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Today, workers at Amazon’s LDJ5 warehouse facility will vote on whether to organize with the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), the same union that pulled off a historic win at another Staten Island, New York, facility earlier this month. With ballots scheduled to be counted on May 2nd, the election will last just one week. After months of slow buildup, workers are just a week away from learning whether their site will unionize — assuming there aren’t any tiebreaker court fights of the kind that held up Bessemer’s second vote.
The ALU is riding high after the election at the JFK8 facility, and it’s fair to say momentum is on the side of the organizers. But the loss in the first Bessemer election is still fresh, and the stakes are high. The results of this election could set the tone for future elections at Amazon facilities. After JFK8, the ALU said that it’s heard from workers at dozens of other warehouses, indicating that there’s potential for widespread unionization at one of the US’s largest employers. But first, the union has to prove that it can continue to win.
The campaign hasn’t been easy. Amazon is still contesting the union’s previous win and has doubled down on anti-union messaging, according to a report from Vice. The company has reportedly escalated its campaign to get rid of pro-union signs and literature and has disciplined workers for organizing. (The National Labor Relations Board, a regulatory watchdog, has accused the company of similar behavior in other union drives.) The company has also reportedly ramped up captive audience meetings.
The union is helmed by Amazon workers, but the company is spending millions to undermine them
The ALU’s biggest advantage is the structure of the union itself, which emerged entirely from the company’s Staten Island workforce. Dan Cornfield, a professor at Vanderbilt University, says that fact alone might blunt many of the harshest anti-union tactics. “Usually in the more conventional approach to union organizing in the United States, as in the Bessemer situation, the standard corporate anti-union rhetoric is to drive a rhetorical wedge between the union and the workers. And they present the union as a third party,” he said in an interview. “That is just about impossible to do in the case of the small, grassroots, independent, worker-led unions because they are the union and the workers are truly one and the same.”
At the same time, Amazon is spending millions of dollars on anti-union consultants, who are tasked with coming up with effective ways to keep workers from wanting to join a union. According to Vice, one of those union-busters is Rebecca Smith, whose website boasts a proven track record in “employee/labor relations, HR audits, training, and workforce strategies.”
In an interview for a previous story, ALU organizer Gerald Bryson said that there are definitely employees that aren’t interested in organizing. “I talked to a guy one day and he came up and he’s like, ‘Well, we don’t need no union,’” Bryson said, describing how the man went on to explain that he enjoyed the physical work. “I just let him go. You can’t beat a dead horse.”
Maury Peiperl, dean of George Mason University’s School of Business, also noted that not every Amazon worker is going to feel poorly treated, echoing a sentiment from Bryson that some of the company’s employees are just happy to have work. “I think Amazon is pretty constructive at a lot of what it does, including how it tries to support its employees,” Peiperl said, though he conceded that the company needs to get better at listening to those workers. “Any employer that doesn’t see and understand where the employees are coming from and what the world looks like from where they sit is not going to be successful in the longer term.”
There are other factors that could help improve the ALU’s chances despite the fact that it, as Cornfield pointed out, is a “relatively resource poor” organization going up against a massive corporation. One is political and public support, which could act as a morale boost for workers weighing their decision about joining a union.
The union has gotten support from several political figures. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spoke in support of the union during a livestream about workplace organizing, and Fox News host Tucker Carlson (in between jabs at representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) said that Amazon should share some of its power with its workers during an interview with ALU organizer Christian Smalls. Perhaps most notably, President Joe Biden warned Amazon that the federal government was coming after it for its anti-union practices.
“It seems to me that Amazon has to worry about its public persona, and to be viewed as viciously anti-union and anti-worker at this moment in history is probably a bad look for them,” said Benjamin Sachs, a professor of labor and industry at Harvard Law School, in an interview with The Verge. According to Sachs, support from the public and policymakers is a factor in the ALU’s favor.
“Amazon, here we come. Watch!” – President Joe Biden
“I think the support from President Biden matters. I think the visible support from the National Labor Relations Board to enforce the law matters,” Sachs said. “Broad public support definitely matters in a lot of ways. It helps to embolden workers who are making this decision about whether to support the union, knowing that the country is essentially behind them.”
Cornfield also noted that the general public’s support of unions has grown significantly over the past decade or so. “According to the various opinion polls that are out there, especially the Gallup opinion poll shows that in the United States, public approval of labor unions generally has jumped from 48 percent in 2009 to 68 percent in 2021.”
Despite public support for unions, they’re increasingly uncommon in the US. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported (pdf) that the percentage of workers in a union has been falling over the past few decades, and that only 10.3 percent of workers are union members. Union elections aren’t always successful, either; last year in Bessemer, Alabama, workers voted against unionizing 2 to 1, though the results were later overturned by the NLRB. And while the ALU won at JFK8, it wasn’t anything close to a blowout; the vote was 2,654 for unionizing and 2,131 against.
Peiperl thinks that general societal conditions could make people more interested in unions. “I think it’s about this situation, the context in which Amazon’s workers, and really the whole of society, particularly the younger generations, find themselves,“ he said. “There’s this repeat of the situation from 100 years ago where massive wealth is concentrated among a few individuals, there’s a certain amount of large company and maybe monopoly power in a number of sectors, and therefore disproportionately low power in the hands of workers.”
But while individual workers may feel powerless, Peiperl says they have some leverage through collective action, given their importance in the company’s logistics operations. “In order for it to remain high functioning, it needs to have all the pieces working well together as opposed to, let’s say, a Starbucks, which is geographically dispersed,” he said. (Starbucks workers have organized a wave of successful union elections in the past few months.) “If a few Starbucks outlets are shut down for some labor dispute reasons or whatever else, the whole company doesn’t suffer. Whereas if an Amazon warehouse or logistics pathway is shut down that’s a much, much bigger challenge to that company’s performance.”
“If you had to pick bellwether employers in 2022, Amazon and Starbucks would be good choices.”
While the union isn’t in uncharted territory — it’s shown at least once that its tactics work in New York, where LDJ5 and JFK8 are located — there’s an open question about whether the results can be used to predict success in the rest of the country, especially in less union-friendly areas. LDJ5 is likely to be similar to JFK8 culturally speaking; the two facilities are literally next door to each other and are part of a cluster of four warehouses, all of which have been organizing at roughly the same time. Last year the union planned on having an election for all the facilities at once but withdrew the request so it could get enough people interested at individual facilities.
That’s not to say that a win at LDJ5 won’t help the ALU. Momentum can be a powerful thing when it comes to unionizing a company or sparking a movement of labor organization across a country. As Sachs put it: “Think about the auto industry in the 1930s. That was kind of the bellwether industry at the time, which symbolized what would’ve been the modern economy. And there was a pitched battle to unionize auto, and it was successful and the result was a transformed United States political economy. If you had to pick bellwether employers in 2022, Amazon and Starbucks would be good choices.”


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Cash-strapped Salon is considering the dot-com equivalent of a Hail Mary pass – a 20-for-1 reverse stock split.
The company’s stock was bumped from the Nasdaq National Market to the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on Friday after it traded below $1 for more than 30 days.
The move is being mulled as a way of making the company attractive to traders who cannot buy and sell stocks below a certain price, such as $1 or $5, explained Michael O’Donnell, Salon’s CEO and president.
O’Donnell said the company had the approval of the board for a reverse split of up to a ratio of 20-for-1.
The shareholders have yet to vote on a reverse split. “At today’s price of 42 cents we would only have to do a 3-for-1 to [meet the Nasdaq’s requirements]” he said yesterday.
Salon bosses continue to be bullish about the online magazine’s future. The company closed a round of $2.5 million in financing from 11 different investors last month, and O’Donnell said, “A second close is pending. We will be announcing it in the next few weeks.”
He warned that one of the dangers of a split – which raises the value of the outstanding shares but not the value of the company – is that investors might suddenly sell. “Some shoot-from-the-hip retail investors might look at the boards, see it’s up tenfold, and say, ‘Let’s sell!’ They don’t understand they have the same amount of money but less shares.”
In the last year, Salon shares have ranged from 12 cents to $2.25.

domain: news


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California-based Trimble, a leading provider of advanced location-based solutions, has acquired Tata AutoComp Mobility Telematics Limited (TMT), a provider of telematics solutions and Mobile Resource Management (MRM) services in India and a wholly-owned company of Tata AutoComp Systems, a Tata Group Company, for an undisclosed amount.
According to Tata AutoComp Systems (TACO), the sell-off of TMT is a part of its strategy to strengthen core businesses.
"Tata AutoComp has devised its growth strategy for the period up to 2020. The TMT decision is in sync with our strategy to focus and strengthen our core business areas,” said R S Thakur, executive director and CEO of TACO.
Pune-based TMT, whose solutions are marketed under the "Trako" brand, serves large customers such as Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd and Tata Group companies.
In addition to providing vehicle tracking, TMT offers a broad range of specialty telematics solutions including school bus applications that provide location information to parents via the Internet and SMS and bus tracking for state transport and city transportation services.
The company also does cargo management for logistics supply chain organizations to track and integrate vehicle location data with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems for on-road visibility of cargo, dispatch management for emergency service vehicles such as ambulance and fire and waste truck management applications.
Founded in 1978, the Nasdaq-listed Trimble’s revenues have grown from approximately $270 million in 1999 to over $1 billion in 2009. The company has been in an acquiring spree for the last 10 years acquiring over 45 companies in that period.
'When deliberating our options for TMT, including a new home for TMT, we were convinced that Trimble was the right choice given its worldwide position and service record in MRM. We are confident that all the customers of TMT, including various Tata companies, will continue to benefit from the TMT ownership by Trimble," Thakur said.
The Tata subsidiary acquisition is expected to expand Trimble's MRM solutions portfolio and allow the company to better address markets in India.
TACO, promoted by the Tata Group, provides products and services to the Indian and Global automotive OEMs as well as Tier 1 suppliers with a client list that reads like Ashok Leyland, BMW, Fiat, Force Motors, Ford Motors India, General Motors India, Honda, Mahindra & Mahindra, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Piaggio, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo-Eicher.
The company, which has six joint ventures in partnership with companies from the Global Auto Component Industry and has over 40 manufacturing facilities spread across India and China, last week said that it would acquire another 37.5% stake in Automotive Stampings and Assemblies Ltd (ASAL), a part of the Spanish company Gestamp Servicios, for around Rs 34 crore.
Once the deal is finalised, TACO will own 75% stake in the BSE-listed ASAL to make it a subsidiary, which is into manufacturing and marketing automotive components and aggregates made from sheet metal. The balance would be held by public.
According to TACO, this acquisition is part of its consolidation strategy whereby the company will focus on select product lines and grow the businesses it has in future.


