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Operations to replace worn out knees in Canada are generating nearly half a million kilograms of surgical waste every year,…› More
School-based, obesity-prevention programs that push “healthy eating” are triggering disordered eating in some children, even creating neuroses around food. Read the full story here.
Stay out of the center aisles in the supermarket when shopping for food. "Natural"… read full comment
August 13 at 12:15pm


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Marijuana prohibition is a very racist public policy. Many minorities in the marijuana activist movement have referred to marijuana prohibition as part of ‘the new Jim Crow.’ Marijuana enforcement disproportionately targets minorities, and has for decades. Anyone who has researched the origins of marijuana prohibition in America knows that marijuana prohibition was started due to racist motivations. I’m happy to say that there have been many marijuana reform victories lately, but unfortunately, most of the marijuana industry is still made up of white males. This is something that Ngaio Bealum talked about in a recent article for Marijuana Politics:
The “Green Rush” is booming. As marijuana prohibition falls by the wayside, many “legitimate” entrepreneurs are looking to get into the cannabis industry. The funny thing is, most of them are white. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but let’s remember that 61 percent of the people in jail or prison for non-violent drug offenses are Black or Hispanic. So while it is great that this industry is booming, it’s not so great that many of the people most affected by cannabis prohibition are not getting a chance to take advantage of the opportunities of cannabis legalization.
To help fix the issue of a lack of representation in the marijuana industry by minorities, a trade organization has been launched called the Minority Cannabis Industry Association. This is overdue, but definitely better late than never. Below is more information about the organization, via their website:
The Minority Cannabis Industry Association is the first non-profit organization created to service the specific needs and interests of minority cannabis entrepreneurs, investors and patients. By developing a strong nationwide network of cannabis business owners within a variety of disciplines (including ancillary businesses), advocating for creation and fair enforcement of sensible policies, and serving as a voice for the minority population, we provide unmatched value to this industry and our membership. Please browse our site to see our focused programs, events and services. If you want to know more or join the MCIA, sign up for our mailing list and/or become a member of the MCIA. The movement needs you!
Below is a video of Ngaio Bealum interviewing Jesce Horton of the Minority Cannabis Industry Association at the Oregon Medical Marijuana Business Conference in Eugene earlier this year:

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PARIS — “Twelve points for Spain,” Jean Paul Gaultier, who is crazy about the annual Eurovision Song Contest, enthused on Tuesday, awarding the maximum appreciation to Puig, the new majority owner of his Parisian fashion house.
The Barcelona-based beauty and fashion firm purchased the 45 percent of Gaultier held by Hermès International and roughly 15 percent from the founding couturier, giving the ebullient designer a new lease on life and making Puig — parent of Nina Ricci, Carolina Herrera and Paco Rabanne — a bigger and more formidable player on the international fashion scene.
Come mid-2016, Puig will also get its hands on Gaultier’s lucrative fragrance license, currently held by Beauté Prestige International, a subsidiary of Japan’s Shiseido.
WWD first reported Puig was in exclusive negotiations to acquire Gaultier on April 5.
“I am thrilled,” Gaultier told WWD. “They’re nice people; they have a lot of energy. It’s a family business. They know what they want to achieve and they are buying Gaultier for Gaultier, not to turn it into something else.”
The designer, who retains a 40 percent stake in the company he founded in 1982, did not disclose financial terms of the transaction.
Manuel Puig, vice chairman of Puig and president of Nina Ricci, said he also would take on the president’s title at Gaultier, which the designer plans to relinquish in order to focus on designing couture and ready-to-wear collections.
Puig, who relocated to Paris three years ago and orchestrated a hands-on turnaround at Ricci, said he spied “big potential” for Gaultier, whose creative expression spans from sophisticated high fashions to edgy streetwear.
Hermès said it would record an accounting profit this year of 30 million euros, or $44.5 million at current exchange rates, reflecting the selling price of its Gaultier shares (16 million euros, or $23.7 million) and the repayment of loans granted (14 million euros, or $20.8 million.)
Hermès bought 35 percent of Gaultier in 1999 by investing $23.4 million in the business, upping its stake to 45 percent in 2008.
The deal represents a complete divorce from Hermès, which had been an unlikely business partner for the madcap designer, famous for his irreverent approach to fashion and such outré inventions as skirts for men and Madonna’s now-iconic cone bustiers for her “Blond Ambition” tour.
In 2004, family-controlled Hermès tapped Gaultier to succeed Martin Margiela as its designer of women’s rtw, a collaboration that wound down last year with the appointment of his successor, Christophe Lemaire.
On Tuesday, Gaultier said he would part ways with the maker of Birkin bags and silk scarves with fond memories.
“I had a great experience with Hermès over almost 13 years, quite fantastic actually, especially the years with Monsieur Dumas,” Gaultier said, referring to the charismatic former Hermès chief executive officer Jean-Louis Dumas, who died last year and had been a keen champion of Gaultier. “I loved it, and I did it by choice, not by obligation. I only function like that.”
The designer, 59, likened business partnerships to love affairs. “Sometimes it goes on until you die, and sometimes you find a new love,” he said. “It’s a good thing…to move on to a new adventure.”
Patrick Albaladejo, deputy chief executive officer at Hermès, also described an amicable parting, giving Gaultier a chance to focus on his own brand, and Hermès to devote management attention to its own growth vectors, such as the home category, and subsidiaries including luxury shoemaker John Lobb.
“He really wants to change gears and drive his house to a new dimension,” Albaladejo said. “Jean Paul has contributed a lot in the area of ready-to-wear obviously, and he’s also been a loyal friend of Hermès at all times.”
The designer, whose summer couture collection in January was highly praised, can now devote his full attention to his signature lines, which span collections for men, women and children, along with a rotating bouquet of collaborations. Current projects include a second collection for Italian lingerie specialist La Perla.
During couture week in July, the designer said he would unveil a new men’s fragrance.
Gaultier’s business has long been based on licensing, including deals with Italy’s Aeffe SpA for his women’s collection and Fuzzi for knits and beachwear.
According to Hermès’ most recent annual report, 2009 revenues at Gaultier, derived mostly from licensing royalties, dropped 19 percent to 23 million euros, or $32.1 million at average exchange rates for the period. According to official records, the company posted losses of about 2.9 million euros, or $4.1 million.
Sources indicated Gaultier logged an increase in sales and losses narrowed in 2010. Aeffe recently said 2010 sales of the line edged down in the low double-digits.
Meanwhile, losing the cash-cow Gaultier fragrance business is widely seen as a blow to BPI, which is said to have partnered with Asian fund Fung Capital in an 11th-hour attempt to upset the Puig discussions and wrest control of Gaultier. Inter Parfums SA had also expressed interest in bidding.
According to a Paris source, fragrances represent more than 80 percent of the Gaultier business, if one considers the wholesale value of all products.
BPI has been Gaultier’s fragrance partner since 1990. In 1993, Gaultier launched the women’s Classique scent, which was followed in 1995 by Le Mâle, which is sold in a torso-shaped bottle dressed in Gaultier’s signature sailor stripes and remains a top-selling men’s scent. In 2008, Gaultier introduced Ma Dame, a feminine scent. Other additions over the years have included the Power of Two and Fragile.
In a brief statement Tuesday, BPI said the change in shareholding would not alter its existing launch plan for the Gaultier brand, and that it would continue to develop and enlarge its brand portfolio, currently composed of Parfums Issey Miyake, Parfums Narciso Rodriguez and, most recently, Elie Saab.
Over the past decade, many beauty giants have shed fashion businesses, with L’Oréal off-loading Lanvin in 2001 to Taiwanese publishing magnate Shaw-Lan Wang and Procter & Gamble Co. shuttering Rochas in 2006, later licensing the name to Italy’s Gibò Co. SpA. Groupe Clarins only recently reactivated the Thierry Mugler fashion business, now called Mugler, having previously wound it down in 2002.
By contrast, privately held Puig has been building up its fashion muscles.
Sales in its fashion division gained 25 percent last year as total revenues climbed 22 percent to 1.2 billion euros, or $1.6 billion, as reported.
Puig has recently become a more aggressive — and international — player, last year acquiring the worldwide license for Valentino fragrances. Puig also counts Comme des Garçons Parfums, Prada Parfums and Payot among names in its prestige portfolio. Last week, Puig said it transformed its joint venture with Prada into a license agreement and extended the duration.
Puig now controls 7 percent of the global prestige perfume business, up from 3.7 percent in 2005. Rabanne has been a key driver thanks to the men’s scent 1 Million, launched in 2008 and followed up last year with a successful feminine counterpart, Lady Million. Rabanne is reactivating its fashion activity, and this fall will stage a runway show for the first rtw collection designed by new creative director Manish Arora.
International sales now account for 75 percent of Puig’s revenues versus 62 percent five years ago. The company, marking its centennial year in 2014, distributes its products in more than 130 countries.
Gaultier is no slouch on the global fashion stage. This June, he will travel to Montreal to unveil a retrospective of his 35-year career at The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. And he’s also at work on stage costumes for Dana International, who will compete for the next Eurovision prize on May 14. Considered one of the most famous transsexual performers in Europe, she won the contest in 1998 with her song “Diva.”
“What he has done at Vuitton is really exceptional,” said @gameofthrones’ actress Gwendoline Christie on @mrkimjones’ final show for @louisvuitton. “He has rebooted luxury in terms of making it commercial, viable and contemporary. And most importantly artistic. He has never compromised his artistic vision for the sake of commodity.” (📷: @zefashioninsider)
After seeing a demand for men’s wear from its customers, British contemporary women’s wear label @ariesarise has added a men’s wear component and will launch a unisex collection with @mrporterlive. The 20-piece collection includes jackets, denim, logo T-shirts and more with deconstructed ‘90s vibes. Set to launch on January 18, you can shop the pieces on Aries’ website and on mrporter.com. #wwdfashion
“And so spending so much time with a character who thinks like that, inevitability you try and analyze yourself and go back and think about your own demons and dark chapters that you had in your life,” says @thedanielbruhl of his role in TNT’s “The Alienist.” The show, set in the Gilded Age of New York, also stars Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans. Head to WWD.com to read about how 39-year-old Brühl prepared for the role and why he thinks the show is so relevant to today #wwdeye ( 📷: @Eriktanner)
Now that Celine Dion’s collection has topped $10 million in sales, the pop superstar, fashion icon and newly-minted industry player is eyeing growth in Asia. Read the full report by @tiffanyap, link in bio. #wwdnews #celinedion
“My personal philosophy to beauty is paying attention to oneself. I love to be outdoors, lots of fresh air, trying to take care of yourself as best you can. I always notice that comes through,” says Felicity Jones, the global face of @shiseido-owned @cledepeaubeauteus, which launches today. Head to WWD.com to read more about the actress’ love for beauty and how she prepared for her new role in “The Basis of Sex,” playing the young Ruth Bader Ginsburg. #wwdbeauty (📷: @dandoperalski)
Among the familiar faces at @off____white’s show was a surprise figure: Japanese artist @takashipom, pictured here on Wednesday morning. Other show-goers included @jerrylorenzo, who spoke about his upcoming project: a @nike collaboration for back to school, with designs inspired by his childhood on the West Coast. Sitting in the front row were Future, Don Crawley, @miguel and more. See the rest of the photos on WWD.com #wwdeye (📷: Stephane Feugere)
According to @laurentsai, former “Terrace House: Aloha State” cast member, she didn’t know she was auditioning for the Japanese version of “Real World.” “I was telling a couple of my friends and someone’s like, ‘That sounds a lot like Terrace House.’ I was like, ’No it can’t be.’” Turns out, it was. But Tsai isn’t just a reality star — she’s an illustrator who has worked with Starbucks Japan and most recently, she’s dipping her toes into the fashion world. Head to WWD.com to read about her time on the show, modeling and her art. #wwdeye (📷: @danieldorsa)
More changes are coming to New York Fashion Week: Beginning with the spring 2019 collection, @alexanderwangny will move his New York show to June from September, adopting a biannual schedule with collections shown in June and December. Additionally, the @cfda is planning for an official summer/winter fashion season taking place as soon as June and December 2018. Read more about the upcoming changes on WWD.com. #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @slovekinpics)


