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chipped-chimera · 7 months ago

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Time, yet again, to wade into a pit of contradictory information as I try to determine what I should do about my nuked tetra population while I'm still doing ich treatment.

(if you have some ideas/opinions about what I should do context below)

This is my first tank, so please be nice 🥺

I have a heavily planted, 20gallon (76L) freshwater aquarium which I had probably researched for about 3 months, then ran empty/with plants for about a month or so? before fish introduction. So absolutely cycled, bombproof setup that I have not seen a whiff of ammonia or nitrates in since I started testing (probably a month after it being cycling empty when my kit arrived).

I introduced 10 green neon tetra, which grew confident very quick within the new tank, like within the next day stopped schooling behaviour, bopping around and doing their own thing. But then I saw white spots appearing. In my delay of trying to determine if it was actually ich and conflicting info about it being 'stress ich' that could minimize in time with the stress reduction - probably me delaying it too because the meds were expensive - I probably doomed them.

I'm angry and sad at the same time, in part towards myself but mostly because I'm mad at the contradictory info leading to delay on a situation that was more time critical given the size of these little fish. Which I think led to their deaths.

I know quarantine is important but given my tank is heavily planted, I was struggling with bioload - as in not enough - so on the day I started ich treatment I put in 6 corycats which have been absolutely fine. So fine in fact I've noticed their barbels getting much longer! They're having a great time in there, and while I've seen some showing sign of being itchy, I've never seen a spot appear. Same with the Starlight Bristlenose, who was actually the first resident - she's weathered the ich outbreak pre-treatment fine (yeah I know it's hard to tell given she's a starlight but I've had a good look at her when I could, she's clear) and while she hides a lot during the day, I think she's happy - there are a stupid amount of tunnels and hidey holes in my setup, the centerpiece is a huge slab of driftwood so she has plenty to rasp on too. All the food is also the best quality I could get, and they get blanched veggies twice a week.

Unfortunately though, the delay was too late for the Tetra. First I lost one. Then more. I went from 10 to 3 today, if I am lucky it will stay at 3. Two of them look very good. One of them has minor body spotting. Worst comes to worst, it'll be 2. I think it'll stay that way, nothing new has been appearing.

What I am worried about now is I know the minimum for tetra is 8. While these guys I think know fairly well the tank is safe, and the presence of the corycats might help in terms of them having another grouping fish around to help them feel more confident, I don't want to be causing them unnecessary stress that might make the situation worse. Two of them left are grouping together, the one I am uncertain about is often hanging out on it's own which is making me worried I'll lose it too.

I am early on in the treatment at full dosage (I spent more time cranking up the dosage slowly since this is a planted tank with inverts, so that probably didn't help the ich situation) 25%~30% water changes daily.

Naturally online opinion on 'should I add fish during ich treatment' is about as confusing as it was when I was just trying to find info on ich. Some say hard no. Some say it's always in tanks anyway, it's the stress, may as well chuck them in during treatment. I'm going to have to grab another bottle of the stuff (so bleeding expensive) and I don't want to use more of it on a quarantine tank - right now anyway.

The treatment I am doing specifically targets parasites (Seachem Paraguard) but I also have Melafix and Pimafix, though I haven't really been dosing either since the smell of it I think irritates the tetra, and Paraguard supposedly has antibacterial elements that also target finrot. If I were to add new fish, I'd probably start adding both during the day, Paraguard goes in at night after a waterchange because it's lights-off after that (degrades under light).

If I added new fish, I'd be doing that for 14 days + maybe one more week just in case. But yeah, I have no fucking clue what to do and I very much want to not fuck this up anymore.

I'm also honestly kind of put off by tetra at this point - compared to the corycats they are very, very nervous and twitchy I think which didn't help their stress levels, even with me trying to make it as stress-free as possible. But also know I'm probably stuck with them if I want them to feel better.

Any thoughts/opinions would be good. I don't really have other treatment options available either btw, either because products are literally not available or the risk of killing plants/hurting other fish is too high (heat is NOT an option, corycats upper-limit is 26C so that's what the tank is set to)

My gut says it's probably okay to add fish, if I keep up treatment. But idk anymore :C

#kerytalk #aquablr #tagging it this out of the hope someone could help but also be nice this is my first tank #fishblr

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mossiestpiglet · 3 years ago

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@aro-as-in-straight-as-a Putting this in a reblog because I’m gonna ramble about my tanks because I love them

It’s nothing fancy, the setup is just a 10 gallon tank with a small sponge filter, heater (keeping it between 78-80F), and heavily planted but low light. I don’t ever treat plants when they come in because 1) I’m lazy 2) I get them from good stores and 3) I only keep hardy species of animals because I’m still a beginner aquarist. Since I don’t pest-treat any of the plants ahead of time, any eggs or microorganisms on them when I get them also go in the tank, and any that survive have free reign. This is the first time I’ve had such a noticeable micro ecosystem in a tank because it’s my first fishless cycle, so there’s no fish in there to be eating the little guys (I love micro predator fish especially, so they specifically hunt and eat the kinds of animals I’m seeing now). I’ve been very hands off with this tank since setting it up, doing water tests maybe once a week, 10% water changes maybe twice a week if that. I wasn’t in any rush to add fish because once I add the fish I have to really pay attention to the tank, especially if the nitrogen cycle hasn’t established yet. Plus it’s just on my desk and I don’t spend much time in my room, so I wasn’t spending hours staring at an “empty” tank, which is what usually makes me itch to add livestock.

So far I’ve seen three species of snail (Malaysian trumpets, bladder snails, and one ramshorn), copepods, planaria, and hydra. None of these are harmful to the species of fish I plan to put in the tank, and actually the fish will probably eat some of them so they’ll clean the glass off for me too! The plants have quite a lot of new growth so that’s a good confirmation that the bacteria in the tank are able to convert waste into plant food and the plants are taking advantage of it, and the light is far too low to have much algae issues as long as I don’t over feed once I start intentionally feeding.

I was going to get and add 8 ember tetras today, but my lfs was all out of them so I’ll be waiting another week for them to get some more. After a month or two with the tetras, if everything is going well in the tank, I’m going to decide on my “centerpiece fish”. My lfs often has young female bettas, so they could hopefully adjust to community life and grow up with the tetra school. My other option is a trio of sparkling gourami, but I’d like to be able to sex them so that I can get three females and avoid any aggression from a breeding pair.

