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ANNISTON, ALABAMA WOMAN FEATURED IN NEWEST HIBBETT SMALL-TOWN SNEAKERHEAD

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett, Inc. (NASDAQ:HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer with more than 1,100 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores nationwide, today announced the latest release of the exclusive Small-Town Sneakerhead (STSH) series celebrating sneaker culture. The newest episode features 24 year-old Amari Fleming of Anniston, Alabama, a Physical Therapy Tech whose father inspired her to collect sneakers. “Small-Town Sneakerhead is an homage to unique and interesting sneaker collectors from unexpected small pockets of the country,” said Sarah Sharp-Wangaard, VP Marketing, Hibbett. “Hibbett was founded in the great state of Alabama and we enjoy featuring another sneaker fan with a passion for her hometown and hearing about why she loves Anniston.” In the latest Small-Town Sneakerhead episode, Fleming, who has a degree in Exercise Science and works as a Physical Therapy Tech, says that she loves her small town of Anniston, Alabama because her father’s family originated there. She is proud of Anniston’s significant civil rights history that takes place there including that it was a stopping point in 1961 for the Freedom Riders. Some of Fleming’s favorite spots in Anniston include; Quintard Mall, for movies and shopping, Crab Barrack for seafood and Choccolocco Park for beautiful scenery, biking, hiking and kayaking and to catch practices and games for the minor league baseball team, the Choccolocco Monsters. Fleming was inspired to start collecting sneakers by her father who had his own sneaker collection. “Growing up I always enjoyed streetwear and always wanted to own a pair of Jordan’s. When I got my first full time job, I was finally able to buy my own pair and now there are approximately 75 pairs in my collection. What draws me to a pair of sneakers is the uniqueness of the design, how rare they are, a pair that will hold value and something that I know not a lot of people have. The top three things a pair has to have are a story, a unique silhouette and a color that pops.” “Being a sneakerhead means that not only do you enjoy collecting sneakers, but you also enjoy learning about the story and value behind the sneaker. Wearing sneakers allows us to tell a story without even speaking. What’s special about sneaker culture is just appreciating the story and value of a sneaker. It’s interesting to see how sneakers appreciate in value, like jewelry or fine wine, collecting shoes is like enjoying and collecting art. In my collection I’m most proud that I was able to secure the Nike Concepts X Dunk Low Orange Lobsters and the Air Jordan 1Retro High OG Denim.” "It was a great pleasure to highlight Amari and her story - a homegrown sneakerhead in Alabama, where Hibbett was founded,” said Matt Halfhill, Founder and CEO, Nice Kicks. “It was even more special to tell a story of Nike Air and its versatile and timeless style as a staple for everyone no matter your age or where you call home.” About Small-Town Sneakerhead In 2020, Hibbett launched the Small-Town Sneakerhead project to provide sneakerheads from all walks of life the platform to share their personal sneaker narrative. Produced in partnership with Nike and Nice Kicks, the series highlights the evolving sneaker scene and enthusiasts from across the country. Hibbett has featured collectors from East Buffalo, NY, Cheyenne, WY, Hampton, VA, Cape Girardeau, MO, Murphy, TX, Hopkinsville, KY, Lafayette, LA, Crosby, TX, Sandy Springs, GA and St. George, UT with more coming soon. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1133 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

April 26, 2023 01:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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ToolsGroup, Exhibiting at Retail Technology Show, Announces Significant Enhancements To JustEnough® For Retail Planning

