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The owner of Sports Direct is in talks to potentially buy out the struggling music chain HMV, it has been claimed.
The music store was placed in administration three days after Christmas.
Mr Ashley has helped with several other struggling chains in the last six months including House of Fraser and Evans Cycles in pre-pack insolvency deals.
He believes that HMV would be a crucial part of his growing empire, according to the Mirror Online.
HMV has been owned by Hilco, an investment firm, for nearly six years and trades from more than 125 stores.
Two of these branches are in Lincolnshire - one on Lincoln High Street and one has recently opened in Boston.
Hilco blamed a “tsunami” of challenges for HMV’s demise including the popularity of streaming music from sites like Spotify and iTunes.
It said a slump in CDs and DVDs meant the business was not a going concern in its current form.
Music lovers were thrilled when the store opened in Boston in November last year.
At the time centre manager of Pescod Square, Andy Pottle, said: "We are excited to see HMV back after five years - we believe it will really help with footfall.
"It's now fully stocked with CDs, games, DVDs, posters, T-shirts and vinyl and it looks a lot different to what it looked like last week when it was just an empty unit."
Many people queued outside the shop in anticipation of the store opening.


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(Reuters) - Starbucks Corp SBUX.O on Thursday said Howard Schultz will step down as chief executive to focus on its high-end coffee shops as Chief... ...https://in.news.yahoo.com/starbucks-ceo-howard-schultz-step-down-211659937--finance.html
By Siddharth Cavale Shoppers spent $3.45 billion on Cyber Monday on Samsung 4K TVs, PlayStation 4s and Barbie dolls among other products, marking... ...http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/cyber-monday-sales-biggest-online-shopping-day-in-u-s-history-reuters-3131084.html
By U.S. shoppers snapped up Cyber Monday deals on what is usually the single biggest day for internet shopping, after stellar online sales over the... ...http://in.reuters.com/article/usa-holidayshopping-cybermonday-idINKBN13N23S?il=0
The Bhagchandanis who were arrested in the 14-kg gold loot case were an ambitious lot who craved a luxurious lifestyle and dreamt of settling in... ...http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/ahmedabad/others/Parents-dreamt-of-golden-future/articleshow/55672539.cms
REUTERS - Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy - and, unsurprisingly, Amazon.com - were early winners as shoppers kicked off the holiday shopping season... ...https://in.news.yahoo.com/wal-mart-best-buy-winners-holiday-shopping-season-165757332--finance.html
Roberto Cavalli Sunglasses, Eyewear...
Football Biography 2

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No surprise, it's American families. Many of their homes are worth less than they paid; now what they can afford to eat and how much they can drive is being affected.
As dollar stores eat into its market share, the giant discounter returns to its roots.
Lawsuit demands that the fast-food chain stop calling one of its fillings "seasoned ground beef" because it contains too little meat.
USDA predicts an increase of 2% to 3%. But we're already seeing much higher prices on some items, including meat and dairy.
Researchers find that people are prone to gain weight after a supercenter opens nearby.
Of course the winner will be Heinz, right?
The Consumer Price Index is the way the government measures rising prices. But what's your personal inflation rate?
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
Copyright © 2014 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
If you're in the dark about what to do with your portfolio, here are some tips on how to prepare.
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
In a tax case, a US judge ruled that the agency's published guidelines don't hold up in court.
MUST-SEE ON MSN
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A charcuterie master shares his process for cold-smoking meat at home.
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Apple shares hit an alarming low
Apple shares shocked stockholders by closing at close to $400- the first time the stock dropped this much since 2011. Although events like the Boston Marathon caused the stock market to drop overall, the impact on Apple was a bit startling to shareholders. This drop in Apple stock to $402.80 was a drastic fall of 5.5% on the S&P.
Apple is expected to report less than stellar quarterly earnings next week, which may be linked with this recent drop in stock price, but whatever the reason, shareholders are not happy with this $300 drop in stock price just from September of last year.
The truth shareholders have to realize is, since Steve Jobs died Apple has not been the same company. The stock has continually dropped since the new CEO took over and although the company trades at one of the highest rates on the S&P, some wonder if its only a matter of time before the stock completely falls.
Drop in Apple shares, weak profits drag Wall Street lower
Gasp! Apple shares drop below $400 for the first time in two years


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The company this morning (10 January) blamed last year’s poor harvest for the move, together with worries about this year’s crop due to recent flooding.
Premier said it plans to start introducing wheat from elsewhere in the EU across the Hovis range by the end of January with the exception of the Farmers Loaf range, which will continue to use all British wheat.
As a result, the group will remove the 100% British branding from the products.
Hovis introduced the claim as part of its championing of domestic farmers in 2010. Nonetheless, Premier said it remains “totally committed” to British wheat and will continue to buy “as much high quality British wheat as possible for 2013”.
In a statement, the company said: “With the 2012 UK wheat harvest being the worst for more than 35 years, the company is finding it increasingly difficult to maintain the high quality bread standards that it requires. Therefore, it has been put in a challenging position and has had no option other than to use a percentage of imported wheat from the EU.”


text: BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. /zigman2/quotes/203668982/composite BJ -1.44% was downgraded to neutral from buy at Bank of America on concern that the retailer's effort to streamline merchandise by cutting the number of items in some categories could disrupt same-store sales. Bank of America cut its price objective to $25 from $30. BJ's stock is down nearly 1% in Thursday trading. "While assortment optimization can support margin improvements, we believe it can also create near-term disruption by eliminating/displacing traffic-driving items," the note said. Any impact could take as much as six months to show itself, another risk. Analysts are also worried that a declining population and slower economic growth in the Northeast, where BJ's has 61% of its store base, could be a challenge. BJ's stock has slumped 12% over the past year while the S&P 500 index /zigman2/quotes/210599714/realtime SPX -1.51% is up 25.5% for the period.


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Forbes reports that California's marijuana market stocks soared on the first open trading day of the year, after California legalized retail sales of the drug and became the largest legal market in the US.
California's Proposition 64 allows for citizens over 21 years of age to possess up to one ounce and grow up to six plants privately. With the legalization, these clients are flooding dispensaries and enjoying legal recreational use.
ArcView Market Research released an in-depth industry report that states more than $1 billion in wholesale, excise and cannabis-specific sales taxes were taken into state treasuries during 2016 but experts expect this will grow to just over $1.4 billion in 2017, then almost $2.8 billion by 2021. The report says with additional state and local general sales taxes, the final 2021 amount could fall between $4 billion and $4.7 billion.
Researchers assert that sales taxes in state-sanctioned Colorado, Washington and Oregon cannabis markets totaled more than $500 million in 2016 and $836 million since adult-use sales began in 2014. Many other US states are looking to capitalize. So far, nine states have legalized recreational use and 29 states have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana.
In December, Forbes reported that Nevada has benefited from nearly $20 million in tax revenue since July when adult use became legal, surpassing Colorado in sales. Alaska, Washington DC, Massachusetts, Maine, Oregon, and Washington all continue to see increasing amounts of sales tax collections following the legalization of adult use of marijuana.
Colorado's more than $100 million in tax revenue is reportedly going to their "Marijuana Tax Cash Fund" which is aimed at addressing issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, education and more. In Washington, more than $168 million in cannabis excise tax is used to fund Medicaid, drug education, substance abuse prevention and other public services. And Alaska has collected $964,900 from October to April and is using the revenue to fund comprehensive criminal reform.
More states are expected to revamp drug laws and move in the direction of legalization.


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The Dodge Viper has been out of production since 2010 but Chrysler Group unveiled a new version, powered by a huge 8.4 liter V10 engine, at the New York Auto Show.
The 640-horsepower car will be available only with a six-speed manual transmission.
The new car looks like the Vipers dating back to the car's introduction in the early 1990s. It preserves the long hood and giant side air ducts. Gone, though, is the Dodge name. Now it's just the SRT Viper.
For the first time, the Viper will have both traction control, which helps prevent the tires from spinning under hard acceleration, and stability, which helps the driver maintain control during abrupt maneuvers.
Barrett-Jackson CEO Craig Jackson talks collectible cars and shares what 'investments' he's stashing away in his garage.
|Trump tax cuts will be biggest in U.S. history, Mnuchin says|
|ESPN will lay off 100 on-air personalities and writers, source says|
|The U.S. just lost a trade battle with Mexico|
|5 questions Trump needs to answer in his new tax plan|
|This is America's least favorite airline (hint: it's not United)|


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Divisive, definitely. Brutal, surely. Unlike anything else on the road, undeniably.
Elon Musk pitched the Cybertruck as something more powerful and useful than a Ford F-150, while being more affordable. While it won’t hit the roads until late 2021, the specs look like they’ll be truly impressive, with a 14,000 pound towing capacity, and up to 500-mile all-electric range.
The truck’s ultra-hard stainless steel body is supposedly bulletproof, and the cabin should fit six people comfortably.
Compared against today’s best selling trucks, it looks completely different, all hard angles and sharp corners, but full of cutting-edge technology.
While we aren’t the biggest truck fans, we are huge proponents of electric vehicles, and we’re thrilled to see that dirty, polluting diesel trucks like the Dodge Ram now have some compelling competition. Even more impressive, the Cybertruck starts at $39,800, far lower than many people initially imagined, considering this vehicle doesn’t use any fuel, and doesn’t need any oil changes.
As of this post, there are an estimated 200,000 pre-orders for the truck, which is scheduled to go into production toward the end of 2021. That proves that even with a wild, futuristic design, there’s a lot of interest in an all-electric truck. ⚡


