Charlotte’s Digital Prodigee Co Offering $15,000 Prize For Best New App Idea

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte’s Digital Prodigee Co Offering $15,000 Prize For Best New App Idea

It goes without saying that 2020 has caused many people to re-evaluate their goals, dreams, business and personal lives. The extended time in lockdown and changing social and business norms has been a source of inspiration for many people to start new businesses or projects.

In response to our new ‘virtual world’, a local tech company announces a mobile app development contest for entrepreneurs at a value of $15,000. 

Digital Prodigee is a local minority woman-owned Tech business, based in Charlotte and owned by Dinah Redhouse. She has created and launched over 30 successful apps of her own in the App Store and dozens more for business and entrepreneurs. Digital Prodigee is currently working on two major “Uber”  type apps that will also be transformative once they hit the app market in Q4 of 2020. 

Redhouse decided to offer this contest as a way to ‘pay it forward’ to the city of Charlotte where she has had the opportunity to audition for Shark Tank and planted the roots of her new App Development Agency.

“In my opinion, mobile apps are the great equalizer of wealth and opportunity, so when I created my first app in 2012 I became fascinated by the scalability of this uncharted tech space,” said Redhouse. “I made my return on my investment in just one month of launching my first app and I knew I wanted to help other inspired people  create disruptive technology that could change the world.”

Today is the first day to submit your original app idea.

Submissions will be scored out of a maximum 100 points using the following breakdown:  

CREATIVITY & ORIGINALITY: (30PTS) 

STORY/ INSPIRATION: (30PTS) 

CONSUMER JOURNEY: (20PTS) 

PRESENTATION: (10PTS) 

CATEGORY: (10PTS)

You can enter to win on Digital Pedigree’s website here.

Charlotte Named #13 On List Of The Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.

Charlotte Stories
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Charlotte Named #13 On List Of The Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S.

Charlotte has been named one of the 2020 Top 100 Best Places to Live by Livability.com, outpacing more than 1,000 cities with populations between 20,000 and 1,000,000 in this data-driven ranking.

The 2020 rankings were guided by each city’s “Opportunity Score,” which consists of several variables centered around the economy, job opportunities and growth. While Livability factored in obvious data points, such as unemployment rates, density of jobs and disposable income, other variables played a part in calculating each city’s opportunity score — like the percentage of households with high-speed broadband. This year’s ranking of the Top 100 Best Places to Live also factored in two exclusive data points from Emsi that measured the growth of high-paying jobs and overall wage growth. When combined, these points offer a snapshot of the opportunity landscape of each city, and the potential for businesses and residents to thrive and grow.

“Creating a list of the best places to live in a year marked by uncertainty and disruption was challenging, but also clarifying,” says Winona Dimeo-Ediger, Livability.com editor-in-chief. “The pandemic and ensuing economic turbulence made people rethink their commitment to big, expensive cities, and the rise of remote work provided a unique opportunity to live anywhere. The dust is still settling, but the chaos of this year made the things that have always mattered — affordability, safety, community and opportunity — matter even more. The small to mid-sized cities on Livability’s list offer exactly what people are looking for right now.”

More than 1,000 cities with populations between 20,000 and 1,000,000 were ranked on 40 data points measuring economics, housing, amenities, infrastructure, demographics, social and civic capital, education and health care. The eight scores were weighted based on an exclusive survey conducted for Livability.com by Ipsos Public Affairs, a leading global market research firm. Sources included the best public and private data available from organizations like the U.S. Census Bureau, Emsi and Esri.

The full list of the 2020 Top 100 Best Places to Live is featured on Livability.com, along with each city’s LivScore and some of the specific attractions, activities and amenities that make it a great place to live.

How to play on Narcos slot

Sarah Kaminski
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How to play on Narcos slot

Narcos is considered to be one of the biggest shows on Netflix, so they came up with an online game. The setting of this game is in Columbia when Pablo Escobar used to have a large drug empire. The good news is that this game is not filled with violence and drugs. These scenes have been toned down, though you may encounter explosions, guns, and lots of cash while the five reels spin. This article discusses how to play on the Narcos slot.

