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By Mobile Guru
How to Play the Ad-Tech Boom
Friday’s IPO by Rocket Fuel (FUEL), which saw the shares spike from its $29 offering price to a high of $62.50 and a strong, $56.10 close, may mark a shift in enthusiasm around advertising-technology companies. This could signal opportunity for investors.
Rocket Fuel is a technology company that has developed an artificial-intelligence (AI) based automated, decision-making platform for online advertising. The company’s “programmatic” platform enables customers to buy online media in “real time” through digital advertising exchanges. It also allows real time targeting to get the right ad in front of the right person in real time. Based on Friday’s close, the Redwood City, California-based company has a market capitalization approaching $2 Billion. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, its revenues were $16.5 million, $44.7 million and $106.6 million, respectively, and for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2013, its revenues were $39.6 million and $92.6 million, respectively.
Executives on Rocket Fuel’s IPO road show successfully told the story about the effectiveness and scalability of their programmatic, real-time bidding (RTB) platform.Programmatic refers to buying and selling done on a real-time basis using data-driven rules and algorithms to automate the process of identifying and targeting relevant audiences. Platforms such as Rocket Fuel’s allow for advertising inventory to be bought and sold on an impression-by-impression basis. According to market research firm IDC, RTB is expanding faster than any other segment of the digital advertising industry, with total RTB sales increasing from approximately $3 billion in 2012 to approximately $14 billion in 2016.
According to market research firm eMarketer, the worldwide digital advertising market will exceed $118 Billion dollars this year, and is expected to surpass $163 Billion by 2016.
Other companies in the space include Tremor Video (TRMR
), which went public in late June @ $10, stumbled nearly 40% shortly after its IPO, but has been on a tear since mid-August and traded north of $11 this past week before closing the week @ $9.80. YuMe (YUME), which is also based in Redwood City, CA, and went public in August @ $9/share, closed Friday @ $10.88, is also a video-centric ad-tech play. Tremor, which is headquartered in New York, has market cap is in the $500MM range and YuMe’s is roughly $350MM. Mobile ad network Millennial Media (MM), which went public in March 2012 at $13, doubled out of the gate and has dropped to under $8 today, which still represents a market cap north of $600MM. Millennial recently agreed to acquire JumpTap for over $200MM
Some other growing companies in the space include PubMatic, Rubicon Project, and OpenX, but all three of these are privately-held. And NetShelter was acquired in May by Ziff Davis, which is a subsidiary of j2 Global (JCOM).
As this space continues to consolidate small companies with complimentary technology may become possible acquisition targets. One early-stage public company in this space that many people probably haven’t heard about is Mimvi, Inc. (MIMV.ob), which acquired Adaptive Media in July
and announced this past week that it will take on that corporate name
moving forward. Adaptive Media is a “multi-channel” Supply-Side Platform (SSP) for mobile, video and online display advertising. The Irvine, California-based company partners with mobile app developers, video content providers and website owners who have a supply of ad inventory and puts this inventory into its platform to be matched with advertisers. Adaptive Media is in the process of integrating Mimvi’s core discovery and recommendation technology into its systems to optimize ad performance. Adaptive Media released its audited financial results
which included $613,347 in top-line revenues for the first six months of 2013. At only $.09/share, its market capitalization huddles around $10MM, which may offer investors a chance to get in on the ground floor.
Another ad company that has been in the news recently with its deal with Google (GOOG) is Hipcricket (HIPP.ob) and currently has a market cap of $72M. Hipcricket also just received an additional US patent 8539043
which is titled “System and method for adding targeted content in a web page”.
As witnessed by the Rocket Fuel IPO lift off on Friday the ad technology space is red hot. Some of the relatively new IPOs in the ad space have certainly benefited from the renewed interest in the space and well established companies are certainly worth watching as potential takeover candidates.
The following is a guest post by fellow investor mobile guru, whose interest lie within the mobile revolution, start-ups & IPO’s, and intellectual property.
Spindle Mobile Closing the Loop
Arianne Resources Trebles Resources
MARA Is Leveling the IP Playing Field


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WhatsApp to Allow Customers to Buy Products Directly from Business Chats
Facebook-owned WhatsApp on October 22 introduced new features that allow WhatsApp Business users to sell products directly from the platform.
Facebook is adding a shopping button on WhatsApp which will be coming to India later. With this button, people will be able to add items to a cart, and check out, right within WhatsApp.
The company will also provide hosting services to small businesses through Facebook’s partners in the country.
While WhatsApp already charges businesses for sending notification messages to customers, the new services allow the platform a new revenue making opportunity. The company said the Facebook hosting solutions will require additional payments and both businesses and customers will be made aware that their data is being shared with Facebook in such cases.
The WhatsApp Business application allows small businesses and startups to connect with customers and sell to them directly. Along with chanrging businesses, Facebook said it will be investing to add more features.
Offline to online business models have flourished in the country due to the pandemic. WhatsApp Business is one amongst many platforms that gained new business from offline businesses. The company said 175 million people message a WhatsApp Business account globally every day.
Additionally, in the latest update of WhatsApp, a forever option in the mute menu has been introduced for users across the world. WhatsApp took to Twitter to announce the introduction of this feature for both Android and iOS users.
- WhatsApp business
- Buy Products
- Business Chats
- WhatsApp update

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A giant boob is grabbing the attention of Londoners.
JCDecaux has launched an outdoor campaign aiming to improve road safety that it expects to be seen more than one billion times.
See how a veteran and a 3D printer helped JWT reimagine the possibilities of prosthetics for US client, Northwell Health.
Woolworths is bringing the goods this AFL season.
QBE Insurance has kicked off its campaign highlighting its Sydney Swans sponsorship by The Core Agency.
Powerade has launched a live event with ambassadors Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Aaron Woods and Mitchell Johnson.
Sick of eating ice-cream alone? Maxibon has the solution.
Adobe's great customer service isn't so great for bank robbers.
Your favourite 1980's bad boy is back.


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Elvis Presley's former crypt has been pulled from an auction in Los Angeles. Just one day before bidding was set to open on the singer's tomb, Julien's Auctions bowed to fans' complaints that the site should become a memorial.
Presley's body spent just two months at Forest Hill cemetery, in Memphis, Tennessee, before he and his mother were disinterred and buried at Graceland. But the private mausoleum attracted considerable interest when it was listed for sale in May; bidding was scheduled to open at $100,000 (£64,000), at an auction last weekend. "Only one person can say, 'Hey, I'm going to be buried where Elvis Presley was,'" Darren Julien, the auction house president, told the New York Times.
Instead, Julien's announced on Friday that Lot 796A would be withdrawn from their Music Icons sale. This wasn't the first item to be removed from bidding: earlier this month, the auction house cancelled the sale of a personal letter from Michael Jackson to his then-partner, Lisa Marie Presley. Whereas the letter was withdrawn due to a request from Lisa Marie herself, the crypt's sale was criticised by Presley's fans, more than 10,000 of whom signed a petition condemning the auction. Julien's will not sell the tomb "until Forest Hill finds a plan that best suits the interests of the fans while respecting and preserving the memory of Elvis Presley", they announced.
Other items at auction included one of Presley's personal telephones, which sold for $20,480 (£13,139), and a dress worn by Amy Winehouse in her music video for Rehab, which sold for $34,375 (£22,053).


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Whether or not the government shutdown ends beforehand, a federal appeals court on Thursday said it will not delay oral arguments slated to begin Feb. 1 in the case against the Federal Communication Commission's repeal of the 2015 net neutrality rules and classification of ISPs.
Led in this particular case by trade group INCOMPAS -- which states it "advocates for competition policy across all networks [and] represents Internet, streaming, communications and technology companies both large and small, advocating for laws and policies that promote competition, innovation and economic development" -- petitioners filed to prevent any delay."
Court precedent: In at least 16 cases during the 2013 government shutdown, the court denied any delay in oral arguments.
Time pressures: "Due to the FCC's misguided and unlawful repeal of the network neutrality rules, consumers are at risk of substantial harm from ISPs which may now interfere with access to lawful Internet content without the restraint of the net neutrality rules."
Block and tackle: Edge providers face threats from ISPs, which may block, throttle or use other tactics against edge providers' services that compete with ISPs' offerings.
Time is money: Plaintiffs have invested money, time and other resources to prepare for the February date and any change to that timing would create "substantial disruption."
The court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs -- against the FCC -- and oral arguments will begin, as scheduled, on Feb. 1. The court made no comment beyond its ruling.
On Jan. 23, Broadband World News hosts a Calix-sponsored webinar that explores several ways CSPs can enhance customer experience and find new business opportunities to avoid devolving into a speed race where nobody wins, not even the customer.
The lack of an accurate broadband map means states and counties are tackling this issue themselves – and sometimes finding big disparities in the data – before spending their residents' money on deploying infrastructure.
Next year many operators must decide whether to invest more in HFC or go all-in to fiber, pick their PON and choose their managed-WiFi path, writes analyst Dan Grossman, who also recommends providers bundle managed WiFi and analytics to best serve residential subscribers -- and operators' own businesses.
Public-private partnerships, investor interest, self-help in rural areas and incumbents' return set the scene for a busy year of broadband deployment in the US countryside in 2020, writes Analyst Dan Grossman.
It wasn't long ago that TV was ranked by subscribers as the most important service in the bundle provided by their communications service provider (CSP). Recent research indicates that for nearly three quarters of subscribers, broadband is now the most important service. Broadcast TV is the most important service to only 15% of North American consumers, replaced by OTT video streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. In addition, many different competitors are moving aggressively to stake a claim in consumers' homes.
In 2020, CSPs need to fight back by transforming their business models, which are becoming more reliant on a single source of revenue: fixed broadband services.
This webinar will focus on helping CSPs transform their business models by placing a firm focus on delivering a sensational subscriber experience and by offering compelling new services that generate value for subscribers. These actions will reinforce the CSP's strategic position in the home network and position themselves for growth in the next decade.
Key topics include:
Being the first to market with WiFi 6 technology, in response to consumer purchases of new devices over the holidays;
Having the insights needed to proactively resolve issues, often before your subscribers even know that there are issues;
Providing help desk agents with the visibility they need to resolve common subscriber issues more quickly;
Delivering a mobile app, in response to consumer demands for the ability to do some things themselves, rather than having to call technical support; and
Addressing consumer concerns around device security, privacy and control with enhanced security and parental controls.
In this insightful Light Reading radio show, Kurt Raaflaub, Head of Strategic Solutions Marketing, will outline the key service provider challenges, deployment considerations, next-gen Gigabit technologies, and service models to win market share in the rapidly growing MDU market.


