Friday, January 4, 2013

December Retail Spending Up

Retailers lured reluctant shoppers with late-December specials after Hurricane Sandy, the presidential election and the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., tempered earlier holiday spending.
December same-store sales for the more than 20 companies tracked by Swampscott, Mass.-based Retail Metrics rose 4.8%, excluding drugstores, beating the estimate for a 3.4% gain, the firm said in a report today. That follows a 1.6% gain in November

84% of Americans Go Online Daily

84% of Americans Go Online Daily; Increase Thanks to Smartphones: In 2011, 78% of U.S. adults went online daily. In 2012, this number jumped to 84% -- thanks to the increasing adoption of smartphones.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Catalyst Paper Accepts Bid for Snowflake

Catalyst Paper accepts bid for Snowflake mill assets:
Catalyst Paper announced that it has accepted, subject to US Court approval, a binding bid from an acquisition vehicle organized by Hackman Capital and its affiliates to purchase the assets of the closed Snowflake facility and the shares of Apache Railway for US$13,460,000 and other non-monetary consideration. The buyer intends to continue to operate the Apache Railway as a going concern, and the transaction is supported by the Town of Snowflake and various local interests.

NewPage Raises Pulp Prices

NewPage announced to customers that its northern bleached hardwood kraft (NBHK) and southern bleached hardwood kraft (SBHK) market pulp prices would increase $30/tonne in North America, effective with all new orders entered January 1 and later.
NewPage told domestic customers its NBHK price would increase to $785/tonne in North America. The Ohio-based firm also slated SBHK at $785/tonne. Both increases would be $30/tonne, sources said.

U.S. Biodiesel Tax Credit Revived Through 2013

The $1 a gallon tax credit for biodiesel will run through 2013 at a cost of more than $2 billion under a provision of the mammoth legislation passed by Congress to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff."
In reviving the credit, lawmakers made the extension retroactive to its expiration at the end of 2011. It now is set to expire at the end of this year.
The credit was one of an eclectic mix of handouts, takebacks and special-interest tax breaks included by Congress in the last-minute deal to avoid the automatic spending cuts and tax increases that otherwise would have kicked in for 2013.

IP Becomes Majority Shareholder of Olmuksa

International Paper Becomes Majority Shareholder of Turkish Packaging Company Olmuksa:
International Paper today announced it has completed the acquisition of the shares of its joint venture partner Sabanci Holding in the Turkish corrugated packaging company Olmuksa, for a purchase price of $56 million.

Graphic Packaging to Buy Consumer Packaging Companies

Graphic Packaging to acquire two consumer packaging companies
Graphic Packaging Holding Company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, recently announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisitions of Contego Packaging Holdings, Ltd., a leading food and consumer products packaging company based in the United Kingdom, and A&R Carton Holding B.V., which is A&R's European beer and beverage packaging business.

Yankee Publishing Buys McLean Communications

Yankee Publishing Acquires McLean Communications:
In the New Year, regional media company Yankee Publishing, Inc. welcomes some new additions—the company has acquired the entire portfolio of McLean Communications, which include five regional New Hampshire titles—its first such acquisition in 25 years.

Saturday Evening Post Looking for Turnaround

Saturday Evening Post Looking for Dramatic Turnaround: The Saturday Evening Post, famous for its Norman Rockwell covers and at one point 6 million subscribers, is attempting a turnaround—a redesign and move of its editorial staff to Philadelphia. Its new look, which targets baby boomers, debuted in the January/February issue.
The goal: to double the number of subscribers in five years, to 750,000 and to charge more for subscriptions, which now cost $9.95 a year.

2012 Peaks and Pitfalls of Marketing

The Peaks and Pitfalls of Marketing in 2012:
New Years is a time of reflection; a time to toast the wins and learn from the losses of the year that passed. Now that the champagne glasses are empty and the marketing agendas are full, here's a look back at some of the triumphs and tribulations Direct Marketing News covered in 2012.

eMarketer Revises 2012 Ad Growth

eMarketer restates estimate for 2012 global ad growth at 5.4%:
Global ad spending reached an estimated $519.0 billion last year, up 5.4% over 2011, according to revised figures from eMarketer.

