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Decision strips power from news organisations and upends decades-old precedent View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. As tech reviewers get their hands on the latest TVs and write their reviews, a picture starts to take shape on which are the best TVs for every category. For those looking for the best bang-for-your-buck a tier above "budget TVs," the jury is still out between TCL's QM7 and Hisense's U7N. Really, it comes down to preference or a good deal—and right now, Hisense's U7N lineup is seeing great discounts. The best one is the 75-inch U7N currently going for $859.99 (originally $1,499.98) after a 43% discount, its lowest price ever, according to price-tracking tools. Panel Type: QLED, Screen Size: 55 inches, Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160, Refresh Rate: 144Hz. 55-inch Hisense U7N $498.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $798.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $498.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $798.00 Save $300.00 Panel Type: QLED, Screen Size: 65 inches, Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160, Refresh Rate: 144Hz. 65-inch Hisense U7N $698.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Get Deal Get Deal $698.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Panel Type: QLED, Screen Size: 75 inches, Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160, Refresh Rate: 144Hz. 75-inch Hisense U7N $859.99 at Amazon $1,499.98 Save $639.99 Get Deal Get Deal $859.99 at Amazon $1,499.98 Save $639.99 Panel Type: QLED, Screen Size: 85 inches, Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160, Refresh Rate: 144Hz. 85-inch Hisense U7N $1,297.96 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $2,199.99 Save $902.03 Get Deal Get Deal $1,297.96 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $2,199.99 Save $902.03 SEE 1 MORE The U7N came out last summer and has been head-to-head with the QM7. The U7N is a QLED TV, which is the best technology for a TV before crossing over to OLED. The U7N is bright for a midrange QLED, reaching levels of over 1,500 nits, and the colors are accurate, according to PCMag's "excellent" review. I like Google TV's interface, since I get to cast my phone directly onto the screen, and all the free channels never hurt. Of course that also means you can use Google Assistant and Apple AirPlay to control your TV. If you're a gamer, you'll enjoy the U7N's 6.2 millisecond input lag when you switch to Game mode. The 144Hz variable refresh rate (VRR) with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro will make games look smooth (as well as sports). For those who like to know if you're getting what you're paying for in specs, the Google TV has a Game Bar feature that shows you specs like frame rate and resolution, as well as quick access to other settings gamers use. The main complaint on the U7N is that details on shadows can look a bit washed out, but this isn't something most people will notice. At the current price, this U7N is a better deal than the QM7 and the value QLED TV you can buy right now. View the full article

Keir Starmer’s government warns of further sanctions unless Kigali withdraws troops from its east African neighbourView the full article

Texas Capital is arguing against summary judgment, saying prior assertions about reverse mortgages' initial and subsequent draws need to be examined in court. View the full article

CAVA hopes to expand its physical footprint after a year of financial success, CEO Brett Schulman announced in the company’s fourth quarter earnings call Tuesday. Over the 2024 fiscal year—CAVA’s first full calendar year as a public company—the Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain saw a revenue growth of 28.3% and delivered four straight quarters of free cash flow. And after opening 58 new restaurants this past year, the company anticipates new market openings in Detroit, South Florida, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis. “We’re very excited to continue to grow those markets and build upon the presence we have in existing regions,” Schulman tells Fast Company. The anticipated launches in these four new markets come after a successful launch in the greater Chicago metropolitan area, where three new CAVA locations opened in 2024. Schulman says that was “our best market opening ever.” The Maryland-based chain currently operates inside 25 states and Washington, D.C. as the demand for health-conscious dining continues to grow. ‘You can’t discount your way to prosperity’ In the last fiscal year, CAVA experienced 8.7% traffic growth, while many industry competitors saw negative traffic growth. Schulman says that around two in three customers enter CAVA’s physical spaces to place an order, speaking to the chain’s emphasis on “Mediterranean hospitality.” Much of this success, Schulman says, comes from an increased focus on providing value, rather than price discounting. “You can’t discount your way to prosperity with guests,” Schulman says. “We look at value as a combination of quality, relevance, convenience and experience.” He claims that all of his decisions are guided by CAVA’s mission of bringing “heart, health and humanity” into food, from importing olive oil from Greece to putting fresh dill in the tzatziki dip. In a difficult economy, especially for fast-casual restaurants, CAVA appears to be bucking industry norms. Roti, a different Mediterranean-style fast-casual chain, filed for bankruptcy in August. Buca di Beppo and Red Lobster also both filed for bankruptcy in the past year. According to Schulman, CAVA stands out from the fast-casual chains that may be struggling because it “looks at people as assets, not expenses.” “The demise of the dining room is greatly exaggerated,” he says. “People are feeling a void of human connection, and they’re craving it. And brands that are able to deliver that are the ones that are gaining market share and gaining brand affinity.” Cava’s success in a struggling industry After its “blockbuster” IPO in June 2023, the build-your-own-bowl chain has only seen success. Its stock price has soared 158% since the IPO, and Yelp named CAVA its fastest growing brand of 2024. And according to fast-casual competitor Chipotle’s most recent earnings report, sales growth in the past fiscal year for its set of comparable restaurants only increased by 7.4%—a little over a quarter of CAVA’s revenue growth. Another large factor in last year’s success is CAVA’s reimagined loyalty program—a system similar to Chipotle’s points-based program. Frequent customers can exchange points (ten are awarded for every dollar spent) for free drinks, cookies, and even entrees. Since the new loyalty system rolled out nationwide in October, CAVA has seen a 2.3% increase in revenue going through the pool, hitting a record high revenue from loyalty transactions last year. In the coming year, CAVA hopes to add rewards that are brand centric rather than food based. “We’ve expanded our audience,” Schulman says. “We’ve got our audience more highly engaged, which allows us to have much more personalized one-to-one communication.” View the full article

The eyes might be the window to the soul, but how their overall health impacts our own souls is rarely discussed. VSP Vision Care, an eye insurance company, partnered with Workplace Intelligence to survey 800 HR leaders and 800 full-time employees in the United States about the state of their eye health. Here are the key findings: We live on our screens: In a typical week, employees report spending 97 hours on screens, which translates to 210 days a year. Thirty-four of these hours are on a computer for work, 17 on a computer for personal use, 23 hours watching TV, and 23 hours on a cellphone. The majority of people have at least one eye problem: 63% of respondents reported at least one eye issue, an increase from last year’s 50%. Meanwhile, 73% reported wearing contacts or glasses, an increase from 67% last year. The most common issues were blurred vision (41%), dry or itchy eyes (24%), and eye strain or fatigue (23%). This is taking a toll on work and personal life: 69% of respondents said that eye problems are impacting their ability to be productive, 60% said eye problems impacted their ability to focus, and 46% said the problems took a toll on their mental health. The survey included a range of employees across generations and types of work arrangements, including on-site, hybrid, and remote work. All survey participants used a computer or laptop for work at least “sometimes,” according to the study’s methodology. As Kristi Cappelletti-Matthews, chief human resources officer at VSP Vision, noted in the report, “[When] you consider the importance of our vision and its link to our health and day-to-day work, it’s imperative that there’s a collective effort to support better workplace health through exceptional vision care.” View the full article

One of the annoying things about using PowerShell in Windows, if you're used to Linux, is having to run it as an admin in order to make system changes. The simplest way to do this is right-clicking the application in the start menu and clicking "Run as administrator," which isn't exactly elegant. It's particularly frustrating because most Linux distributions fixed this a long time ago: the sudo command. Basically, on Linux, if you need to run a single command as an administrator you can just put "sudo" at the beginning and run it—you're asked for an administrator password and the process runs. It's such a useful feature that it even inspired one of the most famous XKCD comics. Someone at Microsoft apparently noticed: sudo is now included in Windows. Sort of. A feature that allows you to run single commands as an administrator, called sudo, is now included in Windows, but this feature is not technically related to the sudo included on Linux systems (Microsoft, as always, is using a confusing name). Anyway: this pseudo-sudo feature is included with Windows 11 version 24H2, released in October 2024 and still rolling out to Windows users as of February 2025. You can check whether you have access to the feature by opening System Settings and heading to System > For developers. Scroll down and you'll see the option to enable sudo (if you don't see the option, you're not using 24H2). Credit: Justin Pot There are three options here regarding how sudo runs. By default, command will run in a new window. There are two more options: Inline, which will run the command in the same window; and Input closed, which runs the command in the same window but without input from other commands in the window. The official documentation heavily recommends leaving the default setting for security reasons, though Inline is much closer to the Linux-style sudo command. Using the feature is straightforward: when running a command that requires administrator privileges, start with sudo. You will see a pop-up asking to confirm. Credit: Justin Pot Click Yes and the command will run as administrator. That's really it: just put sudo at the beginning of your commands to run as administrator. Credit: Justin Pot Try it with your usual commands and see how you like it. If the answer is that you don't, that's fine: go back to opening Powershell as administrator. There are reasons Microsoft's sudo may not work for you. Maybe you're not yet using the 24H2 version of Windows. Maybe you can't get sudo working with the applications you're trying. Or maybe you just want to quickly change your current session into an elevated session. If so, gsudo might work better for you. This open source tool is recommended in Microsoft's documentation as offering features more similar to the Linux version of sudo and can quickly be installed using the winget package manager. View the full article

Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid. After two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday. At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3% and topped the world’s asteroid-risk lists. ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001%. NASA has it down to 0.0017% — meaning the asteroid will safely pass Earth in 2032 and there’s no threat of impact for the next century. Paul Chodas, who heads NASA’s Center for Near Earth Objects Studies, said there is no chance the odds will rise at this point and that an impact in 2032 has been ruled out. “That’s the outcome we expected all along, although we couldn’t be 100% sure that it would happen,” he said in an email. But there’s still a 1.7% chance that asteroid could hit the moon on Dec. 22, 2032, according to NASA. Chodas expects the odds of a moon strike will also fade. The world’s telescopes will continue to track the asteroid as it heads away from us, with the Webb Space Telescope zooming in next month to pinpoint its size. It’s expected to vanish from view in another month or two. Discovered in December, the asteroid is an estimated 130 feet to 300 feet (40 meters to 90 meters) across, and swings our way every four years. “While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity” for study, NASA said in a statement. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. —Marcia Dunn, Associated Press aerospace writer View the full article

Recent housing trends more favorable to buyers will ease some of the pressure for higher down payments in order to secure a winning bid, Redfin finds. View the full article

It's not surprising at this point to find out that a company you entrusted your data to turned around and sold it without your knowledge or consent—as antivirus provider Avast did for years through its software and browser extensions. And while monetary compensation doesn't undo the potential damage, nearly 3.7 million Avast customers are eligible for a refund for the trouble. Last year, Avast reached a $16.5 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, which includes compensation for users who bought Avast software between August 2014 and January 2020. The FTC found that the company collected information on religious beliefs, health concerns, political leanings, financial status, and location without user consent and sold it through a subsidiary (also without consent). Now, customers can start to claim refunds from the settlement. According to the FTC, customers eligible for a refund from Avast will be notified via email between Feb. 24 and March 7. The notice will include a claim ID—you'll need this to complete the Avast settlement claim form online. If you want more information about the process or need help filling out the application, you can call the refund administrator at 866-290-0165. Your claim must be filed by June 5, 2025 to be eligible for a payment. The FTC expects to mail payments in 2026, and the amount will depend on how many people apply for refunds. View the full article

