About 360 MAGAZINE

360 MAGAZINE is an award-winning international publishing on popular culture and design. We introduce avant trademarks to efficacious architects. We are a LGBTQIA2S+ friendly publication--officially recognized by the NGLCC. Our core demographic ranges from 19 to 39-year-old college-educated trendsetters within their respective international communities. The pages in this art book satisfy their strong interests including music, art, travel, auto, health, fashion, tech, philanthropy, design, food and entrepreneurship. It's an introspective digital/print/tablet portrait series, which encapsulates artists/brands/entities who embody the true essence of our publication- empowerment, equality, sensuality and most important of all, humanity within a global society.

Lexus’ Wellness Travel “Retreats in Motion”

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Automaker offering self-guided retreats to recharge travelers.

Lexus is elevating the American road trip. To meet the growing need for deeper, meaningful experiences that promote wellbeing, Lexus is putting travelers behind the wheel in its first-ever “Retreats in Motion” program. These five-day, four-night driving retreats allow guests to take a scenic, restorative drive in a new 2021 Lexus IS between two of the brand’s luxury hotel partners, with curated self-care activities along the way.

“These days, the desire to escape on the open road to rejuvenate mind and spirit has never been more enticing,” says Vinay Shahani, Lexus vice president of marketing. “The ‘Retreats in Motion’ program not only provides perfectly planned, luxurious getaways in a Lexus vehicle, but they also elevate the classic road trip with much-needed recuperative experiences.”

The Lexus partner hotels selected for the “Retreats in Motion” program have been hand-picked for their exceptional service, beautiful design and culinary offerings. Guests will spend two nights at each resort – with an average three-hour drive between each property – before returning to the originating hotel. Participating hotels in the three California-based retreats include:

Cavallo Point Lodge to Post Ranch Inn
Bardessono Hotel & Spa to Pebble Beach Resorts
Terranea Resort to Post Ranch Inn

In spring 2021, those visiting the East Coast will be able to travel between XV Beacon and Chatham Bars Inn in Massachusetts.

Travelers will be paired with the new 2021 Lexus IS sport sedan at their originating hotel before embarking on a customized route featuring suggested stops and wellness activities to enjoy throughout their drive. They’ll feast their eyes on beautiful views, relax with aromatherapy or guided breathwork, and have the option to indulge their taste buds with healthy gourmet meals at the end of each day.

Unlike typical getaways, the “Retreats in Motion” program incorporates the vehicle as an integral part of the wellness experience. More than just transporting travelers from each partner hotel, the Lexus vehicle is a destination and sanctuary in and of itself and is equipped with a mobile wellness kit to help travelers get the most out of their journey.

In creating the program, the automaker has partnered with mindbodygreen, a health and well-being lifestyle media brand, to create custom content featuring some of the world’s most-loved wellness experts for each retreat. Highlights include podcasts on sustainability with best-selling author Jonathan Safran Foer and a guided walking meditation with teacher Mary Beth LaRue, along with content covering topics from mindful eating to movement for longevity. Additionally, an immersive in-car sound bath with expert Sara Auster – designed to be played through the signature Mark Levinson sound system – helps clear energy blockages and deliver a sense of calm.

“Mindbodygreen has enjoyed being a trusted destination and resource for well-being for over eleven years, bringing together experts across all facets of health and wellness for our collective audience,” says Colleen Wachob, mindbodygreen co-founder and co-CEO. “Our team is so excited to work with an innovative, forward-thinking brand like Lexus on this partnership. Together, we’re creating something really unique and so vital to people’s well-being.”

Guests are responsible for the “Retreats in Motion” registration costs and travel expenses. Fees start at $2,700 for two guests, and include:

Five-day, four-night stay at each property
Loan of a new 2021 Lexus IS vehicle
Intimate access to curated wellness content, including self-care discussions, in-vehicle sound bath, meditation, guided breathwork and more
Complimentary welcome wellness kit

Lexus and its hotel partners deeply value the health and well-being of their guests. Comprehensive health and sanitization procedures have been put in place for each Lexus vehicle and the hotels have implemented their own measures. Please refer to each partner hotel website for more details on their COVID protocols.

For more information or to book a Lexus “Retreats in Motion,” visit mindbodygreen’s website.

