
Roomba, Shark, or Roborock? The Best Pre-Prime Day Robot Vacuum Deals
If you’re in the market for a robot vacuum, these little machines regularly go on
2023-06-15 02:23

A Southwest pilot had to crawl into the cockpit window after the flight deck door was locked
It's never fun to be locked out -- whether it's from your house, your car, or a commercial airliner.
2023-05-27 02:50

The Enduring Enigma of Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo
In an era of rampant price increases, the cost of Costco's meal combo hasn't changed in nearly 40 years.
2023-08-31 22:56

Tea enthusiasts stew over 60-second PG Tips teabag: ‘It’s a massive step backwards’
Tea enthusiasts are up in arms about a new teabag in the works from PG Tips, which promises to brew in just 60 seconds. While most tea fanatics reccommend brewing a cup of English breakfast tea for three to five minutes, the majority of people are too time-poor or impatient to let their teabag infuse for more than one minute. PG Tips hopes it has come up with a solution by investing £50m on a new a new blend and bag that infuses in just 60 seconds, a venture that has taken the company two years to develop. In its research, the PG Tips found that 85 per cent of tea drinkers leave the bag in to brew for under a minute, while a staggering 45 per cent bin their teabag after less than 30 seconds. Tea experts at the company have developed a new design that features a square bag with room for the leaves to infuse. It is designed to not fold over on itself, which is said to improve the overall taste of the tea. If the bag folds, the leaves don’t have room to expand and can leave the tea lacking flavour. The company claims its new blend has the “perfect particle size” for a quick cuppa. The new blend is grown at high altitudes in Kenya and Rwanda, which the brand claims provides a better taste. However, some tea fanatics are not convinced. Jane Pettigrew, course director at the UK Tea Academy toldThe Times that the time taken for brewing is a key part of a tea break ritual, and rapid teabags, like PG Tips’s new creation, are an abhorrence. “We relish the three or four minutes it takes to brew a real cup of tea and benefit from the zen-like spirit of tea – the slow brewing of tea creates a magical few minutes in a busy, sometimes frantic day,” Pettigrew told the publication. “I really abhor this kind of ‘innovation’. It is not progress but a massive retrograde step backwards in what tea should be.” More than 100 million cups of tea are made every day in Britain, and 97.5 per cent of those are brewed from a bag, rather than made from loose-leaf variety, according to the UK Tea and Infusions Association. PG Tips has also announced that its 60-second teabag will be using more sustainable packaging and designed to have no plastic wrapping. It is said to be fully recyclable, and 33 per cent more compact than the current box. Liam McNamara, PG Tips General Manager, UK and Ireland told MailOnline: “We are immensely proud of the fact that British tea drinkers already enjoy five billion cups of PG Tips every year. “However, our tea-drinking habits and tastes are evolving. “With that in mind, our expert tea blenders have spent two years developing a new and better blend that delivers high quality taste to tea lovers. Our new PG Tips blend means consumers can expect a quicker infusion and a brighter, smoother, more consistent cup of tea that is full of flavour every single time, even for the nation’s impatient tea drinkers.” Read More Cats given vegan diets ‘have better health outcomes’, study claims We tested Jamie Oliver’s new cookbook and here’s our honest review Three ways to pimp up university student classics London’s best new restaurants from the past 12 months ‘Fried rice syndrome’: Dietitians warn against eating food left at room temperature The dish that defines me: Michele Pascarella’s Neapolitan ragu
2023-09-14 15:59