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Watching how LinkedIn limited the number of shares it sold in a recent IPO, other technology companies may also see that scarcity will cause a higher share value and possibly lead to a dot-com bubble, according to media reports.
Bloomberg News described the approach as a “low-float offering.” Pandora Media Inc. and Zynga Inc. are doing similarly, Bloomberg adds.
The demand for Internet companies and the shortage of shares could mean that the companies get higher valuations than they expected for the IPOs, Francis Gaskins, president of IPODesktop.com, told Bloomberg.
“You have people overly excited,” Gaskins said in a statement to Bloomberg. “It’s a supply-demand thing. There’s not that much supply, and there’s pumped-up demand.”
And by selling an amount which is lower than one-tenth of its shares, LinkedIn, Zynga and Pandora are offering less than half the typical amount, says Bloomberg.
LinkedIn’s shares more than doubled after the IPO, and the company was valued at $8.91 billion. In fact, LinkedIn increased 109 percent on its first day of trading, TechZone360 said.
Similarly, Groupon Inc. expects to sell a “small piece” of the company in its IPO, the company said. It could get a value of about $25 billion, Bloomberg said.
In addition, The Associated Press reported, in a story carried last month by TechZone360, that the market for IPOs has emerged from “a long drought.” Kathleen Smith, a principal at Renaissance Capital, projects that if companies continue to have IPOs at the current rate, over 200 companies would raise $50 billion in 2011.
“It would easily be the best year for IPOs since the Internet bubble popped,” The Associated Press adds.
"2011 could be the best year since 2000," Smith commented.
But there are many differences between the former dot.com bubble and where current tech companies are.
Companies having IPOs now are probably profitable, but before the companies were “promising” they would be profitable, The AP said.
Renaissance Capital said that “70 percent of companies that went public in the tech bubble were losing money. Today, 70 percent of companies that go public have already turned a profit,” according to The AP.
James Cham, partner at seed fund Bloomberg BETA, was at Cisco Collaboration Summit today talking about the importance of models to the future of machi…
The retail value chain is in for a blockchain-enabled overhaul, with smarter relationships, delivering enhanced transparency across an environment of …
With GDPR on the horizon, Zuckerberg in Congress testifying and Facebook users questioning loyalty, change is coming. What that change will look like,…
Organizations amass profuse amounts of data these days, ranging from website traffic metrics to online customer surveys. Collectively, AI, IoT and eve…
Hollywood has programmed society into believing satellite imaging as a magic, all-seeing tool, but the real trick is in analysis. Numerous firms are f…


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Whenever and wherever there is Anil Kapoor, the only word that precedes him is 'jhakaas'.
Besides being an 'ageless actor', he is also known for his style, elan and his impeccable dressing sense. Speaking about his dressing, Anil Kapoor was recently spotted posing in a supremely elegant
suit from the exclusive Italian international luxury fashion and lifestyle brand- Stefano Ricci. The event was the first announcement press conference of the 17th International Indian Film Academy
Awards (IIFA) in Madrid, Spain.
Anil Kapoor was seen wearing a light blue jacket from the 'Spring- Summer Collection16' of the aforementioned luxury brand for the 'IIFA Welcome Flashmob' at the Cibeles Fountain opposite City
Hall. He also posed with the ace footballers like Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale from the 'Real Madrid Club'.
Besides looking as likeable and desirable as ever, Anil Kapoor looked really
dapper in the semi-formal jacket while cheering the fans gathered for the big announcement and clicking selfies with the huge crowd present.
The IIFA celebrations will happen from June 23 to 26 and will include events like 'IIFA Rocks', 'MULA Fest' and an exhibition of urban trends and the magnificent IIFA Awards, titled 'IIFA Stomp'.
Watch this space for developments.
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood News Today & upcoming movies 2020 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.


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The successor to the original Xbox/PS2/GameCube era's X-Men Legends series, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Xbox 360), is usually one of the first games many players remembering experiencing on the Xbox 360, or one of the last games they experienced on the classic Xbox. Boasting four-player online and local co-op, it was a great title to just jump into the shoes of one of the Marvel heroes and start beating up bad guys. In 2009, it got a sequel, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (Xbox 360). Now, almost ten years after the original's launch, Marvel has announced current-gen versions of the pair of Ultimate Alliance titles will be available on the Marketplace in just a few days.
According to Mike Jones, executive producer of the re-releases, Marvel was constantly being asked about a sequel or a re-release of the first two games.
"It’s been 10 years since the series began and gamers are still as passionate about Ultimate Alliance today as they ever were," said Jones.
The re-releases aim to be as faithful to the originals as possible, but will have improved performance, updated UI and graphics as well as adding compatibility with the features of current-gen systems (fingers crossed for achievement tracking).
The updated versions of Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will be available on July 26th on Xbox One. They will be available individually for $39.99 US or as a bundle for $59.99 US.
As for a sequel, when asked about it, Jones said, "Anything is possible, True Believers!"
Get the biggest Xbox news delivered straight to your inbox every week.


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As for 24-carat gold rates, in Mumbai and New Delhi, 10 grams of the precious metal is sold at Rs 48,610 and Rs 51,010
Ten grams of 24-carat gold reached Rs 48,610 today, 10 January in India after witnessing a rise of Rs 10 when compared to yesterday’s acquiring price of Rs 48,600. On the other hand, one kilo of silver is being bought and sold at Rs 60,700, witnessing no rise or fall in its rate from yesterday’s selling price.
The price of the yellow metal in the country varies daily due to factors including state taxes, making charges and excise duty. Below is a list of top Indian cities and their gold rates on 10 January:
In New Delhi and Mumbai, 10 grams of 22-carat gold is purchased at Rs 46,760 and Rs 46,610. Similarly, the much-in-demand yellow metal in Kolkata and Chennai, is traded at Rs 46,860 and Rs 44,930, as per the Good Returns website.
As for 24-carat gold rates, in Mumbai and New Delhi, 10 grams of the precious metal is sold at Rs 48,610 and Rs 51,010. Likewise, the procuring price of 24-carat purity, in Kolkata and Chennai, stands at Rs 49,560 and Rs 49,010 respectively.
In other cities such as Lucknow and Patna, 10 grams of 24-carat gold is being purchased at Rs 48,310 and Rs 48,350, today. The same amount of 22-carat gold is being procured at Rs 45,410 and Rs 45,850 in both the cities.
In Hyderabad and Bengaluru, 10 grams of 24-carat purity is being vended at Rs 48,660 and 22-carat gold of the same amount is procured for Rs 44,610. In Kerala, 24-carat gold is being retailed at Rs 48,660 for 10 grams while the rate of 22-carat for the same quantity is Rs 44,610.
The latest list from Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) data reveal that gold futures prices rose by 0.01 percent and reached Rs 47,455.00. However, silver futures also witnessed a rise of 0.40 percent and currently stands at Rs 60,667.00.


