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DESPITE RESTRICTIONS TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES LEADING GLOBAL RECOVERY

Travel Tech

The US Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech), the voice of the travel technology industry, and eu travel tech today released comprehensive research reports from Phocuswright, the world’s leading travel industry research authority. The research shows travel industry innovators, including global distribution systems (GDS), online travel agencies (OTA) and metasearch companies, travel management companies (TMC), and short-term rental (STR) platforms (in the United States and Europe) bring competition and consumer choice to the marketplace and are leading the COVID-19 economic recovery. According to the Phocuswright research, independent travel intermediaries have a key role in the travel sector rebound. Despite a 61% gross travel revenue drop in 2020 attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are much more likely to return to trusted platforms to assist with travel planning and shopping. “Independent distribution facilitated by GDSs, OTAs, Metasearch and TMCs, is paramount to supporting and growing a travel economy that is affordable and accessible to travelers worldwide”, explains Steve Shur, President of US Travel Tech. “This important analysis highlights the value of the travel marketplace for consumers and suppliers. Today’s travel and tourism economy relies on the access, competitive environment and reach facilitated by independent distributors. Their technology, innovations, and marketing expertise foster economic growth for travel and tourism providing consumers with competitive shopping experiences.” “Transparency is critical to making informed booking decisions”, stated Emmanuel Mounier, Secretary General of eu travel tech. “From effective comparison shopping to finding the right accommodation for an itinerary, independent distributors are key contributors to building consumer confidence and reigniting the global travel economy. These entities are particularly important during the inspiration and shopping stages. By creating an environment where travelers can easily compare product features, obtain relevant information about safety and regulations for travel and shop prices, they foster a competitive landscape where suppliers must compete for consumers, based on price, services, amenities and offerings.” The research shows a global consensus that the most successful travel suppliers in the COVID-19 recovery era will be those who best partner with travel intermediaries. In addition to gaining broader distribution, it will mean more options, competitive prices, and better service to travelers. Travel suppliers increasingly value the continuing role of independent travel intermediaries in supplementing distribution efforts in a cost-effective manner. Smaller suppliers value the reach, visibility, and additional bookings they can gain from working with the right travel intermediaries. All recognize the significant benefits of travel intermediaries’ pay-per-performance business model for driving supplemental revenue. Some other findings from the research include: Travelers value travel intermediaries for reducing friction by facilitating the easy comparison and booking of multiple, multi-brand options in a single location. In turn, travel intermediaries feature prominently in both the inspiration and shopping stages for travelers, with 39%, 45% and 44% of US consumers using indirect channels to make their latest leisure air, hotel and car rental bookings respectively. Vacation rentals have experienced a strong resurgence, with city dwellers, no longer tied to the office, seeking getaway alternatives – whether in the mountains, beach, suburbs, or countryside. Short-term vacation rental companies are benefiting from this trend. In Europe, in 2020 the hotel sector took leadership positions in terms of market share, representing 41% of gross revenue. The European hotel sector is primarily made up of smaller, independently owned and operated properties (38% of rooms in 2018). Such properties often struggle to gain adequate visibility in front of potential customers, and travel intermediaries, especially OTAs, help bridge the gap between smaller hotels and consumers. This drives the independent hotels revenue and helps them compete better against their branded peers. OTA gross revenue in the US grew from less than $36 billion in 2009 to more than $79 billion in 2019, falling back to $32 billion in 2020. Despite this steep drop, OTAs accounted for 21% of total travel revenue in the U.S. during the 2020 crisis. Phocuswright’s U.S. Corporate Travel Report 2020-2024 estimates that corporate travel revenue fell 71% to $39 billion in 2020 compared to the previous year. The meetings and events spaces were hit harder, with more than 95% of events canceled or postponed. However, a rapid recovery is underway, and gross revenue is expected to grow in the US to $289 billion in 2022 with full recovery expected by 2025. Suppliers in Europe and the US are concerned with the potential entry of big tech into the travel distribution space. Most feel that these companies would quickly evolve into powerful, and perhaps even dominant players, and some fear Google would potentially evolve into the super app of travel. As several of the large tech platforms are increasingly leveraging their scale, deep pockets, and in-depth customer knowledge to enter the travel space and rapidly grab significant market share, they are forcing suppliers and intermediaries alike to spend ever-increasing amounts on pay-per-click advertising to maintain visibility. ### About US Travel Tech The Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) is the voice of the travel technology industry, advocating for public policy that promotes transparency and competition in the marketplace to encourage innovation and preserve consumer choice. Travel Tech represents the leading innovators in travel technology, including global distribution systems, online travel agencies and metasearch companies, travel management companies, and short-term rental platforms. About eu travel tech eu travel tech represents the interests of travel technology companies. eu travel tech uses its position at the centre of the travel and tourism sector to promote a consumer-driven, innovative and competitive industry that is transparent and sustainable. Our membership spans Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), Online Travel Agencies (OTA), Travel Management Companies in business travel (TMCs) and metasearch sites. For a copy of the research reports, or to schedule an interview with a US or EU Travel Tech spokesperson, contact Jackie Hampton of kglobal. Contact Details Jackie Hampton +1 443-814-0693 jacqueline.hampton@kglboal.com Company Website https://www.traveltech.org

