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100 Houstonians in Harris and Ft. Bend Counties Awarded a Total of $1 Million Through Comcast RISE, National Initiative to Support Small Business Owners

Comcast Houston

Comcast today announced the 100 recipients of the Comcast Rise Investment Fund grants. Each small business will receive a one-time $10,000 grant from the fund. More than 100 businesses in the area will also receive technology and marketing resources. The recipients are among nearly 6,700 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been selected through the Comcast RISE program, which provides marketing, technology, and capital support to small business owners. “We are proud of all of our small businesses, the impact they have in Fort Bend County is invaluable. Many of our business owners, particularly our minority owned businesses, have faced unprecedented challenges over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and require a wide range of support to help their businesses survive,” stated Fort Bend County Judge KP George. “The Comcast Rise Investment Fund Grant provides these business owners with the critical financial lifeline and the resources needed so they can sustain and grow their businesses.” Through Comcast RISE, the company also announced it is on track to support 13,000 small businesses by the end of the year with marketing or technology support such as a TV campaign, production of a TV commercial or consulting services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or computer equipment, internet, voice or cybersecurity services from Comcast Business. “Since we launched Comcast RISE a year ago, we have assisted more than 200 small businesses throughout the Houston area with either marketing, technology, or monetary grants. This round of Comcast RISE grants will provide even more small business owners of color with the resources and tools they need to thrive,” said Ralph Martinez, senior vice president for Comcast’s Houston region. “We look forward to empowering their success.” To further build on the program’s success and provide support to even more small businesses, Comcast also announced today a major expansion to eligibility, enabling all women-owned small businesses nationwide to apply. This expansion recognizes and seeks to help address the persistent inequities women continue to face in accessing the resources and funding that are critical to success. Comcast RISE and the Comcast RISE Investment Fund, initially launched as a response to help small businesses owners of color hardest hit by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to focus on uplifting small businesses, ensuring they continue to prosper in an ever-shifting post-pandemic economy. “As we continue to rebuild and emerge from the effects of the pandemic, small businesses will continue to be the backbone of our economy – and we must take every opportunity to help them thrive,” said Dave Watson, President and CEO, Comcast Cable. “Looking forward, this expansion will enable Comcast RISE to further empower and strengthen even more small businesses that are the heart of our local communities across the country.” In the year since its inception, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $11 million in grants and $50 million in in-kind support for marketing and technology services, impacting more than 6,700 entrepreneurs of color in 432 cities across 34 states. By the end of 2022, 13,000 businesses across the country are expected to benefit from the Comcast RISE initiative, either through the grant program or from the resources provided through Effectv and Comcast Business. In addition to the financial and business support services provided, a key part of the program is ensuring the long-term sustainability of businesses. To help address this, Comcast invests in and partners with organizations such as Ureeka to provide ongoing mentorship and resources to help small businesses succeed over the long-term. Comcast RISE, which stands for Representation, Investment, Strength, and Empowerment, is part of Project UP, Comcast’s comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools and funding they need to thrive. Over the next 10 years, Comcast has committed $1 billion to programs and partnerships that will reach an estimated 50 million people with the skills, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The program will continue to be open to racially and ethnically diverse small business owners and the expanded Comcast RISE eligibility to all women-owned businesses will be effective on January 16, 2022. More information and the applications to apply for either the grant program or marketing and technology services are available at www.ComcastRISE.com. To help drive outreach and awareness about Comcast RISE and provide additional support, training and mentorship, Comcast has also awarded $50,000 in grants to local community partners – Houston Hispanic Chamber, Houston Black Chamber, Empresarios Latinos Foundation, Houston LGBT Chamber, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Women’s Foundation and East End Chamber of Commerce. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Effectv Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, helps local, regional and national advertisers use the best of digital with the power of TV to grow their business. It provides multi-screen marketing solutions to make advertising campaigns more effective and easier to execute. Headquartered in New York with offices throughout the country, Effectv has a presence in 66 markets with nearly 35 million owned and represented subscribers. For more information, visit www.effectv.com. Contact Details Comcast Foti Kallergis +1 832-986-0196 Foti_Kallergis@comcast.com Comcast Misha McClure +1 832-547-6783 Misha_McClure@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

