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The California Supreme Court should depublish an appellate decision delaying the appeal of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. employees' denied class certification, a lawyers association argued Wednesday, saying the ruling will create confusion about how to balance the timing of an appeal and litigants' rights and clashes with longstanding precedent.
The federal government on Wednesday urged the Ninth Circuit to uphold the eviction of a non-Native American from tribal trust land it says is within the Colorado River Indian Reservation, calling the man's challenge to a tribal court’s jurisdiction an improper "collateral attack" on the land's trust status.
The National Labor Relations Board “refined” its test for determining joint-employer status Thursday, in a highly anticipated split decision that concluded Browning-Ferris Industries of California Inc. was a joint employer of workers provided by a staffing agency at a BFI recycling plant.
Cisco Systems Inc. has sued Hewlett-Packard Co. in California state court, alleging the tech giant still owes $58 million after it miscalculated how an HP customer’s cancellation of services impacted the balance on a loan financed by a Cisco unit.
A Los Angeles city government contractor asserted Wednesday that his renewed, $1.4 billion False Claims Act suit sufficiently alleges AT&T Corp. deliberately denied the federal government discounts given to commercial customers, urging a California federal court Wednesday to ignore AT&T's dismissal bid.
MetLife’s real estate investment arm has struck a deal to sell a Newport Beach, California, office building for $72.3 million, according to an announcement Wednesday from Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP, which marketed the property.
Global Hawk Insurance Co. claimed in California federal court Wednesday that Northland Insurance Co. jumped the gun by settling claims against a shipping company stemming from a fatal tractor-trailer collision because that settlement left another freight company connected to the crash to fend for itself.
A California federal judge on Wednesday rebuffed the Chowchilla Tribe of Yokuts' bid to weigh in on litigation aimed at forcing California back into negotiations with a neighboring tribe for a proposed casino, saying the tribe’s interests are adequately represented by the state.
Against the backdrop of a data breach affecting 4.5 million University of California Los Angeles Health System patients, the system’s privacy officer took the stand Wednesday in a suit brought by a woman whose ex-boyfriend accessed her medical records, facing questions about why available security measures weren’t used.
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. on Wednesday urged a California federal judge to toss part of a $548 million verdict against it in an infringement battle over Apple Inc.’s smartphone patents, ruling the Patent Trial and Appeal Board had invalidated one of them in December.
Corn syrup producers including Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. on Wednesday told a California federal judge that sugar growers accusing them of deceptively referring to their corn syrup as "corn sugar" are "sandbagging" the court with hundreds of pages of new expert materials on the eve of trial.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed on Wednesday a lower court decision to issue a permanent injunction against Guam in a class action brought by taxpayers who claim the territory failed to timely issue tax refunds, holding it was illegal for the government to withhold the refunds in an attempt to balance its budget.
A California judge has awarded Victaulic Co. $5.5 million to cover the expenses it incurred proving that AIG International Group Inc. subsidiaries had a duty to defend the pipe-joining company in product defect suits, several weeks after a state jury awarded Victaulic $55 million over the insurers' denial of coverage.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP said Wednesday it has bolstered its intellectual property and entertainment practices in Los Angeles by adding two former partners of IP and employment boutique Kupferstein Manuel & Quinto LLP with experience representing entertainment companies in copyright and trademark matters and complex litigation.
Tamko Building Products Inc. succeeded Wednesday in persuading a California federal judge to move a proposed class action against the Missouri-based roofing products maker to arbitration, a decision that validates an arbitration clause on a limited warranty that comes with the product.
A Sears Holdings Corp. unit was slapped with a putative class action on Wednesday in California federal court accusing the retailer of falsely advertising “phantom markdowns” of products in its stores and online based on original prices that were never actually offered.
The Ninth Circuit on Wednesday refused to let Bank Melli dodge a lawsuit brought by victims of terrorism seeking to collect on $17.6 million in judgments obtained against the Republic of Iran, saying the “numerous creative arguments” from Iran's national bank don't allow it to escape liability.
A California federal judge Tuesday granted InterDigital Inc.'s bid to force arbitration in the case from smartphone maker ASUS Computer International accusing it of monopolizing the cellular and wireless markets by helping steer industry standards toward technology it controls and then reneging on commitments to license its patents fairly.
Best Buy Co. and Monster Inc. deceived consumers by implying only Monster cables work with certain HDTVs, then charging premiums of up to 1,748 percent on those cables, a proposed nationwide class alleged Tuesday in California federal court.
Nike Inc. on Tuesday blasted ex-NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman’s request for an injunction against the company in his California trademark suit alleging Nike banked substantial profits from infringing his “Lights Out” nickname, insisting that it had nothing to do with another retailer’s use of the phrase.
The California Supreme Court has unanimously reversed course from 50 years of precedent — confirming that wills in the state should be treated no differently than other written documents when it comes to correcting mistakes. The ruling almost certainly will create more litigation, say Ryan Cunningham and Allonn Levy of Hopkins & Carley.
Vincente Garcia, former head of Latin American sales for SAP International Inc., recently pled guilty in San Francisco federal court to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and settled civil FCPA charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, underscoring the agencies' continuing focus on the technology sector and Northern California in general, say attorneys with Morrison & Foerster LLP.
Last week, in its long-anticipated and unanimous decision in Fluor Corp. v. Superior Court, the California Supreme Court made it significantly easier to transfer insurance rights in corporate acquisitions and reorganizations, placing California squarely in the mainstream view, say Richard DeNatale and Celia Jackson at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.
Unfortunately, wrongful termination lawsuits have increased. Particularly in California, once you decide to terminate an employee, there are a number of steps to take and considerations to make to protect your interests and ensure you conduct the termination with dignity, says Joshua Dale of Michel & Associates PC.
The Fifth Circuit's decision in Rigsby v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. and the Fourth Circuit's decision in Smith v. Clark/Smoot/Russell reaffirm that federal courts are highly reluctant to dismiss cases brought under the False Claims Act for breaches of its seal provisions. They also reinforce divisions among the circuits concerning the applicable standards for such dismissals, says Robert Sherry of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.
The Ninth Circuit's ruling in Mayo v. PCC Structurals Inc. and an Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission administrative law judge's decision in Secretary of Labor v. Integra Health Management Inc. illustrate the competing liabilities health care employers face in their decision-making when responding to workplace violence, say Mark Lies II and Craig Simonsen of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.
Contrary to the views expressed in a recent Law360 guest column, the California federal court's decision in Good Technology Corporation v. MobileIron Inc. appears to be good law, consistent with recent Federal Circuit guidance concerning the proper determination of reasonable royalty damages, say Michael Chapman and John Jarosz of Analysis Group Inc.
If Donald Sterling had come to me with the privacy lawsuit that he recently filed against TMZ Productions Inc. and V. Stiviano, I would have sent the beleaguered former Clippers owner off to the locker room, says Neville Johnson, a founding partner of Johnson & Johnson LLP.
When one product manufacturer or distributor acquires another, which party should assume the existing debt and/or ongoing liabilities — the buyer or the seller? Originating in California and adopted in four other states, the product line successor exception is one way to answer that question, says Richard Williams at Gray Duffy LLP.
The dire forecast from the group of 15 states that filed an emergency petition seeking a stay of the Clean Power Plan is greatly exaggerated. The final rule allows significant flexibility to utilities and states, and much of the legal infrastructure necessary for states to comply with the final rule is already in place throughout the country, say Ayres Law Group LLP's John Bernetich and Richard Ayres, co-founder of the Natural Reso... (continued)


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Results - 10 of at least 78 items found
Jan 12, 2022
Winning Solutions for Women’s Health
Companies are leveraging technology to improve health and save the lives of underserved women.
Dec 17, 2021
Bringing quality healthcare to Brazil’s underserved
In Salvador, Brazil, Hospital do Subúrbio combines public and private support to offer comprehensive medical services for those who need them most.
Dec 8, 2021
Reshaping the Workplace
For employees at a Turkish pharmaceutical company, the future of work—and the workplace itself—looks different now.
Oct 18, 2021
In the pharmaceutical industry around the world, a noteworthy kind of company is stepping onto the global stage. These are energetic, innovative family businesses launched in emerging economies. They often begin as manufacturers of low-cost medications and build their capabilities until they can expand beyond their home countries. One such company, well known in Mexico, is Grupo Neolpharma.
Sep 15, 2021
New Crystal Health Services
With the public healthcare system overcrowded, and the private sector usually catering to the wealthier middle class, New Crystal is helping meet Ghana’s growing health needs, especially for the low-income segment, sustaining itself as a business by filling this gap in demand for care.
Jun 28, 2021
Inside Africa’s Push to Make its Own Medicines
Regional pharma manufacturing hubs can expand the availability of drugs, lower costs, and strengthen local health systems.
Jun 16, 2021
Africa’s Shot at Local Pharma Production
Imbalances between supply and demand in the pharmaceutical sector have captured investors’ attention. Locally-manufactured medicines could bridge the gap.
May 26, 2021
The largest private hospital in Ecuador, Hospital Metropolitano in Quito, also has one of the strongest reputations for quality of care. This is not an accident; the company’s culture and day-to-day practices have been shaped by three major choices that its leaders have made through its history.
May 10, 2021
Local Pharma Companies Place Wellness within Reach
Pharmaceutical manufacturers in emerging markets offer local consumers affordable, accessible generic medicines and health-care products tailored to their needs
Apr 22, 2021
Helping Africa Secure Essential Medical Equipment
The Africa Medical Equipment Facility will help African countries strengthen their response to the COVID-19 pandemic and build resilient health systems.

domain: news


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Last night was a milestone for TLD. KTM lit up their factory test track in Corona, California, for a media open house, where the announcement was made that TLD is now officially the Factory KTM 250 Team. To make the night even more special KTM debuted the Troy Lee Designs KTM 250SX-F Factory Edition Bike! Take a peek at the behind the scenes photos of this special event.
A dream come true last night for owner Troy Lee of Troy Lee Designs when KTM announced their Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM newest Factory Edition 250 SX-F bike for 2016. The new machines will have a full livery of Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/KTM graphics along with Jessy Nelson’s lucky number 13. The special edition bikes will be hitting dealers in just a few weeks and have a few exciting changes like the switch from the 4CS forks to WP’s newest AER 48 air fork. The bike also is equipped with a FMF titanium slip-on exhausted, billet triple clamp and more which help bring this machine in 4 pounds lighter than last years model. Make sure to check this Factory Edition bike out as it the cool factor is through the roof.


