IPDA Newsstand http://ipdahome.org/newsstand Fri, 18 May 2012 15:28:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 May 18, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10912 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10912#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 15:27:44 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10912

Publishing News

Controversial Time, Newsweek Covers Driving Big Sales Lifts
For example, unit sales for Time’s issue featuring “attachment parenting” breastfeeding cover indexing 45.7% above magazine’s 13-week/issue average units. Unit sales for Newsweek’s issue featuring “The First Gay President” (Obama with halo) indexing 59.1% above its 13-week/issue average units. 
 
Simon & Schuster Settles E-Book Suit with State AGs
Federal judge overseeing the three different antitrust complaints that were brought against Apple and five publishers granted a motion Tuesday to dismiss Simon & Schuster from the complaint filed by numerous states’ attorneys general. Terms of settlement not provided in the court documents. S&S declined to comment. HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group had already settled with AGs, and all three last month settled with Dept. of Justice. Separately, a group of consumers is seeking to bring a class-action suit.
 
RDA Asks Bondholders to Take a Cut; Mulls More Divestments
Reader’s Digest Association giving bondholders till June 14 to decide whether to accept a “take-it-or-leave it” offer on senior secured notes due in 2017, which would represent a 5% cut. RDA also exploring sale of its lifestyle and entertainment direct business (which sells products including music CDs, exercise equipment), and looking at possible international divestments. 
 
NY Post 
Upgraded Adobe Suite Enables Easier, More Efficient Cross-Platform Publishing
New features in upgraded Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, aimed at larger publishers with multiple brands, include ability to publish directly to smartphones; generally easier, more cost-efficient conversions for digital platforms. Meredith announced it will use Suite to create, distribute digital editions of core brands. Wenner’s new US Weekly iPad app also using the platform. NY Post: In latest development, The New Yorker will be the first Conde Nast title to go on Adobe’s new software and use to launch a smartphone app (launch date not determined). 
 
Publishing Executive (capabilities)
GottaBeMobile (capabilities)
NY Post (New Yorker-same link as above) 
Eating Well Wins James Beard Journalism Award
Meredith’s Eating Well has been selected winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Journalism Award. Honored for “The Soup of Life,” an article by Anna Thomas in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue on how one pot of green soup ended up changing her life. Piece won in the Cooking, Recipes or Instruction category. Two other Eating Well articles were named finalists.  
 
USPS to Begin Consolidation
The Postal Service announced that it will begin implementing its modified consolidation plan this summer, transferring mail-processing operations from smaller to larger facilities. In first phase, up to 140 locations will be closed. 48 to close by August. Consolidations on hold during peak Sept.-Dec. mailing season, resuming early 2013; remaining 90 or so in first phase to close by Feb. 2013. 5K employees to receive notifications next week re summer closures. Second phase, with 89 more closings, expected to begin Feb. 2014. First phase to cut workforce by 13K, save $1.2B annually. Total consolidation plan, when completed end of 2014, to cut up to 28K employees, save $2.1B annually. USPS also shrinking geographic reach of overnight first class delivery to local areas. Through 2013, about 80% of first class will still be delivered overnight; standard to be “further tightened” in 2014. Separately, DeadTree clarifies the not-so-simple question: Is the Postal Service broke?
 
USPS release (consolidations)
DeadTree Edition (USPS broke?)
 
Paywall Resistance Softens, When the Content’s Right
Survey of U.S. digital media professionals by DigiCareers shows 52% saying they immediately leave a site after encountering a paywall, but 42% saying they took time to research pricing and make a purchase decision. 36% said they had purchased a digital magazine; 47% paid for movies, 35% for music. More stats on attitudes, behaviors, including perceptions of ads behind paywalls, detailed. Separate article summarizes PulsePoint survey indicating that publishers, marketers, agencies still more focused on digital basics than sophisticated multichannel, multiscreen user interfacing capabilities.
 
eMarketer  (paywalls)
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

Retail News

Wal-Mart Has Strong First Quarter
Total sales +8.6%, to $112.27. U.S. same-store sales +2.6%, with 1%-3% gain projected for Q2. Q1 EPS $1.09 vs. 98 cents year-ago; exceeded W-M’s forecast and analysts’ expected $1.04. Shares have recovered all of the 8.2% drop following April 21 news of Mexican bribery allegations, and shares rose 5% after Q1 report. W-M confirmed that DOJ, SEC and Mexican government agencies are investigating. Said currently foresees no material impact on its business from the probes, but ”can provide no assurance that these matters will not be material to its business in the future.” Separately, W-M said it plans to install solar panels on more than half of its roughly 50 Massachusetts stores. 
 
Reuters  (Q1)
Supermarket News (solar panels)
Spartan’s Sales +4% for Year
Spartan Stores’ sales for the fiscal ended March 31 rose 4%, to $2.6B. Adjusted earnings +5.2%, to $109.7M. Q4 sales +7.6% to $614.8M, adjusted earnings +5.2% to $109.7M.
 
Dollar Tree Shares Fall on Tempered Forecast
Q1 sales +11.5% to $1.6B, comp sales +5.6%, net earnings +6.7% to $116M. However, shares were trading down after DT said higher fuel costs would keep current-quarter earnings at the low end of its estimates. DT said food was among its top sales categories, and that food coolers continued to drive store traffic gains. 
New Weis Store to Seek LEED 
Folger, Pa. store will be first Weis store built to meet LEED cert standards.
 
Safeway News: New Chef; PR Problems; ‘Just for U’ Rolls Out in Portland
David Histed has won the competition to become Safeway’s new chef. Histed was formerly a chef at Midwest’s Big Bowl Chinese/Thai restaurant chain. Separately, Slate reports that two developments are generating criticism for Safeway regarding women’s issues: Chain’s decision to suspend without pay a male employee who reportedly intervened after seeing a pregnant customer abused by her boyfriend; and a joke by SVP, general counsel Robert Gordon before the start of Safeway’s annual shareholder meeting that some deem offensive to Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, women in general. In addition, Oregon Live reports that Safeway has launched its new ‘Just for U’ transaction-driven savings program in the Portland market. 
 
Supermarket News  (new chef)
Slate  (PR issues)
Oregon Live (Just for U)
Save-A-Lot Opens in Atlantic City
Store opened May 17 is first full-servie supermarket within a 21-mile radius of the city. The hard-discount, limited-assortment retailer operates 11 stores in New Jersey, 1,300+ stores total in 39 states.
 
Studies Confirm Cost-Conscious Shopping Behaviors
MaxPoint Interactive research report shows average monthly spend on groceries among general population rose from $250.94 in Aug 2007 to $277 in Aug. 2011. Among mothers, rose from $311.95 to $341.14. Key cost-saving behaviors include shopping closer to home/shopping multiple stores; greater use of coupons and leveraging sales; and list-making for shopping. Three in four say more likely to try new product if have a coupon for it. More than half don’t specify brands on their lists; instead use product categories and choose brands in-store based on price, coupons, promotions. Two in five purchasing more store brands or generics. One in four have cut back on prime cuts of meat and seafood, in addition to three in 10 cutting back on bakery items, candy, desserts and magazines/books/DVDs over the past year. Separately, consumer survey by Empathica finds many planning to cut spending across every discretionary category, while maintaining spending on essentials such as gas, groceries, pharmaceuticals. 60% feel their financial situations are more difficult than six months ago, although one-third expect improvement going forward.
 
Progressive Grocer (MaxPoint)
Marketing Daily (Empathica) 
USDA: Healthier Food Can Cost Less 
New USDA study shows most fruits, vegetables, grains/beans and dairy foods cost less than most meats and foods high in fat, sugar and salt. USDA measured costs by weight/portion size, rather than by price-per-calorie, used by previous studies. Food that appears cheap on a per-calorie basis but provides few nutrients may actually be more expensive for consumers from a nutritional economy perspective, “whereas food with a higher retail price that provides large amounts of nutrients [and may be more satiating] may actually be quite cheap,” the report states.
 
Major B&N Investor to Distribute Shares
In SEC filing, Yucaipa Cos. (controlled by Ron Burkle), which owns 19% of B&N’s shares (second only to B&N chairman Len Riggio), disclosed that two funds under its control will distribute shares of the stock they own in B&N. No details as to number of shares or to whom they’ll be distributed. B&N’s stock price fell 8.8% on the news, as other B&N investors appeared to interpret it as a sign that Burkle is losing confidence in B&N. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10912 0 May 18, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10876 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10876#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 14:11:19 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10876

Publishing News

Controversial Time, Newsweek Covers Driving Big Sales Lifts
For example, unit sales for Time’s issue featuring “attachment parenting” breastfeeding cover indexing 45.7% above magazine’s 13-week/issue average units. Unit sales for Newsweek’s issue featuring “The First Gay President” (Obama with halo) indexing 59.1% above its 13-week/issue average units. 
 
Simon & Schuster Settles E-Book Suit with State AGs
Federal judge overseeing the three different antitrust complaints that were brought against Apple and five publishers granted a motion Tuesday to dismiss Simon & Schuster from the complaint filed by numerous states’ attorneys general. Terms of settlement not provided in the court documents. S&S declined to comment. HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group had already settled with AGs, and all three last month settled with Dept. of Justice. Separately, a group of consumers is seeking to bring a class-action suit.
 
RDA Asks Bondholders to Take a Cut; Mulls More Divestments
Reader’s Digest Association giving bondholders till June 14 to decide whether to accept a “take-it-or-leave it” offer on senior secured notes due in 2017, which would represent a 5% cut. RDA also exploring sale of its lifestyle and entertainment direct business (which sells products including music CDs, exercise equipment), and looking at possible international divestments. 
 
NY Post 
Upgraded Adobe Suite Enables Easier, More Efficient Cross-Platform Publishing
New features in upgraded Adobe Digital Publishing Suite, aimed at larger publishers with multiple brands, include ability to publish directly to smartphones; generally easier, more cost-efficient conversions for digital platforms. Meredith announced it will use Suite to create, distribute digital editions of core brands. Wenner’s new US Weekly iPad app also using the platform. NY Post: In latest development, The New Yorker will be the first Conde Nast title to go on Adobe’s new software and use to launch a smartphone app (launch date not determined). 
 
Publishing Executive (capabilities)
GottaBeMobile (capabilities)
NY Post (New Yorker-same link as above) 
Eating Well Wins James Beard Journalism Award
Meredith’s Eating Well has been selected winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Journalism Award. Honored for “The Soup of Life,” an article by Anna Thomas in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue on how one pot of green soup ended up changing her life. Piece won in the Cooking, Recipes or Instruction category. Two other Eating Well articles were named finalists.  
 
USPS to Begin Consolidation
The Postal Service announced that it will begin implementing its modified consolidation plan this summer, transferring mail-processing operations from smaller to larger facilities. In first phase, up to 140 locations will be closed. 48 to close by August. Consolidations on hold during peak Sept.-Dec. mailing season, resuming early 2013; remaining 90 or so in first phase to close by Feb. 2013. 5K employees to receive notifications next week re summer closures. Second phase, with 89 more closings, expected to begin Feb. 2014. First phase to cut workforce by 13K, save $1.2B annually. Total consolidation plan, when completed end of 2014, to cut up to 28K employees, save $2.1B annually. USPS also shrinking geographic reach of overnight first class delivery to local areas. Through 2013, about 80% of first class will still be delivered overnight; standard to be “further tightened” in 2014. Separately, DeadTree clarifies the not-so-simple question: Is the Postal Service broke?
 
USPS release (consolidations)
DeadTree Edition (USPS broke?)
 
Paywall Resistance Softens, When the Content’s Right
Survey of U.S. digital media professionals by DigiCareers shows 52% saying they immediately leave a site after encountering a paywall, but 42% saying they took time to research pricing and make a purchase decision. 36% said they had purchased a digital magazine; 47% paid for movies, 35% for music. More stats on attitudes, behaviors, including perceptions of ads behind paywalls, detailed. Separate article summarizes PulsePoint survey indicating that publishers, marketers, agencies still more focused on digital basics than sophisticated multichannel, multiscreen user interfacing capabilities.
 
eMarketer  (paywalls)
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

Retail News

Wal-Mart Has Strong First Quarter
Total sales +8.6%, to $112.27. U.S. same-store sales +2.6%, with 1%-3% gain projected for Q2. Q1 EPS $1.09 vs. 98 cents year-ago; exceeded W-M’s forecast and analysts’ expected $1.04. Shares have recovered all of the 8.2% drop following April 21 news of Mexican bribery allegations, and shares rose 5% after Q1 report. W-M confirmed that DOJ, SEC and Mexican government agencies are investigating. Said currently foresees no material impact on its business from the probes, but ”can provide no assurance that these matters will not be material to its business in the future.” Separately, W-M said it plans to install solar panels on more than half of its roughly 50 Massachusetts stores. 
 
Reuters  (Q1)
Supermarket News (solar panels)
Spartan’s Sales +4% for Year
Spartan Stores’ sales for the fiscal ended March 31 rose 4%, to $2.6B. Adjusted earnings +5.2%, to $109.7M. Q4 sales +7.6% to $614.8M, adjusted earnings +5.2% to $109.7M.
 
Dollar Tree Shares Fall on Tempered Forecast
Q1 sales +11.5% to $1.6B, comp sales +5.6%, net earnings +6.7% to $116M. However, shares were trading down after DT said higher fuel costs would keep current-quarter earnings at the low end of its estimates. DT said food was among its top sales categories, and that food coolers continued to drive store traffic gains. 
New Weis Store to Seek LEED 
Folger, Pa. store will be first Weis store built to meet LEED cert standards.
 
Safeway News: New Chef; PR Problems; ‘Just for U’ Rolls Out in Portland
David Histed has won the competition to become Safeway’s new chef. Histed was formerly a chef at Midwest’s Big Bowl Chinese/Thai restaurant chain. Separately, Slate reports that two developments are generating criticism for Safeway regarding women’s issues: Chain’s decision to suspend without pay a male employee who reportedly intervened after seeing a pregnant customer abused by her boyfriend; and a joke by SVP, general counsel Robert Gordon before the start of Safeway’s annual shareholder meeting that some deem offensive to Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, women in general. In addition, Oregon Live reports that Safeway has launched its new ‘Just for U’ transaction-driven savings program in the Portland market. 
 
Supermarket News  (new chef)
Slate  (PR issues)
Oregon Live (Just for U)
Save-A-Lot Opens in Atlantic City
Store opened May 17 is first full-servie supermarket within a 21-mile radius of the city. The hard-discount, limited-assortment retailer operates 11 stores in New Jersey, 1,300+ stores total in 39 states.
 
Studies Confirm Cost-Conscious Shopping Behaviors
MaxPoint Interactive research report shows average monthly spend on groceries among general population rose from $250.94 in Aug 2007 to $277 in Aug. 2011. Among mothers, rose from $311.95 to $341.14. Key cost-saving behaviors include shopping closer to home/shopping multiple stores; greater use of coupons and leveraging sales; and list-making for shopping. Three in four say more likely to try new product if have a coupon for it. More than half don’t specify brands on their lists; instead use product categories and choose brands in-store based on price, coupons, promotions. Two in five purchasing more store brands or generics. One in four have cut back on prime cuts of meat and seafood, in addition to three in 10 cutting back on bakery items, candy, desserts and magazines/books/DVDs over the past year. Separately, consumer survey by Empathica finds many planning to cut spending across every discretionary category, while maintaining spending on essentials such as gas, groceries, pharmaceuticals. 60% feel their financial situations are more difficult than six months ago, although one-third expect improvement going forward.
 
Progressive Grocer (MaxPoint)
Marketing Daily (Empathica) 
USDA: Healthier Food Can Cost Less 
New USDA study shows most fruits, vegetables, grains/beans and dairy foods cost less than most meats and foods high in fat, sugar and salt. USDA measured costs by weight/portion size, rather than by price-per-calorie, used by previous studies. Food that appears cheap on a per-calorie basis but provides few nutrients may actually be more expensive for consumers from a nutritional economy perspective, “whereas food with a higher retail price that provides large amounts of nutrients [and may be more satiating] may actually be quite cheap,” the report states.
 
Major B&N Investor to Distribute Shares
In SEC filing, Yucaipa Cos. (controlled by Ron Burkle), which owns 19% of B&N’s shares (second only to B&N chairman Len Riggio), disclosed that two funds under its control will distribute shares of the stock they own in B&N. No details as to number of shares or to whom they’ll be distributed. B&N’s stock price fell 8.8% on the news, as other B&N investors appeared to interpret it as a sign that Burkle is losing confidence in B&N. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10876 0 May 17, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10874 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10874#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 13:56:56 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10874

Publishing News

Women’s Health Leverages U.S. Women’s Health Week
While Rodale’s Women’s Health is dedicated year-round to its title’s mission, during Women’s National Health Week (May 13-19), the magazine is running multiple promotions and new content to re-emphasize the importance of health to its reader base and potential new readers. Efforts include an essay by First Lady Michelle Obama and her top 10 workout songs playlist (posted on WH’s site); two WH-branded segments on the TV show “The Revolution,” and more.
 
Magazine Media Cos. Tapping High-Level Brand Execs
Adweek: Bonnier hired Julie Smartz from Source Interlink Media for new corporate brand development position–and has just hired former MTV digital exec Michael Alex as VP digital content strategy, a new role (see separate MediaBistro item). Hearst hired its first CTO earlier this year. At Conde Nast, new Entertainment Group’s hires have included former Lancome exec to be SVP, brand development. Company targeting $500M in new revenue in next 3 to 5 years, $330M of which to be from nonadvertising sources. New focus on building consumer-driven, licensing, digital platforms and corporate revenue streams said to be creating some tension, as ad sales execs for Conde’s magazine brands feel their importance being diminished. CN president Bob Sauerberg says the titles “remain the center of everything we do.” 
 
Adweek  (high-level hires)
MediaBistro (Bonnier hires MTV digital exec) 
ABC, GfK MRI Step Up Audience Metrics
Audit Bureau of Circulations has announced that any data that’s been captured and reported by Adobe–including tablet-reader metrics–will now be covered by its audits, and will therefore be reportable on ABC publishers’ statements. ABC Interactive is now conducting tests with several publishers that are using the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite to verify the ways in which the system measures/reports data (such as number of readers and session per issue, number of articles read and time-spent per issue). Separately, GfK MRI is launching “Audience Risk Manager,” a Web-based system that uses three components to quantify a magazine’s total audience, including GfK MRI’s Survey of the American Consumer, its issue-specific study and Starch advertising research. Using historical data, the research firm says that it can generate metrics showing the probability that a given print magazine schedule will achieve a given audience level. (For now, the Audience Risk Manager is available only for print magazines.) 
Men’s Journal Rolls Out Updated Web Site
Wenner Media is preparing to unveil revamped MensJournal.com on May 21, to have editorial voice and content “distinct” from print magazine. Site will review/explore areas like gear, travel, health and fitness and niche interests not typically covered by the magazine, offer search feature and “badging” of best-in-class products as determined by editors. Also to be first WM site to be tablet- and smartphone-optimized (HTML5-based site will offer app-like experience on any platform). 
 
 
Time’s ME to Graduates: Expert Info Must Be Paid For
In Butler University commencement speech, Time manage editor Rick Stengel stressed that while raw information or data or blog comments may be free, “knowledge” (meaning insights, expertise such as those provided by Time writers) is “worth a lot,” and must be paid for.
 
MIN
Businessweek Editor: Long-Form Is Differentiating Us
During a bookstore event, Bloomberg Businessweek’s Josh Tyrangiel, who upped the print magazine’s edit pages from 58 to 66 after becoming editor-in-chief in 2009, declined to say whether the magazine is profitable, but stressed that the title’s long-form journalism (in contrast to competitive titles’ stress on pithier content) has helped to differentiate it. “Certainly, we’re moving in the direction we want to be moving in,” he said.
 
Capital New York
New Yorker ‘Relaunches’ Literary Blog
Blog, renamed “Page-Turner,” will expand on magazine’s old books site, The Book Bench. Daily essays to be the blog’s mainstay. First offerings include essays from authors Salman Rushdie, Giles Harvey, Mary Norris, Nick Thompson. 
 
Hearst Editor: Publishers Should Rethink Site Design
Men’s enthusiastic group editorial director James Meigs says, in contrast to magazines, where consumers view ads as part of the experience, ads on publisher sites viewed as intrusive. Consumers find sites confusing, and existence of Flipboard, Instagram confirms that publishers’ sites not designed to package content with readers’ experience in mind, he added.

Digiday

Flipboard ‘Not Trying to Compete’ With Mags
Editorial director Josh Quittner maintains Flipboard is “social magazine” that is a service provider to the journalism industry…not an “aggregator.” Has partnered with publishers (including The Atlantic) to optimize content for the site, and continues to attribute its views to original content providers’ Web traffic, even for non-partners. 

USPS Campaign Offers Direct-Mail Discounts
USPS offering commercial mailers a 2% discount during July and August, for standard and first-class mail letters, flats and card sthat include a 2D barcode or an integrated option for print/mobile tech that can be read or scanned.
 
Adult Print Fiction Sees Mother’s Day Sales Lift
In week leading to Mother’s Day, unit sales of fiction titles in outlets tracked by Nielsen BookScan rose 20%. Big drivers: “Fifty Shades of Grey” sales jumped 40%, selling nearly 443K copies (bringing its total sales in BookScan outlets thus far to 1.5M). “Fifth Shades Darker” up 30% over prior week, selling 210K copies, for total of 682K trade paperback copies thus far. “Fifty Shades Freed” sales +29% in week (180K copies sold thus far).  
 
National Gay Mag Launches
10K copies of second issue of The Mirror, glossy national magazine from publishers of South Florida Gay News.com, shipped to U.S. markets with high gay concentrations.  
 
17 More States Join Ebook Pricing Action
New York, D.C. and 15 other states last week joined a class-action suit seeking restitution for consumers, against Apple, Macmillan and Penguin, bringing total suing to 31 (with D.C., Puerto Rico included). States reached settlement with Hachette, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins. PaidContent cites previously redacted, now public info in court filings, including email from 2010 from Apple’s Steve Jobs to one of publishers, other emails.
 
National Geo Launches Higher-Ed Reader Series
National Geographic Learning is entering the higher-education and career markets with a new Learning Reader Series.
 
Zinio CMO Reflects on Digital Scenario
Among Jeanniey Mullen’s points: Confirms that most digital magazine subscribers are new to brands, says Zinio views iPad revolution and plethora of digital platforms distributing magazines as positives, for awareness purposes. (“There are millions of consumers out there who don’t even know they can read magazines digitally.”)
 

Retail News

Fuel Prices Now Top Retailer Concern
In BDO USA survey of 100 largest public U.S. retailers, 71% cited fuel prices as a chief concern (vs. 58% last year). Unemployment had led the list since 2009; now cited by 68%. 
 
Denver Union Approves Contract Extension
About 15K UFCW workers at King Soopers, Safeway, Albertsons, Smith Foods and City Market stores in Colorado and Wyoming have ratified a two-year contract extension. 
 
Kroger Looks at Larger C Stores
Experimenting with larger C stores, with more fresh food, in (unspecified) markets where it operates full-service supermarkets. Effort to replicate its success in integrating supermarket, convenience offerings in markets like Wichita, Kan., and ward off competition from smaller grocery formats.


Supermarket News

Spartan Expanding Valu Land
Spartan Stores says it will add 3 to 5 new limited-assortment Valu Land stores during this fiscal, and sees the format as a growth vehicle for outside of Michigan. 
 

Nash Finch Reportedly Leasing Former Giant Warehouse
Agrees to lease 368K sq. feet in warehouse space at a former Giant Food facility in Landover, Md., which recently underwent $7M renovation. 
 
Publix Names VP, Finance
Gino DiGrazia promoted to VP, finance. Will take on duties previously performed by now-retired director of tax and treasury Kelly Underhill, as well as continuing his business analysis and reporting roles. 
 
Progressive Grocer
C&K Launches Loyalty Program
Oregon-based C&K Market’s first loyalty program to offer customer-interest clubs, nternet coupons, personalized offers and a points-based discount program.


Supermarket News 

Consumer Group: FDA Should Squelch NuVal System
National Consumers League urging FDA to scrap NuVal nutritional ratings system and replace with national, government system. Contends NuVal ratings are misleading, “fatally flawed.” NuVal chief science officer counters that ratings’ algorithm is publicly available, and and the ratings reflect the reality of what is in products.
 
Wal-Mart: Struggles With Small Format; Great Value Gets Pricier
W-M has opened fewer than a dozen of its 15K-sq.-ft. Express locations since first one opened a year ago. Experts say W-M struggling with supercenter mindset; assortments, pricing in small, high-cost spaces putting pressure on Express margins. Separately, quarterly Raymond James and Assocs. reporting shows cost of basket of Great Value products up 1.7% in April, to $147.95, a new high. But 4.1% lower than Target basket, 18.6% than Publix basket.
 
WSJ  (Express)
Washington City Wire (Great Value)
Target Raises Profit Outlook
Q1 revenue +5.9% to $16.87B, earnings +1.2%. Raises full-year outlook to $4.10 to $4.30 a share, from $4.05 to $4.25. Separately, ZDNet looks at Target’s push to simplify Target.com shopping across multiple platforms.


WSJ  (Q1)
ZDNet (platform integration) 

Supervalu Leverages Social Web
Piece about how social media is changing business practices cites Supervalu’s use of Yammer for network connecting 11K execs and store managers. 1,000 different groups dedicated to talking about specific challenges. Example: 182 managers from different chains joined group to tackle challenges of operating in college towns.  


USA Today

J. M. Smucker Cuts Coffee Prices
Cuts list prices by 6% on average on items under Folgers, Dunkin’ Donuts, Millstone and Cafe Bustelo brands, reflecting declines in green coffee costs.  

Tyson Promo Includes Gas Rebate
Summer promo gives $5 gas rebate to buyers of Chicken Tenders. Promo also includes $1 coupons for the tenders, Knorr Sides, Bounty Napkins. 
 
7-Eleven Negotiating to Buy Open Pantry Stores
Seeks first foothold in Wisconsin through acquisition of most of the Open Pantry chain’s stores.
 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Food Brands Use Novel Means to Bring Recipes to Consumers
Limited edition packages of Kraft’s Philadelphia Cream Cheese products have lids using lenticular technology; when package titled, images of dishes that can be made with the cheeses appear. Also, Hellmann’s worked with St Marche supermarket chain to install software in 100 cash registers that enables them to recognize a Hellmann’s purchase and other items purchased and print out appropriate recipes on receipts.  
 
Food Business Review (Phillie cheese)
Ad Age (Hellman’s) 
NCGA, NPA Add Members
Natinal Cooperative Grocers Assoc. adds Astoria Co-op, Belfast Co-op and Monadnock Food Co-op as members. Separately, Wshington-based Natural Products Association reports 75+ natural products retailers have become members in past two months. 
 
4 Ways to Fight Showrooming
PM Digital exec offers merchandising, pricing, couponing and bid-by-location strategies for bricks-and-mortar retailers.  
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10874 0 May 17, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10821 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10821#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 14:46:00 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10821

Publishing News

Women’s Health Leverages U.S. Women’s Health Week
While Rodale’s Women’s Health is dedicated year-round to its title’s mission, during Women’s National Health Week (May 13-19), the magazine is running multiple promotions and new content to re-emphasize the importance of health to its reader base and potential new readers. Efforts include an essay by First Lady Michelle Obama and her top 10 workout songs playlist (posted on WH’s site); two WH-branded segments on the TV show “The Revolution,” and more.
 
Magazine Media Cos. Tapping High-Level Brand Execs
Adweek: Bonnier hired Julie Smartz from Source Interlink Media for new corporate brand development position–and has just hired former MTV digital exec Michael Alex as VP digital content strategy, a new role (see separate MediaBistro item). Hearst hired its first CTO earlier this year. At Conde Nast, new Entertainment Group’s hires have included former Lancome exec to be SVP, brand development. Company targeting $500M in new revenue in next 3 to 5 years, $330M of which to be from nonadvertising sources. New focus on building consumer-driven, licensing, digital platforms and corporate revenue streams said to be creating some tension, as ad sales execs for Conde’s magazine brands feel their importance being diminished. CN president Bob Sauerberg says the titles “remain the center of everything we do.” 
 
Adweek  (high-level hires)
MediaBistro (Bonnier hires MTV digital exec) 
ABC, GfK MRI Step Up Audience Metrics
Audit Bureau of Circulations has announced that any data that’s been captured and reported by Adobe–including tablet-reader metrics–will now be covered by its audits, and will therefore be reportable on ABC publishers’ statements. ABC Interactive is now conducting tests with several publishers that are using the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite to verify the ways in which the system measures/reports data (such as number of readers and session per issue, number of articles read and time-spent per issue). Separately, GfK MRI is launching “Audience Risk Manager,” a Web-based system that uses three components to quantify a magazine’s total audience, including GfK MRI’s Survey of the American Consumer, its issue-specific study and Starch advertising research. Using historical data, the research firm says that it can generate metrics showing the probability that a given print magazine schedule will achieve a given audience level. (For now, the Audience Risk Manager is available only for print magazines.) 
Men’s Journal Rolls Out Updated Web Site
Wenner Media is preparing to unveil revamped MensJournal.com on May 21, to have editorial voice and content “distinct” from print magazine. Site will review/explore areas like gear, travel, health and fitness and niche interests not typically covered by the magazine, offer search feature and “badging” of best-in-class products as determined by editors. Also to be first WM site to be tablet- and smartphone-optimized (HTML5-based site will offer app-like experience on any platform). 
 
 
Time’s ME to Graduates: Expert Info Must Be Paid For
In Butler University commencement speech, Time manage editor Rick Stengel stressed that while raw information or data or blog comments may be free, “knowledge” (meaning insights, expertise such as those provided by Time writers) is “worth a lot,” and must be paid for.
 
MIN
Businessweek Editor: Long-Form Is Differentiating Us
During a bookstore event, Bloomberg Businessweek’s Josh Tyrangiel, who upped the print magazine’s edit pages from 58 to 66 after becoming editor-in-chief in 2009, declined to say whether the magazine is profitable, but stressed that the title’s long-form journalism (in contrast to competitive titles’ stress on pithier content) has helped to differentiate it. “Certainly, we’re moving in the direction we want to be moving in,” he said.
 
Capital New York
New Yorker ‘Relaunches’ Literary Blog
Blog, renamed “Page-Turner,” will expand on magazine’s old books site, The Book Bench. Daily essays to be the blog’s mainstay. First offerings include essays from authors Salman Rushdie, Giles Harvey, Mary Norris, Nick Thompson. 
 
Hearst Editor: Publishers Should Rethink Site Design
Men’s enthusiastic group editorial director James Meigs says, in contrast to magazines, where consumers view ads as part of the experience, ads on publisher sites viewed as intrusive. Consumers find sites confusing, and existence of Flipboard, Instagram confirms that publishers’ sites not designed to package content with readers’ experience in mind, he added.

Digiday

Flipboard ‘Not Trying to Compete’ With Mags
Editorial director Josh Quittner maintains Flipboard is “social magazine” that is a service provider to the journalism industry…not an “aggregator.” Has partnered with publishers (including The Atlantic) to optimize content for the site, and continues to attribute its views to original content providers’ Web traffic, even for non-partners. 

USPS Campaign Offers Direct-Mail Discounts
USPS offering commercial mailers a 2% discount during July and August, for standard and first-class mail letters, flats and card sthat include a 2D barcode or an integrated option for print/mobile tech that can be read or scanned.
 
Adult Print Fiction Sees Mother’s Day Sales Lift
In week leading to Mother’s Day, unit sales of fiction titles in outlets tracked by Nielsen BookScan rose 20%. Big drivers: “Fifty Shades of Grey” sales jumped 40%, selling nearly 443K copies (bringing its total sales in BookScan outlets thus far to 1.5M). “Fifth Shades Darker” up 30% over prior week, selling 210K copies, for total of 682K trade paperback copies thus far. “Fifty Shades Freed” sales +29% in week (180K copies sold thus far).  
 
National Gay Mag Launches
10K copies of second issue of The Mirror, glossy national magazine from publishers of South Florida Gay News.com, shipped to U.S. markets with high gay concentrations.  
 
17 More States Join Ebook Pricing Action
New York, D.C. and 15 other states last week joined a class-action suit seeking restitution for consumers, against Apple, Macmillan and Penguin, bringing total suing to 31 (with D.C., Puerto Rico included). States reached settlement with Hachette, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins. PaidContent cites previously redacted, now public info in court filings, including email from 2010 from Apple’s Steve Jobs to one of publishers, other emails.
 
National Geo Launches Higher-Ed Reader Series
National Geographic Learning is entering the higher-education and career markets with a new Learning Reader Series.
 
Zinio CMO Reflects on Digital Scenario
Among Jeanniey Mullen’s points: Confirms that most digital magazine subscribers are new to brands, says Zinio views iPad revolution and plethora of digital platforms distributing magazines as positives, for awareness purposes. (“There are millions of consumers out there who don’t even know they can read magazines digitally.”)
 

Retail News

Fuel Prices Now Top Retailer Concern
In BDO USA survey of 100 largest public U.S. retailers, 71% cited fuel prices as a chief concern (vs. 58% last year). Unemployment had led the list since 2009; now cited by 68%. 
 
Denver Union Approves Contract Extension
About 15K UFCW workers at King Soopers, Safeway, Albertsons, Smith Foods and City Market stores in Colorado and Wyoming have ratified a two-year contract extension. 
 
Kroger Looks at Larger C Stores
Experimenting with larger C stores, with more fresh food, in (unspecified) markets where it operates full-service supermarkets. Effort to replicate its success in integrating supermarket, convenience offerings in markets like Wichita, Kan., and ward off competition from smaller grocery formats.


Supermarket News

Spartan Expanding Valu Land
Spartan Stores says it will add 3 to 5 new limited-assortment Valu Land stores during this fiscal, and sees the format as a growth vehicle for outside of Michigan. 
 

Nash Finch Reportedly Leasing Former Giant Warehouse
Agrees to lease 368K sq. feet in warehouse space at a former Giant Food facility in Landover, Md., which recently underwent $7M renovation. 
 
Publix Names VP, Finance
Gino DiGrazia promoted to VP, finance. Will take on duties previously performed by now-retired director of tax and treasury Kelly Underhill, as well as continuing his business analysis and reporting roles. 
 
Progressive Grocer
C&K Launches Loyalty Program
Oregon-based C&K Market’s first loyalty program to offer customer-interest clubs, nternet coupons, personalized offers and a points-based discount program.


Supermarket News 

Consumer Group: FDA Should Squelch NuVal System
National Consumers League urging FDA to scrap NuVal nutritional ratings system and replace with national, government system. Contends NuVal ratings are misleading, “fatally flawed.” NuVal chief science officer counters that ratings’ algorithm is publicly available, and and the ratings reflect the reality of what is in products.
 
Wal-Mart: Struggles With Small Format; Great Value Gets Pricier
W-M has opened fewer than a dozen of its 15K-sq.-ft. Express locations since first one opened a year ago. Experts say W-M struggling with supercenter mindset; assortments, pricing in small, high-cost spaces putting pressure on Express margins. Separately, quarterly Raymond James and Assocs. reporting shows cost of basket of Great Value products up 1.7% in April, to $147.95, a new high. But 4.1% lower than Target basket, 18.6% than Publix basket.
 
WSJ  (Express)
Washington City Wire (Great Value)
Target Raises Profit Outlook
Q1 revenue +5.9% to $16.87B, earnings +1.2%. Raises full-year outlook to $4.10 to $4.30 a share, from $4.05 to $4.25. Separately, ZDNet looks at Target’s push to simplify Target.com shopping across multiple platforms.


WSJ  (Q1)
ZDNet (platform integration) 

Supervalu Leverages Social Web
Piece about how social media is changing business practices cites Supervalu’s use of Yammer for network connecting 11K execs and store managers. 1,000 different groups dedicated to talking about specific challenges. Example: 182 managers from different chains joined group to tackle challenges of operating in college towns.  


USA Today

J. M. Smucker Cuts Coffee Prices
Cuts list prices by 6% on average on items under Folgers, Dunkin’ Donuts, Millstone and Cafe Bustelo brands, reflecting declines in green coffee costs.  

Tyson Promo Includes Gas Rebate
Summer promo gives $5 gas rebate to buyers of Chicken Tenders. Promo also includes $1 coupons for the tenders, Knorr Sides, Bounty Napkins. 
 
7-Eleven Negotiating to Buy Open Pantry Stores
Seeks first foothold in Wisconsin through acquisition of most of the Open Pantry chain’s stores.
 
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Food Brands Use Novel Means to Bring Recipes to Consumers
Limited edition packages of Kraft’s Philadelphia Cream Cheese products have lids using lenticular technology; when package titled, images of dishes that can be made with the cheeses appear. Also, Hellmann’s worked with St Marche supermarket chain to install software in 100 cash registers that enables them to recognize a Hellmann’s purchase and other items purchased and print out appropriate recipes on receipts.  
 
Food Business Review (Phillie cheese)
Ad Age (Hellman’s) 
NCGA, NPA Add Members
Natinal Cooperative Grocers Assoc. adds Astoria Co-op, Belfast Co-op and Monadnock Food Co-op as members. Separately, Wshington-based Natural Products Association reports 75+ natural products retailers have become members in past two months. 
 
4 Ways to Fight Showrooming
PM Digital exec offers merchandising, pricing, couponing and bid-by-location strategies for bricks-and-mortar retailers.  
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10821 0 May 16, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10818 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10818#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 14:34:49 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10818

Publishing News

Source Interlink ‘Relaunches’ Hot Rod Brand
Hot Rod, which will mark its 65th anniversary next year, is readying a “relaunch” across platforms. Tagline, editorial mission changing from “Where it all began” to “Where it’s all going,” with stress on future. As of September issue (out in July), print magazine to have 125 pages (a 40-50% editorial page increase). Content across all platforms—including two shows on sister brand Motortrend’s YouTube channel, HR’s redesigned site, its “Then and Now” iPad app, its licensed Hot Rod Live Radio, and its Hot Rod TV program on the Speed Channel—will refocus on being “bigger, better, faster, louder.”
 
Folio:
Latest NY Post: AMI Invests in Men’s Fitness; Key Time Inc. Editors Re-Up
AMI pumping $1M into the magazine brand. Enhancements starting with latest issue, led by new editor-in-chief Michael De Medeiros, include larger trim size, heavier cover and inside paper stock. In a departure for men’s fitness mags, new issue features woman on cover: former NFL Baltimore Ravens cheerleader Stacy Keibler. In same column, Post reports that, at Time Inc., both People managing editor Larry Hackett and Time top editor Rick Stengel have signed new contracts (for terms believed to be two years). 
 
Bloomberg Businessweek Honored for Design
Bloomberg Businessweek chosen as Gold Award winner in The Society of Publication Designers’ (SPD) 47th Annual Design Competition. Others in competition for the Gold included GQ (which won last year), IL-Intelligence in Lifestyle, Lotus, New York, Port and Time. Other winners of this year’s awards include: IL (for members’ choice); “Time Beyond 911″ (for tablet app: original cover); SPIN Play (for digital: tablet app); and Flipboard for iPad (for tablet app not associated with a print brand). 
 
Time Inc.’s Money, This Old House Team on Edit Supplement
Editorial supplement, “Safe at Home: 25 Ways to Protect Your Biggest Investment,” appears in both magazines and their sites, plus Time Inc.’s Real Simple. First editorial collaboration between Money and This Old House. (Money, RS did a combined edit supplement in Dec. 2011.) New supplement, sponsored by State Farm Insurance (but editorially independent), has total audience reach of 18.5M. 
 
Fairchild Fashion Media Buys NowManifest
FFM acquires Fashion Networks International, parent of NowManifest, a curated blog portal that “gathers the world’s most renowned” fashion bloggers. Platform has 1.2M uniques per month. FNI is the global extension of Stockholm-based Fashion Networks Scandinavia (FNS). FNS is not part of the acquisition, but its co-founder, Christian Remröd, will be managing director of NowManifest and FFM business development.  
 
Hearst Centralizes Social Media
Brian Madden, GM of Hearst’s new dedicated social media group (currently a team of three) explains its mission and functions: “Connect the dots” among Hearst’s social communities and its brands to grow, engage its audiences; and find ways to drive additional revenue from social platforms. SM group shares insights and develops/revises best practices across brands, digs into analytics, tracks emerging social platforms. (More specifics provided.)  
 
Ad Agencies’ Print Focus Jumps
Quarterly survey of leading ad agencies by STRATA shows overall advertising economy is positive and appears to be back to “new normal.” Print among the beneficiaries. 11% of agencies say they are more focused on print than a year ago, an increase of 217% over Q4 2011 (2nd-largest-ever increase for print in survey’s history). 
 
Ebook Pricing: Court Rejects Motions to Dismiss Class Action
Court denies motions by Apple, five publishers to dismiss class-action suit filed against them that alleges they fixed ebook prices via the agency pricing model. Consolidated suit was filed last summer, well before Dept. of Justice and states filed own suits against Apple, publishers this April. Ruling means civil suit against Apple and all five publishers can proceed, even though DOJ and states have settled with Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster. (Other two publishers are Penguin, Macmillan.) 
 
Crown Hires VP, Brand Publishing
Leigh Ann Ambrosi, previously VP, marketing/publicity for Sterling, joining Crown in new role of VP, brand publishing project director. 
 
Mobile Barcode Scans: Big Growth
Trend report from ScanLife shows 13M scans in Q1 from its own QR codes/platform alone at 13M, +157% vs. Q1 2011. 5M uniques in quarter up nearly 200% vs. Q1 2011 and up 1M vs. Q4 2011. iPhone OS now drives traffic about equal to Android OS. Most popular campaigns deliver videos, app downloads, product details. Men represent 68% of users, but women up 8% vs. year ago. 25-34′s are dominant age group (35%).  
 
ScanLife (free report download)
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Economy: April Marks Ease in Inflation; Retail Sales Growth Small
2.6% drop in gas price index offset cost rises in food and other items. CPI/overall prices 2.3% higher than year-ago, smallest increase since Feb. 2011. Core inflation minus gas, food +0.2% vs. March but +2.3% vs. year-ago (largest 12-month increase since Sept. 2008). Speculation: Because inflation slightly above Fed’s 2% annual inflation target rate, Fed might decide to use stimulants such as bond purchases. Retail sales growth slowed to just 0.1% in April, though car, furniture sales up. Average inflation-adjusted hourly wages, at $10.20, unchanged from March but -0.5% vs. year ago. Separate WSJ piece points out that any retail sales growth is somewhat surprising given that real wages/buying power have fallen far behind inflation. Sales being driven largely by more use of credit cards. 
 
WSJ (overview, inflation, sales)
WSJ  (Fed’s possible responses)
WSJ (stagnant wages hurt spending)
NRF: Spring Sales Trend Positive
Reports seasonally adjusted April retail sales (excluding cars, gas, restaurants) -0.1% vs. March. But +2.8% on unadjusted basis vs. year ago, marking 22 consecutive months of retail growth. Softer April sales were expected due to normal seasonal shift pattern, earlier Easter, but growth so far in 2012 deemed “positive indicator,” NRF said. 
 
Judge Strikes Union Election Rule
U.S. District Court: National Labor Relations Board rules to speed up union elections cannot be enacted because NLRB lacked a quorum when the rules were approved late last year. Judge did not address the merit of the rules, which went into effect April 30, but declared them invalid. Ruling applauded by Retail Industry Leaders Association, other business groups.
 
Nash Finch Buys 2nd Omaha Chain
Acquisition of 18-store No Frills Supermarkets chain will be wholesaler’s second in the region this year. (Terms not yet available.) Acquired 12-store Bag ’N Save chain in Omaha and York, Neb., for about $29.9 million last month. No Frills had 12.2% market share in Omaha in 2011, vs. Bag ‘N Save’s 10.7%. 
 
Supermarket News
Lowe Named to Merchandising Role at Supervalu
Tim Lowe, president of Supervalu’s Shoppers Food & Pharmacy banner, has been named SVP of merchandising at the parent company. 
 
Kroger Receives Food Safety Award
Named the 2012 recipient of the Black Pearl Award for advancing food safety and quality, given by the International Association for Food Protection. 
 
Moody’s Notes Impact of Pension Obligations
Says estimated multi-employer pension-plan funding shortfalls will weaken the financial leverage metrics of U.S. supermarkets, but most companies’ debt ratings will not be affected.  
 
Supermarket News
Cardinal Health Settles Government Pills Distribution Probe
In settlement re allegations that Cardinal distributed large quantities of addictive pain pills in Florida, Cardinal will shut down distribution of controlled substances through its Lakeland, Fla. warehouse for two years, but will not pay a fine. Cardinal also believed to have agreed to more site inspections of pharmacies. In return, government won’t use sales data gathered in its probe for future actions against Cardinal. Government’s litigation continues with CVS Caremark, which operated two pharmacies in Sanford, Fla. that purchased large orders of oxycodone.
 
WSJ
Wal-Mart’s Tech Transformation
Summary of W-M’s aggressive moves and investments to become a “technology powerhouse” capable of competing with Amazon, other online players. 
 
U.S. News and World Report
Amazon Lists Best-Read Cities
Based on per-capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers, Alexandria, Va. leads the list (and shows a particular preference for romance novels). Rest of top 10: Cambridge, Mass.; Berkeley, Calif.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Boulder, Colo.; Miami, Fla.; Arlington, Va.; Gainesville, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; and Salt Lake City, Utah. 
 
Bookstore Sales Down in March, Q1
Preliminary Census Bureau estimates show sales -3.7%, to $922M. Q1 sales -2.3%, to $3.94B. 
 
Amazon Ramps Up Hiring
Hired 28K employees in past year, a 73% increase that brought its total headcount to 65,600 as of end of March. Sixth in employee growth among all S&P 500 companies between 2007-2011. Debate: Smart positioning for growth, or is Amazon overextending itself? 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10818 0 May 16, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10758 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10758#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 09:24:19 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10758

Publishing News

Source Interlink ‘Relaunches’ Hot Rod Brand
Hot Rod, which will mark its 65th anniversary next year, is readying a “relaunch” across platforms. Tagline, editorial mission changing from “Where it all began” to “Where it’s all going,” with stress on future. As of September issue (out in July), print magazine to have 125 pages (a 40-50% editorial page increase). Content across all platforms—including two shows on sister brand Motortrend’s YouTube channel, HR’s redesigned site, its “Then and Now” iPad app, its licensed Hot Rod Live Radio, and its Hot Rod TV program on the Speed Channel—will refocus on being “bigger, better, faster, louder.”
 
Folio:
Latest NY Post: AMI Invests in Men’s Fitness; Key Time Inc. Editors Re-Up
AMI pumping $1M into the magazine brand. Enhancements starting with latest issue, led by new editor-in-chief Michael De Medeiros, include larger trim size, heavier cover and inside paper stock. In a departure for men’s fitness mags, new issue features woman on cover: former NFL Baltimore Ravens cheerleader Stacy Keibler. In same column, Post reports that, at Time Inc., both People managing editor Larry Hackett and Time top editor Rick Stengel have signed new contracts (for terms believed to be two years). 
 
Bloomberg Businessweek Honored for Design
Bloomberg Businessweek chosen as Gold Award winner in The Society of Publication Designers’ (SPD) 47th Annual Design Competition. Others in competition for the Gold included GQ (which won last year), IL-Intelligence in Lifestyle, Lotus, New York, Port and Time. Other winners of this year’s awards include: IL (for members’ choice); “Time Beyond 911″ (for tablet app: original cover); SPIN Play (for digital: tablet app); and Flipboard for iPad (for tablet app not associated with a print brand). 
 