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Meta is said to have drastically lowered sales projections for Meta Quest 3, according to a well-known supply chain analyst.
In a blog post on Medium, Ming-Chi Kuo writes:
“The original shipment forecast for Quest 3 in 2H23 was set at over 7 million units. However, due to anticipated weak demand, the current shipment forecast for 2H23 has been cut to between 2–2.5 million units, with shipments in 2024 estimated at around 1 million units.”
Kuo also writes that Meta’s headset sales continue to decline, which is not a surprising finding.
The analyst expects Meta to sell 3.5 million Quest headsets this year, 50 percent fewer than last year. And he believes the negative trend could continue through 2024.
Is Meta Quest 3 mainly for enthusiasts?
The biggest sales obstacle for Meta Quest 3 will be the price: The new headset costs $500, a whopping $200 more than the Meta Quest 2, which will remain on sale through the upcoming holiday season and beyond.
The Quest 3’s biggest selling point is its mixed reality capabilities. The question is whether consumers even know what the technology offers, and secondly, whether they want it. Virtual reality, on the other hand, is probably a familiar concept to most.
It will be clear to Meta that it is primarily enthusiasts who will buy Quest 3, as indicated by statements from a leaked Meta presentation. 7 million units in 2023? That seems too high, while a sales forecast of 3 to 3.5 million units by the end of 2024 seems too pessimistic. From what we know about the device so far, it offers tremendous value for the price, but no exclusive titles (for now).
A low-cost headset could be coming in 2024
According to the above leak, Meta will launch a lower-cost headset codenamed Ventura next year to replace the aging Meta Quest 2. “The goal for this headset is very simple: pack the biggest punch we can at the most attractive price point in the VR consumer market,” a Meta manager reportedly said.
There are no technical details on the device. Meta could incorporate the new, more powerful chipset from the Meta Quest 3, but forgo the mixed reality sensors to reduce manufacturing costs. But that is pure speculation at this point.
Even more important than sales numbers is an active user base. Many Quest headsets are only used for the first few weeks and then disappear into the closet. The devices need to be easier and faster to use, with better software, to keep users coming back and spending money on apps. That’s the only way to keep the ecosystem alive.
Buy Quest 3, Accessories & Prescription Lenses
Quest 3 Accessories


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Social media application doesn't have an obvious marketing application, but proponents say it may help control online messaging.
MARKETERS TRYING TO KEEP pace with Twitter and Facebook may want to check out another emerging social media platform: Tumblr.
At first blush, Tumblr, described as a "blogging platform," which aggregates online content on a particular theme (like, say, skateboarding), doesn't seem to have an obvious marketing application. But IBM, EMI and Universal Music have all discovered that creating a tumbleblog (a term that preceded the two-year-old Tumblr's existence) is a good way to help control the message online, reward fans and, in IBM's case, position oneself as a thought leader on a given topic.
IBM began using Tumblr last fall as part of its Smarter Planet initiative, which was based on a November 2008 speech by CEO Sam Palmisano that posited that in an interconnected world, smarter solutions to problems like wasted energy, gridlocked dries and our antiquated healthcare system will come easier.
IBM ran TV ads from Ogilvy & Mather, New York, on the Smarter Planet theme, but it also has a blog and a tumbleblog related to the idea. The tumbleblog aggregates content from news sources like Information Week and The Wall Street Journal A heading for "smarter healthcare," for instance, includes a link to a Boston Globe story on a device developed in South Africa that can help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndome by monitoring a baby's movements--if it doesn't detect any in 15 seconds it vibrates and then, if the baby hasn't responded, it sounds an alarm.
Marketers can provide such links via blogs, but Tumblr makes it easier to aggregate content like news articles and video. Like Twitter, you can also "follow" a tumbleblog you like. Users can also hit a "like" button or reblog the post onto their own Tumblr page, making the blog items more viral. Adam Christensen, social media manager for IBM, said the idea is to drive online conversation. "It certainly raises awareness for the kinds of things that IBM is working on," he said. "We don't want it to be just about IBM, and Tumblr gives us a holistic view."
At the same time, though, Tumblr can also help a marketer like IBM control its message online in ways that aren't possible via Facebook and Twitter. Tumblr CEO David Karp said that music artists like Katy Perry and Lenny Kravitz were the first to embrace the platform, and earlier this year labels EMI and Universal Music followed suit. Karp said that marketers who go on Twitter, for instance, find that they are "having weird conversations with the public" and using the platform to short circuit public relations disasters.
In contrast, he said, Tumblr is a way to both control the message and to reward your most loyal consumers by offering them a platform via aggregating their blog posts. "You can find the most positive voices in the community and link to them," he said. "You can vindicate them and turn yourself into a positive force."
Michael Arauz, a strategist at Undercurrent, a digital shop in New York, said he believes Tumblr opens up the possibility of letting a marketer present itself as a curator on the Web. He suggests, though, that brands pick a specific issue like IBM did, rather than try to merely reflect its brand personality via Tumblr. "Pick something specific," he said. "It's really about showing what's important to your brand."
FOR MORE DIGITAL NEWS, VISIT brandweek.com tumblr. Should you take a flyer on Tumblr?
Who's using it: IBM, Universal Music, EMI, Katy Perry
What does it do: Aggregates content from other blogs and news sources and lets users "reblog" items they like, making it more viral.
Why use it: To position yourself as a thought leader on an issue, to reward loyal fans of your brand by spotlighting them and to gain more control of your social media message.
By Todd Wasserman
Copyright of Brandweek is the property of Prometheus Global Media, LLC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.


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The rebrand of petrol stations to Ampol in Mandurah is expected to be finished by the end of the year.
Caltex Australia announced in 2019 that it was resurrecting the iconic brand, nearly 25 years after the name was retired in the merger with Caltex.
The rebranding is part of a three-year nationwide overhaul of 1900 petrol stations.
REBADGED: The Lakelands rebrand includes Ampol’s shop format, Foodary.
The state-wide rollout will see 230 sites rebadged over two years, including 12 in Mandurah and Pinjarra.
Greenfields, North Yunderup, Lakelands, Dawesville and Pinjarra have completed their rebrand, all including Ampol’s shop format, Foodary.
Falcon Miami Beach and Erskine are scheduled for completion by the end of the month and both will have a Foodary.
The second Falcon site, Mandurah, Mandurah Forum, and Secret Harbour will be complete during the second half of the year. Secret Harbour will have a Foodary and Mandurah already opened a Foodary in October 2020.
An company spokeswoman said there were currently no plans for additional Ampol developments for the Mandurah or Murray areas.
The iconic Australian Motorists Petrol Company, which later became Ampol, was founded in 1936 and has been part of Australia’s DNA since then.
Ampol spokeswoman Joanne Taylor said while the revitalised Ampol looked a bit different to the Ampol of yesterday, the company’s values remained the same.
“We know all our customers are excited by Ampol’s return and we look forward to welcoming Western Australians back onto Ampol forecourts as we roll out the new brand across the state.”
Caltex Australia chief executive Julian Segal said Ampol was an iconic Australian name – a brand which reflected the company’s deep Australian heritage and expertise.
“Our market research confirmed that Ampol continues to be regarded as a trusted brand by Australian consumers – even those who weren’t born when the brand was retired,” Mr Segal said.


