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AmeriLife Bolsters U65 Market Presence with Partnership with Insurance Specialist Group

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Insurance Specialist Group (ISG), a national field marketing organization (FMO) and distribution platform that specializes in health insurance products for individuals and families in the under-65 (U65) market. Per the agreement, terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Today marks a significant milestone in ISG’s history,” said Scott Lingle, co-founder and CEO of ISG. “AmeriLife is the perfect partner and collaborator to help us grow and scale our business. We’re excited to tap into its wealth of resources and support so we can continue to deliver value to our downline and expand our distribution in new and creative ways.” ISG was founded in 2015; the company merged with Insurance Management Group, LLC, in March 2020, retaining the ISG name. Today, its distribution, which spans roughly 100 call centers, offers a vast portfolio of more than 100 individual health and health specialty insurance products from more than 40 carriers. As such, ISG has consistently maintained a track record of consistent revenue growth, margin expansion, strong downline recruitment, and deep penetration in a growing U65 market. The partnership represents AmeriLife’s continued and extensive effort to partner with strategic and emerging organizations to further enhance its distribution coverage, as well as strengthen the opportunities to address the holistic financial and health care needs of pre-retirees and retirees. “ISG is the perfect addition to AmeriLife’s national network as our distribution continues to focus on serving clients at every stage of life, when and where they need us,” said Scotty Elliott, president of AmeriLife’s Life & Health Brokerage Distribution. “We’re equally as excited to add Scott to our distribution leadership bench. Scott is a proven health care expert and business builder. His legacy of success with Health Insurance Innovation (HHII) and United Health One are a testament to his drive and leadership, and we look forward to working with Scott to take ISG to new heights.” ISG will continue to operate as a stand-alone business and be led by Lingle, reporting to Elliott. Teneo acted as financial advisor to ISG on this transaction. ### About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to offer insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier and more secure lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a national distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors, more than 50 marketing organizations, and 50 insurance agency locations. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. Contact Details Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

February 24, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Responding to International Mother Language Day, CIP Rewards Indigenous Language Promotion and Invites Traditional Leaders to Discuss the Sustainable Development of Indigenous Languages

Council of Indigenous Peoples

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 24 February 2022 - To campaign the importance of protecting languages, and advance the inheritance of mother languages to prevent their disappearance, the United Nations designated February 21 each year as the International Mother Language Day. CIP held the 2022 International Mother Language Day -- Indigenous Language Revitalization Award Ceremony and Forum on Taiwan Indigenous Language Development on February 21 and 22 at Parkview Hotel Hualien. The event included the Indigenous Language Revitalization Award Ceremony, keynote speech, and conference on building an environment friendly to indigenous languages by traditional leaders and heads of agencies. Minister Icyang of CIP said that in order to further reward the individuals, agencies, and groups promoting indigenous languages, the number of awards has been increased to 23 from 12 in 2021. In addition to providing NTD 20K to 60K bonuses, the Premier Su Tseng-Chang personally presented all 12 award categories to demonstrate his appreciation to everyone for being the role model in promoting indigenous languages. The Indigenous Language Development Meeting the following morning saw the participation of indigenous traditional leaders, their contributions help everyone understand how they led the indigenous communities in building the environment for indigenous languages. In addition, CIP is also moving forward with the "Support Program to Creating the Environment for Indigenous Languages in Church" this year, expanding the function and role played by the Church in passing on indigenous languages over the years, and creating on a wide scale an environment friendly to indigenous languages. Responding to the theme of this year's UN commemoration of the International Mother Language Day, "using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities", Minister Iycang of CIP delivered his full remark and speech in the Amis language, which is simultaneously interpreted through the equipment for simultaneous interpreting. This shows how mother languages are no longer obstacles to communication with the assistance of technology. In the future, we will be applying more indigenous language-assistive technology, and continue to work with central and local governments, NGOs, and indigenous peoples to promote the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages. Contact Details Pius Wu piuscswu@gmail.com