Time Inc.’s Money, This Old House Team on Edit Supplement
Editorial supplement, “Safe at Home: 25 Ways to Protect Your Biggest Investment,” appears in both magazines and their sites, plus Time Inc.’s Real Simple. First editorial collaboration between Money and This Old House. (Money, RS did a combined edit supplement in Dec. 2011.) New supplement, sponsored by State Farm Insurance (but editorially independent), has total audience reach of 18.5M. 
 
Fairchild Fashion Media Buys NowManifest
FFM acquires Fashion Networks International, parent of NowManifest, a curated blog portal that “gathers the world’s most renowned” fashion bloggers. Platform has 1.2M uniques per month. FNI is the global extension of Stockholm-based Fashion Networks Scandinavia (FNS). FNS is not part of the acquisition, but its co-founder, Christian Remröd, will be managing director of NowManifest and FFM business development.  
 
Hearst Centralizes Social Media
Brian Madden, GM of Hearst’s new dedicated social media group (currently a team of three) explains its mission and functions: “Connect the dots” among Hearst’s social communities and its brands to grow, engage its audiences; and find ways to drive additional revenue from social platforms. SM group shares insights and develops/revises best practices across brands, digs into analytics, tracks emerging social platforms. (More specifics provided.)  
 
Ad Agencies’ Print Focus Jumps
Quarterly survey of leading ad agencies by STRATA shows overall advertising economy is positive and appears to be back to “new normal.” Print among the beneficiaries. 11% of agencies say they are more focused on print than a year ago, an increase of 217% over Q4 2011 (2nd-largest-ever increase for print in survey’s history). 
 
Ebook Pricing: Court Rejects Motions to Dismiss Class Action
Court denies motions by Apple, five publishers to dismiss class-action suit filed against them that alleges they fixed ebook prices via the agency pricing model. Consolidated suit was filed last summer, well before Dept. of Justice and states filed own suits against Apple, publishers this April. Ruling means civil suit against Apple and all five publishers can proceed, even though DOJ and states have settled with Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster. (Other two publishers are Penguin, Macmillan.) 
 
Crown Hires VP, Brand Publishing
Leigh Ann Ambrosi, previously VP, marketing/publicity for Sterling, joining Crown in new role of VP, brand publishing project director. 
 
Mobile Barcode Scans: Big Growth
Trend report from ScanLife shows 13M scans in Q1 from its own QR codes/platform alone at 13M, +157% vs. Q1 2011. 5M uniques in quarter up nearly 200% vs. Q1 2011 and up 1M vs. Q4 2011. iPhone OS now drives traffic about equal to Android OS. Most popular campaigns deliver videos, app downloads, product details. Men represent 68% of users, but women up 8% vs. year ago. 25-34′s are dominant age group (35%).  
 
ScanLife (free report download)
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Economy: April Marks Ease in Inflation; Retail Sales Growth Small
2.6% drop in gas price index offset cost rises in food and other items. CPI/overall prices 2.3% higher than year-ago, smallest increase since Feb. 2011. Core inflation minus gas, food +0.2% vs. March but +2.3% vs. year-ago (largest 12-month increase since Sept. 2008). Speculation: Because inflation slightly above Fed’s 2% annual inflation target rate, Fed might decide to use stimulants such as bond purchases. Retail sales growth slowed to just 0.1% in April, though car, furniture sales up. Average inflation-adjusted hourly wages, at $10.20, unchanged from March but -0.5% vs. year ago. Separate WSJ piece points out that any retail sales growth is somewhat surprising given that real wages/buying power have fallen far behind inflation. Sales being driven largely by more use of credit cards. 
 
WSJ (overview, inflation, sales)
WSJ  (Fed’s possible responses)
WSJ (stagnant wages hurt spending)
NRF: Spring Sales Trend Positive
Reports seasonally adjusted April retail sales (excluding cars, gas, restaurants) -0.1% vs. March. But +2.8% on unadjusted basis vs. year ago, marking 22 consecutive months of retail growth. Softer April sales were expected due to normal seasonal shift pattern, earlier Easter, but growth so far in 2012 deemed “positive indicator,” NRF said. 
 
Judge Strikes Union Election Rule
U.S. District Court: National Labor Relations Board rules to speed up union elections cannot be enacted because NLRB lacked a quorum when the rules were approved late last year. Judge did not address the merit of the rules, which went into effect April 30, but declared them invalid. Ruling applauded by Retail Industry Leaders Association, other business groups.
 
Nash Finch Buys 2nd Omaha Chain
Acquisition of 18-store No Frills Supermarkets chain will be wholesaler’s second in the region this year. (Terms not yet available.) Acquired 12-store Bag ’N Save chain in Omaha and York, Neb., for about $29.9 million last month. No Frills had 12.2% market share in Omaha in 2011, vs. Bag ‘N Save’s 10.7%. 
 
Supermarket News
Lowe Named to Merchandising Role at Supervalu
Tim Lowe, president of Supervalu’s Shoppers Food & Pharmacy banner, has been named SVP of merchandising at the parent company. 
 
Kroger Receives Food Safety Award
Named the 2012 recipient of the Black Pearl Award for advancing food safety and quality, given by the International Association for Food Protection. 
 
Moody’s Notes Impact of Pension Obligations
Says estimated multi-employer pension-plan funding shortfalls will weaken the financial leverage metrics of U.S. supermarkets, but most companies’ debt ratings will not be affected.  
 
Supermarket News
Cardinal Health Settles Government Pills Distribution Probe
In settlement re allegations that Cardinal distributed large quantities of addictive pain pills in Florida, Cardinal will shut down distribution of controlled substances through its Lakeland, Fla. warehouse for two years, but will not pay a fine. Cardinal also believed to have agreed to more site inspections of pharmacies. In return, government won’t use sales data gathered in its probe for future actions against Cardinal. Government’s litigation continues with CVS Caremark, which operated two pharmacies in Sanford, Fla. that purchased large orders of oxycodone.
 
WSJ
Wal-Mart’s Tech Transformation
Summary of W-M’s aggressive moves and investments to become a “technology powerhouse” capable of competing with Amazon, other online players. 
 
U.S. News and World Report
Amazon Lists Best-Read Cities
Based on per-capita sales of books, magazines and newspapers, Alexandria, Va. leads the list (and shows a particular preference for romance novels). Rest of top 10: Cambridge, Mass.; Berkeley, Calif.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Boulder, Colo.; Miami, Fla.; Arlington, Va.; Gainesville, Fla.; Washington, D.C.; and Salt Lake City, Utah. 
 
Bookstore Sales Down in March, Q1
Preliminary Census Bureau estimates show sales -3.7%, to $922M. Q1 sales -2.3%, to $3.94B. 
 
Amazon Ramps Up Hiring
Hired 28K employees in past year, a 73% increase that brought its total headcount to 65,600 as of end of March. Sixth in employee growth among all S&P 500 companies between 2007-2011. Debate: Smart positioning for growth, or is Amazon overextending itself? 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10758 0 May 15, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10754 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10754#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 15:06:24 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10754

Publishing News

Meredith to Fold Scrapbooks Etc.
To cease publishing magazine after its August issue, with on-sale date of June 19. Although title has been the “longtime brand leader” in the scrapbooking market, Meredith said, it is folding it due to “the longer-term business forecast for the franchise and the [scrapbooking] industry.” Meredith added that it continues its “strong support” of the broader crafts industry through its Holiday Crafts titles and new offering Make It Yourself (launching in October), as well as through its multiple quilting titles and allpeoplequilt.com. No mention of whether the title’s list is being sold to another company. Scrapbookupdate blog notes that Creative Crafts Group’s Creating Keepsakes and Paper Crafts Magazine continue to be key newsstand titles (at $5-$6), and that Northridge Publishing offers higher-priced titles at retail (averaging $14.95). 
 
Hearst Updates Tablet Scenario
Hearst Magazines International CEO Duncan Edwards reports that Hearst’s paid tablet sales now at 600K per month; aiming for 1M per month in U.S. by year-end. While some Hearst brands’ tablet editions are tailored to the platform, Cosmo, Country Living, GH are identical to print versions because most readers actually prefer that, he said. Stressed Apple “by no means only player in U.S.”: Hearst tablet sales about 35% from Apple, 30% from B&N’s Nook, 20% Zinio, 15% Amazon Kindle. Says evidence points to consumer willlingness to pay as much or more for digital as print (some Hearst tablet editions priced at $19.99).
Opinion: Some Publishers Do Like Apps
In reply to Jason Pontin’s recent piece in Technology Review (“Why Publishers Don’t Like Apps”), publishing consultant Linda Ruth suggests Pontin’s “announcements of the end of things” usually have a “kernel of truth” but mainly make splashes. Says his previous announcement that “print had no future” and that TR was being taken off newsstand was subsequently followed by a “quiet” return to retail, “where it remains today.” Yet “the specter that Pontin evoked back then still breathes down our necks and informs every decision that publishers make every day.” Says apps still in infancy, and innovative publishers still exploring, but providing appropriate content across platforms, including print, is (nearly) every publisher’s goal. Uses Discovery Girls brand as example. 
 
Publishing Executive (Ruth)
Technology Review (Pontin’s piece) 
USPS, Vendor In Suit Over Flats Sequencing System
Northrop Grumman, which built the troubled Flats Sequencing System, claims USPS improperly wrested design control away from it, ignored specs, etc. Says USPS still owes it $179M for work (original contract was for $874M). USPS has largely rejected the claims and responded with its own claims for $341M, saying it did not realize certain expected cost savings from system’s deployment.  
 
Vintage Re-Releasing Capote
Random House paperback imprint Vintage Books is releasing Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and other Capote works as ebooks. Also planning paper re-release of Capote works, including “In Cold Blood.” 
 
Crown Hires Brand Strategist
Kimberly Snead has been hired for newly created role of director, brand strategy at Random House’s Crown Publishing Group. She was previously director consumer marketing, strategy for Nickelodeon/MTV’s Kids & Family programming.
 
New ‘Godfather’ Book to Debut Once Legal Dispute Resolved
Although Paramount Pictures and the estate of author Mario Puzo are still battling out in court issues regarding copyrights for literary sequels, mutual self interest has enabled an interim agreement, pending suit’s resolution, permitting publication of book sequeal “The Family Corleone.” Revenues realized to be escrowed until suit settled. 
 

Retail News

Aldi To Expand in Houston
Announces $100M investment to enter Houston market next year, open 30 stores within three years. First 10 to open early 2013. Currently operates 37 stores in Texas, with most in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
 
Supermarket News
Fairway Reportedly Mulling IPO
Fairway Market, majority-owned by Sterling Investment Partners, reportedly in early stages of interviewing banks to lead an IPO, which could yield several hundred million dollars. Has 9 stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York; 10th to open this summer in Woodland Park, N.J. 
 
Publix Saves 2 Billion Plastic, Paper Bags
Since mid 2007, through training checkout staff to put more items in bags, setting by-store bag-reduction goals, campaigns to encourage use of reusable bags, donations of bags to nonprofits, partners. Paper/plastic bag use reduced by 1M+ per day.  
 
Progressive Grocer
Browns In Sustainability Program
Family-owned Brown’s Super Stores (operates ShopRites in Phillie area) has launched initiatives including energy savings through refrigeration, LED lighting, recycling and food recovery, control management and solar energy. Recently achieved Energy Star Rating in six of its 11 facilities. 
Investors Sue BAM’s Directors
Books-A-Million Inc.’s directors are being sued by investor Jeffrey Yes, who claims the board wrongfully approved a $48.8M ($3.05 per share), below-underlying-value buyout of the chain by controlling shareholders the Anderson family. BAM officials formed a special committee to evaluate the offer, but Ye contends  the Andersons dominate the board and will control the committee. Ye filed a derivative suit, which would return any recovery from insurance covering BAM officers, directors to BAM’s coffers. Another investor, Victor Collins, filed a separate suit against BAM over the buyout, seeking damages, class-action status on behalf of other shareholders. Both suits seek to block the buyout.
 
Bloomberg News
Amazon Reportedly Launching New Kindle Fire, Other Devices
Source says new Fire to launch near holiday season, have larger diagonal display of 8.9,” closer to iPad’s. Front-lit monochrome Kindle e-reader, targeted for July, also said to be among new device offerings.
 
Shifting Male/Female Family Roles 
U.S. Census Bureau reports 32% of fathers with working wives routinely care for their kids up to age 15, vs. 26% in 2002 (a trend increasingly reflected in TV, product marketing). Spousal roles presenting issues. Some speculate gendered roles of husband/wife being replaced by functional spouse/parent roles.


WSJ

Women: Costs Hamper Healthy Eating
In national poll, ShopSmart magazine finds 57% of women saying that the cost is the largest deterrent to eating more healthfully. Other insights offered.


Progressive Grocer 

More Americans Want More Food Label Info
International Food Information Council finds 24%, vs. 18% in 2010, including 18% want more info on food safety vs. 2% in 2010. However, 69% say very or somewhat confident in U.S. food safety, unchanged from 2010. 

USDA: Beef Consumption Steady; Will Test Beef for More E. Coli Strains Starting in June
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said controversy over “pink slime” has reduced beef consumption by maybe one-tenth of 1%. Separately, USDA will start testing raw ground beef for six additional strains of E. coli. Meat industry argues being unfairly targeted, the six strains tied to outbreaks. Most outbreaks have been tied to sprouts, lettuce, not beef.  
 
Des Moines Register (beef consumption)
Washington Post  (beef testing)
Retail Health Clinics Expand
Consumers like the speed; retailers gearing up for expected 30M more insured patients when health care reform kicks in in 2014. CVS now has clinics at 600 sites vs. handful in 2005; Walgreens has 350; Wal-Mart 140. 
 
Las Vegas Review Journal
Harris: Walgreen, Target, Costco Among Retail Brand Equity Leaders
In consumer 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend survey, Walgreens scored highest among drug stores, followed by CVS and Rite Aid. (Costco, Kmart, Target, Walmart also included in drug category.) In “value” retailer category, Target ranked higher than Walmart for 2nd year. In retail gas category, Costco won Gas Retailer of the Year. Speedway leads C-stores, followed by Arco am/pm, 7Eleven. No grocery retailer category. 
Walmart Gets Tax Breaks for Building on Polluted Sites
Wal-Mart has been awarded $18M in state incentives since 2000, mostly for building on polluted or designated “brownfield” areas. Now seeking that designation for a St. Petersburg, Fla. site.
 
Obituaries: Martin Lavelle, Marsh H. Blackburn
Martin Lavelle, former A&P executive who co-founded the Edmar Foods supermarket chain in the Chicago area, died May 9 at 79. Marsh H. Blackburn, former chairman, CEO of Sales Force Cos., died in April at 82. 
 
Supermarket News (Lavelle)
Supermarket News (Blackburn) 
IGA Plans Wounded Warrior Promo; UNFI Establishes Foundation
In IGA’s 2nd annual brand-exclusive initiative, sales of select IGA-brand products between Memorial and Labor Days to raise up to $200K for war veterans. Separately, United Natural Foods Inc. has formed a charitable foundation to support sustainable, organic food systems.
 
Supermarket News  (IGA)
Progressive Grocer (UNFI)
Case Study: Advanced Online Targeting Yields In-Store Sales Lifts
Use of consumers’ transaction histories to target ads on premium sites drove significant in-store sales lifts for three CPGs, reports SymphonyIRI and Legolas Media. 
 
Survey: Social Media Users Have Higher Service Expectations
Oracle survey finds half of Twitter users worldwide expect a personal response within two hours of tweeting a question or complaint; 51% of Facebook users expect same-day response to questions or complaints posted on Facebook. 
 
E-Commerce Stunted in Canada
Higher prices for poorer selections than in U.S. (including relatively limited selection on Amazon), high shipping costs, duty and customs charges continue to thwart growth of online shopping in Canada. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10754 0 May 15, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10709 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10709#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 14:59:58 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10709

Publishing News

Meredith to Fold Scrapbooks Etc.
To cease publishing magazine after its August issue, with on-sale date of June 19. Although title has been the “longtime brand leader” in the scrapbooking market, Meredith said, it is folding it due to “the longer-term business forecast for the franchise and the [scrapbooking] industry.” Meredith added that it continues its “strong support” of the broader crafts industry through its Holiday Crafts titles and new offering Make It Yourself (launching in October), as well as through its multiple quilting titles and allpeoplequilt.com. No mention of whether the title’s list is being sold to another company. Scrapbookupdate blog notes that Creative Crafts Group’s Creating Keepsakes and Paper Crafts Magazine continue to be key newsstand titles (at $5-$6), and that Northridge Publishing offers higher-priced titles at retail (averaging $14.95). 
 
Hearst Updates Tablet Scenario
Hearst Magazines International CEO Duncan Edwards reports that Hearst’s paid tablet sales now at 600K per month; aiming for 1M per month in U.S. by year-end. While some Hearst brands’ tablet editions are tailored to the platform, Cosmo, Country Living, GH are identical to print versions because most readers actually prefer that, he said. Stressed Apple “by no means only player in U.S.”: Hearst tablet sales about 35% from Apple, 30% from B&N’s Nook, 20% Zinio, 15% Amazon Kindle. Says evidence points to consumer willlingness to pay as much or more for digital as print (some Hearst tablet editions priced at $19.99).
Opinion: Some Publishers Do Like Apps
In reply to Jason Pontin’s recent piece in Technology Review (“Why Publishers Don’t Like Apps”), publishing consultant Linda Ruth suggests Pontin’s “announcements of the end of things” usually have a “kernel of truth” but mainly make splashes. Says his previous announcement that “print had no future” and that TR was being taken off newsstand was subsequently followed by a “quiet” return to retail, “where it remains today.” Yet “the specter that Pontin evoked back then still breathes down our necks and informs every decision that publishers make every day.” Says apps still in infancy, and innovative publishers still exploring, but providing appropriate content across platforms, including print, is (nearly) every publisher’s goal. Uses Discovery Girls brand as example. 
 
Publishing Executive (Ruth)
Technology Review (Pontin’s piece) 
USPS, Vendor In Suit Over Flats Sequencing System
Northrop Grumman, which built the troubled Flats Sequencing System, claims USPS improperly wrested design control away from it, ignored specs, etc. Says USPS still owes it $179M for work (original contract was for $874M). USPS has largely rejected the claims and responded with its own claims for $341M, saying it did not realize certain expected cost savings from system’s deployment.  
 
Vintage Re-Releasing Capote
Random House paperback imprint Vintage Books is releasing Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and other Capote works as ebooks. Also planning paper re-release of Capote works, including “In Cold Blood.” 
 
Crown Hires Brand Strategist
Kimberly Snead has been hired for newly created role of director, brand strategy at Random House’s Crown Publishing Group. She was previously director consumer marketing, strategy for Nickelodeon/MTV’s Kids & Family programming.
 
New ‘Godfather’ Book to Debut Once Legal Dispute Resolved
Although Paramount Pictures and the estate of author Mario Puzo are still battling out in court issues regarding copyrights for literary sequels, mutual self interest has enabled an interim agreement, pending suit’s resolution, permitting publication of book sequeal “The Family Corleone.” Revenues realized to be escrowed until suit settled. 
 

Retail News

Aldi To Expand in Houston
Announces $100M investment to enter Houston market next year, open 30 stores within three years. First 10 to open early 2013. Currently operates 37 stores in Texas, with most in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
 
Supermarket News
Fairway Reportedly Mulling IPO
Fairway Market, majority-owned by Sterling Investment Partners, reportedly in early stages of interviewing banks to lead an IPO, which could yield several hundred million dollars. Has 9 stores in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York; 10th to open this summer in Woodland Park, N.J. 
 
Publix Saves 2 Billion Plastic, Paper Bags
Since mid 2007, through training checkout staff to put more items in bags, setting by-store bag-reduction goals, campaigns to encourage use of reusable bags, donations of bags to nonprofits, partners. Paper/plastic bag use reduced by 1M+ per day.  
 
Progressive Grocer
Browns In Sustainability Program
Family-owned Brown’s Super Stores (operates ShopRites in Phillie area) has launched initiatives including energy savings through refrigeration, LED lighting, recycling and food recovery, control management and solar energy. Recently achieved Energy Star Rating in six of its 11 facilities. 
Investors Sue BAM’s Directors
Books-A-Million Inc.’s directors are being sued by investor Jeffrey Yes, who claims the board wrongfully approved a $48.8M ($3.05 per share), below-underlying-value buyout of the chain by controlling shareholders the Anderson family. BAM officials formed a special committee to evaluate the offer, but Ye contends  the Andersons dominate the board and will control the committee. Ye filed a derivative suit, which would return any recovery from insurance covering BAM officers, directors to BAM’s coffers. Another investor, Victor Collins, filed a separate suit against BAM over the buyout, seeking damages, class-action status on behalf of other shareholders. Both suits seek to block the buyout.
 
Bloomberg News
Amazon Reportedly Launching New Kindle Fire, Other Devices
Source says new Fire to launch near holiday season, have larger diagonal display of 8.9,” closer to iPad’s. Front-lit monochrome Kindle e-reader, targeted for July, also said to be among new device offerings.
 
Shifting Male/Female Family Roles 
U.S. Census Bureau reports 32% of fathers with working wives routinely care for their kids up to age 15, vs. 26% in 2002 (a trend increasingly reflected in TV, product marketing). Spousal roles presenting issues. Some speculate gendered roles of husband/wife being replaced by functional spouse/parent roles.


WSJ

Women: Costs Hamper Healthy Eating
In national poll, ShopSmart magazine finds 57% of women saying that the cost is the largest deterrent to eating more healthfully. Other insights offered.


Progressive Grocer 

More Americans Want More Food Label Info
International Food Information Council finds 24%, vs. 18% in 2010, including 18% want more info on food safety vs. 2% in 2010. However, 69% say very or somewhat confident in U.S. food safety, unchanged from 2010. 

USDA: Beef Consumption Steady; Will Test Beef for More E. Coli Strains Starting in June
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said controversy over “pink slime” has reduced beef consumption by maybe one-tenth of 1%. Separately, USDA will start testing raw ground beef for six additional strains of E. coli. Meat industry argues being unfairly targeted, the six strains tied to outbreaks. Most outbreaks have been tied to sprouts, lettuce, not beef.  
 
Des Moines Register (beef consumption)
Washington Post  (beef testing)
Retail Health Clinics Expand
Consumers like the speed; retailers gearing up for expected 30M more insured patients when health care reform kicks in in 2014. CVS now has clinics at 600 sites vs. handful in 2005; Walgreens has 350; Wal-Mart 140. 
 
Las Vegas Review Journal
Harris: Walgreen, Target, Costco Among Retail Brand Equity Leaders
In consumer 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend survey, Walgreens scored highest among drug stores, followed by CVS and Rite Aid. (Costco, Kmart, Target, Walmart also included in drug category.) In “value” retailer category, Target ranked higher than Walmart for 2nd year. In retail gas category, Costco won Gas Retailer of the Year. Speedway leads C-stores, followed by Arco am/pm, 7Eleven. No grocery retailer category. 
Walmart Gets Tax Breaks for Building on Polluted Sites
Wal-Mart has been awarded $18M in state incentives since 2000, mostly for building on polluted or designated “brownfield” areas. Now seeking that designation for a St. Petersburg, Fla. site.
 
Obituaries: Martin Lavelle, Marsh H. Blackburn
Martin Lavelle, former A&P executive who co-founded the Edmar Foods supermarket chain in the Chicago area, died May 9 at 79. Marsh H. Blackburn, former chairman, CEO of Sales Force Cos., died in April at 82. 
 
Supermarket News (Lavelle)
Supermarket News (Blackburn) 
IGA Plans Wounded Warrior Promo; UNFI Establishes Foundation
In IGA’s 2nd annual brand-exclusive initiative, sales of select IGA-brand products between Memorial and Labor Days to raise up to $200K for war veterans. Separately, United Natural Foods Inc. has formed a charitable foundation to support sustainable, organic food systems.
 
Supermarket News  (IGA)
Progressive Grocer (UNFI)
Case Study: Advanced Online Targeting Yields In-Store Sales Lifts
Use of consumers’ transaction histories to target ads on premium sites drove significant in-store sales lifts for three CPGs, reports SymphonyIRI and Legolas Media. 
 
Survey: Social Media Users Have Higher Service Expectations
Oracle survey finds half of Twitter users worldwide expect a personal response within two hours of tweeting a question or complaint; 51% of Facebook users expect same-day response to questions or complaints posted on Facebook. 
 
E-Commerce Stunted in Canada
Higher prices for poorer selections than in U.S. (including relatively limited selection on Amazon), high shipping costs, duty and customs charges continue to thwart growth of online shopping in Canada. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10709 0 May 14, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10706 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10706#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 14:41:21 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10706

Publishing News

Report: Retailers, Advertisers Unphased by Time Cover
Time reports that only one or two smaller retailers have opted to cover up breastfeeding cover for cover feature on “attachment parenting.” Hudson News says it displayed the magazine as usual, with no qualms. MagNet’s Gil Brechtel thinks issue likely to sell better than average. Media buyers report no complaints from advertisers in issue. (MediaVest’s Robin Steinberg notes that Time always seeks to provoke debate; Group M’s George Janson says cover is arguably “tame” next to much of the content on TV, Web.) After cover debuted, Time sold more subs online in one day than in previous week. Ad Age: Time may have stoked “the perfect controversy”: Generated much buzz while angering very few. Separately, Poynter notes Saturday Night Live’s spoof commentary on the cover (Seth Meyers: “I know you have to do what it takes to sell magazines, and that’s a good cover. But if you wanted a great cover, you would have PhotoShopped out the chair.”) Poynter piece also has more commentary on cover (L.A. Times: “Print well done…stroke of genius”) and link to outtakes of cover shoot.
 
Ad Age
Poynter
Newsweek Declares Obama “First Gay President”
Not letting arch-rival Time get all the cover attention, Newsweek’s new issue cover shows President Obama, with halo over head, with “The First Gay President” headline, and cover story by Andrew Sullivan, discussing Obama’s declaration of supporting gay marriage. (After Time’s breastfeeding cover launched, Newsweek editor Tina Brown declared, “Let the games begin.”) 
 
Politico.com
Jann Wenner On Us Weekly’s New iPad Version
Jann Wenner says he still thinks tablet editions won’t significantly impact print magazines for at least a generation (if then). But says Wenner Media releasing iPad app of Us Weekly (title already has Nook, Kindle editions) because it’s become cheaper, easier to publish issues on tablets, and readers have shown they don’t want expensive bells and whistles. US iPad is minimally enhanced vs. print, offers only “portrait” view. 
 
Ad Age
Atlantic Digital Hires Hearst’s Kimberly Lau
Lau, who was Hearst’s VP, business development and partnership relations, named Atlantic Digital VP, GM. She’ll assume many of the responsibilities held by M. Scott Havens before he was named SVP finance and digital operations. 
 
Vanity Fair’s “Lost” Marilyn Nudes: Hef Objects
VF’s current cover, a headshot of Marilyn Monroe with story promising “the lost nudes” from her last shoot by Lawrence Schiller, prompted Hugh Hefner to object that all of the photos are in Playboy’s photo archives, and that one has been published twice in Playboy (January issues, 1964 and 2005). VF says article mentions that some of the shots were previously published in Playboy, but quite a few had never been published. (Post column also has more commentary on Time cover noted above.) 
 
Real Simple First Pub to Get 100,000 Pinterest Referrals
RS now among small group of all types of brands with six-figure Pinterest referrals. Trails only wedding blog The Perfect Palette (255K) and beauty site The Beauty Department (123K). RS gets twice as much referral traffic from Pinterest than Facebook/Twitter combined (Google still #1 source). RS was an early Pinterest adopter (Oct. 2010). “Pinterest is totally in line with our brand,” says RealSimple.com GM Shannon King.
The Economist Launches Digital Radio
Popularity of audio feature in the digital edition, which reads articles to users, spurred brand last week to intro Economist Radio as a Facebook and Google Chrome app or available online. 
 
MIN
USPS Crisis: For Publishers, All Options Are on Table
Magazine publishers, who still depend on USPS to deliver 90% of their circulation and also get lion’s share of ad revenue from print, mulling options in face of worsening delivery, as well as possibility of some periodicals-rate increase. But private delivery or backing up editorial closing dates both inadequate solutions. CJR recaps discussions at MPA’s February Postal Summit.  
 
Ipsos: Non-Endemic Ads for Affluents Can Be Effective
Building on its 2011 study of affluents, Ipsos Mendelsohn confirms that ads that aren’t directly related to a given special interest title’s content can be effective. Not surprisingly, non-endemic ads work best when they match with or resonate with affluents’ underlying aspirations, values. 
 
Marketing Daily
PopSci Interactive Augments Print Issue
New iOS app ties in with June “Invention Awards” issue. Video interviews with inventors can be watched by pointing app at print issue.
 
Guardian
Forbes.com Offers ‘Robot Journalism’
Set of algorithms that takes data and turns it into words started in experimental lab at Northwestern University. But Forbes.com now using to generate some copy, with byline “By Narrative Science.” Guardian writer opines development may be another sign of “coming apocalypse” for news industry. 
 

Houghton Mifflin Plans to Cut $3.1B in Debt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc. has formed an agreement with a majority of its creditors to eliminate $3.1 billion of debt, marking the publisher’s latest effort to tackle a heavy debt load in the face of weak textbook demand. The company plans to reorganize through a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, an effort it hopes to complete by the end of next month.

Ebook Age Pushing Authors to Produce More Content
Instant availability of ebook downloading, competition from other media, pushing authors to publish far more often than traditional one book per year. “Today, the culture is a great big hungry maw, and you have to feed it,” comments bestselling author Lisa Scottoline.  
 
Weinstein Books Rises Again
Formerly Miramax Books, company has another new team, and partnership with Perseus. But releases to continue to focus on nonfiction from bold-faced names, commercial fiction, and literary fiction. “Bully,” a teacher/parent-oriented guide based on Weinstein-produced documentary, among spate of new books to come.  
 

Retail News

Economy: Wholesale Prices Fell 0.2% in April
First decline since December, due entirely to 1.4% drop in energy costs, suggesting energy declines helping to keep inflation under control. But core prices up 2.7%, including an uptick in food costs for second consecutive month. Also, Thomson Reuters/U. Michigan consumer sentiment index climed 1.4 point to 77.8, highest level in four years. Separately, economists polled by WSJ on average predict 2012 GDP will grow at rate higher than Q1′s 2.2%, but below 3%, and jobless rate will decline slightly, to 7.9% from 8.1%, by year-end.
 
WSJ (wholesale, sentiment)
WSJ (2012 growth projections)
Will Supervalu Exec Shake-Up Create Fresh Spark?
Industry observers discuss Supervalu’s challenges. Some think management changes, including Kevin Holt’s taking over as Pete Van Helden leaves EVP, retail operations role, may not accomplish all hoped for by Supervalu.  
 
Supermarket News

Walmart Takes on Publix
In Orlando-area ads, Walmart targets Publix shoppers with claim its prices are lower. Local TV station says their comparison shows the claim to be true for the most part. Various shoppers express opposing retailer loyalties.  
 
NuVal Rebuts Consumer Group’s Complaint
Private, nonprofit National Consumers League last week filed complaint with FDA charging that NuVal system, used in about 1,600 U.S. stores is “fatally flawed” and should be discarded to avoid “further confusing” consumers. In Huffington Post piece, NuVal’s chief science officer responded that the algorithm upon which NuVal is based “has been described in detail in peer-reviewed publications accessible to all,” and stressed that “far from complaining,” consumers “overwhelmingly love the system.”
 
Supermarket News (summary)
HuffPo (NuVal response) 
Gelson’s: Q1 Earnings Drop
Parent Arden Group reports shutdown of one of Gelson’s 18 supermarkets caused 48.6% drop in earnings. Gelson’s sales rose 2.9% to $107.2M, and comp sales minus the closed store were up 3.7%.  
 
Excentus Sues Over Patent
Excentus has filed suit against QuikTrip, Midax, McKeever Enterprises, Bresette Foods, Four B., Queen Enterprises, Cosentino Enteprises and Associated Wholesaler Grocers, charging that companies operating Price Chopper stores are, through their Chopper Shopper Fuel Rewards program, infringing on Excentus-own patents and its federally registered “Fuel Rewards” trademark. 
 
EVP Mark Coborn to Retire
Mark Coburn will retire from EVP of Coborn’s Inc. in coming weeks, but continue as member of Coburn’s board of directors. Successor not yet named.
 
GMA Weighs In on ‘Weight of the Nation’ Documentary
Ahead of series’ airing on HBO on May 14-15, Grocery Manufacturers Association has expressed its intention to work with the cable network and its partners to help eliminate obesity in the U.S and globally. Separately, major soft-drink brands and American Beverage Association are running subway ads countering NYC’s campaign warning consumers that sugary drinks can contribute to obesity. Latest in major ABA marketing, lobbying initiatives.
 
Progressive Grocer (GMA/HBO)
Marketing Daily (beverages) 
Analysis: Meat-Supply Issues
Last week’s Safeway announcement that it will phase out pork-supply sources that use gestation crates, coupled with Humane Society’s release of footage showing animal cruelty on a swine farm in Wyoming, point up issues that will continue to affect meat buyer/seller community. 
 
E-Tailers Accounted for 39% of All Book Sales in 2011
Book share of online retailers, led by Amazon, BN.com, up from 30% in 2010, per Bowker research; ebooks look to be driving that growth. Bookstore chains’ share declined to 26% from 29%, in part due to Borders shutdown. B&N, BAM both recently reported print-book declines but ebook increases through their online channels. However, Amazon saw print-book sales rise by double digits in last year’s Q4. 
 
Regional That Sells Books as Gifts Sees Strong Growth
Acton, Mass.-based The Paper Store is one of New England’s fastest-growing retailers, thanks to model switch away from original news-agent format. 
 
Publishers Weekly (sub required)

Retailers, Banks Still Squaring Off Over Swipe Fees 
Retailers’ Merchants Payments Coalition says that hidden fees charged by banks, card-processing companies add up to 10 cents to per-gallon cost of gas. Electronic Payments Coalition, representing credit unions and community banks, maintain that gas would be much cheaper if station owners passed on savings from now-capped debit-card swipe-fees.  
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

DataBar-Only Coupons on the Rise  

]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10706 0 May 14, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10660 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10660#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 19:09:35 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10660

Publishing News

Report: Retailers, Advertisers Unphased by Time Cover
Time reports that only one or two smaller retailers have opted to cover up breastfeeding cover for cover feature on “attachment parenting.” Hudson News says it displayed the magazine as usual, with no qualms. MagNet’s Gil Brechtel thinks issue likely to sell better than average. Media buyers report no complaints from advertisers in issue. (MediaVest’s Robin Steinberg notes that Time always seeks to provoke debate; Group M’s George Janson says cover is arguably “tame” next to much of the content on TV, Web.) After cover debuted, Time sold more subs online in one day than in previous week. Ad Age: Time may have stoked “the perfect controversy”: Generated much buzz while angering very few. Separately, Poynter notes Saturday Night Live’s spoof commentary on the cover (Seth Meyers: “I know you have to do what it takes to sell magazines, and that’s a good cover. But if you wanted a great cover, you would have PhotoShopped out the chair.”) Poynter piece also has more commentary on cover (L.A. Times: “Print well done…stroke of genius”) and link to outtakes of cover shoot.
 
Ad Age
Poynter
Newsweek Declares Obama “First Gay President”
Not letting arch-rival Time get all the cover attention, Newsweek’s new issue cover shows President Obama, with halo over head, with “The First Gay President” headline, and cover story by Andrew Sullivan, discussing Obama’s declaration of supporting gay marriage. (After Time’s breastfeeding cover launched, Newsweek editor Tina Brown declared, “Let the games begin.”) 
 
Politico.com
Jann Wenner On Us Weekly’s New iPad Version
Jann Wenner says he still thinks tablet editions won’t significantly impact print magazines for at least a generation (if then). But says Wenner Media releasing iPad app of Us Weekly (title already has Nook, Kindle editions) because it’s become cheaper, easier to publish issues on tablets, and readers have shown they don’t want expensive bells and whistles. US iPad is minimally enhanced vs. print, offers only “portrait” view. 
 
Ad Age
Atlantic Digital Hires Hearst’s Kimberly Lau
Lau, who was Hearst’s VP, business development and partnership relations, named Atlantic Digital VP, GM. She’ll assume many of the responsibilities held by M. Scott Havens before he was named SVP finance and digital operations. 
 
Vanity Fair’s “Lost” Marilyn Nudes: Hef Objects
VF’s current cover, a headshot of Marilyn Monroe with story promising “the lost nudes” from her last shoot by Lawrence Schiller, prompted Hugh Hefner to object that all of the photos are in Playboy’s photo archives, and that one has been published twice in Playboy (January issues, 1964 and 2005). VF says article mentions that some of the shots were previously published in Playboy, but quite a few had never been published. (Post column also has more commentary on Time cover noted above.) 
 
Real Simple First Pub to Get 100,000 Pinterest Referrals
RS now among small group of all types of brands with six-figure Pinterest referrals. Trails only wedding blog The Perfect Palette (255K) and beauty site The Beauty Department (123K). RS gets twice as much referral traffic from Pinterest than Facebook/Twitter combined (Google still #1 source). RS was an early Pinterest adopter (Oct. 2010). “Pinterest is totally in line with our brand,” says RealSimple.com GM Shannon King.
The Economist Launches Digital Radio
Popularity of audio feature in the digital edition, which reads articles to users, spurred brand last week to intro Economist Radio as a Facebook and Google Chrome app or available online. 
 
MIN
USPS Crisis: For Publishers, All Options Are on Table
Magazine publishers, who still depend on USPS to deliver 90% of their circulation and also get lion’s share of ad revenue from print, mulling options in face of worsening delivery, as well as possibility of some periodicals-rate increase. But private delivery or backing up editorial closing dates both inadequate solutions. CJR recaps discussions at MPA’s February Postal Summit.  
 
Ipsos: Non-Endemic Ads for Affluents Can Be Effective
Building on its 2011 study of affluents, Ipsos Mendelsohn confirms that ads that aren’t directly related to a given special interest title’s content can be effective. Not surprisingly, non-endemic ads work best when they match with or resonate with affluents’ underlying aspirations, values. 
 
Marketing Daily
PopSci Interactive Augments Print Issue
New iOS app ties in with June “Invention Awards” issue. Video interviews with inventors can be watched by pointing app at print issue.
 
Guardian
Forbes.com Offers ‘Robot Journalism’
Set of algorithms that takes data and turns it into words started in experimental lab at Northwestern University. But Forbes.com now using to generate some copy, with byline “By Narrative Science.” Guardian writer opines development may be another sign of “coming apocalypse” for news industry. 
 

Houghton Mifflin Plans to Cut $3.1B in Debt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc. has formed an agreement with a majority of its creditors to eliminate $3.1 billion of debt, marking the publisher’s latest effort to tackle a heavy debt load in the face of weak textbook demand. The company plans to reorganize through a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, an effort it hopes to complete by the end of next month.

Ebook Age Pushing Authors to Produce More Content
Instant availability of ebook downloading, competition from other media, pushing authors to publish far more often than traditional one book per year. “Today, the culture is a great big hungry maw, and you have to feed it,” comments bestselling author Lisa Scottoline.  
 
Weinstein Books Rises Again
Formerly Miramax Books, company has another new team, and partnership with Perseus. But releases to continue to focus on nonfiction from bold-faced names, commercial fiction, and literary fiction. “Bully,” a teacher/parent-oriented guide based on Weinstein-produced documentary, among spate of new books to come.  
 

Retail News

Economy: Wholesale Prices Fell 0.2% in April
First decline since December, due entirely to 1.4% drop in energy costs, suggesting energy declines helping to keep inflation under control. But core prices up 2.7%, including an uptick in food costs for second consecutive month. Also, Thomson Reuters/U. Michigan consumer sentiment index climed 1.4 point to 77.8, highest level in four years. Separately, economists polled by WSJ on average predict 2012 GDP will grow at rate higher than Q1′s 2.2%, but below 3%, and jobless rate will decline slightly, to 7.9% from 8.1%, by year-end.
 
WSJ (wholesale, sentiment)
WSJ (2012 growth projections)
Will Supervalu Exec Shake-Up Create Fresh Spark?
Industry observers discuss Supervalu’s challenges. Some think management changes, including Kevin Holt’s taking over as Pete Van Helden leaves EVP, retail operations role, may not accomplish all hoped for by Supervalu.  
 
Supermarket News

Walmart Takes on Publix
In Orlando-area ads, Walmart targets Publix shoppers with claim its prices are lower. Local TV station says their comparison shows the claim to be true for the most part. Various shoppers express opposing retailer loyalties.  
 
NuVal Rebuts Consumer Group’s Complaint
Private, nonprofit National Consumers League last week filed complaint with FDA charging that NuVal system, used in about 1,600 U.S. stores is “fatally flawed” and should be discarded to avoid “further confusing” consumers. In Huffington Post piece, NuVal’s chief science officer responded that the algorithm upon which NuVal is based “has been described in detail in peer-reviewed publications accessible to all,” and stressed that “far from complaining,” consumers “overwhelmingly love the system.”
 
Supermarket News (summary)
HuffPo (NuVal response) 
Gelson’s: Q1 Earnings Drop
Parent Arden Group reports shutdown of one of Gelson’s 18 supermarkets caused 48.6% drop in earnings. Gelson’s sales rose 2.9% to $107.2M, and comp sales minus the closed store were up 3.7%.  
 
Excentus Sues Over Patent
Excentus has filed suit against QuikTrip, Midax, McKeever Enterprises, Bresette Foods, Four B., Queen Enterprises, Cosentino Enteprises and Associated Wholesaler Grocers, charging that companies operating Price Chopper stores are, through their Chopper Shopper Fuel Rewards program, infringing on Excentus-own patents and its federally registered “Fuel Rewards” trademark. 
 
EVP Mark Coborn to Retire
Mark Coburn will retire from EVP of Coborn’s Inc. in coming weeks, but continue as member of Coburn’s board of directors. Successor not yet named.
 
GMA Weighs In on ‘Weight of the Nation’ Documentary
Ahead of series’ airing on HBO on May 14-15, Grocery Manufacturers Association has expressed its intention to work with the cable network and its partners to help eliminate obesity in the U.S and globally. Separately, major soft-drink brands and American Beverage Association are running subway ads countering NYC’s campaign warning consumers that sugary drinks can contribute to obesity. Latest in major ABA marketing, lobbying initiatives.
 
Progressive Grocer (GMA/HBO)
Marketing Daily (beverages) 
Analysis: Meat-Supply Issues
Last week’s Safeway announcement that it will phase out pork-supply sources that use gestation crates, coupled with Humane Society’s release of footage showing animal cruelty on a swine farm in Wyoming, point up issues that will continue to affect meat buyer/seller community. 
 
E-Tailers Accounted for 39% of All Book Sales in 2011
Book share of online retailers, led by Amazon, BN.com, up from 30% in 2010, per Bowker research; ebooks look to be driving that growth. Bookstore chains’ share declined to 26% from 29%, in part due to Borders shutdown. B&N, BAM both recently reported print-book declines but ebook increases through their online channels. However, Amazon saw print-book sales rise by double digits in last year’s Q4. 
 
Regional That Sells Books as Gifts Sees Strong Growth
Acton, Mass.-based The Paper Store is one of New England’s fastest-growing retailers, thanks to model switch away from original news-agent format. 
 
Publishers Weekly (sub required)

Retailers, Banks Still Squaring Off Over Swipe Fees 
Retailers’ Merchants Payments Coalition says that hidden fees charged by banks, card-processing companies add up to 10 cents to per-gallon cost of gas. Electronic Payments Coalition, representing credit unions and community banks, maintain that gas would be much cheaper if station owners passed on savings from now-capped debit-card swipe-fees.  
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

DataBar-Only Coupons on the Rise  

]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10660 0 May 11, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10657 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10657#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 14:59:10 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10657

Publishing News

Time Cover Makes Waves
Current issue’s cover, showing a 3-year-old boy being breastfed by his mother, “is sure to turn heads and draw gasps from readers,” opines HuffPo. Cover story is about “attachment parenting,” an approach that includes co-sleeping with children, carrying them in slings, in addition to breastfeeding. Forbes article says Time managing editor Rick Stengel is hoping that big retail chains like Walmart and Kroger won’t ban or hide the issue. But Facebook shouldn’t be a problem: It’s no longer removing photos of breastfeeding, thanks to the lobbying efforts of a breastfeeding educator.  
 
The Economist: Tablet Version’s Price Soon to Match Print’s
Andrew Rashbass, CEO of The Economist Group, also says mag’s digital strategy is to provide a “lean back” approach that enables “capturing the reader’s money as well as advertisers’ money.” Readers want to be challenged, but also want to “dumb down,” he says, noting same people read Hello and OK!, as well as The Economist. 
 
Mag Hosts Culinary ‘Adventures’ and Cooking School
Columbia, Missouri city/regional magazine Inside Columbia has leveraged its culinary expertise to offer a cooking school at its HQ, as well as to host culinary trips to N.Y.C, New Orleans and the Sonoma, Calif. region.  
 
The Atlantic’s Digital Transformation; SEO Less Key
Digiday provides more background on Atlantic Media’s strategy, including new Quartz business news site, growth of digital audience. Mashable: Digital exec Scott Havens reports that media company now gets 40% of referrals from social, so writers focused on making stories go viral; no longer concerned with SEO.
 
Hachette Book Group’s Sales Up
Total sales at Lagardere Publishing rose slightly in the first quarter, up to 394 million euros from 390 million euros. Sales were driven by a 2.8% increase in revenue at Hachette Book Group plus a 4.8% increase in illustrated books that helped to offset declines in France (-3.5%) and Spain (-11.6%). In the U.S., digital sales rose 32% in the quarter and e-books accounted for 28% of adult revenues in the period, up from 22% in the comparable period in 2011. HBG had 95 titles hit the bestsellers lists in the quarter compared to 75 in the 2011 first quarter. However, the Lagardere media company overall saw sales decline 12.5%, in part due to the sale of its international magazines to Hearst, in part due to magazine advertising and circ declines.
 
WWD  (Lagardere overall)
Microsoft Overhauls Bing, Expands Facebook Interface

Retail News

Supervalu to Consolidate D.C.s
Consolidating Xenia, Ohio, distribution center into a larger facility based in Fort Wayne, Ind., in an effort to “improve operating efficiency and better position the company for strategic growth.” 
 
Roundy’s’ Comps Down in Q1 
2.1% decline in quarter ended March attributed in part to the year-ago period’s higher sales driven by Green Bay Packers’ being in Super Bowl, plus a shift in the New Year’s holiday and continued weakness in consumer spending. Overall sales +2.4% to $938.2M; net income of $2.3M down 74.1%–but adjusted for one-time costs of public stock offering and an $8M charge for debt extinguishment, earnings +20.4%. 
 
H.S. Students Produce “Wegmans…The Musical”
Locals so thrilled at Wegmans’ opening its first Massachusetts store in Northborough that high school students wrote a musical about the chain. Wegmans’ cooperated enthusiastically, and the musical was set to debut at the high school last night. (No reviews yet.) Wegmans video-ed the show to share it with the team at HQ.
 
Brookshire’s Rolls Out Rewards
Completes rollout of a new fuel and grocery rewards program called YourPoints to all of its 119 stores in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. 
USDA Funds SNAP Tech at Farmers’ Markets
Awards $4M for state agencies to expand wireless technology at farmers’ markets.
 
NRF: Consumers to Spend Average $15.52 on Mom
Up from $140.73 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6B. Two-thirds (66.4%) will buy flowers ($2.2B); $1.8B to be spent on gift cards.
 
