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Alvarez & Marsal Consumer Sentiment Survey Identifies Lasting Impact of Pandemic on Shopping Behaviors

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group

Alvarez and Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) releases today the findings from its latest bi-annual Consumer Sentiment Report, based on a survey of 1,500+ U.S. consumers conducted in February and March 2022, to understand how their sense of optimism, their desire to shop, what they were looking to buy, how they planned to use different shopping channels, has changed since the Fall, particularly as they start their journey toward some new form of post-pandemic normalcy. The survey was in the field as the Omicron variant faded across the USA, and just before the Ukrainian crisis began. “Our survey shows that consumers are not much more confident than they were in the Fall of last year,” said Jonathan Sharp, Managing Director in Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group, and lead author of the report. He added, “They continue to be focused on basic needs with less frequent shopping trips, and their biggest concern is inflation.” The survey findings underscore the lasting impact of the pandemic on shopping behaviors. It finds that a vast majority of respondents, 80%, are still sticking with the behavioral changes made during the pandemic. Only 5% of respondents indicated reverting back to pre-pandemic habits when compared to the Fall 2021 survey. The survey found that 49% of respondents expected things to either get worse or stay the same for their family in the next 6 months. More than half expect to have less or the same amount of money for themselves in the next 6 months. Notes Jonathan Sharp, “Though these represent an improvement from results of the Fall 2021 survey, overall consumer sentiment clearly remains weak.” Spending reticence has been driven by concerns over inflationary pressures and price increases, which was cited as the #1 barrier to spending, by 49% of respondents. As a result, consumers have increasingly been focusing their spending on basic needs and experiences. As this focus grows, consumers’ spending on indulgence and gifts continue to lose priority. Majority of consumers also continue to regard shopping as a largely functional rather than leisure pursuit, with 59% of respondents mostly or only shopping when there is something they really need. As a result, they are increasingly bundling shopping missions – shopping less often and buying more items per trip. In the restaurant and vacation space however, the report points to some evidence that consumers have emerged from pandemic hibernation – most markedly in their out-of-home dining. More than half of respondents have reverted to their pre-pandemic dining frequency. Notably, 18% are dining out even more than they were prior to the pandemic. Almost half of those surveyed also plan to travel this Spring. “While they may not feel optimistic, consumers are beginning to open their wallets, go on vacation, and eat in restaurants, presenting opportunities for retailers and businesses alike,” says Sharp. To access the results and read the full Alvarez and Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group Consumer Sentiment Report, please visit: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/insight/am-crg-consumer-sentiment-survey-spring-2022/ Survey Methodology Alvarez and Marsal’s Consumer and Retail Group interviewed 1,578 US adults between Feb 23, 2022 and March 9, 2022. The survey sample was balanced to be representative of the US adult population according to gender, age, ethnicity, income and region. The Alvarez and Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities towards their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm's bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Mass Merchandise, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement. Contact Details Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group David Schneidman dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com Company Website https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail

April 11, 2022 11:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Fine Hygienic Holding Continues to Lead on Progressive Female-Friendly Workplace Reforms with Pregnancy Loss Policy

