News Hub | News Direct

Retail

Bridal Cosmetics E-Commerce Luxury Office Products Supply Chain Management
Article thumbnail News Release

New Alvarez & Marsal Spring 2023 Consumer Sentiment Report Highlights Impacts of Inflation, Recession Expectations, Newfound Optimism

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group

· Category spend up from fall 2022 for basic needs, experiences, gifts & indulgences · Half of consumers are taking a vacation this spring/summer, up 14% from last year · Consumers believe inflation has yet to peak and majority are preparing for a potential recession Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) today released its newest consumer report, Consumer Sentiment Survey Spring 2023, which looks at the impacts of inflation and resultant changes in consumer spending over the last year, as well as spending expectations for the coming six-month period. This is the fourth installment of its bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Report, based on a survey of 1,500+ consumers matching the U.S. adult population according to gender, age, ethnicity, region and income. The report covers various changing behaviors in response to personal finances and the state of the economy, including consumers’ shopping priorities by category, concerns over rising prices, vacation plans, and other factors that will affect purchase decisions this spring/summer, and more. “Our objective was to understand how the financial headlines American consumers have been hearing is affecting them in terms of their optimism or lack thereof, their buying patterns and expectations, and their preferred shopping channels,” noted Jonathan Sharp, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group, and lead author of the study. “What we found is that the ‘recession is coming’ drumbeat has got through to US consumers and they expect a slowdown in the coming months. That’s all theoretical for now and the reality is that the US consumer is still punching – spending plans are up, inflation-fatigue is being overcome and optimism is back in fashion.” The study found that: · Consumer expectations on things getting better, saving more, having more money, and plans to spend the same or more on basic needs were all up from fall 2022 · Among shopping priorities by category, all non-essential categories were up this season compared to fall 2022 · Vacation spend is up year over year – half of respondents are taking a vacation this spring/summer, and 31% of those taking a vacation plan to travel internationally (+12% y-o-y) · 65% of consumers believe that prices will continue to rise, and two thirds believe the U.S. will be in a recession within the next year “Retailers should capitalize on this optimistic mindset by balancing consumer preferences, managing inventory, and driving traffic in-stores & online” added Jonathan Sharp. “But smart retailers will remain agile should consumer mindsets revert.” To download a pdf of Consumer Sentiment Survey Spring 2023, please visit: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/consumer-sentiment-survey-spring-23/ The Alvarez and Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities toward their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm's bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Mass Merchandise, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement. Contact Details David Schneidman dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com Company Website https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail

April 18, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Auto Parts 4Less Group, Inc. Reaches Significant Milestone with Over 5 Million Products on its Multi-Seller Automotive Parts Marketplace, Autoparts4less.com

Auto Parts 4Less Group Inc

McapMediaWire -- Auto Parts 4Less Group, Inc. (OTCQB: FLES) (“Company”, “FLES”) – the operator of AutoParts4Less.com, a specialized automotive parts marketplace, is excited to announce a significant milestone: exceeding 5 million automotive products and featuring over 8,000 brands on its rapidly-growing multi-seller marketplace. Launched on November 3, 2022, with approximately 2 million products, the platform's adoption rate has more than doubled in size while surpassing management's initial expectations. Tim Armes, CEO of FLES, said, "We believe that achieving this milestone in such a short period showcases the trust and enthusiasm our seller community has placed in our platform while highlighting a pent-up demand for a dedicated marketplace capable of consolidating the many diverse sellers within the booming $38 billion annual automotive parts e-commerce sector." Christopher Davenport, COO and founder of FLES, added, "Surpassing 5 million products on AutoParts4Less.com signifies the growing momentum behind our platform. We are deeply grateful for the growing support from our sellers and remain dedicated to constantly enhancing our platform and expanding our offerings to better serve the automotive parts market." AutoParts4Less.com offers a wide variety of products ranging from tires and wheels to automotive paints as well as OEM replacement parts, performance parts as well as classic car parts. Additionally, the marketplace is adding parts for marine, heavy-duty trucks, ATVs, UTVs, and motorcycles. This extensive range makes it a true one-stop-shop for everyone's automotive parts needs. The Company believes that the growth of AutoParts4Less.com demonstrates the platform's potential to revolutionize the automotive parts e-commerce industry by providing a dedicated, user-friendly marketplace that benefits sellers and buyers alike. With its swift expansion and commitment to driving maximum value, management is optimistic that AutoParts4Less.com is poised to become a dominant force in the $500 billion annual U.S. automotive parts market. About Auto Parts 4Less Group, Inc. Auto Parts 4Less Group, Inc. (the “Company”) entered the online auto parts business in 2015, selling lift kits and other aftermarket accessories for Jeeps, Trucks, and SUVs on eBay and Amazon. In early 2020, the company began developing AutoParts4Less.com as a multi-seller enterprise-level marketplace dedicated to consolidating the $500 billion annual aftermarket automotive parts industry, including cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and RVs, on a single platform. AutoParts4Less.com officially launched with around 2 million parts from over 25 parts sellers in November 2022. For more information about Auto Parts 4Less Group, Inc., please visit AutoParts4LessGroup.com Safe Harbor & Disclaimer This information also contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are identified by the use of the words “could”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “continue”, “predict”, “potential”, “possible,” “project” and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this presentation. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience and present expectations or projections. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Industry data provided herein is of no predictive value regarding the future sale of the Company’s products. No information in this press release should be construed as any indication whatsoever of the Company’s future financial results, revenues, or stock price. For more information, contact: Email: PR@The4LessCorp.com Contact Details Auto Parts 4Less Group, Inc. PR@The4LessCorp.com Company Website http://autoparts4lessgroup.com/

