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Everyone awed by Facebook’s $50 billion valuation may want to break away for at least a moment to consider Amazon’s future. An analyst with Morgan Stanley has predicted that Amazon will generate an impressive $100 billion in revenue in 2015.
To put that in perspective: Amazon reported $7.56 billion in revenue during the third quarter of 2010, $6.57 billion during the second quarter, $7.13 billion during the first quarter, and $9.52 billion during the fourth quarter of 2009 (totaling $30.78 billion), so $100 billion in a single year will represent a huge increase.
Still, summing up a report authored by Morgan Stanley’s Scott Devitt, Larry Dignan wrote, "Amazon is likely to hit $100 billion in annual revenue and is on a growth path that eclipses the world’s most successful retailer – Wal-Mart."
That’s in part because "[i]nternational expansion continues," "[n]ew efforts such as Amazon Web Services and digital sales via the Kindle platform are promising," and "[s]ubscription e-commerce for grocery staples is another promising avenue."
Also, as reported by Dignan, "Amazon can fuel growth just by taking wallet share from its existing customers. Amazon’s 121 million customers spend about $275 a year. Wal-Mart’s 300 million customers spend $750 a year excluding groceries and Sam’s Club."
This situation will definitely bear watching. And for what it’s worth, Amazon’s stock rose 0.43 percent during normal trading hours today and is up another 0.08 percent so far in after-hours trading.


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Apple vs. the Living Room
Dana is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
If Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is going to make a comeback in 2013, most analysts agree it must find new worlds to conquer. It conquered music with the iPod. It conquered telephony with the iPhone. It conquered mobility with the iPad. Having conquered our feet, Apple needs to make another push for our butts.
Battle of the Butt
Butts are a big problem for Apple. PC sales of all kinds are peaking, even Macintosh sales, writes 9to5Mac. The tablet market is also slowing, which is a big reason why shares are trading at a discount to those of Microsoft, which makes no sense at all. No, everyone agrees that in order to grow Apple must get into the living room.
Of course, you can argue that Apple is already in that market, with the Apple TV, which operates like a cross between a home server and a set-top box. The next version is already on the drawing board and it currently supports a host of TV-like content, most recently that of HBO.
The problem is that in all these “content deals,” Apple is merely following the industry. With HBO, for instance, you must already subscribe to the service through your cable provider to get at it with the Apple device. It's a pass-through, not an up-sell.
Who Might Butt In?
The trends in the market are obvious to everyone. The convergence of games and Internet around the TV, and the delivery of content via the Internet, have been on rivals' radar for many years. Is Apple TV, in the end, just another console? If that's the case, then there are two companies that might be interested in competing, and quickly.
Sony (NYSE: SNE) is one company that might jump in ahead of Apple. They have a press conference planned for Feb. 20, and most speculation about it involves a successor for the company's PlayStation game machine. But Sony has both video assets and a history of adding features to the PlayStation. There is speculation they could jump in with an Apple TV-like product.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has been doing many of the same things Sony has with its XBox. It, too, is expected to relaunch its product later this year. Could Apple actually enter the console wars and find itself out gunned by rivals like this? That, too, is speculative. But stranger things have happened, and as many have noted before that both Sony and Microsoft are desperate for a hit.
The Big Screen
A better hint of what's coming may be found on the worried face of Gabe Newell. Newell runs Valve, which runs Steam, which is how most gamers get their games these days.
Newell says he isn't worried about Sony, or Nintendo, or even Microsoft with its XBox Live. Instead he's worried about Apple. As he said at the University of Texas recently "I think the biggest challenge is that Apple moves on the living room before the PC industry sort of gets its act together.”
So here is what is going to happen: at some point in the next six months, Apple is going to roll out its own TV. Nothing more than a Retina-style screen, in a variety of sizes, with something like the current Apple TV built-in. This will let it command a premium price point over other TV brands, a market just looking to be rolled-up by a software-driven play.
The new product will be fully iOS compatible, will come with a cool new wireless interface that supports gestures, and it will sell both games and TV shows through iTunes, for sale or rent. Figure a 30 inch screen with 128 GB of main storage selling for $2,000.
Shares will probably double in value, even before this thing hits the streets. Everyone will be talking about how Apple has its mojo back. Buy the rumor, sell the news, or just start accumulating shares at these dirt cheap prices. Your patience will be rewarded.
DanaFBlankenhorn owns shares of Apple and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is this post wrong? Click here. Think you can do better? Join us and write your own!

domain: news


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If you use Google (GOOG) Wallet, you'll soon be able to send people money using Gmail, attaching a dollar amount to a message just as you might a photograph or a PDF.
The company announced the new feature on Wednesday at its Google I/O developer conference in San Francisco. The plan is to integrate Google Wallet -- which allows users to store credit and debit card information on their smartphones, and make payments using near field communication (NFC) -- with the world's most popular web-based email service.
Peter Hazlehurst, director of product management for Google Wallet, told CNET the company wasn't abandoning its pay-by-tapping-on-checkout-terminal mobile technology:
We are not pulling away from NFC. We are simply making a much richer Wallet experience. There are still places where NFC can't be used. And not every device has it yet.
Google Wallet's new functionality is intended to help fill the gaps until PayPass is more widely adopted. The convenience of emailing money might also help make Google Wallet users out of Gmail account holders, who number in the hundreds of millions.
The service is free for users whose bank accounts are linked to their Google Wallets, as well as those who use a Google Wallet prepaid account; but there's a charge for taking the money from a credit or debit card. W3Reports observes that PayPal, which years ago "pioneered the concept of sending money to an email address," offers a "slight advantage" by allowing its users to choose which party pays the 2.9 percent fee for credit card transactions: the sender or the receiver.
To start transferring money with Gmail now, you have to get someone who already has access to send you $1. Once they do, you'll see a dollar sign icon when hovering over the attachment paperclip; click on it and you'll be able to enter the sum you want to transfer. If you can't find any early adopter to initiate you, this newfangled money-wiring will be gradually rolled out to U.S. Gmail users age 18 and over in the coming months.
While sender and receiver both need a Google Wallet account, you can send money to someone who doesn't have a Gmail address. Quartz cites the Bank Secrecy Act as placing an upper limit of $10,000 on money attachments.
As for security, Google offered broad assurances on the feature's rollout page, calling it "A safer way to send money":
When you use Google Wallet, your financial information is safely encrypted and stored on secure servers, and all transactions are monitored 24/7 to prevent fraudulent activity. In addition, Google Wallet Purchase Protection covers 100% of eligible unauthorized transactions
Of course, this isn't the first such technological offering: Two years ago, Bank of America (BAC), JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Wells Fargo (WFC) launched a similar pay-by-computer-or-smartphone feature, which Chris Velazco of TechCrunch says "could be more than a little tedious" to set up "if the recipient wasn't a member of the same bank." Google, on the other hand, "seems intent on making the process much easier on all the parties involved".