Fast fashion retailer ASOS struggles to engage customers as losses balloon
We’ve all been there. A friend’s wedding is three days away and you don’t have anything to wear. The last thing you want to do is drag yourself around high-street shops, so it inevitably you turn to ASOS. After all, the company is known for its next day delivery and simple free returns service. Though many of us are reliant on the online fast fashion retailer for last-minute holiday purchases or big seasonal shops, a new report shows that ASOS’s pre-tax losses ballooned to almost £300m in the year to 3 September, compared with £31m the previous year, according to the results published on Wednesday (1 November). Despite its huge popularity, the once undisputed queen of online retailers now faces stiff competition from abroad, challenging economic headwinds, and a maturing clientele potentially seeking a more tailored experience. Leading some to ask, is ASOS in SOS? When ASOS was launched in 2000, the online retailer was considered revolutionary. It was like a supersize department store at your fingertips and became the first online retailer that UK customers could visit and find hundreds of dresses for £30 all in one place. But, in recent years, the company has been cutting its stock as it faces severe profit and revenue losses. In July and August, the retailer said it was hit by wet during the summer months, forcing the retailer to cut its stock by 30 per cent. Some experts now say that the holes within ASOS’s business model are becoming apparent. Rick Smith, Managing Director of business recovery firm Forbes Burton tells The Independent that ASOS’s business model of allowing large numbers of free returns makes the company susceptible to financial losses during challenging economic conditions. “The buying culture within their target demographic sees several items returned for each order placed, which can make for slim profit margins,” Smith explains. “ASOS has enjoyed a stratospheric rise since their inception, but have perhaps reached their ceiling now and need to cut their cloth accordingly, especially given the amount of economic headwinds [such as as the cost of living crisis] in play at the moment.” The buying habits of consumers have also shifted in the 23 years since ASOS launched. Smith says that sifting through hundreds of products has become a painstaking and often unenjoyable task for its customers. “Once large online retailers get to a certain size, it can become laborious for customers to scour their whole catalogue,” Smith explains. “The online fashion landscape is evolving now to a point that customers are looking for a more tailored service from websites.” With the rise of shopping on social media, too, young people are increasingly buying individual items from retailers on Instagram and TikTok or instead shopping directly from the brands that ASOS stocks, such as Pull and Bear, Stüssy and Bershka, which all have their own websites. “ASOS’s busy 20-something [target] market doesn’t necessarily have the time to sift through dozens of item pages,” adds Smith. “So curated collections and recommendations based on user input may be one of the changes they eventually look at.” ASOS, which originally stood for As Seen On Screen, initially started trading with the tagline “Buy what you see on film and TV” as it exclusively sold imitations of clothing worn by celebrities. That business model quickly expanded away from the world of replica products: ASOS now offers 850 affordable to mid-range high-street brands and ships to 196 countries. But the company is also now tackling a debt issue, with net debt including leases now at £648.5m, up from £533m the year before. Analysts predict that the online fashion site may need to raise quick cash soon – potentially through the rumoured sale of its Topshop brand, which ASOS acquired when the Arcadia Group went bust in 2021 and closed Topshop’s bricks and mortar stores. Despite the profit slump and predicted future losses, José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, ASOS’s chief executive, said in the report that the company has made “good progress” in “a very challenging environment” and would continue to invest in its brand and stock more fashionable lines of clothing. The company plans to spend £30m more on marketing and said it was going “back to fashion” with its products “geared around fashion and excitement”. As ASOS faces huge losses, it was reported this week that the Chinese-founded retailer Shein has acquired UK company Missguided, with plans to “reignite” the online retailer that was only bought out of administration by Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group a year and a half ago. Despite calls for boycotts from anti-fashion campaigners, Shein is currently valued at around £53bn, having expanded globally and bought many of its rival brands. In 2022, it was the most-googled fashion brand in the world and made a reported £18.9bn in revenue, suggesting that fast fashion is not falling out of favour with consumers who want to find entire outfits on a budget. Read More The funniest and most unique celebrity Halloween costumes of 2023 Kim Kardashian’s ‘power-nipple’ bra isn’t empowering – it’s the stuff of nightmares It’s ‘Phoebe Philo’ day – here’s why fashion fans are so excited The funniest and most unique celebrity Halloween costumes of 2023 Kim Kardashian’s ‘power-nipple’ bra isn’t empowering – it’s the stuff of nightmares It’s ‘Phoebe Philo’ day – here’s why fashion fans are so excited
2023-11-01 23:55

11 ways to work white into your interiors
Creating a summery scheme with bright whites, creamy woods and natural decos signals carefree summer living – and feels right, right now. With warm days ahead and a possible heatwave on the cards, these brilliant white accessories and bleached-out homewares are just the ticket for a summer refresh – and relaxed lifestyle when you want chill out… 1. White Pearl Tableware: White Pearl Stoneware Side Plate, £7, Dinner Plate, £15, Salad Plate, £14, Pasta Bowl, £14, rest of items from a selection, Rose & Grey A must for summer tablescapes, this crisp white tableware suits every occasion; and works like a dream with rainbow salad recipes to show off those vibrant veggies and peppers. 2. Portland Storage Box – Large, £22, Garden Trading Stylish storage comes into its own come summertime, especially when you want to put the lid on foodie treats which might attract unwanted visitors. Versatile, easy to stack and pack, what’s not to love? 3. Off White Shell Vase, £38, Rose & Grey A go-to for coastal decor aesthetic, this shell vase with a seashell-like surface finish is a must-have for pampas grasses and natural driftwood branches. 4. George White Large Solar Candle Lights, £8 each, Direct.asda Decorative garden lighting is one of the cleverest tools for highlighting unexpected crooks and crannies, nurturing trailing greenery. 5. Roberts Play 11, White, £49.99, Roberts Radio One to add to your summer playlist with its streamlined tailoring, this new release from Roberts marries form and function with 20 station presets, DAB/DAB+/FM wavebands and portable battery power or via USB-C. 6. Moreton Whitewashed Kubu Rattan Trolley, £425, Marely Vase – Medium, £28, Marely Vase – Large, £48, White Bamboo Round Lantern – Medium, £65, The White Company A hero piece with timeless appeal, this beautiful bar cart will style up any indoor or outdoor space. Ideal for entertaining al fresco, it’s easy to wheel around and the removeable top tray can be used to proffer canapés and cocktails. With a side caddy for magazines or place settings, it can also be dressed up with artisan decos aplenty. 7. Habitat Kora Rattan Effect Garden Egg Chair, £230, Habitat When it’s time to invest in a chic, comfy seat, this egg-shaped pod pushes all the right buttons. With curvaceous steel frame, rattan detailing and four soft cushions to snug into, it can be upgraded to an accent chair with a luxurious snow white throw. 8. Lucerna Cream Tassel Solar Lanterns Trio, £34.99, Lights4fun Setting the scene for a summer soirée? These luxe boho solar lanterns will steal the spotlight when the sun goes down. Finished with decorative tassels and easy to hang from a branch, parasol or garden wall, simply pop them outside when the sun’s up and six to eight hours of sunshine will reward you with a warm, white, LED glow. 9. Dorma Purity Chiltern Bedspread, £120 to £140, rest of items from a selection, Dunelm Summer bedding signals a seasonal switch to an all-white theme… and fresh white bedspread to top your crisp, clean sheets. 10. Cotswolds Essentials Pure White Clothes Rail, £99, Cotswold Company If you’re planning a capsule wardrobe and switching out transitional pieces for something lightweight and fluid, you can’t go wrong with a dedicated clothes rail. With its sleek design and storage shelf, this will fit into the smallest of schemes. 11. White 100% Combed Egyptian Cotton Towels, 500 GSM, from £3.99 to £24.99, Homescapes Nothing channels a boutique hotel vibe like a bundle of white fluffy towels to pat yourself dry after a refreshing shower. Made from Egyptian cotton, these are soft and absorbent without being spendy.
2023-06-08 16:29

