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Pop Culture Newswire Launches to Provide Marketers with Multimedia Distribution to Entertainment Journalists and Influencers

RetroPop Media

RetroPop Media announced today that is has launched Pop Culture Newswire ( www.PopCultureNewswire.com ), the affordable, multimedia press release wire service targeting entertainment journalists, media platforms, and digital influencers who crave pop culture content. Created by 35-year veterans of the press release wire service and event industries, Pop Culture Newswire provides companies, agencies, events, and celebrities, with flat-rate, comprehensive, targeted distribution services. Extensive multimedia options are standard with almost all the pay-as-you-go distribution options. In contrast to the more generic and pricey legacy press release wire services, Pop Culture Newswire is specifically tailored to reach the influential “Geek” press covering everything from toys and gaming, to movies, streaming shows, concerts, conventions, and collectibles. Media can register to receive Pop Culture Newswire headlines free at https://www.popculturenewswire.com/journalists/. “We’re focused on clients who need to engage the influential media outlets and digital content creators that are setting the agenda on what’s hot and what’s not in pop culture,” said Bill Gato, the Co-Managing Partner of Pop Culture Newswire and CEO of its strategic wire service ally, Latinx Newswire. In addition to its niche focus, Pop Culture Newswire provides clients with various significant advantages over other wire services: – Low Cost, Flat Rate Pricing and ZERO Overage: Pop Culture Newswire is low cost AND flat rate-based so clients never have to guess how much posting and/or distributing their multimedia press releases will be. Pop Culture Newswire rates begin at a low, introductory rate of $149 and the wire service never charges Overage rates, one of the most controversial and expensive costs associated with traditional press release wires. – A Full Scale Multimedia Platform: Pop Culture Newswire’s platform features a socially-wired, beautifully designed web site that allows clients to post photos, YouTube videos, PDFs, biographies, presentations, brochures and more at a fraction of what other wire services charge. Even the most inexpensive Pop Culture Newswire release is a multimedia release. – Comprehensive Targeting of Pop Culture Media and Influencers: The wire service offers clients comprehensive national and state distributions to U.S. media and digital influencers. In addition to geo targeting news releases, Pop Culture Newswire also allows clients to send content to media and bloggers in 11 specific categories of news such as Collectibles/Toys, Comics/Graphic Novels, Editorial Features, Fashion, Festivals/Conventions, Gaming, General Entertainment, Multicultural News, Movies/TV/Stream, Music/Concerts, and Sports/Recreation. Pop Culture Newswire follows the same media relations best practices and protocols that guided its management team to launch (and later successfully sell) Hispanic PR Wire, the first U.S. Hispanic press release wire service in 2000. – SEO-enhanced and socially savvy releases – EVERYTIME: PopCultureNewswire.com has been designed with SEO-enhanced multimedia features that help get content indexed by major search engines such as Bing, Google and Yahoo. SEO-enhanced press release postings mean that Pop Culture Newswire treats consumers looking for news with the same intensity that it uses to cater to journalists and bloggers. - Unmatched Media, Digital, and PR Expertise: The Pop Culture Newswire team is comprised of award-winning media and public relations professionals who have a deep understanding of media, digital, and social media. Our team includes the winners of the PRSA Silver Anvil, PRISM, PR Week Campaign of the Year and Hispanic Public Relations Professional of the Year Awards, a sweep of every top PR award that exists and a testament to the achievements of this team and its expertise. A Veteran Wire Management Team The launch of Pop Culture Newswire reunites the core management group that created and later sold the industry’s first Hispanic press release wire service to British media conglomerate United Business Media in 2008. Pop Culture Newswire’s management team includes Latinx Newswire co-founder Jay Cruz, RetroPop Media CEO Manny Ruiz, as well as events and media entrepreneur Maribel Piza. About Pop Culture Newswire Co-headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale and Los Angeles, Pop Culture Newswire is the affordable, multimedia press release wire service tailored for brands, event producers, celebrities, media, and marketing agencies who want to reach the entertainment and pop culture “Geek” press. Our flat-rate press release wire service offers clients comprehensive national and state-specific distributions. Powered by RetroPop Media’s proprietary distribution network and led by award-winning social media industry and press release wire industry pioneers, our newswire features a wide range of budget-friendly multimedia capabilities that are priced at a fraction of what traditional wire services cost and deliver value every time. Contact Details Pop Culture Newswire Angela Sustaita-Ruiz +1 855-464-4772 newsroom@popculturenewswire.com Company Website https://www.popculturenewswire.com/

