Latest news with #Clifford
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Despite pending change in location, Cornucopia owners plan to stay true to mission
NORTHAMPTON — Cornucopia Natural Wellness Market will close its doors in Thornes Marketplace on June 30 in preparation for a move to a more sustainable location. Jade Jump and Nate Clifford, owners of the natural market that has been a mainstay in the Northampton community since 1980, are actively searching the region for a more affordable site. So far, when considering the realities of post-pandemic retail spaces, Holyoke and Easthampton are contenders, they said. 'Our mission has always been to bring good, clean, organic food to people who don't have easy access to it,' said Clifford, 'and that's part of the reason why Holyoke is so appealing.' The couple bought the natural grocery store in 2019 and, according to Jump, had 'the best year ever.' Then the pandemic hit. Cornucopia closed for three months and then reopened for curbside delivery before it was able to fully reopen as a store. According to Clifford, sales haven't been the same since then. Clifford said that, despite keeping a good profit margin and a tight expense record, sales have still been down 35% since 2019. 'The only way that we survived has been just being extremely scrappy,' said Clifford. 'Two years ago, we were like, 'This is what we need to get to in order to survive,' and we never got there. So we had to make the decision to leave before the decision was made for us.' Cornucopia is not an anomaly in downtown Northampton, though. Since 2019, it has been estimated that at least 20 local downtown businesses have closed their doors, according to local reports, altering the face of the shopping and restaurant mecca in the Valley. This total does not include local businesses that have moved to neighboring towns like Easthampton. When queried about the closures, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra's office issued a statement, wishing the business well in its endeavors. Vince Jackson, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, said that, while he is heartbroken to see Cornucopia leave, he doesn't believe high rents are a problem, as some new businesses continue to open their doors. 'Commercial rents on a square-foot basis have remained stable for well over 10 years,' said Jackson, citing chamber tallies. From his perspective, Clifford had to disagree. He said that, while people are shopping less post-pandemic, commercial rents in Northampton have stayed the same as pre-pandemic times. 'Retail is fundamentally different.' he said. 'We can only go by the numbers, and the data shows that we're down nearly 35% from a foot-traffic standpoint.' To prepare for moving costs, Cornucopia is having a storewide sale and has set up a GoFundMe account. While they are able to move without the GoFundMe, Clifford said that having an extra cushion will determine how much they can do in their new space. Throughout this change, both Clifford and Jump still value the community that has been a market pillar for decades. Clifford reflected on how the care from customers got him through when his father died unexpectedly last year. 'I just got hugs and support for weeks and weeks and weeks,' he said. 'I don't think people realize how much that helped me get through it.' Jump recalled pandemic times, when they were doing curbside deliveries while she was pregnant, working up until the day she gave birth. 'I think people see and realize that we are authentic, and we genuinely care, and we genuinely love what we do, and we want to make a difference,' she said. Community has long been an integral piece of the store's ethos. Jump and Clifford often have hand-delivered orders if a customer has a mobility or health problem and is unable to come to the store. The care has been reciprocal. Jump said 98% of the response to their move announcement has been supportive, with customers stating, 'wherever you go, we will follow.' Read the original article on MassLive.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets work out Colorado State's Nique Clifford ahead of 2025 NBA Draft
