Pearson is announcing that it has completed the sale of Global Education (GEDU) to Puxin Education. The disposal, together with the sale of associated property assets, is expected to generate gross cash proceeds to Pearson in the region of $80m. GEDU is a leading provider of English language training and test preparation for Chinese students wishing to study abroad. In 2016 the business served 64,000 learners with revenue of £78m and an adjusted operating loss of £4m. In 2016 GEDU had approximately 1,900 FTE employees. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Target Corporation reported a second quarter 2017 comparable sales increase of 1.3 percent and GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $1.22, an increase of 14.2 percent from second quarter 2016. Second quarter adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS) were $1.23, an increase of 0.1 percent from second quarter 2016. The attached tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS. Click Read More below for additional detail.

U.S. e-commerce continues to drive growth in the retail sector, as nonstore sales jumped 11.5% in July, the U.S. Commerce Department reported today. Total retail sales increased 4.3% year over year. In the first month of the third quarter, nonstore sales adjusted for seasonal variations totaled $52.74 billion, compared with $47.31 in July 2016. The 11.5% jump in July is a significant acceleration from June, during which nonstore sales increased 9.3% over the same month last year. Nonstore sales mainly take place online, but also include other sales that take place outside of stores, including mail and telephone orders, door-to-door sales and sales through vending machines. Click Read More below for more of the story.

The U.S. ad market expanded more than 5% during the second quarter, despite “mass market weakness,” and declines in some major national media, according to a quarterly update released early this morning by Pivotal Research Group analyst Brian Wieser. He notes that the market expansion continues to come primarily from digital media, as the national TV ad marketplace eroded 1% and other major media experienced “double digit declines.” Click Read More below for additional detail.

Bookstore sales ended the first half of 2017 with a small gain over the comparable period in 2016, according to preliminary estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Sales rose by $11 million over the first six months of 2016, hitting $5.06 billion, an increase of 0.2%. The small gain was driven by four consecutive months of modest sales increases in 2017 over 2016 after bookstore results had declined in January and February. In June, sales were up 1.5% over June 2016, reaching $721 million. For the entire retail segment, sales for the first half of 2017 rose 4.0% over the comparable 2016 period and were up 2.2% in June. source Publisher'sWeekly.com

The Home Depot® reported sales of $28.1 billion for the second quarter of fiscal 2017, a 6.2 percent increase from the second quarter of fiscal 2016. Comparable store sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 were positive 6.3 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 6.6 percent. Net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2017 were $2.7 billion, or $2.25 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.4 billion, or $1.97 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2016. For the second quarter of fiscal 2017, diluted earnings per share increased 14.2 percent from the same period in the prior year. Click Read More below for additional detail.

American Media, Inc. announced that it was further building on its recent investment in Men’s Journal by increasing the brand’s print circulation to 1.25 million, a 66% increase as current readers of Men’s Journal and Men’s Fitness will be receiving Men’s Journal beginning with the November issue. The integration is part of a broader strategic investment in Men’s Journal that also includes a frequency increase to 12 issues per year and enhancements in both the print and digital products. The brands will continue to maintain separate digital destinations at mensjournal.com and mensfitness.com. “It’s clear, as evidenced by numerous third party research studies, that today’s affluent men are looking for, and eager to invest in, curated experiences and adventures,” said Men’s Journal Chief Revenue Officer Jay Gallagher. “AMI believes that Men’s Journal is well-positioned to meet these consumer demands by extending our national footprint and deepening our authority in this space with the addition of even more world-class editorial and the significant improvements in paper quality and trim size, so that we can continue to build on our position as the only destination for adventurous men.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

With the e-book market showing no signs of returning to robust growth, two of HarperCollins’s main priorities in fiscal 2018 are global expansion and broadening its distribution base in North America, HC’s CEO Brian Murray told PW after the release of the publisher’s financial results for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. In the just-concluded year, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) was $199 million, 7.5% higher than in fiscal 2016, despite a decline of $10 million in sales. Several factors impacted HC’s sales performance: there was one fewer week in the fiscal 2017 than in fiscal 2016, which cost $19 million, and the company suffered from the negative impact of currency fluctuations. Murray said he was “thrilled” with fiscal 2017 from both a publishing and financial standpoint and that the continued decline in e-books isn’t a major concern at the moment. He noted that, in the North American market, gains in print book sales and digital audio made up for the drop in e-book sales and that HC’s print frontlist and backlist sales were almost strong enough to match the revenue generated in fiscal 2016 by Go Set a Watchman. Among the company’s top-selling titles in the year were Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines, and Jesus Calling and Jesus Always by Sarah Young. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Total Company net sales increased 3.5 percent and comparable sales increased 1.7 percent, compared with the same quarter last year. The Company's Anniversary Sale, historically its largest event of the year, performed better than recent trends. Nordstrom continued its progress in executing its customer strategy while maintaining discipline around inventory and expenses: • As a result of the Company's ongoing efforts to provide newness and limited-distribution product to customers, Nordstrom proprietary labels represented three of the top five selling brands during the Anniversary Sale. • In executing its digital strategy, the Company delivered online sales growth of 20 percent at Nordstrom.com, reflecting its largest volume day in company history, and 27 percent at Nordstromrack.com/HauteLook. • The Nordstrom Rewards loyalty program continues to play an important role in reaching new customers and strengthening existing customer relationships. The Company has 9.4 million active Rewards customers in the U.S. and Canada, up approximately 50 percent, from 6.2 million a year ago. Sales from Nordstrom Rewards customers represented 56 percent of second quarter sales, compared with 48 percent a year ago. Click Read More below for additional detail.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. announced financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2017. Total net sales increased 1.5 % to $3.0 billion in the second quarter compared to $2.9 billion in the same period last year. Comparable sales declined (1.3) % for the second quarter, resulting in a positive two-year stack of 0.9 %. Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer said, "We are pleased to deliver a top line sales increase of 1.5 % and quarterly sequential improvement of 220 basis points in our comp sales performance in go forward stores. While broader retail remains challenged, we are encouraged by the improved performance in our total apparel business, including a significant acceleration in kids' apparel. Nearly all categories delivered improved sales results during the quarter, with our growth initiatives in beauty, home refresh and omnichannel continuing to deliver positive sales growth." Click Read More below for additional detail.

Bauer Magazine Media publishes some of the world’s best-known and most loved magazines delivering entertaining, engaging and inspirational content for readers and significant reach for advertisers. Bauer Media is the UK’s leading consumer magazine publisher by total copies sold and Retail Sales Value. HIGHLIGHTS THIS PERIOD: •Bauer Media is No.1 in the TV Listings market •TV Choice celebrates ten years at the top - the only magazine in the UK to sell over 1 million copies every week •Bauer Media is home to two of the fastest growing magazines in the UK; Practical Photography and Garden Answers •Bauer Media is the UK’s No.1 publisher in the True Life market •Take a Break leads the market and is the UK’s No1 women’s weekly •Garden News is the UK’s No.1 weekly gardening title •Garden Answers has recorded its eighth consecutive YOY increase. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Costco Wholesale Corporation announced that Hamilton E. (Tony) James has been elected as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.  He is President, Chief Operating Officer of The Blackstone Group…

There is an idea about magazine media that Madeleine Frank Reeves, senior editor at Country Living, would like to confront head on. As an editorial intern in New York, she was told over and over again that to work in magazines you have to pick up and move to New York and then look for a job. “That’s simply not true.” She also suggests that many of the more harsh critiques of the industry are unfair and not necessarily accurate. With all the depressing headlines lately, there are still positive stories to be told. Data suggests that 91% of adults have read magazine content in the past six months, and magazines still show the highest return on advertising spend (per the 2017 MPA Factbook). “Many more titles are launching than closing each year, and the industry is still growing, in part by finding new ways to create revenue so that we can continue to bring incredible content to readers,” Reeves says. “I know I’m biased, but magazines are important—there’s real value in being able to flip a page to a beautiful opening spread and get drawn into a story you would have never otherwise seen, especially in a time when what people read is so dictated by what their friends are posting on social media.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Robert Thomson said: “Fiscal 2017 was a significant year for News Corp as we saw tangible improvement in profitability, powered by the fast-growing Digital Real Estate Services segment, and we charged a premium for premium content while focusing on operating efficiencies. News Corp led the global debate about content value and values, prompting the digital platforms to address a dysfunctional content eco-system, in which the fake and the fraudulent have flourished. We are now in advanced discussions with those platforms over the creation of payment mechanisms for news of verified veracity. HarperCollins posted higher EBITDA and margins this year through poignant books with broad appeal in the U.S., such as The Magnolia Story and Hillbilly Elegy. We believe that the emergence of digital audio and our expanding global footprint are potent sources of long-term growth. Click Read More below for additional detail.

