Category: Culture

Ethnic cultures as newsmakers

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AM Best names four finalists in Student Challenge competition

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best has selected students from the University of Wisconsin and Florida State University as finalists for its third annual Student Challenge competition, which tasked entrants with creating solutions for managing insurance risks. The 2023 competition was open to undergraduate and graduate students, who were invited to submit as individuals or in teams.

Chris Lane and Madison Wescott of the University of Wisconsin were selected for their submission, “TikTok as a Penetration Tool for Insurance,” which couples the pervasiveness of the quickly growing social media app with insurance awareness for younger audiences.

 

Siddarth Upadhya and Rail Minazetdinov from the same university earned their spot amongst the finalists for their submission, “Resilience Bonds for Risk Mitigation in the Energy Sector.” Their proposed resilience bond would support investment in the industry and resilient infrastructure, thereby mitigating commodity price risk by removing carbon-based energy sources.

 

Kevin Taheri and David Leemon, another team from the University of Wisconsin, have made it to the final round with their proposal, “New Framework to Assess the Risk and Underwriting for Autonomous Vehicles.” Taheri and Leemon’s proposed framework would assess the risk, underwrite the policy and set prices of autonomous vehicles alongside manufacturers.

 

Finally, Hannah Youngblood from Florida State University was selected for her submission, “Telemedicine Platform for Prescriptions.” Her proposed platform would perform a comparative analysis of a consumer’s prescriptions based on their insurance coverage and suggest the most cost-effective solution.

 

Final presentations will be posted on the Student Challenge website for viewing and voting Wednesday, March 23, through Monday, April 10. Finalists will be notified of the results via email on Tuesday, April 18, and the winner will be published in Best’s Review® Thursday, June 1.

 

“Our annual Student Challenge connects with one of AM Best’s core values: to innovate the insurance industry by tapping into the next generation of professionals,” said Lee McDonald, group vice president of AM Best Information Services. “It’s a pleasure to see the creative solutions these students come up with each year.”

 

AM Best’s 2023 Student Challenge is one of the company’s ongoing initiatives to support the development of new talent in the insurance industry. It is sponsored by the AM Best Foundation, which supports charitable organizations that encourage education and thought leadership in insurance and risk management. AM Best also provides an analytical development program for college students, along with internship opportunities. For more information about the competition, please visit our website.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Lee McDonald
Group Vice President
AM Best – Information Services
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5561
lee.mcdonald@ambest.com

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Business Culture Local News News Now! Regulations & Security

Mercer County celebrates National Consumer Protection Week

Unveils new online complaint form

 

To mark National Consumer Protection Week, March 5-11, 2023, Mercer County Exec. Brian M. Hughes announces the county’s new simplified filing process for consumers who believe their rights have been violated and wish to make complaint with the County’s Consumer Affairs office.

Photo: Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes at the annual Consumer Bowl

 

“If you believe you’ve been cheated or victimized by an unscrupulous business, our professionals in the Mercer Consumer Affairs office can be your advocate,” Mr. Hughes said.

 

To file a complaint online, consumers can go directly to the fillable form at: https://mercercountyconaffnj.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/(S(moareydl225kumool0fbnhcy))/supporthome.aspx

 

Mercer’s Division of Consumer Affairs can assist consumers in other ways, too. NCPW is a time when government agencies, consumer protection groups, and organizations like ours work together to share information about consumer rights and help people learn to spot, report, and avoid scams.

 

For instance, are you looking to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and scams? Wondering about the best way to improve your credit, shop for a used car, or how to maximize your security online?

 

Mercer County Division of Consumer Affairs can help.

 

“Here in Mercer County, our office is available to host events to educate and inform about current scams, consumer protection, how to know if a contractor is registered, and more,” Mr. Hughes said. “Year round, our Consumer Affairs and Weights and Measures teams are in the field ensuring that you get what you pay for, and you know with whom you’re dealing by investigating complaints or patterns of fraud and enforcing the Consumer Fraud Act and state regulations.”