February 09, 2021 08:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

Jack Panzer and Minuteman Press International Help Independent Printers Sell Their Printing Business

Minuteman Press International Inc

Minuteman Press International, the world’s leading design, marketing, and printing franchise, is continuing to expand its Minuteman Press Franchise Conversion Program. The program assists independent printers with selling their printing business at no cost and no broker fees to them. “We don’t charge anything to sellers. We take on the advertising costs and we provide 45 years of printing industry experience in evaluating their business as well as helping them prepare for the sale. What we get in return is simply another Minuteman Press or International Minute Press location that we’ll help the buyer build and grow,” says Jack Panzer, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming Region (Minuteman Press International operates as International Minute Press in Arizona). There is high demand for printing today, as Jack says, “Local businesses are vital to the American economy. Every business needs and uses the products and services that we offer. My job is to help evaluate and sell businesses where both the seller and the buyer are happy with their decision.” When is it a good time to sell a printing business? Jack answers, “The second you think about selling is the right time because there’s no guarantee as to how long it will take. I have sold printing businesses in 30 days, in six months, in one year, in two years. It really has to do with the buyer, the timing, and making sure the groundwork is laid to execute the sale.” How does it work and what does the owner need to sell? In his experience, Jack says the biggest thing is to keep it simple. “Let’s have a face to face meeting and get to know each other. We can talk and see if we are comfortable with each other, then make sure the business fits our model. We want this to be mutually beneficial. Let’s see what you’re looking for and what we’re looking for and find out if it matches up.” Jack adds, “There is no pressure and we are simply here to help. I will work with you to assess the business. If we can agree to work together, all I need is three years of financials. Through due diligence on our end, we are able to evaluate the business and suggest a fair market price.” He continues, “We are experts in the printing industry for 45 years. It’s not just about the P&Ls. It’s about the value of the business, the ties to the community, and the staff involvement. When we sell your printing business, we are able to train the buyer and offer more products and services. You don’t have to worry about long-term training or a prolonged transition because we train and support the buyer.” “When sellers sign up with us, there are no surprises, there are no fees, and it’s a very transparent process. They can also see the track record that Minuteman Press has as printing industry leaders for 45 years. We are not going anywhere.” – Jack Panzer What issues and concerns do independent printers run into when selling? According to Jack, “One of the biggest issues printers run into when selling is when they deal with a business broker who doesn’t follow through or have the printing industry experience needed to sell the business properly.” He adds, “Where we differ is that we have the printing experience and we want to sell the business in a timely manner. We are experts at selling print or print-like businesses and we know what it takes to evaluate and sell the business.” Another big difference is that Minuteman Press is able to attract a wider pool of buyers. Jack explains, “We build personal relationships with our owners, we support the buyer throughout the life of their business, and we have a vested interest in their success. We don’t just make the sale, shake their hands, and say good luck.” The sellers also raise concerns about their customers and what will happen to them. “They want to know their legacy is going to continue. We make sure there is a smooth transition so that the clients know they are in good hands with the new owner.” Another issue that comes up is financing the sale. “Minuteman Press has financing options available for buyers that may help facilitate the sale, which is another burden lifted from the seller.” Keeping it Simple Ultimately, Jack Panzer and the team at Minuteman Press International offer an effective and transparent way for independent printers to sell their printing business at no cost and no broker fees to them. Jack’s approach is to keep it simple, stay proactive, and keep in touch. “One thing I always promise is that I will communicate with you throughout this process and I’m confident I will sell your printing business.” For more information on the Minuteman Press Franchise Conversion Program, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions or call 1-800-645-3006. Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

February 08, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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CMMC Center of Excellence Announces Engagement Agreement with Ignyte Assurance Platform

