The automotive electronics field will move at lightning speed as the auto industry undergoes big transformations, says a strategist from auto supplier Dana. 

“There will be as many as 10 design revisions in the electrical and electronics area, where consumer expectations and the rate of development are both rapidly increasing,” says Jacqui Dedo, Dana’s chief strategy and procurement officer. 

Electronics have become a centerpiece of automotive technology, and that won’t change, she tells attendees of the Management Briefing Seminars here. 

“Every part of the vehicle has been impacted by electronics in the past 30 years, and today it accounts for more than 40% of a vehicle’s cost, up from 20% just 10 years ago,” Dedo says. 

More is to come quickly. “Electronics will continue to become more pervasive throughout the vehicle, with sensors, controllers and new innovations being used to improve existing systems.” 

The field’s focus will include adding functionality and finding “more ways to use the existing electrical infrastructure as it works to bring in the autonomous car,” she says. 

When that vehicle makes its world debut is open to debate. Theoretically, Dedo says, “the ultimate consumer-based value goal is to achieve an entire marketplace of autonomous fuel-cell-based vehicles.” 

But she warns such a lofty goal likely would result in unacceptable shareholder returns. “At the same time, focusing solely on short-term quarterly success from current needs and technology also will not prepare us for long-term success.” 

As electronics research and development picks up the pace,Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace -US$ 21.99 | We Heart It. $22. Sold on ccchinachic.com. Buy. As seen in.Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace other automotive areas won’t stand still. “Transformations will take place in the major categories of vehicle components and systems,” including powertrains, interiors and chassis platforms. 

For interiors, the rate of change will be relatively slow in the near future, but when the transformation comes, “it will be massive,‘Wintersweet’ Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace Elegant Jewelry Necklace on sale at reasonable prices.” Dedo predicts. 

“The revolutionary change for interiors will come with the success of the autonomous vehicle, when cars will be transformed into rolling offices, living rooms or whatever the consumer can dream up,” she says.Best Beautiful A-Line Princess Beading Embroidery Satin White Wedding Dress With Bowknot Strap sale. 

The autonomous car will make existing configurations for seating, controls, steering and entertainment obsolete, Dedo predicts. 

“It will be interesting to see if current interiors suppliers find competition from companies like Herman Miller, La-Z-Boy or even Ikea.” 

For chassis builders, major changes will center on new materials and the use of composites and carbon fibers, she says. “Ultimately, the industry will get to the lightweight ‘skateboard’ chassis, with nearly every model of an auto maker’s fleet built on a uniform chassis.”

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys will set the stage and hit the lights tonight for its Second Runway fashion show. 

Tonight's show will feature fashions taken right off the rack of Goodwill stores. Everything from casual to business attire,Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace -US$ 21.99 | We Heart It. $22. Sold on ccchinachic.com. Buy. As seen in.Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace evening and wedding wear and accessories. It's all taking place from 5 to 9 p.m. at Shaftman Performance Hall at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke to raise money for Goodwill. 

"We can show people what great items we have in our stores, how to put them together and also educate them about our mission-- how we give people a second chance and help them find work," said Lucie Touchton with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. The show will also include vignettes, showing some of the people who have had their lives changed because of Goodwill.Everything Health and Beauty related can be found at ccchinachic.com. Learn how to take care of your health and beauty here. 

There will be an auction and all items worn in the show will be up for sale. 

WSLS 10's Karen McNew and John Carlin will host tonight's event.

Health & Beauty shops have a wide variety of products that people cannot live without. The goal is to allow people to make indulgent purchases and to use their credit and debit cards to pay for these acquisitions. Without a credit card processing company, like Merchant Data Systems, these shops would only be able to accept cash. There are numerous companies that allow a business to have the ability to accept credit cards, but which one should a company go with? 

Others may offer services like rock bottom low rates, but do they offer mobile credit card processing? It is one of the newest and most advanced methods in ways to process electronic payments. Mobile payment is a way for beauty shows and health stores to sell their products outside of their retail location. There are many times that it is advantageous to take the business on the road. Sometimes being at a community or civic event is a great way to sell products and to get product recognition for increased future sales. Unfortunately, most of these locations may not even have some sort of electric hook up, rather, they are run by generators or they are outside with no sort of power. Thankfully, those who have a smartphone, which is most cell phone users,｛%｝ brings wireless dealers and retailers lower prices than any other wholesaler. All products available at online store.cell phone accessories wholesale can take advantage of this new and exciting program offered by Merchant Data. Simply swipe the credit card on the phone using a small reader that easily attaches to the phone. Its wild and innovative, but it is an amazing way to be able to process payments. Some fear that this is not safe and their credit cards could be compromised, but these transactions have complete PCI compliancy and are 100% safe. 

The online merchant knows that a great portion of their revenues also come from selling products on the web. Internet sales can be the backbone of any good company. Customers browse available products and fill the shopping cart with great items.Weddings Accessories consists of accessories for the bride, flower girls, bridesmaid and other items such as cake and performances of wedding. The e-commerce part of a business is one that cannot be ignored. A company must stay abreast of current developments and Merchant Data can give advice and help with tools to succeed. Because this mega processing company has had ample experience in helping others with websites, they have the experience and the knowledge to make an e-commerce site work. 

POS integration is one of the best ways to keep data all in a centralized location. New register systems can link with a network and allow a company to pull hourly reports and to always know the financial standing of the business. For those who dont want credit card terminals hanging around, some registers incorporate the credit card machines right on the side. These registers will allow a company to keep accurate financial reports and to be ahead of the game when it comes to sales totals. 

While Merchant Data specializes in merchant processing, they are also very aware of the difficulty of running a business these days. A merchant cash advance gives customers the options that cash is available during those slow periods. When hair products arent selling, then there is another choice. The program is called FAST CASH. It is similar to that of a cash advance that a person could obtain from their local loan establishment in their town. Usually a person shows their paystubs to obtain a loan. In this case, a company will have an average pulled from their processing history. The processing history is what is used to determine the loan amount. After the loans are disbursed, it is then repaid from future credit and debit card transactions. Its simple and easy to obtain and the loan doesnt require lengthy credit applications and in-depth financial histories like a bank. 

