Retail

Bridal Cosmetics E-Commerce Luxury Office Products Supply Chain Management
News Release Digital Asset Direct

Auto Theft on The Rise: Surge in Both Auto Theft and Carjacking's

YourUpdateTV

There is a new warning for anyone who owns or leases an automobile: Auto Theft and Carjackings are on the rise. An analysis by the National Insurance Crime Bureau shows auto theft took a dramatic leap upward in 2020 compared to 2019, reversing two years of auto theft declines. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/PnrnGr-_fXc According to this initial study, NICB found that there were 873,080 auto thefts in 2020, a 9.2 percent increase over 2019, and recorded the most thefts for a single year the past decade. Further, every month from June through December 2020 saw theft increases ranging from 11 to 18 percent over 2019. Overall, 38 states witnessed increases in auto thefts in 2020 over 2019. NICB CEO David Glawe conducted a nationwide media tour in conjunction with Your Update TV and D S Simon Media to discuss the rise in auto thefts and the fight to stop the criminals who commit them. Mr. Glawe shared tips on what actions car and truck owners should take to prevent theft and offered insights on macro trends surrounding insurance crimes during a time of COVID-19. During the TV interviews across the country Glawe also highlighted: Recent numbers NICB released when it comes to auto theft After two consecutive years of declining theft, whether these new numbers are the start of an upward trend or merely an aberration Why we are seeing such an increase What can people do to protect themselves from these types of thefts, and what should you do if you are a victim of any of these crimes REPORT FRAUD: Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800.TEL.NICB (800.835.6422)or submitting a form on our website. Media: Tully Lehman 925.758.0744 tlehman@nicb.org Brooke Kelley 847.544.7085 bkelley@nicb.org About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 05, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Minuteman Press in Philadelphia Boosts Local Business Recovery With Essential Print and Marketing Services

Minuteman Press International Inc

Jude Arijaje is the owner of the Minuteman Press franchise in Philadelphia. He also owns a second franchise in Bala Cynwyd with his son Mejire. Since printing is an essential business, Jude and his team have been open and operating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing everything from signs and menus for restaurants to full-scale direct mail and outreach programs for elections including the upcoming state primaries in May. Jude has been running his business since 2008 and is a member of the Minuteman Press International President’s Million-Dollar Circle for achieving yearly gross sales of at least $1 million. By focusing on supporting local businesses and organizations at this critical time with products and services they need to reopen safely, Minuteman Press in Philadelphia is playing a crucial role in getting the local economy back on track. Jude says, “All in all, people are very receptive to local and small businesses. We are proud to do our part in the local economic recovery. We also have been helping non-profits with their marketing strategies and making sure that are maximizing their reach for their budgets.” He continues, “Right now, many local businesses need to get the word out to their customers that they are open and operating. We have seen high demand for direct mail postcards, directional signs, and signs in general that say ‘WE ARE OPEN’ or ‘WE ARE HIRING’, which is encouraging to see. Custom branded apparel is another capability of ours that continues to be big for us.” During the 2020 election season, Minuteman Press in Philadelphia was able to help many campaigns nationwide adapt their printing and marketing strategies during the pandemic. Jude explains, “We do a tremendous amount of political printing for elections, right now in Pennsylvania there is a primary coming up in May. At the height of the pandemic, we were printing signs and banners as well as many different mailers for the 2020 election. With traditional events not being allowed to take place, we were able to help our clients adapt their marketing and outreach efforts. I am grateful to be able to help local businesses and organizations successfully pivot during this crucial time.” “Print is never going to go away, and the pandemic affirms this. For example, to look professional at Zoom meetings, we will produce the signs, the backdrops, the branded apparel, anything you need. Another example is that local restaurants have come to us for new custom disposable menus. We might have to do business in different ways, but printing is always able to adapt.” -Jude Arijaje, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Philadelphia It is inspiring to see how Jude has been able to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 and keep his business healthy. He states, “The two most important things that we are doing are marketing while also making sure our existing customers are happy. We have reached out to all of our previous clients as well as prospects with special offers via direct mail, and we do everything we can to make sure they have a positive experience with us.” Jude adds, “My biggest lesson learned during the pandemic and my message to other local business owners would be to work harder, work smarter, and try to connect with customers in a different way. If you don’t adapt to the current needs (and communication tools) of your customers, then they won’t know who you are or how you can help. The climate has changed with the pandemic and we help our clients understand that. We then help them effectively market their business.” Because Jude is part of the Minuteman Press franchise family, he has also received ongoing support that really makes a difference. He says, “The support from Minuteman Press International has been great. When everyone needed a lift, the corporate team and my local regional team were always there for us. I’ve been in constant contact with my Philadelphia Regional Vice President Rich Hornberger and he has been really supportive of us throughout the pandemic.” Rich Hornberger says, “Jude is a consummate professional who cares about his community. I am proud of his efforts in supporting local businesses both before and during the pandemic. Hard work pays off, and Jude is a prime example of that.” When asked what advice he would give to others right now, Jude answers, “My advice is simple: We are in this together, and we all have to work together. Keep your dollars in the community, and employ people in the community. That’s what we strive to do and we are proud to help others recover as we continue to build back our local economy.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd, PA, visit https://www.philly.minutemanpress.com. 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

