How many sudoku titles is too many? As the photo shows, we currently have eleven sudoku titles at our Forest Hill store. We often have more than that. Between 60% and 70% of our sales come from one title – Super Sudoku from Lovatts. We do not need most of all of these other titles. I am certain that if two thirds of the titles were cut, our total revenue from sudoku titles would not be affected.
The Australian magazine marketplace is flooded with UK and US imports. They are sent to us because there is no risk. We provide access to our space and our labour for free. We even pay for shrinkage, theft. We carry the risk. This flooding of an already well satisfied, saturated even, market is something the ACCC could look at. Especially given that small business enwsagents are the victims. This plays out to a consumer cost because it impacts on the services we can offer and on our very viability.
As comments here over the last few weeks show, it is difficult for newsagents to cut titles from their product mix. Many who have tried end up giving up and just accept the dumping as evidenced in the number of sudoku titles in my newsagency.
I’d like to see a small working party established between Australian publishers and several newsagents to formulate a joint strategy on this issue. Nothing fancy – meet online, gather data (which is easy to get) and develop a position paper which could form the basis of a submission on dumping to the ACCC. I’d start in the crosswords area because it is an easy target and rife with dumping.
I’ll volunteer to help with that. An extremely worthwhile activity.
I’ve cut them down to about six quality ones. The “recycled paper/overseas” ones we send back straight away. We’ve been doing that everytime we get one in over the last 18 months and now have found the distributers seem to get the message – for us anyhow.
I’d certainly like to be involved in any talks, giving a publisher’s perspective on the much needed changes to the industry.
While the Crossword section is in dire need of a reduction of titles I’d like to emphasise we at Lovatts are not against all overseas titles. we know that several foreign language crossword titles sell very well, good luck to any agent who generates sales from any area. It’s the unwanted dumped titles with very little chance of selling that needs urgent attention
Terry,
I am all for foreign language titles. The mroe the better. My issue is with UK and US titles which pull focus from the titles off of which we make our money.
mark