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CITY GEAR DROPS PART ONE OF LATEST 'FRESH OFF THE BLOCK' ST. LOUIS FEATURING BOTH A RAPPER & FILMMAKER

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett, Inc., (NASDAQ:HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer with more than 1,100 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores nationwide, today announced a new two-part episode of City Gear Fresh Off The Block (FOTB), featuring two men from St. Louis, Missouri. Part one of the episode launches today and part two drops on May 4, 2023 and both will be viewable on You Tube at @CityGearOfficial. The FOTB series first launched in the fall of 2022 to spotlight the stories and lifestyles of sneaker fashion enthusiasts from urban cities across America. The newest FOTB episode introduces viewers to St Louis locals Muhammad Austin, @Mvstermind, rapper, producer and creator of “Mvstercamp" and Drew Brown, @thefilmlord, a digital photographer and cinematographer. Both share their love of St. Louis culture, food and music and how this city has influenced them, their careers and their style. “It’s been fun to bring our Fresh Off The Block project to life with our partners at Nike to emphasize the fashion lifestyle influence of culturally-rich cities like St. Louis,” said Sarah Sharp-Wangaard, VP Marketing, Hibbett. “St. Louis has a great mix of both southern and midwestern culture and as we see through the lens of Muhammad and Drew, there is an abundance of inspiration and creativity there.” The FOTB crew followed and filmed both Austin and Brown in their hometown and visited some favorite places. In part one, 32 year-old rapper, Muhammad “Mvstermind” Austin takes the crew around to a couple of his favorite dining spots Lefty’s Fried Rice and Seoul Taco. “Man, when I’m not out there soaking up the culture in the city, you can usually find me out in nature, taking in the sights and sounds that St. Louis has to offer, like picnicking in Tower Grove Park with my fam, hiking through the nearby state parks and just strolling through Forest Park and letting my mind unwind. I remember when I was a kid, my dad taking me to City Gear, trying on shoes and picking the perfect outfit for the first day of school. To this day, whenever I go to the City Gear store, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for those simpler times. If I were to describe the music I create, it’s a reflection of everything I love and everything in my past that’s led me to be my city’s hometown hero.” Austin talks fashion and says St. Louis weather is unpredictable and comfort is key, so he is ready for anything when it comes to his wardrobe. “I’m talking about layering up, mixing and matching pieces so I can add or remove them as needed to stay comfy and look fresh at the same time. Yo, when it comes to sneakers, I need em to pop like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Give me colors that scream out to the world like neon orange. A bold pair of kicks can elevate my whole mood and energy. But that’s just the start, cause I need my sneakers to have some real intention behind em. I ain’t talking about just looking good, I need a story, a purpose, a reason for existing. Whether it’s a collab that brings together two worlds or a shoe that’s made with the planet in mind, I wanna know what’s going on behind the scenes. At the end of the day, sneakers ain’t just shoes to me, they’re a whole vibe, a way to show the world who I am and what I’m about. And when I find a pair that’s got the color, the intention and the innovation all in one, I’m rockin em.” Drew Brown @thefilmlord, 27, has a bachelor’s degree in digital film and video production and is usually on the go, filming projects on location. Since his father gave him his first video camera in high school, Brown has made a career in cinematography and has filmed hundreds of documentaries, music videos and commercials all over the country and is currently on tour with St. Louis born performer Smino. Brown takes the FOTB crew around St. Louis to visit his favorite stylists at The Chop Shop and then to Bus Loop Burgers for his favorite burgers, fries and shakes. They visit The Show Me League, where he played youth basketball and learned life skills both on and off the basketball court. “St. Louis is a melting pot of the United States because we have so many different cultures here.” “St. Louis influenced the way I dress because I have to be comfortable but also have my own unique style,” said Brown. “No one wants to dress like another here, so we venture off and find our own personal style, which sets a tone for our personality. In St. Louis we get fly for every occasion, it’s just how we show who we truly are and how original we are. What drives me to a pair of shoes is the story behind the shoe and how comfortable it can be because as a filmmaker I must be comfortable while carrying heavy cameras and while moving around the city. Three things a shoe must have for me are style, comfort and a colorway to match a high percentage of my wardrobe.” Part one of FOTB debuts today with the second part launching on May 4 th and both can be viewed across multiple social platforms and @CityGearOfficial on You Tube. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1133 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ### Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

