text:
In the business of refrigeration, there have been recent developments in refrigerant research, supermarket energy-efficiency improvements, and the acquisition of a commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturer.
Rheem reported it has acquired Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG) of Scottsboro, Ala., from Monomoy Capital Partners. Rheem is a manufacturer of heating, cooling, water heating, and pool/spa heating products for both residential and commercial applications. HTPG is a manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment for the foodservice, food retail, and other nonconsumable markets.
“The acquisition is strategic for Rheem, and HTPG’s employees and customers will benefit from the partnership,” said J.R. Jones, president and CEO, Rheem. “Heat transfer technology is core to every product that both companies manufacture. Rheem and HTPG have the opportunity to combine an extensive knowledge of heat transfer technology to develop innovative new products.”
According to a statement, “One of Rheem’s immediate goals is to reinvigorate the HTPG brand with significant product development.”
“A number of Rheem customers sell heating, cooling, water heating, and refrigeration products, and many of them are also HTPG’s customers,” added Jones. “Aligning Rheem and HTPG will be a strong combination due to the common customers served and both companies having excellent reputations for quality and reliability.”
HTPG will be a standalone division of Rheem.
Danfoss has announced that the supermarket chain Winn-Dixie is the winner of its fourth annual EnVisioneer of the Year award. Winn-Dixie, a subsidiary of Bi-Lo Holdings, is using Danfoss AK-SC 255 system controllers integrated with Danfoss Electronically Delivered Services (EDS) to improve store energy use, according to the announcement.
|Jim Vannan, left, energy management director for Bi-Lo Holdings, receives the EnVisioneer of the Year Award presented to Winn-Dixie by Jim Boyle, Danfoss senior vice president, electronic controllers and services, during a ceremony at Winn-Dixie's headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla.|
In a statement from Danfoss, use of the technology has helped result “in a reduction of more than 53.4 million kWh over the past two years, which equates to savings of more than $5.3 million. Less energy consumption also means that Winn-Dixie has reduced its annual carbon dioxide emissions in excess of 41,000 metric tons.”
"Danfoss launched this program to demonstrate the business value of investing in energy efficiency and environment responsibility," said John Galyen, president, Danfoss North America. "We congratulate and thank Winn-Dixie for its efforts to advance energy-efficient, sustainable solutions that support improved performance and profitability, higher standards, and lower operating costs."
Arkema has announced that HFC-427A (which it markets as Forane® 427A and promotes as a retrofit refrigerant) has been approved by Emerson Climate Technologies for aftermarket use with Copeland Discus™ compressors in low- and medium-temperature refrigeration applications.
Arkema also said that Emerson is updating it technical bulletins (93-11 R28 and 95-14) with 427A’s approval for aftermarket use with Copeland Discus compressors and POE oil in low-temperature Demand Cooling™ and medium-temperature refrigeration rack applications.
“Emerson’s endorsement is valued within the industry,” said Patti Conlan, marketing manager, Arkema. “Our customers have found Forane 427A refrigerant to match R-22’s capacity and efficiency closely, while reducing compressor discharge temperatures. Securing Copeland approval gives Arkema and our customers’ further confidence of the capabilities of Forane 427A refrigerant and the benefits it offers to anyone looking for a long-term retrofit solution."
Honeywell has announced that investments of approximately $300 million will be made by the company and key suppliers to increase production capacity for HFO-1234yf.
Among these investments, Honeywell will construct a high-volume manufacturing plant at the company’s existing Geismar, La., refrigerants manufacturing site, which is expected to be fully operational in 2016, according to a statement from the company. The exact size of the plant will depend on supply agreements that Honeywell is putting in place with major customers.
HFO-1234yf is being developed for use in automotive air conditioning. Other HFOs are being developed for use in stationary equipment.
“Demand for HFO-1234yf is increasing around the world in response to concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and the need to comply with the Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC) Directive in Europe and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations in the U.S.,” said Andreas Kramvis, president and CEO of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies. “After many years of analysis by the automotive industry, policymakers, and environmental groups, it is clear that HFO-1234yf is a safe, effective, and robust solution to address global warming and fuel efficiency. Honeywell’s investments will ensure adequate supply to meet growing demand.”
According to statistics supplied by Honeywell, about 500,000 vehicles using HFO-1234yf are on the road today.
Publication date: 1/27/2014


text:
Scottish FA extend partnership with kit brand Adidas
The Scottish FA has extended its partnership with global sports brand adidas until 2028.
The extension to the current partnership will see adidas’ role as the Scottish FA’s official kit supplier continue into its 18th year.
Chris Rawlings, Scottish FA Chief Commercial Officer: “The renewal of our long-term partnership with adidas is another positive step in what has been a positive year for the Scottish FA.
“For over a decade now, the Scottish FA and adidas have collaborated to produce innovative kit for Scotland supporters to proudly sport the colours of their national teams.
“We are proud of our association with adidas and we look forward to continuing the partnership over the coming years.”
Chris Walsh, Vice President of brand at adidas North Europe said: “We are delighted to extend the fantastic partnership we have with the Scottish FA that dates back to 2010.
“This is an exciting time for both the Scottish FA & adidas, we are looking forward to how the partnership can grow further both on and off the field of play.”

domain: news


text:
A SCOTS mum has dressed her daughter and nephew up as an Amazon Alexa device and plug ahead of Halloween.
Adorable images show Alexa Denholm, 4, dressed up as the virtual assistant speaker alongside her cousin Bobby Reid, 3, as a plug.
Alexa’s mum, Megan Denholm, created her daughter’s costume using an old play den which she spray painted black before adding details to represent the AI voice speaker.
The 27-year-old, from Lanark, created a gold “home” button and added LED lights to show Alexa being switched on and ready to answer questions.
Bobby’s mum, Tylar Denholm, 22, used old toilet roll tubes and tin foil and stuck them onto a black jumper for the son’s costume.
Support worker Megan posted images of Alexa and Bobby’s outfits to Facebook on Wednesday.
She wrote: “Every year my daughter chooses her Halloween costume, and I have to try my best to make it.
“Her name is Alexa, therefore this year she chose to be an Amazon Alexa and her baby cousin wanted to be her plug.”
Megan’s post has gained almost 5,000 likes and over 300 comments from social media users who thought the outfits were amazing.
Polly Hatton said: “Absolutely love this!”
Paul Metcalf wrote: “I love the plug. That’s brilliant .
“You can have hours of fun screaming commands at her. ‘ALEXA!!!! turn down the music’.”
Alysha Ellwood commented: “How cute her cousin wanted to be her plug. So gorgeous and great job.”
Natalie Evans wrote: “I just laughed so much I dribbled, this is brilliant. What characters.”
And Natalie Steel added: “You need to give me ideas for the girls… your costumes are always brilliant.”
This is not the first time Megan has been creative with Alexa’s Halloween outfits.
The youngster has dressed up as a McDonald’s Happy Meal and a box of Kraft’s Cheesy Pasta in the past.
Speaking today, Megan said: “It took me about two and a half hours.
“We got the tube, which is the body of Alexa, which was a kids play den. My sister spray painted it black for me coming home from work.
“I got home from work at 11pm and stayed up until 2am to put it all together.”
Megan added: “Alexa loved it, every year she chooses her costume and I make it for her.
“Bobby, her plug, is her best friend and cousin. He was so excited to be part of her costume.
“My sister made the plug with toilet roll tubes and tin foil then glued them onto a black jumper.
“And we got a wrist link to keep them connected.”


text:
You read it here first! We are pre-publishing features on Covid-19 slated for our June 2020 issue. So stay in, stay safe and enjoy free access to Penang Monthly's e-Archive during Malaysia's Movement Control Order.
BRICK-AND-MORTAR art galleries are hugely impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic because of the lockdown and the consequent economic crunch.
Poster of Wei-Ling Galleries' webinar, What Makes ART Powerful?
A few galleries had reported zilch sales since the Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18, and which has since been extended four times till June 9. KL’s Segaris Art Centre chief executive officer Nizam Rahmat says that sales ...
To read the rest of the article and to access our e-Archive, subscribe to us for
RM150 a year.
Subscribe Sign in


text:
Unlike the DA mayors, ANC mayor for eMalahleni Municipality plans to go ahead with the earlier plan of purchasing R1.5 million luxury vehicle.
The DA revealed this saying the municipality’s ANC mayor Lindiwe Ntshalintshali would be getting a new car that would be purchased with millions of rand
The ANC mayor Ntshalintshali earlier announced a reversal of the purchase of a R1.5 million luxury vehicle saying the money meant for the purchase of the car would be directed to service delivery.
ANC Provincial secretary Mandla Ndlovu also confirmed that buying a new vehicle was no longer on the council’s agenda, and encouraged the mayor to consider an “affordable” vehicle when the time comes to change her current vehicle.
The DA at the time said the money meant for the luxury purchase was to be sourced from service delivery budgets and therefore should not be wasted.
In a statement released on Thursday, the DA said: “The mayor’s insistence on the car is a shameless slap in the face to the people of eMalahleni who to this day battle to survive in a municipality where service delivery is virtually non-existent. It also begs the question of whether or not the car has already been bought.”
“The DA will continue to do everything possible to ensure that money that is meant for the people is spent on the people. We will not sit back and let the ANC brazenly squander public funds at the expense of the people,” the political party said.
Meanwhile, the DA-led municipalities like in Tshwane and Johannesburg had maintained that the purchase of luxury vehicles will be permanently stopped as funds will be directed to better peoples’ lives.
No new luxury cars will be bought or leased for politicians in Tshwane, the DA mayor said in a statement last month.
If vehicles currently owned by Tshwane require replacement, sensible and low-cost vehicles will be procured.
“A Hyundai i20 or Toyota Corolla can do the same job for a politician as an expensive sedan,” Msimanga had said.
At that, the Tshwane ANC Youth League accused Msimanga of political grandstanding over his cancellation of the City’s partnership with BMW to ensure officials drove cheaper cars.
ANCYL regional chairperson Lesego Makhubela said the DA-led municipality was trying to reverse the gains the ANC had made in improving the lives of black children.
“We are further convinced that the cutting of the so-called ‘luxury cars’ is political grandstanding at its best and it is speedily ricocheting to expose how politically bankrupt the racist Democratic Alliance is,” he told reporters in Pretoria.


