New, NZ fashion brand, Bold Clothing launches online with a unique collection of bamboo clothing and sequin hoodies. Targeted at the streetwear and casual-wear markets, the original, durable and versatile designs are not only eye-catching, but are predominantly made from sustainable bamboo fabric.
It’s not every day a new fashion brand launches in New Zealand, so when it does, it’s worth talking about. Bold Clothing is the creation of Kate Dombroski, based in Urenui, but selling to the World! The pre-launch collection, acting as a proof-of-concept, consists of statement bamboo t-shirt dresses, dri-fit singlets and 100% cotton, sequin hoodies featuring some pretty unique designs.
Attendees of this year’s WOMAD festival in New Plymouth, New Zealand experienced Bold Clothing for themselves. “We had a hugely positive response”, says Kate, “people loved the bamboo fabric, and the sequin hoodies, went down a storm”.
The official launch collection in June will focus on bamboo fabric thanks to its many amazing attributes. The sustainable bamboo plant produces some incredible fibres that maintain many of the plant’s natural benefits within the garment. Beautifully breathable and incredibly soft, hypoallergenic, thermal regulating, odour-absorbing and UV protective to SPF40. It’s a pretty amazing source plant.
So what can you expect from Bold Clothing?
Original, durable and versatile, with a style that never goes out of fashion. Our instantly recognisable details, and reversible clothing will cater to women, men and after countless requests – children as well. Targeted at the unique streetwear and casual-wear markets, the designs are eye catching and of course, bold!
In Kate’s own words, “I’ve endeavoured to produce a clothing collection that meets as many needs of people as possible. Namely, being good quality, comfortable, versatile, distinctive and affordable. I know everyone will be amazed at how soft the bamboo fabric feels, and with bamboo being a sustainable source plant, it means Bold leaves less of a carbon footprint as well”.
Look out for Bold Clothing’s new launch collection coming soon – the clothes are reversible, making them even better value. It’s like getting two garments for the price of one.
For now, take advantage of the pre-launch clothing collection at https://boldornaked.com/collections/bold-clothing
4 Finance Options for Hoteliers Surviving the COVID-19 Crisis
1. Ask your lender to modify your loan terms and defer payments. During this difficult period it is important to conduct amicable, transparent, and frequent communication with all stakeholders. This includes lenders along with your corporate business attorney and certified public accountant, as well as your hotel franchise company and any third-party management company. If you are experiencing a severe financial hardship, reach out to your lender and appeal for a modification to the existing loan terms reflecting the new business realities of today and seeking a temporary deferral of monthly loan payments.
2. Refinance and Consolidate your Existing Debt. A good option may be to explore cash out financing of existing debt on your hotel at a higher loan-to-value ratio and with a much lower interest rate and subsequently re-inject such cash equity as needed. There are many standard loan programs available that can achieve this objective. A refinance is a good opportunity for a debt consolidation in which all of a hotel owner’s different debt obligations are paid off and consolidated and afterwards a hotel owner will have just one monthly loan payment with a much better interest rate. You could consider the SBA 7a and 504 loan programs for this purpose. Unfortunately, numerous weary lenders have instituted an indefinite lending freeze on the hotel industry. Consequently, the SBA and SBA’s federal government-backed lenders will play a major role in the rescue of the hotel industry.
3. New Equity Partner Participation. I recently had a telephone conversation with an owner of a hotel portfolio with his properties concentrated along NAFTA trucking routes from southern California to south Texas. Hence, his group was enjoying much higher occupancy rates than other hotels based on business traveler and tourist related clientele. In the coming months, this fortunate owner was preparing to bargain shop for hotels that have experienced catastrophic revenues. Thus, a scenario like this creates an ideal situation for a win-win within the industry in the form of new investors seeking higher than normal returns by providing much needed cash injections for distressed hotels.
4. File for a Chapter 11 Reorganization. Too many hotel owners view the idea of bankruptcy as a life ending and fateful decision. On the contrary, it can be a fresh start. If a loan modification and/or loan payment deferment is not a possibility, then a Chapter 11 reorganization/restructuring of debt and protection from creditors under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code may be your best option.
Shae Armstrong is a corporate finance attorney with the national law firm of Stinson LLP in Dallas, Texas. Shae is recognized for his work involving private funds, investment companies, and loan arrangements within the hospitality sector. Shae has advised U.S. House and Senate offices, committees of the U.S. Congress, and policy and industry trade groups on alternative and international investment and lending matters. Shae’s work has been cited in numerous publications including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, The Guardian, and The Washington Times. He earned bachelor’s degree in accounting from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, a J.D. from the University of Tulsa, and an executive global masters in management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Mr. Armstrong is licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas and the U.S. Court of International Trade.
