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Wiki	Wiki Summary
Uncertainty	Uncertainty refers to epistemic situations involving imperfect or unknown information. It applies to predictions of future events, to physical measurements that are already made, or to the unknown.
Propagation of uncertainty	In statistics, propagation of uncertainty (or propagation of error) is the effect of variables' uncertainties (or errors, more specifically random errors) on the uncertainty of a function based on them. When the variables are the values of experimental measurements they have uncertainties due to measurement limitations (e.g., instrument precision) which propagate due to the combination of variables in the function.
Measurement uncertainty	In metrology, measurement uncertainty is the expression of the statistical dispersion of the values attributed to a measured quantity. All measurements are subject to uncertainty and a measurement result is complete only when it is accompanied by a statement of the associated uncertainty, such as the standard deviation.
Fear, uncertainty, and doubt	Fear, uncertainty, and doubt (often shortened to FUD) is a propaganda tactic used in sales, marketing, public relations, politics, polling and cults. FUD is generally a strategy to influence perception by disseminating negative and dubious or false information and a manifestation of the appeal to fear.
Uncertainty principle	In quantum mechanics, the uncertainty principle (also known as Heisenberg's uncertainty principle) is any of a variety of mathematical inequalities asserting a fundamental limit to the accuracy with which the values for certain pairs of physical quantities of a particle, such as position, x, and momentum, p, can be predicted from initial conditions.\nSuch variable pairs are known as complementary variables or canonically conjugate variables; and, depending on interpretation, the uncertainty principle limits to what extent such conjugate properties maintain their approximate meaning, as the mathematical framework of quantum physics does not support the notion of simultaneously well-defined conjugate properties expressed by a single value.
Uncertainty quantification	Uncertainty quantification (UQ) is the science of quantitative characterization and reduction of uncertainties in both computational and real world applications. It tries to determine how likely certain outcomes are if some aspects of the system are not exactly known.
Cone of Uncertainty	In project management, the Cone of Uncertainty describes the evolution of the amount of best case uncertainty during a project. At the beginning of a project, comparatively little is known about the product or work results, and so estimates are subject to large uncertainty.
Uncertainty avoidance	In cross-cultural psychology, uncertainty avoidance is how cultures differ on the amount of tolerance they have of unpredictability. Uncertainty avoidance is one of five key qualities or dimensions measured by the researchers who developed the Hofstede model of cultural dimensions to quantify cultural differences across international lines and better understand why some ideas and business practices work better in some countries than in others.
Uncertainty parameter	The uncertainty parameter U is a parameter introduced by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) to quantify concisely the uncertainty of a perturbed orbital solution for a minor planet. The parameter is a logarithmic scale from 0 to 9 that measures the anticipated longitudinal uncertainty in the minor planet's mean anomaly after 10 years.
Arithmetic	Arithmetic (from Ancient Greek ἀριθμός (arithmós) 'number', and τική [τέχνη] (tikḗ [tékhnē]) 'art, craft') is an elementary part of mathematics that consists of the study of the properties of the traditional operations on numbers—addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, exponentiation, and extraction of roots. In the 19th century, Italian mathematician Giuseppe Peano formalized arithmetic with his Peano axioms, which are highly important to the field of mathematical logic today.
Operation Mincemeat	Operation Mincemeat was a successful British deception operation of the Second World War to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. Two members of British intelligence obtained the body of Glyndwr Michael, a tramp who died from eating rat poison, dressed him as an officer of the Royal Marines and placed personal items on him identifying him as the fictitious Captain (Acting Major) William Martin.
Bitwise operation	In computer programming, a bitwise operation operates on a bit string, a bit array or a binary numeral (considered as a bit string) at the level of its individual bits. It is a fast and simple action, basic to the higher-level arithmetic operations and directly supported by the processor.
Special Activities Center	The Special Activities Center (SAC) is a division of the Central Intelligence Agency responsible for covert operations and paramilitary operations. The unit was named Special Activities Division (SAD) prior to 2015.
Operations management	Operations management is an area of management concerned with designing and controlling the process of production and redesigning business operations in the production of goods or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient in terms of using as few resources as needed and effective in meeting customer requirements.
