ACP Magazines has launched a Sales Based Replenishment program for twenty-one of its titles with newsagents. Through my software company and one of my own newsagencies, I have been closely involved in the two SBR trials with ACP for five years. This latest SBR incarnation demonstrates the value of trialling the SBR approach to magazine distribution. We have shared our own learnings with other software companies not involved in the trials.
The key benefit on the ACP SBR program will be a reduction in sell-outs in newsagencies. This is good news for the publisher and for the newsagent.
The key to gaining the maximum benefit from SBR is accurate on-time sales data. Newsagents who do not provide this automatically will miss out. Supplying accurate on-time sales data is something Tower covers in its free online magazine management workshops as well as at its face to face training with newsagents.
Accessing sales data from newsagents is a holy-grail of sorts for the channel – every supplier wants accurate on-time sales data. ACP has placed a value for newsagents on the provision of this. Smart newsagents will ensure they provide it so they don’t sell out.
I’m dubious about the value of this, certainly in Hobart, due to the time it takes for new stock to be delivered. We get magazine deliveries on Monday and Wednesday only, and long delays are experienced getting extras, greatly reducing the possibility of their sale. I’ve only been a newsagent for seven months, but can’t recall a time when extras have taken less than a week to get here.
Chris, If the alternative is SBR or nothing then I would choose SBR. ACP has invested considerably as have the trial newsagents over the years and my own technical team. This version of SBR looks good from where I sit. Give it a go and if it causes issues let me know and I will talk directly to ACP
ACP have trend data now on sites that have been using xchange it. Using that along with some common sense it should only be the first few weeks where we see some frustration. After that it should be something that can only add value.
Yes I am fully aware that they have had issues (Network Gotch NDD) but this is a positive program and ACP will want feedback.
I see it as a plus for us newsagents but for a lot of us it will not make any difference as Chris W said it normally takes a week to get extras and by that time it is to late. If you order on the day the mag come out you will get it but it has to be a good day to seel out the first day but it does happen when we sell out the following day but by then it is to late to get the extras . Don’t get me wrong i am not having a winge about the set up i really think this is a step forward for newsagencys
The many newsagency who have participated in the latest round of trials will say that SBR is usccessful. The key is data and key to that is engagement by the software companies.
The current magazine challenge will still be there unless newsagents change their approach. Some newsagents I have spoken with resist change because of fear of change. This holds their business back. The ACP initiative is proof that change can be positive with the right tools.
“The key to gaining the maximum benefit from SBR is accurate on-time sales data. Newsagents who do not provide this automatically will miss out.”
Does this mean newsagents will be refused top-ups whilst there is still stock available?
Sales data is different from returns data I assume, this is communication of scanned sales and not simply a derivitive of total supply minus returns. It is almost impossible for a distribution agent no matter what software they use to gather scanned sales from multiple sites for submission to the distributors.
What my software does do is allow me at a glance to see if I am going to have shortages based on previous sale history and I can order top-ups straight away. Trying to order some Cleo this morning the Network site at 8:00 am is already saying they are out of stock on the first day of sale.
Is Cleo one of the 21 titles? Am I being blocked from top-ups? How can the SBR system work if there aren’t any top-ups available?
but will they also use this information for allocations to prevent excessive dead titles? I think not.
No answer again on the question tells me everything I need to know.
sa, your questions are best answered by ACP.
Has anyone noticed that there location is to far away for the SBR to work i just hopped on Netonline and there was a message stating that my location is to far away .oh well