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Global digital transformation spending is expected to nearly double between 2020 and 2023. Today’s marketers must strategically reprioritize their efforts to improve the customer experience by listening to consumers, aligning with IT, and tracking performance.
On today's episode, we look at how awards shows are doing and hand out some pretend awards of our own: "Must-Pay-Attention-To Video Streaming Platform," "Traditional Media Dark Horse," "Standout Brand/Company/Advertiser of the Year," and more. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analysts at Insider Intelligence Jeremy Goldman, Nicole Perrin, Jillian Ryan, and Debra Aho Williamson.
On today's episode, we discuss representation in advertising: What does it mean to ban the concept of "normal," how are some advertisers pivoting toward realism, and how are demographic groups being portrayed in ads? Tune in to listen to the discussion as eMarketer senior analyst Bill Fisher hosts senior analyst Jasmine Enberg, research director Matteo Ceurvels, and senior researcher at Insider Intelligence Man-Chung Cheung.
Amid the pandemic and other societal forces, brand loyalty is quickly eroding. To revive fading sentiment, brand marketers need a framework to move with speed even in short windows of opportunity.
Against a backdrop of turmoil in 2020, the retail industry overall is set for growth in 2021. With digital transformation efforts accelerating under urgent conditions, investments in digital infrastructure should grow this year. And as 5G networks are finally starting to take off, the technology could bring about positive changes for retail in the near and long terms.
Rural China's internet penetration climbed in 2020
On today's episode, we discuss in-person events in 2021, how to put on an engaging hybrid conference, and how to consider making money from virtual events. We then talk about Twitch's "Brand Safety Score," new ads envisioning post-pandemic life, and TV makers leaving no ad spot unturned. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer principal analyst at Insider Intelligence Jillian Ryan.
Apple is facing yet another potential hurdle to IDFA: As Chinese tech companies work on a new way to track users on mobile devices, Apple will be faced with either barring a slew of Chinese developers altogether or forging ahead on a policy with no teeth.
When we spoke with experts in publisher ad monetization in January, most of them expected the field of identity solutions to narrow over the coming year as adoption continues, but they felt it was unlikely that a single identifier alone would replace third-party cookies.
The availability and use of data has revolutionized advertising in recent decades. Shane McAndrew, chief data strategy officer at agency Mindshare, joins eMarketer principal analyst at Insider Intelligence Nicole Perrin to discuss the new Data Ethics Compass developed with GroupM and Unilever, what consumers expect from advertisers and their partners, and why experimentation is critical to attributing revenues to marketing touchpoints.
On today's episode, we discuss what an out-of-home (OOH) advertising comeback will look like and which areas are driving growth. We also examine how OOH movie theater advertising could recover, the significance of March Madness's return, when people will want to attend sporting events again, and replacing "primetime" with something more personal. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer forecasting analyst Nazmul Islam and senior analyst at Insider Intelligence Ross Benes.
Elizabeth Stein, founder and CEO of Purely Elizabeth, shares how the natural foods brand reallocated marketing dollars from in-store taste tests to digital discovery, and offers a special mantra for female executives to live by. Watch Industry Voices, a conversation between Elizabeth and Marissa Coslov, vice president of business development at Insider Intelligence, in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Link Walls, vice president of digital marketing strategy at ChannelAdvisor, talks with Rimma Kats, executive editor at eMarketer, about how marketers should reevaluate retail media, ads on Amazon, and data privacy.
Amid pandemic-accelerated shifts, online communities have become an integral part of the consumer journey. According to Verto Analytics, Reddit users are informed, make fast, high-value purchases, and ultimately become strong brand advocates.
UID 2.0 enters beta: After months of building traction in the digital media industry, the third-party cookie alternative begins beta testing this week.
Even before the pandemic, the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space was heating up in Western Europe. But the side effects of stay-at-home orders helped accelerate D2C’s popularity, and the landscape looks to be permanently altered.
One Liberty Plaza9th FloorNew York, NY 100061-800-405-0844


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Remember being told an apple a day keeps the doctor away? Not so simple, it turns out, as the government discovered with its new Food Strategy, with its plans to halve childhood obesity and make farming in the UK more resilient.
The strategy follows an independent review by Henry Dimbleby, the co-founder of restaurant chain Leon. His opinion of him on the government’s master plan? “It’s not really a strategy”, he plainly said on Monday. Dimbleby condemned the fact the government abandoned several of his proposals, including free school meals for kids on universal credit, and a commitment to cut meat and dairy consumption by 30 per cent.
George Eustice, the Environment Secretary, was promptly sent on the airwaves to defend the review. Full of self-assurance, I have explained how the government is not interested in reading the public on what to eat, even after calorie counts were slapped on menus. When asked whether the government doesn’t want people to eat less meat, he replied “that’s right”.
His answer sheds a light on the cracks in the Conservative Party. What we see is a vulnerable Cabinet scared of looking like they’re pushing the case for a “nanny state”. The nuance required to understand what’s plaguing our food system has been lost.
No one wants a 1984-style government punishing people for what they eat; there’s no need to call for a “red meat tax” that could easily backfire causing socioeconomic hardship. Dimbleby simply wanted the government to acknowledge a basic truth: if we don’t decrease our consumption of meat, we hurt the planet – and our health. A matter-of-fact statement risks being turned into the next culture war.
Beef and lamb in particular cause high methane emissions, and excessive consumption of red meat can lead to diabetes and heart diseases. Fast-food burgers and hot dogs are a huge part of the junk food cycle described by Dimbleby. In the UK, they’re hugely popular, for obvious reasons.
The private sector has understood something’s got to change before the government did. Some of the best researchers are looking at how to develop healthy and tasty meat in labs for new companies like Ivy Farms. This also aims to address another objective of the Food Strategy: making the UK more self-sufficient.
Then there’s the world of plant-based alternatives. These businesses are growing quickly because they have understood who their target customers are: not necessarily vegetarians or vegans, but people interested in trying alternatives while keeping meat as part of their diet. “I don’t identify with the idea that this is a binary choice – either you’re vegetarian or vegan or you’re not. It shows normal people can do it,” says Jonathan Petrides, chief executive officer of allplants, a plant-powered food company.
It seems disingenuous to expect a country that prides itself on roast lamb on a Sunday to suddenly turn vegetarian. It’s more likely that partially plant-based eating will become the backbone of a new British diet. But, with the eagerness of this industry to “do good”, inflated claims about saving the world with a veggie burger do more harm than good, making already skeptical Britons roll their eyes and steer clear of the meat alternatives. Inflated figures are as counterproductive as excessive intervention from government, which risks fueling a war between the “careless meat lovers” and the “angry vegans”.
We’re bombarded with statements such as “going meat-free one day a week” offsets “not driving for one month”. In an interview with Petrides, I have claimed 85 per cent of greenhouse gases come from meat. Instead, it’s roughly 60 per cent, according to a study published in Nature Food, a scientific journal. He also suggested that 70 per cent of the world’s supply of fresh water was used up by meat and dairy products. The entire agriculture industry uses up those resources, but that includes the naturally vegan friendly option: grain.
The numbers are already high. But an information war which inflates them risks creating a division over what we eat rather than working as the market should, nudging people in the right direction with a cheaper variety of products.
People in the UK are already eating less meat than we used to. In the last decade, it has fallen by 17 per cent, according to a study published in the journal the Lancet Planetary Health. It’s not Dimbleby’s 30 per cent. But it’s a significant shift with limited intervention.
The government, for their part, has chosen a bizarre tactic of shaming people on calorie counts rather than encouraging this existing shift in consumer behaviour. But that’s little excuse for the industry to sow misinformation themselves. It’s only our health that’s at stake.

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We are excited to announce our certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit.
What is B Corp?
A B Corp is an organisation that is certified as sustainable and ethical, that places people and planet as important as profit.
The B Corp certification looks at the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.
The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.
Most businesses score an average of 50, and we scored a whopping 90.1 points!
We are now part of a community of 5,575 businesses globally who are certified as B Corps.
The B Corp community in the UK represents a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprising of over 950 companies including well-known brands such as The Guardian, innocent, Patagonia, The Body Shop and organic food pioneers Abel & Cole.
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, said “We are delighted to welcome Bird & Blend Tea Co to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Bird & Blend are going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward”.
What does this mean for us?
It means that we have now joined a group of businesses that have pledged to use their company for good. We will keep doing what we are doing, because we already have people and planet at the heart of everything we do!
About B Lab UK:
B Lab UK is transforming the economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, and tools for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our global community includes 5,575 B Corps in 83 countries and 157 industries, and over 150,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager.
Learn more here.
As well as how B Corp now has 1000 businesses registered across the UK here.


