Sycamore Partners Buys Talbots

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/aggregatedcontent/talbots-acquired-sycamore-partners

Talbots Inc., a clothing brand known for classically styled apparel for middle-age women, has agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of the private equity firm Sycamore Partners, the two companies said Thursday.

In the press release issued Thursday, the companies said that the current transaction is valued at about $369 million when debt is included. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

USPS; New Branding Program for Marketers

USPS Launching Mailing Permit Branding Program for Marketers: In response to customer requests, the U.S. Postal Service is announcing the launch of the “Picture Permit Imprint Indicia” program for commercial mailers.

This program provides new advertising opportunities for commercial mail customers by allowing them to use corporate logos, product visuals or other brand images in the permit indicia space on their mail.

Verso's Sartell PM 3 Appears Intact After Fire

Verso Mill's Main Paper Machine Intact After Blast: The Verso Paper Corp. operation in Sartell (MN), which has been producing paper for 105 years, was indefinitely idled by Monday’s fire that resulted in the death of 50-year-old employee and injuries to several others. But even as hot spots continued to pop up Tuesday, it was apparent the vast majority of the damage was contained to part of the paper warehouse.

Robert Mundy, a senior vice president and chief financial officer for Memphis-based Verso, said he was aware of preliminary reports that the paper-making capacity of the plant’s No. 3 coated paper machine was intact. His company has been unable to verify that, because the building was still considered unsafe, but it sounded encouraging.

Derailment Causes Spill Bucksport, ME

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/28/news/hancock/dep-4000-to-6000-gallons-of-paper-chemical-spilled-in-bucksport-derailment/

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is estimating that 4,000 to 6,000 gallons of a chemical used to make coated paper (at Verso's Bucksport mill) spilled into the Penobscot River when several train tanker cars derailed in Bucksport on Friday.

And while the chemical is not believed to be hazardous, DEP officials said department staff will monitor the site to determine if any harm to wildlife or aquatic life results from the spill.

Four cars in a 31-car train derailed Friday night on a stretch of Pan Am Railways track near the Bucksport/Orrington town line.

China's Imports of Pulp, RCP Fall in April

China's total pulp imports dropped 13.8% in April compared to the previous month, to around 1.406 million tonnes, according to data from China Customs.

China's total recovered paper (RCP) imports fell 10.2% to nearly 2.628 million tonnes in April, down from some 2.928 million tonnes in March, according to the same source.

Norpac Mill; Less Newsprint, More Book Paper

http://tdn.com/news/local/hunger-games-success-a-boon-for-weyerhaeuser/article_c7175c36-a600-11e1-92bd-0019bb2963f4.html

At Norpac, which is jointly owned by Weyerhaeuser and Japan-based Nippon Paper Products, one of North America's largest newsprint mills, books and other paper products are gradually taking over the business as newspaper circulation falls and dailies shrink in size and number of pages.

Newsprint sales are now less than half of Norpac's business, down from 75% a decade ago. Newsprint sales domestically and in Japan have fallen 5% to 10% since 2002.

CP Rail Service Strike Ends

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/05/28/cp-strike-reaction.html

After tabling back-to-work legislation in the House of Commons, federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt says she wants to see Canadian Pacific Railway trains moving again by Thursday.

But transportation and commodity experts say it could take quite a while for CP's rail service to get back to normal once the strike is brought to an end. The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) today welcomed the government's action.

AF&PA Statement; Court Review on Forest Roads

http://whattheythink.com/news/58273-afpa-response-solicitor-generals-brief-forest-roads/?printmode

American Forest & Paper Association President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement today in response to the Solicitor General’s position that U.S. Supreme Court review of the Ninth Circuit decision on forest roads permitting is not necessary.

Glatfelter Authorizes Share Repurchase Program

Glatfelter authorizes $25 million share repurchase program:
Glatfelter's board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to $25 million of its outstanding common stock, the Spring Grove-based paper mill said Tuesday.

SFI Awards Grant

SFI awards $32,000 research grant to protect water resources in the boreal forest:
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative^® (SFI) announced that the Forest Ecosystem Science Co-operative Inc. will receive a $32,000 grant to support graduate research activities to test current forest management practices in the Boreal Forest and develop best practice recommendations for protecting water resources.

Hearst's Official Launch of HGTV

http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/112856/

Following two successful test issues in October 2011 and January 2012, the June/July issue of HGTV hits newsstands nationwide today. The issue will also be available for download on Zinio, B&N Nook, Kindle and Apple Newsstand this week.

