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GLOBAL ENGINEER GIRLS ACHIEVES MILESTONE IN KOSOVO TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY IN STEM

Limak

GLOBAL ENGINEER GIRLS ACHIEVES MILESTONE IN KOSOVO TOWARDS GENDER EQUALITY IN STEM Prishtine, October 18, 2023 - Global Engineer Girls (GEG), the international philanthropic initiative aiming to improve women’s representation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), proudly announces the graduation of 20 young women from its flagship program in Kosovo. Implemented by Limak Group in partnership with the UNDP in Kosovo, GEG Kosovo empowers young women and girls enrolled in STEM education and provides them with opportunities to gain crucial experience in a male-dominated industry. The project aims to inspire the next generation of female engineers, and highlight the strides made towards gender equality in STEM education. The graduation ceremony marked the successful completion of a year-long journey of scholarships, training, mentorship, and internships, all provided by GEG Kosovo. The ceremony also highlighted the projects undertaken by the girls during their participation in the program, including digital communication, effective team management, personal brand-building, communication, and interpersonal skills. These projects serve as compelling evidence that extending opportunities to girls is a vital way to prepare them for successful futures in the STEM world. President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, in her speech, mentioned, "We must ensure that all our bright minds have equal opportunities to pursue the education of their choice. We need these equal minds in order to address the critical issues of our time, such as climate change and AI. We cannot afford to exclude half of our population from the most pressing challenges of our era. It is imperative to collaborate and work together to achieve equality more swiftly. These young girls serve as clear examples of the potential within our youth. It is our duty to ensure that young women and girls feel empowered to pursue their dreams, regardless of the path they choose. They must harbour no fear or hesitation in stating, 'I want it, and I will make it.' Every girl holds a guaranteed place in our future. I encourage each girl to carry forward the legacy of GEG.” Chair of Limak Holding and Limak Foundation, Ebru Özdemir, said: “It's truly an important milestone for GEG and our vision at Limak. I’m thrilled to see the progress of the GEG Kosovo participants over the past year, and I am certain they all have a bright future ahead of them. Engineering isn’t a man’s world anymore, so it is our responsibility to continue to create opportunities for young women to succeed in STEM by supporting them in their studies and careers.” GEG Kosovo extends its gratitude to its supporters, mentors, parents, and volunteers, who have enabled the success of this program. Their collective efforts have empowered young girls to overcome challenges, build confidence, and unlock their full potential. Moving forward, GEG Kosovo remains committed to expanding and enhancing its programs to reach even more young girls, empowering them to break down barriers and become leaders in STEM fields. About Global Engineer Girls Global Engineer Girls (GEG) is an international philanthropic initiative that aims to inspire the next generation of female engineers. The inception of GEG was driven by Limak Group of Companies' culture and its Chairperson's, Ebru Özdemir's, deep personal commitment to improving women's representation in STEM. GEG provides girls and women with education, mentorship and career opportunities in Turkey, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Kuwait and beyond. GEG's predecessor, the Engineer Girls of Turkey (EGT), was launched in Turkey in 2015. Since its inception in 2015, the GEG university programme has benefited 710 young women by providing support for female students enrolled in chemical, civil, computer, electrical- electronic, environmental, industrial, and mechanical engineering departments in Turkish universities. This support has included funded scholarships and mentoring by hundreds of professional volunteers, as well as online training programs, soft skills and English language courses, internships, and employment opportunities at Limak's companies and partner companies. About Global Engineer Girls Kosovo Global Engineer Girls (GEG) Kosovo was established in 2022, in partnership with Limak Kosovo and United Nations Development Programme in Kosovo. GEG Kosovo currently operates in three public universities, covering bachelor and master's programs in engineering. UNIVERSITY OF PRISHTINA "HASAN PRISHTINA", UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES IN FERIZAJ, UNIVERSITY OF MITROVICA "ISA BOLETINI" Note to editors: High-resolution images from the graduation ceremony are available in the attachment. Contact Details Highgate Advisory Ltd. Iulia Trandafir +44 7516 787557 iulia@highgate.ltd

October 19, 2023 09:59 AM Central Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Franchisees Chantal & Clifton Gideon Win Community Award, Receive Special Proclamation in Forest Park, GA

