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Verizon Media Group/Oath, a division of Verizon today announced the winners of the “Big Idea Chair Awards 2018” (BIC Awards 2018). Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the awards this year has become a truly APAC regional event with participation from the Singapore, Taiwan and India markets for the first time.
Over the past decade, BIC Awards has been a well-recognised celebration of creativity, imagination and innovation. Honouring marketers’ and advertisers’ extraordinary efforts in creating outstanding digital campaigns with a combination of boundless creativity and cutting-edge technology, 22 awards overall, in 17 Hong Kong categories and five Asia categories, were presented to those at the pinnacle of Asia’s digital and creative community.
“2018 is a significant milestone for us as it marks the 10th consecutive year of BIC Awards. This year, we are delighted to receive over 360 submissions from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and India. These distinguished entries showcase top-notch integration of digital technology and creativity, generating tremendous growth for a wide range of businesses,” said Mr. Rico Chan, vice president and managing director of Oath Hong Kong, Japan and INSEA.
“Over the past 10 years, we have witnessed the gradual evolution of digital creativity driven by mobile technology. Customers are always looking for brand-new experiences in this ever-changing digital age. A successful digital campaign requires not only creative ideas, but also precise and effective engagement. Our powerful combination of data, content and technology helps brands and advertisers maximise their on-target reach by using big data analytics, programmatic buying and audience targeting ad solutions.”
Winning brands and agencies gathered together at the awards ceremony to celebrate their digital marketing successes. The award ceremony was well-attended by 250 prestigious guests and renowned marketers. HUAWEI swept a number of grand awards including the Big Idea Chair Champion outstanding award for Hong Kong and the corresponding merit awards for Asia. ŠKODA Taiwan was honoured with the Big Idea Chair Champion outstanding award for Asia. Bayer Healthcare Limited and HGC Global Communications took away the merit awards for Hong Kong, while Uni-President received corresponding merit award for Asia.
Hang Seng Bank, Wyeth Nutrition and American Express International, Inc have bagged The Perfect 10 Award for Advertiser, while Mindshare Hong Kong and DDB Group Hong Kong received The Perfect 10 Award for Agency, to recognize their persistent excellence in achieving the Big Idea Chair Awards in its history.
“We see rapid development and a huge potential in digital creativity in APAC markets, in addition to the impressive Greater China region. This will be a key driving force for Verizon Media Group/Oath’s (VMG/Oath) future growth in Asia Pacific,” said Ms. Erika Wang, Vice President and Managing Director, Oath Taiwan and China. “VMG/Oath serves more than one billion users worldwide. The enormous data flow allows us to understand the characteristics of different consumers and provides the capability to integrate the right content and facilitate more interactions between customers and brands.”
Originating from Yahoo! Inc., the Big Idea Chair Awards is a leading global event which has travelled around the world, and was successfully launched in Hong Kong in 2009. The Big Idea Chair Awards celebrates all the remarkable advertising campaigns and ideas on Oath in Asia throughout the past year.
For the full winner list, please visit our official website:
About Oath Big Idea Chair Awards 2018
The Big Idea Chair Awards is a unique proprietary award that recognizes outstanding work that builds brand love and establishes meaningful connections with consumers in the digital arena. This year marks the 10th year of the Big Idea Chair Awards in Asia, submissions were reviewed by a professional judging panel, we continue to honor the most extraordinary creative minds in Asia’s online community by introducing seventeen awards to companies in Hong Kong and five awards to Asia who have held impressive campaigns on Oath and its network.
Verizon Media Group/Oath:
Verizon Media Group/Oath is a division of Verizon at the intersection of media, advertising and technology building a member-centric ecosystem created to serve billions. Verizon Media Group/Oath is shaping the future as a global leader in digital and mobile. For more information, visit www.oath.com.


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Which are 4 NZX green stocks for 2022 and beyond?
Highlights:Stats NZ, along with the Ministry for the Environment has released a report on the country’s air quality. The said report draws a comparison of each pollutant present in the NZ atmosphere with WHO air quality guidelines. The repo...
- December 10, 2021 11:52 PM AEDT
- Jasmine Anand
China’s stern warning to US, UK, Australia over Olympic snub
Highlights The US, Australia and Britain have decided to boycott Winter Olympics 2022, to be hosted by China in 2022. The move by these three countries comes as they take a stand against forced labour practices in China’s Xinjiang. China...
- December 10, 2021 10:32 PM AEDT
Private health insurers under ACCC scanner
The Australian competition watchdog has put private health insurers under its scanner. The regulator has warned Australian private healthcare insurers to pay back any profits gained on the back of COVID-19. As per the Australian Competition ...
- December 10, 2021 10:04 PM AEDT
Ten ASX-listed renewable stocks amid AEMO's plan to phase out coal-fired power plants
Highlights Governments across the globe are trying hard to safeguard the environment. Australian Energy Market Operator expects as much as 14GW of coal-fired power plants to be withdrawn by 2030. The National Electricity Market delivers nearly...
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Mad Mex is fully Australian; Founder buys back JV partner’s share
Highlights Mexican fast food chain Mad Mex is going Australian again. Mad Mex’s owner is buying back Singaporean joint venture partner’s share. Founder Clovis Young to own 100% shares. Mexican fast food chain Mad Mex is ...
- December 10, 2021 09:36 PM AEDT
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Elon Musk’s cryptic tweet: Is he serious about quitting his job?
Highlights Musk took to Twitter, his all-time favourite social media platform, to interact with his fans. This time, Musk talked about his desire to quit his job and become a permanent influencer. Musk’s tweet has garnered massive ...
- December 10, 2021 09:17 PM AEDT
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Booktopia (ASX:BKG) in court for misleading claims on refund rights
Highlights ACCC initiates Federal Court proceedings against Booktopia Pty Ltd. The Online retailer has been alleged of making false/misleading claims to consumers about their rights to refunds for faulty and damaged goods. As per ACCC, declara...
- December 10, 2021 07:31 PM AEDT
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How are cryptocurrencies driving Web 3.0 growth?
Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) recent outage and slowdown clearly highlight the importance of a decentralised web world. It questions the dominance of internet biggies like Meta, Google, Microsoft or Amazon. It seems that Web 3.0 is the answer to...
- December 10, 2021 07:20 PM AEDT
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Nexsphere to make “over the horizon” offshore wind farm in Tasmania
Highlights Nexsphere has announced its plans to build an “over-the-horizon” wind farm (up to 1GW) across the northeast Tasmania coast. Bass Offshore Wind Energy project is expected to be seized between 500MW and 1,000,000 MW. Nexsp...
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- December 10, 2021 07:01 PM AEDT

domain: news


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Attendees Pursue Diverse Interests at Debut Si Event
Close to 3,500 sourcing professionals attended Si Source International, which premiered this past January in New York. Divided into three sections featuring technology, materials and fashion, Si hosted close to 300 exhibitors, including tanneries and leather resources, plastics and PVC producers, software providers and technology resources offering Internet-based tracking and color management solutions and government agencies involved in apparel and soft goods sourcing.
While a handful of exhibitors bemoaned the dearth of foot traffic at the inaugural edition of the show, Raymond Bianchi, show manager, said the quality of attendees outweighed the quantity. "We focused in on the key sourcing and product development teams in the U.S.," he noted, adding that major labels such as Timberland, Wolverine, Gap, Calvin Klein, Anne Klein and Banana Republic were among those walking the show floor. "We decided, in this launch, to focus on a lot of non-apparel sewn products because there's a lot of investment being done in those areas; more lifestyle companies are making bags, footwear and clothing."
Attendee reaction to the show was generally favorable. "I went to Source International specifically to see some vendors," said Richard DeFabrizio, senior manager of CAD/CAM technologies for Coach, noting that in this regard the show was effective. "I had access to vendors that I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to interact with personally."
Amy Leonard-Emery, vice president of sourcing services, Gap Inc., observed that the show seemed to be geared toward smaller companies. "We went to Source International primarily for the technology piece, but if you were a designer looking for ideas, new materials, piece goods, new countries you haven't thought about sourcing before, the show could be very helpful," said Leonard-Emery, who noted that Gap tends to use agent offices for sourcing.
"The manufacturing base in the United States is getting smaller, and a lot of products are now being manufactured in Europe and elsewhere," said Ken Edrich, director of U.S. sales with the Louisiana-based exotic skins company RTL Inc. "That means we have to change our marketing strategy to go where the manufacturers are. Dealing globally means added delivery time, and added time in moving samples and matching colors."
RTL, which finds itself "working with a lot of fashion designers in New York but delivering a lot to Europe," now attends a number of international shows, including events in Paris, Milan, Bologna and Hong Kong, to interact with this increasingly global base, Edrich said.
In terms of trends in the sourcing arena, technology and color management continue to strike chords. "A big trend we're seeing today is that people are using Web-based or Web-enabled technology to make collaboration possible," noted Craig Crawford, director of design technologies for Liz Claiborne Inc. and chairman of the non-profit Computer-Integrated Textile Design Association (CITDA), a partner in producing Si. "But the biggest new trend is that we're using that technology for color communication, color creation and color management.
"Now, more than ever, technology, material sourcing and manufacturing are partners, communicating about product development," Crawford continued. "The whole idea of a glass pipeline and collaborative product management means that manufacturers now want to be a part of the collaboration process every step of the way, and their partners also want them to be there, because it often results in a better product with less error at the best price."


