Catch Up News on Amazon and Sales Tax

http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/16512/best-buy-gains-where-amazon-collects-tax

Best Buy Gains Where Amazon Collects Tax
Is Best Buy's gain Amazon.com's loss? An article/discussion last month on RetailWire explored the why's behind Amazon's continued sales growth in states even after it has begun to collect sales tax. Now, a Best Buy financial report shows that while its physical stores didn't get a huge boost in states where Amazon has started to add sales tax charges to purchases, its website has seen a pickup in dollar volume.
http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/16459/amazon-not-slowed-by-sales-taxes 

Amazon Not Slowed By Sales Taxes It's long been argued by retailers operating stores in states where Amazon.com doesn't collect sales taxes that the e-tailing giant has an unfair advantage because consumers can see that with them they can save perhaps six or seven percent. But a funny thing has happened as more states work out deals for Amazon to collect sales taxes — the company continues to grow.

http://www.internetretailer.com/2012/12/12/amazon-signs-another-tax-deal
Amazon signs another tax deal
Amazon.com Inc. will begin to collect sales tax on Nov. 1, 2013, from customers in Massachusetts, the retailer and state officials announced yesterday. As part of the agreement, Amazon, No. 1 in the Internet Retailer Top 500, has promised to create hundreds of jobs in the state and to work with state officials in support of pending federal legislation designed to produce states with more sales tax revenue from online and catalog purchases. In return, Amazon gets another year to avoid sales tax collection even though its acquisition earlier this year of warehouse robotics company Kiva Systems Inc., which is based in Massachusetts, requires it to collect sales tax in the state under existing law. 
http://racked.com/archives/2013/01/15/amazons-threat-to-open-physical-stores-is-freaking-out-the-retail-industy.php
Retail Industry Is Freaking Out Over Threat of Amazon Store 
Amazon.com Founder Jeff Bezos took home the National Retail Federation's prestigious Gold Medal Award yesterday, marking the first time an online retailer has received the award. Amazon has probably been the single most disruptive force in retail in the past years, and is therefore not exactly beloved by the traditional brick-and-mortar industry. So as NRF's membership base is comprised mainly of brick-and-mortar retailers, acknowledgement from the organization is a bit of a big deal for e-commerce.

USPS Responds to Board of Governors’ Call

USPS Responds to Board of Governors’ Call to Accelerate the Restructuring of Its Operations: WASHINGTON, DC—Jan. 14, 2013—The Postal Service Board of Governors met last week to discuss a wide range of accelerated cost-cutting and revenue-generating measures in the face of an unprecedented set of financial challenges, heightened by the inability of Congress to pass comprehensive postal legislation. Citing the fact that the Postal Service cannot wait indefinitely for legislation, the board of governors has directed management to accelerate the restructuring of Postal Service operations to further reduce costs in order to strengthen Postal Service finances. 

Why Printed Books Will Never Die

Why Printed Books Will Never Die: eBooks are slowly subsuming the printed format as the preferred vehicle on which people read books. But perhaps there is reason to hope that e-books and print books could have a bright future together, because for all the great things eBooks accomplish, there are fundamental qualities they will simply never possess:
Books have physical beauty.
Books have provenance.
Printed books are collectible.
Books are nostalgic

Valassis Launches Facebook Coupon App

Valassis Launches Facebook Coupon App for Food Lion: Food Lion customers can now receive additional savings by accessing in-store coupons through the company's Facebook page, powered by an app Valassis launched on Facebook Platform.
The new Facebook application also gives consumers the opportunity to share their coupons with "friends" on the social media network.

TC Transcontinental Extends Contract with Best Buy & Future Shop

TC Transcontinental extends contract to print Best Buy and Future Shop flyers and adds distribution: Montreal – TC Transcontinental is pleased to announce that it has inked an extension to 2015 of its contract to provide flyer printing services to Best Buy and Future Shop, and has added distribution into the mix. With this announcement, TC Transcontinental has again proven its broad ability to meet the needs of major national customers. The new distribution services for the two major retailers will cover Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.

Canada's Forest Industry Hiring Again

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/after-forestrys-dark-decade-work-force-recruitment-effort-takes-root/article7299057/

The forestry sector is hiring again.

Pulp and paper companies expect to boost their work force by 60,000 over the next seven years, a significant turnaround for an industry that not so long ago was a basket case, laying off workers by the tens of thousands as mills shut down across the country.

