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New Alvarez & Marsal Fall 2022 Consumer Sentiment Report - Highlights Impacts of Inflation, Weak Optimism

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group

Category spend down y-o-y for basic needs, experiences, gifts & indulgences 7 in 10 Consumers plan to spend less on holiday shopping Rising prices create concern across all age groups New York, NY —November 16, 2022— Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) today released its newest consumer report, Consumer Sentiment Survey Fall 2022, which looks at the impacts of inflation and resultant changes in consumer spending over the last year, as well as spending expectations into the holidays and for the coming six-month period. This is the third chapter of its bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Report, based on a survey of 1,500+ consumers matching the U.S. adult population according to gender, age, ethnicity, region and income. The report covers various changing behaviors in response to inflation, including around consumers’ holiday spending plans, shopping priorities by category, concerns over rising prices, other factors that will affect holiday purchase decisions, and more. “Our objective was to understand how inflation is affecting the American consumer in terms of their optimism or lack thereof, their buying patterns and expectations, and their preferred shopping channels – especially as we go into the holiday season” noted Jonathan Sharp, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group, and lead author of the study. “What we found is that extended inflationary pressures are causing U.S. consumers to retrench further and curtail even more their discretionary spending – even categories that had seemed somewhat immune in spring 2022 are now under pressure.” Additionally, many fear that inflation has yet to peak, with 65% of consumers expecting prices to continue to rise in the next 6 months. The study found that: Almost 9 in 10 consumers have adopted new habits in response to inflation; 7 in 10 are altering their holiday shopping habits Among shopping priorities by category, only grocery was up, vs. dining out, which was down by 40% Concerns over rising prices rise with age, as do plans to spend less on indulgences Consumer expectations on things getting better, saving more, having more money, and plans to spend the same or more on basic needs were all down year-over-year This year’s holiday season looks like it will also be impacted by consumer spending reticence. The most significant changes people are making is a reduction in their overall gift spending; 1 in 3 shoppers plan to spend less on gifts this holiday season. The report provides insights into the factors that will have an impact on purchase decisions this holiday, including shipping fees, more limited return policies, potential upcoming sales, holiday availability, and Buy Now Pay Later options. “Smart retailers will remain agile in responding to deal-hungry, penny-pinching consumers,” added Jonathan Sharp. “Inventory management, pricing and cost management will continue to be severely challenged.” To download a pdf of Consumer Sentiment Survey Fall 2022, please visit: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/am-crg-consumer-sentiment-survey-fall-2022/ The Alvarez and Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities towards their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm's bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Mass Merchandise, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement. Contact Details David Schneidman dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com Company Website https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail

November 16, 2022 11:47 AM Eastern Standard Time

Asure (NASDAQ: ASUR) Reports Strong Q3 2022 Earnings - Management Upbeat with Encouraging Top & Bottom Lines

