Being able to connect with other newsagents to talk about business, compare sales and share ideas is a key benefit of being part of a proactive newsagency marketing group. Check out the photos from the recent National Conference hosted by newsXpress. More newsagents attended this than any other newsagency conference in the last year except for the ACP Connections conference – and probably more than will attend any conference this year.
What is also interesting is the use of Flickr and Pinterest top share access to the photos from the conference. This, plus Facebook and Twitter promotion of the photos, shows leading edge engagement in various social media platforms by newsXpress and through this driving not only interest in the group but interest in newsXpress retrial outlets.
Besides the business outcome oriented agenda, the conference provided access to a host of special deals from preferred suppliers, sales performance information from strategic partners, open discussion on operational matters at the core of every newsagency and some excellent business growth initiatives.
People visit here talking about the challenges of retail and operating a newsagency in particular. This conference was a testament to the value of focussing on that which we can change to build stronger, more valuable and more enjoyable newsagency businesses. The follow up from the conference is a practical testament to these goals.
Check out the photos and see the enjoyment in the faces of the participants. You could talk to any today and they would tell you that the fun and excitement continues as success is realised as a result of participating in the conference.
Yes, I am conflicted as I am a Director of newsXpress. However, I came to newsXpress from time as a member of Newspower and a shareholder in and member of Nextra. newsXpress is different. The networking opportunities, like at the conference, member meetings and regional workshops, are exciting and valuable. Yes, there are supplier deals from which we achieve better margin and other benefits. But personally I enjoy the bonus ‘margin’ from networking.
newsXpress welcomes newsagents from businesses of any size and in any situation. It’s prime focus is on the people – proactive newsagents who want to build stronger, more successful and more enjoyable businesses.
Well said Mark.
Sometimes when us Newsagents attend seminars and the like we are seeking information from guest speakers etc etc but i have found that the “everyday information” that gets shared amongst us in the informal seesions is very valuable indeed. Since being in newsXpress the contacts i have made and the value of the information shared by my peers has been staggering. An example of this was last years Christmas trade, in the lead up to it we shared ideas with other Newsagents and vice versa. The result for us was staggering and culminated in bankable dollars during a busy period (our gift sales were up $9000 on the previous year).
I love getting together with such a great bunch of people (even at the cost of a few thousand lazy brain cells) and look forward to the next get together.
GREAT people sharing GREAT ideas leads to GREAT sales and GREATER profits !!!
Cheers
Al
Mark.
You say you were a member of Nextra, for the sake of Nextra members that would love to get out of the Nextra Franchise agreement would you mind sharing with us how you managed to do it.
John, I left Nextra before the contracts they have today which run for five years with a requirement of being unbranded for a year after leaving.
Anyone considering joining a newsagency marketing group should do their due diligence – understand what you are signing yourself up for. This is good common sense advice.