Brand Spotlight: The Ocean Bottle

Ocean Bottle has made it their mission to collect plastic from our oceans and turn it into the ultimate, long-lasting product. The result? A sleek, durable and reusable bottle –meant to stand the test of time. Keep reading to find out why Ocean Bottle is a brand that is close to our hearts.

An unwavering commitment.

No oceans, no life: we have a duty to protect them. Ocean Bottle’s mission is to finance the ethical collection of ocean-bound plastic by selling beautiful, reusable and durable bottles.

In fact, each bottle purchased makes it possible to finance the collection of about 1,000 plastic bottles from our oceans.  

A bottle with a (social) mission.

Ocean Bottle actively supports the marginalized populations most affected by environmental problems.

To do this, the brand ensures that the workers in charge of collecting the plastic are paid as well or even better than the average plastic collector.

The Ocean Bottle brand is truly committed to fighting social and environmental inequalities –they stand strong for their values –something we seek in our partnerships.  

An ethical production chain.

No manufacturer can now ignore the harmful impacts that their production lines can have on the environment.

Ocean Bottle is committed to doing its best to close the loop in its supply chain: conceptualizing sustainable, recyclable, and repairable products to reduce waste.  

A design we can’t get enough of.

Ocean Bottle never fails to offer us a sleek and elegant bottle design, with a multiple choice of colours for the most varied of tastes.  

In summary, Ocean Bottle has:  
– Collected 5,732,109 Kgs of plastic since 2018. 
– Collected 8 types of plastic from our oceans. 
– Supported and assisted over 5,700 families. 
– Provided 372 communities with employment & a stable managerial structure.  
 
Want to support an important cause?

Ocean Bottle is the perfect item to help you and your fans put a stop to ocean pollution. Let’s chat make it happen –one bottle at a time.  

Ready to dive in?

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Thibaut Fontaine

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

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Bertrand Liévois

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8 customisable gifts for travelers.

Travel gifts are one of the best ways to promote your brand –whether it be through your employees or clients. Personalized travel gifts are always bound to be a win: Give your audience the gift of traveling undisturbed!

The essentials…

1. The weekender bag  
An essential for traveling, this duffel bag is made from recycled materials. With a spacious compartment and front pocket, you have all the necessary space to store your belongings for that spontaneous weekend getaway.   
 
2. The travel set 
If you want to take the saying “traveling in comfort” to the next level, this travel set is for you. It contains a pillow, an eye mask and earplugs. Just picture your logo on it, and you’re ready for take-off
 
 3.  Travel wallet? Yes please! 
Perhaps if you seek a more practical accessory, you might like this travel wallet that allows you to store all your key documents, such as your passport, your plane tickets and even some extra cash. It’s the perfect item to keep track of all your travel essentials!  

…And some more

 4. This on-trend fanny pack 
Because we all need a fanny pack in our lives: better to have one on hand, right? This fanny pack is the essential accessory to store your phone, wallet and any other small items you will need to travel (and carry around at your destination). No time to rummage through a backpack while on vacation! 
 
 5. This handy passport protector 
This passport protector doubles as a case for your personal document as well as for your cards. Chic and practical.  
  
6. The indispensable battery bank 
We all know how stressful running on a low phone battery feels. Especially when you must travel. Which is why this mobile charger making our list –it allows you to charge your phone anywhere and anytime!  

For all tastes.

7. The classic laptop sleeve 
Your best friend when it comes to carrying your laptop. Not only that, but it also has several pockets in which you can organize all your belongings.  
   
8. And for the beauty lovers… This travel toiletry bag 
Everyone needs a travel toiletry bag. In fact, this is THE must-have to carry your beauty and wellness belongings. Perfect for long haul flights!  

Want more? You can find the rest of our collection on our website. And as always, we’re here to help! 

Ready to dive in?

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Thibaut Fontaine

EN

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

FR

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Stand out with your end-of-the year gift.

No one said choosing end-of-the-year gifts was easy. Admit it, we all leave end-of-the-year gifts for the last minute. We’re here to remind you to get ready ASAP!

Early bird… Gets the best EOY gift.

We all know that going about it at the last minute is never a good idea. You should be planning and ordering your end-of-the-year gift at least 3 months in advance –that way you can get your hands on the coolest products.

So, write it down on your calendar, put a post-it note on your desktop, or a reminder on your phone.

