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One pint at a time
Steamboat Springs — The craft brewing industry in Routt County is booming, but it has not always been that way.
In the early days of Steamboat Springs, alcohol was almost universally frowned upon, according to Steamboat Pilot & Today archives. Alcohol could not be sold in the town, but the first kegs of whiskey came bouncing over Rabbit Ears Pass in a buggy when the town was about 10 years old.
Outside town limits in the Brooklyn neighborhood of about 40 people, the hooch found its home, and there were five saloons by 1890.
“There were also ‘rooming houses’ and ‘hotels’ with women with very rosy cheeks,” the Steamboat Pilot & Today reported.
On Jan. 15, 1915, the entire state of Colorado went dry, and the rest of the country followed in 1920. That quieted down the rowdy Brooklyn neighborhood.
In 1873, there were 4,131 breweries in the United States, more than the 3,464 counted in the country in 2014, according to the Brewers Association trade group.
No records of legitimate breweries could be found in Steamboat Springs during its early days, but small crops of hops helped supply the local homebrewers in Routt County, according to local historian Laurel Watson.
In the past 10 years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of craft breweries nationally.
Colorado currently ranks as the third biggest producer of craft beer, with nearly 1.7 million barrels per year. That is 13.6 gallons of beer each year who is of the legal age to drink in Colorado. There were 235 craft breweries operating in Colorado in 2014.
Today, Routt County is home to four breweries and a fifth is set to open this summer. Each has their own niche.
The Mahogany Ridge Brewery and Grill space at Fifth Street and Lincoln Avenue in downtown Steamboat has been home to a brewery since 1992.
They used to distribute their beer, but in recent years, their focus has shifted to serving restaurant customers.
Owner Charlie Noble said Mahogany produced about 1,100 gallons of beer last year with their 10-barrel system, and they rotate between 35 to 40 different varieties.
“They change on a regular basis,” Noble said. “Most popular is an interesting question. Alpenglow is the staple.”
It might be the staple, but some of their seasonal beers are sought after, such as the cherry ale, which is brewed using 600 pounds of cherries.
Over the years, Noble has seen many beer enthusiasts come through his doors.
“They would have these little notebooks of the places they’ve went and the beer they have tried,” Noble said.
Butcherknife goes big
Mahogany Ridge remained Steamboat’s sole brewer until 2014, when Steamboat homebrewers Mark Fitzgerald and Nate Johansing made a considerable investment and implemented their 2010 business plan by constructing a new building to house Butcherknife Brewing Co. on Elk River Road.
After attending school in Germany, Johansing earned the title of master brewer, and he has kept a close eye on the industry and its evolution.
Johansing said that before prohibition breweries were just another staple like butcher shops or bakeries.
After President Jimmy Carter legalized homebrewing in 1978, Johansing said brewing schools became more popular allowing amateurs to grow into professional brewers.
Fitzgerald and Johansing installed a 30-barrel system, which is enough to make about 930 gallons of beer per batch.
The Butcherknife partners did not get in the business to get rich, but they built the biggest system in the valley. They brewed 2,000 barrels of beer in the first year.
The brewing business has been an adventure for Fitzgerald and Johansing with a few surprises along the way.
Johansing said there are two types of breweries. There are those that purposely introduce infections to create a sour beer. Then there are those that fear infections and do what they can to keep them out of the beer.
Within a week of fermenting their Belgian blonde, they knew there was a problem.
“I was wanting to just dump it down the drain and get rid of it,” Johansing said.
Instead, they left the beer to ferment for the next four months and sent a sample to a lab to get analyzed. The bacteria found in the beer was from the same family as the bacteria that is used to turn milk into yogurt.
Once they knew what the bacteria was, they put the Wild Belgian Blonde on tap.
“It’s been selling great in here,” Johansing said. “It’s tough with sour beer because you never know what you’re going to get.
The inside of the Butcherknife facility along Elk River Road illustrates the company’s business plan. In October, they took shipment of 152,000 cans printed with their Amputator IPA artwork. Until they find a better place, the pallets are stacked ceiling high next to the fermentors.
“We were always planning for canning from day one, but the minimum order went up,” Johansing said.
Their machinery can package 25 cans per minute, and they have shipped out about 20,000 cans so far.
The Butcherknife business plan entailed landing shelf space at liquor stores and tap space in restaurants in Colorado and beyond. Johansing said they have had sales inquiries globally, including from China and Sweden.
Butcherknife has an in-house tasting room with half-priced growler fills on Monday, and about half of their beer is shipped outside of Steamboat. The brewery staff still drives the beer to Denver restaurants and bars, but Butcherknife recently contracted with B&K Distributing for their Northwest Colorado sales.
“We always wanted to work with a distributor,” Johansing said. “Working with B&K has been great.”
Hayden brewery expands
While Butcherknife has aspirations of potentially selling their beer globally, Routt County’s other breweries are focused on local demand.
Jared Aylor and Neil Siggson — another duo of homebrewers who are neighbors — held the grand opening for Yampa Valley Brewing Company in Hayden in October.
Outfitting the space off Jefferson Avenue cost about $150,000, and the men were committed to doing business in their town.
“We were definitely surprised at the first couple of months,” Aylor said. “We didn’t really know what to expect in a small community, but we had a lot of local support.”
Their initial setup was a seven-barrel system, and they added two seven-barrel fermenters soon after opening. In the fermenters the beer sits for three to four weeks depending on the beer.
“Our goal was to add two new fermenters in the first year and brew as much as possible,” Aylor said. “It basically allows us to double our capacity.”
With the ability to now brew once a week, Yampa Valley Brewing Company has been able to sell kegs to Yampa Valley Regional Airport and The Barley in Steamboat.
“Now that we have our beers on tap at the airport, it does start a conversation,” Siggson said.
About 25 percent of their business comes from Craig, where there is not a brewery. The Hiway Bar next door offers food through an opening in the brewery’s fence.
Quenching the thirst
Storm Peak Brewing Company opened in June 2014 across from a marijuana store and Mexican restaurant along U.S. Highway 40 on the west side of Steamboat
Like the other local brewers, brothers Wyatt and Tyler Patterson had a background in home brewing and built out a seven-barrel system.
“It’s been good,” Wyatt Patterson said. “It will be two years in June. The response in the town has been great.”
One year ago, the brewery started canning their Flare and 4-Wire beers.
This year, they are on track to brew between 350 and 400 barrels of beer.
Patterson said that in recent weeks, they have started talking about ways to increase production.
“We want to be able to make more beer because people are thirsty for it,” he said.
The brewery also has a strong local following, with locals’ mugs on the wall and unique events like yoga on Sundays with a beer afterward.
Beer and pizza
The revitalization of Yampa Street in downtown Steamboat would not be complete without a brewery.
Rich and Wendy Tucciarone had been looking for a brewery space since they moved back to town in 2011.
The conversion of the old Yampa Valley Electric Association building at 910 Yampa St. into commercial and retail space presented the perfect opportunity.
The Tucciarones visit their new Mountain Tap Brewery space nearly daily. They are anxious for construction to be complete and are hopeful the licensing process goes smoothly with the federal government.
“It’s a highly regulated industry, and there are a lot of hoops to get through,” Rich Tucciarone said.
They want to be open at the beginning of June.
Rich Tucciarone has worked in the beer business for more than two decades. He said as a kid, he was always tinkering around in the kitchen and went on to get a degree in food science from Cornell University. He was inspired by a brewery that opened up during college.
“It opened my eyes to beer that had flavor,” Tucciarone said.
After Cornell, Tucciarone lived in Steamboat and had the opportunity to work at Breckenridge Brewery of Denver. He became the head brewer and then spent 12 years as the vice president of brewery operations for Kona Brewing Company in Hawaii.
“My job description was anything that had to do with beer,” Tucciarone said.
While there, Kona’s production went from 1,800 barrels to more than 140,000 barrels.
To illustrate his dedication to quality control, Tucciarone bought a microscope the day after the Mountain Tap lease was signed. It is the tool he needs to monitor yeast.
“Yeast is a living thing,” Tucciarone said. “With brewing, you’re basically making a feast for the yeast.”
The seven-barrel brewing system is scheduled to arrive in April, and Tucciarone plans to be brewing in May. Initially, Mountain Tap will have three 15-barrel fermenters, and there is room for two more. Tucciarone plans to brew about 500 barrels of beer during the first year.
Mountain Tap will fill the true brew pub niche.
With their license, they will be able to serve food, sell wine and have outside beers on tap.
They are currently in the process of hiring a person to oversee the kitchen and the wood-fired oven, which will be used to make pizza.
“For a downtown location, we think it’s really important to do food with beer,” Tucciarone said.
Despite a fifth brewery in Routt County set to open this summer, local brewers think there is enough consumer demand that they can all be successful.
“Consumers demand more flavor, more diversity and more variety in the beer and food,” Tucciarone said. “People like to drink beer when they know the person who is making it.”
Mahogany Ridge’s Charlie Noble said the breweries create a network of new attractions for both residents and visitors.
Storm Peak’s Wyatt Patterson said it is a win-win for everybody.
“We don’t see it as competition at all,” Patterson said. “There are going to be four in Steamboat, but they are all different.”
Nate Johansing at Butcherknife said the growth of the industry is on every brewers mind.
“For us in Steamboat, we really don’t know how it will unfold because so much of our economy is based off of tourism,” Johansing said.
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Tata Group's jewellery brand Tanishq has made it to the list of top 30 Best Retail Brands in Asia Pacific and stands at #13 with a Brand Value of $670 million.
Commenting on India's performance, Ashish Mishra, managing director, Interbrand India, says, "It is indeed heartening to see an Indian brand figure in the Best Retail Brands league table. The retail space in India is experiencing simultaneous transformational influences both from the supply and demand sides. Political swings, newer business models, supply chain efficiencies, online innovations, and at the root of it all - complex new customer journeys. The resulting flux is both exciting as well as challenging. We need to adapt but without losing our core cultural resources. Tanishq has in some ways done that."
On making it to the Best Retail Brands APAC list, C K Venkataraman, CEO, jewellery, Titan Industries, says, "It is a proud and humbling moment for us to make it to the Interbrand APAC list of Retail Brands 2014. We would like to dedicate this achievement to the passionate and tireless efforts of the large Tanishq team across the country and our wonderful customers who have helped us achieve all that we did."
According to the report, Asia's consumer markets remain highly fragmented, both as a whole and within individual markets. Genuine liberalisation is patchy at best, with traditional and local retailing dominating in many markets. At one extreme, there are highly concentrated markets such as Singapore, where FairPrice commands over 50 per cent market share in the grocery category; at the other are markets such as India, where modern retail brands remain dwarfed by traditional local retailers.
Key findings across geographies point to major retailers looking beyond their core business models in pursuit of gaining a competitive advantage, online innovation bridging the divide between in-store and online shopping, and a strategic understanding and leveraging of sales data in meeting customer needs and desires better and faster than ever before, the report read.
Australia's Woolworths was at the top spot in the Best Retail Brands' Asia Pacific 2014 report with brand value of $ 4,948M.
For the record, the global Best Retail Brands report ranks the top 50 North American and European retail brands by brand value, as well as the top 30 retail brands from across Latin America and the Asia-Pacific. The report is produced in collaboration with Interbrand Design Forum, the retail experience group within Interbrand, the world's leading brand consultancy.