April 20, 2023 01:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC) Spring 2023 Edition Returns To Hudson Yards, NYC: May 18 & 19

LMCC Ventures LLC

The Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC) today announced its first wave of speakers, retail attendees, and showcasing brands for its Spring 2023 Edition, which returns to Hudson Yards in New York City on May 18 & 19, 2023. Launched in 2018 as a first-of-its-kind B2B event, LMCC has grown into the go-to biannual venue for product discovery and extensive education, connecting visionary CBD and Cannabis wellness, beauty, food/beverage, and lifestyle accessories brands – and their founders – to a powerful combination of hundreds of traditional retail buyers, luxe dispensaries, editorial press, and investors from around the world. 2023: The Year of the Brand “We’ve reimagined the boutique trade show experience by providing an immersive luxury retail environment for our business attendees to discover the finest wellness, beauty, and food & beverage brands in the space,” said LMCC’s Co-Founder & Executive Director Jed Wexler. “And as Cannabis retail comes alive in New York, 2023 truly is ‘The Year of the Brand’ with LMCC being the bridge to a massive new, elevated mainstream CPG wellness category.” In a testament to the mainstreaming of the category, LMCC will welcome a robust roster of industry leaders for two full days of panel discussions – each moderated by a veritable who’s who in media. Speakers: Jacques Tortoroli, CEO, Charlotte’s Web (“The Official CBD of Major League Baseball”) Jake Bullock, Co-Founder & CEO, Cann Tremaine Wright, Cannabis Control Board Chair, New York Office of Cannabis Management Arana Hankin-Biggers, President, Union Square Travel Agency Emily Schildt, Founder & CEO, Pop Up Grocer Amir Zwickel, Founder, SHOWFIELDS Melany Dobson, CEO, Hudson Cannabis & Ben Dobson, President, Hudson Cannabis Media: Tiffany Kary, Bloomberg News Chala June, Contributor, Bon Appétit Brian Underwood, Women’s Health Michael Kusek & Brit Smith, Different Leaf Kelly Kovack, Founder & CEO, BeautyMatter Oset Babür-Winter, Food & Wine Claire McCormack, Beauty Independent Erica La Sala, Beauty Independent Jeremy Berke (‘Cannabis Business Reporter of the Year”) Recently named one of BeautyMatter’s “Top Global Wellness & Beauty Trade Events” and Trade Show Executive Magazine’s “Leading Upcoming Trade Events in North America,” LMCC will present its signature Brand Showcase Studio — a pre-vetted, store-ready exhibition throughout the two-day program featuring keynotes and conversations with speakers, founders, and journalists. The LMCC 2023 Spring Edition will welcome hundreds of buyers from A-tier retail outlets, 50 accepted showcasing brands, 50 industry-leading speakers, and close to 900 global business attendees. Indicating the excitement and opportunity surrounding New York’s just-opened legal Cannabis market, LMCC is slated to host its largest and most impactful event to date. Exclusive New York and National Brand Launches at LMCC Spring 2023 From Charlotte’s Web and the re-rise of CBD wellness to Hudson Cannabis, 1906, Rose Los Angeles, Drew Martin, Dad Grass, PAMOS, and a slew of pioneering New York Cannabis brand launches exclusively during the show, LMCC presents the world’s finest store-ready product portfolios in and outside of the space. View the LMCC Spring 2023 peaker schedule and Brand Showcase Studio line-up at lmccshow.com. Follow LMCC Instagram or LinkedIn. LMCC SPRING 2023 BRAND SHOWCASE STUDIO DIRECTORY Brands can still apply to activate their brands at LMCC Spring 2023 HERE. View the latest Brand Showcase Studio directory HERE. LMCC SPRING 2023 RETAIL BUYER PREVIEW Admission is complimentary only for qualified retail buyers and their teams. Register representatives from traditional/online retailers, hotels/spas, independent wellness boutiques, luxe dispensaries, natural markets, and more HERE. ### Attendee Tickets: Two-day, all-access passes to LMCC Spring 2023 are $695. Purchase passes HERE. About LMCC: Founded in 2018, LMCC Ventures LLC is the parent company of the annual Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference (LMCC) in New York City. LMCC is the premier B2B event connecting A-tier retailers, media, investors, leading dispensaries, and CPG executives to premium CBD, hemp and Cannabis brands — with a keen focus on beauty, wellness, food & beverage. Past participants include retailers like Sephora, Nordstrom, Credo Beauty, and Bloomingdale’s; media including The New York Times, Glossy, Travel & Leisure, O, The Oprah Magazine, and Robb Report; and speakers from Mitch Baruchowitz (Merida Capital Holdings) and Cindy Capobianco (Lord Jones) to Bobbi Brown and Frederic Fekkai. Guidelines & Legal: Cannabis in name only; No smoking or vaping on any kind permitted inside the venue; Illegal products will NOT be allowed on-site Local laws strictly apply. Badge or Pass Required: LMCC is an invite-only B2B trade event not open to the public. A badge or pass is required. Contact Details LMCC Press Katie Shapiro +1 303-882-5596 katie@katieshapiromedia.com Company Website https://www.lmccshow.com/

