Northern Tool & Equipment Buys Sportsman's Guide, Golf Warehouse

http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_21956682/northern-tool-buying-sportsmans-guide-golf-warehouse-215?source=rss

Burnsville-based Northern Tool and Equipment said it is acquiring The Sportsman's Guide, a catalog supplier of outdoor goods based in South St. Paul.

It is also purchasing The Golf Warehouse, an online golf equipment retailer based in Wichita, Kan. Together, the deals are worth $215 million, Northern Tool officials said Thursday, Nov. 8.

USA TODAY/National Geographic Produce Tribute Edition

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/08/4970459/usa-today-and-national-geographic.html

USA TODAY and National Geographic Channel have partnered on a special tabloid edition:  50 Years Later – A Salute to the Veterans of the Vietnam War. The special edition marks the 50^th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War.
The 48-page all color special edition is on newsstands now.

Macmillan Dictionary Goes Digital

Macmillan Dictionary goes digital:
Revealing the end of its printed editions, which are produced by the publisher's Hong Kong-based print firm MPAL, Macmillan said that the final copies were already "rolling off the presses".

Postmaster General Forecasts 20% Jump

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/08/4970969/us-postal-service-forecasts-record.html
The Postal Service projects the record-breaking increase in its competitive package business due to consumers' growing fondness for shopping online. In total, nearly 18 billion cards, letters and packages will be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve.

USPS Promotions and Incentives Web Page

https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=mobilebarcode&inf_contact_key=8946c7a89b1f2c54635cd8108a2e6cf552c9ef165d6ddeef8d1d6f6550a3fe18

The USPS has a dedicated web page to provide information for promotions and incentives. Available on that page are details regarding these proposed promotions, but the best place to get detailed information is at their Promotions Calendar Overview.

Sappi Ltd. Reports Q1 Results

Sappi Ltd. sees Q1 operating profit "weaker" than a year ago:
Financial summary for the quarter
Net profit US$107 million (Q4 2011 net loss US$127 million)
Earnings per share of 21 US cents (Q4 2011 loss per share 24 US cents)
Operating profit excluding special items US$118 million (Q4 2011 US$80 million)
Net cash generated US$203 million (Q4 2011 US$279 million)
Targeted net debt level reached a year early - US$1,979 million

NewPage to Meet with Lenders

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-11-06/chesapeake-raises-rate-on-2-billion-loan-newpage-readies-deal.html

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) increased the rate it will pay on $2 billion of loans and NewPage Corp., the Cerberus Capital Management LP-owned coated paper maker, set a meeting to discuss an $850 million financing to lead companies in the market for leveraged loans in the U.S. today.
Chesapeake boosted the discount at which it’s selling the debt to 98 cents on the dollar from 99 cents, increasing the yield for investors and reducing proceeds for the borrower, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. NewPage’s bankruptcy exit financing consists of a $500 million, six-year term loan and a $350 million, five-year asset-based revolving line of credit, Bloomberg data show.

Private Contractors Concerned with Port Hawk Prices

Private land contractors balk at Port Hawkesbury Paper’s wood prices:
Private land contractors met in Sydney, Nova Scotia on Monday night with representatives of Port Hawkesbury Paper.
The contractors were not pleased with the information they learned at the meeting, and reportedly left as frustrated as when they arrived.

FPAC Asks for More Gov Help

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/07/4967836/forest-sector-requests-ongoing.html
The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is asking the federal government to use Budget 2013 to continue to build on the existing momentum of innovation and transformation in the job-rich forest sector. This should include replenishment of the successful Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program.

The original $100 million IFIT program generated 107 applications and was over-subscribed by a factor of five, demonstrating the significant appetite by the Canadian forestry sector to develop and commercialize new innovative technologies in the areas of bio-energy, bio-chemicals and new solid wood projects. About a third of these project applications were for world-first innovations. By investing $300 million over the next three years in IFIT, the government will continue to support the ambitious Vision2020 agenda of the Canadian forest sector.

