Posts made in June 2018

3:AM NOLA

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Reebok and Foot Locker present the latest iteration of 3:AM, a signature content series that celebrates the late-night hours that spark creative minds to dive headfirst into their most passionate projects. The partnership has hit some of the most iconic sneaker cities across the U.S., with New Orleans next on the list.

Celebrating two of NOLA’s most notable personalities, this collaboration was curated by iconic nightlife photographer Polo Silk and critically acclaimed rapper Chase. N. Cashe. Reebok worked with the two local creatives to customize the New Orleans hip-hop scene’s favorite sneaker franchise – the Workout – by adding touches like the Fleur De Lis, camo prints and NOLA logos. These Big Easy legends – united by their ‘90s hip-hop heritage – have come together to curate the latest 3:AM footwear collection, and celebrate the city that inspires them through the latest video in the content series, which can be viewed HERE.

Learn more about 3:AM at reebok.com/us/3am. Limited edition 3:AM New Orleans product will be available for purchase at select Foot Locker stores, FootLocker.com and Reebok.com on June 29.

Winning Loyalty Programs

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Research shows increasing your customer retention rate by five percent has the potential to increase your profit by up to 95 percent. With the potential for a payoff like that out there, it’s absolutely imperative to consider as many ways as possible to hold on to your existing customer base. A proven method of accomplishing this is rewarding repeat customers with special offers in an effort to strengthen your relationship with them. Here are a few examples of winning loyalty programs to consider.

Make Points of Purchases
Perhaps the most common loyalty program, point systems entice customers to make a set number of purchases to earn a valuable reward. The key here is to make it easy as possible. Southwest Airlines had one of the simplest point programs ever devised by an airline. For every 10 flights you took with the airline during a calendar year, you got one free. Take 20 you got two, take 30 you got three, 40 got you four and so on. Easy to understand and easy to redeem it was one of the all time great frequent flyer programs. You can follow the airline’s lead for your ebook store. For every 10 books a customer buys in a year, they get one free. The key is simplicity. People got very upset when Southwest switched to a more complicated program.

No Fears of Tiers
As you’re strategizing ideas for how to sell an ebook online, consider instituting a program in which rewards become more valuable as your customers move farther up the food chain. Let 10 purchases get a customer a relatively inexpensive gift, while 30 garners them a better gift and 50 earns an even more valuable one. You can assign level designations as they make more purchases too. Purchasing 10 items within a certain time period qualifies them for “Silver Status”. Buying 30 makes them “Gold” while 50 turns them “Platinum”. Along with gifts can come ever more desirable perks as customers reach the upper tiers. These can include benefits such as chats with authors, sneak previews of new titles and opportunities to purchase new ebooks before they’re published.

It Pays to Play
Subscriptions and memberships are excellent ways to reward loyalty and get customers to make purchases in advance. Plus, they get a feeling of importance because they belong to your site’s VIP group. Wineries have been doing this with wine clubs for years. Similarly, the Amazon Prime strategy rewards users with fee two-day shipping; free streaming videos and a host of other benefits non-members don’t get. Remarkably, providing Prime benefits costs Amazon more than it makes in fees for them, but it serves as a loss leader. The company loses money on Prime memberships, but more than makes up on the purchases its Prime members make.

A Coalition of the Willing
By partnering with other merchants, you can allow your customers to earn discounts on other products and vice versa. This gives them the ability to turn their book purchases into currency on sites offering other things in which they have interests. Getting to know your clientele will serve you well as you determine what partnerships will be most beneficial. If your site caters primarily to a female shopper, then teaming with other sites offering products in which women are most likely to have an interest can be quite successful. The key is building a willing coalition of partners to which your customer base can relate.

These are the four examples of winning loyalty programs are the most common you’ll find. Of course, there are a number of ways within each category to incorporate your own nuances. This will make it uniquely your own and ideally make participating even more attractive to your ideal customer.

The Weeknd Announces MERCH Release

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The Weeknd announces the launch of 2018 MERCH RELEASE 002, the second installment of his 2018 official merchandise today on shop.theweeknd.com. Highlights of the 15-piece summer-inspired collection include a cut + sew mesh basketball jersey, a cut + sew pique polo, basketball shorts pairing and custom XO slides.  In addition, a new colorway of the Classic XO tracksuit will debut along  with a new matte black XO coffee mug in the GOODS shop. The collection also includes a new range of screen printed graphic t-shirts, long sleeves, + hats.