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Laura Bellinger wishes she could bike around Atlanta more often. She'd even consider making the five-mile ride to work if she weren't "a little chicken" when it comes to braving the city's infamous rush-hour traffic without the protective shell of a car.
But she couldn't resist an opportunity to bike for her first "tweed ride," the dandy's answer to critical mass, in which cyclists don vintage-inspired attire for a leisurely ride. Often the subject of fashion magazine spreads out of New York and London, it was the first-ever such ride in Decatur. The Atlanta suburb was recognized this year as one of the newest cities to make the League of American Bicyclists' list of top bicycle-friendly communities for its network of bike paths and bicycle education programs in schools.
Bellinger dug up a pair of cropped riding pants, dark-patterned socks and a corduroy blazer, loaded her mother's old white Cannondale into the car and headed to downtown Decatur, where a sea of cyclists dressed in autumnal shades gathered in the square Sunday afternoon.
"Events like this get me comfortable with the idea of riding more often because I can learn from others," said Bellinger, a public relations specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I totally love fashion and vintage, so dressing up just made it more fun."
Style-themed bike rides are just one way in which advocacy groups are hoping to shed bicycling of its strict association with competitive racing and make it more appealing to casual riders and potential commuters in the United States, especially in communities such as Decatur making bike-friendly strides.
Bike stores are also showing up within those communities that look more like trendy boutiques than repair shops, with the goal of redefining urban bike culture. The target customers are new and aspiring cyclists, and commuters who might be turned off by the functional atmosphere of traditional bike shops. What they'll find are upright and cruiser bikes in pink and green, helmets like equestrian caps, woven baskets, canvas and leather panniers and, literally, bells and whistles.
Even mass-market apparel brands such as Levi's and Lands' End Canvas are tapping into the niche with commuter-friendly lines of clothing and accessories that can be worn all day and athletic wear that emphasizes fashion as much as function.
It's part of a larger movement often referred to as "Cycle Chic," a phrase coined in the mid-2000s by Danish "bicycle ambassador" Mikael Colville-Andersen on his website, Copenhagenize.com, which highlights the Danish capital's bicycle culture. Since then, "Cycle Chic" has grown into a global network of websites espousing the motto "dress for your destination, not your journey," along with hundreds more online portals and periodicals focusing on fashion and lifestyle through the lens of the "slow bicycle movement."
"I really see fashion and style as key for bicycle advocacy," Melissa Balmer, program director of bicycle advocacy group Women on Bikes SoCal, which aims to normalize cycling through style rides, bicycle fashion shows and food and wine bike tours.
With bicycles becoming a style darling in lifestyle magazines, from Vogue to Glamour, it's the perfect time to spread the word on the benefits of biking, said Balmer, who has been car-free in Long Beach, California, for five years.
"I see the bike as a tool for urban optimism because nothing else deals so easily with two of our biggest challenges facing us as a nation: the down economy and the sedentary-disease pandemic."
That's where clothing, bicycles and accessories come into play to reflect the rider's personality, just like a car, she said.
"You look at the bikes in beautiful colors -- the baskets and panniers -- people having fun in the same way they did as a child, and it reminds you of the joy of bicycling."
Finding a comfortable upright bicycle helped Norma Palus return to a beloved childhood pastime. She ordered a teal Rivendell Bleriot from a supplier in California for both its "vintage throwback look and attitude toward riding," the Decatur resident said.
"It's just riding for pleasure instead of running the roads," Palus said as she prepared to join the ride. "It goes back to childhood, to riding for fun, to enjoy it. No spandex or cleats."
It's not just an idea that appeals to women. About half the participants in Decatur's Autumn Classic Ride were men who happily donned their finest Harris Tweed and argyle duds. Luckily, the mostly cloudy skies ensured it was never too warm for the army of riders in woolens and textured fabrics.
Chris Hunt chose an outfit of matching black vintage wool racing shorts and sweater emblazoned with the logo of Italian luxury brand Cinzano in a nod to the days "when cyclists smoke and drank and still won," the 51-year-old photographer said.
The four-mile tour, which included two stops along the way and lasted most of the afternoon, was a welcome reprieve for Hunt, a distance mountain biker.
"Cycling has gotten so serious and uncomfortable," he said as he sipped an iced coffee during the first stop. "It's inspiring to observe cycling as a nonhazardous sport, something that's fun that anyone can do."
To be sure, safety concerns -- not clothing -- are still the biggest barriers to getting more people to ride, said Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Rebecca Serna, who attended the ride dressed in a white sweater and knee-length houndstooth skirt. She also brought along her 7-year-old son.
"People don't realize that for kids and young adults, being in a car is the biggest cause of serious and deadly accidents," said Serna, referring to studies showing that motor-vehicle traffic-related deaths are the biggest cause of unintentional deaths among those 19 and under.
"There needs to be a better understanding of what the real risks are and all the ways in which you make cycling safe."
Still, seeing someone riding in a bike in a skirt and heels can make people think twice, she said, referring to the coalition's monthly Heels on Wheels ride.
"It shows you can integrate biking with things you can ordinarily do, like go out and spend time with friends on a Sunday afternoon," she said during a stop on the ride at a bar, which provided free Irish coffees for participants.
Though tweed rides are premised upon wearing special clothes, no spandex is required, which is what comes to mind when most people think of cycling, said Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists, a nonprofit advocacy and education organization. That's the perception cycling needs to overcome to appeal to Americans more interested in biking to run errands than to race 20 miles toward a finish line, he said.


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San Diego – Sony Electronics announced another round of executive
changes today with Mike Abary now heading up Sony Home Entertainment and Steve
Haber taking over Abary’s former post at Sony Home Products.
Abary, the home division’s marketing senior VP, will be taking on
a full-time role heading up Sony Home Entertainment of America. Haber, Sony
Electronics Reader business executive VP, takes on Abary’s former responsibilities
with Sony Home Products of America, which includes Bravia TVs and home audio
and video products.
Both men will continue to report to Phil Molyneux, Sony
Electronics president and COO. The move became effective Oct. 1, a Sony
spokesman told TWICE.
Abary had been overseeing the Home Entertainment of America business,
while simultaneously managing the marketing of Sony’s home products solutions,
the spokesman said. The shift is expected to bring a closer focus to the
rapidly growing entertainment products and services component of the business,
which includes online entertainment software, entertainment services (including
BIV and the Sony Entertainment Network), business development and strategic
partnerships within the home entertainment industry.
Under Haber, it is also expected bring a close focus on the
Bravia TV business, which has had profit challenges of late amid the struggling
Prior to moving to the home division, Abary led Sony’s network
technology and services division in the U.S., which covered Vaio computers,
Sony Ericsson unlocked phones, the Sony Reader and Sony’s Backstage premium
technical services. He joined Sony in 2000 serving in various capacities for Vaio
and IT products.
Haber moves into the home products division from his role as
executive VP handling Sony Reader products. Haber will continue to oversee the
Sony Reader business in addition to his new responsibilities, Sony said.
Earlier, Haber had been senior VP in charge of the personal
mobile and imaging division, where he was responsible for personal audio, mobile
electronics, digital still cameras, digital photo printers and related
accessories in the United States.


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A vintage Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure has become the world’s most valuable Star Wars toy ever sold at auction.
The figure sold for more than $75,000 at Hake’s Americana, more than doubling the previous auction record.
The figure was part of the renowned Russell Branton Collection, which had been described as “the best original trilogy vintage Kenner collection to ever come to auction”.
The Obi-Wan figure was released by Kenner in 1978, as part of the first-ever Star Wars toy line.
The figures are considered rare in any condition – but the example sold at Hake’s was unopened, on its original un-punched card.
Given a perfect 100% condition grade by the AFA (Action Figure Authority), the figure achieved a final price of $76,700.
The previous record for any Star Wars figure had been set in 2016, when an unopened French-release Boba Fett figure sold in the U.K for £26,000 ($34,285).
The first was a Luke Skywalker figure from the same 1978 Kenner toy line, graded AFA 95 on an un-punched card, which sold for an amazing $50,622 against an estimate of just 410,000 – $20,000.
The second was a rare Anakin Skywalker figure, cast from hard resin and fully painted as a prototype for the 1985 ‘Power of the Force’ toy line, which sold for $34,981.
“It was a sale for the history books,” said Alex Winter, president of Hake’s Americana.
“The excitement and high prices it generated told us in no uncertain terms that the state of the market for high-quality, impeccably provenanced vintage collectibles is stronger than ever.
“We can’t wait to see what the next 50 years will be like for the memorabilia hobby and for our business.”


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Today, we’re excited to announce that Motorola has been named an honoree of Fast Company’s 2022 World Changing Ideas Awards for our indigenous languages revitalization initiative. This year, the awards honored a number of companies and their solutions which support clean technology, innovative corporate initiatives, brave new designs for cities and buildings, and other creative works that are supporting the growth of positive social innovation, tackling social inequality, climate change, and public health crises.
In 2021, Motorola introduced our indigenous languages revitalization initiative – an effort focused on embracing digital inclusion by fully supporting two indigenous languages spoken in the Amazon and South of Brazil. With many of these indigenous languages in danger of disappearing completely, Motorola became the first OEM to digitize Kaingang and Nheengatu on a smartphone device.
“We’re honored to have been recognized by Fast Company for our work in bringing more digital inclusion to our consumers and industry,” said Renata Altenfleder, Head of Global Brand at Motorola. “With this initiative, we are working toward delivering a mobile experience that embraces all of our users and contributes to the survival of indigenous languages and cultures.”
Now in its sixth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 39 winners, 350 finalists, and more than 600 honorable mentions—with climate, social justice, and AI and data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 2,997 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, health, social justice, and more. In addition, several new categories have been added this year including climate, nature, water, and workplace. The 2022 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Switzerland to Hong Kong to Australia.
Motorola along with other fellow winners of the prestigious World Changing Ideas awards will be showcased in Fast Company’s Summer 2022 issue, hitting newsstands on May 10, 2022.
“We are consistently inspired by the novelty and creativity that people are applying to solve some of our society’s most pressing problems, from shelter to the climate crisis. Fast Company relishes its role in amplifying important, innovative work to address big challenges,” says David Lidsky, interim editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Our journalists have identified some of the most ingenious initiatives to launch since the start of 2021, which we hope will both have a meaningful impact and lead others to join in being part of the solution.”
In 2022, Motorola announced the completion of the second phase of this initiative with the support of the Cherokee language on Motorola devices’ User Interface.
“With our efforts to open-source our software indigenous language assets, we hope this initiative and milestone will inspire more actions toward revitalization within our industry, and we are eager to continue this work in the years to come”, said Janine Oliveira, Executive Director Globalization, Motorola.”
About the World Changing Ideas Awards
World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.


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Pokémon GO Apple Watch App “Coming Soon” According to Niantic
Back in September at Apple’s iPhone 7 event, the creators of Pokémon GO said an Apple Watch app would be coming before the end of 2016, and this afternoon, developers Niantic announced on Twitter the plans are still on track.
The tweet this afternoon said “Pokémon Go for Apple Watch is coming soon. Stay tuned.”
When will the Pokémon GO Apple Watch launch? There are two weeks left in 2016, so the update should most likely come before Apple’s iTunes Connect shuts down for the holidays, from December 23-27. Or, it could come last minute before the New Year.
The Apple Watch app for Pokémon GO would allow players to view on their wrist how far they need to walk to hatch eggs, plus fitness information and what else is needed to reach the next level. The app would notify players on their wrist with relevant notifications so they don’t need to stare at their phones 24/7.
The Pokémon GO hype has died down, but there are still some hardcore trainers out there enjoying the game. The recently launch of Super Mario Run for iPhone smashed Pokémon GO’s record of most downloads in a day, with the Nintendo title garnering a reported 2.85 million downloads in 24 hours, according to analytics firm, Apptopia.


