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Pune: With no 24X7 toll-free number for consumer complaints, the district supply officer (DSO) has asked consumers to write to the DSO office about their complaints and has assured that the complaints will be addressed.
Recently, State Consumer Welfare Advisory Committee (SCWAC) President Arun Deshpande said a person cannot be stopped from carrying food material and water inside malls and cinema halls. As per Deshpande this was a common complaint of many people and so the president decided to take action against such errant cinema halls and shopping malls.
Speaking on the issue of non-availability of 24X7 toll-free number for consumer complaints, DSO Dinesh Bhaledar said people can write their complaint to the DSO office and they will surely take action. "If cinema halls and shopping malls are not allowing people to carry food and water we can take action against them. There is no law that people cannot carry food and water inside the shopping malls and cinema halls. We can cancel the licence of the establishment. Similarly, owners of such errant establishments can be booked under different sections of the law. We have the right to cancel their tax benefits and so such establishments cannot bar people from carrying food and water inside malls and cinema halls," added Bhaledar.
The DSO said many such establishments have limited food options and so consumers are forced to buy things which are available. "People can certainly carry snacks and things they like at such places. Only they should take care not to litter the premises of such establishments," added Bhaledar.
Suryakant Pathak, who fights for consumer rights, said there is no number available for 24X7 consumer complaints. "The current toll-free number does not entertain calls after 5 pm. It is the responsibility of Minister for Consumer Protection Girish Bapat and SCWAC President Arun Deshpande to provide a 24X7 toll-free number for consumer complaints," added Pathak.
Numbers for consumer complaints
- For food and drugs-related issue (chemists, hotels,)
- For issues like hygiene, overcharging and others can be highlighted on 1800222365.
- For ration card, ration issues, civil supplies: 1800224950.
- For other consumer-related issues: 1800222262.


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Morrisons sales up as it plans online launch
Morrisons will be starting online food deliveries this January, with trials in Yorkshire, before the nationwide roll-out.
The announcement was made as part of the Bradford-based brand’s Q3 interim management statement, which also revealed that total store sales (excluding fuel) were up 1.0%.
Its Yorkshire delivery centre will be based in Leeds and the supermarket chain is hoping that it will be serving more than half of the UK’s homes by the end of next year.
“We continue to grow our sales in this tough market whilst making great progress on our strategy to be a multi-channel retailer. I said at the outset that our online offer would be unmistakably Morrisons and I’m very confident that the service we unveil in January will live up to that promise,” stated chief executive, Dalton Philips.
“Many of our customers will be able to experience our distinctive online food service early in the new year and we expect to be able to serve 50% of UK homes by the end of the year. In convenience we are currently opening three M locals a week bringing the Morrisons brand to an ever increasing number of new customers. We’ve made good progress in strengthening our core proposition during the quarter and with Christmas just round the corner, we are pleased to see customers responding well to our Big Christmas Bonus and industry leading deals.”
It comes as new research suggests that UK supermarkets are missing out on Generation Y and Z consumers - those who shop online for non-food products.
SpectrumInsight believes that new entrants to the online supermarket shopping sector, such as Morrisons, could align themselves more closely to non-food products to quickly eat into the share of their competitors.
“If new entrants can bridge the gap between food and non-food items they could rapidly overtake existing services in the growing UK supermarket online shopping sector. This is serious for UK supermarkets because gen Z consumers are their future and once lost it will be much harder and costly to get them back again,” explained director, Mark Westaby.
Offline, Morrisons has continued to add to its M Local brand and a new distribution centre in Bury will support the expansion of the network of convenience stores in the North West.

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What’s the State of your Small Business for 2016?
As businesses kick off the New Year, we wanted to take a look at the data rolling in for 2015 and how it potentially effects optimism and impacts financial decisions for 2016. As with most studies and reports, business owners will have different points of view depending on industry, business size, years in business, and even location. We’ve focused our review on the small business sector based on their critical role as the primary engine in the overall U.S. economy.
Sentiment from small business owners appears to be more optimistic than actual 2015 growth numbers would indicate.
2015 could be described as unexciting for the small business owner and the economic growth outlook for 2016 in the small business market is forecasted to be similar – a slow, 2% growth rate. However, in a November survey of 1,400 small businesses conducted by Credibly, small business owners were reporting optimism rates of 73%
for a successful 2016 based on demand they’ve seen in 2015 and expect in 2016. The survey showed that economic optimism was highest in the technology industry. In addition, another recent survey showed small business confidence has risen to 62%
, a solid jump from two years ago when only 45% felt optimistic. The survey illustrated that small- to mid-sized business owners are experiencing growth and are now looking to reinvest in their business and employees in 2016.
In all, according to a January 2016 article by Forbes, U.S. small businesses entered 2016 with stronger sales growth, improved profitability, and more positive hiring trends.
For 2016, forecasted growth estimates are not quite matching business optimism. Optimism may be shifting more toward neutral.
Kiplinger’s recently published its 2016 Economic Outlook and forecast GDP to climb to 2.8% in the latter part of 2016, up from the 2.5% in 2015. Goldman Sachs
recently reigned in expectations of 2.4% for 2016, down from 2.8%. This shows steady, yet unexciting, economic growth expectations on a national level for 2016.
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) released its Annual 2016 Equipment Leasing and Finance U.S. Economic Outlook predicting continued moderate growth in equipment and software investment in 2016 of 4.4%, citing domestic strength offsetting global headwinds leading to the moderate projections for growth. ELFA also posted in a press release findings from their January survey which shows when businesses were asked to assess their business conditions over the next four months, 10.7% of executives responding said they believe business conditions will improve, a decrease from 12.5% in December. 78.6% of respondents believe business conditions will remain the same over the next four months, an increase from 75.0% in December. This shows a slight flattening in optimism in the first month of 2016.
The disparity between optimism and growth projections, in part, may come down to size, sector and location of the business. A deeper dive survey of small businesses by industry by Sageworks, for example, showed the fastest growing sector in the fourth quarter 2015 was Construction which posted double digit growth of 10.6%.
Although the small business sector experienced economic progress in 2015, with with an increase in hiring and improved access to capital via small business loans
and other financing options, their big brothers in business may not be as optimistic given projected economic growth rates. All businesses also have an awareness of, or lingering concerns over, the different factors that are impacting economic growth including uncertainty in the market, the political climate, and an increased regulatory environment. And, the Fed’s recent announcement that it will “slowly and gradually” raise interest rates, for the first time since 2008, signaled strength in the U.S. economy but may trigger businesses to pull in plans for any financing to early 2016.
So what is the state of your business? And how can you exceed expected growth rates for 2016?
As just stated, 2015 offered improved access to capital. According to a Dun & Bradstreet report, small business owners had a 5% increase in successful bank loan financings as well as experiencing better success rates through alternative financing options. And, we should expect to see a normalization of interest rates in 2016 and beyond. So, if you were hesitant to approach a loan due to historical blemishes from the economic downturn, but are now showing more business stability, you should speak with a finance company. Investments to keep up with momentum and growth of your business, or to stay competitive, should be considered as part of your 2016 strategic business plan. Exploring equipment leasing or financing options with non-traditional lenders may actually help not only your business operations, but just as importantly, your bottom line.
With the right preparation
, small businesses have a better chance to secure the financing needed to fuel growth their business with the aim to exceed the overall economic growth projections for 2016.


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As the stock market report has been posted for today, several companies have recorded rises and falls. Among these companies are the ones whose movements are quite significant, whether they delivered positive performances or negative.
Wheels Up Experience Stocks Make a High Move
The share prices for Wheels Up Experience have reportedly grown higher in premarket trading. The stocks for the private aviation company rose after the release of performance data in the last quarter of 2021.
The company has revealed that in the last quarter of 2021, it was expected to record a loss of 25 cents per share. However, Wheels Up Experience ended up experiencing a loss of 31 cents per share from the respective quarter. This meant that the actual loss that the company has experienced is 6 cents more than the expected loss.
The performance factor where Wheels Up Experience performed extremely well as revenue generation. For the respective quarter of 2021, Wheels Up Experience revealed it had generated $345 million worth of revenue.
The officials revealed that Wheels Up Experience had generated 64% higher revenue than it had generated in the same quarter of 2020. In addition to the revenue stats, Wheels Up Experience also shared the active membership stats that were quite promising.
For the fourth quarter of 2021, Wheels Up Experience revealed that the active memberships recorded 31% growth. As a result of sharing promising revenue figures, the investors have started pouring in more money to increase the demand for Wheels Up Experience’s shares.
The data shows that in the premarket trading, Wheels Up Experience’s stocks have surged by 4%.
Anthem Shares Hang in the Middle
Just recently, Anthem has made a public announcement in regards to its operating name that has gathered mixed comments from the investors. The health insurance company has announced that it is planning to change its operating name.
According to the officials, they are in the process of gaining approval for changing the name of the company from Anthem to Elevance Health. The sources at Wall Street have revealed that they are currently going through all the processes for gaining approval from the shareholders.
The approval process would require them to acquire a majority vote in favor of the executive decision. If the shareholders vote in favor of the proposal, Anthem would be changed to Elevance Health.
The officials have clarified that the change in the name is not to change the entity of the company. Instead, they are aiming to gain more corporate exposure in the global market, and want to give the company a new name for that.
Genesco shares are set to go up
Genesco, a major retailer of footwear and accessories has recently shared its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2021. In the report, it shared the profit and revenue figures that were much higher than the estimations. The firm revealed its e-commerce sales soared 36% while its same-store sales soared by 10%, compared to the same quarter in 2020.