Cast of Narcos

In most cases, slots that are themed around TV shows or movies usually show real pictures of the stars, but this slot uses realistic drawings. It has Pedro Pascal representing Javier Pena, Wagner Moura to stand for Escobar, and Joanna Christie who plays Connie Murphy, but they are not real photos.

Other symbols you can come across are playing card symbols with guns and cash, flamingos, and a light aircraft. The reels backdrop has the animated style and a dusty street scene that is behind the game resembles an updated wild west town. 

Narcos which you can play at Bucky Bingo uses the 243 ways formatting system, meaning you can win something if you get a matching symbol in any location of the adjacent reels on the left side. With an average RTP of 96.23%, you stand to see some regular winning combinations.

You should expect the view to change when you start receiving some bonus rounds with drive-by shootings and night-time gun fights linking this game to the TV show. 

Then there is Mariachi-style music that you can hear, but this is not linked to the TV show. It’s not surprising that high-quality animations and stylish scenes are appealing to many people.

How you can win

You can find a police badge which is a wild symbol and it can compete for a sequence as others. Then you have walking wilds that move from one place to another in the following spins, meaning when you have a wild on the right-side reel, you can play four spins later. 

With a random drive-by feature, you can see a car that races past while bullets fly out from the windows to the reels. So if any bullet hits any of the symbols, they turn into extra wilds. 

The stakes on this slot machine can range from 0.20 to 400.00 per spin. As you can see, this wide bet range can suit any budget. Whether you want to play this slot game or Rainbow Riches Pick n Mix on a desktop computer, Android mobile devices, or iOS, you can rest assured that you can have amazing playing experience. Even better, independent auditors tested this game and it’s licensed for fair gaming. 

There is also a police mugshot which is a special locked up symbol. You get it in three or more places, you can trigger a bonus round. This feature continues with three spins and you can see only locked up symbols and pictures of golden cases. These cases open up to show more coins, win multipliers, and extra spins.

Ballantyne Announces Plans To Build Sprawling New ‘Stream Park’

Charlotte Stories
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Ballantyne Announces Plans To Build Sprawling New ‘Stream Park’
via LandDesign

The Ballantyne Corporate Park has just announced plans to build a feature-filled 8-acre ‘stream park’ in the heart of the 535-acre development.

According to Ballantyne Magazine, the sprawling new park will be built with an overarching ‘theme of play’ and will feature a new amphitheater, event lawn, hammock area, beach,
landform green, porch, flex play zone, and food truck plaza.

via LandDesign
via LandDesign

The new park will be part of ‘Phase 1’ of Ballantyne Reimaged, which will also include building; 1,030 multifamily units, 300,000 additional square feet of Retail/Restaurant/Grocery, and 200 new hotel rooms:

“We wanted to create a place that can be a world-class park built on play for all ages,” said LandDesign’s CEO Rhett Crocker. “We wanted to provide enough outdoor ‘rooms’ and programming for every occasion, whether you work, live or visit here.”

What do you think about the new park and the overall vision of ‘Ballantyne Reimaged‘? 

Panthers Dominate Cardinals In First Home Game with Live Fans

Steve
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Panthers Dominate Cardinals In First Home Game with Live Fans

In the first official return of fans to the Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers did not fail to impress against the Arizona Cardinals.

Carolina came out strong to dominate the first quarter with a 14-0 score going into the second quarter. The game was fairly even after that, with both teams putting up 7 points in the second and third, and Arizona slightly topping Carolina in the 4th by 7-3.

The Panther’s QB Teddy Bridgewater racked up 276 passing yards and 2 touchdowns and ran for his first scoring touchdown since 2016.

Here is a recap of yesterday’s game:

The impressive win was even more significant given Christian McCaffrey is still out with an ankle injury.