Doing this earlier also means taking the time to choose your gifts thoughtfully (and not in a rush due to time constraints). 

Choose your recipients wisely.

Do you plan on offering gifts to your customers, or perhaps to your valued employees? Or both? In this case it is important to know your field of action.

The goal is not to offer anything to anyone, but rather choose what you’re giving to whom, and do it with intent.  

You see, intent will vary depending on the recipient. If the gifts are for customers, you’re going to want the gift to be something they use on the daily –so they always have your logo on hand.

Conversely, if the gift is for your employees, you instead want to offer moments of wellness, so they feel appreciated for their hard work. 
 
Once you’ve decided on the recipients of your gifts, it’s time to choose the present.  

Any idea regarding the budget?

This is crucial: define your budget (And quantity), ASAP. This will help you narrow down your options and calculate your costs in terms of product customization and delivery.

The best is to define an average budget per person, because then, you will be able to define it according to your recipient.

What about personalization?

Once you’ve chosen your gifts, you might as well add a finishing touch and personalize them.

Whether it be your embossed logo, the engraved name of your recipient, or a printed drawing of your choice, personalization is always the cherry on top of the perfect present. 

We’ll leave you with our final reminder: If you want to truly ‘wow’ your employees, don’t leave your end-of-the-year gift for the last minute.

A little secret? If you’re getting your gifts at the last minute, you’re only going to get the items that are in stock –aka, the not-so-special gifts!  
 
Get in touch with us today, and we’ll make it happen, so your staff has the most thoughtful gift of all!  

Ready to dive in?

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Thibaut Fontaine

EN

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

FR

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Making your office more fun: Our top tips.

Who said that working in an office had to be boring? A way to improve your employees’ productivity is to make their workplace enjoyable (and even fun!). Keep reading for some ideas on how to improve your office, without necessarily having to install a ping-pong table.

Create team games.

Everyone loves a good game, so you might want to think about some team games to incorporate into your routine.

This is also a good way to mix departments, where teams can get to know each other better. If you’re all in, you can arrange said game once a month and make it a tradition.  
  
Or if you’re looking for something more frequent, think about lunch break; A simple deck of cards or traditional board games can get your employees to take full advantage of their lunch break to be more productive for the rest of the day.  

(Professional) speed dating.

In general, when new employee arrives, it’s rare that an event is organized for the occasion. And yet, it is important that a new hire feels welcomed and has time to meet the whole team.

Speed dating” is the best way to chat with everyone: while it’s a pretty classic method, you can modernize it in your own way. For example, turn it into a treasure hunt and bring the newcomer from office to office to meet each person on the team.

Be creative with it, and most importantly, have fun!  

A good meal can’t miss.

You can’t go wrong with some good food. You can provide breakfast, lunch or even an aperitif, bringing some life to the office.

For example, you can: Hire a food truck to come to the office or choose a culinary theme once a week and invite your employees to cook for their peers.  

Bonus: If you’ve got the budget.

Well, we had to talk about the ping pong table for this blog post.

So of course, if you have the budget, you should, by all means, invest it in making your office super cool.

Whether it’s a ping pong table, a dart board, or a pool table, the possibilities are endless! Can also have removable ping pong table or the big ones – we can provide on the go.

Ready to dive in?

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Thibaut Fontaine

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

FR

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3 tips to get into the (office) Holiday spirit.

A raggedy, ten-year-old tree is not enough to bring the Christmas spirit into your office. Which is why we give you 3 tips to get your staff in the Christmas mood this end of the year.

Decor is everything!

What would Christmas be without a jolly tree decorated with bright string lights? Give it your all if the budget allows it. Extra special ideas include:
 
– Branded Christmas tree ornaments 
– Branded wrapping paper for the gifts under the tree 
– Customized sweaters for the chilly season (to match the décor, of course!) 
 
The possibilities are endless, and any space is fair game! From walls, to ceilings, to windows, to chairs. Just picture it: your office feeling extra cozy for those end-of-the-year days right before your X-mas holiday.  

If you want to spoil your staff a bit extra, create personalized stockings to hang around the office, and fill those with snacks, goodies, and a handwritten note!   

A twist on the classic advent calendar.

We’re not talking about the traditional advent calendar filled with chocolates –but about a special one created just for your staff.

This is your chance to get creative. For example, get a different employee to open a different box every day.

Each box can be filled with various swag items, each one branded, so your staff can sport your company logo on their winter getaways.