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An iPhone edition of ultra-popular indie game Minecraft was released on the App Store recently, but quickly pulled down, allegedly by the game’s creator.
If you’ve never played Minecraft, it’s all about surviving in a hostile wasteland by attacking monsters, harvesting raw materials, and building a shelter from rocks. Then, when that’s all done and dusted, you can set about making a gigantic replica of the Starship Enterprise or a working computer.
It’s popular and addictive stuff, so the craft-obsessive openly welcomed the 59p / 99c / €0.79c Minecrafted app for iPhone and iPod touch. It let you play in your kingdom and create craft-art on the go, allegedly without any code from the original game.
But the creators of the PC game, who make a cool $250,000 a day from the hit title, weren’t so pleased. “There is no official iPhone or Android Minecraft yet,” tweeted Markus 'Notch' Persson, the swedish developer of Minecraft. “If you're working on a clone, that's cool, but please don't imply it's ours.”
While one would assume the app was pulled from iTunes for copyright infringement, the developer said otherwise on Twitter. “I removed it myself because it wasn't intended to go live yet,” said Trevor Wilkin, Minecrafted’s developer.
He says he wanted to get in contact with the official team before the app went gold, but an incorrect release date had the download pop up on iTunes before he was ready.
We’ll let you know if it ever comes back to the App Store.


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Lucia Dell’Agnese sees it every day — women walking the streets of Toronto in ill-fitting clothes. Button holes gape over bosoms, jackets strain at the shoulder blades and over-large pants wrinkle at the crotch.
The problem lies with the erratic sizing practices of the fashion industry and women clinging to a number rather than focusing on fit, says Dell’Agnese, associate chair of the school of fashion at Ryerson University.
“This is a problem that has been plaguing women for years,” says Dell’Agnese, with retailers resorting to vanity sizing so that women would feel good about squeezing into a smaller size. That’s how retailers ended up manufacturing a size 0, she says; the numbers on size tags just kept getting smaller.
Unlike men’s clothes which are sized by their dimensions, such as chest, neck and arm length, women’s clothes have never had explicit numbers linked to size, says Dell’Agnese. That leaves the bewildered shopper who is one size at Gap and another at Melanie Lyne wondering what to do.
A few U.S. companies, a retailer and an academic think they have a solution.
Tanya Shaw’s U.S. company Unique Solutions invented a body scanner similar to those used in airports that calculates the body’s dimensions and matches it to the sizes of items in stores. A scanner is installed at the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania with 13 more locations planned for the end of 2011.
Shaw started a custom pattern business in 1994 to create sewing patterns for women whose had body shapes standard patterns did not accommodate. She then looked into methods to increase the accuracy of the measurements and seized upon a body scanner as a foolproof method.
A $0.99 iPhone app in the U.S. is designed to help shoppers determine their size in different stores.
Kavitha Setty of MySizeFinder.com says it took over six months to gather measurements on 330 brands. Setty would like to expand into Canada soon.
Marie-Eve Faust, program director for fashion merchandising at the Philadelphia University, is working on a labelling system that details measurements and shape issues than a size. She hopes it will become standard for the retail industry.
“We just reached 0 a few years ago and 0 is invisible, nothing. We cannot be that small,” says Faust, a Canadian who got her PhD studying sizing and merchandising at Sears Canada. Sears, she said, put measurements in their first catalogue in 1902, to help people order clothes properly.
“A label should be more useful. We want the perfect fit to show our beauty.”
Dell’Agnese blames changes in the retail industry for the shopper’s current dilemma. “When it went more self-service, it was service that died,” she says, adding “you have to be your own adviser.”
Mid-range retailer Reitmans is trying to address this. Sales staff at the chain receive a one-hour lesson on fit, body size and style when they start at the store, plus several updates on flash cards being produced throughout the year, says Brigitte Martin, merchandise manager and fit expert. It’s part of a training program Reitmans has run for the past five years.
A perfect fit is a combination of “proportion, body shape and comfort,” Martin says.


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DigiTimes is citing a report from sznews.com today that three Foxconn employees have been arrested in Shenzhen, China for leaking the design specs of the iPad 2 to third-party case manufacturers ahead of the device’s launch. The three were allegedly arrested in December of last year and were charged in late March for the leaks. Foxconn grew suspicious of its own employees after accurate third-party iPad 2 cases began popping up on the market; the firm then asked local authorities to investigate. Foxconn manufacturers electronics for a number of major companies including Apple, HP, Palm, and Sony, and it has been called out in the past for the harsh treatment of its employees. More →
Does Verizon Wireless’ iPad 2 have a connection problem? Some users on Apple’s discussion forums seem to think so. One user named “nixxon 2000” started a thread in called “iPad 2 WiFi + 3G Verizon Cellular Data Issue” in which the user claims that his or her iPad 2 refuses to connect to Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. The only fix for this user is to hard reset the device using iTunes. We might typically chalk this up to a user error of sorts, but there are now five pages of replies, many of which are forum posters with the same problem. Reportedly, resetting the network settings doesn’t do the trick, and some Genius Bar employees weren’t able to find the root of the issue. One forum poster named “dtsguy” had this to say on the issue:
Easy way to duplicate: turn off cellular, then reboot normally. 3G will not come back regardless if switched on or off. Only way to turn back on is to 1) switch cellular back to ‘on’ and 2) reboot. All time consuming… Tried restoring, didn’t help……
We’re curious if this is a widespread issue or if it’s just happening with a handful of users, but we hope it’s something that can be fixed through a quick software update in either case. More →
Two of Apple’s component suppliers, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co and Toshiba, have reportedly shut down some of their operations in Japan in the wake of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, this could result in shortages of Apple’s iPad 2 and iPhone 4 in March, through the rest of the first quarter, and into June. Toshiba manufactures 40% of the world’s flash memory, and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co is believed to be Apple’s go-to company for BT resin — which is used on circuit boards. Munster says Apple’s strategy to buy from multiple component suppliers could help soften the blow. “This strategy has proven to be an effective way for Apple to leverage its balance sheet and its position as one of the largest buyers of many of the components it uses; moreover, this strategy may prove particularly helpful if supply is limited and pricing increases,” wrote Munster. “Finally, we believe Apple buys futures on important components, which will help offset near-term pricing swings. Our conclusion is that Apple is well positioned to suffer proportionally less than its competitors.” Apple’s stock traded down sharply yesterday on the news of an analyst downgrade and potential supply shortages. More →
Apple may have revamped its online ordering system in an effort to prevent close-watchers from trying to figure out just how many iPad 2 units have shipped, according to sources speaking to AppleInsider. When the original iPad launched, users from Investor VIllage AAPL Sanity Board were able to figure out the number of iPad sales by comparing the order numbers. This year, however, orders are shipping with a randomly generated number. That means that you can’t look at order numbers to get a ballpark figure of how many iPad 2 units have shipped. That sounds like a logical move for Apple, which probably wants to keep sales figures close to the vest until it can announce an official number on its own. Oddly, though, Apple has not yet released any numbers in relation to how many iPad 2 tablets it has shipped. Analysts have estimated that Apple may have sold 1 million iPad 2s during its opening weekend, but we figure Apple would have made an announcement by now if that was fact. In any case, most retailers sold out of the device immediately, and as of yesterday there were still lines at the 5th Avenue Apple Store in NYC. So one thing is for clear: there’s certainly a large consumer demand. Enough for one Apple spokesperson to claim sales were “amazing.“
Reports about some iPad 2 defects are beginning to surface from early adopters, and among those issues is a claim that some iPad 2 units bleed light from the LCD display. One YouTube poster, who goes by the moniker ‘iamPhones,’ has posted a video that shows some light bleeding mostly from the bottom of the LCD. It occurs when dark colors and blacks are displayed inside apps, during dark scenes in movies, and during the boot phase. It’s possible that the glue, which holds the LCD panel to the iPad chassis, hasn’t set on some units and is causing this defect, but we’re not sure. We haven’t seen any LCD bleeding issues with our two iPad 2 units. Have any of you experienced similar problems? Let us know, and hit the jump for a video showing the LCD bleed in action. More →
While Apple has not revealed initial sales figures for the iPad 2 launch this past weekend, one spokesperson has hinted that sales have been solid. Given the lines outside of an Apple Store in NYC on Friday, and some analyst claims that Apple sold close to 1 million iPad 2 units during the tablet’s debut weekend, that comes as no surprise to us. “Demand for the next generation iPad 2 has been amazing. We are working hard to get iPad 2 into the hands of every customer who wants one as quickly as possible,” Trudy Muller, an Apple spokesperson, told The Loop today. Apple’s iPad 2 hit store shelves on 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and virtually every retail store — including Apple, AT&T, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Verizon Wireless locations — have sold out of iPad 2 stock. Still looking to grab one? Try your luck in our iPad 2 giveaway. More →
We just rolled through the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in New York City to get a feel for the hype surrounding Apple’s iPad 2 launch today. We had a chance to talk to a few people about the event, and one person told us he had been waiting in line since 6:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon — with the help of a few Red Bulls, of course. Not too far back from the start of the line, we found a couple that had only been waiting since 5:00 a.m. this morning. That’s not too bad given that crowds began lining up to wait for the iPhone 3G seven days before its debut. We’ll be stopping by the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue again tonight around 5:00 p.m. to bring you an update, so be sure to check back for some video interviews. In the meantime, feel free to check out our gallery and hit the break for a video.
UPDATE: We updated the gallery with new images after the iPad 2 went on sale — be sure to check them out!More →
Apple has just gone and done it, boys and girls — the next generation iPad is now official. Moments ago, Steve Jobs just announced the new iPad, the iPad 2 — surprise, it’s pretty much what we were suspecting. Here are some key specifications right from the man himself:
- Apple A5 processor, dual core CPU
- 2x CPU speed, 9x graphics speed improvement
- Front and rear cameras
- 33% thinner, 13.4mm to 8.8mm thin — thinner than an iPhone 4, and lighter than the previous iPad
- AT&T and Verizon models, white and black iPads
- Same original iPad battery life, over 10 hours of usage and a month of standby time
Pricing for the new iPad lines up exactly with the original model: iPad Wi-Fi will be available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacitties for $499, $599, and $699 respectively. The iPad Wi-Fi + 3G will be available in the aforementioned sizes for $629, $729, and $829. The new model will go on sale in just under two weeks starting in the U.S. with many more countries joining in on March 25th. More →
Images of what is claimed to be Apple’s second-generation iPad have been published by Chinese site DGtle. The images definitely line up with what we’ve heard so far — much thinner case, dual cameras, a speaker grill and so on. It also looks like rumors of a white iPad might pan out, as tipped by the white antenna cover seen in these pictures. Nothing is confirmed until we see that shiny new iPad 2 unveiled on stage a Yerba Buena later today though, despite the fact that this purported Apple tablet sure looks the part. Tune in to BGR at 1:00PM ET for all the latest news as it breaks, and hit the jump for more images.
In a note to investors on Tuesday, Ticonderoga Securities analyst Brian White became one of only a few analysts to take a minority stance on the iPad 2… sort of. White thinks Apple’s next-generation iPad will see stiff competition from the wave of tablets set to crash down on our shores this year, whereas most believe Apple’s tablet will be a clear winner over competitive offerings. “We estimate there are well over one hundred tablets coming to market around the world this year.” White writes. “Assuming a new iPad is unveiled at this event, we believe Apple must make a convincing case for why the iPad 2 is better than the plethora of competitors coming to market, while at the same time persuading iPad 1 buyers to upgrade to iPad 2.” That was enough to garner some attention, apparently, as White then pumped the brakes. “We still believe the combination of the Apple brand, economies of scale and the company’s powerful ecosystem are reasons enough for Apple to outpace its competitors,” he notes. White currently has a Buy rating on Apple stock with a $550 price target. More →
With Apple’s iPad media event only a day away, many people are asking just what Apple is expected to announce tomorrow. We have heard rumors and seen purported next-generation iPad parts leak practically since right after the first iPad launched. Thanks to third-party case manufacturers, we have also been given renders and even physical mockups of the forthcoming iPad 2. We’ve tried to separate the nonsense from the plausible, and here’s what we’re expecting from tomorrow’s event:
- A much thinner and lighter iPad. We’re talking seriously thin.
- A slightly thinner bezel around the iPad’s display, making the device’s footprint just a tad bit smaller.
- A dual-core Apple processor, possibly named A5
- 512MB of RAM
- A front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for FaceTime HD
- A rear-facing 2-megapixel camera
- Support for AT&T and Verizon Wireless networks out of the box
- Photo Booth for iPad
- Availability within 1-2 weeks, new price points starting at $399 for the entry-level Wi-Fi model
- Announcement and preview of iOS 5 to be released in the summer
We’ll know definitively tomorrow just after 1:00PM ET, but in the meantime, chime in with your own predictions and wishes, alright?
Ok, let’s not get too excited just yet… this one is kind of a stretch. The current generation of Apple’s magical iPad tablet was announced on January 27th — a Wednesday. Icons representing the iPad, seen above on the left, show “27” as the date on the calendar. Apple’s latest iOS beta, however, includes a new icon for the iPad that shows a “9” on the calendar app. As it happens, February 9th lines up pretty well with earlier rumors and we all know a second-generation iPad announcement is imminent at this point. Oh, and the 9th is also a Wednesday. Would Apple be playful enough to lob a clue like this out to the masses? It would be uncharacteristic indeed, but crazier things have certainly happened.
UPDATE: BGR reader Tim points out that the the current publicly available iOS software on the iPad also shows a “9” on the iPad’s calendar icon when you change the wallpaper. As such, we can safely call this rumor debunked. More →
A source that has proven reliable in the past outs new components that will allegedly be part of Apple’s upcoming next-generation iPad. GlobalDirectParts, consumer electronics parts supplier and source of the Verizon iPhone parts video that ended up being the real deal, has added two interesting new items to its website. The first is an “OEM Apple iPad 2 LCD screen,” which rings up at $218.19 compared to the current-generation iPad’s display which cost $144.99 from the supplier when it first became available. This further supports rumors that Apple’s next iPad will have a high resolution display. The second component of interest is a $9.99 “OEM Apple iPad vibrating motor,” which would be a completely new addition to the iPad 2 considering the current iPad does not include a vibrate function. More →


