Category Archives: Business

Strat-O-Matic Clubs Mark One Year With Huge Player Interest, Growth

More than 20 Clubs Active with 50+ in Formative Stages; Connecticut and New Jersey Clubs First to Surpass 12 Months

GLEN HEAD, N.Y, July 29, 2024—Last summer, Strat-O-Matic (@strat-o-matic), the market leader in sports simulation games, announced Strat-O-Matic Clubs, its first ever unified national club program. Players from across the U.S. got on board, with groups quickly forming.

A year later, more than 20 Strat-O-Matic Clubs, including the charter Clubs in Connecticut, New Jersey, Detroit, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Long Island (N.Y) are thriving, with hundreds of participants across all the Clubs. And more than 50 are developing, with fans inquiring about beginning their own in new locations daily.

“When we launched the Clubs program, we were confident that Strat-O-Matic players were looking for like-minded fans who enjoy getting together to enjoy their favorite game,” said Adam Richman, CEO, Strat-O-Matic Media. “We have been overwhelmed with the tremendous feedback, with many referencing the social nature of the Clubs, how they have met new players and how their groups continue to expand, with some participating in multiple Clubs every month.”

Fans interested in leading or joining a Strat-O-Matic Club are encouraged to email StratClub@Strat-O-matic.com, and check out details of current clubs and locations at https://www.strat-o-matic.com/strat-clubs. Club members receive discounts on game sets and other SOM merchandise, a personalized game card, exclusive Zoom with a Strat-O-Matic personality and other perks.

In addition to the Connecticut, Central New Jersey and Long Island locations, some of the most popular and active Strat-O-Matic Clubs are running in Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North New Jersey, North Kentucky, Georgia and California. Interest has been shown in more than 30 other states.

Share India IBT Introduces 50 Market Depth Feature Amidst Post-Budget Market Volatility

India, 29th July 2024 – Share India IBT, a new-age Indian broker firm, becomes the first and only platform to introduce a ground-breaking 50 Market Depth tool that empowers traders with cutting-edge solutions. Following the announcement of the 7th Union Budget, the market has experienced notable fluctuations and will continue to change in the coming days

With this feature, an equity trader would be adequately informed about comprehensive insights of the market liquidity and depth. Traders can, therefore, command over the particulars of buy and sell orders up to 50 levels beyond the best bid and ask prices.

Mr. Abhinav Gupta, President at Share India Securities said, “Announced in the Budget yesterday, the new fiscal policies compel equity traders to navigate the market volatility with informed decision-making. With our 50 Market Depth, traders could view real-time market dynamics and order flow to be able to capitalize on opportunities and cover risks much more effectively, making it an essential asset.”

In view of the evolving financial market, Share India IBT continues to enhance its platforms with robust features that meet the demands of modern traders. As the Union Budget aftermath is upon us, the company encourages traders to use the 50 market depth feature to stay ahead of market trends and make data-driven decisions.

Need for simplified regulations and enhanced logistics to boost MSME participation in global e-commerce: ISF

India, 29th July: E-commerce exports offer tremendous growth potential for Indian MSMEs, but currently see only 1% engaging in direct exports. To achieve the government’s ambitious target of $200-300 billion in e-commerce exports by FY 2030, it is essential to adopt more flexible policies and address existing challenges in customs, payments, and logistics. India SME Forum, the largest not-for-profit organization for MSMEs in India, hosted a ‘FireSide Chat’ titled “Plugging MSMEs in Global Markets: Harnessing the potential of B2C Exports” which explored the role played by e-commerce in enhancing the export potential of MSMEs and the imperatives for conducive regulatory policies.

E-commerce provides a unique opportunity for MSMEs, requiring minimal initial investment and enabling participation from diverse sellers across India. As awareness and interest grow, driven by ease of entry and global reach potential, businesses are increasingly embracing this avenue. To further accelerate growth, simplifying regulations is crucial. Experts commend the Central Government for promoting MSME e-commerce exports through new policies, including establishing e-commerce export hubs. These hubs, offering services like warehousing, packaging, and shipping, reduce operational costs and provide essential regulatory and compliance assistance, easing international trade navigation. However, despite these initiatives, challenges remain, particularly due to financial and regulatory barriers. High EDPMS closure charges can consume up to 50% of shipment value, making exports unviable for small parcels. The RBI’s 25% variation limit on payment reconciliation is often insufficient for transactions with high price variability. Increasing this limit to 50% and extending payment realization periods to 18 months would better support MSMEs and align with best global practices.

