Latest news with #Dunford
CNBC
30-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
With Trump tariffs in limbo, the uncertainty is 'killing' us, business owner says: 'We need to know what things are going to cost'
A U.S. trade court has ruled on President Trump's new round of import tariffs — covering thousands of products from nearly every country — calling them "unlawful." For now, though, while the administration pursues an appeal, those tariffs remain in place. In the meantime, business owners say they're left guessing how much they'll pay to import goods with trade rules that can change seemingly overnight. "The uncertainty surrounding tariffs is tough for our business, because we need to know what things are going to cost us three, six and 12 months down the road," says Michael Brey, owner of Hobby Works, a Maryland-based retail chain. The tariffs, announced April 2 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, added a 10% baseline tariff on most imported goods, a 20% tariff on Chinese imports and a 25% tariff on certain Canadian and Mexican goods that don't comply with the USMCA trade agreement. The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled Wednesday that the administration overstepped its executive authority by using IEEPA to impose these tariffs. Tariffs imposed under other trade laws — including 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum and auto imports — remain in effect. In response to the ruling, the Trump administration argued that IEEPA gives the president broad authority in foreign affairs and that overturning the tariffs would improperly narrow those powers. "I think it's a good ruling," Oliver Dunford tells CNBC Make It. Dunford is a senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, which represents small businesses challenging the tariffs. "There's a good chance that it will be upheld." On Thursday, a federal appeals court paused the lower court's ruling, keeping tariffs in place while the government appeals. The next round of legal filings is due by June 9. Many small businesses say the shifting trade landscape creates headaches beyond the direct costs of the tariffs. Since March, Hobby Works has worked through thousands of price changes to reflect fluctuating import costs, Brey says. However, if the ruling is ultimately upheld, businesses could be eligible for refunds on tariffs already paid, though it could take months for any process to play out, says Dunford. Annie Park, co-owner of Sarah's Homemade Ice Cream in the Washington, D.C. area, says she's "relieved" by the ruling. One of her suppliers had already offered tariff credits before the appeals court's stay, she says. In the meantime, her expenses have increased and her business is making adjustments to its operations, she says, such as discontinuing certain flavors due to higher costs. Even if these particular tariffs are struck down, the White House has other tools it could use to impose new ones, including sections of U.S. trade law that allow tariffs on national security or retaliatory grounds, Goldman Sachs analysts have noted. The administration could try to take the current case to the U.S. Supreme Court if it loses on appeal, which would extend the legal fight even further. For now, the uncertainty is likely to continue as the appeal moves forward and the administration weighs its next steps. "The volatility and uncertainty is making stock market speculators rich, but it is killing the people who actually have to operate the businesses," says Brey. ,
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
Digital detox tourism trend: Why travelers are now paying to have their phones taken away?
In a world where even a chai break isn't complete without checking WhatsApp or scrolling through Instagram Reels, a curious travel trend is quietly gaining ground—one where people are not only unplugging but paying thousands to have their phones taken away. And while it may sound absurd at first, digital detox holidays are fast becoming the next big thing, even among Indian travelers . #Operation Sindoor The damage done at Pak bases as India strikes to avenge Pahalgam Why Pakistan pleaded to end hostilities Kashmir's Pahalgam sparks Karachi's nightmare No Wi-Fi, No Worries: The Luxe Life Without Notifications According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, nearly 27% of global travelers say they want to stop doom-scrolling and be more present on vacation. That's not all—17% are searching for retreats that force them to unplug completely. Think about it: you check into a luxury resort, and the first thing you're asked to do is hand over your phone. No Instagram. No work emails. No Swiggy alerts. Just you, the moment, and a stunning view. Travel companies have taken note. UK-based site Cool Places has flipped the script on how they market their properties. 