April 05, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

Utah Launches Pioneering Pilot on Mobile Driver’s License

GET Group North America

Waltham and Boston, Massachusetts, Salt Lake City, Utah (March 30, 2021 ) – The Utah Driver License Division (DLD) has launched a mobile driver license (mDL) pilot for offering driver’s licenses and ID cards on mobile phones. The pilot will demonstrate improvement in citizen privacy and security, while highlighting the convenience and safety of tap and go transactions. It will use a fully ISO 18013-5-compliant mobile app, following the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) mDL Implementation Guidelines. The new mDLs are a secure, contactless digital form of ID that give citizens control of their identity data. They choose the personal information they share with businesses. The pilot will build public acceptance of mDL in real-world scenarios such as banking, travel, traffic stops, and restaurant and liquor store transactions that require age verification. Building an open ecosystem during the pilot where mDLs are accepted at many businesses will pave the way for making mDLs viable for all of Utah’s more than two million licensed drivers. Utahns may be able to leave their wallet at home soon. Unlike other pilots, Utah will fully utilize the ISO 18013-5 standard for mDL, which provides the benefit of cryptographic proof of identity that prevents forgery and cannot be achieved by simply showing your phone screen to a clerk at a business. “Our Driver License Division is committed to working with residents and stakeholders to implement a solution which provides the highest value to Utahns: one which is accepted anywhere and provides enhanced privacy, security and personal control,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jess L. Anderson. “Utahns’ privacy is of the utmost importance to us and the mDL gives them control over their data. They choose what information to share when their identification is requested.” For mDL, Utah DLD has tapped GET Group North America and its technology partner, Scytáles, to provide GET Mobile ID, an ISO 18013-5-compliant application that puts an official driver’s license or ID Card on a citizen’s smartphone. The Contactless ID document can be verified with a tap or scan and is accepted worldwide using any ISO 18013-5-compliant reader, such as GET Mobile Verify. The GET/Scytáles mDL technology was the first to pass the formal conformity assessment testing, meant to ensure compliance to the stringent standards that allow for global acceptance. “Utah DLD has incredible foresight and timing to lead the world with standardized mDLs. We are proud to support Utah DLD as they begin launching a full-scale mDL program,” said Alex Kambanis, President and Managing Director of GET Group North America. “COVID has accelerated the importance of Contactless ID for both citizens and the businesses that accept ID. Utah DLD is providing Utah residents a huge benefit with financial, security and health-related impacts." “Utahns will now lead the country in having the benefit of a completely secure, privacy-centered, standardized form of mobile ID. Our team looks forward to supporting Utah in its pioneering role in implementing the very first fully ISO-compliant mDL,” said Geoff Slagle, President & Chief Business Development Officer at Scytáles, Inc. The pilot will begin with approximately 100 select participants and expand to 10,000 participants including the broader public during 2021. Utah businesses can participate in the pilot to accept mDLs now and prepare for when mDL is available to all Utahns. About GET Group North America GET Group North America and its partners develop, manufacture, and implement end-to-end solutions for secure physical and mobile credentials that enable government agencies, motor vehicle departments, municipalities law enforcement organizations, and other entities to leverage the latest in secure identity management technologies. From photo ID cards, driver’s licenses and passports, to mDLs and mIDs, GET Group NA delivers advanced issuance, verification and personalization capabilities that prevent identification fraud, accommodate diversified customer needs, and support the future of ID use cases. About Scytáles Scytáles is breaking new ground by developing and offering ISO-compliant Mobile Driver Licenses, Mobile IDs and derived Mobile IDs as a complement to Security Printed Documents, and Validation mechanisms in realtime in online and offline modes. The company participates as experts in Mobile Identity through the standardization body (SIS) and participates on the Task Force 14 on Mobile Driving Licences within ISO/IEC JTC1/SC17/WG10. Scytáles is also providing a Credential Service Provider (CSP), an ICAO 9303/PKD PKI, supporting multiple Mobile DLs/IDs and online identity validation providers. Scytáles lays the foundation for a comprehensive lineup of online digital services, serving billions of users, as well as enabling high-security printed documents and banknotes to go digital and mobile. Contact Details SVM Public Relations Jordan Bouclin +1 401-490-9700 jordan.bouclin@svmpr.com Scytales Anna Seddigh +46 70 988 60 48 aseddigh@scytales.com Company Website https://getgroupna.com/

March 30, 2021 12:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Major League Baseball becomes latest league to join Jock MKT

