Union Holds 1-Day Strike at UPM Rauma

The workers at UPM's Rauma paper mill in southwestern Finland have downed tools, halting all paper production at the site. The action started at 6 AM today and is scheduled to end at 6 AM tomorrow.

"The employees decided that we will walk out to express support and protest against UPM's plans to close PM 3 during the first half of the year," shop steward Jouko Aitonurmi said.
Yesterday, UPM announced it would cut some 580,000 tonnes of paper capacity in Finland, Germany and France. These plans include the closure of PM 3 at the Rauma mill, producing uncoated mechanical paper. This may affect 90 workers at the factory, Aitonurmi said.
A company representative at the Rauma mill confirmed that the strike had started this morning and will continue for one day.

UPM Stops LWC Production in Stracel on 1/4

Coated magazine paper production ceased at UPM Stracel mill: UPM has finalized the employee information and consultation process with the Central Workers’ Council of UPM France and the Workers’ Council of the Stracel mill. The mill ceased production of coated magazine paper on January 4, 2013.
The current customers of the UPM Stracel will be served from other UPM mills. UPM Stracel mill has been producing 270 000 tonnes of coated magazine paper grades. The mill has 250 employees.
As the next step, UPM will continue the negotiations of the sale of assets and part of the land of the Stracel mill.

Stora Reports Preliminary Q4 Results

http://www.storaenso.com/investors/Pages/default.aspx 
Stora Enso will record non-recurring items (NRI) with a positive net impact of approximately EUR 110 million on operating profit, a positive impact of approximately EUR 11 million on financial items and a positive impact of approximately EUR 56 million on income tax in its fourth quarter 2012 results. The NRI will increase earnings per share by EUR 0.22.

Great Northern Paper Names President

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/01/17/business/great-northern-paper-names-new-president/Great Northern Paper (GNP), a subsidiary of Cate Street Capital, has announced that Ned Dwyer is the company's new president. Dwyer replaces CEO, Richard Cyr, who has served as GNP's acting president for the last 12 months. Cyr will remain as GNP's CEO, as well as CEO of Thermogen Industries, which is developing a torrefied wood manufacturing facility at the company's site in Millinocket. Dwyer holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Paper Science & Engineering from the State University of New York and Syracuse University, and brings more than 26 years of relevant industry experience to his new role as president of GNP.

Norske Skog Relocates Headquarters

Relocation of Norske Skog's Headquarters to Oslo: (Norway)The President and CEO, Sven Ombudstvedt, has signed a lease contract for Norske Skog's new headquarters at Skøyen. The headquarters will be located centrally at Skøyen in Fram Eiendom's new building in 49 Karenslyst Allé in Oslo. The move will take place in early June 2013.

Advance Publications Buys Pop/ Reports Lay Offs

http://adage.com/article/digital/advance-buys-ad-agency-pop-assist-transition-digital/239233/?utm_source=mediaworks&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=adage

Advance Publications, parent company of Conde Nast and magazines like Wired, Vogue and Vanity Fair, has acquired Pop, a digital ad agency based in Seattle. Terms were not disclosed.Advance has treaded deeply into agency territory over the years by doing creative work directly for brands, but this is the first agency it has acquired outright.  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/advance-lays-off-60-at-nj-pa-newspapers-including-34-at-star-ledger-njs-largest/2013/01/16/6f7a7e3c-6026-11e2-9dc9-bca76dd777b8_story.html

Advance Publications Inc. said Wednesday that it is laying off 60 employees at newspapers it owns in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including 34 at New Jersey’s largest newspaper, the Star-Ledger of Newark.

Consumers Respond to QR Codes in Magazines

Survey: Consumers Respond Most to QR Codes Found In Magazines: A recent survey of 5,000 U.S. and European smartphone users finds, on average, 15% of respondents have used a QR code. Consumers have responded most to QR codes found in magazines.

Survey: Marketers Struggling to Manage Big Data

Survey Reveals Marketers Are Struggling to Handle Big Data: Conversational marketing technology provider Neolane Inc. announced the results of a survey it conducted in partnership with The Direct Marketing Assn. (DMA). Conducted in the third quarter of 2012, the more than 250 respondents to the survey spanned mid- and executive-level marketers in a wide range of industries.The key finding is that many markers are struggling with managing big data and must implement changes to make better use of their customer information. Overall, many are ill-equipped to handle the influx of growing data and are behind in planning for tremendous growth.

Meredith Lays Off 60 Employees

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/meredith-corp-lays-staff-146650

Publisher and broadcaster Meredith Corp. revealed today it laid off 60 people, a little less than 2 percent of its total workforce of 3,400. The parent of mass women's brands like Better Homes and Gardens and Family Circle took a $7 million net special charge related to the layoff in its fiscal second quarter, which it’s expected to report on Jan. 24.

Eating Well Partners with Dole

http://www.pubexec.com/article/dole-partners-with-eatingwell-magazine-education-sweepstakes/1

A unique, year-long partnership between Dole Salads and EatingWell Magazine seeks to inspire Americans to eat more salads, fruits and vegetables in 2013—and ultimately live happier, healthier lives. 

This partnership represents the first time the world's largest provider of fresh fruits and vegetables has teamed up with a major media brand. The year-long alliance between Dole and EatingWell print and online properties includes a host of initiatives designed to demonstrate just how easy and delicious a balanced diet rich in leafy greens and fresh produce can be.

Bloomberg Pursuits Ups Issues, Launches App

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/now-quarterly-bloomberg-pursuits-adds-masthead-launches-ipad-app-146463 
Bloomberg Pursuits, the luxury lifestyle spinoff of Bloomberg Markets, is trying to make more inroads into fashion as it steps up its frequency to four times a year. In addition to launching an iPad app, which will automatically download to subscribers of the Markets app starting with the spring issue, new editor in chief Ted Moncreiff's first, the magazine has added an art director and luxury marketing consultant.