Amazon to Lend ‘Potter’ Ebooks
Has licensed the right to lend digital Kindle versions of all seven volumes in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series in the U.S. As of June 19, the ebooks will be available free to subscribers to its Amazon Prime program. CEO Jeff Bezos said: “This is the kind of significant investment in the Kindle ecosystem that we’ll continue to make on behalf of Kindle owners.” Six largest publishers do not participate in the lending library, but library offers the ebooks of publishers that follow the traditional wholesale pricing model. Amazon treats each lend as a sale and pays publishers accordingly. Now that three of the big publishers (HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Book Group) have settled the civil antitrust suit over use of the agency pricing model, WSJ speculates that it’s possible their books could eventually be included in the lending library. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10657 0 May 11, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10612 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10612#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 21:10:18 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10612

Publishing News

Time Cover Makes Waves
Current issue’s cover, showing a 3-year-old boy being breastfed by his mother, “is sure to turn heads and draw gasps from readers,” opines HuffPo. Cover story is about “attachment parenting,” an approach that includes co-sleeping with children, carrying them in slings, in addition to breastfeeding. Forbes article says Time managing editor Rick Stengel is hoping that big retail chains like Walmart and Kroger won’t ban or hide the issue. But Facebook shouldn’t be a problem: It’s no longer removing photos of breastfeeding, thanks to the lobbying efforts of a breastfeeding educator.  
 
The Economist: Tablet Version’s Price Soon to Match Print’s
Andrew Rashbass, CEO of The Economist Group, also says mag’s digital strategy is to provide a “lean back” approach that enables “capturing the reader’s money as well as advertisers’ money.” Readers want to be challenged, but also want to “dumb down,” he says, noting same people read Hello and OK!, as well as The Economist. 
 
Mag Hosts Culinary ‘Adventures’ and Cooking School
Columbia, Missouri city/regional magazine Inside Columbia has leveraged its culinary expertise to offer a cooking school at its HQ, as well as to host culinary trips to N.Y.C, New Orleans and the Sonoma, Calif. region.  
 
The Atlantic’s Digital Transformation; SEO Less Key
Digiday provides more background on Atlantic Media’s strategy, including new Quartz business news site, growth of digital audience. Mashable: Digital exec Scott Havens reports that media company now gets 40% of referrals from social, so writers focused on making stories go viral; no longer concerned with SEO.
 
Hachette Book Group’s Sales Up
Total sales at Lagardere Publishing rose slightly in the first quarter, up to 394 million euros from 390 million euros. Sales were driven by a 2.8% increase in revenue at Hachette Book Group plus a 4.8% increase in illustrated books that helped to offset declines in France (-3.5%) and Spain (-11.6%). In the U.S., digital sales rose 32% in the quarter and e-books accounted for 28% of adult revenues in the period, up from 22% in the comparable period in 2011. HBG had 95 titles hit the bestsellers lists in the quarter compared to 75 in the 2011 first quarter. However, the Lagardere media company overall saw sales decline 12.5%, in part due to the sale of its international magazines to Hearst, in part due to magazine advertising and circ declines.
 
WWD  (Lagardere overall)
Microsoft Overhauls Bing, Expands Facebook Interface

Retail News

Supervalu to Consolidate D.C.s
Consolidating Xenia, Ohio, distribution center into a larger facility based in Fort Wayne, Ind., in an effort to “improve operating efficiency and better position the company for strategic growth.” 
 
Roundy’s’ Comps Down in Q1 
2.1% decline in quarter ended March attributed in part to the year-ago period’s higher sales driven by Green Bay Packers’ being in Super Bowl, plus a shift in the New Year’s holiday and continued weakness in consumer spending. Overall sales +2.4% to $938.2M; net income of $2.3M down 74.1%–but adjusted for one-time costs of public stock offering and an $8M charge for debt extinguishment, earnings +20.4%. 
 
H.S. Students Produce “Wegmans…The Musical”
Locals so thrilled at Wegmans’ opening its first Massachusetts store in Northborough that high school students wrote a musical about the chain. Wegmans’ cooperated enthusiastically, and the musical was set to debut at the high school last night. (No reviews yet.) Wegmans video-ed the show to share it with the team at HQ.
 
Brookshire’s Rolls Out Rewards
Completes rollout of a new fuel and grocery rewards program called YourPoints to all of its 119 stores in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. 
USDA Funds SNAP Tech at Farmers’ Markets
Awards $4M for state agencies to expand wireless technology at farmers’ markets.
 
NRF: Consumers to Spend Average $15.52 on Mom
Up from $140.73 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6B. Two-thirds (66.4%) will buy flowers ($2.2B); $1.8B to be spent on gift cards.
 
Amazon to Lend ‘Potter’ Ebooks
Has licensed the right to lend digital Kindle versions of all seven volumes in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series in the U.S. As of June 19, the ebooks will be available free to subscribers to its Amazon Prime program. CEO Jeff Bezos said: “This is the kind of significant investment in the Kindle ecosystem that we’ll continue to make on behalf of Kindle owners.” Six largest publishers do not participate in the lending library, but library offers the ebooks of publishers that follow the traditional wholesale pricing model. Amazon treats each lend as a sale and pays publishers accordingly. Now that three of the big publishers (HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Book Group) have settled the civil antitrust suit over use of the agency pricing model, WSJ speculates that it’s possible their books could eventually be included in the lending library. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10612 0 May 10, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10610 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10610#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 15:23:45 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10610

Publishing News

IPDA and MPA Launch Ad Campaign for Retail Community
“Magazines: Power in Print” ads will run in the retail B-to-B press. Multiple insertions of two different full-page ads will run in Supermarket News starting with its May 14 issue. The ads focus on the magazine category’s value to retail customers and retailers, including the category’s $71M per-week sales at retail; magazine buyers’ significantly higher overall average basket size and influence in driving incremental sales of other products; magazines’ high readership/reach stats; and magazine readers’ cross-platform preference (most who read them on digital devices also want print copies).    
 
Ads (scroll down to see both) 
Bonnier’s Outdoor Life Launches Retail Partnership with Sears
The hunting, fishing and adventure magazine will launch a clothing line in partnership with Sears, to be carried in about 800 U.S. stores starting this fall. In an exclusive brand licensing deal, Sears will handle the sourcing and manufacturing of the OL-branded (labels, hang-tags) outdoor clothing items. Items also to be sold on Sears’s site, and new line to be supported by Sears in-store and circular marketing. Also, ads in OL magazine and on OL’s site to drive readers to stores and the Sears site to buy clothes. (Bonnier to get a cut of clothing sales.) Bonnier brand development chief Sean Holzman: Partnership is major awareness, brand-expansion opportunity for the magazine and its extensions, which include events, as well as its site.  
 
Audience Development
USPS Holds Back on Closings
PMG Patrick Donahoe announced revised plan calling for fewer closings of rural post offices; financial losses to be partially offset by merging some offices, reducing business hours, offering stamps/packaging in grocery stores. Revised plan would take two years to implement and save $550M per year, far short of covering multi-billion-dollar losses. “The plan today will ensure rural communities will be served by the Postal Service,” Donahoe said. “It balances reducing cost with the need to serve rural America.” Move gives Congress more time to pass reform legislation. 
Meredith Corp. Declares Dividend
Board declared regular quarterly dividend of $0.3825 per share, or $1.53 on annual basis, payable on June 15 to shareholders of record on May 31, 2012. Dividend is 50% higher than a year ago. Current annual yield: 5.5%. Meredith also recently authorized repurchase of $100M of its stock.
 
Future plc Launching Digital Weekly, Cycling News HD
Following free initial sample issue, magazine to be sold on Apple Newsstand at $0.99 per week or $42.99 per year. Pub to complement Cyclingnews.com, offer global road-racing new, commentary, analysis, photography.   
 
Conde’s Ars Technica Site Redesigned Again
This is seventh redesign in 14 years for the site for tech, IT professionals. Editor reports that since being acquired by Conde parent Advance in 2008, traffic up 60%, uniques up 67%. 
 
Oprah’s Book Editor Heading to Amazon Books
Sara Nelson, book editor for O, The Oprah Magazine, is moving to Amazon to be editorial director, Amazon.com Books. Amazon said Nelson “will be leading our editorial vision for books in the print and Kindle bookstores on Amazon.com.” 
 
Harlequin Has Soft Q1
Total revenue fell C$8.7M, to C$106.6M; EBITDA declined C$1.5M, to C$21.4M. N.A. revenue -C$7.9M, with declines of C$9.4M in retail print and C$.14M in direct-to-consumer sales more than offsetting digital revenue growth of C$2.9M.
 
Authors Urged to Write DOJ 
The Association of Authors Representatives is urging members to write Dept. of Justice, opposing its ebook pricing suit and the settlement. 
 
Facebook Launches App Store
Store will promote mobile programs that operate using Facebook, like “Draw Something.” App developers will be able to charge a fee for apps sold in the store in the near future. Announcement comes at same time Facebook admitted that growth in mobile could hurt its ad revenue going forward. 
 
News Corp. Profit Jumps Despite Scandal
Net income +47% in latest quarter, driven by cable networks. Revenue +2%, to $8.4B. Doubled size of its share buy-back program, to $10B. Took charge of $63M for costs of ongoing phone-hacking investigations. Total publishing operating profit $130M vs. $36M year-ago, but minus a year-ago legal settlement charge of $125M, profit fell by $31M (due to UK, Australian ad declines and closing of News of the World). Dow Jones, HarperCollins revenues rose. HC’s separate statement said the publishing unit had a “terrific quarter across the board.”
 
NY Times  (News Corp.)
Publishers Weekly (HarperCollins)

Retail News

Economy: Jobless Claims Down; March Credit-Card ‘Binge’ Could Signal Good or Bad News
Labor Dept.’s just-released stats for week of May 5 show initial jobless claims down 1,000, to 367,000 (had been expected to rise somewhat). 4-week moving average down 5,250, to 379,000. Number on unemployment rolls smallest since July 2008. Government also released trade stats: U.S. trade gap rose 14.1% in March, to $51.8B; economists had expected $50B. Separately, consumers added $21.4B to credit cards in March, the largest surge (in both dollar and % terms). Question: Does this indicate consumers are feeling more confident about finances, or that they’re in need of credit to cover higher gas costs and make ends meet? 
 
Reuters/NYT (jobless, trade deficit)
WSJ  (credit cards)
Stater Bros. Sales, Profits Up
Q2 net income +75.8% to $16.4M; sales + 2.7% to $937.7M; comps +2.7%. First-half net income +108.7% to $25.4M; sales +4.7% to $1.9B; comps +4.7%. CEO says considering investing small amount of gross margin in 2H to drive volume. 
 
Raleys, Unions Agree to Contract Extension, Mediation
Raleys and UFCW agreed to contract extension (until June 6) and federal mediation. 
 
A&P CEO Stars in TV Campaign
Sam Martin stars in new TV campaign touting improvements at the retailer’s various store banners. (Link to video in story.)
 
Analyst Predicts Good 2012 for Conventional Grocery Chains
Cowen & Co.’s Colin Guheen proved right in recommending buying Whole Foods stock last year (38% return). Now expects economic improvement to boost conventional grocers like Kroger (another winner for him last year) and Safeway (which has been flat since his buy recommend in mid-February).
 
Opinion: Amazon Can Be Stopped
Forbes contributor Laura Heller argues that retailers should stop agreeing to Amazon’s stricture that they can’t sell Kindles online. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10610 0 May 10, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10578 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10578#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 00:04:22 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10578

Publishing News

IPDA and MPA Launch Ad Campaign for Retail Community
“Magazines: Power in Print” ads will run in the retail B-to-B press. Multiple insertions of two different full-page ads will run in Supermarket News starting with its May 14 issue. The ads focus on the magazine category’s value to retail customers and retailers, including the category’s $71M per-week sales at retail; magazine buyers’ significantly higher overall average basket size and influence in driving incremental sales of other products; magazines’ high readership/reach stats; and magazine readers’ cross-platform preference (most who read them on digital devices also want print copies).    
 
Ads (scroll down to see both) 
Bonnier’s Outdoor Life Launches Retail Partnership with Sears
The hunting, fishing and adventure magazine will launch a clothing line in partnership with Sears, to be carried in about 800 U.S. stores starting this fall. In an exclusive brand licensing deal, Sears will handle the sourcing and manufacturing of the OL-branded (labels, hang-tags) outdoor clothing items. Items also to be sold on Sears’s site, and new line to be supported by Sears in-store and circular marketing. Also, ads in OL magazine and on OL’s site to drive readers to stores and the Sears site to buy clothes. (Bonnier to get a cut of clothing sales.) Bonnier brand development chief Sean Holzman: Partnership is major awareness, brand-expansion opportunity for the magazine and its extensions, which include events, as well as its site.  
 
Audience Development
USPS Holds Back on Closings
PMG Patrick Donahoe announced revised plan calling for fewer closings of rural post offices; financial losses to be partially offset by merging some offices, reducing business hours, offering stamps/packaging in grocery stores. Revised plan would take two years to implement and save $550M per year, far short of covering multi-billion-dollar losses. “The plan today will ensure rural communities will be served by the Postal Service,” Donahoe said. “It balances reducing cost with the need to serve rural America.” Move gives Congress more time to pass reform legislation. 
Meredith Corp. Declares Dividend
Board declared regular quarterly dividend of $0.3825 per share, or $1.53 on annual basis, payable on June 15 to shareholders of record on May 31, 2012. Dividend is 50% higher than a year ago. Current annual yield: 5.5%. Meredith also recently authorized repurchase of $100M of its stock.
 
Future plc Launching Digital Weekly, Cycling News HD
Following free initial sample issue, magazine to be sold on Apple Newsstand at $0.99 per week or $42.99 per year. Pub to complement Cyclingnews.com, offer global road-racing new, commentary, analysis, photography.   
 
Conde’s Ars Technica Site Redesigned Again
This is seventh redesign in 14 years for the site for tech, IT professionals. Editor reports that since being acquired by Conde parent Advance in 2008, traffic up 60%, uniques up 67%. 
 
Oprah’s Book Editor Heading to Amazon Books
Sara Nelson, book editor for O, The Oprah Magazine, is moving to Amazon to be editorial director, Amazon.com Books. Amazon said Nelson “will be leading our editorial vision for books in the print and Kindle bookstores on Amazon.com.” 
 
Harlequin Has Soft Q1
Total revenue fell C$8.7M, to C$106.6M; EBITDA declined C$1.5M, to C$21.4M. N.A. revenue -C$7.9M, with declines of C$9.4M in retail print and C$.14M in direct-to-consumer sales more than offsetting digital revenue growth of C$2.9M.
 
Authors Urged to Write DOJ 
The Association of Authors Representatives is urging members to write Dept. of Justice, opposing its ebook pricing suit and the settlement. 
 
Facebook Launches App Store
Store will promote mobile programs that operate using Facebook, like “Draw Something.” App developers will be able to charge a fee for apps sold in the store in the near future. Announcement comes at same time Facebook admitted that growth in mobile could hurt its ad revenue going forward. 
 
News Corp. Profit Jumps Despite Scandal
Net income +47% in latest quarter, driven by cable networks. Revenue +2%, to $8.4B. Doubled size of its share buy-back program, to $10B. Took charge of $63M for costs of ongoing phone-hacking investigations. Total publishing operating profit $130M vs. $36M year-ago, but minus a year-ago legal settlement charge of $125M, profit fell by $31M (due to UK, Australian ad declines and closing of News of the World). Dow Jones, HarperCollins revenues rose. HC’s separate statement said the publishing unit had a “terrific quarter across the board.”
 
NY Times  (News Corp.)
Publishers Weekly (HarperCollins)

Retail News

Economy: Jobless Claims Down; March Credit-Card ‘Binge’ Could Signal Good or Bad News
Labor Dept.’s just-released stats for week of May 5 show initial jobless claims down 1,000, to 367,000 (had been expected to rise somewhat). 4-week moving average down 5,250, to 379,000. Number on unemployment rolls smallest since July 2008. Government also released trade stats: U.S. trade gap rose 14.1% in March, to $51.8B; economists had expected $50B. Separately, consumers added $21.4B to credit cards in March, the largest surge (in both dollar and % terms). Question: Does this indicate consumers are feeling more confident about finances, or that they’re in need of credit to cover higher gas costs and make ends meet? 
 
Reuters/NYT (jobless, trade deficit)
WSJ  (credit cards)
Stater Bros. Sales, Profits Up
Q2 net income +75.8% to $16.4M; sales + 2.7% to $937.7M; comps +2.7%. First-half net income +108.7% to $25.4M; sales +4.7% to $1.9B; comps +4.7%. CEO says considering investing small amount of gross margin in 2H to drive volume. 
 
Raleys, Unions Agree to Contract Extension, Mediation
Raleys and UFCW agreed to contract extension (until June 6) and federal mediation. 
 
A&P CEO Stars in TV Campaign
Sam Martin stars in new TV campaign touting improvements at the retailer’s various store banners. (Link to video in story.)
 
Analyst Predicts Good 2012 for Conventional Grocery Chains
Cowen & Co.’s Colin Guheen proved right in recommending buying Whole Foods stock last year (38% return). Now expects economic improvement to boost conventional grocers like Kroger (another winner for him last year) and Safeway (which has been flat since his buy recommend in mid-February).
 
Opinion: Amazon Can Be Stopped
Forbes contributor Laura Heller argues that retailers should stop agreeing to Amazon’s stricture that they can’t sell Kindles online. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10578 0 May 9, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10576 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10576#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 15:42:59 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10576

Publishing News

RDA’s Q1 Revenue Down 14.8%
Reader’s Digest Association saw overall revenue fall 14.8%, to $241.8M, and operating losses increase by 5%, to $56.8M. EBITDA was negative $37.7M, vs. negative $15.7M in same quarter 2011. Net loss was $7.8M. Revenue declines attributed to continued softness in international business, sale of Every Day with Rachael Ray, and renewal declines on some titles in the North American business. In N.A., revenue declined 21%, to $103.4M, and operating losses were $6.4M, vs. Q1 2011 profit of $0.6M. However, excluding Rachael Ray losses, N.A. saw ad revenues grow 3.7%, and RDA’s overall cash flow and liquidity improved. President/CEO Robert Guth described Q1 as a “transitional quarter,” and reaffirmed previous guidance of EBITDA of $115M to $125M for the full year.
 
Bloomberg Doubling Frequency of New Luxury Lifestyle Magazine
After Bloomberg Pursuits’s first, February issue sold 30 ad pages to advertisers including Brioni, Zegna, publisher Michael Dukmejian is nearly certain he’ll double its frequency to four issues for next year.  
 
Post Speculates Re Possible Changes TK at Time Inc. 
Reports that some insiders expect changes, possibly downsizing, as result of declining Time Inc. earnings.  
 
Wired to Launch B-to-C Expo
Wired Live Expo, to launch this fall, will be produced by Marketplace Events. First Wired face-to-face launch in recent years. Designed to spotlight what’s next in the world of science, technology, music, fashion, cars, space travel, entertainment, computers, mobile phones and more. 
 
NYC: Media Jobs Aplenty
Mayor Michael Bloomberg reported that the city has added 40K media jobs over past decade, as rest of nation has lost about the same number of such jobs. Boston Consulting Group reports that nearly every media sector has gained jobs in NYC since 2002. On average, media jobs paid $111,000 in 2010 (vs. city’s average salary of $78K). Media currently employ 275K people in NYC and generate $80B in economic activity.
 
Elle.com Hires Executive Editor
Amina Akhtar was previously fashion director of Fashionetc.com. Succeeds Kevin Pollock, who left for Du Jour in April. 
 
Marvel, ComiXology in Digital Deal
ComiXology and Marvel Entertainment have entered a multi-year deal that sees the former exclusively distributing the latter’s digital catalog of English language single issues. 
 
Tablet EBook Reading On the Rise, But iPad Share Stagnating
New Book Industry Study Group study shows that about 25% of all ebook readers now read on tablets as opposed to dedicated e-reader devices (vs. under 20% at end of 2011). The iPad was the device of choice for about 10% of e-book readers at end of 2011, and that share continued into Q1 2012. During same period, ebook readers using an Android tablet jumped from 6% to 15%. (Graph showing share changes included.)
 
Pocket Star Relaunches as Ebook-Only Imprint
Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books’ Pocket Star paperback line is being relaunched as an ebook-only imprint. Star will continue to feature bestselling and debut authors in popular genres including women’s fiction, romance, thrillers, urban fantasy, and mystery. Publisher said digital-only Star platform will be used to cost-effectively establish “new voices” in marketplace. 
 
Release
Ebook Site Boasts “New Business Model”
Paradise Publishers’ new “Author AdCash Program” offers authors 100% of ad revenue earned from ads on Web pages displaying their ebooks, and promises exposure to “millions around the world. The tradeoff: Authors agree to free sharing of their ebooks.   
 

Retail News

Economy: Job Vacancies Up But Hiring Flat; Gas Prices Continue Decline
U.S. job openings rose in March, but the rate of hiring was flat. Experts say the dichotomy could reflect employers having a hard time finding workers with the right skills. Separately, gas prices fell for the fifth consecutive week, down to $3.79 average as of Monday (-3.8% vs. 2012 peak of $3.941 on April 2). Economists saying previous fears of prices reaching $4-$5 per gallon this summer now “highly unlikely.”
 
WSJ  (hiring)
WSJ  (gas prices)
Marsh CEO Kelley Joins Stop & Shop
Joe Kelley, chairman, president and CEO of Marsh Supermarkets, has left to become president of Stop & Shop’s New England division. AT S&S, Kelley succeeds Mark McGowan, who was promoted to EVP supply chain, Ahold USA. Bill Holsworth named interim CEO at Marsh.  
 
Wal-Mart Employee Petition Seeks Ouster of Execs
An L.A.-based employee has launched online petition calling for CEO Mike Duke and chairman Rob Walton to resign at next month’s annual meeting. Two weeks into its posting, it had collected 13K+ signatures. 
 
Data-Sync Orgs to Merge
GS1 US and GS1 Germany, two of the largest member organizations of the GS1 System that oversees bar-code and other commercial standards, announced they intend to combine their 1SYNC (GS1 US) and SA2 Worldsync (GS1 Germany) data synchronization subsidiaries as of Q3. 
 
Supermarket News
Reusable Grocery Bag Tied to Norovirus Outbreak
Oregon public health officials have traced an outbreak of norovirus infections in a group of soccer players to a reusable grocery bag contaminated with pathogens. Raising new round of questions re the safety of shoppers using reusable bags to avoid plastic, paper bags. 
 
BAM Forms Committee as Anderson Offer Comes Under Attack
Books-A-Million’s board of directors has formed a two-person special committee of independent directors to examine the proposal made by the Anderson family last week to acquire all the outstanding shares of the book retailer for $3.05 per share. The announcement comes as the offer comes under attack as undervalued from a number of different quarters. 
POPAI Study: Shoppers Making More Decisions in Stores
In contrast to other surveys showing shoppers making and sticking to lists, by and large, Point of Purchase Advertising Intl. stud shows rate of in-store purchase decision-making at 76%, highest ever. Finds in-store marketing, brand cues heavily influence decisions. Says retailers not maximizing power of in-store displays, POP materials missing opportunities.
 
Food Industry, IOM Again Tangling Over Obesity Policy
Institute of Medicine report includes recommendations for fighting obesity that include banning sugary drinks in schools, possibly taxing such drinks. Food, beverage, restaurant industry-funded Center for Consumer Freedom issues statement challenging scientific validity of some recommendations, contending consumers’ freedom to chose what they eat is at stake. 
 
Birds Eye Commits $6M to Kids’ ‘GenVeg’ Initiative
Birds Eye has become the first at-home food producer to join the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), the nonprofit that works with the private sector to end the childhood obesity crisis. Makes $6-million, multi-pronged, three-year commitment to increasing kids’ vegetable consumption by engaging them through kid-friendly marketing, using their input to create new vegetable products, and making its products more affordable for parents through a massive coupon program.
 
Hog Prices Stagnate As Consumers Resist High Pork Prices
Hog future prices down 26% in past nine months, frustrating investors as well as farmers, processors. Consumer demand said to be depressed by retailers’ keeping pork prices high due to concerns about margins and whether their input costs may rise again.
 
WSJ
Retailers Look to ‘Geofence’ Consumers
Reaching consumers while near stores with special deals seen as possible partial response to “showrooming” problem.
 
Foursquare Getting Into Coupons
Setting itself up to compete with Groupon, the location-based social platform plans, starting July, to let merchants buy special placements for promotions of personalized local offers. Users must “check in” to redeem the offers.
 
96 Restaurant Brands Now in ‘Kids Live Well’ Program
Number of participants in National Restaurant Association program, in which restaurants agree to offer/promote menu selections meeting Dietary Guidelines and other health-org recommendations, has quadrupled since launch last July. 25,000 individual restaurant locations now in program. New app lets parents find nearest participating restaurants.
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10576 0 May 9, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10537 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10537#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 22:21:51 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10537

Publishing News

RDA’s Q1 Revenue Down 14.8%
Reader’s Digest Association saw overall revenue fall 14.8%, to $241.8M, and operating losses increase by 5%, to $56.8M. EBITDA was negative $37.7M, vs. negative $15.7M in same quarter 2011. Net loss was $7.8M. Revenue declines attributed to continued softness in international business, sale of Every Day with Rachael Ray, and renewal declines on some titles in the North American business. In N.A., revenue declined 21%, to $103.4M, and operating losses were $6.4M, vs. Q1 2011 profit of $0.6M. However, excluding Rachael Ray losses, N.A. saw ad revenues grow 3.7%, and RDA’s overall cash flow and liquidity improved. President/CEO Robert Guth described Q1 as a “transitional quarter,” and reaffirmed previous guidance of EBITDA of $115M to $125M for the full year.
 
Bloomberg Doubling Frequency of New Luxury Lifestyle Magazine
After Bloomberg Pursuits’s first, February issue sold 30 ad pages to advertisers including Brioni, Zegna, publisher Michael Dukmejian is nearly certain he’ll double its frequency to four issues for next year.  
 
Post Speculates Re Possible Changes TK at Time Inc. 
Reports that some insiders expect changes, possibly downsizing, as result of declining Time Inc. earnings.  
 
Wired to Launch B-to-C Expo
Wired Live Expo, to launch this fall, will be produced by Marketplace Events. First Wired face-to-face launch in recent years. Designed to spotlight what’s next in the world of science, technology, music, fashion, cars, space travel, entertainment, computers, mobile phones and more. 
 
NYC: Media Jobs Aplenty
Mayor Michael Bloomberg reported that the city has added 40K media jobs over past decade, as rest of nation has lost about the same number of such jobs. Boston Consulting Group reports that nearly every media sector has gained jobs in NYC since 2002. On average, media jobs paid $111,000 in 2010 (vs. city’s average salary of $78K). Media currently employ 275K people in NYC and generate $80B in economic activity.
 
Elle.com Hires Executive Editor
Amina Akhtar was previously fashion director of Fashionetc.com. Succeeds Kevin Pollock, who left for Du Jour in April. 
 
Marvel, ComiXology in Digital Deal
ComiXology and Marvel Entertainment have entered a multi-year deal that sees the former exclusively distributing the latter’s digital catalog of English language single issues. 
 
Tablet EBook Reading On the Rise, But iPad Share Stagnating
New Book Industry Study Group study shows that about 25% of all ebook readers now read on tablets as opposed to dedicated e-reader devices (vs. under 20% at end of 2011). The iPad was the device of choice for about 10% of e-book readers at end of 2011, and that share continued into Q1 2012. During same period, ebook readers using an Android tablet jumped from 6% to 15%. (Graph showing share changes included.)
 
Pocket Star Relaunches as Ebook-Only Imprint
Simon & Schuster’s Pocket Books’ Pocket Star paperback line is being relaunched as an ebook-only imprint. Star will continue to feature bestselling and debut authors in popular genres including women’s fiction, romance, thrillers, urban fantasy, and mystery. Publisher said digital-only Star platform will be used to cost-effectively establish “new voices” in marketplace. 
 
Release
Ebook Site Boasts “New Business Model”
Paradise Publishers’ new “Author AdCash Program” offers authors 100% of ad revenue earned from ads on Web pages displaying their ebooks, and promises exposure to “millions around the world. The tradeoff: Authors agree to free sharing of their ebooks.   
 

Retail News

Economy: Job Vacancies Up But Hiring Flat; Gas Prices Continue Decline
U.S. job openings rose in March, but the rate of hiring was flat. Experts say the dichotomy could reflect employers having a hard time finding workers with the right skills. Separately, gas prices fell for the fifth consecutive week, down to $3.79 average as of Monday (-3.8% vs. 2012 peak of $3.941 on April 2). Economists saying previous fears of prices reaching $4-$5 per gallon this summer now “highly unlikely.”
 
WSJ  (hiring)
WSJ  (gas prices)
Marsh CEO Kelley Joins Stop & Shop
Joe Kelley, chairman, president and CEO of Marsh Supermarkets, has left to become president of Stop & Shop’s New England division. AT S&S, Kelley succeeds Mark McGowan, who was promoted to EVP supply chain, Ahold USA. Bill Holsworth named interim CEO at Marsh.  
 
Wal-Mart Employee Petition Seeks Ouster of Execs
An L.A.-based employee has launched online petition calling for CEO Mike Duke and chairman Rob Walton to resign at next month’s annual meeting. Two weeks into its posting, it had collected 13K+ signatures. 
 
Data-Sync Orgs to Merge
GS1 US and GS1 Germany, two of the largest member organizations of the GS1 System that oversees bar-code and other commercial standards, announced they intend to combine their 1SYNC (GS1 US) and SA2 Worldsync (GS1 Germany) data synchronization subsidiaries as of Q3. 
 
Supermarket News
Reusable Grocery Bag Tied to Norovirus Outbreak
Oregon public health officials have traced an outbreak of norovirus infections in a group of soccer players to a reusable grocery bag contaminated with pathogens. Raising new round of questions re the safety of shoppers using reusable bags to avoid plastic, paper bags. 
 
BAM Forms Committee as Anderson Offer Comes Under Attack
Books-A-Million’s board of directors has formed a two-person special committee of independent directors to examine the proposal made by the Anderson family last week to acquire all the outstanding shares of the book retailer for $3.05 per share. The announcement comes as the offer comes under attack as undervalued from a number of different quarters. 
POPAI Study: Shoppers Making More Decisions in Stores
In contrast to other surveys showing shoppers making and sticking to lists, by and large, Point of Purchase Advertising Intl. stud shows rate of in-store purchase decision-making at 76%, highest ever. Finds in-store marketing, brand cues heavily influence decisions. Says retailers not maximizing power of in-store displays, POP materials missing opportunities.
 
Food Industry, IOM Again Tangling Over Obesity Policy
Institute of Medicine report includes recommendations for fighting obesity that include banning sugary drinks in schools, possibly taxing such drinks. Food, beverage, restaurant industry-funded Center for Consumer Freedom issues statement challenging scientific validity of some recommendations, contending consumers’ freedom to chose what they eat is at stake. 
 
Birds Eye Commits $6M to Kids’ ‘GenVeg’ Initiative
Birds Eye has become the first at-home food producer to join the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), the nonprofit that works with the private sector to end the childhood obesity crisis. Makes $6-million, multi-pronged, three-year commitment to increasing kids’ vegetable consumption by engaging them through kid-friendly marketing, using their input to create new vegetable products, and making its products more affordable for parents through a massive coupon program.
 
Hog Prices Stagnate As Consumers Resist High Pork Prices
Hog future prices down 26% in past nine months, frustrating investors as well as farmers, processors. Consumer demand said to be depressed by retailers’ keeping pork prices high due to concerns about margins and whether their input costs may rise again.
 
WSJ
Retailers Look to ‘Geofence’ Consumers
Reaching consumers while near stores with special deals seen as possible partial response to “showrooming” problem.
 
Foursquare Getting Into Coupons
Setting itself up to compete with Groupon, the location-based social platform plans, starting July, to let merchants buy special placements for promotions of personalized local offers. Users must “check in” to redeem the offers.
 
96 Restaurant Brands Now in ‘Kids Live Well’ Program
Number of participants in National Restaurant Association program, in which restaurants agree to offer/promote menu selections meeting Dietary Guidelines and other health-org recommendations, has quadrupled since launch last July. 25,000 individual restaurant locations now in program. New app lets parents find nearest participating restaurants.
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10537 0 May 8, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10533 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10533#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 15:59:03 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10533  

Publishing News

InStyle Sees 16.8% March Newsstand Lift; Other Fashion Titles Show Declines
Per publishers’ estimates (not final) in ABC’s Rapid Reports, InStyle shows March single-copy sales of 777,000, up 16.8% over same month 2010. Other fashion titles, however, report estimated declines for March 2012 vs. March 2011 (Marie Claire, -22.9%; Lucky, -20.3%; Allure, -28%; PeopleStylewatch, -13.6%; Vogue, -2.5%). No report re Harper’s Bazaar. 
 
The Atlantic Names New Business News Site; Promotes Editors
Site’s editor-in-chief Kevin Delaney says quartz is associated with intense geological activity, providing a metaphor for “our intent to cover obsessively the tectonic shifts in the global economy.” Also, with both a ‘q’ and a ‘z’, two of the least frequently used letters, it’s an unusual and distinctive-looking word. And lends itself to pity domain name: qz.com. Separately, Atlantic Media Company has promoted three of its top editors. James Bennet has been named editor in chief of The Atlantic, Scott Stossel has been tapped as editor, Atlantic Magazine, and Bob Cohn has jumped to editor, Atlantic Digital. 
 
Adweek  (site name)
MediaBistro  (editors)
Opinion: Publishers Souring on Apps
Jason Pontin, editor-in-chief of Technology Review, contends publishers have struggled with costs, difficulties of making apps work for readers across mobile, other platforms, with mostly disappointing consumer and advertising revenue returns. Argues that “the paid, expensively developed publishers’ app, with its extravagantly produced digital replica, is dead”; instead, providing content through HTML5 sites that enable flexible delivery across mobile platforms (a la Financial Times) is the solution. 
 
Technology Review
Good Housekeeping Advertising Partners with THE MOMS
GH advertising has signed what’s described as a first-of-its-kind deal with Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein of THE MOMS, a “multi-platform lifestyle brand and event company.” THE MOMS will serve as “brand ambassadors” for GH advertisers in special sections in the magazine, at events, original sponsored video on goodhouseekping.com and TheMoms.com, through social and out- of-home media, satellite media tours, and more. (Emailed release, no link yet.)
Chair of USPS BOG Backs USPS’s Reform Plan, Not Senate’s
Thurgood Marshall, Jr., chairman of the USPS Board of Governors (and son of the late Supreme Court Justice), issued a statement saying the USPS’s 5-year plan, including downsizing, would return it to “sustained profitability,” whereas the reform legislation recently approved by the Senate would not achieve a sustainable business model. DeadTree opines that Marshall’s liberal cred deflates “liberal conspiracy theories” about the PMG’s plan to downsize USPS.
 
Boxing Champ Latest to Offer Limited-Edition Magazine
Floyd Mayweather is the latest celeb to use online platform MYMAG to produce and sell fan magazines devoted to themselves. The digital version costs $2.99; a glossy, oversized print edition, limited to 2,500 copies, costs $25. Other mags feature Sean “Diddy” Combs and Deepak Chopra.
 
Release
Fla. Libraries’ Pulling of ‘Fifty Shades’ Spurs Controversy, Debate
In the wake of Florida’s Brevard County Public Libraries’ decision late last week to pull bestseller “Fifty Shades of Grey” from their shelves (“we view this as pornographic material”), Library Journal blog argues that whether the book is “mainstream” is not the real issue. “The only real question [to debate],” blog contends, is “is it porn, and do you think libraries should be buying porn books?”…”Anything else is just a red herring.”
 
NY Times (book’s removal from libraries)
LibraryJournal.com (opinion column)
Is the Print Book Distribution Gap Closing? 
Publishing blog editor notes that recent instance of UK’s Tesco picking up paperback originally from small publisher (Louis Fennell’s “Dead Rich”) as an exclusive, and subsequent publishing deal on book with Simon & Schuster, is an example of “well-connected individuals—and their support teams, be they agents, publishers or others—being able to secure their own distribution”…”Physical distribution remains a huge opportunity and, like so much else, is truly opening up to the enterprising DIY-er,” writes Edward Nawotka. 
 
U.K. Ebook Sales +366%; Publishers Want Copyright Infringement Tackled
U.K. Publishers Association reports consumer ebook sales +366% to £92m [$150 million] in 2011, with sales across all digital formats accounting for 8% of the value of sales of all books. Association calls for government and “other stakeholders in digital economy” to do more to tackle online copyright infringement. TechDirt opines that research should be conducted to determine if “sharing” is hurting or perhaps actually spurring ebook sales growth.  
 
TechDirt
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Economy: Consumer Jumps in March
Consumer borrowing on credit cards, car loans, student loans and other types of installment debt (mortgages not included) grew at a seasonally adjusted 10.2% annual rate to $2.54 trillion in March from February. Biggest monthly leap since Nov. 2001, and possibly a positive sign for spending trends. 
 
ICSC/Goldman: Sales Slowed Last Week
The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Retail Chain Store Sales Index slid 0.8% in the week ended Saturday vs. week before. On a year-on-year basis, the reading rose 3.3%. ICSC expects industry sales will increase about 3% in May, in large part due to Mother’s Day.
 
Safeway Updating Pork-Sourcing Standards
In a joint statement on Monday with the Humane Society of the United States, Safeway said it will start to develop a plan to source pork entirely from suppliers who don’t use gestation stalls for sows. 
 
Diamond Foods Names New CEO
Brian J. Driscoll named new president, CEO, replacing Rick G. Wolford, who had served as interim CEO since last February following the ouster by the board of the previous CEO (Michael Mendes) in the wake of an accounting scandal. Driscoll, who started his career in 1980 with P&G, had been CEO of Hostess since 2010.  
 
Kraft Foods Conducts Product Lifecycle Assessment
Using lifecycle assessment to help make the right product changes and get the best results. LCA measures the footprint of what goes into making a product, from farm to fork and beyond.ext 
 
Publix Wins Summit Awards from United Way
Publix Super Markets Inc. has received two Summit awards for philanthropic engagement and community impact from United Way. Publix’s 2011 United Way campaign raised $45.6 million–a 12% increase over 2010 in spite of a sluggish economy–and associates’ per capita gifts surpassed the food industry average by 398%. Separately, Publix’s Miami division raised $1.79 million in six weeks to benefit local and regional nonprofit organizations throughout South Florida through its holiday Food For All program. 
 
Progressive Grocer (United Way) 
Progressive Grocer  (Miami raises $1.8M)
Pantry Q2: Sales Strong But Losses Widen
C-store chain’s losses widened due to higher costs, but revenue up 8.8%, and merchandise sales up 2.9%. Pantry upped its projections for full year, projecting merchandise sales of $1.81B to $1.83B, vs. February’s estimate of $1.78B to $1.82B.
 
Amazon Leaps Into High-End Fashion
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10533 0 May 8, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10507 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10507#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 11:34:26 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10507  

Publishing News

InStyle Sees 16.8% March Newsstand Lift; Other Fashion Titles Show Declines
Per publishers’ estimates (not final) in ABC’s Rapid Reports, InStyle shows March single-copy sales of 777,000, up 16.8% over same month 2010. Other fashion titles, however, report estimated declines for March 2012 vs. March 2011 (Marie Claire, -22.9%; Lucky, -20.3%; Allure, -28%; PeopleStylewatch, -13.6%; Vogue, -2.5%). No report re Harper’s Bazaar. 
 
The Atlantic Names New Business News Site; Promotes Editors
Site’s editor-in-chief Kevin Delaney says quartz is associated with intense geological activity, providing a metaphor for “our intent to cover obsessively the tectonic shifts in the global economy.” Also, with both a ‘q’ and a ‘z’, two of the least frequently used letters, it’s an unusual and distinctive-looking word. And lends itself to pity domain name: qz.com. Separately, Atlantic Media Company has promoted three of its top editors. James Bennet has been named editor in chief of The Atlantic, Scott Stossel has been tapped as editor, Atlantic Magazine, and Bob Cohn has jumped to editor, Atlantic Digital. 
 
Adweek  (site name)
MediaBistro  (editors)
Opinion: Publishers Souring on Apps
Jason Pontin, editor-in-chief of Technology Review, contends publishers have struggled with costs, difficulties of making apps work for readers across mobile, other platforms, with mostly disappointing consumer and advertising revenue returns. Argues that “the paid, expensively developed publishers’ app, with its extravagantly produced digital replica, is dead”; instead, providing content through HTML5 sites that enable flexible delivery across mobile platforms (a la Financial Times) is the solution. 
 
Technology Review
Good Housekeeping Advertising Partners with THE MOMS
GH advertising has signed what’s described as a first-of-its-kind deal with Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein of THE MOMS, a “multi-platform lifestyle brand and event company.” THE MOMS will serve as “brand ambassadors” for GH advertisers in special sections in the magazine, at events, original sponsored video on goodhouseekping.com and TheMoms.com, through social and out- of-home media, satellite media tours, and more. (Emailed release, no link yet.)
Chair of USPS BOG Backs USPS’s Reform Plan, Not Senate’s
Thurgood Marshall, Jr., chairman of the USPS Board of Governors (and son of the late Supreme Court Justice), issued a statement saying the USPS’s 5-year plan, including downsizing, would return it to “sustained profitability,” whereas the reform legislation recently approved by the Senate would not achieve a sustainable business model. DeadTree opines that Marshall’s liberal cred deflates “liberal conspiracy theories” about the PMG’s plan to downsize USPS.
 
Boxing Champ Latest to Offer Limited-Edition Magazine
Floyd Mayweather is the latest celeb to use online platform MYMAG to produce and sell fan magazines devoted to themselves. The digital version costs $2.99; a glossy, oversized print edition, limited to 2,500 copies, costs $25. Other mags feature Sean “Diddy” Combs and Deepak Chopra.
 
Release
Fla. Libraries’ Pulling of ‘Fifty Shades’ Spurs Controversy, Debate
In the wake of Florida’s Brevard County Public Libraries’ decision late last week to pull bestseller “Fifty Shades of Grey” from their shelves (“we view this as pornographic material”), Library Journal blog argues that whether the book is “mainstream” is not the real issue. “The only real question [to debate],” blog contends, is “is it porn, and do you think libraries should be buying porn books?”…”Anything else is just a red herring.”
 
NY Times (book’s removal from libraries)
LibraryJournal.com (opinion column)
Is the Print Book Distribution Gap Closing? 
Publishing blog editor notes that recent instance of UK’s Tesco picking up paperback originally from small publisher (Louis Fennell’s “Dead Rich”) as an exclusive, and subsequent publishing deal on book with Simon & Schuster, is an example of “well-connected individuals—and their support teams, be they agents, publishers or others—being able to secure their own distribution”…”Physical distribution remains a huge opportunity and, like so much else, is truly opening up to the enterprising DIY-er,” writes Edward Nawotka. 
 
U.K. Ebook Sales +366%; Publishers Want Copyright Infringement Tackled
U.K. Publishers Association reports consumer ebook sales +366% to £92m [$150 million] in 2011, with sales across all digital formats accounting for 8% of the value of sales of all books. Association calls for government and “other stakeholders in digital economy” to do more to tackle online copyright infringement. TechDirt opines that research should be conducted to determine if “sharing” is hurting or perhaps actually spurring ebook sales growth.  
 
TechDirt
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Economy: Consumer Jumps in March
Consumer borrowing on credit cards, car loans, student loans and other types of installment debt (mortgages not included) grew at a seasonally adjusted 10.2% annual rate to $2.54 trillion in March from February. Biggest monthly leap since Nov. 2001, and possibly a positive sign for spending trends. 
 
ICSC/Goldman: Sales Slowed Last Week
The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Retail Chain Store Sales Index slid 0.8% in the week ended Saturday vs. week before. On a year-on-year basis, the reading rose 3.3%. ICSC expects industry sales will increase about 3% in May, in large part due to Mother’s Day.
 
Safeway Updating Pork-Sourcing Standards
In a joint statement on Monday with the Humane Society of the United States, Safeway said it will start to develop a plan to source pork entirely from suppliers who don’t use gestation stalls for sows. 
 
Diamond Foods Names New CEO
Brian J. Driscoll named new president, CEO, replacing Rick G. Wolford, who had served as interim CEO since last February following the ouster by the board of the previous CEO (Michael Mendes) in the wake of an accounting scandal. Driscoll, who started his career in 1980 with P&G, had been CEO of Hostess since 2010.  
 
Kraft Foods Conducts Product Lifecycle Assessment
Using lifecycle assessment to help make the right product changes and get the best results. LCA measures the footprint of what goes into making a product, from farm to fork and beyond.ext 
 
Publix Wins Summit Awards from United Way
Publix Super Markets Inc. has received two Summit awards for philanthropic engagement and community impact from United Way. Publix’s 2011 United Way campaign raised $45.6 million–a 12% increase over 2010 in spite of a sluggish economy–and associates’ per capita gifts surpassed the food industry average by 398%. Separately, Publix’s Miami division raised $1.79 million in six weeks to benefit local and regional nonprofit organizations throughout South Florida through its holiday Food For All program. 
 
Progressive Grocer (United Way) 
Progressive Grocer  (Miami raises $1.8M)
Pantry Q2: Sales Strong But Losses Widen
C-store chain’s losses widened due to higher costs, but revenue up 8.8%, and merchandise sales up 2.9%. Pantry upped its projections for full year, projecting merchandise sales of $1.81B to $1.83B, vs. February’s estimate of $1.78B to $1.82B.
 
Amazon Leaps Into High-End Fashion
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10507 0 May 7, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10503 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10503#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 15:12:16 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10503  

Publishing News

Rolling Stone Publishing “Big Issue” with Ads From TNT, TBS Exclusively
Rolling Stone’s May 11 issue will return to size of 10″ X 11.75″ (vs. normal 8″ X 10″). The issue, devoted to big names in pop culture, features Metallica on its cover. All 14 ads in issue are from Turner Broacasting’s TNT and TBS networks (promoting existing and new TV shows).  
 
Early Q1 Newsstand Sales Reading; Cover Performance Stats
An early review of Q1 data (final report out later this month) from MagNet indicates that the slowing of magazine sale declines seen in Q4 continued in Q1. MagNet is projecting overall U.S./Canada declines of 7.3% in units and 5.6% in dollars, with Canada performing significantly better than the U.S. In U.S., non-weeklies’ declines slowed significantly; weeklies still challenged. Also, MagNet reports that sales for National Geographic’s April 2012 issue on the Titanic (“What Really Happened”) are averaging well over 50% higher than average sales for the previous three issues, and could reach nearly 200,000 (20% higher than average). Separately, The New Single Copy reports that New York magazine’s Oct. 3, 2011 issue–the cover featuring over-50 mothers that won ASME’s “2012 Cover of the Year”–outsold the magazine’s average sales for its previous 12 issues by 13%, per MagNet data. (No NSC link available.)
 
MagNet (Q1 early read; National Geo issue)
New York Mag’s Zuckerberg Profile to Become E-Book
Current issue features cover story on Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. E-book to come will offer more details. 
 
Cosmopolitan Launches Mall Campaign; Mag’s Worldwide Execs Gather in Madrid
Cosmopolitan is using EYE’s network of digital and static out-of-home signage to reach shoppers in malls across the country. A just-concluded Spring Fashion campaign, featuring fashion content and ads from recent issues, ran in 40 malls in the top 20 DMAs. “Not only are we able to reach more readers, but our advertisers are able to reach consumers in a place where they can try on and purchase their products,” said Jo Bray, executive director of integrated marketing for Cosmo. Separately, Hearst paid all expenses for the editors and publishers of 64 Cosmo editions worldwide to attend the magazine’s just-ended biennial conference in Madrid, to discuss strategy, brand-building.
 
