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Accesso Technology Group "really happy with where we are" after solid first half

Accesso Technology Group PLC

Accesso Technology Group PLC (AIM:ACSO, OTC:LOQPF) CEO Steve Brown speaks to Proactive after the technology solutions provider to leisure, entertainment, and cultural markets released its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2023. Brown gives an overview of the first half, highlighting acquisitions of several companies that are now bedding into the wider Group. The RNS accompanying the interims explains that ticketing platform VGS has been rebranded as Accesso HorizonSM, Paradocs' MtnOS has now become Accesso ParadoxSM, bolstering Accesso's position in the ski market, while the addition of staff augmentation partner DigisoftTM has helped expand Accesso's mobile app development and delivery capabilities. Revenue growth continued in the first half while the Group's margin declined slightly, but Brown says this was expected and that things are "very much on track for our full year expectations, and so its more about the full year... we're really happy with where we are." Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

September 21, 2023 08:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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INNERSENSE ORGANIC BEAUTY ANNOUNCES NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND EDUCATION

Innersense Organic Beauty

Award-winning clean beauty brand Innersense Organic Beauty is pleased to announce and welcome Bob Myers to the position of Vice President of Sales and Education. In Bob’s new role as Vice President of Sales and Education, he will lead Innersense’s sales, education, and customer success teams in its next phase of strategic growth with expanded education programs and new product verticals. “I look forward to bringing my experience to help Innersense’s brand evolve while leading sales and educational operations for its North American business channels,” says Robert Myers, Vice President of Sales and Education. “As a top performing clean hair care brand, Innersense has opportunities to deliver growth by capturing new markets and all those who value clean beauty.” Bob is a seasoned and recognizable executive in the industry with over 30 years of professional beauty experience. With notable executive roles at Kenra, Joico, Framesi, Aveda and Estée Lauder, he managed global professional brand leaders, including prestigious brand portfolios. As Vice President of New Business Development, Robert’s expertise with B2B and B2C strategies will drive transformational change for the next stage of business at Innersense. “As a rapidly growing professional brand, we are expanding our leadership with experienced and strategic leaders. Bob is the perfect fit to lead our sales and education to drive us to the next level,” shares Greg Starkman, founder and CEO of Innersense. “We are excited to have Bob join us with his vast experience to strengthen our brand position and continue to empower the rapid growth of the brand.” About Innersense Organic Beauty Beauty professionals Greg and Joanne Starkman founded Innersense Organic Beauty to bring clean, pure and toxin free hair care to salons, stylists and consumers. The clean hair care brand’s products include shampoos, conditioners, scalp scrub, styling and treatment products for all hair types. For more information, visit innersensebeauty.com. Contact Details Archita Patel +1 281-725-2121 archita@bpcm.com Company Website https://innersensebeauty.com/

September 20, 2023 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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FreightTech 100 Dominated by Venture 53 Portfolio Companies

Venture 53

Six companies backed by Venture 53 are honored in the FreightTech 100 list for 2024, dominating the early-stage recipients. The annual list announced this week spotlights the most innovative companies in the freight technology sector and includes the following Venture 53 portfolio companies: Better Trucks Emerge Fillogic Frayt Highway MyCarrier Venture 53 is an early stage, pure-play supply chain and logistics focused venture capital firm with 3 active funds. “Recognition on the FreightTech 100 is affirmation that our portfolio companies are changing the future of transportation and logistics,” said Venture 53 co-founder and industry veteran, Pat Martin. “We invest in growth companies using a proprietary formula to identify the most promising disrupters across 5 industry segments. Only integrated technology will shore up the age-old issues of supply chain efficiency”. The announcement marks returning honors for Emerge, Fillogic and MyCarrier and welcomes Better Trucks, Frayt and Highway to the list, recognizing the companies for their recent innovations. The FreightTech 100 list is produced by a panel of journalists, analysts and experts chosen by FreightWaves based on information from nearly 900 nominations. This announcement sets the stage for the FreightTech 25, which will be revealed in November at the F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee. ‘We look forward to seeing our portfolio companies advance in realizing our mission to find and fund those companies that can help drive American productivity through transforming supply chains and it takes collaboration with insiders, outsiders, legends and visionaries to do so. We’d like to think we have all four to help these six make a real difference for our future,” said Dan White, co-founder and the CPG side of Venture 53. About Venture 53 Venture 53 is a pure-play early-stage investment firm focused on solely on solving the problems plaguing supply chain and logistics. The firm invests across 5 supply chain verticals and works with those investments to accelerate 3 business areas sales, marketing and technology. Venture 53 is based in Richmond, VA and Atlanta, GA. Contact Details Venture 53 Amy Mack amymack@venture53.com Company Website https://www.venture53.com/

