When it comes to home décor, one of the easiest ways to update a room is with a fresh coat of paint. This year, FrogTape® brand painter’s tape is proving how simple it is to heighten your home’s appeal with the inaugural Paintover Challenge™ room makeover contest. The contest runs through May 25 and tests the design skills of six DIY home décor bloggers as they transform a space in need of a makeover.
The challenge is simple; all six bloggers must makeover their space using three things: paint, painter’s tape and a $1,000 budget. To up the ante, each blogger has been assigned one of the 2016 FrogTape® Design Trends identified by celebrity interior designer, Taniya Nayak, as this year’s hottest styles for the home. The process will be documented on their blogs and on paintoverchallenge.com with before, during and after shots of the room transformations. The winning blogger will be selected through public voting – which begins May 31 – and will receive $5,000 to donate to their favorite charity and appear in an upcoming national FrogTape® magazine advertisement. The winner will be announced on June 27.
“With the launch of the FrogTape® Paintover Challenge™, we’re hoping to inspire both expert and novice DIYers alike to step out of their comfort zone and push their creative limits – while showcasing the diversity of paint and painter’s tape,” said Allison Shagovac, influencer marketing manager, ShurTech Brands, LLC. “The participating bloggers each have their own unique styles and personalities, and we can’t wait to see what they create as they compete for a good cause.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7721331-frog-tape/
Three out of seven large pickup trucks evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in a new round of crash tests earn an acceptable or higher rating for occupant protection in a small overlap front crash.
IIHS evaluated two body styles of each 2016 model-year pickup — crew cab and extended cab. Crew cabs have four full doors and two full rows of seating. Extended cabs have two full front doors, two smaller rear doors and compact second-row seats.
IIHS last year decided it would test the two most popular variants of large pickups instead of just one after discovering that the Ford F-150 extended cab lacked structural countermeasures that helped the crew cab earn the top rating of good in the small overlap test. The test replicates what happens when a vehicle runs off the road and hits a tree or pole or clips another vehicle that has crossed the center line.
Ford improved the 2016 model F-150 SuperCab to clinch a good rating in the small overlap crash test, up from the 2015 model’s marginal rating. The F-150 is the only large pickup in the latest test group to earn the Institute’s top rating in the test. It joins the F-150 SuperCrew in earning a 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK award when equipped with Ford’s optional basic-rated forward collision warning system.
Vehicles that earn a basic rating for front crash prevention plus good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK. To qualify for 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK+, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the five crashworthiness tests and an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
A novel that is both fantasy and techno scifi. The story follows the lives of childhood friends living in hipster mecca San Francisco. Patricia is a secret member of the world’s magically gifted and Laurence is a techno science geek. Together they must either save the world or plunge it into a new dark ages. Find out more at http://us.macmillan.com/allthebirdsinthesky/charliejaneanders All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders Scifi/fantasy
For consumers in the market for a new car, it can be difficult to keep up with all of the new—and newly redesigned—models that have been released since they last bought a car. Autotrader’s editorial team is helping consumers narrow down the many choices on the market today by selecting the top 10 vehicles that shoppers should experience for themselves. Announced today, Autotrader’s Must Test Drive vehicle lineup for 2016 includes a wide range of body styles to ensure that no matter what kind of vehicle a shopper is considering, the list will point them in the right direction for their next purchase.
“We created the Must Test Drive Awards to highlight vehicles that are unexpectedly good,” said Brian Moody, executive editor at Autotrader. “We have a chance to drive a lot of cars, but few leave us certain that shoppers are missing out if they don’t take them for a spin. The 10 vehicles we chose this year did just that.”
A car is typically one of the biggest purchases a consumer makes, and a recent Autotrader survey showed that 84 percent of consumers say it is extremely important to test drive a vehicle they’re considering. The top three things they look for during test drives are performance, comfort and handling. While 30 percent wait to test drive vehicles until they know the exact model they want to buy, 44 percent get behind the wheel when they’re still considering a few options.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7790751-autotrader-must-test-drive-awards/
Interactive online experiences are the basis for successful ecommerce. Not only are people shopping from their desktops and laptops, but they are shopping from their phones and tablets as well. It’s become a competitive environment. Businesses must make savvy choices to create online shopping experiences that maintain their customers’ interest while meeting their own company goals. Here are some key ways you can create an epic eCommerce experience for your customers.
