The comeback of the housing market sees an increase in new owners and investors looking to make a sizable income while owning their own businesses. The company behind the ‘Agent-Owned Cloud Brokerage’, eXp World Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: EXPI), can attest to this growth with its 96% agent increase in 2015. The company, a full-service real estate brokerage that offers 24/7 access to tools, training, and information through a 3D cloud office environment, has become one of the fastest growing real estate brands in North America.

According to its president, Jason Gesing, the reason for this attraction stems from an entrepreneurial desire to own a business. The agents and brokers at eXp World Holdings are all shareholders, which means they can operate their businesses within a solid and successful framework. Adding to the attraction are the cloud-based resources provided by the company, which save money and time while engaging a wider internet audience than traditional brick and mortar offices.

Millennials, or people born between the 80s and early 90s, make up a huge portion of this internet audience. These millennials also make up the largest share of first time buyers at 68% and primarily want to purchase their first homes as the market returns. More and more young people will begin actively searching for homes throughout 2016. Since this generation relies heavily on the internet for researching and communicating, real estate brokerages should invest in accessible websites and social media to further market themselves.

eXp Holdings and its cloud-based platform offers easy access to properties and brokers so home buyers can make the most informed decisions. Catering to the needs of an internet savvy generation sets the stage for a booming year in real estate. eXp Holdings aims to continue its impressive climb by perfecting its resources and attracting more agents.

For more information, visit the company’s website at http://investors.exprealty.com

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The pet industry is constantly changing and calling for companies that can adapt to its advances. At the Ohio-based OurPet’s Company (OTCQX: OPCO), one of management’s main goals is to unveil, every year, new products that improve the health, safety, comfort and enjoyment of pets. OurPet’s has always been an innovator in the pet industry, and, by concentrating on creating products that satisfy a pet’s instinctive needs, the company supports and intensifies the pet and pet parent bond, creating harmony in the home.

OurPet’s research and development team has been working diligently on new offerings over the course of the past year, and the company has been building off of this momentum. Last month, OurPet’s introduced another new product line that has the potential to be among the most innovative in the company’s history. It joined thousands of exhibitors in launching new products at the Global Pet Expo, the pet industry’s largest trade show. Among the products that debuted were OurPet’s:

• Intelligent Pet Care™, industry’s first complete smart-lifestyle product line;
• OurPets® Kitty Potty™, a unique feline waste removal system;
• Flappy®, a new generation of dog toys;
• OurPets® Whirling Wiggler™, a spinning cat toy; and
• Collection of stainless steel pet feeding solutions.

Intelligent Pet Care™
By bringing easy-to-use technology into everyday pet care, the Intelligent Pet Care™ products are changing the face of traditional waste management systems, pet feeders and pet water systems by adding the ability of monitoring pets’ behaviors through a smartphone app.

OurPets® Kitty Potty™
OurPets® Kitty Potty™ is an inventive waste removal system that caters to a cat’s natural elimination instincts and serves as an unprecedented training tool to “potty train” kittens. Felines deposit waste in a hole, strategically placed in the middle of the unit. Surrounding the hole is litter which allows the cat to instinctively cover, but never touch its waste or track bacteria through the home. With its easy, no-touch cleanup, pet owners do not come in contact with waste either.

Flappy® Dog Toys
The company’s new generation of Flappy® toys quench a dog’s instinctive need to carry prey in its mouth. Designed to recreate the hunting experience, the Flappy® toy’s body is made of sturdy material that is still soft enough to be chewed. The distinctive texture of the dental tips and ridges also helps clean the dog’s teeth and massage its gums.

OurPets® Whirling Wiggler™
Designed to indulge a cat’s inner hunter, the Whirling Wiggler Spinner Toy allows cats to stalk and hunt in the safety of the home. The toy’s wire slider lets one change between two flight modes, chase and play. In chase mode (wire slider down), one butterfly flies freely while the other chases closely behind. In play mode (wire slider up), the butterflies fly in sync as they friskily flutter around the base of the toy.

Stainless Steel Feeding Solutions
With each solution catering to a particular set of pet feeding needs, OurPet’s has been updating its line of feeding solutions with new, stylish bowl designs; an adjustable raised feeder; a durable food scoop; and a 3-in-1 vented slow feed insert that fits in top selling bowls.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ourpets.com

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QualityStocks today announces the availability of a new audio interview with Stuart Gray, CEO and founder of Laguna Blends, Inc. (OTC: LAGBF) (CSE: LAG) (FRANKFURT: LB6A).