EOY presents must be ready.

In an ideal world, you’ve been planning your end-of-year present for a while –the Holiday season is the perfect moment to make sure you’ve got them wrapped up and ready to go! This includes writing (or printing) any hand-written letters you want to include to thank your hard-working hires in the most beautiful time of the year. 
 
Regardless of your budget, you can always make the best out of the Holiday season.

If you need a hand picking out décor or choosing the very important end-of-the-year gift, get in touch with us!    

Ready to dive in?

Get in touch with us today.

Thibaut Fontaine

EN

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

FR

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Say hello to recycled & circular materials.

Giving materials a second life is a key pillar of sustainability. But what exactly are recycled, and circular materials made from? Let us give you the run-down.

Ever heard about ocean plastic?

Recycled materials are exactly that –recycled non-virgin materials with a new life. Circular materials, on the other hand, are bio-based materials that are given a second chance (as opposed to being destroyed and thrown away after their first use).  

As you know, reducing plastic consumption is one of the main challenges for curbing climate change. Sadly, too much of our single-use plastic ends up polluting our oceans, with 80% of it coming from land-based sources.

However, we can do our bit to save the oceans by recycling old plastic –and preventing it from ending in our oceans

When ocean plastic is collected, it is then washed, sanitized and processed into raw material flakes that meet the European and North American quality standards.  

The ocean plastic is then transformed into high quality, food-safe recycled plastic you can use as packaging or anything else needing plastic material. The best part? Just because something is made from recycled plastic doesn’t mean it has to be tacky.  

For example, Waste2Wear is a company that utilizes 100% recycled plastic to make clothing garments and accessories. You can check out some of their products here. Who knows? Maybe the matching tote bags given out at your next team building will be by Waste2Wear. Which we can help distribute, of course!  

Be a hero by recycling paper.

Deforestation has also proven a dangerous threat for the wellbeing of our Earth. As an alternative, and to further avoid deforestation, recycled paper has been introduced to our consumer society. Recycled paper has evolved exponentially in the past decades and can look just as regular as a brand-new piece of paper (if not prettier, if you ask us!).  

Recycled paper is made from –you guessed it– wastepaper. To give you an idea, it takes approximately 1,2 tons of wastepaper to produce 1 ton of recycled paper. Conversely it would take around 2,5 tons of wood to produce the equivalent virgin fiber paper.  

So, next time you want to write hand-written letters to your employees, choose to do so on a piece of beautiful, recycled paper, dotted with seeds.

Write the perfect message of appreciation while respecting the environment!  

Goodbye (virgin) polyester. Hello cotton!

 As mentioned above, clothing can also benefit from recycled materials. Whether it be recycled polyester (rPET) or another material, such as cotton. Derived from the fibers surrounding the seeds of cotton plants, cotton is guaranteed to not harm the Earth when it reaches the end of its product life.  

Why choose cotton? You see, cotton has a high tensile strength, is very water absorbent, dries quickly and is easy to wash in machine.  

Best of all? Cotton fabric is extremely breathable, which diminishes the chances of persistent sweat stains (whoops!). While cotton is perfect for clothes, it’s also sturdy enough for tote bags or even backpacks. 
 
Say, for example, you’re looking to provide your team with uniform polos. Cotton is the way to go –they’ll thank you once they feel how comfortable they feel.  
 
These are just some options of what recycled (or circular materials) can make your life a little more sustainable.

And if you’re looking to make even more changes –we can help you incorporate them into your branded merchandising. Reach out, we’d love to make some magic! 

Ready to dive in?

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Thibaut Fontaine

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

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10 corporate gifts your employees will love.

Whether it’s to thank your team for the work they’ve done or to simply please them, it’s a challenge to find gifts that truly blows them away. Which is why we’ve made a top 10 list of the best corporate gifts to delight your employees.

Reimagined basics.

1. Phone holder:  Convenient and useful, especially if you want to use and charge your phone at the same time!  Made of bamboo, this stand will give your office a streamlined, chic look. 
 
2. Multi-function pencil holder: Say goodbye to the super cheesy pencil pots that we’ve all seen and reviewed. This one is perfect for keeping your office on trend, eco-friendly, and most importantly, functional
  
3. Personalized bottle:  Carry your drink of choice in a nice bottle embossed with your name –so everyone knows it’s yours. We also offer a wide array of colours to satisfy everyone’s needs and tastes.  
  