April 20, 2023 06:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Get Out and Celebrate Trails…It’s Earth Day!

YourUpdateTV

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nation’s largest trail advocacy organization, is encouraging Americans to kick off the spring trail season on Celebrate Trails Day. Celebrate Trails Day, aligned with Earth Day this year, comes at a time of unprecedented opportunity for trails, walking and biking —bringing new focus to trails as essential infrastructure to the health and well-being of people, places and the planet. Recently, RTC’s vice president of communications, Brandi Horton, participated in a satellite media tour campaign to talk about how to make the most out of America’s trails. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/wDHgN8pUxPY A recent opinion poll conducted by RTC found that most Americans (87%) feel that trails contribute to the well-being of the community and two-thirds of Americans say they’re interested in using trails more than they do now—26% say a lot more and 36% say a little more. Overall, a majority of people (62%) report using trails once a week or less, but 24% say they’re using trails more than they did in the past year, which is particularly true for Black (35%) and Latino (27%) trail users. The majority of trips taken in this country are within a 20-minute bike ride or less, more than one in four trips are within a 20-minute walk or less, and 11.5% of all trips are made by walking and biking. By swapping more of these trips from car trips to walking or biking, the U.S. economy could save more than $22 billion annually and save 54 million tons of CO2 annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 25% of Americans are inactive and that increasing our physical activity is one of the best things we can do for our health. Findings from the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends parks, trails and greenways as infrastructure interventions that increase physical activity. For the last decade, Celebrate Trails Day has been the nation’s annual spring celebration of America’s trails and a motivator for people to be active—more than 750 events have taken place nationwide, rallying tens of thousands of people. In 2022, participants reported more than 65 minutes being physically active outside on the trail, which contributed significantly to the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity adults should get each week. Combined, participants logged over 812,000 minutes of physical activity on Celebrate Trails Day, and one quarter (24%) reported swapping a short car trip for a walk or a bike ride to their destination. This nationwide moment continues to be a meaningful and symbolic way to illustrate the direct impact that trails have on some of the most pressing issues facing communities across the country. For more information about Celebrate Trails Day, to find events, and to enter to win prizes, visit railstotrails.org and follow #CelebrateTrails on social media. ------------------------------------------------------ About Brandi Horton Brandi Horton serves as RTC’s vice president of communications. She has dedicated her career to communications for social change and is passionate about creating communities that promote health and well-being. For more than 20 years, she has partnered with nonprofit organizations and government agencies to leverage communications strategies to organize and engage audiences in support of social good. She lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her family, where she regularly frequents the Four Mile Run and W&OD trails en route to work, the playground and little league games. About Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nation’s largest trails organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong. RTC is dedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

April 19, 2023 03:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Dear America, Mission Possible: Prevention and Cures Starts Now

