Latest news with #Dewberry
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Swatchbox Launches Second Life Samples™ to Help AEC Firms Reduce Material Sample Waste by Up to 90%
ELGIN, Ill., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Swatchbox, the leading material sample platform for architects and designers, has introduced a first-of-its-kind circular sampling program that has shown a reduction in material sample waste by up to 90% in participating architecture and design firms. The program, called Second Life Samples™, facilitates the take-back and reuse of material samples from architecture and design firms, diverting usable materials from landfills and placing them back into circulation for use by other building professionals. Since its launch in 2018, Swatchbox has provided free return services for samples ordered from the Swatchbox platform. The launch of Second Life Samples expands this service to include any material samples in complete, undamaged condition, whether they came from Swatchbox or somewhere else. This opens the door for firms to sustainably recirculate any material stored in their sample libraries that they no longer need for reference. Returned samples are analyzed and graded using a proprietary process that includes an AI visual engine to assess material condition and assign identifying information such as brand name, product line, and SKU. Once processed, the samples are stocked in Swatchbox fulfillment centers and made available on the Swatchbox platform for use by other architects and designers, restoring their value and diverting them from landfills. Unlabeled, discontinued, or lightly worn samples are made available to students and educators. Any material that is not recoverable due to damage is then processed through Swatchbox recycling partners. Swatchbox has completed a private beta of the program with key architecture and design partners in the U.S. and the U.K., including Gensler, Perkins + Will, Dewberry, and other practices. "For the first time, AEC professionals have a responsible, circular solution for the piles of color swatches, carpet squares, roof tiles, hardware kits, and other samples that end up cluttering their studios without any pathway to recycle or reuse them," said Jenni Betancourt, Associate Principal and Director of Sustainability at Dewberry. "With the Swatchbox Second Life Samples program, we've eliminated sample waste almost entirely from our offices." "At Swatchbox, we're architects first, and we're reshaping how the industry thinks about material sampling," said Benjamin Glunz, CEO of Swatchbox parent Anguleris. "Second Life strikes at a problem we know well: waste. Today, we're closing the loop on the sampling problem. Architects can now design smarter, move faster, and build a better world without sacrificing sustainability for innovation." Participation in the Swatchbox Second Life Samples program can contribute to AEC firms' progress toward sustainability certifications, such as LEED (USGBC), AIA 2030 Commitment, Living Building Challenge, and WELL Building Standard. The Second Life Samples program is open to Swatchbox firm partners throughout the U.S. and U.K. To learn more about the program and to apply to participate, visit About SwatchboxSwatchbox®, an Anguleris® brand, is the leading global platform for architects and designers to discover and request material samples—faster and more sustainably than ever before. With an expansive selection of samples for both interior and exteriors, lightning-fast shipping, and the most comprehensive sample reuse program in the world, Swatchbox is redefining material discovery and selection in the AEC industry. Architects and designers can explore Swatchbox at or download the Swatchbox Mobile App at Media ContactUpSpring646.722.8146anguleris@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Swatchbox Sign in to access your portfolio
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The Body Shop is back with five perfumes. There is one standout star
If nostalgia were a smell, it would be The Body Shop's Dewberry or White Musk. With its responsibly-sourced ingredients and packaging, the brand was decades ahead of its time. When the environmental and human rights campaigner Anita Roddick founded it in a backstreet shop in Brighton in 1976, she encouraged customers to bring their bottles back to be refilled in store to reduce plastic waste (and also because they physically didn't have enough bottles to meet demand). Roddick's vision and products were a hit worldwide (remember the bath pearls and probably the first place you ever saw a loofah?) and within a few years the products were a household name, and uniquely at that time, many were used by men and women. However, a nosedive in profits in recent years saw the struggling retailer go into administration early last year. It was bought out of administration in September by a consortium led by British cosmetics tycoon Mike Jatania, who announced a £2 million profit in its first three months under his ownership; he recently announced that they were 'back for good'. Part of the focus of the new Body Shop seems to be a re-focus on what they were always good at: fragrance. But don't expect the little bottles of hippie perfume oils lots of us queued up for in the 80s. The new fragrance collection, which they began in 2022, focusses on single note floral perfumes. As a legacy to the brand's