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Simply how a lot is the average client focused on solar energy? Tesla is about to find out, as it is bringing photovoltaic panels and Powerwall batteries to US retail giant House Depot, Bloomberg reports. Elon Musk's firm will set up Tesla-branded promoting areas at 800 areas, with its personal employees on hand to elucidate the benefits. In a while, sources say it may also convey the a lot-anticipated solar roof, which generates electricity however appears and prices like a daily (excessive-finish) roof.
House Depot beforehand labored with Photo voltaic Metropolis, which Tesla absorbed into its personal model in mid-2016. However, none of the products have been on display back then -- now, its solar panels and Powerwalls shall be shown by way of excessive-visibility, 12 feet excessive by seven feet extensive displays. Some areas may also visually exhibit how the tech works.
Ikea attracted mainstream curiosity to solar energy in Europe, thanks to its title and broad distribution network. However, it never introduced the service to the North America, and different solar firms have failed to generate the same buzz. Tesla is absolutely able to doing that within the US, though, with its widely-known model and full solar panel/battery backup solution. Having a spot at House Depot is certain to draw a lot more eyes to its products, whereas also bringing Tesla fans to House Depot.
Photo voltaic panel installations cost between $10,000 to 30,000, however prices are anticipated to rise as much as 5 percent, thanks to the Trump administration's new import tariffs. However, Tesla plans to manufacture its personal panels for US residential installations utilizing imported cells, that are exempt. (The 30 percent levy is only slapped on full panels.) Till it increases manufacturing capacity, Tesla can pay extra for imported panels, however it has some time -- the tariff only kicks in after 2.5 gigawatts price have been imported.
Attributable to repeated violations of our rules and tips, the remark section to this text is now closed.
Tesla’s solar shingles are an exciting new way to energy some of your home. Relatively than put solar panels on prime of your roof, the shingles themselves contain photovoltaic cells to harness the sun's rays. After over a year in development, now you can buy these solar shingles straight from Tesla’s website. But when that’s not your style, there will quickly be a second option: shopping for Tesla’s solar shingles at your native House Depot.
In line with a report from Bloomberg, Tesla has reached an settlement with House Depot to have a delegated section in 800 of its shops the place the company will sell its solar panels and Powerwall battery packs. While you gained’t have the ability to choose up some roof tiles right away, one source says that they are likely coming soon.
House Depot has barely over 2,000 shops within the U.S, so Tesla gained’t be in each store, however there’s a great probability they’ll be at one close to you. Tesla can also be reportedly in talks with Lowe’s, so if your native House Depot doesn’t have a cope with Tesla, there’s a chance the neighborhood Lowe’s will.
The move into brick and mortar shops will introduce Tesla products to thousands and thousands of homeowners who may not concentrate on the electrical vehicle maker's solar rooftop technology. Seeing the product firsthand might also spur clients to start out investing in a solar rooftop of their own. Because of this deal, extra American households will exchange their dull picket shingles with solar cells to start out producing clear electricity.
Mason Jar Solar Lights Home Depot


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Nike Sportswear continues to add Vandal lines to their iconic Nike Air Force 1 silhouette for the early months of 2017.
Following a release of the “Black Gum” colorway, the Nike Air Force 1 ’07 LV8 Vandal now debuts in a Binary Blue iteration. Featuring a full Blue-based upper with the pipping, midfoot strap, Nike Swoosh and midsole all done in White. Finishing off the look is a clean Gum rubber outsole.
You can now find the latest Nike Air Force 1 07 LV8 Vandal Binary Blue colorway available at select Nike Sportswear retailers, including shops like Sneaker Politics. The retail price tag is set at $110 USD.


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Although you can grab a Galaxy Nexus from Google for just $400, there’s a deal out there that’s just a tad bit better. The 16GB version of the unlocked device can be had through eBay’s Daily Deals for just $370. That’s a buy it now price, too, so you won’t have to worry about it going any higher. Of course, you’ll need to take advantage of this deal right away as it likely won’t last very long. A warranty can be added for $63 and shipping is free with an estimated delivery date of June 6th if you were to buy it today. Find the deal here.
stars Popular this Weeklaunch
more_vertGalaxy S8: 3 months later [REVIEW]
It’s been 3 months since the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ first launched. Those still on the fence about the phone might be asking yourselves how the phone has held up this entire (especially against competition like the HTC U11 and OnePlus 5). Let’s find out.
more_vertDEAL: Save $300 on the Galaxy S8
Samsung and Best Buy are both offering up to $300 on either the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus to celebrate the launch of the Coral Blue color variant.
more_vertRumor Roundup: Samsung Galaxy Note 8
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has been rumored to be launching by the end of August, so we take a look at everything regarding the device to determine what’s going to be coming.
Anecdotal reports suggest it’s more than just the OnePlus 5 device that can’t make calls. Lots of Android phone owners are reporting the reboot issue.
Samsung is reportedly planning to use the same Infinity Display on the Galaxy S8 for next year’s Galaxy S9 and S9+, only with one big new feature…
more_vertRumor Roundup: Moto Z2 Force
The Moto Z2 Force is due to be unveiled on July 25th, and we’re here to take a look at everything we’ve seen regarding what the device is expected to bring to the market once it is launched.
more_vertHow to unlock PC with Galaxy S8
Instead of typing in your password on your PC like a caveman, you can use the fingerprint scanner on your phone. It will make you feel like Tony Stark.
more_vertList of Bixby Voice commands
Bixby can do pretty much anything you can do. It can even go so far as to scroll up and down on webpages for you. The idea is for you to be completely hands-free.
We’ve been doing this Android thing long enough to know that occasionally Google will debut new apps or features on iOS before they hit their own mobile OS. After a year on iOS, Google’s Motion Stills app is finally available on Android.


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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — A brand new 3D security scanner is going into service Tuesday at JFK Airport. The machine uses CT technology like a hospital CAT scan. It gives TSA agents the ability to differentiate items inside a cluttered bag and also to rotate images in any direction. JFK has one of just eight machines nationwide that’s ready for use. It will be in the American Airlines terminal.
Read the original here:
Debut Of 3D Scanner At JFK Airport


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US-based coffee chain Starbucks has revealed plans to safely reintroduce personal reusable cups across company-operated stores in the US from 22 June.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, Starbucks had provided a 10-cent discount to customers who used their own cups at the outlets.
However, in March 2020, it paused this decades-old programme in North America due to the pandemic.
The latest move is a part of Starbucks’s ongoing commitment to reduce single-use cup waste and cut down all waste by 50% by 2030.
Under Starbucks’ commitment to prioritising partner and customer safety, it developed a contactless method, which removes any shared touchpoints between customer and partners.
A Starbucks barista will first check that a customer’s personal cup is clean, following which the cup will be placed in a ceramic vessel.
The beverage will be poured into the cup without any contact, and the customer will pick up their beverage at the handoff area of the counter.
Baristas will only accept clean cups.
Reusable cups will not be accepted at drive-thru lanes, although the coffee chain is trialling ways to do so safely at its outlet in the Tryer Center, Seattle.
By 2025, Starbucks plans to offer a reusable cup programme across all locations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Currently, it is trialling initiatives to reduce the usage of disposable cups, including introducing a circular cup programme in South Korea in July.
These initiatives are in line with Starbucks’ global aspiration to lower its environmental impact in the Asia Pacific region.


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Disney Cruise Line Changes Schedule
Disney Mum On Cancellation Of Select Mexican Riviera Sailings
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Speculation is stirring about what Disney Cruise Line has up its sleeve for 2013, especially due to a recent move by the line.
Click Like For Disney World News Updates:
This year, Disney announced its sailing destinations and itineraries for 2012 in April. No doubt, an announcement is likely within the next few months.
It's going to be a big year for the Celebration-based line; 2013 will be the first full year when both of Disney's new ships, the Dream and the Fantasy, will be in operation for a full year. (The Disney Fantasy sets sail on its maiden voyage in March from Port Canaveral.)
Why is that important? Up until the Disney Dream came online in early 2012, Disney had much less cruise flexibility. Both of the company's original two ships, the Magic and the Wonder, sailed regular 3-, 4- and 7-night cruises out of Port Canaveral.
In the past, Disney has temporarily moved a ship for alternate sailings out of ports like Los Angeles and Barcelona for west coast and Mediterranean cruises, but in those cases in recent years, the ship returned to Port Canaveral to resume a normal Bahamas or Caribbean schedule.
What Disney has now is flexibility. With its two newest (and largest) ships based in Port Canaveral starting in March, the question becomes where the Magic and Wonder will head. Of course, Disney's already set out its plan for next year.
In 2012, the Magic will call New York and Galveston, Texas home, sailing on Bahamas, Canada and New England itineraries. The Wonder, which moved to Los Angeles from Florida after the Dream's arrival, is scheduled for cruises to Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific Coast.
And that's where the mystery begins. In recent days, Disney has notified passengers on the Dec. 9, 16, 23 and 30 Wonder sailings that their weeklong cruises have been canceled. According to MSNBC, the booked passengers were given the option to change their cruise date, cancel for a full refund, or be rebooked automatically.
"We look forward to making an announcement regarding these sail dates when the time is right for us to do so," Disney spokeswoman Rebecca Peddie told Cruise Critic about the move.
Disney fan sites have been abuzz about the announcement.
Whatever Disney has in store for the Wonder in December 2012 and beyond could be influenced by its homeport agreement with the Port of Los Angeles. In 2009, the port and Disney announced that they were in the final stages of a 2-year agreement, with the option for a 3-year extension; 2011 would only be the first year of such an agreement.
It's also possible the Wonder is being booked out entirely by some private entity. This isn't unheard of and has occurred in the cruise line's past.
As for new destinations for the line in 2013, Disney could be again eying the Mediterranean. While the Magic sailed on Mediterranean itineraries in 2011, Disney isn't returning to the region next year, yet Disney president and CEO Bob Iger hinted more than a year ago that the area could be a year-round step off point for one of the company's ships.
Iger told a Goldman Sachs group in September 2010 that one of the company's ships would "ultimately spend most of its time in the Mediterranean."
What is clear is that Disney cruise enthusiasts will just have to wait for any final word on what destinations are in store.
If you could choose, where would you like to see Disney Cruise Line sail from in the future?


