Latest news with #Verb
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Why GenZ Is Sharing Personal Data With Companies Willingly
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. Generation Lab's new platform, allows users to earn money by anonymously sharing data, aiming for fair compensation. By tracking browsing habits, it creates digital twins for accurate market insights, shifting how companies approach data collection. The way people perceive data sharing is changing. Generation Lab, a youth polling company, has a new product called, which is revolutionising market research by offering users a chance to earn money by sharing their data anonymously, according to Axios. According to Cyrus Beschloss, CEO of Generation Lab, "We think corporations have extracted user data without fairly compensating people for their own data." This new platform aims to change that by providing users with transparency and fair compensation. For just $50 or more per month, users can download a tracker on their phones, which takes only 90 seconds to set up. This tracker monitors browsing habits, purchases, and streaming app usage, all while keeping bank account activity private. The data collected is used to create a digital twin of each user, allowing companies to gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior. Imagine a political advocacy group seeking to understand where women under 30 get their news. With Verb, they can query the digital twins that fit this demographic and receive accurate answers. This method of polling is likened to an MRI machine, as described in Generation Lab's pitch deck: "For decades, market research has been the equivalent of a doctor asking a patient to describe their symptoms. VERB is an MRI machine." A significant portion of Gen Z is open to sharing personal data, with 88% willing to share information with social media companies in exchange for incentives. This demographic shift is changing the way companies approach data collection. As Beschloss notes, "We think users should know exactly what data they're giving us and should feel good about what they're receiving in return." By tracking user behavior rather than relying on self-reported data, Verb provides a more accurate picture of consumer preferences. With a goal of reaching 5,000 users by the end of September, Generation Lab is poised to disrupt the market research industry. The future of polling has arrived, and it's all about buying and selling data in a more transparent and fair way.
Boston Globe
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Take a trip through Boston's rock history with this music-filled walking tour
Advertisement Billed as a journey through the city's rock 'n' roll past and present, Soundscape Tours string decades of Boston music trivia into a 90-minute stroll through Fenway-Kenmore. There are some obvious stops on the 2-mile jaunt, which starts at The Verb Hotel: the former locations of venues like the Rathskeller and Storyville, the classic record store Nuggets, and the Verb's own lobby, which brims with a rainbow of rock ephemera from the David Bieber Archives. Then come the moments revealing detail-rich surprises, including a rumour that headbanging was invented in Boston at a legendary English band's performance, and the fact that Kurt Cobain loved a certain Boston band so much that he once told Rolling Stone he ought to be a member (but hey, no spoilers). Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Everybody, I think, overlooks this area now as part of Boston's music scene,' said Bowker, reflecting on the high concentration of music history in the neighborhood. Advertisement After a winter break, Soundscape Tours begin for the spring season this weekend, offering walks on Friday and Saturday afternoons through November. The experience layers Bowker's unique qualifications as a Boston musician (check out his group 'Boston has been an incubator for some of the most revolutionary ideas and figures in American history, and my contention is that the same principle can be applied to folk, jazz, and rock in the 20th century,' said Bowker. As he walks guests by long-gone landmarks and snapshots of Boston's rock heritage, Bowker's enthusiasm is hard to miss. He carries a tour-branded boombox and a backpack filled with record covers, and keeps a few pertinent cassettes — like rambling on air as a 'I think they're a tactile way for people to interact with music,' Bowker said in reference to the physical media. 'Some people come on my tour, they've never touched a cassette. They've never touched a record.' Advertisement 'I'm trying to make this like an actual museum, and that's the best thing that I can do, is to get these artifacts,' he added. Although sometimes, the best demonstrations of music history can't be planned. Bowker recalls bumping into — who was playing guitar in the Verb's lobby at the start of a previous tour. There's likely no better sign that Boston music lives beyond the lore of decades past. 'He joined our discussion,' Bowker said. 'I like to think that he would have stayed on the tour had his assistant not come in and got him.' GIG GUIDE The House of Blues bustles this week with visits from Midwest indie rock favorites ( Across the street at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, Lucy Dacus brings her new album "Forever Is a Feeling" to MGM Music Hall at Fenway this Sunday and Monday. Shervin Lainez Trio let their surf and cumbia instrumentals — like their new single 'Te He Prometido' — sizzle at (f.k.a. A$AP Ferg) comes to the venue on Advertisement Circa Waves will perform with Friday Pilots Club at The Sinclair on Monday. Polocho Genre-smashing solo artist NOW SPINNING Julien Baker and TORRES tap into their Southern roots on the collaborative new album "Send a Prayer My Way." Ebru Yildiz Julien Baker & TORRES, Brooklyn artist and Berklee alumna Madison McFerrin has soul to spare on her new single "I Don't." VAM STUDIO Madison McFerrin, Madison McFerrin has plenty of soul to spare — even when hers is feeling broken. The Berklee grad and Brooklyn singer-songwriter primes fans for her forthcoming album 'Scorpio' with the single 'I Don't,' a lament over abandoned nuptials that McFerrin polishes with her sleek hybrid of jazz and soul-rock. Advertisement New York artist Leah Nawy mixes genres on her aptly-titled single "Mixing Patterns." Ben Crocker Leah Nawy, BONUS TRACK After its inaugural edition last year, the Victoria Wasylak can be reached at . Follow her on Bluesky @
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Verb Products Unveils New 5-in-1 Hair Styler, Frizz Defense Smoothing Spray