Minuteman Press International Inc

Chantal and Clifton Gideon are the owners of the Minuteman Press franchise in Forest Park, GA since June of 2021. Over the past two and a half years, Chantal and Clifton have built meaningful connections with their clients and business community. Minuteman Press in Forest Park is located at 1046 Main Street, Forest Park, GA 30297. As a result of their remarkable efforts, Chantal and Clifton were recognized earlier this year in August during National Black Business Month and awarded a Special Proclamation from the City of Forest Park. The Proclamation credits Chantal and Gideon with “serving the community with great distinction and pride” as well as “their strong grit and determination to go into business for themselves.” In addition, Chantal also completed the Leadership Clayton program offered by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as a member of the Class of 2023 for the program. Chantal shares her insights on networking and community involvement, building the business for over two years, and the support she’s received from Minuteman Press. What does this Special Proclamation award mean to you? What are some of the ways you are active in the community? Chantal Gideon: “To me this award serves as recognition of our involvement with the community of Forest Park and the positive relationships we’ve fostered together. It’s very important to be involved in the community as a business owner because more people know our brand, the products and services we offer as well as the quality of our work. Clifton and I are active members of our local Chamber of Commerce, we attend City Council meetings to keep abreast of community happenings as well as the rapid economic development occurring on the Main Street corridor of which our business is located. I also serve as an ambassador for our Chamber of Commerce where I attend ribbon-cuttings for new businesses and assist with welcoming new business members, etc. while offering print/marketing services to them.” What are your high-demand products and key growth areas? Chantal Gideon: “Our high-demand products and services includes business cards, books, EDDM, and flyers/brochures. We do a lot of paper printing for a wide variety of clients.” What marketing strategies have you found to be effective? Chantal Gideon: “Increasing our internet marketing spend has been very effective in keeping a constant flow of new customers/orders coming in. I am looking forward to further increasing our Minuteman Press internet marketing program spending by the end of this year due to how profitable this has been for us.” What was your background before franchising? What has the support been like for you? Chantal Gideon: “Before Clifton and I purchased our Minuteman Press franchise, I was a high school biology teacher and Clifton was an engineer at a local steel manufacturing company. Clay Trussell is our field rep and he is always super responsive with whatever we need. He’s always just a text, phone call or visit away whenever we need him. Tech support is always consistent and our RVP Dave Walton stays involved with our overall growth and long-term strategy.” Is there anything else you’d like to share? Chantal Gideon: “Networking within the community and building our brand awareness has been very rewarding. I anticipate continuing to cultivate these relationships!” Minuteman Press in Forest Park is located at 1046 Main Street, Forest Park, GA 30297. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ga/forest-park/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

October 19, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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AWARD-WINNING BEAUTY BRAND THE LIP BAR EXPANDS RETAIL SPACE WITH NEW FLAGSHIP STORE IN DETROIT

The Lip Bar

Expanding its retail footprint in Detroit’s thriving city of Motown’s urban-renaissance, The Lip Bar, the innovative beauty brand with inclusive and impactful cosmetics, is opening a new flagship store in the heart of Downtown Detroit in October, tripling its first store’s physical space with over 800-square feet. Since opening the first retail location in Parker’s Alley, Detroit in 2019, TLB has established a prominent authority within the Detroit community, providing a hub for women to be represented and celebrated, with a broad range of inclusive cosmetics including over 40 lipsticks for women of all backgrounds. Powered by intentionally safe formulations, high-performance, and quality products, the brand has exceeded customer expectations, leading to its continuous expansions to meet the demands of their consumers. “We are excited to expand our space in my hometown of Detroit because I owe everything to this city. Growing up here inspired my grit and relentless pursuit of excellence and equality. There are very few beauty destinations in the city and to build something beautiful in the heart of the city is a dream come true. Our new flagship store will reflect the creativity and beauty that Detroit has given so many. We plan on continuing to grow the TLB brand and servicing the needs of our consumers at the highest level.” Said TLB Founder Melissa Butler The Lip Bar ’s flagship store will feature an experiential shopping experience with a beauty bar for makeup services, along with its first ever brow bar, helping to fill the gap of professional treatments available in the Detroit area. Since launching in 2012, TLB has pioneered maximum impact cosmetics, and trailblazed into multiple retail doors including Target, Walmart, and recently launched in 3,000 CVS stores nationwide. Founder Melissa Butler strives to deliberately cater to women who like her, write their own story, and live their unfiltered truth to achieve success. In September 2022, TLB’s parent company, The Lip Bar Inc. announced that it had raised an oversubscribed $6.7M fundraising round to further grow its house of brands including TLB. The funding positioned The Lip Bar for growth in its existing and new retail channels, leading to the expansion of its flagship store as a place for the brand’s community to trial products in real time. Butler plans to scale and grow her business while continuing to disrupt the beauty industry, challenge societal norms of the past continuously and engage with TLB’s core consumer. About The Lip Bar TLB is a beauty brand started in the kitchen of Founder and CEO, Melissa Butler while working on Wall Street. Since her early days of developing formulations, The Lip Bar has become a pioneer on clean beauty and inclusion, proudly founded and owned by a self-made Woman of Color. Since its launch in 2012, Butler has been on a mission to change the way people think about beauty. Believing that all beauty brands have the capacity to represent all beauty lovers, while creating clean and exciting products. Contact Details First and Last PR thelipbar@firstandlastpr.com Company Website http://www.thelipbar.com