This is my third fish tank in the past two years (and second currently running), but I’ve figured out that I do well with very heavily planted tanks and being patient with having the tank settle in before stocking it, and then stocking it slowly. I’m not someone who is gonna ever manage a high tech tank, I’m not gonna be on top of daily 50% water changes for extended periods of time, and I stress out too much knowing that I might have put animals in unhealthy environments, so I just don’t. The more beautifully planted and scaped a tank is, the more enjoyable it is to watch even before you add livestock, plus the more likely it will be to support microfauna. Seeing a thriving population of microfauna is a good way to see when it’s time to add livestock; it indicates that the tank environment is now capable of supporting and balancing out animal life (and animal waste).

Right now I’m limited to nano tanks because everything has to fit around existing furniture and all my terrestrial animals are taking up the biggest spaces, but eventually I plan to have some nice big tanks so that I can put these same principles into much bigger scales and also play around with fish that need much more space than I can currently provide.

Biggest benefit of letting a tank really settle in and cycle without adding any animals is you get to see all the microscopic animals that come in on the plants and decor set up their own ecosystem. I set up a ten gallon on my desk mostly just to fill space and to make me want to work at my desk by having someone there to look at, but I’ve been doing a fishless cycle because it’s not my only tank and I didn’t need it stocked immediately. And now it’s got hydra, planaria, bladder snails, copepods, all living and thriving and I could watch them for hours!

#thank you for prompting a rant about my fish tanks because I love the ecology of them so much!!!!

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teruyalab · 7 years ago

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YOUR TANKS: TAI STREITMAN

Source: practicalfishkeeping.co.uk

An aquarist who travels the world and builds tanks based on where he’s been is inspiring. What’s even better is when he shares those tanks with the rest of us...

WORDS: TAI STREITMAN. PHOTOGRAPHY: GEORGE FARMER

Looking around at the hobby today, I feel it’s fair to say that for many fishkeepers, the days of plain aquarium gravel, a few plastic plants and a novelty treasure chest air-stone have been left behind. High tech aquascapes, biotopes and complex reef systems have all entered the hobby and changed our perspectives on what is feasible, what is available and what is ethical.

There are those who will never relinquish plastic plants, shipwrecks and a diverse community, and that’s fine — each to their own. As long as fish are healthy and quality of life is maintained, people can put whatever they like in their tanks.

My own feeling is that for a little effort, we can create displays that not only prioritise the wellbeing of our fish, but also look beautiful and natural. Looking online or at some of the incredible aquascapes that appear in this magazine can be daunting, but a bit of research and patience can provide even the beginner with an engaging and successful set-up.

Nannostomus marginatus.

Forest shadows

I’m a huge fan of blackwater set-ups. If it looks like tea, I’m in. These set-ups aren’t hard to create, although maintaining water quality and stability are important. Using lots of wood and leaf litter produces tannins that stain the water and lower the pH. Also, believe it or not, they’ll bring out the colours of many species more spectacularly than crystal clear water.

Many of our popular characins, dwarf cichlids, rasbora and gourami species will all thrive in blackwater set-ups that mimic their natural environments. I was lucky enough to explore blackwater streams in Colombia and Peru and they have inspired me to create a small blackwater community with species found in the Amazon basin.

I have used a 90cm/36in, 100 l/22 gal tank and Catappa leaves (easily bought online) and a stash of dried finger palm fronds that actually come from the gorilla enclosure at London Zoo!

You can just as easily use beech or oak leaves and it’s worth collecting a few bags in the autumn and storing them in a dry space for use as and when you need them. Amazon frogbit, Limnobium laevigatum, and Salvinia natans provide cover for the fish and with those aerial roots they suck up spare nutrients.

I wanted to have activity at all levels and my choice of fish reflects this. At the top, Giant hatchetfish, Gasteropelecus sternicla, and Hockey stick pencilfish, Nannostomus eques, cruise through the floating plants. Slightly lower down, a troupe of Dwarf pencilfish, Nannostomus marginatus, flit through the palm fronds while Green neons, Paracheirodon simulans, emerge from the shadows to show off their brilliant iridescence before diving away again. A few juvenile Gold tetras, Hemigrammus rodwayi, add contrast to the Green neons in colour and body shape.

At lower levels, charismatic Apistogramma viejita and Rams, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, scuffle and argue over small territories and favourite display spots. Keeping several females to each male reduces tension but providing plenty of cover is the best way of ensuring that no one fish gets hounded by an opponent or over-amorous male.

Finally, on the bottom the classic Panda corys, Corydoras panda, shuffle and nuzzle their way through the sand and leaf littler, hunting for morsels and providing endless movement.

This was a very simple set-up; two 24W T5 bulbs, a 150W heater, dried leaves, play sand and floating plants was no great investment. The only thing you should not cut corners on is filtration and this tank uses an Aquamanta 300 EFX filter with a flow rate of 1100 lph, although this is turned down to mimic the flow of the natural habitat.

This is one of my favourite set-ups, where the colours and characters of the fish draw you in and the simplicity of the set-up makes running the tank very straightforward.

Blackwater tank factfile

Fish:

Gasteropelecus sternicla

Nannostomus eques

Nannostomus marginatus

Paracheirodon simulans

Hemigrammus rodwayi

Apistogramma viejita

Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

Corydoras panda

Plants:

Limnobium laevigatum

Salvinia natans

Water parameters:

Temperature: 26°C/79°F.

pH: 6.5.

Hardness: 18–215 ppm.

Equipment: 2 x 24W T5 bulbs (running six hours a day). 150W heater. Aquamanta EFX 300 filter.

This tank was set up for Stiphodon gobies after observing them in their natural habitat in the Philippines.

Cool rapids

Aquarium species and their needs are nothing if not diverse and staying with the theme of simple, easy set-ups catering to the needs of engaging and charismatic species, I have also set up a hillstream tank for Stiphodon atropurpureus. I got to see Stiphodon gobies in the wild in the Philippines and vowed to keep them at home. These little gems are often seen in shops, slowly starving to death in tanks devoid of the auchwuchs they need to graze on, with little flow and kept much warmer than their natural waters. As these fish are always wild caught, providing them with a close replica of their habitat is vital for success. Cool (20–24°C/68–75°F) oxygen rich water, excellent filtration and plenty of algae and hidey holes will see these little characters thrive. Unlike many gobies, my S. atropurpureus are not aggressively territorial. There may be the odd spat, but again, providing several females for each male and ensuring that each male has at least one big rock he can perch on will generate harmony. Watching them graze over boulders in a line abreast is very satisfying!

