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☆ Gen Zers want you to know they are sick of extravagant influencer brand trips
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Gen Z is growing disinterested in the extravagant brand trips influencers are sent on. The generation that has grown up with social media says the lavish lifestyles of the internet's rich and famous no longer thrill them. Tarte brand trips are famed in the influencer worldFor years, brand trips have been a way to solidify a company's name among the young people who watch YouTube and scroll TikTok and Instagram. Varbanova said there are some young people — mostly millennials and DINKs — who still see over-the-top, out-of-touch brand trips as aspirational. If Gen Z's spending money is the goal, brand trips are missing the mark.

Persons: influencers, Katya Varbanova, Maureen Kelly, Tarte, Bora, Shein, Tahrea Sherman, Sherman, Phil Treagus, Evans, Influencers, Varbanova, It's, DINKs —, Rather, she'd Organizations: Service, YouTube, Walmart, Giraffe Social Media, BI Locations: Bora Bora, China

☆ Taylor Swift is making Singapore a mountain of money, and some of the country's neighbors are salty about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Edwin Tong, Singapore's culture minister, told local outlet Mothership on February 28 that the amount of grant given "is not what is being speculated online." As Tong, the Singapore culture minister, told Mothership, the city-state is looking "beyond just the economic impact" of Swiftonimics. Economists estimate that Swift's concerts in Singapore could contribute up to 500 million Singapore dollars, or $372 million, in tourist receipts. AdvertisementIt's a different story for spending on experiences — and it's heightened because Singapore is Swift's only stop in Southeast Asia. Mann said the people who have money to pay for flight tickets, Swift's concert tickets, and a hotel are likely to keep spending at other tourist spots.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Srettha, Edwin Tong, Swift, it's, Yun Liu, Tong, Kevin Cheong, David Mann, Mann, Coldplay, Si Ying Toh, Cheong, Joey Salceda, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno Organizations: Service, Business, HSBC, Asia Pacific, Mastercard, Nomura, Philippine Star, Bloomberg, Vegas Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, British, Thailand, Bangkok, Indonesia, Sands

☆ I live in the Philippines but was committed to seeing Taylor Swift in Singapore. I'm spending $1,600 and making a whole trip out of it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Eunice Mecija, a Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines, shared how she budgeted for the Eras Tour in Singapore. AdvertisementThis as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Eunice Mecija, a 24-year-old graphic artist and Taylor Swift fan from the Philippines. I've been a Taylor Swift fan for as long as I can remember. I decided to book a flight from Manila to Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia instead for 14,000 Philippine pesos, or around $250. Mecija has been a fan of Taylor Swift since she was in elementary school.

Persons: Eunice Mecija, Taylor, splurging, —, Taylor Swift, It's, I've, Taylor Swift's, Nicky Loh, I'm, Mecija Organizations: Service, Getty, United Overseas Bank, Singapore ., Singapore Airlines, AirAsia Locations: Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Manila, Southeast Asia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian, Stockholm, Swedish

☆ 3 mistakes couples make when planning their honeymoons
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Planning a honeymoon is exciting, but it can be easy to make mistakes as you schedule your trip. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Business Insider spoke to Allison Kobasky, the cofounder of Over the Moon Vacations, about the most common mistakes people make as they plan their honeymoons. AdvertisementDon't rely on social media for your plansKobasky said many couples fall into "tourist traps" when planning their honeymoons, often because of social media. AdvertisementMost importantly, make sure you and your partner plan the honeymoon that's right for you two.

Persons: —, Allison Kobasky, Kobasky, Josh, you'll Organizations: Service, Hinterhaus, Facebook Locations: Instagram, Atlanta, Thailand, Maldives, Italy, Rome, mihailomilovanovic

☆ Lowe's average customer is a white baby boomer who spent $809 there last year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The store's typical customer is a more rural baby boomer who earns $60K a year and owns her home. But which of those millions of shoppers is the "typical" Lowe's shopper? In addition to taking on Home Depot, Lowe's is looking to win over customers from outdoor lifestyle retailer Tractor Supply Co. with a push into smaller-format rural stores. Lowe's shoppers have dialed back in recent months, but the company said a few are still splurging on its offerings of high-tech, futuristic appliances at price points of $2,500 or more. The typical customer earns between $40,000 and $80,000 a year and now makes nine trips to Lowe's, spending about $90 per trip for an annual total of $809.

