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Kraft Foods Voluntarily Recalls Three Varieties of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Microwaveable Cups

October 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Kraft Foods Global, Inc. is voluntarily recalling three varieties of VelveetaShells & Cheese Single Serve Microwaveable Cups with limited “best when used by” dates as a precaution due to the possible presence of small, thin wire bristle pieces.

The following products are being recalled:

Name of Product Size Best When Used By Dates UPC
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Microwaveable Cups
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Original Four Pack Microwaveable Cups		 2.39 oz. cup
4 x 2.39 oz. cup		 16 MAY 2012
24 APR 2012 to 16 MAY 2012		 2100002322
2100002339
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with 2% Milk Microwaveable Cups
Velveeta Shells & Cheese Made with  2% Milk Four Pack Microwaveable Cups		 2.19 oz cup
4 x 2.19 oz cup		 25 MAR 2012 to 30 MAR 2012
29 MAR 2012 to 12 APR 2012		 2100002323
2100002946
Velveeta Rotini & Cheese Broccoli Microwaveable Cups 2.44 oz cup 29 APR 2012 to 14 MAY 2012 2100002318

Consumers can find the “best when used by” date on the bottom of the package.

No other “best when used by” dates of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Single Serve Microwaveable Cups or any other Kraft Foods products are being recalled.

There have been no reports of consumer injuries or complaints. Kraft Foods is issuing this voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution.

Approximately 137,000 cases of the affected products were shipped to customers across the United States. The affected products were not distributed in Canada.

Consumers who purchased affected “best when used by” dates of these products should not eat them. They should return them to the store of purchase for an exchange or full refund. Consumers also can contact Kraft Foods Consumer Relations Monday through Friday at 1-800-308-1841.

The affected products were manufactured in Champaign, IL and Lakeville, MN.

Filed Under: Consumer Shopping, Need to Know, News Tagged With: , , , ,

UC San Diego: Twitter Co-founder Evan Williams Will Make Rare Public Appearance at Innovation Conference

September 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Silicon Valley CEO Evan Williams, along with a small handful of close collaborators, is an “accidental billionaire” twice over. Blogger and Twitter, two of the most ubiquitous brands in social media, are his brainchildren.

“Starting a company,” he wrote on his personal blog (http://evhead.com) in 2008, “is like landing on the shore of a deserted island. You have a certain amount of provisions, which you have to make last until you find a way to make the island sustain life — or convince someone to send you more. You don’t know how big the island is at first or what predators lie in wait. There’s always a chance someone else will raid your island if it looks fruitful, so you need to shore up your defenses. Eventually, if you’re successful, you’ll be king of your own prosperous world. If not, you’ll die — or, at least, have to go home. Either way, it’s a fun adventure (until you get eaten by a tiger).”

Williams and other Internet luminaries will offer guided tours of such islands at a forum presented by The Atlantic and UC San Diego Extension this fall. From October 17-19, “The Atlantic Meets the Pacific” event will feature three days of provocative conversations exploring new frontiers in science, medicine, technology and energy.

For “The Atlantic Meets the Pacific” event details, and to register for the public event, please visit the registration site or http://events.theatlantic.com/atlanticmeetspacific/2011/.

Unlike many famous founders like Steve Jobs of Apple, Bill Gates of Microsoft, and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Williams has kept an intentionally low profile in each of his entrepreneurial endeavors. He has worked largely out of the spotlight for more than a decade, which is what makes his public appearance at “The Atlantic Meets The Pacific” particularly intriguing.

In a social media universe where it sometimes seems that everybody is sharing every sip, quip, or clip, it’s easy to conclude that we may be witnessing the death of privacy. Williams — the founder of not one, but two of the top 10 most successful Internet companies of all time — has managed to preserve an aura of genuine mystique around himself, even while the rest of the planet seems packed with over-sharers.

