At the Yale Publishing Course this week, Publishing
Executive had the opportunity to speak with a couple of attendees
from China: Chris Hu, publisher of Elle Decoration,
and Quentin Li, editorial director and associate publisher of Elle
Men. Both Shanghai-based magazines were acquired last year by
Hearst in its mega-deal with Hachette, with the changeover to new ownership completed in December.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Docucopies.com Refuses to Collect CA Sales Tax
Docucopies.com,
an online digital printing company, will stop collecting California sales tax
effective immediately. The company recently opened a production center in San
Luis Obispo, CA, which cut its delivery time from four business days to one on
most of the West Coast. Unfortunately, its physical presence in the state makes
Docucopies.com subject to California commerce laws that require the company
collect sales tax from any customer whose printing products are delivered to
California.
Previously the company, which is incorporated in Minnesota and has their headquarters in Wisconsin, only collected sales tax for work delivered to WIsconsin customers.
Docucopies.com’s management understands the state’s massive budgetary problems, but thinks collecting sales tax on e-commerce is the wrong way to solve them.
Previously the company, which is incorporated in Minnesota and has their headquarters in Wisconsin, only collected sales tax for work delivered to WIsconsin customers.
Docucopies.com’s management understands the state’s massive budgetary problems, but thinks collecting sales tax on e-commerce is the wrong way to solve them.
University Goes Digital
University of
Missouri officials say they're replacing the University of Missouri Press with
a digital publishing operation...
Nearly 5,500 people
have signed an online petition in support of saving the press.
Reporting Loophole for Magazines
Apple and Amazon Deliver Loophole To Consumer Magazines: Sketchy sales data from Apple and Amazon have led to a new loophole for magazines whose circulation is checked by the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The loophole will enable them to bolster the reported circulation numbers of a weak-selling issue with single-copy sales of better-selling issue.
Zimbio Buys Lonny Magazine
Zimbio Expands Portfolio With Lonny Magazine Acquisition: Zimbio Inc., parent company of Zimbio.com and StyleBistro.com, has a network that reaches an audience of more than 30 million global monthly readers across the fashion, beauty, celebrity and entertainment industries. The company will now be expanding into the interior design market with the acquisition of the home decor publication Lonny magazine.
Condé Nast’s Lucky Tries New Engagement Tool
Lucky Leverages New Community to Grow Digital Audience: With less than 10% duplication between print and Web audiences for Condé Nast’s Lucky, the digital side needs different products to keep its visitors engaged. Enter Appinions, a technology company whose products can spot the most influential online fashionistas and gather their posts and comments on a dashboard that lets users click through to read the entire post and other data around it.
AOL Names First CMO
AOL names Hunt CMO: AOL has named Jolie Hunt CMO, a new position at the online media company. Hunt was previously senior VP-global head of brand and public relations at Thomson Reuters. Prior to that, she was global director of corporate and business affairs at IBM Corp. In her new position, she will oversee AOL's global communications strategy, including internal and external communications, social media and corporate social responsibility.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Paper Industry to Reach $256 billion in 2017
The global paper industry experienced stable
growth during the last five years and is expected to continue its growth
momentum, reaching approximately US $256 billion in 2017 with a CAGR of 5.9%
over the next five years (2012-2017) as reported by the recently published “Global Paper Industry 2012-2017: Trends,
Profits and Forecast Analysis”.
Port Hawkesbury: Consumer Advocate Protests, Process Continues
Nova
Scotia's consumer advocate has asked the Utility and Review Board to dismiss an
application for a reduced power rate for the Port Hawkesbury paper mill that
formerly belonged to NewPage.
The
rate would give Pacific West Commercial Corp. among the lowest power costs in
North America, if not the lowest. But the seven-year deal would also leave
consumers on the hook if the mill's owners, Pacific West and Nova Scotia Power,
have underestimated what it would cost to supply the mill with electricity.
An idled Cape Breton paper mill is three
steps closer to reopening after a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge granted a
trio of orders Tuesday.
