Port Hawkesbury Union Votes Yes

Port Hawkesbury workers vote ‘yes’ to contract offer:
The unionized workers of the idled Port Hawkesbury paper mill in Nova Scotia have voted 85% in favour of their contract offer from Pacific West Commercial Corp.
This ‘yes’ vote brings the mill one step closer to reopening under its new owner and restarting the 400M stpy SC paper machine.
The company said it would work with Nova Scotia Power regarding energy supply and costs and with government regarding fibre supply and a forest management plan.
There is a hearing in late June or early July, with the possibility that the mill could reopen in August if all outstanding matters are settled.

Kruger Latest Mill to Increase Prices

Kruger asks for more time to repay underfunded pension plan:
Kruger will be increasing the transaction price on all coated paper grades by $2.00 cwt, effective with shipments on, or after July 1, 2012.  This will apply to all basis weights and brightness levels. Separately, it was reported that workers at Kruger's Corner Brook mill are meeting again today with management to discuss their pension plan.

1 in 5 U.S. Adults Not Online

One in 5 U.S. Adults Not Online, Thus Don't See Ads: The Pew Internet Project finds that one in five U.S. adults -- senior citizens, Spanish speakers and low-income families -- is not on the Internet. Simply said, these consumers are not part of the search, online, and social media advertising audience.

Nature Publishing Launches Data Platform

Nature Publishing Group Launches Linked Data Platform: Nature Publishing Group is trying to break into the future of scientific publishing with its new linked data platform—launched earlier this month; the new platform is designed to enrich search functions.

Farm Journal Starts Ad Network

Farm Journal’s AgWeb Launches Advertising Network: Farm Journal Media’s AgWeb debuted an advertising network for like-minded publishers and advertisers looking to grow their reach to farmers. The network adds another facet to AgWeb’s digital portfolio of e-newsletters, custom e-blasts and research solutions for advertisers.

Senate Debates Postal Bill

Senate Begins Debating the Future of U.S. Postal Service: The U.S. Senate moved Tuesday to consider legislation that would fundamentally reshape the U.S. Postal Service. Senators voted to proceed to debate on the bill, with less than a month left until postal officials say they plan to begin closing hundreds of post offices and processing facilities.

USPS Revenue from Every Door Direct

http://chiefmarketer.com/blog/sound-business-or-way-keep-post-offices-open

A year after the U.S. Postal Service launched its Every Door Direct Mail program, the USPS has pulled in more than $153 million in revenue from small local businesses it’s convinced to market through the mails. The program is a saturation mail service that charges as little as 14.5 cents per piece -- lower than comparable standard mail rates -- and lets small local companies send as many as 5,000 pieces per day without requiring a postal permit, according to the USPS.

Watermill Buys Mainistique

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/idUS200308+17-Apr-2012+BW20120417Manistique

The Watermill Group received court approval today to acquire Manistique Papers, the only company in North America producing high-value uncoated printing and writing paper exclusively from 100% recycled fiber. The purchase agreement was finalized following an auction and confidential bidding process. Watermill also owns FutureMark, maker of recycled coated mechanical paper.

Catalyst Creditors Meeting in May, Crofton Union Votes

Catalyst Paper reschedules meetings of creditors:

Catalyst Paper has announced that meetings of its secured and unsecured creditors to consider the plan of arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act have been changed from April 23, 2012 to May 2, 2012. 

http://hqcowichanvalley.com/home/local/news/Local/12/04/13/Crofton-union-votes-to-keep-contract

Separately, union workers at the Crofton Pulp and Paper (uncoated mechanical) mill have cemented in place their new collective agreements in the event Catalyst Paper loses ownership of its B.C. operations.

Resolute/Fibrek Fight Goes On

http://www.fibrek.com/en/media/

Fibrek Inc. reminded shareholders today that the $1.40 per share offer made by Mercer International Inc. ("Mercer") remains in force and Fibrek shareholders continue to have the ability and the right to tender their shares to this superior offer.

Direct Marketing Hiring Steady

Direct marketing hiring outlook stable: After a spike in first-quarter hiring of digital and direct marketers, companies plan to hold firm on staffing this spring. According to Bernhart's latest “Quarterly Digital and Direct Marketing Employment Report,” 50% of companies said they plan to add to staff in the second quarter,

Hearst's House Beautiful & HSN Partners

House Beautiful Introduces Television Partnership With HSN:  Hearst’s House Beautiful is taking to the small screen this year—the publication is launching a partnership with HSN, formerly known as the Home Shopping Network, to raise awareness about the brand and foster commerce and consumer interaction.

Evaluating the Digital Audience

Managing the Digital Audience: Managing a digital audience is truly a mixed bag: on one hand, it is now possible to understand more about who is consuming what content, where and how-maybe even why; on the other hand, it can be incredibly complicated, despite all the advantages, to do so.

Q1 Industrial Production Up 5.4%

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-17/u-dot-s-dot-march-industrial-production-and-capacity-report-text

Industrial production was unchanged in March for a second month but rose at an annual rate of 5.4% in the first quarter of 2012. Manufacturing output declined 0.2% in March but jumped 10.4% at an annual rate in the first quarter.

March Retail Sales Up

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/328592/20120416/march-retail-sales-auto-empolyment.htm

Sales at U.S. retailers rose sharply for the third straight month in March, as Americans continued to weather the hike in gasoline prices and splurged on buying new cars and renovating their homes.

Retail sales jumped 0.8% in March, after advancing 1% in February, Commerce Department figures showed Monday.

GAO Reports USPS Excess Capacity

USPS dealing with excess of infrastructure, employees: According to the GAO report, the USPS has 461 processing centers but only needs 238. There are about 8,000 processing machines but with mail capacity for only 5,000; and, out of 154,000 postal employees, there is work for just 119,000, according to the report.

Port Hawk. Union Recommends Buyer's Offer

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-04-16/article-2955600/Former-NewPage-employees-begin-to-vote-on-companys-offer/1
The union representing 550 NewPage paper mill employees has recommended its membership accept the latest contract offer, as revised on Sunday, by prospective buyer Pacific West Commercial Corp. as they begin to vote on the package today.

UPM Announces Coated Increase

UPM has announced an increase of $40/short ton on all lightweight coated mechanical web products and $30/short ton on all coated freesheet web products. The change is effective with all orders delivered on or after July 1.

73% of News Readers Use Inserts

Three-Quarters of Newspaper Readers Use Printed Circulars: A new study from the NAA shows Internet users rely on local newspaper media, digital as well as print, for news and information. 73% have used newspaper printed circulars in the past 30 days. 61% say that newspapers provide more useful advertising and the majority of respondents prefer print circulars to digital.

2011 FSI Coupons Up 30.7%

FSI Coupon Activity Increased 30.7% in 2011: Kantar Media reports that retailer advertising expenditures increased 1.6% and retailer participation in Free Standing Insert (FSI) coupon promotion pages increased 30.7% in 2011 versus 2010. Additionally, digital coupon events increased 40.4% during this period.