I have been asked by several people about our process for unpacking, labeling and putting out magazines on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at our newsagency. We have this process complete by no later than 8:15 each morning – having started at 7am. Returns are done the same day, by mid morning. The process runs to military precision. Behind the counter two of the team label stock, by distributor. Labeled magazines are put into columns based on the aisle in which the title is situated. The shopping trolley is for rubbish – this keeps behind the counter clear. I or whoever is putting the stock out takes titles from the customer side an aisle at a time. New titles are put out, unsold stock is put in another trolley which is wheeled to the side of the counter for returns scanning mid morning.
The business turns over around $450,000 a year in magazines. I mention this for those comparing the timing with their own business.
We have tried several approaches to magazines over the years. The approach described above has been followed for the last five years and it has proved to be the most efficient and consistent.
The most common comment we get from people who see our process relates to placement of stock to be put out by aisle. We found this significantly reduced the time it takes to put stock out.
Any chance of publishing an “after” picture of your counter area at a higher resolution to show how you have things laid out? I was particularly puzzled as to what was on top of the Better Homes and Gardens display.
Sounds great. But who is serving the customers? (Especially on Monday’s)
just noted the coles shopping trolley, we have as many newsagencys have in the past used supermarket trolleys to move returns, take out rubbish, stack stock at night, the newsagent himself generally puts our adv stock into one first thing in the morning same with the magazine courier drivers, as of yesterday we received advice from centre management and coles that steps will be taken to stop couriers and ourselves using and damaging their trolleys in the future, im not sure what the steps will be yet…
Chris – lottery scratch product.
Dan – we all serve as needed.
Mark, how many magazine pockets do you have in your store? We have over 1,300 (including flat space) and only turn over $360k/yr – obviously room for improvement.
Sometimes when it’s quiet I’ll get the sheet of labels and walk around taking titles due out for the next day off.
It leaves pockets open that will be filled; first thing the next day, letting us hit the ground running.
Not for everyone but might assist some.
Michael, we too do this. We have a list of Magazines due in the next day and part of our closing procedure is for staff to take off the magazines due in the next day. Done at the end of the day it allows our shelves to still look full while allowing the staff to get a good head start the next day.
It’s just like making hay while the sun shines.