IP Finalizes Transaction with Grupo Orsa, Brazil

International Paper Finalizes Transaction with Grupo Orsa in Brazil: International Paper and Brazilian corrugated packaging producer Jari Celulose, Embalagens e Papel S.A., a Grupo Orsa company, have finalized the formation of Orsa International Paper Embalagens S.A. The new entity, in which IP will hold a 75 percent stake, includes three containerboard mills and four box plants, which make up Jari's former industrial packaging assets.

Quad/Graphics Sells Plant

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121225/BUSINESS/121229558/1005

An investment group is paying nearly $4.4 million for the former Quad/Graphics printing plant in Depew, with plans to subdivide the massive facility for a collection of manufacturing and distribution tenants.
The sale of the 850,000-square-foot plant on George Urban Boulevard to partners Frank J. Campofelice and Peter G. Wilson closed Monday, said Guy J. Agostinelli, the buyers' attorney, and Richard Schechter, senior director with Pyramid Brokerage Co., which marketed the property.

Hearst Has Record-Breaking March

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/hearst-boasts-record-breaking-march-146538

After a strong showing in September, Hearst Magazines is looking to clean up again with its March issues on the strength of fashion, retail, luxury and beauty ads. With much to crow about, the company got a jump on its rivals in putting out its numbers for the March issue, which, along with September, are fashion magazines' biggest of the year.

Elle, Marie Claire, Bazaar, Cosmo all boosted ad pages.

Forecast: U.S. Newspaper Ad Revenues to Fall

Forecast: U.S. Newspaper Ad Revenues, Print/Digital: U.S. newspaper print ad revenues are expected to drop significantly in the coming years, slipping from $19.14 billion in 2012 to $16.4 billion in 2016. Digital revenues, which include all digital platforms, are expected to rise slightly to $4 billion in 2016, from $3.4 billion in 2012 -- thus not covering losses from print.

Prometheus Global Names CEO

http://www.foliomag.com/2013/yahoo-exec-tapped-head-prometheus-global-media#.UPWmyejZGKw

Yahoo’s former interim-CEO Ross Levinsohn (pictured) may have been passed over for Marissa Mayer this summer, but he is now back in an executive driver’s seat—this time as CEO of Prometheus Global Media, publisher of Adweek, The Hollywood Reporter, Back Stage and Billboard, among others.  In an additional change-up that comes with the new CEO, the company has been renamed Guggenheim Digital Media (GDM), according to an announcement posted on Adweek.

WSJ Launches New Magazine

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/wsj-bow-new-magazine-146536

Whether it’s taking stock of one’s own wealth or gawking at others,’ people’s interest in money seems limitless. So says The Wall Street Journal, which is giving personal finance the glossy treatment with a new magazine insert, WSJ. Money.

WSJ. Money is a spinoff of WSJ. Magazine, the newspaper’s luxury lifestyle insert. The title is slated to make its debut March 9 and publish four times this year. It’ll be distributed in the Journal’s weekend edition in the U.S., which has a circulation of 2.3 million. The goal is for 50 pages per issue, including 30 edit and 20 ad pages.

BtoB Launches Online Edition

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20130114/BBPROMO/301149999/btob-launches-inaugural-online-edition

BtoB, the Crain Communications Inc. magazine focusing on business-to-business marketing and advertising, is increasing its publication frequency with the launch today of its twice-monthly BtoB Online Edition, a full-content digital publication.

Deloitte: Top 250 Retailers Hit $4 Trillion in Revenues

http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2013-01-15&val=922585&cat=goods

The revenues of the world's 250 largest retailers topped $4 trillion* in fiscal year 2011 (encompassing companies' fiscal years ended through June 2012), according to the 2013 Global Powers of Retailing  report from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL), in conjunction with STORES Media. This is a 5 percent year-on-year increase in retail revenue despite the global economic downturn. Additionally, according to the report retail revenue rose significantly for companies based in emerging markets in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific (excluding Japan).

Kantar Reports 2012 FSI Growth

http://kantarmediana.com/marx/press/kantar-media-reports-free-standing-insert-fsi-coupon-use-new-cpg-product-introductions-gr

Kantar Media reports that more than 274 billion Free Standing Insert (FSI) coupons were distributed in 2012 which represents a 0.8 percent increase in activity versus 2011.  FSI pages increased 1.4 percent overall with the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Franchise sectors increasing 2.4 percent and 10.2 percent respectively, offsetting an 8.0 percent decline in the Direct Response sector.  FSI coupon support for new products within the CPG sector increased 23.2 percent versus 2011 while retailer FSI promotion pages also increased 5.2 percent.