The interview can be heard at http://www.QualityStocks.net/interview-lagbf.php

Gray begins the interview by introducing Laguna as a network marketing company operating a growing base of independent affiliates to generate retail sales of a carefully selected line of products.

As he explains, Laguna is focused on the nutritional benefits of hemp, specifically on functional beverage products. The company’s network of independent affiliates currently market Caffe, a hemp-infused instant coffee product; and Pro369, a water soluble hemp protein powder.

Gray then describes his own 20-year background in investor relations, public relations and network marketing before discussing how the experience of several other members of Laguna’s leadership team contribute to the company’s initiatives.

Under this roster of professionals, Laguna reached a number of key milestones in 2015. Gray notes that the company finished the development of Caffe and Pro369, as well as the development of supporting technology and software; implemented two manufacturing partners in Canada; and organized shipping partners in the USA and Canada.

Since launching the business for its independent affiliates in March of this year, Gray says the company has experienced “astronomical” growth, attracting interest from all four corners of the United States and Canada. The company also launched its virtual 3D platform, Laguna World.

“That’s really what makes us unique in this industry — we’re the only ones in network marketing that offers this type of technology for their affiliates,” he says.

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2016, Gray says the company will continue to build on its achievements and expand its business in several arenas.

“We want to continue to attract affiliate leaders in the U.S. and Canada, and, in addition to that, grow the existing leadership that we already have… by doing so we’ll increase revenues. We’re going to continually innovate new products; we’re also going to expand the tools and technology for the affiliates; and in addition to that we’re going to introduce new training to help the affiliates be educated on how to build their businesses,” he concludes.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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Giggles N’ Hugs, Inc. (OTCQB: GIGL) is a family-friendly restaurant and playspace company that aims to teach children a variety of skills, including team building. GIGL started when Dorsa Parsi, co-founder of Giggle N’ Hugs, realized there was no restaurant that was both child and adult friendly. The inspiration came to build an environment where adults could enjoy a nice meal while children play and learn valuable skills through team building activities.

GIGL isn’t just about keeping kids busy while adults eat out. The company’s restaurants and playspaces offer more than just games. They provide a full-bodied, fun learning experience for children. Aside from monkey bars and jungle gyms, Giggles N’ Hugs offers a range of team building games that teach children valuable life lessons from a young age. Talented musicians can lead children in a group sing-along or entertain them with a good story. At the arts and crafts center, kids are encouraged to be creative and are guided by professional staff members. Activities are hosted every 30 minutes and revolve around teamwork and team building. These include scavenger hunts, kids karaoke, face painting, dance parties, arts & crafts, and much more.

According to a study by the Wisconsin Council on Children & Families, titled ‘Quality Matters: A Policy Brief Series on Early Care and Education’, children cultivate 85% of their intellect, personality and skills by the age of five. Building the right foundation from a young age is pivotal. Giggles N’ Hugs specializes in providing a safe, fun environment to teach children the social skills they need while also providing an organic menu that will work as a healthy source of energy. Many places provide child friendly menus. However, it is hard to find a menu that incorporates the nutritional ingredients that kids need to grow. GIGL makes kid-friendly meals without compromising on nutritional standards. The company uses pureed vegetables in its meals so that children can enjoy their favorite dishes while eating healthily.

Giggles N’ Hugs allows children to engage in non-stop play while adults can unwind in one of Los Angeles’s top family restaurants. GIGL’s restaurants are award winning, family oriented establishments. They have been voted the #1 Birthday Party Place in Los Angeles and Best Pizza in Los Angeles by Nickelodeon! The company has also earned awards for Best Indoor Playspace by Red Tricycle, and is listed as one of the Best Family & Kid-Friendly Restaurants by CitySearch and GoCityKids. In addition to GIGL being a fun, indoor space for children and adults to unwind, the menu is made up of certified organic ingredients that everyone can enjoy. This family friendly restaurant and playspace is the perfect location for everyone to share an educational, fun, life changing experience together.

Learn more by visiting www.gigglesnhugs.com

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Agora Holdings, Inc. (OTC: AGHI), along with subsidiary Geegle Media, focuses on media and software applications. The company targets five business segments, including media networks, TV, studio entertainment, consumer products, and interactive media. Agora Holdings fuses together the best of media and technology to create memorable online entertainment experiences. Geegle Media primarily focuses on software development and media applications. For example, the subsidiary developed a successful Video on Demand platform for the United States, Canada, Russia, and Bulgaria. Recently, the company has been working on perfecting its FRAME social media software, which offers easy marketing solutions to consumers.

