Meeting Queensland newsagents

I am grateful to have had an opportunity to speak at the QNF Queensland Newsagents State Conference today. I spoke on Living with Google – how we need to operate our newsagencies in this Google dominated world where the traditional business rules have been abandoned and our core products are challenged. I see our response to the changed world in simple terms:

• Take responsibility. We need to be responsible for our businesses. This means NOT relying on suppliers or others to lead us. We have to lead ourselves – individually and collectively as appropriate to our circumstances. Too many newsagents have bought into the channel in pursuit of an income. Those who have bought in to own and operate a business will fare better.
• Stand for something. Most newsagents stand for vague points of difference – customer service, being local etc. Each of us needs to stand for something of value, something which defines every decision we make.
• Take control of our retail space. We need to reject supplier control of our space – unless they pay the rent.
• Take control of our product mix. We need to control what we sell – suppliers cannot do this for us.
• Take control of our message. We need to be clear in our message and it needs to reflect what we stand for.
• It all comes down to change. Our business model is based on old products and old business principles. While the old products will serve us well for some time, we need to transparently and urgently start to change. We should do this in beta – trial and error – and in consultation with our customers. Our customers will be more useful in guiding our future than our existing suppliers.

I met several people at the QNF Conference who are excited to be pushing the boundaries of their newsagencies. They have every right to be excited.
The biggest challenge we have as a channel is the gap emerging between the newsagents changing their businesses and those who do not understand that change is essential.