Top 5 Magazines in June

Top 5 Mags in June: Give 'Em Elle, Allure and Guns:  

According to FOLIO: sister publication min, the lower-than-par monthly report of 154 titles for the first half is not a surprising one. The year has been like that. June demonstrated -6.45 percent and the overall differential for year-to-date 2012 versus 2011 was -6.10 percent.

Direct Mail Yields Better Return for Charities

Direct Mail Motivating More Online Donations: Donors are more than three times more likely to give an online gift in response to a direct mail appeal than an e-appeal, according to a new national study.

USPS Continues Cost Cutting Steps

http://www.npmhu.org/media/news/mail-handlers-to-be-offered-retirement-incentive

After in-depth discussions between NPMHU and management officials at the headquarters level, the Postal Service is offering financial incentives during a new round of retirement and separation opportunities for most Mail Handlers. 

Salesforce Buys Buddy Media

Reports: Salesforce to Acquire Buddy Media for More Than $800 Million: In a deal said to be worth over $800 million, CRM provider and cloud computing company Salesforce will purchase social media software provider Buddy Media. Buddy Media is used throughout the magazine industry, with major players such as Rodale and Hearst signed on to its services. Prevention tapped Buddy to add sweepstakes and newsletter registration to its Facebook page, while Hearst partnered with the company to produce branded social media applications (“sapplets”) for several of its titles.

Marubeni to Buy Gavilon for $3.6 Billion

http://www.marubeni.com/news/2012/120529e.html

Marubeni Corp. said Tuesday it will buy Gavilon Group LLC, the U.S.'s third-biggest grain handler, for $3.6 billion excluding debt, in a deal that will make it one of the world's largest grain traders. 
Marubeni previously reported Q4 2011 results; the consolidated net income  Apr.2011-Mar. 2012
was at a historical high, up 26% from the same period last year. Revenue rose 19%.

EURO-GRAPH Reports April Shipments

As reported by EURO-GRAPH, European shipments of coated mechanical paper in April fell -8.3% as compared to the same month last year. Demand declined -9.7% and exports were down -3.1%. Shipments for coated woodfree paper fell -2.4%, demand rose +0.5% and exports decreased -10.3%. Shipments of Supercalendered paper fell -7.5%, demand declined -2.5% and exports were down -27.4%.

UPM Sells Albbruck Mill

UPM SELLS CLOSED ALBBRUCK PAPER MILL TO KARL UNTERNEHMENSGRUPPE, GERMANY: UPM and Karl Unternehmensgruppe, Innernzell, Germany have reached an agreement on the sale of the Papierfabrik Albbruck GmbH. The closing of the deal is planned to be effective by the beginning of August 2012. The contract parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the transaction.

Fire at Verso's Sartell Mill

Firefighters make their way across the scene Monday to fight a fire at the Verso Paper plant in Sartell. / Kimm Anderson, kanderson@stcloudtimes.com

Sartell police and fire officials received a call at 11:21 a.m. reporting an explosion at the mill, according to Sartell City Administrator Patti Gartland. By 11:42 a.m. heavy black smoke was pouring out of the center part of the mill and flames were visible on the roof.

 

Port Hawkesbury Backup Plan Negotiated

http://www.capebretonpost.com/News/Local/2012-05-28/article-2990199/Backup-plan-to-sell-mill-assets-being-negotiated/1

A backup plan to sell off the assets of NewPage Port Hawkesbury is being negotiated in case the going-concern sale to Pacific West Commercial Corp. falls through, according to a new report by the monitor handling the sale. But people with a stake in seeing the mill eventually reopen shouldn’t be alarmed, Mathew Harris of Ernst & Young said Monday, as it was part of the plan all along and the current sales process is “well on its way” to being successfully completed.

New ISO Standards for Packaging

New ISO world standards on packaging and environment 
Thursday May 24th, 2012 marks the beginning of a new era in global manufacturing and distribution, where the environmental aspects of packaging throughout the supply and recycle chain will already be taken into account in the packaging design process.

Coupons Valuable, Even When Not Redeemed

Coupons Work --Even When They're Not Used: Data analysis of a 16-month field experiment finds that coupons -- whether used or not -- still increase awareness purchasing of a brand or retailer. The professors found that consumers who got the coupons but didn’t use them still “typically increased their purchases in the associated stores.” In fact, these consumers accounted for 60% of the coupons’ “sales lift” — the additional amount spent on both promoted and unpromoted items.  Data analysis found that coupons — whether used or not — still increase awareness purchasing of a brand or retailer.

Direct Marketers Report Modest Growth in Q1

http://www.btobonline.com/article/20120525/DIRECT10/305259996/dma-digital-direct-marketers-report-modest-growth-in-q1

Digital and direct marketing performance grew modestly during the first quarter, with improvements in revenue and campaign profitability, according to a report from the Direct Marketing Association.

