text: DALLAS, Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans will be watching to see who scores in Sunday's Super Bowl, but marketers are interested in who will score with consumers. Who are the most marketable personalities in this year's Super Bowl? "At this point, the Harbaugh brothers and Colin Kaepernick," says Matt Delzell, a senior director at The Marketing Arm who specializes in celebrity endorsements. "The Harbaughs make for a good storyline and Kaepernick is a dynamic player with a warm disposition who has deftly handled the spotlight." Recent allegations around Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis may cause some brands to back away from associating with the 17-year veteran, but he still ranks as one of the game's most influential players. "With a big personality and a Hall of Fame career, Ray was clearly one of the most marketable players heading into Sunday's game," says Delzell. "But brands are probably hesitant following the claims. Even if they prove to be false, it still hurts his marketability in the short term around the Super Bowl." According to new data from the Celebrity DBI, an independent index that quantifies consumer perceptions of nearly 3,000 celebrities, consumers consider Lewis to be among the NFL's most influential players, on par with players like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Among all celebrities in the DBI database, Lewis' Influence score is in the same neighborhood as Ryan Seacrest, Jessica Biel, Ryan Reynolds and Tina Fey. Other highlights from the DBI data, which was updated this week: BEST-KNOWN PLAYER: Veteran receiver Randy Moss has the highest awareness score among players in this year's Super Bowl. The former Viking/Patriot/Raider/Titan is known by nearly 55 percent of US consumers despite having a diminished role with the 49ers after returning from retirement. Baltimore's Lewis is close behind. The 13-time Pro Bowler is known by about 54 percent of US consumers. MOST LIKABLE: According to the DBI, consumers find Niners QB Colin Kaepernick to be the most likable player in this year's Super Bowl. Known by about 40 percent of US consumers, Kaepernick's DBI Appeal score is on par with Owen Wilson, Beyonce and Leonardo DiCaprio. San Francisco players Patrick Willis, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore rank just behind Kaepernick in terms of likability, though none is as well-known as the Niners QB. Ray Rice is the most appealing Raven, according to consumers. MOST ASPIRATIONAL: Kaepernick also ranks as the most aspirational player in the Super Bowl, outscoring teammate Frank Gore in this attribute. Kaepernick's DBI Aspiration score is in the same neighborhood as Ron Howard, Kevin Durant and Mike Krzyzewski. Consumers rate Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco as the most aspirational Raven, though his score is two points lower than Kaepernick's. Experts contend that an MVP performance in the Super Bowl will alter a player's DBI scores across the board.


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The Alibaba News Roundup is a weekly digest of events, initiatives and happenings across the company. This week’s coverage looks at the newly announced Spring Thunder Initiative and other measures to help small and medium businesses during Covid-19. Also covered is the Jack Ma Foundation’s efforts and activities in Africa.
To receive the latest news direct in your inbox, sign up for the weekly Alizila newsletter.
Alibaba Group Announces 2020 Spring Thunder Initiative
Alibaba Group Chairman and CEO Daniel Zhang on Monday issued a companywide memo to announce the launch of the 2020 Spring Thunder Initiative. Similar to the relief measures that were rolled out during the 2008 financial crisis, the Spring Thunder Initiative is designed to help small and medium enterprises during the immediate crisis and to open them up to more business opportunities in the long run. Measures from the initiative include helping SMEs expand into new markets through Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms, alleviating immediate financial challenges, fostering digitized manufacturing clusters and accelerating the digital transformation of China’s agriculture sector. To read the full memo, click here.
Alipay Bolsters Chinese SMEs amid Covid-19
Following the announcement of the 2020 Spring Thunder Initiative, Alipay also shared seven ways in which it would aid SMEs in China through their economic hardships. The platform has committed to help 50,000 offline merchants bring their businesses online and said it would offer free online training courses to more than 3 million people in the service industry to prepare for this digital transformation. Alipay would also provide additional support to merchants in Wuhan – the original epicenter of Covid-19 – by offering them interest-free loans for the first month. The platform also created a special section on its landing page to promote local services and products from the city. Meanwhile, businesses outside of Wuhan but still in the same province of Hubei could qualify for 20% reductions in interest rates.
To rejuvenate the F&B industry, Alipay is partnering with on-demand delivery service Ele.me to equip 300,000 restaurants with digital capabilities for everything from order-processing to deliveries. Other relief measures include allowing merchants to source equipment and raw materials from Alibaba’s wholesale marketplace 1688 on credit and the issuing of coupons to boost local spending in select cities.
New Digital Handbook Encourages Innovative Solutions from Entrepreneurs
Alibaba Global Initiatives, a division of the Alibaba Business School, released a handbook that offers guidelines on how businesses can tackle challenges and also create positive social impact during the coronavirus outbreak. Titled “Digital Action for Entrepreneurs in the Age of Covid-19,” the handbook uses case studies from business units across the Alibaba ecosystem – covering areas such as e-commerce, logistics, finance and philanthropy – and highlights key strategies and solutions that were initiated in China in response to the various disruptions caused by the health pandemic. According to AGI, entrepreneurs are encouraged to use this manual to innovate solutions to business roadblocks as well as challenges faced by local communities. The handbook can be downloaded here.
Cainiao Rolls out Logistics Services for C2M Factories
Following Taobao’s renewed push to help manufacturers digitize, Alibaba’s logistics arm Cainiao announced on Friday new measures to upgrade factory supply chains in the Taobao ecosystem. More factory owners can now make use of Cainiao’s forecasting technologies to optimize production, sales and inventories, as well as speed up fulfillment via its distribution centers. Eligible factories capable of making consistent second-day deliveries can also improve their cash flows through financing services such as inventory loans and payment for goods upon warehouse receival. Sun Jian, head of C2M logistics at Cainiao, said this upgrade offers a full-service solution with Cainiao taking custody of post-production logistics and enhancing the delivery experience for end consumers, while allowing manufacturers to focus on product development and quality control.
Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation Increase Support to Africa
This week, the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation announced that they would donate additional medical supplies to Africa to help in the ongoing battle against Covid-19. The latest donation includes 500 ventilators, 200,000 suits and face shields, 2,000 thermometers, 1 million swabs and extraction kits and 500,000 gloves for all 54 nations on the continent. Aside from donating supplies, the foundations on Friday organized a livestreamed medical exchange session for healthcare professionals in Ethiopia, during which medical experts from China shared insights into and experiences of treating patients with Covid-19. The sharing session was headed by the country’s health minister, Lia Tadesse, and was attended by representatives from 23 hospitals. According to the foundations, more medical training and exchange sessions are planned for countries in Africa.
Beyond its coronavirus-relief efforts, the Jack Ma Foundation also kicked off applications for the second Africa’s Business Heroes competition this week. Organized by the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative, the competition is designed to drive economic growth in Africa by empowering young entrepreneurs with opportunities, resources, training and grant funding.

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The city of Calcutta is located in the county of Columbiana. It covers a total area of 31.0 sq. km. Businesses related to dealership of computer equipments, supplies of computer equipments, website designing services, supplies of electronic equipments, online services and auto wrecking facilities contribute to the economic development of the city.
$14 million Investment in Cleantech Business Incubator Initiative Supports the Development of 141 Clean Energy Companies across the State (Long Island, NY) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that 141 clean technology companies have been supported and primed for further growth through the Governor’s Cleantech Business Incubator initiative. The initiative has attracted more than $215 million in private capital and..


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Taking textiles from trash to treasure
Thirty years ago, on Earth Day 1990, textile engineer Gajanan Bhat was at his first job, working for a company that used recycled plastic bottles to make carpets.
Three decades later, on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the University of Georgia professor is tackling another environmental challenge—reducing textile waste headed for landfills by recycling it into useful products.
In 2017, 16.89 million tons of textiles were produced in the U.S. Only 15% of that was recycled and almost two-thirds (11.2 million tons) was discarded to landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Such waste pollutes the environment by contaminating groundwater and forming greenhouse gases when decomposing.
But a study by a team including Bhat and first author Shafiqul Islam, a Ph.D. student at UGA, confirms that recycled textile waste can be used to produce acoustic insulation materials that rival those currently available on the commercial market.
“If we can use significant amounts of recycled products, instead of using new materials for these products, it will reduce the amount of waste going into landfills,” said Bhat, Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Fibers and Textiles in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “It will also open up other opportunities for textile waste when people see this and think, ‘We can use that here, too.’”
In the 30 years since Bhat began his career, there’s been tremendous growth in textile production and consumption based on factors like fast fashion, or inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.
“It’s an old joke among professors—we have the same suit from 20 years ago, but our kids’ closets change much quicker,” he said. “That’s the reality.”
The ability to produce fabrics at lower production costs has contributed to a throwaway mentality when it comes to how long clothes are worn. Bhat likens it to the way we treat disposable packaging.
“If you buy coffee, they give it to you in a Styrofoam cup or something that’s not valuable, and you discard it,” he said. “If it was an expensive cup, we wouldn’t throw it away. We would return it, recycle it or reuse it.”
In addition to reducing the amount of textiles going into landfills, using recycled textile waste to produce acoustic insulation materials will help address noise pollution, a growing problem due to urbanization, industrialization and increased use of vehicles, electrical and mechanical appliances in homes and offices.
Negative health effects of noise pollution can include stress, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke.
It’s a win-win solution, but there are challenges, according to Bhat.
“Lots of work is necessary to produce acoustic materials from recycled textiles that are compatible with what’s commercially available,” he said. “The goal is to produce insulation materials that are lightweight, thin, cost-effective and have very good acoustic and thermal insulation properties.”
For one of the studies, Bhat and his team created composite samples made of recycled denim fibers—mainly cotton—combined with compostable fibers using nonwoven techniques. Nonwoven fabrics are bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatment. They are considered ideal for insulation materials due to their unique fiber orientation and porous structure.
Bhat’s composite samples mixed recycled denim with PLA or Sorona at different ratios. PLA (polylactic acid) is a biodegradable and bio-based polyester derived from renewable resources such as corn sugar, potato and cane sugar. Sorona, created by DuPont, is a commercial fiber derived from sugar.
After the denim and compostable fibers were blended and a loose mat of fibers was produced, heat and pressure were applied to create four composite panels with varying fiber compositions, temperature, pressure and number of layers. Three of those samples used Sorona fiber as binder, and the fourth used PLA.
The samples were characterized for a number of variables including porosity, thickness and density, fiber diameter and acoustic properties. An impedance tube with four microphones was used to measure their acoustic properties. Each individual sample was placed in the tube with two microphones on each side, and a single frequency sound was generated and passed through the sample.
All four samples from recycled denim blocked sound transmission by several decibels more than gypsum board of comparable thickness, one of the most commonly used building insulation materials.
“We’ve shown that recycled textiles have great potential to be used as acoustic insulating materials,” Bhat said. “They perform as well or better than commercially available materials and could be used in buildings, cars and even appliances.”
This paper is under review at the Journal of Industrial Textiles. Co-authors include Partha Pratim Sikdar, UGA; Magdy El Messiry, Alexandria University, Egypt; and Joshua Seylar, University of Akron.
This article was written by Allyson Mann with the UGA Office of Research.


