The ANF and GNS are both shareholders in Newspower. They also both exist to serve newsagents. These two connections between the two organisations alone ought to align their interests yet recent activity by the ANF suggest they are not aligned with GNS.
On Friday, the ANF sent out an email to newsagents promoting Buyers Paradise – a business that appears to offer remainder stationery and related lines. Their pitch is about price. It’s a pitch at odds with the brand focus of GNS. Brands support our channel, often funding industry events.
The ANF support of Buyers Paradise looks misplaced to me. But maybe there is something I am missing. If you think I am please let me know.
The ANF will say it was an advertisement. Indeed, the subject line makes it clear: ADVERTISEMENT: New profit source for essential stationery supplies – everything @1.50 plus bargain deals on gift supplies, party supplies, batteries. However, all actions by the ANF need to be considered through their charter to serve the interests of newsagents.
If I was an ANF member and a GNS shareholder I’d want to know why the ANF is actively promoting a GNS competitor. I’d want to know what due diligence they have done into the Buyers Paradise business. I’d want to know whether there is any connection here that could impact on Newspower given that the ANF and GNS are each shareholders in Newspower.
I checked out Buyers Paradise on ASIC and found that it’s a registered business name but not a company. While that is not a big deal, it does put them on a different footing to, say, GNS.
I emailed the ANF Friday about this but have not yet received a response.
Well said
Mark,
I have raised this as a concern also with Ancol CEO in SA – Ancol is aligned with Newspower and a supporter of the ANF.
It seems a very strangle alignment to me.
John
The ANF is welcome to comment here on their support for this business. I know people at the ANF have read the post and are not happy with what I have written.
Mark,
The anf is showing the same loyalty as gns did by sending their rep to and then supplying the post office directly opposite my newsagency in a small rural town.They said it was all about survival, maybe its the same with the anf.
Ken these are unrelated issues. GNS is doing what it needs to do to drive value for the shareholders. Dealing only with newsagents is not viable – especially with plenty of newsagents not buying from them.
looks cheap and nasty anyway, leave that for the $2 shops. Cheap and nasty is not what my business is about
I have just received this again via email. I am not really happy that the anf is providing my information to advertisers to use under the guise of being a buying opportunity. I get enough spam as it is. Just waiting on a response from my local representative.