#plus there's the guy who essentially created walmart in there

[diioonysus]

old money families of the gilded age

[iammikedee]

What is a binder? Why do trans people use them? Which binder is right for me?

Hello! This post is not only for trans folk researching binders, but for anyone who has ever wondered what the hell we’re talking about when we say “binders.” We aren’t talking about the ones with three rings (although who doesn’t love a good three-ring binder amirite?) We’re talking about a piece of fabric that we wear in order to flatten our chests.

First of all, anyone can use binders, not just trans guys. Nonbinary folk often use them. Cosplayers use them. Even women can use them. Anyone who needs a flatter chest can use a binder. They are however extremely helpful to transgender men who have not had top surgery/don’t want top surgery, but still want a flat chest. Here are some questions I’ve been asked, and haphazard answers:

What does a binder look like? Like a shirt. Some of them function like muscle shirts and go all the way down to your waist (like a tank top) and others are more like crop tops and don’t go past your belly. Some binders are just stretchable fabric you slip over your head. Others have metal claps. Sometimes the clasps are on the side, and sometimes you can pull the binder over your shoulders like a backpack and it clasps in front. Sometimes binders don’t even have straps. 

Does it hurt to wear one? It doesn’t really “hurt,” per se, but they get uncomfortable after a while. It’s important to find one that makes you look the way you want to look without completely hindering your ability to breathe. It took me a long time before I figured out which binders really fit and which didn’t. That said, if you’re wearing a binder with clasps or seams, they do like to dig into your skin after a while.

Where do you buy them? Online. Unfortunately you can’t just go to Target or Walmart and buy one (yet. Hopefully that changes with the times.) If you’re operating on a strict budget, I recommend browsing Amazon. I also recommend Underworks and GC2B.

How much do they cost?  Depends on where you get one. The cheapest one I’ve bought is about $20, and the most expensive is more around $40-50. Keep in mind that I don’t have a lot of money. If you have the means, you can get much better quality binders.

How do I know what the “right” binder is? Dude I don’t even know what the right binder is lol. It’s a struggle every trans guy I’ve known has faced. Unfortunately the only way to find the “right” one is by trying them out. Go with whatever you think looks comfortable and is within your price range. If it doesn’t work, send it back and try again. It is not a fun process :(

Are they dangerous to wear for a long time? They can be, yeah. You need to let your chest breathe, even if it’s dysphoric. Wearing binders excessively can cause problems with your skin, posture, muscles, breathing, all sorts of fun stuff. 

Other tips:

If you’re non-Asian and you’re shopping at an Asian store, you’re gonna want to order a binder at least 2 sizes larger. 

Take off your binder when you sleep. 

Get a looser binder for exercising. I know it doesn’t feel good not to be as flat as you want to be, but please know that exercising builds toward improving your body, and part of your ideal body is your lungs! 

DON’T BIND WITH TAPE, EVER!

You can use your binder as a slingshot to fling your packer across the room whenever you want!

Binder Critique Time!

“BaronHong Plus Size Chest Binder Cotton Vest Tank Tops for Tomboy Lesbian.” Yeah, that’s really what it’s called, and yeah, it’s an awful name. You can find it on Amazon. But it’s my favorite binder. It’s essentially a normal tank top with another layer of fabric inside meant to compress your chest. The inner-fabric is adjustable with a series of metal clasps on the side. The clasps are covered by a strip of material and they don’t dig into my skin. The binder portion makes me flatter than any other binder I’ve owned, while the shirt part is breezy. Comes in black, gray and white, $17.99.

“Underworks Econo High Power Chest Binder Top.” This is my second favorite binder. It binds very evenly, but doesn’t make me completely flat. It is a very comfortable binder however and I own two for working out and hanging out at home. There are no clasps, just comfortable, stretchable fabric. This one is a half-binder, meaning it’s not a full-length shirt. Comes in black, (Caucasian) nude, and white, $19.99.

“TOKYO-T Chest Binder for Women Cosplay.” Another great name, right? Sarcasm aside, this one you wear like a backpack by pulling it over your shoulders and clasping it in the front. All in all it makes my chest pretty flat. That said, this binder doesn’t quite contain the very top of my chest. A couple of the clasps have bent as well. Not super good quality, but flattening. Comes in white, black, and beige, $20.99. 

“GC2B Nude Collection.” GC2B is a great company to order from. They’re very pro-trans and queer affirming. I have a couple binders from their nude collection and they are the most comfortable ones I own, hands down. Unfortunately they don’t work with my body type; if you’re a little chubby and your chest is bigger, it might spill out the sides of the binder. The part that actually compresses your chest doesn’t stretch all the way around and the arm holes made your chest-fat spill out. I still wear one of these around the house sometimes, but you can see the fat-spillage if I wear a tight enough shirt. These binders do work for a lot of people though, and they’re one of the only places that sell nude binders for people of color. They come in half-binders ($33) and full binders ($35). 

“BaronHong Tomboy Trans Lesbian Cotton Chest Binder Plus Size Short Tank Top.” It’s funny because this is the same company that makes my favorite binder (listed above) but this one is, in my opinion, the worst. This one is a half-binder. The material that compresses your chest doesn’t cover everything so fat spills out of the top and creates a weird bulge. There are clasps up the side and they’re more uncomfortable than any other binder I’ve used. The bottom of the binder likes to try and roll up, too. Do not recommend. Comes in black, and some other colors I don’t care about because it’s literally the worst. $19.99. 

Those are just the binders I have tried. I strongly recommend doing your own research if you’re buying one. And remember, I’m chubby. If you’re skinny, then binders that didn’t work for me might work for you!

If you have any questions, as always, feel free to reach out. Peace!

[your-dietician]

Best Day 4 sales at Walmart Deals for Days event 2021

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/lifestyle/best-day-4-sales-at-walmart-deals-for-days-event-2021/

Best Day 4 sales at Walmart Deals for Days event 2021

Yahoo Life has received compensation to create this article, and receives commission from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Prime Day might be over, but that certainly doesn’t mean the deals have run dry — in fact, they’re just as big as ever. Walmart’s Anti-Prime day sale, called Deals for Days, is chock full of discounts across the board. Here’s what’s in store for Day 4 of the sale, which btw ends…tonight!

The retail behemoth has slashed prices across categories. So whether you’re focused on a wardrobe refresh, a better work-from-home setup, tech to take along as you ramp up your workouts, kitchen appliances in need of replacement or more, Walmart has got you covered — with discounts as deep as 90 percent! There are still so many deals you can save big on.

Walmart will give you free shipping on orders of $35 or more. To score free shipping on all orders, plus lots more benefits including speedy delivery, sign up for Walmart+. Get a free 15-day trial here (a quick three-question survey will add on an additional two weeks for a solid 30 days of use). 

Here are the best deals from Walmart’s Anti-Prime Day — Day 4 sale.

TVs

A 40-inch TV for $178? We’ll take it! (Photo: Walmart)

On sale for $178, down from $228, the Hisense 40-inch Class Full HD Roku Smart LED TV is undeniably sleek — with a near edge-to-edge 43-inch display (more picture, less frame). With an HD resolution at 1080p and DTS True Surround Sound, you’ll essentially have a movie theater-like experience at home, with colors that pop.

The built-in Roku streamer gives you instant access to thousands of video streaming channels, including Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, Hulu and ESPN+. It also has a few smart home features like voice search for hands-free navigation. That’s right: You can find your favorite TV shows and movies, just by speaking them into existence.

“Great TV. Once I selected ‘theater sound’ the clouds parted and there was entertainment bliss — OK, maybe that’s a bit extra, however, the sound did vastly improved,” shared a delighted five-star reviewer. “Perfect size for me. Easy setup and operation.”

Story continues

Check out more TV deals below:

Sony 32-inch Class HD LED Smart TV, $298 (was $350), walmart.com

TCL 32-inch 3-Series Class HD LED Roku Smart TV, $145 (was $200), walmart.com

Sceptre 40-inch Class Full HD LED TV, $155 (was $200), walmart.com

Samsung 43-inch Class 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED TV, $898 (was $1,000), walmart.com

Samsung 50-inch Class 4K The Frame QLED Smart TV, $1,198 (was $1,700), walmart.com

TCL 50-inch Class 5-Series 4K Ultra HD QLED Roku Smart TV, $528 (was $600), walmart.com

LG 55-inch Class 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED C1 Series TV, $1,497 (was $2,000), walmart.com

Sony 55-inch Class XBR55X800H Bravia 4K Ultra HD LED Android Smart TV, $798 (was $1,000), walmart.com

LG 65-inch Class 4K Ultra HD NanoCell Smart TV, $997 (was $1,200), walmart.com

Samsung 65-inch TU8300 Crystal Ultra HD 4K Smart TV, $648 (was $700), walmart.com

Headphones and earbuds

These Philips wireless earbuds are half price! (Photo: Walmart)

These Philips Wireless In-Ear Headphones are a handsome, waterproof option with a price that belies their high-performance quality: They’re on sale for just $30, down from $60. Yep, half price.

Walmart shoppers love everything about these cans: the sound, the comfy fit, the sturdy charging case. “I have had challenges finding in-ear phones that fit me well for a long time,” reported one fan. “I grabbed the chance to try these Philips Wireless In-Ear Headphones and I can say these are perfect! First off, I like the charging case, so you have power on the go when you need it. The headphones are super easy to pair both with my PC and my phone, and the sound is very good: The highs are not tinny and the bass is smooth…. Another quality product from Philips!”

What he said! You’ll never be juiceless with these Philips Wireless In-Ear Headphones — they offer up to 12 hours of playback. Impressive.

Check out more headphone and earbud deals below:

Beats Solo Pro Wireless Noise Canceling On-Ear Headphones, $149 (was $300), walmart.com

Apple AirPods Pro, $197 (was $249), walmart.com

Bietrun Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds, $26 (was $130), walmart.com

Philips Bass+ BH305 Wireless Active Noise Canceling Headphones, $40 (was $120), walmart.com

Meidong Bluetooth Noise-Canceling Over-Ear Headphones, $35 (was $70), walmart.com

Luxmo Bluetooth Headphones, $18 (was $36), walmart.com

Jelly Comb On Ear Headphones, $17 (was $50), walmart.com

Gaming

Save nearly a whopping 80 percent! (Photo: Walmart)

The NBA Playoffs are in full swing, so get all the basketball action your heart desires with NBA2K21 for PlayStation 4 — on sale for just $13, or $48 off at Walmart. That’s nearly a whopping 80 percent off! The game features all 30 NBA teams and your favorite players, including Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, James Harden, Gordon Hayward and more.

NBA 2K21 has all the gameplay you want, from multi-player online to one-on-one with you versus the game itself. It features all WNBA teams and players—such as Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, Liz Cambag, and Nneka Ogwumike — for the first time ever!

“This is one of my favorites, and I couldn’t wait,” raved a delighted gamer. “…The storyline is dope for my character, graphics are dope as always. Just an overall great game .”

Check out more gaming deals below:

Luigi’s Mansion 3 (Nintendo Switch), $40 (was $50), walmart.com

Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Nintendo Switch), $40 (was $50), walmart.com

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Nintendo Switch), $40 (was $60), walmart.com

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 (Nintendo Switch), $39 (was $60), walmart.com

Outriders: Day One Edition (PS4), $40 (was $60), walmart.com

Madden NFL 21 (Xbox One), $20 (was $60), walmart.com

The Last of Us Part II (PS4), $30 (was $60), walmart.com

Liphom Gaming Headset, $29 (was $50), walmart.com

Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Edition (PS4), $15 (was $60), walmart.com

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Xbox One), $20 (was $60), walmart.com

The Pillars of The Earth (PS4), $29 (was $45), walmart.com

Smart home

A “smart” way to wake up, in more ways than one: Save nearly 40 percent! (Photo: Walmart)

The Lenovo Smart Clock is powered with Google Assistant for seamless syncing to a smartphone. It can rouse you from your slumber with your favorite tunes, the weather, calendar reminders and events, and that podcast you love. Because, really, who couldn’t use some help getting out of bed?