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At the start of this year, author Jared C. Wilson tweeted a list of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s 100 best-selling books of 2016. Among the titles in the top 20: three versions of Sarah Young’s controversial Jesus Calling, two kids joke books, two adult coloring books, titles by HGTV stars and athletes, and, of course, the latest from Joel Osteen.
Wilson called the rankings “proof American evangelicalism traffics mainly in superficiality, sentimentalism, and superstition.” Hundreds of fellow evangelicals chimed in to speculate about the list and point fingers at the church, the shoppers, and the stores selling these titles—as well as offer suggestions for better books out there.
When America’s biggest Christian chain, Family Christian Stores, announced last month that it would be shutting its doors, a small number of Christian bookstore cynics brought up similar critiques over the shallower content its stores promoted alongside Bibles and Christian classics. The speculated silver lining: Did Family Christian’s closure mean consumers were turning away from the celebrity books, inspirational titles, and “Jesus junk”?
Compared to America’s other major Christian retailer—LifeWay Christian Resources—Family Christian was more relaxed in its offerings and carried some items its Southern Baptist counterpart did not. Its harshest critics, including a blogger at World Net Daily, blamed its downfall on the “heretical books and other materials” on Family Christian’s shelves. On a similar note, satire site TheBabylon Bee posted the headline: “Recent Shortage Of Heaven-And-Back Trips Puts Family Christian Stores Out Of Business.”
Still, evangelicals across the book industry say even if some Christians took issue with Family Christian’s offerings, it’s hard to see its demise as anything but a loss for Christian retail and Christian publishing overall.
“I am hurting that Family did have to close,” Thom Rainer, LifeWay CEO and president, said in an interview with CT. “They’ve had an incredible history throughout decades of ministry in their communities. They’ve been a great force for the kingdom.”
And, despite recent financial blunders, a great force for brick-and-mortar Christian retail. Its stores were a go-to for new Bibles and bestsellers. “Those books are going to continue to sell,” even without Family Christian, according to Andy LePeau, who retired as InterVarsity Press assistant publisher last year.
But the question is where. When bookstores close, their business doesn’t just transfer to another shop. Instead, “you are effectively teaching more people how to order online,” according to Paul Wilkinson, owner of a Christian bookstore in Ontario and an industry blogger who posted last week in response to Family Christian’s critics. That hasn’t stopped independent shops from trying to recruit new customers in areas where stores are closing.
Click here to read more.
SOURCE: Christianity Today


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By now, most Lehigh Valley residents know they can shop for an electricity supplier.
Far fewer probably know they can also shop for a natural gas supplier.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission launched an effort Monday aimed at remedying that. The utilities regulator rolled out a website that makes it easier for consumers to compare prices and determine if they could save a few dollars by switching to another natural gas company.
"I think it's education, and there aren't competitive suppliers available in all areas just yet," said spokeswoman Denise McCracken. "People might not be aware and people might not have the ability. It comes down to the pricing. If natural gas suppliers don't think they can compete with the suppliers in that territory, you won't see many competitive offers."
The PUC is hoping that some tweaks it made recently to the natural gas pricing structure will help competitors offer better deals.
The website, PaGasSwitch, shows there are two suppliers offering lower prices to Lehigh Valley customers than UGI Utilities' price to compare of 55 cents per cubic foot. But both come with caveats.
Palmco Energy's rate of 49.8 cents per cubic foot is only good for two months, while Pennsylvania Gas and Electric's rate of 49.9 cents varies on a month-to-month basis. That equates to a savings of about $5 a month for a customer who uses 100 cubic feet.
Most of the other suppliers offering natural gas in the area are significantly higher.
That might explain why barely 11 percent of Pennsylvania natural gas customers have switched suppliers, despite a market that has been open to competition since 1999.


