Latest news with #ASSC
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh holiday home businesses join Scotland-wide call to 'stop the scapegoating' of the self-catering sector
This week, across Scotland, small business owners from around the country gathered to send a clear message: stop unfairly blaming Scotland's self-catering sector for the housing crisis. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Led by the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC), the 'Stop the Scapegoating' roadshow began in Edinburgh, highlighting the vital role self-catering accommodation plays in Scotland's economy and the harm caused by overregulation and political misrepresentation. Edinburgh-based holiday home companies The Edinburgh Address, which has been operating since 2007, and its sister brand Adore Scotland joined the event to show solidarity with fellow operators who have seen their livelihoods threatened by recent short-term let regulations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Decreasing self-catering stock only causes rising prices in that sector too, damaging tourism. Shortage of housing is causing rising prices for accommodation,' said Alison Morris, a holiday home owner of 15 years. "You've got to be kidding!" The Adore Scotland team turned up at the Scottish Parliament to support the ASSC's campaign Like it or not, tourism is a vital part of the Scottish economy. It looks as if every effort is being made to kill it off.' Self-catering businesses represent just 0.8% of the total housing stock in Scotland, compared to 3.6% of homes sitting empty. Yet it is the former that has been subject to intense scrutiny and regulation, despite the sector generating £864 million annually and supporting over 29,000 jobs, at least. 'The truth is, we're a small-ish but vital part of the local and national economy. Guests who choose our homes help sustain local eateries, shops, transportation, and attractions. Responsible self-catering operators like us create a ripple effect that benefits communities well beyond just accommodation, and it's completely unfair that our industry has been the scapegoat for so long,' said Daisy Curtis, Partnership & Growth Manager at The Edinburgh Address. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ASSC and self-catering providers across Scotland are calling for a pause, a reset, and a more balanced approach to regulation—one rooted in facts, fairness, and meaningful dialogue, rather than fear or political pressure.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
MSPO-ASSC deal to drive demand for Malaysia's sustainable palm oil in Japan
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO), formerly the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan's Global Alliance for Sustainable Supply Chain (ASSC) to boost demand and expand market access for MSPO-certified palm oil across Japan's premium industrial sectors. According to a statement from the Plantation and Commodities Ministry, the collaboration is significant in Malaysia's efforts to strengthen the global positioning of its sustainable palm oil industry. "This partnership is expected to unlock new opportunities in Japan's high-value industries and enhance Malaysia's presence in global sustainable supply chains,' the statement said. The partnership positions the MSPO at the centre of Japan's sustainable procurement ecosystem, providing Malaysian producers with direct access to buyers who prioritise responsible sourcing, the ministry said. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said: "This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in Malaysia's efforts to champion sustainable palm oil on the global stage. It reflects growing international recognition of MSPO as a credible and inclusive certification that meets the highest environmental and social standards. "At its core, MSPO is not just about markets, it is about people. This collaboration opens up real opportunities for our smallholders, empowers our workers, and uplifts rural communities by ensuring that their palm oil can reach high-value, sustainability-conscious markets like Japan,' he said. The ministry said the partnership builds on the outcome of a comprehensive human rights impact assessment (HRIA) conducted in 2023 by Ajinomoto Co Inc and ASSC which validated the MSPO framework as robust, inclusive and well-aligned with international expectations, particularly in safeguarding smallholder livelihoods and protecting workers' rights. "ASSC will serve as a core knowledge and advocacy partner for MSPO in Japan, helping to build industry awareness, influence procurement decisions, and drive the adoption of certified sustainable palm oil in one of the world's most quality-conscious markets,' the statement said. - Bernama
Hypebeast
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Anti Social Social Club Opens First Global Flagship in Seoul
Summary Anti Social Social Club (ASSC)has officially opened its first global flagship store inSeoul's vibrant Dosan neighborhood. This launch marks a significant milestone for the Los Angeles-born streetwear label, solidifying its international presence and offering a direct, immersive brand experience in the heart of South Korea. Under the 'Step into the 'Weird Seoul' of ASSC' slogan, the store offers an immersive brand experience that blends fashion, culture and curated eccentricity. The space showcases an eclectic mix of products, which includes globally recognized Quickstrike collaborations likeAssassin's CreedandWWE. In addition to that, the brand also unveiled the 'Chapter Dosan' collection that is exclusive to their Seoul store. Adding to the store's distinctive offbeat charm is a dedicatedWeirdArchiveexhibition. The exhibition features a playful array of non-apparel items, spanning lanterns, camping gear as well as nostalgic past collaborations like the Playboy cushion and sleep mask. To celebrate the opening, founder and creative director Ian Coates hosted a talk session with Korean artists and fashion insiders, delving into the emotional and cultural DNA of the brand. The Seoul team also introduced a flagship-exclusive customization program, inviting visitors to create their own 'weird fit' in line with the brand's ethos of self-expression and unpredictability. With new product drops planned weekly, the store is designed to be a dynamic, ever-evolving space. Anti Social Social Club Seoul Flagship Store27, Apgujeong-ro 42-gil,Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