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The Value of Having Your Own Dedicated Social Network Within the Enterprise
Let’s see . . . . There’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr, Reddit, Stumbleupon, and many, many ...
10 Keys to Creating a Recovery Plan That Will Survive a Real Disaster
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Endless Options For Desktop Computing
Mobile. Cloud. Mobile. Cloud. Sometimes it feels like these are the only words that technology pundits and three quarters of the tech vendors on the planet ...
Why Your Business Needs a Learning Management System
Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have been used for decades in educational settings, connecting students to instructors, helping students track assignments, ...
IT Management Daily News Digest for October 9, 2014
Twitter Sues DOJ
Microblogging site Twitter is suing the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over the right to reveal government surveillance requests. The ...
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Redbox Instant will be ceasing its streaming business after lackluster performance and poor consumer demand for the service. Redbox ...
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EU Questions Ireland About Apple Deal
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IT Management Daily News Digest for September 29, 2014
Shellshock Bug Warning to Banks
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10 Million iPhone 6 Devices Sold in 3 days
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Xbox Delayed in China
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Addressing Privacy Concerns for Business Smartphone Users
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Five Reasons Why Cloud Matters More Than Platforms
Concerns over security and privacy aside, it's clear that cloud is the future of computing. It’s much more important now than traditional platforms.
Governing Social Media: 3 Social Media Policies Businesses Should Consider
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I was taking an evening stroll through the neighborhood with my family recently and saw some kids playing basketball at the top of their steep driveway.
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With CMA CGM’s second-quarter results expected tomorrow, the cumulative industry profit will reach a new record, but it is likely to be the beginning of the end of carrier mega-earnings, says an article published in The Loadstar.
High of this year
According to the release today of the latest HSBC global research report on the global container shipping sector, liner profits are set to plunge by more than 80% from their highs of this year – but it adds it still expects results will be “better than in the past”.
“There are signs that spot rates could fall to pre-pandemic levels swiftly on the widening demand-supply gap,” says the report, “but we maintain that contract rates should settle above their pre-pandemic levels and that capacity discipline will keep spot rates from lingering at trough levels.
“Overall, we expect the sector to remain profitable versus the losses pre-pandemic.”
HSBC is predicting a global container trade decline of 2% this year, and 3% in 2023, before recovering by 2.5% in 2024, compared to capacity growth of 6.2%, 6.5% and 8%, respectively. As a consequence, it is trimming its profit estimates “mainly for 2024, the year we expect the sector to bottom-out”.
Blue Alpha Capital analysis
According to an analysis by Blue Alpha Capital founder John McCown, the industry produced a cumulative net profit of $59.3bn in the first quarter, after a surplus of $52.5bn in the final period of 2021. And ocean carrier results for Q2 have all shown a quarter-on-quarter improvement, with, for example, Maersk posting a profit of $8.6bn, compared with $6.8bn in Q1.
But analysts expect CMA CGM to again beat Maersk to be the most profitable carrier that reports its results, with its Q2 net profit in excess of the $7.2bn it posted for the first quarter.
Moreover, with two-thirds of Q3 already under their belts, profits for the current period could be as good, if not better, for the liner sector. And, although the downturn has begun, the lag in voyage results will mean the impact on profits for carriers will only start to be seen in the final weeks of Q4 and into Q1 next year.
And budgeting for next year is wracked with uncertainties; in fact, Japanese carrier ONE, which reports its results on a fiscal year basis, ending on 31 March next year, has yet to advise its full-year forecast. It said on 29 July it expected a gradual return to normalisation in the liner industry, but that it was “difficult to predict exactly when”.
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Source: The Loadstar


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Mastercard invests in fintech fund Nclude
Fintech and fintech-enabled startups are up for a funding boost after Mastercard closed a “strategic” investment in fintech fund Nclude, according to a press release. The investment will see Mastercard and Nclude investing in “promising early-and-growth-stage fintech and fintech enabled companies” to support digitization and financial inclusion in Egypt. An Nclude representative declined to disclose the investment size when asked by Enterprise.
The investments will cover sectors beyond pure fintech: “Our investment thesis is not only focused on fintech but also on fintech-enabled companies. This means that the companies we invest in may be operating in other sectors like agriculture, healthcare, supply chain, education, and others,” Nclude General Partner Basil Moftah told Enterprise. The companies Nclude targets have “embedded finance solutions that drive their growth and help them deliver a holistic customer experience,” Moftah said, pointing to agri-fintech business Mozare3 — which embeds financing for farmers — as an example.
About Nclude: The fund, which was launched earlier this year and reached a USD 105 mn first close last month, invests in early- and growth-stage fintech and fintech-enabled startups. The companies must be based or operating in Egypt or elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa, provided they have plans to expand to Egypt. The fund’s ticket sizes range from USD 500k to USD 5 mn, Moftah said. The fund has already invested in local startups including payment platform Paymob, financial super app Khazna, home ownership platform Partment, and Mozare3.


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Tattoo parlours are on the rise whereas banks and malls look like on their means out on British excessive streets. Authorities-imposed lockdowns are understood to be largely behind the quickly altering faces of our cities and cities.
There have been 9,300 fewer shops this March than in the identical month in 2020, in accordance with new analysis.
The altering retail outlook seems to mirror the shift to on-line purchasing – and, certainly, banking – which was largely bolstered through the two years when at factors Britons had been ordered to not go away their properties.
Ordnance Survey information, printed by the BBC, exhibits there was an 8.1 % nationwide decline within the variety of banks between March 2020 and March 2022.
Department shops had been additionally down 13.4 %, nightclubs 9.4 % and garments retailers 8.5 %.
The companies which carried out greatest over this era had been hair and wonder providers (up by 5.9 %), quick meals and takeaway institutions (7.2) and, on the prime of the listing, tattoo and piercing studios (8.2).
BBC information journalist Nassos Stylianou described the info as illustrating “the altering face of excessive streets and purchasing areas from locations to purchase issues to locations to do stuff”.
Excessive Streets Job Drive board member Nick Plumb additionally stated the shifting pattern away from buying items on location since lockdowns.
He wrote in a submit on Twitter this highlighted “modifications in purchasing habits throughout pandemics now filtering via to modifications in constructing use”.
READ MORE: Russian army bloggers rage at Putin’s ‘lack of ability’ to cease assaults
The social media web page for Belfast Books, a bookshop in Northern Eire’s capital, in the meantime expressed its disappointment that the brand new figures don’t cowl the nation.
Food and drinks shops appeared caught in the course of one rising and one declining pattern, seeing an uptick within the variety of premises over the timeline, however solely minimally.
Throughout the nation, there was a 5.7 % improve within the variety of cafes.
The determine for pubs and bars was simply 1.6 %.
Debenhams was among the many largest excessive road shops to shut its doorways throughout Authorities-imposed lockdowns, placing jobs in danger and signalling the tip of an period.


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Bank of America to Pay $250 Million over Junk Fees and Fake Accounts
Government regulators this week ordered Bank of America to pay $250 million for engaging in a string of illegal banking practices that harmed hundreds of thousands of consumers.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) accused Bank of America of double-dipping on junk fees, withholding promised credit card rewards, and opening fake credit card accounts. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) also accused Bank of America of illegally charging junk fees. For these violations of consumer financial protection laws, Bank of America will pay $100 million to harmed customers and $150 million in combined penalties to CFPB and OCC.
According to CFPB, Bank of America adopted a policy of charging customers multiple $35 fees for the same declined transactions, a practice known as double-dipping on insufficient funds fees. This unlawful practice generated substantial unearned revenue for the bank. Bank of America also lured customers with enticing offers of cash and points to sign up for credit cards, then allegedly withheld the promised cash and points rewards, denied sign-up bonuses, and failed to honor other rewards promises.
Regulators also found that since 2012, Bank of America employees have misused sensitive customer information to open unauthorized credit card accounts without their knowledge to meet sales-based incentive goals. These unauthorized accounts resulted in unjustified fees to the consumer, negative impacts on consumers’ credit profiles, and the need for a consumer to take corrective action.
In a statement, CFPB stressed that it is focused on stopping these types of schemes across the entire banking industry. CFPB Director Rohit Chopra stated “[t]hese practices are illegal and undermine customer trust. The CFPB will be putting an end to these practices across the banking system.”
Bank of America has been a repeat offender in various illegal banking practices. In 2014, the bank agreed to pay $16.65 billion to resolve federal and state mortgage fraud claims. That same year, the CFPB ordered Bank of America to pay $727 million in redress to its victims for illegal credit card practices. In 2022, the CFPB and OCC fined Bank of America $225 million and required it to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in redress to consumers for botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This latest enforcement action against Bank of America highlights the significance of fair and transparent banking practices. Moving forward, it is essential for financial institutions to prioritize ethical conduct, transparency, and the fair treatment of customers to maintain public confidence in the banking system.
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Home Depot Sales Declined 4.2% in Q2, Earnings Down 8.5%
Atlanta, GA, May 16, 2023-The Home Depot reported sales of $37.3 billion for Q1 2023, a decrease of 4.2% from Q1 2022’s $38.9 billion.
Comparable sales for Q1 2023 decreased 4.5%, and comparable sales in the U.S. decreased 4.6%.
Net earnings for Q1 2023 were $3.9 billion, a decline of 8.5% compared with net earnings of $4.2 billion in the same period of fiscal 2022.
“After a three-year period of unprecedented growth for our sector, during which we grew sales by over $47 billion, we expected that fiscal 2023 would be a year of moderation for the home improvement market. Our sales for the quarter were below our expectations primarily driven by lumber deflation and unfavorable weather, particularly in our Western division as extreme weather in California disproportionately impacted our results,” said Ted Decker, chair, president and CEO.
Home Depot said in now expects sales and comparable sales to decline between 2% and 5% for the fiscal year versus an earlier forecast of flat sales for the year.
Sales in the flooring department were down double digits in Q1 on a YOY comparison.