November 23, 2021 09:31 AM Central Standard Time

How Slickdeals Can Help You Social Shop Your Way to the Best Holiday Gifts and Products

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/9PNd2Dm2gss Before you start spending on your holiday gifts it’s a good idea to create a holiday shopping strategy. Are you always on the lookout for deals? Do you do loads of research and crowdsourcing to find deals and recommendations on the products you want to buy? You are not alone. So where can you turn for insights on the best deals? Social shopping and deal hunting websites are increasingly becoming a go to destination for savvy shoppers at the holiday season. Pete King, Deal Expert and host of the Slickdeals YouTube channel, partnered with YourUpdate TV on a nationwide media tour to discuss Slickdeals and the trend of social shopping. Slickdeals is the the only shopping platform powered by millions of real people - it’s shoppers helping shoppers. Doing your own research can get overwhelming so tapping into a community like the one at Slickdeals is a great way to know you’re always getting the best value for your money. There are 12-million savvy shoppers vetting and voting on the best deals on the internet — so you can use it to discover the best products at the best prices from all the top retailers. Plus —Slickdeals Rewards lets you get cashback for shopping at your favorite stores - you earn points for every purchase through Slickdeals, that you can redeem for cash back or gift cards. Visit Slickdeals.net to find the best of the best deals, download the app for your mobile devices and visit Slickdeals YouTube channe l for more great content. And please SUBSCRIBE! About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 22, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

1010data Announces Its First European Retail Customer: Convenience Giant, McColl’s

1010data

1010data, a leading provider of analytical intelligence, enterprise analytics and collaboration capabilities to the retail, consumer brands, and capital markets sectors, today announced its first European customer, McColl’s Retail Group, a British convenience retail chain and newsagent with over 1,200 managed retail locations across the U.K. 1010data continues to cut an innovative path to advanced sales and demand visibility through the addition of new data solutions, granular analytics, machine learning and the leveraging of disparate data sets, enhancing the sales and operations of its growing retail network. Bringing these capabilities to McColl’s, the objective is to use near real-time data feeds, AI (artificial intelligence) and analytics to help create more transparency and thus better visibility into supply and demand, for a smoother supply chain between the retailer and its key distributors. For McColl’s, it will encompass an improved understanding of regional differences in demand, and the ability to quickly respond to those changes. Faye Roth, Chief Information Officer of McColl’s, commented: “The ability to rapidly respond to fast-changing consumer behaviors, whether different volumes, purchasing patterns or basket mix is more critical now than ever. To that end, the first phase of our engagement with 1010data will focus on using its powerful Retail Analytics Suite to enhance our ability to understand customer behavior at the most granular level. This will enable us to draw out patterns which will help us adjust our product offering, range, or channels and marketing. Ultimately, we expect to use the tool to boost McColl’s’ sales forecasting ability, spotting out-of-stocks and identifying local/regional demand for certain products, moving the company toward a more enhanced forecasting model.” “The pandemic continues to cause rapid, hard-to-predict shifts in consumer demand across the retail landscape. Retailers are operating in a state of constant uncertainty, so the role of analytics and predictive capabilities driven by AI provides retailers with the tools to act decisively when the terrain ahead is hard to forecast,” commented Inna Kuznetsova, CEO of 1010data. “Our engagement with McColl’s is another step on the way toward 1010data’s vision to innovate and lead this market segment in data-driven decision-making. Broadening our leadership in the retail space, our relationship with McColl’s underscores 1010data’s innovative vision. “McColl’s is committed to serving millions of customers as effectively and conveniently as modern technology will allow,” said Faye Roth. “Having just celebrated 120 years of serving local communities, we’re pleased now to be tapping into 1010data’s analytics expertise, which will help to drive innovation across the business and prepare for a multitude of changing needs.” About 1010data For more than 20 years, 1010data has helped retail, consumer brands and capital markets customers monitor shifts in consumer demand and market conditions and rapidly respond with highly targeted strategies. The 1010data Insights Platform combines market intelligence, data management, granular enterprise analytics, and collaboration capabilities to empower better business outcomes. More than 900 of the world’s foremost companies partner with 1010data to power smarter decisions. To learn more, visit www.1010data.com. About McColl’s McColl's is a leading neighbourhood retailer, with an estate of over 1,200 managed convenience stores and newsagents. We operate McColl's and Morrisons Daily branded convenience stores as well as newsagents branded Martin's across the UK, except in Scotland where we operate under our heritage brand, RS McColl. # # # 1010data Contacts: Media: Meir Kahtan, MKPR Email: mkahtan@rcn.com Phone: +1 917.864.0800 Industry: Frank Riva Email: Frank.Riva@1010data.com McColl’s Contacts: Media: Charlie Twigg, Headland Email: mccolls@headlandconsultancy.com Phone: +44 (0)203 805 4822 Contact Details Meir Kahtan Public Relations Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.1010data.com

