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When you hear about companies innovating digitally and building omnichannel ecommerce strategies to improve the customer experience, it’s not usually in farming.
But that’s exactly what Ballance Agri-Nutrients, a New Zealand farmer-owned co-operative that offers customers a full range of science-backed fertilizers and services, is doing.
At SAPPHIRE NOW, I had the pleasure of speaking with David Scullin, CIO, Ballance Agri-Nutrients about how the company is digitizing its business from the farm paddock to the fertilizer plant. “Together, creating the best soil and feed on earth, is our purpose,” said Scullin. “We need to be digitally enabled to support that purpose because that’s how an increasing number of our farmers want to engage with us.”
Moving to Omnichannel Ecommerce
Implementing the company’s digital strategy started at the core of its business. “Our first key project was to improve the analytical capability in our organization for the benefit of our people and our customers,” said Scullin. That meant upgrading its business intelligence solution to SAP BusinessObjects and upgrading its ERP solution to SAP S/4HANA. .
Now, Ballance is focused on its omnichannel ecommerce strategy. “We are currently implementing SAP Hybris, which is the foundation of our omnichannel capability,” said Scullin.
The omnichannel capability is needed to deliver MyBallance, the company’s new ecommerce offering for customers. “MyBallance allows farmers to easily engage with us online via any channel,” said Scullin.
Not only will MyBallance make it easy for farmers to do business with Ballance, in terms of product selection and ordering, it will turn raw farm data into useful information that helps them farm better and protect the environment.
“Every farmer will have an online, interactive digital farm map accessible from any device. They’ll be able to see on which paddocks they’ve applied nutrients and get proof of placement from the trucks that spread the fertilizer. They will be able to order directly from the map, see the status of their orders, and access their fertilizer plan for the year,” explained Scullin.
Focusing on Customers and Data
The new solution will be a big change for Ballance both internally and for the co-operative’s farmer customers. “We are changing the whole way we capture orders and we’re delivering more value to our customers, so it’s a really exciting time,” said Scullin.
Historically, the Ballance sales team would be very focused on order transactions. Now they are having deep discussions that are focused on understanding the farming system of the farmer, what their goals are, and creating nutrient plans tailored to their needs. “Plans used to just go in as a single bulk order for the year. There was no detailed traceability of dispatches out of our store as genuine order transactions. Now their plan for the year is stored in SAP Hybris and individual deliveries are the orders,” explained Scullin.
The focus on high quality customer data is another big change. “We must have high quality customer data coming into our systems so that we can give enriched information back to them. Capturing better data about their farm type, size, and system enables us to give them proper nutrient recommendations. That drives efficient use of fertilizer, improves productivity and profitability, and allows our farmers to benchmark themselves against their peers,” said Scullin.
Simplifying Processes and Reducing Costs
Farmers were involved in testing the new solution and are keen to start using it. “Farming has become more sophisticated in New Zealand. There’s more corporate ownership and consolidation of farming interests has increased the scale of operations. That means we need to have easy and low-cost transaction processes that work across all digital platforms and complement other farm management systems,” explained Scullin.
The omnichannel solution also ensures a consistent buying experience if farmers choose to buy their fertilizer from a rural distributor. “Rural supply companies will have a user interface into the MyBallance solution so customers can buy their fence posts and wire, boots, and order fertilizer directly from their plan – all in one trip to the store, over the phone, or online,” said Scullin.
Some farmers also hire agronomic advisors to help them with their annual fertilizer plans. Farmers can provide these advisors with access to their records and information so they can see the full picture and provide the best guidance. “It really is a true multi-channel, multi-device solution tailored to every customer, not just an online order and e-commerce solution,” said Scullin.
Innovating for the Future
Simple, consistent customer experiences and lower transaction costs aren’t the only benefits. Better information about fertilizer placement and volume is helping farmers protect the environment.
“Environmental compliance is a very important factor in farming in New Zealand and around the world. We are very focused on helping farmers apply the right nutrients in the right quantities to meet soil and plant requirements. So, we’re trying to innovate digitally with solutions that help farmers operate sustainably, while maximizing production profitability,” explained Scullin.
Ballance plans to continue to innovate on behalf of its customers and may tap into Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the near future. For example, providing weather-based notifications and information to farmers can help improve their fertilizer plans and optimize both their short and long-term spending.
“Short-term weather understanding drives day-to-day decisions on farms. If a heavy rainfall is coming, you may want to use the window before the storm arrives to get your animals to shelter and to spread some fertilizer on the ground to achieve the best results. That’s why I’m really excited about SAP Leonardo and the potential in presents for digital innovation in the long term,” concluded Scullin.
Connect with me on Twitter.


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Corner Kitchen has brought back their corned beef Jiggs dinner just in time for St. Patty's Day.
>> Downtown Dayton’s newest pub set to open on St. Patrick’s Day
Side note: their amazing corned beef is also featured regularly on the menu in their Big Ole Reuben, which includes spiced slaw, a fried egg, Gruyere, Russian dressing and crispy herbed fries.
>> The spring seasonal menu has launched for this beloved Centerville seafood restaurant
The meal includes cabbage, soda bread, potatoes, and of course, the illustrious house-made corned beef featured here.
>> Your guide to St. Patrick’s Day events in Dayton
Check out our BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO to see a glimpse of how it’s made:
Corned beef! 🐮Talking about everyone's favorite St. Patrick's Day grub aside from beer. 🍺🍻🍺 Learn at Corner Kitchen!Posted by Dayton.com on Monday, March 13, 2017

domain: news


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This July 16, you will be treated to a new version of Microsoft's productivity suite, Microsoft Office 15. The suite which is being unveiled in San Francisco has been available to select group of users since January.
Reports published in the PCWorld indicate that Windows XP and Windows Vista may not be able to run Office 15. This is in line with the overall organization strategy to discontinue support for Microsoft XP in 2014 and Vista support in 2017.
It is yet to be ascertained if the Monday launch will showcase the beta version or if it will be unveiled in summer. If Microsoft Office 15 runs only on Windows 7 and Windows 8, then many users may not upgrade to the latest version of the productivity suite.
Metro, the main design language for Windows 8 and Windows phone is tipped to play a major role in the Office 15 build as well. The new version of Office also integrates with Cloud services such as Facebook, Flickr, Hotmail and Skydrive.
Identified as the most ambitious undertaking yet for the Office Division, by P J Hough, Vice President - Development, Microsoft Office, the program suit is likely to come in bold, basic colors and square edges.
Details are awaited on how Microsoft will customize the new program suite for tablets including the iPad. In late 2011, Microsoft released OneNote for the iPad. Also, word is awaited on whether the program suite will feature a touch-only Metro version on Windows 8, the next version of operating system scheduled for release in October.


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BIMCO, the Baltic and International Maritime Council, the big shipowners’ association, has reported that its dry bulk and container sectors have enjoyed ‘unseasonably’ high profits during the 18-month Covid crisis, reported the UK’s ShipInsigh
‘North American container imports are up by 33.6 per cent in the first four months of the year, reaching 10.9 million TEU. This is the first time they have exceeded 10 million TEU in the first third of the year,’ said BIMCO analysts.
‘Accounting for almost 70 per cent of total North American imports, imports from the Far East have grown by 45 per cent from last year as consumer demand for goods made in the Far East has reached record highs, thanks to stay-at-home orders and government stimulus cheques burning holes in consumers’ pockets,’ it said.
‘Even adjusting for the pandemic, volumes on the Far East to North America trade are up by an impressive 31.4 per cent from the first four months of 2019, an increase of 1.8 million TEU.
‘This means an extra 120 fully loaded 15,000-TEU ships were needed during the first four months of this year compared to demand in 2019 on this trade alone, a task not only for carriers to meet, but also for ports and hinterland connections. The latter two have proved particularly problematic in the US,’ said the report.
The swift recovery from the Covid crisis in China has seen its dry bulk imports rise to their highest levels ever, boosted by infrastructure heavy stimulus and high grains demand, said the report.
‘This is certainly true for iron ore, of which 471.8 million tonnes have been imported in the first five months of the year, a 26.5 million tonne increase from the start of 2020. It is also 24.4 million tonnes higher than the previous record for the first five months of the year which was set in 2019 when imports totalled 447.4 million tonnes.
High steel production and demand
‘China’s record high demand for iron ore is fuelled by the country’s record high steel output and prices, which reached 97.9 million tonnes in April. In the first four months of the year, Chinese steel mills have pumped out 374.6 million tonnes of steel, a 15.8 per cent increase from the same period in 2020, despite talk from the government about curbing annual production with the aim of reducing pollution.
‘High steel production in China is part of the wider picture with industrial production and manufacturing performing strongly at the start of the year, boosting exports as goods hungry consumers in the developed world, and especially in the US, are buying Chinese produced goods,’ said BIMCO.
Copyright SeaNews Turkey