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RETAIL FIRST LOOK
November 23, 2009
TODAY’S CALL OUT
With Black Friday week now upon us, retailers are taking a slightly different approach with deals designed to boost earlier sales this year. We’ve already commented on several companies who have turned Black Friday into a weekly event throughout the month (Sears), but over this past weekend the real push began. Many retailers including Kohl’s, Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Amazon, and JCPenney are now offering Black Friday 2009 pre-sale deals. Given that almost every circular has been leaked by now, it is interesting to note that online deals are not terribly different than those that will be available on Friday. Yes, there will still be plenty of loss-leading doorbusters for the most avid shoppers to fight their way through, but this increased “pre-sale” activity really makes us wonder. Is it really worth all the hassle to get in line at midnight on Thursday night to save $50 on a $700 TV? To some, the answer is most defninitely yes. But to others, the internet is making it incredibly easy to comparison shop and locate the best deals even before Black Friday officially occurs.
Most importantly, the industry has set these plans up well in advance. Inventories are tight, and promotional plans over the next seven days have been locked in for months. So while “Black Friday” is now a universal term for “let the shopping games begin,” we caution that all this excitement is just one small portion of the next six weeks worth of holiday angst and speculation.
LEVINE’S LOW DOWN
- Add luxury department store Barney’s to Ron Burkle’s (Yucaipa) holdings in the retail/apparel space. According to new reports, Burkle and his firm have been buying Barney’s bank debt from Citi. Yucaipa also recently reported a 16.8% stake in Barnes & Noble and is also known to be the owner of specialty store chain Scoop and P Diddy’s clothing line, Sean John.
- Hibbett Sporting Good management noted that the company is well positioned to take advantage of current trends in the licensed apparel business. Strong performance in college football from Texas and Alabama coupled with the NFL’s Saints are lining up well with HIBB store base in these markets. If Alabama were able to compete (and possibly win) in the national, championship game, HIBB believes it could be a “few million” dollar sales opportunity.
- Footlocker management noted that weak sales trends seen in the month of October have continued into November. The promotional environment has been aggressive by some competitors, but Footlocker does not except to be overly promotional given that its inventories have been managed inline with sales trends. Weakness is consistent across the store base (malls, urban, and off-mall) and across all regions. On the product side, the categories of basketball and running are also weak.
Spending by Consumers Probably Increased: U.S. Economy Preview - Consumer spending probably rebounded in October, showing that mounting unemployment is restraining, not derailing, the biggest part of the U.S. economy, analysts said before reports this week. Purchases increased 0.5 percent after dropping by the same amount in September, according to the median estimate of 61 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News before a Commerce Department report due Nov. 25. Other figures may show orders for durable goods and home sales climbed. Consumers added to their wardrobes, frequented restaurants and bought more automobiles last month even after the government’s trade-in incentive expired. A jobless rate that is projected to remain above 10 percent through the first half of next year means households will still be hard-pressed to boost spending further, limiting their contribution to growth. <bloomberg.com>
Europe Manufacturing, Services Expansion Accelerates - Europe’s services and manufacturing industries expanded at the fastest pace in two years in November after a reviving global economy helped the euro region emerge from the worst recession in more than 60 years. A composite index based on a survey of purchasing managers in both industries in the 16-nation euro area rose to 53.7 from 53 in October, London-based Markit Economics said today in a statement. That was the highest since November 2007. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. The European economy is gathering strength after global governments spent billions on stimulus measures to encourage spending. While euro-area exports increased the most in more than a year in September, the euro’s strength is making goods less competitive abroad just as rising unemployment undermines consumer spending, threatening the recovery. <bloomberg.com>
European Footwear Importers Encouraged by EC Vote - As expected, the European Commission Anti-Dumping Advisory Committee voted 15 to 10 last week against renewing anti-dumping duties set to expire this year for leather footwear from China and Vietnam. The committee consists largely of technocrats appointed by the trade or finance ministries of each member country, the majority of which tend to favor more open trade. Observers still expect the full European Commission to push for a 15-month extension of the anti-dumping duties to placate shoe producers in Southern Europe. The European Outdoor Group (EOG), which represents several major U.S. footwear brands, said it will continue lobbying trade ministers against renewing the duties, which tax Chinese and Vietnamese leather footwear imports at 16.5% and 10% respectively. The EOG represents Columba Sportswear, Merrell, The North Face, Timberland as well as a handful of European outdoor footwear brands. <sportsonesource.com>
South African Economy Rebounds as World Cup Nears - South Africa’s spending to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the world’s most-watched sporting event, and a rebound in manufacturing may have pulled the economy out of its first recession in 17 years in the third quarter. The economy expanded an annualized 0.5 percent in the three months through September, ending three consecutive quarters of contraction, according to the median estimate of 23 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Statistics South Africa will release the data at 11:30 a.m. in Pretoria tomorrow. <bloomberg.com>
Macy’s, Kohl’s Gain by Promoting Housewares for Frugal Holidays - Blenders and sweaters may rise in popularity this holiday season as consumers seek to replenish kitchens and wardrobes rather than spend money on luxury gifts. Macy’s Inc. is promoting oven mitts that are meant to be used as stockings and can be stuffed with kitchen gadgets. Wal- Mart Stores Inc. had its strongest sales in sleepwear, socks and underwear in the third quarter, the company said this month. “We’re going to see a gift-giving frame of mind that is more utility focused,” said Stephen Cardino, vice president and fashion director of Macy’s home division, in a telephone interview. “The kitchen’s the heart of the home now.” <bloomberg.com>
Tesla to go public soon - Electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. reportedly plans to go public soon in what would be the first IPO for a U.S. automaker since Ford Motor Co. in 1956. Reuters cited two unnamed sources Friday afternoon that it said are familiar with the matter but didn't give a specific time frame. Palo Alto-based Tesla's Chairman Elon Musk has said in the past that he thought the six-year-old company could do an IPO by this year. But that was before last fall's stock market dive. <sanjose.bizjournals.com>
Douglas Jumps Most in 8 Months as Mueller Buys Stake - Douglas Holding AG, Europe’s largest makeup and perfume retailer, rose the most in eight months in Frankfurt trading after confirming that competitor Mueller Ltd. & Co. KG bought a stake in the company. Closely-held Mueller purchased a 3 percent holding, Douglas said today in an e-mailed statement. Erwin Mueller, the billionaire owner of Germany’s fourth-largest drugstore chain, plans to raise the stake to 18 percent and wants to combine the companies’ purchasing, Focus magazine reported today, without citing anyone. Switzerland’s Bank Sarasin & Cie. AG has bought 14 percent for Mueller over the past few months, Focus said. <bloomberg.com>
Retailers aren’t waiting to offer Black Friday deals - The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is no longer the kickoff for holiday bargains. In fact, several prominent multichannel retailers, including J.C. Penney, Sam’s Club and Best Buy are promoting Black Friday sales more than a week in advance. Dell and other retailers are extending Black Friday offers via e-mail. Some of the deals, are tailored to Black Friday-like, door buster sales at specific times. For instance, both J.C. Penney and Sears plan sales tomorrow starting at 7 a.m. (the J.C. Penney sale ends at 1 p.m., the Sears sale ends at 12 p.m.). Sam’s Club will preview its sale Monday via e-mail and text messages, and allow shoppers to purchase the featured items two days later, the day before Thanksgiving on the web. Other retailers, like Best Buy are already offering a condensed version of their Black Friday offers both in-store and on the web. <internetretailer.com>
Best Buy sees bump in traffic, Nielsen Online reports - Best Buy saw an 18% jump in year-over-year traffic for October, attracting 14.68 million unique visitors, Nielsen Online reports. GameStop.com and Newegg.com both registered 16% traffic increases to 3.82 million and 3.23 million unique visitors, respectively. Meanwhile, there were 82% fewer unique visitors to the relaunched CircuitCity.com web site than there were a year earlier to the site of Circuit City Stores Inc., which went bankrupt this year. CircuitCity.com is now owned by Systemax, owner of such e-retail sites as TigerDirect.com and CompUSA.com. <internetretailer.com>
Manhattan Retail Rents Decline Overall - It helps, but with the economy still volatile and unsteady, even location isn’t a guarantee that retail rents in Manhattan’s top shopping corridors will rise. Asking rents declined in 11 of 16 prime retail districts between fall 2008 and fall 2009, according to a new survey by the Real Estate Board of New York, a 12,000-member group representing commercial and residential property owners, builders and brokers, among others. Overall average asking rents for retail space in Manhattan fell 9 percent to $117 a square foot from fall 2008 to fall 2009, the report said. <wwd.com>
Chanel Reopens in San Francisco - Chanel Inc. has reopened its boutique here after a major refurbishment that transformed the narrow, three-floor building’s interior and exterior. This was the first redo of Chanel’s 7,900-square-foot store since it opened in 1988 as the first luxury fashion boutique to locate on Maiden Lane, a two-block gated pedestrian street off Union Square where Marc Jacobs, Hermès, Prada and Tory Burch are now located. The renovation took eight months, requiring the boutique to move to a temporary location next door. <wwd.com>
Nike Appoints UW Provost to Board - NIKE, Inc. has appointed Phyllis M. Wise, Ph.D. to its board of directors. Wise, 64, is the EVP and Provost of the University of Washington, where she is also professor of physiology and biophysics, biology, and obstetrics and gynecology. "Dr. Wise’s outstanding academic career, experience as a respected university leader and administrator of a multi-billion-dollar budget for the University of Washington, is a rare combination that makes her an ideal addition to our board,” said Philip H. Knight, Nike Founder and Chairman. “We look forward to her contributions to expand Nike’s position as the industry leader in innovation.” Wise was appointed VP and provost of the University of Washington in August 2005 and became EVP in September 2007. <sportsonesource.com>
Head of Walmart Latin America to Exit - Vicente Truis has announced his departure as executive vice president, president and chief executive officer of Walmart Latin America. He leaves after serving less than five months in the role. Walmart has not reported Truis' reasons for his exit, nor an announcement of a replacement. Prior to beginning his Latin America role, Truis served as the executive vice president, president and chief executive officer of Walmart Asia. And before that, he spent 11 years leading the retailer's Brazil operations. <licensemag.com>


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Digital expenditure is driving Sweden’s advertising market, and the internet will remain the largest single ad channel in 2014, according to the “Marknadschefsbarometer Q4 2013” issued by Dagens Media and Netigate - Sweden.
The results reflect responses from 132 CMOs working for the country’s 600 largest advertisers, most of which supply consumer goods and services. Together, these firms spend more than SEK4 billion (nearly $613.5 million) per year on marketing communications—one-tenth of all Swedish spending in that category. The survey was conducted online during December 2013 and January 2014.
Nearly six in 10 marketing executives in Sweden said they would increase their digital ad budgets in 2014, and the internet, which excludes mobile, was expected to claim 29% of total ad budgets in Q1 2014. That share would be substantially greater than those of TV (17%) and newspapers (13%). Dagens Media/Netigate estimated that TV’s share would be higher than in 2013, however.
The study concluded that search would claim about 26% of planned expenditure on digital formats and that social media would garner 20%. Ads placed on web TV were expected to represent just 9% of digital spending, but that would be nearly four times the 2.5% share posted in early 2013.
Meanwhile, spending on mobile ads is rising sharply and should account for 5% of all investments in digital ads in Q1 2014.
Content marketing was also gaining currency among Sweden’s advertisers. Nine in 10 marketing executives said they already used content marketing of some kind. The most popular forms of content developed for marketing purposes were social media posts (mentioned by 67% of respondents), in-house editorial content (56%) and digital newsletters (55%).
The robust digital ad growth indicated by Dagens Media/Netigate was broadly similar to the projections of other research firms. Most calculated expansion in this market at 11% or higher in 2013 and foresaw slightly lower growth in 2014. eMarketer estimates that investment in digital ads passed $1 billion last year and will hit $1.10 billion in 2014.
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Google showed off a Samsung Galaxy S 4 running stock Android 4.2 this morning at the Google I/O keynote. Stripped of the extra Samsung interface bits, the S 4 drew applause from the developer-heavy audience; they applauded even harder when Google VP Hugo Barra announced that the device would deliver to users the same software experience as a Nexus device, including timely Android updates.
The Google-ified S 4 will ship unlocked, with the capability to function in the US on AT&T and T-Mobile's cellular networks with full LTE support. It will include 16GB of flash and an SD card slot to expand its on-board storage.
The smartphone will be available directly from Google via the Google Play store starting on June 26 for $649.