November 18, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

National Study from Perfitly Reveals Consumers Eager for Online Fitting Room Solutions to Try Before They Buy, Reduce Hassle of Returns

Perfitly

Perfitly, a virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) and AI-powered virtual fitting room solution that is being integrated into the e-commerce platforms of the nation’s leading retailers, today announced the results from its 2021 Virtual Shopping Habits Report. The study examines shoppers’ attitudes, behaviors and expectations from online shopping, and the types of services that would increase the effectiveness of the digital channel and ease shopper pain points going into the holiday shopping season. Conducted by Perfitly, the study surveyed more than 1,200 respondents, representative of consumers in all main geographical areas of the U.S. Key findings show the pervasiveness of online clothes shopping, shaped by the pandemic; the ongoing struggle by the vast majority of online shoppers to find the right, well-fitting purchase; and the high degree of willingness to use ecommerce tools, such as virtual fitting rooms, to select the right garment and reduce returns. The following is a breakdown of top-level data points: Online Shopping Behavior Survey data shows that the majority of shoppers purchase clothing online, motivated by both the ability to save time and the wide selection of options to choose from. More than 53% of respondents purchase at least 40% or more of their clothing online. The majority of respondents have recently purchased an article of clothing online, with 34% making online purchases within the past 2 weeks and a further 25% within the past month. Only 11% reported that they have not purchased clothes online at all in 2021. Online Shopping Hesitations and Returns The largest concern shoppers have with e-commerce is the inability to try on clothing before purchasing. Additionally, the biggest single reason shoppers return garments purchased online is due to receiving an improper fit. 48% say the inability to try clothes on is their biggest concern with online shopping; 3x more than any other cited reason. 73% of online clothes purchases are returned because of the inability to try it on; 7x more than any other cited reason. Outlook on Virtual Fitting Rooms While the majority of shoppers have not used e-commerce tools to help the selection process, they find the ability to choose a correctly sized garment as the most appealing aspect of virtual fitting rooms. More than half of the respondents have used traditional size charts with measurements, while others have used techniques such as sizing questionnaires and AR filters, showing a desire for online fitting solutions. 44% say the ability to find the correct sized garment is why they’d use a virtual fitting room; 3x more than any other cited reason. While only 7% of respondents have used a virtual fitting room, 76% say they would be more inclined to use virtual fitting room technology if it helps their selection experience and to avoid returns. More than half of respondents prefer to see a representation of themselves in virtual avatars. Holiday Shopping Plans With holiday shopping on the horizon, most shoppers are likely to shop for garments online, aiming to complete their holiday purchases by mid-December. 63% are likely or very likely to purchase clothes online this holiday season. 22% aim to complete holiday shopping by late November, and only 4% have already completed holiday shopping at the time of the survey. 21% plan to shop in early December, with 16% holding off until mid-late December. Kash Vyas, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder at Perfitly, said, “Retailers are currently looking at a unique opportunity to increase their online presence and harness the demand for effective and engaging online shopping experiences that provide customers with the ability, and peace of mind, to purchase garments that will fit correctly and match their style expectations. Looking ahead, data suggests there’s a growing appetite for everyday shoppers to find better ways to visualize garments to take online shopping to the next level, one that mimics the in-person shopping experience along with the many conveniences of shopping online.” To learn more, please visit www.perfitly.com. About Perfitly: Perfitly is a virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) and AI powered virtual fitting room solution that is being integrated into the e-commerce platforms of the nation’s leading retailers. Perfitly’s cutting-edge size recommendation and visualization platform serves fashion brands and retailers to help increase sales and conversion and reduce returns, while enhancing sustainability. Perfitly enables shoppers to try on clothes, find their perfect fit and look, and purchase with confidence - all from the comfort of their homes. To learn more, please visit: www.perfitly.com. Contact Details Paige Blair +1 732-233-2273 perfitly@n6a.com Company Website https://www.perfitly.com/

