We are seeing excellent book sales from the catalogue which has been distributed to homes around our newsagency at Forest Hill. Books are a popular and easy gift – thanks to a range spanning all ages. The margin is excellent and the risk to us minimal. Some titles have sold so well that we have had to re stock.
This is our third year offering books at Christmas. They are as important to us as calendars and diaries. The marketing generates great traffic.
Is anyone else experiencing a strange xmas this yr?
Our card sales are down 40%, lotto is down 35%, but calendars are up 120%, gifts are up 85% and stationery is through the roof.
We spoke to a person in the mail room of Aust post and they say that they are not seeing the volume of mail as in previous yrs.
Don’t get me wrong are overall sales are up about 25% overall and our margins have increased but it seems that that the mix has shifted. It could just be here, let me know.
Luke
my figures for Dec up to 9/12
Books +72%
Cards/Wrap +12%
Cigs -1%
Confectionary +7%
Scratchies +1%
Lotto +37%
Mags -12%
Womens Weeklies +2%
Mobile Phones & Recharge +11%
Papers -9%
Stationery +37%
Ink Cart +14%
Toys +5%
CD/DVD +100%
Foot Traffic +6%
Ave Sale Value +37%
Ave item Value +44%
Pretty Happy with Xmas so far and still couple weeks to go. Already started doing BTS orders for customers, looking like another strong BTS coming up.
Thanks Rick, we will have a look at our arrangement of stock and see if we cannot pick up the card sales.
Luke