We have had several customers ask about the Trading Post this past week. All were shocked to hear that it has ceased publication. One encounter I had was memorable on Friday.
First up, my customer, a lady in her seventies, had been sent to us by Coles because they were “out of stock” of the Trading Post. Yes, I can imagine a supermarket staffer saying that without thinking. Ah, supermarket customer service!
It took a bit to convince the lady that the Trading Post ceased publication a month ago. Once she believed me she wondered why they would stop printing a popular paper. Then she realised that it was the square thing, that tv thing which killed it off. We eventually worked out she meant the internet. Yes, the internet, she said with a vague look in her eye.
He liked to take it with him and read it. She was telling me about a man she used to buy the Trading Post for. It was all he read. The ads were like a novel or a magazine. He will never be bothered with the internet, she said dismissively.
I am not doing the conversation justice. My customer was entertaining, engaging and loud. Others were watching. I shoerd her the Melbourne Trader which comes with the Melbourne Observer. She was certain that would do the trick. On other customer watching us bought the Melbourne Observer as well.
There are a few points to this story: not everyone is connected to the Internet; some consumers prefer paper; the Trading Post is missed by some; being on the floor of the shop and talking with customers drives sales; retail is entertaining.
Once we were finished, I reminded my new friend how helpful we were compared to the supermarket. The glint in her eye let me know she got the point.
“trading post is missed by some”. the client you speak of is quote “in her seventies” I would suggest that this end of the market isn’t viable long term. lol
sorry browser, but we are getting the same comments from 18 year olds up. The internet option is too time consuming is the response we also get. But this was to be expected when sensis took over trading post.
Ditto Chris.
Try accessing the Trading Post at lunch time when out in the paddock/building site….a lot of people (of all age groups) will never be internet savvy….a missed market sector as far as I am concerned 🙁
Moving things to online-distribution only is a really bad choice in Australia considering we have like the worst internet speeds.
Currently in Japan right now, and for all its technology, theres still lots of people buying newspapers. (This is just me walking around seeing people buying/holding a newspaper)
I wonder what drove the powers that be at the Trading Post to go completely online? Was it that the Paper based product was not profitable or perhaps it was not profitable enough for them??
I’ve heard some say that it was business suicide to cease it. I worked there, until the end – and yes it most definitely has ceased in favour of their online, sadly. (Ironically, it was the print side holding up online). However, the ironic thing is, their market was misunderstood by the powers that be. Many readers were labourers, builders, etc who can’t exactly hook up to a laptop on site! Another point is that they never capitalised the print consumer base enough to drive online. Personally, I think of other sites if I were to sell or buy online. As a 34 yr old, I certainly will continue to buy & read print until I go – I believe print will evolve around online to be a medium of escapism away from computers on a Sunday morning with a coffee. I now work for another print company and there is certainly a demand from former commercial customers from the Trading Post to be in print with the publication I work at now, and the person running it is rubbing their hands together with glee.
Every day i have customers chasing the trading post and they are most disapointed that it is not available anymore .but on the plus side they are buying the other publications such as just cars and boat mags . There are a lot of poeple still out there that do not have a computer at home so to access the trading post is just about the imposible for them