#wine shop management software development

[systemlogicit]

Top Wine Shop Management Software Development Company

This paper aims at explaining Wine Shop Management Software.

Wine shop management software is custom built software designed for the easy running of wine business. It allows the store owners to freely keep track of their stock, check their sales, billing And even the later customer support to their clients allow efficient shopping for the owners and the shoppers.

Why Does It Make Sense to Open Wine Shop Management Software?

The legal rules for the industry are also firm, and the wine business has seasonal nature in addition to stocking and managing shorts products. By investing in wine shop management software development, you can enjoy the following advantages:

Improved File Management

Real-time data of file status to prevent either over stocking or under stocking of products. Such as tracking of stock information such as stock and dates of expiry.

Automated Billing and Sales Tracking

Use technology advances in the industry to wipe out manual billing error rates. Modern wine shop software developers provide an option of arrangement with the POS monitor and track the actual sales.

Submission with Legal Requirements

It has other tools that will help minimize and stop legal issues that flow from ignoring regional laws and age verification standards in every store.

Improved Customer Experience

Use tools such as rewards, shorter lines, coupons and other offers that keep customer interest in your business and expand it.

Key Features of a Robust Wine Shop Management Software

When working with a wine shop management software developer, you should make sure the software includes the following features:

Inventory Management:

 Monitoring of product stock and notifications involving low stock or old products in reality time.

Sales Tracking: 

Actual copy of sales movements, daily sales totals, and product performance.

POS Integration: 

crossing with POS systems to make fast checkouts possible.

Legal Compliance: 

Age identification and respect for the legal purchase age of alcoholic drink properly known as drink allow laws.

CRM Tools: 

Loyalty and personalized marketing applications for customer relationship management programs.

Mobile Accessibility: 

Portable systems available on clouds therefore accessible on smartphones and tablets.

How to Choose the Best Wine Shop Management Software Development Company

Your choice of wine shop management software developer directly affects. How well your solution fits your business needs. Here are some factors to consider:

Experience in the Industry

Pick a company that demonstrated success by creating retail and inventory management systems in previous work. An experienced wine shop software developer knows what your industry needs.

Customization Options

You run a unique wine shop so your software must reflect that difference. Pick a development team that produces personalized products rather than standard off the shelf systems.

Scalability

Your business software must change to fit your future growth needs. Pick a software developer who designs solutions that will fit to your business needs when you scale up operations.

Integration Capabilities

Your management system should connect easily to your current platforms. Including bookkeeping systems, point of sale machines and web stores.

After-Sales Support

You need good customer support to fix problems and update your system. Choose an organization that delivers immediate customer service after buying their products.

Why Choose Us for Wine Shop Management Software Development?

Our team at the top wine shop software development company builds advanced tools. That makes managing wine businesses efficient and easy to use. Here’s what sets us apart:

Industry Expertise

Our seasoned wine shop software developers have worked highly to understand the specific needs of wine business owners. We build wine store programs to fit exactly how you want them.

Comprehensive Features

We built our system with all basically wine shop functions to help you manage your business effectively.

Customization

We don’t believe in generic solutions. We build software that fits your unique business needs by studying how your operation works.

Affordable Pricing

Quality software doesn’t have to break the bank. We help you achieve your goals by offering competitive rates that keep your system's performance and dependability.

New Directions for Wine Shop Management Software Solutions

Wine shop management software development keeps advancing as time goes by. 

Blockchain for Compliance

People explore blockchain systems to validate customers' ages and licence status in both safe and open ways.

multichannel Capabilities

Modern wine software now links digital and physical sales channels to provide users with efficient store control.

IOT Integration

Wine shops now use Internet of Things devices like smart eye to track their list.

Conclusion

The modern wine industry demands specialized software that represents a key business investment for success. A trusted wine shop software developer helps you run business better. Serve customers better, and outperform competitors effectively. If you’re looking for a reliable and experienced partner to build your wine shop software. Get in touch with  the System Logic Software Solution Private team of expert wine shop software developers today! We are here to improve your business success.

[warrior-webmasters3]

Warrior Webmasters Santa Rosa Website Services

A strong online presence is essential for businesses looking to thrive. Websites are no longer optional; they are the cornerstone of brand identity, customer engagement, and sales growth. For businesses in Santa Rosa, Warrior Webmasters offers top-tier website services designed to meet modern demands and stand out in a competitive market.

This blog explores why Warrior Webmasters is the go-to partner for website services in Santa Rosa, what services they offer, and how they can help your business succeed.

Why Your Santa Rosa Business Needs Professional Website Services

Santa Rosa is a thriving hub for diverse industries ranging from wine production to technology and tourism. However, the local competition means businesses must be visible and accessible online. Here’s why professional website services matter:

1. Credibility and First Impressions

Your website often serves as your first interaction with potential customers. A professionally designed website establishes trust and showcases your brand's value.

2. Local SEO Dominance

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tailored to Santa Rosa ensures your business appears in search results when customers look for services near them.

3. Mobile-Responsive Design

With over 50% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, your website must look and perform well across all screens.

4. Enhanced User Experience

Customers expect fast load times, intuitive navigation, and visually appealing layouts. A poorly designed website can drive potential customers away.

Warrior Webmasters provides solutions tailored to meet these needs, ensuring your website becomes a growth engine for your business.

Warrior Webmasters: Expertise in Santa Rosa Website Services

At Warrior Webmasters, we specialise in delivering website services that not only look great but also perform exceptionally. Let’s dive into the core services we provide.

1. Custom Website Design and Development

We understand that every business is unique. Our custom website design services reflect your brand identity while ensuring functionality.

Key Features:

Modern, clean designs

User-friendly interfaces

Compatibility across all devices

Compliance with accessibility standards

Our development team uses cutting-edge technologies to create fast-loading, secure websites that stand the test of time.

2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Being found online is as important as having a website. Our local SEO strategies target Santa Rosa customers, helping your business rank higher on search engines.

What We Offer:

Local keyword optimisation

Content marketing strategies

Google Business Profile management

Backlink building for authority

By optimising your website for local searches, we ensure that customers in Santa Rosa find you first.

3. E-Commerce Solutions

For businesses looking to sell online, our e-commerce services are second to none. We create seamless shopping experiences that drive sales.

E-Commerce Highlights:

Secure payment gateways

User-friendly product catalogues

Customised shopping carts

Inventory management systems

Whether you're a boutique shop or a large retailer, we have the expertise to grow your online store.

4. Website Maintenance and Support

Your website needs regular updates to stay relevant and secure. Warrior Webmasters offers ongoing maintenance plans to ensure peak performance.

Our Maintenance Services Include:

Software updates

Security patches

Performance optimisation

Content updates

With our support, you can focus on your business while we handle the technical details.

5. Content Creation and Copywriting

Quality content engages your audience and boosts your SEO rankings. Our team of professional copywriters creates content that resonates with your target audience.

Content Services:

Blog posts

Landing pages

Product descriptions

Marketing campaigns

Every piece of content we create is designed to drive traffic and conversions.

Why Choose Warrior Webmasters in Santa Rosa?

With numerous website service providers in Santa Rosa, you might wonder what sets Warrior Webmasters apart. Here’s why we’re a trusted partner for businesses in the area:

1. Local Expertise

We understand the Santa Rosa market. Our strategies are tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses in this community.

2. Customer-Centric Approach

Your success is our success. We work closely with you to understand your goals and deliver solutions that align with your vision.

3. Proven Track Record

With years of experience and a portfolio of successful projects, we have the skills and expertise to handle any challenge.

4. Affordable Pricing

We offer competitive pricing without compromising quality, ensuring your investment delivers long-term value.

5. Dedicated Support

Our team is always available to provide guidance, troubleshoot issues, and implement updates.

How Our Services Benefit Santa Rosa Businesses

Partnering with Warrior Webmasters offers measurable benefits for your business, including:

Increased Visibility

Our SEO and design services make it easy for customers to find you online.

Improved Customer Engagement

A professionally designed website keeps visitors engaged and encourages them to explore your offerings.

Higher Conversion Rates

Optimised content and layouts guide visitors toward taking desired actions, such as making a purchase or contacting you.

Long-Term Growth

Our ongoing support ensures your website evolves with your business and market trends.

Partner with Warrior Webmasters Today

Your website is the foundation of your online presence. Don’t settle for mediocre results. Partner with Warrior Webmasters for professional website services in Santa Rosa that deliver measurable success.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Contact Warrior Webmasters today for a free consultation. Let us create a website that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives growth.

Elevate your online presence with Santa Rosa’s premier website services provider!

[ankita784]

Art Market Dynamics: Impact of Economic and Technological Factors

Art Market Dynamics: Impact of Economic and Technological Factors

Latest Research Report on “Art Market” | Survey with Valuable Insights

The 2024 market research report for Art Market offers a comprehensive analysis of the industry, covering key aspects such as trends, opportunities, risks, and drivers. It provides a detailed evaluation of the market's revenue, size, and volume, while also assessing the product portfolios, capacities, and revenues of leading companies. Additionally, the report delves into various industry segments.

According to Straits Research, the global Art market size was valued at USD 520.05 Billion in 2023. It is projected to reach from USD 552.03 Billion in 2024 to USD 889.86 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.15% during the forecast period (2024–2032). The report places particular emphasis on the Industrial Adhesive market, examining its overall size, segment size (including product type, application, and geography), competitive landscape, current status, and development trends. It also offers strategic insights for companies to navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Get a sample PDF of the report at https://straitsresearch.com/report/art-market/request-sample

TOP Key Industry Players of the Art Market

Art Galleria

ArtBase

ArtBinder

ArtCloud

ArtFundi

Artlogic

Artlook Software

GallerySoft

IT gallery

Managed Artwork

Masterpiece Manager

My Online Art Gallery

PrimaSoft PC

Primer

Spinnsoft Gallery

Art Market Segmental Analysis

As a result of the Art market segmentation, the market is divided into sub-segments based on product type, application, as well as regional and country-level forecasts.

By Category

Art Shop

Art Gallery

Frame Shop

Appraisers

Art Collectors

Antique Stores

All Other Collectors

Antiques

Jewelry

Comic Books

Wine

Coins

Stamp

You can check In-depth Segmentation from here: @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/art-market/request-sample

Regional Analysis Art Market

The regional analysis section of the report offers a thorough examination of the global Art market, detailing the sales growth of various regional and country-level markets. It includes precise volume analysis by country and market size analysis by region for both past and future periods. The report provides an in-depth evaluation of the growth trends and other factors impacting the Art market in key countries, such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it explores the progress of significant regional markets, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

New Additions in the 2024 Report:

Expanded Industry Overview: The report now includes a more comprehensive and detailed industry overview.

In-Depth Company Profiles: Enhanced profiles providing deeper insights into key industry players.