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On Friday, Apple's stock dropped to a new low, raising fresh concerns about the future and financial health of one of the most successful technology companies in recent memory. Apple's stock dropped 2.5%, down to $430.47, and some experts say it will continue to fall this coming week.
This comes after CEO Tim Cook addressed shareholders at the company's annual meeting and told investors he had some new exciting developments in the pipeline to improve stock prices.
The stock has fallen dramatically since September, which was at a soaring $702.10. Just last week, it had fallen by 35% to $443.77 during the investor meeting.
Does Apple need a new product in order to reverse the trend? Now that Google is on the march after unveiling Google Glasses, pressure is on Apple to come up with a new product to stay current and compete. Experts have suggested the company may need to unveil Apple TV, iWatch, or a new version of the iPhone in order to continue to innovate.
Still, the paranoia over Apple may be overstated. The New Yorker's James Surowiecki explains more about the company's recent performance here:
He writes, "Of course, to keep thriving, Apple has to keep innovating, and much of the anxiety about the company stems from a concern that it may finally be “hitting a wall” in that department. But, over the years, predictions that the great ideas engine was grinding to a halt have been surprisingly common. ... the fact that Apple’s epitaph has been written before should make us skeptical of this most recent death knell."


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The Sunday Mail
THE number of small businesses exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair rose 15 percent to 109 from 94 a year ago as Government deliberately focuses on grooming fledgling enterprises.
As big companies fold, a new economy led by SMEs has emerged and now accounts for 50 percent of all employment.
ZITF general manager Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu said the Fair did not have special space reservations for SMEs, but they were supported through bigger umbrella bodies such as ZimTrade and Government ministries.
Over the years, the number of small companies showcasing at ZITF has increased, said Mrs Ndlovu.
“We welcome this approach to SME exhibits, especially for first-time exhibitors because it affords the SME support, training and market exposure that they otherwise would not have had,” she said.
According to figures obtained by The Sunday Mail Business, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce sponsored 11 SMEs to participate at the ZITF.
The SMEs ministry brought 13 and the Higher Education and Youth portfolios had 20 and one each, respectively.
The biggest number of small enterprises exhibited under the umbrella of the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development at 44, while ZimTrade had six SMEs
For the first time in ZITF’s history, the ruling Zanu-PF party brought some 14 SMEs to exhibit.
Most of the small businesses deal in arts and crafts, food processing, and clothing and textiles and some have been attending ZITF for years.
Ms Anne Bonnett of Femina Garments, whose company has been exhibiting at ZITF for the past eight years, said the massive exposure at the showcase always worked in her favour.
The company established new markets and orders at the fair to supply corporate wear, school uniforms and trending clothes to boutiques.
In addition to that, exhibiting at such a premier event would tell the world the true Zimbabwean story, that industry may be struggling but still active, she said.
“What we like at the ZITF is that people think local industry is totally dead, but when we come here they know we are still around.
“If the world doesn’t know we exist, then we cannot get any investment. We get new business throughout the year because of the fair,” said Ms Bonnett.
Among some of Femina Garments’ clients are Zimplow and Mater Dei Hospital, and the company is currently eyeing the export market.
Ms Bonnett commended Government for supporting SMEs on a “thin budget”, while also thanking other organisations that promoted the sector’s growth.
Based in Chinhoyi, Great Brands Enterprises returned to the ZITF after nearly 10 years owing to financial constraints.
But this year, a bold decision was made to participate, anticipating brisk business afterwards.
Company director Mr Gwaze Makokova said the company, which manufactures leather products, had last exhibited at the ZITF in 2007 and took a break following the hyperinflation of 2008 which threatened their existence.
“We experienced massive improvements in our business the first time we came to ZITF with a lot of enquiries and orders from locals.
“Right now we are hopeful of turning around our company, we have already seen interest from both local and regional markets,” he said.
Other SMEs representatives said big exhibitions such as the ZITF enabled them to network with their local and regional counterparts and presented new market opportunities.
ZITF also provides a learning experience.
While there are other exhibitions meant for smaller businesses, such as the SMEs Expo, bigger events always provided bigger businesses giving scope for their participation.
“After this exhibition, we expect more enquiries; get more clients and a bigger market share.
“That is why we come to exhibit here, this is an opportunity to be known by Zimbabwe and globally,” said Global Solar business development officer Mr Andrew Maweni.
First-time exhibitors like Shawn Fashions said they appreciated big events like the ZITF as a marketing tool ideal for brand visibility.
The company got orders from Mozambique and Zambia, in addition to local ones.
“The market is there and ready to buy products, but does not know we exist. We came to make our brand known and so far we are pleased with the results,” said Shawn Fashions finance director Mrs Fungai Makwenje.
SMEs say they have adequate skills to produce world class goods and meet export market expectations, but lack funding and vital information.
Given adequate support, SMEs say they have potential to turn around the country’s economic fortunes through increased production, value addition and beneficiation as well as creating employment as espoused by Zim-Asset.
As part of its commitment to the growth of the sector, Government last year formed the Small Business Advisory Council to advise the State, local authorities and statutory bodies on issues relating to SMEs and assisting in formalisation of operations, among other duties.


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The Next Web Conference 2013 will begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT today commencing with the opening keynote done by Rachel Haot, Chief Digital Officer of New York City. This gathering of tech aficionados and select speakers will end on October 2nd emphasizing how important technology is becoming for the city.
Following Rachel’s opening remarks, other speakers will take the stage at 548 West 22nd Street to discuss the state of the industry. Representatives from Microsoft, Amazon and other companies will present various panels and presentations including topics revolving around the relationship between tech and entertainment or the future of news in this digital age.
While The Next Web Conferences have had their fair share of interesting personalities such as the infamous tech blogger Robert Scoble, this year’s installment could become (in)famous for Alexis Ohanian. The creator of Reddit is set to launch his new book today but the future of his website along with the recent happenings involving the NSA could turn his speech into a interesting lesson on Internet advocacy.
Ultimately, the real attraction could be the segment called Startup Ralley. An incredible amount of new businesses will be on display in the conference hall hoping to gain attention and become the next big thing.
This is just a preview but keep checking our website or follow me on twitter at @R_Bushey as I will report live on the latest happenings at TNW 2013.


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Move over, Snapchat.
Facebook is launching a new camera interface for its iPhone and Android app that allows users add effects like masks, frames, and filters without having to leave the app, the company said on Tuesday. The announcement comes after Facebook debuted the feature in its Messenger app in December, and it begins rolling out today.
The new Facebook camera will include different types of effects, including some that users will be able to interact with, like falling snow, and others that add Picasso-like filters to photos and videos. The company will also offer branded masks that are themed to specific movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Power Rangers, and Alien: Covenant.
The masks are similar to Snapchat’s Lenses, which overlay graphical effects that range from adding adorable animal ears to a person’s head to bizarrely warping their facial features. In addition to adding new masks over time, Facebook will also allow users to create their own effects that can be used only on photos and videos taken with the app’s camera.
Stories, another Snapchat-esque feature that Facebook launched for Instagram last August, is also coming to the company’s main app. As is the case with Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories will live at the top of the main feed and disappear after 24 hours. Facebook is also launching the option to send temporary videos and photos to other friends directly as well through a feature called Direct, which lets recipients view the content once, replay it, and send a reply. After the chat thread related to the photo or video ends, the content is erased.
The launch is the latest attempt by Facebook to emphasize the camera as the primary input took for creating social media posts, a concept Snapchat made popular that has driven Snap Inc.’s $24 billion valuation.
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Dave Kerin, wise man of Union Solidarity
Spotlight, which proclaims itself to have Australia's largest fabric, craft & home interior superstores, has placed itself in the centre of industrial controversy in recent times by placing new employees on Australia Workplace Agreements (AWAs) which cut wages and conditions. This has led to protest after protest outside Spotlight stores across Australia. Today, the protest shifted to Spotlight's store in Canterbury Road, Bayswater in Melbourne's eastern suburbs organized by the Eastern Community Action Group.
Bob and Jenny came after hearing about the Vigil at the Knox City leafletting campaign.
Dave Leydon chaired proceedings
This story has a postscript. Please go here.


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How the ‘NC Sports Betting Bill’ helps Raleigh’s MLB Bid
In early June, 2023, North Carolina passed House Bill 347, legalizing online sports betting and retail sportsbooks (and names ‘MLB’ in the bill). This is more positive news if you’re rooting for Raleigh to land an MLB franchise.
Here is why…
Sports betting has become a key revenue stream for pro teams. The NFL saw a 40% increase across teams & sports gambling deals have quadrupled in the past 4 years. 25+ NFL teams have at least one Sports Betting sponsor. And now MLB is getting in on the action…
According to a Nielsen study, MLB stands to gain $1.1 billion per year once sports gambling is fully mature. MLB understands this and is actively promoting these relationships, according to economist Andrew Zimbalist (Forbes).
“If more people are betting, more people are watching, and that raises TV revenue.”….“If you’re going to further build a fan base, sports betting is going to do that.” says Zimbalist But there’s one caveat…
The one caveat is that sports gambling isn’t legal everywhere, & in some states, a bill legalizing it may never be passed. If you were MLB, and you were expanding or relocating, wouldn’t you want to prioritize locations where you KNEW you could extract the highest revenue?
You already are seeing MLB tap into this potential. BetMGM now has a sportsbook inside the Reds and Nats Parks, while Draft Kings just opened at Wrigley (Cubs). This trend will only continue & it’s likely MLB will prioritize any new location where this is legally possible.
Which brings us to NC’s ‘House Bill 347’. The bill not only legalizes digital sports betting, but it allows retail sports books at a number of different locations defined within the bill.
Here are the facilities that will be allowed to host retail sports books…
- Bank of America Stadium
- Spectrum Center
- Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Quail Hollow Country Club
- North Wilkesboro Speedway
- PNC Arena
- WakeMed Soccer Park
- Sedgefield Country Club
Oh and they left some wiggle room for the future that you & MLB may be interested in…
If you turn to page 2 of the bill, you can see that they outright listed an MLB stadium as a legal location for a retail sportsbook. But there isn’t an MLB stadium in the state at this moment.
So why even add it?
When MLB is ready to expand & when we make our pitch to get a team, there will be no questions, no votes, no legal battles for the incoming team to have a sportsbook on-site. It’s baked in. And while it won’t be THE deciding factor, it certainly helps Raleigh stand out.
Let’s look at the competitors and their state’s stances on retail sportsbooks & sports betting…
• Tennessee (Nashville): No retail, just online
• Oregon (Portland): Only Draft Kings online and only retail at Tribal casinos
• Utah (SLC): None
• Florida (Orlando): None
So, we’re sitting in MLB’s largest east coast dead zone with stadium-zoned land near DT. Our pop + media market is in-line & growing fast, & now our state offers MLB an avenue to max revenue with HB 347.
Right now, no MLB expansion competitor can say all of that.


