Domtar Corporation is one of the largest and most innovative
paper companies in the world. Our company, PrintEco, is a two-year-old software
startup with a mission to help save paper and ink and protect the environment.
So when we announced our partnership with Domtar at SB ’13 in June, a lot of
our friends were like, “Congratulations! Wait ... a paper company?” Admittedly,
we’re a bit of an odd couple — but working with Domtar has taught us a lot
about branding and about sustainable business in general. Here’s what we’ve
learned: Domtar brands itself “The
sustainable paper company.” Sounds nice, but isn’t that an oxymoron? Turns out,
not in Domtar’s case. The company
commits more resources to sustainability initiatives than you can imagine,
including: Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) certification at 100% of its
facilities, over a decade of collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance, Contribution
of over $1 million to World Wildlife Fund’s global conservation work over the
past three years, donation of a year’s supply of Domtar EarthChoice® Office
Paper to Recyclebank’s Green Schools Program. These programs provide a solid
operational backbone for Domtar’s sustainability messaging and give the brand
team plenty of specific achievements to share with its audience. Between
environmental issues and advances in paperless technology, the future of the
pulp and paper industry is fraught with uncertainty. If people stop printing
they won’t need PrintEco software, so the future of paper is important to us,
and a topic that we were glad to borrow Domtar’s expertise in considering. Such
a dynamic industry environment creates an opportunity for brands such as Domtar
to be proactive in guiding the evolution of their industry, rather than being
reactive. Domtar launched its Paper
Because campaign to educate people about the responsible use of paper. The
campaign website tells you, “Paper has value. It’s sustainable, personal and
purposeful — and the more we know about it, the more we can understand how to
make smart choices about when and how to use it.” Sound like some cheesy
marketing fluff? That’s what I thought, until I read some of the articles and
actually learned a lot about paper — while taking intermittent breaks to laugh
at some of their hilarious paper videos. ‘Ok,’ I thought, ‘responsible paper
use. I’m onboard.’ But I’m willing to say that the decision by Domtar
leadership to partner with PrintEco is a game-changer. People who use PrintEco
software will buy less paper, and that’s the bottom line. To me, the
partnership is Domtar’s way of saying, ‘We’re committed to sustainability, and
we’re willing to stake today’s profits on it for the sake of tomorrow’s
customers and our brand.’
Friday, August 23, 2013
Sartell Mill Demolition Is Approved
The process to erase a mainstay from the Central Minnesota
skyline could start as soon as next week. The Sartell City Council unanimously
approved Thursday an interim use permit to demolish the former Verso Paper
mill, which is now owned by AIM Development. Council member Steve Hennes was
not at the meeting. The work is expected to start this month and take 15 months
to complete. A portion of
the mill was destroyed in an explosion and fire last year. Its former owner
decided to cease operations and sold the property. The company will demolish
buildings, vertical concrete structures and metal. The company says that more
than 530,000 square feet of buildings and 104,000 of tanks and other items will
be removed. Up to 95 percent of the materials will be recycled, according to
the company. The only buildings that will remain are the office building,
hydroelectric operations and a warehouse. On Thursday the council also approved a development
agreement and structurally substandard buildings resolution. Those have to be
put in place in case a tax-increment financing district is created for the
site.
Winstone Pulp Price Increase
New Zealand’s Winstone Pulp International has announced a US$20/ton price increase for
Asia, effective Sept. 1, 2013 in softwood bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp
(BCTMP). Winstone produces more than 160,000 tons/year of BCTMP.
Rodale Partners On New Waldorf Astoria Magazine
Created for the luxury traveler, Waldorf Astoria Hotels
& Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of
individual magazines available both in-room and online, each with a distinct
voice and point of view offering inspiring design, arts, culinary, style and
travel content from preeminent lifestyle writers. “These exciting new magazines
not only extend our voice in the luxury space, but also allow us to provide
relevant lifestyle content through the unique lens of our Waldorf Astoria and
Conrad brands,” says John T.A. Vanderslice, global head, luxury and lifestyle
brands, Hilton Worldwide. “The debut of these beautifully curated magazines
reinforces the exceptional experiences awaiting each guest when they arrive at
one of our nearly 50 luxury properties around the world.” Published biannually in partnership with
publishing house, Rodale, print copies of the magazines are available in-room
at all Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels and resorts globally. Digital
versions, featuring videos and exclusive bonus content, are available free for
download via Flipboard and iTunes (for iPad) or the Google Play Store (for
Android), and at www.waldorfastoria.com/magazine or
www.conradhotels.com/magazine.
Mags, News, Brace For Postal Increase
Magazines, newspapers and direct marketers are girding for
the possibility that the U.S. Postal Service will pass an exigent rate increase
on top of the annual postal rate that is capped by the consumer price index.
The increase, made possible by a 2006 law that gives the postal service the
option to raise rates in case of extreme circumstances like a terrorist attack,
could be as high as 10 percent across the board. It couldn't come at a worse time for the media and marketing
industries that depend on mail service. "We're finally getting our footing back since the 2009
recession," said Mary Berner, president and CEO of the MPA, the
Association for Magazine Media. Magazines, for example, spend $3 billion
annually on postage. A 10 percent increase would add $300 million to an
industry that is already challenged. Some magazines could go out of business,
Berner warned. Others could cut back on mail delivery and redouble digital
efforts. But lobbyists are running out of time to convince the post office not
to jack up the rates. The Postal Board of Governors is scheduled to meet behind
closed doors on Sept. 5. Given that the U.S. Post Office is bleeding billions
of dollars each year, lobbyists fear a rate increase seems almost inevitable.