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The tech giant was the focus of a 60 Minutes segment on Sunday, May 20, titled "How Did Google Get So Big." The segment focused on "critics who say the company has stifled competition, and an antitrust enforcer who is taking action." Google shares finished down 1% on Friday on news of the segment.
"Google makes the internet work. The internet would not be accessible to us without a search engine," prominent antitrust lawyer Gary Reback told 60 Minutes in the piece. "They control access to it. That's the important part. Google is the gatekeeper for-- for the World Wide Web, for the internet as we know it. It is every bit as important today as petroleum was when John D. Rockefeller was monopolizing that," Reback said.
"People tell their search engines things they wouldn't even tell their wives. I mean, it's a very powerful and yet very intimate technology. And that gives the company that controls it a mind-boggling degree of control over our entire society," Reback continued.
"If I were starting out today, I would have no shot of building Yelp. That opportunity has been closed off by Google and their approach," said Jeremy Stoppelman, founder of online review platform Yelp. "Because if you provide great content in one of these categories that is lucrative to Google, and seen as potentially threatening, they will snuff you out...They will make you disappear. They will bury you."
It's not the first time Google has come under fire for allegedly squashing competition or raising the barriers to entry too much. The company was fined about $2.7 billion by the European Commission last June after the watchdog group said it abused its dominance as a search engine by giving itself an advantage in comparison shopping services. Google parent company Alphabet appealed in September.
But the notion that in 2018 these "exposés" are still mind-blowing news is nothing short of ridiculous. Of course these companies have almost untouchable positions in their respective markets. It's dumb to have ever thought any differently. Google and its parent company Alphabet are taking the heat for a phenomenon that implicates nearly every big tech company, including Microsoft Corp. (MSFT - Get Report) , Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN - Get Report) , Apple Inc. (AAPL - Get Report) and Facebook Inc. (FB - Get Report) .
Let's start with Amazon. The company has executed acquisitions into new verticals like Whole Foods Market last year. That has sent shockwaves throughout the grocery store industry. Amazon has a top production studio, a surging cloud services business, an unrivaled retail business and more. Who else can say they do as much under one Bezos-like banner, and do it with such success that makes rivals shake in their boots?
With such heft, Amazon in many cases is able to set prices in the market. It's retail ruthlessness and it's subsequent ability to put rivals out of business is now legendary.
"The Amazon people are pretty smart in that what they're acquiring are not horizontal competitors," said Rob Baumann, chair of the economics department at the College of the Holy Cross. "These large firms -- they merge smartly."
Imagine attempting to create an alternative to Amazon today. Even if you had the best backing from the best venture capitalists and the best value-adding ideas, trying to dethrone Amazon and its CEO Jeff Bezos would be like David versus Goliath, but with a much different ending.
"I think if you look at the classic view of a monopoly, you could argue that they are not because prices aren't going up per say," said Bill Friend, managing director and VP of North America at Fluent Commerce. "But they're establishing a level of control that is unprecedented."
Because of that, Friend explained, it could soon be high time to establish a new sense of what a monopoly is. These tech companies don't meaningfully drive prices higher for consumers, but they absolutely raise the barrier to entry to impossible to jump over heights.
Now take Facebook. When CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of Congress last month following the Cambridge Analytics debacle, one of his most tenuous moments came as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) asked if there was an alternative to Facebook for users upset with the platform. Zuckerberg tossed out some statistics and danced around the question before Graham explicitly asked, "You don't think you have a monopoly?"
Zuckerberg's response? "It certainly doesn't feel like that to me." Not exactly keeping it real, Zuck.
The reason Zuckerberg couldn't name a competitor is because there isn't another company that does exactly what Facebook does and does it at its scale. Twitter (TWTR - Get Report) just tweets, while Snapchat (SNAP - Get Report) just snaps vanishing photos and text.
Facebook has more than 2.2 billion monthly active users, and it's still growing. Good luck trying to dethrone that business.
Same goes for Alphabet. Sure, it's a data-collecting search engine that dominates the internet. But it's also a leading advertising sales company (thanks to its data pool) with a top video sharing platform in YouTube, a leading smart home devices company, and a best in class self-driving car upstart via Waymo and so much more.
YouTube has a commanding 1.57 billion plus monthly active users. How do you even go about trying to create a business that challenges that? What venture capitalist would give someone a nice chunk of money to even try?
"Somebody else coming along? It's not really possible, even just based on the amount of capital it would take," Friend said.
Microsoft is really the only tech giant that has faced significant regulatory backlash on the monopoly topic. In 2001, Microsoft found itself at the center of a contentious regulatory case questioning whether the company could in good faith bundle its web browser and operating system. It ended in a settlement. It was 17 years ago.
Alphabet, Microsoft, amazon, Apple, Facebook and JPMorgan are holdings in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio . Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells the stocks? Learn more now.
TheStreet presents on May 22: "How to Stomach Market Volatility." Hosted by Fisher Investments, the exclusive live webinar will give you the tools to successfully navigate market volatility and discuss why having a wealth manager is more critical than ever before. Quickly register for the event here.


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Like it or not, the machines are claiming new territory. And by “machines” I mean artificial intelligence (AI).
Our business and personal lives are touched by AI every day. That friendly lady who took your information and looked up your account when you called your insurance company? A robot.
That helpful service on Netflix that recommends new shows to watch? An AI algorithm.
That stilted voice that gives you directions when you’re lost in a new city? AI.
Amazon’s helpful home assistant, Alexa and Apple’s assistant, Siri? AI.
Without realizing it, we’re interacting with “thinking” machines on an unprecedented level and in forms we had only imagined before. A trends report on artificial intelligence explains:
AI isn’t a singular technology, but an umbrella term that includes machine learning, voice recognition, predictive analytics, among others, to solve a problem.
Artificial intelligence technologies of all forms are gaining momentum in 2018.
Whether you’re excited, indifferent, or stocking a bunker with dry goods, there are a number of ways that your life is likely to be impacted by artificial intelligence in the coming years.
And, if you’re a small business owner, you need to be thinking about how your business is likely to be impacted by AI.
You can’t afford to ignore the opportunities presented by utilizing artificial intelligence technologies in your business. Mark Skilton, Professor of Practice at Warwick Business School shared the following in a policy briefing: AI technologies are likely to provide new market opportunities and competitive advantage. Perceptive organizations are already investing in proof of concept studies to determine whether there are opportunities to benefit from AI.
The numbers bear out his claim. Every business owner and would-be entrepreneur should check out these 28 statistics about AI in 2018—and beyond.
AI in Our Lives
1. AI technology is already touching the majority of people in the United States. The Webby Awards AI Trends Report revealed that: 79 percent of U.S. adults indicated they had used some form of artificial intelligence in the last 12 months, and 65 percent acknowledged that automation has a significant impact on their daily lives.
2. Humans still hold an understandable amount of mistrust for artificial intelligence. It comes as no surprise then that people prefer to reserve the decisions that are most important to their health, wealth and well-being for themselves. Sixty-nine percent of people polled would prefer healthcare decisions to be made personally without the influence of automation. (Webby Trend Report)
3. Sixty percent of those surveyed preferred to handle money matters on their own without AI interference. (Webby Trend Report). But we continue to see services like Wealthfront and Betterment gain more customers, and we expect that more and more people will shift to machine-based investment strategies.
4. Eighty-one percent of people polled anticipate that AI automated devices will drive cars in the next 10 years. We’re already seeing this feature from Tesla and numerous other automakers (in limited form).
Perhaps all of these years of using GPS to help us get around helped pave the way for its AI big brother. Artificial intelligence seems to have earned an accepted place in our transportation future.
5. Eighty percent of those polled expect to see automated devices deliver products to our doors. (Webby Trend Report). This provides an interesting opportunity for smaller businesses to continue to differentiate by providing personal, human-powered service to their customers.
AI is still a field in development. Everyone is keen to jump on board and take advantage of the benefits it offers. But the technology is still evolving to meet the expectations that both businesses and consumers hold. These real-life examples show the mixed results that AI is experiencing today.
6. While the idea of a robot assistant seems appealing to a wide swath of consumers, the reality may not live up to the anticipation. One of the most well-known artificial intelligence agents, Apple’s Siri, is only reportedly used by about 15 percent of iPhone users. That leaves 85 percent of iPhone users who don’t seem to find value in the robot pal who lives in their pocket. (Intelligent Voice)
7. More troubling, 46 percent of iPhone owners who do use Siri, believe that Siri’s capabilities have been “oversold.” As Siri is a primary selling feature for a flagship product from one of the most renowned technology companies in the world, this begs the question—can anyone really execute an interactive voice recognition-based bot in a useful and meaningful way? (Intelligent Voice)
8. The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas has adopted the use of an artificial intelligence concierge called “Rose” to assist their guests and provide a unique interactive experience. Since Rose’s introduction, the hotel has seen a 39% increase in on-site spending and 90% of guests who interacted with Rose reported that they would recommend her. (Social Media Week)
9. Unsurprisingly, the companies who prioritize innovation seem to be better at adopting and taking advantage of new technologies. Narrative Science found that 61 percent of companies with a dedicated innovation strategy are using AI technologies to mine their data for thus-far unidentified business opportunities. This is in stark contrast to the 22 percent of businesses without an innovation strategy who are utilizing AI in the same fashion.
Data mining is still limited to larger companies, but increasingly, tools are available to help even small companies assess their data and turn those assessments into actionable tactics.
For example, even smaller businesses can effectively use chatbots to increase profits. At crowdspring, we fully appreciate the advantages AI can bring to a business. For example, you may have noticed that we use an AI bot for lead generation on our site and our blog, to encourage readers to subscribe. We know that many entrepreneurs and small business owners need help with naming their company, logo design, web design and other graphic design projects, but lead forms are not always the best way to help us measure and follow-up on that interest. The AI bot allows us to adopt a low-key, conversational approach, rather than using forms (as most companies do in such cases).
Who is Driving AI’s Growth?
10. A Forrester Data Infographic reveals that business technology decision makers—or people making technology decisions who work in roles outside of IT—are big proponents of incorporating AI technology into their businesses. Data has shown that: 63 percent of business Technology Decisions Makers (tdms in a role outside of IT) are implementing, have implemented, or are expanding use of artificial intelligence.
11. Traditional tech decision makers (who work in the IT field) are slower to embrace AI technology at 43%.
Are We Ready for AI?
12. A startling statistic from Forrester points out that while more than 60 percent of executives believe that their business is not where it should be in terms of its digital transformation, 20 percent of CEOs will fail to act. Forrester predicts that this will lead those firms to fail or be acquired by other more tech-savvy businesses. (Forrester)
13. Forrester also reports that retailers are largely unprepared to take advantage of intelligent agents, or “bots.” Among many other tasks, these programs can provide shopping suggestions or guide shopping choices for their internet clientele. Forrester’s Predictions 2018 report goes on to explain:
Lack of skills, quasi-differentiated brands, and aged operations are hurdles for traditional retailers—but the role of intelligent agents will be the thorniest issue in 2018. Only 33 percent of retailers understand the disruptive nature of intelligent agents; 67 percent do not.
14. AI technology is still in its infancy and growing pains are inevitable. It’s projected that 75 percent of AI projects in 2018 will fall short of expectations because they “fail to model operational considerations.” But, the good news is that this will likely lead decision-makers to revisit the scope of their AI investments and proceed with a better understanding of the field. Firms will be better equipped to achieve success with this additional learning under their belts.