February 24, 2022 08:49 AM Eastern Standard Time

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AmeriLife & Prosperity Life Group Launch New, Affordable Life Solution for Pre-Retiree Americans

AmeriLife

AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions, today announced the launch of Family Freedom Term, a new, simplified issue term life solution offering affordable coverage at low costs and developed in collaboration with longtime partner Prosperity Life Group (“Prosperity”). Family Freedom Term offers affordable protection for people ages 18-75, meeting the needs of forward-thinking pre-retirees and retirees nationwide. The product offers a simple e-application process with instant underwriting in most cases. Three Accelerated Death Benefit riders are included with all plans for no additional premium and give clients access to a portion of their policy proceeds in the event of terminal, critical, or chronic illness. Other optional riders available for additional premium include Accidental Death, Waiver of Premium and Children’s Term. “While agents will enjoy being able to offer clients an instant decision and robust death benefits, it's the access to living benefits that truly separates Prosperity’s Family Freedom Term from others in the marketplace,” said David Paul, national sales director, Simplified Issue Life at AmeriLife. “The living benefits are a great policy feature that provides customers the security of knowing that, if they have a qualifying health change, they can access a portion of their death benefit. This flexibility is a huge benefit to our clients. Coupled with a product that provides them with exceptional value in today’s competitive marketplace, Family Freedom Term is an exciting addition to the portfolios of AmeriLife-affiliated agents and advisors.” As another shining example of AmeriLife’s collaborative partnership with Prosperity Life Group, Family Freedom Term adds to AmeriLife’s shelf of market-leading products that offer solutions for almost any age or health situation. Today’s announcement comes on the heels of a Medicare Supplement insurance offering, joining other Prosperity life insurance products — like PrimeTerm to 100℠ and New Vista® — to expand agents’ and advisors’ reach to a younger demographic keen to get a jumpstart on securing their health and financial futures. “This joint effort and Prosperity’s entire suite of products, distributed by AmeriLife, really addresses the full spectrum of clients’ needs,” said Pat Fleming, executive vice president, Product Innovation & Corporate Actuary at AmeriLife. “With Prosperity’s holistic approach to innovation, we’re excited to bring products to the market that are redefining the future.” “We’re thrilled to once again join forces with AmeriLife with the addition of Family Freedom Term to its growing stable of Prosperity solutions,” said Jack Heller, senior vice president, Marketing and Sales at Prosperity Life Group. “This product is another great example of our collaborative approach to developing industry-leading solutions that benefit both agent and customer.” Additionally, Family Freedom Term is convertible to a whole life plan if converted by the policy’s 10th anniversary or the beneficiary’s 75th birthday, whichever comes first. The product is underwritten by Prosperity member company S.USA Life Insurance Company, Inc. and is currently available in 40 states across the U.S., as well as Washington, D.C. (Family Freedom Term is not currently available in CA, CT, HI, ME, MT, NH, NY, ND, PA and SD.) For more information on Family Freedom Term from Prosperity and AmeriLife, visit https://www.prosperitylife.com/simple-issue-term-life-insurance. ### About AmeriLife AmeriLife’s strength is its mission: to offer insurance and retirement solutions to help people live longer, healthier and more secure lives. In doing so, AmeriLife has become recognized as the leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities and retirement planning solutions to enhance the lives of pre-retirees and retirees across the United States. For more than 50 years, AmeriLife has partnered with top insurance carriers to provide value and quality to customers served through a national distribution network of over 300,000 insurance agents and advisors, more than 50 marketing organizations, and 50 insurance agency locations. For more information, visit AmeriLife.com, and follow AmeriLife on Facebook and LinkedIn. About Prosperity Life Group Prosperity Life Group is a marketing name for products and services provided by one or more of a group of affiliated companies. Together, these companies have been fostering the financial security of our customers and their families for over a century. We provide life insurance, annuities and supplemental health products designed with our customers and their families in mind so that they can plan for today and protect a stronger tomorrow. For more information, visit www.prosperitylife.com. Contact Details AmeriLife Jeff Maldonado +1 321-297-1112 jmaldonado@amerilife.com Prosperity Life Group Jamie Leon +1 877-725-4872 jamie.leon@prosperitylife.com Company Website https://amerilife.com/