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Looks like there's one less good place to get wireless news...http://www.rcrwireless.com/article/2009 ... ews-closes
After more than 25 years, RCR Wireless News closes
We bid you all a fond farewell!
March 3 2009 - 4:21 pm ET |
RCR Wireless News has suspended publication of its print and online products immediately and is closing operations. Unfortunately, the market for RCR's products has been hit particularly hard by the global financial meltdown.
"RCR Wireless News was passionately run by first-class people and it pains us to make this move but the economy gives us no other choice," said Crain Communications Chairman Keith E. Crain. To contact Crain, e-mail Colleen Robar at email@example.com


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Virtual and augmented reality technologies are set to disrupt not just medical devices themselves but also the way they're developed.
From Oculus Rift to Pokémon Go, once-futuristic virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies are fast becoming mainstream. And like many technologies that take root in the consumer world, VR and AR are also making their way into medtech.
MD+DI caught up with VR and AR expert Brandon Bogdalek, consultant for advanced development with Minneapolis-based design firm Worrell, to get his take on why these technologies are catching on now, what they mean for medical device developers, and more. Below are his answers, which have been edited for clarity and brevity. For more, don't miss Bogdalek's talk on how AR and VR are moving the needle for medical devices at the BIOMEDevice San Jose Conference on December 6, 2017.
MD+DI: When it comes to these immersive technologies, a lot of different terms are getting thrown around--VR, AR, mixed reality. Can you explain the differences?
Bogdalek: Let's start with virtual reality. Here at Worrell, we are experimenting with 360 video, where you take a 360-degree camera that pieces together and stitches together footage from 360 degrees. You then put that footage into a virtual reality headset, and you would be able to look around as if your head is the camera. That's one way to create a virtual reality experience. Another way is a computer-generated experience, where you literally have computer scientists and developers go into computer programs and create virtual environments. You're actually creating the environment on the computer. So those are traditionally the two different ways to create a virtual reality experience.
Augmented reality is an overlay of content into the real world, but the content overlaid is not anchored to or a part of the real world. Pokemon Go, the game that was very popular on the cell phone, that's a form of augmented reality. Another form of augmented reality would be floating text on a screen. So, imagine you're watching a football game and you have statistics that pop up. Those aren't anchored to the field itself, but that's literally a content overlay or something that's real but not anchored to the real world.
Mixed reality, on the other hand, is able to track space. So, for instance, the mixed reality technology that we use here at Worrell is the Microsoft HoloLens. It actually has the capability to track the room that you're in and will place holograms relative to what's tracking. The use case for a surgical setting, for example, would be a mixed reality approach, where I'm using a head-mounted display--let's use the Microsoft HoloLens for example here. So, let's say a patient has a tumor that's located in the liver and I input that CT or MRI data into the HoloLens. It should be able to pretty accurately detect where that tumor is in approximation to the body and overlay that information.
MD+DI: Why is there so much interest in AR and VR technologies right now?
Bogdalek: The technology has really improved over the past 10 years, and industries--whether it be gaming or entertainment or healthcare--are starting to see the potential business benefits from having augmented or virtual reality as a primary platform. I think it's a combination of the technology, industries starting to recognize the benefits of AR and VR, and people becoming more fascinated with the technology and wanting to really dig deeper.
MD+DI: There has been buzz about AR and VR starting, really, back in the 1930s, with the View-Master, and continuing through the 1980s and '90s, but it always seems to be a passing fad. Will this time be different?
Bogdalek: I think AR and VR is here to stay, and I think the main reason for that is consumer adoption. It has been around for quite some time, but it was nowhere near consumer adoption like it is today. We are much closer to the mass population being able to utilize this technology than we ever have been before, and I think everybody is starting to get a taste of that. For that reason, I think it's beyond its fad stage now.
MD+DI: Why should medical device developers be paying attention to AR and VR?
Bogdalek: Here at Worrell, we look at how this technology can improve our design process. We like to make our designers feel like Tony Stark. By empowering them using a head-mounted display, they have an entirely new medium to explore the design process, so rather than spending time on 3-D CAD or computer-based design programs, you're quite literally able to take those designs in a virtual format and view them in the real world, which has been nothing that designers have really been able to do before.
From the medtech perspective, that's extremely powerful because you can you can view these designs in relation to important things like anatomy. Medical device manufacturers can design on 3-D CAD all they want, but they need to be able to see what that device looks like in the leg or bolted into the femur or the tibia. I think the keyword here is perspective. Designers and engineers a lot of the time will get what's called CAD-vision. After you're looking at a design on a computer for so long, you kind of lose all sense of scale and what is happening around the device because you're so narrowed in on one specific thing. Augmented and virtual reality can really help that by taking your design from a computer to the real world, and that gives you a totally different perspective of what you're looking at. You can design in relation to anatomy.
MD+DI: What about end uses for AR and VR in healthcare?
Bogdalek: I think it's being explored everywhere right now. We're looking very seriously at using it for instructions for use. Pharmaceutical companies put a number of different protocols in place to ensure that the devices or the injectors their patients are using are safe. You get a bunch of paper instructions and what we commonly find is you look at the instructions, you look at the injector, you look at the instructions, you look at the injector. You go back and forth, so using augmented reality as a heads-up display for that process could be extremely beneficial and potentially even mitigate risk.
For surgical planning, it's kind of like giving your surgeons x-ray vision. If I can enter my CT or MRI data into a mixed reality headset and overlay patient specific anatomy on top of their body, I can literally see their organs and bones inside of them.
Or using something like a head-mounted display where you can monitor the patient's blood pressure while you're actually interacting with them could be really beneficial. I see it as something like tagging along with computer software like Epic, where you actually have healthcare information at an eye's reach. You don't need to access a computer or a tablet to do that; it's right there on your head and right there in your vision, so you're freeing up your hands to do more patient-focused things.
MD+DI: When it comes to medtech, will AR and VR be more useful as enabling technologies or as end-use technologies?
Bogdalek: I think it could be a very good combination of both, and I think innovative companies will utilize it as such. Using it internally in designing and using it to empower your designers and engineers to improve the overall design, I think that's a huge benefit. On the flip side, if you're going to look at this technology externally, I think there's tons of opportunity, limitless opportunity for augmented and virtual reality in a surgical situation on a healthcare practitioner's head in the operating room to have a heads-up display for patient information, or even something like instructions for use, teaching somebody how to do self-injection. These are all things that are externally facing rather than kind of helping the design process. So, to answer your question, wholeheartedly, I think it will be a very good combination of both.
MD+DI: Who's leading the way when it comes to AR and VR in healthcare?
Bogdalek: I would say that the pharmaceutical industry, as far as my exposure, is leading the way in terms of using some of these innovative technologies. But I am also aware of a couple medical device companies that are also doing it.
Stryker comes to mind as an example. They're using augmented reality to take a look at the way an operating room is laid out. Another company that comes to mind is one out of California by the name of Osso VR. They're a virtual reality surgical simulator company, so basically they create a content suite that allows orthopedic surgeons to practice an operation before they actually go into it. So there's a variety of different medtech companies out there that are playing in this industry.
MD+DI: Which has been quicker to embrace AR and VR, startups or more established medtech companies?
Bogdalek: I would say it's a combination of both. Obviously, a lot of these larger companies are definitely looking at this technology and trying to figure out ways it can benefit their business, but they're typically a little bit more quiet about it. A lot of large companies are kind of taking a look at the field and saying, "OK, this this may not be a fad anymore. We should really try and dig into ways that we can benefit from this technology and beat it to the punch."
I would say that startups right now are really are leading the way in terms of what they're doing. Startup companies are being very creative.