Customized Reports and Analyst Support: Tailored reports and direct access to analyst support available upon request.

Insights on Market Developments: Updated information on recent market trends and future growth opportunities.

Regional/Country-Specific Customization: Reports tailored to specific regions and countries according to your needs.

Key Highlights

Examine the Art Market: This includes an introduction, analysis of product types and applications, an overview of the market, and a country-by-country market analysis. The study also explores market opportunities, risks, and driving forces.

Profile Manufacturers: The research focuses on manufacturers of Art, including detailed profiles, primary business activities, recent news, sales, pricing, revenue, and market share.

Competitive Landscape Overview: Provide an overview of the competitive landscape among the world's leading manufacturers, highlighting their sales, revenue, and market share.

Market Segmentation Analysis: Illustrate the market segmented by type and application, with detailed breakdowns of sales, price, revenue, market share, and growth rate for each segment.

Regional Market Analysis: Analyze key regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and South America. This includes sales, revenue, and market share data segmented by manufacturers, types, and applications.

Production Cost Investigation: Investigate production costs, essential raw materials, and the production methods used in the industry.

Reasons to Purchase This Report:

Access to Comprehensive Information: Gain access to an extensive collection of analysis, research, and data that would be challenging to acquire independently. This report offers valuable insights, saving you considerable time and effort.

Enhanced Decision-Making: Equip yourself with detailed insights into market trends, consumer behavior, and key industry factors. This report provides essential information for strategic planning, including decisions on investments, product development, and marketing strategies.

Achieving Competitive Advantage: Stay ahead in your industry by understanding market dynamics and competitor strategies. This report delivers deep insights into competitor performance and market trends, enabling you to craft effective business strategies and maintain a competitive edge.

Credibility and Reliability: Trust in the expertise of industry professionals and the accuracy of thoroughly researched data. Authored by experts and grounded in rigorous research and analysis, this report enhances credibility and reliability.

Cost-Effective Research: Reduce research expenses by investing in this comprehensive report instead of conducting independent research. It provides a cost-effective means of accessing detailed analysis and insights on a specific topic without requiring extensive resources.

To Understand How Covid-19 Impact Is Covered in This Report - https://straitsresearch.com/report/art-market/request-sample

About Straits Research

Straits Research is dedicated to providing businesses with the highest quality market research services. With a team of experienced researchers and analysts, we strive to deliver insightful and actionable data that helps our clients make informed decisions about their industry and market. Our customized approach allows us to tailor our research to each client's specific needs and goals, ensuring that they receive the most relevant and valuable insights.

Contact Us

Email: sales@straitsresearch.com

Address: 825 3rd Avenue, New York, NY, USA, 10022

Tel: UK: +44 203 695 0070, USA: +1 646 905 0080

Art Market, Art Industry, Art Market Share, Art Market Size, Art Market Trends, Art Market Regional Analysis, Art Market Growth Rate, Art Market Analysis, Art Market Forecast

[bornadreamer]

My watch dogs 2 headcanons

Sitara:

 Aro/Ace (not just because she wears the flag colors lol)

Dedsec is a big queerplatonic relationship for her. She loves all the guys so much and would kill for them, but as soon as someone mentions her fucking one she kinda just *vomit emoji*

Hyper protective of kids. After the mission with her niece she dedicates at least 10 hours a week to developing software to protect kids on the internet/root out pedos

Hardcore listens to nature noises while she paints/sketches

Fantastic at calling people out on their bullshit. She does NOT let the guys get away with anything demeaning/sexist, even by accident. To their credit, they always apologize and try to do better

Loves weird/facey tea flavors. One time she brought back a bbq boba tea and everyone else gagged. 

Knows everyone’s triggers and actively purges them from Dedsec feeds before the others can see

Crazy wine aunt vibes. Will care for you when sick, but will roast you for how you acted like a baby after.

When she gets panic attacks, she needs weighted blankets. Like, enough to break a few ribs. Wrench sat on her once. It actually helped. 

Loves She-ra. Hacked the studio to watch the eps being made and yelled at the screen like a banshee the whole time. The boys were very afraid.

Horatio:

Actual only straight person in the group. The butt of so, so many jokes.

He, like Marcus, LOVES fashion. While he can’t wear what he wants all the time due to his undercover persona, he buys fashion mags like nobody’s business. Can name his ten favorite designers off the top of his head. 

A little bit very OCD, though you can’t tell by looking at him. Ratio is very anal about what goes where. Everyone knows not to go near his station in the hackerspace. 

One time Wrench knocked over his desk (nearly destroying his rig) and Ratio’s stuff went flying. Wrench almost had a guilt meltdown. Luckily, Sitara had a picture and they managed to put everything back almost exactly. Almost.

Stress cleans. When his undercover stuff is really getting to him, he’ll kick everyone out of the hackerspace and just. Clean. For hours. When they’re allowed back in you could eat off the floor.

Since he can’t be around all the time, he gets little gifts for everyone and leaves them at their stations to show that he’s thinking about them.

Wrench:

We been knew that the boy is suicidal, but he’s manic-depressive bipolar as well (also not shocking)

ADHD

Self medicated with every kind of drug out there.

Marcus and Josh eventually beat him down enough to take Meds That Are Actually Helpful. Sitara mediates. It was A Process. 

All of his fingers are broken from one thing or another, it made him really self conscious when he Marcus and Josh started dating. He didn’t like holding hands because he felt his were ugly. 

Texts solely through emojis like fucking hieroglyphs. Half the time nobody knows what he’s saying. He has no intention to stop. It drives everyone nuts.

Likes to be the middle spoon, with Marcus as the big and Josh as the little

DO NOT let him consume more than three cups of coffee. He will not sleep for days. 

The first few weeks of sleeping with Josh and Marcus he doesn’t take his mask off. He’s terrified. Finally, they manage to get im comfortable enough to do so and his boyfriends have a great time kissing every inch of his face. He laugh-cried from relief. 

He and Marcus have terrible hacker movie night. They watch cheesy hacker moves and laugh at how bad everything is.

Squishy toys help relax him when he’s having a bad manic episode or an anxiety attack.

Josh:

Also hardcore ADHD

Somewhere on the autism spectrum as well. 

Marcus’s first gift to him as his boyfriend was a chewy necklace, since he needs his hands to hack. It actually helped more than he thought it would.

Most of the time he totally forgets he has it, though

Unironically enjoys black and white television. He’ll have I Love Lucy running for audio while he’s working. Sometimes he even turns on the blind narration.

Horatio and Marcus switch off on making him blind narration eps. They have a ball with it.

Lists. Lists. Lists. This boy has a timed checklist for almost every day. His phone will ping and won’t stop until he Does The Thing. When he’s really in the zone and doesn’t hear it everyone at Dedsec kind of wants to kill him.

Sometimes Marcus and Wrench need to tag team who coaxes him into the shower and who does his laundry while he’s distracted because this boy is a fucking disaster. They both fucking hate his green hoodie. 

Must Hack. There is nothing else But The Hack.

Will crack if you say enough bad puns. It’s really the only humor he can get behind

When he does his happy stim (flappy hands) everyone at Dedsec just does from cuteness overload

Loves slow, lazy kissing in the morning or right before bed. It’s the only time his brain slows down enough to really enjoy it before he goes into work mode

Marcus:

He and Ratio have the deepest discussions about fashion. They both lose their minds at John Boyega and Orville Peck

Marcus loves to shop! He drags Wrench and Josh with him for opinions, though neither of them really care they love how happy it makes him. Sitara is his real shopping companion, she Knows what looks good on him.

He’s the only neurotypical person in Dedsec. Boy was THAT and adjustment. Marus spent months after he joined reading up on everyone’s conditions and how to best help. He feels like a pro now, but is eager to learn. He stayed updated on all medical research. 

Marcus works with Sitara to prepare little emergency ‘fit-kits’ as they call them, for everyone. He can pull them out when someone’s having an episode and help them through it.

It can be a struggle to make sure both his boyfriends are on their meds and keeping themselves healthy, but he’s happy to do it. Marcus can take almost anything life throws at him

Organizes hack offs within the group just to show off, basically. The only one who has beaten him so far is Josh.

Josh isn’t into clubbing, so Marcus and Wrench party hard. When they come home they binge one of Josh’s old shows until all three fall asleep on the couch. 

Tasers pedos and rapists on sight, unless he’s on mission.

He goes back for them after

Terrified of motorcycles but loves weird cars.

He’s jewish and keeps a menorah at the hackerspace. Everyone loves to help him celebrate. 

[kackmack]

Fake Smile

Rowan x aelin

 Chapter 2

 Aelin woke up with tears all over her face. She could feel him, she could feel Sam’s touch in her dream, it’s been four years and she still has memories plaguing her. Sam and Aelin grew up together in the same foster home, with the same abusive foster dad that would beat the both of them, she could never let Sam close to her but after she found out he would take the blame to most of the trouble she caused as a young teenager, Aelin knew he protected her, she knew Sam loved her. Finally, after turning 18 and escaping the foster system, she was able to be with him, they had bought an apartment with the little money they had and they both were completely happy, that is until she came back from work late and saw the blood on the floor, his body beaten to pulp, barely recognizable. The police closed the case by saying that it was “robbery gone bad”.

  Aelin stumbled out of bed and went straight to her phone to call the first number she can think of.

  “Hello” Lysandra answered with a husky voice, Aelin realized it was five in the morning.

 “I had another dream of him again, Lys” Aelin sobbed into the phone. 

 “I’m so sorry, Aelin, I miss him too. I wish I could come over, I really do. But Aedion took my car to the shop.” Lysandra said in a soothing voice. 

 “Thank you Lys. I just needed to hear a familiar voice. I promise I’ll be fine.” Aelin said finally settling herself. 

 Few hours of trying and failing to go back to sleep, Aelin decided to call off from work saying she had a stomach bug. Which wasn’t a complete a lie since she did indeed hurl the contents of her stomach up after that dream.  With a t shirt and tight running shorts Aelin decided to run to one of the only places she knew she could get her mind off things for a while. “Adarlans Gym”. Which is owned by Aelins friend Dorian and his father. Dorian and Aelin had a small fling a couple years back but it didn’t work out, staying friends she’s liked fighting in the competitions held at his gym, he usually sponsors her fights.

 Today though she was surprised when she walked in and wasn’t the only female in the gym, which she usually was. Sparing in the corner was a beautiful white hair woman, probably around Aelins age, with only a sports bra and shorts on. Aelin wasn’t captivated by her beauty, no she was in awe in how good she was. Aelin hasn’t had much competition in the years she’s fought here so seeing a someone with potential caught here attention as soon as she walked in the door.

 “She’s good right?” Dorian said standing beside her, seemingly coming out of nowhere. 