Scholastic Releases Biannual Report

http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/press-release/new-study-kids-reading-digital-age-number-kids-reading-ebooks-has-nearly-doubled-2010

In the fourth edition of the Kids & Family Reading Report™ , a national survey released today by Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and the Harrison Group, a leading marketing and strategic research consulting firm, found kids age 6-17 and their parents share their views on reading in the increasingly digital landscape and the influences that impact kids’ reading frequency and attitudes toward reading.

Decline in Printed Books Slowed

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2414068,00.asp

As the e-book market has exploded, fueled in large part by the popularity of e-book readers like the Kindle and tablets like the iPad, predictions regarding the so-called "death of print" have only gained steam. But a new report from Neilsen Bookscan indicates that while e-book sales are on the rise, the decline in print sales have actually slowed down, a sign that mainstream readers may not be finished with the print book format just yet.

According to Neilsen Bookscan data analyzed by Publishers Weekly, sales of print books in 2012 declined by nine percent, approximately the same rate at which print sales declined in the previous two years. This new data indicates that, despite the increasing popularity of tablets and e-readers, the decline in print book sales versus e-books has stabilized to some degree.

USPS to Accelerate Restructuring, Cost Reduction, No Help from Congress

USPS: Management to Accelerate Steps to Restructure Operations and Reduce Costs: The Postal Service Board of Governors met last week to discuss a wide range of accelerated cost cutting and revenue generating measures in the face of an unprecedented set of financial challenges, heightened by the inability of Congress to pass comprehensive postal legislation.  Citing the fact that the Postal Service cannot wait indefinitely for legislation, the USPS Board of Governors has directed management to accelerate the restructure of Postal Service operations to further reduce cost.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-14/postal-delay-in-congress-hastens-risk-of-mail-stoppage.html

Postal Delay in Congress Hastens Risk of Mail Stoppage

The U.S. Postal Service, set to run out of operating cash in October, still can’t get Congress to act with any urgency to help solve its problems. Competing Senate and House proposals to help resolve Postal Service finances expired when the old Congress left Jan. 3, and a senator who led the push for a postal overhaul retired. The post office now must persuade lawmakers focused on broader fights on the deficit and spending to pass a law to let the agency cut costs and plug losses.

Wausau Paper Narrowing Focus to Tissue

Wausau Paper narrowing focus to tissue
Wausau Paper recently announced that it commenced a process last year to identify strategic alternatives for its Paper Segment that will position the company to focus its management efforts on continuing the growth of its highly successful tissue business.
In early 2012 Wausau Paper exited its legacy Print & Color business and narrowed the focus of its Paper Segment to specialty products with leading domestic and global positions in food, industrial and tape markets. Since that time the Company retained financial advisors to assist the company’s board of directors in the evaluation of alternatives for the remainder of the Paper Segment.

Verso Warns Maine Gov. on Energy Change

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine-business/2013/01/09/mill-officials-say-renewables-not-blame-maines-hig/1303870

Representatives of Maine's pulp and paper industry said Wednesday that efforts by Gov. Paul LePage's administration to change the state's renewable energy policies are likely to do more harm than good when it comes to the price of electricity
The Verso paper mill in Bucksport has plans to build a biomass energy plant.
They may also hurt the paper industry, which employs 7,500 workers statewide, according to Bill Cohen, Verso Paper Corp.'s manager for mill communications and regional government affairs
LePage proposed a bill last legislative session that would have changed the standard by removing the 100-megawatt cap. That would have the effect, according to Cohen and Verso, of flooding Maine's market with power from large hydropower facilities in Quebec. It could make Verso's recent investment a moot point, Cohen said. 

Graphic Paper in the 21st Century

Graphic paper in the 21st century: RISI's recent seminar on the future of graphic paper highlighted that new media and print can work alongside each other for the future. Dwindling market share, difficult global economic trading conditions and a constant battle to compete with new media can paint a bleak picture of the graphics paper industry. However the RISI annual seminar held last month in Brussels showed a more optimistic view with the focus on innovation and continual environmental awareness.

Winterberry Group's 2013 Outlook

Outlook 2013: Marketing Predictions From Winterberry Group's Bruce Biegel: Convergence, integration, strategizing, and customer listening are areas of marketing focus in the year ahead.

Will there be any surprises in marketing in 2013? Probably not, Winterberry Group Managing Director Bruce Biegel said during his annual marketing outlook keynote at a meeting of The Direct Marketing Club of New York. But there will be ample opportunity to capitalize on the myriad opportunities available to marketers today. According to Biegel, channels with increased marketing spend in 2012 included digital, direct mail, and TV; radio did “better than expected."