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Hamilton, ON, October 04, 2011—
Helping engineering students through the challenge of converting their entrepreneurial ideas into business reality is the goal of the new Don Pether Incubation Centre that officially opens Monday at McMaster University.
For more information, please contact:
Pether, former CEO and president of Dofasco Inc., and recent chair of McMaster's Board of Governors, made a gift of $1 million to the University's Faculty of Engineering in 2010. The gift supported the creation of the centre and of the Don Pether Chair in Engineering and Management, extending the steel industry leader's long history of support for McMaster. "We have students who develop ingenious, award-winning inventions every year that generate a great deal of interest from industry and consumers," said McMaster President Patrick Deane. "Don's gift is telling them that their inventions are valued, that they are supported, and that resources are available to help them commercialize their creations."
"Converting solid ideas into viable new enterprises is one of the greatest challenges in all of business," said Pether. "Canada's future prosperity relies on successful inventors and entrepreneurs receiving the support they need to close the gap between invention and marketplace."
The new incubation centre is to open with a reception Monday afternoon. The facility is strategically situated on the third floor of the Atrium building at McMaster Innovation Park.
There, selected students and recent graduates of the Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation master's degree program will receive startup support for their technology businesses, using the centre to continue the process of commercializing new products and services.
The centre will provide office facilities and access to the guidance, experience and knowledge of the University's Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the McMaster Industry Liaison Office and proximity to other commercialization specialists at the innovation park.
Four sets of emerging technology entrepreneurs and their teams will each have one year in the Incubation Centre to move the development of their businesses forward.
Among the first set of entrepreneurial projects to take up residence in the centre is Natural Protection Solutions Inc., which has developed technology for producing melanin pigment for sunglasses using plant sources, at a fraction of the cost of producing the same product from animal or synthetic sources.
Public Relations Manager, Media Relations
905-525-9140 ext. 27988
Email Wade Hemsworth


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Israeli trip-planning app Moovit is integrating with Orlando-based autonomous shuttle startup Beep, which will allow riders to view options for taking Beep shuttles alongside other forms of transit, like buses or trains. The partnership also brings Moovit’s routing and fleet management software to Beep’s backend, technology that calculates dynamic routes, vehicle location and dispatch services, according to Moovit.
While Moovit has integrated with various forms of new mobility lately, including a handful of micromobility companies, this is the first time the startup has integrated with an autonomous shuttle, as well as the first time Moovit users in the U.S. are able to hail an autonomous vehicle via the app, according to Uli Gal-Oz, Moovit’s VP of business development.
“Autonomous vehicles are going to be increasingly prevalent in the mobility sphere,” Gal-Oz told TechCrunch. “Managing AV deployments and incorporating these services into Moovit’s [mobility-as-a-service (MaaS)] platform fits with this broader strategy and brings Moovit even more close to its vision of MaaS.”
The Moovit app will be available to Beep riders only in Lake Nona, Florida, a 17-square-mile master-planned community in Orlando where Beep has been running an autonomous shuttle service since 2019. The company says it has carried more than 50,000 passengers in that area over the past three years, connecting residential, commercial, retail, recreational and medical services.
Riders can currently book seats on a Beep shuttle via the Moovit app, which is unique for Moovit, as it usually directs users to other apps for bookings and payments. And while Beep’s service in Lake Nona is currently free, Moovit does have mobile payment capabilities, so when it becomes a paid service, riders will be able to pay via the Moovit app, as well, said Gal-Oz. Moovit users are also able to track the Beep shuttle in real time and view estimated arrival and drop-off times.
“Lake Nona is a great example of a smart and connected community that is achieving innovative mobility initiatives with the right partners,” said Uli Gal-Oz, Moovit VP of business development. “The combination of Moovit’s consumer interface and on-demand solution, coupled with Beep’s AV fleet, is a powerful one. It has the potential to expand ever more into Lake Nona and other cities in the U.S. to solve first- and last-mile challenges.”
The two companies plan to expand their integration to additional project areas across the country, such as Tradition, a master-planned community in Port Lucie, Florida, according to a statement. Beep currently operates in about nine cities across the U.S., but plans on expanding its presence further.
In March, the company raised $25 million to level up its autonomous software, a round that saw participation from Intel, which owns Moovit. The month prior, Beep also said it would team up with another Intel company, AV tech company Mobileye, as well as German manufacturer Benteler, to build and deploy “autonomous movers,” or self-driving shuttles, across the U.S. in 2024.


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Away tickets for Saturday’s match against Hibernian are on sale now from our club shop.
The away section of the main stand is sold out so all remaining tickets are for the terracing.
Under 16s £5
The club shop is open 12-4 today & tomorrow (Thursday and Friday) and from 10am on Saturday.
Hibs supporters can phone and pay for tickets over the phone and pick up prior to the match. There will be no online sales or tickets posted out. Phone orders will end at 12 noon on Saturday.
The home end will be pay at the gate as normal.


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LAS VEGAS — There were dozens, if not hundreds, of new smartwatches on display at CES 2019 in Las Vegas. However, I am going to highlight the OMRON HeartGuide which recently received FDA approval.
The HeartGuide is the first wearable blood pressure monitor. It keeps track of your blood pressure throughout the day. Users can monitor the changes in their blood pressure and heart rate as they are walking, running, working and sleeping.
If your readings are within the normal range from the American Heart Association, the numbers will appear in a green color. If your readings are high, they will be shown in red. The HeartGuide can store up to 100 readings within its memory.
“What separated this from other watches is that this is truly a medical device,” said Jeff Ray, executive director of business and technology at OMRON. “This actually has been cleared by the FDA. We’ve done clinical studies published and peer reviewed by the medical community. It actually can be used by your doctor in your diagnosis of hypertension and your treatment.”
The HeartGuide also tracks your steps, distance, aerobic steps, calories burned, hours slept and awake time. In addition, it provides notifications when you receive a phone call, text message or email with a Bluetooth-connected Apple iPhone or Android device.
It comes equipped with a lithium ion polymer rechargeable battery and AC adapter. The battery will stay on for about 48 hours before it will need to be recharged. For the average user, the watch will need to be plugged in about 2-3 times per week.
Pricing for the HeartGuide is $499 and it is available right now on the link below. It will be available over the counter so a prescription is not required to purchase one.
For more information about the OMRON HeartGuide watch, visit https://omronhealthcare.com/products/heartguide-wearable-blood-pressure-monitor-bp8000m/
ClearUP sinus pain relief device
Keeping on the topic of health care, I came across the ClearUP sinus pain relief device. ClearUP provides consumers with a simple, non-invasive and drug-free option to relieve sinus pain. It helps with various environmental allergies such as dust, mold, pollens and pet dander.
What is it? A small, handheld device, ClearUP easily glides along the outside of the nasal passages — the cheek, nose and brow bone — to deliver low current electrical waveforms.
“This is a new way of treating sinus pain from allergies,” said Jennifer Ernst, CEO of Tivic Health which manufactures the ClearUP. “We just got our FDA clearance last week. This is the first time we are debuting it to the general public. We use a very weak electric signal. No pills, no sprays, no flushing and no chemical. It’s super simple to use.”
Ernst said the company completed a double-blind randomized control study and 74 percent of the patients got relief with just one five minute treatment.
Pricing for the ClearUP sinus pain relief device will be $149. It will be available in mid-2019.
For more information about ClearUP, visit https://tivichealth.com/clearup-sinus-relief/
Stay with AmericaJR.com for continuing coverage of CES 2019…


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Sleek, the corporate services platform that helps entrepreneurs launch and run new companies in Singapore and Hong Kong, has raised $4 million.
The new funding was led by SEEDS Capital, the investment arm of government agency Enterprise Singapore. Returning investors MI8 Limited and Pierre Lorinet also participated, along with Singapore Fintech Association co-founder Varun Mittal as part of Sequoia Capital’s scout program.
Sleek co-founder and chief growth officer Adrien Barthel disclosed that the funding is part of Sleek’s seed round and brings the startup’s total raised so far to $7 million. It will start raising a Series A next year.
Founded three years ago by Barthel and Julien Labruyere, Sleek first began offering online corporate services, including company incorporation, compliance, digital accounting and tax filing, in Singapore before expanding into Hong Kong. Sleek now serves more than 3,000 companies, ranging from individual consultants to SMEs, startups and investment vehicles for funds, Barthel said.
Sleek is one of several cloud-based corporate services platforms focused on Singapore and/or Hong Kong, where regulations make it easier to incorporate companies and file taxes online, that have recently raised new venture capital funding. Others include Lanturn, Osome and Bluemeg. These startups were originally launched to reduce the amount of time and money spent on performing operational tasks, but the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for their services.
In addition to growing its roster of services for entrepreneurs, Sleek also plans to expand into new markets where regulations also mesh well with its digital services.
“Our platform being common law friendly, we’re looking at such jurisdictions with attention, such as Australia, the United Kingdom and North America,’ said Barthel. “We are also closely looking at a few regional markets in Southeast Asia where regulatory frameworks are evolving and accepting progressively the use of technology for governance management and accounting.”