NEW YORK, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Verb Products, the destination for salon-quality haircare at one set affordable price, introduces a new styling product, Frizz Defense Smoothing Spray, to its robust portfolio. The efficacious product boasts 5-in-1 benefits, including increased shine, reduced frizz, heat protection, humidity protection and extended styles. Verb created this frizz-defending styler to protect hair from humidity, enhance shine and reduce frizz. Key ingredients include a heat-activated frizz defense technology that blocks out frizz and humidity while smoothing hair, along with Verb's unique strengthening complex that helps strengthen damaged hair. Additionally, red and brown seaweed extract rich in hair-healthy vitamin b5, amino acids and minerals help nourish the hair. Clinical performance is at the heart of Verb Products, with every formula backed by testing for proven efficacy. Frizz Defense Smoothing Spray is clinically proven to protect against high humidity for up to 72 hours.* Clinical results also showed up to122% more shine* and 70% less frizz* when using this product. "Our Frizz Defense Smoothing Spray is the ultimate solution for achieving smooth, sleek hair that stays frizz-free no matter the weather," said Meg Lerner, Vice President of Marketing at Verb Products. "It's a powerful blend of nourishing ingredients that smooth and protect, leaving hair looking healthier and more manageable. We're excited to introduce this innovation—designed to help you embrace your best hair day, every day." Verb's Frizz Defense Smoothing Spray is available now at and will be at select retailers for $22, including ULTA Beauty, Sephora, Target, Amazon and salons across the country in the coming weeks. *proven results in a third-party testing lab About Verb ProductsVerb was born in Austin and raised in New York with one unwavering mission: to deliver clean, cruelty-free and affordable salon-quality hair products. More than a decade later, their mission remains the same—to celebrate individuality and create a lasting, positive impact among their hair-loving community—because every great story needs a Verb. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Verb Sign in to access your portfolio
Buzz Feed
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
27 Beauty Products So Good, You'd Be Crushed If They Ever Get Discontinued
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · I'm gonna *need* a lifetime supply of Laneige's lip sleeping mask if it ever goes away. 1. A Neutrogena makeup-correcting stick if any eyeliner or mascara (even waterproof!) goes where it shouldn't. This can replace using a full makeup wipe for a tiny mistake *and* majorly save you time since you don't have to start your makeup look over! Amazon, Promising review: "This is a must-have product, in my opinion. I have been using this for years. I have it on a subscription. I use it to remove my eyeliner when it gets on my skin or if I make mistakes. The price is great. This will last for several months; it just depends on how many mistakes you make. Most people are going to think you don't get much for the price, but honestly this is worth every penny. I can't go without this because I do make mistakes. I could go on and on about this product. Just buy it." — Peggy Kenworthy Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (also available in a two-pack). 2. Verb's Ghost Oil to help you tame flyaways, add a moisturizing shine, and control frizz. Just use two to three pumps on damp or dry hair to make your locks feel soft and silky! Reviewers with thin, thick, and curly hair love this! "I've been trying this out for a few months now, and this has become my new holy grail hair product!! I use this at the very end of my hair styling routine whether I'm giving myself a blowout, straightening my hair, or curling it. I use one full pump on half of my hair and one pump on the other half, and it's more than enough to eliminate any annoying flyaways or frizz without weighing my hair down like other hair oils can. I also love using this to tame my hair in between washes and revitalize any hairdos that might have gotten frizzy after sleeping on it. I'm tempted to buy another one and leave it in my travel toiletries bag because if I'm ever without this, I might cry!" — Ciera Promising review:"This stuff is amazing. My hair was very dry and the ends appeared split. I bought this stuff from a TikTok recommendation and will never go back. Super light and moisturizing." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in two sizes and a two-pack). 3. Essence Lash Princess Mascara that'll instantly lengthen and volumize your lashes with its cone-shaped fiber brush (without annoying clumps or globs), so you'll feel like a falsies expert without overworking yourself. It's also super affordable and sweat-proof — so this may be your new go-to! BuzzFeed Editor Kayla Boyd tried this out and raves: "As someone who isn't a big fan of false lashes (the glue irritates my eyes and I'm terrible at applying them) this budget-friendly holy grail does the trick for both lengthening and volumizing my lashes. After you've given it a minute to dry, it lasts all day long and doesn't smudge or fade. It seriously gives the effect of false lashes, without the discomfort." Promising review:"After using Lights, Camera, Lashes by Tarte for the past year, I got tired of breaking the bank over mascara. My sister suggested Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect and I IMMEDIATELY fell in love. It provides dramatic length and great volume. I can honestly say I can't stop looking at my eyelashes in the mirror every single day because of how awesome they look. Also, it is very long-wearing. I go from an eight-hour workday right to the gym and sweat like this stuff doesn't budge! I love it!!" — Carrie E Weikert Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (also available in a three-pack). For more info and review pics, check out Kayla's full Essence Lash Princess Mascara review! 