Walmart acquires last mile delivery platform (chainstoreage.com)

There is a bright future for printed books, a recent survey finds. According to the results, printed books will continue to be important, relevant, interesting and still very much appreciated compared to e-books and audiobooks. As one of the leading book paper and cover providers, Stora Enso conducted a study with 80 in-depth interviews in 13 countries across Europe, Asia and North America together with research company Opticom International. The aim was to gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities regarding book publishing and consumption. Participants included publishers, retailers, printers, merchants and new players such as audio and e-book publishers as well as companies that transfer physical books into digital format. “One of the main findings was that there is a positive future for printed books”, says Essi Lauri, VP, Head of Segment Newsprint & Book, in Stora Enso Paper division. Click Read More below for additional information.

Midland, one of North America's largest independent distributors of media for business communications, announced today that industry veteran Robert Rundle has joined the organization as Sr. Product Manager for Graphics and Specialty Media. Robert has over 20 years of experience in the Marketing and Product Management of Offset, Digital and Wide Format Pressure Sensitive Film. “Robert will lead Midland’s efforts to continue to grow our Graphics and Specialty Media product category, including development of new and innovative self-adhesive Specialty Media for offset, digital and wide format inkjet print applications. In today’s challenging print market, these products offer opportunities for printers to offer high value Graphics and Specialty Media solutions to their end user customers. Robert’s expertise in this sector of the market will be an invaluable resource for our customers to leverage”, comments David Field, General Manager of Midland’s Specialty Paper & Film Division.

United Parcel Service workers have given their union the go-ahead to call a strike in what would be their first walkout -- and one of America's most far-reaching picket lines -- in decades. The vote gives union negotiators more sway in contract talks with the shipping giant. The tally released by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Tuesday night had 93 percent of UPS members endorsing the authorization and 91 percent of UPS freight employees backing the measure. A national pact with the union covers about 260,000 UPS workers, and the current contract expires July 31. Click Read More below for additional information.