Fine Hygienic Holding

Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), the world-leading wellness group and manufacturer of hygienic paper products and long-term germ protection solutions, has yet again taken the initiative to introduce new female-friendly policies as part of its continuous workplace reforms which aim to provide the most inclusive and welcoming environment possible for all its employees. Demonstrating that the company is serious about bringing about positive change, it has updated its Parental Leave Policy to include provisions for miscarriage or stillbirth, across all its locations. FHH already has generous maternity leave provisions for working mothers who benefit from 16 weeks of paid leave, above what the International Labour Organization recommends, and it even offers 3 weeks of paid paternity leave, which puts it at the forefront not only in the MENA region but also globally. Employees are eligible for compassionate leave upon the unfortunate event of a female employee or a male employee’s spouse suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth. In both instances the employee is entitled to five days of paid leave, and females may take an additional five days of unpaid leave. This comes in line with FHH’s core values to lead with empathy and extend leave to women needing time to recover physically and emotionally, and to consider the needs of male partners as well. No other company in the region offers such a generous leave policy, with provisions for maternity, paternity, miscarriage or stillbirth, in addition to a monthly day off for females. James Michael Lafferty, FHH CEO, said, “Our company believes that – if we take care of the people, the business will take care of itself – which is why we are constantly on the lookout for practices that support our employees’ wellbeing, especially during pivotal moments in their lives. With our updated policy our aim is to live our values and support our employees through difficult times.” FHH adheres to the highest standards of HR practices with a strong emphasis on supporting and empowering parents within its workforce. It is worth mentioning that the company was recently recognized as a Top Employer Middle East 2022 by the prestigious Top Employers Institute in every country it operates. Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups and MENA’s leading manufacturer of hygienic products, serves consumers in more than 80 countries around the world. Originally established as a paper manufacturer, FHH has transformed into a wellness company dedicated to enhancing global health and wellbeing. Committed to becoming “the shining star of the Arab FMCG business world,” the Group focuses on wellness, sustainability, pioneering CSR programs, and state-of-the-art production processes. Fine Hygienic Holding offers a diverse array of award-winning products including sterilized facial tissues, napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, jumbo rolls, as well as away-from-home products to accommodate all types of private and public institutions, in addition to its advanced range of personal protective equipment (PPE) and long-lasting germ protection solutions, it also brings Nai natural iced teas and innovative nutritional supplements, Motiva, to the market. Along with multiple accolated and awards over the years, particularly for its products and CSR initiatives, the company was recognized as a Top Employer Middle East 2022 by the prestigious Top Employers Institute in every country it operates. Contact Details Rana Kawalit | │ Corporate Communication & PR Director Rkawalit@finehh.com Company Website https://www.finehh.com/

April 11, 2022 02:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Psychedelic Pharmaceutical Startup Ninnion Announces Patent Filings and Development of NIN-S119 for Ischemic Stroke

Ninnion

Ninnion, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing next-generation psychedelic therapeutics, today announced the commencement of a first-of-its-kind pre-clinical development of NIN-S119. NIN-S119 is a proprietary, short-acting substituted tryptamine to treat patients recovering from ischemic stroke. It would be the first drug of its kind in the treatment of stroke, potentially making it eligible for Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA, a designation that can accelerate the development timeline. “Ninnion saw a big opportunity to develop NIN-S119, as there are no approved drug therapies for patients recovering from a stroke. It will be used in conjunction with physical/occupational therapy to enhance stroke recovery by inducing neuroplasticity – meaning it induces the formation of new connections between nerve cells in the brain. This sort of brain ‘rewiring’ could prove beneficial for stroke recovery by creating new brain circuitry that could restore function to brain areas damaged by stroke,” said Bill W Massey, Chief Development Officer of Ninnion. While drugs of this class that produce neuroplastic effects can induce psychedelic experiences (e.g. LSD, mescaline, DMT, etc.), one major benefit of NIN-S119 is that even though it's in this class of drugs, it could potentially be administered in low doses that do not produce these experiences. This would make NIN-S119 much easier to use clinically, reducing the time and effort of clinical staff and opening the potential for administration by the patient at home. “After experiencing multiple health issues, including three strokes in one year, I began researching and reading all about how to repair the brain through the neuroplasticity and neurogenesis effects of psychedelics. We created Ninnion to not only develop a new way to treat strokes but more importantly, to bring these drugs to market in a responsible way. The way psychedelic therapies are set up now is not helpful for the payer-reimbursed market. We want to create therapies that are accessible and affordable; patients should not have to pay thousands of dollars for therapies out of pocket. We’re encouraged by recent patent approvals for the development and delivery of new psychedelic therapies and we’re looking forward to advancing our clinical trials and continuing to develop other molecules in our pipeline,” said Jeremy M Caudill, Founder, and CEO of Ninnion. Ninnion’s research and development efforts currently focus on advancing next-generation psychedelic therapies, which will ultimately empower patients with more accessible and affordable treatment opportunities. To find out more about the study and Ninnion’s NIN-S119 molecule, visit www.ninnion.com/. About Ninnion Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Ninnion is a pharmaceutical company on a mission to build a fully integrated pharmaceutical psychedelics eco-system leveraging the latest AI drug discovery, development, cGMP manufacturing, commercialization, patient clinics and specialty pharmacy distribution network designed for the next frontier of psychedelic medicine. Focused on the payer-reimbursed market, Ninnion has begun developing a pipeline of next generation psychedelic therapies with a clinical focus on brain injury, chronic pain, inflammation, and addiction disorders. To learn more, visit www.ninnion.com. Contact Details Jive PR + Digital Ashley Areeda +1 734-891-4013 aareeda@jiveprdigital.com