About mindbodygreen

mindbodygreen is a full-service wellness company offering content, supplements, classes and trainings. With a mission to help people find the tools, routines, and products they need to live their best life, mindbodygreen is committed to delivering science and research-backed advice and products that stand the test of time. At mindbodygreen, the mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and environmental are interconnected in a 360-degree approach to well-being.

About Lexus

Lexus’ passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its guests. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 243 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With six models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers eight F SPORT models and two F performance models. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.

JOSHUA BASSETT

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JOSHUA BASSETT RELEASES SELF-TITLED DEBUT EP AND MUSIC VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE “TELLING MYSELF” – WATCH HERE

NOMINATED AND PRESENTING AT THE NICKELODEON KIDS’ CHOICE AWARDS

PERFORMING ON THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW ON MARCH 24TH

ANNOUNCES “A NIGHT WITH JOSHUA BASSETT: A ONE NIGHT ONLY VIRTUAL CONCERT EXPERIENCE” ON APRIL 16TH

After building feverish anticipation and emerging as one of 2021’s most exciting artists to watch, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor Joshua Bassett releases his anxiously awaited self-titled debut EP on Warner Records—available HERE. To celebrate the release, he just shared the music video for new single “Telling Myself ” – watch it HERE.

In addition to releasing the EP this week, Joshua will make an appearance at the 2021 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards tomorrow, March 13th, where he is nominated for Favorite Male TV Star. Joshua will also perform a song from his EP on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 24th. Furthermore, Joshua will treat fans to his first ever virtual show, “A Night With Joshua Bassett: A One Night Only Virtual Concert Experience,” on April 16th at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT. Performing his songs for the first time with a band, Joshua will showcase his multi-instrumentalist and songwriting prowess. Tickets are on sale now at joshuabassettmerch.com.

About the EP, Joshua said, “My debut EP is a rollercoaster of stories and emotions. It was written over the span of two years, so every song represents a different chapter of my life recently. It’s all about the messiness of relationships, the back and forth of falling into and falling out of love, and how those stories somehow come together into a cohesive chaos.”

The EP opens on the dreamy piano of “Sorry” as twinkling keys give way to his show-stopping delivery. Bass-y piano shuffles underneath the chantable hook, “She said, ‘You’ll be sorry when you left me, cause I’m the best thing that you aren’t ever gonna get again’.” Elsewhere, delicate fingerpicking carries the tender ballad “Do It All Again.” It culminates on the gorgeous “Heaven Is You” where he ignites one last uplifting refrain.

Joshua paved the way for the EP with “Lie Lie Lie” and “Only A Matter of Time” which received wide acclaim and established him as a breakthrough star. Teen Vogue raved, “‘Lie Lie Lie’ has a 2000s boy band feel in the best way – fun, acoustic, guitar-driven pop,” Elite Daily dubbed it “a total #mood,” and Billboard praised his “pop-rock talent, and ability not to mince words in his music.” The New York Times touted it on “The Playlist,” and Pop Sugar captured the excitement best with the admission, “I can’t wait to hear what other pop hits he has in store for his upcoming EP.”

Taking a moment to give back in a big way, Joshua recently pledged 100% of the proceeds from his merch store to the charity of the buyer’s choosing. Fans who pick up merchandise may pick one of five charities for their money to go to, all of which focus on youth-led movements or organizations led by next generation leaders, including A Long Walk Home, Jack, Teen Line, The Sunrise Movement, and The Young Feminist. Joshua is also donating 100% of the proceeds of sales of his “Franklin” Build-A-Bear furry friend available at his online merch store to CASA of Los Angeles (CASA/LA). CASA mobilizes community volunteers to advocate for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect. You can learn more about CASA/LA at casala.org.

Joshua Bassett may sing, write, act, and play multiple instruments, but he humbly identifies himself as “just a kid from San Diego who loves music.” Long before starring in the Disney+ original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, generating millions of streams, and garnering widespread acclaim, he grew up surrounded by music in the suburb of Oceanside, CA. Described by many as an “old soul,” he played drums in church, taught himself ukulele, guitar, and piano, and wrote his first song for his homecoming date at 15. In addition to being homeschooled alongside his five sisters, he was able to strengthen his voice as a singer and actor in local theater productions. After various television parts on Dirty John, Grey’s Anatomy and more, he landed the lead role of Ricky in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series which premiered in November 2019. Simultaneously, he feverishly wrote music. Inking a deal with Warner Records, he unveiled his solo debut “Common Sense” and follow-up “Anyone Else” in 2020, laying the foundation for his debut EP out now.