In 2010, Williams identified a key problem for online services as the era of information continues to emerge: “There’s too much stuff.” In an interview with his long-time friend Om Malik (Gigaom.com), Williams shared his observations about the need for social media simplicity. “It seems to me that almost all tools we rely on to manage information weren’t designed for a world of infinite info … (When) Google came in[,] there was too much to browse on the Web. We are thinking the same way about Twitter. Twitter itself isn’t designed for this world of infinite information. I want Twitter to be an antidote to infinite information, not a cause of it.”

Writing on his personal blog on the day he announced he would be stepping aside from everyday operations at the second wildly successful company he co-founded, Williams said, “…Now that Twitter is in capable hands that aren’t mine, it’s time to pick up a whiteboard marker and think fresh. There are other problems/opportunities in the world that need attention, and there are other individuals I’d love to get the opportunity to work with and learn from. (Details to come.)”

“The Atlantic Meets The Pacific” attendees may well be the first to learn what Williams’ new picture will look like. If he stays true to his chosen metaphor, however, it’s safe to assume that image will involve beaches, sand, and water.

“In the beginning, [the Web] was like a million little islands, some of them were bigger islands,” Williams told Malik in 2010. “If you create something on the Web, you’re your own island and you try to get people to visit your island … On the mobile phone, you don’t have your own island. You’re renting land. It’s a good deal because there’s infrastructure provided (like moving into full service condo).”

In addition to James Fallows interviewing Williams, The Atlantic‘s editor James Bennet will interview Deepak Chopra and Caltech physicist Leonard Mlodinow, a recent collaborator with Stephen Hawking. Additionally, the forum will feature Will Wright, video game designer, and Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Motors. Additional speakers will be announced.

For many years The Atlantic, along with the Aspen Institute, have annually gathered the nation’s intellectual leaders to discuss the ideas and trends shaping American’s future as part of the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Washington Ideas Forum. “The Atlantic Meets the Pacific” expands upon that tradition.

 

[SOURCE University of California San Diego Extension]

Filed Under: News, Success Stories Tagged With: , , , , , ,

E-Commerce Leader Zoovy Adds Kount’s Enterprise Fraud Protection Services

September 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Kount Inc., a leading operational provider of fraud prevention technology today announced it has integrated with Zoovy, the leader in success driven e-commerce software for online businesses.  Zoovy‘s more than 5,000 websites and online businesses have already begun to benefit from Kount’s enterprise-level fraud and risk assessment solution.  The addition of Kount with the Zoovy platform allows merchants an easy-to-use and scalable fraud solution for businesses operating in credit card-not-present environments.

For each transaction, Kount’s “decisioning” engine analyzes hundreds of relevant variables and activity across the globe in real-time. Kount applies a multitude of technologies based on the specific needs of each merchant, including Multi-layered Device Fingerprinting®, Proxy Piercer ® geolocation tools, statistical scoring, rules-based fraud detection, cross-merchant linking, and Persona™ behavioral modeling.  The result is a highly predictive risk assessment delivered in an average of just 350 milliseconds. The platform gives greater visibility into fraudulent activities, allowing companies to control risk associated with fraud while maximizing sales and dramatically reducing the need for costly and time-consuming manual review.

“Anybody who has really taken the time to evaluate a fully functional Kount deployment quickly realizes it’s hands down without a doubt the most sophisticated fraud screen available – period. When it comes to being able to identify, and respond to threats – if there is something better, I haven’t seen it – in fact nothing else I’ve seen even comes close,” said Brian Horakh, CEO, Zoovy Inc.

“Merchants of all sizes serious about confidently expanding sales into new markets and new payment methods are looking for maximum protection from fraud and other associated risks,” said Kount COO Steve Rouse.  ”Zoovy’s integration of Kount speaks to the demand for online businesses to protect themselves from fraud.  For many businesses, fraud has a crippling effect that impacts revenue, growth, as well as credibility with customers.  Kount’s enterprise solution is focused on providing company’s a turnkey solution that safeguards Fortune 100 companies and smaller merchants alike looking to securely sell more products, to more people in more places.”

