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Are Direct rolling out weekly daytime magazine deliveries

Are Direct conducted an 8-week trial in part of Victoria metro in May/June 2025 with a weekly daytime delivery with proof of delivery.

The trial results in terms of sales performance and newsagent feedback, including labour and time savings managing the category only once a week.

I think this is a good move. It’s also an expected move as engagement with print media evolves. Newsagents should not be worried about this. I think they should take the move as a reason to work on their business in the context of traffic drivers – for the sustainability of the business.

Below are more details provided by Are Direct and their plans for rolling out the weekly daytime deliveries (Mon, Tues, Wed).:

NSW country has been split into different areas as we have multiple contractors here.

  • Part of Vic Metro (roughly the Western side of Melbourne) rolled out 5 May
  • Regional QLD rolled out 7 July
  • Next:
    • 25 August – Balance VIC Metro
    • 25 August – NSW Country (Newcastle, Greater Newcastle)
    • 1 September – VIC Country
    • 8 September – NSW Country (Central Coast, Goulburn, Blue Mountains)
    • 15 September – SA Metro
    • 22 September – NSW Country (Wagga)
    • 22 September – NSW Country (South Coast, Illawarra, Canberra)
    • 30 September (at the latest) – SA Country
    • 13 October – TAS
    • 3 November – QLD Metro
    • NSW Metro – Feb 2026 TBC

Newsagents are being communicated on the changes 4 weeks in-advance of the change and these comms include the FAQ’s that I attach for reference. These are very similar to what was shared when we ran the Vic metro trial. We are also supplying A2/A4 posters prior to the delivery change to help stores communicate the delivery change to their customers.

By the end of this year approx. 70% of retailers will be on the new weekly daytime delivery model. We are planning to complete NSW metro in Q1 2026, and this will just leave WA although we have weekly deliveries in remote areas already.

This information above provided by Are Direct is terrific, and straightforward. The company has also provided terrific FAQ details:

 Why are you having to change the on-sale days of magazines? 

Magazine distribution continues to be challenged with volumes decreasing by 10% a year and with warehousing and transport costs increasing well above inflation, we need to look at ways of building a sustainable future for all our businesses. 

Why are you changing from deliveries overnight to daytime? 

Content, even in weekly titles, is becoming less time sensitive to consumers and sales are now more spread through the day. Most newsagents are also opening later than they used to when they were managing newspaper home deliveries and the number of sub-agents for magazines has been decreasing. 

Daytime deliveries allow us to ensure magazines and TheMarketHub stock is safely delivered during opening hours with proof of delivery like many other suppliers you deal with. Later this will also allow us to offer our services to other suppliers delivering direct to your store and aggregate stock. 

We conducted an 8 week trial in part of Victoria metro in May/June 2025 and after some initial impact from customers getting used to the new on-sale pattern, we now see trial stores weekly sales performance in line with non-trial store performance. General feedback received has also been positive now the delivery time is becoming more consistent, and there are labour and time savings managing the category only once a week. 

What magazine days will be part of the weekly delivery? 

The weekly delivery will combine the delivery you would normally have received separately on Monday and Thursday for that week. 

Will all retailers in the same area receive magazine deliveries on the same day? 

Working closely with our distribution partner NDS we have mapped all delivery runs and tried to ensure all retailers in the same geographical area receive their magazines on the same day. The delivery days for magazines will move to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. As you would expect in some areas there will be some borderline overlaps, and we will continue to review these. 

As you receive your new magazine delivery, you are encouraged to place new copies on shelf to maximise sales for your store. 

What time will I receive my magazine delivery? 

Deliveries will commence from 7am and will be completed by the afternoon of your confirmed delivery day. Your store will be in a set position every delivery based on location. We expect the delivery time to become more consistent as the service beds in. We know this is important so you can roster staff appropriately for the larger single delivery volume. 

When magazine deliveries fall on a public holiday (Monday-Wednesday) then all deliveries will move back 24 hours. i.e. Public holiday falls on a Monday; deliveries will be Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday for all retailers. 

Will I still have 48 hours to claim shortages/short deliveries for magazines and TheMarketHub product? 

Yes, nothing will change from the current process. We would ask that magazine stock is checked after it is delivered so new products can be put on the shelf for customers and old products taken off show. 

Will the weekly returns form still be available on the Are Direct website from Wednesday for unsold products to be returned? 

Yes, the weekly returns form will continue to be made available on the website from Wednesday to process on-time returns. 

Will my XchangeIT files be available to me for my new delivery day? 

Yes, your delivery files for the single weekly delivery will be available from Friday afternoon/evening when we have completed the packing of your weekly delivery at our Sydney warehouse. All invoice header’s will now all show a Thursday on sale date. 

How do I view my proof of delivery photo showing my delivery was made? 

You will be able to view your proof of delivery photos that will be date and time stamped via the Are Direct website. In the Retailers menu under ‘My Documents’, you will now have a new tab for “Proof of Delivery” images. We have proved an updated user guide with step-by-step instructions on how to access this new website feature. 