heritage, it takes care to research and only use responsibly and sustainably sourced ingredients. There are five fragrances in total – Full Rose, Full Iris, Full Orange Blossom, Full Ylang Ylang and the latest, Full Magnolia, £42 each. My initial thoughts They're beautifully crafted. My go-to perfume would usually be something classic from Guerlain or Chanel, or if all fails, I love the fresh, splashiness of Dior' s Eau Sauvage, but I have to say these fragrances stand up to my classics and feel like a real find. They smell expensive – and are a refreshing change from the many overpowering ouds and leathery perfumes out there today. It feels rare to find a perfume like this for under £50. I agree with fragrance expert Alice du Parcq who tells me, 'If you want something minimalist but with beautifully crafted ingredients blended well, these are worth checking out. A lot of time and effort has gone into them and finding a credible, affordable fragrance that lasts well on the skin is hard to find. They are a lovely pocket friendly addition to any spring fragrance wardrobe.' Using the whole flower Du Parcq likes the concept that each fragrance uses the entire flower, not just the petals, 'The stalks, the earth, the leaves are all used which give the fragrance a bit more depth,' she says. I like how each bottle has engraved on the back with the origin of the main ingredient. For example, hand-picked roses from Grasse for the Full Rose or iris stems from the South of France for the Full Iris. Noteworthy is the Full Orange Blossom, which if you're a fan of Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino, you'll appreciate this uplifting citrussy spritz. Like another British perfume brand, Floral Street, the Body Shop's choice to focus on florals is a clever one. Floral perfumes are big sellers – Jo Malone's English Pear and Freesia, Miss Dior, Gucci Flora Orchid and Marc Jacob's Daisy are some of the best sellers worldwide. And to keep the price point down in today's climate is another plus. The standout star The newest one, Full Magnolia, has a lovely green (almost rhubarb) quality to it, but the standout for me is the Full Iris which has a crisp dryness. A lot of irissy perfumes can end up being too creamy but as du Parcq says, 'this one isn't too buttery or too green and steamy. It's a lovely place in between. Chanel 19 Poudre is one of the most classic, powdery iris fragrances out there and wearing it feels like putting on a pair of icy cool silk pyjamas. Full Iris has the same cooling feeling.' Whether these fragrance can sustain the revival of the Body Shop will remain to be seen, but trying these fragrances has reminded me of other British fragrance brands like Ffern, Olfactive O and To the Fairest, who all make accessible perfumes for under £100. In today's world where Gen Z are happy to splurge on an expensive retinol or complex skincare product to give them glass-like skin, will they appreciate the appeal of a beautifully crafted fragrance for under £50? Maybe the Body Shop are targeting its original audience which in my case, I am reeled in.
Telegraph
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
How to smell ‘rock and roll', according to Duran Duran
What did the Eighties smell like? If you were a teenager, either Anais Anais (girls), Dewberry (girls on a budget) or Drakkar Noir (boys). Like Eighties fashion, Eighties perfume was very OTT. Everybody reeked of something, not all of it pleasant. There was no opportunity to smell like your favourite singer, actor or band; celebrity fragrance, was yet become a highly lucrative global phenomenon. But for Britain's vast army of Duran Duran fans, a new scent is set to prove that good things come to those who wait. Even if they've had to wait 45 years. What does Duran Duran smell like? After decades of fond imaginings, Durannies (as their fans were called) are about to find out. Not content with selling 100 million records worldwide, scoring 18 American hit singles and 21 UK Top Ten songs, winning eight lifetime achievement awards, two Grammys, two Brits and two Ivor Novellos, Birmingham's most famous export (Duran Duran was formed by Brummies Nick Rhodes and John Taylor in 1978) have launched two scents that aim to bottle the band's essence, in partnership with luxury Italian perfume house, Xerjoff. Scent is notoriously hard to describe, but Simon Le Bon, 66, is having a go. 'It's got that moodiness and I think it's quite romantic. But it's got a kind of tough side to it as well. It reminds me of going to a really great night club, and meeting somebody fabulous,' is how he describes Black Moonlight, a heavy mix of bergamot and mandarin with notes of saffron, hazelnut and jasmine. 'I'm not very good at remembering the names of the actual things that are in them, like tonka bean and oud,' he adds. 'We talked about what we liked, and I took quite a lead in that, because I'm very, very olfactory driven.' The second scent, Neo Rio, he describes as having a 'tropical feel'. 'It's fruity, isn't it. It makes me think of opening the windows and letting a bright summer morning into your room, when the birds are really shouting at you. It's got that vibe. It's very in your face. But it's also very complex.' 'We've always liked the idea of doing things outside of the band, in the art, fashion and design world,' adds Nick Rhodes, 62, the band's keyboardist turned photographer. 