Benzinga

Asure Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASUR), a cloud services provider in the Human Capital Management (HCM) industry, posted stellar Q3 2022 financial results at a time when Wall Street is unforgiving to slips in execution. With persistent inflation and a potential recession in 2023 on the horizon, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) crave efficiency. That’s made Asure’s HCM solutions more relevant than ever. The HCM company is also seeing benefits from record-low unemployment, which continues to offset any potential recession impact and higher interest rates help Asure generate float revenue. In a sense, some of the bad headlines dominating the financial news over the past year are positive for Asure’s business model, as they act as a hedge against recession. Recent News and Accomplishments During Q3 2022 Management’s strategy centers around increasing its number of integrations and partnerships to help SMBs cut costs and streamline their back office operations. HR solution provider PrismHR will now offer Asure’s Payroll Tax Management Services and FlexTax platform to its client base of over 80,000 organizations. "This new partnership provides an opportunity to significantly expand our payroll tax business into the PEO and ASO markets while enabling PrismHR to provide an alternative, standalone tax filing solution that complements their existing HR portfolio,” said Pat Goepel, Chairman, and CEO of Asure. “Our deep expertise in the complex landscape of payroll taxes uniquely positions Asure to deliver not only a user-friendly software solution to PrismHR’s customers but also the experienced counsel and support of a knowledgeable team of payroll tax experts." Asure recently entered into collaboration with Equifax and its The Work Number tool, which is available to its software users for income and employment verification. This approach to both provide its IP and leverage the technology of other providers when appropriate has allowed for Asure’s growth to be 100% organic as opposed to through acquisitions. “Equifax brings deep expertise in verification services, and through our integration with The Work Number, we’re delivering significant benefits to our 80,000 small business customers and reseller partners and their employees,” said Pat Goepel, Chairman, and CEO of Asure. "Employers will no longer have to spend time manually responding to verification requests, and their employees will have instant access, more seamless verifications in support of important life events." During Q3 2022, Asure expanded its tax filing capabilities to help CPA firms and tax pros to streamline services for the high-demand Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), which is a COVID-era policy that provided businesses up to $26,000 per retained employee. Asure’s solution helps automate back-office transactional processes of calculating the compliant tax credits and filing the necessary quarterly amended returns to qualify for the ERTC. At Asure, we’re always seeking new ways for technology to support small businesses and the organizations that serve them. Our CPA partners were telling us they couldn’t keep pace with the volume of administrative work associated with ERTC demand. Our technology automates the back-office ERTC work so they can focus on high-value client work,” said Pat Goepel, Chairman, and CEO of Asure. “We’re excited about this new technology’s ability to help drive organic growth as it allows us to serve even more payroll and non-payroll clients alike.” Lastly, Asure announced the expansion of 401(k) plan options for small employers with an additional 80+ provider integrations. This helps SMBs to remain competitive in attracting top talent by offering more enticing retirement benefits. Furthermore, the integration allows clients to sync the Asure payroll system with the 401(k) platforms to streamline enrollment, reduce dual entry, and retain compliance. “In today’s job market, prospective employees have high expectations, even from smaller organizations. Making it easy to offer 401(k) options for retirement savings is just one way that Asure is empowering our customers to be more competitive, while also removing administrative burdens,” said Pat Goepel, Chairman, and CEO of Asure. ASUR: Q3 2022 Financial Results Breakdown Revenue rose 22% year-over-year to $21.9 million during the third quarter of 2022 ended September 30, 2022. Even more impressive, total bookings, a forward-looking metric measuring the total value of all contracts signed, were up 91% year-over-year. Asure did post a net loss of $4.5 million during the quarter. This appears worrisome when you consider that the same quarter last year featured $5.3 million of net income. However, accounting without context can be deceiving. The $5.3 million net income in Q3 of 2021 was the result of a $10.5 million ETRC. A more reliable comparison would be the adjusted EBITDA reading. Asure’s adjusted EBITDA of $2.1 million, which excludes the ERTC tailwind, shot up 71% relative to the prior year period. In other words, operating expenses are shrinking relative to revenue, leading to more profitability. Progress on both the top and bottom lines. Q4 2022 and Full-Year 2023 Guidance Estimates Continued Growth Management not only raised revenue projections for Q4 2022 but shared their guidance for 2023 - a revenue growth target of 9-13% while increasing margins to 14-16%. Specifically, Asure Software estimates Q4 2022 revenues to come between $23.5 million and $24 million, with an adjusted EBITDA goal of $3 million to $3.5 million for the quarter. For the full-year 2022, the HCM services provider sees total revenue coming in between $90 million and $90.5 million on an adjusted EBITDA range between $10.5 million to $11 million. Looking forward to 2023, Asure sees revenue coming in between $98 million and $102 million. Asure continues to showcase its resilience. While many SaaS companies are bleeding, Asure’s retention rate and revenue per client both rose year-over-year. The company continues to be well-managed and disciplined, even as the overall economy sees some volatility and uncertainty. Asure is a volatile micro-cap tech stock on paper, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that small and medium-sized businesses are viewing the company’s services and technologies as essential, not as a discretionary expense. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement.All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated five thousand dollars cash for the creation and dissemination of this content by the company.This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management.The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions.Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ The post “Asure (NASDAQ: ASUR) Reports Strong Q3 2022 Earnings - Management Upbeat with Encouraging Top & Bottom Lines” first appeared on Spotlight Growth. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 16, 2022 11:35 AM Eastern Standard Time