“I have trouble waking up in the mornings and this alarm clock doesn’t disappoint,” raved a satisfied shopper. “I like the wake-up feature that gradually wakes you up and then gives you a morning update of the weather and all the morning news. I’m able to connect it to all my Google devices too.”

At nearly 40 percent off during Walmart’s Deals for Days shopping event — the Lenovo Smart Clock is down to $49 from $80. 

Check out more smart-home deals below:

Google Nest Mini (second generation), $35 (was $49), walmart.com

Apple TV 4K (2020), $99 (was $169), walmart.com

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm), $150 (was $279), walmart.com

Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS, 38mm), $169 (was $199), walmart.com

Razor Power A5 Electric-Powered Scooter, $119 (was $179), walmart.com

XODO Smart Home Security Surveillance Kit, $60 (was $80), walmart.com

XODO Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Wireless Security Camera, $90 (was $150), walmart.com

TSV Smart Plug (two-pack), $18 (was $26), walmart.com

Defender Ultra HD 4K Wired Outdoor Security System (1TB), $260 (was $450), walmart.com

Anself Wireless Burglar Alarm, $20 (was $28), walmart.com

Fymall Wi-Fi Smart Color LED Light Bulb, $11 (was $24), walmart.com

Home office

Take note of this Lenovo Chromebook — save $80! (Photo: Walmart)

Just need a product that will reliably, consistently do what you need it to, without all the exotic (and expensive) bells and whistles? If you’re one of those people and you’re in the market for an entry-level machine that’ll get you, or a loved one, through a day of work, look to the Lenovo Chromebook S330. On sale for $159, or $80 off, at Walmart, it boots up quick, has a quad core processor, 32 GB of storage and a glorious 14-inch HD display. It’s great for watching YouTube and Netflix, and is powerful enough for Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides and more. It’s ultra-portable too, weighing in at a svelte 3.3 lbs. and less than an inch thick. 

And have we mentioned its 10-hour battery life? This guy will. “I decided to give it a try. I am not sorry I did! I’m very impressed,” raved a delighted five-star reviewer. “I still have a desktop PC for my main computer but for the things that I need a laptop for, this fits the bill perfectly! It does everything I need and doesn’t do the things that I disliked about my previous laptops. It boots quickly, runs cool (without a fan!) and gives me amazing battery life! I’m very pleased!”

Check out more home office deals below:

Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook, $399 (was $749), walmart.com

Samsung CB4 Chromebook, $159 (was $199), walmart.com

Canon Pixma G4210 Wireless MegaTank All-In-One InkJet Printer, $300 (was $400), walmart.com

Cabina HD USB Desktop Webcam, $60 (was $70), walmart.com

Ousgar 47-inch White Desk, $80 (was $300), walmart.com

Kuku Mobile Call Center Telephone USB Headset, $28 (was $40), walmart.com

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 2nd Gen Conference Call Headset, $282 (was $422), walmart.com

Gamma Ray Optics 010 Slim Vintage Computer Readers, $18 (was $25), walmart.com

Hemu Fashion Bamboo Laptop Lap Tray, $38 (was $102), walmart.com

Vacuums

Get this robovac for half price! (Photo: Walmart)

An eye-opening 50 percent off, the Anker Eufy RoboVac 35C Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum’s BoostIQ technology helps navigate your home’s surfaces, including hardwood floors to rugs and beyond, with smooth transitions. And while it never loses suction, when it senses the need for extra oomph — like when crumbs are overtaking the kitchen floor or pet hair is embedded in the rug — it’ll amp up its power to get the job done.

“Albuquerque dust is a pernicious beast. I also have two dogs and a slew of resident dust bunnies, so this is a big help,” shared a Walmart shopper. “It gets the dog hair and dust up easily — slightly appalled at how much dust came up after a regular broom sweeping. The edging function works great — clears out stuff from the bottom of the walls with ease. I have concrete floors and it scoots over it fine; has gotten itself successfully untangled from under the kitchen table…I talk to it like one of the dogs: ‘Oh, don’t forget that speck in the hall.’ ‘Good job.’ At least I haven’t named it (yet).”

The Eufy RoboVac 35C is super slim, so it’s a ninja when it comes to getting into every crevice and corner — and it has an infrared sensor for identifying things in its way, like stairs.

Check out more vacuum deals below:

BISSELL Crosswave Pet Pro Wet Dry Vacuum, $229 (was $299), walmart.com

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Slim Corded, $99 (was $199), walmart.com

Shark ION Robot Vacuum RV750, $148 (was $299), walmart.com

iHome AutoVac Eclipse G 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop, $179 (was $400), walmart.com

Eureka Groove 4-Way Control Robotic Vacuum, $129 (was $199), walmart.com

iHome AutoVac Nova Self Empty Robot Vacuum and Mop, $299 (was $599), walmart.com

ILife A4s Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $119 (was $180), walmart.com

Mighty Rock Robot Vacuum and Mop, $73 (was $130), walmart.com

ionvac SmartClean 2000 Robovac, $99 (was $180), walmart.com

ILife V5s Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop, $135 (was $180), walmart.com

EcoVacs DeeBot 711 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $144 (was $550), walmart.com

Style

Reduced to $8 from $98. Get it in all three colors! (Photo: Walmart)

No, you’re not seeing things: This gorgeous Max Studio frock is on sale for 8 bucks! It has a billowy tiered skirt and a peasant-inspired tassel-tie neckline. It’s available in chambray and bright yellow shade, but of course, we’re partial to this fun poppy red hue. Note: Some shoppers say it’s a little short, but you can wear it with biker shorts or leggings underneath — or just as a bikini coverup.

Did we mention it’s $90 off?!

“Comfortable,” a shopper reported. “Like the bright color. I’m wearing it in Mexico in a few weeks!”

Check out more style deals below:

Scoop Women’s Espadrille Wedge Sandal, $20 (was $35), walmart.com

Zanea Womens Polka Dot Short Sleeve Long Dress, $24 (was $48), walmart.com

KOGMO Womens Premium Cotton Full Length Leggings, $12 (was $18), walmart.com

Status by Chenault Women’s Cotton Slub Jersey with Cotton Eyelet Dress, $26 (was $78), walmart.com

Cate & Chloe McKenzie 18k White Gold Dangling Earrings, $18 (was $136), walmart.com

Melrose Ave Vegan Leather Toe Loop Strappy Flat Sandal, $22 (was $29), walmart.com

Free Assembly Women’s Sleeveless Square Neck Fit & Flare Dress, $21 (was $36), walmart.com

Kitchen

Save $26 on this incredible indoor grill. (Photo: Walmart)

Summertime is the season of grilling, but if you don’t want to mess around with your charcoal and lighter fluid every time you want a juicy steak or burger, try this indoor grill for size. This Gotham Steel grill has a titanium and ceramic surface which helps distribute heat evenly, plus four temperature settings so you can easily adjust how you want your meats and veggies cooked. Plus, it’s super easy to store, too.

“I just made hamburgers on this grill and it worked like a charm!” a shopper declared. “The burgers didn’t stick and it was truly smokeless as it cooked. Cleanup was also a breeze. Although it is dishwasher safe, it was just as easy to clean it up by hand with some soapy water. Definitely recommend!”

Check out more kitchen deals below:

Tramontina Primaware 18 Piece Non-stick Cookware Set, Steel Gray, $40 (was $50), walmart.com

Instant Pot Viva Black Multi-Use 9-in-1 6 Quart Pressure Cooker, $59 (was $99), walmart.com

The Pioneer Woman Cowboy Rustic 14-Piece Forged Cutlery Knife Block Set, $39 (was $70), walmart.com

Chefman TurboFry Air Fryer, $69 (was $99), walmart.com

The Pioneer Woman Mazie 2-Piece Ceramic Red Rectangle Baker Set, $20 (was $25), walmart.com

Farberware 3.2 Quart Oil-Less Multi-Functional Air Fryer, $60 (was $99), walmart.com

Ninja 12 Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer, $69 (was $79), walmart.com

Best Choice Products 16.9qt 1800W 10-in-1 Family Size Air Fryer, $115 (was $255), walmart.com

Hamilton Beach 12 Cup Digital Automatic LCD Programmable Coffeemaker Brewer, $73 (was $105), walmart.com

Beauty

Get over half off off this heavenly Marc Jacobs fragrance. (Photo: Walmart)

Few scents are quite as universal — or as beloved — as Marc Jacobs Daisy. It’s light, frothy and fun, with notes of grapefruit, raspberry and pear mingling with jasmine, rose, lychee and apple blossom, and base notes of musk, cedar and plum. Despite the abundance of fruity notes, it still feels fresh and playful — and whether you want to try it out for the first time or pick up an extra bottle to keep in your drawer, this price simply can’t be beat.

“One of my favorite scents and I definitely will be buying it again,” a shopper reported. “I’ve always wanted a Marc Jacobs fragrance and the price was perfect. It smells amazing and the top to the bottle is too cute.”

Check out more beauty deals below:

BylissPRO Nano Titanium Lightweight Ionic Hair Dryer, $65 (was $85), walmart.com

Burberry Classic Eau De Parfum, $33 (was $98), walmart.com

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Face Serum, $64.50 (was $100),walmart.com

Remington Anti-Static Flat Iron, $16 (was $20), walmart.com

Artnaturals Anti-Aging Retinol, $12 (was $16), walmart.com

Conair Double Ceramic Curling Iron, $12 (was $23), walmart.com

Glycolic Acid 20% Resurfacing Pads, $25 (was $50), walmart.com

IMAGE Skincare Ageless Total Eye Lift Creme, $34 (was $50), walmart.com

Mattresses and bedding 

Save $300 and get the greatest sleep of your life. (Photo: Walmart)

If you’ve had your mattress for longer than you can remember, it’s high time to replace it — and, lucky you, this one is on sale! It’s made with 12 inches of plush memory foam supported by coils, and it’s just the right balance between soft and firm. The only drawback? Getting out of bed in the morning will be that much harder.

“I was surprised at how soft and comfy this mattress was,” a shopper reported. “I took it out of the box and plastic and it opened right up to the 12-inch size. It is supposed to take 24 hours to expand but it expanded a lot right away. It’s super thick and so far feels very comfortable. I am surprised at how great a mattress in a box could be!”

Check out more bedding deals below:

Noble Linens 8-Piece Bed in a Bag Bedding Set, Twin, White, $45 (was $65), walmart.com

Mattress Topper Queen, 2-Inch Cool Swirl Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper, Blue, $70 (was $105), walmart.com

Simply Soft 3 Piece Ribbon Pattern Duvet Cover Set, $23 for queen (was $28), walmart.com

Hatch Embroidered Stripe 7-Piece Comforter Set, $30 (was $70), walmart.com

Zeny Weighted Blanket, $47 (was $78), walmart.com

Simply Soft 3 Piece Vine Pattern Duvet Cover Set, $24 (was $28), walmart.com

Wenzel 70″ x 60″ Camp Quilt – Red Brick Geo Print, $21 (was $29.50), walmart.com

Better Homes & Gardens Flowing Floral Comforter Set, $45 (was $65), walmart.com

Pets

Make bathtime for your pooch a little more fun. (Photo: Walmart)

If your pooch refuses to sit still for baths, nail trims, grooms, or, well, just about anything, try this trick on for size. Fill this lick pad with peanut butter, then stick it on a wall. It’ll keep him occupied for as long as you need. It has 37 suction cups, so it stays in place, and it’s even dishwasher safe.

“I have an obsessive border collie and try to always make him work for meals with Kongs or slow feeders,” a shopper shared. “This is a GREAT little treat for him that he gets very excited about! It holds just a couple spoonfuls and keeps him focused for about 20 minutes.”