With merchant services like MDS provides,Elegant A-Line Floor-length Halter Bridesmaid Dresses With Beautiful Crystal Floral Brooch for sale. comes perks like invoicing solutions and capital funding, but that still doesnt touch the surface of what they can do for their customers. First, they use their years of experience and it allows them to give ample wisdom to those who use them. Second, they offer great rates because they can. As one of the largest processing companies in the country, they certainly have the ability to give great rates based on volume.

With expertise that has been nourished with over 30 years in the wedding business, it's no wonder that Weddingstar has the reputation for “Putting the Wow” in weddings. With a talented and dedicated in-house design staff, Weddingstar continually brings forth new and innovative wedding décor and accessories that perfectly fit the modern day bride and groom. With a vision second to none, Weddingstar has become one of the top go-to retailers for everything modern, bespoke and capable of creating a dream wedding. With today's couples even more set on creating the wedding they've always daydreamed about, it has become Weddingstar's job to show how to create such fanciful designs – and they've risen to meet the challenge with their newest inspirational manuals, the Weddingstar Style Lookbooks. Covering everything from invitations to thank you cards and aisle runners to favors, Weddingstar helps couple's envision what their perfect day can look like. With constantly evolving options, colors and designs Weddingstar has assured their spot as wedding aficionados with their newest release, Vineyard. 

Playing a central theme in the design of the newest lookbook, Weddingstar has cast one of their greatest evolving product lines – their customizable aisle runners. A classic staple of the traditional wedding, Weddingstar has taken this common-place wedding accessory and transformed it into a bespoke wedding adornment by offering the personalization options they are renowned for. With couples able to make a one-of-a-kind aisle runner for their special day by choosing from customization options that span material, color and design choice, they can ensure that their wedding accessories are unique and also fit into their wedding perfectly.Women Black And White Striped Stretch Low-Waist Denim Short/Hot Pant from china manufacturer. Plus, not only is each custom aisle runner an effortlessly addition into any couples idea of the perfect wedding, but with designs that flow within a larger collection of wedding décor and accessories on many of Weddingstar's aisle runners, they make it simple to keep a theme or color palette running throughout a couple's entire wedding. And, nothing makes wedding planning any easier than that! 

In the Vineyard Lookbook, couples can take a walk through the fragrant orchard of a winery as they see how to easily theme an entire wedding day from start to finish with the simple use of a collection of products. Within the pages of Vineyard, a burlap aisle runner serenely leads the way to the altar with a purple hued Vineyard Monogram emblazoned upon it.Best Beautiful A-Line Princess Beading Embroidery Satin White Wedding Dress With Bowknot Strap sale. If the Vineyard doesn't tickle your fancy, then see how an aisle can be transformed by the words of a French love poem which are inscribed on the Parisian Love Letter Aisle Runner, in the Parisian: Black and White Lookbook. Or, maybe you're still looking for that special “something blue” within the Blue Color Story Lookbook. Be inspired by the innovative use of aisle runners in each of three themed shoots to find the perfect piece for your wedding. No matter your theme, your colors or your venue, you're sure to find the perfect finishing touch for your ceremony with a custom aisle runner from Weddingstar. 

Weddingstar Inc. is one of the world’s leading designers, manufactures and retailers of wedding decorations and accessories. Dedicated to providing quality service to brides around the globe, Weddingstar ships to over 100 countries worldwide with distribution points in Europe, North America, Argentina, Australia and Russia. Featuring an ever-expanding selection of bridal accessories with over 3,000 different product offerings,‘Wintersweet’ Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace Elegant Jewelry Necklace on sale at reasonable prices. Weddingstar is a one stop destination for every wedding need. With 30 years of experience in the wedding industry and having received numerous business awards, Weddingstar has earned a reputation as the source for ‘Putting the Wow into Weddings.’

Military-like night-vision systems that quickly identify pedestrians, animals or road hazards in low-light conditions; airbags stowed in shoulder harnesses of seatbelts and the ability for drivers to customise the look of their dashboard instrument panels are apps which will drive growth in the automotive IC industry, reports IC Insights. 

These apps are currently deployed in high-end cars but will trickle down to more models soon. 

Added to backup cameras, electronic stability control, active-cruise control, and several other systems they are forecast to help the automotive IC market grow 52% from $18.2 billion in 2012 to $27.7 billion in 2016 - an average annual increase of 11% for the automotive IC market. 

Analogue ICs and MCUs are forecast to benefit most from the increasing electronic content within automobiles. Analogue ICs accounted for 41% of the 2012 automotive IC market. 

Analogue ICs are used in “traditional” applications such as to gauge input functions like speed measurement and for output functions like opening and closing power windows and adjusting power seats. One of the newer applications for analogue ICs in cars is LED lighting. Depending on the application, LED drivers and various converters are used to supply constant current despite variations in battery voltage. 

Microcontrollers accounted for 36% of the automotive IC market in 2012. 16-bit applications in chassis and safety applications (lane-detection warning, hands-free telematics, etc.) are increasing, but enhanced 8-bit and low-end 32-bit MCUs are competing for many of the same sockets as 16-bit controllers. Applications like anti-skid braking and airbag systems are solidly 16-bit now, but are transitioning to larger bit widths. 

Electronic parking assist could be a new sweet spot for 16-bit MCUs. These systems typically use two to four (but as many as eight) ultrasonic sensors to detect objects near the vehicle. Processing the additional information drives the requirements into the domain of 16-bit devices. 