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There were many years of advocates advocating, lobbyists lobbying and cannabis businesses doing everything but selling cannabis in New Jersey; a fix for one of the prime issues for cannabis on the federal level has been teased just as long.
But there was a victory at the end of all that waiting for cannabis industry proponents. An adult-use marijuana reform package was signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy in February, meaning New Jersey has a green light for a regulated cannabis market.
Yet, the years haven’t apparently provided enough time for federal-level leaders to resolve the other issue: the fact that marijuana is still categorized as an illegal substance and so restricted as an industry that banking institutions can get into.
The possibility of a solution before New Jersey’s industry gets off the ground appears unlikely, according to Bob Anderson, shareholder at Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper P.C. However much it has been talked about, the experts want to reiterate: This is going to be a problem for an industry that is promising big opportunities and big tax dollars.
“It has led to situations in which you have people walking out of these businesses with backpacks full of money each night,” Anderson said. “It’s very dangerous.”
When you pair this with the aspiration of bringing cannabis investments into communities most adversely affected by the war on drugs, it’s a gale-force headwind for the industry’s local start.
“These neighborhoods that we want to favorably impact and get businesses into might also be ones that are more likely to have higher crime rates,” he said. “But, if businesses are stuck dealing with only cash like that, you might be creating security issues and attracting crime. … You might be setting up an unfavorable environment for those businesses to actually succeed.”
The recently enacted New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization Act, which decriminalizes marijuana and hashish possession, operates under the canopy of two federal laws that came 40 years before it.
In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act placed marijuana in the most restrictive class of drugs, Schedule I. And the Bank Secrecy Act of the same year made it so banks have to report to the federal government any suspicious or illegal activities of their clients.
This puts banks in a limbo. With the threat of being seen as facilitating criminal activity or money laundering, most major banks have outright refused to get involved with the industry, not even letting auxiliary cannabis businesses open banking accounts.
As a result, Anderson said, cannabis businesses in other states that have legalized marijuana can’t write checks, and have to deal solely in cash. There are some smaller institutions that have been willing to open up banking accounts with cannabis companies.
“But they try to keep that fact fairly low-key,” he said. “It’s not something you’ll find in their marketing materials.”
One might expect that last month’s news of the House of Representatives passing the SAFE Banking Act, which would allow financial institutions to lend money to legitimate cannabis-related businesses, means a change is on the way just in time for New Jersey’s adult-use recreational market.
Not so fast, Anderson said. We’ve been here before.
There was a whole year’s worth of promising back-and-forth discussion behind a similar bill between 2019 and 2020. But the progress was lost, as it failed to clear the Senate.
“The problem has been, time after time, when the bill gets to the Senate, it dies there,” he said. “Well, (the SAFE Banking Act) was passed again in the House by a very substantial vote — much more than a small majority. This is something that’s heavily favored by both sides of the aisle.”
But the focus in Congress is currently chained to issues like the administration’s infrastructure bill, Anderson said. Adding that with President Joe Biden’s often lukewarm reception to marijuana reform, it’s not clear what the future of the bill will be.
Even if current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) might be friendlier to cannabis legalization than past leadership in Congress, Anderson said it’s likely that he wants to push for a more comprehensive marijuana reform bill that includes more items than the SAFE Banking Act.
“(Sen.) Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is probably the closest ally of Schumer in trying to move that forward,” he said. “They say they’d like to move that forward this year, but it’s not clear if that has the votes to pass.”
In the interim, an industry that posted $17.5 billion in sales in the United States last year cannot accept credit card payments or cut checks for payroll.
“At least, when it comes to financing, the alternative for some has been to try to get lending from actors outside of the banking system, which can sometimes be sketchy operations or individuals who are willing to lend sometimes at higher rates than a bank might typically charge,” Anderson said.
Some cannabis businesses have also raised capital directly from private equity groups. Anderson said that poses a problem for New Jersey’s push to give a large share of cannabis licenses to minority- or women-owned businesses.
“The arrangements made for businesses in those categories depend on those (disadvantaged groups) largely controlling, substantially, the operations of the business,” he said. “And, if an outside investor comes in with a large sum, they’ll want significant control, which may make it more difficult for those enterprises to keep the status they need to still fit in those categories.”
To top it off, all-cash businesses have never made for the most favorable circumstances for tax collection, Anderson added. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s a slight tendency to underreport financial transactions compared with everything being run through bank accounts.
“Until this is sorted out, this issue — which has been difficult for cannabis businesses in other states — will continue to be difficult in New Jersey,” he said.
Robert Schiappacasse, co-chair of the cannabis industry practice group at Sills Cummis & Gross P.C., said businesses in other industries take for granted that they’re able to work with any bank they choose. Not so for this industry.
“And the inability to access conventional sources of financing through federally-chartered lenders has clearly been a significant issue for the industry,” he said. “So, these businesses have only been able to use a credit union, and only if they’re lucky to be operating in a state that has a chartered credit union for cash deposits for their business.”
Schiappacasse said it’s important to keep in mind that banks are lobbying (with a well-established and very powerful lobbying apparatus) for this to change just as much as the cannabis industry itself. They want these new clients.
It’s partly for that reason he’s optimistic banks will be able to participate in this industry eventually … even if passage of the current SAFE Banking Act isn’t the safest bet.
“Personally I think, as with any legislation these days, its success really depends on what conditions the Senate will put on the bill and whether that’s acceptable when it goes back to the House,” he said. “Still, it seems that progress is being made and something will be done to allow the industry to bank. Whether it looks exactly the way it did as it came out of the House recently is another question.”


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Dutch banks have laid out plans to facilitate instant payments within four years, with a view to creating a “new payment infrastructure” that would transfer payments within five seconds. “The project will be carried out under the aegis of the Dutch Payments Association, which, together with the banks, will further discuss and work out the vision and roadmap with users in the second half of this year,” De Nederlandsche Bank says.
- Gatwick Airport installs 2,000 BLE beacons for augmented reality wayfinding
- Lotte Card introduces ‘pay with your palm’
- Debit cards set to overtake cash in 2018, three years earlier than expected
- Digital, decisive and drone-ready: American Express commissioned study shows Gen Z’s customer experience expectations
- EU agency calls for action on IoT security