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A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:
Wall Street expects that Walmart closed out its last fiscal year on a high note.
Analysts predict the nation's largest retailer's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings and revenue increased from a year earlier. Walmart has benefited from strong sales, particularly in its grocery business, which the company has expanded by rolling out an online delivery service.
CLOSE-UP ON THE FED
The Federal Reserve issues the minutes of its last monetary policymaking meeting Wednesday.
At the meeting, Fed officials elected to keep the central bank's key short-term interest rate unchanged at a low level. The Fed noted that the economy looked solid, but also faced global threats, including the new virus outbreak from China.
EYE ON HOUSING
A solid job market and low mortgage rates helped drive U.S. home sales higher last fall.
However, the inventory of homes for sale is not keeping up with demand. That's one reason economists expect that sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed in January from the previous month. The National Association of Realtors issues its latest monthly home sales tally Friday.
Existing home sales, in millions, seasonally adjusted annual rate:
Jan. (est.) 5.50


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The next edition of Shukela Plus – aptly titled Shukela Tech – which is due for publication early
in July, will reflect the growing trend in the sugar industry towards production diversification and
Renowned sugar industry scientist, Dr Kathy Hurly will be writing for the edition in partnership
with our highly experienced agricultural journalists. The specific focus is on information and
research that highlights the core aims of the industry’s Sugarcane Value Chain Masterplan to
2030. The plan is aimed at overhauling the sugar-producing industry in the country.
Make sure your products or services – which are critical to the revival of this important agri-sector
– are visible to decision-makers, growers and technical advisors alike book your space now.
The Shukela Plus -Tech will be distributed in a digital format to all those who attend the annual sugar industry SASTA Congress.
SECURE YOUR PLACE IN THE
SHUKELA TECH EDITION.
083 653 7021
As Shukela Plus delves into the innovation and diversification options available to South Africa’s sugar industry, Tongaat Hulett’s Managing Director: Sugar Operations, Simon Harvey responds to questions on the development of the Sugar Industry Masterplan, how it will contribute to the survival of the sector, albeit in a different and more innovative guise, and where the group sees itself placed in this new future.
1. How has Tongaat Hulett contributed to the development of the sugar industry Masterplan?
The Tongaat Hulett executive team was part of the industry think-tank that helped to craft the Master Plan. As part of its participation, the team attended the sugar industry meetings, consultations and workshops that were facilitated by Harald Harvey, special advisor to the Trade and Industry minister.
2. What are the key points in the Masterplan which you believe are now key for the future sustainability of the sector?
There are a number of important aspects that will help to stabilise the industry by creating new job opportunities and establishing appropriate platforms for a diversified sugarcane-based value chain.
The Master Plan contains seven commitments, all of which are critical for the sustainability of the sector. If they are to succeed, the commitments require the participation of all stakeholders, both upstream and downstream.
The commitments involve restoring the local market and offtake commitments; keeping sugar producer prices in line with inflation and providing price certainty to retailers; and providing appropriate trade protection as well as ensuring that jobs are protected and preserved during the industry transition and restructuring phase. Further commitments are ensuring that small-scale growers are supported and retained; ensuring ownership and participation in the sugarcane value chain of black farmers, women, young people and disabled is significantly advanced; and developing a restructuring plan that focuses on improving efficiencies and restoring profitability.
3. In your opinion how should the production of South Africa’s sugar crop be divided between refined sugar for domestic use, export, and then percentage diverse production spread across biofuels, energy, alcohols, plastics and other fibre-rich products?
The sugar industry’s primary focus remains the local market, which is a priority. In an ideal scenario the bulk of our production of sugar should be consumed locally or within the Southern African Customs Union. This includes the BLNE countries – namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini.
The current mix of local to export sugar is around 50/50, so half of all production is exported at a market price that is below the cost of production. Ideally excess export sugar could be used for the production of ethanol, while molasses, another by-product of cane, could be used to produce both potable alcohol and fuel grade ethanol.
In addition, the industry is more than capable of supplying a significant portion of the country’s electricity demands through co-generation using renewable fuels like bagasse, which is a by-product of sugarcane. Bioplastics and the like become a natural offshoot of ethanol production and will feed into the diversification plans once ethanol blending has been mandated and ethanol plants are built.
Considering the needs created by COVID-19 for hygiene products, there may also be opportunities for sugar producers, including Tongaat Hulett, to diversify into potable alcohol for use in hand sanitisers and other medicinal purposes on the continent. This could play a significant role in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
4. What investment would be required from the millers to make this scenario a reality?
There would be a need for significant investment in new technology for diversification, such as an alcohol distillery plant, and bioplastics and co-generation power facilities at higher scale than currently installed at mills, among other possible opportunities.
5. And, are you able to detail the new mill ownership/shareholder plan as mooted by Tongaat Hulett earlier this year and how do you see this exciting development adding to the diversification of production and products?
Tongaat Hulett has identified an opportunity to advance the participation of growers in the milling and refining sector. The company recently launched Millco, a transformational initiative that seeks to create one well structured, sustainable, diversified and competitive sugar business. Growers, both small scale and commercial, have been invited to participate in this venture. We have also invited private equity partners to participate, and conversations are under way.
Millco has been established to consider the long-term future of sugarcane. Opportunities within the green economy (bioplastics; biodegradable plastics and packaging and ethanol) are being investigated.
6. What stake then would Tongaat Hulett have in the future in the actual mills and the milling process?
At this stage, Tongaat Hulett aims to have between a 51% and 55% stake in Millco.
7. And how does that inform your participation in the sugar industry Masterplan?
The Master Plan is a social compact that commits all parties to a radically different future, and one of its seven action commitments is transformation. Millco was designed with this in mind and intended to be the first truly transformative deal in the sugar industry involving one of the big three millers. It offers a unique opportunity to be part of the full value chain rather than a carve-out of a small set of opportunities. This provides a platform for success and for growth.
The intent of the Master Plan is to create an enabling environment. Through Millco, Tongaat Hulett and its partners will explore opportunities for the development of a diverse range of downstream value streams from sugarcane.
The Master Plan has also emphasised the importance of the small-scale growers to the growth and sustainability of the sugar industry, and they are key in the Millco conversation.
8. What products, other than refined sugar, is Tongaat Hulett already producing?
Tongaat is currently producing animal feeds through its Voermol Feeds plant as well as artificial sweeteners through the Equisweet brand and related products, and liquid sugars as well as fructose at the Huletts Refinery in Rossburgh. In Zimbabwe we also produce ethanol at our Triangle operations, as well as cogenerate electricity in a number of our plants.
9. How do you see these products being upscaled to become more central to the refining process and the bottom line of the company?
This will depend on the uptake of artificial sweeteners as the health promotion levy takes root in the country. Animal feeds are not dependent on the shift in sugar supply and demand dynamics.
10. In short, how do you see the sugarcane processing sector adding to the country’s green economy?
There is significant opportunity for the sector to create employment opportunities and new income streams while also reducing the carbon footprint of the country through renewable energy (electricity), which may also assist with reducing load-shedding. The sector could help reduce fuel costs with a locally produced alcohol blend for addition into petroleum fuel as well as supporting with bio-degradable packaging and food supply products.
11. How do you see this in relation to mitigating job losses and perhaps even creating more jobs in a far cleaner and more investment-friendly industry?
It is clear that the green economy has the potential to stimulate growth and create employment. While this space is still being explored, the technologies are already available and what is required is a conducive regulatory environment as well as investment, but this will take time
12. What investment will be required to get South Africa’s sugar mills ready for this new era of production?
We are still exploring the investment required, as it is highly dependent on the scale and regulatory framework for product demand.
13. Over what period of time?
We estimate the time scale to be two to five years, depending on buy-in and project phasing.
14. What is the industry going to need from the government and even from its own coffers/resources to get to the ideal as reflected in the Masterplan?
Government is one of the important stakeholders within the Master Plan and has been highly supportive during the planning phase of the plan, particularly in its role in helping to drive the commitments. The main role of government will be to create an enabling policy environment as well as to provide leadership and guidance to ensure the achievement of Vision 2030. Government will also play an oversight role to ensure none of the competition laws is undermined during the implementation of the Master Plan, and that all parties drive the transformation agenda and ensure the creation of an inclusive economy
15. This is an exciting time in South Africa’s sugar industry, there is a feeling that the worst is behind us – and it has been and still is tough for sure – but how and where do you see growth, right-sizing and alignment with a more innovative and modern sugar sector?
Tongaat is currently implementing a comprehensive turnaround strategy, and good progress is being made. While the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, Tongaat’s executive team is focused on finding sustainable solutions. We are clear that innovation is a key element of our future growth.
16. Do you see a situation where growers will be producing more fibre-rich cane varieties, with the fibre then being harvested on-farm and used to produce electricity that is then fed on to the national grid?
In our ongoing discussions with growers, it is clear they are keen to explore other revenue streams, but this will depend on the take-up of electricity generated from sugarcane. We believe that with the right policy environment, notably government support in the conversation around green electricity, growers should be open to opting for fibre-rich cane varieties
17. How viable would it be then for the grower to transport only the cane stalks to the mill for the refining process?
This is currently the case and the part of the case for change.
18. What about the future of gasification and anaerobic digestion technologies?
We believe this could be successfully done for factory effluent digestion processes, although not for sugar factories with the abundance of fibre for energy generation.
19. What changes will have to be made in the current sugar industry legislation to free up more production options for both growers and millers, and do you support these changes?
The latest legislation is awaiting gazetting but has unfortunately been delayed due to the onset of COVID-19. The changes effectively streamline decision-making in the industry and reduce costs. We support these changes and are engaging on additional changes where SASA evolves into a more effective decision-making body that reduces inefficiency in the industry. We believe a case can be made that South African sugar production is inefficient in how the industry is currently set up.
The changes that will come into effect will also recognise SAFDA as an official grower body. This is testament to the evolution of the sugar industry with regards to transformation. We are very supportive of transformation funds being directed at small-scale growers and ensuring that the focus areas reach grassroots level.
20. And finally, do you support the reduction of the size of the industry, and grower funding for the establishment of alternative crops such as cotton, macadamias, avocados and stevia for example?
It’s not clear to us that the reduction of the size of the industry will automatically yield the desired results as there are other factors affecting its sustainability.
We absolutely support the approach taken by the Master Plan that encourages growers to explore other crops e.g. macadamias. As outlined in the plan, the industry has been on a declining trend for some years now and any further decline will have long term effects on growers, particularly small-scale growers. As such, it is trying, through various partners, to create an inclusive rural economy that embraces the dynamics of the future – without excluding others or shrinking the size of the industry – provided all players are open to embrace innovation and diversify
21. And where do you see Tongaat Hulett placed in this new future?
Tongaat Hulett has implemented three transformational initiatives, namely Farmco, Millco and Propco, which highlight the company’s commitment to transformation and to the inclusive economy.
The company continues to explore business opportunities within the green economy. With the support of government and all other industry players, the company sees itself continuing to be the dominant player not only in the production of sugar but also in a number of other sectors.
Profit from South Africa’s booming macadamia industry offers massive benefits for rural areas and communities as well as a more than viable alternative for the country’s embattled sugar growers.
As one of the world’s most lucrative crops, macadamias are not only an economic boon for South Africa’s agriculture sector, but beyond the farm gate, the industry is providing benefits for communities in which the farms and processors operate, for example, creating work for many who possibly may not have found employment in these rural areas previously, and the space for much needed regional infrastructure development.
The importance of commercial farming in feeding the global population is undisputed. But the sector’s ability to bring prosperity to otherwise forgotten corners of the globe is often overlooked. Starting on the farm and going through the value chain, agriculture provides a lifeline of employment and socio-economic benefits to the regions in which it operates. With the added profitability of the macadamia industry, the scope for community development and corporate social investment is that much greater.
A prosperous alternative
The macadamia industry is particularly relevant to socio-economics due to its opportunity for scale. Climatically, macadamias do well in similar conditions to sugar and tobacco, and while these industries are experiencing lacklustre performance, macadamias offer farmers a robust, healthier – for the planet and people – alternative. With the ability of this industry to revive traditional sugar areas, rural prosperity could continue on an even greater trajectory.
Brazil, for instance, is faced with having to adapt from its predominant agricultural output, sugar. In 2018 sugar burning became prohibited in Sao Paulo state, an area that is responsible for 60% of Brazil’s sugar and ethanol production, following legislation set out in 2008. Farmers had 10 years to comply and other major sugar-growing regions in Brazil are following suit.
This presents untapped opportunity for the country to switch to macadamias since orchard plantings can take place in existing agricultural hubs rather than encroaching on the surrounding virgin land and forests.
Maria Teresa Camargo, president of Queen Nut, Brazil’s largest processor of macadamia nuts, says the cane-growing region in San Paolo alone has 5,1 million hectares planted to sugar.
“By comparison, only around 7 500 hectares are planted to macadamias in the whole country, 50% of which is in the San Paolo state. The current macro context of Brazil’s agricultural industry is serendipitous in its timing to growing the macadamia industry at large. This comes with unparalleled scope for socio and economic upliftment too,” she adds.
Some 65% of the available global macadamia supply is produced in Africa, resulting in significant economic and social benefits for South Africa, Kenya and Malawi. Africa is home to the lion’s share of the globe’s arable land and macadamia plantings remain on the rise in these regions. Other regions experiencing strong growth include Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Swaziland.
Allen Duncan, CEO of Green Farms Nut Company (GFNC), says as South Africa is the world’s leading producer of macadamia nuts, the industry provides the country with valuable foreign exchange currency through its domestic macadamia exports.
“This is significant for an emerging economy like ours as it encourages infrastructure and other investments. These are the building blocks for sustainable growth,” says Duncan.
The power held by the industry to promote the growth of small scale farmers was exponential, he adds.
