NRF forecasts nonstore sales will grow up to 9% in 2024

The New York Times Co’s second-quarter results beat Wall Street estimates, as its digital unit, which includes news, podcasts and crosswords, overtook the legacy print business for the first time. The Times, which competes for ad dollars with big players like Facebook Inc (FB.O) and Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google, has been shifting towards a subscriber-backed model in an effort to cut its reliance on advertising. The shift has paid off for the publisher that expects third-quarter digital subscription revenue to rise about 30%. “We posted our best-ever results for new digital subscriptions, and for the first time in our history total digital revenue exceeded print revenue..,” outgoing Chief Executive Officer Mark Thompson said in a statement.

The print and paper advocacy group, Two Sides, are excited to announce its newest partner member, the enclosing and mailing experts, GB Mail. Set up in 2017 by Joe Ghadami, Gary Leonard-Pepin and Ben Taheri, the Aylesbury based mailing house specialises in fully automated high-speed paperwrap, polywrap and envelope enclosing. Also located on site is GB Mail’s storage and fulfilment department and digital print room housing eight production presses. “Sustainability is a big part of our company ethos at GB Mail and we are constantly at the forefront of testing eco-friendly innovative mailing options. We are proud to have been one of the first mailing houses in the UK to offer paper-wrapping services. This eco-friendly way to wrap your mailing item is fully recyclable and provides the wow factor. As an environmentally aware business, partnering with Two Sides is the natural next step on our sustainable journey.” says Joseph Ghadami, Managing Director at GB Mail.

The European print trade body Intergraf, which the BPIF is a member of, has called for an end to the ongoing strikes at UPM in Finland, which began at the start of the year and are due to continue until at least 12 March following another recent extension. The UPM strikes have greatly aggravated the current lack of paper on European markets and are threatening the supply of printed products. Intergraf said printers’ stocks will not last until the strike has been settled and warned that they will not be able to fulfil orders. It has estimated that, based on member associations feedback, from mid-February, there will be a 40% shortage in the paper needed by European printers. Meanwhile Finat, the European association for the self-adhesive label and narrow web packaging industry, has warned that if strikes continue and label production is not put back on track, there could be serious ramifications for the supply of food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals.