In the face of reports of a retail downturn, I am seeing good results, particularly in the greeting card department. Same store year on year on year growth of 20% for the first 22 days of July is fantastic. I looked at July because it is outside traditional greeting card seasons. We have not made significant in-store changes.
Magazines are solid too – up 8% (crosswords are up 12%; ink & toner up 37%. These are all departments where no significant structural changes have been made.
Newsagencies should not be too badly affected by an economic downturn since we provide great low cost entertainment opportunities as well as feeding comforting dreams.