I have been looking at sell through rate data for Commando Library, the small novella size magazines supplied through magazine distributor Gordon and Gotch. In one newsagency for which I have sell through rate data, this title achieves an average sell through of 40%. It’s a loss making title. Yet Gotch continues to supply.
The challenge with this title is the quantity supplied. The newsagency for which I have data (not one of mine) gets 2 copies of each issue. They never sell both and often sell none. I think that the newsagent needs to quit the title from the shelves and convert the regular customer, if there is one, to a putaway.
Newsagents need a way with which we can handle cutting a title like this and ensuring that a new title is not supplied to take its place – to help the magazine distributor to meet its financial budget.
So, how is Commando Library performing in your business? It could be a title you want to kill if your sales are like those in the newsagency I have just received data from.
I get two of each title each week, I sell at least one of each and sometimes two. GG have not attempted yet to abuse the supply of this title.
rip the cover right into the dust bin
My three Bison and Commando customers are regulars and get lotto too. I will never cancel these titles while they are alive, and GG do not overload me as a rule. I’m lucky to have space for them ( a virtual shoe-box that they rifle through!, I realise space is a big issue for city shops.
i agree, i get three of each edition and have 2 customers on a putaway, they also buy lotto and the papers, its looking after these customers that makes newsagents different to normal retailers, this is part of our customer service, i will not kill this title, and gotch dont over supply on this title
We perservered with this title for too long and canceled supply of them all.
We have two stores – they sell very well at one, and the other sells none. We use a 4 tier acrylic card stand which fits 8 titles at a time! Small footprint, but the 6-10 sales per title per month make it worthwhile!
In a country area we have station men wander in every so often and buy a handful of these to take back bush with them. The also buy the Phantom. I could cancell them but we love these men who are my image of a real Austalian. They are part of our life – we are part of theirs. Maybe business should not be base on emotions but thats what sets us apart from multi nationals.
Carol,
We find the same thing here. A small bunch of guys dedicated to the Phantom and Commando comics. I’ll keep stocking them while I have sales. Can see that it may not have much to offer the more metro man though!