“GFNC has partnered with initiatives that have an impact on more than 30 emerging farmers. The business also runs mentor workshops for new, small farmers into the market, offering other skills development opportunities. GFNC has also built a nursery school for the children of those who are part of the project.”
Andre Steenkamp, an economist with National Treasury, says a growing agricultural sector had a role to play in addressing challenges of unemployment and low growth, while countering rural poverty.
“Several features of agriculture make it important in the pursuit of inclusive, labour-intensive economic growth. Rural linkages, the ability to absorb less-skilled labour, large multipliers due to extensive links with the rest of the economy, and the importance for export-led growth make this a crucial sector to uplift the rural economy.”
Innovative joint ventures had boosted agricultural production and promoted agrarian transformation, he adds. “There are many examples of commercial farmers, farmers’ organisations, and other private sector institutions electing to drive agrarian transformation through innovative joint ventures. Even those who are critical of joint ventures as a panacea for agriculture and land reform in South Africa acknowledge that joint ventures can yield encouraging results for smallholders. These include increased production, access to services such as training and technical assistance, access to inputs and production credit, as well as access to formal markets – including compliance with standards. These aim to overcome the challenges faced by the sector.”
Maclands provides schooling for children of the workers.
Macadamia processors worldwide have been at the forefront of initiatives that support the communities in which they operate.
Queen Nut’s social programmes stretch far and wide, from basic human rights initiatives to those that encourage cultural growth and participation. These include the Athlete of the Future Project, which encourages low-income children and adolescents to develop an interest in sport. The Proerd (Programa Educacional de Resitência ás Drogas e á Violência) Project is a partnership with the military police, which is a drug abuse resistance and violence education programme. The Adolescent Apprentice Project revolves around career preparedness using life skills training and exposure, and the Apae Pilot Project is a professional kitchen aimed at teaching children and teens with special needs to make cake and salty pastries to help strengthen motor co-ordination.
The company also supports the Child Friendly Company Project, which acts against child labour and promotes vocational training and access to protected employment for adolescents. An annual Macadamia Festival is also held, a cultural extravaganza to promote tourism, while at the same time raising the profile of and opportunities in the macadamia sector.
Queen Nut has a strong focus on employees through rigorous safety training programmes and access to medical and gynaecological assistance for women, in particular. Study and career advancement opportunities are also provided. Queen Nut’s environmental awareness policy includes recycling, energy saving and driving water efficiencies.
On the African continent, Kenya has succeeded in negotiating and agreeing favourable trade agreements with key macadamia consumer markets and territories, setting a platform for the local industry to grow. The crop provides jobs to some 150 000 people and is the most lucrative crop after tea in the region.
The South African-based Maclands Estate, with orchards and processing plants in Kenya, Malawi and South Africa, provides employment for 5 213 people as a direct result of their operations in these sub-Saharan African countries.
Maclands Regional Director Chris Flowers says the company’s ethos is about enduring and sustainable participation in the industry.
“We understand intrinsically the business needs to exist in harmony with the community in which it operates, since it is the community which gives us the license to do business in these regions. And we demonstrate our partnership through best class initiatives such as building houses for staff, with running water and space to create vegetable gardens. Within the villages, children of employees have access to schooling and medical care and clinics are available to staff and their dependants until they reach the age of 18.”
The Maclands business, Flowers says, was rooted in creating a healthy agricultural environment supported by key infrastructure developments such as building dams, and in Malawi specifically, a project focusing on cutting down on the deforestation of indigenous bush, which has become a major environmental threat to the country.
Award-winning agricultural journalist Lindi Botha says as South African farmers neglect to inform the narrative on agricultural best practice in the country, the sector is at risk of continuing to attract uninformed criticism, resulting in bad press, as consumers and activists rightly push for more environmentally and socially empathetic production methodologies from the industry.
Water, bees, chemicals and land are just some of the fundamental components critical for the successful cultivation of food crops across the globe. And how each of these is used by farmers draws as many commentators and opinions as there are cultivation practices. What is glaringly absent, however, is farmers who are “selling” not only the importance of these four aspects of their operations, but how they are responding to the demand for more responsible or best practice farming while simultaneously producing enough food for an over-populated planet.
This omission or reticence allows space, then, for those outside the sector to drive the conversation on ethical agricultural activities, which if not properly informed, could very well threaten the continued profitable production of food in the country.
Most South African farmers are aware of and subscribe to the responsibility they hold as good stewards of both the land and its resources, if not only for crop yield performance, but for the continued prosperity of markets and for the livelihoods of so many who depend on agriculture for their daily bread.
In reality, unless farmers look after their land, adopt state-of-the art applications and technology to continuously improve the condition of their soils, manage water use optimally and keep an eye on input costs versus yields and returns, their businesses will quickly collapse.
Luxury products such as macadamia nuts, avocados and other high-end or niched foods are usually bought by informed and educated consumers who are predisposed to investigating the origins of the fare they buy in response to activist messaging linked to a demand for more ethical and responsible farming methodologies.
And it is here that South Africa’s farmers could do better in developing communication campaigns able to speak to a wide range of audiences so consumers can then balance their thinking.
The almond industry relies heavily on bees to pollinate the crop. But colony deaths have prompted consumers to turn away from almond milk.
Balancing the narrative
Environmentalists have called for the boycott of almonds due to the crop’s heavy water requirement, pesticide use, and most recently, the harmful effect the pesticides aimed at protecting the trees are having on bee populations. Avocado production has also come under fire as it is believed the crop’s exponential growth is contributing to water shortages in poor communities while funding crime syndicates in some countries.
At the heart of these controversies is a call by environmental activists to avoid these products at all costs.
A global outcry over dwindling bee populations has put farmers in the firing line over the chemicals used on crops and their effect on pollinators.
Consequently, almond milk drinkers, a promising new market for nut producers, are thinking twice as environmental activists push for boycotts.
With South Africa’s most lucrative crops – avocados and macadamias – both dependent on bees and health-conscious consumers alike, farmers would do well to learn their lesson from what has happened to the almond industry.
Almond milk has soared in popularity in recent years, not only because it is a tasty and viable alternative to lactose-containing conventional milk, but also due to the perceived benefits of shunning the dairy industry and the effect it has on the environment.
In a twist of fate, the very consumers who consciously turned to almond milk as a plant-friendly alternative have now spoken out in anger about the industry’s disregard for and impact on bee colonies.
California produces 80% of the world’s almonds and the orchards require more than two million bee colonies to pollinate the trees. Almond farmers mostly outsource this service to bee keepers. The latter have, however, reported their bees are dying in droves after being used on these almond farms. Monoculture, reduced natural forage and competition between honey bees and European bees were cited by experts as the reasons behind the declining health of the colonies and the massive die-off in the hives.
Reportedly, mite infestation is also a leading cause of bee deaths.
Pesticides, too, get their fair share of the blame, with farmers conceding that while this is part of the problem, the industry cannot do without crop protection chemicals.
Regardless, farmers now have to find alternative and acceptable ways to produce almonds. It is hoped a new initiative to label food, where applicable, as ‘bee friendly’, will guide shoppers in the same way as the Fairtrade and ‘organic’ labels have. The added spin-off would be the conversion of segments of the market who hadn’t previously considered the impact of their buying habits on bee health in their purchasing decisions.
The ‘Bee Better’ certification programme launched in the United States in 2017 not only points consumers in the right direction, but encourages farmers to plant additional food sources for bees in the form of cover crops and flowering hedges around orchards. Häagen-Dazs was the first food company to adopt the Bee Better label and is expected to roll out three almond ice cream flavours this year each carrying the required stamp of approval.
Walking the talk
In 2018 many British restaurants removed avocados from their menus, citing ethical issues around land and environment degradation. Claims of forests being destroyed to make way for lucrative avocado farming, and using up scarce water resources in the process, did not sit well with environmentally-conscious consumers.
Late last year the industry came under fire again after investigations in Mexico showed drug cartels were benefitting from the steep prices paid for avocados. Calls to boycott the fruit were again made, this time targeting avocados specifically from Mexico.
The conundrum remains, however, as boycotting the Mexican-grown fruit could put scores of farmers out of business, but on the other hand, how to stop drug cartels from blackmailing farmers into paying ‘duties’ for each exported kilogram?
In South Africa’s Lowveld region of Mpumalanga, the rapid expansion of macadamia orchards has created a perception the orchards are to blame for lower dam levels and reduced underground water.
While no research has been done to establish whether or not this is the case, farmers have not offered any counter argument regarding the importance of the industry to the regional economy. Furthermore, South African macadamia and avocado farmers are noted as being water-wise beyond that of competing countries.
The agricultural sector as a whole in South Africa has a plethora of good stories to tell, ranging from economic upliftment and transformation to progress in improving cultivation practices.
What is necessary, however, is a clear and consistent voice able to change the often negative perceptions about agriculture, to put food production in a factual framework to afford the public a balanced view of what is required to feed global populations.
The macadamia and avocado industries have no problem selling their produce – the world is hungry for them. But what the sector can’t seem to get on top of is its ability to argue its water, fertiliser, crop protection and land (including title deeds) requirements. And without a sound marketing plan to ensure government and consumers understand farmers’ needs, the industry is doomed to forever having to justify its existence and production methods.
Good news for consumers but not for farmers as South Africa’s avocado industry re-routes two million extra cartons of the fruit on to the domestic market as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic on export predictions.
For those who love smashed avocado on toast, or a touch of guacamole on their nachos, now is the time to pop down to the fruit and veg store as more than two million cartons of the fruit destined for export head for the domestic market.
This massive drop in export trade as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic might be good news for domestic consumers but not for farmers, who will have to re-assess their earnings: at least two thirds of the local crop is destined for overseas markets in a normal year.
Earlier this year – when the green “superfood” was out of season – consumers were paying upwards of R50 for two avocados, with prices for “ready to eat” fruit now at about R30 for two, giving an indication of the high demand despite annual harvesting already in full swing and the import excess taken up by domestic buyers.
But consumers could expect further downward price pressure as harvesting hits its peak.
CEO of the South African Subtropical Growers’ Association Derek Donkin said the original export predictions were set at 18 million cartons, but since the onset of the pandemic the industry had re-adjusted its forecast to R16 million cartons for the year.
“The closure of the hospitality sectors, restaurants and hotels has affected our exports as well as sales here in South Africa. While the excess will be taken up in the domestic market, that does, however, put pressures on the price,” Donkin said.
He added that the downward price pressure was affecting the green-skinned varieties, with some retailers selling a 4kg box of avocadoes on special recently for about R60.
The South African avocado harvesting season runs from February to November, with most of the fruit harvested between March and September.
Describing the trajectory of South Africa’s industry as a “long-term growth path”, particularly as it looks to further international trade with Japan, India and the United States, Donkin said due to growing global demand and to position the industry to produce the fruit year round, production was expanding in KwaZulu-Natal and in the Eastern and Western Cape.
Currently the United States is the biggest importer of avocados globally, importing about one million tons of avos in 2018.
Reportedly, South Africa’s industry plans to host inspectors from Japan once the lockdown has eased and international travel has returned to normal, with its sights also set on gaining access to the Chinese market in the future.
Donkin said South Africa’s industry had enjoyed good harvests and prices for at least five years, with growth expected to continue into the future as consumers worldwide are drawn to healthier eating habits.
South Africa’s avocado production has grown exponentially with about 2 000ha under orchards in 1970 to 19 000ha today. Year-on-year new plantings are estimated at about 1 500ha a year, with growers having to wait for anything up to two years for young trees from certified nurseries due to the demand, he said.
Prior to the ramping up of nursery production, Donkin said new growers could wait up to six years for young trees.
“It takes up to 18 months to grow an avocado tree from seed. When demand suddenly ramped up about five years ago there weren’t that many nurseries. But new nurseries have opened up and we are now in a good position, although the wait is still about two years.”
While accurate figures were not available of the diversification of sugarcane farmers to crops such as avocados, Donkin said there was growth in membership of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association from farmers in KwaZulu-Natal and in particular in the Ixopo area, where they were exiting the dairy industry in preference for avocado farming.
In 2018, South Africa’s avocado crop was estimated at 170 000 tons, of which about 86 000 tons were exported mainly to Europe and to the UK. The remainder of the crop was sold on to the domestic market, with about 10% processed to oil and purée.
The Hass avocado accounts for 80% of the total area planted, while the Fuerte, Pinkerton, Ryan, Edranol and Reed varieties make up the remaining 20%.
The Hass is harvested in Limpopo Province from February to May and in KwaZulu-Natal, from February to October. The other varieties are harvested mainly between March and September.
While archaeologists in Peru found domesticated avocado seeds buried with Incan mummies dating back as far as 750BC, South Africa’s first avocado trees were planted in the 1920s in the Durban area by Harry Ludman with seedlings from the West Indies.
Reportedly the fruit was of a poor quality and “attracted little commercial attention”.
In the 1930s citrus farmers in the northern reaches of the country started replacing their dying citrus trees – due to a greening disease – with avocado trees.
However, it was only in the mid-60s that farmers started getting organised by setting up an Avocado Growers’ Export Coordinating Committee, which changed to the Transvaal Avocado Growers’ Association in 1969. The organisation continued as such until August 1971when the South African Avocado Growers’ Association was formed.
The first research committee was established in 1976.
While some attribute the avo’s popularity with consumers to the rejuvenated popularity of the Banting or high-fat low carb diet promoted by South Africa’s Professor Tim Noakes, and the increasing research worldwide on the impact of sugar on health, the Central American Indian worshipped the fruit’s ability to increase vitality and general well-being as long ago as 500BC.
The South African Avocado Growers’ Association says it is believed these ancient civilisations not only revered the fruit for its nutritional value but also believed it to be an aphrodisiac, due to its suggestive shape. “The name avocado actually comes from the Aztec word ahuacatl, meaning testicle.”
Regardless, avocados have a unique nutritional profile as they contain lots of fibre and are rich in vitamins and minerals like B-vitamins, vitamin K, potassium, copper, vitamin E and vitamin C. They also contain very little sugar.


