Sappi Reports Q3 Results

http://www.paperage.com/2013news/08_02_2013sappi_earnings.html

Successful start-up of both dissolving wood pulp projects
Operating profit excluding special items US$8 million (Q3 2012 US$60 million)
Loss for the period US$42 million (Q3 2012 US$106 million loss)
Loss per share 8 US cents (Q3 2012 loss of 20 US cents)
Net finance costs US$42 million (Q3 2012 US$141 million)
Net debt US$2,297 million (Q3 2012 US$2,213 million)

The past quarter saw a further deterioration in European paper industry conditions, exacerbating an already weak market, and demand is expected to remain subdued. Input costs, particularly pulp, remain high and we do not expect to see any price increases in our major paper grades in the coming quarter.

THE QUARTER UNDER REVIEW

This seasonally slow quarter saw a significant decline in demand for our major paper grades, with total European industry deliveries of coated woodfree and coated mechanical paper down 8% year-on-year for the quarter. Our total sales volumes were 6% below that of the equivalent quarter last year despite good growth in specialities volumes. Average prices realised were slightly higher than in the previous quarter, as a result of marginal price increases for coated woodfree paper, but remain on average below those of the equivalent quarter in the prior year.

In the North American business, operating profit for the current quarter was negatively impacted by an estimated US$12 million due to 22 days of incremental downtime taken for the Cloquet pulp mill conversion project and related ramp-up of operations. Coated paper sales volumes were essentially flat year-on-year; however the average net sales price per ton was 4% lower than in the prior year due to a competitive local market and increased import pressure. Prices appeared to have stabilised during the quarter and we expect to realise some price increases on economy sheets and web products over the coming months.

Boise Reports Q2 Results

http://news.paperindex.com/Finance_StockMarket/Boise_Inc-_Reports_Financial_Results_for_Second_Quarter_2013/

Boise Inc. (NYSE: BZ) today reported a net loss of $(2.2) million, or $(0.02) per diluted share, for second quarter 2013, compared with net income of $13.7 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the same period in 2012. Excluding special items, net income was $10.5 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for second quarter 2013. EBITDA, excluding special items,(1) was $71.2 million for second quarter 2013, compared with $75.1 million for second quarter 2012.
Special items during the quarter included $15.3 million of pretax costs, of which $9.0 million will be cash expenditures related primarily to our plan to shut down two uncoated freesheet paper machines and an off-machine coater at our mill in International Falls, Minnesota. Additionally, we recorded $5.5 million of incremental depreciation expense related to shortening the useful lives of some of our assets, primarily at our mill in International Falls.

Media Post Mag Bag

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/205928/mag-bag-army-air-force-px-stores-drop-nude-mags.html#axzz2aqLKcFcc

U.S. Army soldiers and Air Force airmen will no longer be able to read Playboy, Penthouse, and other such magazines without leaving the base, following a decision by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service to stop selling them at PX stores. Navy and Marine Corps exchanges will continue selling nudie mags, at least for the time being. 
Welker To Publisher, CRO for New Dr. Oz Title
Hearst Magazines has named Kristine Welker to the position of vice president, publisher and chief revenue officer for the publisher’s planned magazine collaboration with Dr. Mehmet Oz. The magazine -- which has yet to be named -- is scheduled to debut in the first quarter of 2014, with newsstand distribution of 350,000 and another 450,000 copies delivered directly to certain Hearst subscribers. Welker previously served as vice president and chief revenue officer of Hearst Magazines Digital Media since 2010. Prior to that, she was the founding publisher of CosmoGIRL! Her previous position of vice president and CRO of Hearst Magazines Digital Media will be filled by Todd R. Haskell, effective September 3. Haskell comes to Hearst from the New York Times, where he served as group vice president for advertising at NYTimes.com.Meredith Promotes Execs
Meredith Corp. has promoted a number of executives to new spots in the company. Christine Guilfoyle has been promoted to vice  president and group publisher, with additional responsibility for Allrecipes magazine, set to launch this fall. She will continue to lead Every Day With Rachael Ray and EatingWell magazines. Linda Fears has been named vice president and editor in chief of Family Circle, following eight years as EIC; she will also continue as editorial director of Meredith’s Food Content Center of Excellence. Cheryl Brown has been named editor in chief of Allrecipes magazine, having previously served as editorial director of Recipe.com. 

Surveys: If You’re Going to Be Best, Personalize

http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2013/08/surveys-say-if-youre-going-to-be-best-in-class-youll-personalize/

If you’re going to be a best-in-class marketer, you’re going to personalize your content. Surveys of best-in-class companies show this over and over.
A 2012 InfoTrends survey of 1,000+ large businesses, across 10 different vertical industries, found that more than 60% of respondents’ campaigns were personalized or segmented.[1]  A 2011 Aberdeen Group study found that, of “best in class” marketers (defined as being in the top 20% of sales and profitability), 39% were actively “targeting offers to optimize marketing ROI” and “optimizing marketing activities at each touchpoint along the customer lifecycle.”

