Tuesday, August 20, 2013

G-P to Close Crossett Mill

http://www.gp.com/newsroom/index.asp
Georgia-Pacific announced today that it will permanently close its Crossett paper mill by mid Q4 of this year. The facility has capacity to produce approximately 93,000 short tons of uncoated freesheet. After the elimination is complete, G-P will no longer manufacture 15# tablet, 32# Laser MOCR, 45#, 55#, 70# and 80# Offset Smooth, Vellum Offset (all basis weights) and 7 pt Reply Card.

Verso Announces NYSE Notice

https://www.versopaper.com/uploadedFiles/Home/News/Verso%27s%20Press%20Release%20%28Final%29.pdf
Verso Paper Corp. announced today that the New York Stock Exchange has notified Verso that it has fallen below the NYSE's continued listing standard requiring that the average closing price of Verso's common stock be at least $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. As of August 14, 2013, the date of the NYSE notice, the average closing price of Verso's common stock over the past 30 trading days was $0.97 per share.
To maintain its NYSE listing, Verso has until February 14, 2014, which is six months from the date of the NYSE notice, to bring the closing share price and the average closing share price of its common stock back above $1.00. Verso has notified the NYSE that it intends to cure the share price deficiency. During the cure period, Verso's common stock will continue to be traded on the NYSE, subject to Verso's compliance with other NYSE continued listing requirements.
Separately, and as previously disclosed, Verso has appealed the NYSE staff's determination to delist Verso's common stock due to Verso's failure to satisfy the NYSE's continued listing standard requiring that Verso have an average market capitalization of at least $75 million over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. The review committee of the NYSE's board of directors currently is scheduled to hear Verso's appeal on September 10, 2013.

Resolute/Greenpeace Lawsuit in Court

A Superior Court judge in Thunder Bay is reserving his ruling in the first battle of what is expected to be a long courtroom war between Resolute Forest Products and Greenpeace Canada. 
The forestry giant is suing the environmental group for $5 million for "defamation, malicious falsehood and intentional interference with economic relations."The claim relates to a Greenpeace campaign, beginning in 2012, that was critical of Resolute's forest practices. Greenpeace asked the court on Thursday to strike down Resolute's claim of intentional interference. 
Lawyer Jordan Goldblatt argued that Resolute had not shown the court that the company suffered financial losses related to the environmental group's interactions with its customers.But the lawyer for Resolute said the company is unable to make those connections until it has full disclosure from Greenpeace about its tactics.

Kruger/CEP Sign New Labor Pact

http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/Local/2013-08-17/article-3354148/Woodland-workers-ratify-new-labour-contract-with-Corner-Brook-Pulp-and-Paper/1
The union representing loggers and silviculture workers employed by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper have reached and ratified a new collective agreement, though by only a slim majority.
The negotiating team representing Local 60N of the Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union reached a tentative deal with the paper company July 26. In a subsequent series of ratification meetings held in Gander, Deer Lake and Corner Brook, the roughly 300 members of Local 60N accepted the deal with 56 per cent of the votes cast in agreement.
The three-year deal replaces the former labour contract that had expired at the end of 2008.

National Geographic Society Names President/CEO

http://www.minonline.com/news/22931.html
On Aug. 19, the National Geographic Society board of directors announced the hire of National Public Radio CEO (since Dec. 2011) Gary Knell as president/CEO. When he starts at NGS in November, Knell will be assuming the CEO duties of John Fahey, who continues in his 16th year as chairman.
The NGS presidency had been vacant since Tim Kelly left last December. 

