Memphis and International Paper "renew vows" with PILOT approval:
The Economic Development Growth Engine of Memphis and Shelby County approved a long-awaited payment-in-lieu-of-taxes application for International Paper Co. The approval clears the way for the company to launch its proposed $115.7 million expansion and office tower renovation at 6350 Poplar. The Memphis-based company plans to build a 235,000-square-foot, 10-story tower close to its current headquarters in East Memphis.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Future US Names President
Future US Promotes Considine to President:
Future US announced today that it has promoted chief operating officer Rachelle Considine to president. Considine [pictured] had been COO since 2011, overseeing day-to-day operations. She's helped lead the U.S. division of the British media company into a digital and mobile-first strategy.
Future US announced today that it has promoted chief operating officer Rachelle Considine to president. Considine [pictured] had been COO since 2011, overseeing day-to-day operations. She's helped lead the U.S. division of the British media company into a digital and mobile-first strategy.
The Atlantic, Redesigned
For the ninth time in its 155-year
history, The Atlantic is getting a facelift. The magazine's March issue will mark the debut
of a redesign overseen by creative
director Darhil Crooks, who previously lent his design talents to Ebony and
Esquire before joining The Atlantic in August.
NYT Plans to Sell Boston Globe
The New York Times announced
it planned to unload The Boston Globe and its related properties, which would
further strip the company of assets outside of the paper of record.
As Bloomberg News reported
earlier, and the Times confirmed, the company is working with Evercore
Partners, an independent investment firm, to assist with the process.
The properties in the New England Media Group that are for
sale include the Globe along with the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and
their respective Web sites and GlobeDirect, the Globe's direct mail marketing
company.
Amazon's Changed Approach on Sales Tax
Amazon used to be against collecting taxes on
sales to consumers in states where it doesn’t have a physical presence. In
November it switched sides.
And when the Marketplace Fairness Act was introduced in the House and Senate last week, Amazon was listed among its supporters.
So what happened?And when the Marketplace Fairness Act was introduced in the House and Senate last week, Amazon was listed among its supporters.
Lots. Amazon can expect to benefit from the collection of online sales taxes in at least three ways.
Direct Mail Important Tool for Insurers
There are numerous ways for consumers to
research and buy insurance products, but don’t discount good old-fashioned
direct mail just yet.
Today, consumers can get insurance everywhere
from the web to big box retail stores like Walmart.But perhaps because the industry is regulated so heavily and there is so much information to convey to a prospect, direct mail can be an ideal way to make that first contact and share the ins and outs of a program.
Warc Global Marketing Index Rises
The
Warc Global Marketing Index, which tracks global marketing budgets, trading
conditions and staffing levels, rose to 56.2 this month, up from 53.8 in
January.
A GMI reading of 50.0 represents
no change in global marketing conditions; a score of 60.0 indicates rapid
growth; and a score below 50 marks a decline. The Americas continues to be the most positive region, with a GMI of 59.5, up 1.5 points from January. Asia Pacific also showed growth, with a GMI of 56.2, up from 53.8 in January.
Lagardère Active Launches Unified Digital Platform
Lagardère
Active, the owner of the Elle brand, has
created a new digital platform to promote the Elle International Network,
including a website, mobile site, Facebook page and Twitter account. These combined
digital tools connect with the websites, mobile sites, applications, pages and
accounts of the 43 international editions of Elle and
also promote Elle's media and events
worldwide.
By sharing international and local news, promoting global and
regional initiatives and highlighting the operations of the different editions,
the new Elle platform aims to drive traffic locally and to further develop its
global audience.
Stability Returning to Print Industry
Stability Returning to North American Print Industry: Although the NPES recent announcement of U.S. Printing Equipment shipments (www.piworld.com, November 2012) indicates a continued retraction in machinery purchases, this does not do justice to what we, at Howard Graphic Equipment, are noticing.
For the year 2013, we look for further realignment of the printing industry with many printers still eager to amalgamate or be purchased by more aggressive firms that have changed their structures and are aggressively looking for more sales.
For the year 2013, we look for further realignment of the printing industry with many printers still eager to amalgamate or be purchased by more aggressive firms that have changed their structures and are aggressively looking for more sales.
Circulation & The Risks of Niche Strategies
Magazine Circulation Illustrates Risks of Niche Strategies for Printers (Dr. Joe):
We’ve all heard the phrase “print will always survive” or “print will always be there,” but I always wonder exactly what is meant by that. I have no doubt that print as a medium will always be available in some form or some format. I think that is irrefutable. Some in the industry take these phrases as comforting thoughts. I believe that they are at best benign and at worst meaningless. The real question is what volume and nature will the demand for that medium take. Print volume is a function of size, sides, page count, run length, and frequency. Those are all determined by the nature of the content and the audience size. The prime mover of all of these aspects is the original idea.
We’ve all heard the phrase “print will always survive” or “print will always be there,” but I always wonder exactly what is meant by that. I have no doubt that print as a medium will always be available in some form or some format. I think that is irrefutable. Some in the industry take these phrases as comforting thoughts. I believe that they are at best benign and at worst meaningless. The real question is what volume and nature will the demand for that medium take. Print volume is a function of size, sides, page count, run length, and frequency. Those are all determined by the nature of the content and the audience size. The prime mover of all of these aspects is the original idea.
PIA Value of Print Initiative
The Value of Print: A PIA Initiative: In this video blog I discuss a recent Printing Industries of America (PIA) initiative on the value of print. See www.printing.org/valueofprint for more on this program, which includes a flip book and a mobile application.
"Why Print Works" Campaign
Velocity Print Solutions launches Top 12 Reasons Why Print Works Campaign: Velocity Print Solutions has launched a year long campaign to promote the value and benefits of utilizing print in business marketing campaigns. The theme of Print…It keeps on working will feature monthly reasons of why print is a valuable tool in increasing ROI, sales growth and brand exposure and also helpful guides for its customers.
