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Tag: Marketing

  • Infowars host Alex Jones ordered by Connecticut jury to pay $965 million over Sandy Hook ‘hoax’ claims

    Infowars host Alex Jones ordered by Connecticut jury to pay $965 million over Sandy Hook ‘hoax’ claims

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    WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — The conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay $965 million to people who suffered from his false claim that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax, a jury in Connecticut decided Wednesday.

    The verdict is the second big judgment against the Infowars host over his relentless promotion of the lie that the 2012 massacre never happened, and that the grieving families seen in news coverage were actors hired as part of a plot to take away people’s guns.

    It came in a lawsuit filed by the relatives of five children and three educators killed in the mass shooting, plus an FBI agent who was among the first responders to the scene. A Texas jury in August awarded nearly $50 million to the parents of another slain child.

    “ Experts testified that Jones’s audience swelled when he made Sandy Hook a topic on the show, as did his revenue from product sales. ”

    The Connecticut trial featured tearful testimony from parents and siblings of the victims, who told about how they were threatened and harassed for years by people who believed the lies told on Jones’s show.

    Strangers showed up at their homes to record them. People hurled abusive comments on social media. Erica Lafferty, the daughter of slain Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung, testified that people mailed rape threats to her house.

    Mark Barden told of how conspiracy theorists had urinated on the grave of his 7-year-old son, Daniel, and threatened to dig up the coffin.

    Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis discusses a question from the jury with attorneys on Tuesday.


    H. John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media/AP

    Testifying during the trial, Jones acknowledged he had been wrong about Sandy Hook. The shooting was real, he said. But both in the courtroom and on his show, he was defiant.

    He called the proceedings a “kangaroo court,” mocked the judge, called the plaintiffs’ lawyer an ambulance chaser and labeled the case an affront to free speech rights. He claimed it was a conspiracy by Democrats and the media to silence him and put him out of business. “I’ve already said ‘I’m sorry’ hundreds of times, and I’m done saying I’m sorry,” he said during his testimony.

    Twenty children and six adults died in the shooting on Dec. 14, 2012. The defamation trial was held at a courthouse in Waterbury, about 20 miles from Newtown, where the attack took place.

    The lawsuit accused Jones and Infowars’ private parent company, Free Speech Systems, of using the mass killing to build his audience and make millions of dollars.

    Experts testified that Jones’s audience swelled when he made Sandy Hook a topic on the show, as did his revenue from product sales.

    Don’t miss: Alex Jones’s audience and Infowars’ revenue grew as Jones alleged Sandy Hook school massacre was a hoax

    Also: Alex Jones has created a ‘living hell’ of harassment and death threats, testify Sandy Hook school parents

    In both the Texas lawsuit and the one in Connecticut, judges found the company liable for damages by default after Jones failed to cooperate with court rules on sharing evidence, including failing to turn over records that might have showed whether Infowars had profited from knowingly spreading misinformation about mass killings.

    See: Texas jury orders Alex Jones to pay more than $49 million in damages in Sandy Hook case

    Because he was already found liable, Jones was barred from mentioning free-speech rights and other topics during his testimony.

    Jones now faces a third trial, in Texas around the end of the year, in a lawsuit filed by the parents of another child killed in the shooting.

    It is unclear how much of the verdicts Jones can afford to pay.

    During the trial in Texas, he testified he couldn’t afford any judgment over $2 million. Free Speech Systems has filed for bankruptcy protection. But an economist testified in the Texas proceeding that Jones and his company were worth as much as $270 million.

    Read on: Alex Jones’s Infowars picks new CRO for bankruptcy

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  • Why Thinking in the Short Term Will Help You in the Long Term

    Why Thinking in the Short Term Will Help You in the Long Term

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    When starting a company of any sort, one of the most important things a new owner can do is set up a direction for the future. Strategy is the guiding factor to maintaining a competitive edge.

    To build a game plan, you have to take a step back and assess where the business is at the moment and where you want it to be in the future. This sets up a long-term goal that you eventually want to achieve in the near future. That can be anything from growing the company with more employees, filling a certain number of orders by the end of a specific time frame, increasing sales or growing the revenue stream. These long-term goals are aims that can take a while to achieve.

    Related: How This Shipping Startup Rocketed to Unicornhood

    Reaching the bigger goals in a quicker time

    Short-term goals are almost like checkpoints you aim to hit along the way to your desired result. By evaluating the business and being able to weed out the important tasks from the non-important ones, your game plan becomes a lot more focused but also a lot smarter. This also prevents you or your employees from wasting hours working on a project that may seem important but does not really contribute to the bigger picture. Those efforts can be put in somewhere else that has a long-term effect.

    The way you believe you will achieve success is based on an evaluation of the company. You are choosing the direction the company is going in and the way it’s implemented. However, like any plan, along the way, things will change including the long-term ideals. Outside forces like the government, competitors, environmental forces, or any unforeseen circumstance can completely change the trajectory of your business at any given time. New methods and efficiencies may also change the plan overall, causing your company to shift into new directions to achieve a new long-term goal.

    Related: 3 Books to Help Entrepreneurs Generate Winning Employee Cultures

    Learning from the pandemic

    COVID-19 was an unanticipated force that either forced businesses to adjust, shift into new markets or shut down completely. The restaurant industry specifically suffered since its entire model is based on hospitality and interacting face-to-face with its customers. Not being able to seat people and serve food took many eateries out of business regardless of how reputable they were. On the other hand, some shifted their efforts completely and started doing takeout service to stay afloat. Some establishments got creative and started setting up tables on the street where people could stand, drink and eat as restrictions eased up. This even helped many restaurants permanently add outdoor dining options to their seating, adding more opportunities to seat patrons despite the strict guidelines.

    If your business is operating without any goal or direction, what is its purpose? The hopes of generating more profit and revenues, growing larger or becoming more affluent can only really be achieved with a game plan in mind. It’s ever-changing and always essential to every business.

    Related: The Future of Customer Loyalty

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    Erica Dushey Sarway

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  • American Non-Profit Organization, dzQuest, Partners With Hyperlink Infosystem to Develop New Social Media Platform

    American Non-Profit Organization, dzQuest, Partners With Hyperlink Infosystem to Develop New Social Media Platform

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    Announces NFT Campaign for Charity and Affordable Housing Tower for Gen Z in Miami-Dade

    Press Release
    –

    Oct 12, 2022


    MIAMI, October 12, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    David Zandi, the founder of Miami-based 501(c)(3) organization dzQuest.org, has announced an agreement with Hyperlink Infosystem to develop a social media platform tailored for the Gen Z and Electronic Dance Music (EDM) communities. Code-named “WinterDew,” the project began development on Oct. 10. The project is expected to be completed in March 2023.

    Hyperlink Infosystem’s key clients include Google, Discovery, Viacom, Disney and BBC. This partnership will allow dzQuest to create a much-needed service for the Gen Z and EDM communities, while creating opportunities for Miami-Dade county.

    “We are very excited to be working with Hyperlink Infosystem on this project,” said Zandi. “I wanted a platform for genuine connections between real-life friends and a place where Gen Z can be themselves and find acceptance.”

    Zandi, a marketing executive specializing in Gen Z campaigns, has spent the past eight years working for global conglomerates, setting up local campaigns in 111 countries. The brands remain steadfast and united in supporting the social media platform initiatives by providing funding and resources for the music festival and other events to be hosted by David Zandi. Zandi intends to invest future advertising revenue toward initiatives for Gen Z. This includes giving away VIP passes to the Ultra, Tomorrowland and EDC music festivals, Burning Man, and a planned 2,000-unit affordable housing tower in Miami.

    Since the conception of this platform, there has been great interest from both sides of the aisle in D.C., in the potential application of this platform to engage future voters. This application has the potential to revolutionize the way campaigns are run by making it easier for candidates to connect with future voters.

    In the coming weeks, a major bank will be selected to become the official payment processor and to integrate the social media platform with their banking system. This deal is expected to generate $700 million in revenue in 2023 for the banking partner. In December, a traditional media company will receive broadcast rights to the exclusive music festivals hosted by David Zandi. This deal will generate $800 million from advertising revenue for the media company in 2023 from the 40 festivals.

    Zandi’s photography and volunteerism have always been about giving back to the local community. To that end, he is launching an NFT campaign to highlight his past work and raise funds for his charity. Each NFT will be listed for 33 ETH, with his iconic 9/11 badge being listed for 3,333 ETH.

    ABOUT  dzQuest

    dzQuest is a registered  501(3)c non-profit dedicated to supporting and amplifying the voices of Gen Z, especially as it relates to music and entertainment events. The organization’s NFT collection can be found at OpenSea at https://opensea.io/dzquest.
     

    ###

    PRESS  CONTACTS

    dzQuest – Brand, Bank and Corporate Relations
    David Zandi
    Press@dzQuest.org
    2045 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 352
    Miami, FL 33137

    Hyperlink Infosystem
    Harnil Oza
    ceo@hyperlinkinfosystem.com
    One World Trade Center
    285 Fulton Street suite 8500
    New York, NY 10007

    Source: dzQuest

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  • Asian stocks moving lower in wake of latest volatile session on Wall Street

    Asian stocks moving lower in wake of latest volatile session on Wall Street

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    TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly lower on Wednesday following another volatile day on Wall Street, as traders braced for updates on inflation and corporate earnings.

    Benchmarks fell in Tokyo
    NIY00,
    +0.09%    ,
    Shanghai
    SHCOMP,
    -1.12%
    and Hong Kong
    HSI00,
    -2.90%
    but rose in Sydney.

    South Korea’s Kospi
    180721,
    +0.34%
    lost 0.1% to 2,189.86 after the Bank of Korea raised its key rate by 0.5 percentage point, amid the backdrop of Fed rate hikes in the U.S. and growing inflation risks from the weak won and rebounding global oil prices.

    In currency trading the Japanese yen declined to a 24-year low against the U.S. dollar
    JPYUSD,
    -0.24
    at 146 yen-levels, raising expectations of another intervention by Tokyo to prop up the yen. By midday the dollar
    USDJPY,
    +0.24%
    was at 146.17 yen, up from 145.80 late Tuesday. The euro
    EURUSD,
    +0.12%
    cost 96.96 cents, inching down from 97.07 yen.