CLICK HERE  LOOKBOOK PHOTOS

DESIGNED BY XO

PHOTOS BY RYAN JAY

STYLING BY CAMERON DEMARCO

Acura TLX GT

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– TLX GT wins Open Class, finishes third overall and is the fastest production-based car up Pikes Peak in 2018

– NSX earns Hybrid record, finishing fourth in Time Attack 1 Class

– TLX A-Spec establishes new FWD record in its sophomore year

– Podium finish for 2019 Acura RDX in race debut

Acura once again showcased its performance credentials with a multiple record-setting campaign of the 2018 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, its seventh consecutive run to the mountain’s 14,115-foot summit. Acura’s “Race to the Clouds” was highlighted by the Acura TLX GT as the fastest production-based car, earning Acura an overall third-place finish; by the Acura NSX, which set a new Hybrid record; by the TLX A-Spec, posting a new course record for a front-wheel-drive car; and the 2019 RDX making its motorsports debut third-in-class.

“We love Pikes Peak. It’s a tremendous test of Acura technology and of our performance capabilities,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of Acura. “Congratulations to Peter Cunningham and the RealTime Racing team, along with our associates at Honda R&D and Honda Performance Development who helped make this another exciting year for Acura at Pikes Peak.”

The TLX GT, driven by Peter Cunningham, posted an impressive, record-setting time of 9:27.352, earning Acura its third straight Open Class victory and an overall third place finish, bested only by two bespoke, highly specialized racing machines. This year’s TLX GT featured a power-enhanced J35 twin-turbo V6 motor with new software mapping, new transmission gearing, revised suspension geometry and Pirelli racing slicks. Long-time Acura racing partner and owner of RealTime Racing, Peter Cunningham, was last year’s Pikes Peak Rookie of the Year.

“I’m so proud of our Acura and RealTime Racing team, who, as usual, brought their A-game to the top of the mountain,” said Cunningham. “We had some incredibly tough competition this year, but all of our hard work, building on the great fundamentals of the Acura TLX, paid off in a big way again this year.”

The production-based Acura NSX, piloted by Honda R&D engineer James Robinson, posted a new Hybrid record, besting its own 2017 record with a time of 10:02.448, finishing fourth in the Time Attack 1 Class. Building on the successful modifications from last year’s run, the TA1 NSX featured larger turbos, new software and new aerodynamic elements including a bigger wing and front splitter.

The Acura TLX A-Spec, piloted by Honda R&D engineer and five-time Pikes Peak veteran Nick Robinson, set a new course record for a front-wheel-drive car with a time of 10:48.094. This year’s TLX A-Spec competed with an updated 500-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 turbo powerplant, a limited-slip differential and a revised aerodynamic package.

Pikes Peak rookie, and Honda R&D engineer Jordan Guitar, debuted the all-new 2019 RDX on the Exhibition Class podium despite deteriorating weather that forced race officials to truncate the course in its closing hours.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Acura has raced vehicles in the historic Pikes Peak event. Acura also served as the Official Pace Car sponsor of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with a 2019 RDX A-Spec driven by Olympic figure skating bronze medalist Chris Knierim.

About Acura Motorsports

Over three decades, Acura has utilized racing as a means to test its mettle and prove out its performance capabilities, capturing numerous national endurance and sports car racing titles along the way. Today, Acura is racing the ARX-05 Daytona Prototype, campaigned by Team Penske, in American endurance sportscar racing competition, and the NSX GT3, partnered with Meyer Shank Racing, in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series. Acura is also celebrating its seventh year of racing at the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and serves as Official Pace Vehicle of the annual ‘Race to the Clouds’.

About Acura

Acura is a leading automotive luxury nameplate that delivers Precision Crafted Performance, representing the original values of the Acura brand – a commitment to evocative styling, high performance and innovative engineering, all built on a foundation of quality and reliability.

The Acura lineup features six distinctive models – the RLX premium, luxury sedan, the TLX performance luxury sedan, the ILX sport sedan, the five-passenger RDX luxury crossover SUV, the seven-passenger Acura MDX, America’s all-time best-selling three-row luxury SUV and the next-generation, electrified NSX supercar as a new and pinnacle expression of Acura Precision Crafted Performance.

Five of the six models in the Acura lineup are made exclusively in central Ohio1, including the ILX and TLX luxury sports sedans (Marysville Auto Plant), the RDX and MDX luxury SUVs (East Liberty Auto Plant) and the Acura NSX supercar, which is built to order at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.

For More Information

Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at AcuraNews.com. Consumer information is available at Acura.com.