The New York Times today launched “The New York Times Travel Magazine 新视线.” The magazine will be published by Huasheng Media and circulated six times a year throughout mainland China. It will combine curated travel coverage and photographs from The New York Times, along with original local content. The Travel Magazine 新视线 will be distributed in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Shenzhen, among other cities, and available at newsstands, in bookstores and boutiques, as well as luxury hotels, high-end stores and airport VIP lounges. On the launch, Xuan Feng, the editor-in-chief of the magazine said, “Over the decades, the travel industry has rapidly grown in China and Chinese readers have shown that they want more in-depth travel stories as well as more immersive trips inspired by those stories.” Mr. Feng also serves as the editor-in-chief of T Magazine China. Click Read More below for additional detail.

The U.S. Postal Service reported revenue of $16.7 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 (April 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017). Revenue for the quarter was essentially unchanged compared to the same quarter last year, excluding the effect of a $1.1 billion non-cash change in accounting estimate recognized during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. Revenue from First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail decreased $422 million and $150 million, respectively, over the prior year quarter, due largely to lower volumes. These declines in revenue for these products were nearly offset by continued growth in the lower-margin Shipping and Packages business, with third quarter revenue increasing $473 million, or 11.3 percent, in that part of the Postal Service's business. Operating expenses for the quarter were $18.8 billion, a decrease of $461 million, or 2.4%, compared to the prior year quarter. Expenses for retiree health benefits and workers compensation declined by $869 million and $1.0 billion, respectively, but were partially offset by $1.2 billion in higher retirement expenses largely driven by changes in Office of Personnel Management actuarial assumptions and interest rates. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Kevin Mansell, Kohl's chairman, chief executive officer and president, said, "The traffic momentum that we saw in the combined March/April period accelerated in the second quarter. Though transactions for the quarter were lower than last year, July transactions increased. We are also excited by the sequential sales trend improvement in all our lines of business, all geographic regions, and in both our proprietary and national brand portfolios. Gross margin and SG&A expenses were consistent with our expectations and we are seeing benefits from our ongoing inventory initiatives and the early stages of our cost-saving initiative." Click Read More below for additional detail.

Sales in the second quarter of 2017 totaled $5.552 billion, a decrease of 5.4 percent, compared with sales of $5.866 billion in the second quarter of 2016. The year-over-year decline in total sales reflects, in part, the closure of stores previously announced by the company. Comparable sales on an owned basis were down 2.8 percent in the second quarter and down 2.5 percent on an owned plus licensed basis. Year to date, Macy's, Inc.'s sales totaled $10.890 billion, down 6.4 percent from total sales of $11.637 billion in the first half of 2016. Comparable sales on an owned basis were down 4.0 percent in the first half of 2017 and down 3.6 percent on an owned plus licensed basis. Macy's, Inc.'s operating income totaled $254 million or 4.6 percent of sales for the second quarter of 2017 compared to $117 million, or 2.0 percent of sales for the second quarter of 2016. Excluding non-cash settlement charges of $51 million, operating income for the second quarter of 2017 totaled $305 million or 5.5 percent of sales. Excluding asset impairment and other charges primarily related to store closings of $249 million and non-cash settlement charges of $6 million, operating income for the second quarter of 2016 totaled $372 million or 6.4 percent of sales. For the first half of 2017, Macy's, Inc.'s operating income totaled $474 million or 4.4 percent of sales compared to $393 million or 3.4 percent of sales for the first half of 2016. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Pearson announced the latest in series of partnerships to expand its textbook rental program. Today’s announcement brings Pearson’s textbook rental program to Barnes & Noble Education’s (NYSE:BNED) 1,490 physical and virtual bookstores, serving more than 6 million students. Beginning this fall, the program will be piloted at Barnes & Noble College stores, enhancing their current industry leading rental program with these 49 popular Pearson titles. The titles will be available in print and digital versions via a “rental-only” model, which will provide students with affordable access to the selected titles. All titles under this program can be rented for under $100, with electronic versions of these titles being the lowest cost option. Pearson anticipates expanding the titles included in this program over time. In January, Pearson announced a two-step plan to take on the issue of college affordability. The plan immediately reduced the prices of 2000 e-book titles by up to 50 percent when it was announced earlier this year. The second phase of the effort ensures that students can rent popular print titles online and in-store through trusted retailers. This rental-only model allows Pearson to reduce prices by up to 60 percent and ensure that all students have access to affordable textbooks. The Barnes & Noble College agreement represents the third-and largest-partnership in that program. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Total reported sales for the second quarter of 2017 were $2.4 billion compared to $2.6 billion in the second quarter of 2016, a decrease of 9%. In the second quarter of 2017, Office Depot reported operating income of $46 million and net income of $24 million, or $0.05 per share. Net income from continuing operations was $21 million, or $0.04 per share. In the second quarter of 2016, the company reported operating income of $271 million and net income of $210 million, or $0.38 per share. Net income from continuing operations was $232 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. Results in the second quarter of 2016 benefited from $250 million of income related to the Staples termination fee received in the period. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Popular Science continued to expand its considerable audience reach in June, with an average monthly audience growth of 38% and an increase in unique visitors to PopSci.com of 32% year over year for June. This milestone comes on the heels of Popular Science’s March/April “Water” issue’s star performance on newsstands at 38.3% year over year. The magazine brand’s total audience grew 31.5% year over year, and ranks third among the top ten magazine brands (source: MPA). “I’m extremely proud of the editorial team for all their hard work, which isn’t going unnoticed by Popular Science’s readers,” says Gregory Gatto, Senior Vice President, Managing Director, Bonnier Corporation. “The team has really concentrated on delivering print, digital and social products that are smart, timely, and unique.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

School will be back in session before you know it, meaning there will be supplies to buy, new clothes to try, backpacks to fill, and Box Tops to clip. Since 2011, Boise Paper has contributed nearly $11 million to U.S. schools and remains the exclusive office product partner of Box Tops for Education. Families can support students and local schools by clipping Box Tops from select Boise Paper products. This small action adds up to millions of dollars every year that K-8 schools use to purchase supplies, sports and music equipment, new technology, and more! Purchasing products with Box Tops is just one of five tips Boise Paper has to help you start the school year on a high note. • Start early – Don’t get caught scouring empty store shelves the night before the first day of school. Parents should take stock of what supplies are already at home or what can be reused from last year and begin creating a list of everything needed for the new school year. Once the class supply list is available, shop for essential items right away. For everything else, wait to shop until September when retailers are likely to mark-down supplies even further. Click Read More below for more of the story.