 

Go to https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/consumer-affairs for more information. Also, visit ftc.gov to learn how to get free consumer education materials and read the latest from consumer protection experts.

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Culture Environment Local News Science

Mercer Meadows to close Wednesday for prescribed burning

The Pole Farm, Reed Bryan Farm and Hunt House regions of Mercer Meadows will be closed to the public beginning Wednesday, March 8, until further notice, for prescribed burning.

 

The prescribed burn that had been scheduled for Feb. 14 was postponed. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has determined that the weather conditions on March 8 will be safe and suitable for prescribed burning. Rosedale Park will remain open. For your safety, please observe all closure signage posted at parking lots and on the trails.

 

The fire will be lit, monitored and managed by Forest Fire Service officials who have undergone rigorous training and are experienced in conducting safe and effective prescribed burns. Specific conditions must be met in order to burn, including temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction. All appropriate safety measures and precautions will be taken by those performing the burn, including having a contingency plan. While the burn is in progress and until the Section Warden has deemed the fire out, there will be law enforcement and fire personnel, equipment and vehicles present at Mercer Meadows and surrounding areas.

 

Forest Fire Service officials and Mercer County Park Commission staff will be on site and actively monitoring the burn site until it is determined the park is safe to reopen to the public. Local police and fire departments have been made aware of the activities.

 

In the days following the prescribed burn, it is normal to see smoldering and smoking logs and debris. If you believe fire is a threat, call 1-877-WARNDEP. Once the park is reopened, park users are encouraged to please stay on the trails.

 

For thousands of years, fire has been an active part of the New Jersey landscape.  Fires caused by natural conditions, lightning strikes, or fires intentionally set by Native Americans shaped the ecological communities present in our state today.  With the current lack of intermittent fire, many of the species that evolved with this disturbance have suffered. Properly conducted prescribed burns can replace the natural fire disturbance that was historically a piece of the New Jersey natural lands. Fire encourages native seed germination, reduces invasive plant pressure, and cycles nutrients into the soil; these effects all aid in increasing habitat quality and diversity, while promoting forest regeneration and grassland establishment.

 

While managing invasive species and promoting habitat regeneration and enhancement is an important component of the burn plan for Mercer Meadows, the Park Commission anticipates the burn to have additional benefits such as reducing hazardous fuel loads to prevent unplanned, higher-intensity wildfires. Prescribed burns have also been successful in reducing tick and insect pest populations.

 

In addition to the Park Commission, land managers throughout the State have been using this management tool for its ecological benefits and to reduce the chance of unplanned forest fires.

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Business Culture Education

Barnes & Noble Education announces rescheduling of Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Earnings Release and Conference Call

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED), a leading solutions provider for the education industry, today announced that the Company is rescheduling its third quarter Fiscal Year 2023 earnings report previously scheduled for Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

 

The rescheduling allows the Company adequate time to close on its amended and extended asset-backed revolving and term loan credit facilities, which the Company expects to close on or before Thursday, March 9, 2023.

 

The Company intends to report Fiscal 2023 third quarter earnings results on Thursday, March 9, 2023, after market close. The Company will host an investor conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, March 9, 2023, to review the Company’s financial results and operations.

 

This call is being webcast and can be accessed at Barnes & Noble Education’s corporate website at www.bned.com. The webcast of this call will be archived and available for three months on Barnes & Noble Education’s corporate website.

 

