Sales of special interest magazines fell in the first quarter of 2009 according to the newsagent sales benchmark study I completed last week. The average fall of unit sales of special interest titles was 7% among the 97 newsagents participating in the benchmark study.
This fall is a concern because special interest titles are a key point of difference for us in the magazine department. It is rare to record a fall in sales. In most newsagencies for which I have data, the percentage fall in sales of special interest magazines was greater than the fall in store traffic.
If we were a cohesive channel we would find a way to promote the comfort to be found in our special interest range and thereby promote a point of difference for newsagencies.
Mark
Great information.