I visited the Whitcoulls store in Manukau yesterday and was most impressed with what I saw. The store layout, signage and ranging is excellent, far better than their Australian counterpart Supanews and better than what I have seen from Whitcoulls before. While Supanews and Whitcoulls operate in different markets I am surprised at the considerable difference in their retail offers. This Whitcoulls store looked corporate yet the service was very personal. Staff I noticed were knowledgeable and friendly.
I think you should compare apples with apples Captain Obvious
Chris, Mark’s reporting of the OBVIOUSLY bad actions, is why I coined that in the other thread, not having a go at him in any way negative, more being sacastic to the issue at hand.
Even with the culmination of his comments and others, obvious flaws are spotted by newsagents and are posted here, read by the offenders and still ignored. That is quite obvious to me anyway.
Chris your comment makes no sense at all.
Are Whitcoulls and Supanews identical retailers?
Do Whitcoulls sell gambling products?
Is Whitcoulls based in Austalia?
Is Supanews based in NZ?
Do Whitcoulls sell newspapers and monthly magazines?
I am just trying to clarify in mind why you needed to provide another negative comment against a competitor?
I’ve got to say i’m struggling to see as to why Whitcoull’s has been compared to Supanews. I don’t profess to know very much at all about the former but after looking at their site for all of 5 seconds it’s pretty clear to see that they’re primarily a bookshop but also sell dvd’s, games and some stationary.
Going by that it’d make much more sense (which wouldn’t be hard) to compare it to a Borders store or Angus and Robertson, Dymocks etc given they look to be focussing on the same market. With that being the case as mentioned i’m a bit perplexed as to why Supanews in particular was singled out and compared to them.
Forgive my ignorance but am i missing something? I only ask because one to me looks like a book store and the other a newsagent. You only have to look at both their websites to see the vast differences between the two. Talk about chalk and cheese.
You would be much better comparing it to Angus and Robertson as they are the same company. Supa news is a toy thing for Whitcoulls.
Chris is correct you can’t draw a comparison different market, different mix of stock and focus. The only thing is watch this retailor as they will take the former 100% owners out when they are found to be lacking in growing the group any larger.
Chris,
I am not sure why you have posted your comment under another name.
Supanews is part of the Whitcoulls group. Common ownership.
The blog post was positive and reporting a shift in the Whitcoulls retail story.
Mark
Answer Chris’s question correctly for a change – he/she simply asked why you insist of the little snide digs you have against a legitimate competitor. Whitcoulls and Supanews are two dynamically different entities each with their own game plan and strategies. You would do well to watch how a professional group expands and learn something from it instead of navel gazing
anon, read the post, there is no dig at all. You are jumping at shadows.
Supanews can speak for themselves, maybe that is why you are obssessed with this place – through your Supanews connection.
The new Whitcoulls store looks fantastic. Any large format newsagent would want to look this good.
mark
“The store layout, signage and ranging is excellent, far better than their Australian counterpart Supanews ”
yes sorry I must have missed the point
It makes sense. Supanews must be the ones criticising any post about supanews or their businesses. anon and dean and others. Mark, this is why people should be verified. Now we know their agenda.
their is no agenda. I am not an apologist on behalf of supanews, nor do I work for them just someone who likes a level playing field where you play the ball not the man – what is your email address Mick
Your comments tell a different story.
I have been reading what anon writes and wondered about his or her agenda. A connection with supanews fits with what he or she has written. I am Frank, a newsagent in Melbourne. I do not like supanews.
So let me get this straight Mick, just because i pointed out the bleeding obvious that Whitcoull’s is nothing like Supanews and questioned why they would be compared when they’re poles apart, you come to the conclusion that i have an agenda and am somehow affiliated with Supanews? Nice theory you dreamt up there Mick but so far off the mark it’s not funny.
I purchased my medium sized agency nearing 12 years now and it was in no way affiliated with Supanews, newsextra, newspower or any other of those type franchises that are on the market. That was the case then and it’s certainly the case now.
I’ve never given it a thought or even came close to entertaining the idea of working under one of those banners. I’m more than happy being an independent agent running my business my way and not having to answer to anyone in regards to how i run it.
I’m not sure what terms and conditions you have to work under but i can only assume they have a say in how you do certain things not to mention having to pay them annual fees to use their name. Again i’m only guessing there and could be wrong.
No disrespect to anyone else who chooses work under these company names but it’s just not for me. I enjoy the freedom of doing things my way and i’m certainly in no hurry to change that.
So sorry to burst your bubble Mick but there’s no agenda from me. It could just have easily been as inaccurately compared to newsextra, newspower, nextra etc and i would’ve said exactly the same thing.
The most ironic thing about being accused of having an agenda is that i’m much less likely than most others on here to have an agenda given that i’m not affiliated with any of these companies.
Mick,
you haven’t verified who you are as per your request to Captain Obvious
anon, your comments are tarnishing Supanews, you’ve mentioned your connection before.
I’d suggest you not post here anymore.
Michael
I appreciate your comment. The real reason I would appear to be a serial pest here is simply because my best friends have a very successful Supanews franchise and they are doing incredibly well. The franchise group supports them like you would not believe and they now have a very valuable business. THey are not the sort of people to worry about the trivialities that Fletcher throws at Supanews on a regular basis because of some inherent personal or professional jealousy. However I do know that it upsets the staff and family members because of that. I am in an associated business and despise people that use vehicles such as blog sites to slander or belittle other people so therefore I like to give it back to them – both barrels.
Geees lucky for your friends that you have come to the rescue .
thanks for your support Shaun – I knew you’d understand so now you are my bestest blog buddy
I don’t see the above comments by Mark on supanews in any way offending them, Mark is commentator on the industry and supanews is a part of it.