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Amazonification is the number-one industry trend for real estate investors. It touches parts of the sector that you might never imagine. Amazon Web Services, the firm’s cloud-computing provider, is one of the world’s largest users of datacenters. Even offices and residential apartments feel its mass. It is the largest employer in Seattle, where it has its global headquarters, occupying almost one-fifth of the city’s office space. As it proposes a second HQ elsewhere in the U.S., major cities compete for those jobs and their office and residential markets respond as a consequence.
Of course, the biggest impact of Amazonification is being felt in the retail supply chain. That impact is more nuanced than many assume, however.
The End of Bricks-and-Mortar? Far from It!
Global online sales doubled to more than $2 trillion in the five years to 2016. They are forecast to double again by 2020, and still only take a 15% market share, according to e-Marketer and Prologis Research.
Behind this growth are the twin forces of the emerging world coming online and the shopping habits of Millennials. A CBRE survey published in 2017, Millennials: Myths and Realities, found young people in the U.K. leading the pack, on course to do more than half of their non-food shopping online by 2019. But the rest of the world’s 20- and 30-somethings are not far behind.
Figure 1. Global Online Sales
Source: e-Marketer, Prologis.
We often hear that online shopping means “the end of bricks-and-mortar on the high street.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
Consumers are increasingly demanding same-day and even same-hour delivery of goods. That is taking us from a distribution model in which a single retail outlet with storage space receives a delivery once or twice a week to a model in which thousands of consumers receive deliveries several times a week or even several times a day.
The resulting “e-fulfilment” is very real estate-intensive. It utilizes a range of assets, from multistorey warehouses, through regional infill service centers geared to fast processing of orders, to local self-service locker and pick-up locations. Wider product choice, smaller orders and increased incidence of product returns mean that e-commerce also uses more of those assets than traditional retail. In 2016 Prologis calculated that each square foot of logistics real estate worldwide supports just $750 – $1,000 of online sales, as opposed to more than $2,200 of traditional bricks-and-mortar retail sales. It estimated that e-commerce generated 20% of all new leasing, up from 5% in 2011.
Figure 2. E-commerce Uses More Bricks and Mortar Than Traditional Retail
Source: Prologis. Data as at September 2016.
A-Grade Retail Redefined
Logistics is the clear real-estate growth opportunity in e-commerce. But investors should not neglect the value opportunity.
That value opportunity has arisen due to a somewhat indiscriminate de-rating of retail assets as investors have become more cognizant of the Amazonification trend. There are three reasons why we believe it will pay to be more discriminating in this sector.
First, the extent of Amazonification varies regionally. There are no territories in which online sales are predicted to lose market share, but some are starting from a lower base than others and some are forecast to transition more slowly. That can be due to local shopping culture or a simple lack of supporting infrastructure.
Elsewhere, e-commerce has much more room to grow without having the same brutal impact on retail malls that we expect across much of North America simply because these territories have substantially less retail space per capita to begin with. Some of the biggest online shoppers are found in the U.K. and Germany, for example, but the latter market has just one-tenth of the retail space of the U.S. Even a country such as Australia, which has plenty of space for retail malls, has restricted growth with a relatively tight planning regime.
Figure 3. Territories Outside North America Have Much Less Retail Space at Risk From E-commerce
Source: ICSC Research. Data as at 2013
In these cases, we might expect e-commerce logistics real estate to command a premium, but also greater utilization of existing traditional retail assets within the e-commerce supply chain, and more focus on non-apparel outlets that are less at-risk from the e-commerce trend. That is precisely what we see in Australian and Asian malls, in particular. Rather than anticipating that the brutal mall cutbacks of North America will spread to other territories, we think the established trends in other territories will spread to North America—and these are the second and third reasons to be more discriminating in the retail sector.
Even in the over-supplied U.S., we believe that traditional stores and malls that enjoy prime locations are likely to benefit from Amazonification as they double as pick-up a points for goods bought online. Around a fifth of customers in the Americas and Asia Pacific prefer in-store delivery over home, office or other third-party pick-up points, according to CBRE research from Q4 2016. A higher proportion of goods bought online are returned, too, and customers often like taking their purchases back to a real person in a local store if they have the option.
This helps explain why retailers that are slowing their physical store openings remain committed to the top locations, but also why many leading U.S. online brands—such as Warby Parker, Bonobos, Amazon Books, Toms and JustFab/Fabletics—have been opening bricks-andmortar stores in these “A”-grade shopping malls.
Figure 4. Some Retail Assets Will Withstand Amazonification Better Than Others
The hierarchy of e-commerce risk to U.S. shopping malls…
… has been reflected in realized revenues over the past seven years
Source: Green Street Advisors. The chart shows realized annual revenue per available square foot (RevPAF), indexed to 100 in 2007. High Productivity malls typically have tenants whose sales are in excess $500 per square foot, while Low Productivity malls have average tenant sales of below $500 per square foot.
The best-located malls are also the ones ablest to adapt their retail offering to the pressures of Amazonification. If you own the primary mall at the heart of a large and thriving community, you are much more likely to be able to exchange the apparel stores that are most at risk from online shopping for grocery stores (a bricks-and-mortar sector that Amazon has moved into rather than trying to supplant), restaurants, bars, gyms, wellness facilities, cinemas and the other entertainment offerings that are becoming the new source of demand for A-grade retail space. This is the third reason to discriminate properly in retail real estate.
New Opportunities for the Winners
We take reassurance from the fact that there are other sophisticated investors who recognize that the shares of these A-grade mall landlord groups are trading at material discounts to their underlying net asset values, and that those assets are attractive. A number of activist investors have taken meaningful positions in U.S. mall REITs, and we have also seen a bid to acquire a 100% stake in a large U.S. mall REIT. Europe has also just seen two major mall mergers proposed, signaling an appetite within the industry to consolidate these assets.
This interest reflects the fact that, while the Amazonification of retail worldwide is creating a notable growth opportunity in logistics real estate, it is also sharply delineating the winners and losers in retail real estate itself, and giving the winners exciting new opportunities to redefine what they do. The weaker locations in the retail pack will continue to get mauled by e-commerce, but the best locations in the sector, far from being devoured, can benefit from this strengthening trend.


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Telstra's Asia Pacific CISO Narelle Devine navigates security at Australia's largest telco
NBN Co to offer a month of bandwidth relief to internet providers
Any Android security app is better than Google Play Protect
UQ, Qld govt to trial multi-modal app and subscription service for a year
US senators urge barring Huawei, ZTE from US$1.9 trillion govt funding measure
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The Reject Shop trials e-commerce in online presence expansion
Will also introduce machine-learning based rostering.
Aug 19 2020 12:42PM
Six former eBay staff charged with cyberstalking
Campaign waged against critical blog.
Jun 16 2020 6:48AM
Coles Liquor paces itself during digital stock-up surge
Says years of background prep enabled its systems to scale.
Apr 15 2020 6:57AM
Coates Hire weighs Acrow Props with load sensing IIoT
Could also measure equipment usage in real time to cut wasted hire hours.
Oct 8 2019 6:55AM
Alibaba files for Hong Kong listing that may raise US$20 billion: source
Revealed in confidential filing.
Jun 14 2019 12:30PM
Vodafone plans ‘brand new e-commerce platform’
Wants recommendation engine for new plans, may not want Oracle, SAS, Salesforce …
Feb 18 2019 7:25AM
E-commerce-ware provider eCorner upgrades but shuns AWS and Azure, replaces Microsoft with VMware
E-commerce-as-a-service outfit adopts almost-cloud model.
Aug 15 2018 6:00AM
Aesop keeps its global core IT model unaltered
Doubles presence in four years since cloud move.
Apr 27 2018 11:30AM
Myer looks to online, data after biggest ever loss
Considers creating separate businesses.
Mar 21 2018 11:02AM
Take two for Billabong in e-commerce overhaul
Tries again with 'far more advanced' platforms.
Nov 21 2017 10:27AM
AusPost creates Shipster service for online orders
Free shipping for monthly fee, with strict 'fair use' limits.
Oct 10 2017 9:58AM
Billabong restructures e-commerce overhaul after NetSuite misstep
Awards chunks to Salesforce, Aptos.
Aug 30 2017 10:35AM
Billabong ditches NetSuite in omni-channel overhaul
Bears $11.7m impairment charge.
Jul 28 2017 1:30PM
Tech the silver lining in Myer’s tough six months
Retailer hopes to reap rewards from IT investment.
Mar 16 2017 5:35PM
EU to investigate 'anticompetitive' e-commerce geoblocking
Restrictions in the crosshairs.
Feb 3 2017 7:42AM
Salesforce to buy Demandware for $3.9 billion
Commences e-commerce push.
Jun 2 2016 6:36AM
PayPal business site vulnerability could offer access to databases
Payments giant implements quick fix.
Jan 28 2016 6:45AM
How The Iconic went from Excel spreadsheets to real-time insights
Shopping based on age and location on the cards.
Nov 5 2015 6:45AM
Magento e-stores unpatched against serious flaws
Difficult patching procedures blamed for large number of vulnerable stores.
Sep 18 2015 12:00PM
PayPal-eBay split to take effect today
Payments spin-off to begin Nasdaq trading Monday.
Jul 17 2015 7:04AM
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Sales For Queen Elizabeth’s Favorite Handbag Jump 58 Percent
Kate Middleton is not the only royal who can make things sell like hot cakes. After Queen Elizabeth II stepped out for her Diamond Jubilee carrying her favorite Launer London handbag, the brand’s sales rose a whopping 58 percent and their site crashed due to the insane amount of visitors.
And this isn’t the first time Launer’s sales have skyrocketed thanks to Her Majesty. After Kate and Will’s wedding, they increased 60 percent. The queen prefers black and other neutral colors, but according to the Telegraph, Launer Managing Director and Creative Director Gerald Bodmer noted that other customers have been reaching for more fashion-forward colors, such as pastels and metallics. The bags are all handmade, and the type of craftsmanship the queen favors doesn’t come cheap — these babies sell for between £477 and £6000, or $744-$9,359.


