Chinese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Vietnamese and Indians are buying more newsagencies yet suppliers, industry associations and newsagents fail to adequately embrace them. This failure leads to a disconnect with the channel, its best practices, traditions, and the community it serves. I estimate that more than 20% of newsagents are of a non-English speaking background yet my software company, Tower Systems, is the only industry supplier to actively embrace them and provide non-English services. (We provide Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese speaking support and services.)
If industry associations, suppliers and newsagents believe that the channel is unique then they must actively embrace non-English speaking newsagents and bring them closer to the fold. This means offering access to services in languages other than English, employing staff to serve this need and spreading the passion of the traditional newsagency.
Failure to act fails not only the newsagents but also the communities they serve.