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LATEST TECH NEWS: Tesla CEO Elon Musk leaves Twitter. 4 other things and a trivia you need to know today, June 2, 2020
These 5 latest stories from the tech space will keep you updated with trends today.
1. Tesla CEO Elon Musk leaves Twitter
Elon Musk has shocked his 35 million Twitter followers on Monday night when he announced he was taking a break from the platform, a development the tech billionaire did not give an explanation for. The unknown underlying reason why Musk decided to take the break, has called for speculations among tech reviewers.
Many have gone forward to suggest that perhaps, Musk only needed some moment offline to review his company’s recent achievement and tractions. However, some are of the view that the SpaceX and Tesla CEO has, after all, courted controversy in the past with some of his Twitter posts. So it’s possible he’s taken advice — or decided for himself — to steer clear of the site during a particularly turbulent time as protests and social unrest continue in multiple states following the police-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week.
2. Sony holds back PS5 event following U.S. unrest
Following the growing social unrest in different parts of the U.S., game manufacturer Sony has canceled the PlayStation 5 event earlier set for Thursday, June 4. After acknowledging the excitement of gamers worldwide to see the PS5 games, Sony noted that its decision to hold back on the public event stemmed from its understanding that the current time wasn’t a time for celebration.
According to the game manufacturing company, it is important that it shelves its plans in order to allow, what it considers a “more important” voice to be heard. While this initiative has been commendable amidst social justice activist, should plans for the event had continued, the online event would have focus on some of the games that will be released alongside the PlayStation 5 later in the year.
What was the world’s first digital, programmable robot?
A. The Johns Hopkins Beast
B. The General Electric Walking Truck
C. The Stanford Arm
Answer: See end of post.
3. Ugandan fintech startup Eversend raises $706k
Eversend, the Ugandan digital-only finance platform, has secured EUR634,000 (US$706,000) in investment through a Seedrs crowdfunding campaign. The three year old company provides multi-currency wallets and currency exchange for client companies and customers.
Read also: LATEST TECH NEWS: Zuckerberg offers $10 million in fight for racial justice. 4 other things and a trivia you need to know today, June 1, 2020
Corporate reviews further reveals that the company also intend to offer personal loans, savings, group savings, merchant payments and investments in the future. With its service reach available on Android and iOS, the startup has over 40,000 registered users and has been growing at about 30 per cent month-on-month.
4. S. Africa’s e-health startup BusyMed raises growth capital
Although sum undisclosed, South African e-health startup BusyMed has announced raising fresh growth funding from local venture capital firm LionPride. According to the startup, the fund was raised to help it commercialise its solutions, which is chiefly aimed at disrupting the country’s pharmaceutical sector.
Going by the company’s blueprint, the Mphati Jezile-founded startup is on a mission to connect consumers directly to pharmacies via a digital platform. In doing this, it is building its idea to give the public access to online consultations, product and medication purchases with fast home delivery. This way, pharmacies can provide real-time stock information, access performance data on best-selling items, manage inventory more effectively, and leverage off existing pharmacy and third party delivery solutions.
5. Appway closes $37M as its first-ever funding
Switzerland company Appway has today, Tuesday, June 2, announced a round of funding to expand its operations. The company, which builds tools for financial services companies to interact better with their customers via the web disclosed this raiser as it expressed excitement over the multi-million dollar fund.
According to some industry reviews, the company also provides software to help banks and others that transact with customers to build banking, mortgage, regulatory compliance and other service management tools. Contrary to expectations, the raised $37 million in equity funding came from a single investor, Summit Partners. Hans Peter Wolf, Appway’s CEO, who confirmed the investment noted that the money will go into the continued expansion of its business.
Tech Trivia Answer: Unimate
Filed for patenting by George Devol in 1954, the first digital/programmable robot was called Unimate and was sold for a $35,000 loss to General Motors the same year its patent was approved. Stationed at its Ewing Township, New Jersey plant, GM used the 2,700lb Unimate to extract die-castings and weld them onto auto bodies.
It wasn’t long before Chrysler, Ford and other manufacturers sought Unimates of their own and in short time, hundreds of the robotic arm were employed.
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Newsletter: Worried about a recession? Go out and buy a pair of shoes
To hear the experts tell it, the only thing standing between us and a recession is you.
Which is to say, consumer spending is both the saving grace and the Achilles heel of the U.S. economy. If we don’t keep shopping, we’re doomed.
There’s been a lot of speculation lately about the possibility of a recession. Some economists say it could happen as soon as next year. Some say in 2021. President Trump says the economy’s doing great, so don’t worry your pretty head.
The reality is that uncertainty is growing, and if there’s anything the financial world doesn’t like, it’s uncertainty. The darkest storm cloud is our trade war with China. If it gets resolved, skies will brighten. If it doesn’t, a global slowdown and/or recession seems increasingly likely.
“I see [the trade war] as a leading indicator of the concern from the consumers, and if they decide that they’re going to pull out of the market, they decide they’re going to stop spending, that will force us, as quickly as anything, into a recession,” Jim Nussle, chief executive of the Credit Union National Assn. and former director of the Office of Management and Budget, told CNBC.
Here’s the reason he and others are worried: Consumer spending makes up about 70% of total U.S. economic activity. When we’re shopping, all’s well. When we circle our financial wagons, things can spiral out of control quickly.
This month, a key measure of consumer confidence from the University of Michigan fell to the lowest level of the year, reflecting growing worry about trade tension and the overall economy. The Federal Reserve recently cutting interest rates for the first time in a decade was taken by some households as a sign that it’s time to start stockpiling.
“Consumers concluded, following the Fed’s lead, that they may need to reduce spending in anticipation of a potential recession,” said Richard Curtin, chief economist for the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center. “Falling interest rates have long been associated with the start of recessions.”
On Friday, Fed Chief Jerome Powell said in a speech that he “will act as appropriate to sustain the expansion,” which may or may not mean further rate cuts. Trump subsequently roiled markets by declaring Powell an “enemy” and ordering American companies not to do business with China, which he can’t actually do. The Dow fell more than 600 points.
There’s not much you and I can do except go along for the ride — there are larger forces at work here. But if you’ve got a little cash to spare, go out and buy a pair of shoes or something.
Think of it as a down payment on economic stability.
In the meantime, here are some upcoming events and stories that caught my eye:
Blast off: As early as Monday, a prototype of SpaceX’s Mars spaceship could launch to an altitude of about 650 feet — the highest it has ever gone — before returning to the ground near Boca Chica Beach in Texas. It’s part of Hawthorne-based SpaceX’s plan to develop a rocket booster and spaceship capable of eventually carrying humans and cargo to Mars.
Here are some of the other stories that ran in the Times Business section in recent days that we’re continuing to follow:
Super sale: How does a property once listed for $1 billion sell at auction for $100,000? With a lot of fine print. In what might be the biggest real estate markdown in history, the Beverly Hills property known as the Mountain has changed hands.
Keep the change: Amazon will abandon its controversial strategy of dipping into some delivery drivers’ tips to cover their promised wages. The reversal comes amid growing scrutiny on the payment practices of delivery start-ups, which have left workers largely in the dark about what’s happening with their tips.
It’s pronounced ‘mixed use development’: The iconic and hard-to-pronounce French restaurant Taix will become the site of a housing and retail complex, as well as a smaller version of the bistro. With six stories housing 170 luxury units, the project marks the latest big change for this booming stretch of Sunset Boulevard.
WHAT WE’RE READING
What’s on Amazon: Just because it’s sold on Amazon doesn’t mean it’s the real deal. A Wall Street Journal investigation shows the site’s marketplace is flooded with thousands of wrongly labeled, dangerous or banned products. (Extra credit reading: A Los Angeles Times look from last year at how Amazon benefits from counterfeits).
Where Uber went wrong: Former Uber Chief Executive Travis Kalanick reportedly voiced support for secretly using drivers’ phones to determine whether they were also working for the company’s competitor, Lyft. That’s one of the revelations from an excerpt of New York Times tech reporter Mike Isaac’s new book about the ride-hailing firm.
Until next time, see you in the Business section.


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As film and television agency Screen Australia recognizes that video games are currently the fastest growing entertainment sector, the company is looking to help the Australian games sector expand with new funding options.
Screen Australia is the Australian government's funding organization for the screen production industry, which includes games. The company says that this new injection of $20 million in funding for video game studios is an attempt to counteract job migration and falling foreign investment in the country.
In the next 12 months, the company plans to distribute $4-5 million for games production, and $2-3 million for supporting sustainability of game development businesses, amongst other funding efforts.
Screen Australia called out Real Racing, Fruit Ninja
and L.A. Noire
as examples of games that demonstrate the success of Australian-developed titles.
Fiona Cameron, Screen Australia's chief operating officer, said that she hopes this funding will also encourage different sectors in the screen production industry to collaborate with each other.
"These programs released in draft today go a long way towards realising a strong and sustainable Australian games development sector, to ensure we tap into the huge global appetite for interactive entertainment," she added.


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Café Amadeo showcase capabilities in 11th World Bank Mission
The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in CALABARZON region showcases the coffee enterprise subproject of Café Amadeo Development Cooperative (CADC) during Proponent Group (PG) consultation of the 11th World Bank Implementation Support Mission.
Officials from the cooperative together with Regional Project Director Vilma Dimaculangan and I-REAP Component staff attended virtually last November 20. A video presentation was viewed first by the World Bank team as well as the enterprise documents before they interviewed CADC.
Shown in the video is their coffee production process, facilities and equipment procured by PRDP, enterprise information, and testimonials from members and officers of CADC. This was produced by the Information, Advocacy, Communication, and Education Unit of PRDP CALABARZON.
With dwindling lands for coffee production and increased demand for coffee products, 20 Amadeo residents who are engaged in milling, production, trading, and farming started in June 28, 2002 a cooperative that will allow them to better transact with other traders and buyers for higher price. Thus, the Café Amadeo Development Cooperative (CADC) was born.
“With this cooperative, we are able to help revive the coffee industry of Amadeo. We have pooled our resources to start our dried coffee beans trading business. This industry has been here for generations. Most of us were able to build families and ensure the future of new generations to coffee. That is why we are forever thankful to coffee,” CADC Chairperson Generoso Bunyi said.
Aside from the trading business, they also ventured out to coffee processing, resulting to the enterprise which are they currently known for. According to CADC General Manager Ma. Agnes Madlangsacay, their most famous coffee blend, the pahimis blend, was introduced to them by a chemist. When they tried it, they fell in love with it and has been continuously improving the pahimis blend.
“Our coffee blend, particulary the pahimis blend, has unique taste because it is a combination of Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa varieties. In just one cup, you can taste all the coffee grown in the Philippines,” Chairperson Bunyi stated.
With their increasing market and expanding opportunities that can be shared to more people, the CADC management decided to open up their membership to others, even non-coffee farmers. “We started as a cooperative solely for coffee growers. However, the group decided to open it also to individuals who may not be farmers, but are supportive of the coffee industry,” Chairperson Bunyi added.
This decision has been proven good during the community quarantine brought about by COVID-19 pandemic. With foot traffic to their pasalubong center and coffee shop dropping to zero and institutional buyers cancelling their orders, the management has decided to tap their members for online selling. “If the member wants to sell our products but do not have the money to buy it first from us, we provide the products first then when they are able to sell it, that’s the time we get the money from them. Thus, it allows them to circulate their investment and be able to buy more products from us. Likewise, we know they can do it because we believe in our coffee products,” Manager Madlangsacay said.
Currently, institutional buyers are slowly returning as well as the walk-in customers. Coupled with the increasing sales traffic through online means, their products are now available anywhere in the Philippines.
Aside from this, the CADC also help their coffee members to whether not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also the Taal Volcano eruption earlier this year and the typhoons affecting the region one after another. They provide fertilizers to them through a delayed payment scheme as well as buying their produce in higher price that what are being offered by traders. # (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)


