Monthly Archives: April 2020

Warren Bobrow=WB: Where are you from? What did you do originally? Why Cannabis?

TJ Stouder=TJS: I’m originally from Indiana, where the majority of my family still resides. After graduating from Notre Dame, I decided time to see the world and spent over a decade with Procter & Gamble finding out about how to develop a brand name a customer can rely on. The number 1 thing I came away with is that in business, consumer is king! My professional cannabis journey began shortly after leaving P&G in 2017, though I was a long time customer and didn’t comprehend the unfavorable preconception around the plant. I truly started learning about the complete potential of the broad spectrum of cannabinoids, out of need as my mommy needed the push. After hearing the stigma very first hand from her when I suggested trying it, I set out to change her mind. After six months of effort, it paid off, and I understood, customers require a brand name to do the effort for them and assist discuss how and why this plant must belong of our daily lives.

WB: Please tell me about your company. What brought you into the recovery business?

TJS: HOLISTIK Wellness ™ is the whole hemp plant provided into a convenient and portable drink Stir STIK ™. Each of our STIKs is packed with 10 mg of CBD Wellness, a water soluble solution of broad spectrum hemp extract. The most distinct part of our CBD Health is that it starts from our indoor (Biodynamic Greenhouse happily located upstate New York) grown plants, that never ever touch soil or outdoors air, and are trackable from seed-to-STIK. Plants are grown in crushed coconut husks which enable the plants to grow larger and healthier, and within the regulated environment of the greenhouse creating tidy and consistent products. Our customers have actually been thrilled with our simplified, approachable formulas, with couple of, natural ingredients targeting everyday wellness. With introductory sizes as low as 3 servings, its a low threat method to try something new.

WB: What are your 6- and twelve-month objectives?

TJS: We are proud to be a part of this excellent market and truly, motion, evolving everyday with brand-new finding outs about the Marijuana Sativa plant. Over the coming months and years, this will continue to swell as mainstream retailers come on board with full line ups and brand-new innovation throughout topical, supplements, and ingestible hemp derived products. We are dealing with nationwide merchants to craft this category with their customer in mind, aware of the huge quantity of preconception and questions that occur with the category, much like my mother’s journey. That stated, we attempt to simplify similar to any new consumer item, you must first create approachability to draw the customer in to learn more. Then you inform her to open up the possibility of a trial. Comes the item, it must deliver in that very first moment of truth. After that, its time to create a patriot and even better a supporter, however we’ll keep that one near the vest.

WB: What is your preferred food memory? Do you prepare? Have anything you wish to share about your preferred meal, or dining establishment?

We made a full conventional Thanksgiving meal, Turkey to Pecan Pie, to share with our good friends and family there representing 5 countries, speaking four languages, and having an array palettes.

WB: What is your enthusiasm?

TJS: I’ll choice this with, I’m a lucky person, as I would say I have 2 passions and I take place to be working on them: people and marijuana. The first was instilled early on from my grandfather who owned a fine print shop however dealt with everyone there from the blue collar night-shifter to the leading consumer account with the exact same level of respect. I learned from him that we remain in this together and all play a role. The more we can do to help the next individual be successful, the more cumulative success. The 2nd, was another good luck of family. I’ve been constructing consumer brand names because I began working, constantly with a mission of providing a consumer smile, even in many cases rather intangibly. Though cannabis has been the hardest endeavor i have actually even pursued, the everyday customer success story of how our item has touched their lives, makes it all worthwhile, offering me a real cravings for understanding and excitement for exploring each brand-new day.

Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn Have A Look At my site or some of my other work here

Javalution Hemp Coffee Joins Café La Rica and Josie’s Java House of CLR Roasters Brands Available for Immediate Shipping

MIAMI, April 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Youngevity International, Inc. (Nasdaq: YGYI), a multi-channel lifestyle company operating in three distinct business segments, including commercial coffee and commercial hemp enterprises announced today that its hemp derived coffee brand Javalution is now available for immediate shipping at Amazon.com. Javalution’s complete line of hemp coffee is available in four flavours including House Blend, Donut Shop Blend, French Vanilla, and Dark Roast.