Enhancing FRAME, a social media management software used by businesses, public relations and investor relations agencies, gives consumers a fully integrated program that comes with ease and accessibility. The software allows companies to use a single dashboard to publish brand-related messages to all of their social media accounts. FRAME also includes a scheduled publishing capability that strategically releases content specific to a company’s agenda. Currently, FRAME developers are collecting information from users using a beta version in order to resolve any issues while also receiving feedback. The goal is to provide consumers with a user-friendly and reliable social media management system that guarantees customer engagement, making it a powerful marketing tool.

The FRAME software comes at a time when the social media industry is pertinent to any company’s marketing strategy. Businesses now understand that they need a social media presence to expand brand visibility. Social media also offers a way for business to know the wants, needs, and interests of their customers. With that, it improves customer service and communication with the rapid responsiveness indicative of the platform. Businesses not using social media stand to lose their online market to competitors. Agora Holdings and Geegle Media understand the role social media currently plays in marketing and therefore look forward to provide a product that maximizes exposure while monitoring customer engagement.

With the steady growth of social media making it a staple in the lives of customers, it’s advantageous for businesses to maintain a stronghold online. Agora Holdings provides a platform through which companies can take advantage while growing their brands. Furthermore, FRAME developers continue to upgrade and improve their software in congruence with the company’s values of delivering high quality, user-friendly products with integrity.

For more information, visit www.agoraholdingsinc.com

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Houston-based Lucas Energy, Inc. (NYSE MKT: LEI) is an asset-rich, independent oil and gas company developing significant acreage positions in the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk resource plays in South Texas. Since 2013, the company has undergone significant corporate changes that included the restructuring of its management team, capital structure and overarching strategic vision. A look at where the company is now positioned shows the fruits of those alterations.

Lucas Energy currently has working interests spanning more than 10,000 net acres in South Texas with proved reserves valued at $112 million, in addition to probable reserves of approximately $60 million, according to a reserve report conducted in 2014. The company maintains an “aggressive growth posture” in developing its leaseholds as it seeks to achieve its potential in terms of both size and scope of operations.

In Q3 2016, Lucas Energy achieved what CEO Anthony Schnur, who joined the company in 2012, calls “transformational.” In the company’s Q3 earnings release, Schnur said the company has found ways to navigate the challenging commodity environment and identify growth opportunities through strategic acquisition. In accordance with this strategy, Schnur also referenced the company’s Segundo Resources asset purchase.

“We have also been successful in enhancing our liquidity by amending our line of credit with Silver Star Oil Company (“Silver Star”), followed by the subsequent sale of an additional $200,000 of convertible notes under the line of credit,” he said. “We are currently discussing potential financing transactions that would fulfill our near-term capital requirements as well as our planned asset acquisition, which we believe, if finalized and completed, will ensure the future viability of the Company. While the current commodity price environment continues to be challenging to our operations, it may also create opportunities to expand our footprint through attractive acquisitions, funding permitting.”

Per the Segundo transaction, Lucas Energy will acquire working interests in undeveloped acreage and producing Hunton properties, which currently produce in excess of 1,200 net barrels of oil equivalent per day (BOE/d).

According to a recent corporate presentation, the Hunton play is found in a limestone formation stretching nearly 3 million acres in Oklahoma and surrounding states, characterized by high quality oil and high BTU content natural gas production. The acquisition also provides the opportunity for increased reserves and production, and will result in a corporate name change.

“Following the closing of this transaction, we intend to drill six initial wells and have identified 50 drilling locations in the Hunton assets we are acquiring. As previously mentioned, we will also be changing our company name to Camber Energy, Inc. when the transaction is completed,” Schnur stated in a previous news release.

Executing plans of this nature inherently take capital, and earlier this month, Lucas Energy secured $15 million of equity capital to fund its growth initiative as it works to finalize the Segundo Resources transaction.

“This placement demonstrates confidence in the future of Lucas Energy as we progress towards closing on the Segundo Resources asset purchase,” Schnur stated in a press release announcing the funding. “Having received this commitment establishes some certainty that we can initiate growth and development activities upon closing the acquisition.”

For more information visit www.lucasenergy.com

It has been said that every cloud has a silver lining and that lemons are easily transformed into lemonade. This healthy perspective manifests itself in the business model of Halitron, Inc. (OTC: HAON). The company’s focus is on acquiring businesses and turning them into efficient, low-cost entities. More specifically, Halitron finds bankrupt or distressed companies, and, with much ingenuity and know-how, turns them into profitable businesses. Complementing its search for financially troubled companies, HAON also seeks out profitable businesses with the potential of maximizing growth within its established operational infrastructure. This rather unique strategy enables company holdings to benefit by way of offering their services to each other while also employing a sales arm to reach external customers.