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From: www.nypost.com |
NBA rising star of 21 years old, Kristaps Porzingis, is going to sign their first big shoe deal in his career. Adidas has offered between 3 and 6 million dollars per year, but Nike has still the chance to match the terms of the arrangement.
$3 – $6 million per year
See the original news here.
Photo by: Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA (Kristaps Porzingis, Kris Humphries) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons


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Updated : 2 days, 4 hours ago IST
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Oct 17 (ANI): Union Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal on Thursday said that the Central government has made clear guidelines for e-commerce and strict actions will be taken against anyone who makes it a means for multi-brand retail.
Updated : 5 days, 17 hours ago IST
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Oct 14 (ANI): Police here have arrested two men for allegedly duping online e-commerce company, Amazon, worth crores of rupees, said police.
Updated : 1 week ago IST
New Delhi [India], Oct 12 (ANI): As the festive season kicks in amid economic slowdown, e-commerce marketplaces have geared up with a focus on tier 2 and 3 cities to double their sales compared to last year.
Updated : 1 week, 1 day ago IST
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Oct 11 (ANI): Days after a Noida woman alleged that a delivery boy of an e-commerce firm tried to rape her, the company on Friday denied that the accused was their employer, adding that the individual was associated through a delivery service provider.
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Oct 11 (ANI): A woman here has accused a delivery agent of leading e-commerce company, Amazon of attempting to rape her, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vaibhav Krishna on Friday.
Updated : 2 weeks, 2 days ago IST
New Delhi [India], Oct 3 (ANI): US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday he will hold talks with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to trash out a trade deal on farm goods and pharmaceuticals.
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Oct 3 (ANI): Leading e-commerce marketplace Flipkart said on Thursday it is fully compliant with foreign direct investment (FDI) laws and works closely with lakhs of small businesses across the country to bring prosperity at the grassroots level.
Updated : 2 weeks, 4 days ago IST
New Delhi [India], Oct 1 (ANI): Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan on Tuesday launched a consumer app that would help consumers across the nation to register their grievances online and give suggestions on several consumer-related issues.
Updated : 1 month ago IST
New Delhi [India] September 13 (ANI/NewsVoir): Snapdeal - India's leading value-focused online marketplace - is using data analytics to link the business prospects of sellers on its platform with the way buyers rate the products sold by the sellers.
Updated : 1 month, 1 week ago IST
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Sept 10 (ANI): Leading e-commerce marketplace Flipkart has onboarded nearly 27,000 'kirana' stores across 700 cities to its pan-India supply chain, helping it reach out to lakhs of new consumers during the upcoming festive season.
Hangzhou [China] Sept 10 (ANI): The e-commerce giant and one of Asia's richest man Jack Ma on Tuesday stepped down as the executive chairman of China's largest company -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, a decision which also coincided with his 55th birthday.
California [USA], September 6 (ANI): Amazon is reportedly testing a new feature aimed at helping shoppers discover newly released products.


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There are only two major manufacturers of COVID-19 testing swabs in the world and if we’ve learned anything since the beginning of this pandemic, it’s that we need lots of tests.
The federal government is working on enhancing the availability of the particular swabs used in the COVID nasal tests, and as part of the CARES Act, they’ve dedicated more than $51 million the factory project in Pittsfield, Maine that will allow Puritan Medical Products to expand production.
This will be Puritan’s second swab manufacturing facility in Pittsfield, and it will increase monthly swab manufacturing for the company by the millions, while adding 200 jobs.
While the CARES Act will be completely funding the development, it wouldn’t have been possible without a generous donation from a local family. Lisa Armstrong and Cheryl Remmert, the daughters of the late founder of a manufacturer called San Antonio Shoemakers, have been sitting on an old factory for years since their father’s passing and decided now was the time to use their land to make a difference. So they donated it to Pittsfield’s economic development agency who, in turn, donated the factory and 11 acres of land to the Puritan swab manufacturing project.
The 79,000 square foot shoe factory will be retrofitted in the coming months to ultimately produce 50 million swabs per month and Senator Susan Collins, who spoke recently at the project’s unveiling, called the donation of the factory “a fitting tribute” to a Maine native of “uncommon generosity.”
The factory is expected to be online by January of 2021.


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by Derek Kessler on 1/7/2015 | Filed Under: News; Tags: LG, webos, smartwatch, CES 2015 | 18 comments
CES 2015 has been an insane ride, but the craziest news out of the show wasn't even an announcement: the LG smartwatch that Audi was using to control their autonomous car runs webOS. Yes. webOS. On a watch. In a week that brought us the news that TCL is resurrecting the Palm brand and the latest webOS TV's from LG, we also get webOS expanding to a new platform: the wrist.
Yes, at CES 2015, we're writing about Kodak, Palm, and webOS. It's like a tech episode of the Twilight Zone. The reveal of the smartwatch came as a surprise, with an Audi executive revealing the watch as being from LG and using it briefly in his demo, but not saying much more about it. The assumption was that it was running Android Wear, but our friends at Android Central decided to dig in to the watch and found that it was in fact not Android Wear.
Google's imposed strict restrictions on the customizations that can be made to Android Wear, so the more we looked at it the more curious we became. It was clearly not Android Wear, and then we ended up deep in the settings and saw something amazing: webOS Version Open webOS.
It. Runs. webOS.
LG's teased webOS smartwatches before, but never made a public statement on where they would next expand webOS beyond their TVs.
Most interesting is that the watch has a number of LG's custom apps built in, including apps for calendar, dialer, messages, email, and more. It even sports NFC and a cellular radio. Yes. This thing is a ready-to-go webOS portable.
We hate to be speculative (that's a lie, we love it), but everything here indicates that LG is working hard to make a device that's thoroughly capable of operating independently, and has the makings of a proper modern webOS smartphone.
In a world where Samsung's ported their Tizen OS from smartwatches to smart televisions, LG is bringing their webOS smart TV OS to portable devices. It's a mad mad world, and we're excited to find out even more about what LG has in store for webOS.


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LIM Alumna Says Yes to The Dress
April 29, 2016
Michelle Elaine Fernie, founder and CEO of Michelle Elaine Weddings, Inc., a boutique wedding planning and event design company, will be featured on TLC’s Say Yes to The Dress on Friday, April 29 at 9 pm EST.
Michelle is a 2009 graduate of LIM College and now hires LIM students to intern for her company. After planning weddings for countless brides over the past five years, Michelle will share her personal experience as a bride shopping for the perfect wedding gown for her own day.
2016 marks a successful five years in business for Michelle Elaine Weddings, Inc. Says Michelle, “It’s been one of my greatest challenges in life to start up and build a successful business… My hope is to inspire others to never give up on their dreams. Hard work and dedication always pay off in the end.”
A part of being on Say Yes to The Dress, Michelle was given the opportunity to speak and shop with bridal fashion expert Randy Fenoli, the show’s star. He told Michelle that he was impressed with her background and experiences in both the fashion and wedding industries, as well as with her growing business.
Be sure to tune in on April 29 at 9 pm (or set your DVR) and watch as this LIM alum has the experience of a lifetime!
Photo: Randy Fenoli and Michelle Fernie


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Shoppers are being quizzed on their views about how to inject life into a struggling shopping street in Hull.
Today staff from Hull Council will be at Ferens Art Gallery between 10am and 4pm to ask people “to have their say on the Old Town.”
Traders will get feedback at an event at the gallery next month.
For the last few years the street, once one of the city premier shopping streets, has been struggling, a trend exacerbated by the opening of the St Stephen’s shopping centre. There are currently seven units on the south side to let.
The council’s head of economic development Mark Jones, who has been appointed Whitefriargate manager, said: “We want to know what visitors want and what business want so that we have an evidence base about what people who use the street want and what their needs are.”
Karim Khan, one of the owners of the fruit and vegetable stall which has been in the Indoor Market for decades, said they’d seen a big drop in footfall since the opening of St Stephen’s. He said: “Asking people is fine as long as some good ideas come out of it and the council listen to it in the end.”
As far as he’s concerned, lower rents would help along with “better advertising so people know the market is still here and two hours short-term parking.”
The council is looking at removing seating that isn’t used to unclutter the street and open up its architectural potential. Funding from the Arts Council last year paid for artists to display work in empty shop fronts. The council is now talking to Hull School of Architecture about the possibility of students using vacant outlets to display their third year work.


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Airtel Business, the B2B unit of Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), today released its first Business Insights report under the aegis of its Customer Advisory Board, which has representation from India’s top companies from across industries.
Titled Customer Engagement Redefined. Anytime. Anywhere, the report calls out the need for reimagining customer journeys in an increasingly digitally connected world with multiple personal devices and channels. This requires businesses to create omni-channel engagement platforms that can deliver highly personalised and hyper-localised, contextual experiences to customers.
The report has identified 5 Pillars for redefining Customer Engagement journeys:
Intelligent Interactions: Customers today expect a connected experience and consistent interactions across brand touch points. Therefore, automated engagements such as digital onboarding and intuitive customer satisfaction surveys, contextual chat-bot based conversations, that operate with one view of the customer are becoming increasingly important.
Hyper Personalisation: With the emergence of big data, it has become easier to create hyper personalised customer experience. Businesses can identify exact needs of customers with the help behavioral data and interpret individual characteristics with the help of emerging technologies. This has resulted in a paradigm shift from a product-centric marketing to a more personalized customer-focused marketing.
Connected Across Channels: Seamless connectivity for customers can be achieved through omnichannel engagement that leverages a multi-channel sales approach to provide customers with an integrated shopping experience. The customer could be shopping online from a mobile app, a web storefront, or even offline in a brick-and-mortar store and yet the experience must be consistent. This means ensuring customers receive the same engagement experience and message across all channels and touchpoints.
Customer’s Choice of Time: Reaching customers at the most appropriate time is challenging, especially for companies dealing with various customer segments across different geographical locations. Knowing when customers are ready and willing to pay attention increases the chance of captivating them, guiding them through the customer journey and motivating them to choose the brand when the right moment arrives.
Robust and Secure Connectivity: Businesses can enhance their customer experience and differentiate themselves from their competitors by incorporating “Digital Trust” into their customer engagement model and platform. They can do so by Reliability and availability of digital services, data transparency and digital security, Privacy and Security safeguards.
Read the full report on https://www.airtelbusinessinsights.com/.
Ajay Chitkara, Director and CEO, Airtel Business said: “Today, customers are looking for online-first and omni-channel experiences. This requires brands to accelerate their digital transformation journeys and reimagine customer engagement. We are delighted to share deep insights in this area from some of India’s best minds who are now part of our Customer Advisory Board. At Airtel, we are already leveraging these insights to build solutions like Airtel IQ – a cloud communications platform that enables brands to deepen engagement with customers through timely and secure communication.”
Airtel Business launched its Customer Advisory Board with the objective of making its customers equal stakeholders in its product development journey. The Board will have representation from Airtel’s top enterprise customers cutting across a diverse set of industries/sectors.
The Board meets at regular intervals to deliberate and offer counsel on customer issues and emerging technology trends to help Airtel Business align its innovation roadmap to the strategic requirements of its customers and create the right solutions for the market. The forum will also provide Airtel’s key enterprise customers an early view of the advanced capabilities that the company is building.