April 07, 2022 11:33 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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KILTER PARTNERS WITH GIVING PLATFORM CLASSY, CONNECTING ACTIVE LIFESTYLES WITH IMPORTANT CAUSES

Kilter

Kilter, the breakthrough social engagement app that connects active lifestyles with important causes, is teaming up with Classy, a giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about, it was announced by Seth Braddock, Kilter Founder & CEO. “The Kilter and Classy partnership will enable nonprofit organizations everywhere to potentially increase supporter engagement and fundraising by up to 3X through activity-based challenges,” said Braddock. “With a focus on flexibility and inclusivity, Kilter will allow nonprofit supporters to tie their everyday health, wellness and lifestyle activities into Classy’s robust fundraising platform.” “Fundraiser gamification and activity tracking is a strength of Kilter’s that we are excited to tap into.” said Katie Golland, Events & Peer-to-Peer Product Marketing Manager at Classy. “Giving fundraisers the power to gamify their efforts by engaging in an activity tracking challenge while training for an endurance event, or giving corporate partners a way to engage their employees through challenges, makes the fundraising experience even more exciting. By integrating Classy online fundraising campaigns into the Kilter activity tracking application nonprofits can consolidate their efforts and stay motivated along the way.” “We're so excited for the Kilter integration for Classy to roll out!” said Lindsay Kolsch, Co-Executive Director of To Write Love On Her Arms and one of the partners utilizing the integration. “As long-time Classy customers, we're always looking for new ways to encourage and motivate our fundraisers and to find ways our team can add value to their fundraising experience. The Kilter integration does both. It's a perfect fit for our movement-based campaigns and the setup was very easy! We can't wait to see how this helps us grow our campaigns year over year and help TWLOHA grow to further our mission.” Available now, nonprofits using the integration can combine any Classy peer-to-peer, ticketed event, or registration with fundraising campaigns with the Kilter app. This allows organizations to supplement their fundraising campaigns with the end goal of reaching and engaging more supporters, adding new value for corporate sponsors, and increasing overall fundraising potential throughout the year. The partnership will enable Classy customers to more seamlessly introduce challenges into their fundraising strategy, while harnessing the power of charitable giving through collaborative and inclusive activities that allow you to track everything from steps walked to minutes read and beyond. Through the integration, donations from activity-based challenges will flow seamlessly from Classy into Kilter’s mobile leaderboards and will provide participants mobile-friendly ways to share their Classy fundraising links with their personal networks. Learn more about the integration here. ABOUT KILTER Kilter is the most inclusive activity-based engagement platform for good. With customizable events, integrations with many fitness tracking devices, and 50+ other trackable activities from running to yoga to pickleball to volunteering, Kilter’s best in class user experience, functionality and customer support provides employers and nonprofits with an easy to deploy tool that will meet their supporters where they are today (on their phones) and easily exceed engagement and impact goals. Learn more at www.kilterapp.com. ABOUT CLASSY Classy is a B Corp Certified Public Benefit Corporation and giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about. Based in San Diego, CA and trusted by thousands of nonprofits, from the fastest-growing nonprofits to some of the world’s largest social organizations, Classy’s platform provides the formats and flexibility to activate donors when and how they need to by creating more relevant connections to their causes. Since 2011, Classy has helped nonprofits mobilize and empower the world for good by helping them raise over $4 billion on its platform. Classy also hosts the Collaborative conference and the Classy Awards to spotlight the innovative work nonprofits are implementing around the globe. For more information, visit www.classy.org. Contact Details Julian Lavelle +1 315-708-3494 julian@kilterapp.com Company Website https://www.kilterapp.com

