This Ain’t No Throwback: Lenovo Moves Forward

Lenovo introduced its first camera and smartphone crossover, the VIBE Shot, outfitted with a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 32GB of onboard storage and a micro SD slot expandable up to 128GB. Its sleek, lightweight body features a 16 megapixel rear camera with infrared autofocus and a six-piece modular lens.

Designed with a large display and a physical shutter button that makes the phone feel more like a camera, the VIBE Shot channels the look and feel of early compact cameras. It may look like a throwback, but the VIBE Shot is among the ranks of new and novel gadgets introduced at Mobile World Congress 2015.

Lebanon Steps Up Tech Game to Improve Tourism Economy and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Unlike its GCC counterparts, Lebanon‘s current entrepreneurial ecosystem faces several disturbances. Setting its incredibly slow internet, poor mobile network infrastructure aside, and poor e-commerce payment solutions (they don’t even have PayPal yet), the small country east of the Mediterranean doesn’t even provide electricity without several power outages throughout the day. When it comes to its entrepreneurial ecosystem, Lebanon somewhat resembles Jordan; many aspiring entrepreneurs leave to the GCC where they can work with better tech infrastructure and have access to more capital. There’s also Lebanon’s tourism industry, it’s primary source of economy, which could use an extra kick to reel in more travelers.

Thankfully, both the private and public sectors have taken notice of this problem, and are working towards alleviating some of these problems.

One project that received much attention when announced is the UK Lebanon Tech Hub, spearheaded by British Ambassador to Lebanon HMA Tom Fletcher.Fletcher announced the initiative, in collaboration with Lebanon’s Central Bank Banque du Liban, at the BDL Accelerate startup conference last November. The plan? Bring in British expertise from London’s private sector. While the website was launched just a few months ago in January, it is still at its BETA stage, gathering information from different stakeholders of Lebanon’s knowledge economy through online surveys. Could using London as what HMA Fletcher described as a “launchpad” for Lebanon’s economy give the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem a good kick?

When it comes to Lebanon’s tourism industry, there have been some players from the private sector who are bringing in new concepts that can not only improve Lebanon’s tourism industry, but e-commerce as well. One of them is ihjoz, Lebanon’s (and the region’s) first digital ticketing system. ihjoz has been a huge hit with various events, mostly concerts, and could be more tourist-friendly than having to book your show ticket at a local retailer beforehand. According to Founder Sami Tueni, Lebanon hosts over 50,000 events a year, but almost all of them don’t sell tickets online.Despite the difficulties he’s faced, Tueni doesn’t deny the positive impact that other stakeholders have played, especially when it comes to e-commerce.

ihjoz recently hosted a panel to discuss digital ticketing and the tourism industry, and brought in Minister of Tourism Michel Faraoun alongside some stakeholders form the private sector who are playing a role on improving the current state of affairs. Online event calendars, notably Lebtivity, has become the go-to site for various events from small-scale art exhibitions to large-scale plays and shows. It comes to no surprise that Lebtivity and ihjoz choose to partner up on several occasions. Also at the panel was Randa Bdeir, Bank Audi’s Assistant General Manager-Group Head of Electronic Banking & Business Development who talked about Lebanon’s e-commerce developments and how it will positively impact the tourism industry. For every $100 spent in Lebanon, only $10 comes from an online transaction. Lebanon for a while has been selling pre-paid internet credit cards, but Bdeir said that it’s time to move on from that. She talked about Lebanon going through the adoption process of a credit card security system called 3-D Secure, which has been adopted by Visa and MasterCard. Should it work, this could make a huge impact on e-commerce in Lebanon, as well as fueling a better tourism industry.

To give credit to the public sector, the Ministry of Telecommunications has launched improved rates for faster internet with larger bandwidth. But at this point, it looks like people are demanding more, and perhaps the developments that are underway could be a huge motivator.

Looking at all the initiatives’ potential, it looks possible that Lebanon’s tourism economy and overall entrepreneurial ecosystem can be galvanized through the emergence key web platforms and improved e-commerce. TechCrunch Editor Mike Butcher told us that Lebanon could be stellar with faster internet and better mobile network coverage. Perhaps his prediction might be correct if some of these developments work out.

Strictly Business: du’s Clinton Haswell Prioritizes The SME Customer

One way to make sure your clients really feel like your service offering is on par with their needs is to create a program that allows them to choose the features or options that they need, rather than presenting a one-size-fits-all model. Increasingly, large companies are seeing the need for a more tailored approach, and while it is care intensive, it may just give you an always-welcome competitive edge.

In the UAE, du is proving just how serious they are in reining in the SME and enterprise segment by upping the ante with their newly launched Business Mobile Plan, and it’s all about selecting options that your company needs. Comprising of “a suite of five plans depending on the needs of the clients, the new plans come bundled with a host of benefits for business customers such as free calls within their company, included data, national and international voice, SMS and devices, at zero upfront cost– thus adding more value to their business. Additional add-ons include the national data bundle, extra-national calling, SMS bundles and more,” says Vice President of SME Marketing at du, Clinton Haswell.

du’s drive is “to become the partner of choice for SMEs in the UAE,” and with extensive experience across four continents, Haswell seems a likely fit for the telco’s new customer-centric direction. “SME is a rapidly expanding segment, and we are targeting this significant growth by simplifying our processes.” That simplification is just one mark of the aggressive new strategy to not just attract fresh enterprise clients, but to retain existing ones. “We are constantly striving to enhance our customer experience decreasing any hassle that might accompany the business processes; hence, enabling our SME clientele to enhance their performance and productivity, while reducing costs among other benefits,” he adds.