October 18, 2023 08:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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The Good Patch Launches New Category: Wellness-Inspired Skincare Patches

The Good Patch

The Good Patch announced today the launch of a new category: wellness-inspired skincare patches, developed to pair perfectly with their existing line of wellness patches. This new line of skincare patches includes products to help you perk up, bounce back, smooth fine lines caused by stress, and soothe blemishes. The Good Patch was created with one simple idea in mind: when the people around you feel good, life is more beautiful. The Good Patch believes that feeling good is at the core of universal wellness, and it’s their goal to bring ease and convenience to your wellness (and now beauty) routine for a holistic self-care experience. Similar to their wellness patches, this new skincare patch line will provide simple fixes that enhance everyday wellness and beauty to help consumers look and feel their best. Because let’s face it, how we feel on the inside often shows on the outside. “As the leader in wellness patches, our consumers know and trust us for providing easy solutions for their daily struggles. We are thrilled to now offer our consumers a more complete solution to address these universal wellness needs,” said The Good Patch CEO, Cedar Carter. “Our core line of wearable wellness patches helps you feel your best. Now, with the launch of skincare patches, you can look like your best self, too --- no matter what might be keeping you up at night.” Each patch is formulated to deliver results in just one use, backed by a consumer use study conducted by Essex Testing Clinic in Verona, NJ. According to research The Good Patch commissioned earlier this year, 74% of skincare patch users are dissatisfied with the current offerings on the market. The brand aims to change that with their new line. The skincare patches are intended to be used alongside some of the brand’s fan favorite wellness patches for a holistic experience. The Brighten Up Hydrogel Eye Patches, which reduce the appearance of dark circles, pair with the brand’s #1 seller, B12 Awake, a caffeine patch to give your day a boost. The De-Puff Hydrogel Under Eye Patches, which calm puffy under eyes, pair with Rescue, a patch to bounce back after a night out. The Un-Wrinkle Microdart Patches, which reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by stress, pair with Relax. The Clear Up Blemish Microdart Patches pair with Cycle, a patch for that time of the month. The skincare patches are available on the brand’s website, thegoodpatch.com, today and will be on Amazon later in November. “The line between beauty and wellness continues to blur as consumers take an increasingly more holistic approach to their beauty routines. They understand that common wellness challenges like lack of sleep and stress not only take a toll on how they feel on the inside, but also how their skin looks on the outside. We wanted to create a product offering that really addressed that”, said Jessica Talpos, Director of Marketing & Product Development at The Good Patch. For more information, please visit TheGoodPatch.com or @TheGoodPatch on social media platforms. About The Good Patch: The Good Patch, which first emerged on the market in 2018, was founded by longtime friends Betsy Scanlan, Kelly Brock, and David Nicholson. David and Kelly, owners of award-winning spas, and Betsy, an accomplished advocate in the hemp industry, all met for coffee one morning to talk beauty, wellness, and the power of plant-based ingredients. Combining each of their past expertise in the wellness industry, The Good Patch was born. Today, the brand is pioneering new approach to personal care at the intersection of beauty and wellness. The brand’s wearable patches address a variety of common daily struggles, such as B12 Awake (for the afternoon slump), Dream (for getting your beauty sleep), and Relax (for unwinding and decompressing), among other plant-powered varieties. They use tried-and-true ingredients that are 3rd party quality tested. Simply peel, stick, and remove when you are done. Since 2018, The Good Patch has been steadily growing. From its humble roots selling in spas and independent retailers, the wearable wellness patch company has grown to be sold in over 12,000 retail locations. The brand currently has 16 patches on the market, with more on the way. ### For press inquiries, please contact Elyse Koenig: Beauty & Wellness Consulting: Nathalie Kourie nathalie@elysekoenig.com 858.342.7769 Contact Details Elyse Koenig: Beauty & Wellness Consulting Nathalie Kourie +1 858-342-7769 nathalie@elysekoenig.com Company Website https://thegoodpatch.com/