Check out more pets deals below:

Oster Super Duty Dog Clippers, $35 (was $40), walmart.com

Portable Pet Dog Cat Outdoor Travel Water Bowl Bottle, $8.50 (was $11), walmart.com

Omega Paw Large Elite Self-Cleaning Litter Box, Black, $53 (was $78), walmart.com

Amgra Laser Pointer for Cats, $14 (was $16), walmart.com

Zimtown Pets Stairs with Cover, Small, Beige, $26 (was $51), walmart.com

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[themjinterviews-blog]

47. I got an 8ft bed that never has to be made. You know if it weren't for trucks we wouldn't have tailgates!

1. What type of criminal would you be? An extremely ineffective one. I’m pretty clumsy and severely lack stealth.

2. What are you listening to right now? Brandon’s watching some show on his phone across from me.

3. If you had to choose a stripper name, what would it be? Something awkward and distinctly non-stripper-ish like Constance or Trudy.

4. If your phone started ringing, who would you hope is calling? It’s likely gonna be my folks or Kristy if anything. Or the random number that keeps leaving me telemarketing voicemails in Spanish.

5. Do you drink? Everyone drinks. But if you mean booze, yes, but not too often. It doesn’t serve much functional purpose in my current life. In college and my 20’s it was a way to overcome social anxiety and inhibitions to make friends or meet guys or just get out of my own head. But at 30, I have Brandon and enough already established friendships that I don’t have much use for that particular vice anymore.

6. Do you smoke? Cigarettes, yes, because if I didn’t then how would I get a 5 minute break every few hours at work? “Hey can I sit on the patio and bullshit on my phone for 5 minutes?” doesn’t fly. Weed? On occasion…along the same lines as drinking, it makes me dysfunctional more often than not, and therefor isn’t useful. I’m an uppers and psychedelics type of gal.

7. What is the first thing you notice in someone? Depends on the person and the situation. There isn’t one thing I notice or consistently look for when observing people. I suppose whatever catches my eye about them.

8. Do you get attached easily? Not really.

9. Do you like your eye color? Yeah it’s fine.

10. Have any stupid human tricks? I can sit, stay and give paw.

11. Humor me. What physical ideal do you imagine in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner? Having ideals like that is kind of a trap. It subconsciously makes you closed-minded to things outside those ideals. If I’m attracted to someone, I’m attracted to them and it’s simple as that.

12. What type of personality traits do you look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner? I already have a fella so, I’m not looking. And again, I never maintained a certain criteria for any potential mates…if we hit it off and I like you, I’m going to like/accept you for the traits you already presently have, not the traits I want you to “ideally” be.

13. Any other essential quirks/interests/other you look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner? Please don’t be a lunatic and eat/ order your steaks and burgers well done.

14. Any romantic gestures you really like? I’m not really romantic. I suppose I do like the idea of going to Bed and Breakfasts. They always have a vintage, cozy sort of interior décor that fascinates me.

15. Any sexual fantasies? Are you daring enough to share one? I want to have sex in the penguin exhibit at the Phoenix zoo while the penguins and passerby watch.

And yes, I’m definitely messing with you. My sex life isn’t Tumblr's buisness.

16. Have you ever been in love? Honestly, I have 0 idea what that entails. Everything in the past I ever assumed or thought was “in love” was either infatuation, co-dependency, obligation, or other actually self-constructed concepts that were created by me (subconsciously) to fit some current narrative of my life. I’m either completely jaded or completely aware, not sure which.

17. Do you have a crush/romantic interest in anyone? Brandon. And Thor.

18. What’s your sexual orientation (if you feel comfortable answering)? I’m straight.

19. What’s your favorite color and why? Yellow, turquoise, some fuchsia-y shades of purple.

20. What was your most embarrassing moment? Don’t have any that really jump out at me as stand-alone singular incidences.

21. Do you ever wish you were someone else? Fuck no.

22. What were you like when you were a kid? Like, a less developed version of me now. A Windows 98. & I gave too many fucks about shit that didn’t matter.

23. What would your dream house be like? Small. No bigger than a cottage or double-wide Two bedrooms, kitchenette, a shower with a bath, some laundry machines and a little patio out back or front. Maybe some citrus trees out back. Even if I were filthy rich, this would still be what I’d look for.

24. What last made you laugh? No idea.

25. Do you have a place you like to go to collect your thoughts? My walk-in closet studio:

26. What is your favorite/least favorite word? Favorite: zany Least: dollop.

27. What turns you on? Uniqueness.

28. What turns you off? Conformity, closed-mindedness, regularly wearing Polo shirts of your own accord. Like if you gotta wear one for your work uniform, whatever, but why recreationally wear one?

29. Have you ever been skinny dipping? Yeah. Pretty much exactly the same as swimming not naked.

30. Would you go bungee jumping/sky diving if given the chance? Fuck no, bro.

31. Do you have any siblings? Younger sister and younger brother.

32. Do you like to dance? Definitely not. One of the most mentally uncomfortable activities in all of existence.

33. What is your definition of cheating? Having an intimate connection either physically or emotionally with another person behind your partner's back.

34. Have you ever stolen anything? Umm like string cheese singles and a Bic lighter.

35. Do you regret anything? Nope. I forgave myself for being a completely inconsiderate cunt a few years back.

36. Do you have any phobias? Not really. There’s shit I don’t like but phobia might be too strong.

37. Ever broken any bones? *knock on wood* No.

38. Ever come close to death? Yeah, once or twice.

39. What is your religion/spirituality, if any? I was raised Roman Catholic but I long since have chosen to bypass organized religions all together. I don’t like being told what to think or believe. Plus, am I supposed to blindly ignore the likelihood of humans modifying the teachings to suit some underlying power plays or political agenda? I simply have no way of knowing for certain, so I don’t really worry about it. Same with God or whatever deities could be chilling. No way to actually, tangibly know until we kick it. I just try and not be a dick as much as possible and keep an open mind.

40. Have you ever been to a psychiatrist/therapist? Yeah. Sometimes a completely impartial human being who can write prescriptions is helpful to have in your corner.

41. Are looks important in a relationship? To a degree. You both have to be attracted to each other. But they don’t matter in the sense of how other people see them. Like, if you like someone but your buddy says their hideous, but you’re instantly love struck, you shouldn't not pursue them.

42. Are you more like your mom or your dad? Not sure, honestly. I think it’s pretty evenly distributed.

43. What is your favorite season? Honestly, it depends where I’m living.

44. Do you have any tattoos? 3.

45. Do you have any piercings? Gauged ears, only, as of now. My job just made me remove my lip ring because our primarily elderly patrons kept complaining about it. It’s not like it’s affecting their food or my ability to provide customer service. I don't like the look of elastic band jeans from Walmart but you don’t see me complaining to my boss to demanding that they remove them, do you?

46. How many boyfriends/girlfriends have you had? Like, 4 officially certified relationships. A few stray flings in between.

47. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character? Sirius Black (from Harry Potter)…but like before Gary Oldman played him in the movies. I’m not saying Gary is ugly or anything but he’s not the smokin hot John Stamos/Johnny Depp-ish Sirius that my mind concocted.

48. What is your favorite thing to do? Draw/Color.

49. If you could only visit one place outside of your hometown, where would it be? Umm. I don’t know. A tropical island sounds lovely.

50. Do you get jealous easily? Not really. It’s immature, not only do you come off as insecure and emotionally volatile, but being jealous also solves ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Being jealous of someone just makes you angry and unhappy inside. That is all.

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Kamala Harris takes on superheroes: All the deets on her new book plus 10 more great reads for kids right now

  The best new children’s books. (Photo: Amazon)

One of the best New Year’s resolutions you can make is to read more with your children — and to encourage the ones who can read alone. Featuring ideas for babies through elementary schoolers, here are our favorite new children’s books, organized by age. All were published in the past year, and all deserve a permanent place in your family library.

Big Kid Bed by Leslie Patricelli

Big Kid Bed by Leslie Patricelli (Photo: Amazon)

Author Leslie Patricelli’s extensive series of board books for babes stars a rosy-cheeked, diaper-clad protagonist as he explores the main themes of toddler-hood—from going to the potty, to taking a tub, to snuggling with a blankie. Her latest, Big Kid Bed, has the beloved little guy making the familiar transition from a crib to a big bed. He faces the ritual with excitement, followed by a bit of trepidation, before finally settling down for a solid night’s sleep.

Shop it: Big Kid Bed by Leslie Patricelli, $8, amazon.com

Best for ages 1 to 3

My Art Book of Love by Shana Gozansky

My Art Book of Love by Shana Gozansky (Photo: Walmart)

My Art Book of Love combines two essential and mysterious concepts — art and love — into a beautiful tome that speaks to art lovers of all ages. A “gorgeous, luxurious-feeling board book ” (New York Times), it features 35 impeccably reproduced, full-page art works by the likes of Mary Cassatt,  Marc Chagall, Keith Haring and Robert Indiana that explore love in all its forms. A fantastic introduction to fine art for the next generation of art lovers.

Best for ages 2 to 5

Shop it: My Art Book of Love by Shana Gozansky, $17, walmart.com

Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen & Derek Desierto

Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen (Photo: Walmart)

Eva Chen— magazine editor, style maven, and head of fashion partnerships at Instagram— is a buzz machine. With a million Instagram followers, she had plenty of folks waiting with bated breath for her latest project, a children’s book called Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes. Out now, this delightful  book follows a little girl as she (literally) steps into the shoes of strong, powerful icons, both historic and contemporary, from Cleopatra and Frida Kahlo to Lady Gaga and Serena Williams. Who knew the multi-talented Chen is also a natural as a kid-lit author? Well, if the shoe fits…

Best for ages 3 to 6

Shop it: Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen (author) and Derek Desierto (illustrator), $12, walmart.com 

Superheroes are Everywhere by Kamala Harris (author) and Mechal Renee Roe (illustrator)

Superheroes are Everywhere by Kamala Harris and Mechal Renee Roe (Photo: Amazon)

Kamala Harris has two books coming out this week: her memoir and a children’s book to accompany it. The Truths We Hold: An American Journey is the story of the formidable California Senator’s upbringing and an overview of her governing principles. Superheroes Are Everywhere is a colorful and lovingly illustrated picture book that teaches little ones that superheroes don’t always wear a mask and a cape. In fact, they are all around us—in the form of the friends we play with and the grown-ups who care for us and our communities. Lest anyone misses the powerful message, there is a version of Harris’s story aimed at middle readers, which is coming out later this year.

Best for ages 3-7

Shop it: Superheroes are Everywhere by Kamala Harris (author) and Mechal Renee Roe (illustrator), $13, amazon.com 

Mixed by Arree Chung

Mixed by Arree Chung (Photo: Barnes & Noble)

Once upon a time, colors lived separately: reds with reds, yellows with yellows, and blues with blues. Until one day, a yellow and a blue fell in love and decided to mix. While at first they shocked their friends and neighbors, the beautiful green they created together served as an inspiration to others. As more colors mixed and mixed and mixed, they upended the old ways of living and made a rainbow of beautiful new shades in the process. This thoroughly modern tale is beautifully illustrated, charming to read and full of deeper meaning.

Best for ages 4 to 8

Shop it: Mixed by Arree Chung, $17, barnesandnoble.com

There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach

There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach (Photo: Walmart)

When it comes to children’s books, stories featuring bears and baked goods are practically guaranteed to appeal to young readers. This one is no exception. Released just a few days ago, There are No Bears in This Bakery is told from the point of view of Muffin, a strong-minded — but ultimately sympathetic — cat charged with keeping bears out of the bakery. But when a sweet, hungry, big-eyed bear comes along with his tummy rumbling, she shows him some sweetness — in the form of a boxful of donuts and a shower of sprinkles.

Best for ages 4 to 8

Shop it: There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach, $13, walmart.com

Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan & Eric Fan

Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan & Eric Fan (Photo: Walmart)

Thanks to its mesmerizing illustrations, this new book by brothers Terry Fan and Eric Fan would be as at home on your coffee table as on the shelves of your children’s library. Ocean Meets Sky is the story of a young boy who honors his late grandfather by building a ship to sail to the place they had always talked about — the place where the ocean meets the sky. The boy’s poignant journey sends him to magical, mythical places, while teaching him that no matter where he goes, his grandfather will always be with him.