ToolsGroup

LONDON, U.K. — April 26, 2023 — Today at Retail Technology Show in London, ToolsGroup, a global leader in retail and supply chain planning and optimization software, has announced the launch of critical new functionality in the JustEnough ® Dynamic Retail Planning & Execution suite. In this release, ToolsGroup introduces dynamic, real-time allocation and replenishment capabilities, as well as stock-mix optimization functionality. It also fully integrates JustEnough with the Inventory Hub® Dynamic Data Unification Platform. These product enhan cements link perpetual inventory signals to critical merchandise planning modules. This gives retailers in-the-moment visibility into inventory and inventory-related events and enables them to take fast action based on these insights. JustEnough version 2023.1 offers the latest enhancements, including: Real-Time Retail: This native integration of the Inventory Hub Dynamic Data Unification Platform with Allocation, Replenishment, and Fulfillment connects real-time inventory insights with merchandising applications designed to act on these insights. Real-Time Retail empowers merchants to respond faster to changing shopping patterns and gain significant competitive advantage. Stock-to-Service Curves that add the ToolsGroup SO99+ industry-leading stock-mix optimization capabilities to JustEnough retail forecasting. This delivers service-driven planning that allows users to better manage risk and uncertainty while still lowering overall inventory costs and increasing service levels. Performance Upgrades that streamline functionalities across Assortment Planning, enabling easier top-down planning and providing upgrades that power better decisions faster. “In the age of unified commerce, a revitalized merchandising approach empowers retailers to develop competitive, customer-centric business practices,” said Inna Kuznetsova, CEO of ToolsGroup. “With this new release of JustEnough, merchants achieve the operational agility and resilience they need to deliver an enhanced shopping experience across all channels. Connecting real-time inventory insights with merchandise planning applications enables truly dynamic retail planning. This not only improves the experience for customers but also optimizes business performance and supports sustainability objectives.” The new functionality available in this latest release further solidifies JustEnough by ToolsGroup as a leader in retail planning. The integrated, end-to-end merchandise planning suite helps retailers create more accurate forecasts, more agile merchandise financial plans, and more precise inventory and stock plans. Powered by automation, AI and real-time inventory data, retailers can respond faster to changing shopping patterns. C u stomers using JustEnough report a 10 % reduction in lost sales, 20 % increases in inventory turns, and over 25 % increase in planning efficiency, all while achieving overall revenue growth. For more information about JustEnough and detailed use cases, read our blog on the v2023.1 release here. ToolsGroup’s innovative AI-powered solutions enable retailers, distributors, and manufacturers to navigate through supply chain uncertainty. Our retail and supply chain planning suites empower a new level of fast, intelligent decision making and unlock powerful business improvements in forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory – delighting customers and achieving financial and ESG KPIs. Stay in touch with ToolsGroup on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or visit www.toolsgroup.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.toolsgroup.com

April 26, 2023 11:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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ToolsGroup and North America’s Largest Tire Distributor to Present at Gartner Symposium, May 8-10, Orlando Florida

ToolsGroup

ToolsGroup announced today that we are exhibiting at the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo 2023 in Orlando Florida, May 8-10. We’re also pleased to announce that one of ToolsGroup’s top customers, American Tire Distributors, has been selected to present on May 8, 12:05 pm on Stage 2, Supply Chain Xpo Atlantic Hall. Sarah Voorhees, Vice President of Demand and Inventory Planning at American Tire Distributors, will discuss how ATD improved in-house planning processes by adopting ToolsGroup Service Optimizer 99+ (SO99+). Thanks to the solution’s AI-powered probabilistic forecasting engine, ATD has gained new insights into demand behavior, enabling them to increase customer satisfaction and profit margins while lowering inventory. It has moved from fixed forecast intervals to forward-looking dynamic planning, and increased forecast collaboration with both suppliers and end retailers for better, faster decisions. “As North America’s premier tire distributor, we at ATD understand the challenges facing our partners in the automotive industry,” said Voorhees. “Our goal is to help our suppliers and customers continually adapt to changing trends and disruptions. With ToolsGroup SO99+, we have the AI-driven supply chain planning solutions that allow us to adapt quickly and stay flexible, helping us meet our own business goals while delivering on our promises to customers and strengthening our relationships within the industry.” “ATD’s story is indicative of a new wave of supply chain strategies that leverage probabilistic techniques and artificial intelligence to thrive in today’s volatile economic climates,” said ToolsGroup CMO, Kevin Young. “By harnessing ToolsGroup’s AI-driven solutions, ATD’s supply chain absorbs disruption-related shockwaves and generates data-driven insights for better, faster decision making, network-wide. We’re thrilled to partner with ATD as they drive innovation with their upstream and downstream partners to reduce inventory and improve service across the entire supply network.” Interested in learning more about ToolsGroup’s solutions? Book a meeting here and stop by booth #344. CONTACT Mark Gallant, VP of Corporate Marketing & Communications, ToolsGroup +1 978-808-0123 mgallant@toolsgroup.com About Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo conference delivers must-have insights, strategies and frameworks for chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) and supply chain leaders to think big and drive real impact within their organizations. Join a global community of CSCOs and supply chain executives in 2023. For more information visit: https://www.gartner.com/en/conferences/na/supply-chain-us About ToolsGroup ToolsGroup’s innovative AI-powered solutions enable retailers, distributors, and manufacturers to navigate through supply chain uncertainty. Our retail and supply chain planning suites empower a new level of intelligent decision making and unlock powerful business improvements in forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory - delighting customers and achieving financial and ESG KPIs. Stay in touch with ToolsGroup on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or visit www.toolsgroup.com. Contact Details Meir Kahtan +1 917-864-0800 mkahtan@rcn.com Company Website https://www.toolsgroup.com

April 25, 2023 11:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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43-Year Printing Business Graphic Communications Converts to Minuteman Press Franchise in Shelby Township, Michigan

Minuteman Press International Inc

43-year printing business Graphic Communications has been sold by Dennis Wrobleski to new owners Nathan and Jane Kogan. Following the sale, the business is being converted to a full-service Minuteman Press franchise. The new Minuteman Press in Shelby Township is located at 50671 Wing Drive, Shelby Township, MI 48315. On buying the business, Nathan Kogan says, “My background was in finance and accounting. I held a position as an Assistant Controller for a privately owned wealth management company for almost 19 years. My wife and I decided to become business owners because we wanted to build something for ourselves and our kids. Our hope is that someday, our kids will join us and want to be a part of this wonderful company.” Seller Dennis Wrobleski shares, “My main objective in transferring the business was the security of my employees and the care of our clientele. I was happy to learn that Minuteman Press franchise owners are supported and trained to handle the print and marketing needs of local businesses. I believe this will be a huge benefit to our clients adding access to more products and services. The most likely prospect of growth with the expansion of products available to our existing clientele and new clients ensures a beneficial outcome for the employees.” History of the Business Graphic Communications began as a Michigan partnership in 1980. Dennis explains, “My former partner Bill Schulz and I worked together at Kux Manufacturing Company in Detroit, Michigan. In the early 1950s, Kux Manufacturing Company, founded by Richard Kux, became the largest manufacturer of decals and identification markings for cars and trucks in the country. Kux was set up for high volume production of fleet graphics, and worked mostly with national brands. Our goal was to provide this same level of high quality graphic products and service to local businesses. Kux was very helpful and supportive of our venture and continued to outsource work to us as our business grew.” Dennis continues, “Graphic Communications made the transition from manual tooling processes to digital graphics. We rely on the latest software, computerized cutting machines, large format printing, and mostly our talented staff of graphic designers and production artists, to serve our clients with professional graphic art solutions.” Selling the Business As he was exploring his options for selling the business, Dennis ended up meeting with Minuteman Press Regional VP Rich DeRosa, who explained the benefits of Minuteman Press International’s conversion program that connects sellers like Dennis with buyers like Nathan and Jane Kogan. Dennis shares, “When I met Rich DeRosa, my business was already listed for sale with a broker. As soon as the broker contract expired, I called Rich and we set up a meeting. Rich not only had a very good understanding of my business, he had a potential buyer in mind that he had been working with. Rich explained the straightforward process and I also learned a lot from the Minuteman Press website. “I think it’s great working with an organization that is interested in success for the buyer and the seller. Knowing that the new owner of Graphic Communications will be equipped with the knowledge and support from Minuteman Press to continue to serve our clients is a big relief for me. I am confident that the business and employees will be in good hands.” -Dennis Wrobleski, Selling Owner, Graphic Communications Buying the Business From his perspective as a new business owner, Nathan Kogan found the right fit in buying a well-established business while also being supported by Minuteman Press as a franchisee. Nathan shares, “We chose to buy an established business because it gave us comfort and a feeling of stability to come into something that is already a proven model, but would also have tons of upside for growth. We chose Minuteman Press due to its incredible reviews and a support system for the owners.” Nathan continues, “Working with Minuteman Press International was extremely easy and comforting. Rich DeRosa was extremely supportive and helpful throughout this whole process. And patient, especially with me. The training and support is extremely important; it's definitely one of the main reasons we were drawn to this particular franchise.” “I look forward to building on the legacy that Dennis created with Graphic Communications for 43 years while also beginning this new chapter with Minuteman Press, Shelby Township.” -Nathan Kogan, New Owner, Minuteman Press, Shelby Township, MI Transition & Advice for Others With the transition of the business from Graphic Communications to Minuteman Press, Shelby Township already in motion, Nathan shares the following advice for aspiring business owners: “I would highly recommend following your passion and dreams. But before jumping in, do your due diligence and be sure you are ready for all that is to come.” As this chapter closes for Dennis, he reflects, “It wasn’t easy starting a business with few resources besides time and determination. In many ways, it’s even harder to make an exit. I’m thankful for everyone I met through this business. I’m blessed that I was able to use my talent as a graphic artist to serve so many great people and businesses in the Metropolitan Detroit area. I know the business is being left in great hands with Nathan and Jane Kogan and Minuteman Press.” Dennis also offers the following parting advice for business owners looking to secure a sale of their printing businesses: “Call Minuteman Press. Also, having all bookkeeping and financial reports up to date helps for a smooth transition.” Minuteman Press, Shelby Township (formerly Graphic Communications) is located at 50671 Wing Drive, Shelby Township, MI 48315. For more information, call 586-566-5200 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/mi/shelby-township/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. To learn about selling your printing business through Minuteman Press at no cost or broker fees to you, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