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A market-beating investment advisor made some big trades in the second quarter.
DuPont Capital Management bought up
(ticker: T) and
Bank of America
stock (BAC) in the second quarter, and tripled its investment in
(TGT). It also reduced holdings in
American Tower REIT
(AMT), a cell-tower real-estate investment trust. DuPont Capital, a unit of
(CTVA), disclosed the trades, among others, in a form it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
DuPont Capital’s Value Creators-U.S. Large Cap strategy is crushing the
S&P 500 index,
a measure of the broader market. From the strategy’s Jan. 1, 2017, inception through June 30, it has posted an annualized gain of 16.61%, net of fees, compared with the index’s 11.95%. The strategy also topped the S&P 500’s second-quarter rally by two points with a 22.51% return.
DuPont Capital, whose roots go back to 1942 as a pension manager, declined to comment on the trades, noting it was a quiet period for the advisor.
The advisor bought 25,211 AT&T shares in the second quarter, lifting its holdings to 302,667 shares.
AT&T stock hasn’t recovered from losing a quarter of its value in the first quarter; shares of the telecom and media giant remain down 24.3% year to date through Friday’s close.
AT&T reported a lackluster second quarter in July, although the company launched its next-generation 5G wireless network nationwide. Some analysts have worried that AT&T won’t be able to adequately invest due to balance-sheet strains.
Bank of America stock also remains wounded from a first-quarter dive; shares remain down 29.4% year to date.
The bank’s shares slid in mid-July even after Bank of America’s second-quarter earnings topped expectations. Bank of America itself said it is seeing early signs of an economic rebound. Warren Buffett has been buying up the bank’s shares as of late.
DuPont Capital bought 102,284 more Bank of America shares in the quarter, raising its investment to 1.1 million shares.
The advisor also bought 68,195 Target shares, dramatically increasing its holdings in the retailer to 97,471 shares.
Target stock cratered 28% in the first quarter, but after surging since then, shares are down only 1.8% for the year to date.
In June, Target said it was raising its starting wage for U.S. workers to $15 an hour, a move that was widely expected. Target now requires shoppers to wear masks in its physical stores. The company could win as e-commerce continues to surge, we noted.
American Tower stock slipped only 5% in the first quarter, and now its year-to-date gain stands at 13.7%.
We noted bullishness on Wall Street in May for the shares, even though they weren’t cheap. A fund manager with a big investment in American Tower stock told us the company is in a “pretty recession-proof” business.
Inside Scoop is a regular Barron’s feature covering stock transactions by corporate executives and board members—so-called insiders—as well as large shareholders, politicians, and other prominent figures. Due to their insider status, these investors are required to disclose stock trades with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory groups.


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Marketing & Media trends
Marketing & Media trends
- Andrew Smit and Johan Walters
Construction & Engineering trends
CSI & Sustainability trends
- Innocent Masayira
- Nazeema Mohamed, Feryal Domingo and Soraya Joonas
- Keri-Leigh Paschal
Energy & Mining trends
- Andrew Duvenage,
- Maarten Ackerman
- Kuhle Mnisi
- Marius Botha
- Nema Ramkhelawan-Bhana
- Mike Middleton
- Henry van Deventer
HR & Management trends
Logistics & Transport trends
- Joff van Reenen
- Marcél du Toit
- Michael Smollan
- Jonathan Smit
- Nthabiseng Motsoeneng
- Vilo Trska
- Matthew Leighton
Marketing & Media jobs
- Paid Social Media Specialist Johannesburg
- Social Media Strategist Cape Town
- Advertising Sales Coordinator Johannesburg
- Graphic Designer Cape Town
- Business Director Johannesburg
- Marketing Project Manager Cape Town
- Copywriter Johannesburg
- Lifestyle Journalist - Online/Print Johannesburg
- Digital Project Manager Cape Town
- Account Manager Cape Town
#BizTrends2020: Imagine the impossible
Odette van der Haar, managing director of Publicis.
For the coming year, there are a few unique trends are predicted to drive business growth into 2020 and beyond – they are:
1. Understanding, being relevant to and capturing the millennial demographic
Whilst some of us remember a time before the internet, millennials were born into a world with technology and the internet and it’s a world that is ingrained in everything they do.
Dion Jerling, co-founder of Connect Earth was chair of the third and final day of AfricaCom 2019's keynote sessions. He said there had been closer to 17,000 attendees than predicted 15,000 and convened a panel discussion on getting user experience (UX) right...
Leigh Andrews 15 Nov 2019
These are also the largest chunk of the consumer market, which means that companies and their brands have to transform to adapt to this digital age.
Companies who fail to embrace digital business transformation will be extinct, because the internet age is has only just begun.This is proven by platforms such as YouTube that are making digital marketing more accessible to millennials. According to a VidMob survey, “59% of Gen Z respondents said they use their YouTube app a lot more than they did a year prior,” and companies like TikTok, which is a mobile-centric video platform, grew exponentially in just a few years.
TikTok is a short-form video platform with millions of users logging on each day to either create their own short videos...
With 500 million active users worldwide, TikTok ranks ninth amongst social networking platforms and ahead of the likes of LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest and Snapchat.
2. Knowing technology and how to use it to drive your business to greater heights
We are smack bang amidst the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) and technology is evolving faster than anyone could ever have predicted a few years ago. Companies that don't keep up with some of the major tech trends will be left behind.
Therefore, understanding the key trends for companies brings with it the opportunity to leverage opportunities and in so doing, grow. There are seven most imminent technological trends that everyone should get ready for and embrace for 2020 and beyond:
- a. Using AI to improve customer service and experience
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is one of the most transformative technological evolutions the digital era. Most forward-thinking companies have already started exploring the use of AI to improve their customer service and experience, as well as to streamline their operations. The use of AI will not only grow next year, consumers will become used to AI engagement as AI continues to have a significant impact on the world economy.
Streaming platform Spotify has released the Wrapped 2019 end-of-year summary, featuring the year's top artists, albums, songs, playlists and podcasts streamed on the platform...
Even smaller uses of AI and algorithms can improve the consumer experience in most industries. Spotify, for example, already uses artificial intelligence to make the listening experience more personal by creating customised sessions for each user. Using smart technology will benefit both companies and consumers.
- b. Using 5G data networks
The 5th generation of mobile internet connectivity provides very fast download and upload speeds and more stable internet connections. Whilst 5G mobile data networks were only launched last year, data in South Africa remains expensive and the implementation of 5G data networks are not cheap for mobile operators, which is why it is limited to a few confined areas and major cities.
The 22nd edition of Africacom took place from 12 to 14 November 2019 at the CTICC in Cape Town. Chair for the first morning of Africacom's headline keynotes was Toby Shapshak, editor-in-chief of Stuff magazine, with Paul Scanlan, CTO of carrier business group at Huawei technologies, up first on all things 5G and even 'facial recognition' of fish...
Leigh Andrews 12 Nov 2019
This year, the use of 5G networks is expected to take off and consumers can expect more affordable data plans with access to 5G networks, which means brands need to factor more and more mobile channels into their communication plans.
With super-fast data networks, the ability to access information whilst on the move and what was once considered the impossible, will become the norm as this advancement in technology will enable machines, robots, and autonomous vehicles to collect and transfer more data than ever before, thereby enabling growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart machinery.
- c. Autonomous driving
We may not be at the stage where we can expect to routinely travel in, or even see, autonomous vehicles this year, these vehicles no doubt continue to intrigue consumers as we await their launch into the mainstream automotive market with great excitement.
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk already said that he expected his company to create a truly “complete” autonomous vehicle by 2019 and even though his ambition was not realised last year, this year, we will see a spike in the number of vehicles capable of operating with a lesser degree of autonomy, for example, automated braking and lane-changing will become increasingly common.
"Netflix and drive" might become a thing now that Elon Musk revealed upcoming support for the streaming service and YouTube on his Tesla vehicles...
Shereesa Moodley 31 Jul 2019
And that’s not all, other in-car systems not directly connected to driving – for example security and entertainment functions will most certainly become more automated and reliant on data capture and analytics.
Google's sister-company Waymo has just completed a trial of autonomous taxis in California, where it transported more than 6,200 people in the first month.
The idea of free public transport has clear appeal. Cities in France and Germany are already considering such proposals, to reduce traffic and air pollution...
John Disney 1 Jun 2018
We can expect autonomous driving to grow beyond cars as the trucking and shipping industries become more technologically savvy and are slowly embracing more autonomous breakthroughs. This will only increase in 2020 and beyond.
- d. Using technology for personalised and predictive medicine
The healthcare industry has always been at the forefront of technology, using technology to constantly improve at an unprecedented rate.
The complex industry/academia/government research framework involved in discovering and developing new therapeutic products makes drug discovery an extremely laborious and costly exercise...
Wearable devices such as smartwatches have given companies the ability to capture data and by doing so, increasingly predict and treat health-related issues in consumers before any symptoms are even experienced.
Consumers are therefore becoming more demanding of personalised medical treatment and access to medicine or precision medicine, as it is more commonly referred to in the medical world.The use of technology affords doctors the opportunity to accurately prescribe medicines and apply treatments when they incorporate a data-driven understanding of how effective they are likely to be for a specific patient.
The human genome was first sequenced in 2003 by multiple research centres across the world. The breakthrough was hailed as the dawn of a new era...
Throughout 2020, we can expect to see new applications of predictive healthcare and the introduction of more personalised and effective treatments to ensure better outcomes for individual patients.
- e. Incorporating image recognition or computer vision
Image recognition or in computer terms, “vision” is the use of systems that are able to identify items, places, objects or people from visual images collected by a camera or sensor.
This technology allows consumers to use their smartphone camera to recognise an image it's capturing. Imagine what this means for brands!In 2020, we are going to see computer-vision equipped tools and technology being used more and more. The use of this technology is paramount for how autonomous cars will “see” and navigate their way around danger.
Gartner revealed its top strategic predictions for 2020 and beyond...
It is anticipated that production lines will incorporate computer-vision cameras, to watch for defective products or equipment failures and security cameras will be able to warning us of things that seem unusual, which will eliminate the need for 24/7 monitoring.
Apple will let you unlock the iPhone X with your face - a move likely to bring facial recognition to the masses, along with concerns over how the technology may be used for nefarious purposes...
Facial recognition is already being widely adopted and used for to control access to smartphones – for example, Apple's FaceID, and how Dubai airport uses facial recognition to enable a much better customer journey. The use-cases will only grow in 2020.
- f. Using Extended Reality (XR) to create more immersive digital experiences
XR is the new ‘buzz phrase’ that covers a number of new and emerging technologies that are being used to create more immersive digital experiences for consumers. What it is, is a combination of virtual, augmented and mixed reality. Sounds impossible, right!
I've curated four examples of experiences created using technology or a combination of technology and tactile, to give you ideas to use in your industry to capture the attention, or rather the adoration, of customers...
Keletso Nkabiti 2 Oct 2019
Well, it very much a part of the world we already live in. Virtual reality (VR) provides a fully digitally immersive experience, where consumers are able to enter a computer-generated world using headsets that blend out the real world. Augmented reality (AR) overlays digital objects onto the real-world using smartphone screens or displays, pretty much like Snapchat filters.
#SingularityUSouthAfrica2019: Extending reality - Why, when and how to leverage VR and AR for impact
The third annual SingularityU South Africa Summit is hosted in collaboration with The Development Bank of Southern Africa, global partner Deloitte and partners MTN and Absa on 16 and 17 October 2019...
Mixed reality (MR) is an extension of AR and this enables consumers to interact with digital objects placed in the real world, like playing a holographic piano placed in a room via an AR headset. Pretty soon, consumers will be able to look at and have an immersive experience or products before they purchase them.
- g. Using Blockchain technology
The use of Blockchain technology is a trend that has already been widely predicted since 2017/2018, but most companies haven’t quite embraced it yet. 2020 could finally be the year when that changes. Blockchain is an encrypted digital ledger, used to record transactions securely.
Simon Dingle started his Catalyst Africa presentation by confirming that when he's not making apps or writing books, he loves thinking out loud in public about a variety of divergent topics...
Leigh Andrews 12 Nov 2019
During 2019, some tech commentators started arguing that the use of Blockchain technology was over-hyped and not as useful as initially predicted, however companies such as FedEx, IBM, Walmart and Mastercard continue investing extensively in the use of Blockchain, which is leading to adoption of Blockchain by more and more companies.
Rumour has it that Facebook will launch its own Blockchain-based crypto currently called Libra, which will no doubt create a lot of buzz.
3. The need to ‘go green’
Protecting the environment is paramount. More and more consumers are adopting a green lifestyle.
Beyond Meat is a plant-based protein manufacturer that has increased its stock prices by more than three times since its IPO launch however, for consumers, the eco-conscious lifestyle doesn’t stop at vegetarian diets and organic hygiene products.
Beyond Meat [recently] reported quarterly earnings of $67.3 million - much better than market expectations of $52.7 million...
Paul Wood 25 Sep 2019
Lunya – a popular women’s-clothing maker, manufactures its products from natural fabrics and fibres. Their sleepwear and intimate lines use Pima cotton for both durability and comfort.
The use of natural materials lowers the carbon footprint of companies and that of individual consumers. It’s a win-win solution, because it is no longer enough to be green anymore, companies are expected to help consumers understand the importance of making eco-friendly choices.
While sustainability may be just a buzzword to some fashion companies, others ensure that every aspect of their business is sustainable - from the materials used to produce garments to ensuring that their staff is treated fairly...
Those companies that do this properly will add value that authentically resonates with consumers.
4. E-Commerce, e-commerce, e-commerce
E-commerce will continue to dominate and in 2020 and beyond, global e-commerce is expected to reach around $5trillion, as reported by Statista. This will drive retailers to move investments from brick-and-mortar storefronts to online stores.
The success of online retailing has already been proven the world-over but locally, online stores such as Superbalist and Zando showcase the power of online shopping and how those retailers such as Stuttafords that failed to innovate closed down.As more retailers appear online, there is no limit to what can now be sold or purchased online.
5. All-encompassing digital platforms are paramount for 2020 and beyond
Companies need to provide more services and options to their customers, which has given rise to the demand for all-in-one platforms to handle secure financial transactions.
This year will be a big one for the next-generation transactional sector, with disruption increasingly coming to market and long-standing challenges being overcome...
Consumers and business owners have an appreciation for the ability to accomplish more than one of their goals with any one particular vendor, and these all-encompassing digital platforms are not only gaining popularity but also becoming more necessary.
Consumers are demanding more contactless credit options and the ability to pay with cryptocurrency or their phone. Consumers are also demanding high security and instant, 24-hour access to funds.The need for digital transformation specialist companies like Sapient will become more necessary to guide companies through this ever-changing digital business transformation maze in order to move into 2020 and beyond.
In a nutshell, competition for the acquisition of customers is fierce and will not change in the coming year. If anything, adapting to the changing consumer market will be crucial for business success this year.
It is therefore so necessary for companies to not only know but also understand and embrace what consumers are demanding and where they are spending their money.Companies need to make the right investments for the year ahead and beyond, and jump onto the trends mentioned as these will definitely impact their opportunity to not only grow but even survive in these tough economic times.