Yankee Publishing Buys McLean Communications

Yankee Publishing acquires McLean Communications: Yankee Publishing announced it has acquired McLean Communications, a provider of New Hampshire lifestyle, business and custom publications. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Time to Lay Off 700 in Q1

http://www.businessinsider.com/time-inc-will-lay-off-700-after-5-ad-decline-2013-1

Time Warner's Time Inc. will lay off up to 700 staffers out of just under 8,000 total as the publisher's new chief struggles to transform famous titles and massive market share into a digital profit center.

The staff cuts will come sometime in the first quarter, said a person familiar with the company's plans, and will be across the board -- not just focused on editorial, where staffing has already been hard hit.

Growth Forecast for SMB Local Advertising

SMBs to Spend a Healthy Amount On Local Advertising In 2013:
According to “2013 Local Advertising Outlook,” a report from Borrell & Associates, local ad spend will grow 8.2%, from $88.9 billion in 2012 to $96.2 billion in 2013.
Examining overall media purchased in 2012, local newspapers advertising held the top spot at 64%, followed by online ads (62%), ads in local publications (54%), and direct mail (45%).

National Envelope Names COO

National Envelope Appoints Jim Pinto as President and COO: National Envelope, an affiliate of The Gores Group, today announced the appointment of Jim Pinto to President and Chief Operating Officer.

Digital Ad Growth Up 17.8% in 2012

Digital ad growth to remain double-digit: Digital ad spending worldwide reached $102.8 billion last year, up 17.8% over 2011, and will continue to enjoy double-digital growth through 2015, according to a report by eMarketer.

Appleton Coated Names Executives

http://www.appletoncoated.com/

Appleton Coated president and CEO, Sandra Van Ert, is pleased to announce the following organizational changes:

Darin Dodd has been appointed vice president of Commercial Sales for Appleton Coated. He brings over 20 years of paper sales and management experience to his role, 17 years with Appleton Coated. During his time with the company, Dodd held key national sales and management roles. Prior to Appleton Coated he was with Westvaco Corporation.  Darin’s experience and deep understanding of our commercial business and customers, make him an excellent choice to lead the sales organization in this segment.  

Mike Baker, executive director - Publishing Papers, maintains sales responsibility for Appleton Coated’s book publishing segment, and John Mazuroski, recently named business development manager - Technical & Specialty Products, has sales responsibility for this segment.   

NPTA Unveils 2013 Initiatives

NPTA alliance unveils 2013 strategic initiatives
The National Paper Trade Alliance Board of Directors recently adopted a strategic plan for 2013-2015 and revised mission statement. NPTA's mission is to actively support the success of member firms through the delivery of networking, education, advocacy and industry trends focused on the health of the paper distribution channel, which reflects a focus on paper merchants and mill partners as the sole membership base.

Bonnier CEO Terry Snow to Step Down

Bonnier CEO Terry Snow to Step Down, Succeeded by Dave Freygang:
Bonnier Corp., the U.S. subsidiary of Stockholm-based Bonnier AB, announced today that CEO Terry Snow [pictured] is stepping down to retire. Dave Freygang, who has been executive vice president of the Active Interest division, will be succeeding Snow at the helm.

Time Cuts Annual Issues to 48

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/time-cuts-back-2013-146445

In an unusual step for Time, the newsweekly is publishing three fewer issues this year, for a total of 48. Time usually only had one double issue, its year-end Person of the Year issue. This year there will be three, POY including the Time 100 and Making of America.
Cutting issues is one sure way to improve a magazine’s financial picture (and ultimately, the parent company's). Time is said to be profitable, but much less so than it used to. Its ad page count has fallen by almost 50 percent over the past five years. Last year through Nov. 19, ad pages fell 15 percent to 1,004, per MIN.

Game Show Prize: Job at Hearst's Cosmopolitan

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/new-cbs-game-show-offering-editorial-assistant-job-at-cosmopolitan-as-prize_b74060

CBS has revealed some details about a new reality competition show that will debut next month, and there is a media twist. The show, “The Job,” features five contestants competing for–not surprisingly-a job at a high-profile company. 

The grand prize for the second episode of the series? An editorial assistant position at Cosmopolitan magazine.

Condé Nast Selling Ads on Delta

http://adage.com/article/media/conde-nast-takes-ad-sales-delta-air-lines/239141/

Condé Nast, the publisher of magazines including Vogue and GQ, has struck a deal to sell ads on Delta Air Lines' website, apps, kiosks at airports and even its boarding passes, the companies said.