April 25, 2023 09:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Green Leaf Innovations Announces Shell Risk Badge Removal and the Company is Now Current with its OTC Reporting & Disclosures Requirements

Green Leaf Innovations, Inc.

Green Leaf Innovations, Inc., (“Green Leaf” or the “Company”) (OTC: GRLF), an emerging growth company engaged in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of handmade premium cigars, is pleased to announce today that the Company is now "Current" with the OTC Pink Markets and the "Shell Risk" badge was removed. The OTC Markets shell risk designation indicates that a company may be a shell company, as defined by SEC rules or displays characteristics common to shell companies. This designation is made at OTC Markets' discretion based on an analysis of the company's key financial data. The OTC "Pink Current" status provides greater insight and transparency as to the Company's structure and financial health. Achieving this Current status also removes the "stop or yield" sign associated with non-filing companies with OTC Markets. Robert Mederos, Chief Executive Officer of Green Leaf Innovations, commented, "We are excited to see all our hard work and effort to ensure full compliance and transparency has led to this important milestone. We filed an amended annual report yesterday, which can be found at: https://www.otcmarkets.com/otcapi/company/financial-report/366462/content. ” “We have a lot of exciting things going on, and I'm looking forward to providing our shareholders and the entire investment community with regular updates along the way, so be sure to sign up to join our distribution list at: https://greenleafinnovations.co/subscribe-for-free-newsletter, ” concluded Mr. Mederos. About Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. Green Leaf Innovations, Inc., a Florida corporation, is an emerging growth company engaged in the marketing and distribution of handmade premium cigars. The Company strategically imports and exclusively distributes some of the best-known premium cigar brands in the marketplace. The Company was created by the Mederos family, a third generation Cigar maker with Robert Mederos at the helm, who has owned and operated handmade cigar operations in Nicaragua and the U.S. for over 20 years with a rich family history in the craft dating back to the 1800s in Cuba. Green Leaf features brands such as CUBANACAN, MEDEROS, and TABACALERA SERRANO. The Company also distributes packaged whole leaf Tobacco to cigar lounges, smoke shops, C-stores, and vape shops across the United States and soon in international markets. Additional information can be found on our website, www.greenleafinnovations.co, or follow us on Twitter @otcgrlf. Investors are invited to subscribe to our distribution list to stay informed on upcoming developments. Please visit: https://greenleafinnovations.co/subscribe-for-free-newsletter/ Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives, and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words believes, project, expects, anticipates, estimates, intends, strategy, plan, may, will, would, will be, will continue, will likely result, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects on a consolidated basis include, but are not limited to: changes in economic conditions, legislative/regulatory changes, availability of capital, interest rates, competition, and generally accepted accounting principles. These risks and uncertainties should also be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements Company Contact: info@greenleafinnovations.co Investor Relations Contact: Matthew Abenante, IRC President Strategic Investor Relations, LLC Tel: 800-303-6268 x4 Email: matthew@greenleafinnovations.co Contact Details Green Leaf Innovations, Inc. info@greenleafinnovations.co

