GNS, the stationery warehouse owned by newsagents has banned VANA, the Victorian newsagent association from having a stand at this year’s GNS Market Fair – the only trade show for newsagents. VANA has been involved in Market Fair since it began and indeed had ‘ownership’ over a decent chunk of the floor space sold at the trade show. VANA was involved in the Victorian newsagent trade show for years prior to the arrival of GNS in Victoria.
This decision and the decision to ban newsXpress exhibiting at GNS Market Fairs are proof of a Board out of touch with what newsagents want.
I have already notified GNS of my decision that i will not be attending the Fair, neither will any of my business partners. The decision is wrong. A decision based on E-Vana and it’s direct competition to GNS.
An example; E-Vana offer a complete marketing package for its ink cartridge business supplied by Inktek; fliers, promotional material, price tags, FIS; its great. This is a space that should have been owned by GNS years ago. GNS should have had the foresite to get off its collective and own this space; but instead they would rather critisize someone else for having the initiative to do it.
Secondly; are Newspower attending the Fair? Surely not if other marketing groups are banned?
Ultimately, the suppliers are the ones paying the fees to be a part of it and they will suffer as a result of the decision by GNS.
Vaughan