The next home game will be held on October 18th when the Panthers take on the Chicago Bears. Tickets are now selling for $228. You can buy tickets for that game or all of the other home games here on StubHub.com.

Governor Cooper Proclaims October 2020 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Charlotte Stories
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Governor Cooper Proclaims October 2020 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Governor Cooper has proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina. The initiative is part of a month-long campaign by the N.C. Department of Information Technology to educate people about cybersecurity threats and ways they can guard against them.

“With our increasing presence online, especially since the onset of COVID-19, we are more vulnerable than ever to bad actors who try to steal personal and private information from governments, businesses, schools, neighbors and ourselves,” said Thomas Parrish, IV, Acting Secretary and State Chief Information Officer of the North Carolina Department of Information Technology. “This month is all about educating the public on the best ways to remain cybersafe every time they log on.”

On Oct. 5-6, the NCDIT and its Enterprise Security and Risk Management Office (ESRMO) will sponsor a virtual symposium for government agencies, state and local government employees, and academic institutions to discuss cybersecurity with leaders in the industry. The department will also provide tips, tricks and best practices through its social media sites to help educate people on how to protect data from cyberattacks.

Cyberattacks are not new to North Carolinians. In 2019, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 8,223 cybercrime reports totaling over $48 million in losses. With NCDIT’s support and guidance, the United Way of North Carolina and the Cybercrime Support Network (CSN) launched the state’s first cybercrime support and recovery hotline, 2-1-1. To report identity theft, financial fraud, cyberstalking, cyberbullying and other cybercrimes, all North Carolinians have to do is dial 2-1-1. They will be connected to trained specialists from the confidential and free service who can connect them with resources and recovery support.

“No one is immune to a cyberattack and it will take everyone, not just the state of North Carolina, to do their part and to be proactive in keeping our data and information secure,” said Maria Thompson, Chief Risk Officer for the state of North Carolina. “Education and awareness are the best ways to help avoid becoming a victim.”

Next week, NCDIT will also be launching CyberSecureNC for Schools and Students, a website and educational effort dedicated to helping school administrators, teachers, students and parents with the transition to working and learning remotely and doing it in a safe and cybersecure way. This is a part of it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC, the agency’s statewide effort to promote being cybersafe as well as what to do if you become a victim of a cyberattack.

For more information on Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina, visit it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC.

Historic apology for police role in 1979 Greensboro massacre to be voted on Tuesday

Charlotte Stories
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Historic apology for police role in 1979 Greensboro massacre to be voted on Tuesday

City officials in Greensboro, North Carolina, have announced their intention to vote on a “Resolution of Apology by the Greensboro City Council [GCC] for the Events that Have Come to be Known as the ‘November 3, 1979 Massacre’” at their monthly council meeting on Tuesday.

Five protesters were killed and at least 10 people were wounded during the massacre, which occurred during a protest on Nov. 3, 1979.  All-white juries acquitted the Ku Klux Klan members and Nazis at two trials, where the defendants claimed self-defense.

The proposed official apology has resulted from years of advocacy by survivors and community members whose lives were shattered by the events of November 3, 1979, its aftermath, and the decades-long unwillingness of the city to acknowledge the complicity of the local police. It also comes 14 years after a 2006 report by the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission said most panel members agreed that “the single most important element that contributed to the violent outcome of the confrontation was the absence of police.”

The October 6th agenda and links to the resolutions are available here:

 https://greensboro.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Possible Hurricane ‘Delta’ System Growing – Several Models Showing Impact With Carolinas

Charlotte Stories
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Possible Hurricane ‘Delta’ System Growing – Several Models Showing Impact With Carolinas

A growing disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico is now forecasted to strengthen into Hurricane Delta in the coming week, becoming the 30th named storm of 2020.

This morning, the National Hurricane Center sent out the following alert:

The system is forecast to approach the northern Gulf Coast late 
this week as a hurricane. While there is large uncertainty in the 
track and intensity forecasts at these time ranges, there is a risk 
of dangerous storm surge, wind, and rainfall hazards along the coast 
from Louisiana to the western Florida Panhandle. Residents in these 
areas should monitor the progress of the system and check for 
updates to the forecast during the week.