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XPO Logistics is to add augmented reality to its Ship XPO consumer self-service platform in the US. The idea is to enable shoppers to use the visualisation technology prior to the delivery of large items, such as sofas, to work out the best place to put them.
President Troy Cooper said: “The technology creates a virtual image of how an item will look in a given room, dramatically decreasing the likelihood of returns. Augmented reality enhances the efficiency of the entire last mile process, reducing time inside the home and the risk of product damage.”
It expects its visualization technology to be available nationally on Ship XPO later this year.


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Kenya’s richest female singer, Esther Akoth famously known as Akothee has added to her collection of fast ,pricey cars, another sight-to-behold German machine.
It is a gift to herself for clinching a win at the Afrimma awards. She took home the trophy of East Africa’s best female artist. Yes. You read that right.
Her new car, an unconfirmed rumour says, is a 2016 AMG SL 63 Convertible Roadster. In it’s shimmering silver glory, the two-seater will set your bank account a cool KSh 15 million back.
She also has a white Rangerover as well as other cars lying in wait at her garage.
She was of late trolled on social media after she lashed out at Kenyans who had made fun of an atrocious fashion fail when she was performing in Lodwar.


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EwF at Orchard Central asked to move as international retail brand 'wants (the) space'
Food outlet EwF has been asked to vacate its current space at Orchard Central, to make way for an "international retail brand".
A poster displayed outside their Orchard Central outlet was put up two Saturdays ago, and says the outlet's last day at the space will be Dec 31, 2015.
EwF, a fast food branch of the restaurant Everything With Fries, has been at Orchard Central for more than five years.
It opened its doors in early 2010 while Orchard Central opened its doors in 2009.
The goodbye note to customers was candid - it said the outlet had "stuck it out ... for more than five years, through the years when this mall was dead and empty and saw the demise of many international fast food players".
"Now that things are finally looking up for us, our landlord said it wants us to give up this space, EwF’s first home, for an international retail brand that wants our space.
"Guess this is what SMEs suffer with their landlords all the time."
(The full text of the note is at the end of this article.)
PHOTO: FACEBOOK/MICHEL LU
EwF has another outlet in Bugis Junction which opened in April this year.
When contacted by The New Paper, EwF declined to comment.
Far East Organization, which owns Orchard Central, told The New Paper that changes are being made to the mall are part of enhancement works that started in the fourth quarter of 2015.
They said tenants were informed of their plans in June this year.
"Those affected, which is less than 15 per cent of the tenants, were offered to relocate within Orchard Central or to an alternative Far East Organization malls to ensure business continuity," said Mr Eric Tong, assistant director, retail business group at Far East Organisation.
"Majority of the tenants are positive about the change and anticipate the new opportunities this brings," he added.
Some of the tenants affected by the enhancements are Nautica and Dr. Martens.
These enhancement works include changes in the mall's tenants as well as structural changes to the mall such as new escalators and improved walkways.
PHOTO: FACEBOOK SCREENGRAB/EWF
Far East Organization clarified that all affected tenants were given the choice to relocate within Orchard Central or any other Far East Organization's malls.
They declined to reveal the name of the international brand taking the spot currently occupied by EwF, choosing only to say that it was the brand's first flagship store in Southeast Asia.
The move is "a commercial decision," said Associate Professor Seshan Ramaswami, who teaches marketing education at Singapore Management University.
"Very often, it is just a matter of 'business' and the bottom line - being able to extract a bigger rental, and subsequent increases, when you have an international retailer as your tenant, rather than a local small medium enterprise," he said.
"The other small businesses in the mall will have to make their own individual decisions – some other food operators in that mall may actually benefit from the traffic diverted from EwF," he added.
He lauded EwF's decision to tell their customers that they will be closing down.
"It might inspire their loyal customers to patronise their Bugis location and other locations they might open in the future," he added.
Here is EwF's full statement:
Dear friends and customers,
After having stuck it out at Orchard Central for more than five years, through the early years when this mall was dead and empty and saw the demise of many international fast food players, we are proud to say that today we find ourselves in a position where we have built a great Singapore brand with a loyal following and have outlasted other far more eminent, big brands.
Now that things are finally looking up for us, our landlord said it wants us to give up this space, EwF’s first home, for an international retail brand that wants our space. Guess this is what SMEs suffer with their landlords all the time. Realities are harsh for small guys like us.
We have no choice in the matter.
So it is with much sadness that we tell you that our last day here is December 31, 2015. Five-and-a-half-years on. We leave with a heavy heart (not really missing the landlord but we’ll certainly miss our fantastic customers.
So from January 1, 2016, please continue to support us at our only remaining EwF at Bugis Junction!
As a recognition of your wonderful loyalty and kind support – we’re giving out 10% vouchers for use at EwF Bugis Junction from January 1, 2016.