Stiphodon gobies prefer the cooler, oxygenated water this set-up provides.

Although plants are not a feature of their natural habitat, I have included Java fern, Microsorum pteropus, and Anubias, both of which will tolerate the flow and cooler temperatures, so as to add colour and cover. Algae gathers on the leaves of these slow-growing species and the gobies will tear chunks off and zip over the plants, happily grazing. The main rocks in this tank were allowed to soak in a tub outside for weeks to build up enough algae to support the gobies when they were added and this will quickly spread to newly added pebbles.

White Clouds add colour and movement at midwater level.

For dither fish I have added White Cloud Mountain minnows, Tanichthys albonubes, a truly underrated little fish which, when kept in cool water with plenty of flow and oxygen, will reward you with gleaming red and gold colours, and stunning displays by the males.

While Stiphodon aren’t the cheapest of fish, the rest of this set-up can be created affordably. An Aquamanta EFX 400 filter provides flow and a high turnover in this 100 l/22 gal tank. No heater is used but to produce plenty of algae, I’ve added cool-running TMC Grobeams, (these could be replaced with simple T5 bulbs). A fine substrate that isn’t light enough to be moved about by the flow allows the gobies to dig. I’ve opted for standard, fine gravel.

Hillstream tank

Fish: Stiphodon atropurpureus Tanichthys albonubes

Plants: Anubias nana Anubias congensis Anubias hastifolia Microsorum pteropus

Water parameters: Temperature: 22°C/72°F. pH: 7.0. Hardness: 18–215 ppm.

Equipment: 2 x TMC Grobeam LEDs (ten hours a day). Aquamanta EFX 400 filter.

This jungly set-up was the result of a trip to wetlands in Brazil.

Going green

As an aquatic plant enthusiast, I have to have at least one planted aquarium and so my main tank, a 240 l/ 53 gal set-up, is stuffed with greens. I combined plants and species from several habitats from the Pantanal wetlands of Brazil to produce a busy but not overbearing display with subtle fish colours, plenty of movement and some cryptic yet charismatic species.

I enjoy creating layouts with different plant heights and textures and then letting them run riot. A jungly tank, where you have to work to spot some of its inhabitants will always hold more interest for me than a display where everything is on show, straight away.

Again, this is not a particularly difficult display. CO2 injection, a daily and weekly fertiliser regime for the plants, twice-weekly water changes and solid filtration (in the form of a Fluval FX6) does not entail too much effort, but the rewards are considerable.

Dawn tetra, Aphyocharax nattereri.

I believe in trying species that are either considered common or dull, and working to get the best out of them by creating an ideal environment. In this case, I have chosen the Dawn tetra, Aphyocharax nattereri. Famed for being a fin nipper, this behaviour (as in many species) does not become apparent when they are kept in sufficient numbers. They will spend their time chasing each other, with no one fish receiving too much aggression, and race about the tank in their battles to establish hierarchy. You will likely never notice this in shops, but the males develop a soft red on the bellies and anal fin and when well kept, they develop a lovely green gold colour on the body.

Aphyocharax rathbuni.

A group of Serpae tetra, Hyphessobrycon eques, provides riotous colour to contrast with the subtle tones of the other species and the green backdrop. Rathbun tetras, Aphyocharax rathbuni, dart between the tall leaves and hover like aquatic hummingbirds, eyeing up the situation before zooming to another part of the tank. A gang of Red-breasted acara, Laetacara dorsigera, stalk the long grass, their purple flanks gleaming through the blades of Echinodorus.

Several shy Sheepshead acara, Laetacara curviceps, watch from the shadows and then emerge slowly into the light, their shimmering blue scales, erratic movements and suspicious investigation of everything making me smile. Isn’t that what it is all about at the end of the day? Making your fish happy, so they make you happy?

Laetacara curviceps.

Planted tank

Fish: Aphyocharax nattereri Hyphessobrycon eques Aphyocharax rathbuni Laetacara dorsigera Laetacara curviceps

Plants: Echinodorus uruguayensis Echinodorus tenellus Helanthium bolivianum ‘Latifolius’ Eleocharis gigantea Heteranthera zosterifolia Myriophyllum tuberculatum Persicaria sp. ’Sao Paulo’

Water parameters: Temperature: 23°C/73°F. pH: 6.5. Hardness: 18–215 ppm.

Equipment: 2 x 39W T5 bulbs (running eight hours a day) 250W heater Fluval FX6 filter CO2 solenoid and gauge with 8kg bottle (two bubbles per second).

Tai at home with his tanks, many of which have been inspired by his trips around the world.

#aquarium #freshwater #freshwater aquarium #aquascape #nature aquarium #planted aquarium #planted tank #biotope

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charliexntv294-blog · 5 years ago

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thelahorepost-blog · 7 years ago

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These 6 all-natural DIY remedies will give your skin that summer glow

Imagine handing her a pail of tetra-pack milk today with a loofah, reminding her to wash behind the ears. The preservatives would cancel out any benefits her skin may have received from the protein, vitamins and minerals inherent in milk, and she’d look just as tired and stressed out as the rest of us feel. Desperately, Cleo (just like the rest of us) would then turn to the attractively-marketed local and foreign skincare brands lining supermarket shelves, gracing billboards and television commercials, sometimes with celebrity endorsement. But the ingredients may as well be hieroglyphics — polyacrylatedimethyl tauramide, trifluoromethylphenyl, polycaprolactone, methylparaben... Most skincare ingredients are emulsifiers and thickening agents, and have nothing to do with actually revitalising our skin, even if the package promises so. Companies claim that the quantity of chemicals in their products are too small to be considered toxic or harmful, and ideally they are regulated by drug agencies. But we don’t really know what the long-term effects of daily or weekly usage can be and, sadly, one has to be especially careful of local brands that are routinely found to contain above trace-amounts of lead. Why go for expensive, branded skincare products when you can make them yourself from natural ingredients at home? To keep things simple and old school — and in the process, natural, organic, pronounceable and cheap — look no further than your garden and local grocery store. As a general rule, if you’re not comfortable eating it, then it shouldn’t go on your face or body either. Below are a few alternatives to the gunk the beauty industry sells us. FACE MASKS Pollution, dirt and the general wear and tear saps the vitality out of our skin and clogs our pores. Face masks are the perfect way to add colour, freshness and moisture back into tired skin. Ideally, use them once or twice a week — a lazy Sunday is a nice day to do it. The ones below will brighten your dull old face right up:

FOR REPLENISHING: YOGHURT, HONEY AND ALOE MASK

2 tablespoon of plain yoghurt 1 tablespoon of organic honey 1-2 tablespoons of aloe vera. (Buying a small aloe vera plant from a nursery is highly recommended; it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving.) Mix these three ingredients well and apply a thick layer on your face avoiding the eye area — you can use either your fingertips or (easier) a baking brush. Leave on for about 20 minutes, then rinse. Because the mixture won’t be very thick, it is best to lie down with a towel under your head as you wait for it to be absorbed, otherwise it will dribble down your neck. Increasing the amount of aloe will increase the thickness of the mask. You can also do without the organic honey if aloe is too pricey (but using regular honey won’t have quite the same effect). Yoghurt is a gentle cleanser, unlike a lot of on-the-shelf stuff which can be quite harsh. (Salicylic acid, for example, is used in many acne-fighting cleansers.) Being dairy-based, it contains a good amount of lactic acid, which cleans pores; honey is hydrating as well as soothing, and there’s really nothing aloe isn’t good for.

FOR ACNE: YOGHURT, HONEY AND TURMERIC

1-2 tablespoons turmeric 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon yoghurt A few drops of lemon (optional). Mix well, apply as above and rinse after 15-20 minutes. I also suggest that you rinse it off with a cleanser (see below for a homemade one) or a gentle soap — using plain water may leave your face looking as orange as Donald Trump’s. Turmeric is strong! Wash twice if you have to. Other than the above-mentioned ways of getting rid of turmeric, you can also apply lemon mixed with water for a while, leave it on for five minutes. This will reduce the orange tint turmeric tends to leave and will give you an overall glow from within. Turmeric has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, and thus is an effective acne-fighter — we love turmeric in our food, and it’s just as great on our mugs. Lemon, used often, lightens the skin (for all you whitening cream colonised nuts) — however use it in moderation as too much may sting sensitive skin. While one usually avoids the under-eye area while applying face masks, (carefully!) applying some of this one under the eyes can help with dark circles over time.

FOR SOOTHING: MINT AND CUCUMBER

1 cucumber A handful of mint leaves Blend the cucumber and mint together in a blender and place the liquid in the fridge until it cools and forms into a paste-like substance. Apply as above for 15-20 minutes. This one is especially good for summer, as cucumber will have a cooling effect on your skin — this is particularly useful for skin irritation or swelling but it is also good for acne-prone skin especially for summers when the pimple-popping business appears out of nowhere. The mint has anti-bacterial properties to kill off germs that can lead to break-outs, and helps to minimise the appearance of large pores. FACIAL CLEANSER Unlike face masks, cleansers are meant for daily use — ideally before bed — to wash off the day’s dirt and pollution. But most cleansers on the market are harsh and, ironically, dehydrating; much like shampoo does to the hair, they strip your skin of its natural oils. In place of a store-bought cleanser, clean your face with baby oil or coconut oil. Wet a pad of cotton wool and then squeeze the water out. Then, apply a small amount of the oil onto the cotton wool and gently wipe your face with it, upwards away from the pull of gravity. At the end of the day, you’ll notice how grimy the cotton wool gets, so this is an effective cleanser. Repeat with as many cotton pads as you need until your face is clean. Rinse off excess oil with water. Also, to remove makeup at the end of the day, plain old coconut oil or baby oil on cotton wool is far gentler and as effective as store-bought makeup remover. A small amount of almond oil under the eyes at night is also a good alternative to a night (eye) cream. Finally, if you can get your hands on castile soap (i.e. vegetable-based soap) and raw honey, and you have the time and inclination, you can make your own cleanser:

CASTILE SOAP, RAW HONEY, COCONUT MILK

1/2 cup (liquid) castile soap (unscented) 1/2 cup raw honey 2 tablespoons coconut milk (you can substitute this with water if you prefer) (If this seems like extra quantity of cleanser than what you want, use half the ingredients. I do not recommend making more than the above quantity, however, as natural ingredients do not last the way artificial cleansers do as natural stuff does not contain preservatives.) Mix these ingredients until they’re combined well, and transfer them to an airtight container — a squirt bottle would be easiest to use, such as an old liquid soap container. This would also make a great gift if you can find a pretty bottle to transfer the cleanser into. LIP SCRUB We tend to forget about our lips, but just like our face, the build-up of dead skin cells makes them dull and dry, too. The below recipe will make your lips feel plumper and brighter after you use it a few times. Use one to two times a week.

BROWN SUGAR, HONEY OR COCONUT OIL (OR BOTH)

1 tablespoon of granulated brown sugar 1 teaspoon of honey or coconut oil (or both) to form a paste. Mix these ingredients well and refrigerate in a jar for future use. Gently rub the grainy paste or scrub on your lips for two minutes or so, let sit for another minute to absorb the goodness from the oil and honey, then rinse. Apply lip balm after use. The sugar will exfoliate your lips, while the honey or oil provides the moisture. You can add a drop of vanilla extract or an essential oil of your choice.

COFFEE GROUNDS AND COCONUT OIL

Here, coffee grounds replace the sugar as the exfoliating agent. Caffeine not only wakes us up in the morning — it also plumps and rejuvenates your lips. You can also use the coffee and coconut oil scrub on your dark spots, as well as your dark circles to lighten them. Of course, herbal skin care does take more time and effort than simply buying and using ready-made products. Everything man-made has some element of toxicity in it (did you know that the state of California recently made it mandatory to put warning labels on the dangers of cancer on fake leather jackets sold in fast-fashion stores?), and to truly live as cleanly as possible we’d have to wear hemp-sacks, plant all our own food and move to the mountains. Take what you will of these natural alternatives, and incorporate what you feasibly can. If you have neither the time nor energy for DIY skin care, remember that the fundamental way to care for your skin is your diet. Your skin is the last part of your body to receive the vitamins and minerals that you consume, so eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is essential to make sure you have enough of these nutrients to finally reach the skin after they’ve been absorbed by other parts of the body. This has been referred to as “beauty eating” — taking care of your looks from within, rather than without. They are, after all, the physical manifestations of your internal health. And remember, when it comes to skin, nothing beats chugging water. Aim to drink about half your body weight (calculated in pounds) in ounces; add another couple of glasses to combat the heat or if you exercise regularly. Read the full article

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pinstripemag · 7 years ago

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Instagram Hottest Swiss/Latina Pinstripe Hottie Bombshell Patrizia Yanguela

Exotic, fierce, and a fanatical jet-setter, Swiss born Patrizia Yangüela is now conquering the US with her steamy sold out 2018 calendar. Genetically gifted, with the brains to boot, the tetra-lingual model has amassed 1.5+ million clamoring fans on Instagram alone with her numbers growing by the day. Known as Viva Glam Magazine’s “Girl Crush,” we had the honor to interview her and show you why she is a future business mogul.