The 32-bit chips are incorporated into powertrains to handle functions such as electronic throttle control, cylinder deactivation, variable valve timing, and fuel injection, and in next-generation chassis and safety systems including active high-end electronic stability control, complex smart airbag systems, and more. In addition, 32-bit MCUs are used to process sophisticated, real-time sensor functions within safety and crash-avoidance systems. 

Gesture recognition is a growing trend that is being incorporated both inside and outside the car. 32-bit MCUs are at the core of many emerging gesture-recognition systems and in many ways, they are an extension of gesture-recognition technology found onboard in game controllers. 

Though the automotive market represents only about 7% of total IC sales, increasing electronic system content in motor vehicles is forecast to result in this segment being one of the fasting-growing end-use categories through 2016.Retro Texture Jewelry Necklace Colorful Flowers Purple Drills Fashion Necklace sell well.

India’s leading direct selling beauty company, Oriflame, on Wednesday announced its association with Indian fashion designer Ritu Kumar to introduce an exclusive range of accessories. 

The association, which marks 17 successful years of Oriflame in India, also highlights the company’s new brand promise “Your Dreams Our Inspiration”. 

The limited edition range of stoles, handbags and wallets, under ‘Label’ by Ritu Kumar was unveiled by a signature fashion show in the presence of Niklas Frisk, Vice President and Head of Oriflame South Asia and Managing Director, Oriflame India and Sharmili Rajput, Marketing Director, Oriflame India. 

Exemplifying the theme, the evening featured performances by Hari and Sukhmani, the dynamic music duo from ‘The Dewarists’ fame. 

The musical extravaganza was followed by an enchanting fashion show where renowned models like Indrani Dasgupta, Sonalika Sahai, Tina Chatwal, Donna Masih, Shipra Malika and Aanchal Oberoi, amongst others, walked the ramp. 

Dressed in Ritu Kumar’s ethnic outfits, the models showcased the new collection. 

Ritu Kumar, who is the recipient of the Padma Shri Award 2013 for her exceptional and distinguished service in the field of fashion, textile and craftsmanship, was present at the event. 

Speaking on the occasion, Niklas Frisk, President and Head of Oriflame South Asia and Managing Director Oriflame India, said, “Over the years, Oriflame has constantly been motivated towards fulfilling the dreams of people. This motivation has been adopted in our new brand promise ‘Your Dreams Our Inspiration’. Continuing our successful endeavour to provide best quality products, and encourage the efforts of our leaders, we are very proud to be associated with India’s foremost designer Ritu Kumar to present an exclusive collection of beautiful handbags, stoles and wallets." 

Talking about Ritu Kumar’s association with Oriflame India, Sharmili Rajput, Marketing Director, Oriflame India said, “Ritu Kumar is synonymous with the Indian fashion industry. Her work is internationally acclaimed and has paved the way for a dynamic modern India. Both Ritu Kumar and Oriflame are inspired by traditions and nature and this inspiration is reflected in Oriflame’s products and Ritu Kumar’s designs." 

"The collection is a unique combination of beauty, style and Indian tradition,Retro Texture Jewelry Necklace Colorful Flowers Purple Drills Fashion Necklace sell well. and we are honored to be associated with the First Lady of the Indian Fashion Industry, Ritu Kumar," Rajput said. 

Talking about the range and her association with Oriflame India, Ritu Kumar said, “An association with Oriflame extends both our images, to reach out to women globally. Women are today confident in themselves and the choices they make, a part of this is to be able to access accessories, fashion cosmetics etc. which enhance personalities." 

She said: "The range is professionally created by a team who realizes the importance of aesthetics in everyday life. Today's woman is comfortable in her own identity, and the range we have created is both classical in its inspiration and blends with the products from Oriflame - to create a synergy between the two brands which enhance each other.”

The state of Alabama will provide a grant to assist with the construction of a permanent facility to teach electrical and electronic training. 

Governor Robert Bentley says $50,000 will help upgrade the program currently offered at Bevill State Community College's Fayette campus. 

The school is currently building a permanent facility for the program and the Appalachian Regional Commission will provide funding to purchase advanced training equipment. 

Officials say the building will have a modern laboratory to provide students with the most up-to-date tools and techniques in the field.Online shopping for Sports & Outdoors at ccchinachic.com.Sports & Outdoor 

The program will train students for careers and assist adults who are seeking new careers or retraining.Here are some Home Products and items which contain carcinogens. It is best to avoid these products in your home.‘Wintersweet’ Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace Elegant Jewelry Necklace on sale at reasonable prices. 

Bentley says the program will eventually be expanded to include high school students.

REDDITCH-based electronics group Solid State has said it expects revenue to hold up well in the second half, boosting a “reasonable” start to its first half of the year. 

The company, which supplies specialist industrial/ruggedised computers, electronic components, antennas, microwave systems and battery power solutions to the electronics market, said the traditional buying patterns of its customers had shown little sign of change. 

In an AGM statement,Best Beautiful A-Line Princess Beading Embroidery Satin White Wedding Dress With Bowknot Strap sale. the firm said order intake remained strong and margins were holding up well. 

"The acquisition of Q-par in May of this year has proven to be a successful one. The integration has been smooth and we are pleased to announce that trading at Q-par in this financial year is comfortably ahead of the comparative period in 2012.High quality Ladies Candy-colored Skinny Casual Low-Rise Stretch Jean Denim Shorts sale. New client discussions are buoyant, most notably with export opportunities in the transportation sector at an advanced stage,” it said. 

"The board believes that Solid State is demonstrating its resilience in markets that continue to reflect a cautious approach to capital expenditure. The niches that we service remain in demand with sentiment improving." 

The business, which employs 140 people, serves niche markets in oil & gas production, medical, construction,Everything Health and Beauty related can be found at ccchinachic.com. Learn how to take care of your health and beauty here. security, military and field maintenance. The company acts as both a distributor to OEMs and bespoke manufacturer of specialist units to clients with complex requirements.