Persons: Lowe's, boomer, — Organizations: Service, Tractor Supply, Home Locations: North America, Wilkesboro , North Carolina, Lowe's

☆ Some shoppers are spending big money on 'craft ice' fridges and high-tech washing machines, Lowe's exec says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

While most shoppers are more budget-conscious, Lowe's execs say some are spending big on appliances. One smart LG fridge that makes "craft ice" is a "top-seller despite retailing for over $2,500," one exec said. This fridge makes really nice ice. Lowe'sIndeed, one model in the LG line that makes the fancy ice has a list price of a whopping $4,299. "They're not afraid to invest in, for example, the GE Profile all-in-one washer-dryer combination that retails for over $2,500," Boltz said.

Persons: —, Lowe's, Marvin Ellison, They're, Bill Boltz, that's, Boltz, Katie Notopoulos, Notopoulos Organizations: LG, Service, Home Depot, GE, Wall Street Journal

☆ 5 airlines worth splurging on for the best first-class experience
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Jamie Killin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Jaclyn Sienna India travels often to scout airlines and locations for her luxury travel company. Air France, Emirates, and Qatar Airways are among the airlines that give her the best experience. Courtesy of Jaclyn Sienna IndiaAfter working there for five years, I wanted to bring that level of service to travel. EQRoy/ ShutterstockAir France’s first-class cabin, La Première, only has four seats per flight, and it feels like you're flying private. Like many of my other favorites, Singapore Airlines planes have room for double suites for couples and private suites with sliding doors.

Persons: Jaclyn Sienna India, —, Sienna Charles, I’ve, Le, I’m, we’ve, you’re, Jordan Tan, Shutterstock, There’s, Shutterstock I’ve Organizations: Air, Qatar Airways, Service, Air France Air France, France’s, Air France, . Emirates Emirates, Emirates, Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines, I’m, Etihad Airways Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways Qatar Airways, Shutterstock Qatar Airways Locations: Air France, Emirates, Beverly Hills, Philadelphia, Europe, Paris, New York, Milan, Dubai, India, Asia, Etihad’s

☆ The most expensive aspects of a luxury wedding have nothing to do with the ceremony or reception
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewWhen you think of a luxury wedding, you might imagine elaborate floral arches, massive Champagne towers, or dramatic firework displays. Splurging isn't the pointThough a luxury wedding will have a high budget, it won't look over the top if it's done well, as multiple wedding planners told Business Insider. Luxury weddings don't often look over the top. AdvertisementA relaxed guest is the goalDozens of small things come together to create the ideal experience for guests at a luxury wedding, the experts told BI. Seamless service and meaningful gifts make all the differenceOnce they arrive, the luxury experience for guests continues.

Persons: —, Splurging, it's, Alison Laessar Keck, Alison Bryan, that's, Joey King, Keck, Kristen Marie Parker, Marcy Blum, LeBron James, Colin Cowie, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck's, Jung Lee, FÊTE, It's, Blum, Cowie, Corbin Gurkin, Lee, They're, we've, Couples, There's Organizations: Service, Business, Fontainebleau, Keck Locations: Vegas, England

☆ The Fed is going to hold out on rate cuts longer than we think, investment strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Fed is going to hold out on rate cuts longer than we think, a John Hancock strategist said. Consumer spending and market momentum are strong, while elevated rates haven't created meaningful cracks in the economy. "We're seeing riskier areas like crypto-related stocks and AI darlings' momentum taking hold in the market." And the flurry of cash is also being fed into the stock market. AdvertisementBitcoin's price has punched past $51,000 to levels last seen in 2021, rallying regardless of hiccups in the stock market like Tuesday's pullback after a hot CPI report.

Persons: John Hancock, —, John, Emily Roland, Jerome Powell, Roland, we're Organizations: Consumer, Service, CNBC, splurging, Nvidia, Fed Locations: YOLO

☆ For some Spring Festival revelers in China, traditional attire adds an element of time travel to celebrations
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

For instance, Yu Garden in Shanghai, which hosts a 40-day Spring Festival lantern fair, has become a popular destination for Hanfu fans. The nearby commercial shopping district of Wujiaochang even hosted a Lunar New Year Hanfu parade to attract revelers to the area this year. It too has seen an increase in young tourists wearing traditional attire during visits, according to one local. Embracing traditionA woman wearing Hanfu strolls around the Spring Festival Flower Market in Guangzhou, China, on February 9, 2024. Others say the term “Hanfu” is too narrow, given the fluid sharing of influences among diverse ethnic groups in China.