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Here's How To Watch The 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show So You Don't Miss A Thing
GET READY, PEOPLE. It's almost time for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. I honestly make such a big deal out of this evening — my girlfriends come over, margaritas are made, and a cheese plate is devoured. It's truly a magical evening filled with glitz, glam, and the most fab runway struts I've ever seen. The show airs on Nov. 28 on CBS. Although it's another year of long legs and a fantasy bra, there are tons of new details to look forward to. Below is how to watch the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and all the other details you'll need for show night.
There are some major changes to this year's show that seem really exciting. Lais Ribeiro will be sporting the fantasy bra, valued at $2 million. The model personally broke the news on Nov. 1 via Instagram. Ribeiro said,
I've been holding this secret for too long and I am beyond honor to announce that I will be wearing it the Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra this year! I am very happy and thankful for my Victoria's Secret family for trusting me and all the support from my on family, friends and fans! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! its official!!
According to PR Newswire, the bra is "designed exclusively for Victoria's Secret by world-renowned jeweler Mouawad.” It's dripping in diamonds, yellow sapphires, blue topaz, and 18-karat gold. You know, typical. Besides the newest fantasy bra, there are five other changes to the show this year.
Compared to last year's Dec. 5 air date, the show will be broadcast to your television much sooner. According to Harper's Bazaar, the models will hit the catwalk Monday, Nov. 20, and the show will air on CBS Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 10/9 p.m. CST.
You can also stream the show on CBS All Access. The streaming service offers the channel live for $9.99 per month (no commercials) or $5.99 per month (with commercials). Pro tip: CBS All Access offers a week free trial — use this wisely, friends.
Basically, the show is airing on CBS, so any live TV streaming service will work — Hulu and YouTube TV are great options.
As always, our social media feeds will be flooded with pictures teasing the show, but this year we'll only have to wait eight days to see the big event at home.
This year's show will be taking place in Shanghai, China. After last year's show in Paris (literal fashion capital of the world), I had no idea where in the world VS would take their show next.
China is such a cool location, and I'm so excited to see all the behind-the-scenes action.
The newest collab for the VS Fashion Show is so, so cool. Balmain has partnered with Victoria's Secret to create some amazing looks dripping in spikes, details, and all sorts of funky accessories.
You may recognize the face of Olivier Rousteing, Balmain's Creative Director, in the video above from any of the Kardashian's social media pages — they're obsessed with the brand.
According to Harper's Bazaar, this is the first time Victoria's Secret has partnered with an outside collaborator. The most buzzworthy part? These Balmain-VS fusion pieces will actually be available for retail purchase. I KNOW WHAT I WANT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
4. Possible Performers
The official list of confirmed performers has not been released, but if we see any celebs heading to China soon... we'll know why. Taylor Swift and Harry Styles are big names that have been floating around the rumor mill. How amazing would that be?
Other possibilities include Zayn Malik (who's GF, Gigi Hadid, will be walking) and Justin Bieber (who just featured a plethora of different VS models in his music video for 2U).
The show has scored some amazing performers in the past like Selena Gomez and The Weeknd, so I'm sure there's something unforgettable lined up this year.
5. Kendall Jenner
I guess it's worth mentioning that one familiar face will be absent from this year's VS Fashion Show — Kenny Jenner. Considering this show is chock full of her besties and she's walked the past two years, it may be a little strange to see her absent from the runway.
No hard feelings, though. Jenner scored a deal with the fancy lingerie company, La Perla, which means she would be violating her contract if she were in the VS show, according to TMZ. She will be missed, but I'm sure she'll be watching out of support for her girls.
Overall, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is stacking up to look like a spectacular night. The countdown until show night is on — where did I put my clout goggles?
Check out the entire Gen Why series and other videos on Facebook and the Bustle app across Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.


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Halloween is over. And whether you’re one of those people who can’t stand that Christmas overtakes Thanksgiving, or whether you’ve already hung your stockings with care, from a retail and shipping perspective, the holiday shopping season has already begun.
This happens every year. Yet something else is happening this year that has not happened before.
America is entering a severe diesel shortage – just in time for everyone to start ordering their holiday packages. If there’s no diesel, there’s no fuel for the trucks that bring everything we take for granted to stores and our homes. A severe shortage in diesel could mean an eventual severe shortage in groceries and other goods (or a severe increase in the price of everything else).
The Energy Information Administration reports that inventories for diesel have not been this low since 1982 (which is when they started tracking the data). There are only 25 days of supply left.
Mansfield Energy, a fuel supply and logistics company, announced that this shortage would affect the southeastern United States particularly hard, including Virginia and Maryland.
But why is this happening?
Some would have you believe that the main and only reason is the war in Ukraine. This is only partially correct.
While yes, the war in Ukraine, and the subsequent ban on Russian oil imports, have played a role, it is not the whole story.
President Joe Biden has eliminated new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters, killed the Keystone Pipeline, closed the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to energy exploration, and pursued myriad regulations to increase the cost of energy and energy production (social cost of carbon, new methane rule, and the Paris Climate Accord to name a few).
All of these policies increase risk and cost to energy companies. It makes it less profitable and secure to invest in new energy development.
Europe, meanwhile, has gone even further on green policies than the United States, and is now reaping the supposed “benefits.” Europe has forced itself to rely on Russian gas to fulfill its own green goals. Now, as winter approaches, it is said wood is the new gold in Europe because it is so valuable for home heating with the gas shortages.
What’s worse, is that the Biden Administration doesn’t seem to have any plan for fixing it. Here’s what White House spokesman John Kirby had to say when asked about it:
“I’ll take the question on the diesel, because I just don’t have the data on that in front me. So let me take that and we’ll get back to you on that, but writ large, the president has been working very, very hard to make sure that we’re, that not only are we ready for fluctuations that could come and of course, the prices are going down and we think that’s important, but that we are also doing what we can to help our European friends and partners who are also going to be facing a long, cold winter. We have doubled our commitment, the commitment he made in March, for natural gas exports to Europe.”
So, the administration’s answer to America’s diesel shortage is to ship natural gas to Europe?
And I’m not sure what Kirby is referring to by “prices are going down.” Diesel prices are up more than $5 per gallon nationwide according to Forbes.
The Biden Administration did not directly cause the coming diesel shortage, but it has done everything in its power to make America very susceptible to any global supply disruption.
Without the Biden Administration’s anti-energy policies, America could have weathered the coming diesel shortage storm.
This article was originally published in the Fairfax County Times.
As we move through 2023 and into the next election cycle, The Prickly Pear will resume Take Action recommendations and information.


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One of the biggest nights in sports took place in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater last night [Wednesday, July 13] — the ESPY Awards. Sport stars from skiing to soccer are all gathered to celebrate the accomplishments made in their respected field.
However, before the accolades can be given out, athletes and their arm-candy strutted their stuff on the red carpet showing off their designer fashion choices before the ceremony began.
The men kept it dapper in tailored suits while the ladies opted for lavish gowns in a variety of colors.
Check out the gallery below for more on the stylish sports stars and their significant others lighting up the red carpet.


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The Carnival is coming to town – to New York City, specifically.
That means it will also pick up a hybrid option, at least for the US market.
Currently, the only people mover available in the USA with a hybrid option is the Chrysler Pacifica. No hybrid MPVs are available in Australia except for the much smaller Toyota Prius V.
The Korean Car Blog reports the upcoming Kia Sorento redesign will also feature a hybrid option.
If it’s the same hybrid powertrain as in the 2020 Sonata Hybrid, that means a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission, with a combined output of 143kW.
Considering the Carnival is a large people mover, however, Kia may choose to employ a more powerful petrol engine with its hybrid, potentially a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder. The rival Pacifica Hybrid, for example, uses a 3.6-litre V6 engine.
The current car’s naturally-aspirated 3.3-litre V6 is expected to make way for the new Theta-III turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder that’ll soon appear in the Genesis G70 and GV80 and Hyundai Sonata N-Line.
In the Sonata N-Line, it’ll reportedly produce 216kW and 420Nm. Whether the Carnival will also share the N-Line’s dual-clutch automatic transmission is unclear.
That’s a decent bump from the current 3.3-litre, which produces 206kW and 336Nm.
It’s not yet clear whether the current van’s 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder will carry over.
The current Carnival continues to dominate the people mover segment in Australia.
Though it’s been around since 2015, its sales last year beat those of the second-place Honda Odyssey by more than three-to-one.
The Carnival’s lifecycle is actually shorter than many rivals. The Odyssey’s arrival preceded it by a year and there’s no word yet on when Honda will replace it.
The last generation of the recently discontinued Toyota Tarago was also sold for 13 years.