April 06, 2022 08:45 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Our Culture of Silence is Hurting Our Kids: How to use everyday moments to talk to kids about safety and sexual abuse

YourUpdateTV

Many parents know it’s important to talk with their children about sexual abuse but aren’t sure what to say. How do you find the right words and moments to talk with kids about their safety? One organization has developed an easy way for parents to talk to their children about in-person and online safety. Recently, VP of Education, Research, and Impact at Committee for Children & Mom of 2, Dr. Tia Kim, participated in a satellite media tour campaign to talk about how and when parents can start having these critical safety conversations. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/LVgUtn9B1uU The Journal of Adolescent Health reports that 1 in 4 girls, and 1 in 20 boys report experiencing sexual abuse before the age of 18. And, according to The Department of Health & Human Services, children under the age of 9 are most likely to be abused. Experts agree, informed children are less likely to be abused, and those who feel comfortable talking openly with a caring adult are more likely to disclose abuse if it happens. In support of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Committee for Children is launching its fifth annual Hot Chocolate Talk campaign to help families start conversations with their children about personal and digital safety. “When parents communicate safety rules with children early and often, they create environments where kids feel comfortable asking questions and having difficult conversations, such as disclosing abuse,” says Dr. Kim. The “ Hot Chocolate Talk” how-to guides are designed to help make an admittedly awkward conversation feel as warm and comfortable as a mug of hot chocolate, showing parents and caregivers how to use everyday moments as touchpoints for these important safety talks. “We know child sexual abuse can be a challenging subject to navigate. The Hot Chocolate Talk How-to Guides help parents and caregivers take the guesswork out of knowing what to say and when to say it,” says Dr. Kim. “A shared treat can help create a more comfortable atmosphere. We encourage families to sit down over a cup of hot chocolate and start the conversation today.” Families can download the free How-to Guide at HotChocolateTalk.org, along with a variety of approachable, research-based resources that include guidance on how to respond to disclosure and how to identify signs of abuse. Tia Kim, PhD Bio: Vice President of Education, Research, and Impact. Dr. Tia Kim is a developmental psychologist, a parent-child relationship expert, and a mom of two. She believes in a strong family foundation, open lines of communication, and the critical role that parent-child relationships play in children’s safety and well-being. With her experience as a parent, education research scientist, and psychologist, Dr. Kim aims to provide families with simple, research-based tips and insights to help them start conversations about child safety. Dr. Kim began her career in academia but later decided she wanted to see her research in action helping children and youth. Today, she leads Committee for Children’s team of research scientists to develop and evaluate the quality, effectiveness, and impact of the organization’s social-emotional learning programs and family engagement work, including this year’s child sexual abuse prevention campaign, Hot Chocolate Talk. Dr. Kim received her doctorate in developmental psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and completed three years of post-doctoral training at the National Academic Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention. Before joining Committee for Children, she served as an assistant professor in human development and family studies at Penn State Brandywine. About Committee for Children: Committee for Children is a global nonprofit on a mission to ensure children everywhere can thrive emotionally, socially, and academically. Our founders designed our first program, Talking About Touching, to empower children to recognize, refuse, and report sexual victimization. We’ve broadened our scope throughout the past four decades to include bullying prevention programs, and today we’re best known for our innovative Second Step® social-emotional learning programs. Second Step programs blend research and rigor with intuitive design and reach more than 16.5 million children worldwide. Learn more about the work we do at cfchildren.org. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 05, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Telos Hires World’s First NFT Curator In Crypto