Best for ages 4 to 8

Shop it: Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan & Eric Fan, $15, walmart.com 

Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild by Dav Pilkey

Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild by Dav Pilkey (Photo: Walmart)

Dog Man author Dav Pilkey, also the creator of the Captain Underpants series, always manages to embrace elementary-school humor while maintaining a smart and savvy undertone that grownups will appreciate. This highly anticipated sixth book in the ultra-popular Dog Man series has the canine hero in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Will the pup’s pals successfully prove his innocence? Expect appearances by classic Dog Man characters, including Philly (the cheesesteak who everyone thinks is a gyro), Petey the Cat and his mini-clone (and moral conscience) Little Petey, and the F.L.E.A.S. (Fuzzy Little Evil Animal Squad), in a book that is as hilarious as the five before it.

Best for ages 7 and up

Shop it: Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild by Dav Pilkey, $10, walmart.com 

Delish: Eat Like Every Day’s the Weekend by Joanna Saltz & the editors of Delish

Delish: Eat Like Every Day’s The Weekend, by Joanna Saltz & the Editors of Delish (Photo: Walmart)

We love to see kids in the kitchen. And if there’s any book that can get them there, it’s this one. From the editors of Delish, a food lovers’ website known for its enticing imagery and viral overhead cooking videos, comes a cookbook with equally high entertainment value. The 416-page cookbook features beautiful photos and recipes with easy-to-follow instructions for dishes like Unicorn Bark, Grilled Cheese Dippers, Cheeseburger Cups, Chicken Park Soup, and other recipes kids are guaranteed to gobble up. What the recipes lack in serious foodie appeal (S’mores bake, anyone?) they make up for in calories—and fun!

Best for ages 7 and up

Shop it: Delish: Eat Like Every Day’s The Weekend by the Editors of Delish & Joanna Saltz, $18, walmart.com 

Dog Diaries by James Patterson and Steven Butler

Dog Diaries by James Patterson and Steven Butler (Photo: Walmart)

 Best for ages 7 to 10

James Patterson, already one of the bestselling authors of all time, continues to reach younger and younger audiences. With Dog Diaries, written in collaboration with children’s author Steven Butler, he introduces elementary schoolers to his popular Middle School series through the eyes of Junior, the precocious pup adopted by Middle School protagonist Rafe Khatchadorian. Kids will howl with laughter over the trials and tribulations of Junior, who, after failing obedience school, must prove his worth by winning the Best Trained Dog award at a local dog show — or face getting sent back to Hills Village Dog Shelter (also known as Pooch Prison). It’s a world where a toilets are known as Emergency Water Bowls, pooches sniff the posteriors of their counterparts for the latest news, and evil comes in the form of vacuum cleaners.

Shop it: Dog Diaries by James Patterson & Steven Butler, $12, walmart.com

Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo

Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo (Photo: Walmart)

Kate DiCamillo is one of those authors whose books librarians love to recommend — and children can’t put down. This latest novel by the Newbery Medalist is the story of 12-year-old Louisiana, an orphaned girl in the care of her grandmother. At 3 a.m. one night, Louisiana’s grandmother declares that “the day of reckoning has arrived” and they must leave immediately. They flee their home in Florida and end up in rural Georgia, where Louisiana meets and befriends a host of kind and one-of-a-kind locals. This bittersweet story has been lauded for the depth of its characters and for the way DiCamillo understands and communicates the feelings and emotions of children. 

Best for ages 10 and up

Shop it: Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo, $12, walmart.com 

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

9 ways to start the year healthy, wealthy and wise

Top-rated fitness gear to keep you motivated to work out all of 2019

The best (and worst) things to buy in January 2019

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

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Tik Tok and Reels: Why You Should Market with Short Videos

A moose cooling off with someone’s sprinklers. An ice bucket challenge. The latest dance moves. Or my personal favorite: cats vs an invisible wall. Watching videos online has become an everyday norm. A quick glance at our device turns into a two-hour expedition down an infamous rabbit hole. Videos simply have a dynamic way of drawing us in. So who are the online culprits behind this revolving door of video content, and why should your business be interested in them? Well, if you've paid attention to the news lately, Tik Tok and Reels are two of them.

Now, these bad guys do lure many of us into a time warp and take up a lot of our time. However, these social media beasts can be essential allies for any business. For instance, we know their powerful influence from social media marketing. Plus, let's face it. When over 1 million minutes of video are shared per second, content marketers mouthes water at the opportunity.

Marketing via social media videos isn't anything new. Nevertheless, with the rise in shorter length videos, we now have more to talk about.

What Are Short-Form Videos?

According to Google, a short-form video is less than 10 minutes. Moreover, ReelnReel defines them as content created with the sole purpose of pulling in and engaging, not selling. 

How Long Are Short Videos?

Based on this infographic, we can see the big picture of video lengths on social media. Overall, videos can vary from hours long to mere seconds. The question is, what can we produce in such a short time frame?

  To answer this, let's relax with some coffee and go back to our mentionable antiheroes Tik Tok and Reels.

What Is Tik Tok?

Tik Tok is a short-form video app where you can make videos up to one minute long. Also, the videos replay on a loop. According to one Forbes article, the app allows brands to inspire their fans in authentic, entertaining ways. Co-founder of the Shorty Awards Gregory Galant comments, "It offers a fun twist that lends itself to new trends, memes, and challenges and with a steady stream of new songs constantly being released."

According to Business Insider, Tik Tok regularly outperforms US-based apps that have attracted younger audiences – including Instagram. With more than 2.3 billion downloads and over 100 million American users, it is an app to pay attention to.

What Is Reels?

Reels is a new feature in Instagram comparable – and almost identical – to Tik Tok. It lives inside Instagram stories. You can record a 15-second video and add it to your profile.

Several video options include:

Visual effects

Audio effects

Augmented reality effects

Timers

Hashtags

Captions

Music from Instagram's library

Uploaded sounds

You can find out more about how the app works here.

7 Reasons Business Owners Should Look at Using Tik Tok and Reels Videos

Let's be real: 15 seconds isn't a lot of time. Many business owners may be intimidated by such a short message window. If you're shaking in your boots – or flip flops – and are intimidated by this medium, don't be. In fact, to get your creative juices flowing, watch some of these Tik Tok campaigns by big brands such as Walmart and Calvin Klein.

If you've watched them, then you can see a variety of simple ways to engage your target audience. Need more convincing? Let's look at several powerful points as to why you should use short-form videos like in Tik Tok and Reels.

4 Basic reasons to use short-form video

Fast to do - Hold up your phone and boom you're done.

Great for SEO - A video done well can generate a large number of links and promote your brand organically.

Great for non-verbal communication - Ninety-three percent of communication is nonverbal, 55% of which is body language.

Perfect for brand awareness - Years ago DollarShaveClub.com made a one minute and 30-second video that went viral shortly after. You can do it too.

3 Statistical reasons to use short-form video

Rawshorts published a very informative post called 20 video marketing stats for 2020. In it were statistics from brands like Instagram, Linkedin, Forbes and Cisco. In particular, three areas had high percentages:

Completion rate - Linkedin video ads 30-sec length saw a 200% increase in completion.

Retention rate - Customers retain 95% of messages they watch in video and only 10% of messages they read.

Engagement - Videos under two minutes get the most engagement. According to one study, consumers who saw a product in a Facebook story video were 62% more interested after seeing the promotion.

Based on these findings, numbers don't lie. Video marketing – especially with only a few seconds of video – is very effective.

Ramon's Tips

Bestselling author and keynote speaker, Ramon Ray adds several points of advice:

Creative videos that use images, stats, words and infographics can go a long way in delivering your message. No un-muting required. 

Leverage video. Use it to build your community. Speak to your fans and share real facts about your day-to-day life. 

Explore ways to get more exposure for your personal brand. Also, don't be afraid to try newer forms of content too.

To summarize,  video is an essential piece for your content marketing strategy. The stats confirm this, shouting their numbers from the mountain tops. This includes the use of short-form videos, a growing heavyweight in gaining the attention of the masses. As the usage of video – or constraint – continues to evolve, we should be motivated to accept the challenge.

So what will be your next step? Which will you choose, Tik Tok or Reels?

    The post Tik Tok and Reels: Why You Should Market with Short Videos appeared first on SmartHustle.com.

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[preciousmetals0]

Quantum Investing; Beyond Retail; Wayfail; Shwedy Security

Quantum Investing; Beyond Retail; Wayfail; Shwedy Security:

A Quantum Leap

Today, dear readers, we take off our quarantine masks and put on our thinking caps. Well … figuratively speaking, at least. Keep those masks on for now, please.

Why our thinking caps? Because President Trump’s 2021 budget requests $237 million in funding for quantum computing. Roughly $25 million of that budget request comes directly from the U.S. Department of Energy — you know, the guys that helped bring us the internet 60 years ago?

While Trump’s budget still has a long way to go — i.e., through a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives — even he knows that quantum computing is the future of technology as we know it.

And that future is exceedingly bright, especially for investors who get in early.

That’s great, Mr. Great Stuff, real great. More spending on technology while we fight a virus? You’re starting to sound like Bold Profits. So, what is this “quantum computing” … and why should I care?

Why should you care? Hmm … because if we had quantum computers right now, we may already have a cure or vaccine for COVID-19. How’s that, Mr. Doubting Mustafa?

So far, everything you’ve ever seen, written, read or interacted with on a computer or the internet is made up of ones and zeros at its core. Get enough of these ones and zeros together, and you can publish a free e-zine on BanyanHill.com and deliver it to thousands of people on the internet.

But quantum computing? Now that’s a horse of a different color.

Quantum computing will change everything we know about computers, the internet, smartphones, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), health care, virus management … and even the weather.

It’s a complex topic that deserves a much more in-depth explanation if you’re into future technology. Though, I know you’re itching to hear the market side of things. (Quantum profits? In my portfolio?!) Tech investors, listen up…

The Takeaway:

Essentially, quantum computing is the next leap forward in our digital evolution. President Trump knows this, and it’s why he’s pushing for millions in new funding.

Now, your question should be: How do I get in on the emerging quantum computing mega trend?

I’m glad you asked! The answer is a lot simpler than you might expect…

Right now, only a handful of tech companies have the financial wherewithal to dive into quantum computing research in a meaningful way. Here are three to get you started:

Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOGL): The Google parent always has a lot of goofy pet projects in the works, but the company’s quantum computing project is no joke. Codenamed “Bristlecone,” Alphabet’s new quantum computing semiconductor has 72 quantum bits, or qubits. These are the building blocks of quantum chips, just like bits are for current chips. The company leads the arms race in quantum computing power.

IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM): Good old “Big Blue” built one of the world’s first successful quantum computers. While that computer has since been overshadowed by Alphabet’s Bristlecone, IBM remains at the forefront of developing a “commercial available universal quantum computer for business and science” … at least, according to the company’s quantum research page. A breakthrough in quantum computing could be just what IBM needs to return to relevancy in the data center and AI markets.

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC): You didn’t think the world’s original semiconductor behemoth would be left out of the quantum computing revolution, did you? Intel is already rolling out quantum semiconductors. Unfortunately, all of those chips need to operate at temperatures near absolute zero. That’s one hell of a cooling system. However, Intel is reportedly close to creating a 128 qubit chip, which would put it well ahead of Alphabet in the quantum processing race.

I know that’s a lot to take in … especially with our brains on autopilot after being locked inside for the past month. So, let me make this easier for you:

If you want expert, cutting-edge stock research on everything from AI to quantum computing, click here now!

The Good: Shwedy Results

In what should surprise literally no one, IT security and services firm, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHKP) beat earnings and revenue expectations this morning.