NGOs Urge APP Boycott

NGOs urge Asia Pulp and Paper boycott:
The letter, which was sent to banks and financial institutions in 12 countries on Monday (5 November), asks funders to "carefully screen any pulp industry investment projects related to Indonesia, particularly those of companies associated with the Sinar Mas Group, notably APP".
Indonesian and trade press reports that APP is planning to build a new pulp mill in Sumatra have heightened concerns amongst NGOs including WWF and Greenpeace, the letter states.
The reports have claimed that the proposed mill will be one of the largest in the world, with an annual production capacity of up to 2m tonnes.

Oriental Trading Bought by Berkshire Hathaway

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/berkshire-to-buy-oriental-trading-company/

 Berkshire Hathaway, run by Warren Buffett, shown, agreed to pay about $500 million for the retailer.

Berkshire, run by billionaire Warren Buffett, agreed to pay about $500 million for the business, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The purchase of Oriental Trading, based in Berkshire's hometown of Omaha, Neb., adds another retail company to Berkshire's stable and marks a vote of confidence in the company, which emerged from bankruptcy protection in February last year.

"Oriental Trading is a leader in its industry, has a strong management team and delivers exceptional customer value and service," Mr. Buffett said in a statement released jointly with Oriental Trading on Friday.

Group Makes Offer for Resolute’s Oakhill Sawmill

Investment group makes offer to buy Resolute’s Oakhill sawmill in Nova Scotia:
An investment group has made an offer to buy the Oakhill, Nova Scotia sawmill owned by Resolute Forest Products.
The mill was idled in June when Resolute Forest Products indefinitely idled the Bowater Mersey mill. The 100 employees of the sawmill were laid off.
The investment group is led by a manager of the sawmill, Hans Pedersen.

Quad/Graphics Reports Q3 Results

https://www.google.com/search?q=quad%2Fgraphics&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Highlights:
Generates third quarter net sales of $1,040 million.
Achieves Adjusted EBITDA of $155 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 14.9% for the quarter.  Generates $53 million in Recurring Free Cash Flow for the quarter and $220 million year-to-date.  
Raises full-year 2012 Recurring Free Cash Flow guidance to equal or surpass full-year 2011 of $340 million.
Repays $16 million in debt during the quarter and $148 million year-to-date.
Announces intent to acquire substantially all the assets of Vertis Holdings, Inc.

Cenveo Reports Q3 Results

http://www.cenveo.com/

The Company generated net sales of $451.3 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to $475.8 million for the third quarter of 2011. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to lower sales in our print and envelope product lines as a result of lower direct mail volumes from our financial services customers, the closure and consolidation of a print plant in the first quarter of 2012 and our decision to exit certain low margin businesses. The Company generated net sales of $1.3 billion for the first nine months of 2012, compared to $1.4 billion for the first nine months of 2011.

Hearst Buys Equity Stake in Spooky Cool Labs

Hearst Takes Equity Stake in Game Developer Spooky Cool Labs:
Hearst Corporation has officially entered the game space with a minority stake in mobile and social game developer Spooky Cool Labs. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Atlantic Headed for 3rd Year of Profits

Digital Pushing Third Year of Profit for The Atlantic:
The Atlantic had another strong month in digital sales and traffic. According to the company, October 2012 digital revenue was 28 percent higher than the same month last year. The increasing sales figures are expected to help push the brand into its third consecutive year of profit, with 2012 digital revenues projected to be 33 percent higher than 2011.

Finland's 3rd Biggest Coal User Plans Change

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-07/helsingin-energia-may-replace-40-of-coal-with-biomass-at-plants.html
Helsingin Energia, Finland’s third- biggest coal user, may replace as much as 40 percent of its coal with wood pellets at two plants in the next eight years to limit carbon emissions and boost renewable energy output.

Helsingin Energia, the country’s biggest municipal utility, strives to find an “optimal fuel mix” for replacing 5 to 10 percent of coal use by co-firing 100,000 metric tons of wood pellets annually starting 2014, and possibly 40 percent by 2020, after tests which are taking place through April, it said today in an e-mailed statement.

Michigan Votes No on Renewable Energy Goal

http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/11/voters-reject-push-require-25-renewable-energy-25

Proposal 3, which called for amending the Michigan Constitution to require 25% of the state's energy to come from renewable resources by 2025, was easily trounced Tuesday.

With 41% of the precincts reporting, 64% of voters voted no, while 36% voted yes.