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Every year, fishermen come to Pacific Marine Expo to get caught up and do a little catching of their own.
Welcome to Pacific Marine Expo — the annual maritime tradition that brings together thousands of industry stakeholders from Alaska and the West Coast.
5.) 2018 Featured Products Sourcing the newest products & services in person is a major…
It’s been a long time coming, but the wait for Dakota Creek Industries and Fishermen’s…
The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations filed a lawsuit alleging that 30 fossil fuel companies are to blame for the past four years of delayed Dungeness crab seasons and disastrous economic losses.
The Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission have voted unanimously to support a multi-year study to prevent whale entanglements off the Oregon coast.
A U.S. Federal Court in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. has issued a ruling that is intended to protect salmon and steelhead trout in the Columbia River basin from rising water temperatures.
Oregon’s former Gov. John Kitzhaber apparently loves to hate Columbia River commercial fishing.
Though a few factors ganged up to threaten the traditional opener of the Oregon Dungeness crab fishery, the fleet of more than 400 vessels went on to put in a banner year.
Too many purple sea urchins and not enough bull kelp continues to stymie California’s red urchin dive industry.
California fishermen fight to save the Dungeness crab fishery
after a three-year spike in whale entanglements


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Just after BlackBerry has launched its first smartphone ever with an Android OS, the BlackBerry Priv, steady sales of the device have began in the US even as Google announces its plans of giving monthly Android security updates. BlackBerry has seized this opportunity and enrolled for the same for its new Priv smartphone together with other smartphone manufacturers.This monthly Android security update from Google entails an updated recent list of discovered Android vulnerabilities. This update for Priv will be available for devices purchased through shopblackberry.com as well as to authorized dealers and carriers who have accepted to be part of the monthly update schedule to facilitate delivery of these updates through OTA subscriptions.Coupled to this monthly security updates from Google, BlackBerry has also said that it will be giving hotfix updates regularly all in the aim of fixing any urgent issues that may come up with regards to security in Android.As BlackBerry is focusing to make Security and Privacy the main sale points for its new BlackBerry Priv, the move to have the monthly security updates from Google is therefore reasonable.Many folks are looking forward to having a taste of what this new Android smartphone from BlackBerry is like. Truth is, if its advent is successful, then we can take to the bank the fact that more is yet to come from BlackBerry.
What's my model number?
There are several ways to locate your model number:
- Option 1
- On your device, go to Settings, then "About device" and scroll down to "Model number"
- Option 2
- Often times you can view the model number inside the device, by removing the battery
- Option 3
- Using Samsung's model/serial number location tool


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As more than one observer has pointed out, one of the benefits of being a Web-based startup is that you can get a lot farther with less money, to the point where some Web 2.0 companies such as Flickr, del.icio.us and Writely made it all the way from tiny startup to multimillion-dollar buyout by one of the Internet majors without any large-scale financing whatsoever.
The founders of Dabble DB, the Vancouver-based interactive Web database provider, say they had every intention of avoiding the usual venture-capital rodeo. And yet they just announced a financing deal (rumoured to be about $2-million U.S.) with Ventures West of Vancouver, a deal brokered by Ventures West advisor — and now partner — Paul Kedrosky, the Canadian-born and San Diego-based VC behind the blog Infectious Greed.
So what changed their minds? The two co-founders of the company, Andrew Catton and Avi Bryant — who tend to finish each other’s sentences, which makes it difficult to identify who said what in a conference-call interview — said before they got in touch with Paul (who I got to know in the lead up to the mesh conference I helped organize last month in Toronto), they had gotten a lot of interest from venture groups such as Hummer Winblad, particularly after they showed off their service at the venture-capital oriented Under The Radar conference in March. But they turned them all away.
“We joked about giving them the ‘soft no’ response,” the co-founders said, since that’s how many VCs describe their response to companies when they are trying to let them down easily. “But we tended to shut them off pretty quickly. We weren’t playing hard to get — we just didn’t want their money.” The two twenty-somethings said they didn’t want to go down the usual Silicon Valley route of having to give up a large stake in the company and/or board seats.
Paul described the co-founders’ reaction to traditional VCs as “almost an allergic response.” But he offered a middle way that appealed to the company. “I told them what I had in mind as a sort of entrepreneur-friendly approach,” as opposed to the traditional Silicon Valley model, he said in an interview. In addition, “most of what they would have gotten [with a traditional VC] is access to board members and access to the buyout channel, and with me they get those things anyway because I know all those people.”
The upshot for Dabble DB is that they get funding from a local VC, but one with contacts in the Valley, and they only have to give up one board seat (to Kedrosky) and they don’t have to move to Silicon Valley — as StumbleUpon, formerly based in Calgary, did earlier this year.


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A north-east MUA has shared hilarious make up looks inspired by politicians.
Posts by Reporter
A north-east beauty business has launched a new range of soaps.
If you've ever paid a visit to Aberdeen eatery Melt then you'll know all about their delicious bakes.
An Aberdeen DJ is to play a set on Radio 1Xtra.
A new online directory has been launched to help those looking for north-east lifestyle businesses.
A city drinks producer has created a cocktail linked to a north-east eatery.


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Almost all of the world’s newly-manufactured plastic ends up as waste or marine litter, when it could instead be used to solve big problems like affordable housing, infrastructure improvement, and sustainable consumer products.
This was the challenge that experts from academia, civil society and the private sector set out to tackle at Australia’s inaugural conference on reducing plastic pollution in Asia Pacific.
Held in Sydney’s Darling Harbour from October 31 to November 1 and organised by advocacy group Boomerang Alliance, the conference brought together some 300 experts from across the plastic value chain to discuss ways to harness the useful properties of plastic—its light weight, versatiity, and low-costs—while mitigating against the harmful impacts that arise when it is carelessly disposed of.
Some 322 million tonnes of plastic materials were produced worldwide in 2015, compared to 230 tonnes in 2005, according to industry group PlasticsEurope. Only about 9 per cent of this was recycled, the rest ending up in landfills—where it can take hundreds of years to decompose—or as marine litter, where it risks being ingested by all forms of marine life, from plankton to seabirds to fish that humans eat.
Denise Hardesty, senior research scientist, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), noted: “In many parts of the world, marine debris can have a significant impact on human health.”
In Ghana, for instance, plastic bags blocked storm drains and flood gates to such a severe degree in 2015 that it resulted in a flood that killed 150 people.
Proper waste management, behaviour change, and designing products so that plastic does not end up as waste are all essential steps for solving plastic pollution, noted Hardesty at the conference, which was co-located with the Plasticity Sydney forum, an event focused on transforming plastic waste into a valuable resource.
Hardesty added: “Solutions lie in us through individual actions, legislative solutions and grassroots efforts. It requires a bottom-up and top-down approach.”
Here are the five most promising strategies that communities, businesses, and policymakers can take to address the plastic waste crisis.
1. Consumers, think different
Hayley Clarke, managing director of recycled products retailer Onya Life, noted that companies can recycle plastic into new products, but their efforts are meaningless if there isn’t consumer demand for them.
The act of buying a product made from recycled plastic materials—whether it is a cup made from post-consumer plastic, swimwear made from recycled plastic drink bottles, or shoes made from recovered plastic—is essential to close the plastic loop, said Clarke.
“If you have the chance to purchase something made from recycled materials, you are signalling that there is a market for it,” she added. “As a purchaser, you have the power to demand change.”
Buying recycled items is not just the responsibility of members of the public, noted speakers. Doug Woodring, director and co-founder of non-profit Ocean Recovery Alliance, added: “Governments and companies can also put requirements for recycled content into their procurement policies.”
2. Build creatively
Whether in the form of unprocessed plastic bottles or shredded waste, discarded plastic makes for an affordable, strong, and versatile building material, speakers at the conference noted.
Onya Life’s Clarke shared the example of Taiwan’s EcoARK building, which is made from 1.52 million recycled plastic bottles; and retail giant Nike’s concept store in Shanghai, which is also constructed entirely out of recycled cans and bottles.
In poor countries across the world, plastic bottles are being used to construct entire homes, noted Clarke, adding that such innovative construction techniques offer a new avenue to recycle plastic waste.
Yet another initiative that repurposes plastic waste into much-needed housing is the NevHouse, an initiative by Australian surfer and entrepreneur Nev Hyman.
Speaking at the Plasticity Forum, Hyman outlined an effort by his company to build houses in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu from recycled plastic materials, agricultural waste, and even electronic waste, which has been turned into construction panels.
Each building is strong enough to withstand a category five cyclone, earthquakes, and can be easily washed out because they are made from plastic. This makes them ideal for the climate-vulnerable Pacific Islands, shared Hyman.
A structure can be built in as little as five days, and NevHouse has already made several homes, schools, and clinics on Vanuatu after Cyclone Pam devastated the island in 2015. Hyman added that governments in vulnerable areas can even stock up on recycled plastic panels as a resilience measure, and then rapidly deploy them in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
“It is a social, economic, and environmental solution to affordable housing,” Hyman explained. “It’s not just about post-disaster relief, but about a sustainable community.”
If you have the chance to purchase something made from recycled materials, you are signalling that there is a market for it. As a purchaser, you have the power to create demand change.
Hayley Clarke, managing director, Onya Life
3. Plastic neutrality
Companies from Thailand and Australia unveiled an initiative at the Plasticity forum that could harness the benefits of plastic use while mitigating against the consequences of improper disposal and litter.
The Plastic Neutral Programme by Australian social enterprise Plastic Collective and the Plastic Offset Programme by Thailand-based surfboard manufacturer Starboard are related initiatives that encourage companies to quantify the amount of plastic they use, and the volume of waste they generate. Companies can then offset their plastic use by funding initiatives that help to reduce and avoid plastic pollution.
One initiative they can support is the Plastic Collective’s Shruder, a compact machine that enables communities in remote areas such as regional Australia and the Pacific Islands to recycle plastic waste. By funding the deployment of Shruders with an equivalent capacity to a company’s plastic footprint, firms can call themselves ‘plastic neutral’.
Louise Hardman, chief executive officer and founder, Plastic Collective, said: “It increases consumer confidence, improves employee engagement, and provides a host of other mutual benefits.”
4. Roads and banks
Nani Hendiarti, director of maritime science and technology at Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, shared that Indonesia—the world‘s second-largest contributor to plastic marine pollution, after China—takes the issue of marine debris very seriously because “it affects tourism, environment, marine life, and human health”.
President Joko Widodo issued a decree this year known as the Indonesian Ocean Policy, as well as the National Plan of Action on Marine Plastic Debris, which has four pillars. These include driving behavioural change, stopping the leakage of plastic waste into land and ocean ecosystems, and law enforcement.
A key strategy that has helped drive behaviour change in the country is the implementation of Waste Banks, shared Nani. These are facilities located across Indonesia where communities can “deposit” non-organic solid waste such as plastics, and receive a sum of money for their contribution. There are more than 4,000 waste banks in Indonesia currently, and “this approach has the potential to reduce plastic waste and bring about a circular economy,” said Nani.
Yet another strategy that Indonesia is employing to curb the tide of plastic waste is to turn it into roads, shared Nani. Plastic waste is mixed into asphalt, and this strategy results in roads that are cheaper to build, and as much as 40 per cent more durable against high temperatures and rainfall than conventional paths, Nani shared.
There are currently three pilots of plastic tar roads taking place in Indonesia. Other countries such as India have also adopted the solution, and even made it mandatory to use plastic in all new roads.
5. Extended producer responsibility
There are various legislative measures that governments can enforce to ensure that rather than ending up in landfills or oceans, plastic is captured in a cycle of reuse and recycling, experts at the three-day conference noted.
Key among these is extended producer responsibility (EPR). The term, sometimes used interchangeably with product stewardship, refers to a policy where manufacturers must take responsibility for the treatment or disposal of products at the end of their life cycle.
This can be a financial responsibility, such as paying for the retrieval and processing of the waste, or a physical one, such as developing the logistics and mechanisms to collect and recycle waste.
EPR schemes can be mandatory, as with the Container Deposit Legislation that has recently seen a massive rise in adoption across Australia and required beverage manufacturers to pay for recycling drink containers at the end of their life, or they can be voluntary.
Voluntary initiatives launched by the private sector in Australia include Tyre Stewardship Australia, an industry group which aims to develop markets for reusing tyres at the end of their lives, and Soft Landing, an initiative where used mattresses are collected, and their components are recycled into materials such as roof sheeting, carpet underlay, and kindling.
About 60 per cent of Australian mattress manufacturers are a part of the latter initiative, which is currently conducting research and development into how to reuse components such as fabric. The funds for this come from the initiative’s members.
Nick Harford, managing director of sustainability consultancy Equilibrium, shared that these examples illustrate the opportunities that product stewardship presents to drive investment into new technologies.
“There is a business case around product stewardship,” said Harford. “If it is done properly, it can be an efficient and effective way to manage a product through its life cycle.”
“Australian companies have knowledge about how it can be done, and there is an opportunity to export that in Southeast Asia as well,” he added.
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Mark Ray celebrated the new millennium by moving his Italian Stallion Ices to a new location, in the McPhersons Mini-Mall at 5121 SW 90th Ave. in Cooper City.
Ray spent New Year’s Eve packing his belongings so he could open on New Year’s Day. He made the switch because he was dissatisfied with his former storefront in a small strip plaza at 3650 SW 64th Ave. in Davie. He was at the plaza for three months.
“After about three weeks, I noticed that the public wouldn’t come to my store in the evenings,” he said. “There were too many teenagers hanging out in front.”
These days, Ray shares space with Penny’s Place Subs, which is owned by Barry Griffin.
“It’s in a nice, clean family-orientated area,” Ray said.
Ray approached Griffin after stopping in for one day for lunch.
“The wheels started spinning in my head,” he said. “I gave Barry the suggestion, saying if I could lease out half the store it would increase business for both of us. It’s a good marriage. He’s got Italian subs and I’ve got Italian ices.”
“It’s great,” he said. “It gives customers a whole lot more variety.”
Since opening, business at Italian Stallion has been tremendous. Having two shops together, where folks can order sandwiches and dessert, is a good combination, Ray said.
Italian Stallion still has many of the menu items that were available at the Davie store. Patrons can choose from 18 flavors, including cherry, cotton candy, bubble gum, pina colada, pineapple and chocolate. The ices are natural and made with filtered water by a company in Hollywood. Italian Stallion also sells candies and soft-serve ice cream.Italian Stallion is open noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Call 954-252-3330.
Hours at Penny’s Subs are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 954-434-5441.
Salon offers relaxation
From haircuts to pedicures, Jean Michaels Salon takes care of all beauty needs from head to toe.
The upscale, full-service salon opened on Dec. 15 inside the Martin Square Shopping Center at 4452 Weston Road in Davie. The business is a first for Jean Davenport, who was trained at the LaCoupe Institute in Montreal.
The new business has a very European atmosphere, where relaxation is the prime concern, said her husband, Michael Davenport.
Michael Davenport, a former biochemist, selected all the products used at Jean Michaels. He only picked items that are organic.
“Everything we do is customer-oriented,” he said. “We pamper them from the moment they walk in the door to the moment they leave.”
To help clients relax, hostesses serve complimentary wine, coffee, espresso, cappuccino, juices and non-alcoholic tropical drinks.
Jean Michaels Salon is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Tournament needs sponsors
Davie is looking for individuals, businesses and civic groups to become sponsors for its second annual Charity, Open Invitational, Orange Blossom, WestFair, Cowboy, Cow Pasture, Golf Classic.
The tournament will be at noon April 14 at Robbins Lodge, 4005 Hiatus Road.
The event’s name may be a mouthful, but it will benefit two good causes. Proceeds will be donated to EASE Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides one-time emergency assistance to residents, and to the Old Davie School, now a museum. Call 954-797-1076 or 954-797-1163.