November 17, 2021 09:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

ILONA Beauty Celebrates 50 Years of Skin Care with the Return of the Budapest Cocktail

ILONA Beauty

Ilona's story is truly fascinating. One of the original vanguards of skincare, Ilona, a young girl, escaped Communist Hungary in 1956. She landed in a refugee camp in New Jersey with 33 cents to her name and no understanding of the English language. Originally working in a handbag factory, she decided a job as a waitress was a better way for her to learn the language. That same year, she met and married George Meszaros, her lifelong business partner. Taking all of the precious and effective techniques Ilona had learned and perfected in Hungary, together in 1971 they began to build their multi-million dollar empire, opening Skin Care Institutes in New York, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Palm Springs and Costa Mesa. Ilona personally trained each and every esthetician in her own method and techniques. In 1982, the Park Avenue Institute in New York opened to much fanfare. As word spread, of Ilona’s arrival the appointment book overflowed, and a long wait list ensued. Celebrities, socialites, and notables from around the globe clamored to have Ilona tend to their skin. National expansion, product development and mail-order fulfillment soon followed to service clients across the US and internationally. Throughout the decades, Ilona has been guided by her 7 touch points of skincare - performance, efficacy, texture, touch, luxury, aroma and quality. She understood early that beauty is intangible and fluid. It changes with each generation. Today, 50 years later, the company has evolved from its original focus on treatments and services and is strictly devoted to formulating the most advanced skincare products for at home use. Ilona herself is involved in every formulation. She is known to say, “any product that has touched your skin has first touched mine.” Still family owned, she and her son Robert, CEO, together run the business. Ilona of Hungary has since evolved into ILONA Beauty, as it is known today. Digging into the company archives from its early decades, one of the most popular add-on treatments at the Institute was known as the Budapest Cocktail. It was custom blended by Ilona, refrigerated and dispensed via a CO2 whipped cream-like dispenser. It was a cocktail of royal jelly, propolis, hyaluronic acid, various herbs, calendula, ginseng, coveted serum ampoules and imported mineral water from Hungary. It was applied at the end of the treatment and left clients with Ilona’s signature glowing complexion. In honor of the brands' 50th Anniversary, ILONA is relaunching the Budapest Cocktail as a modern conduction foil sheet mask for in-home use. The unique 3 layer, 2-part sheet mask uses foil conduction technology to help cocoon and warm the skin, coaxing the absorption of all the vital elements. Developed with a prestigious laboratory, Budapest Cocktail contains many of the original, beloved ingredients. Contact Details Spotlight Beauty PR Dianne Vavra +1 917-331-4869 spotlightbeautypr@gmail.com Company Website https://ilona.com/

November 17, 2021 08:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

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DOM PÉRIGNON ANNOUNCES DONATION OF OVER HALF A MILLION TO LADY GAGA’S BORN THIS WAY FOUNDATION AT WORLD KINDNESS DAY DINNER IN NEW YORK CITY