April 18, 2023 08:20 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Green Leaf Innovations CEO Robert Mederos Issues Letter to Shareholders and Provides Corporate Update Focusing on Long-Term Growth and Value Creation

Green Leaf Innovations, Inc.

McapMediaWire -- Green Leaf Innovations, Inc., (“Green Leaf” or the “Company”) (OTC: GRLF), an emerging growth company engaged in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of handmade premium cigars, today issued the following letter to its shareholders from Green Leaf Innovations CEO Robert Mederos: Dear Fellow Green Leaf Innovations Shareholders, I hope this letter finds you in good health and in high spirits. On behalf of our employees, partners, and other key stakeholders, I am delighted to have you as shareholders and valued members of our corporate family, and it is my pleasure to provide you with this update to share our vision for the future of our company. Who We Are For investors new to our company, our business focuses on marketing and distributing handmade premium cigars manufactured in Nicaragua. We strategically import and distribute premium cigar brands and private label brands to cigar lounges, smoke shops, convenience stores, and vape shops across the United States and in international markets. Additionally, we distribute packaged whole-leaf tobacco to other wholesale distributors of consumer tobacco products. The Importance of Our Foundational Operations in Nicaragua Nicaragua is a land rich with volcanic soil, which gives our tobacco its unique character. The fertile valleys of Jalapa and Estelí and the increasing tobacco cultivation in Condega and Ometepe have provided us with exquisite filler, binder, and wrapper leaves essential for our premium cigars. The importance of having a long-standing operation in Nicaragua cannot be understated. In fact, during the first eight months of 2022, Nicaragua-based cigar firms shipped 167 million cigars to the United States, an 8.9 percent increase over the same period in 2021. Our partnership with a third-generation, family-owned Nicaraguan business has been instrumental in crafting high-quality boutique cigars. Their passion and attention to detail have allowed us to maintain consistency and deliver unique flavors to our customers. Our production process, from greenhouse seedlings to fermentation and final product, is carefully managed to ensure the highest quality of cigars. We employ traditional techniques, such as row plowing with oxen and eucalyptus stick curing, alongside modern technology, like custom water filtration and drip irrigation systems, to balance tradition and innovation perfectly. Every cigar product I ship out reflects my commitment to delivering the best possible customer experience. I would even say I am obsessed with our quality control, rooted in being from a third-generation Cuban tobacco family. My cigars reflect the pride of my family, and I will never compromise quality for a quick buck. A Growing Industry on the Rise The global luxury cigar market was valued at USD 11.61 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2021 to 2028. According to Cigar Aficionado Magazine, more than 307 million imported handmade, premium cigars were shipped to the United States in just the first eight months of 2022, an increase of 4.3 percent. Shipping 300 million cigars was once considered the benchmark for a good year in the cigar business: now, it’s just a starting point. In fact, according to the Cigar Association of America, imports through November 30, 2022 have continued an upward trend for premium cigar imports at a 2% year-over-year growth rate, while imports of popular price cigars are down 12% in the same period. Key Growth Initiatives for Green Leaf Looking ahead, we see significant growth potential in the premium cigar market. We will continue to strengthen our partnerships, expand our distribution network, and explore new domestic and international markets. We have discovered unattended markets ripe for growth, including targeting golf courses, hotels and resorts, sporting events, and business gatherings. These markets have untapped potential, ignored by major brands and large industrial producers who continue to focus on traditional channels. Nearly 10% of all U.S. premium cigar sales occur on golf courses or in relation to golf. Yet, point-of-sale displays at golf clubs are generally ignored by major brands. We have the capabilities to deliver bespoke, white-label orders that meet the customer’s unique specifications for style, volume, and quality. We have been approached by several large potential customers in the wine and liquor industry, along with retailers that are interested in pairing our cigars with complementary products. Our cigars can pair with other premium products for an all-encompassing customer experience. Our B2B customers in the market are