Interoperability Clearinghouse

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Center of Excellence ( CMMC COE ), hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public-private partnership serving the public and private sectors for more than 15 years, is excited to announce a partnership with Ignyte Assurance Platform, a leading provider of software and consulting expertise for cyber risk, cyber compliance, and cybersecurity standards mapping and assurance. This unique partnership will extend efforts to identify and include proven capabilities within the CMMC COE Marketplace to improve cybersecurity protection and resilience for the global defense industrial base network of contractors, vendors, and suppliers. Ignyte Assurance Platform delivers a software product to assist with data collection, analysis, and to help streamline processes across multiple security frameworks at once. The capability developed by Ignyte Assurance Platform supports an organization’s efforts around security, governance, risk management, and compliance and provides a tested and proven range of solutions to improve overall cybersecurity protection and resilience while meeting requirements of standards such as CMMC. The executed Engagement Agreement establishes a collaborative engagement between Ignyte Assurance Platform and the CMMC COE to partner in the furthering of their respective and complementary missions and objectives regarding the adoption, use, and expansion of CMMC based cybersecurity practices, risk management, and compliance for the DIB contractor, vendor, and supplier community of providers creating a broader CMMC ecosystem globally to improve security and resilience. “This is exciting opportunity for us”, said Mr. John Weiler, Chairman of the Board at CMMC Center of Excellence, “This new partnership will further help advance the goals and objectives for improving the supply chain security and resilience of the US Department of Defense (DoD)”. “While CMMC seems like a brand-new framework for someone outside the industry, we’ve been working on automation of its predecessor legislative and industry requirements such as DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST 800-171 and FedRAMP since 2012, eliminating manual components and automating governance processes” said Mr. Max Aulakh, Founder and CEO of Ignyte Assurance Platform. “We recommend implementing NIST 800-171 for now, because it’s the first logical step in CMMC adaptation. NIST domains cover 110 controls out of 130 required for Level 3 of CMMC. Joining IT-AAC / COE in this initiative, we are not just bringing educational resources to the table, but have the means to utilize our technology to speed up and simplify CMMC adoption for the DoD Supply Chain” Specific actions will include: The co-development of CMMC advisory services, cyber training and education programs to accelerate CMMC certification, increase cyber adoption and improve cyber protection & resilience. Co-sponsor symposiums, training programs and podcasts leveraging their combined cyber and IT expertise. Host regular working groups, with other partners, to enable collaboration and communications. Source qualified CMMC/ cyber professionals to serve as advocates. Establish an independent Industry Cyber Security Advisory Council with peer organizations to advise and educate leaders across government and industry on the continued evolution and effectiveness of CMMC. The CMMC-COE ( http://cmmc-coe.org ) and Ignyte Assurance Platform partnership will focus on bringing together the many disparate cyber and national security communities of interest to reduce complexity, improve awareness, and accelerate industry effort to become more cyber resilient against the growing threats from nation states and criminal enterprises. The CMMC-COE establishes both a Market Place and Knowledge Clearinghouse that will include resources that support the overall effort, including white papers; tutorials; recorded webcasts; presentations; and more that will help reduce the cost and burden on small and medium size contractors already struggling from the impact of COVID. For more information on the CMMC COE, please visit http://cmmc-coe.org email info@cmmc-coe.org or call 703-863-3766 For more information on Ignyte Assurance Platform, please visit https://ignyteplatform.com/ About Us ---------- CMMC-COE.ORG is a unique non-profit public-private partnership, with a vision to accelerate Cybersecurity Maturity Model (CMM) adoption, and reduce time & cost for security compliance for our partners by leveraging commercial best practices, CMMC standards, and innovative solutions for a measurable success. Our mission, focused on DOD mission objectives, cost containment and expeditious CMMC compliance, is to help the DIB improve cyber posture and resilience, and simplify its acquisition. The CMMC-COE is hosted by the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council (IT-AAC), a public/private partnership (P3) chartered in 2007 as an honest broker to reach outside the confines of the Federal IT advisories that lack dynamic reach into the Global IT Market, and dedicated to the adoption of commercial IT management standards of practice and innovations emanating from the Global IT market. Team IT-AAC has already demonstrated the value of its decade long investment, and provides a unique value to agencies seeking to achieve accelerate the transformation of legacy processes and systems. Our Just-in-Time SMEs apply an innovative suite of Technology Business Management and Agile Acquisition Processes needed to assure the business value of commercial IT. The Interoperability Clearinghouse (ICH), is the managing partner that make up the 24 NGO/SDO organizations that make up the IT-AAC. ICH provides the contract vehicles, clearances, and critical resources proven to guide sustainable, measurable and repeatable processes needed to drive better investment decisions as the speed of mission need, while aligning existing processes, methods and workforce with IT reform mandates contained in Clinger Cohen Act, FITARA, IT MGT Act, EO13838. Contact Details Bob Dix +1 703-975-6633 bob.dix@it-aac.org Company Website https://cmmc-coe.org