April 07, 2022 10:48 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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AIHM Announces 2022 “People, Planet, Purpose” Conference, Oct. 28-30

Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine

Registration is now open for the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine ’s (AIHM) annual “People. Planet. Purpose.” conference to be held October 28-30 at the Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego. AIHM is also offering a virtual experience for those unable to attend in person. This year’s conference, entitled “Disruptive Innovation + the Future of Health” brings together leaders in health and medicine from across the globe to talk about the latest research-based integrative techniques and strategies. Deepak Chopra, MD, one of the best-known figures in integrative medicine, is among the featured speakers. “We are thrilled to be back in person this year for this incredible experience,” said AIHM Executive Director Tabatha Parker, ND. “Throughout history, pioneering innovators have made giant leaps in health. Now it’s our time in integrative healthcare to lead the innovation.” Attendees will engage in lively discussions and learn tools for implementing integrative medicine best practices with their own patients. Previous conference attendees have included medical doctors, functional medicine doctors, osteopathic doctors, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, acupuncturists, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, registered nurses, licensed dietitian nutritionists, midwives, pharmacists, dentists, licensed massage therapists, health coaches, and many more from across the U.S. and around the world. “AIHM’s conference is like no other conference. It’s an immersive experience alongside like-minded practitioners who are all striving to make a difference for people and the planet,” commented Parker. “Attendees not only learn from experts, they expand their minds, enhance their spirits and build a community.” To learn more or to register, visit aihm.org/conference. Founded in 1978, the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) is the leading interprofessional organization for traditional, complementary and integrative health practitioners worldwide. In 2001, AIHM merged with the Academic Collaborative of Integrative Health (ACIH). Together, they are working to advance integrative health on a global scale and transform health and wellness through education, leadership, collaboration, research and advocacy. For more information, visit aihm.org or follow @aihmglobal on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Contact Details Carol Stevenson +1 661-713-6879 carol@growthledge.com Company Website https://aihm.org

April 07, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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25 Years Since the First Harry Potter Book – Is the Magic Dying?

Intelligiants

Harry Potter Box office sales at $9,198,243,071 to date – will the new movie break the $10bn barrier? Previous movie Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald had the lowest opening weekend of all at just $62,163,104. PartyCasino infographic shows UK in top 3 Google Trend spots for Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. With Harry Potter box office sales reaching a whopping $9,198,243,071 to date, will the latest instalment of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore help it to breach the $10 billion mark? PartyCasino has taken a look into the spend behind the Harry Potter movies, including the Worldwide Box Office takings, noting that despite a 60% increase in production spend on Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the Worldwide Box Office takings amounted to under half of the final Harry Potter film. In fact, the last film in 2018, had the lowest opening weekend of all the previous movies in the series at just $62,163,104. The highly anticipated release of Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore being only days away on 8 th April and 15 April (US), is unlikely to come in under $200 million to produce. Will the latest instalment rekindle the wizarding wonder or is the magic truly dying for the franchise? With a brand new Grindelwald, played by Mads Mikkelsen, there is hope for the franchise especially in the UK, with top 3 positions based on global Google search trends for both Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. Author and creator J.K. Rowling will likely cash in regardless of new movie releases and their success, already with a net worth estimated around $1 billion, by far higher than any Harry Potter star. Will the 25-year anniversary of the first Harry Potter book, break the spell and restore the magic to the series? See all above statistics and visit the interactive post with unique insights to where the interest for the franchise has been the highest, per country, by looking at historical Google search data: https://casino.partycasino.com/en/blog/world-of-jk-fans Contact Details Intelligiants Ltd Freddie Kvarnebrink +44 7889 314155 press@intelligiants.com