increasingly launching e-commerce websites in large, lucrative markets owing to the rising internet penetration and increasing propensity for mobile shopping among consumers. Our cigars can pair with other premium products for an all-encompassing customer experience. Corporate Updates It is fair to say that up to this point, we have not made any public comments or addressed investors, only making our regulatory filings and issuing occasional press releases. Going forward, Green Leaf will be more transparent in our investor communications. As we announced earlier this month, I have hired an investor relations agency to address investor concerns, answer questions, and help bring new investors to our company. Running this operation between our offices in Florida and our factory in Nicaragua, I’ve had to wear many different hats, and regretfully I couldn’t keep up with all the investor inquiries. This will no longer be the case, and I urge everyone to contact our investor relations agency with their questions. I invite everyone to subscribe to our distribution list to stay informed on upcoming developments. Please visit: https://greenleafinnovations.co/subscribe-for-free-newsletter/. In the coming weeks, we will update everyone on the progress we’ve made in growing our business. We intend on actively marketing our company, putting more resources into social media and popular online investor forums to generate greater awareness of our story. We are working on updating our investor presentation and website. We will inform everyone of these updates in a timely manner. Regarding our tier 1 Regulation A Offering, we recently filed an amended Offering Circular where we amended the final pricing of the offering to a price of $0.08 per share of Series B Preferred Stock (from $0.10) for a total aggregate offering amount of $8,000,000. The cigar manufacturing and distribution business is capital-intensive, from raw materials and equipment to SG&A (and being a public company). We need growth capital to fulfill purchase orders and scale our business through the growth initiatives I’ve described. I don’t take stock dilution lightly and will only look to raise capital to grow our business and deliver value to shareholders. Going Forward Our commitment to providing exceptional cigars remains unwavering, and we are confident that our products will continue to delight cigar enthusiasts around the world. In closing, I would like to express my gratitude for your ongoing support and investment in Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. Our success is a testament to your belief in our vision, and I remain committed to delivering outstanding returns for our shareholders while preserving the rich tradition of hand-crafted, premium cigars. Sincerely, Robert Mederos Chief Executive Officer Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. About Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. Green Leaf Innovations, Inc., a Florida corporation, is an emerging growth company engaged in the marketing and distribution of handmade premium cigars. The Company strategically imports and exclusively distributes some of the best-known premium cigar brands in the marketplace. The Company was created by the Mederos family, a third generation Cigar maker with Robert Mederos at the helm, who has owned and operated handmade cigar operations in Nicaragua and the U.S. for over 20 years with a rich family history in the craft dating back to the 1800s in Cuba. Green Leaf features brands such as CUBANACAN, MEDEROS, and TABACALERA SERRANO. The Company also distributes packaged whole leaf Tobacco to cigar lounges, smoke shops, C-stores, and vape shops across the United States and soon in international markets. Additional information can be found on our website, www.greenleafinnovations.co, or follow us on Twitter @otcgrlf. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words believes, project, expects, anticipates, estimates, intends, strategy, plan, may, will, would, will be, will continue, will likely result, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects on a consolidated basis include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, availability of capital, interest rates, competition, and generally accepted accounting principles. These risks and uncertainties should also be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Company Contact: info@greenleafinnovations.co Investor Relations Contact: Matthew Abenante, IRC President Strategic Investor Relations, LLC Tel: 800-303-6268 x4 Email: matthew@greenleafinnovations.co Contact Details Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. info@greenleafinnovations.co

April 18, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

Sustainable Startup Iced Tea Brand Ryl™ Tea Announces Morgan Wallen as Investor and Brand Ambassador Ahead of Large-Scale Company Expansion