Walsworth Publishing Buys The Ovid Bell Press

Walsworth Publishing Makes Its Acquisition of The Ovid Bell Press Official: Walsworth Publishing announced today it has acquired The Ovid Bell Press in Fulton, MO. Both companies will continue to operate as they do currently. John Bell will remain as CEO of The Ovid Bell Press.

USPS: Standard Mail Price Increase Plans

USPS Warns of ‘Risky’ Approach to Flats Pricing Policy:
The US Postal Service has said it will adopt above-inflation rate increases for its loss-making Standard Mail Flats service each year up to 2016.
The move is prompted by the Postal Regulatory Commission’s 2010 order that rates should rise towards full cost coverage, so that other mail services do not subsidise the shipping of items like catalogues.
But USPS suggested the pricing strategy was “risky” in its latest annual regulatory compliance report, out on Friday.

USPS Still Searching for Creative Agency

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/postal-services-creative-search-continues-146244 
Media piece down, creative piece to go.
The United States Postal Service, in a piecemeal do-over of its advertising review, has shifted its media responsibilities to UM, after 10 years at fellow Interpublic Group shop Campbell Ewald. The creative piece has yet to be assigned.
Currently, Campbell Ewald is the lead creative shop, handling traditional advertising and direct marketing, while Draftfcb handles promotions and retail marketing.

Interview with Vox Media CEO

A week from today, Jim Bankoff, chairman and CEO of Vox Media, will take the stage at FOLIO:’s premiere annual conference: The MediaNext Show. As keynote speaker and head of one of the largest and fastest growing independent online media companies, Bankoff will connect the magazine publishing industry’s traditional identity with the new realities of a fast-paced, multimedia landscape.

Newspaper Expands, Defying Trends

New and expanded sections to cover business, automobiles and food. A nearly five-fold increase in community news pages and more investigative reporting. Even daily color comics.
It feels like a throwback to an earlier era at the Orange County Register, where a first-time newspaper owner is defying conventional wisdom by spending heavily to expand the printed edition and playing down digital formats.
Aaron Kushner added about 75 journalists and, with 25 more coming, will have expanded the newsroom by half since his investment group bought the nation’s 20th-largest newspaper by circulation in July.
Changes also include thicker pages with triple the number of colors to produce razor-sharp photos and graphics. By the end of March, the newspaper will have 40 percent more space than under previous owners, Freedom Communications Inc.

Infographic: Marketers' 2013 Wish List

Infographic: Marketers' 2013 Wish List: Direct Marketing News asked readers to share their wish list for the New Year. Respondents want more staff, more influence over customer service, and more analytics; they're also looking for less brouhaha over Big Data and social media.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Maine Offers Tax Credits to Great Northern

The Finance Authority of Maine last week approved roughly $16 million in tax credits for two groups making investments related to Great Northern Paper Co.'s mill in East Millinocket.
FAME claims in a media release the two decisions are "expected to help create and retain 448 Maine jobs" combined, although a breakdown of how many new jobs would be created vs. existing jobs retained was not available Friday.

NS Parties Want Bowater Mersey Environmental Assessment

Provincial opposition parties want a thorough environmental assessment of the former Bowater Mersey Paper Co. Ltd. paper mill site performed in the new year.
The assessment would include soil and groundwater testing for toxic chemicals.
"Until the environmental liability costs are known, the total price the NDP paid for Bowater remains unknown," Progressive Conservative Leader Jaimie Baillie said Saturday as he issued a call for the testing.

China 2012 Coated Imports Down 10.1%

Based on information by China Paper Association, Production of premium coated paper saw fast growth in recent two years in China. Premium coated paper took the largest proportion in total paper export. According to statistics, Jan-Sept, 2012, China imported 215,800 mts of premium coated paper, dipping 10.14% year on year.

AF&PA Supports USDA Proposal

AF&PA today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for issuing the proposed Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order... --> "We need to present consumers with the facts of the renewable and recyclable nature of our products to allow them to make informed decisions, and today's actions by USDA take us one step closer," said AF&PA Board Chairman Alexander Toeldte, president and CEO of Boise, Inc. "Our industry has come together in support understand the benefits and sustainability of paper products they depend on in their daily lives."