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US snack maker Utz Quality Foods is to distribute a range of products for MegaMex Foods, a venture between local food major Hormel Foods and Mexico’s Herdez del Fuerte.
UTZ is to provide direct-store delivery MegaMex’s Chi-Chi’s tortilla chips, as well as the Chi-Chi’s and Herdez snacking salsas and dips.
“The vision of MegaMex Foods is to bring the spirit of Mexico to every table,” said Ryan Michaelis, president and CEO at MegaMex Foods. “Our
partnership with UTZ Quality Foods is yet another step forward in making this vision a reality.”
Hormel and Herdez del Fuerte formed MegaMex in 2009 to market Mexican foods in the US.
A year ago, Utz Quality Foods announced the acquisition of US peer Inventure Foods in a US$165m deal. In July 2016, Inventure, after a period of running up losses, launched a “strategic” and “financial” review of its operations.
Earlier this week, Hormel announced plans to spend US$150m on expanding the manufacturing plant of its subsidiary Burke Marketing Corp. in Iowa.


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Durbanville Hills’s Tangram Restaurant has been awarded with no less than three awards at the annual Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards as Best South African Cuisine on a Global Level, Best Restaurant Manager in South Africa and Best Gourmet Cuisine in Africa.
The announcement was made at a gala dinner held in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend, where the world’s top hospitality providers gathered to celebrate excellence in the industry.
Some of South Africa’s most awarded restaurants competed in the various categories and included La Colombe, Myoga, Jardine, Hartford Koi, Test Kitchen and the Pot Luck Club, to name but a few. The Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards acknowledges hospitality experiences across seven continents and more than 60 countries. Awards are achieved by means of a rigorous rating process, based on a unique concept exclusive to Haute Grandeur which relies on the feedback from guests rather than by a general public vote or judging.
Dirk Steyn, awarded as the Best Restaurant Manager in South Africa
An ecstatic Dirk Steyn, awarded as the Best Restaurant Manager in South Africa, says that it’s an enormous honour to be globally recognised. “The hospitality industry is competitive and consumers demand consistent quality, exceptional service and unique experiences that entice them to return. Dining out is such a social and emotive engagement and consumers have extremely high expectations. We pride ourselves in delivering beyond expectations – whether it’s breakfast, a languid lunch or celebratory dinner.”
The restaurant is famed for its spectacular views of Table Mountain and Table Bay and recently changed its name to Tangram. Chef Tamzyn Ehlers uses only the freshest ingredients, and creatively ensures an extraordinary visual and taste experience.
The three latest awards from the Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards continues the restaurant’s impressive list of accolades over the past six years namely: awarded a 2019 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor; twice best Restaurant in the Winelands (Restaurant Week 2015 & 2016); Best Restaurant in South Africa (Restaurant Week 2017); Top Restaurant on TripAdvisor 2018 and more recently nominated for Top Restaurant for the Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards 2019.
The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bookings can be made by visiting https://www.durbanvillehills.co.za/our-restaurant/
Information from Jigsaw Public Relations


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One of every five beauty purchases online is made via the Amazon marketplace, according to a new report.
Although marketers routinely look to some obvious social influencers, such as people with many friends on Facebook, they fail to use social media to reach the millions more who are influential over a few family members and friends, says a new report.
26% of U.S. online adults are influentials, people whose friends ask them for advice on what products to buy. And while many marketers place their bets on some of the most obvious influentials, such as mommy bloggers or people with large networks of friends on Facebook, they fail to take note of a vast untapped opportunity to use social media to reach the millions more who are extremely influential over a handful of close family members and friends, says a new Forrester Research Inc. report.
Although there is tremendous variability among influentials, one common thread is that they are particularly likely to engage in behaviors that allow them to learn and research about products-as well as to spread that knowledge to others. For instance, 86% say they busily absorb an array of social content such as blogs and online videos. Many share that knowledge, as 19% regularly post to their own blogs and 35% share their knowledge by posting product ratings and reviews on either retail or social network sites.
But since the majority of influentials aren’t posting to blogs or writing reviews, marketers should focus on directly providing them with important information that they can share with friends and family. To do so, the report suggests marketers:
- Provide custom social content. For instance, Sony Corp.’s Sony Style brand targets women who research and buy their own electronics products, a group that tends to be more technologically advanced than its female peers. To reach those women, Sony created a social media site that features video tutorials for each product, blogs and communities. Visitors are encouraged to upload their own photos, rate and review the tutorials, and educate each other on the community site.
- Give first-hand experience. For instance, after identifying a group of influential women in Florida, Cadillac asked them to test-drive the car for a few weeks. Doing so gave the women first-hand knowledge that they could share with friends looking for a car.
- Be transparent. For instance, Rubbermaid offered its products to any blogger who wanted to test them out, with no strings attached. Hundreds of bloggers chose to receive the product, many of whom reviewed it favorably.
Forrester conducted the online survey of 4,766 people in May.


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LONGMONT, CO – May 8, 2023
S&W Seed Company (Nasdaq: SANW) will report financial results for its third quarter fiscal year 2023, ended March 31, 2023, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, before the open of the market. The Company has scheduled a conference call that same day, Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 11:00am ET (8:00am PT) to review the results.
Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (844) 861-5498 or (412) 317-6580 or can listen via a live Internet webcast, which is available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://www.swseedco.com/investors or https://app.webinar.net/WwVo3z08AJe.
A teleconference replay of the call will be available for seven days at (877) 344-7529 or (412) 317-0088, replay access code 6401214. A webcast replay will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at http://www.swseedco.com/investors or https://app.webinar.net/WwVo3z08AJe for 30 days.
Founded in 1980, S&W Seed Company is a global agricultural company headquartered in Longmont, Colorado. S&W’s vision is to be the world’s preferred proprietary seed company which supplies a range of forage and specialty crop products that supports the growing global demand for animal proteins and healthier consumer diets. S&W is a global leader in proprietary alfalfa, sorghum and pasture seeds, with significant research and development, production and distribution capabilities. S&W’s product portfolio also includes hybrid sunflower and wheat and the company is utilizing its research and breeding expertise to develop and produce stevia, the all-natural, zero calorie sweetener for the food and beverage industry. For more information, please visit www.swseedco.com.