Nets work out Colorado State's Nique Clifford ahead of 2025 NBA Draft The Brooklyn Nets head into the 2025 NBA Draft with five picks to use, including four in the first round that could bring them a massive influx of young talent. From now until the Draft late in June, Brooklyn will be trying to get as much intel as possible on prospects and one of those players was recently brought in for a workout ahead of the Draft. The Nets brought in Colorado State forward Nique Clifford for a predraft workout at some point recently, according to a report from Brian Lewis of the New York Post on Thursday. Some of the other notable names that have worked out for Brooklyn already are Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears and Duke forward Kon Knueppel, two players that the Nets could select with the eighth overall pick. Clifford, listed at 6-foot-5 and 202 pounds, is coming off a senior season in which he rose his draft stock immensely after averaging 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 49.6% from the field and 37.7% from three-point land. In the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, Clifford is being taken by the Miami Heat with the 20th overall pick, one spot after the Nets select Michigan State guard Jase Richardson 19th overall. "Nique Clifford should draw interest from teams that are prioritizing prospects that can provide instant minutes and versatility," Wasserman wrote when discussing Clifford. "A 23-year-old won't be for everyone, but between his age, broad shoulders, shotmaking diversity, playmaking IQ, excellent rebounding numbers and experience playing different roles, Clifford should look like an NBA-ready forward with an adaptable game." As Lewis pointed out in his post on X, Clifford is mocked to go anywhere from the back end of the Lottery to 20th overall, meaning that he could be there for the taking by the Nets with the 19th overall pick, assuming that he impressed Brooklyn in his workout. Clifford is an older prospect, but that doesn't change the fact that he presents like the kind of player who could contribute right away for head coach Jordi Fernandez and company.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
David Clifford turns on the style as Kerry blow Cork away after half-time scare
KERRY'S firepower came to the fore as they racked up 0-21 during the second half to torch another Cork bid to upset their neighbours at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Having trailed by three points at the break, the wind at their backs was put to good use while 2 David Clifford starred for Kerry yet again in the win over Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2 Kerry sailed to victory despite a scare against the Rebels in Cork Six weeks since Kerry prevailed in a thrilling provincial semi-final between the teams at the same venue, a man-of-the-match display from David Clifford helped to ensure a familiar outcome. A crowd of 13,072 saw the Munster kingpins keep their status as the only unbeaten team left in the Championship intact. Stiffer examinations of their All-Ireland credentials await, though they were certainly put to the test before the interval by a Kerry gaffer Jack O'Connor said: "In the first half, Cork were the aggressors in that they were the team that were hunting and they were the team that were playing with aggression and intensity. read more on gaa 'We were waiting around to see what they were going to bring. We had to change it in the second half and thankfully we did." As well as letting three goal opportunities go to waste in the first half, Cork gifted one to Kerry and Clifford was the beneficiary. When Micheál Aodh Martin's short kick-out to Brian O'Driscoll was intercepted by the two-time Footballer of the Year, he surged through and found the net with a neat drop-shot finish. Facing a 1-4 to 0-2 deficit after 12 minutes, Cork gradually found their flow. Aided by two-pointers from Paul Walsh and Brian Hurley, as well as a brace of Colm O'Callaghan scores, they were 0-13 to 1-7 ahead at half-time. Most read in GAA Football And Kerry had Shane Ryan to thank for keeping them within touching distance. In the space of a minute, the goalkeeper made point-blank saves to thwart Mark Cronin and Matty Taylor. Jason Foley also made an important intervention to scupper another Taylor goal opportunity later on. Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview - O'Connor continued: "Cork went in three up. That could have been eight or nine up and then you've a real mountain to climb." At the other end, Martin made amends for his role in Kerry's raising of the game's only green flag by producing a fine save to keep out a Brian Ó Beaglaioch effort. With Kerry depleted by injuries that forced Barry Dan O'Sullivan, Paudie Clifford and Paul Geaney all to make way by the change of ends, Cork may have smelled blood. However, their hopes were soon harpooned by Kerry's marquee forwards. Rebels manager John Cleary lamented: "Beaten by 11 was maybe a small bit harsh on us but Kerry scored wonderful two-pointers particularly and that's why they won the game." A trio of two-pointers from Seán O'Shea, plus two more from Clifford and Hurley had earlier been booked as a result of a fracas that occurred when tempers flared as the teams departed for the dressing rooms at half-time. Walsh and Joe O'Connor were black-carded for their involvement in the incident. Kerry's gaffer also saw yellow for remonstrating with referee Derek O'Mahoney when the teams reappeared. Kingdom chief O'Connor added: 'I don't know was it a case of calming fellas down. It was a case of maybe waking fellas up, because I thought Cork were by far the more aggressive team in the first half. "I don't mean aggressive in a bad sense at all, I mean aggressive to the ball, the team that wanted it more. 