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Visa card for 12-year-olds
Last updated at 14:52, Friday, 27 July 2012
A chip and pin Visa card for children as young as 12 has been launched.
The Visa CitizenCard also acts as identification, displaying a child’s date of birth and photograph.
Parents can load the card – which costs £15 to buy – with between £10 and £5,000 and can keep track of how the money is being spent. It can be used for payment in shops or online but not as a credit card.
People aged under 16 need their parents’ consent to apply for the chip andpin-secured photo ID card and parents can then manage the card directly and pay pocket money on to it, those behind the scheme said.
There is no cap on the amount that can be spent on the card per transaction but users can only spend up to the total loaded on the card.
The number on the card also identifies whether someone is over or under 18.
Cards can be used in stores and online but those held by people aged under 18 will not work at retailers selling age-restricted items.
The card carries no monthly or annual fee but costs £15 to purchase and charges £1 when it is used at cash machines in the UK and £2 abroad.
It can be loaded free of charge by bank transfer, standing order, online banking or at any branch of Barclays.
First published at 14:05, Friday, 27 July 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk
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- Cumbrian hospital operating theatres to stay shut after alert
- Crash blocks busy Cumbrian road junction
- Benefits fraud woman sentenced by Cumbrian court
- Plan to build 50 homes in West Cumbrian village (5 comments)


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What Does Bed Bath & Beyond’s Foot Traffic Look Like After Filing for Bankruptcy?
June 15, 2023
The once-popular category killer Bed Bath & Beyond likely boasted high levels of foot traffic during its prime in the 2000s. Bed Bath & Beyond was a go-to location for its variety of home goods at low prices that kept shoppers coming back up until about 2015, when the company’s volatile period began, which included years of dismal sales and several failed attempts to reinvigorate the business. Now, following the pandemic and the retail challenges that came along with it, Bed Bath & Beyond has filed for bankruptcy and begun widespread store closing sales.
How has consumer foot traffic to Bed Bath & Beyond stores changed following the company’s bankruptcy? To find out, we analyzed consumer foot traffic data to Bed Bath & Beyond stores across the country before and after the company filed for bankruptcy.
Bed Bath & Beyond Foot Traffic Levels
Bed Bath & Beyond officially filed for bankruptcy on April 23, 2023, so we analyzed consumer foot traffic to its locations from March 20 to May 27 of 2023. In the month prior to the bankruptcy announcement, foot traffic fell past -60% at the lowest points. However, since the company’s bankruptcy announcement, Bed Bath & Beyond’s foot traffic has surged by an impressive 34%. This suggests that their consumer interest was fading quickly up until it filed for bankruptcy, perhaps attracting deal hunters and shoppers looking to take advantage of store closing sales.
Notable Bed Bath & Beyond competitors Target, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and Kohl’s also boasted increases in foot traffic for the time period analyzed, but to a lesser degree. Target’s foot traffic increased 10% during this time period, and Lowe’s and Kohl’s saw increases of 8% and 29%, respectively. Bed Bath & Beyond’s substantial increase in foot traffic compared to competitors suggests that store closing deals attracted more visitors than usual. So, could this resurgence of Bed Bath & Beyond foot traffic linger throughout 2023?
Bed Bath & Beyond’s Wind Down
After Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy, the company began the process of closing up shop, which included announcing the last day for customers to redeem the brand’s famous blue 20% off coupons—a mere few days following the bankruptcy declaration. These coupons originally functioned as a key factor in the chain’s popularity and were a strong extension of the brand. Now that the coupons are no longer being accepted, customers are relying on store closing sales for their deals, which is contributing to the recent criticism the company has faced.
Many shoppers who have recently visited Bed Bath & Beyond locations have complained about the lack of price reductions and low percentage-off sales. Many of the company’s deals are hovering at 10% off, with some items up to 50% off. Deal hunters have been expecting more from the sales, and they’re sharing their viral negative reviews on social media. With these video reviews quickly gaining visibility, could disgruntled customers affect Bed Bath & Beyond’s foot traffic in the coming months?
Foot Traffic to Bed Bath & Beyond in 2023
Since many recent Bed Bath & Beyond customers have been disappointed by the company’s liquidation sales, foot traffic could be affected as social media buzz surrounding the sales increases. Social media plays a critical role in consumerism today with 41% of purchases being influenced by social media. Consumers tend to trust social media reviews more than advertisements, so the negative reviews of Bed Bath & Beyond’s liquidation sales have the potential to disrupt the company’s rapidly rising foot traffic. Could the negative buzz really impact Bed Bath & Beyond’s foot traffic? It will be interesting to see how and if opposing consumer reviews affect the business.
At the end of the day, Bed Bath & Beyond is seeing foot traffic increase rapidly, so despite critics on social media, it’s safe to say that its store closing sales are having a positive impact on foot traffic. The company’s liquidation strategy has resonated with key segments of its audience, and that has resulted in significant foot traffic growth and buzz around the brand. So, as stores continue to prepare to close, and more consumers look for deals, Bed Bath & Beyond’s foot traffic could continue to grow.
For more consumer and brand insights like this, subscribe to the Gravy Analytics email newsletter today.


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TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2021 - They are saying "this accessory is going to make all your neighbours jealous" and 8 Years after launching its ubiquitous line of neighbourhood toques, aptly.
The growing trend of the hot towel shave is has been gaining momentum around the city as clients can discover the numerous benefits associated with this procedure. And the 270+.
TORONTO, July 28, 2021 - Two August weekend open-air fashion events on the shores of Lake Simcoe give Canadian designers a long-awaited stage with the announcement of the Friday Harbour.
T-shirts have become a staple for every closet. One of the main reasons is their incredible versatility. There are numerous ways to wear it for various occasions. You can expect.
Hats will never go out of fashion! People consider it as a style-enhancing accessory that both men and women sport all through the year. You can choose from the different.
Beginnings In 2007, Shai Medalsy founded Stone Rose with the goal to modify the standard in which men’s shirts were being crafted. His goal was to create a garment that was elevated.
It is every girl’s dream to achieve that stylish look. Fortunately, you can easily achieve that. That’s because looking stylish does not mean wearing the coolest trends or the most.
MONTRÉAL, Oct. 26, 2020 /CNW/ - jeane & jax announces a new outerwear jacket made entirely from textiles repurposed from the automotive industry. The materials were proudly donated by Japanese based.
TORONTO, ON., Sept. 8, 2020 — You know that case of 24 plastic water bottles you have stashed away? They could be turned into a kid’s raincoat! Canadian fashion designer.
TORONTO, ON., Aug. 23, 2020 — As physical distancing measures have many of us skipping the stores and turning to online shopping, we’re finding shoes can be one of the.
TORONTO, ON., June 4, 2020/CNW/ - Crave has announced the cast of its majestic inaugural season of Canada's Drag Race. Season 1 of the Crave Original Series promises to have.
We know. Many brides and grooms to-be have been forced to postpone their wedding day due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. But we can all dream of brighter days ahead.
Canada’s largest sale of vintage clothing features clothing from the 1920’s - 1980’splus accessories, handbags, jewelry and designer vintage. The Toronto Vintage Clothing Show takes place March 7 & 8, 2020.
This week CABIN opened its doors to customers and commuters at Union Station. They held a day of giveaways and contests on October 29, from 7am to 7pm including a.
Lee's Palace, Toronto a legendary live music venue for punk and indie bands since the mid-80's, is quite fittingly hosting Punk Rock Flea Market Toronto (PRFMT) this Sunday, October 27..
Are you planning a last-minute, end-of-summer trip to Toronto — Canada’s biggest city? There’s so much to see and do in Toronto in the summer: from eating at some of.


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TORONTO — Ryah Group Inc. announced Tuesday that its subsidiary Ryah Medtech, Inc. has received a Health Canada medical device license for its proprietary Internet of Things-powered medical cannabis inhaler, cartridges and software.
Health Canada license no. 107475 allows Ryah to market its Smart Medical Inhaler System to medical patients in Canada and potentially represents a significant boost to Ryah’s growth strategy. According to Stats Canada, there are over 290,000 active, federally registered cannabis patients, while nearly 8 million Canadians (one in every four citizens) live with chronic pain. Insurance reimbursement and various provincial programs such as the Ontario Disability Support Program are designed to reduce or potentially fully cover the cost of purchasing cannabis delivery solutions that are certified under a medical device license.
“The approval from Health Canada recognizing the Ryah Smart Inhaler System as a medical device is a major step towards achieving our global medical device footprint,” said Ryah CEO Gregory Wagner. “Once again, certification for both our software and hardware puts us in a unique position to provide objective data analytics which is critical for developing highly personalized cannabis therapies. We expect the Health Canada MDL will aid Ryah's efforts to obtain additional country specific-certifications, including New Zealand, Australia and beyond.”
The Ryah Smart Inhaler is a volume-management device for dry-herb plant based formulations. Paired with a proprietary software application, it allows users to control their session regimen, register their usage, and voluntarily provide anonymous data that can further be analyzed and used for regulatory improvements, research and awareness.
Ryah recently announced its Ryah Smart Inhaler received medical device certification under ISO 13485:2016/MDSAP and EN ISO 13485:2016 directives. The company also announced that it received a notice of allowance on utility patent for its Smart Medical Inhaler System.