    The weaker yen raises costs for both consumers and businesses who rely on imports of food, fuel and other needs, but the bigger purchasing power for foreign currencies is expected to boost tourism. Japan reopened fully to individual tourist travel this week after being closed for more than two years because of the pandemic.

    Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.2% to 26,348.73 in morning trading. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200
    ASX10000,
    -1.54%
    gained nearly 0.2% to 6,656.00. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 2% to 16,491.39, while the Shanghai Composite shed 1.2% to 2,943.24.

    On Tuesday, the S&P 500
    SPX,
    -0.65%
    fell 0.7%, marking its fifth straight loss, closing at 3,588.84. The Nasdaq
    COMP,
    -1.10%
    dropped 1.1% to 10,426.19. The Dow Jones Industrial Average
    DJIA,
    +0.12%
    added 0.1% to 29,239.19, while the Russell 2000 index
    RUT,
    +0.06%
    rose 1 point, or about 0.1%, to 1,692.92.

    Recession fears have been weighing heavily on markets as stubbornly hot inflation burns businesses and consumers. Economic growth has been slowing as consumers temper spending and the Federal Reserve and other central banks raise interest rates.

    The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday cut its forecast for global economic growth in 2023 to 2.7%, down from the 2.9% it had estimated in July. The cut comes as Europe faces a particularly high risk of a recession with energy costs soaring amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    See: Global economy most vulnerable since COVID crisis, with housing market at potential ‘tipping point,’ IMF warns

    Wall Street is closely watching the Federal Reserve as it continues to aggressively raise its benchmark interest rate to make borrowing more expensive and slow economic growth. The goal is to cool inflation, but the strategy carries the risk of slowing the economy too much and pushing it into a recession.

    “The market desperately wants a reason for the Fed to be able to stop tightening and the data recently hasn’t given them that opening with respect to inflation,” said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at All Star Charts.

    Computer-chip manufacturers continued slipping in the wake of the U.S. government’s decision to tighten export controls on semiconductors and chip manufacturing equipment to China. Qualcomm
    QCOM,
    -3.99%
    fell 4%.

    See: Intel reportedly plans to lay off thousands of workers, with details potentially emerging alongside quarterly earnings

    Uber
    UBER,
    -10.42%
    fell 10.4% and Lyft
    LYFT,
    -12.02%
    slumped 12% following a proposal by the U.S. government that could give contract workers at ride-hailing and other gig economy companies full status as employees.

    The Fed will release minutes from its last meeting on Wednesday, possibly giving Wall Street more insight into its views on inflation and next steps.

    Investors still expect the Fed to raise its overnight rate by three-quarters of a percentage point next month, the fourth such increase. That’s triple the usual amount, and would bring the rate up to a range of 3.75% to 4%. It started the year at virtually zero.

    Rex Nutting: Leading indicators show inflation is slowing, but Fed policy makers are too busy looking in rearview mirror to notice

    The government will also release its report on wholesale prices Wednesday, providing an update on how inflation is hitting businesses. The closely watched report on consumer prices will be released on Thursday, and a report on retail sales is due Friday.

    “Everyone is still hoping that every inflation report will be the one that shows that pressure is alleviating,” Delwiche said.

    Wall Street is also gearing up for the start of the latest corporate earnings reporting season, which could provide a clearer picture of inflation’s impact.

    Among the companies reporting quarterly results this week: PepsiCo
    PEP,
    +0.48%    ,
    Delta Air Lines
    DAL,
    -1.97%
    and Domino’s Pizza
    DPZ,
    -1.99%    .
    Banks including Citigroup
    C,
    -2.76%
    and JPMorgan Chase
    JPM,
    -2.89%
    will also report results.

    In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude
    CL00,
    -0.75%
    lost 82 cents to $88.53 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. U.S. crude-oil prices fell 2% Tuesday. Brent crude
    BRN00,
    -0.56%    ,
    the international pricing standard, fell 62 cents to $93.67 a barrel.

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  • 4 Steps to Create a Online Community for Your Brand

    4 Steps to Create a Online Community for Your Brand

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    A community can be formed in many ways. For example, it can be done through social media, offline events or by creating an online forum. In order to create a community on social media, you should post content that will attract people who have similar interests as you. You should also make sure that the content is interesting enough to keep them coming back for more. But basically, you have to execute four main things in order to get going in the right direction:

    1. Define the core values of yourself and your community.

    2. Go live on a regular basis (minimum once a week).

    3. Use the common language of your target audience (through qualitative studies and conversations, you identify pain points and needs of your audience).

    4. Co-creation of content (integrating and tagging people you interviewed in your podcast and from Q&A sessions, for example).

    This is how I executed these four steps in order to build my community, and it will also work for your brand if you’re willing to execute and answer a couple of questions:

    Related: 3 Examples of How to Build a Strong Brand Community

    Define the core values of yourself and your community

    This first step already was tough for me, because I was not really sure about my core values. “What is a value at all?” I asked myself. I am from Germany, and being on time is also, for many people, a value. I thought about my existing clients and how they think about artificial intelligence. They are all fascinated by AI and use it almost on a daily basis. A common thought that I heard in my live shows was that AI is a strong tool and is here to help human beings. So, I wrote that down: “AI is a tool and not a human replacement.”

    The other thing that I thought a lot about is that I am very focused on these tools, and I could do this all day long — testing new tools and giving feedback on a regular basis — but most people don’t like to test new tools. So, this is a big pain point for a lot of companies, and CEOs struggle to convince their teams because they are afraid of being replaced. So, I wrote down “People and training first. AI second.” It made sense for me to define this approach and make sure that our responsibility is to train people so that they can use AI in the right and ethical way.

    It is important to find your people and build a community with core values. It can be a blog, podcast or YouTube channel. The idea is that you are building an audience of people who are interested in the same things as you are. However, a community is not just a group of people who share the same interests. It’s more than that — it’s a group of people who share the same values and beliefs, which creates an emotional connection between them.

    Values can be a powerful tool for driving change in your business, but they have to be authentic. Values can be used to influence behavior, create meaning for employees and customers, attract talent, build trust with customers, set standards for quality of service or product and achieve business goals. A company’s values should align with its mission statement and create an emotional connection between the company and its customers. Core values should be a clear expression of who you are as a company or organization, as well as what you stand for.

    The more clear you are about your core values, the easier it is for you to build trust with customers. So, make sure to ask yourself these questions:

    • What do you want to stand for as a company?

    • What do you want to represent?

    • What are the beliefs that drive your decisions?

    Once you have the answers to these questions, make sure they are communicated internally and externally so that they guide every decision and action taken by everyone in the company.

    Related: A Successful Online Community Needs These Key Elements

    Go live on a regular basis (once a week at minimum)

    Going live on a regular basis is one of the core components of community-building. You just have to make sure that it is not only about your products and services. It should go deeper than that and have real value for the people you want in your community — which creates trust. This is a very iterative process! When I first started, I spoke with my interview guests about broader topics like content marketing and sales. Then I was introduced to the world of AI-generated content and thought, “That is really cool! I want to get more knowledge about all these tools and the founders,” so I launched a new concept and started interviewing CEOs of software companies.

    Going live and interviewing those people helped me to build strong relationships with them, and I also started to work with them more closely. Some became clients, some became cooperation partners, and we support each other. The main point here is that going live and creating content together is a very strong approach to building trust online.

    Use the common language of your target audience

    This sounds like a big step, but this is really easy to do with a survey that you organize. I did a simple Google Survey and sent it to all my interview guests within the AI niche. They responded with quotes, concerns and struggles they have in their head. One common thing was that they didn’t have time to create content for themselves. Even when they are CEO of an AI-generating software, they couldn’t sit down for 60 minutes to go live or write a blog article. This was fascinating for me because I didn’t have that on the radar, but through this survey, I was stepping into the conversation in their heads and using their own words for my own content campaigns.

    Related: How to Build an Online Community People Will Love

    Co-creation of content

    This is really where the magic happens. Co-creation of content is still under the radar for many entrepreneurs. The idea is simple: People support what they create. This means if you have questions from the chat or live interaction, for example, you can create additional content from their questions. You’re repurposing the content they produce. Always mention these people and tag those who appeared in your show. You can upload your live show and create micro-content pieces out of the larger video. People who are tagged are very likely to share it and like it because their name appears in this content. When you do this all the time, people feel appreciated for asking questions and showing up — that’s how you build a strong community.

    The important thing to remember is that this is an iterative process. A good starting point is getting in touch with potential clients or cooperation partners and speaking with them. As marketers, we should stop being too much in our own heads and start being empathic and getting into the heads of our clients and partners. In order to start your own community, take these steps. and execute them. The journey may not be easy, but it will be worth it.

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    Yakup Özkardes-Cheung

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  • Free On-Demand Webinar: How to Break Barriers

    Free On-Demand Webinar: How to Break Barriers

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    Ann Mukherjee is a born change agent. As the first industry outsider and woman of color to assume the position of Chairman & CEO for the North American arm of Pernod Ricard – the second largest global wine and spirits distiller and maker of Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal scotch, Jameson, Malibu Rum, Kahlua, and other spirit brands – she has used her professional and personal experience as motivation to reinvent the company since joining in December 2019. Within two years, she achieved a major milestone; leading the U.S. market to hit the highest YOY growth mark of 16 percent, surpassing the $2B mark for the first year ever.

    In the this Leadership Lessons episode, Mukherjee will chat with series host and Comparably CEO Jason Nazar about the biggest lessons she learned throughout her 30-year career in executive positions at the world’s most recognizable brands, from Kraft and PepsiCo to SC Johnson. Topics include:

    • Breaking barriers as a BIPOC female executive

    • Building a sustainable business

    • Creating a customized employee experience

    • Turning adversity into opportunity

    • Marketing to the savvy consumer

    • How to make an impact early on in your career

    Complete the registration form below to WATCH NOW!

    About The Speakers

    Ann Mukherjee joined Pernod Ricard North America as Chairman & CEO in December 2019, following her executive roles at SC Johnson (first global CMO, Chief Commercial Officer), PepsiCo (President of Global Snacks, Frito Lay CMO), and Kraft. Ann was recognized among Forbes’ Top 50 Most Influential CMOs; named Marketer of the Year by Brand Week; and earned an ADCOLOR Legend Award. She was recently nominated for Wine Enthusiast’s Person of the Year and PRWeek’s Most Purposeful CEO. She holds two degrees from the University of Chicago – a double Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Religious Theology as well as an MBA in Finance from the Booth School of Business.