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Insects, snakes and lizards could be the secret to cure a global food crisis, as available land and water resources shrink, and climate-change takes effect.
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is encouraging eating insects where malnutrition and starvation occurring and to help combat obesity. In South America and east Asia, where people have eaten insects for millennia, the news has been warmly welcomed. But in the West, cooking with insects is still far from accepted: despite some chefs' attempts to change people's minds.
Tarantula on a stick anyone?
Maguey worm taco isn't a dish that's not for everybody, certainly not for those afraid of bugs. But one small Mexico City restaurant called Restaurant La Cocinita de San Juan is sure to give gastronomic daredevils a new food challenge: tacos with insect toppings.
In Mexico maguey worms are served deep-fried or braised, and served in a tortilla, seasoned with salt, lime, and a spicy sauce. A 100g serving of the worms contains more than 650 calories: more than twice as many calories as an equivalent piece of steak, or one and half Starbucks blueberry muffins.
Keiko Chavers, chairperson of the company DuKo Student, tastes a chocolate cupcake made of mealworms and topped with a locust at the cookery school at the University of Wageningen. Two of Arnold van Huis and Marcel Dicke, of the university, and cooking instructor Henk van Gurp have created the Insect Cookbook, which is available in English.
Arnold van Huis of the Netherlands, Professor of Tropical Entomology at Wageningen University, tastes a stir fried dish made of vegetables, mealworms and locusts at the University of Wageningen. Mealworms have a nutty flavour, while locusts are said to taste somewhere between chicken, sunflower seeds and prawns.
A person uses a mobile phone to take photos of whole cooked alligators at the 110th Explorers Club Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. The club, which promotes the scientific exploration of land, sea, air and space, featured catering by chef and exotic creator Gene Rurka. Chef Rurka prepared a variety of dishes featuring an array of insects, wildlife, animal body parts and invasive species.
Cooked tarantulas on skewers are seen at the 110th Explorers Club Annual Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. The spiders, seasoned with salt and garlic, have been a popular snack food in Cambodia since the 1990s. It's rumoured that Cambodians started eating spiders to avoid starvation during the Khmer Rouge era.
A scorpion sits on a cupcake in the kitchen before the 110th Explorers Club Annual Dinner. Scorpions are a delicacy in some parts of China, where they are fried, roasted or grilled on sticks, or just eaten alive. The scorpions' legs do have the unfortunate habit of continuing to move, once the arachnid is dead and skewered.
A man holds up a pack of macaroons containing dehydrated insects, made by
Micronutris plant in Saint Orens de Gameville, France. According to Micronutris, the company is the only firm in Europe that raises insects for human consumption. Regis Duvignau/Reuters
A man holds a pack of sables - shortbread biscuits - made with insects. One of Micronutris's products is a flour-like powder made from ground insects for use in baking. The company also sells living and dehydrated bugs.
A man eats a part of an Uromastyx lizard, also known as a dabb lizard, in a desert near Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The lizards, which are considered a delicacy in some parts of the Middle East, are caught in the spring season using hooks and sniffer dogs as well as bare hands. The lizards can be grilled or eaten raw, and according to popular belief, their blood is used to strengthen the body and treat diseases.
Mohamed Al Hwaity/Reuters
Two snakes are seen inside their compartment in wooden cupboards labelled 'Poisonous Snakes', at a snake soup store in Hong Kong. There are scores of people in Hong Kong who tame snakes to make soup out of them. But the industry is at risk, because with young people are reluctant to take on the job, which is seen as hard and dirty work.
A bowl of snake meat soup served at a snake soup shop in Hong Kong. The soup is a traditional cuisine believed to be good for the health, as it is said to speed up the body's blood flow and keep it strong in the cold winter month.
A woman poses with a locust on her tongue at a discovery lunch in Brussels. Organisers of the event, which included cookery classes, want to draw attention to insects as a source of nutrition.
A cobra embryo is displayed at a snake farm before the Spring Festival in Tainan, Taiwan. According to the snake farm's owner, Huang Kuo-nan, eating cobra eggs with the embryo is good for your health.
Mealworm quiches are seen at the Rijn IJssel school for chefs in Wageningen. Dutch scientist Arnold van Huis says that eating insects will help the health of the environment and people.
A chef prepares a cobra meat burger at a Chinese restaurant in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia. Snake hunters catch about 1,000 cobras from Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java provinces each week to harvest their meat for burgers, which are priced at 10,000 rupiah (50p, 80 US cents, 65 euro cents) each, as well as satay and other dishes. Some customers said they believe cobra meat can cure skin diseases and asthma, and increase sexual virility.
A boy displays boiled rats for sale on the main highway in Malawi's capital Lilongwe.
A dish in an ant sauce in the restaurant Color de Hormiga in Barichara, Colombia. Every year during the April to June season thousands of Colombian farmers and inhabitants of Santander province collect a species of large leafcutter ants as part of a traditional ritual in the region. The ants are cooked and sold as exotic, specialized food.
Jose Miguel Gomez/Reuters
A boy from New York's Public School 7 from the Bronx, New York, US, holds an hors d'oeuvre prepared with an insect, before eating it at New York's Museum of Natural History. Noted chefs were preparing dishes for schoolchildren with insects as part of a program that highlights cultures around the world through their cuisine.
Mike Segar MS/Reuters


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What is this?
By Jorg Paasche Junco
Regional Head, Latin America, Citi Public Sector Group
The benefits to the living standards and employment prospects of citizens who can access a financial system are clear: the World Bank estimates that a 15 percent increase in financial inclusion in a country increases annual employment growth by 1 percent. Given such benefits — which can ultimately increase tax revenues by mobilizing part of the informal economy into the formal sector — many countries are embarking on initiatives that aim to reach the estimated 60 -70 percent of unbanked Latin Americans.
With the majority of Latin America’s adults owning a cell phone, it makes sense to use mobile devices to receive and send payments and access other financial services in order to improve financial inclusion. The importance of mobile cash was underscored by the decision of Mexico, which has one of the most advanced frameworks for mobile cash in the region, to make financial inclusion a key part of the agenda of the G20 summit it hosted in June 2012.
Mobile money offers huge opportunities for governments to reduce corruption and establish systems that deliver transparency, control, and audit capabilities as well as vastly reduce costs. All governments in Latin America make some payments in the form of welfare or other social transfers, known as Conditional Cash Transfers. These programs are designed to help alleviate poverty and improve living standards, and often they are associated with socially advantageous goals, such as improving access to education and healthcare so that citizens can live a fuller and more economically active life.
Social transfers are estimated to total around $1 trillion a year in emerging markets countries. Often, these payments are made in cash because the recipients are unbanked. Cash payments are inefficient and expensive, costing between 10 and 100 times more than electronic payments. Perhaps most importantly, cash payments offer few controls and require multiple intermediaries, resulting in a certain percentage of citizens never receiving their remittances.
Mobile money provides a safer way to obtain social payments and the convenience of immediate access to funds. The bank-based model of mobile cash being implemented in Latin America effectively uses mobile phones as a way to open a bank account without visiting a branch. Once people have a simplified bank account, they can not only receive and make payments to relatives or pay bills, for example, but also begin to save, insure themselves and even borrow funds from microfinance organizations to grow their businesses. Ultimately, mobile phones can be the channel by which financial services providers could sustainably deliver quality, affordable financial products to unbanked segments of the population in a highly convenient and efficient way.
More from Citi:


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Researchers from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology have disclosed a serious vulnerability in the Bluetooth protocol which lets attackers intercept and tamper with data transmitted between devices.
Vulnerable data includes contacts, keystrokes from a wireless keyboard, and the information from medical, point-of-sale, or automotive equipment, Ars Technica reported.
The report also noted that an attacker could forge keystrokes on a Bluetooth keyboard to open a command window or malicious website.
For an attack to succeed, both paired devices must be vulnerable.
Google, Intel, and Apple have issued patches for the vulnerability. LG and Huawei have also released security fixes for certain devices.
Carnegie Mellon University’s CERT divison lists Microsoft as unaffected by the issue.
“Microsoft implements an old version of the standard, which is even less secure, rather than the broken contemporary standard,” the researchers stated.
Full details about the disclosure and vendors who have issued patches can be found on the researchers’ webpage.


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Chinese giant Baidu officially launched its chatbot, Ernie Bot, after the government approved its application, alongside that of several other AI companies.
Ernie Bot is now available for download from app stores or Baidu’s website. Much like its main rival, ChatGPT, users can ask Ernie Bot questions or prompt it to help write market analysis, give marketing slogan ideas, and summarize documents. The company told The Verge Ernie Bot is available globally, but users need a Chinese number to register and log in. The Baidu app is available on US Android and iOS app stores but is only in Chinese.
Baidu also opened a plug-in market for Ernie Bot.
Company representatives said the Ernie Bot surpassed 1 million users in the first 19 hours since launch.
The company said in an emailed statement that, in addition to the Ernie Bot, it plans to launch “a suite of new AI-native apps that allow users to fully experience the four core abilities of generative AI: understanding, generation, reasoning, and memory.”
Baidu co-founder and CEO Robin Li noted in the same statement that the company will be able to collect “massive valuable, real-world human feedback” to improve its foundation model, also called Ernie, and bring more innovation to the Ernie Bot.
The Ernie Bot has had a complicated journey, especially after Baidu’s first demo disappointed investors by using prerecorded videos.
Other companies cleared by the Chinese government included SenseTime, Baichuan Intelligent Technology, Zhipu AI, and MiniMax.
Under China’s generative AI guidelines, companies must “adhere to core values of socialism,” and all training data for foundation models has to come from sources deemed legitimate by the government.


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The far-flung MCU market is expected to contract by 6% because of an overall slowdown in electronic systems, falloff in car purchases, and the U...
IC Insights forecasted that the growth rates of IC product in 2019 are expected to be heavily weighted toward the negative side of the chart...
Historically, the driving force behind the higher average annual growth rate of the semiconductor industry as compared to the electronic systems market is the increasing value or content of semiconductors used in electronic systems. With global unit shipments of cellphones, automobiles, and PCs showing maturity and slowing over the past 10 years, the disparity between the 3% 2008-2018 CAGR registered in the electronic systems market and the 7% 2008-2018 CAGR displayed by the semiconductor market is directly due to the increased content/value of semiconductors in electronic systems.
While the trend of increasing semiconductor content has been evident for the past 30 years, the big jump in the average semiconductor content in electronic systems in 2017 and 2018 was primarily due to the huge surge in DRAM and NAND flash ASPs and average electronic system sales growth last year. The memory IC ASP jump experienced over the past two years (56% in 2017 and 29% in 2018) is expected to reverse itself this year (-33%) and bring the semiconductor content percentage down with it. However, beginning in 2020, the semiconductor content percentage figure is expected to once again resume its climb and eventually reach a new high of 31.8% in 2023.
The trend of increasingly higher semiconductor value in electronic systems has a limit. Extrapolating an annual increase in the percent semiconductor figure indefinitely would, at some point in the future, result in the semiconductor content of an electronic system reaching 100%. Whatever the ultimate ceiling is, once it is reached, the average annual growth for the semiconductor industry will closely track that of the electronic systems market (i.e., about 4%-5% per year).
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- 5Taiwan's Tech Tycoons Assembled to Discuss National Industry Development


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Covid seems to be causing big delays in parcel delivery for the Postal Service. Articles are popping up from all across the country on postal delivery delays. Parcels are up 40% over last year now and that is expected to grow as Christmas sneaks closer.
Postal workers for their part are doing everything they can, including working overtime to try to get parcels delivered. Your local carrier can only deliver what gets sent to their office and many packages are taking a long time to reach the local offices. Plants and offices across the country are working with a limited staff due to Covid and things are moving slower. Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have.
Take a minute and thank your postal workers who are working under extreme pressure the midst of unprecedented challenges. I promise they will appreciate the gesture.