FedEx has released its 2025 E-Commerce Trends to Watch Report, detailing how shifting consumer expectations are shaping the competitive landscape for digital retailers. The report, produced in collaboration with C Space, underscores the growing importance of convenience, seamless returns, and social media-driven brand engagement as key factors for success. Consumer expectations in e-commerce are increasingly centered around a frictionless shopping journey. According to the report, more than 80% of shoppers prioritize convenience, with home delivery (81%), free shipping (76%), and real-time tracking (68%) cited as essential features. Returns also play a significant role in customer satisfaction, with 97% of shoppers having abandoned a purchase due to inconvenient shopping experiences. Retailers that simplify return policies and offer hassle-free post-purchase experiences are better positioned to secure repeat customers. “E-commerce success in 2025 isn’t just about having the right product selection—it’s about delivering a seamless end-to-end customer experience,” said Jason Brenner, senior vice president, digital portfolio at FedEx. “Retailers that prioritize convenience, including easy returns, fast and transparent shipping, and frictionless digital engagement will ultimately lead the market.” Generational Preferences Shaping Digital Engagement Brands must refine their marketing strategies to align with generational shopping behaviors. The report highlights distinct trends among different age groups: Gen Z consumers are heavily influenced by social media, with 70% of engagement occurring online and platforms like TikTok (51%) and Instagram (40%) serving as primary brand discovery tools. Millennials focus on brand values, with 81% considering a company’s treatment of employees before making a purchase. Additionally, 27% prefer direct-to-consumer purchases via brand websites or apps. Boomers continue to favor traditional shopping, with 53% still shopping in physical stores more than any other generation. To capture consumer attention, brands are increasingly turning to video-driven storytelling, nostalgia-based marketing, and personalized digital content. Holiday Shopping Extends Beyond the Traditional Season The report also identifies a shift in holiday shopping behavior, with consumers spreading their purchases throughout the year rather than relying on last-minute holiday sales: 22% of shoppers begin holiday shopping as early as August to manage expenses and avoid price hikes. 30% of consumers plan to shop for winter gifts year-round by 2026. 16% of shoppers already follow a year-round holiday shopping approach. This trend presents a strategic opportunity for retailers to engage customers outside of peak shopping seasons by offering early-bird discounts and exclusive promotions. This article, "FedEx Report Highlights Convenience and Digital Trends Driving E-Commerce in 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

FedEx has released its 2025 E-Commerce Trends to Watch Report, detailing how shifting consumer expectations are shaping the competitive landscape for digital retailers. The report, produced in collaboration with C Space, underscores the growing importance of convenience, seamless returns, and social media-driven brand engagement as key factors for success. Consumer expectations in e-commerce are increasingly centered around a frictionless shopping journey. According to the report, more than 80% of shoppers prioritize convenience, with home delivery (81%), free shipping (76%), and real-time tracking (68%) cited as essential features. Returns also play a significant role in customer satisfaction, with 97% of shoppers having abandoned a purchase due to inconvenient shopping experiences. Retailers that simplify return policies and offer hassle-free post-purchase experiences are better positioned to secure repeat customers. “E-commerce success in 2025 isn’t just about having the right product selection—it’s about delivering a seamless end-to-end customer experience,” said Jason Brenner, senior vice president, digital portfolio at FedEx. “Retailers that prioritize convenience, including easy returns, fast and transparent shipping, and frictionless digital engagement will ultimately lead the market.” Generational Preferences Shaping Digital Engagement Brands must refine their marketing strategies to align with generational shopping behaviors. The report highlights distinct trends among different age groups: Gen Z consumers are heavily influenced by social media, with 70% of engagement occurring online and platforms like TikTok (51%) and Instagram (40%) serving as primary brand discovery tools. Millennials focus on brand values, with 81% considering a company’s treatment of employees before making a purchase. Additionally, 27% prefer direct-to-consumer purchases via brand websites or apps. Boomers continue to favor traditional shopping, with 53% still shopping in physical stores more than any other generation. To capture consumer attention, brands are increasingly turning to video-driven storytelling, nostalgia-based marketing, and personalized digital content. Holiday Shopping Extends Beyond the Traditional Season The report also identifies a shift in holiday shopping behavior, with consumers spreading their purchases throughout the year rather than relying on last-minute holiday sales: 22% of shoppers begin holiday shopping as early as August to manage expenses and avoid price hikes. 30% of consumers plan to shop for winter gifts year-round by 2026. 16% of shoppers already follow a year-round holiday shopping approach. This trend presents a strategic opportunity for retailers to engage customers outside of peak shopping seasons by offering early-bird discounts and exclusive promotions. This article, "FedEx Report Highlights Convenience and Digital Trends Driving E-Commerce in 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

More social platforms are increasingly axing third-party fact checking as a control against misinformation in favor of user-generated notes on existing content. Last month, Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to cut fact-checking programs on Meta platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and Threads—and replace them with Community Notes, which add corrections and context to posts that are "confusing or potentially misleading." A similar feature launched on Twitter in January 2021 as the Birdwatch program, which was rebranded as Community Notes and expanded after Elon Musk acquired the platform in 2022. Community Notes exist in lieu of the ability to report misleading content on X. Musk has both praised the feature as "awesome" and said he is "working to fix" it. X users can still apply to contribute their own notes. YouTube has also tested a community notes feature that allows users to add context to videos on the platform. Those who meet eligibility criteria can sign up for the program's waitlist in the YouTube mobile app (under Profile > Settings > General > Help inform viewers). When Community Notes are submitted on Meta's platforms by approved contributors, other approved contributors have to agree that the context is helpful before the note is actually published on a post (though the threshold for what constitutes a "helpful" note isn't clear). According to Meta's FAQ, Community Notes will be phased in and visible to users across its apps "over the next few months." How to sign up to write Meta Community NotesAs of this writing, Meta has a waitlist for users to be notified once the Community Notes beta launches. You can join the waitlist via Facebook, Instagram, or Threads. Only U.S.-based users are eligible, and you must be over 18, have an account that is older than 6 months and in good standing, and have either a verified phone number or two-factor authentication set up on your account. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Garmin is introducing a feature to many of its watches that Apple Watch users have been able to enjoy for a while. That’s a device passcode, so you can lock your data when your watch isn’t on your wrist. The feature will be rolling out to Fenix, Forerunner, Venu, and Vivoactive users, or you can get it right now with the beta program. Garmin Vivoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch With AMOLED Display (Black) $239.99 at Best Buy $299.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Get Deal $239.99 at Best Buy $299.99 Save $60.00 How the Garmin device passcode worksIn the old setup—what you have right now if you aren’t on the beta program—devices that have a “wallet” feature will ask you to set up a passcode to use the wallet. Then, when you tap your watch to use Garmin Pay at a store checkout, you’ll have to enter a four-digit code. The new update adds the ability to lock your entire watch, not just the wallet. Here’s how to turn it on: Enroll in the beta program (more about that below) Go into your Settings menu Select System Under Passcode, you’ll have the option for “On” or “Wallet only.” Select “On” if you want to have to enter the passcode each time you put your watch on. What you can and can’t do with a Garmin passcodeWith the passcode enabled, you’ll have to punch in your code when you put your watch on, but otherwise things will work as usual—for you. For someone who doesn’t know the code, they can pick up the watch and look at it, but most things beyond the watch face will be locked behind the passcode. To a stranger who doesn’t know the code, here’s what is still available: The watch face is visible as usual The light button works to turn the watch face or light on and off If an activity was running when you took the watch off, it will remain running You can still answer a phone call The flashlight and emergency assistance shortcuts still work And here is what is not: The glances (data you reach by scrolling down from the watch face) are locked The settings menu is locked The activity menu is locked, so you can’t start a new activity The shortcuts menu (hold the top left button on a Forerunner) only contains five options: power off, lock device, turn the touchscreen on or off, flashlight, and emergency assistance. Everything else that might be on that menu, like your wallet, timers, find my phone, etc.—all are missing. Which Garmin watches are getting the device passcode feature?Garmin says that the following watches are getting the device passcode feature, so long as you are enrolled in the beta, you have the latest beta software installed, and you have the most recent version of the Garmin Connect app: Enduro 3 Fenix 8 (AMOLED or Solar) and Fenix E Forerunner 165, 255, 265, 955, and 965, and their variations (including S and Music) Venu 3 and 3S Vivoactive 5 How to enable the beta to get the passcode featureIf you like getting new Garmin features, I’d recommend signing up for the beta. I haven’t found things to be buggy, although that’s always a risk with any beta program. Garmin’s instructions for enrolling in the beta program are here. Basically, you’ll use your Garmin Connect app to select your device, then tap Join Beta Software Program, and agree to the terms. Within an hour, you should be able to install the latest software. To check for an update at any time, go into the Settings menu on your device, then System, Software Updates, and Check for Updates. View the full article

Health secretary reveals that tighter Whitehall control will form part of government’s ‘plan for change’View the full article

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a fantastic security measure, but not all 2FA is created equal. SMS-based 2FA is by far the least secure authentication option, and yet, far too many companies use this method as default. Hackers know this, which is why they target users' 2FA codes to commit fraud and steal access to Google accounts. All that said, any 2FA is better than no 2FA, so it's worth tolerating SMS-based authentication if it's the only 2FA option offered. Now, however, the winds are changing: Google is the latest company looking to switch from SMS codes to an alternative method. As reported by Forbes, the company is planning to shift from SMS codes to QR codes. This is a good thing, even if it changes how you sign into your Google Account. SMS 2FA isn't secure enoughIt's surprisingly easy to get hold of an SMS code. If someone steals your smartphone, for example, they'll be able to access all of the SMS codes it receives. But scammers don't need physical access to intercept your SMS codes. In fact, they can do this while sitting in another part of the globe. Scammers can trick carriers into taking over your phone's SIM card. From here, they can disable your SIM card, and transfer all the services over to their own, so they can remotely access all SMS codes sent to your number. If your bank account is protected by SMS-based 2FA, for instance, they'll receive the code on their own device, authenticate themselves, and break into your account. Some scammers are even engaging in a practice know as traffic pumping, where they fool organizations into sending a large number of SMS messages to numbers the scammers own. They make a profit from those messages, while the rest of us deal with a deluge of spam. By moving away from SMS-based 2FA, Google hopes to limit this scam. Instead of relying on SMS-based authentication, I've recommended using a dedicated authenticator app, or the password-less Passkeys system that Google itself is pushing quite a bit. When using an authenticator app, the code generates every 30 seconds on a secure service that is controlled by you, not by carriers. Authenticator apps themselves require biometric authentication, and can be password protected as well, which adds an extra layer of security. You can use a physical key for maximum authentication security, but a properly setup authenticator app will be plenty secure. If you're game to ditch passwords altogether, passkeys are even more secure. Passkeys are cryptographically generated keys for each login, and they are unique to the device or passwords app. A passkey generated for Google, on your Mac, never leaves the device. Even if someone gets their hands on the key file, it can't be hacked as it's encrypted. Google is shifting default 2FA to QR codesPasskeys are the future, but in the meantime, Google is shifting to QR codes as the default verification method for phone numbers. When users log in on a new device, they'll be prompted with a QR code that they can scan using their smartphone to authenticate. Using a QR code for verification stops phishing attacks, as there's no code to share. And because the QR code scanning is happening in person, between two devices in proximity, there are no carrier codes involved, or online servers. There's no timeline for this yet, as all that Google has said is to "look for more from us on this in the near future." As the feature rolls out, I'll detail those steps here. View the full article

There’s a new entrant in the scam hall of fame. The Chengdu Snow Village—a newly opened destination in the suburban Chengdu, Sichuan province—advertised a picturesque snow landscape for guests to enjoy during the Lunar New Year celebrations last month. Photos of the event resembled scenes from a Christmas card, featuring thick layers of snow blanketing log cabin roofs. However, unseasonably warm weather meant the main feature was a no-show. Rather than canceling the events, organizers got creative. White sheets were stapled to cabin roofs, white sand and large cotton wool sheets were scattered across the grounds, and soapy foam drifted through the air in a feeble attempt to create a winter wonderland. Photos posted online by disappointed visitors showed the reality: sad wisps of cotton scattered across a greenish-brown field, clinging to the branches of bushes. China’s tourism industry is really outdoing itself with its creativity! Welcome to ‘Snow Village’ in Chengdu- where snow is made of cotton balls, the ground is white sand, and the fake waterfalls flow… with imagination.1/2 @MM81792127@GundamNorthrop@SolomonYue pic.twitter.com/2fZr2ORrLl — Ava Olivia (@AvaOlivia27) February 18, 2025 The fake wonderland quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons, prompting the Chengdu Culture and Tourism Bureau to launch an investigation into the project. The village later apologized and offered refunds to guests, according to Reuters. “In order to create a ‘snowy’ atmosphere, the tourist village purchased cotton for the snow . . . but it did not achieve the expected effect, leaving a very bad impression on tourists who came to visit,” the village shared on its official WeChat account. “Following the precedents of previous years, we typically have snow in winter. So we set up this spot for a photo shoot in advance to wait for the snow to come,” a Snow Village staff member told the state-run paper Global Times. “However, this year, the weather didn’t cooperate, and it didn’t snow.” The Chengdu Snow Village has removed all images of the attraction from its social media pages, and the venue has since closed down. This isn’t the first time a tourist attraction in China has been caught misleading visitors. Last year, hidden artificial pipes were discovered at the Yuntai Mountain Waterfall in Henan province, used to boost the waterfall’s flow and maintain its spectacular appearance during the dry season. Just a few weeks ago, an amusement park in Zibo City, Shandong province went viral after internet users realized that its zebras weren’t actually zebras, but donkeys painted with black and white stripes. A+ for creativity, everyone. View the full article