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As part of Star Wars Force Friday II on Sept. 1, 2017, which to commemorates the launch of Star Wars: The Last Jedi merchandise (yes, it is a shopping holiday), Disney and Lucasfilm are adding a little virtual reality treasure hunt,
The pop-up AR (augmented reality) treasure hunt will take place Sept. 1 to 3 at over 20,000 retail locations in 30 countries. The complete list of retailers are here.
The Last Jedi products will activate various experiences.
“Force Friday II is a major milestone in the countdown to Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Star Wars has always championed new technology, and we are excited that augmented reality will allow fans to experience the universe in a whole new way,” says Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, said in a news release.
We tested it out here and it was fun, this could make shopping even more fun. Instructions are below.
Here is how it works:
1. Download the Star Wars app,
2. Visit any one of 20,000 participating retail locations to find a graphic that contains the Find the Force logo. When you scan the graphic using the Star Wars app, you’ll reveal a character, who through AR, will appear in the room with you. You can then take photos, record videos, and share the experience on social media.
3. Each day there will be new characters revealed – 15 total over the three days.
More specifics can be found here: www.starwars.com/findtheforce.


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I am pleased to announce that the inaugural issue of the IEEE SDN Initiative eNewsletter is now published and live.
Link to the eNewsletter on the SDN web portal: http://sdn.ieee.org/newsletter
The eNewsletter is a bi-monthly, technically focused online publication that highlights current SDN-related technology developments, innovations, and trends from the world’s top subject matter experts, researchers and practitioners.
Link to the press release announcing the launch: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151103005536/en/IEEE-Software-Defined-Networks-Initiative-Launches-Newsletter
Please join us !


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A coalition of food safety, animal welfare, and environmental health groups is pushing the nation's largest fast-food chain to honor its commitment to reducing the amount of antibiotics used in its beef.
Yesterday, the groups sent a petition with more than 25,000 signatures to McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski urging the company to fulfill its pledge to set meaningful reduction targets for the use of medically important antibiotics in its global beef and dairy supply chains. The company made that pledge in December 2018, when it announced it would measure medically important antibiotic use and establish reduction targets for beef suppliers in the countries that make up 85% of its beef supply chain by the end of 2020.
More than a year past that self-imposed deadline, the company has yet to set those reduction targets. Matt Wellington of the US PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) Education Fund, which is a member of the coalition that sent the petition, says it's time for McDonald's to act, particularly in the wake of a recent study that estimated more than 1.2 million people died from antibiotic-resistant infections in 2019.
"It's really important, and even more urgent now, after this new global report showed the true scope of antibiotic resistance, for McDonald's to step up and follow through on its commitments," Wellington told CIDRAP News.
Sending a signal to beef producers
The 2018 announcement was widely praised by food safety, animal health, and antibiotic stewardship advocates at the time, given that McDonald's is the world's largest fast food chain and one of the world's biggest buyers of beef. There was hope that the move could help spur a shift within the beef industry toward using fewer antibiotics, as has been seen within the poultry industry over the last decade.
"McDonald's following through on this commitment would send a really important signal to beef producers that it's time to change," Wellington said. "Secondly, it would have ripple effects, and really create the model for change that the rest of the industry will use to reduce antibiotic use in beef production."
A recent report from the US Food and Drug Administration showed that cattle accounted for 41% of the 6 million kilograms of medically important antibiotics—ie, those antibiotics that are also used in human medicine—sold for use on US farms (41% are sold for use in pigs, and 2% for use in chickens). Stewardship advocates argue that much of this antibiotic use is inappropriate, and that beef producers are relying on antibiotics to prevent diseases that are caused by the unsanitary and overcrowded conditions in which beef cattle are raised.
"It's past time we stopped using antibiotics to sustain a harmful and toxic industrial animal agriculture model," Julia Ranney, research and policy associate at Center for Food Safety, said in a coalition press release. "Instead, we should be using antibiotics sparingly and when medically necessary."
In a letter sent to the company in November 2021, the coalition, which also includes the Food and Animal Concerns Trust and World Animal Protection, called on McDonald's to honor its commitment by setting aggressive antibiotic reduction targets in its beef supply, publicly reporting on its progress in meeting those targets, and using third-party auditors to verify antibiotic-use practices among its beef suppliers.
McDonald's, which has previously said that the COVID-19 pandemic was partly to blame for the delay, did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Stewardship advocates and public health officials warn that widespread use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals, particularly the use of antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention, is contributing to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and threatening the health of humans, animals, and the environment. Concerns about the role that antibiotic use in food-animals is playing in the growth and spread of resistant pathogens has spurred global health organizations to start addressing the issue.
In August 2021, the Global Leaders Group on AMR, a group established by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health, issued a statement calling on all countries to stop using medically important antibiotics for growth promotion in food-producing animals, and to reduce the need for preventive antibiotics by improving animal hygiene and infection prevention and control.
In November, the FAO released a 5-year action plan to help reduce antibiotic use in the food and agriculture sectors.
"FAO's Action Plan serves as a roadmap for focusing global efforts to address AMR in food and agriculture sectors," the agency said. "Protecting food and health systems is a common need of our global society."


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Even gifts for mom aren't immune to the economic crunch, Newsday reports. Spending on Mother's Day gifts is thought to be dipping, but only by an average of 50 cents, from last year's $139.14, according to a consumer survey. Only 13% of consumers plan to spend more this year. Those just out of the nest—18 to 24 year olds—will shell out $30 more than other age groups, and 40% of them will spend more than last year.
"Consumers will be cautious with their wallets this Mother's Day, heeding Mom's advice that she really doesn't need much," said one retail expert. "Gas prices and other economic issues will still be at the forefront of people's minds as they shop for the perfect gift."


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- Flipkart has launched a metaverse shopping experience to debut during Diwali celebrations.
- The Walmart-backed e-commerce platform has teamed up with eDAO to launch Flipverse.
- The company is targeting massive onboarding of users during the festive season.
Flipkart has accelerated its web3 strategy with the launch of a metaverse-based shopping experience. The Bangaluru, India-based e-commerce platform has collaborated with Polygon-incubated web3 firm eDAO to launch Flipverse.
The metaverse is a 3D virtual space that allows users to interact immersively through gaming, virtual concerts and other experiential events.
The announcement comes just as the country begins Diwali celebrations, one of India’s biggest festive seasons. According to the announcement, Flipkart is targeting the Big Diwali Sale to accelerate user onboarding into its newest web3 product.
The Walmart-backed company revealed in April that it was working on an NFT-related business that was scheduled for launch in October. According to the announcement, the company planned to create utility-based NFTs amid the low adoption in India.
In July, Flipkart ramped up its NFT business by announcing a partnership with London-based consumer tech company, Nothing. The agreement saw the UK firm airdrop its Nothing Community Dots NFT on Flipkart’s Web3 platform, FireDrops.
Flipverse is available on the FireDrops section of its Android app on October 17. The strategic launch date seeks to tap into the busy holiday activity, which takes place through October 23. The metaverse shopping experience allows users to interact with select brands immersively.
Commenting on Flipverse’s importance in scaling his company’s web3 strategy, Naren Ravula, VP and Head, Product Strategy and Deployment, Flipkart Labs, said:
“The future growth of e-commerce will be influenced by the immersive technologies of today, and Metaverse is one of the significant revolutions in this arena with immense potential. The launch of Flipverse will continue to have an impact on innovative industries like e-commerce and enhance the customer experience while delivering a gamified and immersive shopping experience, especially in light of the adoption of the metaverse and web3 platforms by multiple brands in India.”
According to a media briefing on Monday, Flipkart has already onboarded leading brands like Puma, Noise, Nivea, Lavie, Tokyo Talkies, Campus, VIP, Ajmal Perfumes and Himalaya onto the Flipverse platform.
The platform will allow digital shoppers to create their own avatars and interact with onboarded brands. The brands will also be able to offer digital collectibles to users as they drum up campaigns for their products.
Essentially, Flipverse users will explore different brands and their products and stand a chance to receive various rewards and prizes including digital collectibles. Some rewards may be convertible to physical goods depending on the brands.
The company believes that by letting millions into the Flipverse experience, the platform will be “opening the doors to the future of shopping.”
The experience is built on the Layer-2 Ethereum scaling solution Polygon to support massive and high-speed crypto transactions at low gas fees.
This could play a crucial role during the busy Diwali festivities as the company looks to lure the masses into its new platform with huge discounts on multiple products.
Stay up to date:


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French startup Ledger has just raised $75 million in a Series B funding that will be used for expanding its crypto wallets, TechCrunch reported today. The round, which was led by Draper Espirit, joins the $7 million in funding Ledger received last year; the larger amount (and the fact that the round was oversubscribed, Ledger… Read More »
On Friday, Tel Aviv-based AI startup AnyVision announced it has closed a $28 million Series A funding round led by Bosc...
Hyderabad-based realty startup Foyr.com has announced $2 million in funding from SRI Capital in a series A funding round...
London-based startup TrueLayer has raised $7.5 million in funding in a round led by venture capital fund Northzone....
Sweden-based heath tech startup Engaging Care has raised $800,000 in “pre-seed” funding. The round saw parti...
India’s online ticketing service for cinemas, theatres and sports in India BookMyShow has raised $100 million in s...
Artificial intelligence and “internet of things” software platform provider C3 IoT Inc. today said it has raised $100 million in new funding. The late-stage round was led by TPG Growth and included Rise Fund, Breyer Capital, Sutter Hill, Pat House and C3 IoT founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Thomas M. Siebel. The valuation on the deal… Read More »
International startup support platform Pangea has partnered Strathmore University’s @iLabAfrica to pilot a US$50,000 accelerator programme in Kenya. Applications are open until February 15 for the Pangea accelerator, which will select 40 startups to undergo a three-month milestone-based programme, during which they will be coached by international investors and experts. The programme will conclude with… Read More »
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is seeking to invest in early stage blockchain startups with the potential to help children across the globe. In an announcement today, the U.N. program said it is offering equity-free investments of $50,000–90,000 to seed-stage startups developing solutions on open blockchains in areas including smart contracts, tokens, mining and data analysis. The… Read More »
The Kenyan Government has began setting up a taskforce that will work on a comprehensive strategy to encourage and adopt emerging technologies such as Blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI). According to minister for ICT Joe Mucheru, the ICT ministry this week began receiving applications from interested and qualified Kenyans who would wish to form part… Read More »
Pony.ai reported Monday that it raised $112 million to develop autonomous vehicles. The company — with offices in Fremont and Guangzhou, China — already has test cars prowling Bay Area streets and plans to begin running an autonomous fleet in Guangzhou in the next three months. Pony.ai’s substantial fundraising round, led by Morningside Venture Capital… Read More »
On Monday, Personalization platform provider True Fit announced it had closed on $55 million of series C funding. The funding round was led by Georgian Partners, along with participation from the existing investors that included Jump Capital, Signal Peak Ventures and Intel Capital. New investor Cross Creek Capital also participated in the round. “The new funding… Read More »
NA-KD, the Swedish fashion e-commerce company that sells women’s clothes direct to consumers, has raised $45 million in Series B funding. Noteworthy, $5 million of that is secondary investment as some early shareholders, not including the founders or management team, partially cash in. Leading the round is Partech, with the participation from U.S.-based FJ Labs…. Read More »
Chinese business accelerator COMB+ and the Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) have announced the creation of a new Artificial Intelligence Fund with a target size of €65 million. The fund will focus on international technology start-ups entering the Chinese market. The fund is part of the Comb+ Sino Track accelerator program, which was launched… Read More »
SoftBank’s Vision Fund – the largest ever focused on tech backing Auto1, a Berlin-based online marketplace for buying and selling cars. It is investing €460m in the five-year-old startup, one of the most highly valued in Europe at €2.9bn with the fresh investment and already backed by Baillie Gifford, DST Global and Princevile Global. SoftBank’s… Read More »


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Grace Coddington has stepped down from her staff position Vogue after nearly three decades as the brand’s creative director. According to Business of Fashion, the 74-year-old fashion icon is now the magazine’s “creative director-at-large,” which means that she’s styling at least four editorial spreads a year for Vogue and she will maintain an office and an assistant at the publication’s headquarters at One World Trade Center. “I really love Vogue, it’s been in my life always, they discovered me as a model at 19,” Coddington told BoF in an exclusive interview. “I’m not running away from Vogue, because it has opened so many doors. But it will be nice to collaborate, and nice to go out [and] give talks to people. It’s just another approach. I’m certainly not going into retirement. I don’t want to sit around.”
As for her plans outside of Vogue? Coddington has signed on with Matthew Moneypenny’s agency Great Bowery, and she’ll be the first talent to be represented directly under the Great Bowery name. Under the Great Bowery umbrella is CLM, Management + Artists, and Tim Howard Management. Coddington’s first project outside of Vogue will be a fragrance with Commes des Garçons and, potentially, an animated film inspired by her “Catwalk Cats” illustrations.
Below a look at Coddington from her early years as a model (Grace was discovered by Vogue at the age of 19):


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Many people around the world shut themselves down because of the coronavirus and began not to go out unless they had to. It seems that this social isolation process not only affected SMEs but also negatively.
They Spend Less
According to Bloomberg’s report, Visa users started to spend less than usual with their cards. While consumers in the USA spend 4% less with their Visa cards, this rate has increased to 19% worldwide. However, there was an increase in the number of transactions between January 1 and March 28. Visa made the following statement on this subject:
“There was a sharp decline in travel, restaurants, entertainment and fuel expenditures especially because social isolation and quarantine were implemented in many countries.”
Company Revenues Decreasing
Visa’s revenues started to decrease within this month especially due to the developments in Asia. Asian Visa users started to use their cards less, and Visa reduced their expectations in the second quarter. But now Visa users not only in Asia but around the world spend less.
People started to spend less because of coronavirus, so Visa’s revenues started to decrease. The company therefore had to lower its revenue expectations in the second quarter of this year.


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Two business units of America’s Ford Motor and General Motors are getting government cash infusions already. The money comes from the Swedish government, which is providing $3.4 billion to Volvo and Saab.
Volvo is Ford’s Swedish-based product, while GM is the owner of Saab.
The deal includes credit guarantees, emergency loans and money for research and development to boost companies in the “Swedish automotive cluster,” the government said, according to the Associated Press.
The Swedish government said that its aid package was needed to safeguard “the continued success of the Swedish automotive industry,” even if the industry’s crisis deepens. The AP noted that the European government also urged the development of green technology.
The Swedes announced their package a few hours after the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to provide $14 billion in emergency loans to the U.S. auto industry — a measure with an unsure future in the Senate.
“The measures will be taken with the clear assumption that the state does not intend to acquire any of the existing automotive manufacturers,” the Swedish government said in a statement. “They are also based on continued openness in relation to the ongoing process in the U.S. automotive industry and conclusions drawn by current or any new owners.”


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ISSA, the worldwide cleaning association, has announced the keynote speakers for ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America 2016, the world’s largest cleaning trade show.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, former U.S. Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill and comedian Dennis Miller will be in the lineup to offer “unique business insights, inspiration and entertainment.”
Once again, the show brings together 700-plus exhibitors from around the globe, including executives from all segments of the cleaning industry to do business and gather information to better manage distribution.
ISSA is also set to host more than 60 educational seminars and networking opportunities.
The event will take place from October 25 to 28, in Chicago, Illinois.
For more information and or to register for ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America 2016, visit www.issa.com/show.


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The new iPad Air may be one of the next tablets from Apple after the iPad Pro 2020. If it is then it will come with plenty of improvements on its predecessor.
The iPad Air is the second most top-end tablet of Apple, which sits above the iPad Mini (2019) and entry-level iPad ranges. The last launched tablet of this series was the iPad Air 3 in 2019. So this new tablet which is going to launch will be iPad Air 4.
Leaks about Air 4 starts rolling in for new Air 4 iPad, which are mentioned below. Till now we have not enough to tell you about this tablet.
iPad Air 4 Release date and price
Unlike phones, Apple doesn’t rely on a yearly release pattern for its new tablets. We are saying this because the iPad Air 3 was launch on March 19, 2019, but Apple didn’t repeat this for its new tablet. It is expected that Apple will release its new tablet at some indiscernible point in the future.
We are expecting to release for a later 2020. But the only rumor that we heard about release date says that it might be later than that, maybe in March 2021.
The rumor that we heard about price says that the price of Air 4 will start at $649 (roughly £500, AU$900). This price is for a version of 128GB storage. The Air 4 will only go up for the 256GB and 512GB versions according to leak.
The price of the previous iPad Air was starting from $499 / £479 / AU$779. There will be a great increase in prices in some regions.
Apple doesn’t always change the price of its new tablets to the new one. Apple often discounts the older models to differentiate them. So we can expect that the price of the new Apple iPad Air 4 will not increase too much.
The first leak that we heard about the new Air 4 gives us some key possible details. It details two big changes in the tablet.
The first one is that it is expected that the iPad Air 2020 will come with USB-C connectivity instead of a lightning port. The second detail that was mentioned is an 11-inch size, while the size of Air 3 was 10.5-inch.
Due to these changes, the new Apple Air 4 will seem more like the iPad Pro 2020 than previous models.
Another smaller leak that we heard suggested that the iPad Air will come with an in-screen fingerprint scanner. Apple didn’t use this technology in its any phone or tablet till now while many Android phones are using it.
It is expected that the new tablet will come with a similar design to the iPad Pro. The new tablet will have a Face ID log-in, four stereo speakers, one rear camera, a Liquid Retina display, and also the A14 or A14X Bionic chipset.
These are all leaks and new that we know so far. We will update this article as soon as we heard some new updates.