Follow Joshua on TikTok.

Video Premiere Page.

Skeuomorphism in Online Casinos

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Design doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It borrows from emotion, from necessity and availability, and ties to societal and cultural context. Existing as one of those avenues, skeuomorphism is an element that many of us take for granted or at least gloss over. It’s a cornerstone component of design that seems obvious once pointed out, but can otherwise go unappreciated.

Understanding this reality, taking a look at skeuomorphism can reveal the depths of an object’s history. Using the concept of online slot games as a base, we want to explore the intricacies of the skeuomorphism idea, and why it’s so heavily leveraged. Just be aware that, as with the FedEx arrow, you might not be able to unsee what comes next.

What is Skeuomorphism?

The term skeuomorphism refers to when a derivative object retains ornamental elements of an older design, when not strictly necessary. In other words, skeuomorphism is when a new object keeps superfluous components that were included in older incarnations.

The most common illustration of this that you’ve likely experienced today comes from the digital world. In most document processing tools such MSWord, this would appear in the form of the save icon. This icon, in the shape of a 3 1⁄2-inch floppy disk, is something that younger users might not recognize at all.

With a grand total of 1.44 megabytes of storage, a floppy disk is utterly obsolete today. For context, Windows 3.1 was originally available over six of these disks for a total install. With the Windows 10 install ISO at around 3.5 gigabytes, maintaining this method today would require 2,431 disks. Storage has changed shape multiple times since the floppy disk, so why do we keep it?

Much of this is due to inherited momentum, and no reasonably viable replacement. The disk was once used every day, so we grew familiar with it. Even as it was phased out, we knew what it was, and saving still needed a recognizable icon, so it stayed. A decade later, when floppy drives have gone the way of the dodo, the icon persists as a legacy to the path once traveled. It doesn’t matter that newcomers don’t understand the legacy through direct contact, the symbol has been absorbed by osmosis into our worldwide zeitgeist.

Skeuomorphism in Online Casinos

Online casinos, also tied to digital evolution, are similarly intertwined with skeuomorphic representations. For a direct example of this, consider any of the best online slots in Canada. Existing far beyond the capabilities of their hardware ancestors, these games like Bompers and Greedy Dragon still lean on traditional slot iconography that is outdated by online standards.

These are usually spread over a few different slot concepts, such as coins, cards, and fruit. Each of these has a strong historical basis in physical slots, which has been maintained ever since the first machines arrived in the late 1800s. Coins, as the standout, are standard in physical machines, yet they’re only used as an abstract in the digital realm. In online casinos, it is even possible to divide coins into fractions not feasible in brick-and-mortar establishments, but this discrepancy doesn’t matter. We know what coins are, we know what they represent, and, because of this, they make perfect fits for modern online slot games.

The same could even be said for the reels themselves. There’s nothing in physical software that makes vertically rotating barrels a necessity, yet they’re still standard for almost every online slot. Again, this is skeuomorphism in action, serving an important purpose in relating modern slots back to their ancestors.

Developing Skeuomorphism Possibilities

As an industry entirely reliant on technological evolution, it’s only natural that online casinos will continuously evolve. From major leaps in accessibility as we saw with mobile phones to the gradual increase in processing power, each new year brings new possibilities. Within these new possibilities, the potential for skeuomorphism continues to grow.

One of the most profound new developments in online casinos has been the push towards live forms of gaming. This means streaming dealers into the home of players, essentially combining at-home convenience with the realism of physical casino play. Turning to skeuomorphism, these dealers are given outfits appropriate to those which were and are worn in brick-and-mortar establishments.

This is standard practice, even though such outfits are outdated by modern electronic standards. Workers like croupiers could dress in any professional attire in theory, but by dressing in a way that relates to classic sensibilities, they’re afforded more attention than they’d get otherwise. Again, it’s superfluous on the surface, but the advantages run much deeper than a simple glance might make us believe.

Going a step further, these dealers also include physical chips when live games are played. Originally designed for easily keeping track of the score, digital means are infinitely more efficient. Considering live games have to translate physical chips through a digital interface, the addition of chips is undeniably inconvenient. It also sells the experience as a professional operation, and so the inclusion of chips in the live casino space will be here to stay, no matter how casinos unfold.