Additionally, customs reforms are essential to facilitate e-commerce exports. The primary policy proposal is to simplify and expedite the customs clearance process for certain low-risk shipments through pre-emptive assessments and automated procedures. This includes establishing separate customs supervision codes specifically for cross-border e-commerce trade to ensure faster clearance, streamline payment procedures, and enhance data collection for policy making.

Mr. Bipin Sapra, Partner, EY – “Indian MSMEs have tremendous potential to excel in global e-commerce markets, but they encounter several challenges, including high shipping costs, complicated customs procedures, and cumbersome returns management. To address these issues effectively, we must implement global best practices and establish dedicated export facilitation mechanisms. This includes adopting forward-deployed strategies to streamline returns, leveraging digital tagging for better tracking and management of shipments, and enhancing our overall logistical infrastructure. By tackling these challenges head-on, we can simplify the export process and significantly boost the ability of our MSMEs to compete and thrive on the international stage.” 

Mr. Bhupen Wakankar, Director – Global Trade,  Amazon, said, “E-commerce is unlocking vast global opportunities for Indian MSMEs to tap in large consumer demand across the world. This demand stretches across categories like Home & Kitchen, Apparels & Textiles, Consumable Products, Toys and many more categories. The application of technology in cross border logistics, payments as well as in areas like market access and market intelligence has been instrumental in helping Indian MSMEs expand their reach beyond domestic borders.  The government’s proactive measures, including the recent announcement of Ecommerce Export Hubs and ongoing investments in digital infrastructure, are pivotal to this growth. These initiatives are set to provide essential support for businesses navigating international trade complexities. Continued support and simplification in areas such as customs compliance, cross-border payments, and logistics will further accelerate the growth of this sunrise sector.”

Mr. Vinod Kumar, President, India SME Forum, said, “In today’s interconnected world, the global marketplace offers unprecedented opportunities for Indian MSMEs to thrive. The path to successful international expansion lies in addressing key challenges like customs compliance, logistics, and cost management. By harnessing the power of digital tools to understand and meet customer preferences, and by advocating for policy reforms to ease export processes, we can empower our small and medium enterprises to compete and excel on the global stage. It is through such concerted efforts that we can transform the potential of Indian MSMEs into tangible success stories across borders.”

How AI can save business owners up to £3900 and ease workload

As of July 2024, only 29% of startups / small businesses worldwide have adopted AI in their operations, citing lack of expertise as their main reason for not doing so.

Christoph C. Cemper, an AI expert on behalf of AIPRM, provided his insight on how artificial intelligence can easily act as a crucial tool for entrepreneurs, easing the burden on small business owners, in honour of Stress Awareness Month.

Ease the load: Five ways AI can assist your startup or small business

Harnessing AI effectively can significantly alleviate stress for business owners, with a recent AIPRM survey revealing that one in eight businesses have saved between £780 and £3900 by replacing simple tasks with AI.

1. Marketing

Marketing is a crucial element for any startup or small business, not just for building brand awareness, credibility and trust, but also for positive customer retention and long term-growth.

Using AI in your marketing strategy doesn’t have to be overly complex, and it’s usually very accessible – with free to use tools such as Chat GPT. With over three in five (61%) of marketers now using AI to save time and resources, it’s clear to see how AI can work as a trusty sidekick to assist your natural workflow of content creation, analysing performance and predicting improvements for better engagement.

In fact, a global study by Statista reported that 47% of marketers trust the use of AI for generating target ads, 42% use the tool for personalising content, 33% for optimising subject email lines and 32% for conducting live chat sessions with customers.

2. Understand consumer behaviour

If you’re just starting out your business, you’ll want to understand your consumer pretty quickly. You can even use AI to develop a personalised customer avatar to target potential customers through AI-based ad tools, such as social media or Google Ads.

Although AI can assist with data-driven approaches, there still needs to be oversight from human beings, and the people maintaining these datasets have to be diverse so that the data sets are also diverse enough to reach a wider audience whilst still targeting your ideal customer.