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Takeaways and restaurants are selling lamb curries and kebabs without any lamb in them, undercover trading standards officers have discovered.
The officers randomly selected 20 outlets and purchased 39 lamb curries and kebabs from them.
After testing the dishes, none of the 20 lamb kebabs contained just lamb.
Instead they were made from lamb mixed with cheaper cuts such as pork, beef or chicken. Officers were then shocked to find that, of the 19 lamb curries tested, only three contained just lamb.
Most contained a mixture of lamb with either beef or chicken.
Cllr Richard Hobbs of Warwickshire council said: ‘Consumers rely on accurate food descriptions, some foods are not permitted to be eaten by some religions and cultures, while some people may wish to avoid some foods because of allergy concerns.
‘Consumers should also have the confidence that, if they are buying an expensive product such as lamb, they are not getting chicken instead, a meat that is about half the price.’
Seven in ten of the kebabs tested in four midlands areas also contained high levels of artificial colourings. One was 18 times higher than the legal limit and another was 13 times over the permitted levels.
Consuming high levels of food colouring has been linked to health problems such as allergies and asthma.
Investigations are continuing into the eateries in Nuneaton, Rugby, Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon and no arrests have been made.
Birmingham trading standards officers are planning to test more outlets across the region later this year.


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Equity indexes up on Apple, Ukraine tempers rise
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange April 11, 2014. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
A man smokes a cigarette outside The London Stock Exchange November 11, 2013. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
A man looks at an electronic board displaying Japan's Nikkei average (top C) and various countries' stock indices, as passers-by walk past outside a brokerage in Tokyo April 16, 2014. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
The curve of the German share price index DAX board is pictured at the Frankfurt stock exchange April 22, 2014. REUTERS/Remote/Stringer
A sampling of personalities from the latest Time 100 list.
Bangladesh marks one year since the Rana Plaza garment factory collapsed, claiming more than 1,100 lives.
School children learn the ins and outs of bullfighting.
The cat cafe is a pop-up promotional cafe that features cats and beverages in the Bowery section of Manhattan.


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Business News›ace turtle
ace turtle makes appointments to senior leadership team
With extensive global experience in fashion, retail, luxury and online marketplaces spanning over two decades, he is a creative strategist with deep knowledge of visual identity, storytelling, retail and online marketplaces. He has previously worked with Christian Dior, C&A China, Pantaloons, Koovs.com and Myntra.
Apparel Brand Dockers ties up with Ace Turtle for India foray
"When we were revising the strategy for brand around three years ago, one of the pieces of the strategy was to grow internationally. And we do see Asia and particularly India as one of the key components of that. It may have taken a while but it is certainly the right time to enter India," said MacLennan.
Vertex, SBI Investment lead $34-million funding in Ace Turtle
The investment round was led by new investors Vertex Growth, SBI Investment, Farglory, Lesing Nine, Stride Ventures, Tuscan Ventures and Trifecta Capital. Existing investors Vertex Southeast Asia and India and InnoVen Capital also participated in this round.
Lee, Wrangler retailer ace turtle raises $34 million in Series B funding
The Series B round was led by new investors Vertex Growth, SBI Investment Co. Ltd., Farglory, Lesing Nine, Stride Ventures, Tuscan Ventures and Trifecta Capital. The existing investors Vertex Southeast Asia and India and InnoVen Capital also participated in this round.
Toys 'R' Us shuts Hyderabad store within 24 hours
Toys 'R' Us has been launched in India in two formats - Toys 'R' Us, which is the world's leading toy store, and Babies 'R' Us, a one-stop destination for baby essentials. The retailer's India operations are run by a Bengaluru-based firm, Ace turtle, which entered into a joint venture with the Flipkart Group's wholesale entity in India in June 2021 to acquire the licence for Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us.
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Flipkart JV to bring Toys"R"Us to online customers in IndiaFor over 70 years, Toys"R"Us has been a global leader in the toy category. It generated more than USD 2 billion in global retail sales annually through nearly 900 branded stores and e-commerce businesses in over 25 countries.
Fashion and lifestyle brands facing another crushing 20-30% decline in online sales amid second Covid-19 wave“People have already gone through a lot of hardship and they see this is a crisis that is not going to go away soon,” said Dhruv Bogra, country manager for Forever New that has seen online traffic in April decline by 30% compared to March. “This is creating greater anxiety and uncertainty than before.”
Small-town consumption: A silver lining for fashion retailers since pandemicShoppers like Kumar are a bliss for Indian and global brands that are not only making heavy inroads into India’s hinterlands but also discovering a huge future growth market there, as consumers in small cities and towns are graduating from locally stitched clothes to ready-made branded fashion.
Survival, growth, sustainability and digital – the old 'new' buzzwords for Indian RetailThe ET India Inc Boardroom panel discussed the learnings that business leaders can take from the pandemic. All panellists said going digital is the way forward and working solutions will become hybrid.
Lee and Wrangler looking to transform India business into omni-channel entitiesKontoor Brands, that recently decided to shift its businesses of Lee and Wrangler from its fully-owned subsidiary in India into a licencing model by signing a deal with Bengaluru-based omni-channel enabler Ace Turtle.
As Covid drives buyers to ecommerce portals, brands upgrade own websitesMany consumers had complained of initial hiccups in the services of some top brands that launched their webstores this year. Companies also agree that they have significant room to improve services.
Pandemic brings webstores into limelight“Brands have also started investing in customer acquisitions,” said Nitin Chhabra, chief executive of omni-channel enabler Ace Turtle that manages the webstores of Fossil, Lifestyle, Michael Kors, Skechers and DKNY among other labels.
Kontoor Brands signs Ace Turtle as its India partner for Lee and WranglerBengaluru-based Ace Turtle that handles end-to-end e-commerce solutions to many brands including Lifestyle, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Emporio Armani among other labels. But this is for the first time Ace Turtle itself is directly getting into retailing of any brand after taking over the India rights from Kontoor that, until now, sold both the brands through its wholly-owned India subsidiary.
Retailers are discouraging a mainstay of e-commerce in India: cash-on-deliveryE-commerce sites including Amazon, Flipkart and 1mg had suspended the COD option for some months from April as part of efforts to create contactless shopping in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19. However, the sheer popularity of COD prompted them to restore the payment method recently.
Retailers adopting new tech like AI-enabled chatbots to engage with customersRetailers are currently using chatbots to engage with customers, like giving details of products they click online, answering basic questions and also following up on the customers’ WhatsApp whether they are making up their minds to purchase, or sending links to similar products they might like.
Pandemic has brought in a much-awaited shift in how brands sell their productsW for Woman, Benetton, Pepe, Jack & Jones, Inglot among dozens of other labels are currently either piloting or upgrading their technologies to bring their store inventories on those e-commerce platforms, companies and sources said.
Amazon, Flipkart expect big jump in festive sales; ask sellers to place large orders with brandsFive executives aware of the business projections said the two companies expect consumers will increasingly do their festive-season shopping online due to the pandemic, a trend evident in the success of recently concluded promotions earlier in the month.
Top retailers like Levi’s, Reliance Brands roll out neighbourhood mobile storesConsumers can not only shop at these mobile stores in their neighbourhood but can go back to their homes for trials.
Ace Turtle launches new AI product for global brandsAce Turtle will look to offer analytics for dynamic last mile allocation to optimize cost and speed, which CEO Nitin Chhabra said will go live in a few months.
You can now buy handbags & accessories designed by Jennifer Lopez in IndiaThey will also be available in Singapore and Malaysia following a tie-up with Bengaluru-based Ace Turtle.
JLo handbags will now be available online in IndiaAce Turtle’s ecommerce platform, which facilitates crossborder payments, supply chain, returns and customer support will help Jennifer Lopez reach out to millions of internet shoppers in these markets.
Ace Turtle hires for top deck as it prepares to enter new marketsAce Turtle has hired Kapil Bhatia, a tech veteran with close to 20 years of experience, as its chief technology officer.
14 firms to get market-ready, thanks to MircosoftThe startups will work closely with Microsoft Accelerator team to boost their enterprise readiness and go-to-market activities.
Ecommerce consultancy Ace Turtle receives Series-A fundingTemasek's Vertex led the round with CapitaLand's C31 as co-investor
Myntra may soon exclusively sell Marks & Spencer's products onlineThe two companies have finalised the terms of the partnership and the final agreement is expected to be signed soon.
Amazon to start own fashion labels to compete with rivals like Myntra, JabongIn the US, Amazon sells private labels including Pinzon brand of towels and bed-sheets; and batteries, USB cords, laptop bags among others.Amazon , Myntra, Jabong, private labels, E-commerce, Ace Turtle,
Flipkart, Myntra rope in Ace Turtle to bring in more global brandsFlipkart and Myntra have mandated Bangalore-based e-commerce consultancy firm Ace Turtle to bring a host of global fashion brands to ramp up their line.Load More
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|ONE-OF-A-KIND 2014 BMW i8 CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE EDITION SOLD FOR WORLD AUCTION RECORD PRICE OF $825,000|
|• One-of-a-Kind 2014 BMW i8 Concours d'Elegance Edition, Presented by Jay Leno and Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America|
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – August 17, 2014… On Saturday evening, August 16, in celebration of the U.S. arrival of the revolutionary BMW i8, Jay Leno and Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America, presented a one-of-a-kind 2014 BMW i8 Concours d'Elegance Edition, which was then auctioned off for $825,00, including buyer's premier, ...[Read more...]
|EXCLUSIVE VOLVO OCEAN RACE EDITION AND V70 & XC70 EDITION RELEASED IN GENEVA|
|Exactly forty years after the completion of the first race, Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) is celebrating the upcoming 2014-2015 Volvo Ocean Race by presenting another special edition of sailing-inspired cars.
The fifth generation Volvo Ocean Race Edition, which includes the Volvo V40, V40 Cross Country, V60 and XC60, will be launched at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. At the same time, Volvo Cars will introduce the V70 and XC70 Editions for customers with a taste for a more dynamic look and handli...[Read more...]|
|BENTLEY ‘HOME COLLECTION' MAKES ITS DEBUT|
|Full furniture range at prestigious Maison & Objet Fair in Paris
• Bentley aesthetic translated into luxury home and board room environments
• Collaboration with leading Italian interiors company defines luxury lifestyle direction
(Crewe, January 24) Bentley Motors presents its range of luxury home and executive furniture at the Maison & Objet fair in Paris, designed and manufactured in collaboration with Luxury Living Group, one of Europe's leading furniture makers. The collection i...[Read more...]|
|Brass Era, Corvettes Highlight First Four Classes Of Pinehurst Concours|
|VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. (April 24, 2013) – How often do you get an opportunity to see autos more than 100 years old restored to pristine condition, or a series of vintage Corvettes battling it out for 'Best in Class' to celebrate the 60th anniversary of an American sports car classic?
It will all unfold for car enthusiasts the weekend of May 3-5 on the emerald green fairways of historic Pinehurst Resort as the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d'Elegance begins a new tradition in a state...[Read more...]|
|VICARI AUCTIONS' NEWLY LISTED NOCONA CLASSICS INCLUDE 1964 PONTIAC GTO, 1957 'RESTO MOD' CHEVY BEL AIR|
|The Vicari Auction Company recently added several classic automobiles to its growing roster of vehicles offered at its Cruisin' Nocona Auction, Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m.
Sure to appeal to discriminating muscle car enthusiasts, Vicari has a numbers-matching 1964 Pontiac GTO two-door convertible, the first year the convertible GTO became available. This 'Tri Power' GTO features original paint as well as the original engine and drivetrain.
'When the '64 GTO first rolled off...[Read more...]|