April 25, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Clip Money modernizing retail financial transactions with banking app and digital ecosystem

Clip Money

Clip Money chief operating officer Brian Bailey joins Proactive's Natalie Stoberman to share how the company is modernizing how retailers conduct financial transactions. Clip increases access and lowers fees for all parts of the ecosystem, ensuring everyone in the economy can be part of the digital money revolution. The company approaches the challenges and inconveniences of everyday banking through solutions driven by technology, including a modern, mobile application and cloud hosted platform; automated collection hardware including cash counting safes; and integration with existing innovations like Interac & Plaid. Contact Details Proactive Investors +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

April 24, 2023 11:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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AmpliTech to Showcase its Pioneering RF Solutions at Ladenburg Thalmann Tech Expo 2023

Amplitech Group, Inc.

McapMediaWire - AmpliTech Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMPG) a designer, developer, and manufacturer of state-of-the-art signal-processing components for satellite, 5G, and other communications networks, and a worldwide distributor of packages and lids for integrated circuit assembly, as well as a designer of complete 5G/6G systems, today announced that it will present at the Ladenburg Thalmann Technology Expo 2023 in New York on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 3:30 pm EDT. AmpliTech’s founder and CEO, Fawad Maqbool, will present a corporate overview, highlighting AmpliTech's innovative solutions and growth opportunities. Conference Details: Thursday, April 27, 2023 3:30 pm EDT Ladenburg Thalmann Tech Expo Conference Convene 101 Park Avenue New York, NY 10017 A live webcast of the presentation can be accessed at: https://wsw.com/webcast/ladenburg9/ampg/2401665 About The Ladenburg Thalmann Tech Expo 2023 The 2023 Expo will feature presentations from the managements of approximately 50 public and private technology companies covering media and content-tech; software and service-tech; and hardware and defend-tech. The format will include three presentation tracks along with one-on-one meetings. In addition, a number of companies will be providing live demonstrations of their products and offerings in the ʻLadenburg Expo formatʼ, which will provide an additional opportunity to interact with management teams. For more information about the event, email to techexpo@ladenburg.com. About AmpliTech Group AmpliTech Group, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes state-of-the-art radio frequency (RF) microwave components for global satellite communications, telecom (5G & IoT), space, defense, and quantum computing markets as well as systems and component design consulting services. In December 2021, AmpliTech completed the purchase of the assets and operations of Spectrum Semiconductor Materials Inc. a global specialty distributor of semiconductor components based in San Jose, CA. AmpliTech has a 13+ year track record of developing high performance, custom solutions to meet the unique needs of some of the largest companies in the global industries we serve. We are proud of our focused team's unique skills, experience and dedication, which enables us to deliver superior solutions, faster time to market, competitive pricing, excellent customer satisfaction and repeat business. For more information, visit: www.amplitechgroup.com About Ladenburg Thalmann Ladenburg Thalmann is a full-service, diversified financial services firm that offers a full suite of investment banking and capital markets products and services, including equity and debt capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance advisory and fairness opinions. Ladenburg was established in 1876 and has been a member of the New York Stock Exchange for 135 years, until its merger with Advisor Group in March 2020. The combined platform now has over 10,000 financial advisors in the US managing over $450 billion in client assets. For more information, please visit www.ladenburg.com. Corporate Social Media Twitter: @AmpliTechAMPG Instagram: @AmpliTechAMPG Facebook: AmpliTechInc Investor Social Media Twitter: @AMPG_IR StockTwits: @AMPG_IR Company Contact: Shan Sawant, Director of Communications AmpliTech Group, Inc. Investors@amplitechgroup.com Investor Relations Contact: Kirin Smith, President PCG Advisory, Inc. ksmith@pcgadvisory.com www.pcgadvisory.com Contact Details AmpliTech Group, Inc. Investors@amplitechgroup.com Company Website http://www.amplitechgroup.com/

April 24, 2023 09:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Freelance Creative Jobs Thrive Despite AI Surge