MediaPost MediaDailyNews (mall campaign)
WWD  (Madrid conference)
Nation Editor: Women’s Magazines Are ‘Entry Point’ to Serious Issues
During Hillman Awards last week, Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation, compared women’s magazines to the HBO series “Girls,” calling each a pop-cultural “entry point” to thinking and talking about serious issues. 
 
O, The Oprah Magazine Runs ‘OQ’ Contest for Advertising Community
Starting May 14, the magazine is launching a “What’s Your OQ?” promotion in which media buyers and marketers who register online (at Omagonline.com/OQ) will be contacted once each month through October with a quiz relating to the magazine’s audience or current issue. Correct answers make participants eligible for a monthly prize drawing, and at the contest’s end, one media buyer will win a grand prize (through a drawing) of a Smart Car. (Emailed promotion; no online link yet.)
Perseus Founder Frank Pearl Dies at 68
Frank Pearl, founder and chairman of the board for Perseus Book Group, died on May 4. Founded in 1995, Perseus today has more than 330 clients and is the digital distributor for more than 20,000 books from over 250 independent publishers. 
 
Publishers Weekly

AAP: Print As Well as Digital Books Show Solid February Sales 
AAP data show print sales for February continuing to hold up. Adult hardcover sales up 24.4% vs. February 2011; mass market paperbacks down relatively small 4.3%. Adult e-books up relatively small 9.9% (but that reflects a one-time reporting anomaly).Total children/YA sales up 73%. PaidContent reports that YA e-book sales are in part being driven by adults buying/reading books like “Hunger Games.”   

Publishers Weekly  (Feb. sales) 
PaidContent  (February sales) 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

Retail News

Harris Teeter Posts Sales, Earnings Gains
FY Q2 sales +6.7%, to $1.12B; first half sales +7.6%, to $2.24B. Comps +3.9% Q2, 4.6% first half. Q2 earnings $30.3M vs. $29.9M year-ago; first-half earnings $43.9M (including $12.4M loss from discontinued operations) vs. $68M year-ago.
 
Tesco Moves China CEO to Fresh & Easy
Tim Ashdown, currently CEO of Tesco’s China operations, will now be chief retail officer of the U.S. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market subsidiary. He will succeed Jeff Adams, who has overseen operations at Fresh & Easy since 2008. Adams will become CEO of Tesco’s operations in Turkey. 
 
Raley’s Requests Federal Mediator 
In an effort to resolve its current contract dispute with the United Food and Commercial Workers, Raley’s has postponed submitting its final offer and called in a federal mediator to begin facilitating an agreement as early as today. 
 
Progressive Grocer
Costco Pushing to Boost Online Sales
Costco.com’s annual sales are about $2B, but far behind Wal-Mart and Amazon. Costco now launching mobile apps in effort to significantly expand online business. 
 
Seattle Times
State Senator Wants Probe of ‘Meat Glue’
California state Sen. Ted. W. Lieu asked the USDA to investigate transglutaminase (AKA “meat glue”), which is used to patch various pieces of meat into a single steak or some other amalgamated chunk. FDA currently deems it “generally” safe, but Lieu says it may cause allergic reactions and that tracing potential food-borne illnesses could be more difficult when different parts of different animals are combined.  
Family Dollar Partners with McLane Co.
Distributor McLane Co. (Temple, Texas) to supply FD stores nationwide with perishable and frozen products. 
 
Retailers Fail Behind on Food Desert Goals
Wal-Mart last July said it would 300 stores in ‘food deserts’ by 2016; it’s so far opened 23 (some delayed by activist protests). Supervalu, which pledged to double Save-A-Lots to 2,376, has slowed openings pace amid declining sales. Slow-down could jeopardize First Lady Michelle Obama’s food-desert initiative, a key part of the “Let’s Move” anti-obesity program.  
 
Sustainability News
Safeway and Whole Foods have both made it into the “green rating” at the top of Greenpeace’s seafood sustainability scorecard with a scores of 7.1 and 7, respectively. The scores stood at the top of Greenpeace’s “2012 Carting Away the Oceans” report, which evaluates and ranks supermarkets on their sustainable seafood policies. Separately, Meijer Inc. has become the latest food retailer to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership.
 
Supermarket News  (Safeway, Whole Foods)
Supermarket News  (Meijer)
Millennials Can’t Make Ends Meet
Adults 18 to 34 now represent the highest percentage of Americans who do not have enough money to cover their basic needs, per WSL/Strategic Retail’s 2012 How America Shops MegaTrends report. Nearly 25% of Millennials say they are not able to make ends meet, compared to 17 percent of adults age 35 to 54 and 13 percent of those age 55 and over. 80% of Millennials believe it’s important to get the lowest price on most things they buy,, and 63% are sticking only to brands/stores they know they can afford. 
 
HumanKind Water Wins Wal-Mart’s ‘Get on the Shelf’ Contest
Bottled water called HumanKind that donates all net profits to clean drinking water in under-developed communities is the grand prize-winning new product, as voted on by consumers. PlateTopper, a kitchen product that transforms dinner plates into airtight food storage containers, came in second and SnapIt Eyeglass Repair which claims to fix glasses in 30 seconds came in third. 
 
Barron’s: Supervalu Could Be Good Investment
Michael Santoli writes that retailer’s stock “could represent a case of so-bad-it’s good, providing substantial upside for risk-tolerant investors.” 
 
Barron’s
U.K.’s Asda to Use Virtual Sales Associates
After a successful trial, considering rolling out use of virtual/holographic assistants who inform shoppers about pricing guarantee, deals, etc. 
 
Telegram
B&N and Microsoft Deal: Much More Could Be Coming
Article details the new partnership and notes much more could be coming. Speculation includes possible introduction of a new Nook e-reader or tablet device that would run on some variety of Windows with content supplied through B&N. Some observers suggest the deal could lead to the Nook’s integration with Windows software in a way that would allow the device to use Microsoft speech recognition software or even the Xbox. Since the MS/B&N deal is not exclusive, it has been suggested B&N may even offer separate devices powered by Windows as well as the modified version of Android currently used in Nook devices. Also not to be overlooked is the B&N college division and Microsoft’s ongoing and heavy investment in education. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10503 0 May 7, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10432 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10432#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 12:41:49 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10432  

Publishing News

Rolling Stone Publishing “Big Issue” with Ads From TNT, TBS Exclusively
Rolling Stone’s May 11 issue will return to size of 10″ X 11.75″ (vs. normal 8″ X 10″). The issue, devoted to big names in pop culture, features Metallica on its cover. All 14 ads in issue are from Turner Broacasting’s TNT and TBS networks (promoting existing and new TV shows).  
 
Early Q1 Newsstand Sales Reading; Cover Performance Stats
An early review of Q1 data (final report out later this month) from MagNet indicates that the slowing of magazine sale declines seen in Q4 continued in Q1. MagNet is projecting overall U.S./Canada declines of 7.3% in units and 5.6% in dollars, with Canada performing significantly better than the U.S. In U.S., non-weeklies’ declines slowed significantly; weeklies still challenged. Also, MagNet reports that sales for National Geographic’s April 2012 issue on the Titanic (“What Really Happened”) are averaging well over 50% higher than average sales for the previous three issues, and could reach nearly 200,000 (20% higher than average). Separately, The New Single Copy reports that New York magazine’s Oct. 3, 2011 issue–the cover featuring over-50 mothers that won ASME’s “2012 Cover of the Year”–outsold the magazine’s average sales for its previous 12 issues by 13%, per MagNet data. (No NSC link available.)
 
MagNet (Q1 early read; National Geo issue)
New York Mag’s Zuckerberg Profile to Become E-Book
Current issue features cover story on Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. E-book to come will offer more details. 
 
Cosmopolitan Launches Mall Campaign; Mag’s Worldwide Execs Gather in Madrid
Cosmopolitan is using EYE’s network of digital and static out-of-home signage to reach shoppers in malls across the country. A just-concluded Spring Fashion campaign, featuring fashion content and ads from recent issues, ran in 40 malls in the top 20 DMAs. “Not only are we able to reach more readers, but our advertisers are able to reach consumers in a place where they can try on and purchase their products,” said Jo Bray, executive director of integrated marketing for Cosmo. Separately, Hearst paid all expenses for the editors and publishers of 64 Cosmo editions worldwide to attend the magazine’s just-ended biennial conference in Madrid, to discuss strategy, brand-building.
 
MediaPost MediaDailyNews (mall campaign)
WWD  (Madrid conference)
Nation Editor: Women’s Magazines Are ‘Entry Point’ to Serious Issues
During Hillman Awards last week, Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of The Nation, compared women’s magazines to the HBO series “Girls,” calling each a pop-cultural “entry point” to thinking and talking about serious issues. 
 
O, The Oprah Magazine Runs ‘OQ’ Contest for Advertising Community
Starting May 14, the magazine is launching a “What’s Your OQ?” promotion in which media buyers and marketers who register online (at Omagonline.com/OQ) will be contacted once each month through October with a quiz relating to the magazine’s audience or current issue. Correct answers make participants eligible for a monthly prize drawing, and at the contest’s end, one media buyer will win a grand prize (through a drawing) of a Smart Car. (Emailed promotion; no online link yet.)
Perseus Founder Frank Pearl Dies at 68
Frank Pearl, founder and chairman of the board for Perseus Book Group, died on May 4. Founded in 1995, Perseus today has more than 330 clients and is the digital distributor for more than 20,000 books from over 250 independent publishers. 
 
Publishers Weekly

AAP: Print As Well as Digital Books Show Solid February Sales 
AAP data show print sales for February continuing to hold up. Adult hardcover sales up 24.4% vs. February 2011; mass market paperbacks down relatively small 4.3%. Adult e-books up relatively small 9.9% (but that reflects a one-time reporting anomaly).Total children/YA sales up 73%. PaidContent reports that YA e-book sales are in part being driven by adults buying/reading books like “Hunger Games.”   

Publishers Weekly  (Feb. sales) 
PaidContent  (February sales) 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

Retail News

Harris Teeter Posts Sales, Earnings Gains
FY Q2 sales +6.7%, to $1.12B; first half sales +7.6%, to $2.24B. Comps +3.9% Q2, 4.6% first half. Q2 earnings $30.3M vs. $29.9M year-ago; first-half earnings $43.9M (including $12.4M loss from discontinued operations) vs. $68M year-ago.
 
Tesco Moves China CEO to Fresh & Easy
Tim Ashdown, currently CEO of Tesco’s China operations, will now be chief retail officer of the U.S. Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market subsidiary. He will succeed Jeff Adams, who has overseen operations at Fresh & Easy since 2008. Adams will become CEO of Tesco’s operations in Turkey. 
 
Raley’s Requests Federal Mediator 
In an effort to resolve its current contract dispute with the United Food and Commercial Workers, Raley’s has postponed submitting its final offer and called in a federal mediator to begin facilitating an agreement as early as today. 
 
Progressive Grocer
Costco Pushing to Boost Online Sales
Costco.com’s annual sales are about $2B, but far behind Wal-Mart and Amazon. Costco now launching mobile apps in effort to significantly expand online business. 
 
Seattle Times
State Senator Wants Probe of ‘Meat Glue’
California state Sen. Ted. W. Lieu asked the USDA to investigate transglutaminase (AKA “meat glue”), which is used to patch various pieces of meat into a single steak or some other amalgamated chunk. FDA currently deems it “generally” safe, but Lieu says it may cause allergic reactions and that tracing potential food-borne illnesses could be more difficult when different parts of different animals are combined.  
Family Dollar Partners with McLane Co.
Distributor McLane Co. (Temple, Texas) to supply FD stores nationwide with perishable and frozen products. 
 
Retailers Fail Behind on Food Desert Goals
Wal-Mart last July said it would 300 stores in ‘food deserts’ by 2016; it’s so far opened 23 (some delayed by activist protests). Supervalu, which pledged to double Save-A-Lots to 2,376, has slowed openings pace amid declining sales. Slow-down could jeopardize First Lady Michelle Obama’s food-desert initiative, a key part of the “Let’s Move” anti-obesity program.  
 
Sustainability News
Safeway and Whole Foods have both made it into the “green rating” at the top of Greenpeace’s seafood sustainability scorecard with a scores of 7.1 and 7, respectively. The scores stood at the top of Greenpeace’s “2012 Carting Away the Oceans” report, which evaluates and ranks supermarkets on their sustainable seafood policies. Separately, Meijer Inc. has become the latest food retailer to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership.
 
Supermarket News  (Safeway, Whole Foods)
Supermarket News  (Meijer)
Millennials Can’t Make Ends Meet
Adults 18 to 34 now represent the highest percentage of Americans who do not have enough money to cover their basic needs, per WSL/Strategic Retail’s 2012 How America Shops MegaTrends report. Nearly 25% of Millennials say they are not able to make ends meet, compared to 17 percent of adults age 35 to 54 and 13 percent of those age 55 and over. 80% of Millennials believe it’s important to get the lowest price on most things they buy,, and 63% are sticking only to brands/stores they know they can afford. 
 
HumanKind Water Wins Wal-Mart’s ‘Get on the Shelf’ Contest
Bottled water called HumanKind that donates all net profits to clean drinking water in under-developed communities is the grand prize-winning new product, as voted on by consumers. PlateTopper, a kitchen product that transforms dinner plates into airtight food storage containers, came in second and SnapIt Eyeglass Repair which claims to fix glasses in 30 seconds came in third. 
 
Barron’s: Supervalu Could Be Good Investment
Michael Santoli writes that retailer’s stock “could represent a case of so-bad-it’s good, providing substantial upside for risk-tolerant investors.” 
 
Barron’s
U.K.’s Asda to Use Virtual Sales Associates
After a successful trial, considering rolling out use of virtual/holographic assistants who inform shoppers about pricing guarantee, deals, etc. 
 
Telegram
B&N and Microsoft Deal: Much More Could Be Coming
Article details the new partnership and notes much more could be coming. Speculation includes possible introduction of a new Nook e-reader or tablet device that would run on some variety of Windows with content supplied through B&N. Some observers suggest the deal could lead to the Nook’s integration with Windows software in a way that would allow the device to use Microsoft speech recognition software or even the Xbox. Since the MS/B&N deal is not exclusive, it has been suggested B&N may even offer separate devices powered by Windows as well as the modified version of Android currently used in Nook devices. Also not to be overlooked is the B&N college division and Microsoft’s ongoing and heavy investment in education. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10432 0 May 4, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10429 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10429#comments Fri, 04 May 2012 14:43:20 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10429

Publishing News

Time Named ‘Magazine of the Year’
At the National Magazine Awards, Time won the Magazine of the Year award, recognizing the quality and innovation of the magazine, site and app. General Excellence magazine winners include Bloomberg Businessweek (general interest); O, The Oprah Magazine (women’s); House Beautiful (lifestyle); Inc. (active and special interest); and IEEE Spectrum (thought leader). GQ won for design, and Vogue for photography. Full winners’ and finalists’ list available on MPA site.

New York Magazine Wins ASME’s 2012 ‘Cover of the Year’ 

New York Magazine’s Oct. 3, 2011 cover featured an over-50 pregnant woman in pose parodying Vanity Fair’s iconic cover featuring Demi Moore, with cover line: “Is She Just Too Old for This?.” Thirty 2011 magazine cover finalists in 10 categories were selected by consumers voting on Amazon.com; the winners were then chosen by ASME editors. Cover winners within categories include Bloomberg Businessweek’s Oct. 10 “Steve Jobs 1955-2011″(business/tech); People’s May 16 “William & Catherine: Love Reigns!” (celebrity/entertainment); Real Simple’s May “Energize Your Life” (health/fitness); Martha Stewart Living’s December “Make It a Magical Holiday (lifestyle); GQ’s August “Mila Kunis” (men’s interest); Everyday Food’s Summer 2011 “Summer Made Easy” (most delicious); American Photo’s Sept./Oct. “09.11.01″ (news/politics); OnEarth’s March “Arctic Fever” (nature); National Geographic’s May “Above Yosemite” (sports/adventure); and Real Simple’s January “Be Happier This Year” (women’s interest). The National Geographic cover also won the special, consumer vote-determined “Reader’s Choice Award.” Release includes images of all winning and finalist covers.  
 
ASME release
Media Buyers Want More Info from Magazines About Tablet Editions
A 4A’s print committee has sent a letter to magazine publishers asking them to reveal more information about their tablet editions’ performance. The committee says it needs more than MPA’s recommended disclosure of how many tablet editions were paid for by consumers, how many tablet editions were actually opened, the number of reader sessions per issue and the time spent per reader per issue. They are asking for tablet-audience metrics by subscription and single-copy sales; info on consumer engagement with ads customized for tablet editions; separate paid circulation guarantees for print and digital circulation; and subscriber data separated into readers who get tablet access as part of their print subs and those who buy tablet-only subs. MPA said that publishers are welcoming the input. 
 
WPA and Webby Winners Announced
The Western Publishing Association announced its 2012 Maggie award winners. They include Future US’s Maximum PC (best overall publication and best special-interest title); as well as four awards for Mother Jones; two for Diablo; and two for American Way. Also, the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences announced its Webby Award winners, including Conde Nast’s Wired (best magazine site) and National Geographic (“people’s choice” for best site). Other winners in article.
 
Folio: (WPA awards)
Folio: (Webby awards) 
Audience Development Picks “All Stars” 
Audience Development magazine’s 2012 AD “all stars” include Meredith National Media Group’s Andy Wilson (for executive management); Bonnier’s Mark Crone (database marketing); Time Inc.’s Laura Heck (online audience development); The Economist’s Nick Blunden (social media audience development) and Grand View Media Group’s Ted Hannah (fulfillment). 
 
USPS Scenario: Where Periodicals Stand
American Business Media’s chief lobbyist reports that current deal with House and Senate calls for potential surcharges on periodicals to be delayed after postal reform legislation enactment, and studied to determine need for surcharge. If surcharges instituted, they would not exceed 2% annually on top of CPI increases, until a product reaches 90% of its attributable costs.
 
The Daily Launches iPhone App
iPhone-only access to the magazine costs $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year (or available free to iPad edition subscribers). Sub for iPad app, launched 15 months ago, costs $0.99 per week or $3.99 per month. 
 
Facebook Targets $96B Value
If it realizes that value for its May 18 IPO, Facebook would set a record for U.S. tech-company IPOs. (Google bowed at $23B in 2004.)
 
Revived Google Books Suit Chugs Along
More than a year after a judge rejected a settlement agreement between Google Books and the Authors Guild, the litigation continues. The Guild is suing Google for scanning books without permission, and a photographers group is pressing its own copyright claims. Guild wants court to confirm that authors can sue together. Google is opposing that, while also seeking to throw out the Guild and photographers’ complaints.
 

Retail News

Economy: Unemployment Ticks Down 
To 8.1% in April, from 8.2%, surprising economists. Nonfarm payrolls grew by 115,000, vs. 168,000 expected by economists. But March payrolls grew by an upwardly revised 154,000 from initially reported 120,000, and February payrolls posted a gain of 259,000, vs. earlier estimate of 240,000. 
 
Weis Earnings Up 7.7%, to $20M, in FY Q1
Sales +0.3% to $661.6M; comp sales +0.9%. Weis said results reflect improved store-level efficiencies, increased productivity, disciplined promotions and a decrease in depreciation expenses. 
 
Price Chopper Names Three New Execs
Keith Frosceno promoted to group VP, fresh food merchandising; Matt Johnson promoted to VP meat merchandising. Also, Jessica Morin, most recently with Safeway in Phoenix, has been hired as zone director for 12 New York stores. 
 
Supermarket News
Van Helden Departs Supervalu; Holt Tapped as EVP
President/CEO Craig Heckert described Van Helden’s departure after 34 years as a “mutually beneficial decision.” Van Helden’s successor, Kevin Holt, a former Meijer executive, will join Supervalu at the end of May as EVP, retail operations, working with Van Helden to ensure a smooth transition.
 
GMA Picks Deloitte to Harness ‘Big Data’
Grocery Manufacturers Association has selected Deloitte Consulting to conduct research on how food, beverage and consumer product companies can translate purchase behavior and other consumer data from social, mobile, online and sensor networks into useful intelligence for decision-making. Study to span areas including supply chain, sales, marketing and finance, to create a big-data and analytics roadmap.
 
GMA release (emailed, no online link)
Industry Protests Food-Safety Bill Delay
GMA and other industry associations and consumer advocacy groups are urging the Obama administration to speed the implementation of the food safety bill, which has been hung up for more than a year by review process in the Office of Management and Budget. 
 
Retailers, Brands Target the Growing Ranks of Men in the Grocery Aisles
Latest confirmation: ESPN study shows 31% of grocery shoppers are men, vs. 14% in 1985. Retailer responses include “main aisles” in some Walmart, Target locations. P&G launched a site promoting products to male shoppers. 
 
Consumers Who Use Social to Get Service Are Heavy Peer Influencers
Amex study finds consumers who have used social media for customer service wield far greater influence among their peers. They tell significantly more people about their service experiences, and say they would spend 21% more with companies that deliver great service. But 93% of Americans overall say companies fail to exceed their service expectations, and 55% have walked away from an intended purchase in the past year because of a poor CS experience.
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10429 0 May 4, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10353 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10353#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 16:46:06 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10353

Publishing News

Time Named ‘Magazine of the Year’
At the National Magazine Awards, Time won the Magazine of the Year award, recognizing the quality and innovation of the magazine, site and app. General Excellence magazine winners include Bloomberg Businessweek (general interest); O, The Oprah Magazine (women’s); House Beautiful (lifestyle); Inc. (active and special interest); and IEEE Spectrum (thought leader). GQ won for design, and Vogue for photography. Full winners’ and finalists’ list available on MPA site.

New York Magazine Wins ASME’s 2012 ‘Cover of the Year’ 

New York Magazine’s Oct. 3, 2011 cover featured an over-50 pregnant woman in pose parodying Vanity Fair’s iconic cover featuring Demi Moore, with cover line: “Is She Just Too Old for This?.” Thirty 2011 magazine cover finalists in 10 categories were selected by consumers voting on Amazon.com; the winners were then chosen by ASME editors. Cover winners within categories include Bloomberg Businessweek’s Oct. 10 “Steve Jobs 1955-2011″(business/tech); People’s May 16 “William & Catherine: Love Reigns!” (celebrity/entertainment); Real Simple’s May “Energize Your Life” (health/fitness); Martha Stewart Living’s December “Make It a Magical Holiday (lifestyle); GQ’s August “Mila Kunis” (men’s interest); Everyday Food’s Summer 2011 “Summer Made Easy” (most delicious); American Photo’s Sept./Oct. “09.11.01″ (news/politics); OnEarth’s March “Arctic Fever” (nature); National Geographic’s May “Above Yosemite” (sports/adventure); and Real Simple’s January “Be Happier This Year” (women’s interest). The National Geographic cover also won the special, consumer vote-determined “Reader’s Choice Award.” Release includes images of all winning and finalist covers.  
 
ASME release
Media Buyers Want More Info from Magazines About Tablet Editions
A 4A’s print committee has sent a letter to magazine publishers asking them to reveal more information about their tablet editions’ performance. The committee says it needs more than MPA’s recommended disclosure of how many tablet editions were paid for by consumers, how many tablet editions were actually opened, the number of reader sessions per issue and the time spent per reader per issue. They are asking for tablet-audience metrics by subscription and single-copy sales; info on consumer engagement with ads customized for tablet editions; separate paid circulation guarantees for print and digital circulation; and subscriber data separated into readers who get tablet access as part of their print subs and those who buy tablet-only subs. MPA said that publishers are welcoming the input. 
 
WPA and Webby Winners Announced
The Western Publishing Association announced its 2012 Maggie award winners. They include Future US’s Maximum PC (best overall publication and best special-interest title); as well as four awards for Mother Jones; two for Diablo; and two for American Way. Also, the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences announced its Webby Award winners, including Conde Nast’s Wired (best magazine site) and National Geographic (“people’s choice” for best site). Other winners in article.
 
Folio: (WPA awards)
Folio: (Webby awards) 
Audience Development Picks “All Stars” 
Audience Development magazine’s 2012 AD “all stars” include Meredith National Media Group’s Andy Wilson (for executive management); Bonnier’s Mark Crone (database marketing); Time Inc.’s Laura Heck (online audience development); The Economist’s Nick Blunden (social media audience development) and Grand View Media Group’s Ted Hannah (fulfillment). 
 
USPS Scenario: Where Periodicals Stand
American Business Media’s chief lobbyist reports that current deal with House and Senate calls for potential surcharges on periodicals to be delayed after postal reform legislation enactment, and studied to determine need for surcharge. If surcharges instituted, they would not exceed 2% annually on top of CPI increases, until a product reaches 90% of its attributable costs.
 
The Daily Launches iPhone App
iPhone-only access to the magazine costs $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year (or available free to iPad edition subscribers). Sub for iPad app, launched 15 months ago, costs $0.99 per week or $3.99 per month. 
 
Facebook Targets $96B Value
If it realizes that value for its May 18 IPO, Facebook would set a record for U.S. tech-company IPOs. (Google bowed at $23B in 2004.)
 
Revived Google Books Suit Chugs Along
More than a year after a judge rejected a settlement agreement between Google Books and the Authors Guild, the litigation continues. The Guild is suing Google for scanning books without permission, and a photographers group is pressing its own copyright claims. Guild wants court to confirm that authors can sue together. Google is opposing that, while also seeking to throw out the Guild and photographers’ complaints.
 

Retail News

Economy: Unemployment Ticks Down 
To 8.1% in April, from 8.2%, surprising economists. Nonfarm payrolls grew by 115,000, vs. 168,000 expected by economists. But March payrolls grew by an upwardly revised 154,000 from initially reported 120,000, and February payrolls posted a gain of 259,000, vs. earlier estimate of 240,000. 
 
Weis Earnings Up 7.7%, to $20M, in FY Q1
Sales +0.3% to $661.6M; comp sales +0.9%. Weis said results reflect improved store-level efficiencies, increased productivity, disciplined promotions and a decrease in depreciation expenses. 
 
Price Chopper Names Three New Execs
Keith Frosceno promoted to group VP, fresh food merchandising; Matt Johnson promoted to VP meat merchandising. Also, Jessica Morin, most recently with Safeway in Phoenix, has been hired as zone director for 12 New York stores. 
 
Supermarket News
Van Helden Departs Supervalu; Holt Tapped as EVP
President/CEO Craig Heckert described Van Helden’s departure after 34 years as a “mutually beneficial decision.” Van Helden’s successor, Kevin Holt, a former Meijer executive, will join Supervalu at the end of May as EVP, retail operations, working with Van Helden to ensure a smooth transition.
 
GMA Picks Deloitte to Harness ‘Big Data’
Grocery Manufacturers Association has selected Deloitte Consulting to conduct research on how food, beverage and consumer product companies can translate purchase behavior and other consumer data from social, mobile, online and sensor networks into useful intelligence for decision-making. Study to span areas including supply chain, sales, marketing and finance, to create a big-data and analytics roadmap.
 
GMA release (emailed, no online link)
Industry Protests Food-Safety Bill Delay
GMA and other industry associations and consumer advocacy groups are urging the Obama administration to speed the implementation of the food safety bill, which has been hung up for more than a year by review process in the Office of Management and Budget. 
 
Retailers, Brands Target the Growing Ranks of Men in the Grocery Aisles
Latest confirmation: ESPN study shows 31% of grocery shoppers are men, vs. 14% in 1985. Retailer responses include “main aisles” in some Walmart, Target locations. P&G launched a site promoting products to male shoppers. 
 
Consumers Who Use Social to Get Service Are Heavy Peer Influencers
Amex study finds consumers who have used social media for customer service wield far greater influence among their peers. They tell significantly more people about their service experiences, and say they would spend 21% more with companies that deliver great service. But 93% of Americans overall say companies fail to exceed their service expectations, and 55% have walked away from an intended purchase in the past year because of a poor CS experience.
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10353 0 May 3, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10336 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10336#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 15:55:31 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10336 Industry Partners Offer Front-End Solutions Center at FMI
Time/Warner Retail, Source Interlink Distribution, The Coca-Cola Company and NCR sponsored a Front-End Solutions Center and an educational session during the Food Marketing Institute’s FMI 2012 conference/exposition in Dallas this week. T/WR’s Bill Romollino highlights some of the research-based insights–and new merchandising solutions for self-serve and cashier checkout lanes–that were spotlighted for the retail community.  Read article

Publishing News

MSLO Moving Back Into the Black
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. expects to return to profitability this year. Q1 saw lowered losses ($3.6M, or 5 cents a share, vs. year-earlier loss of $7.1M, or 13 cents). Total revenue -5.4%, to $49.8M, and publishing revenue -11%, but that beat its expectation for a mid-teens percentage drop. Print unit’s losses widened due to advertising -21% and digital advertising -8%, plus costs of hiring expanded advertising team. But ad gains resulting from those hires, combined with continued growth in merchandising business and lower broadcasting costs, expected to take MSLO back into black by year-end.
 
Self’s Editor Named ASME President
Self editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger has been elected president of the American Society of Magazine Editors, succeeding People managing editor Larry Hackett, who served in the post for the past two years. 
 
Mags Dealing with Issues Re How They Affect Women’s Body-Image Perceptions 
Conde Nast International has responded to concerns about Vogue’s use of ultra-skinny models by launching a “Health Initiative”–an agreement among editors of Vogue’s 19 international editions designed to “encourage a healthier approach to body image within the industry.” Separately, Ann Shoket, editor-in-chief of Hearst’s Seventeen Magazine, yesterday met with Julia Bluhm, an eighth-grader from Main who got 30K signatures on a petition on Change.org asking the magazine to feature one photoshop-free spread each month. Bluhm and other teens also staged a mock photo-shoot in front of the magazine’s offices. In an emailed press release (not yet posted online), Bluhm stated: “The fact that Seventeen’s editor-in-chief met with me in person proves that the voices of teen girls everywhere are getting through. While I would still change some of the ways Seventeen portrays girls, I’m encouraged that they’re willing to listen to me and the 30,000 people who’ve signed my petition. Seventeen’s invited me to work with them on this issue, which means we girls–Seventeen’s readers–are finally being heard loud and clear. It’s really exciting.” 
 
WWD  (Vogue)
NY Daily News (Seventeen)
Conde’s Tattler Honors Queen with Augmented Reality Issue
This month’s issue of U.K.-based magazine features exclusive augmented reality content relating to Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, accessed by using a Zappar app. One feature: an AR corgi on the cover.  
 
Beyonce to be Honored for Essence Magazine Article
Singer to get writing awad from NY Association of Black Journalists for her article “Eat, Play, Love,” featured as cover story in July 2011 issue of Essence. Meanwhile, she’s also gracing the cover of People’s “World’s Most Beautiful People” double issue, on newsstands as of last Friday.  
Tablet Shipments Down in Q1
IDG reports total worldwide shipments reached 17.4 million units, about 1.2 million units below IDC’s projections, mainly due to steep drop in Android-based tablets. Apple shipped 11.8 million iPads, down from 15.4 million units in Q4, but grew its market share to 68% from 55%. 
 

Retail News

Economy: Jobless Claims Dip Sharply
First-time jobless claims fell by 27K last week, most in nearly a year, although four-week average ticked up slightly.
 
Washington Post
April Retail Sales Slow
19 chains tracked by Thomson Reuters reported a thin 0.8 percent increase in sales at stores open at least a year, missing the 1.5 percent gain that analysts were expecting. Major retailers reporting soft sales (partly due to Easter being in March) included Target, Macy’s, Saks. Costco’s comp sales (minus fuel) were up 4%, but analysts were expecting 4.9%; marks second consecutive month Costco missed growth expectations. Analyst notes that average transaction gains had been compensating for Costco’s slowing traffic over past year, but “that appears to have reversed this quarter.” 

NY Times  (overview)
WSJ  (Costco info included)

Whole Foods’ Sales, Profit Soar in Q2
Earnings jumped 31% (to $117.7M) on a 9.5% comp-store sales gain (in part due to a 55-basis point gain from Easter’s being in Q2 this year). Total sales +14%, to $2.7B. EPS of 64 cents, vs. analysts’ expectations of 59 cents. Gross profits up 70 BPs to 36.6% of sales. WF upped full-year forecast to 14.8% to 15.6% sales growth, vs. previous 13.5% to 15%. 
 
Supermarket News
Delhaize Hit by Restructuring Costs
Food Lion parent saw FY Q1 net loss of €10 million, compared with a net profit of €126 million a year earlier. Analysts had expected an average €20.9 million profit. Closed 126 U.S. stores in quarter, generating €167 million ($219.7 million) in charges. Total sales rose to €5.48 billion from €5.04 billion, pushed up by price increases. Volume trends in U.S. improved a bit, but comp sales -0.06% and operating profit -22%.
 
Price Investment, Soft Sales Hit Loblaw 
Net income -22.2% (to $128M U.S. or 45 Canadian cents per share (vs. analyst expectations of 50 cents) in FY Q1. Total sales +0.9% (to U.S. $7B), but comps -0.7%. Food/drug sales were flat; gas revenues up due to price increases. Invested $10M in new price-lowering initiative in Q1; will invest $40M for full year. Reiterated previous outlook for a decline in earnings for the fiscal year; more first-half pressure expected. But stressed store and IT improvements, pricing initiative will yield performance returns. 
 
GMO Labeling to Reach California Ballot
Proponents of labeling foods containing genetically modified ingredients said Wednesday that they had received the required signatures to get the issue onto the statewide ballot in November. A March 2012 Mellman Group poll found that 9 of 10 American voters favor labeling for genetically engineered food. Marketing Daily summarizes the heated pro/con arguments being aired on social media, other platforms. 
 
Supermarket News (issue to reach ballot)
Retailers: Debit Swipe Fees Still Too High
While Federal Reserve data show that fees collected by largest banks have fallen since reform regs took effect last fall, National Retail Federation argues they’re still too high. “We believe the numbers for the big banks are too high, and had the Fed followed the law, there would be significantly greater savings for merchants and their customers,” said NRF’s Mallory Duncan. NRF filed suit last November contending that the Fed set the cap nearly twice as high as what was allowed under the Dodd-Frank Act. Fed’s data show average debit card swipe fee charged by large banks fell to an average of 24 cents in Q4 2011, from average 43 cents in 2009. Debit swipe fees for banks with under $10B in assets, which weren’t covered by the regs, remained the same, as anticipated. 
 
Target Stores Dropping Kindle E-Readers
Move coincides with the discounter’s plan to create mini shops of Apple Inc. products in 25 of its stores this year. 
 
Study Confirms More Trips to More Stores by Value-Driven Consumers
International Dairy- Deli-Bakery Association report summarizing research confirms consumers’ attempts to negate higher prices with more frequent, immediate shopping trips for low-value, instant needs–and diversifying the stores they shop–are turning the retail world on its head. 
 
FMI2012: Tech’s Value Lies in Meaningful Interaction with Customers
Bozzuto’s wholesaler exec Steve Methvin offered tips on content, communicating effectively via mobile marketing, social networks.  
 
Private Brands: Mixed Perception Trends
Ipsos reports that each year since 2009, most global consumers have perceived store brands to be the same or better than national brands on all attributes. From 2009 to 2010, store brands slipped in all areas – with no indications of improvement in 2011 for value, convenience, meeting needs, being good for the family, and being requested by the family. From 2010 to 2011, store brands gained ground in consumers’ minds in the areas where national brands tended to be strongest: quality, innovativeness, uniqueness and packaging. Ipso concludes “national brands must now battle store brands on all fronts”; not just a value game anymore.
 
Meijer to Enter Milwaukee
Plans to build one of its supercenters in Franklin, Wisconsin, and also is “considering plans to build stores in Oak Creek, Grafton, Pewaukee and New Berlin” as part of a move into the Milwaukee market. 
 
Walmart “Avengers” Tie-In Game App Aims to Drive In-Store Traffic
Fans download Walmart’s “Super Hero Augmented Reality” app, then visit a store to search for movie-related images on POP display materials (located around the store, to encourage participants to visit different departments). Scanning all of the images moves the player onto the game’s final level (a battle to save the world). 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10336 0 Industry Partners Offer Front-End Solutions Center at FMI http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10256 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10256#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 11:58:34 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10256 Time/Warner Retail, Source Interlink Distribution, The Coca-Cola Company and NCR, in partnership with Dechert-Hampe Consulting, sponsored a Front-End Solutions Center, as well as an educational session, during the Food Marketing Institute’s FMI 2012 conference and exposition in Dallas this week.
 

The Front-End Solutions Center showcased two model checkout lanes featuring cutting-edge, best practices-based designs for regular and self-checkouts.
 

The “Leveraging the Front End” session presented front-end shopper behavior and retail sales performance, key insights and best practices—including how to optimize the three front-end “power categories” of beverages, magazines and confectionary—plus innovative merchandising concepts, based on the latest research and industry collaboration.
 

“The front end presents tremendous potential to maximize sales, because it’s the one location that every shopper encounters,” sums up John Mount, VP, large store channel strategy and marketing, Coca-Cola Refreshments.
 

“Supermarket retailers are more focused than ever on optimizing the impulse-item opportunity at checkouts, because these purchases make a major difference in basket size and profits,” says T/WR VP, shopper insights William Romollino III.
 

In fact, Romollino points out, the data from Front-End Focus and other recent research studies show that the purchase of one item at checkout increases the average cashier-lane basket from $31.71 to $34.50, or 8.8%. The benefit at self-checkouts is even larger: One impulse purchase lifts the average self-check basket from $20.61 to $23.40, or 13.5%.
 

Improved merchandising at self-checkouts represents a particularly significant opportunity. “The research performance data confirm that lack of merchandising and ineffective merchandising at self-checkout hurts sales dramatically,” says Romollino.
 

Specifically, on average, annual sales generated from items sold at self-checkouts are about 63% lower than at regular cashier lanes, and about 66% lower than at express cashier lanes. This missed opportunity at self-checkouts represents an estimated potential loss per store of nearly $100,000 annually.
 

“Audits suggest that 50% of self-checkouts are not merchandised, 39% have average or less-than-average merchandising, and just 11% have good merchandising,” Romollino reports. “A major challenge has been that merchandisers frequently aren’t closely involved in the planning and timing implementation specifics of a retailer’s self-checkout program, and end up playing catch-up in trying to merchandise these lanes. Incomplete merchandising solutions are the common result.”
 

A more collaborative self-checkout solution process that brings in merchandisers and key category partners is among the front-end opportunities and best practices identified, he notes.
 

The Front-End Focus Leadership sponsors worked together to develop the new, best practices-baesd merchandising display concepts for self-checkouts and cashier lanes, designed to address retailers’ needs for front-end solutions that are both integrated and streamlined, according to Romollino.  The self-checkout merchandising concepts can be installed on the same day that self-scan technology is installed, he reports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10256 0 May 3, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10252 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10252#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 11:31:54 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10252 Industry Partners Offer Front-End Solutions Center at FMI
Time/Warner Retail, Source Interlink Distribution, The Coca-Cola Company and NCR sponsored a Front-End Solutions Center and an educational session during the Food Marketing Institute’s FMI 2012 conference/exposition in Dallas this week. T/WR’s Bill Romollino highlights some of the research-based insights–and new merchandising solutions for self-serve and cashier checkout lanes–that were spotlighted for the retail community.  Read article

Publishing News

MSLO Moving Back Into the Black
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. expects to return to profitability this year. Q1 saw lowered losses ($3.6M, or 5 cents a share, vs. year-earlier loss of $7.1M, or 13 cents). Total revenue -5.4%, to $49.8M, and publishing revenue -11%, but that beat its expectation for a mid-teens percentage drop. Print unit’s losses widened due to advertising -21% and digital advertising -8%, plus costs of hiring expanded advertising team. But ad gains resulting from those hires, combined with continued growth in merchandising business and lower broadcasting costs, expected to take MSLO back into black by year-end.
 
Self’s Editor Named ASME President
Self editor-in-chief Lucy Danziger has been elected president of the American Society of Magazine Editors, succeeding People managing editor Larry Hackett, who served in the post for the past two years. 
 
Mags Dealing with Issues Re How They Affect Women’s Body-Image Perceptions 
Conde Nast International has responded to concerns about Vogue’s use of ultra-skinny models by launching a “Health Initiative”–an agreement among editors of Vogue’s 19 international editions designed to “encourage a healthier approach to body image within the industry.” Separately, Ann Shoket, editor-in-chief of Hearst’s Seventeen Magazine, yesterday met with Julia Bluhm, an eighth-grader from Main who got 30K signatures on a petition on Change.org asking the magazine to feature one photoshop-free spread each month. Bluhm and other teens also staged a mock photo-shoot in front of the magazine’s offices. In an emailed press release (not yet posted online), Bluhm stated: “The fact that Seventeen’s editor-in-chief met with me in person proves that the voices of teen girls everywhere are getting through. While I would still change some of the ways Seventeen portrays girls, I’m encouraged that they’re willing to listen to me and the 30,000 people who’ve signed my petition. Seventeen’s invited me to work with them on this issue, which means we girls–Seventeen’s readers–are finally being heard loud and clear. It’s really exciting.” 
 
WWD  (Vogue)
NY Daily News (Seventeen)
Conde’s Tattler Honors Queen with Augmented Reality Issue
This month’s issue of U.K.-based magazine features exclusive augmented reality content relating to Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, accessed by using a Zappar app. One feature: an AR corgi on the cover.  
 
Beyonce to be Honored for Essence Magazine Article
Singer to get writing awad from NY Association of Black Journalists for her article “Eat, Play, Love,” featured as cover story in July 2011 issue of Essence. Meanwhile, she’s also gracing the cover of People’s “World’s Most Beautiful People” double issue, on newsstands as of last Friday.  
Tablet Shipments Down in Q1
IDG reports total worldwide shipments reached 17.4 million units, about 1.2 million units below IDC’s projections, mainly due to steep drop in Android-based tablets. Apple shipped 11.8 million iPads, down from 15.4 million units in Q4, but grew its market share to 68% from 55%. 
 

Retail News

Economy: Jobless Claims Dip Sharply
First-time jobless claims fell by 27K last week, most in nearly a year, although four-week average ticked up slightly.
 
Washington Post
April Retail Sales Slow
19 chains tracked by Thomson Reuters reported a thin 0.8 percent increase in sales at stores open at least a year, missing the 1.5 percent gain that analysts were expecting. Major retailers reporting soft sales (partly due to Easter being in March) included Target, Macy’s, Saks. Costco’s comp sales (minus fuel) were up 4%, but analysts were expecting 4.9%; marks second consecutive month Costco missed growth expectations. Analyst notes that average transaction gains had been compensating for Costco’s slowing traffic over past year, but “that appears to have reversed this quarter.” 

NY Times  (overview)
WSJ  (Costco info included)

Whole Foods’ Sales, Profit Soar in Q2
Earnings jumped 31% (to $117.7M) on a 9.5% comp-store sales gain (in part due to a 55-basis point gain from Easter’s being in Q2 this year). Total sales +14%, to $2.7B. EPS of 64 cents, vs. analysts’ expectations of 59 cents. Gross profits up 70 BPs to 36.6% of sales. WF upped full-year forecast to 14.8% to 15.6% sales growth, vs. previous 13.5% to 15%. 
 
Supermarket News
Delhaize Hit by Restructuring Costs
Food Lion parent saw FY Q1 net loss of €10 million, compared with a net profit of €126 million a year earlier. Analysts had expected an average €20.9 million profit. Closed 126 U.S. stores in quarter, generating €167 million ($219.7 million) in charges. Total sales rose to €5.48 billion from €5.04 billion, pushed up by price increases. Volume trends in U.S. improved a bit, but comp sales -0.06% and operating profit -22%.
 
Price Investment, Soft Sales Hit Loblaw 
Net income -22.2% (to $128M U.S. or 45 Canadian cents per share (vs. analyst expectations of 50 cents) in FY Q1. Total sales +0.9% (to U.S. $7B), but comps -0.7%. Food/drug sales were flat; gas revenues up due to price increases. Invested $10M in new price-lowering initiative in Q1; will invest $40M for full year. Reiterated previous outlook for a decline in earnings for the fiscal year; more first-half pressure expected. But stressed store and IT improvements, pricing initiative will yield performance returns. 
 
GMO Labeling to Reach California Ballot
Proponents of labeling foods containing genetically modified ingredients said Wednesday that they had received the required signatures to get the issue onto the statewide ballot in November. A March 2012 Mellman Group poll found that 9 of 10 American voters favor labeling for genetically engineered food. Marketing Daily summarizes the heated pro/con arguments being aired on social media, other platforms. 
 
Supermarket News (issue to reach ballot)
Retailers: Debit Swipe Fees Still Too High
While Federal Reserve data show that fees collected by largest banks have fallen since reform regs took effect last fall, National Retail Federation argues they’re still too high. “We believe the numbers for the big banks are too high, and had the Fed followed the law, there would be significantly greater savings for merchants and their customers,” said NRF’s Mallory Duncan. NRF filed suit last November contending that the Fed set the cap nearly twice as high as what was allowed under the Dodd-Frank Act. Fed’s data show average debit card swipe fee charged by large banks fell to an average of 24 cents in Q4 2011, from average 43 cents in 2009. Debit swipe fees for banks with under $10B in assets, which weren’t covered by the regs, remained the same, as anticipated. 
 
Target Stores Dropping Kindle E-Readers
Move coincides with the discounter’s plan to create mini shops of Apple Inc. products in 25 of its stores this year. 
 
Study Confirms More Trips to More Stores by Value-Driven Consumers
International Dairy- Deli-Bakery Association report summarizing research confirms consumers’ attempts to negate higher prices with more frequent, immediate shopping trips for low-value, instant needs–and diversifying the stores they shop–are turning the retail world on its head. 
 
FMI2012: Tech’s Value Lies in Meaningful Interaction with Customers
Bozzuto’s wholesaler exec Steve Methvin offered tips on content, communicating effectively via mobile marketing, social networks.  
 
Private Brands: Mixed Perception Trends
Ipsos reports that each year since 2009, most global consumers have perceived store brands to be the same or better than national brands on all attributes. From 2009 to 2010, store brands slipped in all areas – with no indications of improvement in 2011 for value, convenience, meeting needs, being good for the family, and being requested by the family. From 2010 to 2011, store brands gained ground in consumers’ minds in the areas where national brands tended to be strongest: quality, innovativeness, uniqueness and packaging. Ipso concludes “national brands must now battle store brands on all fronts”; not just a value game anymore.
 
Meijer to Enter Milwaukee
Plans to build one of its supercenters in Franklin, Wisconsin, and also is “considering plans to build stores in Oak Creek, Grafton, Pewaukee and New Berlin” as part of a move into the Milwaukee market. 
 
Walmart “Avengers” Tie-In Game App Aims to Drive In-Store Traffic
Fans download Walmart’s “Super Hero Augmented Reality” app, then visit a store to search for movie-related images on POP display materials (located around the store, to encourage participants to visit different departments). Scanning all of the images moves the player onto the game’s final level (a battle to save the world). 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10252 0 May 2, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10248 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10248#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 16:29:14 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10248  

Powering Retail Performance: Customized Products, Creative Partnerships and Evergreen Content
Magazine publishers and channel partners are innovating on all fronts to leverage the category’s unique, synergistic strengths at retail. Here, Kable Distribution Services’ Jim Roberts shares some new approaches being employed by small to mid-sized publishers, including advertiser-sponsored launches, custom-content magazines for specific retailers, and more.  Read article

Publishing News

Time Warner Beats Expectations; Time Inc. Revenues Down 3%
TW’s Q1 revenue +4.4%, to $6.98B vs. $6.68B year-ago, exceeding analysts’ expectatinos of $6.82B. Excluding restructuring-related costs and asset write-downs, earnings rose 16% to 67 cents per share, vs. analyst expectations of 64 cents. Adjusted operating income +6%. Revenue gains driven by networks and film/TV entertainment businesses. Time Inc./publishing business revenues -3% (to $773M), due to declines of 5% (or $19M) in ad revenues and 2% (or $6M) in circulation revenues. (U.S., international newsstand declines partially offset by higher U.S. sub sales). Publishing operating income -38%.  
 
