Holiday Countdown
News Media Group, Inc.
Contact Details News Media Group Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/
November 22, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
VideoNews Media Group, Inc.
Contact Details News Media Group Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/
November 22, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
VideoMinuteman Press International Inc
Dawn and Dean Seifert, owners of two Minuteman Press franchises in Youngstown and Warren, Ohio, are celebrating 15 years in business for their Youngstown location, which opened in May 2007. Minuteman Press in Youngstown is located at 3200 Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44505. In January 2020, Dawn and Dean purchased Minuteman Press in Warren located at 2460 Elm Road NE, Unit 500, Warren, OH 44483. Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Dean grew up in a family-owned print shop while Dawn worked in banking. They decided to own a business “to set our own destiny,” says Dawn. When asked about their success and longevity over the past 15 years, Dean says, “There are 4 keys to our business: Being able to have two of our four children work with us in the family business. Our customer service – we never tell a client that something can’t be done. We update our equipment when needed to make sure we operate efficiently. Following the Minuteman Press franchise system and marketing to our clients and community.” Dawn adds the following insights on how they have successfully marketed the business. She says, “There are 4 primary ways we have grown our business: Getting involved in the community and sponsoring various local events. Visiting our clients on a regular basis. Providing customers with our branded promotional items. Utilizing email marketing campaigns.” For Dawn and Dean, their high-demand products from clients include “custom printed brochures, branded promotional products, and full-scale direct mail marketing campaigns that include graphic design, printing, and mailing.” Dean says, “People still like to have something to hold onto and printing is the perfect way to put your brand in their hands and make a lasting impression.” Today, the local business community is looking bright. Dean shares, “We are excited to be part of a community along Liberty’s Belmont Avenue Business Corridor, which is the Mahoning Valley’s home base for many family-owned businesses. We are local businesses supporting each other and our customers. One of the biggest rewards of owning this business is building real relationships with our clients and having them become part of our family.” As part of the Minuteman Press franchise system for 15 years, Dawn and Dean share their three key benefits of franchising: “The corporate and local regional offices are always just a phone call away. The training was perfect for us and laid the foundation for how we operate our business. The Minuteman Press FLEX software helps us manage our business – it is easy to learn and operate/maintain.” As for what advice they would give to other businesses owners right now, Dean says, “Don’t try to do everything yourself. Also, treat your employees right and share your growth with them.” For more information about Minuteman Press in Youngstown, Ohio, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/youngstown/ For more information about Minuteman Press in Warren, Ohio, visit https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/warren/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and to see Minuteman Press franchise reviews, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com
November 17, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
ImageAlvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group
Category spend down y-o-y for basic needs, experiences, gifts & indulgences 7 in 10 Consumers plan to spend less on holiday shopping Rising prices create concern across all age groups New York, NY —November 16, 2022— Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (A&M CRG) today released its newest consumer report, Consumer Sentiment Survey Fall 2022, which looks at the impacts of inflation and resultant changes in consumer spending over the last year, as well as spending expectations into the holidays and for the coming six-month period. This is the third chapter of its bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Report, based on a survey of 1,500+ consumers matching the U.S. adult population according to gender, age, ethnicity, region and income. The report covers various changing behaviors in response to inflation, including around consumers’ holiday spending plans, shopping priorities by category, concerns over rising prices, other factors that will affect holiday purchase decisions, and more. “Our objective was to understand how inflation is affecting the American consumer in terms of their optimism or lack thereof, their buying patterns and expectations, and their preferred shopping channels – especially as we go into the holiday season” noted Jonathan Sharp, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group, and lead author of the study. “What we found is that extended inflationary pressures are causing U.S. consumers to retrench further and curtail even more their discretionary spending – even categories that had seemed somewhat immune in