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Green-Living Firms Try For Mainstream Balance
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Steve Case, co-founder of America Online, talks of living "more in balance" these days and not long ago bought his first hybrid car. He recently gave the keynote speech to a gathering of entrepreneurs in Santa Monica that included the inventor of an organic herbal throat spray, the maker of an immune-boosting tea and a psychic healer who talks to dogs -- the types of ideas his new company, Revolution LLC, is trying to pick through for products and services that might succeed in the mainstream.
"Some fringy stuff," Case said of the ideas he heard during the Southern California conference.
But then again, so was the Internet 20 years ago.
There's an uneasy courtship going on between corporate America and the diverse, sometimes idiosyncratic collection of companies that make up the "sustainable lifestyle" movement -- firms that promote their products as healthy and easy on the environment. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has begun buying organic cotton; Colgate-Palmolive Co. owns natural products pioneer Tom's of Maine; prominent organic food brands have become subsidiaries of major agribusinesses.
In the midst of it, Case is trying to position himself as an honest broker, someone who can translate green practices into mainstream tastes and apply mainstream business principles in a way that green businesses and consumers can accept. The aim is to build a "Nike of wellness," but to get there Case is trying to meld ideas derived from talks with Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s Warren Buffett and Virgin Group companies' Richard Branson with businesses developed by people such as Jirka Rysavy, who lives in a shack without running water and developed a line of yoga products that Case is backing.
Like the diverse line of businesses Branson has brought under the Virgin label, Case sees his year-old Revolution developing into a sort of meta-brand, a signal to consumers that the product or service is environmentally friendly -- but not too "fringy."
"Everyone wants to make choices that are better for the people around them. The problem now is the choices have a tendency to be overly preachy. . . . It feels like a club you don't belong to," he said. "People are intrigued with these ideas. They're willing to give it a shot if given a safe, comfortable way to do that and not be targeted by the yoga police."
Revolution Living, the lifestyle unit of his District-based holding and operating company, has planted a flag in the estimated $228 billion sustainable lifestyle market with a $20 million minority stake in Rysavy's Gaiam Inc., a retailer of health and eco-conscious products; and investments in multimedia portal Lime and car-sharing service Flexcar.
Despite their unconventional leanings, one of the more valuable assets of the companies under the Revolution umbrella may be their high-profile connections to the conventional business world. Former Chrysler Corp. chairman Lee Iacocca is a board member and investor in Flexcar. Ex-Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive Carly Fiorina sits on the board of Revolution Health Group, which is focused on consumer-oriented health care.
Case, who admits to being better at "building companies than running them" sets the general direction by identifying trends. Day-to-day management of Revolution Living falls to Michael Crooke, former chief executive of Patagonia, who is credited with turning around the outdoor apparel maker by instilling basic business discipline without alienating core customers.
At the company's sleek offices on Rhode Island Avenue NW earlier this year, young MBAs pored over financial documents and gazed at flat-screen monitors while being pitched ideas by business partners -- a reflection of the hectic deal flow.
"Everything is a race against time. The secret is out," Crooke said, referring to growing corporate interest in eco-conscious consumers and products.


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Owen Sound CoronaVirus Update Ontario Stores
Owen Sound CoronaVirus Store Ontario Update for Walmart coronavirus, Shoppers Drug Mart coronavirus, and Giant Tiger coronavirus updates. Are toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other virus hygiene and medical items flying off the shelves? The store shelves and people in the isles prove that we should be stocking up!
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Symptoms and treatment
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks
CANADA TRAVEL ADVISORIES


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It could be a dream come true for many middle-aged Utah women: To sleep with Donny Osmond.
Settle down, everyone, it’s perfecly innocent: The 56-year-old entertainer will soon be putting his name on a line of mattresses.
Osmond’s home-furnishing line, Donny Osmond Home, has made a licensing agreement with bedding maker King Koil to create a line of mattresses, according to the industry trade publication Furniture Today.
The new mattresses will be introduced at the furniture industry’s Las Vegas Market in January, the trade paper reported. That’s handy for Osmond, who’s made his home in Las Vegas, where he and his sister Marie are headliners at The Flamingo.
|1.||Pioneer Day events around Utah|
|2.||Tour de France: Playful Pole wins 17th stage, as overall leader Nibali marches on|
|3.||7 surprises in the Mormon pioneer diet|
|4.||Bagley Cartoon: Future of Utah Lands|
|5.||This is the place for facts you might not know about Mormon pioneers|
|6.||Where to watch fireworks on Pioneer Day|
|7.||BYU football: Ex-Ute Langi's mom says he's still undecided|
|8.||Simmons calls ex-KISS bandmates crack addicts, losers|
|9.||Judge strikes down gay marriage ban, stays ruling|
|10.||Faith, business groups blast proposed fee on solar-equipped homes|


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Groklaw is reporting that Kodak have won a software patent lawsuit against Sun Microsystems and are now claiming US$1.06 billion dollars in damages on Sun’s hardware sales because of an alleged infringement of Java on a patent of Kodaks.
Why are they claiming on Sun’s hardware sales? Because Java can be downloaded for free and Kodak say that Java provides “the engine for such computer equipment”. I can’t believe that a court accepted that as an argument.. 🙁
Australia, are you watching ? This is what’s coming our way now the FTA is entering law, bringing software patents with it..


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Coffee with milk might have an anti-inflammatory effect: Study
Jan 30, 2023
Can a cup of coffee with milk have an anti-inflammatory impact on humans? According to a new study from the University of Copenhagen, this is the case. Anti-inflammatory effects in immune cells are doubled when proteins and antioxidants are combined. The researchers intend to investigate the implications on human health.


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The global economy has been in a recession since December 2007, but have we now passed the worst of it? Whilst companies are still going bankrupt, unemployment is still rising, the housing market is still looking pretty gloomy and government debt surely can’t go up anymore, there are indications that we’ve reached the bottom of the recession. There are murmurs that the economy may start to recover towards of the end of the year.
But, of course, economics wouldn’t be economics if there wasn’t considerable disagreement. Many still believe that the worst is yet to come. According to the OECD, the recession is ‘near the bottom’. Yet, output in the UK is still set to decline by 4.3% in 2009, and by 2010 the budget deficit is predicted to have grown to 14%. Unemployment is at its highest since November 1996, but US consumer confidence is said to be rising and the pound is climbing. Read these articles and make up your mind about the state of the UK and global economy!!
Business and Consumer Surveys (After following link, click on chart) European Commission, Economic and Financial Affairs (29/6/09)
Pound climbs against euro as King sees signs recession easing Bloomberg, Lukanyo Mnyanda, Gavin Finch (20/6/09)
Bank says banking crisis easing BBC News (25/6/09)
First signs of optimism returning to some parts of financial services CBI PRess Release (29/6/09)
Darling and King agreed on tentative recovery Guardian, Ashley Seager (17/6/09)
Sharp contration for UK economy BBC News (30/6/09)
Housing market knocked by price falls Moneywise (22/6/09)
OECD says recession ‘near bottom’ BBC News, Steve Schifferes (24/6/09)
US Federal Reserve says recession is ‘easing’ Telegraph, James Quinn (24/6/09)
Public borrowing at record levels BBC News (18/6/09)
Leading index suggests recession easing UPI.com (18/6/09)
US consumer confidence up in June BBC News (26/6/09)
Blow for housing market as prices fall The Independent, David Prosser (22/6/09)
Most UK businesses freeze pay as recession bites, CBI says Telegraph, Peter Taylor (23/6/09)
- What are the typical characteristics of a recession? Do the current statistics of the four main macroeconomic objectives fit in with what economic theory tells us?
- Which policies would governments normally implement to get a economy into the expansionary/recovery phase of the business cycle and how do they work?
- Why is consumer confidence so key to economic recovery?
- What type of banking regulation is needed to prevent a similar crisis happening again?
- Movements in the housing market are often seen as indicators of the state of the economy. Why is this?