October 17, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Advertiser Perceptions Research Finds Data Standards Increase ROI by 30% or More

Claravine

Advertiser Perceptions, the leader in providing research-based strategic market intelligence to the complex and dynamic media, advertising, and ad tech industries, conducted research examining how US brand marketers and agencies are approaching and perceiving data standardization. The research uncovers key findings around the importance of data standardization across measurement and attribution, privacy compliance, productivity, managing campaign ROI, ad creative development, brand safety, generative AI and consumer experience. Their results found that marketing and advertising agency professionals acknowledge that data standards are essential. A large majority – 91% – agree that applying data standards practices is a must in order to move forward in a privacy-centric way. Advertisers that have data standards in place see average ROI increases of 30% or more across tactics, including privacy compliance (32%), productivity (32%), managing ROI (31%) and brand safety (30%). Eighty-six percent agree that without data standards, their organizations will fall behind competitors or lose market share over time. The bottom line is that a majority of advertisers have yet to master the ability to target and measure the impacts of leveraging rich audience and creative data. Privacy Ecosystem Evolving Those currently using data standards have successfully employed privacy-forward methods for data sharing and analysis in greater numbers vs. their counterparts. The research shows that gaining control over data standards is a must to mitigate risk and remain competitive in today’s quickly evolving regulatory environment. More specifically: Advertisers that have data standards in place are significantly more likely to be using data clean rooms and rely on APIs to share advertiser segment data and ad creative assets, whereas those exploring still lean more heavily on less privacy-minded methods, such as email. Among the two-thirds who use data clean rooms, the overwhelming majority agree that clean rooms are the standard for privacy-compliant data matching. Those utilizing data standardization are more confident in the execution of coherent audience definition, ad creative and measurement strategies and their tiebacks to ROI. Push for Generative AI With advertisers estimating one in every four ads result in ad creatives being served to the incorrect consumer, there is a huge upside in gaining greater visibility into ad creative production, storage and utilization. Specifically, advertisers estimate ROI would increase 29% if they were to be able to serve ad creatives to the correct consumer every time. And if they were to be able to fully attribute campaign performance back to specific ad creatives, ROI would increase by 30%. With two in five already using artificial intelligence (AI) for ad creative development and another one in two considering its use, organizations’ acknowledge that properly tagging and tracking ad creative is increasing in complexity and is critical to measuring and improving performance. Yet, today, only a minority (21%) feel very confident in their ability to keep track of and tag AI-generated creative assets. Importance of Brand Safety & Trust Lack of knowledge as to where creative assets are running also exposes companies to brand safety issues. Ops teams implementing data standards reported the ability to identify where ad creatives were served and whether ads ran next to unsafe brand content much faster than their counterparts. They also estimate a greater ROI from serving the right ads to the right consumer 100% of the time vs. their counterparts. Eighteen percent of US advertisers believe that ads running next to unsafe content can result in significant cost impacts to their business and revenue. And those who have already implemented data standardization believe the cost impacts are significantly greater. For the majority, identifying unsafe ad placements takes time: Roughly half of advertisers said it takes up to a day to identify that ads have run next to unsuitable content. Three in four say that limited reporting or data provided to them via media partners at the ad creative level is a top challenge, as is the fact that attribution models aren’t set up to provide insights at the creative level. “Our research indicates that data standards sit at the very core of many of the industry’s top challenges, including measurement and attribution, privacy compliance, generative AI usage and brand safety,” said Lauren Fisher, GM of Business Intelligence at Advertiser Perceptions. “The greater the understanding an organization has with regard to where its data and creatives are housed, who has access and where they are shared, the greater its ability to manage critical areas of marketing, which ultimately leads to revenue gains for businesses.” Methodology Advertiser Perceptions, surveyed 140 US advertisers in September 2023 to understand their current and future practices with regard to data standards strategies. To qualify for the study, respondents had to be spending $50M annually on digital advertising and involved in decision-making for digital advertising. The study surveyed a mix of respondents across strategic teams, operations and data analytics teams. Agency respondents comprised 30% of respondents, while marketers accounted for 70%. The research was commissioned by Claravine, which helps to standardize taxonomies, naming conventions, and metadata across all digital experiences at the source of data creation. The full report can be downloaded here. “Our industry is constantly evolving, and the pace of change is having big impacts on marketing teams and businesses. Right now there are several topline challenges including an uncertain regulatory environment, a push for generative AI and ongoing concerns with brand safety,” Verl Allen, CEO of Claravine said. “This research proves marketers and agencies understand data standardization is a necessary organizational priority that touches nearly every team, role and system in a company’s marketing efforts. Focusing on data standards at the beginning is a practice that takes time and care, but once implemented it can lead to significant ROI gains.” About Advertiser Perceptions Advertiser Perceptions is the leader in providing research-based strategic market intelligence to the complex and dynamic media, advertising, and ad tech industries. Our curated, proprietary Ad PROS™ Network and deep relationships with the largest advertisers provide clients with an unbiased view of the market, their brand, and the competition. Our experts provide timely and actionable guidance enabling clients to improve their products and services, strengthen their brands, and drive more revenue. About Claravine Claravine is a pioneer in Data Integrity for the global enterprise. We empower a proactive approach to marketing measurement by activating data standards across people and technology, bridging the silos that limit speed and decisions. That’s why nearly a quarter of the Fortune 100 use our platform, The Data Standards Cloud, to define, apply and connect standards across their ecosystem for faster decisions, greater agility, and increased ROI. www.claravine.com Contact Details Kite Hill PR Maggie Stasko maggie@kitehillpr.com Company Website https://www.claravine.com/

