As part of the Bible belt, many in the Atlanta area hold to traditional family values. Although Atlanta was one of only eight states with growth in the family unit that consists of husband, wife, and children, the amount of growth in families is waning. Some 45 % of the local growth shows fathers with children and no wife, 35% women with children and no husband, and people living alone, another 35%.
Atlanta offers immense shopping opportunities, with many retailers that cater to and have experienced great success by the shopping patterns of the traditional family. So why have so many turned against the traditional family unit in favor of the same sex marriage agenda? Some companies have begun to take a stand in either traditional marriage values or same sex marriage, while others do remain neutral in the culture war.
The Bible tells us, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
Some have argued that the Bible is silent on the issue of same sex marriage or the gay lifestyle, but it is really clear in both the New Testament and the Old. “Don't you know that evil people will not receive God's kingdom? Don't be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who are prostitutes or who commit homosexual acts.” I Corinthians 6:9 (NIRE)
Companies that support traditional family values include, but are not limited to: Pep Boys, Exxon, Wal-Mart, Lowes, Toys R Us.
Companies that stand in support of the gay agenda include such companies as: Macy’s JC Penney, General Mills, AARP, Frito Lay, MasterCard, All-State, Marriott, Waste Management, Yahoo, UPS, Target, Ford, GM, Best Buy.
For a more complete list, please click the following link: http://www.gayfriendlycompanies.info/content/view/36/26/
One Million moms is a watchdog for companies to remain neutral in the culture war. While some change their stand with the receipt petitions, some are determined to remain actively activist in their support of gay marriage.
http://www.ajc.com/news/traditional-households-waning-943437.html
http://www.biblegateway.com
Mortgage rates set to tumble as banks' borrowing rates fall to a record low - Daily Telegraph
Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: "With Swaps falling to their lowest levels ever, we have to expect to see cheaper fixed rates. Two and three-year Swaps are below 1 per cent and five-year Swaps are approaching 1pc so watch this space when it comes to cheaper pricing on short-term fixed-rate mortgages.
"Lenders are expecting a quiet July and August, particularly once the Olympics start, so those who want to boost business beforehand will need to offer some decent rates to entice borrowers. Abbey has made some minor improvements to its offering this week [launching a five-year fix at 3.99% for homebuyers and one at 4.09pc for remortgaging on Monday at 60pc LTV with £995 fees], while others such as Northern Rock are trying to drum up some business before the traditional summer lull.
'We are also seeing smaller lenders with limited tranches of money dip in and out of the market with some attractive rates, such as Nottingham BS which has launched a five-year fix at 3.69pc. But deals this good really won't be around for long so borrowers will need to move quickly if they wish to secure such a rate."
TEXT-Fitch:Nordic banks not threatened by high wholesale funding - Reuters UK
(The following statement was released by the rating agency)
June 20 - The reliance on wholesale funding by large Nordic banks is not a major threat to their credit quality, says Fitch Ratings. Instead, it reflects a structural shortage of deposits driven by households' preferences for pension and investment products in Scandinavia, and to a lesser extent in Finland.
Too great a reliance on wholesale funding has contributed to bank failures across the globe during the current crisis. But we believe it would be incorrect to view Nordic wholesale funding in the same light.
The major Nordic banks fund roughly half their assets with customer deposits and half through the domestic and international interbank and debt capital markets. These banks benefit from the recycling of retail savings which are driven by tax incentives and a culture of financial investment to domestic pension funds and insurance companies. These institutional investors, as well as domestic financial institutions, need to invest in local currency assets to match their liabilities. The relatively low level of government bonds in Scandinavia leaves bank paper as one of a few investment options.
Nordic banks are reliant on international investors to varying degrees. Market sentiment towards Nordic banks remains generally positive, underpinned by the high liquidity buffers needed to maintain investor confidence.
We see deep and efficient covered-bond markets in Sweden and Denmark as further reducing funding risk. Danish mortgage bonds, in particular, have a very long history and no default. In Norway, the covered bond product is relatively recent but has taken off well. Issuance of covered bonds in Finland has remained modest.
High levels of covered-bond issuance have been accompanied by greater attention to encumbrance. We asked over 250 credit market participants at recent seminars in the Nordic region to express their views on the level at which the encumbrance of banks' balance sheet becomes a concern. Opinion on this controversial issue varied widely: 29% believe encumbrance is largely irrelevant; 30% are concerned at 10%-30% encumbrance; 24% are concerned at 30%-50%, and 17% at over 50%. We think that at current levels, senior unsecured debt ratings for the major Nordic banks are not negatively affected by structural subordination.
