I was talking with the owner of another newspaper / magazine shop here in Vienna today and I uncovered more of their story. First up, they’re on a lower commission. He wouldn’t say but did say he would be very very happy with 25%. I am guessing they are on 15%, maybe a little more. He saw lower commission as a price to pay for better control over the stock he gets. His biggest problem is not getting enough stock of top selling titles. Yeah, I understand that!
In more of the stores today I say the same horizontal layering of magazines with full-face display for only the very top sellers.
Talking with the owner of one store today about our lack of control over what we carry, he ordered Australian newsagents to “get organised, form a union, take control”. For us to do that we have to believe in ourselves, all of us. Getting 4,500 CEOs on the same page is the biggest challenge newsagents have faced and will always face. I can, however, see it happening with a smaller group.