-
08.30.2012
Regulators were wrong to approve a major new direct mail contract for the US Postal Service, and the ruling is likely to be overturned by the courts, a key advisor said yesterday.
Malin Moench – the Public Representative appointed by the Postal Regulatory Commission to represent the views of the general public in the review of the proposed contract between USPS and direct mail giant Valassis – said the Commission misapplied antitrust principles in approving the $107m deal last week.
The deal offered Michigan-based Valassis discounts of at least 20% on postage for any additional mailing it carries out for major national retailer advertising beyond existing volumes.
The newspaper industry, which fears losing its advertising accounts to Valassis under the terms of the deal, has already filed to appeal last week’s approval.
Yesterday, the Commission’s Public Representative for the case, who recommended against approval during this summer’s review, said the regulators were wrong to rule that the USPS contract was “fair competition” with the newspaper industry’s advertising business solely because it will be above-cost.
He said US antitrust laws do require market-dominant organisations to cover their costs, but also seek to protect the number and diversity of competitors in a marketplace. Going against the protection of market competition, the Valassis deal is in danger of replacing local newspaper advertising businesses with a single direct mail provider, damaging competition “beyond repair, one town at a time”, he claimed.
“The mistaken assumption that pricing above marginal cost functions as a ‘safe harbour’ under antitrust principles is central to the Commission’s Opinion. It badly misrepresents the state of the antitrust laws,” said the Public Representative.
click here
-
08.30.2012
After being affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. resumed operation of Paper Machine N2 and Coating Machine 2 at the Ishinomaki Mill (Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture) today. As a result, the production capability at Ishinomaki Mill has recovered to around 850,000 tons/year, with all six paper machines and two coating machines at the mill having resumed operations based on the Plan for Paper Business Revitalization released in August 2011.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Once the darling of magazine publishers on the iPad, aggregator Flipboard celebrated its second anniversary on the tablet platform with, what else, an infographic. This torrent of metrics is designed to reflect both the scale of the app’s reach and the depth of user engagement with its nicely designed reformatted Web feeds. The company claims 20 million users, 1.5 million of whom are using the app daily. We will give the group props. Very few app developers and publishers scratch beneath the biggest numbers – downloads and absolute user base.
But Flipboard is confident in the level of engagement the app commands – 86 minutes per user per month.
In the last year, Flipboard actively courted many magazines and newspapers to establish direct relationships and share ad revenue. Some magazines have shown a bit of reticence recently and pulled back the amount of content they will share with the app. Both The New Yorker and Wired retreated from previous models by outing only portions of articles into the Flipboard app and making interested readers click through to the magazine Web site for more. “If digital consumers want to interact with Wired, they can do so at Wired.com and not through an intermediary," publisher Howard Mittman told AdAge in June.
On the other hand, the New York Times is distributing all of its content into the app, even though the newspaper now uses a metered access system at its own site.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Champs Sports has launched a mobile commerce app that doubles as a digital magazine. Called SWAG (Stylish Ways to Acquire Game), the free app is designed to give teen athletes and fans an inside look at the lives and interests of their favorite athletes and the people who influence sports culture.
The quarterly digital magazine is available on the iPhone and iPad and also on Android devices through Google Play.
Consumers can tap items on pages of SWAG to be directed to Champ’s mobile site where they can purchase an item direct from the product page or see a list of nearby stores where they can purchase it. Readers also can access pop-up menus to buy the gear worn by featured athletes and can view and buy from a collage showcasing new athletic outfits in a section called “The Blueprint.”
click here
-
08.30.2012
Greif, Inc., a global leader in industrial packaging products and services, today announced results for its third quarter, which ended July 31, 2012. The company reported third quarter net sales of $1,102.8 million, operating profit of $86.1 million and net income attributable to Greif, Inc. of $40.7 million, or $0.70 per diluted Class A share. EBITDA1 was $125.8 million. Operating profit before special items was $91.6 million and net income attributable to Greif, Inc. before special items was $44.2 million, or $0.75 per diluted Class A share.
Net sales were $1,102.8 million for third quarter 2012 compared with $1,121.9 million for the same period in 2011. Sales volumes, including acquisitions, increased 5 percent but were more than offset by a negative 6 percent impact of foreign currency translation. Third quarter 2012 selling prices were generally in line with the prior year with some variances among business segments. Overall, volumes on a same-structure basis were 1 percent below third quarter 2011. This decrease was principally due to market conditions in the Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services and Flexible Products & Services segments, partially offset by stronger volumes in the Paper Packaging segment, compared with the same period last year.
Gross profit declined approximately 4 percent to $202.5 million for third quarter 2012 compared with $211.1 million for the same period in 2011. Gross profit margin decreased to 18.4 percent for third quarter 2012 from 18.8 percent for the same period last year. The decline in gross profit margin was principally due to lower same-structure volumes and market pressure in the Rigid Industrial Packaging & Services and Flexible Products & Services segments, which was partially offset by higher volumes and lower input costs in the Paper Packaging segment compared with a year ago.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Tucked into northern New Hampshire’s lush forests along the Androscoggin River lies the city of Berlin, a picturesque town that was once thriving as a result of the early twentieth century pulp and paper industry peak. Nestled in a heavily-wooded area near a plentiful water source, the town was an ideal location for mills, and became home to several during the mid- to late 1800s.
Though the paper industry boom has long since dwindled, the town of roughly 10,000 still proudly embraces its tagline “the city that trees built.” At times that may have been more true than some residents would prefer, particularly those who became jobless when the last paper mill—the largest source of employment in Berlin— was shut down several years ago.
But things have turned around since then, and a tree-based business will soon serve as an employment and economic boon to the town. Berlin’s paper mill is alive again, undergoing a major transformation into a wood-fired biomass power plant.
Originally part of Berlin Mills Company, the mill was renamed Brown Company during World War II because of anti-German sentiment. It changed ownership multiple times over the years, last operating under ownership of Fraser Paper, according to Alexandra Ritchie of Cate Street Capital. For many years, it was the biggest job and revenue source in the area.