Balance sheet	In financial accounting, a balance sheet (also known as statement of financial position or statement of financial condition) is a summary of the financial balances of an individual or organization, whether it be a sole proprietorship, a business partnership, a corporation, private limited company or other organization such as government or not-for-profit entity. Assets, liabilities and ownership equity are listed as of a specific date, such as the end of its financial year.
Financial ratio	A financial ratio or accounting ratio is a relative magnitude of two selected numerical values taken from an enterprise's financial statements. Often used in accounting, there are many standard ratios used to try to evaluate the overall financial condition of a corporation or other organization.
Competition	Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, individuals, economic and social groups, etc.
E-commerce	Commerce is the exchange of goods and services, especially on a large scale.\n\n\n== Etymology ==\nThe English-language word commerce has been derived from the Latin word commercium, from com ("together") and merx ("merchandise").
Drop shipping	Drop shipping is a form of retail business wherein the seller accepts customer orders without keeping stock on hand. Instead, in a form of supply chain management, the seller transfers the orders and their shipment details to either the manufacturer, a wholesaler, another retailer, or a fulfillment house, which then ships the goods directly to the customer.
Customer relationship management	Customer relationship management (CRM) is a process in which a business or other organization administers its interactions with customers, typically using data analysis to study large amounts of information.CRM systems compile data from a range of different communication channels, including a company's website, telephone, email, live chat, marketing materials and more recently, social media. They allow businesses to learn more about their target audiences and how to best cater for their needs, thus retaining customers and driving sales growth.
Service Merchandise	Service Merchandise was a retail chain of catalog showrooms carrying jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics. The company, which first began in 1934 as a five-and-dime store, was in existence for 68 years before ceasing operations in 2002.
Merchandise Mart	The Merchandise Mart (or the Merch Mart, or the Mart) is a commercial building located in downtown Chicago, Illinois. When it was opened in 1930, it was the largest building in the world, with 4 million square feet (372,000 m2) of floor space.
General store	A general merchant store (also known as general merchandise store, general dealer or village shop) is a rural or small-town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general goods.
Customer	In sales, commerce, and economics, a customer (sometimes known as a client, buyer, or purchaser) is the recipient of a good, service, product or an idea - obtained from a seller, vendor, or supplier via a financial transaction or exchange for money or some other valuable consideration.\n\n\n== Etymology and terminology ==\nEarly societies relied on a gift economy based on favours.
Merchandiser	A merchandiser is an arcade gaming device, which features a machine that contains a display of merchandise, which can be won by playing the game.\nIn the trade, such games are described as "skill with prize" (SWP) games, and are a hybrid of games of skill and games of chance, with the preponderance of skill or chance differing between devices and often able to be set by the operator.
Return merchandise authorization	A return merchandise authorization (RMA), return authorization (RA) or return goods authorization (RGA) is a part of the process of returning a product to receive a refund, replacement, or repair during the product's warranty period. Both parties can decide how to deal with it, which could be refund, replacement or repair.
Marketing	Marketing is the process of exploring, creating, and delivering value to meet the needs of a target market in terms of goods and services; potentially including selection of a target audience; selection of certain attributes or themes to emphasize in advertising; operation of advertising campaigns; attendance at trade shows and public events; design of products and packaging attractive to buyers; defining the terms of sale, such as price, discounts, warranty, and return policy; product placement in media or with people believed to influence the buying habits of others; agreements with retailers, wholesale distributors, or resellers; and attempts to create awareness of, loyalty to, and positive feelings about a brand. Marketing is typically done by the seller, typically a retailer or manufacturer.
Preferred stock	Preferred stock (also called preferred shares, preference shares, or simply preferreds) is a component of share capital that may have any combination of features not possessed by common stock, including properties of both an equity and a debt instrument, and is generally considered a hybrid instrument. Preferred stocks are senior (i.e., higher ranking) to common stock but subordinate to bonds in terms of claim (or rights to their share of the assets of the company, given that such assets are payable to the returnee stock bond) and may have priority over common stock (ordinary shares) in the payment of dividends and upon liquidation.
Stock market	A stock market, equity market, or share market is the aggregation of buyers and sellers of stocks (also called shares), which represent ownership claims on businesses; these may include securities listed on a public stock exchange, as well as stock that is only traded privately, such as shares of private companies which are sold to investors through equity crowdfunding platforms. Investment is usually made with an investment strategy in mind.
