Charlotte Toy Company Seeks Child Chief Storytelling Officer w/ $10,000 Prize

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Charlotte-based toy company, Schleich, is looking for one special kid with standout storytelling and imaginative powers to fill the brand new role of Chief Storytelling Officer, earn $10,000, and star in Schleich’s 2021 holiday ad campaign.

The Chief Storytelling Officer will debut in a series of videos this holiday season geared to rally and inspire other kids across the globe. Calling on them to not just ask for the latest and greatest toys, but rather, to add items to their wishlist that inspire their imaginations.

“We certainly spend plenty of time at Schleich thinking about animals and fantasy characters. But you might be surprised by how much of our time goes to thinking about storytelling and imagination, the true cornerstones of our brand,” said Kelli Masilun, Director of Marketing, North America at Schleich USA. “But since our office is full of grownups, we often find ourselves in need of the type of storyful inspiration that can only come from our world’s greatest storytellers–kids themselves.”

You can send in your child’s video here.

 

North Carolina Hotels Projected to End 2021 Down $1.3 Billion in Business Travel Revenue

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The hotel industry in North Carolina is projected to end 2021 down by 61%, or $1.3 billion, in business travel revenue compared to 2019, according to a new report released today by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Kalibri Labs.

Business travel is the hotel industry’s largest source of revenue and has been slow to return since the onset of the pandemic. Business travel includes corporate, group, government, and other commercial categories. Business travel revenue is not expected to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2024. Based on market-level data, Charlotte is expected to be down 73% in revenue and Raleigh is expected to be down 75% compared to 2019 total revenue.

The new analysis comes on the heels of a recent national survey by AHLA, which found that most business travelers are canceling, reducing, and postponing trips amid rising COVID-19 cases. The lack of business travel and events has major repercussions for employment and underscores the need for targeted federal relief, such as the Save Hotel Jobs Act. At the state level, this emphasizes NCRLA’s proposal for the NC General Assembly to include $500 million in grants for hospitality businesses that experienced a 20% or more decline in taxable sales revenue during the pandemic.

Hotels are expected to end 2021 down nearly 500,000 jobs nationally compared to 2019. For every 10 people directly employed on a hotel property, hotels support an additional 26 jobs in the community, from restaurants and retail to hotel supply companies—meaning an additional nearly 1.3 million hotel-supported jobs are also at risk.

“These numbers show that the North Carolina hospitality industry continues to be disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lynn Minges, President and CEO of the NC Restaurant & Lodging Association. “Despite the ongoing challenges, NCRLA is working with our state and federal partners to help businesses, employees and communities survive this pandemic.”

“While some industries have started rebounding from the pandemic, this report is a sobering reminder that hotels and hotel employees are still struggling,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “Business travel is critical to our industry’s viability, especially in the fall and winter months when leisure travel normally begins to decline. Continued COVID-19 concerns among travelers will only exacerbate these challenges. That’s why it’s time for Congress to pass the bipartisan Save Hotel Jobs Act to help hotel employees and small business owners survive this crisis.”

COVID-19 is the worst economic event in the history of the U.S. hotel industry. Despite being among the hardest hit, hotels are the only segment of the hospitality and leisure industry yet to receive direct aid. Hotels and their employees have displayed extraordinary resilience in the face of unprecedented economic challenges, and the industry needs support from Congress to achieve a full recovery.

Top 10 Most Expensive ZIP Codes To Rent An Apartment in North Carolina

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At the end of a hot rental season, RENTCafé took the time to analyze the most expensive ZIP codes in North Carolina.

They found that the most exclusive ZIP codes are equally divided between Charlotte and The Triangle region.