 “Yeah I can already tell she can beat most of your men” Aelin answered with a smirk. 

“That she has already. Her name is Mannon by the way. She may be one of the only women that can rival you honestly.” He said with a smile. Then raised an eyebrow with having Aelin turned to him, he can see the sweat on her brow. “Did you really run here? I don’t think should doing cardio before you get here and fight.”

 Aelin furrowed a brow and faked a smiled “I didn’t feel like driving and it’s only a couple miles”.  At that she walked to the ring and put some gloves on with Dorian on her heal he slipped on the padded training hand covers and they began training. 

After a few minutes Aelin noticed the white haired women watching her from outside the ring with a smirk on her face. At that she and Dorian stopped and smiled. 

“Hey Mannon meet Aelin. She’s one of the only other females who fight here.”  Then Aelin finally got a good look at the girl. Mannon was trim with muscles curving her whole body and her eyes, her eyes were what caught her eye, they were gold.  

“Well Aelin, I can’t wait till we are both in the ring.” Mannon said with a smirk. “Oh I feel the same.” Aelin answered with a glittering look in her eyes.

 “Well actually, we have a tournament this Friday. If you could get off work, we would be happy to see you both fight.” Dorian interjected.  At that Aelin smiled and took the challenge with no doubt. 

 The next day Aelin was woken up by surprised to see Lysandra let herself in and brought Aelins favorite kind of pastries to eat in bed. They ate as they talked about the wedding plans that Lysandra was having problems with, Aedion was in her words being a “Butt head” because he stubbornly wasn’t agreeing with her over band or DJ.  Although Aelin wanted nothing more than to stay in bed all day and chat with Lysandra, she couldn’t put off work for another day. She just hoped a certain someone wouldn’t show up again.

 Half way through her shift, Aelin was actually feeling alright. With the steady hit, she was making money and didn’t really have time to think about anything then the drink orders and running the food. She almost didn’t notice the silver haired man that now sat in her full section. 

 Trying her best to sound nonchalant Aelin stepped up to the table to see Rowan starring at her. “Hi my name is-“ 

 “I know your name, Aelin” Rowan interrupted. At that she gritted her teeth trying to keep the smile on her face from falling.  

“Well obviously I’m not here for your mediocre wine.” Rowan said smugly. Gods she hated him already.

 “Then why are you here?” Aelin gritted out. 

“I’m here because Fenrys has a crush on you. As immature as it is. But you ditching him the other night caused him to fuck up a pretty big project we have been working on.” His deep voice was barely heard over the rumbling of the other tables. 

“Okay but that still doesn’t explain you being here” Aelin tried not to show her attitude in case the manager over hears her. Rowan’s smile was nothing but vicious.

 “Well princess.” at that Aelin knew she wanted nothing more than to knock him out. The irony of her money troubles and his little nickname did not go over her head. “Fenrys, Lorcan and I work for a technological software development company called MV tec. Yesterday your little puppy couldn’t focus and he screwed up, forcing us to go back a week of progress. Fenrys is a real genius…. Well that is with tec. He’s still young and naïve. It would be great if you called him and for the very least reject him over the phone. So he can go back to chasing someone else.” Rowan didn’t leave her eye contact which made Aelin uneasy. “Lorcan is pissed to say the least on the set back and I’d rather not deal with his temper because Fenrys is still hung up on you.”  

Aelin couldn’t help but do a vicious smile back as she innocently said “Well why on earth would a low life waitress with just a pretty face be taking up his mind so much?” 

Rowans brows rose “Oh you heard that did you.” His smile widened. “Well let’s just say Lorcan isn’t the most pleasant of people. Not that he was really wrong is he?” 

 How dare he? Rowan didn’t know she’s almost done with her bachelor’s degree and the only reason she’s been taking double shifts this summer is so she can afford get into law school in the spring next year. No he has no idea the hard work Aelin does and he has no right to judge her. Her face finally dropped the smile.

 “You know I didn’t ask for him to ask me out. Actually I didn’t ask for any of it. I’ve just been working my shifts in peace. Since it’s such a big problem for you and Lorcan then you can let him down, obviously you both are very interested in his love life. As for me just leave me alone and go back to your company and I’d rather you and your little cadre to leave me alone. OH and as for the low life waitress remarks, I am less than a year away from starting law school… I am Aelin and I will not be afraid of you and your men.”

 Rowan has obviously not been stood up to because the shock on his face was laughable. 

“Alright so if you’re not going to order anything, you can leave.” Aelin said sickly as she walked away to catch up with the other tables trying to get her attention. When she turned back he was gone.

 Authors note: Um I’m kind of way more confident with this chapter. Any feedback would be great. I know i need to make it longer.

@flowersinvegas @shadowstar2313

[ncdics]

hey dudes... it’s ya girl... rani. it’s been a hot ass minute since i tumblr rped so here i am because i heard good things about the rp and the admin team :-) this is my baby nadia, local overachiever and tired bitch. this is a little rough but i will have her bio up soon (i currently only have her stats up), but LIKE this and i’ll hit you up for plots!

( alice t, cisfemale ) did you hear how NADIA MENON is applying to columbia university as a COMPUTER SCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY major ?! the TWENTY-TWO year old is living in the CARLTON ARMS. i heard that they got in because they are +STAUNCH and +AFFECTIONATE, but honestly i think SHE can be -ENIGMATIC and -FINICKY. they’re a real NIGHT OWL. oh well, only time will tell if the SENIOR will make it til the end.   + BLACK COFFEE, CORNERS IN COFFEE SHOPS, DANCING ALONE IN YOUR ROOM AT MIDNIGHT, NEVER SEEMS TO SLEEP, WORN PAPERBACK BOOKS, SUNRISES, GOLD NECKLACES AND RINGS, BLUSHED CHEEKS, A SOFT BREEZE, SCENTED CANDLES, HOUSEPLANTS, DARK CIRCLES COVERED WITH LAYERS OF CONCEALER, LAZY MORNINGS IN BED, UNSENT LOVE LETTERS.

name's NADIA, don’t call her nads unless you’re her bff

born in manchester, england, the only child of her software developer father, sachin menon, and her bakery manager mother, min “carrie” menon.

due to her parents’ long hours and her lack of siblings or extended family around her, she often times found herself alone, forcing herself to fill in the gaps with imaginary friends, books, and a cat named ‘floof’ by her and her neighbour.

the menon family lived a comfortable lifestyle in the city, getting to send nadia to a better than average school, where nadia flourished in sciences and maths. summers were spent in between malaysia, india and china, where nadia would spend her time with extended family

fast forward to the age of fourteen, things are going well, nadia is well liked among her classmates, her parents have advanced in their jobs and everything is going well... until her father gets a promotion - and the menons’ get to move across the ocean and to san francisco, california. nadia, obviously, is furious. going from moderately popular to the new girl in town was not her idea of a good time.

and so the menons finally reach san francisco, where nadia is miserable and carrie is a bit more than annoyed at sachin. nadia eventually settles in to her high school, launching herself back into popularity as she makes the dance team, and by some stroke of luck, the cheer team. tensions start to brew between carrie and sachin, which nadia starts to notice. she envelopes herself in schoolwork and clubs, joining a record number for the school. 

the breaking point comes at the end of her senior year, where her parents announce that they’d be getting a divorce, even noting that they’d only stayed together because she was still under their care. nadia, furious, went off on both of them, vowing to never return to the home. her parents have attempted to sway her opinion, with her father paying for her entire undergraduate studies and her mother sending her checks for rent (and a little extra) every month. these obviously don’t work, but nadia works this to her advantage, and gets to use her tutoring/barista income to pay for luxuries like makeup and clothing

oh yeah she’s a barista and an on campus tutor - you need help with writing, any of your computer science courses, math, or science? she’s your gal. she’s (almost) at the top of her class.

she’s a COMPUTER SCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY major - queue late nights trying to understand her coursework and banging her head on her desk because her code is coming out with too many errors. she loves it though, really. 

P E R S O N A L I T Y - kind but quiet - has a different personality for everyone she meets, therefore making it hard to actually figure it out. she’s vague about her past and family, even her closest of friends don’t know what’s going on with her. behind all the mystery, nadia is eager to please and desperate to be liked, a nod to her high school popularity. she’s somewhat of a hopeless romantic, though the notion is hardened because of her parents’ divorce. exudes big brain energy - homegirl is a computer science AND psychology major, you think she parties? no. she studies and studies only. will indulge in a glass of wine once in a while. 

wanted plots !!

tutorship !!! give her someone with absolutely zero brain cells for her to tutor. give her a student athlete who needs to pass but absolutely does not like class. give her a rich kid who could care less but needs to stay in school to make sure daddy pays for their degree!!!

exes - someone who hated the fact that she was always studying and never wanted to go out, someone she dumped because they cheated, someone who hooked up with her on a bet and she found out !!! anyone !! bonus: hateships !!!!!

enemies - academic rivals !!!!! coworkers who are trying to sell the most lattes this week. the person who always sits in her unassigned lecture seat.

coworkers/customers - she’s a tutor and a barista at an overpriced hipster cafe - let the possibilities flow

friends - friends who force her to get out of the house, friends who are a tornado in her perfectly organized life, friends who fell out because of her stubbornness, friends who are awful influences, friends who can count on nadia to get them at the end of the night.

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

Queen of Hearts - Chapter 6

Thirty-year-old Rose Tyler’s matchmaking business is doing very well indeed, bringing her clients such as celebrities, athletes, and the now-happily-married son of the mayor.  All of which brings her to her newest client - one whose royal rank is a far cry above her own title as Queen of Hearts.

Ian, King of Gallifrey, calls off his wedding four weeks before the happy day as he realizes he can’t spend another minute of his life with his betrothed.  The catch - he must take a wife before his Coronation, only a month away.  In desperation, his sister and aunt conspire to find him is happy ever after - and it’s going to take a master matchmaker to do it.

-

Based on the Hallmark Movie ‘Royal Matchmaker’.  Chapters will be posted every Sunday.

As always, beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma​!  @doctorroseprompts

Masterlist  |  AO3

—

Wednesday, April 3rd (continued)

“Right, where are we?” Rose asked brusquely, barreling through the doors into their suite.  Mel stood at the corkboard, and she waved for her to follow as she continued into her bedroom to dress for dinner.

“How was the dedication?”  Mel trailed after her, perching on the bench at the foot of Rose’s bed while she dug through her closet.

Rose started at the back where her nicer dresses were hidden, examining each one as she talked.  “Nice. Not terribly well attended, I was surprised.  It seemed the King spoke off the cuff.  He was very good, engaging, certainly not stuffy or boring.  He certainly seemed comfortable, though that could always be an act.  What have you found?”