From this point, the question becomes what happens in other few decades. So far, online casinos are around 25 years old, having first appeared on PC in 1996. Their relating back to the ideas of physical casinos makes sense, as that’s where the entirety of their inspiration was born. The issue is that online casinos are growing substantially each year, increasingly taking a part of the formerly physical casino-exclusive pie.

So, what happens in the future when online casinos are built not off of the legacy of physical casinos, but from the success of earlier online systems? In this case, the games of the casinos could inherit a sort of skeuomorphism off of existing skeuomorphism’s, where the lines of what is appropriate and what is not are much more blurred.

It’s an interesting concept, and not one which can be easily predicted. As an idea that relies as much on contemporary understandings as it does history, the future of skeuomorphism in casino games is always in flux. While we can be sure there will be more efforts that fall back on older casinos, the growing influence of the digital market will always act as a serious confounding factor going forward.

5 Useful Tips When Hiring a Garage Door Repair Company

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When it comes to something as important as your home, you don’t want to get into the risk of hiring the wrong garage door repair company. The outcome can be costly and can pose a danger to your family too. Unfortunately, several garage door repair companies are not qualified to properly handle the job. With that in mind, it is therefore essential for you to know what to look for when hiring a garage door repair company.

Regardless of the kind of company you are dealing in, there will always be individuals or companies that will want to take advantage of the uninformed customer. This poses more risk when it comes to a more technical field, such as garage door repairs. Below are the tips to help you distinguish between a trusted and a manipulative company:

Tips for Choosing a Garage Repair Company

·       Look for Critical Information

·       Get different Bids

·       Seek Recommendation from Your Trusted people

·       Check the BBB ranging

·       Be Aware of Red Flags

1. Look for Critical Information

When considering having a garage door repair company, you always need to do enough research. You need to seek out and verify critical information. Some of the information you need to seek out about the hurricane garage doors include its physical address, online presence, and the company’s online reputation.

Any reputable company has got physical address listed down on their online platform. You need to verify its location provided is correct. Any great company should have an online presence. It doesn’t matter the website’s quality, but a company without a website should be of worry. Another thing is online reputation. Consider checking the online reviews of the given garage door repair company. It can be useful if you combine all of this information; it should provide you with a good idea of whether or not the company is good.

2. Get Different Bids

Any time you require a professional to do any work for you, getting many bids is significant. Having all this should provide you with a clue of the industry’s market value for any given task. It will also help you know whether or not you are signing up for a good deal. Ensure you compare the rate of various companies having similar features on their rates of payment. If they offer a warranty or they have 24hours service. Also, check if they use the sub-contracts or the technicians who the company employs. All this information is essential when comparing different offers. Don’t always go for services that are priced very cheap. This is because it may signify its low quality and shoddy work.

3. Seek Recommendations

The best way to get a reputable garage door repair company is by seeking recommendations from friends, family, and neighbors. There is a high chance that you are aware of someone who has had the kind of work done in the past. A referral or a positive warning can help you in your search for a reputable garage door repair company. The advantage of seeking recommendations from people you know is that there is no skin in the game. You will receive upfront and honest feedback. This is because they don’t want to damage their relationship with you by giving lousy directions. They also have no benefit from sending you to the company. Due to all this, there is no reason for them to provide you with erroneous information.

4. Check the BBB Ratings

The best way to find a reputable garage door repair company is by checking the rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Before you consider a company, you need to go to the BBB website and search for their name. You will be able to see through reviews and complaints about the company. Always go for a company that has been highly rated and accredited for a long time.

5. Be Aware of Red Flags

To avoid falling into the trap of an untrustworthy company, always take notice of the red flags, for instance, when a company excessively does advertising and multiple company names. Any garage door repair company needs to advertise, but doing excessively may be a cause for concern. There should be consistency in name in the area of advertising, website, and phone calls.

Finding the right company to do your garage door repair will be very easy when you master the above tips. You need to properly verify if hurricane garage doors properly qualify for the task. This is to help avoid the risk of incurring additional costs due to repletion or shoddy work.

Additional Resource: To learn about garage storage, click here.