Cate Street Capital, an investment firm focused on financing green projects, acquired the mill in 2008, acting on the opportunity to convert the existing infrastructure into something else—something the city and region could both benefit from. “It [the 2006 mill closure] was a devastating blow to the area, because there were so many people employed there,” explains Ritchie. “During the [early] development process, we were able to see firsthand what happens when a mill closes, as another area mill temporarily closed.”
click here
-
08.30.2012
Bonnier Corp.'s Florida Travel + Life has been named the first-ever Magazine of the Year by the Florida Magazine Association. In addition to this top honor, the magazine took five other first-place wins at the annual Florida Magazine Awards. Judges from publications such as the Boston Globe and Newsday, and from journalism schools at Northwestern University and Syracuse University, served on the reviewing panel.
"It's a great honor to receive the very first 2012 Magazine of the Year Award from the Florida Magazine Association, and I am very pleased and grateful that our original design, vibrant photography and inspiring content have been recognized," said Florida Travel + Life Editor-in-Chief Patricia Letakis.
For the second year in a row, Florida Travel + Life was awarded the Best Overall Magazine award in its category, making it a finalist for this year's Magazine of the Year award. Among the five honorees who received the Best Overall Magazine award in their respective categories, the judges selected Florida Travel + Life as the publication that best fulfilled its mission statement in the past year.
Florida Travel + Life's other first-place awards include: Best Overall Design, Best Overall Writing, Best Use of Photography and Best Feature. The magazine also picked up a second-place award for Best Department and a third-place award for Best Feature Design.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Oil dropped for a second day in New York as stockpiles unexpectedly rose and Hurricane Isaac weakened, reducing the threat to offshore platforms and rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Futures slipped as much as 0.6 percent. Crude inventories increased 3.8 million barrels last week, data from the Energy Department showed. They were forecast to decrease 1.75 million barrels, according to a Bloomberg News survey. Isaac was downgraded to a tropical storm after striking the Louisiana coast as a hurricane. U.S. economic data yesterday dimmed expectations that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke will immediately announce a third round of monetary stimulus during a speech tomorrow in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
“Isaac doesn’t seem as if it will inflict any serious damage to oil production in the Gulf, and everybody is waiting for Jackson Hole, which I think will be a non-event,” said Michael Poulsen, an analyst at Global Risk Management in Middelfart, Denmark.
Oil for October delivery slid as much as 58 cents to $94.91 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $95.32 at 11 a.m. London time. The contract yesterday dropped 84 cents to $95.49, the lowest close since Aug. 27.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest bookseller and leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced partnerships with major retailers in the UK including multi-channel retailer Argos, the leading academic bookseller Blackwell’s and award-winning independent bookstore Foyles. These leading retailers will offer the highly sought-after NOOK digital products to reading and entertainment lovers in the UK this autumn. These retail partnerships are an important component of Barnes & Noble’s recently announced plans to expand its award-winning, beautifully designed NOOK products to millions of customers in the UK.
“We’re excited to work with Argos, Blackwell’s and Foyles to introduce our popular NOOK reading experience to an even broader audience in the United Kingdom,” said Jamie Iannone, President of Digital Products at Barnes & Noble. “Argos built its brand on choice and convenience, and with 90 percent of the population living within 10 miles of an Argos store, this literally brings the NOOK experience close to home for millions of UK consumers. Blackwell’s has built a reputation on its wide selection of titles and extremely knowledgeable staff, much like Barnes & Noble, and we’re delighted to continue in our dedication to the education space. As London’s largest independent bookshop chain, Foyles is a trusted name in books and literature in the UK, so we’re pleased to work together to bring NOOK and our expansive digital catalog to people passionate about books and reading.”
The retail partners will first offer Barnes & Noble’s top-ranked line of E Ink® Readers – NOOK Simple Touch™ and NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight™ – in time for the holiday shopping season. NOOK will be stocked in more than 700 Argos stores, and prominently promoted through Argos’ robust online and telephone catalogue starting in October, providing shoppers easy and convenient ways to learn about, try and purchase NOOK products.
click here
-
08.30.2012
A few months ago, United Publications Inc (UPI) saw an opening in b-to-b media and grabbed it. In July, UPI, publisher of home medical equipment and security trade newspapers, launched SSN Gulf, a monthly newsmagazine and the Gulf edition of one of its key brands, Security Systems News.
"The Gulf is an extremely hot market for security products," says Brook Taliaferro, president and CEO of UPI. "You can't open a 7-Eleven in Dubai without submitting your camera plan to the police."
The launch is a testament to the company's business model. "Our business plan is very simple," explains Taliaferro. "It's to put a business newspaper where there isn't one. I am thrilled to say the issues are delivering the promise that we told the audience and the advertisers: news of the region, all the contracts signings."
SSN Gulf's region includes Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The region, writes Editor Scott Birch on SSNGulf.com, is expected to grow 10 percent year over year. To cover the burgeoning market, UPI has the typical staff of sales, editorial, circulation and e-media, including two members (Birch and Zabeen Reema Ahmed) who are based in the Dubai on the front lines, so to speak.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Limited Brands, Inc. reported a comparable store sales increase of 8 percent for the four weeks ended Aug. 25, 2012, compared to the four weeks ended Aug. 27, 2011. The company reported net sales of $665.6 million for the four weeks ended Aug. 25, 2012, compared to net sales of $702.4 million last year.
The company reported a comparable store sales increase of 8 percent for the 30 weeks ended Aug. 25, 2012, compared to the 30 weeks ended Aug. 27, 2011. The company reported net sales of $5.218 billion for the 30 weeks ended Aug. 25, 2012, compared to net sales of $5.378 billion last year.
August 2011 and 2011 year-to-date net sales included $87.8 million and $518.3 million attributable to the third party apparel sourcing business, which was sold in November 2011.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Supreme Court of Nova Scotia Justice John D. Murphy ruled Tuesday that the taxation deal between Richmond County and the Stora Enso mill — which was enshrined in provincial legislation in 2006 — is a deal that can be cancelled by the mill’s new owner, Pacific West Commercial Corp., and its parent company, Stern Partners Inc.
“In short, I’ve concluded that the agreement can retain its fundamental character as an agreement without contradicting the (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement) Act,” Murphy said in delivering his oral decision Tuesday.
Pacific West lawyer Gavin MacDonald had argued the Stora Enso Taxation Act should be considered an “agreement” under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and can be cancelled unilaterally by Stern. The letter of intent between Stora Enso and Richmond County is “enabled, rather than legislated by the act.”
Richmond County’s lawyer Bruce Clarke had argued that since the deal was enacted by provincial legislation, it is more than just an agreement and cannot be cancelled under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.