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Chevrolet Volt Is Edison Award Gold Medalist
The groundbreaking 2011 Chevrolet Volt won a major new honor recently when the world’s first extended-range electric vehicle was recognized with a Gold Medal from the 2011 Edison Awards. Inspired by the persistence and excellence of American inventor Thomas Alva Edison—who earned more than 1,000 U.S. patents—the awards are given annually to recognize the top achievements in innovation from around the country.
The Volt more than lives up to that ideal, thanks to industry advances in key areas like aerodynamics and powertrain development. Hours of painstaking work in GM wind tunnels make the Volt the most aerodynamic vehicle ever sold by Chevrolet, while the car’s incredible propulsion system is allowing drivers to go more than 1,000 miles between fill ups. That’s because the Volt can deliver up to 50 miles of all-electric, no-emissions driving on a routine overnight charge.
And there’s no need to worry about “range anxiety” with the Volt, either. If its battery pack runs low, the car’s high-efficiency I4 engine can take over to deliver hundreds of more miles of driving capability at an EPA-rated 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway/37 mpg combined.
Backed by this kind of practical technology, the Volt’s long list of honors also includes:
- Motor Trend Car of the Year
- Automobile Magazine Car of the Year
- Green Car of the Year
- Popular Science Best of What’s New
- Ward’s 10-Best Engine designation


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WeYield, a provider of AI and automation-based software for car rental and mobility businesses, has launched a free tool that allows car rental operators to view car rental activity in various world regions.
Updated with aggregated and anonymized car rental data twice a month, the tool is divided into regions: France, Mediterranean, Europe, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean.
“Car rental owners and general managers around the world have been hoping for up-to-date market trends so they can understand the global situation of their own region,” said Emmanuel Scuto, CEO.
Key performance indicators are displayed per region for the current month and the three months to come.
According to Scuto, WeYield helps owners and managing directors of car rental companies, franchised or independent, who are frustrated by the discrepancy between the level of information available to them and the level of information they would like to have.
“Based on our 20-year experience as revenue managers, WeYield decreases the time spent collecting and aggregating millions of data points, reduces uncertainties about the volume and quality of the fleet — as well as demand — by allowing clients to control their portfolio and prioritize their stocks.”


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Fragmentation or intensification of casual food companies
The reporter noted that the food and beverage index has continued to move higher this year due to the strong immediate demand in the food industry. Data show that as of June 28, 2019, a cumulative increase of 61.80%; food and beverage sector cumulative increase of more than 60%, ranking in the A-share market in the first half of the industry rose to the top of the list.
For the second half of the trend, Zhu Dampeng said that casual food and condiments will also grow. "For condiments, the second half of the year will usher in the peak season of food and beverage; the new generation of the demographic dividend continues to stack up, for leisure food is also good. However, with the rapid development of casual food, but be wary of the increased fragmentation of casual food companies."
Some institutional data show that in 2018, China's retail market size of condiments reached 109.067 billion yuan, an increase of 8.8% year-on-year, the rise of dining out, the convenience of takeaway makes the condiment catering market growth rate higher than the retail market growth rate. The condiment retail market is expected to grow at a compound rate of approximately 5% over the next five years.


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NEW DELHI: As the investor frenzy dies down and the focus in ecommerce shifts to profitable, sustainable growth, Facebook
is emerging as a key ally for companies in the sector to drive advertising
and to grow their business.
Ad spending from ecommerce companies is going up on Facebook and the social media
platform is working on advanced measurement capabilities to help them drive profitable growth.
“Given the focus on mobile over sixnine months, we are seeing really solid growth in terms of ad spends from ecommerce companies. As the focus shifts to value, people will shift the dollars to where they think the maximum returns on investment are. There’s focus on mobile and there’s nobody better than us on mobile,” Arjun Kolady, business head of ecommerce for India and South Asia at Facebook, told ET.
Over the past six months, the focus in ecommerce has shifted from incessant customer acquisition and other vanity metrics to profitability and measurable growth, he said. “People are more worried about profitability, they want to have the right measurement models so that they know they’re not burning cash. People come to Facebook and they check it 14-15 times a day. For a marketer it is an opportunity to reach the consumer so many times. On a steady basis, we are seeing double digit returns on ad spends for ecommerce companies on Facebook.”
In the middle of June this year, mobile wallet firm Paytm
launched a campaign on television and digital media showcasing different ways of using the Paytm wallet. It received six million views on Facebook alone in about seven to 10 days. “It drove a lot of app downloads
for us. Facebook is becoming a more important part of our advertising plan and the amount of targeting and profiling it can do is significantly superior to other channels,” said Shankar Nath, senior vice president at Paytm.
“The social media platform has also become more advertiser friendly now. They share far more data with us and can help advertisers take informed decisions.” Craftsvilla
used some of Facebook’s advanced features to target its users with relevant products on the platform. The campaign, which ran for a month, was aimed at people who had been to its website but didn't end up making a purchase.
Through Facebook’s targeted messaging and profiling, the company reached out to these customers with products relevant to them, generating a trial. According to the company, the campaign helped it reduce customer acquisition cost by 20%.


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Future Trends in Commercial Shipping
The world is changing rapidly, as is the shipping industry. There is an increased focus on boosting the green image of shipping, as well as improving efficiency through emerging technologies. The commercial shipping industry has constantly been evolving with a lot of pushes for innovations. Even the past few years have been particularly interesting.
Trends such as environmental protection and globalization have changed the landscape of the industry and will continue to influence it for the foreseeable future. These changes are making the commercial shipping industry a lot more exciting with new challenges and innovations for workers in the industry to take on.
When observing the changes taking place in the commercial shipping industry, some emerging trends can be noticed regarding business models, technology, and regulations.
Bigger and Better Ships
Nowadays, there are quite a few big behemoths transporting containers by sea. If you are in the shipping industry or are interested in ships, in general, you probably know some examples of large container ships. The Barzan, MSC Oscar, and the Magleby Maersk are all massive behemoths, with lengths over a thousand feet and cargos that would typically require over 5000 trucks to carry.
Container ships have gotten much bigger, better, and improved over the last few years, and this trend looks set to continue. Every year, there are new plans and designs for megaships that are larger than what’s currently available. The rise of containerization and automation has created this trend because of the quicker discharging and loading of vessels.
Not too long ago, containers seemed to be the only reasonable way of transporting cargo. Everyone seemed to target the container trade. Today, however, we can see that there is more investment in specialized ships that transport difficult cargos.This trend can be observed in the transportation of refrigerated cargo, chemicals, and heavy machinery, such as cars and trucks. There are even extremely specialized ships that are built specifically for transporting windmill parts. As a result, shipping crews now have specialized knowledge about their ships and cargo.
Just like it is in most industries today, and even in many facets of everyday life, there is an increasing focus on environmental friendliness. As the ships get larger and more efficient, there is also continuous innovation that focuses on reducing the environmental footprint of container ships.
Various improvements are being made to reduce carbon and sulfur emissions, and also to improve the performance of propellers and engines. These innovations are just the beginning of the green revolution in commercial shipping, as even more advanced innovations are in the works for a more environmentally friendly industry.
There is an increasing amount of data being gathered in shipping operations: accident data, cargo data, weather data, etc. This data is being analyzed and used to make shipping operations more efficient.
The technology used for big data analytics has evolved rapidly. This has given shipping companies the ability to discover correlations in the data through the use of advanced algorithms. Spotting these correlations is helping shipping companies make better decisions regarding their operations. Although there are so many benefits of having data and improved analytics, there’s also the issue of security. Commercial shipping operations are going to see an increased need for cyber security and data protection.
Prominence of Robotics and Automated Machinery
A big talking point, not only in the commercial shipping industry, is the use of robots. According to a report on global marine technology trends, by 2030, there will be three new types of robots that would be prominently used in the commercial shipping industry. These robots would have functions such as learning, handling cargo, and inspections in harsh weather conditions and environments.
Along with these robots, new types of monitors, sensors, and remote control technology would be developed and used in the industry. These types of technology would integrate with other aspects of shipping operations and even other emerging technology, such as big data and the internet of things. As a result, the need for human interaction with dangerous processes would be significantly reduced.
Advanced Communications and Connectivity
With the growth in communication technology, such as Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity, commercial shipping vessels are expected to be more connected to shipping operators. Improve connectivity would allow these operators to easily and effectively monitor ships through technologies such as live audio streams, recording devices, and HD video streams.
Operators are then able to make real-time decisions regarding ship management and operations through this technology. Operators are also able to monitor the welfare of the crew and know if any urgent issues need to be addressed.
There is a trend of autonomous vehicles in various transport-based industries, from the automotive industry to aviation. So, in the future, you can expect to see more of these vehicles being used, even in the maritime shipping industry. Just like cars and planes, shipping vessels could be increasingly automated.
These autonomous vessels will change the landscape of the industry, and they would be commercially viable because of their cost-efficiency and used in more harsh work environments such as mining, oil, and gas operations.
Alternative Fuels and Energy Conservation
A lot of investment is currently being made in the discovery of alternative fuels and renewable energy. With climate change having more prominence in global affairs, strict regulations on carbon emissions could be implemented by governments around the world. Thus, the need for alternative and emission-free sources of power such as hydrogen fuel could increase.
The shipping industry is expected to adopt these new technologies and test them on smaller vessels before being implemented on a large scale
Author Bio: David Madden is an efficiency expert, as well as being the Founder and President of Container Exchanger and ExchangerHub. His passion is to save businesses money and make North American manufacturing and distribution companies more competitive in the global market. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and has a Masters in Business Administration, as well as a certificate from Daimler Chrysler Quality Institute for completion of six-sigma black belt training.