“Well, based on our basic background parameters I’ve identified fifty-two potential matches,” her friend said, speaking up so Rose could hear her over the screech of sliding hangers.  “D’you have anything blue?  You wore red last night.”

“Fifty-two?”

“Those are of the ‘proper’ pedigree.  Some level of nobility, age range, and single to my knowledge.”

Rose sighed, stepping back with her hands on her hips, equally frustrated with the job and her wardrobe.  “Right.  Well, it’s a start.  Widen the field to non-nobility but still upper-class – heiresses, humanitarians, but posh.  Amal Clooney, not a gap-year Greenpeace volunteer.”  A hint of blue peeked out from the other end of her closet, where she found a gauzy blouse in a royal shade and a black pencil skirt.  “What do you think of this?”

She held the outfit up to herself, turning to show Mel, who studied her carefully.

“That’ll work!”

-

Saturday, April 6th

After their bumpy start, the next two days flew by.  As Sarah Jane had promised, Rose spent effectively all day every day with the King, seeing him in action and getting a sense of what was required from the Queen.  He slowly loosened up, telling unprompted stories every so often and making her laugh.

Between himself and Sarah Jane she was getting a clear picture of both what the role would require, and the type of woman needed to fill it.

Mel worked tirelessly from their suite, researching potential candidates and lining up tentative interviews.  She managed the proprietary software they’d developed together, taking Rose’s instinct and insight and turning it into quantifiable data to rank the candidates as they narrowed the list.

The first Saturday they were there dawned bright and early, Sarah Jane finding them already at work with steaming mugs of coffee at eight in the morning.

“My goodness,” she said, making Rose and Mel’s heads snap up, “you’ve certainly been busy.”

“Sarah Jane!”  Rose leapt to her feet and hurried to her, nearly tripping on a number of loose pages but managing not to fall.  “Hi!  Did you need something?”

Glancing around the room anxiously, she tried to see it from the other woman’s perspective.  It certainly looked less than impressive, piles upon piles of paper spread over nearly the entire floor, though both she and Mel knew exactly what everything was.

To Sarah Jane, it probably looked like pure chaos.

“Quite the opposite,” the woman smiled.  “You’ve both been working incredibly hard, the Princess and I are both very impressed.  On that note, we have our annual spring festival occurring in town this weekend.”

“I didn’t know,” Rose’s eyes widened, heart plummeting.  Despite a relatively peaceful and argumentative-free two and a half days she was constantly on guard, waiting for the King’s whim to change and send her packing.  Her mind raced, trying to remember if the event had been mentioned; was she supposed to go?  Was he waiting for her?

But the woman’s eyes were kind, and she was smiling.  “I wouldn’t have expected you to, seeing as I never mentioned it.”

“I… don’t understand?”

“I’m giving you the day off,” Sarah Jane laughed.  “I think it would be beneficial for you to go to the festival, truly get a feel for the people without the King or any of the palace staff, just be visitors.  Have fun.  Play games, try the food, enjoy yourselves, take a break.”

“That sounds lovely,” Mel spoke before Rose could, hurrying around to them and pinching Rose’s side viciously, presumably so she’d stay quiet.  “Thank you so much!  How should we get there?”

“Bill will drive you in,” their host explained.  “And, here – consider it a little bonus.”  She handed Rose an envelope, a quick rifle through showing several twenty Euro notes.

“Thank you,” Rose repeated, smiling, at war inside.  One part wanted to stay and work, determined not to let anything keep her from success, while the other, larger part (buoyed by Mel’s enthusiasm for the idea) wanted to cut loose and take a few hours off.  “I’m sure it’s wonderful.”

“I’m taking Luke tomorrow,” Sarah Jane confided, “and His Majesty will be judging a few competitions later in the week, but today’s the first day when everything’s freshest.  Oh, it’s beautiful, and I hope you enjoy!”

Clutching the envelope to her chest, Rose fervently promised herself that they would.

We deserve this.

-

Sarah Jane and Bill’s enthusiastic descriptions didn’t do the festival jealous – it was spectacular.

Sticking together, Rose and Mel went from vendor to vendor, oohing and aahing over the locally- and hand-made items, everything from knitted sweaters and scarves and hats to jams and jellies and wines.

“This is heaven,” Mel sighed, picking through a bag of trail mix for the local berries.  “This whole country.  It’s so beautiful here, and everyone’s so friendly.  Even though this is the capital, it feels just like a cozy English village.  Can you imagine living here?”

“It’s incredible,” Rose agreed through a mouthful of popcorn.  “Look how happy everyone is.”  Not just happy; friendly.  They had already met dozens of locals, all pleased as punch to have visitors and a chance to gush about their homeland.

The main rows of booths lined the street, one on either side, and though they hadn’t ventured from that path yet, Rose knew a second set of booths were set up on the sidewalks behind the main aisles.

A hand-made sign proclaiming Baked Goods This Way! pointed down one of the breaks between booths, and Rose’s sweet tooth insisted she follow it, Mel hot on her heels.  They came out behind the row of tents to see the second, less crowded aisle of booths. Fewer vendors were set up here along the sidewalk, their foot traffic suffering for it.

Most of the buildings were the typically quaint old-fashioned storefronts, two stories with the shop on the ground floor and flats above it.  Nearly every one showed signs of recent activity, indicating that they were open in general, and specifically for the festival.

An elegant old building that had clearly seen better days loomed over the rest of the street, a folding table set up right in front of the door with hand-decorated signs.  Judging by its architecture, it had once been some sort of theater.  Three preteen girls and a woman in her fifties stood behind the table, and the girls all lit up when Rose and Mel stopped in front of them.

“Hello!” the tallest one chirped, “Welcome to the City of Arcadia Children’s Center Bake Sale.  We are selling baked goods to raise money to fix the roof after all the snow this winter. Would you like to buy something sweet?”

Rose’s heart melted at the practiced but heartfelt recitation, and judging by Mel’s aww next to her, she agreed.  “I most certainly would!”  Glancing down at the table she carefully eyed the various treats, which ranged from cupcakes and cookies to candies, everything homemade.  “This all looks so lovely, did you bake all this?”

The girl shook her head, giggling.  “Just those cupcakes,” she pointed to a tray, “and some of the signs.”

Rose and Mel plucked up a cupcake each, Rose’s chocolate with chocolate icing and edible ball-bearings, while Mel’s was, of course, carrot cake, with an adorable iced carrot on top.

“Would you like some hot cocoa as well?” the preteen/sales shark asked innocently, and both women nodded.

“I certainly would, it’s still a bit nippy out!” Mel gave an exaggerated shiver, making the girls giggle.  “Although, you don’t have any carrot juice, do you?”  Rose elbowed her sharply.  “I mean, do you attend the…”

“City of Arcadia Children’s Center,” all three girls chorused.

“Yes,” the leader continued, standing tall.  “Since we were babies.  It’s running low on funds, though, so we want to help."

The woman behind the table nodded, far more serious than her charges.  “We’re all but free of charge, so anyone can send their children, only without donations we can hardly operate.  An expensive childminding service opened last year, and many of the wealthier families hire from there.  It’s good for the young women who get the work, but we’ve been struggling ever since.”

Rose didn’t even have to look at Mel to know she would agree with what she was about to do, and pulled the envelope of their money from Sarah Jane out and thrust it towards the woman without hesitation.  “I don’t think it’s much, but I hope it helps.”

“Oh, thank you!” the woman gushed, not even looking in the envelope before coming around the table and hugging Mel and Rose.  “You’re angels, truly!  I suspect you’re from out of town, but please, feel free to come visit on Tuesday if you’re still here.  I can give you a tour, and you can see how much this will help us.  Really, I insist, just walk right in and ask for ‘Polly’, that’s me.  My husband Ben and I run the Center, he does most of the handiwork about the place. Oh, thank you!”  Polly squeezed them again, drawing laughs from both women and giggles from the girls.

“Best of luck,” Rose said warmly, “it was lovely to meet you.”

They moved on, heading back towards the main thoroughfare again, though Rose couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder.

An idea was brewing.

-

Ian resettled the hat on his head before adjusting his sunglasses, doing his best to remain incognito.  He would officially be attending the Festival later in the week, but ever since he was old enough to sneak out of the palace he’d stolen down on the first day every year, never missing it if he was in the country.

The last thing he wanted, though, was to be recognized.  Whenever possible he went out in disguise, to sit in a pub or take in a performance or game.  He liked to be amongst Gallifreyans, be part of the crowd, see it from their eyes.  He’d figured out very early on that life looked much different from the crowds versus the royal dais.

He preferred the crowd.

Eating directly from the baggie of cookies he’d bought at Polly’s table with a wink and discreet check, he wandered the stalls looking for inspiration for Donna’s forthcoming birthday.  The ‘official’ gift was already set, organized well in advance, but he always tried to do something personal as well, usually finding something at the Festival for her.  She valued Gallifreyan-made as much as he did, believed in supporting their people and the creative arts.

I could get her another case of that wine she liked… he mused, before grimacing.  Wine felt so… impersonal a gift to him, so fleeting.  He always strove for something tangible but practical, something she could use.  What do you get the person who has everything?

He stopped at a stall with handknit scarves on display, and a surreptitious glance at the list on his mobile showed it had been at least five years since the last scarf he’d bought her.  With another adjustment to his hat he began flicking through the options, immediately dismissing almost all of them as not being Donna.

A scarf in emerald on the rack behind the one he was looking at caught his eye, but when he tried to take it down, he found resistance.

“Oi, I’m looking at that one,” an irritated voice sounded from the other side, and after a moment he placed it with a heavy sigh.  Of course she’s here, he rolled his eyes.  If she blows my cover she’s fired.  That was a lie though – he’d thought that a dozen times since so far, and except for that first night, he’d never so much as vaguely hinted at the idea to her.

He continued to gently tug on the garment, partially to annoy her, and she came around the corner eyes blazing.  “Hey!  I had that first, and common court-e-sy…  What?” Rose trailed off, tilting her head, brow furrowed, tongue peeking out of the corner of mouth in concentration as she stared at him.

“Shh,” he muttered, “I don’t want to be recognized.”

“You look fairly suspicious in all black and hiding your features,” she pointed out automatically, before flushing and letting go of the scarf.  “Sorry.”

Ian shook his head, casting furtive eyes around to be sure they were unobserved.  “It’s all right.”

“What are you doing here?” she whispered, voice dropping even lower to add, “Sir?”

“Shopping for my sister’s birthday,” he replied in kind.  “You?”

“Souvenir for my Mum,” matchmaker girl shrugged, shoving her hands into her pockets.  “I’ll find another one, though.”

He wavered; the polite thing to do would be to let her have it, but it was perfect for Donna.  “You can-”

“No,” she shook her head, cutting him off, eyes going wide.  “Sorry.  That’s perfect for her, to go with her hair.  Really.  Besides, Mum would probably prefer this one,” she gestured to one on the same rack as the teal, identical except in fluorescent pink.  Ian fought back a shiver of disgust.