Online Publishers Raising Subscription Prices

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20130802/MEDIABUSINESS10/308029996/online-publishers-raising-subscription-prices-tightening-free-access

Newspapers and other online media with metered subscription models are raising subscription prices and applying stricter limits on free access, according to an analysis of data aggregated from publishers using RR Donnelley's Press+ content revenue platform.
Press+ shared the research at a quarterly meeting of its affiliate publishers this week.
The data show that the average price paid for monthly digital subscriptions to publications using the Press+ system rose from $8.83 in July 2012 to $9.09 last month. The monthly average in July 2011 was $6.66.
Publishers have rapidly adopted the metered-access subscription model, which allows website visitors to access a set number of free content pieces before being required to subscribe. They are increasingly tightening that number as they gain confidence in converting visitors to paid subscribers.

Verily: The Future of Women's Magazines?

http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/181369/is-verily-the-future-of-womens-magazines/
If you’re a woman who loves reading about fashion, culture and relationships — a woman who finds that Cosmopolitan and Glamour don’t speak to you — you should know about Verily magazine. It’s not your typical women’s magazine, and it’s motto proves that fact: “Less of who you should be, more of who you are.” Launched in June, Verily speaks candidly and respectfully to women, just like a good friend. Co-founders Kara Eschbach (Editor-in-Chief and Publisher) and Janet Sahm (Style Editor) recently spoke with The Sisterhood by phone about their new venture.

Channel Trumps Technology: Bookazines

http://www.pubexec.com/blog/channel-trumps-technology-interview-mark-white-vice-president-specialty-marketing-us-news-world-report
US News & World Report discontinued their print magazine in November of 2010, and now embraces mostly digital products that fit their tagline: "Life's Decisions-Made Here." But they had a dilemma. Some of their most popular and profitable products, sold in print magazine newsstands, had no channel in the digital world.
"We call them bookazines," says Mark White, vice president of specialty marketing at U.S. News & World Report in an interview he gave me last week. "They have no subscriptions, [and mostly] newsstand distribution in the print form. 'Newsstand-only' was a buzzkill for advertisers, and we have a lot of advertising, especially in Best Hospitals."

DMA Releases Compliance Report

http://www.dmnews.com/dma-releases-2013-annual-compliance-report/article/305717/
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) releases its 2013 Annual Compliance Report, which showcases DMA's commitment to ensure responsible business practices in the industry and champion consumer choice. The report summarizes the findings of the investigations conducted by DMA's Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) department, and contains a list of companies in violation of DMA's Guidelines for Ethical Business Practices. 
“The report demonstrates that our members take ethics and compliance seriously, while the bad actors listed are nonmembers who do not follow marketing best practices,” says DMA's General Counsel Senny Boone.

Can Inkjet Do Direct Mail?

http://whattheythink.com/articles/64655-can-inkjet-do-direct-mail/

There’s a perception that inkjet can’t do direct mail and achieve the necessary image quality. Is that true?
To answer that, I guess we have to start by asking…what is it exactly that direct mail is supposed to do?
There isn’t one answer, just like there isn’t one kind of direct mail. “DM” ranges from the piece I find in my mailbox that tries to convince me that Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is the only time any sane person would consider buying a new mattress, to the glossy Cadillac catalog the company sends to me every year.

Standard Register Reports Q2 Results

http://whattheythink.com/news/64726-standard-register-net-loss-widens-q2/

Standard Register today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2013. The Company reported revenue of $136.8 million and a net loss of $4.8 million or $0.80 per share. The results compare to second quarter 2012 revenue of $155.1 million and a net loss of $1.1 million or $0.19 per share. The number of shares and net income/loss per share for prior periods have been adjusted on a retroactive basis to reflect the Company's 1-for-5 reverse stock split, which was effective May 9, 2013.
Non-GAAP net income, after adjustments for pension loss amortization, pension settlement, restructuring charges and related tax effects, was $1.5 million or $0.25 per share compared to $3.8 million or $0.66 per share for the second quarter of 2012.

USPS Simple Samples Can be a Good Deal

http://www.dmnews.com/simple-steps-for-samplers/article/305498/

Today's the day the United States Postal Service (USPS) rolls out its summer promotions for marketers, which this year includes a free deal for marketers to put their logos on postal indicias, and discounts on mailers that make use of technological additions like augmented reality.  Most popular among marketers is likely to be the Post Office's reprised Simple Samples program, so herewith are some pointers for making best use of the discounts it offers.
ROI should be the first prescription for every mailbox sampling effort, advises Rocky Abbett, VP of sales for Nova Marketing Services, a sampling fulfillment company.  The return on Simple Samples, he says, will be as good as your customer data.

2 Senators' Postal Reform Means Higher Rates Business Mailers

http://www.dmnews.com/senators-introduce-new-postal-reform-bill/article/305880/

Sen. Carper unveils a surprise for direct mailers.

Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), the chairman and ranking member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, last night introduced a discussion draft of the Postal Reform Act of 2013 (PRA) that, if passed as is, would almost guarantee higher postal rates for business mailers.
The PRA would place a two-year moratorium on plant and retail office closings, a jobs preservation feature likely to win the approval of labor unions and Senate Democrats. The bill would also let the rate cap pegged to the Consumer Price Index expire in 2016, at which time USPS would be able to set its own rates. With postal operations capacity far out-stripping postal volume, the survival of the Post Office would inevitably fall on the shoulders of higher rates paid by the agency's best customers: business mailers.