This document analyzes sales data from a newspaper distribution company to identify profitable distribution routes and points. The researchers used data visualization tools to analyze 12 months of sales data from 4 newspapers distributed across 4 regions. Their analysis identified seasonal sales trends and generated forecast models. Their visualizations highlighted specific distribution locations with potential for increased sales. The analysis aims to help the company optimize its distribution network and identify new opportunities to extend profitability in a challenging industry.
U.S. MarketBeats provide an overview of quarterly CRE activity and trends, a snapshot of current economic and capital market conditions as well as market-level statistics on key metrics.
The U.S. economy in 2016 was characterized by steady growth in the face of uncertainty. The year began with steep declines in global equity markets in response to concerns about a slowdown in China, the Europe replaced Asia as the focal point of global anxiety after the Brexit vote. In the fourth quarter, the U.S. unexpectedly elected Donald Trump as President. Despite uncertainty, the economy continued to add an average of 180,000 jobs per month during 2016.
Built a forecast using the (SES) model. Where recent data weight more than older data. Compared the two outcomes for research purposes within the company.
Downtime or data loss is never an option. Yet increasing IT complexity, rising costs and the need for solutions to seamlessly span virtual, physical and cloud workloads have all contributed to a dramatic fall in IT's confidence to recover from a disruptive event. Discover the 7 New Rules of Recovery and how a new approach to continuity can keep your business running – no matter what.
U.S. MarketBeats provide an overview of quarterly CRE activity and trends, a snapshot of current economic and capital market conditions as well as market-level statistics on key metrics.
The U.S. economy in 2016 was characterized by steady growth in the face of uncertainty. The year began with steep declines in global equity markets in response to concerns about a slowdown in China, the Europe replaced Asia as the focal point of global anxiety after the Brexit vote. In the fourth quarter, the U.S. unexpectedly elected Donald Trump as President. Despite uncertainty, the economy continued to add an average of 180,000 jobs per month during 2016.
Built a forecast using the (SES) model. Where recent data weight more than older data. Compared the two outcomes for research purposes within the company.
Downtime or data loss is never an option. Yet increasing IT complexity, rising costs and the need for solutions to seamlessly span virtual, physical and cloud workloads have all contributed to a dramatic fall in IT's confidence to recover from a disruptive event. Discover the 7 New Rules of Recovery and how a new approach to continuity can keep your business running – no matter what.
An overview of technological advancements and future possibilities in wireles...eSAT Journals
Abstract Electricity has been one of the major factors for various popular inventions in world’s history. Most of the developments in today’s world would have been impossible without the existence of electricity. The main mode of transmission of this electrical energy available to all of us is through wires but efficiency is significantly reduced in power transmission through wires. Only 71% of the electrical energy can be transferred efficiently. Moreover it is always difficult to lay cables in remote area. All these factors have given rise to necessity of a concept where the losses are minimized and convenience of energy transfer is increased. The concept being wirelessly transmitting power i.e. WITRICITY. In this paper we have given an overview of the recent researches and advancement in the field of wireless transmission of electricity. Various methods of wireless power transfer such as laser beaming, microwave power transfer , solar and magnetic resonant induction coupling are explained. We have also discussed the future aspects of wireless power transmission and have stated its various advantages. This paper helps us in understanding thoroughly the alternative method of transmission of power. Index Terms: Wireless Power, WiTricity, Magnetic Resonance Coupling
The above slides present a few Case Studies in Distribution. Case studies of Dabawallas, Newspaper and Fresh Flower are analyzed in detail. The objectives of these three case studies are highlighted. The presentation is compiled by Welingkar’s Distance Learning Division.
For more such innovative content on management studies, join WeSchool PGDM-DLP Program: http://bit.ly/DistMang
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Read our latest blog at: http://welearnindia.wordpress.com
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GUÍA PARA LA FORMACIÓN DE UN EQUIPO DE ATENCIÓN PASTORAL PARA LOS TRABAJADORE...Caritas Mexicana IAP
Existen diversas realidades que afectan a sectores concretos de la población y que la pastoral social se ve obligada
a mirar y a atender. Una de estas realidades es la de los trabajadores agrícolas que por decenas de años han tenido
que pasar por el lastre de la pobreza, la discriminación, el abuso, las estafas, maltratos y la pérdida de un verdadero
desarrollo a costa de su integración familiar, la pérdida cultural y exponerse a condiciones de franca violación
a sus derechos humanos y laborales.
