The ACCC today issued a draft decision proposing to allow NANA, the Newsagents Association of NSW and ACT, to collectively bargain with NSW Lotteries on behalf of member newsagents for the next five years.
While this is a good move for NANA and NANA / ANF members, the biggest challenge lottery agents face is the migration of shoppers online. The best way we can counter this is through the experience we offer in our shops every day, with every transaction.
Is anyone finding their customers using online lotto? How long have you had it in the eastern states, it only started here early this year. So far, none of my regular customers use it, possibly because I refuse to inform them it even exists…
Online lotto is more expensive and it requires the use of a credit card. Lotteries products generally require advice – “I want to spend $20 on tonights jackpot what’s the best way to do that?” those questions can’t be answered online. As for regulars who know what they want, they are generally creatures of habit and many of those I suspect are not confident of doing it online. Will online increase – absolutely, but many players of jackpots play because they see a sign/poster which drags them in “on impulse”. Just think of how many of your customers buy lotto as an impulse purchase having come in to buy something else. This industry is riddled with suppliers who think customers only come into newsagencies for their product, the reality is newsagents are experts at selling products “on impulse” the suppliers that recognise that will be successful.
Hopefully this is great news and results in increased commissions.
Newsagents should be rewarded for their efforts, but if NSW Lotteries does not see this effort then perhaps games such as Wednesday Night Lotto and Pools will become extinct.
This can only be a good thing for newsagents, provided that NANA is prepared to show strength in negotiations.
Games like Pools and Wednesday Night Lotto are on the edge of extinction. Online Lotto cannot save them, but perhaps agent incentives to boost sales of these products can.
For any supplier to think their products can move from the store of a newsagency to an online supply without the support of retail sales they are dreaming.
It is this reason NANA must ensure that a greater commission level is achieved for the sector which achieves the majority of its sakes.
My golf partner last wednesday said.
“I always use to buy lotto from the local guy down the road. He is so grumpy that I thought bugger him I’ll get it on line and now I never go there.”
Wally
Its probabaly your golf partner that put his lotto online, won a prize and then abused us beceasuse we xould not pay him… go figger…
If anyone has already has the new Tattersalls shopfit we would be interested to hear feedback. eg on layout effectiveness, customer response, sales trends, Tattersalls follow up/acknowledgement, etc etc