April 07, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Ben Wright, Rob Wellner, and Velocity Global receive First Descents’ Horizon Line Award for Leadership Support of MS Programming

Velocity Global

First Descents awards Ben Wright and Rob Wellner the Horizon Line Award at the 15th Annual First Descents Ball in recognition of Velocity Global’s visionary support of First Descents’ Multiple Sclerosis (MS) programming. “When I was diagnosed with MS 13 years ago, it turned my life upside down,” shares Rob Wellner, Velocity Global’s Chief Revenue Officer. “While medical treatments for MS have improved over time, psychosocial opportunities for those living with this diagnosis still remain limited. I’m honored to help enable these life-changing programs for the MS community in partnership with First Descents, and to be a part of a company dedicated to scaling our philanthropy for meaningful causes as we grow.” Each year, First Descents presents its highest honor - the Horizon Line Award - at the First Descents Ball to an individual or organization who dedicates their time, guidance, and wisdom to First Descents, asking nothing in return. In kayaking, one of our flagship outdoor programs, the horizon line is where the river descends into rapids not viewable by the paddler. At this point, the paddler must rely on his or her skills, tenacity, and the dedicated support of teammates. Over the past two decades, First Descents has experienced countless rapids and milestones in its history, and the team has relied on generous and selfless people and partners, like the entire Velocity Global team, to allow them to charge confidently ahead. “It’s a true honor to receive the Horizon Line Award on behalf of the entire Velocity Global team that puts us in the position to support First Descents and the young adult MS community. I’ve witnessed the transformative and healing power of adventure on their programs, including the very first MS program First Descents provided in 2018,” says Ben Wright, Founder and CEO of Velocity Global. “Service is one of the values we live by in our company, and First Descents embodies service to the full wellbeing of young adults living with MS. I’m proud of our partnership and the opportunity to support their mission in any way we can.” Velocity Global and First Descents have shared a special partnership since 2014 when the two Colorado-based companies became office neighbors at INDUSTRY Denver. Quickly bonding, Velocity Global employees now volunteer annually at First Descents’ programs and fundraisers, including the Ragnar Trail Relay Snowmass and TransRockies Run. In 2018, Velocity Global contributed $150,000 to pilot MS programming which began with a whitewater kayaking experience in Tarkio, Montana. In 2021, Velocity Global announced a transformative $1 million contribution to expand adventure programs for young adults with MS. “This year, we were honored to present Ben, Rob, and the entire Velocity Global team with our prestigious Horizon Line Award. We’ve long believed that our programs can serve populations beyond oncology. Ben and Rob shared this vision, and provided us with the generous funding, clinical connections, and support to extend the healing power of adventure to the MS community,” notes Ryan O’Donoghue, CEO, First Descents. “Their support will help us to serve hundreds of young adults living with MS in the coming years while building meaningful partnerships with patient advocacy groups and neurology clinics nationwide.” First Descents has served 57 MS participants across six programs since launching their pilot MS program in 2018. First Descents aims to serve more than 225 MS participants over the next three years. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work for anyone, anywhere, anyhow. Its Global Work Platform™ simplifies the employer and talent experience through its proprietary cloud-based talent management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. The platform offers a full suite of talent solutions, including global Employer of Record and Contractor Management, to help companies onboard, manage, and pay talent in more than 185 countries and all 50 United States. Thousands of brands rely on Velocity Global to build international teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. Velocity Global was named a "Leader" in Global Employer of Record Services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information, visit velocityglobal.com. About First Descents First Descents (FD) is a leader in adventure-based healing. Through outdoor adventure, community building, and lifestyle development, FD improves long-term survivorship and quality of life for young adults impacted by cancer, multiple sclerosis, and other serious health conditions. Headquartered in Denver, First Descents has served more than 10,000 participants over the last 20 years. Beginning in 2020, First Descents launched programs for healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. All services are fully-adaptive and free of charge. A Guidestar Platinum-ranked nonprofit, First Descents has been recognized on CNN Heroes and Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work. Contact Details Velocity Global Anja Koltes +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com First Descents Becca Rohrer +1 828-712-5927 becca.rohrer@firstdescents.org Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