February 23, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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amika Taps Assembly to Lead Integrated Media Program Aimed at Growing Its Passionate Communities of Haircare Enthusiasts

Assembly

Global omnichannel agency, Assembly, has been chosen by prestige haircare brand, amika, to lead its integrated media program, with an emphasis on driving sustained awareness and building brand equity. amika has emerged as a go-to haircare brand through its ‘ all hair is welcome ’ positioning, which represents 10 unique collections of haircare for every hair type, texture, and style. amika has called on global data-driven agency, Assembly, as its partner in expanding its community of brand enthusiasts through its distinct, disruptive, and impactful messaging connected to purpose and inclusivity. “amika is a brand that has authentically lived its core values of kindness and inclusivity while doing good for the planet far before it was ‘cool’ or even an expectation from consumers,” said Kim Davis, Vice President at Assembly. “This is one of those best of both world partnerships where we get to bring the latest in media innovation to a brand that’s as committed as we are to nurturing people and the planet. We’re looking forward to developing an out-of-the-box channel strategy that maximizes brand awareness for amika.” amika was built with purpose at its heart by creatives, stylists, and product enthusiasts alike, and encourages a diverse and creative culture that’s fueled by radical thinking. In placing people and the planet at its core, the brand has maintained its mission of bringing progress to the beauty industry. “The name ‘amika’ means friend—to hair, hairstylists, the planet, our communities, and each other—and it’s truly embedded into everything we do. We want our customers to know us for not only our high-quality products, but our commitment to making a positive impact on people and the planet," said Chelsea Riggs, amika’s Brand President. “We were impressed by Assembly’s integrated approach across the funnel to help accomplish our goals and we were immediately aligned in our vision.” This year marks a strategic shift in digital media investment for amika, with an increased focus on driving awareness and new customer acquisition. Assembly will partner with amika to develop a full-funnel multi-channel strategy to achieve these goals. The team’s focus for the year includes strengthening paid social investment, a renewed focus on paid media influencer integrations, and continued momentum in search and display. Assembly and amika will also work together to introduce new high-impact channels to amika’s mix, including CTV, TikTok and localized OOH. “We’re flexible and agile, which gives us an opportunity to test and learn in new channels and platforms where we know our customers are spending their time. We have some big brand and product moments coming up this year, and we’re also excited to see how measurement helps support all of the work we’re doing in increasing the focus on brand awareness and consideration,” said Kelley Martin, amika’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. About Assembly: Assembly is made of the ingredients of the modern agency, bringing together data, talent, and technology to deliver a connected set of solutions for media + more to the best brands on the planet. We’re home to more than 1,500 of the industry’s top talent, who bring unmatched global omnichannel media expertise + data, technology, and business consulting capabilities that help brands find the change that fuels growth. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Visit www.assemblyglobal.com for more information. About amika: A friend to hair, hairstylists, to her, him, them and you. The name amika means friend in the language Esperanto & represents our belief in the power of community and the beauty of diversity. Straight out of Brooklyn, where creativity and hustle are a way of life, we’re a collective of creatives, hairstylists, chemists, and product enthusiasts. We only make products that make us proud. 10 collections for every hair type, texture and style. Visit www.loveamika.com for more information, and follow @amika on Instagram. Contact Details Assembly Sara Pollack, VP of Marketing +1 917-438-4922 sara.pollack@assemblyglobal.com Company Website https://www.assemblyglobal.com/

February 23, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Simplifying Social Media for Small Business Owners: Tips on How Local Businesses Can Stand Out in 2022