Telos Foundation

To further the ambitions of growing Telos into the go to Layer 1 for NFT’s, Telos has hired the world’s first NFT curator in crypto, The Big Gooey (or TBG). TBG will lead efforts by supporting the art world and building a truly vibrant Telosian Collection on an NFT ecosystem that is powered by Byt and the tEVM. This next level NFT ecosystem is going to enhance the end user experience with ludicrous speeds, inexpensive fixed gas fees, zero congestion and absolutely no front running. NFT enthusiasts are destined to appreciate the enhanced user experience that is being powered by the world's fastest EVM (tEVM). NFT Ecosystem Synergy TBG - World’s first NFT curator Byt - World’s most successful NFT dApp tEVM - World's fastest (instant transactions), most inexpensive (fixed nano sized gas fees), congestion-less, truly decentralized, no front running, and most energy efficient EVM The Big Gooey hails from the rain-soaked West Coast of Canada. Gooey has been working as a full-time artist in the crypto space. His art has appeared on multiple blockchains from Fast Food Frens (ETH) to Zillaz (SOL). His pixel art style is inspired by the super Nintendo golden era of games and early arcade classics. TBG was one of the artists who brought NFTs to Telos, he’s woven himself into the fabric of the Telos ecosystem, and he builds a community wherever he goes. TBG won an adoring audience with Doug’s Donuts, and the upcoming TelosPunks is set to change the rules of what an NFT can be. “I personally believe that nothing monumental can ever take shape without passion for the subject. In this case that subject is an NFT ecosystem and the passion for this subject is not only prevalent with TBG, but also absolutely contagious.” Justin Giudici, Acting CEO at Telos Foundation Telos is making a strategic push into the booming NFT market. TBG will help lead the community end of the new Telos and Byt partnership. The partnership is also planning a major competition to bring NFT creation to the masses. Telos plans on integrating NFTs as an integral component of the developer and application community. TBG will work with artists and creators to make Telos NFTs their first-choice media. “There are bright things ahead,” said TBG, “I’m several collections this year. I’m committed to the idea that Telos' ethos of equal and fair access to finance is the future of how working-class people can better generate wealth.” The Big Gooey, NFT Curator About Telos Telos Blockchain (ticker: Tlos) is a third-generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper and Native C++ smart contracts. Telos provides full EVM/Solidity support with fixed low-cost gas fees and no front running. Uniquely, Telos also offers a path to fee-less transactions via its robust native C++ smart contract support (also w/ no front running). The chain can sustainably support hundreds of millions of transactions per day, it produces blocks in 0.5 second intervals on a first-in-first-out basis (eliminating front running on the network) and the network is securely validated by an equitably sized and globally decentralized block producer network. The Telos Blockchain has the throughput needed to facilitate and scale the thriving Metaverse / Web 3.0 better than any other blockchain. Its performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, true decentralization, and end-user fairness. Harnessing its power from utilizing tight C++ on the frontend and a custom WASM runtime environment on the backend, Telos, is exactly what Elon Musk recently described to be the best: Read Tweet Here About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

April 05, 2022 10:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Neighborhood Sun Launches Campaign to Increase Access to Community Solar and Cost Savings for Columbia County Residents