April 06, 2022 05:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Move to Earn Running App StepN is Uncovering a Massive Opportunity within the GameFi Industry: Huobi Research Institute

Huobi Research Institute

Today, Huobi Research Institute, the leading blockchain research organization, published a report, StepN: Move-to-Earn without the Ponzi. StepN is a Web3 running app that rewards users for exercising. Pioneering the Move to Earn concept, StepN has scaled its daily active users to over 74,000 since launching its public beta in December 2021. In January, StepN raised a US$5 million seed round from a leading consortium of investors that included Solana Capital, Alameda Research, and Sequoia Capital. Built on Solana, StepN rewards users with Green Satoshi Tokens (GSTs) as they move and exercise throughout their day. Players can open loot boxes, mint sneakers, and win different categories of NFTs as they progress throughout the game. Each of these NFTs possess different attributes and can be customized. Key to StepN’s success are its SocialFi features; data can be shared with friends and users can invite others to join and compete. By combining social and online reputation systems, StepN makes Move to Earn a more social, rewarding Web3 community activity. In the report, Huobi Research Institute researcher Hugo Hou dissects StepN’s business model and predicts that StepN will drive massive growth for Move to Earn, much in the same way that Axie Infinity sparked widespread adoption of the Play to Earn concept. By encouraging healthy habits, the positive reinforcement introduced by Move to Earn incentives have the potential to reach and impact a much wider audience. This is in contrast to typical Play to Earn games, which are increasingly raising the barrier to entry for new gamers and turning gaming into repetitive chores. “The global gym industry was worth US$96.7 billion in 2020. In the U.S. alone, almost 60 million people participated in running, jogging and trail running in 2017,” said Huobi Research Institute researcher Hugo Hou. “It’s safe to say that Move to Earn could be a massive market, and StepN is well-poised to capture this opportunity.” To download the full report, click here. About Huobi Research Institute Huobi Blockchain Application Research Institute (referred to as "Huobi Research Institute") was established in April 2016. It is committed to researching and exploring new developments in the global blockchain industry. Its goal is to accelerate the research and development of blockchain technology, promote its applications, and improve the global blockchain industry ecosystem. Huobi Research Institute covers industry trends, emerging technologies, innovative applications, new business models, and more. Huobi Research Institute partners with governments, enterprises, universities and other institutions to build a research platform that covers the entire blockchain industry. Its professionals provide a solid theoretical basis and analyze new trends to promote the development of the industry. Contact Details Ker Zheng +86 139 2280 3249 media@global-hgroup.com Company Website https://huobiresearch.medium.com/

April 06, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise in Bath, England Moves to New Location, Lands Bath City FC Sponsorship