spring 2022 are now under pressure.” Additionally, many fear that inflation has yet to peak, with 65% of consumers expecting prices to continue to rise in the next 6 months. The study found that: Almost 9 in 10 consumers have adopted new habits in response to inflation; 7 in 10 are altering their holiday shopping habits Among shopping priorities by category, only grocery was up, vs. dining out, which was down by 40% Concerns over rising prices rise with age, as do plans to spend less on indulgences Consumer expectations on things getting better, saving more, having more money, and plans to spend the same or more on basic needs were all down year-over-year This year’s holiday season looks like it will also be impacted by consumer spending reticence. The most significant changes people are making is a reduction in their overall gift spending; 1 in 3 shoppers plan to spend less on gifts this holiday season. The report provides insights into the factors that will have an impact on purchase decisions this holiday, including shipping fees, more limited return policies, potential upcoming sales, holiday availability, and Buy Now Pay Later options. “Smart retailers will remain agile in responding to deal-hungry, penny-pinching consumers,” added Jonathan Sharp. “Inventory management, pricing and cost management will continue to be severely challenged.” To download a pdf of Consumer Sentiment Survey Fall 2022, please visit: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/am-crg-consumer-sentiment-survey-fall-2022/ The Alvarez and Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities towards their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm's bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Mass Merchandise, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement. Contact Details David Schneidman dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com Company Website https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail
November 16, 2022 11:47 AM Eastern Standard Time
Arey
Arey, an e-commerce business poised to disrupt the hair care industry, is pleased to announce that it has closed an oversubscribed $4.15 million Series Seed financing round, far exceeding its original $2 million target. Female Founders Fund and Greycroft acted as the lead investors. Funds generated through this round of investment are expected to be focused on R&D and distribution expansion. Arey is one of the first functional beauty brands that targets aging hair with a proactive and science-driven approach, with a specific focus on grey hair. Scientists have identified that genetics only account for approximately 30% of grey hair. Grey hair can be a message from the body about what may be lacking. Vitamin deficiencies due to diet and lifestyle choices associated with oxidative stress, and even chemicals in the dyes used to cover grey hair can be contributors. Arey was co-founded by CEO Allison Conrad, a leading entrepreneur who ideated the company based on her own hair journey and Jay Small, a former Paul Mitchell protege and top professional celebrity hair stylist aligned with educating clients on hair color loss. Along with their team of medical advisors including internal medicine MDs, dietitians and chemical engineers, the brand offers a range of products, including The System which incorporates an inside-out and outside-in approach with a supplement + hair serum, The Duo of shampoo + conditioner that work together to restore hair health including reducing the likelihood of increased grey hair growth as well as thicker, fuller and more vibrant hair. Arey gets to the root of the problem with a proactive hair care system that can be implemented at the first signs of grey by preserving and even restoring pigment. Tapping into a clear demand, the brand has experienced 1100% YOY growth since its 2021 inception. Products are available via one-time purchase or subscription basis. With the latter, Arey saw 975% subscription growth in the last year, making up over 70% of their revenue. Conrad states, “we are not anti-grey, but rather want to provide both men and women an alternative to the current reactive option of hair dye. We are the wrinkle cream of hair care targeting those looking to prevent aging hair and customers who are in the early stages of greying hair.” Speaking to those who have already turned grey Small adds, “Nearly 85% of women have colored their hair, 78% of which is at home. For years, the response to grey hair has been to cover it. Unfortunately, once this cycle begins, it's likely that each time you apply hair color chemicals to your scalp, healthy production of hair is stifled,” he explains. “The average person covering grey will have to maintain color every 4 weeks, and will likely overuse hair color on areas of the hair that do not need coverage. This frequency and overexposure are a high payload of oxidative stress and could be contributing to an increase in gray hair with every application.” Arey has proven successful in decreasing this need, thwarting the aging process of hair. Anu Duggal, Founding Partner at Female Founders Fund, shares, “We are thrilled to co-lead Arey Grey’s seed round in bringing a much needed science-driven system for addressing aging hair to consumers. The hair care category has been ripe for innovation and co-founders Allison and Jay