We do not have a traditional newspaper stand in any of my newsagencies. Newspapers located on retail shelving in the rear third of the store.
I was in a newsagency earlier this week where they had the old newspaper publisher mandated stand at the front of the shop, stacked with newspapers.
While this space is profitable, because of current volume, the sales trend will see it be loss making in the next few months. The newsagent is reluctant to move newspapers because it’s my bread and butter. I argued it’s also the bread and butter of the two local supermarkets, three petrol outlets,a nearby convenience store and national brand convenience store. Newspapers are not the point of difference they used to be.
The newspaper stand could be repurposed into a feature gift, homewares, plush or stationery display. Done well, featuring unique product, it could generate considerably more GP than current newspaper sales.
Prime real estate in a modern retail newsagency needs to call out, promote, what the business stands for.
Given where newspaper publishers have placed their products for sale, it is appropriate for newsagents to reclaim the old-style newspaper stand at the front of the shop for making a more relevant and valuable retail statement. Newspapers work fine in less expensive less high profile space. Such a move can be done without losing a single sale.
Where are newspapers in your newsagency?
About a third of the way into the shop , gifts now go where newspapers once where and unless newspaper companys feel like paying for space they will not be returning up the front any time soon .
Lately when I rise I sit on the side of the bed and chant “no blogging today, no blogging today, no blogging today”. Looks like the next step is therapy.
Back to the issue. We have our papers right at the front of the store under the confectionery counter. It’s not useful space as its out of the neck to waist vision of customers (at 12.5% gross I think its overexposed). Quite often a customer will walk up and ask “Where are you hiding the papers”. I reply “Look down”.
Hope this next story rings a bell with the rest of newspaper retailers out there.
A couple of Mondays ago I parked in the shopping centre car park, opened my door and, WOW, a ten dollar note on the ground. As I entered the shop I joked with the girls “Looks like the car park is going to beat newspapers today.” Sure enough, at the end of the day, newspaper gross $9.30, car park $10.00.
So much for the News Limited “promise” when T20 was released. “We won’t forget the retailer”. Can you imagine the talk around the News Limited boardroom, “Retailer? Retailer? What’s a retailer”
We were discussing this on Tuesday when I asked coke rep to remove fridge.
Ours are currently in 2nd half of shop on traditional stand which I have noticed other newsagents now using as gift space.
Thought of shelving up wall where fridge was just inside entrance before lotto shelf, just don’t know if it will suit stacks on weekends and also will it get blocked by shopper trolleys at lotto counter.
any ideas pleas?
About 6 months ago I shifted newspapers to the back third of shop, signed it well, in a spot which wasnt much use for anything else.Initially a few grumblings but sales have not suffered. Using prime space for other items that we change periodically depending on the season etc., making more GP from the old newspaper area.
Between entering our store, getting a newspaper and walking to the counter one needs to walk past ice-cream freezers, a drink fridge, giftware, cards, a few off-location magazine displays, Darrell Lea, a coke fridge and fresh produce.
Mine is about a third of the way in but with new shop fit next month they will be towards the back. Given the rent that comes with shopping centres we need high margin product front and centre. Throw in being a “Retail only agent” and the margin on papers is very poor indeed. Whilst it is a case of each store having thier own needs and ideas there is a reason milk is at the back of the supermarket.
Still at the front but only on a roll out magazine stand that has a flat area for papers at ankle height.
I had the old paper display area at the front of the shop removed when I did a minor shopfit a few months ago (took out magazine pockets at the same time) and replaced with a slatwall display where I now display books in the $20-$60 range and have used the extra “dance floor” space created for dumpbin displays and the like. So far has been a much, much more profitable use of space for me .