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SLPA shrugs off challenges at Colombo as south Indian ports vie for business
Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA), which governs terminals in Colombo Port, claims there is no ...
The head of security at the air cargo terminal in Chennai has been arrested, along with some staff, for smuggling. The case has made the Indian airport “sit up and take notice”, according to this article. The focus at the terminal had been on ensuring that exports were secure, but the airport is now changing procedures for imports and ensuring that no single agency would have full access. Recommendations for improving the cargo terminal had been issued in December – and now are more likely to be heeded.
Expeditors sues long-term client for unpaid $20m in row over invoices
More bad news for carriers hoping rates decline has bottomed-out
Rivals set out to woo UPS customers as fears of a strike grow
Rate erosion may be easing, but rock-bottom prices are 'not good for anybody'
Drop 'DB' and 'DP'. Call it 'DHL Schenker'. Sounds cool, huh?
2M axes Asia-North Europe loop, as carriers shop for more tonnage
Taiwan carriers pay record staff bonuses after year of bumper profits
Airfreight rate relief for shippers, or are things going to 'turn nasty'?
Shippers put more pressure on ocean carriers for carbon-free services
Billund sees launch of Maersk Air China link – 'a start-up on steroids'
Atlas Air merger with Apollo group finally set to close on Friday
Dachser's M&A in air and ocean freight – how serious is that?
Comment on this article


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OpenSea, the leading NFT marketplace
OpenSea’s product manager, Nate Chastain, confirmed the company’s prominence in a call for applications published yesterday:
We need to ramp up hiring at OpenSea. We are 37 people handling 98% of all NFT volume.
Referral bonus: Will pay 1 ETH to anyone who connects us to engineers or designers that we hire. Resumes to firstname.lastname@example.org.
Candidates: Use https://t.co/adazqldv91 directly.
– Nate Chastain (natec.eth) (@natechastain) August 29, 2021
“We need to speed up recruitment at OpenSea. We are 37 people who process 98% of all NFT volume. “
Nate Chastain confirmed that he will pay 1 ETH, or 3,167 dollars at the current price, to anyone who will put the company in contact with a future recruit. On the company’s recruitment page, we see that many positions are also open.
👉 Find all the news about non-fungible tokens (NFT)
OpenSea continues to grow
OpenSea’s breakthrough comes as the NFT industry continues to generate excitement. A little over a week ago, the marketplace was the first to exceed $ 1 billion in transaction volume. This corresponds to an increase of + 286% from July to August 2021.
According to data from dAppRadar, OpenSea currently has more than 40,000 users, who have transferred $ 258 million in the last 24 hours alone. Cryptopunks represent the largest volume, with 127,680 ETH over the week, or $ 404 million at the current price.
👉 To read on the same subject – The NFTs OpenSea marketplace closes a fundraising of 100 million dollars
Receive a recap of crypto news every Sunday 👌 And that’s it.
About the author: Marine Debelloir
Deputy Editor-in-Chief on Cryptoast, I fell into the pot of cryptocurrencies a few years ago. I am passionate about the innovative technologies that arise from the blockchain and I like to find the most delicious information to share with you.
All articles by Marine Debelloir.


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Diehard Taylor Swift fans are paying through the nose to secure tickets to her “Eras Tour” concerts through resellers after. The live concert and ticketing company subsequently cancelled a general public sales period that was meant to begin Friday, generating bad blood between the concert behemoth and Swifties, as the pop artist’s fans are known.
On Friday, ticket exchange and resale company Vivid Seats was selling prime tickets for as much as $8,253. Ticket reseller Stubhub listed tickets to Taylor Swift “Eras Tour” events for as much as $6,300 per ticket to some shows, for seats close to the stage. One Twitter user spotted tickets being resold for a whopping $22,500 each via StubHub.
Indeed, ticket prices on the secondary market rose 13% after Ticketmaster announced the cancellation of sales to the general public, according to TicketIQ, another ticket resale and exchange platform.
Tickets are pricier than previous tours
Eras Tour tickets are being resold for more than 10 times the cost of tickets to concerts that were part of Swift’s earlier tours, according to TicketIQ’s tracker. The average price of a ticket for sale on the secondary market is $2,424.
That’s a function of high demand and low supply. Fewer tickets have been released on the secondary market compared to earlier tours. This suggests that Ticketmaster did a decent job getting tickets into the hands of true fans as opposed to scalpers.
“Everyone has been bashing Ticketmaster, but the flip side of that is that this ‘Verified Fan’ product really kept brokers out, and there are very few tickets being resold compared to her past tours,” said TicketIQ founder and president Jesse Lawrence.
The average list price for a ticket to shows on her last tour in 2018 was $157, according to the TicketIQ. In 2015, tickets to “The 1989 World Tour” concerts were resold for an average of $245.
On average in the resale market, there are fewer than 1,000 tickets available to each Eras Tour concert, compared to the up to 9,000 tickets that were resold to each of the shows on the singer’s earlier tours, according to TicketIQ.
At an average of $3,622 a piece, the priciest tickets being sold are for Swift’s concert at MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“Demand is off the charts, and Ticketmaster was actually able to get more tickets into the hands of fans. For everyone complaining they didn’t get tickets, someone did get tickets,” Lawrence said. “There’s just not a lot of resale. Everyone who bought tickets is actually using them — they didn’t buy them to resell them.”
“I had sticker shock at first”
Minah Oh, a single mom and film festival programmer from Massachusetts, said she visited Ticketmaster’s website the day tickets went on sale but immediately encountered problems. She ended up at StubHub, where tickets to a May 20 concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, were selling for upwards of $900.
“I had sticker shock at first, but I knew I would never be able to get them through Ticketmaster,” she told CBS News.
She was eyeing three tickets for herself and her two children that she plans to give them for Christmas. She ended up spending just over $1,000 per ticket.
“I knew prices would be crazy expensive but when I logged onto StubHub, they blew my mind,” she said. “But this is iconic, and I want my kids to have that experience.”


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TV programming most popular on Internet video viewingDecember 11th, 2007 - 1:12 pm ICT by admin
Washington, Dec 11 (ANI): A new survey has revealed that a majority of adult Internet users watch video online during a typical week, with TV programming ranking as the most popular content.
Conducted by the Cambridge, Mass-based Web personalization firm Choicestream, the survey found that 55 percent of the respondents, adult Internet users, watch online video each week, with 65 percent of that group reporting that they regularly watch traditional TV programming, reports the Hollywood Reporter.
Overall, 39 percent of respondents said they watch TV on an alternate device, with the computer by far the most popular non-traditional method.
According to the survey, 20 percent consumers would watch more online TV during the next six months, with 55 percent of that group saying that would come at the expense of traditional TV viewing.
It was found that online video viewing is higher among younger respondents, with 66 percent of those between ages 18-24 reporting they watch online video and about 70 percent of respondents ages 18-34 saying they watch TV on the Web.
A majority of online TV viewers watch an hour or more per week as well. 34 percent of consumers said they watch one to three hours per week and 33 percent said they watch at least four hours. These numbers are even greater among users who prefer devices other than computers.
Out of those people who watch TV on their mobile phones, 47 percent reported they watch at least four hours. And 37 percent of consumers who watch TV on digital-media players like iPods watch at least four hours.
User-generated content was a distant second to TV in terms of what respondents watch online, with fewer than 40 percent reporting that they regularly watch that type of material. Consumers ages 18-24 watch the most, with about 45 percent responding that they regularly watch online user-generated content.
The survey examined the online habits of 824 adult Internet users in the U.S. (ANI)
Tags: adult internet users, cambridge mass, consumers, digital media players, hollywood, hollywood reporter, mobile phones, new survey, respondents, six months, survey found that, traditional tv, tv on the web, tv programming, tv viewers, user generated content, web personalization