While the definition of a classroom writing tablet has expanded these days, a recent study shows that paper is still important to productive learning. The Paper and Packaging Board surveyed 4,300 students, parents and teachers in the United States and not only does paper have a role in the classroom, but its use and importance is growing. The study revealed three themes around the value of paper for learning. First, paper boosts engagement in school. Nearly two-thirds of K–12 teachers (64%) feel students comprehend information better and are more engaged (63%) when they read on paper. Close to two-thirds (64%) of K–12 teachers reveal their students even respond better to lessons that are based on paper textbooks. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Mail-Gard®, a division of IWCO Direct and one of the nation’s leading providers of critical communication recovery solutions, announced it is creating a dedicated Advanced Recovery Center at its Warminster, Pa. campus. With a second dedicated recovery center located in Hamburg, Pa., the expansion of Mail-Gard’s footprint will improve service delivery while providing increased efficiency of operations, training, and shared resources. With a total of 105,000-square-feet at the primary location, the Advanced Recovery Center will also allow for future expansion of technology and staff necessary to support a robust platform of business continuity, disaster recovery, and print-to-mail overflow services. To accommodate the change, recovery equipment will be relocated from Minnesota to Pennsylvania. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Revenue at Simon & Schuster rose 10% in the second quarter ended June 30, 2017, over the comparable period in 2016, and operating income increased 8%, S&S parent company CBS reported. It was the second consecutive quarter that revenue at S&S grew by double digits in 2017. Revenue in the most recent period was $206 million, up from $187 million, and earnings rose to $28 million from $26 million a year ago. The increase was led by growth in print book sales as well as digital audio. Results also include Adams Media, which S&S bought last November. S&S CEO Carolyn Reidy said the company's children's, audio, and international divisions all had double digit sales increase in the quarter, while sales in the adult group rose by single digits. With digital audio posting another strong quarter, sales of the format were up 34% in the first half of 2017 over the same period of 2016. Reidy estimated that S&S will increase its title output of digital audio by 20% to 25% for the year. Click Read More below for additional detail.

A 1.5% increase in sales in the trade segment was not enough to offset declines in the other major publishing categories in 2016. As a result, industry revenue was 5.1% lower in 2016 than in 2015, dropping to $26.24 billion, according to the final sales estimates released by the Association of American Publishers. Trade sales (including the religious segment) were $15.9 billion in 2016, making trade the largest publishing segment. Within the trade group, sales from religious presses increased 6.9% from the prior year, followed closely by the 6.7% gain in the children’s/young adult fiction category. The increase in sales in the religious segment was attributed by the AAP to the crossover successes of a number of inspirational titles. The gain in the children’s/YA fiction segment was due in part to the blockbuster hit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, which sold more than four million units. Click Read More below for more of the story.

• Gross revenue was $279.5 million in the second quarter, an increase of 4% compared with $269.2 million in the second quarter of 2016. Year-to-date gross revenue was $546.9 million, a 1% increase compared with $540.3 million in the prior period. • Gross profit (net revenue) was a record $70.2 million, or 25.1% of gross revenue in the second quarter, an 8% increase compared to $65.1 million, or 24.2% of gross revenue, in the same period of last year. Year-to-date gross profit (net revenue) was $134.5 million, or 24.6% of gross revenue, an increase of 6% compared to the prior-year period. • Net income was $4.5 million or $0.08 per diluted share in the second quarter, compared to a net loss of $2.3 million or $0.04 per share in the second quarter of 2016. Year-to-date net income was $10.0 million or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to a loss of $5.0 million or $0.09 per diluted share in the same period of 2016. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Hearst Magazines announced that Jon Gluck, formerly managing editor of Vogue, has been named executive director, editorial talent, development and special projects, a new role responsible for senior-level editorial recruiting and magazine development. The announcement was made by Hearst Magazines President David Carey and Chief Content Officer Joanna Coles. Gluck assumes his new position on September 5, reporting to Coles and Scherri Roberts, senior vice president, Human Resources. Gluck will be responsible for senior-level editorial recruitment for Hearst Magazines’ new launches and 20 brands in print, and will work closely with existing editors on magazine development. In addition, he will conceptualize new magazines and special projects, such as live events. “To say that the industry is going through an exciting period of change is an understatement,” Carey said. “Jon will play a central role in the transformation of our U.S. media business, both as we evolve our existing businesses, and acquire and start new ones.”

Time Inc. reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Time Inc. President and CEO Rich Battista said, “I am pleased with our second quarter Adjusted OIBDA of $88 million, which was roughly flat year-over-year. Our revenues continued to be impacted by disruption through the first half of 2017, as we said on our last call. Despite that revenue disruption, we executed in a highly disciplined way, which enabled us to beat Adjusted OIBDA expectations. The third quarter represents an important turning point for the Company as we are seeing strong momentum and sequential improvement of year-over-year trends for total advertising revenues. Today, we are reaffirming our 2017 Adjusted OIBDA outlook.” Battista continued: “On our last earnings call, we outlined aggressive actions—building on what we had accomplished to date—to reduce costs, expand margins, rationalize our portfolio and extend our brands into new growth revenue streams. We’ve been moving with speed and, most significantly, we are announcing today, a strategic transformation program based on a thorough review of Time Inc.’s business. Through this review, we have greater confidence in our path to accelerate the optimization of costs and revenue growth drivers. We have already targeted more than $400 million of run-rate cost savings, with the majority of initiatives expected to be implemented over the course of the next 18 months. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $9.41 billion for the month of July, the four weeks ended July 30, 2017, an increase of 8.8 percent from $8.65 billion during the similar period last year. For the forty-eight weeks ended July 30, 2017, the Company reported net sales of $113.70 billion, an increase of 6.1 percent from $107.16 billion during the similar period last year. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Second quarter operating revenues increased 3.4% to $774.5 million, including a $9.1 million unfavorable foreign currency impact, compared to $748.8 million in the prior year quarter. The year-over-year increase was due to the contribution from acquired operations2. On a same store basis, operating revenues in the second quarter declined 10.6%, a slight improvement compared to a decline in the 2017 first quarter of 10.8%, as a result of improved domestic print advertising and circulation revenues. Total digital revenues in the second quarter grew 43.5% year-over-year to $242.6 million, or approximately 31% of total revenue, which includes the contribution from ReachLocal acquired in August 2016. GAAP net loss for the second quarter was $0.5 million, including $21.8 million of after-tax restructuring, acquisition, severance, asset impairment, facility consolidation and other related costs; approximately $14.6 million of these charges were non-cash. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was $83.7 million compared to $91.7 million in the prior year quarter. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company announced that its Board of Directors has set the close of business on August 21, 2017 as the record date for the proposed spin-off of Seattle SpinCo, Inc., which will hold HPE’s software business (“Seattle”). Subject to the satisfaction of the remaining conditions to the spin-off, on the distribution date for the spin-off, HPE will distribute to HPE stockholders one share of Class A common stock of Seattle (the “Seattle common stock”) for each share of HPE common stock held as of the close of business on the record date. As previously announced, immediately following the spin-off, a wholly owned subsidiary of Micro Focus International plc (“Micro Focus”) will merge with and into Seattle, and Seattle will continue as the surviving company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Micro Focus. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Anyone working in or around the magazine industry knows one thing for certain: Everyone’s got an opinion. Prognostications on the print magazine industry range from doom and gloom to nothing but sunshine and moonbeams. If you’re in the business of print magazines, like we are, you don’t have the luxury of choosing one position or the other. Common business sense requires us to critically examine what’s really going on. Is the print magazine industry in danger of collapse? Let’s take a closer look. Roy Stevenson is a travel magazine writer and industry coach, so he’s deeply in touch with the realities of his market niche. “These naysayers will tell anyone within earshot that the Internet has completely overtaken the print industry,” Stevenson writes on his travel writing site PitchTravelWrite. “One prominent travel blogger even predicted that by the year 2020 print magazines would cease to exist! Naturally, as a print media freelance writer I feel more than a little concern when I hear these gloomy predictions,” he continues. Click Read More below for more of the story.

The service allows customers to have their favourite daily newspaper delivered to their doorstep with an initial six weeks free from delivery cost. To receive a newspaper via post, the individual needs to search for a local newsagent via DeliverMyNewspaper.co.uk, then fill out a registration form on the site and secure free delivery vouchers. Once the vouchers have arrived in the post they must take them to the selected newsagents, pay for the newspaper they want delivered and arrange the deliveries. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Esperanto might never have really taken off, but the Internet seems to be in the process of moving us toward a far more successful and truly universal language: emojis. And as Ashley Stone inventively demonstrates in this design-school project, emojis on paper possess the ability to make us think through important issues as we work to decipher them. What I find particularly appealing about her “Endangered Emojis” series is the simple-yet-effective way in which she adapted a real fundraising campaign led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – its “Stamp out Extinction” initiative – to appeal to teens and twenty-somethings.