In case you haven’t been watching carefully, even their communication strategy has changed; du’s new campaigns focusing on business clientele have a sleek look and the messages are straightforward in line with the “Simplify” strategy launched earlier this year. “SME customers want simplicity in the offered plans to make the best use of their investments and achieve maximum productivity and top performance. Flexibility to tailor solutions is also a major factor for meeting business requirements, taking into consideration the ever-evolving and varying needs of this segment. Finally, offering best of breed services remains a vital factor in which we meet customer expectations as a business.” Haswell says that based on his experience, SMEs globally field the same types of concerns: “cost reduction, security, knowledge and awareness, need for advisory services, and rapidly changing market variables,” and that du’s priority is to readily (and seamlessly) meet those needs and more.

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Family Matters in Oman: Sumo Sushi & Bento Expands Across The GCC

“Sumo Sushi & Bento was founded by a family who started their first restaurant because in 2000, [because] Dubai lacked a warm family dining experience, and they missed the sushi they enjoyed at home. Our expansion strategy is therefore partially based on identifying franchisees who have similar values, a love of good food and a sincere desire to adopt these principles within their restaurants,” says Alpha Maiava, Franchise Sales and International Growth Manager for Sumo Sushi & Bento International. For the company’s second GCC expansion outside of the UAE (the first Gulf country expansion was in Bahrain), Sumo Sushi opted to partner with Naranjee Hirjee & Co. LLC., a family enterprise based in Oman who just celebrated a century of doing business.

Naranjee is an established company with a long history in Oman. The founders can chart the business back over a hundred years. This means they have the experience to make their franchise successful- rapidly. Also, as a family business we believe that they will enrich our company culture and reinforce our shared values. This will become increasingly important as we continue to expand across the GCC and internationally.” According to Maiava, Sumo Sushi is looking for franchisees who still have positive corporate and social bonds as a company priority, adding that they “chose partners who are committed to our vision of offering a happier Japa- nese dining experience by employing good people and offering good food and good fun.”

‘Treps Choice: The Reimagined 2015 Cadillac Escalade

Are you a luxury SUV lover? Do you like exceptional aftersales care? Check and check. The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is made for the tough customer with a preference for really controlling their on-and-off road experience. The flagship vehicle focuses on improved efficiency, Active Fuel Management as part of its 6.2L V-8 engine rated at 420 horsepower, and a six-speed automatic transmission equipped with TapShift control.

All of this means that you’re in charge, and it feels pretty great. The Escalade comes with standard size 20 inch wheels, and you have the option to go up to 22 inches. What’s left? What happens after you leave the showroom: Cadillac’s Premium Care Program ensures that long after you’ve opted for the Escalade, you’ll be attended to… and fast.

Bean There, Done That: The Coffee Club Comes To The GCC

With more than 300 outlets spread across nine countries that include Australia, New Zealand, China, and Bali, The Coffee Club is now venturing into the Middle East, beginning by setting up shop in the UAE at the Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi and Wasl Vita Mall in Dubai. Bringing The Coffee Club (which, incidentally, is Australia’s largest home-grown cafe group) to the region is Liwa Minor Food and Beverages LLC, the joint venture company of local operator Al Nasser Holdings, and Minor Food Group, the company that owns The Coffee Club brand.

You might be thinking: another coffee shop? Given the number of local and international coffee brands already in the UAE, is The Coffee Club worried about being in an over saturated market? Liwa Minor Food & Beverages LLC General Manager Michael Chick, who previously worked with kicking off The Coffee Club brand in Thailand, Malaysia and Maldives, dismisses the notion, pointing toward the cafe’s food menu as being its USP. “Where we’ve been successful in other countries is because of the food’s standard,” Chick says, adding that the brand “caters to the taste buds” of both locals and expats who may be already familiar with the brand.

Choosing the UAE as the first MENA country to venture in was an obvious choice, as it was the “perfect gateway to GCC,” according to Chick. The company’s plan is to have 10 outlets in the UAE this year –with seven of those already confirmed in the pipeline- following up with branches in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. “We’ll operate our own outlets,” says Chick, noting that The Coffee Club is keen on establishing its brand in the region. “We want to ensure that the brand [here] matches with the initial vision of the founders.”

So does The Coffee Club have a formula for success for its expansion efforts? Chick thinks that it’s all about finding a suitable partner with the right capabilities- besides being financially competent, the partner would also need to have the commitment to operate an F&B business, and be passionate about it as well. “It’s one of those industries where if you don’t really love food, or F&B, then it’s hard to be successful,” says Chick.

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Fashion Forward In Doha

One of Qatar’s best known entrepreneurs is leading the development and expansion plans of the Gulf nation with its newest project: the execution and launch of Harvey Nichols. In partnership with Doha Festival City, Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Group of Companies staged an official signing ceremony in early March in Dubai, UAE to officially announce the endeavor.

In a statement, Chairman of Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Group of Companies, Hisham Saleh Al Mana, said that in light of the expected influx of visitors, this is the opportune time to expand the luxury offering in the nation by launching the hallmark retailer. The ceremony was attended by Omar Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman of Al-Futtaim Group, as one of four Doha Festival City shareholders.

“We are partnering with Doha Festival City Mall in bringing Harvey Nichols, one of the most prestigious retail stores, to Qatar, and this is the ideal location to host such an iconic British institution. Qatar will be hosting the FIFA 2022 World Cup and will be paving the way as the center of attraction in the region,” said Al Mana in a statement.

Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Group of Companies, already strong in the luxury goods sector, has divisions that include Al Mana Luxury and Al Mana Fashion operating in Qatar and across the GCC. Over the course of six decades, founded by Saleh Hamad Al Mana, the family-owned Group has continued to diversify its broad portfolio, and now collaborates with various key partners across the Middle East as part of its ambitious expansion.