“What is an agreement is not defined by the (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act) and that makes everyone’s job here more difficult,” Murphy said. “This legislation does not require it to tax in a certain way. It authorizes it to do follow the letter of intent and so it falls within the range of agreements set out by (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act).”
Victor David, Richmond County deputy warden, downplayed Tuesday’s decision, saying it was merely a “procedural issue” that determined where the battle will be fought.
David said that with almost $2 million at stake for the county, it has to continue to negotiate with Stern to get a fair deal for taxpayers, but added they will be ready to argue in court in Sept. 13.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Target Corporation today reported that its net retail sales for the four weeks ended August 25, 2012 were $5,543 million, an increase of 4.7 percent from $5,292 million for the four weeks ended August 27, 2011. On this same basis, August comparable-store sales increased 4.2 percent.
click here
-
08.30.2012
Macy’s, Inc. today reported total sales of $1.812 billion for the four weeks ended Aug. 25, 2012, an increase of 5.7 percent compared with total sales of $1.714 billion in the four weeks ended Aug. 27, 2011. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc. sales were up 5.1 percent in August 2012 as compared to August 2011.
For the year to date, Macy’s, Inc.’s sales totaled $14.073 billion, up 3.9 percent from total sales of $13.542 billion in the first 30 weeks of 2011. On a same-store basis, Macy’s, Inc.’s year-to-date sales were up 3.8 percent.
click here
-
08.29.2012
NewPage Corporation (NewPage) today announced the introduction of OmniPoint™, a new 60 lb. (89 gsm) heavyweight wet strength label paper designed for large glass and plastic containers used in food, beverage and condiment applications.
With specific expertise and technological capabilities in manufacturing wet strength label papers for the food and beverage market, the product development team at NewPage set its sights on developing a new heavyweight label paper that maintains a premium appearance, and consistently performs well in all aspects of production; from label printing, to die cutting and high speed label application.
"We worked closely with our customers to develop a heavyweight label paper solution that meets their needs for consistent quality, durability and label converting performance, while allowing them to deliver the best possible label graphics for their food and beverage brand owner customers," said David Diekelman, executive director of Sales and Marketing for specialty papers. "OmniPoint achieves these critical objectives."
OmniPoint is available with third-party chain-of-custody certifications to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) (BV-COC-953662), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC™).
click here
-
08.29.2012
Standard Register, a leader in the management and execution of mission-critical communications, is the first company to be certified under a new Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification program for In-Mold Labeling (IML).
As an expansion of UL Marking and Labeling Systems Certification offerings, the IML program was designed to support label manufacturers, including Standard Register, who develop durable, flexible and permanent in-mold labels that display safety-related information on UL certified products. In-mold labeling has been used for years to decorate and provide information on various consumer products sold in plastic containers, including food, cosmetics and cleaning supplies. To accommodate the use of IMLs on durable goods submitted for certification, UL developed a Marking and Labeling System program specifically for IMLs.
click here
-
08.29.2012
Metsä Tissue Oyj, part of Metsä Group and a leading European tissue and cooking paper products supplier, has signed a credit agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The EUR 35 million, 8.5-year loan will finance further operational improvements in Poland and Russia.
The ongoing investments at the company’s Krapkowice mill in Poland are part of Metsä Tissue’s development programme aiming to strengthen the company’s market position in Continental Europe, improve its production capacity and enhance its brand and service offering. Productivity will additionally be improved by consolidating Polish tissue base paper production at one mill and by further standardising technology.
In addition to boosting productivity and energy efficiency, the programme will also yield significant environmental benefits such as lower energy consumption and CO2 and SO2 emissions.
click here
-
08.29.2012
The controversial changes at the New Orleans Times-Picayune, where the publishing schedule was cut to three days a week, may prove to be a harbinger of similar reductions at other newspapers across the country. This week, Advance Publications announced that it is also slashing the frequency at newspapers in New York State and Pennsylvania.
Advance said the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, PA will only be printed three days a week beginning in January 2012 -- including Sunday and probably two other weekdays -- as yet undecided. The Post-Standard of Syracuse, NY will be published on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, according to the newspaper.
In a memo circulated to employees,Post-Standard Editor and Publisher Stephen A. Rogers was blunt about the challenges facing that newspaper and the industry in general: “If we simply maintain the status quo, if we continue to do just what we have been doing -- no matter how well we do it -- The Post-Standard would face extinction in a matter of years. The economic model that has supported The Post-Standard and newspapers around the country is no longer sustainable. We are living through a digital revolution … This is an irreversible trend. We either adjust, or we perish.”
As in New Orleans and Alabama, Advance is also forming new companies to publish the newspapers and their associated Web sites, called the Syracuse Media Group and the PA Media Group. The latter will be formed by the merger of the Patriot-News and Pennlive.com.
click here
-
08.29.2012
Hearst Newspapers announced today that Michael C. LaBonia has been named executive vice president of multi-market advertising for the company. LaBonia will lead sales efforts for national accounts for the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News.
In this new role, LaBonia will direct a sales team focused on the top 100 multi-market retail and national accounts and agencies. His base of operations will be out of the Houston offices and he will report jointly to Houston Chronicle President John T. O’Loughlin, San Francisco Chronicle Executive Vice President of Advertising Jeff Bergin and Express-News Executive Vice President of Advertising Ray McCutcheon.
“We are pleased to welcome Mike back to Hearst Newspapers and this vital sales team,” Hearst Newspapers President Mark Aldam said. “Under Mike’s direction, our company is putting additional effort and skill against growing share in our top markets, some of the fastest growing in the nation.”
click here
-
08.29.2012
QR codes and their ilk continue to rise in usage by publishers, according to a study out today by mobile marketing and technology services company Nellymoser. In the second quarter, the top 100 magazines by circulation featured a variety of mobile action codes in 2,200 instances, a 61 percent jump over the first quarter this year.
The study doesn't track scan rates or actions taken post scan, but the printing of QR codes, digital watermarks and other action codes is definitely on the rise—in the first quarter of 2011, there was a comparatively modest 352 codes printed. And, at the end of first half 2012, the number of action codes printed is already coming close to the 4,468 that were printed during all of 2011.
While the instances of codes appearing in the top 100 magazines went from 1,365 to 2,200 the number specifically appearing in advertisements also jumped, going from 5 percent of ad pages in the second quarter 2011 to 10 percent this year.