To fight the increase, the mailing industry brought back together the
Affordable Mail Alliance, a coalition of more than 50 organizations, including
the MPA, the Direct Marketing Association and the National Newspaper
Association. Three years ago, the group fought against the first exigent rate
increase and won, challenging it in court in a case that now lies dormant. In a
letter this week to the Postal Board of Governors, the group argued that a rate
increase would be self-defeating and could lessen the pressure on Congress to
enact much-needed postal reform. The group also asked the Board of Governors
for a personal meeting. "Right now, the [postal service] can't rationalize
their business. We're supportive of five-day delivery, consolidation of
facilities, and reduction in the cost of benefits," said Berner.
"This exigent increase is a distraction and it won't help the postal
system. We need to focus on legislation that gives the postal service the tools
they need." If the board of governors passes the increase (and all
expectations are that they will), the Postal Regulatory Commission will have 90
days to pass it. And if that happens, the mailing industry will be forced to
litigate, again. "That diverts time and resources away from coming up with
a long-term solution," Berner said.
Exigent Postal Rate Increase Is Feared Near
Exigent rate increase—three words that strike fear into the
hearts of direct mailers. It's an increase that comes above and beyond the
regular, annual rate adjustment, which is capped by the Consumer Price Index.
If passed, it could be a game-changer for marketers who depend on direct mail. Well, start trembling, mailers. The Affordable Mail Alliance
claims to have information that the Postal Board of Governors will be
considering such an increase in September. The Alliance, formed by concerned
associations including the Direct Marketing Association and the American
Catalog Mailers Association, sent a letter yesterday to Postal Board Chairman
Mickey D. Burnett warning of dire consequences to an exigent increase. “The
mailing industry, and its suppliers, responsible for $1.3 trillion in sales
annually, and nearly 8 million private sector jobs,” the letter read, “are
unanimous in our great concern that, notwithstanding the Postal Service's
ongoing financial predicament, an ‘exigent' increase would cause severely
adverse, and likely irrevocable, consequences for mail volume and
revenue." With Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe insisting that reform be
enacted immediately to save the Postal Service from financial disaster, the
threat of an exigent rate increase worries direct mailers.
Troy Young Restructures Hearst Digital Division
Hearst is restructuring its digital department. Although
specific details remain unclear, the new strategy calls for a “newsier
presence” and building “stronger relationships” between Hearst properties. Earlier this week, Hearst let two top editors go and then
promptly touted new digital hires. The reorganization comes not long after Troy
Young, who came to Hearst from Say Media, was appointed to the newly created
position of president of digital media at the company. “We’re focusing on editorial, design, and
media platforms to create stronger relationships between our properties and
their communities, and building a stronger, newsier presence, which means
making choices and creating new opportunities,” Mr. Young said in an email to
The Observer. “We’re continuing to hire for roles that will move our strategy
forward, and you’ll see our site experiences evolve quickly.” “Digital is a huge area of growth and
investment for us, and we’re having our most profitable year ever,” Mr. Young
said. In an email announcing its digital hires, Hearst touted big traffic gains
for both women’s titles. “In July, Cosmopolitan.com reached 12.2 million unique
visitors, its best month ever. ELLE.com reached 3.4 million unique visitors, up
26% versus last year,” the email read.
Gap Looks For Up Year
Gap raised its earnings-per-share outlook for the year
yesterday after its summer lineup helped boost second-quarter results and
advanced its turnaround push. The higher guidance was short of Wall Street expectations,
but the company also hiked its annual dividend by 20 cents, or 33 percent, to
80 cents per share. Its shares rose 1 percent to $42.43 in aftermarket trading.
Over the past year, the stock is up 21 percent. Gap owns Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta and
Intermix stores, in addition to its namesake chain. Gap’s more upbeat outlook
represents a bright spot in the broader industry. Major retailers including
Walmart, Target and Macy’s have lowered their expectations for the rest of the
year, citing the uncertain economy.
Koch Industries Not Buying Tribune Newspapers
Koch Industries will not be buying the Tribune Company’s
eight newspapers, which include the Chicago Tribune and the LA Times, The Daily
Caller has learned. Sources with knowledge of the business proceedings told The
Daily Caller that Koch Industries, after conducting its due diligence, has not
been interested in buying the newspapers for “a couple months.” The company
determined that purchasing the newspapers was “not economically viable” and
that both parties walked away from the negotiations, they said.
Zinio App Offers 3 Mags $5/Month
Magazine junkies on a budget, you might just flip over this.
The Zinio app – which lets you read more than 5,500 digital magazines on any
platform – is now offering a subscription model that costs $5/month for any
three of your favorite magazines. Not bad, considering many of the magazines
cost $4.99 for a single issue, such as T3, Car and Driver, PC Gamer, Rolling
Stone, Esquire and National Geographic. Some magazines cost less -- such as
$3.99 per issue for Cosmo, Us Weekly, Wine Access and TV Guide -- but $5 a
month for three magazines is still a deal. Called "Z-pass," you can
select which three magazines you want and change them up each month, if
desired. You don't need to commit for a certain amount of time to get the deal,
and the first month is free. You can access your Zinio magazines on virtually
all smartphones, tablets and computers (we reviewed the app on an iPad mini).
Magazines are downloaded to read offline, so you're fine if there's no Internet
connection when you want to read (such as on an airplane).
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