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/mQc2Uxrk-EU Small business owners have already had to get creative in so many ways in the past few years. According to a survey from Adobe, 74% of small business owners are facing creative burnout. One way to reset and refresh their business is by improving their social media presence. For a small business owner who may already be feeling stretched creatively, social media can seem daunting or time intensive. Natalie Zfat partnered with Adobe Creative Cloud Express on a media campaign to provide small business owners with helpful tips to better reach customers and get their business back on its feet. No matter their budget or confidence level for graphic design, here are some of the tips she shared to easily create standout graphics, photos, and videos in no time: Inspiration can strike at the oddest times. Creative Cloud Express allows you to create quick, easy content on the fly – with thousands of high-quality templates to customize your Instagram Stories, video cover slides, timeline carousels and more. Carousels outperform single-image Instagram posts. According to research by SocialInsider, the average engagement rate increases by 2% when using all 10 carousel slides, and carousels with a mix of video and images see the highest engagement rate per post at 2.33%. Filling the carousel with gorgeous content is easy when you use Creative Cloud Express, which lets you easily search through Adobe Stock images and leverage more than 20,000 fonts. Did you know that social media posts with video have 48% more views? Creative Cloud Express makes it super easy to edit and customize videos (even if video editing isn't your forté). It's no secret that social media users scroll quickly, and it can be tricky to stand out. 82% of small business owners know that a creative design will drive business, but 45% cite that they don’t have either the time, tools or skills to bring their ideas to life. One way to “stop the scroll” is with compelling animation and imagery. Creative Cloud Express lets you incorporate animated elements easily and create beautiful, thumb-stopping imagery that will catch your audience's eye. Something as simple as a colorful, animated shape layered behind text - or a funny GIF or sticker - will help your message stand out and allow you to inject more of your personality. And the best part: You don’t have to be a designer to get it done. Use “Quick Actions” powered by Adobe Sensei to remove backgrounds from photos, trim and merge videos, convert videos to GIF, and more. Integrate your brand's aesthetic across multiple platforms for a cohesive experience. Creative Cloud Express allows you to build your brand by uploading logos, colors and more. This makes it easy to seamlessly adapt your brand creative for social media, email marketing, website and more. The Shared Libraries feature in particular makes it easy for anyone and everyone on your team to work from a cohesive bank of templates to achieve that brand consistency. The Instagram algorithm is ever-changing, but we know that content that inspires shares and saves does particularly well, especially when that content is in video form. 74% of small business owners acknowledge that they are facing major hindrances to their creativity right now. To maximize engagement, aim for content that is beautiful, funny or educational. Infographics and video tutorials (“How To’s”) are a great way to do this - and Creative Cloud Express offers stunning, customizable graphs, charts and other great visuals that lend themselves to shareable content. Think of your social media profile as your storefront. 55% of small business owners say their online presence is more critical to their success than a physical store. Is your bio fully fleshed out? Is it clear what you're offering your audience? Creative Cloud Express allows you to create beautiful, robust profiles, with thousands of high quality templates for banner images, profile photos, Instagram Highlight covers and more – all customizable with your brand colors and typography. Don't have a brand book (yet)? Dip into Creative Cloud Express’ Stock and Fonts database for thousands of unique, stunning imagery and font styles for marketing materials like logos, flyers, banners, and more. To learn more about Creative Cloud Express and its different graphic design features go to: adobe.com/express About Natalie Zfat: According to Mark Cuban, “Natalie Zfat doesn’t mess around.” Natalie Zfat is a social media expert, speaker and host who has partnered with some of the most iconic brands in the world, including Samsung, Facebook, CNBC and LinkedIn. Curating original social media content, strategy and campaigns, Natalie gains millions of impressions for the brands she advocates for. When she’s not with her clients, Natalie loves sharing her social media thought leadership in her Forbes column, on television and at conferences and universities, including the New York Times, CBS, Carnegie Mellon, NYU Stern School of Business, SXSW and CES. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 22, 2022 04:34 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Covid Testing the Right Way and How to Avoid Scams