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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik Industries, a leading specialty chemicals manufacturer, is paving the way for a new technology whose applications include automotive finishes that are more scratch-resistant than ever before, reported the company in its press release.
The specialty chemicals company has developed an industrial-scale method for producing silane-modified binders for automotive finishes. The advantage of these silane-modified binders: silane groups increase crosslinking density, making it possible to create automotive finishes that are flexible yet harder, leading to improved scratch resistance.
The basic concept behind the new technology was already known: modifying classic binders with silanes noticeably improves the binder properties. This also applies to the polyurethane binders typically used for automotive finishes. Up to now, however, production of silane-modified polyurethane binders has been so complex and expensive that these products have only been made on a small scale for applications such as high-performance adhesives. For more general uses and for large-scale applications such as automotive finishes, however, there simply has not been enough available. The new technology from Evonik stands to change all of that.
Gerd Brand, head of the Crosslinkers Business Line within the Coatings & Additives Business Unit at Evonik, says: "The key factors in our success have been Evonik’s comprehensive expertise in silane and isocyanate chemistry, our understanding of the market, and our intense collaboration with prominent players in the automotive and coatings industries."
As MRC wrote before, with a level of purity approaching 99%, SEPURAN green high performance polymers from Evonik Industries make biogas processing much more efficient. For this achievement, the company has received the 2013 German Innovation Prize for climate and the environment in the "Environmentally friendly technologies" category.
Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2013 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around EUR12.9 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about EUR2.0 billion.


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Yes, you read it correct the government has increased import tax in Pakistan on smartphones by up to 240%. All the phones which are not locally assembled in the country will face increased import duty.
Increased Import Duty on smartphones
The government has markedly increased regulatory duties on the import of smartphones up to a 240% hike for additional Rs27 billion revenues in the new fiscal year. This new increase will only affect smartphones that are being imported, and not locally assembled products.
The new regulatory duties came into action from Thursday, the first day of the new fiscal year, 2021-22, according to a notification issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). But don’t think that these are the only taxes, this 240% hike is added above all the already existing tax and customs. This means only one thing that smartphones will be getting expensive, quite a lot expensive!
240% tax increase on all phones?
The duties on the import of mobile phones have been increased in the range of 32% to 240%, depending on the cost of the imported mobile phone. It is not just a slap of 240% on everything. A simple handset costing $30 will now attract Rs300, along with the new up by Rs135 or 82%. So no matter your price range, you will have to pay extra.
Smartphones of less than or equal to $30, but not exceeding $100 per phone have been slapped with Rs3,000 per phone duty. The increase is higher by Rs1,380 or 85%, according to the notification. The mobile phones of $100 to $200 will draw Rs7,500 duties, increased up by Rs5,070 or 208%, the second-highest increase for a smartphone normally used by mid-range people. The phones having a value of above $200 to $350 will attract Rs11,000 duty, an increase of Rs7,760 or 240%. This is the highest increase both in absolute and percentage terms.
Now, the smartphones worth $350 to $500 at the time of import will attract Rs15,000 duties which got higher by Rs5,500 or 59%. Similarly, smartphones worth above $500 is slapped with Rs22,000 duty that is up by Rs5,350 or 32%.
The government has decided to increase import duties on handsets at a time when these are in high demand due to online classes being taken by the students. This was the reason that the country imported $1.9 billion worth of mobile phones, up by 63% during the July-May period of the last fiscal year.
But the tax authorities believe that enhanced duties on mobile imports would encourage locally produced handsets (which are almost none). So to all those who love themselves a nice flagship or an iPhone will not have to pay a lot more than the price of the smartphone.
So, what do you guys think of this 240% import tax in Pakistan? Was there any imported phone you were thinking to buy? Share your thoughts in the comments below.


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MUNICH (Reuters) -- Audi wants to expand its product range and may develop an SUV positioned above its Q7 model, CEO Rupert Stadler said.
"We want to expand the upper segment," Stadler told journalists at an event on Thursday. "We are discussing a Q8."
Stadler's remarks come shortly after rival BMW unveiled plans to build a new X7 in response to customer demand for an SUV/crossover with three rows of seats.
The Q8 would be aimed at markets such as the United States, China and the Middle East where large coupe-styled SUVs are in demand. It would also be a rival to the upcoming Mercedes MLC.
Audi already has approved production of the Q7 and aims to start sales within the next three years, media reports said earlier this week.
Audi, BMW and Mercedes are all expanding their SUV lineups in the coming years to six models, and overhauling those currently on the market. The segment is critical as premium SUV sales will surge 32 percent to 4.93 million vehicles in 2020, with the strongest growth coming from China, according to an IHS Automotive forecast.
Audi plans to add SUVs badged as the Q1, Q2, Q4 and Q6, as well as the Q8, reports said.
On Thursday, Stadler also said Audi wants to add more models to the segment of midsize sedans where it currently offers the A6.
Bloomberg and Automotive News Europe contributed to this report


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The Simpsons: Hit and Run has grown in popularity since its release in 2003.
Offering sandbox entertainment within the iconic world of the long-running show, fans have clamoured for a remaster or even a follow-up for the cult game. And it seems like one of the show's longest-running writers and producers is in agreement.
Simpsons Hit And Run Remaster Has Show Producer's Full Support
Matt Selman has been a writer and producer for The Simpsons since the 1990s. He also co-wrote the scenarios of various games based on the show, including The Simpsons Road Rage, The Simpsons Game, and Hit and Run itself.
Speaking to IGN, he discussed the thought process that went into Hit and Run and his enthusiasm for a remaster.
I would love to see a remastered version of [Simpsons Hit & Run], I would. It's a complicated corporate octopus to try to make that happen.
Selman recalls arguments with the publisher at the time regarding the creative vision of the game. Initially, Hit and Run was meant to be a driving game but, inspiration from Grand Theft Auto helped drive the game towards what it is today:
We were all playing Grand Theft Auto at the time and publisher... they just wanted another driving game. And we were like, everyone's playing whatever version of Grand Theft Auto, people need to get out of the cars. That was a huge creative battle over whether it was just a ‘driving around doing missions’ game or a ‘getting out of the car and doing missions’ game. But I do think the battle was worth fighting.
A sequel to Hit and Run was in development and even had a prototype. However, the sequel was cancelled once EA won the rights to produce The Simpsons Game, coinciding with the release of The Simpsons Movie in 2007.