Persons: they’ve, Taobao, Shanghai's Yu, Yu, influencers, ”, Cai Pa, ” Cai, it’s, Li, John Ricky, Hanfu, she’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Tourists, Visual China, Getty, CNN Travel Locations: Suzhou, China, Shanghai, Hanfu, Seoul, Yu Garden, Wujiaochang, China’s, Hainan, Haikou, Qilou, Guangzhou, Anhui, gan

☆ The luxury home products that are actually worth splurging on
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Luxury home products might seem like an extravagance. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIt's no secret people are drawn to luxury products for their homes. The luxury home market has eager consumers for subtly high-end and over-the-top products . Read on to see what pricey products are worth splurging on for your home in 2024.

Persons: Le Creuset, — Organizations: Service

☆ Moving to Italy? Here's 3 mistakes American expats should avoid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Patrizia Di Gregorio founded the international social network group Expats Living in Rome. Just ask Patrizia Di Gregorio, an Italian-American who founded the international social network Expats Living in Rome. "Americans want to come and don't understand that you can't just move to Italy," Gregorio, 52, told Business Insider. The Facebook group Expats Living in Italy, which is connected to Expats Living in Rome, has 92,800 members and counting. "Joining Facebook groups like Expats Living in Italy or others is a good source to learn from others — especially the mistakes they made."

Persons: Patrizia Di Gregorio, Gregorio, she's, —, She's, Patrizia Di Gregorio Expats, expats, it's, splurging Organizations: Service, Embassy, Consulates, Facebook Locations: Rome, Italy, Italian, American, expats —, United States, soggiorno, America

☆ I spent one night in a luxurious tropical resort and the other camping near it. My vacation was balanced, and I saved money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Tegan Forder | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

We decided on a local getaway to Fitzroy Island, which is just a 45-minute ferry ride from my friend's home in Cairns. When visiting the island, guests have two options for accommodations: staying at the Fitzroy Island Resort or the campground next to the resort. Fitzroy Island ResortWhen we got off the ferry from Cairns, we headed to the Fitzroy Island Resort, where guests could check in to either the hotel or the campground. We ended the trip on a high by checking into the Fitzroy Island ResortAfter a day of snorkeling, we finally checked in to the Fitzroy Island Resort. Fitzroy Island ResortSpending money on a fancy dinner seemed justified after our camping compromise the night before.

Persons: —, Tegan Forder Organizations: Service, Fitzroy, Business, Restaurant, Zephyr Locations: Australia, Cairns, Fitzroy

☆ Russians are freezing as Soviet-era infrastructure in the country crumbles —and Moscow keeps spending on war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Heating systems are breaking down in Russia's harsh winter, leaving many people freezing. Much of Russia's Soviet-era infrastructure needs modernizing. AdvertisementHeating systems are breaking down in Russia's harsh winter, leaving many people freezing as Moscow continues to spend on its war in Ukraine. The brutal conditions are made worse because Russia's infrastructure is poorly maintained, with many of its facilitates dating from the Soviet era, according to media reports. About 40% of the communal heating grid in the country needs to be replaced urgently, she added.

Persons: —, Svetlana Razvorotneva, Vladimir Putin, Denis Volkov, ” Organizations: Service, Financial Times, Reuters, “, Levada Center Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Siberia, Soviet, St . Petersburg, The, Russian, Nizhny Novgorod

☆ I've stayed in 3 types of rooms on cruises, and the cheapest was never worth it. Here's what to book instead.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Sarah Gilliland | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewAutomatically booking the cheapest room on a cruise ship without doing proper research first can ruin a trip. Sarah GillilandThe standard (and least expensive) room on any cruise ship is typically called an inside or interior stateroom. I've stayed in interior staterooms on a Carnival Cruise Line ship and a Disney Cruise Line ship. Sarah GillilandYou can open your curtains and enjoy the sights outside, similar to the experience of staying in an ocean-view stateroom. To make the most of the balcony staterooms, we even turned our individual verandas into one large terrace by having our steward remove the partitions between rooms.