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/ZyvwNXn2NSo Testing for Covid-19 is now a daily part of many of our lives. Testing to go to work, school, travel, concerts, and most importantly, to stay healthy. But not all tests or testing centers are created equally. There are still many unanswered questions we have on the best ways to stay safe and healthy. With so much uncertainty its time to turn to an expert for insights and information on how to do covid testing the right way and avoid scams. On February 16 th Dr Emily Volk, President of the College of American Pathologists conducted a nationwide media tour. Topics that Dr Volk discussed included: What people need to know to administer an at home test properly Why it’s important that any collection center or laboratory doing COVID testing is accredited, adhering to the very highest standards Are rapid antigen tests more accurate than PCR tests and when to get one or the other Questions we should be asking medical professionals For more information, visit newsroom.cap.org About the College of American Pathologists: As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 22, 2022 01:26 PM Eastern Standard Time

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35-Year Printing Business SprintPrint Converts to Minuteman Press Franchise in Madison, Wisconsin

Minuteman Press International Inc

For 35 years, Phil Van Kampen and his wife Liz built their family-owned independent printing business SprintPrint into a multimillion dollar company by doing what they’ve always done for their customers. “We make printing easy,” says Phil. With the business doing well and retirement on the horizon, Phil has decided to sell the business to the Kenney family: Chrispin, Lynn, and their son CJ. Moving forward, SprintPrint will be rebranded as Minuteman Press in Madison as part of the Minuteman Press Conversion Program. The business will remain at their location at 2790 South Fish Hatchery Road. The Kenney family also owns a Minuteman Press franchise in Waunakee, which they have owned since 2013. Selling the Business As Phil approached retirement and was looking to sell the business, he wanted to make sure that there would be minimal disruption for both his clients and his employees that helped make SprintPrint a success. Phil says, “We had 12 employees, with at least half of them being with us for over 20 years. I wanted to make sure they were taken care of even after I sold the business.” Phil continues, “Originally, we were approached by another company but all they wanted was to buy our customer list. We were also contacted by a business broker and found that their commission rate was expensive. They also seemed to have no sense of urgency as if we wouldn’t be a priority, and so we decided not to go forward with them.” Eventually, Phil found the right partner to sell his business in Minuteman Press International. Phil explains, “After we decided not to use the business broker, Liz came home with a flyer from Minuteman Press that we received in the mail. I called Steve Szymanski, who is the Midwest Regional VP, and we talked for over an hour. I simply trusted him, liked what he had to say, and so we moved forward.” “The Minuteman Press Conversion Program was exactly what we needed to sell our business. There was no charge, no commission, and no broker fees. I also liked the fact that Minuteman Press would aid the new owner in running the business, and that I could retire without worrying about my customers and employees. In fact, my wife Liz is staying on to work with them because she isn’t ready to retire and loves her job. Steve Szymanski helped coordinate the sale and made it work, and it has been an easy transition for all involved.” -Phil Van Kampen, Retired Owner, SprintPrint, Madison, Wisconsin Meet the New Owners Lynn Kenney is the majority owner of the newly acquired business that is being rebranded as Minuteman Press in Madison. Lynn shares, “For the last 17 years, I’ve been working for the post office as a rural carrier. I also have a background in accounting and payroll in my early career working at Excalibur in Las Vegas.” For the Kenney family, the acquisition of SprintPrint simply made sense. Lynn explains, “My husband, Chrispin, was interested in expanding our current business while also building the business with our son CJ. We look forward to offering the same quality and experience customers have relied on in the past. In addition, we will be offering expanded products and services to existing and future customers.” “I believe good communication, accountability, education, and execution are the keys to running a successful family business. After 9 years of building our first location, we are looking forward to building another successful Minuteman Press franchise with our son CJ and creating great relationships in the Madison