Jock MKT

Jock MKT (Jock Market), the company turning sports into a stock exchange, announced Major League Baseball will be part of their innovative platform starting with MLB’s Opening Day on April 1, 2021. The announcement marks the fifth league on Jock MKT, which allows users to buy and sell shares of NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA Tour and now MLB players in real time for real money. “Our users have told us Jock MKT is making sports more interesting – and for a sport like MLB that's looking for more ways to engage with fans, I think we offer that perfect second screen type of experience,” said Tyler Carlin, Co-Founder of Jock MKT. “Live trading on Jock MKT gives every pitch and every at bat an opportunity to trade and find value, which should really appeal to the hearts of baseball fans, a sport rooted in stats and analytics. We’re thrilled to now feature all four major U.S. leagues, plus the PGA Tour.” In an MLB Cash Market, Jock MKT users are able to buy virtual shares of star players like Mike Trout of the Anaheim Angels or Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees on a daily basis. Likewise, users can invest in shares of players with more upside such as a utility infielder or the fifth starter in a five-man rotation. Prior to each day of MLB games, Jock MKT hosts an IPO stage that concludes minutes before the first pitch. During the IPO, users can bid on shares of players using real cash. When the IPO ends, any Jock MKT user can buy and sell shares with other investors while the games are happening. Users have the option to hold their shares to the end of the night for cash payouts based on fantasy rankings. For a tutorial of how to play, watch this video. Now approved in 35 states, Jock MKT is one of the fastest growing fantasy sports platforms in the world. Early investors include Isaiah Kacyvenski, a retired eight-year NFL veteran with a Harvard MBA. Kacyvenski is Founding Partner and Managing Director of Will Ventures, an early-stage fund investing at the intersection of sports and technology. Additional investors include Ryan Moore, a current board member of DraftKings and Accomplice founding partner. Headquartered in Boston and launched in 2020, Jock MKT (JockMKT.com) is a fantasy gaming platform where users can make real money – every minute, every second, of every game. Inspired by a traditional stock exchange, Jock MKT allows users to buy and sell shares of athletes in real time. Jock MKT was co-founded by Tyler Carlin and investors include Isaiah Kacyvenski, Ryan Moore, Brandon Adams and Alumni Ventures Group. Available in the U.S. in 35 states, Jock MKT offers gaming options for events tied to the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and PGA Tour. Contact Details Eric PR & Marketing, LLC Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://jockmkt.com/

March 30, 2021 10:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

The IRONMAN Group Partners With PRophet To Help Tell Stories Of Triumph

PRophet

PRophet, the first-ever AI-driven platform to help predict media interest, sentiment and spread, announced that The IRONMAN Group and its portfolio of events including the IRONMAN® and IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series and Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, is the most recent company to partner with the platform, bringing PRophet’s active user base to 20 since making the technology commercially available to brands in January of this year. The groundbreaking platform is also now available to agencies and their clients through PRophet’s Agency Partnership Program which allows account teams and their clients unlimited access and use of the platform together. “Platform interest, usage and now real-life use cases underscore the growing acceptance of AI-based technologies like PRophet to help improve human performance,” said Aaron Kwittken, founder and CEO of PRophet. “We look forward to continuing to grow the platform’s reach to agencies and their clients alike and provide additional market-first capabilities in the months to come.” “As a performance-driven organization ourselves, PRophet helped us uncover additional journalists who we had not engaged with previously, leading to an overall placement increase of over 30%. More importantly, the platform is helping us share more stories around an athlete’s journey of triumph which is of core importance to us. Being able to use PRophet’s pitch data and analytics to better inform our press strategies amongst high quality, high authority outlets is a game changer for us, helping to put the spotlight on our deserving athletes,” said Dan Berglund, Vice President of Global Communications, The IRONMAN Group. Agencies and brands can contact PRophet at sales@prprophet.ai for a demonstration of the platform’s capabilities and request a complementary, two-week trial. For more information on PRophet, visit www.prprophet.ai. About PRophet PRophet is the first-ever AI-driven software-as-a service (SaaS) platform designed by and for the PR community that samples past stories to better predict future media interest, sentiment, and spread through natural language processing and machine learning. PRophet is owned by Ahteed, LLC, an MDC Ventures company and was founded by marketing industry thought leader and entrepreneur Aaron Kwittken alongside former political strategist, technologist, and author Mark Penn, currently President of Stagwell Group and chairman and CEO of MDC Partners and formerly with Microsoft. To learn more, visit www.prprophet.ai. Contact Details KWT Global for PRophet Jason Fagan +1 646-761-1206 jfagan@kwtglobal.com Company Website https://www.prprophet.ai/home

March 30, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Engagement Agreement with Ordr