3. Competitor analysis

AI can assist in analysing not only your own customer behaviour, but competitor trends, which can be used to adapt your own strategies accordingly. You can use AI to gain large amounts of data at the drop of a hat, and use this as a benchmark for your own strategies, and analyse how you measure against the competition.

To do this is actually relatively easy. You can use quick analytic tools such as Hootsuite or Brandwatch to generate reports on your competitors’ social media, engagement and growth, as well as their websites and any industry news sites to identify emerging patterns and trends. This can help you identify any gaps in the market, and leverage any customer feedback and satisfaction.

4. Product development

If you have a startup or small business, you also have a product it revolves around. Using AI for improving product design, development processes, prototyping and testing lands you with a good chance of a product that’s likely to perform.

You can leverage AI from day one by using market intelligence tools to analyse how similar products are performing on the market, and use this to one up your competitors. Easy to use, free tools such as Figma can also assist prototyping, which instantly converts concepts into visual product prototypes.

5. Security

Reports show that small businesses and startups are THREE TIMES more likely to be targeted by cyber crime than larger companies, with threats including phishing, malware attacks, social engineering, data theft, and insider threats. 60% of SMEs that suffer cyber attacks also go out of business within six months.

Despite this,security within startups and small businesses are often overlooked. Recent reports found that 51% of small businesses don’t utilise any IT security measures – with 36% of small businesses having no concern whatsoever about cyberattacks.

So how can AI help? AI can analyse vast amounts of data in real time to identify any suspicious patterns or anomalies associated with cyber security threats, and block any attempts to cause harm. AI can also scan your systems for any vulnerabilities and manage this accordingly. You can even utilise AI platforms for training up employees on best practices, and reducing human error that can lead to vulnerabilities in security.

TBO.com Appoints Mr. Gerardo Del Río as President of its International Business to Drive Global Growth

India, July 29, 2024: TBO.com, a leading global travel distribution platform, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gerardo Del Río as President of its international business to drive global growth and take the company to the next phase of its evolution.

With over 20 years of experience across hospitality, travel and consulting sectors, Gerardo brings a wealth of global management, finance, and business development expertise to the role. Gerardo’s career, spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, has equipped him with invaluable multi-cultural insights and a deep understanding of diverse global markets. In his illustrious career of over 2 decades, Gerardo has worked with some of the marquee companies including Melia Hotels, Hotelbeds (now HBX) and DidaTravel serving in various capacities and geographies.

On the new appointment, Mr. Gaurav Bhatnagar, Joint Managing Director and co-founder, TBO, stated, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Gerardo Del Río to our leadership team. His extensive multi-market, multi-cultural experience and proven track record in the global travel and hospitality industry perfectly aligns with our vision for international expansion. Gerardo’s strategic leadership, client-centric approach, and focus on delivering results will strengthen our position as a leader in the global travel and tourism industry.” 

On his new role, Mr. Gerardo Del Río stated, “I am honoured to join TBO at this exciting juncture. The company’s proven expertise in simplifying the travel business for both suppliers and buyers provides an excellent platform for growth. I look forward to leveraging my experience to foster innovation, build strategic partnerships, and drive the company’s expansion in the global market. I am particularly excited about spearheading TBO’s international growth initiatives, tapping into new markets, and enhancing our global footprint.”  

Gerardo will lead the company’s global expansion efforts, ensuring a smooth transition as TBO enters new markets. He will focus on strengthening the company’s presence in existing markets while strategically entering new ones. His approach will centre on tailoring TBO’s cutting-edge travel technology solutions to meet diverse regional demands, cultivating cross-cultural partnerships, and driving sustainable growth across the global travel landscape.

Top Budget-Friendly Cities for Wedding in 2024: Ranked

This study by JJ’s House analyzed various expenses listed on the Wedding Report website associated with weddings across multiple US cities. Key cost factors included renting a wedding venue, attire and accessories, catering services, hiring a wedding planner, photography and videography, invitations, music and entertainment, floral and decorations, and wedding cakes and desserts. The total costs were aggregated to rank the most affordable wedding destinations in the US.

Kansas City, Missouri tops the list with a total cost of $16,204. Key factors contributing to its affordability include low costs for venue rental at $4,897, attire and accessories at $2,657, and music and entertainment at $810. The relatively low expenses in these categories make it a top choice for budget-friendly weddings.