Bauer News: In Touch Gets New Top Editors; Launches Men’s Title in U.K.
Dan Wakeford, editor-in-chief of Life & Style, also named EIC of In Touch. Alexis Chiu named executive editor of In Touch (she was a senior writer at Time Inc.’s People). Life & Style has been posting year-over-year newsstand gains. Separately, in the U.K., Bauer is launching Wonderpedia, a monthly men’s print title focused on offering “intelligent” news/content across a broad range of topics, including technology, nature, history.  
 
NY Post  (In Touch editors)
MarketingWeek (Wonderpedia launch)
Taunton Press Promotes Tim Rahr to President
Rahr has been Taunton’s EVP and CFO since 2005, and with the company for 13 years. He succeeds Sue Roman in the president’s role. Roman will take six-month sabbatical “to explore digital media technologies,” and return in the fall in a “new hands-on creative role.” CFO role will be filled by Rich Browning, an independent Taunton board director who has served on the board’s strategy committee and chaired its finance/strategic investments committee. 
 
RDA, Bonnier Personnel News
Reader’s Digest Association has hired Mark Jannot for the new post of chief content officer for RDA Milwaukee. Jannot was previously editorial director of Bonnier Technology Group. At Bonnier, Jacob Ward has been promoted from deputy editor and West Coast bureau chief of Popular Science to editor-in-chief of the magazine (and will take over Jannot’s responsibilities as part of the EIC role).
 
Conde’s Lucky Hosts Blogging Conference
At Fashion and Beauty Blogger conference, held in L.A., 150 high-profile bloggers attended sessions and networked. Lucky editor-in-chief Brandon Holley told bloggers that she wants to help them “quit their day jobs”–and urged them to buy Lucky for inspiration.
 
Hearst’s Magazines Chief: “Be Unorthodox”
At Adweek’s NexTech Summit, president David Carey stressed that traditional operational silos and “orthodoxies” are becoming a thing of the past as publishers push to create content across platforms. Editors, publishers now involved in nine or 10 revenues streams, he said. Highlighted new Hearst content initiatives, including Hello Style women’s lifestyle YouTube channel. Acknowledged that driving discovery of apps, videos is a key challenge for all content companies. Mobile devices account for 16% of Hearst magazines’ page views, up 3% from year ago; 32% Web traffic gain predicted in the next year. Says Hearst “trying to train consumers in early stages” to pay for digital subs. 
 
Adweek 
NY Post (scroll down) 
Simon & Schuster: Strong Q1
Total revenues +14% (to $176M). Print sales rose, in addition to a 64% gain in digital content sales. Operating income before depreciation and amortization and impairment charges rose 43%, to $10M.

Publishers Weekly

ABC: Newspaper Circulation Up Slightly

For the six months ended March, average weekday circ for 618 U.S. dailies increased 0.7%, and average Sunday circ for 532 Sunday papers was up 5%. Digital editions accounted for 14.2% of overall U.S. circulation, up from 8.7% in the year-earlier period. NYT’s circ, driven by paywall/paid digital subs, 73% for weekday and 50% for Sunday editions (NYT is third-largest in circ). #1 WSJ: weekday circ flat (+0.02%); weekend +2.5%). #3 USA Today -0.6%.  
 

Retail News

Economy: Manufacturing Activity Gains Bolster Outlook
Institute for Supply Management’s index of manufacturing activity rose for 33rd consecutive month in March, and at the fastest pace since June 2011. Gauges of production, exports and employment all increased while the new-orders index—a barometer of future activity—rose 3.7 points to 58.2. Readings above 50 indicate growth. The news sent the Dow to a four-year high. Separately, however, ADP Employer Services reported that April saw companies add the fewest number of U.S. workers in seven months. Employment increased by 119,000 following a revised 201,000 gain the prior month.
 
WSJ (manufacturing)
Bloomberg (new jobs) 
Wal-Mart News: Labor Settlement; Growth Threat; NEW Honors Duke 
W-M has agreed to pay employees $4.8 million in back wages and damages, as well as $464,000 in civil penalties, to settle Labor Dept. charges that it failed to pay overtime to more than 4,500 employees. In settlement, the Labor Dept. found that workers employed as Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club security guards or as managers in the stores’ vision departments between 2004 and 2007 were denied overtime pay when they were incorrectly classified as exempt from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime laws. Separately, Bloomberg reports that the Walmex bribery probe poses potential threat to international operations growth, putting added pressure to successfully execute U.S. smaller-format, Neighborhood Market strategy. Also, the Network of Executive Women announced that it is inducting W-M chief Mike Duke into its CPG/Retail Diversity Hall of Fame. 
 
WSJ  (labor settlement)
Bloomberg (small-format stakes rise)
NEW release (Duke honor)
Publix Sales, Earnings Up in Q1 
Net income +2.8%, to $40.9.4M. Total sales +4.2%, to $7.1B. Comp sales +3.3%.
 
FMI2012 HIGHLIGHTS: 

FMI chief Leslie G. Sarasin: Stressed that conventional supermarkets are now the primary choice of only 64% of shoppers, urged retailers to respond aggressively to “stunning changes” in consumer mindset, technology-enhanced shopping, e-commerce and store formats. Also previewed 2012 U.S. Grocery Shopper trend research, provides insights into these four critical areas of change.
Supermarket News (overview)
Progressive Grocer (research insights)


Social networking panel: Price Chopper’s Jerry Golub stressed that retailers must embrace the power of shopper opinions. Food Lion’s Cathy Green Burns described social media as a “window into the soul of your brand.” Meijer’s J.K. Symancyk shared how the retailer uses social media to communicate directly with frequent shoppers on specific products such as holiday specials, to build incremental sales and to eliminate slow-selling inventory.
Morning News Beat


Private brands summit: Walgreens’ Laura Sturdevant stressed getting input from multiple departments, including marketing, merchandising, category managers, is key in PL development process.
Supermarket News 


Sustainable sourcing session: Ahold USA’s Harriet Hentges stressed urgency of retailers showing leadership now, rather than risk being compelled to take action by growing consumer concerns about food sourcing.
Supermarket News 


FMI Store Manager Awards: Presented to Mike Jacob, ShopRite of Hunterdon County, Flemington, N.J.; Lee Lucero, King Soopers, Denver; and Ted Boyd, Bi-Lo, Greenwood, S.C.
Supermarket News  

Labor News
Kroger associates at Smith’s Food and Drug and Food 4 Less in Las Vegas have ratified a new labor agreement with UFCW Local 711. Raley’s has denied a contract extension for Central and Northern California UFCW workers; unions now to vote on Raley’s “last, best, final” offer or potential strike. Save Mart said it intends to terminate contract with same union locals as of May 9.  
 
Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. Hires Two Execs
Names John Gianakas VP, center store sales; he was previously VP, center store category management at Maudlin, S.C.-based Bi-Lo LLC. Kimberly Keller named employee rewards and communiction coordinator. Previously a marketing specialist at Comcast Spotlight. 
 
CVS Benefits from Walgreen/ES Fallout
Grabbing Walgreen customers switching due to termination of Walgreen’s prescription contract with Espress Scripts. For Q1, CVS net income +8.8%; total revenue +20%. Raises full-year forecast.
 
Impact of Target’s PFresh Format Seen as Minimal
In SN feature, industry sources say PFresh format (now in about two-thirds of its stores, but accounting for 19% of Target’s total volume last year) is spread out over many retail players in many markets. Driving store traffic, rather than competing on a full supermarket offering basis, is said to beTarget’s objective, although its competition with supermarkets could grow in future.  
 
Law Firms Question Anderson’s Bid to Acquire Books-A-Million
More law firms have issued press releases announcing that they are investigating whether the Anderson family’s $3.05 per share offer for BAM is a breach of fiduciary duty; the releases also asks shareholders to contact the firms. 

Publishers Weekly

Mall Owners Push for Online Retailer Tax Collections
Smarting from high vacancies partly due to the rise in Internet shopping, shopping-center owners are throwing their weight behind federal bills aimed at requiring online retailers to collect sales tax. Some of the largest are also gaining traction in pushing states to require Amazon to collect taxes. So far, seven states have reached pacts with Amazon to collect sales tax, with Nevada and Texas joining the list last week. Five more are in talks on similar deals. 
 
Radio Campaign Addresses Childhood Obesity Crisis
The Advertising Council and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment are launching a series of radio ads about childhood obesity on 850 Clear Channel stations. Written in English and Spanish, the ads use humor to encourage families to lead a healthier lifestyle; they also mention “We Can!”, an education program of the National Institutes of Health aimed at promoting healthy weight in youth. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10248 0 May 2, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10160 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10160#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 21:20:28 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10160  

Powering Retail Performance: Customized Products, Creative Partnerships and Evergreen Content
Magazine publishers and channel partners are innovating on all fronts to leverage the category’s unique, synergistic strengths at retail. Here, Kable Distribution Services’ Jim Roberts shares some new approaches being employed by small to mid-sized publishers, including advertiser-sponsored launches, custom-content magazines for specific retailers, and more.  Read article

Publishing News

Time Warner Beats Expectations; Time Inc. Revenues Down 3%
TW’s Q1 revenue +4.4%, to $6.98B vs. $6.68B year-ago, exceeding analysts’ expectatinos of $6.82B. Excluding restructuring-related costs and asset write-downs, earnings rose 16% to 67 cents per share, vs. analyst expectations of 64 cents. Adjusted operating income +6%. Revenue gains driven by networks and film/TV entertainment businesses. Time Inc./publishing business revenues -3% (to $773M), due to declines of 5% (or $19M) in ad revenues and 2% (or $6M) in circulation revenues. (U.S., international newsstand declines partially offset by higher U.S. sub sales). Publishing operating income -38%.  
 
Bauer News: In Touch Gets New Top Editors; Launches Men’s Title in U.K.
Dan Wakeford, editor-in-chief of Life & Style, also named EIC of In Touch. Alexis Chiu named executive editor of In Touch (she was a senior writer at Time Inc.’s People). Life & Style has been posting year-over-year newsstand gains. Separately, in the U.K., Bauer is launching Wonderpedia, a monthly men’s print title focused on offering “intelligent” news/content across a broad range of topics, including technology, nature, history.  
 
NY Post  (In Touch editors)
MarketingWeek (Wonderpedia launch)
Taunton Press Promotes Tim Rahr to President
Rahr has been Taunton’s EVP and CFO since 2005, and with the company for 13 years. He succeeds Sue Roman in the president’s role. Roman will take six-month sabbatical “to explore digital media technologies,” and return in the fall in a “new hands-on creative role.” CFO role will be filled by Rich Browning, an independent Taunton board director who has served on the board’s strategy committee and chaired its finance/strategic investments committee. 
 
RDA, Bonnier Personnel News
Reader’s Digest Association has hired Mark Jannot for the new post of chief content officer for RDA Milwaukee. Jannot was previously editorial director of Bonnier Technology Group. At Bonnier, Jacob Ward has been promoted from deputy editor and West Coast bureau chief of Popular Science to editor-in-chief of the magazine (and will take over Jannot’s responsibilities as part of the EIC role).
 
Conde’s Lucky Hosts Blogging Conference
At Fashion and Beauty Blogger conference, held in L.A., 150 high-profile bloggers attended sessions and networked. Lucky editor-in-chief Brandon Holley told bloggers that she wants to help them “quit their day jobs”–and urged them to buy Lucky for inspiration.
 
Hearst’s Magazines Chief: “Be Unorthodox”
At Adweek’s NexTech Summit, president David Carey stressed that traditional operational silos and “orthodoxies” are becoming a thing of the past as publishers push to create content across platforms. Editors, publishers now involved in nine or 10 revenues streams, he said. Highlighted new Hearst content initiatives, including Hello Style women’s lifestyle YouTube channel. Acknowledged that driving discovery of apps, videos is a key challenge for all content companies. Mobile devices account for 16% of Hearst magazines’ page views, up 3% from year ago; 32% Web traffic gain predicted in the next year. Says Hearst “trying to train consumers in early stages” to pay for digital subs. 
 
Adweek 
NY Post (scroll down) 
Simon & Schuster: Strong Q1
Total revenues +14% (to $176M). Print sales rose, in addition to a 64% gain in digital content sales. Operating income before depreciation and amortization and impairment charges rose 43%, to $10M.

Publishers Weekly

ABC: Newspaper Circulation Up Slightly

For the six months ended March, average weekday circ for 618 U.S. dailies increased 0.7%, and average Sunday circ for 532 Sunday papers was up 5%. Digital editions accounted for 14.2% of overall U.S. circulation, up from 8.7% in the year-earlier period. NYT’s circ, driven by paywall/paid digital subs, 73% for weekday and 50% for Sunday editions (NYT is third-largest in circ). #1 WSJ: weekday circ flat (+0.02%); weekend +2.5%). #3 USA Today -0.6%.  
 

Retail News

Economy: Manufacturing Activity Gains Bolster Outlook
Institute for Supply Management’s index of manufacturing activity rose for 33rd consecutive month in March, and at the fastest pace since June 2011. Gauges of production, exports and employment all increased while the new-orders index—a barometer of future activity—rose 3.7 points to 58.2. Readings above 50 indicate growth. The news sent the Dow to a four-year high. Separately, however, ADP Employer Services reported that April saw companies add the fewest number of U.S. workers in seven months. Employment increased by 119,000 following a revised 201,000 gain the prior month.
 
WSJ (manufacturing)
Bloomberg (new jobs) 
Wal-Mart News: Labor Settlement; Growth Threat; NEW Honors Duke 
W-M has agreed to pay employees $4.8 million in back wages and damages, as well as $464,000 in civil penalties, to settle Labor Dept. charges that it failed to pay overtime to more than 4,500 employees. In settlement, the Labor Dept. found that workers employed as Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club security guards or as managers in the stores’ vision departments between 2004 and 2007 were denied overtime pay when they were incorrectly classified as exempt from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime laws. Separately, Bloomberg reports that the Walmex bribery probe poses potential threat to international operations growth, putting added pressure to successfully execute U.S. smaller-format, Neighborhood Market strategy. Also, the Network of Executive Women announced that it is inducting W-M chief Mike Duke into its CPG/Retail Diversity Hall of Fame. 
 
WSJ  (labor settlement)
Bloomberg (small-format stakes rise)
NEW release (Duke honor)
Publix Sales, Earnings Up in Q1 
Net income +2.8%, to $40.9.4M. Total sales +4.2%, to $7.1B. Comp sales +3.3%.
 
FMI2012 HIGHLIGHTS: 

FMI chief Leslie G. Sarasin: Stressed that conventional supermarkets are now the primary choice of only 64% of shoppers, urged retailers to respond aggressively to “stunning changes” in consumer mindset, technology-enhanced shopping, e-commerce and store formats. Also previewed 2012 U.S. Grocery Shopper trend research, provides insights into these four critical areas of change.
Supermarket News (overview)
Progressive Grocer (research insights)


Social networking panel: Price Chopper’s Jerry Golub stressed that retailers must embrace the power of shopper opinions. Food Lion’s Cathy Green Burns described social media as a “window into the soul of your brand.” Meijer’s J.K. Symancyk shared how the retailer uses social media to communicate directly with frequent shoppers on specific products such as holiday specials, to build incremental sales and to eliminate slow-selling inventory.
Morning News Beat


Private brands summit: Walgreens’ Laura Sturdevant stressed getting input from multiple departments, including marketing, merchandising, category managers, is key in PL development process.
Supermarket News 


Sustainable sourcing session: Ahold USA’s Harriet Hentges stressed urgency of retailers showing leadership now, rather than risk being compelled to take action by growing consumer concerns about food sourcing.
Supermarket News 


FMI Store Manager Awards: Presented to Mike Jacob, ShopRite of Hunterdon County, Flemington, N.J.; Lee Lucero, King Soopers, Denver; and Ted Boyd, Bi-Lo, Greenwood, S.C.
Supermarket News  

Labor News
Kroger associates at Smith’s Food and Drug and Food 4 Less in Las Vegas have ratified a new labor agreement with UFCW Local 711. Raley’s has denied a contract extension for Central and Northern California UFCW workers; unions now to vote on Raley’s “last, best, final” offer or potential strike. Save Mart said it intends to terminate contract with same union locals as of May 9.  
 
Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co. Hires Two Execs
Names John Gianakas VP, center store sales; he was previously VP, center store category management at Maudlin, S.C.-based Bi-Lo LLC. Kimberly Keller named employee rewards and communiction coordinator. Previously a marketing specialist at Comcast Spotlight. 
 
CVS Benefits from Walgreen/ES Fallout
Grabbing Walgreen customers switching due to termination of Walgreen’s prescription contract with Espress Scripts. For Q1, CVS net income +8.8%; total revenue +20%. Raises full-year forecast.
 
Impact of Target’s PFresh Format Seen as Minimal
In SN feature, industry sources say PFresh format (now in about two-thirds of its stores, but accounting for 19% of Target’s total volume last year) is spread out over many retail players in many markets. Driving store traffic, rather than competing on a full supermarket offering basis, is said to beTarget’s objective, although its competition with supermarkets could grow in future.  
 
Law Firms Question Anderson’s Bid to Acquire Books-A-Million
More law firms have issued press releases announcing that they are investigating whether the Anderson family’s $3.05 per share offer for BAM is a breach of fiduciary duty; the releases also asks shareholders to contact the firms. 

Publishers Weekly

Mall Owners Push for Online Retailer Tax Collections
Smarting from high vacancies partly due to the rise in Internet shopping, shopping-center owners are throwing their weight behind federal bills aimed at requiring online retailers to collect sales tax. Some of the largest are also gaining traction in pushing states to require Amazon to collect taxes. So far, seven states have reached pacts with Amazon to collect sales tax, with Nevada and Texas joining the list last week. Five more are in talks on similar deals. 
 
Radio Campaign Addresses Childhood Obesity Crisis
The Advertising Council and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment are launching a series of radio ads about childhood obesity on 850 Clear Channel stations. Written in English and Spanish, the ads use humor to encourage families to lead a healthier lifestyle; they also mention “We Can!”, an education program of the National Institutes of Health aimed at promoting healthy weight in youth. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10160 0 Powering Retail Performance: Leveraging Customized Products, Creative Partnerships and Evergreen Content http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10116 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10116#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 18:56:18 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10116 Editor’s note: IPDA Daily is spotlighting new approaches to powering the magazine category’s performance at retail, including innovations in editorial product and covers, retail partnerships, promotions and consumer marketing, and distribution channel initiatives. We encourage publishers, distributors and retailers to drop us a line about innovative concepts being explored, tested or rolled out (click on link to email to feed...@ipda.org). We’ll follow up on leads to bring our readers more ideas on this important topic. Column submissions and Q&A interviews with those involved  are of course also welcome. 


By James W. Roberts

EVP, COO Kable Distribution Services, Inc. 
 

In today’s challenging retail environment, “business as usual” is history. All partners in the magazine distribution channel are pushing to develop and implement innovative concepts for stimulating sales growth at retail. We’re working to harness our creativity like never before to fully exploit magazines’ unique strengths, including their ability to drive sales of other product in stores.

 

Sharing our ideas and initiatives ultimately benefits the entire category. In that spirit, here are some of the approaches being employed by KDS and its publisher clients. 
 

Sponsored magazine launches  
Air Age Media, the leading publisher of magazines and other media for enthusiasts of radio-control (RC) cars and planes, has formed a partnership with Traxxas, makers of the world’s best-selling RC vehicles, to launch Traxxas Magazine. Traxxas, also a key Air Age advertiser, is contributing content for this quarterly magazine, which covers its RC products, along with the motorsports action and lifestyle of the “Traxxas phenomenon.”
 

The first issue of Traxxas Magazine–featuring National Hot Rod Association racing star Courtney Force (one of many high-profile drivers in the several motorsports teams sponsored by Traxxas)—went on sale in U.S. and Canadian retailers on April 30 (cover prices: $7.99 U.S., $10.99 Canada).

 

The magazine’s distribution spans stores with successful sales histories for Air Age’s Radio Control Car Action magazine across all classes of trade (supermarkets, mass merchandisers, drug stores, C stores, bookstores, airports, and independent and chain hobby shops). It’s also being sold at retail internationally (bookstores, kiosks, hobby shops).

 

For Traxxas, the magazine represents a powerful vehicle for increasing exposure and sales for its products and the racing teams that it sponsors, which have extensive visibility as part of the coverage of motorsports on the ESPN, Speed and Discovery channels. For Air Age, in addition to increased sales volume through this new newsstand product, its vested role in this publication strengthens the publisher/advertiser partnership.
 

Custom content for specific retailers
Some publishers are working directly with national chains to create custom print products with content that aligns with and enhances  a retailer’s in-store traffic-driving initiatives. While I can’t divulge specifics at this time, I can say that the magazines are designed to reach and engage customers in key areas of stores beyond traditional mainline fixtures and checkouts, and that these initiatives go well beyond traditional cross-merchandising and buying promotions. 

 

Creating retailer-specific magazines isn’t in and of itself a new concept, but it’s largely been the domain of the larger publishing houses. This alternate approach is particularly suited to publishers that can offer flexibility and content specialization, along with a solid record of performance.

 

The core point is that smaller and mid-size publishers can develop innovative partnerships with retail chains, if they take the initiative to research and talk with retailers about their customers and specific goals, and demonstrate their publishing expertise and capabilities.

 

Such efforts can uncover matches between specialized content capabilities and the target customers for specific product categories or store departments in which a retailer wants to drive sales. If testing confirms the concept’s validity and it’s rolled out, the retailer benefits from incremental sales of the targeted products, as well as incremental magazine sales, and a new revenue stream is created for the publisher and its distribution partners.
 

Repackaging content assets (bookazines and beyond)
As we well know, newsstand-only bookazines or special issues that repackage in-demand content, generally priced at $9.95 to $12.99, have become increasingly important sales and profitability drivers for the magazine category.

 

Publishers of mass-appeal entertainment and news magazines are of course leveraging timely bookazine offerings to the max. At the same time, a growing number of publishers of titles for  enthusiasts across a wide range of markets or editorial categories are using innovative offerings and strategies to turn their treasure troves of expert, evergreen content into profitable new revenue streams.

 

For example, some are producing bookazines/specials (often with a seasonal element) designed to be marketed within a specific chain with demographics that closely match the publisher’s editorial and/or advertising. Other compilation spinoff products have broader appeal, and are distributed across mainstream retail classes of trade.
  

Further, in addition to themed bookazines/specials, some publishers are creating a new revenue stream through creative packaging and promotions of copies of existing  issues of their core, regular-frequency print brands. 
 

One example: At the end of 2011, a publisher of children’s product produced a multipack consisting of several copies of back issues polybagged together at an attractive price (just under $10). These were marketed in a mass-merchandiser chain, as a fun stocking stuffer. The multipack sold through at a 70% sales efficiency. As a result, this publisher is now producing a summer vacation multipack to be sold in multiple chains, as well as preparing an expanded holidays/year-end program for multiple chains.
 

Building specialty/nontraditional retailer business 
Depending on the publisher’s demographics, specialty and nontraditional chains (e.g., Tractor Supply, Bass Pro Shops, etc.) are ideal for targeted promotions and/or checkout exposure. 

We’ve seen magazine publishers in categories such as gardening, outdoor and almanac realizing consistently strong sales in these specialty retail channels. In fact, magazine sales through these channels continue to show healthy growth.

 

Publishers can tap the assistance of internal national distributor specialty-channel experts, who frequently work with the main specialty-retail distributors and their networks. But the main keys to success, for all involved, are doing the homework and being committed to building these retailer relationships. These initiatives, too, require interfacing with retailers and learning about their customers and business objectives, asking about promotional calendars, and determining which retailers recognize the sales/profit opportunity and are genuinely interested in promoting one or more magazines that serve the interests of their specific customer bases.
 

Testing the market for launches 
Of course, new, regular-frequency magazines (and specials that are spinoffs of these) continue to be the lifeblood of the newsstand industry. And while the cost of entry has risen considerably, publishers of all sizes and editorial focuses continue to identify emerging consumer trends and new markets/niches that may be fertile territory for magazine launches or tests. 

 

One of the magazine category’s great strengths is this ability to add excitement at retail by responding to consumer demand for expert, timely information on “hot” topics or activities, such as health/wellness; at-home cooking and entertaining; professional-level techniques and advice for home gardeners or DYI renovators; or simply an interesting new cultural trend. For example, industry data show an upswing in sales for gun enthusiast magazines (no doubt in part driven by antiquing, pawn-shop and other TV shows that have generated interest in the value and histories of collectible guns). In recent times, we’ve seen several solid client launches in the pet category, among others.
 

Honing retail targeting and using new methods to drive new readers to stores
KDS, along with other national distributors, is working more closely than ever with publishers, wholesalers and retailers to target the best homes for magazines, on a store-by-store basis, across countless reading categories. We’ve thrown away our scatter guns, in favor of using data to achieve much more precise targeting.

 

One method we’ve used successfully is employing zip code analysis (incorporating subscription sales and consumer demographic data) to target distributions to stores located within highly indexed postal codes. 

 

Using digital media channels to drive magazine sales at retail is another area with significant potential. For example, KDS created a site, WheresMyMagazine.com, dedicated to enabling consumers to quickly find nearby stores that carry the magazines they want to purchase. Users simply provide the magazine title, zip code and a mile range, and the site pops up the names and addresses of the stores. The site currently features KDS-distributed magazines, but we’re considering expanding it to include other publications, as well.
 

Collaborating to enhance efficiency, profitability and retailer relationships 
As the Willard Bishop Grocery SuperStudy, Front-End Focus and other research has confirmed, magazine buyers are also buyers of the products advertised in magazines, and in general tend to yield larger basket rings. Our category generates 12% of the true profit, with just 4% of space.  Clearly, all in the distribution channel need to continue and expand our intensified efforts to get these messages out to our retailer partners.

 

At the same time, we need to continue to build on the momentum toward cooperative initiatives and practices that further enhance our category’s sales, sell-throughs and profitability for the retailer and all channel partners.

 

In short, there’s ample reason for optimism about our category’s future at retail, because it’s clear that publishers and distribution-channel partners are committed to harnessing this industry’s abundance of creative energy and promotional know-how, and working more closely than ever with retailers. These efforts will pay off in the short term, and most important, build strong, lasting relationships with the retail community.

 

]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10116 0 May 1, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10094 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10094#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 16:34:51 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10094

Publishing News

Glamour’s Numbers Looking Up
Recently redesigned Glamour is seeing newsstand lifts, report “insiders.” March issue reportedly up 9% over same issue prior year and April up 10%. May issue also uptrending, in single digits. Editor-in-chief Cindy Leive promises continuing cover changes and format surprises in coming issues–including a September issue completely dedicated to fashion (a first for the magazine). Magazine will live-tweet on the making of this issue over the next two months. 
 
Personnel News: Conde, Meredith
Dawn Ostroff, president of Conde Nast’s new Entertainment Group, has tapped Sahar Elhabashi as EVP and COO. Here background includes executive posts at Discovery Networks International and MTV…At Meredith, Dana Bowen has been named executive editor of Every Day with Rachel Ray. Bowen was most recently executive editor of Savuer.  


Deadline (Conde Entertainment) 
MediaBistro  (Rachel Ray)

American Prospect Magazine May Be Forced to Close
The American Prospect, an influential liberal politics and policy magazine, could shut its doors at the end of May unless the nonprofit publication raises a half million dollars to fill a current funding gap. Management hopeful funds can be raised for short term, plus another $500K for longer term. Over the years, the magazine has served as a launching pad for the careers of some top politics and policy journalists, including Talking Points Memo founder and editor Josh Marshall, theWashington Post‘s Ezra Klein and Slate’s Matt Yglesias. 

Wired: Much to Celebrate on 20th Anniversary
The magazine, currently running its fourth annual Disruptive by Design confab of A-list digital speakers, attendees ($2,100 admission), is launching a year-long 20th celebration, starting with its May issue. Plans include profiles of 20 industry “icons,” retrospective e-books. VP/publisher Howard Mittman credits Conde Nast chairman S.I. Newhouse, Jr.’s decision to buy Wired in 1998 for enabling the title to survive the dot.com crash. Reports that it’s now Conde’s fifth most profitable magazine (afer Glamour, Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ), and that this May issue is its most profitable issue ever. 
 
Jack Griffin: Media Companies Have to Run Two Companies Simultaneously
Speaking to the annual American Business Media conference, the former CEO of Meredith and Time Inc. said that media companies have to adapt to the declining primacy of print advertising by running two companies simultaneously: “one for today and one for the future.” On the consumer side, he cited Meredith’s B-to-B/360-degree-inspired creation under his leadership of a $75 million custom publishing group and a $180 million integrated marketing group.
 
Fairchild Won’t Be Moving to Freedom Tower
Plans could change before Conde Nast moves to NYC’s Freedom Tower in 2014, but currently, it appears its Fairchild Fashion Media unit will not be joining its Conde sister publications there. Source tells MIN it’s a matter of independence (e.g., WWD reports on Conde Nast). Fairchild, purchased by Conde in 1999, also didn’t make the move to Conde’s current HQ at 4 Times Square. 
 
Tribune International Launches Sports Magazine Apps
Two new tablet magazine apps take sports coverage from Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel. One covers the Chicago Bulls; the other Orlando Magic.
 
HarperCollins Names Digital Chief
Chantal Restivo-Alessi named chief digital officer, responsible for leading overall digital strategy and managing commericial relationships with digital partners. She has 20 years of international media management experience. Most recently served as head of media corporate finance for ING Bank in London. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

Retail News

Price Chopper Opens New ‘Limited’ Concept
Chain’s first small-format “Price Chopper Limited” store opend yesterday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Offers fresh produce and bakery, full-service, meat, deli and seafood departments, as well as the most popular products within most of the categories offered in the larger Price Chopper formats, in 19K sq. ft. (one-third smaller than regular format).
 
N.Y. Pension Funds to Challenge Wal-Mart
Concerned about bribery, cover-up allegations, leaders of New York City’s pension funds said Monday they would vote their 4.7 million company shares against five directors standing for re-election to the retailer’s board at what could well be a contentious W-M annual shareholder meeting next month. In related piece, W-M’s success at improving its corporate reputation through “good citizen” initiatives is now being put to the test; retailer likely to need its political allies as Walmex controvery heats up. Separately, China has released two W-M employees jailed over food mislabeling charges.
 
NY Times (pension funds challenge)
NY Times  (“good citizen” test)
WSJ (workers released in China)
Goldman Initiates Supervalu With ‘Sell’ Rating
Report initiating Goldman’s coverage of Supervalu cites excess financial leverage, and “headwinds” including a softening of inflation that will likely pressure profit growth, and continued market share losses. Projects that Supervalu’s net sales, comp sales and gross profits will decline in excess of consensus analyst figures for the fiscal year, and that operating income will be 3% below consensus. 
 
Supermarket News
Ingles Sees Flat Sales, Profit Dip in Q2
Net sales +1.3%, to $881.7M but flat excluding gas. Net income -15.2% to $6.5M due to lower fuel margins. Excluding fuel, profits as a percent of sales dropped from 26% to 25.9%.  
 
FMI Partners with TopSource
Food Marketing Institute announced the partnership will provide FMI members with savings on not-for-resale items. 
 
Catalina Marketing Acquires Modiv Media
Checkout coupon machines supplier completes buy of Modiv, which provides the Scan It! scan-and-bag handheld and mobile app system used by Ahold USA’s Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover division. 
 
Tap-to-Pay Tech on Way
QED Investors exec says smartphones that allow tap-to-pay transactions will become commonplace after Apple introduces the next iPhone, which will have near-field communication and a digital wallet. 
 
 
More on BAM, B&N Developments
Article contrasts the scenarios of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. Biggest difference: B&N has a robust digital business (that’s now attracted investment by Microsoft); BAM is “a pure play in the declining business of physical books.” But one BAM investor, ZPR Investment Management (owner of 300K BAM shares), says the Anderson family’s $49M offer to buy it out undervalues the company. Sees Borders’s closing as an opportunity for BAM, believes “there’s still a place for traditional bookstores.” 
 
WSJ  (comparison of the two chains)
WSJ  (more details on Microsoft B&N investment) 
Latest E-Book Pricing Fracas: Amazon Vs. Starbucks
After a new e-book, “After Friday Night Lights,” was chosen as a Starbucks “Pick of the Week” (meaning downloadable for free to Starbucks customers with a card bearing a redeemable iTunes code), Amazon.com promptly dropped the book’s price to zero. Whereupon book’s publisher, Byliner, pulled the book (normally priced at $2.99 on Amazon and in other channels) from Amazon until the week-long Starbucks promo ended yesterday. PaidContent suggests this forces authors to choose between the exposure opportunity (no royalties) through Starbucks and the sales potentially lost on Amazon.  
 
More Snacking Creates New Meal Occasion
Snacking is bigger than ever, accounting for nearly half (48%) of all eating occasions in the U.S., according to the Hartman Group. In many cases, snacks are now meals. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10094 0 May 1, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10049 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10049#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 11:10:01 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10049

Publishing News

Glamour’s Numbers Looking Up
Recently redesigned Glamour is seeing newsstand lifts, report “insiders.” March issue reportedly up 9% over same issue prior year and April up 10%. May issue also uptrending, in single digits. Editor-in-chief Cindy Leive promises continuing cover changes and format surprises in coming issues–including a September issue completely dedicated to fashion (a first for the magazine). Magazine will live-tweet on the making of this issue over the next two months. 
 
Personnel News: Conde, Meredith
Dawn Ostroff, president of Conde Nast’s new Entertainment Group, has tapped Sahar Elhabashi as EVP and COO. Here background includes executive posts at Discovery Networks International and MTV…At Meredith, Dana Bowen has been named executive editor of Every Day with Rachel Ray. Bowen was most recently executive editor of Savuer.  


Deadline (Conde Entertainment) 
MediaBistro  (Rachel Ray)

American Prospect Magazine May Be Forced to Close
The American Prospect, an influential liberal politics and policy magazine, could shut its doors at the end of May unless the nonprofit publication raises a half million dollars to fill a current funding gap. Management hopeful funds can be raised for short term, plus another $500K for longer term. Over the years, the magazine has served as a launching pad for the careers of some top politics and policy journalists, including Talking Points Memo founder and editor Josh Marshall, theWashington Post‘s Ezra Klein and Slate’s Matt Yglesias. 

Wired: Much to Celebrate on 20th Anniversary
The magazine, currently running its fourth annual Disruptive by Design confab of A-list digital speakers, attendees ($2,100 admission), is launching a year-long 20th celebration, starting with its May issue. Plans include profiles of 20 industry “icons,” retrospective e-books. VP/publisher Howard Mittman credits Conde Nast chairman S.I. Newhouse, Jr.’s decision to buy Wired in 1998 for enabling the title to survive the dot.com crash. Reports that it’s now Conde’s fifth most profitable magazine (afer Glamour, Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ), and that this May issue is its most profitable issue ever. 
 
Jack Griffin: Media Companies Have to Run Two Companies Simultaneously
Speaking to the annual American Business Media conference, the former CEO of Meredith and Time Inc. said that media companies have to adapt to the declining primacy of print advertising by running two companies simultaneously: “one for today and one for the future.” On the consumer side, he cited Meredith’s B-to-B/360-degree-inspired creation under his leadership of a $75 million custom publishing group and a $180 million integrated marketing group.
 
Fairchild Won’t Be Moving to Freedom Tower
Plans could change before Conde Nast moves to NYC’s Freedom Tower in 2014, but currently, it appears its Fairchild Fashion Media unit will not be joining its Conde sister publications there. Source tells MIN it’s a matter of independence (e.g., WWD reports on Conde Nast). Fairchild, purchased by Conde in 1999, also didn’t make the move to Conde’s current HQ at 4 Times Square. 
 
Tribune International Launches Sports Magazine Apps
Two new tablet magazine apps take sports coverage from Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel. One covers the Chicago Bulls; the other Orlando Magic.
 
HarperCollins Names Digital Chief
Chantal Restivo-Alessi named chief digital officer, responsible for leading overall digital strategy and managing commericial relationships with digital partners. She has 20 years of international media management experience. Most recently served as head of media corporate finance for ING Bank in London. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:

Retail News

Price Chopper Opens New ‘Limited’ Concept
Chain’s first small-format “Price Chopper Limited” store opend yesterday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Offers fresh produce and bakery, full-service, meat, deli and seafood departments, as well as the most popular products within most of the categories offered in the larger Price Chopper formats, in 19K sq. ft. (one-third smaller than regular format).
 
N.Y. Pension Funds to Challenge Wal-Mart
Concerned about bribery, cover-up allegations, leaders of New York City’s pension funds said Monday they would vote their 4.7 million company shares against five directors standing for re-election to the retailer’s board at what could well be a contentious W-M annual shareholder meeting next month. In related piece, W-M’s success at improving its corporate reputation through “good citizen” initiatives is now being put to the test; retailer likely to need its political allies as Walmex controvery heats up. Separately, China has released two W-M employees jailed over food mislabeling charges.
 
NY Times (pension funds challenge)
NY Times  (“good citizen” test)
WSJ (workers released in China)
Goldman Initiates Supervalu With ‘Sell’ Rating
Report initiating Goldman’s coverage of Supervalu cites excess financial leverage, and “headwinds” including a softening of inflation that will likely pressure profit growth, and continued market share losses. Projects that Supervalu’s net sales, comp sales and gross profits will decline in excess of consensus analyst figures for the fiscal year, and that operating income will be 3% below consensus. 
 
Supermarket News
Ingles Sees Flat Sales, Profit Dip in Q2
Net sales +1.3%, to $881.7M but flat excluding gas. Net income -15.2% to $6.5M due to lower fuel margins. Excluding fuel, profits as a percent of sales dropped from 26% to 25.9%.  
 
FMI Partners with TopSource
Food Marketing Institute announced the partnership will provide FMI members with savings on not-for-resale items. 
 
Catalina Marketing Acquires Modiv Media
Checkout coupon machines supplier completes buy of Modiv, which provides the Scan It! scan-and-bag handheld and mobile app system used by Ahold USA’s Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover division. 
 
Tap-to-Pay Tech on Way
QED Investors exec says smartphones that allow tap-to-pay transactions will become commonplace after Apple introduces the next iPhone, which will have near-field communication and a digital wallet. 
 
 
More on BAM, B&N Developments
Article contrasts the scenarios of Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million. Biggest difference: B&N has a robust digital business (that’s now attracted investment by Microsoft); BAM is “a pure play in the declining business of physical books.” But one BAM investor, ZPR Investment Management (owner of 300K BAM shares), says the Anderson family’s $49M offer to buy it out undervalues the company. Sees Borders’s closing as an opportunity for BAM, believes “there’s still a place for traditional bookstores.” 
 
WSJ  (comparison of the two chains)
WSJ  (more details on Microsoft B&N investment) 
Latest E-Book Pricing Fracas: Amazon Vs. Starbucks
After a new e-book, “After Friday Night Lights,” was chosen as a Starbucks “Pick of the Week” (meaning downloadable for free to Starbucks customers with a card bearing a redeemable iTunes code), Amazon.com promptly dropped the book’s price to zero. Whereupon book’s publisher, Byliner, pulled the book (normally priced at $2.99 on Amazon and in other channels) from Amazon until the week-long Starbucks promo ended yesterday. PaidContent suggests this forces authors to choose between the exposure opportunity (no royalties) through Starbucks and the sales potentially lost on Amazon.  
 
More Snacking Creates New Meal Occasion
Snacking is bigger than ever, accounting for nearly half (48%) of all eating occasions in the U.S., according to the Hartman Group. In many cases, snacks are now meals. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10049 0 April 30, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10013 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10013#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:09:04 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=10013

Publishing News

Cosmopolitan Reportedly Teaming Up with J.C. Penney
Though not confirmed by Hearst or Penney, sources say Cosmo’s staff is working with the retailer on a major Cosmo-branded product line launch (lingerie, jewelry, accessories). Developing TV content that features the new Cosmo-branded products for Hearst’s new YouTube channel “Hello Style” is also said to be part of the plans. 
 
Self Magazine Video Game Looks to Capture Ad Dollars
“Self Workout in the Park” game designed to be vehicle to sell advertising sponsorships/branding of items like virtual weights and treadmills. The number of people who play social games is now hundreds of millions globally. eMarketer expects social game ad revenue to soar 80%, to $672.2M, by 2014. Advertisers like the size of the audience, how they can target specific demographics and that many users spend uninterrupted time playing games on a daily basis.
 
Magazines ‘Get Serious’ About E-Commerce
The latest examples: Last week, Time Inc.’s Real Simple released a mobile gift guide that lets users shop directly from the app, and Hearst’s Elle launched a shoppable trend guide on Facebook encouraging users to make purchases on advertisers’ sites. 
 
The Economist: First Weekly to Release Consolidated ABC Report
The Economist is the first weekly, and third magazine overall to begin offering an ABC Consolidated Media Report. (Bonnier’s Popular Science and Taunton’s Fine Cooking were the first two.) Economist’s CMR will show 48K digital sales in March (within total print/digital circ of 893,208), total uniques for app devices, total site page views, total monthly unique browsers, e-newsletter net distributions, interactions for five leading social media sites and more. Digital subs priced at $105. Adweek notes Bonnier is also preparing to issue CMRs for Field & Stream, Outdoor Life and Popular Photography.  
 
Adweek  (Economist CMR)
Buzzfeed Founder: Publishers Should Focus on Social Media Ads, Not Display
Jonah Peretti, a founder of the Huffington Post and viral content site Buzzfeed, says the sun is setting on display ads, and publishers should focus instead on ads tailored for social media. 
 
 

Retail News

Microsoft Investing in B&N’s Nook
Microsoft is investing $300 million in Barnes & Noble’s Nook digital-book business and college-texts unit. Microsoft will have a 17.6% stake in a new subsidiary for the businesses in a transaction that values them at $1.7 billion. Last year, Microsoft sued B&N, charging that the Nook infringed its patents. That litigation has now been settled, and a Nook application will be incorporated in Windows 8, scheduled to have a preview release in June. B&N and the new subsidiary (still part of B&N, at least for the present) will have a royalty-bearing license under Microsoft’s patents for the Nook. Microsoft’s investment and the Windows 8 inclusion will give B&N access to more international markets (the Nook app is currently available on the Nook, the iPad and Android devices) and enable B&N to “significantly expand” its business, said B&N CEO William Lynch. B&N has seen growing losses in the digital business due to need to invest heavily to compete with Amazon, Apple. Microsoft, pushing to catch up with Apple and the iPad, is also developing a Windows 8 digital storefront for tablet and other mobile device apps. On the investment news, B&N’s share jumped to $26.35 in premarket trading, its highest level since August 2009. B&N says it’s still exploring possible spinoff of the Nook business as a separate company. The Microsoft development could fuel greater pressure from investors for such a spinoff, reports WSJ Deal Journal. 
 
WSJ   (Microsoft’s investment)
WSJ Deal Journal (investors push for Nook spinoff)
Anderson Taking Books-A-Million Private
On Saturday, the Anderson family made a nonbinding proposal to take Books-A-Million private. Family has 53% stake in the book chain; offering $3.05 per share in cash for a buyout (a premium of 20% over Friday’s closing price). Offer values BAM at $48.8M. BAM chairman Clyde Anderson (who was last month replaced as CEO by Terrance Finley) said he anticipates the acquisition would be in the form of a merger of Books-A-Million with a newly formed acquisition vehicle that the Anderson family would control. Transaction would be financed through borrowings available under BAM’s existing credit line, and is conditioned on availability of sufficient funds under the credit line. Anderson said he expects that the board will establish a special committee of independent directors to review the proposal and that the family will not move forward with the deal unless the committee makes a favorable recommendation.
 
Nash Finch’s Sales, Profits Dip in Q1
Sales -3.7%, to $1.06B; sales for the combined retail and distribution segment -6.2%, in part due to the sale or closure of six retail stores and a comparable-store sales decline of 4.4%. Adjusted net earnings -33.3%, to $6.2M. NF cited lower inflation and increased investment in marketing (“a lag between investments we are making and the the results we believe those investments will deliver,” said CEO Alex Covington).  
 
Supermarket News
Amazon, Texas Reach Sales Tax Agreement
Texas maintained that Amazon owed the state $269M in sales taxes that it failed to collect from state residents on purchases made thorugh the e-tailer. Under the agreement, Amazon has promised to create over 2,500 new jobs and make at least $200M in capital investments in the state over the next four years, and beginning July 1 2012, it will start collecting and remitting Texas sales tax. 
 
Walmex Scandal Complicating Wal-Mart’s U.S. Expansion Plans
NYT: U.S. developments in just the past week include: renewed scrutiny of a Wal-Mart Los Angeles building permit; NYC’s city council investigating a possible land deal with Wal-Mart’s developer in Brooklyn; a California state senator pushing for a formal audit of a proposed Wal-Mart in San Diego; and residents of Boston and its suburbs pressuring politicians to disclose whether they have received contributions from Wal-Mart. However, L.A. Times piece points out that in some areas hard-hit by the economy, where vacant store fronts have multiplied, some residents are enthusiastically welcoming new Walmarts.
 
NY Times (more scrutiny of W-M in U.S.)
LA Times  (welcoming Walmarts)
Supermarkets Expand Facebook Relationships
Facebook’s new “Timeline” layout and its associated functionalities are allowing supermarket retailers the opportunity to expand and deepen their virtual relationship with shoppers while challenging them to craft online personas with the same care they’d give to the best display of produce in their flagship store.

Supermarket News
Dollar General’s Food Push Illustrates Growing Mid-Size Store Competition
Dollar General Market stores aren’t yet nearly as profitable as its traditional dollar-store format, but the profit gap is narrowing. 
 
NRF: FTC Should Tread Carefully in Mobile Payments
NRF urged FTC to move cautiously in establishing regulations for mobile payments. Argued that any rules should parallel those for the underlying form of payment rather than be specific to the technology, to avoid risking forestalling “yet-to-be imagined advances and innovation in order to avoid potential ‘harm’ based largely on speculation.”  
 
Easter Boosts Total Store Sales
A RetailNext data analysis of shopping behavior across multiple food, mass and consumer goods chains shows stores saw overall, incremental gains as a result of the holiday. Excluding seasonal products, they saw a 15% increase in sales on a 16% increase in store traffic; including seasonal product, sales were up 20%. SN provides highlights plus download of full analysis.  
 
Fresh Industry Scores in ‘First Inning’ of Farm Bill Process
United Fresh praised the U.S. Senate Agricultural committee for passing the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 last week. The bill marks the start of efforts to reauthorize the 2012 Farm Bill, which is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2012. 
 
Marine Stewardship Council Discusses Partnerships with Retailers
MSC exec explains the many forms that retail/MSC partnerships in seafood sourcing are taking, and the benefits for retailers.
 
Spartan Expands Rewards Program
To build on the success of Yes Rewards program (which has so far awarded $8M-plus in free groceries, fuel and prescriptions in Spartan’s Michigan-based Family Fare, Glen’s Markets and VG’s Food Centers), Spartan is launching Yes is More campaign. Prices on more than 300 most-purchased items will be frozen for 90 days, and 50 points will be awarded for every $50 in groceries purchased. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=10013 0 April 30, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9992 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9992#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:24:02 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9992

Publishing News

Cosmopolitan Reportedly Teaming Up with J.C. Penney
Though not confirmed by Hearst or Penney, sources say Cosmo’s staff is working with the retailer on a major Cosmo-branded product line launch (lingerie, jewelry, accessories). Developing TV content that features the new Cosmo-branded products for Hearst’s new YouTube channel “Hello Style” is also said to be part of the plans. 
 