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Odeon Cinemas has managed to increase its online transactions by 250 per cent since integrating credit card transactions into its own website.
The move has enabled it to deal with the increase in cinema attendance fuelled by blockbusters such as 'Harry Potter' and 'The Lord of the Rings'.
The re-launched website, hosted by BT Ignite in one of its secure data centres, has meant that cinema customers can purchase tickets directly from Odeon, instead of being redirected to an independent payment page. This result in a faster service.
The card payment technology has ensured that cards used are genuine and have sufficient funds to cover the cost of tickets.
"Security is essential to the success of any ecommerce activity," said Jane Vose, head of eCommerce Products, BT Ignite.
"The inability to provide it in an effective manner has, up until now, held many companies back from making a real profit from their online business."
Ron Hanlon, marketing director of Odeon Cinemas was pleased by the success of the re-launch and said the company was looking to extend the website into other avenues.
"The redesign of the website has allowed us to exploit additional routes to market such as Wap and interactive TV," he said.
Cotton seedling freezes to death as Chang'e-4 shuts down for the Moon's 14-day lunar night
Fortnite easily out-earns PUBG, Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018
Meteor showers as a service will be visible for about 100 kilometres in all directions
Saturn's rings only formed in the past 100 million years, suggests analysis of Cassini space probe data
New findings contradict conventional belief that Saturn's rings were formed along with the planet about 4.5 billion years ago


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Nvidia officials for five years have been promoting the use of their graphics technology to help speed up systems being used in high-performance computing environments.
At the 2013 International Supercomputing Conference (ISC) in Germany June 18, Nvidia outlined efforts that officials say not only validate what the company has done up to this point, but also will help drive further adoption of GPU accelerators in supercomputers.
Nvidia announced that version 5.5 of CUDA, its parallel computing platform, will support the ARM chip architecture. ARM officials, whose low-power chip designs can be found in the bulk of smartphones and tablets, are turning their focus to the data center.
ARM and its partners believe that the performance and power efficiency of their systems-on-a-chip (SoCs) can address the demands around low power and density coming from Web hosting and cloud computing environments, as well as from some high-performance computing (HPC) organizations. They expect demand for ARM SoCs for servers to take off next year, when ARM releases its ARMv8 designs, which includes such server features as 64-bit computing, more memory and greater virtualization support.
For Nvidia, having CUDA support ARM not only will make it easier for ARM processors to coexist in HPC systems with Nvidia’s GPU accelerators and for programmers to port applications from ARM to the GPUs, but it also means that HPC systems can be powered exclusively by technology from Nvidia, which licenses ARM’s SoC designs for its Tegra chips.
“We are seeing a lot of excitement around ARM, and [those organizations that are interested] are all waiting for ARM 64,” Roy Kim, marketing manager for Nvidia’s Tesla Group, told eWEEK.
Right now, the bulk of GPU accelerators are paired with x86 processors from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. However, there already are a number of HPC applications porting to ARM and GPU architectures, including Amber, Gromacs and Hoomd-Blue, according to Kim. Organizations that tested the CUDA on ARM offering found that they needed few, if any, code changes to run the software on systems with ARM chips and Nvidia GPUs.
In addition, there already are chip makers—like Calxeda, Applied Micro and Marvell Technologies—already making ARM-based SoCs for servers. AMD officials also on June 18 unveiled details of its upcoming ARM-based “Seattle” SoCs for servers.
However, Intel isn’t backing down. The chip maker, which in November 2012 rolled out its Xeon Phi coprocessor technology, expanded the current portfolio of Xeon Phi offerings and talked at the ISC about its next-generation “Knights Landing” Xeon Phi offering that will come out next year and offer greater performance and power-consumption improvements. In addition, organizations will be able to use the 14-nanometer Knights Landing chips as either coprocessors—that essentially do the same job as GPU coprocessors—or as primary CPUs.
Nvidia Launches CUDA Support for ARM Server Chips
Coprocessors and GPU accelerators are gaining momentum in HPC. According to the Top500 list of the world’s fastest supercomputers released June 17, 54 systems used one or the other, with 39 choosing Nvidia GPUs and three choosing AMD’s ATI Radeon graphics products. Eleven used Intel’s Xeon Phi, including China’s Tianhe-2, the world’s fastest system.
IDC analysts, in a study released June 17, found that the number of HPC sites using coprocessors and accelerators doubled over the past two years, with Nvidia GPUs and Xeon Phi coprocessors in close competition.
In addition to the CUDA 5.5 announcement, Nvidia officials also noted that GPU accelerators are being used to develop neural networks, computing environments that operate in similar fashion to the human brain, including by adapting their work to what they learn in doing their jobs. Google created a neural network that used 16,000 CPUs in 1,000 servers to create 1.7 billion parameters—connections similar to those between neurons in the brain. By contrast, Nvidia and researchers at Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Lab created a network just as large with three servers using Nvidia GPU accelerators.
Using 16 servers with GPU accelerators, they created a 11.2 billion-parameter neural network—6.5 times larger than the Google one.
Nvidia also listed other artificial intelligence labs that use its GPU accelerators, and said Nuance for the past four years has used neural networks with GPU accelerators to enable its speech-recognition technology to handle issues like accents and background noises, Nvidia’s Kim said.
Big data is another area where systems with GPU accelerators are gaining interest because of the performance and energy efficiency, he said.
The GPU accelerator “business is going into areas it hasn’t gone into before, and going into markets it’s not familiar with, and that’s because of demand,” he said.


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Despite an unpredictable climate, Britain is the only country in Europe where most people prefer a night out to an evening in.
In a survey of nearly 22,000 Europeans, it was found that most preferred to spend their evenings indoors. But in
Britain, a decisive 59 per cent said they favoured dining out and going to clubs and pubs over spending a quiet evening in.
Spain, which came second in the poll, was the only other country in Europe where more than 40 per cent of those questioned said they preferred going out to staying in for the evening.
The study, by the European edition of the Wall Street Journal, also revealed that seven out of ten Britons said they went out to eat every month, with nearly a third saying they dined out every week.
Even in France, known for its love of sophisticated cuisine, 17 per cent of respondents claimed that they always ate at home.
And in Germany six out of 10 people said they ate out at restaurants and snack bars just a few times a year.
The research suggested that while Britons may eat out often, they do so cheaply - only 16 per cent spent £21.30 or more per meal.
One explanation for this is the improved quality and availability of inexpensive meals in pubs.
And the proposed changes to the licensing laws, which will allow pubs and bars to remain open for longer, look set to make Britons even more sociable.
After staying in and going out, the cinema and DIY came joint third in the list of Europeans' top activities.Reuse content


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On Tuesday, Dell announced a prototype low-power server built with ARM processors, code-named “Copper,” aimed at the hyperscale datacenter space. Enterprises running large Web, cloud and big data environments are looking to custom-built servers as a means of lowering the cost of computing. Dell will not be selling the ARM server outright, but will provide units to select customers and partners for application development and benchmarking.
Holyoke datacenter will serve up HPC to MIT, Harvard, Boston University, Northeastern University and the University of Massachusetts
Company looks to renewable energy to power its computing infrastructure.
A small team of engineers at Facebook have created an ultra-efficient design for large-scale computing.
<img style=”float: left;” src=”http://media2.hpcwire.com/hpcwire/Green_Platform_logo.bmp” alt=”” width=”119″ height=”100″ />Silicon Valley startup Green Platform Corporation has been promoting its vibration dampening solution for rack-based disk storage for a couple of years now. But with the increasing importance of “big data” applications, which places particular emphasis on performant I/O, the company is looking to tap into a $22 billion storage market that is still primarily based on vibration-prone spinning disks. In the process, the company has tweaked its strategy to offer what it calls a “Vibration Management System.”
Microsoft recently released a video providing an in-depth look at the hardware that backs its many cloud services.
This week Steve Campbell ventured out in San Diego, California to meet the leaders of ScaleMatrix, a startup datacenter company that has chosen to build its behemoth in one of the most unlikely cities possible—at least for anyone with electricity cost concerns in mind.
UCLA has added itself to list of institutions moving “outside the box” of brick and mortar solutions. The university recently selected HP’s POD containerized datacenter to meet the needs of an expanding research base for its shared HPC cluster program.
The Weekly Top Five features the five biggest HPC stories of the week, condensed for your reading pleasure. This week, we cover ISRO’s newest supercomputer; Tokyo Tech’s selection of EM Photonics’ CULA library; Intel’s 3-D transistor breakthrough; the latest LSF Tools from Platform Computing; and SciNet’s new NextIO GPU-based system.
Cisco opened the doors on its datacenter-in-a-box offering, CDC, despite relatively low adoption of the mobile DC option.


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Toyota Kirloskar Motors has announced that it’s Innova MPV has achieved a milestone. The Innova has managed to find more than 10 lakh homes so far across the country. The Innova was introduced in February 2005 as a replacement for the erstwhile Qualis MPV. Since then, Innova has ruled the MPV market despite becoming significantly expensive over the years. The current generation Innova Crysta is priced between ₹16.52 lakh and ₹26.54 lakh. The MPV is offered in multiple seating options and powertrain choices.
Toyota Innova Crysta: a brief recap
The new Innova Crysta is loaded with a host of features and a much-requested, new connected infotainment system. Starting with the exterior, the new Innova Crysta gets a new trapezoidal piano-black grille with chrome ornamentation that merges into the headlamps, a sharper front bumper design, and diamond-cut alloy wheels for a sporty look. On the safety front, the new Innova Crysta gets seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, and Hill Start Assist, along with the addition of a new front clearance sonar (with MID display) to prevent collisions while parking in tight spaces and offer a stress-free driving experience. Speaking about the features and the interiors, the new Toyota Innova Crysta gets a fresh look with the option of the new upholstery color of Camel Tan in the ZX grade.
In line with the latest trend of connected infotainment, and after a lot of requests from Toyota fans, a new and larger Smart Playcast touchscreen audio with Android Auto and Apple Carplay has been introduced in the upgraded Innova. Besides, customers can now enjoy vehicle connectivity features such as real-time vehicle tracking, geofencing, last parked location, and many more as optional accessories in the new Innova Crysta. Some additional features include- the availability of new exterior color – Sparkling Black Crystal Shine, a trapezoidal piano-black grille with chrome surround, a new and sharper front bumper design, a new Diamond-Cut alloy wheel design, new front clearance sonar (with MID Indication) for improved safety, new luxurious interior color of Camel Tan for upholstery (ZX grade only), and an all-new Smart Playcast touchscreen audio with Android Auto/Apple Carplay.
The Innova Crysta comes with two engine options. These include a 2.4-liter diesel producing 148 HP and 360 Nm, as well as a 2.7-liter petrol unit that puts out 164 BHP and 245 Nm. Both engines come with a choice of a 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission.
For regular updates, follow us on Instagram here.The post Toyota Achieves A Major Milestone With The Innova Crysta! first appeared on Motoroids.