community.” -Lynn Kenney, New Co-Owner, Minuteman Press, Madison, Wisconsin CJ Kenney graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison in December 2021 with a degree in Communication Arts. After graduating, CJ knew that he wanted to take the next step forward with the family business. “I’ve been working with my parents at their center in Waunakee for eight years, since I was in high school. I did whatever they needed me to do. I ran deliveries, I helped with in-house apparel and production, and I loved going to BNI meetings and customer calls with my dad.” CJ continues, “I love talking to people, and I learned a lot from my dad. It always seems like he knows what to say and how to build relationships. I love this business because we can meet so many people that become friends in addition to working with them as clients. I just felt like this was the right track to take for my career and for the family business.” “With SprintPrint, we saw some tremendous expanding points for our business. Phil and Liz built a fantastic business over 35 years that will help us grow our in-house wide format printing services for the production of banners, signs, and posters. They also have a fantastic staff and clients I am excited to work with them as we begin this new chapter as Minuteman Press in Madison.” -CJ Kenney, New Co-Owner, Minuteman Press, Madison, Wisconsin History of the Business Before opening SprintPrint in 1987, Phil worked for another large printing chain based in Madison for 10 years. He says, “I decided to leave and start my own business. I knew what I wanted to do, and I decided I wanted to work for myself. We started the business and I made sure we differentiated ourselves as a quick printer focused on B2B clients rather than walk-ins.” Like many other business owners, Phil grew SprintPrint by building long-term relationships and becoming the face of the business. He also provided products that made sense and helped him stand out. Phil says, “One thing that set us apart early on is that we got into the mailing side of the business, invested in the equipment and the expertise, and became a one-stop source for in-house printing and direct mail.” After six years in business, SprintPrint moved to a 6,000 sq. ft. facility, then added onto the facility in 1997. “This is the same location at 2790 South Fish Hatchery Road that Minuteman Press is taking over, which I am very excited about because it makes for an even easier transition.” Over the past ten years, SprintPrint has continued to evolve and grow. “The biggest change over the past decade was getting into large format printing, which has been a huge benefit to our clients. During the pandemic, we experienced growth in large format, and direct mail held steady. We always try to make printing easy, and the past few years have been no different.” During the pandemic, SprintPrint continued to operate as an essential business and meet the needs of their clients. Phil says, “We have many long-term customers for 30 years or more with well-established businesses. They were able to weather the storm and continue marketing, and we were there to help them adapt and pivot as needed.” Retirement and Advice for Others Now that the sale is complete, Phil is looking forward to his well-earned retirement. “I’ve taken up woodworking as a hobby, and it is very relaxing to be able to enjoy each day.” Phil summarizes his experience with Minuteman Press and shares his advice for others who are looking to sell their printing business: “As owners of SprintPrint, my wife Liz and I had decided in the last year that, after 35 years, it was time to sell our business. It was of utmost importance that our employees were taken care of – we were looking for someone who would run the business in place and retain our staff. We originally explored selling it ourselves or working with a broker, which was not working out for various reasons. We then contacted Steve Szymanski, Regional Vice President of Minuteman Press International, to explore our options with their firm. We found their system to be very attractive as there was no cost to us to market our company for sale, and we could exit the business entirely upon sale. Minuteman Press was able to find a buyer that was the best fit for how we wanted to leave the industry. We could not be more pleased with the whole process. We would highly recommend working with them to any print shop owner looking to sell their business.” Learn more about Minuteman Press in Madison, WI by visiting their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/wi/fitchburg. For more information on how to sell your printing business through Minuteman Press International’s Conversion Program, call 1-800-645-3006 or visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions. Contact Details Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

