outlet shopping

Here’s some fascinating video clips showing streetcars in operation in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster from 1907 to the 1950′s:

Not exactly RAPID transit, but I think we could use them back again in many areas. Be sure to check out the restored streetcar operating in Vancouver starting in May 2012, from Olympic Village to Granville Island:

Trams.ca

Facing stagnating seating capacity, attendance challenges, and a difficult ticket pricing environment, the U.S. sports and entertainment industry has sought to increase per capita guest spending by enhancing amenities and improving suite and club seat programs. In both cases, foodservice plays a central role, according to Packaged Facts’ Sports & Entertainment Venue Foodservice Trends in the U.S.

Borrowing from the restaurant industry—and with significant input from foodservice contractors—venue operators, managers and promoters are aggressively improving food selection, food quality food, menu flexibility, and better customer service to enhance the fan experience. Our analysis shows that improved concessions and higher-end suite and club seat foodservice programs are transforming the guest experience—and transforming many major venues into food destinations.

To fully leverage sports and entertainment foodservice operations, industry participants should understand how generational shifts in venue attendance shape the kinds of food and drink they provide patrons, keep abreast of restaurant trends that are quickly reshaping consumers’ expectations about sports and entertainment venue foodservice, and monitor the competitive landscape to help keep on trend. Sports & Entertainment Venue Foodservice Trends provides the guidance industry participants need to navigate these issues, and much more. Key content includes:

Thanks to improving attendance and in-park spending, U.S. amusement park foodservice sales have surpassed prerecession levels, and Packaged Facts’ Amusement Park Foodservice Trends in the U.S. forecasts continued growth through 2014. Make no mistake: food and beverage sales at amusement parks are big business, whether the parks are large or small; national, regional or local; sedate or thrilling; driven by teens, families, or a combination of both. Entertainment district growth, national restaurant brand opportunities, the need for healthier fare, and evolving promotional activity are each helping to shape tomorrow’s amusement park foodservice strategies.
 
The key to growing amusement park foodservice revenue comes down to matching an amusement park’s unique attributes to guests’ foodservice habits and preferences. This report thoroughly analyzes guest demographics, park visitation behavior, and attendance trends industry participants need to make this connection—and to frame foodservice within the context of the amusement park industry. The report provides the following:
 
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Coffee Shops in Mexico by Mintel Global Market Navigator provides you with annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2011. This report covers multiple and independent coffee shops. Coffee shops are defined as outlets where coffee accounts for a sizeable usually at least around 40% part of sales with quite a restricted, mainly packaged, food offer and small amounts if any, of alcohol. For some countries this will therefore include outlets such as donut shops and bars. Market value is based on expenditure including sales tax in these outlets; Market volume is based on numbers of outlets. Market size for Coffee Shops in Mexico is given in MXN and number of outlets with a minimum of five years’ historical data. Market Forecast is provided for five years. Included with this snapshot is socio-economic data for Mexico. Population, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Exchange Rates.

Coffee Shops in Thailand by Mintel Global Market Navigator provides you with annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2011. This report covers multiple and independent coffee shops. Coffee shops are defined as outlets where coffee accounts for a sizeable (usually at least around 40%) part of sales with quite a restricted, mainly packaged, food offer and small amounts if any, of alcohol. For some countries this will therefore include outlets such as donut shops and bars. Market value is based on expenditure including sales tax in these outlets; market volume is based on numbers of outlets. Market size for Coffee Shops in Thailand is given in THB and number of outlets with a minimum of five years’ historical data. Market Forecast is provided for five years. Included with this snapshot is socio-economic data for Thailand. Population, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Exchange Rates.

Recent economic problems have had a positive side for many Canadians: they turned a corporate downsizing into their next career step, and started a home business. They joined the many Canadians running full and part-time businesses out of their homes. There are many tax savings opportunities to take advantage of. Home office expenses can be a valuable tax saving opportunity for many self-employed Canadian taxpayers.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows you to deduct expenses for the business use of a work area in your home, as long as you meet one of the following conditions:

* It’s your principal place of business; or
* You use the space only to earn your business income, and you use it on a regular and ongoing basis to meet your clients, customers, or patients.

What can you deduct? These expenses are eligible for Business-use-of-home expenses:

* Maintenance costs such as heating, hydro, electricity and water
* Telephone, internet
* Home insurance
* Cleaning materials
* Rent
* Property taxes
* Mortgage interest
* Routine maintenance and repairs

A few details:

Only the portion of your home used for business can be claimed, which means only a portion of the overall expenses mentioned above. How do you determine the portion? It depends on whether you use the space for personal use as well. If you have an office in your home for business purposes and it is only used for business purposes, then your percentage is calculated by the area of the work space divided by the total area of your home. That will give you the percentage of the total rent you can deduct.

One more important point. The amount you deduct for business use of home expenses can’t be more than your net income from the business before you deduct these expenses. So you can’t use these expenses to increase or create a business loss. But the portion of the otherwise deductible expenses related to a work space you can’t deduct for 2011 can be carried forward to the next tax year. This carry-forward is indefinite, provided you continue to use this space for Business-use-of-home on a continuous basis.

TurboTax Canada for 2011 handles home business tax processing and provides money-saving tips and Netfile online tax filing capability. Check out the current TurboTax offers:

File your taxes online with TurboTax 2011

tags: turbo tax,2011 canadian taxes,tax software canada,netfile online,download

Coffee Shops in India by Mintel Global Market Navigator provides you with annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2011. This report covers multiple and independent coffee shops. Coffee shops are defined as outlets where coffee accounts for a sizeable (usually at least around 40%) part of sales with quite a restricted, mainly packaged, food offer and small amounts if any, of alcohol. For some countries this will therefore include outlets such as donut shops and bars. Market value is based on expenditure including sales tax in these outlets; market volume is based on numbers of outlets. Market size for Coffee Shops in India is given in INR and number of outlets with a minimum of five years’ historical data. Market Forecast is provided for five years. Included with this snapshot is socio-economic data for India. Population, Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Exchange Rates.

While the U.S. economic recovery remains fragile, we find much for the restaurant industry to celebrate. Packaged Facts’ U.S. Foodservice Landscape 2012: Restaurant Industry and Consumer Trends forecasts restaurant growth of 4.2% in 2012, on the heels of 6% market growth in 2011.

Nonetheless, the industry continues to face significant challenges. For the past three years, guest traffic volume has come entirely from population growth, not usage increase. Restaurant operators across restaurant segments must also contend with the increased numbers of lower-spending guests and with the loss of higher-income patrons, which has translated to higher volume but lower guest check averages.

Food commodity price increases could also threaten the continuation of the 2010-2011 sales recovery. And while our analysis calls into question the impact of consumer confidence on guest visit frequency, further declines in the unemployment rate are needed to spur restaurant industry growth, as our analysis supports a relationship between the unemployment rate and guest visit frequency across a range of restaurant segments.

This report provides the guidance industry participants need to understand industry and consumer trends shaping the U.S. foodservice landscape, including the quick-service, fast casual, family, casual and fine dining restaurant segments:

Restaurant