Justice John Murphy granted NewPage Port
Hawkesbury a stay of proceedings until Aug. 31, approved a creditors meeting on
the papermaker’s sale and granted a reorganization order.
While the three orders are a significant step
in the sales process, the successful reopening of the mill hinges on hearings
now before the provincial regulator.
AF&PA Releases Containerboard Report
http://www.paperage.com/2012news/07_18_2012containerboard_afpa.htm
Containerboard production lost just 0.3% over
the same month last year. Production was down 1.7% compared to May
2012, but the month over month average daily production increased 1.6%.
The containerboard operating rate for June 2012 rose 1.5 points over
May 2012 from 94.7% to 96.3%. Box shipments dropped 3.5% to 31.005 billion ft2 on an actual basis in
June, but adjusted for one less shipping day this year were up 1.1% on
an average-week basis, according to Fibre Box Assn (FBA) statistics.
Online Sales Taxes Coming to More States
Conservative governors, joining their
Democratic counterparts, have been making deals with online retail giant Amazon.com
AMZN +0.59% to collect
state sales taxes. The movement picked up an important ally when New Jersey
Gov. Chris Christie—widely mentioned as a potential vice-presidential
candidate—recently reached an agreement under which Amazon would collect sales
taxes on his state's online purchases in exchange for locating distribution
facilities there.
The move toward taxing online sales has broad
implications. Online shopping will become more expensive for consumers.
Brick-and-mortar retailers won't have the price disadvantage they now have
compared with online sellers. Strapped states suddenly could be flush with $23
billion in new annual revenue, according to the National Conference of State
Legislatures.
The Michigan Retailers Association (MRA)
today called on State Treasurer Andy Dillon to follow the law and his
department's own guidelines by sending a bill to online giant Amazon for sales
tax owed the State of Michigan.
Hearst's Esquire Goes to Singapore
Hearst Magazines International (HMI), a unit of
Hearst Corporation, today announced the launch of Esquire
in Singapore starting with the September issue, on newsstands September 1.
American City & Country Tries New Technique
Penton Title Sees Success With Virtual Events: Penton Media’s American City & County magazine, a monthly b-to-b publication serving the state and local government markets, is driving audience development and ROI with virtual events. The title’s State and Local Government Summit, which launched five years ago, is delivering a variety of paid sponsorships and cultivating valuable connections with readers.
American Media Names Digital Officer
American
Media Inc., the publisher of magazines including Star and Shape, has named Joe
Bilman its first chief digital officer as part of a new plan for digital media
that calls for adding 60 employees and spending $30 million over three years.
Harte-Hanks President Leaving
Gary Skidmore, EVP and president of direct
marketing at Harte-Hanks, Inc. is
leaving the company, according to a company statement.
In a release, Harte-Hanks stated that
Skidmore's last day with the company will be July 31, 2012, and that the
current chairman and CEO of Harte-Hanks, Larry Franklin will be taking over the
agency's direct marketing business.
QR Codes Not Meeting Expectations
Study: QR codes aren't delivering customer needs: QR codes, the most common of the mobile barcode formats, have not fulfilled their promise in connecting with large audiences, according to a report by consultancy eMarketer. the study reveals that QR code users want deals and discounts, while brands want to deliver information. Most users only scan a QR code once and afterward forgo the practice, the company said.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Court Extends Credit Protection to NP Port Hawkesbury
NewPage Port Hawkesbury granted extension to creditor protection period:
The Nova Scotia Supreme Court has granted NewPage Port Hawkesbury another extension to their creditor protection period.
The mill now has until August 31, 2012 to wrap up the sale and transfer of the mill’s assets to Pacific West Commercial Corp.
The Nova Scotia Supreme Court has granted NewPage Port Hawkesbury another extension to their creditor protection period.
The mill now has until August 31, 2012 to wrap up the sale and transfer of the mill’s assets to Pacific West Commercial Corp.
Resolute Dispute with Algonquin Nation Threatens Logging
Resolute Forest Products logging under heavy police presence at Barriere Lake:
Montreal riot police have been sent 5 hours north of Montreal to the area where the Algonquin First Nation of Barriere Lake are protesting Resolute Forest Products‘ logging activity.