Store Circulars Remain Essential

http://printinthemix.com/Fastfacts/Show/765
According to data analysis from CPG solutions and services provider Information Resources, Inc.’s (IRI) Q2 2013 MarketPulse survey, print sources remain an important part of the American consumer's grocery shopping planning and purchasing experience.
To compare prices prior to the trip to the store, two-thirds (65%) of survey respondents rely on retailers’ weekly grocery circulars to compare prices prior versus 26% who compare prices using retailer websites.
Coupons, retailers’ weekly grocery circulars received in the home, loyalty cards, and in-store circulars are the marketing tactics that most influence the grocery shopping purchasing decisions. 
“You really can’t advertise early enough or often enough,” says Susan Viamari, editor of Times & Trends, “The key to winning with consumers is to not only begin the conversation before they enter the store, but also to continue the discussion up to and even after the moment of purchase. So, use those traditional tools, such as signs and circulars, but enhance them with new approaches, such as highly targeted loyalty programs, sampling kiosks, etc."

JC Penney Regroups -- Again

http://adage.com/article/news/jc-penney-boosts-marketing-investment-promotions/243737/
prioritize promotions to try to end its losing streak.
The company said it increased marketing expenses in the second quarter in an effort to attract customers who fled stores in droves over the past year. JC Penny said it plans to boost investments in the second half, but did not provide specifics.
CEO Mike Ullman said that because 90% of most department stores' messaging is promotional, it's crucial for the retailer to compete head-to-head and ensure its message resonates with consumers on a "deep promotional level." He added that JC Penney is underdeveloped in social and digital channels.
"We are … working quickly and forcibly to strengthen our marketing and messaging to restore customer loyalty and excitement," Mr. Ullman said during a conference call with analysts. "This includes positioning JC Penney as a primary destination for Black Friday and Cyber Monday and [maintaining] the same momentum throughout the holidays."

Condé Nast/Amazon Streamline Subscription Process

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/207178/conde-nast-amazon-bow-all-access-magazine-subs.html#axzz2cRrHFK14
Consumers are interacting with digital magazine content across multiple channels -- including smartphones, tablets, and desktops, as well as print -- but they aren’t always able to access this content when and where they want to. To make cross-channel access more convenient, Condé Nast has partnered with Amazon.com to create a new “All Access” subscription model, which offers consumers multiple options to control their subs.In the “All Access” service, consumers can use their Amazon account for “one-click” purchase and renewal of print and digital magazine subs through a number of platforms -- including the Condé Nast Web site, as well as mobile, direct mail and other marketing channels.
They can also access magazine content on a number of devices, including Kindle Fire, iPad, Android tablets and phones.

Q&A: Women's Health Publisher Laura Frerer-Schmidt

http://www.foliomag.com/2013/q-womens-health-publisher-laura-frerer-schmidt#.UhPAm7yYyKw
Rodale's Women's Health was part of the club of magazines that enjoyed a September issue bump. PIB paging for the month is up 29 percent compared to September 2012, and overall the magazine is up 32 percent in ad pages so far this year. Yet the title has been busy expanding internationally as well, with 24 launches since 2007 when it debuted. And the company says Women's Health was up 58 percent in unique visitors in June versus the same period last year.
Here, we speak with publisher Laura Frerer-Schmidt, who's been on the job for two years, about the brand's ad growth, the importance of experiential events and how the "wellthy" demographic is gaining prominence in the brand's positioning strategy.
FOLIO: Take us back two years to when you started. What were the areas that you felt Women's Health needed particular attention?
Laura Frerer-Schmidt: When I first started it was an interesting mix because the brand was coming off a couple of down years from an advertising perspective but circulation was very strong [total circ is now 1.6 million]. So there was something special here, and I knew there was a huge trend going on that was driving that circulation and that's when I found out about the term 'wellthy.'
Wellness is becoming the new cool, it's becoming the new luxury. An automotive brand that's running with us this year that ran almost nothing with us last year is Ford, which has been a sponsor of our Run 10 Feed 10 event and they’re very focused on the wellness trend.
Lots of advertisers, whether they’re beauty or fashion or fitness or auto are recognizing this wellthy trend and they are coming towards brands like Women’s Health. And they’re doing that because the consumers are already there.