Microsoft is testing a new way to make sharing files a lot easier. In a beta version of Windows 11, the company has released a temporary shelf that appears when you drag files to the top of the screen. You can use this to drop files directly to the apps you use the most, such as Outlook or WhatsApp. Additionally, the company is also testing an improved version of Windows Search on CoPilot+ PCs to help you find photos in the cloud, and two new layouts for the Start menu. All of these features are a part of the Windows Insider program, but they're available in different channels of this program. Here are some details about each new feature and how you can try it if you want to get it ahead of the release to the general public. The drag tray to make sharing easierPerhaps the most exciting among the new updates, the drag tray is a way to make sharing simpler on Windows 11. When you drag a file to the top of the screen, a hidden drag tray reveals itself and you'll see a few apps listed there. You can drag the file into any app to share it quickly. There's also a More button to send it to apps not listed in the tray. If you drag a file to the More button, it'll open the Windows share menu to help you send it to other apps. While sharing has been fairly easy on computers for a long time, this drag tray is great for dumping files into apps that you use frequently. New views for the Start menu Credit: Microsoft The Start menu is the hub for everything you want to launch on your PC and it's now getting two additional views—name grid and category. The name grid lists all apps in an alphabetical order and groups them by alphabet, whereas the category view looks a lot like app folders on your smartphone. The category view groups apps by type and creates multiple folders to let you see more apps in one go. Both these views are available in the All page of the start menu if you're a part of the correct Windows Insider beta. An improved Windows Search Credit: Microsoft For Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft is testing a version of Windows Search that lets you find photos stored on the cloud. You can type a search term and the results will try to find the photo based on your description, even if the photo is named IMG0012.JPG. At the moment this is supported for personal OneDrive accounts, as long as you're signed in and connected to the internet. This feature is not supported for work or school OneDrive accounts. Microsoft says third-party cloud storage providers will be able to add support for this search feature, which is great if you don't use OneDrive. How to try these new Windows featuresTo try these new features, you need to sign up for the Windows Insider program and ensure that you have the right hardware and are on the correct beta version. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as jumping to the beta version and looking for the feature, but this is what you can do for now. On your Windows 11 PC, go to the Microsoft website and click the Register button to sign up for Windows Insider. Then, go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program on your PC and follow the on-screen prompts to join the program. Be aware that this program involves installing beta software on your PC, which can lead to issues such as data loss, crashing software, or even a PC stuck at the boot screen. Ensure that you've backed up your Windows PC before you attempt to join the Windows Insider Program. Once you're on the beta, you can try the drag tray feature and the new Start menu views by selecting the beta channel and updating to Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.4950 (KB5052078). This isn't available to those who are receiving beta updates based on Windows 11's 24H2 build as of now, but it's expected to be on that channel soon. If you decided not to update to this cycle and opted to receive beta updates on the previous beta channel, then you'll be able to try those two features right away. As for the enhanced search, it's available to those who have a Copilot+ PC running Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26120.3291 (KB5052080). Microsoft currently labels this as an optional update and will change it to a recommended one later this year. Even if you're on the right update channel, you may have to wait a while to get the enhanced Windows Search working as Microsoft is rolling it out gradually. This update channel also includes improvements to Windows Recall, the controversial feature that records everything you do on your PC, and adds a new Trim tool to let you edit screen recordings using the Snipping Tool in Windows 11. View the full article

UK pressure on Apple for data access could leave the majority less safeView the full article