For the past 2 weeks, members of the Algonquin First Nations of Barriere Lake have been camping out along the roadside at Poigan Lake where the logging is occurring. Today, members of the Algonquin community are moving their protest camp site closer to logging operations to prevent further cutting.
The police are escorting the loggers to their job site and have threatened to arrest members of the Barrier Lake community if they interfere. The Algonquin First Nations of Barriere Lake insist the Quebec government has granted a harvesting license to Resolute Forest Products without the Algonquin community’s consent or consultation, and in violation of the Trilateral Agreement the Quebec government signed with Barriere Lake in 1991.
Montreal riot police have been sent 5 hours north of Montreal to the area where the Algonquin First Nation of Barriere Lake are protesting Resolute Forest Products‘ logging activity.
For the past 2 weeks, members of the Algonquin First Nations of Barriere Lake have been camping out along the roadside at Poigan Lake where the logging is occurring. Today, members of the Algonquin community are moving their protest camp site closer to logging operations to prevent further cutting.
The police are escorting the loggers to their job site and have threatened to arrest members of the Barrier Lake community if they interfere. The Algonquin First Nations of Barriere Lake insist the Quebec government has granted a harvesting license to Resolute Forest Products without the Algonquin community’s consent or consultation, and in violation of the Trilateral Agreement the Quebec government signed with Barriere Lake in 1991.
Quebec Releases Forest Sector Plan
Quebec releases new 2012-2017 Forest Sector Transformation Strategy:
Quebec‘s new 2012-2017 Forest Sector Transformation Strategy was unveiled Monday by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF).
The Strategy aims to adapt and strengthen the province’s forest sector by diversification, innovation, and adaptation. The Strategy recognizes that markets are changing at a rapid pace and Quebec’s forest industry is at a race against time to compete against competitors that adapt quickly to new realities.
Over the 2012-2017 timespan, the Government of Quebec has earmarked $268 million to implement the Strategy.
The full version of the 2012-2017 Strategy to transform the forest products industry in Quebec is available at the following address: www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/fr/forets/strategie-2012-2017 (French only).
Quebec‘s new 2012-2017 Forest Sector Transformation Strategy was unveiled Monday by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF).
The Strategy aims to adapt and strengthen the province’s forest sector by diversification, innovation, and adaptation. The Strategy recognizes that markets are changing at a rapid pace and Quebec’s forest industry is at a race against time to compete against competitors that adapt quickly to new realities.
Over the 2012-2017 timespan, the Government of Quebec has earmarked $268 million to implement the Strategy.
The full version of the 2012-2017 Strategy to transform the forest products industry in Quebec is available at the following address: www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/fr/forets/strategie-2012-2017 (French only).
PaperlinX Selling Some Assets, CEO Steps Down
PaperlinX CEO Toby Marchant is leaving the company. In addition, the firm announced it has entered into the following agreements:
- to sell its operations in Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia to the Heinzel Group for €19.6m. The sale price represents a multiple of approximately 10x EBITDA and is A$2m above book value. Net proceeds after debt and transaction costs are expected to be approximately €17.5m (A$21m);
- to sell its loss-making operations in South Africa to local management. Net proceeds of ZAR50m (A$6m) will include A$3m repayment of parent company funding and A$3m purchase consideration for the shares, representing a loss of approximately A$2m against book value.
Metsä Board Increases Woodfree Prices
Metsä Board will increase the price for all woodfree uncoated paper products by 6-8% across all European markets. The new prices will take effect from September 2012.
Paper manufacturers are seeing their margins erode further as the cost of raw materials continues to rise. Whilst these inflationary pressures persist the industry is struggling to deal with ever decreasing margins.
OpenGate Sells 10% of Finish Mill to Powerflute
OpenGate Capital LLC Sells a Share of Kotkamills Oy to Powerflute Oyj:
OpenGate Capital, a private investment and acquisition company, and the owner of Kotkamills Oy, announced today that it has sold a minority share (10%) of Kotkamills Oy to Powerflute Oyj. Powerflute is a forest products industry company operating a paper mill in Finland.