Nearly 50 vehicles meet tougher criteria for 2016 to take home the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, earning good ratings in all five IIHS crashworthiness evaluations and an advanced or higher rating for front crash prevention. An additional 13 models qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK.
The baseline requirements for both awards are good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a standard or optional front crash prevention system. The 48 winners of the “plus” award have a superior- or advanced-rated front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities. These vehicles must stop or slow down without driver intervention before hitting a target in tests at 12 mph, 25 mph or both. Models with a basic-rated front crash prevention system, which typically only issues a warning and doesn’t brake, qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK.
IIHS inaugurated TOP SAFETY PICK in the 2006 model year to help consumers home in on vehicles with the best safety performance. The TOP SAFETY PICK+ accolade was introduced in 2012 to recognize vehicles that offer an advanced level of safety.
For negotiators at the Paris climate conference (COP21) to successfully advance global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, nations must embrace a prominent role for nuclear energy.
The Obama administration highlighted the crucial role of nuclear energy when it convened a White House Summit on Nuclear Energy earlier this month. “As America leads the global transition to a low-carbon economy, the continued development of new and advanced nuclear technologies along with support for currently operating nuclear power plants is an important component of our clean energy strategy,” a White House fact sheet developed for the summit states. Many environmentalists are also giving nuclear energy a second look, as they seek practical solutions to constrain carbon emissions.
Nuclear energy facilities provide 63 percent of America’s zero-carbon electricity. Globally, nuclear power plants provide one-third of all zero-carbon electricity. One of nuclear energy’s major advantages relative to other low-carbon energy sources is its unique ability to produce large-scale electricity around-the-clock in extreme weather conditions. Nuclear energy facilities don’t rely on the wind blowing, the sun shining, or just-in-time deliveries of fuel by truck, barge, rail or pipeline. In 2014, the U.S. nuclear energy industry’s average capacity factor—a common measure of efficiency and reliability—was 92 percent.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7694251-nuclear-energy-cop21-climate-goals/
As sleaze oozes from the Pentagon,
banished Marine and Naval Academy alum Susanna Marcasi finds a web of
corruption and must take on a man to whom all are beholden, Defense
Secretary Manfred Stahl. Can she bring down the cloistered power
brokers deep within the military’s superstructure and survive? Blood
Stripe: The Susanna Marcasi Chronicles. Find out more at:
http://www.GinaMariaDiNicolo.com or on Amazon at:
http://j.mp/Blood-Stripe Cincinnati City Beat and
Amazon reviewer John Kelly says “Like a literary version of ‘A Few Good
Men (and Women)’ on steroids, Gina Maria DiNicolo rips into your
emotional core like a ‘kill shot’ from page one and never lets up for
322 pages. This book, not for the weak of heart, tells the story of
strength, courage and no mercy in the most elite units of the U.S.
Armed Forces.” Baltimore native Gina Maria DiNicolo graduated
from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in history and an attraction
to the unconventional. She accepted a commission in the U.S. Marine
Corps where she worked in aviation, recruiting, history, and public
affairs. As a fulltime author and historian, in addition to her two
books, DiNicolo has written scores of articles for the Military Officer
Magazine and other publications. After publishing Blood Stripe, she
sought to get her historian game on and accepted a one-year, work/study
assignment as a senior editor for the U.S. Army Center of Military
History in Washington, D.C., producing studies on military operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is a dancer specializing in Argentine
Tango. For a review copy of Blood Stripe: The Susanna
Marcasi Chronicles or to arrange an interview with Gina Maria
DiNicolo contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book
Marketing http://www.book-marketing-expert.com/ or by phone
734-667-2090.
Honest Beauty, a comprehensive new collection of effective, safe and effortlessly modern makeup and skincare created by The Honest Company, introduces its first branding campaign, #LetsBeHonest, with a mission to celebrate the diversity of beauty today and inspire women to show how they use beauty to bring out their best. #LetsBeHonest kicks off online with a short day-in-the-life film that showcases the many real looks of Jessica Alba shot from the unique perspective of her must-have beauty products. The film is an invitation for women everywhere to capture and share their own looks.