Heidelberg Q2 Sales up 10%

Heidelberg Q2 Sales up 10%: At EUR 668 million, incoming orders in second quarter remain at previous year's level; with more than EUR 1.5 billion after first six months around 17 percent above previous year
Sales in second quarter EUR 697 million, 10 percent up on previous year.

Resolute CEO Claims Defamation

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/163046-resolute-head-seeks-name-of-critic

The president of the company that closed the Bowater Mersey paper mill in Queens County wants to know who wrote online comments about him that he alleges are defamatory.

In documents filed in Nova Scotia Supreme Court on Nov. 2, Richard Garneau, president and CEO of Montreal-based Resolute Forest Products Canada Inc., applied to have Bragg Communications Inc., owner of Internet service provider Eastlink, identify who made comments about him in response to a story published in September on the website, http://foresttalk.com/.

Chinese RCP Imports Up 2.8%, Pulp Jumps 16.4%

China's total recovered paper (RCP) imports grew 2.6% to around 2.714 million tonnes in September, up from some 2.646 million tonnes in August, according to data from China Customs.

September's figure was 9.8% higher than the 2.473 million tonnes recorded in the same month of 2011. 

China's total pulp imports shot up 16.4% in September compared to the previous month, to nearly 1.329 million tonnes, according to data from China Customs.
The surge was ascribed to Chinese customers' restocking after they had halted purchases of market pulp for the previous three months.

China Looks at Vancouver Island Investment

China looking to invest in Vancouver Island timber assets:
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that China Investment Corp. (CIC) is close to buying a 12.5% stake in Island Timberlands for about $100 million.
Island Timberlands  is jointly owned by a subsidiary, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, and other institutional investors.  Island Timberlands owns about 254,000 hectares of forest land on Vancouver Island.

Golf Digest Wins Top Prize at Pearl Awards

Golf Digest Properties wins top prize at Pearl Awards: Golf Digest Properties captured the Best in Custom Award at the 10th annual Pearl Awards Tuesday. The media company won the award for its 2012 Masters Journal.

Pearson Might Sell 'FT'

Pearson reportedly puts 'FT' on the block: Pearson is exploring a sale of the Financial Times, according to reports. Bloomberg said Pearson may initiate sale preparations ahead of the retirement of Marjorie Scardino, who is stepping down as CEO in January.
According to the Guardian, the FT has denied that it is for sale.
Pearson has been focusing on building its education and professional businesses via acquisitions. In the past 12 months, the company has made 10 acquisitions in the education sector for a total of $1.2 billion.

Meredith Teams Up With Campbell’s

Meredith Teams Up With Campbell’s For Holiday Pinterest Sweepstakes:
or Meredith brands like Better Homes and Gardens and Allrecipes.com, the holidays provide important opportunities to interact with readers, support partners and boost traffic and engagement metrics. To take advantage of holiday excitement, these brands have teamed up on a reader-driven Pinterest sweepstake that is supported by advertising partner Campbell’s Soups.

B-to-B Print Advertising Drops in July

B-to-B Print Advertising Drops in July:
Print advertising revenue figures declined again in July, according to the latest Business Information Network numbers released by ABM. Pages were down almost 9 percent for the month and revenues were down about 4 percent compared to the same period last year.

September Commercial Printing Ships Down

US Commercial Printing Shipments Decline -3.2% in September (Economics & Research):
September 2012 US commercial printing shipments were $6.97 billion, down -$232 million, or -3.2% versus September 2011. On an inflation-adjusted basis, shipments were down -$375mil, or -5.1%.

Response Rates: What is Their Role?

Response Rates: What's Really Being Said? (Digital Nirvana):
Last week, I started a lively discussion on Digital Nirvana with a post about the limited role that response rates should be playing in evaluating the success of marketing campaigns. Response rates have a role — and an important one — but not as the primary measure.

NFL Turns to Digital for Playbooks

NFL Playbooks: There’s an App for That: Want a competitive advantage? As NFL teams are discovering, there’s an app for that. Across the league, teams are trading in their 500-page printed playbooks for iPads.