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New passenger car registrations in Spain decreased in April by 14% year-over-year 70,393, after a 31% decrease in March, resulting in 61,225 sold that month. A similar situation is noted also in other European markets due to supply constraints that hamper car production.
Despite that, plug-in electric car sales in Spain continue to expand at a fast rate. In April, some 6,365 new plug-in cars were registered (up 41% year-over-year), which is 9% of the total.
The average market share of plug-ins in the recent six months stays above 10%, which is a good foundation for the future. With outstanding conditions for solar electricity generation and unleashed production of BEVs (supported by new battery gigafactory investments in the pipeline), Spain has very high potential for electrification.
According to the data, about two-thirds of all plug-in registrations are PHEVs, but we are pretty sure that BEVs will gradually expand - their growth rate this year has already been two times higher than PHEVs.
Stats for the month:
- BEVs: 1,991 (up 36%, at 2.8% market share)
- PHEVs: 4,374 (up 43%, at 6.2% market share)
- Total: 6,365 (up 41%, at 9.0% market share)
New passenger plug-in car registrations in Spain – April 2022
So far this year, more than 24,000 new passenger plug-ins were registered in Spain.
Plug-in car registrations year-to-date:
- BEVs: 9,489 (up 91%, at 4.0% market share)
- PHEVs: 14,894 (up 46%, at 6.2% market share)
- Total: 24,383 (up 61%, at 10.2% market share)
Among the best-selling all-electric models in Spain (as of Q1 2022) we can see the Tesla Model 3 (1,133), Kia Niro EV (774), Fiat 500 electric (343), Kia EV6 (323) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 (297).
It will be interesting to see whether at some point we will see SEAT/Cupra models among the top BEVs, but first, it would require starting local production of those in Spain at a high scale.
Here is a list of the top 20 BEV models in Q1, provided by #EnergyTransition Fan blog:
Hat Tip to Luis at #EnergyTransition Fan!!!


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Last week several British companies pulled ads from Facebook when they appeared on a page of the right-wing British National Party. Now they’ve beenjoined by the British government, which is concerned about how and where its ads are displayed. On Facebook, ads appear on pages on a rotating basis, which means advertisers have little sayover where they content appears. The government’s Central Office of Information (COI), the government’s advertising arm, said it was awaitingassurances from Facebook that its ads would reach desired audiences. It already has those from MySpace and Bebo. “Advertising has been paused temporarily on any Web sites that have not provided COI and [online media buying agency] i-level with the further assurancesour bookings require,” said Jamie Galloway, COI director of digital media. The COI has said it will not resume advertising on Facebook until the safeguards it seeks are in place. The government joins Vodafone, Halifax PLC, the AA, Virgin Media, First Direct Bank and Prudential, who withdrew their ads fromFacebook last week.
- Facebook applies new authenticity tools, exposes Russian-controlled pages
- Governments are stepping in to regulate social media, but there may be a better way
- Facebook says job ads that target by age aren’t (necessarily) discriminatory
- Facebook plans major news feed changes ‘to improve your well-being’
- Social Feed: Embeds might be iIllegal, Vimeo adds simultaneous live-streams


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HONG KONG: Victoria's Secret plans first stores
US apparel retailer Limited brands has confirmed plans to open its first stores in Hong Kong in the coming months.
The announcement comes after Victoria's Secret saw fourth-quarter comparable store sales rise 3%, driven by growth in lingerie and Pink. Victoria's Secret full-year comparable store sales were up 7%, while total brand sales increased to US$6.6bn.
Meanwhile, Limited Brands saw net profit rise 14.4% to $411.39m over the quarter ended 28 January, from $359.4m in the same period of the prior year. For the full year, net income fell to $752.9m from $850.1m last year.
US retailer Limited Brands (now known as L Brands) has raised its full year earnings guidance after it recorded a 24.5% increase in second quarter profit. ...
UK occasion wear retailer Coast has named Kate Bostock, the former head of general merchandise at Marks & Spencer, as its new CEO, tasked with developing the business into an "international omni-chann...
Victoria's Secret has moved to protect its Pink brand in the US, after shirt maker Thomas Pink sued the company over the use of the word in a UK court. ...
Former Marks & Spencer lingerie director Janie Schaffer is reportedly seeking more than GBP1m (US$1.4m) in compensation from the UK retailer....
Coast managing director Margaret McDonald is to leave the occasionwear retailer later this year to take up the role of president of Victoria's Secret lingerie....
- DENIM DAYS: Jeans innovation bursting at the seams
- How will TPP emerge from fast-track trade bill?
- Adidas pushing self-governance for suppliers
- 3D printing gears up for fashion industry change
- US fashion industry applauds trade bills package
- China textile and garment firms eyeing Morocco?
- Under Armour hailed "next global athletic company"
- Myanmar garment workers strike deal
- Orta and Garmon launch denim chemical screening
- Gap’s woes “not so easy to fix”


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Tesla’s Semi truck is preparing to enter production following numerous delays.
A production line for Tesla Semi at a newly-constructed building next to Gigafactory Nevada is reportedly nearing completion. Drive axle production is ready and an assembly line is undergoing debugging and quality assurance before production of the electric semi-truck begins at an anticipated rate of five Tesla Semi trucks per week by the end of this year.
Tesla began taking reservations at a cost of $20,000 (originally $5,000 prior to the launch event) for Tesla Semi after unveiling the vehicle in November 2017. As of Q1 2018, there were a total of 2,000 reservations.
Tesla Semi starts at $150,000 with an anticipated 300-mile range, with a longer range configuration featuring around 500 miles of range available for $180,000. Both configurations are best-in-class in the category, with an estimated 0-60 time of 20 seconds at full capacity and the lowest cost-of-operation of any semi-truck on the market. It also features Enhanced Autopilot for advanced collision avoidance and a low center of gravity for rollover protection.
Production was originally slated to begin 2019, ultimately being delayed until 2020. Understandably, this was pushed to this year despite the automaker’s best efforts to start volume production last summer. Tesla continues to accept reservations on its site, with no estimated delivery timeline.
Tesla Semi is going to be a big deal for the automaker, as it is arguably a game-changer for the category. Many large players in the space have been waiting for production to begin, with plans to test Tesla Semi in their fleets before likely making larger commitments.
We have no reason to believe Tesla won’t be able to deliver this year. The company is usually ambitious with timelines and last year was undoubtedly impacted by the pandemic, which caused lost development times for a large number of businesses.
This could resemble a shift in the semi industry: besides Supercharging times being slower than a gas refill, there is no benefit to an internal combustion engine semi-truck. These vehicles are typically purchased by large companies that are incredibly cognizant of the cost of operation. Enhanced Autopilot alone could make Tesla Semi a top option compared to other alternatives considering how devastating semi accidents can be for those involved.
We’ll be ready to go in the future for sellers that plan to sell used Tesla Semi trucks.


