A blog on issues affecting Australia's newsagents, media and small business generally. More ...

Day: October 27, 2014

Watch out newsagents: it’s theft season

Further to my post Saturday about a newsagency employee stealing from customers for lunch money, I have had calls today from two different newsagency businesses about theft. One was suspected employee theft over the last three months amounting to $9,000 – the cost of the second hand car the employee just purchased – and the other was from a supplier rep who short-changed returns credits over the last couple of years costing the business an estimated $8,000.

People steal because they think they can get away with it. The tighter your processes the less opportunity they have and the less likely they will steal.

It’s on you.

11 likes
theft

Helping a magazine publisher reach their audience

stellaStella magazine is a niche title aimed at a Pacific Islander audience. The print run is too small to justify distribution through traditional routes. The publisher is keen for advice on how to reach the right newsagents with this special interest title and I offered to pitch it here. You can contact the editor, Amanda Donigi, here: editor@pacificpencil.com.

Having a good selection of special interest titles serving interests of shoppers local to us is important to our future in the magazine space, especially titles supermarkets and convenience stores are not likely to offer.

7 likes
magazines

Walking Dead 2015 desktop calendar opportunity

wdcalThis 2015 Walking Dead desktop calendar is an excellent opportunity of thoughtful buying to drive calendar sales. The new series of the TV show has just launched to extraordinary ratings. Now is the perfect time to pitch this calendar.

Having licenced calendars is a key factor on our 2015 calendar sales being up 150% on last year. There are three simple steps to making excellent money from calendars:

  • Buy thoughtfully to your demographic.
  • Buy on good terms – margin and payment timing.
  • Be opportunisting in your promotion – change placement almost daily.

Calendars are an example of where we can make our own success.

4 likes
Calendars

Tapping into Rolling Stones interest

guitar-stonesWe have this miniature licenced Rolling Stones merchandise as a feature among our male gifts. It’s part of a broader rand of licenced products from several suppliers that we have sourced for music fans and for collectors of specific licenced merchandise.

We sell cards for guys so why not gifts?! Too often I hear newsagents say male gifts are a challenge. They not if you think about it laterally. Male gifts are not as obvious nor is the segment as well served as is the case with female focussed gifts.

Get your male gifts right and sales surge as gift shops often ignore the opportunity.

6 likes
Gifts

Satisfying Doctor Who fans

whomagsWe are embracing the opportunity to the golden era of Doctor Who coverage by placing magazines together based on cover story more than masthead. SciFiNow will be browsed by more shoppers as a result of this.

0 likes
magazines
Trending Articles

Fairfax changes approach to TV Guide, disrespects newsagents

Published on April 20, 2011

What do you think of the Powerball changes?

Published on February 16, 2018

IPS releases new magazine contracts

Published on June 21, 2011