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On 8 July, Ecommerce Europe and EuroCommerce jointly launched the European Ecommerce Regional Report 2020. The report sets out the main facts and figures related to the e-commerce sector in Europe, with country-by-country and sectorial analyses, interviews with heads of leading national e-commerce associations and other valuable information for merchants, policymakers and other stakeholders. The main figures demonstrate that growth in e-commerce sales reached €636 billion in 2019, up by 14.2% from the previous year. European e-commerce turnover is forecast to grow at around 12.7% and to hit €717 billion in 2020.
The report is a key source of information for online merchants, as it will provide them with useful facts and figures about the European Single Market and specific domestic markets. Based on those figures, merchants can explore the perspective of a cross-border expansion of their business. Furthermore, the report will provide policy makers at the EU and national levels with in-depth insights about the evolution of e-commerce in Europe and its regulatory needs.
Impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce
The report provides some preliminary insights on the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce even though the full impact of the pandemic on the sector will most likely only show next year. E-commerce has taken a prominent role during the crisis, helping shops without a prior online presence to continue their business in conditions of heavy lockdown measures, and allowing consumers safe access to products from their homes. Some sectors, such as food and IT equipment, saw a growth in their online sales, while others, such as fashion and online sales of tickets for events or tourism, experienced a significant decrease.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent acceleration of the digital transformation for both businesses and consumers, the facilitation of an omnichannel transition has become of prime importance to accommodate new ways of consuming that emerged during the pandemic. The implementation of solutions such as click-and-collect/drive increased the outreach of local commerce that moved online and the combination of sales channels necessary for a seamless shopping experience. Therefore, now more than ever, companies in Europe need the support of the European Union to be able to compete on an increasingly competitive global market.
Twin green and digital transitions
The report demonstrates that in many countries sustainable e-commerce has been high on the agenda of governments, associations and companies. Given the EU’s focus on the digital and green transitions in the COVID-19 recovery plans, e-commerce becomes an essential player with the capacity to accelerate the digital transition in a more sustainable and green way. Sustainable solutions such as reductions of packaging waste, last mile delivery optimization and the use of green delivery vehicles, are already being developed by the e-commerce industry.
Remaining regulatory barriers
The Coronavirus crisis has also strengthened the need to alleviate unnecessary regulatory barriers for merchants. The amount of legal fragmentation across EU Member States creates significant obstacles for businesses selling cross-border online. Therefore, Ecommerce Europe will continue advocating for simpler and more harmonized European rules and better enforcement.
Ecommerce Europe would like to thank the research institute RetailX for preparing and finalizing this report and all the sponsors for their support.
To obtain the full version of the report, please visit this website.


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More than three million people across the UK could fend off acute respiratory infections such as colds or flu every year if everyone took Vitamin D supplements, according to a new study published by the British Medical Journal.
Professor Adrian Martineau, who conducted the research said:
Assuming a UK population of 65 million, and that 70% have at least one acute respiratory infection each year, then daily or weekly vitamin D supplements will mean 3.25 million fewer people would get at least one acute respiratory infection a year.
Multiple trials have found that oral vitamin sprays elevate serum vitamin D levels on average 2.5 times more effectively than traditional tablets and capsules.
Researchers at Cardiff University, when testing BetterYou’s DLux vitamin D oral sprays, found that absorption within the mouth was far superior to the more traditional digestive route of tablets and capsules benefiting from very absorbent tissue and the close proximity of a rich vein system.
Dr Charles Heard, who lead the Cardiff University absorption trial, explains:
The ultra-fast uptake is due to the very absorbent tissue within the mouth and the close proximity of a rich vein network. In some cases, it is close to that of IV or intramuscular injections.
A pilot study by BetterYou and City Assays (part of Sandwell and Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust) successfully demonstrated how a high dose oral spray of vitamin D can dramatically increase vitamin D levels and resolve insufficiency/deficiency (below 50 nmol/L or 20 ng/ml) to an optimal level (100-150 nmol/L or 40-60 ng/ml).
Public Health England announced last year that everyone should take vitamin D supplements in autumn and winter for the sake of healthy bones and muscles.
BetterYou’s range of DLux oral vitamin D sprays come in different strengths for people of all ages. The key benefits of an oral spray include convenience and guaranteed absorption which traditional tablets, capsules and drops simply can’t. An oral spray doesn’t require water to take and does not need to be taken with food.


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Brandon board shrinks project
BRANDON — The Brandon Development Review Board has denied an application for a 56,000-square-foot shopping market plaza roughly a mile south of downtown, but has approved a scaled-down version of the project.
The board voted unanimously in its decision to deny the Act 250 application filed by developer Bill McCabe to build a 36,000-square-foot Hannaford supermarket, a 12,000-square-foot line of smaller stores, and a 5,000-square-foot standalone outbuilding, plus a 295-space parking lot.
In its Act 250 land use decision regarding conformance with the town plan, the DRB voted 5-0 to reduce the size and scope of the project, allowing for the construction of just the 36,000-square-foot Hannaford store, a smaller, 145-space parking lot, and the elimination of the planned Nickerson Road access.
“The board finds that the size and scale of the original project does not conform with the scope and scale of Criteria 10 of the town plan,” the board wrote in its decision.
Criteria 10 in the Act 250 land use law states that any project larger than 10 acres must conform with the local town plan, and it is up to the local DRB to decide whether a project conforms to that criterion. Once a project gains local permit approval, the area District Environmental Commission decides whether it conforms to the other nine criteria.
The DRB did approve a conditional use permit for the scaled-down version, including a laundry list of conditions. They include conditions in the following areas:
Water. Elimination of the proposed small sewage pump station to service the proposed 5,000-square-foot building.
Due to the reduction in the scale of the project, there could be a reduction in the water line. New plans will be submitted to the zoning administrator prior to construction.
Traffic. Traffic pattern is conditionally approved with the elimination of the Nickerson Road access. The board found the need for traffic mitigation on High Street. Such action may include but is not limited to closing High Street to through-traffic or designating it a one-way street. The DRB found the traffic impact study submitted by the applicant does not adequately address the proposed increase in traffic usage on High Street. There is no plan to rectify this.
Historic and Natural Area Protection. Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife has flagged four potential roost trees for bats and will request a condition in the project’s Act 250 permit that these four trees not be cut between April 1 and Nov. 1 in order to avoid harm or disturbance to Indiana bats in these trees. The four trees may be cut outside of that period upon receipt of a written authorization from the department and upon demonstration that the trees have been adequately monitored for bat use.
The developer was also required to replant the natural vegetation that would have been pre-existing.
Noise. The developer will erect a wood fence for screening purposes as proposed. The fence will serve as a noise barrier. There will be no noise that exceeds 70 decibels at the property line during daylight hours or 60 decibels at other times.
There will be no idling delivery trucks.
Blasting/Vibration. All blasting on the property as part of construction must not result in peak particle velocities exceeding 0.5 inches per second on the property of another landowner. In addition, the developer must comply with these proposed “blasting guidelines” in connection with any blasting activities on the site.
Fire, Explosive, or Safety Hazard and Hazardous Materials. There will be no more than eight, 1,000-gallon aboveground storage tanks. With the project’s reduced size, there should be fewer than eight tanks needed.
Regarding the Nickerson Road access, the DRB found that it “will place an unreasonable burden on the ability of the town to provide municipal or governmental services.”
Calls to McCabe for comment were not returned by press time.
In its Act 250 decision, the board said that the Brandon Town Plan supports the scaled-down version of the project because the proposed site is zoned for high-density multi-use development. In the economic development portion of the town plan, the board cited the introduction and “Future Land Use” portions to support its decision to reduce the size of the project.
The DRB also found support in the town plan for its decision to reduce the size and scope of the project in the Historic Resources portion of the town plan:
“(Brandon is) unique among Vermont towns because Brandon has not been harshly impacted by modern pressures such as strip development and big chain stores. This has allowed the town center to retain much of the character and charm of a turn-of-the-century village.”
It is the effect the Brandon Plaza project would have on Brandon’s ailing downtown that opponents fear the most. The Coalition for the Preservation of Historic Brandon, a Brandon citizens group, hired noted environmental attorney Jim Dumont of Bristol to represent its interests during the month-long hearing. Dumont argued that there are already numerous empty storefronts in Brandon, and that building the new Hannaford and ancillary stores would only draw more shoppers away from the downtown.
Jim Leary with the Coalition last week said he briefly reviewed the DRB’s decisions.
“I haven’t had a chance to fully digest them,” he said. “But my thought remains much the same as it always has. I’d just as soon see a supermarket in downtown Brandon than I would outside of town.”
In January, Hannaford bought the Grand Union business off Union
Street in Brandon and moved into the 19,000-square-foot building in February. Hannaford officials also said the move was temporary until the Brandon Plaza store is built.
“The reason is, as much as we want to serve the current market in Brandon, we definitely don’t believe that the Grand Union location is the right location for the long term,” Hannaford spokesman Mike Norton said at the time. “That location is smaller and can’t be expanded. We fully believe we need the supermarket location that is proposed on Nickerson Road for the long term.”
Norton said Hannaford is not yet prepared to comment on the DRB decision, but will do so soon.
While Hannaford contends it has no plans to expand, the DRB decision could change that decision. In May, the Coalition, working with the Preservation Trust of Vermont, purchased an option agreement on a one-acre parcel with landowners on Union Street adjacent to the downtown Hannaford building. The owner of the Hannaford building has also said he supports expansion at that location.
“It’s certainly my belief that the current location of the Hannaford in downtown Brandon could be made suitable for their needs to remain in Brandon,” Leary said.
It is possible that McCabe will appeal the DRB’s Act 250 decision to the District 1 Environmental Commission. The board’s conditional use permit decision on the scaled-down version of the project could be appealed to the state Environmental Court.