Business Model Generation: Business Model Canvas + Design ThinkingSiddhant Choudhary
A business model describes the rationale of how an organisation creates, delivers and captures value. This ppt runs you through basics of business model generation.
MARKETING STRATEGY OF NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY (A Study on Daily Prothom Alo) ...Mohammad Abu Nasim
MARKETING STRATEGY OF NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY
(A Study on Daily Prothom Alo)
Submitted to:
Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Shah
Professor
Department of Marketing
University of Dhaka
United States Tissue Paper Market - Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity...TechSci Research
According to #TechSci Research report, United States Tissue Paper Market stood at USD11 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach around USD15 billion by 2026 on account of rising hygiene standards.
Gain More Insight: https://bit.ly/37gJkAz
Get Sample Report: https://bit.ly/3Ic04pv
Press Release: https://bit.ly/3CDSHGi
Website: https://www.techsciresearch.com/
Market Research News: https://techsciblog.com/
An overview of technological advancements and future possibilities in wireles...eSAT Journals
Abstract Electricity has been one of the major factors for various popular inventions in world’s history. Most of the developments in today’s world would have been impossible without the existence of electricity. The main mode of transmission of this electrical energy available to all of us is through wires but efficiency is significantly reduced in power transmission through wires. Only 71% of the electrical energy can be transferred efficiently. Moreover it is always difficult to lay cables in remote area. All these factors have given rise to necessity of a concept where the losses are minimized and convenience of energy transfer is increased. The concept being wirelessly transmitting power i.e. WITRICITY. In this paper we have given an overview of the recent researches and advancement in the field of wireless transmission of electricity. Various methods of wireless power transfer such as laser beaming, microwave power transfer , solar and magnetic resonant induction coupling are explained. We have also discussed the future aspects of wireless power transmission and have stated its various advantages. This paper helps us in understanding thoroughly the alternative method of transmission of power. Index Terms: Wireless Power, WiTricity, Magnetic Resonance Coupling
The above slides present a few Case Studies in Distribution. Case studies of Dabawallas, Newspaper and Fresh Flower are analyzed in detail. The objectives of these three case studies are highlighted. The presentation is compiled by Welingkar’s Distance Learning Division.
For more such innovative content on management studies, join WeSchool PGDM-DLP Program: http://bit.ly/DistMang
Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/welearnindia
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeLearnIndia
Read our latest blog at: http://welearnindia.wordpress.com
Subscribe to our Slideshare Channel: http://www.slideshare.net/welingkarDLP
GUÍA PARA LA FORMACIÓN DE UN EQUIPO DE ATENCIÓN PASTORAL PARA LOS TRABAJADORE...Caritas Mexicana IAP
Existen diversas realidades que afectan a sectores concretos de la población y que la pastoral social se ve obligada
a mirar y a atender. Una de estas realidades es la de los trabajadores agrícolas que por decenas de años han tenido
que pasar por el lastre de la pobreza, la discriminación, el abuso, las estafas, maltratos y la pérdida de un verdadero
desarrollo a costa de su integración familiar, la pérdida cultural y exponerse a condiciones de franca violación
a sus derechos humanos y laborales.
Business Model Generation: Business Model Canvas + Design ThinkingSiddhant Choudhary
A business model describes the rationale of how an organisation creates, delivers and captures value. This ppt runs you through basics of business model generation.
MARKETING STRATEGY OF NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY (A Study on Daily Prothom Alo) ...Mohammad Abu Nasim
MARKETING STRATEGY OF NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY
(A Study on Daily Prothom Alo)
Submitted to:
Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Shah
Professor
Department of Marketing
University of Dhaka
United States Tissue Paper Market - Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity...TechSci Research
According to #TechSci Research report, United States Tissue Paper Market stood at USD11 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach around USD15 billion by 2026 on account of rising hygiene standards.