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The fledgling delta-8-THC niche is already facing a major roadblock – the COVID-19 relief bill.
Yes, this does sound like an algorithm constructed a sentence out of incompatible phrases from two completely different universes.
For some reason, buried somewhere deep within the 5,593 pages that are the COVID-19 relief bill, the longest bill in U.S. history, was the so-called PACT Act (Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act), which prohibits the mail order of CBD, THC, and Delta-8-THC vape cartridges, among other things, and their shipment with USPS, UPS, and FEDEX. The PACT Act comes into effect on April 26.
The word “cigarette” in the context of this bill encompasses all “electronic nicotine delivery systems,” and nicotine, respectively, includes all vaping liquids that contain THC, CBD, and any of their derivates, like delta-8-THC.
This means that while selling delta-8-THC vape cartridges remains legal, the shipment itself isn’t, which seems like a classic political move to impede an industry with unjustified extra hoops to jump through without actually making it illegal.
With the USPS, UPS, and FedEx out of the equation, delta-8-THC companies would have to use alternative, private, more expensive services to deliver their products to their customers. This change will drive the prices up if companies are to make a profit, with experts estimating the increase to be roughly twofold.
Moreover, 90 days after the PACT Act has been enacted, an act within it – the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, will have all online retailers of vape products comply with new, stringent regulations. They include keeping extensive records of orders and consumer information and fulfilling complicated tax-related paperwork obligations to each state they’ve sold a product in, which all sounds like a recipe for a bureaucratic nightmare, especially considering the discrepancies between different states’ regulations of such matters.
This drastic change, especially in a niche this infant, will likely drive many small companies out of the delta-8-THC market, if not cause the entire delta-8-THC market out of the cannabis industry altogether. And that’s not even considering the fact that this blow comes amid a pandemic, which is ironic, considering it’s supposed to be a COVID-19 relief bill.


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Michon has been appointed by Homecraft Ability One, the rehabilitation products group, to design eight catalogues as the company broadens its international reach and begins to target consumer and corporate customers. It is the first time a design group has been asked to create the catalogues.
A Homecraft Ability One spokesman says the catalogues have doubled in size and are reaching a much broader audience.
‘Our main customers are still the local authorities, hospitals and NHS trusts, but there is a growing trend [to sell to] corporate companies and private individuals,’ he explains.
Michon senior creative Dave Pettitt says the consultancy was briefed to deliver an international theme and focus on useability. The challenge was to portray functional products in an approachable way, he adds.
‘We felt that a highly sophisticated look would be the wrong way to go and we have used bright colours and abstract photography to give a feeling of approachability and excitement,’ according to Pettitt.
‘We’ve also incorporated the concept of a globe to give an international feel,’ he says.
The consultancy was appointed following a four-way pitch and the first of the catalogues will be published in October.
Homecraft Ability One was known as Smith & Nephew Rehabilitation until its purchase by American rehabilitation giant Sammons Preston in March this year.
The company sells rehabilitation products ranging from exercise equipment to functional pieces such as cutlery, for paediatric, elderly and disabled patients.


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As part of the changes, set to roll out in February next year, Virgin Media subscribers with 10Mb, 20Mb, 30Mb and 50Mb services will see their speeds at least doubled, with 100Mb customers having their speed increased to 120Mb.
According to Virgin Media, a 120Mb broadband connection will enable users to download an entire music album in 4.4 seconds and a high definition movie in five minutes.
The upgrade will take 18 months and is expected to complete by mid 2013.
Neil Berkett, chief executive officer at Virgin Media, said: "As people are increasingly doing more online, and getting connected to the internet with lots of different devices, having a fast, reliable broadband service should not be a luxury.
"We want to make sure that consumers have access to the best value broadband service and that means a superfast connection."
David Cameron, prime minister, said he welcomed Virgin Media's announcement, saying it will provide a "great boost for the economy" and change the way many households, consumers and businesses use the internet.
He said: "Rolling out superfast broadband across the country is a critical part of our plan to upgrade the UK’s infrastructure and build a new and smarter economy."
Jeremy Hunt, culture, Olympics, media and sport secretary, said: "Faster broadband speeds are great for customers and great for business, which is why our policy is to deliver superfast broadband to 90% of the country by 2015.
"Virgin Media's plans to double broadband speeds are really exciting and we applaud their ambition."
In May 2010, rival broadband provider BT, pledged to spend £2.5m in rolling out fibre-optic broadband to two thirds of the country by 2015.
Follow Sarah Shearman on Twitter @Shearmans


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Argos owner hit as World Cup lets down the side in TV sales
Home Retail Group revealed a worse than expected fall in sales at Argos this morning, sending its shares down sharply.
Sales at Argos fell 8.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to May 29, excluding takings from new stores, as consumers bought fewer televisions.
Homebase, the group’s home improvement chain, beat City expectations with a 1.4 per cent fall in like-for-like sales. Shares in the company fell by 10.7p to 227.3p.
Terry Duddy, the group chief executive, said that recent trading had suffered in comparison with a strong performance last year.
Television sales rose 30 per cent last year but were down 10 per cent in the most recent quarter, with the impact of the World Cup being felt later than expected. “We still sold


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A high-profile eight-member jury to select the winners of Business Standard Annual Awards for Corporate Excellence 2021 met virtually late last week and picked the best of India Inc.
The jury was chaired by Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and included JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal, KKR India Senior Advisor Sanjay Nayar, AZB & Partners Founder and Managing Partner Zia Mody, EY India Chairman Rajiv Memani, McKinsey & Company Senior Partner Noshir Kaka, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Managing Partner Cyril Shroff, and Bain Capital Private Equity Chairman Amit Chandra.
“The jury had rich, open, and extensive deliberations to shortlist the winners this year. Almost every category had very high-quality nominees, and the diverse experience of the jury came to the fore as we selected the winners. The jury process was thorough and stimulating, and it was backed by the analytical rigour of the BS team. The range of the winners also reveals the critical role played by the pharma and health care sector over the last two years,” Birla said. “My heartiest congratulations to all the winners.” Several names came up in the course of discussion for these coveted awards. But what tilted the scales in favour of the winners was the confidence of the jury in their business models, which weathered the severe pandemic storm, and the disruptions and innovations they have brought in their respective industries. Infosys Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) Salil Parekh was selected CEO of the Year for the extraordinary turnaround and outperformance of the IT major. Cipla’s outstanding performance and contribution to the health care sector helped it bag the Company of the Year award. Bharat Electronics was chosen Star PSU of the Year; Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Star MNC; Dr Lal PathLabs Star SME; and Zerodha Broking bagged the Start-up of the Year award. The jury was unanimous in their choice of Prathap C Reddy, founder and chairman of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement award. As jury chairman, Birla started the deliberations by asking the jury members to disclose conflict of interest, if any, with the shortlisted candidates. The jury was earlier provided a list of companies based on their financial performance, compiled by the BS Research Bureau, to name the award winners in the seven categories. Birla set the tone of the meeting by stating upfront that apart from the financial data, due weight should be given to strong ethical attributes, in addition to a long-term business vision in a year that saw extraordinary challenges and disrupted established business models overnight. Contribution to society during the Covid pandemic; environmental, social, governance (ESG) standards; steering the ship during a crisis; and consistent performance were the buzzwords that figured prominently during the jury deliberations. Some jury members also pointed out the exemplary contribution of unlisted companies to the Indian economy but due to lack of financial data in the public domain, they could not be considered for the awards. Jindal, who won the award in 2017 and joined the meeting from London, was of the opinion that a company’s consistent performance during the pandemic year should be kept in mind in selecting the winners. Outstanding achievements like those of Parekh and Cipla can hardly go unnoticed, when a distinguished jury comprising the heads of India’s two leading conglomerates, two leading private equity funds, two global marquee management consultancy organisations, and two top legal eagles meet to decide the winners of the awards for corporate excellence for the financial year ended March 2021 — one of the worst periods for companies across the world due to the pandemic and several lockdowns induced by it. As the nation was hit by the pandemic, like the rest of Corporate India, Infosys changed its business model overnight and asked its employees to work from home, keeping in mind the safety of the workforce. India’s second-largest IT services provider reported revenues of $13.56 billion in 2020-21. In rupee terms, they came to more than Rs 1 trillion in 2020-21, a year-on-year growth rate of 10.7 per cent, while net profit grew faster — by 16.6 per cent — year-on-year to Rs 19,351 crore. As Infosys has seen a sharp turnaround in performance and beaten peers like Tata Consultancy Services in growth, its market valuation, now over Rs 7.88 trillion, has clocked a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 40 per cent over the past three years. Over a year’s period, the same is up about 48 per cent. Under Parekh, who became CEO and MD in FY18 amid turbulent times, Infosys has pivoted its growth strategy on three pillars — the agile digital business, energising the core, and reskilling and localisation. In all these areas, it has progressed well. Since his appointment, Parekh has not looked back as Infosys bagged new orders of billions of dollars and gained the confidence of its investors, clients, employees, its board, and other stakeholders. “The deliberations on CEO of the Year were quite evolved and there were quite a few candidates.
Salil came out as the consensual choice due to very, very strong performance since he took the reins. And as we all know, he took over as Infosys CEO at a very tricky time,” Nayar said.
Mumbai-headquartered Cipla is the third-largest pharmaceutical company in India, the third-largest over-the-counter (OTC) player in South Africa, the eighth largest by prescription in the US, and the second-largest Indian exporter to the emerging markets. Established in 1935, Cipla’s revenues for 2020-21 grew 11.8 per cent to Rs 19,160 crore, while profit after tax (PAT) jumped 55.5 per cent to Rs 2,405 crore. Between FY18 and FY21, Cipla’s revenues clocked a CAGR of 8.1 per cent, and PAT grew by 19.5 per cent annually. The company, which has seen a generational change in its leadership, draws 40 per cent of its revenues from India and 21 per cent from the US market. The South Africa region, emerging markets, and Europe contribute 18 per cent, 10 per cent, and 5 per cent, respectively. On selecting Cipla as the Company of the Year, Shroff said the performance had been outstanding and there were several other interesting aspects as well in view of the contribution to the health care sector, particularly during the pandemic. “The fact that the generational transition was so smooth, so it was quite an iconic performance and it was a pleasure for the jury to select Cipla,” Shroff said. All jury members agreed that while financial ratios were important for making the first cut, equal importance had to be given to individuals who focused on innovation and built institutions when challenges in the external environment were severe due to restrictions imposed by the governments to control the pandemic. The jury discussed several outstanding individuals who have left a deep and lasting impact on India’s corporate history, but was unanimous in their choice of Prathap C Reddy, founder of Apollo Hospitals, as winner of the Lifetime Achievement award. “We chose Prathap Reddy, considering the creditable work done by him in the space of health care, especially during the time of the pandemic. He seemed to have a very good succession in place and the company showed good numbers,” Birla said. The jury recognised that Reddy, 89, is a trailblazer not only in the world of health care but also as a philanthropist. He set up Apollo Hospitals in 1983, India’s first corporate chain of hospitals, and introduced world-class health care across the country. Today, the company has a market valuation of almost Rs 67,000 crore. Reddy was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 2010 — the second-highest civilian award in India. The jury debated several candidates for the Start-up of the Year award. After a long discussion, Zerodha, with its profit-making business model, was selected. “There were many exciting choices and eventually we all settled on Zerodha, which is a pioneer in innovation on multiple fronts like introducing flat fees and has gone from strength to strength,” Kaka said. On Star PSU of the Year, the jury felt the candidate should show outstanding financial metrics, apart from facing competition from the private sector besides its peers. After a discussion on several companies, it zeroed in on Bharat Electronics. “The company was a unanimous choice of the jury due to consistent performance on various financial metrics — be it sales growth, or profit growth. All this leading to a significant increase in the market valuation over the last three years and the market recognising the fact that they (Bharat Electronics) have tremendous potential,” Chandra said. For the Star MNC award, the jury selected Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care, based on its sales and profits, and notably the innovations it has brought about, helping the company sustain its lead in the feminine hygiene industry. “The jury selected P&G Hygiene for its consistent performance and very strong financial metrics. They have guarded their market share very tightly despite many people (companies) trying to get into that segment,” Memani said. On selecting Dr Lal PathLabs as the Star SME of the Year, Mody said the company stood out for its consistency and brand recognition during the Covid times. The company’s sales grew by almost 19 per cent and net profit surged over 29 per cent in 2020-21, over the previous year. The three-year CAGR in the two metrics is 14.4 per cent and 19.5 per cent, respectively.
First Published: Tue, March 29 2022. 06:30 IST