Full Scope PR

Ryl™ Tea is pleased to announce Country music star Morgan Wallen has signed on as an investor and brand ambassador in the first iced tea brand to align classic southern iced tea taste with healthy, functional attributes of homemade steeped tea. Wallen felt an organic connection to Ryl™ Tea due to the brand’s nostalgic Southern taste profile – giving Wallen a taste of his East Tennessee roots in a can. “I’ve loved sweet tea since I was a kid,” says Wallen. “I remember drinking it out of a pitcher on a hot summer day in my Mamaw Boots’ kitchen. A good iced tea brings back very happy memories for me, so when I found Ryl™ Tea I knew I had something special that I wanted to share.” After learning more about Ryl’s™ health conscious and sustainable mission statement and tasting iterations of the product ahead of its launch in January, Wallen was on board with plans already underway to develop new products in the coming months. Ryl™ is a zero-sugar iced tea product with no artificial ingredients, filled with their proprietary “ polyphenol technology ”, all while delivering the traditional great taste of sweetened iced tea that is usually filled with loads of sugar or artificial ingredients. “When I’m on tour, I train daily so I can bring everything I have to the stage, so finding Ryl™, an iced tea with no sugar and with no artificial ingredients, has been awesome. I can’t wait to do more with them,” Wallen adds, teasing what’s brewing in the future. Ryl™ Tea is available in major grocery chains across the Northeast, including Wegmans, Shoprite and Whole Foods Market. In its first year, the brand is focused on expanding the product in the continental United States, launching nationwide with Sprouts Farmers Market last month and moving quickly to partner with retailers and distributors who are aligned with bringing clean and functional options to legacy categories like iced tea. Consumers can find Ryl™ Tea nationwide in stores and via drinkryl.com. Wallen’s investment joins Ryl™’s founder and seasoned beverage industry executive Blodin Ukella; established food & beverage industry director Leigh Feuerstein; and digital marketing executives of Get Engaged Media Cam Fordham, Alex Dermer and Ben Hiott, who will play a key role in keeping Ryl Tea’s community excited and informed within culture. ABOUT THE RYL COMPANY™: Launched in January 2023, The RYL Company™ is a Gen-Z & Millennial non-alcoholic beverage company focused on offering wellness focused products in traditionally indulgence forward beverage occasions. Their first product line is Ryl Tea, the first iced tea product line to bring together the delicious attributes of iced tea with the health benefits of homemade steeped tea. The Ryl Company produces all of their products in 100% recyclable aluminum packaging and uses no artificial ingredients in their products, making them the perfect items for the growing number of health conscious and environmentally responsible Gen-Z and Millennial consumers. Contact Details Full Scope PR Pia Malihi pia@fullscopepr.com Essential Broadcast Media Ebie McFarland ebie@ebmediapr.com

April 17, 2023 01:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
Article thumbnail News Release

USMJ Kicks off their Week Long 4/20 Sale

North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc.