FREELANCER.COM

New data released today by Freelancer.com (ASX: FLN) (OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, shows an incoming startup boom amongst an unprecedented surge in freelance creative design and AI job growth. The Fast 50 Q1 2023 Index, the world’s largest forward indicator of freelance job trends, analyzes over 304,000 jobs posted to Freelancer.com between January and March 2023. The index finds that jobs for T-Shirt Design (up 33.1%, from 1,403 to 1,868), Covers & Packaging Design (up 27.3%, from 1,128 to 1,436), and Corporate Identity Design (up 24.2%, from 2,474 to 3,073) were the three fastest growing job types by total percentage growth when compared to Q4 2022. These were followed by Product Design (up 22.9%, 1,214 to 1,493) and 3D Design (up 22%, from 5,027 to 6,135) jobs. Design skills with the largest job counts on the platform also grew significantly this quarter. There were a whopping 7,495 extra Graphic Design jobs in Q1 (up 12.1%, from 61,709 to 69,204), followed by an additional 6,731 Logo Design jobs (up 20.4%, from 32,963 to 39,694) and 5,902 extra jobs requiring skills in Photoshop (up 15.4%, from 38,224 to 44,126). Design is both the most in-demand and the highest paying skill on Freelancer.com, as found in the Freelancing in 2022 Report. These types of jobs, particularly logo design, packaging design and t-shirt creation, are typically the starting point for many founders launching a new business. The sudden influx of design, eCommerce and marketing jobs are a key indicator of a boom in startups. Simultaneously, jobs requiring skills in Artificial Intelligence were the seventh fastest growing skill on Freelancer.com (up 20.62% in Q1 2023 from 1,038 to 1,252). Jobs demanding Generative AI skills, such as ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney and Chatbots, grew by more than 325% from 286 in Q4 2022 to 1,216 in Q1 2023. “While many speculate whether AI will take design jobs, our latest data shows that this is certainly not the case. Design jobs are the most popular job type on the platform and continue to grow despite advances in hyper-realistic generative AI tools,” said Matt Barrie, Chief Executive at Freelancer.com. “What’s more interesting in this data is zooming out and looking at the main trend: the startup boom. The most in-demand jobs on the platform for this quarter are all related to the launch of new businesses. New logo, website and branding jobs. In fact, there were 75 extra logo design jobs posted each day last quarter, which could suggest the launch of 75 new businesses.” The data also shows an increase in Digital Marketing (up 12.8%, from 1,524 to 1,720) and Videography (up 14.2%, from 2,716 to 3,102) jobs which also suggests businesses are focusing more on their online marketing and content creation strategies to amplify their brands. Fastest Falling Jobs of Q1 2023 While design jobs dominated the fastest growing, the jobs that were in less demand in this quarter are related to tech, development and writing. Software Development, which was ranked as the fastest growing job in Q2 2022, began to decline this quarter and was down by 34.4% (from 2,001 to 1,311). Similarly, programming related jobs which were one of the fastest growing skills in Q4 2022 also declined this quarter by 20.9% (from 5,899 to 4,665). Demand for these types of jobs surged last year as many tech employees were laid off globally. However, the new data suggests demand is beginning to stabilize and return to pre-mass layoffs levels. Seasonality also plays into employers moving away from specific types of jobs quarter-to-quarter. Report Writing, Technical Writing, Research Writing and Business Plans were ranked as the fastest growing jobs in Q4 2022 as many employers traditionally turn to freelance support to help prepare end of year reports and 2023 plans. These types of jobs naturally reduce in the first quarter of the year. Fast 50 Q1 2023 - Data Analysis Startup Boom Fuels Creative Design Job Growth Historically, more businesses are started during a recession. Economic downturns have led to the creation of some of the world’s most well known brands, such as Microsoft, Uber and Burger King, just to name a few. Only a few years ago, the world witnessed this trend playing out as COVID sparked a startup boom, which saw a 24 percent increase in new business applications in the United States alone. According to the latest US Census Business Formation Statistics, the number of new business applications is beginning to grow in 2023 by an increase of 451,752, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to February 2023. Data from the latest Freelancer Fast 50 Index suggests there’s a sudden increase in the number of new businesses and startups being launched globally. The fastest growing skills, such as T-Shirt, Covers & Packaging, and Corporate Identity Design, as well as the