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Food & Friends’ annual community-based fundraiser, Slice of Life, is underway with the goal of selling 9,000 Thanksgiving pies to provide nearly 30,000 meals for neighbors in need.
Now in its 14th year, Slice of Life has become a tradition in the Washington region as a simple and delicious way for members of the public to support Food & Friends’ large-scale effort to deliver nutritious meals to those in the community living with serious illnesses. Each pie purchased through Slice of Life provides one full day of meals for a Food & Friends client—adults and children battling cancer, HIV/AIDS, or other critical illnesses.
“This has been a challenging year for all of us. COVID-19 has made living with a serious illness or health condition even more difficult. Simply by purchasing a Thanksgiving pie – something many of us already plan to do this season – you can make the days a little easier and the holidays a little warmer for our neighbors who need it the most,” said Carrie Stoltzfus, Executive Director of Food & Friends.
Whisked!, recently voted by the D.C. City Paper Reader’s Poll as the Best Baker and Best Pie, is partnering with Food & Friends for the first time this year to bake the pies. Pies are available in five delicious flavors: Apple Crumble, Classic Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Nutty Pecan, and a Sea Salt Chocolate Chess Pie. Pie prices range from $28-$45, and the Sea Salt Chocolate Chess Pie includes an entry to win $500 in gift cards to a selection of regional restaurants.
All pies are 9″ rounds and packaged in a sturdy, gift-quality box. Pre-purchased pies can be picked up on Tuesday, November 24th at convenient locations throughout the D.C. metro region, including &Pizza locations and Marriott International hotels. Purchasers also have the opportunity to buy a pie for a Food & Friends client, to be delivered by volunteers on Thanksgiving Day along with a full turkey dinner.
Pies may be purchased directly from Food & Friends or through corporate or individual pie sellers. Visit www.foodandfriends.org/pie to find a directory of pie sellers, to sign up as a seller or to purchase online. Pie sales close on Thursday, Nov. 19.


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The all new Jaguar I-PACE electric car receives its public debut at Geneva Motor Show on 6th March. Designed and engineered in the UK, the I-PACE will be built in Plant Graz, Austria, as part of Jaguar Land Rover’s manufacturing partnership with Magna Steyr. It joins Jaguar’s growing family of SUVs, alongside the all-new E-PACE and multiple award-winning F-PACE.
From the very first sketch, Jaguar I-PACE has been destined to be the front-runner in the electric car revolution. Built from the ground up to embrace the new design and performance opportunities offered by electrification.
Before the Geneva debut the final production model was revealed by British comedian and actor, Jack Whitehall, self-proclaimed EV enthusiast and TV presenter Jonny Smith along with American tech guru iJustine. The hosted a special live show as the first I-PACE rolled off the production line.
At the end of the presentation Jaguar give us a behind-the-scenes insight into the creators and makers of I-PACE with the following video telling the story of how it’s first all-electric performance SUV was made – and how it sees it changes everything.
I-PACE is on sale now from £63,495 in the UK (excluding UK Government Plug-in Car Grant). In addition to S, SE and HSE derivatives, there will also be a limited number of First Edition I-PACE models available.
The post Building the new Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV appeared first on driveEV.


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The fashion label’s owner, the Kering group, unveiled a new roster of executives as it tries to begin a new chapter and leave the shadow of its rival, LVMH.
For years, Marco Bizzarri was one of the most well-known and respected executives in the global luxury business. Bald and boldly suited, he was the architect behind the meteoric success of Gucci, the largest fashion brand in the stable owned by the French group Kering, which also includes Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta and Saint Laurent.
But on Tuesday, after a bruising year of declining sales and the abrupt exit of Gucci’s longtime creative director, Alessandro Michele, Mr. Bizzarri’s departure from the fashion house
→ Continue reading at The New York Times


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US: New Cadillac CTS sedan set for New York show debut
According to a General Motors executive, the next generation Cadillac CTS will be revealed at the New York auto show in March, with US market sales to follow from October.
Global Cadillac vice president Bob Ferguson told The Detroit Free Press that GM designers and engineers had modified the CTS to clearly differentiate it from the Cadillac ATS. This follows criticism that the current model is too small for the E segment, and too similar in size to the ATS.
Ferguson said, "We are positioning that car [new CTS] as a step up, so there will be a marketing challenge to reposition that car."
The CTS has been critical to revitalising the Cadillac brand, but sales of the model have declined in recent times, particularly with the introduction of the slightly smaller ATS and the larger XTS sedan. The ATS has seen a strong start, and analysts expect Cadillac sales to rise in 2013 thanks to the new products.
Ferguson said, "We've only had full inventory on ATS for a couple months, so it's way too early to declare victory. But we're pleased with what we're seeing."
In other news, the next generation Escalade as well as the ELR coupe are due to reach showrooms in early 2014, to be followed by a coupe version of the ATS later that year.
For now, there is no news of any potential replacement(s) for the Cadillac CTS coupe or wagon, neither of which has been a big seller.


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Friday Evening Business Brief
September 7, 2012, 4:26 PM
- Stocks finished today's session modestly higher. The Dow added 15 points to 13,307. The S&P 500 was up nearly six at 1,438, while the Nasdaq composite added a fraction to 3,136.
- Analysts are now looking ahead to next week's Federal Reserve meeting for possible action aimed at boosting the economy. The Labor Department says employers added 96,000 jobs last month.
- Intel's sales are falling at a rate that surprised even the chip-maker's own management. The warning issued today boosts worries about the slumping personal computer market.
- The price of oil edged higher. Benchmark crude rose 89 cents to settle at $96.42 per barrel.
- Is it a trick, or treat? Kraft Foods says it will have Candy Corn Oreos sold only in Target stores ahead of Halloween.
© 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. Material may not be redistributed.
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Discovering locally produced food and being able to trace back where it is reared before entering the food chain has become headline news since horse meat was found in processed meat products.
Provenance and traceability will be in evidence at the Suffolk Show and no where more so that in the Pig Ring where about two dozen pigs will be available for auction – among them the Show Champion and Reserve Champion. Prospective purchasers can talk to the farmers who produced them and discover where they were reared before bidding for pork for the freezer.
It has been said that some people feel under confident in buying meat from their butcher, not knowing which cut to ask for. C & K Meats will host butchery demonstrations showing where on the animal’s body the various cuts of meat come from and explaining the textures and cuts. And there will be the chance to discuss how to cook certain cuts and actually put some meat into use as Emma Haines and her team from “Cook with Me Kids” will be encouraging families to work together and rustle up their own delicious kebabs.


