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On Wednesday, the price of Bitcoin climbed above $1000 as the unpredictable digital currency continued its month-long rise.
On the popular Japan-based exchange Mt Gox, the currency was for the first time in its history valued above the $1,000 mark. Since the beginning of November, bitcoin’s market value has increased five-fold.
Bitcoin’s November performance. Graph via bitcoinity.org.
Some have interpreted the rapid growth as an asset bubble that will inevitably correct itself at any moment. For others, it’s an indicator that the currency is finally gaining its footing in the marketplace. But what does the rapid growth mean for the average investor? Is now a good time to buy?
Those who think Bitcoin’s value increase is genuine point to the fact that there are a limited number of coins on the market. Right now there are about 12 million, which puts the market’s overall value at over $12 billion. More coins will be produced in the coming years, but only at a limited, predefined rate that will eventually stop. As supply decreases, conventional wisdom goes, demand, and thus price, should rise.
However, what makes this investment such a risky venture is that so little of it is actually spent in day-to-day transactions. Instead, more than half of all Bitcoins are held by speculators hoping that the price will continue to climb. Of the relatively small amount of coins actually changing hands, the majority is spent on gambling sites.
Because of this, Bitcoin occupies an interesting position. When one buys the coin, they are essentially just gambling that others will do the same. In other words, there isn’t much of an economy around the currency, beyond that of investors. As the Atlantic‘s Matthew O’Brien wrote, “Bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme libertarians use to make money off each other—because gold wasn’t enough of one for them.”
This may be changing however. For the time being, the currency seems to be gaining credibility among lawmakers and retailers alike. “It isn’t just the bitcoin community saying that bitcoin is used for good things and there’s a lot of great potential. We have members of Congress and government agencies who all agree,” Jinyoung Lee Englund, a spokesperson for the Bitcoin Foundation, told Reuters.
And on Black Friday, some 200 retailers will be offering discounts for those who use the cryptocurrency to do everything from donate to charity to purchase a ticket to space.
Of course, Bitcoin is only a few years old, and it’s had a rocky time of things so far. It’s mainstream reputation was somewhat damaged by the fact that it was the major currency used on used on controversial Internet black market Silk Road. And from the beginning, many economists have dismissed the entire notion of digital currency as a passing trend.
It’s easy to take the notion of a speculation bubble too far, however. When Bitcoin last boomed it quickly crashed, but a look at the long term trend suggest that overall the currency is increasing in value:
Bitcoin’s longterm growth. Graph via Bitcoinity.org.
So should the average investor invest?
As Bitcoin continues to rise, the potential for a self-correcting crash looms large, particularly given its steep price tag and history of fluctuation. One worthwhile alternative to consider is Litecoin, the relatively new digital currency created in 2011.
Right now, Litecoin is much cheaper than Bitcoin, trading on November 28 for over $40. In the past few days it’s price has seen a similar rise to Bitcoin.
Litecoin’s two-day growth. Graph via LTC-Charts.
Also similar to Bitcoin, the rapid growth appears to have accelerated at the beginning of November:
Litecoin’s November performace. Graph via LTC-Charts.
It’s possible, of course, that both currencies are doomed to fail. But right now, Litecoin is much less of a financial risk. And, for that matter, if it turns out that they don’t fail, Litecoin investors who get in now stand to have more to gain.
In any case, if acceptance by retailers is a major hurdle for these currencies, the holiday shopping season couldn’t have come at a better time. With Bitcoin prices soaring, and Black Friday retailers willing to give the cryptocurrency a chance, now may be just the time to buy.
Photo by Antana/Flickr


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Restaurant group Rodizio Preto, which specialises in Brazilian cuisine, is to open two new restaurants.
The nine-strong group will soon be joined by a site in Bromley, opening later this year, as well as one in Leatherhead, Surrey.
Preto's restaurants all feature an authentic churrascaria over which up to 15 different cuts of meat are slow roasted. The restaurants also serve salads, pastas, rice and feijoada (a black bean and meat stew).
The chain, led by Dean Knight, has a flagship venue in London's Shaftesbury Avenue, alongside others in Putney, Victoria, Queensway and Camden, all in London. Outside of London, it has sites in Colchester, Croydon, Enfield and Loughborough.
No-one from Preto was available to comment.
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Skoda is all excited to reveal sedan: Skoda Rapid 2020 model which is expected to be launched anytime by the end of 2020 or beginning of 2021. The model is expected to be based on the MQB-A0-IN Volkswagen’s performance localised which will be entirely based on the Indian market.
2020 Skoda Rapid Exterior Design:
Skoda has been known to load its car with several premium features. The Upcoming model: Skoda rapid will experience a series of changes such as:
1. The front of the car will come up with an all-new hexagonal grille with a design of headlamp in the shape of a trapezoid.
2. Even the rear-view mirror gets an all-new tail-lamps design of the cluster.
3. The rear and bumpers get an all-new design which gives it a classier and more aggressive look and the current version of Skoda Rapid.
4. The model will come up with an all-new black lip spoiler.
5. There will be alloy wheels, black in colour of premium quality.
6. The model will also be equipped with all new fog lamps.
2020 Skoda Rapid Interior Design:
Skoda has left no stone unturned to revamp the interiors of the model by giving it a more premium look. The interior of the new Skoda Rapid model will be seen coming up with new designs for the dashboard and various new features. The various interior design features include:
1. The new model will come up with a steering wheel of three-spoke flat-button
2. The cluster of the model will be fully digital.
3. A steering wheel of 2-spoke will be available on demand.
2020 Skoda Rapid Engine:
Skoda will launch its upcoming SUV model with several engine options, such as:
1. 1.6 Litre engine of petrol will come in two tune states with a lower producing power of 88.7 bhp and a higher producing spec of 108.4 bhp.
2. Another option of 1.4 TSI powerful engine with a 123.3bhp will also be offered to the customers.
The model will come up with an option of transformation which will include a five or six-speed gearbox (manual) and a seven-speed DSG, which will entirely depend on the engine.
As per speculations, Skoda has also confirmed 6 brand new models which will be launched in the Indian market. People can’t wait to try their hands on the upcoming models.


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It is a smart phone designed especially for those who love the big screens. The new Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 , first honorary member of the newly released Mega family, is presented to the market with a 5.8-inch screen . An extension of vertigo for which Samsung has decided to risk having found that the Samsung Galaxy Note is a proposal of interest to thousands of people who use their smartphone to take their professional affairs, but also to enjoy great moments of leisure.
In this case, the screen will become one of its main advantages, so that the user will have the opportunity to watch movies, read and work on documents without losing the sight in the attempt. Otherwise, your phone sheet located within the medium to high, detail that could turn this piece into a smartphone more affordable than you might think . Want to know how it looks like inside the new Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8 ? Below, we offer a thorough analysis with great detail.


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Australia's business inventories dropped by 1.2 percent quarter-on-quarter in the three months to March 2020, after a 0.3 percent rise in the prior period and compared with market estimates of a 0.7 percent fall. It was the largest decline in business inventories since the last quarter of 2014, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Inventories decreased at miners (-0.8 percent vs 8.7 percent in Q4 2019), accommodation and food services (-5.4 percent vs 1.6 percent) and wholesale trade (-0.6 percent vs 0.2 percent), and fell further in manufacturing (-2 percent vs -0.8 percent). In addition, inventories grew less at electricity, gas, water & waste services (1.8 percent vs 5.8 percent). Meanwhile, retail trade inventories went down at a softer pace (-1.2 percent vs -1.7 percent). Through the year to the first quarter, business inventories fell by 1.2 percent.
Business Inventories in Australia averaged 0.50 percent from 1985 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 2.80 percent in the first quarter of 1999 and a record low of -2.80 percent in the third quarter of 1986. This page provides - Australia Business Inventories- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Australia Business Inventories - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on August of 2020. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
Business Inventories in Australia is expected to be 0.30 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Business Inventories in Australia to stand at 0.50 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Australia Business Inventories is projected to trend around 0.50 percent in 2021 and 0.40 percent in 2022, according to our econometric models.


