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Seven years after bringing Thom Browne on board to design a more fashion-forward collection, Brooks Brothers has turned its attention to women’s wear, hiring Zac Posen as creative director for its mainline women’s collection and accessories.
In this new position, the 33-year-old designer will oversee the retailer’s current design and merchant teams and will also work on brand development and presentation for the women’s label. He will continue to design his own women’s collection that was launched in 2001, and will move forward with his other ventures, which include serving as a judge on “Project Runway.”
“We want to better ourselves and have another point of view,” Claudio Del Vecchio, chairman and chief executive officer of Brooks Bros., told WWD. “We already have a team in place, so he’s not going to be a designer, but a creative director. He’s someone we trust and admire for what he does, and he can add to what we’re already doing.”
Brooks Bros.’ women’s wear accounts for around 20 percent of the company’s $1.2 billion in annual sales, a figure that has remained constant for quite a few years. In the past few seasons, the women’s offering has been updated and enhanced, a process that began after Del Vecchio bought the company in 2001.
“The product today is better than it is perceived in the market,” he said. “I think women are pleasantly surprised when they come into our stores.”
Not as many women come into the stores as Del Vecchio would like.
The addition of Posen, whose first collection will hit stores worldwide for spring ’16, is expected to spark interest in the product and draw customers. His name will not be on the merchandise, and he will not be involved in Red Fleece, the retailer’s younger-skewed collection, or Black Fleece, which is designed by Browne. But Del Vecchio said Posen will “represent the company” in the market and “like anybody who works for us, will express his opinion” on product and presentation.
When Del Vecchio hired Browne to design Black Fleece, he admitted that it was “a p.r. move.” But on Thursday, he stressed that he does not view Posen’s addition in the same way.
“This is our main women’s collection, and if I didn’t think he could deliver, I wouldn’t risk it,” Del Vecchio said. “It’s not for p.r., but he’s a celebrity and I fully expect to get plenty of coverage and create traffic. But this is a business decision.”
He said he believes Posen is “one of the most talented and influential American designers working today. As soon as we met, it was clear to us that he had a true understanding of our brand and its 196-year heritage as well as the creativity to modernize our offerings within the category,” he added.
Brooks Bros. began selling women’s apparel as early as 1874 when the store at Broadway and Bond Streets opened a special department catering to female customers. In 1949, a pink oxford shirt was featured in Vogue magazine, but it wasn’t until 1976 when the retailer opened a complete women’s department.
Del Vecchio declined to say how large he would ultimately hope women’s wear could be for the company, noting he didn’t want to “reduce the penetration of men’s wear” in order to bolster women’s. “But we want to make it as good as can be. Our goal is not to revolutionize the business, but add some nice things — and the PR will definitely help.”
He said waiting until spring ’16 to launch the first line with Posen indicates that Brooks Bros. “is not in a hurry. We expect he will contribute, but we have to give him the time to do it the right way.”
Del Vecchio said it was premature at this point to discuss how the sensibility of the line could change under Posen’s watch, adding that it is “too early to talk about the details of the product.”
A New York native, Posen grew up in the creative environment of Eighties SoHo, making friends with Claire Danes and Lola Schnabel and even babysitting Lena Dunham. This eventually led him to fashion, and in 2001, he launched his own label, practically garnering buzz from the get-go with his proclivity for ultraglamorous gowns, his photogenic looks and television-ready personality and friends like Sean “P.Diddy” Combs, who would also invest in his business.
Posen’s aesthetic plays into the notion of vintage American Hollywood glamour with a focus on sharply tailored silhouettes. He often cites Charles James as one of his inspirations, which comes through in the designer’s draped and heavily constructed gowns destined for the red carpet. First Lady Michelle Obama, Uma Thurman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Ricci and Naomi Watts are among those who have worn his designs for public appearances.
Over the years, Posen has been challenged to grow his business to a level that matches his recognition, which the current management, including ceo Susan Davidson, has been looking to address via brand extensions such as Zac Zac Posen, which skews contemporary, and Truly Zac Posen for David’s Bridal. The main collection is wholesaled at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Harvey Nichols and Seibu. Recently, Posen has had another boost in interest as a result of the “Charles James: Beyond Fashion” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, highlighting a sartorial aesthetic the designer is comfortable with.
In September, the designer will relocate from his longtime home in the TriBeCa/Chinatown area into 15,000 square feet at 3 East 54th Street in Manhattan.
Posen said he was “honored and excited to be embarking on this incredible opportunity to take the Brooks Brothers women’s brand into the future while respecting its deep, rich American heritage as an institutional company.” He was filming “Project Runway” on Thursday and unavailable for further comment.
When Black Fleece was first introduced, it experienced some growing pains. But Brooks Bros. stuck with the concept, working with Browne to enhance the commercial aspects of the collection, and today, it is considered a success. There are also two freestanding Black Fleece stores in the U.S. — New York and San Francisco — as well as two in Asia.


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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Convention on the way forward for Europe, in Brussels
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favor of the post-Brexit commerce deal between Britain and the European Union, clearing the ultimate hurdle in direction of full ratification of the deal.
EU lawmakers backed the commerce and cooperation settlement by 660 to five, with 32 abstentions, parliament mentioned on Wednesday. The vote came about on Tuesday, however the coronavirus work restrictions meant the result was not instantly identified.
Parliament’s approval ends 4 years of acrimonious negotiations and debate and lingering distrust as Britain ended 47 years of EU membership.
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PowderJect signs research deals for needle-less vaccines
This article was originally published in Clinica
Drug delivery company PowderJect has formed research agreements with Zeneca and an unnamed Japanese company to study the delivery of drugs using its needle-less injection system. The UK company's product uses a helium jet to shoot drug particles through the skin and injects powder instead of liquid.
You may also be interested in...
Becton Dickinson will spend $1.2bn over the next four years to improve its drug-delivery device manufacturing capabilities. See what Eric Borin, president of BD, said about it here.
Pfizer is producing vaccine doses at scale now that it has buttoned down the manufacturing process.
In second letter this year targeting email communications, OPDP says that putting the methotrexate oral solution’s risk information below the signature block does not offer ‘prominence and readability’ comparable to the information on the drug’s effectiveness for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia that was in the body of the email.


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American video streaming behemoth YouTube could become the latest major brand to jump on the non-fungible token train, according to a letter published by CEO Susan Wojcicki earlier today.
Wojcicki says that her company wants to help content creators to take advantage of new emerging technologies, mentioning NFTs as an example:
We're always focused on expanding the YouTube ecosystem to help creators capitalize on emerging technologies, including things like NFTs, while continuing to strengthen and enhance the experiences creators and fans have on YouTube.
YouTube is also keeping a close eye on the new developments within the budding Web3 ecosystem. The letter says that the new iteration of the internet serves as "a source of inspiration" for the video hosting giant.
Wojcicki also highlights the success of YouTube Shorts, the company's TikTok competitor, claiming that it has already generated five trillion views.
It remains to be seen how YouTube will approach Web3 and NFTs since no further details were revealed in the letter.
Elon Musk, the world's richest person, is highly skeptical of Web3 and NFTs. The centibillionaire recently scolded Twitter for allowing users to show off their digital collectibles as profile pictures. Last month, Musk said that Web3 was more about "marketing than reality."
YouTube has attracted a slew of successful cryptocurrency creators over recent years, but it has also become a hotbed for crypto scams.


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We like how SUVs and crossovers offer height to see ahead, and offering plenty of space for when you need to haul those 3-5 extra people.
Read This Article
Hybrids aren't the only option for consumers looking for fuel-efficient 2011 new cars.
The Ford F-150 is not only iconic, but one of the greatest selling vehicles of all-time.
If there was a contest for world-wide sales honors, the Ford F-150 would handily win.


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La Paz Chattanooga, along with St. Peter’s Episcopal School, Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and River City Company will host a Christmas Posada celebration in Miller Plaza on Dec. 13.
A Posada is a traditional Mexican Christmas celebration that typically begins on Dec. 16 and lasts nine days leading up to Christmas.
Posada is a Spanish word for "inn" or "shelter" and the Posadas Navideñas, which represent events leading up to the Nativity of Jesus, are a pillar of Christmas traditions in Mexico.
La Paz’s event will highlight the tradition with activities and presentations to educate and engage participants.
Christmas carols will be sung by students from the Spanish immersion program at St. Peter’s Episcopal School; a traditional ‘Pastorela’ (nativity play) will be presented by members of Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul; and members of the community will lead the traditions of the Posada in the plaza.
Local Latinx restaurants and gift vendors will set up shop for a holiday market for attendees to purchase traditional holiday fare and handmade gifts from around Latin America.
The event is open to the public and will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m.