September 20, 2023 09:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nextech3D.ai announces new India unit as high-scale 3D model production expands

Nextech3D.AI

NextTech3D.ai CEO Evan Gappelberg and Hareesh Achi, executive vice president of Operations joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share significant developments on the company's strategic initiatives to enhance profitability and streamline its operations. One notable achievement is the establishment of Nextech3D Solutions India Private Limited, a move aimed at optimizing profitability and reducing labor costs, with the goal of achieving these benefits starting in the fourth quarter of 2023. This transition is expected to result in expense reductions and significantly improved overall performance as the company rolls out its AI solutions. Furthermore, Gappelberg revealed that Nexttech3D.ai is gearing up for an anticipated record 3Q and 4Q, with expectations of substantial 3D model growth in 2024. The company has strategically shifted its focus, concentrating exclusively on high-scale production for its 3D modeling business, with a strong emphasis on serving Amazon and other enterprise clients. Achi says this shift in strategy involves transitioning away from smaller e-commerce clients that require a limited number of 3D models and instead prioritizing large enterprise clients that demand thousands of models and high-scale production. This strategic shift is poised to strengthen the company's revenue streams and make a significant contribution to its overall growth and financial stability. Nextech3D.ai's focus on high-scale production and large enterprise clients aligns with the growing demand for 3D modeling and augmented reality solutions across various industries. This strategic direction positions the company for sustainable growth and success in the dynamic world of 3D technology and AI solutions. Contact Details Proactive Investors Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

September 19, 2023 02:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and ToolsGroup Team Up for Planning Expertise Webinar

ToolsGroup

ToolsGroup, a global leader in retail and supply chain planning and optimization software, and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.), a leading omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories, are excited to announce an exclusive discussion highlighting A&F Co.’s partnership and use of ToolsGroup solutions to enhance customer experiences. This talk, entitled “Abercrombie & Fitch Co.: How Planning Expertise Leads to Exceptional Business Performance,” will take place on Tuesday, September 26, at 11 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET, and will feature Monica Tatham, the Senior Director for Enterprise Business Solutions at A&F Co. Monica Tatham has over 16 years of experience at A&F Co. with extensive background in retail planning and management. She has spent her entire career in the retail industry, gaining expertise in merchandising, allocation, and inventory management. “I’m excited to share one of the many ways Abercrombie & Fitch Co. strives to provide customer satisfaction and how ToolsGroup helps us achieve some of those goals,” said Tatham. During this webinar, Tatham will share how the company drives its business, leveraging ToolsGroup’s powerful retail planning tools and capabilities. “Our close, long-term partnership with Abercrombie & Fitch Co. exemplifies the customer-centric focus we incorporate into our core values at ToolsGroup,” said John Glinski, Senior Vice President of Retail Account Management. “We are thrilled to have one of the industry’s top performing retailers share insight into some of their retail planning best practices and how a commitment to planning excellence can support business processes.” Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from and ask questions of one of the world’s biggest retailers. Learn more about the event and register HERE. About Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) is a leading, global, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories for men, women and kids through five renowned brands. The iconic Abercrombie & Fitch brand was born in 1892 and aims to make every day feel as exceptional as the start of a long weekend. abercrombie kids sees the world through kids’ eyes, where play is life and every day is an opportunity to be anything and better anything. The Hollister brand believes in liberating the spirit of an endless summer inside everyone and making teens feel celebrated and comfortable in their own skin. Gilly Hicks, offering active lifestyle products, is designed to create happiness through movement. Social Tourist, the creative vision of Hollister and social media personalities, Dixie and Charli D’Amelio, offers trend forward apparel that allows teens to experiment with their style, while exploring the duality of who they are both on social media and in real life. The brands share a commitment to offering products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that allow consumers around the world to express their own individuality and style. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates over 750 stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com, www.hollisterco.com, www.gillyhicks.com and www.socialtourist.com. About ToolsGroup ToolsGroup’s innovative AI-powered solutions enable retailers, distributors, and manufacturers to navigate through supply chain uncertainty. Our retail and supply chain planning suites empower a new level of intelligent decision making and unlock powerful business improvements in forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory - delighting customers and achieving financial and ESG KPIs. Stay in touch with ToolsGroup on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or visit www.toolsgroup.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.toolsgroup.com