McapMediaWire - - North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc. (OTC: USMJ ) - USMJ.com an online retailer of premium cannabis products, is excited to announce its week-long 4.20 celebration. From April 17th to April 23rd, customers will receive 25% off their orders of $100 or more. "At USMJ.com, we believe in celebrating the culture and community that surrounds cannabis," said Steven Rash, CEO of USMJ.com. "We're thrilled to offer this promotion as a way to share our passion with our customers and help them stock up on their favorite products." USMJ.com offers a wide range of premium legally cultivated hemp derived products, including flower, concentrates, edibles, and more. The online retailer is committed to providing high-quality products from trusted brands and delivering a seamless shopping experience. To take advantage of the 4.20 celebration, customers can simply visit USMJ.com and add their desired products to their cart. Add the discount code 420SAVE at checkout and the discount will be aplied for orders of $100 or more. "Whether you're a seasoned cannabis enthusiast or a newcomer to the scene, we have something for everyone," said Rash. "We invite all our customers to join us in celebrating 4.20 and enjoying some of the best hemp derived products on the market." Surprise Specials: USMJ has also noted they are going to be unique specials on top of the standard weeklong promotion. But, these promotions will only be announced via email and only email. If you are reading this and want to subscribe, follow these instructions below to subscribe to our mailing list. How to subscribe: Head to Enter your contact details Get notified about details and information related to the sale and future sales. You may also find a newsletter signup on any page on USMJ.com. In The Shop, What’s New: We are thrilled to announce the addition of exciting new products to our online store! In response to our customers' requests, we have expanded our offerings to include a range of hemp-derived products, including delta-8 and delta-10 THC, as well as high-quality vapes and gummies. These products are perfect for individuals who are looking for a unique and enjoyable way to experience the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids. Our team has carefully selected these products from trusted brands in the industry, ensuring that they meet our high standards for quality and effectiveness. So, whether you're looking for a new way to unwind after a long day or simply want to try something new, we invite you to explore our new product offerings and discover the many benefits of hemp-derived products for yourself! USMJ announced the partnership with Nature’s Perfect Hemp out of Nashville, TN. Nature’s Perfect Hemp has expanded our customer offering to allow our customers to choose from a variety of cannabinoid related products. The latest addition to the shop is Wasatch Hemp Farm. Wasatch Hemp Farm brings their powerful products to the USMJ marketplace with four new creams, gel capsules, containing not only CBD but CBG in certain cases. Some key facts about these new products: 1500mg of CBD in all products Pain cream contains an additional 750mg of CBG Athlete’s looking for a post workout muscle rub use the CBD Freeze roll on gel USMJ Partnerships We are excited to announce our new partnership with a marketing agency specializing in the cannabis industry. This partnership has allowed us to tap into their wealth of knowledge and experience to help us improve our customer experience, benefits, and journey. The agency has been instrumental in advising us on our communication strategy, ensuring that we are providing our customers with clear and concise messaging that accurately represents our brand and values. By partnering with this agency, we are confident that we will be able to enhance our overall appearance and better connect with our customers. We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible experience, and we are confident that this partnership will help us achieve that goal. We look forward to working closely with this agency and continuing to improve our services and offerings for our valued customers. New Shop Programs We are excited to announce the launch of two new programs that will enhance our customers' experience and help us to better connect with them. After taking advice from our new marketing agency, we have decided to launch a referral program ( USMJ Rewards ) and a collaboration program ( USMJ Collabs ). Our referral program allows customers to earn rewards for promoting USMJ.com products. Once a customer has created a free account on USMJ.com, customers can share a unique referral link with their friends and family and earn on their purchases. This program is a great way for customers and shareholders to spread the word about our products while earning rewards for their efforts. In addition, we are launching a collaboration program for customers who have social media influence. This program allows customers to earn benefits from USMJ by promoting our products through their social media outlets. Customers with a strong social media presence can earn discounts, free products, and even cash back for their efforts. We believe that these two programs will help us to better connect with our customers and improve their overall experience with our ecommerce store. By working together with our customers and rewarding them for their loyalty, we are confident that we can continue to grow and improve. We are committed to providing the best possible service to our customers, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of these programs. Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For More Information Contact Steven Rash North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc +1 888 694 8765 info@shopusmj.com Contact Details USMJ info@shopusmj.com Company Website https://usmj.com/

April 17, 2023 01:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

As He Pretends Anheuser-Busch is an American Company, CEO Brendan Whitworth Fails Leadership Test

National Legal & Policy Center

Anheuser-Busch has finally addressed the controversy that has embroiled the company since April 1 when it centered a Bud Light promotion around transgender “influencer” Dylan Mulvaney. Only problem is, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth released a statement Friday addressing the issue by not addressing it, accomplishing nothing but to underscore his own helplessness and guaranteeing that the conflagration will continue. Whitworth’s statement asserted that “we never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.” But nowhere could he even say what the “discussion” is about, as if the topic was too hot to even mention. He doesn’t say it was a mistake for a beer company to promote transgenderism, nor does he defend the ad campaign. It is as if he had to say something if only to quiet his coterie of underlings and PR consultants who were no doubt urging him to say something. He took the faintest stab possible to assuage consumers who might most object to the promotion by saluting “military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere.” But he could not state the obvious about why all these great people might object to Dylan Mulvaney, namely that men cannot become women, and that it is a folly for anyone, much less a beer company, to advance this lie. Unfortunate for Whitworth, he is handcuffed by the company’s long association with activists who would turn on him as quickly and eagerly as they have accepted his company’s support and money over the years. Anheuser-Busch gets a perfect 100 score on the Human Rights Campaign so-called Corporate Equality Index, and the company promotes gender ideology in its internal training programs. Whitworth fails the leadership test. It’s easy to lay claim to effective institutional management when all the choices are good. Real leadership becomes evident, however, when the choices are bad. But maybe we shouldn’t be so hard on poor Whitworth because his authority as CEO is not what is seems. Whitworth, whose actual title is “CEO North American Zone,” proudly reports that Anheuser-Busch was “founded in America’s heartland more than 165 years ago,” but he does not mention that the company was sold to the multinational InBev in 2008. The company is now known as Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA/NV, and is incorporated and headquartered in Belgium. In addition, CEO Michael Doukeris is a Brazilian citizen. According the company’s website, nine of its 12 directors are appointed by something called “Stichting Anheuser-Busch InBev,” which it describes as “a foundation organised under the laws of the Netherlands, which represents an important part of the interests of the Belgian founding families of the Company and the interests of the Brazilian families previously shareholders of AmBev.” So, Whitworth’s real bosses are a group of ultrarich Europeans and South Americans, who will ultimately act in what they perceive to be their own interests, not those of American beer drinkers. These plutocrats attempt to keep the attention off their wealth by buying off the activists who might challenge it. That is why the company panders to, and bankrolls, a host of woke causes worldwide. Like Unilever, another Europe-based multinational whose American subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s plunged it into controversy (when it ended ice cream sales in the disputed territories of Israel), Anheuser-Busch InBev abets social and political causes that undermine the cultural values and economic interests of the consumers they purport to serve. National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) sponsors the Corporate Integrity Project. When Anheuser-Busch was still an independent company, NLPC filed a series of shareholder proposals seeking disclosure of its financial support for political and social activist groups. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