For the first time all 100 of the top magazines featured at least one action code. And of all the codes, QR codes are still the most prevalent, with more than 80 percent market share since December 2011.
click here
-
08.29.2012
The niche magazine for the performing arts community, Backstage, has redesigned its print publication and website in an effort to stay ahead of its competition and a bit ahead of the curve—a move that seems to be working, so far.
“What we’ve tried to do with this magazine is take almost every part of it and lead it back to the Web,” says John Amato, chairman and CEO of Backstage.
The print publication will go from a tabloid size of 11.5 inches by 15 inches, to a 9 inch by 10.875-inch book. The magazine will have an increased paper quality with a glossy interior and cover stock. According to Amato, readers were asking for a smaller product so it could be easily transported to casting calls and auditions.
The print publication is also more integrated with the brand’s digital presence. A story with a casting director, for example, has links to Backstage’s career center in the magazine’s margins, alerting readers to “Find representation now.” Similarly, the margins surrounding an article on a new actor’s app encourages readers to “Find more essential tools and DIY tips at backstage.com.”
click here
-
08.29.2012
Total European Shipments for July were up 0.3% vs. 2011 while Y-T-D shipments are down 4.0%. Shipments of Newsprint in July were up 0.6% while Y-T-D shiments are down 4.1%. SC-Magazine shipments in July were down 8.5% and Y-T-D shipments are down 4.3%. Shipments of Coated Mechanical reels in July were up 0.2% and Y-T-D shipments are down 6.1%. Shipments of Uncoated Mechanical reels in July were up 4.7% while Y-T-D shipments are down 5.1%. Shipments of Coated Woodfree were up 4.3% and Y-T-D shipments are down 2.1%. Shipments of Uncoated Woodfree were up 0.2% for July and Y-T-D shipments are down 3.0%
click here
-
08.29.2012
Oil fell from its highest closing price in a week and gasoline declined for a second day after Hurricane Isaac made landfall in the U.S. and the Group of Seven nations said prices may threaten the global economic recovery.
Crude futures slipped as much as 0.9 percent, erasing yesterday’s gain, and gasoline dropped by 1.3 percent, after Isaac struck the coast of southeastern Louisiana. A shutdown of refineries because of the storm has curbed crude demand, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The G-7 called on oil- producing countries to increase output and is monitoring the economic risk posed by current prices, according to a joint statement issued yesterday by the U.S. Treasury Department.
“The information we have on Isaac as of now suggests it has not been as destructive as the market had perhaps feared,” said Hannes Loacker, an analyst at Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) in Vienna, who predicts crude prices will remain near current levels this month. “The focus is on when the majority of production will resume and whether or not there will be any serious damage to the infrastructure.”
Oil for October delivery declined as much as 89 cents to $95.44 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $95.62 at 11:43 a.m. London time.
click here
-
08.29.2012
The Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) released its list of the top 25 U.S. business publications of the first half of 2012 with ABM members capturing 15 spots. The publications were ranked by total average paid and qualified nonpaid print circulation.
Topping the list is International Fire Fighter (circulation of 285,308), followed by Nursing 2012 (191,937), Advanstar's Motor Age (120,332), Modern Salon (104,135) and PennWell Corporation's Oil & Gas Journal (99,710). Crain Communications secured the most spots with six of its publications -- Automotive News, Investment News, Advertising Age, Crain's New York Business, Crain's Chicago Business and Plastics News -- named on the list. The list also included two publications from PennWell Corporation (Oil & Gas Journal, Fire Engineering), two from The McGraw-Hill Companies (Architectural Record, ENR: Engineering News-Record), two from Advanstar (Motor Age, Automotive Body Repair News), two from Lehbar-Friedman Inc. (Drug Store News, Home Channel News) and one publication from NewBay Media (Tech & Learning).
click here
-
08.29.2012
JoS. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. announces that net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 increased 12.7% to $23.2 million as compared with net income of $20.6 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2011. Earnings per share for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 increased 12.2% to $0.83 per share as compared with earnings per share of $0.74 for the second quarter of fiscal year 2011. Total sales for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012 increased 12.9% to $260.3 million from $230.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2011. Comparable store sales increased 6.1% and Direct Marketing sales increased 39.3% in the second quarter of 2012.
Comparing the first six months of fiscal year 2012 with the first six months of fiscal year 2011, net income declined 1.0% to $38.0 million as compared with $38.4 million and earnings per share declined 0.7% to $1.36 per share as compared to $1.37 per share. Total sales for the first six months of fiscal year 2012 increased 8.9% to $461.7 million from $423.9 million for the first six months of fiscal year 2011, while comparable store sales increased 2.9% and direct marketing sales increased 19.8%.
The second quarter of fiscal year 2012 ended July 28, 2012; the second quarter of fiscal year 2011 ended July 30, 2011.
click here
-
08.28.2012
Effective with all new and existing orders with confirmed delivery dates of October 1, 2012 or later, NewPage is implementing the following price increase:
Grade Increase Amount
•Escanaba® web $3.00/cwt US$/CAD$
•Dependoweb® web $3.00/cwt US$/CAD$
•Capri® web $3.00/cwt US$/CAD$
•Consoweb® web $3.00/cwt US$/CAD$
•Voyager® web $2.00/cwt US$/CAD$
•Superior Gloss® web $2.00/cwt US$/CAD$
This increase applies to all basis weights, finishes, and all related private label grades.
click here
-
08.28.2012
EFI™ Electronics For Imaging, Inc., a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced that Gigantic Color of Dallas, Texas is acquiring an EFI VUTEk® GS5000r five-meter, roll-to-roll UV printer that delivers POP quality yet prints at high speeds required to produce billboards and banners. This is the 500th installation of the highly successful GS series of VUTEk printers.
"We are pleased to be adding this outstanding printer to our production floor," said John Bowers, Sr., owner of Gigantic Color. "We were looking for a reliable, very fast work-horse machine and wanted to work with an industry leader, a company with the latest technologies and one capable of addressing every possible application need. EFI and the VUTEk GS5000r best meet those requirements. But we'll also be able to offer higher resolution images than anyone in the industry, unique multi-layer white ink printing, plus the MCS™ Warranty in partnership with 3M™. With the new VUTEk printer, we can serve our existing customers better and faster, acquire new customers and develop new applications such as printing onto rolled styrene."