Merchants are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated and global fraudsters. Zoovy customer, Zephyr Sports has already benefited from the Kount integration.  An expanding sports retailer with both online and retail properties, Zephyr relies on Zoovy’s ecommerce platform for a variety of services, ranging from automated processing, inventory, customer service, marketplace management and now fraud. “Kount is a great tool with unlimited possibilities. The integration is already allowing me to ship an increased amount of valid orders, while still maintaining a high level of fraud detection. This will definitely impact my bottom line in a positive way,” said Bob Mullaney, CEO, Zephyr Sports.

About Zoovy

Zoovy, Inc., a complete  e-commerce solution, provides tools and services for online businesses looking  to increase sales and efficiency. With a multi-channel sales strategy, businesses reach more customers and drive more sales by integrating with online marketplaces such as Amazon.com, eBay, Sears, Buy.com and many other top comparison shopping services. Zoovy automates product management, listing, sales, inventory, shipping and accounting processes, offering complete online storefronts and auction management tools for both small merchants and large wholesaler/retailers. For more information about Zoovy, please visit www.zoovy.com.

About Kount

Kount delivers an all-in-one fraud and risk management solution for companies operating in card-not-present environments looking to simplify their fraud/risk operations and dramatically improve bottom line profitability.  For each transaction, Kount’s fraud/risk assessment engine analyzes hundreds of relevant variables and activity across the globe in real-time, then delivers a highly predictive risk assessment in less than one second. Kount provides a single, turnkey fraud solution that is easy-to-implement and easy-to-use. Kount’s proprietary technology has reviewed hundreds of millions of transactions and provides maximum protection for some of the world’s best-known brands. For more information about Kount, please visit www.kount.com.

 

[SOURCE Kount Inc.]

Filed Under: Business Resources, Marketplace Changes, News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Overstock.com Kicks Off its 12-Year Anniversary Celebration with a $10,000 Room Makeover Contest

September 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

O.co (also known as Overstock.com, Inc.,, today announced the launch date of its Choose Your Room $10,000 Makeover Contest in partnership with celebrity designer Angelo Surmelis. To learn more visit www.o.co.

To enter, customers will be asked to submit a short YouTube video of the room that they would like to make over, including a 360-degree view of the room and a brief explanation on why they are the most deserving candidate for the room makeover. The winner will be selected according to official contest rules. To submit your video visit www.o.co/angelo.

“We wanted to give our customers the chance to win a room makeover to help us celebrate our 12th anniversary,” said O.co CEO Patrick Byrne. “Without them we could not have achieved this milestone.”

O.co will also be offering a chance to win a $2,500 Birthday Party through its Facebook page. Fans can upload their “best birthday photo” via the “Birthday” tab on O.co’s Facebook page. O.co will select the “Top 10″ birthday photos, and fans will be able to vote for the final winner. The winner will receive a birthday party hosted by O.co (up to $2,500) or choose $3,000 of in store credit. To enter visit www.facebook.com/Odotco.

Filed Under: Marketplace Changes, News Tagged With: , , ,

SCIenergy, Inc. Names Former Google & Yahoo Software Engineer/Developer, Chris Smith as Chief Data Officer

September 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

SCIenergy, Inc.a merger of Scientific Conservation Inc. and Servidyne, Inc. is the global leader in providing a cloud-based energy management platform for building owners and operators, today announced it has named Chris Smith, Chief Data Officer.  Mr. Smith brings more than 20 years experience as a data analysis veteran to the new role.

Prior to joining SCIenergy, Mr. Smith was vice president of technology at The Rubicon Project, the world leader in Yield Optimization technology powered by data-driven algorithms and pricing intelligence for the $65 billion global online advertising industry.  In this role he oversaw mining of the company’s three billion impression-a-day inventory.

Prior to The Rubicon Project, Mr. Smith was vice president of engineering for Fox Audience Network where he lead research teams on optimization and audience prediction applications.  Mr. Smith has also held engineering and software development positions at Google and Yahoo.

“Chris’ broad experience in data analysis and statistical pattern recognition makes him vital to support the data-rich applications enabling building performance optimization.  As the SCIenergy Cloud™ accumulates vast energy and systems data from buildings throughout the world, we’re excited about Chris’ unique capabilities in our evolution of cloud-based energy management,” said Russ McMeekin, president and chief executive officer of SCIenergy, Inc.

“I’m thrilled to be part of a team creating the next generation of energy data collection, analysis and management via the SCIenergy Cloud for large scale commercial building portfolios,” said Smith.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Yelp Launches in Switzerland

September 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Yelp (http://www.yelp.com), the community-led local search site, today announced the availability of Yelp Switzerland (http://www.yelp.ch). Beginning today, locals are able to create accounts on Yelp.ch to share their opinions about great local businesses and services. Yelp’s free iPhone and Android applications will also be made available in Switzerland, as will its free suite of business owner tools: Yelp for Business Owners (http://biz.yelp.ch).

“Situated in the heart of Europe, Switzerland is a world class nation characterized by a desire for the finer things in life,” said Miriam Warren, Vice President of European Marketing, Yelp. “Our hope is that Yelp can deliver a platform for this discerning population to share their opinions on everything from fashion boutiques and chocolate purveyors to everyday services like dentists and cleaners.”

The site supports German, French, Italian, English, Dutch and Spanish to reflect the culturally diverse make up of the resident population. The launch of Yelp Switzerland follows hot on the heels of the company’s launch in Italy last week, and represents an important move in Yelp’s European growth strategy, bringing the total country number to nine.

September 2011, Yelp Italy (http://yelp.it)
May 2011, Yelp Spain (http://www.yelp.es)
December 2010, Yelp Netherlands (http://www.yelp.nl)
October 2010, Yelp Austria (http://www.yelp.at)
July 2010, Yelp Germany (http://www.yelp.de)
May 2010, Yelp France (http://www.yelp.fr)
June 2009, Yelp Ireland (http://www.yelp.ie)
January 2009, Yelp UK (http://www.yelp.co.uk)

While available throughout Switzerland, Yelp will focus its initial community building efforts in Zurich — a city by city approach that has served the company and its other markets well in the past. Yelp now has thriving communities in 17 major cities across Western Europe.

To learn more and see pictures of Yelp.ch and our iPhone and Android applications, visit our Yelp Official Blog (http://officialblog.yelp.com/)

Filed Under: Business Resources, News Tagged With: , ,

Walmart Launches Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative

September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Walmart President and CEO Mike Duke today launched a major initiative that will use the company’s global size and scale to help empower women across its supply chain. Working over the past year with leaders from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropic groups and academia, Walmart’s Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative has established five goals. By the end of 2016, we aim to:

  1. Increase sourcing from women-owned businesses. Over the next five years, the company will source $20 billion from women-owned businesses in the U.S. and double sourcing from women suppliers internationally.
  2. Empower women on farms and in factories through training, market access and career opportunities.  New programs will help 60,000 women working in factories that supply products to Walmart and other retailers develop the skills they need to become more active decision-makers in their jobs and for their families. The initiative will also help women farm workers participate more fully in the agriculture supply chain.
  3. Empower women through job training and education. Successful retail training programs will be scaled to help 200,000 women internationally. In the U.S., Walmart will help 200,000 women from low-income households gain job skills and access higher education.
  4. Increase gender diversity among major suppliers. The company will work with major professional service firms and merchandise suppliers with over $1 billion in sales to increase women and minority representation on Walmart accounts.
  5. Make significant philanthropic giving toward women’s economic empowerment.  The company will support these programs with more than $100 million in grants that drive progress against key goals. Funding will come from the Walmart Foundation and donations directly from Walmart’s international businesses.