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Millennials were the first generation to adopt the world of fintech on a grand scale. Generation Z will be the first generation born into the world of fintech. Features Editor Sophie Camp looks at the upcoming generation and what we have already learnt about their financial behaviour.
Generation Z is…
Generation Z like ethical, socially conscious companies with authenticity. Their financial services will not be exempt from these requirements. This McKinsey report on Generation Z revealed 70% of their respondents said that they would ‘try to purchase products from companies they consider ethical.’
Look at the vanguard of the climate change protests. They are young, often school age children, those who already understand how big an impact the world of today will have on their future, and that of their children.
Ethical investment will be hugely popular but also intensely scrutinised. Generation Z will want to know exactly where their money goes, and they will have their own personal set of ethics to apply their finances to. Whilst not everyone can be catered to, being aware of this intense focus on ethics can help fintechs appeal to their Generation Z customers.
These days fintechs have to be aware of technological literacy to get their products into their audience’s hands. Sometimes their users will need help and guidance to understand the difference between new offerings and their traditional banks. This will become largely a thing of the past with Generation Z.
They are already technologically savvy enough to dive straight not TikTok and Snapchat without missing a beat. Their parents send them pocket money via online gift cards for gaming sites or through the digital apps and wallets that many fintech firms already offer. It’s already common for young children to be paying their way on Saturday afternoons with friends via their own bank cards. Many a child in big cities are aware that when they go in an Uber from one after school club or play date to another, there’s no cash or payment card needed – a transaction is happening without need for prompt.
For older generations, debit cards were not something accessed until they were independent adults. This technical literacy will shift fintech’s focus from education on benefits and safety to other things more relevant to this new, tech savvy generation.
The older end of Generation Z have the benefit of seeing how millennials struggled during various financial crises. They are conscious about safety nets and rainy day funds. Many studies show that Generation Z are catching or even more likely to be saving for retirement than millennials. Considering the youngest in Gen Z are five years old, that’s quite impressive.
Fintechs should be aware of a more thrifty generation coming through, and one that has talked about their financial situation with their friends, family and peers. There’s no more embarrassment or intense privacy when discussing salaries, savings and pensions. Which means that they will want to be talking to their banks about them as well. Which leads us to the next part of Generation Z.
Generation Z is social. They want open dialogue between themselves and corporations they engage with. And that’s not just the obvious need to be aware that social media channels on which they spend their time. This is a generation who has grown up on social media, but that seems to have made them even more conscious of face-to-face communication than millennials.
Another key point here is two-way communication. A recent Vox Burner survey of Gen Z students in the UK showed 68% of them expected brands to listen to them, and to cater to their requests. Listening to and adapting from the suggestions from your Generation Z customers will be essential when they begin to use your products.
…not the youngest generation.
Remember that the world’s population does not end with Generation Z. Ever heard of Generation Alpha? They are the children between 1 and 7 years old who make up the beginnings of the next cohort of customers. Yes, it’ll be a while before their fintech usage begins, but not that long.
This generation will grow up with Generation Z older siblings, and millennial and Generation Z parents. If their parents are currently getting their pocket money via digital wallets and having Uber take payments from an account without a thought, that is the way in which they will bring up their generation, and will pass on the same behaviours. Understanding Generation Z will go a long way to understanding what comes next.


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You are here
Electric cars: charges answered
I’d like to put a few facts straight regarding a story in today’s Times about our recent road test of two electric cars, the Nissan Leaf and the Peugeot Ion, which was shown on Sunday’s programme. The Times’ headline reads: ‘Clarkson didn’t give our electric cars a sporting chance, says Nissan.’
Further into the story it says that the film was embarrassing for Nissan, because it shows that electric cars cannot be trusted to get you to your destination. The writer, Ben Webster, the media editor, then goes on to suggest that actually ‘it is Top Gear, not the car, that cannot be trusted.’ Mr Webster’s logic for this centres on the fact that when the film started the cars were not fully charged, and were therefore destined to run out at some point along the way, thus giving a false impression of the ability of the vehicles.
In response, I’d like to say:
1) We never, at any point in the film, said that we were testing the range claims of the vehicles, nor did we say that the vehicles wouldn’t achieve their claimed range. We also never said at any time that we were hoping to get to our destination on one charge.
2) We never said what the length of the journey was, where we had started from, nor how long we had been driving at the start of the film. So again, no inference about the range can be gleaned from our film.
3) We were fully aware that Nissan could monitor the state of the battery charge and distance travelled via onboard software. The reporter from The Times seems to suggest this device caught us out, but we knew about it all the time, as Nissan will confirm. We weren’t bothered about it, because we had nothing to hide.
4) The content of our film was driven by the points we were trying to explore. As James stated in the introduction, you can now go to a dealer and buy a ‘proper’ electric car, as in one that claims to be more practical and useful than a tiny, short-range city runabout. That’s what the car company marketing says, and that’s what we focused on in our test: the pros and cons of living with one as an alternative to a petrol car.
So yes, when we set off, we knew we would have to recharge at some point, because that was an experience we wanted to devote part of the film to. Now granted, James and Jeremy’s stopover – which included brass rubbings, adult scrabble and tattoos – was more knockabout than an average motorist would experience, but the consumer points coming out of the film were quite clear:
1) Electric cars are still very expensive.
2) The recharging infrastructure is patchy.
3) The range readout varies enormously, unlike the information given by a petrol gauge.
4) The Leaf is a very good car per se, and there’s nothing wrong with electric motors, but the battery, in our view, remains the Achilles’ heel of the whole package.
In the story in The Times Andy Palmer, Nissan’s Executive Vice President, was quoted as saying that our film was misleading. Well with respect to Mr Palmer, Nissan’s own website for the Leaf devotes a fair amount of space to extolling the virtues of fast charging, but nowhere does it warn potential customers that constant fast charging can severely shorten the life of the battery.
It also says that each Leaf battery should still have 80 percent of its capacity after five years’ use, and that, to a layman, sounds great. But nowhere is it mentioned that quite a few experts in the battery industry believe when a battery is down to 80 percent capacity, it has reached End Of Life (EOL) status. Peugeot, for example, accepts 80 percent capacity as End Of Life.
Now I also know, to be fair to Nissan, that when you go to buy a Leaf they do warn you about the pitfalls of constant fast charging. But the website is the portal to the Leaf world, it’s their electronic shop window. Is it misleading not to have all the facts on display? I’m only asking.
In conclusion, we absolutely refute that we were misleading viewers over the charge/range, and we stand by the consumer points raised in the film.
Andy Wilman is the Executive Producer of Top Gear


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In December of 2016 the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) jointly hosted a roundtable meeting in Istanbul, Turkey to discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrating Syrian refugees into the Turkish labor market. The roundtable attracted 120 participants from international brands sourcing from Turkey, local manufacturers, international and local trade unions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), workers’ rights organizations, municipalities, and representatives from Turkish Ministry of Labor & Social Security and the Ministry of the Interior.
“As a rapidly-growing brand, we look forward to leveraging the FLA social compliance program framework to develop and operationalize a best-in-class program that upholds labor standards along our global supply chain. The FLA provides us a platform to collaborate with like-minded brands to establish social compliance best practices for the apparel and footwear industry.”
Products Covered by FLA Affiliation: All Fanatics Branded and RNL products.
ICAR harnesses the collective power of progressive organizations to push governments to create and enforce rules over corporations that promote human rights and reduce inequality.
Issue brief: Significant minimum wage increase in El Salvador as of Jan. 1
Colosseum earns FLA accreditation for its social compliance program
arena Group earns FLA accreditation for its social compliance program


