I have been talking with the publisher of frankie magazine about the opportunity given the decline of Borders and that the title was a hit for them. This is an excellent opportunity for newsagents.
The latest issue of frankie magazine goes on sale next week. This is the title which delivered a 35% increase in sales in the latest circulation audit. Newsagents near a Borders store should consider contacting Gordon and Gotch today to get supply increased. A process has been established in Gordon and Gotch to handle this.
I urge all newsagents to check their sales of frankie and request in increase in supply if they sold out of the last issue. If you didn’t sell out, start panning now for active promotion of the next issue. With this title achieving excellent growth it is not something you want to sell out of early in the on sale and miss sales you could have achieved.
I have asked for a 25% increase in my newsagencies as I know I can achieve this with additional promotion.
Morrison Media, the publisher of frankie, is making aan A2 poster available for stores with the space and who want to get behind this issue.
What I have found with frankie is that tactical placement works well. Place the product where younger female shoppers can see the cover. Do not hide it in regular magazine fixturing.
If you want to make the most of the opportunity next week, contact Gordon and Gotch today.
This is an opportunity for newsagents to demonstrate that we are serious about magazines and that we will engage when given an opportunity with a pull model – where we can order extra stock prior to the on sale. If we all act on this opportunity we could show other publishers the power and opportunity of the newsagency channel.
The image is of the current issue of frankie, issue 40.
Thanks for the info, Mark, but I would love to know why there isn’t an email in my Inbox from Gotch about this. Last issue they inexplicably doubled my supply of this magazine which (while excessive) worked in everyone’s interest as I was able to do a much better display and promotion than would normally have been possible and this resulted in an 80% sell-through and the highest quantity ever sold of an individual title by me. Checking Gotch’s website this morning, thanks to this blog, I can see that they have inexplicably halved my numbers for the coming issue so I will now hopefully have a chance to rectify this and organize some posters!
Chris while I am no apologist for Gotch, they have a couple of thousand titles on the go at any time.
Make sure that you get the stock. This is a great opportunity for newsagents.
I contacted Gotch, but they said it was too late to change the allocation, that it was due out on the 20th rather than next week, and didn’t know anything about posters. They also didn’t know why I received double last time as that wasn’t supposed to be my allocation!
Alf here from Morrison Media.
Please note: I have spoken to GGA and confirmed that their customer services team WILL be processing requests/orders for frankie up until close of business, Wednesday 13th April. This is to ensure delivery for the 20th April on sale date.
If you need help fulfilling your request, feel free to contact me directly along with your Account Number.
Please also note that the supply of posters are limited.
frankie magazine will also inform their readers where to purchase their copy.
Update – Gotch just rang back and said that they could indeed update my allocation and supply posters. Their internal communications to Customer Service may not be the best, but at least the guy followed up with and rang back (or perhaps Alf’s call to Gotch provided impetus).
Hi Mark,
Off topic, but relevant… Who is distrinbutinh My Kitchen Rules? This is due for release next week, we already have 30 requests to put away, and we know we will need to increase supply.
This I beleive will be far bigger than Master Chef and provide an excellent opportunity for us all.
Cheers
Peter
Peter it is being published by Pacific Magazines and distributed by Gordon and Gotch.
Thanks Mark, Will try and get an increase for next Friday.
Cheers
Peter
Nice to see Frankie on sale in many newsagents in the UK when I was there at the end of last month. This title really is a success story.
Thanks to this I ordered more stock. Great service Mark.