Gain More Insight: https://bit.ly/37gJkAz
Get Sample Report: https://bit.ly/3Ic04pv
Press Release: https://bit.ly/3CDSHGi
Website: https://www.techsciresearch.com/
Market Research News: https://techsciblog.com/
In a crowded communication environment, media have to prove their effectiveness and accountability in
reaching their goals. Although marketing analytics are more important than ever in modern marketing
programs, hardly any research is available on the effectiveness of customer magazines. This research
focuses on answering the question: “Are customer magazines accountable in reaching their goals?”
Previous research on the effectiveness of relationship magazines has been commissioned in the UK by
the Association of Publishing Agencies (APA) and Royal Mail, in cooperation with Millward Brown. The
research shows that readers have a sophisticated understanding of the role of customer magazines; they
welcome them, spend time reading them, have a more positive view of the company image and are more
inclined to continue using the company than non-readers.
In order to find out whether the results of the APA study can be extended to the Dutch market, and verify
the likelihood that the customer magazine is accountable for the differences between readers and nonreaders,
we started our own research, consisting of nine magazines from three different sectors.
Our findings confirm the effectiveness of customer magazines as a medium for building and retaining
loyalty. Based on our results the customer magazine has definitely moved away from the public relations
exercise towards the strategic communication device. Customer magazines have an effective role to play
as part of the marketing mix. A role that is even more effective, if the intermediate function of a customer
magazine is taken into account. Customer magazines are the ideal means to mention a company’s
website, to refer to exhibits, stimulate (web)store visits, link to the company’s catalogue, and explore
market research. Customer magazines, therefore, should be integrated into the mainstream marketing
(communication) strategies.
The latest World Press Trends report shows that business sentiment in the industry has taken a downturn, in a context where multiple challenges face news publishers around the world. Yet there are causes for optimism, as revenue diversification progresses and publishers double down on new revenue sources and editorial products.
This year’s World Press Trends study makes for a sobering read after the optimism of our previous report. The mood in the industry has changed, and publishers find themselves in a more unpredictable business environment due to a number of challenges, including high levels of inflation, rising paper and print costs, as well as ongoing changes to advertising markets.
The change in business sentiment is one of the main findings of the new World Press Trends Outlook report. As in the previous years, the analysis is based on an online survey distributed to industry leaders. 167 news executives from 62 countries took part in the survey in Fall 2022 – a big thank you to them for sharing their insights, results and strategies.
WAN-IFRA also works with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Zenith for key performance indicators (global revenues and circulation). For audience insights, we work with analytics specialist Chartbeat. World Press Trends is supported by Protecmedia, the content management provider.
Damian Radcliffe, longtime industry analyst, journalist and academic, authored most of the report, offering his analysis and context to the survey and emerging trends. Dr. Francois Nel, also a longtime analyst, well-known academic within our industry and longtime contributor to WPT, provided his analysis, contribution and data analysis of all our collected data. WAN-IFRA’s Andrew Heslop shared his analysis on our Press Freedom data, and WAN-IFRA’s Teemu Henriksson helped to coordinate the project along with Dean Roper.
Here is what makes up the core of the report:
Executive Summary
Methodology and Profile of Respondents
Chapter 1: Global snapshot of performance indicators
Chapter 2: Business Outlook
- Tougher times ahead
- Priming the profit pump
- Relationships with Platforms
- Digital Transformation
Chapter 3: Revenues
- Back in black
- Print’s continued importance
- Revenue diversification in practice
- A bumpier revenue road in 2023
- Ad advice Publishers, it’s all about controlling what you can control
Chapter 4: Investment and Expenditure
- Investing in Revenues
-Tech spending
- AI and publishers
- Costs and Outgoings
Report partner: How AI and automation solutions can impact newsrooms
Chapter 5: Media Freedom
Newspapers Online: Where else is the money?Francois Nel
A study of innovation in online business models
at newspapers in Britain’s 66 cities by François Nel, University of Central Lancashire, presented at the Future of Journalism Conference, Cardiff, 9 September 2009. An article on this presentation is scheduled to be published in a special edition of the journal, 'Journalism Practice', due out early in 2010.