Silaayi is a famed and striking brand in Pakistan. They work for he ladies garments from many years ago. The designs so many types of dresses for seasonal and casual wear for all age of women. In their newly collection she design elegant devise for Eid day special. In this collection they design the long shirt with pajama, trouser and stunning dopata.These dresses are use for Eid day and for casual wear.‘Wintersweet’ Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace Elegant Jewelry Necklace on sale at reasonable prices. These dresses are made with the cotton and silk. 

In this collection used elegant colors like light and bright both for casual. On Eid every one wants to wear the best dress which is dramatic and comfortable too. These dresses are very suitable for every one on Eid and after it these dresses are wearable as casual wear.Here are some Home Products and items which contain carcinogens. It is best to avoid these products in your home. The A-line kurta is also use in this collection with innovative design. 

The different style of long kurta are embellish with the stone, motifs, beads, pearl and embroidery on it.Online shopping for Sports & Outdoors at ccchinachic.com.Sports & Outdoor The laces and heavy embroidery on its border and sleeves look awesome and outstanding. 

The light embellishments on these shirts are seemed to be gorgeous and striking. These dresses are perfect use on casual evening party wear for women and young girls. In this collection the designers design the western and eastern dresses mix with trendy and modish style.

Fashion is continuously evolving, and today's formal trends are much different than those of the past.Best Beautiful A-Line Princess Beading Embroidery Satin White Wedding Dress With Bowknot Strap sale. Women and girls are choosing to wear short homecoming dresses to formal occasions, especially for homecoming and prom. Elegant, fashion-forward and fun,Everything Health and Beauty related can be found at ccchinachic.com. Learn how to take care of your health and beauty here. these short styles are embellished with the finest details that will surely make you stand out in the crowd. 

Especially since the weather is getting warmer, a light and flirty short homecoming dress is the perfect choice for those summer events. From strapless sweetheart necklines, to one-shoulder straps and beaded necklace-style halters, each Dressywomen dress is uniquely tailored to flatter all body types. Here's a chance to be creative when it comes to choosing an evening dress, and remember to pick one that is the most self-reflective. Don't be afraid to be bold and daring, after all,High quality Ladies Candy-colored Skinny Casual Low-Rise Stretch Jean Denim Shorts sale. it is those who take risks to look different that are remembered. 

From the runway shows to the pages of high fashion magazines, not to mention celebrity-studded events, super embellished short dresses are the latest trend. With a variety of details, including jeweled studs, chains and fringes, it's no wonder that singers like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift have chosen to perform on stage in Dressywomen's short styles. Lace is also a big trend for this season, and it is the perfect light fabric for warm weather occasions. Wear a short dress with a bright-colored lace overlay and tiny bead detail, or even a flowy chiffon dress with a tulle-layered wire hem skirt—and be this summer's fabulous fashionista. 

A lot can be done with a short cocktail dress. Dress it up with glamorous accessories, such as sparkly jewelry and high strappy shoes. Not to mention, you can add loose flowing hair and dramatic eye makeup to the mix for a true head-turning look. Keep a busy style simple with a neat up-do and natural makeup, as well as minimal to no jewelry accessories. It is important not to overtake a vibrant-colored or pattern print dress with additional elements such as these. This will allow the Dressywomen dress to stand out on its own with utter elegance. 

So get this notion that only long dresses and gowns are for black-tie occasions. Dressywomen short homecoming dresses for 2013 are the newest additions to designer formal wear. Retire the simple, little black dress, and jazz it up with a jeweled one-shoulder dress that features a ruched fitted bodice. Visit Dressywomen.com and browse through all the latest collections of short dresses for prom, homecoming, wedding receptions, and more.

We never thought it would happen; yet summer appears to be in full swing. After rain, wind and sleet, not many of us were prepared for the dramatic change in temperature. Is your summer wardrobe looking slightly mismatched? Or maybe you’re in need of a little inspiration when it comes to looking stylishly ‘cool’ in the sun? 

Whatever predicament you may have, we’re here to offer a little advice. From summer colours to what to wear to an August wedding, check out a few of these stylish solutions to some of the most shared summer wardrobe dilemmas. If you follow these handy tips, you’ll quickly become the envy of all your friends. 

What fabrics should I choose? 

Well, this majorly comes down to how high the temperatures are. If the walk to work is making you want to jump in the shower by the time you get there, you may want to think about investing in a few cotton ensembles. 

Cotton dresses teamed with open toed wedges and simple accessories make for a smart yet cool ensemble and one that will take you from day to night. The last thing you want to do after a hectic day in the office is rush home to get changed prior to an evening appointment, especially when temperatures are in the mid twenties. 

Accessorise 

Chunky accessories in a range of vivid hues appear to be taking the runways by storm this season.Everything Health and Beauty related can be found at ccchinachic.com. Learn how to take care of your health and beauty here. Accessories in my eyes have always been a big part of fashion. Take the likes of an embellished cuff or jewelled collar for example. If you find that you’ve bought into a number of simple shifts and occasion dresses this summer,High quality Ladies Candy-colored Skinny Casual Low-Rise Stretch Jean Denim Shorts sale. mainly because of their versatility, accessories act as a simple way to dress them up when required. 

What to wear to a summer wedding 

Summer weddings can be tricky and you must resist every temptation to don flip-flops and shorts. If the invitation states a dress code, it’s important to stick to this. If you wish to don a monochrome number, a variety of brands are currently showcasing this trend,Best Beautiful A-Line Princess Beading Embroidery Satin White Wedding Dress With Bowknot Strap sale. including Hobbs. 

If the wedding in question is a daytime affair, opt for more white than black, as darker colours tend to attract the heat. If the event taking place resembles an upmarket garden party, bright colours are most certainly acceptable and the likes of yellow hues, hot pink shades and blues will add an instant summery vibe to your wardrobe.

Weddington Way, the premier online boutique for bridesmaid dresses and bridal party fashion, is introducing Special Occasion dresses for brides. 