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RIM will launch the next generation of its mobile OS on the 30th of January 2013, they will also launch their first BlackBerry 10 smartphones shortly after the release of BlackBerry 10.
Now RIM has announced that they have updated their BlackBerry 10 Developer Program, with a range of updated tools and more for the BlackBerry 10 platform.
“Developers from around the world are joining us on the last leg of the journey to the launch of BlackBerry 10 and we are thrilled at the enthusiasm we see from them. We have worked hard, and continue to work hard to meet the needs of developers,” said Alec Saunders, Vice President, Developer Relations and Ecosystems. “Developers asked for hardware to test their apps, and we delivered. They asked for the roadmap about the tools, and we posted it. They asked for RIM to show our confidence in developer success, and we’re doing it. We’ve continued to refine and add on to our developer programs to ensure we are giving developers the best opportunities for success with BlackBerry 10.”
You can find out more information about the BlackBerry 10 developer program over at RIM.
Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals
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Deck Commerce Launches New Order Management Features that Position Retailers for Growth
Deck Commerce provides new order management capabilities to market-leading retailers.
January 29, 2020
St. Louis, MO:
This article was originally published on PR Web.
Deck Commerce, a distributed Order Management Solution (OMS) for omnichannel commerce, today announced the launch of new features that position retail businesses for success.
The software-as-a-service (SaaS) OMS, helps premium retail brands simplify their direct-to-consumer processes for managing orders, inventory, and transactions to continually improve the omnichannel buying experience. To help retailers with a winning 2020 commerce strategy, Deck Commerce recently launched new features that help retail businesses scale and grow.
The new features empower retailers using Deck Commerce Order Management to improve their shopping experience, automate previously manual tasks, and increase visibility of the order lifecycle across teams.
New features include prebuilt third-party integrations for traditional payment gateways, buy now pay later options, post-purchase experiences, and chargebacks. Core product updates exclusive to Deck Commerce Order Management include scheduled delivery date, new multi-point fulfillment workflows, additions to Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) workflows, and more.
A detailed list of new features can be found at https://blog.deckcommerce.com/new-order-management-features-for-retail.
In the increasingly competitive retail industry, it’s important for retailers to remain agile and change as their shoppers’ preferences change. Deck Commerce CEO, Chris Deck, says continual innovation is key to positioning retail customers for growth. “We’re always adding new features to simplify order management and deliver a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. There’s a reason our customers continue to surpass industry performance averages, and we believe our product plays an important role in their success.”
About Deck Commerce
Deck Commerce is the leading order management system (OMS) for retailers like New Balance, NETGEAR, and Build-A-Bear. The highly flexible, feature-rich platform automates inventory, transactions, fulfillment, and return workflows – giving retailers the power and efficiency to grow globally and across channels. Deck Commerce OMS enables retailers to curate memorable experiences that turn every customer into their best customer. To learn more visit https://www.deckcommerce.com.


