The pace of economic growth has slowed significantly since the start of 2011 and the slowdown is expected to continue into the start of 2012, according to a survey of CEOs of small-to-medium-sized businesses. The Vistage CEO Confidence Index was 92.9 in the Q2 2011 survey, substantially below the 105.2 posted in Q1, and erasing all the gains recorded since 93.7 was registered in Q1 2010. Though declines were present in every major survey component, the largest losses were in evaluations of the overall economy. Rather than expecting a renewed economic downturn, the majority of CEOs anticipated a stagnating economy: growth too slow to support robust gains in employment or investment, and resulting in lower revenue and profit levels than previously forecast. Half of all firms put planned investments on hold due to the slowdown in economic growth.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/vistage/51040/
CEO confidence was up slightly in the third quarter, noting a slowing economic growth pace, but no evidence of a double dip recession, according to the Vistage CEO Confidence Index 3rd quarter results. Despite widespread recognition of the recent economic slowdown, CEOs were more confident in their firm’s ability to increase their revenues and profits in the year ahead. Yet, virtually every CEO (92%) expects rising employee health care costs, and 57% of all CEOs expect those cost increases to be more than 10%. Two-thirds of all CEOs said that without the extension of the Bush tax cuts their businesses would be harmed, and nearly half (46%) reported continued unfavorable credit market conditions. In response to a question about the upcoming elections, 62% of CEOs believe the Republicans will control the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2011.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/vistage/44998/
Varsity Brands, the recognized leader in team athletic gear, the driving force in cheerleading and dance, and the most trusted name in celebrating student milestones, today announced Vista Murrieta High School, from Murrieta, Calif. as the winner of its America’s Most Spirited High School Contest. The announcement today coincides with National School Spirit Day, which was recognized by Congress last year.
“Our students feel connected to Vista Murrieta and have an engrained sense of school pride,” said Mick Wager, Principal of Vista Murrieta, “The family atmosphere and sense of community is apparent and genuine.”
High schools across the country were invited to enter the contest, which called for each school to submit a 90-second video, a 500-word essay, two letters of recommendation and several photos demonstrating its school spirit. High schools from 33 states were represented in the contest. Vista Murrieta’s video submission won based on a nationwide vote and included footage from games, pep rallies, and student activities that epitomize a robust school spirit environment that seeks to include all students. Vista Murrieta estimates that 85% of their students are involved in at least one activity, club or sport, and their video was a true testament to the power of school spirit and its effects on high school students.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7636151-varsity-brands-vista-murrieta-award/
The UNCF in partnership with the Ad Council, announced today the launch of Better Futures, a national multimedia public service effort that will build on their 41-year old campaign to help African American students get to and through college.
Created pro bono by Y&R, new Better Futures PSAs transform the idea of donating to a cause to a more powerful idea of investing in the future, including the introduction of a stock for social change, where people can see the direct social return of their investment. Economists were consulted for the campaign and developed an algorithm to show the social return of donating just $10 to UNCF, including the impact on earnings, crime savings and health savings.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61200-uncf-ad-council-better-futures-campaign-african-american-education
The bayou is home to Ghostwalker Wyatt Fontenot whose powers are both deadly and necessary for his survival as part of an elite and secret para military team. But when his home and family are threatened, Wyatt becomes the most dangerous thing in the bayou. At least until a sensual and mysterious woman called Pepper enters his life, needing him in more ways then either of them were prepared for. From #1 NY Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. Find out more at http://www.ChristineFeehan.com. Paranormal romance/fantasy/thriller
As part of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month™ , the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Mazda Motorsports, the Ad Council and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) announced the six high school and college winners of their second annual Project Yellow Light scholarship contest. “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All,” was the theme of this year’s contest. Entrants were asked to develop and produce a short video that would depict for their peers the dangers of risky mobile behavior on our Nation’s roadways. The high school grand prize was awarded to Brittany Devasure, a senior from North Carolina, for her video. For the first time, the contest was open to college students. Rachel Hall, who studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music, was recognized as the grand prize winner for her video.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/61426-ad-council-and-nhtsa-announce-project-yellow-light-scholarship-winners
Behind the open battles fought in WWII secret agents were immersed deep behind enemy lines, laying waste to the Third Reich. One of those spies was Violette Szabo, this game is inspired by her covert operations deep undercover.