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The highest inflation in Germany in forty years will add to the political crisis and cause a recession in the economy, which will inevitably affect tourism. These are the conclusions of the Advisory Council of Economists under the German Government.
The warning they published explicitly stated “the risk of an economic downturn in Germany.” “This can directly affect the pockets of Germans, limit spending and reduce travel intentions,” experts say. In the current situation of the sanctions war, all economic forecasts are being revised downwards. The main reason is Germany's dependence on Russian oil. “The risk of a recession is significant. It won't stop the economy, but it will be a “heavy burden,” said economist Volker Wieland. Growth, previously estimated at 4.6 percent in 2022, will ease to 1.8 percent. “The situation may be accompanied by high inflation hitting the pockets of citizens,” he adds. According to the economist's forecasts, 6.2% inflation can be expected this year.
Recall that at the end of March, experts from the Association of European Travel Agencies and Tour Operators (ECTAA) recorded a significant decrease in the number of bookings, in many markets – primarily in Germany. “Consumers are reluctant to make new bookings,” the ECTAA said. They also added that it is still too early to make accurate forecasts for the upcoming season, but demand is no longer what they expected. “In addition to the feeling of insecurity, the fall in bookings is also affected by the rise in travel prices, which will increase even more in the coming period,” experts say. In the second half of 2022, they predict an increase in the cost of travel as a result of rising energy prices and the rising cost of basic goods – and this is of particular concern. Including because the price increase “combined with the decrease in the purchasing power of travelers due to inflationary pressures” will further deter potential tourists from buying a tour. Read the details here.
For those who care about a healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading: “Scientists have established a unique effect of 100 grams of cranberries per day on the heart.”
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Shares in the software company VMware surged 75 percent in their first day of trading, closing at $51, or $22 above the initial offering price of $29.
VMware, which raised about $1.1 billion in the offering, hopes that the strong reception in the stock market will also have strategic and marketing benefits. A valuable stock will give VMware the currency to make acquisitions, Diane Greene, the chief executive, said in an interview.
The standout public offering — the largest technology company I.P.O. since Google in 2004 — is also an “über-marketing event,” Ms. Greene said, which should widen the audience for its software.
VMware makes so-called virtual software that allows a computer to run different operating systems, or several versions of the same operating system, at the same time. In corporate data centers this means that more chores can be juggled by fewer computers, reducing spending on hardware, electricity and maintenance.
At their height today, the shares reached $55.50, or 90 percent above the offering price.
The strong opening was encouraging not only for VMware’s 3,000 employees, nearly all of whom are shareholders, but for the company’s other investors as well. In the last couple of months, both Intel and Cisco have invested in VMware.
EMC, the big computer storage and software company, will continue to own 86 percent of VMware. It paid $635 million in cash for VMware in December 2003.Continue reading the main story
Today’s closing price values the company at $19.5 billion. “It’s been a great investment,” said David Goulden, chief financial officer of EMC.
VMware’s sales increased more than 70 percent last year, and are now running at a rate of about $1 billion a year. But the company’s customers are still mainly the largest companies.
“To be really mainstream, you need to move into the smaller companies as well,” Ms. Greene said. “And the higher profile of a separate listing, an attractive stock and being more widely known should help us in the marketplace. More companies will understand our products and how they can use them.”Continue reading the main story


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Recycling has always been a way to keep the planet cleaner and healthier, but now it’s fast becoming more user-friendly and lucrative.
Curbside Rewards is Omaha’s newest recycling outlet. It’s a private, green company that offers a stimulus program to customers who recycle.
Curbside Rewards is partnered with the Recycle Bank, another recycling rewards company headquartered in New York. Although it doesn't replace the city's recycling program, Vice President of Curbside Rewards Brian Gubble, says it's a good compliment to the recycling program already in place.
Curbside Rewards offers people the ability to put their recycling into a 96-gallon container in exchange for reward points. Those reward points are then documented through a radio frequency tag attached to the container, weighed and collected every two weeks.
The cost associated with this, Curbside Rewards officials say, is small compared to the difference the service can make. Members pay a $9.99 subscription to remain enrolled in the program.
As members begin to recycle, they will see their rewards bank increasing and that rewards bank can be checked by logging into an online account. The more a member contributes, the more points will be available for redeeming everything from gift cards to donations for charitable causes and non-profits.
Customers can receive up to $40 a month ($480) in rewards. Those rewards can be used for merchandise at over 160 local partners including Hy-Vee and Fareway Grocery Stores. Rewards can also be used to make donations to causes like Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and The Children’s Museum.
Curbside Rewards is quickly growing in the Omaha area. Any household currently serviced by Elkhorn Sanitation is automatically eligible for the service. Dundee is the second Omaha neighborhood to become officially involved with the program.
Curbside Rewards officials say it’s a demand-based operation and that the organization will offer service to other Omaha neighborhoods that generate 100 or more household subscriptions.
For more information on how you can get involved or to join, go www.CurbsideRewards.com or call 402-763-CART.


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UK inflation has fallen to 4.6 per cent, down from 6.7 per cent in September.
This is the first time inflation has fallen below five per cent in two years when figures for October were published this week.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Sunak has promised to flatten inflation in 2023. It was just over 10 percent in January.
The drop to less than five percent in the consumer price index could be one of the promises he can comfortably say he achieved.
Analysts said a sharp fall in the annual rate of inflation could prompt finance minister Jeremy Hunt to cut taxes in his latest budget announcement due next week.
Mr Sunak said: “Inflation seems to work like a tax. It eats into the pound in your pocket, affecting the price of your grocery, your mortgage, the size of your pension pot. That’s why inflation half as my top priority.
“It took hard decisions and fiscal discipline to get rid of it. Official figures released this morning confirm that we have halved inflation in line with the first of the five priorities I set out at the start of this year.
“But while it is welcome news that prices are no longer rising so quickly, we know that many people are continuing to struggle, which is why we need to stay on course to reduce inflation get all the way back to two percent.”
The prime minister inflated one of the five promises by which the nation should judge its Premiership.
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Article Posted by Scientific American
The only thing worse than being lied to is not knowing you’re being lied to. It’s true that plastic pollution is a huge problem, of planetary proportions. And it’s true we could all do more to reduce our plastic footprint. The lie is that blame for the plastic problem is wasteful consumers and that changing our individual habits will fix it.
Recycling plastic is to saving the Earth what hammering a nail is to halting a falling skyscraper. You struggle to find a place to do it and feel pleased when you succeed. But your effort is wholly inadequate and distracts from the real problem of why the building is collapsing in the first place. The real problem is that single-use plastic—the very idea of producing plastic items like grocery bags, which we use for an average of 12 minutes but can persist in the environment for half a millennium—is an incredibly reckless abuse of technology. Encouraging individuals to recycle more will never solve the problem of a massive production of single-use plastic that should have been avoided in the first place.
As an ecologist and evolutionary biologist, I have had a disturbing window into the accumulating literature on the hazards of plastic pollution. Scientists have long recognized that plastics biodegrade slowly, if at all, and pose multiple threats to wildlife through entanglement and consumption. More recent reports highlight dangers posed by absorption of toxic chemicals in the water and by plastic odors that mimic some species’ natural food.
"Recycling plastic is to saving the Earth what hammering a nail is to halting a falling skyscraper."
Plastics also accumulate up the food chain, and studies now show that we are likely ingesting it ourselves in seafood. If we consumers are to blame, how is it possible that we fail to react when a study reports that there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050? I would argue the simple answer is that it is hard. And the reason why it is hard has an interesting history.
Beginning in the 1950s, big beverage companies like Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch, along with Phillip Morris and others, formed a non-profit called Keep America Beautiful. Its mission is/was to educate and encourage environmental stewardship in the public. Joining forces with the Ad Council (the public service announcement geniuses behind Smokey the Bear and McGruff the Crime Dog), one of their first and most lasting impacts was bringing “litterbug” into the American lexiconthrough their marketing campaigns against thoughtless individuals.
Two decades later, their “Crying Indian” PSA, would become hugely influential for the U.S. environmental movement. In the ad, a Native American man canoes up to a highway, where a motorist tosses a bag of trash. The camera pans up to show a tear rolling down the man’s cheek. By tapping into a shared national guilt for the history of mistreatment of Native Americans and the sins of a throwaway society, the PSA became a powerful symbol to motivate behavioral change. More recently, the Ad Council and Keep America Beautiful teams produced the “I Want to Be Recycled” campaign, which urges consumers to imagine the reincarnation of shampoo bottles and boxes, following the collection and processing of materials to the remolding of the next generation of products.
At face value, these efforts seem benevolent, but they obscure the real problem, which is the role that corporate polluters play in the plastic problem. This clever misdirection has led journalist and author Heather Rogers to describe Keep America Beautiful as the first corporate greenwashing front, as it has helped shift the public focus to consumer recycling behavior and actively thwarted legislation that would increase extended producer responsibility for waste management.
For example, back in 1953, Vermont passed a piece of legislation called the Beverage Container Law, which outlawed the sale of beverages in non-refillable containers. Single-use packaging was just being developed, and manufacturers were excited about the much higher profit margins associated with selling containers along with their products, rather than having to be in charge of recycling or cleaning and reusing them. Keep America Beautiful was founded that year and began working to thwart such legislation. Vermont lawmakers allowed the measure to lapse after four years, and the single-use container industry expanded, unfettered, for almost 20 years.
In 1971 Oregon reacted to a growing trash problem by becoming the first U.S. state to pass a “bottle bill,” requiring a five-cent deposit on beverage containers that would be refunded upon the container’s return. Bottle bills provide a strong incentive for container reuse and recycling, and the 10 states with bottle deposit laws have around 60 percent container recovery rates compared to 24 percent in states without them. Yet Keep America Beautiful and other industrial lobbying groups have publicly opposed or marketed against bottle deposit legislation for decades, as it threatens their bottom line. Between 1989 and 1994 the beverage industry spent $14 million to defeat the National Bottle Bill.
In fact, the greatest success of Keep America Beautiful has been to shift the onus of environmental responsibility onto the public while simultaneously becoming a trusted name in the environmental movement. This psychological misdirect has built public support for a legal framework that punishes individual litterers with hefty fines or jail time, while imposing almost no responsibility on plastic manufacturers for the numerous environmental, economic and health hazards imposed by their products.
Because of a legal system that favors corporate generation of plastic, plus public acceptance of single-use items as part of the modern economy, consumers who want to reduce their plastic footprint are faced with a host of challenges. We should carry around reusable beverage and takeout containers. We should avoid bottled water or sodas at all costs. When we have to accept a single-use plastic container, we should inform ourselves about the complex nuances of which types of plastic are acceptable (No. 1–3, but not No. 5?), which forms are acceptable (bottles and jugs, but not bags?) and where they can be deposited (curbside or at a special location?).
In the case of most restaurants and gas stations, which almost never have customer-facing recycling facilities even where required by law, we should transport recyclables to another location that does recycle. Even then, we must live with the knowledge that plastics generally degrade with recycling, such that plastic bottles are more often turned into non-recyclable carpets and synthetic clothes than more bottles. Effectively, we have accepted individual responsibility for a problem we have little control over. We can swim against this plastic stream with all our might and fail to make much headway. At some point we need to address the source.
According to a 2016 Pew Research poll, 74 percent of Americans think the government should do “whatever it takes to protect the environment.” So what would swift, informed and effective governmental action to stop the pollution of our water, food and bodies look like?