Comparative findings from the 2009 will be presented at the Society of Editors' 'The Fightback' conference, Stanstead, 15-17 November 2009.
For more details see http://theprestonreport.pbworks.com/Regional-Press-Trends
or contact
FP Nel @ uclan . ac . uk / @francoisnel
BUSI 331Marketing Research Report Part 4 Instructions.docxhumphrieskalyn
BUSI 331
Marketing Research Report Part 4 Instructions
Project Submission
Review the Communicating Research Results chapter in the Zikmund & Babin text. This assignment brings together the prior work you have done, and will result in the submission of a complete Marketing Research Study.
1. In your APA-formatted Research Report, incorporate a 3–5-paragraph section titled Results. Here you will include the information you attained from the data analysis during Part 3. Incorporate the appropriate graphs, charts and written analysis here to support your points and discuss how your survey results address your research question. Include limitations at the end of your results section (such as your respondents were 80% male to 20% female or if you had any issues with your survey process). There should be at least 1 limitation listed.
2. Submit a Conclusions and Recommendations Section. This should be a 2–3-paragraph section that wraps up your research study, and is the place where you discuss any recommendations for the company/issue as a result of the research you completed. This will be your own opinion based on your research. Finally, recommend what additional research could be done to further address your research problem.
3. Amend your Appendix II to include only the charts and graphs that you created, but did not incorporate into your results section. Place your raw survey data as Appendix III in your project.
This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.
Sheet1Marketing Research Report Part 3 Grading RubricStudent:CriterionPoints PossiblePoints Earned & Instructor's CommentsAll key components of the assignment are answered clearly and concisely.2010Clear, logical flow to assignment.55Major points are stated clearly.54Paper continues to be set up in current APA format, and includes prior Parts 1 and 2.55Excel document of raw data submitted with appropriate coding and code guide.3015Three tables submitted as Appendix 2 with appropriate written analysis.205Submission of at least 1 table in graphical format.100Use of correct grammar and spelling.55Total10049The work did not include three charts/graphs with supporting written anlaysis in Appendix ii within the Word document.Some information is provided in a secondary file. It appears that only 5 respondents data was collected.A minimum of 30 respondents was required.Additional information is included; however, one frequency and two cross-tabulations with written analysis are not provided.Please revise as needed prior to Part 4 submission.
Sheet2
Sheet3
Sheet1WALMART DATA SHEETDescriptionRental UnitsMarket EntryDiscount Store30291988Supercenter6291962Supermarkets1961998Walmart US38681983Sam's Club6112001Walmart International100402000Walmart Stores50102003Days Sales Range78. 742005WALMARTS DOUGH CHARTEXPLANATIONThis graph contains information about the marketing strategies used by Walmart.The douph chart contains a graph on rental units and market entry used in the re ...
Canback and D'Agnese - Where in the World Is the Market?Tellusant, Inc.
This article by our executive chairman, Staffan Canback, describes how to analyze global markets.
Finding, measuring and capturing market opportunities in emerging countries are critical tasks for multinational consumer goods companies. Central to these tasks is the need to collect and analyze income distribution data within a globally coherent framework and to move beyond income metrics based on national averages.
The article describes a new framework and dataset that achieves this goal and demonstrates how income distribution data, combined with consumer and marketing data, can be incorporated into simple demand models such as the Bass diffusion model or the Golder-Tellis affordability model to understand market dynamics. Our analytical effort is the first example of income distribution data being used to assess market opportunities in emerging countries.
We find that demand models based on the number of people within various income brackets at national or local levels are superior to models based on average income. We further find that combining income distribution data with pricing,
marketing spending, consumer behavior and distribution coverage data makes it possible to measure which factors drive demand at the brand level — even in hard-to-analyze countries.
Come Together: Defining the Complementary Roles of Print and OnlineHoward Finberg
In 2001, the Newspaper Association of American published a report by consultants Howard Finberg and Leah Gentry on how consumers use print and online news sources and how their choices affect the newspaper business. This report looked at the challenges and opportunities as this new consumer channel developed.