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The announcement comes after a warning earlier this year that the Facebook-owned company would be pulling support for older models, and that the deadline to upgrade was fast approaching.
The same blog post was then updated to say some phones would be supported until June 30, 2017, while the service would be discontinued on others by the end of this year.
The blog says: "When we started WhatsApp in 2009, people's use of mobile devices looked very different from today. The Apple App Store was only a few months old. About 70 per cent of smartphones sold at the time...
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BOULDER, Colo. — Sunflower Farmers Market expects to expand its local produce offerings at its newest location, and also ramp up its organic selection, officials said.
Set to open in Roseville, Calif., on May 11, the 30,000-square-foot store is the company's 34th unit, and its first in California.
“We're excited about breaking into the California market, especially the Northern California market,” Mike Krage, the chain's director of produce and floral, told SN.
“Central Valley is the breadbasket of America when it comes to produce,” he added. “From a produce perspective, there are all kinds of opportunities for us to procure and promote local products.”
Krage pointed out that with a farmers' market format, Sunflower is well positioned to offer customers what they want anyway.
“If you look at consumer trends, you see that ‘fresh’ and ‘local’ are at the top of their priority lists.”
Krage said all Sunflower locations source as much local product as possible, but the Northern California location gives the new store an advantage.
“That's one reason I'm here, to expand our locally grown products — to take us from good to outstanding when it comes to sourcing and expanding quality local buying.”
Before joining Sunflower Farmers Market just months ago, Krage had spent the past seven years as Winn-Dixie Stores' vice president of produce. There, he had total oversight of the chain's produce procurement and merchandising. He spoke enthusiastically of his new challenges at Sunflower.
“This week we're having meetings with growers and wholesalers and distributors in the Sacramento area, and then, in the San Francisco Terminal Market,” Krage said. “We want to find the most efficient way to source.”
Keeping the product as fresh as possible to its destination is a top priority so the location of growers is paramount, Krage pointed out. Diverting to direct delivery where possible will be important, too, he said.
“Especially for time-sensitive things like California cherries and some of the stone fruits. And then, the Sacramento Delta and Salinas Valley produce great asparagus and artichokes. The quicker we get them to the store the better.”
Another big initiative is ramping up marketing at the new location, with emphasis on nutritional value and sustainability, Krage said. That's in addition to underscoring “local” and “fresh.”
Sunflower is already known for its quality produce at value prices, but that will be spotlighted even more. Indeed, the company will have access to some of the best quality produce in the United States, and can gain a competitive advantage with it, right in that market area.
“There are some premier orchards here, and microclimates that produce great eating fruit, but not in enough quantity for the large chains. That'll give us an advantage,” Krage said.
The microclimates give a unique taste to summer fruits like apricots, peaches and nectarines, Krage explained.
The pockets of ideal fruit-growing climates are created by a combination of altitude, closeness to the ocean, and heat from California's Central Valley.
One consultant and veteran of the supermarket industry emphasized the advantages Northern California has to offer.
“As far as the sourcing issue goes, the Central Valley and Central Coast are great fresh produce production areas, and will be a gold mine of opportunities for Sunflower to tap into,” said Dick Spezzano, principal in Monrovia, Calif.-based Spezzano Consulting Service.
At 30,000 square feet, the new Roseville store will be one of Sunflower Farmers Market's larger units. They all differ in size, but all devote at least 25% of selling floor to fresh produce. This one, Krage said, will devote 30% of the sales floor to produce. It'll show off 500 produce items, and about a 100 organic produce items.
Across the chain, fresh produce — more and more of it from local growers — is Sunflower's sales driver. In terms of the percentage of total store sales that produce accounts for, that percentage is between two and three times the national average at Sunflower, Krage said.
There will be plenty of competition to deal with in Roseville. A Trader Joe's sits within a block of the store, and then there are Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Kroger's Foods Co banner and a number of conventional supermarkets.
But Sunflower is well positioned, officials said.
“We have the opportunity to partner with growers and have them grow [fresh produce items] for us. And we're already looking for organic growers who are already certified,” Krage said. “We can help them develop further and offer them new retail outlets.”
Sunflower expects to expand further in Northern California, the next location being Modesto. Then, the expansion will be accelerated next year, officials said.


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Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan was laid off, but will continue her term until the end of the year, according to a report in Journal-isms.
But that’s not going to get her down, she’s actually looking at it as an opportunity to work on her book, about the 1973 Versailles fashion week show.
In October, Editor Tina Brown and new CEO Baba Shetty announced that Newsweek will completely transition to a digital-only format in 2013.
Givhan was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2007 for her “witty, closely observed essays that transform fashion criticism into cultural criticism.”
Editor Ned Martel sang Givhan’s praises in a written statement to the rest of the staff.
“. . . Robin has demonstrated herself as an extraordinary talent, stretching the definition of fashion beyond the discussion of trends or runway flights of fancy. Thanks to Robin’s Pulitzer-awarded acuity, Washington Post readers have learned how to understand world leaders through the way they dress.”


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The plan already has been a factor in one agency's withdrawal from the marketer's ongoing account review.
Driver's Mart is building a national network of used-car dealerships to compete with other startup chains, including AutoNation USA, owned in part by Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. founder H. Wayne Huizenga, and CarMax, owned by Circuit City Stores. It plans to spend up to $40 million on advertising next year, according to agencies that have pitched the account.
ROYALTIES PER CAR SOLD
"To align the interests of the agency with the interests of Driver's Mart, we would pay a royalty per vehicle sold," said Tom Eggleston, president-CEO and co-owner.
There would be some additional compensation for expenses, but the plan calls for the bulk of the agency's revenue to come from those royalties. Final terms have not been resolved.
The plan scares some ad executives and intrigues others. While a movement to link agency pay to client results has been gaining momentum, using sales as the only variable is rare.
"That's obviously pushing it to the limit," said Jack McBride, a compensation consultant. "Advertising can only influence a certain portion of the marketing process. The pricing and the product can be much more important."
But the plan is tantalizing to Ellis Verdi, president of CarMax agency DeVito/Verdi, New York. "If I had that arrangement, we could be a lot bigger agency," he said.
Mr. Verdi declined to comment on his agency's pay package with CarMax. AutoNation would not disclose details of its compensation plan but said it doesn't include pay for performance to its agency, Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Boston.
FREEMAN DROPS OUT
After being named one of three finalists vying to become Driver's Mart's first agency, Cliff Freeman & Partners, New York, withdrew from the review two weeks ago.
The shop's official line was that it dropped out because of other new-business priorities; indeed, it did pick up a small Cherry Coke project from Coca-Cola Co. last week. But executives familiar with the decision said discomfort with the compensation plan was a big factor.
"Driver's Mart essentially wants its agency to invest in the business," said one.
Asked to comment about performance-based pay in general, Freeman Senior VP-Group Director Peter Minnium said: "Performance-based profit is always of interest to us. Performance-based cost recovery is not."
Driver's Mart hasn't carved its plan in stone. It has asked the agencies still vying for the account to present a compensation plan that starts with the idea of per-car royalties. But they're free to recommend changes or additions to that idea. Agencies in the review are Carmichael Lynch and Campbell Mithun Esty, both Minneapolis, and Warwick Baker & Fiore, New York, which took Freeman's place. A winner should be named later this month.
While Driver's Mart has big ad spending plans, success is far from guaranteed. With competitors such as CarMax already well ahead of it and more on the way, the market is expected to get crowded quickly. Also, existing new- and used-car dealers, with help from automakers, are aggressively defending their turf.
A recent study by CNW Marketing Research showed established dealers in Atlanta closed a gap in customer-service ratings with CarMax's two dealerships there in the past year.
General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet, Cadillac and Saturn divisions have tested quality-certification programs for used cars. Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln division plans to start its own test this spring, while Ford plans a national program for this fall.
MAZDA SALES FALL
Performance-based pay isn't new to automobile advertising. Foote, Cone & Belding, Santa Ana, Calif., pitched an incentive compensation plan to help save its $175 million Mazda Motor of America account last summer. In that arrangement, compensation is tied to several variables, including increases in Mazda sales, market share, dealer traffic and consumer purchase intent.
At the time, FCB Exec VP-Managing Director Welton Mansfield said the only way FCB could make a profit on the account would be if Mazda sales went up. "If you believe that an advertising agency can make a significant contribution, why shouldn't it be that way?" Mr. Mansfield asked.
So far this year, however, Mazda sales are down 17%.
Some other car marketers, including American Honda Motor Co.'s Acura division and General Motors Corp.'s Saturn division, use similar measures to assess agency performance.
What makes those deals work, if in fact they do, is the extra variables, Mr. McBride said.
"Incentives should be based on some kind of advertising-induced effect like purchase intent, or possibly store traffic," he said.
Critics and supporters of pay for performance tend to agree the concept is easier to execute on retail accounts.
"In retail, you can put an ad on TV and then wait to see how loud the cash registers ring," said Stan Beals, managing partner of consultancy Jones-Lundin Associates.
Mr. Eggleston said Driver's Mart will give its agency significant control over marketing.
"We are entertaining the idea of outsourcing much of our marketing department to the agency," he said, including ads, point-of-purchase materials, collateral and other forms of correspondence.
The winning shop will handle media buys in local markets. But if an individual dealer in the system wants to advertise a special sale, it will be permitted to use its own agency for a local buy using national creative.
Contributing: Alice Z. Cuneo, Jean Halliday, Bradley Johnson, Jeffery D. Zbar.