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NSBA Annual Meeting & Tech SummitOctober 16, 2019
On Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, NSBA will hold its Annual Meeting, Leadership Council Gathering and Small Business Tech Summit. We are at max capacity for our event and registration is now closed.
Current registrants can find updated details below:
The location of our event has changed due to the recent support of Microsoft which has signed on as a sponsor of the Small Business Tech Summit.
The NSBA Annual Meeting, Leadership Council Gathering and Tech Summit will be held at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center at 901 K Street N.W. in Washington, D.C.
The NSBA Annual Meeting and Leadership Council Gathering will be from 12:00 -1:30 p.m., these are NSBA member-only events.
Next, we will kick-off the Small Business Tech Summit, co-hosted by the Small Business Roundtable, from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
At the Tech Summit, attendees will hear from expert speakers discussing topics including cybersecurity and the unique threats faced by smaller businesses; how new regulations are impacting federal contractors; the growth and development of the 5G network and how small businesses are affected; critical software lapses and how small businesses can protect themselves; new and expanding data privacy rules; and more.
Please click here for additional information.


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While the Chinese government has no qualms about banning cryptocurrencies, the country’s stance on blockchain technology is different, allowing blockchain stocks in China to flourish.
China’s blockchain technology market was worth an estimated US$1.4 billion in 2022, up from US$14.4 million in 2027.
Over the past few years, President Xi Jinping has voiced his desire to see China as an industry leader in blockchain technology. In an early 2023 article, Xi wrote about how 5G, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and blockchain technologies will play an outsize part in China’s economic growth and dominance on the global stage in the years ahead. Soon after, the nation released its grand plan for digital-based infrastructure for the benefit of its economy.
The Chinese government is also embracing blockchain as a way to strengthen its cybersecurity infrastructure. The technology is also finding support at the provincial and city government levels. What’s more, a total of 33,689 registered blockchain companies in China in 2022, more than double the figure in 2016. This dramatic increase has come in part due to Xi’s endorsement of the technology.
Of course, the ban on cryptocurrency trading in China means that many of the nation’s blockchain firms have lost out on the big gains the emerging sector has made in the past few years. However, that’s allowed China’s blockchain companies to remain untouched by the market fallout associated with trading digital tokens. And interestingly, China hasn’t fully turned away from digital currency — the People’s Bank of China has made a digital version of the yuan, which it controls. China’s Central Bank launched a wallet app to expand the adoption of its domestic digital currency.
Additionally, South China Morning Post reported in May 2023 that the Chinese government is opening a national blockchain research center in Beijing with plans to train 500,000 blockchain professionals and build out a blockchain network at the national level.
With China poised for long-term growth in the blockchain industry and positioned to be a global leader, investors in the space should be familiar with the Chinese blockchain stocks that are driving the market.
Below is an overview of 10 blockchain stocks in China. The companies are listed from largest to smallest in terms of market cap, and all data was accurate as of July 31, 2023.
1. Alibaba Group Holdings (HKEX:9988,NYSE:BABA)
Market cap: CNY 1.79 trillion
Alibaba Group Holdings is an ecommerce, retail, internet, AI and tech company with a focus on providing consumer, business and sales services through the internet, as well as electronic payment services.
Alibaba tops this list of blockchain stocks in China, and its affiliate Ant Group owns the largest digital payment platform in China. For the second year in a row, Ant Group was recently named a Top 100 Global Innovator 2023 by Clarivate. “In 2022, Ant Group obtained over 4,000 new patents globally,” stated the press release. “Since 2016, the number of patents held by Ant Group has increased more than 40 times to over 17,000.”
2. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (SHA:601398,HKEX:1398)
Market cap: CNY 1.587 trillion
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is China’s largest state-owned commercial lender by assets. ICBC has an industry leading enterprise-level blockchain technology platform. The bank launched a special blockchain research team in 2016 and published the banking sector’s first white paper on blockchain technology applications in finance in 2021.
More recently, ICBC has been working to expand its metaverse pilot program as a part of promoting its new digital brand: D-ICBC. The bank is also looking to integrate digital yuan (e-CNY) with the business activities in the metaverse.
3.China Construction Bank (SHA:601939,HKEX:939)
Market cap: CNY 1.05 trillion
One of the country’s big four banks, China Construction Bank provides a broad range of commercial banking products and services, including infrastructure loans, residential mortgages and bank cards. Its extensive customer base encompasses conglomerates and companies in many of China’s economically important industries.
The state-owned bank is conducting research and development of blockchain technologies, and building out platforms that incorporate blockchain, big data, AI and mobile internet technologies.
4. Ping An Insurance Company of China (SHA:601318,HKEX:2318,OTC Pink:PIAIF)
Market cap: CNY 937.649 billion
Ping An Insurance Company of China became the first Chinese company to join the R3 blockchain consortium back in 2016. R3 is a firm working on how blockchain can be applied in the financial markets.
In February 2022, Ping An Insurance was named to Forbes’ fourth annual Blockchain 50 list, mainly due to the success of its subsidiary OneConnect’s blockchain financing platform FiMAX.
5. China Merchants Bank (SHA:600036,HKEX:3968)
Market cap: CNY 888.35 billion
China Merchants Bank is a commercial bank with operations in China and overseas. The financial institution offers corporate and personal banking services and has three segments; the first two are wholesale finance and retail finance, and the third segment includes investment real estate, subsidiary operations and joint ventures.
In collaboration with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, China Merchant Bank has introduced a digital yuan platform that will allow Chinese business travelers to pay for airline tickets using the country’s central bank digital currency.
6. Postal Savings Bank of China (SHA:601658,HKEX:1658)
Market cap: CNY 500.62 billion
Postal Savings Bank of China (PSBC) provides commercial retail banking and financial services in China. PSBC has three main business segments: personal banking, corporate banking and financial markets.
PSBC has built a blockchain-based asset management system with IBM (NYSE:IBM). The bank is one of the large Chinese entities working with the government to develop digital yuan payments technology.
7. Baidu (HKEX:9888,NASDAQ:BIDU)
Market cap: CNY 382.88 billion
Baidu was established in 2000. Its area of expertise is internet-related services and products and, most importantly, AI. Baidu is known for being one of the world’s largest AI and internet companies across the globe.
Baidu offers a blockchain-as-a-service platform and is patenting blockchain technology for payment security. In late 2021, the company launched its own metaverse, the virtual world XiRang, also known as Land of Hope, which is accessible on computers, smartphones and wearable devices. Users can create an avatar and interact in real time with other users.
More recently, in March 2023 Baidu announced that it will connect its decentralized application DApp to multiple metaverse platforms. DApp allows for the storage of digital assets. In addition to the XiRang metaverse and Baidu’s AI virtual assistant product, the decentralized application will also be linked to AI company Seengene’s metaverse spaces and video-streaming app iQIYI.
8. JD.com (HKEX:9618,NASDAQ:JD)
Market cap: CNY 378.76 billion
Ecommerce company JD.com launched a blockchain platform in 2018. Through its fintech arm, JD Finance, the company is focusing on five areas in blockchain: value innovation, supply chain, trusted networks, digital evidence storage and financial technology. JD.com has already launched blockchain solutions for the pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries and is working with China’s central bank on cryptocurrency advancements.
Last year, the company released a series of fintech products, including the JD Bio-Asset Supervision Platform, which integrates AI, big data, blockchain, internet of things and other digital technologies. This year, the company joined the Hong Kong-Mainland China “cross-border” digital yuan pilot program, “making JD the first major Mainland-based company to support cross-border digital yuan trade,” reported Cryptonews.
9. China CITIC Bank (SHA:601948,HKEX:0998)
Market cap: CNY 257.189 billion
Based in Hong Kong, China CITIC Bank is a full-service commercial bank that provides a broad spectrum of financial services and products to domestic and international business with branches in the US and across Asia.
In 2021, CITIC launched a blockchain payments platform to facilitate payments in the construction industry, particularly between builders and material suppliers.
10. Lenovo (HKEX:0992)
Market cap: CNY 97.76 billion
Lenovo manufactures personal computers, smartphones, televisions and wearable devices. The tech company is a member of several groups focused on the research and development of blockchain technologies, specifically in supply chain management.
Through this R&D, Lenovo has implemented a blockchain-based supply chain management platform that integrates big data analytics, internet of things and artificial intelligence technologies.
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.