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Jordan’s under-control epidemiological situation will serve the country economically recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic, while the losses would still take a long time to be addressed, according to Jordanian Experts & Officials.
After more than two months closure of almost all sectors due to the coronavirus, Jordan opened up most of the businesses and eased movement restrictions in early June to lessen the burdens.
However, challenges remain.
“We were negatively affected by the coronavirus, and several sectors were severely hit such as the tourism sector, but we have also introduced programs to help the private sector,” Jordan’s Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said during a press conference early June.
A recent report from Jordanian Central Bank shows that Jordan’s tourism revenue has dropped by 36.6% in the first four months of 2020, with only 784 million dinars (around 1,120 million U.S. dollars).
Bordering conflict-torn Syria and Iraq, as well as lacking the oil wealth, Jordan vows to revive the economic engine of the tourism industry, which contributes around 10% of its GDP and maintains more than 55,000 employees in the industry.
Under the new decisions, sales tax on the tourism sector was reduced from 16 percent to 8 percent, and the Jordanian government allocated 150 million dinars as financing programs to help the tourism establishments.
Besides, some of the significant challenges Jordan will still face in the next stage are negative economic growth and high-level unemployment rates, according to experts.
Between mid-March and mid-May 2020, around 40 percent of people in Jordan lost their businesses or jobs completely, according to a study by the Jordanian Phenix Centre for Economics and Informatics Studies.
“Unemployment rate is expected to exceed 20 percent in the second half of 2020…It will be a major problem accompanied by poverty increasing,” Mazen Marji, an economist and former expert at the Investment Promotion Commission, said.
Also, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expected that Jordan’s Economy would contract by 3.7 percent in 2020.
To minimise the losses, the government launched a fund worth 700 million U.S. dollars to support small and medium-sized businesses with soft loans.
In parallel, the return of many Jordanians from the Gulf Countries and a decline in government revenues caused by a drop in domestic consumption, will force the government to resort to more borrowing.
Jordan has recently signed a new agreement with the IMF to borrow 400 million U.S. dollars.
“Jordanian state budget deficit will widen by an additional 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2020,” Jordan’s Minister of Finance Mohammad Al Ississ said in a recent interview.
Experts believe more measures are needed.
“There is an urgent demand to reduce the sales tax on all sectors to drive more consumption, which can also generate more revenues,” Marji said.
Jordanian Economic Columnist & Analyst Khaled Zubaidi said that China’s Belt & Road Initiative could support Jordan in economic recovery in the short term. He proposed broadening and accelerating infrastructure-related projects, as they will provide abundant Job Opportunities.
Amjad Issa, Political Analyst at the Jordan Press Foundation, said that Jordan should attract more patients from Arab Countries for Medical Tourism, where has always been a hub for such services.
“Besides, Jordan requires to draft a long-term economic plan for recovery and appeal for international support as it is still hosting more than 657,000 Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations,” Issa said.


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Mobile Phone Factory to Be Set Up in Zambia
The Malaysia based handset design firm, M.Mobile is investing US$3 million in setting up a production factory in Zambia. Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said in an interview with the Times of Zambia that M.Mobile, which is to establish the plant in partnership with a local company Melcome, is expected to start operations later this year. The factory will have a unit capacity of 500,000 per year.
The minister said the assembly plant would be able to assemble cellular phones for both the local and export markets within the Southern Africa Development community (SADC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regions. "Zambia will become the hub for exports of cell phones in the region," Mr Mutati said.
M.Mobile says that it is the world's first Muslim-owned mobile phone R&D and marketing company, in a partnership between Malaysia and China. This company is currently in operation under its parent company, Kosmo Technology which announced the acquisition of a 30% stake in M.Mobile in February 2006.
Times of Zambia


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Trend towards white and dry wines in Germany
The market share of white wines rose by one percentage point in 2016, at the expense of red wine consumption, and by six per cent compared with 2008. In 2016, red wines maintained a 47 per cent share in wine sales, rosé wine sales have remained unchanged at ten percent for seven years.
In terms of taste, most German consumers still prefer dry and off-dry wines. In 2016, as in the previous year, marketers finished 46 per cent of their domestic quality wines in a dry style, while 21 per cent of the quality approved wines were produced as off-dry, in line with demand. The volume of sweet wines on offer rose by two percentage points last year, meaning that precisely a third of all German quality wines were bottled with this flavour in 2016.


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CHILDREN heading to the Millers’ home game on Saturday can get their hands on one of 12 exclusive books from a pop-up stall for free.
The initiative is part of World Book Day and is being supported by WHSmith, the National Literacy Trust and the Premier League.
World Book Day tokens will be handed out to all children attending the club’s fixture against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
The tokens can then be exchanged at the WHSmith stall at the New York Stadium Fanzone for one of the 12 exclusive 2019 World Book Day books [subject to availability].
Next Thursday’s (7) World Book Day is a global initiative to ensure every child has a book of their own and is the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK.
Pop-up book stalls will be at football club match days across the UK this March.


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Place your bets, folks. Which of these phablets will reign supreme in the battle of design, usability and productivity?
CNET breaks out the most important things to know when shopping for a new television.
Equipped with a 6-inch display, a Snapdragon 805 processor and Android 5.0 Lollipop, the Nexus 6 is Google's biggest flagship yet.
The first teaser clip for the Chris Pratt-starring reboot harks back to a terrifying moment in the original "Jurassic Park".
Video games made by small studios have an effective tool in their arsenal when it comes to setting themselves apart.
LikeAGlove smart garments act like high-tech personal shopping assistants, checking your measurements and finding you clothes that fit.
The latest puzzle game from King.com is making waves on mobile devices, and its advertising campaign on Facebook has reached millions of people.
A year after exiting BlackBerry, Thorsten Heins weighs in on his time at the smartphone maker and dishes on his current phone.
The Cat B15Q is a rugged smartphone from a company better known for construction vehicles; let's take a closer look.
Silicon Valley investor Adam Draper is refocusing his accelerator program solely on bitcoin, in hopes of taking the currency mainstream.


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A small organic farm in McLean County, Illinois is getting international recognition.
An organic farmer in McLean County, Illinois is getting international recognition for her growing methods.
The farm is seen as a model for poor countries looking for creative ways to grow food.
The crops are abundant.
"I have amalant, and then I have kale, collards, spinach, red Russian," says farmer Janet Zintimbila.
She also has company: visitors from the African nation of Burundi and a development consultant from Poland.
"Our plan is to harvest everything that is on the ground, freeze it, and come February, we want to have a big fundraiser to be able to raise some funds to be able to support our garden as well as support the Burundi who are here," said Zintimbila.
"Burundi isn't keeping up with the population growth; just simply not producing enough food," said development consultant June Lavelle, "and we have to be able to use intensive agricultural practices but without--there's no money for pesticides and fertilizer, so we have to use basically organic methods."