February 08, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

2021 Will Be the Year of Meaningful Travel

YourUpdateTV

Airbnb released a new report and highlighted how 2021 will see a shift toward more meaningful travel as the pandemic continues to limit mass tourism and afflict the industry overall. When travel returns in 2021, it will be about connecting with loved ones through more personal trips, with mass tourism unlikely to return at any scale this year. Recently, Director of International Communications at Airbnb, Cassidy Blackwell, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss this trend and much more. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/f00q-568WXw In the report, US consumers say their near-term travel priority is to spend time with family and friends in comfortable, familiar and secure settings. Here are some additional findings from the report: Travel for pleasure is the out-of-home activity Americans have missed the most—over going to restaurants and bars, and attending sporting and other live events. A majority is ready to travel again: 54% have either already booked, are currently planning to travel, or expect to travel in 2021. This includes 57% of 18- to 29-year-olds, and 60% of 30- to 49-year-olds. The type of travel people have missed the most is visiting with family and friends. Business travel is the type of travel they have missed the least. Connecting with family and friends is also the type of travel that has grown most in importance as people look to travel after the pandemic: 41% say such travel has become “much more” important to them, almost twice the percentage who cite travel to accomplish personal goals (22%). Affordability is the top priority overall when it comes to choosing accommodation not just for the first trip but for future travel indefinitely (54%), beating health and safety protocols by 10 points. Nearly three in five Americans (58%) earning less than $50,000 per year say they are booked, planning or expecting to travel in 2021. Based on ongoing Airbnb guest survey data, a majority of guests—including 53% of all homes guests in 2019—tell us they choose Airbnb to save money while traveling. 56% of those under age 50 say they would be “much” or “somewhat more likely” to use an online platform which offers the ability to search for alternate energy and green accommodations. Only 28% of those aged 50+ say the same. For more information on these trends and much more, visit Airbnb.com About Cassidy Blackwell: Cassidy Blackwell is the Director of International Communications at Airbnb. In her role she is responsible for leading the teams across EMEA, APAC, LATAM and China to drive initiatives that help to advance business objectives, policy priorities and brand reputation. In her tenure as a marketing and communications professional, Cassidy has experience in working in both tech, CPG, retail and philanthropy, with specialized experience in empowering women, people of color and other underserved communities around the world. Cassidy has been named one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, Brand Innovator's 40 Under 40 and a finalist for the Sage Group's Marketers Who Matter. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 05, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Scents of Space: Citizen Helps to Create a Relaxing Environment at Home