“Thank you,” he smiled, tipping his head down and lowering his sunglasses enough to meet her eye.

They stared awkwardly at each other for a long moment, before Ian nodded decisively.  “I’m just going to pay,” he gestured towards the stall’s vendor, but she stopped him from turning.

“Wait!  I just… why are you sneaking around buying a present?  Couldn’t you send someone to do it?”

“No,” Ian said automatically, before stopping to consider the question.  “I mean yes, I could.  But then it’s not from me.  I prefer to pick something out for her myself – I’ve always done it.”

Rose smiled after a moment.  “That’s really nice,” she said wistfully.

He shrugged, uncomfortable with the praise.  “Thank you.”  After a moment he turned away, and this time she didn’t stop him.

Paying for the scarf in cash and accepting his bag with a nod of thanks, he wandered off to enjoy the rest of the festival, but in the back of his mind, for some inexplicable reason he couldn’t stop thinking about her smile.

Ian Reginald, what is wrong with you?

[wellesleyunderground]

Wellesley Underground’s Holiday Guide to Wellesley-Owned Businesses: November 2019

The Good Supply / Image Credit: The Good Supply

Looking for your holiday gifts? Check out Wellesley Underground’s crowd-sourced list of Wellesley-owned businesses (updated for 2019)! Compiled by Hoi-Fei Mok ‘10, WU Managing Editor.

Pinterest Board of the Shops (incomplete)

Jewelry

Alumnati Jewelry by Stephanie Christie ‘00: Handmade Wellesley lamppost earrings

Ecru Collection by Kara Templeton '12: Jewelry, home decor, and stationery

Kindred Spirit Studios by Michelle Davis Petelinz '78: Jewelry, home decor

Lauren Wimmer Jewelry by Lauren Wimmer ‘98: Jewelry

Mala Shah Design by Mala Shah ‘98: Metalworks and Reiki-infused jewelry

Ready-Made by Jenn Meng ‘13: Materials-focused jewelry brand offering minimal, everyday pieces that are affordable, hypoallergenic, super strong, and tarnish-free.

Porcelain and Stone by Kimberly Huestis '05: Nautically inspired jewelry

Space Mermaid by Stephanie Carbone '93: Sky and sea inspired jewelry

Urban Witchcraft by Elena Gauvin ‘13: hand fabricated sterling silver gemstone jewelry with a gothic feel 

Wellesley Voices For Disability: Wellesley earring and necklace set, scarf and hat set, fountain pen, bookmark, keyboard covers and more. 

Art & Crafts

A Riot of Color by Susan Eiseman Levitin '85: Hand-dyed yarns

Achiaa Paper and Pen by Rebecca Amponsah ‘08: Handmade paper goods and lettering

Alyssa Sketch’d by Alyssa Torres ‘09: Original illustrations/art and jewelry

Art Without A Frame by Hoi-Fei Mok ‘10: Original illustrations/art from the Dragon Fruit Project, an oral history project of queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders

Cardiology Cards by Tamar Zmora ‘11: Break up Cards

ChemKnits Creations by Rebecca Brown ‘06: Hand dyed yarns

Connie-Chen.com by Connie Chen ‘17: Calligraphy commissions, prints, bookish apparel, oblique holders, penmanship lessons 

DisaporicArts by Jenny Jean ‘13: Modern digital art prints

Fran Decker by Fran Decker '80: Original paintings, prints, tiles and notecards

Genevieve Calligraphy by Genevieve Goldleaf ‘12: Botanical illustrations and custom calligraphy

The Grey Fox Studio by Katherine Grey '08: Printmaking, drawing & painting

KT Obermanns by KT Obermanns '07: Illustrations, portraits, pinups, and caricature

Leslie Ordal Fibre Arts by Leslie Ordal ‘04: Handspun yarns, handwoven scarves, and other fibre arts. Lessons and workshops in the Toronto, Ontario, area.

Map Attic by Alex Azzi ‘15: Block-printed holiday cards, resin jewelry, vintage map crafts, ceramics, and abstract fluid paintings.

Misc Midwest by Marie Clymer Sarnacki '13: Wooden coasters and fridge magnets with a Wellesley design

Miyun Makes by Gena Hong ‘12: handmade pottery inspired by Korean traditions.

Monica Starr Creations by Monica Starr Feldman ‘14: Leather luggage tags, metal flower bouquets, embossed stationary, scarves, mason jar cozies, metal & wood working

My Big Pink Crafty Box by Sophia Giordano '09: Feminist crafts

Pick Two Pottery by Dana Lamb ‘99: Pottery

Singing Whale Stained Glass by Amy Putnam ‘90: Handmade stained glass art and shattered glass pins, plus chainmaille bracelets and earrings, including Wellesley inspired pieces.

Stephanie Hessler by Stephanie Hessler ‘84: Wellesley inspired prints, apparel, homewares

Tiny Small Joys by Alyssa Kayser-Hirsh '14: handmade books, calendars, notebooks, and planners

Wear I’ve Been by Samaa Ahmed ‘13: Art designs on throw pillows, prints, mugs, tote bags and more.

Kacie Lyn Martinez by Kacie Lyn Martinez ‘09: fiber artist who weaves tapestries and other fiber art 

Photography

Az Bulutlu by Eylul Dogruel ‘07: Skyscapes, travel and abstract photography, prints and merchandise.

JezRebelle by Jess Planos '10: Wellesley photos on prints, apparel, homewares

Meera Graham Photography by Meera Mohan ‘09: Nature Prints for Sale, Headshots & Candid Portraiture

Vero Kherian Photography by Veronique (Chau) Kherian ‘05: Professional Portraits and Headshot Photography in the SF Bay area  

Health & Skincare

Beautycounter by Jen Askin Pollock ‘99: Safer, high-performing products for the whole family

Box Naturals by Irene Kim ‘99: Luxe towelettes with organic essential oils

Cocofloss by Chrystle Cu '05: Flavored dental floss

EmmGerri by Karen and Kristi Jordan: Skincare lotion

Eu’Genia Shea by Naa-Sakle Akuete ‘08: Shea butter 

Just Botanicals by Sonya Funaro ‘00: Handcraft organic, ethically-sourced skincare  

Hubba Hubba by Megan (MJ) Pullins `94: The oldest alternative adult store in New England, stocking everything from corsets, club clothes, lingerie, and all sorts of sex toys.

Lioness by Liz Klinger: Smart vibrator

Maum Goods Co. by Helen (Tak) Kingery ‘01: Handmade essential oil products for wellness and balance

TATCHA Beauty by Victoria Tsai ‘00: Japanese based skincare products

Fashion and Apparel 

A Gifted Baby by Amelia Gray ‘03: Online boutique for babies and little people focussing on small and emerging designers, ethical production practices and women-owned labels. Alums are friends and family, use code “weloveyou20much” for the 20% f&f discount:).

Baby Blast Off by Emily Bennett: Baby clothes

Catie’s Natives by Jennifer Roesch ‘92: Shirts, hoodies, and accessories that show city pride. Developed and designed by Jennifer’s 10 year old daughter. Featured in Time Out NY. 10% of profits support Hartley House which provides social services to residents of Hell’s Kitchen, NY.

Charlotte and Asher by Laura Hahn ‘06: Fashionable diaper bags

Cliobags by Alejandra Zambrano: Handmade bags

Emma Finney by Kristin Bunce ‘00: Bags and clutches

Orange Soda Baby by Dorothy Hsiung '05: Whimsical children's clothing

The Outrage by Claire Schlemme ‘06: Feminist clothing and accessories with a portion of profits to women’s empowerment orgs.

Satya Twena by Satya Twena ‘05: Hats and millinery 

Stoptiques by Olga Vidisheva '07: Apparel and accessories

Wellesley Class of 1990: Purple W capes!  Made of durable material - great for wearing as a cape, using a picnic blanket, keeping your car seat clean, etc.

Wellesley Class of 2003: Wellesley lamp post shirts, baby apparel, and accessories

Wellesley Class of 2007: Wellesley apron (“We can stand the heat!”), baby and kids apparel

Wellesley Club of Columbus, OH: Wellesley insignia whistle

Swells Swag by Sarie Hale-Alper ‘04: Wellesley-themed designs on a variety of apparel and accessories.

Food & Care Packages

ChocolatesU by Amy Camargo ‘94: Chocolates

Ice Cream Jubilee by Victoria Lai ‘01: 6 ice cream pints, shipped nationwide

Montecarlos Estate by Carlota Batres ‘09: Coffee

Off The Beaten Path Food Tours by Lizzie Bell '03: Food tours in MA

Sky Vineyards by Skyla Olds ‘99: Wines

Sunny Exchange by Connie Su ‘09 and Jennifer Lim ‘06: Care packages

Takeout Kit by Rachael Blanchard Lake '07: Shelf-stable meal kit

Tranquil Tuesdays by Charlene Wang '03: Tea and teaware

Toys

My Muse Dolls by Torlisa Jeffery ‘06: Customizable dolls

Animal Care

Newbury Paws by Andrea Fowler '07: Harnesses for large dogs

Wellesley DC Club: Wellesley pet bowls

Domesticat: Rocío Garza Tisdell ‘07: modern-design cat furniture and accessories

Books & Zines

DefinitiveLeigh by Leigh Morrison '15: Feminist zines

Children’s photo books by Cristi Carlstead ‘01: Colors, alphabet and numbers from various countries around the world Romance Novels by Kate Broad ‘06, writing as Rebecca Brooks: sexy contemporary feminist romance

Jambo Book Club by Mijha Butcher Godfrey ‘98: Receive two-three age-appropriate children’s books each month that feature a child of color as the star. Jambo books show children of color in situations where children’s literature rarely places them - making friends, raising pets, loving grandparents and fighting dragons. The books arrive with a personalized letter in boxes beautifully decorated with art that celebrates the joy of childhood. We serve children aged 0-13.

General Home:

Domesticat by Rocío Garza Tisdell ‘07: posters, more products in development

TAIT Design Co. by Audrey Elkus ‘18: Toys + Homewares designed and assembled in Detroit and 100% made in USA. Minimalist, mid-century modern, built to last and make great gifts. Thanks for checking us out : )!

Professional Services

Abilities Dance: Boston-based physically-integrated dance company. Able to perform at holiday parties, fundraisers, and all types of events. Always willing to negotiate rates for W alums. 

Grace Astrology by Elisabeth Grace ‘83: Professionally certified astrologer; life strategist. Astrology is a powerful tool for understanding why you are the way you are; what you need in order to feel fulfilled and why things happen when they do. Improve your timing and your relationships. Based in New York -- available for parties, fundraisers, speaking/teaching engagements.  