4. Plant: Give your office a burst of color (and oxygen) with a plant of your choice. Well, yes, you also must make sure that the person to whom you offer it will take care of watering it, but regardless, it’s still a nice idea. Although a simple idea, plants can make for versatile gifts. Leave it to us, and we can add unique details such as branding the pot of the plant or branding the plant itself!   

Get in the flow.

5. Bamboo laptop stand: Perfect for organizing your desk to your heart’s desire (and especially avoiding the endless accumulation of junk). What’s best? This matches perfectly with the phone holder we mentioned earlier.  

6. Wireless headphones: this is the ultimate high-tech gadget that everyone needs, especially if it’s branded. It’s a cool gift for those that like to take hands-free phone calls (and mandatory virtual team meetings), all the while being able to reach their step count at the same time (need a smart watch too?). 
  
7. Speaker: A speaker can be your best ally by motivating you to work. In and out of the office, it’s the perfect accessory to create the right atmosphere, regardless of of where you are.  

Gift for every taste.

8. Cocktail set: If you want to come off as the super cool boss, why not offer this cocktail set? Perfect to encourage your employees to relax as much as they work. Appropriate for mock-tails, to more extravagant drinks.  
  
9. Lunchbox: Forget soggy, plastic wrapped sandwiches (that’s so 2009!), and instead opt for this lunchbox made from bamboo (with its cutlery included, of course). Practical, committed and ideal to keep your meal as fresh as it should be.   
  
10. Coffee-cup to go: Classic, but gold. A to-go coffee cup is perfect for strolling the streets, going from meeting to meeting, and feeling on top of the world by doing it. You can customize it with your company logo, or even your first name to make sure no one steals it from you. 
 
So? Have we given you some ideas? Reach out –coffee is on us (and a personalized mug guaranteed).  

Ready to dive in?

Get in touch with us today.

Thibaut Fontaine

EN

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

FR

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5 creative gift-boxes to welcome your newest hire.

Does the new year bring with it new employees? Here are 5 gift box ideas that will make the arrival of your new colleague more enjoyable than ever.

The gourmet box.

For those with a sweet tooth, you can offer a gift box with the perfect assortment of gourmet foods: whether salty, sweet, or a mix of both.

There’s no better way to welcome a newcomer than to offer them something to revive their taste buds during their first week of work.  

While you’re at it, make sure to include some local products in it as well: artisanal chocolate, local pastries, and perhaps some beer brewed in the area (Sometimes, we all need to enjoy a drink after a long day of work).  

The wellness box.

 For some, self-care is a part of their daily routine.

Which is why we suggest the wellness box, which includes things such as face masks, massage accessories, an under-eye mask, or fresh juice shots to give your immune system a boost…  

The more you help your employees be their best selves, the better they can perform at their brand-new job. Win-win.

The corporate box.

You know what they say, your employees are your first (and best) brand ambassadors.

To integrate them into the team, make sure to welcome them with your company kit. Include branded apparel, such as: a tote bag, a mug, a pen, or a notepad for those (nervous) first day notes.

Personalize these items and presto, you just gave someone the best first day of their life.  

The ‘techie’ box

If your company is full of ‘techies,’ you can always create a gift-box with the perfect assortment of tech accessories for them: whether it be for their car, their office, or things such as speakers, a helmet, or a phone charger…

Receiving branded electronic gadgets is always super refreshing! 

The decor box.

Who doesn’t like to receive accessories to liven up their (home) workspace?

Whether it’s a candle to brighten up their area, or coasters to place their personalized, insulated mug on, your newest employee is bound to appreciate a new item to decorate their desk (or even their living room, if they really love it).   
   
If any of these gift boxes sound like something you might want to do –stop waiting around: we’re here to fulfil your (merchandising) dreams.
   
Kick And Rush is your one-stop, end-to-end solution for all your branded merchandising initiatives.

Let’s get in touch and make it happen. 

Ready to dive in?

Get in touch with us today.

Thibaut Fontaine

EN

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

FR

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3 tips for implementing sustainability in your company.

Sustainability: You’ve heard the word a million times. There’s a pretty important reason for that. We give you the run down.

Remote work, more than the cozy option.

Since COVID-19, the way we work has drastically changed, mainly giving rise to remote work. Tele-working is the perfect sustainable alternative because it allows employees to avoid using their cars to drive to work– inherently reducing CO2 emissions.  

