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CBD Oil

DJ Khaled Announces Collaboration With Major CBD Lifestyle Brand

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Music mogul and Grammy award winning artist DJ Khaled has announced that he’s stepping into the CBD industry. Khaled has been keeping his fans updated with his own personal wellness journey throughout the past few months, and as a part of that he’s now partnered with Endexx, a leading producer and manufacturer of CBD wellness products. 

For those who don’t know, CBD is a chemical compound that is found in marijuana and hemp plants. However, unlike marijuana, CBD is fully legal due to the fact that it’s not psychoactive; meaning it won’t get you high. Instead it has a multitude of health benefits and is mainly known for being an amazing relaxer for individuals. 

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Khaled and Endexx claim that their new collaboration company and products will debut its first collection in 2021. While the DJ is most well-known for his major contributions to the music industry as a producer, writer, performer, etc. Khaled has taken his time in quarantine to focus on his family and his own health; a journey he obviously is keeping his followers updated on through his iconic Instagram.

“CBD has become a part of my daily routine and allows me to focus myself and my energies, while striving to better myself every day.”

Khaled continued on that “as a father, an entrepreneur, a music exec and visionary I am blessed with daily inspiration, a drive to work hard and a passion for success. I was drawn to Endexx Corporation because they’re an innovative company that has proven they have the keys to deliver consistent, top of the line, high-quality products.”

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Todd Davis is the CEO of Endexx Corporation, and he recently spoke with the media about the upcoming collaboration with Khaled and how excited the company is as a whole to have such a prominent public figure interested in diving into the CBD lifestyle and wellness sector. 

“We are excited to announce our partnership with DJ Khaled. Khaled’s knowledge and passion for CBD is bountiful and we realized we are aligned in our approach towards product quality and business acumen. We understand and share the values that a brand goes beyond physical products; it needs to help people feel good about themselves and be part of a day-to-day lifestyle.”

IMPACT Brokers is a Miami based third party investor involved in the collaboration, and they will focus on spearheading sales and working on marketing strategy on behalf of the brand. It’s expected that Khaled himself will be the face of the company considering his following and notable personality. 

“We are committed to accelerating innovation and diversity throughout this developing industry while offering strategic guidance to best-in-class CBD suppliers. IMPACT Brokers sits at the forefront of culture and has the ability to predict industry trends. We look forward to taking this newest business nationwide,” says Ryan Stender, CEO of IMPACT Brokers.The CBD collaboration between Endexx and DJ Khaled is expected to launch in early 2021, keep up with the music mogul on his Instagram for any further updates!

Sneakers

The 3 Best Sustainable Sneaker Brands

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When it comes to emerging lifestyle brands, the importance of sustainability has become a key element of the design and marketing of many popular products as the consumer base grows increasingly aware of the environmental impact of clothing and other goods. As such, entire industries are reimagining their production pipelines to accommodate environmentally-friendly business, leveraging innovations in engineering and design to reduce their carbon footprints and  material waste. 

While they are often more expensive than their competitors, environmentally-friendly products are generally more aesthetically pleasing and durable, as rarely-utilized environmentally-friendly materials offer unique benefits. When it comes to shoes, for example, traditional materials including leather and plastic are environmentally-dubious at best and destructive at worst, as most leather is tied to the notoriously inefficient cattle industry and plastic takes centuries, if not millennia, to degrade. Recently, a number of brands have introduced shoes that are not only comfortable and stylish, but are manufactured using environmentally-friendly materials and processes, giving their customers confidence that they are dealing with ethically-sound businesses.

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Allbirds, for instance, is a brand of footwear that has exploded in popularity recently due to its unique approach to manufacturing. Instead of materials such as leather, plastic, and polyester, Allbirds sells shoes made from wool harvested from sheep in New Zealand and “responsibly harvested eucalyptus tree fibers,” among other options. Additionally, the company’s disposable packaging is made from recycled cardboard, and the shoes’ plastic laces are made from recycled bottles. 

Thanks to this choice of materials, Allbirds shoes boast properties that are unique in the industry. TIME magazine declared Allbirds’ flagship wool runners to be “the world’s most comfortable shoes,” and as they are mostly made from wool, Allbirds shoes can be thrown in the washing machine and dryer. Wool shoes keep the wearer’s feet cool in the summer and warm in winter, and due to wool’s moisture-wicking properties, you don’t necessarily need to wear socks with these shoes, though of course it doesn’t hurt. Allbirds is dedicated to being a 100% carbon neutral company, as what little carbon the company does emit is offset by a self-imposed carbon tax.

Allbirds, of course, is not the only sustainable footwear brand. Shoes made by Veja feature soles created from wild rubber harvested from the Amazon rainforest via a process that doesn’t damage the ecosystem. While Allbirds takes advantage of a minimalist, utilitarian design philosophy, Veja’s shoes are more conspicuous, with most of the company’s offerings featuring a brightly colored V symbol along the sides of the shoes. Nonetheless, Veja incorporates environmentally-friendly materials throughout the production process, including recycled fabrics and plastic as well as synthetic suede. Veja is committed not only to environmentalism, but also economic justice, as the company prioritizes treating employees with dignity and respect over cost-cutting measures. Despite the use of more expensive materials, Veja is able to sell their shoes at competitive prices because they don’t advertise.