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Thursday, 23 September 2021
SOME residents of Woodcote saw the funny side of a ram-raid on a village shop.
As the Henley Standard reported last week, a stolen Land Rover containing four men was driven into the glass frontage of the Co-op store in Bridle Path but the gang fled when the vehicle got stuck on a security bollard.
Villager Amanda Stewart took a photograph of the vehicle embedded in the shop which she uploaded on to the Wonderful Woodcote Facebook group page with the comment: “Unexpected item in bagging area”!
01 October 2018
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The goal of the new offering is to help clients drive brand loyalty and increase revenue by applying multi-platform measurement expertise to digital business analytics.
ComScore announced the launch of its Digital Analytix Multi-Platform on Monday. The goal of the new offering is to help clients drive brand loyalty and increase revenue by applying multi-platform measurement expertise to digital business analytics.
The new platform aims to help businesses gain a more in-depth understanding of their customers' behaviors across their products and properties. The new offering builds on comScore's Digital Analytix, a technology used to help companies better understand their digital customers' behaviors.
"As pioneers in multi-platform measurement, comScore has been at the forefront in solving the complex technological and methodological issues associated with digital consumers shifting from screen to screen. With the introduction of Digital Analytix Multi-Platform, we are now bringing this expertise to enterprise analytics to help publishers and retailers understand the behavior of their customers across platforms," said Jodi McDermott, vice president at comScore, in the press release.
"Using more sophisticated logic to associate disparate multi-platform engagements with a single customer, Digital Analytix Multi-Platform provides unparalleled insight into the complete customer journey from acquisition to conversion. Accurately accounting for these behaviors gives businesses the metrics needed to enhance the customer experience, develop more effective marketing strategies and, ultimately, drive brand loyalty," continued McDermott.
The platform will deliver more detailed data that will allow companies to optimize the customer journey, retain customers and drive loyalty, decrease the time and money spent analyzing data, and share more detailed information with advertisers and partners.
"As a media company, it would be short-sighted to focus on what our customers are doing solely on a single device," said Gianni Maestri, head of digital entertainment analytics and insight at Virgin Media, in the press release. "Whether they're setting their set top box to record a favorite show from their smartphone or watching music videos on a tablet, we need to know how, when and where they're interacting with our services. Digital Analytix is the only product on the market that enables this level of insight."
On the heels of a fantastic event in New York City, ClickZ Live is taking the fun and learning to Toronto, June 23-25. With over 15 years' experience delivering industry-leading events, ClickZ Live offers an action-packed, educationally-focused agenda covering all aspects of digital marketing. Register today!
Want to learn more? Join us at ClickZ Live San Francisco, Aug 10-12!
Educating marketers for over 15 years, ClickZ Live brings together industry thought leaders from the largest brands and agencies to deliver the most advanced, educational digital marketing agenda. Register today and save $500!
Caitlin Rossman was Associate Editor at ClickZ until September 2013, where she had been working since 2009. She previously worked as a Copy Editor for The New York Post. Caitlin received her BA in journalism from New York University.
Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce
This Magic Quadrant examines leading digital commerce platforms that enable organizations to build digital commerce sites. These commerce platforms facilitate purchasing transactions over the Web, and support the creation and continuing development of an online relationship with a consumer.
Paid Search in the Mobile Era
Google reports that paid search ads are currently driving 40+ million calls per month. Cost per click is increasing, paid search budgets are growing, and mobile continues to dominate. It's time to revamp old search strategies, reimagine stale best practices, and add new layers data to your analytics.
June 10, 2015
12:00pm ET/9:00am PT


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Ubiquitech Software Corp (OTCMKTS:UBQU) shares were down 3.26% to $0.00890 on Wednesday and flat in after-hours trading. The company has a market cap of $751,222.00 at 66.06 million shares outstanding. Share prices have been trading in a 52-week range of $0.01 to $0.09.
Ubiquitech Software Corp is a company that is engaged in the sale of dual subscriber identity module, dual-telephone-number mobile phone solutions with no contract, pre-paid unlimited text and voice. The dual SIM feature enables the consumer to have two telephone numbers ring to a single phone. Through its subsidiary Blue Crush Marketing Group, the company markets a Blue Crush Monetization System, which consists of Internet technologies along with other online advertising methods, and Blue Crush Connect, a social media portal that connects its customers to its Websites, brands and offers.
Meanwhile, Hemp Life Today offers CannazALL, which is a canabidiol (CBD) oil made from domestically grown hemp. In addition, Ubiquitech Software Corp is also engaged in the development of FusionFundraiser, a mobile application to allow traditional fundraisers for schools, clubs, organizations, sports teams and others to access a mobile application.
In its update to shareholders and the general public, Ubiquitech Software Corp CEO James Ballas and the company’s management provided an update of its achievements and press releases to be made.
While we are thrilled with what we have achieved so far in 2016, now that Labor Day weekend is behind us, we are poised to really start an additional growth curve that will take us through end of year, and in 2017 we expect to continue growing at an even greater rate,” said Ballas. “We employ a very talented team and we succeed not only because we are on the cutting edge of the explosive Hemp industry, but because we are also on the cutting edge of innovative marketing.”
Among the achievements announced were the name and symbol change, new active buyers and subscribers, added revenue platforms, added content sites, new products, lowered retail pricing, and lowered advertising costs.
DISCLAIMER: There is a substantial risk of loss with any speculative asset, especially small cap stocks. The opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not constitute recommendations to buy or sell a stock. Do your own research before committing capital.


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Copper futures rise 0.12% on spot demand
Copper prices were up by 0.12 per cent to Rs 340.70 per kg in futures trade today as traders enlarged positions, taking positive cues from spot market.
However, a weak trend in base metals at the London Metal Exchange restricted the rise.
At the Multi Commodity Exchange, copper for delivery in November month edged up by 40 paise, or 0.12 per cent to Rs 340.70 per kg in business turnover of 5,179 lots.
Similarly, the metal for delivery in far-month February next year traded higher by 15 paise, or 0.04 per cent to Rs 346.50 per kg in 111 lots.
Market analysts attributed rise in copper prices at futures trade to pick up in demand at the domestic spot markets but a weak trend in base metals overseas, caped the gains.
Globally, copper for delivery in three months Copper was little changed at USD 5,181.50 a metric tonne at the London Metal Exchange.


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KARACHI: Shocked citizens, who were assured by the Nawaz Sharif’s relative that US dollars will not appreciate any more, were noticed trying to buy dollars from black market at the rate of Rs. 275 on Friday (27th of Jan 2023).
On 27th Jan the Pak Rupee shed Rs. 7.17 in the interbank trading and closed at Rs.262.60.
Though in open market the buying rate was Rs. 264 and selling rate was Rs. 266, due to augmentation in the demand by frenzy citoyens dollar was not available even for Rs. 275 in the black market.
Euro that was available for Rs. 278.83 on Thursday (26th of Jan, 2023) closed at Rs. 285.60 on Friday (27th of Jan, 2023).
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You will not discover Nvidia’s H100 (Hopper) GPU on the listing of the finest graphics playing cards. Nonetheless, the H100’s forte lies in synthetic intelligence (AI), making it a coveted GPU within the AI trade. And now that everybody is leaping on the AI bandwagon, Nvidia’s H100 has change into much more well-liked.
Nvidia claims that the H100 delivers as much as 9X quicker AI coaching efficiency and as much as 30X speedier inference efficiency than the earlier A100 (Ampere). With a efficiency of that degree, it is simple to grasp why everybody desires to get their fingers on an H100. As well as, Reuters (opens in new tab) reported that Nvidia had modified the H100 to adjust to export guidelines in order that the chipmaker may promote the altered H100 because the H800 to China.
Final 12 months, U.S. officers carried out a number of laws to stop Nvidia from promoting its A100 and H100 GPUs to Chinese language purchasers. The foundations restricted GPU exports with chip-to-chip information switch charges beneath 600 GBps. Switch pace is primordial within the AI world, the place techniques have to maneuver monumental quantities of knowledge round to coach the AI fashions, resembling ChatGPT. Hindering the chip-to-chip information switch charge ends in a big efficiency hit, because the slower switch charges improve the time it takes to switch information, in flip rising the coaching time.
With the A100, Nvidia trimmed the GPU’s 600 GBps interconnect right down to 400 GBps and rebranded it because the A800 to commercialize it within the Chinese language market. Nvidia is taking an equivalent method to the H100.
In keeping with Reuters’ Chinese language chip trade supply, Nvidia decreased the chip-to-chip information switch charge on the H800 to roughly half of the H100. That would depart the H800 with an interconnect restricted to 300 GBps. That is a extra vital efficiency hit than in comparison with the A100 and A800, the place the latter suffered from a 33% decrease chip-to-chip information switch charge. Nonetheless, the H100 is considerably quicker than the A100, which may very well be why Nvidia imposed a extra extreme chip-to-chip information switch charge restrict on the previous.
Reuters contacted an Nvidia spokesperson to inquire about what differentiates the H800 from the H100. Nonetheless, the Nvidia consultant solely acknowledged that “our 800-series merchandise are absolutely compliant with export management laws.”
Nvidia already has three of probably the most outstanding Chinese language expertise corporations utilizing the H800: Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu Inc, and Tencent Holdings. China has banned ChatGPT; subsequently, the tech giants are competing with one another to provide a home ChatGPT-like mannequin for the Chinese language market. And whereas an H800 with half the chip-to-chip switch charge will undoubtedly be slower than the full-fat H100, it can nonetheless not be sluggish. With corporations doubtlessly utilizing hundreds of Hopper GPUs, finally, we’ve to marvel if this may imply utilizing extra H800s to perform the identical work as fewer H100s.