4. A Tower 28 daily facial spray with hypochlorous acid, an antibacterial ingredient that can also help reduce inflammation, redness, and irritation. That means after you sweat doing the 12-3-30 on the treadmill, you can spritz this on your face to help avoid breakouts! Sephora Tower 28 is a LA-based, Asian woman-owned small business that creates nontoxic, vegan, and cruelty-free beauty products for all skin types. Promising reviews:"Wow! I have dry, acne-prone skin and was recently prescribed retinol and clindamycin and got an ear piercing. My skin cleared up with the prescriptions but I started to breakout in places I never do. I purchased this to use instead of the clindamycin in the morning and my skin has been consistently good for the past two months. I use this in the morning after washing my face and then use a hydrating serum or just moisturizer and sunscreen. (I use the retinol or Good Genes at night). I haven't had maskne, my acne/bumps cleared, and I really haven't had anything to complain about. I got a new ear piercing and was aware that I would need to be careful with getting product on it and saw in the description of this product that it was ok/helpful for new piercings/helps promote healing. I am not spraying this on my ear but it does get on my ear when I generously spray my face and I haven't had any irritation. It does smell like chlorine when first sprayed but the scent dissipates fast. I love this magical spray!" — spokanecf Get it from Sephora for $12+ (available in three sizes). 5. An *eight-second* L'Oreal lamellar water rinse-out treatment designed to make your locks look smooth, shiny, and revived! This works *so* much faster than other hair treatments and is so effective that some reviewers describe it as a " miracle." Just apply it to wet hair after shampooing it, massage the product in, rinse it out, and you're done! Just check out these reviewers with thin, curly (including types 3c/4a and 4c), and color-treated hair types swearing by this stuff. And it's silicone-free! Promising review:"I don't usually do reviews on products, but for this one I absolutely have to. I have 3c type hair and struggle with a lot a breakage, unmanageability, and moisture. When my mom mentioned this product to me I didn't take her seriously because of the simple fact that we have two completely different hair textures. I never would have thought this brand would work on my hair. I have always used ethnic hair products and stayed away from brands such as this one because of the alcohol consumption. I have never in my 22 years felt my hair like this. I feel like I have a completely different head of hair. This product is so amazing and I will FOREVER be using this product in my hair regimen. Thank you so much!! ♥️" — Theressa Hailey Get it from Amazon for $10.97. 6. Or Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Protein Treatment for damaged hair from hot styling tools or over-processing from harsh treatments like bleach. Reviewers say it helps their hair feel stronger, softer, and less tangled, with an immediate difference. One person even went as far as to say that it's "Better than Olaplex." 😱 This works on fine, straight, curly, thick, and kinky hair types (4c). Promising review:"I've been working on my hair for 6 years now, after a terrible pregnancy then a separate health issue my hair has been struggling. I finally have grown out my hair but no matter what the top of my hair is still covered in split ends. I trim, I've done everything I can to fix the damage but nothing seems to work. I saw this in a BuzzFeed article, thought, what the hell... not like it can get worse. Literally after one treatment 80% of my split ends are gone, after the second treatment it's like a miracle!!! For less than 10 bucks... this is amazing stuff!!!!" — meridith s. Get it from Amazon for $7.62. And check out our full review of the Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Protein Treatment for more deets! 7. A non-sticky NYX buttery gloss reviewers love because it's long-lasting, feels moisturizing, and has a glossy ✨shine✨. The smooth formula and high-shine finish will make you think this stuff costs $$$ — but it's actually pretty cheap! Promising review: "I like the buttery feel, and that this Butter Gloss lasts longer than other regular lip gloss and is more moisturizing than other glosses. I still use a nourishing rosehip lip oil beneath it for added moisture. I am 50 and my lips are thinner, more wrinkled, and dryer than my younger lips. Overall this provides more moisturizing and longer lasting gloss than other lip 'glosses.'" — elemental em Get it from Amazon for $4.51+ (available in 43 shades). 8. A highly pigmented waterproof eyeshadow stick that applies as a crème but stays on like a powder — say what!? The candelilla wax–infused formula is super easy to blend, either with the built-in smudger end or just your finger, for a seamless look in seconds. Promising review: "I'm 52, with crepey eyelids and they itch and water if a smidge of eye product gets in them. Powder shadow is a complete no-go! Just bought two of these and I am so happy! After years of not wearing shadow, I am back in the game! It goes on creamy exactly where you put it. The smudger works beautifully and it stayed put all day with no creasing, no watery or itchiness. Didn't use any primer, just on clean, moisturized skin Thank you! I will definitely be getting more colors!" — Tania Nicholson Get it from Amazon for $18+ (available in 57 shades). 9. A Rare Beauty liquid blush reviewers say puts their powder blushes to shame, thanks to its pigmented formula and incredible finish. Plus it's buildable and blends easily, and it can last for up to 12 hours — fast-fading blush, where?? Not here. Btw, it's available in matte or radiant finishes! Sephora Promising review: "This is such a gorgeous blush! It's really pigmented so a little goes a long way. It gives the most beautiful flush but it's buildable if you want a more intense pop of color." — minnimalist Get it from Sephora for $15+ (available in 15 shades and two sizes). 10. A super affordable Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick that lasts up to 16 (!) hours, which means this will last you all day and then some. Some reviewers said it stayed on after eating, drinking, and an entire work shift with no reapplying needed! "I have worn this lipstick almost exclusively since 2019, I've rebought it several times, and the best part — it's under $10 a tube. I currently own five shades, but it comes in over 30 SHADES, so you're bound to find one that works for you. In addition to being long-lasting, it doesn't leave my lips all dry and cracked like other matte lipsticks I've tried in the past. And I've done the leg work — dozens and dozens of times; I've put this on before dinner, eaten a full meal, drunk some cocktails, and it still looks fantastic when I get back home!" — Ciera Get it from Amazon for $5.34+ (available in 44 shades). Read our full review of the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick here. 11. First Aid Beauty's KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub Exfoliant