text:
Hepsiburada Ecommerce Platform Seeks Nasdaq IPO
D-MARKET Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi (in English, D-MARKET Electronic Services & Trading), the company behind Turkey’s leading e-commerce player Hepsiburada.com, filed for publication in the United States Nasdaq exchange.
the recording was filed Friday (May 28) with the federal government Security and Trade Commission (SECOND). The company seeks to sell American Depository Shares (ADS) on the Nasdaq corresponding to the class B shares of D-MARKET Elektronik Hizmetler ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi shares.
“Hepsidurada” means “You can find anything you want here”, founder and president of the company Hanzade Doğan written in the SEC filing. The company said it was Turkey’s second largest eTailer.
“I founded Hepsiburada with the vision of creating the gateway for the digitization of commerce in Turkey, from purchases to payments to last mile delivery,” Doğan wrote. “Throughout our 20 year history, we have developed Hepsiburada with the belief that digitization will improve commerce by connecting every household and every trader in Turkey. And by offering the widest range of products to our customers while setting the standard for affordability, affordability and convenience. “
She added in the file: “We offer next day delivery to all corners of Turkey and make all goods and services accessible to every customer. With our long tail selection and extensive catalog of over 44 million SKUs, our customers can find everything they need right at their fingertips.
She wrote, echoing the language used to describe Amazon: “Hepsiburada is basically a technology company. We are constantly innovating and introducing new services, from payment tools to agile and scalable last mile delivery infrastructure. “
The company noted in the SEC filing that the pandemic had spurred growth, but also conceded, “We recorded negative free cash flow in the three months ended March 31, 2021, due to purchases of stocks higher than usual, in order to be able to guarantee the supply COVID-19 containment period in the second quarter of 2021. “
According to Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Tracker, Turkey has lost 47,405 people to COVID-19 in 5.2 million cases. The tracker further said 15 percent of the population had been fully vaccinated.


text:
INDIANAPOLIS — During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, public health experts said the N95 respirator was the best mask to wear to protect against the first outbreak of the coronavirus.
But those respirators were in short supply and cloth masks were the next best alternative.
Now with the omicron variant once against filling Indiana hospital beds with COVID-19 patients, experts suggest upgrading your mask choice.
“There are some cloth masks that are very well made and work very well but unfortunately they’re not regulated at all, so you don’t know what you’re getting when you buy a cloth mask,” said Dr. Paul Driscoll, Executive Medical Director of the Franciscan Physician Network. “N95 by definition is designed to filter out 95% of the particles in the air that a person is breathing.”
N95 masks have become more available on the market as have KN95 masks made in China.
“The KN95 which is very similar,” said Dr. Driscoll. “They have not been certified for use in the United States in health care settings but certainly would be a reasonable alternative for people to get if they can get ahold of them.”
Public health experts tell us even surgical masks are a better alternative to cloth masks.
“I think we’re still at the place where we know cloth masks provide some protection, but not as much as surgical masks and surgical masks provide quite a bit of good protect but not as well as the N95 mask,” said Dr. Brian Dixon of the Regenstrief Institute.
At Sun King Brewery, Co-CEO Dave Colt said his staff has masks on hand for those customers who forget to bring their own.
“We would prefer people coming in wearing a mask, if they get up and move around to use the rest room or other parts of the facility that they wear a mask, but it is not required for us and we are requesting that at this time,” he said. “We haven’t had too many incidents where kind of like, ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ It’s a request and if you don’t feel that this is you, then, ‘you-do-you’ on that front.”
Dr. Driscoll said the advent of masks kept flu deaths down to eleven last year in the Franciscan system and he did not suffer a cold last winter because he was masked up.
“I think those mitigation strategies have shown us that we have a way to try to control the flu and colds,” said Dr. Driscoll who predicts many Hoosiers will continue to wear masks after the pandemic passes. “Unfortunately, when I’ve been at Kroger the last few weeks, maybe 20% of the people or less are wearing them.”


text:
(Bloomberg) -- Former Vice President Mike Pence laid the blame for the United Auto Workers strike against Detroit’s Big Three legacy automakers on President Joe Biden’s economic policies, saying it was the result of inflation cutting into wages and a transition to electric vehicles that threatens jobs.
Most Read from Bloomberg
“Joe Biden has weakened this country at home and abroad. That gusher of spending when they came into office, $2 trillion in unnecessary spending launched the worst inflation in forty years. Wages just haven’t kept up,” Pence said Friday in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
“The backdrop of what’s happening between the Big Three and the UAW today is that American workers are hurting. I hear it everywhere I go across the country,” he added. “People are struggling to pay for groceries, they are struggling to pay for gasoline at the pump.”
Pence spoke hours after Biden said he was dispatching top administration officials to Detroit to help end an unprecedented walkout by the United Auto Workers that is targeting all three of Detroit’s legacy automakers.
Biden urged the car companies to offer more concessions in order to end the strike, which threatens to damage the American economy and the president’s efforts to transition the country to electric vehicles.
Read More: Automakers, UAW Spend Strike’s First Day in War of Words
The president said automakers had enjoyed “record corporate profits” in recent years and that a fair deal would share those gains with workers.
An extended work stoppage could have ripple effects, upending supply chains and raising prices for cars. At the center of the dispute over wages and job security are Biden’s efforts to push the manufacturing of EVs. The UAW fears the transition will result in fewer jobs for union workers at lower pay.
Pence’s fellow Republican rivals for the party’s nomination have also singled out Biden’s clean-energy agenda, saying it will saddle consumers with higher prices for cars while eliminating auto jobs.
“I will tell you what I’m hearing around the country is that auto workers are very concerned about Joe Biden’s Green New Deal, heavy-handed effort to use taxpayer dollars to drive these automotive companies into electric vehicle production,” Pence said Friday.
“I mean, you have 145,000 workers out there that many of them have built a lifetime of making gasoline-powered cars, and suddenly they see Joe Biden and liberal Democrats pushing down this electric vehicle agenda.”
Former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the nomination, said last week that Biden’s policies would “murder” the US auto industry. Trump has urged the union, which backed Biden in 2020 but has yet to endorse his reelection bid, to support him instead.
--With assistance from Joe Mathieu.
Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.


text:
Major Kawasaki Motorcycle Models Will Go Electric By 2035
The end of the road is approaching for the era of gasoline motorcycles.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., which currently only produces gasoline motorcycles, announced on October 6 that all of its major models sold in Japan and Western markets will run on electricity by 2035.
The announcement marked the first time the company had specified a date to convert its motorcycles to electric.
The company has yet to decide whether it will create new brands or produce electric versions of its current models.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has said it will develop electric models and hybrid models powered by electricity and gasoline. It plans to market 10 or more types of such models in developed countries by 2025.
The carbon-free movement has gained ground in the industry.
Yamaha Motor Co. said in July that it wanted 20% of its global new motorcycle sales to be electric in 2035 and 90% in 2050.
Currently, the ratio is less than 1%.
âEnvironmental regulations should be tightened globally, so this is an urgent challenge,â said a representative from Yamaha.
Honda Motor Co. has not given a digital target for its electric motorcycles, but does produce professional-use models that run on electricity.
It plans to launch an electric model for personal use in 2024.
Four major motorcycle makers, including Suzuki Motor Corp., agreed in March to standardize replaceable batteries for electric motorcycles and will promote “become electric“ by improving the convenience functions of the battery.
(This article was written by Koichi Murakami and Junichi Kamiyama.)


text:
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is likely at least five to six months away, but there have already been plenty of rumors about the kind of upgrades Samsung has in mind to make next year’s flagship a hit.
Now, a new concept video from the YouTuber 4RMD helps us imagine what the various changes would look like if Samsung were to put a flashy teaser of its own together.
The changes highlighted are largely based on current rumors, and suffice it to say, if all of them come true, then the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will be a strong contender to top our list of the best smartphones when it launches early next year.
Straight off the bat, we see a reference to the new rumored titanium frame. This is the same material that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to be using, thanks to it being both stronger and lighter than the steel used on Apple’s current flagships. Despite Samsung already using a lightweight “Armor Aluminum” on its premium smartphones, rumor has it that the new handset will be around a gram lighter than the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
The curved frame is slightly eyebrow-raising, and feels far from certain, given Samsung’s previous Ultra models have all sported a flat top and bottom edge. But it’s certainly a look we can get behind if the company feels like shaking things up.
The display is tipped to grow by 0.1 inch to a total of 6.9 inches, and the rumor that the OLED panel will now be 144Hz is also included here. Internally, the video tips the phone as featuring the upcoming Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 16GB RAM and a slightly larger battery at 5,500mAh (the S23 Ultra packs a 5,000mAh cell).
The S23 Ultra is already one of the best camera phones around, and its successor looks set to improve on things further. Here 4RMD highlights the rumored 50MP telephoto lens and improved low-light capture on the 200MP camera, thanks to its reported larger sensor.
The video speculates that as well as the usual Phantom White, Purple, Black and Gold color schemes, a couple of exclusives will be offered directly from Samsung: red and green. Both look extremely stylish, and we hope Samsung is taking notes.
While these specs are based on leaks and rumors, nothing is certain until Samsung officially launches the handset. But expect to see the shape of the handset firm up in the months leading up to its expected February 2024 release.
Get the BEST of Tom’s Guide daily right in your inbox: Sign up now!
Upgrade your life with the Tom’s Guide newsletter. Subscribe now for a daily dose of the biggest tech news, lifestyle hacks and hottest deals. Elevate your everyday with our curated analysis and be the first to know about cutting-edge gadgets.
Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.
Looks like a regression. Then again, accounting for them potentially using an exynos processor and learning absolutley nothing, it seems fitting of Samsung. Regardless, these concepts mean nothing until something is official from Samsung. Either way, I'm not holding my breath.Reply