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The company’s 2020 climate and water scores improved from last year, advancing from Bs to the A category.
Submitted by Yum! Brands
Transparency around climate and energy work is a top priority for Yum! Brands and is reflected in its 11-year history of reporting to CDP, a leader in environmental disclosure. This year, the company achieved both climate and water scores of an A-, a year-over-year improvement for each response. Yum! also continued expanding its forest reporting beyond paper and palm to include beef.
“Doubling down on climate change is a key component of Yum’s Recipe for Good, our roadmap for socially responsible and sustainable stewardship. Reporting into the CDP framework helps Yum! measure our success and ensure progress across our planet pillar,” said Jon Hixson, Yum! chief sustainability officer & vice president of Global Government Affairs. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to date as well as our efforts to mitigate our impact and serve as part of the climate change solution.”
As the world’s largest restaurant company, Yum! has made consistent progress on its sustainability agenda since setting its first energy reduction goal in 2006. In recent years, the business has significantly advanced its climate and environmental work including:
In 2019, Yum! endorsed the New York Declaration on Forests to help meet the private sector goal of eliminating deforestation from the production of agriculture commodities and striving to end natural forest loss by 2030. To meet this goal, the company continues to strengthen its efforts related to four key commodities: timber, palm, soy and beef.
To learn more about Yum!’s efforts to grow sustainably and minimize its impact on the planet, including current and past CDP climate, forests and water disclosures, visit yum.com.
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 48,000 restaurants in more than 145 countries and territories primarily operating the company’s restaurant brands - KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell - global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food. Worldwide, the Yum! Brands system opens over eight new restaurants per day on average, making it a leader in global retail development. In 2018, Yum! Brands was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index and ranked among the top 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility Magazine. In 2019, Yum! Brands was named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the second consecutive year. For more information on Yum! Brands, visit yum.com. Yum! Media Line: 502.874.8200
More from Yum! Brands


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Better than expected Christmas for Primark – London Business News
Retail and food additives company Associated British Foods may not have made any upgrades in its latest trade update, but sentiment at the company is upbeat.
Talk of resilient consumer demand and easing inflationary pressures is telling and retail chain Primark had a good Christmas.
Russ Mold, Investment Director at AJ bell said: “Reliance on physical stores meant the pandemic was a major concern for Primark and a festive period with no restrictions clearly helped to get shoppers through the doors. It was remarkable that this part of the deal exceeded expectations.
“The fact that this has not resulted in a change in guidance reflects ongoing pressure on margins across all parts of the group, which may have proved somewhat disappointing for investors.
“Having avoided any meaningful web-based presence for so long, Primark is intensifying its click-and-collect efforts.
“This approach is logical as it allows Primark to capitalize on impulse buying as customers are still visiting stores and avoids large costs for delivery and returns of products which are usually very competitively priced.
“Primark’s budget offering could help attract new customers as cost-of-living pressures mount – particularly in areas like children’s clothing, where parents shop frequently and the longevity of the products purchased may be less important.
“The company itself certainly sees an opportunity as it continues to expand its store space, encouraged by the fact that newly opened stores are doing well.”


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Boost Your Fuel Economy to 85 Miles per Gallon
Does your wallet scream in agony every time you pull up to the pump? Gas prices have certainly been a huge pain in our gas tank as far back as most of us can remember.
And with the recent recession, consumers are finally responding in record numbers.
Demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars is on the rise, and prices for the most efficient used cars have been trending higher in recent months. Technology is finally catching up with demand, and this is good news for just about anyone who is looking to buy soon.
[InvestingAnswers Feature: The Most Affordable Fuel-Efficient Cars of 2011]
We are all still a few years away from a big sigh of relief -- you and your gas tank may be holding your proverbial breath for just a little while longer. But for patient car buyers, really fuel-efficient vehicles will be hitting showrooms in a few years, off-setting the pain at the pump.
Want some more good news? Gasoline prices are expected to ease back in coming weeks as oil falls below $100 a barrel.
Now the bad news: It may only prove to be a temporary lull -- a scenario is developing that could push oil north of $150 a barrel in the next year or two, and that could push gasoline prices up much higher, perhaps as high as $6 a gallon.
If that happens, economists expect the dollar to sharply weaken, which tends to move oil prices in the opposite direction. It may sound like an unrealistic doomsday scenario, but according to some economic forecasters, it is becoming a real possibility.
If this gas price doomsday does occur, how will our nation and the world's auto makers respond to the crisis?
Auto Makers & Fuel
The German auto maker Volkswagen (AMS: VW) is contemplating a new lightweight vehicle that gets 60 miles to the gallon around town and 85 miles to the gallon the highway. The 2011 Toyota Prius looks downright thirsty in comparison.
How will Volkswagen -- or any auto maker -- produce a vehicle with that level of fuel economy? Here are three technologies auto makers are developing for a better fuel economy, and how you can invest in their success.


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The Weather Channel and AMC Networks said Tuesday they have joined OpenAP, where national broadcasters can provide targetable audiences for advertisers.
Both broadcasters will make their entire slate of national linear and OTT inventory available through OpenAP. Media buyers negotiate with the networks directly and activate through OpenAP, which normalizes audience definitions, day parts and targeting across member networks.
OpenAP’s ranks also include NBCUniversal, Fox, Viacom and Univision. The company, which launched in 2017 as a consortium between Turner, Fox, and Viacom, is now opening up its platform to smaller networks as it shifts its business model. The company previously used to charge networks a membership fee but now charges a transaction fee for demand facilitated through its platform, said CEO David Levy.
“What benefits the buy side is sophisticated, scaled and centralized products,” he said. “The membership model doesn’t scale to accommodate a variety of publishers.”
AMC Networks, which is expanding its content distribution this year across multiple streaming and OTT platforms, saw OpenAP as an opportunity to let ad buyers reach its viewers wherever they watch AMC content, said Evan Adlman, SVP of advanced advertising and digital partnerships.
“Everyone in today’s world is purchasing media in different ways,” he said. “It’s our goal to build out as many connections with platforms as we can to allow marketers to choose how they want to buy our content.”
The Weather Channel joined OpenAP to bring targeting and automation across its platform to buyers for the first time, said Barbara Bekkedahl, president of ad sales and client partnerships.
“We really haven’t had the capabilities to create a platform ourselves,” she said.
With AMC and Weather on board, OpenAP now covers 60% of national TV ad revenue and is approaching 100% coverage of US households.
“It gets to a place where regardless of the audience target, we can put together a very compelling proposition that you can’t get anywhere else,” Levy said.
While OpenAP’s platform offers targeting and unified reporting across its member networks, it’s not fully automated. TV networks still want full control over their inventory and the ability to screen which brands are able to advertise with them.
“We still hold the direct relationship with the media buyer,” AMC’s Adlman said. “A big part of us doing these deals is that we have exclusive sales right to the inventory.”
This year, OpenAP aims to build more interoperability with agency-owned data platforms. The company is building its API infrastructure to connect into agency platforms, as well as making it easier to syndicate their audience segments into OpenAP and measure across networks.
“What they want is very bespoke to that agency and how their data infrastructure is set up,” Levy said. “We’re trying to enable the partnerships with networks that agencies want.”
As OpenAP scales, it’s also trying to standardize how audiences can be targeted across linear TV in a way that’s easy for buyers to access.
“We didn’t go buy or build our own walled garden because we believe that we should be where the viewers and buyers want to be,” Adlman said.


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63% of consumers plan to spend up to $500 on back-to-school shopping this year (up from 48% last year), while a further 20% have budgets of between $500 and $1000, according to the latest results from a PriceGrabber survey. The initial results of the survey found 46% of respondents planning to increase their spending this year, compared to just 13% last year, while a July report from ShopperTrak forecasts 4% growth in back-to-school sales. Although year-over-year foot traffic percentages have decreased during the last 4 back-to-school shopping seasons, the ShopperTrak report predicts that this year, traffic will increase, and has been trending positively since Presidents Day.
Traditional Supplies Top Spending List; Tech Also Popular
In terms of the most common items on consumers’ shopping lists, the latest data released by PriceGrabber reveals that general school supplies (e.g. notebooks, binders) are top of mind, cited by 83% of the respondents planning to shop this season. New clothing (79%) and back-packs or tote bags (51%) are on the list for a majority, while half plan to buy books.
Not far behind, 40% expect to buy a tech item, with laptops (50%) and tablets (49%) the most popular purchases for these shoppers, ahead of smartphones (28%) and desktops (10%).
Shopping to Start Earlier This Year
Data previously released by PriceGrabber indicates that 35% of back-to-school shoppers will start their shopping this month, up from 31% last year, while the proportion waiting until August or September has dropped to 46%, from 56% last year. Overall, 55% of respondents say they plan to spread out their purchases to lessen the effect of the costs.
- 79% of the shoppers (the survey sample consisted of online consumers) plan to shop online for their back-to-school items this year, up from 69% last year.
- Only 19% of shoppers this year said they would spend less than last year. In 2011, 35% projected spending less than the previous year.
About the Data: Conducted from to May 22 to June 5, 2012, the PriceGrabber survey includes responses from 4,450 US online shopping consumers, with 1,509 of the respondents planning to shop this back-to-school season.