October 17, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

UOVO Announces the Launch of UOVO Fashion

UOVO Fashion

UOVO announces the rebranding of Garde Robe, the wardrobe maintenance, management, and storage firm, as UOVO Fashion. This strategic move symbolizes a broader expansion and the consolidation of its art, fashion, and wine businesses under the UOVO brand. Established in 2001, Garde Robe was acquired by UOVO in 2021. Alongside this acquisition, UOVO also welcomed Domaine, the foremost storage and logistics firm for wine connoisseurs, into its portfolio. The integration and rebranding consolidate UOVO's vision of being the premier destination where luxury hospitality meets museum-grade preservation. Steven Guttman, UOVO Founder and Co-Chairman of the Board, says, "We are pleased to introduce UOVO Fashion, a bold step in our company’s evolution. Our vision has always been to offer an unparalleled experience, where art, fashion, and wine converge under one UOVO umbrella to preserve our clients’ most treasured collections. As we continue to embrace the dynamic world of fashion, our commitment to excellence and innovation remains unwavering.” UOVO Fashion goes beyond traditional storage. Their state-of-the-art facilities, located in New York City, Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, are purpose-designed to cater to the specific requirements of garment and accessory care. Clients benefit from an array of services, from climate-controlled storage and preservation to seasonal wardrobe change and luggage-free travel. Additionally, UOVO Fashion’s MyCloset app offers a fully digitized inventory, enhancing accessibility and convenience for clients including white-glove pick-up and delivery scheduling. Brennan Lowery, General Manager of UOVO Fashion, expressed, "This is a pivotal phase for our brand, team, and esteemed clientele. Our commitment to top-tier service remains steadfast, and we're enthusiastic about introducing innovative offerings in response to our client’s evolving needs." ABOUT UOVO FASHION UOVO Fashion is the dedicated fashion vertical of UOVO, the leading storage and services firm for art, wine and fashion collections. Staffed by a highly-trained team of professionals with decades of fashion expertise, UOVO Fashion is equipped to manage collections with the highest standards of preservation. Our services include climate-controlled storage, comprehensive inventory and collection photography, preservation, shipping, luggage-free travel, private viewing rooms, archiving, cataloging, conservation, and more. MyCloset allows clients full digital access to their collections 24/7, reflecting UOVO’s commitment to one-to-one relationships and digital optimization. ABOUT UOVO UOVO, founded in 2014, offers comprehensive stewardship of both world-class commercial and personal collections at state-of-the-art facilities across the US. Spanning three dedicated business platforms—Art, Fashion, and Wine—UOVO is specifically equipped to manage a diverse array of highly valued inventory. Our suite of services includes storage, preservation, archiving, cataloging, shipping, and installation, managed through one-to-one personal relationships as well as full digital access. UOVO believes in supporting its community through a range of initiatives that invest in next generation artists, designers, and vintners. Contact Details Malinda Torres Rebholz OGAKI +1 646-475-7056 mtorres@ogakidigital.com Company Website https://uovo.art/

October 16, 2023 02:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Fall & Holiday Finds

News Media Group, Inc.

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

October 12, 2023 01:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Demand for Online Writing and Content Creation Jobs Intensifies, finds Freelancer.com

FREELANCER.COM

Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today released its quarterly report revealing the most in-demand online jobs on the platform for Q3 2023. The Fast 50 Q3 2023 report, a quarterly dataset ranking the fastest growing and falling jobs on the platform, analyzed over 277,000 jobs posted by employers to Freelancer.com between July and September 2023. According to the data, the fastest growing freelance jobs by percentage growth in Q3 2023 were mostly writing, content creation and marketing related. As AI continues to advance, the need for human creativity remains strong. Employers are once again seeking freelancers to support with Creative Writing and Content Writing projects, which are up 22.4% and 19.4% respectively. A surge in demand for writing skills across the platform means there were more than 10,000 additional writing projects available in Q3 2023, which were already a trending skill evident in the previous quarter. The Q3 2023 data also indicates a consistent trend in businesses seeking freelance marketing support, with Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%), Videography (up 17.4%) and Telemarketing (up 16.5%) seeing notable growth across the quarter. This aligns with the previous quarter's emphasis on business marketing activities. “Our Freelancer Fast 50 Report is a forward leading indicator of the skills and expertise businesses need today. Artificial Intelligence is powering a boom in content creation, particularly focusing on writing, marketing and video production skills” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer. “Generative AI is superskilling freelancers and their ability to produce extremely high quality content and faster than ever before. Tools like ChatGPT and Bard have changed the game when it comes to producing and refining written content, while advances in video AI such as Runway Gen-2, HeyGen and Pika Labs means that video production and editing can be done with a click of a button.” Growth in skills like User Interface / IA (up 17.4% from 3,071 to 3,607) and UX / User Experience (up 13.9% from 1,193 to 1,359) highlight the importance of user-centric design in today's digital landscape. Data Mining (up 14.9% from 2,374 to 2,728) and Data Processing (up 10% from 11,013 to 12,115) were also amongst the top growing jobs. These skills are often associated with Sales functions and Lead Generation, which are also growing in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. By leveraging freelancers to research leads, businesses can operate more efficiently and focus more on relationship building in the sales process. Design, Marketing and Video Creation Jobs Lead Year-on-Year Growth Several skills have surged in demand when comparing Q3 2022 and Q3 2023. Jobs for User Interface (UI) Design have doubled, growing by 101.9% to 3,607 from 1,786 in the same period last year. Search Engine Marketing jobs grew 80.4% (from 1,597 to 2,881) and Videography jumped by 77.1% (from 2,716 to 4,809). Fastest Falling Jobs of Q3 2023 The recent data highlights a shift in the demand for specific technical skills, which saw a significant increase last year as many tech companies laid off technical staff. There's a noticeable decline in jobs for certain established programming languages and frameworks. For instance, Matlab and Mathematica saw a 25.1% decrease (from 1,349 to 1,011 jobs). Similarly, projects requiring skills in AngularJS jobs dropped by 23.5% (from 1,722 to 1,318), while those requiring Django experts experienced a decline of 23.4% (from 1,216 to 932). C Programming, C++ Programming, and Python, which were all in-demand skills in Q3 2022, also all decreased on the platform in Q3 2023. While algorithms remain integral to many processes, there's been a reduction in specialized roles in this domain. This trend is evident in the decrease in demand for Algorithm skills, which saw a decrease of 22.5% (from 1,438 to 1,114 jobs). This might be a consequence of the advent of more intuitive tools and platforms that simplify algorithmic tasks. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Writing Jobs Show No Sign Of Slowing Down The introduction of highly sophisticated and powerful generative AI tools have led many experts and commentators to predict that skills such as writing will be replaced by AI. However, the latest Fast 50 Q3 data demonstrates that writing jobs are here to stay, as content writing, creative writing, copy typing and ghostwriting jobs increase by more than 20% over the last quarter. These skills continue to flourish after reporting growth in the previous quarter on Freelancer.com, with Creative Writing ranked as the fastest growing skills in Q2 2023 (up 58%, from 1,868 to 2,961). An Increase in writing skills for two quarters in a row suggest that businesses are placing more emphasis on content creation by hiring freelancers to write articles and produce creative content. Copy Typing, the fastest growing skill for Q3’23 (up 28.7% from 6,381 to 8,213) encompasses all types of jobs from data entry to helping write e-books to transcription and typist projects. While technical projects do require degrees and past experience, most copy typing jobs can be performed by freelancers with no prior knowledge, making it a lucrative side hustle