We ran out of space for a magazine at one of our newsagencies yesterday. Every available space in the category was full and no title was due for return. This happens regularly in many newsagencies each week across the country yet magazine distributors continue to pour product into the channel. Publishers and distributors complain about newsagents returning magazines early yet they continue to leave newsagents with no choice by sending too much stock – as we experienced yesterday.
I am aware that the ACCC is considering looking at magazine distribution. I hope that this develops into a formal Inquiry. Newsagents need this as do Australian publishers.
Every day in newsagencies across Australia there are examples of what I’d consider unconscionable conduct around magazine distribution.
This is shameful.
It irks me how this happens in terms of the newsagents you see with little on their shelves.
Those extras could have been sent somewhere else to make a sale.
There’s a shop in Japan called Tsutaya who deal in magazine/books/dvd/cd, etc.
I remember their magazine displays had the same cascasding-waterfall for full-front page visibility, as well as a platform to stack up extras (as in the photo)
however, it wasn’t oversupply or excess, because the stock did seem to move. they also had drawers built into the platform which were packed full of books/magazines.
adding a drawer to the magazine display stand might be something worth looking into? if only to see if it’s any good at clearing up some space for titles that do sell.