How will you help us communicate with customers on the new delivery day? 

We will provide your store with A3 and A4 poster to display to your customers your new delivery date for magazines. This will arrive with your first consolidated delivery. We would also ask if you could also communicate the change to your regular weekly magazine customers in advance of the change in on-sale delivery. This should include the weekly Are Media titles That’s Life and Take 5 that will now be delivered earlier. 

As I noted, this move is good I think. It makes sense. Newsagents need to consider this in the context of their businesses and consider other changes they could make for a more sustainable retail business.

5 likes
magazine distribution

Small business retail advice: the battlefield is customer experience, not price

In today’s world of huge online retailers and national retail chains chasing business, the local retail business advantage is in creating memorable, human-centric experiences. This is where retail businesses, like newsagencies, shine.

I was in Japan in business a few weeks ago and visiting retail there reinforced the importance of the in-store experience. Retail staff are grateful you are shopping with them. Their engagement is gentle. They take pride in serving. Their attention to detail is excellent.

The service we provide in our shops is a key and valuable differentiator to online and big business competitors. It is the best place to start if you want to differentiate your business from them.

Double down on in-store service. Train your staff to be genuine experts and consultants. Remember customers’ names and preferences. Offer a level of personalised service and product knowledge that an algorithm cannot replicate. Create a welcoming physical atmosphere that makes people want to visit.

Anyone making the effort to shop in-store versus online needs to feel welcome. We need to remember they could be looking for more than just the product.

  1. Personal is your differentiator: Online (Amazon) can’t compete with the feeling of walking into a welcoming space. No matter how much they try, they can’t offer a friendly, face-to-face conversation, a curated sensory environment, or the immediate satisfaction of discovering something unique. Your physical experience is your moat against online giants.
  2. Personal builds emotional loyalty: A transaction is forgettable. An experience is not. Positive experiences create emotional connections that build genuine loyalty. Loyal customers are less price-sensitive, they recommend you to others, and they choose to support you because they want you to succeed.
  3. Personal supports your price point: A customer who has a wonderful experience in your shop is less likely to go home and search for the same item to save a few dollars online. The personal experience you provide become part of the value they take away. The experience itself makes the purchase feel more worthwhile.
  4. Personal creates a “third place”: Retail experts talk of in0store shoppers looking for a “third place”, somewhere that isn’t home (first place) or work (second place) where they can feel comfortable. Your shop can be that place.

Here are some tips for pursuing these points:

  1. Welcome every visitor.
  2. Help when needed.
  3. Provide a warm experience: fewer bright lights, for example.
  4. Ensure the shop always smells good with scents that appeal.
  5. Ensure the shop sounds good with music people hum along to.
  6. Add value every time you can: like how to use a product or when giving something as a gift is best.
  7. Thank them for stopping by.
  8. Support local in every way you are able.

The path to success against online giants isn’t about competing on their terms of price and scale, but by mastering the one area they can’t touch: the in-store experience. By offering a welcoming atmosphere, fostering genuine human connections, and embedding your shop in the local community, you  build a loyal following and create a memorable destination that customers will choose to support, ensuring your business not only survives but thrives.

In local small business retail we can complain all we like about online and big retailers, or we can provide in ur own a shop an experience that sets us apart and demonstrates in every contact the value of shopping local.

…
Mark Fetcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

9 likes
Management tip

Good first day at Reed Melbourne Gift Fair

Yesterday was a good first day at the Melbourne gift fair with a diverse mix of retailers attending and most keen to do business.

Whereas five or so years ago this trade show would be dominated by gift shop owners and staff, now the retail channel mix is broad. yesterday I saw folks from jeweller, garden centre, pet and newsagency businesses, as well as gift.

There were plenty with online only businesses. There were also several over from New Zealand for the trade show.

While I think Reed is running for show one or two days too long, day one augurs well for the value of the event for the suppliers who have stumped up big money to be there.

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Newsagency opportunities

Promoting jigsaws in Winter in the local newsagency

newsXpress stores are running an in-store promotion around the jigsaw category. Each store has been provided access to product deals with bonus gross profit, a terrific good-value prize for one lucky local shopper along with collateral for promoting the competition.

This type of local store promotion with a local winner is successful for local retailers. It’s part of the exclusive newsXpress Seasonal Edge promotion series, which costs nothing for participating retailers.

Here is a small sample showing in-store activation with the promotion.










The proof of the campaign is in sales, and they are up.

Simple and local campaigns like this work well, especially when thoughtfully timed for the right season, which Winter is for jigsaws.

…
Mark Fetcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

5 likes
newsagency marketing

Have your say on card payments

The Independent Payments Forum, a lobby group of which ALNA and newsXpress are paying members, is working on the RBA and politicians in relation to merchant. They’d like input from small business retailers, like you. This quick survey is anonymous. Your response will strengthen small business representation.