"Gigantic Color is the ideal location for the GS5000r," said Scott Schinlever, senior vice president and general manager of EFI's Inkjet Solutions. "We believe that Gigantic Color's highly creative team will be able to do amazing things with this printer to serve its broad customer base in Texas and across the nation. And we are very proud to have them as our 500th installation of the highly successful GS product line, which has only been in the market for a relatively short period of time. Gigantic Color will also be able to take advantage of the capabilities of the Fiery® proServer in streamlining workflow and color management."
click here
-
08.28.2012
NewPage Corporation (NewPage) today announced that it has upgraded its Digital Coated Paper line with a new look and new paper. Sterling® Premium Digital™ and Sterling® Premium Digital™ for HP Indigo are the new digital premium papers without the premium price tag.
"On July 30, NewPage announced that the company's legendary Sterling brand had been reengineered to provide enhanced optics, an extremely smooth surface and premium shade – all at a No. 2 price," stated Aaron Haas, director, Commercial Product Management at NewPage. "Orders for the new sheetfed product, Sterling Premium, began shipping August 6."
Now, digital coated paper buyers can place orders for Sterling Premium Digital to get the same enhanced optics, surface and budget-friendly pricing. Sterling Premium Digital and Sterling Premium Digital for HP Indigo are available in a full range of finishes, weights and sizes – including a new 120 lb. gloss and dull cover weight.
click here
-
08.28.2012
The US newspaper industry has taken to the law courts in an attempt to block a key US Postal Service direct mail contract, which was approved by regulators last week.
The Newspaper Association of America, representing around 2,000 local and community newspapers across the country, filed on Friday for an emergency injunction on the new USPS contract with Michigan-based direct marketing giant Valassis.
The trade association hopes to block the three-year, $107m contract pending a full judicial review.
The contract proposed by USPS back in April offers discounts of around 20% for Valassis if the company sends out at least a million extra mailpieces a year beyond its existing mailing campaigns.
The newspaper industry, which says the deal could actually mean more than 400m extra direct mail items a year, says the Postal Service is giving unfair assistance to Valassis to take advertising that newspapers currently send out via the mail.
But last Thursday the Postal Regulatory Commission approved the contract by four votes to one, ruling that the deal was above cost and would not inflict “unreasonable” harm to the mailing market.
click here
-
08.28.2012
The Swedish airline Malmö Aviation has recently launched new breakfast boxes made of paperboard that save space on board, extend the life of their contents, simplify handling, and have a lower environmental impact than their plastic-based predecessors.
The new boxes are made of Invercote and Invercote Bio from Iggesund Paperboard. The environmental impact is reduced because some members of the Invercote family of paperboard are certified compostable. The new breakfast boxes are the result of a long development process focusing on both functionality and user friendliness. Behind this development were the catering company Picknick, the converting company Omikron, and Malmö Aviation.
The materials used in the boxes are the virgin fibre-based paperboards Invercote and Invercote Bio from Iggesund Paperboard. The outer shell of the box is made of ordinary Invercote. Inside is a serving tray made of Invercote Bio to hold the fresh food. This tray is in turn flow packed with a modified atmosphere to increase the food’s shelf life and help prevent fogging. The ingenious feature of Invercote Bio is that it is coated with bioplastic. This means that the tray can go into the same waste stream as the food scraps – they can all be sent directly to an anaerobic digestion plant to produce biogas without the need for prior sorting.
click here
-
08.28.2012
There are few media platforms more in need of some digital juice than print. As ad pages and newsstand sales plummet, magazines and their advertisers are becoming especially aggressive this year in leveraging mobile activation codes to make that digital link with paper.
According to its latest quarterly survey of the top 100 national consumer magazines in the U.S., Nellymoser finds the instance of mobile codes up 107% between Q2 2011 and Q2 2012. In all, the code counters tallied 2200 QR codes, digital watermarks and Microsoft Tags in the 100 largest circulation generally available magazines. Just last quarter they counted 1365, reflecting a quarter-over-quarter increase of 61%.
Magazines reached a kind of mobile milestone last quarter in that every one of the top 100 magazines Nellymoser perused had at least one code. And 90% of the titles had more than 10 codes in the quarter.
The count is likely to go up considerably in the next report, since the all-important September issues of many magazines are going all-in for mobile activation. A number of titles are using image recognition techniques to make almost every ad actionable. GQ plans to mobilize every ad in its September issue, while Seventeen will have over 250 mobile-ready images.
Mobile activation is emerging as a standard operating procedure for some print ads. In just a year, the share of print ads with codes has risen from 5% to 10%. QR codes continue to be the leading form of activation, with over 80% of the instances. But watermarking and image recognition techniques via augmented reality apps have emerged as important areas of growth. On the editorial side, magazines prefer the less intrusive nature of triggering technologies.
click here
-
08.28.2012
Catalyst Paper today announced that the following individuals have been selected by certain of the senior secured and unsecured noteholders in accordance with the terms of the Court-sanctioned second amended Plan of Arrangement to form the new Board of Directors on the company’s emergence from creditor protection.
John Brecker – Mr. Brecker brings director and management experience in a family of hedge funds as well as operations expertise in the chemical, retail and auto industries.
Giorgio Caputo –Mr. Caputo is a Portfolio Manager and Senior Analyst with First Eagle’s Global Value Team.
John Charles – Mr. Charles is a CA with more than 30 years of leadership experience in telecommunications, investment banking, mining and real estate.
Kevin J. Clarke – Mr. Clarke is currently President and CEO and a director of Catalyst Paper and will continue on the new Board.
Todd Dillabough – Mr. Dillabough is President, CEO and COO of Trident Resources Corp, an independent natural gas E&P company that was restructured in 2010.
Walter Jones – Mr. Jones brings 25 years of hands-on experience as a turnaround consultant with companies in a range of industries.
Leslie Lederer – Mr. Lederer is a former industry executive with Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation and a specialist in corporate restructuring, financing, mergers and acquisitions.
In preparing to turn governance of Catalyst to the new Board of Directors, current Chairman Jeffrey Marshall noted that many parties played a vital role in ensuring the second amended Plan of Arrangement was approved by creditors and sanctioned by Order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia on June 28, 2012.
click here
-
08.28.2012
Oil rose for the first time in four days in New York as U.S. crude inventories were forecast to drop, a storm headed for the Gulf of Mexico and a fire continued to burn at Venezuela’s biggest refinery.