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A record-busting $200 million investment announced Wednesday easily tops C2FO’s previous headline-grabbing funding rounds, but now the Kansas City fintech mega startup must live up to the hype, said Sandy Kemper.
“Investments are always forward-looking,” said Kemper, founder and CEO of C2FO. “Our job is to make sure that we’re living up to our ability to expand this company in a way that is deserving of this type of attention, this type of investment.”
Led by the $108-billion Softbank Vision Fund — which also has backed such top names as WeWork, Slack, Uber and DoorDash — C2FO’s big funding round follows a record set in March 2018 when the startup secured a $100 million investment: believed to be a first for the Kansas City ecosystem.
“You don’t necessarily work to top [funding milestones] … you work to deserve it,” Kemper emphasized, crediting the massive investment to his dedicated team, which has worked to scale C2FO into a Kansas City-based startup with a 173-country reach in fewer than 12 years.
What is C2FO?
Streamlining the world of working capital, C2FO’s online marketplace has amassed over 300,000 clients in 173 countries — helping them control their cash flow and manage more than $1 billion in funding on a weekly basis.
“Working capital is water for commerce and it’s as important to business life as water is to biological life. The problem is that much of this liquidity is trapped.”
An infusion of $200 million makes speeding up expansion easier, he admitted, but with a non-negotiable caveat: C2FO must check its pride.
“We must balance that to make sure that the culture, which is the differentiator for our company isn’t diluted by this expansion,” Kemper said. “So we will work to expand wisely and we will work to expand aggressively — but we will work to always maintain the culture of the company.”
That culture is why Kemper won’t ever stop thinking of C2FO as a startup, he explained, despite the realistic potential the company could reach unicorn status — a valuation of $1 billion or more.
“[C2FO is still a Kansas City startup] and it better continue to be,” he said through laughter when asked if the company had outgrown the title. “If you’re going after this … you’re going up against the entrenched, established. It’s the startup mentality that is the biggest differentiator.”
Great products and great tech won’t change the world alone, he said. It’s teams of people, empowered by startup culture that embody innovation, Kemper noted.
“[Acting as a startup] allows us to, in our or any company’s eyes, take on the incumbents. So I would argue that once a startup, one should always try to continue to be a startup,” he said.
Wielding a rapidly expanding, global reach doesn’t mean C2FO isn’t committed to Kansas City — but it does indicate a need for more local startups to leave their hometown allegiances behind if they’re looking to build billion-dollar companies, Kemper explained.
“If you see yourself as a local company attracting global customers, you’re going to fail,” he said of the need for founders to maintain confidence and view their companies as Kansas City-built heavy-hitters batting with the same average as companies such as Uber or Twitter — both of which funders of C2FO have taken chances on, indicating venture capital interest isn’t always based on geographic location.
With news of C2FO’s massive funding round making headlines across the country, Kemper wants those outside of Kansas City — and those eyeing a return through programs such as Back2KC — to see the community for its collective ingenuity and relentless hustle, not just the ability of its homegrown startups to secure cash, he said.
“This is as vibrant an environment for entrepreneurs and companies as we have ever seen in Kansas City — whether you have big rounds or little rounds or in-between rounds … in many ways, our funding is irrelevant,” he said. “The ecosystem of entrepreneurship in Kansas City is extraordinary. And having some success raising money, I suppose, is a nice thing … but I don’t think it means that much to the community because the community is already doing so much great stuff.”


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It was Tuesday night on Trade with BMWs featured.
Downtown patrons mingled around vintage and newer model BMWs. A Z4 Roadster, formerly manufactured in Greer, drew some of the larger audiences.
With demand of the Greer-manufactured X3 remaining strong, BMW Group reported its highest sales for the first six months of a year, with a total of 954,521 vehicles delivered worldwide, an increase of 6.0 percent over the same period last year (900,566). Sales in June also reached an all-time high with 184,489 vehicles sold worldwide last month, an increase of 6.9 percent over the previous year (172,528).
The X3, produced at the BMW Manufacturing Co. plant in Greer, had sales climb to 77,959 vehicles in the first half year compared to 74,099, plus 5.2 percent in 2012.
Josef Kerscher, who since 2007 has been President of BMW Manufacturing Co. in Greer, will assume new responsibilities as Managing Director of BMW Plant Dingolfing in Bavaria, Germany. Taking over from Kerscher in Greer will be Manfred Erlacher, currently Managing Director of BMW Plant Leipzig in Saxony, Germany. The handover takes place Nov. 1.
Under Kerscher’s leadership, the BMW plant in Greer nearly tripled production, going from 105,000 vehicles in 2006 to more than 301,000 vehicles in 2012. During the same period, the Greer plant became the largest exporter of cars from the United States.


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Posted: August 19, 2019
SA Needs to Look into African Style Trading Markets to Rescue the Township Economy – Deputy Minister Majola
|The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Fikile Majola says government needs to explore the idea of establishing markets for small business operators to trade their goods and products in South African townships, to revive the failing economy.
Majola was speaking to young entrepreneurs at a seminar in Krugersdorp today. The seminar brought young entrepreneurs in conversation with government and support agency officials, and other critical specialists, to engage on a range of issues and challenges affecting their ventures. The gathering was conceived and organised by young entrepreneurship students from the Tshwane University of Technology.
The purpose of the event was to create a platform to sharpen entrepreneurial skills among the youth, and to unpack opportunities and the impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) on industries, business, government and communities. The major technological advances taking place globally require business models which can cope with the growing complexity of systems based on digital Information and Communication Technologies.
Majola said the growth of big supermarkets has contributed a great deal to the demise of the township economy, and government needs to consider providing infrastructure for African style markets, that will enable businesses in townships to thrive once more.
“We need to use the model of Soweto’s Vilakazi Street and replicate it across many townships. Government needs to consider seriously providing infrastructure for such trading markets so that people who have business ideas can have space from which to promote and sell their products. This will contribute positively in the task of rebuilding the township economy,” he added.
Majola also said that it was important for young people in business who are passionate about creating jobs to be given all the support necessary, so that they could contribute to dealing with the country’s unemployment crisis.
Other key partners who participated in the seminar included business and 4IR experts, Mogale City Municipality, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Gauteng government and Development Finance Institutions such as the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (Sefa).
Speaking on the 4th Industrial Revolution, Standard Bank’s Mr Lebohang Ahutu urged the entrepreneurs to recognise the importance of the new era, that revolutions come not to hurt industries and people, but to enhance and better people’s lives. He said the 4IR brings along a demand for new skills, jobs and new business opportunities.
“As you will know, robots cannot make people, it is people who make robots and it is people who will have to control and fix them when they break. Gone are the days when you need to be computer literate to stand a chance at securing a good job. The future of work and business will also require an individuals to be information literate. So now in the competitive world of work you will also have to have the ability to read data from sources, be able to interrogate and analyse that data to assist organisations in making critical decisions,” he added.
In the discussions, the delegates raised a number of challenges they face in running their businesses which included lack of space and premises to operate their businesses, lack of access to critical information on government support programmes and availability of funds that enable them to thrive in their ventures. They also raised a lot of frustration with the administration processes and red tape which they said limits their ability to grow and thrive in business.
Ms Joy Maimela from the National Youth Development Agency also urged the entrepreneurs to ensure they adapt to advances in technology to lessen the hurdles in accessing critical services from the variety of institutions. However, she cautioned that while the emergence of the 4IR was inevitable and young people need to prepare and acquire the necessary skills, it is still critical to ensure that jobs are secured and retrenchments are avoided as much as possible
She emphasised: “At a time when we are faced with an unemployment crisis in the country, the private sector should take the necessary care to avert job losses where possible.”
The Mayor of Mogale City, Councillor Patrick Lipudi committed the municipality to exploring different ways in which they can avail sites and land where entrepreneurs can trade.


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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — He may be gone, but the "Bicycle Man's" mission lives on.
For more than 20 years, Moses Mathis spent his time cleaning up old bikes, then giving them to needy children at Christmas. He passed away in July, but is charity, in Fayetteville, will continue his work.
This Saturday, representatives will be outside the Walmart on Ramsey Street. Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., they'll collect bikes and money to be used for this holiday season.