Leslie Ordal: Writing and editing, with a specialty in medicine and science but other fields also welcome. Ad copy, journal manuscripts, etc.--my clients have ranged from Big Pharma to artisans to graduate students. Discount on my usual rate for W alums! Makefast Workshop (Maura Atwater ‘08): Prototyping consultancy; hardware, software, and musical instrument design.

[arthurhwalker]

2019, Buying Guidance

Buying a computer, a smartphone, or tablet in 2019 is different than it has been in years past. Usually, I'm lurking in anticipation of my "next", and have a lot of ready recommendations for friends and family. That isn't to say there aren't a lot of great options, they just seem to be more arcane.

My current technology arc consists of incrementally shedding Apple, Google, Microsoft, and any hardware, or digital service, that doesn't provide me with a great deal of value. Also, I'm looking for those services and products that have a community around them, and with whom one can have some kind of relationship.

I look at everyone; Apple, Asus, Dell, Google, HP, Huawei, LG, Microsoft, MSI, Samsung, Vaio, before I make a purchase. I look at their products, support documentation, warranty, social media presence, how transparent they are with consumers, and whether or not they understand how to engage in basic marketing and commerce.

So, what's good? The plucky upstarts and potential market disruptors first.

Pine64

From the FAQ on their site:

"What is Pine A64? The Pine A64 is an index card sized 64-bit single board computer. It can perform like your desktop or portable PC with browsing the Internet, playing games, watching video, and execute programs like spreadsheets and word-processing. The Pine A64 board can also play ultra high definition 4Kx2K video."

I waited in the queue for almost a year to be able to buy this $99 laptop. They sell them at zero or little profit so people can tinker with them, learn, and make stuff. They're working on a tablet, more powerful "Pro" version of their laptop, and a phone. It can run 64 bit Ubuntu, Debian based Linux things, and Android 5.1.

I cannot wait to get my PineBook next month and start monkey'ing around with it. Also, it comes in completely unadorned white, AKA Stickertown! I need to start gathering my adhesive sartorial accoutrements now. 

Pop!_OS, and System76

I've been using their Pop!_OS with my Lenovo Thinkpads for a couple of months, and really like it. With Canonical focusing Ubuntu away somewhat from the desktop user, going to a curated version, like Pop!_OS, tends to deliver a better experience. System76 has a live Pop!_OS Chat where I've gotten help and guidance along the way.

I resisted installing Pop!_OS for a while, because it looked kind of cool. I know, right? Linux isn't supposed to be "cool". So I was wary, haha.

Pop!_OS is, basically, set up the way I would set up vanilla Ubuntu after some tinkering. It has AMD or Nvidia Drivers and GPU switching baked in, power management options, and the only thing I had to install with the terminal was GIMP. Everything else I know and love was in the Pop!_Shop. Pop!_OS 18.10 get regular updates, and they're always adding keen new things to their offerings.

Where vanilla Ubuntu is kind of squeaky, garish, and clunky, Pop! is quiet, nocturnal, and polished. It encrypts your install by default, full disk, out of the box with minimal effort. "Out of the box, with minimal effort" is something I say a lot with Pop!. It's just really (really) nice. I'm a fan, bought the t-shirt, put the stickers on my laptop, all the things.

I haven't tried their hardware, and while I'll be sticking with a Thinkpad for mobile computing, their mini "Meerkat" and Thelio Desktops are very compelling options. System76 isn't very transparent about the types of displays offered with their desktops, or their laptops, but have responded swiftly to my queries by email, and via social media.

They are very transparent about their internal components, and have an array of options, including AMD on their Thelio line, for folks looking to distance themselves from Intel. The Thelio desktops look very nice, with the only flaw being no IO up front. Everything else is custom, with open source daughter boards, and other keen aesthetic features.

I worry more about which configuration of Thelio I would get, than what I'd actually use it for. I just want one.

Recently, Pop!_OS got featured on the Linus Tech Tips YouTube Channel, as a gaming platform. A. Linux. Gaming. Platform. Yes, you heard that correctly. 

ReMarkable

This continues to be a good value, for a product that receives frequent quality of life updates. For minimalists looking to replace all the paper in their lives, this device delivers. I really like that they don't stop making it better, simply because the makers believe in the form factor and use case.

ReMarkable has a lot of competition in the hardware space, but I haven't seen much in the software space that is half as good. The ability to nest notes and documents in folders and organize your work is an incredibly attractive feature. The Linux-based operating system is incredibly stable, and reliable.

The ReMarkable tablet isn't fast, or cutting edge, but it feels really nice to use. It's easy on my eyes, and the hand taking notes and reading documents. It really is just like paper, only better, and taking up way less space in my bag.

Light Phone 2

I love E Ink devices, particularly when they aren't being used simply to read ebooks. Marketed as "a simple 4G phone with e-ink, messaging & other essential tools—a phone that actually respects you," the Light Phone 2's marketing is compelling. The promotional video hits all the right notes and feels for anyone that is in a love/hate relationship with their smartphone.

This is definitely me, and I ordered the couples package for my wife and I. From the two surveys I've received, and the updates they've posted, this is something I've only grown more excited for. The very simple and elegant aesthetics of the device are interesting to me, and I can't wait to have one in hand. It's gotten bad enough that I lurk on Ebay, looking for a deal or steal on their first Light Phone. Ugh, haha.

On to my favorite services.

Discord

I pay the monthly for their upgraded service. I'm not entirely sure what I get for my subscription, but I don't care, the service is that good, and I want to support it. For chatting with my friends, playing games, communicating, community curation, and similar, Discord is doing it right. Their user experience is good, even if the user interface is a little confusing at first.

The confusion comes with being used to Skype, or Face Time, and a distinctly limited feature set. With Discord I keep figuring things out, and saying "oh, it can do this? And, also, this? Cool". Discord also works pretty much everywhere, on everything, with no service interruptions (that I've been aware of). I can use with a Linux machine with a dedicated app, in a browser tab, or on my smartphone, whatever I want.

I can use it to communicate text, images, video, audio, broadcast my desktop, all the things. Keen. 

ProtonMail

End-to-end, client side encrypted, with servers located in Switzerland outside of US and EU jurisdictions, and available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Turkish, Ukrainian. I am getting a paid account soon, and their Linux bridge is in beta.

Obvious privacy advantages aside, I really like the service, the options they provide, and their pricing structure. They have a really nice web client, and dedicated iOS and Android apps. It feels like email done right, as a product that you pay for, as opposed to you being the product, or part of some other service you're passively subsidizing.

Feels good. Definitely considering a paid version.

Lutris and Steam For Linux

Linux Gaming used to be an oxymoron. It just wasn't that great, but with Steam Play + Proton I can play Skyrim, with a controller, on my Linux machine. I click a box, hit play, it downloads some things, and boom, I'm good to go. I haven't explored all the different games compatible with this new service, but it looks to be expanding every day.

Lutris is a newer service, and was recently added to the Pop Shop on Pop!_OS. From Wikipedia:

"Lutris is a FOSS game manager for Linux-based operating systems. Lutris has one-click installation available for hundreds of games on its website, and also integrates with the Steam website. Installer scripts are available for some difficult to install WINE games including League of Legends."

The day when I can play Fallout 76 without maintaining a Windows partition is on the horizon. *Cherubs blow heavenly horns of glory* I'd really like this to take off, and take a small, but painful bite out of Microsoft's market share. I don't hate Microsoft, but I'd like them to hurt bad enough they work a little harder to make Windows not suck so hard.

Among the big manufacturers, there are a few that are doing it right, in my humble opinion.

Lenovo

I recommend them, particularly if you need a machine for getting work done, and running Linux. I've been part of their INsiders Customer Advocacy Program since late 2015, and have gotten a candid look at their company culture. Previous to that, I had been using their products since late 2011, mostly for game and web development, digital art, and publishing my novels.

A Thinkpad running Linux is my weapon of choice. The Yoga Book, more recently the C930, continues to be a singular companion device, with little else competing with it in the marketplace. Lenovo warranty, support, and customer service is still five stars. No one, absolutely no one, is more transparent about the hardware you're buying, down to the tiniest detail, I can look it up easily.

In the consumer range, they make a pretty good gaming rig, that I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry around. In fact, the look, IO, and cooling system on the new Legion series gaming laptops is better than many Thinkpads, excluding the P-Series of course. I want to try a new Legion with Linux, now that Lutris, Gamehub, and Steam are making gaming on Linux easier than ever.

On the horizon, Lenovo has some additions to their Yoga line that fall into a totally new zone. In my "lurking" browser tab are the Yoga S940 Laptop, and Yoga A940 Desktop. These devices are in the "Smart" category, packed with features. For the professional that wants style, as opposed to the tuxedo and dress shoes Thinkpad, these are just nice looking machines. I could see people in sales, design, marketing, and other fields that deal heavily in aesthetics, wanting devices like these.

Lenovo A940 Yoga Review

Why do I have a lurking tab in my browser full of Lenovo things? Because they regularly run sales. For the consummate lurker, one can get a new device from Lenovo for 30-45% off retail with patience, and a keen eye for clickable coupons. Lenovo understands how to commerce.

LG

If someone told me they were going to get an LG Gram (any model) I'd understand the desire, even though I haven't owned one myself. The reviews are all pretty positive, some are MIL-STD 810G, good value for the money, and they have a keen aesthetic about them. Also, you can get a couple of the models in white, AKA Stickertown!

Because LG is trying to break into the laptop market, they seem to making a pretty good product, or trying very hard. I'd look at the warranty and support options, warily, just because they're a little new to the game.

Their Gram 2-in-1 comes with a full size Wacom AES 2.0 Stylus Pen, with tilt, and 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity. There's no screwing around with bundles or paying an extra Benjamin for the pen, they just include it with the product, like everyone ought to. Also, they're very transparent about their displays, internals, and specs, so you know what you're buying.

I've read in a couple of places that they are supposed to get better Linux support by the next Kernel, but that there are some issues at the moment. If you're looking for something to run Windows, give them a look, but for Linux maybe hold off, or just get a Thinkpad.

Motorola

A lot of how Lenovo does business has bled over into Motorola. I've owned a couple Motorola Phones, both from before they joined Lenovo. I have friends and family that own the more current models, and are very satisfied. I'll probably own a Motorola in the future, as I'm probably on my last Apple iPhone.

They make a keen, and modular product. Smartphones have always struck me as an opportunity to stack accessories and components to produce value for different use cases. Motorola Mods let one do exactly that, swapping a battery pack, for a game controller, for example.

Samsung

For core computing, and the aspiring digital artist, Samsung makes a nice thing. I've owned their Notebook 9 Pro, Windows Phone, and a Galaxy Book 12. Where Samsung does really well is in aesthetics, making a device that is both nice to look at, and nice to use. They are very transparent about what you get, market their devices well, and offer pretty good value for the money.