ABOUT BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) is a leading solutions provider for the education industry, driving affordability, access and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide and ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Through its family of brands, BNED offers campus retail services and academic solutions, a digital direct-to-student learning ecosystem, unparalleled best-in-class assortment of school apparel through a strategic alliance with Fanatics and Lids, wholesale capabilities and more. BNED is a company serving all who work to elevate their lives through education, supporting students, faculty and institutions as they make tomorrow a better, more inclusive and smarter world. For more information, visit www.bned.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and information relating to us and our business that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. When used in this communication, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “forecasts,” “projections,” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make, including any statements made in regards to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others: risks associated with public health crises, epidemics, and pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, including the duration, spread, severity, and any recurrences thereof, and the impact such public health crises have on the overall demand for BNED products and services, our operations, the operations of our suppliers and other business partners, and the effectiveness of our response to these risks; general competitive conditions, including actions our competitors and content providers may take to grow their businesses; a decline in college enrollment or decreased funding available for students; decisions by colleges and universities to outsource their physical and/or online bookstore operations or change the operation of their bookstores; implementation of our digital strategy may not result in the expected growth in our digital sales and/or profitability; risk that digital sales growth does not exceed the rate of investment spend; the performance of our online, digital and other initiatives, integration of and deployment of, additional products and services including new digital channels, and enhancements to higher education digital products, and the inability to achieve the expected cost savings; the risk of price reduction or change in format of course materials by publishers, which could negatively impact revenues and margin; the general economic environment and consumer spending patterns; decreased consumer demand for our products, low growth or declining sales; the strategic objectives, successful integration, anticipated synergies, and/or other expected potential benefits of various acquisitions may not be fully realized or may take longer than expected; the integration of the operations of various acquisitions into our own may also increase the risk of our internal controls being found ineffective; changes to purchase or rental terms, payment terms, return policies, the discount or margin on products or other terms with our suppliers; our ability to successfully implement our strategic initiatives including our ability to identify, compete for and execute upon additional acquisitions and strategic investments; risks associated with operation or performance of MBS Textbook Exchange, LLC’s point-of-sales systems that are sold to college bookstore customers; technological changes; risks associated with counterfeit and piracy of digital and print materials; our international operations could result in additional risks; our ability to attract and retain employees; risks associated with data privacy, information security and intellectual property; trends and challenges to our business and in the locations in which we have stores; non-renewal of managed bookstore, physical and/or online store contracts and higher-than-anticipated store closings; disruptions to our information technology systems, infrastructure and data due to computer malware, viruses, hacking and phishing attacks, resulting in harm to our business and results of operations; disruption of or interference with third party web service providers and our own proprietary technology; work stoppages or increases in labor costs; possible increases in shipping rates or interruptions in shipping service; product shortages, including decreases in the used textbook inventory supply associated with the implementation of publishers’ digital offerings and direct to student textbook consignment rental programs, as well as the risks associated with the impacts that public health crises may have on the ability of our suppliers to manufacture or source products, particularly from outside of the United States; changes in domestic and international laws or regulations, including U.S. tax reform, changes in tax rates, laws and regulations, as well as related guidance; enactment of laws or changes in enforcement practices which may restrict or prohibit our use of texts, emails, interest based online advertising, recurring billing or similar marketing and sales activities; the amount of our indebtedness and ability to comply with covenants applicable to any future debt financing; our ability to satisfy future capital and liquidity requirements; our ability to access the credit and capital markets at the times and in the amounts needed and on acceptable terms; adverse results from litigation, governmental investigations, tax-related proceedings, or audits; changes in accounting standards; and the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Part I – Item 1A in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2022. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release.

Contacts

Media Contact:
Carolyn J. Brown

Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

(908) 991-2967

cbrown@bned.com

Investor Contact:
Hunter Blankenbaker

Vice President, Investor Relations

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

(908) 991-2776

hblankenbaker@bned.com

Categories
Culture Local News

Mercer County celebrates Joyce L. McDade, first female freeholder clerk, during Women’s History Month of March

March is Women’s History Month! Mercer County draws strength and inspiration from women who came before us, and the remarkable women working among us today. They are part of our story, and a truly balanced and inclusive history recognizes how important women have always been in American society. 

 

Joyce McDade
Photo: The plaque in the vestibule of the McDade Administration Building in Trenton.

The heart of Mercer County government operations is the McDade Administration Building at 640 S. Broad St., Trenton. But do you know the namesake?

In 1987, the County Administration Building was renamed and dedicated to the memory of Joyce L. McDade, who served the public as the Clerk to the Board of Freeholders, now known as commissioners, from 1974 to 1986.

