INRIX®, Inc., a global leader for transportation analytics, today released its 2015 Traffic Scorecard, a benchmark for governments and agencies in the U.S. and Europe to measure progress in improving urban mobility.
The report reveals the U.S. faces large challenges to solve congestion issues, fueled by continued economic and population growth, higher employment rates and declining gas prices. Cities that have experienced the most economic improvement during the past year are at highest risk for consequences related to worsened traffic conditions, including reduced productivity, higher emissions and increased stress levels. For example, Washington D.C., San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Boston all saw reduced unemployment rates bringing them below the national average of 5.3 percent for 2015.1 However, according to the INRIX Traffic Scorecard, congestion in those cities alone combined to waste 1.5 billion hours for daily car commuters last year. Nationwide, commuters spent a total of more than eight billion extra hours stuck in traffic, representing almost 50 hours per driver.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7775551-inrix-2015-traffic-scorecard/
This spring, John Deere is helping homeowners keep track of and optimize their lawn care responsibilities with the new MowerPlus smartphone application. This free app provides equipment care tips, maintenance information and other resources to ensure that homeowners feel confident maintaining a great looking lawn.
The iOS version of MowerPlus allows the user to “Mow Now” and track mowing metrics. Users can view a summary of the current mowing session with average speed, area covered and other real-time statistics. Additionally, an aerial view of the mowing path for each session can help homeowners diversify their pattern to protect turf health. The app also lets homeowners know how long it has been since they last mowed.
“Mowing the lawn is so much more than just making tall grass short,” said Kevin Duax, product line planner, John Deere. “With our MowerPlus app, homeowners can easily refer to expert tips and historical data to ensure efficient and effective lawn upkeep.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7720553-john-deere-mowerplus-app/
According to the 2016 Franchise Business Economic Outlook report, employment growth in the franchise sector will continue to outpace the growth of employment in all businesses economy-wide, as it has in each of the last six years. The franchise industry is set to grow by 1.7 percent in 2016 which added over 13,000 new franchise businesses, generating over $900 billion in economic output and 278,000 new jobs in 2015.
Kumon, the world’s largest education franchise, continues to flourish as it surpassed company milestones in 2015 with nearly 300,000 students enrolled in its math and reading programs nationwide.
“Many of our 1,500 franchise owners opened Kumon centers after experiencing first-hand how Kumon gave their own children an academic advantage that put them ahead of their peers,” says Larry Lambert, vice president of franchise recruitment at Kumon North America. “Kumon is helping thousands of aspiring small business owners transform their lives with a career that rewards them and changes the lives of youth every day.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7720256-kumon-franchise/
A new solar power system is installed in the United States every 1.6 minutes, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). With the number of residential solar installations expected to increase this year by 35 percent according to GTM Research, more consumers will have an opportunity to choose the best solar solution for their home, saving on electricity bills while generating clean energy. Offering a record-setting, proven solar power solution, SunPower reminds homeowners that better solar technology exists and is accessible today.
“Solar technology differs widely from brand to brand, so it’s important for consumers to consider that not all panels deliver the same amount of energy, look elegant on a roof, or are guaranteed to last as long as promised,” said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, business units. “SunPower® panels are the most efficient that homeowners can buy, and we stand behind them for a quarter century. We’re proud to hold the world-record title for efficiency.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7706151-sunpower-residential-solar-panel/
https://youtu.be/sCdZiNhcps8 Valentine’s Day netted more than $19 billion in sales last year, with a significant portion of that figure coming from ecommerce. Even if your ecommerce biz doesn’t cater to the traditional chocolates-and-flowers market, there are still creative ways to tap into the Valentine’s market. Here are five tips for how to make the most out of Valentine’s Day.
“Small Business Big Game" Ad Winner
Ad spending for commercials during Super Bowl 50, set to broadcast on CBS on Feb. 7, will total a record $377 million, according to Advertising Age Datacenter’s estimates. That’s more than the combined spend on all Super Bowl ads in the 1960s, '70s and '80s with a total of $299 million.
For all those interested in the pop culture phenomenon sure to unfold during Super Bowl’s commercial breaks, Advertising Age has launched its Super Bowl 50 Special Report. The hub, which will be updated daily before and several days after the game, is chock-full of news, trends, data and videos about the evolution of Super Bowl commercials over the last 50 years. It also includes a chart that lists every advertiser appearing during commercial breaks.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7737551-advertising-age-super-bowl-ad-trends/
Snacks, the proverbial middle child of the food world, are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Last night, TV host Andy Cohen, a foodie in his own right, joined fellow food aficionados to launch Snack Week, a week-long celebration of snacking and the launch pad for the new Hillshire® Snacking brand of premium snacks.
Snack Week kicked off with a VIP launch event, co-hosted by Cohen and other culinary experts, including Chef Dale Talde of “Talde” restaurants, New York mixologist Julie Reiner and two top food bloggers. The event united the experts to help launch the Hillshire® Snacking brand and highlighted curated pairings and snack ideas using the products, all coming to life in a series of videos to be released during Snack Week.