Selling items online and in person can be a great source of income and a way to get more life out of used items. There are many types of items to flip, so there is plenty to choose from. To help you start flipping, we’ll look at some of the best things to flip for this article. What is Flipping? Flipping is a straightforward concept wherein you purchase items and resell them straight away rather than holding on to them. Some items may need to be repaired or have some maintenance involved before they can be flipped. But the general idea when it comes to flipping items is to purchase things at a low price and sell them for a profit. Identifying the Best Items to Flip for Profit: Our Methodology When it comes to flipping items for profit, selecting the right products is key. In guiding our readers towards selecting items that can yield a good return on investment when flipped, we use the following criteria. Each one is rated on a scale from 1 to 10, where 10 indicates the highest level of importance and 1 is the lowest. Purchase Price vs. Potential Resale Value Importance Scale: 9/10 Rationale: Items with a low purchase price relative to their potential resale value are ideal for flipping. Market Demand Importance Scale: 9/10 Rationale: High-demand items are more likely to sell quickly and for a higher price. Ease of Restoration or Improvement Importance Scale: 8/10 Rationale: Items that require minimal effort and cost to restore or improve are preferable, as they reduce time and investment for the flipper. Storage and Transportation Costs Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Items that are easy and inexpensive to store and transport reduce overhead costs. Sales Venue Suitability Importance Scale: 8/10 Rationale: Items that are easy to sell through common venues like online marketplaces, thrift stores, or flea markets are ideal. Seasonality and Trends Importance Scale: 6/10 Rationale: Understanding seasonality and current trends can assist in choosing items that are more likely to sell well during specific times of the year. Niche Popularity Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Items within popular niches or with a dedicated following can often command higher prices. Authenticity and Legal Considerations Importance Scale: 9/10 Rationale: Ensuring the authenticity of items, especially branded goods, and adhering to legal resale requirements is critical. Time to Sell Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Items that typically sell faster are preferable for quick turnover and cash flow. Knowledge and Expertise Required Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Flipping items that demand less specialized knowledge or expertise can make the process more accessible to a broader audience. By applying these criteria, we aim to guide our readers toward selecting items to flip that not only offer a high potential for profit but also align with their resources, skills, and market trends. The Best Items to Flip Many items can be flipped, so if you want to flip for profit, you’re in luck. Selecting the right things to flip can often be challenging, but it will largely depend on your local market, broader trends you can capitalize on, and how much of a profit you can gain from flipping the item. Let’s look at some of the best things to flip for profit. Power Tools They are in high demand due to their utility in DIY projects and home repairs. Their durability means they retain value well. Outdoor Furniture Seasonal demand peaks in warmer months, offering profitable resale opportunities, especially for high-quality, durable pieces. Wood and Vintage Furniture These items have timeless appeal and can often be restored to increase their value. Vintage pieces, in particular, can fetch high prices due to their uniqueness and historical value. Vintage and Designer Clothing These items are sought after for their unique styles and quality construction. Vintage and designer pieces can become more valuable over time, appealing to collectors and fashion enthusiasts. Wedding Dresses High initial value and limited use make this ideal for resale. Many seek budget-friendly options for weddings, creating a steady market. Exercise Equipment Growing health consciousness drives demand for home gym equipment. Quality items retain value and are sought after in the secondhand market. Old Books and Textbooks Rare books or textbooks in current curricula have a dedicated market. Collectors and students alike seek out these items, often at premium prices. They are easy to sell online, at markets, or even to used bookstores. Old Board Games Nostalgia and the resurgence of board gaming culture make these items popular. Rare or vintage games can be particularly valuable. Electronics and Games High demand and rapid innovation in technology create opportunities for profitable resale, especially for items in good condition or with a cult following. Baby Items Babies quickly outgrow their items, creating a constant supply and demand. High-quality, gently used items are particularly sought after by budget-conscious parents. Hockey Equipment Sporting goods, especially for popular sports like hockey, have a strong resale market due to high new retail prices and seasonal demand. Toys and Vintage Toys Nostalgic appeal and collectibility can significantly increase the profitability of these items, particularly if they are rare or in excellent condition. Shoes and Sneakers High demand, especially for designer or limited-edition sneakers, combined with a culture of collecting, can lead to significant profits. Trading Cards Niche markets and collectors value rare or limited-edition cards, making them potentially lucrative resale items. There are many stores that will buy these from you, or you can easily sell them online. Vintage Cars Classic cars often appreciate value, especially if they are rare or have been well-maintained or restored. Houses Real estate can be a highly profitable investment, especially if purchased at a low price and sold after renovation or market appreciation. Household Appliances Good-condition appliances are always in demand, as they are essential in every home and can be expensive to purchase new. Lego Sets Discontinued or rare sets can be highly collectible and increase in value, appealing to both children and adult collectors. They’re easy to sell online and at markets that are popular with collectors. Scrap Metal While not glamorous, scrap metal can be profitable due to consistent demand in the manufacturing and recycling industries. Websites and Domain Names Digital real estate can be highly valuable, especially if the site or domain has high traffic, a niche market, or a memorable name. Bicycles Cycling’s popularity and the high cost of new bikes create a strong market for secondhand bicycles, especially high-quality or unique models. Musical Instruments and Equipment High-quality instruments retain value and are in demand by both beginners and experienced musicians. Cameras Photography enthusiasts and professionals are always on the lookout for good quality equipment, making cameras a profitable flip. Picture Frames Unique or high-quality frames are always in demand for home decor and art display, offering opportunities for profitable resale. These are easy to transport, ship, and sell in various venues. Photography Gear As with cameras, photography gear such as lenses, tripods, and lighting equipment holds value well and is sought after in the secondhand market. This is a popular niche where collectors and professional photographers will often pay a premium for quality items. Luxury Handbags Their high initial value and brand recognition make them appealing for resale, especially when they’re well-maintained or rare, appealing to both fashion enthusiasts and collectors. Stocks and Options The financial market offers a high potential for profit through strategic buying and selling, appealing to those with good market knowledge and risk management skills. Houses Real estate investment can yield significant returns through strategic renovations and market timing, appealing to entrepreneurs with knowledge of property management and real estate markets. Raw Land This represents a blank canvas with various profitable possibilities, from development to resale after appreciation, appealing to long-term investors. VCRs and VHS Tapes Nostalgia and the scarcity of working units contribute to the collectibility of these items, attracting both enthusiasts and individuals seeking unique or vintage media. Clearance Items Purchasing items at clearance prices and selling them at market value can yield significant profit margins, particularly for products that are in high demand or seasonal. Artwork Unique pieces can be appreciated in value, especially from sought-after artists or limited editions, appealing to collectors and art enthusiasts. Home Decor Trendy or unique home decor items can be resold at a premium, appealing to individuals interested in interior design and decoration. Records and Record Players Vinyl records have experienced a revival in popularity, making them highly sought after and profitable, particularly rare or vintage editions, which are among the best items to flip. Collectibles Items like figurines, comics, or themed merchandise can appreciate in value and have a dedicated collector market, offering profitable flipping opportunities. Board Games Classic and niche board games are in demand, with rare or out-of-print editions fetching high prices among enthusiasts. Antiques Their historical value and uniqueness make antiques highly sought after, with potential for high profit, especially with rare or well-preserved items. Rare or Retro T-Shirts Nostalgia and uniqueness drive demand, with certain prints or vintage band tees being highly collectible and profitable. These are easy to store and ship, and they can be sold online or in-person with ease. Concert T-Shirts Limited edition or vintage concert tees can be highly sought after by fans and collectors, often fetching high resale prices. Concert Tickets Buying and reselling tickets for popular events can be profitable, especially for sold-out shows or in-demand performances. Sports Memorabilia Items like signed jerseys, cards, or game-used equipment have a dedicated collector base and can appreciate in value, particularly rare or historical pieces. Upcycled Items There is an expanding market for innovative, eco-friendly products such as upcycled glass, jewelry, and furniture, which attract environmentally conscious consumers. #Item to FlipReason for Being Ideal to Flip 1Power ToolsHigh demand for DIY projects and home repairs; durable and retain value well. 2Outdoor FurnitureSeasonal demand peaks in warmer months; profitable for high-quality, durable pieces. 3Wood and Vintage FurnitureTimeless appeal; can be restored to increase value; vintage pieces fetch high prices. 4Vintage and Designer ClothingSought after for unique styles and quality; can become more valuable over time. 5Wedding DressesHigh initial value and limited use; steady market for budget-friendly options. 6Exercise EquipmentGrowing health consciousness; quality items retain value in the secondhand market. 7Old Books and TextbooksDedicated market for rare books or current textbooks; collectors and students seek these. 8Old Board GamesNostalgia and resurgence of board gaming culture; rare/vintage games valuable. 9Electronics and GamesHigh demand and rapid innovation; profitable for items in good condition or with cult following. 10Baby ItemsConstant supply and demand due to quick outgrowing; high-quality items sought after. 11Hockey EquipmentStrong resale market due to high new retail prices and seasonal demand. 12Toys and Vintage ToysNostalgic value and collectibility; rare or well-conditioned items highly profitable. 13Shoes and SneakersHigh demand for designer or limited-edition; culture of collecting. 14Trading CardsNiche markets value rare or limited-edition cards; lucrative resale potential. 15Vintage CarsAppreciate in value, especially if rare or well-maintained/restored. 16HousesHighly profitable investment; potential returns through renovation or market appreciation. 17Household AppliancesAlways in demand; essential in every home and expensive when new. 18Lego SetsDiscontinued or rare sets highly collectible; appealing to children and adult collectors. 19Scrap MetalProfitable due to consistent demand in manufacturing and recycling industries. 20Websites and Domain NamesValuable digital real estate; high traffic, niche market, or memorable name. 21BicyclesStrong market due to cycling popularity and high cost of new bikes. 22Musical Instruments and EquipmentRetain value and in demand by both beginners and experienced musicians. 23CamerasPhotography enthusiasts and professionals seek good quality equipment. 24Picture FramesIn demand for home decor and art display; unique or high-quality frames. 25Photography GearHolds value well and sought after in the secondhand market. 26Luxury HandbagsHigh initial value and brand recognition; appeal to fashion enthusiasts and collectors. 27Stocks and OptionsHigh potential for profit through strategic buying and selling. 28Houses (Real Estate)Yield significant returns through strategic renovations and market timing. 29Raw LandBlank canvas with various profitable possibilities; appealing to long-term investors. 30VCRs and VHS TapesNostalgia and rarity of functioning units make these items collectible. 31Clearance ItemsHigh margins by reselling clearance items at market value. 32ArtworkUnique pieces can appreciate in value; appealing to collectors and art enthusiasts. 33Home DecorTrendy or unique items can be resold at a premium. 34Records and Record PlayersVinyl resurgence in popularity; rare or vintage editions highly collectible. 35CollectiblesCan appreciate in value; dedicated collector market. 36Board GamesIn demand, rare or out-of-print editions fetch high prices. 37AntiquesHistorical value and uniqueness make them highly sought after. 38Rare or Retro T-ShirtsNostalgia and uniqueness drive demand; highly collectible and profitable. 39Concert T-ShirtsLimited edition or vintage highly sought after by fans and collectors. 40Concert TicketsProfitable for popular events, especially sold-out shows or in-demand performances. 41Sports MemorabiliaSigned jerseys, cards, game-used equipment appreciate in value. 42Upcycled ItemsGrowing market for eco-friendly, creatively upcycled products. Where to Flip: Flip Items Online and Sell Items locally There are many ways to build a profitable reselling business; you can sell online and in person. Some of the best places to find items for flipping include the following: Finding Items to Flip You can find items to flip in the following places: Garage Sales If you can find a local garage sale or are willing to drive out further to find good sales, you can find great items to flip for profit. Yard Sales Like garage sales, going to a yard sale is another option to find cheap items you can purchase for just a few dollars to flip for extra cash. Thrift Stores Thrift stores and consignment stores are filled with hidden gems and cheap items that can make all the difference for flipping. Check your nearest thrift store for apparel, good-quality shoes, costume jewelry, and more. Estate Sales Many hidden gems have been discovered in estate sales, including vintage items and unique items such as upcycled art and upcycled jewelry. Facebook Marketplace You can find items and resell items on the Facebook Marketplace. It’s easy to make money selling items in high demand without incurring massive shipping costs since you can meet locally to deliver the items. Auctions Auctions are another way to find items to flip, but you must be careful about how much you spend. When bidding for items, think about the regular retail price and whether you could compete with that based on the amount it is being bid for. Flea Markets You can easily become a flea market flipper and make all your money by searching for items at flea markets in your spare time House Clearance sales Many people undertake spring cleaning or house cleaning efforts, and you can go to these sales to find cheap items that you can sell high on online platforms and locally. Your own home If you’d like to start your flipping business and make serious cash but are not sure where to start – start with your own home! You can find items you no longer use, such as baby gear or baby stuff that children have outgrown video games, and other items, and sell them for a decent profit. Selling Items to Flip Once you find items you’d like to flip, plenty of flipping websites are available for you to sell on. Many platforms such as Poshmark, Mercari, and Vinted generate free shipping label options so you can ship items domestically to customers, making it easy to turn flipping from a fun hobby to something more. These platforms have a large user base looking for a good deal and looking to save money by purchasing secondhand items. Facebook Marketplace ThredUp Amazon eBay OfferUp Etsy Craigslist Mercari Poshmark Varagesale Vinted Your own online store Flipping to Make Extra Money There are many ways to flip items to make money. You can find things in secondhand stores, thrift shops, and online platforms such as Etsy, Mercari, and more. Additionally, you can make extra money by finding items to flip in local places such as garage and yard sales, estate sales, and other events where people sell secondhand items at a low cost. Final Thoughts: What is The Most Profitable Item to Flip? The world of flipping items for profit offers a wealth of opportunities for those looking to generate income and extend the life of used goods. Whether you’re a seasoned flipper or just getting started, there are numerous items and niches to explore, and your success ultimately depends on your local market, your knowledge, and your ability to identify profitable opportunities. Flipping, at its core, is a simple and effective concept: acquire items at a low cost and resell them for a profit. While some items may require repairs or maintenance before they are ready for resale, the key is to maximize your profit margin through smart buying and selling strategies. The list of 42 best items to flip presented in this article offers a diverse range of options, catering to various interests and expertise. From power tools to vintage clothing and wedding dresses to electronics, there’s something for everyone. The key to success lies in finding the items that align with your knowledge, passion, and market demand. When it comes to sourcing items for flipping, there are numerous avenues to explore. Garage sales, yard sales, thrift stores, estate sales, online marketplaces, auctions, flea markets, and even your own home can serve as treasure troves of items waiting to be flipped. The choice of where to find your inventory depends on your location, preferences, and the type of items you intend to flip. Once you’ve acquired your items, you can sell them through various channels, both online and locally. Platforms like Poshmark, Mercari, Etsy, and eBay offer access to a broad online audience, while local options like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and community-based apps can connect you with nearby buyers. The key is to leverage these platforms to reach potential customers effectively. While the profitability of flipping varies depending on factors like the item’s condition, rarity, and demand, some specialized items tend to yield higher profits. Tech gadgets, exercise equipment, vintage clothing, and designer fashion items are among the most lucrative options. These items often command higher prices, and with some minor repairs or refurbishments, you can significantly increase their resale value. In the realm of flipping, innovation, and creativity can be your allies. Consider upcycling items, such as furniture, glass, jewelry, and even artwork, to breathe new life into old pieces and make them more appealing to buyers. These unique creations can not only fetch higher prices but also showcase your craftsmanship and attract a dedicated customer base. In conclusion, flipping items for profit is a dynamic and rewarding venture that offers a sustainable source of income. Whether you’re a part-time flipper looking to earn extra cash or a full-time entrepreneur seeking a thriving business, the world of flipping has something to offer. Keep your finger on the pulse of market trends, continually expand your knowledge, and, most importantly, embrace your passion for turning forgotten items into valuable assets. With the right strategy and a keen eye for opportunity, you can flip your way to success and financial prosperity. FAQs What is the Easiest Thing to Flip? Power tools are an easy item to item to flip as they are always in demand, and not many people tend to have these tools in their homes. Rather than purchasing new power tools, they can buy them secondhand, which is why flipping them is easier. What Flipping Items Make the Most Money? Another option if you’re looking to start an upcycling business is to flip vintage clothing and high-end designer fashion items. The secondhand apparel market is steadily growing, and clothing items are easy to find and resell. Wedding dresses are another option if you’re looking to make a full-time income by flipping clothing. Many brides are looking for beautiful wedding dresses at deep discounts, so you can make a nice profit by flipping and selling wedding dresses. What Can I Resell Quickly? To make money online by reselling an item quickly, you can sell used books and textbooks to students and others via reselling platforms. You can find books online, in library sales, and in secondhand stores that you can resell quickly. What is the Best to Resell? The best item to resell is old furniture. For spring and summer, consider flipping items such as wicker chairs, patio tables, and other types of furniture perfect for backyards and gardens. Many people are looking for good-quality wood furniture and beautiful vintage furniture to add to their homes, so upcycled furniture is an option for flipping items. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Hidden Gems: Top Items to Flip for a Profit" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Selling items online and in person can be a great source of income and a way to get more life out of used items. There are many types of items to flip, so there is plenty to choose from. To help you start flipping, we’ll look at some of the best things to flip for this article. What is Flipping? Flipping is a straightforward concept wherein you purchase items and resell them straight away rather than holding on to them. Some items may need to be repaired or have some maintenance involved before they can be flipped. But the general idea when it comes to flipping items is to purchase things at a low price and sell them for a profit. Identifying the Best Items to Flip for Profit: Our Methodology When it comes to flipping items for profit, selecting the right products is key. In guiding our readers towards selecting items that can yield a good return on investment when flipped, we use the following criteria. Each one is rated on a scale from 1 to 10, where 10 indicates the highest level of importance and 1 is the lowest. Purchase Price vs. Potential Resale Value Importance Scale: 9/10 Rationale: Items with a low purchase price relative to their potential resale value are ideal for flipping. Market Demand Importance Scale: 9/10 Rationale: High-demand items are more likely to sell quickly and for a higher price. Ease of Restoration or Improvement Importance Scale: 8/10 Rationale: Items that require minimal effort and cost to restore or improve are preferable, as they reduce time and investment for the flipper. Storage and Transportation Costs Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Items that are easy and inexpensive to store and transport reduce overhead costs. Sales Venue Suitability Importance Scale: 8/10 Rationale: Items that are easy to sell through common venues like online marketplaces, thrift stores, or flea markets are ideal. Seasonality and Trends Importance Scale: 6/10 Rationale: Understanding seasonality and current trends can assist in choosing items that are more likely to sell well during specific times of the year. Niche Popularity Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Items within popular niches or with a dedicated following can often command higher prices. Authenticity and Legal Considerations Importance Scale: 9/10 Rationale: Ensuring the authenticity of items, especially branded goods, and adhering to legal resale requirements is critical. Time to Sell Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Items that typically sell faster are preferable for quick turnover and cash flow. Knowledge and Expertise Required Importance Scale: 7/10 Rationale: Flipping items that demand less specialized knowledge or expertise can make the process more accessible to a broader audience. By applying these criteria, we aim to guide our readers toward selecting items to flip that not only offer a high potential for profit but also align with their resources, skills, and market trends. The Best Items to Flip Many items can be flipped, so if you want to flip for profit, you’re in luck. Selecting the right things to flip can often be challenging, but it will largely depend on your local market, broader trends you can capitalize on, and how much of a profit you can gain from flipping the item. Let’s look at some of the best things to flip for profit. Power Tools They are in high demand due to their utility in DIY projects and home repairs. Their durability means they retain value well. Outdoor Furniture Seasonal demand peaks in warmer months, offering profitable resale opportunities, especially for high-quality, durable pieces. Wood and Vintage Furniture These items have timeless appeal and can often be restored to increase their value. Vintage pieces, in particular, can fetch high prices due to their uniqueness and historical value. Vintage and Designer Clothing These items are sought after for their unique styles and quality construction. Vintage and designer pieces can become more valuable over time, appealing to collectors and fashion enthusiasts. Wedding Dresses High initial value and limited use make this ideal for resale. Many seek budget-friendly options for weddings, creating a steady market. Exercise Equipment Growing health consciousness drives demand for home gym equipment. Quality items retain value and are sought after in the secondhand market. Old Books and Textbooks Rare books or textbooks in current curricula have a dedicated market. Collectors and students alike seek out these items, often at premium prices. They are easy to sell online, at markets, or even to used bookstores. Old Board Games Nostalgia and the resurgence of board gaming culture make these items popular. Rare or vintage games can be particularly valuable. Electronics and Games High demand and rapid innovation in technology create opportunities for profitable resale, especially for items in good condition or with a cult following. Baby Items Babies quickly outgrow their items, creating a constant supply and demand. High-quality, gently used items are particularly sought after by budget-conscious parents. Hockey Equipment Sporting goods, especially for popular sports like hockey, have a strong resale market due to high new retail prices and seasonal demand. Toys and Vintage Toys Nostalgic appeal and collectibility can significantly increase the profitability of these items, particularly if they are rare or in excellent condition. Shoes and Sneakers High demand, especially for designer or limited-edition sneakers, combined with a culture of collecting, can lead to significant profits. Trading Cards Niche markets and collectors value rare or limited-edition cards, making them potentially lucrative resale items. There are many stores that will buy these from you, or you can easily sell them online. Vintage Cars Classic cars often appreciate value, especially if they are rare or have been well-maintained or restored. Houses Real estate can be a highly profitable investment, especially if purchased at a low price and sold after renovation or market appreciation. Household Appliances Good-condition appliances are always in demand, as they are essential in every home and can be expensive to purchase new. Lego Sets Discontinued or rare sets can be highly collectible and increase in value, appealing to both children and adult collectors. They’re easy to sell online and at markets that are popular with collectors. Scrap Metal While not glamorous, scrap metal can be profitable due to consistent demand in the manufacturing and recycling industries. Websites and Domain Names Digital real estate can be highly valuable, especially if the site or domain has high traffic, a niche market, or a memorable name. Bicycles Cycling’s popularity and the high cost of new bikes create a strong market for secondhand bicycles, especially high-quality or unique models. Musical Instruments and Equipment High-quality instruments retain value and are in demand by both beginners and experienced musicians. Cameras Photography enthusiasts and professionals are always on the lookout for good quality equipment, making cameras a profitable flip. Picture Frames Unique or high-quality frames are always in demand for home decor and art display, offering opportunities for profitable resale. These are easy to transport, ship, and sell in various venues. Photography Gear As with cameras, photography gear such as lenses, tripods, and lighting equipment holds value well and is sought after in the secondhand market. This is a popular niche where collectors and professional photographers will often pay a premium for quality items. Luxury Handbags Their high initial value and brand recognition make them appealing for resale, especially when they’re well-maintained or rare, appealing to both fashion enthusiasts and collectors. Stocks and Options The financial market offers a high potential for profit through strategic buying and selling, appealing to those with good market knowledge and risk management skills. Houses Real estate investment can yield significant returns through strategic renovations and market timing, appealing to entrepreneurs with knowledge of property management and real estate markets. Raw Land This represents a blank canvas with various profitable possibilities, from development to resale after appreciation, appealing to long-term investors. VCRs and VHS Tapes Nostalgia and the scarcity of working units contribute to the collectibility of these items, attracting both enthusiasts and individuals seeking unique or vintage media. Clearance Items Purchasing items at clearance prices and selling them at market value can yield significant profit margins, particularly for products that are in high demand or seasonal. Artwork Unique pieces can be appreciated in value, especially from sought-after artists or limited editions, appealing to collectors and art enthusiasts. Home Decor Trendy or unique home decor items can be resold at a premium, appealing to individuals interested in interior design and decoration. Records and Record Players Vinyl records have experienced a revival in popularity, making them highly sought after and profitable, particularly rare or vintage editions, which are among the best items to flip. Collectibles Items like figurines, comics, or themed merchandise can appreciate in value and have a dedicated collector market, offering profitable flipping opportunities. Board Games Classic and niche board games are in demand, with rare or out-of-print editions fetching high prices among enthusiasts. Antiques Their historical value and uniqueness make antiques highly sought after, with potential for high profit, especially with rare or well-preserved items. Rare or Retro T-Shirts Nostalgia and uniqueness drive demand, with certain prints or vintage band tees being highly collectible and profitable. These are easy to store and ship, and they can be sold online or in-person with ease. Concert T-Shirts Limited edition or vintage concert tees can be highly sought after by fans and collectors, often fetching high resale prices. Concert Tickets Buying and reselling tickets for popular events can be profitable, especially for sold-out shows or in-demand performances. Sports Memorabilia Items like signed jerseys, cards, or game-used equipment have a dedicated collector base and can appreciate in value, particularly rare or historical pieces. Upcycled Items There is an expanding market for innovative, eco-friendly products such as upcycled glass, jewelry, and furniture, which attract environmentally conscious consumers. #Item to FlipReason for Being Ideal to Flip 1Power ToolsHigh demand for DIY projects and home repairs; durable and retain value well. 2Outdoor FurnitureSeasonal demand peaks in warmer months; profitable for high-quality, durable pieces. 3Wood and Vintage FurnitureTimeless appeal; can be restored to increase value; vintage pieces fetch high prices. 4Vintage and Designer ClothingSought after for unique styles and quality; can become more valuable over time. 5Wedding DressesHigh initial value and limited use; steady market for budget-friendly options. 6Exercise EquipmentGrowing health consciousness; quality items retain value in the secondhand market. 7Old Books and TextbooksDedicated market for rare books or current textbooks; collectors and students seek these. 8Old Board GamesNostalgia and resurgence of board gaming culture; rare/vintage games valuable. 9Electronics and GamesHigh demand and rapid innovation; profitable for items in good condition or with cult following. 10Baby ItemsConstant supply and demand due to quick outgrowing; high-quality items sought after. 11Hockey EquipmentStrong resale market due to high new retail prices and seasonal demand. 12Toys and Vintage ToysNostalgic value and collectibility; rare or well-conditioned items highly profitable. 13Shoes and SneakersHigh demand for designer or limited-edition; culture of collecting. 14Trading CardsNiche markets value rare or limited-edition cards; lucrative resale potential. 15Vintage CarsAppreciate in value, especially if rare or well-maintained/restored. 16HousesHighly profitable investment; potential returns through renovation or market appreciation. 17Household AppliancesAlways in demand; essential in every home and expensive when new. 18Lego SetsDiscontinued or rare sets highly collectible; appealing to children and adult collectors. 19Scrap MetalProfitable due to consistent demand in manufacturing and recycling industries. 20Websites and Domain NamesValuable digital real estate; high traffic, niche market, or memorable name. 21BicyclesStrong market due to cycling popularity and high cost of new bikes. 22Musical Instruments and EquipmentRetain value and in demand by both beginners and experienced musicians. 23CamerasPhotography enthusiasts and professionals seek good quality equipment. 24Picture FramesIn demand for home decor and art display; unique or high-quality frames. 25Photography GearHolds value well and sought after in the secondhand market. 26Luxury HandbagsHigh initial value and brand recognition; appeal to fashion enthusiasts and collectors. 27Stocks and OptionsHigh potential for profit through strategic buying and selling. 28Houses (Real Estate)Yield significant returns through strategic renovations and market timing. 29Raw LandBlank canvas with various profitable possibilities; appealing to long-term investors. 30VCRs and VHS TapesNostalgia and rarity of functioning units make these items collectible. 31Clearance ItemsHigh margins by reselling clearance items at market value. 32ArtworkUnique pieces can appreciate in value; appealing to collectors and art enthusiasts. 33Home DecorTrendy or unique items can be resold at a premium. 34Records and Record PlayersVinyl resurgence in popularity; rare or vintage editions highly collectible. 35CollectiblesCan appreciate in value; dedicated collector market. 36Board GamesIn demand, rare or out-of-print editions fetch high prices. 37AntiquesHistorical value and uniqueness make them highly sought after. 38Rare or Retro T-ShirtsNostalgia and uniqueness drive demand; highly collectible and profitable. 39Concert T-ShirtsLimited edition or vintage highly sought after by fans and collectors. 40Concert TicketsProfitable for popular events, especially sold-out shows or in-demand performances. 41Sports MemorabiliaSigned jerseys, cards, game-used equipment appreciate in value. 42Upcycled ItemsGrowing market for eco-friendly, creatively upcycled products. Where to Flip: Flip Items Online and Sell Items locally There are many ways to build a profitable reselling business; you can sell online and in person. Some of the best places to find items for flipping include the following: Finding Items to Flip You can find items to flip in the following places: Garage Sales If you can find a local garage sale or are willing to drive out further to find good sales, you can find great items to flip for profit. Yard Sales Like garage sales, going to a yard sale is another option to find cheap items you can purchase for just a few dollars to flip for extra cash. Thrift Stores Thrift stores and consignment stores are filled with hidden gems and cheap items that can make all the difference for flipping. Check your nearest thrift store for apparel, good-quality shoes, costume jewelry, and more. Estate Sales Many hidden gems have been discovered in estate sales, including vintage items and unique items such as upcycled art and upcycled jewelry. Facebook Marketplace You can find items and resell items on the Facebook Marketplace. It’s easy to make money selling items in high demand without incurring massive shipping costs since you can meet locally to deliver the items. Auctions Auctions are another way to find items to flip, but you must be careful about how much you spend. When bidding for items, think about the regular retail price and whether you could compete with that based on the amount it is being bid for. Flea Markets You can easily become a flea market flipper and make all your money by searching for items at flea markets in your spare time House Clearance sales Many people undertake spring cleaning or house cleaning efforts, and you can go to these sales to find cheap items that you can sell high on online platforms and locally. Your own home If you’d like to start your flipping business and make serious cash but are not sure where to start – start with your own home! You can find items you no longer use, such as baby gear or baby stuff that children have outgrown video games, and other items, and sell them for a decent profit. Selling Items to Flip Once you find items you’d like to flip, plenty of flipping websites are available for you to sell on. Many platforms such as Poshmark, Mercari, and Vinted generate free shipping label options so you can ship items domestically to customers, making it easy to turn flipping from a fun hobby to something more. These platforms have a large user base looking for a good deal and looking to save money by purchasing secondhand items. Facebook Marketplace ThredUp Amazon eBay OfferUp Etsy Craigslist Mercari Poshmark Varagesale Vinted Your own online store Flipping to Make Extra Money There are many ways to flip items to make money. You can find things in secondhand stores, thrift shops, and online platforms such as Etsy, Mercari, and more. Additionally, you can make extra money by finding items to flip in local places such as garage and yard sales, estate sales, and other events where people sell secondhand items at a low cost. Final Thoughts: What is The Most Profitable Item to Flip? The world of flipping items for profit offers a wealth of opportunities for those looking to generate income and extend the life of used goods. Whether you’re a seasoned flipper or just getting started, there are numerous items and niches to explore, and your success ultimately depends on your local market, your knowledge, and your ability to identify profitable opportunities. Flipping, at its core, is a simple and effective concept: acquire items at a low cost and resell them for a profit. While some items may require repairs or maintenance before they are ready for resale, the key is to maximize your profit margin through smart buying and selling strategies. The list of 42 best items to flip presented in this article offers a diverse range of options, catering to various interests and expertise. From power tools to vintage clothing and wedding dresses to electronics, there’s something for everyone. The key to success lies in finding the items that align with your knowledge, passion, and market demand. When it comes to sourcing items for flipping, there are numerous avenues to explore. Garage sales, yard sales, thrift stores, estate sales, online marketplaces, auctions, flea markets, and even your own home can serve as treasure troves of items waiting to be flipped. The choice of where to find your inventory depends on your location, preferences, and the type of items you intend to flip. Once you’ve acquired your items, you can sell them through various channels, both online and locally. Platforms like Poshmark, Mercari, Etsy, and eBay offer access to a broad online audience, while local options like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and community-based apps can connect you with nearby buyers. The key is to leverage these platforms to reach potential customers effectively. While the profitability of flipping varies depending on factors like the item’s condition, rarity, and demand, some specialized items tend to yield higher profits. Tech gadgets, exercise equipment, vintage clothing, and designer fashion items are among the most lucrative options. These items often command higher prices, and with some minor repairs or refurbishments, you can significantly increase their resale value. In the realm of flipping, innovation, and creativity can be your allies. Consider upcycling items, such as furniture, glass, jewelry, and even artwork, to breathe new life into old pieces and make them more appealing to buyers. These unique creations can not only fetch higher prices but also showcase your craftsmanship and attract a dedicated customer base. In conclusion, flipping items for profit is a dynamic and rewarding venture that offers a sustainable source of income. Whether you’re a part-time flipper looking to earn extra cash or a full-time entrepreneur seeking a thriving business, the world of flipping has something to offer. Keep your finger on the pulse of market trends, continually expand your knowledge, and, most importantly, embrace your passion for turning forgotten items into valuable assets. With the right strategy and a keen eye for opportunity, you can flip your way to success and financial prosperity. FAQs What is the Easiest Thing to Flip? Power tools are an easy item to item to flip as they are always in demand, and not many people tend to have these tools in their homes. Rather than purchasing new power tools, they can buy them secondhand, which is why flipping them is easier. What Flipping Items Make the Most Money? Another option if you’re looking to start an upcycling business is to flip vintage clothing and high-end designer fashion items. The secondhand apparel market is steadily growing, and clothing items are easy to find and resell. Wedding dresses are another option if you’re looking to make a full-time income by flipping clothing. Many brides are looking for beautiful wedding dresses at deep discounts, so you can make a nice profit by flipping and selling wedding dresses. What Can I Resell Quickly? To make money online by reselling an item quickly, you can sell used books and textbooks to students and others via reselling platforms. You can find books online, in library sales, and in secondhand stores that you can resell quickly. What is the Best to Resell? The best item to resell is old furniture. For spring and summer, consider flipping items such as wicker chairs, patio tables, and other types of furniture perfect for backyards and gardens. Many people are looking for good-quality wood furniture and beautiful vintage furniture to add to their homes, so upcycled furniture is an option for flipping items. Image: Envato Elements This article, "Hidden Gems: Top Items to Flip for a Profit" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Processing fees. Service fees. Hidden fees. It feels like most companies and services these days have found countless ways to sneakily squeeze money out of me. Even when it’s only a few dollars here and there, it’s the principle of the thing: Why am I being charged in the first place? What can I do to circumvent these fees and save my hard-earned money? Here are some of the most common fees that have been infuriating me lately, and what you can do to avoid paying them. Concert “service” feesIf you’ve tried to buy a concert ticket in recent history, you’ve been slapped with a shocking string of processing, commission, or transaction fees. From secondary sellers like StubHub and Vivid Seats, to primary sellers like Ticketmaster, AXS, and SeatGeek, these fees are built into the modern business model of ticketing live events. Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to sit back and take it. Ticketmaster in particular has been hit with multiple class-action lawsuits for the company’s lack of transparency. How to avoid them: First, check out discount and no-fee ticket sites like TickPick or Goldstar.com. Unfortunately, there’s only one guaranteed way to avoid concert service fees: Contact the box office to look into about buying your tickets in person. Sure, it’s old school (and might prove tricky for in-demand shows), but it’s a surefire way to avoid the “convenience” fee that comes with online transactions. Airbnb feesNext to the cost of concert tickets, Airbnb has gained notoriety for its bullshit fees. I've found the growing consensus is that Airbnb simply isn’t worth its exorbitant service fees. I'll never forget a few years back, there was a viral tweet with a screenshot of a $99/night listing that ended up totaling $413.95 for two nights after fees and taxes were added at checkout. How to avoid them: After you find a listing on Airbnb, try searching for the property description on other sites for offerings that don’t come with Airbnb’s fees. You can also reach out to the host directly and see if they would be interested in conducting business outside of Airbnb in order to avoid fees. For instance, you could arrange to book the property for just one night through Airbnb, and pay for additional nights in person. There’s certainly some risk involved here, but considering how much of a cut Airbnb takes from hosts, you might be able to strike a win-win deal. Seat selection and airline feesOf all the bullshit airline fees these days, “seat selection” might be the shadiest. Paying an additional $20 for my seat? Isn’t that what the ticket is paying for in the first place? During the booking process, it’s not always clear that the seat selection fee is completely avoidable. How to avoid them: When the option pops up to select a seat on your flight, simply skip past this screen. The skip button may be hidden, but it’s there. The airline will automatically assign you a seat for no extra charge. If where you sit is still a concern for you, you can request specific seats if you politely ask the gate agent when you arrive at the airport. For more information, here’s our guide to avoiding seat selection fees. ATM feesWhen you need cash fast, ATM fees are tough to avoid. It’s utter crap to be charged three dollars to access my own money, but, alas, the big banks don’t seem to be listening to my ramblings. How to avoid them: Ideally you can find an ATM owned by the bank you use so it doesn’t cost you to withdraw your money. Otherwise, consider moving your money to a bank that refunds these fees. Another tactic is to take steps to have fee-free cash on hand by using the cash back option when you grocery shop. Personally, I always take out a ten or a twenty on top of my groceries, and I rarely have to resort to finding an ATM when I need cash. Car dealership feesIf there’s someone you can trust to be honest and no-bullshit, it’s a car salesman, right? From advertising fees, delivery fees, undercoating fees—it’s easy to get lost in all the additional charges that get tacked on at a car dealership. How to avoid them: When you buy a new car, you’ll be able to see a factory invoice. Any charges listed there are, unfortunately, legitimate. However, if the dealership charges you a fee that doesn’t appear on the factory invoice, you can avoid paying it. Getting rid of these fees is often as simple as asking the dealer to strike them. Somehow, questioning their legitimacy seems to make them all but disappear. Gym initiation feesWhen you join a new gym, your first bill might come with an “initiation fee.” This sucks, and you should try to get out of it. How to avoid them: Similar to our tip with the car dealership, you should simply ask the gym to waive the fee. Bonus points if you express doubts about your membership, or even make it a condition of signing up for a yearly membership. The gym wants to keep you as a customer, so they’ll be more likely to waive one fee in order to hold on to you. Credit reportsMake a habit of checking your free credit score from sites like Credit Karma or Experian. What you shouldn’t make a habit of is paying a fee for a credit report literally ever, since this likely means you’re falling for a scam. How to avoid them: Head to AnnualCreditReport.com and check your credit health for free. Some banks and credit card companies also offer free credit reports as part of having an account with them. Overdraft fees“Overdraft protection” sounds like a positive thing to stop you from taking out more money than you have in your account. However, when the bank offers overdraft protection, they charge quite the fee for it. You accidentally overdrawing your account by a few cents could turn into an outrageous $50 charge. How to avoid them: An alternative to your bank’s overdraft protection is to link your savings account to your checking account. This way, any overdrafts get pulled from your own funds. If this isn’t possible at your bank, at least set up low-balance alerts so you avoid overdrafts altogether. Bank statement feesA paper bank statement can come with a wild $2 or $3 monthly fee. Those dollars add up, and for no reason other than, what, receiving mail? How to avoid them: Go paperless. It’s as simple as checking a box in your account settings. Good for the environment, and good for your wallet. Online shipping feesAs much as I'd like to support in-person brick and mortar stores, sometimes Amazon one-day shipping is the only option I have. And with shipping costs these days, I know I'm guilty of buying more products just to qualify for free shipping—the classic "spend to save" trap. How to avoid them: Always consolidate orders to avoid multiple shipping charges. Compare shipping rates across multiple retailers before purchasing, and sign up for free shipping programs like Amazon Prime or Walmart+. Plus, you can go for good old-fashioned store pickup options when available. View the full article