Formula One regulations	The numerous Formula One regulations, made and enforced by the FIA and later the FISA, have changed dramatically since the first Formula One World Championship in 1950. This article covers the current state of F1 technical and sporting regulations, as well as the history of the technical regulations since 1950.
Regulation of therapeutic goods	The regulation of therapeutic goods, defined as drugs and therapeutic devices, varies by jurisdiction. In some countries, such as the United States, they are regulated at the national level by a single agency.
Regulation (European Union)	A regulation is a legal act of the European Union that becomes immediately enforceable as law in all member states simultaneously. Regulations can be distinguished from directives which, at least in principle, need to be transposed into national law.
Vehicle emission standard	Emission standards are the legal requirements governing air pollutants released into the atmosphere. Emission standards set quantitative limits on the permissible amount of specific air pollutants that may be released from specific sources over specific timeframes.

Risk Factors
GAIAM INC Item 1A Risk Factors We wish to caution you that there are risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to be materially different from those indicated by forward looking statements that we make from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, news releases, reports, proxy statements, registration statements and other written communications as well as oral forward looking statements made from time to time by our representatives
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those risks described below
Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or those we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations, and historical results are not necessarily an indication of the future results
The cautionary statements below discuss important factors that could cause our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows to be materially adversely affected
Changes in general economic conditions could have a material impact on our business Our results of operations could be impacted by changes in overall economic conditions that impact consumer spending
Future economic conditions affecting disposable income such as employment levels, consumer confidence, business conditions, stock market volatility, weather conditions, acts of terrorism, threats of war, and interest and tax rates could reduce consumer spending or cause consumers to shift their spending away from our products
If the economic conditions and performance of the retail and media environment worsen, we may experience material adverse impacts on our business, operating results and financial condition
Increased competition could impact our financial results We believe that the LOHAS market has thousands of small, local and regional businesses
Some smaller businesses may be able to more effectively personalize their relationships with customers, thereby gaining a competitive advantage
Although we believe that we do not compete directly with any single company that offers our entire range of merchandise, within each merchandise category we have competitors and we may face competition from new entrants
Some of our competitors or our potential competitors may have greater financial and marketing resources and greater brand recognition
In addition, larger, well-established and well-financed entities may acquire, invest in or form joint ventures with our competitors
Increased competition from these or other competitors could negatively impact our business
Changing consumer preferences may have an adverse effect on our business Our business is targeted at consumers who assign high value to personal development, healthy lifestyles, responsible media, renewable energy and the environment
A decrease of consumer interest in purchasing goods and services that promote the values we espouse would materially and adversely affect our customer base and sales revenues and, accordingly, our financial prospects
Further, consumer preferences and product trends are difficult to predict
Our future success depends in part on our ability to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and we may not respond in a timely or commercially appropriate manner to such changes
Failure to anticipate and respond to changing consumer preferences and product trends could lead to, among other things, lower sales of our products, increased merchandise returns and lower margins, which would have a material adverse effect on our business
Our strategy of offering branded products could lead to inventory risk and higher costs An important part of our strategy is to feature branded products
These products are sold under our brand names and are manufactured to our specifications
We expect our reliance on branded merchandise to increase
The 10 ______________________________________________________________________ use of branded merchandise requires us to incur costs and risks relating to the design and purchase of products, including submitting orders earlier and making longer initial purchase commitments
In addition, the use of branded merchandise limits our ability to return unsold products to vendors, which can result in higher markdowns in order to sell excess inventory
Our commitment to customer service typically results in us keeping a high level of merchandise in stock so we can fill orders quickly
Consequently, we run the risk of having excess inventory, which may also contribute to higher markdowns
Our failure to successfully execute a branded merchandise strategy or to achieve anticipated profit margins on these goods, or a higher than anticipated level of overstocks, may materially adversely affect our revenues
We offer our customers liberal merchandise return policies
Our consolidated financial statements include a reserve for anticipated merchandise returns, which is based on historical return rates
It is possible that actual returns may increase as a result of factors such as the introduction of new merchandise, changes in merchandise mix or other factors
Any increase in our merchandise returns will correspondingly reduce our revenues
Acquisitions may harm our financial results Acquisitions have been part of our growth and may continue to be part of our growth in the future