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As revelers embraced Halloween weekend wearing costumes, Rihanna played by her own style rules at a party on Saturday.
The pop star stomped out in an off-the-shoulder Fenty x Puma bomber jacket and sleek Haider Ackermann booties.
The black patent leather ankle boots feature a leopard print-toe cut and a nearly 5-inch heel; they retail for $1,325 on the label’s website.
Riri’s wide, ribbed collar jacket from her Puma collection retails for $1,800 online.
Her fall ’16 styles for the brand, which includes sneaker boots and creeper platforms, will hit stores globally next month.
In September, Rihanna launched her collection at Bergdorf Goodman at an exclusive event that attracted a frenzied crowd.
“For an island girl like me to carry such a prestigious brand like Puma from just the athleticism of the brand to glamour — and bring it all the way to Bergdorf Goodman — is such a big deal for me. It makes me feel very special. Thank you, guys, for taking a chance on me. I can’t believe my fans can come here and buy my collection,” she said at the time.


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Did you know that the process of coming up with a scenario that tests people’s basic assumptions and reality frontiers is in itself therapeutic? It helps to keep your mind sharp in recognizing artificial mental boundaries around you, the ones ripe for overstepping.
Very few companies have cultivated such a strong and successful brand image as Harley-Davidson has. One that has created a whole lifestyle essence. But recently the company announced plans for a roadshow to introduce a line of electric motorcycles, which seems to go counter to its iconic brand image. Is this suicide or smart strategy?
The key to successful strategy is staying relevant. Any company that stops re-imagining boundaries runs the danger of becoming obsolete. For Harley, its core followers are within the finite group of middle-aged men. In order to expand its relevance to new audiences, the company is venturing outside its current boundaries and looking to attract women and environment-conscious riders. Importantly, Harley is doing this in a way mindful of guarding its brand image and not upsetting its current core followers.
I am pleased to be speaking this year at Forum One, the biggest business and leadership event in Central Europe. It will take place on October 23 – 24, at the Siemens Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania.
I will be sharing the stage with such luminaries as Seth Godin, Ken Schmidt and Jaan Tallinn, in front of an audience of 5,000. I will be speaking about re-imagining boundaries and creating continuous blue ocean market spaces. It promises to be a high-energy and impactful event, so send me a note if you plan to attend.
If you have read my book ‘Slingshot’, perhaps you noticed the striking similarity between a scenario I presented in the book and the story of my last blog. I would like to elaborate on this exciting resemblance here.
In my last post, I drew your attention to the seemingly absurd partnership between Ford Motor Company and H.J. Heinz – the maker of ketchup. But this union isn’t that crazy after all, in fact it may be visionary: “Ford announced that it and Heinz have made a good bit of progress, as they've worked to turn the latter's tomato waste into the former's bioplastics. Ford says that tomato skins, for example, may ultimately be used to create plastic for wiring brackets, panels, or storage bins” (Yahoo.com auto news)
A key component of my Slingshot Framework is a visual mapping tool I call ‘the Accordion Chart’. The Accordion Chart is a visual method that enables you to explore the market spaces your organization currently resides in and should look to occupy.
The Accordion Chart illuminates the full spectrum of your value proposition from its most narrow to its most broad definition, leading to profound insights:


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After 17 years of existence, Yahoo! Inc. has fallen upon hard times. It recently fired its CEO Carol Bartz and has fallen further and further behind its competitor Google. Now the real question is who Yahoo will consider the “right bidder.” Jack Ma, CEO of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, said that Alibaba would be “interested” in buying Yahoo. Ma certainly should be interested, seeing as Yahoo has a 40% stake in Alibaba.
Alibaba is now in a position of power. It is thriving in the Chinese e-commerce market, thanks to its incredibly successful Taobao.com and B2C platform TMall.com. With the opportunity to buy Yahoo, Ma has the chance to consolidate ownership of Alibaba within the company and break free of its responsibility to Yahoo as an outside stock holder. Alibaba is not the only interested party, however. Microsoft offered to buy Yahoo for $47 billion in 2008, an offer that Yahoo declined, and rumors have circulated that Microsoft may yet again attempt to buy the company. It has been speculated that AOL would buy Yahoo, though this seems improbable as AOL faces its own serious problems.
Alibaba ‘interested’ in buying all of Yahoo
Yahoo’s potential buyers include Alibaba
And Now Yahoo Has Put Itself Up For Sale…


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Posted: Apr 30, 2020
Despite innovative concepts to deal with the present nationwide lockdown, like restaurants offering pick up service, fine dining take out delivery and restaurant parking lot drive-in-movie theaters, restaurants are not doing well.
More than half the 6,500 restaurant owners the National Restaurant Association (NRA) surveyed across the U.S. claim the existing federal business relief grants do not cover enough for them to maintain employees on the payroll. As a result, the U.S. restaurant industry has shed more than 8 million employees during this pandemic. The survey also shows that the restaurant industry lost $30 billion in March, 2020; by the last day in April another $50 billion is likely to be lost. NRA estimates by the end of 2020, the restaurant industry will be down by at least $240 billion.
In a letter to Congress, the NRA executive vice president of public affairs, Sean Kennedy claimed shut down mandates across the country have hit the restaurant industry the hardest. He speculated that future need for social distancing will level an even greater blow to the industry.
The NRA asked Congress for targeted recovery relief for what it refers to as the second largest private sector employer in the country. Among other requirements NRA seeks, the top of the list includes: an industry recovery fund of $240 billion to compensate for government-ordered closings, “start-up” capital to reopen, restock, and supply new safety equipment, and to rehire and retrain staff; a tax credit or grant to help restaurants accommodate continued social distancing; and federal relief for the restaurant employer’s share of unemployment insurance.
By Thomas Pellechia
April 28, 2020
Source and complete article: Forbes.com
Go-Wine's mission is to organize food and beverage information and make it universally accessible and beneficial. These are the benefits of sharing your article in Go-Wine.com


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Jaguar Land Rover is planning to enter the electric and hybrid vehicle market following the success of brands like BMW and Tesla.
Having recently planned to invest in a new plant in North America, Jaguar Land Rover which is owned by Tata Group is now planning to build its first all-electric car in Austria. Jaguar might go ahead and push the vehicle into production next year and will launch the car after the much awaited launch of the “baby Jag”, XE and F-Pace crossover.
The move towards manufacturing electric vehicles comes to light because of the strict emission norms prevailing in Europe. Many manufacturers are aiming to produce more electric and hybrid cars as sales for such cars have been increasing rapidly as experienced by BMW’s recent petrol and electric plug-in hybrids, the i8 and the i3.
Jaguar is also planning to set-up a small production line in Austria making roughly about 10,000 cars in a year. They are planning to lease space in an existing factory instead of investing in a new factory for the same. After Tata Motors acquired JLR from Ford in 2008, their workforce has increased by more than two-folds to 32,000. They now sell almost 5,00,000 cars yearly and are looking to expand their global footprint by building additional manufacturing plants, whose locations have not been decided yet.