U.S. crude stockpiles probably fell by 2 million barrels last week, or 0.6 percent, according to a Bloomberg News survey before an Energy Department report tomorrow. Tropical Storm Isaac was near hurricane strength as it headed for the Gulf coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. Storage tanks burned for a fourth day at Venezuela’s 645,000 barrel-a-day Amuay plant, where an Aug. 25 gas explosion killed 48 people. Oil also increased before a U.S. Federal Reserve symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Aug. 31.
“Crude trade will remain jittery this week as storm- related disruptions and refinery and storage tank fires in Venezuela keep investors on edge,” said Andrey Kryuchenkov, an analyst at VTB Capital in London. “On top of that we have expectations of action from central bankers.”
Oil for October delivery advanced as much as 87 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $96.34 a barrel and was at $96.10 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 11:27 a.m. London time. The contract fell 68 cents, or 0.7 percent, to $95.47 yesterday, the lowest close since Aug. 15.
click here
-
08.28.2012
Barnes & Noble, Inc., the world’s largest bookseller and leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced a partnership with UK retailer John Lewis to bring the company’s award-winning NOOK reading experience and leading digital bookstore to its physical stores and online sales channels this autumn. The partnership with John Lewis, a premium department store brand lauded as “the UK’s leading electrical retailer,” will fortify Barnes & Noble’s newly-announced presence in the UK, and will enable UK shoppers to see, touch and experience NOOK devices and digital content.
John Lewis is the first company outside the US to partner with Barnes & Noble to offer highly sought-after NOOK devices in each of its 37 UK stores and on www.johnlewis.com, with Barnes & Noble’s top-ranked line of E Ink® Readers, NOOK Simple Touch™ and NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight™, the first products to be available. As previously disclosed, Barnes & Noble will also offer NOOK devices and content to UK customers this autumn through its own online storefront, www.nook.co.uk.
click here
-
08.28.2012
Avery Dennison’s Office and Consumer Products division , a global leader in office products, today announced its new app for Android™ devices. The Avery®Templates Everywhere Android™ app joins the Avery family of mobile solutions along with the highly rated iPad® and the iPhone® mobile digital device apps.
The Avery® Templates Everywhere app for Android™ makes it easy for consumers to import contacts from their Android™ smart phone or tablet to print on Avery®mailing labels, shipping labels, business cards, and more . Users simply choose which Avery® label or card to use and select the desired data from the contact list in their Android™ device. The labels or cards are then automatically formatted into the correct layout for their Avery® product.
The Avery® Templates Everywhere app also makes it easy to add new contacts to an Android™ device. Users can simply scan addresses from envelopes or business cards using their Android™ phone or tablet and quickly add them to their address book—a great way to conveniently update mailing lists while attending conferences or meetings.
The easy-to-use app offers the flexibility of printing directly with a compatible printer, saving the project online to a MyAvery™ account for printing later, or sending the label or card project by email for later use. The Avery® Templates Everywhere app is available for free online at Google Play store and the Amazon®App store for Android™.
“The Avery® Templates Everywhere app for Android™ lets consumers easily access the content in their MyAvery™ account from almost anywhere,” says David Maxson, Director of Interactive Marketing for Avery Office and Consumer Products Group. “The new Android™ app offers another way for consumers to place addresses right onto the most popular Avery® products, bringing labeling to their mobile lifestyle.”
click here
-
08.28.2012
Ahlstrom Corporation has today signed an agreement with EQT, the principal owner of Munksjö AB, to combine its Label and Processing business area with Munksjö AB to form a global leader in specialty papers through two partial demergers: one consisting of the Label and Processing operations in Europe (LP Europe) and one in Brazil (Coated Specialties). The new company will be called Munksjö Corporation (in Finnish Munksjö Oyj) and its shares will be listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The transaction enables Ahlstrom to focus exclusively on its value-added business areas: Building and Energy, Filtration and Food and Medical. Meanwhile, the Label and Processing business area can be further developed together with Munksjö.
"During the past three years, Ahlstrom has systematically executed its strategy towards becoming a focused high performance materials company. This transaction of combining the Label and Processing business area with Munksjö is the most significant step in our strategy execution. It allows us to concentrate our resources to the areas where we see the most attractive value-add and growth opportunities," says Jan Lång, President and CEO of Ahlstrom.
"The essence of our strategy is that our high performance materials protect people, purify air and liquids and provide surface and structure to our customers' products. In addition to reinforcing our global leadership in Filtration, we seek growth opportunities in high performance materials for building, food packaging and medical applications," Lång continues.
The other major step in the process of Ahlstrom focusing its business operations was the divestment of the Home and Personal business area to Suominen Corporation in 2011. Ahlstrom expects the future growth to be realized through organic growth as well as acquisitions and partnerships in the three business areas.
click here
-
08.27.2012
Eastman Kodak outlined its next steps toward a successful emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization as a company primarily focused on commercial, packaging and functional printing solutions and enterprise services. Accordingly, the company has initiated sale processes for its market-leading Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging businesses.
Kodak believes that the sale of these assets, as well as continued cost-reduction initiatives, curtailment of its legacy liabilities, and the monetization of the company’s digital imaging patent portfolio, will be significant milestones toward completing the company’s reorganization and emergence from Chapter 11 during 2013.
“The initiation of a process to sell the Personalized Imaging and Document Imaging businesses is an important step in our company’s reorganization to focus our business on the commercial markets and enable Kodak to accelerate its momentum toward emergence,” said Antonio M. Perez, chairman and CEO. “In addition, we continue our initiatives to reduce our cost structure and streamline our operating models in an effort to return the company to profitability.”
“We are reshaping Kodak. We continue to rebalance our company toward commercial, packaging and functional printing—in which we have the broadest portfolio solutions—and enterprise services. These businesses have substantial long-term growth prospects worldwide and are core to the future of Kodak. We are confident that our competitive advantages in materials science and deposition technologies, as well as our know-how in digital imaging, will enable us to capitalize on those opportunities and extend our leadership in key growth markets,” added Perez.
click here
-
08.27.2012
About.com is about to add a new chapter in its short, but storied history as the Web’s first important content farmer, changing hands Sunday night from one of the world’s most elite content organizations, The New York Times Co., to one of its shrewdest, Barry Diller’s IAC, which agreed to acquire it for $300 million in cash.