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Investors were already selling Skillz (NYSE:SKLZ) stock before the company posted quarterly earnings results on Aug. 3.
After the report, SKLZ stock slumped further. Clearly there is something the market does not like about this electronic gaming and multimedia firm.
At these levels, investors might think the stock has less risk and more reward, but let’s take a closer look at that earnings report and see if there’s still hope for SKLZ stock.
In the second quarter, Skillz posted a 21-cent loss on a GAAP basis. It missed analyst consensus estimates by 12 cents. Revenue rose by 52% year-over-year to $89.5 million. Gross Marketplace Volume rose by 47% to $608.5 million.
The strong GMV figure is impressive, supporting the strong gross profit of $85.1 million.
Looking ahead, profits will grow as the company kicks off a developer challenge for a new mobile game with National Football League branding.
In the quarter, Skillz received hundreds of proposals and chose 14 semi-finalists. The competition is now in the development phase.
Growth Opportunity and SKLZ Stock
Chief Revenue Officer Casey Chafkin expects the conversion rate from play to paying members will increase.
He said on the conference call that the company looked at market surveys and studied the business since its inception. Skillz is aiming to increase the conversion to over 40% or higher.
Aarki is a demand-side platform (DSP) that has more than five trillion monthly advertising auctions. Skillz announced earlier this summer that it had acquired the company. The prevailing hope is that Aarki will complement Skillz’s footprint across the gaming industry.
Aarki has a machine-learning algorithm that ensures a strong return on investments for advertisers. Skillz will compliment that algorithm with its data to enhance marketing on the platform.
Skillz CEO Andrew Paradise said that Aarki will add $13 million in revenue for the rest of 2021, excluding synergies.
In addition to that acquisition, Skillz formed a strategic partnership with Exit Games. Exit is the developer of Photon, a synchronous multiplayer gaming technology.
It invested in Exit Games to get permanent access to Exit’s technology to “power its esports tournaments and platform exclusively.”
This will broaden the eGames titles as publishers will get new genres to build games on. For example, having a game like Battle Royale would dramatically increase Skillz’s addressable market.
As the exclusive platform for Exit’s technology, Skillz becomes the preferred partner for publishers and developers globally. It may monetize the multiplayer synchronous technology that Exit offers.
Wall Street analysts who cover Skillz are still bullish on its prospects. The average price target among five analysts is $19, according to Tipranks.
In a five-year discounted cash flow growth exit model, readers may forecast the stock’s fair value. Assume a perpetuity growth rate of 6.0%. This would imply a fair value of around $12 a share:
|9.5% – 8.0%
|Perpetuity Growth Rate
|5.5% – 6.5%
|$9.57 – $23.38
Readers may increase the growth rate in the model if they are confident that Skillz will post better revenue increases in the next four years. Conversely, a lower growth rate would lower the fair value.
Beware of the Risks
Skillz may offer investors exposure in the competitive gaming market but the sector is fiercely competitive.
The company may not grow its user base as expected, hurting its revenue potential. Investors may prefer a bigger player whose valuations are more compelling.
For example, Zynga (NASDAQ:ZNGA) makes mobile games and is valued at 3.7 times price-to-sales. SKLZ stock trades at a 15.8 times P/S. Zynga is growing the business through big acquisitions.
Yet in the latest quarter, it posted “softness in our bookings.” If falling user interest in mobile games is a trend, then usage for the mobile eSports offering from Skillz may weaken, too.
The vaccine roll-out globally is slowing the Covid-19 spread. This may lead to game players going outside to public places instead of gaming. The lower user base would hurt Skillz’s monetization plans and put pressure on operating earnings.
Your Takeaway on SKLZ Stock
Aside from Reddit’s WallStreetBets recently buying Skillz stock, the market is bearish on Skillz. The short float is around 20%.
The stock is at 52-week lows and shows no sign of forming an uptrend. The stock tried but failed to rally twice in July. In hindsight, optimism for the company peaked in February when the stock traded as high as $46.30.
If Skillz rallies, shareholders who bought the stock at higher prices will rush to sell to break even. That limits the upside until the selling pressure ends. Also, the Nasdaq is showing signs of tiring. It hasn’t had a correction in months. If the market decides the technology index is due for a correction, Skillz may continue to fall further.
On the date of publication, Chris Lau did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.
Chris Lau is a contributing author for InvestorPlace.com and numerous other financial sites. Chris has over 20 years of investing experience in the stock market and runs the Do-It-Yourself Value Investing Marketplace on Seeking Alpha. He shares his stock picks so readers get original insight that helps improve investment returns.


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Pipe corrosion problems, leaks and puddles are now a thing of the past.
April 21, 2016
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company started out as a microbrewery in 1980 in Chico, CA. Since then, it has grown to become the sixth-largest brewery in America and recently built a facility in North Carolina.
Suitable for harsh conditions, Blue Ribbon Corporation Model BC001 Birdcage 316 stainless steel submersible level transmitters have an integral 3-in. sensing diaphragm that allows them to read true level depth within foam environments.
Food and beverage manufacturing facilities have made unprecedented improvements over the past decade, but industry leaders know there are still many ways to increase profits while addressing environmental concerns. Once again, Food Engineering and PMMI’s OpX Leadership Network are partnering to honor exceptional sustainability achievements within food, beverage and consumer products manufacturing operations.
With the Sun Belt states experiencing serious droughts and the cost of processing wastewater escalating in many municipalities, conserving and reusing water at food and beverage processing facilities just makes plain business sense.


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Agricultural products, raw materials and food, banned for import into the Russian Federation
We would like to inform you that since 7th of August 2014, for a period of one year, a ban has been imposed on imports into the Russian Federation of agricultural products, raw materials and food, originating from the United States, the Member States of the European Union, Canada, Australia and the Kingdom of Norway, in line with the list underneath.
Сustoms Officers at Malko Tarnovo BCP seized 11,087 kilos pseudoephedrine
1360 children's textile kits suspected of infringing IPR of world famous brands, seized by customs officers at Kapitan Andreevo BCP
Heroin for 3 million BGN found and seized customs officials at Kapitan Andreevo BCP


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The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has provided Facebook with a Notice of Intent to issue a monetary penalty against the social media platform for its lack of transparency and failure to maintain the security of its users’ personal data in relation to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The ICO’s fine is the maximum possible under the Data Protection Act 1998 (the UK implementing legislation for the former EU data protection regime under the Data Protection Directive). Facebook will have the opportunity to make representations to the ICO before the ICO’s decision is finalised.
On the heels of the European Union’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and public outcry over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, on June 28, 2018, California enacted the most comprehensive data privacy law to date in the United States. The California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (the “CCPA”) was hastily passed by the California legislature to secure the withdrawal of an even more far-reaching measure that had qualified for the November ballot. Legislative amendments to the law are expected before it goes into effect on January 1, 2020.
The CCPA requires covered businesses to comply with requirements that give California consumers broad rights to know what personal information has been collected about them, the sources for the information, the purpose of collecting it, and whether it is sold or otherwise disclosed to third parties. It also gives consumers the right to access personal information about them held by covered businesses, to require deletion of the information and/or to prevent its sale to third parties. Other key provisions limit the ability of a covered business to discriminate against consumers who exercise their rights under the statute by charging them higher prices or delivering lower quality products or services. The rights provided under the CCPA are similar in many respects to those afforded EU residents under the GDPR, but there are distinctions in approach on some key issues.
Please click here to read the full alert memorandum.
The nature of any injury suffered by individuals from a cyber incident continues to be a major issue in data breach litigation. As we have previously discussed, the Supreme Court has thus far declined to address the issue of Article III standing in the data breach context, resulting in an ongoing circuit split on whether data theft is by itself sufficient to satisfy Article III’s injury requirements. Two federal Courts of Appeals recently grappled with injury requirements in the data breach context. Continue Reading Fourth Circuit and Eighth Circuit Address Injury in Data Breach Cases
On June 27, 2018, Equifax Inc., the credit reporting agency, agreed to implement stronger data security measures under a consent order with the New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) and seven other state banking regulators. The order imposes detailed duties on Equifax’s Board of Directors in response to criticisms raised by the regulators during an examination of Equifax’s cybersecurity and internal audit functions. The examination followed the company’s massive 2017 data breach, which exposed sensitive personal information of nearly 148 million customers. Equifax agreed to the order without admitting or denying any charges of “unsafe or unsound information security practices.”
On June 22, 2018, the United States Supreme Court decided Carpenter v. United States, in which it held that the government must generally obtain a search warrant supported by probable cause before acquiring more than seven days of historical cell-site location information (“CSLI”) from a service provider. Noting “the deeply revealing nature of CSLI, its depth, breadth, and comprehensive reach, and the inescapable and automatic nature of its collection,” the Court held that an individual “maintains a legitimate expectation of privacy in the record of his physical movements captured through CSLI” that warrants Fourth Amendment protection. While the Court sought to construe its decision narrowly, the reasoning of the majority and Justice Gorsuch in his dissent raise significant questions about whether and to what extent individuals may have a reasonable expectation of privacy or possessory interest in other sensitive personal data held by third parties beyond the CSLI at issue in Carpenter.
Please click here to read the full alert memorandum.
In response to pressure from advocacy group Californians for Consumer Privacy, on June 21, 2018, California lawmakers proposed a new law, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, which would significantly expand consumers’ rights over their data. The proposed law would apply to entities that do business in California, collect consumers’ personal information or determine the purpose and means of processing such data, and satisfy at least one of the following: (i) have over $25 million in annual gross revenue, (ii) buy or receive, sell or share for commercial purposes, the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers, households or devices, or (iii) derive 50 percent or more of revenue from the sale of consumer personal information. Continue Reading California Introduces Bill Expanding Consumer Rights Over Data Privacy
In recent years, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has taken the lead among federal agencies in regulating the cybersecurity practices of companies that handle consumer personal information. The FTC has entered into numerous consent orders and other settlements with regulated companies that broadly require implementation and maintenance of information security programs that are “reasonably designed” to protect security and confidentiality of consumer information. A federal appeals court has now cast doubt on the viability of such orders. In a ruling issued on June 6, 2018, the Eleventh Circuit vacated a cease-and-desist order against LabMD, Inc. (“LabMD”) as unenforceable because it found that the order commanded an overhaul of the company’s data security program without providing a reasonably definite standard by which a court could determine compliance. Continue Reading Eleventh Circuit Vacates FTC Order Mandating Implementation of Cybersecurity Program
The consequences of a cybersecurity incident can be severe. The economic loss associated with an incident can often be compounded by reputational damage, loss of trade secrets, destruction of assets, operational impairment, lost revenue following the announcement of the cybersecurity incident and the expense of implementing remedial measures. The timing and content of any public communication about a suspected or confirmed cybersecurity incident can exacerbate this loss and have a significant impact on the trading price of the issuer’s securities. The disclosure considerations become even more complex when a company is subject to overlapping, and potentially conflicting, regulatory obligations in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and the European Union (“EU”). This issue is now at the forefront with the EU’s new data security and privacy regime, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which became effective on May 25, 2018.
In the aftermath of the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data privacy controversy, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) introduced a federal data privacy bill on April 10, 2018 titled the Customer Online Notification for Stopping Edge-provider Network Transgressions Act, or the CONSENT Act (the “Act”). While the Act is unlikely to pass in the near term given the lack of a Republican sponsor, it reflects increasing attention to privacy concerns in the United States, including consideration by both federal and state legislatures of significantly more prescriptive privacy requirements. Continue Reading CONSENT Act: Proposed Legislation a Sign of Potential U.S. Consent to Greater Privacy Protections?
Tomorrow, May 25, the European Union’s (“E.U.’s”) sweeping and much-awaited data security and privacy regulation known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or “GDPR,” will come into force. We have previously written a full analysis of the new requirements under the GDPR for companies subject to its jurisdiction.
Since the GDPR was formally approved in 2016, organizations around the world have devoted significant time and resources to preparing for the new law’s implementation. But while tomorrow is a deadline, it is also a start date—for compliance efforts that will require ongoing attention and adjustments in the months and years ahead. With this in mind, we have compiled the following tips and resources to aid companies in their ongoing efforts that will come after May 25: Continue Reading GDPR Compliance: Tips for What Comes <i>After</i> May 25