capable of making your dry, patchy, or bumpy skin feel baby soft — even newborns would be impressed! Reviewers say this is helpful for keratosis pilaris and other skin conditions. Amazon, Read more about how to treat keratosis pilaris at home at the American Academy of Dermatology. "I've had keratosis pilaris since I was a teenager (it's especially bad on my thighs), and after trying dozens of products to treat it with no luck, this magical product is the only thing that's truly worked for me. I usually use this once a week for maintenance, but if I notice a flare-ups and I get have drier, rougher, bumpier skin, I use this twice a week, and any flare-ups disappear within the week. I scrub it over my thighs and then actually let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off. I have notorious sensitive skin, and I've never had an issue with this before. It's truly the best product out there for any fellow KP sufferers out there!" — Ciera Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and Instagram. I decided to try it and it really works. I used it on my thighs and upper arms. I noticed a difference the first time and even more the second time!!! Fabulous product. Worth every penny." — Lana Get a tube from Amazon for $10+ (also available in three sizes). 12. A sweatproof One Size blurring setting powder to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and blur pores. You'll get up to 24-hour shine control, so you can literally wear this for a full day and still have flawless makeup. Plus, you won't get any flashback if you want to take a mirror selfie at work! Sephora One/Size is a queer, Filipino-owned business founded by makeup guru Patrick Starr to ensure that makeup is really one size fits all, as it should be. BuzzFeed Shopping writer Jordan Grigsby loves this stuff! Here's what she has to say about it:"My skin is oily oily (gotta say it twice for emphasis) and I have spent my entire teen/adult life looking for products that'll make me matte and KEEP me matte. I've tried so many setting powders and literally none can compete with this one. This powder is a serious bad B. I mean, pores? Nonexistent. Oily shiny face? Not up in here. I'm gagged every time. Just call me a walking IG filter, 'kay, it's that good. Patrick, I could kiss you for this freakin' powder. *OH!* and BTW I am a brown-skinned woman and the translucent shade works perfect for me. No cakey, weird, suuuper light powder, no flashback, nothing. Looks just like my skin!!" Promising review: "Literally, what's in this powder? Beauty spells? I have normal to dry skin but tend to grease up pretty easy when I use dewy foundations. I used this for the first time today and fell absolutely in love! I usually don't care too much for high end powders or powders at all but this one for me is top tier. It didn't necessarily dry out my skin but it stopped it from becoming greasy and it kept my makeup looking the same as when I applied it for hours. I definitely will be repurchasing, I've never been more in love with a setting powder!" — Kamoni Get it from Sephora for $18+ (available in 11 finishes and two sizes). 13. One Hit Wonder 10-in-1 leave-in spray with 10 (!) benefits — it detangles, prevents breakage, controls frizz, and provides heat protection up to 445°F. Make sure to shake it well and spray generously to feel ~all~ the effects. To use, spray through damp or dry hair and comb through. Mane Club is a small business based in California that specializes in vegan and cruelty-free hair products. Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping Editor Elizabeth Lilly has to say about this leave-in spray:"I have a very thick head of naturally curly hair and have put it through just about everything, including all kinds of hot tools, at-home dye kits, the gamut of shampoo and conditioner types, basically every dry shampoo and hair oil in existence, and just about anything else to try for a story for you dear readers. Lots of products have either straight-up failed, been meh enough for me to not recommend, or fantastic but so costly that I feel guilty recommending them. Basically, a lot of stuff ends up in the trash or pawned off on my (grateful) friends when it isn't a fit for me. But THIS STUFF. This stuff has become my go-to for spraying on my wet hair and then blow-drying. Normally I'd apply a heat protector and an oil treatment or leave-in conditioner before blow drying. But this 10-in-1 treatment takes the cake! Most of the time when I use it, I don't even need to finish off my hair with hair oil (I've been doing that as an essential hair step for years now). It's really that good! Here, I have freshly blow dried hair with just this post-shower using this Amika blow-dryer brush. This brush is fantastic on its own but this spray-on treatment has more or less doubled this brush's effectiveness. My hair comes out feeling softer, looking shinier and healthier, and stays looking good for days — which is especially great news because I wash my hair about every four days. 'Tis time for me to unload a bunch of hair products I now no longer need to my friends." Get it from Amazon for $9.95. 14. A non-comedogenic K-beauty serum with 97.5% snail mucin that helps brighten dark spots, hydrate your skin, and leave you looking ✨glowy✨. Even if snail mucin makes you think "ew," one reviewer describes it as the " real deal." Promising review: "I'm 55 years old and my skin is a bit sensitive. I don't have a lot of wrinkles, but I'm definitely noticing a few more laugh lines and forehead crinkles than I had a few years ago! I've tried several moisturizers and have not been terribly impressed with any of them until now. This stuff really is great — incredibly hydrating without feeling greasy and it absorbs quickly. It feels great on my skin. In just a few short weeks, I definitely notice an improvement in my skin tone and fewer lines and wrinkles! Plus, the customer service is great. I had questions when I first received the product and got followup response immediately. I will definitely be ordering this product again. I use it in the evening and morning; no need for two different moisturizers. Very pleased!" — sbakey Get it from Amazon for $20. 