Tea Drunk

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Tea Drunk is a Certified Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise in New York City and is known for being the most prestigious Chinese tea house in the North America. Founder and Tea Expert Shunan Teng travels to the historic tea mountains of China each spring to commission some of the rarest tea in the world to showcase their top terroir, superb craftsmanship, and true-to-origin varietals.

Shunan commissions and sources teas in the most conservative fashion to bring discerning connoisseurs the utmost traditional essence of historical teas. Teas that are meticulously curated like Gua Pian Green Tea (Melon Seed Tea) from Lu An. Lu An is one of the oldest tea-making regions in China with over 1000 years of tea-making history. This historically famous style of tea goes through a unique La Da Huo processing step that gives the tea a pleasantly toasty flavor that compliments its grassy umami taste, buttery mouthfeel and bold sugary undertone. We feel this flavor profile and mouthfeel rivals that of the hip Japanese Matcha. Gua Pian is being highlighted as the next trend in tea, with whole loose leaves, there is a lower extraction rate of caffeine, allowing your body to get all of the benefits of the complex compounds found in green tea (such as l-theanine and catechins) with a more body friendly level of caffeine.

Although many different flowers and herbs can be dried, steeped in hot water, and called “tea,” actual tea leaves come from the plant camellia sinensis. From just this one plant alone, humans discovered that through manipulation of heat, moisture, and physical disturbance of the tea leaves, this one plant can yield almost endless variations in taste and aroma. It’s a fragile ancient art form and through education and access, Tea Drunk aims to cultivate awareness in preserving it for years to come.

You can also increase your level of tea savvy straight from the source with Tea Drunk. Experience teas such as Gua Pian right from the comfort of your home (or wherever you may be) with Tea Drunk’s Educational Tea Club. Their twice monthly expert led Zoom sessions allow you to travel deep into your cup and senses in a welcoming community of tea lovers. They have two tiers of sessions, a Sampler and a Reserve, with the Reserve specializing in the highest tier of rare teas. Each box is hand curated based on concepts such as vintage, location, or theme to help you develop your palate in comparative tastings. The tea club grants you unparalleled access to transparency and high-quality education while having a blast exploring teas with others virtually.

Shunan, is an avid educator on tea and has spoken at many prestigious institutions including: Yale University; Christie’s; Van Cleef & Arpels; World Tea Expo; and Stony Brook University. She has collaborated with the Metropolitan Museum of Art to execute a temporary Chinese tea house in the museum and is the educator for TED Ed lesson – The History of Tea.

It’s truly an experience that goes well beyond any other tea subscription service on the market. You are able to deepen your personal tea knowledge alongside other like-minded individuals and grow together in community while connecting with this ancient art form of traditional tea processing. It’s an act people have been doing for tens of thousands of years, and today we get to do the same thing with people all over the world. With Tea Drunk, tea is not just a beverage; it’s an experience meant to be savored and shared.

MADELINE BANIC × X1-PRO

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American Record Holder, International Swim League (ISL) breakout athlete Madeline “Maddy” Banic sets sights on Tokyo Olympics by training less, using X1-PRO

Madeline “Maddy” Banic, the 18-time all-American NCAA swimmer who earned a neck-load of gold medals while swimming for the University of Tennessee and broke out on the scene for the ISL in 2020, has signed with GMX7 as an ambassador, joining GMX7 ambassador and 4-time Olympian Ryan Lochte with sights on ever bigger aspirations for 2021.

According to Banic, while she’ll continue swimming with the ISL, her next goal is to hopefully make the U.S. Olympic Team to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“It’s definitely my dream, and I’m pretty sure, it’s every competitive swimmer’s dream, to go to the Olympics,” said Banic, who broke the American record for the 50-meter fly at the ISL and was one of the top three breakout swimmers over the 8-week pro league. “I dream about it every day. It’s on my phone under my goals to have an American Flag Banic cap from the Olympics.”

Banic, who saw major improvements in her performance in 2020, attributes her success to a few key components, which includes practicing less.

That may sound counter intuitive, but it seems to have worked for Banic.

“Before COVID, I was absolutely murdering my body in practices, keeping my heartrate at 170 or above for several hours,” said Banic. “But when COVID hit, we weren’t able to train indoors, so I started boxing, cycling, running and kayaking and basically exercising outdoors. When I started swimming again, I was putting up decent times and that’s when I realized I had really been over doing it before.”