Hearst's Fashion Week Competition

Hearst to Hold App 'Hackathon' During Fashion Week:
Hearst Magazines is planning what it's calling the 'Hearst Fashion Hack' during New York Fashion week. The event is a competition that courts the city's mobile development community by inviting them to build mobile apps in a 24-hour hackathon.

Women's Health Launches Contest

http://www.adweek.com/news/press/womens-health-launches-next-fitness-star-competition-146609

From The Next Food Network Star to the Next Action Star, we've seen a bevy of reality competitions attempt to find the latest, greatest fill-in-the-blank. Now, Rodale's Women’s Health is getting in on the trend with its own talent search: The Next Fitness Star.

Magna: Ad Revenue Up 4.7% in 2012

Magna: U.S. ad revenue up 4.7% in 2012: New York—U.S. ad revenue totaled an estimated $153.4 billion last year, up 4.7% over 2011, according to revised figures from Magna Global.

48.7% of BtoB Marketers Increasing Budgets

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20130111/STRATEGY01/301119988/almost-half-of-marketers-to-boost-budgets-this-year

Despite continued uncertainty about the economy, nearly half of b2b marketers plan to increase their marketing budgets this year, according to BtoB's "2013 Outlook: Marketing Priorities and Plans" special report. 

The annual report, now in its 10th year, was based on an online survey of 366 b2b marketers, conducted between Nov. 12 and Nov. 30.
It found that 48.7% of marketers plan to increase their budgets this year, up from 40.1% last year; 41.8% will hold budgets flat, down from 48.4%; and 9.5% will decrease budgets, down from 10.8%.

Williams-Sonoma Reports Holiday Sales Up 4.8%

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/01/16/williams-sonoma-inc-announces-a-48-increase-in-201/

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYS: WSM) today announced that net revenues for the nine-week holiday period (October 29, 2012 - December 30, 2012) increased 4.8% to $1.014 billion versus the comparable last year nine-week holiday period ended January 1, 2012. Comparable brand revenues increased 4.4%.

GAO: Congress Must Help USPS

The U.S. Congress Must Help USPS Grow Revenues, Says GAO: For USPS to pull itself out of its current financial difficulties, it cannot just rely on pension and healthcare reforms and high-profile cost-cutting measures—it must also find fresh ways to raise new revenue streams. That is the central message of a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) sent to Congress this week.

UPM to Reduce 580,000 Tonnes of Graphic Paper Capacity

UPM Plans to Reduce 580,000 Tonnes of Graphic Paper Capacity in Europe:

The continuing challenges in European economy have significantly impacted the consumption of paper, exacerbating the effect of structural changes in paper end-uses and resulting in further decline in the demand of graphic papers in Europe. High costs and significant overcapacity continue to challenge the industry operators in Europe.

UPM is planning to permanently reduce paper capacity in Europe by a further 580,000 tonnes. The capacity reductions are planned to take place in Finland, Germany and France. The business environment also makes evident the need for streamlining of the Paper Business Group and UPM's global functions to remain cost competitive in the new business scale.
In early January, UPM finalized the employee consultation process in UPM Stracel, France, implying reduction of 270,000 tonnes of coated magazine paper capacity (coated mechanical paper). With UPM Stracel and today's plans, UPM would reduce a total of approximately 850,000 tonnes of graphic paper capacity in 2013.
UPM plans:
A permanent closure of paper machine 3 at UPM Rauma mill in Finland (SC paper)
A permanent closure of paper machine 4 at UPM Ettringen in Germany (SC Paper)
A sale or other exit of UPM Docelles mill in France (uncoated woodfree paper), and
subject to further analysis, streamlining in the Paper Business and UPM's global functions.
According to the plan the Rauma and Ettringen machine lines would be permanently closed by the end of first half of 2013. Both machines are producing uncoated magazine paper, in total 420,000 tonnes annually.

The process for selling the UPM Docelles mill will start immediately. The process will be given maximum six months. Docelles is producing uncoated woodfree papers, 160,000 tonnes annually.

UPM Looking for Buyer for Processing Business

UPM will begin a sales process to find a new owner for its further processing business in France including a planing mill in Aigrefeuille d'Aunis and related sales organization located in Lagord, near La Rochelle. This activity is part of UPM's Timber business area, and employs approximately 45 people. The sales process will be launched immediately and is expected to be completed by the end of July 2013.

UPM aims to find a buyer to continue wood processing in Aigrefeuille. In case UPM is presented with a binding offer, the company will proceed with the employee consultation process according to the French legislation.
UPM's plan to sell the Aigrefeuille mill follows the renewed Timber business strategy announced in April 2012. UPM concentrates on developing the sawmills closely integrated with the company's pulp and paper mills.
Aigrefeuille further processing mill operations will continue as usual despite the sales process.

UPM Preliminary Q4 Release

http://www.upm.com/EN/INVESTORS/Investor-News/Pages/UPM-changes-Paper-and-Energy-businesses%E2%80%99-asset-values-to-reflect-the-fair-values-001-Thu-17-Jan-2013-08-35.aspx

UPM's Q4 2012 results were broadly in line with the company's guidance. Operating profit excluding special items was approximately EUR 138 million, compared with EUR 147 million in Q4 2011, or EUR 122 million in Q3 2012. UPM expected its Q4 2012 operating profit excluding special items to be about the same or lower than in Q3 2012.

Profitability of Paper Business Area continued at previous quarter's level with reported operating loss excluding special items of EUR 10 million in Q4 2012.
UPM will publish its Financial Statements release 2012, including outlook statement on 31 January 2013 with analyst conference call as well as Finnish press conference on the same day.