September 19, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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SMX® Commits to Advancing Contract Management Excellence with Adoption of NCMA Contract Management Standard

National Contract Management Association

SMX®, a trusted contractor in advanced technology solutions, proudly announces its adoption of the National Contract Management Association's (NCMA) Contract Management Standard (CMS™). This strategic move underscores SMX's unwavering dedication to fostering profession-wide best practices, contracting principles, terminology, processes, and cultivating professional career development within the field. The NCMA Contract Management Standard serves as a global language for contract management professionals across various industries and organizations. It provides thought-leading organizations, like SMX, a unified framework to articulate and discuss contract management phases, domains, competencies, and skills. As SMX incorporates the CMS as a cornerstone of its corporate Quality Management System, customers can expect enhanced contract management services, increased operational efficiency, and a more transparent and streamlined experience throughout their contract lifecycle. "SMX takes immense pride in being an early adopter of CMS, a testament to our commitment to delivering unparalleled service to both our internal stakeholders and valued clients," remarked Rick Schutz, Vice President, Corporate Counsel at SMX. "This adoption reflects our pursuit of excellence in every facet of contract management." Kraig Conrad, Chief Executive Officer of NCMA, emphasized, “the SMX adoption of the CMS™ embodies our unwavering pursuit of a common language for contract management across organizations and around the world.” With the integration of the CMS into the frameworks of Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) and the Department of Defense framework (DAWIA), SMX's embrace of the NCMA CMS aligns seamlessly with the evolving landscape of contract management. As SMX embarks on this transformative journey, they look forward to not only exceeding their customers' expectations but also contributing to the evolution and standardization of contract management practices worldwide. For more information on NCMA's Common Language Adoption, please visit: www.ncmahq.org/adopters The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) – www.ncmahq.org – stands as the premier contract management organization whose mission is to collaborate towards a globally recognized contract management profession that strengthens its nexus with related acquisition communities. Serving approximately 20,000 members in both the public and private sectors, NCMA propels the growth, advancement, and impact of practitioners through a steadfast commitment to serve through the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. About SMX SMX is a leader in next-generation mission support, digital transformation and IT solutions operating in close proximity to clients across the U.S. and around the globe. SMX delivers scalable and secure solutions combined with the mission expertise needed to accelerate outcomes for the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Public Sector, Fortune 1000, and other public and private sector clients. For more information on our solutions, please visit https://www.smxtech.com/. Contact Details NCMA Holly DeHesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org/

September 19, 2023 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nextech3D.ai announces former Microsoft and Meta executive Hareesh Achi joins company

Nextech3D.AI

Nextech3D.AI (CSE:NTAR, OTCQX:NEXCF) CEO Evan Gappelberg joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has added another key team member to its roster with the hiring of Hareesh Achi as its new Head of Product Operations. Gappelberg told Proactive Achi will be responsible for optimizing and streamlining operations across the company, with a focus on leveraging powerful AI technologies to enhance efficiency and drive overall performance and profitability. Achi shared his experience having worked at renowned tech giants Microsoft and Meta. Notably, he served as the leader of Meta's Reality Labs product data operations, where he oversaw the expansion of scaled operations for Meta's Reality Labs product portfolio. Before that, Achi played a pivotal role at Microsoft, overseeing the multi-billion-dollar Bing Ads operations. His extensive background and experience in operations, particularly within major tech companies, position him well to drive operational excellence at Nexttech3D.ai. Interestingly, Achi has prior experience with Nexttech3D.ai, having briefly worked with the company during the COVID period. His return to Nextech3D.ai reflects the company's commitment to assembling a top-tier team of experts in AI and technology. Hareesh Achi's appointment as Head of Product Operations underscores Nextech3D.ai's dedication to achieving operational efficiency and advancing its AI-driven solutions. With his experience at industry leaders like Microsoft and Meta, Achi is well-equipped to contribute to Nextech3D.ai's growth and success in the AI technology sector. Contact Details Proactive Investors Canada +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