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Specialist trade cooperation Eurobaustoff yielded a turnover increase of 4.16% between January and September. The strongest growth saw the wood division. Read more ...
A recent formula change to Weyerhaeuser’s coating product Flak Jacket caused a foul smell in about 2,200 homes, as www.bizjournals.com reports. Luckily for the lumber company, most of the affected houses are not yet occupied.
The product containing formaldehyde-based resin can give off a “pickle-like” smell, according to Consumer’s report, and was used on wood floor joists in the basements of the affected houses.
The company announced in a news release that production, sales and shipments of the product have been stopped and unused product will be taken back from consumers.
"Our top priority is to take care of our customers and their customers. We are absolutely committed to doing the right thing and resolving this situation as quickly as possible”, Weyerhaeuser president and CEO Doyle Simons said in the news release.
According to the company, $9 million of the Flak Jacket product were sold since December. The companywide net sales reportedly amounted to about $6.5 billion in 2016.


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Sport Chek takes mobile-first approach to Rio
The retailer has made Facebook the first screen for its Olympic campaign.
Blue Ant puts its Brojects to work in VR
The media co is dipping its toe into the virtual space with a set of new videos.
The likes keep coming
Instagram has released its latest figures, which show the platform has doubled its monthly user base in the past two years.
Hot bot: Why Massively is going big on automated tech
The Toronto-based platform is tapping into the growing interest in automated engagement.
La Presse names new Toronto sales director
Celeste Normington has been promoted to the new role of sales director in Toronto.
Stretching the value of an emoji
Twitter has introduced the ability to target audiences based on their use of emoji keywords.
The Shopping Channel goes OTT on Apple TV
The Rogers Media channel has developed an app aimed at giving consumers more ways to act on their intent to purchase.
YouTube unveils new video ad products
From on-site directors to a new app, the video site has launched new tools that aim to make it easier for small businesses to create ads with the platform.
Maxus sends its employees packing (in a good way)
As part of a millennial retention strategy, the media company is sending a group of its employees on a global exchange with its other offices worldwide.
Advertising drops affect TC Media’s Q2
The Quebec-based company is expected to see gains in the second half of the year as revenues from new business kicks in.
360 video takes viewers on a virtual trip
Tourism Australia is showcasing Brisbane in a new display ad unit.


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updated 12:30 pm EDT, Tue June 1, 2010
Insists Apple is addressing complaints
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is defending his company's approach to Foxconn, a key manufacturer accused of inhumane working conditions, an e-mail exchange is said to reveal. Conditions inside a Foxconn plant in Shenzhen, China were recently reported to be harsh, with low pay and no free time beyond sleeping and eating. More critically, the situation is thought to be responsible for 10 Foxconn workers killing themselves in a space of months.
"Although every suicide is tragic, Foxconn's suicide rate is well below the China average," Jobs claims. "We are all over this," he adds.
The statement is likely in reference to an Apple investigation into Foxconn's working conditions. Jobs also points to his company's supplier responsibility webpage as evidence that Apple does "more than any other company on the planet" to ensure safe and respectful factories.
Apple is already believed to be responding to the issue by subsidizing Foxconn workers with more of its profits. Still unresolved though are shift hours, said to be so rough that workers are tempted to drop parts for an excuse to bend over. Groups in Hong Kong and Taiwan are pressuring Apple and various factory owners to allow unions, with collective bargaining powers.


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There’s a trend in the U.S. right now of people buying locally grown and processed foods. The local foods movement encompasses everything from the hyper-expensive suburban markets selling bread from downtown bakeries to the side-of-the-road fruit stand hawking fruits grown, picked, and packaged in the fields behind them.
But what, exactly, is “local” food? Well, it’s complicated. The advocacy site sustainabletable.org says “Local is shorthand for an idea that doesn’t have a firm definition.” This is largely because it has been developed in so many locations by so many different people, groups, and corporations (see Sustainable Table’s FAQ sheet on local foods).
I find a good definition for local foods is “any food grown, produced, or raised within 100 miles of the place sold.” When grocery shopping, there are lots of reasons to buy local: it’s good for small-time farmers, good for the local economy, and can but does not always lead to lower carbon emissions (more about local foods and carbon emissions here).
On top of all that, there is evidence that local fruits and vegetables are also better for your health. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, local foods tend to have better nutritional value than foods shipped from far away. Here are a couple of the reasons cited:
- Vegetables picked and immediately consumed keep more of their vitamins and minerals.
- Local, and especially local small-time organic farmers tend to use methods—like organic composting and crop rotation—that make more nutritious produce to start with.
- Large scale food importers tend to use mechanical picking methods and transport. This increases the chances that your produce will be bruised or broken which affects its nutritional value.
(You can read the full Harvard article here.)
P.S. For more on the benefits of local foods, check out nutrition.gov’s Top 10 Reasons to Shop at a Farmer’s Market.


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NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Treasury prices gained Thursday, pushing yields down, as plenty of buyers showed up for the government's 30-year bond auction, its last debt sale of the week.
"It was a sigh of relief to investors, who had been concerned going into the auctions that the market would choke on it," said Michael Pond, Treasury strategist at Barclays Capital.
Bonds struggled to hold slim gains earlier after a pair of government reports showed that retail sales were stronger than anticipated but that jobless claims rose, muddying the outlook for the U.S. economy.
Ten-year note yields
After having been bid higher earlier, the current 30-year bond
The Treasury Department sold $11 billion in 30-year bonds at a yield of 3.640%. This was less than traders had expected, based on trading just before the auction.
The sale marked the first time the government has tried reopening the so-called long bond a month after the initial sale. In a reopening, the debt for sale carries the same coupon and maturity as the original bonds.
Investors bid $2.40 for every dollar available, compared to $2.30 at the last five reopenings, according to data compiled by Wrightson ICAP.
Indirect bidders, a class of investors that includes foreign central banks, bought 46.2% of the sale, the highest since February 2006, when the Treasury resuming issuing the securities after a five-year hiatus.
Indirect bidders tend to play a minimal role in reopenings, having taken just an average of 21.1% at the last five.
Direct bidders, as investors buying for their own accounts are known, took another 9.8%, also considerably more than usual.
“ 'For now, investors continue to come into the U.S. Treasury market, choosing Treasurys instead of credit because of concerns about the global economy.' ”
Having direct and indirect bidders take more of the securities is considered good for the market because it means primary dealers, which are required to bid at auctions and take the balance of the securities up for sale, don't have as much to turn around and sell back into the market.
Reopening 30-year bonds is one of many steps the government has had to take lately to increase issuance to finance all the stimulus spending, tax breaks, and the Federal Reserve's liquidity initiatives aimed at restarting U.S. economic growth and financial markets.
Culminating a busy week for the Treasury, the auction follows on $119 billion in short-term bills and $52 billion in notes sold this week.
Indirect and direct bidders also bought unusually high proportions of this week's 3-year
"For now, investors continue to come into the U.S. Treasury market, choosing Treasurys instead of credit because of concerns about the global economy," Pond said.
Most of the bill auctions received bids for at least three times the amount of debt being sold.
Retail sales, jobless claims rise
Bonds had traded mixed earlier in the session.
On the data front, the Commerce Department said retail sales eased 0.1% in February, while economists surveyed by MarketWatch predicted a 0.4% decline. January's figures were revised much higher.
Excluding autos, U.S. retail sales rose 0.7% in February, compared to an expected 0.2% increase. See Economic Report on retail sales.
"After a dismal holiday shopping season, consumers have started to make a few purchases, partly owing to a real income boost from lower prices," strategists at Barclays Capital wrote in a research note.
A separate report from the Labor Department showed initial claims for unemployment benefits rose 9,000 to 654,000 in the week ended March 7. Continuing claims also increased, reaching a record 5.32 million -- an indication that finding a new job is getting harder. See Economic Report on jobless claims.
Also competing for the bond market's attention, mortgage agency Fannie Mae
GE loses AAA
In corporate bonds, Standard & Poor's lowered its long-term rating for General Electric Co.
GE's bond prices made gains after S&P's announcement, as a downgrade from its top-tier ratings has been expected for some time. Prices on GE Capital's 6% bonds maturing in 2012 improved, rising $5.45 cents to $98.20, according to FINRA data. That pushed the yield down to 6.621% at last check, from more than 8% earlier.