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Nigeria imported N28.16 billion in palm oil in the first six months of 2022 as the value of agricultural commodities shipped to the country maintained an upward trend. Palm oil falls under country’s foreign exchange restrictions; It is among the 41 import items banned for foreign exchange trading by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This means that importers have to source their foreign exchange through alternative routes such as the parallel market.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its “Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics Report” for the second quarter of the year (Q2 2022) showed that the figure represented a 5.2 percent increase over the corresponding period in 2021 , which recorded a value of N26.77 billion.
The report, published on the official website of the National Bureau of Statistics, also showed that palm oil imports were N14.64 billion in the second quarter of 2022 compared to N13.52 billion in the previous quarter, an increase of 8.3 percent. The commodity classified as “Crude Palm Oil” was mainly imported from West Africa and Asia.
The country shipped N14.64 billion worth of palm oil from Ivory Coast in Q2 2022, while Malaysia and China shipped N13.50 billion and N0.02 billion of the commodity, respectively, in Q1 2022. In Q2 2021, Africa’s largest economy imported N$15.09 billion palm oil from Singapore and N$11.68 billion from India, for a total of N$26.77 billion.
The NBS report further showed that Nigeria’s import of agricultural commodities accelerated over the periods – jumping from N1.094 trillion in HY 2021 to N1.105 trillion in HY 2022, a 10 percent increase. Excluding palm oil, Nigeria imported wheat worth a total of N131.54 billion in the second quarter of 2022 compared to N130.60 billion in the first quarter of 2022.
Wheat imports in the second quarter of 2022 included N70.67 billion and N60.87 billion from the US and Lithuania, respectively. The N130.6 billion in Q1 2022 was made up of N71.56 billion from the US and N59.04 billion from Argentina as Nigeria sought alternative sources to Russia and Ukraine (its traditional suppliers). , who have been engaged in a serious war since February , 2022.
Wheat shipments in the second quarter of 2021 totaling N218 billion came mainly from the United States, Canada, Argentina and Lithuania. Frozen food (blue whiting) was imported from Russia and the Netherlands in the second quarter of 2022, amounting to N13.39 billion and N7.31 billion, respectively.
“The total imports of agricultural goods imported in the second quarter of 2022 amounted to N454.45 billion, or 8.55 percent of the total imports in the second quarter of 2022. This shows an increase of 4.76 percent compared to that in the first quarter value recorded in 2022 (N443.36 billion). ) and increased by 13.70 percent compared to the value recorded in the second quarter of 2021 (N408.49 billion),” the NBS said in its report.
Palm oil is a highly sought-after commodity among manufacturing and processing companies, who use it as a raw material in the manufacture of various consumer and industrial goods.
The CEO of the Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf said the palm oil produced in Nigeria was grossly inadequate, adding that users would pay any amount to import the commodity if it boosted their margins. “When products are expensive, manufacturers can benefit because they adjust their prices to maximize their profits,” Yusuf, immediately former general manager of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said in a phone conversation with THEWILL.
Emmanuel Ebong, who runs a medium-sized palm oil processing company, said the NBS figures do not reflect the true value of the goods being shipped into the country. “A large amount of palm oil is smuggled across borders, particularly from Cameroon and the Republic of Benin. It is huge business among the barge companies that operate between Nigeria and neighboring countries. They are the actual suppliers to the big manufacturing companies that use the raw material.”
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Benard Okata, said Nigeria spends about US$500 million annually on importing oil palm to fill existing gaps in the sector.
Okata, who made the remark at the national oil palm workshop organized by Solidaridad, an international non-governmental organization, in November 2020 in Abuja, said that Nigeria’s current local demand for palm oil is generally around three million tons, but that is being produced only about 1.02 tons of oil palm.
“So there’s a gap,” he says. We import to fill this gap and Nigeria spends around $500 million annually on this import to date.”
He recalled that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, had expressed his sadness that Nigeria was still importing palm oil despite the country’s south-south and south-east regions having enough arable land for its production is.
Okomu Oil Palm Company’s agriculture coordinator, Billy Ghansah, said on the occasion that Nigeria needed to plant around 100,000 hectares of oil palm in order to fill the existing gaps in its palm oil production.
Refuting the claim that Asian countries came to pick the palm seeds from Nigeria, the agriculture expert said the basic cultivation strategy of oil palm was developed in Africa, but Nigeria did not take advantage of it. He said the Asians have taken over, so many think they came to pick the seeds from here. “They didn’t do it,” he said, “but they (Asians) used what they had and improved it.”
A senior climate specialist for Africa at Solidaridad, who also serves as Country Technical Lead Nigeria, Sam Ogala, also confirmed that Nigeria could not meet its domestic demand for oil palms.
“This country spends around $500 million annually to import oil palm. That shows you the big gap and that’s because we don’t meet the local demand. In the early 1960s before the oil boom, Nigeria exported oil palms, but after that oil boom we started importing and all kinds of oil palms are finding their way to the Nigerian market,” he added
Top Palm Oil Producers in Nigeria The Nigerian states considered to be the top palm oil producers are Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta. But state governments have made little effort to maximize the potential of palm oil production in their areas.
The CBN has implemented several intervention programs to promote agricultural products for domestic, industrial and export consumption. These include the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund, the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, the N220 billion MSME Fund and the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS).
Palm oil has a wide range of uses around the world including: cooking oil, bio-diesel, lubricants, cosmetics and other applications – household cooking, food and beverage, oleo-chemical, personal care, animal feed and biofuel. Global production of palm oil has increased rapidly since the 1990s, with plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia supplying around 85 percent of global trade.
Two major publicly traded palm oil companies in Nigeria, Okomu Oil Palm Co. Plc and Presco Plc, reported an impressive performance in their annual reports for fiscal year 2021. Okomu grew sales to N37.39 billion from N23.41 billion in 2020, while profit after tax rose to N16.11 billion from N8.69 billion. Its assets increased from N28.62 billion to N34 billion.
Presco Plc recorded sales of N41.11 billion in 2021 compared to N23.89 billion in the previous period. Profit after tax increased from N5.26 billion to N19.82 billion in fiscal 2021, while assets increased from N31 billion to N48 billion. Both companies operate fully integrated agro-industrial facilities with a combined market capitalization of N322 billion.


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Chainfire, who we all know and love as the might behind the SuperSU app for root access on Android phones and tablets, as well as a variety of hacks and tricks all over the shop has turned his attention to Android TV. Frustrated with a lack of an easy way to access games, apps etc. that he’d installed on the ADT-1 dev version of Android TV, he created his own mini-launcher: Sideload Launcher.
While you can’t really install apps to the ADT-1 from Google Play, Google still requires apps for Android TV to be ‘whitelisted’ for the platform, but you sure as heck can sideload as many as you wish and Sideload Launcher lets you see those apps. The app is available now in Google Play, but this app can be installed to your ADT-1(or Nexus Player when they begin to roll out) and you can then access all those apps you’ve sideloaded.
Once installed your apps are then launchable, although how they react on Android TV is hit and miss.
Now all we need to do is wait on Google to launch the Nexus Player here in Australia. We’re still looking at the ADT-1 dev box we have (just installed the latest OTA), so we’ll be keeping up on all the development as it happens.


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Herman Miller Inc.'s
The office-furniture company also unveiled a 12% increase in its quarterly dividend to 14 cents a share, up 1.5 cents a share.
For the current fiscal quarter, the company forecast per-share earnings of 30 cents to 36 cents and sales of $445 million to $465 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters recently forecast per-share profit of 39 cents and revenue of $461 million.
The company, which helped spawn the cubicle craze more than 40 years ago, has been introducing new designs as companies adapt workspaces to changing needs. Such office layouts feature lower walls between desks, or even no walls.
"We are very pleased with our operating results this quarter, particularly given declining federal government demand in the U.S. and mixed economic conditions in other markets around the world," Chief Executive Brian Walker said.
For the period ended Nov. 30, Herman Miller reported a loss of $80.6 million, or $1.37 a share, compared with a year-earlier profit of $8.4 million, or 14 cents a share. Excluding legacy pension impacts other items, adjusted earnings were up to 42 cents, from 35 cents a year ago. Revenue increased 6.5% to $470.5 million.
Herman Miller had projected adjusted per-share earnings of 38 cents to 42 cents on sales of $460 million to $475 million, below analysts' estimates at the time.
New orders rose 5.7%, to $502.9 million, from a year earlier. Backlog declined 2%, to $307.9 million.
Shares closed Wednesday at $29.19 and are down 23 cents, to $28.96, in light after-hours trading.
Write to Tess Stynes at email@example.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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Google Ara Modular Phone
Project Ara has been fairly quiet for awhile now, but fortunately the announcement of Google’s Ara Modular Phone Developer kit shows us that the principal drive behind the project — modularity — is still front and center. Shipping in fall 2016, this developer-focused Ara is built around a frame that contains most of the phone’s brains including the CPU, GPU, antennas, sensors, a battery, and a 5.3-inch display. Six slots fit Ara modules solidly, connecting to the frame via Greybus, a bit of software explicitly designed for the inevitable hot-swapping of modules, and hardware that allows data-transfer rates of 11.9 Gbps. This makes adding an extra battery module or upgrading parts like your camera a cinch, and allows for plenty of creativity from hardware developers making unique modules. Moreover, the actual consumer-ready phone isn’t far behind: it should be shipping next year.
Learn more at Google ATAP – $TBA


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KPMG Taiwan held the “KPMG 2016 CEO Outlook Forum” on August 22
22 August 2016, 2:15PM - 6:30PM, CST
KPMG Taiwan held the “KPMG 2016 CEO Outlook Forum” yesterday (August 22) where Mr Sai Choy Tham, Chairman of KPMG ASPAC region pointed out that over 90% of Taiwanese CEOs are confidence with the potential growth of the global and domestic economy and such percentage is the highest amongst the world.
However, with regards to future developments, cyber security has been ranked as the third largest risk with more than 92% of the Taiwanese CEOs not being fully prepared on such issue, such percentage is only slightly better than some of the East African countries with less developed internet position.
The report indicates that more than 90% of Taiwanese CEOs are confident with the potential growth of the global and Taiwan economies for the next 3 years. The Chairman and CEO of KPMG Taiwan, Mr Winston Yu, said that the despite the uncertainty and slowdown of the global economies, the Taiwanese CEOs are gradually grasping future developments and are investing in R&D with a view to transform, together with the expected benefits from our physical location between China and Southeast Asia, as such enabled Taiwanese CEOs to have such confidence for the future.
Further, from innovation and transformation perspectives, Sai Choy said that majority of the CEOs believe that customers will have new expectations and hence are reconsidering product positioning and connectivity with consumers. By using big data and cross-industry alliances to improve products, that is, large companies provide the markets, new start-up companies provide innovative ideas with a view to reach the goals of innovation and business transformation.
Taking KPMG Singapore as an example, it is currently focusing on3 major industries, i.e., financial services, logistics and healthcare. First, the cooperation between the insurance and GPS companies enables the understanding of drivers’ behavior and results in the adjustment of related insurance fees. From logistics perspective, businesses can monitor the delivery process via GPS companies and improve quality. As from healthcare side, businesses can use big data to increase the matching ratio between organ donors and patients.
In addition, for the 18 countries in the survey, cyber security and risk have been classified as the top 3 areas of concern. However, only 26% of Taiwanese CEOs considered cyber security as one of the operational risk, much lower than the global average. Further, up to 92% of the Taiwanese CEOs believe that the Taiwanese enterprises are not prepared for a cyber security event, and such percentage is only slightly better than the less internet developed East African countries (98%).
To assist with business transformation, KPMG engaged “Forbes” magazine to survey global CEO’s outlook, covering 18 countries and nearly 1,300 CEOs. This is the first year that Taiwan was included in the comparison and interviewed approximately 50 Taiwanese CEOs who provided insight into their viewpoints regarding impacts and opportunities for business in the future.
The Chairman of the National Development Council (NDC), Mr Chen Tian-Jy said that there are criticisms to the new government for not proposing key investment programs to stimulate the economy, in fact, there is a higher government debt ratio and the focus should be aimed at industry structural adjustment as opposed economic sentiment issue. He is of the view that the economy is improving and the key is to strengthen fundamentally from industrial structural transformation. Although the effects cannot be observed in the short term, however, this is a must for Taiwan.
Mr Chen Tian-Jy attended “KPMG 2016 CEO Outlook Forum” yesterday and analyzed the international and Taiwan economic outlook and industrial development. Mr Chen said, the volume of international trade and the economic growth rate largely remained at around 6%-3%. Since 2008, the trading growth had slowed down, and although the GDP remained around 3% but the volume of international trade had decreased to about 3%.
He analyzed that in the face of trade slowdown, one should search for new growth initiative. Coupled with the uncertainties of Brexit, the U.S. presidential election, high debt in the emerging markets, Italian politics crisis, etc., for Taiwan who is highly dependent on trade development, the economic development is particularly tough.
For the domestic economic development, Mr Chen said that the new era is still lead by ICT industry, but the question is not about whether there is excessive focus on ICT, nor export processing or mass production, but whether the one has captured and seized on the new ICT trend.
He pointed out that the industrial development strategy should be changed, i.e., from large volume to small volume, from a pure hardware manufacturing into integration of hardware and software, through the development of global digital economy, relaxation of regulations and the development of digital innovation, to attract skilled labor and to create more job opportunities in Taiwan. Our strategy should fundamentally improve the Taiwanese industrial structure to “strengthen” and to lead the Taiwan’s economy on an “upward trend”.