Mrs. McDade was the first female freeholder clerk as well as being the first woman to hold a top-level administrative position in the history of Mercer County. She was succeeded in 1987 by Jerlene “Cookie” Worthy, who today continues to serve as Clerk to the Board, overseeing that office and its myriad duties.

 

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Business Culture News Now!

MetLife Investment Management completes acquisition of Raven Capital Management

WHIPPANY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — MetLife Investment Management (MIM), the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), announced that it has completed its acquisition of alternative investment firm Raven Capital Management. Announced in February 2023, the transaction adds approximately $2.1 billion to MIM’s total assets under management.

 

“We’re pleased to announce the completion of our acquisition of Raven, which complements our already strong private credit platform and deepens our origination capabilities,” said Steven J. Goulart, president of MIM and executive vice president and chief investment officer for MetLife. “Together, we’re looking forward to offering a broader set of credit strategies and investment capabilities to our clients.”

 

Raven is primarily focused on direct asset-based investments, including senior secured loans as well as the outright purchase of cash-flowing assets. The team invests across the private credit spectrum, with a specialization in primary origination, underwriting, execution and management of middle market direct asset-based investments.

 

About MetLife Investment Management

MetLife Investment Management, the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a global public fixed income, private capital and real estate investment manager providing tailored investment solutions to institutional investors worldwide. MetLife Investment Management provides public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, funds and other institutional clients with a range of bespoke investment and financing solutions that seek to meet a range of long-term investment objectives and risk-adjusted returns over time. MetLife Investment Management has over 150 years of investment experience and, as of December 31, 2022, had $579.8 billion in total assets under management.

 

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates “(MetLife),” is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help individual and institutional customers build a more confident future. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements in this news release, using words such as “looking forward” and “seek,” are based on assumptions and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, including the “Risk Factors” MetLife, Inc. describes in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. MetLife’s future results could differ, and it does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any of these statements.

Contacts

For Media:
Dave Franecki

+1-973-264-7465

dave.franecki@metlife.com

Shree Dhond

(646) 722-6531

mim@dlpr.com

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Culture Lifestyle Local News

Mercer County Exec. Hughes, Clerk Sollami Covello recently lead 2023 Black History Month celebration

Black history is American history

To a packed room, Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello co-hosted Mercer’s Annual Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 24.

Participants joined in song, storytelling and the sharing of history of African Americans and their contributions to the United States, during the event held at the McDade Administration Building Cafe.

This year’s special guests were members of the families of Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams. Kyle Hedgepeth enraptured the audience with an accounting of his family’s part in the landmark legal case.

He recounted that Gladys Hedgepeth and Berline Williams of Trenton filed suit against the Trenton School Board when their children were refused admission to the newly built Junior High School No. 2. The new school was only a few blocks from their homes in the Wilbur section of the City, while the segregated Lincoln School was 2 miles away. With the assistance of the NAACP, Hedgepeth and Williams successfully fought the school district’s segregationist policy, and the landmark New Jersey Supreme Court case bears their names.

 

The case became a precedent for the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 and continued to influence many Affirmative Action and equal opportunity policies in New Jersey’s education system, as well as the eradication of laws supporting discrimination in New Jersey.

In addition to Clerk Sollami Covello and Mr. Hughes, others who spoke included Jocelyn White, retired Trenton educator; the Rev. Dr. John H. Harris Jr., pastor; and members of the Williams Family. Mercer County Deputy Superintendent of Elections Walker Worthy Jr. was the spirited emcee.

Additionally, Mercer County’s own Kya Collins, performed a soulful rendition of Ella Fitzgerald’s Summertime, composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the opera “Porgy and Bess.”  The original featured a cast of classically trained African-American singers—a daring artistic choice at the time.

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Art & Life Business Culture Digital - AI & Apps International & World Lifestyle Regulations & Security

Humanity Communications Collective receives international recognition for Human & Civil Rights work

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Affirming its commitment to amplifying social justice issues through strategic and creative communications, Humanity Communications Collective recently announced it was selected as a 2023 Anthem Awards winner.