The new category helps brides find exclusive designer dresses for all the important occasions around their wedding – from engagement party and bridal shower to bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner. Brides can find a carefully curated selection of chic, trendy cocktail dresses from popular designers Kirribilla and JS Boutique. 

“Brides who use Weddington Way to find cute bridesmaid dresses now want something for themselves as well,” said Ilana Stern, CEO of Weddington Way. “That’s why we created a Special Occasions category that gives brides a place to find dresses for everything from the engagement all the way to their honeymoon.” 

In early 2013, Weddington Way expanded its bridesmaid shop to offer brides a selection of little white dresses. With the addition of a Special Occasions category, brides can now add a pop of color to celebrate the road to their nuptials. 

“Whether celebrating a bridal shower in the garden or having a formal rehearsal dinner in a restaurant, brides should feel beautiful on every occasion that leads up to their big day,” said Phoebe Davison,Retro Texture Jewelry Necklace Colorful Flowers Purple Drills Fashion Necklace sell well. cofounder of Kirribilla who worked with Weddington Way to select the best of the brand’s cocktail dresses. “We’re very excited to offer these dresses to the Weddington Way brides.”

More than 60 percent of smartphone owners are aware that they can trade in their existing device for a new device, and more than half of smartphone owners plan to do so when they get a new phone, The NPD Group found in a consumer survey. LINK TO 16NPDtradein13.pdf or post pdf in body of story) 

Currently, only 13 percent of smartphone owners said they traded in their previous mobile device. 

Growing awareness of trade-in options could potentially shift consumers’ loyalty from one carrier, retailer and handset supplier to another and from carrier stores to indirect retail stores, NPD said. 

Trade-in programs, which carriers have begun promoting to reduce their handset subsidies, have become “the new competitive battlefield” for carrier stores, retailers and handset vendors, said Eddie Hold, VP of NPD Connected Intelligence.High quality Ladies Candy-colored Skinny Casual Low-Rise Stretch Jean Denim Shorts sale. “This means that the consumer may not necessarily shop at the carrier store for their next device but instead may look to big-box retailers if the trade-in price is right,” he said.Best Beautiful A-Line Princess Beading Embroidery Satin White Wedding Dress With Bowknot Strap sale.Everything Health and Beauty related can be found at ccchinachic.com. Learn how to take care of your health and beauty here. Growing trade-in activity means that “potentially, the carrier grasp of the smartphone consumer could become more tenuous,” he noted. 

“For a smartphone manufacturer, a trade-in option can provide an incentive for a consumer to switch loyalty from a competitor’s device to theirs,” Hold added. Almost all manufacturers offer a premium price to consumers who trade-up from a competitive brand, he noted. 

Among smartphone users, 30 percent said they would switch carriers if another carrier offered a better trade-in deal, NPD found. And almost 62 percent said they would be willing to shop at a different retailer, but not necessarily switch carriers, for a better trade-in price. 

“Mobile phone trade-ins have rapidly moved from being an obscure option to one that is front and center at the major carriers,” Hold said. “The shift comes as the carriers look to move away from the subsidy model — led by T-Mobile’s ‘uncarrier’ initiative but also by the increased demand for no-contract variations as the market hits a new level of maturity. 

Consumer interest in trade-in programs “is great news for the retailers looking to carve out a larger share of the wireless retail market and sets the stage for a new level of pricing competition,” Hold continued. “Notably, the retailers benefit from their existing trade-in programs, which support all consumer electronics, not just mobile. A consumer could, conceivably, trade-in an old game console in return for a credit towards the latest and greatest smartphone.” 

Handset vendors “are grasping the trade-in opportunity too,” he said, noting that Nokia, Samsung and HTC all offer above-average trade-in values for the AT&T version of the 16GB iPhone 4S if the owner buys one of those companies’ phones. 

Retailer and vendor trade-in programs could reduce carrier stores’ share of smartphone sales, “and it is primarily for this reason that we’ve seen a flurry of trade-in activity in the past month,” Hold said. “The launch of JUMP, Next and Edge from T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon are all aimed at providing an easy upgrade path for consumers with a relatively certain exchange rate. But the cat may be well and truly out of the bag, and the competitive landscape for trade-ins will drive many consumers to consider their options more carefully moving forward.”

If you noticed you were not alone on the roads or in stores around Columbia over the weekend – well,Here are some Home Products and items which contain carcinogens. It is best to avoid these products in your home. you’re not alone. 

Midlands’ merchants say they were much busier than normal during South Carolina’s tax-free holiday weekend this year, many of them capitalizing on the sales tax break by extending store hours and putting on added promotions. 

The popular S.C. sales tax holiday, where businesses suspend collection of the 6 percent state sales tax and any local sales taxes on applicable items for three days – like their online competitors can do year round – ended at midnight Sunday. 

Some states, like North Carolina, are nixing their tax-free holidays next year as they change tax policies. And Georgia – which has its tax holiday this weekend – has limited the amount shoppers can claim for exemption from sales taxes. 

“South Carolina is still going incredibly strong in tax-free,” said Mechelle Carey, Best Buy general manager at the Sunset Boulevard store in Lexington. “Our customers love it.” 

The store extended its business hours over the weekend by four hours, formally, Carey said, but stayed open even later as enthusiastic customers continued shopping. 

“We were so busy at night,” said Carey. “We opened at 8 a.‘Wintersweet’ Pendant Sterling Silver Necklace Elegant Jewelry Necklace on sale at reasonable prices.m. both Friday and Saturday. … Then on Friday night we were still pretty busy, so we just left the doors open to make sure we could serve our shoppers.” 

South Carolina’s weekend sales tax suspension, now in its 14th year, is applicable to a laundry list of items geared largely to back to school, including clothing, footwear, accessories, school supplies, computers and computer equipment. 

Some experts had predicted shoppers might tread lightly for bargains going into this school year after posting record spending totals in 2012 – the heel of a five-year recession. 

That wasn’t the case though in South Carolina, merchants said, where shoppers were expected to save a total of about $3 million, according to the S.C. Department of Revenue. 

Higher-end notebook computers, such as MacBooks, which retail on average for about $1,500, were heavy sellers, Carey said, saving consumers more than $100 in state and local taxes. 

Even for the $1,000 MacBook model, however, elimination of the sales taxes at the Lexington store meant a $70 reduction, Carey pointed out, which is enough to purchase most people a tank of gasoline. 

In addition to electronics, shoppers were looking to save big on clothing. 

Shoppers in the Harbison Boulevard area, for example, also found promotions, earlier opening hours and later closing times. At Columbiana Centre, 75 percent of the 85 stores located there carry some form of merchandise covered under the statewide sales tax exemption, said Tom Dornfeld, the mall’s senior general manager. 

Preparations by businesses for the weekend were worthwhile, he said. 

“We have noticed the last three to four years that the traffic on tax-free weekend has gotten a little lighter each year – that the enthusiasm for the concept seemed to have waned,” Dornfeld said. “That all changed this past weekend. It went back to being the way it had been four or five years ago.” 

On Friday and Saturday especially, “we saw people carrying multiple bags, which is good. It wasn’t quite like Christmas time, but good,” Dornfeld said. 

All the anchor stores in the mall extended their hours for the tax-free weekend, and the mall stayed open until 10 p.m. Stores in the mall that did not carry items covered by the tax-free status, instead put on sales of their own to lure customers generated by added foot traffic, he said. 

At local businesses, such as Brittons in the downtown area on Devine Street, shoppers also mopped up savings by tuning up their fall wardrobes and adding new Game Day selections, said Perry Lancaster, store manager. 

“I think traffic was up and it was a very good weekend,Online shopping for Sports & Outdoors at ccchinachic.com.Sports & Outdoor” Lancaster said Monday. “Well-received.” 

The Devine Street Association puts its annual Sidewalk Sale each year in conjunction with the state and local tax-free weekend, in a bid to draw customers and benefit from the additional traffic. 

Many of the businesses in the association feature local art and artists as part of the weekend fare, along with sales and various promotions for their merchandise. 

“People were shopping for fall, back-to-school, people were shopping for business wear – it was very good,” Lancaster said.

Tiffany Slaney-Leigh, 14, of El Cerrito, Calif., says she’d love to get a laptop, an iPhone, three-inch wedge sneakers, mini dresses and a butterfly tattoo on her hip before starting ninth grade this fall. 

That’s not going to happen. 

“The economy is uncertain,” said her mother, Kim Slaney. The office-operations manager will spend $500 on Tiffany’s clothes after dropping $800 in 2012. “You take a few steps forward and a few steps back.” 

Plenty of other consumers are feeling the same way. U.S. households are planning to shell out an average of 7.8 percent less for this year’s back-to-school shopping season because of the bumpy economic recovery, the National Retail Federation says. 

The potentially lackluster spending is one more signal that consumers are conflicted about the strength of the recovery and the stability of their buying power. That means retailers will have to keep prices low and offer exclusive products to fare well during the important back-to-school season, second only in importance to the year-end holiday season. 

Total back-to-school spending may total $26.7 billion this year, the Washington-based NRF said July 18. That translates to an average of about $634.78 on apparel, shoes, supplies and electronics for parents with school-age children, down from $688.62 last year, the group said. 

“There is no question that the economy still has a tight grip on Americans’ spending decisions,” NRF Chief Executive Officer Matthew Shay said on a conference call. “People are finding ways to get by.” 

About 90 percent of consumers plan to shop in discount stores, up from 83 percent in 2012, according to a survey from the New York-based International Council of Shopping Centers. They’ll also cut back on gadgets, with only 56 percent of families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade planning to purchase electronics this year, down from 60 percent last year, according to the ICSC. 

Almost half of parents consider price to be the most important factor, according to a survey released July 22 by Capital One Financial Corp. 

That should benefit Wal-Mart Stores, whose prices were lower than those at Target,High quality Ladies Candy-colored Skinny Casual Low-Rise Stretch Jean Denim Shorts sale. Sears’ KMart and Staples in a Bloomberg Industries pricing survey last week. Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart’s prices on a basket of items were 9.8 percent lower than at Target, 33 percent less than KMart and 31 percent cheaper than at Staples, according to the study. 

The focus on saving is a contrast to last year, when per-household spending soared 14 percent on pent-up demand. Parents haven’t forgotten that splurge and plan to ask their kids to reuse what they can for the coming school year. Indeed, Slaney points out that Tiffany still has skinny jeans that fit. 

“Shoppers may need more encouragement and excitement to expand their child’s wardrobe or replenish additional items,” Alison Paul, a Chicago-based retail sector leader at the Deloitte LLP consulting firm, said in a statement. “Retailers will not only have to make offers very attractive this season, but they will have to score an ‘A+’ on unique, exclusive merchandise and services that nobody else can offer.” 

Things would be different if teens had their way. Forty-seven percent of teens expect to do their shopping in department stores and 21 percent identified mobile phones, electronic gadgets and computers as must-haves,Everything Health and Beauty related can be found at ccchinachic.com. Learn how to take care of your health and beauty here. Capital One said. Among the parents, the figures were 29 percent and 4 percent, respectively, the McLean, Va.-based bank said. 

The younger generation may win in the end. Almost three- quarters of parents say their children influence at least half of their back-to-school purchases, the NRF said. More than two- thirds said they would forgo purchases for themselves to pay for back-to-school merchandise, a Deloitte survey showed. 

And the persuasive power of teenagers can’t be ignored. Slaney says Tiffany points to pictures in magazines,Best Beautiful A-Line Princess Beading Embroidery Satin White Wedding Dress With Bowknot Strap sale. says all the girls are wearing the clothes she wants and sometimes even resorts to the silent treatment. 