Then, at the end of May, Banic met David McCagg, the former 7-time gold medalist who started GMX7 and developed the X1-PRO resistance trainer, which Olympians Ryan Lochte and Caeleb Dressel also use. McCagg met Banic’s training group in Naples where she was able to try the X1-PRO.

“At first, I was skeptical. I mean, racks and towers were the standard for resistance training, but the X1-PRO changes that. It really helped me with my underwater,” said Banic, who used the X1-PRO twice a week to prepare for ISL Budapest. “Now, I use it all the time and love the X1-PRO because it’s not jerky and it travels with you the whole 25 back and forth for continuous training.”

According to Banic, her routine typically goes like this. She wakes up at 7:45 a.m., has a banana and gets ready for practice. Then, she’s in the pool from 8:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., breakfast includes eggs, avocado, yogurt, some fruit and lots of coffee.

Then, it’s time to hang out with her 5-year-old Border Collie-Australian Shepherd mix, named Remi. At 3 p.m. lunch is served which can vary, but often includes a sandwich, crackers, guacamole, salsa and dip. From 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. she’s back in the pool. After the evening swim, dinner almost always includes a meat, carb and veggie.

“That’s my typical doubles routine, but when I have singles, I’ll add in cycling with either a road bike or stationary bike, or I’ll do some yoga,” said Banic.

In addition to the workouts, and training with the X1-PRO, according to Banic, her other secret to success is her weekly massage.

“It’s an absolute must,” Banic said.

While 2020 was a tough year for many, Banic, who has publicly discussed her past struggles with depression and has helped others through her transparency, seems to have flourished and discovered more about herself. It has led to the realistic possibility of her perhaps earning a spot to compete in Tokyo at the Olympics for team USA.

“I’m definitely going to try my absolute best to make the Olympics,” said Banic. “I think that the ISL season proved that I’m kind of an underdog, but no matter how it goes, look out for the next ISL season.”

About GMX7

Founded in 2018, GMX7 is based in St. Petersburg, Florida and is dedicated to changing the world of swimming by empowering competitive swimmers with the best aquatic resistance training devices ever created. GMX7 was founded by David McCagg, a 7-time gold medalist, former world record holder and winner of multiple national championships. The first device on the market by GMX7 is the X1-PRO. Designed by ROBRADY Engineering, it has already been the recipient of several international awards including the 2020 International Design Excellence Award and the 2020 Red Dot Award for product design.

NFL uniform rankings: which are the best and worst in the league?

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It’s fair to say that the NFL is still one of the major sports in America, with millions of fans following the action each season. This saw $9.5 billion in revenue made by the NFL in 2020 and each team in the league getting a slice of this to build with. With the 2020 season delivering all the usual thrills and spills (with an exciting Super Bowl game to top it off), it is still a sport that offers so much to fans.

It is not just watching the drama unfold that brings so many people to the NFL, though. Betting on this sport also draws many fans in to keep up with the action. The AGA estimated that the 2018 Superbowl drew almost $5 billion in bets – much of it illicit. Thankfully, 2021 is a different time, and sports betting is making its way to gradual nation-wide legalization, with many states already fully allowing it.

In terms of actually making a profit from your wagers, for many, the key to success is finding the best NFL picks and predictions to use in their betting. If you can make the correct calls, it really helps you get the most from sports betting in the long term.

Of course, it is also the individual teams that make the NFL what it is. While the players that each team fields count for a lot, smaller things, such as the uniform each team wears, are very important. A snazzy uniform can help attract fans and make them feel good about their team – as well as leading to more shirt sales! A poorly executed uniform, on the other hand, can have the opposite effect.

With the NFL in off-season until September, now is the perfect time to look at which teams come out best and worst in terms of stylish uniforms.

Best 3 NFL team uniforms – Packers, Saints and Rams

As it is always nice to look on the bright side of life, let’s start with the most fashionable NFL uniforms around. While teams are always rebranding and updating each off-season, these are the current top three:

First up are the Green Bay Packers. The green and gold shirt design is pure class and instantly recognizable. It has remained pretty much unchanged for a long time and this gives it a really classic feel. The flash of yellow on the sleeve edging gives it extra zip, while the all-yellow pants complement the shirt perfectly.

Second best would probably be the LA Rams. This might be slightly controversial, as they had a kit rebrand recently, which was not to everyone’s taste. For a lot of fans, though, it looks awesome and is a definite update on their old uniform! The all-blue shirts and pants give an elite vibe, while the tight fit of both gives players an almost video game-style outline.