Interoperability Clearinghouse

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Center of Excellence (CMMC COE), hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public-private partnership serving the public and private sectors for more than 15 years, is excited to announce a partnership with Ordr, an industry leader in continuous discovery, device asset inventory visibility and security of all connected devices, including unmanaged IoT, IoMT, and OT devices. This unique partnership will extend efforts by providing complete device asset inventory discovery for compliance within the CMMC COE Marketplace to improve cybersecurity protection and resilience for the global defense industrial base network of contractors, vendors, and suppliers. “We are excited to embark on this journey with Ordr”, said John Weiler, Chairman of the Board at CMMC Center of Excellence, “The foundation of CMMC starts with visibility into devices in the network and the risks they bring. This new partnership will further help advance the goals and objectives for improving the supply chain security and resilience for the US Department of Defense (DoD)”. Ord provides a purpose-built platform for asset inventory and security. It discovers and secures all connected devices -- from traditional servers, workstations and PCs to IoT, IoMT and OT devices. Using agentless and passive methods of data collection, connected devices can be automatically discovered and classified. Devices with vulnerabilities, weak ciphers/certificates or are subject to recall are identified. Ordr’s machine learning engine also maps and baselines device communication patterns to establish “Flow Genomes”. Ordr can then alert on anomalous behavior and dynamically generate micro-segmentation policies to allow devices only appropriate access. “The Ordr team is thrilled to be joining the pioneering organizations and innovators that make up the CMMC COE,” said Greg Murphy, Chief Executive Officer at Ordr. “We are working with DIB contractors, vendors, and the supplier community to enable them to meet CMMC regulations quickly and efficiently. Being a part of the CMMC COE accelerates that effort.” The executed Engagement Agreement establishes a collaborative engagement between Ordr and the CMMC COE to partner in the furthering of their respective and complementary missions and objectives regarding the adoption, use, and expansion of CMMC based cybersecurity practices, risk management, and compliance for the DIB contractor, vendor, and supplier community of providers creating a broader CMMC ecosystem globally to improve security and resilience. Specific actions will include: The co-development of CMMC advisory services, cyber training and education programs to accelerate CMMC certification, increase cyber adoption and improve cyber protection & resilience. Co-sponsor symposiums, training programs and podcasts leveraging their combined cyber and IT expertise. Host regular working groups, with other partners, to enable collaboration and communications. Establish an independent Industry Cyber Security Advisory Council with peer organizations to advise and educate leaders across government and industry on the continued evolution and effectiveness of CMMC. The CMMC-COE ( http://cmmc-coe.org ) and Ordr partnership will focus on bringing together the many disparate cyber and national security communities of interest to reduce complexity, improve awareness, and accelerate industry effort to become more cyber resilient against the growing threats from nation states and criminal enterprises. The CMMC-COE establishes both a Market Place and Knowledge Clearinghouse that will include resources that support the overall effort, including white papers; tutorials; recorded webcasts; presentations; and more that will help reduce the cost and burden on small and medium size contractors already struggling from the impact of COVID. For more information on the CMMC COE, please visit http://cmmc-coe.org, email info@cmmc-coe.org or call 703-863-3766. For more information on Ordr, please visit https://ordr.net/solutions/cmmc/, email info@ordr.net or call 833.673.7999 #### Contact Details John Weiler Executive Director, IT-AAC Chairman, CMMC COE john.weiler@it-aac.org 703-863-3766 Monica Wallace for Ordr Monica.Wallace@ruderfinn.com 650-346-8994 About Us ---------- CMMC-COE.ORG is a unique non-profit public-private partnership, with a vision to accelerate Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMM) adoption, and reduce time & cost for security compliance for our partners by leveraging commercial best practices, CMMC standards, and innovative solutions for a measurable success. Our mission, focused on DOD mission objectives, cost containment and expeditious CMMC compliance, is to help the DIB improve cyber posture and resilience, and simplify its acquisition. The CMMC-COE is hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public/private partnership (P3) chartered in 2007 as an honest broker to reach outside the confines of the Federal IT advisories that lack dynamic reach into the Global IT Market, and dedicated to the adoption of commercial IT management standards of practice and innovations emanating from the Global IT market. Team IT-AAC has already demonstrated the value of its decade long investment, and provides a unique value to agencies seeking to achieve accelerate the transformation of legacy processes and systems. Our Just-in-Time SMEs apply an innovative suite of Technology Business Management and Agile Acquisition Processes needed to assure the business value of commercial IT. The Interoperability Clearinghouse (ICH), is the managing partner that make up the 24 NGO/SDO organizations that make up the IT-AAC. ICH provides the contract vehicles, clearances, and critical resources proven to guide sustainable, measurable and repeatable processes needed to drive better investment decisions as the speed of mission need, while aligning existing processes, methods and workforce with IT reform mandates contained in Clinger Cohen Act, FITARA, IT MGT Act, EO13838. About Ordr ------------ Digital transformation has led to the inevitable explosive increase of connected devices. The scale and diversity of these devices, and the capacity for network connectivity introduces risks. Every single device is a potential attack vector and must be secured. Ordr delivers visibility and security of all connected devices -- from traditional servers, workstations and PCs to IoT, IoMT and OT devices. Ordr discovers what devices are in the network, profiles device behavior and risks, and then automates appropriate action. Contact Details CMMC Center of Excellence Bob Dix +1 703-975-6633 bob.dix@it-aac.org Company Website https://cmmc-coe.org