The global print media market was valued at around $398 billion in 2017. North America was the largest region in the print media market in 2017, accounting for close to 38% of the total market.
Read Report
https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/print-media-global-market-report-2018
Similar to Seasonality and The Newspaper Distribution Problem. Using Data Visualization to Improve Trend Line Forecasts ver 2 (20)
Seasonality and The Newspaper Distribution Problem. Using Data Visualization to Improve Trend Line Forecasts ver 2
1. Abstract— Given the persistent poor, uncertain economic
performance in the print media industry, newspaper
distributors are challenged to visualize and leverage data
from their various distribution routes and business store
points to identify the routes and distribution points along
those routes that hold the potential for profitability. This
paper analyzes the geographic overview and corresponding
data from the prime distribution areas of a newspaper
distribution company operating in the major urban corridors
of southwestern Pennsylvania and north-central New Jersey
regions. Trend line forecasts are then generated to predict
sales performances in each area for specific newspaper
products. A waterfall model further pinpoints the type of
newspaper and product and the best distribution points in the
company’s areas of responsibility.
Index Terms—data visualization, newspaper distribution,
sales trend line forecasting, seasonality
I.INTRODUCTION
Liberty News Distributors, Inc., founded in 2006,
encompasses more than 5,000 national accounts and
distributes more than 1,500 titles including domestic
newspapers, periodicals and international magazines.
Major distribution points include convenience stores,
shopping plazas and airports along with more than 300
select independent and chain stores accounts via the FedEx
Corp.
Recognizing the need to identify sales opportunities and
ongoing positive communication with retailers, distributors
and publishers, the company tasked a research team of
university students, led by a faculty member, to use data
visualization tools (e.g., Tableau and Microsoft Excel) to
finetune daily distribution operations that reflect consumer
buying behavior of newspaper products and the distribution
points at stores they patronize.
This study focuses on distribution of four newspapers in
the Pennsylvania-New Jersey market covered by the
company: Delco Times, The New York Times, New York
Daily Post and New York Daily News.
II.LITERATURE REVIEW
A. Distribution and Seasonality
Newspapers have a short time-sensitive life. For national
dailies, such as The New York Times and The Daily News,
the respective value of each copy is zero the day following
its publication. The lifecycle is rapid, as most readers prefer
to receive the news before 9 a.m. or whatever time their
Manuscript received January 10, 2017. This work was part of a business
administration course for Saint Peter’s University, led by Joseph Gilkey,
Ph.D., and in collaboration with Liberty News Distribution, Inc. A
Ana Maria Garcia, Guen Pak, Francis Oduro, Deondre Thompson and
Karla Erazo, authors, are students at Saint Peter’s University. All queries
should be directed to gpak86@gmail.com or jgilkey@saintpeters.edu.
workday begins, unlike with longer-form media products
(e.g., novels, hardbacks, magazines, or other periodicals).
These problems have been compounded by large-scale
changes in commuting habits of consumers who must
contend with heavy traffic volume, especially during the
morning hours in major urban areas.
The challenge existed long before technological
advancements in information dissemination and
communication began to affect print media’s profitability,
as Fowler’s model of comparative readability of newspapers
and novels has demonstrated (1904, 1933 and 1965). The
newspaper distribution problem also has been compounded
by the geography of distribution and allocation points,
along with fleet routing problems. In this case, Liberty
News Distribution has experienced routing problems, given
the geographical distance of some locations that confound
the economies of scale in distribution. In a 1996 study of a
major U.S. metropolitan newspaper, cost savings were
realized by reducing the number of distribution centers
along with a corresponding decrease in truck fleets and
drivers required to serve the distribution centers from the
newspaper production facilities. Resolving the distribution
component problem requires coordinating and overcoming
the problems of uncertain demands to identify potentially
profitable drop-off points for newspaper products in
targeted areas that can be delivered within the shortest
amount of time possible. The objective is to reduce undue
costs and mitigate risks of sale losses that are aggravated by
high levels of return and stocking costs and transportation
expenses, especially on the least profitable segments of
routes in the company’s areas of responsibility for
distribution.
