Since newsagencies are regarded by Australians as the quintessential local business, a strong local community connection is vital. Here are practical ideas for improving the community connection in your newsagency:
- Be local in what you talk about – local issues, local challenges, local opportunities.
- Be local online – on facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.
- Buy local wherever possible.
- Employ local wherever possible.
- Be a local resource with a Local what’s on noticeboard.
- Publish your own local newsletter with items about local matters.
- Support local charities.
- Get involved in the local chamber of commerce.
- Get involved in a local community group.
- Sell products that support local attractions.
- Offer a welcome pack to local newcomers.
- Show locals how shopping locally helps them.
It takes hard work and persistence to successfully pitch and genuinely live the local message. It needs to permeate your entire business. Get it right and the locals will support you.
Can anyone who owns a newsagency in a big mall like Westfields tell me is it harder to have the community connection? My shop is on a high street and I feel that the community connection is easier for me as there is a better “local” vibe on high streets. I am a member of the Chamber of Commerce, volunteer at 2 Sporting Assoc and help chair a local development initiative. My business is also the inaugural and sole sponsor of the local High Schools Awards program. Our work facebook page is also used to communicate local issues. As an example when we had a natural disaster a few years ago I posted a community notice on the work facebook page and got 70,000 hits! To build a local connection has taken years of hard work, it does not happen in 1 day. I think you also have to have a love for your local community. I think anyone who runs a business of any size has to have a community connection.
Benevolent Capitalism is gaining momentum.