R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. reported net sales for the first quarter ended March 31 totaled $2.5 billion, an 18.1% decrease from the first quarter of 2008. The sales drop included a 3.5% negative impact from changes in foreign exchange rates and volume declines across substantially all product lines, as well as continued price pressure.

VistaPrint Limited and FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko's) have teamed up in a multi-year strategic alliance that has VistaPrint providing business stationery and marketing materials for FedEx Office's customers. In addition, FedEx will be a primary express carrier for VistaPrint's orders coming from its production facility in Windsor, Ontario, to locations in North America.

Direct marketing solutions provider Direct Group will be consolidating its direct mail, digital printing and fulfillment operations into one location over the remainder of this year and anticipates eliminating approximately 50 positions as a result. "We want to optimize our associates, equipment and facilities infrastructures," said Don McKenzie, president and CEO at Direct Group, of the move.

Quebecor World Inc. has signed a new multiyear agreement to print Forbes and related magazine titles, renewing a relationship that has been in place for more than 25 years. The agreement includes premedia and logistics services for Forbes, which has a circulation of more than 900,000 and is published 26 times per year on a bi-weekly basis. The agreement also covers the printing and distribution of ForbesLife and ForbesLife Executive Women, and related ancillary printing projects.

After reaching an agreement in principle on the key terms that will allow it to successfully emerge from creditor protection, Quebecor World Inc. said it expects to file a reorganization plan in Canada and the US by the end of April and emerge from creditor protection by mid-July.

While much of the printing industry anticipates the introduction of high-speed inkjet presses from Kodak, HP and other manufacturers later this year or next, last fall commercial printer RR Donnelley & Sons installed the first high-speed inkjet press devel­oped at the company's own R&D center. "Where technology exists in the marketplace and it is available, we'll buy," said Mary Lee Sch­neider, chief technology officer at Chicago-based RR Donnelley.

Digital production systems can help you save costs, improve efficiency and get to market faster. Four industry experts discuss how marketers can get started with these bottom line-boosting tactics

Commercial printer Transcontinental reported consolidated totaled $604.1 mil­lion in the first quarter ended January 31, compared to $596 million during the same quarter in 2008. However, excluding acquisitions and the positive impact of paper prices and the exchange rate, the company said its con­solidated revenues dropped 10%.

In any economy, it's important for direct marketers to constantly re-evaluate existing relationships with their supplier base. Now is a critical time to assess your current print supplier by asking some questions: Let's start with one of the most overlooked questions: "What pieces are optimally produced on your equipment?"

R.R. Donnelley & Sons is shutting down two printing plants and laying off the employees who work there, according to recent reports in the Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press.Attempts to contact R.R. Donnelley via e-mail and telephone were unsuccessful. In light of the current economic conditions and the toll they are taking on the company's financial results, R.R. Donnelley is permanently shutting down its printing facility in Hillside, IL, according to the Chicago Tribune. All 118 people employed there are being let go.