April 17, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail News Release

10 Best Proxy Server PS4 & PS5 Providers 2023 🎮

ProxyBros

What's a proxy server, and why do you need that for PS4 or PS5? Can a proxy server PS4 enhance your gaming experience? What is the best free proxy server, and which paid one will help you better? Learn all this and more, and find your best proxy server for PS4 and PS5 in this article! And before we get into the matter, here are the 10 best proxy server PS4 & PS5 providers in 2023 so far: MobileHop: Best for the US Gaming Experience Overall 🥇 Proxy-Sale: Best for Steam 🥈 Proxy-Seller: Best for Epic Games Products 🥉 Smartproxy: Best for Australian Gamers 🦘 Oxylabs: Best for the Largest Network 🌎 BrightData: Best for High-Speed Services 🚀 HideMyName: Best Cheap Proxy for Gaming of All IPRoyal: Best for the EU Gamers 🏰 NetNut: Best for Protecting Your Anonymity Storm Proxies: Best for Free Bandwidth 👍 What's a Proxy Server for Gaming? A proxy is a computer networking mechanism serving as a mediator between you and the service you need. Mostly, this is needed for load balancing, privacy, and security, but there are also additional benefits for different spheres. Why should I use a proxy on PS4 and PS5? Here is the answer: Gaming services may request extra apps for better connectivity. A console can repeatedly ask for such an application and lag if you have no proxy service. That often happens if your WiFi is unsecured, there is data corruption, hardware problems, or the PlayStation network bans you. Proxies ensure the possibility of interruptions is minimized. Your gaming console gets an additional security shield. PlayStation never uses VPNs directly, but a proxy service with rotating IPs can help gamers circumvent geo-restrictions. So, What Is the Best Proxy Server for PS4 and PS5? Discover the top proxy server address PS4 PS5 here! All of them are different and can be more helpful for a specific game. #1 MobileHop — Best for the US Gaming Experience Overall 🥇 IPs and locations MobileHop focuses on US locations. Moreover, it is rather precise because it gives you proxies by cities. So, you can get PS4/PS5 servers for Albuquerque, Jacksonville, Idaho Falls, Las Vegas, and other cities. It recently added San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, and Orlando. Why this service? That is the hub of PS4 and PS5 servers with the highest-quality services prioritizing US players. It does not store logs, spoofs fingerprints, and uses more mechanisms to guarantee your security. #2 Proxy-Sale — Best for Steam 🥈 IPs and locations USA Kazakhstan France Germany England Netherlands Serbia Cyprus Ireland Malta Poland Canada, and many other regions. Why is this best? Proxy-Sale ensures high PS5 connection speed, as well as for PS4 players. It has flexible prices for all locations and can be the best option for NUMEROUS games. It even has specially designed proxies for Runescape Dofus Silkroad Metin 2 Lineage 2 WoW and other games. #3 Proxy-Seller — Best for Epic Games Products 🥉 IPs and locations Europe: Switzerland Sweden Denmark Spain Italy Malta Ireland Israel Romania France Finland Latvia Lithuania Germany England Sakartvelo Chezh, and some other countries. Asia: Taiwan Armenia Cambodia China India Indonesia Iran Japan Kazakhstan Turkey UAE and some other countries. North America: USA Canada Mexico The PS4 proxy service also provides services for South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela, and Australia. Why is this the best choice? This particular PS4 proxy service is versatile and flexible in price, and it is also the greatest option for Epic Games products like Fortnite, BulletStorm, Fall Guys, Alan Wake, etc. You acquire access almost immediately after purchasing it. It also has many subnets, and you can request multiple of those. You can change your proxy for another without paying extra if you have already purchased it for a long period. #4 Smartproxy — Best for Australian Gamers 🦘 IPs and locations Smartproxy has locs for almost all countries. It provides IPs