These are the 10 most expensive ZIP codes for renters in North Carolina:

  • Charlotte opens the top forcefully with ZIP code 28202, with an average rent of $1,797. This means that in order to live in the Fourth Ward area, you’d have to add around $500 to the average city rent.
  • 4 other ZIP codes from Charlotte populate the top 10 premier areas of North Carolina, among which ZIP code 28203 occupies the second place with an average rent of $1,622.
  • Raleigh also snatches 2 spots in this list, the sixth and ninth place thanks to ZIP codes 27605 and 27608, with average rents of $1,479 and $1,372, respectively.
  • The highest annual increase in the list is seen in Chapel Hill’s ZIP code 27516, where rents went up 4.7% reaching an average of $1,497.

Hack Someone’s Cell Phone With Just Their Number

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With plenty of spying applications and hacking services flooding the web, hacking is no more complex. People are hacking into someone else’s phone, using just their phone number. Click here to know how. 

If you are searching the net for ways to hack someone’s cell phone with just their number, you have landed on the correct page. Here, we will uncover every possible way in which you can hack a target’s phone with nothing more than their phone number. Let’s get right into it. The best way to hack someone’s cell phone by number is Localize.

Why Hack Into Someone’s Cell Phone? 

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of hacking a phone using just the number, let’s look at the possible reasons for doing so.

You may be a parent of a young child or teenager who secures their phone with a password. These children are most susceptible to online targeting, including bullying or exposure to any unwanted element. As a parent, you can keep a check on your child’s internet activity by hacking into their phone. 

A great option for monitoring your child’s phone is mSpy. It’s a smart way to make sure that they’re using their phone responsibly, chatting with people you approve of, and surfing safely. Just install mSpy on the phone you want to track, and you’ll be able to see everything that’s on their phone, including their social media chats, text messages, call list, calendar, web history, pictures and videos, and more. To get up and running, you don’t even need to know their phone number. As long as you can get access to their phone, you’re all set.

An employer may need to monitor their employees’ activities on their work cell phones, to save on productive office time. Hacking into employee devices is one way employers can ensure employees do not while away office hours scrolling through apps. 

Another possible reason you may require monitoring and spying on someone’s phone is a suspicious spouse. If you suspect your partner of hiding things from you, or worse, cheating on you, hacking their phone may be useful. You can clear your doubts and even confront them once you have all the proofs in place. 

Is It Possible To Hack Someone’s Cell Phone With Just Their Number? 

Now that we have discussed the possible reasons why one may need to hack into someone’s cell phone, let’s move ahead. Is it possible to hack a cell phone using just their number? The answer is slightly more complicated than a simple yes or no.

You may be able to hack into an Android phone by using their mobile number. However, you may also need the carrier and device IMEI number. 

There’s a catch here; you’d need to physically access the target phone unless you already have it written with you. You can also know the IMEI/MEID number by dialing the universal code *#06# from the target device. 

Hacking an iPhone is different from this. In some situations, it may even be virtually impossible to hack into an iPhone using just its phone number. 

How to Hack a Phone number on iPhone 

This is because hacking into iPhones requires you to enter the target’s iTunes credentials to log into their iCloud. By doing so, you’d be able to retrieve and access relevant data from that device. 

Once you have the required credentials, you may not even need their cell number. Another thing to note is that the target device must have enabled the option to allow iCloud backup. Without that, you won’t be able to find the required cell phone data. 

Android phones lack a uniform storage app such as iCloud. This mandates you to use a third-party application to be able to access data from an Android phone. 

Hacking Applications To Hack Into Cell Phone With Just Their Number 

It may be impossible for a beginner to hack into a cell phone if all they have is a phone number. Only an experienced hacker can hack into a device with no physical access to the device or its cloud storage credentials. 

You can avail the services of a professional and reliable hacker to get this done. Alternatively, you can also use one of the cell tracking and spying apps available in the market. 

It is best to go for tried and tested professional tracking apps. Even though such apps will cost you a basic charge, they will be much safer, secure, and reliable. 

We have researched the best spying app for you. You can now use the Ultimate Phone Spy App to track a person’s cell phone effectively. 

We prefer this app over others because it is reliable and also offers easy installation, smooth interface and remote monitoring. It guarantees security and consumes less data. 