Our acquisitions may be of entire companies, certain assets of companies, controlling interests in companies or of minority interests in companies where we intend to invest as part of a strategic alliance
If we are not successful in integrating companies that we acquire or are not able to generate adequate sales from the acquired entities, our business could be materially and adversely affected
The loss of the services of our key personnel could disrupt our business We depend on the continued services and performance of our senior management and other key personnel, particularly Jirka Rysavy and Lynn Powers
Our strategy of allowing the management teams of some acquired companies to continue to exercise significant management responsibility for those companies makes it important that we retain key employees, particularly the sales and creative teams, of the companies we might acquire
Our founder and chief executive officer Jirka Rysavy controls Gaiam Mr
Rysavy holds 100prca of Gaiam’s 5cmam400cmam000 outstanding shares of class B common stock and also owns 1cmam664cmam000 shares of class A common stock
The shares of class B common stock are convertible into shares of class A common stock at any time
Each share of class B common stock has ten votes per share, and each share of class A common stock has one vote per share
Consequently, Mr
Rysavy is able to vote a majority of our stock, and will be able to exert substantial influence over Gaiam and to control matters requiring approval by the shareholders of Gaiam, including the election of directors, increasing our authorized capital stock, or a merger or sale of our assets
Rysavy’s control, no change of control of Gaiam can occur without Mr
Rysavy entered into certain agreements with Revolution Living, LLC and its founder, Steve Case that could have a negative impact on Gaiam
Our success depends on the value of the Gaiam brand Because of our reliance on sales of proprietary products, our success depends on the Gaiam brand
Building and maintaining recognition of the Gaiam brand are important to attracting and expanding our customer base
If the value of the Gaiam brand were adversely affected, we cannot be certain that we will be able to attract new customers, retain existing customers or encourage repeat purchases, and if the value of our brand were to diminish, our revenues, results of operations and prospects would be adversely affected
Disputes concerning media content and intellectual property may adversely affect us Most of our media content is subject to arrangements with third parties pursuant to which we have licensed certain rights to use and distribute media content owned by third parties or have licensed to third parties certain rights to use and distribute media content that we own
In addition, we have a number of agreements with third parties concerning the use of our media content and intellectual property, including agreements regarding royalties, distribution, duplication, etc Allegations that we do not have rights to use media content and other disputes arising from such arrangements can be costly and may have a material adverse impact on our results
11 ______________________________________________________________________ We are dependent on third party suppliers for the success of our proprietary products We are dependent on the success of our proprietary products, and we rely on a select group of manufacturers to provide us with sufficient quantities to meet our customers’ demands in a timely manner, produce these products in a humane and safe environment for both their workers and the planet, maintain quality standards consistent with the Gaiam brand, and meet certain pricing guarantees
Our sourcing of these products overseas continues to increase, and these arrangements carry risks associated with relying on products manufactured outside of the US, including political unrest and trade restrictions, currency fluctuations, transportation difficulties, work stoppages, and other uncertainties
In addition, a number of our suppliers are small companies, and some of these vendors may not have sufficient capital, resources or personnel to increase their sales to us or to meet our needs for increased commitments from them
The failure of our suppliers to provide sufficient quantities of our proprietary products could decrease our revenues, increase our costs, and damage our customer service reputation
We rely on communications and shipping networks to deliver our products Given our emphasis on customer service, the efficient and uninterrupted operation of order-processing and fulfillment functions is critical to our business
To maintain a high level of customer service, we rely heavily on a number of different outside service providers, such as printers, telecommunications companies and delivery companies
Any interruption in services from our principal outside service providers, including delays or disruptions resulting from labor disputes, power outages, human error, adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, could materially adversely affect our business
In addition, products that we source overseas must be shipped to our distribution center by freight carriers, and a work stoppage or political unrest could adversely affect our ability to fulfill our customer orders
Information systems upgrades or integrations may disrupt our operations or financial reporting We continually evaluate and upgrade our management information systems, which are critical to our business
These systems assist in processing orders, managing inventory, purchasing and shipping merchandise on a timely basis, responding to customer service inquiries, and gathering and analyzing operating data by business segment, customer, and SKU (a specific identifier for each different product)
We are required to continually update these systems
Furthermore, if we acquire other companies, we will need to integrate the acquired companies’ systems with ours, a process that could be time-consuming and costly
If our systems cannot accommodate our growth or if they fail, we could incur substantial expenses
Additionally, our success in E-commerce will depend upon our ability to provide a compelling and satisfying shopping experience
To remain competitive, we must continue to enhance and improve the responsiveness, functionality and features of our online technology