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Offers holistic services for the retail industry to maximise ROI
India, September 09, 2021: Denave, the global technology-powered sales enablement organisation, today unveiled its first-ever retail solutions mascot, named Dgenie. Given the new world opportunities, the company has enhanced its focus on the retail ecosystem with revamped and holistic services. Dgenie is the face of Denave’s Retail Solutions – one that is modern, datadriven, problem-solving, and global.
Expressing his excitement on the launch of Dgenie, Sunil Munshi, APAC CEO, Denave, said, “I’m extremely excited to introduce our new brand mascot to our clients. Our strong line-up of retail solutions needed a unique identity to articulate the commitment, rigor, prowess, and value that we offer. And Dgenie filled that void. With end-to-end retail management solutions – virtual retail, sales force automation platforms, promoter management, planogram automation, smart auditor, sales training, channel management, trade marketing, events and activations, retail audit and merchandising, field sales and marketing and so much more – Denave is focused on resolving customer pain points, ensuring business continuity and maximising ROI.”
Commenting on the launch of the mascot, Shubhra Sinha, Head- Marketing & Communication, Denave said, “Dgenie unfolds another exciting chapter in our commitment to address the retail requirements of our clients. More than just a mascot, he is a beacon of retail transformation. Dgenie will help retailers surmount the retail throes. He represents Denave’s vision of breaking down calcified & creaky processes and set up retail ecosystems conducive to growth, enabling modern-day retail enterprises to be fast, resilient, and efficient.”
With over two decades of experience in the retail industry, Denave has partnered with global retail brands to provide turnkey, high-quality, and technology-led solutions. Dgenie will unify these solutions and orchestrate them in an order to drive the ultimate goal of delivering superior consumer experience for all retail brands.
Denave is a global sales enablement company focused on driving revenue growth for its customers through a wide range of service offerings. The company leverages latest technology trends and disruptive approach to create effective sales engines. Denave has built multi-industry expertise partnering with global businesses and takes a solution-conscious approach to deliver best practices in sales by leveraging people, processes, technology and innovation to drive revenue. Denave has reach across 5 continents, 50+ countries and 500+ cities globally. For more information, please visit www.denave.com


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11 May Facebook Hailed as Most Influential Social Media Platform for Shopping
One in 10 people won’t buy products online without first consulting the likes of Facebook for advice, revealing Britons’ dependence on social media when shopping online.
The research, from marketing platform Yotpo, found that 65% of shoppers use social media sites as research tools before committing to buying online – and Facebook is the most influential social site by far.
One in 10 people won’t buy products online without first consulting social media sites for advice first. And a quarter of young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 consult social media for research every time they shop. A third of 18-34 year olds research and discover products on Instagram.
Facebook and YouTube are most likely to be the most popular social shops – 64% of shoppers report they would buy directly through Facebook
Talia Shani, Yotpo’s UK director of marketing, said: “The social commerce report highlights the growing importance of social channels for consumers in the buying process, with over a third of the UK’s population now using social media to research products before making a purchasing decision. Retailers should take note – especially in the electronic, fashion and beauty industries.”
YouTube, which currently offers no shopping options, came next with around half of consumers saying they would buy directly through the site, potentially making bloggers and YouTubers even more influential than they are today. In the future, Facebook and YouTube are most likely to be the most popular social shops.
As the average Brit spends more time using gadgets than sleeping, it’s no surprise electronics are the most researched products on social channels, with two-thirds of people consulting the likes Facebook and Twitter before investing. Furthermore, over half of health & beauty, fashion and home purchases are researched on social media before shoppers splash out online.
Around half of shoppers search for customer photos on social sites, while two-thirds of buyers look for customer reviews. Women and young shoppers are most likely to be swayed by written opinions, with 40% saying reviews are ‘very likely’ to influence their decision and 69% saying that customer reviews are the most important info on social media.
However, celebrity endorsements on the likes of Instagram may not be as effective as you might imagine. In fact, 43% of would-be consumers research and discover products on social media via friends, compared to just 16% who look to celebrities and influencers such as bloggers.
You can find the full report here.


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New Zeland green tech is absent from Wired's top green technologies list. I guess it was always a long shot but the collapse of the ETS and a year's worth of recesison means Kiwi tech is looking even more thin and obscure. Still, at least the Yanks are leading the charge , with such cool stuff as a carbon negative cement factory and a catalyst that can turn your roof into a hydrogen factory. Oh, and a president who gets it.
Below, one of the first cars produced to fit with the Project Better Place electric recharging system being developed by US/Iraeli entrepreneur Shai Aggassi.


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Local wineries are pleased with the May 16 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that says New York state can't restrict mail-order wine sales by allowing only state wineries to ship to consumers in the state.
The court said states have to treat in-state and out-of-state wine producers equally, creating the possibility that wineries could be able to ship their products widely. However, the ruling doesn't ease the prospect of dealing with the tangle of various state regulations, and states could decide to ban direct shipping to consumers entirely.
"It's a step in the right direction," said James Bateman of Windham Winery in Greene County. "Ultimately, it comes down to the state Legislature deciding whether we can ship to everyone or no one."
The 5-4 Supreme Court decision, which specifically addressed laws in New York and Michigan, said the laws giving preference to in-state wineries were anti-competitive and violated constitutional protections of free commerce.
The dissenting opinion argued that the 21st Amendment was intended to give the states special power to regulate the alcohol industry and that states have a legitimate interest in preventing alcohol sales to minors.
Losing the right to ship directly to consumers would be a disaster for small wineries, which often have a difficult time attracting distributors, but David Sloane, president of trade association WineAmerica thinks it unlikely that the state Legislature will entirely ban direct sales.
Even without a ban, wine sales from wineries are not likely to explode because complying with states rules is expensive and complicated, said Margot Cirino, who runs winery New York Harvest Cellars Inc. and wine store New York Wine Cork with husband, Richard Cirino. The couple is moving New York Wine Cork to Glens Falls this month. In many cases, the extra sales may not compensate for fees, taxes and paperwork, Cirino said.
For Kurt Johnston of Johnston's Winery in Galway, even a small increase in shipping could make a difference for the winery's business. "I'm greatly encouraged," Johnston said. "Right now my shipping department is next to nothing."
The winery attracts lots of tourists who might be interested in getting additional Johnston's wines once they returned home, if they could simply place an order by mail.
Trade association, the Wine & Spirits Wholesales of America Inc., opposes opening up mail-order sales, arguing the current system of alcohol distribution and sales best protects children. Winery owners agree there have to be procedures in place to prevent minors from buying alcohol, but say that concern is easily dealt with.
"I hope everybody can take a step back and let free trade reign," Johnston said.


text: ST. JOSEPH — Twin City Players’ 14th annual Halloween costume sale will take place Oct. 17-31 at the theater, 600 W. Glenlord Ave. The sale features pre-assembled Halloween outfits for children, teens and adults. Complete outfits can be purchased at reasonable prices. Customers wishing to assemble their own outfits will be able to choose from a large selection of costumes and accessories on hand. Sales times are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17 and 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 31 and 6-8 p.m. Oct. 19-22 and 26-29. For information, call (269) 429-0400 or visit twincityplayers.org.


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Coronavirus puts a major hit on the dairy industry, leading to a glut of milk
LANCASTER - The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has hit the dairy industry hard.
American Dairy Association Mideast CEO Scott Higgins said the crisis has put the dairy industry in a dire situation. Higgins is also the Ohio Dairy Producers Association CEO.
"It's heartbreaking," he said. "It's heartbreaking to see farmers work so hard to meet the demands of the public and have a crisis like this put such a shock to our system and put us in a situation where we've got more milk than we can possibly process, manufacture and serve to the public."
A major reason for the glut, which has caused some farmers and processors to dump milk, is because schools and restaurants are closed. Higgins said they make up a large portion of milk and other dairy products used.
"After five years of low milk prices, this is going to be another gut punch," he said. "This is another significant setback for an already very marginal profitability for the dairy farmer. It's very difficult for these guys in the next few months.
Losing so much business will cause dairy farmers to possibly lose up to 40% of their income next month because the over supply will turn the market into a buyer's market, Higgins said. Dairy farmers get paid a month after production.
Lee Kohler owns Marodore Dairy Farm in Baltimore.
Kohler, who is transitioning ownership to his son, Jeremy, said he hasn't had to dump milk and that he doesn't anticipate doing so. Like Higgins, he said the school and restaurant closings has caused a backup in the dairy receiving and processing plants, leading to the glut and the price drop to farmers.
Kohler also said trade and tariff issues with China have cut into the amount of dairy products the United States exports now, further adding to the over-supply issue.
Kohler said he expects to see about 28% to 30% in lost revenue next month.
"But it's still business as usual for us," he said. "We need to milk twice a day and some dairies milk three times a day. Cows need to be fed, heifers need to be fed. We need to keep equipment running and that kind of stuff so we can take care of the livestock. So we're at all the time as we normally would be, it's just looks like price is going to be down."
Kohler said the American Dairy Association Mideast is partnering with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to supply milk and other dairy products to food banks across the state.
"Hopefully, that will be a win-win for everybody," Kohler said. "There's more people using the foodbanks now with some many being unemployed. That's (dairy products) a hot commodity and it's been in short supply there."
Much of the milk Marodore Farm produces goes to make cheese. Kohler is shipping is milk to Pearl Valley Cheese in Fresno, Ohio.
The pandemic has also altered the way Kohler feeds livestock. He was using brewer's grain as part of his feed ration. But many breweries have closed because of bar and restaurant closings. Therefore, Marodore has switched to using distiller's grain instead.
Despite the damage the pandemic is doing to the dairy industry, Higgins said consumers won't see a milk shortage in stores. He said there was a run on milk as the pandemic started, however, but that processors and farms have adjusted to that initial high demand.
"We've reassured the grocery system and the buyers that procure milk for the groceries that there's plenty of milk," Higgins said. "Order enough for the community needs and let the processing community adjust to that. Let us deliver what you need and let's build consumer confidence that there's plenty of dairy product out there."
Ohio State University Extension Office Program Assistant Stan Smith said three or four dairy farms in Fairfield County have closed in the past year or two, leaving only two left. He also milk prices are not good for farmers.
"And the thing that's unfortunate is the expectation was that 2020 was going to be a good year for milk prices," he said. "They expected there to be some recovery for a variety of reasons. Now there's all the disruption in the market and the inability for folks to consume it in the fashion they've always consumed it in and caused this over supply of milk."
That consuming includes people eating cheese on their pizza.
"Even though they're (pizza shops) still doing carryout, their business has suffered," Smith said. "And there were a lot of soft cheese products that went into restaurants. And again, while they're still doing carryout, they're not doing near the volume that they were. So as a result, that market for all intents and purposes has been lost."
For the future, Kohler said there are obviously a lot of unknowns.
"I hope things straighten out for everybody and for everything," he said. "I would like to see the economy get back to work and people get back to work which is going to benefit all of us. When people are unemployed they don't have the money they normally have.
"That affects the groceries they buy and the activities they do like going out to eat. All those things play into the economy in a big way. I don't think we really realize how much until we get into a situation like this. We've got to weather the storm and do the best we can with what we've got. Every year seems to be an adventure, I guess."