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Weak US data boosts dollar
At 0700 AEST on Wednesday, the local currency was trading at 93.94 US cents, virtually unchanged from 93.93 cents on Tuesday.
The Australian dollar reached 94.24 US cents overnight after figures from the US Labour Department showed that although higher petrol prices pushed US consumer prices up in June, the pace of inflation slowed from May.
The department’s consumer price index rose 0.3 per cent last month, easing from a hefty 0.4 per cent rise in May – the largest increase since February 2013.
The US dollar temporarily lost some ground after the figures were released, giving the Australian dollar a boost, National Australia Bank senior economist David de Garis said.
“But the US dollar recovered ground as stocks held onto their gains, with the Australian dollar easing back to around 93.90 to 94 US cents,” de Garis said.
Easing tensions over Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash in Ukraine also boosted risk appetite, he said.
“It’s been a risk on mood in global markets overnight, aided somewhat by the recovery of bodies from the MH17 crash site which has done something to ease Russian tensions, for now anyway,” he said.
All eyes on Wednesday will be on inflation figures out from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at 1130 AEST.
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Redmi has launched its new smartphone Redmi Note 12 5G in China only last week and it is being told that they can be rebranded in India as Xiaomi and Poco devices in the global market.
Redmi Note 12 5G: Entry in India
Like this smartphone, the device with model number 22111317PI also bears a smaller model number M17, so it is speculated that this device may be rebranded as a Poco phone in India. According to a report, this smartphone will be called as Poco M5 5G series. With this, there is a possibility that this smartphone can be released in India in November.
Read Also: Oppo A98: Powerful smartphone to be launched soon! Special features leaked
Redmi Note 12 5G Specifications
This smartphone will have a 6.67-inch Full HD + OLED display as well as a 120HZ refresh rate. This smartphone has Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chipset and this device is based on Android 12 OS of MIUI 13.
The report shows that this smartphone is going to be very special for Chinese users, the model number of this smartphone is 20101317C, which has been launched in China, and the small model number of this device is M17, this smartphone is in the database of the Bureau of Indian Standards. A new Poco phone with model number 22111317PI has been spotted, no information has been received about its price yet.
Redmi Note 12 5G Battery
To give power to this smartphone, a 5000mah battery has been given which supports 33W cake fast charging. This smartphone has been launched in China with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This smartphone has a side-facing fingerprint scanner for security. also given.


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We need to say this right off the bat. There are no losers in this race. Yes, the 1975 Porsche 930 Turbo technically finishes last, but when you're driving an original 911 whaletail, you're always a winner. In this case, the winner just happened to be a few seconds behind the lead car. And it's impossible to not be happy spending more time in the driver's seat of a boosted, air-cooled 911.
As for that lead car, naturally it's a brand new 992-series 911 Turbo, which debuted in July 2020 following the 911 Turbo S debut in the spring. There is a slight power difference between the OG 911 and the new kid, which dishes up 572 horsepower (427 kilowatts) versus 256 hp (191 kW) from its classic 3.0-liter engine. The latest 911 Turbo also channels its power to all four wheels, whereas The Widowmaker turns just the rears.
save over $3,400 on average off MSRP* on a new Porsche 911
However, the all-wheel-drive powertrain – not to mention a larger water-cooled engine – does add a weight penalty of nearly 1,000 pounds on the 992. And while the 911 still isn't a big car by any means, it looks like a full-size family cruiser next to the old 930. As such, the least powerful 911 Turbo still gets down the track with gusto despite having half the power, and at the end of the run, it's not far behind.
The New 911 Turbo:
Porsche is clearly tugging at our turbo heartstrings with this video as we wrap up 2020, and for good reason. Looking past the tragedies caused by the coronavirus pandemic, this year saw the fastest and most powerful factory Porsche 911 of all-time finally hit the streets. 2020 also marked the 25th anniversary of another special 911, the 993 model which became the final hurrah for the boosted air-cooled engine. In a year where there's not much to celebrate, we're happy to see this video of legendary 911s being driven by legendary Porsche drivers.
Gallery: 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe
Now, our attention turns to 2021 and the next evolution for the 911. The new GT3 had an unofficial reveal at the end of November but we should get full disclosure very soon. The next GT2 should be mind-blowing, and we still have the respective RS models to turn the dial up to eleven.
Source: Porsche via YouTube


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A new trail running race is set to launch through the vineyards of the Italian Riviera this March. The 47km trail is ideal for those with a good level of fitness looking for a new challenge in a stunning setting.
Monteverdi Tuscany has announced the launch of a Cooking Academy in the idyllic hilltop village destination of Castiglioncello del Trinoro.
Take in the immaculate white beaches, turquoise waters and rugged cliffs Sardinia has to offer with a stay at Eurocamp's new Bella Sardinia parc. And with prices starting from just £350 per party in May half term – an Italian island escape for all the family is well within reach.
As the region’s Christmas getaway begins, snow sport fans from across the West Midlands are making the most of two new flight routes to ski destinations.
Luxury hotel group Nira Hotels and Resorts has opened its new hotel - Nira Montana - in north Italy. Situated in the picturesque town of La Thuile, at the foot of Mont Blanc, the new property will be the only five star hotel in La Thuile, steps from the ski slopes and hiking trails of the Italian Alps.
With development and innovation at the forefront of Alta Badia’s plans, Alta Badia is offering a solution to ski holidays by focusing on customer feedback and capitalising on recent trends.
Over the past few years, Madesimo has enjoyed a stellar snow record and as a result, has become a mecca for anyone looking to explore off-piste, hone their freeriding skills or enjoy a lively weekend getaway.
The city of Genoa on the Italian Riviera has one of Italy's most unusual Christmas markets. Held throughout December in the historic centre, the annual Genoa Christmas market is completely themed on the medieval era.
JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts will open its first Italian hotel in Venice and first resort in Europe in March 2015. The 266-room property, created in collaboration with award-winning Italian architect firm Matteo Thun & Partners, has an exceptional lagoon location on its own island, with stunning views of St Mark's Square and La Serenissima.
You would be forgiven for comparing this place to the rolling English countryside rather than the grey, granite, sharpness associated with many Alpine ski settings.
Beat the winter blues and head on a fantastic walking holiday with CaminoWays.com.
Alta Badia’s gourmet initiative ‘A Taste For Skiing’ is back for the 2014-15 season…with a twist.
Generator Venice is part of the award-winning group of urban design hostels, located on the tranquil island of Giudecca.
Travel interest to Venice has increased by 39 per cent following George Clooney’s marriage to Amal Alamuddin, according to hotel search website trivago.co.uk.
Golfers, couples and spa-seekers are being enticed to the sunshine island of Sicily this autumn, with the prospect of a never-ending summer at the five-star Donnafugata Golf Resort & SPA – with rooms available from only €170 per night for bookings confirmed by October 10, plus a reduction of 20 per cent on spa treatments.
1 to 15 of 341 for Italy