Minuteman Press International Inc

After 23 years in business and now entering their 24 th year, the long-time Minuteman Press franchise in Bath England has moved to a beautiful new location located on Pines Way Industrial Estate in central Bath. Since the move, Minuteman Press in Bath has nearly doubled production capacity and produced quicker turnaround times for their clients. In what has been a busy year for Minuteman Press in Bath, they have also landed a back of shirt sponsorship for Bath City FC. Throughout the 2021/2022 season, Minuteman Press in Bath has had their logo on player uniforms to increase their brand awareness and visibility. Managing Director David Ghent and Marketing Director Dave Dixon talk about the history of the business as well as what the future holds for Minuteman Press in Bath. What is the history of the business? Dave Dixon: “It all started in 1998 when our MD David Ghent had a vision to provide the best printing services in Bath. He saw a gap in the market for a city-centre location to offer on-site print and copying services. We’ve since outgrown our Walcot Street site and have developed into a commercial, print and signage service in our new facility at Pines Way.” How has the business grown and what are the keys to your success? David Ghent: “For us it’s always been about putting our customers first. We like to help them stretch their marketing budgets as far as possible. Sometimes it’s not about finding the cheapest option, it’s about the maximum return on investment. The success of our customer base is our success. We still have customers today that placed their first orders back in 1998!” What would you say have been the major changes to the printing industry over the past decade? Dave Dixon: “Speed and print enhancements! Sure, if you want a simple brochure to go through the door or get picked up with a load of other flyers that’s great, we can produce thousands of those and you’ll get a small percentage return rate. However, we find that once we add a spot of gloss, gold ink or foil it stands out from the crowd. We’ve also invested heavily over the years in the most up to date technology and most reliable kit to ensure that we can produce great results on time and quickly. After all you’ve seen it on your screen and you are keen to have it in your hand.” How do you set yourself apart from the competition especially online suppliers? David Ghent: “Online print is great if you want cheap bulk printing and you’re 100 percent sure that your artwork is designed well, you’re not too concerned about the final colours and you don’t need any advice or are not expecting a long term relationship with a local supplier. Most of our clients value business relationships and like to discuss their print job and how they might make it look as good as possible. Alongside that excellent level of customer service, we are also able to meet almost any deadline; most of our work is produced the same day on site here at Pines Way, with real people checking your artwork, colours and print quality. We are also a one stop shop. We will deal with your business forms, flyers and brochures, and we can also produce shop signage, vehicle graphics and exhibition displays. You really don’t need to go to many sources for your marketing materials. That’s how we differentiate ourselves.” How did you adapt over the past two years and diversify your offerings? Dave Dixon: “We very soon discovered the joy of floor and wall graphics! We did a little but of that pre-pandemic, but then we had to take it to another level. Our Large Format Studio Manager was in fact working hard during the first lockdown producing a catalogue with a full range of social distancing signage. We also had to test the materials to ensure that they were safe enough for installation on the ground – we really didn’t want people slipping on our floor graphics! We produced thousands of linear metres of floor and wall graphics. We continue to do so now, but for marketing purposes rather than safety.” Why did you decide to move to your new location and what does it mean for your clients and your future? David Ghent: “In reality, we outgrew Walcot Street and we really could not reach our full potential there. The new location represents a €1 million investment in the business. We have two of Xerox’s top end presses and we have added the full range of specialty colours to those, this includes white, fluorescent, gold, silver and clear toners, the range of colours we can really achieve is impressive. We’ve added short run foiling in house and of course our huge vehicle bay means that we can now do signwriting on cars and vans. Our signage team is expanding our offerings further. Interiors will be a big growth area for us including printed graphics on walls, floors, and windows. Window blinds are very popular at the moment and a really cost-effective way to keep your branding visible.” What makes you most proud as you reflect on the past 24 years? Dave Dixon: “We are proud of our level of customer retention. We work closely with our client base to ensure that they are always happy. We are also always happy to give back to our local community through supporting charities and clubs with free or heavy discounted pricing, as well as being proud to be a local business taking part in the civic life of our city.” What’s next for Minuteman Press in Bath? David Ghent: “We are in the right premises at last, so we now need to consolidate and plan for expansion. We need to continue strengthening our print and signage offerings and ensure that we are seen locally as Bath’s number one printer, as well as growing our online sales.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Bath, England, visit https://minutemanbath.co.uk. Learn more about Minuteman Press UK franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.co.uk. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 06, 2022 10:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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