Do we really need these UK weekly magazines taking up shelf space in newsagencies? With their low cover prices and single digit sales, the titles are break even at best. In many newsagencies they are loss making. This is not good economics for newsagents.
Being imported, the titles are always out of date. Valentine’s Day was two months ago yet here we have Pick Me Up with a Valentines promotion. Plus, their promotions don’t work here as we don’t get the give away items promoted.
Newsagents are being told to position some of these titles next to more popular titles like Take 5 or next to confectionery – both premium locations not justified by the low cover price and therefore low margin for newsagents.
If distributors want newsagents to act commercially with these titles they need to be commercial in providing financial incentive. Guarantee me a a minimum profitable return per pocket and I’ll promote any magazine anywhere.