Christmas kicks in at different times of the season for different types of newsagencies. The most important comparison we can make is against our trade to this time last year.
How is Christmas going for you?
One of my newsagencies is up 14% year on year while in the other is up 9%. Moreimgportant than the revenue increase is the growth in GP. In both cases, the gross profit percentage being achieved is up by close to 20%, reflecting a further shift to higher margin lines. Magazines account for under 15% of revenue and newspapers under 3%. Cards account for 34%, plush 11%, gifts 24%, stationery 4%, toys 4%.
In terms of year on year growth, cards, gifts and toys are all experiencing double-digit growth. we have chased this through buying, floor placement and out of store marketing.
1st Nov to today up 18%. Dec only up 26% with 2 days figures for our pop up shop yet to be included.
For us:
Magazines 12% of revenue and newspapers under 4%. Cards account for 27%, plush 3.5%, gifts 19.5%, stationery 12%, toys 1.5%. Collectible 4.5%
Magazines are the only department down YOY for Dec. and margin has increased by about 12%
Tnx nXp!
Very late start to Xmas in Adelaide for us, slow in November.
Data from 1st Dec including today(19th) a mixed bag but the heat has not kept people away much.
Up 5% overall.
Cards down 3%, 26% of sales
Mags down 9%(better than the 23% drop last month), 14% of sales
Newspapers up 2%, 3% of sales
Stationary up 18%, 8% of sales
Toys down 14%, 8% of sales
Plush up 17%, 5% of sales
Christmas items even at 8% of sales
Gifts up 86%, 15% of sales
Average sale value up 5%, and item value up 9%. Not sure how to find the average GP but would be up for sure.
Overall happy at the moment but had some huge days in this last week last year.
Wishing everyone a good week to come.
We have had a cracking Christmas so far. Cards are up 20%, stationery is up 40% on this time last year, Gifts are up 40%, newspapers are steady, magazines have dropped 5% (but the major factor here is the MPA trial which has seen a slide in magazine sales for us). Combined with large jackpots for the week ahead means things will only improve over the days coming into Christmas Day. I attribute our success to social media advertising, new gift and toy lines that are extremely popular, maintaining a neat and well stocked and displayed shop, having the ability to special order any request a customer might have and engaging constantly with the local community.
I hope everyone else has a bumper last week before Christmas.