California Senate Passes Textbook Bill

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20711652/bill-would-require-digital-textbooks-california

A bill that would require textbook publishers to make the same content available to California school districts in digital format has passed unanimously in the state Senate.

Cabela's New Avenues for Customer Engagement

http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/article/cabela-s-leverages-social-promotion-drive-customer-engagement-418921/1 

Cabela's, a cross-channel retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear, launched a Facebook promotion in March around its TV show "Ultimate Adventures" and its Outdoor Adventures travel program. The promotion was designed to drive customer engagement.

 

Magazine Publishers; Print Still Important

http://mashable.com/2012/05/23/conde-nast-meredith-magazine-websites/

Although magazine publishers have embraced mobile platforms, the web is still not all that important, executives at Conde Nast and Meredith Corp. indicated on stage at a paidContent conference.

Instead, both publishers showed a desire to adhere to legacy business models, i.e. packaging content in print (and print-like) monthly editions supported largely by advertising, and supplemented by low-cost monthly subscriptions and single-copy newsstand sales. “We see websites as gateway into the brand,” said Bob Sauberg, president of Conde Nast.

“Consumers still prefer print, so we aim for print-like digital products.” 

Popular Science Offers Bridge Between Print & Digital

Popular Science Enlists Augmented Reality To Bridge Printed Page, Digital World:
Augmented reality makes printed pages interactive
The latest issue of Popular Science harnesses augmented reality to integrate the printed page with the digital world with the assistance of a new mobile app.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Takes Steps to Reorganize

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt moves to reorganize after bankruptcy: In its original bankruptcy filing the Boston publisher listed $2.68bn in assets and $3.53bn in debt. Among its leading unsecured creditors are Chicago-based RR Donnelley and Williams Lea, who are each owed more than $20m.

Containerboard as Advertising Vehicle

White is the new brown in corrugated: Transformed from being purely a transit pack material, containerboard is making big steps forward in being able to reinforce a brand's position in the marketplace. The cause of this transition is the growth of white liners - mainly driven from the growing trend for high impact corrugated packaging in the retail ready or shelf ready market areas

April Recovered Paper Consumption Declines

US recovered paper consumption decreased in April
According to the American Forest & Paper Association's April 2012 U.S. Recovered Fiber Monthly Report, total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in April was 2.48 million tons, 4% lower than March 2012. Year-to-date consumption in 2012 is 3% lower than during the same period last year.
U.S. exports of recovered paper increased 7% in March compared to February, with increases mainly seen in Mixed and Corrugated. Year-to-date exports of recovered paper in 2012 are 3% higher than during the same period in 2011.

Facebook Ads Rarely Viewed

83% Rarely or Never Click on Facebook Ads: An AP-CNBC poll finds 83% of U.S. adult Facebook users hardly ever or never click on online ads or sponsored content when using Facebook.

Source Interlink Finds New Ways to Relaunch Hot Rod

Source Interlink Uses Face-to-Face Events to Promote Hot Rod Re-Launch: Hot Rod magazine will not only be transformed for its re-launch across print, online and social mediums —its publisher, Source Interlink, plans to also take the brand straight to consumers as part of a seven-city U.S. tour to promote the new identity of Hot Rod magazine.

USPS Announces Closure Plans

The USPS plans to close 140 processing facilities over the next few years. The first phase will begin in the period of July to August 2012, and will involve 48 facilities. The USPS plans to halt any facility closures during the busy mailing season of September through December 2012. The consolidations will resume in January 2013 for an additional 92 locations. The second phase of the project will take place in January 2014 for an additional 89 facilities, unless circumstances change in the interim.

Inkjet Printing to Double by 2017

http://www.smitherspira.com/inkjet-printing-market-is-forecast-to-reach-67-3-billion-by-2017.aspx

The inkjet printing market is valued at $33.4 billion in 2011 and forecast to grow to $67.3 billion in 2017, according to Smithers Pira, the worldwide authority on the packaging, print and paper supply chains. According to their new study, The Future of Inkjet Printing to 2017: Global Market Forecasts, inkjet is growing because it provides significant advantages across many supply chains

NAA Asks PRC to Reject USPS/Valassis Deal

NAA Calls for Rejection of the Proposed ‘Sweetheart Deal’ the USPS Offered Valassis: The Newspaper Association of America called for the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission to reject a proposed negotiated services agreement (NSA) between the U.S. Postal Service and direct-mail giant Valassis, saying this special rate proposal will cause significant financial harm to newspapers throughout the country, and will not improve the financial condition of the nation’s postal system.