Self Magazine Video Game Looks to Capture Ad Dollars
“Self Workout in the Park” game designed to be vehicle to sell advertising sponsorships/branding of items like virtual weights and treadmills. The number of people who play social games is now hundreds of millions globally. eMarketer expects social game ad revenue to soar 80%, to $672.2M, by 2014. Advertisers like the size of the audience, how they can target specific demographics and that many users spend uninterrupted time playing games on a daily basis.
 
Magazines ‘Get Serious’ About E-Commerce
The latest examples: Last week, Time Inc.’s Real Simple released a mobile gift guide that lets users shop directly from the app, and Hearst’s Elle launched a shoppable trend guide on Facebook encouraging users to make purchases on advertisers’ sites. 
 
The Economist: First Weekly to Release Consolidated ABC Report
The Economist is the first weekly, and third magazine overall to begin offering an ABC Consolidated Media Report. (Bonnier’s Popular Science and Taunton’s Fine Cooking were the first two.) Economist’s CMR will show 48K digital sales in March (within total print/digital circ of 893,208), total uniques for app devices, total site page views, total monthly unique browsers, e-newsletter net distributions, interactions for five leading social media sites and more. Digital subs priced at $105. Adweek notes Bonnier is also preparing to issue CMRs for Field & Stream, Outdoor Life and Popular Photography.  
 
Adweek  (Economist CMR)
Buzzfeed Founder: Publishers Should Focus on Social Media Ads, Not Display
Jonah Peretti, a founder of the Huffington Post and viral content site Buzzfeed, says the sun is setting on display ads, and publishers should focus instead on ads tailored for social media. 
 
 

Retail News

Microsoft Investing in B&N’s Nook
Microsoft is investing $300 million in Barnes & Noble’s Nook digital-book business and college-texts unit. Microsoft will have a 17.6% stake in a new subsidiary for the businesses in a transaction that values them at $1.7 billion. Last year, Microsoft sued B&N, charging that the Nook infringed its patents. That litigation has now been settled, and a Nook application will be incorporated in Windows 8, scheduled to have a preview release in June. B&N and the new subsidiary (still part of B&N, at least for the present) will have a royalty-bearing license under Microsoft’s patents for the Nook. Microsoft’s investment and the Windows 8 inclusion will give B&N access to more international markets (the Nook app is currently available on the Nook, the iPad and Android devices) and enable B&N to “significantly expand” its business, said B&N CEO William Lynch. B&N has seen growing losses in the digital business due to need to invest heavily to compete with Amazon, Apple. Microsoft, pushing to catch up with Apple and the iPad, is also developing a Windows 8 digital storefront for tablet and other mobile device apps. On the investment news, B&N’s share jumped to $26.35 in premarket trading, its highest level since August 2009. B&N says it’s still exploring possible spinoff of the Nook business as a separate company. The Microsoft development could fuel greater pressure from investors for such a spinoff, reports WSJ Deal Journal. 
 
WSJ   (Microsoft’s investment)
WSJ Deal Journal (investors push for Nook spinoff)
Anderson Taking Books-A-Million Private
On Saturday, the Anderson family made a nonbinding proposal to take Books-A-Million private. Family has 53% stake in the book chain; offering $3.05 per share in cash for a buyout (a premium of 20% over Friday’s closing price). Offer values BAM at $48.8M. BAM chairman Clyde Anderson (who was last month replaced as CEO by Terrance Finley) said he anticipates the acquisition would be in the form of a merger of Books-A-Million with a newly formed acquisition vehicle that the Anderson family would control. Transaction would be financed through borrowings available under BAM’s existing credit line, and is conditioned on availability of sufficient funds under the credit line. Anderson said he expects that the board will establish a special committee of independent directors to review the proposal and that the family will not move forward with the deal unless the committee makes a favorable recommendation.
 
Nash Finch’s Sales, Profits Dip in Q1
Sales -3.7%, to $1.06B; sales for the combined retail and distribution segment -6.2%, in part due to the sale or closure of six retail stores and a comparable-store sales decline of 4.4%. Adjusted net earnings -33.3%, to $6.2M. NF cited lower inflation and increased investment in marketing (“a lag between investments we are making and the the results we believe those investments will deliver,” said CEO Alex Covington).  
 
Supermarket News
Amazon, Texas Reach Sales Tax Agreement
Texas maintained that Amazon owed the state $269M in sales taxes that it failed to collect from state residents on purchases made thorugh the e-tailer. Under the agreement, Amazon has promised to create over 2,500 new jobs and make at least $200M in capital investments in the state over the next four years, and beginning July 1 2012, it will start collecting and remitting Texas sales tax. 
 
Walmex Scandal Complicating Wal-Mart’s U.S. Expansion Plans
NYT: U.S. developments in just the past week include: renewed scrutiny of a Wal-Mart Los Angeles building permit; NYC’s city council investigating a possible land deal with Wal-Mart’s developer in Brooklyn; a California state senator pushing for a formal audit of a proposed Wal-Mart in San Diego; and residents of Boston and its suburbs pressuring politicians to disclose whether they have received contributions from Wal-Mart. However, L.A. Times piece points out that in some areas hard-hit by the economy, where vacant store fronts have multiplied, some residents are enthusiastically welcoming new Walmarts.
 
NY Times (more scrutiny of W-M in U.S.)
LA Times  (welcoming Walmarts)
Supermarkets Expand Facebook Relationships
Facebook’s new “Timeline” layout and its associated functionalities are allowing supermarket retailers the opportunity to expand and deepen their virtual relationship with shoppers while challenging them to craft online personas with the same care they’d give to the best display of produce in their flagship store.

Supermarket News
Dollar General’s Food Push Illustrates Growing Mid-Size Store Competition
Dollar General Market stores aren’t yet nearly as profitable as its traditional dollar-store format, but the profit gap is narrowing. 
 
NRF: FTC Should Tread Carefully in Mobile Payments
NRF urged FTC to move cautiously in establishing regulations for mobile payments. Argued that any rules should parallel those for the underlying form of payment rather than be specific to the technology, to avoid risking forestalling “yet-to-be imagined advances and innovation in order to avoid potential ‘harm’ based largely on speculation.”  
 
Easter Boosts Total Store Sales
A RetailNext data analysis of shopping behavior across multiple food, mass and consumer goods chains shows stores saw overall, incremental gains as a result of the holiday. Excluding seasonal products, they saw a 15% increase in sales on a 16% increase in store traffic; including seasonal product, sales were up 20%. SN provides highlights plus download of full analysis.  
 
Fresh Industry Scores in ‘First Inning’ of Farm Bill Process
United Fresh praised the U.S. Senate Agricultural committee for passing the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 last week. The bill marks the start of efforts to reauthorize the 2012 Farm Bill, which is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2012. 
 
Marine Stewardship Council Discusses Partnerships with Retailers
MSC exec explains the many forms that retail/MSC partnerships in seafood sourcing are taking, and the benefits for retailers.
 
Spartan Expands Rewards Program
To build on the success of Yes Rewards program (which has so far awarded $8M-plus in free groceries, fuel and prescriptions in Spartan’s Michigan-based Family Fare, Glen’s Markets and VG’s Food Centers), Spartan is launching Yes is More campaign. Prices on more than 300 most-purchased items will be frozen for 90 days, and 50 points will be awarded for every $50 in groceries purchased. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9992 0 April 27, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9990 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9990#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:08:42 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9990

Publishing News

American Media Inc. Announces Editorial Changes
James Heidenry, most recently editor of Modern Luxury’s Manhattan magazine and a former editor of Maxim, joining AMI as new editor-in-chief of Star. In that role, Heidenry replaces David Perel, who was promoted to EVP, digital, and will also continue as managing editor of RadarOnline.com. In addition, OK! EIC Richard Spencer has been promoted to editorial director of the Celebrity Magazine Group, including Star, OK!, Reality Weekly and Soap Opera Digest. Ryan Pienciak, executive editor at OK!, now to be its EIC. Leah Ginsberg named as OK! executive editor, and Tim Plant promoted to executive editor of Star. 
 
Open Gate Drops Out of TVGuide.com Auction
Open Gate Capital, which acquired TV Guide magazine four years ago for $1, is pulling out of the auction for TV Guide’s digital assets, reports NY Post. Sources say it’s instead making a play for Reed Elsevier’s Variety, which went on the block in March. 
 
Print-On-Demand May Be Next Battlefront for Amazon, Publishers
Unidentified executives at major book publishers report that Amazon regularly asks them to allow print-on-demand for their slower-selling backlist titles, but they have so far declined. Asking publishers to move to print on demand “is largely about taking control of the business,” says Mike Shatzkin, founder of Idea Logical, a consultant to book publishers on digital issues. “It adds some profit margin, but it also weakens the rest of the publishing universe.” 
 
Broken Sculpture Triggers Suit Against Art + Auction Magazine
Louise Bloudin Media, owner of Art + Auction, being sued for $300,000 by art collector Corice Arman, who charges that photographers for the magazine broke a 2,630-year-old sculpture during a shoot in her home.
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
 

Retail News

Weis Allocates $125M for Cap-Ex
Weis Markets will invest $125 million in its 2012 growth program to fund two new stores and 18 major remodels, in addition to completing the purchase of three Philadelphia-area Genuardi’s stores from Safeway (expected to reopen in the coming months). 
 
Wal-Mart Adds Option of Ordering Online, Paying Cash at Store Pickup
Starting next month, Wal-Mart will reportedly start letting consumers order products on Walmart.com, and pay for them with cash at Walmart stores. Separately, in another development in the Walmex scenario, the law firm of Howard G. Smith (Bensalem, Pa.) is reportedly investigating potential claims on behalf of shareholders of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duties. 
 
Supermarket News  (cash payment)
SmartMoney (cash payment)
Progressive Grocer (law firm probe) 
Meijer Said to Plan First Detroit Store; Launches Seafood Initiative
Construction is reportedly set to begin next month on the first Meijer supercenter in Detroit. Separately, Meijer is launching a comprehensive seafood sustainability initiative expected to ensure that all of its seafood suppliers follow specific guidelines for farmed and wild-caught seafood.
 
Safeway CEO Sees Gains by Year-End
Chairman/CEO Steve Burd told investors that although ID sales, excluding fuel, were flat in the first quarter, they are up 1% over the last eight weeks, and he contemplates an increase to about 3% by year-end as a result of the chain’s marketing initiatives. Q1 sales rose 2.4% to $10B, which the company attributed to higher fuel sales, higher revenue from Blackhawk and additional sales from new stores. Net income rose 190% to $72.9M, due to the impact a year ago of the decision to repatriate $1.1B from the company’s Canadian subsidiary. Excluding that impact, net income would have been down 30.8% from $105.3 million a year ago. Earnings were negatively impacted by the inclusion of New Year’s Day, which fell on a Sunday this year, plus unusual weather patterns and high gasoline prices. Burd said that without the holiday shift, Q1 operating profit would have been essentially the same as last year.
Wegmans Intros Summer Price Freeze
Price freeze spans 60+ of its most popular products (254 SKUs, counting flavors and varieties); covers products purchased between April 29 and Aug. 25. 
 
Digital Drives Amazon in Q1
Total revenue rose 34%, to $13.18B. While net income fell 35%, to $130M, earnings easily beat Wall Street expectations. Nine out of 10 best-selling products were digital, led by Kindle Fire. In North America, electronics and other general merchandise (including Kindle) segment sales jumped 44%, to $4.78 billion, while media (including books and e-books) sales rose 16%, to $2.2 billion.
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9990 0 April 27, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9962 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9962#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:51:10 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9962

Publishing News

American Media Inc. Announces Editorial Changes
James Heidenry, most recently editor of Modern Luxury’s Manhattan magazine and a former editor of Maxim, joining AMI as new editor-in-chief of Star. In that role, Heidenry replaces David Perel, who was promoted to EVP, digital, and will also continue as managing editor of RadarOnline.com. In addition, OK! EIC Richard Spencer has been promoted to editorial director of the Celebrity Magazine Group, including Star, OK!, Reality Weekly and Soap Opera Digest. Ryan Pienciak, executive editor at OK!, now to be its EIC. Leah Ginsberg named as OK! executive editor, and Tim Plant promoted to executive editor of Star. 
 
Open Gate Drops Out of TVGuide.com Auction
Open Gate Capital, which acquired TV Guide magazine four years ago for $1, is pulling out of the auction for TV Guide’s digital assets, reports NY Post. Sources say it’s instead making a play for Reed Elsevier’s Variety, which went on the block in March. 
 
Print-On-Demand May Be Next Battlefront for Amazon, Publishers
Unidentified executives at major book publishers report that Amazon regularly asks them to allow print-on-demand for their slower-selling backlist titles, but they have so far declined. Asking publishers to move to print on demand “is largely about taking control of the business,” says Mike Shatzkin, founder of Idea Logical, a consultant to book publishers on digital issues. “It adds some profit margin, but it also weakens the rest of the publishing universe.” 
 
Broken Sculpture Triggers Suit Against Art + Auction Magazine
Louise Bloudin Media, owner of Art + Auction, being sued for $300,000 by art collector Corice Arman, who charges that photographers for the magazine broke a 2,630-year-old sculpture during a shoot in her home.
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
 

Retail News

Weis Allocates $125M for Cap-Ex
Weis Markets will invest $125 million in its 2012 growth program to fund two new stores and 18 major remodels, in addition to completing the purchase of three Philadelphia-area Genuardi’s stores from Safeway (expected to reopen in the coming months). 
 
Wal-Mart Adds Option of Ordering Online, Paying Cash at Store Pickup
Starting next month, Wal-Mart will reportedly start letting consumers order products on Walmart.com, and pay for them with cash at Walmart stores. Separately, in another development in the Walmex scenario, the law firm of Howard G. Smith (Bensalem, Pa.) is reportedly investigating potential claims on behalf of shareholders of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duties. 
 
Supermarket News  (cash payment)
SmartMoney (cash payment)
Progressive Grocer (law firm probe) 
Meijer Said to Plan First Detroit Store; Launches Seafood Initiative
Construction is reportedly set to begin next month on the first Meijer supercenter in Detroit. Separately, Meijer is launching a comprehensive seafood sustainability initiative expected to ensure that all of its seafood suppliers follow specific guidelines for farmed and wild-caught seafood.
 
Safeway CEO Sees Gains by Year-End
Chairman/CEO Steve Burd told investors that although ID sales, excluding fuel, were flat in the first quarter, they are up 1% over the last eight weeks, and he contemplates an increase to about 3% by year-end as a result of the chain’s marketing initiatives. Q1 sales rose 2.4% to $10B, which the company attributed to higher fuel sales, higher revenue from Blackhawk and additional sales from new stores. Net income rose 190% to $72.9M, due to the impact a year ago of the decision to repatriate $1.1B from the company’s Canadian subsidiary. Excluding that impact, net income would have been down 30.8% from $105.3 million a year ago. Earnings were negatively impacted by the inclusion of New Year’s Day, which fell on a Sunday this year, plus unusual weather patterns and high gasoline prices. Burd said that without the holiday shift, Q1 operating profit would have been essentially the same as last year.
Wegmans Intros Summer Price Freeze
Price freeze spans 60+ of its most popular products (254 SKUs, counting flavors and varieties); covers products purchased between April 29 and Aug. 25. 
 
Digital Drives Amazon in Q1
Total revenue rose 34%, to $13.18B. While net income fell 35%, to $130M, earnings easily beat Wall Street expectations. Nine out of 10 best-selling products were digital, led by Kindle Fire. In North America, electronics and other general merchandise (including Kindle) segment sales jumped 44%, to $4.78 billion, while media (including books and e-books) sales rose 16%, to $2.2 billion.
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9962 0 April 26, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9940 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9940#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:45:49 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9940

Publishing News

Cosmopolitan for Latinas to Hit Newsstands May 1
The cover of the first issue of the twice-yearly Cosmo spin-off features actress Zoe Saldana. The title, for English-speaking Latinas, has a cover price of $3.99 and initial nationwide distribution of 545,000 copies, with a strong presence in top U.S. Hispanic markets. Issue has 52 ad pages and 101 editorial pages. Advertisers include Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan. Also, starting in July, targeted copies of flagship Cosmopolitan will include bonus content targeted to Hispanic females. Hispanic population growth supporting advertising growth. Ad revenue for Hispanic magazines totaled $216 million in 2011, 18% gain over the prior year, according to Media Economics Group’s Hispanic Magazine Monitor.

Crain’s NY
Release

Four Magazines Earn “Brands of the Year” in Harris Poll Rankings
Harris Poll’s 2012 EquiTrend top brands study results are out. This year, the brands picked by consumers as leading their respective magazine categories are Money (business); National Geographic (general interest); The Economist (weekly news magazine); and Real Simple (women’s). National Geographic is also one of only 15 brands (among 1,500 brands in 127 product categories studied) to earn “mega-brand” status, reserved for brands that have led their categories every year since 2005. 

Source Interlink Media Acquires Majority Stake in India-Based Automotive Biz
SIM’s buy of Carazoo, a subsidiary of Logix Americas, Inc. (itself a subsidiary of India’s Logix Microsystems Ltd.), is aimed at creating a platform for international expansion in automotive media and dealer marketing services. Carazoo sells dealer management software, site development and marketing services to auto and motorcycle dealerships in India, and also operates Carzoo.com, an online automotive portal reaching 500K+ uniques per month, according to SIM.  
 
Black Enterprise Ramps Up E-Learning
BE’s Small Business University (powered by Dell) is an eight-week online video course offering expert advice to entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow profitable businesses. Program includes customized ‘gamification’ features that allow registrants to earn points for taking courses. Registrants are eligible to win a grand prize package that includes $5K in cash, a $10K Dell office setup, a one-on-one consultation with a small business development expert, and a profile in the print magazine, in addition to a one-year subscription. 
 
Postal Rescue Bill Passes Senate
Senate bill would avert post office and DC closings for two years and continue Saturday delivery; trigger early retirement for up to 100K workers as part of a plan to save $20B per year. But no resolution in sight, since a different bill is languishing in the House. USPS officials criticized the Senate version as falling far short of the spending cuts needed. 
 
More On Brides’ Mobile Campaign Promoting Relaunch
Mobile-activated print campaign for May, the first issue featuring its new design and logo, uses Digimarc digital watermarks throughout the issue (the most watermarks in a single U.S. magazine issue so far). Readers who download free Brides “We Love It” mobile companion app for iPhone, Android can scan pages; each watermark links them to a sponsor’s mobile content, where they can register to win prizes, get coupons or purchase products. Sponsors include DeBeers, Cuisinart, OPI, Clarisonic, Waterford, Container Store. Brides will also award prizes (to the readers who generate the 10,000th, 20,000th and 50,000th scans).
 
Vogue Pulls Article from Site
A flattering profile of Syria’s first lady, Asma al-Assad, published in March 2011 issue, drew widespread criticism from Washington’s foreign-policy community. At some point, it was taken off Vogue’s site–”an almost-unheard-of step for a mainstream media organization and a generally acknowledged violation of digital etiquette,” writes Washington Post. Article, “A Rose in the Desert,” still available via subscribers-only Nexis database that archives articles. 
 
Time Inc. Internet Week Event to Recognize Startups
Time Inc. has released its second annual list of “10 New York City Startups to Watch.” The ventures, judged by editors of Time, Fortune and other Time Inc. titles, will be recognized at an event on May 16, as part of NY’s Internet Week. 
 
NYConvergence
GoSPORTn’s Desmond Named COO of AOL’s Tech Media Brands
Ned Desmond, the former Time Inc. Interactive exec turned vertical fishing/hunting digital media entrepreneur (cited in yesterday here re a Q&A in which he discussed the challenges of competing for Web advertising), has now been hired as COO of AOL’s Tech Media brands. Those include Engadget, Joystiq, TechCrunch and The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), effective May 7. 
 
Personnel News: Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Chief Exits 
Martin Reidy, head of the Meredith marketing services provider unit, has elected to move on (not part of 80 job cuts just announced); not known whether he is going to another company. MXM’s revenue (which at one point accounted for 20% of National Media Group revenue) declined to $68M in Q1 vs. $80M year-ago, as a result of marketers’ reduced spending. 
 
Personnel News: Marie Claire
Hearst’s Marie Claire has made three hires. Carol (Coco) Atalla has been named international fashion and luxury director; she was previously at Lucky. Brian Roy has been named lifestyle accounts director; he was previously at Glamour. Stephanie Clement has been named Detroit director; she was previously at The Atlantic. 
 
(Email release, not posted yet)
Good News/Bad News Re Paywalls
Texas U study shows that young men interested in news are the most likely consumer segment to be willing to pay for it online. Problem: Fewer young people are interested in news. Another paradox: People say they prefer reading print products, yet online use is growing. Conclusion: Consumers don’t always use what they prefer, and they’re not always willing to spend money on what they use.
 
2012 State of the Media Report Analyses Current ‘Near-’Chaos’
Report, from media agency Kelly Scott Madison, argues that media is undergoing such a rapid transformation that it borders on “chaos.” Also notes growing amount of “market clutter.” However, also stresses that tech advancements, data are allowing agencies to do more for clients than ever before, which is “the sort of chaos we should embrace.” 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Economy: Fed Slightly Adjusts Outlook; Jobs Progress Slows
Federal Reserve raised its forecast for economic growth in 2012, but slightly lowered its growth outlook for 2013 and 2014. Also nudged down its unemployment projections and moved up inflation projections. Now sees the jobless rate falling to 8% or a bit lower by year-end, and inflation sticking close to its 2% goal but not falling below that rate as much as officials previously projected. Fed chairman warned that Fed won’t be able to offset the economic blow if Congress allows scheduled tax increases and spending cuts to take effect next year. Fed still plans to keep short-term interest rates near zero until late 2014 to support economic growth. Separately, Labor Dept. reported initial jobless claims down by 1K, to 388K, last week; revised previous week up to 389K from 386K. Four-week moving average for new claims rose by 6,250 last week (to 381,750), highest since week ending Jan. 7. 
 
WSJ (overview of Fed forecast)
WSJ (Bernanke warns Congress)
Reuters/NY Times (jobless claims)
Hy-Vee Intros Sustainability Site, Seafood Partnership
Site will highlight Hy-Vee’s environmental initiatives. In partnership with FishWise, Hy-Vee will develop a comprehensive policy to further expand its sustainable seafood sourcing goals. 
 
Target Expanding Fresh Foods in 90 More Stores by Late June
Stores scheduled for the June remodel cycle span markets across the country, from Des Moines, Iowa, to El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. This is the second of three remodels that include more fresh foods. Nearly 1,000 Targets already have an expanded-food layout. 
 
NPD: Price Remains Biggest Factor in Choosing Where to Shop
Mid-March Economy Tracker survey finds 85% of U.S. consumers saying price will be an “extremely important/important” factor in deciding where to shop in the near future, 10% more than those citing sales, special deals as important. 
 
Stop & Shop Launches Healthy Eating Magazine
Kid Healthy Ideas quarterly, distributed in stores, targets kids eight to 12, offering health-related educational articles, games and recipes. Stop & Shop, along with sister Royal Ahold U.S. banner Giant-Landover, has also implemented gluten-free shelf labeling.
 
Hannaford Launches Mobile Site
Said to be one of most comprehensive offered by a major supermarket chain (179 Northeast stores). Auto-loads on smartphones when a user goes to Hannaford.com (no app download needed). Users can view all products available at their local Hannaford stores, sort items by price, make grocery lists, access nutritional information, browse coupons or recipes, buy gift cards. As they shop, they can check off items from their on-screen list, which is organized by department. 
 
Wal-Mart Bribery Scandal Updates
Among other developments summarized in MNB, Washington Post reports that the two Congressmen conducting an inquiry into the bribery scandal have written letters to the US Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Industry Leaders Association requesting information about their ongoing lobbying efforts aimed at watering down the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Wal-Mart denies ever having lobbied on FCPA. Chicago Tribune reports that a shareholder is suing W-M board and several executives, charging that “illegal payments have and will continue to irreparably damage Wal-Mart’s corporate image and goodwill and jeopardize its ability to do business in foreign countries.” Complaint was filed as a derivative lawsuit seeking to recover money on behalf of the company rather than shareholders.  
 
NRF Asks Congress to Act on Tax Fairness
Yesterday, the National Retail Federation urged a Senate committee examining federal tax reform to support legislation that would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax the same as local merchants.
 
Harris Breaks Out Beverage Brands Ranked Highest by Consumers
Among the results: Green Mountain is #1 ground coffee among 13 brands (Starbucks did not score above the category average); growing regional Yuengling Traditional Lager ranked #1 among full-calorie beers.
 
MediaPost Marketing Daily
PepsiCo’s Net Income Flat
Earned $1.13B, or $0.71 per share in Q1, vs. $1.14B or $0.71 cents per share last Q1. Revenue rose to $12.43B from $11.94B, driven primarily by emerging markets. N.A. beverage unit’s revenue down 2%. 
 
More Opinions On Amazon
Guardian’s Barry Eisler argues that it’s “legacy publishers” who have a monopoly, not Amazon; that Amazon is unlikely to become a monopoly; and that publishers need to change their models to position themselves to compete successfully going forward. Separately, WSJ’s Spencer Jakab argues that Amazon’s valuation is hard to justify.

Guardian (Amazon should take on publishing establishment)
WSJ  (Amazon’s valuation questionable) 

]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9940 0 April 26, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9865 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9865#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:48:40 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9865

Publishing News

Cosmopolitan for Latinas to Hit Newsstands May 1
The cover of the first issue of the twice-yearly Cosmo spin-off features actress Zoe Saldana. The title, for English-speaking Latinas, has a cover price of $3.99 and initial nationwide distribution of 545,000 copies, with a strong presence in top U.S. Hispanic markets. Issue has 52 ad pages and 101 editorial pages. Advertisers include Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan. Also, starting in July, targeted copies of flagship Cosmopolitan will include bonus content targeted to Hispanic females. Hispanic population growth supporting advertising growth. Ad revenue for Hispanic magazines totaled $216 million in 2011, 18% gain over the prior year, according to Media Economics Group’s Hispanic Magazine Monitor.

Crain’s NY
Release

Four Magazines Earn “Brands of the Year” in Harris Poll Rankings
Harris Poll’s 2012 EquiTrend top brands study results are out. This year, the brands picked by consumers as leading their respective magazine categories are Money (business); National Geographic (general interest); The Economist (weekly news magazine); and Real Simple (women’s). National Geographic is also one of only 15 brands (among 1,500 brands in 127 product categories studied) to earn “mega-brand” status, reserved for brands that have led their categories every year since 2005. 

Source Interlink Media Acquires Majority Stake in India-Based Automotive Biz
SIM’s buy of Carazoo, a subsidiary of Logix Americas, Inc. (itself a subsidiary of India’s Logix Microsystems Ltd.), is aimed at creating a platform for international expansion in automotive media and dealer marketing services. Carazoo sells dealer management software, site development and marketing services to auto and motorcycle dealerships in India, and also operates Carzoo.com, an online automotive portal reaching 500K+ uniques per month, according to SIM.  
 
Black Enterprise Ramps Up E-Learning
BE’s Small Business University (powered by Dell) is an eight-week online video course offering expert advice to entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow profitable businesses. Program includes customized ‘gamification’ features that allow registrants to earn points for taking courses. Registrants are eligible to win a grand prize package that includes $5K in cash, a $10K Dell office setup, a one-on-one consultation with a small business development expert, and a profile in the print magazine, in addition to a one-year subscription. 
 
Postal Rescue Bill Passes Senate
Senate bill would avert post office and DC closings for two years and continue Saturday delivery; trigger early retirement for up to 100K workers as part of a plan to save $20B per year. But no resolution in sight, since a different bill is languishing in the House. USPS officials criticized the Senate version as falling far short of the spending cuts needed. 
 
More On Brides’ Mobile Campaign Promoting Relaunch
Mobile-activated print campaign for May, the first issue featuring its new design and logo, uses Digimarc digital watermarks throughout the issue (the most watermarks in a single U.S. magazine issue so far). Readers who download free Brides “We Love It” mobile companion app for iPhone, Android can scan pages; each watermark links them to a sponsor’s mobile content, where they can register to win prizes, get coupons or purchase products. Sponsors include DeBeers, Cuisinart, OPI, Clarisonic, Waterford, Container Store. Brides will also award prizes (to the readers who generate the 10,000th, 20,000th and 50,000th scans).
 
Vogue Pulls Article from Site
A flattering profile of Syria’s first lady, Asma al-Assad, published in March 2011 issue, drew widespread criticism from Washington’s foreign-policy community. At some point, it was taken off Vogue’s site–”an almost-unheard-of step for a mainstream media organization and a generally acknowledged violation of digital etiquette,” writes Washington Post. Article, “A Rose in the Desert,” still available via subscribers-only Nexis database that archives articles. 
 
Time Inc. Internet Week Event to Recognize Startups
Time Inc. has released its second annual list of “10 New York City Startups to Watch.” The ventures, judged by editors of Time, Fortune and other Time Inc. titles, will be recognized at an event on May 16, as part of NY’s Internet Week. 
 
NYConvergence
GoSPORTn’s Desmond Named COO of AOL’s Tech Media Brands
Ned Desmond, the former Time Inc. Interactive exec turned vertical fishing/hunting digital media entrepreneur (cited in yesterday here re a Q&A in which he discussed the challenges of competing for Web advertising), has now been hired as COO of AOL’s Tech Media brands. Those include Engadget, Joystiq, TechCrunch and The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), effective May 7. 
 
Personnel News: Meredith Xcelerated Marketing Chief Exits 
Martin Reidy, head of the Meredith marketing services provider unit, has elected to move on (not part of 80 job cuts just announced); not known whether he is going to another company. MXM’s revenue (which at one point accounted for 20% of National Media Group revenue) declined to $68M in Q1 vs. $80M year-ago, as a result of marketers’ reduced spending. 
 
Personnel News: Marie Claire
Hearst’s Marie Claire has made three hires. Carol (Coco) Atalla has been named international fashion and luxury director; she was previously at Lucky. Brian Roy has been named lifestyle accounts director; he was previously at Glamour. Stephanie Clement has been named Detroit director; she was previously at The Atlantic. 
 
(Email release, not posted yet)
Good News/Bad News Re Paywalls
Texas U study shows that young men interested in news are the most likely consumer segment to be willing to pay for it online. Problem: Fewer young people are interested in news. Another paradox: People say they prefer reading print products, yet online use is growing. Conclusion: Consumers don’t always use what they prefer, and they’re not always willing to spend money on what they use.
 
2012 State of the Media Report Analyses Current ‘Near-’Chaos’
Report, from media agency Kelly Scott Madison, argues that media is undergoing such a rapid transformation that it borders on “chaos.” Also notes growing amount of “market clutter.” However, also stresses that tech advancements, data are allowing agencies to do more for clients than ever before, which is “the sort of chaos we should embrace.” 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Economy: Fed Slightly Adjusts Outlook; Jobs Progress Slows
Federal Reserve raised its forecast for economic growth in 2012, but slightly lowered its growth outlook for 2013 and 2014. Also nudged down its unemployment projections and moved up inflation projections. Now sees the jobless rate falling to 8% or a bit lower by year-end, and inflation sticking close to its 2% goal but not falling below that rate as much as officials previously projected. Fed chairman warned that Fed won’t be able to offset the economic blow if Congress allows scheduled tax increases and spending cuts to take effect next year. Fed still plans to keep short-term interest rates near zero until late 2014 to support economic growth. Separately, Labor Dept. reported initial jobless claims down by 1K, to 388K, last week; revised previous week up to 389K from 386K. Four-week moving average for new claims rose by 6,250 last week (to 381,750), highest since week ending Jan. 7. 
 
WSJ (overview of Fed forecast)
WSJ (Bernanke warns Congress)
Reuters/NY Times (jobless claims)
Hy-Vee Intros Sustainability Site, Seafood Partnership
Site will highlight Hy-Vee’s environmental initiatives. In partnership with FishWise, Hy-Vee will develop a comprehensive policy to further expand its sustainable seafood sourcing goals. 
 
Target Expanding Fresh Foods in 90 More Stores by Late June
Stores scheduled for the June remodel cycle span markets across the country, from Des Moines, Iowa, to El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. This is the second of three remodels that include more fresh foods. Nearly 1,000 Targets already have an expanded-food layout. 
 
NPD: Price Remains Biggest Factor in Choosing Where to Shop
Mid-March Economy Tracker survey finds 85% of U.S. consumers saying price will be an “extremely important/important” factor in deciding where to shop in the near future, 10% more than those citing sales, special deals as important. 
 
Stop & Shop Launches Healthy Eating Magazine
Kid Healthy Ideas quarterly, distributed in stores, targets kids eight to 12, offering health-related educational articles, games and recipes. Stop & Shop, along with sister Royal Ahold U.S. banner Giant-Landover, has also implemented gluten-free shelf labeling.
 
Hannaford Launches Mobile Site
Said to be one of most comprehensive offered by a major supermarket chain (179 Northeast stores). Auto-loads on smartphones when a user goes to Hannaford.com (no app download needed). Users can view all products available at their local Hannaford stores, sort items by price, make grocery lists, access nutritional information, browse coupons or recipes, buy gift cards. As they shop, they can check off items from their on-screen list, which is organized by department. 
 
Wal-Mart Bribery Scandal Updates
Among other developments summarized in MNB, Washington Post reports that the two Congressmen conducting an inquiry into the bribery scandal have written letters to the US Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Industry Leaders Association requesting information about their ongoing lobbying efforts aimed at watering down the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Wal-Mart denies ever having lobbied on FCPA. Chicago Tribune reports that a shareholder is suing W-M board and several executives, charging that “illegal payments have and will continue to irreparably damage Wal-Mart’s corporate image and goodwill and jeopardize its ability to do business in foreign countries.” Complaint was filed as a derivative lawsuit seeking to recover money on behalf of the company rather than shareholders.  
 
NRF Asks Congress to Act on Tax Fairness
Yesterday, the National Retail Federation urged a Senate committee examining federal tax reform to support legislation that would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax the same as local merchants.
 
Harris Breaks Out Beverage Brands Ranked Highest by Consumers
Among the results: Green Mountain is #1 ground coffee among 13 brands (Starbucks did not score above the category average); growing regional Yuengling Traditional Lager ranked #1 among full-calorie beers.
 
MediaPost Marketing Daily
PepsiCo’s Net Income Flat
Earned $1.13B, or $0.71 per share in Q1, vs. $1.14B or $0.71 cents per share last Q1. Revenue rose to $12.43B from $11.94B, driven primarily by emerging markets. N.A. beverage unit’s revenue down 2%. 
 
More Opinions On Amazon
Guardian’s Barry Eisler argues that it’s “legacy publishers” who have a monopoly, not Amazon; that Amazon is unlikely to become a monopoly; and that publishers need to change their models to position themselves to compete successfully going forward. Separately, WSJ’s Spencer Jakab argues that Amazon’s valuation is hard to justify.

Guardian (Amazon should take on publishing establishment)
WSJ  (Amazon’s valuation questionable) 

]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9865 0 April 25, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9863 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9863#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:48:08 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9863

Publishing News

Meredith Corp. Eliminates 80 Positions; Reports FY Q3 Results
The full-time positions cut are companywide. CEO Stephen Lacy said cuts reflect need to allocate resources efficiently, focusing on strategic-growth initiatives. Meredith also eliminated about 80 jobs during Q2 2011, bringing full-time headcount to 3,150 at the end of June. Meredith, along with other publishers, has been affected by ad declines in key magazine categories. In Q3 2012, its National Media Group’s ad revenue grew 2% (to $123M) and circ revenue grew 15%, reflecting recent acquisitions of Allrecipes.com, EveryDay with Rachel Ray and Family Fun. (Excluding acquisitions, circ revenue +3%, ad revenue -7%.) The group’s digital ad revenue jumped 70%. Magazine readership grew to a record 115M, and unique site visitors hit a record 40M in March (reflecting the addition of Allrecipes). Total company Q3 revenue grew to $346M (vs. $339M in last Q3). EPS was $0.47 (vs. $0.67 year-ago); but when a special charge including the Allrecipes acquisition and realignment costs in the National Media Group is excluded, EPS was $0.66, in line with Meredith’s previous guidance. For the fiscal’s first nine months, total revenue was flat with same period last year ($1B). EPS was $1.65 ($1.84 excluding special charge), vs. $2.12 year-ago. Meredith’s Local Media Group saw record operating profit in Q3.
 
Ad Age (job cuts)
NY Post (job cuts)
Q3 results release  
Fitness Offers Readers Free Day at Gyms, Workout Events
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Meredith’s Fitness has partnered with major gym chains across the country to offer its readers a day of free access (a “Free Day of Fitness”). The free passes can be downloaded through the magazine’s site. In addition, Fitness is hosting five VIP workout events with celebrity trainers in NYC, LA, Chicago and Miami for readers who “respond to calls for action via Facebook and Twitter” (meaning register or follow).
 
Allure Launches Best Beauty Bloggers Awards
In five-week contest, reader votes will determine eliminations of blogger finalists (based on their writing about specialized themes). Winner to receive trip to NY Fashion Fashion Week; a feature in October’s Best of Beauty issue; a display seal for her site; and opportunity to submit content for consideration by Allure and its digital platform. Revlon sponsoring awards and providing prizes for contestants, readers. Based on response, brand has already decided to make awards annual.
 
Folio:
Personnel News: AMI, Bonnier
American Media Inc.’s David Perel will add the role of EVP digital content to his existing roles of editor-in-chief of Star and EVP/managing editor of RadarOnline.com. He helmed the recent launch of the EnquirerPlus iPad app. Also, Bonnier Corp. has hired Julie Smartz as VP, general manager of brand development. She was previously with Source Interlink Media, where she held the same title. 
 
Adweek  (AMI)
Weiss Sells Indianapolis Woman Mag
Weiss Communications has sold publishing rights for Indianapolis Woman to an (unnamed) Indiana-based private investor group. Last issue is May. 14-person staff being let go. IW had regional closed circulation of 45K; reach of 150K. Move attributed to losses stemming from a short-lived sister publication, St. Louis Woman. 
 
All Conde iPad Editions Retina-Ready
Conde Nast announced that all of its magazines’ iPad editions have now been optimized for the new iPad’s higher-resolution retina displays. 
 
Global Study: Users Fear Digital Technology’s Impacts 
RSCG Worldwide/Market Probe International study of 7K+ adults in 19 countries finds just 10% saying they think digital technology will have a negative overall impact on the world, but 42% saying the jury’s still out. Half are worried that the tech and multitasking are impairing our ability to think deeply and concentrate on one task at a time, and about two-thirds think society has become too shallow and focused on things that don’t really matter. Many fear that social media and online data collection are chiseling away at their privacy rights; more than half fear that digital hyper-connectivity is weakening human bonds.
 
Q&A With GoSPORTn Inc. Founder
Ned Desmond, formerly head of Time Inc. Interactive, launched digital fishing and hunting brands. Here, he talks about the challenges of competing (particularly for advertising dollars) as an entrepreneurial venture. 
 
SciFi Publisher Plans DRM-Free Books; Pub Exec Confesses to Breaking DRM
Tor/Forge, one of world’s largest scifi and fantasy publishers, will drop digital rights management from all of its e-book imprint releases by July. (Parent Macmillan’s DRM policy unchanged.) PW predicts other large book publishers likely to follow, as DRM “is generally considered ineffective at stopping digital piracy, and a nuisance to legitimate consumers.” Separately, an anonymous publishing exec who’s been breaking digital rights management on e-books for strictly personal use (not sharing with others) argues that if you’ve paid for a book, you should be able to read it on any device. Also argues DRM is hurting publishing, in part because consumers say e-book prices need to be low because they’re only buying access to the content, not fully owning it. 

Publishers Weekly (publisher dropping DRM) 
PaidContent (breaking DRM)
Random House Children’s Books to Publish Nickelodeon Book Properties
RH unit will be primary publisher of Nickelodeon properties in numerous formats including hardcover and paperback picture books, storybooks, Junior Novels. 
 
Titanic’s Anniversary Makes Returns ‘A Night to Remember’ to Best-Seller Lists
First published in 1955, Walter Lord’s book will be #1 this Sunday on NY Times’s combined prin/e-book nonfiction sales chart. The paperback was published by Henry Holt and Company. The e-book was released last month by Open Road Integrated Media, which reports about 30K downloads thus far. 


AP

Apple’s FY Q2 Profits Soar
Profit nearly doubled (to $11.6B or $12.30 per share) and revenue jumped 59% (to $39.2B), driven by robust demand for the iPhone in China and sales of the new iPad. Performance allaying concerns that created a two-week slump in Apple’s stock. 

Retail News

Wal-Mart Boosts Oversight 
Said it’s taking aggressive steps to address the Walmex bribery allegations scandal, including creating new global compliance officer position to ensure compliance with U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Also said it’s added new “escalation and review protocols” at W-M HQ to ensure that allegations of wrongdoing are rigorously examined. Statement stressed W-M “will not tolerate noncompliance” with the U.S. anticorruption law “anywhere or at any level of the company.” W-M reported that it began a global review of its compliance with FCPA last spring, on CEO Mike Duke’s direction, and that it launched an internal investigation late last year after notifying U.S., Mexican governments. Also confirmed it’s cooperating with U.S. authorities (who are reportedly ensuring that W-M conducts thorough internal probe with involvement of outside experts, and examining the allegations for potential criminal prosecution). W-M’s shares declined 3% Tuesday to $57.77, on top of 4.7% drop Monday; some $15B in market value lost so far this week. In another development, Eduardo Castro-Wright, the W-M vice chairman who oversaw Walmex during the period in question, resigned from MetLife Inc.’s board, citing “personal reasons.” W-M confirmed that Castro-Wright, whose retirement this July was announced last year, continues to be employed by W-M. Separately, Washington Post reports W-M “has participated in an aggressive and high-priced lobbying campaign to amend the long-standing U.S. anti-bribery law that the company might have violated.” 
 
WSJ  (boosts oversight; Castro-Wright)
Washington Post (lobbying efforts)
Economy: Durable Goods Orders Down, But U.S. Manufacturers Saw Strong Q1
Durable-goods orders suffered their biggest drop in over three years in March, pointing to a weak Q1 finish for the manufacturing sector. However, despite recession in Europe and slower growth in China, some big U.S. industrial companies are reporting surprisingly robust results for Q1 and sounding confident about the rest of the year, largely because of solid U.S. performance. 
 
WSJ  (durable goods)
WSJ  (strong Q1)
Mad-Cow Discovery Stirs Fears
USDA reports a California dairy cow tested positive for mad-cow disease, the first U.S. incidence since 2006. No public health risk seen for this case, but discovery of sick cow’s carcass at a rendering plant revived a top safety concern for beef industry, at a time when softer beef demand and the “pink slime” controversy are already posing challenges. 
 
National Brands Key In Family Dollar’s Expansion Strategy
FD to add more than 1,000 products in upcoming months, expanding private-label offerings, but also national brands (including PepsiCo beverages, Gerber and L’Oreal products). Also adding cigarettes, tobacco in about 5K stores. 
 
Charlotte Business Journal (full access requires paid sub)
Safeway Offers Free Products on Facebook
On Monday, Safeway ran a Facebook-exclusive “Mystery Sale.” A Friday promo announced that it would offer a product for free on Facebook April 23. No other details given, except a picture of a coffee cup. On Monday, the offer was revealed: a free 0.8-ounce sample of Gevalia coffee. To get a sample by mail, users had to “like” Safeway’s Facebook page and fill out an online form requiring name, address and email. Users also asked questions about their coffee habits.
 
Outstanding Specialty Foods Retailers Recognized
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade announced its Outstanding Retailers of 2012. They are Caviar & Bananas, Charleston, S.C.; City Feed and Supply, Jamaica Plain, Mass.; Eli’s Manhattan, New York; Mollie Stone’s Markets, Mill Valley, Calif.; and Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, Chicago.
 
Dumais Wins NGA Leadership Award
John Dumais, president/CEO of the New Hampshire Grocers Association, has been presented National Grocery Association’s Association Leadership Award for his “dedication and continued service as a true community-focused state association executive.”
 
FDA Reports on Global Strategies 
Including food-safety initiatives. Commissioner stresses that Food Safety Modernization Act will help reduce contamination, other problems by making all entities in the supply chain accountable. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9863 0 April 25, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9833 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9833#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:09:32 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9833

Publishing News

Meredith Corp. Eliminates 80 Positions; Reports FY Q3 Results
The full-time positions cut are companywide. CEO Stephen Lacy said cuts reflect need to allocate resources efficiently, focusing on strategic-growth initiatives. Meredith also eliminated about 80 jobs during Q2 2011, bringing full-time headcount to 3,150 at the end of June. Meredith, along with other publishers, has been affected by ad declines in key magazine categories. In Q3 2012, its National Media Group’s ad revenue grew 2% (to $123M) and circ revenue grew 15%, reflecting recent acquisitions of Allrecipes.com, EveryDay with Rachel Ray and Family Fun. (Excluding acquisitions, circ revenue +3%, ad revenue -7%.) The group’s digital ad revenue jumped 70%. Magazine readership grew to a record 115M, and unique site visitors hit a record 40M in March (reflecting the addition of Allrecipes). Total company Q3 revenue grew to $346M (vs. $339M in last Q3). EPS was $0.47 (vs. $0.67 year-ago); but when a special charge including the Allrecipes acquisition and realignment costs in the National Media Group is excluded, EPS was $0.66, in line with Meredith’s previous guidance. For the fiscal’s first nine months, total revenue was flat with same period last year ($1B). EPS was $1.65 ($1.84 excluding special charge), vs. $2.12 year-ago. Meredith’s Local Media Group saw record operating profit in Q3.
 
Ad Age (job cuts)
NY Post (job cuts)
Q3 results release  
Fitness Offers Readers Free Day at Gyms, Workout Events
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Meredith’s Fitness has partnered with major gym chains across the country to offer its readers a day of free access (a “Free Day of Fitness”). The free passes can be downloaded through the magazine’s site. In addition, Fitness is hosting five VIP workout events with celebrity trainers in NYC, LA, Chicago and Miami for readers who “respond to calls for action via Facebook and Twitter” (meaning register or follow).
 
Allure Launches Best Beauty Bloggers Awards
In five-week contest, reader votes will determine eliminations of blogger finalists (based on their writing about specialized themes). Winner to receive trip to NY Fashion Fashion Week; a feature in October’s Best of Beauty issue; a display seal for her site; and opportunity to submit content for consideration by Allure and its digital platform. Revlon sponsoring awards and providing prizes for contestants, readers. Based on response, brand has already decided to make awards annual.
 
Folio:
Personnel News: AMI, Bonnier
American Media Inc.’s David Perel will add the role of EVP digital content to his existing roles of editor-in-chief of Star and EVP/managing editor of RadarOnline.com. He helmed the recent launch of the EnquirerPlus iPad app. Also, Bonnier Corp. has hired Julie Smartz as VP, general manager of brand development. She was previously with Source Interlink Media, where she held the same title. 
 
Adweek  (AMI)
Weiss Sells Indianapolis Woman Mag
Weiss Communications has sold publishing rights for Indianapolis Woman to an (unnamed) Indiana-based private investor group. Last issue is May. 14-person staff being let go. IW had regional closed circulation of 45K; reach of 150K. Move attributed to losses stemming from a short-lived sister publication, St. Louis Woman. 
 
All Conde iPad Editions Retina-Ready
Conde Nast announced that all of its magazines’ iPad editions have now been optimized for the new iPad’s higher-resolution retina displays. 
 