in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. Creating a list of those here will take the whole website. But also, SmartProxy is a rare case that works with various locations in Oceania, such as Australia Fiji Micronesia Palau Tuvalu Christmas Island French Polynesia Nauru Papua New Guinea Vanuatu Cocos Islands Guam etc. Also, you can buy proxies for particular cities. Why choose SmartProxy? Besides the 195+ locs, this PS5 and PS4 proxy server provider guarantees a 99.99% uptime and 99.47% success rate and offers 50M+ residential, mobile, and data center IPs. SmartProxy is also great when you need PS5 servers for cheap. It also has the strongest support and a great community to help you. That is yet another best option for the fastest PS5 connection speed. #5 Oxylabs — Best for the Largest Network 🌎 IPs and locations Oxylabs covers over 195 countries. Worldwide is the only word for it. Why should I use a proxy server on PS4 from Oxylabs? Oxylabs is the synonym for high-speed, boosted cybersecurity, good expertise, and responsible support. This provider offers 100M+ residential proxies and 2M+ data center proxies — all at top speed and with great performance. Oxylabs is more suitable for business but can also be the handiest gaming tool. #6 BrightData — Best for High-Speed Services 🚀 BridghtData has five stars on most review platforms but deserves the night sky. That is a reliable proxy for gaming and other purposes, and the brand also contributes a ton to charity. Using BrightData, gamers get the needed fast connectivity with security and make this world healthier. #7 HideMyName — Best Cheap Proxy for Gaming of All This tested and trusted proxy provider protects all your passwords, transactions, and other data. HideMyName has been around for a long time, shows great performance, offers many locations, and has a strong customer protection policy. #8 IPRoyal — Best for the EU Gamers 🏰 IPRoyal has many payment plans and has made gaming-optimal ones the cheapest. This universal proxy solution focuses on business needs first and foremost but can provide great security and flawless connectivity for gamers alike. Note that this provider has more locations in the EU. Yet, it also works for the US and China. #9 NetNut — Best for Protecting Your Anonymity Staying anonymous on the net is important; NetNut can help you with that like nothing else. This cheap gaming proxy ensures fast performance and 100% informational safety online. #10 Storm Proxies — Best for Free Bandwidth 👍 Storm Proxies is another all-in-one service you can use for gaming. Moreover, the brand has created special services for gamers. Its wide bandwidth is 100% free! Furthermore, this best free proxy server has fast speeds and good support. Free Proxies VS Paid: Can a Free Proxy Carry You? 🤔 Free proxy servers are a popular consideration. Moreover, such apps and IP rotators can be costly, which does not help when a PS game already costs $50 and more. Like, excuse me, $30 for a security-boosting app when Dead Space is already $69.99, and Elden Ring is $59.99? Na, ima get a free proxy... The thing is, I do not recommend using even the best free proxy server. The so-called best free proxy app can be seemingly functional and helpful. Yet, practice shows that such tools usually have technical issues and only pretend to secure your device from digital threats. Moreover, the potentially best free proxy server will still have a lower speed than a paid one. Suppose you want a cool game and have two options: buy a licensed version or pirate it. You feel this difference, right? Sticking to the safest options is better, even when costly. Final Words 👋😀 Have you found the best proxy service for your needs? I hope yes! Stay safe, enjoy your gaming sessions, and may your PS always be protected! Best of luck! Contact Details Proxy Bros Nick +1 929-491-3157 hello@proxybros.com Company Website https://proxybros.com/

April 14, 2023 05:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Article thumbnail Digital Asset Direct

EARTH DAY WITH CHERYL NELSON

News Media Group, Inc.