text:
LONG BEACH – Shippers may soon benefit from two incentive programs aimed at attracting more of their business to the Port of Long Beach.
The Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday will consider a program that would allow shippers to save on daily dockage fees and another program that would give them discounts on rail cargo fees if they go through Long Beach.
The proposed programs come as the Port of Long Beach faces competition from West Coast and international ports.
“It’s a trade strategy to protect our market share and protect jobs in the region,” said port spokesman Art Wong. “With bigger ships coming, we see that as a trend in the industry, so we’re looking to establish ourselves as a `Big Ship Port.”‘
With the dockage incentive program, port leaders are looking to cap fees at $8,641 a day for ships longer than 345 meters (or 0.21 mile). As it stands, a large container vessel could pay more than $11,242 a day in dockage fees.
The cap is supposed to encourage larger, newer, greener container vessels to call to Long Beach.
Port leaders are also eyeing a proposed wharfage incentive program, under which the port would discount shippers $10 for every additional cargo container traveling by rail through Long Beach.
This incentive is designed to motivate shippers to ferry cargo by rail rather than trucks in order to generate less air pollution.
“They can move their cargo through any port,” Wong said. “We want to give them one more reason to move their cargo through Southern California.”
To measure the extra cargo volume, the port would compare statistics from Aug. 1 through July 31 in 2011-2012 with the same time frame in 2012-2013.
If approved, both programs would start Aug. 1.
Port officials said the increased revenue will offset the cost of the program.
The commission meeting will take place at the Harbor Department Administration Building, 925 Harbor Plaza in Long Beach. Visit polb.com for more information.


text:
At the end of March, Made by Google started shipping its latest Smart Display in six countries. Google will be making the new Nest Hub (2nd gen) more widely available in Europe next month.
Update 5/3: The 2nd-gen Nest Hub is now available in 10 more European countries for a grand total of 13. Japan and New Zealand will follow in the coming days to bring the final count to 18. Plans for Singapore and South Korea have yet to be announced.
Update 4/21: The 2nd-generation Nest Hub is launching in Japan on Wednesday, May 5. It will be available for ¥11,000 in Chalk or Charcoal from the Google Store and other local retailers: Aeon, EDION, K’s Denki, Joshin Denki, Nojima, PC DEPOT, Bic Camera, Beisia, Yamada Denki, Yodobashi Camera, Rakuten Books, and Costco. It’s also coming to New Zealand.
Original 4/12: The new Nest Hub is available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States today. Google tells us that it plans to launch in 10 more European countries from May 4: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Google has yet to launch the 2nd-generation model in Asia, with the old Nest Hub available in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. In those places, the original is still on sale.
Those in Europe can expect a nearly identical Nest Hub, though there’s a new edgeless 7-inch display and Mist (blue) color to join Chalk (white), Charcoal (black), and Sand (pink). There’s 50% more bass, a third microphone, and a Thread radio that’s currently disabled. The main change is a low-power Soli radar chip that lets you perform air gestures and tracks your sleep.
As we noted in our review:
The Nest Hub (2nd gen) sets Google Assistant down the path of having an all-encompassing look at your day and wellbeing. As much as my initial reaction to that aspect was quite visceral, it’s exciting to get a glimpse of the future in a $99 package that is already useful in so many other ways. The speaker and alarm — enhanced by Soli gestures, photo frame, mini TV, and smart home control center you want is now also an entirely optional sleep tracker that more than works and is — mostly — friendly about it.
More about Nest Hub:
- Review: Nest Hub (2nd gen) sleep tracking ushers in a radically more pervasive Assistant
- Nest Hub vs. Nest Hub (2nd gen): What are you missing out on? [Video]
- Google adding bulk, direct photo sharing to Nest Hub and Smart Displays
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


text:
Software for buying tires has kept ASA in business for a quarter century
MERRIMACK – A local software company that has been in the same business under the same name for 25 years – roughly forever in software time – must be making something pretty useful, right?
In the case of ASA Automotive Systems the answer is yes, if you want the right tires for your car. Not sexy, perhaps, but useful.
The firm is thriving, with about 30 employees in its Merrimack headquarters out of some 75 nationwide, and a customer base found in 3,500 locations nationwide, said Ken Halle, the president. (It doesn’t release sales figures.) A few years ago it moved from its longtime home on Route 101A across from Graystone Plaza, and is now behind the YMCA in Merrimack.
Like most software firms, it is now making the transition to smartphones, tablets and the rest of the mobile-device universe, with software to help drivers know when and how to service their car as well as to get the right tires. This move, accompanied by a tweak in company name
from ASA Tire Systems, is aiming at a whole new market.
“We want to keep up with demands of consumer for retail business,” Halle said.
The company’s roots are positively prehistoric by computer standards: Its founder, Alfred Angelone, left Arthur Andersen Consulting in 1969 – before the Web, before America Online, before PCs – to open a consulting company in Framingham, Mass. Inspired by nearby Digital Equipment Corp., it went into software development.
Over the next four decades, ASA developed a number of software businesses serving “vertical markets” – that is, various levels of a single industry.
ASA Automotive Systems dates back to the 1988 purchase of a Georgia firm making software for tire dealers. It’s the only part of ASA still operating.
The bulk of their business is serving tire stores and service shops. There are roughly 30,000 of them in the country, so there’s no shortage of customer base, even with a number of competitors, small and large.
ASA also deals with larger firms serving fleets of trucks, and wholesalers that help small firms, like “the collision shop that can’t buy directly from the manufacturer,” Halle said.
The software does plenty of things familiar to any retail operation, from processing bar codes to handling payroll, but the key is keeping up with the myriad of different tires produced by the various manufacturers, with all the different sizes, treads, capabilities and uses. That requires integration with manufacturers’ databases and other complicated processes.
Moving onto people’s iPhones adds more complication, but also more growth possibilities, allowing mechanics to scan your car’s barcode in the parking lot to not only guide tire-purchase decisions but suggest service work based on your service history or even order parts to respond to specific repair needs.
Halle said being in Greater Nashua has worked out well for the firm.
“Being here, we have access to talent from the 495 area … as well as in southern New Hampshire,” he said.
David Brooks can be reached at 594-6531 or dbrooks@nashua
telegraph.com. Also, follow Brooks on Twitter (@GraniteGeek).


text:
CLICK TO SHARE
Twitch has started testing a new feature that allows streamers to watch Prime Video with their viewers -- as long as they're also subscribers. Travis Shreffler, a content creator and author, has tweeted an email he received from Prime Video, inviting him to test a new feature called Watch Parties. The invitation says streamers will be able to show a selection of Prime Video movies and TV series on their channels, so they can watch while chatting with their audience. Or, more accurately, their viewers who also have Prime.
The current selection is pretty limited, but it includes the new season of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, Mission Impossible: Fallout and Pokémon. Amazon promises to keep adding to the number of titles available for Watch Parties, though it looks like the feature will only be available in the US at launch time, if it does become accessible to everyone. Before a general release happens, Amazon plans to invite more Twitch streamers over time to test it out.
Twitch is testing out Watch Parties, which allows streamers to stream Amazon Prime Video content that will be viewable only to viewers who have Amazon PrimeThis email is going out to select streamers now. What do you think? pic.twitter.com/uaKYmu1MnU
Twitch is testing out Watch Parties, which allows streamers to stream Amazon Prime Video content that will be viewable only to viewers who have Amazon Prime— Travis Shreffler (@TravisShreffler) October 18, 2019
This email is going out to select streamers now. What do you think? pic.twitter.com/uaKYmu1MnU
Post a comment.
If you don't see any comments yet, congrats! You get first comment. Be nice and have fun.
CLICK TO SHARE
COMMENTS VIA TWITTER
Hulu launches a new Watch Party feature for virtual viewing parties and chat - https://t.co/JLyKcx91hS today is int… https://t.co/T62NpZQggK
Community meet-ups can be done digitally as well! During the con, make Amazon Prime series available to watch toget… https://t.co/YtKyqY8xyo
@PhiPhiOhara @Twitch Twitch added a "Watch Party" feature where you can livestream any Prime video (but only viewer… https://t.co/dAyFettAdg
RT @streamlabs: New Panels are here! Professionally designed and completely customizable, let viewers easily donate, buy merch, visit soci…
@PrimeVideo , bobs burgers and mindy project on prime video pleaseeee and make sure malaysia viewers get to watch too i beg you