 

“Helping more women live better is a defining issue for our business and our world,” said Duke. “We’re stepping up our efforts to help educate, source from and open markets for women around the world. We want women to view us as a retailer that is relevant to them and cares about them. We want them to be leading suppliers, managers and loyal customers.”

Walmart is putting to work the same model for making a difference that it has used to take on big issues like hunger, healthy foods and sustainability. In doing so, it will partner with an array of leaders in this area, including CARE, Vital Voices, CountMeIn, WBENC and WeConnect International.

“Walmart’s global women’s initiative has the potential to be a game-changer for women and for economic growth,” said Melanne Verveer, U.S. Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues. “By tapping its core competencies as a global retailer, Walmart will empower more women to access markets and develop careers in the global supply chain, transforming their lives and the lives of their families.”

“This effort recognizes the untapped power of women around the world and CARE is honored to partner with Walmart on this groundbreaking initiative,” said Helene Gayle, president and CEO, CARE.  ”Together we can sustainably and dramatically improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of women – factory workers and farmers among them. Together we will see these women change the lives of their families and communities for the better. We congratulate Walmart for taking this bold step forward.”

The company has also established country-specific goals and commitments in markets where it operates. For example, over the next five years:

  • Walmart China is helping women farmers make their agricultural operations more sustainable and productive through its direct farm program.
  • Walmart India is providing retail skills training and career development to women through its Bharti Walmart Training Center.
  • Walmart Brazil is hiring women construction workers to help build its new stores and provide job opportunities for women in Sao Paulo.
  • Walmart Global Sourcing is launching a program to improve the lives of women factory workers in Bangladesh, India and other key sourcing markets.
  • Walmart in Central America is helping female suppliers grow their business through programs like Una Mano para Crecer (A Hand to Grow).

 

Leslie Dach, Walmart’s executive vice president of Corporate Affairs, discussed the company’s approach to women’s economic empowerment.

“We do not believe that a company has to choose between being a successful business and a responsible one,” he said. “We have a model for making a difference that works.  When we combine the Walmart model with women’s empowerment, we have an incredible opportunity to make a difference on the big challenges facing our world.”

For additional details on Walmart’s Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, visit www.walmartstores.com/women

 

[ SOURCE Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.]
Filed Under: Business Resources, News Tagged With: , , , , ,

Latino Professionals in Southern California Compete for Grants to Launch and Grow Their Small Businesses

September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The entry period for the Third Annual Latino Small Business Awards presented by Verizon Wireless will continue through September 30, 2011. Established entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and working professionals can nominate themselves or others for cash and technology grants valued at over $70,000.  More information, including how to enter, is available at www.verizoninsider.com/negociosand at local networking events held throughout Southern California.

There are three entry categories: Outstanding Entrepreneur for established entrepreneurs whose businesses have been in business for over one year, Outstanding Aspiring Entrepreneur for professionals planning to start their own businesses within the next five years and Outstanding Business Professional for professionals who work for a small or large corporation and do not own their own businesses. The winners of the Outstanding Entrepreneur and Outstanding Aspiring Entrepreneur awards will each receive one Motorola Xoom, one 4G LTE Mobile HotSpot, three 4G LTE Samsung Charge devices and voice and data service one year or up to $7,000– and $10,000 in cash! The winner of the Outstanding Business Professional award will be awarded a $2,500 donation to a non-profit of his/her choice, one Motorola Xoom, one 4G LTE Mobile HotSpot, three 4G LTE Samsung Charge devices and voice and data service one year or up to $7,000.

Applicants must explain how a Verizon Wireless grant will help change and expand their businesses. Verizon Wireless will then choose contest winners on October 10, 2011 and announce grant recipients on October 14, 2011 during an intimate awards ceremony.