Contact Details News Media Group, Inc. Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/

April 13, 2023 01:27 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video
Article thumbnail News Release

SIGMA America Announces NAB Show Activity, and SIGMA + Atomos Show Specials

SIGMA CORPORATION OF AMERICA

SIGMA Corporation of America, a leading camera and lens manufacturer for both photography and cinema applications, is pleased to announce its participation in the 2023 NAB Show, running April 15-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. SIGMA technical experts will be on hand to discuss the full product line, SIGMA CINE Ambassador Graham Sheldon will be speaking, and SIGMA + Atomos Creativity bundles are being announced at the event. SIGMA America CINE Technical Specialists will be available to speak with guests at the B&H Photo Video Audio Booth #C8317 throughout the expo. SIGMA will have the full CINE product line on display here, including the new 65mm T1.5 FF High Speed Prime and 65mm T2.5 FF Classic Prime, as well as SIGMA fp series cameras; along with a sampling of Art, Sports and Contemporary lenses, including the new 17mm F4 DG DN | Contemporary and 50mm F2 DG DN | Contemporary "I series" lenses. SIGMA lenses and cameras will also be on display in booths throughout the show floor, including Atlas #C6230, Atomos #C4135, DJI #C3350, Kinefinity #7035, Panasonic #C3308, and Smallrig #C6545. SIGMA America CINE Ambassador Graham Sheldon will be presenting "New Options for Camera 2 Cloud Workflows" at the Remote Production Conference on Monday, April 17 from 3:00-4:15PM PDT, and again on Tuesday, April 18 in three sessions running between 9:30AM PDT and Noon PDT. These sessions will explore remote and streaming workflows employing SIGMA fp series cameras paired with the Atomos Ninja V/V+ and Atomos Connect. Additionally, SIGMA America and Atomos are jointly announcing special bundle pricing on SIGMA fp series cameras and select Atomos products, including the Ninja V/V+ and Connect. Starting with the launch of the NAB Show on April 15, 2023 and running until June 15 through authorized retailers, these SIGMA + Atomos bundles offer powerful solutions for filmmakers including 4K ProRes RAW output and Atomos Cloud for streaming and instant backup at great savings. Full program details and bundle options are available at: https://www.sigmaphoto.com/atomos-bundles "NAB Show is always very special for SIGMA America, as we get to connect with so many talented video professionals who have come to trust SIGMA cameras and lenses for their work," says Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of SIGMA Corporation of America. "Our expanding presence and influence in the filmmaking industry can be seen by how many industry partners are showcasing SIGMA gear, from our CINE lenses to our fp cameras, to our new bundle partnership with Atomos." To learn more about SIGMA CINE Products visit: http://www.sigmacine.com/ ### About SIGMA Corporation Craftsmanship. Precision. Dedication. Since 1961, SIGMA has been devoted to the pursuit of advancing photographic technology. Unique to the industry, the family-owned business produces its high-quality, award-winning still photo and cinema camera lenses, DSLR and mirrorless cameras, flashes, filters and accessories from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Aizu, Japan. In 2012, the company introduced SIGMA Global Vision with three distinct lens lines: Art, Contemporary and Sports. Designed for industry camera mount systems including Canon, Fujifilm, Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and SIGMA, each lens is handcrafted and tested in Japan to ensure a high-performance, premium product that is purpose-built to last. In 2016, the SIGMA CINE lens lineup was launched, further cementing SIGMA as an innovator in imaging engineering. Embodying the core optical DNA that has defined the SIGMA benchmark of excellence, SIGMA CINE lenses meet the needs of advanced 6k and 8k cinema production. Forming the landmark L-Mount alliance alongside Leica and Panasonic in 2018, SIGMA continues its storied tradition of imaging excellence through groundbreaking innovations such as the native L-mount SIGMA fp and fp L full-frame mirrorless digital cameras, announced in July 2019 and March 2021 respectively. These products, along with over 35 award-winning SIGMA Global Vision lenses available in native L-Mount format, demonstrate SIGMA's continued commitment to the creative community through expanded product offerings. With the fp, fp L and these lenses, even more users can now leverage SIGMA's renowned optical formula to achieve their creative vision with ease. For information about SIGMA America, please visit sigmaphoto.com and SIGMA Blog for helpful information about our products, or follow SIGMA America on social media. SIGMA Photo: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram SIGMA CINE: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Contact Details SIGMA +1 631-201-7381 SIGMA.PR@sigmaphoto.com Company Website https://www.sigmaphoto.com/

April 13, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Image
1 ... 126127128129130 ... 242