The American Center for Cures

I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. The exceptional leadership and resilience of this nation has been an inspiration to Dr. Rick Boxer and me, prompting us to embark on a vital mission that resonates with every American, regardless of wealth, race, or political affiliation: combating disease. Despite our nation's efforts, we have not achieved the level of prevention and cures necessary to alleviate the suffering and burden of diseases that affect us all. It is time for a paradigm shift, and we believe that every American is in a unique position to help drive this transformation. The American Center for Cures, which we co-founded, aims to establish a fully funded private-sector mission dedicated to preventing and curing the most devastating diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, various forms of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and all other diseases including orphan diseases. Our vision is to assemble the most successful CEOs in America to lead individual centers focused on these diseases, with each center receiving $36 billion in funding. By combining resources, leadership, focus, and a sense of urgency, we believe we can create a new era in disease prevention and cures. This effort has the potential to be the most significant legacy issue of our lifetimes, impacting not only American families but also the global community. We humbly request Corporate America’s public endorsement and the social support of the American People to provide hope to millions and promote a business-like model of accountability that is currently lacking. Furthermore, we encourage you to urge every member of Congress and the White House to expedite their support for this initiative. We are not merely asking for their backing; we are insisting on it. This mission is for you, your children, and future generations. It is likely that you and your loved ones have been personally affected by a disease that should no longer exist. By embracing this mantle of leadership today, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals. Former Secretary of Health Tom Price has stated that the American Center for Cures could rival the greatest achievements in American history. My partner, Dr. Rick Boxer, was recently appointed to the National Cancer Advisory Board by President Biden. We need your voice and skills now more than ever. We commend the extraordinary work of researchers around the world and their commitment to delivering cures. However, a systemic issue exists within the medical use authorization and approval process, and it delays getting cures into the hands of the people who need them now. We’re on the cusp of curing pancreatic, breast, and brain cancer, as well as preventing heart attacks but the current model, because of economic- and process -related obstacles, does not accommodate success. The American Center for Cures is offering a solution to this problem by providing a mission, funding, responsibility, accountability, and leadership, will fundamentally restructure and speed the process of working with the FDA and all relevant parties for authorized cures. Just like the speed of getting the COVID vaccine approved and authorized for use, American Center for Cures is committed to bringing new cures and treatments to patients as quickly and efficiently as possible. We believe that now is the time to harness our global technological advances to establish a process and urgency that will bring these pieces together for the betterment of humanity. By acting today, we can create a lasting legacy in the fight against disease. We are Unity Strong! Best regards, Lou Weisbach Co-founder, The American Center for Cures About American Center for Cures The American Center for Cures (ACC) initiative is a fully funded mission to prevent, treat or cure diseases that plague every American family. The initiative will be funded by the sale of $750B bonds by the Federal Reserve, providing the capital needed to accelerate the current trajectory of medicine. Annual interest will be paid through the licensing of new compounds and drugs to pharmaceutical companies. The principal will be repaid by savings provided to the United States Government through successes in the areas of prevention and cures. The ACC business model will cost the government and taxpayers nothing, making this the single most impactful investment on behalf of the American people in the nation’s history. For more information, please visit https://theamericancenterforcures.org. Contact Details Rainier Communications Jenna Beaucage +1 508-340-6851 jbeaucage@rainierco.com Company Website https://theamericancenterforcures.org

April 19, 2023 01:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

NuggMD to Launch the Too-High Hotline on 4/20, Providing Much-Needed Peer Counseling to Those Who Overindulge

NuggMD

With the launch of its Too-High Hotline, NuggMD, the nation's leading medical marijuana telemedicine platform, is helping accidental cannabis overindulgers to find support this 4/20. It's that time of year again. And while 4/20 is arguably a dedicated cannabis users' favorite holiday, it's time to remind our fellow interdimensional explorers to indulge responsibly. States have seen an explosion in much-needed harm reduction measures, thanks to the reduced stigma around cannabis use. Still, many Americans resist seeking help for highly emotional psychedelic experiences because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level. This results in unguided use by novices unprepared to deal with the powerful mental effects, and every year, emergency visits for excess cannabis consumption spike on 4/20. NuggMD is committed to providing educational material to patients explaining the differing intensity and duration between consumption methods, how other cannabis users approach dosing, and how tolerances vary significantly between users. And this 4/20, in the interest of harm reduction, NuggMD is establishing a “Too High Hotline” to provide free, confidential peer support to those who indulge a little too much, despite ample precautions. "It's easy to accidentally overdo it with cannabis," says Kam Babazade, NuggMD co-founder and COO. "Tolerances are so widely varied. Some patients can take a 50mg edible and not feel a thing, while others are overwhelmed by microdoses of 2.5mg. There's no need to feel ashamed! It has happened to most cannabis users at one time or another. The psychological experience can be very intense, and no one should be forced to go it alone because of stigma." Of course, it's appropriate to seek medical attention if a cannabis user has a medical emergency while under the influence. But more often, the problem is a lack of emotional support, which a patient is unlikely to find in an emergency room. That's where the Too High Hotline comes in. NuggMD’s “Too High Hotline” is available to everyone in the United States this 4/20 to offer support during or after their cannabis experience. NuggMD is also educating patients about harm reduction and support options through a dedicated landing page, nationwide email notifications to their network of over a million patients, and additional ongoing campaigns focused on harm reduction and safe consumption. To learn more about NuggMD’s Too High Hotline, please visit https://www.nuggmd.com/support. About NuggMD NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in 22 states and growing. They have connected over 1 million patients with their new medical marijuana doctors face-to-face via their state-of-the-art telemedicine platform. NuggMD believes that every person should have the right to access medical cannabis for their qualifying conditions and is fully committed to helping each patient explore all treatment options for their health and well-being. For further information, visit NuggMD.com. Contact Details Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 andrew.g@getnugg.com Company Website http://www.nuggmd.com