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How NSA’s Web spying hurts Internet business
Send this story to a friend
Perhaps the economic argument will stir opposition to the spying. So far, the privacy argument has gotten almost no traction.
The companies are petitioning the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, seeking permission to tell the world how often intelligence agencies demand users’ data from them. They’ve also petitioned the president and Congress.
As a matter of principle, the companies’ petitions must be granted. The FISC, Congress and the president must let the companies disclose information that will let consumers decide whether they are comfortable using the firms’ services.
Currently, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act prevents the companies from making those disclosures. That means that Internet companies can’t tell the public how often they share personal communications. Nor can they counter inaccuracies in media reports about NSA spying.
Yahoo thinks its customers may lose faith in its online services if they can’t assess how often the government compromises their security.
“Ultimately, withholding such information breeds mistrust and suspicion — both of the United States and of companies that must comply with government legal directives,” Yahoo General Counsel Ron Bell wrote in a blog post.
He’s absolutely right. It’s ludicrous to suggest that the government’s interest in keeping the public secure will be compromised by disclosing how often intelligence agencies seek access to information on Internet company servers.
As the law stands, however, we may not even learn how the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court rules on the matter. That’s because if the petition is rejected, the companies may not be authorized to discuss it.
That result — and the larger predicament tech companies find themselves in with regard to NSA spying — reflects a society that has veered too far toward trying to guarantee an unreachable ideal of security. A society founded on a system of limited government, where the Constitution guarantees certain freedoms, cannot permit that result.
That’s the principled argument. And that’s where I stand. Reality, however, makes me wonder whether the principle is moot. America has shrugged at the NSA’s surveillance.
Disclosures about government spying by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden forced consumers to acknowledge the vast powers granted to the government to monitor digital communications. And the public didn’t revolt.
Subsequent reports by the Guardian and Wall Street Journal (not to mention the fact of Snowden’s leaks in itself) have showed everyone who logs onto the Web that U.S. digital surveillance processes are flawed. They have resulted in more information being harvested (and leaked) than was planned.
The public’s reaction? Almost complete apathy. The Web companies haven’t documented any reduction in use of their services or revenue declines.
That said, we must support the Web companies’ efforts to fight on consumers’ behalf. It weakens our national character not to fight when the government overreaches.
Greg Baumann is editor in chief at the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
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S4 Latest Update
S4 Latest Update on Technology News and Updates AdmaTechnology.com at Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Many people who do not want to buy a ring tone as their smartphone. But not a few who complained about the use of the song into ringtone is quite disturbing.
The most easy and free way to make ringtone for your iPhone is using iTunes as reported from [...]
Microsoft to train their employees to be able to explain the differences in the operating system Windows RT and Windows 8 to consumers.
“We’re trying to make sure our store teams provide explanations to consumers about Surface or PC Windows [...]
Here are a few smartphones that fit when used by women. Here’s the short list.
1. Sony Xperia U (Pink / Yellow)
Xperia U is not reserved for women. But the bottom cap colors yellow and pink can make a choice. About the specs, the smartphone is [...]
Body size approximately 20% thinner than the Macbook 15-inch retina display.
In the occasion of the launch iPad mini products, Apple also introduced two new products Macbook Pro measures 13 inches equipped with Retina Display.
The device’s most [...]
Map of Japan and Korea also did not show up.
Among users of Bing Maps in a number of countries, was shocked by the disappearance of the map of the three influential countries in the world, Japan, Korea and Israel from the map application.
Offered at a price of about $0.9 per download on the Apple App Store.
Game featuring one of the founders of Apple, Steve Wozniak, entitled “Danny Trejo’s Vengeance : Woz with a Coz ‘officially began circulating on the Apple App Store [...]
AMD (03/13) announced the first time the presence of AMD Elite A-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs), which was given the code name of “Richland”.
AMD A-Series APUs will present the latest innovation for users, such as log-in using [...]
As a gift to the loyal fans of the game ‘Angry Birds’.
In the third birthday, Rovio as a manufacturer of world’s most famous game, Angry Birds, released the latest level for the loyal fans.
Games featuring the ‘Angry Birds’ [...]
Kim Jong Il reportedly often inject himself with the blood of virgin teens to slow down the aging process.
The younger human blood has long been believed to be a drug life. One of the people who know to believe it was the late North Korean leader Kim [...]
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag will be released on October 29, 2013, is known thanks to leak news video trailer will premiere on March 3, 2013 yesterday.
Ubisoft stated that the game can already be ordered, intended for users of the Xbox 360, PlayStation [...]
According to previous reports in which 40 percent of the 70 thousand applications available for BlackBerry 10 is the result of the Android port, apparently Skype is one of them.
Quoted from Neowin, Friday (2/8), the Skype application on the BlackBerry [...]


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Kirkcaldy town centre is set to lose another retailer with the closure of Bonmarche.
The women’s fashion chain collapsed into administration last month, and now closing down signs have been placed in the window of the High Street store.
It is the latest major name to fall victim to the tough trading conditions impacting all town centres across the UK.
Bonmarche also has a store in Dunfermline.
You may also be interested in:
The Yorkshire-based company has a total of 318 shops, and Helen Connolly, said the move to go into administration was made “with deep regret and sadness.”
UK wide, Bonmarche, which specialised for clothing for the over-50s, employed over 2800 people.
She said:“We are sadly no longer in a position to demonstrate to our shareholders that the business can continue as a going concern.”
FRP Advisory was appointed administrator with a view to finding a buyer for the chain.
No date have been given when the Kirkcaldy store will close.


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On this week's Autoline, experts discuss if people buy cars based on their personalities.
Why are men attracted to a certain style of car? Why do women buy the type of car they do. And what about teenagers? Are there circumstances that drive what you buy or is it something unique inside each individual person. The latter is what the personality gurus at Myers-Briggs think and the folks at Ford are ready to run an experiment to test this theory. On this week's Autoline we examine if people buy cars based on their personalities. Joining John McElroy are Lori Costew from Ford Motor Company, personality expert Michael Segovia from Myers-Briggs & Prof. Christie Nordhielm, marketing professor from the University of Michigan.


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CYBEX is pleased to announce the appointment of Roland Auschel as its new Chief Sales Officer.
In his new role, he is responsible for all omnichannel sales platforms worldwide and reports directly to CYBEX CEO Johannes Schlamminger.
He will further expand the brand’s already established premium positioning with strategic partners, strengthen the existing specialist retail partnerships and shape the transformation of the sales organization.
Thanks to many years of experience and expertise in designing global sales strategies and organizations, Roland Auschel plays a crucial role in implementing CYBEX’s ambitious growth plans.
Roland Auschel’s extraordinary career includes being part of the adidas Group for 33 years, most recently he was appointed as Chief Sales Officer and has held a position on the Executive Board for almost a decade.
“I have already been able to experience a success story intensively, and am looking forward to the great opportunity to contribute in shaping CYBEX’s new chapter,” says Roland Auschel, the new CYBEX CSO. “I firmly believe in achieving results with a regionally adapted sales structure with a strong partner landscape.”
“We are at the beginning of the next major growth phase. With Roland Auschel, we will significantly accelerate the transformation of our global sales organization,” said Johannes Schlamminger, CYBEX CEO.
“Roland Auschel is a very valuable asset for our company, and his appointment comes at exactly the right moment. He brings with him immense experience that we now need to achieve our next ambitious expansion and growth goals. We are very much looking forward to our future together!” says Martin Pos, founder and Executive Chairman of CYBEX.
For more information, please visit www.cybex-online.com


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Lumber company establishes nails factory in Nkoranza
Nkoranza (B/A), July 15, GNA - A Lumber Company has established a nail factory at Nkoranza in Brong Ahafo with the capacity to produce about 100 to 150 boxes of various sizes of the product a day. Mr Kwaku Adu-Poku, Director of the company told the Ghana News Agency during a tour that the factory was producing various sizes of nails.
He said the factory was an extension of the timber business and was aimed at helping building contractors and carpenters who transact business with the company to purchase nails to enhance their activities. The company employs 60 workers, the Director said, adding that the management had plans to import wire nails to feed the factory as it was becoming difficult to obtain the raw material on the local market. Mr Adu Boahen, Principal Engineer, said the nails manufactured were of high quality and had ready markets at Techiman, Kintampo and Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.


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Chinese Ford customers, unlike those in North America, have a few sedans still available to purchase, including the recently updated Ford Mondeo, Escort, and Taurus. Then there’s the gorgeous Lincoln Zephyr Reflection concept that debuted at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show to much fanfare. Regardless, Ford CEO Jim Farley insists that the overall Ford China strategy remains focused on two- and three-row crossovers, which he called the “heart and soul” of the automaker’s business in the country while speaking during today’s Capital Markets Day presentation.
This crossover-focused Ford China strategy is evident in the automaker’s multitude of new products in the country. This includes the recently-revealed Ford EVOS, which was specifically designed for the Chinese market, as well as the Ford Mustang Mach-E – which is produced locally and utilizes Ford’s China-specific SYNC+ operating system – and the all-new Ford Equator.
Lincoln has also found great success in the Chinese market, having doubled its market share in the country over the past year. Additionally, Farley noted that a total of 90 percent of Lincolns sold in the market are now produced in China.
And even though Ford still sells a handful of sedans in China, Farley referred to them as “supplemental” during his presentation, which could indicate that they might be going away at some point in the future there as well, even though the automaker recently updated not only the Mondeo but also the Escort in that market.
Either way, it’s clear that crossovers aren’t just incredibly popular in North America – they’ve also caught on in places like China and Europe. What that means for the future of the passenger car, and more specifically the sedan, remains to be seen.