    Jason Nazar is co-founder/CEO of Comparably, a leading workplace culture employee review site. He was previously co-founder/CEO of Docstoc (acquired by Intuit). Jason was named one of Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs and appointed the inaugural Entrepreneur in Residence for the city of Los Angeles in 2016. The Los Angeles native received his BA from the University of California Santa Barbara and his JD and MBA from Pepperdine University.

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    Jason Nazar

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  • Meet the 10 biggest megadonors for the 2022 midterm elections

    Meet the 10 biggest megadonors for the 2022 midterm elections

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    With four weeks until Election Day, congressional candidates are on track to break midterm fundraising records, having raised nearly $2.5 billion so far this cycle. That’s already 70% more than what was raised during the 2014 cycle and just $200 million shy of the total raised during the full 2018 cycle.

    This cycle has also seen record-shattering outside spending, topping $1 billion through the beginning of October, according to an OpenSecrets estimate.

    The increase in spending and fundraising is due in large part to the involvement of millionaire and billionaire megadonors who have sought to influence the outcome of an election in which both chambers of Congress are in play.

    “When megadonors pump millions of dollars into super PACs, they get to help call the shots,” said Michael Beckel, research director at Issue One, a nonpartisan political reform organization. “Massive spending from a megadonor can influence what issues are talked about on the campaign trail and in Congress.”

    Super PACs are independent political action committees that can raise unlimited sums of money but are not allowed to coordinate with a candidate or campaign. Due to contribution limits, such as those restricting individuals’ candidate contributions to $2,900 per election per candidate, most megadonor spending goes to super PACs.

    More context: These are the basics of campaign finance in 2020 — in two handy charts

    A MarketWatch analysis of Federal Election Commission data through the end of September shows that these 10 business moguls and philanthropists are the biggest federal-level donors this cycle.

    Read: These 3 races could determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate in 2023

    And see: If this seat flips red, Republicans will have ‘probably won a relatively comfortable House majority’

    Top federal-level megadonors this cycle
    Rank

    		 Contributor

    		 Total Contributions

    		 For Republicans

    		 For Democrats

    		 Nonpartisan/Bipartisan
    1

    		 George Soros

    		 $128,782,000

    		 $0

    		 $128,782,000

    		 $0
    2

    		 Ken Griffin

    		 $50,955,800

    		 $50,955,800

    		 $0

    		 $0
    3

    		 Richard Uihlein

    		 $49,117,000

    		 $49,117,000

    		 $0

    		 $0
    4

    		 Sam Bankman-Fried

    		 $39,931,000

    		 $201,000

    		 $37,725,000

    		 $2,005,000
    5

    		 Jeff Yass

    		 $32,754,000

    		 $32,754,000

    		 $0

    		 $0
    6

    		 Peter Thiel

    		 $30,189,000

    		 $30,189,000

    		 $0

    		 $0
    7

    		 Fred Eychaner

    		 $22,343,000

    		 $0

    		 $22,343,000

    		 $0
    8

    		 Stephen Schwarzman

    		 $21,870,000

    		 $21,865,000

    		 $0

    		 $5,000
    9

    		 Larry Ellison

    		 $21,003,000

    		 $21,003,000

    		 $0

    		 $0
    10

    		 Ryan Salame

    		 $18,932,000

    		 $17,432,000

    		 $0

    		 $1,500,000
    Totals:

    		 $415,877,000

    		 $223,517,000

    		 $188,850,000

    		 $3,510,000

    Source: MarketWatch analysis of FEC data as of Sept. 30, 2022
    Note: Partisan breakdown includes non-party affiliated PACs with over 95% of their spending benefitting one party, data has been rounded to the nearest thousand

    Big spending by itself doesn’t automatically mean winning. There have been notable instances of the financially strongest candidates losing (such as crypto-backed House candidate Carrick Flynn earlier this year and billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s self-financed presidential bid) — but money can certainly help put a candidate on the right track.

    “Money alone doesn’t guarantee electoral success, but every candidate prefers to be the one with more money to spend,” Beckel said. He added: “Outside spending on behalf of a candidate isn’t a silver bullet that’s going to guarantee electoral success. But it goes a long way to boosting somebody’s name recognition, and to presenting them as a viable candidate — somebody who has the resources to run a competitive campaign.”

    Information about the spending by the top 10 donors this cycle has been compiled from MarketWatch’s analysis of FEC data and filings, super PAC websites and previously reported comments. Read on to find out who are the top 10 biggest donors this cycle.

    10. Ryan Salame — $19 million

    Ryan Salame, the co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, a subsidiary of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, founded a hybrid PAC earlier this year called American Dream Federal Action. The vast majority ($15 million) of the $19 million Salame has spent this cycle has gone into bankrolling the PAC, which has spent $2.4 million in independent expenditures supporting Illinois Republican Rep. Rodney Davis, $2 million supporting Republican Senate candidate Katie Britt from Alabama, and $1.2 million each supporting Arkansas GOP Sen. John Boozman and Brad Finstad, a GOP congressional candidate in Minnesota.

    On its website, the PAC describes itself as “organization dedicated to electing forward-looking candidates — those who want to protect America’s long term economic and national security by advancing smart policy decisions now.” A representative for Salame didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    9. Lawrence Ellison — $21 million

    The co-founder of Oracle
    ORCL,
    +0.26%
    has similarly bankrolled a PAC this election cycle — giving a total $20 million to Opportunity Matters Fund Inc. The super PAC has largely held onto its funds so far, recent FEC records show, having $17 million cash on hand as of the end of August. Of the independent expenditures it has made this cycle, it spent the most on Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker ($1.3 million), Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson ($1.3 million) and North Carolina Senate candidate and current Republican Rep. Ted Budd ($1.1 million). A representative for Ellison didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    8. Stephen Schwarzman — $22 million

    Billionaire Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of private-equity giant Blackstone
    BX,
    -2.41%    ,
    is the eighth biggest donor at the federal level this cycle. In March, Schwarzman gave $10 million to both the Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund, super PACs aimed at obtaining a Republican majority in the Senate and House, respectively. A representative for Schwarzman didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    7. Fred Eychaner — $22 million

    Fred Eychaner has also contributed $22 million so far this cycle, but unlike most of the spending on this list, his has been directed toward Democratic causes. The chairman of Chicago-based Newsweb Corporation has given $9 million to the House Majority PAC and $8 million to the Senate Majority PAC, as well as just under $1.5 million to the Democratic National Committee and several hundred thousands to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. A representative for Eychaner didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    6. Peter Thiel — $30 million

    Venture capitalist Peter Thiel was heavily involved in backing Ohio Republican J.D. Vance’s primary bid, giving $15 million in the spring to the Vance-aligned Protect Ohio Values PAC.

    The massive primary investment was “historic” and record-setting, according to Beckel, who added that Thiel’s involvement in the Ohio Senate primary could mark “a new chapter of how mega donors are choosing to play in politics.”

    “I think it’s become clear for a lot of megadonors that there are high stakes to a lot of primaries, and by spending in the primary, where there is typically lower turnout than in say, a statewide general election, they can get a lot of bang for their buck by investing in a primary election,” Beckel added.

    Thiel has indicated that he doesn’t intend to put any more money toward Vance’s bid as he reportedly believes the Ohio candidate is on track to win, and instead will focus his funding on Arizona Republican Blake Masters’ bid to oust Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in the final weeks leading up to the midterm election.

    Thiel, known for his roles in PayPal
    PYPL,
    -1.69%    ,
    Palantir
    PLTR,
    -0.25%
    and Facebook
    META,
    -3.92%    ,
    has also given a total $15 million to the Masters-aligned PAC, Saving Arizona, with his most recent contribution in July. Both Vance and Masters are venture capitalists, but Masters has worked with Thiel. He served as chief operating officer of Thiel Capital and president of the Thiel Foundation, and he co-authored a book on startups with Thiel in 2014. A representative for Thiel didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    5. Jeff Yass — $33 million

    Options trader Jeff Yass, who founded trading firm Susquehanna International Group, has contributed about $33 million on a federal level this cycle. Yass has given $15 million to the School Freedom Fund, or the equivalent of 97% of the PAC’s total fundraising. The group focuses on the issue of school choice, and its website states that some bureaucrats “hindered the development and education of our youth through school closures, mask mandates, critical race theory, and more.”

    Aside from the School Freedom Fund, Yass’ other biggest contributions are to the conservative Club for Action ($6.5 million), Kentucky Freedom ($5 million), Protect Freedom ($2 million) and Crypto Freedom ($1.9 million). A representative for Yass didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    4. Sam Bankman-Fried — $40 million

    Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and CEO of FTX, is the main funder behind Protect Our Future PAC, giving it $27 million of the $28 million it raised this cycle. 

    The organization says on its website that it focuses on promoting Democratic candidates championing pandemic preparedness and prevention “so this is the last time in our lifetime, and our children’s lifetimes, that we will face the devastation that has gripped communities across the U.S. since 2020.”

    The group spent more than $10 million supporting Democrat Carrick Flynn’s House bid in Oregon. Flynn lost his primary in May by 18 points despite his massive outside spending advantage. In addition to Flynn, the group has made over $1 million in independent expenditures each supporting Democratic congressional candidates Lucy McBath, a current representative from Georgia; Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Adam Hollier of Michigan, Valerie Foushee of North Carolina and Shontel Brown, a current representative from Ohio.

    Most of the other $10 million Bankman-Fried spent this cycle has gone to the House Majority PAC ($6 million) and the crypto PAC GMI ($2 million).

    While the vast majority of his spending has supported Democratic candidates and causes, Bankman-Fried does not classify himself as an exclusively Democratic donor — for instance he gave $105,000 to the Alabama Conservatives Fund in June and $45,000 to the NRCC in July. 

    He told Politico in August that he is “legitimately worried about doing things that will make people view me as partisan when it’s not how I feel … because I think it both misses what I’m trying to do and makes it harder for me to act constructively.” A representative for the FTX boss didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    3. Richard Uihlein — $49 million

    Richard Uihlein is the founder of the shipping and business supply company Uline, and is a longtime conservative donor. This cycle has seen nearly $50 million in political spending by him, with just over half of it going to Club for Growth Action. Uihlein has also given about $14 million to Restoration PAC, an organization that says it is “dedicated to strengthening the foundations that made America the greatest nation in the world: God, family, education, and community.”