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/izrNOXrEqMI In a time where working remotely, virtual school and stay-in date nights have taken on a whole new meaning, your home environment has never become more important. Leading watchmaker, Citizen, launches a new innovative scent diffusing wellness clock – Sensory Time™ for home and offices. This multi-functional sensory clock is fully integrated, time saving and a life enhancing product. Our homes are our sanctuary; it is one of the few places where we feel comfortable, safe, and at peace. However, with the current events, many of us need to try to transform our homes into a more relaxing place, helping us to cope with all the stress that we might feel. Caroline Fabrigas, CEO of Scent Marketing Inc. and Co-founder of Scent Invent Technology partnered with Citizen, D S Simon Media, and YourUpdate TV on a nationwide media tour to discuss the ways the scents can be used to create a relaxing home environment and discuss the launch of the new scent-diffusing wellness clock from Citizen called Sensory Time™. The use of scent has become a vital part of everyday life as the pursuit for health and wellness increases. Created in partnership with IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), one of the largest fragrance houses globally, the end result was an innovative, scent diffusion system that provides high quality aromas. Sensory Time is available with two essential oil blends: Lavender Escape and Citrus Boost. Lavender Escape is a calming, uplifting blend of aromatic and woody noted for a sense of calm and a feeling of comfort and balance. Citrus Boost is an uplifting surge of stimulating botanicals for a sense of rejuvenation. This noiseless aroma machine can use essential oil directly without any water. Water based evaporators or fans destroy all the properties of the essential oil which are important for well-being. By using solid state diffusion technology the scent machine preserves all the good properties of the essential oil while providing a subtle diffusion Sensory Time also uses 100% essential oil, leaving nothing to waste. Nano particles leave no residue and allow you to scent a 500 cubic square feet house or office space subtly and efficiently. Replenishment oil supply will be sold to separately. Sensory Time is offered in three modern designs: White on Expresso Wood (CC1038), White on White (CC1036), and White on Dark Grey (CC1037). All clocks retail at $99.00. Sensory Time’s other unique features include precision timekeeping with a 24-hour digital clock and alarm for the scent diffusing mode, a Bluetooth wireless speaker that delivers pitch perfect sound, USB power source for extra charging capabilities and a modulating wellness light that adjusts to suit your mood. Sensory Time is the perfect gift for this holiday season. It is available at www.citizenwatch.com/sensorytime. About Citizen Watch: Citizen, a pioneer in watchmaking and innovation since 1918, promotes excellence and creativity with a deep-rooted respect for craftsmanship. Citizen advocates “Better Starts Now,” searching for and accomplishing goals that cultivate positive change. Driven to create timepieces enjoyed by citizens all over the world, Citizen formed an alliance partnership with Disney in 2018, another powerhouse brand with similar values. With a long-term partnership in place, Citizen participates in activations surrounding the Disney Parks, Marvel, Star Wars and more. Citizen is the Official Timepiece of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland with branded clocks in both theme parks. In addition, in 2020 Citizen joined 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate 1% of its website sales in the U.S. to support global nonprofit organizations focused on the environment. At Citizen, our purpose started with a simple yet revolutionary challenge to ourselves: to think about power differently. For over 40 years, CITIZEN’s proprietary Eco-Drive® technology has harnessed the power of light from any natural or artificial light source to convert it to energy, eliminating the need for any battery replacement, using a renewable energy to keep batteries from landfills. All watches require power, but very few consider the source that power comes from, and what impact it may have on not just the wearer, but the world at large. Eco-Drive isn’t an ordinary power source — it’s one with purpose built in. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 05, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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MarketFinance Business Booster Fund announces first winners of grants

Stockwood Strategy

Fintech business lender MarketFinance has today made three grants of £5,000 each to winners of the MarketFinance Business Booster Fund. Over 500 virtual pitches were received and 5 were shortlisted. These businesses were put to a social media vote before three winners were selected. The three winning entries came from ethical breastfeeding clothing brand The Bshirt, smart food labelling specialist BlakBear and independent children’s literacy charity The Economist Educational Foundation. Inner city young people’s charity XLP and creative agency Collaborative Creations were the other two businesses to make the shortlist. Anil Stocker, CEO of MarketFinance commented: “We launched this initiative as a small boost to help the successful businesses pivot, scale or grow in 2021. We want to support more of the UK’s hardest working and most exciting SMEs. In addition to the grant, we will offer the time and skills of our expert staff to help their leadership teams. Whether they need tech, marketing, finance or communications support, we will provide the resources to help them get to where they want to go. The winners' applications were highly commended and we wish them all the very best for the year ahead. ” On being the first beneficiaries of grants from the MarketFinance Booster Fund, the winners’ comments: Lisa Lessaware, co-founder of The Bshirt said: “This means so much to our business. This grant will be used to launch exciting new ethical products to help women breastfeed more comfortably and ultimately for longer.” Michael Kasimatis, co-founder at BlakBear said: “We’re thrilled to receive this grant. It will help drive the technical and regulatory development. Initiatives like this truly help deliver research and innovation to the market. Thank you, MarketFinance". Harriet Boland, Fundraising & Partnerships manager, at The Economist Educational Foundation said: “We are delighted to receive a grant from the MarketFinance business booster fund! This money will help us grow and reach thousands more young people and enable them to have inspiring discussions about current affairs in schools." The Business Booster Fund was established in December 2020 and forms part of a commitment from MarketFinance to SMEs. The Fund makes grants of £5,000 available to UK small businesses, along with expert advice from MarketFinance’s team. The fund has been designed to develop innovative entrepreneurs even further. MarketFinance looked for entrepreneurs that represent our community as a whole, and is keen to support companies that value diversity, inclusion and giving back. Anil Stocker added: “We know that the winners, and all SMEs in general, face challenging times as we deal with both the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic challenges ahead. For that reason, it has been exciting to see a very wide range of innovative approaches from so many applicants to grow their businesses. It was difficult to narrow the awards down to a small number of outstanding winners and we look forward to supporting them with a variety of talent and resources at MarketFinance”. ENDS About MarketFinance MarketFinance is a business finance company with offices in London and Manchester. The online platform enables businesses to access a range of flexible finance solutions - quickly and easily. This smart technology is backed by help from real people so business owners can save time and focus on growing their business. Since 2011, MarketFinance has advanced over £3 billion to companies across a range of sizes and sectors, providing working capital and finance for everything from paying staff and suppliers to launching new products or services and accelerating growth. MarketFinance is backed by Barclays, Santander InnoVentures, European venture capital fund Northzone (invested in Klarna, iZettle and Trustpilot), and private equity group MCI Capital (also invested in iZettle, Azimo and Gett). Contact Details MarketFinance Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@marketfinance.com Company Website https://marketfinance.com/