For the quarter, on a GAAP basis, total revenue decreased 4.2% to $890.4 million, revenue from retail store sales decreased 6.7% to $601.7 million, Internet and catalog sales decreased 3.9% to $135.7 million, and Financial Services revenue increased 9.0% to $147.2 million. For the quarter, comparable store sales decreased 9.3%.

“As we head into the third quarter, which is historically the busiest quarter in HMH’s selling season, we are encouraged by our results for the first half of 2017,” said Jack Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of HMH. “We experienced strong net sales and billings growth within the extensions of our core Basal business, which are comprised of intervention, professional learning and supplemental products and services, and we took important steps to reduce our fixed cost base and improve our operating efficiency.” Joe Abbott, Chief Financial Officer of HMH added, “We remain on track to deliver against the targets we set at the start of the year and continue to progress our next generation program and platform development in advance of the large new adoption opportunities we anticipate in 2018 and 2019.”

The U.S. Postal Service will pay tribute tomorrow to the beauty and importance of pollinators with stamps depicting two of our continent’s most iconic, the monarch butterfly and the western honeybee, each shown industriously pollinating a variety of plants native to North America. The Protect Pollinators Forever stamps will be dedicated at noon tomorrow at the American Philatelic Society National Summer Convention StampShow in Richmond, VA. Share the news on social media using the hashtags #ProtectPollinators and #PollinatorStamps.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) celebrated the company’s 110-year anniversary today in Seattle’s Waterfall Garden Park. The anniversary, on August 28, will mark the founding of a messenger service company started by James Casey and Claude Ryan in a six-by-17-foot room beneath a tavern run by Ryan's uncle at what is now 219 2nd Avenue South, in the heart of the city’s Pioneer Square area.

Parents magazine unveiled a fresh, new look with its September 2017 issue, on sale nationwide August 8. The dynamic redesign incorporates a modern logo, lively layouts and photography, and an evolved personality that reflects the candor, humor and confidence of today's mom. The September 2017 cover features Rebecca Minkoff – the fashion designer powerhouse and mother of two – as its Back-to-School Mom star with a personal interview and exclusive photos. Under the direction and leadership of Parents Editor-in-Chief Liz Vaccariello, the print redesign focuses on revitalizing the iconic brand. The magazine continues to offer readers its signature trusted content and focus on the needs of diverse millennial women in families of all shapes and sizes. Health and safety articles will advocate for every child's wellbeing, while the lifestyle coverage has evolved to reflect the millennial's unique mindset about food, home and travel. Click Read More below for additional details.

Macmillan Publishers will be leaving its long-time offices in New York's Chelsea neighborhood in 2019. The publisher, which currently occupies all the office space in New York's iconic Flatiron Building, has signed a 20-year lease at 120 Broadway, called the "Equitable Building," in lower Manhattan. "We are delighted to be moving to 120 Broadway," Andrew Weber, COO of Macmillan, said in a statement. "The move will be great for our people and our planned growth, and the architectural heritage of 120 Broadway means we will be moving from one of New York City's great iconic buildings to another." In moving to lower Manhattan, Macmillan will follow HarperCollins and Abrams who have moved south in search of new offices. St. Martin's was the first Macmillan division to move to the Flatiron Building and over the years other divisions followed. Click Read More below for more of the story.

To celebrate pre-K-12 public, private and homeschool educators and administrators, Barnes & Noble, Inc. will kick off the school year with new Educator Appreciation Days every Saturday and Sunday in August. Starting Saturday, August 5, local stores will feature special discounts* including 25% off most merchandise like books, toys and games; and limited-time giveaways from Sterling Publishing, while supplies last. The offer will also be valid online at www.BN.com Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27. “We are thrilled to announce Barnes & Noble’s Educator Appreciation Days to ring in the new school year,” said Tracy Vidakovich, Vice President, Business Development for Barnes & Noble. “Educators and administrators are one of our most loyal customer bases and we want to continue to show our commitment to them with this initiative and savings on their back-to-school purchases.” Click Read More below for additional details.

Sales of adult trade books rose 3.4% in the first quarter of 2017, over the comparable period in 2016, according to the latest figures released by the Association of American Publishers' StatShot program. The adult trade segment was one of three major publishing categories to see an increase in the first three months of the year, over the same time frame in 2016. The higher educational course materials segment experienced the largest gain in the period, with sales up 24.3%. Within adult trade, hardcover sales jumped 18.1% in the quarter, offsetting declines in the paperback formats. Downloadable audio had another strong period, with sales rising 23.1% in the quarter. But e-book sales continued to drop, falling 4.5% in the three-month period. Click Read More below for additional details.

In another move to combat the spread of counterfeit textbooks, Cengage, Elsevier, McGraw-Hill Education, and Pearson announced an agreement with Barnes & Noble Education to implement the industry’s Anti-Counterfeit Best Practices. The best practices were developed earlier this year by the Educational Publishers Enforcement Group (EPEG) with the goal of assisting publishers and distributors looking to tamp down on the growing availability of counterfeit print textbooks. In agreeing to adhere to the best practices program, B&NE will verify the sources of its textbooks. It will also inspect inventory that has a high risk of being counterfeit, and prevent it from infecting the rest of its inventory. And, according to the agreement, when B&NE finds counterfeit books it will share information about the title and supplier with publishers. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Stein Mart announced the locations of its five new stores opening this fall to complete its 2017 store plan to open a total of 10 new stores this year. "We look forward to introducing our customers to these new locations where they will always find great values on the best designer and name brand merchandise, in an attractive, easy-to-shop setting," said Hunt Hawkins, CEO of Stein Mart. "With new merchandising initiatives and a new marketing campaign being launched this fall, we invite all of our customers — new and loyal — to come see and hear what's new at Stein Mart this fall." Click Read More below for additional details.

Revenues for book publishers were $2.33 billion for the first quarter of 2017, a $108 million (4.9%) increase over the first quarter of 2016, according to the StatShot report from Association of American Publishers (AAP). Much of the growth is attributed to increased revenue in the two of the largest categories - Adult books and higher education course materials. StatShot tracks publisher revenue for about 1,200 publishers of trade (fiction/non-fiction/religious), PreK-12 instructional materials, higher education course materials, university presses and professional books. Click Read More below for additional details.

Highlights for the second quarter: • Ended the second quarter of 2017 with $48.4 million of cash and cash equivalents and $9.1 million of restricted cash; Torstar has no bank indebtedness. • Our net loss attributable to equity shareholders was $7.0 million ($0.09 per share) in the second quarter of 2017. This compares to a net loss of $23.9 million ($0.30 per share) in the second quarter of 2016. • Adjusted loss per share was $0.03 in the second quarter of 2017, an improvement of $0.10 from adjusted loss per share of $0.13 in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted loss per share in 2017 and 2016 included $0.24 and $0.50 per share effects of amortization and depreciation. • Our segmented operating loss was $8.1 million in the second quarter of 2017 which included $19.2 million of non-cash amortization and depreciation expense as well as $6.2 million of restructuring and other charges. Click Read More below for additional details.

The Great American Read, an ambitious eight-episode documentary series that PBS has just announced, will explore the place of reading in American culture. The show, which is set to start airing in the summer of 2018, will kickoff with a two-hour program that will reveal a list of America’s 100 best-loved books. The inaugural episode of the series, set for May 2018, will feature the list of 100 best-loved books, chosen by the public and by a panel of literary experts. The final program in the fall will unveil a Top Ten list of America's best-loved books, culminating in the first-ever nation-wide vote to reveal America's single best-loved book of all. Funded by the Public Broadcasting System and produced by the TV production house, Nutopia, The Great American Read will marshal the entire PBS network in a multiplatform campaign. The TV series will be supported by social media campaigns and community reading groups, in addition to testimonials and appearances by figures from the worlds of entertainment, sports, news and literature. Click Read More below for more of the story.