March 30, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Osmo For Schools Celebrates Five Years and Upgrades to Plastic Manipulatives in School Bundles for Classroom Hygiene & Safety

Osmo for Schools

Osmo for Schools, the educational division of Tangible Play that promotes in-classroom usage of Osmo’s award-winning educational systems, celebrates its fifth anniversary March 30, 2021 and highlights recent achievements. These include upgrading to plastic pieces in all its school bundles to maintain the highest standards of classroom hygiene, along with reaching 100,000 downloads of the Osmo Projector App intended for teachers, which helped grow Osmo’s community of active users. “Osmo for Schools began thanks to all the incredibly enthusiastic teachers across the U.S. and Canada who adopted Osmo as an educational device for classroom settings, promoting its usage, so that schools and districts started to purchase it,” explains Jan Richards, head of education sales and marketing at Osmo for Schools. “In early 2016, Osmo began our division by forming a sales team, a conference strategy, plus a Classroom Kit for schools, which really took off. It’s come a long way since!” The division now has 15 sales and consulting executives who work under Richards, offers nine different learning system bundles, and works with thousands of school districts. All Learning System Bundles Upgraded To Plastic Manipulatives for Effective Sanitization In January 2021, Osmo for Schools upgraded all nine school bundles to include plastic pieces across the board, replacing ones made of cardboard. This makes it easier for schools to disinfect and clean Osmo’s manipulatives, which are used in conjunction with Osmo’s technology inside classrooms, and allows schools to maintain the highest standards of classroom hygiene. Osmo for Schools’ plastic pieces are long-lasting, easy to sanitize when using EPA-registered disinfectant spray, and dishwasher-safe. “The entire world holds a mirror to each school’s hygiene standard and methods of cleaning and disinfection--this is especially true in classrooms where several hands are touching different items every day,” says Richards. “Our plastic pieces are an excellent educational tool, now made even safer for classrooms, and only teachers have access to them. Teachers are so excited to have all-plastic pieces in their sets!” “In all my years teaching, I’ve always sanitized my teaching tools as a STEAM teacher; from robots, to iPads and now my Osmo for Schools kits--this is a life saver for my students and myself,” says Frances Amato Dominguez, Ed Tech Model and STEAM Teacher in New York. Adds South Carolina kindergarten teacher Keri Lewis, “I love how durable these pieces are. Being plastic, they are able to be cleaned thoroughly between uses without fear of damaging the pieces.” These bundles featuring all-plastic pieces are exclusive to Osmo for Schools, and educators who previously purchased bundles with cardboard manipulatives can now buy the plastic piece sets separately, with a 25-percent discount. Projector App Reaches 100,000 Downloads Due to the sudden transition to virtual learning one year ago, Osmo reacted to teachers’ cries for a more effective means of engaging students in a virtual classroom, by offering Projector App. The app began as a free download to all thanks to Osmo Cares, the charitable arm of Osmo. Launched in late March, the app is now being used by teachers of all levels (pre-K to university) across the country to make the virtual learning environment more fun, appealing, and similar to an actual classroom; it recently reached 100,000 downloads, and helped to grow Osmo’s community of active users. Projector App employs a powerful reflective AI technology that allows the camera to “see” the desktop in front of the screen and project a teacher’s real world text, notes and drawings onto the screen, even 3-D models they hold in their hand, while being compatible with Zoom and other video conferencing technologies ( video ). Projector App is the 2020 recipient of EdTech Breakthrough Awards’ “eLearning Innovation of the Year.” “It’s wonderful that the free download of Projector App introduced many teachers to Osmo for the very first time, who were previously unaware of the great variety of educational products we offer,” says Richards. Carol Argumaniz, Assistant Principal at Lillie Jackson Early Childhood Center in Lewisville, Texas, speaks about the success her teachers are having with virtual learning, thanks to Osmo Projector App. “It allows teachers to deliver the same quality lesson through virtual learning, as they would deliver through in-person learning at school,” says Argumaniz. “And it allows them to conduct small group lessons with very high quality pictures so students feel like they are actually next to the teacher.” About Osmo for Schools Osmo for Schools, a division of Tangible Play, Inc., focuses on building in-classroom usage of Osmo’s award-winning educational systems. Using proprietary AI technology, these systems help teachers foster collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and increased engagement in learning, in students. Osmo is used in more than 30,000 schools in North America. Tangible Play is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. For more information about Osmo for Schools and its products, visit schools.playosmo.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii +1 310-251-0550 carolynkpr@gmail.com Company Website http://schools.playosmo.com

