American Eagle Names CEO

http://www.aepaper.com/news/american-eagle-paper-mills-announces-new-president-and-ceo-michael-grimm

American Eagle Paper Mills and Team Ten, LLC today announced the appointment of Michael Grimm as American Eagle’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors beginning on February 25, 2013. Mr. Grimm brings more than 23 years of relevant manufacturing experience to his new role. 
Mike will be taking over the President/CEO position previously held by our original and first President, John Ferner, who provided tireless and dedicated leadership since the beginning of American Eagle Paper Mills in 2003 until his retirement in December 2012. The complete Board of Directors along with all of our employees are very appreciative and thankful for everything John has done to help American Eagle get to where they are today.

Sappi Reports Q1 Results

Sappi Results for 1st Quarter in line with Epectations:  
Profit for the period US$17 million (Q1 2012 US$45 million)
EPS 3 US cents (Q1 2012 9 US cents)
Operating profit excluding special items US$73 million (Q1 2012 US$100 million)
Net finance costs of US$42 million (Q1 2012 US$54 million)
Net debt US$2,095 million (Q1 2012 US$2,175 million)

NewPage Names Controller, Chief Accounting Officer

NewPage Names Patrick Buchenroth Controller and Chief Accounting Officer:
NewPage Holdings Inc. today announced that on February 1, 2013, Patrick Buchenroth, age 45, accepted the position of controller and chief accounting officer for NewPage Holdings Inc. and NewPage Corporation, effective February 25, 2013.

Rainforest Responds to APP Conservation Move

Rainforest Action Network Responds to Asia Pulp and Paper’s New Forest Commitments Read more: Rainforest Action Network: (USA) Controversial Singapore-based paper giant, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), today announced a new "Forest Conservation Policy” to undertake environmental and social reforms to its business practices. "Though we welcome APP's new rainforest commitments as a milestone, the hidden story here is the controversial paper giant’s long history of broken promises, land conflicts and human rights violations across its operations,” said Lafcadio Cortesi, Asia Director for Rainforest Action Network. “APP will not be seen as a responsible company in the marketplace until its new commitments are implemented and resolve the devastating rainforest and human rights crises it has caused in Indonesia."

China Launches Dumping Investigation

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) today released an announcement confirming a decision to launch an anti-dumping investigation against pulp imports from US, Canada and Brazil.

The investigation cover pulp, dissolving pulp, dissolving wood pulp, cotton linter pulp and bamboo pulp. The products are listed as 47020000, 47061000 and 47063000 under Import and Export Tariffs of the People's Republic of China. The official release informs the market that MOFCOM will, "in line with the regulations of the People's Republic of China on anti-dumping, start investigation on dumping and dumping margin of the said products, as well as the injury and its extent to pulp industry in China, and then make decision according to law."

Neenah Announces Price Increase

http://www.neenahpaper.com/

Neenah Paper announced about a 2% price increase on its select Brights, Writing, Text and Cover brands effective with shipments Mar. 4, contacts said Monday.

UPM Begins Job Cuts

http://www.upm.com/en/Pages/default.aspx

UPM is starting discussions with employee representatives regarding proposed job cuts in Finland and Germany, related to the company's announcement that it would close 420,000 tonnes/yr of supercalendered (SC) paper capacity this year.

RISI Names European CEO of Year

RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry, has named Mr. Peter J Oswald, Chief Executive Officer of Mondi Europe & International, as the 2013 European CEO of the Year.

Postal Service Announces New Delivery Schedule

Postal Service Announces New Delivery Schedule:
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced plans today to transition to a new delivery schedule during the week of Aug. 5, 2013 that includes package delivery Monday through Saturday, and mail delivery Monday through Friday. The Postal Service expects to generate cost savings of approximately $2 billion annually, once the plan is fully implemented.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/us/postal-service-plans-to-end-saturday-delivery.html?hp&_r=0

The Postal Service is expected to announce on Wednesday morning that it will stop delivering letters and other mail on Saturdays, but continue to handle packages, a move the financially struggling agency said would save about $2 billion annually as it looks for ways to cut cost.
The agency has long sought Congressional approval to end mail delivery on Saturdays. But Congress, which continues to work on legislation to reform the agency, has resisted. It is unclear how the agency will be able to end the six-day delivery of mail without Congressional approval. 
http://www.afandpa.org/ 
AF&PA calls ‘short-sighted solution’ US Postal Service eliminating six-day mail delivery.

http://www.dmnews.com/one-less-day-to-mail-one-less-day-to-market/article/279396/

One Less Day to Mail; One Less Day to Market

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/end-saturday-delivery-puts-magazines-newpapers-bind-147083

Weekly newsmagazines, already challenged to stay relevant when news is available around the clock, now have to figure out how to make sure they get in readers’ hands on a timely basis when the Postal Service makes good on its plan to eliminate Saturday delivery.

Consolidated Graphics Reports Q3 Results

Consolidated Graphics Reports Financial Results For Q3:
Consolidated Graphics (NYSE: CGX) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended December 31, 2012. Revenue for the December 2012 quarter increased 4.0 percent to $295.3 million, compared to the prior year. Adjusted Operating Income increased 17.3 percent for the quarter to $24.3 million or 8.2 percent of revenue, compared to $20.7 million or 7.3 percent of revenue last year. Adjusted Net Income increased 32.4 percent to $16.9 million for the quarter, compared to $12.7 million for the prior year. Adjusted Diluted Earnings per share increased 43.4 percent to $1.75, compared to $1.22 last year. Adjusted EBITDA increased 9.2 percent to $42.7 million for the quarter and Free Cash Flow was $16.8 million for the quarter.