have taken a preventive approach to hair health by creating a solution that both slows the greying process while also re-pigmenting hair color. Since launch they have seen tremendous organic demand from both female and male consumers with exciting product development in the pipeline. With a big vision to offer better solutions to consumers for hair care, we are excited to be backing this stellar team in their vision to transform hair health.” “Arey’s science-driven, efficacious solutions and elevated education-based branding speak to consumers across genders in a differentiated way,” said Greycroft Principal Alaina Hartley. “The Greycroft team is excited to support co-founders Allison and Jay as they build the category-defining brand in aging hair care.” “We built the business with strong unit economics from the beginning and a focus on profitability. We are thrilled that Female Founders Fund and Greycroft recognize the huge potential in this growing category we have created,” Conrad adds. About Arey: Launched in 2021, Arey offers science-driven products formulated with vitamins, antioxidants and peptides to help delay and re-pigment grey hair from the inside-out and outside-in, while also helping you grow thicker, fuller, healthier hair overall to consumers in North America and Canada. With 6 current products in their portfolio, the company’s direct-to-consumer, subscription-based business model provides an easy refill plan, ensuring consumers are able to easily maintain a continued high level of hair health. For more information, please visit arey.com and follow @areygrey social media for updates. About Female Founders Fund: Female Founders Fund is the pre-eminent early-stage fund investing in female-founded technology companies with $100M under management across three funds. Since its founding in 2014, Female Founders Fund has invested in over 70 of the fastest growing female-led companies nationwide. These include category leaders like Maven Clinic, Tala, ELOQUII, Real, Peanut, BentoBox, Billie, Co--Star, and more. For more information visit www.femalefoundersfund.com About Greycroft: Greycroft is a seed-to-growth venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs of all backgrounds to build category-defining companies. We have deep experience investing in consumer, enterprise, digital health, and fintech sectors around the globe and work as a team to support and advise entrepreneurs, empowering them to execute on their visions. Greycroft manages over $2 billion in capital raised and has made over 300 investments since inception. For more information, please visit https://www.greycroft.com. Contact Details Amanda Smeal Consulting, Inc. Amanda Smeal amanda@amandasmeal.com Sunshine Sachs Robert Busweiler, busweiler@sunshineandsachs.com Aimee Moss aimee@aimeemoss.net Company Website https://areygrey.com
November 16, 2022 09:04 AM Eastern Standard Time
ImageBetter Trucks
New funding expedites market expansion and technology investments Better Trucks, a technology-driven logistics firm focused on rapid parcel delivery, secured a $15 million round led by venture capital firm Lobby Capital with Corazon Capital and Venture 53 also participating. Better Trucks is a last-mile delivery carrier focused on next-day and two-day parcel shipping to residential customers, leveraging in-house technology to streamline the delivery process. Its shipping clients include leading national retailers delivering across the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Texas, as well as e-commerce and fulfillment companies such as ShipBob. Better Trucks is also available on the leading multi-carrier shipping platforms such as EasyPost and ProShip. “This first outside investment allows us to expand our footprint and build upon our proprietary tech stack to deliver a better experience for our clients and their customers,” said Andy Whiting, Better Trucks co-founder and CEO. “These investment partners share our vision for the next age of delivery that puts customers’ unique needs ahead of the outdated demands of legacy delivery companies.” Better Trucks has expanded its market footprint to 25 metro areas across 17 states, with plans to double its coverage area over the next year. To support its fast-growing customer base, this round injects capital for Better Trucks to invest in additional warehouse capacity throughout the United States and to hire in the technology, operations, and corporate functions, as well as build its flexible driver workforce. “Better Trucks changes the delivery game through its tech-forward, end-to-end solution for any commercial shipper,” said Eric Carlborg, co-founder of Lobby Capital, lead investor of the round. “We got under the hood of Better Trucks and see a bright future for Andy, Weston and their team who have figured out how to supplant the incumbents to serve clients with flexibility, speed and efficiency as shipping demand soars.” Retailers, e-commerce, fulfillment companies, and traditional third-party logistics (3PL) distribution companies drive Better Trucks’ growing customer base in a market experiencing rapid growth. Parcel volume in the U.S. increased to 21.6 billion packages in 2021 according to the 2022 Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index. U.S. carrier revenue shot up 16% year over year, to $188 billion. Founded by Andy Whiting