March 30, 2021 04:00 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Image

Minuteman Press Franchise in Lutz, FL Focuses on Relationships and High-Demand Products to Spark Record Monthly Sales During COVID-19 Pandemic

Minuteman Press International Inc

Ed Casagrande and his family moved to the US from Brazil in 2017 to pursue the American Dream of owning a business. He has not let the COVID-19 pandemic slow him down and Ed shares his insights on growing his Minuteman Press franchise in Lutz, FL. For four years, Minuteman Press franchise owner Ed Casagrande has been building relationships and helping local businesses with their printing and marketing needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Minuteman Press in Lutz, FL was designated as an essential business. Ed and his team have continued to reach out to their clients and community with one simple yet powerful message: “We are all in this together.” The results of Ed’s genuine outreach efforts are a satisfied client base and increased sales. He says, “We are posting record monthly sales in March 2021, and I am thankful for that. Our sales for the month are more than the annual revenue of the previous owner of the business in 2016. To do this during the pandemic makes me even more excited for the future as we continue to work hard on behalf of our community and our customers.” Supporting Local Businesses Ed elaborates, “Since the beginning, we have focused on developing strong relationships with many businesses and organizations within our local community. The pandemic has, in many ways, brought us closer together with our customers. There has been an overwhelming sense that we are all in this together, and by helping to support each other through the struggle, we have been able to keep growing.” Just by reaching out to local businesses, Ed has found a renewed sense of camaraderie with his fellow business owners. “The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. If there has been one thing that has been highlighted during this difficult time, it would be the resilience of the community. Many of our customers print with us on a regular basis, and we have gotten the opportunity to know them and their businesses. When they come into our shop, they share their stories of struggle and success, and we are there to support them through all of it.” He adds, “We know the challenges of trying to grow a business even without the added stress of a worldwide pandemic, and we want to offer solutions that can help businesses take that growth to another level. With that in mind, we take the approach of thinking like the general consumer, and finding print solutions that will help reach the desired audience.” Print Is Essential The best businesses are the ones who quickly identify the needs of their clients and do everything they can to meet those demands. That is exactly what Minuteman Press has done over the past year. Ed recalls, “Early on during the pandemic, we identified the businesses that most needed our services and made the effort to help with their printing needs. The food industry saw a massive increase in demand so we targeted that market – printing labels for food distributors, to-go menus for restaurants, and yard signs and banners promoting social distancing. The need for marketing materials promoting social distancing applied to other industries as well, and we were able to meet those needs with signs, banners, window clings, and floor stickers.” Another challenge for local businesses came in the form of adapting their marketing methods. With trade shows and other events cancelled or postponed, businesses turned to Minuteman Press for help in adapting and diversifying their marketing strategies. Ed explains, “We focused our efforts on areas of the business with the widest margin of return. We had to get creative in finding ways to best serve the needs of our customers, many of whom have also had to completely transform their approach to marketing in a world without trade shows and other traditional marketing methods. This has allowed us the opportunity to continue to grow, despite the challenges facing our local economy. At the core of this growth is the relationships we have built with our customers. The importance of developing strong relationships with local businesses and taking care to provide a quality customer experience with every interaction cannot be stressed enough. It is the key to our success.” By strengthening those relationships, Ed is now poised to help his clients with the anticipated local economic recovery. “We have already begun to see an increase in sales which indicates that the local economy is starting to fire back up. We have taken great care to listen to the needs of our customers and provide options for them that will best help them recover from the pandemic. We have also begun the process of restructuring our team to identify and capitalize on the strengths of each individual team member. We are investing in new equipment so that we can increase our production and profit margins, offer better and faster print solutions to our customers, and stay competitive in the marketplace.” He