The deal is part of the New York Times Co.’s overall strategy to liquidate “non-core” assets and focus on its major newspapers and digital publishing extensions, especially The New York Times. The deal also reflects the declining value of content farms in a world of increasing content clutter, including even more sophisticated, algorithmically based content engines such as Demand Media, prosaic content aggregators like BuzzMedia, and a torrent of brand content from marketers and content seeding platforms.
Given the growing morass of marginal content, The New York Times Co.’s decision to unbundle About.com seems like a smart move, and signals a vision that context, not content may actually be king in a digital publishing environment where content has become ubiquitous and seemingly undifferentiated, especially as the lines between professional journalism, user- and brand-generated content seem to be tipping the scales. Earlier this year, Facebook released research estimating that in 2003, the Internet was generating one petabyte of new content annually, and that this year it would generate one petabyte of new information every two or three days.
The New York Times Co.’s decision also reflects the changing economics of generic content relevance in a marketplace of information glut. The New York Times. Co., which acquired About.com from Primedia in 2005 for $410. Primedia acquired it from its founders for $690 million, which means About.com is now worth about 56% less than it was 12 years ago.
click here
-
08.27.2012
Oil climbed the most in a week and gasoline rose to the highest in almost four months as Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened, crimping output in the Gulf of Mexico, and a fire in Venezuela shut part of the world’s No. 2 refinery.
West Texas Intermediate futures climbed as much as 1.6 percent in New York and gasoline surged 4.1 percent. The storm is expected to become a hurricane in “a day or so” as it approaches the northern Gulf coast, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said today. Isaac has shut about 24 percent of U.S. oil production and 8.2 percent of natural-gas output from the Gulf, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said yesterday. Firefighters in Venezuela are working to quench fires at two storage tanks after a gas explosion at the Amuay plant, part of the Paraguana complex, killed at least 39 people.
“Oil is higher as the tropical storm is expected to shut in oil in the Gulf of Mexico almost entirely in coming days,” said Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt. “The market is reacting to this temporary supply risk, which will lead to a drop in U.S. inventories. The temporary shutdown of refineries in the Gulf will also lower gasoline supplies.”
Oil for October delivery increased as much as $1.57 to $97.72 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $97.17 at 9:00 a.m. London time. Front-month prices were up 0.2 percent last week, closing at $96.15 on Aug. 24.
click here
-
08.27.2012
Valassis, one of the nation's leading media and marketing services companies, announced today that it will begin moving forward with plans to introduce a mail product that provides national retail advertisers an affordable avenue to reach a broad base of consumers following the Postal Regulatory Commission's (PRC) approval of a three-year negotiated service agreement (NSA).
"We applaud the PRC's decision and their validation of this innovative proposal," said Steve Mitzel, Valassis Senior Vice President/General Manager, Shared Mail. "They have endorsed the dynamic elements embodied in the Valassis NSA that should incentivize new mail volume growth and marketplace expansion."
Under the terms of the agreement, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will provide discounted mailing rates allowing Valassis to attract durable goods advertisers with physical retail outlets in 30 or more states in distinct markets where the company has existing Standard Mail Saturation programs.
"As partners with the USPS and newspapers, we will continue to work hard to sustain the relevancy of hard copy, consumer-valued advertising and promotion delivered to American mailboxes," said Rob Mason, Valassis President and Chief Executive Officer. "It's time to begin the real work of executing our plan and we are excited about testing this program in select markets over the next few months."
click here
-
08.24.2012
The traditional image of young adults gathered around a magazine really hasn’t changed much, although the sharing process is more likely to be virtual nowadays, according to a new benchmark study conducted by GfK MRI for the MPA, the Association of Magazine Media.
The GfK MRI/MPA study, titled “Magazine Readers Are Social,” found that social media enhances distribution, consumption and engagement with magazine content, especially among readers ages 18-34.
A large proportion of young adult magazine readers are also using social media, with 91% using Facebook, 61% using YouTube and 40% using Twitter. Among magazine readers in this age group who use Twitter, 56% say they follow a magazine brand on the microblogging site -- a proportion that jumps to 69% among self-identified “avid magazine readers," who make up 40% of the total survey group.
Sixty-three percent of self-identified “avid readers”have visited a magazine Facebook page, and 62% have posted magazine articles to Facebook. Some 55% of all readers who use Facebook subscribe to a magazine editor or columnist. Overall, 68% of respondents said that technology has improved their media experience.
While the survey group is undoubtedly connected and mobile, with 80% owning a smartphone, that doesn’t mean that they’re ditching print -- 95% say they still read magazines in the traditional format. At the same time, 43% read digital editions, indicating there is a large cohort that moves back and forth between print and digital. They’re also multitasking while consuming magazines, in whatever format: 42% of all respondents said they chat with friends on Facebook while reading a magazine and share what they’re reading, a proportion that rises to 57% among avid readers.
click here
-
08.24.2012
AAA’s Fuel Gage Report as of 8/24/12
National Unleaded Regular:
Current Average - $3.730/gallon
Month Ago Average - $3.485/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.575/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.114/gallon on 7/17/08
Diesel:
Current Average - $4.019/gallon
Month Ago Average - $3.763/gallon
Year Ago Average - $3.877/gallon
Highest Recorded Average - $4.845/gallon on 7/17/08
Current Exchange Rates as of 8/24/12
American Dollar to Canadian Dollar = 0.99397
American Dollar to Chinese Yuan = 0.157339
American Dollar to Euro = 1.250708
American Dollar to Japanese Yen = 0.010186
American Dollar to Mexican Peso = 0.060485
click here
-
08.24.2012
Resolute Forest Products Inc. announced today that its paper mill in Dolbeau-Mistassini (Québec) is to resume operations. This decision follows the receipt of a notice of acceptance of the tender regarding the sale of electricity to be produced at the Company's Mistassini cogeneration facility to Hydro-Québec. The restart of operations represents an investment of $20 million.
Production of soft nip calendered (SNC and SCB) commercial printing paper will resume as soon as the recall of employees is completed. The restart of the mill will provide direct employment for approximately 135 workers.
"We spared no effort to relaunch the Dolbeau mill because it is a good investment," stated Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Resolute, who was in the Lac-Saint-Jean region to confirm the news. "With today's announcement, Resolute will be more competitive than ever."
click here
-
08.24.2012
The American Forest & Paper Association released its July 2012 U.S. Recovered Fiber Monthly Report today.