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) announced that the U.S. book publishing industry generated $26.24 billion in net revenue for 2016, representing 2.7 billion in units (volume). Books with religious and inspirational themes from religious presses and trade publishers were among the best-selling books. StatShot Annual estimates the book publishing industry’s size and scope, tracking the sales and volume data for trade (fiction/non-fiction/religious), PreK-12 instructional materials, higher education course materials, university presses, and professional books. While publisher revenue (1.5%) and units sold (2.8%) both increased for trade books, the overall publishing industry saw a decline in revenue (-5.1%.) This may in large part be attributed to a challenging year in the education and scholarly publishing markets, which together comprise about 40% of tracked revenues. Click Read More below for additional details.

Revenues were $2.57 billion in the quarter, down 8.1 percent or 6.4 percent in constant currency. Post sale revenue was 79 percent of total revenue. Second-quarter adjusted operating margin was 13.3 percent, up 0.4 percentage points from the same quarter a year ago. Xerox generated operating cash flow of $343 million from continuing operations during the second quarter and ended the period with a cash balance of $1.25 billion. The company returned $68 million in dividends to shareholders. Click Read More below for additional details.

InnerWorkings Inc., the leading global marketing execution firm, announced a new long-term alliance with global lodging company Choice Hotels International. Under a multi-year agreement, InnerWorkings will deploy an integrated solution across a broad scope of marketing channels for Choice Hotels, including direct mail, branded merchandise, signage, and other marketing collateral. InnerWorkings will also implement a custom eCommerce and fulfillment platform, delivering a comprehensive marketing supply chain solution to support Choice's extensive brand portfolio. Click Read More below for more of the story.

We are very proud to announce that Ink has signed a new partnership with the UK’s iconic challenger airline Virgin Atlantic, where we will revamp its inflight magazine Vera, as well as represent all media sales. From September, we will create an upgraded magazine for Virgin Atlantic’s loyal customers, with a complete relaunch in October. The new Vera will be a dazzling entertainment and travel magazine, that cleverly connects the onboard entertainment offering with original destination tips from across Virgin Atlantic’s global network. Mark Anderson, Executive Vice President, Customer at Virgin Atlantic said: “Offering our customers a unique and memorable experience is absolutely key to us at Virgin Atlantic; so we are delighted to be working with Ink’s expert team to give our inflight magazine a total makeover. Expect a new and exciting travel and entertainment magazine from October 2017.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

Let's be honest, although many attempt to do so, there is no way to find a positive spin to the data in this industry-wide report showing magazine ads down another 16%. As an industry, we have seen negative numbers every year for a decade. Were you expecting a change? Newsstand sales of magazines have plummeted at least 50%, and periodicals run through the USPS have dropped 55% and diminish each year. Meanwhile ad sales, as seen in this report, continue on their long decline seeking a yet undiscovered plateau. We have seen associations use sleight of hand to try to change the subject and use illusory metrics, like “likes” instead of real data that show magazine growth. Has that helped? We have seen pundits declare that all is well and that print will live and be prosperous forever. Neither of those are helpful as a solution nor a recognition of the situation at hand. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Net sales increased 25% to $38.0 billion in the second quarter, compared with $30.4 billion in second quarter 2016. Excluding the $502 million unfavorable impact from year-over-year changes in foreign exchange rates throughout the quarter, net sales increased 26% compared with second quarter 2016. Operating income decreased 51% to $628 million in the second quarter, compared with operating income of $1.3 billion in second quarter 2016. Net income was $197 million in the second quarter, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared with net income of $857 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, in second quarter 2016. Click Read More below for additional details.

Revenue at Hachette Book Group rose 5.4% in the first half of 2017, over the comparable period in 2016, parent company Lagardere reported. The gain excludes $24 million from the Perseus Books publishing division, which Lagardere bought in March 2016. Total revenue at Lagardere’s Publishing unit—Hachette Livre—increased 5.1% , to 1.02 billion euros, over the first six months of 2016. Recurring EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) rose 14%, to 41 million euros. In the U.S., Lagardere said the increase was due mainly to the performance of Hachette Nashville, home of FaithWords and Center Street, as well as to such successful titles such as The Fix by David Baldacci and The Black Book by James Patterson. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Republican leaders said on Thursday that the proposed border-adjusted tax won’t be part of negotiations on how to overhaul the U.S. tax code—delivering a victory to retailers’ groups that had strenuously opposed the measure. A statement Thursday from the so-called Big Six—which includes House Speaker Paul Ryan, Ways and Means chairman Kevin Brady, White House economic adviser Gary Cohn, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch—said due to the unknowns associated with the border-adjusted tax, the group “had decided to set this policy aside in order to advance tax reform.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

Second Quarter Highlights: • Total loans grew $6.1 billion (8%) from the prior year to $78.0 billion. • Credit card loans grew $4.6 billion (8%) to $61.8 billion and Discover card sales volume increased 5% from the prior year. • Total net charge-off rate excluding PCI loans increased 52 basis points from the prior year to 2.79% and the total delinquency rate over 30 days past due excluding PCI loans increased 33 basis points from the prior year to 1.93%. • Consumer deposits grew $3.6 billion (11%) from the prior year to $37.7 billion. Click Read More below for additional details.

Meredith Corporation reported record fiscal 2017 full year and fourth quarter results. Meredith introduces an updated market positioning and logo that reflect the strength of Meredith's national and local consumer media brands as well as its expanded portfolio of marketing solutions. "We delivered record revenue and profit in fiscal 2017 as we continue to aggressively execute our multi-platform growth strategies, including rapid expansion of our highly profitable digital activities," said Meredith Chairman and CEO Stephen M. Lacy. "Additionally, we delivered strong cash flow and higher profit margins. This enabled us to continue successful execution of our Total Shareholder Return (TSR) strategy." Click Read More below for additional details.

As more than 130,000 pop culture enthusiasts and comics fans flooded downtown San Diego for Comic-Con International, the news was all about lines—literal and literary. At the annual pop culture show, held July 19-23 at the San Diego Convention Center, the lines—the queues—for exclusive releases, signings, screenings and offsite attractions seemed even more immense than usual. The publishing news involved lines as well—new book lines, imprints, and releases. Comic-Con continues to present a growing awareness of the importance of graphic novels in an evolving comics marketplace. Nevertheless, Diamond Comics Distributors announced at its retailer breakfast that graphic novel and comics periodical sales were flat or worse for the year thus far. Graphic Novel sales are down 13% and periodical sales are down 4%, so far, in 2017. No one has been able to pinpoint a single reason for the slide, although various theories—from a lack of hot titles to the end of the New York Times Bestseller list for Graphic Novels—have been floated. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Highlights: Revenue Increased 2%, Reflects 2016 Divestitures and Acquisitions; Organic Revenue Increased 10%; Diluted EPS Increased 13% to $1.62; Adjusted Diluted EPS Increased 19% to $1.72; Operating Profit Margin Increased 80 Basis Points to 45%; Adjusted Operating Profit Margin Increased 330 Basis Points to 47%. Click Read More below for additional details.

For the total company in 2Q 2017: ◦Revenue increased 7.7%, currency-neutral revenue* jumped 8.9%. ◦Revenue increased in all segments and major product categories, as expanded customer demand spread across the company’s broad product portfolio. ◦Operating profit was up 8.7% to $2.2 billion driven by strong performance in the U.S. Domestic and Supply Chain and Freight segments. ◦The favorable year-over-year 2Q EPS comparison includes benefits of about $0.10, primarily from fuel and workers’ compensation. ◦Year-to-date capital expenditures to support investment strategies were $2.0 billion. Click Read More below for additional details.