15. A Laneige lip sleeping mask that'll make dry, flaky lips feel so smooth, luscious, and nourished, you'll notice a difference after just one use! Just slather on the murumuru seed and shea butter formulation nightly — and hey, you may want to use it during the day, too, because it leaves a beautiful, glossy shine. Amazon Here's what BuzzFeed Editor Daniel Boan has to say about this lip mask that he's tried (and loved!):"At first I was hesitant to spend over $20 for a lip mask, but now I am NEVER without a jar of this magical moisturizing miracle. I have chronically dry lips, especially in the winter, and this basically transforms them overnight. Any flakiness I have on my lips is completely gone by the time I wake up in the morning — it's seriously magic. And can we talk about the scents?! The original Berry flavor is perfect if you like sweet, bubblegum, cotton candy-esque scents, but my personal favorite is the Vanilla, which is slightly more subtle but still smells like a delicious bowl of vanilla ice cream." Get it from Amazon for $24+ (available in 10 scents). 16. An Ilia multi-stick you can easily layer on top of your makeup and build the perfect amount of color on your lips, cheeks, or eyelids — or all three if you want a monochrome look. This creamy formula can also be used on the go, so if you need a quick little touch-up, just twist the product up and use it! Promising review: " Instantly added to my purse! I've always heard good things about Ilia, and the multi-stick cream blush and lip tint did not disappoint! After warming it up on my wrist, the multi-stick went on creamy and smooth on my lips and cheeks. The coverage was buildable and hydrating to my lips. I set the cream blush with powder blush and had no issues with it over my foundation. I also tried the multi-stick on my bare face and it provides a dewy flush. Again, easily buildable coverage,e and I used my fingers to blend out." — V Get it from Amazon for $36 (available in 12 shades) or Ilia for $36 (available in 12 shades). 17. Bread Beauty Supply Elastic Bounce Cream so you can enjoy some bouncy and luscious curls that *hold* their volume. Its reparative formula also helps with breakage, split ends, and damaged hair, so you can nourish and style your locks — all with one product! Sephora Bread Beauty Supply is a Black woman–owned small business. And they cater for curl types 3a to 4c. Promising review:"This curl cream is really it. I have tried different ones before but I feel like this one leaves my hair bouncy and moisturized. I really like the smell, too — it's so sweet, makes me want to eat it hehe. I like that a little goes a long way and the packaging is really great size so it would last a long time." — Sephora Customer Get it from Sephora for $16+ (available in two sizes) . 18. A Elta MD sunscreen reviewers say is lightweight, non-greasy, and great for daily use. This is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin because the formula is super gentle and non-comedogenic — meaning it won't clog pores. Btw it's the most recommended SPF by dermatologists! Promising review: "My dermatologist recommended this because I am starting a treatment that severely increases sun sensitivity. Chemical sunscreen usually gives me hives and he wanted something that I would actually wear. The formula is light, non-greasy, and works well. I also had no reactions or issues with the sun! I actually lost the first bottle somehow after about a week and immediately repurchased it despite the price. I'm that happy with it." — JackieOfAllTrades Get it from Amazon for $23+ (available in two sizes and a two-pack). 19. The Flick Stick's winged eyeliner stamp so you can get the perfect cat eye without the fuss of keeping a constant steady hand. Save yourself the time that it takes to freehand a flawless wing and stamp on this waterproof liner instead. One side of the pen is the winged stamp, and the other is just a normal eyeliner. Promising review:"Let me start by saying this isn't my first cat-eye rodeo. I've tried the taping method, normal liquid liner, plastic winged stamping devices, stencils, all of it! Well, this gem arrived and I immediately had to try it out, all while laughing at how terrible this would probably turn to my surprise I put the left cat-eye on first and it was perfect. I thought this was a fluke and did the right it came out clean and perfect! I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN ABLE TO DO A CAT-EYE IN UNDER 10 MINUTES, LET ALONE THE TWO MINUTES THIS TOOK TO DO! There were no sloppy streaks that I had to touch up or anything you would expect. Just a clean crisp line. I can now do a cat-eye EVERY day and look/feel like a badass. Everyone can think I spend hours doing my makeup in the morning." — LadyMeow Get a set of two (one for each eye) from Amazon for $14.98 (available in three styles and a three-pack). 20. A bottle of sulfate-free biotin shampoo for damaged, thinning hair because the biotin-rich formula can *seriously* help stimulate hair growth. Over 1K reviewers gave a 5-star review, noting how they got results from this — just make sure to use this consistently! Talk to your doctor before using this product if you're experiencing hair loss. Read more about biotin shampoo and hair at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review:"I love this shampoo! I had gastric sleeve surgery and my hair was very, very thin. I started taking biotin and switched to biotin shampoo as recommended by my doctor. It doesn't make your hair grow by washing it but it makes your hair and roots stronger. And it worked. After using the whole bottle, my hair was stronger. I had a lot of new growth that was sticking around (the previous new growth fell out early on) and my hair was getting thicker. Eight months later, my hair is back to normal. It's longer and thicker than ever. I still use it twice a week and love it! I'm not crazy about the way it smells but others love it when they smell my hair." — Diane J. Huff Get it from Amazon for $13.95. 21. A prescription-strength Differin gel to fight, treat, and prevent future breakouts with consistent use. It can normalize skin cell turnover, restore skin texture, and get rid of those inflamed, clogged pores that sweat, dirt, and oily skin can cause. BuzzFeed Shopping editor Natalie Brown has tried this out on her own skin! Here are her takeaways: " 1. One pea-sized application per day is all it takes 2. It's just as effective over moisturizer as it would be if you applied it directly to your skin. 3. Apply it at night, and you MUST wear sunscreen every day when you use this!" You can read her full review in this post " 11 Products We Use, Love, And Swear By So Much, We Had To Share Them With You" at #6. Promising review: "This product is a MAGIC ERASER on acne. This is the only product that works on my acne. It dried up my hormonal acne within one night! So I have mild hormonal acne due to menstrual cycle but after using this gel every night and following the directions in the package, it has really helped me get rid of acne and dark spots. This product did not break me out in initial use or even later. This one tube lasted me for a couple months and a few days over. I love the results and I will buy another tube if my acne acts up again but for now I have clean and clear skin." — Karthick R. Get it from Amazon for $14.97+ (available in two styles and five sizes). 