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Travel & Hospitality
Lead Editor: Angie Giroux-Scheide
SmartBrief keeps readers informed about travel and hospitality news. Our vast range of topics include hotels, car rental agencies, travel agents, luxury accomodations and destinations, spa news, gambling and casinos, as well as gadgets and other innovations and trends that make life on the road a little easier.
- Bloomberg Businessweek
Boyd Gaming is looking at spinning off its real-estate holdings into a real estate investment trust (REIT), following a similar move by Penn National Gaming in 2013. REITs offer tax advantages to comp Read More
- USA Today
Costa Cruises has announced that the Costa Mediterranea will join Costa Luminosa to operate sailings out of Miami in winter 2014, marking the first time in four years since the cruise line has deploye Read More
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Could Fort Collins be reaching saturation on the number of places to eat and drink?
This city of 170,000 saw 53 new eateries open this year while 29 closed — an increase of 24 new restaurants and bars. It’s about the same number of openings as last year when nearly 60 establishments opened but an acceleration in the number of closures: 29 compared with 14 last year.
That brings the number of restaurants in the city to about 650.
Residents bemoaned the loss of longtime favorites Bisetti’s and Old Chicago in Old Town but celebrated the return of Panhandler’s Pizza. The restaurant business has always been tough, but longtime restaurateurs say this market might be the most challenging they’ve seen.
In a city like Fort Collins that gets new dining options every month, even old favorites need to adapt and change.
“Competition makes for a much better marketplace for the consumer,” said Steve Lauer, who opened and closed a couple eateries in the past two years. “More choices are good for the community and requires all restaurants to perform at the highest level.”
Given the abundance of choices — and pressures of rising costs — the business has never been more challenging than today, said Lauer, who owns Simmer and Rally5 but closed Mac’d Up this year.
Lauer pointed to the roughly 10 restaurants that opened at the renovated Foothills shopping center within a couple years. With the exception of C.B. & Potts, which moved from Campus West, all were new to Fort Collins.
Based on the brands’ national sales averages and what volume would be required to cover rent and overhead at Foothills, “the expected average annual volume per location would have to be more than $2.5 million,” he said.
“Developing over $25 million in expected new restaurant revenue in one development alone in a year’s time is significantly higher than the population growth rate would make up for,” he said, doing the math on Foothills’ 10 restaurants.
Since Foothills reopened, three eateries closed: The Melt, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria and, most recently, Casa del Matador.
The Melt closed all Colorado properties, Grimaldi’s left a wake of unpaid taxes and Casa del Matador blamed its closing on financial hardship. All are still vacant.
Is the bubble bursting?
Jason Barrett, CEO of The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant and owner of Rare Italian, couldn’t agree more. “The air is being let out of the bubble, and oversaturation of the market is one of the largest conspirators,” he said.
Like most restaurants, the Rio, which owns six restaurants in Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Greeley, is challenged by higher labor costs due in part to Colorado’s mandatory minimum wage hike, increasing building rents and health care costs, rising commodity prices, pressure to add delivery, and competition from grocery stores that offer ready-to-go meals.
The minimum wage hike alone, which will increase 90 cents an hour every January until it hits $12 an hour in 2020, “is not an easy thing for restaurants,” Barrett said. “It’s a $250,000 hit to our bottom line.”
But that’s the stream The Rio has to swim in, he said, so it has tweaked its menu, emphasized service and is concentrating on protecting its core staff.
The Rio had record profits in 2016 during its 30th anniversary year. Last year was flat, and this year is down slightly, he said.
To stay relevant and competitive, The Rio is changing things up: doing full-scale renovations in Boulder and Denver, taking a hard look at hiring practices and training, and adding delivery.
“It’s exciting and somewhat unnerving,” Barrett said. “This is the most comprehensive, holistic change and evolution of the company to meet all the things that are out there.”
It’s a risky business that banks on attracting new diners while retaining its loyal customers. “Companies evolve, and we have to evolve. We have to trust that the folks that have been with us all these years will keep coming back.”
But for a restaurant that relies on liquor sales as part of its economic model, some changes, like adding delivery, “will erode that a little bit,” he said.
Lauer, who has opened dozens of restaurants in Fort Collins over the years, is holding off on expanding in Fort Collins “until we see how the market will shake out.”
“It’s a pressure cooker where something’s gotta give,” he said. “You can’t keep opening and not close any.”
Old Town opportunity or cause for concern?
Nearly 40 percent of restaurant closings this year were downtown, with the loss of some long-established and well-loved eateries, including Bisetti’s, Old Chicago and The Chocolate Cafe. Downtown also lost La Luz, IHOP, Mainline Ale House, Subway, Craft Tacos and Tequila, and Wasted Space. Five of the spaces remain empty.
Bisetti’s, part of the fabric of Old Town for more than three decades, closed in January. Owners Bob and Heather Bisetti — who had been living in Arizona for several years — decided to retire from the restaurant business and sell the building.
Fahima Kamandy, who owns Ever Open Cafe on North College Avenue, purchased the property at 120 S. College Ave. for $3.35 million. Subway, adjacent to Bisetti’s, closed down as well, and Kamandy turned the property into four retail spaces now occupied by All Sales Vinyl, Sunday Supply Co., Stillwater Outdoor Culture and a jewelry store. Ku Cha House of Tea remains open in its original location.
Mainline Ale House, which had occupied a 114-year-old building at 125 S. College Ave. for only five years, was the largest restaurant to close, at 10,600 square feet and 450 seats.
The building was just too big to sustain the restaurant, Mainline’s owners said at the time of closing.
Mainline is just north of Old Chicago, which closed in August after 36 years in Old Town. Old Chicago’s Timberline Road location remains open.
La Luz suffered following a salmonella outbreak at its 200 Walnut St. store.
Outside of Old Town, IHOP shuttered its oldest Fort Collins location on South College Avenue after 44 years, and Applebee’s became the latest chain to close a local store.
While Old Town suffered a large number of losses, it also saw its share of openings, including a multitude of eateries at The Exchange — in the 200 block of North College Avenue bordered by College Avenue, Pine and Jefferson streets — which is emerging as an eclectic mix of food and drink.
Fort Collins Donut Co., Pizza Press, Old Town Churn Ice Cream, Vatos Tacos and Tequila, and Chick’nCone all opened this year, while Steamies Burger Bar, Japango, artisan beer project The Crooked Stave and Infinite Monkey Theorem’s satellite wine taproom are expected to open next year.
The Exchange consumes an entire block that once included three buildings separated by a parking lot. Construction has just about wrapped up, converting the former pawn shop, tattoo parlor and home decor shop on the north and former cidery and ceramics shop on the south. CopperMuse distillery remains where it was. The shops, some in spruced up shipping containers, surround an open-air plaza.
Developer Brinkman hopes to have the plaza designated as an entertainment district where people can buy food from one vendor and drinks from another. Visitors would be able to mingle in the plaza with adult beverages in hand.
Old Town also gained Old Elk Distillery, Choice City Wings, The Regional and Union.
“It’s a hyper competitive environment for restaurants right now,” said Steve Taylor, owner of Hot Corner Concepts, which runs the Moot House, Austin’s, Comet Chicken and Big Al’s Burgers and Dogs. “But it’s been that way for awhile. We were probably over on restaurants, and there’s a natural correction that comes with that.”
Still, there’s always room for a great restaurant in our town, said Taylor, who closed Enzio’s Italian restaurant on Mountain Avenue in 2016 and opened Comet Chicken in its place last year. “We’re happy with the decision,” he said.
A tight workforce continues to cause fits for restaurateurs as they’re all competing “for a small number of people,” Taylor said. “The pressure on staffing is extraordinary. We’re so fortunate to be in a college town; we get a new crop of kids every spring and fall.”
Taylor insists there’s no secret sauce to staying in business for decades, like he has. The Moot House has operated since 1972, and Austin’s opened in 1997 — longevity that comes from providing strong training, consistency and good service. “All the guys who are successful know how to do it,” Taylor said. “The challenge is to just keep doing it.”
Grocery stores add to competition
As competition increases from new and virtual restaurants and food trucks, grocery stores are also putting pressure on restaurants with hot soups, fresh-made pizzas, sushi, deli sandwiches, rotisserie chickens and other foods, Lauer said.
Grocery stores “are getting aggressive on deliveries, drive up, pickup … and they’re more competitive with home meal replacement and robust deli sections. They’re making a huge effort to cater to people.”
For the consumer, it’s not a bad thing, he said. “It creates variety, value, all kinds of things.” But it can also cut down on the number of times a family or individual orders takeout, grabs a quick meal through the drive-through or goes out to eat.
“When you go to the grocery store, it will be a less expensive meal and you can eat healthier a lot of times,” Lauer said. “A lot of times people will eat healthy at home during the week then go out and splurge on the weekend.”
We’re a dining out kind of town
Fort Collins’ restaurants, bars and caterers generated $434.4 million in sales through November, the second largest net taxable sales in the city behind grocery, convenience and liquor stores, according to the city’s December sales and use tax report, which reflects sales through November.
But restaurants, bars and caterers are the largest sales tax generator, according to the report, with nearly $16.7 million collected for the first 11 months of the year. Restaurant and bar sales were flat in November but are up 5.3 percent year over year, according to the sales tax report.
What is a virtual restaurant?
Three restaurants, Oasis Bowls, Diner 99 and Quick Cakes, opened in the virtual universe. Owned and run by siblings Kyra and Cooper Burke, the restaurants operate from a commissary kitchen at 1800 E. Lincoln Ave.
Customers can’t dine in, but they can order for delivery or pickup through online ordering and delivery services Grubhub and DoorDash.
The virtual restaurants serve smoothies, acai bowls, diner food and Japanese-style pancakes. The concepts have their own social media pages and are typically open from 7-11 a.m. daily, with late-night hours from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
Here’s a look at who left, who came and who’s on the way:
Openings: Asiana Foods, Backyard Bird, Beijing Noodle, Brunch Brothers, Bump N Grind coffee bicycle food cart, Cancun Mexican Grill, Chick’nCone, Choice City Wings, Cinnabon, Colorocko Taco food cart, Dan’s Van food truck, Emporium Sports Bar, Friendly Nick’s Butcher, FoCo DoCo, GameDay Sports Grill, Handy’s Restaurant, Honolulu Poke Bar in Front Range Village and Campus West, La Dolce Vita Bistro Italiano, Lirano Wine Bar, Marchio’s Grill, Masa Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi, Metro Urban Food & Booze, Mobile Pho food cart, NoCo Distillery, NoCo Q food truck, Ohana Bowls food truck, Old Elk Tasting Room, Old Town Churn, Oregano’s Pizza Bistro, Panhandler’s Pizza, Pizza Press, Rally5, Red Truck Beer, Rita’s Italian Ice, Rose’s Rub Shack food truck, Simmer, Sundance Chuckwagon food truck, Rush Bowls, Sips Grub & Pub, Smoothie King,Suh Sushi & Korean BBQ, Taste & Savor Wine Bar, Tecate Grill, Thai Station, Ras-Ka, The Regional, Turtle Mountain Fermentery, Union, Urban Bricks, Vatos Tacos & Tequila, Ye’s Poke Station, Ziggi’s Coffee
Closings: Applebee’s, Bisetti’s, Bann Thai, The Boot Grill, Cabana Eats & Drinks, Casa del Matador, Chocolate Cafe, Craft Tacos and Tequila, Crafted, East Moon (Harmony Road), Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, IHOP (College Avenue), Jimmy John’s (Old Town), JJ’s Woodfired Pizza, La Dolce Vita Bistro Italiano, La Luz, Mac’d Up, Mainline Ale House, MidiCi, Old Chicago (Old Town), Pappy’s Corner Pub, Ramen Master, Rebel Popcorn, Sazerac New Orleans Bistro, Subway (Old Town), Three Four Beer Co., Serious Texas BBQ (Campus West), Toppers Pizza, Wasted Space
Five Guys Burgers and Fries moved within Front Range Village at Harmony and Ziegler roads to frontage along Harmony, while The Fox & The Crow moved into bigger digs at Scotch Pines Village at Drake Road and Lemay Avenue. Justine’s Pizza plans to move in the coming weeks to 1015 S. Taft Hill Road from 140 E. Boardwalk Drive.
Who says they’re coming?
Looking ahead to next year, seven restaurants have already announced they will open in 2019, some as early as next month. In addition to four new places at The Exchange, Envy Brewing plans to open in the former Peloton building off Harmony and Ziegler roads, Dae Gee Korean Barbecue expects to open at 120 W. Olive St., and XGolf, with plans for a space with drinks and eats, plans to open at Foothills shopping center in Midtown.
Read or Share this story: https://www.coloradoan.com/story/money/2018/12/25/fort-collins-restaurants-openings-closures-2018/2313264002/