The New York Times Company announced second-quarter 2017 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $.09 compared with $.00 in the same period of 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (defined below) was $.18 in the second quarter of 2017 compared with $.11 in the second quarter of 2016. Operating profit was $27.7 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared with $9.1 million in the same period of 2016, largely due to two special items recorded in the second quarter of 2016. Adjusted operating profit (defined below) was $67.1 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared with $54.5 million in the second quarter of 2016, principally driven by very strong digital revenues, partially offset by higher costs. Mark Thompson, president and chief executive officer, The New York Times Company, said, “We had another strong quarter in which we grew revenue and profitability and made significant changes within the organization to ensure that the acceleration of our digital business continues in the long term. Click Read More below for additional details.

Staples, Inc. announced that on July 26, 2017 the U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act") with respect to the pending acquisition of Staples by investment funds managed by Sycamore Partners, a leading private equity firm. The termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the pending acquisition, which remains subject to other customary closing conditions, including Staples' stockholder approval.

A bill that would limit states’ ability to enforce sales tax collection laws on online retailers that do not have a physical presence in those states had its first hearing on Capitol Hill today. H.R. 2887, introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and titled the “No Regulation Without Representation Act,” went before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial, and Antitrust Law this morning. The bill would prohibit states from forcing businesses that do not have a physical presence in the state to collect sales tax from in-state shoppers that buy from them. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Second Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights: Net revenues totaled $209.0 million, a 2% year-over-year increase. Consumer net revenues totaled $179.1 million, a 1% year-over-year increase. Shutterfly Business Solutions net revenues totaled $29.9 million, a 10% year-over-year increase. GAAP Operating loss totaled $31.8 million and Net loss was $22.8 million or $0.68 per share. On a proforma basis, which excludes restructuring charges of $4.7 million and capital lease termination charges of $8.1 million, our operating loss was $19.1 million, Adjusted EBITDA was $17.4 million, and Net loss was $14.9 million or $0.44 per share. Click Read More below for additional details.

Amazon is working with government officials to head off a lengthy deal investigation. Amazon will re-file documents this week seeking government approval of its planned purchase of Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion. The move will restart the process, giving U.S. antitrust enforcers more time to complete an early review of the retailers’ planned tie-up, according to the Wall Street Journal. Companies often use this tactic in the hopes that antitrust enforcers will get comfortable enough with their transaction during the extended initial review and agree to forego a longer probe. The government’s 30-day review period of the acquisition began on June 23, the Journal said. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Office Depot, Inc. announced that Janet Schijns, a veteran channel executive from Verizon, has joined the company in the newly created role of senior vice president, services – copy, print and tech. Schijns will lead the strategy for copy, print and tech services, focusing on execution and growth. She will also oversee the company’s regional print production facilities to support large scale printing capabilities and the delivery needs of business customers. Click Read More below for additional details.

Total revenues in the second quarter of 2017 were $225.1 million, down 7.1% compared to the second quarter of 2016. The sequential rate of decline is consistent with that reported for the first quarter of 2017 in the 7% range. Total advertising revenues were $125.2 million, down 11.1% in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the second quarter of 2016. The rate of decline in total advertising revenue slowed in the second quarter reflecting a sequential improvement of 90 basis points compared to the decline reported in the first quarter of 2017. The decline in advertising revenues continues to be due to the softness in traditional print advertising offset by improvements in direct marketing advertising and digital-only advertising. Revenues exclusive of print newspaper advertising accounted for 74.7% of total revenues in the second quarter of 2017, an increase from 70.4% in the second quarter of 2016. Click Read More below for additional detail.

The U.S. advertising market grew 3.8% in the second quarter of this year -- largely due to an 11% gain in digital media. Standard Media Index says this followed a 2.8% increase in the first quarter. National TV brought down the overall results. In the second quarter, national TV advertising revenue was virtually flat -- down 0.8%. This followed a weak 0.8% gain in the first quarter. These current results came amid higher-than-expected upfront advertising revenue commitments for next year’s TV season, starting in September. Upfront revenue growth is estimated at 4% to 6%. Click Read More below for more of the story.

The budget battle is a long way from over, but so far Congress appears not to share President Trump’s desire to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or the National Endowments for the Humanities, or the Arts. On Wednesday, the full House Appropriations Committee voted to approve FY2018 funding for libraries. By a 28-22 margin, the committee approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) funding bill, which proposes roughly $231 million for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—including $183.6 million for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) programs, and $27 million for the Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program—essentially at 2017 funding levels. A post on the ALA Washington Office’s District Dispatch e-newsletter, said the “successful and extremely important" full Appropriations Committee vote represents another "major milestone" in the ALA’s Fight for Libraries! Campaign—but acknowledged there are hurdles still to come. Click Read More below for more of the story.

L.L. Bean is stepping away from its traditional back-to-school catalog. Ad Age reports the Maine-based retailer is rolling out a new website with a digital push and three TV spots centered around its new "Be an Outsider" campaign. It's all part of an effort from the traditional catalog business to become more digital centric. "The campaign is one piece of a bigger strategy to shift us from a heritage brand, in catalogs, to a product company," said Brad Matson, senior vice president of creative for L.L.Bean. Later this year, L.L.Bean is planning on launching more robust digital marketing efforts, including in-store experiences and at least a dozen TV spots by the end of 2017. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Jeff Bezos is taking the challenge of social selling into his own hands. Amazon has debuted an Instagram-like social discovery and selling feature called Amazon Spark, which it's been testing in beta for months, according to TechCrunch. “Amazon Spark is a place to discover things from people who share your interests,” the marketplace behemoth writes on its website. “Whether you're looking for inspiration for home décor or seeking advice for the best long-distance running shoes, Spark makes it easy to discover — and shop — stories and ideas from a community that likes what you like.”

With its trade segment posting a strong first half of the year and its education group turning in a solid second half, Scholastic reported a 4% increase in revenue in the fiscal year ended May 31, over fiscal 2016. Operating income, excluding one-time items, rose 17%. Revenue in the year was $1.74 billion, while operating income rose to $109.1 million, up from $93.4 million in fiscal 2016. Net income increased 29.1% to $52.3 million.

Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) announced today the launch of Kenmore products on Amazon.com, as well as the integration of the full line of Kenmore Smart appliances with Amazon Alexa. This marks the broadest distribution of Kenmore, America's most trusted home appliance brand, outside of Sears branded stores and related online retail platforms. Kenmore Smart connected room air conditioners integrated with Alexa are now available on Amazon.com. The distribution on Amazon.com is planned to be expanded to the full line of Kenmore home appliances in all U.S. market segments, with Kenmore, Sears Home Services, and Innovel Solutions providing white-glove service for delivery, installation and extended product protection for a full range of home appliances.

Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported results for the 2017 second quarter ended June 30, 2017. Sales of $2.6 billion increased 2 percent versus $2.6 billion in the second quarter of 2016. There were 64 selling days in the 2017 second quarter, the same as the 2016 second quarter. Net earnings for the quarter of $98 million were down 43 percent versus $173 million in 2016. Earnings per share of $1.67 declined 40 percent versus $2.79 in 2016.

Retailers might want to have extra staff available on August 5. The peak day of the back-to-school shopping season will be August 5, followed by Labor Day, September 4, according to a study by RetailMeNot. The firm's data shows consumers are likely to do the bulk of their spending in August.

Combined graphic novel and comics sales in North America grew 5% to $1.085 billion in 2016, a $55 million increase over the $1.03 billion reported last year, according to a joint estimate by industry news sites Comichron and ICv2.com. Led by the continuing sales growth of book-format graphic novels (which rose to $590 million, from $350 million in 2015), the $1.085 billion figure represents the combined sales of book-format graphic novels, traditional comics periodicals ($405 million), and digital download-to-own comics ($90 million).

Indigo Books & Music is in discussions to expand operations to the United States as early 2018, according to several high level executives at publishing houses in Canada and the United States. According to sources, representatives for the Canadian retailer were taking meetings about the potential expansion during this year's Book Expo in New York. Executives speculated that a store is being planned for New Jersey. "[CEO] Heather [Reisman] has many close relationships in New Jersey and knows the area well," said one executive. Montclair was floated as one potential location.