Here is a link to the survey: https://forms.gle/nhpzXd1GN7ncTjZp9

If you are concerned about the costs of payments in your shop, spent a minute or so and complete the survey, please.

5 likes
Newsagency management

Ignorant op. ed. by Dave Sharma in the AFR

Liberal senator Dave Sharma penned an op. ed. for The Australian Financial Review claiming the RBA position on card surcharges is a considered way forward toward a more modern and competitive system.

The opening line of his piece sets up up for his ignorant take.

Paying a fee in order to spend your own money is a strange state of affairs.

Does he not understand business, that businesses have costs and the costs are reflected in the costs of products. With the current approach to surcharging, retailers are advising consumers the cost of this part of their business. I would not, however, that some lazy retailers go for a high cost payments option in the knowledge that they can pass that on. I think this is poor form by these retailers when there are payments costs well under 1% readily available. But, I digress.

The currently published position by the RBA if implemented fails small business retailers.

Sharma goes on to write:

The abolition of card surcharges would bring card payments in line with cash and be of immediate benefit to consumers and households, saving them a collective $1.2 billion. Mandating the reduction of wholesale fees linked to card use will benefit merchants, and particularly small businesses.

It seems like Sharma has not read the RBA consultation paper.

My concern is that small business retailers like newsagents are ignoring what’s is being discussed here and that they will only arc-up when it is too late.

Right now is when we need to be approaching our local federal politicians so they understand the risk to small business retail of the flawed RBA position on surcharges. The RBA claim to eliminate the cost of surcharges on consumers is nonsense unless small business retailers are given payments costs that match the sweetheart deals given to big business.

Dave Sharma needs to do better research before writing next in the big business mouthpiece, the AFR.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has retained a zero debit interchange option, continued card surcharging and reduced other interchange fees for businesses accepting Visa and Mastercard payments. Hmm, what is it with politicians and their lack of apparent understanding of business.

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Social responsibility

Free offer: for newsagents with a website and those considering one

I’ve been deeply immersed in the world of online retail for over a decade. From building websites for my own newsagency businesses – individual shops, online-only stores, and multi-shop single-category sites – to guiding the web development efforts at Tower Systems, the software company I founded, I’ve gained extensive experience. Through my work at Tower, I constantly leverage search, traffic, and other data to help retailers attract more shoppers online. I also have access to insightful, paywalled data on website traffic and keywords, giving me a unique edge.

Now, I’m extending that expertise to you. My goal is simple: to help more newsagents make money online. This starts with creating websites that are easily found, trusted, and enjoyed by visitors. Data play a vital role in achieving these goals, and thankfully, there’s plenty of good data available to inform actionable advice.

Here is what I offer, for free:

1. If you already have a website:

Email me your website URL at mark@newsxpress.com.au. I’ll review your current traffic data, analyse your website’s performance, and examine your social media presence. I’ll also take a look at some of your competitors’ online strategies.

What you’ll receive is a clear, actionable “To-Do” list of steps you can take yourself to improve traffic and convert more visitors into paying customers, ultimately growing your online revenue.

2. If you’re considering a website (or don’t know where to start):

Email me at mark@newsxpress.com.au with your initial ideas for a website. I’ll research relevant keywords and analyse the traffic potential your competitors are already getting.

You’ll receive valuable evidence and insights to help you make informed decisions about the type of website that’s right for your business. If you’re completely new to this and have no idea where to begin, feel free to email me about that too – just tell me a bit about your shop.

Also, know that your website does not have to be connected in any way with what you sell in your newsagency today. In fact, I’d encourage that.

Why am I offering this for free? 

This service is genuinely free. I am not trying to sell you anything. I’ve offered similar analyses to Tower Systems customers, most of whom are outside the newsagency channel. Each project has broadened my own knowledge and helped me refine this service.

So, why the free offer? The health of the Australian newsagency channel matters deeply to me. I care about our industry, and this free service is simply another way I can give back and help newsagents run thriving retail businesses in today’s digital landscape.

The more newsagents selling online with successful websites the better.

A Word of warning: The Truth Matters

What I’ll share with you will be the unvarnished truth. I won’t sugarcoat it. If you’re serious about making money online, understanding the real picture is crucial.

Please email me at mark@newsxpress.com.au.

Footnote: Each analysis takes time. Plus I have a day job. I will get to your request as soon as I can.

18 likes
Newsagency management

More ATM providers remove ATMs from tobacco retailers

It is good to see more ATM providers removing ATMs from tobacco shops.

One of Australia’s largest private ATM suppliers, Macquarie Group-backed Next Payments, is removing more than 40 of its machines from suspected illegal tobacco stores.

Next Payments chief executive Tim Wildash announced the move after an ABC investigation found ATM companies were cutting deals with tobacco criminals and installing their machines in high turnover illegal cigarette shops.

Mr Wildash said he had not been aware of the extent of the issue until the ABC’s reporting, and he was insisting the company remove ATMs from the outlets.

A large number of illegal tobacco retailers use card payments terminals provided by banks and fintechs to sell illegal products according to multiple news reports. So, this latest move. by Macquarie, is a good step against this support for illegal tobacco retailers.

The latest move is on the back of this story from the ABC.

Tobacco shop ATMs can do triple the business

The ABC has obtained court documents from a legal action sparked by the turf war between the ATM suppliers over Al Deleymi’s business.

The documents reveal the normally secret returns generated by ATMs in tobacco shops, including how in some cases such machines do triple the business of a normal ATM.

…

Transaction rate dwarfs typical ATMs

To prove how much revenue was lost, atm2go offered up details of how fee deals for private ATMs are structured.

Atm2go stated it charged customers $2.50 for each cash withdrawal and that Al Deleymi would earn a cut of each transaction fee of up to $1.30.

One machine at a Caboolture tobacco store recorded 165 transactions daily throughout May 2022, while a second racked up 155. Together, they reaped daily average fees of $408.79.

This transaction rate dwarfs that of typical Australian ATMs, which record an average of only 38 cash withdrawals a day, according to Reserve Bank of Australia figures.

This high transaction rate came despite the presence of other ATMs nearby.

With tobacco products present in around 20% of retail newsagencies, this story is one of interest for our channel.

It is good to see action on illegal tobacco.

5 likes
Social responsibility

Why parcel pickup is not a good service for Australian newsagents to offer

Before I get into this I note that by parcel pickup service I do not mean Australia Post parcel services through a Licensed Post Office. I happen to think an LPO in the right location inside a newsagency can be a good move.

No, here I am writing about agency business, where a newsagent acts as an agent for a parcel pick up or drop off service.

The financial compensation is low. You get paid peanuts, often not reflecting the time involved.

The time spent can be considerable. Customer queries and more can take up too much time.

Customer anger can be high. Having to wait while you serve people buying products tends to frustrate parcel people who want immediate service. Product customers can be angry too when you serve parcel pickup customers ahead of them.

Space requirements at a premium location in store can be high. And it can vary based on volume.

Distraction from high margin retail can cost profit. The time spent dealing with parcels is time spent not being a retailer.

These are the key reasons why I think offering a parcel pickup and drop off service is hot good for an Australian. newsagency business.

A core argument for these services, that they generate valuable foot traffic, is often a myth in my experience, looking at plenty of business performance data from newsagencies over the years.

The parcel customer is typically a destination visitor, not a shopper prepared to browse.  Their goal is speed and efficiency. Any delay, whether waiting for you to finish with a retail customer or seeing you serve someone else, creates friction, not a sales opportunity.

Newsagents offering parcel pickup and drop off services are absorbing the courier company’s final-mile delivery costs. These newsagents are often seen as the face of service failures. When a parcel is late, damaged, or missing, it is the newsagent who can cop the customer’s frustration.

Regulars here would know I am not a fan of agency business as it is not good retail, it is not you investing in your business. Parcel services are that – not you working on and in your business for your profit.

…
Mark Fetcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

10 likes
Newsagency management

Kudos to ALNA for their strong position on the RBA surcharge position

ALNA issued a good and strong response to the RBA position on payments surcharges:

RBA Surcharge Ban Fails Small Business
The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) has expressed disgust at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s proposed surcharge ban, condemning it as a bureaucratic failure that demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding of how small businesses operate.

ALNA CEO Ben Kearney slammed the RBA’s consultation paper on merchant card payment costs, describing the proposed surcharge ban as “adding insult to injury” during an unprecedented cost-of-doing-business crisis. “The RBA’s payment costs paper represents a fundamental failure to understand the realities facing small businesses,” Kearney said.

ALNA prepared a detailed submission HERE to the consultation so far and will continue to advocate strongly through the next phase of the RBA consultation.

ALNA also put out a media release on the proposed ban HERE. In the release ALNA highlighted the brutal mathematics facing our members, where newsagencies and lottery retailers processing an average of 1,000 daily transactions worth just $15.20 are selling fixed-price lottery tickets with regulated pricing and earning just 10-11.3% commission, losing surcharging rights means payment costs will consume around 7% or more of the entire profit margin.

ALNA is particularly disgusted by the RBA’s lack of courage to take on more courageous cost reduction reforms, our impression is that the real culprits are the card schemes whose huge profits are protected by complex regulations, the RBA are protecting the status quo while small businesses paying 300-400% higher card fees than large retailers, may effectively subsidise the low rates negotiated by giants like Coles and Woolworths.

“Small businesses currently bear the lion’s share of processing fees charged by banks, payment service providers and card schemes,” Kearney explained. “The RBA’s proposed interchange reductions are modest improvements that don’t address the core problem of cross-subsidisation.”

The association demands the RBA show real guts by implementing genuine structural reforms including mandatory least cost routing, deeper interchange cuts, and scheme fee caps. Instead of protecting big business interests, the RBA should deliver cost relief to small businesses fighting through the toughest operating environment in decades

ALNA is part of the Independent Payments Forum, which is lobbying on behalf of small business retailers. newsXpress is part of the IPF as well.

The ALNA statement is more emotive than the IPF statement. This is a good move by ALNA.

11 likes
Newsagent representation

Thanks Mediaweek of covering the sale of Are Media

I am grateful to Mediaweek for their interest in the impact of a possible sale of Are Media for local small business newsagents.

Magazine health check: What the industry has to say about the current state of mags

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Posted on

Campsie newsagency

With Are Media for sale, Mediaweek spoke with Mark Fletcher, Jackie Frank, and Nate Vella to consider the health of the local magazine industry.

Fifteen years ago, Mark Fletcher predicted that magazine publishing in Australia would face such a steep and sustained decline that newsagents would need to diversify quickly or risk shutting down altogether.

Fletcher, who is the CEO of newsagency marketing group NewsXpress and has been at the coal face of what he describes as print’s “slow and steady decline”, was anything but surprised when Are Media officially went up for sale last week.

With prospective buyers now kicking the tires on Are Media, Mediaweek took the opportunity to consider the health of the local magazine industry. Along with Fletcher, Mediaweek also spoke with Bench Media Head of Strategy Nate Vella and the vocal Jackie Frank, founding editor of marie claire Australia.

Unit sales continue downward trend

According to Fletcher, overall magazine sales in newsagents have dropped significantly in 2025.

“What we’re seeing so far in 2025 is that we’re sitting at around a 10% unit sale decline across the board. A lot of that decline is occurring in high-volume weeklies and monthlies.”

While many mass-market titles are losing ground, he says niche and puzzle magazines are proving more resilient.

“Special interest titles, such as Victorian Railroad Lines or Model Railway, are selling well… crossword year-on-year decline is sitting at around 2% or 3%.”

TikTok and portfolio overlap among key pressures

Fletcher sees digital platforms—particularly TikTok—as a major challenge to general-interest and entertainment-led print brands.

“Because Are Media is producing mass titles, they’re facing the challenge because that’s where you’ve got the biggest competition from TikTok and elsewhere.”

He also highlights a misalignment between Are Media’s focus and the categories showing the most growth:

“Special interest titles generally account for 20 to 25% of all magazines sold… women’s weeklies… account for about 8% now. 20 years ago, they would have accounted for easily 35 to 40%.”

He argues Are’s current magazine portfolio is too crowded: “Part of the challenge for the portfolio is how do they rationalise the portfolio rather than creating so much content that’s similar across different mastheads?”

“Right now, in terms of weeklies, you’ve got New Idea, Woman’s Day and Who, and for our marketplace, that’s probably at least one too many titles.”

Format stability and retail strategy shifts

Fletcher contrasts the volatility of lifestyle magazines with the reliability of formats like puzzles and established brands.

“You’ve got a tentpole product like Women’s Weekly, which is fantastic… but it’s so much cover-dependent.”

Meanwhile, puzzle publications attract steady buyers: “If people enjoy doing crosswords daily, they’ll likely continue… They can use their backpack, handbag, or whatever, and just do it whenever they’re on the train, tram, or road.”

Newsagents are adapting by shifting store layouts and diversifying offerings.

“Previously, a typical news agency would have prime real estate taken up by magazines and newspapers. Now that prime real estate is for gifts and homewares.”

“Magazine customers are still satisfied, and the news agency can diversify… Intelligent news agents have adapted their businesses… less competent news agents have ended up closing as a result.”

Reps from our channel are not always heard on matters like this. Mediaweek listened.

6 likes
magazines

The Reserve Bank of Australia fails small business retailers in its Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging Consultation Paper

The Reserve Bank of Australia has released its Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging Consultation Paper.

The RBA consultation paper proposed no changes that support or protect small businesses from the absolute dominance of the payments space by the big four banks in Australia and multi national corporations that put offshore profits ahead of Aussie consumers and small business owners.

The RBA could have taken a clearer position. What the Governor wrote in a OpEd in News Corp papers today reflects breathtaking ignorance on surcharges, the costs businesses, especially small businesses, face and how banks and others behave in relation to small business retailers.

Least cost routing (LCR). The RBA is considering whether a formal mandate for LCR is necessary, particularly for in-person and online transactions. For small businesses, wider adoption of LCR could lead to significant savings on merchant fees. Evidence indicates that merchants with LCR enabled have nearly 20% lower debit card transaction costs.

Interchange fees. A huge gap exists between the interchange fees paid by large and small businesses yet each transaction for each business has the same costs for the providers. The RBA says it is exploring measures to address this, which could include setting a floor on interchange rates or introducing lower caps on these fees for transactions at small businesses. While I’m no expert, I don’t see what has to be explored: regulate so everyone is on the same playing field.

Ban on surcharging. Without fixing the above to be fair for small businesses, a ban on surcharging will not save $1.2B for Aussies as the cost will still be there. Without corresponding reductions in underlying costs, could force small businesses to either absorb losses or increase prices, potentially making them less competitive.

A ban on surcharging without fairness on interchange fees and mandated least cost routing would be unfair to small business retailers.

The RBA may say they need to do their thing in isolation. They con’t. They and the government need to work hand in hand to fix the current broken and fundamentally unfair system.

If small business retailers really are as important to Australia as politicians from all parties tell us we are, right now is the time for them to step up for as things look, small business retailers are about to be fed a turd sandwich.

If you are a small business retailer here is what you can do today in addition to lobbying your local federal member and senators.

  1. Activate Least-Cost Routing:
    • What to do: Call the merchant services number for your bank or payment provider (e.g., your bank, Tyro, ANZ, Suncorp etc).
    • What to say: “I am calling to ensure that Least-Cost Routing is enabled on my payment terminal(s). I want all eligible debit card transactions to be processed through the cheapest network, which is typically eftpos.”
    • Why: LCR is not always enabled by default. Activating it can immediately reduce your fees on debit card tap-and-go payments by 15-20% without changing anything else. There is generally no cost to enable it.
  2. Audit Your Current Merchant Fees:
    • What to do: Find your most recent merchant statement. Don’t just look at the total fee. Look for the different rates you’re being charged for different cards (e.g., Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit, eftpos, Visa Credit, Amex).
    • Why: You need to understand your “blended rate” or your true average cost. Calculate it by dividing your total fees by your total card sales for that month. A rate of 1.5% means you pay $1.50 for every $100 in sales. Your figure should be considerably less than this.
  3. Shop Around for a Better Deal:
    • What to do: Armed with your true cost from the audit, contact other payment providers. Get quotes from both traditional banks and newer fintech providers.
    • What to ask: “My current blended rate for card acceptance is X%. Can you offer a better rate? What are your terminal rental fees? Is there a lock-in contract?”
    • Why: The payments market is competitive. Your loyalty to one provider could be costing you money. Providers are often willing to negotiate to win your business.

If small business retailers really are as important to Australia as politicians from all parties tell us we are, right now is the time for them to step up for as things look, small business retailers are about to be fed a turd sandwich.

29 likes
Newsagency management

Beware consultants and others offering AI training, workshops, retreats and more

Sheesh there are some shonks out there offering workshops, retreats and consulting packages in using AI.

My advice is don’t pay anything. Instead, take a step, and then another, and another. Fall over. Learn. Get up. Take another step. Pretty soon, you’ll be running.

Where AI is at today is not a destination. We are barely at the first stop on a long journey into a future and no one today is an expert on that future.

Anyone who tells you they have the secret sauce is just selling you a bottle of their own snake oil. The real secret is there is no secret. Just the graft. Just the curiosity.

The “gurus” selling you a weekend workshop are probably only a few chapters ahead of you. The landscape is changing so fast that any manual they print is out of date by the time the ink is dry. Don’t buy their map. Draw your own. It’ll be a mess, for sure. But it’ll be yours, and it’ll lead somewhere far more interesting.

So go on, be curious. Muck around. Break things. That’s how you’ll get good, not by lining someone else’s pockets. Give it a report, a business challenge, a question on your mind, a copy of your business plan, and ask what do you think?

The more you use it, the more you learn, and the more useful it becomes.

Do all this for free.

Don’t pay for a course, a workshop or a retreat. I saw one AI retreat in Australia promoted recently costing thousands for content and context that is available for free. Nice work if you can get it.

Beware. There are people making a ton of cash because AI feels so far removed what many know and understand. Clever marketers are leveraging ignorance for their own profit. Don’t do it!

Go on, try ChatGPT or Google Gemini now for free. Once you have played with them there are other tools you can use, plenty are free, and worth it.

…

Footnote: yes I have written a bit here about the AI tools embedded in the Tower Systems newsagency software. That’s different. It’s built in, included, ready for immediate use without the need for training, a course, a workshop or a retreat, no need to pay extra.

13 likes
Ethics

Lotterywest helps WA newsagents with free lease assistance

This service from Lotterywest for its retailers in Western Australia is terrific

Kick off the new financial year with potential savings.
Don’t forget, you have access to FREE information to support you in your lease negotiations, thanks to our partnership with LeaseMap. LeaseMap can help you negotiate better lease terms by benchmarking your lease conditions against similar businesses and providing you with evidence-based market data.

Lease negotiation is complex, stressful and all too often handled poorly by retailers, and there are some sharks out there who offer help, charge a lot, and achieve little. Any good professional assistance is good. This LeaseMap offer looks good to me.

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Lotteries

Nostalgia for the old newspaper delivery days

This Twitter post is a reminder of suburban newsagency life years ago

As I note in my comment, these decades of young kids delivering papers provided generations of good experiences in teamwork, responsibility and more.

6 likes
newspaper home delivery

Beanie Boos set to make a comeback in Australia

The mess with the distribution of Ty Beanie Boos in Australia created by Ty Inc when they made distribution changes three years ago than say supply stall and interest collapse is finally being cleaned up.