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Wake up! Apple [AAPL] has put its iPhone 5 (equipped with a 19-pin new Dock connector) into production and the new smartphone seems set to break its own sales records once again when it hits the shops in Fall, the latest survey results explain.
iRider on the storm
Perhaps it is no surprise that the world's biggest-selling smartphone will remain the world's biggest-selling smartphone, despite five years of increasingly vicious competition in the rapidly-expanding space.
Interest in smartphones among consumers is at an all time high, the latest ChangeWave Research claims claim. And Apple's iPhone 5 will be at the top of the tree in market share terms, while sitting under many trees this coming Christmas season as Apple wrests the "Market Leader For The Quarter" award from the only other real beneficiary of the smartphone surges, Samsung.
"Advance demand for the 'iPhone 5' is strikingly higher than we've seen for any previous iPhone model," said Dr. Paul Carton, 451 / ChangeWave's VP of Research. "Overall smartphone sales should spike to an all-time high this fall, and of course Apple is going to be the number one beneficiary. But besides Apple, and to a lesser degree Samsung, no other manufacturer is likely to benefit from this coming wave of demand."
More good news for Apple: 14 percent of consumers say they are Very Likely to purchase an iPhone 5 while a further 17 percent say they are Somewhat Likely, the survey said, concluding: "Advance demand for the next-generation iPhone is strikingly higher than for any previous iPhone model."
Get yourself connected
In a separate report this morning, Reuters joined all major media outlets to let us know that: "The iPhone 5, Apple's next generation iPhone expected to go on sale around October, will come with a 19-pin connector port at the bottom instead of the proprietary 30-pin port "to make room for the earphone moving to the bottom", two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters." This is in line with existing expectation.
The ever-talkative assimilated Android army will be pleased at one side of this news: Samsung's doing well, too, albeit at the expense of every other manufacturer. Samsung has seen a four-fold increase in consumer intent to buy its phones across the last three quarters, the survey suggests. A total of 2 percent of respondents say they’re Very Likely to buy a Samsung Galaxy S III and 7 percent Somewhat Likely.
Everyone else is shedding blood as the smartphone sector continues to endure the future process of mergers and acquisitions. Not every player is going to survive the bloodbath that is the smartphone war. Consumer demand is down, down, down, for anything except an iPhone or Galaxy device:
- Motorola -- demand is down 2 points
- HTC -- demand is unchanged (in the context of an industry growing as rapidly as the smartphone sector, that's not good at all).
- RIM -- demand is unchanged at an all-time low.
- Nokia -- the Lumia range has helped gain slightly more consumer interest.
What's important to note is that all the activity in the smartphone sector comes as consumer expectations and spending patterns are declining in face of an extended period of challenging economic uncertainty.
It is also interesting to reflect on the symbiotic relationship between Samsung and Apple. Apple still contributes a huge chunk of cash to Samsung; while Samsung continues to benefit from the free publicity accorded to it by the continued litigation between the two firms, even while an Australian judge today condemned their spat as "ridiculous".
Google meanwhile continues to suggest its contempt for other people's innovation by claiming Apple's iPhone has set such a high bar for the smartphone sector that it should be considered a "standard". A specious and sophistic argument that is worthy of the Greek philosophers.
The irony is that the conversation is already moving forward.
The future of computing will be to a greater or lesser extent cloud-based and more or less device agnostic.
Implementations such as Siri promise a tech future in which the machine will be smarter than the human. The cloud is critical to the future of the Internet. The device is less so.
What this means is that as competitors struggle to battle for the smartphone segment, tech industry leaders will already be looking for the next great prize.
- WSJ: Apple iPhone 5 production has begun, thinner than ever with in-cell display
- iPhone 5 may decide the Apple versus Samsung war
- Apple iPhone 5 will be the NFC 'iWallet' rumor claims
- Apple partner Foxconn says Fall iPhone 5 will be the 'Samsung-killer'
- WWDC 2012: Apple iPhone 5 details, Retina Display Macs
- iPhone 5 release: Apple's September launch, what to expect
Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you knowwhen these items are published here first on Computerworld.


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BONO and wife Ali Hewson wowed New York Fashion Week with their latest collection by their label Edun as the show remembered the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
Critics said the latest looks presented a mix of breezy, delicate florals and edgy laser-cut silks studded with rocker metal grommets.
Bright colour lit up the runway, including some hand dying in indigo using a technique from Mali on a jacket made of recycled hemp.
There were reds from a deep clay to a light salmon in African-inspired prints, tangerine in a parachute romper and solids in a range of whites, from silvery to bright.
A diamond print was featured on slouch trousers paired with a matching halter. The print was carried over to several other looks, including a silk scarfdress with matching jersey leggings.
The company, founded in 2005, produces some of its clothes in Africa. With the help of artisan nuns in Kenya known as the "crochet sisters," the line includes their black, hand-knotted skirt and fitted dress trimmed in leather.
Hewson said in an interview before the show that Edun's latest collection is "kind of innocent but tough" as she tries to bring an "ethical" and sustainable manufacturing industry to Africa.
The fashion world stood still when the World Trade Centre came down in the middle of New York Fashion Week a decade ago, but the shows went on yesterday with moments of reflection and remembrance from the tents at Lincoln Center.
"On a day like this, we're all American," U2's Bono said after the spring preview show.
In an intimate hall at the New York Public Library's flagship, guests at Victoria Beckham's show twice stopped in their tracks on the way to their seats for moments of silence -- one for each tower -- as scheduled by the designer.
All Fashion Week events are proceeding as planned until Thursday, in contrast to the jarring halt of the September previews after the terrorist attacks, said Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, the Lincoln Center's fashion director.
On the front row at Lela Rose, she described the conflicting mood on the tragedy's anniversary: "Today is a day that is very exciting, but there is also a certain calmness, you know? Everyone can sort of just look at each other today and know exactly what each other is thinking."
Linda Fargo, senior vice president of fashion at Bergdorf Goodman, wore a patriotic blue blouse and red trousers on the Beckham show.
"I didn't expect to be so emotional today, but I am," she explained.
Designer Tracy Reese had been scheduled for her first New York Fashion Week show on September 11, 2001, and is proud to mark the anniversary at the tents on the same date this year. "New York is unlike any other city in the world.
"Everyone worked together to pick ourselves back up," she said.
Several designers said they've made donations to various organisations in memory of the dead, including Derek Lam to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, and Donna Karan to Action America, an initiative to turn September 11 into a day of positive action and volunteering.
"We remember that day 10 years ago that changed our city forever," Karan said in her show notes.
"We remember the courage, the inspiration, the compassion. How we came together, reaffirming our strength to the world. There truly is no place anywhere like our beloved city, New York. Our inspiration."
After eight days of spring previews in New York, shows move to London, then Milan and Paris.


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The past month has seen Israeli start-ups active in the internet and security arenas post some very successful exits. TechCrunch has covered a number of these recent developments:
Perhaps the biggest news of the past month came from the security sector – when U.S. based Palo Alto Networks bought Israeli cyber security company Cyvera for $200M. A sales of $200M for a company which received only $13M in funding is a good investment indeed. As reported by TechCrunch, Cyvera has crafted a new approach to combat zero-day attacks, using the coding equivalent of military-style guerrilla obstructive defense techniques. Zero-day cyber attacks represent one of the major threats to enterprises, governments, and service provider organizations that rely on a variety systems, applications, and devices to run their businesses.
Another major acquisition came when Israeli Wix, fresh from its own IPO which put the company’s valuation at about $800M – the largest public offering for an Israeli company to date – acquired Israli startup Appixia A graduate of Microsoft Ventures’ accelerator program in Tel Aviv, Appixia’s platform aims to make it easy for small mom-and-pop to medium-sized retailers to quickly add a mobile storefront to their existing eCommerce marketplaces. According to the Times of Israel the price tag of the sale was around $10M.
This sale was followed up by the sale of KitLocate to Russia’s search giant Yandex, which is increasingly rolling into new areas as a way to continue expanding its business. KitLocate, a maker of low-power mobile geolocation technology, was reportedly sold for a few million Euros.
Lastly online travel company Priceline bought Israeli startup Qlika for an estimated $15-20, according to TechCrunch. Qlika launched out of UpWest Lab’s fourth batch of Israeli-American startups in March to tackle a big problem in online marketing: Localization. Having raised an estimated $1.7M since its founding only a year ago, the exit was impressive indeed.


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The Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3), a business-to-business collaborative that drives the commercial adoption of green chemistry, has issued a call for applications from startup companies to compete in the GC3 Startup Network’s 4th annual Technology Showcase. Startups will compete for the opportunity to pitch their chemicals, materials, products and manufacturing technologies to investors and large strategic companies scouting for green chemistry ingredients and solutions. The showcase is part of the GC3 Annual Innovators Roundtable hosted this year by GC3 member Procter & Gamble Fabric Care in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Sixteen major companies – including Apple, BASF, Best Buy Company, Inc., New Balance, Patagonia and Target – have contributed to a list of sustainable chemistry technology needs. These brands, retailers and manufacturers are seeking sustainable solutions in a range of categories that includes but is not limited to adhesives, coating technologies, fabric finishes and plasticizers. The list of sustainable chemistry technology needs also includes ingredients, such as surfactants and fragrance raw materials for formulated consumer products (including personal care and household products).
Up to 10 semifinalists will be selected to present their technologies to the participating major companies in the Technology Showcase on May 7, 2019. Three of the semifinalists will be chosen to pitch their solutions to a panel of investors and technology scouts on the main stage at the GC3 Innovators Roundtable on May 8. Scheduled panelists include Stephen Crawford, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Eastman Chemical Company, and Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Chemistry Center of Excellence – Global Sustainability, Nike, Inc. More than 200 individuals representing 125 GC3 member companies and other organizations will attend the roundtable.
Interested startups must apply online by Feb. 1, 2019. The competition will consider chemistry technologies that can improve human and ecological health impacts, enhance energy efficiency, reduce environmental emissions and reduce waste generation, even if the application is not on the list of sustainable chemistry technology needs.
Each semifinalist will receive one complimentary registration to both the GC3 Technology Showcase on May 7 and the Annual Innovators Roundtable on May 7-9, 2019. Semifinalists also will receive a one-year company membership in the GC3 Startup Network, which provides access to education, networking and mentoring to help build business relationships to bring their solutions to market.
For more information, visit www.greenchemistryandcommerce.org.