If the system does develop into a named storm, it could sweep up the gulf of Mexico and pass directly over the Carolinas.

The Atlantic Coast hurricane season for 2020 runs from June 1st through November 30th.

NWS officials are reminding all residents in Atlantic Coast states to be prepared for this hurricane season.

In case of a power outage, make sure to have the following emergency items stocked in your home;

We will continue to update this article as this storm develops. 

Sneakerhead Girls: A Brief Intro

Sharon Anderson
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Sneakerhead Girls: A Brief Intro

You thought sneakerhead was a boys’ club?? Well, think again! In what today seems to be a competition in gender equity, women are now joining the sneakerhead gang, and athletic brands are paying attention.

Five per cent increase in the last year, which is the rate at which the sneaker market for women is growing. It’s true; over the years, the sneaker market has been a male-dominated industry. Look at sneaker blogs – they make this trend evident. 

But with big brands like Nike unveiling female-focused sneakers, the sneaker culture is about to upend. There is a process to the madness, however. According to market research company NPD Group, between 2016 and 2017, sales in men’s footwear increased by 2 per cent.

On the other hand, the sales in women footwear increased by 5 per cent, a number that is significantly higher in monetary value. This noticeable growth in women footwear over the men’s has spiked interest in many shoe companies. 

During the 2018 Paris fashion week, for example, Nike introduced Unlaced, a female-focused retail concept that was set to debut on the 27th of March the same year. The concept, focusing primarily on women, was set to take new sneaker styles customized for women online as well as in shop-in-shop locations.

Social media has also played a significant role in the boost for women sneakers. Influencers like Aleali May and Jess Gavigan have established themselves as sneakerheads. Aleali is the second woman to collaborate with the Jordan brand of sneakers. 

A brand like Nike has also worked with the online group, International Girl Crew, to create women sneakers. The girl group is creating an online community that is empowering girls and female designers that have joined the sneaker bandwagon. 

NPD vice president and senior industry advisor, Matt Powell, says that athletic footwear has long-neglected women. But he also recognizes that this failure presents a great opportunity. Women have spent many years buying boys shoes, but it is time for a change. 

And with startup companies like Allbirds and Shoes of Prey, the female sneaker market looks promising. Nike, for instance, was hoping that the women sneakerhead business would grow from $6.6 billion in 2017 to $11 billion by the end of this year, 2020. 

To that effect, Nike initiated other women’s business that included Nike FE/NOM Flyknit Sports Bra and other plus-size shoe options back in 2017. Another inclusion made by the company was the Fast Company Innovation by Design Award for General Excellence award-winning Nike Pro Hijab. 

What’s surprising is that Nike, with its Unlaced innovations and new designs, was only playing catch up. A company like Amazon was already present in the women market with the editorial selection “The Ones.” Nike competitors, like Adidas, were also looking to join the focus on women’s initiatives.

Adidas was doing this by working in collaboration with female artist-designers. Women Win, an organization that offers girls empowerment opportunities in Pakistan through sports, worked with Adidas to design bespoke sneakers that represented each state of the United States.

Selfridges, a British department store, also unveiled a women’s sneaker space that featured 700 different styles from different brands that included Nike, Vans, Gucci, and McCartney. These brands are now putting all their resources and might into women-specific technology. And now, women sneakers have gone mainstream. 

Conclusion

Barriers that have long prevented people from participating or accessing sport are lifting. The power of sports in humanity is becoming more and more significant. Women that have sports in their backgrounds are immensely known to be successful throughout their lives. Thus, it is time to invest in women footwear, and Nike’s archive is living proof. Females are the future of sneakers. 