'We love the idea of being able to excite a new sense – in this case, being smell – because we've mostly spent our careers with sound and visuals. We looked at it as though the project was what we would have done if we'd been a band of perfumers. The process was absolutely fascinating. We all knew the different things we liked. And just like when we're writing songs, everybody's pulling in completely different directions. Somebody wants something that's really joyful and uplifting, and somebody else wants something dark and moody and more musky. So that's exactly how the atom got split.' Better to launch two scents than cause dissent. What would they say the Eighties smelled like? 'I think they're probably a little off after all this time,' quips Rhodes. 'I'd be very careful. People often forget that the 1980s actually began as a very dark period, particularly in Britain. Politically, it was a catastrophe. And so, as young teenagers, it was fairly natural that our instinct was to get away from this. 'Let's make something positive. Let's make our own brightness.' A lot of the 1980s came out of that, if you look at fashion, film, art. So yes, there's certainly a nod towards that period. But the fragrance itself feels very modern.' Both miss the excesses of Eighties fashion. 'It's always difficult when you're part of something to try to be objective,' says Rhodes. 'But if I look at other people's things from the 1980s, rather than ours, I realise at this distance what a remarkable decade it was for invention and creativity.' 'There was so much freedom, and absolute, unrestrained imagination – people just taking any ideas that they had in the back of their minds and making it into something wearable,' says Le Bon. 'People would be telling stories through how they dressed. Modern fashion has become more understated, restrained and less willing to give that much away about oneself. [Social media] tends to encourage people to stay in the middle with everybody else. You don't want to stand out, or stick your head up above the parapet. Whereas in the Eighties, that's all we ever did. We stuck our necks up as far as they could go.' How would he describe his own style now? 'That's like trying to bite my own teeth. I have an incredible stylist in the house with me, in the shape of Yasmin Le Bon. I always look to her for advice, and I've picked up a lot of her style over the years. Look, I'm a grandfather now. But I'm not called granddad. I'm called boomba. All capital letters: B-O-O-M-B-A-H - exclamation mark,' he says, spelling it out. He and his eternally beautiful model wife Yasmin, 60, have been married for 40 years, an achievement in anyone's books, never mind in the capricious world of celebrity. Instagram yet to have been invented, they met in that time-honoured eighties pop star tradition, whereby he saw her photo in a magazine and married her a year later (in 1985). They share three daughters, and have just welcomed their second grandchild. Rhodes, meanwhile, has one daughter, whose mother is the US department store heiress Julie Anne Friedman. Duran Duran are embarking on a European tour this summer, but don't expect them to play Glastonbury. 'Look, we're really up for it, but we're not going to play the disco tent on a Saturday afternoon,' says Le Bon. So it's the Pyramid stage or nothing? 'Well, exactly. You said it.' Who would their dream surprise guest be? 'I'd love to do something with Charlie XCX,' says Le Bon. Brat is a great album.' Brat summer might be over, but Duran Duran seem keen to hard launch Brat Halloween. Their most recent album, Danse Macabre (2023) is Halloween-themed: so, too, is their 'interactive' perfume launch. Held in 'Lost City' (aka a mysterious new events space in London's West End), the dress-code is Peak Eighties, with guests instructed to 'come glam, wear black or red, no heels, no perfume, be silent upon arrival'. Less Eighties is the command to place our phones in a locked pouch. It soon becomes clear that the 'no heels' edict is on account of the narrow, dimly lit metal stairs leading down to a series of tiny rooms, to which guests are admitted six at a time. In the first room, Simon Le Bon is sitting dolorously at a bureau writing notes with a fountain pen. In the second one, John Taylor is simulating a threesome, which is to say he's reclining on a bed while two twentysomethings in front of him pretend to kiss. In the third room, a 'priest' asks us to repent our sins, before escorting us to another room, where Nick Rhodes takes our photograph (a reference to Girls On Film? Who knows?). Finally, after being held in another tiny room for crowd control reasons, a woman dressed as a bird asks us if we've ever been to paradise. 'You will now,' she says, flinging open the double doors to a bigger room that reeks of Black Moonlight. Whether guests are in paradise or purgatory will depend on their taste in perfume, but you've got to give the boys ten out of ten for effort. It might not smell like teen spirit (the band are all in their sixties now), but it definitely smells pleasantly of candied fig, rum, maple syrup and tonka bean - with a base note of money.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Howland duo eager to return to Swimming State