This stay-at-home market has been a boon for Check Point, with the company beating Wall Street’s first-quarter expectations by $0.04 per share. Revenue of $486.5 million also topped the consensus estimate.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we sustained elevated business activity levels and delivered results in the upper half of our guidance with strength coming from the Americas,” said CEO Gil Shwed.

But, while the prior quarter benefited greatly from the new work-at-home economy, Shwed warned that “it’s hard to predict what effect this changing environment will have on the future.”

I get it. The future is hard to predict, especially right now. But, as long as this lockdown stays in effect, Check Point will continue to benefit handsomely.

The Bad: No Meat for You

“Stock rally + food service exposure + increased retail competition = downside risk,” says UBS analyst Steven Strycula. And you thought you were done with math today!

Strycula’s “new math” is in reference to Beyond Meat Inc. (Nasdaq: BYND). And, after BYND’s recent 100% surge, the UBS analyst believes now is the time to ditch BYND stock. He cut BYND from hold to sell and slashed his price target from $90 to $73.

In short, Strycula’s reasoning is that Beyond Meat has relied on restaurant deals to boost its bottom line. With practically every restaurant in the U.S. shut down, Beyond Meat will take a hit to its bottom line.

I admit that UBS has a point over the short term at least. Over the long term, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to change the eating habits of millions. As Great Stuff reported on Friday, CFRA Research told clients: “Most infectious disease outbreaks are transmitted from animals to humans.”

Furthermore, meat processing is shutting down around the world. You already know that China struggles with pork production. Now, we have Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) shutting down processing plants due to the virus.

These stories are clearly a short-term boost for BYND, driving investor sentiment more than the company’s bottom line. So, UBS isn’t wrong … for now. But the problems surrounding meat production amid COVID-19 give insight into Beyond Meat’s future. And that future is trending in the meatless wonder’s favor.

The Ugly: Way(Above)Fair Value

Remember when Wayfair Inc. (NYSE: W) reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss, issued guidance far below expectations with negative quarterly margins?

Yeah, neither does Wall Street.

Wayfair stock has gone on a 400% bender since its Ides of March lows. But someone on Wall Street finally came to their senses.

Stifel analyst Scott Devitt responded to Wayfair’s insanity by downgrading the stock from buy to hold. According to Devitt, the stock passed his price target of $115 last week, and it’s time for a break.

Well … it’s not a resounding rebuke of the stock’s 400% surge, but I’ll take what I can get.

Wayfair’s main problem is that it has to spend — a lot — to stay fresh in consumers’ minds. The company directly competes with everyone from Amazon to Walmart … but it doesn’t have the same brand recognition.

In short, Wayfair’s revenue boost from online shopping amid the pandemic is eaten up by advertising costs.

I swear, I’m so tired of seeing Wayfair ads on Facebook. I can’t imagine how much this is costing the company … oh, wait, I can: negative margins.

The point is, Wayfair is nothing special. It offers products that you can find virtually everywhere else. The only reason it gets attention is because people can’t shop outside. As such, I fully expect Wayfair to see a sharp drop in sales once this lockdown is over. And that’s bad news for W shares.

Today’s Chart of the Week once again comes courtesy of Earnings Whispers on Twitter, with a whole lotta earnings season shakin’ goin’ on.

Hey, I can’t be the only one who gets excited about this kind of stuff. If you’ve never felt the brisk energizing action of corporate earnings, well, maybe you’re a more well-adjusted person than lil ol’ me.

Roughly 30% of the S&P 500 Index is set to report earnings this week, with more than a third of the Dow also spilling its beans. Not to mention, this week features the trillion-dollar tech titans face off. All eyes are on Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN), a beacon of all online shopping supply chains, and Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), bellwether of the “gotta get it now” crowd.

Google’s parent Alphabet already sowed doubts about its ad-dependent business slowing down. (And if you want to talk “we live and breathe ads,” why, Facebook Inc. (Nasdaq: FB) is just getting started … show me another Wayfair ad, I dare you, Zuckerberg!)

Here’s what else is kicking off this week:

AMD has yet another chance to upheave its consumer computer chip rival Intel.

Tesla Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) fanatics and traders alike will go ape-$#^! no matter what Elon Musk and co. end up reporting.

We hear from Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE: SPOT), the streaming underdog and longtime Great Stuff Granted, I don’t think too many families are out there spending quarantine together around the radio. Guess I might as well huddle around to stream for Roosevelt’s fireside chats while I’m at it…

We get to see how much useless (or not-so-useless) stuff people have been buying on eBay.

It’s an all-airline affair with the best bailed-out buds, along with a look at how Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) is holding up with the air industry’s collapse (plus, you know, its other production and PR debacles).

Finally, we round out the week with the Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) and Abbive Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) — two of Great Stuff’s stocks to beat the Wuhan virus … when we still called it that.

It’s sure to be a topsy-turvy week of earnings … but it’s not like you expected otherwise, right? Stick with Great Stuff and Banyan Hill, and we’ll help you dispel the earnings excellence from the hype and hogwash.

If you’re looking to venture out hunting for market bargains, just remember: You never have to go alone! Take a guide. They’re handy. They’ve been through choppy and unexpected markets before. And no matter what kind of earnings apocalypse we may be due for, you’ll want to keep your wits about you.

Click here now to find your guide.

That’s a wrap for today, but you can always catch us on social media: Facebook and Twitter. We hope you’re staying well out there!

Until next time, stay Great!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Editor, Great Stuff

[goldira01]

A Quantum Leap

Today, dear readers, we take off our quarantine masks and put on our thinking caps. Well … figuratively speaking, at least. Keep those masks on for now, please.

Why our thinking caps? Because President Trump’s 2021 budget requests $237 million in funding for quantum computing. Roughly $25 million of that budget request comes directly from the U.S. Department of Energy — you know, the guys that helped bring us the internet 60 years ago?

While Trump’s budget still has a long way to go — i.e., through a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives — even he knows that quantum computing is the future of technology as we know it.

And that future is exceedingly bright, especially for investors who get in early.

That’s great, Mr. Great Stuff, real great. More spending on technology while we fight a virus? You’re starting to sound like Bold Profits. So, what is this “quantum computing” … and why should I care?

Why should you care? Hmm … because if we had quantum computers right now, we may already have a cure or vaccine for COVID-19. How’s that, Mr. Doubting Mustafa?

So far, everything you’ve ever seen, written, read or interacted with on a computer or the internet is made up of ones and zeros at its core. Get enough of these ones and zeros together, and you can publish a free e-zine on BanyanHill.com and deliver it to thousands of people on the internet.

But quantum computing? Now that’s a horse of a different color.

Quantum computing will change everything we know about computers, the internet, smartphones, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), health care, virus management … and even the weather.

It’s a complex topic that deserves a much more in-depth explanation if you’re into future technology. Though, I know you’re itching to hear the market side of things. (Quantum profits? In my portfolio?!) Tech investors, listen up…

The Takeaway:

Essentially, quantum computing is the next leap forward in our digital evolution. President Trump knows this, and it’s why he’s pushing for millions in new funding.

Now, your question should be: How do I get in on the emerging quantum computing mega trend?

I’m glad you asked! The answer is a lot simpler than you might expect…

Right now, only a handful of tech companies have the financial wherewithal to dive into quantum computing research in a meaningful way. Here are three to get you started:

Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOGL): The Google parent always has a lot of goofy pet projects in the works, but the company’s quantum computing project is no joke. Codenamed “Bristlecone,” Alphabet’s new quantum computing semiconductor has 72 quantum bits, or qubits. These are the building blocks of quantum chips, just like bits are for current chips. The company leads the arms race in quantum computing power.

IBM Corp. (NYSE: IBM): Good old “Big Blue” built one of the world’s first successful quantum computers. While that computer has since been overshadowed by Alphabet’s Bristlecone, IBM remains at the forefront of developing a “commercial available universal quantum computer for business and science” … at least, according to the company’s quantum research page. A breakthrough in quantum computing could be just what IBM needs to return to relevancy in the data center and AI markets.

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC): You didn’t think the world’s original semiconductor behemoth would be left out of the quantum computing revolution, did you? Intel is already rolling out quantum semiconductors. Unfortunately, all of those chips need to operate at temperatures near absolute zero. That’s one hell of a cooling system. However, Intel is reportedly close to creating a 128 qubit chip, which would put it well ahead of Alphabet in the quantum processing race.

I know that’s a lot to take in … especially with our brains on autopilot after being locked inside for the past month. So, let me make this easier for you:

If you want expert, cutting-edge stock research on everything from AI to quantum computing, click here now!

The Good: Shwedy Results

In what should surprise literally no one, IT security and services firm, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHKP) beat earnings and revenue expectations this morning.

This stay-at-home market has been a boon for Check Point, with the company beating Wall Street’s first-quarter expectations by $0.04 per share. Revenue of $486.5 million also topped the consensus estimate.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we sustained elevated business activity levels and delivered results in the upper half of our guidance with strength coming from the Americas,” said CEO Gil Shwed.

But, while the prior quarter benefited greatly from the new work-at-home economy, Shwed warned that “it’s hard to predict what effect this changing environment will have on the future.”

I get it. The future is hard to predict, especially right now. But, as long as this lockdown stays in effect, Check Point will continue to benefit handsomely.

The Bad: No Meat for You

“Stock rally + food service exposure + increased retail competition = downside risk,” says UBS analyst Steven Strycula. And you thought you were done with math today!

Strycula’s “new math” is in reference to Beyond Meat Inc. (Nasdaq: BYND). And, after BYND’s recent 100% surge, the UBS analyst believes now is the time to ditch BYND stock. He cut BYND from hold to sell and slashed his price target from $90 to $73.

In short, Strycula’s reasoning is that Beyond Meat has relied on restaurant deals to boost its bottom line. With practically every restaurant in the U.S. shut down, Beyond Meat will take a hit to its bottom line.

I admit that UBS has a point over the short term at least. Over the long term, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to change the eating habits of millions. As Great Stuff reported on Friday, CFRA Research told clients: “Most infectious disease outbreaks are transmitted from animals to humans.”

Furthermore, meat processing is shutting down around the world. You already know that China struggles with pork production. Now, we have Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) shutting down processing plants due to the virus.

These stories are clearly a short-term boost for BYND, driving investor sentiment more than the company’s bottom line. So, UBS isn’t wrong … for now. But the problems surrounding meat production amid COVID-19 give insight into Beyond Meat’s future. And that future is trending in the meatless wonder’s favor.

The Ugly: Way(Above)Fair Value

Remember when Wayfair Inc. (NYSE: W) reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss, issued guidance far below expectations with negative quarterly margins?

Yeah, neither does Wall Street.

Wayfair stock has gone on a 400% bender since its Ides of March lows. But someone on Wall Street finally came to their senses.

Stifel analyst Scott Devitt responded to Wayfair’s insanity by downgrading the stock from buy to hold. According to Devitt, the stock passed his price target of $115 last week, and it’s time for a break.

Well … it’s not a resounding rebuke of the stock’s 400% surge, but I’ll take what I can get.

Wayfair’s main problem is that it has to spend — a lot — to stay fresh in consumers’ minds. The company directly competes with everyone from Amazon to Walmart … but it doesn’t have the same brand recognition.

In short, Wayfair’s revenue boost from online shopping amid the pandemic is eaten up by advertising costs.

I swear, I’m so tired of seeing Wayfair ads on Facebook. I can’t imagine how much this is costing the company … oh, wait, I can: negative margins.

The point is, Wayfair is nothing special. It offers products that you can find virtually everywhere else. The only reason it gets attention is because people can’t shop outside. As such, I fully expect Wayfair to see a sharp drop in sales once this lockdown is over. And that’s bad news for W shares.

Today’s Chart of the Week once again comes courtesy of Earnings Whispers on Twitter, with a whole lotta earnings season shakin’ goin’ on.

Hey, I can’t be the only one who gets excited about this kind of stuff. If you’ve never felt the brisk energizing action of corporate earnings, well, maybe you’re a more well-adjusted person than lil ol’ me.