Persons: —, who's, I've, Sarah Gilliland Organizations: Service, Business, Cruise, Disney Cruise, Disney, Royal, Royal Caribbean's Symphony, Cruises Locations: Royal Caribbean

☆ I worked on cruise ships for 6 years. Here are the 5 best and 5 worst rooms to book for your trip.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Sharon Waugh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Here are what I consider to be the best and worst staterooms to book on a cruise. BEST ROOMS TO BOOK ON A CRUISEOcean-view rooms are only worth it if the windows aren't obstructed. Obstructed ocean-view roomsPartially obstructed ocean-view staterooms have a window that's usually at least a little blocked by a lifeboat. Although many people book these rooms because they're slightly cheaper than ocean-view rooms, the view ends up being more obstructed than expected most of the time. Adjoining rooms with other partiesSome cruise ships have adjoining staterooms with an internal door separating the two neighboring cabins.

Persons: Sharon Waugh, Drake, staterooms, I've, It's, Debbie Ann Powell, Shutterstock Staterooms, Extroverts Organizations: Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal, Cruises, NCL, Port, Disabilities Locations: Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, staterooms

☆ Why the average Super Bowl ticket already costs nearly $11,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Super Bowl in Las Vegas is now set with the Chiefs and 49ers playing for the Lombardi Trophy. According to TicketIQ, a ticket search engine that also conducts ticket market analysis, the cheapest ticket to the Super Bowl as of Monday is $8,872. This is the first time the NFL has hosted the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Swift will be in Tokyo in the days leading up to the Super Bowl for part of the international leg of her "The Eras Tour" concerts. All these factors have created a perfect storm for the Super Bowl and demand is pushing ticket prices to a place rarely ever seen.

Persons: —, TicketIQ, Jesse Lawrence of TicketIQ, Lawrence, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Sterling Skye, Brynn Anderson, Raymond James, Robin Alam, Taylor, Swift, Taylor Swift, Patrick Smith, Kelce Organizations: Chiefs, 49ers, Service, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Business, NFL, AP, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Getty, AFC, NFC Championship, Super, Super Bowl Locations: Las Vegas, Detroit, Tampa, Tokyo

☆ Apple, Zuck, Elon, and the lesson of Microsoft Windows
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

However, this person has been investing for more than 2 decades and sold a startup to a big tech company in the first dot-com boom. "The lesson of Microsoft Windows"Then this hedge funder schooled me on the "lesson of Microsoft Windows." He also pointed out that if you don't own a big platform, your life kinda sucks. AdvertisementThe biggest betsThis is why big tech companies are investing 100s of billions of dollars to find the next big platforms. Big Tech is all about winning our attention and being the first "funnel" that sends us out into the world.

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, —, Apple, Tesla, it's, Mark Gurman, I've, Matthew Ball, Zuckerberg, Ball, OpenAI, Nora Naughton, Elon Musk Organizations: Apple, Service, Apple's, Microsoft, Microsoft Windows, Android, Amazon, Google, Big Tech, Tesla, Software, GM, Ford, Meta Locations: American

However, as a financial planner, I always recommend being deliberate when it comes to your annual bonus. AdvertisementHere are four things you should avoid buying with your hard-earned bonus money — and some advice on what you should do with it instead. These costs can add up and crunch your budget long after the bonus money is spent. But technology changes and upgrades so rapidly that pouring bonus money into flashy new gadgets often means buyer's remorse sets in fast. But make sure you're using it wisely so that short-term excitement doesn't result in long-term financial regret.

Persons: it's Organizations: Business

☆ Why People Are Splurging on This $88 Lipstick
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Rory Satran | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

The refillable metal compact, which includes a lip balm and a colored pigment, comes in just two nudes and two reds. Photo: Hanna TveiteFara Homidi calls herself a “mouth watcher.” The makeup artist has always loved observing people talk, smile, laugh. What she didn’t know was that her $88 sky-blue lip compact would become an immediate object of desire. The refillable metal compact, which includes a lip balm and a colored pigment, comes in just two nudes and two reds. But for now, all the hype is swirling around that one shiny blue lip compact.