April 19, 2023 01:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Circles Modernizes Group Support with First Free ‘Audio-Only’ On-Demand Service

Circles

In the middle of the night when you are overwhelmed with grief, reeling from a job loss or just in need of someone who knows what you are going through, where do you turn. Technology company Circles is on a mission to solve that problem. Today, the company announced that Circles On-Demand, the first of its kind on-demand audio support group app, is now available to the general public. Circles fills a void in the e-therapy market by focusing on the therapeutic value of sharing and listening to others with the same pain, issue, or challenge. Circles has modernized the support group by empowering users to find emotional support from people who are dealing with the same issues, in real time. The wide ranging topics of groups includes: single dads rebuilding their lives after divorce, adults coping with disability, women navigating infertility and people grieving the loss of loved ones. Circles taps into the power of finding and giving support to those who are going through the same issues. “ People still need people, and that is especially true when you are faced with life's challenges,” says Irad Eichler, Co-Founder and CEO of Circles. We have learned from our community that although people often have a support system, they still feel alone. It has been our mission to provide a safe place where people feel seen and heard, whether they are going through divorce, experiencing illness, struggling with body image or navigating a layoff. We understand the power of connecting with people who understand exactly what you are going through and with this new offering we are proud to provide easy real-time access to emotional support for anyone who needs it.” Since the company launched in 2020, they have been a source of support for 50,000 people. Circles On-Demand opened to limited users in 2022 and already has 200 and growing support groups. During the beta, divorce and cancer accounted for 35% of all rooms, but in the past two months, demand for groups dealing with narcissistic relationships grew by 100%. Each Circles group is led by a facilitator. Since the beta launch of Circles On-Demand, more than 200 groups have already formed validating the need that people need help and feel better connecting with others that face the same challenges. Circles On-Demand is free of charge and anyone can start or join a group. The app allows people to be anonymous and only requires a first name to sign-up. The company provides training materials to help facilitators be successful, and is currently working on an AI integration that will provide help to guides in real time. Circles On-Demand has helped people to find community and connection when they most need it. During the holidays, groups hosted happy hours to help people feel less lonely. There was even a comedy hour for grief support, providing users with an outlet to laugh through a difficult time. Julie Edstrom has used Circles to support her through grief, and says, “I lost both of my parents 16 days apart in 2021 to COVID. I am a retired Grief and Trauma Therapist so I have high expectations for grief groups. Circles exceeds my expectations.” Circles user, Mark, is healing from a narcissistic relationship and offers, “The group is comfortable and open. Being able to express what's happening and feeling others' stories. There's no judgment nor criticism. People can talk freely and share their pain, their growth and seek that light at the end of the tunnel.” To join or start a support group, download the Circles app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. About Circles Circles was founded in 2020 in Israel with a mission to make support accessible and affordable to everyone. The global company launched in the United States in 2021 and differentiated itself from the e-therapy market by focusing on the therapeutic value of sharing and listening to others with the same pain, issue, or challenge. The company closed a Series A round of $16.5 million in May 2022. Contact Details Circles Karen Swim circles-pr@wordsforhirellc.com Company Website https://circlesup.com/