'We basically challenged our lads at half-time – were they going to up their game and up their energy levels? We really needed to do that because in the first half we were quite lethargic.' Cork, who registered just two points from play in the second half, had an opportunity to cut the gap to five with a 63rd-minute penalty after Ó Beaglaioch was deemed to have fouled O'Callaghan. But yet again, Ryan could not be beaten. After saving Cronin's first attempt, the Rathmore man also kept out his follow-up effort. The Cork forward was then foiled for a third time by a block from Ó Beaglaioch. An ultimately resounding win for Kerry – which leaves them a point clear of Meath at the top of Group 2 ahead of the meeting of the teams in a fortnight – was capped by Tom O'Sullivan and sub Tony Brosnan, who took their side's second-half tally of two-pointers to seven. Cork gaffer Cleary, whose side were beaten by the Royals seven days earlier, said: "We had a hard game last week and I know there during the week, it took until Wednesday or Thursday for fellas to really get over last week and the bumps and bruises. "It was a tough, wet day above in Meath. To realise then from Tuesday onwards that you were facing favourites for the All-Ireland. "You really needed to be at the peak of physical condition and I thought maybe we tired there in the second half. "Against a team like Kerry, if you tire, they'll punish you and that's what they did when they were able to get a bit of space when we didn't seem to have the legs there coming in the end." KERRY 1-28 CORK 0-20 KERRY: S Ryan; T O'Sullivan 0-2, 1tp, J Foley, D Casey; B Ó Beaglaioch, M Breen, G White; BD O'Sullivan, J O'Connor; G O'Sullivan 0-1, P Clifford 0-1, S O'Shea 0-9, 3f, 3tpf; D Clifford 1-8, 2f, 1tp, 1tpf, P Geaney 0-2, M Burns. Subs: M O'Shea for BD O'Sullivan 21 mins, D Geaney 0-1 for P Clifford 31, K Spillane 0-2 for P Geaney h-t, T Brosnan 0-2, 1tp for Burns 59, T Morley for Ó Beaglaioch 66. CORK: MA Martin; S Brady, S Meehan, D O'Mahony; B O'Driscoll, M Shanley, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O'Callaghan 0-2; S Walsh, P Walsh 0-3, 1tp, S McDonnell; M Cronin 0-6, 5f, B Hurley 0-7, 2f, 1tp, 1tpf, C Óg Jones 0-1. Subs: S Powter for Meehan 43 mins, R Deane 0-1 for McDonnell 50, C O'Mahony for Hurley 60, L Fahy for Taylor 65, E McSweeney for P Walsh 66. REFEREE: D O'Mahoney (Tipperary)
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I'm LGFA star running in Vhi Mini Marathon while nine months pregnant – everyone's saying I'm mad & could go into labour
GRACE CLIFFORD joked "my husband is on standby" ahead of running in the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon despite being nine months pregnant. The Kildare footballer is one of 28,000 people who will participate in the marathon in Dublin on Sunday. That is despite being 37 weeks pregnant on her first child, with Clifford insisting she has a back-up plan should the time come. "Everyone's saying, 'God, you're mad, you could go into labour'. "I was like, 'well, look, at least I'm near Holles Street [The National Maternity Hospital]'. Read More on LGFA "I can nip across if I need to. 'The hospital bags have been ready for the last couple of weeks anyway, and my husband is on standby. "Luckily enough too we only live about half an hour from Dublin.' On Friday, Clifford finished her final day of term as the director of extra-curricular activities in Mount Sackville Secondary School in Dublin. Most read in GAA Football She has had to step aside from gaelic football with Kildare, with whom she won an All-Ireland intermediate medal in 2023. Clifford is targeting a return both to the Lilywhites and for her club Eadestown as early as the end of this summer. Young Kerry LGFA fan steals the show with sign during All-Ireland final win over Galway She admitted to signing up for the mini marathon knowing that it would align with her due date. With this in mind, she sought and got the green light from her doctor to pursue it. And she wants to do her part to encourage other expecting women to do the same where possible. She added: 'Nobody's saying that if you don't that you're lazy or anything like that, it's just that everybody's journey is different. 'Now don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful that I'm in a position to exercise, but if I wasn't, I wouldn't. 'You have to put your baby and your body first. "That's first and foremost when you're pregnant. 'If I thought that I was hindering any of that, trust me, I wouldn't be doing it.' 1 Grace Clifford of Kildare during the 2023 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Football Championship Final Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The clever way that Domino's is making AI feel more real — and better at taking your pizza order