Ty has appointed a new distributor with good toy credentials and a plan for rebuilding interest in Beanie Boos in Australia. They have product on the way and have orders in place for new designs for our marketplace.

Beanie Boos is a beloved brand. Interest faded due to poor local management by the most recent distributor. It will be good to see it rebuild.

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Newsagent suppliers

Forget Labubu, you likely have better opportunities in your shop today

Stop chasing fleeting social media trends and instead focus on opportunities at your doorstep.

In your shop today is likely a more sustainable path to retail success by focusing on the everyday items customers are actively searching for.

It’s a simple shift in perspective that can lead to lasting stability and growth.

I made this video early today after I was asked by a retailer about how to access Labubu for their toy / gift shop.

In our newsagency channel I see newsagents chase hot properties too late and ignore better opportunities along the way.

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Newsagency management

What an awful user interface

Software developers are trained in the importance of the user interface for ease of use, customer enjoyment and engagement focus. You can see this play out especially well at companies like Apple. At News Corp. they appear to care little for the principles of a good user interface if you look at their website this morning. It is truly awful.

Screenshot

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Ugh!

The future of the Australian newsagency relies on newsagents being retailers and not agents

While the Aussie newsagency channel was created in the 1800s to be agents of media outlets, today, in 2025, newsagents with growing businesses are achieving this by being retailers. There is no growth in agency business. There is a ton of growth in retail.

Given the diversity among the 2,800 newsagency businesses in the channel, it is impossible to guide a course that fits all.

The future of your newsagency business is entirely dependent on you. I appreciate that to some who bought their business because they wanted to be an agent offering easy to manage services or because they did not see themselves as a retailer this may seem daunting. Don’t be put off. I have seen plenty transition their businesses from agency-focussed to retail-focussed on the back of minimal retail skills.

If sales in your newsagency are flat or declining, you need to act for if you don’t act, one day in the future you will see closing as the only option.


The future success of Australian newsagencies hinges on three critical areas: product selection, business narrative, and sales approach.

The traditional model, reliant on newspapers, magazines, lotteries, convenience items, tobacco, and discount variety products, is no longer viable. Similarly, suppliers, particularly print media businesses, offer little support for the channel’s future.

Instead, newsagents must embrace a shift towards premium and unique offerings, prioritizing value over low price points and strategically managing margins. The principle of “find a need and fill it” is crucial for evolving local businesses.

I see there key pillars for success, there are others, these three are the key:

Products

Focus on products uncommon to the newsagency channel. This includes items such as:

  • Clothing
  • High-value gifts (e.g., $300 and above)
  • Non-remainder books
  • Cookware
  • Collectibles that draw customers from a distance
  • Toys – not crap but higher end, good brands.

Your list could vary depending on location and interest. For example: pets, outdoors, haberdashery. There is no limit here.

You are looking for products not currently supplied through traditional newsagency channels. While everyday items like stationery and greeting cards will remain, their success depends on smart curation and pricing to manage inventory burden. For example, selling stationery to passionate enthusiasts offers a greater opportunity than simply catering to basic needs. The scope of what you can sell is limited only by your imagination.

Narrative

Develop a compelling business story that explains the “why” of your business. This narrative, nurtured through product selection, in-store merchandising, social media presence, website content, and your personal engagement, builds trust with customers. An evolving narrative, adapting to you, the times, and your community, is essential. In today’s immersive retail environment, a strong narrative transforms a simple product into a desirable experience.

How You Sell

The ability to sell online is paramount. Without an online presence, businesses lack crucial insights into market dynamics and customer behavior. The future of the Australian newsagency is about individual businesses becoming smart, engaged, and creative. This will lead to a diverse, rather than cohesive, channel where each newsagency strives for local and online success.

…

For newsagents unwilling to embrace change, the traditional model is unsustainable, leading to a reduction in the number of newsagency locations. However, for those ready to adapt, support is available within the channel to ensure the relevance and success of these vital local retail businesses. While the name of the shop is less important than its perceived identity, a locally relevant name is what I recommended. The future is not a single, clear prediction, but rather a collective effort of individual businesses innovating and adapting.

Change starts with you, with your decision to change your business, cliché as that sounds. Often when working with newsagents who have decided to change I have found a good place to start is by decluttering. Get rid of anything in the shop that you don’t use, don’t need or that does not add value to the business. Take a look at your stock, especially what you have not sold any of for at least six months. Why keep it?

Start by decluttering and while you’re doing this start to think about what you want the business to stand for, to be known for. A good second step to help you get focussed on change is to take every magazine off current fixtures, clean the fixtures, and place magazine back – but with careful consideration as to where to place each title. Create a magazine display that makes sense. Typically, this single action of relaying your magazines will boost sales by up to 10%. A goof third step to take is to take everything off the counter and then rebuild with products you think people will buy on impulse.

These three physical steps of decluttering, a magazine relay and a counter rebuild are good starting points to help focus your attention. In the overall process of redefining and rebuilding your business they are small steps yet vital.