According to the report, total U.S. industry consumption of recovered paper in July was 2.43 million tons, less than 1 percent lower than June 2012. Year-to-date 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, dropped 3 percent in June compared to May, led by a steep decrease in Pulp Substitutes exports to China. Year-to-date exports of recovered paper in 2012 are 5.5 percent lower than during the same period in 2011.
click here
-
08.24.2012
The American Forest & Paper Association has released its July 2012 Printing-Writing Paper Report.
According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 3 percent last month compared to July 2011. Shipments of coated mechanical papers posted the only year-over-year increase among the four major grades. U.S. purchases (demand) of printing-writing papers also decreased by 4 percent in July. Additional key findings include:
Shipments of coated mechanical papers increased compared to July 2011 – the third such year-over-year increase in 2012.
Shipments of coated free sheet papers reached a new high for the year but still decreased slightly year-over-year.
Shipments of uncoated free sheet papers were down year-over-year, the fifth consecutive year-over-year decrease.
Uncoated mechanical paper shipments continue the downward trend with sixteen consecutive month year-over-year decreases.
click here
-
08.24.2012
Oil is heading for the first weekly decline in a month amid concern of slowing economic growth in the U.S. and speculation that European leaders aren’t making progress on resolving the region’s debt crisis.
Futures fell for a second day, sliding as much as 0.9 percent. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and French President Francois Hollande will maintain the pressure on Greece to overhaul its economy at meetings with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Berlin today and tomorrow. U.S. unemployment claims rose to the highest level in a month and consumer confidence fell to the lowest since January, reports showed yesterday.
“Oil is down today on economic concerns,” said Carsten Fritsch, an analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt. “QE3 hopes, geopolitical tensions and supply-side risks should limit the downside,” he said, referring to a possible third phase of asset purchases by the Federal Reserve.
Crude for October delivery dropped as much as 86 cents to $95.41 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $95.80 at 12:30 p.m. London time. The contract yesterday fell 1 percent to $96.27, the lowest close since Aug. 20.
click here
-
08.24.2012
Bonnier Corp. has announced the formation of the Bonnier Innovation Lab. The new initiative is designed to accelerate early stage growth of start-up companies that are offering progressive new methods for the way media is created, distributed and consumed.
"Bonnier Innovation Lab is centered on accelerating company growth via access to expertise and customers that the founders would otherwise not have access to as an early stage company," said David Rich, director of the Bonnier Innovation Lab. "We can provide invaluable feedback to help drive the best possible end product, as well as provide a source of early revenue that many start-ups struggle to find."
Four start-up companies will be chosen for a 14-week program slated for next January through April 2013, set for Bonnier's Boulder, Colorado, office. Prospective companies can apply for the program at www.bonniercorp.com/innovationlab. The program seeks applicants whose core customers would be media companies such as Bonnier as well as bloggers/blog networks, mobile/tablet publishers, multimedia distribution, online news outlets, television, movie studios, social media networks and photo and video-sharing providers.
During the 14-week program, the topics discussed will include Product Development Cycle; Audience Development, including SEO, SEM, Social Media Marketing, and Community Management; Content Strategy; Email Marketing; Consumer Marketing/Consumer Behavior; and Investor Relations. Outside speakers and Bonnier staff will take part in the seminar portion of the program.
click here
-
08.24.2012
The U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) oversight body, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), released Aug. 23 its advisory opinion on the nationwide Post Office Structure Plan (POStPlan), which allows the USPS to begin implementing reduced hours of retail service at approximately 13,000 locations, says PRC chairman Ruth Goldway.
Operating hours will remain unchanged at most post offices, and fewer than 100 locations will see an increase. Mail and parcel delivery times are unaffected by the POStPlan changes, which focus on reducing post office retail operating costs without violating Title 39, USPS's legislative mandate for comprehensive nationwide service.
By issuing a favorable opinion, the PRC signals that USPS can make the proposed changes without falling afoul of statute. Over the next two years, the affected locations will reduce weekday operations to two, four, or six hours. The plan maintains all collection and post office box services and Saturday hours remain unchanged.
To calibrate the new hours of service to the needs of local communities, the USPS will survey customers and stage presentations at each of the 13,000 affected locations. "The issue was to align retail hours with what customer demand seemed to be in these communities, and to provide universal service but with fewer hours of access," Goldway says. "We believe that the Postal Service has demonstrated that they have a commitment to universal service and retail access through this plan, and believe it meets the minimum standards of Title 39."
click here
-
08.23.2012
The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog is asking a federal judge for permission to weigh in against Google's plan to pay a $22.5 million fine to settle privacy charges with the Federal Trade Commission.
Consumer Watchdog argues that the deal in this case isn't appropriate because Google is denying liability. The nonprofit filed papers this week asking U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston to allow it to submit a friend-of-the-court brief in the case.
Consumer Watchdog -- which has long criticized the search giant -- also is asking Illston to order the FTC and Google to more fully flesh out why they believe the settlement should move forward.
Google said in a statement that it is "confident that there is no basis for this challenge" to the proposed resolution.
The settlement, announced earlier this month, would resolve contempt charges stemming from allegations that Google developed a workaround to Safari's no-tracking settings. Google still faces a potential class-action lawsuit by users who say the company violated their privacy.
Google said it originally developed a workaround to Safari's no-tracking settings in order to allow Safari users to like ads with the +1 button. But once the workaround was in place, Google's DoubleClick was able to track people in order to target ads to them, based on their Web-surfing history.
click here
-
08.23.2012
HP today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2012. For the quarter, net revenue of $29.7 billion was down 5% year over year and down 2% when adjusted for the effects of currency.
GAAP loss per share was $4.49, down from earnings per share (EPS) of $0.93 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.00, down 9% from the prior-year period. Third quarter non-GAAP earnings information excludes after-tax costs of $10.8 billion, or $5.49 per diluted share, related to the amortization and impairment of purchased intangible assets, the impairment of goodwill, restructuring charges, acquisition-related charges and charges relating to the wind-down of certain retail publishing business activities, including the previously announced charges related to the impairment of goodwill within HP’s Services segment, the restructuring program announced in May 2012, and the impairment of the purchased intangible asset associated with the “Compaq” trade name.
click here