“There is ongoing pressure,” Slaney says. “She tries everything she can.”

Dave Jones and Rich Bagoly, owners of three Premier Rental Purchase in Pennsylvania, are pleased to announce several key management changes within their business. Bruce Petty has been named store manager for the Allentown location effective immediately. 

Bruce has been with Dave and Rich since 2005, one the longest tenured employees in the organization. “We have always been able to count on Bruce as a leader and as a trusted team member within our organization” commented Dave. Bruce will be managing the largest of the three Premier stores that the company owns. He has been managing the companies Reading location since 2005. 

The Reading location will now be managed by Quinby Whitehawk. He was formally the Assistant Manager of the store and begins his new assignment effective immediately. Quinby has been with Premier for over 5 years. He started as an account manager and has proven himself over the years at each new position he has held. “His fresh ideas and positive approach will aid him in being a successful store manager”, said Dave. 

While living in Tennessee in 1996 Dave began his rent to own career. During the same year Rich began his rent to own career with the same company but in Ohio. They later partnered together to open their first Premier Rental-Purchase location in Reading in 2004. The partners celebrated the honor of being named “The Premier Companies Dealers of the Year” in 2006, the highest award given each year by The Premier Companies’. 

“We will miss Chris Muniz, our previous Allentown manager”, said Dave. “He set the stage for our new manager to walk right in and have an easy transition. Chris will be missed and we wish him the very best”, Dave continued. 

The company also owns and operates a store in York, Pennsylvania. Their stores specialize in Rent to Own furniture, appliances,Retro Texture Jewelry Necklace Colorful Flowers Purple Drills Fashion Necklace sell well. electronics, and computers. Their focus on superior customer service is one of their core values. It is one of the many strengths that the organization prides itself in. 

The national office of The Premier Companies is located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Premier Brands consist of Premier Rental-Purchase and Premier Home Furnishings. All Premier stores are independently owned and operated.

Thirty-five years ago Martha Dwyer was a nurse looking for a career change. She found it — making the switch from caring for patients to helping women find the right clothing and accessories. 

Now, after a successful second career as owner of The Ginger Tree, Dwyer is retiring from the business and closing the store on North Main Street. 

“It’s just time,” Dwyer said the other day while sitting behind a large wooden desk in her cluttered, but well-organized office. 

The decision to close the store, located in a former Victorian house, wasn’t easy. 

But as she approaches her 70th birthday, she said it’s time to move on. 

“It’s very sad for me,” Dwyer said. “I really,Weddings Accessories consists of accessories for the bride, flower girls, bridesmaid and other items such as cake and performances of wedding. really love it. I love the women I work with. I’ve met great customers that are just wonderful, who have become good friends.” 

Within three years after she and her husband, Phil, opened the store on Wales Street in what is now Two Sheas bar, they outgrew the space and relocated to 45 North Main St. It’s been there ever since. 

The store is situated at the well-traveled intersection of Routes 4 and 7, which made it an excellent location. 

Dwyer said 75 percent of her customers found the store simply driving by. 

The store has its charm, from the stained glass front door to the parquet wood floor with neatly positioned racks of clothing and accessories. 

Seeing a need in the community, Dwyer started out selling maternity and women’s clothing in larger sizes, 12 to 26. About 15 years ago, as U.S. manufacturers got out of the business and quality suffered, Dwyer decided to drop maternity from the store’s portfolio. The store filled that void with black tie and mother of the bride and groom wear. The store also expanded its inventory, carrying sizes from 6 to 26 — missy, petite and plus — along with sportswear and outerwear. 

Not to be overlooked, Dwyer said the store does a good business in accessories, everything from jewelry and scarves to handbags and candles. 

Neatly attired in a black dress, ruffled blouse and black shoes, Dwyer recalled growing up a stone’s throw from her shop. 

“I grew up two doors down where CVS is,Gusti genuine leather handbags on saleVintage Tote Shoulder Bag Satchel Shopper Leisure City Shopping Bag M22.” she said. 

Her father was Jimmy Marro, a businessman and real estate developer. 

Pinned on her office bulletin board are odds and ends and memories, including family photos. One faded color photo shows her father, husband, and two sons, posing with Ted Williams on one of his visits here to play golf. His friend and golf partner was Bob Franzoni, who ran a downtown sporting goods store. 

For Dwyer, though, there has been little time for rest and relaxation over the years. 

She said running a retail business is nonstop. 

“It’s a lot of hours,” she said. 

The store is open six days a week until 6 p.m., and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 

“We’re open seven days, which works, and we’re open until 6 p.m., which is very, very important because women work,” Dwyer said. 

When she’s not at the store, Dwyer goes on buying trips four or five times a year, staying on top of the latest fashion trends.Elegant A-Line Floor-length Halter Bridesmaid Dresses With Beautiful Crystal Floral Brooch for sale. 

Besides locals, many of the store’s customers are second-homeowners. The store also draws customers from as far away as Burlington, Glens Falls, N.Y., and Lebanon, N.H. 

As for the future, Dwyer said she never had any plans to sell the business. Once the inventory is gone, she’ll try to lease the building, which has two apartments on the second floor. 

On the last day, when she finally closes the door behind her, Dwyer will take away 35 years of memories. 

“It’s definitely time consuming and you’ve got to love it,” she said. “I really do like it.”

Coach is producing a line of more affordable timepieces. 

Coach is revamping its collection of watches. 

Stuart Vevers was recently announced as the brand's new creative director, promising change and an effort for Coach to be seen as a lifestyle label. 

The collection of timepieces has doubled to 200 and will include lower-priced designs in order to compete with the watch market.Each A1 Fashion Handbags is a piece of art, and it is definitely not not a bag you can buy at a supermarket. 

Rather than the previous price average of $300, the new figure is a more affordable $228, with the most models costing no more than $298. 