February 03, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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New Suzy Research Shows Shift in Valentine’s Day Date Plans This Year

Suzy

Suzy, a real-time market research platform, today announced its new research report, “State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021,” shows that nearly 70% of consumers are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home this year. The report found that while many Americans and their significant others will change their romantic dinner plans compared to last year, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates still have the hearts of those planning to give candy to the people they love. According to Suzy research, top Valentine’s Day gifts include: Candy (66%); Flowers (60%); Jewelry (54%); Greeting Cards (52%); Wine/Alcohol (42%); and Perfume/Cosmetics (45%). A night in and dinner at home for most Likely due to COVID-19 restrictions or concerns, more than one-third of respondents (38%) who went out for Valentine’s Day last year are staying home this year. Suzy’s research also revealed that 31% who stayed home in 2020 are sticking to the same plan this time around, while nearly a quarter (24%) plan to go out for Valentine’s Day – just as they did last year. Most respondents are cooking dinner at home this year (36%), followed by ordering takeout from a restaurant (28%). Only 23% are planning to dine at a restaurant this year. Candy remains Cupid’s arrow Despite the shift in Valentine’s Day plans, candy remains a Cupid’s arrow for consumers who are planning to give gifts this year. In fact, 86% of those surveyed plan to buy Valentine’s Day candy this year, most often for a significant other (69%), their children (49%) or themselves (41%). The most popular candy purchases are the timeless heart-shaped box of chocolates (29%), followed by Hershey’s Kisses and chocolate-covered cherries (tied at 22%), M&M’s and conversation hearts (also tied at 11%). Most Americans will spend between $10 and $30 on candy (36%). A smaller percentage will spend between $33-50 (18%), $50-100 (15%), and more than $100 (12%) on candy. More than half of consumers are planning to buy greeting cards for Valentine’s Day (53%), with 41% of cards going to a significant other, and 11% to their children. “Research shows that Valentine’s Day this year means a candlelight dinner in the kitchen instead of a night out on the town, and brands will have to adjust accordingly,” said Suzy President Avi Savar. “While spending is still expected to be on par with previous years, sales strategies will need to be adjusted to meet consumer’s ever-changing needs during the pandemic.” Suzy’s State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021 survey was conducted on Jan. 14, 2021, and included 538 respondents. A full report is available upon request. About State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021 Suzy’s State of the Consumer: Valentine’s Day 2021 study surveyed 538 U.S. consumers in January 2021. The samples are directionally representative of U.S. consumers and census-weighted across age, gender, ethnicity, and region to accurately reflect attitudes across the broader American consumer population. About Suzy Founded in 2017, Suzy is an enterprise software platform that puts the voice of the consumer at your fingertips. Whether you’re a novice or an expert researcher, Suzy delivers advanced tools combined with the highest-quality audience to deliver insights in minutes. Many of the biggest brands in the world use Suzy to deliver breakthrough products and experiences backed by data-driven decisions. To date, Suzy has raised over $35MM in venture capital funding from investors that include Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments, Foundry Group, Tribeca Venture Partners, Triangle Peak Partners, and Kevin Durant’s 35 Ventures. Learn more at www.suzy.com. Contact Details Catrine Thorrud suzy@trustrelations.agency Company Website http://suzy.com/