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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If you are looking to remodel or redecorate, the Maricopa County Home & Garden Show is the place to be this weekend.
Hundreds of vendors provide shoppers with tips, demonstrations and products to remodel any and every room in their home.
Guests can watch demonstrations by Debbie Hernandez, the Home Depot “How To” expert, throughout the weekend and gain some advice on home improvement topics with “Rosie on the House”.
“We do a lot of special features at this show,” said Home Show manager Katie Jones.
The special features are one of the reasons the show has become such a huge success. Jones said they expect between 25,000 to 30,000 people.
Aside from the DIY demonstrations and other products and services offered at the show, guests can enjoy wine tastings and even a chance to be on “Wheel of Fortune”.
“A lot of times the Wheel Mobile is a standalone event,” said David Strathearn, the director of marketing and promotions for “Wheel of Fortune”. “This time we’re attached to a little bit larger event which also has its merits…they’ll have a good ‘Wheel of Fortune’ experience and a good home and garden experience.”
Strathearn says it’s all about stage presence and attitude for those wanting to be on the show.
“It’s supposed to be fun so we’re just looking for those fun, energetic, enthusiastic contestants.”
The Home & Garden show is also working with Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC), their March home show benefactor.
A “Mutt Strut” fashion show will feature dogs big and small that are looking for a home. Pets three months and older are $17 and cats are free.
Attendees can also get a free ticket into the show by donating any shelter-related items to MCACC.
The show will be at the University of Phoenix Stadium until Sunday March 3.
Adult admission is $5. Children 3-12 are $2. Admission is free for children 2 and under.
For more information visit the Maricopa Country Home & Garden website.


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At least 138 reports of cracked frames prompted the stroller recall.
Popular baby stroller company Mockingbird has announced a voluntary recall of about 149,000 of its single-to-double strollers, the company wrote in an email Thursday morning.
The recall comes after at least 138 reports of cracked frames and eight reports of child injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC says that the lower side of the frame can crack, leaving infants and small children riding the stroller at risk for falling.
The company will not be offering refunds. Instead, Mockingbird is advising people with strollers with lot numbers 20091 to 22602 to stop using them until they get a company-provided frame reinforcement kit. The kit will come with two frame clamps that caregivers can attach to the side of the stroller. Caregivers can find the five-digit lot number on the side of the stroller. Mockingbird set up a page with a diagram to help people find the lot number and request a frame reinforcement kit.
Mockingbird is asking people who received the email but gifted the stroller to forward it to the recipient.
Consumer Reports publicly called for an immediate recall on October 28. They included a personal anecdote from a Brooklyn mother of two who said her Mockingbird stroller broke in half while crossing a busy intersection. Consumer Reports also noted that they had included the stroller in tests but only as a single-seat product. The optional second seat was not part of any tests.
"The stroller is not one of our top-rated products, though we didn't observe any breakages in our tests," Consumer Reports wrote.
The same day, Mockingbird emailed customers and issued a statement on social media calling the incidents "isolated" and announcing plans to work with CPSC to determine the next steps. In the statement, Mockingbird noted that safety was the top priority of the company, a sentiment the brand repeated in Thursday's voluntary recall email.
"Our top priority is (and always has been) to ensure the safety of you and your little ones, and in this case, we determined that a voluntary recall was the best way to uphold that commitment," the company wrote in an email.


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When is a 27% increase in sales, and a doubling of profits, bad news? It certainly sounds like an exceptional circumstance, but that's where Alcoa finds itself today, having missed earnings estimates and facing a discouraging free cash flow.
United States Steel reported Tuesday that its net loss narrowed significantly in the second quarter to $25 million as net sales more than doubled. The Pittsburgh steel product maker reported net losses of $157 million in the first quarter of 2010, and $392 million in the second quarter of 2009.
Big Steel is finally turning around, and U.S. Steel is one of the leaders. The giant global producer is well positioned to be a key player in promising U.S. and European markets, and is deftly situated in terms of raw materials and financial resources.


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The fashion industry has been hit since the pandemic started. Retailers have filed for bankruptcy, independent retailers have been closed, even if they don't shutter their doors, brick-and - mortar stores have benefited financially from the months they've been forced to keep locked. However, the resale industry is one of the few areas that flourished during this period.
In the past few years, online distribution sites and secondhand stores have had promising signs. Resales were up 25 times higher than retail in 2019, with 62 million people purchasing second hand goods in 2019 than 56 million in 2018 and 44 million in 2017, according to the 2020 Resale Study by thredUP. This rise was not slowed down by the pandemic.
Some of this is due to the pandemic of shopping in actual life with most retailers and physical stores close their doors and, thus, push consumers to shop online. "Although all fashion is affected by the pandemic, consumers still shop second-hand, especially at online retailers; although businesses have reopened, most clients still feel safe to shop from their own homes," said Charles Gorra, Chief Executive Officer and Rebag 's founder.
The quarantine, which led many people to visit shopping sites in their spare time, was another factor. "Online resale has provided an exciting way for people to buy from home as they continuously arrive" says thredUP vice president of digital marketing Erin Wallace.


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Nokia is to relaunch its 3310 mobile phone as the technology firm revealed a new line-up of smartphones in an attempted revamp of the company.
An updated version of the 3310 - first launched in 2000 - complete with the classic mobile game Snake and a month-long standby battery life is to go on sale later this year, new manufacturer HMD Global confirmed.
The company said the device, which will not have internet connectivity, will cost 49 euro (£41) and is aimed at those looking for a second or so-called "burner" phone to make calls and send texts.
Having once been the world's largest mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia has since slipped behind all its major rivals and was sold off by previous buyers Microsoft last year.
As well as the 3310, Nokia also revealed a new line of mid-range modern smartphones - including the Nokia 6 the company released in China at the start of the year, as well as a limited edition gloss version called the Arte Black - alongside the new Nokia 5 and Nokia 3.
All four devices are made from aluminium, with each device shaped from an individual block of metal.
Each also runs the latest version of Android - Nougat 7.0 - while Nokia has confirmed pricing as starting at 139 euro (£117) for the Nokia 3, rising to 229 euro (£194) for the 6 and 299 euro (£253) for the Arte Black version.
HMD Global chief executive Arto Nummela said the new line-up of phones would build on Nokia's reputation in the industry.
"Nokia has been one of the most iconic and recognisable phone brands globally for decades," he said.
"In the short time since HMD was launched into the market, the positive reception we've had has been overwhelming; it seems everyone shares our excitement for this next chapter."
During the announcement at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia also confirmed the new phones would all become available globally in the second quarter of 2017.
"Today's consumers are more discerning and demanding than ever before and for us they will always come first," Mr Nummela said.
"Our efforts in bringing together world class manufacturers, operating systems and technology partners sees us proudly unveiling our first global portfolio of smartphones with a Nokia soul, delivering the very best experience to everyone."
The revamped Nokia 3310 was unveiled during HMD's press conference at MWC 2017 on Sunday, February 26.
The company has now confirmed that it will go on sale in the UK on 24 May 2017.
The Nokia 3310 will retail at an average global retail price of €49 (£41) - significantly less than its original price of £129.
Carphone Warehouse has already opened pre-registrations for the device on its website.
No other mobile operators have announced that they will be stocking the device, suggesting that HMD has struck an exclusivity deal with Carphone Warehouse.
However, it is likely that the device will also be available SIM-free from retailers such as Amazon.
The refreshed Nokia 3310 remains a "dumb" phone with an alphanumeric keyboard and no touchscreen.
It also retains the retro charm of the original handset, with its curved body and bright coloured design, and HMD claims it is just as durable as the original.
However, it is slimmer and lighter, and the physical position and size of the buttons has been adjusted slightly, to fit in with the new slimmer design.
The handset comes in four colours – Warm Red and Yellow, both with a gloss finish, and Dark Blue and Grey both with a matte finish.
The original Nokia 3310 had a small monochrome graphic display, but HMD has brought it into the 21st century with a larger 2.4-inch, full colour display.
However don't expect a high-resolution screen as seen on the latest Apple or Samsung devices. HMD is keeping the device simple, in order to preserve battery life.
The original 3310 had enough memory to store the last 8 dialled, 8 received, and 8 missed calls, as well as a selection of message templates. All the contacts were stored on the SIM.
It had a removable 900 mAh battery, which supposedly lasted between 55 hours and 260 hours in standby mode, with between two and a half and four and a half hours of talk time.
It also came with four games - Snake II, Pairs II, Space Impact and Bantumi.
Given that battery life was one of its biggest selling points, HMD has made this a priority in the revamped version. The new handset has a removable 1200 mAh battery, boasting 22 hours of talk-time and a month long stand-by.
It also now boasts a 2-Megapixel camera, 16MB of internal memory - which can be expanded up to 32 GB with a microSD card - and 2G connectivity, to take the noughties experience online.
And yes - it comes with the iconic mobile game, Snake.