Campaigns a Boon for Printers

Campaigns a Boon for Printers: This year’s elections have generated more than $500 million of added revenue for printing businesses nationwide. A chunk of that money is helping a struggling Wisconsin print industry. Between things like tickets for presidential visits, mailers and voter information flyers, Tom Schorr of Wells Print and Digital Services in Madison says he’s been busy this year.

Retailers Offering Paperless Receipts

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/03/retailers-e-mail-digital-paperless-receipts/1675069/

The "paper or plastic" mantra at store checkouts is getting a digital twin: "paper or e-mail."

As smartphones proliferate, more stores and banks are offering to e-mail shoppers their receipts rather than giving them a printed copy. These electronic or digital receipts, touted as green for saving paper and convenient for saving time, enable retailers to market directly to customers.

Consolidated Graphics Reports Q3 Results

Consolidated Graphics Reports Revenue and Income Declines: #INLINE-CHART#
Consolidated Graphics announced its financial results for the second quarter ended Sept. 30, 2012. • The company’s revenue for the quarter totaled $263.6 million—a $3.8-million Consolidated Graphics announced its financial results for the second quarter ended Sept. 30, 2012.

Eliezer Print Management Rebrands As Continuum

http://primummarketingcommunications.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/j/3C74402C66EE6601/4BA8D0F8353FF1E944D0DD5392A9C75A
Eliezer, a print management industry leader, announces its rebranding as Continuum. Along with the release of a new brand and logo, the company has launched a redesigned website, www.continuum-mps.com . The rebrand is the result of Continuum’s exceptional growth and increased recognition in the managed print services industry. “Print management involves many steps and needed areas of expertise. We chose the new name Continuum to showcase our team’s ability to act as an extension of our clients’ business and be there for their every print management need, allowing them to focus on their core business objectives,” said Jonathan Shean, COO of Continuum. Continuum evolved out of two long-standing and successful companies: A.T. Clayton, a paper services company, and J.S. Eliezer & Associates, a print consultancy business. All three sister companies are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Marubeni Corporation, a $55 billion global organization. These strong relationships, along with Continuum’s customized technology platform, Gateway, provide clients with the people, processes and technology required to dramatically impact their print strategy.

Resolute To Permanently Shutdown Machine

Resolute Forest Products to permanently shutdown paper machine #10 at Laurentide mill in Shawinigan, Quebec:
Resolute Forest Products has announced that it is permanently shutting down paper machine No. 10 at its Laurentide mill in Shawinigan, Quebec. The permanent shutdown comes after an important drop in demand and an increase in market capacity of the paper grade produced on machine No. 10.The Laurentide mill, which currently has 388 employees, produces over 350,000 metric tons per year of commercial printing papers with two machines. Machine No. 10 produces 125,000 metric tons per year. This machine will cease production on November 26, eliminating nearly 111 jobs. The shutdown will not affect paper machine No. 11, which has an annual production of nearly 225,000 metric tons per year.

IP Donates Land To Louisiana

IP donates 8,100 acres of land to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
International Paper announced recently that it will donate over 8,100 acres of land, which includes the Bussey Brake and Wham Brake reservoirs, to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The total donation is valued at over $7.8 million. The fresh water reservoirs located near Bastrop, Louisiana in Morehouse Parish are popular recreational sites. "This donation by International Paper will preserve these reservoirs for future generations to come for the citizens of Louisiana," said Tommy Joseph, International Paper Senior Vice President. "We are excited to be able to make this announcement today."

Appleton Reports Q3 2012 Results

Appleton Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results:
Appleton's third quarter 2012 net sales of $210.7 million decreased 2.9% compared to third quarter 2011. Adjusting for the Company's decision to discontinue the sale of carbonless papers into certain non-strategic international markets, third quarter 2012 net sales were up 1.8%. The Company's strong revenue growth from thermal papers of 9.3% helped to partially offset the sales decreases in carbonless papers and Encapsys.

Al-Pac To Increase NBSK Price

Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries has announced an 11/1 increase to aspen-grade northern bleached hardwood kraft (NBHK) pulp and northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp in North America. Its NBSK prices will be $870/ton.This is the same price that was announced by various NBSK producers.