“Being a foodie and living in a city with an amazing food culture has elevated my snacking game,” said Cohen. “I’ve spent enough time around food and the culinary world to know when I spot a trend. The Hillshire® Snacking brand is a game-changer,” Cohen said.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7744951-hillshire-taps-cohen-for-snack-launch/
Water has played an important role in the Stella Artois brewing heritage for more than 600 years, and is an essential ingredient in the Stella Artois that is brewed today. Yet 663 million people lack access to clean water – a global crisis that disproportionately affects women, who spend millions of hours a day collecting it. Stella Artois has again partnered with Water.org to drive awareness of the global water crisis, and calls on consumers to help leave a legacy as the generation that ends this crisis, once and for all.
The “Buy a Lady a Drink” campaign was first launched in 2015 to utilize Stella Artois’ global footprint to help positively impact this important issue. Last year the campaign focused on women’s long journeys for clean water. This year, the campaign showcases the positive impact that access to clean water can have, while inspiring consumers to leave a positive mark on the world.
“I’ve seen how the lives of women and their families can change when they get access to clean water,” said Water.org Co-Founder Matt Damon. “Access to water is access to education, access to work, access to the kind of future we want for all humankind. Thanks to our partnership with Stella Artois, this year’s ‘Buy a Lady a Drink’ campaign helps us tell this story – and gives consumers the chance to help us change it.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7733451-stella-artois-partners-with-water-org/
Trigenic Flex is the latest design innovation from Clarks Originals: the culmination of over 190 years’ expertise in the craft of shoemaking. With a tradition of introducing innovative footwear to the marketplace, the brand’s unconventional, and sometimes radical, approach has resulted in the proliferation of globally recognised icons such as The Desert Boot and Wallabee®.
Continuing this ‘free-thinking’ design philosophy, Clarks fuses a shoemaker’s craft and traditions with advanced technology and innovation to deliver the Trigenic Flex; an icon in the making. The Trigenic Flex is a beautifully crafted and truly original everyday shoe with a design that is deconstructed to create a minimal and fresh look.
The Trigenic Flex takes inspiration from an original 1883 Clarks Hygiene design; stylish shoes that were shaped to the natural contours of the foot, a great contrast to the seriously uncomfortable and deforming fashions of the time. Prad Indrakumar, Senior Designer, Clarks Originals, states:
“We started by looking at the Clarks ‘Hygienic’ collection of 1883. This was a collection that allowed space for the toes of your foot to move as you walked - revolutionary for its time. We looked at how we could bring this into a modern context.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7732251-clarks-create-trigenic-flex-new-classic/
The most stressful week of the year is upon us; the last week of holiday shopping. As consumers across the country seek those last minute gifts, their stress levels rise. Zazen Bear, the retailer whose concept is about connection, harmony and peace, is offering consumers gifts that inspire finding those moments of peace in your day.
To celebrate this season, Zazen Bear has released a video series, titled “Zen Tree,” to showcase their jewelry collections while giving the viewer a sense of relaxation and peace. Every Holiday Season, consumers decorate trees to reflect the festive spirit; whether it is with ornaments, lights, garland, or a combination of all, each tree has its own specific design. Zazen Bear took this holiday staple, visualizing it with a peaceful and minimal aesthetic. The “Zen Tree” series celebrates the Holiday Season by presenting the Zazen Bear jewelry collections as ornaments decorating a forest of Christmas trees.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7656031-zazen-bear/
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. Gifts are perfectly wrapped, cakes and cookies are baking in the oven, and people across the country are making final preparations to visit their loved loves. In fact, Americans spent an average of 7.3 hours and $560 on holiday travel alone last year, which can also lead to chaos, stress and precious time spent in busy airports and jam-packed highways. That’s why Ziploc® brand is offering a variety of festive products, a surprise-and-delight experience and helpful tips to give travelers a chaos-free holiday.
When hundreds of people along the Ohio Turnpike got to the tollbooth at Mile Marker 71 before their Thanksgiving celebrations began, they were surprised that instead of being asked for the toll, they received an array of gifts—from snacks packed in Ziploc® brand bags and containers to a chauffeured limo ride home.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7707651-ziploc-chaos-free-holiday/
Today, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) issued a report card on President Obama's immigration efforts over the past seven years and made recommendations for how to reform immigration in his last year.
“In recent days and weeks he has shown leadership in protecting refugees from Syria,” said AILA President Victor Nieblas Pradis. “But until recently, the president's response was timid and he still plans to resettle only 10,000 Syrian refugees this year. He can save many more lives by setting his target at 100,000 Syrian refugees.”
“In our own hemisphere, when Central American individuals and families, including young children, arrived at our southern border seeking refuge from the horrific violence plaguing those countries, the president should have protected them, but instead, he treated them as a border threat. The president should acknowledge that the situation in Central America is a humanitarian crisis and use every tool at his disposal to protect those fleeing. Most important he should stop detaining thousands of families.”
“The reforms to the legal immigration system he promised a year ago have moved forward at a glacial pace, earning him an incomplete. He can benefit the economy enormously by implementing plans to encourage research, development and entrepreneurial start-ups.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7683151-aila-national-immigration-report-card/