CA AG Pushing for App Privacy Guidelines

http://adage.com/article/digital/ad-trade-groups-lament-california-mobile-privacy-push/239124/

The California Attorney General is pushing mobile marketers to apply voluntary app privacy guidelines, and advertising industry groups don't like it. The "Privacy on the Go" document published by California Attorney General Kamala Harris is a set of recommendations for mobile app makers, platforms and ad networks.

USA/National Geographic Publish Special Edition

http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/10/usa-today-ng-channel-and-ngs-partner-on-special-tabloid-edition-ngs-turns-125/

USA TODAY, National Geographic Channel and the National Geographic Society have partnered on a special tabloid edition: National Geographic Society turns 125. The special edition marks the 125^th Anniversary of the founding of the National Geographic Society and a New Age Exploration.

The 48-page all color special edition is on newsstands now and can also be ordered online. This is the fourth special tabloid edition that USA TODAY and National Geographic Channel have partnered on. 

DNMedia Expands Stake in Luxury Market

http://www.4-traders.com/A-H-BELO-CORPORATION-1376190/news/A-H-Belo-Corporation-DMNmedia-Acquires-Design-Guide-Publishing-Company-Strengthening-Luxury-Por-15763755/

DMNmedia, the marketing solutions group of The Dallas Morning News, Inc., has acquired the assets of DG Publishing, Inc. (DGP), a portfolio company of Elm Creek Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm . DGP is a magazine publisher of high-end resource guides including Design GuideTexas and The Texas Wedding Guide . The purchase further strengthens the News' media portfolio in the luxury magazine segment and will complement FD Luxe, a premium lifestyle magazine targeting affluent consumers in North Texas.

ShopperTrak: Holiday Sales Up 2.5%

http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/339148/holiday_season_ends_on_positive_note_for_retailers_according_to_shoppertrak.html

More shoppers spent more at the cash register during the 2012 holiday season than they did the previous year, according to ShopperTrak, the world's largest counter of retail foot traffic.

ShopperTrak estimates that during the holiday shopping season of November and December 2012, national retail sales increased 2.5% and foot traffic also increased 2.5% when compared to the same two months last year.
ShopperTrak's initial data indicates that shoppers spent $248.8 billion during this period. The U.S. Department of Commerce will release its December GAFO sales numbers in February.

Print Endures: Only 16% Purchased e-Book in 2012

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323874204578219563353697002.html

A 2012 survey revealed that just 16% of Americans have actually purchased an e-book.

Ever since Amazon introduced its popular Kindle e-reader five years ago, pundits have assumed that the future of book publishing is digital. Opinions about the speed of the shift from page to screen have varied. But the consensus has been that digitization, having had its way with music and photographs and maps, would in due course have its way with books as well. By 2015, one media maven predicted a few years back, traditional books would be gone.
Half a decade into the e-book revolution, though, the prognosis for traditional books is suddenly looking brighter. Hardcover books are displaying surprising resiliency. The growth in e-book sales is slowing markedly. And purchases of e-readers are actually shrinking, as consumers opt instead for multipurpose tablets. It may be that e-books, rather than replacing printed books, will ultimately serve a role more like that of audio books—a complement to traditional reading, not a substitute.
How attached are Americans to old-fashioned books? Just look at the results of a Pew Research Center survey released last month. The report showed that the percentage of adults who have read an e-book rose modestly over the past year, from 16% to 23%. But it also revealed that fully 89% of regular book readers said that they had read at least one printed book during the preceding 12 months. Only 30% reported reading even a single e-book in the past year.

USPS: App that Brings Mail to Life

USPS Surprises CES with Eye-Popping App that Brings Mail to Life:

The USPS debuted a new app this week at CES 2013 that worked well and could increase a company’s interest in sending mail again. The app, which was developed with Aurasma, scans a piece of mail and uses augmented reality to make the paper an interactive ad. “We worked on this to show companies that hard copy mail can be a part of their editorial content,” Chris Karpenko, head of USPS outreach, told me on the CES show floor. “It’s all about the customer experience.”

Ink Industry Under Cost Pressure

Printing Ink Industry Still under Cost Pressure in Raw Material Market – No Relief in the Short Term: Leading printing ink manufacturer Siegwerk anticipates difficult raw material markets and signalizes selective price increases for 2013.
They are indispensable for producing print products such as packaging, advertising brochures and newspapers. And in recent years they have constantly increased in price. This refers to tree resins, pigments, additives such as bonding agents and solvents – the raw materials and components used for the printing ink industry.