A merchandiser handling one of my newsagencies was sent in by her boss, representing a magazine publisher, with an instruction that we need to take down one of the posters we have placed vertically when the it was designed for horizontal placement. I am told that her boss also did not like that the poster was covering stock.
Here are the facts. The display works. The last four displays done in this way have generated good sales for us. As for covering stock – yes, guilty. However, the hidden stock is extra from what is on display in the appropriate location for the titles.
Any supplier taking issue with any display I publish here should contact me. My number is 0418 321 338. My email address is mark@towersystems…. Unless I note otherwise, the displays I publish here are done by me. I am happy to be directly accountable and not have one of my staff cautioned by an intermediary.
I am a good retailer. Leave me to do my job. I want what all suppliers should want – the best sales possible.
I wouldn’t call that a reason not to blog. Quite the contrary, actually.
All the more reason to highlight poor behaviour and interference by suppliers.
Speaking of suppliers/publishers interfering in our businesses, I read with raised eyebrows, this little gem in a brief re the Gold Coast Bulletin’s current postcard promotion:
“…reps will have additional POS throughout the promotion and will be checking your display’s (sic) regularly.”
While it seems like they’re just making sure we’ve got our POS for the promotion, between the lines is more of them doing checks on agents as to whether they’re using them. We’ve had someone come in on a weekend for this purpose.
For the record, with 3 days to go on this two-week promotion, we haven’t been ‘checked’ yet this time…
And while we’re at it, All the POS and additional promotion, ‘policing’ etc in the world does not make these thin, crappy postcards any more worthwhile.
Cheap and nasty, guys.
Far more was spent on the POS, I suspect, than the product itself.
RE : SULTRY SALLY
If you look on page 81 of the todays “The Picture” magazine, their is a wonderful photo of Sultry Sally who occasionally blogs here about here product.
I think we all should post our photos on this site to give a more intimate feel to the newsagency bond
This is great, thank you Mark for selling heaps of our products and promoting our titles off yur own bat but do not do it again as we do not like you doing a better job then our merchandisers.
What a load of rot, I would be telling this publisher to stick his/her mag as it will now be displayed in the back dark corner. This is why we do not allow merchandisers into our shop as they cause more damage to sales then good.
I can understand why merchandisers need to do what they do. Some of them are really great people. They are there to do the job outlined by their bosses and their job description. Some merchandisers can see what they are doing to our businesses (good and bad) by doing what they have to do/not do.
They do not have a say when carrying out the rules and guidelines developed their company or by the genius in the office.
Until these geniuses (supposedly with qualifications etc) actually work in retail, I don’t think they have a right to dictate how we can promote their product – especially if we can prove that we are making sales. I apologise to those people who have spent 3-5 years studying business and marketing degrees and feel offended but the truth is, until you have experienced the dynamic nature of retail, leave it to the ‘good retailers’. What may work in one environment may not work next door.
The retailer is at the forefront everyday. It is their business to sell products. If they can prove excellent sales, why give them the stick? Unless you have a financial stake in their business, don’t interfere with positive results and entrepreneurship of good retailers who are selling more of your product. At the end of the day, if they sell more, you profit more. If they don’t sell, you’re out of business.
My suggestion to merchandisers and their bosses is to listen and learn from the experiences of good retailers and adapt them to your philosophy. Perhaps by doing so, you can actually see your product move faster than expectations.
My suggestion to the proactive retailers, keep up the good work. We need more business owners like yourselves in this industry. Help make this industry a positive and fun environment to be in.
Same shit different day with drachonian dictators.
Until some of these publishers realise that WE own the business and that we are RETAILERS, they can stick their merchandisers.
Supply the product, Supply GOOD point of sale; and leave the retailing to me and my staff.
Some publishers should be grateful their product is still in existence in newsagents.
If i were a publisher, i would see it as a privilage to have my product supplied and promoted in newsagents across Australia.
10 out of 10 Luke La