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GameStop Inventory Is Holding $180. Why One Analyst Says It Is Price Simply $10.
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inventory has largely held up after the corporate stated it deliberate to develop its inventory sale program. Bearish Wall Avenue analysts aren’t budging.
GameStop inventory (ticker: GME) dipped simply 1.3% to $184.50 on Tuesday, whereas the
index dipped 0.1%. The corporate’s shares initially sank on Monday earlier than bouncing again. The inventory is down 0.5% in Tuesday afternoon buying and selling. The corporate stated it may promote 3.5 million shares at market costs, increasing a beforehand introduced plan following the inventory’s parabolic run. The inventory has closed above $180 for the final seven days, and appears set to do it once more on Wednesday.
GameStop inventory additionally initially sank following final month’s fourth-quarter earnings report, however such drops had been solely momentary. The inventory continues to be up 5,615% from 12 months in the past, whereas the imply analyst worth goal listed by FactSet is $45.42.
BofA Securities analyst Curtis Nagle caught to his $10 worth goal and Underperform score in a observe on Monday. Whereas plans to promote as much as 3.5 million shares will give the corporate extra cash and suppleness, Nagle continues to be skeptical on the corporate’s turnaround prospects.
He notes that GameStop’s preliminary gross sales outcomes for the beginning of the brand new fiscal 12 months, whereas solidly up year-over-year, appeared to lag industrywide figures from for the month of February, signaling a continued development of excessive market share loss for GameStop.
“GME’s core gaming enterprise is extraordinarily challenged and shedding share at a extremely regarding charge,” Nagle wrote. He thinks any progress on transitioning the enterprise or buying new ones is greater than priced into the inventory.
The corporate’s present share worth at a ten occasions a number of implies earnings earlier than curiosity, taxes, depreciation, and amortization of $1.2 billion. Nagle calls such a a number of “too beneficiant” in comparison with historic multiples of round 4 occasions. However even when you concede on that, Nagle doesn’t suppose it’s life like to imagine GameStop may even hit that Ebitda determine.
Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter is optimistic in regards to the firm’s prospects of hitting profitability in fiscal 2021, noting that GameStop will profit from final fall’s launch of recent gaming consoles. He additionally argued the corporate is cashing in on the quick squeeze, giving it an opportunity to boost its capital construction at a minimal. Nonetheless, he charges the inventory at Underperform with a $29 worth goal.
“The high-profile sustained quick squeeze seen in current months, nevertheless,has spiked the share worth to ranges which are fully disconnected from thefundamentals of the enterprise,” Pachter wrote.
In a observe on Monday, Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joseph Feldman raised his fiscal 2021 earnings estimate to 40 cents a share, up from 30 cents a share. His fashions for earnings name for $1.30 per share in fiscal 2022. Although he pointed to the brand new consoles and efforts by director Ryan Cohen to remodel the enterprise into an e-commerce firm as potential advantages, he maintained a $30 worth goal and an Underperform score.
“The corporate has but to point out monetary success in an business that’s quickly shifting to digital,” Feldman wrote. “And, we proceed to imagine the present valuation far exceeds our rosy elementary expectations and projected multi-year advantages from the strategic transformation.”
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Hugo Boss aims to double sales to $4.75 billion by 2025 By Reuters
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The Hugo Boss logo is seen in Metzingen, Germany, June 16, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle By Emma…
Taylor Wimpey raises profit view as UK housing demand stays strong By Reuters
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A Taylor Wimpey closed building site, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in…


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Residents and visitors in Atlanta’s Virginia-Highland neighborhood have a new spot to pick up gifts.
The space at 996 Virginia Ave NE is being converted “from fitness facility to retail use,” according to a building permit application with the City of Atlanta.
Cromwell’s Paradox is taking over the 1,600-square-foot space that was formerly a Pink Barre gym. The shop is a luxury gift boutique focused on “olfactory experiences and journeys.” Think candles, perfumes, lotions, soaps and more. Featured brands include Granado, Lumira, Amoln and Sidia.
Eric Cromwell is the owner of the shop.
The location in the heart of the Virginia-Highland neighborhood is in between Italian restaurant La Tavola Trattoria and tapas eatery Bar.bacoa.


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Mazda Motor Co. has decided to stop building the midsize Mazda6 sedan in the United States, raising questions about the future of a US factory that it runs jointly with Ford Motor Co.
Mazda said it would continue making the Mazda6 in Flat Rock, Mich. until the end of the current version’s product cycle, but declined to give a specific date. The car was fully redesigned in 2008.
The company says that it made the decision because of changing demand in North America and currency exchange rates.
Mazda says it is committed to working with Ford on future opportunities for the plant.
However, the automaker on Tuesday said that the company will build its next midsize car (CD-car) for the North American – possible next gen Mazda 6 – market at its Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan, as part of ongoing efforts to increase global manufacturing efficiencies.
“Currently, production of the Mazda6 (known as Atenza in Japan) exists in three locations: at our Hofu Plant in Japan, AutoAlliance International (AAI) in Michigan, USA, and at FAW Car Co., Ltd. in Changchun, Jilin province, China. Our intention is to transfer production of our next CD-car for North America from AAI and consolidate it at Hofu in order to improve production and investment efficiencies and optimize our business,” said Takashi Yamanouchi, Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Mazda Motor Corporation.
The decision was made after carefully assessing all risks and opportunities, including global needs, changing demand in North America, and exchange rate exposure. Going forward, Mazda will strive to maintain and grow our business in America.
“The decision to relocate to Hofu and consolidate the production of the next CD-car, makes the most sense for our business,” stated Mr. Yamanouchi. “However, we are committed to working with Ford, our joint venture partner in AAI, to identify potential future opportunities for the plant. Mazda and Ford have enjoyed a close relationship for over 30 years. We have collaborated on projects where there are mutual benefits, and both companies remain committed to continuing this strategic partnership.”


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Tech II Packaging Updates Website and Logo
Springfield, Ohio-based Tech II Packaging has unveiled a new website and updated logo.
Tech II Packaging, Springfield, Ohio, a manufacturer of plastic packaging for the consumer packaged goods industry that specializes in thermoform in-mold labeling (T-IML), EVOH oxygen barrier and high-pressure processed packaging, announced its new website and updated logo.
The easy-to-navigate website answers questions and contains pertinent information on all things T-IML and overcaps. The new logo pays homage to the companys roots, while also looking ahead to the future in the packaging industry.
For more information, visit www.techii.com.


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While 2022 saw the introduction of the iPhone 14, the rise of Artificial Intelligence for social media and far more, the yr also said farewell to some classics – and not-so-classics.
While a few of these platforms and tech gadgets were relatively short-lived, others were around for many years.
But, as in the style industry, one minute you are wired and the subsequent you are drained.
In memoriam, listed below are five tech “deaths” to be aware of:
CALIFORNIA RESCUERS SAY ‘FIND MY IPHONE’ FEATURE HELPED SAVE WOMAN AFTER 200-FT. PLUMMET
An iPod displaying a low battery symbol
( (Photo by Dominic Lipinski/PA Images via Getty Images))
1. Apple’s iPod
Introduced in 2001, the first-generation iPod could hold hundreds of songs to bounce to. Just six years later, it took a success with the discharge of the iPhone.
In May, Apple said that the iPod touch could be discontinued – the last remaining iPod available on the market.
“Music has all the time been a part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to a whole bunch of tens of millions of users in the way in which iPod did impact greater than just the music industry – it also redefined how music is discovered, listened to, and shared,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vp of Worldwide Marketing. “Today, the spirit of iPod lives on.”
2. Web Explorer
Following greater than 25 years on the net, Web Explorer was officially retired on June 15.
Microsoft wrote in an update that users are encouraged to maneuver over to Microsoft Edge, with Web Explorer progressively redirecting to the brand new browser, providing support for legacy and modern web sites and apps.
Web Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge will probably be supported through no less than 2029.
While the Long-Term Servicing Channel of Windows 10 will still include Web Explorer next yr, all consumer versions will end support of the browser, in keeping with The Verge.
3. The BlackBerry
ARE YOU BEING STALKED? A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPDATE CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
ANKARA, TURKIYE – DECEMBER 19: On this photo illustration, the logos of Web Explorer and My Computer are seen on a screen in Ankara, Turkiye, on December 19, 2022.
(Binnur Ege Gurun Kocak / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In January. Blackberry decommissioned the infrastructure and services utilized by its legacy software and phone operating systems, saying that it was focused on “providing intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments world wide.”
“On the time of termination of services, devices running BlackBerry 7.1 OS and earlier software, BlackBerry 10 software, and BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.1 and earlier software through either carrier or Wi-Fi connections will not reliably function … Applications (BlackBerry Link, BlackBerry Desktop Manager, and BlackBerry Mix) may also have limited functionality,” the corporate said in a Dec. 2021 release.
“The independence, mobility, security and privacy that so a lot of us got here to associate with those ground-breaking BlackBerry devices stays alive and robust, as does the spirit of invention and innovation that got us here,” Executive Chairman and CEO of BlackBerry Limited John Chen wrote in a blog post on Jan. 4.
4. Meta’s Portal
Meta is halting development of Portal.
The camera on a Meta Portal Plus video-calling device in Burlingame, California, U.S., on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
(Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Portal, which was first released in 2018, was a wise display device with video calling capability and an AI-powered “smart camera.”
“It was just going to take so long, and take a lot investment to get into the enterprise segment, it felt just like the fallacious technique to invest your money and time,” CTO Andrew Bosworth told employees, in keeping with Mashable Southeast Asia.
Like other tech firms, Meta laid off employees in November.
5. The iPhone Mini
The iPhone 12 mini debuted in 2020.
Nonetheless, two generations later, Apple opted to exchange the device with a latest iPhone 14 “Plus.”
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The promoting touted the “big and larger” smartphones.
Julia Musto is a reporter for Fox News and Fox Business Digital.