    Uihlein’s next largest contributions are to the conservative Team PAC ($2.5 million) and the Arkansas Patriots Fund ($2.2 million), which earlier this year made ad buys favoring Republican Sen. John Boozman’s primary opponent. A representative for Uihlein didn’t respond to a request for comment.

    2. Ken Griffin — $51 million

    With $51 million in federal-level political spending, Ken Griffin, CEO of hedge fund Citadel, is the second most prolific donor this cycle.

    The biggest beneficiaries are the Republican-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund with $18.5 million in contributions, the Senate Leadership Fund with $10 million and Honor Pennsylvania, a super PAC that backed Republican Dave McCormick’s Senate bid. McCormick lost in the primary to Mehmet Oz by less than a thousand votes. 

    While Griffin spent about $64 million during the last cycle, his $51 million figure this year marks by far the most he has spent during a midterm cycle. During the 2018 cycle, his contributions totaled less than $8 million.

    A spokesperson for Griffin told MarketWatch that Griffin “supports leaders who are committed to protecting the American Dream and pursuing policies that will create a better future for the United States.”

    “The right policies will focus on creating rewarding jobs, prioritizing public safety, and investing in a strong national defense,” his spokesperson said. “Preserving the American Dream will require that every child is well educated, can access great healthcare, and has the opportunity to succeed.”

    1. George Soros — $129 million

    Not one donor comes close to matching the sum that billionaire philanthropist George Soros has contributed this cycle: $129 million. However, much of that money hasn’t actually been put to work this cycle.

    The majority of those on this list have focused their funding on Republican causes, but Soros’ money has gone to Democratic groups — specifically Democracy PAC II, whose $125 million in contributions comprises 99% of its fundraising. The super PAC spent more than $80 million on Democratic groups and candidates during the 2020 election.

    A representative for Soros pointed MarketWatch to a Politico article from January, in which Soros said the $125 million is aimed at supporting pro-democracy “causes and candidates, regardless of political party” who are invested in “strengthening the infrastructure of American democracy: voting rights and civic participation, civil rights and liberties, and the rule of law” and called his contribution a “long-term investment” that will  support political work beyond this year.

    So far this cycle, Democracy PAC has spent very little and holds $113 million in available cash. Contributions the PAC has made this cycle include $5 million to the Senate Majority PAC, $2.5 million to One Georgia and $1 million to both Care in Action and House Majority PAC.

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  • How a Clinical Advisory Board Can Grow Your Business

    How a Clinical Advisory Board Can Grow Your Business

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Our marketing agency is anything but “average.” We don’t churn out content or try to sign anyone and everyone as clients. Instead, we value quality and only work with people who share our philosophy. I’m extremely proud of the relationships we build with our clients and the marketing we produce for their dental practices, but I’m constantly looking for ways to do more and be better. I’ve always believed that you should surround yourself with people who have different skills and abilities than you do, and fortunately, I’ve been able to do that through the team we’ve built and our clients. That is also the reason my agency has a Clinical Advisory Board.

    Related: How To Create An Effective Advisory Board

    Why we have a Clinical Advisory Board

    Our Clinical Advisory Board, or “the CAB,” as I like to call it, is made up of some of the most successful dental professionals in the industry who have agreed to share their experiences and expertise with us as well as with other practices that are interested in taking their marketing to the next level. The CAB allows me and my team to dig a lot deeper than some other marketing agencies are able to and really address the issues that dental practices in particular are facing in the marketplace.

    While I have over two decades of experience in marketing for the dental industry, neither my partner Shawn nor I am a dentist in today’s economy. When I was working in the corporate world, doing the marketing for a national dental laboratory, I noticed one lab was collaborating with a doctor as a resource. That partnership stuck with me, and when I started my own company, I wanted to recreate that same type of alliance, knowing that it could only be beneficial to me, my company and the dental practices I would be working with.

    We started the Clinical Advisory Board at my agency because we wanted to relate to our clients, their experiences and their actual needs more fully, and we also wanted some oversight from real clinicians. We use the CAB as a sounding board and a resource to deepen our knowledge of the current state of the dental industry and what is happening in the various markets my company serves across the country.

    Related: The Benefits of Bringing in an Advisory Board

    How the Clinical Advisory Board benefits our business

    To establish the CAB, we invited some of the most engaged and successful dentists we know to participate. It was important for me to have professionals in the field provide feedback on marketing. We wanted a group of dentists we could call on to answer clinical questions and to help us take our marketing beyond what is typically “expected.” I knew that having this group of clinical advisors to work with would distinguish our agency from other marketing agencies that rely solely on their general marketing experience and don’t delve deeper into industry specifics.

    Having the CAB keeps us on the cutting edge of dental marketing. The dentists who participate give us information about what is happening right now and what trends they are seeing among their patients and within their individual markets. Not only is this valuable information from a business standpoint, as it allows us to be far more competitive than we would otherwise, but it is also valuable for the dental practices we work with. The information we get from CAB members helps us anticipate our clients’ needs and gives us more authority in our decision-making.

    I’m not the kind of person who settles for what is acceptable. I always want to strive for more. When it comes to my company, my team, and the way we do marketing, I’m not afraid to ask for a clinical opinion. It’s the best way to perfect our craft and be more effective. Sharing the information I receive from our CAB members also keeps me accountable to my current and potential clients, because I cannot put something out there I don’t fully stand behind.

    There is always something new to learn in marketing and in dentistry, which makes the CAB an extremely useful resource. Without it, we would definitely have less of a competitive edge. Establishing the Clinical Advisory Board for our agency is one of the best decisions my partner and I have made for our business.

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    Jackie Cullen

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  • 21 dividend stocks yielding 5% or more of companies that will produce plenty of cash in 2023

    21 dividend stocks yielding 5% or more of companies that will produce plenty of cash in 2023

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    When the stock market has jumped two days in a row, as it has now, it is easy to become complacent.

    But the Federal Reserve isn’t finished raising interest rates, and recession talk abounds. Stock investors aren’t out of the woods yet. That can make dividend stocks attractive if the yields are high and the companies produce more cash flow than they need to cover the payouts.

    Below is a list of 21 stocks drawn from the S&P Composite 1500 Index
    SP1500,
    +3.12%
    that appear to fit the bill. The S&P Composite 1500 is made up of the S&P 500
    SPX,
    +3.06%    ,
    the S&P 400 Mid Cap Index
    MID,
    +3.18%
    and the S&P Small Cap 600 Index
    SML,
    +3.80%    .

    The purpose of the list is to provide a starting point for further research. These stocks may be appropriate for you if you are looking for income, but you should do your own assessment to form your own opinion about a company’s ability to remain competitive over the next decade.

    Cash flow is key

    One way to measure a company’s ability to pay dividends is to look at its free cash flow yield. Free cash flow is remaining cash flow after planned capital expenditures. This money can be used to pay for dividends, buy back shares (which can raise earnings and cash flow per share), or fund acquisitions, organic expansion or for other corporate purposes.

    If we divide a company’s estimated annual free cash flow per share by its current share price, we have its estimated free cash flow yield. If we compare the free cash flow yield to the current dividend yield, we may see “headroom” for cash to be deployed in ways that can benefit shareholders.

    For this screen, we began with the S&P Composite 1500, then narrowed the list as follows:

    • Dividend yield of at least 5.00%.

    • Consensus free cash flow estimate available for calendar 2023, among at least five analysts polled by FactSet. We used calendar-year estimates, even though fiscal years for many companies don’t match the calendar.

    • Estimated 2023 free cash flow yield of at least double the current dividend yield.

    For real-estate investment trusts, dividend-paying ability is measured by funds from operations (FFO), a non-GAAP figure that adds depreciation and amortization back to earnings. Adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) takes this a step further, subtracting cash expected to be used to maintain properties. So for the two REITs on the list, the FCF yield column makes use of AFFO.

    For many companies in the financial sector, especially banks and insurers, free cash flow figures aren’t available, so the screen made use of earnings-per-share estimates. These are generally considered to run close to actual cash flow for these heavily regulated industries.

    Here are the 21 companies that passed the screen, with dividend yields of at least 5% and estimated 2023 FCF yields at least twice the current payout. They are sorted by dividend yield:

    Company

    		 Ticker

    		 Type

    		 Dividend yield

    		 Estimated 2023 FCF yield

    		 Estimated “headroom”
    Uniti Group Inc.

    		 UNIT,
    +7.36%         		Real-Estate Investment Trusts

    		 8.33%

    		 25.25%

    		 16.92%
    Hanesbrands Inc.

    		 HBI,
    +5.56%         		Apparel/ Footwear

    		 8.33%

    		 17.29%

    		 8.96%
    Kohl’s Corp.

    		 KSS,
    +5.80%         		Department Stores

    		 7.68%

    		 16.72%

    		 9.04%
    Rent-A-Center Inc.

    		 RCII,
    +10.40%         		Finance/ Rental/ Leasing

    		 7.52%

    		 17.26%

    		 9.73%
    Macerich Co.

    		 MAC,
    +8.18%         		Real-Estate Investment Trusts

    		 7.43%

    		 18.04%

    		 10.60%
    Devon Energy Corp.

    		 DVN,
    +5.72%         		Oil & Gas Production

    		 7.13%

    		 14.47%

    		 7.33%
    AT&T Inc.

    		 T,
    +1.19%         		Major Telecommunications

    		 6.98%

    		 14.82%

    		 7.84%
    Newell Brands Inc.

    		 NWL,
    +5.16%         		Industrial Conglomerates

    		 6.59%

    		 17.42%

    		 10.82%
    Dow Inc.

    		 DOW,
    +2.96%         		Chemicals

    		 6.18%

    		 15.63%

    		 9.45%
    LyondellBasell Industries NV

    		 LYB,
    +3.64%         		Chemicals

    		 6.09%

    		 16.07%

    		 9.99%
    Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. Class A

    		 SMG,
    +5.01%         		Chemicals

    		 6.04%

    		 12.68%

    		 6.65%
    Diamondback Energy Inc.