Neighborhood Sun

Neighborhood Sun, a community solar company making affordable solar accessible to all through its advanced community solar software platform, Sun Engine (™), is launching a county-wide community solar campaign to spread awareness and promote equitable access to clean energy across Columbia County, New York. Starting this week, Neighborhood Sun, which recently merged with NY-based Astral Power, is partnering with OYA Solar, a leading solar developer and independent power producer, and the Columbia County Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Task Force to educate residents and businesses about the many benefits of community solar. To celebrate the campaign, Neighborhood Sun is offering each new subscriber a $100 sign-on bonus as well as a $100 donation to the county’s sustainability fund in their name. Neighborhood Sun and OYA Solar are supporting the CSC ’s mandate and the State’s net-zero targets by developing, constructing and operating community solar projects across New York. CSC is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. " We need community solar because only about 30 percent of people can have their own panels," said Angus Eaton, Chair of the Town of Chatham CSC. Unlike with rooftop solar, anyone can participate in community solar because it doesn’t involve any installations, costs, or fees for subscribers – just savings and local clean energy. Additionally, consolidated billing allows subscribers to receive only one monthly electric bill, making billing more convenient and increasing equitable access for Low- and Moderate-Income residents. Annual electricity costs can be reduced by up to 10% with the clean energy credits from community solar. Columbia County residents, businesses, and organizations can now sign up for community solar through Neighborhood Sun’s SunEngine ™ advanced software platform, which offers flexibility, security, and transparency to customers using a simplified enrollment process. Community Solar is a statewide program that incentivizes people with reduced electricity bills for participating in their community’s transition to clean energy. All public utility ratepayers in N.Y. already pay a System Benefit Charge (SBC) on their utility bill to support the Clean Energy Fund. “The CSC Task Force has taken the guesswork out of community solar for its citizens by making it a wasted opportunity for residents and businesses who don't subscribe,” said Cara Humphrey, VP Strategic Sales, Neighborhood Sun. About Neighborhood Sun Neighborhood Sun is committed to bringing the promise of solar to all – not just the select few. The Certified B Corporation is a national leader in expanding solar access to underserved communities to address energy equity. Through its SunEngine™ advanced software platform, it offers a flexible, secure and fully transparent platform for solar developers or asset owners, plus a simplified enrollment experience for customers. For more information, go to www.neighborhoodsun.solar For more information about this program, contact Cara Humphrey at (914) 475-1395 or cara.humphrey@neighborhoodsun.solar About OYA Solar OYA Solar is a North American full-service solar developer and independent power producer. Its projects provide clean energy and widespread economic and environmental benefits for landowners, communities, and energy customers. It is committed to developing and operating solar projects, with a particular focus on community solar, that incentivize the participation of low-to-moderate income households. Founded in 2009, OYA is the first North American solar platform to have been certified as a diverse supplier and minority business enterprise. We have successfully monetized in excess of 1,400 MW DC of distributed and utility-scale solar projects across North America and our current development pipeline exceeds 3 GW DC. For more information, please visit www.oyasolar.com. Contact Details Wilkinson + Associates for Neighborhood Sun Mrs Leah F Wilkinson +1 703-907-0010 leah@wilkinson.associates Company Website https://neighborhoodsun.solar

April 04, 2022 11:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The Smiley Company Illuminates Cities for International Day of Happiness