April 19, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

A Medical Thriller with Humor and Heart

Greenleaf Book Group

Dr. Vince DeLuca, a burnt-out OB-GYN with PTSD, overhears suspicious mumblings from a recovering patient. It could just be the ramblings of a woman on too much morphine, but Vince knows the patient’s husband is the CEO of a major defense company, and when she hands him the contact information for an arms dealer, Vince finds himself tangled in a world of terrorists, weapons, and espionage. Code Crisis (Greenleaf Book Group Press, Apr. 18, 2023), the debut novel of Dr. Joseph M. Purpura, follows Vince on a fast-paced and thrilling adventure that blends medical expertise, high-stakes action, humor, and romance. Vince decides to leave it to the FBI, not suspecting that they would send him Carolyn, a drop-dead gorgeous, slightly insane CIA agent who needs his help. Vince is soon thrown into the fray and finds himself both utterly in love and using everything he has ever learned in his medical career—including how to clamp a subclavian artery with a zip tie—to help home in on the terrorists’ plot, but not before they discover him and come looking for blood. “An exquisitely developed and propulsive novel that delivers high tension, humor, and magnetic characters in equal measure.” Said T.C. Boyle, PEN/Faulkner Award winner and author of 2022’s I Walk Between the Raindrops. “ Code Crisis is not only an addictive read, it shines with the authenticity of the author’s insights into medicine, criminality, and the emotions that make us human.” “Purpura, an MD by training, weaves action and gritty tradecraft but never loses sight of DeLuca’s humanity,” said Jamie Freveletti, award-winning author of the Emma Caldridge series and Robert Ludlum’s The Janus Reprisal. “The result is a novel that’s impossible to put down.” Kirkus Indie says, “The way that Purpura draws on his medical knowledge in compelling ways and his writing about Vince’s grieving process can be poignant.” The review goes on to call the book “a spy tale that works best as a character study of grief.” “Purpura’s inviting voice, witty characters, persuasive milieu, and fast-moving—even hurtling—plot ensure readers are hooked till the very end,” says Publishers Weekly BookLife. “Despite the global conflicts at its heart, Code Crisis is often funny, even charming.” Pick up your copy of Code Crisis and stay updated on Joseph Purpura’s endeavors by visiting codecrisisbook.com. About the Author Joseph Purpura is an award-winning Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine at Prentice Women's Hospital and Maternity Center in Chicago, IL. Purpura has a master's degree in Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality from Northwestern University's Institute for Healthcare Studies. He is currently an Associate Vice President and Head of Medical Device Safety for a biotech company. # # # More about Greenleaf Book Group Greenleaf Book Group is an independent publisher and distributor located in Austin, Texas, dedicated to empowering authors. Greenleaf’s hybrid publishing model is uniquely positioned to offer the benefits of both traditional publishing and self-publishing. To learn more about Greenleaf, visit www.greenleafbookgroup.com. Contact Details Greenleaf Book Group Sam Ofman +1 512-891-6100 media@greenleafbookgroup.com Company Website https://www.greenleafbookgroup.com/

April 18, 2023 10:00 AM Central Daylight Time

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DataWeave’s New U.S. Apparel Report Analyzes 40,000+ SKUs: Pricing, Discounting, and Availability Changing in Inflationary Times