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WASHINGTON – The United States have a global cyberfraudezaak resolved. The identity fraud more than 530 million dollars in damage caused to consumers, businesses and financial institutions, said the U.s. department of Justice Wednesday.
International authorities arrested thirteen suspects from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Kosovo and Serbia. The American justice system complains in a total of 36 people in the fraud cases.
,,The indictments and arrests today mark one of the largest cyber fraud-prosecutions ever made by the ministry of Justice are undertaken,” said assistant attorney general John Cronan, without further details.


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Four-alarm fire destroys sporting goods store
2007-08-18 04:00:00 PDT San Leandro -- A four-alarm fire gutted a San Leandro sporting goods store Friday night, displacing residents of an adjoining apartment complex.
The flames were first reported coming from West Coast Sporting Goods, located at 13720 E. 14th St., Friday at 11:05 p.m., said Aisha Knowles, public information officer for Alameda County Fire. Crews arrived at the store in three minutes and found heavy smoke and flames emitting from the front of the store. They quickly upgraded to four alarms and had the fire controlled around 1 a.m.
"At the peak of the fire it looked as if the whole store was engulfed in flames," said Knowles.
Fire units from Alameda County Fire responded, as well as units from the Oakland, Hayward, Union City, Albany, Fremont, Livermore/Pleasanton and Alameda fire departments. There were about 90 firefighters at the store, Knowles said.
Two apartment complexes that bordered the sporting goods store were completely evacuated, Knowles said.
The Casa Camelias complex is adjacent to the store, while the complex at 13495 Bancroft Ave. is located directly behind the store. Of the 150 people evacuated only 12 cannot return to their homes tonight, because some units have broken windows as well as smoke and water damage.
West Coast Sporting Goods is a family-owned store that was started in 1953, Knowles said. Both the building and the merchandise inside were completely destroyed by the flames.
The cause of the fire is unknown, Knowles said. The building is structurally unsound and investigators will not be able to begin searching through the rubble until Monday.


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Music Gear News
Eric Clapton donates electric guitar collection to charity auction
Eric Clapton is to donate part of his extensive collection of electric guitars to a charity auction.
The star's instruments, along with guitar amps and speakers, are to go under the hammer in New York next year to raise money for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic set up by Clapton in 1998.
Among the highlights of the sale is the electric guitar he used while playing in 2005's Cream reunion shows, which is expected to fetch more than Â£13,000, reports BBC News.
In a 2004 auction, a record $959,500 (Â£607,500) was raised when Clapton's 'Blackie' Fender Stratocaster was sold off.
Guitars for the forthcoming sale have also been donated by the likes of Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and JJ Cale.
Earlier this month, Clapton was handed a place in Gibson's list of the top 50 most revolutionary artists of all time, appearing in 42nd position.
ÂPosted on 10 Dec 2010 14:21 to category : Band / Celebrity News
Related Music News
Laying the foundations for generations of artists to follow, the legendary musician Leonard Cohen has passed away from unspecified causes.
Stating it as more of a necessity for the band, M. Shadows highlights the importance of not stagnating and keeping things exciting
Cancelling his remaining shows in December due to ill health, fears arise over the guitar legends health
Verified by the guitarist himself, Slash's B.C Rich played a pivotal role in Guns N' Roses rise to fame
Featuring a number of tracks by their favourite artists, the Stone's latest effort is set for release December 2nd
Speaking to friend and radio host Eddie Trunk Frehley stated that he would rejoin the band if the offer came his way
Recent Music News
Straight from the 90's, the legendary synth has been given a modern makeover to make it more versatile than ever
Those who purchase a Zen Tour, Zen Studio, Orion Studio, Orion 32, Orion 32 or Goliath interface will be eligible to receive a free copy of PreSonus' Studio One
With thousands of new presets and a vast array of functions, the Predator 2 brings next level sound quality and user defined audio manipulation to the players immediate disposal
With a new arpeggiator and synthesizer at the users disposal, several user requested updates provide the player with more versatility than ever before
A limited time edition of the Akai MPK Mini MK 2, the white equivalent operates as an eye catching alternative that looks as good as it sounds.
Bursting with a number of great features, the Celviano Grand Hybrid offers the player unparalleled performance and unprecedented tone


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A survey conducted by BlogHer, the network focused on women and social media, and DeVries Public Relations found that blogs and online research are driving beauty purchases. The survey, titled “Beauty is in the Eye of the Blog Holder,” found that blogs are more than twice as likely to inspire women to buy a beauty product than magazines (63 percent versus 26 percent). However women are four times more likely to make the purchase offline.
The survey of 1,074 women was conducted in October 2010. Forty-eight percent were 18-34 years old; 31 percent were 35-44 years old; and 13 percent were 45-54 years of age. In addition, 75 percent of respondents were both blog readers and writers. According to the BlogHer site, the findings are similar to those of another recent study the organization conducted, “although the BlogHer audience was more likely to utilize social networking.”
[Image via The Daily Mail.]


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Barchart Launches High-Performance Cryptocurrency Data Feed
CHICAGO, Sept. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Barchart, a leading provider of financial market data and technology, announces the launch of a comprehensive real-time and historical cryptocurrency market data feed. Delivered through either Barchart's high-performance Data Services, or as a responsive Digital Solution - Barchart's new service makes getting high-quality crypto data into your application, website, or workflow easy and affordable.
Bitcoin IRA Launches Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, and Bitcoin Cash for Retirement Investments
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BitcoinIRA.com, the world's first company allowing individuals to invest in cryptocurrency in an IRS-approved retirement account, is now offering Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum Classic (ETC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) for investment.
MGT Capital Announces Additional Purchase of 500 Bitcoin Mining Rigs
DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- MGT Capital Investments, Inc. (OTC: MGTI) announced today that it has increased its purchase order with Bitmain Technologies for an additional 500 S9 Antminer Mining rigs, with shipment expected in mid fourth quarter 2017.
Bitcoin IRA Launches XRP
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BitcoinIRA.com, the world's first company to allow individuals to purchase cryptocurrencies for an IRS-approved retirement account, has made the digital asset XRP available to clients.