text:
Search For "ram vilas paswan"
Updated : 1 year, 1 month ago IST
Patna (Bihar) [India], May 3 (ANI): Bihar Food and Consumer Protection Minister Madan Sahni has, in a letter to Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, stressed on the need for allocation of additional 75,000 metric tonnes of grains for 30 lakh new ration card beneficiaries in the state.
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], April 28 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Union Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Minister Ram Vilas Paswan to draw attention towards the problems of sugarcane farmers in the state.
Updated : 1 year, 2 months ago IST
New Delhi [India], April 21 (ANI): Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday said that India has surplus grains stock of 539 lakh tonnes and there will be no shortage of foodgrains in the future.
New Delhi [India], April 19 (ANI): The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, Brinda Karat has written to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan, objecting to offloading surplus stock at high prices.
New Delhi [India], April 13 (ANI): Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan during a video conference with the State/UTs Ministers of Food, Public Distribution here today directed the fellow minister to implement a ''micro-level plan'' to ensure that essential commodities are avai
New Delhi [India], April 10 (ANI): Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday announced that more than one lakh Food Corporation of India (FCI) employees, including 80 thousand workers, have been given life insurance cover for a period of 6 months starting March 24, in th
New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): Allaying fears of shortage of food supplies amid the 21-day countrywide lockdown, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday said that there is no shortage of food grains in the country.
New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday thanked officials and workers of the Food Corporation (FCI) for ensuring the availability of food grains in the country amid the nationwide lockdown.
Updated : 1 year, 3 months ago IST
New Delhi [India], Mar 24 (ANI): The state governments can now procure their quota of food grains on three months' credit from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in the country, Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has said.
New Delhi [India], Mar 14 (ANI): Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has clarified that there is no proposal to include lawyers within the ambit of Consumer Protection Act.
New Delhi [India], Mar 9 (ANI): Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) Chairman KC Mittal on Monday wrote to Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, opposing the framing of rules to include lawyers under the ambit of the Consumer Protection Act 2012.
New Delhi [India], Feb 27 (ANI): The outbreak of riots in the national capital during US President Donald Trump's visit showed the country in a poor light, said Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan here on Thursday.


text:
Samsung Pay has updated its app for Android devices for those currently using the service in a beta test in the US. “Most importantly are the new ‘Simple Pay’ settings, which let you control where and when the phone is ready to launch Samsung Pay so you can use it in a store,” Android Central reports. The service is due to launch in the US this month.
- App offers order ahead restaurant service
- Facebook given licence to launch Messenger payments in Europe
- NFC clothing range connects US Ski Team with winter sports fans
- Google’s browser connects with BLE
- Belgian bank joins mobile payment platform


text:
Aston Martin's DB11 can be had as either a coupe or a convertible, which is referred to as a Volante by the British automaker. This week we drove the latter on the California coast to find out just how grand Aston Martin’s latest grand tourer actually is.
2019 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
Another vehicle we drove was the Porsche Cayenne, the latest generation of which has just spawned its first hybrid variant. It's called the Cayenne E-Hybrid, and it packs a plug-in hybrid powertrain good for 455 horsepower.
2018 Ford Mustang GT Peformance Package Level 2
Ford's Mustang GT finally handles like the sports car it's always wanted to be. You'll need to pony up for the Performance Package Level 2 first, but you won't be disappointed as we discovered in a test this week at the Monticello Motor Club in New York.
2019 Bentley Continental GT, Austria 2018
We also slid behind the wheel of the gorgeous new 2019 Bentley Continental GT to bring you a review. The verdict? Its beauty pairs perfectly with its new found agility courtesy of a new platform borrowed from Porsche.
Aznom Atulux coach-built pickup truck
It might be hard to believe, but someone commissioned an Italian coachbuilder to turn a Ram 1500 into something worthy of a Rolls-Royce or Bentley badge. The cost of transformation? A cool $263,000.
2020 Chevrolet Corvette (C8) spy shots - Image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
One of the cars we spied this week was the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette. The new C8 model appears to be about the size of the current C7 Corvette but with a lower and wider stance—and a mid-engine layout too.
2019 Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster
Mercedes-AMG this week expanded its GT Roadster lineup with the new GT S Roadster. The car has the same 515-horsepower rating as the GT S coupe and will reach 60 mph from rest just as quick.
2019 Shelby Series 2
Remember the Shelby Series 1? The sexy sports car was the first and only standalone car developed by Shelby American. The company this week announced a conversion package that enables output to be more than doubled to 800 horsepower.


text:
Running a business is the dream of many people in Louisiana and other parts of the country. Some parties may take the long and complicated steps of opening their businesses and feel a sense of accomplishment. Of course, any company could face financial hardships that can send the business spiraling, and may need the help of Chapter 11 bankruptcy to keep the operations underway.
This type of scenario recently affected a business in another state. Reports indicated that the company had been founded in 1880 and had produced and sold salt water taffy and other candy and sweets. More recently, the company has seen fewer sales and an increase in business costs, and as a result, it has not remained as profitable as it once did.
These hardships have led to the business to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This action will allow it to remain in business and continue selling products while working to reorganize debt and pay back creditors. It was noted that the company has seen a decline in sales by 23 percent in the last year and a half, but the exact financial liabilities were not listed in the report.
When companies struggle, owners may worry that they will have to close their doors. Fortunately, Chapter 11 bankruptcy can often offer a viable route for addressing outstanding debts while also keeping businesses running. If Louisiana business owners are feeling the strain of creditor issues, they may wish to gain more information on this debt relief avenue and whether it could suit their needs.


text:
Amazon’s private label brands stole the show during this year’s $1 billion-plus Prime Day event—a 30-hour online shopping spectacle that offers steep discounts on products exclusively for Prime Members.
L2 measured the visibility of brands participating in Prime Day by ranking their positioning on deal pages in three major categories—Electronics, Fashion, and Beauty.
In Electronics, historically the best-selling category on Prime Day, Amazon’s collective portfolio of Echo, Echo Dot, Kindle, and Fire tablet devices, accounted for 26% of all eligible deals and 44% of page one deals, according to L2 data.
Amazon’s devices were also among the most aggressively priced during the 30-hour promotional event, with the Echo discounted by 50%, the Fire 7 tablet by 40%, and its Kindle E-Reader by 38%. The steep discounts seem to have paid off as the Echo and Echo Dot speakers were the top-selling items of the event, with orders coming in by the “thousands per minute” at times.
Prime Day’s draw has helped accelerate adoption of Amazon’s voice assistant speakers. Based on industry estimates, L2 forecasts that the number of Americans using a voice-assistant device will increase 129% this year to 36 million, with Amazon capturing 70% share of the market. The retailer’s early lead in the voice platform wars should give Google, Apple, and Alibaba cause for concern, particularly as Amazon has proven its willingness to subsidize distribution of its Alexa devices in order to increase its installed base.
Of the top-10 most visible brands across all deals in Electronics, Amazon ranked number one (56) followed by a slew of upstart brands such as CyberpowerPC (20), Anker (19), iClever (13), Brother (12), and Havit (11).
Although traditional brands Bose, Sony, and Motorola had relatively low visibility overall, nearly all their deals appeared on page one of the Electronics deals section of Amazon during Prime Day giving them elevated exposure to shoppers.
Introducing Amazon Fashion
Apparel items—particularly those manufactured by Amazon’s own private label brands–had a far larger presence during this year’s Prime Day event than last year’s which is consistent with the retailer’s 2017 initiatives.
Apparel e-commerce reached a tipping point this year, and Amazon has been capitalizing by launching low-price private label brands in both men’s and women’s fashion that target traditional department store shoppers.
The Prime Day fashion deals section (as seen in the image below) was almost exclusively Amazon’s private label brands, such as Buttoned Down (men’s dress shirts), Mae (women’s lingerie), and Goodthreads (casual men’s shirts and pants). Amazon’s private label fashion brands have been gaining traction (particularly Buttoned Down which currently has products in the Men’s Dress Shirts top-20 Best Seller ranking), and the visibility of these brands on Prime Day will further increase consumer awareness around their products.
Beauty and the Beast
In Beauty, a category which Amazon has yet to crack into with a private label of its own, indie brands were the most visible on Prime Day. Independent hair and skincare brand Acure ran the most number of deals (51) and also had the most featured deals on page one of the category.
L’Oréal was the top-performing enterprise company in Beauty with its brands The Body Shop and L’Oréal Paris capturing a combined 5% of all deals in the category.
As a result of Amazon not having a private label brand in the category, Beauty deals are evenly distributed among sellers with no single brand accounting for a disproportionate number of offers. With a relatively level playing field, Beauty brands can leverage Prime Day to boost their visibility and use discounts to incentivize consumers to try their product with the hopes of creating ongoing customer loyalty throughout the year.
Across all categories, the urgency and depth of deals on Prime Day lures more shoppers to sign up for a Prime membership which in turn uses free two-day shipping to incentivize increased spending on Amazon. Prime members have a higher lifetime customer (spending $1,500 annually) than non-Prime customers (who spend about $600 a year), allowing Amazon and by extension sellers to capture a greater share of customers’ wallets that they otherwise would have spent at competing retailers.


text:
Google encourages smart homeowners to use follow its lead
The attempt by Nest, a smart thermostat maker that Google bought in January for US$3.2 billion, to lead the way in how household devices will speak to each other in the future underscores the importance placed by Google on cars, homes and other areas.
It follows similar initiatives by Qualcomm, Intel and other technology companies.
The Thread Group includes Samsung Electronics and chip companies ARM Holdings, Freescale Semiconductor and Silicon Labs. Big Ass Fans and lock maker Yale are also members of the group, which will certify Thread-compatible products.
Thread is a networking protocol with security and low-power features that make it more suitable for connecting household devices than other technologies such as Wi-fi, NFC, Bluetooth or ZigBee, says Chris Boross, a Nest product manager who heads the new group. Nest's products already use a version of Thread.
The radio chips used for Thread-compatible smart devices are already in many existing connected home products that use ZigBee, such as Philips Hue smart lightbulbs.
Those ZigBee devices could be updated with software from their manufacturers to work with Thread after a product certification programme starts next year, Boross says.
"Around that time I imagine that Thread-compliant products will start hitting the market, but people can start building Thread today," he says.
"Google is an 800-pound gorilla. With its impact on the ecosystem, it could definitely influence the direction the industry goes," says Jim McGregor, a technology analyst at Tirias Research.
Nest said it partnered with Mercedes-Benz, Whirlpool and lightbulb maker LIFX to integrate their products with its thermostats and smoke detectors.
Its Thread Group goes even further, adding to a growing field of groups of companies trying to standardise interaction between connected gadgets from different makers.
Last week, Thread Group member Samsung Electronics joined Intel and Dell to form a new consortium.
Earlier this month, Microsoft became the 51st member of a competing group called AllSeen Alliance, which is led by Qualcomm and also includes Sharp and other consumer electronics manufacturers.
Apple, known for strictly controlling how other companies' products interact with its own, last month announced plans for HomeKit, its own framework for connecting household gadgets.