22. A lip-plumping gloss set with a ginger plumper to give the appearance of fuller lips during the day and a mint moisturizing mask for nighttime use. Reviewers say the plumper " delivers on its promise" and gives a spicy-tingling sensation but isn't overwhelming. You'll get one lip plumper and one minty sleeping mask for your lips. Promising reviews: "I loved this stuff, it was magic. The evening moisturizer was fabulous. It is the first plumper that actually works for me. Will be buying more for gifts!!!!!" — Alexandra "I discovered this product from TikTok and I had to give it a try. I tried the day lip plumper and within a few seconds, there was a subtle tingling/burning that lasted for a few minutes but as it occurred, the plumping started to happen! It made a noticeable difference and made my lips look like I had filler! I'm obsessed!! — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $9.98. 23. An affordable Physician's Formula powder highlight that blends easily, thanks to how smooth and creamy the buttery formula is. It leaves a beautiful glimmering powder finish that'll last you all dang day! Promising review: "This highlighter is amazing! It is soft, works like magic, and very budget-friendly! You can tell the quality of the product by the texture and smoothness, and the ease with which it glides onto the skin! I'm a fan!" — Shweta S. Get it from Amazon for $9.48+ (available in two colors). 24. A pack of 20 24-karat gold under-eye masks with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and snail mucin to help reduce the appearance of dark circles and deeply moisturize your skin. You'll easily fool people that you got a full night's rest even if you didn't after using these. Pro-tip: Slide these on after storing them in the fridge so you get an ~extra~ cooling effect that can also help depuff your under-eyes. Promising review: "I absolutely love this product. When I bought them I was a little bit skeptical because I had never tried eye patches before and I was not sure if they would actually work. After my initial use I was blown away. Left my under-eyes feeling super smooth and visibly less puffy. I had to get my mom to try these with me! She's 48-years-old and these did magic on her eyes too! Made us both feel very relaxed and we could even move around in them. Will be buying another box once I run out of the 20 packs this box provides, another pro!" — Adriana G. Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two styles and pack sizes). 25. A Chi Thermal Care kit that includes shampoo, conditioner, and heat protectant. These three products will make your hair feel silky-smooth, moisturized, and less frizzy — especially *after* styling with your hair dryer, flatiron, or hot hair brushes. Just wash out the shampoo like normal, let the conditioner sit for 2-5 minutes before rinsing out, and apply a small amount of the Silk Infusion while your hair is still damp before styling with your hot tools. BuzzFeed Shopping writer Jordan Grigsby has tried it and loved it (evidence above!) Here's her review:"You see that shine? That volume? That bounce? Babyyyy my hair is FLAWLESS. Witchcraft, right? Oh, and if you could feel it?! HONEYYYY, so, so soft and silky. It is seriously bone-straight and looks and feels soooo healthy! And, my hair is NATURAL (other than the obvious blue dye); I haven't used relaxers or keratin treatments in over 10 years. Now, I am by no means a hairstylist, and nothing tops their magical hands, but sweetieeeee, these products blow my mind. This trio does what needs to be done, and like, I did it — I delivered these results. Nothing has ever made my hair look like this unless a stylist was styling my hair. And when I step out of my house, you cannot tell me I'm not the most fabulous person in the world — I'm literally Beyoncé. My hair flows and bounces as if I have a personal fan in front of me, and I CANNOT keep my hands out of my hair. The shampoo and conditioner help get ALLLL the product buildup out of my hair and leave my hair feeling squeaky clean. Then, I add my serum (before blow-drying and again before straightening), and BAM — I'm flawless. The combo of all three is just *chefs kiss*, and they help protect my hair from heat damage. If you want a magic wand to set everything off, invest in the Babyliss straightener! My hairdresser uses it so I grabbed one too and now I always look like I just stepped out of the salon." Get it from Amazon for $38.55. 26. A Color Wow heat-activated anti-frizz treatment if humidity is in the forecast, but you still want a super glossy and smooth hairstyle. One reviewer described it as "the holy grail for frizzy hair" because it's *so* effective. Just spray it once into your hair every three shampoos to get the best results! It works on straight, wavy, or curly hair types. Plus, it comes in an Extra Strength version for extremely dry, dehydrated hair *and* a Curly Hair version for wavy or curly hair so you can get lightweight, crunch-free curls. Promising review:"This product is incredible — just WOW. In all my years of existence, I was never able to tame my naturally curly hair into a sleek, silky, frizz-free look, until now. I l don't know what kind of magical sorcery went into making this product, but this stuff is amazing." — Lillee45 Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in two sizes). 27. Ecoslay's Orange Marmalade, a plant-based gel with flaxseed, aloe vera, and sweet orange essential oil to help hydrate hair, provide long-lasting, frizz-free curl definition and shine, soothe irritated scalps, *and* make your hair smell ah-mazing! Ecoslay Ecoslay is a Black-owned business that uses sustainable ingredients that are good for your hair. Promising review:"I've been using OM for two years now. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is as magical as this lovely concoction is for my coarse, 2c–3a hair. The soft, frizz-free hold that I'm able to achieve with this product is truly amazing and it lasts 4–5 days. People are constantly asking me what products I use and I recommend Orange Marmalade every time. Please never stop making it!" — Jordan Get it from Ecoslay for $14+ (available in four styles). How long will you want these products, you ask?