growth of major jobs such as Logo Design, are all usually posted by founders at the starting point for a new business or venture. T-Shirt Design jobs, as an example, are growing as people hire freelancers to create t-shirts with their business logo as a way of promoting a brand or creating business uniforms. An uptick in Covers and Packaging Design jobs are the result of businesses turning to freelancers for new product labels and marketing brochures. Growth in website building jobs, such as Shopify (up 20.5%, from 2,302 to 2,775), Shopify Templates (up 16.1%, from 1,392 to 1,617) and eCommerce (up 15.5%, from 4,212 to 4,866), also support the rise of new businesses last quarter. Almost three quarters of the fastest growing jobs (72%) posted on Freelancer.com in the last quarter required skills in creative design or marketing. Serial entrepreneur Davuud Ghani, who recently founded Pivitt, a creative and branding support agency based in the United Kingdom, is just one example of how founders are turning to freelancers to support the growth of their business in 2023. “As a start-up, agility is our advantage over mature businesses with similar service offerings. It’s becoming easier for businesses to locate and leverage global talent, with platforms such as Freelancer.com. We are able to really finetune the skills needed on a project basis to drive excellence through our service offering to our partners, keeping us competitive in the market. That’s what our model is built from and has allowed us to secure partnerships with the likes of BMW & MINI,” said Davuud Ghani, founder of Pivitt. Generative AI Jobs Triple In Last Quarter Advancements in artificial intelligent and generative AI are impacting almost every faucet of business and creativity. Powerful AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Dall-E and Midjourney, are becoming smarter and more sophisticated by month, resulting in rapid leaps in capabilities and applications. In the first quarter of 2023, Open AI released GPT-4, introducing a more powerful and intelligent version of the application which could exhibit human level performance on several benchmarks. In the AI image generation space, research lab Midjourney also released the alpha iteration of its 5th version which allowed users to create photorealistic generations. Growing interest for AI is represented clearly in the Fast 50 Q1 2023 data which ranks jobs for Artificial Intelligence as the seventh fastest growing job on the platform, growing by 20.6% up to 1,252 jobs in total. Many projects posted in the first quarter aim to harness AI text generators or automate mass image generation, while some look for freelance experts who can help create their own AI models and applications. Generative AI skills (ChatGPT, Dall-E, Midjourney, Chatbots) grew the fastest over the quarter, recording a total percentage increase of 325% from 286 last quarter to 1,216 in Q1 2023. In total, there were 5,262 jobs requiring skills in AI, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, TensorFlow, ChatGPT and Dall-E. Digital Marketing & Content Creation Popularity of content marketing is growing amongst businesses. Major success stories, such as Netflix’s Drive to Survive series or Spotify’s Wrapped, are pushing businesses and marketers towards incorporating content marketing within their strategies. It’s a trend that was identified in the Fast 50 Q3 2022 Index and is continuing in Q1 2023. Videography (up 14.21%, from to 3,102), Digital Marketing (up 12.86% to 1,720), YouTube (up 11.30% to 1,576), and Video Production (up 10.25% to 5,401) were all in-demand skills last quarter. This finding suggests that businesses are increasingly focusing on online marketing and content creation strategies to reach their target audiences. While YouTube remains as the main platform people are turning to freelancers for support, employer interest in TikTok video creation is also growing, increasing by 25% in Q1 2023, from 405 projects in Q4 2022 to 507 total jobs Q1 2023. Product Design Jobs Apart from design projects specific to branding and new business ventures, the number of 3D Design, Product Design and general Design collectively grew over Q1 2023. ##### Freelancer Fast 50 The Freelancer Fast 50 index is the world’s largest forward indicator of trends in online jobs related to industries, technologies, products, and companies. The data is based on 304,000 jobs posted to the Freelancer platform between January 1 to March 31 2023. Fast 50 Quarterly Index – Q1 2023 About Freelancer Freelancer.com is the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 64 million registered users have posted over 22.3 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer also owns Escrow.com and Loadshift. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF. Contact Details freelancer.com Marko Zitko +61 404 574 830 mzitko@freelancer.com

