Newsagents doing Back To School in Australia should take not of how Ryman in the UK is handling this important retail season. The Back To School page on their website is well worth reviewing. It gives the impression of being able to serve any need.
I also love the marketing they are doing on social media offering free delivery.
Ryman has 20 stores in the UK. Typically, they are considerably smaller than Officeworks in Australia – better run too with a local feel to them.
Of the various seasonal events, back to school is for us the most frustrating. For all the effort in finding a point of difference, customers appear very price focused. It’s too easy to emerge with stock that has negligible sales rest of year. We are easing back and conceding to the big sheds with their range and cut throat pricing. There are easier and more profitable pickings than back to school.