text:
MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares rise, led by F&P Appliances; Telecom, Fletcher gain
By Hannah Lynch
Sept. 11 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand shares rose, led by Fisher & Paykel Appliances on expectation its biggest shareholder, China’s Haier, will shortly make a takeover offer. Telecom and Fletcher Building, the biggest companies on the bourse, were among gainers.
The NZX 50 Index rose 18.05 points, or 0.5 percent, to 3744.95. Within the index, 21 stocks rose, 17 fell and 12 were unchanged. Turnover was $108 million.
F&P Appliances rose 7.2 percent to $1.04, the highest since November 2008. AMP Capital Investors, which owns 5.2 percent of the whiteware firm, confirmed it has spoken to Haier about a possible takeover bid, the National Business Review reported. Haier currently owns almost 20 percent and yesterday indicated it may offer to buy the whole company.
"I don't think an announcement will be too far away," said Grant Williamson, director at Hamilton Hindin Greene. "Investors in New Zealand have built a good premium into the stock - the Chinese will have to offer a pretty nice premium to get investors interested."
Shares of Fletcher, New Zealand's largest listed company, rose 1.1 percent to $6.62. The Auckland-based company has concluded negotiations with the government on the $300 million design and build for South Auckland’s new Wiri prison.
Telecom, the largest company on the NZX 50, rose 2.7 percent to $2.50. The stock offers a dividend yield of about 12 percent.
"Telecom is improving nicely again following the sell off after their result," Williamson said. "Investors are buying for yield and it’s a good yield stock."
Goodman Fielder, the Sydney-based food ingredients manufacturer whose brands include Edmonds baking products and Vogel’s bread, rose 3.1 percent to 67 cents.
Pumpkin Patch, the children's clothing retailer, gained 2.6 percent to $1.19.
Xero, the cloud-based accounting platform provider, fell 1.2 percent to $4.86. The stock has gained about 81 percent this year. Diligent Board Member Services, which joined the NZX 50 alongside Xero in June, shed 0.8 percent to $3.90, having gained 103 percent this year.
"Xero is starting to become a volatile stock – it’s trading on fundamentals," Williamson said. "There are a lot of investors in there with nice gains wanting to take profits.”
The decline was led by New Zealand Oil and Gas, down 2.17 percent to 90 cents. NZX, the stock exchange regulator, fell 1.83 percent to $1.07.
Metlifecare, the retirement village operator that merged with major shareholders Vision Senior Living and Private Life Care earlier this year, fell 0.4 percent to $2.85. The Auckland-based company has sold its Ilam Park, Christchurch site to Bupa Care Services New Zealand for $9.4 million. The stock has gained about 26 percent this year.


text:
“THREE KEY LEARNINGS THAT UK GROCERS CAN IMPLEMENT TO GROW CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS, ENHANCE PERSONALISATION AND DRIVE CONVENIENCE”
Walmart recently announced its own membership programme in the US, Walmart Plus, to respond to growing competition in the online grocery market. The US grocer promises “More savings. More time. More joy in your day.” This will be through a combination of unlimited free home delivery, cheaper fuel and mobile scan-and-go in-store.
We expect to see a similar trend in the UK, so in this article I’ll be looking at the thinking behind Walmart Plus and three key learnings that UK grocers can apply from the acceleration of the grocery subscription model in the US.
This article was also published in The Retailer, our quarterly online magazine providing thought-leading insights from BRC experts and Associate Members.
To find out more about BJSS and the services they provide to the retail industry, click here.


text:
After dipping its toe in the brick-and-mortar world by opening a handful of bookstores over the past couple years, Amazon.com (AMZN -1.81%) now looks ready to dive headfirst into physical retail.
According to Business Insider, the e-commerce giant has a vision of opening as many as 2,000 Amazon Fresh-branded grocery stores across the country in the next ten years, and will launch a pilot program to test 20 stores across the country in cities like Seattle, Las Vegas, Miami, and New York.
Amazon will also test different formats at those stores. Ten of them will be "click-and-collect" stores where drivers can pull up and receive orders they've made online. Both Kroger (KR 1.62%) and Wal-Mart (WMT 1.03%), the nation's largest grocery retailers, have found success with the model and have rapidly expanded it in recent years.
The other ten stores in Amazon's pilot will be traditional supermarkets where shoppers come in and select the merchandise themselves.
Getting fresh with Fresh
Amazon has long had its eye on the grocery industry. The company first launched its grocery delivery service, AmazonFresh, in 2007, testing it for six years in Seattle before taking it to Los Angeles. Since then, the company has gradually ramped up, and has added several new cities this year, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore, and London.
It's clear why Amazon wants a piece of the grocery business. The domestic market alone is worth more than $600 billion, and as Amazon's own revenue pushes past $100 billion annually, it needs to penetrate big markets like groceries in order to keep its blockbuster sales growth rate going.
Online grocery is still a small market, but it's expected to grow rapidly in coming years as technology improves and companies like Amazon make a play for it. Morgan Stanley estimates that the category will grow 157% this year to $42 billion, making 6% of the total grocery industry.
Expanding Fresh is also a way for Amazon to leverage its brand, as it's already a trusted online retailer for millions of Americans.
What 2,000 stores would look like
Covering the U.S. with AmazonFresh stores won't be easy or cheap. The Amazon stores are expected to be as large as 30,000 square feet, close to the size of the average Whole Foods. Based on capital expenditures and average investment from Amazon's brick-and-mortar peers, opening 200 stores annually could cost upwards of $2 billion in capital expenditures a year, a substantial figure for a company that has struggled to generate consistent profits. Grocery stores also have notoriously thin profit margins as 2-3% is considered the norm for the industry.
Amazon would likely use the stores as a base for its Fresh business, supporting delivery and offering customers a pick-up spot or a store to shop in. Amazon does not break out data on segments like Fresh, so its revenues today are unclear, but the company's recent decision to lower its fee from $200 a year to $15/month shows it's making bigger push for consumers' grocery dollars.
Using Kroger, the largest traditional grocer, as a model, we can come up with a rough estimate for what Amazon's 2,000 supermarkets would produce in profit. If we assume each store is 30,000 square feet, the e-commerce giant would have 60 million square feet of grocery retail.
During fiscal 2015 Kroger generated sales per square foot of $672. If Amazon's Fresh stores matched that figure, it would deliver revenue of $40.3 billion, a substantial sum. However, Kroger's profit margin is just 1.8%. Based on that rate, Amazon would only end up with $725.8 million in after-tax profit. For a company valued near $400 billion, that won't make a difference. Even in a best-case scenario, it's hard to see profits from those stores going significantly above $1 billion.
Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos is well known for his willingness to think long-term and delay profits. That has paid off with projects like Amazon Web Services, which is on its way to generating over $1 billion in operating profit this year, but grocery isn't like that. Competition is steep, margins are thin, and Amazon's flywheel of competitive advantages doesn't really apply. Industry leaders like Kroger and Wal-Mart also have a huge head start here, and will likely have thousands of pick-up kiosks by the time Amazon completes its pilot program.
For consumers, an Amazon grocery chain could be great, but it looks like more of a money pit for investors.