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DALLAS — Lawrence Marcus was extolled as a man of brilliant ideas, intense curiosity and exceptional taste Monday afternoon at a memorial service at the Dallas Museum of Art attended by friends, family and past and present Neiman Marcus executives.
“He was the final link to a generation of retail visionaries as the last surviving son of Herbert Marcus and the nephew of Carrie Marcus Neiman, the founders of the store, a place that has been the pride of Dallas for over 100 years,” said Karen Katz, chief executive office of Neiman Marcus Group, in her opening remarks. “Lawrence personified his father’s values of excellence, his aunt’s belief in serving the customer and his brother Stanley’s unending quest for the best.” RELATED STORY: Lawrence Marcus Dead at 96 >>
Marcus’ thoughtful design and merchandising of the Houston Galleria store during its construction in the early Seventies “set the tone for excellence that still makes our Houston Galleria store one of our most important and successful to this day,” she noted.
Marcus threw memorable parties at his art-filled Houston home, she said, entertaining Pauline Trigère, Bill Blass, Geoffrey Beene, James Galanos and prominent Houstonians. He personally tended to the property’s 2.5-acre garden and its 5,000 tulips and daffodils, she noted.
Mike Mullins read a letter of gratitude that his sister-in-law had once posted to Marcus.
“You introduced me to so many wonderful, beautiful and special things, opening doors to extraordinary experiences and knowledge,” wrote Melissa Heath Mullins, who had worked for Marcus when he managed the Dallas flagship in the late Seventies.
Glen Holden, former ambassador to Jamaica, called Marcus “one of the most unusual men I’ve ever known.”
“There is no subject, no event and no person that Lawrence wasn’t interested in,” Holden said. “I always thought if you have a plan or a program, take it to Lawrence Marcus because he’ll tell you all the new things about it and suggest ideas.”
An avid polo player, Holden recalled how a friend asked him to bring polo back to Houston in the Sixties. He brought the proposal to Marcus, a neophyte who took lessons, hired a young pro, bought a string of horses and “played with us every day that he possibly could,” Holden recalled.
When Marcus heard that polo had once been played on the National Mall in Washington, he wanted to bring it back.
“And sure enough we did…in 1969,” Holden said. “We took 25 horses for an exhibition game. It’s still being played there.”
The playing of “Taps” and a slow, silent flag-folding ceremony by an honor guard paid tribute to Marcus’ decorated U.S. Army service during World War II. Finally, a string quartet played “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and Marcus’ widow, Shelby, was escorted from the auditorium in tears.
There'll be no rest for those headed to Europe for men's, as Paris just closed the gap with Milan. According to a provisional calendar released by the Chambre Syndicale, Paris Men's Week will now open a day earlier on January 16. See new highlights on the official lineup on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
BREAKING: Jonathan Saunders is leaving @DVF. The designer has resigned from his position as chief creative officer of Diane von Furstenberg, the company said in a statement on Friday. At the time of his hire, von Furstenberg said Saunders’ arrival symbolized and facilitated her stepping back from the day-to-day duties that occupy the work of a full-time creative director. The British designer joined DVF in May 2016 and was in charge of all product categories. #wwdnews
For @versace_official’s spring ad campaign, the brand emphasized the archival prints from the spring tribute collection dedicated to the late Gianni Versace. Closing out the show were five of Gianni’s favorite models: Cindy, Naomi, Carla, Helena, and Claudia. Bowing on December 18, the new campaign is yet another tribute to supermodel-dom as the images by Steven Meisel are fronted by @iamnaomicampbell, @cturlington, @gisele and more. #wwdfashion
Four-time Oscar-nominated actress Annette Bening has been waiting 20 years to play Gloria Graham in "Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool," which will be released on December 29. The movie about Graham – a Hollywood star known for her controversial relationship with a younger Englishman named Peter Turner – is based off a memoir Turned wrote. "She felt vulnerable to him, because she loved him, she really did love him. And anyone that we really truly are in love with, we re vulnerable to in a very deep way," said Bening. Read our full interview with the modern icon of an actress on WWD.com. #wwdeye (📷: @ninebagatelles; Styled by @cristinaehrlich)
The crisp white button down: a staple that can be dressed up or down and accessorized throughout the decades. Here, on a Art Basel-goer in 2017 on the left and on the iconic Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday” in 1953 on the right. #tbt #wwdfashion (📷: Andrew Morales)
Known for her work with @victoriassecret, 25-year-old model @georgiafowler is raising her profile in Hollywood. Fowler stars in @vincecamuto’s holiday campaign, which launched in partnership with “Pitch Perfect 3.” “Almost every shoot with Vince Camuto, I’ve had to face a fear…It was definitely a challenge. I’m so grateful for it, though. I’ve always wanted to be a pop star, so that was the perfect chance,” Fowler said. Head to WWD.com to read about Fowler’s experience modeling, including at the #VSFashionShow, and her relationship with Nick Jonas. #wwdeye (📷: @jilliansollazzo)
EXCLUSIVE: Huda Kattan just became the first beauty influencer to land a major beauty deal. Kattan's business, @hudabeauty, has received a minority investment from private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners. The brand, which industry sources say is on track to do $200 million in retail sales for 2017, will receive support on product, retail and geographic expansion through the deal. Get all the details on the deal and read @_a_collins' interview with Kattan on WWD.com. Link in bio. (📷: @jgreenery) #wwdbeauty #wwdnews
Peruvian model @juanaburga_official – who is known for walking the runways of @rodarte, @viviennewestwood and @torybuch – is making the move to the big screen with drama “Los Últimos.” The film premiered in Argentina in November and arrives in the U.S. and Europe in 2018. On making the switch from modeling to acting, Burga told WWD: “It’s a completely different thing – a lot of people think it’s similar or try to connect things, especially like getting used to the camera or being looked at all the time or playing these different characrers, but film is a completely different story.” #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery)
London’s newly opened @designmuseum will look back on the life and work of Azzedine Alaïa in a show that the designer helped to curate before he died of heart failure last month. The retrospective, which Alaïa had worked on with Mark Wilson, chief curator of the @groningermuseum, will look at the impact of his work worldwide. The show, “Azzedine Alaïa: The Couturier,” will run from May 10 to October 7. Read more about the exhibit on WWD.com #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @zefashioninsider)


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IN 2001, John O'Loughlin was flying high. He was CEO of Qualceram, the company he founded with John Byrne in 1988 and the bathroom suite business was booming. The previous year, Qualceram had taken over the much larger Shires group, making it the largest independent manufacturer of bathroom suites in the UK and Ireland.
The manufacturing and distribution company had expanded rapidly from its Arklow base and was admitted to the London and Dublin stock exchanges in 1997. But while sales peaked at €106m in 2001, all was not well. Qualceram leveraged itself heavily to buy the Shires group, in the expectation of being able to write down the debt quickly with Shires' higher turnover. Instead, however, the business lost ground in the UK.
But the biggest body-blow was yet to come and Qualceram-Shires was hammered by the slump in the Irish house-building market, where it generated 45 per cent of its business. The group sold its headquarters in Arklow in 2007, but the business couldn't be turned around and in 2009 it went into examinership. A number of Qualceram-Shires subsidiaries were bought by international competitor Ideal Standard and continue to operate profitably.
Undeterred by their experience with Qualceram-Shires, in late 2009 O'Loughlin and Byrne set up Inver Bathrooms, which manufactures and distributes luxury bathroom suites. Two years on, the company employs 20 people in Arklow and O'Loughlin says that business is good. "If houses are not changing hands, people tend to invest in their homes and when people renovate they want to buy higher quality suites."
The UK makes up a large percentage of Inver Bathroom's revenue and sales continue to grow steadily. According to O'Loughlin the company will expand slowly and, for the time being at least, "small is beautiful".
Sunday Indo Business


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Much like several other vehicles in The Blue Oval’s current lineup, the refreshed 2022 Ford Focus is facing its own fair share of production issues related to supply chain constraints. The 2022 Focus launched without its new 13.2-inch infotainment screen earlier this year due to problems sourcing necessary components from Ukraine, which also prompted Ford to delay the new Focus ST in Australia, as it comes with that feature as standard equipment. Now, the limited-edition flagship Ford Focus ST-3 is reportedly being delivered to Australian customers without some of its promised features as well, according to CarExpert.
Multiple Ford Focus ST-3 owners have reported taking delivery of their vehicles without certain promised features present, including a heated steering wheel, launch control, and ambient lighting, though those features were advertised as standard equipment on the new model. Some of those customers contacted Ford Australia after discovering that these features were missing and were presented with a compensation offer, while at least one was told that the features weren’t available on the ST-3, even though press materials for the vehicle indicated that they would be.
Additionally, Ford was supposed to build 200 examples of the Ford Focus ST-3, but wound up producing just 63 as it transitioned to 2022 Focus production amid numerous COVID-19 and supply chain-related delays.
“A very small number of customers have raised concerns about certain features on their Focus ST-3, which were not included in any marketing material for the model line,” a Ford Australia spokesperson said in a statement. “Ford is taking those concerns seriously and working with each customer to address to their satisfaction. Any customer with concerns is asked to contact Ford customer service.”
We’ll have more on the 2022 Focus soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Focus news and around-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Need sedan similar to fusion


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Independent specialist search agency, Pure SEO, is heralding key leadership changes following business growth and a bolstering of expertise.
The acquisition of This Side Up agency at end of 2021 was followed by being awarded IAB Best Use of SEM and/or SEO, and again obtaining the prestigious Google Premier Partner status. To round out the first six months of 2022, the agency has added Programmatic Advertising into its service offering for clients.
The company says it is gearing up to maximise its client service offering with the latest innovation in digital marketing technologies and the increased demand of e-commerce in New Zealand, that is now at a penetration rate of 61 percent.
Pure SEO is forecasting digital marketing in New Zealand is set to be transformed with Google’s video action campaigns and Performance Max innovations rolling out.
“With more people consuming content on connected TVs, advances in hyper local marketing technology and Programmatic Digital OOH available, there’s never been a better time to leverage digital marketing and e-commerce and brands and businesses know this,” says Kyle Marr, Chief Operating Officer.
Their key leadership changes are:
Kyle Marr transitions from General Manager to Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the operations of the Pure SEO family of agencies: Pure SEO, Digital Popcorn and This Side Up.
Graham Gilbert takes the position of Head of Paid Search, which includes: Google Ads, Google Shopping, YouTube and Paid Search and Programmatic, with teams across New Zealand and Manila.
Prabin Yonzon transitions to SEO and CRO (Conversion Rate Optimisation) Manager, managing a team of specialists both in New Zealand and Manila.
Richard Conway remains active CEO across all Pure SEO entities, as well as the newly created NFT marketing agency, Toru Creative.


