Last week it was NW and Woman’s Day bundles together at Big W. This week it is Australian Women’s Weekly and Woman’s Day at selected petrol outlets in Brisbane for $8.95. As I blogged last week, discounting like this with the majors, if continued, diminishes the value of the newsagency channel – where 50% of magazines are sold. The last position publishers want is to be more reliant on major retailers yet this is what these bundling deals risk happening.
Take a look at http://www.amcal.magshop.com.au. All Amcal Club members can subscribe for all magazines at a rate 10% lower than the normal subscription rate.
Pharmacies must be the most protected industry in Australia and here they are moving in on our territory just like the supermarkets, convenience stores, service stations and so on…………
Where will it end?
That’s what I’m worried about. We’ll all turn into Kwik-E-Mart’s just focusing on convenience and selling more or less the same thing side by side.
I went to the Petrol station on the weekend for some WD40, Guess what? None there!!! But plenty of nappys, bread, magazines, baked beans, toys.
The regulation of Pharmacies remains in place for another couple of years but large retailers (I think we know who I mean) are lobbying the government for change now. In the last 6 months a certainn large retailer has once again registered the name “Pharmacy-in-store” as a trademark.
The pharmacy regulation will come to an end one day.
Michael, sounds like our local Post office except you forgot to mention BBQs, Computer Games, Backpacks etc. The only thing that are not immediately visible are postal products.