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LIVE COVERAGE | CONCLUDED
Stock Market Rallies in Midday Turnaround After September Inflation Data
The Wall Street Journal’s full markets coverage.
Oct. 13, 2022 at 5:08 PM EDT
8 months ago
DWAC Stock Soars on Google App Store's Approval of Truth Social
Shares of the blank-check company trying to merge with Donald Trump’s social-media firm soared after Google approved Truth Social to be made available through its mobile-app store.
Digital World Acquisition, the special-purpose acquisition company, was up 20% at more than $19 a share in morning trading.
Truth Social is already available on Apple’s App Store, and was recently approved for the Samsung Galaxy Store. Google Play is the largest for devices using the Android operating system.


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You didn’t want to read that 526-page FDA-commissioned report about premium cigars? Would you like to read 4,349 words of what I think about it?
The much-anticipated NASEM report on premium cigars is out.
While FDA is not bound to adhere to the report’s findings, it does provide some insight as to what the future of premium cigar regulation might look like in the U.S.
Next Thursday, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will release its much anticipated report on premium cigars, which will set the stage…


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The apparent leak to two Apple-focused websites claimed to confirm the existence of the iPhone X, a special version of the phone to mark its tenth anniversary.
Discussion of new features has spiked interest in the new device to above that of rival Samsung and its new Note 8 smartphone, according to one industry analyst.
The new device, which could cost more than £1,000, will reportedly feature a face-scanning camera and cable free charging for the first time.
David Barker of technology marketing firm Amobee said online discussion of the upcoming announcement was focussing on the alleged new features, which he claimed was a positive sign for potential sales.
"Part of the challenge Apple faces around the upcoming announcement of their 10th anniversary iPhone is, after a decade spent improving the product line, it's increasingly difficult to come up with new features to wow consumers," he said.
"During that time, the smartphone market has gone from huge growth potential to achieving scale, and now the biggest competition for a new iPhone model is often old iPhone models as the audience needs to be convinced an upgrade is warranted.
"In that context, the high amount of digital interest for facial recognition and wireless charging around the upcoming iPhone is an extremely positive sign for Apple, and the early indication is if those features are announced on Tuesday, that would generate the necessary excitement to lift iPhone sales."
Mr Barker said the increased discussion around Apple since the leak had seen online engagement for iPhone-related content increase to 18% more than that of Samsung's new Note 8 phone.
The most popular subjects were the possible inclusion of facial recognition software and wireless charging.
The iPhone X will reportedly be unveiled alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus at the company's new headquarters in California.
A new Apple Watch and Apple TV streaming box could also be among the new products showcased by the technology giant.


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BGMI Season 5 Release Date, Rewards: Battlegrounds Mobile India was released earlier this year and is the most downloaded and played battle royale game in India. The current and ongoing season 4 or Month 4 Royale pass is slated to end very soon.
There are a lot of rumors that have already leaked and are currently circulating around the internet about the possible release date for the M5 Royale Pass. We at Official Panda have curated some reliable info about the release of the M5 royale pass in BGMI.
BGMI M5 Royale Pass
Battlegrounds mobile India M5 is right around the corner and we have some reliable info about the possible rewards.
- A brand new mythic emote -Vanguard.
- A new royale pass avatar.
- A new emote that hasn’t been released before – Strange Wave.
There are a whole lot of other things that are in the store for Month 5 Royale Pass in BGMI.
Also, Read; How to Use Limited UC in BGMI – Get Free UC
BGMI Season 5 Royale Pass Rewards
- Helmet Skin: A brand new helmet will be coming to BGMI.
- The new helmet skin will be brand new and is darker brown color of the shade.
- Pistol Skin: A new pistol skin is also making its way in the new royale pass.
- The new pistol skin is of Epic Gold Shaded Pistol.
- New AKM Skin: A new AKM skin is also coming to the M5 royale pass.
- The new skin is strongly rumored to be a lot like the skin that was revealed in Halloween Crate.
- New Backpack: A new backpack is making its way into the battleground mobile India.
- This new backpack will come in the new M5 royale pass.
M5 Royale Pass Cost
- The royale pass always comes at a cost of the in-game currency.
- The royale pass is always worth the cost as it brings a lot of additional skins, rewards, and so much more.
- The new M5 Royale Pass is rumored to come at a starting price of 360 UC for the elite royale pass.
- The Elite plus royale pass comes at the cost of 960 UC.
All the additional details regarding the release of the M5 Royale Pass will soon be revealed in an official statement by Krafton and the rumored date is around November 19th – November 21st, 2021.
Also Read: BGMI X Baby Shark Collaboration ; Baby Shark Event In BGMI


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iOS app developer FutureTap has received a crash report from a device running iOS 5. FutureTap notes the crash involved MKUserLocationBreadCrumb, which 9to5Mac notes is related to the maps/location functions in iOS and could mean these APIs have been altered in iOS 5. Since Apple is now...
This is a weird one. FutureTap was surprised to recognize one of their app's screens in a strange place: a recent Apple patent outlining how a possible travel application could work. The company wasn't quite sure what to do next -- as you can see above, it's a straightforward copy of the Where To?...
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BRUSSELS, Dec. 6, 2018 (PPI Europe) -Switzerland’s Südpack Bioggio has installed a MW 80 gravure press supplied by Bobst at its Bioggio printing facility.
“Our customers are demanding short runs of non-repeat jobs more and more frequently, often with the addition of special visual and tactile finishing effects that enhance the attractiveness of the packaging at points of sale,” Südpack Bioggio managing director Enrico Riesel said in a press release. He added: “Finding a way to meet these requests without increasing production costs can be challenging, especially on gravure equipment that has thrived in handling mostly medium to long runs”.
According to Riesel, if packaging converters want to play a role in the market, they need to be as flexible as possible in terms of quality, special applications and speed of turn-around. “[Converters] are also under a lot of pressure to be competitive and therefore need to find ways to reduce production costs internally. The secret to full efficiency for us has been identifying the right dedicated machine for dedicated job types” Riesel said.
Südpack Bioggio is part of the Germany-headquartered international film manufacturer of food, non-food and medical packaging Südpack Verpackungen.


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Marvel launched its first NFT Digital Comic Books on Veve platform
Marvel in partnership
with Veve, officially licensed launching the inaugural series of classic Marvel
Comics for sale in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on VeVe platform.
These digital comic books are based on Spider-Man and Captain America comic
books. It is a part of larger initiative to celebrate Marvel Month in
partnership with VeVe, with this launch of its first NFT comic books.
The inauguration done on 19th August. The prices these marvel NFTs comics will vary depending on the demand and different levels. Each digital comic book have five levels from common to secret rare which are COMMON – Classic Cover, UNCOMMON – Vintage A variant, RARE – Hero Variant, ULTRA RARE – Vibranium Variant, SECRET RARE – True Believer Variant.
On Thursday, August 19 at 8:00 am PT one NFT, Marvel Comics #1, along with 60,000 editions, featuring the appearances of the Human Torch and Namor, the Sub-Mariner was launched. Along with 50,000 editions on Friday, August 20 at 8:00 am PT, Journey into Mystery #85 was launched which features the first appearance of Loki, the God of Mischief, Heimdall, and Asgard.
The third comic Fantastic Four #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby along with 60,000 editions was launched. This comic features the first appearance of the Fantastic Four and began the Marvel Age of comics.
The common ‘Classic cover’ will have 40,000 copies while the secret rare ‘True Believer Variant’ will have just 500 versions.
The Loki NFT, the final one, with a lot fewer copies and two different rarity levels will also be arriving soon.
Till now, two Marvel sales have gone down on VeVe. The Spider-Man digital statue collection debuted the series on VeVe while last week released the Captain America’s collection. The Spidey collection around 65,000 NFTs sold out in less than 24-hours. the follow-up in less than 24 minutes. The popularity and demand can be seen more when in just 30 minutes of release the might seem series NFTs Captain America from Marvel got sold.
All these fully readable NFTs are available on the Veve app on both Android and iOS for the fans and collectors to buy from fully customizable virtual showrooms. Later in August, collectors can look forward to the release of other Marvel digital products such as digital statues, digital comic books and other digital collectibles on the VeVe App.
CBW - External Analyst


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Bipartisan Bill Would Hold USPS Accountable for Opioids Trafficked Through the Mail
A bipartisan pair of senators is looking to hold the U.S. Postal Service more accountable for the illicit opioids that are trafficked through the mail system, calling for the agency to institute a first-of-its-kind comprehensive strategy to address the epidemic.
The U.S. Postal Service Opioid and Illicit Drug Strategy Act would give the agency three months to develop a plan and post it online. The blueprint would support USPS in “coordinating, evaluating and improving its ongoing efforts to prevent the use of mail in the distribution of illicit drugs,” with a priority on opioids, Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich, and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, wrote in their bill.
The federal government should soon receive some assistance in its fight against opioids in the mail through “advanced electronic data,” or AED, which provide USPS and Customs and Border Protection with information about the contents of international packages before they reach the United States. A requirement for the data is already imposed on international packages coming into the country through private carriers like FedEx and UPS, but the mandate will apply across the board to international packages arriving through USPS starting in 2021 due to a measure President Trump signed into law last year.


