Newsagents are nowhere in the race by major retailers to the multi-channel (or omni-channel) world where you connect with a shopper regardless of where they are – online, mobile or in-store. OfficeMax in the US has just announced their moves in the space and a commitment to own the office products shopper.
Given the ownership structure of newsagencies it will be a challenge for a channel wide multi-channel solution as this would require central ownership. I expect that some entrepreneurial newsagents will emerge as leaders in this space.
We already did it in one of my stores six or more years ago, as I have written previously, in the ink space. With the OfficeMax move in the US and the Staples moves here in Australia, newsagents need to be responding either online or redefining their in-store stationery pitch.
It all comes down to knowing what you are good at and leveraging that to success you can achieve with your resources.