HCC was awarded a Bronze award in the Human & Civil Rights category for their work with the Bring Sundiata Acoli Home Alliance in 2022. HCC led a comprehensive communications approach to bring Black Panther Sundiata Acoli home last year. Acoli, 85, had been incarcerated since 1973 and was repeatedly denied parole for more than 24 years, violating New Jersey law. HCC strategically and methodically told the story of his humanity and key tenets of the law and created a compelling and nuanced narrative around the law’s intent, justice and civil rights.

 

Over the 9-month project, HCC:

  • Generated 1,268 social media posts with 1.9 million impressions, with a 544% engagement increase across social platforms.
  • Secured 763 media articles reaching an audience of 11.4 million.
  • Increased website visits by 400%.
  • Increased email subscription rates by 52% and open rates to 44%.
  • Drove the online petition calling for Sundiata’s release to more than 20,000 signatures.

 

In May 2022, Sundiata Acoli was granted parole and released after nearly 50 years of incarceration.

 

“While the true honor of this work was the rightful and just release of Sundiata Acoli, we are overjoyed by this international recognition and the esteemed group HCC joins,” said HCC CEO Yanira Castro. “Our goal was to galvanize support for Sundiata and encourage the state to faithfully discharge the law – even when it may not be popular. This is what social justice is all about; holding an unwavering commitment to speaking out and demanding equity for all, without exception. We all must move together to free the rest of our political prisoners. Now.”

 

In a video associated with the award announcement, Castro and the project’s team urged the release of political prisoners, further signifying HCC’s commitment to issue amplification.

 

The Anthem Awards was launched in response to the prevalence that social good has taken within the national conversation and cultural zeitgeist in recent years. The 2nd Annual competition received nearly 2,000 entries from 43 countries worldwide. By amplifying the voices that spark global change, the Anthem Awards are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. A portion of program revenue will fund a new grant program supporting emerging individuals and organizations working to advance the causes recognized.

 

Winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, with members that include: Nicholas Thompson, CEO, The Atlantic, Christina Swarns, Executive Director, Innocence Project, Zarna Surti, Global Creative Director, Nike Purpose, Maurice Mitchell, National Director, Working Families Party, Lindsay Stein, Chief Purpose Office, Tombras, Jennifer Lotito, President & Chief Operating Officer, (RED), Lisa Sherman, President & CEO, The Ad Council, Emily Barfoot, Global Brand Director Dove, Unilever, Trovon Williams, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, NAACP, Roma McCaig, Senior VP of Impact, Clif Bar, Michelle Egan, Chief Strategy Officer, NRDC, Dinah-Kareen Jean, Senior Manager, Social Innovation, Etsy, Sarah Kate Ellis, President & CEO, GLAAD, Jad Finck, Vice President of Innovation & Sustainability, Allbirds, Christopher Miller, Head of Global Activism Strategy, Ben & Jerry’s, Shayla Tait, Director of Philanthropy, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.

 

“Since launching this platform in June of 2021, we have seen that social change has emerged as a dominant force in mainstream culture,” said Anthem Awards Managing Director Jessica Lauretti. “The sheer number, breadth and overall quality of the entries shared with us in the 2nd Annual Awards is a testament to the strength of this growing movement and demonstrates an enduring commitment to the work that is both humbling and inspiring to see. From the war in Ukraine to protests in Iran and the ongoing battle for equality here at home in the States, the call for change not only perseveres but is a growing global chorus.”

 

Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, the Anthem Awards honors the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organizations worldwide. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Education; Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Responsible Technology; and Sustainability, Environment & Climate. Founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, GLAAD, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ.

 

Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites; Video; Advertising, Media & PR; Apps, Mobile, and Voice; Social; Podcasts; and Games. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received more than 13,500 entries from all 50 states and 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include Verizon, WP Engine, YouGov, Brandlive, Canva, NAACP, KPMG, Fast Company, Wall Street Journal, MediaPost, Podcast Movement, and AIGA.