Domtar's Converting Plant Part of Evolving Business

Domtar forms converting plant in South Carolina part of strategy to adjust to lower demand, new markets for pulp, paper [From the web]: Appropriately, Domtar's Rock Hill converting center in the Tech Park off Dave Lyle Boulevard is hidden by trees. Historically, trees are what Domtar is all about.
At one time, the Rock Hill operation was one of seven Domtar-owned plants making forms for businesses such banks, insurance companies and credit card companies. A plant staple was the pin-wheel form used in large dot-matrix printers. The pin-wheel forms still come off the line, but in less quantity.
Now, because of the push to go paperless, the Rock Hill plant is one of three Domtar converting centers. It ships forms mostly to businesses east of the Mississippi River, but some forms make the cross-country trip.

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/12/29/4511230/domtars-touts-york-county-paper.html#storylink=cpy

Hearst's Carey on '12 &'13 + 800M Digital Subscribers

In his annual company-wide start of the year email, Hearst Magazines president David Carey applauded the publisher’s success during 2012 while dropping a few hints about what’s to come in 2013.
While 2012 may have been all about digital expansion, print is far from dead, to hear Carey's plans for 2013. The coming year will see more brand extensions, following the launches of Cosmopolitan for Latinas and Delish, and the relaunched Elle Accessories. (All three will also increase their frequencies in 2013.) Internationally, 12 more magazines are set to debut this year. And Carey said that with continuing interest from outside media companies looking to partner with Hearst, the company might test another new magazine before the year's end. 
 Hearst Digital Subscriptions Now Generating Profits: Hearst added 800,000 paid monthly subscribers at end of 2012, 80 percent new to file.
Hearst Magazines now has the highest number of paid monthly digital subscriptions across tablet devices in the industry—at nearly 800,000. The subscriptions are generating profits and 80 percent of the subscribers are new to the file.

Bobit Media Acquires Auto Dealer Monthly

Bobit Business Mediahas acquired the print and digital properties of Auto Dealer Monthly, the company announced.
Included in the sale were print magazine Auto Dealer Monthly, three websites including AutoDealerMonthly.com and two weekly e-newsletters.

Pearson Invests $89.5 Million in NOOK

Pearson, the world's leading learning company, is today announcing a strategic investment in NOOK Media, LLC, a new company consisting of Barnes & Noble's digital businesses including its NOOK e-reader and tablets, the NOOK digital bookstore and its 674 college bookstores across America.

For Traditional Media, Digital Elusive Promise

For over a decade, traditional media companies have pointed to digital media as a promising source of revenue growth -- but as 2012 draws to an end, it’s clear that this promise is still more theoretical than real, while ad dollars continue to migrate away from traditional channels. This is particularly true for broadcast radio groups and newspaper publishers, whose 2012 results have (so far) offered little in the way of digital cheer.

Q3 B-to-B Digital Ad Revenue Up 16%

Business-to-business media revenue shows a continued migration to digital advertising, according to ABM’s 2012 third-quarter BIN Report. Compared to the corresponding quarter in 2011, print ad revenue dipped by $121 million, but over the same periods, online ad sales more than made up the loss, rising $161 million. With event revenue basically flat for the quarter, the entire industry seems to be holding steady compared to last year.

USPS Picks UM as Media Agency

A USPS spokeswoman confirmed the UM appointment but declined to provide additional details at this time. Campbell-Ewald and UM didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

USPS Taps Pitney Bowes

USPS Taps Pitney Bowes Automated Services Technology:
Pitney Bowes technology was selected by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to begin providing support and maintenance of its network of postal meters. A 6-year contract valued at up to $32 million for meters and meter supplies will enable the Postal Service to nationally standardize its meter needs using a single leading edge design. The contract also includes the provision of systems and support to meet the U.S.

Tribune Emerges from Bankruptcy

Tribune Company, the big broadcasting and newspaper group, emerged from bankruptcy protection Monday -- and is seemingly ready to be sold off to a number of potential media buyers.
With a new board of directors composed mostly of entertainment-industry veterans, the company has now exited  bankruptcy after four years -- one of the longest in U.S. corporate history.