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SYDNEY, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Australian government testing has found Nestl's new NAN H.A. Gold infant formula to be safe, despite complaints from parents that it is making their children sick.
Chronic wind, rashes, constant crying and dark green watery poo are among the side-effects listed by parents with sick babies, thought to be a response to Nestl's new formula which was released in June 2011.
The changes were the result of a new technology in the manufacturing process, which caused small alterations to the micronutrient profile of the formula, a Nestl spokesperson told Xinhua.
Since the recipe modifications, a 'Recall all Nestle NAN H.A. Gold Baby Formula' Facebook page attracted 1,700 supporters, and more than 300 comments were posted by angry parents on consumer website Product Review.
"My poor three month old was on this formula for two days. She became very irritable and was refusing to eat. I finally decided to give up on this formula when her poos became dark green and watery," posted one mother.
"I felt terrible thinking I had unwittingly made my baby sick. The manufacturers should feel even worse and want to stop any likelihood of hurting any more babies," she added.
However, independent testing by the NSW Food Authority in September found no food safety issues with the formula.
"There is no reason to believe the recent change in formulation of NAN H.A. 1 Gold Infant Formula is physically harmful to children," reported NSW Health in a statement released on 11 September 2012.
"It is not uncommon for infants to have a change in stooling or develop other mild symptoms when changing from one infant formula to a new infant formula, or as in this case, where there has been a change in composition of the formula," they added.
An expert panel was convened to consider the health concerns surrounding the product.
In response to the complaints, Nestl said in a statement, "we understand the concern of those whose babies were unwell, and we want to reassure them that NAN H.A infant formula, like all our products, meets the highest standards of quality and safety.
"We have repeated the thorough tests we run before the product leaves the factory and shared the results with the local authorities. The results reconfirm our findings that the product is safe.
"We know that babies have sensitive digestive systems, and they adjust to changes in their own unique way... Not every infant formula will suit every child ... and some mothers will have to try a couple of formulas before they find one that's right," the Nestl spokesperson added. "One of the things we're doing in Australia is to provide some more information about formula transition to help parents."
This might come as cold comfort to some consumers. "When I started using the new improved formula I had not realized that I was buying a totally different product," posted Darling28, another forum reviewer, in August. "It has nothing on it stating the actual ingredient change and no warning on it as to what the side effects might be."
Paediatrician Professor John Sinn, from the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, told The Newcastle Herald in September that he supported the expert panel's findings, and condemned the mass- panic caused by social media.
"We do use this formula and I have not seen reactions in any of my patients," he said. "The use of mass media and Facebook by some groups these days really causes a lot of anxiety and grief, leading parents to associate the symptoms of their child with the formula."
"It's a placebo effect and, while I don't deny their symptoms are there, it is no justification for claims this formula is unsafe," he added.


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Jenny Argie held court at her booth at the MJ Unpacked conference in Manhattan Thursday afternoon, where display cases filled with pre-rolls, edibles and weed-infused beverages produced an aura of a business casual Candy Land for stoners.
The CEO and founder of Brooklyn-based CBD edibles company Jenny’s Baked at Home, Argie said she’d been talking that day to prospective brand partners looking to enter New York’s adult-use market. Jenny’s Baked at Home is in line for one of the conditional processing licenses that the Office of Cannabis Management announced in February, and is getting ready to hit the ground running.
“I would like to have relationships with brands that want to white label, dispensaries that are looking to white label, proprietary techniques,” Argie said. (White labeling is an agreement in which Company A sells products made by Company B under Company A’s brand label.)
Hundreds of marijuana brands, cultivators, processors, ancillary businesses and investors milled around the Midtown Hilton Thursday, promoting their wares, and looking to make the right connections to make a splash in what will be one of the world’s largest legal marijuana markets.
The various different types of businesses mingling at the conference provided a glimpse into the mix of cooperation and tension ahead, as companies get ready to set up shop in the Empire State.
Kate Miller, CEO of California-based flower and preroll brand Miss Grass, is also seeking out partners. The 11-person company operates on a white label model, in which it partners with cultivators and sells their weed under the Miss Grass brand. Miss Grass operates in four states, and has partnered with a mix of multistate operators and smaller companies for supply, Miller said.
Miss Grass is already having early stage conversations with hemp farmers who received conditional cultivation licenses, Miller said. The most important factor of choosing business partners is that they’re good people, she said, but also high on her priority list is the ability to produce at scale.
Miller wants to “make sure that who we partner with in New York has the biomass,” she said. “I think what’s going to be the biggest problem in the near-term in New York is there’s going to be very limited-quality biomass.”
The ability to produce at volume is the main thing Los Angeles-based S10 Labs is seeking in a partner, said account executive Juansi Santaella. The company makes vape pens and partners with companies who fill them with distillate or live resin.
Right now S10′s only New York partner operates on the state’s legacy market, Santaella said. But he was hoping to find larger players poised to serve the legal adult-use market once it launches.
“We’re looking for people who are down to pick up hundreds of thousands of cartridges … maybe millions,” Santaella said.
Andrew Kaye, an investor and chief commercial officer for Denver-based venture debt firm Sweet Leaf Madison Capital, said he’s more interested in engaging with small- to medium-sized companies. Craft cannabis brands, Kaye said, have more pricing stability. That’s because if a market becomes flooded with supply – driving prices down – people will generally continue paying a higher price for products from brands that sell high-quality weed.
Unlike many people who believe retail will be New York’s strength, Kaye thinks the state missed the boat. In Kaye’s opinion, New York regulators took too long to stand up a recreational marijuana program after legalizing, and the legacy market is now too strong to beat.
“I think New York already blew it, and lost the retail battle,” Kaye said. “New York lost by delay.”
But Kaye does see a lot of opportunity for New York to lead in the social consumption lounge sector, and sees some promise in cultivation and processing here.
Even as the event buzzed with the button-down excitement of an industry conference, Argie, CEO of Jenny’s Baked at Home, said she didn’t expect all meetings to be pleasant. She’s already been approached by multiple large cannabis companies looking to buy her out, rather than partner.
“I’ve had a lot of that to this point: trying to get me to sell out, trying to bottom-line me, intimidate me,” Argie said. “They’re looking at the vulnerable, and I can already tell they’re coming in trying to swoop in … let’s see if New Yorkers can stay united and not sell out too fast.”


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Americans Took 35% Fewer Road Trips for Thanksgiving
U.S. travelers threw their Thanksgiving road trip plans in reverse in 2020, defying predictions for one of the busiest road trip occasions of the year, and heeding the advice of public health experts who warned Americans to refrain from traveling during the holiday against the backdrop of a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths.
Road trip travel over the Thanksgiving holiday was down 35% from last year, according to our Daily Travel Index. The results are a departure from previous holidays earlier this year—such as the Fourth of July and Labor Day—when road trip activity rivaled or exceeded the same period in the previous year. Road trip activity observed over Thanksgiving made it the least traveled major holiday of the year, with less activity than observed over Memorial Day.
“Travel by private car—generally regarded as one of the safest and most available means of leisure travel during the pandemic—had begun establishing itself as a leading indicator of travel’s rebound,” said Arrivalist CEO, Cree Lawson. “That appears to have taken a back seat to people’s desire to protect themselves and each other from a surge of Covid-19 cases.”
The data was compiled from road trips of 50 miles or more initiated on Wednesday, November 25th or Thursday, November 26th, compared to the Wednesday preceding and Thursday of Thanksgiving last year. Road trips of less than 50 miles and travel completed by plane are not included in the calculations. Arrivalist will continue releasing updates from Thanksgiving road trips through the rest of the holiday weekend on the Daily Travel Index.
Those who did travel over the holiday were more likely to stay overnight (69.3%) than in 2019 when 68.2% of those who departed on Wednesday or Thursday stayed overnight. Trips observed in 2020 were also shorter with trips of 50-100 miles represented 46.1% of trips, up from 44.8% the year before.
“The pandemic trends are clearly not going to allow a broad reopening of travel nearly as soon as we hoped,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “It’s heartening to see Americans making decisions to keep safe, but the situation is exceptionally painful for travel businesses and workers, who are going to need substantial federal assistance in order to survive until a recovery can begin.”
Greatest Impact in the Northeast
Road trip activity varied greatly by state over the holiday. Nearly all states in the Northeast, plus Illinois and Ohio saw less than half the road trip activity of the prior year. States with the greatest reduction in road trip activity included:
- Vermont (-66.4%)
- Rhode Island (-64.9%)
- Connecticut (-57.6%)
- Massachusetts (-52.7%)
- New Hampshire (-52.6%)
- Illinois (-52.1%)
- Ohio (-52.0%)
Least impact in the West
The drop in year-over-year travel was pronounced in all states, with the smallest drop experienced in Utah, which was still down more than 13%.
- Utah (-13.9%)
- Nevada (-20.4%)
- Montana (-24.5%)
- South Dakota (-27.6%)
- Wyoming (-28.7%)
- North Dakota (- 39.3%)
“The travel industry didn’t have a Black Friday event this year,” said Lawson. He also noted that more road trip activity may come in the final days of Thanksgiving weekend but that the data so far does not indicate that will happen. “From a travel perspective, Thanksgiving 2020 looks just like any other weekend in 2020 – and a light one at that. It’s a bitter pill today but travel demand overall is as strong as ever, and I expect delivering a vaccine will give the industry a shot in the arm.”
The Daily Travel Index was designed as a free online resource available on Arrivalist’s website to provide the travel industry with insights to help plot its path to recovery during the Covid-19 pandemic. Site visitors can view trends in travel year-over-year by origin market and by mileage bands. Additionally, a customized Daily Travel Index is available to clients, which allows them to compare activity in their market to a nationwide index.


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American Girls sell lemonade to benefit 'life'
Girls playing with their dolls are actually helping those with cancer.
Girls participating in the American Girl Camp at Darton State College helped folks keep cool in the heat of summer and benefitted Relay For Life at the same time.
The girls sold lemonade for $1.00 between the J and B buildings on Darton's campus.
All proceeds from the sales will go to benefit Relay For Life.
The girls sold lemonade until 11:30 a.m. and raised $118 for the organization.