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So it appears the food series continues over infrequent blog posts.( I've now added a food category for blog posts for locating these previous pieces.) Today's entry steals its title directly from The Atlantic magazine article that pits Walmart against Whole Foods in the areas of sustainably raised foods and family budgets. I read this article over the weekend and was fascinated by the "Walmart effect" countering big agriculture. Even to write that seems counterintuitive. Yet, there are signs this is one way Walmart's buying power might be surprisingly benign. And in fairness, as we examine food safety and agribusiness issues, we should take a look at what some companies are doing right. In this excerpt, Atlantic senior editor Corby Kummer explores his own surprised reaction to Walmart's efforts:
I started looking into how and why Walmart could be plausibly competing with Whole Foods, and found that its produce-buying had evolved beyond organics, to a virtually unknown program—one that could do more to encourage small and medium-size American farms than any number of well-meaning nonprofits, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with its new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food campaign. Not even Fishman, who has been closely tracking Walmart’s sustainability efforts, had heard of it. “They do a lot of good things they don’t talk about,” he offered.
The program, which Walmart calls Heritage Agriculture, will encourage farms within a day’s drive of one of its warehouses to grow crops that now take days to arrive in trucks from states like Florida and California. In many cases the crops once flourished in the places where Walmart is encouraging their revival, but vanished because of Big Agriculture competition.
Ron McCormick, the senior director of local and sustainable sourcing for Walmart, told me that about three years ago he came upon pictures from the 1920s of thriving apple orchards in Rogers, Arkansas, eight miles from the company’s headquarters. Apples were once shipped from northwest Arkansas by railroad to St. Louis and Chicago. After Washington state and California took over the apple market, hardly any orchards remained. Cabbage, greens, and melons were also once staples of the local farming economy. But for decades, Arkansas’s cash crops have been tomatoes and grapes. A new initiative could diversify crops and give consumers fresher produce.
As with most Walmart programs, the clear impetus is to claim a share of consumer spending: first for organics, now for locally grown food. But buying local food is often harder than buying organic. The obstacles for both small farm and big store are many: how much a relatively small farmer can grow and how reliably, given short growing seasons; how to charge a competitive price when the farmer’s expenses are so much higher than those of industrial farms; and how to get produce from farm to warehouse.
Walmart knows all this, and knows that various nonprofit agricultural and university networks are trying to solve the same problems. In considering how to build on existing programs (and investments), Walmart talked with the local branch of the Environmental Defense Fund, which opened near the company’s Arkansas headquarters when Walmart started to look serious about green efforts, and with the Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas. The center (of which the Walmart Foundation is a chief funder) is part of a national partnership called Agile Agriculture, which includes universities such as Drake and the University of New Hampshire and nonprofits like the American Farmland Trust.* To get more locally grown produce into grocery stores and restaurants, the partnership is centralizing and streamlining distribution for farms with limited growing seasons, limited production, and limited transportation resources.
Walmart says it wants to revive local economies and communities that lost out when agriculture became centralized in large states. (The heirloom varieties beloved by foodies lost out at the same time, but so far they’re not a focus of Walmart’s program.) This would be something like bringing the once-flourishing silk and wool trades back to my hometown of Rockville, Connecticut. It’s not something you expect from Walmart, which is better known for destroying local economies than for rebuilding them.
Your comments are welcome. There aren't any Walmart grocery stores near where I live, so I'd like to know what you all have found.


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(Photos by Wes Allison) If it turns corners like it is on rails and is LS powered, and lives anywhere within 12 hours of Las Vegas, it was probably at LSFest West tearing up the tarmac and getting its turn on. We’ve got all kinds of great photos from the Autocross and Track X, both of which had cars and trucks flying in the Vegas sunshine.
LSFest is a spectacle people and that was never more apparent than this past weekend in Las Vegas during the 2021 LSFest West event held at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With thousands of cars, and tens of thousands of spectators, it was an event of epic proportions even during these COVID times. Thanks to a great partnership between Holley’s production team, track staff at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, along with local, county and state health organizations, this event was able to happen. And happen it did. There were cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, buggies, exotics, pre-runners, race trucks, and everything in between on site to celebrate everything you can do with LS power. We’re talking Drag Racing, Autocross, 3S Speed Stop, Donuts, Burnouts, Drifting, Sideshow, Truck Jumps, Dyno pulls, Manufacturers Midway and tons of food and drink. This is an event like none other and has a very different personality than LSFest East in Bowling Green Kentucky. If you have only been to one, you definitely need to get to the other.
Everyone that’s anyone wants to be at LSFest and this weekend was no different. YouTube stars from B is for Build, Cleetus McFarland, Blake Wilkey, and more were on hand to throw down, have fun, and cut loose in Vegas. After having to cancel the 2020 show, despite trying to reschedule, there were fans, racers, and enthusiasts from all over the country clamoring to get to Las Vegas for this year’s event. Because no on site ticket sales were allowed, all entries were pre-entry and everyone had to buy their spectator tickets ahead as well. After a bustling Friday, Saturday morning started with record numbers coming through the gates for an actual sold out crowd. And we’re not talking about the BS sold out claims you get from some promoters, we’re talking actually sold out crowd and it was epic to see.


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Read the Latest
Updated 4 hours ago
Inside this Issue
LAST 30 DAYS
LAST 3 MONTHS
LAST 12 MONTHS
Tesla unveils details of massive 'gigafactory'
Japan drafts a return to nuclear
How do 55 people share $19 billion?
Nissan's plan to get an entire country to drive electric cars
Paper test strip detects cancer in minutes
San Francisco's old Bay Bridge, recycled as an Airbnb rental?
AT&T, Qualcomm bet on the future of the connected car
Vaccines can survive the African heat without ice
Glympse partners with ChatON to boost GPS tracking worldwide
Tesla's giga factory plans take shape
First 3D printed car coming soon
An incredible washing machine needs only a fraction of the water


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Little by little, the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro are starting to spread outside of China – first Malaysia, now Romania. The good news for Europeans is that there’s no Exclusive Ownership Campaign nonsense this time around, you can buy a Mate 30 even if you haven’t owned any Huawei phones previously.
The Mate 30 starts at 3,600 Lei (€760), the Mate 30 Pro is 5,000 Lei (€1,050). That’s for the 4G models with 128GB storage, the 256GB options are available too. Those prices are slightly below the expected prices of €800 and €1,100, respectively.
The site says that phones will be delivered in 7 days, so you can have one next week. As a reminder, what you can’t have is Google Play Services. That quad camera on the Mate 30 Pro is quite impressive, though (check out the shootout with the iPhone 11 Pro and Galaxy Note10+). You are more than welcome to also check out our review to know all about the new Huawei flagship.
I hope the free citizens of Hong Kong get what they want. The Chinese authoritarian regime already started shooting protesters with live ammunition, sad. It's going to be like Tiananmen Square all over again.
"US is a dangerous country a rogue country that always violates international law," that's rich, coming from a German. And China doesn't violate and take advantage of international laws, right?
Right. In the end we simply don't care, Apple and Samsung flagships dominate the market here and for good reasons. I'm perfectly fine with my OnePlus smartphone for now. Although, I do plan on upgrading to the newly redesigned iPhones when they arriv...


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Master P and Snoop Dogg’s latest collaboration is all about giving back.
The hip-hop legends have joined forces for the first nationally distributed Black-owned cereal company, Snoop Cereal.
“What I love about this, is we’re changing the game,” Master P explained to KTLA 5’s Sam Rubin on Thursday. “We’re building economic empowerment. (There’s) enough room for all of us.”
By “all of us” he means the cereal brands that have been on shelves for decades.
“Those companies have been around so long. So me and Snoop said ‘Imagine that we took one percent of the breakfast food industry, how many families will we be able to feed?'”
Serving breakfast cereal isn’t all about the profit, it’s about helping others, he explained.
“We talk about the Black community, Latino community, a lot of these crimes are committed because there’s no economic empowerment. That’s why we’re saying let’s put some diversity on these grocery store shelves,” the “Make ’em Say Ugh” rapper said. “Now we’ll be able to give people jobs, be able to help kids. We could do things and make a difference.”
The pair also does work with their charity, Future Bosses.
“Future Bosses is about creating future leaders, getting to these communities, helping kids and showing them that we’re building bosses,” he explained. “We’re building leaders at the same time we give to these other foundations.”
A portion of the cereals’ proceeds go to Door Hope, which helps tackle homelessness.
The New Orleans native noted that the brand is all about education as well. The brand’s mascot, Captain Ace, also has a children’s book.
Master P, whose real name is Percy Miller, said that both men got into the breakfast cereal business because African Americans are the number one consumer of cereals. He cited the “intense” process to ensure that the product tastes as good as it looks.
The No Limit Records Founder is no stranger to entrepreneurship.
Prior to opening a record store, launching a record company, and becoming a successful rapper, Master P learned how to earn at a young age.
“I was like a little entrepreneur at six years old,” he said with a smile. He would cut the grass for his neighbors or help carry groceries for the elderly within the community
“I was always thinking that way.”
Snoop Cereal is available everywhere and your purchase helps support charities that fight homelessness and food security.