A material security breach could cause us to lose sales, damage our reputation or result in liability to us Our computer servers may be vulnerable to computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions
We may need to expend significant additional capital and other resources to protect against a security breach or to alleviate problems caused by any breaches
Our relationships with our customers may be adversely affected if the security measures that we use to protect personal information such as credit card numbers are ineffective
We currently rely on security and authentication technology that we license from third parties
We may not prevent all security breaches
Our systems may fail or limit user traffic, which would cause us to lose sales We support most of our business through our call center in Broomfield, Colorado
Even though we have back up arrangements, we are dependent on our ability to maintain our computer and telecommunications equipment in this center in effective working order and to protect against damage from fire, natural disaster, power loss, telecommunications failure or similar events
In addition, growth of our customer base may strain or exceed the capacity of our computer and telecommunications systems and lead to degradations in performance or systems failure
We have experienced capacity constraints and failure of information systems in the past that have resulted in decreased levels of service delivery or interruptions in service to customers for limited periods of time
Although we continually review and consider upgrades to our technical infrastructure and provide for system redundancies and backup power to limit the likelihood of systems overload or failure, substantial damage to our systems or a systems 12 ______________________________________________________________________ failure that causes interruptions for a number of days could adversely affect our business
Additionally, if we are unsuccessful in updating and expanding our infrastructure, including our call center, our ability to grow may be constrained
Government regulation of the Internet and E-commerce is evolving and unfavorable changes could harm our business We are subject to general business regulations and laws, as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and E-commerce
Such existing and future laws and regulations may impede the growth of the Internet or other online services
These regulations and laws may cover taxation, user privacy, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution, consumer protection, the provision of online payment services and quality of products and services
There is lack of clarity on how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes and personal privacy apply to the Internet and E-commerce
Unfavorable resolution of these issues may harm our business
We may face legal liability for the content contained on our website We could face legal liability for defamation, negligence, copyright, patent or trademark infringement, personal injury or other claims based on the nature and content of materials that we publish or distribute on our website
If we are held liable for damages for the content on our website, our business may suffer
com to be a trustworthy and dependable provider of information and services
Allegations of impropriety, even if unfounded, could therefore have a material adverse effect on our reputation and our business
Relying on our centralized fulfillment center could expose us to losing revenue Prompt and efficient fulfillment of our customers’ orders is critical to our business
Our facility in Cincinnati, Ohio handles our fulfillment functions and some customer-service related operations, such as returns processing
A majority of our orders are filled and shipped from the Cincinnati facility
The balance is shipped directly from suppliers
Because we rely on a centralized fulfillment center, our fulfillment functions could be severely impaired in the event of fire, extended adverse weather conditions, transportation difficulties or natural disasters
Because we recognize revenue only when we ship orders, interruption of our shipping would diminish our revenues
We may face quarterly and seasonal fluctuations that could harm our business Our revenue and results of operations have fluctuated and will continue to fluctuate on a quarterly basis as a result of a number of factors, including the timing of catalog offerings, timing of orders from retailers, recognition of costs or net sales contributed by new merchandise, fluctuations in response rates, fluctuations in paper, production and postage costs and expenses, merchandise returns, adverse weather conditions that affect distribution or shipping, shifts in the timing of holidays and changes in our merchandise mix
In particular, our net sales and profits have historically been higher during the fourth quarter holiday season
We believe that this seasonality will continue in the future
Postage and shipping costs may increase and therefore increase our expenses We ship our products, catalogs, and lifestyle publications to consumers and the cost of shipping is a material expenditure
Postage and shipping prices increase periodically and can be expected to increase in the future
Any inability to secure suitable or commercially favorable prices or other terms for the delivery of our merchandise and catalogs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations
Our business is subject to reporting requirements that continue to evolve and change, which could continue to require significant compliance effort and resources
Because our common stock is publicly traded, we are subject to certain rules and regulations of federal, state and financial market exchange entities charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded
These entities, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the SEC and the NASDAQ, periodically issue new requirements and regulations and legislative bodies also review and revise applicable laws such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
As interpretation and implementation of these 13 ______________________________________________________________________ laws and rules and promulgation of new regulations continues, we will continue to be required to commit significant financial and managerial resources and incur additional expenses