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CarMax Touts 24-Hour Test Drives with Dunkin’ Detour
Automotive - Beverages - Branding
CarMax partnered with coffee chain Dunkin' to promote a new service that gives customers 24 hours to test drive a car. As part of its "Doin' Donuts" campaign, the used-car dealer is offering $10 gift ...
April 13, 2021


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Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free continue to make huge waves in music and beyond via their creative services entity pgLang. Since its inception in 2020, the duo have collaborated with the likes of Converse and Calvin Klein while pushing the careers of Baby Keem and Tanna Leone.
On Monday (Oct. 30), pgLang teamed up with tech company Light to unveil the Light Phone II, which is described on the latter’s website as a “premium, minimal” device that “will never have social media, clickbait news, email, an internet browser, or any other anxiety-inducing infinite feed.” In addition to calling and texting functions, users can listen to music, access a calendar, and utilize a built-in hotspot. Retailing for $299, those interested will be able to purchase the phone this Thursday (Nov. 2).
Fans can also check out a short video promoting the Light Phone II, which shows a child playing with the gadget before holding it up to a man’s ear. “Just a phone,” the clip’s short description reads.
During its launch, pgLang — which Free later revealed stands for “program language” — shared a detailed mission statement that broke down its intent and plans for the future.
“pgLang is multilingual. Our community speaks music, film, television, art, books, and podcasts — because sometimes we have to use different languages to get the point of our stories across,” the message explained. “Stories that speak to many nations, many races, and many ages. That is why our writers, singers, directors, musicians, and producers break formats when we build ideas and make them real for the curious. Putting round pegs through square holes is not a process, but we embrace the idea of anarchy and challenges that make us stronger. pgLang is focused on using our experiences, and nurturing our many collaborators, to build stories that are equally accessible and engaging then fitting them within the best media.”
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Below, our gift guide highlights some of our favorite Walmart finds for anyone in need of a home refresh.
“REVOLT Black News” correspondent Kennedy Rue counts down the top five moments from the 2023 Billboard Music Awards, including surprising wins, historic firsts, and dope performances. Sponsored by Amazon.
On Oct. 10, Walmart unveiled a brand new, state of the art creative studio on the campus of Central State University.
The Walmart HBCU Black & Unlimited Tour made its final stop at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) and left a lasting impact on students and alumni alike.
After unveiling their state of the art creative studio on the campus of Central State University, Walmart brought the HBCU Black & Unlimited Tour to Virginia State University (VSU) on Oct. 13.
Walmart HBCU Black & Unlimited Tour brings attention and wisdom to North Carolina Central University
On Oct. 17, Walmart brought the third stop of the HBCU Black & Unlimited Tour to North Carolina Central University (NCCU).
In October, Walmart unveiled a brand new, state of the art creative studio on the campus of Central State University. The HBCU located in Wilberforce, OH was the first stop on Walmart’s Black and Unlimited HBCU Tour.
In this new episode of ‘Bet on Black,’ food and beverage take center stage as aspiring Black entrepreneurs from It’s Seasoned, Black Farmer Box, and Moors Brewing Co. present their business ideas to judges with mentorship from Melissa Butler. Watch here!
Groovey Lew on hip hop style, Johnell Young's industry secrets, BGS salon's wig mastery and more | 'Black Girl Stuff'
Fashion King Groovey Lew on masterminding hip-hop’s most iconic looks. Actor Johnell Young reveals the secret to breaking into the entertainment industry. Celebrity hairstylist Dontay Savoy and got2B ambassador Tokyo Stylez are in the BGS Salon with the perfect wig install. Plus, comedian Lauren Knight performs.
REVOLT is continuing its impactful partnership with Walmart by teaming up to showcase Black creatives at HBCUs all-across America. The panel consisted of three experienced, accomplished Black HBCU alumni: Actor and media personality Terrence J, entertainment attorney John T. Rose, and actress and “REVOLT Black News” correspondent Kennedy-Rue McCullough.
On this all-new episode of “On In 5,” multitalented Nigerian artist Pheelz opens up about waiting for his opportunity to fully express himself through music, his inspirations and emotions, and the musical icons he grew up admiring. Watch!
The health of a community can often be traced to the health of the environment that surrounds it. In Atlanta, a woman named Dr. Jaqueline Echols has dedicated her life to helping ensure that people in economically underserved communities have clean rivers – for better health and for the joy of outdoor recreational space.
Kareem Cook talks growing up in The Bronx, studying at Duke & networking | 'The Blackprint with Detavio Samuels'
On this all-new episode of “The Blackprint with Detavio Samuels,” the host and REVOLT CEO sits down with Kareem Cook. Throughout the introspective episode, Cook talks growing up in The Bronx, studying at Duke and being nervous to be in the South at the time, network vs. education, taking advantage of your opportunities, and connecting with Debbie Allen. Watch!
Tiffany Haddish on therapy, wild fan interactions & the upcoming 'Haunted Mansion' movie | 'The Jason Lee Show'
On this all-new episode of “The Jason Lee Show,” the one and only Tiffany Haddish sits for a must-watch conversation about wild interactions with fans, her new movie ‘Haunted Mansion,’ bringing her therapist on dates, and being present. Watch the hilarious interview here.
For this all-new episode of “On In 5,” singer-songwriter BNXN discusses his journey from IT to music, finding his voice and originality, linking up with Wizkid for their hits “Mood” and “Many Ways,” and what fans can expect from him this year — including a new album. Watch the full episode here!
In this exclusive interview, DDG opens up about his fashion inspiration, what drew him to girlfriend Halle Bailey, dealing with negative opinions about his relationship, and more. Read up!


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Two top shipping companies were presented with awards for their RSCM efforts during this year’s IMPA London.
The awards, for Outstanding Effort in the field of Responsible Supply Chain Management, were presented to Norden and J. Lauritzen by HRH Princess Anne on day one of the event’s purchasing and supply conference.
The awards were presented to Ole Lykke, Head of Strategic Purchasing at Norden and Manager of Corporate Communications & CSR at J. Lauritzen, Kathrine Geisler Madsen.
IMPA ACT is a responsible supply chain management and CSR programme that was developed in collaboration with Norden and J. Lauritzen.
The initiative also announced at the show that Incentra, a Norwegian shipping association made up of 40 members, was joining the sustainable shipping initiative.


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Moose Toys has entered into two new deals in the U.K. on behalf of its collectible toy line, Pikmi Pops.
Bulldog Licensing, Pikmi Pop’s representative, brokered the deal.
Spearmark is on board for a range of housewares and lighting, while Blueprint has signed for stationery and bags.
“Pikimi Pops is blowing away the competition in girls’ collectibles and it’s no surprise this success is translating into the licensing sector,” says Vicky Hill, director, Bulldog Licensing. “The program will continue to grow as there is plenty of scope for expansion across any number of categories.”


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I H R S A U P DAT E
Industry body IHRSA has released it’s latest report looking at pay and employment in the US fitness instructor market. Kristen Walsh reports
n February, IHRSA released the US Fitness Professional Outlook, a report that analyses trends in the fitness instructor market. Employment growth for fitness professionals since 2003 was examined, along with compensation trends, certification requirements, and key drivers for continued progress. “By all accounts, the prospects for fitness professionals are positive,” said Jay Ablondi, IHRSA’s executive VP of global products. “IHRSA estimates there are 409,000 fitness professionals in the US, and anticipate the number will continue to grow as consumers seek expert guidance with health, wellness and sports goals.” Multiple sources forecast growth in the number of fitness professionals. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the number of recreation and fitness workers will grow by 10 per cent between now and 2026, while IBISWorld, an independent research firm,
healthclubmanagement.co.uk May 2018 ©Cybertrek 2018
estimates growth in the number of fitness professionals, particularly those specialising in yoga and Pilates. The increase in demand for fitness professionals runs parallel with the growth of the health club industry, with membership increasing significantly, from 33.7 million in 2001 to 57.3 million in 2016.
DRIVERS FOR GROWTH
“Fitness professionals play a critical role in club growth and profitability,” says Melissa Rodriguez, IHRSA’s senior research manager. “Personal training, small group training and group exercise instruction increase non-membership revenues and enhance the member experience. For members, one-on-one interactions with trainers and instructors contribute to retention.” Although health club employment and career opportunities have been expanding, there are many


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China Stocks Rally to 3-Week High, Though Euphoria May Be Brief
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese stocks surged to the highest since Dec. 19, lifted by signals Beijing plans to stimulate consumption and on hopes a trade deal will be reached with the U.S. But investors need more than a couple of decent days for encouragement after last year’s battering.
Car companies and home appliance makers led the charge, with Great Wall Motor Co. top of the pile on the CSI 300 Index as it surged by the 10 percent daily trading limit. Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. was the best performer on Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, climbing as much as 11 percent, its biggest jump in two months. Qingdao Haier Co. and Midea Group Co. both advanced more than 5.5 percent in Shanghai and Shenzhen.
The rally came after Ning Jizhe, vice chairman of China’s state planner, told television channel CCTV that the government will help boost buying of cars and household appliances. The push to lift consumption is set against the backdrop of a slowing Chinese economy and a trade dispute with the U.S.
“Today’s rally is a little bit overdone,” said Steven Leung, executive director at Uob Kay Hian (Hong Kong) Ltd. “The government has only made some guideline comments on support for auto and home appliance industries, and it remains uncertain what and when they would announce concrete measures. If there is no concrete policy, the rally we’ve seen won’t last long.”
With three days of talks between Chinese and American officials drawing to a close, there’s some optimism that Washington and Beijing can come to an agreement on trade. Donald Trump is said to be increasingly eager to strike a deal in the hope it will give sagging financial markets a boost. The spat was a big drag on Chinese assets last year, with $2.4 trillion wiped from the country’s stock market.
China Aims to Stimulate Car Sales to Reverse Historic Slump
“The trade concern is easing, but high-level agreement hasn’t been reached,” Leung said, adding that it would be best to wait until the end of this month or early February for a clearer picture. “China’s economy is still slowing and the stimulus measures are uncertain, so I think the market will keep range-bound.”
The CSI 300 Index, which slumped 25 percent in 2018, ended Wednesday up 1 percent, taking its advance this year to 2.3 percent. The ChiNext gauge of small companies and tech stocks erased an earlier gain to close down 0.1 percent. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index powered 2.3 percent higher, extending a rebound from its worst first trading day of a year since 1995.
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