1 Using domestic and globally sourced parts

UTA signs London on da Track

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United Talent Agency (UTA) is proud to announce it now represents the producer and rapper London on da Trackin all areas. The leading global talent and entertainment company, UTA, will represent the artist worldwide.

London on Da Track is a hip-hop producer and rapper from Atlanta, Georgia who first rose to prominence in 2014 as the main producer on Young Thug’s critically acclaimed Slime Season. His career continued to grow as he worked with artists like Waka Flocka Flame, Gucci Mane, and Rich Homie Quan before signing a deal with Cash Money Records. He quickly began to earn writing and producing credits on releases from prominent artists such as Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and Drake. Most recently, he produced Post Malone’s 92 Explorer, Kodak Black’s Roll In Peace ft. XXXtentatcion, which is RIAA certified double platinum and Derez Deshon’s Hardaway, which reached Top 5 at Urban Radio. He also produced the music for the upcoming film, Uncle Drew and is featured on the project’s lead single, Cocky. In addition to hip hop, he also produces electronic music and performed at the 2018 EDC Las Vegas festival.

London has transitioned from being primarily a producer to a full-fledged performer, currently signed to RCA Records as a recording artist. He created his own label, L.I.V., and released his debut track as a solo artist, No Flag, featuring Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage and Offset. The track has been streamed over 55 million times worldwide and will be part of his forthcoming full-length project, Who Would’ve Known.

YG’s 3rd Album

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YG’s HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 3rd ALBUM STAY DANGEROUS TO DROP AUGUST 3rd VIA DEF JAM RECORDINGS!

YG, NICKI MINAJ, 2 CHAINZ AND BIG SEAN PERFORM “BIG BANK”, YG’S SUMMER SMASH HIT TOGETHER FOR FIRST TIME ON BET AWARDS

STAY DANGEROUS ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT AND 4HUNNID FASHION SHOW SET FOR AUGUST 5th AT MICROSOFT THEATER IN LOS ANGELES, HOSTED BY YG

Multi-platinum Bompton-based rapper YG is gearing up for the August 3rd release of STAY DANGEROUS via Def Jam Recordings. The highly anticipated album is slated to include“Big Bank,” YG’s instant summer smash track featuring Nicki Minaj, 2 Chainz and Big Sean. The track was performed for the first time live on Sundays 18th annual BET Awards. Watch performance here!

VIEW THE “BIG BANK” VIDEO HERE: http://YG.lnk.to/BigBankOfficialVideo

LISTEN TO “BIG BANK”HERE: http://YG.lnk.to/BigBank

The countdown is on for the arrival of STAY DANGEROUS, the long-awaited follow-up to YG’s critically acclaimed Still Brazy (June 2016), hailed by the New York Times as “an artisanal, proletarian Los Angeles gangster rap record.” On June 28th, YG will host an exclusive album listening party with Postmates in San Francisco, to be streamed exclusively on WAV. On August 5th, two days after the new album drops, YG will host the STAY DANGEROUS album release concert and 4Hunnid fashion show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets available here.

YG has appeared in several films since 2012, including his own Compton-centric documentary Blame It On the Streets. His next appearance will be in White Boy Rick, a true crime drama upcoming September 2018 from Sony Pictures, starring Matthew McConaughey and Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta). Check out trailer below: http://youtu.be/qns48PtK2io

http://www.4hunnid.com

VP PLAZA ESPAÑA DESIGN 5

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Architecture firm b720 designed the modernistic, metallic façade of the hotel, located in the city’s historic center.

Created by Catalan artist Pere Gifre, who is known for his water-inspired sculptures, the hotel’s piece de resistance is an 80 ft. metal fiberglass waterfall sculpture that tumbles from the glass bottom of the 12th floor swimming pool to the ground floor.

VP Plaza España Design’s hallways take on more of an art gallery feel (uplighting and all), with gold leaf whimsical sculptures by Nacho Zubelu flanking the wall opposite the elevators.

Spanish interior design firm Studio Gronda designed the hotel’s 12th floor Gingko Sky Bar, which is framed by laser-cut, engraved metal sheets that represent the ginkgo leaf, while the inside recreates a wooded forest with corrugated wood panels that rely on lighting effects to create a natural ambiance. A ceiling facetted with mirrors, where the reflections of Plaza de España’s verdant setting mix with the Sky Bar, multiplies the sensation of airiness.

The hotel’s reception areas were designed by Spanish interior design firm Cuarto Interior, and feature a 20 ft. glass curtains, materials such as natural stone from India and bronze, complimented by colorful works of art by Jan Hendrix.