"We all recognised fashion watches as a major category and a lifestyle opportunity," Javan Bunch, senior vice president of licensing at Coach, told WWD. 

"We have a real mandate in the accessories world. We feel that this [collection] is an expression of our DNA." 

Coach has produced watches in partnership with Movado since 1998, but the new line draws on other elements of the brand.Women Black And White Striped Stretch Low-Waist Denim Short/Hot Pant from china manufacturer. 

For example, it uses leather straps reminiscent of those found on its handbags.Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace -US$ 21.99 | We Heart It. $22. Sold on ccchinachic.com. Buy. As seen in.Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace 

The Penny model uses clips found on Coach's dog leashes, while the Tristen is a new take on the label's Boyfriend watch. 

There are sportier looks, as well as elegant models that use Swarovski crystals and mother of pearl. 

"We've taken a huge investment in doing this, and we are really repositioning the whole brand and rallying our organisation behind this," Movado chairman and chief executive officer Efraim Grinberg said. 

"Coach has such a strong heritage and is such a strong brand from a consumer perspective. For us, entering the fashion watch category in a Coach way really represents an opportunity." 

The new collection is set to hit stores in the fall.

More companies from Japan, Korea, Europe and the United States are reportedly considering investing in the local electronics industry mainly in view of the favorable investment climate in the country. 

Francisco Ferrer,Women Black And White Striped Stretch Low-Waist Denim Short/Hot Pant from china manufacturer. a trustee representing the said sector at the Philippine Export Confederation Inc. (Philexport), said certain Japanese firms had already started constructing their manufacturing facilities here. 

The larger companies are expected to spend about $300 million for their facilities, while investments of smaller firms can range from $5 million to $10 million, Ferrer said in a Philexport statement. 

He did not, however, identify the said investors.Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace -US$ 21.99 | We Heart It. $22. Sold on ccchinachic.com. Buy. As seen in.Women Elegant Large Pearls Leather & Chain Multi-Layer Jewelry Necklace 

“Many have already invested. In fact, (business locations) are already running out in the Calabarzon region (Cavite,Each A1 Fashion Handbags is a piece of art, and it is definitely not not a bag you can buy at a supermarket. Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon). Some have immediately started (operations),” Ferrer said. 

These new investments, he said were expected to generate 200,000 new jobs this year alone, out of which 50,000 had already been created. 

He further said there were “a dozen of small Japanese and Korean firms who are also coming. More big investors are likewise inquiring about possible locations in the country.” 

“Some European countries have started having interests in the Philippines. That’s a good sign they are coming here to put up (businesses). The same with the US companies, their investments are not only in electronics but also in other fields like tourism,” Ferrer said. 

The increasing interest of foreign companies in the Philippines can be attributed partly to the various aggressive investment promotion programs being undertaken by the government, according to Ferrer. 

The country, as an investment destination, is also seen benefiting from the rising cost in China and the increasing wages in Thailand.

With the technical part of building state and federal health insurance exchanges mostly complete, contractors are now hoping to find work communicating with potential customers.Each A1 Fashion Handbags is a piece of art, and it is definitely not not a bag you can buy at a supermarket. 

Companies from Adobe to Maximus are looking to work that will involve first-hand interaction with citizens, meaning they must prepare to combat misinformation and boil down complex decisions. 

Adobe, which has a government-focused office in Tysons Corner, has already been working with state exchanges,｛%｝ brings wireless dealers and retailers lower prices than any other wholesaler. All products available at online store.cell phone accessories wholesale which are online marketplaces that allow individuals to shop for insurance coverage. The company said it previously won work providing its digital signature technology to Rhode Island’s exchange, so that users can produce a legally binding signature even on an iPad, and has sold software to California that allows enrollees to automatically populate forms so that they save time. 

Now, said Michael Jackson, director of health care strategy and solutions at Adobe Systems, states and the federal government are directing attention to interacting with users. 

“Within the last three to six months, a lot of attention has shifted to driving awareness, outreach to the citizens and various communities ... to drive participation to the exchanges,” he said. 

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed that it is gearing up for a public education campaign. The agency tacked $33 million onto an initial $8 million contract awarded to Weber Shandwick, a public relations firm, to handle media and digital outreach. Weber Shandwick did not return requests for comment. 

The agency has also relaunched Healthcare.gov, a site meant to help consumers learn about their options.Browse our electronics stores for the latest cool products, such as Car Electronics, MP3 players, IP Cameras, digital cameras and a lot more. CMS said the site will add information and, by October, customers will be able to create accounts, fill out a single application and shop for plans on the site. 

Even before the Oct.1 deadline for exchanges to go live, customer service centers are opening. Reston-based Maximus, for instance, opened its center in Maryland last week. 

It’s too early for customers to enroll in insurance plans yet, but the center is available to handle residents’ questions, said Bruce L. Caswell, president and general manager of the company’s health services segment. 

Maximus has won work managing seven state customer service centers, including that of the District and Maryland, as well as managing two federal centers as subcontractors to Falls Church-based General Dynamics. 

For center representatives, “it’s important that they have good phone skills, good customer interaction skills,” Caswell said. “It’s a bit of the art rather than the science.” 

These employees are trained on how to help customers as well as the details of the insurance plans available. Caswell said the centers often offer representatives who speak several different languages, as well as use an interpretation service to broaden that number. 

Maximus is focused on “being able to meet consumers on their own terms,” Caswell said. “Being linguistically appropriate and culturally appropriate is super important to us.” 

Hoping to handle social media outreach for the government, Adobe is pitching its experience providing these services for some commercial health care providers. 

Adobe’s service includes responding to tweets that ask questions or share wrong information to promote the accurate message. 

In the private sector, customers are becoming accustomed to tweeting at companies — from phone service providers to cable companies — for help. 

“I do feel like the public sector is starting to learn from what’s happening in the private sector,” Jackson said.