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AMAG Pharmaceuticals plans merger with Allos
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- Rodney Brown
AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Lexington has announced plans to merge with Colorado company Allos Therapeutics Inc. in a stock-for-stock deal worth approximately $686 million. While the combined company will have its headquarters in Lexington, officials said in a release that it would be renamed.
Following the close of the deal, AMAG (Nasdaq: AMAG) shareholders would own approximately 61 percent and Allos (Nasdaq: ALTH) shareholders approximately 39 percent of the combined company. While the deal has the approval of the executives and boards of both companies, it still needs shareholder and regulatory approval. Officials said they anticipate the deal to close in the fourth quarter of this year.
The resulting as-yet unnamed combined company would have a nine-member board, with five coming from AMAG and four from Allos. Brian J.G. Pereira, president and CEO of AMAG, will continue in those roles in the combined company, while Allos president and CEO Paul L. Berns will hold a board seat. Chairman of the combined board will be AMAG’s current chairman Michael Narachi.
Each company brings an approved commercial product already on the market - AMAG has Feraheme, its iron replacement to treat iron deficiency anemia in adult chronic kidney disease patients and Allos has Folotyn, a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma. In addition, each company brings hundreds of millions in potential milestones to the deal. AMAG has a partnership with Takeda for Feraheme in Europe and other select territories with the potential to earn up to $220 million by meeting development and commercial milestones. Allos has a collaboration agreement with Mundipharma for Folotyn for markets outside the U.S. and Canada that has the potential to earn milestone payments of up to $310.5 million.
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Too often diversity discussions in business are framed as a zero-sum game: affirmative action versus meritocracy, minority versus majority, them versus us. There are some hopeful signs that the tech industry is starting to realize that this is not the case. Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, and Amazon — among others — have all made a […]
Knightscope founder and CEO William Santana Li is not modest in his ambitions. He estimates that crime — of all kinds — has an annual global economic impact of a trillion dollars. That’s $1 trillion lost every year due to theft, vandalism, robbery, violence, and more. He wants to cut that in half. And to do […]
I was sitting in a conference on enterprise infrastructure this week when I realized that the generational shift long promised by cloud advocates is finally, irreversibly underway. That shift is away from “legacy” data centers built on x86 servers, VMware-managed hypervisors, SQL databases from Oracle, and storage hardware provided by EMC. Replacing all that are […]
Twitter Moments is a latecomer to the social news curation game. Lots of people have attempted to extract useful signals about the news from the huge mess of social data, with varying results.
The tech industry’s complicated and sorry treatment of women has become a big topic. Lawsuits have helped blow up the issue. Most notably, former Kleiner Perkins partner Ellen Pao filed a discrimination suit against the VC giant last year, lost the suit this year, and recently dropped her planned appeal. Also in the spotlight are […]
The latest version of Apple’s mobile OS includes tools for developers to create ad-blocking software, affording mobile users the same freedom from advertising that desktop browser add-ons like AdBlock Plus and Ghostery have provided for years. That might just be the beginning of the end for the ad-supported Web.
Faced with the prospect of becoming mere custodians of whatever cool projects their fellow executives in marketing cook up, CIOs are learning to embrace innovation on their own terms.
Nick Hanauer and David Rolf are an unlikely pair of troublemakers. Hanauer is a Seattle venture capitalist and was the first non-family investor in Amazon.com. David Rolf is a labor organizer who once rallied enough support to unionize 74,000 home health care workers in Los Angeles. Yet the two of them agree on one thing: […]
“Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure.” — Oliver Sacks, quoted by Michiko Kakutani, in the NYT today (via Steve Silberman)
Despite what economists like to think, people do not always make rational economic decisions. That’s nowhere more apparent than in today’s service-centric, app-based consumer Internet. The fact is, people are willing to pay more — often a lot more — for services that are pleasant to use. Uber, Zipcar, Munchery, and Washio all prove the […]
The lovely folks at NBC Bay Area invited me back to Press:Here, Silicon Valley’s answer to “Meet the Press.” I was on the show on Sunday with Laura Mandaro and host Scott McGrew. We talked for about 8 minutes apiece with the founders of Munchery, Tripping.com, and HackerOne. Here are the three video segments! Tri […]
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In this week’s podcast, I talk with Matt Mullenweg, who created WordPress as an open-source blogging platform twelve years ago and turned it into a parallel, for-profit company called Automattic ten years ago. [Click the image above to hear the MP3 of this podcast.] Since then, WordPress has grown into one of the most successful […]
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C-Verde, siempre a la vanguardia de su bienestar y el bienestar del medio ambiente.
I canada goose outlet black friday just bought a box of
This Easter, Liza Ford and her family plan to feast on ham bought out of the back of a truck.
She knows it will be tasty and juicy, just as it was at Christmas. And it will cost Canada Goose online significantly less than if she went to a supermarket or specialty store.
Ford buys her meat from Zaycon Foods, a company that delivers fresh meat, fish and Canada Goose Parka other products in canada goose outlet sale bulk at wholesale prices. Customers buy the food online and pick canada goose outlet in usa it up by goose outlet canada the case at designated sites, typically at churches and other canada goose coats places with big parking lots. Most items come in 40 pound cardboard boxes. “It’s not as pretty as if you go to the grocery store and buy it, but it’s high quality and fresh.”
Brandon Berezay and JC Conrad started the company in 2010 in Washington, fusing parts of their name to create Zaycon. Conrad canada goose outlet online uk was working as a butcher in a grocery store and wanted to try selling meat in large quantities. He posted a notice at the cash register to gauge interest and got a huge response.
Zaycon initially focused on the Northwest but, as word spread, https://www.rkliedtke.de expanded nationwide in 2011. The company has canada goose outlet parka made about a dozen shipments to the Tampa Bay area in the past year and a half, including stops in Clearwater, New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.
Each truck carries about 25,000 pounds of meat, usually a single kind, from boneless, skinless chicken breasts to ground beef, catfish and chicken tenders. Trucks come directly from canada goose outlet government approved farms to prearranged pickup sites, where volunteers, who get paid in meat, load cases into people’s trunks.
“Our customers love the experience,” said Mike Conrad, the founder’s brother who now runs the company with his cousin Adam Kremin. “People have told me, ‘I feel dirty. I canada goose outlet black friday just bought a box of chicken out of a truck parked in a bowling alley. But it’s the canadian goose jacket best chicken I’ve ever had.’ typical canada goose outlet jackets time from slaughter to sale is two canada goose outlet store uk to six days, much shorter than traditional brick and mortar stores, he said. Food comes fresh, not frozen, and canada goose outlet uk buyers have to cut it into smaller portions and separate it into bags if they want to freeze it.
Zaycon goes to areas where enough customers request it. Shoppers must register canada goose outlet nyc online to get email alerts about deliveries headed their way. All products are sold and paid for two to four weeks in advance; no one can buy once the truck arrives. If someone misses a pickup time, Zaycon will credit the order for a future purchase.
Zaycon works with various farms to get the best deals possible. Chicken, for example, runs $1.49 to canada goose factory sale $1.89 a pound, cheaper than most store sale prices. It’s all natural, but not organic, meaning it’s not injected with other ingredients, even water and salt. Much of the poultry sold locally comes from Sanderson Farms in Mississippi and House of uk canada goose outlet Raeford Farms in North Carolina.
Ford cheap Canada Goose has two freezers at her home in New Port Richey to store all the meat she buys from Zaycon. At first, she didn’t like having to handle the raw chicken, draining the juices and trimming the fat, cheap canada goose but now she official canada goose outlet considers it worth her time. She and her husband can live off cheap canada goose uk 40 pounds of chicken for a long time, without ever having to pay full price.


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Dallas, TX August 11, 2014 — On Monday, August 11, 2014 Greenville Avenue Pizza Company (1923 Greenville Avenue) will host their 2nd annual “Slices for Supplies” event from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Customers that bring at least one school supply item will receive one free slice of cheese pizza with one additional topping.
Last year, an outstanding five, 30-gallon storage boxes of school supplies were collected. The supplies go directly to the teachers at DISD school, Ignacio Zaragoza Elementary.
In addition to supplies, Greenville Avenue Pizza Company will be collecting monetary donations from customers to purchase supplies that teachers and students will need at the beginning of the second semester of school. Last year, $187 was collected ($100 of that coming from their neighbors at HG Sply Co.).
In January, that money was given to Zaragoza and GAPC matched what was collected, for a total of $374. This year, they are hoping to collect over double the amount, as monetary donations will be accepted all week long.
The owner of Greenville Avenue Pizza Company and his wife (a former teacher at Zaragoza) are both products of Dallas Independent School District. The support shown for this event means so much to them. This event will also tie in with the Lowest Greenville Collective’s “52 Weeks of Giving” initiative with other businesses in the neighborhood.
April 10, 2017 | Pizza Headlines
Firenza Pizza & Persona Wood Fired Pizzeria – two restaurants known for their high quality and exceptional pizza product – are joining forces to become one! It’s the best of both worlds as the two merge together under the Firenza Pizza name in Spring of 2017. Sarasota, Florida, April 4, 2017 (Newswire.com) – At Firenza,… Read More ›
April 7, 2017 | Videos
April 1, 2017 | Pizza Headlines
I’ve got some exciting news to share with you regarding our Wednesday keynote address at Pizza & Pasta Northeast, which will be held October 17–18, 2017 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Many have heard the call, but only two pizza makers have been chosen¬—at least by a national television network—to travel the country in… Read More ›


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Photo from: Luckin Coffee’s Weibo account
In a groundbreaking collaboration that has left China buzzing with excitement, Luckin Coffee and Kweichow Moutai have taken the beverage world by storm with their innovative “Soy Sauce-flavoured Latte”, called Jiangxiang Latte in Chinese. This intriguing concoction, blending the allure of coffee with the fiery spirit of Moutai baijiu liquor, has taken the country by storm. Within hours of its launch on 4 September 2023, this unique beverage had coffee lovers lining up for hours and social media buzzing with discussions and hashtags.
On the day of its debut, the Soy Sauce Latte sold a staggering 5.42 million cups, catapulting Luckin Coffee into the record books. This unprecedented success dwarfed previous hit launches, including a cheese latte that managed 1.31 million cups and a coconut cloud latte that reached 660,000 cups. The beverage, initially priced at CNY38 (approximately US$5.23), was offered at a 50% discount on its launch day, causing a frenzy as coffee aficionados raced to get a taste.
The Soy Sauce Latte is a marriage of coffee and the iconic Chinese spirit, Moutai baijiu, known as the national liquor of China. With a distinct flavor reminiscent of soy sauce, it has sparked curiosity and intrigue among consumers. Despite a bottle of Moutai liquor contains 53% alcohol, this Moutai-infused drink only contains less than 0.5% alcohol, making it accessible to a wide range of enthusiasts.
Recently, China has witnessed a phenomenon known as “consumption downgrading.” As the country’s economy evolves and growth patterns change, consumers are becoming increasingly cautious about their spending habits. This shift in consumer behavior is particularly pronounced among young people. They are seeking more affordable options for indulging in luxury or traditionally expensive items. The Jiangxiang Latte, often referred to as “young people’s first cup of Moutai” for tasting Moutai with starting price of CNY1,500 or US$205 a bottle, aligns perfectly with this trend.
Luckin Coffee’s journey has been a rollercoaster since founded in 2017, from unicorn status to a public scandal. However, the brand has been making a spirited comeback, expanding its offerings to include tea lattes and now the Moutai-infused sensation. In the second quarter of 2023, Luckin opened 1,485 new stores, showing signs of a resurgence. This collaboration with Kweichow Moutai has further fueled their revival.
As the most valuable listed company in China, Kweichow Moutai is worth an impressive $322 billion in market capitalization. Traditionally favored by middle-aged consumers in formal settings, the brand is now striving to connect with younger generations. The cost and high alcohol content of Moutai baijiu, which usually contains 53% alcohol and starts at a price of CNY1,500 or US$205, have limited its appeal to the youth. This challenge is exacerbated by high youth unemployment and a slow recovery in China’s consumer market. The “Soy Sauce Latte” collaboration represents a strategic move to introduce a new audience to its flavors and make Moutai more approachable for the younger generation.
Notably, this is not the first time that Kweichow Moutai has ventured into exciting collaborations with other food and drink makers. Just last year, it partnered with mainland dairy giant Mengniu to create Moutai ice cream, a delectable treat that garnered significant attention. Priced at CNY60 (approximately US$8) per serving, this unique ice cream allowed consumers to savor the essence of Moutai in a delightful frozen form. It was another example of Kweichow Moutai’s commitment to innovation and expanding its product offerings beyond traditional boundaries.
The impact of the “Soy Sauce Latte” collaboration reached beyond the beverage itself. On 5 September 2023, Luckin Coffee’s stock price surged by an impressive 5%. This surge was a testament to the incredible success and market impact of their unique creation. It not only resonated with consumers but also with investors who recognised the significance of this partnership.
The “Soy Sauce Latte” is more than just a beverage; it represents the convergence of tradition and innovation. It’s an enticing glimpse into the evolving tastes of China’s young consumers and a testament to the power of collaboration between iconic brands. As social media continues to buzz about this unique concoction, the future looks promising for both Luckin Coffee and Kweichow Moutai. Whether you’re a coffee lover or a baijiu enthusiast, this fusion of flavors is a must-try, all while fitting into the trend of “consumption downgrading” in China, showcasing the creativity of Kweichow Moutai through its innovative collaborations, and boosting and re-energising the stock price of Luckin Coffee.