Patrizia is making moves in the United States to solidify herself as a respected business woman, and model with a message of empowerment and self-love. Not one to take the expected path in life, Patrizia fell into modeling by chance at the age of 28 years old, after establishing a successful career at an advertising and marketing firm in Switzerland once earning a BA in her respected field. What originally began as a personal journey to get fit and lead a healthy lifestyle, quickly turned into a fairy tale discovery when she was scouted after posting fitness progress photos on Instagram. Today, as an educated and fulfilled young woman, she sets her goals high and is continuing the path of a successful lingerie and fitness model aiming to spread the word of empowerment and self-love in everything she does.

Patrizia was raised by her Dominican mother and her Swiss father. Being raised internationally and living in multiple areas around the world, Patrizia is fluent in four languages including English, German, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as being conversational in French. Aside from being born in Zurich, Patrizia has also spent time abroad living in Miami, Florida, and the Caribbean.

Numerous world travels taught Patrizia the importance of sharing and respecting different cultures, a value she is passionate about and celebrates frequently with new cultural expeditions and excursions. When Patrizia is not busy building her empire or interacting with fans, she is busy browsing through pinstripemag.com and keeping her body in tip-top shape by lifting weights, hiking and cycling.

Interview Q&A

1. What a great mix in ethnicity you have. So, do you relate more to your Latin side or Swiss side?

I can physically relate more to my Latin side… but mentally I am very Swiss.

2. So you speak four languages, which two do you speak more fluent?

It’s difficult because I grew up in a multi-language family… I can both speak German and Spanish with my family and friends but I’m also fluent in English and Portuguese, and conversational in French.

3. Which one would you like to speak just as fluent?

I’d love to be fluent in French or Italian… living in Europe it very much comes in handy.

4. So tell us more about this sold out sexy calendar, is this your first?

It’s my first of hopefully many more to come!. I had such a great experience being part of the process, from the shoot, to producing it and seeing the finished product. The whole process was a learning experience, and I am so humbled and proud of this particular project.

5. What made you want to do a calendar and which month is your favorite shot in the calendar?

All the big models in the past have had their own calendar, like Pamela Anderson. Once I came to LA, I was immediately inspired and it made me want to do an amazing calendar for my fans. I honestly don’t know if I could pick just one favorite because I am so proud of the overall project itself.

6. Any siblings?

Yes, I have one sister. she lives in the Dominican Republic.

7. Are you modeling all over the world or sticking to one place?

I wish I could model all over but at the moment I am based in Switzerland and come out to LA very often for business and modeling projects and well.

8. How did you become an Instagram star too?

It just happened by chance. honestly, I never modeled a day in my life before Instagram…I first thought that Instagram was just a fun and new form to present who you are to your friends and a larger audience. I never sought out Instagram fame, but then one thing lead to another, and here I am.

9. Do you manage your own IG account or do you have someone manage for you?

I manage it on my own. It’s a lot of work because sometimes you are clueless of what content to post. Also there’s a balance of taking the time to answer questions and comments from my followers and fans. I like to communicate to people who try to contact me. I think that’s the best way to maintain your fans and to show them you care, by taking time to acknowledge them and to interact with them when you can.

10. So besides modeling what else keeps you busy?

I have my own investment company together with my husband, so if I’m not working on modeling, I am dealing with our company’s clients and filling out most of the paperwork.

11. What is your favorite part of what you do on a daily basis?

I love my freedom — that is honestly my favorite part. I can do things at my own pace. It’s so freeing to be your own boss and being completely in-charge of your own career and work schedule.

A post shared by Patrizia Yangüela | Artist (@patriziayanguela) on Jan 19, 2018 at 10:34am PST

12. So I am sure our readers want to know, where else besides IG and your calendar can they see more of you?

At the moment, I am only seen on Instagram, but hopefully in the future you will see lots more of me!

13. What do you consider your best asset?

My personality.

14. What’s your favorite food and why?

I love pizza! It’s just been that dish that I loved since I was a child.

15. Pizza must be a thing with our pinstripehotties. What’s your favorite vacation destination?

Honestly, I don’t have one place in mind specifically. I love to travel and try to go to places I haven’t been before.

16. Which state/city do you reside in?

I live in Zurich, Switzerland.

17. So is your goal to keep growing your IG account and what can our readers do to help with that?

I definitely have Instagram goals! I hope get a couple of million more followers. And yes, by liking and commenting my pics that’s a great support!

18. If you had to pick a category on pinstripemag.com what would you say is your favorite section?

The gear and gadget section! I love to get new tips and see the latest electronics and gadgets that have been released!

A post shared by Patrizia Yangüela | Artist (@patriziayanguela) on Mar 6, 2018 at 12:03pm PST

Know a gal that would make a great PinstripeHottie — or are you that hottie? Send us an email at [email protected]!

The post Instagram Hottest Swiss/Latina Pinstripe Hottie Bombshell Patrizia Yanguela appeared first on Pinstripe Magazine.

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payment-providers · 8 years ago

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New Post has been published on Payment-Providers.com

New Post has been published on https://payment-providers.com/headline-news-from-paymentsnews-com-february-21-2017/

Headline News from PaymentsNews.com - February 21, 2017

Headline News is brought to you by Glenbrook Partners. Glenbrook provides payments strategy consulting and education services to payments professionals worldwide!

ON THE WEB

Episode 48 – APIs, ACH, and Faster Money – Dwolla – Glenbrook’s Payments on Fire podcast – “Sometimes a change in direction is the way forward. Network aspirant Dwolla has recently pivoted its work toward the product and development teams inside financial institutions. Instead of being a system operator, Dwolla now offers a broad set of APIs designed for those FIs to take advantage of the ACH’s overnight and Same Day ACH services. Dwolla’s shift also comes as the company and the US anticipates the impact of new immediate funds transfer systems Zelle, The Clearing House, and likely others.”