B. Readership
Newspaper circulation and readership decline continues
a long-term trend. In 2015, the average weekday circulation
fell seven percent, despite annual increase of 2 percent in
digital subscriptions to newspapers. Sunday circulation
during the same year declined by 4 percent, again despite a
4 percent increase in digital Sunday newspaper
subscriptions (Barthel, 2016). The most recent declines
occurred after a brief rebound in print subscriptions in 2013
Despite the declines, print circulation still accounts for
the largest share of readership (78 percent, weekdays; 86
percent, Sunday) and one survey indicates that 59 percent
of consumers who read newspapers still do so in print-only
formats (Barthel, 2016).
III. DATA
The company provided 12 months of aggregate data for
the 2015-16 period so that the research team could prepare
visualizations for analysis. The data include distribution
locations for each route in all three areas designated for
analysis, including street addresses. Sales data for each day
of the week and the sales of individual newspaper editions
are indicated for each location, along with prices, revenues
and gross profit margins. The team accounted for aspects
that might have hindered effective visualizations. One
Seasonality and The Newspaper Distribution Problem:
Using Data Visualization to Improve Trend Line Forecasts
Ana Maria Garcia, Guen Pak, Francis Oduro, Deondre Thompson, Karla Erazo, Joseph Gilkey Jr.
2. instance involved negative numbers in the data signifying a
potential revenue loss due to not properly accounting for
“Draws” from “Returns” to equaling “Sales.” Problems
were resolved by segmenting data (i.e., querying identical
records of data) into measurable pieces by establishing a
coordinated hierarchy covering the four geographical areas
of operations. For example, if a Philadelphia store sells
papers every day of the week, but circulation data separate
weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays (Fig. 1). To make the
analysis more efficient and comprehensible, data records
were formatted to chart weekly sales, as opposed to day-to-
day sales (Fig. 2). A script was created to automate the
process for the entire raw data set
(https://github.com/gpak/SchoolprojectOR/blob/master/Co
mbining%20Cells). This procedure facilitated ease and
efficiency in data visualization and storage.
Fig. 1. The raw data as presented by the company.
Fig. 2. The condensed data after file manipulation.
The research team identified four areas to further
organize the data set: Area 1 (greater Philadelphia and
Delaware County, Pennsylvania), Area 2 (north and central
New Jersey), Area 3 (central and coastal New Jersey) and
Area 4 (newly acquired distribution outlets lacking in
sufficient data timespan set aside temporarily to be
considered in follow-up research).
IV. RESULTS
One example of a linear trend model (0.0878696*Week
of W/E+4379.1) was computed for The New York Times in
Area 1, with Measure Values given W/E Week
(R2
=0.818676; F14, 406 = 140.622; p<0.001).
In the data visualization tool, the user has the option to
choose from any day of the week to highlight data (e.g.,
compare each Sunday to entire data set to capture trends
and seasonality. Data for example, in the Sunday measures
indicated solid sales in Area 1 (t=15.3098, p<0.001).
Sunday sales in the company’s distribution points for Area
1 had increased 55 percent from October 2015 to October
2016, primarily because of a corresponding increase in the
number of distribution points the company was serving in
the area.
Model forecasting relied on the three parameters of
exponential smoothing (levels, trends, and seasonality) to
identify best-case scenarios (Table 1). Seasonality emerged
as a strong predictor.
TABLE 1. MODEL FORECASTING WITH EXPONENTIAL SMOOTHING.