2013: A Strategic Outlook

2013: A Strategic Outlook: In media, the train never stops. Having big ideas or new plans of action for the year ahead enables publishing professionals with the ability to set and meet goals important to the overall growth of a brand and business. Here, Folio: checks in with sales executives, audience developers, designers and more—asking them to detail their top strategies for the next 12 months.

B2B Marketers Feeling Optimistic

B2B Marketers Feeling Optimistic; Half to Up Budgets In 2013: According to BtoB's 2013 Outlook: Marketing Priorities and Plans special report, nearly half of B2B marketers plan to increase their marketing budgets this year, up from 40% last year.

Newspapers: Sustainable Business Model?

Newspapers: Sustainable Business Model or Yesterday’s News?:
When was the last time you bought a newspaper? When did you last read one?
It’s mind boggling how effortlessly our connected world is able to link together information through an array of sources. The information comes in many forms…some is factual, some anecdotal, others consist of opinions via blogs and social media, and of course, there are those that blend both facts and opinions. Key to this is access to content.

Personalization is Intrusion, Unless...

http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2013/02/personalization-is-creepy-but-who-cares/ 
A study by JWT reinforces what we are hearing on a regular basis now . . . people think the fact that marketers can get a 360-degree view of their behavior and use that information to target them is creepy.  But hey, if it benefits them, who cares?
Highlights:
It feels like Big Brother is watching me  (65%)
The idea of being tracked and analyzed makes me nervous (64%)
It makes me feel violated (51%)
I think this will help simplify my life (48%)
But:
It’s okay with me as long as I save money  (64%)
It’s okay with me as long as I get relevant offers  (62%)
It’s okay with me as long as it makes shopping easier (56%)

Time, Inc. Revenues Fall in Q4

http://www.foliomag.com/2013/time-inc-revenues-dipped-6-5-percent-2012#.URKooejZGKw

Time Warner released its 4Q and full-year 2012 financials today and the numbers give a peek at the what motivated Time Inc. CEO Laura Lang to cut 6 percent of the publishing division's global work force. Topline for Time Inc. was down 6.5 percent for the year to $3.4 billion and operating income tumbled 25 percent to $420 million.

Time's All You Testing New Venues

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/time-incs-all-you-test-sales-outside-walmart-147075

When Time Inc. launched All You eight years ago, it took an unusual step in choosing Walmart as its sole retail outlet. For a new magazine to limit its distribution might seem counterintuitive, but Walmart offered scale (the retail giant represents 15 percent of magazines' single copy sales) and the ability to limit All You's marketing costs. And, the magazine was aimed at value-driven women—essentially, the Walmart shopper.  

Now, at a time when even the affluent looking for bargains at Groupon, Gilt Groupe and the like, All You is planning to test sales outside the retail giant for the first time. The test is expected to take place on a regional basis, as early as June.

Condé Nast Names Executives

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/cond-nast-corporate-makes-two-new-hires-147084

Condé Nast has been on a bit of a hiring spree, announcing two additions to its executive ranks this week.

Today, the company said that it had named Patty Newburger to the newly created role of vp, special projects. 
On Tuesday, Condé announced that it had found a new svp of corporate communications, Patricia Röckenwagner. Previously, she was svp of marketing and communications for The McGraw-Hill Companies. (The company’s current svp of corporate media relations, Patricia Steele, will report to Röckenwagner and continue to oversee press-related matters, Condé said.)

Marketing Budgets Up, Multichannel ROI a Challenge

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/192763/marketing-budgets-rise-determining-multichannel-r.html#axzz2K9PdBdCu

Some 54% of companies participating in the Marketing Budgets Report expect to increase overall marketing investment this year, up from 45% in 2012. But determining ROI from combined online and offline channels remains complicated. 
While 71% report increases for their digital budgets this year, up from 68%, about 20% plan to increase traditional offline budgets -- up from 16% last year, according to the fourth annual report from Econsultancy, sponsored by Responsys. The analysis of 2013 budgets across a range of marketing disciplines and channels compares online with offline budgets of more than 800 companies and agencies.

Amazon Starts Collecting Sales Tax in CT

http://articles.courant.com/2013-02-04/business/hc-amazon-tax-agreement-20130204_1_sales-tax-amazon-tax-issue

Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, will begin collecting sales tax in the state this November as part of an agreement that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says will mean hundreds of new jobs and a $50 million Connecticut distribution center.
It also means that residents will pay a 6.35 percent tax on every book, DVD, electronic device or tube of toothpaste bought and shipped to their doorstep from Amazon. And the tax will be paid when consumers click "Place Your Order" instead of at tax time, when state tax forms ask residents to declare online purchases. Many people have not declared those purchases and have not paid the tax, state officials say.

Bookish Launches with Support of Major Publishers

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bookish-launches-with-high-profile-exclusive-content-michael-connelly-on-the-book-he-needed-to-stop-writing-the-onion-editors-review-fifty-shades-of-grey-and-the-art-of-war-eat-pray-love-author-elizabeth-gilbert-takes--189805511.html

With the backing of Hachette Book Group, Penguin and Simon & Schuster, as well as the participation of 16 other major publishers, including Random House, Inc., Scholastic, HarperCollins Publishers, and Perseus Books Group, Bookish will provide readers with a wealth of original and exclusive content about books and writers, while also allowing users to conveniently browse, discover and purchase new reads without leaving the site.

USPS Most Trusted Government Agency

USPS Climbs Two Points in Most Trusted Company Survey; Remains Most Trusted Government Agency: The Postal Service ranks as the fourth most trusted company — a two-point increase from 2011 and its highest company ranking since the survey’s inception by the premier privacy trust study in America. The same survey also named The Postal Service the ‘Most Trusted Government Agency for the 7th year in a row”.