Offering remote or hybrid work also has a direct impact on the company’s carbon footprint: less employees in the office means less lighting and heating needed in the workspace, which obviously means less energy being used on company premises.  

It’s all about finding the perfect balance between work-from-home and days at the office. Help your staff find their productive flow in both spaces by providing them with sustainable, ‘nomad’ set ups: a backpack made from recycled polyester, a bamboo laptop stand, and an insulated to-go mug to stunt their use of single-use plastic. 

(Work-place) habits are key.

Having an eco-friendly office space, with the necessary sustainable facilities does not have to cost a fortune –and can most definitely start with by creating some key habits.    

Our suggestion? Take a hard statement –and stick to it. You can begin small, for example: 
From now on, no single use plastic bottles are allowed.   

 Of course, you should also offer an alternative: gift your employees with personalized, branded, reusable water bottles. Take the Ocean Bottle, for example –a beautiful, eco-conscious bottle, guaranteed to last a decade alongside your staff! 
Don’t forget to set up a water re-filling station, so they know where to refill their brand-new bottles.  
Likewise, you can encourage changes in other habits: Offer re-usable lunch boxes to discourage single-use plastic wrappers (and say goodbye to soggy lunch sandwiches. Forever).  

Beware of green-washing.

Becoming an ecologically responsible company might be risky if you pretend to be greener than you are. This is often referred to as ‘greenwashing’.  

If you really want to begin your journey towards sustainability, think about concrete actions –not about the image you want to show to the outside world. Start with a few small actions (If you don’t know where to begin, check out the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Goals, and get inspired).
  
Remember: There’s always something you can do to become greener, no matter how ‘small’ of a habit it may seem.  

For example, we collaborate and distribute products by eco-conscious companies, such as Ocean Bottle, Gift for Change, of Waste to Wear –to help us (and others) make their sustainable transition as seamless as possible.  

 If you’re ready to go green, it’s time to stop procrastinating. Kick And Rush offers the perfect, end-to-end sustainable solution to your branded merchandising needs –we’re ready to help you begin your sustainable journey.  

Ready to dive in?

Get in touch with us today.

Thibaut Fontaine

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

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Bertrand Liévois

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Top 3 tips to keep your staff happy.

Happy employees, happy business: If you want to go the extra mile to show your staff how much you care, keep reading for some quick pointers.

Listen, listen, listen.

You can never know what’s going on in your staff’s minds. Perhaps they have doubts, ideas, or opinions that may be useful to know.

This is why you should try to constantly connect with them and hear them out. Our tip? Create an employee satisfaction survey!  

So, what do I ask?   
– You can ask (mostly) anything, such as: 
– How they feel in the company? 
– How are their relations with other colleagues (or with you)? 
– How satisfied they are with their workload? 
– What do they think of their schedule? 

To make them feel more at ease, you can always make the quiz anonymous
   
Of course, connecting with your employees can also happen in a more organic way. Organize an apero night where you can share some locally brewed beers. Sound like a plan? We can make it happen.   

“Generous” is your second name.

Truly love your workers? Let them know. And in this case, actions speak louder than words: A chocolate box for Christmas or a lovely, embossed notebook is always a welcomed gift, no matter who you are.  
 
Also, it’s always a great idea to welcome a new employee with a customized box of goodies. Why? To warmly welcome them to the team and (of course) to give a first good impression. For example, you can design a box including goodies they might need for work, including things such as a water bottle, a notebook, or some snacks.  

Finally, don’t forget, a personal card goes a long way! 

Activities are key.

Organize activities! Either on your own or designate a ‘social committee’ to plan out special team activities. Whether it’s a hearty breakfast on a Monday morning, or a happy hour on a Friday afternoon to celebrate the end of the week, designated bonding time allows for the perfect opportunities to connect with your team.   

Teambuilding events can also be spontaneous. Suggest a weekly team lunch, or a 6 A.M. yoga lesson. Whatever your idea, we can provide some sleek gear to help show your appreciation to your valued hires.  

Did we give you some ideas? Looking for branded merchandise to gift to your employees?

At K&R, we customize your products on demand –so you can show your workers just how important they are to you.  

Ready to dive in?

Get in touch with us today.

Thibaut Fontaine

EN

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Corinne Van Den Bemden

NL

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Bertrand Liévois

FR

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