Global Study: Users Fear Digital Technology’s Impacts 
RSCG Worldwide/Market Probe International study of 7K+ adults in 19 countries finds just 10% saying they think digital technology will have a negative overall impact on the world, but 42% saying the jury’s still out. Half are worried that the tech and multitasking are impairing our ability to think deeply and concentrate on one task at a time, and about two-thirds think society has become too shallow and focused on things that don’t really matter. Many fear that social media and online data collection are chiseling away at their privacy rights; more than half fear that digital hyper-connectivity is weakening human bonds.
 
Q&A With GoSPORTn Inc. Founder
Ned Desmond, formerly head of Time Inc. Interactive, launched digital fishing and hunting brands. Here, he talks about the challenges of competing (particularly for advertising dollars) as an entrepreneurial venture. 
 
SciFi Publisher Plans DRM-Free Books; Pub Exec Confesses to Breaking DRM
Tor/Forge, one of world’s largest scifi and fantasy publishers, will drop digital rights management from all of its e-book imprint releases by July. (Parent Macmillan’s DRM policy unchanged.) PW predicts other large book publishers likely to follow, as DRM “is generally considered ineffective at stopping digital piracy, and a nuisance to legitimate consumers.” Separately, an anonymous publishing exec who’s been breaking digital rights management on e-books for strictly personal use (not sharing with others) argues that if you’ve paid for a book, you should be able to read it on any device. Also argues DRM is hurting publishing, in part because consumers say e-book prices need to be low because they’re only buying access to the content, not fully owning it. 

Publishers Weekly (publisher dropping DRM) 
PaidContent (breaking DRM)
Random House Children’s Books to Publish Nickelodeon Book Properties
RH unit will be primary publisher of Nickelodeon properties in numerous formats including hardcover and paperback picture books, storybooks, Junior Novels. 
 
Titanic’s Anniversary Makes Returns ‘A Night to Remember’ to Best-Seller Lists
First published in 1955, Walter Lord’s book will be #1 this Sunday on NY Times’s combined prin/e-book nonfiction sales chart. The paperback was published by Henry Holt and Company. The e-book was released last month by Open Road Integrated Media, which reports about 30K downloads thus far. 


AP

Apple’s FY Q2 Profits Soar
Profit nearly doubled (to $11.6B or $12.30 per share) and revenue jumped 59% (to $39.2B), driven by robust demand for the iPhone in China and sales of the new iPad. Performance allaying concerns that created a two-week slump in Apple’s stock. 

Retail News

Wal-Mart Boosts Oversight 
Said it’s taking aggressive steps to address the Walmex bribery allegations scandal, including creating new global compliance officer position to ensure compliance with U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Also said it’s added new “escalation and review protocols” at W-M HQ to ensure that allegations of wrongdoing are rigorously examined. Statement stressed W-M “will not tolerate noncompliance” with the U.S. anticorruption law “anywhere or at any level of the company.” W-M reported that it began a global review of its compliance with FCPA last spring, on CEO Mike Duke’s direction, and that it launched an internal investigation late last year after notifying U.S., Mexican governments. Also confirmed it’s cooperating with U.S. authorities (who are reportedly ensuring that W-M conducts thorough internal probe with involvement of outside experts, and examining the allegations for potential criminal prosecution). W-M’s shares declined 3% Tuesday to $57.77, on top of 4.7% drop Monday; some $15B in market value lost so far this week. In another development, Eduardo Castro-Wright, the W-M vice chairman who oversaw Walmex during the period in question, resigned from MetLife Inc.’s board, citing “personal reasons.” W-M confirmed that Castro-Wright, whose retirement this July was announced last year, continues to be employed by W-M. Separately, Washington Post reports W-M “has participated in an aggressive and high-priced lobbying campaign to amend the long-standing U.S. anti-bribery law that the company might have violated.” 
 
WSJ  (boosts oversight; Castro-Wright)
Washington Post (lobbying efforts)
Economy: Durable Goods Orders Down, But U.S. Manufacturers Saw Strong Q1
Durable-goods orders suffered their biggest drop in over three years in March, pointing to a weak Q1 finish for the manufacturing sector. However, despite recession in Europe and slower growth in China, some big U.S. industrial companies are reporting surprisingly robust results for Q1 and sounding confident about the rest of the year, largely because of solid U.S. performance. 
 
WSJ  (durable goods)
WSJ  (strong Q1)
Mad-Cow Discovery Stirs Fears
USDA reports a California dairy cow tested positive for mad-cow disease, the first U.S. incidence since 2006. No public health risk seen for this case, but discovery of sick cow’s carcass at a rendering plant revived a top safety concern for beef industry, at a time when softer beef demand and the “pink slime” controversy are already posing challenges. 
 
National Brands Key In Family Dollar’s Expansion Strategy
FD to add more than 1,000 products in upcoming months, expanding private-label offerings, but also national brands (including PepsiCo beverages, Gerber and L’Oreal products). Also adding cigarettes, tobacco in about 5K stores. 
 
Charlotte Business Journal (full access requires paid sub)
Safeway Offers Free Products on Facebook
On Monday, Safeway ran a Facebook-exclusive “Mystery Sale.” A Friday promo announced that it would offer a product for free on Facebook April 23. No other details given, except a picture of a coffee cup. On Monday, the offer was revealed: a free 0.8-ounce sample of Gevalia coffee. To get a sample by mail, users had to “like” Safeway’s Facebook page and fill out an online form requiring name, address and email. Users also asked questions about their coffee habits.
 
Outstanding Specialty Foods Retailers Recognized
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade announced its Outstanding Retailers of 2012. They are Caviar & Bananas, Charleston, S.C.; City Feed and Supply, Jamaica Plain, Mass.; Eli’s Manhattan, New York; Mollie Stone’s Markets, Mill Valley, Calif.; and Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, Chicago.
 
Dumais Wins NGA Leadership Award
John Dumais, president/CEO of the New Hampshire Grocers Association, has been presented National Grocery Association’s Association Leadership Award for his “dedication and continued service as a true community-focused state association executive.”
 
FDA Reports on Global Strategies 
Including food-safety initiatives. Commissioner stresses that Food Safety Modernization Act will help reduce contamination, other problems by making all entities in the supply chain accountable. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9833 0 April 24, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9829 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9829#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:07:07 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9829

Publishing News

Rodale Names Lori Burgess Publisher of Prevention
Burgess was most recently publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, and was previously publisher of OK!. She will oversee print and digital sales/marketing for Prevention, reporting to SVP/publishing director Chris Lambiase. She replaces Laura Petasnick, who left in March for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Prevention saw an 11% increase in newsstand sales in 2H 2011, and total circulation was stable (-1%). Q1 2012 ad pages declined 18.5% vs. Q1 2011, to 158.   
 
Meredith Launches New Issue of TradHomeMag.com; TH iPad in Works
Meredith has launched a spring 2012 issue of TradHome, a free (by registration) online extension of Traditional Homes magazine. The first issue, in spring 2011, generated 25M page views and 170K unique visitors, Meredith reports. The new issue’s content focuses on TH’s signature “hot list” of new designers to watch (“2012 New Trads), which were selected via a digital contest. The issue, housed on Zinio’s newsstand, can be downloaded to any desktop, laptopr, tablet or mobile device. Meredith also announced that an iPad app of Traditional Home will be launched later this year.
 
Hollywood Reporter Launches Facebook Entertainment News Reader
The Hollywood Reporter Social Reader said to be first such reader for entertainment news. Enables readers to read/share news, reviews, blog posts and videos from the brand. 
 
THR site announcement
Forbes Lists Media CEO Compensations Vs. Companies’ Performance
List of 2011 compensation of CEOs of 10 top media companies and their companies’ share performances shows half of the companies having seen declines. Some CEOs got big comp hikes despite declines; others saw comp decreases despite gains. 
 
Atlantic Media Hires Product Engineer
Michael Donohoe hired as product engineering director for AM’s upcoming global business site launch. Donohoe comes from RealNetworks. 
 
Web Ads Miss Their Targets…A Lot
Peter Kafka presents Nielsen data examples showing that Web ads (despite a slew of targeting mechanisms) “only work for some stuff, some of the time.” 
 
Facebook’s Growth Slows
In what is likely to be the last snapshot of its financial condition before an IPO, Facebook reported Q1 revenue of $1.06B (-6% vs. Q4 2011) and profits of $205M (-32% vs. Q4 2011). Factors: advertising declines in the period, plus costs (including huge acqusitions like Instagram, defending itself against patent-infringement suits, and escalating tech development investments). But active user base as of March was 901M, +33% vs. a year earlier. Speaking of acquisitions, Facebook’s latest is buying 600+ former AOL patents from Microsoft for $550M. (These are among the patents that Microsoft bought from AOL for $1B earlier this month.)
 
WSJ  (growth slows)
AllThingsD (buys AOL patents)

Retail News

Latest Developments Re Wal-Mart de Mexico Bribery Allegations
Washington Post: Unnamed sources report that the U.S. Dept. of Justice initiated a criminal investigation in December, after Wal-Mart voluntarily met with DOJ officials. WSJ reports two top House Democrats are seeking a meeting with Wal-Mart officials this week (support from the majority Republican party would be needed to hold a hearing, subpeona Wal-Mart). WSJ also reports that Walmex shares fell 12% Monday on the Mexican Stock Exchange, erasing about $8B of its market capitalization, and Wal-Mart’s shares fell 4.7%, erasing nearly $10B in market value. Walmex said it’s cooperating with an investigation by parent Wal-Mart Stores.  Walmex accounts for about 8% of Wal-Mart’s annual net profit (Wal-Mart owns 69% of the business). Walmex said it’s cooperating with an investigation by parent Wal-Mart Stores. Articles report no new statements from Wal-Mart executives yesterday. The Mexican government said it sees no need for it to investigate the Walmex bribery allegations. President’s office said that if allegations are true, they are matters for Mexican municipal and state officials; however, also said federal government will assist U.S. authorities’ investigations. In NYT, law professor summarizes potential legal ramifications for W-M. 


Washington Post (DOJ investigation)
WSJ (W-M stock fall; House reps’ investigation)
WSJ  (Mexico’s statement; Walmex stock fall)
NY Times  (legal ramifications) 

B&N’s Shares Leap After Jana Partners Acquires 12% Stake
Barnes & Noble’s stock jumped 18% yesterday, after news that hedge fund investor Jana partners LLC had acquired 7M shares (nearly 12% of the chain’s shares). Jana also has an option to buy another 250,000 shares. Investment was made on April 11, same day three publishers settled e-book pricing suit with Justice Dept. (Concerns about the antitrust suit and the advantages resulting to Amazon had sent B&N’s stock down as much as 25% during the past month.) Jana has sometimes been an activist investor, but it didn’t make any mention of B&N’s strategy in its SEC filing, and WSJ sources said it isn’t planning to take an activist stance in B&N, at least for now. Jana said to have a successful track record for “unlocking value.” Jana joins three others dominating B&N share ownership: chairman Leonard Riggio (30%); Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. (nearly 20%); and John Malone’s Liberty Media (preferred shares convertible to a 16.6% stake). 
 
Family Dollar’s Flur Leaving Company
Dorlisa K. Flur, vice chair-strategy and chief administrative officer, plans to leave to pursue other interests, effective May 2. No successor mentioned in FD’s statement. 
 
Senator Challenges Whole Foods’ New Seafood Policy
AP reported that Mass. Sen. Scott Brown wrote Whole Foods Markets’ CEOs John Mackey and Walter Robb to ask them to change the retailer’s new policy of not carrying seafood rated “red” (overfished or not sustainably sourced) by the Blue Ocean Institute or Monterey Bay Aquarium. Brown questioned its science and said it would hurt Massachusetts fisherman for the sake of WF’s wanting to appear politically correct.  
 
Shaw’s Cuts Landfill Waste 90%
Five of its locations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have diverted over 90% of all store waste from local landfills. 
 
Publix Sued Over Overtime Practices
Class-action suit filed by four department managers in federal court in Panama City, Fla. charges Publix improperly compensated managers for overtime work. 
 
Study: Wal-Mart Will Hurt Seattle
A new report from an economic policy advocacy organization, Puget Sound Sage, concludes that each new Walmart store opening in a Puget Sound neighborhood will result in a loss of $13 million of net economic output and $14 million in lost wages over 20 years.
 
Chain Store Sales Index Up 0.8% Last Week
International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Chain Store Sales Index up 8% versus previous week; +3.6% on year-on-year basis. ICSC still predicting 3-4% sales growth for the month of April. 
 
Amazon Launches Business/Industrial Site
AmazonSupply.com (being called a beta site) is going up against retailers like Home Depot and Staples. It is selling products ranging from office supplies and janitorial materials to industrial tools and radiation detectors for environmental testing. 
 
Price Increases Drive Hershey’s Earnings
Q1 sales up 11%, driven mostly by 10% price hikes on candy. Earnings jumped 24%; full-year guidance raised to 10%-12% rise in earnings on 7%-9% net sales gain (vs. previous 9%-11% earnings rise on 6.5%-8.5% net-sales gain). 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9829 0 April 24, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9798 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9798#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:33:42 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9798

Publishing News

Rodale Names Lori Burgess Publisher of Prevention
Burgess was most recently publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, and was previously publisher of OK!. She will oversee print and digital sales/marketing for Prevention, reporting to SVP/publishing director Chris Lambiase. She replaces Laura Petasnick, who left in March for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. Prevention saw an 11% increase in newsstand sales in 2H 2011, and total circulation was stable (-1%). Q1 2012 ad pages declined 18.5% vs. Q1 2011, to 158.   
 
Meredith Launches New Issue of TradHomeMag.com; TH iPad in Works
Meredith has launched a spring 2012 issue of TradHome, a free (by registration) online extension of Traditional Homes magazine. The first issue, in spring 2011, generated 25M page views and 170K unique visitors, Meredith reports. The new issue’s content focuses on TH’s signature “hot list” of new designers to watch (“2012 New Trads), which were selected via a digital contest. The issue, housed on Zinio’s newsstand, can be downloaded to any desktop, laptopr, tablet or mobile device. Meredith also announced that an iPad app of Traditional Home will be launched later this year.
 
Hollywood Reporter Launches Facebook Entertainment News Reader
The Hollywood Reporter Social Reader said to be first such reader for entertainment news. Enables readers to read/share news, reviews, blog posts and videos from the brand. 
 
THR site announcement
Forbes Lists Media CEO Compensations Vs. Companies’ Performance
List of 2011 compensation of CEOs of 10 top media companies and their companies’ share performances shows half of the companies having seen declines. Some CEOs got big comp hikes despite declines; others saw comp decreases despite gains. 
 
Atlantic Media Hires Product Engineer
Michael Donohoe hired as product engineering director for AM’s upcoming global business site launch. Donohoe comes from RealNetworks. 
 
Web Ads Miss Their Targets…A Lot
Peter Kafka presents Nielsen data examples showing that Web ads (despite a slew of targeting mechanisms) “only work for some stuff, some of the time.” 
 
Facebook’s Growth Slows
In what is likely to be the last snapshot of its financial condition before an IPO, Facebook reported Q1 revenue of $1.06B (-6% vs. Q4 2011) and profits of $205M (-32% vs. Q4 2011). Factors: advertising declines in the period, plus costs (including huge acqusitions like Instagram, defending itself against patent-infringement suits, and escalating tech development investments). But active user base as of March was 901M, +33% vs. a year earlier. Speaking of acquisitions, Facebook’s latest is buying 600+ former AOL patents from Microsoft for $550M. (These are among the patents that Microsoft bought from AOL for $1B earlier this month.)
 
WSJ  (growth slows)
AllThingsD (buys AOL patents)

Retail News

Latest Developments Re Wal-Mart de Mexico Bribery Allegations
Washington Post: Unnamed sources report that the U.S. Dept. of Justice initiated a criminal investigation in December, after Wal-Mart voluntarily met with DOJ officials. WSJ reports two top House Democrats are seeking a meeting with Wal-Mart officials this week (support from the majority Republican party would be needed to hold a hearing, subpeona Wal-Mart). WSJ also reports that Walmex shares fell 12% Monday on the Mexican Stock Exchange, erasing about $8B of its market capitalization, and Wal-Mart’s shares fell 4.7%, erasing nearly $10B in market value. Walmex said it’s cooperating with an investigation by parent Wal-Mart Stores.  Walmex accounts for about 8% of Wal-Mart’s annual net profit (Wal-Mart owns 69% of the business). Walmex said it’s cooperating with an investigation by parent Wal-Mart Stores. Articles report no new statements from Wal-Mart executives yesterday. The Mexican government said it sees no need for it to investigate the Walmex bribery allegations. President’s office said that if allegations are true, they are matters for Mexican municipal and state officials; however, also said federal government will assist U.S. authorities’ investigations. In NYT, law professor summarizes potential legal ramifications for W-M. 


Washington Post (DOJ investigation)
WSJ (W-M stock fall; House reps’ investigation)
WSJ  (Mexico’s statement; Walmex stock fall)
NY Times  (legal ramifications) 

B&N’s Shares Leap After Jana Partners Acquires 12% Stake
Barnes & Noble’s stock jumped 18% yesterday, after news that hedge fund investor Jana partners LLC had acquired 7M shares (nearly 12% of the chain’s shares). Jana also has an option to buy another 250,000 shares. Investment was made on April 11, same day three publishers settled e-book pricing suit with Justice Dept. (Concerns about the antitrust suit and the advantages resulting to Amazon had sent B&N’s stock down as much as 25% during the past month.) Jana has sometimes been an activist investor, but it didn’t make any mention of B&N’s strategy in its SEC filing, and WSJ sources said it isn’t planning to take an activist stance in B&N, at least for now. Jana said to have a successful track record for “unlocking value.” Jana joins three others dominating B&N share ownership: chairman Leonard Riggio (30%); Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. (nearly 20%); and John Malone’s Liberty Media (preferred shares convertible to a 16.6% stake). 
 
Family Dollar’s Flur Leaving Company
Dorlisa K. Flur, vice chair-strategy and chief administrative officer, plans to leave to pursue other interests, effective May 2. No successor mentioned in FD’s statement. 
 
Senator Challenges Whole Foods’ New Seafood Policy
AP reported that Mass. Sen. Scott Brown wrote Whole Foods Markets’ CEOs John Mackey and Walter Robb to ask them to change the retailer’s new policy of not carrying seafood rated “red” (overfished or not sustainably sourced) by the Blue Ocean Institute or Monterey Bay Aquarium. Brown questioned its science and said it would hurt Massachusetts fisherman for the sake of WF’s wanting to appear politically correct.  
 
Shaw’s Cuts Landfill Waste 90%
Five of its locations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have diverted over 90% of all store waste from local landfills. 
 
Publix Sued Over Overtime Practices
Class-action suit filed by four department managers in federal court in Panama City, Fla. charges Publix improperly compensated managers for overtime work. 
 
Study: Wal-Mart Will Hurt Seattle
A new report from an economic policy advocacy organization, Puget Sound Sage, concludes that each new Walmart store opening in a Puget Sound neighborhood will result in a loss of $13 million of net economic output and $14 million in lost wages over 20 years.
 
Chain Store Sales Index Up 0.8% Last Week
International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs Chain Store Sales Index up 8% versus previous week; +3.6% on year-on-year basis. ICSC still predicting 3-4% sales growth for the month of April. 
 
Amazon Launches Business/Industrial Site
AmazonSupply.com (being called a beta site) is going up against retailers like Home Depot and Staples. It is selling products ranging from office supplies and janitorial materials to industrial tools and radiation detectors for environmental testing. 
 
Price Increases Drive Hershey’s Earnings
Q1 sales up 11%, driven mostly by 10% price hikes on candy. Earnings jumped 24%; full-year guidance raised to 10%-12% rise in earnings on 7%-9% net sales gain (vs. previous 9%-11% earnings rise on 6.5%-8.5% net-sales gain). 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9798 0 April 23, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9796 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9796#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:22:58 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9796

Publishing News

Source Interlink Distribution Forms Premium In-Store Services Group
SID has integrated several in-store services teams to form a new division, the Source In-Store Solutions Team. Group will focus on offering premium in-store services “that extend well beyond the traditional periodical merchandising activities,” both for magazines and other product categories. Chris Vealey, who has been named to head the new unit, has been promoted to SVP, in-store solutions. He was previously VP, retail merchandising. 
 
(From release; not posted yet)
Marvel Incentivizing Print Buys Via Codes to Current-Issue Tablet Versions
Codes inside print comics provide buyers with access to the same issue (on same day it goes on the newsstand) via various tablet formats, an industry first. Former Conde Nast exec quoted as describing the Marvel initiative as a “bold, original move” that other publishers (including Conde) have taken note of, although he adds that pulling this off isn’t as easy as people might assume. 
 
Time Inc. Lifestyle Group Projects 16% Jump in Subs in 2012
Carrie Goldin, SVP consumer marketing and sales for the group, reports on how digital channels are being used to drive subscriptions for titles including Southern Living, Coastal Living, All You. (Under Time Inc.’s all-access sub model, print subscribers also get access to the tablet editions, etc.) Strategies include cross-selling of titles on the brands’ sites; more active, targeted email promotions; SEM marketing; using blogger networks and other social media; multi-variant testing; and leveraging partnerships with outside sites including deal site Mamapedia and traditional partners like Williams-Sonoma. Also testing Pinterest.
 
National Enquirer App Jumps Up the Rankings
Enquirer’s new iPad app, available in App Store’s entertainment section, is now #15 among highest-grossing periodical brands. Priced at $0.99 per weekly issue, $2.99 per month, $29.99 per year. MIN says “well-designed, tap-friendly” app updates itself daily with new content, special material like celebrity Twitter photos.  
 
Vogue Makes First Foray Into Festivals
Inaugural, two day Vogue Festival was held in London’s Royal Geographical Society. Drew fashion luminaries including Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney.  
 
Nature Publishing Group Launches Linked Data Platform
The bibliographical meta-data for 450,000 Nature Journal-branded articles going back to 1869 has been uploaded to a linked data platform that connects publication dates and other features within manuscripts (like institutions, journal titles, volumes, issues and authors). Platform enables creating links between information not directly linked (through “triples”), thus enhancing searches, traffic.
 
Critics of E-Books Lawsuit Miss the Mark, Experts Say
In interviews responding to criticisms that the Justice Dept.’s civil action against Apple and five publishers (three of which have settled) will ultimately hurt consumers by enabling Amazon to build an e-books monopoly and damaging publishers’ financial ability to develop books, several legal experts say that antitrust law compels the Justice Dept. to act if it believes it has evidence of price-fixing. They say the law is concerned with protecting competition, not competitors; it does not seek to protect small companies against big ones, or struggling ones against successful ones. 
 
WSJ
Finding the Right Role for Trade Paperbacks
The trade paperback format lost some ground to e-books through the first nine months of 2011, but remained the most popular print category (hardcovers and mass paperbacks much more affected by e-books). But publishers are reassessing trade paperbacks’ traditional roles roles (offering a lower price point and a light-weight alternative to hardcovers). Although publishers remain committed to the format, some in the industry say separate trade paperback divisions may be less needed going forward.
Atlantic’s New Web Site Seeks ‘Nerds’
The Atlantic’s new site, which will focus on business news for a global audience, hired Kevin Delaney from the WSJ earlier this year to head the launch. Now, the brand is running ad seeking staff for the business site, including reporters/editors who know business and are “nerdy” (meaning they take “a numerate approach” to reporting and appreciate or can create a good chart or data visualization). 
 
Has Pinterest’s Bubble Burst?
Most Pinterest users sign up using Facebook accounts. AppData reports that the number of Facebook-connected Pinterest users has declined precipitously in past 50 days. Monthly active users down from 11.3M on March 1, to 11.15M on April 1, to 8.3M currently. 
 

Retail News

Wal-Mart Faces Risk in Mexican Bribe Probe
On Saturday, the New York Times ran a lengthy piece stating that in fall 2005, Wal-Mart had been alerted to “widespread bribery” practices in its Wal-Mart de Mexico business by a former senior lawyer, Sergio Cicero Zapata. Practices alleged to have sped approvals of store building permits. NYT said, based on internal emails/documents obtained, that W-M did not alert U.S. or Mexican authorities at the time. In December 2011, W-M disclosed to the SEC that it was conducting an internal investigation into a potential violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, but didn’t say where or give other details. It now says that it also met with SEC and Justice Department officials around that time to alert them to the probe. In a follow-up article, WSJ quotes legal experts saying that if a U.S. government probe were to conclude that W-M violated the FCPA, any fine could amount to millions of dollars, depending on the size of the competitive edge U.S. officials estimated the company gained from any illegal actions. The experts also said that if federal investigators found any evidence of a cover-up, they could bring criminal charges against individual executives at the company. Wal-Mart said in a Mexican regulatory filing Friday that it had removed its general counsel in Mexico, José Luis Rodríguezmacedo Rivera, “effective immediately.” A W-M spokesman said Rivera had been reassigned “in the interests of the investigation”. In a statement, W-M said that ”if these allegations are true, it is not a reflection of who we are or what we stand for. We are deeply concerned by these allegations and are working aggressively to determine what happened.”
 
Safeway’s Challenges Converge During ‘Brutal Time’
Safeway’s stock took a hit last month when Credit Suisse said its pension funds were underfunded by $7B; Safeway said this is a manageable issue. Last week, takeover rumors started after options traders began bidding up the price on three-month contracts (Safeway said it doesn’t comment on rumors). Safeway will report Q1 2012 earnings this week. Last month, it forecast earnings per share up to $2.10, significantly higher than most analysts have projected. But some analysts say they’re unimpressed, given 41% share drop in past five years and their doubts about what actions could be taken to turn around negative EBITDA trend. Growing competition from Walmart, Whole Foods and others expanding their footprints, plus other retail formats expanding their fresh-food offerings, cited as growing challenge for Safeway. Its negotiations with Northern California unions are reportedly hung up thus far over healthcare expenses issues. Separately, Safeway announced that it’s chosen the six “People’s Choice” semifinalists who will compete to become the retailer’s next chef.
 
Supermarket News  (chef competition)
Walgreen to Pay $7.9M to Resolve False Prescription Billing Charges
While denying Justice Dept.’s charges, Walgreen has agreed to pay the fine. Settlement resolves allegations that Walgreen offered illegal inducements, in the form of $25 gift cards, to beneficiaries of government health care programs when they transferred a prescription from another pharmacy to Walgreen. Ads promoting the gift cards said offers were not valid for Medicare, Medicaid, but DOJ alleged employees frequently ignored the exemptions. Two whistleblowers to receive about $1.3 million from the government.  
 
Lee H. Javitch, Builder of Giant Foods Chain, Dies
Lee H. Javitch, former chairman and president of Giant Food Stores, built his father David’s Carlisle Meat Market business into the Giant chain (30+ locations). Chain is now Ahold USA’s Giant-Carlisle banner. 
 
Leevers Buys Wally’s Store from Nash Finch
Distributor Nash Finch sold corporately owned Wally’s Supermarket in Devils Lake, N.D. to one of its independent customers, Leevers Foods. Leevers, also based in Devils Lake, has six other North Dakota stores serviced by Nash Finch. 
 
Spartan Stores Opens Family Fare Store on Earth Day
24-hour store in Wyoming, Mich. and its satellite Family Fare Quick Stop incorporate environmentally friendly features and Spartan’s first LEED certification. Also Retail LEED-certified in Michigan.
 
Progressive Grocer
Hastings Entertainment’s Sales Down
For year ended Jan. 31, books continued to account for 22% of Hastings’ total revenue, but total revenue declined to $496 million from $521 million, and book sales fell 5%, to $109M. Book total includes e-books and sales of Nextbook Premium 7 e-reader tablet, accessories. Sales of used items rose 14.5% (to 15.7% of total), but rentals declined significantly. Hastings will close one store this year, and not open any in 2012, but may open new stores in 2013. 
 
Study: Climate Change to Affect Corn Prices
Research finds that climate change likely to have far greater impact on corn-price volatility over next three years than factors like oil prices, trade policies, government biofuel mandates. Suggests that unless farmers develop more heat-tolerant corn varieties or gradually move corn production from the U.S. to Canada, frequent heat waves will cause sharp price spikes.  
 
2011′s Most Successful CPG Launches Leveraged Targeting, Innovations 
Heightened consumer segment targeting was common to both food/beverage and non-foods launches that made SymphonyIRI’s list of Pacesetters. Many winning food/beverage launches (including #1 P.F. Chang’s Home Menu line) offered restaurant-quality ingredients, recipes, as well as convenience. Winning non-foods launches (including #1 Pampers Cruisers/Swaddlers with Dry Max) leveraged tech advancements to make consumers’ lives easier.
 
MediaPost Marketing Daily
Kellogg Trims Its Forecast
Cuts full-year guidance due to weak Q1 results attributed to weak volume in some U.S. categories and Europe. $1 per-share earnings flat with previous year Q1, but sales -1.3%. Full-year earnings now projected at $3.18 to $3.30 on sales growth of 2-3%; analysts had expected $3.48 on 6% sales growth. 
 
Nestlé to Buy Pfizer Infant Nutrition Unit
Nestlé SA confirmed it will acquire Pfizer’s infant nutrition business. $11.85 billion deal will cement Nestlé’s leading position in global baby-formula market. 85% of Pfizer Nutrition’s sales (est. $2.4B for 2012) are in emerging markets.
 
WSJ
Kimberly-Clark’s Q1 Earnings Up 34%
Sluggish U.S. demand for diapers offset by double-digit increases in emerging markets. Personal-care sales up 8.2% globally, in part reflecting price hikes in N.A. Overall global sales up 4.2%; organic global sales up 6%.  
 
Opinion: Retailers Should Deliver on Magazine Display Promises
Publishing consultant Linda Ruth urges retailers to ensure that the checkout placements paid for by magazine publishers are not blocked by displays of other items. Obscured magazines impact impulse sales for retailers and publishers, and the sales performance metrics that determine retailer and wholesaler decisions regarding titles, as well as publishers’ renewals of display placement agreements, she writes.   
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9796 0 April 23, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9769 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9769#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:34:28 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9769

Publishing News

Source Interlink Distribution Forms Premium In-Store Services Group
SID has integrated several in-store services teams to form a new division, the Source In-Store Solutions Team. Group will focus on offering premium in-store services “that extend well beyond the traditional periodical merchandising activities,” both for magazines and other product categories. Chris Vealey, who has been named to head the new unit, has been promoted to SVP, in-store solutions. He was previously VP, retail merchandising. 
 
(From release; not posted yet)
Marvel Incentivizing Print Buys Via Codes to Current-Issue Tablet Versions
Codes inside print comics provide buyers with access to the same issue (on same day it goes on the newsstand) via various tablet formats, an industry first. Former Conde Nast exec quoted as describing the Marvel initiative as a “bold, original move” that other publishers (including Conde) have taken note of, although he adds that pulling this off isn’t as easy as people might assume. 
 
Time Inc. Lifestyle Group Projects 16% Jump in Subs in 2012
Carrie Goldin, SVP consumer marketing and sales for the group, reports on how digital channels are being used to drive subscriptions for titles including Southern Living, Coastal Living, All You. (Under Time Inc.’s all-access sub model, print subscribers also get access to the tablet editions, etc.) Strategies include cross-selling of titles on the brands’ sites; more active, targeted email promotions; SEM marketing; using blogger networks and other social media; multi-variant testing; and leveraging partnerships with outside sites including deal site Mamapedia and traditional partners like Williams-Sonoma. Also testing Pinterest.
 
National Enquirer App Jumps Up the Rankings
Enquirer’s new iPad app, available in App Store’s entertainment section, is now #15 among highest-grossing periodical brands. Priced at $0.99 per weekly issue, $2.99 per month, $29.99 per year. MIN says “well-designed, tap-friendly” app updates itself daily with new content, special material like celebrity Twitter photos.  
 
Vogue Makes First Foray Into Festivals
Inaugural, two day Vogue Festival was held in London’s Royal Geographical Society. Drew fashion luminaries including Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Tom Ford, Stella McCartney.  
 
Nature Publishing Group Launches Linked Data Platform
The bibliographical meta-data for 450,000 Nature Journal-branded articles going back to 1869 has been uploaded to a linked data platform that connects publication dates and other features within manuscripts (like institutions, journal titles, volumes, issues and authors). Platform enables creating links between information not directly linked (through “triples”), thus enhancing searches, traffic.
 
Critics of E-Books Lawsuit Miss the Mark, Experts Say
In interviews responding to criticisms that the Justice Dept.’s civil action against Apple and five publishers (three of which have settled) will ultimately hurt consumers by enabling Amazon to build an e-books monopoly and damaging publishers’ financial ability to develop books, several legal experts say that antitrust law compels the Justice Dept. to act if it believes it has evidence of price-fixing. They say the law is concerned with protecting competition, not competitors; it does not seek to protect small companies against big ones, or struggling ones against successful ones. 
 
WSJ
Finding the Right Role for Trade Paperbacks
The trade paperback format lost some ground to e-books through the first nine months of 2011, but remained the most popular print category (hardcovers and mass paperbacks much more affected by e-books). But publishers are reassessing trade paperbacks’ traditional roles roles (offering a lower price point and a light-weight alternative to hardcovers). Although publishers remain committed to the format, some in the industry say separate trade paperback divisions may be less needed going forward.
Atlantic’s New Web Site Seeks ‘Nerds’
The Atlantic’s new site, which will focus on business news for a global audience, hired Kevin Delaney from the WSJ earlier this year to head the launch. Now, the brand is running ad seeking staff for the business site, including reporters/editors who know business and are “nerdy” (meaning they take “a numerate approach” to reporting and appreciate or can create a good chart or data visualization). 
 
Has Pinterest’s Bubble Burst?
Most Pinterest users sign up using Facebook accounts. AppData reports that the number of Facebook-connected Pinterest users has declined precipitously in past 50 days. Monthly active users down from 11.3M on March 1, to 11.15M on April 1, to 8.3M currently. 
 

Retail News

Wal-Mart Faces Risk in Mexican Bribe Probe
On Saturday, the New York Times ran a lengthy piece stating that in fall 2005, Wal-Mart had been alerted to “widespread bribery” practices in its Wal-Mart de Mexico business by a former senior lawyer, Sergio Cicero Zapata. Practices alleged to have sped approvals of store building permits. NYT said, based on internal emails/documents obtained, that W-M did not alert U.S. or Mexican authorities at the time. In December 2011, W-M disclosed to the SEC that it was conducting an internal investigation into a potential violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, but didn’t say where or give other details. It now says that it also met with SEC and Justice Department officials around that time to alert them to the probe. In a follow-up article, WSJ quotes legal experts saying that if a U.S. government probe were to conclude that W-M violated the FCPA, any fine could amount to millions of dollars, depending on the size of the competitive edge U.S. officials estimated the company gained from any illegal actions. The experts also said that if federal investigators found any evidence of a cover-up, they could bring criminal charges against individual executives at the company. Wal-Mart said in a Mexican regulatory filing Friday that it had removed its general counsel in Mexico, José Luis Rodríguezmacedo Rivera, “effective immediately.” A W-M spokesman said Rivera had been reassigned “in the interests of the investigation”. In a statement, W-M said that ”if these allegations are true, it is not a reflection of who we are or what we stand for. We are deeply concerned by these allegations and are working aggressively to determine what happened.”
 
Safeway’s Challenges Converge During ‘Brutal Time’
Safeway’s stock took a hit last month when Credit Suisse said its pension funds were underfunded by $7B; Safeway said this is a manageable issue. Last week, takeover rumors started after options traders began bidding up the price on three-month contracts (Safeway said it doesn’t comment on rumors). Safeway will report Q1 2012 earnings this week. Last month, it forecast earnings per share up to $2.10, significantly higher than most analysts have projected. But some analysts say they’re unimpressed, given 41% share drop in past five years and their doubts about what actions could be taken to turn around negative EBITDA trend. Growing competition from Walmart, Whole Foods and others expanding their footprints, plus other retail formats expanding their fresh-food offerings, cited as growing challenge for Safeway. Its negotiations with Northern California unions are reportedly hung up thus far over healthcare expenses issues. Separately, Safeway announced that it’s chosen the six “People’s Choice” semifinalists who will compete to become the retailer’s next chef.
 
Supermarket News  (chef competition)
Walgreen to Pay $7.9M to Resolve False Prescription Billing Charges
While denying Justice Dept.’s charges, Walgreen has agreed to pay the fine. Settlement resolves allegations that Walgreen offered illegal inducements, in the form of $25 gift cards, to beneficiaries of government health care programs when they transferred a prescription from another pharmacy to Walgreen. Ads promoting the gift cards said offers were not valid for Medicare, Medicaid, but DOJ alleged employees frequently ignored the exemptions. Two whistleblowers to receive about $1.3 million from the government.  
 
Lee H. Javitch, Builder of Giant Foods Chain, Dies
Lee H. Javitch, former chairman and president of Giant Food Stores, built his father David’s Carlisle Meat Market business into the Giant chain (30+ locations). Chain is now Ahold USA’s Giant-Carlisle banner. 
 
Leevers Buys Wally’s Store from Nash Finch
Distributor Nash Finch sold corporately owned Wally’s Supermarket in Devils Lake, N.D. to one of its independent customers, Leevers Foods. Leevers, also based in Devils Lake, has six other North Dakota stores serviced by Nash Finch. 
 
Spartan Stores Opens Family Fare Store on Earth Day
24-hour store in Wyoming, Mich. and its satellite Family Fare Quick Stop incorporate environmentally friendly features and Spartan’s first LEED certification. Also Retail LEED-certified in Michigan.
 
Progressive Grocer
Hastings Entertainment’s Sales Down
For year ended Jan. 31, books continued to account for 22% of Hastings’ total revenue, but total revenue declined to $496 million from $521 million, and book sales fell 5%, to $109M. Book total includes e-books and sales of Nextbook Premium 7 e-reader tablet, accessories. Sales of used items rose 14.5% (to 15.7% of total), but rentals declined significantly. Hastings will close one store this year, and not open any in 2012, but may open new stores in 2013. 
 
Study: Climate Change to Affect Corn Prices
Research finds that climate change likely to have far greater impact on corn-price volatility over next three years than factors like oil prices, trade policies, government biofuel mandates. Suggests that unless farmers develop more heat-tolerant corn varieties or gradually move corn production from the U.S. to Canada, frequent heat waves will cause sharp price spikes.  
 
2011′s Most Successful CPG Launches Leveraged Targeting, Innovations 
Heightened consumer segment targeting was common to both food/beverage and non-foods launches that made SymphonyIRI’s list of Pacesetters. Many winning food/beverage launches (including #1 P.F. Chang’s Home Menu line) offered restaurant-quality ingredients, recipes, as well as convenience. Winning non-foods launches (including #1 Pampers Cruisers/Swaddlers with Dry Max) leveraged tech advancements to make consumers’ lives easier.
 
MediaPost Marketing Daily
Kellogg Trims Its Forecast
Cuts full-year guidance due to weak Q1 results attributed to weak volume in some U.S. categories and Europe. $1 per-share earnings flat with previous year Q1, but sales -1.3%. Full-year earnings now projected at $3.18 to $3.30 on sales growth of 2-3%; analysts had expected $3.48 on 6% sales growth. 
 
Nestlé to Buy Pfizer Infant Nutrition Unit
Nestlé SA confirmed it will acquire Pfizer’s infant nutrition business. $11.85 billion deal will cement Nestlé’s leading position in global baby-formula market. 85% of Pfizer Nutrition’s sales (est. $2.4B for 2012) are in emerging markets.
 
WSJ
Kimberly-Clark’s Q1 Earnings Up 34%
Sluggish U.S. demand for diapers offset by double-digit increases in emerging markets. Personal-care sales up 8.2% globally, in part reflecting price hikes in N.A. Overall global sales up 4.2%; organic global sales up 6%.  
 
Opinion: Retailers Should Deliver on Magazine Display Promises
Publishing consultant Linda Ruth urges retailers to ensure that the checkout placements paid for by magazine publishers are not blocked by displays of other items. Obscured magazines impact impulse sales for retailers and publishers, and the sales performance metrics that determine retailer and wholesaler decisions regarding titles, as well as publishers’ renewals of display placement agreements, she writes.   
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9769 0 April 20, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9767 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9767#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:15:23 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9767

Publishing News

Conde Ideactive Exec: Digital Offerings Aren’t Decreasing Print Demand
In Q&A, Pat Connelly, head of strategy for the Conde Nast Ideactive agency unit, says CN is seeing incremental audience growth and engagement by adding multiple channels. “Consumers] may subscribe to the magazine as a staring point, but they’re not moving over to a digital edition or moving over to an iPhone application to replace the magazine,” he notes. Also discusses effects of programmatic buying and “always on” content approach, success metrics for branded content, and how tablets in particular are changing the strategic scenario. 
 
AdExchanger.com

E-Book Suits Filed in Canada
Two Ontario law firms and one Vancouver firm have filed e-book pricing class-action suits against Apple and the Canadian subsidiaries of Macmillan, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and Hachette. 
 
MSLO Is Sued by Investor; Martha Stewart to Have PBS Show
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has been sued by a sharedholder over a proposed increase in the number of shares in a stock-option plan; seeking class-action status on behalf of other shareholders. Separately, “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School,” inspired by her best-selling book, will be presented in association with PBS station WETA Washington, D.C., and will air on PBS stations across the nation beginning this fall.
 

Bloomberg (investor suit) 
MediaBistro (PBS show)

People Launches Teacher Awards
Time Inc.’s People has launched a new “Teacher of the Year” awards program, sponsored by Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats. The winners will be featured in People’s October 22 issue and receive $5,000 ($4,000 for their schools, $1,000 for themselves). Nominations are being accepted through an app on People.com.
 
Personnel Changes at Parenting Magazines 
Jamie Engel has been named VP, publisher of Scholastic Parent & Child magazine. He was previously group associate publisher at Bonnier’s The Parenting Group. Separately, Bonnier’s The Parenting Group promoted Amy Lloyd and Jacie Brandes from national ad sales directors to associate publishers, reporting to VP/Group Publisher Mark Wildman. TPG’s brands include Parenting, Babytalk and Conceive. 
 
Forbes Launches Lifetime Financial Planning App
Free iPad app features a calculator that suggests how much a user should spend, save and insure each year to achieve a stable living standard, now and through retirement, plus live-stream of latest retirement content from Forbes; financial advice from experts, archiving and sharing of results, articles. 
 
Release
Fortune Expands ’500′ Franchise
Fanfare for this year’s debut of list to include Fortune 500 Day on May 7: Full day of events, including a reveal of the list on “CBS This Morning,” job fairs, the ringing of the closing bell on the NY Stock Exchange, and a Fortune 500 Day Dinner. 
 
Wired Launches Online Design Vertical
Wired Design seeks to highlight the burgeoning “creator economy” and its own new site design, soon to roll out. The design section will cover influential designers, cool infographics, best and worst new products.  
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE;

Retail News

Economy: Indicators Signal Slower Growth
Jobs and home sales made gains during an unusually mild winter, but latest reports may signal a “springtime stall” for third year in a row. But consumer confidence, auto sales still showing strength. Economists believe total economic output in the first three months of 2011 grew at a rate a bit above 2%—slower than at the end of 2011 but significantly stronger than the same period a year ago. Separately, NYT reports consumer debt levels (mortgage, credit cards) now down to 10.9% of disposable income, the lowest since 1994–positive sign for ability to spend. 
 
WSJ  (spring stall)
NYT   (debt levels) 
Nidiffer Named C&K Chairman, Sandeno CEO
Doug Nidiffer to retire as president/CEO and become chairman of the board, effective May 1. Greg Sandeno, currently VP/COO, to succeed him as CEO. Oregon-based C&K operators 62 supermarkets and 13 free-standing pharmacies. 
 
Supermarket News
Giant Eagle Using Planograms Optimization
Has implemented Galleria’s Promotional Display Optimization solution across its 229 supermarkets to generate thousands of store-specific display plans on a daily basis. Includes ability to anticipate by-store demand for products on end-cap displays. 
 
IBM-Toshiba Deal Shakes Up POS Market
IBM’s new agreement to sell its Retail Store Solutions (RSS) business, which includes its POS hardware and software products, to POS system maker Toshiba TEC, Tokyo, promises to shake up the POS systems market for food retailers, and create more level playing field for other POS technology suppliers, said Greg Buzek, president of IHL Group. IBM has held a 70%+ position since the 90′s. 
 
Wal-Mart Announces Sustainability Expansion
At its 2012 Sustainability Milestone Meeting, Wal-Mart said it has piloted its “sustainability scorecard” across nine to 10 categories over the past year, and plans to roll it out to another 100 categories across its U.S. businesses this year (including cereal and apparel and possibly hardware, electronics, toys). In addition, plans to launch an “incentive plan” incorporating sustainability progress for its buyers and merchants. Will recognize suppliers that are supporting sustainability, while meeting with those that “aren’t doing so well.”
 
Supermarket News
Books-A-Million Reports Fiscal Results
In fiscal ended January, book and magazine sales declined 9.2%, to $345M. Electronics, e-book and accessories sales up 133%. Nook devices, accessories and e-book content rose to only $14 million, 3.1% of revenue compared to 1.2% prior year. Books/magazines comprised 73.7% of total 2011 sales, down from 78.1% in 2010. GM sales up $6M to $54M; music, DVD, “other” +6%, to $34M. Q3/Q4 addition of 41 former Borders stores generated sales of $28.2M, but overall physical-outlet sales -5.3%, to $453M (comp sales -9.5%). Finished 2011 with 257 stores (204 superstores, 53 traditional); new stores offset in part by 26 closings. E-commerce arm sales +17.6% to $30M, led by e-books and devices. Online sales of print books and other physical products declined 18%. 
 
Ahold: Consumer in Control
At annual meeting, Ahold said it’s well positioned to capitalize on shoppers’ empowerment and changing behaviors. Current fiscal will see continuation of its six “strategic pillars” built around growing sales through increased customer loyalty, broader offerings and expanded geographic reach, and supported by internal efforts to reduce complexity, act responsibility and support employees. Will expand transaction-driven, targeted direct mail, email programs. Noted renovations, format evolution and acquisitions progress at U.S. banners, and a double-digit 2011 sales gain for Peapod. 
 
Unions Reach Agreement with Foodtown, Tops
New Jersey-based UFCW local ratified contract covering 371 Foodtown employees. Also, UFCW Philadelphia local ratified new contract with Tops Markets covering workers in four Pennsylvania stores.
 
Supermarket News  (Foodtown)
Supermarket News  (Tops)
Consumer Groups Want ES/Medco Merger Dismantled; SXC, Catalyst to Merge
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday accepted an amici curiae from the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices and U.S. PIRG (a federation of 28 nonprofit, nonpartisan state Public Interest Research Groups) on behalf of retail pharmacy plaintiffs in their suit to dismantle the Express Scripts-Medco merger. Separately, PBMs SXC Health Solutions and Catalyst Health Solutions announced an agreement to merge in a cash/stock transaction valued at $4.4B.
 
Drugstore News  (ES/Medco merger)
Drugstore News  (SXC/Catalyst merger) 
Nestlé SA: Sales Gains, Volume Declines
Q1 global sales +5.6%, but volume growth slowed to 2.8% from 4.9%. North American volume down due to declines in frozen food sales. Company reaffirmed its guidance. Separately, the European Patent Office upheld a patent protecting Nestle’s Nespresso coffee system from compatible capsules made by other companies (including Sara Lee Corp.). 
 