YourUpdateTV

Timed to International Day of Happiness, The Smiley Company unveiled large-scale projections around the world featuring the iconic smiley logo in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The projections are in support of the United Nations International Day of Happiness “2022 Happiness for All, Ukraine”* initiative and serve to call attention to and honor the bravery and resilience of the people of Ukraine. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/AyFO6v2Ihbg The Smiley projections appeared on the streets of major cities around the world including London, Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney. As part of this announcement, Smiley also donated to various humanitarian organizations supporting Ukraine and has been using its platform, The Smiley Movement, to further raise awareness and share resources for ways to donate to the Ukraine effort. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, International Day of Happiness aims to remind people around the world that actions matter and each person can help build a more compassionate world, wherever they are. Since its inception 50 years ago, Smiley’s mission is to spread good news to demonstrate the immense power in a smile through the spread of positivity, good news and optimism around the world. For more information on how to support Ukraine, visit https://smileymovement.org/ for a list of charities, ways to donate and resources taking positive action. * This initiative is in support of the United Nations official International Day of Happiness campaign and The Smiley Company is not officially affiliated with the UN or their initiatives surrounding International Day of Happiness. About The Smiley Company: For the past 50 years, Smiley has embraced positivity, creativity, and collaboration, inspiring forward-facing optimism around the world. Born as a symbol for good news in the newspaper France Soir in 1972, Smiley is now a universally recognised TOP 100 global licensing company registered in over 100 countries. Working with brand partners and leading retailers, Smiley spreads positivity through fashion, accessories, beauty, homewares, food packaging, stationery, and entertainment products. A lifestyle brand that encourages everyone to express more empathy, compassion, and gratitude, Smiley is determined to build a better future. About The Smiley Movement: Smiley Movement is a nonprofit community interest company sponsored by the original SmileyⓇ brand. Our vision is to inspire positive change in society by creating a happier, more equal and sustainable world, where everyone works hand-in-hand to address urgent societal and environmental problems. In 2017, philanthropist and social entrepreneur Nicolas Loufrani – Smiley’s CEO – identified a gap in the market between the people looking for opportunities to give back and the millions of charitable causes in need of support. Market research at the time showed ‘92% of the UK public want to do good in the world but are unsure how to’ and ‘82% would volunteer more if they were better informed about the charity sector’. Smiley Movement was born in 2018 to address this need by providing the technology and ecosystems that empower communities around the world to act on issues important to them. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 31, 2022 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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LashLuxury is Introducing the First Ever "Clean Beauty" Eyelash Serum to the North American Cosmetics Market

LashLuxury

LashLuxury, a Canadian cosmetic start-up based in Toronto, is bringing their “clean beauty” eyelash serum to the rescue of your eyelashes. LashLuxury was created to help women combat thinning and sparse eyelashes which can be caused by a number of different issues. After extensive research the founders realized that most of the existing lash serums on the market used relatively harsh ingredients with many reported side effects. This led to the development and launch of the LashLuxury Daily Eyelash Serum which uses only “clean beauty” approved ingredients. “We wanted to create the first eyelash serum that not only enhances and supports the eyelash growth cycle but is also non-irritating and avoids all known harmful ingredients,” said Adam Burns, LashLuxury co-founder. “Canada has comprehensive cosmetic rules which prevent the use of prostaglandin analogs, often found in other eyelash serum products, so we needed to find an alternative ingredient. After a ton of research, we discovered that certain peptides are extremely effective at supporting collagen and keratin production which aides in hair and lash strength,” added Burns. In addition to their e-commerce store, LashLuxury publishes helpful articles such as “ The Best Eyelash Growth Products ” and “ Oils For Eyelash Growth ” to help educate consumers on what types of products will work best for their unique situation. About LashLuxury Founded in Toronto, Canada, LashLuxury is a clean beauty cosmetic start-up devoted to helping women combat thin and sparse eyelashes. Their flagship product, the Daily Eyelash Serum, is formulated with gentle yet powerful ingredients that help boost your eyelash growth cycle. You can find all of their products at www.lashluxury.ca and the company ships orders to customers in Canada, USA and UK free of charge. Contact Details LashLuxury Adam Burns +1 647-295-8939 partnerships@lashluxury.ca

March 30, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Akeneo Honors PXM Champions at Unlock 2022

