VIEWPOINT

Setting Priorities

By Michael Duloc, President/CEO Kable Media Services and Chairman, IPDA

As previously reported here, independent channel partners have begun to meet under the auspices of a new industry group, now formally named the Newssstand Industry Council (NIC). NIC is an industry-wide undertaking that provides a platform for constructive, face-to-face discussion among channel partners. The ultimate goal is defining and implementing strategic initiatives that create positive change in the magazine and book categories at retail.

FEATURE

Strategies for a Weak Economy and the Longer Term: Q&A with Hudson Group's Ron Clark

By Karlene Lukovitz

Leveraging promotions and every inch of display space are particularly key for magazines and books in the current climate, says this major wholesaler.

DataTrack 

Economy Driving Shifts in Shopping Patterns and Destinations 

Consumers aren't just cutting back on discretionary purchases: Many are reducing grocery spending and consolidating shopping trips to conserve gas. These trends are driving consumers toward discounters--Wal-Mart, in particular. Here's a round-up of the latest data on consumers' changing shopping habits.

INDUSTRY UPDATES 

Audit Bureau of Circulations to Revisit SBT Issues

Scan-based trading data's ability to meet ABC's circulation auditing standards has been one of consumer magazine publishers' key concerns about accepting true, no-returns SBT environments for magazine sales tracking purposes. 

Major CPG's, Retailers Partner to Improve Industry Category Management 

Some of the world’s largest consumer products goods manufacturers and major U.S. retailers have partnered to analyze category management processes and define next-generation best practices.

ABC Magazines' Average Cover Price Up 1.6% Last Year

The $4.53 average represents a 41% increase since 1997. More key single-copy and circulation data highlights from new MPA analyses...

All Self-Checkout Model: How Accepting Are Consumers?

How receptive are consumers to the all-self-checkout model being used in Tesco's Fresh & Easy chain?

Publisher Briefs

B&N CEO speaks out about book returns...Long Tail author: Free content sells books--and why not add ads?...TV Guide seeing upturn, just in time for sale...Rogers Publishing promotes magazine category to retailers. 

People

Jaime Carey, who has been serving as VP, newsstand business at Barnes & Noble, has been promoted to the new position of B&N chief merchandising officer, responsible for buying for all departments, including magazines, books, music, DVD’s and gift merchandise…Will Michalopoulos has been promoted to VP, retail sales and marketing at Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. He was previously senior director, retail newsstand marketing. Other promotions at HFM include Philip Ketonis to VP, consumer marketing and Dorothee Walliser to VP and publisher, Filipacchi Publishing...At Rodale, Gregg Michaelson has been promoted to EVP customer marketing, overseeing all magazine retail distribution and Rodale's branded Web sites…Dan Farley has been named to run Henry Holt & Company on a permanent basis, after heading Holt in an interim capacity since February…Canadian trade publication Masthead has named Glenn Morgan, president/CEO of Coast-to-Coast Newsstand Services, Newsstand Marketer of the Year…Tom Levy has been named VP, promotions at Done Deal Promotions. He previously held the same position at The Source Interlink Companies.