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Howland High School has two swimmers headed to the 2025 OHSAA Swimming & Diving State Tournament at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. Both junior Pete Delida and sophomore Jules Dewberry will return to state after competing in last year's state swim meet. 'It's definitely a little nerve-wracking at first but it's my third year here, I'm kind of used to it,' Delida said. 'So I just got to go out there and perform, and just do my best.' This year, Delida will participate in the Boys 100-Yard Freestyle and 200-Yard Freestyle, while Dewberry will compete in the Girls 100-Yard Breaststroke. 'It's really an honor because all of us all season worked so hard to make it back and put out our best work,' Dewberry said. 'So to be able to compete again against some of the best people in the state is really awesome.' Delida and Dewberry also train with Penguin Swimming Club at YSU, where they train with Beaver Local swimmer Cole Long, who is also headed to Canton. 'It's special because we have each other's backs, we all practice in a lane together every single day, so now that we're all going to state together, it really is something that I value,' Dewberry said. 'It's just really cool to see all of our hard work pay off and it really helps the club, too, to see like that. We really do put in the work and it really does pay off.' Delida, who previously set school bests in the 200 Freestyle and 500 Freestyle, couldn't agree more. 'A lot of my lifelong friends have come from this club and it means a lot that…this club made me get here, this is the whole reason I'm here,' Delida said. 'I couldn't have done it without any of my coaches over the past few years. I mean, they're a huge stepping stone in my path to this. So I'm really excited.' The State Championship event will start on Tuesday with diving events and will run through Saturday, Feb. 22 at the C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Where are The Apprentice winners now?
"You're hired" – the words every Apprentice candidate dreams of hearing from Lord Sugar when they step into the boardroom. For these lucky 19 contestants, the dream became a reality, but did working with the business guru turn out to be everything they hoped for? Here are all the winners of The Apprentice so far and what they did next. Back in the days when candidates were mostly serious business people, Tim Campbell became the first ever contestant hired by Lord Sugar. He bagged a £100,000-a-year job at Amstrad, where he stayed working with Sugar for two years before going on to a number of other roles including a perfume business, a property investment consultancy and a digital marketing agency, and was awarded an MBE for his services to social enterprise. In 2022 he returned to The Apprentice, replacing Claude Littner as an aide to Lord Sugar. Saira Khan was the runner-up in series one who went on to forge a media career as a regular Loose Women panellist and a Dancing On Ice contestant. Michelle Dewberry is still in and out of celebrity headlines years after winning series two, although just as memorable to fans of the show was runner-up Ruth Badger. After working with Lord Sugar, Dewberry set up a business consultancy, wrote her autobiography, has stood as a pro-Brexit candidate for Hull West and Hessle, and presents a weeknight show for GB News. She was famously in a relationship with fellow Apprentice contestant Syed Ahmed after leaving the show, but in 2020 welcomed a son with former Crystal Palace FC owner Simon Jordan. Dewberry has spoken openly about her mental health struggles and is an ambassador for Women's Aid. Third winner Simon Ambrose was handed a job at Lord Sugar's property division Amsprop, where he worked on a hotel and golf course near Stansted Airport. More recently, Ambrose has branched out on his own in running several London bars and restaurants and is chairman of the London Contemporary Orchestra. Never afraid to look the fool during a task, Lee McQueen's enthusiasm paid off as he rarely lost a task and paved the way for many a cringeworthy candidate to come. He was known during his time on the show for his "That's what I'm talking about!" catchphrase, his reverse pterodactyl impression which went down particularly badly in the interview round, and lying on his CV about how long he had been at university for. McQueen has since given many an interview on his achievements despite a lack of formal qualifications and spent a productive couple of years with Lord Sugar at Amscreen before striking out on his own and setting up Raw Talent Academy. Restaurant owner Yasmina Siadatan was the fifth person to win a £100,000-a-year job with Lord Sugar, joining Lee McQueen at Amscreen. She left not long afterwards as she gave birth to her first child, but was later headhunted by Dragons' Den star James Caan and has also ventured into politics as a Conservative candidate for Henley. If there's one former winner's name who is now mentioned in hushed tones in the boardrooms and corridors of Amstrad, it's Stella English. She spent a year in the coveted job with Lord Sugar but then tried to bring a constructive dismissal case against him which was dismissed in court. English had complained about a lack of opportunities to progress in the role, claiming she was a "glorified PA" and "overpaid lackey", but Lord Sugar tried to counter-sue her for his legal costs - a move which was also dismissed. He accused English of trying to get an out-of-court settlement and said: "I'm afraid she underestimated me and her reputation is now in tatters." At