EBA to relax controversial PSD2 authentication rules – Finextra – “In a speech in London on the EU’s revised Payments Systems Directive (PSD2), which is set to come into force in January 2018, EBA chairman Andrea Enria said that the proposed standards would be modified to raise the threshold to EUR30 for remote consumer transactions, although there would be no exemption for corporate payments. Firms which use ‘transaction risk analysis’ to keep a lid on fraud will also be offered a get-out clause, as will payments at unattended terminals, such as parking meters or transport tickets. The use of transaction risk techniques will be monitored over an 18-month period to ensure that safeguards are working to reduce fraud rates. “

NPCI, Mastercard and Visa unveil standardised QR code mobile payments for India – NFC World – “Indian consumers can now make QR code-based mobile payments using BharatQR, a “low cost, interoperable mobile acceptance solution” backed by the Indian government and developed by Mastercard, Visa and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The service is supported by American Express and 14 national banks.”

Ant Financial to Invest $200 Million in South Korea’s Kakao Pay – Wall Street Journal – “Ant Financial Group, which is seeking to challenge global payment powerhouses Visa Inc. and MasterCard Inc., will invest $200 million in Kakao’s payments unit, with the two expected to form Kakao Pay Corp. as a subsidiary of Kakao by early April. Already this year Alibaba has made deals with U.S.-based money-transfer company MoneyGram International Inc. and the Philippines’ Globe Telecom, adding to existing arrangements in North America, Europe and across Asia.”

Visa and IBM Watson commit to putting payments inside cars and wearable devices – Venture Beat – ““We share a vision of commerce-based IoT where any device, from a watch, ring, an appliance, or car, can be used to make a purchase. Our goal is to enable commerce on any connected device anywhere,” said IBM Watson general manager Harriet Green during a press conference.”

Facebook Messenger Now Lets You Send Money With Transferwise – Bloomberg – “International money transfer service TransferWise Ltd. has announced an integration with Facebook Inc.’s Messenger that will let people set up foreign exchange transactions over the chat service. London-based TransferWise launched the technology as a bot — a piece of automation software that understands natural language — baked within Messenger. The bot, which is free to use and doesn’t affect prices or rates offered, will talk users through the process of arranging an international money transfer with TransferWise.”

Apple buys Israel’s facial recognition firm RealFace – report – Times of Israel – “Apple Inc. has acquired Israel’s Realface, a cybertechnology startup whose facial recognition technology can be used to authenticate users. This is Apple’s fourth acquisition in Israel, the financial website Calcalist reported Sunday, and the deal is estimated to be worth a couple of million of dollars.”

Russian mobile network MTS launches first phase of Money Wallet payments, transfer and loyalty service – NFC World – “Russian mobile network operator MTS has launched MTS Money Wallet, an online payments and money transfer service that incorporates loyalty points, offers and discounts, and is to be expanded to transport and in-store payments via NFC, SMS and USSD technologies later this year.”

Swift is Recruiting Banks for Blockchain Tests – Coindesk – “According to Swift, recruits will include banks with strong liquidity practices for its proof of concept (PoC), which is aimed at replacing the antiquated nostro and vostro account system of settling cross border payments. The theory is that, by eliminating the dormant foreign exchange reserves held on the books of other banks, participants in the PoC will see a higher rate of return to shareholders since they are able to put the nostro/vostro capital into interest-earning assets.”

Ingenico Readies Its POS App Marketplace for U.S. Merchants And Acquirers – Digital Transactions News – “The app store, dubbed the Marketplace, works with France-based Ingenico’s Telium line, which includes the Telium Tetra operating system, countertop, mobile and multilane POS terminals, access to more than 2,500 payment applications, and a device-management service. It launched in 2014, and has been available in some international markets. Its U.S. entry was delayed by the migration to EMV acceptance. With that under way, the time is right to bring Telium to the United States, Ben Wagner, director of product solutions for Ingenico Group North America, tells Digital Transactions News.”

Walgreens integrates rewards program into Android Pay – Mobile Commerce Daily – ““Integrating our Balance Rewards loyalty program with Android Pay on all of the Equinox checkout terminals in our stores nationwide is another example of how we are always looking to enhance our customers’ in-store experience,” said Abhi Dhar, chief digital officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance & CIO at Walgreens. “It was evident just last month during the holiday shopping season that many of our Balance Rewards members enjoy the benefits of linking our loyalty program with mobile payments.”

Facebook on course to be the WeChat of the West, says Gartner – TechCrunch – “It’s the beginning of the end for smartphone apps as we have known and tapped on them, reckons Gartner. The analyst is calling the start of a “post-apps” era, based on changes in consumer interactions that appear driven, in large part, by the rise of dominant messaging platforms designed to consume more and more of mobile users’ time and attention. It figures messaging apps will become more popular than social media apps within the next two years.”

ON THE WIRES

Gulf Oil Announces New Gulf Pay Mobile App – “Gulf Oil today announced the launch of a new mobile payment application, Gulf Pay. The new offering, powered by P97’s PetroZone® mobile commerce platform, will enable Gulf customers to navigate to the nearest Gulf gas station, pay for fuel at the pump, and purchase products inside the convenience store utilizing fast, simple, and secure mobile payment technology.”

Radial and Klarna Partner to Integrate a Seamless Financing Option at Checkout, Driving Ease for Customers and Order Value for Retailers – “Klarna, one of Europe’s leading payments providers, and Radial, the leader in omnichannel commerce technology and operations, today announced a new partnership to further expand Radial’s payment options. The integration of Klarna with Radial’s Payment platform enables clients and prospects to offer a financing option at checkout to give customers more choice and could give retailers a 58 percent higher order value.”

Shopgate Joins Salesforce Partner Program to Drive Customer Success with Salesforce Commerce Cloud – “Shopgate today announced that it has joined the Salesforce Partner Program in support of Salesforce Commerce Cloud, the fastest path to unified commerce. Commerce Cloud enables brands to provide personalized experiences for shoppers that span web, mobile, social and in-store. And now, as part of the world’s #1 CRM platform – Salesforce – brands can deliver completely unified experiences for customers that extend beyond commerce to include marketing, customer service and more.”

GLENBROOK PAYMENTS EDUCATION EVENTS

The next Glenbrook Payments Boot Camp is March 7-8, 2017 in San Jose, CA. On March 9, still in San Jose, will be our Digital Payments Insight Workshop. Following that, our next public Boot Camp and Insight Workshop combination will be in New York City in April followed by Atlanta in May. Check out our spring schedule here. We hope to see you there!

Bring your colleagues along! Group discounts are available. For more information or to learn about our private workshops conducted at your location, contact Glenbrook’s Russ Jones.

UPDATES FROM GLENBROOK

Note: Headline News is compiled by Glenbrook Partners. Throughout the day, as we spot interesting developments, this post is updated. Do you have news to share? Tell us here: [email protected]!