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(This post was last published in November 5th, 2015. It has been updated for accuracy and completeness.)
Amazon uses ASINs to manage their ever-growing product catalog. These unique product identifiers are an important part of Amazon’s selling policies as they help shoppers find the items they want. If not used correctly, Amazon sellers can violate selling terms and even lose their eligibility on the marketplace.
To ensure you can list and sell your items on Amazon, this article details what Amazon ASIN numbers are, why they’re important, and how to find and identify your product listings with them.(more…)
Thank you for reading the nChannel blog in 2019! With the end of year approaching, we always like to look back and see what articles you found the most helpful.
See our list of our 10 most popular articles from 2019!(more…)
This week we’re reading about how many shoppers to expect this ‘Super Saturday’, why shipping companies are struggling to deliver this holiday season, and why customers won’t join a loyalty program. Read the articles below!(more…)
Most B2B companies are tackling eCommerce head-on. Realizing the opportunity that online selling represents, manufacturers and distributors are investing in new technology to transform their online presences into personalized buying experiences.
Forrester predicts the B2B eCommerce industry to hit $1.2 trillion in the U.S. by 2021. Despite this, some B2B sellers are reluctant to sell online. It’s understandable that digitally transforming your business is overwhelming, but sellers can’t ignore it any longer. An online presence isn’t a nice-to-have, but rather a requirement for manufacturers and distributors to sell to the next generation of B2B buyers.
See the top reasons why B2B sellers should stop dragging their feet and start selling online.(more…)
Direct-to-consumer brands are disrupting the retail landscape both online and in-store. These digital native merchants have strong brand identities that resonate well with their audiences. Their hyper-focused on the customer experience, changing the way retailers should think about customer interactions. Most importantly, they’re taking control of their consumer data allowing continuous innovation and improvement.
Direct-to-consumer is a winning formula in retail right now and more brands are popping up than ever before. Look at why this retail model works and some of the top DTC brands out there now.(more…)


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Amsterdam in 2025 will have a city centre where a ‘different’ kind of visitor and ‘Amsterdammers want to come’, according to new city plans.
The coronavirus crisis laid bare how certain areas had become almost totally dependent on low-budget tourism, linked with noise, nuisance and locals chased or priced out.
Now, following calls from tourism experts, businesses and local residents to reset the city’s reputation for drugs, sex and lost weekends, the council has proposed 88 far-reaching measures to ensure that after the crisis, things change.
Eva Plijter, a spokeswoman for the council’s inner city team, told DutchNews.nl that the aim is to make the area once again attractive for people to live in and discourage certain kinds of mass tourism.
‘We are researching the legal possibilities to ban holiday rentals such as Airbnb in the [entire] inner city, and this plan also talks about reducing the number of coffee shops and prostitution windows because they appeal to visitors we are less keen to see return,’ she said. ‘We want to make De Wallen more liveable.’
According to the plan, the council wants to buy up buildings containing tourist shops to repurpose them, research whether it is possible to convert cheap hotels to other functions, such as homes, and restrict opening times for brothel windows and nightlife to make the red light district better for residents.
The mayor of Amsterdam is currently investigating whether prostitution should be moved entirely to one ‘erotic’ centre elsewhere, and whether coffeeshops should enforce a residents-only rule in order to reduce nuisance and criminality. Some measures in the long-awaited plan are already being implemented – and since July there has been an Airbnb/holiday rental ban in three smaller areas – but the city is researching far more radical steps.
Among the new ideas are to ban or restrict alcohol sales in shops in nuisance areas – something tried during lockdowns earlier this year – and open a policing point again in red light district. Amsterdam will also run a study to see whether longer opening hours for alcohol-free businesses could improve certain neighbourhoods, while putting in other measures to reduce littering and public urination.
The plans aim to rebuild ‘a valuable visitor economy’ by 2025, when Amsterdam will celebrate its 750th birthday. In the inner city plan, Amsterdam admits: ‘Before the corona crisis, at certain times and spots in the inner city, too many people and bad behaviour caused unpleasant situations, and there is also a lot of holiday rental. In some areas in the inner city, there is now an economic monoculture that does not appeal to Amsterdammers. The coronacrisis is still with us but has shown how dependent and vulnerable the inner city is because of this one-dimensional visitor economy.’
Instead, the aim is to change the international image of the city through advertising, encouraging more business visitors and conferences, and tackling areas such as the Bloemenmarkt floating flower market, linked in recent years with ‘flower fraud’. ‘It is clear that something had to change there,’ said Plijter. ‘Locals haven’t visited the flower market for years and it is a pull for mass tourism: we want to give that space back to Amsterdammers.’
Don Ceder, head of the ChristenUnie in Amsterdam, welcomed the plans. ‘The mayor has finally really acknowledged that when it comes to the function of the inner city, we need some severe measures to stop it being a magnet for certain visitors and to ensure the city becomes viable again for the people who live there,’ he said. ‘These plans are a big step in reclaiming the city.’
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India is undoubtedly one of the hottest markets for smartphones, and Google is still way behind rivals such as Apple and Samsung when it comes to selling smartphones in the country.
According to The Economic Times, these traditional stores are now being evaluated, with the locations possibly being branded as "experience centres". Google is encouraged to open retail stores in India as the brand has received some positive response when they opened a dozen of pop-up stores across different malls in the country.
The company's brick-and-mortar stores in India are likely to open in mid-to-late 2018, so it won't be long before Google makes an official announcement.
These pop-up stores helped Google to understand that physical stores are important to explain things clearly that is not possible via online videos and advertisements.
Sources speaking to Economic Timessaid the retail stores could carry other Google products as well, including Google Home, Chromecast, Pixellaptops, and Daydream View. Another source revealed that Google had already roped in a senior Apple executive as part of its plan.
Spice had said it planned to open 50 AndroidLand outlets in 18 months but the venture folded up with the two stores in Select Citywalk in Delhi and The Great India Place Mall in Noida shuttered due to poor sales. This will be Google's second stab at physical outlets in the country.
For those of you who didn't know, Google had, in fact, tried its luck at opening retail stores in India back in 2013. They launched with 1,000 offline stores, but it looks like Google will have to do a lot more to ensure steady sales of its flagship smartphones in the face of intense competition. "We had done two stores as part of the pilot and then we could not proceed with the project as they did not meet with our desired objectives", said Chief Executive of Spice Connect, Dilip Modi.
It's still unclear whether Google will own and operate the stores itself, or whether it'll go the franchise route instead. Unlike Apple, which has filed for a single-brand retailing license in India, Google could decide to open its stores and have them operated by franchisees like Samsung and Xiaomi have done with its stores inside India.


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New master-planned business park will bring 2.2 million square feet of distribution space to Katy
International real estate investment firm Hines will build a new 150-acre business park called Pintail Crossing at the northwest corner of I-10 and Igloo Road within three years.
International real estate investment firm Hines announced in early May it will develop a 150-acre business park, Pintail Crossing, at the northwest corner of I-10 and Igloo Road.
The master-planned business park lies between the Amazon and Igloo distribution centers and upon completion, will be able to accommodate up to 2.2 million square feet of distribution space, according to a press release from Hines.
“Over the past several years, we have seen the far west I-10 corridor emerge as a vibrant logistics submarket, with some of the largest user footprints in the Houston MSA locating there,” Hines Managing Director Charlie Meyer stated in the release. “The location offers access to Texas’ major population centers and proximity to a high-quality labor pool.”
Meyers said Hines also chose the Katy location because it provides an ideal spot for serving multiple Texas markets, such as the Greater Houston area, San Antonio and Austin.
Leasing services for the park were awarded to Boyd Commercial LLC.
“We are excited to combine Hines’ build-to-suit track record with a well-located, flexible property that has the unique ability to offer tenants and users highly flexible configurations, with buildings ranging from 100,000 square feet to 1.2 million square feet,” Principal Andrew Sowell said in the release.
Meyer said Hines expects to break ground on the business park development before the end of the year. He said the park will be fully built out within the next three years. Although there is significant interest from potential tenants, no preleases have been secured as of late May, Meyer said.
“We are targeting build-to-suits and [are] currently in discussions with several tenants,” Meyer said.


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Buffalo Exchange Gives Fur Back to Wildlife through Annual Coats for Cubs Drive — Bring Your Old Coats to Hollywood Boulevard Store by April 22 to Help Injured and Orphaned Animals
Buffalo Exchange, a pioneer in buying and selling recycled fashion, has begun collecting furs for its annual Coats for Cubs drive. Until April 22, customers can donate real fur coats and trimmings at the Hollywood store or any of the 49 Buffalo Exchange locations across the country. All collected furs are then sent to wildlife rehabilitators, where they are re-purposed into bedding that nurtures recovering wild animals, providing more warmth and familiarity than other options like towels and sheets.
“It really helps the animals to have something to snuggle into,” says Jody Raines of Illinois Valley Wildlife Rehab. “It appears to relax them and makes them easier to work with. Every baby heads right to the fur hiding place when I take them in.”
According to Buffalo Exchange Vice President Rebecca Block, “Our Coats for Cubs drive is a unique way to give back to wildlife conservation. It helps injured and orphaned wildlife by keeping baby animals warm and minimizing human contact during the recovery process. It also gives our customers another way to recycle these kinds of items.”
The program has seen great success since 2006, when Buffalo Exchange joined the Humane Society of the United States in its collection efforts. The family-owned resale chain, which is now the sole operator of the drive, has collected and distributed over 13,644 furs to wildlife rehabilitators nationwide. Last year alone, Buffalo Exchange collected 1,390 furs to give back to the animals. Visit CoatsForCubs.org to learn more and see photos of some of the animals who have benefited from donated furs.
Click here for photos of wildlife with donated fur.
For information, call the Hollywood store at (954) 921-6589 or visit them at 1916 Hollywood Blvd.
Buffalo Exchange is a sustainable business that works to protect the environment by reusing and recycling clothing. Customers buy, sell and trade clothing, giving it a second life and reducing clothing pollution and waste. Since its beginning in 1974, this family-operated company has grown to 49 stores in 20 states. More information about the company can be found on its website as well as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.