Tomorrow, the U.S. Postal Service will celebrate the rich legacy of the Walt Disney Studio’s Ink & Paint Department by dedicating a sheet of 20 Forever stamps featuring 10 classic Disney Villains. Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan will be joined by Disney officials in dedicating the stamps. “The Postal Service is highlighting the Disney Villains and the pioneering spirit of the Ink and Paint Department that brought many of these characters to life,” said Brennan. “These Forever stamps are our way of saying Disney Villains will forever entertain us and serve as a tribute Disney’s artistry and storytelling skill.” Each stamp showcases one of 10 classic Disney Villains set against a blue background.

Broadside Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, has acquired World Rights to The Faith of Donald J. Trump: A Spiritual Biography for publication in January 2018. The new book, by David Brody, the Chief Political Correspondent for the Christian Broadcasting Network and Scott Lamb, the "Jesus in the Public Square" columnist for The Washington Times, draw on unparalleled access to the White House to explore the rarely discussed, but deeply important, religious beliefs and worldview of Donald J. Trump and his advisors. The deal was negotiated by Eric Nelson, VP/Editorial Director of Broadside Books, with one of the authors, Scott Lamb, who is also the Owner of Calliope Media.

Global learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has partnered with King-Devick technologies, inc. to bring the King-Devick Reading Acceleration Program (K-D RAP), a new, proven-effective approach to strengthening literacy skills by teaching the physical act of reading, to students in elementary classrooms. HMH will market, sell and distribute K-D RAP to schools nationwide, while King-Devick technologies’ (KDT) specialists will provide educators with product training and technical support

A little more than two and a half years after Neiman Marcus hired its first chief information security officer, the cybersecurity lead has left the company. A Neiman Marcus spokesperson confirmed that CISO Sarah Hendrickson no longer works at the company. Hendrickson’s LinkedIn page shows that she exited the company in June and now serves as senior vice president of compliance for a company called S3.

The beginning of summer didn't give a boost to consumer spending as retail sales fell for the second straight month. Retail sales unexpectedly slipped 0.1% in June after being unchanged in May. Sales were up 3.2% unadjusted from June 2016, according to the National Retail Federation, and 3.9% on a three-month moving average year-over-year. (The numbers exclude automobiles, gasoline stations and restaurants.)

An investment group called ST Acquisition Holdings —led by former Chicago Alderman Edwin Eisendrath, about a half-dozen local investers and a coalition of labor unions, including the Chicago Federation of Labor (click here to see a list of the unionized commercial and wide-format/signage printers located in the Chicago area) and some other still-to-be-announced local unions — has acquired the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper and the Chicago Reader, a free weekly newspaper, after overcoming a competing bid from the owner of the Chicago Tribune. “A great group has come together and made sure that a genuine voice with honest and good reporting that connects with working men and women thrives,” the Sun-Times quoted Eisendrath as saying just before the acquisition closed. He is a local politician who had failed in a 2006 bid to unseat then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Adobe is growing. Over the past two years, our global employee base has grown by more than 30%. This growth includes our successful transformation to a cloud-based business, our expansion to lead the digital marketing category, and several acquisitions including advertising technology leader TubeMogul. To position Adobe for even greater success and growth in the future, today we unveiled our plans to expand our California and Utah facilities. This is a major investment in our U.S. presence and will add capacity for approximately 5,000 employees. Through construction of the new buildings, Adobe will also be able to increase the percentage of our employees in LEED/Green-certified buildings, which currently stands at 78%. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Amazon, Google and Twitter, along with hundreds of companies, sent a message Wednesday that net neutrality rules protecting the open internet are in danger of being dismantled by the Trump administration and new FCC head Ajit Pai. Rules currently in place ensure new and existing services, such as search, whether offered by an established internet company like Google, a broadband provider, or a small startup, have the same ability to reach users on an equal playing field. Dismantling net neutrality would change the playing field. Airbnb, Reddit and dozens of others also joined in protest, putting notices on their websites urging visitors to protect the internet and ensure free and open browsing. Click Read More below for additional detail.

How savvy are you about the worldwide publishing industry? This infographic, “A Guide to Global Reading Habits” by Global English Editing lays out the facts. In recent years, e-readers and electronic books have become a major force in publishing. How major? By 2018, e-books are projected to account for over 25% of all book sales, up from 12% of book sales in 2013. The infographic also includes a complete list of time spent reading around the globe and other worldwide reading facts. Compare this to the number of hours you read each week. Do you think you read more or less than your friends and neighbors? If the answer is six hours or more, you spend more time reading than the average adult in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. You’d have to read almost eleven hours each week to beat the country with the most hours read each week, however. On average, adults in India read 10.7 hours each week! Click Read More below for additional detail.

Target Corporation updated its guidance for second quarter 2017 comparable sales and earnings per share (EPS). As a result of improved traffic and sales trends through the first two months of the quarter, Target is now expecting to report a modest increase in its second quarter comparable sales. In addition, the Company now expects to report second quarter GAAP and Adjusted EPS1 above the high end of its previous guidance range of $0.95 to $1.15. Both GAAP and Adjusted EPS are expected to reflect a 5 to 9 cent benefit driven by the net tax effect of the Company’s global sourcing operations. In addition, GAAP EPS is expected to reflect 2 to 3 cents of pressure related to the unfavorable resolution of tax matters. Target plans to report its second quarter 2017 financial results on Wednesday, August 16. “Target’s recent progress reinforces our confidence and commitment to our strategy as we build an even better Target for tomorrow. Following better-than-expected results in the first quarter, we’ve seen additional, broad-based improvement in traffic and category sales trends in the second quarter, despite continued challenges in the competitive environment” said Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO of Target. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Pearson’s 2020 Sustainability Plan is a five-year strategy to integrate social and environmental issues into every aspect of the business in order to drive growth and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The plan is centered around three pillars – be a trusted partner; reach more learners; and shape the future of learning – that outline Pearson’s work to: Operate responsibly, create effective products, respect human rights, support people and communities, reduce its impact on the planet, build a sustainable supply chain, and ensure strong governance; Reach more learners by improving access to quality education for learners from all backgrounds; and Play a leading role in ensuring education prepares learners for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century and creates more inclusive societies. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Cabela’s Incorporated announced that its shareholders have approved the previously announced combination of Cabela’s with Bass Pro Shops. The final vote results will be filed on a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2017, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. “We are pleased that our combination with Bass Pro Shops has received the overwhelming support of Cabela’s shareholders,” said Tommy Millner, Cabela’s Chief Executive Officer. “Today’s results are an important milestone as we look forward to completing the merger and creating the premier retailer in outdoor sporting goods, with an unparalleled commitment to customer loyalty and satisfaction.”