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- Signaling the relevance of social media influencers, more than half (56%) of Gen Alpha parents said their children watch shopping content such as hauls or unboxing videos, according to a Morning Consult report shared with Retail Dive
- The report found that a child’s influence on household purchases starts around the age of five and is consistent across income groups.
- For children aged five to nine, 85% of their parents reported that their children had asked for products seen in stores. The report also noted that 79% of children ages five to seven and 76% aged eight to nine asked for products they saw on TV.
Though seeing products in stores and on TV appears to play a significant role in product discovery for Gen Alpha, they’re also discovering products online. According to Morning Consult’s report, 72% of parents with kids aged five to seven years old and 75% of parents with kids aged eight or nine years old said their kids had requested products they saw online.
Morning Consult’s report noted that 68% of Gen Alpha uses YouTube, but Fortnite, Roblox, and Discord are other popular gathering spaces for the cohort. It builds upon other research indicating Gen Alpha consumers are engaging in online product discovery. A Wunderman Thompson Commerce report from 2019 found that 55% of kids aged six to 16 want to purchase items displayed by their favorite Instagram and YouTube personalities.
“Even though they’re digitally savvy, Gen Alpha’s current primary influence on shopping preferences comes from stores; parents know that one of the best ways to avoid impulse buys is to leave the kids at home, not keep them off digital devices,” Morning Consult wrote. “More digital influence will creep into Alphas’ lives as they age, but physical stores still have a real role to play.”
Given that Roblox has emerged as a go-to place for reaching younger consumers, retailers like Claire’s, Home Depot and Kid’s Foot Locker have flocked to the game to create virtual environments. To continue courting brands and retailers, Roblox debuted Immersive Ads, its in-game advertising format, during its Roblox Developers Conference last September as a way to foster deeper connections with its community of nearly 59 million daily active users.


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Jim Long, President-CEO, Genesus Inc.
National Swine Congress of Mexico
Last week we attended the National Swine Congress of Mexico held at Barceló Maya Riviera a grand resort located south of Cancún in the Riviera Maya.
This coming week we will be at the British Pig and Poultry Fair in Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, UK. Visit us at the Genesus booth.(Stand #64A
OPOROMEX the Organisation of the Mexican Pork Producers in conjunction with the Hotel-Convention staff needs to be complimented for a well-planned and executed event. The facilities were first-rate.
Spain’s pork industry was invited to attend. Several people from Spain were part of the program augmenting Mexican speakers. There were several hundred thousand sows of Spain’s production represented by individuals and companies.
We have been doing business in Mexico for 30 years. Like most of the world, we have seen the industry consolidate. There are fewer producers but those who survived are larger. Major players include but are not limited to Kowi, Kiken, Norson, Smithfield-Carrols, and Okai. There are about 1 million sows in Mexico.
Feed prices have pushed higher like the rest of the world. Mexico’s current National Average Price is 36.51 pesos/kg (81.63¢ lb. U.S. liveweight). Many producers told us this is about breakeven.
Mexico usually has a hog price of about 10¢ lb. U.S. liveweight higher than the U.S. market. This is a reflection of the fact Mexico is a net importer of pork. The major source of imported pork is the United States. Mexico is #1 volume importer of U.S. pork. Year to date Mexico has imported 232,358 tonnes, same time a year ago 193,028 tonnes (+20%). Mexico has accounted for about 45%of all pork exports year to date. Huge important market.
PRRS and PED have been and continue to be a major issue cutting production. This has contributed to the increase of U.S. pork imports.
There are several large new sow unit projects being discussed in Mexico. In some areas, environmental issues will make expansion difficult. High feed prices and higher construction – equipment costs are pushing up break evens.
Usual suspects Global Swine Genetic Companies were present at the Congress. PIC, the different Danish companies, Dutch-Norway, Genesus. The consolidation of the Genetic business has also happened in Mexico. PIC is the leading sales company in Mexico and has been for a couple of decades.
In our opinion, Mexico’s industry will grow somewhat in the future. With 130 million people the main market is domestic consumption with some limited export opportunities due to higher cost of production. Mexico’s industry benefits from being a net importer. As we look at the world, the highest hog prices are in importing countries not in exporting countries.
Mexico has historically produced very lean hogs. The realization that better tasting pork could increase consumer demand has begun to be recognized. Good news for Genesus.
A week ago, we forwarded the article celebrating the 20 years of the Jim Long Pork Commentary on Porcicultura.com. At the Congress, it was great to visit with the Porcicultura team. They are a very professional group with a passion for the pork industry. We appreciate our past and future association.
Our premise has been and continues to be that the U.S, Europe, and China will have lower hog production in 2022. The first time in history that these three production centers will all be down at the same time.
How bad is China’s current market that tells us less hogs are coming? Below are the financial results of the 11 publicly traded companies in China for the first quarter of this year. Our Farmer Arithmetic, collectively they lost $2.5 billion U.S. (18 billion RMB). We estimate this group is about 1/5 to 1/6 of China’s total production. If we Farmer Arithmetic these losses to the whole industry we estimate $13 billion U.S. in the quarter. Or about $1 billion U.S. a week. One thing we believe is that when producers lose money, you get less pigs. When producers lose lots of money, you get a lot less hogs. We believe China started liquidating last July. Losses in the $70+ per head range for nine months. We expect China will see year-over-year decreases in hog numbers anytime now. Maybe the Covid lockdown could delay a hog price jump but it will delay not stop.
|Loss per head|
|New Hope||$460 million||$125|
Genesus team at the National Swine Congress of Mexico
Members of the Spanish delegation present at the National Swine Congress of Mexico and Genesus team members
Jim Long being interviewed by Porcicultara.com in regards to the 20 years of the Pork Commentary being posted on their website
This post was written by Genesus


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** UPDATE ** SteelSeries has updated their giveaway with a trip to Dreamhack Winter in Sweden. They also are doubling the amount of Ultimate Set-ups they’re giving away – another 25 winners will be awarded over the next week!
Here’s a quick snapshot of what’s new:
- Doubled the number of Ultimate Setups from 25 to 50
- Added the “Ultimate DreamHack Experience” (Trip and seats for you and a friend to DreamHack Winter + Meet and greet with the pros + Shopping spree at DreamStore)
- 25 winners (including Valve trip) have already been selected and added to the “Winners” section
Visit http://steelseries.com/15 to enter the “Ultimate Setup Giveaway” Sweepstakes. Terms and conditions are at the bottom of the page.
CHICAGO – June 29, 2016 – SteelSeries, a leader and innovator in gaming peripherals, celebrates 15 years of gaming innovation with a massive giveaway of more than 400 prizes worth an estimated $40,000. Top prizes include “Your Ultimate Setup” gaming bundles, an all-expenses paid trip for two to Seattle, and a complete gaming system featuring a state-of-the-art gaming laptop.
Starting today, fans can enter the “Ultimate Setup Giveaway” by visiting www.steelseries.com/15 for a chance to win SteelSeries gaming bundles, gift cards, limited edition games, exclusive swag and more. Contestants will be asked to choose their favorite four SteelSeries products to enter the giveaway and will receive a custom URL address upon completion. Sharing their custom URL with friends will earn them bonus entries for more chances to win. After entering, SteelSeries will send each entrant a coupon code for 15% off all purchases on www.steelseries.com.
“Our community has supported us for 15 years and enabled us to become trailblazers in the peripherals market and this is one of the ways we would like to thank them,” says Ehtisham Rabbani, SteelSeries CEO. “From our first mouse pad to our latest line of keyboards, mice and headsets, we’ve understood the importance of listening and engaging our audience – and we want to further that relationship for years to come.”
– “Your Ultimate Setup” prize bundles – four SteelSeries products chosen at entry
– All-expenses paid trip for two to Seattle, WA for a private tour of Valve HQ + “Your Ultimate Setup” bundle
– MSI GE62 Apache Pro gaming laptop + SteelSeries “Your Ultimate Setup” bundle
– SteelSeries products and exclusive 15th Birthday Celebration swag
– Gift cards to be used with Steam, Riot and Blizzard
– Overwatch Collector’s Edition and more
More than 400 winners will be selected at random, contacted through e-mail, and announced during the two-week event, with the biggest number of winners announced on the last day, Friday, July 15. SteelSeries will also be celebrating its official birthday on July 15 with its team of streamers and brand ambassadors across the world through special events and surprise announcements.
To participate in SteelSeries’ massive birthday giveaway and for a complete list of prizes, go to www.steelseries.com/15.


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Yesterday Microsoft announced that all Office 365 customers will from now on get unlimited OneDrive cloud storage. The first one who got this are customers of Office 365 Home, Personal, and University, and the roll out of the unlimited cloud storage will continue over the next month until everyone has it, including OneDrive for Business in 2015.
Then at TechEd Europe in Barcelona today Microsoft announced further developments for Office by opening Office 365 to programmers, who are developing more ways to integrate with Office 365.
And it looks like Microsoft is developing Office in the direction that users wants, since the API’s that Microsoft launched for Office 365 are for email, files, calendar, and contacts. But API’s for tasks and more will be available to developers soon as well.
One of the first companies that will start using these available API’s is IFTTT (If This Then That), which will enable triggering of actions based on all kinds of events.
And Microsoft is encouraging and accommodating more than just Windows and Linux developers to build services for Office 365 with the availability of Visual Studio software development kits (SDK) for Android and Apple iOS devices.
So the bottom line is that Office 365 will become increasingly useful on a personal basis over the next six month, through a range of new services and applications. This is exactly what Office 365 have been short on, so Microsoft’s announcement today sounds very promising.
– Tom Bowen


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Scrapples launch into hundreds of Co-op stores!
Piptastic news! Scrapples apple crisps have launched in hundreds of Co-op stores across the country!
Scrapples has been selected as one of the first small businesses for The Co-op's retailer accelerator scheme. The ‘Apiary” programme focuses on innovation solutions around sustainability, food waste and plant-based snacks; meeting a customer demand for innovative, value-driven new products.
At Scrapples we believe snacks should taste good and do good, that’s why we transform wonky apples into healthy crisps, so the more you snack, the less is wasted. Scrapples are not just good for the planet. Made from 100% whole fruit, with no added sugar, salt, fat or oil and counting as 1 of your 5-a-day, they are good for you too!
As the demand for healthy, sustainable snacks has grown, Co-op is our forth mass market launch this year, after Morrisons, BA flights and the UK’s leading school caterer, Chartwell’s. We are so excited to offer parents a handy, healthy, and mess-free option for keeping the kids fed and entertained in another major outlet.
The more places’ Scrapples are available, the more we can do to stop over 930 tonnes of delicious “wonky” edible food being wasted globally each year.
Co-op stores are stocking all 3 delicious Scrapples flavours (Apple, Apple with mango and Apple with strawberry) in singles as well as our two best selling multi-packs. The new Top Bumps character cards free in multi-packs gives parents a chance to chat about food sustainability in a fun way.


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If you don’t speak English well enough, or don’t have any microphone, the Button Control Edition already exists and will remain for sale.
“Voice Control” for the iFly 737NG will be arriving very shortly, courtesy of FS2Crew.
Says Bryan York of FS2Crew: “This is the most technically complete and accurate 737 crew simulation ever done in FS history.”
Bryan also points out that the ‘Button Control’ version of FS2Crew for the iFly 737 will be updated to V1.4, and it will be released at the same time as the new Voice Control version.
All FS2Crew products are available via Simmarket.


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Arguably one of the most significant product releases of the last few years, Apple’s iPhone has attracted millions of loyal customers. The intense consumer demand and marketing frenzy prior to the iPhone launch was so intense that some pundits dubbed the device the “Jesus phone.” That customer demand helped Apple capture a sizeable chunk of the overall smartphone market (including consumer sales): Market research firm Canalys estimates that “Apple took 28 percent share of the fast growing US converged device market in Q4 2007, behind RIM’s 41 percent, but a long way ahead of third-placed Palm on 9 percent” (see www.canalys.com/pr/2008/r2008021.htm).
Although those sales figures reflect the demand for the iPhone in the consumer end of the market, Apple is clearly making a concerted effort to get the iPhone into the hands of more enterprises. Apple indicated at a press event in March that it was licensing Microsoft’s Active- Sync protocol, a technology that will let IT departments integrate the iPhone with Microsoft Outlook email, contacts, address lists, and calendars. ActiveSync will also let administrators erase data on lost devices, manage passwords, and configure VPN settings on iPhones used in the enterprise. The iPhone 2.0 firmware update will also support Cisco Systems’ IPsec VP and the WPA2/802.1x wireless protocol.
Third-party vendors have been eager to provide product offerings that can facilitate the use of the iPhone in the enterprise, ranging from the Sybase iAnywhere OneBridge secure email platform to an iPhone variant of IBM’s Lotus Notes email client. AT&T Mobility (Apple’s only US wireless carrier) also announced earlier this year that it would begin selling the iPhone to enterprise customers as well.
So will all these developments help Apple make inroads into the enterprise with the iPhone? Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney thinks so and changed his initially lukewarm opinion of the device as an enterprise client to a more positive recommendation. “In its initial release, the iPhone was, with few exceptions, an Internet tablet with browser-based applications as its main offering. However, the release of firmware 2.0 changes that,” Delaney said. “\[The new firmware allows\] enterprises to develop local code and create applications that do not depend on network capabilities…. The iPhone will thus match up initially in several segments against its main smartphone competitors: BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and Symbian Series 60 \[S60\].”


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President Park Geun-hye stressed the importance of increased cooperation with the outside world for the promotion of the Korean economy and emphasized that the Korean businesses should try to aggressively develop overseas market and increase their investments outside the country as well as in Korea. She made the statement speaking to an estimated 1,500 leading businessmen of Korea at a New Year meeting hosted by Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at the COEX Grand Ballroom in Gangnam, Seoul on Jan. 5, 2014.
She said, “A fish named Koi (Ing-eo in Korean and a carp in English) can grow up to about 10 centimeters inside a fish bowl but once released into the river it can grow into a big fish more a meter long.”
“Based on the network of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which we have concluded with various countries of the world,” she said, “I hope that our business people will make an added effort to further expand their range of business in the overseas market.”
Then she said, “Our competitive businesses can go out into the wide, wide world and grow into a ‘global big fish’ of the world.”
Then she said that the business people should regard this year as the ‘last chance’ to attain the goal of achieving another big leap forward and concentrate on the fruitful attainment of the ‘3-year Economic Reforms Plan’ to establish a firm foundation for the economic prosperity for the next three decades. (See excerpts from an unofficial English translation of the Korean text by The Korea Post at the end of this Article.)
Chairman Park Yong-maan of the KCCI said in a welcome speech, “ 2015 was a very important year in the fact that 2014 was a year when we start our economic reforms, 2016 is a year when we should check our achievements and that this year is our last chance to effect such reforms.”
“I expect that the Korean economy will be able to extricate itself from the rut of structural doldrums this year,” predicted Park, “and our economy will be much better than before.”
Then he stressed the importance of overcoming the growth-retarding ill-effects of the low birth rate and the ageing of the Korean society. He said, “We should all try to wisely figure out what the Republic of Korea should do to enter an advanced society this year.”
Attending the Near Year meeting, among other guests, were Chairman Kim Moo-sung of the ruling Saenuri Party, chairman Moon Hee-sang of the Emergency Committee of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Kyung-hwan, Minister Yoon Sang-jick of Trade, Industry & Energy, Chairman Huh Chang-soo of the Federation of Korea Industries, Chairman Kim Ki-moon of Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, Chairman Park Yong-maan of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman Han Duck-soo of Korea International Trade Association, Chairman Jung Mong-gu of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, Acting Chairman Kim Young-bae of the Korea Employers’ Federation and Chairman Shin Dong-bin of the Lotte Business Group. From the media came many representatives of the major media organizations, who included Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post.
Among the members of the Diplomatic Corps present at the meeting were Ambassadors Carlos Victor Boungou of Gabon, Michel Idiaquez Baradat of Honduras, Dato Rohana binti Ramli of Malaysia, Jose Luis Bernal, Raul Fernandez and Bakhtier N. Ibragimov (CDA).
Excerpts from the speech of President Park Geun-hye:
I think that it was meaningful that last year we successfully made an agreement at the tripartite meeting of the labor, management and government in a broad frame and I hope that all three parties will try to attain a grand agreement thorough concessions by all sides.
The government will do its best also for the revitalization of the economy through reduction and elimination of restrictions and coordination between the National Deregulation Plan of the KCCI and the Deregulation Portal of the government.
We will also speed up our work for the realization of the Creative Economy and reform of the main industries, and try to usher in the renaissance of the manufacturing industry through ‘Manufacturing Industry Reform 3.0.’
The government will also do its utmost to help the Korean companies do business to their heart’s content in the business territory overseas that have been further expanded by the conclusion of FTAs and at the same time expand the use of the indication system of the country of origin.
Through mutual recognition agreement, we will also try to properly deal with the non-tariff barrier and provide a tailor-made support and in marketing, finance and R&D for the benefit of small-medium enterprises (SMEs), established SMEs and the ‘hidden champions’
Consumption is a very important part of the two main axes of the economy, investment and domestic demand, and recovery of consumption is essential.
Household debts, mostly from bank loans for real housing-purchasing, pose a great measure of burden on the family budget. It is very important to provide support and assistance to reduce such family debts through adjustment of interest rate system in favor of the debtors.


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Parents Combating Gender Stereotypes in Kids’ Clothing
Shopping for children’s clothing can be stressful. Finding the right size and style, all for a good price? It certainly is a challenge.
But now, more than ever, parents are finding it extra difficult due to the lack of gender-neutral clothing in stores all across the country.
In general, children’s clothing brands have always stuck to a pretty basic color theme: pinks and purples for girls, and blues and greens for boys. However, with society’s evolving interest in gender-neutrality, it is extra difficult to find garb for kids that doesn’t abide by the typical stereotypes.
Kristin Higgens, of Little Rock, is all too familiar with this problem. She has always been cautious of not pushing stereotypes on her daughter. She painted her room green, dressed her up as superheroes, and even gave her Star Wars-themed pajamas. But in order to do this, she always had to go to the boys’ section of the store.
"I want her to just get up and put on the clothing without thinking of putting on a costume, an identity,” Higgens said.
Jo B. Paoletti, a professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland and author of Pink and Blue: Telling the Girls from the Boys in America, says that the issue really began in the late 1980s.
”It encourages very young children — as young as 2 — to judge and interact with others in highly stereotyped ways," she said. "We know, based on nearly 50 years of social science research, that stereotyped thinking hurts all of us, whether we are dealing with racial, gender, or any other form of stereotype."
Fortunately for parents, things are starting to transition. Today, a few retailers, including Lands End and Zara, have followed customer interest by slowly making changes to their apparel. In March, Zara launched a line called “Ungendered,” which includes basics like sweatshirts, T-shirts and jeans. However, with more big retailers not jumping on board fast enough, some parents have actually started their own companies in hopes of making an impact on the clothing industry.
A Seattle mother, Martine Zoer, ended up starting a company called “Quirkie Kids” just because her sons wanted to wear pink. Courtney Hartman, who is also based out of Seattle, launched “Jessy & Jack,” which includes unisex T-shirts with dinosaurs and robots. The retailers starting these lines, in hopes of changing the cultural norms, say they’re definitely seeing the demand thus far. Hartman states that her annual sales are already pushing six-digit figures.
With the barriers of societal stereotypes starting to dissolve, more and more gender-neutral retailers are sure to pop up in the near future. Hopefully by next year's back-to-school shopping term, parents interested in the style changes will have more options for their children.
Source: Fox News, The Huffington Post