South Ayrshire Council to abandon controversial tourist tax plan
South Ayrshire Council is set to abandon plans for a tourist tax in the region. The local authority mooted the prospect of charging for overnight stays in a bid to boost its a public consultation into the plan was heavily negative, with only 15% of respondents supporting the proposal compared to 79% critical comments included doubts Ayrshire was attractive enough a location for the levy to work. Officials recommended the plan be abandoned for two years and the decision was agreed at a council meeting on decision is subject to call-in, meaning other councillors have 48 hours to object to the decision before it is finalised. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) both submitted formal objections to the South Ayrshire proposal, with residents, hotels and B&Bs providing most of the other respondent wrote: "I don't believe that Ayrshire is attractive enough as a destination to warrant a tourist tax/levy."I can see how this works in very popular places like Barcelona or Athens." Many expressed fears that the region's tourist sector was already fragile, and that small businesses would suffer if there was any further financial have reviewed the survey findings, along with developments in other areas, and recommend dropping the project from its transformation programme and not considering development until August 2027 at the said the two year delay will allow time to assess how the levy affects other regions and whether such a scheme could work in South future return to the plan would need a full public consultation and a locally tailored approach, including decisions on rates, exemptions, and use of revenue.A number of other regions in Scotland are looking at similar plans, with Edinburgh councillors deciding to push ahead with a 5% levy earlier this councillors will decide on a similar scheme on approved, tourists will be charged £4.83 per night from January 2027.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Anti Social Social Club Unveils First Global Flagship in Seoul
LONDON — Anti Social Social Club, the direct-to-consumer streetwear label, is expanding into brick-and-mortar on Friday with its South Korean distributor, Kasina, to open its first global flagship in Dosan, a trendy neighborhood in the Gangnam area of Seoul. The flagship space, designed by Seoul-based studio Archi@mosphere, is adorned with industrial pink anodized aluminum, glass-paneled walls and a cement floor. More from WWD Yahoo Mail Unveils AI Mobile App Feature and Collabs With Anti Social Social Club From K-beauty to J-beauty and Beyond - Inside Asian Beauty's Next Chapter Peter Kim Brings Taverniti on Board as Creative Director of D-R-G-N It features a selection of the brand's ready-to-wear offerings, like the Quickstrike lines with Assassin's Creed and WWE, and a Seoul exclusive 'Chapter Dosan' collection. The store also will showcase a rotating display of rare vintage cars. Romney Jacob, vice president of brand at Marquee Brands, which acquired Anti Social Social Club in 2022, said the store has some of the best neighbors in the street fashion scene in Seoul: Supreme, Palace and Noah. Coinciding with the opening, the store will host an archive exhibition featuring playful items such as camping gear, frying pans, lanterns and past collaborations, like the Playboy cushion and sleep mask. Ian Coates, founder and creative director of Anti Social Social Club, will host a series of talks with artists and fashion industry professionals in South Korea to explore the brand's evolving identity. Jacob said South Korean culture has been integral to the brand since its inception. 'According to our lore, a bad breakup with a Korean girl was the motive behind the founding of the brand, and Korean graphics and characters have been frequent design motifs. It's fitting to commemorate our 10th anniversary with the opening of our first flagship in the country that inspired it all,' she added. The brand and its Seoul team have also codeveloped a customization program exclusive to the flagship, allowing visitors 'to immerse themselves in the ASSC ethos in the physical world that will add richness and texture to the experience in a way that just isn't possible online,' according to Jacob. 'Our retail environment will have ASSC Easter eggs hidden around the store, constantly changing, allowing us to create an experience that keeps both our superfans and new customers coming back. Combine that with a full slate of activation programming for future collaborations, and we will take the ASSC experience to the next level,' she touted. A new lineup of products is planned to be released every week. The international expansion comes after Anti Social Social Club had largely stuck to its direct-to-consumer, drop model since its inception. In addition to tapping Kasina for a South Korea partnership, it last year signed on Luke 1977 in the U.K. to bring the brand to a larger customer base. The brand first started offering three drops a year, with each drop lasting roughly two hours. Anti Social Social Club was founded in 2014 by NikeTalk forum member Neek Lurk, who is no longer associated with the company. Looking ahead, Jacob said the brand's next 10 years will be reinventing the category once again. 'Much as the brand has pioneered the drop model and the use of Instagram as a marketing channel, we will continue to be at the forefront of culture and technology, figuring out the best way to hack the latest developments in these areas to enrich our customers' experiences and build our brand exponentially,' she said. 'More practically, the next decade will definitively be characterized by dedicated ASSC stores around the world, executing on a business model that is equal parts globalized and localized — a model that our 'born of the internet' brand can uniquely deliver,' she added. Jacob confirmed that the company is actively looking for like-minded brands to 'join our cause and see our future business as an accelerator of a portfolio of meaningful and commercial youth brands, providing all the capabilities necessary to allow them to fully meet their global brand potential.' Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns
