I am planning on hosting two newsagent supplier round table discussions in March to look at business performance and health, consider whole of channel projections for traditional and new categories, basket data, sprouts of success for some and to consider how suppliers can better support newsagents.
The dates I am planning are March 17 in Melbourne and March 18 in Sydney (in easily accessible locations) with a running time expectation of somewhere between three and four hours – and a start time of 9am.
While this would be a supplier focussed event, I envisage room for a few newsagents. I see the key goal of the sessions to explore the state of the channel and to come up with practical things newsagent suppliers can do to help improve the position of newsagents.
I don’t see this as a commercial round table, not a forum to sell or promote anything. It would be open to any supplier from any category.
The motivation for hosting this conversation is the number of business closures already in 2015 and comments by many supplier reps that many newsagents seem to have given up. Rather than focussing on single interest campaigns that start from a place of negativity and risk fuelling a negative view of the channel (such as the NSW Tatts campaign), I think suppliers need to discuss what they can do to nurture optimism among newsagents and to shine a light on a path of greater certainty.
I should have information on venues and a booking form or process ready early next week. I’ll probably use the Tower Systems website to capture bookings as that would be easiest.
If you want to suggest suppliers I should invite, please email me their details to mark@towersystems.com.au.
I have heard from several newsagents about this piece. I am happy to talk with anyone about their situation, to explore options and share stories of what others have done to confront their own challenges.