Your current business data will provide insights as to moves you could make. Greeting card sales by caption along with magazine sales by category can wonderful inform of opportunities.

If I can help, please reach out: 0418 321 338 or mark@newsxpress.com.au.

…

Footnote: There will be some who say the shingle should change, that news is not relevant. While it’s not relevant, what you call the shop does not matter all that much. It’s kind of like a picture versus a thousand words. What a shop shows itself as being matters more than what a shop calls itself. That said, Aussie newsagencies, being quintessentially local businesses are, in my opinions best off being called a name that is locally relevant – rather than some national name that is not locally relevant.

Second footnote: Reading back what I have written I know I have not made a clear and solid prediction. That’s because I can’t. There is no channel, no way to determine what all businesses in the channel will do.

…
My name is Mark Fletcher. I own newsXpress – a marketing group helping local newsagents thrive. I also founded Tower Systems, makers of the industry standard software for newsagents. I sold Tower in November 2024, and still work with the company today. You can reach me on 0418 321 338 or mark@newsxpress.com.au. 

21 likes
Management tip

A second set of eyes can be revealing for retailers

I have been playing with AI for years, both in our Tower Systems newsagency software and outside, using AI to analyse insights curated by the software.

AI offers and edge.  What if you could get an expert-level analysis of your business performance, for free, in just a few minutes? I’ve found that thanks to AI.

In this short video I walk you through how I used a free AI tool, Google Gemini, to analyse my own sales reports and get actionable insights to grow my business. It’s a process I’ve found incredibly valuable.

The process is simple. All you need is a sales report, like the Monthly Sales Comparison Report I use.

In the video, I show how I use Google Gemini to analyse a monthly sales comparison report. Here’s a breakdown of the steps I take:

  1. Upload the Report: I upload my sales report into Gogle Gemini.
  2. Get an Overview: I start by asking a broad question like, “What do you think?” to get a general analysis of the sales data. As I show in the video, Gemini provides an overview of sales and highlights notable details from different departments.
  3. Ask for Improvement Suggestions: Next, I ask for specific advice with a question like, “How can I improve this business?” Gemini then identifies declining categories and suggests concrete action items.
  4. Prioritise Your Actions: To get a clear focus, I then ask, “What is one thing I could do?” This prompts Gemini to provide a specific, high-impact recommendation that I can implement right away.

I’ve found that using an AI tool like Gemini is like having a “second set of eyes” on my business. It helps me spot trends I might have missed and provides a fresh perspective on my performance. The best part? This powerful analysis can be done quickly and easily, at no cost. The version of Gemini I used in the demonstration is freely accessible.

What you do with the insights is up to you.

Within the Tower newsagency software there are awesome AI tools available:

  1. Generate product names to maximise search opportunities.
  2. Generate meaningful and SEO ready product descriptions to maximise search opportunities.
  3. Easily load PDF invoices from any supplier, converting them to an import ready electronic invoice.
  4. Price compare locally, outside the business, to reveal better profit and competition opportunities.
  5. Generate publishing ready blog posts for products managed by the POS software, and publishing these blog posts for you if you wish.

These facilities exist today, and this list of five are only some of the AI POS software capabilities we offer our customers. You can use these, or use an external AI oil like I cover in the video. It’s easy.

12 likes
Newsagency management

New award rates and superannuation percentage

It’s July 1, 2025 and the new award rate is no in force.

There is no excuse for employers missing this or the increase to the percentage of pay employers must contribute to superannuation to 12%.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has all the details at their website.

Now is a good time to check on other aspects of the award and your engagement with it such as employee classifications. Ensure your people are classified correctly. Also, if you require staff to wear a uniform, this is to be provided at your cost and there is a requirement for a weekly cost re cleaning of the uniform. It’s all there in the award.

If you are an employee and you feel you may not be being paid correctly, ask your employer. If you are unhappy with the response and consider you are being underpaid, click this link to get to advice from the Fair Work Ombudsman.

If you are an employee and you think the superannuation contributions from your employer are incorrect and you have been unable to resolve this, click here to go straight to the ATO website for their recommended action.

It’s never easy to talk about pay, for everyone involved. No matter how you approach it, the matter comes down to the facts. That’s the best place to start. If it’s an award discussion, start with the facts in the award. The Retail Award is straightforward. Print it, mark it upon, speak to it when raising any concern.

To employers who under rate employees via a lower than appropriate classification, look at the difference. Between 3 and 5, for example, it’s $2 an hour. A good employee with the right support from the business can easily cover this difference. The key to this is them understanding the needs of the business and how their actions can serve these while serving their own personal needs.

I have seen too many employees let underpayment slide in the hope it will be resolved. This is a mistake. If it’s wrong and it is not addressed, report it.

Whether we like it or not, all newsagents are bundled together in the collective Australian mind. If one underpays staff, does not pay penalty rates or fails to pay superannuation correctly, we are all judged to behave similarly. This is why I think if any of us is aware another is deliberately misbehaving, we should report them.

11 likes
Ethics
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