April 21, 2023 08:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CITY GEAR DROPS PART ONE OF LATEST 'FRESH OFF THE BLOCK' ST. LOUIS FEATURING BOTH A RAPPER & FILMMAKER

Hibbett, Inc.

Hibbett, Inc., (NASDAQ:HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer with more than 1,100 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores nationwide, today announced a new two-part episode of City Gear Fresh Off The Block (FOTB), featuring two men from St. Louis, Missouri. Part one of the episode launches today and part two drops on May 4, 2023 and both will be viewable on You Tube at @CityGearOfficial. The FOTB series first launched in the fall of 2022 to spotlight the stories and lifestyles of sneaker fashion enthusiasts from urban cities across America. The newest FOTB episode introduces viewers to St Louis locals Muhammad Austin, @Mvstermind, rapper, producer and creator of “Mvstercamp" and Drew Brown, @thefilmlord, a digital photographer and cinematographer. Both share their love of St. Louis culture, food and music and how this city has influenced them, their careers and their style. “It’s been fun to bring our Fresh Off The Block project to life with our partners at Nike to emphasize the fashion lifestyle influence of culturally-rich cities like St. Louis,” said Sarah Sharp-Wangaard, VP Marketing, Hibbett. “St. Louis has a great mix of both southern and midwestern culture and as we see through the lens of Muhammad and Drew, there is an abundance of inspiration and creativity there.” The FOTB crew followed and filmed both Austin and Brown in their hometown and visited some favorite places. In part one, 32 year-old rapper, Muhammad “Mvstermind” Austin takes the crew around to a couple of his favorite dining spots Lefty’s Fried Rice and Seoul Taco. “Man, when I’m not out there soaking up the culture in the city, you can usually find me out in nature, taking in the sights and sounds that St. Louis has to offer, like picnicking in Tower Grove Park with my fam, hiking through the nearby state parks and just strolling through Forest Park and letting my mind unwind. I remember when I was a kid, my dad taking me to City Gear, trying on shoes and picking the perfect outfit for the first day of school. To this day, whenever I go to the City Gear store, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgic for those simpler times. If I were to describe the music I create, it’s a reflection of everything I love and everything in my past that’s led me to be my city’s hometown hero.” Austin talks fashion and says St. Louis weather is unpredictable and comfort is key, so he is ready for anything when it comes to his wardrobe. “I’m talking about layering up, mixing and matching pieces so I can add or remove them as needed to stay comfy and look fresh at the same time. Yo, when it comes to sneakers, I need em to pop like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Give me colors that scream out to the world like neon orange. A bold pair of kicks can elevate my whole mood and energy. But that’s just the start, cause I need my sneakers to have some real intention behind em. I ain’t talking about just looking good, I need a story, a purpose, a reason for existing. Whether it’s a collab that brings together two worlds or a shoe that’s made with the planet in mind, I wanna know what’s going on behind the scenes. At the end of the day, sneakers ain’t just shoes to me, they’re a whole vibe, a way to show the world who I am and what I’m about. And when I find a pair that’s got the color, the intention and the innovation all in one, I’m rockin em.” Drew Brown @thefilmlord, 27, has a bachelor’s degree in digital film and video production and is usually on the go, filming projects on location. Since his father gave him his first video camera in high school, Brown has made a career in cinematography and has filmed hundreds of documentaries, music videos and commercials all over the country and is currently on tour with St. Louis born performer Smino. Brown takes the FOTB crew around St. Louis to visit his favorite stylists at The Chop Shop and then to Bus Loop Burgers for his favorite burgers, fries and shakes. They visit The Show Me League, where he played youth basketball and learned life skills both on and off the basketball court. “St. Louis is a melting pot of the United States because we have so many different cultures here.” “St. Louis influenced the way I dress because I have to be comfortable but also have my own unique style,” said Brown. “No one wants to dress like another here, so we venture off and find our own personal style, which sets a tone for our personality. In St. Louis we get fly for every occasion, it’s just how we show who we truly are and how original we are. What drives me to a pair of shoes is the story behind the shoe and how comfortable it can be because as a filmmaker I must be comfortable while carrying heavy cameras and while moving around the city. Three things a shoe must have for me are style, comfort and a colorway to match a high percentage of my wardrobe.” Part one of FOTB debuts today with the second part launching on May 4 th and both can be viewed across multiple social platforms and @CityGearOfficial on You Tube. About Hibbett, Inc. Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with 1133 Hibbett and City Gear specialty stores, located in 36 states nationwide. Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, and adidas. Consumers can browse styles, find new releases, shop looks and make purchases online or in their nearest store by visiting www.hibbett.com. Follow us @hibbettsports and @citygear on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ### Contact Details Wendy Yellin pr@hibbett.com Company Website https://www.Hibbett.com

April 20, 2023 01:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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