Category Archives: Uncategorised

Lidl in trouble with watchdog after running out of prosecco and not telling customers

Supermarket purchased hundreds of thousands of bottles of the Italian sparkling wine but it was not enough to satisfy huge demand
Lidl has landed itself in trouble with the advertising watchdog after the supermarket chain could not satisfy UK shoppers’ unquenchable thirst for discounted prosecco.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that Lidl breached rules during its August bank holiday promotion because it did not make adequate efforts to inform customers that boxes of the Italian sparkling wine had run out in many locations.
Seven people complained to the ASA over the promotion which offered six bottles of prosecco for £20, down from the usual £31.50.
Read more Aldi and Lidl continue to take chunks out of big four's market share Some said that they thought Lidl had not properly estimated the demand for the deal and that it was therefore misleading.
The ASA rejected that argument because Lidl had stocked up with hundreds of thousands of extra bottles of fizz ..

Tech Tip: Setting Options for Ad Blockers

Setting Options for Ad Blockers Q. I installed ad-blocking software on my computer, but I still see advertisements on some pages, even though the site did not ask me to turn off the blocker. Why is this?
A. Even when you have the software enabled, browser utilities like AdBlock or AdBlock Plus may still display less-intrusive advertisements from companies that have been approved by the independent Acceptable Ads Committee. The Acceptable Ads initiative was started by AdBlock Plus, which makes money by allowing the ads through its filters.
The initiative attempts to balance the needs of web surfers who do not want to be pelted with aggressive online ads and the needs of websites that rely on advertising revenue to support their content. (Google recently began to filter intrusive ads in its Chrome browser in a similar manner.)
“Acceptable” ads include those that lack animation and do not jam themselves into the middle of the reader’s experience on the site. Even if the ad-blocker progra..

Thank Peppa Pig for Molly's Game as Enertainment One's porcine princess gobbles up Asia

The blockbuster franchise helps Entertainment One wear the sort misses that are endemic to the creative industries where the company plays, and helps get quality movies to cinemas increasingly ruled by blockbusters
Talk about bringing home the bacon.
The juggernaut that is Peppa Pig has rolled into Asia, where the porcine princess has hit pay dirt for the franchise’s controller Entertainment One. Again.
There are some things that are almost universal to the human condition and it appears that one is the devotion of those of pre school age to a precocious talking pig whose genius is that she talks like they do.
Read more Peppa Pig’s march into Asia boosts Entertainment One revenues Peppa Pig accused of piling pressure on GPs Survey reveals the kids' TV shows parents can most and least tolerate China is being conquered and it looks like its rival Japan is also poised to fall under her spell. Who knows, perhaps their leaders can one day find a way of bonding over their share..

Vauxhall announces new investment in Luton plant despite Brexit uncertainty

The car maker's chief executive said the investment was a 'major milestone'
Vauxhall has announced further investment in its Luton operation where the motor company said it plans to build more vans, safeguarding 1,400 jobs at the plant, despite uncertainty caused by Brexit.
The news follows reports last month that up to 100 Vauxhall dealerships could be facing closure across the UK, threatening thousands of jobs.
The car maker said on Wednesday that it is aiming to increase production of its Opel/Vivaro model at the Luton plant to 100,000 vehicles per year, up from 60,000 produced at the plant last year.
Read more Volkswagen overtakes Vauxhall in UK sales rankings According to Vauxhall, the plan “has been facilitated by both the responsible social dialogue with the Unite union guaranteeing production flexibility and the support of the UK government and Luton Borough Council, despite Brexit uncertainties”.
“Performance is the trigger for sustainability and I woul..

Foxtons boss Nic Budden gets paid despite annus horribilis

Heads the CEO wins, tails it's not his fault it's all down to the market, can't you see that?
Foxtons used to delight in being one of Britain’s brashest, most annoying companies. Its bright green minis emblazoned with its yellow logo swarmed around London and the shares soared on the thermal updraft from the capital’s smoking hot property market.
Until, that is, winter came, ushered in by Brexit, stamp duty changes and other unwelcome developments.
As a result, last year’s profits tumbled by nearly two thirds. So did shareholders' dividends, and it can’t have been much fun working there.
Read more Foxtons’ profit slumps as London market lingers ‘near historic lows' Foxtons profits plummet 64% amid 'unprecedented' uncertainty Foxtons estate agents sees revenues slump by 25% This year isn’t likely to be much better. The sharp suited young men and women flogging property from its offices will have to update their wardrobes via the sale rails, or..

Amazon paid $90m for camera maker's chip technology, sources say

The online retailer is reportedly exploring chips exclusive to Blink that could lengthen the battery life of its devices
Amazon paid about $90m (£64m) to acquire the maker of Blink home security cameras late last year, in a secret bet on the startup’s energy-efficient chips, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The deal’s rationale and price tag, previously unreported, underscore how Amazon aims to do more than sell another popular camera, as analysts had thought. The online retailer is exploring chips exclusive to Blink that could lower production costs and lengthen the battery life of other gadgets, starting with Amazon’s Cloud Cam and potentially extending to its family of Echo speakers, one of the people said.
Amazon views its in-house devices as key to deepening its relationship with shoppers. The Cloud Cam and Echo currently need a plug-in power source to operate. Blink, which says its cameras can last two years on a single pair of AA lithium batteries, could change t..

Foxtons boss Nic Budden gets paid despite annus horribilis

Heads the CEO wins, tails it's not his fault it's all down to the market, can't you see that?
Foxtons used to delight in being one of Britain’s brashest, most annoying companies. Its bright green minis emblazoned with its yellow logo swarmed around London and the shares soared on the thermal updraft from the capital’s smoking hot property market.
Until, that is, winter came, ushered in by Brexit, stamp duty changes and other unwelcome developments.
As a result, last year’s profits tumbled by nearly two thirds. So did shareholders' dividends, and it can’t have been much fun working there.
Read more Foxtons’ profit slumps as London market lingers ‘near historic lows' Foxtons profits plummet 64% amid 'unprecedented' uncertainty Foxtons estate agents sees revenues slump by 25% This year isn’t likely to be much better. The sharp suited young men and women flogging property from its offices will have to update their wardrobes via the sale rails, or..