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Tesla (TSLA.O) has slashed prices on its electric vehicles in the United States and Europe by as much as 20 per cent, extending a strategy of aggressive discounting after missing Wall Street estimates for 2022 deliveries.
The move, which prompted a 3.8 per cent fall in Tesla’s shares in Frankfurt, came after CEO Elon Musk warned that the prospect of recession and higher interest rates meant it could lower vehicle pricing to sustain volume growth at the expense of profit.
The lower pricing across Tesla’s major markets marks a reversal from the strategy the automaker had pursued through much of 2021 and 2022 when orders for new vehicles exceeded supply. Musk acknowledged last year that prices had become “embarrassingly high” and could hurt demand.
The US price cuts, announced late Thursday in US time on the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover SUV, ranged between 6 per cent and 20 per cent compared with prices before the discount, according to Reuters calculations.
That is before an up to $7,500 federal tax credit that took effect for many electric vehicle models at the start of January.
Following is a table of the price cuts by model in Germany and the United States:
Tesla also cut prices for its Model X luxury crossover SUV and Model S sedan in the United States.
In Germany, it cut prices on the Model 3 and the Model Y – its global top-sellers – by between about 1 per cent and almost 17 per cent depending on the configuration. It also cut prices in Austria, Switzerland and France.
For a US buyer of the long-range Model Y, the new Tesla price combined with the US subsidy that took effect this month amounts to a discount of 31 per cent. In addition, the Tesla move broadened the vehicles in its line-up eligible for the Biden administration tax credit.
Before the price cut, the five-seat version of the Model Y had been ineligible for that credit, a designation Musk had called “messed up”. After the price cut, the long-range version of the Model Y will qualify for the $7,500 federal credit.
“This should really boost 2023 (Tesla) volumes,” Gary Black, a Tesla investor who has remained bullish on the company and its prospects through the recent, sharp share price decline, said in a tweet. “It’s the right move.”
Still, some users on Tesla fan forums online complained the price cuts disadvantaged customers who had recently bought their vehicle, leaving them with a lower-valued item on the second-hand car market.
“I’m not very pleased with these huge price sways. Just reducing 10,000 euros like that – definitely makes you feel that you just paid far too much,” one user wrote on a ‘Tesla Drivers and Friends’ forum on Friday.
In China, where Tesla cut prices last week by 6-13.5 per cent, owners protested at delivery centres across the country, pressing Tesla for compensation.
Before the price cut, Tesla inventory in the United States, as tracked by the models its website shows as immediately available, had been trending higher. Prices on used Tesla models had also been declining, increasing the pressure on it to adjust new-car sticker prices.
For 2021, the United States and China combined had accounted for about 75 per cent of Tesla sales, although the automaker has been growing sales in Europe, where its Berlin factory has been ramping up production.
NEW SALES LEADERSHIP
The shift is the first major move by Tesla since appointing its lead executive for China and Asia, Tom Zhu, to oversee US output and sales.
Tesla cut prices in China and other Asian markets last week. Along with previous price cuts announced in October and recent incentives, the Chinese price for a Model 3 or Model Y was down 13 per cent to 24 per cent from September after the recent move, Reuters calculations showed.
Tesla has also cut prices in South Korea, Japan, Australia and Singapore.
Analysts had said the Chinese price cuts would boost demand and increase pressure on its rivals there, including BYD (002594.SZ), to follow suit in what could become a price war in the largest single market for electric vehicles.
That pressure could be building in Europe as well.
Tesla’s Model 3 was the best-selling electric vehicle in Germany last month, followed by the Model Y, beating Volkswagen’s (VOWG_p.DE) all-electric ID.4. Volkswagen recently raised the price of its entry-level ID.3, putting it at parity with the now-discounted Model 3.
Tesla missed Wall Street estimates for fourth quarter deliveries. Full year growth in deliveries was 40 per cent – also short of Musk’s own forecast of 50 per cent.


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While Hispanic moviegoers typically amount to 22% of movie opening weekend sales, Hispanic targeted media budgets only amount to between 10% and 15% of the overall media buy of the big studios. If Hispanic moviegoers make or break many Hollywood premieres, why are movie studio executives not understanding the Hispanic opportunity and investing in it? This was a key question panelists at Portada’s Multicultural Influencer Forum at Digital Hollywood tried to answer.
“Maleficent”, the 2014 Disney movie release, grossed U S$69 million dollars in box office sales on its opening weekend. Of that turnover 28% can be attributed to Hispanics,” said Etienne Hernandez-Medina, President/CEO, H + M Communications, who moderated a session on “Marketing Movies to Multicultural Audiences” at Portada’s Multicultural Influencer Forum at Digital Hollywood. “When it comes to the entertainment industry Hispanics make or break a product launch,” Hernandez-Medina noted. Yet a typical media buy for a major movie release only puts between 10% and 15% in Hispanic targeted media. Perhaps an exception to this was last year’s release of Disney’s McFarland USA.
— LopezNegrete (@LopezNegrete) October 24, 2015
Rudy Lopez Negrete, Manager of Music and Content Development, Lopez Negrete Communications, Jaime Gamboa, CEO, Soda Creative and Erika Anaya, Head of Multicultural & International Creative at AV Squad tried to make sense of the fact that despite the strong movie consumption habits by Hispanics, Hollywood movie studio marketing executives do not seem to understand the opportunity. Panelists attributed this to the historically conservative attitude of movie and entertainment executives who often are not in touch with America’s multicultural reality.
Are Hollywood’s studio executives in touch with America’s multicultural reality?
Movie Marketing Budgets Down Overall
Soda Creative’s Jaime Gamboa added that overall big Hollywood Studio Marketing budgets have decreased by a third over that the last 5 years. The fact that movie studios often have different agencies do different parts of the buy does not make things easier (e.g Lopez Negrete is in charge of TV for NBC/Universal while Maxus does the digital buy).
AV Squad’s Erika Anaya and Jaime Gamboa also noted that there is an opportunity for movie studios to venture into other genres, than the typical action and comedy movies, that may find appeal for Hispanic audiences.
Not all is bleak however for Hispanic movie marketing. As both Anaya and Gamboa pointed out, five years ago practically no custom trailers were developed to target Hispanic audiences. This is no longer the case as both Anaya and Gamboa devote a substantial part of their work day to do just that.


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More than 40 Northern Ontario entrepreneurs are expected to grow their businesses and create or maintain 90 middle-class jobs in the region with a federal funding program.
MP Anthony Rota has announced a FedNor (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario) investment of $510,000 for Northern Ontario businesses and says the funding will be used to adopt new technologies, commercialize new products, grow their operations, capitalize on emerging opportunities and create jobs.
IION (Innovation Initiatives Ontario North) will use its Triple-P (productivity, process and prototype) initiative to provide up to $10,000 to each qualified business.
Rota says, “I’m proud that today’s announcement will help accelerate business development and growth while creating jobs and new opportunities in Northern Ontario. By supporting IION’s Triple-P initiative, the Government of Canada, through FedNor, is helping local businesses to scale up production, increase sales and create good paying jobs right here in the region.”


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Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) will announce support for chatbots and live chat APIs for Messenger during the Facebook Developer Conference on April 12-13 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, according to tech analysts. New features come as the first step to monetizing the platform that has 900 million users worldwide.
It appears that the social network giant has been working with business-to-business developers to build a new platform, that would allow customers to connect with businesses using Facebook Messenger, said Techcrunch on Thursday.
Chatbots can generate automatic responses for customers, however, designing them could be a complicated task. As a response, Facebook will provide businesses with a platform that already works. Bots via Messenger would send images, descriptions, URLs, calls to action, and check for online orders or make restaurant reservations.
Currently, Facebook Messenger offers a similar integration with Uber and KLM. For instance, people can request a taxi just by clicking on an address or by texting to Uber. On the other hand, customers of the airline can receive boarding passes, flight statuses and notifications via Messenger.
The company lead by the entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg has been working on new ways to monetize the Facebook platform, which don’t appear invasive. Introducing chatbots and support for live chat customer service, could create a new form of generating revenue, since robots would also suggest people to buy products.
Facebook introduced new tools for businesses on Thursday
The scope of Facebook Messenger is huge since it has 900 million active users per month. During the same period of time, 1 billion messages are sent between customers and businesses. As a response, the social network presented on Thursday new tools like user names, Messenger link and Messenger Codes.
Pages of businesses can now set and edit a username that will appear on the forefront with an @ symbol before it, to help people find businesses on Facebook and Messenger in a simpler way.
“Direct communication through Messenger and Facebook is fast and convenient for both people and businesses. And now, making it clear to people that your business is available to communicate directly through Messenger is even easier.” Said Facebook
Entrepreneurs can now create easy-to-remember Messenger Links that open a conversation with a business on Messenger. Moreover, they can create Messenger Codes that work in the same way, but require a camera scan instead of a link. For instance, a business can distribute posters with Messenger Codes on the street, and people can make it a scan with their smartphones, to communicate with the customer service.
Facebook also introduced Messenger Greetings, which allows businesses to set messages that will appear every time a customer wants to start a chat. All new features will be available globally in the coming weeks.
Messenger Codes are currently available for all Facebook users, who can just simply scan codes on their smartphones to add a new person on Messenger, even if they are not friends on Facebook.
“Traditional phone books are almost obsolete, we’re making it easier for you to find the people (and businesses) that matter to you and be able to start conversations immediately with the launch of a simple set of tools that are built for the modern world”. Said Facebook.
Source: Facebook Newsroom