Recent (welcome) moves by Express Publications offering greater commission for all newsagents plus other commercial moves by some publishers reflect a shift in the newsagent / magazine publisher relationship. Publishers are demonstrating that they get the importance of our channel and are prepared to negotiate terms which reflect this.
While we have a way to go to achieve what supermarkets achieve with their various methods of compensation, the recent moves show that we are in a period of change, welcome change.
The newsagents best positioned to leverage the commercial benefits which could be available to us are those who manage their magazine department professionally and with great care from the top of the business down.
While I have noted here previously the challenges for magazine sales, they remain one of the most in not the most important product category in our stores.
Newsagents who leave managing magazines to a junior or unengaged employee do so at their own peril.
I obsess about magazines because I know that a good magazine department drives traffic and sales basket efficiency.
Publishers will treat newsagents differently. Those who engage are set to make more money than those who do not.
Are we prepared to do more for the publisher who offer better terms for their product….?
Yup ….
Baz
As Baz said!
Also agree very strongly regarding your magazine management.
Really enjoyed getting a “new” magazine that arrived today with another newsagencies price sticker on it. Getting sent reissues is a real cash grab – let them try and send them to coles and woolies!
Mark you are right. I feel that things have changed.
Some more reading here:
http://newsagents.emgroup.com.au/