I participated in a meeting organised by the Administrators of Bill Express this morning. Newsagents who have registered as creditors should receive a report from the Administrators in the mail next week. This will detail progress to date. Confidentiality precludes me from publishing anything discussed at the meeting.
But, gosh, who could we look to, to lead us? Is there an ambitious ‘white knight’-type newsagent/business-person who would fit the bill? Someone who has this personal aim, all along? “A czar is born.”
go to bed child
Anon,
Come out in the open and engage in a debate. That way people can see and understand your agenda. My position is well covered here and elsewhere. Yours, from the shadows, is not. Otherwise your opinion is worthless.
Mark
Who attended from the anf?
Anon,
In reading your responses to these blogs and your negative comments I believe that your life is 1/2 empty, not like the positive comments of people such as Mark with their life being a minimum of 1/2 full.
Others who read this blog should feel sorry for your 1/2 full life and ask all that have faith to think of you when they themselves are going so well.
Geoff apparently no one attended from the ANF even though they were invited to.
The chairman said this week he was not affected so maybe that is why, he doesn’t care.
So where does this leave us plebs who are not registered as creditors? How are we to be informed where this BXP mess is now leading?
What is ‘confidential’ about this bloody mess we’ve been led right into? Hell, they even held our hands to lead us there & now cannot attend!
FWIW – I regularly read these blogs/posts as I’ve managed to obtain some very decent ideas for my own little suburban shop & have found the info on here to be far more pertinent, up-to-date & useful that what comes out in the ANF News, a Newsflash or the National Newsagent.
Anon – if you’re not in this industry – take the advice, get half a life & buzzzz off! However, if you are – then stop hiding & tell us where/what your linkage to it is!
DARRYL: Scientific fact: half empty, half full is the same quanitity. Your comments are meaningless.
MARK: You are a one-trick pony. When challenged, all you can say is “Out yourself. Let’s have a debate.” This is already a debate, but your raw ambition blinds you. Anon. means Anon., but that doesn’t suit YOUR agenda, does it?
Newsagents need to be extremely wary of your ambitions.
SHAUN: You’ve been called petulant before – you had to lok up what it meant.
The meaning of anonymous –
WITHOUT CHARACTER,
FEATURELESS, IMPERSONAL
Says it all!
Anon,
Over three and a half years blogging here I have demonstrated I am not a one trick pony. If I had the raw ambition you claim I have I would spend less investing in the newsagency channel without commercial gain.
My challenge to a debate is to provide you an opportunity for you to publicly air whatever you want and for me to respond. The only reason you would reject this is if you are scare of people seeing who you are and or because you have nothing other than your anonymous shots.
Mark Fletcher
Lindie,
Confidentiality was a requirement of attending yesterday’s creditors meeting.
What I can say is that the meeting was about what may be able to be extracted from the mess for creditors. Unfortunately, that will be less than the secured creditors are owed.
The ANF did not attend.
Mark Fletcher
Anon. Half empty is negative and half full is positive. You are half empty.
Anon if you search this blog you can easily find five helpful tips for newsagents that have been put there by Mark and other contributors.
Either give us five tips that can help newsagents or go jump.
Seriously Anon, you are showing yourself to be a pathetic little coward with no other way to raise your own self esteem but by belittling others. Others, who by the way at least has the moral fortitude to put there names to their comments.
This is great place for Newsagents, like me, to get information that helps in our business. But, little dickheads like you who’s continual practice of self-love over responses to your inane arguments from genuine people who are here looking at this site as a resource beggar’s belief. I would surmise that you are either an ANF scumbag, a Bill Express scumbag, which is the same thing anyway, or just a lonely little person looking for any interaction from the society that has shunned you.
Either way I’m afraid I’ve just lost interest In you.
Five tips for newsagents, requested by Michael.
1. Read contracts before signing.
2. Think out contract ‘exit strategies’ before signing.
3. Stop thinking of newsagency businesses as ‘victims’. Customers easily pick-up the vibe.
4. Consider the retail space as theatre. Many outlets are filthy unclean, messy and give customers no inspiration to make impulse purchases – a very major part of our growth.
5. Share excitement with staff and customers. This blog exposes many from the newsagency sector as dour, sad people – with a real penchant for moaning about their lot.
5.5. Embrace the future. We are in the news business. Start thinking as news vendors, and explore 21st century products and services including the internet. We must go beyond the focus on a basket of a daily paper, a pencil eraser and a packet of Juicy Fruit. Jolt yourself into gladly stretching your newsagency’s potential.