February 02, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Tempered Networks Launches Airwall Teams: Free, Zero Trust Remote Access and Private Network Solution

Tempered

Tempered Networks, a leading Zero Trust secure networking provider, today released Airwall Teams, a free, industrial-strength security platform for micro-segmentation and remote access. Airwall Teams allows organizations to build secure communications channels between devices, regardless of where they are located, to ensure secure access across all mobile, corporate, internet, and cloud networks. Airwall Teams is based on the same network technology as Airwall™, Tempered’s easy-to-manage, enterprise-grade solution that leverages the standards-based Host Identity Protocol (HIP), including a range of scalable hardware gateways and policy management devices. They form a private overlay network that sits on top of existing cybersecurity and network infrastructure. “Airwall Teams is a great option to allow potential Airwall users a chance to try our groundbreaking HIP secure access technology,” said Jeff Hussey, President, CEO and co-founder of Tempered. "Our platform allows users to greatly increase the security of their network flows and system access even though network perimeters are rapidly dissolving and cyberattacks are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated. Organizations are looking for an easy-to-deploy and manage Zero Trust network architecture, and Airwall Teams is the most expedient way to try out this approach quickly, at no cost.” Some of the key benefits of Airwall Teams include: Secure, Remote Management & Increased Productivity: With Airwall Teams organizations can increase productivity by quickly building the most secure remote access to critical endpoints and systems while completely eliminating vulnerabilities to unauthorized users. Security, DevOps and admin teams can use Airwall Teams to provide access to data center applications, IoT endpoints, and other industrial systems. Trusted Network Privacy: Airwall Teams makes network assets essentially invisible and completely private to unauthorized users. Airwall Teams, like Airwall, recreates a virtual air gap to critical infrastructure while still allowing necessary remote access and communication across a global network. Hackers cannot attack what they cannot see. Easy Deployment & Secure Team Connectivity: Airwall Teams features a simple drag-and-drop interface that can connect home, office, mobile and cloud resources across networks in just minutes. Employees can securely connect to each other and to servers, applications and email wherever they are located. “Airwall Teams provides a valuable solution for securely connecting endpoints for a range of use cases across any network, anywhere”, said Caston Thomas, President of Interworks, a Michigan-based security integration firm. “It’s great for remote access to specific systems running in the cloud, or sharing files and even video streams over an encrypted overlay tunnel. I like it as a free platform to trial some zero trust deployment scenarios that might make sense for my clients.” For its development of Airwall Teams and Airwall, as well as delivering innovative security services, Tempered was recently awarded a 2020 Best Practices Award by leading analyst firm Frost & Sullivan. “Frost & Sullivan is pleased to announce Tempered Networks as the recipient of the 2020 Technology Innovation Leadership Award for its strong commitment to delivering simple and less expensive network security solutions”, said Harikrishnan N M, Senior Research Analyst, TechVision at Frost & Sullivan. “Through pioneering Identity-Based Networking with the Host Identity Protocol (HIP) and cryptographic identities, Tempered helps customers set up a truly native zero trust network architecture that can make the entire network invisible to cyber threats and hackers.” “Tempered is committed to making the world a safer place by simplifying secure network and systems access,” added Hussey. “In the wake of the devastating SolarWinds attack and with threats already increasing inside corporate networks, organizations need to completely rethink how they are securing their networks and data. Airwall Teams offers this unparalleled network security for free, for networks up to 25 devices, enabling organizations to protect their devices and data inside simple, private and encrypted networks.” Airwall Teams is available immediately and can connect up to 25 devices for free, supporting Macs, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android devices. To learn more and sign up for Airwall Teams, please visit: http://tempered.io/products/Airwall-Teams. Tempered makes the industry’s only truly native Zero Trust Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) solution. Airwall is the modern air gap for all connected things. Airwall makes it easy to create and maintain hyper-secure networks across complex infrastructure anywhere, including IT/OT/ICS/SCADA, remote and in the cloud. Airwall networks are multi-factor authenticated, micro-segmented, encrypted end-to-end, and impervious to lateral movement. Ready to make your company’s critical assets and infrastructure invisible to threats? Visit https://tempered.io. Contact Details Merritt Group for Tempered Katie Pesek +1 703-795-1928 pesek@merrittgrp.com Company Website http://tempered.io