Consumers can click below to purchase Javalution Hemp Coffee:

House Blend
Donut Shop Blend
French Vanilla
Dark Roast

“We are very proud to be expanding our relationship with Amazon and to have our complete roster of brands available on the Amazon platform,” stated Ernesto Aguila, President and Founder of CLR Roasters.

Dave Briskie, President and CFO of YGYI, the parent company that owns CLR Roasters, stated, “We already see the Javalution Hemp Derived K-Cups showing up at the top of the Amazon search engines which has us optimistic about Javalution’s sales potential within this platform.”  Mr. Briskie continued, “We are excited for the Amazon customer to experience the flavour profile of Javalution Hemp Derived Coffees.”

About CLR Roasters

Youngevity’s coffee manufacturing division, CLR Roasters, was established in 2001 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary. CLR Roasters is a full-sized coffee roaster that produces gourmet coffees under its own boutique brands — Café La Rica®, Josie’s Java House®, and Javalution®; manufactures a variety of private labels for major national chains; and for the direct selling channel under Youngevity International. The company remains one of the largest suppliers in North America to the cruise line industry. CLR was the first entrant into the fortified coffee niche with its Youngevity JavaFit® brand. In May 2014, CLR acquired a coffee plantation and processing facility in Nicaragua, allowing the entity to control coffee production and quality — from field to cup.

About Youngevity International

Youngevity International, Inc. ( NASDAQ : YGYI ), is an multi-channel lifestyle company operating in 3 distinct business segments including a commercial coffee enterprise, a commercial hemp enterprise, and a multi-vertical omni direct selling enterprise.  The Company features a multi country selling network and has assembled a virtual Main Street of products and services under one corporate entity, YGYI offers products from the six top selling retail categories: health/nutrition, home/family, food/beverage (including coffee), spa/beauty, apparel/jewellery, as well as innovative services. For investor information, please visit YGYI.com. Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions, and include statements regarding supporting the apparent increased retail demand for coffee    These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others,  our ability to increase our retail coffee business, including through our relationship with Amazon, our ability to continue our coffee segment and hemp segment growth, our ability to continue our international growth, our ability to leverage our platform and global infrastructure to drive organic growth, our ability to improve our profitability, expand our liquidity, and strengthen our balance sheet, our ability to continue to maintain compliance with the NASDAQ requirements, the acceptance of the omni-direct approach by our customers, our ability to expand our distribution,  our ability to continue our financial performance and the other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and our subsequent filings with the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

All product names referenced herein are trademarks of their respective companies.

Contacts:

Youngevity International, Inc.
Dave Briskie
President and Chief Financial Officer
1 800 982 3189 X6500

Investor Relations
YGYI investor relations
[email protected]

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SOURCE Youngevity International, Inc.

By Onofrio Castiglia in Charlottesville and Nate Trela in Denver, with data reporting by Philip Segal in New York

As the coronavirus pandemic ravages the U.S. economy, the M&A market for hemp and cannabis has continued to decline drastically with bankruptcies accelerating, numerous sector experts say.

“There’s been a precipitous decline in the number of deals,” Scott Greiper, president of Viridian Capital Partners (VCA), said of the M&A market throughout the last year.

In Q1 2019, there were 94 M&A deals as tracked by VCA, Greiper said. In Q1 2020, there were 19. In March of 2019 there were 25 deals as tracked by VCA. By March 2020, there were 5.

That tracks with Mergermarket data, which shows there were 73 transactions in the second half of 2019, down from 110 in 1H19. To date in 2020, there have been 27 deals announced in the US. In 2019, total deal value in the space was more than USD 9.2bn. To date in 2020, total deal value has fallen to USD 325m.

COVID-19 has further damaged the valuations of companies in the space, which were already trending downward because of heavy licensing requirements by state governments and overplanting by farmers – resulting in a cannabidiol (CBD) price crash. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound that can be extracted from marijuana or hemp. It’s used as a relaxant applied topically, or as an additive for food and beverage.