Dom Perignon

This past weekend, on November 13, 2021, Dom Pérignon came together with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, to reveal a total donation of $570,000 to the organization. For the occasion, guests from all walks of life came together to celebrate kindness at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC, including: Amanda Seyfried, Billy Porter, Pom Klementieff, Evan Mock, Tommy Dorfman, Indya Moore, Cindy Bruna, Ella Hunt, Antoni Porowski, Helena Christensen, Joshua Jackson, Brandon Blackwood, Sophie Auster, Derek Lam & Jan Schlottman, Jill & Harry Kargman, Char de Francesco, Stella Maxwell, Thomas Hayo, and Stephanie Goto, among other personalities from music, fashion, film, television, and design. Dom Pérignon x Lady Gaga: a collaboration that gives back Earlier in 2021, the paths of Dom Pérignon and Lady Gaga crossed in an inspired collaboration, sparked by a shared belief in creative freedom. Beyond creation, Dom Pérignon has long been drawn to Lady Gaga’s generosity, as she has been at the forefront of empowerment and well-being issues for 10 years. Generosity forges an essential foundation of their collaboration today. Through artistic collaborations, Dom Pérignon stands with creators to support their causes and foundations, including Lenny Kravitz and the Let Love Rule Foundation, which provides care and raises funds for communities in need. This year, as part of their collaboration with Lady Gaga, Dom Pérignon announced that it would support Born This Way Foundation. One limited-edition sculpture, two ways to embrace generosity The Dom Pérignon donation centered upon a series of limited-edition sculptures created by Lady Gaga for Dom Pérignon, in association with creative and fashion director Nicola Formichetti. From the very inception of the piece, Dom Pérignon pledged to donate the entirety of its profits from sales of the sculpture to Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, which aims to create a kinder and braver world. “What I love most about this sculpture is that it is made with a deep purpose. Generosity always makes a difference, and I’m honored that Dom Pérignon is kind enough to give back as part of our collaboration,” said Lady Gaga. Furthermore, Dom Pérignon widened the circle of giving back with a new way to support Lady Gaga’s cause. The Maison partnered with Born This Way Foundation to create a charitable sweepstakes offering participants around the world a chance to win the most exclusive limited-edition sculpture of them all: the N° 1 in the numbered series, hand-signed by Lady Gaga. The sweepstakes closed on World Kindness Day, and Dom Pérignon donated all funds raised to Born This Way Foundation. “An act of kindness is more important today than ever before. At Born This Way Foundation, we are very appreciative of the generous donation from Dom Pérignon and also Lady Gaga’s passionate fans around the world who participated in the charitable sweepstakes,” said Cynthia Germanotta, President and Co-Founder of Born This Way Foundation. “Moments like these help fuel our belief that we can and will build a kinder, braver world – together.” For more information, please visit www.domperignon.com and bornthisway.foundation. ------- About the Dom Pérignon x Lady Gaga Limited-Edition Sculpture Designed by Lady Gaga for Dom Pérignon in collaboration with Nicola Formichetti, the enthralling sculpture acts as a veil, enfolding a majestic jeroboam of Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2005. The swathe of iridescence reflects the flow and movement of a magnetic dress. Produced in 110 exclusive and numbered pieces, the limited-edition sculpture is available upon request via private sales. About Born This Way Foundation: Born This Way Foundation, co-founded and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, supports the mental health of young people and works with them to create a kinder and braver world. Through high impact programming, youth led conversations and strategic, cross-sectoral partnerships, the Foundation aims to make kindness cool, validate the emotions of young people, and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health. Learn how the Foundation encourages people to practice kindness towards themselves and their communities at bornthisway.foundation and learn more about their new book CHANNEL KINDNESS at channelkindness.org/book. About Dom Pérignon Rosé When Dom Pérignon chooses to be rosé, it is a radical declaration of freedom. Freedom to explore, to cast aside conventions and push the boundaries of creation. Dom Pérignon Rosé springs from this desire to dare, seizing the red of the Pinot Noir grape in its primal radiance, capturing its vital power in a bold, assertive assemblage. www.domperignon.com #DomPérignonXLadyGaga IG @DomPérignonOfficial FB @DomPérignonOffical ENJOY RESPONSIBLY Contact Details BPCM Sarah Pallack +1 310-850-7094 sarah@bpcm.com Company Website https://www.domperignon.com