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MooShake maker Milk Mantra plans to raise Rs 200 crore to expand
"We are likely to raise Rs 200 crore in the next 12-18 months," Srikumar Misra, founder & managing director of Milk Mantra, told ET.
October 09, 2015, 13:20 IST
KOLKATA: Milk Mantra, an Odisha-based agri start-up, is looking at raising Rs 200 crore from venture capitalists and private equity investors to finance its expansion. The company manufactures milk, butter milk, curd and milk shake under the Milky Moo brand.
"We are scaling up our business to reach out to entire India with new products. For this, we are likely to raise Rs 200 crore in the next 12-18 months," Srikumar Misra, founder & managing director of Milk Mantra, told ET.
The start-up, backed by Fidelity Growth Partners, has already made a foray in the dairy-based functional health category with a ready-to-drink milk beverage MooShake, which is blended with curcumin (an extract from turmeric), in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
"Till date, we have been an eastern India player with major presence in Odisha, Ranchi, Jamsshedpur and Kolkata. But now we are planning to become a panIndia player," said Misra, who left his job at Tata Administrative Services in London to launch Milk Mantra in 2009.
Compared to its other products such as Milky Moo milk, paneer and yoghurt, MooShake has a longer shelf-life of around three months. "Functional health category is an evolving category in India because consumers want more than the basic milk. Urban India is getting exposed to the exciting and engaging food brands. So, we have to be innovative. Today's consumers are looking at milk beverages with better nutrition and which are good for health.The initial feedback of MooShake has been quite encouraging," Misra said.
Currently, milk shake is estimated to be a Rs 1,000 crore category in India. There are many local players in this segment apart from bigger brands like Amul, Nestle and Britannia. The size of the dairy market in India is pegged at $40 billion and is dominated by unorganised players.
In a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dated April 2, seen by ETRetail, Cait said that a strong stimulus package is needed for the small businesses who are the contributor of a major chunk of revenue to the government and are also the backbone of the Indian economy.
The retail industry is staring at losses of about half a billion dollars due to the closure of malls, apparel stores and the recent decision to pull shutters on factory production due to the havoc created by the coronavirus. There are over 15 lakh modern retail stores in India generating a business of almost Rs 4.74 lakh crore and employing over 60 lakh people.


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(SIE) has reclaimed the rights to another upcoming game from a group of industry veterans. It will release the first game from Firewalk Studios, whose founders previously worked on .
“For our team, the opportunity to create new worlds and inspire more incredible moments for players around the world is the fire and ambition that drives us forward,” wrote Tony Hsu, Firewalk Studio Director in a . “The PlayStation team have a deep love and respect for supporting games, and some of the best skills and abilities in the world to help make big ambitions a reality.”
There aren’t many details available on the game yet, but it will be an original multiplayer title. Hsu didn’t mention in his post where and when you can play it, but the game will be exclusive to the PlayStation 5 console.
Firewalk is under the umbrella of ProbablyMonsters, which “builds sustainable game studios through a people-centered culture”. The studio was formed in 2018 and is led by Hsu, who was general manager and senior vice president of destiny at Activision; game director Ryan Elli, a former creative director at Bungie; and executive producer Elena Siegman, who worked as a producer on Guitar Hero II and Bioshock Infinite as good as destiny. Other team members worked on Call of Duty, , Mass Effect and Halo.
Last month, Sony with Haven, a new studio run by Jade Raymond, veteran Assassin’s Creed producer and ex-head of Stadia Games and Entertainment, for an unannounced match.
SIE CEO Jim Ryan said in an interview today with (Going through ) that the company has “quietly but steadily invested in high quality games for PlayStation, and we will ensure that the PS5 generation has more dedicated software than ever before.” The deals with Firewalk and Haven appear to align with this strategy, and Ryan has hinted that SIE has other deals in the works. Ryan also noted that SIE had not ruled out buying more studios to join outfits like Insomniac and Naughty Dog at .
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It was the height of the Internet boom, and in July, 1999, everyone from America Online Inc. (AOL ) Chairman Stephen M. Case to TV hostess Oprah Winfrey descended on Sun Valley, Idaho, for a high-tech retreat. Far from the spotlight, Microsoft Corp. (MSFT ) Chairman William H. Gates III button-holed one of the few Europeans there, Nokia Corp. (NOK ) Chairman Jorma Ollila. According to Gates's e-mail following the meeting, now one of the U.S. government's exhibits in the Microsoft antitrust case, the two leaders discussed the coming mobile Internet and how their companies--one the titan in software, the other in mobile phones--were preparing for it. Back then, Gates held out hope that the Finnish cell-phone giant might eventually incorporate Microsoft programs in its phones. "How come we don't merge our effort with Nokia?" he wrote to his colleagues.
This magic match-up never happened, and for a simple reason: Ollila and his colleagues saw long ago how Microsoft virtually took over the personal computer industry, helping itself to a heaping share of the profits. So the Finns were moving, even as Gates and Ollila chatted, to keep the Redmond behemoth at bay. This meant that if Microsoft was going to make its way to hundreds of millions of mobile users, it would get precious little help from Nokia. Now, even as the mobile Net lurches through a crisis of confidence and funding, a mano a mano struggle between the two giants is under way.
HIGH GROUND. In mid-June, Microsoft unveiled a contract with Britain's Vodafone Group PLC, the world's No. 1 mobile-phone operator, to offer a host of Microsoft services and products, from e-mail to Excel spreadsheets, through Vodafone's wireless network. What's more, manufacturers from Korea's Samsung to Britain's Sendo are launching Web-surfing mobile phones powered by Microsoft software. These so-called Stingers should debut in Europe later this year to battle Nokia's latest Web phone, the $800 7210 Communicator, a flip-open computer with a keypad and color screen that hit European shelves on June 19.
To date, the battle is raging only in tiny niches of the $100 billion communications industry. But strategically, it's crucial. Microsoft sees the handset orchestrating a galaxy of digital devices at home and at work--the TV, the games console, even the refrigerator--all of them powered with varieties of Windows software. If Microsoft controls the handset, it tightens its grip on all the other pieces. "This is an area where Microsoft needs to be," says Ken Dulaney, mobile computing analyst at Gartner Inc.
Nokia's need for the Net is no less dire. While the company dominates cell phones, the market for handsets is leveling off. Indeed, Nokia's June 12 announcement of a flattening market led to a 20% tumble in its stock. To reignite the market, Nokia is developing a new lineup for the mobile Net. But if a competitor grabs the software business, either in the phones or on the networks, Nokia could be left selling dumb terminals, commodity handsets that are only valued for the software they run on. And the biggest software threat--no surprise here--is Microsoft.
To lay claim to the mobile Net, each company is stretching far from its core market. Microsoft, from its wireless base in Stockholm, now wants to cram its software into phones. That means wrestling with limitations on memory, battery life, and the challenges of running the equivalent of a computer in a handset. And Nokia is pouring $3 billion in research and development, much of it into software labs in Japan, Finland, and Silicon Valley. More and more, CEO Ollila says, "we're becoming a software company." But while Nokia has proven masterful at designing software to operate phones, the new ventures lead its developers far from their old turf into portal design and systems to protect mobile banking from hackers.
DIFFERENT VISIONS. The two companies represent different visions of the wireless Net. Nokia focuses on a new Net, one with services directed toward people on the move. The Finns note that many the world's 700 million cell-phone subscribers aren't yet online. But they're already sending billions of short text messages to each other monthly. In Nokia's mobile Net, those text messages grow into pictures and video clips.
Microsoft, coming from PC-centric America, concentrates largely on mobile extensions of the Internet as we know it now. Its first target is the laptop-lugging suit rushing through the world's airports. These users not only have a PC at work but also use Microsoft's own Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook programs---and want access to all this data in a cab, a restaurant, or between innings at Yankee Stadium.
So starting in July, Vodafone will offer its corporate customers in Britain a Microsoft service to extend the company Intranet--e-mail, orders, customer lists, inventory--to the mobile handset. While an executive on the go can use a standard mobile phone for basic messaging, Microsoft hopes companies will shoot for full-powered connections that can deliver not just simple e-mail but attached files with complex data. For this, the software giant is promoting either $500 Pocket PCs, such as Compaq's iPAQ, equipped with mobile modems, or smaller Stinger phones, expected to cost $600 to $700.
Microsoft landed Vodafone by selling the service at near giveaway prices. Most of the revenue comes later as Vodafone sells the service to corporate customers and splits the take with Microsoft. Other deals are brewing with Spain's Telefonica and Germany's Deutsche Telekom. "The phone companies want to raise revenue per user without spending much money," says Juha Christensen, vice-president of marketing and sales in Microsoft's mobility group. "That suits us. We get a stream of sales every month."
Phonemakers, of course, pooh-pooh Microsoft's gains. "They're targeting a small niche of the market," says Colly Myers, CEO of Symbian Ltd., a software joint venture founded three years ago by Nokia, Motorola (MOT ), and Ericsson (ERICY ). The business users number only in the tens of millions. Nokia, which won the cell-phone wars in the last decade by turning an expensive grey business tool into a cheap and colorful consumer product, is targeting an audience that may top 1 billion. "When you go to the guy on the corner," says Niklas Savander, vice-president for Internet applications at Nokia Networks, "affordability and coolness are way bigger factors than whether it runs PowerPoint."
True. And as this battle takes off, Nokia is certainly in the lead. It sells mobile networks and phones by the hundreds of millions, while Microsoft is just getting started. But in the last year, the Redmond giant has mastered handheld computers, and now it's focusing on phones. Nokia had what it took to whip fellow phonemakers Motorola and Ericsson in the '90s. Now, the Finns are grappling with a different animal altogether.
By Stephen Baker in Paris