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Excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers, overall Canadian retail sales slipped 0.4 per cent, Statistics Canada said.
"Inflation has been volatile over the past few months, but the signal beneath the noise is an underlying rate close to the Bank of Canada's 2.0 per cent target", he said in a note to investors.
In its most recent forecasts released in July, the central bank estimated inflation would average 2.5% in the third quarter - which ends in September - before returning back to near the 2% target by 2019.
Statscan's data showed that gasoline prices increased by 12.0 percent over September 2017, down from the 19.9 percent year-over-year jump in August.
Gas price growth fell to 12 percent year-on-year from August's 20 percent, but the biggest move was air transportation, which went to 7.4 percent from 26.4 percent.
The nation's retailers have seen no growth in sales since the gauge hit a 2018-high in May, a summer pause that is consistent a broader trend of slowing consumer spending this year as households cope with higher borrowing costs.
China to launch 3 artificial moons in space by 2022
The artificial moon , essentially an illuminated satellite, will hover 500 km above Earth, much closer than the moon's 384 km. While the artificial-moon project sounds like science fiction, something similar has been attempted before.
Postal strike could start Sunday at midnight
The union says they're committed to continuing delivery of pension and social assistance checks, as it has done in the past. However, on Saturday, the corporation refused a proposal to evaluate postal routes by the volume of mail, Gélineau said.
China says top Macau official falls to death from building
A notice on the liaison office's website said Zheng was still working on Friday, when he met with representatives of a think tank. Beijing released a brief statement saying that Zheng Xiaosong had been suffering from depression, implying he had killed himself.
Air transportation costs, which jumped 16% in July, plunged 17% in September.
Slower headline inflation and easing core numbers will reassure policy makers the recent spike in gasoline prices and other products like air transportation is transitory. Hotel rates were also down 5.2 per cent compared with a year ago. Traveler accommodation service prices were down 6.2 percent last month.
"All of these soft sectors combined to clip core inflation as well, although the easing there was much less dramatic than in the headline tally", Porter said.
Sales at gasoline stations were down 2.0 percent, while clothing and clothing accessories stores fell 1.2 percent.
Retail sales in volume terms were down 0.3 percent.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers experienced a gain of 0.8 per cent in August - the first time in three months - because of higher sales at new auto dealers and at automotive parts, accessories, and tire stores to a lesser extent.
Kershaw's teammates mobbed the lefty near the mound after the final out, and the celebration was just beginning for the Dodgers. Puig's three-run shot off reliever Jeremy Jeffress quieted the breathless, screaming Brewers fans at Miller Park.
As with all satellites, the spacecraft eventually reentered Earth's atmosphere, where it was expected to be completely destroyed. Detectives with the Kings County Sheriff's Office were called to a central California orchard on October 13.
The 49ers have been the kings of playing close games in recent seasons and the 2018 campaign is looking like no exception. Beathard and running back Matt Breida are just two examples of players who have stepped up to give their all.
I could serve maybe a little bit better, but still, I felt even if I was serving little bit better, he'd still return my serves. The German has so far picked up three titles this year to continue his contention for being the next top player in the sport.
Just now, in the last few days, I'm starting to enjoy working with all of them. "I think our future will be good". Mina the same situation and James as well , but like you know, the injury to James is a little bit different.
A strip-sack on Wentz by defensive end Wes Horton ended the Eagles' last-gasp effort and gave Carolina the dramatic victory. A few chunk plays allowed Newton to find tight end Greg Olsen for a 1-yard TD pass.
Ayton, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, made 8 of 11 shots for 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had six assists. It wasn't until rookie Jalen Brunson of the Mavericks brought the game within 4 points 94-90.
It represents a security's price that, if achieved, results in a trader recognizing the best possible outcome for his investment. Professional Street analysts that cover specific stocks may have deeper knowledge regarding the current health of the company.
Players under consideration are AC Milan's Patrick Cutrone and RB Leipzig's Timo Werner, but their young age makes them a risk. Chelsea have reportedly identified two potential striker targets ahead of the January transfer window.
Trailer for Katie Taylor documentary KATIE released
Will you be going to see KATIE in theaters? "I have trained hard for 10 rounds and I'm in great shape and excited for the fight". At the final press conference, Serrano didn't boast that she would beat Taylor but she did promise to take her the distance.
Clippers' Boban Marjanovic alters rim with monster dunk
Nuggets: Denver was without Isaiah Thomas (right hip surgery), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery) and Michael Porter Jr. Following the game, Marjanovic spoke to reporters on Thursday and was asked about the play in which he broke the rim.
Anti-Brexit protest in London calls for second referendum
Organisers are hoping the protest, calling for a final say on the Brexit deal, will be the "biggest, loudest and most important". Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union on March 29, but negotiations have been plagued by disagreements.
SteamVR Motion Smoothing Reduces Lag on Lower-End PCs
Unfortunately, the feature is now only available for HTC Vive owners, and not for Windows Mixed Reality or Oculus Rift headsets. If that happens, "look at the last two frames delivered, estimate the movement and animation, and extrapolate a new frame".
Ranked Halep withdraws from WTA Finals with back injury
Top seed Angelique Kerber will face Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens and Kiki Bertens in the round-robin phase of the WTA Finals . Simona was forced to retire against Ons Jabeur at the start of Beijing and she had to withdraw from Moscow as well this week.


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Which patent innovations are helping to combat climate change?
10th November 2022
Sustainability through a patent lens
Which patent innovations are supporting the race to maintain sustainability?
Most Fortune 500 companies have pledged to reduce their impact on climate. Events like COP27 bring the net zero discussion at the forefront with the hope to keep 1.5 degrees within reach.
The team at Cipher takes a closer look at the companies actively patenting in technologies that promote sustainability in their relevant sectors.
The Circular Economy: Sustainable Packaging
Improving the trajectory towards achieving circular economy targets requires a step-change in approach to sustainable packaging adoption across fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs).
To track this progress, we analysed patent data to see the innovation landscape across a subset of plastic packaging alternatives.
Mintel Sustainability Barometer 2022
The Cipher platform was instrumental in providing data to support consumer trends giant Mintel in producing their Sustainability Barometer for 2022.
A quote from the report’s author:
“Cipher’s patent analysis plays a crucial role in revealing who’s innovating and where and how that corresponds to both the solutions valued by consumers and the framework of Sustainable Development Goals established by the UN”.
What is Food Sustainability?
A sustainable food system tries to reduce its impact on the environment, represented by greenhouse gas emissions, the use of land and water resources, pollution, depletion of phosphorus, and the impact of chemical products such as herbicides and pesticides.
Changing consumer tastes drive sustainable food substitute inventions
Oatly made its market debut on the Nasdaq, in May 2021. Trading then at 60% over the IPO price puts a US$16 billion value on the company. So how does a decades old Swedish oat milk company transform itself into a high growth business and one of the hottest IPOs of 2021?
This report focuses on patent innovations in three key sustainable food substitute areas. Our strategic analysis uncovered the following:
- Food Substitutes is a growing area of technology innovation as consumer demand increases for sustainable meat and dairy food substitutes
- Continued fast pace inventions in dairy food substitutes such as Oatly leads the way with a successfully completed IPO on the Nasdaq in May
- Investment into soy protein substitute innovation surpasses that of pea proteins with inventions in this area rapidly increasing
Want to find out more about how technology is positively impacting food substitutes?
Sustainability and detergents: environmentally friendly innovation
We reviewed the patent owners in the Sustainable Detergents space, identifying:
- the new technologies designed to produce innovative formulations
- the more sustainable products aimed at reducing the industry’s environmental impact
Asia accounts for 43% of the global biodegradable composition inventionsDownload Free Report
What is Agriculture Sustainability?
Agriculture sustainability is the practice of minimising damages to the environment, reducing and recycling waste, while producing sufficient food to sustain humanity.
Can technology reduce waste and increase yield in Agriculture?
With the global population growing by 1.1% every year, finding a sustainable agricultural model that produces sufficient food whilst minimising waste is undoubtedly the biggest challenge. This report looks through a patent innovation lens at the technologies behind two key areas; wastewater reduction and reducing crop destruction, and uncovers the following :
- China dominates the competitive landscape of both wastewater and crop destruction prevention technologies, despite its high levels of pollution
- Universities in China, Korea and Japan monopolise the wastewater treatment technology landscape
- Corporate organisations lead in their investment into crop destruction prevention technologies, yet fall behind in the wastewater treatment technology space
Find out more about the key players dominating this innovative landscape.
When will Electric Vehicles take over?
It’s becoming clear the future of the car is electric. Yet despite an almost continuous flow of media articles announcing new models and promises to phase out all new petrol vehicles, less than 1% of all cars on the road are purely electric. A lot of big players have large pending portfolios (suggesting future inventions rather than maintaining current inventions). Some of the globe’s largest economies have imposed a ban of new petrol/diesel car sales as soon as 2030.
Why then, in a world fully embracing technology in other aspects of life, has it taken more than two decades to reach just a 1% market share?
The answer lies in infrastructure. This report explores the pace and scale of innovation and looks at patent innovations by the key players. It covers the following:
- Automotive players such as Toyota, Kia and Hyundai dominate the battery technology landscape, helping to ensure fast and reliable charging options
- Induction charging technologies remain prohibitively expensive despite capability to change the way we charge
- Company to watch, WiTricity, secure additional $52 million in funding as their Induction Car Charging technology is used by key suppliers in the automotive industry
Learn more about how EV technology will lead us to a more sustainable future.
Inventions & Innovators powering the Energy Transition
We put a lens on the invention and innovation being made in critical technologies powering the energy transition. In this report we take a look at next generation batteries exploring three specific alternatives to lithium-ion:
- Solid-state batteries: Japan has the early mover advantage led by the likes of Toyota and Panasonic but keep an eye on pure plays like the VW-backed, NYSE listed Quantum Scape.
- Lithium-sulfur batteries: Leading innovators include LG Chem, Bosch and Hyundai.
- Lithium-oxygen batteries: Companies leading research & development in the space include Samsung Electronics, Hyundai, Toyota and Honda.
How else is investment into key technologies in this area driving our transition to cleaner energy?
Energy Transition – Oil & Gas Supermajors
Our updated report analyses the invention and innovation being made by the seven supermajors in the critical technologies powering the energy transition.
Our patent data analysis finds that the supermajors’ technology innovation is more evident in the Materials, Mechanical, and Sensors & Optics categories.


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These days it is very popular to mention how many users online companies have. While it is an important metric, monetizing this asset has been difficult at best; all you have to do is look at Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn (News - Alert) and many others. But there is one organization which can boast a high user number, 600 million, as well as a very high number of those users being tied to credit card accounts, and that company is Apple (News - Alert). A chart by BI Intelligence highlights the incredible advantage Apple has over other organizations when it comes to this data point.
The customers Apple has are considered a very healthy user base compared to other companies. With all these valuable assets Apple has finally decided to possibly enter into the mobile payment service. This is based on recent reports the company has started the interview process with senior payments industry executives in the electronic payments business.
Although the interview process is just now taking place, Apple has been considering using the iTunes platform to pay for physical goods and services for some time, this according to a Wall Street Journal report in January of 2014. At that time Apple SVP Eddy Cue reportedly met with industry executives on the matter, while Jennifer Bailey, who ran Apple’s online stores, is now making the arrangements to build the payment business for the company by conducting the interviews.
When and if this takes place, the advantage Apple will have over other companies cannot be overstated. The hundreds of millions of credit cards currently linked to the iTunes Store is an invaluable asset which Apple can say no other company has at the moment.
One company looking to partner with Apple is PayPal (News - Alert), which only has 143 million active registered users around the world. In January of this year there were reports in which PayPal was looking to find ways in which it could partner with Apple, but there are no details about the outcome of those talks between the two parties.
Another front Apple has supposedly been considering is purchasing Square, a POS system that easily integrates into smart phones and looks like it has been designed by Apple itself, but that didn’t go through either.
It is believed Apple has taken this long to integrate a payment system because it doesn't want to partner with any other organization. With the technology and patents Apple currently has, it can introduce a service to provide a secure payment system to its 600 million customers.
Edited by Maurice Nagle
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