Anon.
These ideas have been covered by mark here. Have you got any original ideas?
What about mark’s idea of a debate?
Geoff. You sound like a schoolboy yelling “fight, fight, fight” in the school-yard.
A debate on Mark’s terms?
On Mark’s agenda?
What are the topics of such a debate?
You lack substance with this comment Geoff.
(By the way, Geoff, do YOU have any original ideas?)
Geoff, you call for a debate.
(A debate about what?)
Nonetheless, et me start the ball rolling with five requested points – unavoidably lengthy, to offer some substance.
1. As an industry, we should reject the publishers’ pay-in-advance model for unsold stock. Agents need not and should not take the financial risk of selling publishers’ stock. We should – by July 1, 2009 – adopt a united model of paying only on scanned sales.
2. As a group, we need to become fast-tracked educated in the game of retail. As a group, we appear at the lowest-end of service professionals. We often appear as grumpy, tired-looking, over-worked, badly-dressed, horribly-disorganised business people. The young assistants we employ often appear as gum-chewing sloppy robots. We should look like the people you would find at an airport rent-a-car desk. (Mark would probably have photos of these service people … he loves taking photos at airports.)
3. As retailers, we are the least best. Our shops do not equal the organisational behaviour of supermarkets, book stores, fashion shops, and catergory killers such as Officeworks. Many newsagents do not warrant staying in business. If you are an agent complaining that you are underpaid, you should have the realisation that your mediocrity is paying what you are worth in the market place. If you are making ga-zillions, you are earning what you are worth. (If you are crying poor, it is ou are not very good at it. No-onje went broke making a profit)
4. As individuals, we need to lift our education. A scan of this blog shows most as poorly-educated, and unable to put simple sentences, spelling and grammar together. Until newsagents realise that they are marketing products that demand clarity and exactness of English expression, they just don’t get it. This is not snobbish, it is fact. It is like a milkman delivering spilt milk. A restaurateur serving up a badly-presented meal. Nationally, we appear as one of the lowest on the food chain. And that’s our own fault.
5. As newsagents, we need to completely alter our cosy business plans. Many seek a greedy no-risk business existence. There will be plenty of ‘Bill Express’-type proposals that come along in the future, and it is our duty to ourselves not to be suckered in. If the truth be told, newsagents as an industry are just as guilty as the Bill Express spruikers. No-one forced us to sign-up. We were motivated by profit and greed, we fell for a slick presentation. Few completed due diligence. Few questioned. Most blamed someone else when the deck of cards came tumbling down. Joining creditors’ committees, with an encouragement on registering to be paid from funds that no longer exist, is grandstanding folly. I am critical of Mark Fletcher because he asks time-poor newsagents to spend their time giving him proxies/support, to give him leverage to build his industry profile. Bill Express is the past – get over it, and move on. Despite his protests, and by his own admission, Mark does not have a perfect business past – the fan club should acknowledge that he too will have the occasional stumble.
Game on. Start debating.
Anon,
You have valid points to raise, and obviously have experience in the industry.
Why not expose yourself and get this ball rolling.
I always thought that the idea behind blogs was to impart knowledge, suggest ideas and create discussion.
Chris – Rushworth
Some interesting points from Anon, however, A typical Newsanet works 7 dsay a week 12 hrs a day, I dont think they are uneducated, they are tired, they are busy but they want to contributttte to this blog while juggling a montain full of tasks. This comment really shows the lack of wisdom and insight of what a newsagents life is about.
The suggestion I make is Anon create his own blog with his incredble, valuable and well educated spelling achievements and promote spell check advancements for newsagents. Also you may want to promote yourself on your own blog with your 5 point plan.
You are critical of Mark Fletcher you are envious, you are weak and you are Jealous, please create your own blog, you can be the “man” and Mark can go on with sharing a cross section of information for Newsagents.
Hi anon,
That’s a great start. Can we get going on Point 1.
How do you propose getting that supply model you suggest. The last fellow that went in that direction by himself now is out of the industry because Network cancelled his contract and he was only getting 30% of what he needed.
He also lost his newspaper contract because he wouldn’t do as the publishers required under the contract you probably wouldn’t sign.
Given this is your first point of debate, what is your position and how would you manage it, understanding the existing market structure.
Have a good day and I look forward to your positive detailed position in the debate.
Regards,
Lorraine
Anon,
Regular readers of this blog will welcome your comments but see nothing new in what you write.
My offer of a debate was to provide you an opportunity to publicly put the issues you obviously have with me. Anyone can make anonymous comments but until people know the history behind the comments they are best ignored.