The decline in the market valuations has reduced the ability to raise capital. This is particularly problematic in the case of public companies, which account for 90% of all capital raising in the space, Greiper said.

Still, it’s almost exclusively public companies that are buying now, he said. The year-on-year increase in the percentage of transactions in which the acquirer was a public company increased from 62% in March 2019 to 95% in March 2020.

Bankruptcy and consolidation in hemp

The coronavirus has intensified the impact of the CBD price crash, Marty Clemons, director of the North Carolina Industrial Hemp Coalition, said.

According to several experts, a kilo of processed CBD oil in 2014 could fetch $70,000. That same quantity today is being sold for as little as $750.

Asset value in industrial hemp has been so devalued that Kentucky’s GenCanna Global, which had been planning an IPO, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February.

Joe Hickey, founder of the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative and Halcyon Holdings brand holding company said many companies who were edging toward selling before the virus have been spooked into trying to get out while they can.

Hickey is a long-standing figure in industrial hemp investment and activism, counting Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson among his co-investors. Hickey planned Harrelson’s hemp-planting protest and intentional arrest in Kentucky in 1996.

He said CBD hemp processing companies financed with $6 million or less will be forced to either consolidate or go bankrupt in the near term. Those companies founded on $40 million or more can last 10 months to a year without further investment. For the larger companies, this presents an opportunity to acquire distressed assets and grow quickly.

COVID-19 is hitting vertically integrated companies with retail operations particularly hard, as retail operations are closed in many states, and a lack of clear FDA regulation keeps retailers from advertising online sales on popular social media platforms like Facebook.

Clemons said she expects only about five CBD processors to continue to exist when the wave of bankruptcy and consolidation ends, pointing to well organized firms like Open Book Extracts in Roxboro, North Carolina.

Eric Balshin, CEO and co-founder of Yesterday Wellness, said it was hard to imagine a more disruptive time to have launched the luxury CBD brand. It quickly postponed fund-raising plans and pivoted to online sales, a switch many companies may need to make to survive.

On the side of hemp grain processing for food manufacturing, some larger players also stand to profit, Clemons said, pointing to Carrolton, Kentucky-based hemp ingredients manufacturer Victory Hemp Foods.

The third major use of hemp – fiber processing for textiles and other products – has little investment to speak of in the U.S., Clemons said.

“The long-term viability of the industry depends on fiber and food developing,” Clemons said, noting that some institutions and large companies have been shifting toward sustainable fiber. For example, the North Carolina State University School of Textiles has pivoted to solely sustainable fibers.

Mike Saunders, co-founder of biomass processor Xtracts, agreed, arguing at a panel discussion at the Industrial Hemp Summit in Danville, Virginia in February that state and federal regulators never intended or expected CBD to dominate the industry and turn hemp into “marijuana light.”

Despite the consolidation trend, sources in law and banking said the hemp industry is expected to be a powerhouse (up to USD 15bn) in the U.S. eventually – but the timeline is unclear.

Deals crashing in cannabis

On the cannabis side of things Marc Adesso, capital markets and cannabis attorney at Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, said states without recreational marijuana laws have helped valuations of some medical cannabis companies, as their retail outlets are considered essential business. But recreational dispensaries in some states are closed and so valuations have gone down with revenue.

Deal making has not stopped altogether, and some companies continue to raise capital, though each case is different, Adesso said. Some companies have rushed to set up to-go windows at their retail outlets and offer delivery services. Companies that have pulled that off successfully have a better chance of getting their M&A deal through.

Valuations are down and deals seem to be drying up, he said, citing the collapse of the Harvest Health deal with Verano Holdings as the primary example.

“There are deals that we are working on that won’t make it through the week,” Adesso said. Because no one can say what sales will look like in 2020, “everyone is hoarding their cash to see what happens.”

There will continue to be abundant distressed assets ripe for rolling-up in the space, Adesso said.

A sector investor said marijuana growers, retailers and processors will be uniquely hard hit by the pandemic because they are ineligible for most of the federal programs authorized under the three phases of coronavirus relief already signed into law because marijuana remains illegal federally.