November 15, 2021 01:48 PM Eastern Standard Time

Customer Experience and Customer Engagement Market to Surpass $100 Billion in Annual Worldwide Revenue by 2026, According to Dash Research

Dash Network

Customer experience (CX) and customer engagement (CE) initiatives continue to be a major priority for organizations around the world, especially in light of the significant changes and disruptions to customer relationships that emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a new report from Dash Research, this level of focus is leading to brisk growth in the market for CX/CE technology platforms. “While CX improvements are largely driven by organizational change management, software is increasingly being used to support these initiatives by managing and making available the plethora of customer data that is captured and aggregated from a variety of sources,” says principal analyst Keith Kirkpatrick. He adds that some of the key drivers of market growth include pandemic-related shutdowns and reopening, increased focus on omnichannel customer interaction capabilities, the rise of customer centricity, and the elimination of functional silos within organizations. Dash Research forecasts that global CX/CE revenue will increase from $63.6 billion in 2021 to $100.3 billion by 2026. The market size experienced a 13.5% decline between 2019 and 2020 due to economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but spending has recovered in 2021 and is projected to reach 2019 levels again by the end of 2022. The market intelligence firm forecasts that the top 5 industries in terms of CX/CE spending between 2021 and 2026 will be as follows: Telecommunications Healthcare Financial Services & Insurance Retail Government/Public Sector Dash Research’s report, “CX Market Forecasts”, includes a detailed market sizing and forecast model that focuses on the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) software and services opportunity related to CX and CE. The forecast is split into a variety of segments, based on the world region in which the solution is used, the offering itself, functional area, and industry. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the market drivers and barriers, and insights into four industries that are driving the market spending are discussed in the report, along with recommendations for both end users and vendors. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website. Dash Research, the market intelligence arm of Dash Network, provides in-depth research and insights on the worldwide CX market including a comprehensive assessment of technology solutions, business issues, market drivers, and end-user dynamics across industry sectors. Dash Research’s global market coverage combines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to provide a complete view of emerging business opportunities surrounding contact center technologies, customer data & analytics, customer data platforms, customer insights & feedback, customer relationship management, personalization & optimization, and employee experience. For more information, visit www.dashresearch.com or call +1.720.603.1700. Contact Details Clint Wheelock +1 720-603-1700 press@dashnetwork.com Company Website http://www.dashnetwork.com