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Viking said it attracted a record 300 attendees last week for its Viking Yachts and Valhalla Boatworks Dealer Meeting and Sea Trial event. It was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The company said in a statement that it provided sea trials for five new models that included the 38 Open Billfish, the 46 Billfish and three Valhalla V Series center consoles, the V-33, V-37 and V-41.
“Five new models – that’s an incredible accomplishment,” said Pat Healey, Viking president and CEO, in the statement. “Re-design, re-engineer, re-invent. This is what we do at the Viking Yacht Company. It's hard work, but we have a team with a lot of good people all pulling in the same direction, and that's what really makes the difference.”
Over 50 sales personnel from Viking’s domestic and international dealer network, 80 customers and 15 media members attended the event at the Golden Nugget’s Farley Marina. Beyond the five new models, Viking’s 38 Billfish, 44 Open, 44 Convertible, 58 Convertible and the Viking 72 were also available for sea trials.
The company said that the boats ran “nonstop” for three days, with 30 dealer sea trials, 39 customer sea trials and 20 sea trials for 11 media organizations.
The Valhalla Boatworks V Series center consoles were well received. “We’ve been waiting eagerly for these boats,” said Michael C. Galati from Galati Yacht Sales in the statement. “And every one of them was spectacular. Our customers are thrilled.”
Viking entered the center-console market in February, with the introduction of stepped-hull outboard-powered boats. The V Series project went from conception to completion in 15 months. “Very few companies could pull off what we’re doing,” said Healey. “We’re attacking the center console business the same way that we’ve attacked the sportfishing and the motor yacht business – by pushing the envelope to build a better boat every day.”
The new 46 Billfish and the 38 Open Billfish also received praise from dealers and media. “This is a true sportfishing machine in a segment of the market that has been ignored for years,” Marlin magazine’s Karl Anderson said of the 46 Billfish in the statement.
“It’s a home run,” added Gary Caputi, representing Anglers Journal magazine. “Very impressive.”
The five models will make their world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Viking’s display will have 21 boats from 33 to 93 feet.


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During the holy month of Ramadan Car offers has been noted retailers and wholesalers across a number of industries record a phenomenal surge in sales. With promotional pamphlets and advertisements from hypermarkets, electronic stores and automotive dealers supplementing the daily newspaper, it can get a little overwhelming when trying to keep track of all that’s on offer.
To make it just that tad bit easier, we here at AutoMiddleEast.com have consolidated a list of offers that you’ll find running across several automotive dealers around the Emirates during the holy month. Enjoy reading, have yourself a blessed Ramadan, and oh, let us know if we’ve missed out any offers in the comments section below!
Over in Abu Dhabi, Ali & Sons Motors is offering customers a one year comprehensive insurance plan, a five years unlimited mileage extended warranty, and a five years service and maintenance package on selected models in the range.
In Dubai, however, Al Nabooda’s got a slightly better offer up for grabs that gives customers a five year unlimited mileage warranty, a five year or 105,000 km service package, a five year or 105,000 km maintenance package, 24-hour roadside assistance for three years, and complimentary insurance for an entire year.
AGMC, a part of Albatha Automotive Group and official distributor for BMW vehicles, is offering the opportunity to own any model in its line-up with a 0% profit rate for five years and free insurance for the first year. Any one finally gathered enough to buy that M4 yet?
Quite easily the most tempting of them all, Al Rostamani Citroen is offering customers who purchase any vehicle from their line-up during the month of Ramadan, a trip to Paris with Air France for two nights and three days with hotel stay included for absolutely free.
All through Ramadan, Al-Futtaim Honda is giving back to its customers by offering discounts up to AED 20,000, service plans up to AED 12,000 and accessory packs up to AED 4,000 across select models throughout the holy month. In addition, customers purchasing any new Honda vehicle during Ramadan will be eligible to enter a raffle draw to win the 2015 Honda Odyssey J.
Offering a fair bit to customers who are considering a Kia, Al Majid Motor’s promotion gives customers a five year or 150,000 km manufacturer warranty; a five year or 100,000 km service contract; one year free registration, roadside assistance and insurance, in addition to a free Garmin navigation system on selected 2016 and 2015 models.
Liberty Automobiles is running an offer whereby customers have the choice of either (a) choosing to pay in 2016, or (b) opting for a 0% interest rate for five years across selected models.
On the 308, 508, and RCZ model ranges, Swaidan Trading is offering a choice of either 0% interest or a free 100,000 kms service plan, in addition to a five year warranty. Keep an eye out for the fine print though, as the asterisk in the advertisement clearly states Terms & Conditions apply.
With a catchy tagline that reads ‘Generosity is on us’, Arabian Automobiles Renault is offering customers the opportunity to save up to AED 15,000 and get a free two year service contract or a one year insurance plan on selected models.
In addition to prices that start at AED 41,900, AED 47,000, and AED 59,900 for the Swift, Jimny and Grand Vitara respectively, Al Rostamani is offering its customers a impressive 7 year unlimited mileage warranty for the holy month of Ramadan.
Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive distributor of Toyota vehicles in the UAE, has launched a unique Ramadan Upgrade program that offers upgrades of up to AED 30,000 on a select range of vehicles, including the Toyota Yaris Hatchback and Sedan, Prado and Land Cruiser, as well as the Al-Futtaim Motors 60th anniversary limited edition range.
The exclusive distributor for Volkswagen vehicles in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, Al Nabooda Automobiles, is offering up to AED 40,000 in cash savings, in addition to comprehensive service packages and special prices on models including the Touareg, Passat, Tiguan, and CC.