Roughly 30% of the S&P 500 Index is set to report earnings this week, with more than a third of the Dow also spilling its beans. Not to mention, this week features the trillion-dollar tech titans face off. All eyes are on Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN), a beacon of all online shopping supply chains, and Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), bellwether of the “gotta get it now” crowd.

Google’s parent Alphabet already sowed doubts about its ad-dependent business slowing down. (And if you want to talk “we live and breathe ads,” why, Facebook Inc. (Nasdaq: FB) is just getting started … show me another Wayfair ad, I dare you, Zuckerberg!)

Here’s what else is kicking off this week:

AMD has yet another chance to upheave its consumer computer chip rival Intel.

Tesla Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) fanatics and traders alike will go ape-$#^! no matter what Elon Musk and co. end up reporting.

We hear from Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE: SPOT), the streaming underdog and longtime Great Stuff Granted, I don’t think too many families are out there spending quarantine together around the radio. Guess I might as well huddle around to stream for Roosevelt’s fireside chats while I’m at it…

We get to see how much useless (or not-so-useless) stuff people have been buying on eBay.

It’s an all-airline affair with the best bailed-out buds, along with a look at how Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) is holding up with the air industry’s collapse (plus, you know, its other production and PR debacles).

Finally, we round out the week with the Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) and Abbive Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) — two of Great Stuff’s stocks to beat the Wuhan virus … when we still called it that.

It’s sure to be a topsy-turvy week of earnings … but it’s not like you expected otherwise, right? Stick with Great Stuff and Banyan Hill, and we’ll help you dispel the earnings excellence from the hype and hogwash.

If you’re looking to venture out hunting for market bargains, just remember: You never have to go alone! Take a guide. They’re handy. They’ve been through choppy and unexpected markets before. And no matter what kind of earnings apocalypse we may be due for, you’ll want to keep your wits about you.

Click here now to find your guide.

That’s a wrap for today, but you can always catch us on social media: Facebook and Twitter. We hope you’re staying well out there!

Until next time, stay Great!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Editor, Great Stuff

[itsayrewolf]

I truly hate drunks. Since I completely quit drinking, and being addicted to booze, and brew, the smell of that shyt, just makes me ill. Sure everyone has a crutch, something they use to relieve the tensions of life. I have 3. Driving LexiBelle > < riding my bike  or flying the Lady >  < but not everyone else is this blessed , however all of us can find peace in just one Jesus Christ. If we seek him, our pain will vanish and our heart WILL heel. Albeit slow and at HIS pace. I do not need outside chemicals to give me a jump  in my step, nor to unload my mind. Sure I have my Skoal, and the meds that Doctor Crabtree gives me, outside of that, if you have faith and trust in him, what’s to worry about? I myself used to be a worry wart. Everything had to be perfect. If I spilled milk on the table, or such I would go ballastic. But then, there was a grand lady, that I know was sent to me by Kahless our God, that eased everything and got pointed in the right direction. Her name is Erin, whom we call Nurse GoodBody > < which I gave that handle because she is a registered Nurse, Practioner. and 2: She resembles a heck of alot like Miss Hutton aka Nurse GoodBody  from the prior era TV show, , when I got stuck by a so called mechanic out of Gooding Idaho, with LexiBelle, Erin bailed my rig out of there at the cost of $800.00 with little questions asked. But she did more. When We all got booted from our studio, by a sinister landlord, I was besides myself. One day, Erin shows up with this chick of a head shrink, but it was Erin that I trusted, and I still do. The simple reason we got booted from over there was that I wouldn’t pay rent until we were able to have heat. Plus a host of players too numerous to mention. Back on vecture here. Erin got me pointed to a great Counselor, and a PSR now known as CBRS’s here in Idaho, by the name of Todd. Over a period of two years there, I was healed. But had it not been for Erin, who was sent to me by Kahless, or God, I’d have either ended up in a rubber room, or dead. Okay enough of my grub hub. Except to mention, PoohBear’s money got cut short again. Seems with all that’s going on in Florida, and all, the Walmart, she sent the green stamps from, never made it. Seems there was a short circuit between systems between Florida and Idaho. The only thing I’m sweating, is rent, everything else is pretty much  except my phone, but I have that covered. So we fly along. Haven’t heard crap from TJ, don’t know if she just dropped us, or what but whatever. Women are just that. As one once told me, all a woman is, is a package full of hormones. Past that there is no common or otherwise sense. I quit trying to understand the female mind. Although I have a pretty good grip on it. As far as PoohBear, there are still issues, yet I love that medium duty woman more than even she comprehends. The idea of a he/she between TJ and I was conjured up by the complex(more on that in a few centons) where I reside. My only interests in TJ was a model, on air person for the station, and planting my ass in the drivers seat behind the steering wheel of the Ice Queen, >  < and possibly a friend. Nothing more. I have my PoohBear. As far as sex? Who needs it? To me anymore, sex is like taking a poop. you do it, flush the toilet, and its over. Sex is a biological release of bodily chemicals. Nothing more. If you mix emotion into it, life gets complicated. If she leaves your insides are crushed. If she stays, after about 2 to three months all she does is nag. If you get married, its a brick and a chain on your legs, for life. You can’t ride, truck, or fly when you want to. You can’t do anything. Scripture says the joining of a male and female is a sacred and nearly essential. Your only supposed to have one wife. Horse pucky. If that is so, why is it that all the great kings of Egypt had many wives? As well as mistress’s, aka concubines. Our Church, for many years condoned that. Until a law was passed that struck that down so Utah could become a state. That’s the only reason. Do I believe, in polygamy? No, not the way it was structured then. Marrying a 15 year old in my thoughts is wrong. However ; having a piece of paper on the wall, and a piece of jewelry on the wall, does not mean LOVE, its simply symbolic. I love only one, she sits on 6 wheels, and her name is LexiBelle, >  < the other is >  < simply known as the  everyone or anything is just a extra blessing.

Is it just me, or do you get the idea? That there sure are stupid TV ads anymore? Famous shoes, has that one, where that fat black woman steps out of the car in some heels that are bulging out because of her fat calves and feet. Then there’s Progressive Insurance, where there’s two people at a fine diner, and some guy is courting one of Stephanie Courtney’s characters the guy asks; What do you do for fun?” She responds, ” Not this ” He should have said, neither am I, cuzz you sure are fugdugly. Stupid, and irritating TV ads, are just that, and seldom is there a follow through by a potential buyer or customer. This is why we go to great lengths to not follow that path. We’d rather have an eye opener and attention getter, rather than a mundane ad. The WolfPack, and the Knytes, knows that KTOW FM and KDXC AM is worth more than that and deserves a great ad, not just one that is meant to just get it out there and hope for the best. 

I mentioned the other day that just to get a haircut, I had to drive all the way to Twin Falls. I also think, that the difficulty, in obtaining talent for our ads is a very time consuming process. Add to that, someone with a creative spirit, to produce ads for others with flair and spice. Then it hit me about mid way past relay butte, I can’t be the only one in this boat. What if we created a model/talent agency, train new talent, as well as represent current area talent. This situation was poisoned a few years ago, by a fat cow named Bonnie Blair, aka, Bonnie Metcalf. But its not surmountable. Why not do up an agency here? There’s many that I have seen of the female gender, that would look great in front of the camera, from Alex at Denny’s to Ashley at Smith’s. What about radio on airs. Currently outside of at least one school in Boise, that is teaching the skills of broadcasting. Combine those, and we have a pool to fish from. Plus make a few side dollars off of. I’ll have more in the afternoon, Church in the morning. 

L8R ya’ll 

A full moon and a Saturday night the Wolvez Howl. I truly hate drunks. Since I completely quit drinking, and being addicted to booze, and brew, the smell of that shyt, just makes me ill.

[winnifredrathbun]

Omnichannel shopping approach could be the future according to Douglas Vandergraph

As the line between conventional retail and online shopping becomes fuzzy, consumers are using multiple channels to find, research, and buy the products they want and desire.  Although all-connected consumers represent a majority of the populace, retailers have failed to create purchasing adventures catered to them. Often focusing on online stores as a separate station, retailers are neglecting their physical shops. To stay relevant in a growing retail environment, businesses must start treating digital and physical retail as one.

Douglas Vandergraph, next gen ceo of Vandergraph Worldwide sees this as the next big opportunity stating,“Shopping malls and stores in the future will have both high inventory selection seen in traditional shopping experiences plus low inventory online purchase options available in-store.  They will do it, or they will fail.”  Douglas states, “The old men who run retail around the world need to either step down or step up.  I do not understand why companies like Walmart, Sears, Macy’s,etc need to hire one guy or a group of consultants to own this and bring them into the fold of this ideology.  Their entire company from the CEO to the shelf stockers need to embrace the fact that the future is here.  New ideas and approaches are happening.  You will either integrate the traditional concepts that built you with the technology and ideas of tomorrow or YOU WILL FAIL!”  

Douglas goes on,“Rather than fighting with rising online sales, retailers must embrace more sales to be driven by digital in-store. By producing a true omnichannel approach, retailers can better serve customers, open avenues for more trades, and increase overall sales.”  

“Businesses often confuse multichannel retail with omnichannel retail, but the two are completely different concepts. Most retailers participate in multichannel retail, or the numerous different ways consumers buy products, but they don’t connect them. That’s where retail comes in. In addition, you must understand where your target market is paying attention, and add your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

Vandergraph Notes:

In-store digital touchpoints

There’s no doubt about it their own e-commerce efforts should be focused on by retailers. But that doesn’t mean your storefront should not get an electronic update also.

Touchpoints are the signals leading the consumer on the way into a thriving omnichannel retail experience. From mobile to net to in-store, these touchpoints are not just nice to have; they’re crucial to a seamless customer travel. But despite their established effectiveness, most retailers aren’t fully benefiting from touchpoints, particularly ones which ought to be inside their brick-and-mortar shops.

Retailers must consider their showrooms as more than only a well-designed floor area, and they need to put money into immersive in-store experiences that can’t be reproduced online. Adding in-store touch factors is one of the easiest methods to make a distinctive retail environment and separate your store from more conventional retailers. These apparatuses could include price checkers, tablet computers, and interactive catalogs.

But in-store trademark points aren’t there for appearances. Your most loyal clients, omnichannel shoppers, make the most of them regularly and in all sorts of mixes and places. Generally, omnichannel shoppers spend an average of 4% more in-store, and 10 percent more online than single-channel customers.

Data-driven decisions Knowing the way your customers shop on-line and in-store is vital to optimizing the entire customer journey. Sourcing information on customer shopping habits allows you to cater each aspect of the shopping experience to your customers’ needs, from site design to how shelves are stocked.

Kroger, one of the largest supermarket retailers in the country, revealed in October of this past year that the "Restock Kroger” initiative to enhance the company’s store offerings, personalize communications with clients, revamp product assortment, and leverage data-driven shelf optimization. Research for the project started two years ago when the supermarket revamped the category assortment in 6 percent of its shops based on on-line data mechanisms. The percentage of stores involved is predicted to grow from 20% to 30% this past year.

Making the switch

While switching to an omnichannel retail strategy is critical to growing your company, the procedure does not happen overnight. Begin with little changes. Place your most popular online items at a shop screen so online clients recognize them immediately, or place tablet stations offering exclusive digital content throughout your store.

To not get left behind in the competitive world of online and traditional retail, companies need to make sure they are leading their clients easily through the buying procedure, even in-store. Digital touchpoints and also a data-driven advertising strategy are essential pieces of the puzzle for your omnichannel clients looking to not only purchase but build a relationship with your brand new approach.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR BLOG DISCLAIMER BY CLICKING HERE

source https://bargainbrutedotcom.tumblr.com/post/173466093209

source https://bargainbrutecom.wordpress.com/2018/05/01/omnichannel-shopping-approach-could-be-the-future-according-to-douglas-vandergraph/

[ultragrocerydeliverytip]

As the line between conventional retail and online shopping becomes fuzzy, consumers are using multiple channels to find, research, and buy the products they want and desire.  Although all-connected consumers represent a majority of the populace, retailers have failed to create purchasing adventures catered to them. Often focusing on online stores as a separate station, retailers are neglecting their physical shops. To stay relevant in a growing retail environment, businesses must start treating digital and physical retail as one.