Sum of Mon-Sale
Quality Metrics Smoothing Coefficients
RMSE1
MAE2
MASE3
MAPE4
AIC5
Alpha Beta Gamma
1
Root-Mean-Square-Error (RMSE): is used to calculate the amount of
error there is between the predicted and observed values
2
Mean-Absolute-Error (MAE): is the measure of how close the forecast or
predictions are to the actual outcomes
3
Mean-Absolute-Scale Error (MASE): the measure of the accuracy of
forecasts
4
Mean- Absolute-Percentage-Error (MAPE) is the measure of prediction
accuracy of a forecasting method
5
Akaike Information Criterion (AIC): is the measure of the relative quality
of a statistical model
30 23 0.66 3.6% 436 0.291 0.000 0.089
Sum of Tue-Sale
Quality Metrics Smoothing Coefficients
RMSE MAE MASE MAPE AIC Alpha Beta Gamma
34 25 0.80 4,1% 452 0.193 0.000 0.063
Sum of Wed-Sale
Quality Metrics Smoothing Coefficients
RMSE MAE MASE MAPE AIC Alpha Beta Gamma
30 24 0.76 3.8% 438 0.005 0.052 0.003
Sum of Thu-Sale
Quality Metrics Smoothing Coefficients
RMSE MAE MASE MAPE AIC Alpha Beta Gamma
33 27 0.79 4.2% 449 0.000 0.000 0.029
Sum of Fri-Sale
Quality Metrics Smoothing Coefficients
RMSE MAE MASE MAPE AIC Alpha Beta Gamma
59 44 0.81 6.2% 517 0.040 0.469 0.000
Sum of Sat-Sale
Quality Metrics Smoothing Coefficients
RMSE MAE MASE MAPE AIC Alpha Beta Gamma
39 27 1.31 4.5% 467 0.361 0.000 0.069
Sum of Sun-Sale
Quality Metrics Smoothing Coefficients
RMSE MAE MASE MAPE AIC Alpha Beta Gamma
116 82 1.27 22.5% 597 0.234 0.000 0.159
An additional element of data visualization geographic
overviews of each of the three areas covered in newspaper
distribution and the types of media product that would be
most conducive to profitable sales in the respective areas.
For instance, Area 1 signaled sales support for newspapers
focusing on news about Delaware County, Pennsylvania
and the greater Philadelphia area, while sales of The New
York Times editions were most evident in Area 2, and less
so in Area 3.
Fig. 3. Area 1: geographic overview.
3. Fig. 4. Area 2: geographic overview.
Fig. 5. Area 3: geographic overview.
To handle negative numbers in the original data set, the
researchers segregated the data into a separate set in order
to highlight poor performing distribution locations that
might need further attention. The analysis generated a
waterfall model to track losses over time. For example, one
convenience store location received 10 copies of a particular
newspaper daily. The store, on average, sold six copies per
day and returned the remainder to the company for a refund
to be disbursed at the end of each week, which would offset
revenues over time. The model highlighted this location as
a candidate for revising distribution. In the model, Areas 1
and 3 appeared to have the highest number of locations that
would have a persistently negative impact on revenue,
whether because of poor sales or by client business owners
who might try to exploit the refund transactions. As
observed in the following graph figures (Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and
Fig. 7), the problem of loss-prone distribution locations is
not as prominent in Area 1 as it is in Area 3. The waterfall
model output for Area 1 indicates a slight decline and
stagnating position but in Area 3, there is an across-the-
board decline across the region’s zip codes. This sheds light
on underlying significant revenue losses that likely had not
been tracked as closely as they should have been. The
model output for Area 2 suggests the area is a solid revenue
performer and the results suggest that the company should
address its most serious distribution problems first in Area
3.
Fig. 6. Area 1: waterfall model.
Fig. 7. Area 2: waterfall model.
Fig. 8. Area 3: waterfall model.
Researchers also generated histograms for each area and
for each newspaper publication to highlight specific
distribution locations (such as stores for two popular
convenience chains that are open 24/7) where the potential
for selling more copies of specific newspapers would be the
most promising (e.g., those that consistently showed no
copies of papers being returned for refunds). For example,
in an Area 1 convenience store that is always open, the
model predicted the location could sell more copies than
what already is being sold. The data also alert the
company’s distribution management to learn more about
the factors behind specific locations that tend to perform
well consistently.
4. Figure 9. Day-specific analysis of one newspaper’s sales for
chains of convenience stores.