 

RRD And Harper Collins Warehouse Deal

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/manufacturing/article/54617-in-deal-with-donnelley-harper-exits-warehouse-business.html
HarperCollins and R.R. Donnelley have signed a new agreement that will create one centralized warehouse that will serve as the distribution site for all HC U.S. titles, including those published by its Christian publishing division that houses Zondervan and Thomas Nelson. Harper said it expects the new facility to be opened next summer and that it will close its two warehouses in Scranton, Penn. and Nashville. “We have taken a long-term, global view of our print distribution and are committed to offering the broadest possible reach for our authors," said HC CEO Brian Murray."We are retooling the traditional distribution model to ensure we can competitively offer the entire HarperCollins catalog to customers regardless of location.”Under the agreement, HC will provide Donnelley with the demand for books and Donnelley will have the flexibility to print using offset or digital presses. That type of flexibility is something that couldn't happen before, Murray said. The agreement, which expands on a deal signed in May 2011, will also make Nelson titles available in Europe and Australia through Donnelley's print-on-demand capabilities."When we bought Nelson we said we would expand their sales outside of the U.S. and this will help us accomplish that," Murray noted.

House Beautiful: Mobile Activations

http://www.minonline.com/news/House-Beautiful-Mobile-Activations-Have-Changed-This-Magazine_21420.html
When almost all of your readers have been found to peruse your monthly magazine with a smartphone within reach, deciding to make the two media work together is pretty much a no-brainer. Getting there is another matter altogether. For the last six or seven years, magazines have tried all kinds of mobile activation methods and scenarios, from early image recognition technology to SMS prompts beside articles to Microsoft Tags, QR codes and more recently watermarking. But beyond settling on a print-to-mobile technology, the challenge has been developing a coherent editorial and advertising strategy for mobilizing the page. House Beautiful, which discovered that 90% of its reader have their phones nearby when reading the issue, is arguably among the most advanced in pulling together the technology with an editorial mission and ad strategy for mobile activation. According to Kate Kelly Smith, SVP, publishing director and CRO Heart Design Group, they call the model “Live Paper,” and it showed its promise from the July 2011 issue when editor Newell turner first used the Digimarc watermarking technology on some editorial pages.

All Time Titles Now Available On Kindle Fire

http://www.magazine.org/digital-subscriptions-all-time-inc-titles-now-available-amazons-kindle-fire-family
Time Inc. today announced that Kindle Fire customers will now have access to digital subscriptions of all 20 of its consumer magazine titles. All Time Inc. titles are now available on Kindle Fire for digital subscription, single copy sales or authentication. All Time Inc. titles are specifically designed for Amazon’s Kindle Fire.“Expanding our relationship with Amazon provides more choices for consumers to access Time Inc. content wherever they want it,” said Laura Lang, Chief Executive Officer of Time Inc. “We’ve already seen tremendous success with single copy sales and authentications on the Kindle Fire. Digital subscriptions will attract new customers who are tremendously valuable to Time Inc. and our advertisers.” Enabling digital subscriptions on Kindle Fire is the latest development in Time Inc.’s strategy to reach more consumers wherever and whenever they want. The Company was one of the first to bring its leading titles to tablets and is now delivering digital editions across multiple platforms, giving print subscribers access at no additional charge.

 

W Magazine Celebrates 40th Anniversary

http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/w-magazine-celebrates-40th-anniversary-6469902
Stefano Tonchi, W’s editor in chief for the past two years, is ringing in the magazine’s 40th anniversary with a promotional blitzkrieg. The 30th birthday was celebrated too, but 10 years later, W has a new ad-thick November issue and a newly redesigned iPad app. The centerpiece of the rollout is a new glossy coffee-table anthology that looks back at W’s history from the days it was a biweekly broadsheet.

Semper’s Survey-Increase in Printing Sales

Semper’s ‘Industry Insight’ Survey FInds Increase in Printing Sales: Semper International, a leading placement firm for skilled help in the graphic arts and printing industry, announces that its “Industry Insight” survey has seen an increase in printing industry sales during the last half of the third quarter of 2012. “June and July are typically slow months in the industry; this year was no exception,” notes Dave Regan, Semper CEO. “This year, sales were slow through mid-August. Sales didn’t pick up until the Fed announced its third round of quantitative easing in mid-September. Sales are back on track now and we expect a solid quarter—as we saw after the Fed’s second round of quantitative easing, conducted to stimulate the national economy.”