Douglas Vandergraph, next gen ceo of Vandergraph Worldwide sees this as the next big opportunity stating,“Shopping malls and stores in the future will have both high inventory selection seen in traditional shopping experiences plus low inventory online purchase options available in-store.  They will do it, or they will fail.”  Douglas states, “The old men who run retail around the world need to either step down or step up.  I do not understand why companies like Walmart, Sears, Macy’s,etc need to hire one guy or a group of consultants to own this and bring them into the fold of this ideology.  Their entire company from the CEO to the shelf stockers need to embrace the fact that the future is here.  New ideas and approaches are happening.  You will either integrate the traditional concepts that built you with the technology and ideas of tomorrow or YOU WILL FAIL!”  

Douglas goes on,“Rather than fighting with rising online sales, retailers must embrace more sales to be driven by digital in-store. By producing a true omnichannel approach, retailers can better serve customers, open avenues for more trades, and increase overall sales.”  

“Businesses often confuse multichannel retail with omnichannel retail, but the two are completely different concepts. Most retailers participate in multichannel retail, or the numerous different ways consumers buy products, but they don’t connect them. That’s where retail comes in. In addition, you must understand where your target market is paying attention, and add your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

Vandergraph Notes:

In-store digital touchpoints

There’s no doubt about it their own e-commerce efforts should be focused on by retailers. But that doesn’t mean your storefront should not get an electronic update also.

Touchpoints are the signals leading the consumer on the way into a thriving omnichannel retail experience. From mobile to net to in-store, these touchpoints are not just nice to have; they’re crucial to a seamless customer travel. But despite their established effectiveness, most retailers aren’t fully benefiting from touchpoints, particularly ones which ought to be inside their brick-and-mortar shops.

Retailers must consider their showrooms as more than only a well-designed floor area, and they need to put money into immersive in-store experiences that can’t be reproduced online. Adding in-store touch factors is one of the easiest methods to make a distinctive retail environment and separate your store from more conventional retailers. These apparatuses could include price checkers, tablet computers, and interactive catalogs.

But in-store trademark points aren’t there for appearances. Your most loyal clients, omnichannel shoppers, make the most of them regularly and in all sorts of mixes and places. Generally, omnichannel shoppers spend an average of 4% more in-store, and 10 percent more online than single-channel customers.

Data-driven decisions Knowing the way your customers shop on-line and in-store is vital to optimizing the entire customer journey. Sourcing information on customer shopping habits allows you to cater each aspect of the shopping experience to your customers’ needs, from site design to how shelves are stocked.

Kroger, one of the largest supermarket retailers in the country, revealed in October of this past year that the "Restock Kroger” initiative to enhance the company’s store offerings, personalize communications with clients, revamp product assortment, and leverage data-driven shelf optimization. Research for the project started two years ago when the supermarket revamped the category assortment in 6 percent of its shops based on on-line data mechanisms. The percentage of stores involved is predicted to grow from 20% to 30% this past year.

Making the switch

While switching to an omnichannel retail strategy is critical to growing your company, the procedure does not happen overnight. Begin with little changes. Place your most popular online items at a shop screen so online clients recognize them immediately, or place tablet stations offering exclusive digital content throughout your store.

To not get left behind in the competitive world of online and traditional retail, companies need to make sure they are leading their clients easily through the buying procedure, even in-store. Digital touchpoints and also a data-driven advertising strategy are essential pieces of the puzzle for your omnichannel clients looking to not only purchase but build a relationship with your brand new approach.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR BLOG DISCLAIMER BY CLICKING HERE

[theglittermassacre]

Omnichannel shopping approach could be the future according to Douglas Vandergraph

As the line between conventional retail and online shopping becomes fuzzy, consumers are using multiple channels to find, research, and buy the products they want and desire.  Although all-connected consumers represent a majority of the populace, retailers have failed to create purchasing adventures catered to them. Often focusing on online stores as a separate station, retailers are neglecting their physical shops. To stay relevant in a growing retail environment, businesses must start treating digital and physical retail as one.

Douglas Vandergraph, next gen ceo of Vandergraph Worldwide sees this as the next big opportunity stating,“Shopping malls and stores in the future will have both high inventory selection seen in traditional shopping experiences plus low inventory online purchase options available in-store.  They will do it, or they will fail.”  Douglas states, “The old men who run retail around the world need to either step down or step up.  I do not understand why companies like Walmart, Sears, Macy’s,etc need to hire one guy or a group of consultants to own this and bring them into the fold of this ideology.  Their entire company from the CEO to the shelf stockers need to embrace the fact that the future is here.  New ideas and approaches are happening.  You will either integrate the traditional concepts that built you with the technology and ideas of tomorrow or YOU WILL FAIL!”  

Douglas goes on,“Rather than fighting with rising online sales, retailers must embrace more sales to be driven by digital in-store. By producing a true omnichannel approach, retailers can better serve customers, open avenues for more trades, and increase overall sales.”  

“Businesses often confuse multichannel retail with omnichannel retail, but the two are completely different concepts. Most retailers participate in multichannel retail, or the numerous different ways consumers buy products, but they don’t connect them. That’s where retail comes in. In addition, you must understand where your target market is paying attention, and add your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

Vandergraph Notes:

In-store digital touchpoints

There’s no doubt about it their own e-commerce efforts should be focused on by retailers. But that doesn’t mean your storefront should not get an electronic update also.

Touchpoints are the signals leading the consumer on the way into a thriving omnichannel retail experience. From mobile to net to in-store, these touchpoints are not just nice to have; they’re crucial to a seamless customer travel. But despite their established effectiveness, most retailers aren’t fully benefiting from touchpoints, particularly ones which ought to be inside their brick-and-mortar shops.

Retailers must consider their showrooms as more than only a well-designed floor area, and they need to put money into immersive in-store experiences that can’t be reproduced online. Adding in-store touch factors is one of the easiest methods to make a distinctive retail environment and separate your store from more conventional retailers. These apparatuses could include price checkers, tablet computers, and interactive catalogs.

But in-store trademark points aren’t there for appearances. Your most loyal clients, omnichannel shoppers, make the most of them regularly and in all sorts of mixes and places. Generally, omnichannel shoppers spend an average of 4% more in-store, and 10 percent more online than single-channel customers.

Data-driven decisions Knowing the way your customers shop on-line and in-store is vital to optimizing the entire customer journey. Sourcing information on customer shopping habits allows you to cater each aspect of the shopping experience to your customers’ needs, from site design to how shelves are stocked.

Kroger, one of the largest supermarket retailers in the country, revealed in October of this past year that the "Restock Kroger” initiative to enhance the company’s store offerings, personalize communications with clients, revamp product assortment, and leverage data-driven shelf optimization. Research for the project started two years ago when the supermarket revamped the category assortment in 6 percent of its shops based on on-line data mechanisms. The percentage of stores involved is predicted to grow from 20% to 30% this past year.

Making the switch

While switching to an omnichannel retail strategy is critical to growing your company, the procedure does not happen overnight. Begin with little changes. Place your most popular online items at a shop screen so online clients recognize them immediately, or place tablet stations offering exclusive digital content throughout your store.

To not get left behind in the competitive world of online and traditional retail, companies need to make sure they are leading their clients easily through the buying procedure, even in-store. Digital touchpoints and also a data-driven advertising strategy are essential pieces of the puzzle for your omnichannel clients looking to not only purchase but build a relationship with your brand new approach.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR BLOG DISCLAIMER BY CLICKING HERE

Source: https://bargainbrutedotcom.tumblr.com/post/173466093209

[pastelskiesandsettereyes]

Omnichannel shopping approach could be the future according to Douglas Vandergraph

As the line between conventional retail and online shopping becomes fuzzy, consumers are using multiple channels to find, research, and buy the products they want and desire.  Although all-connected consumers represent a majority of the populace, retailers have failed to create purchasing adventures catered to them. Often focusing on online stores as a separate station, retailers are neglecting their physical shops. To stay relevant in a growing retail environment, businesses must start treating digital and physical retail as one.

Douglas Vandergraph, next gen ceo of Vandergraph Worldwide sees this as the next big opportunity stating,“Shopping malls and stores in the future will have both high inventory selection seen in traditional shopping experiences plus low inventory online purchase options available in-store.  They will do it, or they will fail.”  Douglas states, “The old men who run retail around the world need to either step down or step up.  I do not understand why companies like Walmart, Sears, Macy’s,etc need to hire one guy or a group of consultants to own this and bring them into the fold of this ideology.  Their entire company from the CEO to the shelf stockers need to embrace the fact that the future is here.  New ideas and approaches are happening.  You will either integrate the traditional concepts that built you with the technology and ideas of tomorrow or YOU WILL FAIL!”  

Douglas goes on,“Rather than fighting with rising online sales, retailers must embrace more sales to be driven by digital in-store. By producing a true omnichannel approach, retailers can better serve customers, open avenues for more trades, and increase overall sales.”  

“Businesses often confuse multichannel retail with omnichannel retail, but the two are completely different concepts. Most retailers participate in multichannel retail, or the numerous different ways consumers buy products, but they don’t connect them. That’s where retail comes in. In addition, you must understand where your target market is paying attention, and add your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

Vandergraph Notes:

In-store digital touchpoints

There’s no doubt about it their own e-commerce efforts should be focused on by retailers. But that doesn’t mean your storefront should not get an electronic update also.

Touchpoints are the signals leading the consumer on the way into a thriving omnichannel retail experience. From mobile to net to in-store, these touchpoints are not just nice to have; they’re crucial to a seamless customer travel. But despite their established effectiveness, most retailers aren’t fully benefiting from touchpoints, particularly ones which ought to be inside their brick-and-mortar shops.

Retailers must consider their showrooms as more than only a well-designed floor area, and they need to put money into immersive in-store experiences that can’t be reproduced online. Adding in-store touch factors is one of the easiest methods to make a distinctive retail environment and separate your store from more conventional retailers. These apparatuses could include price checkers, tablet computers, and interactive catalogs.

But in-store trademark points aren’t there for appearances. Your most loyal clients, omnichannel shoppers, make the most of them regularly and in all sorts of mixes and places. Generally, omnichannel shoppers spend an average of 4% more in-store, and 10 percent more online than single-channel customers.

Data-driven decisions Knowing the way your customers shop on-line and in-store is vital to optimizing the entire customer journey. Sourcing information on customer shopping habits allows you to cater each aspect of the shopping experience to your customers’ needs, from site design to how shelves are stocked.

Kroger, one of the largest supermarket retailers in the country, revealed in October of this past year that the "Restock Kroger” initiative to enhance the company’s store offerings, personalize communications with clients, revamp product assortment, and leverage data-driven shelf optimization. Research for the project started two years ago when the supermarket revamped the category assortment in 6 percent of its shops based on on-line data mechanisms. The percentage of stores involved is predicted to grow from 20% to 30% this past year.

Making the switch

While switching to an omnichannel retail strategy is critical to growing your company, the procedure does not happen overnight. Begin with little changes. Place your most popular online items at a shop screen so online clients recognize them immediately, or place tablet stations offering exclusive digital content throughout your store.

To not get left behind in the competitive world of online and traditional retail, companies need to make sure they are leading their clients easily through the buying procedure, even in-store. Digital touchpoints and also a data-driven advertising strategy are essential pieces of the puzzle for your omnichannel clients looking to not only purchase but build a relationship with your brand new approach.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR BLOG DISCLAIMER BY CLICKING HERE

Source: https://bargainbrutedotcom.tumblr.com/post/173466093209

[grocerylist16]

Omnichannel shopping approach could be the future according to Douglas Vandergraph

As the line between conventional retail and online shopping becomes fuzzy, consumers are using multiple channels to find, research, and buy the products they want and desire.  Although all-connected consumers represent a majority of the populace, retailers have failed to create purchasing adventures catered to them. Often focusing on online stores as a separate station, retailers are neglecting their physical shops. To stay relevant in a growing retail environment, businesses must start treating digital and physical retail as one.