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Tim Cook said time and again that, for Apple, you are not the product. That’s to say Apple isn’t interested in harvesting your personal data with help of its devices and then sell it to third parties to generate revenue as some of its competitors do. But a new MIT Technology Review report reveals you and your data might be more important for Apple than you think. In fact, you might play an even more important role than you could ever imagine in Apple’s plans to make the iPhone an indispensable device.
The publication learned from sources familiar with the matter that making medical studies widely available to both users interested in taking part in them, and to researchers looking to expand the reach of their studies, might be just one of the features of Apple’s recently released ResearchKit software framework. The company is apparently interested in more complex uses for its health initiative, including studying your DNA.
The company is already collaborating with U.S. researchers to launch iPhone apps that will let you test and then access findings about your DNA. You might then be able to share share the genetic information you obtain with third parties, including physicians or other research apps built with ResearchKit.
Apparently, DNA tests would be conducted in labs approved by Apple, and data would be hosted on servers controlled by scientists, but some of it could appear on a user’s iPhone once testing is done.
Apple plans to “enable the individual to show and share” DNA information with others, including organizers of specific medial studies, a person familiar with the matter revealed.
The company is working with scientists on at least two DNA-based studies that may be presented on stage at WWDC 2015. One of the studies, conducted by the University of California, San Francisco, would look at the causes of premature birth by combining DNA testing information with other data collected by the iPhones of expectant mothers. A second study would be conducted by Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
These particular health-related features – letting users have their DNA tested for future and providing them an easy way of accessing their data – might turn the iPhone and other devices that can record health data and share it with HealthKit and ResearchKit apps into must-have products, both for researchers looking to expand the pool of subjects for certain studies and for patients interested in finding out more information about health and their existing and potential diseases.
In the future, genetic information that would be within the reach of the user, could further be used by all sorts of applications on smart devices. “Some people have ideas,” the publication writes. “Imagine you could swipe your genes at a drugstore while filling a prescription, getting a warning if you’re predicted to have a reaction to the drug. Or perhaps an app could calculate exactly how closely related you are to anyone else.”
The full report is available at the source link.


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The Jadcherla facility will primarily cater to India first and subsequently will look to supply markets such as Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Nutreco began operating in India in 2013. Prior to the establishment of this new premix manufacturing facility, business at Trouw Nutrition India was based on the management of animal nutrition product imports from the Netherlands and Indonesia, working with distributors and key accounts.
The company also operates lab services for feed customers in Hyderabad. Its MasterLab conducts varied analytical assays for complete feed, raw materials and water.
Construction began on the new premix facility in 2018. The entire manufacturing process at the site in Jadcherla is automated - from raw material handling to bagging, said the company. The plant, set to be inaugurated on December 7, is expected to reach full capacity utilization in 2025.
Jadcherla is in the Indian state of Telangana. Dr Saurabh Shekhar, managing director, South Asia, Nutreco, said that state was an apt choice considering its easy accessibility and also because it is investor friendly.
“From a market perspective, it’s a major poultry and aqua belt with logistical access to good ports,” he added.
He said the company sees huge potential in the Indian market, with forecast growth rates for a range of animal protein sectors there surpassing those set for other markets, globally.
“Asia and India are key to achieving our mission of Feeding the Future. We already have plants in Japan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar to strengthen our presence in Asia. Establishing a state-of-the-art production facility at Jadcherla, Hyderabad is our way of reinforcing our commitment to South Asia and Indian markets. This is just the beginning of our journey to gain a strong foothold here,” commented Jurriën Zandbergen, managing director, Nutreco Asia.
Nutreco outlined how it has both organic and inorganic growth plans to expand its footprint in the region.
The Dutch group has already been investing in startups in South Asia. In 2018, NuFrontiers, the investment arm of Nutreco, took a stake in India-based Internet of Things (IoT) company, Eruvaka, which develops connected devices and mobile-based decision tools aimed at helping shrimp farmers increase productivity.


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China’s Chengdu to Establish Digital Assets Trading Center, Furthering the CBDC Pilot
“Chengdu will accelerate the construction of the blockchain intellectual property pledge & financing service platform, promote the establishment of digital asset trading center to further the China’s digital yuan pilot.”
On the morning of May 14, speaking at the 17th Representative of the Provincial People’s Congress in Chengdu, Luo Qiang, the Mayor said Chengdu would speed up the blockchain construction as China’s western financial center, according to Sichuan News‘ report.
He also pointed out that great efforts will be made to develop the new economy and actively promote the construction of the national digital economy innovation as a pilot area, accelerating the development of blockchain, 5g, AI.
As one of the listed outlets for Agricultural Bank of China’s internal testing of China’s digital yuan DCEP wallet, Chengdu has been described as one of the hot new startup hubs to emerge since 2017, thanks to rapid economic development which also happens to skew towards tech. The new report suggests that testing in the Xiaongan New Area is mostly focused on retail companies, including food vendors. For Suzhou City, testing is targeted at local government staff. The wallet has some digital currency-related functions, including digital currency exchange, wallet management, transaction tracking, and connecting other wallets. But these functions are currently unavailable to the general public according to 8btc’s report.
Early in 2019, the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu has launched a blockchain-driven platform to cater to cross-border trade between China and Europe that involves multiple modes of transportation. China’s Ministry of Science and Technology announced to support cities including Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Jinan in developing pilot zones for innovative development of the new generation of artificial intelligence on March 9. The ministry plans to develop about 20 pilot zones across the country by 2023.
The region also has ambitions towards becoming the finance hub of China. Some of the more notable startups hailing for Chengdu include Codoon, internationally-known Camera 360, and Tower, among others. Beyond just homegrown startups though, with China is opening up to emerging technology, opinions have been floating that Chengdu could be a choice for blockchain enterprises, including China’s digital yuan to set up their own expansions.
China is well-known for its global manufacturing, with sometimes entire brands being produced in the country. Issues behind transparency and trust within the supply chain have attracted blockchain into the region, though no doubt Chengdu’s friendly attitude towards emerging technology provided a driving force as well.


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It took a long time, but you will soon be able to use the 4G version of the Apple Watch in the Netherlands. A Dutch provider is going to cellular Support Apple Watch.
Apple Watch 4G in the Netherlands
Good news for Apple Watch enthusiasts, because the 4G version of the smartwatch will finally be available in the Netherlands. KPN late RTL News know that it will support the 4G version of the Apple Watch. However, it is still unclear when exactly this will happen, but it will probably be later this year. Then the new Apple Watch Series 7 should also appear, although it is still unclear when the smart watch will be in stores.
During the iPhone 13 event, Apple said that the Series 7 will be released “this fall”, but an exact release date was not given. We also do not yet know when the 4G models of the various Apple Watch models will be released in the Netherlands and whether KPN will charge extra costs. In some countries you have to pay a little more to use data with the Watch.
We have secretly known for a while that the 4G version of the Apple Watch is coming to the Netherlands. iPhoned recently discovered that Apple accidentally revealed in a support article that the 4G Apple Watch also appears here. A full support page has now also appeared on the Apple website, explaining how to set up a cellular data connection on an Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Series 7
Last night, at the Apple September 2021 event, the Watch Series 7 was officially unveiled. The smartwatch has a brand new design, with a larger screen and thinner bezels. The ‘bezels’ around the display are, according to Apple, 40 percent smaller and this makes the screen considerably larger without the Watch being too.
The other improvements are smaller. The display is brighter and the housing sturdier, but the Watch Series 7 has the same processor as its predecessor and no larger battery. However, the battery charges a lot faster, so that it is already 80 percent full after 45 minutes on the power. This is 33 percent compared to last year’s Apple Watch Series 6.
Do you want to know more? Read more about the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 7. Also check out the handy round-up of the iPhone 13 event, where we list all the revelations for you. In addition to new iPhones, Apple also came with improved iPads.


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Jordan Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Nayef Al Fayez said the Arabian Travel Market 2015 in Dubai is one of the most important platforms for tourism in the world and is an important occasion to promote Arab tourism.
He said in a statement that Jordan’s participation in the event aimed at promoting the Kingdom’s position on the world tourism map, expanding Jordanian tourism product channels and showcasing the benefits of Jordanian tourism and its components.
Jordan’s participation saw many important activities and events such as participation in the ministerial forum of the World Tourism Organization where a number of tourism ministers and decision-makers in the tourism sector took part to develop a strategy to enhance two-way tourism and increase the number of intra-region visitors.


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Eastern Market Corp. (EMC) today announced a partnership with Michigan Farm to Freezer, a community-based processor of fruits and vegetables based in Traverse City, which will bring its operations to Detroit. Launched by Brandon Seng and Mark Coe in 2013, Farm to Freezer flash-freezes produce sourced from local farmers to preserve its nutrients and flavors before packaging it for local schools, grocery stores, community feeding programs, and restaurants.
EMC was awarded an $800,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services under the Community Economic Development Healthy Food Financing Initiatives for strategies reconnecting the local food system. A portion of this grant will allow Farm to Freezer to lease and renovate a 14,000-square foot freezer facility located at 1820 Mack Ave., which has been vacant for 10 years and previously housed Cattleman’s Meat.
Construction on the site is in its initial stages and is expected to be completed by July. The new facility will employ 25 people when at full capacity.
“The Farm to Freezer concept is simple and is one that generations before us put into practice … when produce was abundant, they saved and stored it for use when it wasn’t as readily available.” says Seng. “Our expansion to Detroit will help increase access to nutritious food by connecting our state’s fruit and vegetable resources with some of our community’s most pressing needs – nutritious food and jobs.”
Seng adds that working with EMC will provide Farm to Freezer with additional opportunities for innovation.
“The energy and creativity that is happening there has captured our program. We look forward to building relationships with neighboring businesses that leverage our frozen capacity and move the District’s vision forward,” he says.
EMC is a nonprofit organization that manages Eastern Market on behalf of Detroit. More information about Eastern Market events can be found here.