Akeneo

Akeneo, the global leader in Product Experience Management (PXM) solutions, announced today the winners of the Akeneo Unlock 2022 PXM Champions Awards. Hailed as one of the industry’s greatest recognitions, the awards honor brands that excel in using PXM best practices to drive accelerated growth, deliver outstanding product experiences, and turn challenges into opportunities as they adapt to the evolving omnichannel environment. The winners were honored at Unlock 2022, Akeneo’s flagship global summit for the Product Information Management (PIM) and PXM community, which was held on March 15th-16th in Paris. Each recipient has demonstrated extraordinary creativity, outstanding skills, and unparalleled commerce expertise in utilizing one or more of Akeneo’s PXM Studio solutions. “Consumers and business buyers demand more from brands and retailers. The new baseline is a consistent product experience across all touchpoints, which is hard enough. The differentiator is showcasing brand values, integrating environmental impact information, or highlighting second-hand collections,” says Kristin Naragon, Akeneo’s VP of Global Marketing and Strategy. “That’s why we’re so thrilled to celebrate this year’s PXM Champions. During a transformative moment for our industry, these brands have stepped up and used product experiences to take their businesses to the next level, while continuing to drive value for their customers.” The five award winners for this year are: Accelerator Award Butlers GmbH & Co.KG, the leading European retailer for home and living products, received the Accelerator Award in recognition of a successful transition from its homegrown legacy PIM solution Akeneo PIM in just six weeks, encompassing four countries, five sales channels, 15,079 products, 351 unique attributes, and just under one million data points. Working in partnership with Brandung, Butlers was able to relaunch a more powerful version of its eCommerce system in just eight weeks after implementing Akeneo PIM. With its new PIM, Butlers is able to maintain three times more data using the same amount of resources, allowing teams to double online conversion rates while reducing duplicate data maintenance and error rates companywide. Expansion Award Babolat, the world’s oldest racquet sports company, received the Expansion Award for its ambitious rollout of a D2C growth strategy after over a century of selling tennis racquets and equipment through a B2B model. Through Akeneo’s centralized product information management platform, Babolat was able to decrease time to market for new products, enabling the company to offer reliable, high-quality product information translated into eight languages from the launch of its showcase site in Europe and Japan. At the same time, the centralized product information allowed teams to streamline product data enrichment to satisfy both a B2B audience of distributors, retailers, coaches, and clubs as well as their new direct-to-customer audience of tennis players. Global Award Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the automotive manufacturer redefining the future of modern luxury vehicles, won the Global Award after a successful migration of more than one million SKUs into Akeneo’s centralized PIM platform allowed JLR teams worldwide to more effectively sell to a global audience. Led by iWin solutions architect Heddwyn Coombs, JLR leveraged Akeneo to increase speed to market for new products and collections across new territories, supporting a worldwide footprint of 39,000 employees across 195 countries, 28 languages, and 32 international websites. The speed and flexibility of Akeneo’s PIM empowered local teams to drive massive growth in 2021, increasing holiday sales for Jaguar by 174% and Land Rover by 218%. Leadership Award Azelis, the leading innovation service provider in the specialty chemicals and food ingredients industry, took home the Leadership Award for its efforts in driving an industry-leading digital transformation from traditional sales channels to online product experiences. Working closely with Smile, Azelis was able to leverage Akeneo PIM to centralize a product catalog of more than 100,000 base products with unique marketing, regulatory, and operational requirements needed to serve 58 countries while still providing unique product enrichment on a local level. In just three months since implementing Akeneo PIM, Azelis experienced a 50% efficiency gain in processing product creation while simultaneously reducing errors by 50% thanks to Akeneo’s automation, validation rules, and workflows. Experience Award JPW Industries, the leading designer, manufacturer, and value-added distributor of machinery, specialty shop tools, and equipment for rugged applications, took home the Experience Award for facing an extremely diversified group of customers, selling to industrial, consumer, and construction markets across distributor, eCommerce, and field channels. With six unique brands under its umbrella, JPW worked closely with Bounteous to utilize Akeneo’s PIM, helping improve targeted brand experiences across all channels. Through Akeneo’s governance capabilities, JPW has been able to onboard more brands into the organization than expected, helping multiply and accelerate their growth curve and setting the company up for long-term, sustainable growth. Revalize, a worldwide leader in sector-specific revenue operations software for manufacturers, distributors, and specifiers, was awarded the Experience Award for its unique use of Akeneo PIM to reflect the companies’ respective brand values across multiple geographies. Revalize, being in the unique position of being a company that deals in data instead of physical products, sought a solution as flexible as its homegrown system without the need to leverage its in-house engineering team to create and maintain it. Working in tandem with its partners at Sitation, the company saw an immediate increase in Productivity Efficiency Quality (PEQ) after implementation, and the number of product updates the team can complete in a given time frame has remained well above previous levels since, while cost per SKU has gone down significantly across products. To learn more about Akeneo and for more information on the company’s next summit taking place in Fall 2022 in Boston, please visit www.akeneo.com. About Akeneo Akeneo is a global leader in Product Experience Management (PXM) helping businesses with products to unlock growth opportunities by delivering a consistent and compelling product experience across all channels, including eCommerce, mobile, print, points of sale and beyond. With its open platform, leading PIM, add-ons, connectors and marketplace, Akeneo PXM Studio dramatically improves product data quality and accuracy, simplifies catalog management, and accelerates the sharing of product information across channels and locales. Leading global brands, manufacturers, distributors and retailers, including Thras.io, Staples Canada, boohoo.com, and Air Liquide trust Akeneo to scale and customize their omnichannel commerce initiatives. Using Akeneo, brands and retailers can improve customer experience, increase sales, reduce time to market, go global, and boost team productivity. For more information: https://www.akeneo.com Contact Details N6A for Akeneo Nick Eghtessad +1 814-450-7478 akeneo@n6a.com Company Website https://www.akeneo.com