November 15, 2021 05:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

Holiday Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/84NvZOIljwI Almost a quarter of Americans worry holiday shopping will leave them in debt, but that’s not stopping consumers from spending at a fast and furious pace. Beauty and Lifestyle Expert, Alle Fister, has compiled a holiday shopping guide filled with a few gift ideas that won’t break the bank and one way to pay for it all before ringing in the New Year. SHOP & PAY OFF DEBT EARLY: Early shopping is a big trend this year with the added challenge of inventory concerns. Fister says consumers are combating the issue by being smart and savvy with their online or in-store shopping behaviors. She points to a new survey from Afterpay, the leading ‘buy now, pay later’ platform, that finds one-in-three people are setting a strict budget and plan to wrap up shopping before Thanksgiving. The lifestyle expert urges consumers to be wise and stay out of debt. She says one way to manage holiday finances is by paying off purchases early. Afterpay has declared November 19th ‘Done Day’—the official day to wrap up holiday shopping in order to complete buy now, pay later installments before 2022. Fister recommends turning to Afterpay, which partners with thousands of brands to offer interest-free installment payments, because it allows shoppers the ability to buy gifts and pay over time, without the worry of revolving debt posed by credit. She touts that, “Shopping early has never been easier.” Consumers can expect deals to be announced weekly throughout the season to help them shop early. For more information, go to the Afterpay app or Afterpay.com www.Afterpay.com Facebook: @afterpayusa Instagram: @afterpayusa Twitter: @ afterpayusa FAMILY-SIZED GIFTING: Fister’s holiday gifting guide also includes presents the entire family can enjoy together. She admits, “As a mom, I love bringing everyone together for those warm and cozy moments. One gift idea that instantly comes to my mind is Koolaburra by UGG slippers. The brand’s approachable price points make for a perfect gift the whole family, or financially focused fashionista, can appreciate.” According to the beauty and lifestyle expert, these slippers are made of high-quality materials that don’t sacrifice on style, quality, or comfort. She adds, “Personally, I’m in love with the Riley Shimmer Kid’s Slipper. Keeping those little feet warm this season never looked better.” She even thinks they’re perfect for the men in your life, “The Tipton Emboss Men’s Slipper is perfect for the guys, whether they’re making breakfast or settling in for a quiet night.” As for Fister, “I can’t get enough of the Batya and Lezly Perf Women’s Slippers. They’re so stylish and comfy! And you know, I am a Southern CA based gal—and I just really connect with Koolaburra by UGG as UGG’s little sister brand that offers a southern California cool vibe for the whole family. Effortless, easy, and exactly what I’ll be asking my husband for this holiday season!” For more information, go to Koolaburra.com. Koolaburra by UGG® Official Site | Koolaburra.com Instagram: @Koolaburra Facebook: Koolaburra by UGG - Home | Facebook GIFT GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK: These days conscious consumers are paying attention to more than price tags. Fister highlights how important it is to think of ways to pamper loved ones while using one’s purchasing power to give back to the world we live in. “One great gift idea comes from the female-founded beauty brand, Josie Maran, she is the pioneer of Argan-oil-powered beauty. They’ve partnered with the CORAL Reef Alliance to create a limited edition Pro-Retinol Body Butter in a naturally derived Grapefruit scent.” Fister says those who know “It’s cool to care,” can rest assured knowing 10% of all sales of the Body Butter will be donated to CORAL, which is focused on saving the world’s coral reefs. The Pro-Retinol Body Butter will be available in a grapefruit scent, while containing safe and healthy pro-retinol derived from pink algae to give the same benefits of a retinol with zero irritation. For more information, go Ulta.com. https://www.ulta.com/p/whipped-argan-pro-retinol-body-butter-coral-reef-alliance-collaboration-pimprod2028603 Instagram: @JosieMaran & Coral_Org Facebook: @ JosieMaran & CoralReefAlliance Hashtags: #JosieMaranxCORAL & #ItsCooltoCare THE GIFT OF RELAXATION: Given the state of the world over the past year-and-a-half, Fister suggests giving the budget-friendly gift of relaxation as we head into 2022. She says, “There has been too much stress for too long of a time,” while pointing to a few of her favorite self-care items from the brand This Works. The lifestyle expert says with This Works, shoppers can give the gift of sleep and less stress this holiday season with their holiday gift sets that contain award-winning and 100% natural, aromatherapeutic blends that truly “work.” One example is the large gift set called DREAM TO SLEEP. It is made up of a trio of sleep saviors including a shower gel, body lotion, and celebrity-favorite DEEP SLEEP PILLOW SPRAY. Fister says she’s such a fan of this product, “You just spray your pillow or mist your PJs before you retire to bed and the 100% natural essential oil fragrances of lavender, chamomile, vetiver help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling refreshed.” There are mini sets available with pocket-sized pillow sprays and items from their Stress Check line that help manage stress. For more information, go to Nordstrom.com. https://www.nordstrom.com/s/thisworks-soothe-sleep-set/6474152?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FBrands%2Fthisworks%C2%AE&color=000 Instagram: @ thisworks About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 12, 2021 05:45 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Innovative Startup Develops Unique Method to Remove Plastics from our Oceans