OpenGate Capital, a private investment and acquisition company, and the owner of Kotkamills Oy, announced today that it has sold a minority share (10%) of Kotkamills Oy to Powerflute Oyj. Powerflute is a forest products industry company operating a paper mill in Finland.
May Retail Sales Fall
http://www.retailonlineintegration.com/aggregatedcontent/retail-purchases-us-unexpectedly-decrease-05
Retail sales in the U.S. unexpectedly fell for a third month in June as limited employment gains took a toll on consumers. The 0.5 percent drop followed a 0.2 percent decrease in May, Commerce Department figures showed. The decline exceeded the most pessimistic forecast in a Bloomberg News survey that called for a median 0.2 percent gain in sales. Other reports today showed manufacturing in the New York region picked up this month and U.S. inventories increased in May.
Retail sales in the U.S. unexpectedly fell for a third month in June as limited employment gains took a toll on consumers. The 0.5 percent drop followed a 0.2 percent decrease in May, Commerce Department figures showed. The decline exceeded the most pessimistic forecast in a Bloomberg News survey that called for a median 0.2 percent gain in sales. Other reports today showed manufacturing in the New York region picked up this month and U.S. inventories increased in May.
Two Sides New Campaign
Paper Love (Going Green):
Across the pond, our friends at Two Sides UK have recently launched a new campaigntargeted at consumers that promotes “attractiveness and sustainability of print media.” The “No Wonder You Love Paper” campaign is jointly undertaken by Two Sides and UK magazine and newspaper publishers, and includes the new Web sitehttp://www.youlovepaper.info/UK.
Across the pond, our friends at Two Sides UK have recently launched a new campaigntargeted at consumers that promotes “attractiveness and sustainability of print media.” The “No Wonder You Love Paper” campaign is jointly undertaken by Two Sides and UK magazine and newspaper publishers, and includes the new Web sitehttp://www.youlovepaper.info/UK.
Transcontinental Sells Book Printing Assets
Transcontinental sells its book printing assets: After reviewing its business plan and long-term strategic objectives, Transcontinental Inc. today announced that it is selling its book printing assets, namely Transcontinental Gagné printing plant in Louiseville and Transcontinental Métrolitho printing plant in Sherbrooke, to Marquis Book Printing Inc., in Cap-Saint-Ignace, which specializes in book printing.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Pacific West Wants Post Hawkesbury Running in September
The prospective buyer of a shuttered paper mill in Cape
Breton is eager to get the deal wrapped up by Aug. 31 to avoid missing a
lucrative season for paper orders, the court-appointed monitor handling the
sale said Thursday.
Mathew Harris of Ernst & Young said Vancouver-based
Pacific West Commercial Corp. could get the NewPage Port Hawkesbury mill back
in operation immediately if all goes as planned.
"Pacific West really needs to get this going by the
first of September because it's the key season for placing orders for
(supercalendered) paper," Harris said in an interview.
Catalyst Pays Tax Bill
Catalyst Paper paid its entire property tax
on June 29 to the tune of $4,214,654 of which, $3,813,210 is municipal taxes
that go directly into City coffers.
The payment came days after Catalyst got
approval from its creditors for a restructuring plan that should see the Port Alberni mill
stay open.
NewPage Escanaba Celebrates 100
NewPage celebrates 100th anniversary of Escanaba paper mill in Upper Michigan: The Escanaba Paper Company, a subsidiary of NewPage Corporation, announced today that it is celebrating a century of making pulp in Escanaba, Michigan.
www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/escanaba-oks-15-million-sale-of-city/ca95e2d159554f1f8238d57b26517fd3
www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/escanaba-oks-15-million-sale-of-city/ca95e2d159554f1f8238d57b26517fd3
Separately, it was reported that t he Escanaba City Council has approved the sale of the municipal coal-fired power plant for $1.5 million to a private local company.
The company plans to convert the power plant to burn biomass.
Escanaba has been working for five years to
find a use for the aging and inefficient plant.
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