Who pays when an agreement to provide services is canceled due to COVID-19?
Recently, a professional musician asked me how to handle existing contracts for gigs that will be canceled due to COVID-19. Should he return deposits? Could he seek payment in even if he didn’t play the gig? His band members count on the gigs to pay rent and support their families. But he didn’t want to get sued, and he wanted to avoid hurting his reputation with venues where he wants to play in the future.
Thousands of service providers and their clients are asking these questions. Plumbers, contractors, gardeners, child care providers and repair people are getting cancellations from people who cannot risk inviting someone into their homes and from businesses that are shut down. Homeowners and businesses are wondering about deposits and cancellation fees they agreed to pay. Visual artists, muralists, and graphic designers may be confined to their homes and unable to fulfill promises they made months ago.
A full analysis of these issues could fill volumes. This article will briefly explain a few of the key concepts likely to come into play.
Language of the contract
The first place to seek answers to the above questions is the written contract. Look for a “Force Majeur” clause. A typical force majeure clause says neither party to the contract can be held responsible if it was forced to violate the terms of the contract due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the party’s control.
For instance, a contract to paint a building may require the painting to be completed no later than May 1st. But a force majeur clause in the contract may say that deadline does not apply if a natural disaster occurs.
Other contract terms may come into play as well. The contract may state what happens to a deposit if one party or the other cancels the service. It may say the service can or will be provided at a later time if delayed by unforeseen circumstances. Or it may give a definitive time limit beyond which the service provider will not get paid if the job isn’t done; or a deadline after which the service provider gets to keep the deposit if the client cancels.
Impossibility / impracticability
What if the language of the written agreement does not answer your question?
In most states including California, if it is impossible for a party to a contract to fulfill its duties under a contract, then his or her performance is excused.
For instance, in the example of the contract to paint a building, if the building burned down, the painter would likely avoid liability for not painting it.
Frustration of purpose
What if the building stayed intact, but the building was condemned by local officials? In that case, the building owner might be able to cancel the painting job without liability by claiming “frustration of purpose.” This defense applies when performance of the contract remains possible, but the reason the parties entered the agreement has been frustrated by an unexpected.
For instance, the purpose of a musical performance might be frustrated if the potential audience is under a stay-at-home order or if the venue has been ordered to shut down.
Practical considerations
If you are in a situation like my musician friend or the owners of venues where he was scheduled to perform, you should first contact a lawyer like my friend did. Nothing in this article is a substitute for legal advice tailored to your situation, and this article does not cover anywhere close to all of the potential situations and contracts out there.
All of the legal issues above, however, may be far less important than your ongoing relationship with the other party to the contract and your reputation with your customer or client base. Especially in light of the COVID-19 situation, parties should all understand that we are dealing with “acts of god,” and contracts may have become impossible or purposeless.
Whether you are the service provider or customer, it’s a good idea to first look at the contract, then talk to a lawyer, but then get on the phone. Try to negotiate and to connect on a business and personal level before resorting to legal action. You may save a lot of time, frustration, and money – and improve your business reputation for the day (hopefully soon!) when you can open your doors or get back on stage again.
10 Grooming Tips Before a Date
If a woman ever tells you “looks don’t matter”, they’re lying… sorta. You don’t need to look like a Hollywood star, but it’s important to at least take care of yourself physically. Men can reach their full potential by dressing well and cleaning up before they go out in public. Follow these tips if you want to be successful on your next date.
1. Get a Touch-Up
If it has been a week or more since your last haircut, it’s wise to clean up your neckline and space around your ears. Be sure your sideburns are the proper length also. If you don’t want to pay for a touch-up, grab a friend and ask them to give you a quick trim. With enough practice you can also learn to do this yourself.
2. Trim Your Beard or Shave
Those with beards should trim them evenly. Those without should shave completely or make sure their stubble is covering their face proportionally.
3. Clean Up Small Areas (Eyebrows, Ears, Nose)
It’s no longer considered girly for men to maintain their eyebrows. You want to display a natural look that’s not too unwieldy. If your eyebrows are extra bushy, give them a slight trim with clippers. For stray hairs, use tweezers to pluck them out.
Your grandma doesn’t care about the weeds coming out of your grandpa’s nose, but your date won’t be so forgiving. There are trimmers specifically designed to eliminate nose hair. For hard to reach hairs, use scissors or tweezers.