September 14, 2023 01:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Revenue Management Solutions Reveals Groundbreaking Comparisons to Pre-Pandemic QSR Performance

Revenue Management Solutions

First-half 2023 traffic is down by nearly 20% compared to 2019 Average check increases of more than 40% contribute to higher sales Revenue Management Solutions, a world leader in addressing profitability challenges for the restaurant industry, has unveiled groundbreaking insights with a comparative analysis of current Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) performance with pre-pandemic levels. RMS compared sales, traffic and average check in the first halves of 2022 and 2023 to the same period in 2019, shedding light on how the extreme market forces of the past three years have affected the industry. “Most of the industry compares month-over-month or year-over-year data. For example, August 2023 traffic was down just half a percent compared to 2022,” said RMS Senior Vice President Richard Delvallée. “This approach reveals gradual changes but not the seismic shifts our comparisons indicate. The landscape has indeed changed for QSR and its customer base.” Not back to normal Standard indices suggest consumers have resumed pre-pandemic behavior. However, the RMS analysis found otherwise. Here are some key observations: QSR traffic is down nearly 20% (18.4%) when comparing June 2023 to June 2019, with traffic consistently trending downward since January 2022, when it was just 15.5% lower than 2019. Overall, QSR average check is 40% higher than pre-pandemic. Average check grew by 51% in specific dayparts. Consumer behavior has shifted permanently away from QSR dine-in. The channel lost nearly half of overall traffic in the past two years. Lunch traffic is consistently down by about 20%, likely due to hybrid work. Similarly, breakfast traffic took a nosedive in 2023 compared to last year. Performance by channel Performance is not created equal when comparing QSR channels. RMS’ analysis reveals a drastic shift towards drive-thru long after dining rooms reopened. Drive-thru: Traffic is down an average of 12% in 2023 compared to 2019. Net sales remain positive (+25%) due to steep increases in average check, which is up 42% for the year — jumping as high as 49.5% in January 2023. Drive-thru accounts for 2/3 of QSR revenue. Dine-in: Across 2023, dine-in traffic was down an average of 47%, finishing Q2 at a 43.6% loss. Average check growth was more conservative — up 36%, keeping net sales in negative territory (-25%). Takeout: Traffic is down an average of 36% in 2023 compared to 2019, with 42% average check growth and net sales down nearly 10%. “Pandemic dine-in restrictions forced a complete halt to dine-in,” said Delvallée. “As restrictions lifted, labor shortages forced operators to limit in-store service. Now, three years out, the convenience-driven behaviors adopted by guests remain and are being reinforced by improved drive-thru technology and operations.” Performance by daypart Daypart analysis further suggests dining behavior has not returned to “normal.” Average check growth of nearly 50% (47.5%) kept net sales positive for all dayparts, but traffic is significantly down. Breakfast: Traffic was down an average of 21.5% in 2023. Breakfast performed much better in 2022, when decreases were just 8% lower than in pre-pandemic 2019. Net sales remain positive (+16%). Lunch: Traffic is down an average of 18% for 2023 compared to 2019. Net sales are up an average of 18%, driven by a 45% growth in average check. Dinner: Traffic remained most stable but still experienced a decrease — down 15% across the first half of 2023. Net sales were up an average of 25%. Upcoming Pricing Pressure Price increases have been pivotal in sustaining QSR revenue, but how much can customers bear before breaking? When RMS surveyed over 1,000 US consumers, 31% reported spending less at restaurants. Among those consuming less, 1 in 2 are doing so by ordering less frequently from restaurants. “Going into the last quarter of 2023, operators have to be very surgical in their pricing strategy,” notes Delvallée. “This data will undoubtedly help restaurants adapt to the new landscape and enter 2024 stronger.” About Revenue Management Solutions Revenue Management Solutions specializes in delivering actionable insights and providing solutions that drive sales, streamline costs and maximize profitability. With a data-driven approach, RMS supports iconic brands and emerging concepts in over 40 countries, spanning more than 100,000 locations. For more information on how RMS helps executives and finance professionals in the restaurant industry overcome profitability challenges, visit revenuemanage.com. Contact Details Center Reach Communications Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://www.revenuemanage.com

September 14, 2023 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Marketplacer Helps FINN Give Refurbished Electronics A Second Life