continues, “We are in the process of expanding to a new larger location which will allow us to grow even more. We have also implemented a marketing outreach project to touch base with customers who haven’t been printing as much since the pandemic started, in an effort to see if we can be of any help to them. This effort has translated into an increase of sales and is helping us get back on track to our pre-pandemic rate of growth.” “For years, the printing industry has been the backbone of marketing for organizations across the world. As technology has advanced and as the world has moved online, the ways that businesses and organizations have been able to reach out and market to their customers has evolved. But the foundation of marketing has always been in print media. In many ways, the pandemic brought things back-to-the-basics for many of our customers. We have seen many of our customers go back to the tried-and-true methods of marketing, including postcard printing for direct mail and EDDM mailing campaigns, flyer/brochure printing, and yard and car sign/banner printing. From what we have seen, the market trends indicate that the printing industry will continue to thrive and we are looking forward to continuing our growth as the economy recovers from the pandemic.” -Ed Casagrande, owner, Minuteman Press franchise, Lutz, FL From Being Laid Off in Brazil to US Business Ownership in Lutz, FL One of the reasons Ed has been able to adapt and grow his business during this unprecedented time is because of his ability to adapt and refocus. In fact, he has pivoted before. “I was born in Brazil and my professional background is in Engineering. Before moving to the US, I was involved in a large organization and was responsible for the entire South American region, with a team of 3,000 employees under my supervision. In 2015, the economy in Brazil went through a dramatic downturn, and I was laid off. My wife and I made the decision to move to the United States with our two children, and we began looking to purchase a business.” Ed continues, “At first, we looked at many options – from gas stations to dry cleaners and everything in between. I found an opportunity to purchase an existing franchise of Minuteman Press, and although I had no previous experience in the printing industry, I was drawn to the Business-to-Business concept that Minuteman Press offered. I am passionate about business and through my experience, I have a deep understanding of the inner workings of growing a business. Minuteman Press allowed me to turn that passion into an opportunity to help other businesses grow through various marketing concepts that we are able to help them achieve, which in turn has helped me grow my own business as well.” Ed credits the ongoing support of Minuteman Press both before and during the pandemic for helping him build his business. He says, “Minuteman Press International has always been a huge support to us, and they took great care to help provide the support we needed during the pandemic. We are so appreciative of the efforts they have made to ensure that the safety of our employees and customers is a top priority, and for providing us with the resources necessary to remain successful despite the challenges facing us.” “Ed Casagrande has done a tremendous job putting in the work to build his Minuteman Press franchise in Lutz. I am proud of the way he has reached out to others, promoted his relevant products and services, and provided an uplifting message as well as a positive customer experience for his clients at this critical time. I look forward to supporting Ed as he continues to build his business.” -Larry Trimble, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President, Florida Rewards & Advice for Others As a business owner, Ed sees many rewards to being his own boss. He says, “The biggest benefit to owning my own business is that there is virtually no limit to the amount of success that I can achieve, except if I limit myself. When I worked for someone else, there was always a limit to the compensation I received or to the growth that I was able to experience, regardless of the effort I put into it. Owning my own business removes that glass ceiling and allows me to pursue limitless success.” When asked what advice he would give to other local business owners right now, Ed answers, “The best advice that I can give other local businesses is that networking and customer care is vital to the success of a business. A large part of the effort that I have made since becoming a franchise owner of Minuteman Press is through networking with other small business owners in the local community. Through these efforts, I have developed some incredible working relationships with members of the community and I have learned so much along the way.” Ed concludes, “We have all heard it said that there is strength in numbers. The pandemic has demonstrated this to be true, because we have all relied on each other to get through it.” For more information on Ed Casagrande’s Minuteman Press franchise in Lutz, FL, visit https://www.lutz-fl.minutemanpress.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