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I’ve always been curious about the reasons behind the ban on pet shops in New York. It’s a topic that has stirred up controversy and divided opinions.
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In this article, I aim to decode the mystery surrounding this ban and shed light on its history, impact on local businesses, and explore alternative ways of adopting pets in the city.
In the ongoing discussion surrounding the controversial “New York Pet Shop Ban,” concerns are raised regarding the impact this legislation will have on local businesses like the New York Pet Shop and the pet-owning community in general.
Join me as we delve into this complex issue, uncovering the truth and considering potential changes for the future.
The History of Pet Shop Regulations in New York
The history of pet shop regulations in New York begins with the passing of the first ban in 2017. This landmark decision marked a turning point in our city’s commitment to animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
The journey through New York Pet Shop Ban has sparked intense debate among animal rights activists and pet store owners alike.
Prior to this ban, pet shops were allowed to operate without any kind of licensing or oversight, leading to countless cases of animal neglect and abuse. But with the introduction of this legislation, we finally took a stand against such cruelty.
The ban was just the beginning though; it paved the way for comprehensive pet shop licensing and enforcement measures that ensure all establishments adhere to strict standards of care and ethics. These measures have empowered us to protect our beloved furry friends from harm and provide them with safe, loving homes.
Reasons Behind the Ban on Pet Shops in New York
One reason behind the ban on pet shops in NYC is that it aims to promote adoption from shelters. By prohibiting the sale of animals in pet shops, the city is taking a stand for animal welfare and encouraging potential pet owners to consider adopting instead of buying from breeders. This ban aligns with consumer demand for ethically sourced and responsibly bred pets.
Here are three important factors to consider:
- Animal Welfare: The ban ensures that animals are not treated as commodities and reduces the likelihood of supporting unethical breeding practices.
- Adoption Opportunities: By focusing on shelter adoptions, more animals will have a chance to find loving homes, reducing overcrowding and euthanasia rates.
- Responsible Ownership: The ban encourages individuals to think carefully about their decision to bring a pet into their lives, promoting responsible ownership and reducing impulse purchases.
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Impact of the Pet Shop Ban on Local Businesses
Implementing the pet shop ban has had a significant impact on local businesses in NYC. As a passionate advocate for animal welfare, I understand the importance of this ban in promoting responsible pet ownership and reducing the demand for commercially bred animals. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the economic consequences that local businesses have faced as a result. The table below highlights some of these impacts:
|Impact on Economy||Impact on Pet Adoption Rates|
|Decreased revenue||Increased adoption from shelters|
|Job losses||Reduced sales of specific breeds|
|Business closures||Greater emphasis on rescue organizations|
While these effects are undoubtedly challenging, it is important to remember that they are necessary steps towards creating a more humane and sustainable future for our furry friends. In the next section, we will explore alternative options for adopting pets in New York City that align with the goals of this ban.
Alternatives to Pet Shops for Adopting Pets in New York
Adopting pets in NYC without relying on traditional pet shops has become increasingly popular among residents. People are realizing that there are other options out there that can provide a loving home for animals in need.
Here are three alternatives to pet shops that have gained traction in the city:
- Foster programs: Many organizations offer foster programs where individuals can temporarily care for a pet until it finds its forever home. This allows potential adopters to get a feel for what it’s like to have a pet without the long-term commitment.
- Online adoption platforms: Websites and apps now make it easier than ever to find pets available for adoption in your area. These platforms provide detailed information about each animal, allowing you to choose one that fits your lifestyle and preferences.
- Rescue organizations: Numerous rescue groups specialize in finding homes for abandoned or neglected animals. By adopting from these organizations, not only do you give an animal a second chance at life, but you also support their mission of saving more lives.
These alternatives empower individuals to take control of their pet adoption journey, ensuring they find the perfect companion while making a positive impact on animal welfare.
As more people turn away from traditional pet shops and explore these alternatives, it raises questions about the future implications and potential changes to the pet shop ban in New York.
Future Implications and Potential Changes to the Pet Shop Ban in New York
If you’re considering adopting a pet in NYC, it’s important to stay informed about the future implications and potential changes surrounding the ban on pet shops. The city has taken a bold step by banning the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet shops to combat unethical breeding practices. However, there is ongoing debate about the effectiveness of this ban and its impact on animal welfare. Future regulations might address concerns raised by both sides of the argument. Public opinion plays a crucial role in shaping these regulations, so it’s essential for concerned citizens to voice their thoughts and engage with policymakers. By staying informed and actively participating in discussions around this issue, we can ensure that any changes made are fair, effective, and prioritize the well-being of animals.
|Prevents unethical breeding||Limits consumer choice||Promotes adoption from shelters/rescues|
|Reduces overcrowding in shelters||May lead to underground market||Requires stricter enforcement|
|Protects animal welfare||Disrupts pet shop industry||Supports responsible breeders|
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In conclusion, the ban on pet shops in New York is a complex issue that requires careful consideration.
While there are valid concerns about the mistreatment of animals and the impact of pet shops on local businesses, it is important to find a balance that allows for responsible pet ownership and supports ethical adoption practices.
By exploring alternatives to pet shops and promoting adoption from shelters, we can create a more compassionate and thriving community for both pets and humans.
Let’s work together to ensure a brighter future for all our furry friends in New York.


