We were offered some product from China, really cheap stuff. Some items a little off the usual newsagency range. and others a good fit. After months of saying no we took the plunge. In just two weeks we have all but sold out. With a GP of 80% and a sell out in two weeks it makes one wonder about whether worrying whether products fit my view of a newsagency matters. Of course, the temptation is to take the China product drug again and again after that. But where does one stop? I suspect when it is too late. My feeling is that I will resist the temptation to turn my newsagency in to a $2 shop and use this imported product at selected times in the year to lure new customers and reward regulars with a good deal.
Many newsagents would not agree with me. They are pursuing more and more cheap product from China. This dilutes what newsagencies are and devalues the network.
If too many front their shops with cheap product from China we will nose interest to suppliers as the premium channel we are today for greeting cards, magazines, newspapers and lotteries. Suppliers like us for our focus and an addiction to cheap imported product puts that at risk.