    		 FANG,
    +5.23%         		Oil & Gas Production

    		 5.56%

    		 13.63%

    		 8.08%
    Best Buy Co. Inc.

    		 BBY,
    +5.86%         		Electronics/ Appliance Stores

    		 5.53%

    		 14.08%

    		 8.55%
    Viatris Inc.

    		 VTRS,
    +5.62%         		Pharmaceuticals

    		 5.50%

    		 28.95%

    		 23.45%
    Prudential Financial Inc.

    		 PRU,
    +5.66%         		Life/ Health Insurance

    		 5.38%

    		 13.30%

    		 7.91%
    Ford Motor Co.

    		 F,
    +7.76%         		Motor Vehicles

    		 5.23%

    		 15.95%

    		 10.72%
    Invesco Ltd.

    		 IVZ,
    +6.76%         		Investment Managers

    		 5.23%

    		 14.95%

    		 9.73%
    Franklin Resources Inc.

    		 BEN,
    +4.37%         		Investment Managers

    		 5.17%

    		 13.21%

    		 8.04%
    Kontoor Brands Inc.

    		 KTB,
    +0.73%         		Apparel/ Footwear

    		 5.17%

    		 14.15%

    		 8.98%
    Seagate Technology Holdings PLC

    		 STX,
    +4.09%         		Computer Peripherals

    		 5.11%

    		 13.19%

    		 8.07%
    Foot Locker Inc.

    		 FL,
    +1.35%         		Apparel/ Footwear Retail

    		 5.03%

    		 15.52%

    		 10.49%
    Source: FactSet

    Any stock screen has its limitations. If you are interested in stocks listed here, it is best to do your own research, and it is easy to get started by clicking the tickers in the table for more information about each company. Click here for Tomi Kilgore’s detailed guide to the wealth of information for free on the MarketWatch quote page.

    For the “estimated FCF yields,” consensus free cash flow estimates for calendar 2023 were used for all companies except the following:

    Don’t miss: Dividend yields on preferred stocks have soared. This is how to pick the best ones for your portfolio.

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  • Shoppers more likely to buy on Pi Day and other “special” day-themed promotions

    Shoppers more likely to buy on Pi Day and other “special” day-themed promotions

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    Newswise — Call it “having their ‘Pi’ and buying too.” A new study finds that consumers are more likely to make purchases during promotions tied to a special day, like Pi Day (March 14), than during regular holiday or non-distinctive day promotions.

    Researchers describe their findings in a paper, “Promoting Pi Day: Consumer Response to Special Day-Themed Sales Promotions,” published in the October 2022 print issue of the Journal of Consumer Psychology.

    “We found that special day-themed sales promotions lead consumers to be more likely to use the discounts to make a purchase compared to the more standard promotions,” said Daniel Zane, assistant professor of marketing at Lehigh University, who authored the paper with Rebecca Walker Reczek of The Ohio State University and Kelly Haws of Vanderbilt University. “We also discovered that the positive consumer response to special day-themed promotions is essentially driven by consumers’ rewarding marketers for their creativity in providing a way to celebrate the special day.”

    While many consumers associate discounts with traditional holidays and sales events such as Black Friday, Labor Day and Back to School, firms often now link discounts to “special days,” novel holidays not historically associated with promotions. 

    Think pizza and pie promotions or 31.4% discounts for Pi Day, the annual celebration of the mathematical constant Pi (3.14…). Or sales on apparel, games or toys for Mario Day (MAR10) and Star Wars Day, May 4 (May the Fourth Be With You). Companies may tie promotions to National Ice Cream Day, National Dog Day, their founder’s birthday or the anniversary of a customer’s first purchase. Lands’ End created its own special day when it launched National Swimsuit Day.

    First research to explore special-day promotions

    The proliferation of special day-themed promotions in the marketplace – including in social media and e-commerce – inspired the researchers to explore whether the companies using them were seeing a benefit, such as increased sales, new customers and more brand loyalty. They are the first to systematically study the effects of special day-themed sales promotions, and the study is the first to explore how consumers’ perceptions of marketers’ creativity in linking promotions to special days can influence purchasing behavior.

    Using field and laboratory studies, the researchers randomly showed participants one of two versions of a promotion, either a special day-themed promotion or a more traditional promotion, and assessed their intentions to use the discount to make a purchase. In one experiment, they found that consumers report being significantly more likely to make a purchase from a company when offered the National Picnic Day Sale, compared to the same discount framed as an Annual One Day Sale.

    In another study, they partnered with a firm and found that consumers who received a 25% discount by email in celebration of the day that a company adopted its mascot dog were nearly twice as likely to click a link in the email to shop on the company’s website compared to those who received an equivalent discount with no mention of the dog’s special day. The effect held for national special days as well as special days more personal to an individual consumer, like the anniversary of their first purchase with the company. 

    Their findings show that consumers are more likely to respond favorably to a discount celebrating a special day compared to the same discount with no link to a special day. The key is that consumers must find the promotion to be both original and appropriate, Zane said. For example, a spa pedicure discount on National Barefoot Day, versus a discount on clothing in celebration of a national food day.

    Creative, appropriate promotions drive engagement

    When consumers see a high fit between a firm and a special day-themed promotion, the perceived creativity drives increased intentions to use the promotion, the researchers said. However, when consumers see a low fit – even with the positive influence of creativity – the perceived inappropriateness “ultimately hurts purchase intentions enough to cancel out any positive effect of originality,” they said.

    It’s known that more traditional sales promotions can generate negative thoughts about a firm because consumers assume marketers are just trying to persuade them to spend money, or they suspect the company is trying to unload old inventory, Zane said.

    “Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this research was what we found to be the psychological driver of consumers’ positive response to special day-themed promotions,” he said. “They actually think about how the marketer who created the special day-themed promotion was creative in providing a way to celebrate the special day. In essence, consumers then reward marketers for their creativity by being more likely to use a special day discount to make a purchase from that company.”

    Knowing the impact that special day-themed sales promotions have on shopping behavior can benefit both marketers and consumers, Zane said. For marketers and businesses, there is promise for increased sales, new customers and more engagement tied to such promotions. “The findings suggest that linking a discount to a company-generated special day can positively impact real customer behavior,” the researchers said. “It is possible that consumers who receive special day-themed discounts may feel they are unique or in an exclusive subset of consumers receiving the promotion.”

    With technology and availability of customer data, there are growing opportunities to create special days and promotions specific to a customer’s interaction with a company, which may show additional potential, Zane said.

    “For consumers, this work can perhaps help them reflect on the many hidden forces that shape our marketplace behaviors,” he said. “Being aware of this might help curb unnecessary or impulsive purchases.”

    That’s knowledge as sweet as Pi.

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    Lehigh University

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  • Dow falls 500 points Friday as stocks book third straight quarterly loss, set new 2022 lows

    Dow falls 500 points Friday as stocks book third straight quarterly loss, set new 2022 lows

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    U.S. stocks dropped sharply Friday, with major indexes posting their lowest finishes since 2020 and logging a third straight quarterly decline as investors grew more fearful that aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve will drive the economy into a downturn in an attempt to quell inflation.

    What’s happening
    • The Dow Jones Industrial Average
      DJIA,
      -1.71%
      dropped 500.10 points, or 1.7%, to close at 28,725.51.

    • The S&P 500
      SPX,
      -1.51%
      dropped 54.85 points, or 1.5%, to end at 3,585.61.

    • The Nasdaq Composite
      COMP,
      -0.43%
      shed 161.88 points, of 1.5%, finishing at 10,575.61.

    The drop left the Dow and S&P 500 at their lowest since November 2020, while the Nasdaq posted its lowest close since July 29, 2020. The Dow dropped 8.8% in September, while the S&P 500 tumbled 9.3% and the Nasdaq lost 10.5%.

    For the quarter, the Dow dropped 6.7%, the S&P 500 declined 5.3% and the Nasdaq gave up 4.1%.

    What’s driving the market

    In keeping with the historical pattern, U.S. stocks suffered during the month of September as an assertive Federal Reserve helped push Treasury yields and the dollar higher, which in turn undermined equity valuations.

    See: It’s the worst September for stocks since 2008. What that means for October.

    Investors on Friday digested a reading from the personal consumption expenditure inflation index for August, which showed that core consumer prices climbed by 0.6% last month, more than Wall Street’s forecast of 0.5%. The core inflation measure excludes volatile food and energy prices.

    See: Cheaper gas holds down inflation, PCE shows, but the cost of everything else is still going up fast

    “That means the Fed will remain hell-bent on killing inflation. And the best way to do that is to increase rates, kill the housing market, and get rental costs down. The PCE doesn’t have housing and rents as a big component as the CPI does, so the fact that it is rising is a warning sign,” said Louis Navellier, founder of Navellier & Associates, in emailed comments.

    Read: Will October be another stock-market ‘bear killer’? Why investors need to tread carefully around seasonal trends.

    The reading largely confirmed similar data from the consumer-price index, another closely watched inflation barometer, which sent stocks lower earlier this month. Since that report was released just over two weeks ago, the S&P 500 has fallen more than 10%.

    Helping to underscore this point, data out of the eurozone showed inflation accelerated at a record pace last month.

    See: Eurozone Inflation posts new record high of 10% in September

    In other news, investors also heard from Fed Vice Chair Lael Brainard, who reiterated that the central bank would keep interest rates elevated to combat inflation, even if it harms the economy.

    See: Fed won’t pull back from rate hikes prematurely, Brainard says

    Since it will take time for high interest rates to bring inflation down, Brainard said the Fed is “committed to avoiding pulling back prematurely.”

    Investors were also keeping an eye on megacap tech stocks. Apple Inc. AAPL fell 3% on Friday after leading markets lower a day earlier following a downgrade by Bank of America.

    Need to know: Here’s why investors should start betting on Apple and the stock market now

    A final reading on the University of Michigan consumer-sentiment index for September showed consumers’ view of the economy improved somewhat during the month due to falling gas prices, even as their outlook remained broadly pessimistic.

    Investors are now facing “what may be one of the most important earning seasons in a very long time, with a major rally in the cards if earnings don’t disappoint, and if the bears are right, lead to a further leg down if earnings disappoint and 4th quarter estimates are cut,” Navellier said.

