Around nine years ago some newsagency software companies and Magazine Publishers Australia got together to create an industry standard report so that newsagents, publishers and distributors could rely on a common representation of sale, return and other data when discussing magazines.
The MPA Magazine Management Report is the benchmark magazine performance report as it allows selection of reporting periods by date range, period plus MAT – Moving Annual Total. It reports on magazine performance at the category, segment and stock item level. The report is navigated by newsagents clicking on the data to drill down to a deeper level. This is where it is quite smart.
Click on the image to see the detail on one page of the MPA Magazine management Report from one of my newsagencies.
The detail is impressive if I do say so myself.
With magazine publishers and software companies involved in the design of the report, it should be available in all newsagency software systems. If you’re not sure, ask your software provider. I know it’s in my Tower software under sales reports.
I love this report as it helps me when planning a relay, allocating space, making tactical decision to chase sales and generally assessing the performance of magazines from the top down.
I have also used the report when working with distributors as well as with individual publishers.
The data in the MPA Magazine Management Report is more comprehensive and up to date than what any distributor or publisher has for your business as it reflects all magazine titles. This is vital in planning around the magazine department.
Newsagents wanting help on accessing this report should call their software supplier. I know from my Tower experience that the report is easy to produce. The benefits for the business can be far-reaching.
If your newsagency software does not have this report I’d ask why since it was established as an industry standard years ago.
Most of us are so busy running our shop. We have to serve customers not sit in the office playing with reports. The Magazine companies have the figures and should but won’t regulate supply.Time to look at reports can only be found after hours when we want to go home.
with all due respect carol we cant expect them to run our business for us, end of the day that responsibilty falls at our feet.
they run their companies to maximise $$$$, its a flawed system.
we are finding some flat areas in our business, i have to make time to look closer at whats going on if i am going to change things
carol, This report can do much more than help with allocations. It will help you with placement, staff training and other key business decisions. It’s easy to produce and insightful in what it tells you.
I think you try to make running a business to complicated.
Carol that’s not the intent. The report has terrific data and I’d help you interpret it if you like.