Further to our January announcement, Pearson PLC announces an agreement to sell a 22% stake in the Penguin Random House Venture to our partner Bertelsmann SE & Co KGaA and recapitalise the business. The transaction is in line with our strategy and allows us to generate net proceeds of approximately $1 billion, strengthen our balance sheet, return £300m of surplus capital to shareholders via a share buyback and maintain a significant income stream from an ongoing 25% stake in the world’s leading consumer publisher. This transaction values the Penguin Random House Venture at an enterprise value of $3.55 billion. The formation of PRH in 2013 created the first truly global consumer book publishing company, with a significant market share lead over its nearest competitors. Over the last four years PRH has enjoyed significant creative and commercial success and delivered more than $150m in annualised integration benefits, increasing profit and margins and creating significant value for both partners. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Among all the changes magazine media faces—consolidation, layoffs, digital—the one consistent trend is the decline of print advertising. Moody’s estimates that print ads will continue to fall 10% through mid-2018, providing little hope for a turnaround in the traditional revenue stream that media companies used to rely on. But, it’s also true that some companies, like New York Media and Atlantic Media, have long looked past the traditional advertising spigot, to find more reliable resources of growth. This has created some innovative strategies, where organizations have sought to use their knowledge and prestige to test new revenue streams. We take a look at three different initiatives that may not replace the advertising losses, but provide a new way of viewing the potential still inherent within media brands. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Tiny Prints, the leader in premium personalized stationery, is proud to share a new home with Shutterfly, its sister brand since 2011. At www.shutterfly.com/tinyprints, customers can enjoy the luxe stationery designs they have come to count on from Tiny Prints, plus seamless access to Shutterfly's free unlimited photo storage and their wide range of photo books, personalized gifts, home décor collections, all with the convenience of a single login. With a renewed emphasis on exceptional designs, today also marks the debut of Tiny Prints Limited Edition Collection, a curated selection of designs by celebrated artists, available for a limited time only. The debut collection features beautiful personal stationery from Tobias Tovera, Stina Persson and Justina Blakeney. • Tobias Tovera is an American visual artist recognized for his work in painting and the sensory surrounds of his multi-media installations. A San Francisco Bay Area local, his paintings explore color and movement, making it the perfect backdrop for luxe foil lettering. • Stina Persson is a Swedish artist, who strives to balance the bold with the delicate, creating a dynamic aesthetic that translates beautifully on paper. She has spent much of her adult life abroad and draws her inspiration from people and faces around her. • Justina Blakeney is a designer, artist and author of the New York Times best-selling book The New Bohemians. Her signature designs are seeded with botanicals and bright colors and add a fun, wild and boho vibe to everyday stationery. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Publisher Dennis Publishing has added to its current affairs division with the acquisition of MoneyWeek, a leading financial title. The magazine had been published by Agora Publishing since 2003 and now joins the group’s flagship The Week magazine, along with The Week Junior, as publications within its current affairs division. MoneyWeek, which had a weekly circulation of 46,498 in the period July to December 2016, was founded in 2000 by The Week founder Jolyon Connell and its current editor-in-chief Merryn Somerset Webb, who is staying on as editor along with John Stepek. Click Read More below for more of the story.

The lack of a breakout print hit did not prevent unit sales in the first half of 2017 from being 3% higher than in the first six months of last year, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan (which captures 80%–85% of print unit sales). Units for the January–June period in 2017 were 310.7 million, up from 302.8 million a year ago. Just as it was in the first six months of 2016, the backlist favorite Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss was the most popular title in the first half of this year, selling more than 482,000 copies (up from 458,000 copies in January–June 2016). All four of the major segments did better this year than in the first six months of 2016. Juvenile fiction had the best performance, with unit sales up 5%. In addition to higher sales of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, the segment benefitted from strong sales of two editions of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, which together sold approximately 500,000 print copies. The animal category had the biggest gain among juvenile fiction segments, with sales up 21%. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Today, HP Inc. announced its commitment to enable better learning outcomes for more than 100 million people between 2015-2025 at the 2017 Global Citizen Festival in Hamburg, Germany. The Global Citizen Festival in Hamburg falls on the eve of the G20 Summit, where leaders of the world’s most powerful countries are congregating to address inequalities and promote sustainable development. HP’s pledge supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 and aligns with the company’s goal to improve access to quality education and lifelong learning for all in the classroom and beyond, as outlined in the recently released HP 2016 Sustainability Report. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Unit sales of print books rose 3% for the first six months of 2017 compared to the first half of last year at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Units for the January-June period in 2017 totaled 310.7 million, up from 302.8 million a year ago. All four of the major segments had increases over the first six months of 2016, with juvenile fiction having the best performance; unit sales in the category were up 5%. The growth in juvenile nonfiction was just behind fiction, up 4%. Sales in the adult segments were less robust. Adult nonfiction unit sales increased 2% over the first half of 2016, while adult fiction sales rose just under 1%. Click Read More below for additional detail.

The Home Depot® today announced a definitive agreement to purchase Compact Power Equipment, Inc., a leading national provider of equipment rental and maintenance services for $265 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the company's fiscal second quarter. As a long-term commercial partner of The Home Depot since 2009, Compact Power Equipment currently provides compact equipment rentals at more than 1,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada. The company also provides equipment maintenance services nationwide to a range of customers, including The Home Depot. By acquiring Compact Power Equipment, The Home Depot continues to invest in capabilities that uniquely serve its core customers. Click Read More below for additional detail.

The company reported net sales of $4.424 billion for the 22 weeks ended July 1, 2017, a decrease of 6 percent compared to net sales of $4.727 billion for the 22 weeks ended July 2, 2016. Comparable sales for the 22 weeks ended July 1, 2017, decreased 9 percent. For the 22 weeks ended July 1, 2017, the exit of the swim and apparel categories had a negative impact of about 7 percentage points and 10 percentage points to total company and Victoria’s Secret comparable sales, respectively. Click Read More below for additional detail.

Costco Wholesale Corporation reported net sales of $12.17 billion for the month of June, the five weeks ended July 2, 2017, an increase of seven percent from $11.33 billion during the similar period last year. For the forty-four weeks ended July 2, 2017, the Company reported net sales of $104.28 billion, an increase of six percent from $98.51 billion during the similar period last year. Click Read More below for additional detail.

What happens when a leading world government on the forefront of scientific discovery holds an election, and the newly elected officials and their retinue revoke access to scientific information and important data paid for and used by taxpayers, citizens, and the general public? And what happens when these new leaders then undercut funding that could be used to close gaps in scientific and public health data that clearly led to deaths and disease? We’re finding out. Lack of access to raw data from governmental sources curtails the independence of scientists to conduct research, formulate new hypotheses, and validate results, while preventing citizens from monitoring issues of civic and scientific interest and importance. Information is power, and those newly in power seem reluctant to share either. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Camping World Holdings has given an update on its plans for Gander Mountain. Camping World, which acquired the assets of Gander Mountain and boating division Overton's in a bankruptcy auction in May, said it plans to operate 57 locations — assuming details can be worked out with landlords and final acceptable leases agreed to. Liquidation sales started in May at all 160 Gander stores. The plan for the locations that have survived the cut is for them to reopen under the new brand of Gander Outdoors. The stores will feature a fresh mix of Gander Outdoors, Overton's and Camping World products and services. Click Read More below for more of the story.

Ingram Publisher Services has added to its international capabilities with the acquisition of National Book Network International (NBNi). Located in Plymouth, England, NBNi was founded 14 years ago by the Lanham, Md.-based National Book Network and does international distribution for both print and digital books. According to Ingram, NBNi’s client services business will complement Ingram’s range of digital, physical, and print-on-demand solutions. “NBNi is a sound, established, and widely respected distributor in the British book trade with a reputable base of publisher clients, well-supported by the excellent and experienced team in Plymouth,” said David Taylor, senior v-p of international content acquisition at Ingram Content Group, in a statement. “Our plan is to build on this strong foundation and grow the business.” Click Read More below for more of the story.

As reported recently in the Bangor Daily News, John Halle (CEO of Cate Street Capital) has formally dismissed the libel lawsuit that Cate Street Capital and Halle had initiated against Verle Sutton almost two years ago. This claim of libel had resulted from an article in the May 2014 issue of The Reel Time Report, written by Sutton, in which Cate Street Capital and State of Maine officials were strongly criticized for actions they took that related to the Great Northern Paper mills in northern Maine. Industry Intelligence, the publisher of Reel Time, had also been named as a defendant in this lawsuit. Industry Intelligence and John Halle reached a settlement earlier in 2016. In response to John Halle choosing to end the lawsuit against Sutton, and the Industry Intelligence settlement, Verle Sutton has issued the following statement: I am grateful to family and friends who have been so supportive during the last two years as we fought through the groundless lawsuit that John Halle and Cate Street Capital initiated against me for authoring “The Maine Problem.” The legal costs incurred during the last two years have been substantial, and the time our family lost was unfortunate. However, our losses pale in comparison to the damage that has been inflicted on the East Millinocket and Millinocket communities and, in fact, on all of northern Maine. These communities and this region were misled by state officials and Cate Street about the viability of the restarted Great Northern Paper mills.