How To Win At Holiday Hosting: Everything You Need to Know When Hosting Family & Friends

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/DmvrRaRjo4E November officially ushers in the holiday season, bringing with it the hustle and bustle we’ve been missing the past couple of years. Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Mia Syn says there are a few easy ways to win at hosting while setting the scene for all the fun, food, and festivities. PLAN THE MENU AHEAD OF TIME: This holiday season is expected to be as “back to normal” as possible after more than two years of restrictions. For those taking on the role of hosting, Syn admits it could be a little nerve-racking, “That’s why I recommend planning the menu ahead of time, including main dishes, drinks, desserts, and the overall presentation.” The Registered Dietician Nutritionist suggests kicking things off with an overflowing charcuterie board filled with a mixture of colors, textures, and flavors, including a variety of cheeses, meats, and lots of veggies. Syn says to make sure to include almonds, adding, “Look for flavors that will surprise your guests, but also help add a seasonal taste.” This year, Blue Diamond Almonds released its first-ever limited-time offer holiday flavored almonds. “They’re perfect for a seasonal charcuterie board or sharing as a gift or stocking stuffer. Your family will love the Blue Diamond Snickerdoodle Flavored Almonds. They have the delicious taste of a seasonal cinnamon sugar cookie… so good! And one of my favorites is the Peppermint Cocoa Flavored Almonds with a delicious chocolatey flavor and hint of peppermint.” These products are available at grocery stores nationwide and Amazon.com. Consumers can also use Blue Diamond’s product locator tool to find a nearby store. https://www.bluediamond.com/naughty-and-nice Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlueDiamondAlmonds/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/BlueDiamond Twitter: www.twitter.com/BlueDiamond DESSERTS WITH ADDED BENEFITS: A menu would not be complete without dessert. It may be a surprise, but Syn is a self-proclaimed “desserts girl,” saying, “I’m always about the desserts and this year I have a couple originals that are on the healthy side and taste fantastic!” She recommends a classic with a twist, blondies. “Believe it or not, my version is made with beans,” says Syn. The registered dietician nutritionist admits it may seem odd at first, but, “When cooked and rinsed well, beans can add moisture and fudginess to baked goods like brownies and blondies while cutting back on the amount of fat and flour needed. Not only that, but beans add nutrients such as plant protein, B vitamins, and fiber, making this a dessert with benefits.” Another option are Syn’s banana-sweetened chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. They’re made with a ripe banana mash, creamy peanut butter, quick oats, pure vanilla and dark chocolate chips. “There is also another surprise, these treats are made without flour, eggs, or added sugar,” says Syn. STOP DOING DISHES: Syn admits the menu building and preparation could be fun, but the cleanup is often taxing and takes up a lot of time. That’s why she suggests eliminating the time suckers, which includes washing dishes and loading the dishwasher. “We all know it takes time away from what’s really important. This time of year is so busy and should be spent on special traditions, making new memories, and being with the ones you love.” The Chinet® brand is focused on making cleanup easier so families can spend more time together. She says these products are made for exactly what’s on your menu, like a traditional honey-glazed turkey, or an old-fashioned ham with brown sugar and mustard glaze. For a more upscale affair, Syn suggests using the Chinet Crystal® products, which add a fancy touch to meals, perfect for a beef tenderloin, seared duck, or lamb with garlic and rosemary,” adding, “The crystal cups are great for that pre-dinner toast!” Most importantly, when partygoers are done eating dinner or dessert, Syn says, “Just toss the dishes and have all that extra time for family fun.” For more information, visit mychinet.com. Facebook: Facebook.com/mychinet Instagram: Instagram.com/mychinet Twitter: Twitter.com/mychinet Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 16, 2022 10:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