Hometown News Closes Six Papers

Hometown News closed six newspapers in the Upstate - The Boiling Springs Sentry, The Blacksburg Times, The Middle Tyger Times, The Inman Times, The Whitmire News and The Woodruff News. Employees worked their last day on Wednesday.

Car & Driver Sent to Spin Subscribers

The world may not be ending today, but Spin’s existence as a print magazine is. The Buzzmedia-owned indie music title, which reduced its frequency earlier this year before dropping its November/December issue, announced that it would stop publishing a print edition with the September/October 2012 issue and serve out subscribers' orders with, oddly, Car and Driver.
The substitution of Hearst’s automotive title for an indie music magazine seems like a head scratcher, to say the least.

Deluxe Launches Multimillion-Dollar Ad Campaign

Deluxe Will Rely on Multimillion-Dollar Advertising Campaign:
Deluxe Corp. is so set on revamping its stodgy image as a check maker that it’s launching a major ad blitz to show all small businesses that it is ready to serve them. The goal is to replace Deluxe’s stale image as the purveyor of paper checks with the fresh impression that it’s a solution genie for small businesses needing forms, logo and graphic designs, digital printing, software or Web and marketing services.

New Year Predictions: Print Research International's Charnock

New Year predictions - Print Research International's John Charnock:
What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2013 and why?
For many printers there are almost too many opportunities. Large format, 3D, digital, multi-channel communication, etc. The secret is choosing which ones to pursue and which ones not to. The consolidation of our industry is well underway and printers need to become entrepreneurial in their outlook and leverage some of those opportunities to their advantage. That does not mean do it all, however; printers must focus on what their customers require and deliver appropriate solutions.
What do you think will represent the single biggest threat for printers in 2013 and why?
Over-leverage, lack of resources and doing many things half-heartedly instead of fewer things really well...

New Year Predictions: HP's Zioni

New Year predictions - HP's Ronen Zioni:
What do you think will represent the single biggest opportunity for printers in 2013 and why?
The opportunity for diversification. Digital printing technologies and economic conditions are fostering a softening of the traditional areas of operation in the graphic arts - but clearly, there are markets where digital print has started to make its presence known like never before, including labels and packaging and newspapers. More and more general commercial printers are expanding - via digital printing technologies - into the consumer photo-specialty market, or into large format printing, and other areas that a general commercial printer would never have approached before...

New Year Predictions: Roland DG's Newman

New Year predictions - Roland DG's Brett Newman:
What trend do you think 2012 will remembered for?
I think it will be the year when digital printing in all its forms truly cames of age. There was no better representation of this than at Drupa 2012. Digital was everywhere - it was where the buzz was and where the innovation was. I think it was a major milestone in the evolution of digital printing, and digital - whether wide format or cut-sheet - really dominated the show. Across the wide format sector, we saw printers really start to embrace the broad range of applications wide format printers can offer. We also witnessed a strong drive from printers towards purchasing a complete solution sourced from a single, trusted provider as printers sought to have the edge in terms of quality, consistency and continuity with their wide format machines...

Friday, December 28, 2012

East Coast Port Strike Averted

The “container cliff” has been averted.
On Friday, the dock workers’ union reached a tentative agreement with shippers and port operators on the East Coast, federal mediators said. The breakthrough in talks means that the country won’t have to go through a strike by 14,500 dock workers from Houston to Boston — a move that could have been quite disruptive to the U.S. economy.
For months, the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance have been battling over the issue of “container royalties,” a fee paid by shipping companies that is used to augment worker wages and benefits. That issue now appears to be resolved in principle, mediators said.
The union and the shipping companies will now extend the deadline another 30 days while they hash out the remaining issues on a new collective bargaining agreement.

S&P Raises NewPage Credit Rating

U.S. coated paper manufacturer NewPage Corp. announced that it has  emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closed on its exit  financing. We (Standard & Poor's) are raising the corporate credit rating to 'B+' from 'D'.  We are also assigning our 'BB' issue-level rating to the company's  six-year, $500 million senior secured term loan. The term loan has a recovery  rating of '1'. The stable outlook reflects the lower post-emergence leverage and good  prospects for meaningful free cash flow generation over the upcoming 12 to 18  months despite the significant challenges in declining North American coated  paper end markets. In addition, the outlook incorporates our view of the  company's strong liquidity position given the lack of financial maintenance  covenants and no significant debt maturities over the next five years. 

