Print Book Sales Up 4.7% Last Week, Driven by New Adult Titles (publishersweekly.com)

FY23 second quarter service performance scores covering Jan. 1 through Feb. 17 included: *First-Class Mail: 91.0% of First-Class Mail delivered on time against the USPS service standard, consistent with performance from the fiscal first quarter. *Marketing Mail: 94.4% of Marketing Mail delivered on time against the USPS service standard, consistent with performance from the fiscal first quarter. *Periodicals: 86.1% of Periodicals delivered on time against the USPS service standard, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the fiscal first quarter.

Domestic Segment Q3 FY21 Results: Domestic revenue of $10.85 billion increased 21.0% versus last year. The increase was primarily driven by comparable sales growth of 22.6%, which was partially offset by the loss of revenue from permanent store closures in the past year. Domestic online revenue of $3.82 billion increased 173.7% on a comparable basis, and as a percentage of total Domestic revenue, online revenue increased to approximately 35.2% versus 15.6% last year. Domestic gross profit rate was 24.0% versus 24.3% last year. The gross profit rate decrease of approximately 30 basis points was primarily driven by higher supply chain costs as a result of the increased mix of online revenue and lower profit-sharing revenue from the company’s private-label and co-branded credit card arrangement. These pressures were partially offset by a more favorable promotional environment. International Segment Q3 FY21 Results: International revenue of $1.0 billion increased 25.4% versus last year. This increase was primarily driven by comparable salesgrowth of 27.3%, which was partially offset by the impact of approximately 140 basis points of negative foreign currency exchange rates. International GAAP gross profit rate was 19.0% versus 22.5% last year.

They say that 60 is the new 50 and 40 is the new 30. I hesitate to write that 30 is the new 20, as I appreciate the intellectual maturity and emotional intelligence I gained during that 10-year window in early adulthood. With the September/October issue, our biggest issue in over a decade, as VERANDA celebrates its 30th anniversary, it’s safe to say that the magazine, too, has earned a certain level of circumspection and discernment, but with an unjaded, spirited vigor that helps us see the best the world has to offer. It’s our hope to bring gravitas and authority to the subject of living well, while still approaching the topic with childlike wonder and bridging the two viewpoints. There’s nothing worse than a blasé, I’ve-seen-it-all editor. An anniversary shouldn’t be about wallowing in the past. A healthy bit of reflection is good for anyone, but the occasion should be about taking stock and focusing on the future and new opportunities that await. This issue features a larger dynamic logo, Oprah’s private rose garden, as well as the very first person to appear on a VERANDA cover (and it’s actually three people: Atlanta homeowner Taylea Fowler and her two adorable twins). Fine jewelry coverage has been a hallmark of the magazine for 20 years, and we expanded it for this issue, featuring 17 pieces of the most beautiful pearl jewels in the marketplace. Click Read More below for more of the story.