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Your typical GameStop store, in pretty much any big strip mall in any sizable American city, comprises roughly 1,500 square feet of clutter and chaos. Even on the slowest days, say a Wednesday afternoon when only a single-digit trickle of customers passes through, GameStop overwhelms. Hundreds of games for the major consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch) and PCs line the walls. Space marines and Animal Crossing critters and Marios and countless zombies stare out from the covers of shiny plastic boxes. Dozens of Funko collectible figures sit stacked on a counter. Display cases are packed with horror movie villains and sci-fi warriors. There are gaming controllers and virtual-reality headsets seemingly everywhere. As you browse the merchandise, you might ponder whether you’re the sort of person who needs a full-sized Cobra Commander helmet for $119.99. You might wonder who would want a beaten-up box containing a Gregarious Games “Luminart” sign from the movie Ready Player One, even for just $6.95. What you won’t necessarily pick up on is that you’re standing in—at least as far as many media and gaming industry pundits see it—a dying business.
Indeed, Wall Street was aghast when GameStop briefly became the most-talked-about company in the nation last month, as its stock price soared because of a coordinated effort launched in an online forum. Having noticed that there weren’t enough shares of the company’s stock available to cover all the bets institutional investors had made that GameStop’s value would fall—through a strategy called “short selling”—members of the WallStreetBets group on Reddit began buying up shares en masse. The increased demand pushed up the price. Then casual traders looked to cash in on GameStop’s climb, further fueling the stock’s rise. Big investment firms got caught flatfooted and were left scrambling to buy enough shares at the higher and higher prices to meet their obligations. (One firm, Melvin Capital, required a $2.75 billion cash bailout in order to avoid bankruptcy.) GameStop’s stock price skyrocketed from less than $20 to a peak of $483 in just two weeks.
This sudden surge in day trading of GME (the company’s ticker symbol) so overwhelmed many online brokers, including Robin Hood, that for several days they set limits on buying the stock. The national media attention garnered by the GameStop effort had a halo effect on other so-called meme stocks, including BlackBerry, AMC, and Nokia, that were also being hyped on Reddit and in chat rooms where amateur stock analysts gather to discuss how to extract maximal gains from the market. When the inevitable selloff came and GameStop’s stock dropped—back below $50 as of this week—tens of billions of dollars in market value was erased, and many novice investors learned the stock-trading term “bag holding” the hard way. GameStop’s stock price remains much higher than where it began the year, but it’s fallen far from its peak. The effects of this financial roller-coaster ride are still playing out. Just this week, Jason Bell, GameStop’s CFO since 2019, resigned.
Before the stock crash, some folks had good fortune. Among them was Ed Mitchell, a senior software engineer at an Austin health-care company. He invested $1,200 in GameStop at $60 a share, the first time he’d ever bought stock in any company. A week later, he sold ten of his shares for about $325 each, pocketing roughly $3,000. Mitchell’s foray into stock trading had relatively little to do with his faith in the future of GameStop’s business, although he considers himself an avid gamer. Rather, he views his profiting from and continuing to hold stock in the company as his contribution to a movement fighting back against financial inequity. “I think a lot of people, myself included, are still feeling like the system is gaming us,” he said. The rallying call to “hold the line,” to not sell shares and let the institutional investors win, was repeated often across social media during the surge; even rapper and non-financial-analyst Ja Rule advised “DO NOT SELL!”
Yet long before GameStop was conscripted as the poster child for fighting the power, the company was widely viewed as a lumbering, not always well-loved giant. In 2015, it was so dominant that 45 percent of new game software sold worldwide was bought at GameStop. Roughly one quarter of its revenue in recent years has come from used merchandise, mostly as the company bought games from its customers and then sold them to other customers at a significant markup. The feeling one gets from spending $60 on a new video game, selling it for $15, and then seeing it back on a store shelf for $40, made GameStop a villain in the eyes of penny-pinching gamers. Software developers and game publishers also took exception to GameStop’s opportunism in double-dipping on their products without sharing the profits.
Used-game sales aren’t the only problem game developers have had with the GameStop. Mike Wilson, a game-industry veteran who cofounded Austin-based indie publisher Devolver Digital, said that GameStop also had a reputation in the mid-aughts of charging publishers excessive fees for premium shelf space, as much as half a million dollars for a week of a promotional display on the end of an aisle during the holidays.
“They controlled half of the North American games retail, meaning they alone had the power to make or break any release, and took full advantage of that power. They were the worst among a pack of bad actors at retail, and by doing so really helped Steam usher in the digital age for games,” Wilson said, referring to a popular digital games storefront. “It’s quite ironic that this uprising chose GME, as GameStop represents everything that was wrong with retail getting too powerful.”
GameStop’s story isn’t some mom-and-pop, rags-to-riches fairy tale. It’s a far more typical American capitalist story of well-financed corporate mergers and acquisitions. It began with a single store called Babbage’s that opened in 1984 at NorthPark Center in Dallas selling educational and entertainment software. Ross Perot was an early investor, instrumental in getting that first location opened. Founded by two Harvard grads and named for mathematician Charles Babbage, it was a geek mecca long before video games, robotics, and coding were part of mainstream school curricula, as they are now.
Ten years and 319 more stores later, Babbage’s combined with Minnesota-based Software Etc., which had 352 stores at the time, to form the nation’s biggest software retailer. The newly dubbed Babbage’s Etc. moved its company headquarters to the Dallas suburb of Grapevine, where it’s been ever since. In 1996, Barnes & Noble CEO Leonard Riggio bought the company, then sold it to Barnes & Noble for three times what he paid. After swallowing up Funco, another game retailer with about 400 stores, in 2000, the bookstore chain changed the name of all its gaming stores to GameStop. Then came the addition of 1,500 more locations, including 547 overseas, when it bought Electronics Boutique in 2005, a year after GameStop was spun off from Barnes & Noble. At its peak in 2017, GameStop had about 6,600 locations worldwide. That number is closer to 5,500 today, with many more expected to close in 2021.
GameStop super-sized itself into a market behemoth just in time to take advantage of one of the most significant generation shifts ever in video game consoles—the arrival of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in 2005, followed a year later by Sony’s PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. GameStop saw its annual revenues rise from $4.3 billion in 2005 to more than $9 billion as recently as 2016.
In 2007, Penny Arcade, one of the web’s most popular online comic strips devoted to the subject of video games, published a scathing strip about GameStop, then approaching the height of its industry power. The strip derisively referred to the company as “a series of upscale pawnshops,” echoing many gamers’ complaints about its markups on used games. In an accompanying blog post, the strip’s coauthor Jerry Holkins described then nascent online stores for downloading games—such as Steam, Xbox Games Store, and PlayStation Network—as the “first chapter of a story that ends poorly for GameStop.” He argued that the retailer’s prime revenue stream—selling physical discs and cartridges—would soon be made obsolete by these faster, better ways of purchasing the same games.
Fast-forward to 2021, and fewer than 17 percent of games sold today are physical copies, despite the rows and rows of boxed games on display at Target, Best Buy, and other retailers in addition to GameStop. This shift echoes the end of the compact-disc music era and the transformation of the video rental market. For years, GameStop has promised investors it would bolster its own digital business, but that has never fully materialized. Its digital storefront primarily sells codes to unlock store credits or downloadable bonus content, not really competing with Steam or Sony or Nintendo or Microsoft’s more robust online marketplaces. That failure to capitalize on digital sales, and a drop in annual revenue from $8.2 billion in 2019 to $6.4 billion in 2020, led to much speculation that GameStop is doomed.
In the lead-up to the Reddit-powered stock surge, institutional investors targeted the company as a failing brick-and-mortar business that would never recover, especially last year when the COVID-19 pandemic kept gamers from retail locations and consequently pushed even more into buying digitally. (Video-game sales overall rose about 23 percent during 2020’s pandemic.) An earlier 2019 effort by GameStop to sell itself failed, which had also contributed to the perception that the company was bound to go the way of Blockbuster Video.
Yet some financial analysts, including Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities, say that GameStop has actually weathered the digital transition better than the music and video industries, primarily because the market for used games has remained stronger than those for used CDs or DVDs. “The good news for GameStop is they created the used video-game market, and they have a category of customer that absolutely values the trade-in. They look at a new game as a $20 bill they can trade in later,” Pachter said.
GameStop had a surprising increase in retail holiday sales for 2020 over the year before, despite temporary store closures. Much of that was a result of new consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, debuting late in the year. GameStop also saw a 309 percent increase in its digital revenue, though it remains a tiny player in that realm. And there’s been plentiful speculation that leadership changes announced early in 2021—namely the hiring of Amazon veteran Matt Francis as chief technology officer and the addition of Ryan Cohen, cofounder of the successful pets e-commerce company Chewy, to the board of directors—could help steer the company in a more digitally savvy direction.
Still, Pachter worries that GameStop may miss an opportunity to further improve its situation by issuing new shares of GME to pull in cash before the price falls even further back toward where it began the year. At least so far, however, GameStop has been hamstrung on that front. While the company filed to sell $100 million worth of shares last December, it hasn’t been able to, Reuters reported, because the company hasn’t yet reported earnings on the last quarter to investors and the Securities and Exchange Commission, a legal requirement before making such a stock offering. It’s already missed out on the potential to raise hundreds of millions of dollars at the peak of the stock surge.
“I keep thinking the company is going to issue stock, but they haven’t done so yet,” Pachter said. “I think they owe it to their long-term shareholders—to pay down debt and get out of any potential for ever going bankrupt and to build up their cash reserves to implement the right strategies.”
What those strategies should be, however, isn’t clear, and so far GameStop has not publicly laid out a vision for its future. Company spokespeople declined multiple requests for interviews for this story and remained silent throughout the stock surge. A marketer who has worked directly with GameStop and asked not to be named because of those business dealings, said e-sports and reworking the retail footprint for stores are now its major priorities.
“They’re looking at ways to engage casual gamers, to tie virtual worlds to physical stores, and to get into e-sports. They’re also looking to build local hubs for games, places where they can come together,” the marketer said. This model could emulate the kinds of gaming lounges popular in countries such as China and South Korea and that are beginning to pop up in the U.S.
That approach to business could be less about selling games than about renting time on high-powered gaming machines or selling food and drinks and membership perks to groups of players. It would require myriad adjustments and perhaps a total image makeover for GameStop. Yet the pre-pandemic success of gaming conventions has demonstrated that gamers like to gather IRL (in real life), despite stereotypes to the contrary. It’s true that a lot of gamer socializing takes place remotely, on gaming headsets, but there’s a lot to be said for face-to-face geeking out.
A recent visit to a GameStop store in north San Antonio, one of about 357 the company operates in Texas, gave me reason to believe a remaking of GameStop as gathering spot might work. As I was browsing the shelves, an employee called out, “What are you into?”
“Excuse me?” I responded
“What are you into? What games do you play?” he asked.
This sort of interaction is common at GameStop. The managers and workers invariably play lots of video games themselves. They talk about games all day. They read blogs about games. They are trained to chat with and inform customers about the games they play.
William, the store associate, and I ended up talking, through our face masks, for about a half-hour. We discussed the glitching wagons and whether you can rob trains in the game Red Dead Online, which Call of Duty has the best “Zombies mode,” whether Final Fantasy XIV is worth returning to again and again, why gaming PCs cost so much, and whether Apex Legends is better than Warzone. The conversation turned briefly to the stock surge. William bought GameStop shares at $9 and under $50 and sold it all for a $1,203 profit.
But stock talk gets boring fast. Instead, we returned to gaming: the no-no’s in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and whether “battle royale” games in general have peaked. It’s the kind of conversation that makes me want to race home and fire up my PlayStation 4.
The talk went on for so long that I forgot that the reason that I walked into GameStop was to check in firsthand on the state of the company’s stores, to glance around and scribble some details for this story. I was trying to figure out why everyone thinks a chain with locations in seemingly every city—where shoppers still walk through the doors regularly to play game demos, to trade in, to talk about, and to buy games—isn’t long for this world. Even if GameStop is dying, there’s going to be a long deathbed scene.


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Tesla Motors IPO exceeds expectations, tops $226 million
Selling more shares at a higher-than-projected price, yesterdays eagerly awaited IPO by Tesla Motors, Inc surpassed even what company founder Elon Musk had envisioned. Solid investor interest saw the offering -- originally proposed at 11.1 million shares to be priced at $14-$16 each -- rise to 13.3 million shares that opened at $17. The sale generated some $226.1 million in much-needed new operating capital for the Silicon Valley-based electric vehicle automaker, which will see its shares trade on the NASDAQ exchange starting today under the "TSLA" ticker symbol.
Although Tesla's high-profile roadster has had no problems grabbing headlines, the firm has sold less than 1,100 of the $109,000 sports cars to date and has yet to turn a profit since it was established in 2003. The bulk of the capital raised in the IPO will go towards the development and production of its second, more affordable car, the Model S. Due in 2012, this new sedan will cost about half of what the Roadster stickers for and will be build at the revamped NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, a facility Tesla acquired last month from Toyota Motor Corporation for $42 million. As part of an agreement that will see Tesla and the world's largest automaker work together on a variety of future EV development and technology projects, Toyota committed to purchase $50 million in this new Tesla Motors stock, giving it roughly a 3.6 percent holding in the firm.