Big 4 now Big 1?

In case you haven't heard the ol' Big 4 are now what could be called the Big 1.  The business which had bought out McCall's has purchased Simplicity.

Thus, the pattern companies will be in competition with each other within the same company.  This is nothing new in business as General Mills, Procter and Gamble and others do the same thing.

So, how will things change?  We don't know, but my guess is that it will be "business as usual" with each pattern brand name keeping its own policies and fit as usual.  Perhaps if one of them falters in sales, it could be eliminated.

It's sad to see this happen as people may like a certain brand over the others, so let's hope that not too far down the road they don't merge into one brand.

As of last year it was KwikMcVogueRick, now it's going to be SimpKwikMcVogueRick.  Sigh.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171103005428/en/CSS-Industries-Acquires-Simplicity-Creative-Group

There, their....and they're

There, their, and they're are three different words, pronounced the same but spelled different.  They are homonyms.  So, where to use which?

Since I'm good with helping others with word associations I have been asked to please share.

There:  notice that the word here is in there.  So, it's not here, but there.

Their:  notice that the word heir is in their.  So, they (each being an heir)  inherited the house and it is now their house.

They're:  notice the apostrophe.  This means that a letter---or letters--has been omitted.  In this case the letter a.  In full it would be they are.

Other words with apostrophes are jack-o'-lantern, o'clock, O'Leary, ma'am, etc. which indicate that a letter--or letters--has been omitted.

Thus, there:  not here, but there.
         their: each an heir so their house.
         they're:  omitted letter, a in this case.  Also, if the other two don't fit, it must be this one.  :)

Then there is it's and its.

It's has an apostrophe, so an omitted letter, in this case i (it is) or ha (it has).  

It's raining = it is raining.  It's rained = it has rained.

Its is a rare possessive as it doesn't have an apostrophe like Jim's books, boys' bats, or deer's tail.

If a letter has been left out, (it's), then use this word. If showing possession, then use its.