'Quordle' today: Here are the answers and hints for September 11, 2023
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for
2023-09-11 07:53

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' review: This return to Panem was well worth the wait
It's strange to say that a movie about child death-matches makes me deeply nostalgic, but
2023-11-10 03:47

Tourists flown home as wildfires rage on Greek islands
By Fedja Grulovic RHODES, Greece (Reuters) -Tour operators began flying home holidaymakers as wildfires raged on the Greek island of
2023-07-24 17:45

Woman defends her $7,000 cheese board
Charcuterie boards have become a major food trend over recent years, with many creators taking to social media to show off their fancy boards filled with various fruit, meats, and cheeses. One TikToker known for showing off her luxury meals is Emmy Rener, who goes by the username @sophisticatedspreads. Recently she made a series of videos detailing what her luxury boards contain - and their high price tag. On 30 September, Rener posted a video showing what a $7,000 cheese board looks like. After being viewed over five million times, many questioned how deli meats and cheeses somehow ended up costing that much. “The math is not mathing,” one person commented on Rener’s video. Some viewers even went on to mention their own charcuterie boards they either made themselves or had catered. “My $250 cheese board had just as much,” one person pointed out in the comments section. “I had my entire wedding of 110 people catered with three courses and two choices of meat for $2500........” another commenter wrote, questioning the price. Because of the huge reaction to Rener’s price point, she made a follow-up video providing an explanation. To preface the video, the cheese board entrepreneur explained that she didn’t need to “defend” her prices, but was making the video to help other business owners. “I’m making it clear to the other business owners who don’t know their worth: You can charge whatever you want! And if people are booking it and your clients are happy, then you’re doing it right,” she said. @sophisticatedspreads #grazingtable #cheeseboard #charcuterieboard ♬ original sound - vibey music ? ? ? She continued to explain what contributed to the cost of the board. The table was 25-feet long and was the only food being served at an engagement party with 150 guests. The client requested a “hand-woven garland” made by a florist as well as “artisan cheeses” which both required an extra charge. But the biggest reason for the was that the party was taking place in Napa Valley, California while Rener’s company is based in Los Angeles. The drive is over six and a half hours long, so required Rener to take a team of people with her and stay in a hotel overnight. @sophisticatedspreads Replying to @Ashley Kara #greenscreen ♬ original sound - emmy “So before you get your panties in a wad, do your research,” she ended the video. After this follow-up video many people took to the comments to explain how much the price had suddenly made sense, with a few even mentioning that Rener could have charged more for her cheese board. “This isn’t just a cheese board. This is a buffet table. Considering the hotel for a team and the handmade garlands, I think the $7K is reasonable,” one person commented. Another person agreed, writing, “Babe. My fav artisan cheese costs 15 bucks for a hunk that is the size of my palm. OF COURSE ITS $7000!!!” “Low-key including travel and hotel I would expect to pay 9-10k for this so 7k is a deal in my eyes,” a commenter wrote, saying that Rener could have charged more money. The Independent has contacted Rener for comment. Read More The symbolic foods eaten during the festival of Diwali How to get free nuggets at Wendy’s for the rest of the year Why I’m giving up sobriety when everyone else is giving up drinking The symbolic foods eaten during the festival of Diwali How to get free nuggets at Wendy’s for the rest of the year Why I’m giving up sobriety when everyone else is giving up drinking
2023-11-11 02:23

See out how Apple made its 'Scary Fast' event
On Monday, Apple announced a bunch of new Mac computers. On Tuesday, Apple revealed how
2023-11-01 01:15

Save 82% on a lifetime DOGTV subscription
TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to DOGTV is on sale for £123.37, saving you 82% on
2023-10-24 12:58
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