For example, many of the best-performing locations in
Area 1 are based in neighborhoods that share demographics
with segments who have been identified as loyal print
media consumers (e.g., age groups that spent their
formative years with media before the age of Internet and
digital media). In addition, other locations near
concentrations of schools and that are in lower- and
middle-income areas also are ideal candidates for improved
sales. Media access via traditional formats still matters
especially in lower-income families where children might
need to rely on media for school assignments and might not
always have the opportunity to visit a local library branch.
In addition, data visualization can pinpoint dates when
sales increased significantly, as consumers searched for
information about major breaking news and events. While
no one can anticipate when a major story might break, data
visualization tools can augment a distributor’s capacity to
respond quickly to sudden surges in demands for newspaper
editions that focus on such breaking news. Consumers
might patronize locations in such instances, knowing that a
[articular convenience store, for example, will have
sufficient numbers of newspaper copies for purchase.
Researchers also found that numerous locations only
returned one copy of a particular newspaper during the
week on numerous occasions. Some anecdotal evidence
indicated that the sole remaining copy was held back as a
courtesy for customers who at least had the opportunity to
scan the newspaper if there were no remaining copies
available for sales. That location also might be an ideal
candidate for distributing additional copies for sale.
V. CONCLUSION
The challenges for a company involved in distributing
print media products are immense, as the newspaper
industry continues to consolidate and shrink. However,
survey data indicate legacy print media such as newspapers
remains an important consumer product. National
readership data culled from Nielsen Scarborough’s 2015
Newspaper Penetration Report show that 51 percent of
those who consume a newspaper read it exclusively in print,
even as it is down from 62 percent print-only readership in
2011 and 59 percent in 2012. Print still is a predominant
choice for many consumers but the inevitable decline will
continue. As for newspaper distribution companies, such as
the one profiled in this study, the question turns to
identifying opportunities to leverage the optimal
performance of specific distribution points on various route
points to create a longer period of profitability, as
consolidation continues. The opportunity to extend a
positive trend line forecast even for the short term could
provide the business some critical flexibility as it considers
how its operations will continue to be affected by the
longer-term shrinking of the newspaper industry.
Undoubtedly, while the forecast points to difficult times
ahead, a business such as a newspaper distribution outlet
can remain agile and even profitable by becoming creative
in its response to trends and to target those areas where
both positive and negative challenges present themselves.
Even as some enterprising newspapers look to digital
media products including video and podcasting and niche
websites as options for financial viability, others are
creating new print products including print magazines that
focus on categories such as food and drink and outdoor
recreation as well as high-quality lifestyle publications
featuring long-form journalism. Others are joining
competitors to launch expanded Sunday editions, while
some newspapers have launched specific neighborhood
editions tailored to individual communities. Yet others are
launching premium print editions that incorporate content
that typically was available exclusively on digital and web
platforms.
The quality of relationships with individual distribution
locations will become more critical, as client stores consider
the potential of carrying alternative print media products
launched by newspaper publishers. In the interim,
companies can enjoy some breathing space by finetuning
their distribution models per these types of data
visualizations. This amplifies the purpose of remaining
financially stable so that these new opportunities are not
lost, as they become more frequent in a rapidly changing
newspaper industry.
REFERENCES
[1] Barthel, M. (2016, June 15). Newspapers: Fact Sheet | Pew Research
Center. Retrieved from
http://www.journalism.org/2016/06/15/newspapers-fact-sheet/
[2] Fowler Jr., G. L. (1978). The Comparative Readability of Newspapers
and Novels. Journalism Quarterly, 55(3), 589-592.
[3] Hurter, A. P., & Van Buer, M. G. (1996). The Newspaper
Production/Distribution Problem. Journal of Business Logistics, 17(1),
p. 85.
[4] İncesu, G., Aşıkgil, B., & Tez, M. (2012). Sales Forecasting System for
Newspaper Distribution Companies in Turkey. Pakistan Journal of
Statistics and Operation Research, 8(3), pp.685-699.
doi:10.18187/pjsor.v8i3.539
[5] Lucena, A. A. (2011). The print newspaper in the information age.
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ecology.org/publications/MEA_proceedings/v12/9_print.pdf-