one point during proceedings she said she was having to look at applying for benefits to cover her mortgages on three properties and said "I'm now an unemployed single mother, it's a living nightmare". In 2017, she welcomed a child with snooker player Ali Carter, although the pair have since split. By series 7, Lord Sugar had decided to change things up a bit by looking for a business partner rather than an employee. The first person to win the new prize was Tom Pellereau, an inventor who was a little different from the usual Apprentice candidate. With Sugar's backing, he launched beauty products company Stylideas which included the Tangle Teezer brush, the world's first curved nail file, and make-up sponge and brush cleaners. No, not that Ricky Martin... Lord Sugar's next business partner was a former professional wrestler who managed to defeat the competition with his idea for a recruitment consultancy. The science and tech recruitment firm has gone from strength to strength, proving a wise investment for the business mogul. Series 9 was known as the glam season of the show, and it certainly reflected that in its winner as doctor Leah Totton launched her skincare clinic franchise. Her runner-up Luisa Zissman became known as a reality TV star, while Totton's Dr Leah Clinic business, which combines her medical expertise with beauty treatments, has expanded in the south of England. The Derry-born entrepreneur is also an advocate for improving standards in the beauty industry. Again, not that Mark Wright... This digital marketing sales manager was hired by Lord Sugar to develop his SEO business Climb Online. When the Australian won the contest, he said: "I've worked so hard and to be sat here is life-changing and the best thing to ever happen to me." In 2022, he sold his Climb Online for a reported £10 million. Joseph Valente found that winning The Apprentice didn't necessarily mean his business was made for life – but he showed true champion spirit by bouncing back. The series 11 winner set up the UK's largest boiler installation firm, but although he was eventually forced to sell, he has since gone on to set up the successful Trade Mastermind which promotes small businesses and tradespeople. Welsh baker Alana Spencer bagged Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment for her luxury chocolate and cupcake business Ridiculously Rich by Alana. Unfortunately, she suffered a blow when her Cardiff cake shop got a one-star hygiene rating and in 2017 had to recall home delivery products that didn't correctly list allergens, but vowed to get things back up to scratch. She later launched her Ambassador & Cakepreneur schemes, helping those who were wishing to start a cake business. For the first and only time in the show's history, both finalists were crowned winners in 2017. Lord Sugar found it impossible to choose between two candidates with business plans similar to some we'd seen before – James White's recruitment agency, and Sarah Lynn's online personalised sweets delivery company Sweets in the City. Lord Sugar went in a completely unexpected direction for his series 14 business partner, opting to invest in Sian Gabbidon's swimwear company. Gabbidon had huge success being stocked at ASOS, but truly showed her champion credentials by pivoting into loungewear during the pandemic and raking in the sales through George @ Asda as well as globally. Another baker emerged triumphant: Carina Lepore, whose South London bakery had its roots in her family and after investment she was able to open another branch locally. Lepore is the most successful candidate in the show's history, with nine out of 10 task wins and three as project manager. The Apprentice took a break during the Covid pandemic, so there was a long wait for fans to see another boardroom full of candidates vying for a position as Lord Sugar's business partner. Dessert business entrepreneur Harpreet Kaur won the £250,000 investment in Oh So Yum, which covers dessert parlours and online ordering for cakes and sweet treats. She was part of the first-ever all-female final four and impressed both the aides and the other candidates with her strong performance throughout the series. 2023's edition of The Apprentice saw another batch of hopefuls enter Lord Sugar's boardroom, each vying for his support and £250K investment. After 12 gruelling weeks, it was 28-year-old boxing gym owner Marnie Swindells who came out on top, beating beauty salon and hair academy owner Rochelle Anthony in a tense series finale. She has worked with numerous brands and featured in a wide range of adverts including campaigns for Adidas and Sports Direct. Series 18 of The Apprentice had a variety of different business owners hoping to make Lord Sugar their new business partner but it was boutique gym owner Rachel Woolford who managed to emerge victorious. In the show's dramatic finale, Woolford managed to beat high-end pie business owner Phil Turner after convincing Lord Sugar that her plans to launch a chain of female-focused health and training spaces with a personalised touch would reward his initial investment. "It was an amazing moment and it was 100% one of the highlights, if not the highlight of my career," said Woolford after her win. "I'm just getting started on our amazing partnership together." The Apprentice Series 19 premieres 9pm on Thursday 30 January on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