Oji Turns to Biomass

Oji Holdings Corp, which is now focusing on selling biomass power to take advantage of government subsidies for renewable energy and to address the slide in paper sales. -->
According to Shoji Fujiwara, chairman of Oji Green Resources Co, they are planning to build biomass power plants fueled by wood on the northern island of Hokkaido and the southern island of Kyushu. The company, the world’s largest corporate user of renewable energy, will spend 20 billion yen (approx. $233.5 million) to construct the plants and after three years, plans to sell the electricity to be generated by the units. Potential customers for this particular project are Kyushu Electric Power Co. and Hokkaido Electric Power Co. with a potential 2 billion income per year for each utility. Oji is investing around 60 billion yen ($700 million) for solar, geothermal and hydro energy projects.

Top Five DM News Stories

It's been a long year and a busy one for direct marketers. The USPS topped the headlines and mobile marketing continued to mature. Just in case you missed any of the action, we've pulled together the top Direct Marketing News content of 2012 for you, both web and print. So, pour yourself a glass of early champagne and have a scroll.
Top five 2012 stories on dmnews.com
USPS expects Senate action on postal bill: Political gridlock in Congress was a big problem for the USPS in 2012.
DMA: Direct mail response rates beat digital: The Direct Marketing Association found that direct mail boasts a 4.4% rate, compared to email's average response rate of 0.12%.
JCPenney overhauls marketing, promo strategy: JCPenney got a new logo and  completely revamped its pricing, branding, promotions, as well as refreshing its stores.
Google finally opts for a 'Do Not Track' option: Analysts speculated the reasoning behind Google's 'Do Not Track' addition to Chrome, and questioned whether legislation will ensue nonetheless.
USPS officially announces gopost pilot: The USPS officially announced the pilot program of its gopost parcel delivery lockers, which the USPS began implementing in Northern Virginia in February.

2012 Top Magazine Launches

The two “most notable” magazine launches of 2012 were (in this order) a magazine aimed at the kind of extreme gun enthusiasts who covet assault weapons, and a magazine aimed at young children, according to an annual list published by consumer magazine trend follower, Samir Husni, a professor at the University of Mississippi, who is also known as the “Magazine Guy.”
The aptly named Recoil ranked No. 1, Husni explained to online business news service CommPRO.biz, because it is “an artfully-done, gun-lifestyle magazine that is selling for as much as $125 an issue on eBay.”
No. 2  Highlight’s Hello, a spinoff of the long-running children’s magazine, which Husni says is aimed at ages 0-2, although its readership likely skews on the higher end.

No. 3: Dujour (targets the $5 million net-worth crowd)
No. 4: Howler (aimed at soccer enthusiasts)
No. 5: Cosmopolitan for Latinas (for Latinas, of course) 

2012 Media Advertising Up 5.4%

Media advertising spending grew 5.4% to just under $519 billion in 2012 -- up over the 3.6% growth rate in 2011, says eMarketer. This year's growth rate will continue at about the same levels through 2016, topping out at $628 billion.
This year, Latin America witnessed the fastest growth of any region -- up 11% to $34.66 billion, climbing to $51 billion by 2016.
Estimates are that China's ad spending will grow 13% this year to $42.6 billion, eMarketer says. China will also continue to climb -- albeit at a somewhat smaller rate, adding on 12%,11%, 10% and 10%, in the coming years, getting to $64 billion by 2016.

Overall, the Asia-Pacific region will grow 8.5% and will continue to climb near double-digit percentage gains over the coming years.
Though eMarketer estimates U.S. advertising spending this year at an aggressive 4.9% -- higher than other growth projections -- its actual spending number is way below that of other industry projections.

Vice Buys i-D

Bold and boastful hipster-targeted media conglomerate Vice is getting into fashion.
While the magazine has been on the edge of culture--including fashion--since inception, it's never been a fashion brand. The acquisition of British style title i-D brings them into that realm.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

M&A Hits Prerecession Levels

M&A Hits Prerecession Levels: M&A activity skyrocketed to prerecession levels in several major industry sectors, according to a year-end report from investment banking firm The Jordan, Edmiston Group (JEGI).