Latest news with #Prins
Campaign ME
20-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
70 per cent of UAE consumers use AI to shop, Adyen report reveals
Adyen, a global financial technology platform, has published its 2025 Annual Retail Report, highlighting a significant shift in consumer behavior which suggests that 70 per cent of consumers in the country now use AI to shop across the UAE. These findings reveal a 44 per cent increase compared to 2024. The report is based on a poll of 41,000 consumers across 28 countries, and shows that for many, AI is a relatively new addition to their shopping habits. More than one in five of UAE respondents (21 per cent) said they had used AI in shopping for the first time in the past 12 months, while 62 per cent said they would be open to using it to make purchases in the future. 'Consumers are embracing AI at an unprecedented rate as they discover how this technology is transforming the shopping experience,' said Roelant Prins, Chief Commercial Officer of Adyen. Shoppers are responding positively to the experience, with 65 per cent of consumers saying that AI helps to inspire them when buying outfits, meals and other products. More than one in ten (14 per cent) said they get their best ideas for new purchases when using the technology. Meanwhile, two-thirds (66 per cent) said that they wanted to find unique and niche brands through AI – a development that highlights the chance for brands to combine partnerships and cross-selling to drive customer sales. Gen X leads AI adoption growth The use of AI in shopping is becoming more common across all age groups in the UAE. 74 per cent of Gen Z (aged 16-27) and 75 per cent of millennials (aged 28-43) say they use AI when shopping, reflecting year-on-year increases of 45 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively. Among Gen X (aged 44-59), 59 per cent now use AI when shopping – a 49 per cent increase on last year, the report reveals. 'We're likely entering an era where AI can act as our own personal stylist, curating outfits tailored to individual tastes and preferences. The demographic splits from our research showed some interesting results, especially seeing how older generations have been integrating AI into their shopping habits,' said Prins. Adoption is also picking up among older consumers, with 34 per cent of those aged 60 and above now using the technology. According to the report, awareness is on the rise as well, with 66 per cent of UAE consumers saying they understand that retailers may be using AI to recommend products to them. Ret ai lers look to AI for growth When UAE retailers were asked how they are planning to increase their revenues in 2025, deployment of AI and technologies was a popular strategy. 41 per cent said they would invest in AI to support their sales and marketing activity and 37 per cent would invest in AI to support product innovation. Holly Worst, Vice President of Retail at Adyen, said: 'AI is no longer viewed as a future bet – it's a current imperative for retailers and consumers alike. She explained that retailers that embrace AI can increase payment conversions, simplify fraud management and reduce the cost of payments. 'By embracing AI in this way, we can help retailers offer an unparalleled customer experience as 'good' shoppers are able to speed through checkout whilst we can intercept fraudulent transactions. It is clear to see why AI has taken the top spot as the most-cited growth enabler for 2025,' she said. Beyond offering AI to shop , unified commerce is still key While investment in new technologies is high, retailers continue to focus on unified commerce. 59 per cent of UAE retailers said they currently enable customers to shop seamlessly across online and offline channels this year. A further 16 per cent of business leaders plan to introduce this in the next 12 months. At the same time, 17 per cent of retailers are looking to enhance the in-store experience by offering exclusive experiences. The report also highlights that technologies and online experiences are helping brands open up new ways to connect with customers. Among those surveyed, 63 per cent expect to be able to shop across multiple channels – be it via social media, mobile apps or websites. In fact, more than half of UAE consumers said that they use social media as a shopping channel (56 per cent). Stores still matter amid preference of using AI to shop Despite the widespread use of digital platforms, physical retail remains important in the UAE. When asked about their preferred shopping channel, 34 per cent of respondents chose physical stores, compared to 27 per cent who preferred shopping online. Key reasons include wanting to see and feel the product before making a purchase (39 per cent), the ability to try on items before purchasing (36 per cent) and the convenience of taking purchases home right away (26 per cent). Therefore, shoppers in the UAE embrace AI-supported retail experiences,
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission director hired to clean up bourbon-hoarding scandal to retire