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EXECS ON THE MOVE
Pork and turkey processing giantSmithfield Foods, Inc., Smithfield, Va., saidRichard J. M. Poulson, executive vice president, will retire from Smithfield effective September 1, 2010.
"Dick has been an extremely valuable member of the senior management team and has been helpful in our growth from a domestic provider of excellent pork products into one of the world's most respected and recognized meat protein suppliers," said C. Larry Pope, Smithfield president and chief executive officer. "He has been instrumental in many of Smithfield's major acquisitions, including leading our acquisitions in Poland, Romania, and Western Europe, as well as serving as an important advisor to our board of directors."
Fresh and frozen seafood distributorSanta Monica Seafood, Rancho Dominguez, Calif., said it promotedLisa Hoganto vice president of sales for national accounts. Officials said Hogan will oversee all aspects of the national accounts division including continued distribution in Phoenix.


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Michael Russell of The Oregonian/OregonLive lists Altabira as one of 15 best places to eat and drink before Portland Trail Blazer games.
Read the entire article below.
By Michael Russell | The Oregonian/OregonLive
October 28, 2015
The Portland Trail Blazers kick off their 2015-16 season against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Moda Center Wednesday night. If you’re planning to go to the game, you have a few options when it comes to food and drink.
You can grab a bite at home, of course, or eat at the stadium, which has steadily improved its food and drink options over the past few years. You can hit one of the Lloyd Center’s many fast food chains, including Burgerville, Chipotle and McDonald’s.
Or you can make a night of it, pre-gaming at one of the many restaurants and bars near the arena.
Here, we’ve gathered our 15 favorite restaurants and bars within a short walk or public transportation ride from the Moda Center. Looking to pre-game? Look no further.


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The event is open to the public and will open its digital doors from March 22-26
Bühler is holding its second Virtual World event for inviting food, feed, and mobility companies. “Even in these challenging times, we see multifold opportunities for our customers,” said Stefan Scheiber, CEO at Bühler. “The food, feed, and mobility industries have never been more dynamic, embracing new, more sustainable and at the same time more economical products and solutions.” At the event, Bühler is featuring 25 areas with technologies designed to help companies improve competitiveness and profitability, and become more sustainable. “By multiplying digital connectivity and services and our new range of innovations, we can help cater to market demands and balance the demands of economy, humanity, and nature,” said Ian Roberts, CTO at Bühler.
The platform integrates 3D visualisations of solutions and technologies, and a virtual event with keynotes and a conference zone with breakout rooms for presentations as well as individual online meetings.
Bühler will demonstrate its technology for the development of meat alternatives, including its PolyCool 1000 cooling die for alternative protein. In combination with an extruder, the company says, it’s possible to produce wet-textured proteins based on a range of raw materials including soy, pulses, oilseeds, upcycled side streams such as brewer spent grains, as well as more novel ingredients such as microalgae.
For chocolate customers, the company will show its ChocoX modular moulding line. The technology is designed to offer flexibility for fast adaptations of various chocolate products.
For small- to medium-sized beer and malt producers as well as beer startups, the company is introducing RimoMalt, a concept for modular malt production. Customers can create craft malting solutions and quickly respond to changing demands with varieties of locally produced beers. The technology is modularly extendable, and the preassembled modules can be quickly installed.
The company will speak about increasing demand for low-emission coffee production plants. It has developed a low-emission coffee plant with Norwegian coffee producer Joh. Johannson Kaffe. The coffee roasting production line, which is already up and running, reportedly saves 85% in CO2 compared to their old factory.
The event will also offer advice on service portfolios, strategic partnerships and long COVID-19. Stefan Scheiber emphasizes: "What we present here together with our customers has proven effective and is already saving resources. We can scale these solutions very swiftly together with our partners. By doing so, we combine the sustainability aspect with economic profits."


text: TORONTO — Monsanto Canada Ltd. has won a court order against the ban on the herbicide Lasso. Agriculture Minister John Wise must establish a special review board to examine the decision he made last month. It will investigate whether the weed killer is safe but the decision will not come during this year's growing season. Wise acted after new studies showed that Lasso, Monsanto's trade name for alachlor, caused cancer in laboratory animals. Lasso sales in Canada are about $12 million a year.