Marketplacer

Marketplacer, a global technology platform that enables brands, retailers, suppliers, communities, and innovators to build and grow successful online marketplaces at scale, is proud to announce today that one of the most well-known brands in Norway - FINN - is experiencing record growth on its new Marketplacer-powered e-commerce site for used smartphones and accessories, FINN Nybrukt. Based in Oslo, Norway, FINN is the country’s largest online marketplace, allowing consumers to purchase anything from cars to houses to general merchandise. In February 2023, the company expanded these offerings with the launch of FINN Nybrukt, a new e-commerce marketplace for used smartphones and accessories, where buyers can choose from a variety of pre-owned, refurbished phones, and sellers can help their used phones find a second “life” and avoid the landfill, which is a key mission for FINN. Essentially functioning as a boot-strapping startup within the larger Schibsted family of brands, the team at FINN considered building an e-commerce platform on its own. Instead, the team decided that its business objectives would be better served by choosing a technology partner that it could collaborate with in order to meet its business objectives. FINN chose Marketplacer because the company’s fast, flexible and easily-scalable marketplace platform technology aligned perfectly with FINN’s accelerated time-to-market target. “FINN was already a household name in Norway, but what the team was looking to do with FINN Nybrukt was a new adventure,” said Marketplacer CEO and Co-Founder Jason Wyatt. “We have a deep understanding of the different needs and approaches start-ups have compared to their more established corporate counterparts. FINN knows how to sell almost anything and we know how to create the infrastructure to make it happen and how to make it happen fast.” Ultimately, FINN was able to launch its new Marketplacer-powered e-commerce platform in less than six months and the site continues to experience a tremendous uptick in interest over the first few months of operations. In fact, while July is traditionally a slow month for sales in Norway, FINN Nybrukt saw an all-time high in sales. “We are always looking for new business models for marketplaces and the demand for refurbished electronics is hot,” according to Emilie Høstmark, team lead for refurbished electronics at FINN/Schibsted’s Nordic Marketplaces division. “Since so many people have used electronics, giving them a simple way to re-circulate them not only makes economic sense, but also helps the environment by reducing e-waste. The partnership also enables us to scale and expand into other countries across the region which was a key consideration for us.” Following the success of its refurbished smartphones marketplace, FINN plans to expand into additional categories, including tablets, smartwatches and AirPods, with the potential to further expand into gaming equipment and more. The company is also looking to expand geographically, leveraging its sister marketplaces across the Nordic region. The FINN Nybrukt marketplace is live and interested sellers in the Nordics can find more information here. About Marketplacer Marketplacer is a global technology Software as a Service (SaaS) platform equipped with all the tools and functionality needed to build successful and scalable online marketplaces, at speed. To date, Marketplacer has helped build and deploy over 100 Marketplaces connecting over 13,000 businesses worldwide. The Marketplacer platform exists to make growth simple, from implementing marketplace strategies such as shipment from drop-ship sellers, adding new categories or third-party range extension, through to consolidating markets and rolling out modern revenue models such as recurring memberships that allow businesses to grow faster and beyond the constraints of capital inventory. Born and bred from the award-winning BikeExchange, the biggest online marketplace for anything and everything bike, founders Jason Wyatt and Sam Salter saw the opportunity to license the online software platform and apply it to new marketplaces. Marketplacer is responsible for the creation of online e-commerce solutions and business transformations of companies around the world. Visit www.marketplacer.com for more information. About FINN FINN.no is Norway's largest online marketplace with almost 500 employees and was founded in 2000. Ever since, FINN has gained enormous popularity among Norwegians, its reputation is one of Norway's strongest and almost every Norwegian has a relationship with FINN. Every year Norwegians spend an average of almost 33 hours on FINN.no. and more than 14 million ads are published. FINN has the #1 position in the markets they are in and connects millions of buyers and sellers. Whether it is to buy or sell products, looking for a house or a new job, browse cars or boats, or dreaming of the next holiday - FINN offers the opportunity to realize dreams and make sustainable choices. As part of Schibsted Nordic Marketplaces, which consists of strong, local marketplaces across the Nordics, FINN also has a cross-Nordic perspective and view. Contact Details Marketplacer Press Inquiries: Michael Herrera michael.herrera@marketplacer.com Company Website https://www.marketplacer.com/

September 12, 2023 12:00 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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