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Redcliffe Labs, a diagnostics service provider, and drone delivery logistics company Skye Air Mobility have begun drone pilot flights from the remote hills of Uttarkashi to Sahastradhara in Dehradun. The Redcliffe test samples from their collection centre in Uttarkashi are sent to the Dehradun Redcliffe Labs in just 90 minutes via drone delivery.
Bringing relief to the residents of Uttarkashi, Redcliffe Labs will now operate daily flights for both routine and specialized test sample collection in an attempt to provide affordable & high-quality diagnostic services.
To eliminate challenges such as poor accessibility to locations, drones have an important and rising role. The drone pilot flights from the Uttarkashi Skye Hub to the Dehradun Skye Hub will reduce the delivery time, which takes 6-8 hours by road and 12 hours during a landslide to only 1.5 hours.
This will be a first-of-its-kind end-to-end delivery via connected Skye Hubs at both ends, relaying real-time flight information to the Skye Air’s Central Command Centre, Gurugram.
Dheeraj Jain, founder, Redcliffe Labs, said “Given Uttarkashi’s hilly terrain, the region has limited connectivity that acts as a barrier to accessibility of high-quality diagnostic services. Our goal is to effectively connect every part of the state to high-quality diagnostic centres. Our team is overjoyed to connect the residents of Uttarkashi with our lab services in Dehradun. The residents will no longer need to travel to the larger cities for their diagnostic needs thanks to easy and reliable access. Significantly, with the help of drone delivery, the turnaround time (TAT) for these samples can be maintained within the same day of receiving the sample, which usually in a place like Uttarkashi used to take more than 24 hrs.”
“The current form of logistics simply does not work for the healthcare industry in such a terrain. The need is to have a solution that is providing a faster, sustainable and scalable supply; and drones rightly fit into elevating delivery, the Skye Airway. We are enthused to take our partnership with Redcliffe Labs to the next level of beginning long-term flights helping the residents of Uttarkashi to get advantage from such services,” said Ankit Kumar, CEO of Skye Air Mobility.


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Forget traditional fluorescent lights and LEDs, the common alternatives to the hot and energy draining incandescent light bulb. Now there’s a new kid on the block. It’s called Electron Stimulated LuminescenceTM (ESL), and it has all the advantages of traditional lighting technologies with none of the drawbacks.
ESL works by throwing accelerated electrons at a phosphor that coats the bulb, causing the phosphor to glow with natural looking light in a process called cathodoluminescence, similar to a cathode ray tube. A standard fluorescent light excites mercury vapor to produce ultraviolet radiation that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, but the fixtures are more complex and costly to produce, and require toxic mercury vapor. ESL bulbs have a smaller carbon footprint than either fluorescent or LED lights. ESL also produces a more natural light spectrum than fluorescent bulbs or LEDs, similar to an incandescent light but 70% more efficiently. In addition, ESL bulbs light instantly, and are even dimmable.
In October 2010, Vu1 developed its first light bulb that received UL certification, the R30 ESL bulb, a direct replacement for the 65W incandescent flood bulb which is virtually indistinguishable from the traditional lamp it replaces. The company is now currently developing a variety of the new mercury-free light bulbs, and plans to introduce the classic A-type lamp for U.S. and European consumers, as well as the R40 for the U.S. commercial market and the R25 in Europe.
Today Vu1 announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with institutional investors to purchase $2.2 million of securities in a private placement transaction, providing proceeds to allow the company to scale up its manufacturing capabilities to meet the anticipated growth in demand. The offering is expected to be consummated by February 8, 2011.
For additional information on Vu1 Corporation, visit the company’s website at www.Vu1.com


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VE3D News for Diablo III (PC)
No Diablo 3 Announcement Forthcoming Part Two
May 22, 2008 at 1:34 PM -
On the off-chance this post about a Diablo 3 announcement
made your pants a little tight, there won't be any big Blizzard announcement in the next issue of PC Gamer. So sayeth the editor: "We're ...
Diablo 3 Announcement in Paris Next Month?
May 21, 2008 at 1:04 PM -
BlizzPlanet posted some rumors from PC Gamer
that tease towards a big Blizzard announcement in Paris next month (thanks Blue's News
). Andy will be there, so hopefully they turn out to be true ...
BlizzCon 2008 Announced
May 12, 2008 at 9:51 AM -
sends over word that it will, after all, be hosting a 'Con
“Whenever we’ve been able to meet and interact with Blizzard gamers from around the world, it’s been a great ...
Blizzard Buys Diablo3.com
Apr 30, 2008 at 7:07 PM -
Andy: that "not Diablo 3" Blizzplanet thing happens tomorrow
Apache: the only interesting thing it could be is that blizzard bought the domain
Diablo3.com becomes Diablofans.com! ...
No Diablo 3 Announcement Forthcoming
Apr 21, 2008 at 10:53 AM -
There's been a countdown going on at Diablo3.com
-- which is a fansite -- that has let to much speculation that an official type announcement was in the works. This isn't the case
as the ...
Dec 03, 2007 at 12:17 PM -
An Activision Blizzard
conference call went down earlier - here are the highlights:
- Blizzard generated $1.10 billion in revenue in their last financial year
- Sierra/Sierra Online generated ...
Diablo 3: What Would Bill Roper Do?
Oct 08, 2007 at 12:29 PM -
Over at CVG
they've posted part of an interview conducted recently with Bill Roper, brain behind Hellgate: London. The segment in question features Bill's views on how Diablo 3 should be ...
Blizzard Working on ANOTHER Game?
Jul 14, 2007 at 2:24 AM -
Gamasutra was gabbing
with Frank Pearce, founding member and senior vice president of product development for Blizzard, who after a few drinks, revealed the studio was working on yet another, ...
Top 10 Lamest Blizzard Announcements
May 18, 2007 at 9:02 AM -
has a history of having a little too fun with people; overhyping stuff that in all honesty -- isn't so special. Case in point - the last stunt (much like this one) they pulled turned out ...


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AKRON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kay® Jewelers, the number one jewelry store in America, has been a trusted destination for those searching for the perfect engagement ring for more than 100 years, and, because of that, the company has a unique appreciation for all the emotions that go into this important purchase. In recognition of this exciting if uncertain time, Kay has partnered with popular television host, Chris Harrison, on a video that speaks with men about the questions and emotions they face as they consider getting engaged.
Kay has always been dedicated to delivering an exceptional experience and, to enhance that effort, now invites customers to make an appointment on Kay.com to visit their local Kay store. It’s a perfect opportunity to chat with a certified diamond consultant in a stress-free, no-commitment environment, get answers to their questions and review diamond and style options.
“We absolutely understand that people have a lot of questions and uncertainty as they begin their search for the engagement ring, and that’s why we wanted to create this video – to let customers know they aren’t alone in this process,” said Mark Censoprano, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Kay Jewelers. “An engagement ring is an unparalleled expression of love and gratitude to the person who matters most in your life. We want to help every customer feel confident as they make this important and exciting purchase.”
Harrison, who has a bit of experience with men and women nearing the proposal stage, remarked on what he learned as host of the video.
“I know that I was fairly clueless about engagement rings, and I was unsurprised to find that most guys are as well,” said Harrison. “The video is an interesting look at the questions everyone has and a reminder that the very best thing you can do is find a trusted partner, like Kay, to help you get answers so you have ultimate confidence as you make your selection.”
Viewers can check out the video now on the Kay YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkUApDJEPaM.
With more than 100 years as a leader in the industry, a huge selection of the most popular bridal collections and a friendly, knowledgeable staff, there is no better place to begin the process of searching for that perfect engagement ring than Kay Jewelers. Customers can visit Kay.com and make an appointment to stop by their local Kay store for a stress-free discussion as they start on their journey.
About Kay® Jewelers
Kay® Jewelers, the number one jewelry store in America, is conveniently located in malls and off-mall shopping centers across the country. Kay® Jewelers is operated by Signet Jewelers Limited, the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry. Signet Jewelers operates over 3,500 stores. For additional information on Kay® Jewelers visit www.Kay.com, follow us on Facebook® (www.facebook.com/KayJewelers), Twitter® (www.twitter.com/KayJewelers), YouTube (www.youtube.com/KayJewelers), Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/KayJewelers) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/KayJewelers).