4. Cut Your Nails
Unfortunately, it’s a well-known fact that females judge the condition of men’s hands. Most men don’t give a damn about taking care of their paws, but they should before a date. You don’t need a manicure, but at the very least cut your fingernails cleanly. Removing dirt and debris from nails is also a must.
Clipping your toenails is only important if the woman is going to see your feet, but you should keep your toenails short anyway. Having long toenails in addition to your already hairy toes is gross.
5. Manscape
“Be Prepared” is the Boy Scouts’ motto. You’re a man now, so hopefully you’ve learned to be prepared for any situation. It may be a first date or long-shot that you’ll get laid, but it doesn’t hurt to be well-groomed just in case. You likely know the drill. If not, we’ll give further instruction in another article.
6. Dry Off Thoroughly After Showering
Showering should be obvious. What’s not always obvious is that you need to thoroughly dry off when you’re done. Moisture causes odor. If your body is still wet when you get dressed, there’s a greater chance those areas will not smell like your body wash a few hours later.
7. Moisturize Your Skin
Not in contradiction to the previous tip, it’s important to moisturize your skin. Using lotion will keep your skin looking fresh throughout the night. After you’ve dried off, apply face and body lotion to lock in moisture.
8. Brush, Floss, and Use Mouthwash
You’re going to be talking a lot throughout the date. Hopefully, you’ll be kissing a lot at the end of the date. In order for that to happen, you need to have fresh breath. In addition to brushing, you need to floss. Food particles that are stuck in between teeth cause odor. Take an extra minute to remove any food particles that may be lodged deep in between teeth. Complete the removal by gurgling mouthwash for 15 seconds. Don’t let that beautiful smile go to waste!
9. Check Your Hair From All Angles
Use an extra mirror to view your hair from the back and sides. You want to make sure your hair is in place and doesn’t have excess gel stuck in one area.
10. Smell Your Best
Your first layer of defense is deodorant. Whether you feel it or not, your body sweats throughout the night. Using an anti-perspirant will prevent sweat and B.O. To go on the offensive, give your neck and wrists a spray of cologne. Your scent will serve as a powerful aphrodisiac to your date.
If you follow these 10 grooming tips before a date, chances are good that you’ll be going on another date with the same woman soon. Remember, “Success Favors the Well Groomed.”
My Ex isn’t Worth Feeding to Meercats
The El Paso Zoo holds a Valentine’s Day event for those spurning love called Quit Bugging Me. For a small donation, the zoo staff will name a Madagascar Hissing Beetle after your ex and feed it to one of a fascinating collection of animals in their care. And, for every $1,000 donated, their Director, Joe Montisano, will gobble up a potentially four-inch hissing beetle himself. Truly one of the best answers to Valentine’s sufferers out there! Only one problem. Madagascar Hissing Beetles are far kinder, more honest and interesting than my ex-husband – and, possibly, your ex-whatever as well…
Although their hard exoskeleton and fidgety antennae look like they inspired Darth Vader’s mask, I find many exes’ exteriors more menacing as they may disguise so much. A good reminder to look past the cover of anything…
The “Hissing” part of their title is well earned. These ample sized bugs hiss, frequently and loudly. Possibly much like your ex! However, after being around a colony while working at a natural history museum, I found they were just big communicators – quite unlike my ex.
I also learned that they are very social, and not just with their own kind. Despite the gazillion to one size differential, they were friendly with a us silly humans to the extent that I can thank a particular Madagascar Hissing Beetle for curing my fear of insects. Henry the Hissing Beetle would crawl into my palm, turn until he was facing me and begin a little hissing serenade. It was Henry’s hissing which calmed me down long enough to move past fear to acceptance and appreciation. Life with my ex had the opposite trajectory.
The El Paso Zoo kindly freezes the beetles before they become Meercat meal. In fact, this is more of a kindness to the animals in their expensive collection as “meals” have a tendency to fight back and can turn a simple snack into a serious snafu for the zoo keepers. I’m sure Henry’s hiss could turn treacherous and his pinchers might threaten to poke a tapir’s pointy tongue. But, despite this beetle’s mild defenses, it is still more gallant than my lying, cheating ex.
For this Valentine’s Day, instead of feeding one sentient being to another sentient being for the benefit of a broken heart, I’ll spread some love by donating to a favorite cause and celebrate with champagne, chocolates and those that bring me joy. And I will gladly lift a glass to Henry and his brethren, may they bring funds and healing to the hearts of El Paso, Texas!
Bio:
Pamela Livingston is a political ghost writer turned children’s book publisher with a MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.