The outlook for Nordic banks was one of the topics discussed on Fitch Ratings' Viking tour. A multimedia summary of the tour can be found on www.fitchratings.com.
Closure of Birthdays brings number of empty units in Gloucester city centre to 49 - This is Gloucestershire
ANOTHER closure has brought the total number of empty units in Gloucester's main shopping area to 49.
Birthdays shut the doors of its Eastgate Shopping Centre branch, which includes a Pure Party outlet, on Sunday, with the loss of eight jobs.
-
GONE: Pure Party and Birthdays shop in Eastgate Shopping Centre.
It is part of the Clinton Cards group which is in administration.
A spokesman said there were no plans to close the Gloucester or Stroud branches.
Figures from the city council show 10 shops within the central shopping area have closed since January, when 39 of the 308 units were empty.
Kayleigh-Anne Hampton, 24, from Brockworth, said of the latest closure: "It can just join the rest of the empty shops. There's lots."
Joanne Batt, 23, of Painswick Roadsaid: "It's not so bad it's gone because we have got Clintons and Card Factory."
Kirsty Barclay, 21, from Painswick Road said: "There will be more shutting.
"Shopping here is too expensive as most people are on benefits."
Aaron James, 34, from Stonehouse, said: "It's quite shocking so many places are closing.
"The only thing that seems to be opening is 99p shops."
Dave Robinson, 62, from Tredworth said: "I'm not surprised. Gloucester is dead for shopping and something needs to be done."
Activities
Rob Key, 40, of Hucclecote said he often shopped in Birthdays and will miss it.
Secretary of Gloucester City Centre Community Partnership Barry Leach said: "We are holding our own but need to do better.
"We need more activities so the city centre is not just about shopping."
City council leader Paul James said there was "not a lot" the council could do about national closures.
He added: "I absolutely agree we need to make the city centre about more than shopping."
He pointed out upcoming events in the city centre, including the night market, Hat Festival and Food Festival.
QVC shopping app comes to Android - Know Your Mobile
QVC now has an app on Android.
The free shopping app, which is already available on iOS, allows you to watch the television show live from your smartphone. This includes looking back over previous products shown on the QVC channel and seeing the schedule for the next three weeks.
Also included is the ability to see what item is currently on air and 'Today's Special Value', as well as a catalogue of the full QVC product range, complete with images, information and availability.
The full feature breakdown is as follows:
- Live TV streaming including widescreen (16.9) broadcasting
- TV guide allowing users view TV schedules up to three weeks in advance
- Easy-to-use homepage including ‘Today’s Special Value’ & current on-air items
- Access to full product range including images, information & availability across various categories
- User reviews, ratings and recommendations
- A ‘Buy Now’ button enabling ease of purchase for existing customers while new customers can easily create a new account through the ‘Call to Order’ button
Retailers releasing apps is becoming more and more common, and for good reason. QVC said the iPhone app accounts for five per cent of overall sales, which is significant when the company made 390.9 million in 2011, according to a representative of the company.
If you like a bit of shopping on the go, you should head over to the Google Play store to give the free app a go.
Revolutionary Wholesale Ecommerce Platform ShopToko.com Beta Launch - YAHOO!
ShopToko.com - For Independent Retailers. Wholesale. No Minimums.
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 20, 2012
June 20, 2012, NEW YORK, NY—ShopToko.com is a revolutionary business-to-business ecommerce platform that creates a solution for the independent retailer. ShopToko provides independent retailers with a better way to buy and gives them the opportunity to bring new product directly to their customer base, without the inherent financial risks. ShopToko is essentially boutique wholesale with no minimums.CEO Liza Deyrmenjian and COO Katherine Danesi conceived and built ShopToko specifically as a resource for the underserved, overlooked independent retailer. “No one was focusing on the independent boutiques, yet those are the very stores that new brands depend on to get their start,” states Deyrmenjian. “The ongoing problem in retail is cash flow. It affects everyone across the industry from the major players to the boutiques,” adds Danesi. ShopToko gives retailers a better, less financially risky way to buy. It connects them with unique and trending product that can be purchased immediately with no minimums. ShopToko allows independents to participate in fast fashion and to compete with chain retailers and department stores. Deyrmenjian aims to “empower independent retailers by making them, collectively on ShopToko, the largest major in the world.”