Persons: Hanna Tveite Fara Homidi, Homidi, Charlotte Tilbury, Pat McGrath

☆ I've spent 120 hours on overnight trains. Booking a private cabin is always worth the extra cost — whether it's $200 or $1,000.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Joey Hadden | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On overnight trains, splurging for a private space is worth the price. In private cabins, travelers get a bed, a sink, a vanity, and sometimes a full bathroom. AdvertisementIf you want to sleep on an overnight train, book a private cabin. But when I've booked private cabins on Amtrak and Nightjet, ranging from $200 to $1,000, I've slept better with no disruptions. So I recommend private cabins to all travelers with rolling luggage, a nighttime routine, or a desire to sleep well.

Persons: I've, —, Joey Hadden Organizations: Service, OBB Nightjet, OBB, Amtrak Locations: Berlin, Vienna, Austria, Venice, Italy, Miami

☆ I've stayed at the cheapest hotels Disney World and Universal Orlando have to offer. Only one blew me away.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Amanda Krause | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I stayed at the cheapest hotels onsite at Disney World and Universal Orlando earlier this year. That's what I thought until one trip to a Universal Orlando value hotel. While Disney World is home to princesses, Star Wars characters, Marvel superheroes, and Pixar cartoons, Universal Orlando boasts Harry Potter, Minions, and Transformers. Abigail Nilsson/Getty ImagesWhere Universal may have Disney beat: value hotel roomsI've stayed at Disney World's value resorts on multiple occasions throughout my life. I love staying at Disney World's value resorts overall, but based on this experience, I think Universal Orlando offers better rooms.

Persons: —, I've, you'll, Marvel, Harry Potter, Abigail Nilsson, Amanda Krause, I'm Organizations: Disney World, Universal Orlando, Universal, Service, Disney, Sports, Hollywood Studios, Magic, Universal Studios, Wars, Pixar, Star Resorts Locations: Orlando , Florida, Universal Orlando, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT

☆ US Cyber Monday online sales set to cross $12 billion as big discounts lure shoppers - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Boxes ready to be delivered are seen during Cyber Monday at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Robbinsville Township in New Jersey, U.S., November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 27 (Reuters) - U.S. shoppers looking for steep discounts are set to boost Cyber Monday online sales to a record $12 billion to $12.4 billion, splurging on products like Barbie dolls and headphones, data from Adobe Analytics showed. The midpoint of the range represents a jump of nearly 8%, better than Adobe's initial forecast of a 6.1% rise to $12 billion, easing concerns of a lackluster 2023 holiday shopping season. Salesforce also predicted Cyber Monday online sales would grow in the high-single-digit percentage range, both globally and in the United States. Reporting by Juby Babu and Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Eduardo Munoz, Barbie, Salesforce, Juby Babu, Deborah Sophia, Pooja Desai Organizations: REUTERS, Adobe Analytics, Thomson Locations: Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, U.S, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Black Friday Deals Start Early, but Shoppers Are Choosy This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Sarah Nassauer | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Many households have already begun gift buying in a year in which inflation has sapped demand for some items. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg NewsMillions of Americans are headed to stores on Black Friday, but retailers are navigating through a holiday season in which shoppers aren’t splurging as much as they have in recent years. Many households have already begun their gift buying in a year when high prices for food and other inflation have sapped demand for apparel, home décor and other items people may want but not need.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage Organizations: Bloomberg

☆ I'm a Swiftie Dad who traded a family summer vacation to take my kids across the country to an Eras Tour concert. It was worth every penny.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

We had already been to one Taylor Swift concert, but we wanted to try for a better experience. Additionally, I decided the family needed to forgo our usual summer family vacation and travel from Texas to Los Angeles for our second Taylor Swift "The Eras Tour" concert. A view from the author's seats at the Taylor Swift concert in Houston. The author's better half and their oldest daughter before a Taylor Swift concert in Los Angeles. Photos taken by the author's daughters at the LA Taylor Swift concert.

Persons: Taylor Swift, —, Swifties, Swift, Hannah Gaines, Cork, splurging, Clare, Taylor, Cork Gaines, Hannah, LA Taylor, Clare Gaines, Hannah Gaines Clare Organizations: Service, Ticketmaster, Cork Gaines, Business, Disney World, LA Locations: LA, Texas, Los Angeles, Houston, New York City, Ireland, Puerto Rico

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