 

How to Boost Amazon Sales in Slow Months

Rebecca Carter
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How to Boost Amazon Sales in Slow Months

Even as e-commerce continues to grow, most sellers will have times when their sales drop. The sales cycle is very well understood in the U.S. Peaks in the holiday shopping season, for example, are nearly always followed by a wintertime of lower sales. That doesn’t make running your Amazon business any easier to manage, though.

A second factor that tends to start making things worse are returns. Even the most well-intentioned buyer may have a few returns to make during that slowed time. That adds up the costs and becomes frustrating for many businesses. Returns that follow with refund and replacements only complicate the process that much more.
F
What can you do right now to turn the corner if your sales are lower than expected? Here are a few strategies to boost sales.

Reprice Your Products So They Sell

At the end of the day, price is a big component of any buyer’s purchase decision. Repricing allows you to boost sales when you need them the most. However, it’s critical to be able to do this in an automated fashion because prices on the site change rapidly. An automated repricing tool, for example, can help boost your sales while keeping your business highly competitive.

Work on Organic Ranking

Now is also the time to focus on organic ranking improvements. In January, for example, you need to change up your ranking strategy to move away from what you used during the holidays. Now, focus on what’s next – such as Valentine’s Day or even Easter. Look for other ways to boost your organic ranking.

One option is to find keyword-targeted URLs to include. You can do this by looking up ASINs using a keyword finder tool. Then, list the ranking keywords and the competitors using them. You can then include these – in your own combination – to improve your product’s visibility.

Improving Your Advertising Strategy

It is possible to improve your Amazon sales outside of the platform. This takes a bit of creativity but with a few well-placed links, it is possible to improve your Amazon sales using outside strategies. For example, you can drop a few links in a social media post or other networking platforms. Some companies find success when using Instagram to create a video, for example, that helps share links directly to your products. You can also use this type of advertising to provide specific promo codes to your followers.

A simple way to do this is through an affiliate program. If you join an affiliate program, it will let you promote the company’s products. This is a good way for you to get spread the word but also make a little extra cash from doing so.

Another strategy is using influencers. It is important to choose the right person – you can choose someone that has signed up through the Amazon Influencer Program that matches your brand, values, and style. 

Optimize Your Amazon PPC Advertising Campaigns

It is always important to put at least some of your focus on updating and optimizing your current Amazon PPC advertising campaigns. You probably know of the three options when creating ads – Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands.

To use Sponsored Products or Sponsored Brands, you will need to set up a PPC campaign. If you do not have one, do not let that stop you. You can always use an Amazon marketing agency like the one at Nuanced Media, https://nuancedmedia.com/amazon-marketing-agency/ ,  for a bit of help in creating one. Sponsored Products are a good tool for boosting your sales significantly. They are available to third-party sellers. It is critical to establish them properly to get this type of benefit.

Now is a good time to create a campaign that is comprehensive. Start by developing a campaign calendar. It allows you to align everything together including your social media platform. You don’t want to have your campaign to run out of budget before a high volume sales day, either.

Think About FBA 

Not every seller on Amazon has the ability to pump enough money into keyword ranking or price on the site. That’s understandable. One way to take a closer look at your options then is with Fulfillment By Amazon or FBA. If you are a seller who wants to streamline the fulfillment process, you may also benefit from this. In short, moving to FBA allows you to free up your time and resources to focus on your sales and marketing channels instead. However, the Amazon FBA process can be confusing, so you may want to look into an Amazon prep service to handle it for you.

It can be helpful to use a tool to help you check out the profit margins across all areas. This can give you more information about the specific profits you can expect for fulfillment and markets based on what your products are.

Don’t Overlook the Importance of Reaching Out

Finally, now is a good time to ask for those reviews from your buyers. It is a good time to work on boosting your feedback on the site and sending out emails to the customers who have already purchased from you, hoping to draw them back in with a special offer or discount. Seek out new opportunities to get reviews – even those off of Amazon – so you can improve your customer service as well.

Are you ready to sell? You don’t have to manage this process on your own. Our team at Nuanced Media offers the tools and resources to help you. Check out how our Amazon marketing agency does it at amazon agency.

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