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RETAIL workers are under threat of redundancy after one city centre store shut down and two more face closure.
Underwear shop La Senza, at Trinity Walk shopping centre, closed after the business went into administration.
And clothing business Peacocks has appointed administrators and may close its store, also at Trinity Walk.
Talks are now being held to save budget clothing retailer Bonmarche, which has a shop on Westmorland Street, from going bust.
Retail bosses have warned of a tough year ahead after the UK crisis worsened, raising fears of job losses across the district.
Barbara Winston, Ridings Shopping Centre centre manager, said: “It is sad to see retailers having to bring in administrators, unfortunately it is going to be a tough year for retail and this may have an impact on more high street brands.”
La Senza sold 60 branches to retail group Alshaya UK Limited, but the Trinity Walk store was among those that closed. Nationally, 1,500 jobs have been lost.
Peacocks struggled to restructure debts of £240m and has appointed administration firm KPMG, which will decide which stores could close down.
Wakefield MP, Mary Creagh said: “Peacocks is a big name in Trinity Walk and my thoughts are with the staff whose jobs may be at risk.”
Bon Marche, which is part of the Peacocks group, said it was in talks with a potential buyer.


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Needham Market shop celebrating birthday says spend on the high street this Christmas
- Credit: Chloe Moore
More than 350 independent businesses in Needham Market, Stowmarket, Sudbury, Hadleigh and Eye have signed up for a new campaign which is encouraging shoppers to spend money on their local high street this Christmas.
The 'Virtual High Street' website boasts hundreds of special offers from many of Suffolk's most loved independent businesses and is the brainchild of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council.
Many of the shops and cafes on the specially created Virtual High Street website are offering discounts, in the run up to Christmas.
Amongst the businesses signed up for the campaign are family run Coffee Craft 'N' Moore who at the weekend celebrated five years on Needham Market High Street.
Recently the team at the shop, which started 13 years ago at the back of Needham Market Post Office, spent a whole day decorating the the coffee shop with thousands of baubles to bring a bit of Christmas cheer to their customers.
Chloe Moore, who works at the coffee and craft shop alongside her husband Steve Moore and mother-in-law Lesley Moore said: "Much has been said about the decline of the high streets but with people having worked from home for over a year, more people are appreciating their local area and lockdown has definitely proved this.
"Needham Market is a great place to shop as the shops are all independent shops which make our high street unique."
- 1 Jailed in Suffolk: The criminals put behind bars this week
- 2 Winter art trail to bring cheer to the streets of Stowmarket
- 3 5 roadworks to plan your journeys around in Suffolk this week
- 4 Burglar jailed for break-in at Stowmarket dental practice
- 5 Could you offer these rescue animals a forever home?
- 6 Suffolk set to be battered by strong winds as weather warning issued
- 7 Omicron variant will come to Suffolk - county prepares to tackle it
- 8 Some of the best mischievous elf ideas seen across Suffolk
- 9 Flood alert issued for Suffolk and north Essex coast
- 10 Christmas lighting display the 'spirit' of Stowmarket mum
Mrs Moore added: "The importance of the high street is it provides jobs for locals and you get a more personal experience and service."
The first Virtual High Street was built on a concept initially launched in Sudbury in March 2020 after Sudbury Town Council identified an opportunity to support businesses during the first national lockdown.
Councillor Michael Holt, Babergh District Council's member for economic growth said: "The Virtual High Street has provided real support to a number of Babergh's businesses and for many offered a digital presence for the first time.
"Spending just £5 on the local high street can have a huge impact to local businesses and the wider local economy."
Mid Suffolk District Council leader councillor Suzie Morley added: "The way we shop has changed over the last 18 months and more people are choosing to shop local and support their high streets."
To find our more about the local offers on the Virtual High Street or sign up as a business, you can visit virtualhighstreet.uk.


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New private home sales in November fall to eight-year low
Sales of new private homes in November were down 17.3 per cent from the month before.
SINGAPORE: New private home sales in November fell by about 17.3 per cent from the month before, amid a lack of new launches and year-end travel.
Excluding executive condominiums (ECs), developers sold 259 units in November, down from a revised 313 units the preceding month, data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) showed on Thursday (Dec 15).
This is the lowest number of private homes sold since December 2014, when 230 units excluding ECs were sold, said Ms Christine Sun, senior vice president of research and analytics at OrangeTee & Tie.
“Demand for new homes was muted last month amid the holiday season. Sales activities typically slow down during the year’s end, and developers hold back major launches,” she said.
“Some buyers were also holding back their purchases in anticipation of newer project launches next year when there will be more housing options,” she added.
Besides the year-end travel and the lack of new launches, the two rounds of property cooling measures have also affected new private home sales, said One Global Group’s senior analyst Mohan Sandrasegeran.
The Government introduced a set of cooling measures on Sep 30, which includes a 15-month wait-out period for private property owners who want to buy an HDB flat.
That came less than a year after a set of cooling measures was implemented in December last year.
CORE CENTRAL REGION MOST POPULAR
Of the 259 units sold in November, the majority – 148 units – were in the Core Central Region (CCR). A total of 73 units in the Rest of the Central Region were sold, while the Outside Central Region saw 38 units sold.
The proportion of foreigners buying a home in Singapore rose to 19.7 per cent in November, said Mr Lee Sze Teck, senior director of research at Huttons Asia.
He added that the top five projects with sales to foreigners last month were mainly in the CCR.
“As there have been limited number of fresh new launches in CCR introduced in 2022, it likely led to pent up demand from foreigners in the segment,” said Mr Sandrasegeran.
Looking to next year, Mr Lee said the supply of new homes will pick up to an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 units spread over 40 launches. That is more than the number of units estimated to be launched this year.
“Several of the major project launches in Q1 2023 should be well received by the market,” he said.
He added that with low levels of unsold stock, the market is likely to be resilient next year, and prices are expected to increase by up to 5 per cent.
Ms Sun said the increase in launches next year could help east some “pent-up demand, especially in the suburbs”.
“The increase in supply may alleviate some of the supply-demand imbalance facing the market and help to stabilise price growth next year,” she added.


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» A year and a half without clear choice: Although Microsoft claims that the missing screen was replaced as soon as the issue was brought to the company’s attention, European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia has announced that the EU is once again on the case. “We are now opening formal proceedings against the company,” said Almunia in a press release, adding, “If following our investigation, this breach is confirmed – and Microsoft seems to acknowledge the facts here – this could have severe consequences.”
That’s what a new antitrust case alleges: Adobe, Apple, Google, Intel, Intuit, Lucasfilm, and Pixar find themselves facing a new antitrust lawsuit in California. The accusations come from five software engineers, who allege that the companies conspired to stifle pay and job mobility in an effort to cut costs. District Judge Lucy Koh rejected the companies’ request to dismiss the suit, saying,” The fact that all six identical bilateral agreements were reached in secrecy among seven defendants in a span of two years suggests that these agreements resulted from collusion, and not from coincidence.” source
We are a bit surprised by Twitter’s comments about Search plus Your World, because they chose not to renew their agreement with us last summer (http://goo.gl/chKwi), and since then we have observed their rel=nofollow instructions.
As far as I know, this is the first time that Google (or Twitter) has publicly given any details as to why the tweet search deal was not renewed — “they chose not to renew their agreement with us”, which reads suspiciously like “fuck you, Twitter”.
I’ll ask Twitter to comment on Google’s response to Twitter’s response to Google.
[via Mathew Ingram on Twitter]
Switching gears, it appears Google and Twitter are fighting in public. We felt that face-slap that is Google’s post from way over here.
So we get hauled in front of the Congress for developing a product that’s free, that serves a billion people. Okay? I mean, I don’t know how to say it any clearer. I mean, it’s fine. It’s their job. But it’s not like we raised prices. We could lower prices from free to…lower than free? You see what I’m saying?Google Chairman Eric Schmidt • Proving to be a bit cagey in an interview after taking questions at a Senate hearing a week ago. Google is facing antitrust questions that they’re abusing their power in the search market, and Schmidt claims that there’s a disconnect at play between Washington and the tech culture of Silicon Valley. “The press is so young, they don’t understand the history here,” he said. “We’re still a small component of what a whole bunch of other companies have done, and certainly most other industries. So I reject all such charges.” Think he’s right about all this? source (via • follow)
» Then again, a lot has: The computer industry has evolved away from Microsoft’s model while still remaining tightly attached to it. With the growth of tablets and mobile phones (two markets where Microsoft simply struggles to stay afloat), and the evolution of open-source and Web apps into methods that get around Microsoft’s dominance, in many ways the company is weaker, even if we mostly still use Windows, even though OSX is probably better. Also, we think Google’s Chromebooks could chip into Microsoft’s market share in short order. None of these things are the Justice Department’s doing, though. The tech industry, instead, worked around Microsoft.
» It’s all about infrastructure: AT&T is trying hard to play catch-up with Verizon, which not only has more customers and bandwidth, but also now has the iPhone. The bummer for T-Mobile users is that AT&T’s monthly rates are far higher than T-Mobile’s, which as you might guess has people worried. While T-Mobile has tried to get ahead of talk like this, the concerns are enough that many analysts are warning that the deal won’t go through.
Is Google acting anti-competitively? Does it use its search-engine prowess to favor its own services over those of competitors? Does the company’s market share (66 percent in the U.S., 80 percent in Europe) constitute a monopoly? Do sites like Foundem, eJustice.fr and Ciao (the latter owned by Microsoft) have bad luck with Google because of crappy information-thin design that completely wastes your time and has little relevance (which we’d argue with the first two) or because there are competitive issues afoot (which seems realistic with the last one)? The European Union is asking these questions themselves as part of an antitrust trial. Seems Google’s getting too big for its britches. source


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Global Hemp Innovation Center to Be Based at Oregon State University
Oregon State University (OSU) announced that it is launching the Global Hemp Innovation Center, the nation’s largest research center devoted to the study of hemp. Lead researcher Jay Noller explains the Center’s aim as follows: “We want to understand how to efficiently and sustainably grow hemp for seeds, for hemp fiber materials that can be used in textiles and construction materials, including as an alternate to gravel in concrete, for hemp essential oils that have popular health and wellness uses, and for hemp grain for use in foods and feed. Multi-use hemp is what we are excited about globally.” Researchers are not only planting hemp for research purposes in Oregon, but are also working with international university faculty to learn more about the propagation and uses of hemp. Additionally, OSU announced that it is launching seed certification services for hemp seeds to be used by farmers registered in Oregon.