Consumers Often Misled By Ads Content

Consumers Often Feel Misled By Ads Appearing As Content:
Mobile advertising solution provider MediaBrix commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a survey focused on consumers’ perceptions about ads that attempt to appear as part of the content in print, TV, digital, social and mobile platforms. Examples of such content include: sponsored video ads that appear to be content, advertorials, infomercials, sponsored stories on Facebook and promoted tweets on Twitter."This study validates that people respond best to authenticity in advertising no matter the format. With the recent buzz around 'native' ad formats, I think we need to carefully consider best practices," said Ari Brandt, CEO for MediaBrix. "While anyone pushing the native ad agenda or otherwise would agree that we need to provide user experiences that are not jarring or disruptive, we also need to ensure that we are direct and honest with consumers about when they are being marketed to.”

UK Unibind Launches 'Talking' Print Ads

Unibind launches 'talking' print ads:
The firm's StraightTalking technology comprises an ultra-slim microchip and speaker inserted into a standard printed advert. It will cost from 30p per unit for long-run magazines and up to 55p for runs of less than 10,000 copies. Unibind sources the microchips from a Chinese supplier but carries out the rest of the work in the UK. Jobs will be delivered within 45 days from receipt of artwork and audio files. The microchip is embedded in an A3 sheet of paper, which is folded in half and glued around the edges, and powered by batteries similar to those found in watches.

Halifax Media Selling CA Publications

http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20121101/BUSINESS/311019946/1024?Title=Halifax-Media-to-sell-3-California-publications-
Halifax Media Group, has reached an agreement to sell three publications in California to a group of investors there. Halifax Media acquired the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, The Petaluma Argus-Courier and North Bay Business Journal in January from The New York Times Co., as part of a deal that included 16 publications, mostly in the Southeast. The company has agreed to sell the Press Democrat and the two affiliated publications to Sonoma Media Investments, LLC. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in early November, weren't disclosed.

 

Macmillan Dictionaries Ceases Print Edition

http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2012/11/05/UK201211024185
Macmillan Dictionaries will no longer appear as physical books. The final copies are rolling off the presses at this very moment, and from next year, Macmillan Dictionary will be available only online. Since its launch in 2009, Macmillan Dictionary Online has seen explosive growth and will now fully replace the print version in a transition that, according to Editor-in-Chief Michael Rundell, can only be a positive one. With this migration to new media, Rundell believes that Macmillan's dictionaries have found their ideal medium: "The traditional book format is very limiting for any kind of reference work. Books are out of date as soon as they're printed, and the space constraints they impose often compromise our goals of clarity and completeness. There is so much more we can do for our users in digital media."

 

Afar-Reshaping Model Of Multiplatform Pub

Capturing the Global Citizen:
Today, a new publication might launch digitally, forgoing a print component. But just three years ago, when Afar, a media brand that caters to a special breed of experiential travelers who like to immerse themselves in a region’s culture, it was the magazine format that founders Greg Sullivan and Joe Diaz used to pull their audience together. According to Sullivan and Diaz, the print focus was not simply a stubborn adherence to traditional ways. Over the last three years Afar has added an expanded digital strategy, an experiential group travel model and a philanthropic organization to its platform—all of which, say the founders, have grown from the community that was initially formed around the magazine.

EURO-GRAPH Reports September Ships

EURO-GRAPH reported September European coated mechanical deliveries fell -15.4% as compared to the same month last year.  Exports declined -9.7%. Coated woodfree shipments decreased -5.3%, but exports were up significantly, rising +20.6%. Supercalendered Paper shipments fell -15.6% and exports were down -28.8%.

Memphis Works to Keep IP

Memphis Working on Incentive Package to Keep International Paper:
International Paper is considered one of the world's largest paper producers and one of the city's biggest employers.
The company employs more than 2,000 people in Memphis, and there's a chance those jobs could be headed to Mississippi.
International Paper is looking to expand its operations and will need more space to do it.
Memphis city leaders say they're fighting to keep the company from relocating to Mississippi. IP reportedly wants a 30 year tax break if it builds a new building in the bluff city, so the city is said to be preparing an incentive package attractive enough to get IP to stay.