February 02, 2021 08:57 AM Eastern Standard Time

Comcast RISE Awards 36 Black-Owned, Small Businesses in California with Marketing and Technology Resources and Makeovers

Comcast West Division

More than 700 Black-owned businesses across the country have been named Comcast RISE award recipients, including 36 small businesses in California. Now, the second phase of Comcast RISE, which stands for “Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment,” is accepting applications through February 7, 2021. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses are encouraged to apply for the chance to receive consulting, media, and creative production services from Effectv, the advertising sales division of Comcast Cable, or technology upgrades from Comcast Business, based on their specific needs. “While many of my contemporaries were preparing for retirement, I became an entrepreneur,” said Judi Townsend, founder and owner of the Oakland-based store, Mannequin Madness, that received media services through RISE. “My business is in the recycling industry, where I find new uses for old things. So, when COVID-19 hit, I had to reinvent again. And RISE is an important tool for publicizing the new direction of my business.” “When we were first shut down, we were looking at creating a bigger online profile, and I found the RISE program,” said Jonathan Powell, founder and co-owner of Forever Diamonds & More, a jewelry store in San Jose that received a 30-second TV commercial production. “When you’ve got an establishment like Comcast reaching to pull up small businesses, the lifeblood of the economy, take their hand!” "We all crave a good cup of coffee,” said Olton Rensch, founder and owner of San Francisco-based Tallio’s Coffee that received marketing consultation services. “I was looking for ways to bolster my business during COVID-19 and found the RISE program. Had I not applied, I would have lost out on this great opportunity to bring my dream to life.” Comcast RISE brings together two of the company’s brands — Comcast Business and Effectv, both with expertise in the small business space — to empower business owners with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate the economic effects of the pandemic. Comcast RISE consists of the following main components: A media and technology resources program: This pillar combines Effectv’s renowned media platform and marketing expertise, its award-winning creative agency, Mnemonic, and state-of-the-art technical support from Comcast Business to help small businesses foster and elevate growth. Recipients will receive help with their marketing, media campaigns and creation of 30-second commercials, as well as equipment and technology upgrades, including: ○ Consulting: Advertising and marketing consultations with local Effectv marketing, research and creative teams to gain insights on how to grow your business. ○ Media: A linear TV media campaign to run over a 90-day period. ○ Creative Production: Turnkey 30-second TV commercial production for their businesses. ○ Technology Makeovers: Computer equipment and Internet, Voice and Cybersecurity services for up to a 12-month period. (Taxes and other fees may still apply for tech makeover services.) Business resources to help with curated content: Comcast has launched the Comcast RISE destination complete with aggregated small business news, tips, insights and more on the X1 platform. The destination is designed to help businesses grow by empowering them through education, inspiration and entertainment. Just say “Comcast RISE” into the X1 voice remote. Comcast RISE is part of a larger $100 million Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative that Comcast launched this summer. In June, Comcast NBCUniversal announced the development of a comprehensive, multiyear plan to allocate $75 million in cash and $25 million in media over the next three years to fight injustice and inequality against any race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability. Visit www.ComcastRISE.com to apply, for more information and the latest updates. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with three primary businesses: Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, and Sky. Comcast Cable is one of the United States’ largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the Xfinity brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the Xfinity brand. NBCUniversal is global and operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures, and Universal Parks and Resorts. Sky is one of Europe's leading media and entertainment companies, connecting customers to a broad range of video content through its pay television services. It also provides communications services, including residential high-speed internet, phone, and wireless services. Sky operates the Sky News broadcast network and sports and entertainment networks, produces original content, and has exclusive content rights. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Adriana Arvizo +1 925-200-1919 Adriana_Arvizo@Comcast.Com Company Website https://california.comcast.com/

February 01, 2021 02:40 PM Pacific Standard Time

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