VP Plaza España Design’s 214 rooms are characterized by their large size, views and comfort – all are soundproofed and have double doors. Spanish firm Cuarto Interior interprets chiaroscuro through the use with the natural woods and partitioned ceilings. The rooms contain signed works of art by contemporary artists including Dario Urzay and Fernando Palacios.

to learn more about the VP Plaza España go to: Plaza España Website

NON-SURGICAL BALLOON WEIGHT LOSS METHOD

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Americans spend almost 60 billion dollars annually in pursuit of weight loss with gastric bypass surgery being the most common type of weight-loss surgery; an option that isn’t for everyone. Like any major procedure, gastric bypass has significant health risks and side effects. In addition, to be a candidate for the procedure, one must have a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or higher. The fact is, a huge percentage of the population are only between 15 to 50 pounds overweight without any other options besides diet and exercise.  Dr. Stanley Poulos, a San Francisco board certified plastic surgeon is an early adaptor of the non -surgical balloon weight loss method approved by the FDA in 2016. Following the two-part program, patients lost an average 3.1x the weight compared with diet & exercise alone.

Dr. Poulos stresses that, “there is a direct correlation between those patients who stay connected to their program and their weight loss success.” Dr. Poulos is highly experienced in body contour plastic surgery which is sometimes required after major weight loss. Sometimes, due to skin laxity after weight loss, procedures such as thigh lift, breast lift, liposuction or “tummy tuck” are desired by patients.

Who is an ideal candidate for the balloon weight loss method?

It is appropriate for patients with a BMI of 30 to 40 that have not had previous weight loss surgery. Patients diagnosed with bulimia, binge eating, compulsive overeating, high liquid calorie intake habits or similar eating related psychological disorders are not good candidates.

How does the balloon method work?

This non-surgical outpatient procedure begins with a diagnostic endoscopy to ensure that there are no contraindications and that it is safe to perform. Once the patient is mildly sedated and comfortable, the procedure can begin. The deflated gastric balloon is inserted through the esophagus and into the stomach. A syringe is then used to fill the balloon with a sterile saline solution. Once the weight loss balloon has been filled with saline, it expands to approximately the size of a grapefruit. The entire procedure takes about 20 minutes. Patients can usually return home after the placement or removal procedures within 30 minutes. Over the last 20 years this procedure has helped over 277,000 people. The gastric balloon encourages portion control while patients make healthy changes to diet and lifestyle.

How long does the balloon stay in place?

The balloon remains in the stomach for the first six months after the procedure. With the stomach balloon and Dr. Poulos’ support team, patients usually see the most drastic results in the first six months. It is very important to use this time to develop healthy habits that will continue for not only the 12-month weight loss program, but for the rest of one’s life.

What to expect after the balloon placement.

Over the first 14 days after placement, patients may experience nausea or vomiting. Dr. Poulos recommends a liquid diet for his patients during the first week to help manage these symptoms.  Also prescribed are effective anti-nausea drugs to help the patient through the initial stage.

How is the balloon removed?

Once the stomach balloon has been in place for six months the balloon is removed. The simple and non-surgical procedure is very similar to the placement process. Once the gastric balloon has been removed, it is very important to continue working closely with Dr. Poulos’ team and coaches to follow the personal diet and exercise plan provided. This will help to keep you in a positive and healthy mindset while achieving your weight loss goals.

Additional benefits of the balloon weight loss method.

-It’s been shown that the average person loses 3x more weight with this procedure than with diet and exercise alone. Here are some of the reasons why:

-Diets can leave you feeling hungry or dissatisfied. This procedure helps by taking up room in the stomach and encouraging portion control.

-When you’re overweight, exercise can be challenging and uncomfortable. With The Balloon Weight Loss Method aiding your weight loss, physical activity can be more comfortable.

-There are no incisions, stitches, or scars.

-Unlike gastric bypass surgery, this procedure is not solely for the morbidly obese.

-The procedure takes 20 minutes and most patients return home the same day.

-The balloon is only placed temporarily.

-The procedure is intended to work with a fitness and nutrition regimen for optimal results.

Cost: The general cost for the procedure is $8,000 to $10,000 nationwide and can be used with patients 22 and older who fit all of the medical criteria. If this app is too costly, check out Weight Tracker App.