Following its acquisition of PRD Holdings, Inc. in February 2016, Halitron established a fully integrated business model. As the sole business in its manufacturing division, PRD Holdings owns a number of factory investments in Mexico providing the capacity to produce over $20 million in annual sales. The company’s multiple locations engage in different activities benefiting its vertical business model. At Newtown, Connecticut, the focus is on sales, marketing and finance through NDG Holdings, Inc. San Diego, California, on the other hand, is used as Halitron’s distribution point for products that are manufactured through PRD Holdings in and around Tijuana, Mexico.

Halitron is following an acquisition roll-up business model, and it targets two types of acquisitions. The first type includes bankrupt, distressed or insolvent companies that can be acquired inexpensively and then “rolled” into the company’s existing infrastructure. The second type includes profitable companies operating at a multiple of EBITDA ranging from two to four times that possess a strategic fit operationally that would benefit the collective group of businesses.

Halitron, Inc. was formerly known as Teknik Digital Arts, Inc. and changed its name to Halitron, Inc. in August 2014. The company was founded in 2003.

For more information, visit www.halitroninc.com

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Earlier this week, Laguna Blends, Inc. (CSE: LAG) (OTC: LAGBF) announced plans to complete a non-brokered private placement of 1,863,636 units priced at $0.11 for gross proceeds of $205,000. Each unit will include one share of the company’s Canadian Securities Exchange common stock, as well as one transferable share purchase warrant exercisable at $0.15 for a period of one year. Laguna plans to rely upon the ‘existing shareholder exemption’, as described in Multilateral CSA Notice 45-313 – Prospectus Exemption for Distributions to Existing Security Holders, as well as other applicable exemptions. Proceeds from this offering are expected to be used toward future IT expenditures, consulting fees, repayment of debts and working capital.

April has proven to be an exciting months for shareholders of Laguna Blends. Early in the month, the company introduced Pro369, a water-soluble hemp protein powder, as its first entry into the functional beverage products market. According to reports from Allied Market Research, this market is expected to surpass $33.6 billion in revenues by 2020. Pro369 joined Caffe, the company’s protein-infused coffee beverage, as a flagship product in Laguna’s rapidly expanding affiliate program. Since the launch of its affiliate program in early March, Laguna has exceeded all growth projections by attracting a base of well over 700 independent affiliates from all corners of the United States and Canada.

Following completion of the proposed placement, Laguna is expected to have the capital needed to build on this solid foundation. The company has already launched phase one of its Laguna World virtual 3D community, positioning it as the first network marketing company to use this technology to train, recruit and drive sales. Additionally, Laguna recently entered into a research and development agreement with Robert Lamberton through which the company will be developing a proprietary brain health, memory coffee product with all costs and expenses related to development covered by Lamberton. Upon completion, Laguna will maintain the intellectual property and worldwide marketing rights for the innovative product in exchange for a small royalty on net sales.

For more information, visit www.lagunablends.com

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Giggles N’ Hugs (OTCQB: GIGL) combines a fresh and healthy menu, replete with great-tasting and refined dishes that appeal to discerning adults, as well as kid-friendly selections that boast numerous organic features (http://dtn.fm/v45Ge) (like being gluten-free and made from locally-grown ingredients) that you simply won’t find in other so-called kid-friendly restaurants – with a highly themed and stylistic Gymboree-like play area that dominates the floor space. It’s a model that has seen the company rocket to stardom among the stars, with numerous A-list celebs bringing their children to one of the company’s three locations in upscale malls throughout LA, either for lunch, or for a birthday bash. And the company has just been doubling-down on its core competencies since making a name for itself in LA, generating big initiatives to grow through the expansion of company-owned and/or franchised locations in other malls throughout the U.S., in precisely the same fashion as they expanded from the company’s initial Westfield Century City location, to the Westfield Topanga Mall and Glendale Galleria.

Voted the number one family restaurant by Citysearch and Yelp, as well as the number one birthday party place by beloved children’s network Nickelodeon!, Giggles N’ Hugs does what it says on the tin, fostering a dining and play environment that (for perhaps the first time in the history of the industry), really goes that extra mile to cater to children. And GIGL has ingeniously been executing this next-gen kid-friendly model off the back of catering to the increasingly selective tastes and discerning attitudes of parents who want to make sure their kids eat healthy. Parents who also understand that in order to get the kids to really eat healthy, those healthy choices must generally be embedded in otherwise attractive/delicious menu items that finicky children can’t say no to.