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This Week in Retail: The Rundown on Easter Features
Pork moved into the top spot this week just in time for the holiday, claiming 25.4 percent of protein feature volume. Beef came in second, scoring 23.6 percent, with seafood closely following at 23 percent. Chicken accounted for 16.2 percent. Turkey features were bumped up to 5.6 percent, compared to 3.6 the week prior.
When comparing holiday week retail prices year-over-year, we have to go back to the week of March 26th, 2018, as Easter fell three weeks earlier last year. Looking at the retail ham complex, ham features come in at an average price of $1.66 per pound, compared to $1.86 per pound during the week leading up to Easter a year ago. That’s an 11 percent drop YOY and should...
This Week in Retail: Latest Consumer Price Data; Weekly Features Worth Noticing
Looking at the breakdown of retail buying opportunities this week, beef and seafood are tied for the top spot, each claiming 24.6 percent of protein ad volume. Pork accounts for 22.5 percent of feature activity, while chicken makes up 19.1 percent.
Latest CPI Data
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showing the CPI unchanged during the month, following a 0.3 percent rise in October. The food index, however, rose 0.2 percent.
The index for food away from home rose 0.3 percent, which was the largest increase since...
This Week in Retail: YOY Feature Price Comparison
It’s hard to believe there are only three weekends left to shop and prepare for Christmas. In the coming weeks, grocers will be pulling out all the stops to capitalize on consumer holiday spending.
Looking at buying opportunities in the current week, beef feature volume leads the protein pack with 25.2 percent. Seafood is a very close second with 24.7 percent, while pork claims 23.2 percent. Chicken accounts for 18.7 percent of feature volume.
In the beef complex, steak feature volume saw a larger week over week increase, with top sirloin taking the top spot with 19.1 percent. The average feature price for top sirloin this week is $6.02 per pound, which is up about 50 cents per pound from a year ago, and up from last week’s average of $5.24 per pound. However, more comparatively attractive year-over-year steak features can be found in...
This Week in Retail: Thanksgiving Outlook 2018
Thanksgiving is next week, and some supermarket shelves are already being cleared of some key essentials. As grocers restock in an attempt to keep up with demand, we have the latest outlook on what Turkey Day 2018 will bring.
First, let’s take a look at the bird. ‘Tis the feast of fowl after all. Buying opportunities at retail have more than doubled since last week, currently claiming 16 percent of total protein features. Turkey has seemingly taken circular share away from chicken, falling to just 12 percent this week versus 19 percent a week ago.
Average regional ad prices for frozen turkeys range from...
Dunkin' Debuts All You Can Eat Meat Breakfast Sandwich
Meat lovers have met their perfect match at Dunkin’. No longer must ordering a breakfast sandwich force a furious compromise over which one and only one classic meat to enjoy, as Dunkin’ is now bringing bacon, ham and sausage together into a single sandwich selection with the launch of the new All You Can Meat Breakfast Sandwich.
Dunkin’s All You Can Meat Breakfast Sandwich is all delicious with no decisions necessary, delivering meat fans everything they crave in one hearty, premium sandwich. It features two strips of bacon, two slices of ham and one sausage patty, served with egg and American Cheese on an oven-toasted croissant. The All You Can Meat Breakfast Sandwich is...
Johnston County Hams Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ham Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
Johnston County Hams, a Smithfield, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 89,096 pounds of ready-to-eat ham products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The ready-to-eat deli-loaf ham items were produced from April 3, 2017 to Oct. 2, 2018. The following products are subject to recall:
•Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “JOHNSTON COUNTY HAMS, INC. COUNTRY STYLE FULLY COOKED BONELESS DELI HAM.”•Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “Ole Fashioned Sugar Cured The Old Dominion Brand Hams Premium Fully Cooked Country...
Patrick Cudahy® Celebrates 130 Years of Signature Sweet Apple-Wood Smoked Flavor
This October marks the start of the 130th anniversary of the signature Sweet Apple-Wood Smoked flavor of Patrick Cudahy®, perfected well over a century ago in the town of Cudahy, Wisconsin. Instantaneously, this small Midwestern town bought into the custom that bacon wasn’t optional, it was mandatory!
For 130 years, Patrick Cudahy stayed true to its one-of-a-kind flavor by sticking to original recipes and smoking their meats the old fashioned way, using its authentic rotary smokehouse still used to this day. As the tradition says, “when you make it right, you make it history.” Patrick Cudahy is proud to provide Wisconsin with its signature Sweet Apple-Wood Smoked bacon, premium deli hams, pepperoni, and deli meats year after year. The brand is dedicated to creating crave-worthy products guaranteed to be...
Applegate® Reveals Deli Ingredient Removal and Packaging Updates
Brand removes controversial ingredient carrageenan despite USDA’s decision to allow in organic products
Applegate, the nation’s leading natural and organic meat brand, is progressing its mission – Changing The Meat We Eat® – by bucking the status quo and improving its line of deli meat products. The brand decided to move forward with removing the controversial ingredient carrageenan in its poultry deli meat varieties, despite a recent United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reversal on banning the seaweed extract from organic foods and beverages.
In addition to the carrageenan removal, Applegate is enhancing its deli ham varieties, and revealing a new packaging design that will boast a new look and provide an easier experience for consumers in-store and at-home. These deli changes will be transitioning at grocery store shelves now, until the end of the year.
“We’re proud to be a brand that not only listens to consumer feedback, but a brand that takes action on that feedback...
Smithfield Foods to Continue to Produce Genuine Smithfield Ham in Smithfield, Virginia
SMITHFIELD, Va.,- Recent media reports regarding Smithfield Foods, Inc. closing its smokehouse that produces Genuine Smithfield Ham in Smithfield, Virginia, are sensationalized and exaggerated. Contrary to these media reports, Smithfield has absolutely no intention of ceasing production of Genuine Smithfield Ham in the town of Smithfield, Virginia. No company representative has ever said otherwise. The company simply shuttered one of the oldest buildings on our large Smithfield, Virginia, complex while we evaluate the best site to produce our Genuine Smithfield Ham going forward.
Consumers needn’t worry: we have plenty of Genuine Smithfield Hams in inventory. This affords us the opportunity to assess alternatives for the production of our Genuine Smithfield Ham while continuing to supply this product to our loyal ...
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REPORTER: Supplies: It's a Matter of Balance
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Photo caption: Bob Stadnichuk, SGEU Vice-President and representative from the SLGA bargaining unit is interviewed by Allison Bamford of CTV News Regina.
Today’s Throne Speech is titled Growth that Works for Everyone.
Clearly that’s not the reality of this Throne Speech. This decision to privatize the retail side of SLGA is NOT growth that works for over 350 Saskatchewan people who work at our province’s public liquor stores.
It doesn’t work for the employees and it doesn’t work for their families. These are people who relied on good paying jobs to support their families and contribute to the local economy across Saskatchewan.
These are people who are trained and knowledgeable and who have worked hard – some for over 45 years.
This is a huge blow to these people – who are our friends, family and neighbours.
This is also a blow to the Saskatchewan economy because public liquor stores bring in significant revenues for the government each year.
It boggles my mind why the government would choose to give up revenue from public liquor stores – revenue that has been used to help pay for things like education, health care and highways.
SLGA’s own annual reports show that public liquor sales have been particularly strong in the last two years or so. This is revenue that will now go to private corporations who take over the store licenses.
SGEU is outraged that we were not given the courtesy of a heads up about this significant decision.
SGEU is committed to supporting our members whose lives and livelihoods will be impacted by this decision.
Tracey Sauer (she/her)


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“SOME like it hot,” Tony Curtis told Marilyn Monroe in the 1959 movie of the same name, referring to music. Since then, Americans have grown to like something else — food — even hotter, as evidenced by the popularization of spicy fare like Buffalo chicken wings, made with cayenne pepper hot sauce, reports NYTimes.com.
Now, a hot sauce war has broken out in time for the Super Bowl, perhaps the most snack-centric day of the year. According to a survey from the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, consumers who plan to watch Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday will spend $11 billion on food and other goodies, compared with the $10.1 billion they said they would spend before Super Bowl XLV last year.
One hot sauce warrior is the McIlhenny Company, which is introducing a seventh flavor in its Tabasco line, Tabasco Buffalo Style hot sauce, joining varieties like the original, known as Tabasco pepper sauce, and chipotle pepper sauce.The new flavor is celebrated in a campaign by Ogilvy West in Los Angeles as “from the people who perfected hot sauce,” offering “classic Buffalo flavor with just the right amount of heat.”
As those ads begin, Tabasco’s principal rival, Frank’s RedHot sauce, is expanding to national television a sassy campaign, previously in print and on radio, that carries the theme “I put that — — on everything.” ( The campaign, with a budget estimated at $15 million, is created by Euro RSCG New York.
In the frank Frank’s commercials, a bleeping sound is heard over the word as it is uttered by a mischievous older woman named Ethel. On screen, her mouth is covered by a splat, as if a censor spilled sauce on the film.