If you can’t stomach a public debate then have a meeting with me – so you can back up your claims and criticisms with facts.
Mark
Mark,
You miss the point entirely.
The issues are what matter.
Not my identity.
I have no need to meet you.
Been there, done that, not impressed.
Let’s return to the debate.
Anon,
You entered under the “Anon” disguise this time and hurled your usual personal attack. Now, after challenge, you publish some ideas, most of which are discussed here by others.
If you want to be taken seriously, out yourself so people can put all of your comments in context. Otherwise, go away and bother someone else.
I don’t know if I have met you because you’re too scared to publish your name.
mark
Playing the man as usual Mr Fletcher.
My ideas were published at the request of one of the blog users.
This blog should be about ideas, not personalities.
Now you are trying personal insults. You won’t bully me, Mark. You reveal your true personality when under criticism.
As I said, back to the debate of ideas.
Anon (and the other names you have used here),
I am not playing the man at all, just challenging you to have the guts to stand by what you say. I welcome debate. If I didn’t I would shutdown the comments here. Your sustained personal attacks on me demand you out yourself. If only to show that you believe what you say. There is no bullying in my words at all, just a challenge for you to have the guts to say who you are.
Mark
Mark, please stop these personal attacks on me. Let’s focus on issues.
Your use of emotive words like ‘guts’ and ‘demand’ is fascinating.
No-one else on this blog is asked to publicly identify themselves; everyone is identified by a one-word name. Would it make any difference if I was identified as ‘Fred’?
Mark, to use your words, as soon as there is personal criticism, you don’t have the GUTS to debate the issue, you DEMAND a deflection: a sideshow.
You would better serve the newsagents here by addressing yourself to the content of my introductory five-part points raised, at the request of ‘Geoff’.
Anon,
I have made no personal attack on you. Read my comments here in response to yours again. There is no evidence to support your claim.
Others here have been asked to identify themselves, plenty of times. In your case, you are using a fake email address. In fact, you have used two fake eail addresses and two identities here.
I want you to indentify yourself so readers can have a context for your comments. What have you got to hide?
In the 4,000+ comments here there is plenty criticism of me. You obviously don’t know me well if you think I can’t take criticism.
As to your five points, there is nothing new in them. Plenty here have raised and discussed similar issues. I was hoping for a public debate so some flesh could be added to these five points and others of vital importance to newsagents.
Mark
ANOM ….You are correct i did not know how to spell petulant,so since then i have learnt how to use a dictionary so i looked up the best word to describe you and as it turned out it is the word WANKER …..OH AND I ALSO LOOKED UP THAT NUMBER FOR LIFELINE IT IS 131114 JUST GIVE THEM A CALL THEY WILL LISTEN TO ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS AND THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TELL YOU TO PISS OFF
SHAUN …
ANOM you do not own a newsagency why pretend to own one, you keep saying we there is no we you are on your own . I imagine you live behind a rock as you come on here with a fake name fake email address just trying hard to be part of something if you really want to be part of the newsagency group well here is an offer i will give you a job you can get up at 2 am and deliver my papers for me , you will not make any money from it but at least you can feel part of something and you might even earn the right to use a real name on this NEWSAGENCY blog ..
Anon. your comments may be of interest if they were not laden with a curious hatred of mark fletcher. Whatever your personal issue with him, leave it at the door and focus on the issues. Geoff.
there you go again Shaun typing in upper case to vent your anger – and you are still not using spell check. However it is pleasing to note you found a dictionary in your newsagency. But please; I beseech you, implore and even beg of you – stop harping on about how life is hard for you – we all are doing it tough in this world trying to eke (get your dictionary on that one) a living in this cruel cruel world dominated by the baby eating Labour Parties of this country
Anon I agree with Geoff,
I can see you positively contibuting to some of the issues newsagents face. Although some of you ideas would work in a “perfect world” you have to understand that we work 12hrs seven days and that all of the hard work to get to some of you ideals is just out of reach at the moment.
It’s easy to tell us what to do, but who are you? Do you own a newsagency? I think not, I think you’re a uni student working part-time at one and thinks your boss is doing everything wrong and you can do it better.
Get this straight. I don’t agree with everything Mark does, I’m not a fan of his. I do like that he works hard at giving newsagents ideas and advice that we don’t need to take but have the option to. I would say most of us think it’s great that we can read posts and think : that’s happened to me, or I know how you feel.
I’m not going to waste my time and everyone else’s criticising his every move. That’s not honourable, just like calling yourself Anon.