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tuyalapa-blog · 8 years ago

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ds4design · 8 years ago

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Can an Ethnic Beverage Brand Challenge Coca-Cola in India?

Paper Boat, a fledgling Indian brand from Bangalore-based Hector Beverages, is aiming to hold its own in the country against global giants like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. But can traditional Indian drinks really give popular colas and juices a run for their money?

When Neeraj Kakkar, a former Coca-Cola executive, turned entrepreneur in 2010 and set up Hector Beverages, competing with the cola giants was the last thing on his mind. Bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, Kakkar zeroed in on the beverages market (after rejecting ideas in areas like education, child care and women’s empowerment) simply because it was familiar territory; he had worked with Cola-Cola in India for seven years and was part of its senior management in the country. As an entrepreneur looking at the growing popularity of functional beverages worldwide, he felt it had potential in India, too. It was just a business decision.

But today, Kakkar sees himself and Paper Boat as “protectors” of traditional Indian beverage recipes. “At Hector Beverages we believe that if we don’t do something now these recipes will disappear in the next 20 to 30 years.”

Management consultancy firm Wazir Advisors estimates that the unorganized market for ethnic beverages in India is around $200 million to $250 million, while the organized market is barely 1% of this. Paper Boat is the dominant brand in this segment with the largest portfolio of flavors. Others include Dabur India, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola and Parle Agro. These players have only the one or two flavors — primarily mango or lemon.

V.T. Bharadwaj, managing director at Sequoia Capital, an investor in Hector Beverages, considers Paper Boat to be a “path breaking” product which has the “potential to transform the beverages landscape in India.” He points out that unlike the U.S., which has traditionally been dominated by colas, India has a short cola history. “India has a rich history of traditional beverages and it’s a shame that no one has tried to present them in an attractive and aspirational manner.” According to Bharadwaj, branded ethnic beverages are a category that was “waiting to be created” in India. “It is category that is waiting to explode and has the potential to break the back of the cola market.”

According to market estimates, in the first half of 2016 Coca-Cola and Pepsi were pushed out of the top five highest sold beverages in modern trade outlets in India by fruit juices from Dabur and PepsiCo, and the decades-old rose drink Rooh Afza from Hamdard. Commenting on this in a media interview, Devendra Chawla, president, food and FMCG brands at Future Group, said: “Traditional drinks and tastes have come out of the shadows. The past few decades saw high decibel marketing and commitment of resources from global brands, but consumers are going back to favoring what they perceive are healthier and traditional flavors.”

“Branded ethnic beverages are a category that is waiting to explode and has the potential to break the back of the cola market.” –V. T. Bharadwaj

Global trends also show cola growth slowing down. In another media interview, Euromonitor India country manager Janaki Padmanabhan said: “Globally, cola carbonates have received a lot of negative publicity due to high sugar content and lack of nutritional value.”

On the Traditional Trail

Interestingly, Kakkar and his co-founders Suhas Misra and Neeraj Biyani (both former colleagues at Coca-Cola) and James Nutall (a packaging industry professional in the U.S.) thought of Indian beverages only after their first two product launches — Frissia, a protein drink (in 2011) and Tzinga, an energy drink (in 2012) — failed to create waves. Even as the co-founders were grappling with what to do next and exploring other functional beverages such as vitamin water and smoothies, they hit upon the idea of traditional Indian drinks serendipitously. (Misra and Nutall later exited the company in 2014 and 2015 respectively.)

In the summer of 2012, Nutall’s parents were visiting India and he wanted to buy Aam Panna for them — a refreshing raw mango drink that Misra’s mother used to send daily with his lunch to help him keep cool during the scorching heat of New Delhi. (Hector Beverages moved its headquarters from New Delhi to Bangalore in 2014.) While Nutall’s colleagues cautioned him against buying Aam Panna from street vendors to avoid “Delhi belly” (an upset stomach), despite searching in various shops Nutall couldn’t find a safe alternative. “This is when we realized that traditional Indian drinks could have a great market if produced and packaged hygienically. We didn’t do any formal market research. We just followed our instincts,” says Kakkar.

Paper Boat has sailed a long way since then. From two flavors in 2013 — Aamras (sweet mango) and Jalzeera (cumin and lemon) — Paper Boat currently has a portfolio of 13 flavors, each comprising specific Indian spices and condiments. The flavors include Aam Panna (raw mango), Jamun Kala Khatta (Indian black berry), Kokum (a berry belonging to the mangosteen family), Anar (pomegranate), Chilli Guava (guava), Neer More (curd-based) and Thandai (milk-based). While all these flavors are available in 250-milliliter doy packs (sealed flexible plastic bags designed to stand upright), the company recently launched Aamras and Anar in 500 milliliter tetra carton packs also.

All Paper Boat drinks are made without preservatives, added color or carbonation, and on average it takes the firm 18 months to develop a flavor from idea to launch. Currently, 11 flavors are in the pipeline in different stages of development and are scheduled to be launched by the end of 2017.

Hector Beverages has two manufacturing plants — one in Manesar near New Delhi and the second in Mysore near Bangalore. Manufacturing capacity has increased from one million packs per month in August 2013 to eight million packs per month at present, while distribution has increased from 20,000 outlets to 120,000. Kakkar and Biyani are looking to double capacity by the end of 2017.

Last year, the company partnered with Indo Nissin Foods for distribution and with this they expect to further ramp up their distribution substantially. Funds, they say, are not a constraint. So far, Hector Beverages has raised $42 million from angels and venture funds like Sequoia Capital, Catamaran Ventures and Foothills Ventures. While Kakkar is tightlipped about sharing any details on revenue and profitability, he says the company has been “growing more than 100% year on year.”

Making Traditional Contemporary

So what is the secret of Paper Boat’s success? Kakkar lists authentic recipes right on top. In food, he notes, the central piece is getting the recipe right. “The traditional way to develop a product is at the center of different nodal points. But in a country as diverse as India, trying to satisfy all groups doesn’t work. So when we develop a recipe we try to get it as close to any one group as possible,” says Kakkar. Adds Biyani: “We are extremely strong in product development. Whether it is identifying the right vendors, sourcing at the right time or establishing the right processing standards, we have developed a very strong knowledge base.”