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63% of employees generated for Black Friday correspond to the Logistics sector
Randstad, number 1 in human resources in Spain and in the world, has published its recruitment forecasts on the occasion of the arrival of Black Friday, Friday November 27, and Cyber Monday, Monday 30. Some dates that have been It has become in recent years consumer milestones due to its offers and promotions, for which many companies are forced to increase their hiring. In making these forecasts, Randstad took into account the trade and logistics and transport sectors, which were directly linked to the increase in consumption during this period.
Randstad predicts that Black Friday and Cyber Monday will generate around 27,430 new hires in our country, or 5.4% less compared to 2019, when just over 29,000 were signed. 62.8% of these signatures will be produced in the logistics sector, which has significantly increased its importance compared to last year, where the weight was 54.2%. For its part, trade has fallen from 45.8% of all Black Friday contracts in 2019 to just 37.2% today.
Contracts generated during Black Friday and Cyber Monday in Spain
Concretely, logistics hires will mean 17,220 companies this year, an increase of 9.5% compared to last year, which mitigated the drop in hiring at that time due to the economic crisis and the market crash. 23.1%. % of employment in the commercial sector, which records 10,210 contracts.
“This new study confirms that the transport and logistics sector is a lifeline in terms of employment. The commitment to e-commerce, a consumer trend that does not seem to have receded, is stimulating job creation in logistics, which is great news in a situation where traditional commerce and hospitality are seriously affected. affected by the consequences of the health crisis, ”says Valentn Bote, director of Randstad Research.
Most communities record falls of less than 6%
Randstad points out that all Autonomous Communities will see drops in their hiring volume for the upcoming Black Friday campaign, although the report highlights notable differences between them: Murcia (-2.9%), Castilla-La Mancha (- 3.2%), Catalonia (-3.8%) and the Valencian Community (-3.9%) will experience the least marked decreases, all less than -3%. They follow them, still above the national average (-5.4%), Euskadi (-4.1%), Asturias (-4.4%), Galicia (-4.7%), Balearic Islands, Community of Madrid (both with -4, 8%) and Cantabria.
Contracts by region and variation
In contrast, the most pronounced decreases will occur in Andalusia (-8.6%), Extremadura (-7.9%), Navarre (-7.8%) and Aragn (-7.6%). They are followed, also with decreases above the national average, by the Canaries (-7.4%), La Rioja (-6.6%) and Castilla y Len (-6%).
In absolute terms, Andaluca (4,710), Catalonia (4,540), the Community of Madrid (3,910) and the Valencian Community (3,600) will register the highest volumes, all with more than 3,500 signatures. In fact, the sum of these four autonomous regions represents 61.1% of all contracts signed during the campaign.
By province, Randstad points out that Toledo, with an increase of 4.1%, and Malaga, with an increase of 0.2%, will be the only two to see their volume of hires increase for Black Friday compared to the last year. . In contrast, the most discreet increases will occur in Tarragona (-0.3%), Salamanca (-1.3%), A Corua (-1.8%) and Palencia (-2.1%). On the other hand, the provinces with the strongest contraction drops will be Cdiz (-20.4%), Teruel (-18.6%), Soria (-13.8%), Lugo (-10.7) and Lleida (-10.4%).
Black Friday kicks off the job recovery
Randstadaugurates that the logistics sector will be the main driver of hiring both in the current Black Friday campaign and during the Christmas holidays, to the detriment of commerce and hotels.
In fact, only the transport and logistics sector will represent 44% of the more than 290,000 contracts that will be signed during the Christmas campaign, thus continuing the trend of the current Black Friday campaign.
In this situation, the profiles that logistics companies will demand the most to meet the increase in consumption will be, among others, packers, forklifts, warehouse workers and transporters. In addition, an increase in the needs of professionals in customer service is detected, both for online service and for telephone service. Among the skills and aptitudes most valued, this campaign highlights the field of technological tools related to the sector.
Despite the drop in hiring, professionals will continue to be required for the commerce sector, which will need professionals to bolster their workforce in the face of increasing consumers, such as employees, promoters, hostesses and commercial profiles. , mainly, among which the transaction is valued. close to the client and his communication skills.
Considering the importance of e-commerce in this campaign, applicants will often need to have digital skills and knowledge about certain technology platforms specific to commerce or logistics. Employers also value previous experience for rapid adaptation to a very changing market, which also depends on the restrictions and other vicissitudes caused by the health crisis.


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Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production announced a merger with Eten Catering, a full-service catering and event company in South Florida.
Sysco Corporation announced an exclusive partnership that will deliver SAVRpak’s patented food preservation technology to independent and local chain restaurants nationwide.
McCain Foods launched an anthem for returning restaurant workers today to mark National Fry Day.
On the heels of its phenomenal growth, Chicago-based restaurant tech company 86 Repairs today announced it closed an additional $5.3 million from investors including TDF Ventures, Gordon Food Servi ...
US Foods Holding Corp. announced today the national launch of Tender by Design, a revolutionary process by which frozen beef can now be just as high quality and tender as fresh.
Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education Announces 2021 Culinary Education Award Recipients
The Center for the Advancement of Foodservice Education (CAFÉ) announces the 2021 Culinary Education Award recipients.
Rouxbe, a leading online culinary school, announced its 10-hour Kitchen QuickStart training course will immediately be available for free.
US Foods Holding Corp. announced the launch of Summer Scoop.
Rouxbe, today announced its 10-hour Kitchen QuickStart training course will immediately be available for free.
Today’s food industry is facing a myriad of complex problems ranging from food waste, food insecurity, diet-related chronic conditions like obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and ...


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PJM capacity prices continued their downward trend, with Tuesday’s results from the 2023/24 Base Residual Auction showing a 32% year over year decline in RTO prices, clearing $34.13/MW-day.
“The market has been oversupplied for quite some time, and it remains oversupplied,” said Pete Curtice of American Efficient LLC. “The oversupply situation, coupled with sluggish demand growth and auction delays, means that we can likely expect low capacity prices to persist.”
Separating zones included MAAC, DPL-South, and BGE. Downward price pressures include fewer resources subject to the MOPR after the implementation of new rules. Market participants continue to make Investment decisions prior to auction price signals in the delayed BRA world. The auction, slated for December 2021, 18 months before the delivery year, was delayed another 6 months to June of 2022.


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Another day, another interesting new bubble tea shop coming to Loudoun County — this one with a musical twist. The Burn has learned that TeaDM Lounge is coming to Sterling, taking over the space vacated last year by Newk’s Eatery.
TeaDM is a local bubble shop brand with one other location in Fall Church. Besides the bubble tea, TeaDM serves up EDM music all day long as well. For the uninitiated, EDM stands for Electronic Dance Music. So the name TeaDM is a play on the acronym EDM.
Here’s how the brand describes its current location: “We serve bubble tea, flavored tea, coffee, smoothies, and more. In addition to tantalizing your taste buds, we’ll engage your senses with the EDM music we have playing all day. With the world’s best teas and today’s most electric beats, we’re Falls Church’s trendiest place to go for a refreshing drink.” And now they plan to be Sterling’s trendiest place for a refreshing drink as well.
The location is in the Shoppes at Potomac Corner center, just off Route 7. It’s at the intersection of 7 and Potomac View Road, kitty corner from the Northern Virginia Community College campus — which may be TeaDM’s target audience. It’s a large space too — nearly 4,400 s.f.
The shop’s location was previously occupied by Newk’s Eatery, a national chain similar in style to a Panera. The Sterling location was one of the brand’s first outlets in the mid-Atlantic when it opened in 2019, but it closed during the pandemic and never recovered. (See our coverage of Newk’s here.)
It was just earlier this week that The Burn reported on UniTea, a new bubble tea shop and traditional tea room coming to downtown Leesburg. You can see that story here. Now comes the TeaDM news. A TeaDM spokesperson told us they hope to have the Sterling location open by late this year if things go smoothly. Otherwise, early 2022 at the latest.
(Images at top: TeaDM Lounge)


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A famous anime character urges locals to be strong on a local 'shotengai,' or Japanese shopping street.
Minato Shogakkou, or Minato Elementary School, used as a shelter in the aftermath of last year's Japanese tsunami.
The interior of Minato Shogakkou, highlighting damage from the tsunami.
Broken glass inside of Minato Shogakkou, used as a shelter after last year's Japanese tsunami.
Filmmaker Stu Levy, who accompanied Roland Kelts. Levy was in Tokyo when the earthquake occurred.
Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Debris and non recyclable home items lay strewn over the ground where houses and factories once stood on March 8 in Kesennuma, Japan. The fishing industry in North Eastern Japan's Tohoku area has suffered greatly after last year's tsunami.
This time last year, we were just beginning to understand the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. And for the people who live in the hardest-hit regions, the effort to reclaim their lives continues.
Author Roland Kelts spends most of his time in Japan, and he's been observing the changes since the tsunami.
Roland Kelts, author of "JapanAmerica," a book about how U.S. pop culture has been influenced by the Japanese.


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One of the world's largest virtual private networks, ExpressVPN, said it's shutting down its India-based bare-metal servers Thursday but will continue providing service to the country's users via virtual servers. The move comes in response to recent Indian government directives requiring VPN providers to log customer data for five years or longer. ExpressVPN said India-based users will still be able to use its app and software.
Read more: Casual vs. Critical: When Your VPN Is a Matter of Life or Death, Here's How to Pick One
The directive from India's Computer Emergency Response Team, known as CERT-in, mandates VPNs, cloud service providers and data centers to collect personally identifiable data about customers, including customer "usage patterns." VPNs that operate on built-in anti-logging hardware, as ExpressVPN says its network does, would be operating outside of the law.
"We are doing this because we refuse to ever put our users' data at risk. Not only is it our policy that we would not accept logging, but we specifically designed our VPN servers to not be able to log, including by running in RAM. Our policy and server architecture are simply incompatible with this new regulation, thus we have no choice but to cease operating physical VPN servers in India," ExpressVPN said in a Wednesday night release.
Popular competitor Surfshark VPN also has RAM-only servers in its physical network. When asked whether it had similar plans to shutter India-based servers, the company said it does not.
"As of yet, we are not shutting down our servers in India, but we're always ready to pull the plug if the environment we have operations in becomes unfavorable. However, even without physical servers in India, VPN users will be able to use our services by connecting to any other chosen location," the company said in a Friday email. "As the new regulation goes against the nature of VPNs' services -- which seek to protect users' privacy -- our team remains committed to providing no-logs services to Indian users."
ExpressVPN has previously launched virtual servers in countries where bare-metal servers would be subject to service interruption by authorities. The company said its virtual servers for India will have physical counterparts in Singapore and the UK. To connect to those servers, users can simply use the app as normal and select locations labeled "India (via Singapore)" or "India (via UK)."
Read more: You Need to Be Using a VPN on Your Phone. Here's How to Set it Up in Under 10 Minutes