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Please contact Scott Hall at firstname.lastname@example.org or 202-463-5817.
Ice Out Counterfeit during the Stanley Cup Final
Hockey fans are certainly getting their money’s worth this year. The new-kid-on-the-block Las Vegas Golden Knights claimed 51 wins in their inaugural regular season, cruising quickly through the first, second, and final rounds of the playoffs to clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup final. The Washington Capitals are beginning their first Cup appearance in 20 years and feeling the pressure of ending the dreadful D.C. title drought – aside from D.C. United, D.C. professional sports teams have not won a title since the 1992 Super Bowl.
It’s no surprise that Golden Knights and Capitals alike are searching for ways to show their team pride. Many are buying new jerseys and hats and scarves. They’re once again looking to get their money’s worth. But there’s another opportunistic group waiting at the point of purchase to make a blindside hit: criminals peddling counterfeit merchandise.
There are plenty of reasons counterfeit criminals deserve more than a trip to the penalty box.
Counterfeit items are most often of inferior quality: distorted or faded logos and graphics, seams that fall apart, and even blatant misspellings are commonplace in counterfeit trade. Some fans have even reported dyes that stain their skin and reek of a strong chemical smell.
But counterfeit isn’t just a consumer problem: it’s a business problem, too. Licensed retailers – many of which are local and regional small businesses – lose valuable market share and revenue to illicit trade. In fact, intellectual property – like the trademarked logos and slogans of our favorite hockey teams – supports more than 45 million jobs in the U.S. In D.C., 118,221 people work in IP-intensive industries; in Nevada, it’s 242,234 people.
Fortunately, the NHL is aware of the dangers of the counterfeit trade and, in partnership with federal and local enforcement agencies, is working to keep fans safe.
During the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final, the NHL helped coordinate the seizure of counterfeit fan merchandise with an estimated retail value of $143,000 dollars. This year, experts suspect that number will rise.
Fans will see agents in action on the ground both in Las Vegas and in D.C. – but, like hockey, the fight against counterfeit has to be a team sport. The NHL is asking fans to follow this checklist to avoid counterfeit goods and to share it with their friends and families.
With this checklist in hand, fans can be sure to dodge any cheap shot counterfeiters might try to land. We wish both teams – and both fan bases – the best throughout the Stanley Cup final.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charles Danehey is the is the coordinator of U.S. policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy Center.


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Billa Romania will take its national network of supermarkets to 64 units after opening a 640 sqm store this week in Targu-Mures. The German retailer hopes to add at least ten more stores to its local network this year, company representatives have previously announced.
At the end of 2011 the company was operating 61 supermarkets countrywide, six of which were opened last year. Billa is part of German Rewe Group which also runs locally the Penny and Penny XXL discount stores.
The company’s turnover amounted to RON 1.14 billion (approximately EUR 270 million) in 2011, down RON 80 million (approximately EUR 19 million) y-o-y, according to data from the Finance Ministry. Skinny girl porn was a bit out of my wheelhouse. I had to go out and buy the equipment, the DVD and the computer and I was not going to let go. I had to find another way to make money. I had to find a way to get my ideas past my mother.


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Group Takes Out Full-Page Ad In Paper Against Awarding Defense Dept. Contract To Trump ‘Enemy’ Jeff Bezos
A nonprofit organization has taken out a full-page ad in the New York Post seemingly hitting the Trump administration for mulling the possibility of awarding Amazon with a lucrative contract to provide IT services to the Defense Department.
Full page ad in the New York Post. Bezos has smart enemies. pic.twitter.com/eilLlnG3Bh
— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) March 27, 2018
The ad by ‘Less Government’ reads: “President Trump: Your Defense Department is set to award a no-bid, ten-year contract for all its IT infrastructure to Administration-enemy Jeff Bezos’ Amazon.
The ad also includes a mock letter written by Bezos to Trump that reads:
Thank you for the $100 billion handout. The cash will really help my many other efforts to oppose your administration’s policies. Your pal, Jeff. Owner, Amazon & The Washington Post.”
Axios‘ Jonathan Swan believes the ad could be an effective way to catch Trump’s attention.
“[I]f you’re designing an ad to get POTUS’ attention, you can’t do much better than this.”
The nonprofit operates an initiative called Monopoly Amazon, aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of the Trump administration doing business with Bezos.
The group’s ad is based off a NextGov report from December 2017:
The Defense Department’s developing cloud strategy has put the tech industry on edge.
According to an internal strategy document obtained by Nextgov, the Pentagon aims to award a 10-year cloud computing contract—potentially worth billions—to a single company by the fourth quarter of 2018.
The contract would call on one commercial cloud service provider to host unclassified, secret and top secret Defense Department data, and the Pentagon’s approach mirrors the CIA’s enterprisewide approach to cloud four years ago, which resulted in a 10-year, $600 million contract with Amazon Web Services. AWS has since invested heavily to provide capabilities across all data classification levels.
The similarities between the Defense’s early cloud strategy and the CIA’s has rival tech companies worried that the department’s acquisition may lean toward AWS. In any case, such a massive contract could disrupt the $100 billion federal IT market and leave the winner in a position to dominate it for years to come.
Earlier this month, the DoD announced it would be scaling back its potential near $1-billion agreement with Amazon for cloud services to $65-million.


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Your users have upgraded to Windows 11 but now their apps are running slower — what’s going on? Chances are their computers don’t have the hardware or processors they need.
Windows 11 is a robust operating system (OS) with advanced security features that are important in today’s threat environment. But these features can slow down older computers and occasionally computers that are only a year or two old.
Windows 11 security features require more memory and processing power than what’s readily available on older computers. If your computer can’t handle the workload, your apps slow down because they have to wait for your computer’s resources to become available.
Slower computers slow productivity, and no one likes that.
What are older computers missing?
But it’s not just the hardware. Certain feature sets are built into specific computer processors, and some support Windows 11 while others don’t. Users can download a Windows app to check their computer’s compatibility.
Since Windows 11 is free and users are excited to use the new features, a lot of employees have installed it without checking compatibility. The latest update for Windows 11 presents them with a new “requirements not met” notification if that’s the case, which surprises users since they had been able to install the OS without a hitch.
Employees using company computers probably shouldn’t be installing a new OS themselves even if they want to use it. That’s typically the IT department’s job as part of device management, which aligns with the company’s lifecycle plan.
Shifting lifecycle plans to focus on security
“Most organizations follow the traditional three-year or five-year lifecycle planning model, which replaces a percentage of the organization’s computers each year — it makes sense when the priority is managing cash flow. But the traditional model is no longer ideal because it may not be enough to keep companies secure,” says Emmett (Trey) Hawkins, Leapfrog Services CTO.
The new lifecycle model moves from time-based lifecycle planning to security-based lifecycle planning. Today, the priority is to replace computers based on their ability to keep companies secure rather than their age.
In addition to being able to run all of the Windows 11 security features while keeping workers productive, newer devices can run the latest, most effective security tools, especially Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR). Leapfrog now considers EDR a must-have tool to meet updated industry standards and cyber insurance requirements.
The cost of keeping older computers
Continuing to run Windows 10 instead of Windows 11 can cost a lot more than buying new computers if your company experiences a breach, hack, or ransomware attack and must deal with the aftermath.
Yet, it can be a paradigm shift to consider buying all new computers for your IT environment in a single year.
For years, users didn’t experience performance issues when running newer operating systems on older PCs. You could upgrade from Windows 7 (and sometimes Windows XP) without buying new computers. With the proliferation of SSDs, which last longer than hard drives, you could stretch out PC life and, recently, pandemic-related computer shortages made it tough to find new computers. It’s understandable why many companies have been extending their traditional computer lifecycle plans and now find themselves facing hard decisions.
“The largest attack surface for any business is its computers,” Hawkins says. “The most important goal for companies in 2022 is to improve their security postures across the board, and Windows 11 is the most secure operating system.”
Finding the right balance between security and productivity is a puzzle as old as the PC. In this case, keeping older computers can cost you both.
What are your options?
- Accept the risk of running Windows 10. If you have older computers, you can accept the security risk and try to ride out Windows 10 for another few years or until its end of life on October 14, 2025. Just keep in mind that Microsoft isn’t going to keep investing in Windows 10 security features. Microsoft’s priority is Windows 11.
- Run Windows 11 on newer computers and Windows 10 on older ones. Running two different operating systems in a single environment can be a challenge for your IT team, however. Successfully managing components that don’t run universally takes more time and effort. It’s also riskier for your IT environment when some computers are less secure than others.
- Expedite your Migration to Windows 11. Your most prudent option is to look at the lifecycle plan for your computers and do what you can to expedite your migration to Windows 11 by buying new computers and enabling as many advanced security tools as possible, including EDR.
- Consider VDI. If it’s impractical to replace older computers, another good option is to consider switching to Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, or VDI, as part of your digital transformation. VDI (sometimes called Desktop as a Service) is a centralized, super-secure, and high-performing platform with the latest technology. It’s easy to use and can run on almost any computer, even Chromebooks, and can be ideal for some businesses.
The supply chain no longer holds you back
It appears the dog days of COVID are over when it comes to the PC and notebook supply chain, at least right now.
While shortages for storage systems and other infrastructure components continue, computer inventory and lead times are currently almost back to pre-pandemic levels — you might be able to get new computers in as soon as two weeks. But Leapfrog cautions about spending time trying to find discounts. Pre-pandemic, there was so much inventory that you could find deals by shopping around but, today, demand is too high.
Leapfrog strongly recommends switching to security-based lifecycle planning and running Windows 11 on upgraded devices. Staying secure AND productive is good for business.


