 12, 2012 10:13 AM
ATLANTA, GA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/12/12 -- Carvel® Ice Cream announced today that it has teamed up with the American Red Cross to raise money for the Superstorm Sandy relief efforts. On Thursday, November 15th, participating Carvel® Shoppes will host a "FREE Ice Cream" Day from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and give out free soft serve cones to guests in their communities. In an effort to raise funds for the Red Cross, they will be selling coupon books for $3 with proceeds going to benefit Superstorm Sandy relief efforts.
With over 250 shoppes in the Northeast region, Carvel is dedicated to rebuilding the local communities. "The devastation and loss from Sandy is heart wrenching and we hope our efforts bring a little comfort to those affected," states Scott Colwell, president of Carvel.
The Carvel coupon books will have over $30 in value for future visits. They will be available at all participating shoppes beginning November 15th. Carvel is pledging to donate $50,000 to the Red Cross for Superstorm Sandy relief efforts.
About Carvel Ice Cream
About the American Red Cross
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2149843
Web 2.0 Latest News
Subscribe to the World's Most Powerful Newsletters
Subscribe to Our Rss Feeds & Get Your SYS-CON News Live!
SYS-CON Featured Whitepapers
Most Read This Week


text:
AutoCAD is a CAD software, where “CAD” means “computer-aided design”. It is used in 2-D and 3-D drafting in architecture, manufacturing and construction in the preparation of blueprints and engineering plans.
The first appearance of this software dates back to decembre 1982 as a desktop app, developed and sold by Autodesk. AutoCAD is used by a large ammount of industries and many other professionals. In the 1994, it was supported by 750 training centers across the world.
Microsoft is all set to launch its next big update, Windows 10 version 1809 in October. While that should be a nice piece of news […]
The Windows 10 October 2018 Update (otherwise 18H2) rollout might now be two to three weeks away. For the last few months, new build previews […]


text:
Google might be considering making its own Android handset, as per a new report. If true, the move could put pressure on its OEM partners to create better handsets. The report comes days after Google was said to be in talks with chipmakers to make its custom-designed processors.
Currently, the company relies on its hardware partners to design and manufacture handsets and tablets. While it does maintain a Nexus program, in which it controls the design and user experience aspects of the devices, the hardware is still manufactured by its partners. According to a report by The Information, the company is mulling whether it should make its own handsets.
It is not a stranger to manufacturing devices. The Pixel C tablet it launched alongside the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X was manufactured by Google. In fact, the Pixel lineup of Chromebook PCs is also designed by the company. If it does decide to design and manufacture its devices, the move could set a benchmark for other manufacturers to follow. This would push its partners to manufacture better products as they will be directly competing with Google.
But at the same time, it could strain its relationships with existing partners. The company briefly-owned the smartphone company Motorola. But seemingly to avoid friction with its own partners, it intentionally didn't try to make any bold moves. Major partners like Samsung are already losing their grip on the market to smaller rivals from China, such as Xiaomi and Lenovo, and the South Korean company in particular has been looking for a while to reduce its reliance on Google, with efforts like bada OS and Tizen OS.
The report comes shortly after The Information also reported that Google was in talks with chipset makers to manufacture its custom-designed processors. But as seems to be the case with Android OEMs, chipmakers might also not like the idea of manufacturing processors dictated by Google, as they stand to lose the chance to provide cutting edge technologies that distinguish their work from rivals.
There are several conflicting reports around what Google really has planned in the smartphone space. On one hand, it has reportedly agreed to give its Android One partners more leeway on the hardware front, while on the other hand it wants to set an example of how its devices should be made. It will be interesting to see how things pan out for Google in the coming months.
- Authorized Cs-Cart Re-seller From Chennai, India (Asian Continent)
- How to Design any Webinar Presentation in 6 Steps
- CS-Cart and Multi Vendor Version 4.3.3 Released and Development Services
- Prestashop OTP Mobile Number Verification Module Implementation Services
- Magento Blog Extension Installation Services
- Magento OTP Mobile Number Verification Extension Implementation Services
- OpenCart OTP Mobile Number Verification Extension Implementation Services
- Apple’s Respect For Music Challenged In Latest Commercial
- Google Mulls Designing and Manufacturing Its Own Smartphones