and Weston Webb in 2019, the Better Trucks leadership team marries deep technology and logistics backgrounds, taking a technology-first mindset to their approach to improving parcel delivery. From the first package scan to the final delivery notification, Better Trucks is building its software solution from the ground up to improve parcel visibility, communication throughout the delivery process, and increase efficiency at every step in the journey. About Better Trucks Better Trucks is a technology-driven, last-mile delivery carrier built for digital commerce. Founded in 2019, it delivers a better experience for retailers, e-commerce firms, and fulfillment centers to ship parcels faster with better communication and better value. Specializing in next-day and two-day deliveries, Better Trucks sorts and labels packages within its strategically-placed warehouses and delivers them through its extensive driver network. Visit bettertrucks.com. Contact Details Better Trucks John Hall +1 303-223-6965 john@hallwaycommunications.com Company Website https://www.bettertrucks.com/
November 15, 2022 07:01 AM Central Standard Time
ImageGetir
Getir, the pioneer of ultrafast grocery delivery, celebrates one year of launching in the United States in Chicago, New York, and Boston. Through its revolutionary last-mile grocery delivery service, the Getir app has been opened in the U.S. more than 40 million times, saving users over 700,000 hours. To celebrate, bananas, the most popular selling product on the U.S. app, are available for nine cents. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average cost of bananas is $0.64 per pound, approximately $0.21 each. “We are excited to be celebrating our one year anniversary in the United States. We are proud of this accomplishment and all of our teams who have made this first year in the United States successful,” said Langston Dugger, Head of US Operations. “American customers enjoy the convenience and reliability of our service and variety of our products.” A bunch of stats: Top Ten Selling Products Top Neighborhoods Chicago – River North Boston – Brookline New York – Lower East Side Distance Traveled Getir has fulfilled orders by traveling over 1.4 million zero-emission miles, equating to 402,000 pounds of CO2 emissions saved Our delivery team has clocked enough miles to travel around the world 57 times, three times to the moon and back Charitable Efforts Donated over 75,000 meals to local nonprofits Saved the equivalent of 8.9 million gallons of water through food donations About Getir: Getir is the pioneer of ultrafast grocery delivery. The tech company, based in Istanbul, has revolutionized last-mile delivery with its “groceries in minutes” delivery proposition, offering approximately 2,000 everyday items to its customers. Getir has operations in all 81 cities of Turkey, and launched operations in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal and the United States in 2021. Learn more at www.getir.com/us. Contact Details Arielle Goren +1 212-717-5863 getir@kivvit.com Company Website http://www.getir.com/us
November 14, 2022 02:15 PM Eastern Standard Time
News Media Group, Inc.
Contact Details Karl Wayne +1 334-440-6397 karl@newsmg.com Company Website https://newsmg.com/
November 14, 2022 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
VideoFine Hygienic Holding
Football's world governing body FIFA has awarded Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH) the license to design, produce, and sell limited-edition packs of facial tissues commemorating the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. FHH launched the special edition packs in hypermarkets and supermarkets in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Morocco, and Sudan in mid-September 2022. FHH will also be providing sanitation support at the tournament itself, working across the 8 stadiums, training sites, and FIFA Fan Festivals to ensure the highest level of hygiene for fans, teams, and players attending FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Commenting on this occasion, James Michael Lafferty, FHH CEO, said, "“We at Fine are delighted to be supporting the hygiene program at the FIFA World Cup, and ensuring we help make this the most hygienically protected sports event since the pandemic. Our Fine Guard products, with long lasting germ protection, are a perfect solution for areas such as stadiums where constant foot traffic renders only brief disinfection with traditional products. Spectators and everyone involved can rest easy knowing FIFA is using state of the art products and technologies." The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab World. It is scheduled to take place from November 20 to December 18, 2022, in Qatar, with matches being played across eight stadiums, hosting 32 teams. About Fine Hygienic Holding: Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world's leading wellness groups and MENA's leading manufacturer of hygienic products, serves consumers in more than 80 countries around the world. Originally established as a paper manufacturer, FHH has transformed into a wellness company dedicated to enhancing global health and wellbeing. FHH offers a diverse array of award-winning products including sterilized facial tissues, napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, jumbo rolls, as well as away-from-home products to accommodate all types of private and public institutions, in addition to its advanced range of personal protective equipment (PPE) and long-lasting germ protection solutions, it also brings innovative nutritional supplements, Motiva, to the market. Contact Details FINE HYGIENIC HOLDING Rana Kawalit | │ Corporate Communication & PR Director +971 54 531 5575 Rkawalit@finehh.com Company Website https://www.finehh.com/