Video

Yoshitsu’s London Warehouse To Assist In Fulfilling Increasing Demand In Europe

Benzinga

Yoshitsu Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: TKLF), the Japanese retailer and wholesaler of beauty and health products, home goods and food, leased its first 2,362-square-foot warehouse in London. Leasing the warehouse is a significant move for the company, which has been enhancing its warehouse operations and solidifying its customer services to support global expansion in Europe. The warehouse, at Unit 5, Hanover West Industrial Estate, 161 Acton Lane, London, NW10 7NB, started operating on Oct. 25. It can keep up to 100 categories of products and store up to 50,000 items every one to 1½ months. The London warehouse comes a few weeks after the company leased its first warehouse of about 4,150 square feet in Texas, U.S. The new warehouse will improve access to inventory and augment customer services in the European region, Yoshitsu Co. Ltd Principal Executive Officer Mei Kanayama said of the recent development. "With the warehouse operation in London, we expect to effectively fulfill the increasing demand in the European markets for our products, boost our revenue in the region and improve our operating efficiency," Kanayama said. Europe's Beauty And Health Products Market In Europe, 72% of consumers use beauty and personal care products because they believe they are the key to maintaining a healthy and hygienic lifestyle, making the continent one of the world's largest markets for beauty and personal care products. Revenue for the market is expected to reach $119.7 billion in 2022, with a growth projection of $145.8 billion for 2023. By adding a new warehouse in Europe, Yoshitsu may optimize its fulfillment process and serve more customers quickly by shortening the delivery time, which could result in the company becoming a major player in the region. It also could reduce Yoshitsu's transportation costs, lower operating costs and increase the company's gross profit margins. About Yoshitsu Tokyo-based Yoshitsu has been in business for 15 years domestically and abroad. The firm has an extensive business network, including over 200 wholesale clients, numerous online stores in China, Korea and Japan, many company-operated stores in Japan and franchise stores in the United States, Canada, China (Hong Kong) and the United Kingdom. In addition to putting products in its retail and wholesale outlets worldwide, Yoshitsu says it also has its products stocked in many online stores across Japan, China (Hong Kong) and Korea. The company’s online stores, franchised stores and wholesale operations account for up to 95% of its revenue, which hit $221.51 million in 2021, up from $139.57 million in 2020. In the next five years, the firm plans to grow its sales by opening an additional 50 stores — 10 of these in Japan and another 10 spread across franchised locations in the U.S., Canada, Australia, China (Hong Kong) and the U.K. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 16, 2022 08:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

Stagwell (STGW) Agency Assembly joins The Attention Council

Assembly

Omnichannel media agency Assembly, part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW), has joined The Attention Council as an agency member, further bolstering its commitment to meet the mixed media demands of its burgeoning global client cohort. The Attention Council is a coalition of advertising technology companies committed to promoting attention as a primary metric for understanding advertising and increasing advocacy for the wider adoption of cross-platform attention metrics in the planning, buying, and selling of media. Andy Brown, CEO of TAC, commented, “I am delighted to welcome Assembly to The Attention Council. They join at a time of major growth for use of attention metrics in the media and marketing industry. I look forward to them playing an important role in the evolution in the coming years”. Joel Coppersmith, Global Head of Measurement & Effectiveness at Assembly, added, "The media landscape has evolved and so have the ways in which consumers and media interact. There is a lot still to learn as we seek ways to improve the effectiveness of media and advertising at driving business outcomes.” “The value and use of attention and attention-based metrics is a fascinating, and hotly debated, topic that may shed light on how we can deliver better advertising, and Assembly is delighted to be part of driving that conversation forward". ABOUT ASSEMBLY: Assembly is the modern global omnichannel media agency, bringing data, talent, and technology together to find the change that fuels growth for the best brands on the planet. Our approach connects big, bold brand stories with integrated, global media capabilities that deliver performance and drive large-scale business growth. Our work is powered by our proprietary, in-house technology solution, STAGE, and led by our global talent base of over 1,600 people around the world. We’re purpose-driven at our core and pioneers in social and environmental impact in the agency world. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Visit www.assemblyglobal.com Contact Details Assembly Gunilla Huddleston, VP of Marketing, EMEA gunilla.huddleston@assemblyglobal.com Company Website https://www.assemblyglobal.com/

November 16, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Best Nomad Travel Insurance & Health Insurance for Expats

Digital Nomad World

In recent years, the world of global travel has been turned upside down: we’ve all had to deal with the fallout from a global pandemic and global conflicts. These kinds of unforeseen events have made simply hopping on a plane and jetting off to a different destination a little more difficult than usual. Especially for expats or nomads whose jet-setting lifestyles often mean living in different destinations and traveling without restrictions. Now more than ever, making sure you’ve got the right travel insurance for you is very important for your travels around the world. The thing is, the type of travel insurance that has traditionally been offered doesn’t always fit with the non-traditional lifestyle of nomads or expats. However, in the last few years, nomads’ insurance, which has been developed with both expats and nomads in mind, has taken the market by storm. This wave of specialized insurance companies have thrown out the rule books and created packages that allow nomads to travel and work without worry. Here, at Digital Nomad World, we’re no strangers to global travel and all of the pitfalls that can come with it. For the past year, we’ve taken a look at some of the best nomads’ insurance offerings out there, and picked out the best Nomad Travel and insurance company you should be looking at for all of your travel and medical insurance needs while on the road. Top Recommended Health & Travel Insurance for Nomads PassportCard ( www.passportcardnomads.com ) These guys are offering something a little revolutionary in the world of nomads insurance. Gone are the days when you were required to pay out of your pocket for trips to the doctors when abroad, and then had to spend your time claiming your cash back from your insurance company. Instead, PassportCard is quite simply a Visa card that you use to pay for any medical treatment upfront, no more waiting on your insurance company to pay out. Rather than conventional insurance, this is pretty much a debit card meaning you won’t be limited to what medical providers you use. The process is extremely simple: If you need help with medical expenses, get in touch with PassportCard; they will load your red card with money and then you just pay for whatever medical expenses need paying for. This is not normal expats or nomads’ insurance in the slightest, and for that reason it’s probably one of the best offerings for globe trotters right now. You can even buy it while abroad -tailor-make your plan to suit your trip and extend or cancel at any time, anywhere in the world. Plans start from $59 per month. Why did we choose PassportCard as the best Nomad Insurance? With its bold website and colorful design, PassportCard ticks a lot of boxes for those who want an affordable yet comprehensive nomads’ insurance option. Billing themselves as “a global social safety net”, PassportCard offers everything from a simple baseline insurance coverage to the most comprehensive insurance packages. This digital nomad-specific insurance gives you coverage for unforeseen injuries or illness while you’re abroad which includes any stays at a hospital or visits to a doctor. Travel disruption such as lost luggage, unplanned overnight stays, and emergency evacuation from things like flooding is also taken care of. The company has been backed up by a string of good reviews from digital nomads who have used their flexible policy to make sure their trip runs as smoothly as possible. The easy subscription model is something that ticks a lot of boxes for many looking for nomads’ insurance. Simply log on and get covered. Nomad and Expat Insurance Final Thoughts Though it may be more expensive than other companies, for the money you spend, you get excellent protection from a company that provides a reliable service. The founders of the company are nomads themselves, so you can trust that they know what they need to deliver in terms of insurance for digital nomads. These guys don’t just cover digital nomads, but also travelers, remote workers, and even expats. All in all, PassportCard feels like a much more grown-up option for your nomads insurance. Along with all the other perks, they also offer plans for families and couples. The benefits of opting for PassportCard nomads’ insurance with this particular company include a secure VPN for checking your bank account, access to airport lounges for late flights, and an emergency response team for those events when time is of the essence. They even offer virtual counseling sessions to keep your mental health in check after spending time alone on the road, something which could really help to make your life as an expat or nomad much more comfortable. To get your Travel Insurance by PassportCard check out their website here The Digital Nomad World is a platform created by digital nomads for digital nomads. We strive to offer fellow DN's a platform that addresses every aspect of a DN's lifestyle. This post may contain affiliate links and DNworld may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no addiational cost to you. Contact Details Digital Nomad World partners@thedigitalnomadworld.com Company Website https://digitalnomads.world/

November 15, 2022 12:02 PM Eastern Standard Time

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ESA Names Aubrey Quinn as SVP, Communications & Public Affairs