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Previewing designers’ collections before fashion week events is becoming an established trend for Bollywood celebrities and fashion stylists. To give some examples, by the end of Manish Malhotra's show at the recent Lakme Fashion Week, showstopper Jacqueline Fernandez had already decided four garments that she had liked to wear. A few days before designer Aartivijay Gupta showcased her new collection at the fashion week, one of the pieces was picked up by a stylist for Priyanka Chopra to wear while promoting her brand new international album. Stylists come and pick interesting pieces in advance for their clients.
As Aartivijay Gupta confirmed, "It's happening quite frequently now. Right after my show, Shibani Kashyap picked a few outfits for a concert. It works both ways - for the celebrity and us. They get to wear unseen, unpublished clothes, while we get noticed thanks to them”.


text: Well, well, well… what’s this we have here? Just as we were discussing the HP PalmPad yesterday and talking about the potential demise of the HP Slate, with the large possibility that the PalmPad was going to take its place as competitor to Apple’s iPad. Apparently HP wants to compete on both operating system fronts when it comes to offering iPad equivalent alternatives; with a mobile, more content-consumption friendly Web OS for the PalmPad as well as full-fledged (but touch optimized) Windows 7 OS on their not-so-dead-anymore Slate. The HP Slate has appeared on HP’s official website, now officially known as the HP Slate 500 (so there’s room for both higher end and more basic ‘budget’ tablets…), which you can check out right here and here. So far, specifications haven’t changed from HP’s initial announcement of the Slate with Microsoft earlier this year, as the Slate 500 maintains the use of a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, Windows 7 OS and 8.9 inch touchscreen. Pricing remains a mystery though, as well as other specifications and a release date, but we’ll let you know whenever the news breaks. Those hoping for a Windows 7 running tablet, I can see all of you heaving a big sigh of relief….


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Technology shapes nearly all facets of our lives and now it could shape financial inclusion globally.View more
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City real estate agents are driving a campaign to inject urgently needed dollars into the coffers of drought-stricken communities in regional New South Wales.
A convoy of supporters will get behind their wheels in December for a three-day tour of 14 regional towns devastated by the worse drought conditions since 1903.
Local agricultural operations and, as a result, townships have been crippled by the lack of rain, which is forcing many local families to leave their hometowns.
Di Jones chief executive Rob Ward told Domain, the Drought Drive was his company’s response to hearing stories about NSW farmers battling a record-breaking drought and the suffering of small businesses that service these regions and wanting to help by “spending up big” in locally run businesses ahead of Christmas Day.
So far, 30 cars have registered to join the convoy and, pending final numbers, two routes are planned.
All registered Di Jones ‘drivers’ will stay overnight in Dubbo on Sunday, December 8, before heading to Walgett or Nyngan on Monday, December 9, before returning home late Tuesday, December 10.
Depending on their tour route, participants will visit townships including Millthorpe, Blayney, Wellington, Coonamble, Narromine, Trangie, Gilgandra, Mudgee, Molong, Gulargambone and Lithgow.
City visitors are encouraged to eat at local businesses, stay at family-owned motels, and do some retail shopping while in town.
And further good news is that, those unable to join the drive can still support the campaign by buying some stocking fillers via the Drought Drive e-catalogue.
More than 100 businesses trading in drought-affected areas have already submitted details of their wares and services to the publicly available regional business publication.
Everything from hair salon treatments, to petrol station products, to homestay accommodation products are welcome.
The e-catalogue will be published in late November on the Di Jones web site and also distributed to anyone going on the Drought Drive.
Mr Ward credited company partners Donovan Murphy and Nigel Mukhi, and general manager Kylie Walsh for coming up with the idea.
Based on initial feedback, he anticipates about a third of his team will join the “road trip with a heart” next month.
Mr Ward would like to see the Drought Drive become a regular fixture of the Di Jones – and wider community – calendar.
“We encourage our staff to not take things for granted, to develop a deep appreciation for the fact others are doing it tough, and to give something back if they can,” Mr Ward said.
“We just felt in this company it was time to get proactive on this issue, to do something that generates business in these towns and in these families because, unless directly impacted, people do not realise the gravity of the situation – how hard it is for families, how much they are suffering. There are children out there who have never seen the rain.
“It has been said ‘Australia rode on the sheep’s back’ last century. We think it is time to pay that back.”


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Apple’s trademark is the intuitive elegance of its designs. Yet when it comes corporate and labor practices, Apple’s track record looks like a morass of obfuscation and murky public-relations smokscreens. So activists seeking a more user-friendly Apple on the human rights front should welcome the company’s new “Supplier Responsibility” report.
But the results of 229 documented audits display the troubling gap between its slick modern ethos and grim working conditions in its supply chain. Reuters reports:
The audit found a number of violations, among them breaches in pay, benefits and environmental practices in plants in China, which figured prominently throughout the 500-page report Apple issued. Other violations found in the audit included dumping wastewater onto a neighboring farm, using machines without safeguards, testing workers for pregnancy and falsifying pay records.
The “Supplier responsibility progress report” also found that “67 facilities had docked worker pay as a disciplinary measure.” The company states it is continually working to deal with violations of overtime and child labor.
The report’s admission of several cases of underage workers at some component suppliers bolsters the anecdotal evidence presented dramatically in “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs.” in which performer Mike Daisey recalls encountering underage workers at an Apple supplier facility in Shenzhen. [Editor’s note: This American Life retracted Mike Daisey’s report on March 16. Read Michelle Chen’s article on the retraction and its possible consequences for Foxconn workers’ struggles here.]
Apple has come under fire over its connection to Foxconn, a Taiwan-based manufacturer that employs tens of thousands in fortress-like facilities – a crucial part of the supply chain for iPhones and other high-profile products. These workers are typically young migrants from more rural areas, who are willing to brave long hours and paltry wages in mechanical, hyper-efficient assembly lines.
But something cracked in 2010, and a series of harrowing suicides – workers flinging themselves from buildings – got consumers around the world talking about whether their gadget obsession was complicit in pushing workers to the brink.
In a report last year, Apple claimed it was working in close partnership with Foxconn officials to prevent further tragedies. After Foxconn instituted some safeguards, such as mental health counseling programs, Apple stated, “Foxconn’s response had definitely saved lives.”
But if Foxconn and Apple have prevented some deaths, the lives of Chinese workers are in many cases still plagued by crippling hardship and frustration.
Two events show that the broader socioeconomic trends Apple has set in motion still roil throughout China and the global marketplace. Earlier this month at a central Beijing store, customers were told that the new iPhone 4S had sold out. Soon a crowd of anxious, angry customers reacted by lobbing eggs at the storefront. The scene revealed that China too is becoming a consumerist society, racing to follow the model of Western capitalism. And yet this rising culture of consumption only deepens the irony of poorer Chinese workers getting chained to the underbelly of that system.
Just recently, Foxconn was forced to negotiate with employees when many workers went on strike and some even “climbed to the top of the six-story dormitory on 3 January and threatened to jump before Wuhan city officials persuaded them to desist and return to work,” reported the Guardian.
It seems that these workers, whose lives revolve around the Xbox, feel the only viable collective bargaining process open to them is threatening mass suicide. The workers climbed down this time, but the incident underscores how global consumerism perverts the balance between labor rights and profit-making.
The day-to-day lives of these Foxconn workers are fraught with endless working hours, surveillance and enforced silence – all in the name of ensuring “quality.” One Foxconn worker at Chengdu plant remarked to Der Spiegel last year, “Order and obedience rule here.” The oppressiveness of the workplace may feed into the overarching regime of censorship and control, which ensures that political activism is consistently stifled by authorities.
Apple – an emblem of iconoclasm, individual freedom, and youth – surely doesn’t want its crisp image blemished by such sterile brutality. So under the leadership of new executive Tim Cook, the company just announced a partnership with the Fair Labor Association, which plans to carefully monitor working conditions and ensure Apple complies with the FLA Code of Conduct. That includes provisions for freedom of association, workplace health and safety, and regulated working hours.
Advocates who have long been in the trenches with Chinese workers, fostering emerging grassroots movements, are hopeful but wary of Apple’s latest promises.
Pauline Overeem of the watchdog group Good Electronics told In These Times that the Apple-FLA agreement shows that public scrutiny and consumer-driven activist campaigns have had an impact. But she said, “the race has not yet been run, there are major challenges ahead. We are calling upon FLA to use our network, local contacts and expertise etc to work effectively towards improvements.”
Li Qiang of China Labor Watch told In These Times that when corporations ostensibly cooperate with outside monitoring groups as “partners,” it’s still “difficult for the reports to be completely independent and absolutely objective. So some problems may still remain hidden even after signing up to the monitoring system.” Qiang added that while these measures were a good step:
whether this is a turning point for Apple is still open to doubt. As we all know, Apple is one of the biggest in the industry and it has the most profits. That’s why Apple should take more responsibility and take the lead to make some changes. If Apple does not, no one in the industry will.
With relentless efficiency, Apple’s brand has broadened the horizons of the digital world. But now it has to confront the injustices lurking in the shadows of its corporate dominion.
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Michelle Chen is a contributing writer at In These Times and The Nation, a contributing editor at Dissent and a co-producer of the “Belabored” podcast. She studies history at the CUNY Graduate Center. She tweets at @meeshellchen.