'We used to advertise Wi-Fi access like a perk. Now, we tag the places with no Wi-Fi —and those are the ones getting booked,' says Martin Dunford, the company's founder. Board Games Instead of Binge-Watching: A Mexican Escape Take Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico, for instance. Guests signing up for their digital detox package are welcomed into plush rooms—minus any tech. TVs are replaced with books and board games, and mobile devices are locked away by the concierge in a secure safe. Activities like biking, yoga, and snorkeling take center stage. Prices? A few thousand dollars a night. And still, people—especially high-stress urbanites—are lining up for this escape from the digital rat race. For Indian professionals glued to work calls and LinkedIn even on weekends, this kind of luxury detox may feel like a dream. But it's one that more and more Indians, especially those working in tech and finance, need to consider. You Might Also Like: UK tourist speechless after he visits Indian city: 'Looks like Singapore' iStock Writers who've experienced this kind of detox say the silence is both jarring and healing. A Retreat for the Chronically Online According to the New York Post , Urban Cowboy Lodge in New York's Catskills offers one such model. Guests here physically lock their phones away in a box upon check-in. At first, the withdrawal symptoms are real. 'Guests go stir crazy in the first 24 hours,' says Dunford, who worked with UK universities to study digital detox behavior. 'But by the third day, they're either relaxed or even dreading turning the phone back on.' 'Vacation from Society': What Detoxing Really Feels Like Writers who've experienced this kind of detox say the silence is both jarring and healing. One described the moment of reuniting with their phone as 'dreaded,' stretching the phone-free peace as long as they could before finally turning on Google Maps to find their way home. This sentiment resonates with many Indians who've experienced burnout, especially after the pandemic-induced work-from-home culture blurred all boundaries. For them, a digital detox isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. As our screens continue to dominate both our work and leisure time, one thing is clear: the future of luxury travel may not be about how many stars a hotel has, but how little signal it offers. So next time you book a holiday—ask yourself not where you're going, but what you're leaving behind . Would you dare to vacation without your phone? You Might Also Like: Mumbai man reveals why his family is not able to afford foreign trips even after having high-paying jobs
New York Post
11-05-2025
- New York Post
Digital detox retreats rise in popularity
In a time when people can't even go to the bathroom without bringing their phones — surprisingly, the interest around digital detox retreats is rising, and people are willing to pay thousands to go on them. While on vacation, 27% of adults want to be present and spend less time doom-scrolling, according to a 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which was originally reported on by the BBC. And 17% of vacationers are taking things a step further by searching for trips that will force them to unplug and possibly ditch their technology altogether, according to global luxury home-rental platform Plum Guide. Advertisement 'We used to have a tag to show which properties had wi-fi. Now we're adding a 'no wi-fi' tag,' Martin Dunford, the founder and CEO of Cool Places, a UK travel accommodation booking site, told the BBC. Guests at the Grand Velas Resorts in Mexico can book a stay here and sign up for their Digital Detox program. Once travelers arrive at their designated hotel room — they'll notice that the room is free of any tech. TVs are replaced with board games, and guests' devices are kept in a safe by the concierge, according to the resort's site. On a digital detox trip — guests are forced to lock up their devices for the duration of their stay. Aaron Weiss – Advertisement This forces guests to partake in complimentary activities such as biking and snorkeling tours. The average rate for a room is a couple of thousand dollars a night. And if people aren't looking to spend so much money to travel outside the country for this kind of retreat — stressed-out travelers can stay at the Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills, which is only a few hours north of NYC. At this Catskills cabin-style boutique hotel, guests lock their devices in a box for the duration of their stay. Something that might sound terrifying but is ultimately rewarding. Dunford worked with the University of Greenwich and the University of East Anglia to study people's patterns and behaviors when they completely disconnect on a trip. Advertisement As expected, they found that at first, it's quite the adjustment for people to not have access to technology while away. Disconnecting from the outside world allows travelers to partake in outdoor activities. EFStock – 'Guests go stir crazy in the first 24 hours,' Dunford said. 'But after 48 hours, they are well adjusted and start getting into other activities. At the end of a three-day stay – or longer – we find guests may be happy to have their phones back or can be a bit take it or leave it about it.' Advertisement 'By the end of the three days, I was far from excited to open the lockbox and turn my phone back on – in fact, I was dreading it,' said a writer for The Week in a story about their experience taking part in a digital detox trip. 'I prolonged my vacation from society for as long as I could, but was eventually forced to bite the bullet when I got into the car and remembered I was reliant on Google Maps if I had any hope of getting home,' the writer pointed out.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- BBC News
Firm fined £300k after kitchen fitter crushed to death by concrete