March 29, 2022 09:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time

John Deere Celebrates and Supports Modern Agriculture

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/13ONFt-E4F0 Farmers and ranchers are employing technology and innovation to feed the world. So, how is this being done and what equipment are they using? Smart technology in John Deere equipment helps farmers produce more with less, creating more successful crops while having a smaller impact on the land and environment. John Deere was in Washington, D.C., on National Ag Day, to advocate on behalf of U.S. farmers and ranchers A nationwide media tour was conducted featuring John Deere ag equipment on the National Mall and highlighted Deere’s purpose for being there in DC -- to discuss the technology and innovation farmers are employing today to feed the world. The world’s population is set to grow to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, so the global food demand will increase by 50%. There are projections that the population may grow to 10.9 billion by 2100. To reduce hunger and serve a growing population, we need to increase agricultural productivity by 60 to 70%. The only way to create greater food production while using less and protecting the environment is through smart machines that automate an increasing portion of the difficult job of farming to create more consistency, precision, and efficiency. It’s incredibly important to farmers to protect the quality of their land and the environment, as they depend on the land and the world’s other resources to survive and thrive. The more precisely and efficiently famers can use inputs like chemicals, the more sustainable and profitable their operations are. For more information visit: Deere.com or if you’re a Farmer, Contact Your Local John Deere Dealer About John Deere: John Deere manufactures nearly 100 distinct lines of equipment, for agriculture, turf, construction, and forestry. We’re a leading manufacturer of combines and other precision ag machines. Our customers have a deep connection to the land and so do we. Our Sustainability Goals focus on reducing our use of energy and water; recycling our waste; and designing products with a reduced environmental impact. For generations, farmers have cared for their land in ways that preserve it. They strive to make the most of every seed and kernel, every drop of nutrient and fuel, and every hour of work to ensure their business remains productive and profitable. Farmers work to protect their watersheds, preserve the health of their soil, and steward the other environmental resources needed to sustain their crops and their livelihoods. John Deere’s solutions empower farmers to achieve these aspirations. These solutions help farmers do their jobs more precisely and productively through advanced technology as well as make better decisions based on data. We work relentlessly to help them optimize inputs and maximize output. Our vision is to ensure our customers are the most profitable and sustainable in the world. John Deere precision technologies are delivering the ultimate sustainable outcome — farms that are more profitable and less intensive on the soil, water, and air. Since the beginning, we’ve been developing advanced tools and technologies that help farmers achieve this ultimate outcome. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