Using an entrepreneurial distribution model, the Natural Light project will now donate a second instalment of 20,000 solar lamps. These will be sold by new sales agents in off-grid communities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and, for the first time, in Malawi.
The aim of this project, besides bringing a sustainable light source to off-grid communities, was to create a business model for local sales agents to make a living. This has been a great success. Today more than 50 sales agents in three African nations – Zimbabwe, Zambia and Sierra Leone – have their own businesses selling Natural Light solar lamps.
The Natural Light project, in collaboration with social business Little Sun, and NGO Plan International, was created to celebrate the VELUX Group’s 75th anniversary. Following an international design competition last year, which received 172 submissions from all over the world, the winning design was chosen and 14,500 units of the solar lamp were distributed in Africa – one for each employee of the VELUX Group and its sister companies.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8006751-velux-more-natural-light-shine-in-africa/
China-based smartphone manufacturer Vargo Technology and CEO, Fu Zhaowei, were featured in Times Square on December 21, 2015. The video clip drew the attention of passers-by, generating interest in Fu’s dedication to product detail and his ideas concerning security.
The excellent craftsmanship and seamless operating system left an impression on passers-by who trialed the application on site. The closed-loop design uses a safe communications system.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7724951-vargo-smartphone-security/
Sydney Fialkow, 10, and her mother Stacy, 41, of Atlanta were named the grand prize winners of the Ben’s Beginners™ Cooking Contest. The playful nationwide competition, sponsored by the UNCLE BEN’S® Brand, the number-one selling brand of rice in the United States, was designed to empower and encourage parents to connect with their kids one meal at a time.
Sydney Fialkow was selected from a field of more than 700 contestants (ages 5-12) who videotaped themselves preparing a kid-friendly rice dish and discussing the experience of cooking with their parents. The contestants were narrowed to four finalists, from which the Fialkows were selected as the grand prize winners. The Fialkow family has won a $20,000 cash prize and a $50,000 cafeteria makeover for The Epstein School, located in Sandy Springs, Ga., where Sydney attends as a fourth grade student.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55947-uncle-ben-s-awards-cash-prize-in-ben-s-beginners-cooking-contest
DHX Media’s W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, together with outreach partners Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), WTTW Chicago Public Media and research firm Michael Cohen Group, have introduced UMIGO, the first of its kind transmedia math property, to 10 markets across the U.S. through children’s museums and public television stations. They were joined on October 4 by Parliament funkadelic legend Bootsy Collins and the UMIGO characters at the UMIGO outreach kick-off event held at CMOM. At the event, New York public school children and home schooled children participated in transmedia UMIGO workshops led by DHX Media’s W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, producers of UMIGO, and CMOM. Collins lends his voice to original UMIGO music and appears as an animated character in the music video “Rocket Box.” Together, CMOM and WTTW will continue to expand the program into additional markets over the next three years.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/58464-wildbrain-entertainment-umigo-bootsy-collins-help-kids-build-math-skills
Ulmart’s stunning growth continues unabated as sales for the first six months of 2014 were up 31% in a year-on-year comparison. Sequential quarterly growth increased by 47%.
Ulmart’s half year results put the company at just below GMV of $610 million (VAT included). The company is forecasting GMV of $1.6 billion for the whole year which would put year-end sales at 33% higher than 2013.
Ulmart’s hybrid model which allows customer access to company’s fulfillments centers (currently there are 29 in the European part of Russia) continues to be a disruptive element in e-retail. Due to the particularities of the Russian infrastructure, reliance on last-mile delivery, the obsession of so many other world e-commerce leaders, is simply not a profit-creating option in Russia.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7276256-ulmart-sales-grow-ecommerce/