A construction company has been fined £300,000 after a kitchen fitter was crushed to death by concrete Dunford, 33, from Pocklington, Yorkshire, was pinned against a lorry loader on a building site near Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, causing severe head and internal Homes Construction was handed the fine at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found the Nottingham-based firm had failed to ensure that a delivery area was clear of Dunford's sister, Tracey Hunter, said: "Martin went to work and never came home. His life was unjustly cut short." Mr Dunford was working at Ebrington Rise housing site in January 2020 when he walked around a lorry loader to talk to the driver, the HSE investigation the conversation, according to the investigation, two packs of concrete blocks, which were being supported by a wooden pallet and had been stacked one on top of the other, toppled onto him, pinning him against the side of the lorry. Mr Dunford died on site. 'Entirely avoidable' The HSE found that Piper Homes Construction, which is based in Lace Market Square, Nottingham, had failed to ensure a suitable and level storage area was provided for the safe offloading of construction was also found to have failed to ensure wooden pallets were in a suitable Hunter said: "Little did he know on that date that he was going to work on a site that had ongoing issues and was not following HSE guidelines for working safely on a construction site."Martin was very much loved by his family and friends. He is missed every day and nothing can ever fill the hole that is left by him no longer being here."She said the HSE verdict was "the start of some sense of justice towards his senseless death".HSE inspector James Lucas said: "This was an entirely avoidable incident and our thoughts remain with Martin's family."He said that, had the company properly planned and managed the storage of construction materials and inspected the condition of the wooden pallets, Mr Dunford's death could have been prevented."Had this been done on this particular site, Martin would have returned home safely to his family," he company, which is in liquidation, was also ordered to pay £5,236 in costs at a hearing on Tuesday.
Business Wire
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
RestorixHealth Welcomes New C-Suite Leadership
METAIRIE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RestorixHealth, the nation's leading wound care solutions company, has announced new corporate leadership in Ben Dunford, MBA, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Melinda Estep, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). One key takeaway from my time at RestorixHealth so far is the centrality of our mission is critically important, and the work we do daily to help patients heal is truly world-class. Share Dunford brings to RestorixHealth a wealth of healthcare experience serving in various c-suite roles, including CFO at Texas Regional Medical Center at Sunnyvale, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at NorthStar Anesthesia, President of Rural Physicians Group and, most recently, CEO of Diversified Radiology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Dunford began his career at Bain & Company and Goldman Sachs. 'One key takeaway from my time at RestorixHealth so far is the centrality of our mission: to restore health and improve the quality of life – and access to care – for patients with wounds. This mission is critically important, and the work we do daily to help patients heal is truly world-class,' Dunford explains. 'I have enjoyed meeting our associates, providers, partners and patients over the past few months and learning just how dedicated they are to our values and culture. RestorixHealth is positioned for growth, and I look forward to supporting our team as we provide more communities and patients with the high-quality care they deserve.' Estep joins RestorixHealth with over 25 years of experience in finance, healthcare operations and business development, including executive officer roles with multiple healthcare companies, including Associate CFO, Associate COO and Chief of Business Development of Denver Health Medical Center, Principal and Managing Director of Delivery Systems at Health Management Associates and, most recently, CFO of John Muir Health. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from the University of Colorado. Estep is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a fellow with America's Essential Hospitals and the Healthcare Finance Management Association. 'Melinda's extensive financial and management skills are an asset to our company,' adds Dunford. 'I am confident that, together, we will lead RestorixHealth to not only achieve our goals but also foster a collaborative, supportive culture for our colleagues and associates.' About RestorixHealth Committed to excellence in wound care, RestorixHealth is the wound care solutions company providing programs, services, products and education across the care continuum. From developing and operating wound centers in partnership with hospitals, to delivering professional wound care in nursing facilities and in-home settings, RestorixHealth's solutions increase access to care, reduce hospital admissions and most importantly, improve patient outcomes and quality of life. For more information, visit