    See: U.S. consumers remain pessimistic about economy even as inflation fears wane

    Stocks in focus

    — Steve Goldstein and Barbara Kollmeyer contributed to this article

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  • Knockaround Sunglasses to Be the Official Eyewear Partner of the 2022 Bay to Breakers Race in San Francisco

    Knockaround Sunglasses to Be the Official Eyewear Partner of the 2022 Bay to Breakers Race in San Francisco

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    Knockaround and Capstone Races are pleased to announce that Knockaround, the original, affordable sunglasses and lifestyle brand out of San Diego, will be the Official Eyewear sponsor of the 2022 Bay to Breakers 12K.

    Press Release
    –

    Apr 28, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, April 28, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Knockaround and Capstone Races are pleased to announce that Knockaround, the original, affordable sunglasses and lifestyle brand out of San Diego, will be the Official Eyewear sponsor of the 2022 Bay to Breakers 12K.  Held in San Francisco, the iconic Bay to Breakers race is a glorious celebration of the human spirit.  This year, the 111th annual event, will be held Sunday, May 15, 2022.  

    As part of Knockaround’s sponsorship, the brand will infuse its own personality into the energy of Bay to Breakers. A dedicated Knockaround aid station will feature volunteers dressed as Magnum PI, sharing their tropical, smooth, lifestyle vibes with participants on-course. At the finish line festival, there will also be an opportunity to capture a groovy team photo with a retro VW bus and potentially win Knockaround sunglasses for a year by taking a swing at the Piñata Farm (taking on mini piñatas with pool noodles). 

    “We are excited to be a part of this pillar event in San Francisco culture. Every year thousands of runners, walkers, and spectators fill the streets to celebrate – some racing to compete and others dressing up in costumes to party. It is the perfect blend of the Knockaround sport and culture brought to life in an event,” said Adam Moyer, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Knockaround.

    “Bay to Breakers is a marquee event in the San Francisco community, embodying the competitive and fun part of running and walking, which is why Knockaround is the perfect partner,” said Charlie Mercer, CEO of Capstone Events which produces Bay to Breakers. “Their fun-loving vibe and eclectic choice of products and colorways is a perfect fit for our diverse set of participants.”

    Knockaround has evolved into a lifestyle brand with a broad assortment of non-prescription eyewear that includes polarized sunglasses, blue-light-blocking glasses, sport sunglasses, ski and snowboard goggles, and a custom design eyewear program. Knockaround’s focus on creativity and authenticity along with building a culture around the brand has established a loyal fan base, positioning the company to achieve accelerated growth and realize its vision of becoming the leading sunglasses brand for consumers and athletes everywhere.

    Bay to Breakers is a 100-plus-year-old event, built by the people. Since 1912, over 2 million costumed runners, walkers, and centipedes have completed the iconic 12K journey from the San Francisco Bay to the breakers on Ocean Beach. Runners come from across the globe to experience the quintessential San Francisco experience, featuring thousands of spectators lining the route, live music, and more.

    About Knockaround

    Knockaround is the original, affordable sunglasses company from San Diego, founded by Adam “Ace” Moyer in 2005. Centered around durable shades that are both practical and stylish, Knockaround provides high-quality sunglasses that won’t break the bank. Knockaround has grown to offer numerous different frame styles in a wide range of colors as well as ongoing Limited Edition special releases, collaborations, and an interactive “design your own” custom sunglasses shop. Knockaround Sunglasses have been featured in GQ, US Weekly, and The Today Show, and have been worn by countless celebrities including Matthew McConaughey, John Mayer, Natalie Portman, Snoop Dogg, and John Legend. For more information, visit Knockaround.com or follow (@knockaround) on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

    Media Contact:  

    Tony Martinez, Director of Marketing

    E: tony@knockaround.com  

    T: 619-997-3717

    Source: Knockaround

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  • Knockaround Sunglasses to Be the Official Eyewear Partner of San Francisco’s 2022 Outside Lands Festival

    Knockaround Sunglasses to Be the Official Eyewear Partner of San Francisco’s 2022 Outside Lands Festival

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    Press Release
    –

    Apr 22, 2022


    SAN DIEGO, April 22, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Knockaround and Superfly are pleased to announce that Knockaround, the original, affordable sunglasses and lifestyle brand out of San Diego, will be the Official Eyewear sponsor of San Francisco’s 2022 Outside Lands Festival. Held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Outside Lands is the ultimate celebration of music, food, and Northern California lifestyle. This year, the 14th annual festival will be held from Aug. 5-7, 2022. 

    As part of Knockaround’s sponsorship, the brand will have a large activation presence where the legions of fans attending the festival can experience the Knockaround brand in fun, engaging ways and shop for their favorite sunglasses across the Knockaround assortment. The brand will also be debuting new products, launching just in time for the presence at Outside Lands.

    “We are beyond thrilled to be part of such an iconic San Francisco institution. Over the weekend there will be over 200,000 fans enjoying music and all the best parts of California culture, which makes it a perfect fit for Knockaround and all that we have to offer,” said Adam Moyer, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Knockaround.

    Knockaround has evolved into a lifestyle brand with a broad assortment of non-prescription eyewear that includes polarized sunglasses, blue-light blocking glasses, ski and snowboard goggles, and a custom design eyewear program. Knockaround’s focus on creativity and authenticity along with building a culture around the brand have established a loyal fan base, positioning the company to achieve accelerated growth and realize its vision of becoming the leading sunglasses brand for consumers and athletes everywhere.

    Outside Lands spans across three days from August 5-7 and continues to blaze new trails as a festival that’s totally original and totally San Francisco.  Aside from performances from artists across nine stages, the festival programming combines the eclectic lineup with world-class art, wine, food, cannabis, interactive activities, culinary experiences and more, which truly means there is something for everybody, just like at Knockaround. This year’s lineup, just announced, features an incredible lineup including headliners Green Day, Post Malone and SZA with an extensive array of diverse performers.

    About Knockaround

    Knockaround is the original, affordable sunglasses company from San Diego, founded by Adam “Ace” Moyer in 2005. Centered around durable shades that are both practical and stylish, Knockaround provides high-quality sunglasses that won’t break the bank. Knockaround has grown to offer numerous different frame styles in a wide range of colors as well as ongoing Limited Edition special releases, collaborations, and an interactive “design your own” custom sunglasses shop. Knockaround Sunglasses have been featured in GQ, US Weekly, and The Today Show, and have been worn by countless celebrities. For more information, visit Knockaround.com or follow (@knockaround) on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

    Media Contact:  

    Tony Martinez

    tony@knockaround.com  

    Source: Knockaround

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  • Discovery Senior Living Named Three-Time Winner in 2022 Aspect Awards Competition

    Discovery Senior Living Named Three-Time Winner in 2022 Aspect Awards Competition

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    Three of the senior housing provider’s newest, original print and digital marketing campaigns were honored for messaging and creative excellence by a national judging panel in the annual competition presented by Aging Media Network.

    Press Release
    –

    Apr 18, 2022


    BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., April 18, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Discovery Senior Living and in-house creative arm, Discovery Marketing Group, kicked off the 2022 awards session by winning three Aspect Awards for creative excellence in messaging and multimedia design. Presented by Aging Media Network (AMN), the Aspect Awards honor the best examples of advertising, public relations and marketing of products and services in the health care continuum, with winners chosen by a nationwide panel of judges.

    Competing in the Senior Housing and Senior Living category, Discovery Senior Living won first place Aspect Awards in the Digital Display/PPC Campaign category with its “SHINE a Light on Memory Care” digital ad program, and in the Print, Direct Mail & Billboard category with the “Because She’s Mom/He’s Dad” marketing and ad campaign. The agency also claimed second-highest honor in the Digital Display/PPC Campaign for its “A Place to Grow” digital Ad Campaign.

    A recap of Discovery’s Aspect-Award-Winning works:

    • Best Digital Display/PPC Campaign: “SHINE a Light on Memory Care” (First Place) 
    • Best Print, Direct Mail & Billboard Campaign: “Because She’s Mom/He’s Dad” (First Place)
    • Best Digital Display/PPC Campaign: “A Place to Grow” (Second Place) 

    “As the senior care industry approaches a post-pandemic future, marketing and advertising will play key roles in recovery across the continuum,” said George Yedinak, Executive Vice President of Aging Media Network. “The focus is shifting back to growth, occupancy and census, and this year’s Aspect Awards entries took an innovative lens to that change.”

    The Aspect Award victories are the first in 2022 for Discovery Senior Living and Discovery Marketing Group, which won 21 industry, national and global awards for creative excellence in the 2021 awards session.

    Discovery Senior Living currently owns and operates a national, multi-branded portfolio of more than 110 communities in 19 states.

    About Discovery Senior Living

    Discovery Senior Living is a family of companies that includes Discovery Management Group, Morada Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, Discovery Marketing Group, and Discovery At Home, a Medicare-certified home healthcare company. With almost three decades of experience, the award-winning management group has been developing, building, marketing, and operating upscale senior-living communities across the United States. By leveraging its innovative “Experiential Living” philosophy across a growing portfolio of more than 15,000 existing homes or homes under development, Discovery Senior Living is a recognized industry leader for lifestyle customization and today ranks among the 10 largest U.S. senior living operators and providers.

    Media Inquiries: 

    Heidi LaVanway, Vice President of Marketing

    HLaVanway@DiscoveryMGT.com| 239.301.5330

    Source: Discovery Senior Living

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  • Solutions-II Announces Traci Easton as Senior Director of Marketing

    Solutions-II Announces Traci Easton as Senior Director of Marketing

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    Traci Easton Promoted for Delivering Marketing Excellence for Solutions-II’s Best-in-Class Solutions

    Press Release
    –

    Mar 16, 2022


    LITTLETON, Colo., March 16, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Solutions-II, an award-winning Solution Provider specializing in Security, IT Managed Services, Hybrid Cloud, Data Management, Infrastructure, and Hybrid Maintenance solutions, announces the advancement of Traci Easton to Senior Director of Marketing. In this role, Easton will be responsible for leading marketing initiatives, digital marketing, corporate branding, and public relation communications with a focus on demand generation, thought leadership content, and enriching the client journey.