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The latest IDC study published today on tablets being adopted by European enterprises in the U.K, France and Germany show that the tablet as a category is falling into two distinct camps. The market is bifurcated and will continue to be so going forward between standalone tablets and the newer tablet-notebook hybrid.
Marta Fiorentini, senior research analyst, IDC EMEA Personal Computing states that "a large share of tablets are already being used by employees as their only work tool, either replacing traditional client devices or for functions previously not supported by any computing device. As digitalization transforms business processes and tablets are optimized for business functions from both a hardware and application standpoint, we can only expect an increase in the share of standalone tablets, as confirmed by the purchase intentions of the study respondents."
Portable Hybrid 2-in-1 Computers
According to the study, tablets are the only business device for 40% of users which is rather surprising. This percentage, however, increases significantly for 2-in-1s or convertibles, as these hybrid products are deployed to replace portable and desktop PCs thanks to the option of being used with a keyboard. This has been observed across the vast majority of user groups since the keyboard functionality eliminates the need for an additional device dedicated to productivity tasks.
The study also shows that hybrids — in either the detachable or convertible form factor — are usually purchased with larger screen sizes than tablet slates. Indeed, while just over 10% of all slates have a screen size larger than 11in., the current percentage for hybrids is almost 30% and this is expected to surpass 50% over the next couple of years, reinforcing the assumption that 2-in-1s and convertibles can be a replacement for portable PCs.
In spite of the cannibalization effect on traditional client device markets, standalone commercial tablets are also creating a huge opportunity for device makers. "Tablets are already used by waiters instead of pen and paper, by doctors and nurses to replace paper-based files, or by pilots as a substitute for bulky manuals," Fiorentini said. "These are only a few examples, and this is where the growth opportunity lies. IDC calculated that in 2014 this incremental market accounted for almost 6% of tablets used as standalone in the U.K., France, and Germany. We expect this percentage to increase quickly in these three countries and exceed 20% over the next 24 months."
The study noted that workers who perform all or the majority of their activities on the road, in the field, or facing customers are more likely to rely solely on their tablets. Operation agents and production workers equipped with tablet slates, for instance, use them as their only work device in respectively 55% and 64% of cases. In comparison, only 38% of executives and 44% of white-collars work only on their tablet slates.
Tablet + Desktop Professionals
The use of tablets as standalone or companion devices has a strong correlation with the user's job role. User groups usually associated with activities involving document creation or editing, such as executives, marketing, sales, engineers, or white-collar employees (including analysts, consultants, doctors, legal, journalists, etc.) tend to use their tablets — especially slates — in addition to desktop or portable PCs.
A Good Technology Report published in May showed that Apple's iOS still dominates the Enterprise Market by a Wide Margin with iPad Activations at a whopping 81%. With Apple and IBM continually advancing new mobile apps across major professions with MobileFirst, it's not surprising to see the iPad's activation rate so high in the enterprise.
Currently Apple has yet to address the Hybrid segment of the market. Wintel is making a huge push into this market segment which will dramatically rise with the arrival of Windows 10. The new OS will seamlessly marry desktop and mobile device operating systems with a new continuity feature which will be ideal for the enterprise and IT departments.
It's been rumored for years that Apple is working on an iPad Pro model, a form of hybrid that would also include the introduction of Apple's first digital pen. Unfortunately the rumors of such a device keep extending its arrival. The latest rumors push it out to sometime in 2016.
While the trends are clearly showing that the hybrid device segment should be a market that Apple finally addresses, forecasting its arrival is proving to be futile.


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IDEX Biometrics and IDEMIA have officially unveiled a new biometric payment card. The two companies had previously announced that they would be conducting a biometric card pilot in the latter half of 2020, ahead of an anticipated commercial launch sometime in 2021.
The latest news indicates that the two companies have been able to stick to that original schedule. The card itself will allow users to authorize payments with fingerprint recognition, and features the new TrustedBio sensor from IDEX Biometrics. According to IDEX, the IDEMIA offering is its most efficient card integration thus far, and will deliver an extremely high level of biometric performance.
“We are excited to see our customer and partner begin to market cards based on our third generation sensor family, TrustedBio,” said IDEX CEO Vince Graziani. “This product represents a major milestone for both partners and raises the bar for efficient biometric card architecture.”
IDEMIA licensed IDEX’s fingerprint enrollment solution back in 2019, while the companies themselves have been collaborating on biometric payment cards since 2016. IDEX’s TrustedBio sensor, meanwhile, was built to reduce smart card manufacturing costs, and finally went into mass production in March. The sensor was integrated into the Zwipe Pay ONE platform after Zwipe participated in the card pilot with IDEX and IDEMIA.
April 27, 2021 – by Eric Weiss


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We’re waiting for the annual phenomenon, called Black Friday. In US, most people are use this day to get opportunity of lowest price on various products, from home appliances to electronics and even digital products such antivirus.
Shopping digitally at Black Friday promotion has lower risks. See the below infographics to get insight on Black Friday victim in recent years.
People in row to get zakat


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North Korean trade falls 18%, ending five years of growth
Trade between South and North Korea is excluded from the statistics, as the research was based on the North’s trade with foreign countries.
“The biggest hit was from the sluggish Chinese economy since North Korea is still very dependent on China in terms of trade,” said Park Jong-pyo, an analyst at Kotra. “Also, last year’s price fall of oil and natural resources, which are major export items for North Korea, played a big part in trade declines.”
Trade with its largest partner China fell 16 percent to $5.71 billion in 2015 as North Korea’s major export items such as iron ore were oversupplied in the mainland. Because of excessive steel supplies in China, iron ore exports from North Korea declined 45.5 percent on year.
The fall in international oil and coal prices added to the slump. Coal exports to China increased 26.9 percent from the previous year, but the trade volume in terms of price declined 7.6 percent as the production cost of coal plummeted.
More than 90 percent of North Korea’s trade is dependent on China, and the weight has changed little over the years. Russia is the second-largest trading partner, but it accounts for only 1.3 percent of North Korea’s total trade. Other countries have little impact on the North’s trade situation.
Economic sanctions from the United Nations Security Council have yet to show an impact on the country but will mostly be shown in 2016’s trade results rather than last year’s.
Under the international sanctions, Pyongyang’s seven key exports have been banned from being shipped out following the regime’s fourth nuclear test and launch of a long-range rocket in January. The North also cannot import aircraft fuel that might be used for military purposes.
The restricted products - coal, iron ore, steel, gold, titanium ore, vanadium ore and rare earth materials - accounted for 44.9 percent of export sales in 2014, at $1.5 billion.
“The impact is not yet very visible but the most notable change in North Korea’s trade relationships is that the country no longer trades with Japan,” Park said. “In the early 2000s trade volume between the North and Japan once reached 1.2 billion won, but from around 2010, there has been no trading at all.”
BY KIM JEE-HEE [email@example.com]


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Amazon.com announced Tuesday it will raise its minimum wage for all employees to $ 15 an hour after the tech giant has criticized its payroll workers.  The salary increase affects 250,000 Amazon employees and 100,000 seasonal workers hired at Amazon locations during the holiday season. Affected are full-time and part-time employees as well as employees of Whole Foods Market, which will enter into force on November 1st.
"We listened to our critics think carefully about what we wanted to do and decided that we wanted to lead," Amazon boss Jeffrey P. Bezos said in a statement. "We are excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other big employers to join us."
Bezos also owns the Washington Post.
Amazon has been criticized over the years because of poor working conditions at its warehouse hubs, which the company has set up nationwide for fast delivery of online purchases.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) Recently cleared Amazon and said the company does not pay a "living wage" and leaves some dependent on safety net programs like food stamps and Medicaid. He attacked Bezos, the richest person in the world, and instituted laws calling for the "BEZOS stop" to tax Amazon and other large employers to offset the cost of public services for employees.
Amazon contradicted the criticism.
In his announcement Tuesday, Amazon said it would push for an increase in the federal minimum wage that has been $ 7.25 for a decade. The online giant is behind Walmart the second largest private employer in the country. Last month, it became the country's second listed company valued at more than $ 1 trillion.
"We will work to get Congressional support for an increase in the federal minimum wage, and the current $ 7.25 rate was set almost a decade ago," said Jay Carney, senior vice president of global corporate affairs at the company. "We want to work for a minimum wage increase that will have a profound impact on the lives of tens of millions of people and families in this country."
The Obama administration has called for an increase in the minimum wage to $ 10.10. The proposal did not proceed during a divided reign. Many business groups and conservatives argue that $ 15 per hour is too high, especially in locations outside the urban centers, where the cost of living is lower.
Other companies have also raised wages, especially in this tight labor market. Target announced earlier this year that it would raise its minimum wage to $ 12 an hour, with a plan to raise it to $ 15 by 2020. Walmart raised his minimum wage to $ 11 in January. Facebook also raised its minimum wage for its contract workers – janitors, food service workers, and other similar employees – to $ 15 an hour, while Costco now pays $ 14 an hour.
Amazon said on Tuesday that all employees, including those earning $ 15 an hour, will receive wage increases as a result of its new policy. Last week, the Post reported that Amazon had begun ramping up staff from 25 cents to 55 cents an hour across its fulfillment centers nationwide. The average Amazon worker was paid last year, according to the company $ 28,446, which is about $ 13.68 per hour.
On Vacation – War for Talent & # 39; Retailers offer turkey dinner and haircut deals to workers
Toys R Us owners set aside millions of dollars for laid-off workers after bankruptcy
Amazon issues a raise of only 25 cents an hour what employees call "damage control"


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It seems that there could be another release from Pharrell Williams and Adidas Originals coming very soon.
The singer and designer has been seen several times wearing a pair of unreleased Adidas NMD ‘Human Race’ sneakers, including on the red carpet at this year’s Grammy Awards.
Earlier this week he wore a pair on the season finale of “The Voice,” and on Thursday he shared a photo on Instagram posing with Nigo, the Japanese designer behind the brand Human Made.
Pharrell didn’t share much, only captioning the photo “Something is brewing in Japan.” Adidas’ Jon Wexler also shared the same photo and wrote that Pharrell was “giving people a preview of the new Adidas Originals NMD Hu.”
Adidas and Williams debuted the Pink Beach Collection earlier this month, which included several pairs of brightly hued kicks that sold out almost immediately.
We don’t know much about the NMD “Human Race” sneakers yet, but we do know that every NMD release since the shoe’s introduction in December 2015 has sold out incredibly fast, so keep your eyes peeled if your looking to snag these when they drop.