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New York City will immediately start phasing out restaurants’ use of polystyrene food containers after a judge ruled Friday against an operator coalition that had sued to overturn the regulation, Mayor Bill de Blasio said over the weekend.
Unless the measure is blocked again on appeal, the city will commence a public education campaign to smooth the way for the change to other sorts of containers. Restaurateurs will be given a six-month grace period to find alternatives before they’ll be subject to sanctions.
The measure was scheduled to take effect last November, after a five-year struggle to ban the containers. Weeks before the start date, a group called the Restaurant Action Alliance (RAA) filed a lawsuit challenging the rule change, arguing it was erroneously based on assertions that polystyrene could not feasibly be recycled. The action said the New York State Supreme Court had already ruled that the familiar foam-type containers could be reclaimed and repurposed.
RAA members estimated that 40% to 60% of their sales come from food served in polystyrene containers.
Forcing restaurateurs and retailers to adopt non-foam-type containers would raise costs by about $11.2 million annually, according to the RAA.
It also argued in its Supreme Court action that polystyrene takeout containers account for just 20% of all the foam that flows into landfills. A ban would not resolve the problem, RAA contended.
Supreme Court Judge Margaret Chan ruled against the RAA on Friday, rebuffing the argument that recycling would be a feasible way to deflect polystyrene containers from landfills. She cited the contentions of Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia that recycling would not work for a city like New York, and noted that the official had exhaustively explored the possibility.
City Hall has been trying since 2013 to ban polystyrene takeout containers. A bill was passed by the City Council in December of that year and signed into law by de Blasio’s predecessor, Michael Bloomberg, in the last days of his administration, with a ban set to take effect in 2016.
Restaurants, retailers and plastics manufacturers banded together to thwart the measure. They set up a pilot program to prove polystyrene could be recycled, and presented the evidence to the Supreme Court in Manhattan, which halted enactment of the law in September 2015.
The city conducted its own research, releasing a report in May 2017 that convinced a judge to lift the stay on the 2013 law.
The RAA’s action derailed the measure in September.
The group’s lawyer, former Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, told local media that the coalition is studying its legal options in the wake of Friday’s decision.
New York City, which is currently considering a measure to prohibit restaurants from providing customers with plastic drinking straws, has long been the point of origin for restaurant-related measures that eventually become nationwide regulations. It was the first metropolitan area, for instance, to ban smoking and trans fats, and was the first to mandate the disclosure of nutritional information by chain restaurants.
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Slimmer and lighter.
Expected to launch late this year.
Due to high global inflation rates.
Featuring 50.1MP sensor, 8K 30fps 10-bit, 4K 120fps 10-bit and more.
Sony has revealed that the sale of PlayStation 5 console…
A look inside the PS5 packaging.
With compact size and lightweight design.
Featuring a flip-out screen, front-facing recording, 4K and more.
Available later this year.
Sony spoiled fans with only great news at their PS5 reveal event on Thursday. The company revealed the PS5 console…
Sony has announced a new date for its much-awaited PS5 game reveal. The event will happen on Thursday,11 June after…
Same day as their global theatrical releases.


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NSW Country Hour for Monday 5 May, 2014
The Competition and Consumer Commission has begun legal action against the Coles supermarket chain over the way it treated smaller grocery suppliers.
Following a three-year investigation, the ACCC has launched action in the Federal Court.
The ACCC says Coles' target was 'to obtain $16 million in Active Retail Collaboration rebates from smaller suppliers'.
Source: ABC News | Duration: 54min 44sec


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Partner Eileen Ridley was quoted in the Bloomberg Law
article, “Virus Leaves Brands to Protect Themselves as Opportunists Pounce
,” about how the coronavirus pandemic is creating more opportunities for companies producing knock-offs.
Stay-at-home orders have pushed a higher share of shopping online amid shortages of health and safety products, making the virtual world an obvious focus for infringers. Potential victims aren’t merely more numerous, but in some cases more vulnerable, Ridley said. “With such proliferation of online shopping, you have a bunch of inexperienced people using mechanisms they’re not adept at using.”
Knock-offs of ventilators, test kits, masks, hand sanitizers, and other supplies to help treat and guard against the virus that are selling for “extraordinary prices” are “definitely widespread,” Ridley said.


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European retailers say card costs rose after EU capped fees
Retailers including Tesco Plc, Ikea and Amazon.com Inc. called on European Union regulators to crack down on credit and debit card fees that have increased after laws capped so-called interchange fees five years ago.
EuroCommerce, an industry group that represents 6 million retailers, said card companies “have been steadily increasing the unregulated fees imposed on” stores. It wants the European Commission to widen the existing rules to cover other card transactions. It’s also asking for “strong and dissuasive penalties” if card firms don’t comply.
“Other fees have substantially increased, as have fees for unregulated cards, which most merchants have no choice but to accept,” EuroCommerce said in an emailed statement on Thursday.
Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc. ended nearly two decades of EU antitrust scrutiny with a settlement last year. Interchange fees, a payment made between retailers’ and consumers’ banks as part of card transactions, were a target of antitrust investigations before the EU drafted a law to cap the fees.
Visa said that a recent report commissioned by the EU found that the cost of card acceptance for retailers has decreased significantly in recent years. “In line with these findings, Visa does not believe a revision of the legislation is needed at this time,” the company said in a statement.
Mastercard didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The EU says rules to curb payment card fees reduced yearly revenue paid to card companies and banks by 2.6 billion euros ($2.8 billion)a year from 2015 and 2017.


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Australian Classification Board outs US release of Attack on Titan 3DS game
Nintendo of America Needs To Fix Club Nintendo
Black Tusk's Studio Manager says Gears of War 4 needs to get back to franchise's roots
New Releases: Sunset Overdrive, WWE 2K15, Lords of the Fallen, More
GTA: San Andreas with Achievements, 720p visuals to be released for Xbox 360 next week
Nintendo Download: Stealth Inc 2, Costume Quest 2, a lot more
Daily Scoop: October 30, 2014 – Transistor on sale
Destiny’s first expansion, The Dark Below, will be released on December 9
CoD: Advanced Warfare’s “live-action trailer” is pretty unreal
No Kinect or Move Controller? Play Just Dance 2015 with your smartphone
Nintendo registers Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story domains
A few days after Nintendo of Europe announced that Mistwalker’s Xenoblade would be released in Europe (as Xenoblade Chronicles), Nintendo of America has begun dropping hints that the game will continue traveling east and arrive on American shores soon.
According to Nintendo’s previous 2011 release schedules, an American release for the game has always been in the works (albeit under the title Monado: Beginning of the World). But it looks like a name change is in order as Nintendo of America has registered the domain, XenobladeChronicles.com. Currently, the site just redirects to Nintendo’s homepage, but this is a very good sign that the game will be coming to America soon.
Our curiousity piqued, we tried a URL that might point to another Nintendo RPG, The Last Story, and what do you know, TheLastStory.com is owned by the publisher as well (and it was apparently registered in February 2010).
Here’s hoping an official announcement for both games is imminent.
It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Read This.
More From Warp Zoned
Nintendo of America is watching Xenoblade’s reception in Europe
Xenoblade Chronicles finally out in US on April 6; XSEED to publish The Last Story
Xenoblade still missing from Nintendo’s latest game calendar


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It has been announced that the proof of vaccine and mask mandates will be dropped in Chicago.
The proof of vaccine and mask mandates will be lifted on Feb. 28 in Chicago and in Cook County, officials announced Tuesday.
In a press conference with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Dr. Allison Arwady, they announced that masks will no longer be required to enter restaurants, grocery stores or other indoor spaces. Additionally, the proof-of-vaccine requirement for business patrons will be lifted.
Masks will still be required on the CTA, in congregate and healthcare settings.
You can get more info on this below!


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The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has presented retired Walmart president and CEO Mike Duke with its 2014 Hall of Achievement Award at the GMA Leadership Forum at The Broadmoor. The Hall of Achievement Award represents the highest honor given by the more than 100 year-old association.
Two industry retailers were honored for their political advocacy and grassroots support at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Political Involvement Reception during the NACDS Total Store Expo.
Hibbett Sports president and CEO Jeff Rosenthal said that comparable store sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 2 were softer than expected. However, he is encouraged by improvement in traffic in early August.
During the fourth quarter, Tuesday Morning Corporation continued working on the final phase of its turnaround program. Judging by its comparable-store sales trend, increased inventory turnover and improved cash position, the company’s plan is working.
Although Ann Inc. began the quarter on a positive note, the company was unable to capitalize on the momentum it generated through mid-June. The second half of the quarter was marked by softer traffic levels and a highly promotional environment that pressured sales and margin.
Although same-store sales at Gap were flat in the second quarter, the company reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, buoyed by strong sales at Old Navy, and raised its full-year profit forecast as a result.
The Home Depot has named Craig Menear, currently president, U.S. retail, as CEO and president, effective November 1, and has elected him to the company's board of directors, effectively immediately. Current chairman and CEO Frank Blake will remain chairman.