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The 3 biggest barriers to in-housing: How to combat them
There is a revolution happening across marketing. Thousands of brands are electing to take some, if not all, of their marketing functions in-house.
In fact, according to an exclusive Bannerflow and Digiday report, 91% of decision-makers believe that in-housing is now the new normal.
Yet behind this rather large statistic hide some rather notable concerns. It turns out the move to in-house marketing isn’t easy! The report highlights the barriers of moving in-house, with issues surrounding talent acquisition, creativity, and support identified as impediments.
The question is: how can brands overcome these challenges? And how can brands ensure that in-house marketing remains profitable and effective? Read on to find out…
1. Hiring the perfect in-house team
For 56% of respondents, the biggest barrier to creating an effective in-house team was in a lack of existing skills and talent.
For Michael Olaye, CEO at in-house agency Dare, “The number one thing is that you have to get not only just the talent but the right personality as well. Every brand, every office, every building requires somebody that will fit in and somebody that can be accepted on both sides.”
Why is this a barrier?
One of the difficulties in in-house working is attracting top talents and constantly challenging them. Agency staff are surrounded by skilled, like-minded individuals. They also work across a variety of brands and may even have different projects to try their hand at.
What this means is that brands have to work extremely hard to both hire and retain talented staff. In the past, creating the sort of team that rivals the most diverse of agencies has proved a real challenge.
So how can in-house teams tackle this challenge?
The answer isn’t easy. But leveraging the expertise of external agencies can help. As well as creating a dedicated HR team to support in-house talent acquisition and retention.
However, candidate attitudes are also changing. In-house teams generally boast a better work-life balance. What’s more, creative ownership can be difficult to find within an agency environment – and talented staff know this. For these reasons, it is now becoming easier for brands to attract the right employees.
- Hiring an in-house team is no easy task.
- Employee attitudes are changing – in-house is now an attractive option.
- If you want to know more, read our blog on how to hire the perfect in-house team.
2. Setting limitations on creativity
Many brands reported that agility was one of their main drivers for moving their marketing in-house. Having the ability to create campaigns that cater to current events becomes far easier when you have control over the creative process. No one likes waiting days to sign-off campaigns!
Surely, more agility, more room for creativity, right?
Not quite. When we spoke to marketing directors about in-housing, they were concerned that creativity was being curtailed by the need for greater budget efficiencies. For with full accountability, comes great responsibility!
Why is this a barrier?
With the pressure to deliver results and prove your worth, it can place a restriction upon creative free-reign – not that this is necessarily a bad thing.
In fact, 88 percent of brands think marketers place a greater emphasis on results over creativity. Alongside 30 percent responding that pressure to deliver results has also become a blocker.
The danger is that in the pressure to prove in-housing is a worthwhile investment, marketers lose sight of the creative aspect to their roles. If you like, the pendulum may have swung too far the other way and needs rebalancing.
So how can in-house teams prevent this?
For Rick Oakley, Head of Digital Marketing at Lucozade Ribena Suntory it’s all about ‘getting the right-balance between sales-driven campaigns that deliver short-term ROI and brand-building activities, which can deliver greater long-term results.’
Not only this, but it is also important to remove those unnecessary blockers to creativity. Implement the right technology to eliminate inefficient workflows and processes.
Indeed, ad tech such as the creative management platform (CMP) removes impediments to creativity: With the ability to build, scale, publish, analyse and optimise online ads in one.
- Achieving a balance between ROI and creativity is no easy task.
- Determine the right technology to eliminate unnecessary barriers to creativity.
- Setting clear objectives for campaigns is a clear way to aid creative and ROI equilibrium.
3. Lack of internal buy-in
For many brands, the challenge of in-house marketing is not the act itself, but is in fact getting the support for it in the first place.
For example, according to our survey 31% of decision makers cite a lack of internal support, while another 13% have trouble communicating the value of in-housing. Selling in-house internally is certainly not a small matter to overcome.
Why is this a barrier?
Moving even a part of marketing in-house is an enormous undertaking and considerable commitment. For in-house marketers, selling the concept of in-house can be a difficult one.
Rick Oakley again: ‘With so few major brands having adopted this model back in 2015, the initial challenge was getting internal buy-in. But with quality work produced in-house — that any agency would be proud of, I believe businesses are becoming increasingly aware of its value.’
How can marketers gain support for in-housing?
Brands in 2019 – and beyond – should have fewer difficulties. With so many companies now taking their marketing in-house, it will become easier and easier to sell it internally.
Indeed, once companies recognise the obvious benefits of in-house marketing, the barriers are a lot easier to overcome. With the very real benefits of cost-saving, efficiency, and agility proving that the results from in-house are there for the taking.
- Getting internal buy-in is no small matter.
- But look to others and early-adopters that have proven its success.
- Make sure to check out our blog on the benefits to in-housing too.
This blog only scratches the surface of in-house marketing. What it means for marketers ,and what the future holds for this growing trend will be fascinating.
However, barriers we have identified are not minor and do warrant concern. Yet, they are not insurmountable, and given the right advice and the right technology – such a CMP – relatively easy to overcome.
For more unique insights download the Bannerflow/Digiday report on in-housing here.


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If you’re a fan of Line Friends and bored of their regular plushes, you’re in luck! Line Friends Japan and Korea have both just released new collections and they’re both definitely one of the more unique collections we’ve seen.
To commemorate spring, Line Friends Japan has released their Liberty collection, covering Brown and Coney in florals. Both the characters also have matching tote bags, accessory pouch and pencil case. So it’s just a matter which is your favourite character. If like us, you can’t choose between Brown or Coney, just pick your favourite character!
Line Friends Korea however, seem to be going in a less conventional route. They’re dressing up Brown and Choco in complete denim, in a collaboration with Japanese fabric maker, iSKO.
Not a fan of denim plushes? Line Friends Korea has also released a casing for your laptops. Their denim casing features Choco and would be perfect for 13” notebooks or even just for keeping your notes.
But we can’t all head to Japan or Korea to get these plushes for ourselves. And you don’t have to! Just place a request on Airfrov and traveller heading to these countries can get you a plush!
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12/08/2010 11:45 PM
The outlook may be mixed on hiring practices but to many of the unemployed, it can seem like there’s no end in sight and a new movie out Friday, "The Company Men," will spotlight the issue. Nothing...
12/03/2010 12:02 AM
Forgot to buy a holiday gift? No problem! BnBFinder.com has you covered. Sneaky relatives, newly significant others, and sly bosses don’t stand a chance against a BnBFinder Experiential Gift Certif...
11/23/2010 10:35 PM
Need a great gift in a pinch? Does it need to look well-thought out, even personalized, on a whim? Let an experiential BnBFinder.com Gift Certificate save the day.
11/23/2010 10:30 PM
Tour a luxurious home, sample holiday cookies, candies, even wines; then repeat. Many bed and breakfasts across the U.S. open their homes to guests seeking inn-to-inn holiday flair.
11/17/2010 12:10 AM
Napa Valley will be decorating their historic inns with festive lights, calling in entertainment, and offering a chic wine and hors d'oeuvres tour on Saturday, December 4th.
11/17/2010 12:01 AM
Who needs a drive-thru when you can get your chocolate delivered on a sleigh-thru? Just jingle your bell on the 8th annual Jingle Bell Chocolate Tour in Jackson. NH B&Bs also cater to visitors.
11/10/2010 05:45 AM
Done with the routine yuletide celebration and looking to kick up the excitement this New Year? We thought so. BnBFinder.com has put together a slew of ways to ring in 2011, and not a single one is...
11/10/2010 02:39 AM
Imagine going door-to-door, peeking in meticulously decorated holiday homes, and collecting cookies along the way, that’s exactly what the 14th White Mountain Inn to Inn Cookie Tour is like.
11/09/2010 10:54 PM
It’s a sugar high like no other. More than half a dozen bed and breakfasts in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, have teamed up to welcome revelers homemade holiday cookies and treats as they wander inn-to-...
10/26/2010 10:03 PM
Forget grandma’s house, Americans may continue their over the river and through the woods trek but in this economy, it’s to a bed and breakfast they should go! While the market struggles to make i...
10/14/2010 10:15 PM
It’s a hair salon. It’s a book store. It’s Beauty and the Book, a bookstore started by a laid off book publisher’s assistant who wasn’t quite ready to turn the chapter. Thank goodness for pink slip...
10/13/2010 10:43 PM
An effort of good will started by the bed and breakfast community to offer a free night stay to veterans on Veteran’s Day is turning into a reciprocal chain of kindness, pay-it-forward-style.
09/21/2010 10:04 PM
Bed and Breakfasts are such warm and inviting places to stay that some guests never want to leave. Sure, it’s all fun and games, until you hear whispers, creaky boards, or second guess weird shadow...
09/14/2010 09:26 PM
Not in time to make it to the many balloon festivals taking place this fall? Why not schedule your own balloon getaway – on your own schedule? Why should you have to hit Albuquerque, New Mexico in ...
09/09/2010 12:45 AM
Move over fall foliage, hot air balloon festivals across the country are set to draw thousands of travelers seeking to peep at more than just leaves. BnBFinder.com has put together a list of best b...
09/07/2010 10:15 PM
Inn-to-winery long weekends in Sedona, Arizona offer wallet-friendly gourmet getaways to travelers seeking a high-value, luxury, bed and breakfast escape -- complete with restaurant reservations at...
07/20/2010 08:00 PM
July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and inns across the country are joining the celebration by offering exhilarating getaway packages that combine fun outdoor activities with trips to the ...
07/07/2010 04:52 AM
The growing trend to have family reunions at neutral venues such as inns and B&Bs allows families to combine maintaining ties with having a total vacation experience that includes time together and...
06/16/2010 04:35 AM
Hospitality expert Mary White interviewed on unusual B&B escapes for men, Inns of Maine, hidden value of B&B Stays versus a hotel.
06/16/2010 02:03 AM
Fall Foliage and Leaf Peepers Connect at Bed and Breakfasts Across North America