About Dr. Stanley Poulos

Dr. Poulos specializes in cosmetic breast surgery and body contouring procedures. He helped pioneer the quick lift facial rejuvenation surgery in California and is recognized as one of the leading plastic surgeons in Marin County and the entire San Francisco Bay area.  Dr. Poulos and Plastic Surgery Specialists have extensive experience in body contour procedures. A graduate of the University of Texas Medical School, Dr. Poulos completed his internship and residency at UC San Francisco. He completed a plastic surgery fellowship at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco and is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. www.psspecialists.com

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER NEW ALBUM

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NEW ALBUM — YOUNGBLOOD —TOPS BILLBOARD 200

5SOS BREAK RECORD AS FIRST BAND IN HISTORY TO HAVE THEIR FIRST 3 STUDIO ALBUMS GO NO. 1

Tickets For Summer North American Meet You There Tour On Sale Now

Tumblr IRL Event Tomorrow At NYC’s National Sawdust

June 24th, 2018 — (Hollywood, CA) — Youngblood (Capitol Records), the new album from 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS), takes the top spot on the Billboard (200), earning over 142,000 equivalent album units in the week ending June 21. 5SOS is now the only band (not vocal group) in chart history to see its first three full-length studio albums enter the chart at No. 1.

The band celebrated the album’s release with a performance on the Plaza, which was broadcast on NBC’s ”TODAY” show as part of the 2018 Citi Concert Series. Watch 5SOS perform the title track here and “Want You Back” here.

Tomorrow, the band will take over National Sawdust in NYC as part of a Tumblr IRL event. Signe Pierce  will transform the space into an interactive, neon-lit, Instagram-worthy experience for fans. 5SOS will answer questions from fans in an afternoon Tumblr Video Answer Time session and perform in the evening. More information can be found here.

Tickets for 5SOS’ Meet You There Tour are on sale now at LiveNation.com. The 25-city North American headline outing will launch on August 27 in Toronto, ON and include shows at several amphitheaters as well as Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL (September 8) and Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre (October 12). Full itinerary can be found here.

Youngblood expands 5SOS’ musical parameters while retaining the hooks and trademark DNA that’s always been a massive part of their appeal. Rolling Stone said, “5SOS could be on track to let this new sound carry them into a whole new era of their career.” Billboard noted, “’Youngblood’ is the perfect example of what can happen when you jump of out of box and see what’s happening outside – in this case, swaggering tight-grooved pop with EDM inflections.”

The title song is a smash hit, with cumulative worldwide streams already surpassing 200 million. “Youngblood” has taken the No. 1 slot on both Apple Music’s biggest pop playlist, “Today’s Hits,” and Spotify’s “Today’s Top Hits” playlist. Nylon declares, “(‘Youngblood’) is… great. Like, really, really great” and Alternative Press calls the song, “stunning.” Watch the “Youngblood” live video, filmed across the band’s sold out 5SOS3 Tour, here.  The album’s first single, “Want You Back,” debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in over 18 countries earlier this year.

The band worked on Youngblood with the Swedish producing-writing team Carl and Rami (Nicki Minaj, Madonna,) Andrew Watt, Ali Tamposi (Camilla Cabello), producer/instrumentalist Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem, Fiona Apple), producer/engineer Noah Passovoy (Maroon 5), J Kash (Maroon 5, Charlie Puth), Asia Whitacre (Hailee Steinfeld, Zedd) and Andrew Goldstein (Linkin Park, Simple Plan).

Combined sales of 5SOS’s self-titled debut album and 2015’s Sounds Good Feels Good now exceed five million units worldwide. Sounds Good Feels Good charted at No. 1 in 12 countries, including the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. “She’s Kinda Hot,” the album’s first single, topped the iTunes charts in 44 countries.  5SOS – comprising Luke Hemmings (vocals/guitar), Michael Clifford (vocals/guitar), Calum Hood (vocals/bass) and Ashton Irwin (vocals/drums) – have won an American Music Award, a People’s Choice Award, an iHeartRadio Music Award, five MTV European Music Awards, two ARIA Awards and an MTV Video Music Award. The band was recently nominated for two 2018 Teen Choice Awards – for Choice Song Group (“Youngblood”) and Choice Music Group.

Buffalo London

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Everyone recalls the Spice Girls and their reign in the late 90s. The iconic girl group were known for making pop hits and setting the trends. One of those epic trends was introducing the world to Buffalo London. These platform sneakers have made a re-entry into the fashion market and has everyone shook. Celebrities such as Rita Ora, Ciara and Mel B have been seen rocking their own pair! The shoes have recently been made available through Vfiles and Open Ceremony. This is the look for the summer.

by:Frank Pena

Photographer:DaiJohn

Featured Designer :Dope Tavio