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28 Jul SUSQUEHANNA HIRES SAM POSER
Susquehanna Financial Group, LLLP (SFG) said Sam Poser has joined the firm as the senior analyst covering the Footwear & Apparel industry. Poser will be based out of SFG’s New York office.
“Sam is an established analyst with a vast network within the footwear industry,” said Nick Wood, SFG’s Co-Head of Equities. “His ability to lay out the investment mosaic, as well as his industry experience, underpin his ability to understand and communicate his sector views to investors.”
“Sam re-establishes our coverage of the Footwear & Apparel sector and will give us the opportunity to deliver more value to our clients,” said Akir Gutierrez, SFG’s Director of Research. “We are looking forward to Sam’s contribution.”
Sam has been at Sterne Agee CRT for the last nine years, where he was a Managing Director covering the Footwear & Apparel industry. Prior to that, he was a senior analyst at FTN Midwest and an analyst at Mosaic Research. His industry experience spanned 10 years, during which time he was a buyer at The Sports Authority and Champs Sports and associate buyer at Track and Trail. Sam earned his B.A. in Political Studies from Pitzer College.


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Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 2.5 got wear tested
Prior to release, the new suede-studded Tom Sachs x Nike Mars Yard 2.5 was previewed by the brand asking fans to wear test the latest iteration of the unique shoe ― but nobody pushed it harder than Tom Sachs himself.
The Mars Yard 2.5 Wear Test campaign is part of the brand collab's NIKECRAFT initiative, which explores and scrutinizes products to optimize builds for the highest performance and durability ― furthering their goal of making more sustainable products that can be "worn to death." Involving their community, NIKECRAFT asked users to put the pair through tumultuous wear and record their experience and feedback.
Users pushed the pair hard, but turns out that an expertly crafted build coated in premium suede is difficult to damage with average wear and tear. Those who were chosen to test the pair took them thru long runs in the rain, lengthy urban commutes, and even muddy rural scenes ― with the shoes ultimately holding up impressively thanks to the heavily used durable suede. Of course, NIKECRAFT conducted their own next-level tests, including Sachs himself taking the pair on a treadmill run will being bombarded with nails, hammers, cement blocks and more ― prior to blasting the pair directly with blunt force, fire, and water. Talk about "built to last".
“With this particular challenge, we are engaging people to really think about this shoe and bring different perspectives, both culturally and environmentally,” said Sachs. “This is an opportunity to invite a larger audience to really indulge in our favorite part of the process — learning about things and making stuff. The process is the most valuable thing, and if the end result is a great pair of shoes, that’s fantastic. But I think it's really important that the testing process celebrates the journey.”
The design itself arrives in Tom's previously displayed signature arrangement of tan and red suede, with a few bold tweaks setting the new pair apart ― including start black rubber toe caps and outsoles, and a translucent upper finished with significantly lighter suede overlays from previous iterations.
The limited edition launch has yet to be announced, but with "built to last" power like this we got our eyes out for the drop.
We got all the deets on more durable drops here.


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Published on : Friday, July 5, 2019
The attacks were targeted towards luxury hotels and churches, and tourism numbers declined by 70 percent in the first month after the incidents. A Sri Lankan delegation visited India in mid-June to say that the country is now safe for visit, and to invite Indian tourists with special discounted offers, slashing airline, hotel and transport prices by up to 60 percent, valid until September.
Indians account for the largest number of tourists in Sri Lanka. 4 lakh Indian tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2018 and 1.5 lakh in the first three months of this year.
To quote John Amaratunga, tourism minister, wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs, “I assure all of India that Sri Lanka is secure. All those directly and indirectly involved in the attacks are in custody, and several countries have lifted their travel advisories, including India.”
Sri Lanka’s tourism losses after the attacks amount to as much as $1.5 billion.
“Last year, we made $4.5 billion from tourism, and we had estimated about $5 billion this year. Of course, those were derailed at the end of the fourth month, but now, things are picking up again. We may be close to a $3 billion target now,” Amaratunga added. “This is unfortunate, as Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on tourism.”
The minister said that security has been ramped up at airports along with hotels, and the plan to offer free visa and visa on arrival to certain countries is suspended for security reasons.


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Shrink your debit-card interchange fees."
Said the bankers, compliant:
"We'll look to the client
To offset the revenue squeeze."
New, lower federal limits on the interchange fees that banks may charge merchants on debit card transactions have gone into effect; but, like squeezing a balloon, such price controls will often raise prices elsewhere. Accordingly, banks have begun to roll out fees for their customers who use debit cards. First off the starting blocks was Bank of America, which announced a $5 monthly fee, while Chase is testing a debit card fee in selected markets. Other financial institutions such as Citibank and USAA have seized the opportunity to set themselves apart as "no-fee" providers, though experts warn that these banks may burst their customers' bubbles if they find it necessary to charge fees at a later point.


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Once there was no GPS receiver Satellite link in every long haul truck. If you think RFID will not be adopted by fuel transport, that is what the early GPS crowd thought, too.
While it is still true that most of our industry is feverously focused on the enterprise applications of asset tracking within the “4 walls” or, if focusing outside, the primarily focus is on hard assets. However, a unique application focus is now emerging around securing liquid bulk fuels both stationary and in-transit.
Years ago, groups of smart people figured out how to bundle technology to track the location and status of rolling trucks globally. It even quickly took the name we now all recognize as “Fleet Management” systems.
This was a technical marriage of truck cabin based sensors wired into and on-board computing platform including a GPS receiver and either a cellular or Satellite modem. Today, this is a ubiquitous technology in the trucking industry with companies like Qualcomm leading the way and carries value added features like real-time text communications with the driver, real-time monitoring of the cabin’s location, and real-time monitoring of cabin conditions like odometer, speedometer, breaking conditions, and tire pressure.
What RFID can now enable is moving the monitoring paradigm from the cabin of the truck back to the load that the truck is hauling. After all, in today’s fractured fuel transport market, those who care about the truck may be vastly different than those who care about the load.
This may sound like a pie in the sky application but it may surprise you that 10’s of thousands of these tags are in use today globally, attached to fuel tanker truck hatches and valves rolling down the road or at retail location on ground tanks around the world.
By Erik Wood, SB Roving Editor
WATCH FOR PART 2 with more details on business processes next week.
Since July of 2007, I’ve been writing about the future impact of 700 MHz on communication, especially as it will impact RFID.
As AT&T and Verizon invested over $20 Billion in the spectrum auction, Google dropped out.
Instead, Google has decided to make an initial modest investment in WiMax with Sprint.
So now we’re all wondering what is the 3 year game plan for all these guys and how it impacts our RFID world. Read more
In 2005 I wrote an article relating to the high risk of fuel theft and waste that is impacting US haulers over $2 Billion annually.
Based on a cost of almst $5 a gallon for diesel, my estimates for 2008 have increased to over $8 Billion of the $100+ Billion fuel spending for 2008. Read more
Hallmark beef is billed $67 million by the US school lunch program for improperly processed beef and an additional $50 million bill is coming in 2008. When will food processors realize that serializing food can save them Billions in food recall exposure?
For almost a dozen years we’ve advocated that serializing food on an item level will save food processors Billions of dollars in recall expenses. Read more
This afternoon I read an excellent article in RFID Switchboard that brought to mind how important it is to put time and time management in perspective in our industry. The article, written by Carl Brown, President of SimplyRFID, discussed the timeline of implementation for the DoD (U.S. Department of Defense) RFID rollout. (Read the article here) The DoD recently announced a timeline of 2015 before the full rollout of RFID is complete and it seems the concern was by some people in the industry that the timeline was too slow. Read more