 

Humanity Communications Collective is a luxury, justice-driven, strategic communications agency focused on making human and emotional connections. We provide communications strategy, content creation, branding, media relations, social media services, and event activations for non-profits and social impact organizations. We live at the intersection of communications, digital, social impact, and cultural competency. HCC is owned by an Afro-Latina with a team of strategic communications experts in three different countries.

 

Contacts

Heather Hansen

Humanity Communications Collective

Heather@humanitycom.com
410-991-4444

Categories
Business Culture Lifestyle

CommentSold drives home decor live selling success with MJ Home

Success underscores growth in the U.S. live selling market beyond the fashion category, powered by innovative technology platforms like CommentSold

 

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — CommentSold, the leading commercial live selling platform in the U.S. with $3.5B+ in lifetime GMV, announced a significant milestone by MJ Home, a home decor small business that embraced live selling with CommentSold in 2018. MJ Home recently crossed $10M in lifetime live selling GMV, highlighting the potential that live selling has to drive sales growth across all product categories.


MJ Home differentiates itself from other home decor retailers by focusing on adding a personalized touch to its products. Kirstie Dooley, owner of MJ Home, hand pours her candles and offers monthly subscription boxes to drive customer loyalty and engagement. Live selling events have provided Kirstie a channel to connect with her shoppers, increase engagement and drive repeat purchases.

 

“CommentSold has helped my business reach more people, making shopping a much more personal experience and growing my sales tremendously.” said Kirstie Dooley, owner of MJ Home.

 

“Most people associate live selling with Fast Fashion only. The success of home decor retailers like MJ Home highlights that retailers across product categories who pivot to live video selling can build more meaningful relationships and personal connections with customers. MJ Home has been able to stand out from the crowd and convince consumers that their products are worth buying,” said Josephine Wong, Head of Marketing & Operations at CommentSold.

 

Research shows at least 47% of consumers want more live video content from the brands they support, and 67% of live stream event viewers become repeat purchasers. It’s clear that live selling is gaining momentum with small businesses like MJ Home leading the way. CommentSold is constantly innovating to provide retailers across the U.S. with the latest technology, support, and proven live selling strategies to grow and scale their presence.

 

About MJ Home

MJ Home is a home decor retailer based in New Jersey. Founded in 2016, MJ Home has expanded its assortment across all home decor categories, including MJHome brand created by owner, Kirstie Dooley.

 

For more information, please visit mamasjunkco.com.

 

​​About CommentSold

CommentSold is the North American leader in live selling technology (ranked by G2), enabling over 7,000 small to mid-sized retailers with live-selling tools, generating 147M+ items sold with $3.5B+ in lifetime GMV. CommentSold’s technology continues to provide small businesses and mid-sized brands and retailers with best-in-class solutions for delivering engaging live video commerce experiences. Recent innovations from the company include their lightweight video commerce plugin technology, Videeo, which gives any retailer or brand the ability to embed and go live with engaging, branded live video commerce experiences within days by easily integrating into their existing e-commerce stack.

 

For more information, please visit CommentSold.com or Videeo.live.

Contacts

Media

Erin Christopher

SourceCode Communications for CommentSold

commentsold@sourcecodecomms.com

Categories
Culture Lifestyle Local News Politics

Most Mercer County government offices to close for Presidents’ Day

TRENTON, N.J. — Most Mercer County government offices, including all branches of the Mercer County Library System, will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, in observance of Presidents Day.

 

The following County offices and facilities will remain open: Trenton-Mercer Airport (except for administrative offices), Correction Center, Sheriff’s Office and the Emergency Services Communication Center.

 

  • Mercer County Park Commission facilities will have the following hours on Presidents Day: Ice Skating Center, 8:30 to 10 a.m. for senior skating (62+), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for public skating;
  • Tennis Center, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Mercer Oaks East, Mercer Oaks West, Mountain View and Hopewell Valley golf courses, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting;
  • Mercer County Stables, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Wildlife Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment only.
  • Howell Living History Farm, Tulpehaking Nature Center, Princeton Country Club golf course and Park Commission administrative offices will be closed.

 

For more information on Park Commission facilities, visit www.mercercountyparks/org.