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Best Organic Farmer 2017 – Guy Watson at the Soil Association BOOM awards
Guy quite literally skipped to accept this award, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, as 2017 marks Riverford’s 30th year.
Claire McDermott, Business Development Director of the Soil Association said, “Guy out of all the nominees for the award has brought innovation and change to organic farming from the moment he started and continues to do so today; setting an example and lead across the industry that we all aspire to”.
Best Organic Market Innovator 2017 – Guy Watson at the Soil Association BOOM awards
This was Guy’s second award of the night, recognising his continual innovation and strive to always try to find a better ways of doing things.


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Beginning August 22nd, wireless operator Telefonica will start scaling back its iPhone stock in order to prepare for a September 12 launch of “a new smart phone.”According to
a source described by Engadget as vigilant, Telefonica will be going through this scaling back phase until September 12th when the three week program will conclude with the arrival of a new Apple phone.
The tipster’s exact words were: "…will of course prepare us for the launch of a new smart phone."
With summer’s only event capable of yielding an iPhone 5 announcement - WWDC - Apple now has the fall period to focus on unveiling its latest marvel.
While autumn has generally been reserved for iPod events and music-related announcements, this year will most likely break tradition.
This is for two reasons (at least):1.
Because iPod sales continue to decline, which means Apple will have fewer events that focus primarily on the players (and iTunes, implicitly);2.
Because Apple already has some kind of show scheduled to properly introduce iCloud, iOS 5, updated models of its more successful iPods (like the iPod touch) and last, but certainly not least, the iPhone 5 which cannot wait until 2012 to be launched if Apple wants to keep its distance from competition.
Rumors about the yet unconfirmed phone abound, with most reports saying the device will boast a four-inch screen (on the diagonal), higher density pixel cameras, a relocated LED flash, a narrower (almost inexistent) screen bezel, a tapered design (as opposed to the square-ish iPhone 4), and other elements.
Under the hood, Apple’s newt smartphone will almost surely pack the A5 dual core chip that’s currently found in the iPad 2.
Surveys have shown that many smartphone fans - some Apple device owners, others not - are eagerly anticipating the phone’s arrival.
According to one study, customers want Apple to keep the price reasonable, as well as to improve battery life.


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Nokia was one of the giants in the global mobile market before the industry went through a major change. The company folded a few years ago by selling its mobile business to Microsoft and even Redmond couldn’t find its feet in the competitive market. The Nokia brand still holds a lot of value today and it’s now being revived. The upcoming Nokia Android smartphone has been spotted on GeekBench where it has revealed some of its specifications.
HMD Global is the company that’s working on Nokia’s comeback. It has a 10 year license to produce smartphones and tablets under the Nokia brand which are going to be built by Foxconn in China. Rumor has it that HMD Global is going to launch two high-end devices as well which will feature premium metal bodies, large displays, fingerprint scanners, and more.
As per the GeekBench listing, the upcoming Nokia D1C Android handset is going to be a mid-range device as it will be powered by a Snapdragon 430 processor with 3GB RAM. The GeekBench listing also suggests that this handset will be running Android 7.0 Nougat right out of the box.
From the looks of it, this isn’t going to be a high-end device that people are going to line up to buy, but it may very well be a respectable mid-range device that’s affordably priced. That’s a crucial distinction because an affordable device that carries the iconic Nokia brand might capture the attention of customers who are in the market for an affordable yet robust device.
Filed in Nokia.. Read more about


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A true testament to the strength of social network and the purchasing power of Chinese budding fashionistas was seen today at the once in a blue moon Roger Vivier sample sale. The usual fashionista crowd who normally frequent the designer’s sale were shocked to find themselves wrapped around the long city block of the 24hour post office waiting at least 1.5-2 hours to get inside the Soiffer Haskin loft hosting the sale just across the street. And who was ahead of them? Hundreds of Chinese students armed with their parents’ credit cards had already been there since 7am waiting for the 10am sale to begin. To while away the time, they came prepared with their books to study while waiting! They were no slouch students either. Many of them were clad in top notch designer gears from Chanel, Prada, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, et.al. Some even spotted playful animal toy shoes by Adidas! These hardcore fashionista teenagers and young adults waited hours to get shoes and bags by Roger Vivier costing anywhere from $300 to as high as $2500 (that is half off their usual full price).
A few of the staff manning the crowd were equally surprised by the turn out. The almost 2000 people turnout (within a few hours of the door opening) would be a record for any sample sale ever! We decided to investigate a little further by asking some of the students how they heard about the sale. Many of the students cited a tweeter feed that went viral on a Chinese version of Twitter. A Roger Vivier store only just opened in China a few months ago which of course helped established the luxury brand in the country. However, the same could be said of many other designers with stores in China who also have samples sales in the US, but we have never seen anything quite like this before!
24 year old FIT student Michelle Zhao bought 4 pairs of shoes, 2 bags and 2 belts after forking over $2000+, while her friend Victoria (20 yrs old) slashed through $6000 for 16 pairs of shoes! She said she was buying them for her sisters and was busy shipping some of them at the Post Office across the street when we spotted her. Victoria flew from California to New York just for the sale! Both said their parents are helping to fund the purchase. So they where sure to get something for their mothers as well. Good call, considering mother’s day is next month.
If planning on attending the sale, be prepared to spend at least 1.5-2 hours waiting in line if heading there today. Don’t have the time to wait? Opt for another day after the first wave of rush has tapered off. The sale is on till Tuesday, April 9. Once you get in, it’s a sight for sore eyes –a shoe playground where you can expect to spend hours gawking and counting your pennies trying to figure out which style to pick! The possibilities are endless. Enjoy!
Get your copy of Shoeholics magazine and enter a chance to win a FREE OF SHOES!


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Can Tesla Motors Inc. Solve America's Traffic Congestion Problem?
Nothing makes Tesla shareholders shriek louder than the mention of the possibility of a recall being announced. Don't worry -- the next one coming up is just another over-the-air software update, which means current owners don't have to do a thing. The update actually could make their lives much easier; it could eventually change life as we know it by using computerized logistics to take GPS to a new level for everyone on the road -- literally everyone.
Back in January in an interview on CNBC, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, said that the software updates are similar to ones that occur on your cell phone. Unlike with vehicles made by other manufacturers, you don't need to physically bring in your car for service. Musk prefers the word "remedy" and even cleverly tweeted that the word "recall" needs to be recalled.
Part of the reason why a recall of any motor vehicle sounds so scary to investors is that the word instantly causes fear about potential design flaws and safety issues. Nobody likes the public to be put at risk by a faulty product, a state of affairs that can be very expensive to fix, not to mention be potentially damaging to public perception of a company.
As with any new technology, some people are skeptical and apprehensive about Tesla's vehicles. Safety is an important selling point (and the Model S has been rated as the safest vehicle on the road), especially considering that the company has yet to spend a single penny on advertising and relies on the media and word of mouth to spread its reputation.
Perception is everything in terms of safety right now. Musk even said, during the company's June 3 annual stockholder meeting, that the underbody shields that Tesla now offers as a standard feature on its vehicles "aren't really necessary." He said half-jokingly that the shields would be sort of helpful "so that you can drive over concrete block[s] and be OK."
Not surprising, Musk was quick to remind everybody that there has yet to be a single major injury involving a Tesla vehicle. Not only did a guy drive "through two concrete walls at 110 miles per hour," but Musk revealed that apparently somebody literally drove off a cliff in one of the cars and walked away fine.
Musk announced that the newest software that will be coming to the Tesla Model S later this year will allow customers to personalize their cars. The vehicle will actually "learn your behavior" and automatically adjust to what you want.
Additionally, the software will be equipped with a new type of GPS on steroids. It will alert you to sudden changes in traffic and recommend other routes. But that's not what's truly remarkably.
What the software will be able to do is use the data from other Tesla vehicles as a priority data source for what's happening on the roads. This means that as production and sales continue to multiply and Tesla hits the mass market, then each car will be guided logistically to figure out the best path for each so as to ease congestion on the roads. Even those drivers without a Tesla will benefit from Tesla's vehicles being redirected away from congested areas.
Foolish final thoughts
Musk also said in that call, "So, as the number of Model S in the neighborhood increases, the quality of the traffic will actually improve quite considerably."
As long as Tesla helps clear the streets and continues its safety track record, count me in. I think others will appreciate it, too, which will allow a little extension in the time frame before Tesla has to begin advertising to really sell its products.
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The article Can Tesla Motors Inc. Solve America's Traffic Congestion Problem? originally appeared on Fool.com.Nickey Friedman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of Tesla Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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