    “Solutions-II is entering its 30th year of business, and we have been fortunate to have Traci bringing subject matter expertise, integrity, and passion as a core member of the team for nearly 19 of those years,” said Todd Bowling, President/CEO. “Her expertise and innovation around marketing, automation, and social responsibility allow us to expand our market visibility and generate demand for our solutions as we enter a new phase of growth.” 

    Easton is a highly qualified marketing professional with over 22 years of experience in strategy, branding, communications, and corporate social media within the IT industry. Her recognition is a result of her focus on providing valuable content and thought leadership while showcasing the success Solutions-II achieves partnering with its clients. 

    “I am thrilled about this upward opportunity within Solutions-II,” said Traci Easton. “Solutions-II invests heavily in next-level IT solutions, partnering with their clients and a talented employee base. Solutions-II gives us the latitude to think outside the box, do what is right for our clients and community, and go beyond traditional marketing and branding initiatives to showcase our unique industry value. Solutions-II has built a culture where doing ‘and then some’ is both nurtured and encouraged.”

    About Solutions-II. Recognized for world-class innovation including the Adaptable Data Center®, a secure framework for digital transformation, cybersecurity, virtualization, business continuance, infrastructure, cloud, and professional services (including managed services) in the Data Center. Our knowledge, skills, and solutions installed within the Public Safety industry currently protect nearly 27 million citizens nationwide and our Casino Gaming practice spans clients from single property organizations to clients with locations worldwide.

    Solutions-II is steadfast in our commitment to continuous education and growth. Our employees hold over 400 certifications, and we are proud of our notable achievements, most recently: CRN Security 100, MSP 500, Tech Elite 250, IBM Platinum Partner, Beacon Award Winner, Outstanding Security Partner, and more. Solutions-II has partnered with clients since 1992 as an extension of their IT teams; providing innovative services and solutions intertwined with our corporate virtues of Integrity, Passion, and Quality to keep them “Performing Ahead of the Curve.” Learn more at http://www.Solutions-ii.com.

    PR Contact: Traci J. Easton | Solutions-II, Inc. | (702) 802-6390 | Traci.Easton@Solutions-ii.com

    Source: Solutions-II, Inc.

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  • Spuncksides Promotion Production is Building Something Great With SFI

    Spuncksides Promotion Production is Building Something Great With SFI

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    Current Marketing Executive Alvin Johnson makes a long awaited return to the online arena with a keen focus on promoting merchandise and building stronger sales teams for Strong Future International, formerly Six Figure Income, (SFI).

    Press Release
    –

    Jan 17, 2022


    BATTLE CREEK, Mich., January 17, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    A previous press release; “The Story Behind The Online Marketing Connection” dated (2003) opened the debut entry among the Google search engine stimulating recognition among competitive company owners and small businesses on a global scale. Mr. Alvin Johnson recalls the competition as he shared his online presence with his then very small online audience. The company is initiating online marketing search engine listings to keep abreast of changing marketing strategies as this is the true purpose for creating the word phrase; “online marketing connection”.

    The concept was to create a space that provided information where the user could keep current with technological advancements. At that time he sat at his desk contemplating how he could not only promote his business without spamming or being spammed, he also wanted to share the discovery with his affiliates. Facing this dilemma, he decided to take a break and research more information from the search engine listing he created himself: Online Marketing Connection, which rose from seven search results in 2003 to almost 40,000 listings in 2005.

    Search results rose from about 8,380,000,000 to 11,420,000,000 results overnight on Jan. 10, 2022.

    Remaining much more relevant today as technology exerts a forward motion ahead and competition remains actively stronger as the search results reveal, Mr. Johnson, founder of Spuncksides, envisions a targeted audience of online shoppers due to the many disruptions in the workplace caused by the pandemic. 

    COVID-19 has changed specifically how to do business. Masks, social distancing, and Zoom meetings; human involvement will be placed farther in the closet as high tech Smart actions replace many online digital commands and demands. Online marketing connects IoT to smart cloud computing. 

    “The Internet of Things is not a concept; it is a network, the true technology-enabled Network of all networks.” – – Edewede Oriwoh

    Reshared From Gartner; “Gartner’s Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact Radar for 2022 and in the healthcare and health insurance space, these technologies are already changing the world!”

    Everything smart from laptops, tablets, smartphones, household appliances, traffic signals to scheduling takes on a remote demand. These search results will aid us in predicting our changing digital environment. We want to know where to go to find what is relevant to our mission and remain abreast with these ever-changing demands seeking those ventures which are in demand and give us the best ROI.

    Emerging digital technology – Dell Technologies, is the driving force behind company mergers such as banks as we observe the swallowing up of smaller business ventures. The independent marketing executive must select and rely on larger companies to do their bidding.

    BUILD SOMETHING GREAT!

    Alvin Johnson
    Marketing Executive
    Spuncksides Promotion Production
    caresrepaljohnson@gmail.com
    44 Clark Rd. N, Battle Creek, MI 49037

    Source: Spuncksides Promotion Production

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  • Elite Alliance Introduces New Residence Club in Downtown San Miguel De Allende, Voted the #1 City in the World by Travel + Leisure

    Elite Alliance Introduces New Residence Club in Downtown San Miguel De Allende, Voted the #1 City in the World by Travel + Leisure

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Sep 23, 2021


    ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 23, 2021 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Elite Alliance®, the leader in luxury fractional real estate consulting and sales, vacation home exchange, resort hospitality management, and vacation rental, announced Quinta Tenerías residence club in downtown San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, as its newest partnership. Quinta Tenerías owners enjoy an enviable array of amenities, services, and privileges, along with easy access to all the attractions that made San Miguel the #1 city in the world for two consecutive years among Travel + Leisure readers. Quinta Tenerías is an intimate and elegant private residence club located in the heart of one of the most desirable, beautiful, and iconic cities in Mexico. Owners select from two categories of luxurious two-bedroom residences, either the 1,450-square-foot Luxe Residences or the 1,980-square-foot Grand Residences, all of which come fully furnished in distinctively different but equally appealing designs.

    There are eight like-minded owners per residence, and each enjoys frequent and flexible access to their elegant home throughout the year. Unlike traditional vacation homes, the club staff ensures worry-free ownership and hassle-free vacations. The Quinta Tenerías residences seamlessly blend contemporary interior design with the traditional San Miguel de Allende architecture style. The Luxe Residences are single-story with terraces overlooking interior gardens. The Grand Residences are two-story residences with an outdoor terrace offering Cathedral views.

    “Elite Alliance Real Estate was retained by Quinta Tenerías to create the fractional ownership structure and supervise the sales and marketing efforts,” said Rob Goodyear, President of Elite Alliance. “We are also providing our expertise in management and rental services, including membership into our vacation exchange program.”

    Goodyear noted that club owners can relax in their San Miguel home with friends and family while enjoying resort services, send unaccompanied guests, rent some of their vacation time through Elite Alliance Hospitality, and exchange vacations with owners of other luxury homes and residence clubs in more than 120 international locations through Elite Alliance Exchange.

    Quinta Tenerías offers more than beautiful residences. Owners and their guests also enjoy a rooftop terrace with cocktail lounge, jacuzzi, and fire pits, club courtyard, barbecue, and outdoor kitchen area, as well as access to fitness and yoga classes, pre-arrival grocery service, housekeeping, and full concierge. The club is in close proximity to colorful festivals of the region and some of the most acclaimed tourist attractions in Mexico. The captivating history and culture of San Miguel allows visitors to take part in diverse activities, cultural experiences, and intense excursions like nowhere else in the world. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, with its unique, attractive charm that reflects all that is best about Mexico, Quinta Tenerías Residence Club provides a desirable lifestyle in one of the globe’s top urban destinations.

    About Elite Alliance

    Thirty years ago, Elite Alliance® Founder Steve Dering, created the world’s first residence club at top-rated Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. This innovative, fractional ownership model, which increased accessibility for buyers and market size for developers, became the fastest-growing segment of the vacation home market. As Elite Alliance’s portfolio of luxury residence clubs expanded, it introduced Elite Alliance Exchange, a program that allows owners to explore other coveted destinations at nominal expense. Elite Alliance Exchange quickly earned a reputation for first-class customer service in facilitating and coordinating exchange vacations. As a result, Elite Alliance Hospitality was created to provide robust hospitality and rental management services for residence clubs, hotels, and resorts that improve operational performance and client satisfaction.

    Today, Elite Alliance continues to set the standard for excellence in fractional real estate consulting, vacation exchange, and hospitality management – always guided by a commitment to integrity and innovation.

    For more information on Elite Alliance Real Estate, Hospitality and Exchange services, please visit www.elitealliance.com, or contact Rob Goodyear at rgoodyear@elitealliance.com or 214.393.2842.

    About Quinta Tenerías Residence Club

    Quinta Tenerías is an equity Residence Club providing fractional real estate ownership in the heart of San Miguel de Allende. Each Club Residence boasts modern architecture and is fully furnished and accessorized. Club Residences feature all five elements of Feng Shui such as wood and stone floors to interconnect outdoor spaces with interior areas, water fountains to promote positive energy (CH’I), fireplaces to represent the fire element for success, and metal elements associated with the qualities of pleasure and creativity. Every aspect is intended to provide comfort, safety, and harmony throughout the Club. Rogelio Villanueva, CEO and Founder, had the vision of creating a space where Mexican architecture and culture could merge in a place surrounded by luxury and comfort. He opted for San Miguel de Allende as the best place to introduce his concept to the world.

    For more information on Quinta Tenerías, please visit www.quintatenerias.com.

    ###

    Source: Elite Alliance, LLC

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  • Austin Pets Alive! | Overcoming Obstacles – Lasagna’s Journey to Walk…

    Austin Pets Alive! | Overcoming Obstacles – Lasagna’s Journey to Walk…

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    Jul 06, 2021

    “His determination to overcome a horrific past and his pure will to reject the aid of a wheelchair was the point that sealed the deal.”

    Sweet, friendly, and now full of energy, you’d never guess Lasagna had a traumatic, rough first year of life. As a young pup, Lasagna came to Austin Pets Alive! paralyzed, likely from a gunshot wound. He was unable to bring his back legs underneath him and could not bear weight. Stranger to houses, as he had never been in one, Lasagna simply wanted a home where he could live a fun, comfortable life that every dog deserves. What Lasagna didn’t know is that his soon-to-be foster dad would do everything in his power to find him just that.