Third place must go to the New Orleans Saints. All you really need to know is that their uniform brings together black, gold and white to stunning effect. The players helmets, in particular, work very well, as the gold color and white stripe help offset the black uniform itself. For the same reason, the gold player numbering also stands out well on the black shirts.

Bottom 3 NFL uniforms – Jets, Bengals and Falcons

While the previous teams have got it spot-on in terms of cool uniforms, these three have not. First up are the recently rebranded New York Jets. There is just something about this uniform that does not work, and it looks ugly. This is mainly down to the outdated feel and how the white lettering sits awkwardly on the shade of green that is used.

If the Jets uniform is boring, then the Bengals have almost the opposite problem – there is just too much going on! The orange helmets with black stripes are like a migraine-inducing magic eye picture, while the stripe of orange on the black pants does not work, either. Throw in a shade of orange on the shirt, which anyone would find hard to pull on, and you have a real disaster.

Last up are the Atlanta Falcons. They (like the Jets) recently rebranded but somehow managed to go backwards in terms of cool-looking uniforms. Whoever thought all white is a good look for the football field needs a serious eye test! The lettering and numbering on the uniform also looks like it has come from a Sega Mega Drive. All in all, it is a real no-no.

NFL uniforms are key to the game’s appeal

Although football is a sport, what the teams in the NFL wear really does matter. Just as you would only add the most stylish Italian fashion brands to your wardrobe, teams can only expect their uniform to be a hit if it looks great. Getting this right not only affects how the players feel when they wear their uniforms but also how the fans feel when they see them.

DAYLIGHT STUDIO

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Daylight Studio stands out as the future of fashion. Daylight is a fully equipped 13,000 square foot rental studio located in the vibrant Hudson Yards district. For twenty years it has been hosting photo and video shoots, seminars, castings, workshops, fashion shows, green screen rentals and virtual events.

Over the past year, Daylight has been working to bring you the future of fashion: virtual fashion show. Thanks to advanced technologies such as CGI, AI and Unreal Engine, the virtual fashion show halves your production time and inspires innovation beyond the catwalk.

Daylight’s Virtual Fashion Show package includes venue, runway, models, hair and make-up, photo shoot, video shoot, social media announcement, and buyer’s list.

SNAP AND SHARE

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Black Salon and Barbershop Owners as Social Influencers

Wil Shelton, CEO and Founder of Wil Power Integrated Marketing

All marketers understand the importance of sharing images and messages with their online communities. But what if your online community doesn’t reflect enough diversity for African Americans to engage? African American salon and barbershop marketing can breathe life into a campaign and enable brands to piggyback on the connection Black barbers and hairstylists already have within their communities—including those that are online.

These cultural catalysts are considered to be taste-makers within the African American community because they are always the first to know about new trends, products, and sports or news information that matters to their customers. When they share an in-store promotion, their customers take it as a recommendation from a trusted source. And that’s when the word-of-mouth marketing really starts to take effect.

African American customers who happen to be in the shops are thrilled to be a part of this seemingly spontaneous, infused in-store experience, which turns another day at the salon into a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the next big craze that’s about to blow up. In-store marketing means that not only do these customers get to be in the know before everyone else, they score some dope merch to prove it.

You can be sure they leave that salon or barbershop ready to get everyone they know excited, too. But in-store marketing activations don’t end there. Because African-American-owned salons and barbershops tend to have huge online followings on social media sites such as Instagram.

In fact, almost all Black salon and barbershop owners are savvy social media influencers and often have hundreds of thousands of social media followers. You can see why smart brands are competing for their recommendation. Even better, most African American barbers and salon owners are more sophisticated in non-traditional marketing than a lot of senior media planners and buyers. But this hasn’t happened by chance! They are entrepreneurs who have had to teach themselves how to promote their stores and being seen as on-trend is part of the allure.

Shop owners have a history of doing more with less. In short, out of a lack of resources, urban barbershop owners have had to be nimble and develop the skills to become their own Black marketing creatives, media planners, and strategists.

Barbers and stylists are engagement experts, and what they have accomplished can’t be devalued, because they have the power to monetize the culture and narratives in their shops and elevate the marketing strategies of the brands with which they choose to work. Even after COVID-19 hit, they have found ways to pivot and thrive.