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Walt Disney World recently announced that a brand-new event would be coming to celebrate the Halloween season. Despite not seeing Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party return this year, Guests can look forward to a new after-hours event called Disney After Hours Boo Bash.
Disney After Hours Boo Bash will be a special three-hour event where Guests will experience party music, decorations, and character cavalcades to celebrate Halloween. Now, we have confirmation that one iconic parade float, which was part of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, will be returning to Main Street, U.S.A. specifically for Disney After Hours Boo Bash — Maleficent!
In case you aren’t familiar, Walt Disney World has been bringing cavalcades to the theme parks throughout the day as they continue to operate amid the ongoing pandemic. These pop-up cavalcades include small floats (at Magic Kingdom they are parade floats while at Animal Kingdom they are riverboats) with some of our favorite Disney pals who Guests can wave to from a safe social distance.
Disney did confirm Halloween cavalcades would be coming for Boo Bash, and now we know exactly who we will see coming down Main Street, U.S.A. — Including Maleficent in her fire-breathing dragon form!
Per Disney Parks Blog:
Special cavalcades will pop up throughout the night including “Mickey’s Happy Halloween Cavalcade,” with Mickey Mouse and friends dressed up for the occasion. In the “Disney Villains Halloween Cavalcade,” villains will take to the street and celebrate their favorite time of the year. “Jack’s Nightmare Cavalcade” will feature Jack Skellington, Sally and Oogie Boogie riding down the parade path to “This is Halloween,” and last, but definitely not least (we would never say that about her!), Maleficent will also make an appearance in the form of a fire-breathing dragon.
We are excited to see Disney World bringing Maleficent back to Main Street, U.S.A. for Disney After Hours Boo Bash. For more information regarding Boo Bash, check out our article here.
Festival of Fantasy Parade
Maleficent was one of the iconic parade floats from the Festival of Fantasy Parade that would head down Main Street U.S.A. every afternoon at Magic Kingdom. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, Disney World had to put a temporary pause on parades and instead has been bringing Guests pop-up cavalcades.
These pop-up cavalcades include small floats with some of our favorite Disney pals who Guests can wave to from a safe social distance including one cavalcade featuring Mickey and the gang, another featuring the Disney Princesses, and one featuring Winnie the Pooh and friends.
At this time, there is no word as to when the Festival of Fantasy Parade will return but Inside the Magic will keep you updated as we get information.
If you want to visit Disney World in 2021 to celebrate, make sure to begin planning your magical vacation today. Our friends at Academy Travel can help you every step of the way. Get started by clicking here!


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A team of driven, concerned, caring citizens who decided to make a difference!
There are lots of tremendously inspiring stories we have come across about people, individually or collectively helping the needy…the people hit hardest since the onset of Covid related lockdowns. One such group of people who have done outstanding work since March 2020 is known as “Khaana Chaahiye“…read about their work & achievements at Khaana Chahiye
The amendment makes QR codes mandatory on every active pharmaceutical ingredient. The Amendment Rules will come into force from January 01, 2023.
On June 22, 2022, the Commission adopted pioneering proposals to restore damaged ecosystems and bring nature back across Europe, from agricultural land and seas, to forests and urban environments. The Commission also proposes to reduce the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 50% by 2030.
According to New York Times, in a small clinical trial, 18 patients took a drug called Dostarlimab for around six months, and in the end, every one of them saw their tumours disappear.
As the war in Ukraine and pandemic disruptions continue to wreak havoc on supply chains, stagflation is here to stay – marked by low growth and high inflation for at least the next 12 months.
The pandemic as well as the war in Ukraine have stifled supply of commodities and goods and upended efficient distribution through global supply chains, forcing up prices of everyday goods such as fuel and food.
Roche and its subsidiary TIB Molbiol have developed three unique LightMix® Modular Virus kits in response to recent monkeypox virus concerns. Multiple clusters of the monkeypox virus have been reported within the past two weeks in several European countries and North America, which are regions where the virus is not normally found.
The strictest COVID -19 lockdown in China since the pandemic began has resulted in container goods sitting at Shanghai’s port for nearly two weeks.
New anti-counterfeit technology, called a cyber-physical watermark, leverages edible fluorescent silk to identify medications.
The global economy — already struggling with war in Ukraine and the stagflation risks it’s fanning — is bracing for greater disruption as China scrambles to contain its worst outbreak of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.
Oil prices surged past $100 (£74) a barrel to hit their highest level for more than seven years after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine.


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Kim Kardashian is undoubtedly a style legend. And now she's got the award to prove it.
The "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star was presented with the Fashion Icon Award at the 2021 People's Choice Awards on Tuesday, Dec. 7.
The SKIMS founder made a dramatic entrance dressed in Balenciaga to accept the prestigious award, presented by former Fashion Icon Award winner Tracee Ellis Ross.
"I am honestly so humbled to be here," Kardashian said. "I mean, I started off as a closet organizer and a stylist. So, the fact that I am winning a Fashion Icon Award, it's like a pinch-me moment."
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Kardashian also took the opportunity to thank her ex, Ye (formerly Kanye West), for his keen sense of style and influence.
"Thank you to Kanye for really introducing me to the fashion world," she praised the "Donda" rapper, whom she filed for divorce from in February after six years of marriage.
She noted that there was a time when designers didn't want to work with her and joked that big names like Ricardo Tisci and Olivier Rousteing "probably [were] talked into it by getting a call from Kanye.”
"And I fell in love with fashion," she continued, "and I'm so inspired by so many people. But again, this is like a dream that I get to wake up and wear these amazing clothes and just try new things, you know, take a risk."
She concluded, "I'm so humbled thank you so much."
The KKW Beauty founder made sure to drop jaws with her one-of-a-kind look.
Similar to her buzzy 2021 Met Gala ensemble, Kardashian sported a head-to-toe black outfit, with thick black sunglasses that she paired with a matching catsuit worn under a mini-dress, tights and pointed heels.
The star was spotted attending the event solo. However, her family members showed their support in the crowd, including Kris Jenner and Khloe Kardashian.
All the Best Looks From the 2021 People's Choice Awards
Over the years, Kardashian has continued to make fans swoon with her daring and dazzling fashion. Whether she's pushing the boundaries on the red carpet or running errands in full glam, she never misses a beat in the style department.
It's no wonder she launched her own clothing line in 2018: SKIMS.
"This is what I've needed," she told E! News in 2019. "I've been obsessed with traditional shapewear for about 15 years but I've always been cutting it up and making my own styles because every brand that I found just wouldn't really, they just didn't have some of the things I really needed."
Her influence on the fashion industry is just one of the many reasons she was honored with the Fashion Icon Award.
"For nearly two decades, Kim Kardashian West's style evolution has disrupted and influenced trends on a global level and cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with within the fashion industry," Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Entertainment Live Events, Specials & E! News, previously said in a statement. "For being a cultural inspiration, trailblazer and so much more, we can't wait to honor Kim with this year's People's Fashion Icon Award."
Check out the list of People's Choice Award 2021 winners here.


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A survey suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has had an overwhelmingly negative effect on local business.
Almost eight of 10 respondents (79 per cent) told surveyors that the pandemic has negatively impacted their business, with 15.5 per cent saying that they experienced what the report calls “business-as-usual” conditions. The rest — 5.5 per cent — said the pandemic had a positive impact on their operations.
The Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and the Sidney Business lmprovement Area Society (SBIA) developed and conducted the survey in collaboration with Sidney staff and the municipality’s emergency operations centre (EOC). Drawing on Sidney’s database of 981 licensed businesses, surveyors received 324 responses from 700 businesses that they had contacted for a completion rate of 33 per cent. Surveyors solicited responses from a broad range of industries with the share of received responses coming close to the actual number of businesses in those sectors.
Of particular interest is the section of the survey that addresses the employment picture. Just over half of the businesses (52 per cent) that reported negative effects said they had laid off staff. When asked whether they would bring back laid-off staff, 59 per cent said they plan to bring back some but not all and 30 per cent said they would not be bringing staff back.
While not readily comparable to larger national surveys that Statistics Canada has conducted, the Sidney survey confirms broader trends, starting with the fact that the pandemic has had the most severe effects on human-facing industries such as retail and restaurants.
Local retailers accounted for more than half (54 per cent) of all layoffs, while service businesses accounted for 25 per cent of layoffs. The remaining 26 per cent spread across 12 listed categories, suggesting that the actual job losses in those sectors were generally small.
Almost two out of three businesses (65 per cent) said they had accessed federal or provincial programs or funding designed to ease the economic effects of the pandemic.
When asked about concerns for their own businesses, respondents said they were concerned about when customers might return; reduced tourism; supply chain issues; reduced customer demand; a second wave of the pandemic; long term economic decline; and client safety.
When asked about the business community in general when coming out of the pandemic, respondents identified economic recession; widespread business closures; rising commercial vacancy rates; ability to meet new regulations; staff retention; reduced consumption, demand and foot traffic; and ability of the business community to survive a potential second wave.
The survey — whose results will go into the hands of Sidney’ recovery task force committee created last week — also offers some insights into measures that businesses consider helpful. Fifteen per cent of businesses said they support creating or expanding operations outdoors.
Sixteen per cent said they would welcome in-person guidance about safe reopening and opening procedures. By way of background, EOC staff have already been working with local businesses.
More than 60 per cent of responses fall into the category of ‘others’ with recommendations from respondents ranging from increased child support to buy-local campaigns to improved coordination, collaboration and communication among local businesses.
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Google has just announced the biggest overhaul of its Play Music streaming service in years. On the face of it, Play Music has moved beyond the card-centric design of old, and now shows an interface built around album art, bright colors and vector graphics. Instead of shaded squares, graphics now expand to fill the entire window.
Aside from the exterior design overhaul, the company also makes use of machine learning to understand what kind of music the users will like. Google brings you hand-picks playlists to personalize music for the user on the basis of factors such as location, activity and weather.
The company says a new home screen will act as a ‘Personal DJ’ that based on data from sensors in the users’ phone, will be able to learn what kind of music the user specifically likes. The new version also maintains an offline playlist that users have the access to. Users can access the latest update from the Google Play Store.
Updates at a glance:
Smarter recommendations: The heart of this update is an improved recommendation engine. Machine learning is used with your listening history to determine the types of music you want to hear, then additional factors like location, local weather, time of day, and possible activities are incorporated to generate personalized suggestions.
Home screen changes: While the recommendation engine is the key element in this update, it’s the visual changes that will stand out to most users.
Offline music cache: Google’s final change comes in the form of an improved offline music manager. The new offline storage mechanism seems to be the most logical. It promises to store music based on your recently played music.
The roll-out starts today and will be hitting Android, iOS, and the web throughout the week.