DataWeave

Stock Availability for Premium products averaged 80%—higher than for regular products Discounting rose sharply from July 2022 to January 2023 Regular prices dropped across most retailers during this period DataWeave, a leading provider of Competitive Intelligence and Digital Shelf Analytics for consumer brands and retailers globally, recently released a new report, US Apparel eCommerce: Pricing and Stock Availability Trends on the Backdrop of Inflation. The report provides a data-rich overview of the fashion and apparel market, with pricing changes, stock availability, and discounting tracked across top retailers and brands. Across more than 40,000 leading fashion apparel SKUs between July 2022 and January 2023, DataWeave analyzes price changes, discounting, and product availability across top retailers in light of post-pandemic market dynamics and an inflationary environment. DataWeave’s US Apparel eCommerce industry report 2023 looks at the impact of inflation on pricing in apparel, tracking consistent price drops across five major retailers over the past few months (with slight prices increases across two more). Analysis on pricing and availability of fashion apparel provides insight into broader trends during economic downturns or inflationary periods. “Apparel is seen as a discretionary spend, and as consumers feel the pinch of inflation, many are likely to cut down on their apparel purchases.,” said Karthik Bettadapura, CEO of DataWeave. “Amid this, our analysis identifies a trend of reducing prices across retailers and brands. This is also a sign that inventory has caught up with and overtaken demand.” The US Apparel eCommerce report analyzes product availability in the last six months, and finds that across most retailers, it has risen and leveled out during this period. It goes on to compare stock availability of premium versus regular products. The report also includes a section on the complexities of product matching in apparel and how retailers can use this to improve their competitive price positioning. “Pricing competitively is an important area of focus not only for retailers but also for brand manufacturers who sell on marketplaces,” said Krish Thyagarajan, President and COO of DataWeave. “With the price-conscious consumer market we’re experiencing, this includes keeping an eye on their online presence and benchmarking their discounting and pricing against competitors across all their products. Our US Apparel eCommerce report provides retailers and brands with a view into the current state of online apparel retail, as inflation continues to inform pricing decisions, and stock availability has rebounded after months of pandemic-driven supply chain challenges.” # # # Report Methodology To reach its findings, DataWeave tracked the data of 40,000+ leading fashion apparel SKUs to analyze stock availability and discounts. The timeline of the analysis spans July 2022 to January 2023, capturing the state of the market as the economy moved from a supply-rich post-pandemic environment to a belt-tightening inflationary one. DataWeave is a SaaS-based digital commerce analytics platform that provides competitive intelligence to retailers and digital shelf analytics to consumer brands globally. With DataWeave, retailers can make smarter pricing and merchandising decisions while consumer brands can optimize their digital shelf for KPIs like share of search, content quality, price competitiveness, and stock availability. DataWeave’s AI-powered proprietary technology aggregates and delivers actionable eCommerce insights across 500+ billion data points globally, 400,000 brands, 1,500+ websites, 20+ verticals, and 25+ languages. Learn more at DataWeave.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan Public Relations, LLC (MKPR) Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://dataweave.com

April 18, 2023 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Executive VP & Director of Training Michael Jutt Talks Minuteman As We Celebrate 50 Years of Minuteman Press