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February 3, 2014 |
SAN FRANCISCO -- No pressure, Twitter. Fair or not, Facebook's blockbuster earnings last week has investors anticipating very good things from its social networking rival. Twitter on Wednesday will report its first quarterly results as a publicly traded company, giving investors a first glimpse of its progress in growing advertising revenue and its user ranks. Twitter shares have been on a tear since the company made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange in November. Shares have surged to their current trading price of $66 from $26. They jumped again at the end of last week after Facebook reported its fourth-quarter earnings on hopes that Twitter can pull a rabbit out of its advertising business the way Facebook has for three straight quarters.
January 30, 2014 |
SAN FRANCISCO -- Facebook's stock soared to a record high of $62.50 in midday trading Thursday, lifted by a wildly better-than-expected fourth-quarter showing, especially when it comes to clocking mobile advertising revenue. The giant social network, which turns 10 next week, said Wednesday that for the first time, more than half of its ad revenue came from mobile. And, at the end of 2013, more than three quarters of Facebook's 1.23 billion users logged in using their mobile devices at least once a month.
December 27, 2013 |
Twitter is said to be flying too high and too fast. That's the opinion of Macquarie Research Equities, which downgraded Twitter stock Friday from "neutral" to "underperform," the firm said in a note. "We continue to believe that Twitter as a company has a bright future and many opportunities ahead," analysts said. "However, as a stock, we believe nothing has changed over the last 15 days to justify the rise in valuation. " Twitter Inc.'s shares have nearly tripled since its initial public offering last month, including big gains in recent days.
December 23, 2013 |
SAN FRANCISCO -- With investors hoping Facebook and Twitter can ramp up their advertising revenue, the companies' stocks surged Monday to record highs. Facebook gained nearly 5% to $57.77, while Twitter shot up almost 8% to $64.54. Facebook's stock price has more than doubled this year. Twitter has nearly doubled since its initial public offering early last month. Investors are seizing on the momentum of the companies' ad revenue. Research firm EMarketer says both companies will expand their share of the digital ad market.
December 10, 2013 |
As television viewers increasingly watch shows days and weeks after they originally air, broadcasters are trying to get paid for more of those views. On Tuesday, CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves said advertisers are increasingly willing to pay for those audience members who watch via digital video recorders, video-on-demand and online streaming. "We're getting closer to getting paid for every eyeball that watches our shows," said Moonves, speaking at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York. It's common for ad companies to pay broadcasters for viewership generated live and within three days of an original telecast, and Moonves said some companies are now paying for viewers within seven days -- a metric the industry refers to as "C-7.
November 20, 2013 |
Tribune Co., the parent of the Los Angeles Times, unveiled a restructuring plan that will slash nearly 700 jobs over the next year. The 6% staff reduction will come primarily from the company's newspaper unit but will largely involve operations personnel rather than reporters and editors at its eight daily papers, Peter Liguori, Tribune's chief executive, said in an interview Wednesday. The restructuring is intended to help Tribune withstand the continuing decline in print advertising, which traditionally has been the lifeblood of the newspaper industry.


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Machinery business in 2011 was up about 100 percent more than 2010—and as of mid-February, it was running about 80 percent more, says Peter A. Borden, president of the Rockville, Md.-based American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (www.amtda.org).
Translated to units shipped—of, for example, cutting machines such as milling machines, lathes and saws, and forming machines such as presses, welding machines, etc.—that’s about 2,000 or more units shipped monthly, he says.
That’s healthy activity, says Borden, “and the trend now is for people to buy higher-priced machines.” Part of the higher unit costs includes added accessories, engineering services and automation, he adds.
Automation has become a big trend because the labor to run machines can’t be found and machines with automation are very productive, Borden says. “Manufacturers want the machines to run 16 to 24 hours per day,” he adds. But getting any machine to end users can have new challenges.
“If a company is a global manufacturer, they’re sending 30 percent to 50 percent of their machines to India and China. So lead time for receiving new machines has become an issue,” Borden remarks. “Lead times used to be one-to-three months, with a long delivery time being six months. But now the typical lead time is six to nine months, or even 12 months or longer.”
Currently, in part due to the cheap dollar, “the lights are pretty green” regarding exports, he says. Ongoing, regulatory issues undermine good times, he contends: “People aren’t hiring because of government regulations, including healthcare.”
The state of the economy also still concerns Borden and his association’s members. “In the back of our brains, we know the economy is not good. We’re expecting it to be flat for as long as the next 12 to 24 months,” he says.


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Diets are bad for losing weight and keeping it off for good. That 30-day cleanse or month-long no carb diet might help you temporarily take off a few pounds, but as soon as you go back to your old lifestyle, the pounds come back too. We should all take the same approach with Plastic Free July and make it a lifestyle change, not just a temporary one. And yes, it’s possible to choose to reduce how much plastic you use, if not even more vital to do in the face of a global pandemic.
In 40 years, less than 10% of plastics made have ever been recycled. Some of it gets incinerated, but the vast majority is winding up in landfills, littering our beaches, swirling in our oceans, and going into our bodies.
Plastic Free July started in 2011, encouraging people to choose to refuse one plastic item they’d normally use and then discard, like plastic straws or plastic utensils. Nearly a decade later, the initiative is attracting hundreds of thousands of people worldwide each July who choose to refuse plastics.
People who are taking part in Plastic Free July aren’t simply “do-gooders” who worry about what plastics will do to humanity’s future. They’ve seen how plastics are harming the planet and our health right now.
An estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic waste flows into the oceans every year. The World Economic Forum says that’s the equivalent of one dump truck full of plastic every minute, every hour, every day going into the ocean.
The Ocean Conservancy’s 33rd Annual International Coastal Cleanup pulled 45 million plastic pieces from waterfronts around the world. Plastic bags of all sorts (1.9M) beverage bottles (1.7M) and plastic bottle caps (1.3M) were among the top 10 items beach-cleaning volunteers found.
It’s about more than littered beaches and sick oceans. Scientists tell us microscopic plastics are in our drinking water and also migrate from food packaging into the food and beverages we eat. An average person could be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic per week according to a study from the University of Newcastle and the World Wildlife Fund. That’s the equivalent of ingesting a plastic credit card each week.
The stats speak for themselves.
Plastic Free July During Covid-19
When you consider that less than 10% of plastic produced in the last four decades has been recycled, the accelerating waste emergency spawned by Covid-19 in some places becomes even more alarming. Part of the problem is accelerated by an increased dependence on single-use materials during the pandemic.
In some cases, shoppers and families are stuck with plastic during Covid-19. Some governments and stores aren’t allowing reusable grocery bags or coffee cups, despite the recent statement from more than 100 scientists worldwide that reusables are absolutely safe if you wash them properly. In fact, the scientists say we’ll have an additional public health crisis on our hands if misinformation that plastics are “safer” scares people to abandon reusable materials.
While you may not have a choice when it comes to using plastic grocery bags and coffee cups during the pandemic, there are other ways you can choose to reduce your plastic use for Plastic Free July. In the bathroom, swap your toothpaste tube for chewable toothpaste bits that come in a recyclable glass container. Switch to toothbrushes with bamboo handles. Search out soaps, shampoos, and shaving creams in bar form instead of single-use plastic containers or wrapping.
You can make some monumental changes in your kitchen. Buy items like flour and nuts in bulk to reduce waste from individually packaged materials. At the store, choose food and beverages in glass bottles and jars, like spaghetti sauce in a jar and baby food in glass containers. Glass packaging can be recycled to make new glass bottles and jars over and over again without losing quality. That differs greatly from plastic which can only be recycled a few times, if it can even be recycled at all.
Pledging to change one small habit during Plastic Free July will make you more conscious of other easy ways you can reduce plastic in your life. Maybe in July you refuse plastic takeout utensils at the drive-thru. When it becomes a habit by August, you start to notice olive oil and ketchup in glass bottles tastes fresher, so you make another change.
While the headline-grabbing stats of how much plastic is in our landfills, oceans, and food packaging make the problem feel too big, the collective changes made by the 250 million people during Plastic Free July can help. Making changes stick as part of a healthy lifestyle versus a one-month “plastic diet” can truly impact the planet, and you, for good.


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New girls’ range arrives in top 33 stores as well as online.
Fremantle has teamed up with Smith & Brooks for the launch of a new The X Factor apparel line in George at Asda.
The new collection – which has launched in the top 33 Asda George stores and online – is aimed at 5 to 14 year olds. It comprises of six pieces, including slogan tees and sweatshirts, joggers and leggings.
It is supported in-store with POS, as well as having a heavy presence on social media.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Smith & Brooks and George on this amazing line of girls’ clothes,” Jenny Martin, senior licensing manager at Fremantle, told The Source.
Lynne Tooms, senior buying director for George, added: “We’re really excited to be launching our new George X Factor range. The X Factor is one of the most popular shows on TV and we’re really pleased to be offering our customers, and fans of the show, the chance to buy the perfect gift this Christmas.”
Artists discovered by The X Factor UK have sold more than 500 million records worldwide making it the most successful show in history for finding chart superstars.
Last weekend saw Dalton Harris crowned as the winner of The X Factor UK 2018.