March 29, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Image

NextFerm Technologies Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Audited Financial Results

NextFerm Technologies Ltd.

For the first time, Company recorded initial net revenues of $95 thousand in H2 2020, and expects significant net revenue growth in the upcoming quarters, with consistent improvement in gross profit starting H2 2021 Expects to begin mass production phase of ProteVin™, its proprietary vegan protein while generating initial demand from leading food and dietary supplement producers by the end of 2021 In January 2021 the Company consummated its IPO on TASE and raised ~ ILS 35.2 million NextFerm Technologies Ltd. (TASE:NXFR), a Food-tech company that develops, produces and markets nutritional ingredients and yeast-based, vegan, non-GMO protein alternatives for a wide range of uses for the growing protein substitute market, food market and food supplement market, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020. 2020 Highlights and 2021 Targets: Astaferm™- In Q3 2020 the Company recorded first revenues after launching Astaferm™, a potent, yeast-based and non-GMO antioxidant, in the US dietary supplement market by Purity Products, an established US dietary supplement brand, on its website, on Amazon and in physical stores. In February 2021, Carlson Labs, a US veteran dietary supplement producer, has launched Astaferm™-based dietary supplement on its website and in stores. The Company expects additional launches of Astaferm™ throughout 2021 with leading US dietary supplement companies. ProteVin™ - A vegan protein developed by the Company, with nutritional value similar to animal protein and a neutral flavor, suitable for use as a quality source of protein in various markets: The sports nutrition market, the meat-replacements market, the milk market, infant and adult nutrition markets and more. The Company expects commercialization of the product in the US during 2022. Its main targets for 2021 include: (1) Completing industrial scale-up phase, including engagement with sub-contractors for mass production infrastructure; (2) Creating initial market demand with first purchase order or agreement by the end of 2021. “We ended an exciting year in which we became a public company, recorded first sales of our Astaferm™ antioxidant in the US and completed the development of ProteVin™, our flagship product, a first-of-a-kind, yeast-based vegan protein with similar nutritional value to animal proteins with a neutral flavor." said Boaz Noy, Chief Executive Officer of NextFerm. "The fact that we achieved sales of almost USD 100,000 within a short period of time proves the need, interest and trust in Astaferm™ from leading dietary supplement players and consumers in the US. Astaferm’s uniqueness has been recognized thanks to its concentration of active ingredients, flavor and friendly gummy form. Astaferm™ enjoys respectable demand and in 2021 we expect to launch it with additional customers, which will reflect in the Company’s performance, consistent quarterly growth and improved gross profit." "As for ProteVin™, during 2021 we expect to commence commercial manufacturing scale-up, engagement with a manufacturing subcontractor and turning the growing interest of the alternative protein market into first ProteVin™ customer purchase order or contract by the end of 2021.” Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Financial Highlights Net Revenues increased 150% to $68 thousand, compared to the third quarter of 2020. These revenues derive from the first sales of Astaferm™ starting September 2020. 2020 Annual net revenues amounted $95 thousand. Under its strategic plan, during 2021, beside Purity Products and Carlson, the Company intends to have additional launches in cooperation with other US dietary supplement players. The Company expects consistent quarterly growth in 2021, and an improvement in Astaferm’s profitability by improving and streamlining production processes. Gross profit increased 116% to $13 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. While gross margin decreased 300 basis points to 19% from 22% in the fourth quarter of 2020. 2020 Annual Gross profit amounted $19 thousand (gross margin of 20%). The Company expects improvement of gross profitability, based on technological improvements, during H2 2021. Research and development expenses increased 42% to $653 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. Research and development annual expenses for 2020 decreased 27% to $2.2 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is mainly due to a decrease in salaries and related expenses implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis during 2020. Sales and marketing expenses increased 68% to $101 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. Sales and marketing annual expenses for 2020 increased 3.6% to $313 thousand compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. General and administrative expenses increased 43.5% to $178 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. General and administrative annual expenses for 2020 decreased 8.6% to $581 thousand compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is mainly due to decrease in salaries and related expenses implemented in response to the COVID-19 crisis during 2020. Operating loss increased 44% to $919 thousand compared to the third quarter of 2020. 2020 Annual Operating loss decreased 20.5% to $3.1 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. Net loss increased 46% to $1.3 million compared to the third quarter of 2020. 2020 Annual Net loss decreased 26% to $3.4 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. Net cash used in operating activities for 2020 increased 275% to $3 million compared to the twelve months period ended December 31, 2019. The increase is mainly due cash inflow of $2.75 million received under the agreement with Lallemand, a giant multi-national corporation operating in the yeast industry, and recognized in the cash flow from operating activities in 2019. Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020 amounted $716 thousand, compared to $2.0 million as of December 31, 2019. In January 2021 the Company consummated an IPO of shares and warrants on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange with gross proceeds of ILS 30.5 million. In parallel, the Company raised additional gross proceeds of ILS 4.7 million from existing shareholders under identical terms and conditions to the IPO. In total, the Company raised gross proceeds of $11 million. About NextFerm Technologies NextFerm Technologies (TASE:NXFR) is a food-tech company engaged in the research, development, production and marketing of yeast-based innovative, functional, vegan and non-GMO nutritional technologies and ingredients for a wide-range of uses for the food market, the dietary supplement market and the growing market for non-animal protein alternatives. NextFerm is developing and marketing Astaferm™, an innovative antioxidant, and ProteVin™, a vegan protein with nutritional value similar to that of animal protein with a neutral flavor. For more information on the Company’s website: www.nextferm.com Forward-looking statement This announcement also includes forecasts, projections, assessments, estimates and other information which refer to future events and matters, the realization of which is uncertain and not exclusively under the Company’s control (forward-looking information). The main facts and data used to support this information are facts and data regarding the current position of the Company and its businesses (including the scope of sales and levels of profitability, manpower, commercial engagements and more), facts and data regarding the current global position of the Company’s operating segments (including industry-specific financial developments, environmental regulatory developments, the competitive environment, technological developments, the reinsurance market and more), and macro-economic facts and data (including the economic situation both in Israel and around the world, yields in the capital markets, social and state developments and more), all as known by the Company when publishing this announcement. The forward-looking information included above in this announcement is significantly based upon, in addition to the existing information held by the Company, on the Company’s current assessments and expectations of future developments vis-a-vis each one of the aforementioned parameters, and the interconnectedness of each one of these developments. The Company has no certainty that its forecasts and assessments will indeed eventuate, and the Company’s operating results may be materially different than the results assessed or implicit based on that set forth above, inter alia, as a result of a change in any of the aforementioned factors. Contact Details NextFerm Technologies Ltd. Meirav Bauer +972 54-476-4979 meirav@bauerg.com Company Website https://www.nextferm.com/

March 26, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

1 ... 236 237 238 239 240 ... 250