    Lasagna’s foster dad, Jeffrey, was not a marketing guru, but he did his best to ensure Lasagna got the life he deserved. What we really should be asking is, “What didn’t Jeffrey do?” Jeffrey posted regular Facebook updates, created an Instagram account, submitted photos for Lasanga’s APA! bio, taught himself how to use hashtags, had Lasagna featured in mobility-challenged pup marketing, had Lasagna in a workshop covered by KXAN, and even snuck Lasagna into a dog showoff sponsored by Tito’s! With rapid succession, Lasagna had 3 adoption inquiries in a short amount of time!

    One potential adopter mentioned he liked how Lasagna “tossed his wheelchair aside and decided to push through learning to walk instead.” Lasagna continued to face adversity with 4 pressure ulcers on his hind leg and paws and contracting tapeworm, which led to starvation and a behavior shift. But he persevered, and grew into the nickname “Wags” because of how much he wagged his tail! Jeffrey and Lasagna faced the challenges head-on and Jeffrey noted that Lasagna “loves like no creature I’ve seen before.”

    Enter Richard, a man who was ready to find his new best friend. After browsing several dog profiles, the behavior team at APA! recommended Lasagna to Richard. He LOVED Lasagna’s Instagram account. He recalls Lasagna’s story as “heartbreaking but even more so inspiring. This is how my granddaughter came to name him MAGNAR which translates to “survivor.” After a successful meet-and-greet with Lasagna, now Magnar, and foster Jeffrey, they were sold. Magnar has improved greatly as he is now able to clear a 12-step flight of stairs with no issue!

    Strong and brave, Magnar — appropriately named — overcame his rocky start to life. He’s happy to finally have a place to call home. Fosters and adopters play such an important role in giving our medical animals at APA! a chance at life. Consider being a lifeline to a pet in need by becoming a foster today. It can really turn their life around — just look at Magnar.

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  • International Association of Women Recognizes Kelly Vaughan as a 2018-2019 Influencer

    International Association of Women Recognizes Kelly Vaughan as a 2018-2019 Influencer

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Aug 28, 2018


    CHICAGO, August 28, 2018 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The International Association of Women (IAW) recognizes Kelly Vaughan as a 2018-2019 Influencer. She is acknowledged as a leader in entrepreneurship. The International Association of Women (IAW) is a global in-person and online networking platform with nearly one million members, 1000+ in person and virtual events, over 100 Local US-based Chapters and International Chapters in several cities in China.

    “I’m pleased to welcome Kelly into this exceptional group of professional women,” said IPDN President and IAW Spokesperson Star Jones. “Her knowledge and experience in her industry are valuable assets to her company and community.”

    I use the skills I have learned from working in the corporate world for 30 years and as an entrepreneur to build longevity and lasting relationships and to create opportunities for learning and listening to what the industry needs next.

    Kelly Vaughan, Owner of JAG Products, Inc.

    It was while vacationing on a Montana ranch about 18 years ago when Kelly Vaughan met someone who would change the course of her life. “One of the wranglers working at the ranch was Jim Gravelle,” she said. “You could tell he had a true passion for what he did. It was an instant connection, and we could talk for hours.”

    After he told her about his idea for improving electric fencing, she was impressed with his ‘out of the box’ thinking. “By the time the week at the ranch came to an end, Jim surprised me on the last day by declaring we were now ‘partners!’” said Ms. Vaughan. “That is how JAG Products, Inc. began.”

    Sadly, in 2003, Mr. Gravelle died right before they were to meet with their first retail customer. As hard as it was, Ms. Vaughan knew she needed to keep their dream alive, and so she forged ahead with the business. Through hard work and perseverance, Jim’s electric fence insulator became a reality,” she said. “It became known as the INVERSE™ Insulator. The name inverse mean ‘change position, direction or course’ and that is the heart of JAG, that was what Jim’s insulator idea does, and that is what is ever present in our lives…change.”

    Today, Ms. Vaughan manages the day-to-day operations of the business, including product design and development, marketing, manufacturing, and distribution. “I use the skills I have learned from working in the corporate world for 30 years and as an entrepreneur to build longevity and lasting relationships and to create opportunities for learning and listening to what the industry needs next,” she said. She has gained confidence in her own abilities and is proud to have found success in such a male-dominated industry. She finds it rewarding to be able to inspire others by her story and to be a part of those organizations that work to rescue livestock such as those who are dedicating their time and limited resources to saving horses who need a safe place and time to heal.

    “My future goals are to continue to grow and develop JAG Products, Inc. into the ‘What’s next’ space,” said Ms. Vaughan. “Possibly becoming a place for the next upcoming entrepreneurs and idea-makers to have a place to launch from.”

    Awards & Accomplishments: Awarded US Patent for theINVERSE™ Insulator

    About IAW
    The International Association of Women (IAW) is a global in-person and online professional networking platform that provides nearly one million women the forum, professional development, and services needed to thrive in an interconnected world. Through 100+ local chapters, International Chapters in several cities in China and 1000+ in person and virtual events, members cultivate valuable connections, develop professionally, and promote themselves and their businesses. Founded in Chicago in 2017, IAW is a division of Professional Diversity Network, Inc., an online network tailored to provide diverse professionals in the United States with access to employment opportunities.

    Source: International Association of Women

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  • The Insights Association and AAPOR File FCC Petition Seeking Legal Differentiation for Marketing and Research

    The Insights Association and AAPOR File FCC Petition Seeking Legal Differentiation for Marketing and Research

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Oct 30, 2017


    WASHINGTON, October 30, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Seeking to clarify the regulatory distinction between the intent to market and sell to individuals and the dissimilar intent to understand market needs, the Insights Association and AAPOR have filed a petition with the FCC to secure “greater clarity” that will be “critical to restoring a measure of sanity to TCPA litigation.”

    “Courts and trial lawyers are conflating marketing research with marketing to the detriment of survey, opinion and marketing research companies,” said David W. Almy, CEO of the Insights Association. According to a petition filed today at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency needs to clarify that marketing research is separate and distinct from marketing for purposes of compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). “Research has a fundamentally different purpose than sales and marketing. That researchers have paid millions to settle an epidemic of TCPA lawsuits is unnecessary, unwarranted and very often absurd,” Almy added.

    With researchers already preyed upon by trial lawyers thanks to the FCC’s 2015 TCPA rules, … [the FCC] can take these simple steps to limit class actions based on misunderstanding and mischaracterization of the raison d’etre of marketing research.

    Howard Fienberg, Director of Government Affairs

    The petition, filed by the Insights Association, the leading trade association for the market research and data analytics industry, and the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), which promotes the sound and ethical conduct and use of public opinion research, requested a declaratory ruling from the FCC that:

    1. communications should not be presumed to be advertising or marketing under the TCPA simply because they are sent by a for-profit company, or might ultimately be used at some future date to improve sales or customer relations;
    2. the presence in a communication, ancillary document or webpage revealing the identity of an organization conducting research – a level of transparency required by professional ethical codes – that can be mischaracterized as “advertising” does not make the communication “dual-purpose”;
    3. the FCC’s “vicarious liability” regime applies only to telemarketing and debt collection, not to survey, opinion, and market research firms; and
    4. survey, opinion, and marketing research studies are not goods or services provided to a research respondent, even if the studies involve an incentive for participation.

    “Selling under the guise of research, or sugging, is a practice condemned by AAPOR,” said Tim Johnson, AAPOR President. “It is incumbent on the FCC to differentiate between marketing research and marketing.”

    The petitioners noted some disturbing court decisions mistakenly “premised on the notion that businesses do not communicate with consumers except for the purpose of turning a profit,” and urged the FCC to recognize that, like all for-profit businesses, market research companies advertise and market their services only to research sponsors – “the clients on whose behalf the research is conducted” – and not to research respondents.

    Meanwhile, “the plaintiffs’ bar and some courts have begun using a loose interpretation of” FCC guidance to find hidden sales and marketing purposes inside marketing research phone calls and faxes.

    The petitioners regularly combat sales under the guise of research, a deceptive practice known as “sugging” in the research industry, which would constitute “pretext” for sales or marketing under the FCC’s guidance. By contrast, the Insights Association and AAPOR called upon the FCC to clarify that an instance as simple as a survey mentioning a corporate client in a survey question, or a research company discussing its own services in a privacy policy or website separate from a research study, does not prove the existence of any “dual purpose” – the communications would still constitute research, not marketing.

    Vicarious liability means that someone is held responsible for the actions or omissions of another person. The FCC has ruled before that calls placed by a telemarketer’s or debt collector’s agent should be treated as if the telemarketer or debt collector made the calls himself. The agency “could have simply stated that vicarious liability applies to all principal-agent relationships, but it did not do so,” asserted the petitioners. A recent class action court decision applied that same vicarious liability regime to a research company and the petitioners asked the FCC to clarify that such liability only applies to telemarketing and debt collection.

    The FCC has repeatedly said that marketing research is not telemarketing under the TCPA because research communications, in the words of the TCPA text, do not “[encourage] the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services.” Similarly, the Insights Association and AAPOR asked the FCC to clarify that research studies themselves don’t “constitute property, goods, or services vis-à-vis the persons taking the surveys. These studies (and their results) are services provided to research clients, not consumers [who take surveys].” Although researchers often offer incentives for research participants in cash or prizes, “this is done only to ensure robust participation” in research studies.

    “With researchers already preyed upon by trial lawyers thanks to the FCC’s 2015 TCPA rules,” commented Howard Fienberg, director of government affairs for the Insights Association, the FCC “can take these simple steps to limit class actions based on misunderstanding and mischaracterization of the raison d’etre of marketing research.”

    ————

    The Insights Association is the leading trade association for the market research and data analytics industry. Inspired by the 2017 merger of CASRO and MRA, all Insights Association proceeds are invested in advocacy, education and other initiatives to directly support the marketing research and analytics community. Visit www.insightsassociation.org for more information.

    The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) is the leading professional organization of public opinion and survey research professionals in the U.S., with members from academia, media, government, the nonprofit sector and private industry. AAPOR promotes the sound and ethical conduct and use of public opinion research. Visit www.aapor.org for more information.

    Media Contact: 
    Howard Fienberg
    Phone: 202.800.2545 
    Email: howard.fienberg@insightsassociation.org

    Source: The Insights Association and the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR)

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