The Entertainment Software Association

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced that Aubrey Quinn has joined the ESA as Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs, reporting to President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis. Quinn will be responsible for leading the trade association’s integrated communications efforts to showcase the video game industry’s growing impact on people, culture and the economy. “We could not be more excited about harnessing Aubrey’s expertise, vision and energy to amplify the positive impact of video games in society and in our daily lives,” Pierre-Louis said. “Aubrey’s experience will be invaluable in helping consumers and policymakers alike understand the pivotal role video games play as the leading form of entertainment today.” Quinn joins the ESA with nearly 20 years of communications and public affairs experience. Most recently, she served as Partner & Chief Operating Officer at Clyde Group, during which she provided strategic counsel to the ESA as an agency partner. Her earlier career included roles at boutique agencies and at organizations such as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, where she helped introduce the national campaign for Extra Life. She serves on the board of Generation Hope, a non-profit organization that seeks to ensure teen and student parents can experience economic mobility through educational opportunities. Quinn is also the recipient of several prominent industry awards, including the Ragan's Top Women in Communications award, the PRovoke Innovator 25 list, Washington Business Journal's 40 under 40 and PRNews’ Top Women in PR. “The video game industry is leading the world in innovative and interactive entertainment, while solidifying its role as a force for social good, economic growth and development,” Quinn said. “We will continue telling the stories of the creatives, designers, developers and others who — through their incredible work and new game experiences — are helping to elevate the role of play in the way we engage and interact with one another.” This news comes as the video game player community continues to expand. The ESA’s 2022 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry report, released earlier this year, found that 97% of all Americans value the benefits of video games. More than 65% of Americans play video games — which translates to more than 215.5 million players from all walks of life. For more information on the ESA’s policy priorities and how the video game industry is driving economic opportunity, visit https://www.theesa.com/. About the ESA The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) serves as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy. For more information, visit the ESA’s website or follow the ESA on Twitter @theESA. Contact Details Karen Elliott +1 202-223-2400 kelliott@theESA.com Company Website https://www.theesa.com/

November 15, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Paper Culture Earns Prestigious B Corp™ Certification

Paper Culture

Paper Culture, the leader in modern, sustainable wedding invitations, holiday cards, stationery, and personalized gifts is proud to announce it is now a Certified B Corporation®, a certification awarded to companies that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance. Certified B Corporations™ are for-profit businesses with verified social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corp™ businesses are required to consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders, customers, employees, the community, and the environment. B Corp™ companies are accelerating a global cultural shift to redefine success in business and build a more sustainable and inclusive community. It is a prestigious certification given to fewer than 3000 companies in the United States. “The rigorous certification process asks how well you are doing in using your business as a force for good,” says Paper Culture Co-Founder Christopher Wu. “It's a simple, yet powerful concept that explores each company's commitment to bettering the stakeholders it serves including workers, communities, customers, and the planet. We are thrilled to be leading our industry in our new accreditation and hope to inspire other companies to do the same.” Paper Culture has planted a tree for every order (more than one-million and counting) since the company’s inception 14-years ago and today has expanded its commitment to include sponsoring reforestation projects that focus on social, economic, and planetary benefits. A recent project in partnership with Trees for the Future assists local landowners in the Tabor region of Tanzania where almost 70% of the population of Tanzania is living under the poverty line. Farmers are trained to plant fruit bearing trees and vegetable crops that support the local economy creating a sustainable ecosystem from both economic and environmental perspectives. “We are proud to join other incredibly impactful B Corps™ such as Patagonia, Allbirds, and Ben & Jerry’s”, says Wu. “Our mission is to create products whose beauty is evident both visually and because of their commitment to sustainability. Whether it’s the circular story of the 100% post-consumer recycled paper used in our cards, the projects we sponsor to offset our carbon footprint, or the trees that we plant with every order - every customer is an opportunity to share hope. Our hope is that by delivering products that help rather than hurt the planet, our customers will have an amazing experience. They will demand the same from other companies. They will tell their friends. Their friends will tell others. And that’s how we begin a movement. We are proud today to be joining other companies in exactly that movement.” About Paper Culture: Paper Culture’s mission is to inspire people through contemporary design, quality personalized products and a belief that our actions can and must work towards solving the issue of our generation: the Climate Crisis. For more than a decade Paper Culture has offered modern, customizable, eco-friendly cards, wedding invitations, and stationery printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper and has planted a tree for every order - more than one-million and counting! Contact Details Kathy Pape kathy@papepr.com Company Website https://www.paperculture.com/

November 15, 2022 08:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

Passwordless Is All The Rage — But There Are Considerations To Be Made

BIO-key International, Inc.

