New Firm Is Offering To Help Publishers Maximize Their Content With AI (mediapost.com)

Penguin Random House has partnered up with PEN America, Out of Print (a PRH subsidiary), and When We All Vote to launch Book the Vote, which the publisher describes as a "nonpartisan initiative to protect free speech and ensure every voter’s right to participate in elections." Via its website, the initiative will create and distribute author and book–related content, voter registration information, and other resources in order to educate readers on civic topics and encourage potential voters to "participate in our democracy and express their voices through voting." The initiative will run in conjunction with PEN America’s Free Speech 2020 initiative, and a portion of sales from each of Out of Print's Get PoLITical apparel collection will continue to be donated to PEN America to benefit that campaign.

For the thirteen weeks ended October 28, 2017, the Company reported net income of $16.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to net income of $23.6 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the thirteen weeks ended October 29, 2016. Results for the third quarter include the unfavorable impact of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria (collectively, the "Hurricanes") of approximately $5.0 million after-tax, or $0.04 per diluted share. Results for the third quarter of 2016 include the unfavorable impact of restructuring and strategic charges and Boston Proper of $2.8 million after-tax, or $0.02 per diluted share. For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017, the Company reported net income of $73.0 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, compared to net income of $77.7 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2016. Results for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2017 include the unfavorable impact of the Hurricanes of approximately $5.0 million after-tax, or $0.04 per diluted share. Results for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 29, 2016 include the unfavorable impact of restructuring and strategic charges and Boston Proper of $15.4 million after-tax, or $0.12 per diluted share. Click Read More below for additional information.

For the First Quarter of Fiscal 2023 *Net sales increased 12.3% to $2.6 billion compared to $2.3 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 due to increased comparable sales, strong new store performance, and growth in other revenue compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2022. *Gross profit increased 12.1% to $1.1 billion compared to $941.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit decreased to 40.0% compared to 40.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, primarily due to higher inventory shrink, lower merchandise margins, higher supply chain costs, and deleverage of salon expenses, partially offset by strong growth in other revenue and leverage of store fixed costs. *Operating income increased 1.0% to $442.1 million, or 16.8% of net sales, compared to $437.7 million, or 18.7% of net sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. *Net income increased 4.7% to $347.1 million compared to $331.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2022.