Douglas Vandergraph, next gen ceo of Vandergraph Worldwide sees this as the next big opportunity stating,“Shopping malls and stores in the future will have both high inventory selection seen in traditional shopping experiences plus low inventory online purchase options available in-store.  They will do it, or they will fail.”  Douglas states, “The old men who run retail around the world need to either step down or step up.  I do not understand why companies like Walmart, Sears, Macy’s,etc need to hire one guy or a group of consultants to own this and bring them into the fold of this ideology.  Their entire company from the CEO to the shelf stockers need to embrace the fact that the future is here.  New ideas and approaches are happening.  You will either integrate the traditional concepts that built you with the technology and ideas of tomorrow or YOU WILL FAIL!”  

Douglas goes on,“Rather than fighting with rising online sales, retailers must embrace more sales to be driven by digital in-store. By producing a true omnichannel approach, retailers can better serve customers, open avenues for more trades, and increase overall sales.”  

“Businesses often confuse multichannel retail with omnichannel retail, but the two are completely different concepts. Most retailers participate in multichannel retail, or the numerous different ways consumers buy products, but they don’t connect them. That’s where retail comes in. In addition, you must understand where your target market is paying attention, and add your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

Vandergraph Notes:

In-store digital touchpoints

There’s no doubt about it their own e-commerce efforts should be focused on by retailers. But that doesn’t mean your storefront should not get an electronic update also.

Touchpoints are the signals leading the consumer on the way into a thriving omnichannel retail experience. From mobile to net to in-store, these touchpoints are not just nice to have; they’re crucial to a seamless customer travel. But despite their established effectiveness, most retailers aren’t fully benefiting from touchpoints, particularly ones which ought to be inside their brick-and-mortar shops.

Retailers must consider their showrooms as more than only a well-designed floor area, and they need to put money into immersive in-store experiences that can’t be reproduced online. Adding in-store touch factors is one of the easiest methods to make a distinctive retail environment and separate your store from more conventional retailers. These apparatuses could include price checkers, tablet computers, and interactive catalogs.

But in-store trademark points aren’t there for appearances. Your most loyal clients, omnichannel shoppers, make the most of them regularly and in all sorts of mixes and places. Generally, omnichannel shoppers spend an average of 4% more in-store, and 10 percent more online than single-channel customers.

Data-driven decisions Knowing the way your customers shop on-line and in-store is vital to optimizing the entire customer journey. Sourcing information on customer shopping habits allows you to cater each aspect of the shopping experience to your customers’ needs, from site design to how shelves are stocked.

Kroger, one of the largest supermarket retailers in the country, revealed in October of this past year that the "Restock Kroger” initiative to enhance the company’s store offerings, personalize communications with clients, revamp product assortment, and leverage data-driven shelf optimization. Research for the project started two years ago when the supermarket revamped the category assortment in 6 percent of its shops based on on-line data mechanisms. The percentage of stores involved is predicted to grow from 20% to 30% this past year.

Making the switch

While switching to an omnichannel retail strategy is critical to growing your company, the procedure does not happen overnight. Begin with little changes. Place your most popular online items at a shop screen so online clients recognize them immediately, or place tablet stations offering exclusive digital content throughout your store.

To not get left behind in the competitive world of online and traditional retail, companies need to make sure they are leading their clients easily through the buying procedure, even in-store. Digital touchpoints and also a data-driven advertising strategy are essential pieces of the puzzle for your omnichannel clients looking to not only purchase but build a relationship with your brand new approach.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR BLOG DISCLAIMER BY CLICKING HERE

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Omnichannel shopping approach could be the future according to Douglas Vandergraph

As the line between conventional retail and online shopping becomes fuzzy, consumers are using multiple channels to find, research, and buy the products they want and desire.  Although all-connected consumers represent a majority of the populace, retailers have failed to create purchasing adventures catered to them. Often focusing on online stores as a separate station, retailers are neglecting their physical shops. To stay relevant in a growing retail environment, businesses must start treating digital and physical retail as one.

Douglas Vandergraph, next gen ceo of Vandergraph Worldwide sees this as the next big opportunity stating,“Shopping malls and stores in the future will have both high inventory selection seen in traditional shopping experiences plus low inventory online purchase options available in-store.  They will do it, or they will fail.”  Douglas states, “The old men who run retail around the world need to either step down or step up.  I do not understand why companies like Walmart, Sears, Macy’s,etc need to hire one guy or a group of consultants to own this and bring them into the fold of this ideology.  Their entire company from the CEO to the shelf stockers need to embrace the fact that the future is here.  New ideas and approaches are happening.  You will either integrate the traditional concepts that built you with the technology and ideas of tomorrow or YOU WILL FAIL!”  

Douglas goes on,“Rather than fighting with rising online sales, retailers must embrace more sales to be driven by digital in-store. By producing a true omnichannel approach, retailers can better serve customers, open avenues for more trades, and increase overall sales.”  

“Businesses often confuse multichannel retail with omnichannel retail, but the two are completely different concepts. Most retailers participate in multichannel retail, or the numerous different ways consumers buy products, but they don’t connect them. That’s where retail comes in. In addition, you must understand where your target market is paying attention, and add your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

Vandergraph Notes:

In-store digital touchpoints

There’s no doubt about it their own e-commerce efforts should be focused on by retailers. But that doesn’t mean your storefront should not get an electronic update also.

Touchpoints are the signals leading the consumer on the way into a thriving omnichannel retail experience. From mobile to net to in-store, these touchpoints are not just nice to have; they’re crucial to a seamless customer travel. But despite their established effectiveness, most retailers aren’t fully benefiting from touchpoints, particularly ones which ought to be inside their brick-and-mortar shops.

Retailers must consider their showrooms as more than only a well-designed floor area, and they need to put money into immersive in-store experiences that can’t be reproduced online. Adding in-store touch factors is one of the easiest methods to make a distinctive retail environment and separate your store from more conventional retailers. These apparatuses could include price checkers, tablet computers, and interactive catalogs.

But in-store trademark points aren’t there for appearances. Your most loyal clients, omnichannel shoppers, make the most of them regularly and in all sorts of mixes and places. Generally, omnichannel shoppers spend an average of 4% more in-store, and 10 percent more online than single-channel customers.

Data-driven decisions Knowing the way your customers shop on-line and in-store is vital to optimizing the entire customer journey. Sourcing information on customer shopping habits allows you to cater each aspect of the shopping experience to your customers’ needs, from site design to how shelves are stocked.

Kroger, one of the largest supermarket retailers in the country, revealed in October of this past year that the “Restock Kroger” initiative to enhance the company’s store offerings, personalize communications with clients, revamp product assortment, and leverage data-driven shelf optimization. Research for the project started two years ago when the supermarket revamped the category assortment in 6 percent of its shops based on on-line data mechanisms. The percentage of stores involved is predicted to grow from 20% to 30% this past year.

Making the switch

While switching to an omnichannel retail strategy is critical to growing your company, the procedure does not happen overnight. Begin with little changes. Place your most popular online items at a shop screen so online clients recognize them immediately, or place tablet stations offering exclusive digital content throughout your store.

To not get left behind in the competitive world of online and traditional retail, companies need to make sure they are leading their clients easily through the buying procedure, even in-store. Digital touchpoints and also a data-driven advertising strategy are essential pieces of the puzzle for your omnichannel clients looking to not only purchase but build a relationship with your brand new approach.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR BLOG DISCLAIMER BY CLICKING HERE

Source: https://bargainbrutedotcom.tumblr.com/post/173466093209

[whatmakespistachionuts]

Omnichannel shopping approach could be the future according to Douglas Vandergraph

As the line between conventional retail and online shopping becomes fuzzy, consumers are using multiple channels to find, research, and buy the products they want and desire.  Although all-connected consumers represent a majority of the populace, retailers have failed to create purchasing adventures catered to them. Often focusing on online stores as a separate station, retailers are neglecting their physical shops. To stay relevant in a growing retail environment, businesses must start treating digital and physical retail as one.

Douglas Vandergraph, next gen ceo of Vandergraph Worldwide sees this as the next big opportunity stating,“Shopping malls and stores in the future will have both high inventory selection seen in traditional shopping experiences plus low inventory online purchase options available in-store.  They will do it, or they will fail.”  Douglas states, “The old men who run retail around the world need to either step down or step up.  I do not understand why companies like Walmart, Sears, Macy’s,etc need to hire one guy or a group of consultants to own this and bring them into the fold of this ideology.  Their entire company from the CEO to the shelf stockers need to embrace the fact that the future is here.  New ideas and approaches are happening.  You will either integrate the traditional concepts that built you with the technology and ideas of tomorrow or YOU WILL FAIL!”  

Douglas goes on,“Rather than fighting with rising online sales, retailers must embrace more sales to be driven by digital in-store. By producing a true omnichannel approach, retailers can better serve customers, open avenues for more trades, and increase overall sales.”  

“Businesses often confuse multichannel retail with omnichannel retail, but the two are completely different concepts. Most retailers participate in multichannel retail, or the numerous different ways consumers buy products, but they don’t connect them. That’s where retail comes in. In addition, you must understand where your target market is paying attention, and add your brand at the intersections of those media properties.

Vandergraph Notes:

In-store digital touchpoints

There’s no doubt about it their own e-commerce efforts should be focused on by retailers. But that doesn’t mean your storefront should not get an electronic update also.

Touchpoints are the signals leading the consumer on the way into a thriving omnichannel retail experience. From mobile to net to in-store, these touchpoints are not just nice to have; they’re crucial to a seamless customer travel. But despite their established effectiveness, most retailers aren’t fully benefiting from touchpoints, particularly ones which ought to be inside their brick-and-mortar shops.

Retailers must consider their showrooms as more than only a well-designed floor area, and they need to put money into immersive in-store experiences that can’t be reproduced online. Adding in-store touch factors is one of the easiest methods to make a distinctive retail environment and separate your store from more conventional retailers. These apparatuses could include price checkers, tablet computers, and interactive catalogs.

But in-store trademark points aren’t there for appearances. Your most loyal clients, omnichannel shoppers, make the most of them regularly and in all sorts of mixes and places. Generally, omnichannel shoppers spend an average of 4% more in-store, and 10 percent more online than single-channel customers.

Data-driven decisions Knowing the way your customers shop on-line and in-store is vital to optimizing the entire customer journey. Sourcing information on customer shopping habits allows you to cater each aspect of the shopping experience to your customers’ needs, from site design to how shelves are stocked.

Kroger, one of the largest supermarket retailers in the country, revealed in October of this past year that the "Restock Kroger” initiative to enhance the company’s store offerings, personalize communications with clients, revamp product assortment, and leverage data-driven shelf optimization. Research for the project started two years ago when the supermarket revamped the category assortment in 6 percent of its shops based on on-line data mechanisms. The percentage of stores involved is predicted to grow from 20% to 30% this past year.

Making the switch

While switching to an omnichannel retail strategy is critical to growing your company, the procedure does not happen overnight. Begin with little changes. Place your most popular online items at a shop screen so online clients recognize them immediately, or place tablet stations offering exclusive digital content throughout your store.

To not get left behind in the competitive world of online and traditional retail, companies need to make sure they are leading their clients easily through the buying procedure, even in-store. Digital touchpoints and also a data-driven advertising strategy are essential pieces of the puzzle for your omnichannel clients looking to not only purchase but build a relationship with your brand new approach.

PLEASE REVIEW OUR BLOG DISCLAIMER BY CLICKING HERE

Source: https://bargainbrutedotcom.tumblr.com/post/173466093209