Weatherford, Texas ranks second with a total cost of $17,165. This city is particularly notable for its low costs of attire and accessories at $1,146 and invitations at $215. Although catering costs in Weatherford are slightly higher, its overall affordability is evident.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina stands third with a total cost of $19,214. The standout factor is its exceptionally low catering costs at $5,596, combined with affordable venue rental at $5,450 and photography and videography at $1,741. This city offers the most affordable cost for attire and accessories totaling $320.

Boise, Idaho ranks fourth with a total cost of $19,324. Key factors include moderate expenses in catering services at $6,075 and lowest floral and decoration costs at $804, balanced by lower costs in other categories like attire and accessories at $2,574.

Tulsa, Oklahoma stands fifth with a total cost of $20,302 for a wedding with 150-200 guests. This city offers affordable wedding options with moderate costs in venue rental at $6,654 and attire and accessories at $1,939. The city offers the most cost-effective music and entertainment service at $766.

Little Rock, Arkansas ranks sixth with a total cost of $22,451. Highlighted by reasonable costs in catering services at $5,911 and wedding planning at $1,225, this city provides a balanced budget for various wedding expenses.

Yorktown, Virginia ranks seventh with a total cost of $22,823. Noteworthy for its affordable venue rental at $7,737 and moderate costs in floral and decoration at $2,382, Yorktown remains a cost-effective choice for weddings.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania stands eighth with a total cost of $25,124 with 150-200 invitees. Significant factors include low costs in attire and accessories at $1,969 and music and entertainment at $2,317, making it an affordable option despite higher venue rental expenses.

Tampa, Florida ranks ninth with a total cost of $27,302. Tampa’s affordability is highlighted by moderate costs in attire and accessories at $1,516 and music and entertainment at $1,161, offsetting higher catering expenses.

San Antonio, Texas rounds out the top ten with a total cost of $29,026. The city features affordable venue rental at $12,692 and catering services at $1,144, balanced by higher expenses in music and entertainment at $4,637.

A spokesperson from JJ’s House commented on the study: “A wedding is one of the most memorable events in a person’s life, and it’s heartening to see that beautiful celebrations can be affordable. Kansas City, Missouri, stands out as the most budget-friendly city and is truly exceptional. Couples can enjoy a charming wedding without breaking the bank, thanks to its low costs for venues and entertainment. Weatherford, Texas, with its remarkably low attire and accessories costs, also provides a fantastic option for couples looking to save while still having their dream wedding.”

Storyblok’s CMS helps Octopus Energy use content to power the future of green energy

Octopus Energy is now able to deploy website updates in five minutes, and has seen a two-thirds decrease in requests for support from developers

New York, NY – Storyblok, the modern content management system (CMS) for all teams, today announced that Octopus Energy is using its CMS to manage content more efficiently and decrease dependence on developers.

Octopus Energy is a global clean energy tech business, driving the affordable, green energy system of the future. Their previous CMS required significant developer involvement for every content task and was very limited in its flexibility and customization options. This led to a fragmented content management setup that was slow and prevented collaboration.

Knowing that this wasn’t sustainable for their dynamic content needs, Octopus Energy made the switch to Storyblok. Now they use Storyblok to centralize content management and integrate all of their platforms through APIs, give content creators the components they need to create experiences without the help of developers, and closely manage user roles to improve collaboration.

Storyblok is used by 19 teams across 6 business functions in 8 countries. With that combined teamwork, Octopus Energy is able to create a website from scratch within 2 weeks and deploy updates in 5 minutes. The typical creation and publishing time has been cut by 1-2 days, with smaller projects getting delivered on the same day. This smooth process led to a two-thirds decrease in requests for support from developers.

Aaron Cawte, Senior Front-end Developer at Octopus Energy, said: “Storyblok’s Visual Editor empowers our content editors to click on the content they want to change and see the results in real-time. This enabled us to roll out Storyblok at speed with zero training, and our teams around the world have taken to it like ducks to water.”

Based on this success, Octopus Energy plans to continue using Storyblok for various projects, including the migration of over 1,000 pages from a legacy CMS, and the expansion of their mobile app content.

Dominik Angerer, CEO and Co-Founder of Storyblok, said: “Octopus Energy views energy in the same way we view content: it should be efficient and nothing should be wasted. By centralizing content with Storyblok, Octopus Energy is experiencing the benefits of reusable content across all of their platforms.”