Minuteman Press International Inc

As Minuteman Press International celebrates 50 years in business, we are continuing the celebration of our history. Michael Jutt first started with Minuteman Press as a press operator in the original Farmingdale shop in October of 1974, which was the second location that opened after Plainview. At just 19 years-old, Mike was hired by Roy Titus, and the rest is history. When Minuteman Press decided to become a franchise, Mike was promoted to Director of Training; he created the first Minuteman Press training program and became an integral part of the company’s expansion into franchising. Mike remains a huge part of our success today as Minuteman Press International’s Executive VP & Director of Training. How did you first get started with Minuteman Press and the Titus family? Mike Jutt: “I was hired in October of 1974 by Roy Titus. George Holzmacher worked for Roy already and he said I should meet with Roy about a job in Farmingdale. At the time, I was working two jobs, one being in printing, and I wanted to be an attorney. I wasn’t sure I wanted to commute to Farmingdale since I lived and worked in Merrick and was attending Nassau Community College. I went to the Farmingdale shop to meet with Roy. When he arrived, we went outside of the shop, behind the building. Roy and I spoke about what he wanted for the Farmingdale shop, as he was looking to make some changes. He asked me how much I was making. At the time, I was making $110/week at the printing job. Roy offered to match, but I explained the extra gas money and time I’d be spending on the commute. He smiled and then offered me $120/week to get started, and I accepted the offer. That’s how my time with Minuteman Press started, working in the Farmingdale shop that Bob Titus was managing. We worked very hard to get the business up and running, it was fun.” What was it like working in the Farmingdale shop when you first started? Mike Jutt: “I had worked in one other neighborhood quick print shop before Minuteman Press, and I was very impressed my first day of employment when I saw Bob Titus come back to the shop with a marketing assistant. The fact that they were out knocking on doors and direct marketing our printing service was to me very different and unheard of at the time for printers. I asked the other press operator who that was that just walked in, and he said that was Roy’s son Bob. The differences between Minuteman Press and other print shops were a few things. First, I saw that they were actively marketing to build the business. We had a ton of work. Second, the type of equipment that we had – Multi-Graphics equipment – had better capabilities than what other quick printers were using. Third, we also had a huge focus on customer service, shop appearance, and quality work. Another game-changer is when Roy came in one day and handed me a brochure for a new piece of equipment made by 3M, which was a superior plate system to enable multicolor printing. This was the missing piece of what we needed to bring Minuteman Press to the next level. We had the press, we just needed a better plate system that could handle color inks as well as it did black ink. We thoroughly tested the plate system with the press and evaluated the cost. The result was that we now had the perfect package to achieve multicolor printing when other quick printers did mostly single-color or just black. The 3M plate was the ticket.” When Minuteman Press started franchising, what was it like for you creating the first training program? Mike Jutt: “The next major thing that happened was Roy discussing expanding the business and moving into franchising. He promoted the business opportunity and brought interested parties into the Farmingdale location to see what we were doing. The interest was really high from the people that Roy brought in, and years later, Roy told me it was during this time where he really noticed and recognized my abilities as a hardworking young man. At age 20, Roy made me Director of Training, and it was my responsibility to teach the new franchise owners everything about our business.” What do you think are the key reasons for the success of Minuteman Press as the franchise kept growing? Mike Jutt: “I credit the success of Minuteman Press as a franchise to leadership, hard work (long days and long weeks), treating the owners as true partners, caring and supporting our owners, and helping them achieve their success. Roy Titus said you need to treat people like you want to be treated. Roy not only preached it, but he also practiced it, and that was one of the biggest keys of our success as we grew and expanded the company.” What are some of the key aspects of the original training program that remain as core principles today? Mike Jutt: “From the launch of the training department, we have focused and communicated the importance of owners becoming experts in 5 major areas: Customer service Marketing their business Delivering quality products Keeping an incredible top appearance of their business and anything that represents their business Management with an emphasis on financial management Within each of these areas, there is extensive training today covering every detail of what these items actually encompass.” What are some of the key ways that the training program and Minuteman Press have evolved over the years? Mike Jutt: “The biggest areas that we’ve always been at the forefront of are research, development, and technology. Printing technology and enhancements with 3M products in the early days got better and better. With that said, one of the big first big efficiencies was added when our first pricing program was developed. In 1977, a new franchise owner from Dallas, Texas named Cal Baker came to the training program. Cal previously worked for EDS (Electronic Data Systems). He noticed that all of our formulas were mathematically logical and that they could be automated to save hours and hours when pricing jobs. I was intrigued by Mr. Baker’s knowledge and what he was going to do, and after he wrote the software, I told Roy I had to go to Dallas to look at what he created. Roy told me, “Whatever you have to spend to research anything that helps our owners and our company, spend it. If it’s going to help our owners, it’s going to help all of us. So, I went to Dallas and saw that the computer was made by Radio Shack. The original model was called a TRS 80 and it had 16K of memory. The program was stored on a regular cassette and at the time, this was a real game changer. After the trip to Dallas, myself and Dave Scadin enrolled in a programming course offered by Radio Shack and we learned basic programming to enhance and modify what we had. We would never ask our owners to buy equipment such as a computer until we tested it. I contacted the Tandy Corporation in Fort Worth, Texas and convinced them to give us 10 computers as a trial, which we distributed to owners to test at 10 locations. We let the owners test it for 60 days and then they had to either give it back or buy the computer. 100% of the owners purchased the computer and none of us have ever looked back. From that point forward, we continued to invest in software development uniquely written to our policies and production. This protected us from software companies going out of business and gave us long-term advantages that we still benefit from to this day.” Mike continues: “Another key milestone for us was the advent of digital printing. The first Apple Mac computer that came with a printer was released in 1984. Digital printing technology emerged with desktop publishing thanks to companies like Apple, IBM, and HP. For our industry, this was great because we could create various different styles and designs on very economical equipment. It also replaced photo typesetting, which took a lot longer and was a very big investment. We quickly recognized that digital printing would evolve. In the beginning, we also recognized that the two technologies could coexist. Today, approximately 40 years later, that is absolutely what happened. The ability, production, and ease of use of the digital equipment has only made Minuteman Press an even better company. And partnering with our key suppliers Xerox, Konica-Minolta, and Hewlett-Packard has brought us improved productivity and profits.” Is there anything else you’d like to share? Mike Jutt: “Minuteman Press today has evolved to be so much more than what it was when we first started. We have developed and refined systems, policies, procedures, and a company that has a long-standing culture of caring for our owners in 5 countries. And from a personal perspective, with the diversity of products and the need for those products, the opportunity for entrepreneurs is incredible. I personally feel honored to be able to experience the emergence of such a fantastic company, Minuteman Press International.” For more information on Minuteman Press products and services, visit https://minuteman.com. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 18, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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