The newsagency channel has changed … because retail has changed because how people shop has changed because how people get news and information has changed.
Too many of our old school suppliers don’t get it. They think they can continue pay party commissions, expect premium space and expect us to focus on them ahead of where we make our real money.
Too many old school newsagents don’t get it .. you know, those who run their businesses as they did 10 and 20 years ago are in businesses with no future. these are the businesses closing, as they should.
Newsagent associations don’t get it. They focus on old school stuff and try and copy proactive marketing groups for new stuff.
I have spoken with three newsagents today who are being treated badly by suppliers because they are putting the needs of their businesses ahead of individual supplier needs. The newsagents are being smart. The are building stronger businesses from which the suppliers will most assuredly benefit yet the suppliers are too arrogant and stupid to see this. They think they can demand the newsagent serve them ahead of everything else.
My suggestion is if a supplier is being too demanding, beyond the value of the return of their products for the business, quit the supplier. Be done with them. This is true for any supplier including magazines and newspapers and lotteries. You own your business. The needs of your business have to come first.
And if you are paying association fees expecting the ANF to work on these issues for you – save your money, back yourself instead.
So, so close to getting out of newspapers. I want to but think it’s a bit premature to do so yet. Supply issues are getting worse and the don’t care attitude of some staff as the supply end in not worth the pittance we make on papers. The ONLY reason to keep them is as a traffic driver and they are less useful every year for that. Distributors, look after us properly as you are not the important part of our business you think you are.
Had to get that off my chest!
Can I add to your list.
Tatts don’t get it.
Publishers don’t get it.
Thinking they were smart by expanding into the supermarket chains, they now find their product in decline and their branded specialist retailers in distress. Make no mistake, the base Saturday Tatts product is in decline through the franchise channel. New products and the return of instants in Victoria has provided a one off sugar hit. The CEO sprouting revenue growth through the petrol station chains is an illusion. I doubt whether that revenue is profitable for the petrol station owner and Im afraid that Woolies Petrol is the bottom of the ladder when it comes to shop front presentation. A lot of them are nothing more than glorified dongers crammed with crap. The damage to the Tatts brand is immeasurable.
Access to the product has never been the issue for the publishers and Tatts. Protecting the value of their brand has always and remains the issue.
But they dont get it.
They still think that shafting their specialist branded retail chain while they flirt with the devil will bring rewards. It hasnt and it wont.
Sadly I think the damage is already done and there is no coming back from the self imposed self fulfilling death spiral.
There is a future but not with the dinosaurs that currently roam the earth. For your newsagency to have a future, dont look or act like a newsagent is my view.
EziPass is high on my list. No sales crossover,poor commissions, doesn’t warrant the extra accounting time.
Currently I am reviewing our card offerings. A laborious process made difficult by the edi failings of some companies. 2 suppliers are going and the biggest supplier (no names mentioned) has been informed to shape up in next 6 months.
Some gift suppliers are light years ahead of traditional newsagent suppliers. A real pleasure to work with. We currently have a whole window display of Watermates by Annabel Trends, they provided the merchandiser. I would post a pic but not sure how.