Cranes Buys William Arthur

http://www.crane.com/

Crane & Co., the iconic American brand known for its premier quality stationery, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire William Arthur, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc.

Paperlinx Completes Sale

http://www.paperlinx.com.au/

PaperlinX Limited confirms that following receipt of competition clearance, the sales of its operations in Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia to the Heinzel Group have now been completed.

EU Proposal Limits Land for Biofuel Production

New EU Commission proposal to limit land conversion for biofuel production
Today, the Commission published a proposal to limit global land conversion for biofuel production, and raise the climate benefits of biofuels used in the EU. The use of food-based biofuels to meet the 10% renewable energy target of the Renewable Energy Directive will be limited to 5%. This is to stimulate the development of alternative, so-called second generation biofuels from non-food feedstock, like waste or straw, which emit substantially less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels and do not directly interfere with global food production.

IP & Utility Build Underwater Gas Line

Mill deal sees natural gas line under Lake Champlain:
Lake Champlain would get its first-ever underwater natural gas line under a $70 million project by a Vermont utility to connect below lake bottom to a paper mill in Ticonderoga on the lake's western shore. The company, Vermont Gas, reached an agreement last month with International Paper for the new line, which is proposed to cross under the lake bottom from Addison County to Ticonderoga, where the lake ranges in width from about 2,000 feet to more than a mile.

The Atlantic Launches ‘The Sexes’

The Atlantic Launches ‘The Sexes’ Gender Analysis Vertical:
After Anne-Marie Slaughter, the Princeton University professor and former State Department foreign policy expert, penned The Atlantic’s most highly trafficked article in history—“Why Women Still Can’t Have it All”—the brand realized there was an unmet need in the marketplace. This week, the brand launched a new content vertical called The Sexes that examines contemporary relationships between men and women.

Atlantic Media's Quartz has Strong Start

Atlantic Media's Quartz Hits 840k Uniques in First Month:
Just over a month after it launched, Atlantic Media's international business news site Quartz is reporting it attracted just over 800,000 unique visitors in October. Other audience metrics are already tracking similarly to established digital brands in Atlantic Media's portfolio, a factor that's hitting an encouraging note for the startup.

Most Publishers Sell Integrated Advertising

Most publishers now sell integrated advertising packages: The majority of publishers now sell integrated advertising packages across various media channels, according to a new report from content management company Godengo+Texterity.

Martha Stewart Living Reports Q3 Results

http://www.foliomag.com/2012/mslo-takes-third-quarter-hit 
The publishing segment may be Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's biggest revenue source, but in the third quarter it continued to be the heaviest drag on income. Publishing revenues were down 17 percent for the quarter to $27.5 million and the group recorded a $51 million operating loss, compared to a $3.5 million loss in 3Q 2011.

RRD Reports Q3 Sales

http://www.rrdonnelley.com/

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company today reported third-quarter 2012 net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $71.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.5 billion compared to net earnings of $158.0 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.7 billion in the third quarter of 2011.

RRD to Produce All AARP Periodicals

RR Donnelley Awarded Multiyear Agreement by AARP to Produce 100 Percent of Its Periodicals: R.R. Donnelley & Sons has been awarded a multiyear agreement that renews and expands its relationship with AARP.

Webinar: Print & Social Media

Print and Social Media: Working Together: Free WhatTheyThink webinar, sponsored by Ricoh, outlined how print and social media work together for a more effective marketing strategyLexington, Kentucky USA -- WhatTheyThink today announced that nearly 300 industry professionals registered to attend a free printing industry educational webinar. Social Media Meets Print: Part One.

USPS Reform Possible: Congress Must Act

USPS Reform Possible, but Congress Must Act Soon: A solution will not be easy;  the Postal Service already is cutting costs substantially, but far from enough. Congress must act on many of the common-sense steps already incorporated in House and Senate bills to put the Postal Service back on a path to prosperity.