February 22, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball and Memorigin partners to launch new watch brand Melofaith LaMelo Ball's first-ever RARE Tourbillon watch

Memorigin

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 22 February 2022 - The 20-year-old NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball made his appearance in the NBA All-Star Game held on last Saunday February 20. Basketball fans are eagerly awaiting his impressive performance. LaMelo Ball is currently playing for the Charlotte Hornets, after embarking on his NBA career since 2020. In just two years, he has clinched numerous awards: ESPY’s Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, NBA Rookie of the Year, and NBA All-Rookie Team. He is the also the 4th-youngest player to appear in the All-Star Game, earning him widespread attention as an elite young star. NBA stars have always been looked to as more than just athletes, but instead as fashion faces which drive global trends forward. LaMelo Ball, who has always been passionate about fashion, launched his own designer lifestyle clothing brand LaFrance last year, and this year, he is adding another accolade to his resume by launching an international collaboration with Memorigin, a Hong Kong-based tourbillon watch brand, with the creation of a new high-end watch brand "Melofaith". Melofaith introduces its first high-end fashion item - the "RARE Tourbillon", designed in complete LaMelo Ball style. Using a strong fiery red as the primary color, the watch features a unique tonneau-shaped case and a stylish red camouflage rubber strap, breaking the tourbillon’s traditional notion of polished, genteel elegance. The skeleton dial is presented in street graffiti style and features numerous symbols of LaMelo Ball, including his first tattoo - the word "FEAR" and "GOD" on his wrist at the age of 16 - as well as a doodle of his name "Melo". There is also a silhouette of LaMelo Ball in profile and the “number 1 with wings” symbolizing him as the "Golden Child". The watch is available in two versions, the regular version with a more subdued PVD tonneau-shaped steel case in black and the diamond version with a tonneau-shaped steel case inlaid with 226 diamonds, making it a dazzling timepiece that suits different people. The watch is equipped with a hand-wound tourbillon movement with a 40-hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The word "MELOFAITH" is engraved on the tourbillon, which makes the watch stand out without compromising its stability. The brand, named "Melofaith", is coined from LaMelo Ball's religious beliefs - his faith is his source of strength, inspiring him to face the challenges of every game with determination and perseverance. LaMelo Ball hopes to share his philosophy with fans through the creation of his brand. With religion being his spiritual pillar, faith and confidence are two indispensable elements that have allowed him to develop into an outstanding athlete. About RARE Tourbillon Watch Retail price: USD 6,800 Model No. MO 0822 Case Black PVD coated barrel-shaped stainless steel case Watch size: approx. 58 x 46mm Watch thickness: approx. 18.25mm Both sides sapphire crystal Water resistance: 5ATM Movement Flying tourbillon 155 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels Frequency: 28800 oscillations/hour Features 40 hours power reserve The tourbillon located at 6 o'clock rotates at a speed of 60s for one circle Manual winding mechanism Dial LaMelo Ball-themed dial LaMelo Ball's tattoo design Graffiti style painting Strap Camouflage rubber strap About RARE Tourbillon Watch (Diamond version) Retail price: USD 20,000 Model No. MO 0822 Case Diamond-embedded barrel-shaped stainless steel case Watch size: approx. 58 x 46mm Watch thickness: approx. 18.25mm Both sides sapphire crystal Water resistance: 5ATM Diamond/Gem Setting White diamond quantity: approx. 226pcs approx. 1.9carats Movement Flying tourbillon 155 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels Frequency: 28800 oscillations/hour Features 40 hours power reserve The tourbillon located at 6 o'clock rotates at a speed of 60s for one circle Manual winding mechanism Dial LaMelo Ball-themed dial LaMelo Ball's tattoo design Graffiti style painting Strap Camouflage rubber strap About Memorigin Memorigin is the first Hong Kong brand which only produces Tourbillon. The marvelous oriental sculpture merging with western top art of watchmaking creates a Tourbillon watch which has strong Hong Kong cultural character and is a blend of oriental and western cultures. Memorigin uses its in-house movement with its production process strictly controlled so that craftsmanship and quality are sanctioned by international professionals. All Memorigin watches are used with high quality materials from different countries; it has been arranged meticulously from a small part to the complete watch. Memorigin Tourbillon watches are designed by Hong Kong top designers and collectors with innovative concepts. Besides the traditional elegant style, it also adds cultural elements into the design, leading the oriental art to be international. In additions, Memorigin has a unique word carving technology: words can be engraved on the movement and can be preserved forever that the watch becomes unique and memorable. Official web site: www.memorigin.com Tel: (852) 29760108 Address: Room 803-804, 8/F, Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 1, No. 60 Wing Tai Road #Memorigin Contact Details Ms. Ivy Kung +852 2976 0108 ivy_kung@memorigin.com Ms. Christie Chan +852 2976 0108 christie_chan@memorigin.com

February 22, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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SIGMA Announces Release of Three F1.4 Prime Lenses for Fujifilm X Mount Cameras