When I bought my Notebook 9 Pro, the only thing extra I had to buy was the Staedtler Pen Stylus, because, hey, it was cool. With the Galaxy Book 12, it came with everything, keyboard accessory, S Pen, a nice charger, and even a 128GB microSD card to expand the storage. There was none of the Apple/Microsoft nonsense where you're paying hundreds of dollars extra for things that should just be included.

Even Samsung's new el-cheapo laptop, the Samsung Notebook Flash, is pretty great. Aesthetically, it's compelling. It looks to have a decent 1920x1080 display, lots of ports, a microSD slot for expandability, and you can get it in white, AKA Stickertown! It has eMMc Memory, that is slower for read and write speed, but tends to be very reliable. 

Conclusion

What are you using? Have a keen service or computing product that has served you well? Drop me a line, I’d like to know all the things.

[modernmythos-hq-blog]

Possible occupations

9-1-1 dispatcher

Abortion clinic worker

Actor

Aeronautical engineer brother (once tested fighter jet windshields by shooting dead turkeys at them which had to be sanctioned by PETA)

Airplane mechanic

Amusement park worker

Answering service employee

Apartment maintenance. (And it's kind of a cool job cause people leave things behind all the time when they move.)

App developer

Appliance store sales clerk

Architect

Architectural lighting designer

Army criminal investigator

Art professor

Artist

Attorney

Auto parts clerk

B&B owner

Bakery worker

Ballet dancer

Banker,

Barrista

Bartender

Bead store clerk/stocker

Bee Keeper

Bicycle shop employee

Biofeedback therapist

Biogas plant builder

Biomedical engineer (Interesting side note, you can kill an entire surgical suite of medical professionals with a faulty anesthesia machine. Quite the murder weapon.)

Black Jack dealer

Blackhawk pilot

Boat canvases maker

Book collator (assembling books page by page)

Bookstore clerk

Border patrol

Bridge painter

Bus driver

Business/Financial News network reporter/producer/anchor

College baseball director of operations

Cabinet maker

Cake decorator

Cannery worker

Car wash attendant

Carpenter

Carpet layer

Cartoonist

Caterer’s assistant

Cello maker

CEO of a high tech company

Chain restaurant pre-employment/set-up team (they travel from town to town to help 'set-up', stock and hire the employees that will ultimately work there. After a month of two, they go onto the next franchisee location and get THAT restaurant set-up, etc.)

Charter/private airline flight attendant.

Chef

Chemical engineer (does research on paper recycling, bioenergy, and fungi that digest wood)

Chemical scientist

Childcare worker

Chimney sweep

Chinook Helicopter Mechanic US Army

Chiropractor

Christmas Around the World sales person

Civil/structural engineer.

Clerk at candy store

Closet organizer

Coat check girl

College admissions counselor

College professor

Computer guy for a wine company

Computer programmer

Computer repair person

Consumer columnist.

Contract analyst

Cook

Copywriter

Counselor in the Juvenile Detention Center

Couture cat collar maker sold through Internet boutique

Crab shaker/crab cooker

Custom hat embroidery business owner

Custom racing bicycles designer and airbrusher.

Cytogenetic technologist

Dairy farmer

Dam operator

Data analyst

Deli worker

Dental assistant

Dental office practice manager

Development work for an art and history museum

Dialysis technician

Dietary aide at a nursing home,

Director of study abroad program

Disc jockey

Dishwasher

DJ

DMV clerk

Dog breeder/trainer

Dog walker

Drafting work for architecture firms

Egg farm worker

EMT

ESL teacher

Event specialist (sets up events at hotels)

Excavator bulldozer & crane operator

Executive assistant

Exterminator

Extreme sports videographer

FAA tower controller.

Factory assembly line

Field biologist specializing in insectivores. (Shrews are insane.)

Financial advisor

Fire chaplain

Firefighter

Fish physiologist

Fisheries biologist

Flight attendant

Florist

Foreclosure/default analyst/investigator.

Freelance wedding/event/aerial photographer/videographer

Funeral director

Game creator

Geek squad

General contractor

General counsel for a phone company

Geologist

Geophysicist

Glass blower

Golf pro shop employee

Grant writer

Graphic designer

Graphic novelist

Green building consultant

Grocery store cashier

Groundskeeper at a major league ball park

Group home worker

Guard at an art museum

Guy who cleans out the vacuum tubes once a year at the bank/hospital/Costco.

Hair stylist

Handyman

Head Start Teacher.

Heath care aide

Herbarium archivist

High school history teacher

High school teacher at an alternative school for near-dropouts.

Highway flag person

Historical remodeler (carpenter)

Home help for families with special needs children. (help out around the house, help out with the kids, babysit when the parents need time to themselves.

Horse groomer (in the competitive horse world the equivalent of a golfer's caddy)

Horticulturist

Hostess at a café.

Hot tub sales person

Hotel employee

House inspector.

House painter

Housekeeper.

Human resources

Human resources for the research and marketing arm of a pet food company

Information (411) operator

Instructor at a college

Insurance adjuster

Insurance salesman

Interior designer

Investigate allegations of abuse and neglect of people with disabilities

IRS worker

Jail Commander

Jewelry design/repair

Journalist

Judo instructor

Juvenile Detention worker

Kindergarten teacher

Landscape architect

Lawn service/snowplow operator

Librarian

Life guard

Logger

Magazine editor

Mail carrier (mail carriers know A LOT about the people on their streets.)

Management consultant

Map editor/producer for a navigation systems company.

Marine biologist

Math professor

Mechanic

Mechanic

Mechanical designer

Mechanical engineer

Mediator

Medical examiner

Medical information sales

Medical records scanner

Medical social worker

Mental health therapist

Microbiologist

Mill worker

Model

Montessori teacher

Morgue attendant

Motel clerk

Movie critic

Nail technician

Nanny

Neon sign repair in the LED age

Night club worker "working door"

Nighttime office maintenance/property manager (which gives access to all kinds of offices!)

Nonprofit administrator

Nurse

Nursery owner

Nursing home worker

Occupational therapist

Office building cleaner

Office Manager/Bookkeeper

Oncology nurse

Organic farmer

Otter tech for the Department of Conservation

Pastor

Patient finances at hospital

Personal trainer business owner

Pet shop worker

Pet transport business (takes puppies to and from the vet or groomers, or gets rescue dogs to new families across the country.)

Pharmaceutical salesman (we affectionately say "drug dealer" haha),

Phone banker

Phone nurse

Photographer

Physicist

Pizza chef

Planer operator at a mill

Police Academy cadet trainer

Police dispatcher

Pool maintenance person

Preloader for long haul trucks

Preschool dance teacher

Preschool teacher

Printers

Prison guard

Professional genealogist

Proofreader

Psychiatric nurse

Psychic

Psychologist

Public radio producer

Quality control inspector for commercial construction

Ranch hand,

Real estate agenT

Real estate management.

Receptionist at a naturopathic (or any) clinic

Recycling equipment engineer.

Reporter

Research assistant

Retired radio on-air personality.

Road crew supervisor

Roofer

Sand pit owner/operator

Sandblaster

School secretary

Scientists that work on lab animals

Seamstress

Security officer

Senior Theatre materials publisher

Shelving assembler (assembling and disassembling shelves in a warehouse as stock changed)

Shoe store employee

Sides of beef and other freezer meat seller

Singer in small clubs

Ski lift repair tech

Social worker

Software analyst

Software engineer

Soldier

Songwriter

Spanish teacher

Speech language pathologist

Spider researcher (extracts venom from deadly spiders)

State safety radio network monitor

Stock market trader

Stock photographer

Storage facility owner

Submarine engineer

Substitute teacher

Summer camp counselor

Surgeon

Systems programmer

Tattoo artist

Tea shop owner

Teach art to very senior citizens at a residential retirement home. (fascinating mix of humor and pathos)

Teach teachers how to use technology in their classrooms

Tech writer

Teflon coater

Telephony installer

Therapist

Tie-dye artist.

Tile setter

Time share seller

Tour director

Toy inventor

Translator

Trouble shooter for a college

Truck driver

TV weatherman

Urban planner

Usher for the Opera

Varsity soccer coach

Veterinarian assistant,

Volunteer reader for SMART

Warehouse worker

Warehouse worker (forklift operator)

Water therapy swimming for injured dogs.

Waterfront engineer who also does wind power

Web designer

Weight Watchers Weigher

Welder in residential home construction (does design work, like railings and structural pieces for houses built into rocks on a mountain.)

Wildlife photographer

Window trimmer (designed windows for shoe stores)

Women’s clothes sales person

Wood worker

Yoga instructor

[scotchandwine22]

Website Designing & Development - Scotch and Wine

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[scifigeneration]

When AI meets your shopping experience it knows what you buy – and what you ought to buy

by Michael Milford and Gary Mortimer

Reacting to what you buy, then predicting what you want to buy. Shutterstock/nmedia

Whether you do your shopping online or in store, your retail experience is the latest battleground for the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning revolution.

Major Australian retailers have begun to realise that they have a lot to gain from getting their AI strategy right, with one currently recruiting for a Head of AI and Machine Learning supported by a team of data scientists.

The newly developed Woolworths division WooliesX aims to bring together a diverse group of teams, including technology, customer digital experience, e-commerce, financial services and digital customer experience.

All about crunching the data

To understand the opportunities and threats for all major retailers, it’s useful to understand why artificial intelligence is back on the agenda. Two crucial things have changed since the initial forays into AI decades ago: data and computing power.

Computing power is easy to see. The smartphone in your hand has millions of times more computational power than the bulky computers of decades ago. Companies have access to almost unlimited computing power with which to train their AI algorithms.

The other critical ingredient is the scale and richness of data available, especially in retail.

Artificial intelligence systems – especially learning techniques such as machine learning – thrive on large, rich data sets. When fed appropriately with this data, these systems discover trends, patterns, and correlations that no human analyst could ever hope to discover manually.

These machine learning approaches automate data analysis, enabling users to create a model that can then make useful predictions about other similar data.

Why retail is suited for AI

The rapidity of AI deployment in different fields depends on a few critical factors: retail is particularly suitable for a few reasons.

The first is the ability to test and measure. With appropriate safeguards, retail giants can deploy AI and test and measure consumer response. They can also directly measure the effect on their bottom line fairly quickly.

The second is the relatively small consequences of a mistake. An AI agent landing a passenger aircraft cannot afford to make a mistake because it might kill people. An AI agent deployed in retail that makes millions of decisions every day can afford to make some mistakes, as long as the overall effect is positive.

Some smart robot technology is already happening in retail with Nuro.AI partnering with grocery behemoth Kroger to deliver groceries to customers’ doorsteps in the United States.