November 14, 2022 12:30 AM Eastern Standard Time
Minuteman Press International Inc
US Navy Veteran Todd Harmon is no stranger to owning his own business. Prior to joining the Minuteman Press franchise family in April 2018, Todd had previously owned other small businesses and franchises. His Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing center is located in the Kenwood area of Cincinnati, Ohio, at 7681 Montgomery Road. In this interview, Todd shares why he chose Minuteman Press, how his military and business experience has helped him in the printing industry, and how products such as signage and mailings with a heavy focus on Every Door Direct Mail have helped spur the growth of his printing business. What is your professional background? Todd Harmon: “I am a United States Navy Veteran. Prior to franchising, I owned an independent small business that manufactured new and refurbished pallets in the wood products industry. I have also previously owned two other franchises in the retail and restaurant industries. I chose Minuteman Press due to its #1 ranking in print franchising and the excellent work-life balance it would provide my family. Both of my children now work in the business with me. It also appealed to me as a privately owned company with a great royalty structure for franchisees.” What has the support from Minuteman Press International been like for you? Todd Harmon: “Local support from my field rep Ryan McIntyre and RVP Gary Nowak has been outstanding. They are a great resource when I need to discuss hiring/personnel and major business decisions. The FLEX software support team is always very responsive to our needs.” How do you describe your business and capabilities to potential clients? Todd Harmon: “I explain to clients that we are actually a print and small business marketing and consulting firm. Because of my previous business experience owning two other successful local franchises prior to Minuteman Press, I can really relate to these folks and help them reach their target customers through effective print and mail marketing strategies. Our customer service and fast turnaround times really set us apart from the competition.” What are the high-demand products and services that have really been helpful for your clients? Todd Harmon: “Signage, including installation if applicable, with fast turnaround times have really helped our clients. We can drop ship anywhere for them even on weekends. Quick design services for budget-conscious small businesses are much-appreciated by our customers. Our #1 key growth area is in direct mail services. We have also built a very strong Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) business. We work with and educate our customers through every step of the EDDM process.” What are some of the key ways you’ve grown your business? Todd Harmon: “Our high level of customer service and fast turnaround times have led to many referrals. We have grown through participation in a local BNI networking group. I am committed to consistent SEO/SEM marketing, email blasts, direct mail, and always promoting our EDDM services at every opportunity.” How would you best describe your community? Todd Harmon: “We enjoy a very dense business community around our shop. There are offices, medical facilities, restaurants, and many non-profit firms in our local area, as well as schools and many large church organizations. All of our clients demand a high level of professional customer service that we strive every day to meet.” Why do you think printing remains so vital to businesses today? Todd Harmon: “Print is a more trustworthy advertising medium and can allow you to reach a more targeted audience. For instance, I believe an engaging, tangible EDDM mail piece with a strong offer will yield a higher ROI than other advertising mediums, especially for restaurants and home repair/service businesses.” What are the biggest rewards of owning your business? Todd Harmon: “Following my military service, I have always owned my own business. I get great satisfaction from operating a profitable customer service focused small business. I enjoy the challenge.” What advice would you give to other owners right now? Todd Harmon: “Minuteman Press gives you the freedom to make the print shop your own, allowing you to focus on your strengths. Embrace it and have fun. Also, h ire staff that will help you build a culture of customer service in your shop. ” Todd Harmon’s Minuteman Press franchise is located at 7681 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236. For more information, call 513-531-7600 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/oh/cincinnati22/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and see 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
November 10, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
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