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A third brand to consider if you’re looking for environmentally-friendly and ethically-produced footwear is Wado. Wado’s ethical pledge is similar to others in this article; the company uses sustainable materials extensively, manufactures shoes in Europe instead of Asian countries that provide cheap but unethical labor, and contributes to reforestation efforts. Wado’s style is nostalgic yet attractive, as many of their sneakers appear as though they were designed in the 1980’s, featuring thick soles and air holes for ventilation. Nonetheless, the shoes are constructed from innovative materials, like organic cotton, recycled foam and wood chips, and so-called “vegan leather.”

Sustainable brands, of course, are not limited to footwear but can be found in nearly every category of lifestyle products, whether that be clothing, accessories, or homeware. While you may have to pay a little bit extra for sustainable products like these, the knowledge that you’re helping to preserve the environment coupled with the enhanced durability and design of these items can offset the financial concern for many customers.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Purchases Blue Box Jeweler Tiffany for $16.2 Billion

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In a move Holly Golightly may or may not approve of, Tiffany & Co has been sold off to Louis Vuitton for over $16 billion, ending nearly 200 years of independence for the luxury jewelry company.

The owner of the biggest luxury goods company in the world – an accolade gained following the 1987 merger with Moët Hennessy thus creating LVMH – billionaire Bernard Arnault claimed Tiffany has an ‘unparalleled heritage’ and would be a perfect match alongside his companies and brands, therefore giving him a larger grasp on one of America’s fast growing markets.

An icon of New York, Tiffany’s flagship store is based on 5th Avenue, New York City and became a household name thanks to the Audrey Hepburn movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1961, leading to thousands of movie fans heading to the store to buy their pieces of jewelry.

And with over 14,000 people employed in the store that was founded in 1837, they now have around 300 stores worldwide.

Following Mr Arnault’s purchase of Bulgari for $5.2 billion in 2011, he has been looking at buying Tiffany to increase his company’s portfolio stating ‘we have an immense respect and admiration for Tiffany and intend to develop this jewel with the same dedication and commitment that we have applied to each and every one of our Maisons [brand houses].’

The acquisition of Tiffany has increased LVMH’s holding to 75 brands including Christian Dior, Dom Perignon, Kenzo and Tag Heuer. LVMH now operates over 4,590 stores with around 156,000 employees.

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LVMH first put a bid in of $14.5 billion for Tiffany in October however this was declined as it was felt the offer was to low for the brand. The agreed figure now puts shares in Tiffany at $135.

Roger Farah, Chairman of Tiffany confirmed the board had agreed the deal claiming it ‘provides an exciting path forward with a group that appreciates and will invest in Tiffany’s unique assets and strong human capital’.

The all-cash deal appears to be a great opportunity for fans of the Tiffany brand. Unlike companies who remove the heart of the brand when taking over, LVMH are renown for building on what is already there.

It has already been suggested that the move will ensure Tiffany can maintain its position in the luxury market as well as restoring its exclusive status. LVMH will also be looking at extending the brand into China as well as the US, making sure the brand can improve on its already iconic name.

Currently there are 36 stores in mainland China and through star endorsements, alongside a promotion for a limited edition Tiffany key diamond pendant via WeChat – China’s most popular social media platform, Tiffany has grown to become the second favourite jeweler of choice – after Cartier – therefore allowing LVMH to increase their popularity.

Tiffany CEO Alessandro Bogliolo released a statement confirming the sale saying, ‘this transaction, which occurs at a time of internal transformation for our legendary brand, will provide further support, resources, and momentum for those priorities as we evolve toward becoming The Next Generation Luxury Jeweler.’

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Following a drop in sales, Tiffany had comeback with a campaign focusing on their more expensive items rather than the ‘entry-level gift items’ that had weakened the brand, resulting in some of its exclusive clientele choosing to shop elsewhere.

With the lower end items generally cast in silver the brand needed to refocus their attentions and launched its first engagement ring in over ten years – a stunning colorless square diamond – with the option of either an 18-karat gold band or a plain platinum.

At the time Mark J Erceg, Tiffany’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer confirmed ‘we plan to invest even more behind our high jewelry offerings and have plans to continue introducing even more gold with and without diamonds and diamond products’.

If LVMH’s history is anything to go by, Tiffany should see an increase in sales thanks to LVMH’s experience in refreshing ‘stale’ businesses, with Bulgari appreciating a massive increase in sales in the last 8 years.

The sale to LVMH will allow Tiffany the opportunity to increase their watch and jewelry sales significantly. Currently LVMH sales in these products – via their six specific brands – was a reported $4.45 billion in 2018, which was similar to Tiffany’s top line during the same period, implying that LVMH will double their sales by the move.

It is also important that LVMH is taking control of the supply chain, with the improvement of their sustainable sourcing a significant concern to their younger customers.

HSBC’s Global Co-Head of Consumer and Retail Research, Erwan Rambourg believes this could be essential to increasing the brand’s awareness, saying the company – and therefore the employees – will be ‘able to tell you what this is, whether it’s from this or that mine in this or that country. It’s a key competitive advantage.’