Yesterday, we received Road Rider Cruiser and had no available space for this title. As happens in newsagencies across the country we have to find space by taking off a title which has not performed as well. We tool off Australian Road Rider. This had been on sale for five weeks and while the publisher wanted it left on the shelf for another four, we needed the space. This problem is not of our making. Newsagencies have finite space. Magazine publishers and distributors send stock often without considering the physical space available. If we find ourselves unable to display the new issue of a title, we prefer to take off an old issue of a title from the same distributor. In this case, we selected Australian Road Rider as it was from Network Services.
Space allocation is a complex issue to resolve. Indeed, it will become more so as newsagents reduce the space they allocate to magazines. Newsagents need to take the initiative to resolve the problem because it is our space at the core of the issue. If we leave it to publishers and distributors we our business needs will not be put first.
Similar case here, three titles I didn’t ask for all stacked neatly on top of each other. So one title on show and the other two are not showing.
Space allocation can be managed by having, say an 80% firm standing order and let the last 20% be used for promotional issues, new issues (So we can see how they sell), seasonal issues.
Publishers are losing out because their titles are being left in the back room due to excessive distribution. If a Newsagent has 500 pockets for display they don’t need 800 titles sent?
I dont have a problem getting a new line, but it must replace a non selling item, not add too it. Our 3 card suppliers have x amount of pockets allocated too them, and they fill them as they think fit. Why has it not been the same with the mag companies. They should be given x amount of pockets allocated by us. With all the informaton ACP supply us on sales data , it should be very simple. I have been told this has been put too the publishers before, but not accepted. Why are the simple things, so hard to do.
mark,
How long have you been writing here about over supply, publishers lacking consideration for newsagents, distributors dumping on newsagents – the bleating goes on and on and nothing is changing.
Every month another entry of oversupply or long on shelf times and you or others have acheived nothing.
The record is broken. Get over it and move on.
Until you are bigger than them, just expect it will continue.
Bleating, Oversupply has been all but resolve with Gotch. It is still an issue, from my experience, with some network titles and more so with NDD.