Mark hasn’t written anything slanderous here, but your personal attacks on him with your cloak and dagger approach below the post has tainted supanews for me personally. (I was looking at the various marketing groups unbiasedly for my business a while ago)
Your “both barrels” isn’t helping your friends, the industry or yourself, I suggest you just read the comments and stop being a nuisance.
how are the personal michael?
Read your comments. You’ve got a chip on your shoulder obviously and have tall poppy syndrome.
answer the question buddy – where have I attacked your idol, Captain Obvious, personally
Read through your previous comments from this and other posts and a blind man can see your sniggling attacks.
You’ve associated yourself with supanews, now you are acting like a tool. Can you see who is doing more tarnishing? It’s not Mark it’s YOU.
I suggest you just read the comments and stop being a nuisance. Your comments here are normally on a personal level for which there is no need here.
Oh, and I don’t idolise anyone.
“answer the question buddy – where have I attacked your idol, Captain Obvious, personally”
You call Mark an insulting name whilst claiming you are never personal. That sentence is absolutely beautiful in its perfectly constructed hypocrisy. You’ve taken classes, admit it.
Concentrate – I think it was Michael that coined that perfect title – I am only repeating it
And that stops it being a personal attack how?
Captain Obvious is a situation/statement. Like “for indoor or outdoor use only” it’s not the title of the person that points it out.
You’ve turned it into a negative against Mark.
Anyway what associated business are you in with supernews? Go Card public transport tickets??????
right on queue
Answer the question buddy!
I’ve been a newsagent for four months and as a regular reader have found this blog to be, overall, stimulating. However the kind of discussion that has taken place under this and some other topics, seemingly always involving “anon”, helps make newsagents look like fools with too much time on their hands. I can’t help but feel that this site (and we newagents in general) would be taken more seriously if there was a registration procedure to stop those people who abuse this blog from “contributing” and wasting the time of people who want to read constructive comments.
I agree and the sooner the better
anon, you’ll call yourself the Gocard Rep now?
Chris- a sensible idea. Sorry to you Michael for having to put up with this carp Anon and all the other impersonators interrupt topic discussion. If Mark cannot or will not introduce registration its up to each one of us to not react to any of these personal and unwarranted attacks while using various names.
Derek, I think the registration idea has merit, it’s just a shame we have the “gocard rep” interferring with our discussions, input, opinions, etc, seemingly having nothing better to do than criticise Mark and people that agree with him.
anon,
I do not believe your story about friends owning a Supanews franchise. As you hide behind anonymity and multiple names here, none of us here is able to verify your claim. Supanews is what seems to set you off so I think there is substance to comments by Mick, Frank and others.
Your comments are among the most personal and hateful here. I’m okay with your personal attacks on me as they out you as having a personal hatred. I wonder if we have met previously, whether you are a competitor or whether you are worried about Supanews and use your comments here to defend its name.
So some on anon, put a name to your label. Let us know who you are so your comments can be judged in context.
As for my agenda, yes there is one. Guilty! This can be seen by the TV commercials promoting newsagents which I personally funded this year and other help I have provided newsagents. I don’t recall you putting your hand up to help newsagents.
Mark
Hi Guys just logged on and saw the name chris up in lights. Just so anybody get the wrong idea about me i thought i would respond with a clear identity.
Also, the observation mark has made between whitcoulls and supanews is a legitimate one, and because they are both connected i believe it would be fair to assess both. Even if they have a different look and feel to them.
So i say to anon(whoever the coward is, and this other guy chris), build a bridge and get over it.
Chris from reservoir.
Hi I am Chris from a small area near Yass on the southern tablelands.Apparently there cannot be two same named people on this blog. I made a comment a short time ago and was criticised for posting under other names??? Is this blog site serious or just a meeting place for a few idiots
Chris I don’t believe you. the email you are using has also been used by Julian, Gus, Mark and Mark Geist. Your comments seek to create the problem you criticise.
Mark
you’re paranoid – I have said before there are four of us working in the same company but I will prohibit the others from using the computer if it will lessen your fears
It is our business email bozo
Victorians – dumb one day dumber the next
Chris you are lying. You have used the same IP address for some of these names you use and the same email address as well. If there are other people as you claim they would have their own email addresses. But I guess you will have a story for that too.
mark
thanks for the personal attack that you are so offended by with others.
Do you actually go home at night and record all the ISP and email addresses and then the names and comments? Of course the email address is the same as the IP address!
Get a life
Mark
for the love of God concentrate –
we share a common business email address when we are at work and when we are away from work we have a different email address. Can it be any clearer for such a childish issue. Stop wringing your hands over such a trivial side issue
Its getting confusing with all these names ,are they all offspring from Anon or is this a new crowd .I am not having a go at anyone just wanting to know who is who .
Sorry Shaun
anon is his/her own identity we just happened to stumble across this blog on an unrelated investigation and stayed for drinks
lighten up y’all
sounds like a bunch of taiwanese politicians slapping & scratching each other.
meanwhile, distributors, suppliers whathaveyou are chortling & rubbing hands in obscene, greedy glee.
anyway on that note,
merry christmas everyone!!!
Julian, Chris and some others are the same person. They share an IP addresses and the same email address. They are here to attack me and any comments I make about Supanews.
mark
Sounds like Julian, Gus, Chrissy Wissy, and their brave mates have not only stayed for a few drinks, but have enebriated themselves with the liquor of jealousy, and hatred.
Little boys, if you just so happened to stumble upon this blog, its probably time you stumbled off it.
We as an industry have other more pressing issues at hand, than to read trott about your love of supanews(which will eventually fall over), and your constant need to object to most things Mark has to say.
So piddle off, and stumble upon another blog site, and anoy them.
Chris from Reservoir.