Plus, if you use the Ultimate Spy App, you do not even require phone rooting or jailbreaking to spy.

Hacking An iPhone 

iPhones cost an arm and a leg but compensate with their strict security features. Generally, it is tougher to hack into an iPhone than your average Android phone. 

an iPhone can only be hacked under certain conditions; you must know the target’s iCloud credentials. Without these credentials, it is almost impossible to hack into an iPhone. 

This is so because Apple uses a central cloud solution to provide storage and uniform user experience for iOS device users. Thus, in the case of an iPhone, iTunes credentials are more important than having the target’s phone number. 

Given that the target has enabled cloud storage on their device, you can use the Ultimate Phone Spy App to view and download all their data and solve my homework. The best part is, you won’t even need to download the app on the target iPhone. 

Hacking Android Cell Phone 

Spying and hacking into Android phones is considerably different than what we discussed for iOS users. Since Android phones are built on open-source application programming interfaces (APIs), they aren’t easy to hack.

In contrast to hacking an iOS device, monitoring an Android user would require you to have physical access to the device. 

However, if getting physical access to someone’s device was that easy, you wouldn’t be trying to hack it. It may be possible that simultaneous unsuccessful attempts even cause your target to suspect your actions and be more cautious. 

Once you have access to the device, you need to download and install the correct spyware and give it access. If you use the Ultimate Phone Spy App, you’ll be able to easily navigate through its user-friendly dashboard. 

You can check out the demo to view how the target’s data will appear. This includes call and browser history, SMS, GPS and IP location, apps, images, videos, and documents, and much more. 

Summing Up 

To cut it short, it is indeed possible to hack someone’s phone with just their phone number. You either need to be a hacking expert or avail help from professional hackers or hacking apps to do so. 

Typically, Android phones require initial physical possession of the target mobile phone. You can monitor the device remotely once you install and run the given app on the target phone. 

On the other hand, hacking an iPhone can be done remotely, provided you have access to the target’s iTunes details.

Top 7 B2B marketplaces a start up can rely on for fast growth

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The world of entrepreneurship stands on one key factor; the process of execution. Since the success of a business follows various approaches and strategies, advancement of technology sought to annex a jet on the entire entrepreneurial venture through introducing the approach of B2B marketing. This new marketing approach has been proved so apt that it re-crafted quotients of physical business policies completely with vibrant methods. Two reasons have been sought to trigger the change; client/ seller friendliness and the online commuting mechanism which is being operated as a common forum of global supply chain strategies. In fact, nowadays it’s been found that many sellers do specifically opt for B2B business hierarchy as it underscores pan world business growth under one umbrella. 

Therefore, to boost your startup growth if you’re likely to be supported by B2B marketing mechanisms, enroll in any of these 7 globally extolled B2B marketplaces as a new client or seller. 

Top 7 B2B marketplaces to fasten the growth of your startup 

  1. Amazon

One of the best business marketplaces, applauded as the most prominent pan e-commerce leader. However, presently Amazon business is consingend over 14 global marketplaces. Although, finding a suitable B2B marketplace for selling products has never been easier but at Amazon business you can quickly sort the problem. The forum does not support massive business figures but is equally accessible for small scale business owners, entrepreneurs and even certain public sectors. Best part is yet to be revealed! Once you become a granted seller at Amazon, endless access to fast and secure shipping and products pick-up will be acknowledged. Apart from that, monetary transactions policies are credible enough. In simple words, Amazon business could be a perfect place to profuse your startup. 

  1. Alibaba

Founded by Jack Ma and Peng Li, Alibaba has been serving as a trusted gateway for wholesale business enterprises for the last 18 years. The China based e-commerce platform is a copious warehouse of chinese products and supports selling of versatile products from different countries as well. Despite being an epitome of B2B business growth, Alibaba also bolsters B2C and C2C marketing affairs.  Despite the supply-chain formula, other sets of perks that Alibaba ensures for the clients are digital fund transfer, mobile banking, digital auction, e-commerce and online shopping. With an ignited working support from more than 1.3 lakh employees, Alibaba has been able to mark a revenue of 72.3 billion US dollars in 2021.