Hi again anon,
My post here yesterday, No 21, addressed the issues and specifically asked for your position on your first point. Not mine, yours.
It’s my understanding on any debate, you would take the topic and have a structured opinion on how to achieve it.
Perhaps you should concentrate on that rather than an argument which does not seem to be advancing your debate position at all.
Frankly, I don’t care who anyone is here except I, like a lot of other people in this industry are looking for answers the current industry structure isn’t providing.
Over to you for your take on how to turn around a $4 billion turnover national industry. As you say, start with the publisher contracts and let’s know how to remodel them. In your term – game on Anon.
Have a good day
Lorraine
The main problem facing our industry as I see it is that as our cost’s have increased yet we are unable to increase our prices. 80 to 90% of our stock has a fixed price that has been set by the suppliers with no regard for our cost. Lotto 10%, phone recharge 6-8% are losing money for newsagents once you factor in wages and associated cost. Mags, newspapers, greeting cards are all fixed price with little margin for newsagents. We cannot increase cost but the suppliers can and do at will. If the shackles were lifted and we could set our own selling price then we could make more money. Let the market decide what they will pay not suppliers. They can increase their revenue by increasing advertisment and reducing page numbers but we are stuck with the same cover price. i should be allowed to set my own retail price, and then it is up to my retail skills to make money.
Just recieved a perfect example of suppliers screwing us over to increase their own profits. Telstra is reducing commissions to 6%. They selling price stays the same but I make less and I do all the work.
Luke,
You just need to diversify into something else that has the margins. Your draw card is the News & Lotto, but you need gifts, stationary, Coffee shop whatever as your profit centre. You need to think about what your area needs and add it to your business. Look at the big.
who is the new owner of that huge newsagency in Chadstone?
this blog site might be a great way to market newsagencies for sale
To Anom sorry champ i have never said i am hard done by at all . I either fish or golf a few days of the week i don’t let anything get to me . I just love to see your reply it amuses me . Just one more note that would really upset you Anom the only reason i can afford the time to do things out side of the newsagency is because of the TOWER system that i have at my newsagency it makes life so much easier .Maybe you should get one of your own .Sorry to everyone that actually wants to read about the bill express updates .
helen, we have diversified into a lot of different areas to the point that some customers are confused if we are even a newsagency at all any more, but when 80% of your core business is fixed price then you are between a rock and a hard place. Gifts, coffee, etc should be the cream on top of your business not what props it up. My point is the fixed price of the majority of our lines and the effect it has now that cost of doing business are out of control. Supermarkets, service stations do not have the price stamped on the actual products they can set their own price and then it is up to the marketing to increase sales. No matter how good our business is at selling newspapers etc we will only ever make 25%.
Aono
Upset a few people I see. I often look at this sight for ideas . A slinging match that becomes personal is not really what I see this blog should be about. Although your debating points have been written about before, they should not be forgotten.
1. Reject publisher’s pay-indvance ? These publishers give us a sale or return – profit, no loss . You can’t get better than that. (A baker throws out what he cant sell ) And you want to risk that.
2. Leave the word “WE” and change it to “SOME” as these comments might apply to you but not to me.
3. This one is fare.
4. Fare comment but this is the part that’s making you look like an idiot. Run a spell check over you 5 points. 10 spelling mistakes and words not in the dictionary. And how can you deliver spilt milk ?
5. A bit harsh on this one. Yes I signed up to make a profit. Never expected to make a killing out of it but I needed to keep my shop up to the organisational ( is there such a word ) behaviour of the supermarkets ect. I was only 6 months as a newsagent at the time, and yes I followed the ANF like a sheep to the slaughter yard.
I am only giving you my opinion Aono. Aono doesn’t come up as a word on spell check either.
Luke
I too have thought and said the same as you. But having a set price is our saviour. Your selling skills would have to be pretty good when your trying to sell a “ Woman’s Day “ for $4 and the supermarkets are selling them for $2 or “beat it by 10%”. Your comments 8 minutes later makes more sense.
It’s my opinion that what we lose in womans day/ new idea profit we will make up for in the other lines. Coles etc only stock a fraction of the mag market, we control the rest. We have sought out card companies that don’t have prices and can make up to 200 to 300% profit, Where as with the big card suppliers we only make 50%. Our cigs are dearer than coles/ woolies but we are open longer hours and are more convenient so we sell more same thing with confectionery, we don’t compete with the big boys but we still have good sales because people like our convenience. It would work in our favour I’m sure.