“Paper Boat has used differentiation as the cornerstone of its brand strategy.” –Harish Bijoor

Biyani cites an example. For making Aamras, the firm uses only naturally ripened mangoes in order to produce the most authentic taste. This requires that each mango must be monitored individually from when it should be plucked to whether it should be put on hay or on coconut leaves for ripening to deciding when it is ready for processing. All this in turn depends on natural factors like temperature, humidity, rainfall and so on. “We buy thousands of tons of mangoes and for every single mango to be individually monitored not only requires a large and trained manpower but also passion and dedication. This is true for each of our products,” says Biyani.

The other key pillars of Paper Boat’s success are its design, packaging and messaging. Infusing tradition and authenticity with a contemporary feel has been central to Paper Boat’s philosophy. Shripad Nadkarni, formerly director of MarketGate Consulting, a strategic business and market consultancy firm and creator of Paper Boat’s brand DNA, recalls that right at the beginning the firm realized that “traditional” and “authentic” had the inherent danger of being perceived as “old and stodgy.” To safeguard against this, they added the concept of “alive.”

“The balance between ‘alive’ and ‘authentic’ is very important,” Nadkarni says. “We were clear that whatever we do must connect with today’s consumers. So while the product itself is traditional and the recipe and ingredients are all about authenticity, the packaging, design elements and communication, etc. are all contemporary.”

Nadkarni, too, is a former Coca Cola executive. From 2000 till 2005 he was vice president of marketing and head of new beverages at Coca-Cola India. After quitting Coca-Cola, he set up MarketGate, which he later sold to the Publicis Groupe. Nadkarni, who is an angel investor in Hector Beverages, set up Fingerlix, a ready-to-cook food startup earlier this year.

Nadkarni believes that India is “at the cusp of a taste revolution.” He notes that as a society, India has long suppressed the need to indulge. “It is only now discovering the whole aspect of indulging in taste and we are seeing this in food and beverages.” Adds Bharadwaj: “Products like Paper Boat are also tapping into a sense of a confident India that is now comfortable with its roots and product history.”

Harminder Sahni, founder and managing director of Wazir Advisors, agrees. “Indians are now proud of being Indians. I see this trend gaining ground especially with xenophobia becoming stronger in the Western world. Also, India has so much diversity and therefore variety in all things ethnic — food, drinks, clothes, handicraft, music, etc. This offers a huge opportunity.” Sahni adds that Paper Boat is on the right track in tapping into the “ethnic mood” of the Indian market. “Paper Boat has a unique positioning and a great understanding of consumers leaning towards ethnic products with modern packaging and hygiene. Haldiram’s in sweets, snacks and fast food, and Patanjali Ayurved in FMCG [fast-moving consumer goods] are on the same track.”

Devangshu Dutta, chief executive of consulting firm Third Eyesight, points out that food flavors are “deep-rooted in our psyche” and “familiarity and habit” attract us to flavors that we grew up with. He believes that Paper Boat has “very successfully tapped into this need for familiar flavors, while riding on smart branding and modern packaging for convenience, safety and shelf life.”

Ramesh Kumar, professor of marketing at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, says: “Paper boat entered into the psyche of consumers in a unique manner — nostalgic emotions associated with cultural origins and ingredients. The brand’s strengths are associated with ethnic taste and recipes of the bygone era that are vanishing in a world of fast-foods.” Pointing out that Paper Boat “implicitly” offers a “healthy lifestyle,” Kumar adds that the brand’s pouch-style packaging and other design elements definitely give it a “contemporary appeal.”

Harish Bijoor, brand-strategy specialist who runs his own firm, Harish Bijoor Inc., also thinks that Paper Boat’s strength is that “it is different in every way. It has used differentiation as the cornerstone of its brand strategy. Ethnic drinks was a rebel space — a rebel space against the carbonated cola beverages for sure. The packaging, which is unique, functional and efficient, led in this space. The pricing is premium and the advertising stance with conversations with consumers is unique as well.”

“We are way ahead in product development and are working on products others would not even been thinking of.” –Neeraj Biyani

Bijoor, however, inserts a note of caution. Pointing out that more than 60% of India’s population is below 35 years, he suggests that Paper Boat’s evoking of memories and its nostalgia for a simpler, carefree life is risky and could result in its being perceived as “geriatric.” He adds: “Classy and conversational is nice, but the volumes are not there. And while margins may be there for now, these will be under pressure as mass distribution needs will eat into them.”

Coping with Headwinds

Having tested the waters well, the challenge now for Paper Boat is to sail full steam ahead. Nadkarni observes that at present the brand value of Paper Boat is much more than its business value. “The brand value makes one think that it is a Rs. 1,000 crore ($150 million) brand whereas it is only a fraction of that. The big challenge for the team is to commercialize the strong bond that consumers have with the brand and bridge this gap,” he says.

Distribution will play a key role in this. Juices and cold drinks have a universe of around five million outlets in India. Paper Boat is available in only around 2.5% of those. For an impulse purchase such as Paper Boat, visibility and accessibility are very important.

This is even more critical as other players with strong distribution networks have spotted the potential in the segment and are making their moves. Dabur, a leading Indian FMCG firm and a leader in fruit juices, for instance, has recently launched traditional drinks under the brand Hajmola Yoodley. Hajmola is a popular brand of digestive tablets from Dabur comprising traditional Indian herbs, spices and edible salt and is estimated to have around 50% of market share in this segment. Interestingly, like Paper Boat, Hajmola Yoodley is also sold in doy packs with colorful graphics. While Yoodley is yet to make its mark, experts feel that it is only a matter of time.

“What was unique to Paper Boat has been usurped by others and has closed the several windows of differentiation it had opened,” Bijoor says. “The brand now needs to think differently to grow and stand apart from the rest.”

Paper Boat co-founders however are not fazed. Says Biyani: “We are way ahead in product development and are working on products others would not even be thinking of. Our processes are very different and are a strong competitive advantage. We are at a great place and the sky is the limit. We believe that we can actually give a run to the currently dominant beverages.” Adds Nadkarni: “There is no doubt that the category will grow dramatically. But Paper Boat has the first mover advantage and being the leader will benefit the most.”

Meanwhile another challenge is the price point. At Rs. 30 for a 250-milliliter pack, Paper Boat is a premium beverage and priced more than double that of Pepsi and Coca-Cola’s products. Pointing out that Paper Boat’s price is intimately linked to the product quality, Bharadwaj says the company needs to address this challenge with ingenuity. According to him, if Paper Boat continues as a premium, aspirational category it can certainly grow to become a Rs. 1,000 crore brand. However, if it can break the price barrier it has the real opportunity to break open the cola market. “But you can’t break the cola market at this price point,” he notes.

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