As part of the Latino Small Business Awards contest, Verizon Wireless will partner with several Latino business events throughout Southern California.  Updated times and addresses will be posted on www.verizoninsider.com/negocios

Mobile Technology Workshop, in partnership with El Clasificado Newspaper
September 28, 2011
7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
11205 Imperial Hwy., Norwalk, CA 90650
2011 NAHREP Real Estate & Marketing Conference
September 17-20, 2011
JW Marriott LA Live Los Angeles, CA
Diversity Business Expo and Mixer
September 29, 2011
12:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The Double Tree Hotel – Airport
201 E. MacArthur Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92707
Latino Business Expo
September 29, 2011
4: 00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Four Points Sheraton
1050 Schooner Dr., Ventura, CA 93001
Last year’s grand prize winner, Araceli Padilla of Araceli Padilla Insurance Agency was awarded $2,500 in cash, ten Motorola Droid 2 smartphones and service for one year on these devices. “When my name was announced as the winner of Verizon’s Latino Small Business Award, I was in disbelief because I knew that my hard work and sacrifice was being acknowledged by someone else. Today, that award continues to help me move forward and motivates me to inspire others,” said Padilla.

Filed Under: Business Growth, Business Resources, Featured, News Tagged With: , , , , , ,

FedEx Launches Seventh Annual FedEx Cares Week

September 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

FedEx Corp. launches its seventh annual FedEx Cares Week, providing volunteer and service opportunities for employees around the world.  Close to 4,000 FedEx volunteers worldwide will donate a combined 20,000 hours to serving local organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities where FedEx employees live and work.

The week will be held September 12-17 across 28 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). More than 900 FedEx employees will volunteer their time to support a variety of community activities including building improvements and restorations for schools, orphanages and homes for the elderly and mentally disabled; teaching underprivileged children about their history; visiting and providing for sick children, the elderly, and HIV patients; environmental cleanup and reforestation projects.

“FedEx Cares Week creates deeper connections between our FedEx employees and the local communities we serve,” said Stephanie Butler, manager of Global Citizenship at FedEx.  ”Every day FedEx employees passionately help customers solve logistics challenges. Through FedEx Cares Week, our employees extend that passion to help local communities with critical social issues.”

FedEx Cares Week serves as the formal kick-off for the annual U.S. FedEx United Way campaign.  In addition to volunteering hundreds of thousands of hours each year, FedEx and its employees gave over $175 million over the past fifteen years.

This year’s service projects in LAC include:

  • Building Improvements and restorations for schools, orphanages, homes for the elderly and mentally disabled in Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Guatemala, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Martinique, Miami, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Uruguay, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
  • Connecting underprivileged children with their history in Chile by taking them on a tour of a museum and organizing activities.
  • Visiting a home for the elderly and a clinic for HIV patients in Puerto Rico to provide the residents with food and activities.
  • Organizing a party for children with various illnesses in a hospital in the Virgin Islands and providing them with food and critical supplies including: pampers, formula, baby bottles and baby clothes.
  • Environmental cleanup and reforestation projects in Bermuda, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico and the US Virgin Islands.

 

For more information about FedEx Cares Week and the FedEx commitment to volunteerism and the communities it serves, please visit fedexcares.com.

 

[SOURCE FedEx Express]
Filed Under: News, shipping Tagged With: , , , , ,

Tiffany Responds to Swatch Termination Claim

September 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

Since Tiffany & Co. and The Swatch Group Ltd. entered upon this venture more than three years ago it has become increasingly clear that Swatch is unwilling to honor the terms of our agreement, make the necessary commitments and work cooperatively to develop the business for TIFFANY & CO. watches in the luxury space. Despite assurances to contrary made in 2007, Swatch has failed to provide appropriate distribution for TIFFANY & CO. brand watches, with the result that our current business forecasts do not include any meaningful increase in watch sales or royalty income. Tiffany has honored its obligations under the agreement, and insisted that Swatch honor its own obligations, particularly its obligation to respect Tiffany’s rights regarding brand-management and product design. Tiffany & Co. is confident that its position will be vindicated in the pending arbitral proceedings in relation to this matter and Swatch’s misconduct.

About Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. operates jewelry stores and manufactures products through its subsidiary corporations. Its principal subsidiary is Tiffany and Company. The Company operates TIFFANY & CO. retail stores and boutiques in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Japan and Europe and engages in direct selling through Internet, catalogue and business gift operations. For additional information, please visit tiffany.com or call the shareholder information line at 800-TIF-0110.

Filed Under: Legal, News Tagged With: , , , ,

Museum of American Finance Launches Museum Finance Academy

September 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Museum of American Finance announced today the launch of the Museum Finance Academy, a 10-week financial literacy course for 11th and 12th graders with the goal of teaching students to aspire to financial independence, develop an appreciation for savings, make financial goals and learn to avoid scams.

Students will learn the life cycle of spending and saving which is critical as students leave high school and move on to college or a career. Progress will be tracked and students who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate. The top student of the semester will be awarded a $5,000 college scholarship.

The Academy is being launched as a pilot program for the fall 2011 semester and is being offered at no charge to students on a first come, first served basis. Classes will begin the week of October 4, 2011 and will be held once a week. They will be offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3:30pm to 5:00pm, and Saturdays from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Enrollment is limited to 20 students per class.

The application deadline for the Museum Finance Academy is September 26, 2011. The one-page program application is available on the Museum’s website at www.moaf.org/education.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , , ,

Ebates Announces Creation of Performance Marketing Brands & Acquisition of FatWallet and AnyCoupons

September 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ebates, the leader in online cash back shopping, today announced the creation of a new company called Performance Marketing Brands, Inc. (PMB) to own and operate the world’s most rewarding shopper loyalty programs. PMB has acquired the savvy shopping and reward site FatWallet.com and the coupon shopping site AnyCoupons.com and united them with Ebates.com to create one of the largest independent shopping rewards companies. In 2011, shoppers are expected to spend over $1.1 billion through PMB’s sites, equivalent to a top 50 internet retailer in terms of gross merchandise volume according to data from the latest Internet Retailer Top 500 E-Retailer report.

Ebates.com, FatWallet.com and AnyCoupons.com will continue to operate distinct websites, but common ownership will help give the sites and their users access to the most compelling rewards and best deals available anywhere. Retailers now will be able to advertise through a single partner to attract and retain the world’s savviest shoppers.

“Today shoppers are bombarded with an overwhelming number of coupons, codes, deals and sales,” said Tim Storm, founder of FatWallet and strategic advisor to Performance Marketing Brands . “With Ebates.com, FatWallet and AnyCoupons.com we will help consumers cut through the clutter to get the very best offer every time they shop. We also expect to grow and innovate faster by combining the collective ideas of multiple industry pioneers.”

“In addition to providing our users a more rewarding shopping experience, as a combined company, we will give retailers a more effective way to attract new buyers, recapture lost customers, and make sure their best shoppers keep coming back,” added Kevin H. Johnson, CEO of Performance Marketing Brands. “Over the coming months, we will be announcing exciting new ways for retailers to reach active shoppers and for consumers to be rewarded for all their shopping activities.”

Ebates’ creation of Performance Marketing Brands and acquisition of FatWallet and AnyCoupons has been funded by August Capital, Cannan Partners, Foundation Capital and Silicon Valley Bank. The terms of the acquisitions were not disclosed.

“The online reward and discount shopping space is growing rapidly and we felt the time is right to establish a clear leadership position by combining the best companies under Performance Marketing Brands,” said David Hornik of August Capital. “We are happy to support this new combination and look forward to driving new levels of growth and innovation in the industry.”

 

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