SIGMA CORPORATION OF AMERICA

SIGMA Corporation of America, the US subsidiary of SIGMA Corporation (CEO: Kazuto Yamaki. Headquarters: Asao-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan) is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of interchangeable lenses for Fujifilm X Mount mirrorless cameras. This addition allows users to enjoy high-performance, high-quality SIGMA lenses in native mount on their X Mount system. Initially, three F1.4 prime lenses ( 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary ), which are currently available in four mounts (Sony E-mount, Canon EF-M mount, Micro Four Thirds mount and L-Mount) will be simultaneously released in X Mount, and the lineup will expand in the future. Specifically, the recently-released SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary lens, currently available for Sony E-mount and L-Mount, is tentatively scheduled for a December 2022 release. As a lens manufacturer, we will continue striving to meet the expectations of our customers with an expanded lineup of lenses and mounts for mirrorless cameras. These three F1.4 prime lenses for X Mount will be available at SIGMA Authorized Dealers nationwide in April 2022. Learn more about the SIGMA 16mm / 30mm / 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary lenses: https://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/mirrorless-f1-4-trio #SIGMAXMount [Lineup] For detailed product information, please refer to the following: SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary Petal Type Lens Hood (LH716-01) supplied Product information: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/c017_16_14/ SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary Lens Hood (LH586-01) supplied Product information: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/c016_30_14/ SIGMA 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary Lens Hood (LH582-01) supplied Product information: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/lenses/c018_56_14/ [Main Specifications and Features] Control algorithm including AF drive and communication speed optimization has been developed specifically for X Mount interchangeable lenses. In addition to realizing high-speed AF, the lens also supports AF-C (Continuous AF) and in-camera aberration correction*. The mount is rubber-sealed to cater for use in a variety of environments. *Available on supported cameras only. [Specifications] Mount Conversion Service is available to convert other mounts of SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary, SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary and SIGMA 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary to X Mount. [Contact] For further information, please contact your local authorized SIGMA Service Station listed here: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/world-network/ [Information] SIGMA Corporation: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/ SIGMA X Mount Special Page: https://www.sigma-global.com/en/magazine/m_series/others-lenses/fujifilm-x-mount/sigma_xmount_lenses/ About SIGMA Corporation Craftsmanship. Precision. Dedication. Since 1961, SIGMA has been devoted to the pursuit of advancing photographic technology. Unique to the industry, the family-owned business produces its high-quality, award-winning still photo and cinema camera lenses, DSLR and mirrorless cameras, flashes, filters and accessories from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Aizu, Japan. In 2012, the company introduced SIGMA Global Vision with three distinct lens lines: Art, Contemporary and Sports. Designed for industry camera mount systems including Canon, Leica, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sony and SIGMA, each lens is handcrafted and tested in Japan to ensure a high-performance, premium product that is purpose-built to last. In 2016, the SIGMA Cine lens lineup was launched, further cementing SIGMA as an innovator in imaging engineering. Embodying the core optical DNA that has defined the SIGMA benchmark of excellence, SIGMA Cine lenses meet the needs of advanced 6k and 8k cinema production. Forming the landmark L-Mount alliance alongside Leica and Panasonic in 2018, SIGMA continues its storied tradition of imaging excellence through groundbreaking innovations such as the native L-mount SIGMA fp and fp L full-frame mirrorless digital cameras, announced in July 2019 and March 2021 respectively. These products, along with nearly 30 award-winning SIGMA Global Vision lenses available in native L-Mount format, demonstrate SIGMA's continued commitment to the creative community through expanded product offerings. With the fp, fp L and these lenses, even more users can now leverage SIGMA's renowned optical formula to achieve their creative vision with ease. ### For information about SIGMA America, please visit sigmaphoto.com and SIGMA Blog for helpful information about our products. Follow SIGMA America on social media! SIGMA Photo: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram SIGMA Cine: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Contact Details SIGMA Jack Howard +1 631-585-1144 SIGMA.PR@Sigmaphoto.com Company Website https://www.sigma-global.com/en/

February 21, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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