“Honest Beauty isn’t about defining beauty for women. Instead, we’re asking women to tell us what makes them feel honestly beautiful. Our hope is that by Jessica revealing looks that are honest to her own life, women will be inspired to use Honest Beauty to create their own,” said The Honest Company CMO, Chris Thorne.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7679551-honest-beauty-letsbehonest/
Today Barclaycard US, the payments business of Barclays in the United States, announced the launch of the #IHAVEARRIVED Travel Community contest, hosted by Barclaycard Arrival™ MasterCard®. Travel enthusiasts and Barclaycard Arrival cardmembers are invited to join the Barclaycard Travel Community to share their #IHAVEARRIVED travel moment. Barclaycard Arrival cardmembers who enter, have the opportunity to win an exclusive grand prize trip for two to the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® in February 2016. Community members who are not Barclaycard Arrival cardmembers have an opportunity to choose between two grand prize options: a West Coast VIP trip for two to Napa Valley, California or an East Coast VIP trip for two to New York City.
“Since launching in 2013, Barclaycard Arrival continues to be recognized by industry experts as the go-to travel card,” said Maurice Ragland, vice president of branded cards. “We make it easy for cardmembers to have once-in-a-lifetime adventures by offering the industry’s best travel rewards program. What better way to showcase these moments than through the #IHAVEARRIVED campaign.”
Travel enthusiasts across the country are encouraged to share memorable travel stories from October 28 through November 22 in the Barclaycard Travel Community. Entries must include a short description and photo of the travel experience. Entries will be judged on originality, creativity, writing and photography.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7671251-barclaycard-ihavearrived-launch/
Toys“R”Us® today announced that The Great Big Toys“R”Us Book of Awesome, the company’s annual resource for the year’s hottest toys, will begin arriving in homes this week featuring an all-new, special interactive edition. This 96-page toy compendium is compatible with the company’s all-new app, The Geoffrey Shuffle, a game that allows kids to bring to life the season’s most coveted toys through an augmented reality experience. An abbreviated catalog, which features 48 pages of kid-favorite toys, is now available online at Toysrus.com and will be in local newspapers on Saturday, October 31. This year’s highly-anticipated gift guide from The World’s Greatest Toy Store™ also includes thousands of dollars worth of compelling deals and coupon offers, valid Sunday, November 1 through Saturday, November 21.
“The arrival of The Great Big Toys“R”Us Book of Awesome marks the kickoff of the time-honored tradition of children eagerly studying pages upon pages of the year’s hottest toys, curating their must-have lists for Christmas morning,” said Richard Lennox, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Toys“R”Us, U.S. “Within the book, we created eight interactive lifestyle spreads that show the breadth of our assortment and make bold statements for some of the brands most beloved by kids. This catalog is the centerpiece of our holiday marketing efforts, and extends the theme of “AWWWESOME,” speaking not only to the excitement kids have when they turn the first page, but also the ways the company is helping gift-givers save with great deals and services, such as Price Match Guarantee and Free Shipping.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7476352-toys-r-us-book-of-awesome-2015/
In order to succeed in today’s B2B sales world, salespeople must create buyer consensus among diverse customer stakeholders. Those who fail to do that risk falling victim to the status-quo – the minimal-risk, lowest-cost option – or worse, losing the deal altogether. The Challenger Customer: Selling to the Hidden Influencer Who Can Multiply Your Results from CEB (NYSE: CEB), a best practice insight and technology company, reveals that it isn’t just about how you engage, but who you engage within the customer organization that drives complex sales today.
“The ‘senior decision-maker’ no longer exists in B2B sales. That makes the most significant problem facing marketing and sales teams a buying problem, not a selling problem. Organizations need to shift their focus from making the sale to understanding buyer groups – and who among them really shapes decisions,” said co-author Brent Adamson, executive advisor at CEB. “Our research shows that the one thing that matters most to executives is whether or not a supplier has buy-in with the rest of the organization – NOT the supplier’s actual offering or solution.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7427252-ceb-the-challenger-customer/