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Alaska News Source
Alaska’s marijuana industry is thriving more than seven years after legalization. But, according to industry experts, federally legalized marijuana could put local growers, manufacturers and pot shops out of business.
This week Alaska’s News Source looks at the impact of the marijuana industry in Alaska since legalization, and reports on who benefits from the taxes, the threats from Outside, the growing concerns about the number of retail shops and the fairness of prison time and convictions from legal versus illegal pot.
“There’s challenges. There’s things that we need to prepare for and there’s some foundational issues I think we’ve got to fix now,” said Jana Weltzin, an attorney in Anchorage who specializes in marijuana.
Weltzin says local mom and pop shops are at risk should large, corporate marijuana businesses from the Lower 48 be allowed to open in Alaska under federally legalized marijuana.
“Unless we do something now to protect licenses, give them a value and protect our state’s industry, you’re going to probably see at least 60% of them gone,” Weltzin said. “Because you have to think about, if we don’t do that, then we just let the competitors just waltz in here, like we’ve done with any other industry. It’s going to demolish small business.”
Currently, there are no limits on licenses that can be granted by the state and a requirement to be locally owned would no longer come into play should pot be legalized across the country.
“If we don’t do something, and the residency restriction goes away — we have an unlimited licensing system — what is to stop these huge Canadian IPO companies from coming in, setting up shop right next to your local marijuana pot shop, and undercutting them for 10 years, operating at a loss because they can and driving you out of business,” Weltzin said. “There is no reason why they wouldn’t do that.”
Co-owner of Enlighten Alaska Evan Levinton said he’s not eager for extra competition from big companies.
“I want it not to happen super-fast,” Levinton said. “I want us to get really established so we can actually be like, kind of the craft company in town compared to like a Costco grower coming in and taking over and buying big warehouses.”
Marijuana became legal in Alaska after voters approved a ballot initiative in 2014 that fully legalized marijuana effective February 2015. Alaska was the third state to legalize the drug after Colorado and Washington. In 1975, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in Ravin v. State that the right to possess, cultivate and consume small amounts of marijuana in the home was protected under the state constitution’s right to privacy.
It’s a complex industry that is young and still evolving.
Most industry insiders agree that vertical integration is one key to running a successful business. An example of vertical integration is Enlighten Alaska, which grows, manufactures and sells its own marijuana.
“That’s really unique in this industry,” said Winston Montecillo, with Enlighten Alaska. “So we grow our own product, we extract it into oils, we manufacture other products with them — so like cookies, capsules, tincture — and we sell them all here.”
Since legalization began, there have been complaints about the tax structure, where shops could be located, the number of licenses issued and the consumer’s habit of buying marijuana with the highest concentration of THC over the quality of the plant. THC is what gives someone a “high.”
Lacy Wilcox, president of the Alaska Marijuana Industry Association, says there is a need for an education campaign that would teach consumers about what makes a good quality product over the impacts of the THC. She compared the goal of finding the highest THC to looking for a drink with the most alcohol.
“It’s not like you walked into a bar and ordered Everclear,” Wilcox said. “You walk into a bar and you order a fine wine or a fine beer. Sure the IPA hunters, they’re looking maybe for the highest content of alcohol per IPA, but they’re still looking at the flavor profile of what they’re drinking.”
She said this trend hurts local growers and means that good quality marijuana is left on the cutting room floor.
There is also the issue of the number of retail shops — especially in Anchorage. In some parts of downtown Anchorage, marijuana shops are stacked beside each other.


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According to some FCC documents that have surfaced online, yet another content streaming service could be headed to gaming consoles soon. A filing of an FCC call (PDF link) between the Fox Entertainment Group and a multichannel video programming distribution partner shows this partner's intent to...
Posted on Jan 27th 2015 8:15AM
Posted on Jan 26th 2015 11:00AM
Posted on Jan 26th 2015 10:00AM


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Since the start of 2023, a group of stakeholders invested in Kent’s food system have been quietly working on the establishment of the Kent Food Partnership.
The partnership brings together lead agencies Produced in Kent and Social Enterprise Kent with local government, public health, Kent Universities, food and drink business representatives and community groups to try and turn the tide on a food system that is not geared towards accessible, healthy good food, but instead is making us ill and is wrecking the planet.
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, has been appointed chair of the partnership’s steering group. Anna has an abundance of experience in this sector having worked for the Department for International Development, Save The Children and other international organisations. In 2014, she was awarded an OBE for her work to address the global burden of undernutrition.
Anna said: “I’m really excited to be chairing this new partnership. At The Food Foundation, we see lots of opportunities for local leadership to improve food environments in local places – that’s why we’re also working with the University Kent in their ambition to become a Right to Food University.
“With a major anchor institution taking action alongside an exciting new partnership involving civil society, business, local government and researchers, food in Kent is poised to enter an exciting new chapter.
“I’ll be making sure that access to affordable healthy and sustainable food is at the heart of these plans.”
The mission of the Kent Food Partnership is to create a diverse and inclusive environment across Kent in which all its citizens and visitors can access, know about and cook good, healthy and affordable food that is sustainably grown, produced, processed, distributed, sold and served.
In its first year, the partnership’s Steering Group will focus on developing its governance structure and strategy paper which will be built on the following strategic objectives:
- Promote healthy, sustainably produced and affordable food to the public
- Tackle food poverty and diet-related ill-health
- Build community food knowledge, skills and resources
- Promote a diverse and vibrant food economy
- Transform catering and food procurement
- Reduce waste and the ecological footprint of the food system
Trade organisation Produced in Kent is well placed to play an instrumental role in the Kent Food Partnership, representing local independent businesses from across the county involved in growing, producing, selling and serving food and drink.
Floortje Hoette, CEO of Produced in Kent, said: “Putting sustainable food businesses at the heart of the local economy – one of the priority areas the Kent Food partnership is looking at – is an important step in fixing our broken food system.
“By establishing and promoting more local routes to market for growers and producers – local retail and hospitality, outdoor markets, food hubs – we reduce food miles, open the door to fairer pay and create better access to good food for the wider public.
“Government must get behind food and drink businesses who are trying to do the right thing for people and planet. Without political and financial support in place for sustainable food businesses, creating a better food system will be impossible.”
The second lead agency, Social Enterprise Kent (SEK), is focusing on another of the partnership’s priority areas – tackling food poverty and promoting healthy eating.
Closely collaborating with representatives of public and community health organisations, food banks and other food support charities, SEK is mapping gaps in the current provision of activities and outlining an action plan for next year.
SEK CEO Rebecca Smith said: “SEK is proud to be a lead agency for the Kent Food Partnership and playing a key role in overcoming the challenge we face in taking forward the mission of creating diverse and inclusive environments across Kent.
“At this stage of developments, we are focusing on tackling food poverty and promoting healthy eating through a Kent-wide collaboration of cross-sector organisations representing the voice of the community.
“We know how powerful this way of working can be by sharing knowledge, experiences, good practice, and gaps, we aim to pool resources together and make a positive contribution to people’s lives.”
Creating a Good Food Movement of residents who know about, can grow and cook good food is a third priority area of the Kent Food Partnership, with organic farm and educational centre Bore Place as the chosen organisation to lead on this.
Venue and marketing director Florence Clark said: “There are so many fantastic grassroots initiatives engaging communities in growing, cooking and composting across Kent.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to bring these groups together to collaborate and learn from each other as well as communicate with a wider audience about the benefits to wellbeing of growing and cooking from scratch.
“We are delighted to be involved in the Kent Food Partnership and to be helping to drive this agenda forward across the county.”
Kent Food Partnership steering group members University of Kent and Greenwich University are looking at the transformation of catering services and procurement systems, and a reduction of the ecological footprint of the food system respectively.
Both Universities have a track record on food-related research and are involved in the Growing Kent and Medway project, which looks at innovation in the Kent F&D sector. The University of Kent is also committed to becoming a Right to Food University.
Coming in September, the Partnership’s Steering Group will present its draft Kent Food Strategy at its first Kent Food Summit to the stakeholders who have been involved in the Partnership thus far, as well as representatives from local government, health institutions, industry and community groups.
Around the same time, the partnership hopes to be admitted as a member of the Sustainable Food Places community, which represents over 80 regional food partnerships in the UK and was set up in 2015 by the Soil Association, Sustain and Food Matters.
The Medway Food Partnership, working along the same aims as the Kent Food Partnership and sitting as an observer on the Steering Group, became a member in 2022.


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State Rep. Ziobron to create business advisory council
HARTFORD >> State Rep. Melissa Ziobron has sought out to develop a stronger bond between local business owners and the state legislature through her new Business Advisory Council, a panel of business owners and key staffers she will rely upon to share their ideas, concerns and thoughts about Connecticut’s business climate.
“Unfortunately, I rarely hear of how the state has contributed to the success of our local businesses,” said Ziobron, who represents the 34th General Assembly District.
“They often talk to me about how the state has hindered their growth and passed laws that are not business friendly. I believe the creation of this council is a positive step in the direction of creating both thriving businesses and job growth. It’s time to rebuild the business climate in Connecticut, who better to rely on for input than the men and women who make up the front line.”
Ziobron’s council is limited to 12 local business leaders who work in a wide range of industries with whom she will meet with quarterly beginning in October.
The creation of the council is necessary, Ziobron said, after having had numerous conversations with business owners all over the 34th district. “They do not feel appreciated as job providers, taxpayers and mentors who are critically needed now, more than ever. I have seen first hand how several regulations and building codes have added extreme costs to their businesses, in some cases forcing them to scale back or completely alter their plans.”
“My background as a business advocate has provided an insight and understanding into what it takes to make a business successful. This success however, is unattainable if we don’t listen and create an environment that is conducive in creating jobs and opportunities,” Ziobron said.
In addition to the council, Ziobron has created a survey she has opened up to all businesses in the 34th district.
“I hope to learn about the ideas of business owners and find ways to support their growth,” Ziobron said. “I am willing to listen and eager to help and will advocate for common sense regulations and building codes.”
Ziobron’s survey can be found on the Business Corner section of her website. All business owners interested in joining this advisory council should contact Ed Schaeffer at 860-240-8725 or email email@example.com
Melissa Ziobron represents the 34th district communities of Colchester, East Haddam and East Hampton.