for freelancers globally. AI’s Impact on Whitecollar Jobs While writing jobs continue to flourish over the past 6 months, there is a need to understand how generative AI will impact jobs and various freelancing skills. In a longform essay titled ‘ AI know what you did last summer ’, Freelancer.com CEO Matt Barrie discusses the bleeding edge of AI technology and how he predicts these will go on the shape white-collar jobs. Barrie suggests that to be competitive in a world of AI, workers will need to adapt or move up the stack: “Those in white collar jobs will need to move ‘up the stack’. Illustrators become cinematographers. Writers become editors. Software developers become product managers. Grad students now run a research group.” Barrie also highlights that there is a major opportunity for freelancers, arguing that AI-powered freelancers will ultimately be the winners as they have the ability to compete against middle class workforces all around the world. AI’s impact on work productivity is evident in a recent AI study conducted by Freelancer.com which found that in a survey of over 1,300 US workers, a majority of those US workers (75%) are using generative AI tools in their work. One in three (33%) workers are using AI tools all the time in their work, while one quarter of US workers (25%) are using these tools sometimes and one sixth (16%) admit to never using AI at work. Marketing & Video Production Sustain Growth, Growing Every Quarter in 2023 Marketing and Video Production skills are one of the most in-demand skill categories on the platform, with data showing they’ve now grown every quarter since the beginning of the year. Search Engine Marketing (up 24.1%, from 2,321 to 2,881) ranked as the third fastest growing skill on the platform. Telemarketing (up 16.5%, from 1,054 to 1,228) has grown in Q3 as businesses turn towards more traditional marketing tactics. Sustained growth in different types of marketing skills means there are many opportunities for skilled freelancers to find unique projects on the platform. As for video production, not only is the skill up quarter-on-quarter, but both Video Production and Videography have almost doubled when compared to the same time last year, up 58.1% and 77.1% respectively. The surge in freelancer video production jobs can be attributed to the booming demand for online content, especially on platforms like YouTube (up 10.3%, from 1,174 to 1,295 jobs in Q3) and TikTok. As content is a staple in many marketing strategies, businesses are turning to freelancers to help them produce content, boosting this as a potential category for workers. Businesses Delegating Sales Functions to Freelancers As found in the Freelancer.com World’s Most Boring Job research, businesses often delegate research heavy tasks to on-demand freelancers. In turn, this allows businesses the ability to operate more efficiently and focus on more impact-based tasks. A unique trend uncovered in the Fast 50 Q3 2023 shows that businesses are leaning on freelancers to help with the research portion of the sales function. Sales and Lead Generation ranked as some of the fastest growing jobs in the quarter, up 13.3% and 11.4% respectively. Interestingly, Sales and Lead Generation both featured in the top 25 fastest growing jobs in Q2 2023. Growth in sales and lead generation is an example of how businesses are employing freelancers to help them streamline the sales process. ###### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 report is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 277,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer.com platform between July 1 to September 30 2023. Fast 50 Q3 2022 vs Q3 2023 Fast 50 Q2 2023 vs Q3 2023 Data About Freelancer Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 69 million registered users have posted over 23.1 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management for consumers and businesses on the Internet with over US$5 billion in transactions secured. Freelancer also owns Freightlancer & Loadshift, enterprise freight marketplaces with over 550 million kilometers of freight posted since inception. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Forward-looking statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements". The words "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "project", "forecast", "estimate", “outlook”, “upside”, "likely", "intend", "should", "could", "may", "target", "plan" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Indications of, and guidance on, future earnings and financial position and performance, including Freelancer’s FY23 outlook, are also forward-looking statements, as are statements regarding Freelancer’s plans and strategies and the development of the market. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Freelancer, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Freelancer cannot give any assurance or guarantee that the assumptions upon which management based its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct or exhaustive beyond the date of its making, or that Freelancer's business and operations will not be affected by other factors not currently foreseeable by management or beyond its control. Such forward-looking statements only speak as at the date of this announcement and Freelancer assumes no obligation to update such information. The release, publication or distribution of this document in jurisdictions outside Australia may be restricted by law. Any failure to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws. Contact Details Freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