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VIETNAM: Anheuser-Busch InBev plans brewery build
A-B InBev is planning a brewery in Vietnam, it has been reported
Anheuser-Busch InBev is planning to build a brewery in Vietnam to capitalise on the country's fast-expanding beer market.
The brewer confirmed to just-drinks today (26 April) that it has acquired a licence to build a brewery in Vietnam and expects the facility to be fully operational by the end of next year at the latest.
"The decision to build a brewery in Vietnam underscores A-B InBev’s belief in the long term growth potential of the Vietnamese market," a spokesperson told just-drinks.
A-B InBev CEO Carlos Brito was reported as telling media after the company's annual shareholder meeting earlier this week: "We think our global brands have a big appeal, especially Budweiser ... so we think it's a natural place to go after our position in China."
SABMiller and Heineken already have their own breweries in Vietnam. The country is the second-largest market by volume for Heineken's flagship lager brand. Meanwhile, rumours emerged last year that SABMiller and Heineken were separately considering taking a stake in the state-owned Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation (Sabeco).
Last year, Carlsberg was given the go-ahead to raise its stake in the government-controlled Hanoi Alcohol Beer and Beverage Corporation (Habeco) to 30%.
Earlier today, Heineken reported a fall in Q3 net profits and flat sales in the first nine months of 2013. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at the group's performance by region:...
- Is Brown-Forman doing a Jack Daniel's in Ireland?
- Is Brown-Forman at the end of the SoCo road?
- Is time right for TWE to move for Diageo's wines?
- Will a sexed-up SABMiller tempt AB InBev?
- Are we kidding ourselves over craft spirits?
- Diageo secures Xerox Corp CFO as finance head
- Tesco pulls several Carlsberg SKUs in UK
- Diageo, Treasury Wine Estates quiet on wine sale
- Former Pernod Ricard exec joins Wakefield Wines
- Inver House Distillers posts FY profits leap
- The IWSR Duty Free/Travel Retail Summary Report 2015
- Future growth opportunities for global spirits
- Global gin insights - market data, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Global non-Scotch whiskies insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research
- Global Scotch whisky insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends research


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CAMDEN — To the relief of Camden Post Office box holders and those who appreciate the historic institution on Chestnut Street, the building is to reopen to foot traffic with mail settling into Camden Post Office boxes by mid-morning April 11.
The news arrived with a letter tucked into the temporary boxes that Camden postal patrons had been using in the Rockland Post Office.
Since September 2022, Camden box holders have been driving to Rockland, eight miles down Route 1, to collect their mail.
But on March 29, there was this happy news from Camden Postmaster Sarah B. Chapman:
“Dear Valued Postal Customer:
“The day has finally arrived. The Camden Post Office will be reopening the week of April 8, 2023. We will be moving the P.O. boxes back to Camden on Saturday, April 8.
“Your mail will not be available on Saturday, April 8, and Monday, April 10, to provide time to move the mail back to Camden. On Tuesday, April 11, mail will be available by mid-morning, as it was prior to the move.
“The retail operation will not be fully functional that first week; however, we do expect to be up and running for retail operations by the following Monday, April 17. We will, however, be able to assist with you P.O. box specific needs starting Tuesday, April 11.
“Please return the key for your Rockland P.O. Box to the retail staff in Rockland before Saturday, April 8. Any mail and parcels accumulated in Rockland will be moved to Camden.
“Thank you for your patience this year. We look forward to reopening and continuing to privy excellent service.”
Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at firstname.lastname@example.org; 207-706-6657


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CHICAGO, June 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Reddi-wip, a brand of Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) and the leader in the whipped topping category, has debuted two plant-based, non-dairy varieties: Reddi-wip Non-Dairy Coconut and Reddi-wip Non-Dairy Almond whipped topping. The innovation addresses the growing consumer demand for non-dairy options across the larger dairy category.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth in non-dairy, plant-based foods due to consumers’ dietary restrictions and changing taste preferences,” said Ryan Clark, president of the Refrigerated and Frozen division at Conagra Brands. “This is an exciting innovation for Reddi-wip that addresses this broader consumer demand and the requests we’ve received from consumers asking us to bring a non-dairy variety to market.”
In fact, according to Mintel International, U.S. non-dairy milk sales grew 61% in the last five years.* In addition, almond and coconut are among the top non-dairy milks purchased.**
The new, gluten-free varieties are 10 calories per serving and free of artificial flavors and artificial preservatives. They began shipping to retailers in late May and will be available nationally in the coming months. The suggested retail price is $3.99 for a six ounce can.
The move to offer plant-based varieties follows other recent changes to Reddi-wip that addressed consumer desire for more ingredient transparency, including moving to natural flavors and cream from cows not treated with artificial growth hormone (rBST)*** in the original dairy varieties.
Visit https://www.reddiwip.com/ to learn more about the full line of Reddi-wip offerings.
About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America’s leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company’s portfolio is evolving to satisfy people’s changing food preferences. Conagra’s iconic brands, such as Marie Callender’s®, Reddi-wip®, Hunt’s®, Healthy Choice®, Slim Jim® and Orville Redenbacher’s®, as well as emerging brands, including Alexia®, Blake’s®, Frontera®, Duke’s® and Angie’s® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
For more information, please contact:
*Source: Mintel’s Non-dairy Milk – US – September 2017. Based on Information Resources Inc., InfoScan Reviews; US Census Bureau, Economic Census/Mintel. Shows total US sales and forecast of non-dairy milk, at current prices. 61% change in $ sales, 2012 vs. 2017 (estimated)
**Source: Mintel’s Non-Dairy Milk – US – September 2017
***No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST-treated cows.
View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reddi-wip-launches-non-dairy-almond-and-coconut-varieties-to-address-growing-consumer-demand-for-plant-based-foods-300667654.html
SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.


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Amazon sells most of the name-brand electronics you can think of. Now, it appears, it wants to be the place where the next generation of gadget and consumer electronics companies can build their brands from the ground up.
Over the last few months, the company has been hiring for a new venture with the goal of creating the “best end-to-end platform for startups.” In another job description, Amazon touts the venture as “a new platform with inventors.”
One listing for a senior marketing manager asks, “Are you inspired by inventors who develop and launch new products? Do you want to market the world’s best end-to-end platform for startups? Do you see the opportunity to connect these entrepreneurs with Amazon’s hundreds of millions of customers through creative and strategic marketing?”
The jobs, which appear to have first popped up in the fall, sit in the Hardlines category at Amazon, which consists of product groups such as toys, electronics and tools. There are few other details in the descriptions.
But sources say it could be connected to a recent initiative Amazon has been pursuing. Amazon is attempting to build close relationships with young, promising hardware and electronics companies — think robotic toys, fitness and health gadgets — with the goal of convincing them to build their business using Amazon as the main sales channel.
“They are trying to figure out how to engage with startups in new product categories in a more thoughtful way,” one source said, citing robots and wearables as the kind of products Amazon is targeting.
Traditionally, new Amazon sellers would get handed to the most junior product buyers. But Amazon has been assigning senior buyers to handle the relationships with young hardware startups. In some cases, Amazon is also offering them modest perks such as enhanced marketing on Amazon and other channels, one source said.
Why is this a focus? The new venture comes at a time when other e-commerce marketplaces like Etsy and The Grommet, as well as brick and mortar retailers, have been courting the next generation of tinkerers, inventors and makers. This set of entrepreneurs is using new technologies, like 3-D printing, and new fundraising platforms, like Kickstarter and Indiegogo, to bring new products to market faster.
As a result, these categories of goods are some of the fastest growing in retail. Amazon likely wants to create a foothold before sales really take off and competitor sites become the big distribution channels.
Last year, for example, Etsy acquired Grand St., an online seller of new electronics products. The Grommet, which is majority owned by Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, is another site dedicated to introducing shoppers to the latest inventions from small shops or individuals.
Amazon has been showcasing some of these products in its own way already. In the past year, it introduced storefronts for 3-D printing as well as wearables such as smartwatches and fitness bands. Now it looks to be formalizing a plan to become the go-to store for this new wave of consumer products.
So what else might Amazon’s “end-to-end platform for startups” consist of?
One former Amazon employee speculated that Amazon could be providing some funding to the most promising hardware startups and bring them in house for some hands-on mentoring. This is not so farfetched. In June, Amazon sponsored a contest that rewarded 20 creators of Indiegogo crowdfunding campaigns with “entrepreneurial mentorship,” three free months of an Amazon professional seller account and a $200 credit toward Amazon’s warehousing and shipping program. The contest was timed to coincide with the first-ever White House Maker Faire, an event that celebrated technologists and inventors using cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.
Another idea? Amazon could go so far as to compete with Kickstarter and Indiegogo directly by helping promising entrepreneurs raise initial funds for new products on Amazon or a new site. Or it could recast its Woot.com site, which sells gadgets and new inventions but has lost much of its mojo, along with its early company leaders, in the years since Amazon bought it.
You want one more piece of pure speculation, you say? Okay! Perhaps Amazon attempted — and failed — to buy Etsy, where makers and tinkerers are increasingly setting up shop, and instead it is going at Etsy in a category of goods that are poised to take off but where Etsy isn’t yet the clear e-commerce winner. Perhaps!
(Update: After publication, a few smart people mentioned that the new venture sounds like it could also be competitive with Quirky, a New York City company that helps inventors transform their ideas into actual products. Quirky actually sells some of these products on Amazon, but Amazon has never shied away from competing with its own sellers.)
Okay, I’m done. If you know more about this new venture and want to share details with your favorite e-commerce reporter, please email me at email@example.com.
I actually got a nice Amazon spokesman on the phone, but he still declined to comment.
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.