  1. Walmart

If you choose Walmart’s seller account to prioritize your startup’s growth it’s undoubtedly a right decision you’ve made. Walmart welcomes sellers of all genres on marshalling their products in its warehouse acknowledging some lucid steps. In fact, according to Walmart’s statistics report they have been bounded with over 30 million customers till the time. Additionally, it allows a remuneration of  50% to the sellers through the Walmart Yotpo annual syndication consignment application. And it serves over 27 countries, global sellers are given equal enthusiasm to sell their products at its depot.

  1. DHgate

One other popular B2B marketplace from China which puts a special emphasis on small scale sellers. Over the years, DHgate has sold 40 million products in 230 countries out of which only 1.2 million have come out as Chinese products. Rest are versatile and collected from various parts of the world. However, to be a part of its seller account you have to make an application at http://seller.dhgate.com. From apparel to accessories, the e-commerce forum encourages a flair of products with varying commissions as per product type. To remove probable obstacles from the avenues of business it introduces a plausible monitoring and order tracking system for both buyer and seller. So, to enjoy a scam free and economical  B2B business experience, you can try employing the active DHgate coupons as well.

  1. eBay

 Out of the top 10 B2B marketplaces in the world, eBay is being potent in holding its rank in the first section. The trustworthy online selling platform welcomes sellers to place their products into cart via ebay BULQ which assembles multifarious products. Despite new ones, eBay also encourages reselling old and used products. However the inventory of eBay mainly showcases four categories; clothing, electronics, household appliances and toys. Best part of this online marketplace is the opportunity of free delivery and doorstep picking up of the products. 

  1. Etsy

If you’re an endeavor and looking for a suitable antrum to sell your crafted products give Etsy a try. Etsy is a renowned outlet for handcrafted artefacts. And with its seller account you’ll derive an elated chance to rack-in your products into its warehouse and earn surprising bucks. However, a fee of $0.20 is charged per product before they are displayed on the buyer’s page.

  1. Thomasnet Network

One of the largest platforms to supply industry-based products and eventually the first choice for B2B sellers of this genre. Major listed products from Thomasnet include white papers, machineries, tools and 2D, 3D CAD models. The 120 years old platform is registered with more than 5 million suppliers from all of N. America and has sold billions of products. After falling under online marketing strategy, the overall revenue has exponentially triggered out. So, if your start-up is based on small engineering tools or you make AutoCAD models, get ready to sell these at Thomasnet. 

So far, these are the 7 B2B marketplaces currently leading the USA. You may register with one of these to experience the impact on your business. Despite these market forums you can also get help from popular coupon websites that assemble trending offers for B2B marketers as well. For example DHgate, which is a global forum for e-commerce business, dispenses an average 80% gain to the B2B marketer on selling their products at its warehouse and so forth. So,  all the best for your endeavor and wish you a quick proliferation ahead.

Charlotte’s New $5 Million 164-Bed Men’s Shelter Hosting Grand Opening Today

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via Roof Above

Today Charlotte is hosting the grand opening of its newest men’s shelter – The Howard Levine Men’s Shelter.

The new $5 million complex has a 164 guest capacity and will start housing individuals who are being transitioned from the motel-based emergency shelter that the Charlotte non-profit Roof Above set up during the pandemic.

According to a press release from the organization, the new facility includes a “full-service kitchen to prepare and serve meals and a learning lab. Staffing includes office space for on-site employment specialists and on-site housing navigators to meet one-on-one to support each guest in next steps to move out of homelessness.”

Here’s a video tour of the complex:

Charlotte’s Lucille Giles Center, which has a 116 guest capacity, will also continue to operate.

According to Mecklenburg Housing Data, there are currently an estimated 3,150 homeless individuals living in our city.