October 12, 2023 07:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Grupo Mercury Adopts Digital Transformation Strategy Powered By ToolsGroup Supply Chain Solutions

ToolsGroup

ToolsGroup, a global leader in retail and supply chain planning and optimization software, is proud to announce it has been selected by Grupo Mercury, the Latin American business group dedicated to the import and marketing of wholesale electronics products, to help tailor inventory to demand for enhanced customer satisfaction, support business objectives, and accelerated business growth. Grupo Mercury has over 10 years of experience in the market, importing products associated with lighting, electronics, and Smart Home devices. The company operates out of six distribution centers, managing a portfolio of roughly 3,500 products. The complexity of handling such a wide product range, characterized by high seasonality and intermittency, was further complicated by regionally differentiated demand trends and long supply lead times. With ambitious growth objectives, the company began looking for a transformative digital solution that could increase efficiency within its complex network, while freeing up working capital and resources for their growth-associated initiatives. “We’re excited to embark on the next phase of growing our business and bringing great service and great products to even more customers across the region,” said Fabián Samaca, Managing Director. Fredy Martinez, Regional Director of Supply Chain, added, “We chose ToolsGroup to accompany us on this journey because they had the maturity to support our expansion plan, an in-depth understanding of the LATAM marketplace, and a proven track record of handling similar challenges and product types efficiently and profitably.” To achieve its growth objectives and exceed customer expectations, Grupo Mercury selected Service Optimizer 99+ (SO99+), ToolsGroup’s suite of solutions that provides a unique probabilistic planning approach. Thanks to a built-in, AI-driven probabilistic forecast, these solutions account for variability and tailor inventory to demand, mitigating risk and uncertainty in demand and supply planning. ToolsGroup has over 100 customers within distribution, giving the machine learning engine behind these capabilities ample opportunity to learn and adapt to the industry’s unique challenges. By leveraging ToolsGroup’s native AI and automation, Grupo Mercury can navigate complexity, satisfy demand, and achieve enhanced business performance amid network expansion. “As distributors ramp up growth and face increasing complexity, a robust planning engine becomes crucial for satisfying demand while maintaining forward momentum,” said ToolsGroup CEO, Inna Kuznetsova. “ToolsGroup provides the technology and expertise that power, focus, and channel that momentum to ensure increased customer satisfaction and profitability. We’re excited to embark on this journey with Grupo Mercury and together build a more resilient supply chain that will help them convert growth potential into real-world benefits.” Learn more about how probabilistic forecasting helps distributors determine the optimal inventory levels to meet customer service and business goals HERE. About Grupo Mercury Grupo Mercury is a multi-Latin company that imports and markets lighting, electrical, smart home and hardware products with more than 10 years in the market, with different lines of business, designed for each consumer need. Stay in touch with Grupo Mercury on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or visit www.grupomercury.lat. About ToolsGroup ToolsGroup’s innovative AI-powered solutions enable retailers, distributors, and manufacturers to navigate through supply chain uncertainty. Our retail and supply chain planning suites empower a new level of intelligent decision making and unlock powerful business improvements in forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory - delighting customers and achieving financial and ESG KPIs. Stay in touch with ToolsGroup on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or visit www.toolsgroup.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.toolsgroup.com

October 12, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Grupo Mercury Adopts Digital Transformation Strategy Powered By ToolsGroup Supply Chain Solutions