Associated Press
25-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
VERB Publishes Management's Prepared Remarks During Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Call
LAS VEGAS and LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB) ('VERB' or the 'Company'), Transforming the Landscape of Social Commerce, Social Telehealth and Social Crowdfunding with VANITYPrescribed; GoodGirlRx; and the GO FUND YOURSELF TV Show, today filed its Form 10-K reporting financial and operating results for the full year and the quarter ending December 31, 2024 and held an earnings conference call at 1 p.m. ET to discuss these results. Prepared remarks during the conference call of Rory J. Cutaia, the Company's Chairman & CEO, are provided below. Company Participant Rory J. Cutaia, CEO Operator: Good afternoon and welcome to the full-year and fourth quarter 2024 Financial Results Conference Call for Verb Technology Company, Inc. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Please be advised, the call is being recorded at the Company's request. On our call today is Rory J. Cutaia, Verb's Founder, Chairman and CEO Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that statements made during this conference call will include forward-looking statements under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, except as required by law, as the underlying facts and circumstances may change. Verb Technology Company disclaims any obligations to update these forward-looking statements, as well as those contained in the Company's current and subsequent filings with the SEC. I would now like to turn the call over to Rory J. Cutaia, CEO. Rory? Rory: Thank you moderator, and thanks to everyone for joining us today for our fourth quarter and full-year 2024 financial results and business update conference call. Well it sure feels good being back before you, speaking directly to you about our company, our business, our performance, and sharing our direct, transparent, honest thoughts and strategies for how we intend to drive shareholder value in this business now and into the future. I'd like to begin with a brief discussion about our history and the challenging market conditions that influenced the formulation of the strategies we undertook to insulate ourselves from those conditions. I'm referring to insulating ourselves from those market conditions that became impediments to value creation in our former direct sales Software as a Service line of business, as well as those market conditions, particularly capital markets conditions, that affected, and are affecting many, many small and micro-cap exchange-listed companies even today. Then I'd like to discuss the strategies that we employed and the changes we've made that underlie the impressive results we're now seeing in the business. I'll also touch on the strategies we employed that resulted in what I'm proud to state is a well cash-infused, extremely healthy debt-free balance sheet and a super clean cap table, the combination of which provide the all-important foundation for the impressive revenue growth we're now enjoying. Ok – let's jump in. Historically, we were an R&D driven technology business, built around a SaaS platform, with a customer base that was comprised of, for the most part, direct sales companies, or as they are sometimes referred to: multi-level marketing companies. When we entered the market with our interactive video-based sales software, we set out to become the dominant player in this sector. What we saw at that time was the opportunity to address a market that included the large-scale sales teams, including tens of thousands of independent sales reps that these companies managed, all of whom needed a simple and effective, mobile-based sales tool. Over time we learned valuable lessons. First, while we onboarded large numbers of new sales reps every month, the attrition rate among sales reps at these companies was extraordinarily high, making it difficult and costly to generate meaningful revenue growth. In addition, while we developed what we believe were extremely effective tools to help sales reps, even inexperienced sales reps generate and convert sales leads, outdated internal communications policies at these companies prohibited us from communicating these tools and how to use them directly to the fields of sales reps which may have curtailed much of the sales rep attrition, as the companies that managed these reps were often ineffective at doing so themselves. Finally, the ever-changing nature of the customer base we served, as well as the give-it-away below cost pricing models adopted by competitors who found themselves marginalized by our superior product offering, required continued, costly R&D expenditures, and continued returns to the capital markets. These factors, coupled with what we perceived to be declining market multiples for SaaS businesses generally, drove our decision to sell that business unit and focus instead on our new, though not yet revenue-generating - livestream shopping business. A bold move indeed, but one that has certainly proven now to have been in the best interests of our shareholders. This was the first prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB. The next prong of our strategy was to insulate ourselves from the predatory financing terms imposed universally on companies like ours who relied on access to the capital markets to fund continued R&D and other growth capital requirements. Almost every financing initiative we undertook was fraught with last minute re-trading of material deal terms, ridiculous warrant coverage terms and conditions, post-deal financing exclusivity arrangements, tying the Company to bad financings into the future when additional capital was needed – all of which made us – and so many other companies in the same situation – perfect targets for short-selling – and for companies with any kind of trading volume, greed-driven illegal naked short-selling. It wasn't hard to target companies that announced an upcoming financing as short-sellers could be confident that deal terms and corresponding share prices would be below whatever the then current trading price was. This capital markets environment eroded share prices across the board resulting in reverse splits required to maintain exchange listing requirements, and destroyed cap tables and balance sheets causing an unprecedented level of exchange de-listings. Ultimately, it was the individual retail investors, left without sufficiently aggressive regulatory intervention, who bore the brunt of this market activity and still do. To avoid this awful outcome, we developed a unique strategy to utilize Reg A to structure our capitalize raise initiatives and avoid the predatory hedge-fund investors, allowing us to issue straight common shares, priced at-the-market, with no warrant coverage, and no investment banking fees. This financing vehicle, unique for publicly-traded companies, among other financing strategies, allowed us to pay-off all of our debt, redeem all of the previously issued preferred shares, completely restructure our balance sheet, padding it with cash, taking shareholder equity from almost $2 million negative in June 2023 to more than $16 million positive in December 2024, and giving us a cash runway, conservatively assuming zero revenue growth, well into 2028 and beyond. The shareholder approved reverse split we did last year resulted in an extremely tight - less than 1 million share float – and essentially eliminated all of the warrant overhang from years-ago predatory financings. We're very proud of how well that series of initiatives was executed, completing that important second prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB. The next prong of our strategy was to diversify our revenue streams to insulate ourselves from changes in the market, including economic and regulatory changes, as well as changes within our own customer base and demand for our products and services. The challenge was to identify and develop independent, yet complementary revenue producing business units that could leverage the cost savings produced by a unified internal finance, sales, marketing, and technology department structure utilized by and across all business units. Recognizing that the core of our business was our interactive social video commerce technology and know-how, our strategy was to exploit those capabilities by entering the exploding telehealth