WSJ  (financials)
WSJ  (Nespresso patent)
Opinion: What Amazon’s E-Book Strategy Means
Book author Charles Stross says publishers and retailers must understand three concepts underlying Amazon’s strategy: disintermediation, monopoly and “monopsony” (a market form in which only one buyer faces many sellers). Also contends that DRM on e-books is on its way out. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9767 0 April 20, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9737 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9737#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:13:12 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9737

Publishing News

Conde Ideactive Exec: Digital Offerings Aren’t Decreasing Print Demand
In Q&A, Pat Connelly, head of strategy for the Conde Nast Ideactive agency unit, says CN is seeing incremental audience growth and engagement by adding multiple channels. “Consumers] may subscribe to the magazine as a staring point, but they’re not moving over to a digital edition or moving over to an iPhone application to replace the magazine,” he notes. Also discusses effects of programmatic buying and “always on” content approach, success metrics for branded content, and how tablets in particular are changing the strategic scenario. 
 
AdExchanger.com

E-Book Suits Filed in Canada
Two Ontario law firms and one Vancouver firm have filed e-book pricing class-action suits against Apple and the Canadian subsidiaries of Macmillan, Penguin, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins and Hachette. 
 
MSLO Is Sued by Investor; Martha Stewart to Have PBS Show
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has been sued by a sharedholder over a proposed increase in the number of shares in a stock-option plan; seeking class-action status on behalf of other shareholders. Separately, “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School,” inspired by her best-selling book, will be presented in association with PBS station WETA Washington, D.C., and will air on PBS stations across the nation beginning this fall.
 

Bloomberg (investor suit) 
MediaBistro (PBS show)

People Launches Teacher Awards
Time Inc.’s People has launched a new “Teacher of the Year” awards program, sponsored by Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats. The winners will be featured in People’s October 22 issue and receive $5,000 ($4,000 for their schools, $1,000 for themselves). Nominations are being accepted through an app on People.com.
 
Personnel Changes at Parenting Magazines 
Jamie Engel has been named VP, publisher of Scholastic Parent & Child magazine. He was previously group associate publisher at Bonnier’s The Parenting Group. Separately, Bonnier’s The Parenting Group promoted Amy Lloyd and Jacie Brandes from national ad sales directors to associate publishers, reporting to VP/Group Publisher Mark Wildman. TPG’s brands include Parenting, Babytalk and Conceive. 
 
Forbes Launches Lifetime Financial Planning App
Free iPad app features a calculator that suggests how much a user should spend, save and insure each year to achieve a stable living standard, now and through retirement, plus live-stream of latest retirement content from Forbes; financial advice from experts, archiving and sharing of results, articles. 
 
Release
Fortune Expands ’500′ Franchise
Fanfare for this year’s debut of list to include Fortune 500 Day on May 7: Full day of events, including a reveal of the list on “CBS This Morning,” job fairs, the ringing of the closing bell on the NY Stock Exchange, and a Fortune 500 Day Dinner. 
 
Wired Launches Online Design Vertical
Wired Design seeks to highlight the burgeoning “creator economy” and its own new site design, soon to roll out. The design section will cover influential designers, cool infographics, best and worst new products.  
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE;

Retail News

Economy: Indicators Signal Slower Growth
Jobs and home sales made gains during an unusually mild winter, but latest reports may signal a “springtime stall” for third year in a row. But consumer confidence, auto sales still showing strength. Economists believe total economic output in the first three months of 2011 grew at a rate a bit above 2%—slower than at the end of 2011 but significantly stronger than the same period a year ago. Separately, NYT reports consumer debt levels (mortgage, credit cards) now down to 10.9% of disposable income, the lowest since 1994–positive sign for ability to spend. 
 
WSJ  (spring stall)
NYT   (debt levels) 
Nidiffer Named C&K Chairman, Sandeno CEO
Doug Nidiffer to retire as president/CEO and become chairman of the board, effective May 1. Greg Sandeno, currently VP/COO, to succeed him as CEO. Oregon-based C&K operators 62 supermarkets and 13 free-standing pharmacies. 
 
Supermarket News
Giant Eagle Using Planograms Optimization
Has implemented Galleria’s Promotional Display Optimization solution across its 229 supermarkets to generate thousands of store-specific display plans on a daily basis. Includes ability to anticipate by-store demand for products on end-cap displays. 
 
IBM-Toshiba Deal Shakes Up POS Market
IBM’s new agreement to sell its Retail Store Solutions (RSS) business, which includes its POS hardware and software products, to POS system maker Toshiba TEC, Tokyo, promises to shake up the POS systems market for food retailers, and create more level playing field for other POS technology suppliers, said Greg Buzek, president of IHL Group. IBM has held a 70%+ position since the 90′s. 
 
Wal-Mart Announces Sustainability Expansion
At its 2012 Sustainability Milestone Meeting, Wal-Mart said it has piloted its “sustainability scorecard” across nine to 10 categories over the past year, and plans to roll it out to another 100 categories across its U.S. businesses this year (including cereal and apparel and possibly hardware, electronics, toys). In addition, plans to launch an “incentive plan” incorporating sustainability progress for its buyers and merchants. Will recognize suppliers that are supporting sustainability, while meeting with those that “aren’t doing so well.”
 
Supermarket News
Books-A-Million Reports Fiscal Results
In fiscal ended January, book and magazine sales declined 9.2%, to $345M. Electronics, e-book and accessories sales up 133%. Nook devices, accessories and e-book content rose to only $14 million, 3.1% of revenue compared to 1.2% prior year. Books/magazines comprised 73.7% of total 2011 sales, down from 78.1% in 2010. GM sales up $6M to $54M; music, DVD, “other” +6%, to $34M. Q3/Q4 addition of 41 former Borders stores generated sales of $28.2M, but overall physical-outlet sales -5.3%, to $453M (comp sales -9.5%). Finished 2011 with 257 stores (204 superstores, 53 traditional); new stores offset in part by 26 closings. E-commerce arm sales +17.6% to $30M, led by e-books and devices. Online sales of print books and other physical products declined 18%. 
 
Ahold: Consumer in Control
At annual meeting, Ahold said it’s well positioned to capitalize on shoppers’ empowerment and changing behaviors. Current fiscal will see continuation of its six “strategic pillars” built around growing sales through increased customer loyalty, broader offerings and expanded geographic reach, and supported by internal efforts to reduce complexity, act responsibility and support employees. Will expand transaction-driven, targeted direct mail, email programs. Noted renovations, format evolution and acquisitions progress at U.S. banners, and a double-digit 2011 sales gain for Peapod. 
 
Unions Reach Agreement with Foodtown, Tops
New Jersey-based UFCW local ratified contract covering 371 Foodtown employees. Also, UFCW Philadelphia local ratified new contract with Tops Markets covering workers in four Pennsylvania stores.
 
Supermarket News  (Foodtown)
Supermarket News  (Tops)
Consumer Groups Want ES/Medco Merger Dismantled; SXC, Catalyst to Merge
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday accepted an amici curiae from the Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices and U.S. PIRG (a federation of 28 nonprofit, nonpartisan state Public Interest Research Groups) on behalf of retail pharmacy plaintiffs in their suit to dismantle the Express Scripts-Medco merger. Separately, PBMs SXC Health Solutions and Catalyst Health Solutions announced an agreement to merge in a cash/stock transaction valued at $4.4B.
 
Drugstore News  (ES/Medco merger)
Drugstore News  (SXC/Catalyst merger) 
Nestlé SA: Sales Gains, Volume Declines
Q1 global sales +5.6%, but volume growth slowed to 2.8% from 4.9%. North American volume down due to declines in frozen food sales. Company reaffirmed its guidance. Separately, the European Patent Office upheld a patent protecting Nestle’s Nespresso coffee system from compatible capsules made by other companies (including Sara Lee Corp.). 
 
WSJ  (financials)
WSJ  (Nespresso patent)
Opinion: What Amazon’s E-Book Strategy Means
Book author Charles Stross says publishers and retailers must understand three concepts underlying Amazon’s strategy: disintermediation, monopoly and “monopsony” (a market form in which only one buyer faces many sellers). Also contends that DRM on e-books is on its way out. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9737 0 April 19, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9732 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9732#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:09:45 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9732

Publishing News

Conde’s W Going Strong After 40 Years
Since new editor Stefano Tonchi took charge in spring 2010, the title has overcome an identity crisis, differentiating itself from other luxury magazines through more adventurous, surprising editorial, covers featuring “up-and-comers” (it was first to feature “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” star Rooney Mara), and an overhauled site featuring more Hollywood news/entertainment. 

Rodale Launches YouTube Fitness Channel
Partnering with production company BermanBraun to launch health/fitness-oriented YouTube channel called 3V. The first series is “Woman v. Workout,” reality-lifestyle shorts featuring fitness model Lauren Berlingeri trying out exercise regimens. 
Out’s Staff Gets Outsourced 
The 12-person editorial staff of gay lifestyle magazine Out is being laid off as of Friday with one month’s severance. However, Out editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin says he’ll hire back some of the editors on a contract basis for a new company he is founding called Grand Editorial. That company will operate Out as a contractor for Here Media, sister company of Regent Entertainment Inc., which acquired Out in 2008. Hicklin says there will be no reduction in the magazine’s frequency, or any major editorial changes.  
 
Publishers Seek to Resolve E-Book Case
Hachette Book Group and HarperCollins hope to extend an agreement with state regulators nationwide to resolve consumer litigation over e-books. Last week, 16 states and Puerto Rico filed suits against three other major publishers (Simon & Schuster, Penguin Group, Macmillan), plus Apple, in federal court in Texas, alleging they colluded to raise e-book prices. At the same time, Connecticut and Texas announced they had reached a memorandum of understanding to resolve allegations against Hachette and HarperCollins. At a hearing yesterday for the federal, Justice Dept. case, Hachette and HarperCollins said they hope an agreement can be reached with all 50 states in the next 60 days. (Reuters says agreement includes paying $51M in restitution to consumers.) This might eliminate need for separate, private class-action litigation on behalf of e-book purchasers (although it might cover only consumers, not school and business purchasers of e-books). S&S also negotiating with the states. Macmillan, Penguin Group and Apple reiterated intention to fight Justice Dept. suit. 


WSJ
Reuters

Amazon Publishing’s Kirshbaum Shares Details of How It Will Work
In interview with Random House editor Daniel Menaker, Kirshbaum says it’s really just a small, start-up book publisher and is operating as such in many respects; that most agents are excited about a new way to publish (including using Amazon’s database to reach readers directly); and promises Amazon will be employing “really innovative” marketing concepts.  

Digital Advertising Jumped 22% in 2011
To $31 billion, driven by strong growth in the search and display sectors, according to Price Waterhouse Coopers U.S. report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

Opinions: E-Book Suit and Book Publishing’s Broader Challenges 
Piece summarizes viewpoints from several sources, including Joe Brockmeier (ReadWriteWeb) disagrees with DOJ suit, but says DRM proliferation and platform lock-in, the perpetual copyright implemented by Congress, and Amazon’s problematic relationships with publishers large and small are the major problems. 
 

Retail News

Economy: Jobless Claims Decreases Slowed Last Week
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 386,000. Economists expected them to fall to 37,000. The prior week’s figure was revised up to 388,000 from the previously reported 380,000. The four-week moving average for new claims rose 5,500 to 374,750. Employers added 120,000 new jobs to payrolls in March, the least since October, after averaging 246,000 jobs per month during the prior three months. 

Tesco Pushes Back Break-Even Date for Fresh & Easy
Despite reduced losses, Tesco here has pushed back the timeframe for reaching a break-even point for the U.S. Fresh & Easy chain to early 2014 rather than early 2013. For the year, the loss at Fresh & Easy was $245 million (U.S.), compared with $303.6 million a year ago. Sales for the year rose 26.3% to $1.02 billion, and comparable-store sales increased 11.9%.
 
Metro Inc.’s Q2 Sales, Earnings Up
Net earnings up 12.1% to $96.5 million (U.S.) on a 1% increase in same-store sales. Overall sales of $2.7 billion increased by 3.7%, including a contribution from its newly acquired Adonis and Phoenica businesses of $59.2 million.
 
United Way of NYC Criticizes Food Desert Studies
Says data from the RAND Corporation and Public Policy Institute of California indicating obesity is not tied to food deserts ”does not paint the full picture.”
 
Marsh Shoppers Save $12.5M With Low-Pricing Program
Good ’Til programs guranteeing low pricing through a specific period have saved that much for shoppers since last October. The latest Good ‘Til program will continue through July 4. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9732 0 April 19, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9709 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9709#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 12:56:02 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9709

Publishing News

Conde’s W Going Strong After 40 Years
Since new editor Stefano Tonchi took charge in spring 2010, the title has overcome an identity crisis, differentiating itself from other luxury magazines through more adventurous, surprising editorial, covers featuring “up-and-comers” (it was first to feature “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” star Rooney Mara), and an overhauled site featuring more Hollywood news/entertainment. 

Rodale Launches YouTube Fitness Channel
Partnering with production company BermanBraun to launch health/fitness-oriented YouTube channel called 3V. The first series is “Woman v. Workout,” reality-lifestyle shorts featuring fitness model Lauren Berlingeri trying out exercise regimens. 
Out’s Staff Gets Outsourced 
The 12-person editorial staff of gay lifestyle magazine Out is being laid off as of Friday with one month’s severance. However, Out editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin says he’ll hire back some of the editors on a contract basis for a new company he is founding called Grand Editorial. That company will operate Out as a contractor for Here Media, sister company of Regent Entertainment Inc., which acquired Out in 2008. Hicklin says there will be no reduction in the magazine’s frequency, or any major editorial changes.  
 
Publishers Seek to Resolve E-Book Case
Hachette Book Group and HarperCollins hope to extend an agreement with state regulators nationwide to resolve consumer litigation over e-books. Last week, 16 states and Puerto Rico filed suits against three other major publishers (Simon & Schuster, Penguin Group, Macmillan), plus Apple, in federal court in Texas, alleging they colluded to raise e-book prices. At the same time, Connecticut and Texas announced they had reached a memorandum of understanding to resolve allegations against Hachette and HarperCollins. At a hearing yesterday for the federal, Justice Dept. case, Hachette and HarperCollins said they hope an agreement can be reached with all 50 states in the next 60 days. (Reuters says agreement includes paying $51M in restitution to consumers.) This might eliminate need for separate, private class-action litigation on behalf of e-book purchasers (although it might cover only consumers, not school and business purchasers of e-books). S&S also negotiating with the states. Macmillan, Penguin Group and Apple reiterated intention to fight Justice Dept. suit. 


WSJ
Reuters

Amazon Publishing’s Kirshbaum Shares Details of How It Will Work
In interview with Random House editor Daniel Menaker, Kirshbaum says it’s really just a small, start-up book publisher and is operating as such in many respects; that most agents are excited about a new way to publish (including using Amazon’s database to reach readers directly); and promises Amazon will be employing “really innovative” marketing concepts.  

Digital Advertising Jumped 22% in 2011
To $31 billion, driven by strong growth in the search and display sectors, according to Price Waterhouse Coopers U.S. report from the Interactive Advertising Bureau.

Opinions: E-Book Suit and Book Publishing’s Broader Challenges 
Piece summarizes viewpoints from several sources, including Joe Brockmeier (ReadWriteWeb) disagrees with DOJ suit, but says DRM proliferation and platform lock-in, the perpetual copyright implemented by Congress, and Amazon’s problematic relationships with publishers large and small are the major problems. 
 

Retail News

Economy: Jobless Claims Decreases Slowed Last Week
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 386,000. Economists expected them to fall to 37,000. The prior week’s figure was revised up to 388,000 from the previously reported 380,000. The four-week moving average for new claims rose 5,500 to 374,750. Employers added 120,000 new jobs to payrolls in March, the least since October, after averaging 246,000 jobs per month during the prior three months. 

Tesco Pushes Back Break-Even Date for Fresh & Easy
Despite reduced losses, Tesco here has pushed back the timeframe for reaching a break-even point for the U.S. Fresh & Easy chain to early 2014 rather than early 2013. For the year, the loss at Fresh & Easy was $245 million (U.S.), compared with $303.6 million a year ago. Sales for the year rose 26.3% to $1.02 billion, and comparable-store sales increased 11.9%.
 
Metro Inc.’s Q2 Sales, Earnings Up
Net earnings up 12.1% to $96.5 million (U.S.) on a 1% increase in same-store sales. Overall sales of $2.7 billion increased by 3.7%, including a contribution from its newly acquired Adonis and Phoenica businesses of $59.2 million.
 
United Way of NYC Criticizes Food Desert Studies
Says data from the RAND Corporation and Public Policy Institute of California indicating obesity is not tied to food deserts ”does not paint the full picture.”
 
Marsh Shoppers Save $12.5M With Low-Pricing Program
Good ’Til programs guranteeing low pricing through a specific period have saved that much for shoppers since last October. The latest Good ‘Til program will continue through July 4. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9709 0 April 18, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9707 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9707#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:04:10 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9707

Publishing News

NY Post: People Rushes Out Pitt/Jolie Engagement Issue; Hudson’s Cohen Becoming Media ‘Power-Broker’ 
People expedited production and distribution of issue featuring engagement news re Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; closed on Friday, began to hit stores Monday. Also, recent Kate Middleton issue (“Is She Pregnant?”) sold nearly 1.2M copies. Separately, Post reports that Hudson News’s James Cohen is emerging as a media “power-broker” behind the scenes. Cites Hudson Media’s investment as partner with Jim Pattison Group in Comag Marketing Group; investment with AMI in OK! acquisition; investment with Jason Binn in Du Jour Media (magazine for the rich). And now said to be in talks with Gilvest LP, privately held investment group that owns digital magazine vendor Zinio.
 
NY Post
Hearst News: New Digital Ad Network Chief; Elle Launching S-Commerce Initiative on Facebook
Gina Garrubbo (fromerly EVP of BlogHer) has been named SVP of Hearst Magazines International’s Global Women’s Digital Advertising Network. Separately, Elle and Hearst Digital announced that Elle is the first magazine brand to launch an S-commerce initiative on a brand’s Facebook page. Will offer consumers an editorially curated “Trend Guide” with viral content that links to product pages where items can be purchased. The S-Commerce program will be ongoing and will be refreshed with new content multiple times throughout the year. 
 
MediaBistro (Garrubbo hire)
Elle news release (no link available yet)
Planters, Men’s Health Launch Mixed Nuts Product 
Kraft’s Planters brand and Rodale’s Men’s Health magazine have partnered to market Planters Nut-rition Men’s Health Recommended Mix. Men’s Health has previously lent its name to a Carl’s Jr. turkey burger and (through licensing) to a Microsoft Kinect video game (as well as publishing books including “Eat This, Not That!” and “The Men’s Health Diet”). Publisher Ronan Gardiner says MH is frequently approached with co-branding opportunities by a variety of products; it went with the Planters product idea because a healthy men’s snack had “natural synergy” with the MH brand. The product’s marketing will include an ad on the back cover of MH’s May issue and a TV spot to air on ESPN, Fox News, MSNBC, TBS. 
 
HuffPo Launching Weekly Magazine App
On April 24, Huffington Post will debut the weekly Huffington, the Huffington Post Magazine for the iPad. Format described as enabling HuffPo to “silo” top stories so as to spotlight them, make them easy to find, once they are pushed off the top of the news site, as well as include long-form stories, Q&A’s and other features. 
 
New Campaign to Unite Book Lovers
“Book People Unite” campaign for literacy nonprofit Reading Is Fundamental, supported by Library of Congress and Advertising Council, features a “who’s who” of literary characters and well-known musicians; seeks to encourage and help kids to read. Seven publishers cooperated to enable use of the characters. Campaign urges bibliophiles to take five steps: Sign a pledge on the microsite, share the commercials with friends/family, donate money to RIF, volunteer for community literacy organizations, advocate for the principles of the organization. 
 
Amazon to Republish “Bond” Novels
Acquired, in 10-year deal, North American rights to publish all 14 classic James Bond spy titles by the late Ian Fleming in both print and digital form. To be released this summer under Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint. Paperback editions to be available to all retailers; digital titles will be available only via Kindle e-book store, at least initially. Last month, Random House U.K. Group struck similar deal for the James Bond backlist for English language world-wide rights outside N.A.  
 
WSJ
Harlequin In Deal With YouTube Series Creators
Book (hardcover release set for October) will draw on the hugely popular YouTube series “Sh*t Girls Say.” (Videos mock behavior, phrases deemed stereotypically feminine.)
 
Publishers Weekly
Digital Age Divide Is Widening; Young More Willing to Pay for Digital Content 
McKinsey & Co.’s Ewan Duncan provides examples showing that communications and media consumption habits of those under 35 are more different than is generally realized. Smartphones, not laptops, are their primary devices; they communicate by text or video rather than voice or email (video calling is the big, “hidden” trend); many don’t have landlines or watch standard TV. Stresses that under 35s are 1.6 times more likely to pay for online content, whether buying an app or subscription. “I think we”ll see more companies moving toward a business model that addresses this,” Duncan says.
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
 

Retail News

Economy: Pay Gap Widening
Labor Dept. data show that between the end of the recession in mid-2009 and the first quarter of 2012, earnings of Americans at the top (those who earned more than 90% of all workers) rose 7%, before adjusting for inflation. In same period, wages of those at the bottom (those who earned less than 90% of all workers) rose 2.5%. 
 
NGA Applauds Court Labor Ruling
Federal appeals court temporarily blocked new federal regulations that would require employers to post information for employees about forming unions. Regs were to have taken effect April 30. Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which includes National Grocers Assoc., along with U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sued NLRB over the posting rules and rules re so-called “ambush elections.” CDW called ruling “big win” for the litigants and employers across the country. 
 
Supermarket News
Supermarket Sales Show Inflated Results
According to an SN analysis, the largest publicly traded chains have been able to pass along food-cost increases, but there’s been little real sales progress–and food and gas price inflation point to more of the same during first-half 2012. 
 
Supervalu Expands Waste Diversion Goal
Committing to have 300 stores divert 90% or more of their waste from local landfills by the end of the current fiscal year, Feb. 23, 2013 — an addition of nearly 250 stores to those that have already achieved that goal. During past year, it transitioned 54 stores to 90% waste diversion, exceeding original target of 40 locations.  
 
Pampers Cruisers Lead New-Product Pacesetterstext 
Pampers Cruisers/Swaddlers with Dry Max brought in the most revenue of any new product in 2011 with $296 million in year-one sales across food, drug and mass channels excluding Wal-Mart, according to SymphonyIRI Group, making it one of the top five new product introductions of all time. P.F. Chang’s Home Menu was the top-selling food or beverage with $101.6 million in sales.
 
Tesco Pulling Back on U.K. Store Openings 
Reports slight gain in full-year net profit. Will invest $1.59B to revamp its domestic operations, and reduce new-space openings by
38%, to align with consumer shopping preferences, focus on growth opportunities in online and smaller stores on the high street.
 
WSJ
Study: Most Shoppers Still Make Impulse Purchases
Nine out of 10 shoppers still purchase items not on their lists, according to The Checkout, an ongoing study by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C. Among those who admit purchasing items not on their lists, 66% cited a sale/promotion, 30% cited a coupon, 23% said they wanted to pamper themselves. 61% of off-list shoppers purchase an additional one to three items.
 
Progressive Grocer
February Bookstore Sales Down 4.1%
To just over $1 billion, per Census Bureau preliminary estimates. For first two months of year, sales -1.9%, to $3.06B. 
Store Brands Winning Shopper Loyalty
Clarkston Consulting’s Steve Rosenstock points out that while consumers initially try PL brands for price, the products’ increasing quality and sophistication is resulting in loyalty commensurate with loyalty levels for national brands. Piece focuses on educating consumers about PL brands, including tiered PL brand offerings and specific examples of grocery retailers’ strategies, offerings. 
 
Hispanics Wield $1 Trillion+ Buying Power
New Nielsen report shows U.S. Hispanics’ total buying power growing from $1 trillion to $1.1 trillion between 2010 and 2011, and on track to hit $1.5 trillion by 2015. Data document Hispanics’ diversity, economic advancement, population growth, impact on influencing key product and service categories (60% of Hispanic population is under 35, 75% under 45) and media preferences. 
 
MediaDailyNews
Coca-Cola Co. Sees 8% Q1 Profit Gain
Driven by 5% global volume growth, including U.S./N.A. growth of 1% for flagship Coke brand, 4% growth for Fanta, and 6% growth for still beverages (led by 13% growth for Powerade). 
 
MediaPost Marketing Daily
CPGs Gear Up Olympics Marketing Pushes
Procter & Gamble will invest in its biggest and most global campaign ever, themed “Thank You, Mom.” Spans digital media, print and television ads and a mobile application; cornerstone is a 1 minute 20 second ad showing the mothers of young Olympic athletes preparing them for their day. Coca-Cola will expand its Olympics marketing to nearly 100 markets, vs. 36 during the 2008 Beijing event. Efforts will focus heavily on “recruiting teens by tapping into emotional passion points like sports and music” through content, experiences, conversations in social and other media.
 
NY Times  (P&G campaign)
MediaDailyNews  (Coca-Cola campaign)
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9707 0 April 18, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9678 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9678#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:00:30 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9678

Publishing News

NY Post: People Rushes Out Pitt/Jolie Engagement Issue; Hudson’s Cohen Becoming Media ‘Power-Broker’ 
People expedited production and distribution of issue featuring engagement news re Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie; closed on Friday, began to hit stores Monday. Also, recent Kate Middleton issue (“Is She Pregnant?”) sold nearly 1.2M copies. Separately, Post reports that Hudson News’s James Cohen is emerging as a media “power-broker” behind the scenes. Cites Hudson Media’s investment as partner with Jim Pattison Group in Comag Marketing Group; investment with AMI in OK! acquisition; investment with Jason Binn in Du Jour Media (magazine for the rich). And now said to be in talks with Gilvest LP, privately held investment group that owns digital magazine vendor Zinio.
 
NY Post
Hearst News: New Digital Ad Network Chief; Elle Launching S-Commerce Initiative on Facebook
Gina Garrubbo (fromerly EVP of BlogHer) has been named SVP of Hearst Magazines International’s Global Women’s Digital Advertising Network. Separately, Elle and Hearst Digital announced that Elle is the first magazine brand to launch an S-commerce initiative on a brand’s Facebook page. Will offer consumers an editorially curated “Trend Guide” with viral content that links to product pages where items can be purchased. The S-Commerce program will be ongoing and will be refreshed with new content multiple times throughout the year. 
 
MediaBistro (Garrubbo hire)
Elle news release (no link available yet)
Planters, Men’s Health Launch Mixed Nuts Product 
Kraft’s Planters brand and Rodale’s Men’s Health magazine have partnered to market Planters Nut-rition Men’s Health Recommended Mix. Men’s Health has previously lent its name to a Carl’s Jr. turkey burger and (through licensing) to a Microsoft Kinect video game (as well as publishing books including “Eat This, Not That!” and “The Men’s Health Diet”). Publisher Ronan Gardiner says MH is frequently approached with co-branding opportunities by a variety of products; it went with the Planters product idea because a healthy men’s snack had “natural synergy” with the MH brand. The product’s marketing will include an ad on the back cover of MH’s May issue and a TV spot to air on ESPN, Fox News, MSNBC, TBS. 
 
HuffPo Launching Weekly Magazine App
On April 24, Huffington Post will debut the weekly Huffington, the Huffington Post Magazine for the iPad. Format described as enabling HuffPo to “silo” top stories so as to spotlight them, make them easy to find, once they are pushed off the top of the news site, as well as include long-form stories, Q&A’s and other features. 
 
New Campaign to Unite Book Lovers
“Book People Unite” campaign for literacy nonprofit Reading Is Fundamental, supported by Library of Congress and Advertising Council, features a “who’s who” of literary characters and well-known musicians; seeks to encourage and help kids to read. Seven publishers cooperated to enable use of the characters. Campaign urges bibliophiles to take five steps: Sign a pledge on the microsite, share the commercials with friends/family, donate money to RIF, volunteer for community literacy organizations, advocate for the principles of the organization. 
 
Amazon to Republish “Bond” Novels
Acquired, in 10-year deal, North American rights to publish all 14 classic James Bond spy titles by the late Ian Fleming in both print and digital form. To be released this summer under Amazon’s Thomas & Mercer imprint. Paperback editions to be available to all retailers; digital titles will be available only via Kindle e-book store, at least initially. Last month, Random House U.K. Group struck similar deal for the James Bond backlist for English language world-wide rights outside N.A.  
 
WSJ
Harlequin In Deal With YouTube Series Creators
Book (hardcover release set for October) will draw on the hugely popular YouTube series “Sh*t Girls Say.” (Videos mock behavior, phrases deemed stereotypically feminine.)
 
Publishers Weekly
Digital Age Divide Is Widening; Young More Willing to Pay for Digital Content 
McKinsey & Co.’s Ewan Duncan provides examples showing that communications and media consumption habits of those under 35 are more different than is generally realized. Smartphones, not laptops, are their primary devices; they communicate by text or video rather than voice or email (video calling is the big, “hidden” trend); many don’t have landlines or watch standard TV. Stresses that under 35s are 1.6 times more likely to pay for online content, whether buying an app or subscription. “I think we”ll see more companies moving toward a business model that addresses this,” Duncan says.
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 
 

Retail News

Economy: Pay Gap Widening
Labor Dept. data show that between the end of the recession in mid-2009 and the first quarter of 2012, earnings of Americans at the top (those who earned more than 90% of all workers) rose 7%, before adjusting for inflation. In same period, wages of those at the bottom (those who earned less than 90% of all workers) rose 2.5%. 
 
NGA Applauds Court Labor Ruling
Federal appeals court temporarily blocked new federal regulations that would require employers to post information for employees about forming unions. Regs were to have taken effect April 30. Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, which includes National Grocers Assoc., along with U.S. Chamber of Commerce, sued NLRB over the posting rules and rules re so-called “ambush elections.” CDW called ruling “big win” for the litigants and employers across the country. 
 
Supermarket News
Supermarket Sales Show Inflated Results
According to an SN analysis, the largest publicly traded chains have been able to pass along food-cost increases, but there’s been little real sales progress–and food and gas price inflation point to more of the same during first-half 2012. 
 
Supervalu Expands Waste Diversion Goal
Committing to have 300 stores divert 90% or more of their waste from local landfills by the end of the current fiscal year, Feb. 23, 2013 — an addition of nearly 250 stores to those that have already achieved that goal. During past year, it transitioned 54 stores to 90% waste diversion, exceeding original target of 40 locations.  
 
Pampers Cruisers Lead New-Product Pacesetterstext 
Pampers Cruisers/Swaddlers with Dry Max brought in the most revenue of any new product in 2011 with $296 million in year-one sales across food, drug and mass channels excluding Wal-Mart, according to SymphonyIRI Group, making it one of the top five new product introductions of all time. P.F. Chang’s Home Menu was the top-selling food or beverage with $101.6 million in sales.
 
Tesco Pulling Back on U.K. Store Openings 
Reports slight gain in full-year net profit. Will invest $1.59B to revamp its domestic operations, and reduce new-space openings by
38%, to align with consumer shopping preferences, focus on growth opportunities in online and smaller stores on the high street.
 
WSJ
Study: Most Shoppers Still Make Impulse Purchases
Nine out of 10 shoppers still purchase items not on their lists, according to The Checkout, an ongoing study by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C. Among those who admit purchasing items not on their lists, 66% cited a sale/promotion, 30% cited a coupon, 23% said they wanted to pamper themselves. 61% of off-list shoppers purchase an additional one to three items.
 
Progressive Grocer
February Bookstore Sales Down 4.1%
To just over $1 billion, per Census Bureau preliminary estimates. For first two months of year, sales -1.9%, to $3.06B. 
Store Brands Winning Shopper Loyalty
Clarkston Consulting’s Steve Rosenstock points out that while consumers initially try PL brands for price, the products’ increasing quality and sophistication is resulting in loyalty commensurate with loyalty levels for national brands. Piece focuses on educating consumers about PL brands, including tiered PL brand offerings and specific examples of grocery retailers’ strategies, offerings. 
 
Hispanics Wield $1 Trillion+ Buying Power
New Nielsen report shows U.S. Hispanics’ total buying power growing from $1 trillion to $1.1 trillion between 2010 and 2011, and on track to hit $1.5 trillion by 2015. Data document Hispanics’ diversity, economic advancement, population growth, impact on influencing key product and service categories (60% of Hispanic population is under 35, 75% under 45) and media preferences. 
 
MediaDailyNews
Coca-Cola Co. Sees 8% Q1 Profit Gain
Driven by 5% global volume growth, including U.S./N.A. growth of 1% for flagship Coke brand, 4% growth for Fanta, and 6% growth for still beverages (led by 13% growth for Powerade). 
 
MediaPost Marketing Daily
CPGs Gear Up Olympics Marketing Pushes
Procter & Gamble will invest in its biggest and most global campaign ever, themed “Thank You, Mom.” Spans digital media, print and television ads and a mobile application; cornerstone is a 1 minute 20 second ad showing the mothers of young Olympic athletes preparing them for their day. Coca-Cola will expand its Olympics marketing to nearly 100 markets, vs. 36 during the 2008 Beijing event. Efforts will focus heavily on “recruiting teens by tapping into emotional passion points like sports and music” through content, experiences, conversations in social and other media.
 
NY Times  (P&G campaign)
MediaDailyNews  (Coca-Cola campaign)
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9678 0 April 17, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9676 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9676#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:38:47 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9676

Publishing News

Meredith Corp. Names New Chief Strategy Officer
John Werther, 43, will work with senior management team on evolving corporate and business-unit strategies, sourcing and evaluating new strategic opportunites. Werther, most recently president of Simulmedia TV ad network, previously held senior positions at AOL, including EVP, business development.
 
AP 
Bonnier Names Hano CEO of Mag+
Gregg Hano, currently SVP of corporate sales and technology group at Bonnier Corp., has been named CEO of smartphone and tablet publishing platform Mag+, now a separate company within parent Bonnier AB. Hano replaces Staffan Ekholm, a Mag+ co-founder, who is returning to Stockholm to focus on international business development. Bonnier group publisher Steven Grune promoted to VP to succeed Hano at tech group. 
 
MPA Broadens Kevorkian’s Roles
Association of Magazine Media has promoted Chris Kevorkian, currently EVP, digital, to chief marketing and digital officer. He will be responsible for promoting the value of print and digital magazine media to advertising and marketing decision-makers, and oversee MPA’s marketing and research departments, while continuing to direct MPA’s digital strategies.

MPA release

Names House Beautiful, HSN Partner on Marketplace
Hearst’s House Beautiful magazine and multichannel retailer HSN are launching “House Beautiful Marketplace,” a “stylish decor destination” offering home furnishing items. Launched on HSN site and mobile on April 13; to launch on HSN TV April 17.
Mail Carriers’ Union Proposes Own USPS Rescue Plan
National Association of Letter Carriers issued report arguing USPS’s proposal to close thousands of post offices, cut back service days will only serve to accelerate USPS decline. Instead, they contend USPS should raise stamp prices, find new ways to profit more from its unique reach to every home in the U.S., and replace its multilayered governance system with a corporate-style board of directors with entrepreneurial experience. Union also stated willing to ask its 300K members for more “tough sacrifices,” but did not specify concessions. One of several competing proposals Congress must weigh as pressure mounts for USPS reform legislation.  
 
Pulitzers: No Fiction Prize Awarded
For the first time since 1977, the Pulitzer Prize Board declined to award an honor for fiction. Finalists had included Denis Johnson’s “Train Dreams,” Karen Russell’s “Swamplandia!” and David Foster Wallace’s “The Pale King.” Book publishers expressed outrage. Also no award for editorial writing. Book winners included Malcolm X history by Manning Marable; George F. Kennan biography by John Lewis Gaddis; “Life on Mars” (poetry) by Tracy K. Smith. Media outlet winners included NY Times (2), AP, Philadelphia Inquirer, Seattle Times and notably, first Pulitzers for Huffington Post and Politico.
 
NY Times (summary)
NY Times (book publishers fuming) 
NY Times (awards list)
Magazine Writers Among Best Media Coverage Finalists
Writers of articles published in Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, The Nation on finalists’ list for “best coverage of the media” Mirror Awards from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. 
Amazon Publishing Releases Fall List
Nine titles include memoirs by Penny Marshall, Billy Ray Cyrus. 
 
Apple’s Stock Shows Rare Decline
Monday marked fifth day of decline for stock (-4.1%, to $580.13), putting Apple down 9.9% from its intraday peek of $644 on April 10. Nasdaq, S&P 500 performance heavily dependent on Apple, largest stock within these indexes (Nasdaq -0.8%, S&P -0.5% on Monday). Some analysts believe it’s a normal correction after too-steep rise, extended run of gains. Others cite concerns about rumor that an iPad Mini priced at $200 is in the works, and could cannibalize sales of other iPads; or that Q1 Mac sales may miss analysts’ expectations. Justice Dept. e-book antitrust suit also noted as potential concern.     
 
WSJ  (stock)
Mashable (rumored mini iPad)
Mobile: Ad Revenue Lags Investments
With smartphone shipments exceeding PC shipments for first time in 2011, investors poured $5.8B into mobile start-ups last year. But mobile ads pulled just $1.45B last year, less than 1% of all ad dollars. Hold-ups: Small screens don’t showcase ads well; research proving mobile ads move the needle still lacking. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Supervalu: Krug Departure Triggers Exec Shuffle at Albertsons, Acme, Cub
Albertsons Southern California president Sue Klug to depart at end of the month (to pursue “longtime personal and professional ambitions”). Successor is Dan Sanders, currently president of Philadelphia-based Acme Markets division. Taking over at Acme will be Keith Wyche, who is leaving his post as president of Minnesota-based Cub Foods. Wyche’s successor at Cub is Brian Audette, who was last year promoted to Supervalu’s group VP of merchandising transformation and process improvement.
 
Union Workers to Address Ahold Meeting
Martin’s and Giant Food employees from Virginia were expected to speak yesterday at Ahold’s annual meeting; said they would denounce what they called Giant-Carlisle’s “actively campaigning to prevent workers from exercising the same fundamental rights that many of their U.S. and Dutch counterparts enjoy.” About 65% of Ahold’s U.S. workforce is represented by local unions of the UFCW, but the Giant-Carlisle division, including Martin’s stores, is not organized.
 
Wegmans Rolls Out 40%-Recycled Bags
After successful pilot, rolling out plastic bags made of 40% post-consumer recycled plastic chainwide. Believes the recycled content is among the highest in the industry. 
 
FDA Recalls Tuna Causing Salmonella Outbreak
Moon Marine USA Corp. in Cupertino, Calif., has begun recalling 58,828 pounds of raw yellowfin tuna; believed to be the source of salmonella outbreak that has sickened 100+ people in 20 states. Much of tuna was imported from India. As of yesterday, FDA had not released names of grocery stores, restaurants that may have sold sushi containing the contaminated tuna.  
 
Wal-Mart News Round-Up
W-M announced it will open its first L.A. area Neighborhood Market in San Fernando valley suburb Panorama City by end of year, preceeding Chinatown store to open in early 2013. Separately, W-M will nominate Marissa Mayer as 16th board member. Mayer is VP of global and maps for Google; brings Net product development, engineering, brand management experience to the table. W-M also disclosed that CEO Mike Duke received compensation package totaling $18.1M last fiscal, down 3.1% vs. previous fiscal due to less incentive-based earnings. In addition, W-M’s global e-commerce division is doubling its India hiring target to 200 employees, to create a new software platform that will connect Wal-Mart’s online and store-room products worldwide, for customers and suppliers to interact and shop across devices and outlets globally. Finally, Walmart Foundation will contribute $1.5M to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s International Fund for Women and Girls, for an initiative to empower up to 55K women in Latin America and the Caribbean to build businesses. 


Supermarket News (L.A. store) 
WSJ  (board nomination; CEO compensation)
WSJ  (e-commerce hiring)
Supermarket News (women’s initiative)

Sam’s Club Sees Boost from Pinterest
Exec reports that pinning a recipe to the social networking site led to surge in consumer interest; recommends as a sales-boosting platform.  


Supermarket News
Study Recommends Twitter, LinkedIn as Social Media Starting Points for Grocers
More insights from the multi-part social media study from Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council of North America. Survey found nearly 70% of supermarket CMOs feeling unprepared to integrate social into the marketing mix, not sure where to start. Responding to tweets and exploring LinkedIn’s potential are excellent starting points, says report. More highlights summarized.  
 
Experts Offer Facebook Strategies
Ways for supermarkets to differentiate and drive consumer engagement for their Facebook pages. 
 
]]> http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?feed=rss2&p=9676 0 April 17, 2012 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9654 http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9654#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:34:35 +0000 admin http://ipdahome.org/newsstand/?p=9654

Publishing News

Meredith Corp. Names New Chief Strategy Officer
John Werther, 43, will work with senior management team on evolving corporate and business-unit strategies, sourcing and evaluating new strategic opportunites. Werther, most recently president of Simulmedia TV ad network, previously held senior positions at AOL, including EVP, business development.
 
AP 
Bonnier Names Hano CEO of Mag+
Gregg Hano, currently SVP of corporate sales and technology group at Bonnier Corp., has been named CEO of smartphone and tablet publishing platform Mag+, now a separate company within parent Bonnier AB. Hano replaces Staffan Ekholm, a Mag+ co-founder, who is returning to Stockholm to focus on international business development. Bonnier group publisher Steven Grune promoted to VP to succeed Hano at tech group. 
 
MPA Broadens Kevorkian’s Roles
Association of Magazine Media has promoted Chris Kevorkian, currently EVP, digital, to chief marketing and digital officer. He will be responsible for promoting the value of print and digital magazine media to advertising and marketing decision-makers, and oversee MPA’s marketing and research departments, while continuing to direct MPA’s digital strategies.

MPA release

Names House Beautiful, HSN Partner on Marketplace
Hearst’s House Beautiful magazine and multichannel retailer HSN are launching “House Beautiful Marketplace,” a “stylish decor destination” offering home furnishing items. Launched on HSN site and mobile on April 13; to launch on HSN TV April 17.
Mail Carriers’ Union Proposes Own USPS Rescue Plan
National Association of Letter Carriers issued report arguing USPS’s proposal to close thousands of post offices, cut back service days will only serve to accelerate USPS decline. Instead, they contend USPS should raise stamp prices, find new ways to profit more from its unique reach to every home in the U.S., and replace its multilayered governance system with a corporate-style board of directors with entrepreneurial experience. Union also stated willing to ask its 300K members for more “tough sacrifices,” but did not specify concessions. One of several competing proposals Congress must weigh as pressure mounts for USPS reform legislation.  
 
Pulitzers: No Fiction Prize Awarded
For the first time since 1977, the Pulitzer Prize Board declined to award an honor for fiction. Finalists had included Denis Johnson’s “Train Dreams,” Karen Russell’s “Swamplandia!” and David Foster Wallace’s “The Pale King.” Book publishers expressed outrage. Also no award for editorial writing. Book winners included Malcolm X history by Manning Marable; George F. Kennan biography by John Lewis Gaddis; “Life on Mars” (poetry) by Tracy K. Smith. Media outlet winners included NY Times (2), AP, Philadelphia Inquirer, Seattle Times and notably, first Pulitzers for Huffington Post and Politico.
 
NY Times (summary)
NY Times (book publishers fuming) 
NY Times (awards list)
Magazine Writers Among Best Media Coverage Finalists
Writers of articles published in Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, The Nation on finalists’ list for “best coverage of the media” Mirror Awards from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. 
Amazon Publishing Releases Fall List
Nine titles include memoirs by Penny Marshall, Billy Ray Cyrus. 
 
Apple’s Stock Shows Rare Decline
Monday marked fifth day of decline for stock (-4.1%, to $580.13), putting Apple down 9.9% from its intraday peek of $644 on April 10. Nasdaq, S&P 500 performance heavily dependent on Apple, largest stock within these indexes (Nasdaq -0.8%, S&P -0.5% on Monday). Some analysts believe it’s a normal correction after too-steep rise, extended run of gains. Others cite concerns about rumor that an iPad Mini priced at $200 is in the works, and could cannibalize sales of other iPads; or that Q1 Mac sales may miss analysts’ expectations. Justice Dept. e-book antitrust suit also noted as potential concern.     
 
WSJ  (stock)
Mashable (rumored mini iPad)
Mobile: Ad Revenue Lags Investments
With smartphone shipments exceeding PC shipments for first time in 2011, investors poured $5.8B into mobile start-ups last year. But mobile ads pulled just $1.45B last year, less than 1% of all ad dollars. Hold-ups: Small screens don’t showcase ads well; research proving mobile ads move the needle still lacking. 
 
OTHER NEWS OF NOTE:
 

Retail News

Supervalu: Krug Departure Triggers Exec Shuffle at Albertsons, Acme, Cub
Albertsons Southern California president Sue Klug to depart at end of the month (to pursue “longtime personal and professional ambitions”). Successor is Dan Sanders, currently president of Philadelphia-based Acme Markets division. Taking over at Acme will be Keith Wyche, who is leaving his post as president of Minnesota-based Cub Foods. Wyche’s successor at Cub is Brian Audette, who was last year promoted to Supervalu’s group VP of merchandising transformation and process improvement.
 
Union Workers to Address Ahold Meeting
Martin’s and Giant Food employees from Virginia were expected to speak yesterday at Ahold’s annual meeting; said they would denounce what they called Giant-Carlisle’s “actively campaigning to prevent workers from exercising the same fundamental rights that many of their U.S. and Dutch counterparts enjoy.” About 65% of Ahold’s U.S. workforce is represented by local unions of the UFCW, but the Giant-Carlisle division, including Martin’s stores, is not organized.
 
Wegmans Rolls Out 40%-Recycled Bags
After successful pilot, rolling out plastic bags made of 40% post-consumer recycled plastic chainwide. Believes the recycled content is among the highest in the industry. 
 
FDA Recalls Tuna Causing Salmonella Outbreak
Moon Marine USA Corp. in Cupertino, Calif., has begun recalling 58,828 pounds of raw yellowfin tuna; believed to be the source of salmonella outbreak that has sickened 100+ people in 20 states. Much of tuna was imported from India. As of yesterday, FDA had not released names of grocery stores, restaurants that may have sold sushi containing the contaminated tuna.  
 
Wal-Mart News Round-Up
W-M announced it will open its first L.A. area Neighborhood Market in San Fernando valley suburb Panorama City by end of year, preceeding Chinatown store to open in early 2013. Separately, W-M will nominate Marissa Mayer as 16th board member. Mayer is VP of global and maps for Google; brings Net product development, engineering, brand management experience to the table. W-M also disclosed that CEO Mike Duke received compensation package totaling $18.1M last fiscal, down 3.1% vs. previous fiscal due to less incentive-based earnings. In addition, W-M’s global e-commerce division is doubling its India hiring target to 200 employees, to create a new software platform that will connect Wal-Mart’s online and store-room products worldwide, for customers and suppliers to interact and shop across devices and outlets globally. Finally, Walmart Foundation will contribute $1.5M to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s International Fund for Women and Girls, for an initiative to empower up to 55K women in Latin America and the Caribbean to build businesses. 


Supermarket News (L.A. store) 
WSJ  (board nomination; CEO compensation)
WSJ  (e-commerce hiring)
Supermarket News (women’s initiative)

Sam’s Club Sees Boost from Pinterest
Exec reports that pinning a recipe to the social networking site led to surge in consumer interest; recommends as a sales-boosting platform.  


Supermarket News
Study Recommends Twitter, LinkedIn as Social Media Starting Points for Grocers
More insights from the multi-part social media study from Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council of North America. Survey found nearly 70% of supermarket CMOs feeling unprepared to integrate social into the marketing mix, not sure where to start. Responding to tweets and exploring LinkedIn’s potential are excellent starting points, says report. More highlights summarized.  
 
Experts Offer Facebook Strategies
Ways for supermarkets to differentiate and drive consumer engagement for their Facebook pages. 
 
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