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A federal judge has thrown out a class action against Google, saying the search giant didn’t harm anyone when it tricked Internet Explorer(s msft) and Apple’s(s aapl) Safari browsers into accepting advertising cookies — even though those browsers’ settings specifically forbid such cookies.
In a Delaware ruling reported by the Wall Street Journal, US District Judge Sue Robinson found Google and two other firms had circumvented the no-advertising settings, but that the consumers were unable to show they had been harmed by the fact the companies collected their data and used it to target ads to them.
News that Google was “hacking” the Safari browser came to light in February of 2011, when a Stanford graduate reported that Google was tricking the browser into accepting cookies; the “trick” worked by disguising advertising-related cookies as functional ones (like those used to remember a log-in), and collecting browser information as the user surfed the internet.
Google’s tactics led to a minor outcry, and in August of 2012, the FTC slapped the company with a $22 million fine, and made it promise that it would not “misrepresent” how it treated privacy settings.
At the time, the browser trick and the FTC action led to renewed debate over “do not track” rules for cookies. The debate has since become less relevant, however, as tech companies move away from cookies in favor of more sophisticated cross-device tracking methods. This week, for instance, Microsoft followed Google’s lead in making plans to replace cookies with other techniques.


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Tech stocks may have taken a pounding as the world comes out of the pandemic but new figures from WARC show that Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and, increasingly, Amazon, are tightening their hold on the global ad market.
The big three now account for almost half (46.1%) of all advertising spend, according to WARC’s analysis of company reports. This is up substantially from 2019 pre-pandemic levels where they snaffled around a third (33.8%) of all ad spend.
Alphabet tops the list, accounting for more than a quarter (27.2%) of ad spend, up from one-fifth in 2019. Meta has risen to 14.9% while Amazon has doubled its share to 4.0%.
The three companies have also managed to grow their share of online advertising, despite their dominant size. Altogether, Alphabet, Meta and Amazon accounted for 71.2% of all online ad spend in 2021, up from 67.8% in 2019.


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The 5,620-foot Mount Mackenzie is an ideal place for adventurous skiers.
Life at Montage Deer Valley is far from clichéd.
As space tourism prepares for takeoff, there’s still time to be among the first explorers.
Bespoke putters that will infuse some added inspiration to your game.
Rosewood’s CordeValle resort is offering a golf weekend for groups of four to play at two of California’s top courses, fo
Every Wednesday, the pastry chef for the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris, will create a dessert inspired by an art exhibit on dis
The Yeatman hotel in Oporto, Portugal, is cracking open its 25,000-bottle wine cellar for two days—Saturday and Sunday, N
New York City’s former Buckingham Hotel has reopened as the Quin with shiny, design-driven interiors in a prewar building two blocks from
King Cole Bar & Salon—the newly renovated lounge and dining venue at the St.
Resorts West has teamed up with the celebrated New York City toy store FAO Schwarz to create Santa’s workshop inside its


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Snapchat has unearthed a smarter means of generating revenue from their platform, milking the millennial compulsion of amateur photoshoots each time they visit a restaurant, store or other such brick and mortar business. The new product has been named ‘Snap to Store’.
Geofilters on Snapchat have been a highly successful and popular introduction, and the new Snap to Store update for brands to calculate store visits on the basis of how many times their geofilter was used by Snapchat users.
Up to seven businesses were on board for the beta test, including Wendy’s, Paramount Pictures and chain store, 7-Eleven among others.
Snap to Store does something even Facebook has previously faced some obstacles with. That is ‘Driving store visits, and offering a way to measure them’ which is a tantalizing prospect for businesses with a physical presence.
One of the first brands to come on board for the beta test, Wendy’s US stores had sponsored geofilters, promoting one of Wendy’s products, and the campaign helped Wendy’s register up to 42,000 visits to Wendy stores within seven days.
Snapchat is offering data dashboard that offers numbers to the business about the number of people who saw the campaign, and the number of people who visited the given location.
Addressing privacy concerns since the feature has to do with users’ locations, Snap Inc. Founder and CEO, Evan Spiegel laid out their principles of not tracking user location when the app isn’t running.
Snap to Store will be made available to more businesses in future, and Snapchat can reapply their knowledge of user preferences with the knowledge of Discover channel and who watches what. Also, based on your use of geofilters, and location, Snapchat can gain some insight into user behaviour to, and that could be termed as invasive and hence the disclaimer from Evan Spiegel making it very clear that Snapchat WILL NOT BE CREEPY.


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The man from Cleveland strolled into a Manhattan shop hunting for two items: an overcoat and an overview. The first would shield him from the chill. The second would provide him even more intel on the state of American retail.
Jack Kleinhenz bagged both.
“I love the social interaction of the stores,” says Kleinhenz, chief economist for the National Retail Federation and principal of Kleinhenz & Associates, a financial consulting and wealth management firm based in Ohio. “It’s entertaining for me. Of course, that’s probably because of my job.
“I like to go in and just observe. On that visit, I tried on a coat and talked to some sales associates. I asked them how things are going, what’s new and how they’re doing.”
What he heard: They’re doing better.
Kleinhenz was in New York to attend NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show. The industry’s annual, flagship event drew nearly 40,000 people to the Javits Center in January to see, sample and sell the latest retail goods and gadgetry.
In New York, Transform sat down with Kleinhenz to hear his views on the moods of both the sellers and the shoppers.
TRANSFORM: Heading into 2019, how hungry are consumers to spend their money in the stores and online?
JACK KLEINHENZ: The consumer is in a good place.
Financially, many households are in good shape. The ratio of monthly financial obligations to disposable income is still low, equal to what we saw 30 to 40 years ago, (according to the Federal Reserve Board). I think many people generally feel more secure – as far as their jobs and their balance sheets.
More broadly, we have some tailwinds going into 2019. We’re at near full employment. Wages have been increasing. Lower gas prices put more money into people’s hands to spend. And we’ve had some tax benefits, although it will be interesting to see what happens with tax refunds.
TRANSFORM: New tech is front and center at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show. Which of these technologies have the greatest ability to elevate the retail companies that embrace them?
KLEINHENZ: It’s a great question but it’s hard to measure right now. I am seeing some interesting applications, specifically of AI and robotics.
Among the retail startups here that are using these new technologies, I’d say 15 to 20 percent of these firms could potentially be very, very successful over time.
Just look at what they’re doing. They’re making it easier and more cost effective for the retailer – and they’re making it attractive for the consumer.
TRANSFORM: What does it say to you that so many companies are investing in digital reinvention?
KLEINHENZ: That we’re not standing still.
You know, I love this line from (former racing star) Mario Andretti: ‘If everything seems under control, you‘re not going fast enough.’ And if (standing still) is the case, I think those companies have to move and they have to move fast. They can’t stand on their laurels. They can’t continue to operate as they have been.
TRANSFORM: What predictions about the digital revolution in retail have not come true?
KLEINHENZ: A few years ago, people would say: ‘Well, e-commerce is going to take over.’
What have we seen? We’ve seen a lot of convergence between e-commerce and bricks-and-mortar stores. They’re learning how they can be more effective in attracting consumers by having a store presence.
Retail firms are thinking: ‘No matter where I get sales, no matter what channel I get sales, that’s where I’ve got to go. So I have to do multiple channels.’ You’re not going to lose the consumer’s interest in actually going to a store, picking up an item, seeing and using that item in person.”
TRANSFORM: When you shop, what technologies do you use?
KLEINHENZ: I’m a multi-channel user. I go online and look at specific stores.
For successful e-commerce companies, if they can get you to their website, you become more loyal to them. That’s how they’re going to be successful rather than just having a consumer type a certain product into their browser and then seeing what that browser tells them.
For retailers, it’s all about creating that loyalty and that relationship. For me, I am a loyal customer of a number of retailers. I will shop online. But I also go to the stores. In fact, last weekend, I spent all day Saturday shopping with my wife, looking for an overcoat. And I found a good fit at a good price – a good day.”
Top image: Participants fill the Javits Center at NRF 2019: Retail’s Big Show. (Getty Images)


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Toys 'R' Us will have opened 21 new stores in 2011 by the end of the year, including 11 'R' Superstores and 10 side-by-side locations. These new stores across 13 states are representative of the company’s strategy to bring Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us together under one roof in an integrated store format.
In addition, the remodeling of 23 existing locations to the side-by-side format is also underway and will be completed by the end of the year. By adding 21 new stores and renovating 23 existing locations, the company will create more than 1,100 jobs in the U.S.
“Integrating Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us under one roof has been part of the company’s strategy for the past five years and customers continue to embrace the enhanced shopping experience these stores offer,” says Jerry Storch, chairman and chief executive officer, Toys 'R' Us. "The Side-by-Side store format provides exceptional convenience for parents, offering a wide selection of differentiated toys and juvenile products, and allows the company to cultivate customer loyalty as their children grow and they transition from Babies 'R' Us to Toys 'R' Us shoppers."


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Edmunds found that the German automaker’s first EV outperformed its EPA estimate by 59 percent.
The Detroit automaker will make just 40 examples of the variant over the next two years.
Hired by the automaker when he was 34 years old, the talented creative was pivotal in shaping some of the company’s most iconic models.
The car tip’s the scale at 600 pounds lighter than the stock GT500CR.
All-electric pickup trucks look like more than just a fad.
It may not be the Mustang you’re used to, but this kid-carrier has a wilder side than expected.
The muscle car’s naturally aspirated 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank V-8 purrs like a lion.
Naturally, Leno also takes it for a spin.
The battery-powered crossover is the fifth longest-range EV on the market.