industry, leading to the development and launch of VANITY Prescribed, followed by GoodGirlRX in partnership with TV and social media celebrity Savannah Chrisley, and then the development and launch of GO FUND YOURSELF, our very exciting, fast-growing crowd funding marketing platform. To give a sense of the revenue potential for Go Fund Yourself, we launched it in Q3 with little to no marketing and recognized $25 thousand in revenue – and then in Q4 we recognized $233 thousand in revenue. And if any of the more recent developments come to fruition for the Show – 2025 may be an extraordinary year for Go Fund Yourself and VERB stockholders. VANITY Prescribed was in development during Q3 and Q4, identifying suppliers, onboarding suppliers, then replacing suppliers, developing our online patient screening and prescription approval process, and shoring up our supply chain in anticipation of participating in the extraordinary growth of the telehealth space following the introduction and rapid adoption of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Revenue, though now growing, was modest through that period and we're excited for a broad-based launch and marketing campaign that is about to get under way. As to at the end of Q3, we changed our focus and product offering by providing what we believe is an industry-leading end-to-end solution for brands seeking to adopt a social commerce strategy that they cannot manage in-house on a cost effective basis. That strategy has proven to be enormously successful producing exponential revenue growth. As reflected in our 2024 Form 10-K filed today, in Q1 we generated revenue of $7 thousand, in Q2 we generated revenue of $37 thousand, in Q3 we generated revenue of $103 thousand, and in Q4 we generated revenue of $490 thousand. An impressive and most welcomed trend by anyone's standards. Combined 2024 revenue was $895 thousand, an increase of $832 thousand over 2023, representing revenue growth of 1,321% over that period. This performance is the greatest amount of revenue generated since the strategic sale of the Company's direct sales SaaS business unit in June 2023. Looking at Q4 alone, we generated $723 thousand, an increase of $694 thousand over the same period last year, representing revenue growth of almost 2,400% over that period. And as compared to Q3 2024, revenue in Q4 increased by $595 thousand, representing growth of almost 465% quarter-over-quarter. While we historically do not provide going-forward guidance, we are comfortable sharing our expectation that Q1 2025 will surpass Q4 2024. Finally, as to the last prong of our multi-pronged strategy to restructure, reconstitute, and re-invent VERB, we recognized that any business that fails to identify and develop an artificial intelligence strategy will be marginalized. With that in mind, we explored a number of different strategies, including developing our own A.I. capabilities in-house, which we smartly rejected. Instead, we scoured the market for a company with a developed, tested, proprietary A.I. solution uniquely tailored to video-based social commerce. Upon testing the A.I. and social commerce capabilities of LyveCom, a bleeding-edge, video-based social commerce start-up, we entered into a licensing agreement to incorporate their technology into our platform. To our great surprise, we found that the integration of LyveCom's tech resulted in a massive operational cost reduction. In fact, we anticipate a direct operational cost reduction of approximately $1 million per year. However, perhaps more importantly, we also recognized that the addition of LyveCom's technology created an entirely new, updated platform, feature rich with capabilities far beyond our current platform and certainly beyond that of many other social commerce platforms. So rather than simply license the technology and risk LyveCom being acquired by a competitor, limiting our access to the technology and future iterations of it, we decided to acquire it ourselves. It is our expectation that the acquisition will be highly accretive and produce meaningful value for VERB stockholders. With the closing of the LyveCom acquisition, which remains on track and is expected to occur in the coming weeks, we will have effectively completed the transition of VERB from an unprofitable, cash-hungry business in a challenging market, to an extremely well-capitalized, well diversified business, with proven, strong, fast-growing revenue generation capabilities, A.I.-ready, with a tight float, clean cap table and debt-free balance sheet, poised for meaningful continued growth. In closing, I refer you to our Form 10-K filed today for greater details concerning our 2024 financial results as well as the press release distributed today summarizing those results for additional information I've not covered in my conference call today. I've chosen instead to use this time to provide context for those results and share our strategies and ongoing initiatives for continued growth and value-creation for VERB stockholders. Finally, and as anyone who can read a balance can see, with under 1 million shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024, and debt-free with more than $13 million in cash and highly liquid securities – and assuming ZERO value given for our three revenue generating business units – I would be remiss if I didn't point out that our net cash value per common share is at least $13.50, which we believe represents a very compelling opportunity, very compelling indeed. I thank you for allowing me to address you all today and share with you our excitement and optimism for VERB shareholders now and into the future. Operator: This concludes the conference call. You may now disconnect. About VERB Verb Technology Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERB), is the innovative force behind interactive video-based social commerce. The Company operates three business units, each of which leverages its social commerce technology and video marketing expertise. The Company's platform is a multi-vendor, livestream social shopping destination at the forefront of the convergence of e-commerce and entertainment, where brands, retailers, creators, and influencers engage their customers, clients, fans, and followers across multiple social media channels simultaneously. GO FUND YOURSELF is a revolutionary interactive social crowd funding platform and TV show for public and private companies seeking broad-based exposure across social media channels for their crowd-funded Regulation CF and Regulation A offerings. The platform combines a ground-breaking interactive TV show with back-end capabilities allowing viewers to tap, scan or click on their screen to facilitate an investment, in real time, as they watch companies presenting before the show's panel of ' Titans '. Presenting companies that sell consumer products are able to offer their products directly to viewers during the show in real time through shoppable onscreen icons. and are telehealth portals, intended to redefine telehealth by offering a seamless, digital-first experience that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare needs. They were designed and developed to disrupt the traditional healthcare model by providing tailored healthcare solutions at affordable, fixed prices – without hidden fees, membership costs, or inflated pharmaceutical markups. a partnership with Savannah Chrisley, a well-known lifestyle personality and advocate for health and wellness, offers customers access to convenient, no-hassle telehealth services and pharmaceuticals, including the new weight-loss drugs, with fixed pricing regardless of dosage, breaking away from the industry's traditional model of excessive pricing and pharmaceutical gatekeeping. The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV and operates full-service production and creator studios in Los Alamitos, California. Follow VERB and here: FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This communication contains 'forward-looking statements' as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance, or achievements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, those identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), including our annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the SEC and the risk factors included in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC today. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