text:
European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom yesterday announced she would seek approval from the European Union's 28 member states to launch trade negotiations with New Zealand.
The EU announcement indicates these negotiations would be one element in a new comprehensive overhaul of the EU trade strategy, Trade for All, that seeks to improve policy in three ways. It will ensure that trade policy effectively delivers economic results.
It aims to conduct negotiations in an open and transparent way. And it makes sure trade responds not only to Europe's interests but also its values. Each of these principles has implications for any future negotiations with New Zealand.
A trade policy that delivers results first has to focus on the right partners. That's why a priority in the new approach is to bring the world's largest single market closer to the world's most economically dynamic region, the Asia Pacific. The EU recognises that this region's dynamism is central to its own plans for growth. It also understands that the Asia Pacific's increasing economic weight gives the EU a strategic interest in the region's liberal, democratic and sustainable development. The EU looks to New Zealand as a longstanding, like-minded partner with similar interests for the region.
Getting results also means focusing on the trade barriers that matter today. Trade and the way people benefit from it are changing fundamentally. Trade is no longer exclusively, or even primarily, about moving finished products back-and-forth between two parties. Rather, it is increasingly a multilateral process that binds together producers, service providers and investors in and from many different countries in complex international value chains.
Consider, for example, a bottle of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes may be grown by New Zealanders in vineyards owned by a French company. They are harvested, pressed and bottled with machinery imported from the EU, US and elsewhere. The label is designed using US-made software and computers, while the end-product is transported to the world in Danish-owned ships, insured in London or Singapore.
Facilitating connections in such complex international value chains requires us to look at a much wider range of policies, not just barriers to movement of goods at borders (like tariffs). These can be anything from rules on services, digital trade and the movement of skilled technicians, experts and service providers to regulations on foreign investment, consumer safety and intellectual property protection. All of these issues were once considered the exclusive prerogative of domestic politics and the way trade deals approach them must reflect that. But they are essential if we want to capture the potential for growth and employment in these value chains. The EU's recent agreements with Korea, Singapore, Canada and Vietnam demonstrate greater ambition than most Asia-Pacific FTAs to address such issues. In any negotiation with New Zealand, the EU will likely make these agreements its starting point.
The EU's new approach to trade is also about transparency. As trade policy has encroached on traditionally 'domestic' policy areas, it has also raised concerns among citizens in Europe, and elsewhere. People need reassurance that trade deals are being carried out in their interests. That's why the EU is making negotiations more transparent than they have ever been - posting texts on-line during negotiations, consulting closely with civil society organisations and publishing texts of agreements as soon as they are concluded. This attitude will be the rule for how the EU approaches any future negotiation, including with New Zealand.
The final theme of the new approach is about values.
Trade policy is certainly about economic interests but the recent debates on trade all around the world have shown that people do not want to compromise on core principles. It cannot be about watering down the rules and regulations that give them confidence in the safety and sustainability of the products they buy. And it must support rather than undermine labour and other human rights as well as environmental protection around the world. These principles will also be at the core of our approach to negotiations with New Zealand. As partners that share these values, we have a chance to set a high benchmark for the region and the world.
With its Trade for All strategy, the European Commission is reaching out to the evolving Asia Pacific. In doing so, it wishes to see the region prosper in a way that is more open and more socially and environmentally sustainable.
After the recent conclusion of a bilateral political treaty and a robust partnership on sustainable energy in the Pacific, the European Union looks forward to closer relations with New Zealand in trade and investment.
• Michalis Rokas is EU Charge d'Affaires in New Zealand.


text:
Netflix may not have advertising on its service, but it has managed to become a significant player in the business as a marketer.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said that it spent $527 million on marketing for the quarter ended June 30, and just over $1 billion for the first six months of 2018. In both cases, that was nearly double what the company spent in the same time periods last year ($274 million and $546 million, respectively).
While analysts frequently discuss Netflix’s significant investment in content (expected to pass $8 billion this year), the dramatic increase in marketing spend is in many ways just as significant.
Some of that marketing budget is, of course, being spent on campaigns to promote nominations for the Emmys, where Netflix just broke HBO’s 18-year streak as the most nominated “network.” That being said, in a video interview with Sanford Bernstein analyst Todd Juenger, executives from the company said that most of its marketing spend--more than 80%--was spent to "help title brands really maximize their potential within the overall system."
Netflix’s advertising spending spree also ups the ante for competitors in the streaming video space. Companies like Hulu, YouTube TV and FuboTV have all acknowledged that they plan to spend more money on marketing their services. Just as with content, however, Netflix is poised to outspend all of them combined.


text:
Last week, FedEx (NYSE: FDX) reported stronger-than-expected earnings for the final quarter of its 2017 fiscal year. However, most analysts were disappointed with its profit outlook for fiscal year 2018.
Following the earnings report, FedEx's management spent some time answering questions about the company's results and its plans for the coming year. Here are five of the most important points discussed on the earnings call.
Continue Reading Below
The express business is firing on all cylinders
Five years ago, FedEx's signature express delivery business was performing poorly, weighed down by high fuel prices, an inefficient aircraft fleet, and pervasive overstaffing. Since then, the company has cut costs dramatically.
FedEx is finally reaping the full benefit of its cost savings initiatives. During fiscal year 2017, the FedEx Express segment earned a $2.7 billion operating profit, up from just $1.4 billion three years earlier. The company expects to drive another $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion of operating profit improvement by fiscal year 2020.
The TNT Express integration is moving forward
Last year, FedEx completed the acquisition of Dutch package delivery company TNT Express. The deal vaulted FedEx past United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) to become Europe's No. 2 package delivery company, improving its global scale. (Previously, FedEx was a distant No. 4 in Europe.)
FedEx is still in the early stages of the merger integration process. It has already integrated FedEx and TNT operations in dozens of countries. Earlier this spring, it took a big step by starting direct flights between the two companies' biggest hubs (Memphis, Tennessee and Liege, Belgium). This will allow it to move packages between the U.S. and Europe faster and at a lower cost. The integration efforts will remain in high gear throughout fiscal year 2018.
Profitability will start to rebound at FedEx Ground
While the express business is posting record results, FedEx's ground delivery business has faced some margin compression in recent years. The ground segment's annual revenue has surged 56% in the past three years -- due in part to an acquisition -- but segment profit is up a modest 13% during that period.
However, FedEx expects profit growth in the ground segment to improve beginning this year. In the long run, it expects to earn "mid-teens" margins in this line of business, up from 12.7% in fiscal year 2017. Furthermore, FedEx Ground has tons of room for growth, driven primarily by the growth of e-commerce.
Rising capex will deliver long-term benefits
For many investors, one of the biggest worries about FedEx is its heavy capital spending. The company did nothing to quell that fear last week, announcing that its fiscal year 2018 capex budget is $5.9 billion, equal to about 10% of its revenue. That's up from $5.1 billion last year.
That said, FedEx executives pointed out that the company has a strong track record of getting good long-term returns from its capital investments. For example, its aircraft fleet investments from the past few years have driven dramatic improvements in fuel efficiency, reliability, and maintenance costs.
FedEx expects comparably large benefits from its current capital spending projects. Additionally, it does intend to ramp down capex after 2018.
Improving peak-period margins is a priority
Another area of concern for FedEx in recent years has been weaker margin performance during the December peak shipping season. UPS has had similar struggles, due to the cost of adding capacity to meet peak demand.
UPS is responding by implementing a $0.27 to $0.97 surcharge during the peak periods around Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the week before Christmas. FedEx is considering a similar move. The company is determined to improve its earnings performance for peak periods. However, FedEx is not yet sure if UPS' surcharge model is the right way to do that.
10 stocks we like better than FedExWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*
David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and FedEx wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.
Click here to learn about these picks!
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 5, 2017


text:
TELLURIDE- In the 1980s, AIDS terrified the world and affected thousands of communities, families, and individuals. Although this disease has not yet been cured, there are different kinds of medication that allow people to live symptom free. Yet these medications are very expensive and not everyone can afford them. The goal of Telluride AIDS Benefit is to educate, raise money to make paying for these medications easier, and motivate people to get tested for HIV.
Telluride AIDS Benefit hosted a Student Fashion Show on Thursday, Feb. 20. The show was meant to inspire people to change the HIV stigma and educate the community on the presence of HIV.
Danika Petit, student director, and Lucy Wesson, head choreographer, were assigned by Jessica Heady to lead the show and to compose a theme.
“The imagination that went into the concept of the show and how Danika and Lucy have worked together to bring that concept into the material reality of what the show is actually going to look like is sublime,” Heady, fashion show producer and THS teacher said. “It’s what you call other level greatness.”
The theme, ‘Love is the Future,’ steers our attention towards acceptance, openness, compassion and the social barrier regarding HIV/AIDS. This theme was first introduced in the opening film created by THS seniors Grace Ringstad and Kat Ballode, media and design managers.
“Elaborating on the theme ‘Love Is The Future’, Grace and I wanted to make a commentary on external and internalized oppression in the past [through] my black and white half and the future [through] Grace’s colorful half. Many of my scenes have hands either pushing Sophia [Bridger], the main character, down or enveloping her.” Ballode said. “In the final scene, Sophia, in black and white, reaches her hand out to be grabbed by Danika. Once their hands touch, the video turns to color again, solidifying that theme of love and acceptance being essential to the future of HIV’s social perception.”
There was a total of 27 lines, which featured fashion donated from local businesses including Jagged Edge, Sublime, Two Skirts, Fuel, The Drop and many others.
This annual event allowed THS students to participate in something bigger than themselves, and assist the community and the population carrying AIDS.
Heady said that this year’s fashion show raised $10,000 through ticket sales alone. Clothing worn during the fashion show will also be sold, with all the proceeds going towards Telluride AIDS Benefit. A trunk show will take place on March 2 at the Sheridan Opera House.
For more information or how to donate visit, https://www.tellurideaidsbenefit.org/.


text:
Home sales in the region saw a steep decline in April, plunging to the lowest sales level in almost two decades.
The Woodstock-Ingersoll and District Real Estate Board reported a 50.7 per cent drop in sales from April 2019.
“Home sales and new listings both hit lows not seen in a long time due to both buyers and sellers doing their part and staying home to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Lesley Michie, the board’s president, said.
The local board reported 371 homes had been sold in the first four months of the year, a decrease of 12.5 per cent from the same period in 2019.
The average price of homes sold last month was $407,336, a slight dip of 3.8 per cent from April 2019. The average sale price for the first four months is $443,336, which remains a 10.5 per cent increase from the first four months of 2019.
New houses being put on the market were also hit hard – only 75 new homes were listed in the month – for a 61.9 per cent decline on a year-to-year basis.
The region’s overall supply remains at an all-time lows with only 152 units listed at the end of April.
“The market is still adjusting to the sudden shock to activity,” Michie said. “Realtors were deemed an essential service in the province to help their clients and have implemented new protocols to protect ensure health and safety measures are met, as well as adopted new technology to help clients market or view properties and fill out documents.”
The months of inventory, which is the number of months it takes to sell the current inventory at the current rate of sales, sat at 2.3 when April finished.
The total value of homes sold was $26.9 million, which was a 52.6 per cent drop from April 2019.
A total of 71 types of all property types was sold for a combined value of $35.2 million.