NC’s Largest Brewer Raised $25K For Local Charities

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North Carolina’s Highland Brewing Company, the largest brewer in the state, is launching its second year of “Give Back with Gaelic,” a charitable giving campaign to support hospitality industry workers across the Southeast. The campaign will run from September through the end of the year.

According to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, leisure and hospitality unemployment rates still exceed the national unemployment rate by 3.6%. In response to the ongoing need, the brewery is stepping up for a  second year to give a portion of the proceeds from sales of Gaelic Ale to seven locally significant non-profits aimed to support the hospitality community.  

Highland’s Family Owner and President, Leah Ashburn, said, “We have first-hand experience navigating pandemic related hospitality challenges in both of our taprooms. However, with customers purchases from across our footprint  and the support from our wholesale partners, we have the ability to repeat this giving program. Highland will continue  to do whatever we can to help pay it forward to so many of our own who still need support during this long road to  recovery.” 

“The pandemic is still causing our friends and neighbors to make tough choices around food. We’re so grateful to  Highland Brewing Company and their customers for helping us toward our vision of ‘No One Goes Hungry’,” said Tessa  Johnson, Corporate Partnerships Officer with the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. 

The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is 1 of the 7 non-profit beneficiaries of this campaign. With  additional matching contributions from the brewery’s distribution partners, the program is expected to raise more than last year’s $25,000 for the following organizations. 

Now through the end of the year, customers looking to support the campaign can look for the updated Gaelic Ale  packaging featuring a red “Give Back with Gaelic” banner. It is available at retailers across the Southeast. For more  information, visit www.highlandbrewing.com/giveback. 

Report Ranks North Carolina As Having Some Of The Worst Infrastructure In America

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i77 - toll road construction stoppedAccording to a report by 24/7 Wall St., North Carolina is the 11th worst state in America for infrastructure in disrepair.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that about 9% of bridges across the U.S. are now deficient. By the year 2025, they estimate that the cost of repairing all of our nations outdated roads, bridges, and dams will be over $2.4 trillion.

The site indexed the states with the best and worst infrastructure using data from the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

The Tar Heel State landed just behind New York (#12) and just in front of Massachusetts (#10) on the new “States That Are Falling Apart” report.

North Carolina now has:

> Roads in poor condition: 6.6% (23rd lowest)
> Deficient bridges: 9.9% (18th highest)
> Dams at high hazard risk: 42.0% (10th highest)
> Highway spending as pct. of total: 7.1% (20th highest)

According to the report, the 5 worst states in America are Hawaii, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and the 5 best are Florida, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana and Georgia.

UNC Charlotte Sets Historic Enrollment Record

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The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has enrolled 30,448 students for the fall 2021 semester, setting a University enrollment record for the third consecutive year. Throughout the ongoing pandemic, Charlotte experienced historic growth in graduate student enrollment, first-year students and students who identify as underrepresented minorities.

“As we enter our 75th year, the University’s mission to provide quality educational opportunities, strengthen the Charlotte region through research and creative discovery, and lead in equity and engagement is clearly evident in our incoming class of students,” said UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon Gaber. “We are proud to welcome our newest group of 49ers as we continue to shape what’s next at Charlotte.”

Union Quad 2.jpgThe University’s graduate student population increased to 6,332 students – the highest number in school history and the third consecutive year of growth. The enrollment increase in master’s programs in computer science, public health, social work and data science and business analytics positions the University to stay on the leading edge of producing top talent in growing industries across the Charlotte region.

Charlotte welcomed the largest freshman class in University history with 4,256 students, a 6.4% increase from 2020. The impressive class of first-year students arrived with an average weighted GPA of 3.95. The University Honors Program incoming class grew by more than 21%, and nearly one-third of all new undergraduate students have selected a STEM major. Additionally, UNC Charlotte remains a leader among UNC System schools in transfer student enrollment, welcoming 2,605 transfer students to campus.