But many of the most significant changes will come from deployment of AI rather than physical robots or autonomous vehicles. Let’s go through a few AI-based scenarios that will transform your retail experience.

Your shopping habits

AI can detect underlying patterns in your shopping behaviour from the products you buy and the way in which you buy them.

This could be your regular purchases of rice from the supermarket, sporadic purchases of wine from the liquor store, and Friday night binges on ice cream at the local convenience store.

Whereas inventory and sales database systems simply track purchases of individual products, with sufficient data, machine learning systems can predict your regular habits. It knows you like cooking risotto every Monday night, but also your more complex behaviour like the occasional ice cream binge.

At a larger scale, analysis of the behaviour of millions of consumers would enable supermarkets to predict how many Australian families cook risotto every week. This would inform inventory management systems, automatically optimising stocks of Arborio rice, for example, for stores with lots of risotto consumers.

This information would then be shared with friendly suppliers, enabling more efficient inventory management and lean logistics.

Efficient marketing

Traditional loyalty scheme databases like FlyBuys enabled supermarkets to identify your frequency of purchase of a particular product – such as you buying Arborio rice once a week – and then send an offer to a group of consumers who were identified as “about to buy Arborio rice”.

New marketing techniques will move beyond promoting sales to customers who are already likely to buy that product anyway. Instead, machine learning recommenders will promote garlic bread, tiramisu or other personalised product recommendations that data from thousands of other consumers has suggested often go together.

Efficient marketing means less discounting, and more profit.

Pricing dynamics

The pricing challenge for supermarkets involves applying the right price and the right promotion to the right product.

Retail pricing optimisation is a complex undertaking, requiring data analysis at a granular level for each customer, product and transaction.

To be effective, endless factors need to be examined, like how sales are impacted by changing price points over time, seasonality, weather and competitors’ promotions.

A well-crafted machine learning program can factor in all of these variations, combining them with additional details such as purchase histories, product preferences and more to develop deep insights and pricing tailored to maximise revenue and profit.

Customer feedback

Historically, customer feedback was attained via feedback cards, filled out and placed in a suggestions box. This feedback had to be read and acted upon.

As social media increased, it became a platform to express feedback publicly. Accordingly, retailers turned to social media scraping software in order to respond, resolve and engage customers in conversation.

Moving forward, machine learning will play a role in this context. Machine learning and AI systems will enable for the first time bulk analysis of multiple sources of messy, unstructured data, such as customer recorded verbal comments or video data.

Reduction in theft

Australian retailers lose an estimated A$4.5 billion annually in stock losses. The growth in self-service registers is contributing to those losses.

Machine learning systems have the ability to effortlessly scan millions of images, enabling smart, camera-equipped point of sale (POS) systems to detect the different varieties of fruits and vegetables shoppers place on register scales.

Over time, systems will also get better at detecting all the products sold at a store, including a task called fine-grained classification, enabling it to tell the difference between a Valencia and Navel orange. Hence there would be no more “mistakes” in entering potatoes when you are actually buying peaches.

In the longer term, POS systems may disappear completely, as in the case of the Amazon Go store.

Computers that order for you

Machine learning systems are rapidly getting better at translating your natural voice into grocery lists.

Digital assistants such as Google Duplex may soon create shopping lists and place orders for you, with French retailer Carrefour and US giant Walmart already partnering with Google.

An evolving AI retail experience

As you move through life stages you get older, occasionally get unwell, you may get married, perhaps have kids, or change careers. As life circumstances and spending habits of a customer change, models will automatically adjust, as they already do in areas like fraud detection.

The current reactive system involves waiting for a customer to start buying nappies, for example, to then identify that customer as having just started a family, before following up with appropriate product recommendations.

Instead, machine learning algorithms may model behaviour, such as the purchases of folate vitamins and bio oils, then predict when offers should be sent.

This shift from reactive to predictive marketing could change the way you shop, bringing you suggestions you perhaps never even considered, all possible because of AI-related opportunities for both retailers and their customers.

About The Authors:

Michael Milford is a Professor at Queensland University of Technology and Gary Mortimer is an Associate Professor in Marketing and International Business at Queensland University of Technology.

This article was originally published on The Conversation, a Sci Fi Generation content partner.

[swifterm]

The belle époque for wine ecommerce

The belle époque for wine ecommerce. We are all now (finally) living in the ‘Golden Age’ of wine online, where the opportunities are enormous for those operators prepared to invest and put digital at the top of their agenda. That was the stand out message from The Buyer, they also cautioned the wine, retail and hospitality sectors about how to make the most of the universal switch to digital and that sales won’t necessarily be there long term without a real understanding of what you are doing online.

The approach to business is very much from the Robert Burns motto on life of fighting back from adversity, not taking no for an answer and keep on pushing for what you think is the right way forward. There are enormous opportunities, if businesses just opened their eyes to the possibilities of investing in digital and data to better understand what they are doing.

This is, quite simply, The Golden Age of wine online, providing we know how to make the most of it and don’t abuse the opportunity we have all been given. Something magical has happened in the wine industry. We are awake to the internet for the first time ever. It’s an amazing time in our life for the internet to allow wineries around the world to connect directly with consumers.

What’s particularly exciting is that the online opportunity is happening for all four cohorts of the wine industry that have combined together for the first to lead this innovation. Consumers, retailers, wineries and wholesalers, all together leaning into digital in a way we have never seen in the history of time. Crucially, though, each key area of trading has come together at the exact time so there is this cumulative gold rush taking place in digital.

The switch to digital is extraordinary and is taking place at an unprecedented rate all around the world. Which, in turn, is having a knock on impact on the way we all behave and act online. We are all now doing things in our personal lives that we would not have thought of 12 months ago – or were even possible to do. Like have a restaurant deliver a full three course meal to enjoy at home. Or, for many, getting used to having your groceries delivered at home.

We have seen video conferencing tools like Zoom become as important to business life as email. The launch of new online chat forums like Clubhouse and the huge impact Tik Tok has had in how we now expect to consume video in mini creative stories. These are not just “popcorn” tools for GenXers, but “we have all migrated and are all using these different platforms”.

The clearest example of just how big the switch to digital has been in the last year has been the enormous rise in sales of wine online. Before Covid-19 online sales accounted for about 2% of an average US winery’s sales. By November that average was up to 10% and is predicted to grow to 20% by 2030, according to Silicon Valley Bank.

Wine.com, one of the biggest US online wine retailers, which had only seen steady but slow growth over it 20 year history, suddenly saw a 119% increase in sales in 2020 on 2019, with 46m visits to it site. They are now succeeding beyond belief. The pandemic has made buying wine online part of the average consumer’s mind set, just as it has grocery shopping. The problem for those wineries and retailers that were not doing online before Covid-19 they are all now “scrambling” to try and catch up.

Even for those that did are finding it hard to keep up with demand and really struggling to formulate and harden the way they are doing business. But even those issues should not dampen any excitement about the key to the online wine world being “unlocked” and we’re all going to get smarter about it.

The switch to online is also blurring the boundaries between the different channels of the trade with more wholesalers now moving into DTC with their own ecommerce platforms like Proof by Southern Glazer’s in the US, and what Berkmann Wine Cellars did in the UK with its consumer platform during the first lockdown.

The hottest jobs in the wine industry are now in digital and e-wholesale. These two categories are unbelievably in demand for any recruiter and needed and necessary and it is hard to find people with any meaningful experience. The top talent in e-wholesale in the US are the ones who are working with top wineries, like E&J Gallo, to manage business with the major online retailers like Drizly, target.com and Instacart. Their primary objective is to work with those online players to see how they can build and extend their wine brands online.

It’s also how they can work together to help consumers find wines in new ways. What’s exciting for the wider wine industry is that the skills and experience that the early adopters in digital and e-wholesale develop will, in time, be shared with the rest of the sector.

Fundamentally what matters in this new way of trading is to query are you just driving more eyeballs to see more wines online, or are you, crucially, selling more cases of wine as a result? The answer is all about the processes being used, the consumer journey from searching to ordering to delivery. How much better can we all get at supporting our customers when they are online?

Time for change

The good news is everyone is re-evaluating what they are doing, and looking at how well their competitive set is performing. This was not happening before. That means wine sellers are trying to do a better job for the consumer, and that is a rising tide that raises everyone’s game.

Things are moving so fast that wine clubs and subscription sites are looking closely at the models they are offering and seeing what new elements and services they can offer, based on what the online market benchmarks are.

There are also new ways to access customers at home, be it tasting packs, predictive personalisation emails, text messaging or even Zoom. It’s now here forever.

The wine business is finally investing in computer management systems and CRM packages to run and automate so much of their back office operations, where the focus is finally how to sell and market wine, rather than how to make and distribute it.

Take personalisation as an example. Using advanced analytics ecommerce tools, like SwiftERM, identify the perfect selection of wines to present to each individual consumer, based on their own unique tastes, rather than lumping them into “a segment” of your database. You need never again see your customer churn increase for lack of personal attention in an ever changing world of wine appreciation. Especially as the individual’s taste matures throughout their lifetime.

Things are actually coming alive. Wineries are learning how to use these sophisticated tools (SwiftERM is 100% automatic – meaning zero human input necessary) and investing more money into them, which fuels innovation and economic growth. That’s amazing for the wine industry which is now coming alive to it’s true potential.

As a result the industry now has so many support networks looking to play their part in helping wine companies grow. Be it booking sites like OpenTable working with wineries, or ecommerce platforms like Shopify opening up online to more smaller wine businesses.

Looking forward  wine companies need to be watching social audio closely to see how that develops and whilst Clubhouse, in his view, is not, in his view, the perfect answer, its introduction has seen 35 different social audio platforms launched. Not all of them will survive, but what is has done is show social audio works and it will become part of how we communicate through social media with all the platforms incorporating audio in some way or other.

The next evolution in wine digital will be driven by how well different businesses and platforms are able to use their models and points of difference to acquire more customers and keep them, the next stage in this “golden era”.

All of this is going to fuel additional innovation. All the money that is being invested into the market will create a better way for consumers to buy and interact with wine.

As we learn what works and what doesn’t work – it drives the market forward and for me that is a great moment in time. That’s what the Belle Époque of wine is going to be about. It’s the fact the wine industry has been asleep for so long is now putting its dollars and attention on to something that has been driving other industries for a very long time. The good news is that because we were late to the game a lot of the tools we are able to use are commoditised, and we can build faster. That’s able to happen because of the modern technologies which means we are all going to be better for it.

We hope you enjoyed this article, intended to help improve our client’s profitability. It reflects the care SwiftERM offer, if you need help please ask, we can often help for free. If you haven’t already done so, then please enjoy a FREE month’s trial of our predictive personalisation software on your site, to see how powerful it is.

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