text:
Auto One in Lincoln Park has two new faces at the helm. Lee and Rhonda Temple purchased the store this year from Marty Pelker and are now in the process of bringing their own touches to the business while maintaining the strong foundation he built.
Lee was employed in collision work for an insurance company for more than 15 years. He was getting tint on one of the cars from the collision shop when he and Marty struck up a conversation. The latter was preparing for retirement, and Lee thought it might be interesting to try a new line of work.
“I did some research. We went out to dinner, and I made an offer,” Lee said. “Later that night my wife, Rhonda, asked what I did today. I told her that I bought a business.”
The timing was also right for Rhonda, who was considering retirement.
“This is a whole career change for her — out of the corporate world,” Lee said.
Rhonda worked with Marty for many months, learning how to run the business, while Lee worked in the shop.
“She pretty much knows how to run this whole place and is teaching me now,” Lee said.
Strong Relationship with the Lincoln Park Community
Lee and Rhonda are keen on maintaining the relationship the shop has with the local community.
“It’s [Auto One Lincoln Park] been a staple here for about 30 years,” Lee said. “He [Marty] had such a presence, and people knew who he was. He was great with his customers. We want to carry on with that, so they aren’t losing anything. Our customers are gaining things.”
“Everything he built here. Marty put his heart and soul into this place, and we want to make sure we’re super successful because he gave us a springboard,” Lee said.
Adding Something New
The couple is already bringing something new to the Auto One shop, including launching a new mobile glass division. “The mobile glass unit enables us to do work with collision shops and bring more convenience to our customers”, Lee mentioned.
They also invested in more detailing. “Our commercial auto shampooer and steamer are a game changer for our customers,” Lee said.
Another addition is a ceramic paint sealant. “We’re experimenting with some different products found on the cutting edge of aftermarket technology,” Lee said. He noted they are doing more work with stereo systems as well.
Growing the Company
In the end, Lee and Rhonda want to take the wonderful foundation Marty gave them and make Auto One Lincoln Park their own.
“We want to continue being a staple in the community with reasonable product prices and cutting-edge auto technology,” Lee said. “If people walk in our door, we want to find a way to help them.”


text:
Franchise News Updates
The new series of BBC's Dragons' Den has got underway and to inspire a whole new generation of entrepreneurs one of the most successful business on the show tells its success story to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
British Franchise Association (bfa): Scottish Franchise Week sponsor raises funds for Radio Lollipop
Platinum Wave, an independent international franchise consultancy, has announced a total of £680 was raised for children's charity Radio Lollipop at a social evening held during Scottish Franchise Week.
More than 230 business-minded people assembled in Glasgow last week to share a motivational breakfast with Scottish rugby legend, Scott Hastings, in the penultimate event in Scottish Franchise Week 2013.
I had worked for myself for five years before I became a Snack-in-the-Box (SITB) franchisee. I owned a shop and sold bags, jewellery and Asian music. I decided to look into franchising because I wanted to do something more challenging while working for myself in conjunction with a reputable brand and proven business model.
Sign franchise Signarama is delighted to announce the appointment of three new franchisees. Two have opened in Scotland - Kilmarnock and Edinburgh - while the third franchisee is in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire. Signarama now has five Scottish franchisees.
Baguette Express, the Scottish-based sandwich shop group, has opened its latest outlet in Bathgate. This recent expansion will increase the number of its healthy snack shops in Scotland to 10 following the successful launch of its franchise-based structure in early 2006.
Beanscene, the rapidly expanding coffee and music house chain, has launched Beanscene Espresso, a new, faster-paced little sister brand to its more relaxed, neighbourhood offering. Comprising small outlets set up exclusively to serve the on-the-go market, the first Beanscene Espresso has opened at Edinburgh Quay followed by a second in South Gyle.