Our Cleaner Planet

Our Cleaner Planet, a non-profit startup with an innovative technique to remove plastics from our oceans, announced today that it has successfully completed prototype testing of its first plastic harvester and is now ready to move forward with larger unit testing. The program is scheduled to launch the first of its full-sized, plastic harvesters into ocean operation in 2025. Pat Marshall, founder of Our Cleaner Planet, says that he and the development team are very encouraged by the results of the prototype tests. “The test parameters for our 1:164-scale prototype were set up to evaluate speed and control and the first stage of the filtration process,” he said. “We exceeded on all levels and we are excited to move on to our larger scale, test model.” The next step is a 1:12-scale unit that the team expects to start testing in early 2022. Marshall, an accomplished aerospace engineer and executive with many years of research and development experience in the aerospace sector, created Our Cleaner Planet with the mission to harvest plastics from our oceans by developing innovative, sustainable methods that leverage proven engineering to create a cleaner, healthier planet. Our Cleaner Planet has a patent-pending design that is focused not only on the larger, macroplastics, but also on the much smaller micro- and nanoplastics. This is an important distinction because many current cleanup efforts focus solely on the larger pieces of plastic leaving the smaller pieces to continue damaging the ocean ecosystem and our global environment. “The problem has become much more impactful than just the sheer mass of plastic now in our oceans. Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead, it breaks down into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces continue to get smaller and more toxic, creating a domino effect of damage extending from the fragile ecosystems in our oceans to our global environment and all the way up the food chain to human ingestion,” Marshall revealed. “Removing plastics from the oceans is only part of the solution to this problem, but it is the important first step that Our Cleaner Planet will take.” In its efforts to attack this wide-ranging plastic problem, Our Cleaner Planet’s system will include a large ship that utilizes an ocean-borne, plastic debris harvesting process. The process will not only remove the macro- and microplastics, but it will also introduce a unique method of removing nanoplastics down to 5 microns in size. The system will extend from surface level to a depth of 60 feet, allowing Our Cleaner Planet to remove the much smaller plastics more effectively and at much deeper levels of the ocean. The company expects to develop a fleet of ships with each vessel capable of removing up to 1000 metric tons of plastics from the oceans each year. Marshall explained that Our Cleaner Planet is targeting a net zero harvesting system. “Harvested plastics will be further processed into fuel onboard and each ship will be outfitted with CO 2 scrubbers. Ash will be the sole byproduct of the process and excess ash will be further utilized in other industries finally completing the lifecycle of the harvested plastic,” he said Our Cleaner Planet was founded as a non-profit organization in 2018, but Marshall has been working on the problem and his patent-pending solution for more than eight years. He has assembled a team of professionals with decades of experience piloting complex projects from research and development to commercial release. Marshall says this gives them an extra advantage in development and implementation. “Instead of rushing to the ocean with an unproven design, wasting crucial time and investment capital, my team and I have been adamant about proving our concept and testing the design before we went public,” he said. Marshall and his team are currently seeking funding and additional support and expect to launch Our Cleaner Planet’s first full-sized ship in early 2025. For more information on Our Cleaner Planet, the plastic pollution problem, or to find ways to support the program, please visit www.ourcleanerplanet.com. About Our Cleaner Planet Our Cleaner Planet is a non-profit organization on a mission to harvest plastics from our oceans by developing innovative, sustainable methods that leverage proven engineering to create a cleaner, healthier planet, and empower a truly circular economy through scalable and profitable solutions. Established in 2018, the company has an innovative method and patent-pending design to remove plastic from our oceans. Our Cleaner Planet has successfully tested its 1:164-scale prototype proving the efficiency and effectiveness of its design. It expects additional model demonstrations and tests in early 2022 and is scheduled to launch its first full-sized plastic harvester in early 2025. For more information on Our Cleaner Planet, the Plastic Problem, Our Cleaner Planet’s unique solution, or its development timeline, visit www.ourcleanerplanet.com. Contact Details Our Cleaner Planet Jeff Dronen +1 254-274-5333

November 11, 2021 09:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

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