Greenpeace wants logging halted in 5 areas of the boreal forest:
Greenpeace is calling for a halt to logging in 5 areas of the boreal forest they call “endangered”.
The areas are:
Quebec – Broadback Valley forest
Quebec – Montagnes Blanches forest
Ontario – Kenogami-Ogoki forest
Ontario – Trout Lake-Caribou forest
Manitoba – Boreal GemThese forests were identified using conservation science, the best mapping tools and satellite data.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Wausau Board Responds to Starboard
Wausau Board of Directors Responds to Starboard Letters:
We were disturbed by your letter and public statements regarding the recent discussions with you about the strategy and governance of Wausau Paper. Your public description of the sequence of private events is inaccurate in many respects. In particular, our announcement on Friday regarding the exploration of alternatives for the Paper Segment and focus on Tissue Business was a unanimous Board decision that resulted from months of discussion and careful consideration by the Board of Directors with the assistance of independent financial advisors. Contrary to your accusation, this important strategic decision was not made in reaction to your letter of Friday morning.
We were disturbed by your letter and public statements regarding the recent discussions with you about the strategy and governance of Wausau Paper. Your public description of the sequence of private events is inaccurate in many respects. In particular, our announcement on Friday regarding the exploration of alternatives for the Paper Segment and focus on Tissue Business was a unanimous Board decision that resulted from months of discussion and careful consideration by the Board of Directors with the assistance of independent financial advisors. Contrary to your accusation, this important strategic decision was not made in reaction to your letter of Friday morning.
Leading Russian Pulp & Paper Mills May Merge
Leading Russian pulp and paper mills may merge
Leading Russian pulp and paper mills may merge during the next several months, in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy.
The Kondopoga mill plant, located in the Karelia region, is currently holding negotiations with the Volga plant, which is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region about the potential deal, according to the general director of Kondopoga Vladimir Bibilov.
Leading Russian pulp and paper mills may merge during the next several months, in an attempt to avoid bankruptcy.
The Kondopoga mill plant, located in the Karelia region, is currently holding negotiations with the Volga plant, which is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region about the potential deal, according to the general director of Kondopoga Vladimir Bibilov.
Warning on Rising Temperatures
“The long-term effects will undoubtedly be catastrophic,” said Terry Sunderland, CIFOR principal scientist specialising in biodiversity.
Bonnier Names Chief Content Officer
David Ritchie Tapped As Bonnier Chief Content Officer:
It’s been a busy week for Bonnier Corporation. Since last Friday, the company has had several executive changes: former CEO Terry Snow announced his retirement, creating an opening for the company’s former EVP of the Active Interest Division, Dave Freygang, to succeed him.
It’s been a busy week for Bonnier Corporation. Since last Friday, the company has had several executive changes: former CEO Terry Snow announced his retirement, creating an opening for the company’s former EVP of the Active Interest Division, Dave Freygang, to succeed him.
'Forbes' Launches African Edition
Forbes is launching its first French language
edition, Forbes Afrique. The publication,
Forbes’ 26th international edition, in done in partnership with
Lucien Ebata, an African entrepreneur, and Mark Furlong, president of Custom
Solutions Media. Forbes Afrique is distributed
throughout 23 Francophone countries in Africa. The editor is Michel Lobe, who
previously was the chief African correspondent of the BBC. Forbes Afrique’s
distribution is 25,000 copies. Editorial consists of local business stories
combined with content from Forbes’ U.S. publications.
NYT's Plans to Save the Banner Ad
Like many publications, The New
York Times has a banner ad problem. The problem is this: the Web is littered
with banners and new computer-driven methods of buying discrete audiences is
putting even further pressure on the display ad market.
But unlike newfangled
publications like BuzzFeed, the NYT isn’t giving up on the banner. In fact, it
wants to reinvent it by giving it a heavy dose of the same tech savvy behind
its recent pathbreaking
interactive feature,
“Snow Fall.”
AdMedia: M&A Expected to Remain Strong
AdMedia: M&A activity expected to remain strong: Mergers and acquisitions in the media and marketing industries are expected to be driven by strategic buyers more than by private equity this year, according to a survey by M&A firm AdMedia Partners.
Consumers Plan More Spending in 2013
A majority of consumers are planning to spend as
much or more in 2013 than last year across various retail industries, according
to a new study by Market Force Information,
a worldwide leader in customer intelligence solutions. The study also revealed
that consumers expected to spend more in major retail chains than in local
stores.
NRF Reports Holiday Spending Up 3%
Solid consumer spending in the month of
December helped retailers finish the year with a healthy holiday shopping
season, however economic uncertainties sent a cautious consumer to the stores.
According to the National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade
association, December retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations and
restaurants) increased 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted from November and
increased 2.1 percent unadjusted year-over-year.
Total holiday retail sales increased 3.0
percent, below NRF’s projected forecast of 4.1, to $579.8 billion.
Additionally, non-store holiday sales grew 11.1 percent. Shop.org in October
forecasted a 12.0 percent growth in online sales in the months of November and
December.
Nielsen: Q3 Global Ad Revenue Up 4.3%
Global ad revenue reached $139.0 billion in
the third quarter, up 4.3% over the year-earlier period, according to Nielsen's
Global AdView Pulse.
Ad spending in the third quarter was buoyed
by the 2012 London Summer Olympics, as well as the run-up to the U.S.
presidential election. In the U.S., ad spending in the third quarter was up 10.2% over the year-earlier period.
Strata Projects Ad Spending Up 3-5% In 2013
Chicago-based advertising transactional services provider
Strata projects that ad spending will increase between 3% and 5% in 2013. The
new projection is in line with forecasts made in December by some holding
company-owned media shops. Publicis Groupe’s
ZenithOptimedia for example estimated that U.S. ad spending this year would
climb 3.5% to nearly $166.5 billion, while WPP’s GroupM forecasted a 2.7% hike
in expenditures. Strata, which is owned by Comcast Cable, processes around $50
billion in ad transactions through its software annually. The company said that
based on orders placed so far for the first quarter, demand is up slightly in
the home improvement and auto ad categories.
Catch Up News on Amazon and Sales 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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Canada's Forest Industry Hiring Again
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
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
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
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
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
Deloitte: Top 250 Retailers Hit $4 Trillion in Revenues
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
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
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
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.
Monday, January 14, 2013
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.
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
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.
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
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%).
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.
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