Pop quiz: Which two Super Bowl ads were created by Artists Equity Advertising, the commercial creative arm of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s studio Artists Equity? Hint: It was the two starring… Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. The big game ads for both Stella Artois and Dunkin were excellent vehicles for both actors. But they’re also the rare occurrence of major advertising investment—which goes well beyond the $8 million just for Super Bowl airtime—going to a boutique creative shop run by Hollywood A-listers. However, this is not a story about Super Bowl ads. It’s about Artists Equity’s approach to capitalizing on the increasingly aligned interests of Hollywood and brand marketers—and how the company just may have the strategy and talent to capitalize on it. Since Affleck and Damon founded Artists Equity in 2022, the studio has been steadily churning out film and TV work. Releases include Air, the unauthorized story of how Nike landed Michael Jordan; the Cillian Murphy drama Small Things Like These; Doug Liman’s The Instigators with Apple Films; William Goldenberg’s Unstoppable on Prime Video; and Jennifer Lopez’ Kiss of the Spider Woman. It’s also behind the upcoming Affleck-starring action sequel The Accountant 2. But since Affleck’s first spin as a Dunkin spokesperson in 2023—anchored by a Super Bowl spot in which when he takes over a Boston-area drive-thru—Artists Equity has been building its advertising team with a few different goals in mind. The first is to provide an added revenue stream and creative outlet for the company. Second, give both brands and talent the best experience and results with advertising that also entertains. It’s far from the only creative shop with those ambitions. But Affleck is confident that Artists Equity Advertising can carve out its own corner of the commercial world, and has a plan on how to do it. A significant part of that plan is bringing to the ad world the company’s filmmaking prowess and the creator-focused approach it takes with its studio projects. Affleck tells Fast Company that his early commercial experiences as a brand spokesperson felt overly transactional. Like a hired gun, brought in to smile and wave, with no creative input or involvement. As a result, the work was unsatisfying to him, and ultimately not as good for the brands as it could have been. “My argument to brands is that there’s a reason why you want to associate this person with the product you’re selling, and the reason is the cultural footprint this person has created,” Affleck says. “And to me, the obvious take is asking them to come in and be part of the creative process, which means sharing the strategy goals, creative goals, and brand goals.” [Image: courtesy Artists Equity Advertising] Glazed ambition The notion of brands involving celebrities or artists in the creative process sounds rather obvious. And it is becoming more common – see Bud Light’s work with comedian Shane Gillis. But it’s still more the exception than the rule. Artists Equity’s advertising business was largely born out of Affleck’s experience with Dunkin. Back in 2022, as a lifelong fan of the brand, Affleck was talking to the company about starring in a Super Bowl ad. At the time, Dunkin had a traditional ad agency working on the spot. But Affleck had an idea. What if he just showed up at a random Massachusetts Dunkin and worked the drive-thru? IT would not only make for a fun spot, but also generate a ton of earned media. The brand was hesitant, but Affleck persisted. “The agency was much smaller at the time, and in order to prove it to them, I said we’d shoot the commercial that they originally wanted, but then asked them to let us try to improve that, and also do the commercial that I think would work,” he says. The result was a Top 5 Super Bowl ad in 2023 on USA Today’s Ad Meter, as well as an 837% increase in social conversations after the Super Bowl, more than any other brand, according to media intelligence firm Meltwater. Dunkin’ CMO Jill McVicar Nelson says the Artists Equity model allows the company to tap into top talent across creative, production, design, and more, allowing them to deliver beautiful, high-impact work at incredible speed. “Because they oversee both creative and production, they move swiftly to finalize assets while maximizing content creation,” she says. “This means we get a wealth of high-quality assets across all channels, with an exceptional eye for production and design in everything they do.” The Super Bowl work continued this year and last, with the DunKings. The line of merch the brand created in 2024—in particular the track suits—sold out in less than 30 minutes. It’s also led to creating a steady stream of work for the brand, including the recent Sabrina Carpenter spot for her Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso. And a merch collab this month with Juicy Couture that sold out in five minutes. “Artists Equity Advertising has their finger on the pulse of culture, and while many may make that claim, they actually walk the walk,” says Nelson. “They don’t just anticipate what consumers will care about; their team is really connected to pop culture through their work across the studio. They bring this unique ability to extend a brand’s presence beyond traditional paid media, and together, we’ve created multi-faceted campaigns that go beyond ads—whether it’s a seven-minute short film, buzzy merchandise, custom songs, compelling social content, and more.” [Image: courtesy Artists Equity Advertising] A-listers behind the scenes Affleck and Damon are obviously the most visible talent in the company’s biggest ads, but Artists Equity Advertising now accounts for nearly a third of the company’s 75-person headcount—a testament to the smart creative hires the company has made in the past two years. Executive creative director Brandon Piece, was the company’s first advertising hire in 2023. Pierce’s creative pedigree spans legendary shops Wieden+Kennedy, 72andSunny, and Droga5, and before joining Artists Equity Advertising, helped build Hulu’s in-house marketing creative studio. That experience led him to creating Your Attention Please with Craig Robinson, and Amy Schumer’s writers room on season five of Inside Amy Schumer. “Ben is a multi hyphenate creative, obviously on the film side,” says Pierce. “And I like to call myself a multi-hyphenate creative that has found a way to successfully transition from traditional advertising to longer-form storytelling, stuff that feels like entertainment, even if it’s for a brand.” Eight months ago, the company brought in Josh Jeffries as president of advertising. Jeffries’ resume is similarly full of agency experience, including time at Deutsch LA, Anomaly, and 72andSunny. Jeffries—who’s charged with scaling the magic Artists Equity Advertising has been able to conjure over the past few Super Bowls—says the company is being very deliberate in not chasing growth for its own sake, and instead focusing on slowly branching out. “We’re highly selective of who we want to partner with,” Jeffries says, adding the company likely won’t take on more than two more clients beyond Stella and Dunkin in 2025. The agency is working to strike the balance between the work Affleck and Damon do and don’t appear in. After seeing the Dunkin work last year, AB InBev got in touch about its Stella Artois brand, with a goal to help shift its image in the U.S. as an upscale beer to more of a quality everyday indulgence. Enter Dave Beckham. David Beckham was already a brand spokesperson, and Damon had worked with AB InBev in the past, so it was a natural fit for a separated-at-birth concept. The Super Bowl spot is the start of a year-long campaign created by the agency, and most of the work was shot at the same time. “We want to be cognizant of not having the expectation that Ben and Matt are featured in everything that we do,” says Jeffries. “It’s a healthy way to start, obviously, because it works quite well. There has to be an authentic connection to the brand and the talent themselves.” In addition to the Carpenter spot, this past year included Dunkin ads with Kristen Wiig and Will Arnett. The latter was part of the…ahem… Dunkin Cinematic Universe, with Arnett hiring “Dunkinterns” and gettign creeped out by an Affleck robot. Super Bowl post-game In an industry dominated by public holding company behemoths, it’s the rare advertising shop that isn’t pushing to grow as fast and as much as possible. But the strategy for Artists Equity Advertising is about quality over quantity. Not least, Pierce says, because it has a reputation to protect. Pierce says it’s about keeping the spirit of being a creatively-driven company. “Whether it’s a film, a documentary, a commercial, or a billboard, we try to keep that thread through everything that we do here,” he says “Because ultimately everything we put out in the world has Artists Equity attached to it, so it better be at the level of everything else that we’ve established.” It’s easy to see what having a film studio as a sibling within the business can do for the advertising side in terms of creative pedigree and access to top tier talent pool. But Affleck says the ad side brings plenty to the film business. Data research, analytics, social media measurement, have all become a part of the overall business. “The difficulty around obtaining capital in order to produce something is the principal hurdle,” says Affleck. “We’ve gotten much deeper into this side of the business because I see all of it as a means by which artists can demonstrate either the value that they’re bringing, or, more effectively exploit the value that they have.” Advertising and marketing is an industry obsessed with efficiency and efficacy. Those who trade in brand entertainment aim to bridge the gap between art and commerce in a way that delights audiences and helps lift the brand. Much easier said than done. Within this dynamic, Artists Equity Advertising is a bit rare find. Big stars taking big swings for big brands, but also being in the room from the start to collaborate on strategy and creative. Over the last two years, the shop’s growing team has just begun to show how that strategy can pay off for brands and creative partners who embrace the approach. Affleck is excited about the results so far, and the potential in further bridging Hollywood and brandland. “This is a world where the lines are just increasingly blurred,” says Affleck. “I’m interested in how that evolution is taking place, and being part of it.” View the full article