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Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) has agreed to buy Criterion Software Group Ltd., a developer of software for creating video games, from the European division of Canon Inc., EA said Wednesday.
The deal is subject to regulators’ approval, and should close in 30 to 45 days, EA said. The companies did not disclose the value of the deal.
Criterion develops the RenderWare software suite, which enables teams of programmers to collaborate on the creation of games for PCs, and for PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube and next-generation gaming consoles. It was set up in 1993 as a spin-off from Canon’s European research activities, and is based in Guildford, England.
Acquiring Criterion will put EA, already a RenderWare user, in a position to release games more quickly for the next generation of consoles, the Redwood City, California, company said. By combining Criterion’s RenderWare with other EA-owned technologies, the company can build a common development framework for all its studios, it said.
Nevertheless, EA said it plans to continue to license RenderWare to other developers.
News source: ITWorld


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It’s hard to ignore COVID-19’s impact on the world around us. With 23.1 million people unemployed in the U.S. as of early May, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it’s a gross understatement to say these are uncertain times.
Consumer shopping behaviors have dramatically changed in a short period, and what was considered a necessity only a few months ago now seems like a luxury. This environment is forcing brands to rethink the customer relationship while connecting with consumers in new and old ways.
Enter the coupon marketing strategy.
In this series of blog posts, we have been discussing the multifaceted role of coupons: delivering a small gesture of hope and caring while keeping brands within reach of consumers with tightening budgets. This entry takes a look at key buying groups and the aperture for brands to use coupons strategically in response to consumers’ changing (and unchanging) behaviors while offering desperately needed savings for those most affected by economic woes.
If you haven’t yet read the other parts of this series, click here to read the first installment on coupon strategy lessons from the Great Recession, and click here to read the second entry that focuses on how the pandemic will change consumer behavior.
Key Buying Groups
Brand loyalty has been declining for years, spurred by the massive number of options consumers have for fulfilling their product needs. Yet in the early weeks of the pandemic — even as budgets were tightening — consumers were signaling a desire to stick with their favorite brands.
The Path to Purchase Institute reports that 34% of shoppers are visiting multiple stores just to find their preferred brands (survey fielded March 14-16). A Valassis consumer survey conducted the same week found that 48% of shoppers are staying true to the brands they typically purchase; in a follow-up survey two weeks later, this number dipped only slightly to 44%. Fast forward to April, when a Kantar ShopperScape survey said that 43% of consumers rated being able to buy their preferred brands as “very important.”
These are all encouraging signs that loyalty is winnable in the current climate. It will take some work, however, considering that private label brands rose about a third more in dollar and unit sales compared to national brands in Q1 (Nielsen).
As consideration sets widen and brand discovery abounds, helping consumers act on their avowed loyalty is paramount. Mitigating out-of-stock issues and stabilizing the distribution of top SKUs are essential first steps to getting your brand in the shopping basket. With those fundamentals addressed, brands should offer incentives to stay a step ahead in attracting buyers. A coupon strategy can reward your brand loyalists while also defending against private label brands that compete with national brands on increasingly higher levels.
Switchers, another key buying group, also haven’t strayed too far from pre-pandemic behaviors. According to the same Path to Purchase Institute survey mentioned earlier, consumers are switching brands based on the best price — with 21% buying a mix of their usual and new brands. In both waves of the aforementioned Valassis consumer survey, 19% of respondents reported purchasing whatever brands are available. Product availability could be a factor here — inventory was sparse in key categories — but one might have expected this behavior to accelerate rather than essentially stay the same.
Yes, the economic climate is worsening, which means switching has the potential to become the prevailing shopping behavior. But brands can target both types of shoppers through effective coupon tactics: a trial-level incentive, for example, can encourage switchers to try a brand, and pulsed incentives can be used to reward different types of customer loyalty.
A third key buying group, millennials, had front-row seats to witness the 2008 financial crisis. For younger millennials, this pandemic might be the first major event with the potential to impact their job stability. This fact is not lost on millennials as a whole; according to Prosper Insights, 33% of millennials believe additional layoffs are coming over the next six months.
Even after the threat has passed, it seems inevitable that millennial buyers will make different financial choices. When it comes to paper coupons, the 2K19 Valassis Coupon Intelligence Report found that 86% of millennials are using them from free-standing inserts, or FSI, received in newspapers or the mail; 80% are using coupons they’ve printed from a computer.
This group is digitally driven, and brands have an opportunity to build customer loyalty by effectively integrating digital media with more mass coupon tactics to amplify the response. If millennial buyers love a good bargain, why not present bargains to them right on their mobile devices?
The coronavirus pandemic has already reshaped the marketplace. The disruptions to consumers’ lives and the economic pressures Americans face are deeper than anything the vast majority have ever experienced. In addition to offering much-needed savings to cash-strapped consumers, coupons — whether FSI or digital — encourage all different types of consumers to buy your brand.
As with any marketing campaign, however, coupon performance hangs on the strength of your strategy, which we’ll cover in our next post. Until then, please check out the Valassis CPG content hub for more information on CPG marketing strategies. For additional insights, you may also want to visit our COVID-19 marketing and advertising information page.


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Meijer to build, remodel stores in Michigan
Meijer plans to spend $80 million to remodel a dozen stores in southeast Michigan, the Grand Rapids retailer announced today.
The company said the remodels are part of a larger, $400-million investment to build nine news stores, including two in Michigan, this year, and to make enhancements — including wider aisles, redesigned floor plans, better signs, and bigger produce, meat, dairy and health and beauty sections sections — to 32 stores.
“We will continue our process of slow, steady growth,” said CEO Hank Meijer. “This plan has allowed us to remain focused on our customers and team members, while growing our business and ensuring we continue to innovate in the marketplace.”
The plan, the company said, also calls for more technology to make the stores brighter and more energy-efficient.
Meijer curbside grocery service helps busy shoppers
Meijer plans to remodel stores come on the heels of efforts from Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger, to build larger-format stores in Michigan, and its acquisition of Hiller's supermarket stores in metro Detroit. In January, a Kroger opened in Roseville.
Since 2010, Meijer has opened 36 stores, and remodeled dozens of others. In the past two years, the company opened two stores in Detroit, one on 8 Mile, and one on Grand River.
The planned new supercenters — which offer groceries, home goods and pharmacies — are slated to open in: Sturgis and Flat Rock in Michigan, Owensboro in Kentucky, Evansville and Indianapolis in Indiana, Round Lake Beach and Flossmoor in Illinois, and Sussex and Waukesha in Wisconsin.
The company, which now operates 224 stores in six states, estimates it will add about 300 jobs — full- and part-time — to each new store.
The remodels will focus on key markets such as metro Detroit, Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, Ind. In southeast Michigan, the stores set to be remodeled are in Allen Park, Clinton Township, Lapeer, Lenox, Marysville, Port Huron, Roseville, Royal Oak, Shelby Township, Southfield, Warren and Wixom.
The company said the upgrades will include improvements to lighting, heating, refrigeration and parking lots.
Meijer said work on the Roseville location began last month and is expected to take about six months.


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Tag - Siri
We're weeks away from the public beta of iOS 10, and months from the proper one that will roll out to iPhones and iPads in the fall. Yet the instant the new version was mentioned, suddenly iOS 9 seemed old; even old-fashioned. Before it passes into history for approximately 90 percent of us within a week of iOS 10's release, let me give a tip of the hat to 2015/16's iPhone and iPad operating system.
You already know what was announced at this year's WWDC. True, if you didn't watch the keynote or read our analysis then there's likely to be a lot you didn't catch but overall, you know. So this week's One More Thing laboriously details everything all over again. Oh, yes. We'll read out every one of Apple's slides. That'll be good.
Announced today at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference, the Macintosh operating system will no longer be called OS X. Instead, it will be renamed macOS and the next version is specifically macOS Sierra. Highlights of the new system include the long-awaited addition of Siri to the Mac plus Apple Pay on the web, a Universal Clipboard for copying and pasting across all your devices, plus some potentially controversial changes to how your documents are stored.
Siri could be getting a major upgrade to the way it handles queries, if a report's suggestion is accurate. It is believed an acquisition made by Apple last year to acquire VocalIQ before the company could release its smartphone app will be making a considerable change to Apple's digital assistant, with a report claiming the VocalIQ team was largely kept intact after the purchase, and was left to work on integrating their software into Siri itself.
We're another week along with the latest twist and turns of the rumor mill, but we seem to have come full circle this time: "new" and "leaked" schematics for the "iPhone 7" and the "7 Plus" larger model are back to the original ideas: that apart from the camera and slightly-rearranged antenna bands, the next iPhones will look almost exactly like the ones they replaced. Worse, we're now hearing reports that the alleged home Siri device will actually be ... another new Apple TV model, just as Apple said it would be a year ago.
Apple is planning to roll out a long-requested Siri SDK for developers at WWDC 16, reports The Information. The software package will finally allow developers to take advantage of Siri's natural speech recognition technology within their apps for the first time. Additionally, Apple is said to be looking to take Siri into the house, by building a speaker system that would compete with devices like Amazon's Echo. With Siri for Mac expected to debut at WWDC16, Siri looks to becoming increasingly pivotal in Apple's plans moving forward.
It's not fair to expect greatness from a $1 app. However, all this one manages to do is make you wish even more that Apple would bring Siri to the the Mac -- and maybe wonder if there are reasons why it hasn't. For Awa 1.2 aims to be the kind of voice control that Siri is for iOS, and as yet is not for OS X. It aims to be this, and it feels like the start of something that may grow and improve, but right now it just doesn't work.
For once, though, one of them actually convinces the other about something. We know: impossible. There's no such thing as proper conversation, certainly not on podcasts or the telly, there is just one person talking and the other waiting for them to shut up. In this case, though, minds and opinions are changed. See if you get turned around about Spotify's television plans too.
Apple has produced another ad in its growing series of TV spots featuring the Siri vocal assistant feature found in iOS products. The latest is titled "Thank You Speech," and features How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris in a 30-second ad that shows off the "Hey Siri" feature -- in this case having Harris ask for a specific note, containing his thank-you award speech, to be read aloud. He then follows along with the recitation, holding a suit brush as a stand-in for the award he presumes he will get.
Can we just mention that we were right last week? We said, we actually said that if you go down to an Apple Store and wait for an hour, you might get a new MacBook. Okay, we didn't phrase it quite so specifically and actually we may possibly have meant iMacs rather than MacBooks but the principle holds: we called it. Which means this week, we have to keep that prediction record up.
Now AAPL Stock: The symbol you provided ("AAPL") doesn't appear to be registered
Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE


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The growth of e-commerce is significant. The sector has grown more in the last 18 months than at any time in the last 20 years. It has received a significant shot in the arm due to the COVID-19 pandemic as swathes of consumers worldwide are compelled to switch from their local bricks and mortar stores to buying directly from their mobile, computer or tablet screens. It has been reported that a notable number of consumers were online shopping for the first time, and it's fair to say that many won't go back to the same physical shopping frequency again. Shopping and packaging's role has changed forever. As the market begins to scale, there are increasing opportunities for brands and retailers to offer packaging solutions tailored first and foremost for this channel rather than being replications of the packs bought physically in store.
Biodegradable Mailing Bag is Made from Innovative Polymer
Optical glasses brand Bird Eyewear has collaborated with Aquapak and ProAmpac to launch new packaging which can degrade in marine environments. The mailer bag is both water soluble and biodegradable,minimizing any negative impact on sea life. The packaging can also be recycled, and this is unmistakably the preferred outcome of the packaging after its use. The bag is made using Aquapak’s Hydropol solution, featuring a polymer called Polyvinylalcohol (PVOH) which is hydrophilic, so it dissolves in water, turning into a harmless cloud of mass. Whilst retaining all the functionality of traditional plastic mailing bags, the Ecowrap mailer can be safely dissolved in hot water at the end of its life, be recycled, reused or utilized as a waste food bag.
Reusable and Recyclable Packaging Trial by Food Delivery Company
The global takeaway and food delivery market has experienced strong growth influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic. Consequently, the adoption of single-use packaging has also risen, causing a spike in the need for more sustainable solutions. In response to this mounting problem, global food delivery giant Just Eat is collaborating with reusable packaging provider ClubZero (formally CupClub) to trial recyclable and reusable takeaway packaging. The pilot will last for three months, and it will involve six participating London restaurants who will be assigned a return system that allows the packaging to be collected using a ClubZero app. The trial and partnership will be extended across the UK if it proves successful, following a productive collaboration with London-based compostable packaging producer Notpla to make a coating from seaweed.
Learn more about ThePackHub's Innovation Zone here.


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We asked BIA/Kelsey Managing Director Rick Ducey to talk about the messages big media brands will have for national brands looking to localize their marketing efforts. One element that stands out is media brands’ ability to generate compelling local content.
“National marketers have become very enamored with this notion of of native or content advertising,” Ducey said. “If you can get content that is sourced locally and targeted to a local venue, that is very engaging from a consumer perspective.”
Watch the video below to hear Rick talk about the role of national media brands at the conference, which takes place May 7-9 in Atlanta.
Next week we will dig deeper into big media brands, interviewing Curt Hecht, Chief Global Revenue Officer at the Weather Company, which operates The Weather Channel and weather.com. Hecht will be the Day 2 morning keynote speaker at Leading in Local: The National Impact.
BIA/Kelsey’s Mike Boland riffed on Weather.com’s local nature in a recent Local Media Watch blog post.


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Rae Sremmurd and E-40 Star in Latest Trailer for ‘Madden NFL 18′
Just in time for the kick off of the 2017-18 NFL season, EA Sports releases today a new trailer for Madden NFL 18 called “This is the Year” to coincide with tonight's season opener. Featuring a slew of athletes and celebrities, the brand new visual showcases Madden's new gaming features as well as Madden's first-ever story mode.
The latest Madden 18 ad features NFL superstar Marshawn Lynch, hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd, rapper E-40 and NBA stars James Harden and Chris Paul. Lynch and 40 Water pair up before rap duo Rae Sremmurd appear in the visual, sitting on a couch accompanied by a few people who are passed out, as they play the latest Madden 18 game. Slim Jxmmi then looks directly at the camera and says, "This is the year of overnight success," before going back to his game.
The Mississippi brothers have been super busy as of late with the Madden franchise. Most recently, the "No Flex Zone" rappers were guests at the Madden 18 launch event in New York City and performed a slew of their hits for the packed out venue while also testing out the new Madden 18 game.
It's a year of firsts for the EA Sports game, as Madden will debut on the Frostbite gaming engine, include their first-ever story mode in the game “Longshot,” and introduce MUT Squads, all of which add a brand new touch to the already-popular gaming franchise. Madden 18 is now available for purchase at select EA Sports retailers and accounts.
Check out the Madden 18 launch trailer below.
Top 5 Sneakers Coming Out This Weekend Including Air Jordan 5 Take Flight Camo, Nike Air Max 97 SK and More


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Sony (Sony Corp Ord/SNE) has signed two joint ventures with Shanghai Oriental Pearl that would allow the companies to manufacture and market PlayStation consoles.
Sony will receive 70 percent share and Shanghai Oriental Pearl will have 49 percent stake and the ventures will be set up in Shanghai’s free trade zone. According to the documents files with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, one venture will manufacture hardware while the other venture will develop software. The Chinese government had started allowing foreign console makers to sell consoles in the country from January after the consoles were banned in 2000.
“The joint venture will be based on the relevant state policies and will introduce quality and healthy video games that will adhere to China’s national conditions as well as the tastes of Chinese gamers,” said an Executive from Shanghai Oriental Pearl.
Sony will have to face challenge of establishing PlayStation in China as the domestic players prefer gaming on PC’s and on mobiles and adhering to the government’s policies. Sony’s rival Microsoft had also recently got into a partnership with BesTV New Media, a subsidiary of Shanghai Media Group to launch the company’s consoles. China;s gaming market is set to generate about $10 billion in sales next year, according to industry research PriceWaterHouseCoopers.
However Sony has not mentioned which of the PlayStation consoles will be launched into the market. The Chinese market will also have fewer games as the console might not be compatible with game titles released in foreign countries. There is also a possibility of Sony developing a custom console similar to Nintendo’s customization of Wii U.
Fourteen years ago, China banned the foreign gaming consoles in 2000, following concerns about potential harm to the physical and mental development of children. But in early-January 2014, China’s State Council had lifted the ban on the sale of foreign gaming consoles, which made the companies to plan aggressively to launch the device in China’s markets.
Gaming industry in the country has seen tremendous growth in the last year, where it had generated over $13 billion in 2013, up 38 percent from 2012.
[ Source (PDF file in Chinese) ]


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The word "priceless" came out of our customer's mouth recently when discussing a strategic video story. While it's a huge compliment, the journalist in me needed to know why!
Circular by Shapiro is looking to accelerate interest from CNC manufacturers who would be a great fit for their patented Fluid Recovery System.
Part of the challenge is that they're introducing a new product that customers aren't searching for because they're not even aware of the solution it provides.
We used our Instant Clarity framework to boil down how to tell the story of the Fluid Recovery System to the audience it can help.
The most effective way to tell any product story is through the mouth of someone it's helping. It needs to be authentic and not forced. We all can tell when someone is rehearsing a canned line.
Story on Purpose identified Orizon Aerostructures as a great case study. Our team communicated with the St. Louis plant's leadership and they graciously allowed us to come see the Fluid Recovery System at work.
Jack Schroeder, Orizon's Process Improvement Specialist, showed us the system at work. He gave us "soundbite gold" when he said the Fluid Recovery System is helping Orizon save its "liquid gold."
We had a series of strategic questions that led to a powerful story that speaks directly to CNC manufacturers.
This is the sales video tool that resulted. The Shapiro team has been using it to land and close deals.
"It takes two steps out of the Sales process," said Judy Ferraro, Shapiro's Marketing Director. "There isn't a sales tool I could buy that would be better than that video."