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TARBORO — Years of frustration over the lack of customer service — real or perceived — from Suddenlink has led Tarboro town staff members to seek out an alternative.
And Monday night, members of the town council heard a presentation from Jeremy Rich, president and CEO of Snow Hill-based InfinityLink Communications, on how his 7-year-old company could provide voice, cable and internet service to the community.
“We would build a system throughout the town and offer internet at 10 times faster than anything available today in the community,” Rich said.
Rich told council members that Infinity provides both residential and business services and that the company’s goal is a same-day response to service calls received before 1 p.m. and a next-day response to calls received after 1 p.m.
Council members enthusiastically authorized Town Manager Troy Lewis to proceed with negotiations with InfinityLink.
“We would be offering access for pole attachments and access to right-of-way,” Lewis said.
Rich said his company proposes to provide advanced fiber-optic lines to homes and businesses capable of internet speeds of up to 10 gigabytes per second as well as voice and cable television services throughout the town.
Rich fielded a number of questions from council members, including one from Mayor Pro Tem Othar Woodard as to whether or not his company would stand by its product.
“With our company, you’re going to get three things … We’re going to be local … We’re going to do everything we can to give you the best service possible, and I guarantee you will get what you’re paying for,” Rich said.
Responding to a question about rates, Rich said his company would be competitive. A handout provided to council members and the Telegram quoted rates of $70 for 400 Mbps and $80 for 1 gig internet service — both less than Suddenlink charges for 400 Mbps that tested at 52.8 Mbps download and 16.0 Mbps upload at 11:15 p.m. Monday on the Speedtest app.
Suddenlink currently charges $98.49 for 400 Mbps internet service after a recent $20 monthly increase.
Rich told council members that it is his company’s intent to open a local office where customers could conduct business transactions and interact with company representatives.
“We’re going to be local, so we’re going to take care of business,” he said. “We’re going to see you on the street and in the store and we want you to be happy.”
Following his presentation and the authorization for Lewis to proceed, Rich told the Telegram that he was aware of the discontent with Suddenlink.
“I’ve seen the comments on Facebook,” he said.
Rich told council members it would take about two years to build out the system.
InfinityLink currently serves what Rich described as “most of Greene County plus underserved parts of Lenoir and Pitt counties.” He also told the council that his company has recently begun providing service to the Global Transpark at Kinston.
Tarboro becomes the second municipality to open the door for competition in light of Suddenlink’s continuing issues, which include increasing rates, extended service outages and a lack of response.
In January, the Greenville City Council gave Indiana-based Metro Fibernet LLC approval to install a $35 million to $40 million fiber-optic network that will provide voice, video and internet services to businesses and residents in about 90 percent of the community.
Rich said InfinityLink would serve the entirety of the town’s jurisdiction.


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Home Tags Consignment Software
Tag: Consignment Software
As the Great Resignation continues Many are Exploring Growing Resale Industry as New Career, says Aravenda
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Aravenda Global Resale Technology, a U.S.-based consignment software company, speaks to the exponential growth of new resellers as the Great Resignation continues - a mass exodus of employees that began in 2020 during economic uncertainty.
Aravenda announced today that resale and online consignment is outpacing traditional retail at an 11x growth rate
eNewsChannels NEWS: -- Aravenda announced today that resale and online consignment is outpacing traditional retail at an 11x growth rate. Resale doesn't always mean buying used. Carolyn Thompson, CEO of Aravenda Consignment Software states, "Our clients are selling all kinds of new, unused items in their resale shops internationally. Items that are in high demand this holiday season include high-end luxury goods, sporting goods, collectibles, sneakers and streetwear, many of which are NWT (new with tags) or NIB (new in box)."


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Del Mar braces for revenue loss
Preplanning may lessen need for immediate cutsWhile Del Mar’s property taxes are holding strong, sales and transient occupancy taxes have declined significantly, forcing the city to reduce its revenue expectations for the 2008-2009 fiscal year by $600,000.
With an almost $10 million general fund, that represents about a 5.7 percent cut.
“For us that’s big,” said Teresa McBroome, the city’s accounting manager and treasurer. “But we’re fortunate because of past planning and prudent financial decisions we are able to do things through expenditures to offset that.”
The city made some small cuts and identified money that would not be spent this year to maintain a balanced budget, unlike other cities in the region that have made cuts across the board or layoffs to close crippling budget gaps.
For example, the city did not fill a vacant staff position, is not pursuing the downtown specific plan that was budgeted for this fiscal year, and is using money saved from infrastructure projects.
However, from September 2007 to September 2008, Del Mar’s sales tax dropped 11.5 percent. In the same time period, sales tax decreased 3.1 percent for the region and 3.7 for the state. The city anticipated a large reduction, so most of the revenue loss was already budgeted for, McBroome said.
However, the biggest shock came from transient occupancy tax paid by visitors staying in hotels and vacation rentals, which dropped 13 percent in the first half of the fiscal year (June through December).
City planners are lowering their expectations even further for the rest of the fiscal year (January through June). Instead of generating $1.75 million for the city, this source of revenue has now been budgeted to bring in $1.42 million for the entire fiscal year - a 19 percent cut. The $330,000 loss brings that income level down to 2003 levels.
“Del Mar is very much geared towards tourists, and people are not traveling because of the global and national economy,” McBroome said.
Del Mar has more than $900,000 socked away in general fund reserves, and another $500,000 earmarked for “revenue loss” should things really head south.
Further adjustments may very well be needed because the sales tax revenue cities collect is delayed six months. That means the tax revenue collected in December 2008 was based on transactions during last summer - before the financial market meltdown in the fall and the less-than-stellar holiday shopping season.
Another indicator of the times: the city had to reduce the revenue projections for business license renewals. More than 300 business licenses were not renewed in 2009. That includes all businesses operating within the city, not just businesses with Del Mar storefronts, such as a cleaning or pool services.
The city continues to monitor the situation, and officials are being very cautious even with budgeted expenditures, McBroome said. So far, the city has spent less general funds this year than in any prior year.


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PalmPay, a payment startup focused on the African market has announced a ₦100M COVID-19 payout kitty. It also said its customers in Nigeria will not pay any transfer fees.
The firm has said it’s creating a fund that will offer direct payouts to clients testing positive for COVID-19 in the country.
According to the startup, PalmPay Support Fund sets aside 100 million Naira (roughly $300K) for the initiative. Each individual confirmed to have coronavirus will receive a direct payment of 100,000 Naira (about $250). Those confirmed to have COVID-19 can apply on the PalmPay app.
To avoid potential cheats, the company will liaise with Nigeria’s Center for Disease Control for verification.
Customers will also benefit from a gift linked to the fund. Per the firm’s CEO Greg Reeve, PalmPay will top up with a gift every transaction customers make for the next one month.
The company has said that the initiative is also set to benefit organizations helping to fight the pandemic. Such organizations will receive grants.
PalmPay initiative one in many by Africa’s tech startups
The initiative follows other similar COVID-19 relief funds by Africa’s tech startups. These efforts are aimed at fighting the spread of the disease as well as ease socio-economic problems affecting a majority of people on the continent.
Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, the continent’s top fintech hubs, have imposed lockdowns. Strict social distancing rules have also meant the loss of businesses and income.
PalmPay launched its operations in Nigeria in 2019 after a $40 million seed round led by Transsion.


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The Cloud Plain Armchair by naughtone. Photo via hermanmiller.com
A West Michigan furniture maker has acquired the rest of a “contemporary” furniture design company overseas.
Zeeland-based Herman Miller acquired the remaining shares of Harrogate, England-based naughtone for about $46.1 million, according to Herman Miller today.
Herman Miller acquired a 50-percent stake in naughtone in 2016 to help enhance its global offerings in ancillary and collaborative furnishings.
As a result of the partnership, naughtone generated average annual sales growth of 35 percent over the past three years. This helped Herman Miller expand its product design and development capabilities, fueling 11 new product launches and leading to numerous design and innovation awards.
Net sales for naughtone’s fiscal year ending in May 2019 totaled about $37 million.
“Naughtone has been a vital strategic partner in growing Herman Miller Group’s ancillary product offering,” said Andi Owen, president and CEO, Herman Miller. “I’m so proud of our shared values, as well the modern aesthetic and contemporary British design they bring to our family of brands.”
Naughtone has grown rapidly in the collaborative furniture market over the past 14 years under the leadership of Matt Welsh, Kieron Bakewell and Mark Hammond, according to Herman Miller.
“Our partnership with Herman Miller has helped us significantly grow our global market presence, especially in North America,” said Matt Welsh, VP of sales, naughtone. “This expanded relationship sets us up for continued success, and we look forward to working together in this new capacity to achieve great results.”
Herman Miller expects to consolidate naughtone’s operating results following the closing of this transaction.
Founded in 1905, Herman Miller (Nasdaq: MLHR) is a global manufacturer of furnishings and offers related technologies and services through its family of brands.
In fiscal 2019, the company generated $2.57 billion in revenue and employed nearly 8,000 people worldwide.
Founded in 2005, naughtone aims to create “beautiful, useful furniture” and is known for “contemporary design and high-quality manufacturing, particularly in upholstery,” Herman Miller said.
Its products include the Always chair and lounge, the Polly chair and the Viv chair.