Weeks ago, my partner suggested I develop a recipe for doughnuts made in the air fryer. I tried to explain to him how deep fried doughnuts are always better than baked ones, adding, “unless you wanna throw some Entenmann’s in there.” I laughed, and then shook my head, because I had sealed my own fate. Once it occurred to me, I absolutely needed to test the idea. I bought a variety pack of Entenmann’s doughnuts (including chocolate glazed, powdery crumb nubbins, and classic glazed). I fearfully placed one of each into the basket of my air fryer and pressed Start. I experienced a range of emotions during the next seven minutes, pinging from worry, to hope, to, finally, disbelief: Yes, I’m happy to report that air-fried cheap doughnuts are absolutely sensational. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann The process changes the doughnuts appearance, especially the glazed ones. The sugar coating partially melts, exposing the crumb texture of the doughnut beneath. Everything else is uphill from there: Each air fried doughnut was a textural delight—their dry, homogeneous, bread-y consistency transformed into a crunchy exterior with a chewy, caramelized crust. The interior crumb changed too: Instead of a dense, cake-y texture, the crumb opens up a bit (presumably from expanding in the heat) and has an airy feel. The flavor is also improved. All of the existing elements you enjoy in packaged doughnuts are concentrated and enhanced. Normally these doughnuts are one-note sweets, but after air frying, you’ll notice how buttery they are, taste notes of vanilla, and even detect hints of salt. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann It makes logical sense—the heat melts and caramelizes some of the sugars, moisture evaporates, and the doughnut’s surface browns a bit due to the Maillard reaction, creating new, complex flavors. But some flavors, I can’t explain. Why does an air-fried chocolate glazed doughnut taste completely like Fruity Pebbles? You must air fry a chocolate glazed, if only to experience this unexpected transformation. How to air fry cheap doughnutsI wouldn’t air fry specialty bakery doughnuts that cost $5 a pop, because that’s silly. Focus on improving the factory-made doughnuts. To air fry your own cheap doughnuts at home, simply pop the treats into an air fryer set to 350°F on the “air fry” setting for five to seven minutes. Make sure you air fry them on the included metal grate, as some of the sugars from the glaze will drip off and you don't want them to get too moist. When they’re done heating, use metal tongs or a fish spatula to remove them from the grate and place them to cool on a wire rack for about five minutes. Feel free to give them a light sprinkle of flaky salt. They’ll feel really soft and breakable at first, but after cooling, the sugars will recrystallize and the doughnuts will be crispy...and incredible. View the full article