March 28, 2022 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Irvine, CA Achieves Record Monthly Sales Driven By Apparel and Promotional Products Growth

Minuteman Press International Inc

Frank Matsumoto is the owner of Minuteman Press located at 18 Technology Drive, Suite 171, in Irvine, California. Frank has owned the business since 2010 and recently achieved record monthly sales. Frank says, “My growth was sparked by increases in apparel and promotional products sales. This made up 60% of my business while wide format printing was also a growth driver for us.” For nearly 12 years, Frank has built his brand by building relationships and following the Minuteman Press franchise business model to market his business. “I personally visit other local businesses to get to know other people and so they can get to know me. It also gives me the chance to see what they are doing in terms of promotional products as behind every counter are items like cups, pens, and t-shirts. Everywhere I go, I make sure to wear branded Minuteman Press apparel and I come prepared with our branded product catalogs. It starts with me wearing my own branded apparel and showing them our products, and then it goes – and grows – from there.” “As soon as I educate clients on our ability to go beyond printing, their mindset changes and suddenly they realize they can use our services for their apparel and promotional needs.” -Frank Matsumoto, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Irvine, CA One client that has taken full advantage of Minuteman Press’ printing, apparel, and promotional products capabilities is HI-CHEW ™. Frank says, “We started our relationship on a phone call for a rush order of postcards. I visited with them, introduced myself, and secured the order. At first, we did a run of 25,000 die-cut postcards. This turned into a reorder for 75,000 and then later over 100,000 die-cut postcards featuring HI-CHEW™ products and coupons.” Frank continues, “Thanks to fulfilling that first order and then building that relationship, the number of items we’ve provided for HI-CHEW™ has grown considerably over the past four years. At the end of 2021, we did their string backpacks, sunglasses, laminated tote bags, t-shirts, 13,000 hand sanitizers, keychains, and stickers on their specialty buckets. We also provide branded apparel for their employees and for customer giveaways.” “There’s no way to replace the touch and feel of a promotional item or printed piece. It is simply good business to use print as a marketing tool to reach your target audience and help increase brand awareness as well as ROI.” -Frank Matsumoto Over the past two years, Minuteman Press in Irvine has remained open and operating throughout the pandemic as an essential business. During that time, Frank ramped up his marketing across all channels. He says, “We used mailers, built up our social media, and solidified our presence by generating positive Google reviews. We have earned a 5-star rating with nearly 100 reviews, and we are proud to receive such amazing customer feedback.” Today, as more business events return to Irvine, Frank has seen an uptick in trade show supplies. Frank says, “Orders for trade shows can include everything from booth displays, banners, and table throws to apparel and promotional products. For all of these items, Minuteman Press is here to help.“ “Irvine has one of the largest business hubs in Orange County. There are a lot of opportunities here, and I also am in a business complex building relationships each day with other business owners. I’ve used a combination of direct marketing, promotional mailers, email marketing, social media marketing, and networking through my BNI group to grow over the years.” Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Frank worked in sales. “I was looking at several franchises and did my due diligence. I really liked the structure of Minuteman Press, as well as the B2B nature of the business. I didn’t want to rely on walk-ins like a general retail store, and I love the Monday-Friday business hours. It gives me the freedom and flexibility to do things like pick up my daughter from school and take her to her fencing class while still being able to build my business.” Frank appreciates the ongoing local support he’s received from Minuteman Press since buying the business. “Whenever I need something, Dan Byers and the regional team is here to help me. I also like the FLEX software we use to manage all of the different aspects of the business.” When asked what the biggest lesson he’s learned over the past 12 years as a business owner, Frank answers, “What comes to mind is one of the first things that was taught during the Minuteman Press training program. There was a sign that said, ‘If you don’t market, you won’t make it.’ Over the years, and especially over the past two years, I can say that marketing has been huge for our sustained growth and success.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Irvine, CA, visit their website: https://www.irvine.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 28, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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