Comparing the performance of the newsagency for May 2017 with May 2016 shows a good result for magazines. While overall unit sales declined 5%, weeklies only declined 1% – and they account for 44.35% of all our magazine sales.
I say he 5% decline is good as this is happening in a period when many are experiencing double digit and more decline in unit sales.
In our situation the categories of concern are sports, computers and music. For us, these categories are in dangerous decline.
Craft & hobbies and home & lifestyle are the two terrific growth categories with each achieving 20% year on year growth in unit sales. Both are high value categories in that they are more likely to drive extra value purchases in the business.
I am feeling good about magazine sales in May. They have contributed well to the business and the declines of 2016 have significantly slowed for us.