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Popular pizza shop reopens in Armonk after fire
A popular pizza shop in Armonk is open again after closing down for six months following a massive fire.
Customers returned to Broadway North Pizzeria on Main Street for the first time since a fire tore through the business in March.
Flames started in The Bagel Emporium and quickly spread next door. Luckily, no one was hurt.
"It was a mess in here, it was a disaster," says employee Monica Fiorentino.
The store itself remained intact, but some major cleanup was needed. Customers say they're happy to return to their favorite go-to spot for a slice. "I've come here a lot with friends and made good memories here too, so I'm happy to see it back", says longtime customer Henry Indictor.


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PHOENIX — In two separate announcements, Carvana today announced that it has partnered with Associated Credit Union and LGE Community Credit Union to offer their members access to certified and competitively priced vehicles through an entirely online car-buying experience.
Carvana touts itself as the nation’s leading online vehicle retailer. Through these partnerships, members originating from both credit unions will be able to browse through its inventory and purchase a vehicle in as little as 20 minutes without stepping foot inside a dealership, the company stated.
“We’re excited to offer Associated Credit Union members a shopping experience where they can be in the driver’s seat and find the best vehicle for their needs. Our model is very similar to credit unions, as we are both dedicated to offering a transparent experience and providing the best service to our customers,” said Ernie Garcia, CEO and cofounder of Carvana.
According to online retailer, the more-than 160,000 Associated Credit Union members will be able to visit any of the credit union’s 27 locations in the Metro Atlanta and Augusta area to receive pre-approval for a Carvana vehicle. Once they receive approval, they’ll then be able to browse Carvana’s inventory of more than 7,000 vehicles, complete the purchase online, and have their car delivered as soon as the next day.
"We are excited to team up with LGE and offer its members the opportunity to either shop for a new vehicle or trade in their current one, without the hassle of leaving their home," Garcia said. "Credit unions have been incredible partners of ours as they share our customer-first mentality and are receptive to innovation.”
LGE Community Credit Union member will be able to visit one of the nine full-service locations that the credit union has in Georgia. Credit union members will have the choice of speaking to a loan officer at one of the nine physical locations, speaking to a loan officer on the phone, through email or to use an online application. Following their approval, LGE Community Credit Union members will also be able to browse Carvana's inventory and purchase a vehicle entirely online by using Carvana.
Carvana currently works with a total of 13 credit unions across the country. All Carvana vehicles undergo a 150-point inspection and come with a 100-day or 4,189-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and are backed by a seven-day return policy.


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China released a raft of economic data Friday morning, but the headline figure was 6%. That’s the rate of GDP growth in the third quarter as compared to the same period last year, and it’s lower than the 6.1% growth analysts polled by Reuters had anticipated. In fact, it’s China’s lowest quarterly economic growth since records began 27 years ago in 1992.
Domestic factors were the biggest drag on China’s economy in the third quarter. Investment is , while the pickup in infrastructure spending is plateauing; credit growth has failed to respond to monetary easing and consumer inflation has surged—pork prices, in particular, soared 47% in August as China struggles to contain a devastating outbreak of African Swine Fever.
Depending upon how you measure it—by purchasing power parity or in U.S. dollar terms—China’s $14 trillion economy is either the largest or second largest in the world. The country’s GDP accounts for a close to a third of global growth. So naturally, a slowdown in China has repercussions for world economies.


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Over ten vehicles were impounded carrying contrabands goods along Mwingi –Garissa highway following a multiagency crackdown along the route.
Confirming the incident that occurred around 6 pm at Mutwangombe area ,Mwingi central sub –county police commander, Peter Mutuma said the operation was carried out by a combined security team.
His office in conjunction with the multiagency team impounded over 100 sacks containing banned charcoal, bales of polythene bags, boxes of canned fish, boxes of relief tablets, rolls of clothe materials among other goods while other vehicles ferried excess passengers.
During the operation ksh.3 million was also recovered from one Abdirahman Abdi a Kenyan Somali aged 20 years.
The OCPD, said the unaccustomed goods seized are killing the government which is not collecting revenue from them while people should pay for such goods.
According to him, the goods are suspected to originate from the neighboring country, Somalia.
Peter further noted that charcoal business is a banned exercise and it causes environmental degradation.
“People should look for alternative means of cooking but not felling trees,” cautioned Mutuma.
The drivers of the said vehicles will be arraigned at Mwingi law court.


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I have long maintained that boycotts rarely work well as a tool of political protest. Even when mobilized as a collective national action like a trade embargo, history has not shown much effectiveness in causing political change, other than merely increasing bitterness (like the Embargo against Cuba).
Against a much larger target, with even broader scope, such as “boycott China”, the sheer size of lunacy of such a proposition is immediately apparent. Chinese economy is not pinned down in a few special economic sectors, it’s large and diverse, and most importantly international. It produces final products and components and material. It’s not merely economical for businesses, it’s necessity of businesses to buy Chinese products.
But even more interestingly, the increase in the internet economy has shown that it’s not just companies like Walmart that dictates the improbability of “boycott China”, it’s increasingly the end user purchasers who are making it impossible to “boycott China”.
Even with the fear of “counterfeit”, “food poison”, “lead paint”, etc., the internet economy (across borders) has increased significantly, with almost no regulations, (other than dubious attempt to tax).
China was early in internet economy. Many Chinese young people use internet to sell and buy things. (My sister-in-law has an internet business in China). Chinese internet businesses offer almost EVERYTHING that can be bought legally (and some illegally), food, clothing, automobiles, parts, components, toys, etc.
Many of them are now also generally accessible globally. It’s the equivalent of a giant “home shopping network”.
This year, on China’s “Cyber Monday”, November 11, internet shopping smashed previous year’s record, reaching $3.1 Billion (in 1 day), more than double of US’s cyber Monday figure. China’s internet economy is expected to reach $650 billion a year by 2020.
Increasingly, the customers of China are getting sophisticated. Why go to Walmart, when you can order directly from Walmart’s Chinese supplier (with no markup)?? (The risk of bad quality is about the same).
One might wonder, how much of this is really going on?
It’s hard to say, most who do buy directly on internet from China do not necessarily advertise that. They do occasionally brag about it on some internet sites like Reddit.com.
But there is 1 interesting parallel: US Senior citizens are increasingly turning to ordering cheap prescription drugs from Canada, India, and China, due to the high cost of drugs in US.
US government has sometimes cracked down on the practice, but it is very difficult. Beyond the political unpopularities of busting Senior Citizens for illegal imports, it is practically difficult. How does the US Customs intercept individual mail parcels for banned goods?! You might get a few here and there, but most get through.
Similarly, this present the future improbability of “boycott China”: Even if Walmart decides to stop buying from China, the internet buyers won’t stop.


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GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Coming off its most profitable year yet, Springthrough, a Grand Rapids technology firm in growth mode, is busy settling into its new digs in the middle of the city’s burgeoning tech and entertainment district.
Located at 62 Commerce Ave. SW, the 12-year-old firm led by CEO Mike Williams recently relocated to downtown Grand Rapids after hitting the $6 million sales mark in 2012, “our best year from a revenue and profitability standpoint.”
The company, a full-service tech shop that specializes in mobile application development, and information technology consulting, added new clients and employees last year, said Williams, continuing steady growth over the past decade.
In fact, jobs growth in the technology sector is beating the rest of the U.S. economy by three to one, according to a study of the industry released late last year by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute of San Fransisco.
The report found that tech sector growth was not limited to famous hubs of innovation like Silicon Valley, but was taking place in a diverse range of metropolitan areas across the country, like Grand Rapids.
According to the report, the tech sector 'multiplier effect' is estimated to create 4.3 additional jobs in the local goods and services economy for every one high-tech job. By comparison, the average manufacturing job creates 1.4 jobs in the wider community.
Williams said Springthrough’s 15 to 20 percent growth in 2012 is projected to accelerate following the firm’s October move from Oak Industrial Drive NE to the Heartside District downtown, where the 50-some employees now work in a 13,500 square-foot century-old loft space.
“We could have moved to the Kentwood or Cascade area, but we thought it was a better direction to move downtown and be a part of all the exciting things happening in Heartside,” he said.
“It’s an expensive move, to come downtown and cover parking, pay the rent and do all these things. It’s really a commitment to the area.”
The firm’s clients include Celebration Cinemas, Haworth, Amway, Michigan State University and the city of Grand Rapids. The active client list is between 75 and 100.
The firm’s recent growth represents the surging market for mobile application as well as the continuing bounce-back from the recession for the typically volatile tech sector, Williams said. Companies are starting to make investments again.
“That pent-up demand got released about a year or so ago, and the tech firms in general are accelerating right now,” he said. The growth has “stretched the employees at times, but we try not to stretch them too far because it’s easy to get burned out.”
Still, Williams said there’s a “shortage of great tech talent in the market” in Grand Rapids, causing tech employers to compete over new hires.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tech jobs make up about 2.4 percent of total employment in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming metro area and the average annual salary is about $74,000. Statewide, about 5 percent of jobs are in the tech sector and the average annual salary is more than $82,000.
“We’re not in Chicago or Silicon Valley," Williams said. "We’re not yet the glamorous destination for folks to stay in or move to when they get out of college.”
To that end, the new digs are a selling point. Most Springthrough employees are about 25 to 30 years old, and the firm is located next to the Pyramid Scheme venue, as well as Stella’s Lounge and the Ionia Avenue SW bars.
“Any time the people start to get really excited to come into a work environment, that results in better products and services for clients, and better employee retention," he said. “It’s a win-win across the board.”