It has long been known that passwords are vulnerable to hacking. Organizations around the world have acknowledged this risk over the years by introducing more stringent controls around password security and by creating awareness among their staff. Despite the rising awareness of the risks associated with weak passwords, data breaches have revealed that not enough attention is paid to the creation of secure passwords –- the most popular passwords around the world are still passwords like “password” and “123456.” According to Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT), 579 attacks to hack a password occur every second, which adds up to a monumental 18 billion attacks per year. But many common practices for making passwords stronger through complex requirements like including symbols, case sensitivity, and disallowing previous passwords only make it harder on users. Passwords become incredibly inconvenient to create, remember and manage across the various accounts a person owns. Because using passwords can create a poor user experience, many people often end up ignoring even basic password protocols – leaving themselves and their organizations defenseless against phishing schemes, brute-force attacks, and other tactics cybercriminals use to hack passwords. Is Passwordless Authentication The Solution? An ideal scenario seemingly might be one where no passwords are required, and several alternative options have emerged for the passwordless authentication of users. While many people and companies focus on the convenience of going passwordless, the security considerations of passwordless authentication are often overlooked. The most commonly used passwordless authentication methods focus on replacing the password as a single method, or as one of the methods used for multi-factor authentication. Authentication methods that are most commonly used are either possession factors, which require the person to use a smartphone or hardware token, or device-based biometrics, such as Apple Touch ID or Windows Hello. These options present their own challenges. Possession factors, such as smartphones or hardware tokens can be stolen, shared, lost, or damaged, resulting in users being locked out or allowing unauthorized access. And the costs and investment in purchasing multiple tokens or separate mobile devices with data plans for staff could be very high for large organizations. Not to mention there are large portions of people who do not have access to a smartphone. Finally, there are scenarios that make these factors implausible to use. For example, manufacturing floors, contact centers, banking locations, and others have people working who need to authenticate but where it may not be safe or practical for them to carry an additional device. Identity-Bound Biometrics Removes the Need for Phones and Tokens One method of passwordless authentication that could effectively address these challenges is the use of I dentity-Bound Biometrics (IBB) for access management, which is offered by cyber security companies like BIO-key International Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI). Identity-bound biometrics creates a centralized unique biometric identity that can be used to verify a person anywhere. Some of the most common identity-bound biometric authentication methods are fingerprint scans, palm scans, face scans, iris scans, and voice recognition. Passwordless authentication with IBB can be as simple as the scan of a finger at any device in any location, making it a safe, efficient, cost-effective, and secure option for a range of common use cases, including shared workstations, remote access, and scenarios where mobile devices are not permitted such as manufacturing floors and contact centers as mentioned previously. BIO-key says its IBB process centrally stores biometric data in a nonreversible way to create a unique biometric identity for each user to verify the person taking action, which serves to establish trust and accountability based on a person's biometric identity. The benefits of using IBB include: Positively identifying the user intended to gain access Auditability of activities through a log that records all logins and tracks users' system access Ease of use with a quick and easy user experience requiring only single-touch authentication for a passwordless login Reduced overall cost by installing just one fingerprint scanner per desktop as a one-time investment as opposed to multiple tokens or mobile devices IBB is part of BIO-key's unified identity and access-management platform PortalGuard, which provides a range of authentication methods as part of its robust multi-factor authentication, as well as single sign-on and self-service password reset capabilities. PortalGuard is the only platform on the market that offers all these business-critical solutions using identity-bound biometrics as a key differentiator when it comes to implementing stronger authentication, according to Bio-key. To learn more about BIO-key’s IBB passwordless authentication products visit its website. BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software managing millions of users. Its cloud-based PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy to deploy, convenient and secure access to devices, information, applications, and high-value transactions. BIO-key's patented software and hardware solutions, with industry-leading Identity-Bound Biometric (IBB) capabilities, enable large-scale Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) solutions, as well as customized on premises solutions. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Catalyst IR- William Jones, David Collins +1 212-924-9800 BKYI@catalyst-ir.com Company Website https://www.bio-key.com/

November 15, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time