They likely cannot, for example, access Small Business Administration (SBA) funds, including the Paycheck Protection Program that provides a forgivable loan to small businesses that avoid layoffs. Also, they must provide benefits like sick leave to employees, but likely won’t be eligible for IRS rebated related to those costs that most other companies will receive.

“If a company comes out the other side of this, it’s an incredible sign of strength,” he said. “But the amount of work would be needed to go over the books to understand how they survived – and due diligence is already a unique challenge in this space – will be mind-boggling. I can’t see putting cash into anybody before the end of the year if you aren’t already involved.”

Onofrio Castiglia covers industrial products and services for Mergermarket from Charlottesville, Virginia. He can be reached at [email protected].

Nate Trela covers the energy, mining and cannabis sectors for Mergermarket from Denver. Contact him at [email protected].

Philip Segal is the Head Analyst for Mergermarket – Americas based in New York. He can be reached at phil[email protected].

Best
Environmentally-Friendly Phone Add-on.
Android Central
2020

Innovation and sustainability were equally special terms for quite a while, but these days, we’re getting much better about learning how to get the accessories we require for our phones without having to totally compromise our dedication to greener living.

Terrific for you, terrific for the planet

As a case fiend, I enjoy to see more choices beyond the traditional Pela Cases for earth-friendly cases. For the most impactful purchase you could make for the world, purchase one of Nimble’s products like the Active Wireless Convertible Stand Nimble’s products are made of recycled and sustainable products when possible, they’re long lasting yet elegant-looking, and best of all, each time you purchase from Nimble, it sends you a pre-paid return envelope that you can fill with old electronic devices. They can be sent to Nimble’s recycling partner and be securely converted into something else rather of ending up in a landfill– or the black hole understood as your “tech drawer.”

Nimble also has a case recycling program so you can effectively get rid of your old case once your brand-new earth-friendly one like the Carved Wood Resin Case is available in. I like Sculpted since the unique live edge wood and custom-blended resin make each case terrific and special.

Other methods to be eco-friendly with your tech purchases

This is going to sound counter-productive, but if you can’t discover an eco-friendly solution for all of your tech indicates, all is not lost. It merely implies that you require to follow 3 other directing principles when looking for technology:

1. Don’t purchase something brand-new till the old one breaks Do you wish to minimize e-waste? Do not purchase tech you don’t need. I have a 20- by-20- by-8-inch drawer full of cable televisions that I’ve obtained over the last 15 years, and I open that drawer possibly four times a year. If you currently have a cable television and it works do not purchase a new one! This goes double for anything that requires to hold a charge, like Bluetooth headphones and power banks. These gadgets don’t like to be relegated to a rack and left to rot, as their batteries will lose their charging capability gradually if left unused with a full battery.
2. Do not buy anything that utilizes micro-USB ever once again USB-C will last longer and will permit you to charge far more of your tech with one cable television. Fewer cable televisions mean fewer chargers and less things that require to be bought or thrown out. If it utilizes micro-USB or mini-USB, just put it down and leave.
3. Buy something that will last As mentioned earlier, my Kerf Wireless Charging Block has lasted me a very long time, longer than any other battery charger in my apartment or condo. I have an AUKEY mechanical keyboard that’s going on four years, and my preferred Bluetooth headphones have lasted me 2 years and counting. If you purchase something durable and dependable, you must be able to prevent needing to change it for as long as possible, restricting the e-waste you produce in addition to conserving you cash.

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With cannabis breaking into the mainstream fashion industry it should come as no surprise that moms want to represent mother nature’s gift as stylishly as they can. After all, moms like to dress up and toke, too!

That being said, cannabis fashion is pretty new to the mainstream, which is why I created this guide to the finest cannabis fashion out there for this Mother’s Day. Whether you’re seeking something for breakfast in bed, morning yoga afterwards, frolicking in the sun or even for after dark, consider this your guide to the best canna-fashion gifts that any mom would love. 

Teal Leaf Leggings by Tokeativity

Let’s be honest here: 90% of us have probably been wearing some form of leggings on repeat for the last few months. And since you’re wearing it all day long it’s likely to get frayed or so stretched out that it loses its elasticity. 