Why Print?
To Print, or not to Print? That is the Question:
Why print?
First and foremost, consumer preference leans towards the printed piece. In Epsilon’s consumer preference survey, direct mail was the channel of choice for health information, insurance information, and financial services statements. 62% of Americans enjoyed checking the mailbox daily. Print technology is simply making the printed piece even more engaging, and consumers also expressed that printed mail is easier to reference at a later date. Digital Print technology has evolved in such a way to take statements and personalize them to levels never before thought possible. Utility statements can show individualized usage charts and suggestions based on energy consumption. 401k mailing and insurance statements can pair with information databases to show full color representations of distribution and growth, as well as market trends. These personalization options will continue to shift consumer preference towards print, and any business can outsource the data storage, printing and mailing responsibilities to a qualified provider.
Why print?
First and foremost, consumer preference leans towards the printed piece. In Epsilon’s consumer preference survey, direct mail was the channel of choice for health information, insurance information, and financial services statements. 62% of Americans enjoyed checking the mailbox daily. Print technology is simply making the printed piece even more engaging, and consumers also expressed that printed mail is easier to reference at a later date. Digital Print technology has evolved in such a way to take statements and personalize them to levels never before thought possible. Utility statements can show individualized usage charts and suggestions based on energy consumption. 401k mailing and insurance statements can pair with information databases to show full color representations of distribution and growth, as well as market trends. These personalization options will continue to shift consumer preference towards print, and any business can outsource the data storage, printing and mailing responsibilities to a qualified provider.
USPS Essential to $1.3 Trillion Industry
Quad Urges Congress to Act Swiftly to Restore Financial Stability to U.S. Postal Service:
Quad/Graphics Chairman, President and CEO Joel Quadracci urges Congress to move swiftly to put the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on a path to sustainability, noting that the $65 billion Postal Service is at the core of a $1.3 trillion mailing industry that provides family-supporting jobs for 8.4 million Americans, nearly 200,000 of whom live and work in Wisconsin.
Quad/Graphics Chairman, President and CEO Joel Quadracci urges Congress to move swiftly to put the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on a path to sustainability, noting that the $65 billion Postal Service is at the core of a $1.3 trillion mailing industry that provides family-supporting jobs for 8.4 million Americans, nearly 200,000 of whom live and work in Wisconsin.
Problems with Mobile Marketing ROI
Survey: Marketers face mobile ROI, staffing challenges: Demonstrating mobile marketing's ROI is a top concern among companies planning to grow their marketing programs, according to a survey from Forrester Research and Aquent, a staffing company for the marketing industry.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
NewPage Cutting Workforce
NewPage Corp., which owns the paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids
and plants in two other central Wisconsin cities, announced Tuesday that it was
cutting about 300 jobs nationwide due to declining sales, or about 5 percent of
its workforce.
Cliff Bowers, a spokesman for NewPage in Wisconsin Rapids,
said the mill there employs about 1,050 workers but it was not immediately
known how many jobs would be lost."There will be job cuts at every mill. I didn't say 5 percent," he said.
Hackman Capital Buys Catalyst Snowflake Mill
Hackman Capital Partners, LLC, a privately-held, asset-based
investment firm based in Los Angeles, confirmed today the successful
acquisition of Catalyst Paper's shuttered paper mill and certain other assets
located in Snowflake, Arizona. Catalyst Paper, western North America's largest
producer of mechanical printing paper, closed the Snowflake facility in
September. Catalyst's assets were sold at auction in New York City on December
17, 2012, as part of restructuring proceedings in a Chapter 15 bankruptcy
matter filed in Delaware. The assets sold at auction to the Hackman-led
consortium consisted primarily of the paper mill improvements and personal
property and 19,000 acres of real property. In a separate transaction through
the auction, the Snowflake Community Foundation acquired the Apache Railroad
Company and its 45 miles of track, which serve an important economic
development purpose for the entire Snowflake community.
India Next Growth Market for Forest Products
www.risiinfo.com/
India's wood fiber deficit is forecast to more than double between 2011 and 2021, placing increased emphasis on imports, according to a study released today by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. 2013 India's Forest Products Industry Outlook examines India's development as the world's next substantial wood fiber import market after China.
India's wood fiber deficit is forecast to more than double between 2011 and 2021, placing increased emphasis on imports, according to a study released today by RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. 2013 India's Forest Products Industry Outlook examines India's development as the world's next substantial wood fiber import market after China.
Office Depot and Office Max Merge
Office Depot Inc. and Office Max Inc. have agreed to merge in a $1.17 billion stock transfer, the companies announced Wednesday, ending nearly two hours of confusion about whether a deal had been reached.
Officials at Naperville-based OfficeMax and Office Depot declined to say who would lead the combined company nor where it would be located when the "merger of equals" is completed, likely by the end of the year.
10 Consumer Trends for 2013
10 crucial consumer trends 2013: The institute "trendwatching.com“ has predicted 10 trends for the year 2013 which include interesting approaches for the design of packaging: sustainability will be an essential for the supply chain, while transparency, authenticity and globalisation will present packaging design with new challenges.
1. Presumers & Custowners
2. Emerging Markets2
3. Mobile Moments
4. New Life Inside
5. Appscriptions
6. Celebrating Heritage
7. Data "Myning"
8. Back to Local Manufacturing
9. Total Transparency
10. Demanding Brands
1. Presumers & Custowners
2. Emerging Markets2
3. Mobile Moments
4. New Life Inside
5. Appscriptions
6. Celebrating Heritage
7. Data "Myning"
8. Back to Local Manufacturing
9. Total Transparency
10. Demanding Brands
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