Resolute Forest Reports Q3 Net income

Resolute Forest Products reports net income of $31 million in third quarter, 2012:
Resolute Forest Products has reported net income of $31 million for the third quarter on sales of $1.2 billion. This compares with a net loss of $44 million on sales of $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2011.
Excluding $24 million of special items described below, net income for the quarter was $7 million. “We’re pleased with these results, considering the specific challenges we faced in the quarter and the unexpected extent of the maintenance required to bring our recently acquired St. Felicien mill up to par,” said Richard Garneau, president and chief executive officer. ”Our cost-focused strategy allowed us to maintain attractive margins in the paper and wood products segments despite lower shipments overall. This is the direct result of our focus on the items we control: selling only profitable tons and maintaining world-class operational standards.”

IP Surprises With Market Advance

Despite Its Steady, If Unexpected Climb, Stock Of Global Paper And...:
One of the market's big surprises is International Paper, one of the unlikely stocks that have led in this year's unrelenting market advance. The stock of the leading global producer of printing paper and packaging products has been a robust gainer, ramping up to 52-week high of $38.20 a share on Oct. 16, 2012, way up from $22 in September. No wonder many investors now think this unlikely winner in the current market rally has just about reached its peak. But don’t make the mistake of falling for that gloomy prediction. Remember that many investors had pronounced as dead the paper industry in general and IP in particular, in the dawning of the new digital world. In 2009, at the height of the recession, the stock plunged to a low of $3.90 a share. To paraphrase Rodney Dangerfield, it got no respect, and investors spurned International Paper. But the stock’s performance since 2009, when the financial meltdown and recession hit, was solid proof that the naysayers were wrong.
And even when IP posted somewhat disappointing third-quarter results based on some analysts’ expectations, IP believers stayed bullish on the stock.    

Glatfelter Reports Q3 2012 Results

Glatfelter Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results:
Glatfelter today reported 2012 third quarter adjusted earnings of $19.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared with $12.8 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in the 2011 third quarter.“Our third quarter results reflect solid performance from our Specialty Papers business which delivered top-line growth, again outperforming the broader uncoated freesheet market, and it significantly increased operating income,” said Dante C. Parrini, chairman and chief executive officer.

Great Northern Celebrates Successful First Year

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One of Maine’s greatest business success stories of 2012 was recently celebrated by business, political, and community leaders in “The Town That Paper Made.” In April 2011, hundreds of papermakers lost their jobs when Katahdin Paper Company’s East Millinocket mill closed, helping to push the region’s unemployment rate to nearly 22%. By September 2011, Cate Street Capital purchased the mill, along with its sister facility in Millinocket. Just one month later, Cate Street Capital reopened the East Millinocket mill under its most revered historical name – Great Northern Paper (GNP) – and 215 people were back to work. Fast forward to October 2012. GNP’s workforce stands at 257, and it continues to hire workers for its second paper machine.GNP officials and employees hosted a one-year anniversary celebration at the mill today. They were joined by state and local political figures, community and business leaders, retired and current employees, and their friends and families to commemorate the important milestone. Two restored, antique, brass plaques with the original names of each paper machine, “Katahdin” and “Penobscot,” were unveiled during the ceremony.

US Consumption Of RCP Down 8% In Sept

US industry consumption of recovered paper down 8 per cent in September 2012 
The American Forest & Paper Association released its September 2012 U.S. Recovered Fiber Monthly Report which said total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in September was 2.36 million tons, 8 percent lower than August 2012. Year-to-date total consumption in 2012 is 4 percent lower than during the same period last year.U.S. exports of recovered paper, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, decreased 4 percent in August compared to July, led by a drop in Mixed Papers exports which fell after a very strong July. Year-to-date exports of recovered paper in 2012 are 6.5 percent lower than during the same period in 2011.

             

             

Vertis Continued Momentum in Chapter 11 Case

Vertis Communications Announces Continued Momentum in Chapter 11 Case and Sale Process:
Vertis Holdings, Inc. today achieved the next key milestones in its Chapter 11 case and sale process by obtaining the Bankruptcy Court's approval of the procedures through which it will evaluate any competing offers for its businesses to ensure it receives the highest and best offer. The Court also issued final orders giving the Company access to $150 million in new financing obtained in conjunction with the filing as well as the authority to maintain its client programs, pay employees' wages and benefits and otherwise operate its business as usual. These motions had been approved on an interim basis on October 12, 2012.