AI is finding its voice — and using it to take your weeknight pizza order. Restaurants, including Domino's and Wingstop, have used voice AI assistants for years to chat with customers on the phone and take their orders. Lately, though, they've been finessing those assistants by adding region-specific accents, adjusting their tone, and making other changes that make them more natural for customers to converse with. "If someone hears a really off-putting, unrelatable voice, they're going to hang up," said Lily Clifford, the CEO and founder of Rime Labs, which developed the text-to-voice model that Domino's and Wingstop use. Multiple restaurant chains are using voice AI to take customers' orders. But Rime's experience shows that it's not as easy as shoving an AI assistant with a robotic voice in a drive-thru or on one end of a phone line. Rime develops the text-to-voice technology that Domino's uses for phone ordering. Another company, ConverseNow, provides the AI assistant itself. When ConverseNow started working with Domino's about five years ago, it used a different voice that many customers didn't want to speak with, said Akshay Kayastha, director of engineering at ConverseNow. "There was one point where 50% of the people were just saying they just didn't want to talk to it," and asked to be transferred to a human, he said. Rime's technology has pushed that number closer to 100%, Clifford said. Domino's uses the text-to-voice feature in about 80% of its phone orders in North America, she added. "It should sound like someone who could work at Domino's and not someone who is a 20th-century American broadcast radio announcer," Clifford said. To develop its technology, Rime built a recording studio in San Francisco and recorded a variety of people having conversations with a friend or a family member. The goal, Clifford said, was to capture what day-to-day speech sounds like instead of using voice actors reading rehearsed lines. The resulting technology can use a variety of speech patterns. Domino's customers who order by phone in Atlanta, for instance, are likely to reach an AI assistant that speaks with a Southern accent. Rime says that it has also developed a voice that speaks using African-American Vernacular English. The voices that Rime uses don't belong to real people, though, Clifford said. Tone is another area where Rime's technology has improved voice AI, Kayastha said. One restaurant chain that ConverseNow works with pointed out a problem with an earlier version of the startup's voice AI: It sounded more chipper than most fast-food workers. Rime's technology helped match the tone to the situation, Kayastha said. "No one in real life speaks so cheerfully at a drive-thru," he said. "You've got to turn it down." The voice-to-text technology also correctly pronounces specific menu items, such as MeatZZa, a Domino's pizza with pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, and beef. That's key for restaurants, Clifford said, given all of the unconventional spellings and limited-time offers that appear on their menus. Domino's has grown its online ordering options lately. Customers can place orders on Domino's website, through its app, or through third-party services like Uber and DoorDash. But phone orders remain a key part of the pizza chain's business, CEO Russell Weiner said during an earnings call in late 2023. "We have a large number of our customers coming in on online ordering, but we still need to make sure that the phones are there operationally," Weiner said. Domino's and Wingstop did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Workers across many industries are worried that their bosses will use AI to replace them. Clifford said that Rime's restaurant clients aren't using its AI voice technology to replace employees, though. Restaurant workers are often too busy preparing food, helping customers who show up in-store, and completing other tasks to take phone orders, she said. In that sense, voice AI that can field orders is taking a task off their plate. "If you're at the restaurant making pizzas and wings, you do not want to answer that phone," Clifford said. "You have a million other things to do."