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Tottenham 2019-20 home kit
Footy Headlines have published a brand new image of Tottenham’s leaked 2019-20 home shirt.
The kit will once again be made by Nike. Nike replaced Under Armour for the 2017-18 season.
It’s previously been reported that Nike pay Spurs £25 million-a-year as part of the kit contract.
On the new Spurs home shirt, it’s fair to say that the design feels pretty traditional.
The body of the kit is white, with blue trimmings around the sleeves and collar.
AIA’s red logo will again appear on the front of the jersey.
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⚪ LEAKED: Tottenham Hotspur 19-20 Home Kit – what do you think? More on footyheadlines.com Follow us at @footyheadlinesnew for all the latest kit & boot leaks 👇 Make sure to tag your friends and stay tuned for our latest updates. #kits #shirts #jerseys #soccerjerseys #footballshirts #footballkits #nike #nikefootball #tottenhamhotspur #tottenham #spurs
Keiran Trippier & Napoli
While on the topic of Tottenham, the Sunday Times report on Napoli’s interest in Tottenham and England defender Keiran Trippier.
The broadsheet announce their belief that Napoli may soon lodge a bid for the Spurs right-back:
Napoli are targeting Tottenham’s £26m-rated England right back Kieran Trippier.
Aurelio De Laurentiis, the Serie A side’s president, has given his approval and they will make their move after Saturday’s Champions League final when Tottenham take on Liverpool in Madrid.
Should Spurs agree to sell Trippier to Napoli, it’s unclear whether the club would buy a replacement.
Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters could fill in at full-back in 2019-20.
Man City 2019-20 home kit leaked
The reigning Premier League champions will mix sky blue with purple on their 2019-20 home kit.
Puma will once again produce the Man City strips next season.
While the dominant colour on the home kit will be Man City’s traditional light blue, the shirt has purple panels on the shoulders.
Moreover, the Etihad Airways logo on the front of the shirt is also purple.
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🏴🔵 Manchester City 19-20 Home kit by Puma – what do you think about the purple? More on footyheadlines.com Follow us at @footyheadlinesnew for all the latest kit & boot leaks 👇 Make sure to tag your friends and stay tuned for our latest updates. #kits #shirts #jerseys #soccerjerseys #footballshirts #footballkits #puma #pumafootball #manchestercity #mancity
Leroy Sane & Bayern Munich
Last week, reports from Kicker confirmed that Bayern Munich are in talks with Leroy Sane about a possible summer transfer.
This weekend, though, the Sunday Times note that Man City want to keep Sane at the club:
Manchester City are preparing to hold talks with Leroy Sane’s representatives over a new deal.
Sane, who joined from Schalke three years ago for £37m, remains part of Pep Guardiola’s plans.


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Kroger (KR) reported its financial results for fiscal 1Q18 on June 15, recording in-line earnings and better-than-consensus top-line forecasts.
As competition increased, premium grocer Whole Foods Market (WFM) failed to compete with the low-priced products on the shelves of Kroger (KR) and Walmart (WMT).
News of the Whole Foods acquisition has already given Amazon a boost, pushing its stock up 2.4% and adding $11.0 billion to its market cap, which nearly pays for the $13.7 billion deal.
Amazon (AMZN) announced on Friday, June 16, 2017, that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Whole Foods Market (WFM) for $13.7 billion in an all-cash transaction.
Weak sales and volume growth is making nonalcoholic beverage companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Dr Pepper Snapple focus on improving their margins.
As of June 13, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Dr Pepper Snapple were trading at 12-month forward PE ratios of 23.8x, 22.4x, and 20.0x, respectively.
As of June 13, 16 out of 26 (61%) of the analysts covering Coca-Cola (KO) stock gave it a “hold” rating. Nine analysts have a “buy” rating.
Coca-Cola (KO) and PepsiCo (PEP) continue to expand their portfolio of better products through innovation and also via strategic acquisitions.
In 1Q17, Coca-Cola’s (KO) revenue fell 11.3% to $9.1 billion. This was the eighth consecutive quarter of revenue decline for the soda giant.
Beverage giants Coca-Cola (KO) and PepsiCo (PEP) have delivered better total returns than the S&P 500 Index on a YTD (year-to-date) basis.
Analysts covering Target (TGT) are maintaining a neutral outlook on the stock as the risk reward has balanced for the moment.
Last quarter, Target’s comps fell 1.3%, with an 0.80% decline in traffic. Walmart (WMT) and Costco (COST), however, are uniquely positioned, bucking the trend.
Target’s management is calling for a $200.0 million fall in EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) for fiscal 2Q17 due to lower sales and increased SG&A.
Target (TGT) recently announced a 3.3% hike in the quarterly dividend to $0.62 from $0.60. In fiscal 2016, it returned $1.3 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends.
Despite challenges and shoppers spending less on big-ticket items, Walmart managed to report positive comps across all of its US segments.
Recently, Aldi announced that it plans to invest $3.4 billion and expand its store count to 2,500 in the US (SPY) by the end of 2022.
According to a recent report from The Capital Forum, the FTC is set to block the pending merger of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and Rite Aid (RAD).
Kroger has 56% “buy” recommendations and 36% “hold” recommendations, for a rating of 2.3 on a scale of 1 (strong buy) to 5 (sell).
Kroger (KR) has been consistent in growing its earnings and margins, though its EPS (earnings per share) saw declines in the last two quarters of fiscal 2017.
After losing 17% in 2016, Kroger stock has fallen 12.5% on a year-to-date basis.


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His Highness Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum signed an exclusive local partnership agreement with Dubai-based global travel platform Welcome to the UAE.
Welcome to the World is a new global travel and tourism initiative that promotes direct bookings by bypassing commission-driven aggregators. It offers travel and tourism operators the opportunity to create their own online merchant profiles via a free-of-charge option or with a fixed yearly fee, which leverages the content revitalization features. At the same time, individual users can create complimentary personal accounts to unlock a world of welcoming benefits.
The platform, launched in December 2020, showcases the most popular hotels, restaurants, attractions and experiences of 175 global tourism hot spots. Soon after the launch in Dubai, a franchise agreement with an inspirational partner in the Netherlands was signed.
Preparations are currently well underway for similar agreements with partners in France, Greece, Italy, Qatar and Mexico.
Naim Maadad, founder of Gates Hospitality and board member of Welcome to the UAE, emphasized the new initiative would go a long way in connecting the world in times to come. “I am absolutely delighted and extremely excited to be part of the launch of Welcome to the World as a global collection and trendsetting collaboration of tourism and hospitality experiences,” he said.


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The past week saw the recovery in equity markets continue, the S&P 500 climbing over 2% the markets in Europe around 1%. The Vix index closed the week back below 20, suggesting investor confidence continues to return. Ahead of the Brexit vote on Tuesday as MP’s struggle between backing a deal they don’t like or facing a “no deal” the pound had a good week against the US dollar, rising close to 1.29. Part of the recovery is being aided by some dollar weakness post a more dovish Federal Reserve statement. Optimism on trade talks with China helped the trade-sensitive stocks, such as industrials and semiconductors outperformed the broader index. Smaller capitalised Russell 2000 index continues to outperform the broader S&P 500.
Aside from the Brexit vote the big talking point this week will be the start of the earnings season. The Citi earnings revision index shows the most significant downward revision to earnings since 2008. Fourth-quarter earnings are expected to grow around 14% however downgrades have seen expectations for the first quarter 2019 earnings to grow just under 4% from 8% towards the end of last year. As we commented on during the week, lowering expectations will make them easier to meet. The week starts with the banking sector. What is often more important when it comes to earnings season is not necessarily the profits announced but the accompanying statement on the outlook for the year ahead. This season could have a significant impact on the performance of the equity markets for the coming quarter.
Macro events that could impact market sentiment this week are US consumer confidence. For the UK we get inflation data, inflation is expected to fall to two year low. Retail sales are expected to fall again. After the comments from the retail consortium and the retail results season this will not come as a great surprise.
Some of your readers will remember we had the opportunity to appear on Share radio with Nigel Cassidy. Nigel now produces a podcast on events in the past week and looking to the week ahead. We appeared on Friday. Paul Joins Nigel to discuss current thoughts on the outlook for the global markets, below is the link.


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The dismantling of the HST will come with a price as businesses prepare to re-implement the provincial sales tax as of April 1, says the economic director of the Lower Columbia Community Development Team.
Sandy Santori said the expected massive costs of re-introducing the provincial sales tax will be borne by taxpayers, and it could negatively affect local businesses.
“Somebody has to pick up those additional costs. Usually it comes through taxation, and if it doesn’t come through taxation it comes through cuts in programs,” he said.
The PST—enacted 60 years ago and replaced in 2010 with the HST—will cost business owners for new software and systems, said Santori, and by duplicating business practices (filing tax twice) and accounting procedures.
“So that money has to come from somewhere, maybe in higher prices. I know there were a lot of people that didn’t like the HST, although even prior to the HST consumers were paying the 12 per cent, regardless,” he said.
The PST may also have adverse effects in terms of economic development and expansion, he added. The HST would give business owners full tax credit for machinery and equipment and industrial construction, said Santori, but that will now disappear.
Whether the province puts in other mechanisms in place as an incentive for companies to grow and expand he did not know.
Several new programs are available to local businesses as they prepare to change over from the HST to the PST. Free webinars are scheduled over the next couple of weeks and business owners can use the service to cover general principles of the PST as well as eTaxBC, the new e-service for online registration, return filing and payment, and account maintenance.
A webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 18 (10:30-11:30 a.m.). For more information and to register for a session, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/PSToutreach.
All businesses have to register and be issued a new PST number as old numbers will not be recognized. Registration begins Jan. 2 and can be completed online (PSTinBC.ca).
The PST will be re-implemented at seven per cent and will apply to the same goods and services that were subject to PST prior to the implementation of the HST. All permanent PST exemptions will be re-implemented with the new PST, including food for human consumption, most services, admissions and memberships, bicycles and newspapers and magazines.
More than 100,000 businesses will need to register to collect the PST, and about 30,000 of those are new businesses that have only existed under an HST tax system. They will need to learn to administer the PST in tandem with the GST, and adjust their accounting and administrative systems and prepare to collect a second sales tax, as of Apr. 1, 2013.
The Ministry of Finance is still developing the regulations, and transitional and consequential amendments to support the Provincial Sales Tax Act, which received royal assent on May 31, 2012.
The province plans to publicly release a final proposed version of the Provincial Sales Tax Act with proposed amendments in late December. All amendments to legislation require the approval of the legislative assembly, expected in spring 2013.
Links to PST publications, FAQs, an online sign-up form for one-on-one tax consultations for business, along with additional information about the return to the PST, can be found at: www.PSTinBC.ca