African American men and women gather weekly to spend money on self-improvement and discuss what’s new. This culture predisposes them to the idea of receiving brand messaging from the chair. Even as social media has expanded the realm of influencers, barbers and hairstylists have maintained and, in most cases, built on their role as taste-makers to become the micro-influencer stars.

They’ve done it by leveraging their strong social-media engagement skills to develop an ever-widening circle of influence. This phenomenon is nothing new, but, interestingly, COVID-19 has put salon and barbershop owners in the spotlight, as people realize the critical role they play in their lives. This makes it more relevant than ever to leverage their influence to reach African American consumers.

About the Author

Wil Shelton is the CEO & Founder of Wil Power Integrated Marketing, a full-service agency offering traditional and digital marketing services to reach multicultural audiences in the beauty and grooming industries.

Benefits of Crossposting

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Vendoo is a minority-based company that specializes in full-time reselling experience to software development, and provides a unique perspective on how to solve the common inconveniences of the reselling experience. Black CMO, Josh Dzime-Assision says, “As resellers, we’re always looking for opportunities to increase our sales and expand our businesses, which is why crossposting has become an important part of the reselling process. Crossposting manually can be very repetitive and time consuming, so without a helpful tool to simplify the process, some resellers can be intimidated by the workload.” Please see his explanation below:

So, what exactly is crossposting?

For resellers, crossposting is the concept of posting an item on multiple marketplaces; by marketplaces I mean, places where buyers and sellers meet to exchange goods. There are plenty of marketplaces out there like Ebay, Poshmark, Mercari, Etsy, Grailed, Depop, Tradesy, Kidizen and many others.

What are the benefits of crossposting?

There are many benefits to crossposting, some of which include increasing your sales by giving your products more visibility across different types of audiences. Having your item listed for sale in numerous places gives each item more potential customers and the ability to sell faster. It’s also good to diversify your audience because each marketplace has its own user base and “niche”.

What is the downside of crossposting?

The downside of crossposting is that it takes up a lot of time, because instead of having to create one listing in one marketplace, you would need to enter the same photos and item information on multiple platforms. But you shouldn’t let this bring you down, because crossposting really does work! You can still take advantage of the benefits of crossposting by finding a software or tool to help you.

How can I start crossposting?

‍Before you start crossposting, there are a few important things to take into account which I have listed below.

• Know your demographics:

All the marketplaces out there have different audiences and are well known for the products you can find on them. For example, Etsy focuses on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies, whereas Grailed is the one-stop destination for buying, selling and exploring menswear. With this being said, it is important that you understand where your buyers are more likely to be!

• Find out marketplaces fees and shipping costs:

‍This is always important to keep in mind as all marketplaces have different fees and shipping policies. For example for Poshmark for all sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat commission of $2.95. You keep the rest. For sales of $15 or more, you keep 80% of your sale and Poshmark’s commission is 20%.

• Identify tools to help you optimize the crossposting process:

‍Yes! There are tools out there that can help you to easily crosspost on different marketplaces. Tools like Vendoo were created with the intent to make a seller’s life easier by saving time and allowing you to crosspost items to multiple marketplaces in a matter of minutes. With Vendoo you can also manage inventory, as well as delist and relist items with a few clicks. So depending on your budget and needs you might want to consider trying out a crossposting software! Or you can always work with a virtual assistant who can help you crosspost your inventory.

• Stay organized:

‍Make sure to track your inventory in a spreadsheet or even a notebook if you don’t have a software that allows you to do this. This is VERY important because it will help you keep track of what sold, on which marketplaces the item was listed on, how much it sold for, how much money you made from selling a specific product and much more!

Crossposting might not sound like an ideal task for someone looking to expand as it takes up some time, but I guarantee you that it is! If your business objective is to grow, there’s no better way to achieve this than by crossposting all your inventory.

For more information, please visit HERE.

About Vendoo

Vendoo is a minority-owned startup consisting of four young entrepreneurs from the Washington, DC area. Our CEO, Thomas Rivas, identified a void in the market and decided to create Vendoo while experiencing the usual pain points of trying to sell items on multiple marketplaces. After the team was assembled, we began building the software in 2017. Each team member has a different skill set, from full-time reselling experience to software development, and provides a unique perspective on how to solve the common inconveniences of the reselling experience.