The shared vision of GIGL founder and CEO Joey Parsi and his wife, to really make a place where kids can be at home and thus give the parents a chance to also relax, has been brilliantly realized and subsequently stamped with the mark of excellence by household names such as actress Drew Barrymore, English singer and songwriter Adele, and homegrown musical celebs like Beyonce and Jay-Z. These restaurants are a marvel to behold and equally accommodate everyday mom and dads who want to have a drink and watch the game on a jumbo flat screen while their rambunctious kids, who want to laugh and play, climb around, and actually be children, can do so without earning reprimands to sit still. The amount of stress relief for parents contained in the basic equation is incalculable and GIGL has really created something of an institution for busy parents, and choosy parents who want to have a birthday blowout for their special little ones, while also having access to a truly healthy menu that is also scrumptious to kids.

Needless to say, there is an entire nationwide footprint of over 1,000 malls (and a broader 47,000 shopping centers) that could stand to benefit from the presence of a Giggles N’ Hugs, because it isn’t just a dining choice or superb birthday party location, it’s like a nursing home for under 10’s, where moms can drop the kids off and let them play safely in the expansive 2,000-square-foot-plus play area while they get the shopping done or just unwind in the relaxed mall setting.

Mall owners and site leaseholders love the Giggles N’ Hugs model, because it frees up a key demographic to more actively patronize the locale’s other establishments. This is an advantage which opens up sought-after square footage across the country in upscale malls quite readily, giving GIGL exclusive access to sweetheart development deals and lease conditions at some of the choicest locations, where the company’s model has the best chance to thrive sales-wise. The company is pushing hard coming off a banner 2015, which saw extensive operational streamlining that has led to significantly improved margins and increased YOY sales performance. Net cash used in operating activities was slashed last year, almost in half from 2014 levels, on the back of strong sales, and the company is currently exploring ways to further leverage the bedrock value of its existing services, while also seeking to add on new, parallel services.

GIGL is confident that the company not only has some of the best overall dining experiences available anywhere today for parents and their young children, but a similarly trend-setting and growing portfolio of food products and designs underlying those experiences as well – products and designs which can be used to secure a leadership brand position in the sector. Toward this end, GIGL is continuing to innovate and is currently mapping out vectors such as curb-side take-out, increased availability of beer/wine selections, branded baby food, branded merchandising, and gift certificates, all intended to augment already strong day-to-day commercial operations (increasingly fueled by themed parties that carry exceptional profitability margins). The company has even been looking at partnering with a baby products supplier, whereby GIGL could generate commissions on sales of the various furniture, fixtures, toys and other equipment available in the play area, about the acquisition of which parents are constantly inquiring.

Learn more by visiting www.gigglesnhugs.com

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Moxian, Inc. (OTCQB: MOXC) exists for the e-commerce operator, software developer, manufacturer, payment provider and other merchants who wish to promote their businesses using novel social marketing techniques. The company continually redefines marketing with precision. After a timely entrance into the online-to-offline market in Asia, it has steadily developed its social marketing and promotional platforms for merchants operating in Chinese markets.

Moxian enables business owners to engage in high-level, targeted marketing while using the ideas of community and reward to entice consumers. For the past six years, the company has designed key proprietary tools. Along the way, it merged its customer relations management tool with advanced data analysis capabilities and created a comprehensive solution for small- to medium-sized enterprises. The resulting online-to-offline platform combines business activities and social media campaigns.

Moxian’s business app is focused on optimizing merchant-customer touch points. It allows merchants to manage their presence within the company’s platform. Plus, with it, merchants can open e-commerce shops, plan marketing campaigns, interact with customers, manage payments, offer discounts and rewards and access detailed analytics.

The company’s combined products and services portfolio delivers social customer relationship management, marketing, event hosting, vouchers and product listings services, as well as actionable reports. By allowing its merchant clients to study consumer behavior, Moxian’s offerings create repeated interactions between these businesses and potential consumers.

Moxian has spent an ample amount of time testing, honing and perfecting its online-to-offline platform in various spaces in Asia. Now that it is focusing its attention on the largest cosmopolitan areas in China (it is opening new sales offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai), the company seems primed to benefit from increases in revenue, courtesy of new merchant subscriptions to its social marketing platform.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Moxian.com

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