With the Reed gift fairs cancelled, more suppliers are keen to connect with new retailers in different ways. They are also keen to connect with retailers outside of their usual retailer channels.
Those with stock certainty in the back half of this year that they need to clear are especially keen.
I am seeing suppliers who would not usually connect with our channel, even with highly evolved gift and homewares retailers in our channel, pitch to newsagents individually and through some of the groups.
This is a good trend to see as it will further break down the borders between channels. Newsagents will, overall benefit from this while some could lose business as traditional Newsagency suppliers also trade more outside they channel as they, too, seek growth.
In a related topic, it is terrific seeing more suppliers engaging with Zoom and other platforms for virtual showroom tours and mini supplier / retailer conferences.
How we do business has changed for the long term and through this those doing well and those leveraging new platforms and skills for safely transacting business.