text:
December 11, 2014
Center helps company expand to international markets
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Little River Research & Design has grown from a garage project that began in 1991 into an international business that educates people on how rivers and river ecosystems work. The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has played a major role in the company’s development.
Steve Gough began working on “emriver” geomodels – hands-on river process simulators – around 1997 in Champaign. Over the next decade, he moved his work to different offices around the state before opening the business in Carbondale in 2007.
With the help of the SBDC, the company has expanded its client base, selling products worldwide, including Canada, England, Switzerland, Taiwan and China. International business is not something Miriam Lahlou, director of business for the company, anticipated they would secure from a Carbondale location.
“To tell you the truth, for me, it is really neat that in our small town of Carbondale I am working with international people and having professional relationships with people overseas,” she said.
The company’s river models simulate river processes, applicable to river science and conservation. Applications include river geomorphology, biotechnical engineering, urban stream management, river ecosystem restoration and science education.
The company makes three different models, of different lengths, and they are educational tools that can counteract poor urban planning, Lahlou said. The newest model, the Emflume, is the world’s first desktop flume system created for engineering education and research. Clients include educational institutions such as universities as well as government entities, fisheries, engineers, earth scientists and others involved in similar fields.
Lahlou said the Small Business Development Center and its International Trade Center have been valuable assets to the company, particularly with exporting. Through them, the company learned about the Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) program, which allowed Lahlou and other company employees to attend an international trade show in France to market their products. ISTEP provided logistical assistance along with partial travel expense reimbursement to further the program’s goal of enabling entrepreneurs to build relationships globally and secure international sales contracts.
“After applying for the ISTEP program grant, we had some interest from China. That was very new to us and we were able to get advice about this new market at the SBDC,” Lahlou said.
The SBDC also provided networking opportunities that allowed Lahlou to learn from other businesses involved in international exporting and marketing. The company will work with the SBDC/ITC in the future to evaluate its finances and learn more about international trade and trade conferences and she highly recommends any business interested in exporting do so as well.
“I would suggest researching very well and using local resources,” Lahlou said. “We do have some great resources that sometimes we are not aware of, and the SBDC is one of them.”
Gough and Lahlou found that starting a business and expanding to international trade are not without challenges. Finding reliable transportation for products is one of the difficulties, since the models are large and can be damaged by freight carriers. Preparing products for safe travel and dealing with customs can be difficult, but despite the struggles involved in exporting, Lahlou said it is satisfying to know that people around the world are benefitting from the river models.
“It’s been really rewarding to know that our model has reached countries as far away as China, and that people there are benefitting and learning from it,” she said.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center, is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
For more information about the SBDC or the numerous services it provides to new and growing businesses, contact Robyn Laur Russell at firstname.lastname@example.org or 618/536-2424.


text:
Black Pearl Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to be available in India from December 30
The Black Pearl variant of Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge will be shipped in the Indian market from December 30
Black pearl variant of Galaxy S7 Edge. Pic/YouTube
Samsung seems to be doing lots of experiments with the colour variants of the 2016 launched Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone. Recently the mobile giant has posted the Black Pearl variant of the Galaxy S7 Edge in its Indian website. The Black Pearl variant is priced at Rs 56,900 and will be shipped in the Indian market from December 30.
Apart from the Black Pearl variant, the smartphone maker also announced the launch of Pink Gold variant in India last week. However, the colour variants are not available in the regular Galaxy S7 models.
The Black Pearl variant of Galaxy S7 Edge comes with a black glossy panel on its back. However, there is not much difference between this model and the previously launched S7 Edge Olympics edition. The Black Pearl variant of Galaxy S7 Edge is backed with 4GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage.
Galaxy S7 Edge flaunts a 12MP rear camera, a 3600 mAh battery and Octa-Core 2.3 GHz Exynos 8890 chipset. The phone supports wireless charging and quick charging facilities.
Sign up for all the latest news, top galleries and trending videos from Mid-day.comSubscribe


text:
By Jane Lanhee Lee and Paul Lienert
OAKLAND Calif/DETROIT (Reuters) – U.S. chip design firm Advanced Micro Devices Inc on Wednesday said Japan’s major automotive supply company Aisin Corp has chosen AMD’s micro processor to power a new system that can help cars park themselves.
“These parking systems have been very much a foothold in the very luxury vehicle market today. Aisin’s solution is designed to make this more mainstream, because the solution itself is designed to fit into a very cost effective module,” Wayne Lyons, AMD’s senior director for the automotive market told Reuters.
The chip is called the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC and was developed by Xilinx, which was acquired by AMD this year. Xilinx specializes in chips called FPGAs, or field-programmable gate array. Their circuits can be reconfigured after the chip is installed in things like cars. This will allow automakers to update not only software, but also the chip, after the car is sold, Rehan Tahir, AMD’s senior product marketing manager for automotive told Reuters.
Tahir said the Aisin auto parking system will start production on 2024 models, but declined to say which car brands would use it.
Aisin is a member of the Toyota Group of companies. Toyota Motor Corp. introduced one of the first parking assist systems in Japan in the early 2000s. The system, which guides vehicles into parking spaces, was offered in 2006 in the United States on the top-of-the-line Lexus LS sedan, and now is marketed on a wide range of Toyota and Lexus models, including the Prius.
Tahir said the Aisin system works with four cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors on the car to parallel park and also back into parking spaces. But the human in the car will have to decide if that spot is in a no-parking zone, he said.
(Reporting By Jane Lanhee Lee in Oakland and Paul Lienert in Detroit; Editing by David Gregorio)