“Enrollment at UNC Charlotte continues to grow along with the academic profile of our incoming students, who join us from every part of the state and beyond, as we enrolled 22% more out-of-state undergraduates than last year,” said Claire Kirby, associate provost for enrollment management and director of admissions. “As our state’s urban research university, Charlotte has the unique ability to provide students from across North Carolina with access to a quality educational experience and all the benefits of being located in a major city.”

UNC Charlotte’s efforts to provide quality and accessible higher education continue as 30% of new first-year students and 42% of new transfer students are first-generation college students. The percentage of Charlotte’s undergraduate students who identify as an underrepresented minority rose to 36%. Female students comprised 52% of all incoming freshmen.

In an effort to combat the ongoing pandemic, Charlotte’s undergraduate admissions office shifted its efforts to a hybrid model of in-person and online engagements to best serve future students. The University offered 435 virtual visits with high schools throughout the year — a 70% increase over typical years — in addition to countless virtual fairs. On-campus visits and tours were safely offered throughout the fall and spring semesters so students and families could physically experience campus.

Internal vs. Outsourcing: The Value of Outsourcing to an MSP

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Most businesses today need a robust IT services team to assist them with their operations. While on the quest for an appropriate IT services team, you may wonder whether to go for internal or outsourced IT services. To choose between the two options, you should weigh the pros and cons of both approaches before making a decision.

Whether you should go for an internal or an outsourced IT services team depends entirely upon the needs and goals of your organization. Keeping this in mind, let’s look at the value of outsourcing to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) in comparison to employing a full-fledged internal IT services team. 

When should a business opt for internal IT services?

An internal IT services department is beneficial if you’re a large organization with experienced IT staff who understand the different needs of your business and can support you without needing external technical assistance. If your business is dealing with confidential information or has a complex IT infrastructure, you should probably opt for an internal IT services team. 

When is outsourcing IT services necessary for a business?

Outsourcing your IT services will help you focus on your core business area and leave the nitty-gritty of looking after your IT requirements to a third-party company that does this for multiple businesses.

Suppose your business is looking to cut costs, increase efficiency levels, become more competitive, implement new technology quickly, or reduce risk. In that case, you may want to follow a strategy of outsourcing your IT services.

For businesses that operate in California, this company that offers San Diego IT services will help you do all this and much more.

How does outsourcing IT services to an MSP benefit businesses?

If you are in two minds about opting for outsourcing, you should first assess how outsourcing your IT services to an MSP can help your business. Let’s have a look at some of the key benefits you may get by outsourcing your IT services.

  • Helps you improve efficiency and stay competitive

Businesses that try to do their IT services in-house may have higher research costs, more significant development costs, and longer implementation times. As a result, your efficiency levels will go down. Furthermore, this is not an ideal scenario for businesses that want to stay competitive.

  • Helps you cut costs

Cost savings is crucial for any business that wants to make a profit. Outsourcing can potentially help you cut down your business costs by about 20-30%. You can save substantial amounts of money by outsourcing your IT requirements to an MSP, as it will help you eliminate the overheads of maintaining a full-fledged internal IT service team. 

  • Helps you get access to specialized expertise

By outsourcing your IT services to an MSP, you will get access to experienced staff who can help you with any technical issues. For example, suppose you are looking to integrate parts of your on-premise infrastructure with cloud services.

In that case, you can tie up with an MSP who has specific knowledge and expertise in carrying out this type of integration. Engaging an experienced MSP with sufficient experience will help your business perform its operations smoothly.

  • Get access to greater flexibility

By outsourcing your IT services, your company will gain more flexibility. When it comes to maintaining an in-house IT services team, you’ll have to pay their salary for all the working hours in a month regardless of whether they actually were needed for any task or not.

On the other hand, if you outsource your IT services to an MSP, you’ll just have to pay for work that needs to be done, and perhaps more importantly, get it done when you need it. What’s more, when it comes to an outsourced IT service provider, you can adapt their coverage to meet your company’s current and future requirements.