ShopToko is growing quickly, with more than 2,000 retailers registered to date and close to100 brands having been sold on the site. Additional features will be added to the ShopToko.com this fall in order to facilitate further expansion.
About ShopToko.com
ShopToko, a new online fashion ecosystem, connects brands to independent retailers through online, curated sales. ShopToko allows the independent retailer to discover and buy new brands with no minimums, enabling them to test lines without risking cash flow. For more information about ShopToko, visit http://www.shoptoko.com
###
Media Contact:
Caroline Andoscia // caroline(at)andoscia(dot)com // 212.475.2122 x701
Michelle Luz // michelle(at)andoscia(dot)com // 212.475.2122 x703
Caroline Andoscia
Andoscia Communications
(917) 207-5060
Email Information
Java City -- now a wholesale powerhouse -- closes last cafe, in midtown Sacramento - Sacramento Bee
Java City, Sacramento's original homegrown coffee staple that preceded national chains, poured its final cup and closed its doors Tuesday, leaving behind more than 26 years of serving joe at Capitol and 18th streets.
The coffeehouse opened in 1985 when four business partners had a vision to bring gourmet coffee to Sacramento. It became a city trademark that swelled from six local cafes to 74 outlets in four states by 1993.
"It was a real spot for a variety of different people. It became a place to read, to discuss politics, to look at poetry," said Tom Weborg, one of the café's original owners who left in 2001. "As far as we're concerned, it was a great product and great location at the right time in Sacramento's history. Nothing lasts forever."
Java City spans nationwide today, but it focuses on selling wholesale beans, which are often sold in outlets branded with the Java City name, but not actually owned and operated by the company. Though it remains based in Sacramento, Java City has changed hands since its early days, and is now owned by Irish coffee and tea seller Bewley's.
Paesanos, Java City's next-door neighbor in midtown, will lease the vacated building at 18th and L, the chain's last retail store.
Koren Beard, Paesanos' general manager, said another "casual dining concept" will open there in late summer. Though the new business will be a separate entity from Paesanos, it will feature the same ownership and executive chef.
Java City's retail operation dwindled in recent years as its wholesale business skyrocketed. Today, the company supplies coffee to colleges, convenience stores, airlines and restaurants. Java City CEO Craig Hettrich said the wholesale side of coffee is more profitable and more practical for Java City amid the "crowded" coffee business.
"We just think there's greater opportunity to grow our business on the wholesale side as opposed to franchising and opening our own stores," Hettrich said. "You'll (have) something that looks like a Java City shop, but we're not operating it."
Die-hard Java City drinkers said they were sad to see their favorite coffeehouse close, but they weren't suprised. National chains such as Starbucks and Peet's have greatly increased competition since Java City's early days. And Sacramento's coffee scene now boasts many independents that have elevated coffee to an art form.
Jeffrey Doolittle, clad in a red Java City T-shirt, sipped a cup of coffee Tuesday as he recalled going to the coffeehouse's opening in 1985, and how there used to be no free chairs on Friday nights from 1985 to 1995.
The people who roast the coffee are "pretty neurotic about it. They get it just right," he said.
The taste of the coffee isn't the only thing Java City loyalists said they'll miss.
"(I will miss) the personality of the people, especially the workers," said Warren Chadwick as he drank his last cup of coffee outside the café Tuesday. "You come down here, have a cup of coffee and converse, and you never want to leave. You've got four or five generations sitting out here."
Java City's lack of focus on its retail end hurt its café location, said Sean Kohmescher, the founder and owner of Temple Coffee, one of the younger, independent companies to spring up in Sacramento.
"If you don't focus on your relationship with your partner, you can't be surprised when it doesn't work out," Kohmescher said Tuesday.
He said Java City's operation was entirely different from Temple Coffee's, so the two aren't comparable. Temple has been successful because of its approach to buying and selling expensive coffees, training its baristas and its attention to service and ambiance, Kohmescher said.
Given their close proximity, Old Soul's Weatherstone coffee on 21st Street may absorb many of Java City's devoted customers. Yet Old Soul barista Brandon Miller said they won't find the same product. He said Java City's trademark dark roast is not an Old Soul flavor. He said Old Soul focuses on lighter roasts.
Miller said the coffee industry has evolved since Java City's early days, but the company did not change with it.
"Java City, for what it was at the time, was totally necessary for our industry to get where it is today," he said. "Without them, it would be a very different industry here in Sacramento."
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
Call The Bee's Andrea Gallo, (916) 321-1067.
• Read more articles by Andrea Gallo
No comments:
Post a Comment