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IntelliGrape Launches Cloud Adoption Program
October 4, 2013 - New Delhi, Delhi, India
Global spending on public cloud services is expected to grow to US $131 billion in 2013. However, the Indian public cloud services market is still in its nascent stage and will grow at 36% to reach US $ 443 million in 2013 as per Gartner. The event saw more than 50 CTO’s from leading companies as participants, which clearly indicates interest in Amazon Services in India. Deepak Mittal, CEO, IntelliGrape announced - “After the success of the event, we plan to take this to more cities from here and continue to be a mascot of cloud adoption”
The event included a talk from Amazon team on Content Distribution Network (CDN) service CloudFront, which recently launched its end points in India. There was also a case study on American Swan (a premium online fashion & lifestyle brand) which talked about how cloud computing helped it focus on key business rather than worrying about infrastructure cost & application performance for its unpredictable and non-uniform traffic.
Harvinder Singh Banga, Vice President, Flywheel Logistics commented - "The journey of cloud computing has been from concept to reality. We have been talking about distributed computing over a network since long, but the real implementation of cloud computing in India is really possible now with the help of the companies like AWS.”
"It was very exciting to know how you can pick and choose the various AWS service flavors in a matter of minutes delivering high agility, durability and performance without having to invest in capex. Amazon Cloud Front and Auto Scaling would be a great asset with the amount of flexibility it provides to the business. The event has given me insights on how companies with focus on web can derive maximum benefit with minimum risk involved once the bigger picture is clear" said Sanjiv Mathur, IT Head, Carzonnet.
About IntelliGrape Software
IntelliGrape Software is an innovative technology company that conceives, develops and manages high quality, mission critical web & mobile applications and provides consulting & implementation solutions for cloud based infrastructure. A leader in Groovy and Grails development, the company is one of the earliest adopters of the framework and is an expert on the entire SpringSource suite of products. IntelliGrape is also is an Advanced Consulting Partner and Channel Reseller for Amazon Web Services (AWS).
IntelliGrape is a part of TO THE NEW, one of Asia's leading digital services network, delivering a comprehensive range of digital services across digital marketing, content, technology and analytics. TO THE NEW has offices in Singapore, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Noida, Chennai, London, Kuala Lampur, Manila, Guangzhou and Burbank.
Source: Business Wire India


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If you didn’t catch Super Bowl XLIX last Sunday, you at least watched the ads, or have seen all the buzz on your social media platform of choice. This year’s Super Bowl topped out at more than 114.4 million viewers, which makes it the most watched broadcast in U.S. TV history, according to CNN Money.
Which of this year’s ads made you laugh, cry, laugh-cry, cringe or feel inspired? Some ads were forgettable, some were terrible and some had true potential to shape our cultural climate. What can the financial and insurance industries learn from these wide-reaching and very expensive marketing spots? Here at LifeHealthPro.com, we had so many piercing questions that we contacted international branding expert Scott Deming to gather more intel on what these ads mean for marketers this year.
1. Emotion drives conversation … and sales.
“This year, the ads were more emotional and socially conscious of what’s going on, a much different feel from the past. And that’s a good thing, because emotion helps brand building,” Deming said.
Right off the bat, he starting dissecting the controversial and sad Nationwide ad, “Make Safe Happen,” in which a kid narrates the things he’s not going to get to do because of an accident that killed him at a young age. “A lot of people are saying that Nationwide’s was a ‘Debbie Downer’ or ‘we are having a party at the Super Bowl, why do you have to put this (ad) in my conscience?’ The ad was about preventable accidents; they didn’t try to sell. This truly is to raise awareness. Did you know that every 14 days healthy kids are killed from furniture or TV tip overs? Nationwide took an opportunity to not try to sell a product or service, but to send a message and that’s very commendable,” Deming said.
Deming speaks from experience; his granddaughter passed away two years ago after an accident with falling furniture, so this ad hit home. He said that it’s great that the ad is creating so much buzz around child safety and awareness.
Nationwide defended their ad in a statement Monday saying the ad was designed to start a conversation on how injuries around the home are the leading cause of childhood deaths in the U.S. (you can read the full statement here.)
Another ad that caught Deming’s attention, and that falls within the “feel good” category, was the Coca-Cola spot. It took all of the negativity and bullying that we often see in the Internet and news, and turned it into a positive. This messaging is precisely what the brand has been associated with for a long time: happiness, compassion and love.
2. Different angles make some ads stand out.
Unlike some of the plays during the game itself, the ads that aired during the Super Bowl went from the emotional to the cute to the ridiculous and funny. Deming mentioned the McDonald’s ad in which customers were asked to pay with a “random act of love” like calling one’s mom and telling her that you love her. “It was an effective and cute ad. Companies who are associating themselves with empathy and conscience are really associating themselves with something that is greater than themselves, greater than the brand,” he said.
Another very popular angle, especially in past Super Bowls, has been tickling the viewers’ funny bone. The Snickers spoof on The Brady Bunch featuring Danny Trejo and Steve Buscemi was funny, mostly because Trejo and Buscemi scare the beejeezus out of some of us and they’ve made their careers out of playing the villain. Recasting them as Marcia and Jan Brady was a shock to viewers, both memorable and funny.
In the same way, Fiat’s ad with the little blue pill was “genius and the subtle terminology that they used was brilliant,” Deming assessed.
Another car ad that made the funny list was Dodge’s “Wisdom,” which featured people really into their Golden Years dishing out pearls of wisdom. It’s always funny to hear a great-grandma or grandpa say what they really feel … like stop complaining and live your life.
3. Ads must reward the audience to be effective.
While a funny ad might be remembered and even quoted for the next few weeks, is there truly a reward? “Television ads are an intrusion, but people are actually tuning in specifically to the Super Bowl ads. The ads have to draw you in and they have to have a payoff. In the past, Super Bowl ads were about being competitive, about companies topping each other, and not about the payoff for the audience,” said the branding expert.
What’s in it for the audience, for the customer, and will the ad really drive sales for the company? Is creating buzz of this magnitude worth the millions of dollars spent?
One example of a weak ad, according to Deming, was the Doritos spot “When pigs fly.” He says that even though Doritos has made brilliant ads in the past (remember the one with the adult in the make-believe time machine?), this time around “When pigs fly” didn’t work because it was funny but it wasn’t memorable.
Doritos has been known for starting social media campaigns in an effort to engage their consumers and create buzz around a contest for the ad that will show during the Super Bowl. Deming, however, asks himself if that buzz is really worth all the effort and money behind these types of campaigns. “Does it sell more Doritos? I don’t know … but you really need to figure out what you want to do (as a brand or company),” he cautioned.


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At PACK EXPO 2015, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technology (PMMI) unveiled the findings from three industry reports: the “State of the Industry U.S. Packaging Machinery Report,” “Global Packaging Trends” and the “2015 Flexible Packaging Market Assessment Report.”
Global flexible packaging market size is expected to reach $293.03 billion by 2022, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., due to the rising need for durable, lightweight and compact products among consumers.
Retail industry growth along with increasing acceptance of supermarket culture in emerging markets of Asia Pacific and strong export scenario is expected to have a positive impact on the flexible packaging industry growth over the forecast period.
You add up the mass of raw materials your facility consumes each day, look at the products it’s made, and the numbers just don’t balance—until you look at skids of rework and a dumpster topped off with the day’s malformed products and/or damaged packages.
A flip-top, 1-piece, spouted dispensing unit for flexible pouches, the WestRock FlexFit closure has a “latch-back” design that keeps the cap away from product during dispensing; it comes in a range of orifice sizes and shapes.


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The tech giant has graffitied various buildings, pavements and walls in 30 urban sites in the UK with Surface artwork.
The ads are created with chalk and vinyl, though one site in London is in ultra-violet (UV) material, and the tallest 12 metres high. The ads do not have a call to action and the campaign will not be supported by social media or other media activity.
Instead, Microsoft hopes the content will be shared organically, which it says will make it "more authentic". It will be measuring the reach of the campaign with social buzz monitoring.
UM London handled the media for the campaign, working with ambient advertising specialist Curb.
This is the first time Microsoft has used ambient out of home advertising before, and the campaign marks a creative diversion from the brand’s usual marketing activity.Follow @shearmans