These Teal Leaf leggings from Tokeativity, however, are designed to never lose their stretch. That’s because they’re made of a comfortable microfiber yarn designed to hold its shape. Precision-cut and hand-sewn after printing, they also have a built in, comfortable elastic waistband. The end result is something that’s comfortable but stunningly cute even from afar. You may even want to buy two…just in case 🙂

Jane Parade tees

Maybe the mother in your home is loud and proud of her relationship with mother earth’s bounty. If that’s the kind of mom you’re buying a gift for look no further than Jane Parade’s line of graphic tees. Each one is dedicated to a different mood including literary, classy, cute or independent. The best of the bunch, though, is arguably the classic “Feeling High” tee.

Letter Shoppe apparel

Leaning into a colorful and creative graphic style Letter Shoppe delivers beautiful artwork on each piece and celebrates the best in humanity. Passing on a message of equality is a core tenet for most canna-moms and what better way to do so than with this pass joints tee? Or maybe you can remind her that she doesn’t need to be superhuman to be loved. After all, sometimes it’s a coffee and cannabis kind of day.

Verdie Hoodie from VerdeVie

Embrace comfort this Mother’s day with the Verde hoodie from VerdeVie. The minimalist hoodie features a cannabis bud illustration on the back, revealing a love of cannabis with stylish subtlety. Raglan sleeves and super plush fleece seal the comfy deal, making this an excellent gift idea for anyone who loves getting cozy with a joint by their side.

Pieces from Bong Beauties

Bong Beauties have cannabis fashion staples available for all walks of life, and like everyone else they know yoga and cannabis go hand in hand. But this isn’t just your standard yoga we’re talking about; no, no, this is elevated yoga. Which is exactly why you need these shiny Glitter Gold Pot Leaf Leggings in your life. It’s a fun spin on a classic and has breathable material, so your body will thank you later. Working extra hard? Check out this “Fly High” sports bra/undies set.

The Warton Flannel by Oregrown

Up in the pacific northwest it’s not uncommon for the sun to be hiding away well past Mother’s Day. If you want to gift her cozy, look no further than Oregrown’s plush flannels. 

The Warton Flannel from Oregrown is the perfect canna-mom’s overshirt. Made from 100% heavyweight cotton that’s deceptively soft to the touch, throw it on over anything and she’ll be ready for the day’s bowl in a flash.

Luxury items from Jacquie Aiche

If your mom is into luxury + cannabis then you should definitely introduce her to Jacquie Aiche’s “Sweet Leaf” line. The Sweet Leaf denim shirt is an effortless style that’s just as at home at Coachella as it is for next Saturday’s brunch. Keeping it casual and embracing the chill this year? These psychedelic, handmade sweatpants will be your new BFFs.

Valfre hoodie

Some moms keep their inner child alive forever and that love of mermaids just never fades. If the canna loving mom in your life likes to bake as well as get baked, and appreciates all things cute, then this hoodie is for her! The hoodie is 100% cotton, non-toxic with a fleece lining and features original Valfre artwork. It doesn’t get much more adorable than this.

Jungmaven hemp fiber clothing

Did someone say hemp clothing revolution?! With the growing popularity of cannabis and hemp it’s only a matter of time before hemp fiber clothing breaks into the mainstream on a huge level. Help a mom be ahead of the curve this year with these stylish Venice Shorts, or play up her retro vibes with one of Jungmaven’s limited checkerboard jumpers. 

Debug Taj Hemp Pant by Toad & Co 

With summer fast approaching and most of us facing more time indoors than any summer before we’re looking for breathable attire that can take some of the pressure off that poor AC unit. That being said, these hemp pants are perfect for a sweltering hot day. The linen-like hemp fiber blend is sure to keep you cool and have you praising nature like never before.

Tulum Skirt by prAna

Dread the cliche “stoner chick” look? The hemp line from prAna shows a love of the plant without blazing slogans or stoney graphics. No nonsense style is the name of the game here and this hemp/organic cotton blend Tulum skirt is absolutely perfect for this coming summer.