What is WordPress? WordPress powers businesses all over the world. It is one of the most popular website building platforms, and it allows you to create a website or blog from scratch or improve an existing website. There are many notable brands, celebrities and companies that use it too. This article discusses what WordPress is and how it can benefit your business. By the end of this post, you should definitely know the answer to the question, “What is WordPress?” What is a WordPress Website? If you ever did an internet search for “What is WordPress?” you’d likely find out more than 1 in 4 websites use the website platform to power their own website (by the way, the term ‘WordPress’ is searched for nearly 3 million times a month!). That’s all well and good, but it doesn’t really answer the question, “What is WordPress?” right? Simply put, WordPress is a content management system (CMS) developed by WordPress experts Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. The duo designed it as a tool to make it easy for people without any coding experience to create a website or blog from scratch. It is a free, open-source software system licensed under GPLv2 (or later), meaning any user can use, modify, or contribute to its codebase. In addition, WordPress’s open-source software system has end-to-end encryption that can be used on your own web server or by a hosting company. Its functionality and ease of use have resulted in a large community of WordPress users and WordPress developers who have created and utilized themes, plugins, and other tools to quickly and easily build anything from huge online stores to a simple blog. 10 Useful WordPress Statistics If you need further help convincing yourselves or others that WordPress is the best CMS system for your business, be sure to check out the following WordPress statistics: It is currently the most popular content management system on the web. People visit WordPress more than the social media giant Twitter, which has a whopping 156 million unique visitors a month. With a WordPress theme-builder like seedprod, even users who aren’t very technically skilled can easily create a custom WordPress theme from scratch. Over 400 million people visit a WordPress website each month. 661 WordPress sites and nearly 300 new WooCommerce stores appear on average each day. There are over 59,000 free plugins available in the WordPress plugin directory. Over 187 countries have at least one active WordPress installation. The WordPress.org website receives over two billion page views per month. The WordPress app has been downloaded over two million times. Out of 1.3 billion websites on the web, more than 455 million sites use WordPress to power their own website. What is WordPress used for? The question closely following “What is WordPress?” is probably “Why do I need to use a WordPress website for my business, anyway, and is WordPress good for small business websites?” Firstly, when you install WordPress and set everything up, you’ll find that it can be used for developing anything from a small business site to an eCommerce storefront and blog. In fact, some of the most popular websites in the world are powered by WordPress, including Samsung, Forbes, The Guardian, and the New York Times. Additionally, small business sites like ours also use WordPress. Secondly, WordPress offers a wide range of versatile features, and new unique functionalities are being introduced regularly. However, versatility is not the sole reason for WordPress’s popularity; it also includes several features that make it an excellent platform for businesses. Here are just a few examples of what you can do with the king of content management systems: Create website content such as custom pages and posts. Easily integrate it with social media platforms. Help your site rank higher in search engine results through SEO capabilities. Track your website’s traffic and performance with analytics tools. Design a website or blog from scratch. Improve an existing website by adding WordPress functionality. Develop membership sites, chatrooms, directories, wikis, galleries, and online courses. Support all media types, such as audio, video, images, and information-related data. How does WordPress Work? Now that you know a little more about what WordPress is let’s take a look at how it works. The working process of WordPress software is a comprehensive procedure that works by combining some core files, a database, files that you add or install, and a dashboard to let you manage the whole thing. There are also many components, such as themes, plugins, and widgets, that work together to give your website the look and functionality you desire. WordPress core Installing core files is the first procedure in WordPress you will do. When you install WordPress (the WordPress core), you get access to two websites: the WordPress dashboard and your website. The WordPress dashboard is where you manage your website—add posts and pages, change settings, install plugins and themes, etc. The database This place is where all your data and website files are stored. If you are using manual WordPress, you need to install the database. If you are using an auto-installer, it will automatically do the installation process. Extra files Extra files are in the forms of plugins, themes and uploads for WordPress, and they help to make your website or blog look unique by allowing you to customize aspects. WordPress dashboard or admin screen To create a website or blog with WordPress, you first need to install it on a web server. You can do this yourself by downloading the software and installing it on your own web server, or you can have a hosting company do it for you. Once WordPress is installed, you can log in to the WordPress dashboard and start creating content. You can add posts and pages, change settings, install plugins and themes, etc. Publishing When you’re ready to launch your website or blog, you simply need to publish it by clicking on the “Publish” button in the WordPress dashboard. After that, your website will be live and accessible to the world. You can also use the WordPress dashboard to track your website’s traffic and performance and see how your visitors are accessing your content. Customization, themes, and plugins Themes control the appearance of your site; plugins add features, and widgets put all the pieces together. When you install WordPress, it comes with a core set of themes and plugins that provide the basic structure for your website. You can then install additional themes and plugins from the WordPress.org plugin directory or other sources to add features like a blog, contact form, social media integration, and more. You can also customize your site’s appearance by editing the CSS code for your theme or using child themes to make changes without affecting the original code. And if you need help with any of this, there are plenty of WordPress tutorials and support forums to help you out. Summary ComponentDescription WordPress CoreInitial files you install. Grants access to the WordPress dashboard (for site management) and your actual website. DatabaseStorage for all website data and files. Manual WordPress requires manual installation, while auto-installs handle this automatically. Extra Files (Plugins, Themes)Customization tools to give a unique look to the site. They can be plugins, themes, or uploads. WordPress DashboardOnce WordPress is installed on a server, you can manage content through the dashboard by adding posts/pages, changing settings, and more. PublishingLaunch your website/blog by clicking the "Publish" button in the dashboard. This action makes your site live to the world. Customization, Themes, PluginsThemes dictate the site's look; plugins add features; widgets integrate various elements. WordPress comes with a basic structure, but additional features can be added from various sources. WordPress.org Vs. WordPress.com There are two versions of WordPress: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. WordPress.org is the self-hosted version of WordPress that you install on your own web server, while WordPress.com is a hosted version where all the hosting and maintenance is taken care of for you. Why You Should Consider WordPress for Your Business WordPress.com allows you to set up your blog for free, but it has several disadvantages. For instance, you can only create a site under a subdomain, and you can’t remove the ads. Here are a few other ways the two stack up against one another. Ease of Use WordPress.org is a little more difficult to use than WordPress.com, as you need to install it on your own web server and manage all the aspects of your website yourself. With WordPress.com, everything is taken care of for you, and getting started is fairly straightforward. WordPress themes WordPress themes make your website look brilliant, and WordPress.org has full WordPress theme support where you can use custom commercial themes and all the other free themes. The .org version of WordPress also lets you use premium WordPress themes to customize, modify or do pretty much anything you like with your website. WordPress.com doesn’t let you customize themes and only has limited theme support where you are limited to the WordPress themes that exist in their repository. WordPress plugins You will likely need WordPress plugins, and the WordPress.org plugin repository is enormous and has a plugin for just about anything you can imagine. In addition, you can find all types of WordPress plugins—from social media to security plugins. Unfortunately, the WordPress.com plugin library offers only around 100 free WordPress plugins, which may not sufficiently meet your requirements. Domain name Your domain name, or your website’s URL, is what takes your visitors to your website. With WordPress.org, you have full control over your domain name and can use any domain you want. WordPress.com limits you to the .wordpress.com subdomain unless you upgrade to a paid plan that gives you a custom domain name. Web hosting account The cost of hosting for your WordPress website is included in the price when you install WordPress.org on your web server. However, WordPress.org does charge a monthly fee for web hosting, which starts at an estimated $46-$100/yr. WordPress.com is free for up to 3GB of storage space, but you have to deal with their ads splashed across your pages. That might not be a big deal for a personal blog, but it might be a deal-breaker for a small business trying to establish its brand. eCommerce With WordPress.org, you can install any eCommerce plugin you want and create an eCommerce site, giving you a full-blown online store. On the other hand, with WordPress.com, you are limited to the basic Shopify eCommerce platform that has some restrictions on what you can sell. Monetization You can monetize your website with WordPress.org by adding ads, selling products, or accepting donations. Meanwhile, you cannot monetize your site on WordPress.com without upgrading to a paid plan that gives you more features. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) This feature is essential since it helps your business site reach the top Google rank in search results. WordPress.org comes with all the SEO features you need to optimize your website for search engines. With free WordPress.com, you don’t have much control over your website SEO since you can’t install the required plugins. Business plan users can install 3rd-party SEO plugins for about $300/yr. Help and support from the WordPress community WordPress.org has a support community with millions of users who are happy to help you out with any issue you might have. You can also get WordPress assistance through the help and support feature. The WordPress Help Team has helped many entrepreneurs build their business websites and do other tasks. That being said, the .com version of WordPress has much less support and is not as active in the support forums. Free software WordPress.com is free and has many features available if you are looking for an easy way to get started. If you want to use WordPress for your small business, the .org version is probably the best option and will cost anywhere from $46 to $100/year. Of course, it isn’t free, but you get more features and control of your WordPress websites. Google Analytics integration Google Analytics is a valuable tool for boosting your website traffic and converting visitors into leads. With WordPress.org, you have access to robust Google Analytics tracking integrated into the platform, allowing you to monitor your website’s performance and understand the origins of your visitors. However, this feature is not available on WordPress.com. Website security There are different types of website security in WordPress, such as backdoors, pharma hacks, malicious redirects, denial of service, and many more. WordPress.org gives you the ability to install a good security plugin and harden the security of your WordPress site with only a few clicks. WordPress.com doesn’t give you this feature. WordPress site customization WordPress.org WordPress.org is the preferred option for users looking to create a more personalized digital presence. This platform offers significant flexibility, enabling extensive changes to both website design and functionality. One of the highlights of WordPress.org is its flexibility to allow direct CSS edits, which means webmasters can tweak the visual appearance down to the smallest detail. Additionally, for those wanting a more sustainable and advanced customization without affecting the primary theme, creating child themes is a beneficial option. A child theme inherits the features and appearance of its parent theme but allows for modifications without affecting the original theme, making it an invaluable tool for developers and designers. WordPress.com: In contrast, WordPress.com is more restrictive when it comes to customization. Users are limited to basic theme alterations, which means direct modifications to CSS or the creation of child themes are off the table. While it’s simpler and more user-friendly, especially for beginners, those with a distinct vision for their website might find it limiting. This platform is perfect for those who appreciate ready-made templates and wish to avoid the complexities of detailed design changes. Mobile-Friendly features Both WordPress.org and WordPress.com are mobile-friendly, meaning they can be used on a PC, tablet or mobile phone. However, WordPress.org has more features that make it easier for your website to look good on mobile devices and screen sizes. Speed WordPress.org is faster than WordPress.com because you are in control of all the aspects of your website and can optimize it for speed. So…which version of WordPress should you choose? If you want more control over your WordPress website and don’t mind managing the technical aspects yourself, then WordPress.org is the better option. If you’re looking for an easy way to get started with a blog or don’t need all the features that WordPress.org offers, then WordPress.com is a good choice. Also importantly, if you’re looking for a business-grade WordPress site, it’s probably going to be best to go with WordPress.org rather than WordPress.com. Business Growth with WordPress: Capabilities and Strategies WordPress is not just a platform for creating websites; it’s a comprehensive ecosystem that can significantly enhance business growth and online presence. Here are some new sections that can add value to the article “What is WordPress?” and how it can benefit businesses further: WordPress for E-commerce Expansion WordPress, coupled with WooCommerce, offers a robust solution for businesses looking to enter or expand in the e-commerce space. WooCommerce is a powerful WordPress plugin that transforms a website into a fully functional online store. With features like product listings, a shopping cart, checkout processes, and secure payment gateways, WordPress combined with WooCommerce offers users a smooth shopping experience. Leveraging WordPress for SEO One of the key strengths of WordPress is its SEO-friendly nature. With plugins like Yoast SEO, businesses can easily optimize their content for search engines right from the WordPress dashboard. This includes editing meta tags, generating sitemaps, and ensuring content readability — all essential factors for improving search engine rankings and attracting more organic traffic. WordPress and Mobile Optimization With the increasing prevalence of mobile internet usage, having a mobile-optimized website is crucial. WordPress themes are responsive by default, meaning they automatically adjust to the screen size of various devices, ensuring your site looks great and functions well on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. This responsiveness not only enhances user experience but also contributes positively to SEO. WordPress Customization and Flexibility WordPress offers unparalleled customization through thousands of themes and plugins, allowing businesses to tailor their sites to their exact needs and branding. From custom contact forms and appointment booking systems to integrated social media feeds and customer testimonials, the possibilities with WordPress are virtually limitless. This flexibility enables businesses to evolve their websites as they grow, without the need for a complete overhaul. WordPress Community and Support The vast WordPress community is one of its greatest assets. From forums and blogs to WordCamps and meetups, the community offers extensive support, resources, and networking opportunities. Whether you’re looking for advice on theme customization, plugin recommendations, or troubleshooting technical issues, there’s always someone willing to help. WordPress for Content Marketing Content reigns supreme in the realm of digital marketing, and WordPress stands out as the premier platform for managing that content. With its user-friendly editor, Gutenberg, creating and formatting content becomes effortless, empowering businesses to execute a strong content marketing strategy. With features like scheduling posts, categorizing content, and tagging for SEO, WordPress makes it simple to manage a dynamic content calendar. WordPress Security Measures While WordPress is a secure platform, the vast array of themes and plugins can introduce vulnerabilities if not properly managed. However, WordPress continuously updates its software to patch security flaws, and there are numerous security plugins available to safeguard your site further. Regular updates, secure hosting, and best practices in password management can ensure your WordPress site remains safe from threats. Integrating WordPress with Marketing Tools WordPress seamlessly integrates with a plethora of marketing tools and platforms, from email marketing services like Mailchimp to CRM systems like Salesforce. This integration capability enables businesses to streamline their marketing efforts, automate workflows, and measure the effectiveness of their campaigns directly from their WordPress dashboard. How to Start Using WordPress Installing WordPress for your blog or any business is an easy task. Compared to other website builders, the installation of WordPress is user-friendly and can be done faster. The following illustrates the steps for installing WordPress: Step 1: Download and open the WordPress software Step 2: Establish a WordPress database on your web application and a MySQL user with full access and modification capabilities. Step 3: Locate and change wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php, then modify the document to include your database information. Step 4: Upload the WordPress files to your web server’s preferred location Step 5: Access the URL in a web browser to run the WordPress installation script. This should have been the location in which the WordPress files were published. If you are using WordPress.com, you can install almost any WordPress plugin and launch a custom domain for your business site. Step 6: At this step, you can use WordPress. Here, you begin hosting your site, and if you are the WordPress editor, you can start publishing things like WordPress posts and WordPress pages. Step 7: WordPress currently comes with three themes. The current default theme is Twenty Twenty-One, and that’s the first theme you see after logging into your website platform. You can change this to any other theme by going to Appearance > Themes or downloading a new one from the WordPress.org Theme Directory WordPress Tips The following tips and ideas can help you create a WordPress website: Always make sure to decrease your image size to speed up your website. Don’t forget to insert title tags and ALT texts. There will be some posts that you don’t want ads to appear between them. Therefore, you’ll need to hide ads for individual posts. Always edit your permalinks. Add a footer widget to your blog site or business site. Don’t forget to use an SEO plugin. WordPress offers a powerful, flexible, and scalable solution for businesses looking to establish or enhance their online presence. Its ease of use, coupled with extensive customization options and a supportive community, makes it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. By leveraging WordPress’s capabilities, businesses can create engaging, SEO-friendly, and secure websites that drive growth and success in the digital age. Is WordPress Good for Beginners? Yes, it’s surprisingly easy to use for such a powerful website builder. And although there is a little bit of work to installing and publishing your WordPress website, it is about as simple as using Microsoft Word once you get everything going. In brief, whether you are a beginner or an expert, it’s user-friendly right from the start to use WordPress. What are the Disadvantages of WordPress? One of the major disadvantages of WordPress is that more plugins are required for additional features. Also, WordPress websites can go down for no apparent reason and in a way that is difficult to troubleshoot. If you don’t manage your website correctly, it can also tend to be slow and full of spam. Ultimately, the codebase lacks the intuitiveness that some developers expect, making it more challenging to work with WordPress compared to other frameworks. If these challenges are significant for you, consider exploring the best WordPress alternatives to help you launch your site. What Type of Website is WordPress Good For? The following are the types of websites where WordPress is good to use: A blog E-commerce websites Business website Portfolio website Online Community Multilingual websites Frequently asked questions: Is WordPress a web server? Yes, and it’s a web server that handles the majority of high-traffic sites and runs the show. That’s why it’s the webserver of choice for many high-end hosting providers and leading WordPress companies. Can I install WordPress on my personal computer? Yes, you can install WordPress on a PC. What language is WordPress written in? WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) software written in the PHP language associated with a MySQL or MariaDB database. Are multilingual sites allowed in WordPress? Yes, multilingual sites are allowed in WordPress. For example, the popular blogging tool is multilingual, meaning it can be used in different languages. It is also available in 196 languages. Image: Depositphotos This article, "What is WordPress?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article