Theft increases Trading Post sales
As a result of the theft of a newspaper insert discovered a couple of weeks ago we realigned our newspaper stand to create a better view for our counter team. The stand was pivoted 45 degrees from that shown in the photo – more front on as people enter the shop. The result is a measurable increase in sales of the Trading Post.
This sales kick for the Trading Post from such a small move reminded me of the challenges of retail and newsagencies in particular. We have so many items and only limited space to get in front of people. Newsagencies are bright thanks to the colour of magazines, greeting cards and lottery posters. There is a ton of ‘noise’ in store. We cannot move everything we want to promote in the way we have the newspaper stand.
I wonder whether newsagencies are too ‘noisy’. For example, would a visually calmer shop sell more compared to the traditional ‘noisy’ shop? Are we, newsagents, hurting ourselves by bold lottery, newspaper and magazine displays at the front of the shop? Is this the reason stationery sales in newsagencies are down? Are our shops too full of promotional displays, posters, dump bins, signs, magazine posters etc. for them to be effective?
Suppliers want to get into newsagencies to tap into our traffic. Tapping into our traffic means making major noise. Customers can only give so much attention so each new display takes a slice of a finite pie.
Maybe it is time to start with a fresh canvas. Some already have in the magazine space, mag nation, for one, is a model many are watching and talking about.
My recent experience with the Trading Post suggests it is time to redraw the layout and display strategy for my shop.