The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission oversees the state's liquor stores. (Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission/Flickr) The state administrator Gov. Tina Kotek picked to stabilize the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission in the wake of a bourbon-hoarding scandal announced his retirement Thursday. Craig Prins will leave the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission effective July 1, he said during the commission's Thursday meeting. Kotek urged commissioners to hire Prins, formerly the state prison system's internal watchdog, in February 2023 to correct the commission's course after she requested the resignation of its former director, one of six high-level employees implicated in diverting rare bottles of bourbon for personal use. Prins described his decision to retire as difficult but right in a statement to commissioners. 'We have reached major milestones in modernizing the OLCC's operations and rebuilding the public's confidence in our mission,' he said. 'Having had the honor to work with this organization's dedicated public servants, I have complete faith in their ability to build on this progress.' Commissioners appointed current deputy director Tara Wasiak to replace Prins beginning July 1. Before joining OLCC, Wasiak was the interim director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Kotek press secretary Roxy Mayer said the governor wished Prins the best and knows Wasiak will follow his example of leading the commission with integrity and accountability. 'Executive Director Craig Prins jumped into the leadership role at OLCC at a time of tumult for the commission,' Mayer said in an email. 'He delivered exactly what Oregon needed: stability, consistency and a dedication to excellent customer service.' Before Prins took over, the commission was reeling from revelations that six top-level employees, including then-director Steve Marks, had used their positions to obtain rare, expensive bottles of bourbon for their own use. Oregon is one of 17 'control states,' where state agencies regulate where and how liquor can be sold. Wine and beer are available in grocery stores, but hard liquor is kept in state warehouses and distributed to local liquor stores. The state also sets liquor prices. And opportunities to buy rare bottles of liquor, such as Pappy Van Winkle, are supposed to be distributed in quarterly lotteries. Instead, investigators found that OLCC employees abused their positions by ordering rare bottles be sent to specific stores where they or their representatives could purchase them. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission settled cases with two former OLCC employees in April, fining them each $500. The ethics commission last week rejected a proposed $500 settlement with Marks, saying he should face a higher penalty as the former director. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
OLCC executive director retires after leading agency through time of ‘tumult'
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Craig Prins, the executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission announced his retirement on Thursday following his appointment to the position as the agency faced an ethics scandal. Prins announced his retirement during a regular OLCC meeting on Thursday. His retirement will be effective July 1. 'This has obviously been a tough decision to make,' Prins told commissioners. 'I am grateful for your trust and partnership over these last two years. While difficult, I also believe this is the right decision at the right time. We have reached major milestones in modernizing the OLCC's operations and rebuilding the public's confidence in our mission. Having had the honor to work with this organization's dedicated public servants, I have complete faith in their ability to build on this progress.' Investigation leads to search warrants at Oregon Coast animal safari park 'We have steadied the organization and placed the OLCC not just on a path to restore public trust but to enhance and expand the confidence Oregonians can have in us,' Prins told commissioners. Prins started his public service career as a deputy district attorney in Multnomah County, prosecuting criminal, delinquency and child dependency cases. Prins also served as inspector general of the Oregon Department of Corrections. Under his leadership at the OLCC, the agency recently broke ground on an $87 million warehouse in Canby and started 'a major technology overhaul' of the agency's distilled spirits retail and distribution infrastructure, the OLCC said, noting Prins said he accepted the position to 'steady the agency' and build a foundation for future success. California-founded Southern food chain expanding to Oregon The goal to 'steady the agency' came after Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called on then-OLCC Director Steve Marks to step down in February 2023 after an internal investigation found Marks and five other . After , OLCC commissioners followed Kotek's request and voted to appoint Prins as interim director. Prins was later appointed as the agency's leader in October of that year. During his time at the agency, Prins faced his own investigation by the Department of Administrative Services for allegedly leaving a work trip to attend the Orange Bowl, as first reported by The Oregonian. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In response to the investigation, Prins released a statement, explaining, 'I am aware that an allegation was made to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) about my attendance at the Orange Bowl game on January 9th, 2025. It was alleged that I misused state resources and time to do so. This allegation was thoroughly investigated by the Chief Human Resources Office (CHRO) of DAS. The CHRO investigation found the allegation to be unsubstantiated. I personally paid for the ticket, transportation, and other associated costs and took vacation time. Chair Doherty and I conferred, and he did not need me to staff him for the committee meetings that were held on the afternoon I traveled. I received no per diem on the day of the game. It is also important to note that I cooperated fully with this investigation.' The OLCC also announced Thursday that commissioners appointed Tara Wasiak as the agency's new director. Before joining the OLCC, Wasiak was interim director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation. 'I'm excited by what lies ahead for the OLCC,' Wasiak told Commissioners. 'I'm committed to building on our recent successes and demonstrating to Oregonians the value of our agency's work.' 'On behalf of my fellow commissioners, I want to thank Craig for his distinguished service to the OLCC and to the state,' said Commission Chair, Dennis Doherty. 'The revenues raised by the OLCC help keep our communities beautiful, safe, and prosperous. The innovative programs and projects Craig has initiated mean that we will be able to deliver these benefits to Oregonians for decades to come. This is a well-deserved retirement, and we wish Craig well.' In a statement shared with KOIN 6 News, Roxy Mayer, a spokesperson for the governor's office added, 'Executive Director Craig Prins jumped into the leadership role at OLCC at a time of tumult for the Commission. He delivered exactly what Oregon needed: stability, consistency, and a dedication to excellent customer service. The Governor wishes him the best in his retirement,' adding, 'The Governor knows Tara Wasiak will continue the example Director Prins set and will lead the Commission with integrity and accountability.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
IOL News
29-04-2025
- IOL News
Animal cruelty charges filed after SPCA discovers neglect in Edgemead home
Twenty-five animals were rescued from a house in Edgemead after they were found trapped in dirt. Twenty-five animals were rescued from a house in Edgemead after they were found trapped in dirt. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA said they received multiple complaints but were unable to gain access to the property on two separate occasions. The initial complaint was received on April 12 from a concerned member of the public associated with a rescue organisation. The complaint, which was accompanied by video and photographic evidence, alleged severe neglect, including the feeding of live prey to snakes, visible injuries on rodents, and a bird kept in dirty and unhygienic conditions. A second complaint was later submitted by another rescue organisation, corroborating the conditions and urgency of intervention. The inspectorate was able to obtain a warrant in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962, read together with Regulation 468. An SPCA statement reads: 'Inspector Lee Prins attempted to conduct inspections on April 13 and 14, during which no-one responded at the premises, and he was unable to gain entry. This left inspector Prins with no other option but to approach the Goodwood Magistrate's Court on an urgent basis for a warrant to gain entry to the premises. "On April 16, inspector Prins, accompanied by fellow Inspectors and the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement, returned to the property and executed the warrant. A locksmith had to be called to assist with gaining entry to the premises.'
NZ Herald
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
9 things to do in Auckland this weekend: Prins, Bluey, Iliza Shlesinger and more
Price: Tickets $22-$94 + booking fees from 2) Prins If you haven't yet had a chance to check out the artist touted as New Zealand's 'next global pop star', this weekend is the perfect time to see her in the intimate surroundings of the Tuning Fork for her Heaven or Hell tour. You could have the opportunity to become one of those annoying people who say, 'I saw her before she was famous'. 'Famous' is a relative term, of course, especially when applied to someone who last year toured and played many of the world's great cities, including Los Angeles, Stockholm and London. Her music has already accumulated millions of streams, and she's logged collaborations with some of the biggest names in music. Saturday's show might just be the last time you can get same-day tickets to a Prins gig. When: Saturday, April 26, 7pm. 3) Bluey If you don't have children, don't know any children and don't watch TV, we might forgive you for not yet having booked tickets to the stage show version of the pop cultural phenomenon that is Bluey. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't go. This Australian animated television delight is perfect, with its hilarious characters and storylines, distinctly non-saccharine messaging and all-round creative genius. The stage show is a guaranteed good time for young and old alike, based on a new story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and contains music by Bluey composer Joff Bush. Since its debut in Bluey 's hometown of Brisbane, the show has played to more than one million people across the world, including performances at iconic venues including Madison Square Garden in New York and the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. When: April 26 and 27, 10am, 1pm and 4pm. Price: Tickets $34-$142 from 4) Mary Poppins Most parents are probably wishing that Mary Poppins floated in on her umbrella two weeks ago to manage the children for the holidays, but instead, she's arriving on Saturday at the Harlequin Musical Theatre, not your place. It's a magical story with some beloved earworms like Spoonful of Sugar, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and Let's Go Fly a Kite that you and your little people will be humming all the way home and potentially for weeks to come. The Disney classic is having a two-week season with a relaxed performance on Sunday, May 4, for people for whom a live theatre experience might be more challenging, including those with sensory needs, on the autism spectrum, or young children. When: April 26-May 10. 5) Iliza Shlesinger The NZ International Comedy Festival proper doesn't officially start until Friday, May 2, but on Saturday, you can catch one of the biggest international performers of the festival at Bruce Mason Centre. Iliza Shlesinger is a pretty big deal. She's starred in numerous movies, hosted television shows, released six Netflix specials, and has just released a new special on Amazon Prime. She's made a name for herself making people laugh with what she calls 'digestible feminism' and has a popular podcast called AIA (Ask Iliza Anything) where she offers listeners her unique and often blunt advice. It's a head-scratcher that her show The Get Ready Tour isn't already sold out, but that means you still have a chance to have a hilariously entertaining Saturday night. When: April 26, 7pm. 6) Overload A group of dedicated anime enthusiasts spend all year organising Overload, a two-day convention celebrating anime and manga artists at The Cloud. Even if you're not deep in the fandom, there's so much to admire and enjoy about this festival. There's a large artists' market where you can meet some of the artists and purchase their work, an arts and craft area, a daily cosplay parade, an Overload anime art competition, anime exhibitions, anime trivia, Q&As with notable anime artists, and more. The Maid Cafe, where you get served by 'cat-inspired' maids, is particularly intriguing, as is the Itasha zone full of creatively painted vehicles. The event started in 2006 with just 30 artists and 150 visitors, and has been steadily growing to the massive two-day festival it is now. When: April 26, 10am-6pm and April 27, 10am-5pm. Where: Shed 10 and The Cloud, 89 Quay St, Auckland Central. Price: Tickets start at $17.50 if you buy them online or from $20 on the door. Visit for the full programme and tickets. 7) Plan ahead: Public Record at Silo 6 In the lead-up to Aotearoa Art Fair next week, there are several adjunct exhibitions opening up around the city, including this standout by contemporary art gallery Public Record. Opening on Wednesday, Public Record at Silo 6 showcases the work of nine local and international artists installed in the specific and unique setting of Silo 6 in Wynyard Quarter. Among the artists are two Japanese ceramicists, Namika Nakai and Hitoshi Marimoto, local textile artist Rachel Long, and flax weaver Kiriana O'Connell. On Friday evening, there will be a live performance or 'immersive experience' combining sound, fashion, and dance, directed by the gallery's own Eve and Yuka O'Shannessy. The exhibition is free to attend, but you'll need to book a ticket for Hau, the live performance, as space is limited. When: Public Record at Silo 6: April 30-May 4. Hau, May 2, 7pm. Where: Silo 6, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland Central. Price: Tickets $34.50 from 8) Plan ahead: Opera in the Strand Auckland Council is kicking off its New Zealand Music Month slate of events with Opera in the Strand on Thursday. If you work in the city, it's an absolute no-brainer to stick around after work and head to the Strand Arcade to listen to some of Aotearoa's most exciting young opera singers selected by the New Zealand Opera School. There's a lot of development happening in Midtown, especially with the building of the new Waihoritiu Station, but the Strand Arcade remains an important and beloved piece of Auckland's history and an ideal setting for a public opera performance. The inaugural Opera in the Strand was an enormous success last year, and hopefully, this year will cement the event in Auckland's New Zealand Music Month calendar. You'll need to bus, train to downtown, Uber, or drive this year, but next year you'll be able to hop on the City Rail Link and be delivered to the doorstep of Midtown. When: May 1, 6pm. Where: The Strand Arcade, Queen St, Auckland Central. Price: Free. 9) Plan ahead: Emma Bass, Floratopia It's unlikely the first adjective that comes to mind when you think of Britomart is 'floratopia,' but next week Emma Bass is changing that. She's holding a pop-up exhibition that opens on Tuesday on Tyler St, with her signature floral still life works. If you haven't seen Bass's stunning images before, they're a blooming delight. Floratopia features a selection of prints along with a printed wool/silk scarf that she's selling to raise money for Breast Cancer Cure. If you've got the kind of mother who fancies floral, then this could be the perfect pre-Mother's Day stop. When: April 29-May 4, 10am-5pm.