text:
We’ve heard all about augmented reality and virtual reality, but it’s not that often that we hear them discussed in the broader umbrella of Extended Reality (XR). But as brands begin to integrate digital tools into the shopping experience in more and more ways, it’s long overdue that we take a deep dive into this area.
According to Zenith, 72% of adults see AR as ‘fun and engaging’, while global spending is set to grow over 30% each year until 2023.
But to understand where XR is going, we need to know where it’s already been – and why the time for gimmicky, surface-level XR activations has long passed.
When adopting any new technology, brands want to be ahead of the curve – but not so far ahead that consumers are scratching their heads and asking ‘why?’
Google Glass promised consumers a new way of experiencing life through wearable AR tech when it was unveiled with much fanfare in 2013. Slick promotional videos showed people going about their everyday life seamlessly sending messages, checking the weather, and surfing the web via their Google Glasses.
But in reality, the prototype was clunky at best. The high price tag appealed to tech obsessives, rather than the mainstream consumers it was marketed to. Concerns over privacy and ethics also led many businesses to ban the glasses from their premises entirely.
In the end, Google pulled the plug on Google Glass – just two years after they launched.
But there was another reason for the failure of Google Glass; despite being a ground-breaking application of AR technology, the product didn’t boast any unique capabilities that a regular smartphone couldn’t accomplish.
It illuminates the major teething issues experienced at just about every new technological frontier. Despite the hype, the glasses didn’t address any actual pain points, which left consumers unsure what their purpose was.
For XR, the consequences of this failure were profound. As one of the first mainstream extended reality offerings, its inability to effectively showcase VR and AR fed into the technology being poorly understood by marketers and brands alike.
As XR became more accessible, this set the stage for a period of use that we like to call the ‘gimmick’ phase – when the technology is heralded as the ‘next big thing’ – but not being used in a way that’s actually useful to consumers.
This meant a plethora of businesses jumping on the XR bandwagon from a brand-centric, rather than customer-centric standpoint. It was the birth of short-lived AR and VR filters designed to engage and entertain – especially as retailers tried to leverage the immense popularity of AR games like Pokemon Go.
Turner Sports’ Instagram basketball game to celebrate March Madness gave college basketball fans a new way to engage with their favorite sport. Likewise, Pepsi’s #summergram campaign was designed to ‘enhance summer’ with hundreds of fun AR filters to liven up people’s Instagram Stories.
These initiatives were undoubtedly fun and creative applications of XR. But in so desperately trying to force their way around consumer’s digital campfires, it highlights the lack of authenticity behind these efforts.
Thomas Husson, VP and principal analyst of marketing and strategy at Forrester, said it best when speaking to Mobile Marketer:
“Marketers have fed into this underwhelming array of use cases by using AR for shallow, entertainment-based promotions and not truly connecting the online and offline world to help meet a consumer need or lower decision stress.”
So, while a fun filter or two is a cool novelty, it ultimately does very little to add lasting value to consumers’ interactions with a brand. An XR social campaign can easily attract millions of impressions – but there’s little evidence to prove it provides ongoing benefits once it wraps up.
This brings us to where XR is today. In the past couple of years, we’ve seen a steady stream of immersive retail experiences using XR to facilitate more seamless and accessible shopping journeys for their customers.
Warby Parker presented something of a watershed moment when it launched its virtual ‘try on’ app in 2019. They were among the first consumer brands to pioneer XR technology not to entertain, but as a value-added part of the shopping experience. It enabled customers to confidently make purchases online without needing to venture into a store first – and in doing so, making the often-fraught process of getting new glasses infinitely easier.
It’s a prime example of how XR can give brands a major point of difference when used in ways that address common areas of friction for consumers. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, these pain points have become plentiful.
In 2021, American Eagle will be debuting the AE x Snapchat AR Jeans Guide as part of its Jeans are Forever campaign, tackling one of the most difficult garments to fit and size effectively. The tool will allow customers to use 3-D lenses to ‘fit’ jeans and explore features, as well as in-app styling advice and purchasing.
With physical retail off-limits for huge stretches of 2020, XR has gone from a ‘nice to have’ to a necessity. For retailers that rely on consumers’ ability to interact with products, XR technology has presented a priceless bridge between the offline experience and the convenience (and safety) of buying online.
In 2020, the U.K. makeup brand partnered with VR platform Obsess to launch an immersive virtual store, where customers can navigate a 3-D shopping environment from the comfort of their own home. It aims to recreate the touchpoints of an in-store visit by allowing visitors to get personalized product recommendations, watch tutorials, join live events, and even invite friends to shop with them via video call.
What Charlotte Tilbury got right: By dispensing with VR headsets and making their experience accessible via web browser, Charlotte Tilbury has found a way to bring VR to the masses. By pulling together existing content in the form of beauty tutorials and product catalogs, they’ve added genuine value to the online shopping experience – and primed their customers for future XR initiatives.
Nike has recently added another engaging offering to its House of Innovation in New York City; an AR-based discovery center. Designed to promote the release of its All Conditions Gear product line, the experience features a geofenced area where participants use their smartphones to activate QR and AR markers that spawn virtual wildlife and information about the design process behind the collection. An interactive map and checklist encourage consumers to complete a series of challenges to be rewarded with a gift at the end.
What Nike got right: Nike has proven that gamified XR can be used to promote a brand or product while still putting the customer at the center of the experience. By seamlessly weaving in QR codes and geofencing into the AR experience, it’s a great example of how ‘old tech’ can be used to support new innovations and create even more immersive experiences. And with many consumers still avoiding in-store retail due to the pandemic, they’re also provided a major incentive for customers to explore the very best that physical retail has to offer.
French sportswear brand Lacoste has combined AR and 3-D scanning in their in-app shopping feature to allow customers to virtually try on shoes in-store. Consumers can point their smartphone camera on a graphic on the floor to bring up a range of footwear options, helping them to narrow down which shoes they actually want to try on.
What Lacoste got right: Lacoste’s AR fitting experience is notable in that it isn’t trying to replace the in-store experience, but to remove the frictions involved with trying on footwear and waiting for store assistants. For example, the app could allow a customer to only try one or two pairs of shoes before finding the perfect pair, as opposed to dozens. It caters to how many consumers still prefer to purchase footwear in-store, but want a faster, more seamless experience that allows them to use other tools to research and make purchasing decisions.
If you’re thinking about adopting XR technology to enhance your online or in-store experience, there’s a lot more to this decision than just the technical aspects.
As we discussed earlier, many brands in the past have caved to the temptation of using new technology just because it’s there. Now that XR has matured, it’s no longer enough to provide consumers with entertainment-based activations; while this might create some buzz, it’s a lot of expense for the sake of short-term novelty.
It’s important to start out by looking at genuine pain points in the customer experience, and where XR could provide a genuine solution. This allows you to design at XR experience with purpose, rather than just trying to make your brand look like it’s at the cutting edge of retail tech. It’s also important to continually integrate customer feedback into your activation to ensure that it keeps delivering on its initial value proposition.
Even as VR hardware becomes cheaper and more accessible, making this a requirement for participating in your XR experience is clearly a major barrier to widespread use. However, the same can also be said of AR or VR that requires consumers to download an app or have a particular model of smartphone for use.
While an in-app offering is easier from the standpoint of connecting your XR activation with your selling channels, the suitability of this approach really depends on your goals. If you’re trying to appeal to already loyal customers, this won’t present much friction – especially if it’s built into an existing branded app.
But if your objective is to reach a wider audience via an XR ad campaign, a web-based experience is far more accessible to the masses, helping to attract curious onlookers who want to learn more – but who wouldn’t be willing to let your brand take up space on their phone.
XR has been slow to take off not just because of the cost, but because it doesn’t always lend itself to boosting sales directly. A customer might play around with a virtual try-on filter out of curiosity, but it doesn’t mean they’re going to buy just because it’s there.
That’s why XR needs to be packaged as part of wider efforts to empower consumers to explore a brand’s offerings in depth. Rich, immersive experiences that lend themselves to building brand affinity will have a much bigger impact than those which only steer customers towards a particular offering.
Sephora’s Virtual Artist app has succeeded not because it helps consumers find the perfect shade of lipstick, but because it allows them to navigate a confusing maze of different brand offerings – including those they wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. It primes customers for further interactions, rather than just a one-off purchase.
There’s no doubt that XR is helping to improve customer decision-making and enhance the brand experience online and offline. It also helps retailers to increase engagement by adding a sense of exploration to the shopping experience. As the barrier to entry lowers, we can expect to see more brands dipping their toe into the XR space.
But adopting XR can also be fraught with difficulties and pitfalls. As the novelty of the technology wears off, consumer expectations for the quality and usefulness of these experiences are only going to grow. Brands who struggle to deliver on this premise are unlikely to benefit from introducing XR experiences. It’s only by putting the consumer first and addressing their needs that retailers are going to add lasting value to their brand.
Consumers are ready to embrace innovative shopping that breaks the mold – the question is whether brands are ready to take up the challenge.


text:
Partnership to introduce and promote Pundi X solutions to leading US and other multinationals in Korea
Pundi X (CURRENCY: NPXS) has established a strategic partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce Korea (AMCHAM). AMCHAM will help introduce and promote Pundi X blockchain-based point-of-sales solution to its members, including leading multinationals in Korea.
The collaboration, between AMCHAM and Pundi X, the world’s leading provider point of sale solutions allowing retail stores to conduct blockchain-based transactions in multiple cryptocurrencies, was announced by Pundi X’s advisor in Korea.
Jeffrey Jones, a leading international lawyer and global expert on foreign investment, announced the partnership at the first display of the new Pundi XPOS in Seoul last week.
Mr. Jones is a senior advisor to Pundi X and the Chair of the Board of Directors at American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. He has been recognised by the government for his contribution to the development of business in Korea.
Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed last week, AMCHAM will agree to support, introduce and promote the Pundi X blockchain solution to its 1,800 members, such as Aston Martin, McDonald’s and more in support of the blockchain-based payment solution deployment and adoption in Korea.
Korea is one of four countries to which Pundi X will next month beginning shipping pre-orders for its new XPOS device, which carries support for credit and debit card payments as well as multiple cryptocurrency transactions.
“Korea is a key market for the deployment of cryptocurrencies and, it of course follows, for Pundi X,” said Danny Lim, the company’s co-founder and Chief Financial Officer. “We are very pleased by the level of interest shown by Korean merchants and consumers.
“But we are confident that with the backing of an organisation with as many links to global business as AMCHAM and strategic counsel from our key advisor Jeffrey Jones that this development will be an important milestone, not just for our presence in Korea but globally, too.”


text:
Hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2017 successfully is the focus of Viet Nam’s foreign policy, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh said.
He made the remarks while addressing a special discussion within the framework of the annual meeting of the US’s National Centre for APEC (NCAPEC), as a representative of the host country of APEC 2017.
Viet Nam always gives prominence to the strategic and economic significance of APEC 2017, he said, noting that the country is working on the summit’s theme which will focus on how to create a new momentum for APEC economies on the back of the sluggish global economy. In that spirit, the country has consulted other APEC members about such issues as regional economic connectivity, sustainable growth, start-ups, global value chain, business competitiveness, food security and sustainable agriculture adaptable to climate change, among others, the ambassador added.
He spoke highly of the NCAPEC’s role to the development and successes of APEC as well as its contributions to APEC summits in 2006 and 2017 hosted by Viet Nam. Viet Nam will closely cooperate with the international business community, the NCAPEC and US enterprises in particular in all activities of APEC Year in 2017, the diplomat promised. He called on US firms to continue backing the country’s efforts in order to create new values for APEC and ensure its development and successes by actively taking part in business dialogues within APEC 2017. Vinh said he hopes that the new US President will attend the event and visit Viet Nam in the year.
Representatives of the participating US companies shared their views that with a strategic geographical location and active engagement in regional economic integration institutions like the ASEAN Economic Community, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will help Viet Nam successfully host the summit. They said they are interested in Vietnam’s assessment of the TPP’s impacts on other regional trade integration institutions like the RECP as well as the prospects for the establishment of a Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific. NCAPEC leaders expressed their willingness to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy in the US to make APEC 2017 a success.
Established in Seattle, Washington in 1994, the NCAPEC is the only US business association focused exclusively on facilitating private sector engagement in the APEC organisation. Led by a board of more than 50 major US companies with a strong interest in the growth and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific, the NCAPEC works to advance US private sector policy priorities in APEC's discussions on trade and economic issues. The centre also serves as the Secretariat to the US members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the official mechanism for private sector input in APEC.


text:
Covid-19 almost killed Airbnb … but then the travel brand used the catalyst of change to drive new innovation and growth
May 4, 2022
Airbnb was on a roll.
Born out of the financial crisis of 2008 when three young guys decided to offer airbeds to rent on their apartment floor, with a bowl of breakfast cereal thrown in as added value, to become a serious alternative to the world’s sterile and standard hotel chains, it had come a long way.
It then started to get bolder ambitions. A brand reimagination, told a story that enabled people to “belong anywhere”, to immerse themselves in local neighbourhood cultures, to embrace the quirky eccentric nature of every home and its location, and then added a diverse range of brand extensions, from trips to luxury.
Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and Airbnb almost went bankrupt.
Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO says “2 years ago, our business dropped 80%, our IPO was put on hold, and some didn’t think we’d make it at all. As bookings were wiped out, Chesky was forced to make many of his close-knit employees redundant.
He famously wrote an incredibly human letter, incredibly offering to let everyone take their laptops with them, as they least he could do to help them.
Then he started to adjust to a locked-down world. Cookery courses, salsa dancing, and many more entertaining yet practical types of content became popular as Airbnb became a place where people could learn and live anywhere, meaning locked in their own homes, yet connected online.
It kept some employees and a hardcore of loyal customers engaged , but struggled financially.
Yet as travel restrictions were lifted, Airbnb quickly saw a new boom. Staycationing, or the trend to vacation close to home, meant many people searched out an independent place to rent. And many others were all too happy to rent out spare bedrooms or homes, to make up for lost earnings.
So how did Airbnb turn things around? Chesky picks up the reinvention:
- First, we simplified our business. We got back to our roots, prioritizing the everyday people who host their homes and offer experiences
- We cut the vast majority of our projects, shuttered our business units, and made the painful decision to do a layoff
- We significantly improved our cost structure, decreasing our cost of revenue (merchant fees and servers), and tightly managed our fixed costs
- Next, we changed our approach to marketing. When travel stopped, we paused all performance marketing and shifted our focus to PR (there have been 1M+ stories written about Airbnb since then)
- By 2021, we started investing in brand marketing again, but reduced our overall marketing spend from 34% of our revenue in 2019 to 20% in 2021
- Soon, people weren’t just traveling on Airbnb, they were living on Airbnb.
And what has changed since the pandemic? Chesky says:
- In 2021, around 20% of our nights booked were for stays of a month or longer, and nearly 50% for a week or longer.
- These trends continue to this day. And now, urban and cross-border travel, which were the majority of our business before the pandemic, are back to 2019 levels
- In 2021, we completely overhauled our product as the world became more flexible.
- We made 150+ upgrades and improvements, including launching the “I’m Flexible” feature, which has been used more than 2 billion times.
More from the blog


text:
Many Cape Town locals will know of the Salt River gem Sepial’s Kitchen that became known and loved for serving up North-East Asian flavours. While Sepial’s may be closed for now (and operating at the Oranjezicht City Farm), the team has taken on a new baby project in the form of The Ugly Dumpling.
View this post on Instagram
While we are saddened that @sepialskitchen as we know it will cease to exist, we're so happy that Sepial and her team have reinvented their offering as @uglydumplingza @vandafoodmarket. The space may be (even) smaller, but the quality of food and the personal touch remains the same. Good luck Sepial! 1. Korean Fried Chicken bao 2. Pork, chive and celery mandoo #koreanfood #dumplings #asianfood #familybusiness #foodie #bao #dimsum
The new dumpling bar, which is now open at the V&A Waterfront Food Market near the Watershed, was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic and created by Sepial Shim’s son, Mooru Yeo, to keep the team financially stable and to offer more delicious products to their loyal customers.
Mooru, who studied at Silwood School of Cookery, has developed a range of “ugly and delicious dumplings”. The stall is serving up (and selling out at lightning speed) easy, quick bites with the same quality that fans have come to know at Sepial’s Kitchen.
Think Korean fried chicken bao buns, wonton soup, cucumber and seaweed salad, pan-fried buns with a nutty cinnamon filling, and fried kimchi or prawn mandoo (steamed dumplings). New items will be introduced every week and they’ve even introduced frozen dumplings to enjoy at home.
The Ugly Dumpling is open Thursdays to Sundays, 10am to 6pm, at the V&A Food Market. Follow them on Instagram for menu updates.
Brought to you by Retail Capital. Click here for more new restaurant news.


text:
Conviviality buys Bibendum PLB
It's been all change at Bibendum lately. Back in November 2014 the big shake up was the merger of Bibendum and PLB, combining on-trade and off-trade skills. This included the acquisition of Walker and Woodhouse to handle the independent retail side. And now this week
drinks wholesaler & retailer Conviviality has announced that it has have acquired Bibendum PLB with effect from 20th May. Conviviality owns off licences Wine Rack and Bargain Booze and drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark and say the move will help strengthen Conviviality's independent on-trade business. Bibendum PLB has five distinct trading companies each focused on a different market sector: Bibendum (on trade), PLB (multiple retail), Walker & Wodehouse (independent retail & wholesale), Instil Drinks Co (spirits and beer) and The Wondering Wine Company (events). All five trading companies will continue to operate as normal within Conviviality and it remains business as usual under the new ownership. Bibendum PLB’s leadership team, including CEO Michael Saunders, remain in place and no significant changes are envisaged in the near future. Michael Saunders said in a press release the move is a positive step to help the business evolve and develop.


text:
Google confirmed “many Gmail users” were unable to access the email service since about 2 p.m. Pacific Time after receiving a “502 Error” message which would seem to indicate a system overload of some kind for the popular service.
Whatever the issue, it appears to have been identified and fixed. A Google spokesman said the issue has been fixed and Gmail is functioning normally. Several mail users contacted by InternetNews.com report their service is back and working after being unable to access it.
In response to a request for an explanation about the problem, Google sent the following statement to InternetNews.com:
“Since about 2 p.m. Pacific Time today, many Gmail users have been unable to access their email. We are very sorry for this interruption in service. The issue is being caused by a temporary outage in the contacts system used by Gmail, which is preventing Gmail from loading properly. We are starting to roll out a fix now and hope to have the problem resolved as quickly as possible. Even though you may not be able to get to your inbox right now, your mail is safe, including new incoming messages.
Google also noted it will provide an update at its mail support site as soon as it has more information to share.
“I’ve seen this twice today. Scares the bejesus out of me. Twitter is fun, but GMail is mission-critical.”
“Gmail down” also appeared today as number one on Google’s Hot Trends list that tracks search patterns.
In addition to be a key application in Google’s lineup of free consumer services, Gmail is also central to its Google Apps suite for business users.