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The growth momentum in global smartphone market will remain weak in 2018 due to lower demand and less replacement purchases, says. Apple was able to capture more than 15% of the smartphone market last year but it wasn't enough to top samsung's 22% share. Competition is growing in the japanese smartphone market, with the world's fourth-largest supplier — china's oppo electronics corp. Smartphone shipments in china saw their biggest decline ever this first quarter, as shipments dropped to 91 million units, according to a report. Demand for new phones appears to be waning with collapse in china market and apple shipping 5m fewer devices.
China's smartphone market has fallen for the first time, with annual shipments down by 4% in 2017, according to data from research firm. Nielsen this week released us smartphone market share numbers, based on os and manufacturer, for the first quarter of 2014 among the. The annual smartphone market will be about 15 billion units in 2018, up 28 percent on 2017 the distribution of market share among the major. Tech — iphone owns 28 percent of us smartphone market the iphone had impressive sales in the fourth quarter of 2007, but so did all.
A slowdown in china drags the worldwide smartphone market to a year-over- year decline of 29% in shipments during the first quarter of. After years of anticipation, nokia is finally back in the smartphone game to little fanfare, the finnish technology company hmd global (hmd). Worldwide smartphone shipments declined 05% in 2017, the first year-over-year decline the market has experienced since the introduction of what we now. Amazon announced its foray into the smartphone market on wednesday when it unveiled its highly anticipated fire phone in what many would consider a bold. When it comes to smartphone operating systems, there are really only two games in town—google's android and apple's ios together, these.
As this chart from statista shows, the smartphone market is a lot more profitable and far less diverse than it was seven years ago, thanks to the. Smartphone shipments in china have dropped more than 21% to 91 million units , marking the biggest ever decline. India is the world's second largest mobile phone market after china, the third largest smartphone market after china and the us and, most. The indian smartphone market is witnessing a boom with mobile companies making a kill in the third largest smartphone market of the world. 3 days ago market research firm idc said wednesday that it expects the global smartphone market to contract again this year the firm projects a 02%.
This statistic shows the global market share (in shipments) held by smartphone vendors worldwide, from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2018. The smartphone market is slumping in china, suffering its largest decline in any first quarter, with apple inc (aapl) knocked down a notch to. Xiaomi couldn't have wished for better timing of two reports that claim it has toppled samsung to become india's top-selling smartphone. According to the latest research from counterpoint's market monitor service, global smartphone shipments declined 3% annually in q1 2018. But, even in a country where the average annual income is $8,000 (£4,885), the smartphone market in china is already fairly mature and such.
Overall, in q1 2018 the smartphone market saw an annual decline of 3% with 360 million smartphones shipped the top spot took samsung. Samsung has taken the top billing in the global smartphone stakes for the three months ending september, beating out apple in the process,. Smartphone-obsessed india has toppled the us to become the second-largest market for the device, after china smartphone shipments to. Apple captures 72 percent of total north american smartphone profits in the third quarter apple solidifies its hold on the smartphone market.
Apple and other manufacturers saw their smartphone market share rise in the first quarter as market leader samsung's held fast, according to. 2 days ago but idc predicted that the smartphone market would reignite next year, growing about 3 percent annually to 1654 billion in the year 2022.Download


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To view a video of the new Snap L-Pin from Progress Mfg. click here or scroll down the right side of the RVBUSINESS.com home page.
Progress Mfg. Inc., makers of The Original Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch, announced a hardware design change that will help hitch owners save more time while hooking up the Equal-i-zer hitch.
According to a press release, the Snap L-Pin replaces the standard L-Pin and cotter clip used to secure the weight distribution bars onto the L-brackets.
“Progress Mfg. works to continuously improve and innovate the Equal-i-zer Hitch,” said Rich Elliot, sales manager for Provo, Utah-based Progress Mfg. “The Snap L-Pin combines the standard L-Pin and cotter clip into one unit, so customers have one less thing to worry about while towing.”
The Snap L-Pin flips up or down in one quick and easy motion to secure the weight distribution arms saving customers time and effort, versus placing the pin and inserting the clip.
Beginning in the spring of 2013, Equal-i-zer hitches leaving the Progress Mfg. factory will include the Snap L-Pin. The new Snap L-Pin can also be purchased in a retail 2-pack. Visit www.EqualizerHitch.com for more information.
Progress Mfg. Inc., makers of the Original Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch, announced that it has acquired Diversi-Tech Manufacturing (DT), according to a press release.
For more than 10 years, DT has designed and manufactured premium security towing products such as the industry’s first truly universal trailer coupler lock and a series of self-locking aluminum adjustable ball mounts. Progress Mfg. said that it has moved DT’s manufacturing to its Provo, Utah, facility.
“Products of Progress and DT complement each other perfectly,” said Jed Anderson, president of Progress Mfg. “Our expertise is in manufacturing high quality products; DT fits right into that vision.”
Progress Mfg. reported it is in the process of investing in its infrastructure to shorten lead times in an effort to better support distributor and dealer demand and that sales and customer service activities will be absorbed by Progress’s current staff.
“We strongly support a two-step distribution model,” said Rich Elliott, sales manager for Progress Mfg. “We are excited to offer these great products to our distributor and dealer partners.”
Provo Utah-based Progress Mfg. Inc. announced the launch of its newly rebuilt Equal-i-zer hitch website.
“We redesigned the EqualizerHitch.com website in a way that makes the content easier for our customers to find and use,” said Progress CEO Jed Anderson. “The new site is designed to help our two main customer groups – potential buyers considering the purchase of an Equal-i-zer hitch, and those who are already owners. They can quickly access the information they are looking for, and then easily locate one of our dealers to help them get what they need.”
The new site boasts several upgrades including an improved menu layout, simplified page layout, calculators to help with the selection of hitch sizes and specialty shanks, and a more robust dealer locater powered by Google maps.
“Customer reaction has already been great,” said Dave Lewis, Progress Mfg. Inc.’s marketing manager. “The new site went live Friday, and we have already received several customer comments with glowing reviews. We are excited about the change and expect it to be very beneficial for both our end users and our dealerships.”
The new site can be visited at www.EqualizerHitch.com.
During its 2012 National Dealer Conference in San Diego, NTP Distribution Inc. honored Progress Mfg. with a 2011 Top Vendor Award. This marks the third consecutive year Progress Mfg. has received this award from NTP.
“We work hard to build strong relationships with our dealers and distributors,” said Rich Elliott, sales director for Progress Mfg., in a press release. “This award is a combination of our excellent sales staff and innovative products and we are grateful to NTP for this recognition.”
Progress Manufacturing, creator of The Original Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch, supplies the RV industry with towing hitches and other innovative towing product solutions. For more information, call (800)478-5578 or visit www.EqualizerHitch.com and www.fastwaytrailer.com.


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Every year, millions of people across the country depend on car rental companies to help them get around. Thanks to these businesses, people can get a car to use temporarily when their usual car isn’t available. Rentals of other types of vehicles like limousines and party buses can also help people make special events even more memorable. But as the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States, vehicle rental companies saw their business levels plummet at a time of year when business is typically strong.
What COVID-19 Meant for Car & Limo Rental Companies
Vehicle rental companies are strongly tied to two industries that have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic: travel and events.
The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board reports that 50 million tourists visited Los Angeles county in 2018 and when people travel, they very often rent cars to use on their trips. But with so many people forced to cancel their travel plans because of the pandemic, car rentals dropped substantially. Reports from Los Angeles World Airports show the monthly gross revenue (after exclusions) from car rentals at LAX totaled $68.1 million in March 2019, $71 million in April 2019, and $65.9 million in May 2019. But in 2020, those numbers dropped to about $34.5 million in March, $4.5 million in April, and $7 million in May. While those numbers don’t account for car rentals at other locations, they represent just one way a loss of tourism has impacted our local economy.
Not only was there a loss of business from tourists, people had less of a need to rent cars for other reasons. For example, if a person’s car needs to be left in the shop for a few days for some repairs, they might rent a car to help them get around during that time. But with stay-at-home orders in place, many people have either been putting off unnecessary car repairs or deciding against renting a car because there were so few places to go.
Sometimes, when people want to rent cars, they also want someone else to do the driving for them. For special events like weddings and proms, limo rentals are very often part of the festivities. But with so many proms and weddings either being cancelled or postponed meant limo rental companies lost out on a significant amount of business during what is normally a busy season. Cancellations of concerts, sporting events, and birthday parties also meant that rentals of vehicles like party buses have taken a hit and it’s not clear when fleet owners can expect business to return to normal.
Business Interruption Insurance for Car & Limo Rental Companies
Business owners can find themselves in the position of not being able to conduct business for many different reasons. For example, in the case of car or limo rental companies, their fleet could be damaged by something like a storm or natural disaster. To protect themselves in these types of situations, business owners commonly purchase business insurance policies that include business interruption coverage or civil authority coverage.
Business interruption insurance is a type of coverage that helps policyholders handle monetary losses they might encounter during a temporary closure, such as lost revenue, lease/mortgage payments, employee payroll. Relocation expenses could also be covered if a business could resume operations at a different location. Civil authority coverage also covers monetary losses during temporary business closures, but specifically applies if a business is forced to close because of a government order.
Unfortunately, just when business owners need these types of benefits, insurance companies are very frequently denying their claims, often without properly reviewing them first. Some business owners have reported that their insurers have tried discouraging them from even trying to make a claim.
Help with California Business Interruption Claims
If you’ve made a claim for business interruption benefits and been denied, you definitely are not alone. It also doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out of options. Insurance companies have a vested interest in paying out as little money as possible and are not always looking out for your best interests.
With so many business interruption claims coming in right now, insurers are all too eager to say no for any reason they can think of. But at The Wallace Firm, our team has experience taking on insurance companies and holding them accountable. If you’re a California business owner, we can help you with your claim, whether you’ve already made a claim and been denied or if you’re getting ready to make your claim. Contact us today to get started.