Author: Mark Fletcher

Beyond the lives lost and the buildings destroyed, the bushfires of recent weeks will most likely impact the economy and indie retailers for plenty of time ahead. We know from what followed on from the devastating Black Saturday bushfires of 2009 (179 dead and 2,029 homes destroyed) that the impact will be felt way beyond the local communities in which the fires occurred.

There are logistical challenges with several key trucking routes significantly impacted. This is being felt already with deliveries on the east coast impacted as well as between east and west.

There is the mindset impact where people outside of direct personal impact are concerned enough to delay or stall regular spending. I anticipate many retailers will see this. All the bushfire relief appeals will further reinforce this mindset. While the appeals are important and valuable, they play into the narrative of fear, which impacts spending.

There is also the knock-on economic impact. Some economists are talking of a bushfire led recession. The mere mention of that will be enough for some to pause or slow discretionary spending.

How do you cut through this? It is tough. I think the best approach is to be the best you can be at what you do on a regular basis. That is, to not promote a sale in response to the bushfires. Rather, trade as you would normally but with leveraging opportunities for fun and relaxation, where people get a break from tough news. People are in the mood for respite. You can give that to them.

People still have birthdays and anniversaries. Help people celebrate their loved-ones. People are going back to school and back to work. Help them with stationery.

At the core of much consumer behaviour is the desire to buy what you like. The key for us as retailers is to stock what shoppers like. There are many categories in transformed and transforming newsagencies that are working well and that lend themselves to promotion in this new economically challenging time in which we find ourselves in right now.

There will be people who need encouragement. Consider a display of products, cards and gifts, that help express encouragement – without making the display bushfire related.

What has happened and is happing with the bushfires is dreadful. The reach is extraordinary. I would caution you to moderate your engagement with a focus fixed on what works best for your business, because you can’t help anyone if your business is not successful.

ALNA late yesterday announced details of a fund go support bushfire affected newsagents:

As many of our small businesses are feeling the effects of the devastating fires and the flow on impacts of the loss of properties, sales, cashflow, and tourism, and through stock and power interruptions, ALNA has announced today the creation of a News and Lottery Agents Fire Assistance Support Fund and we invite you to participate.

The fund will provide much needed financial assistance to those newsagents, lottery agents and newspaper distribution agents in our industry whose businesses have been directly impacted by the devastating bushfires.

Newsagents are a mainstay of thousands of communities that on an average day are visited frequently by one in three Australians. However, as fires rage and damage buildings, relocate customers, cut spending, interrupt stock, impact tourism, and most tragically bring a loss of life, our sectors small businesses are deeply affected.

Small businesses like our newsagents and lottery agents and their staff are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of this loss. And this comes at the peak trading time for many of our regional businesses, when they traditionally do most of their big trading days in busy tourist and holiday areas.

As a result of this, ALNA has set up this support fund and is receiving donations to help those members of our industry who normally support us through their busy businesses and who are currently in need.”

ALNA Chairman Stuart Kilborn said: “Retail is tough enough and our hearts go out to these business owners and their staff who have been affected. As an industry it’s an opportunity to come together and to support each other through this difficult time.”

ALNA is pleased to have also been offered the assistance of the Victorian Association for Newsagents (VANA) to help promote and support the fund. ALNA and VANA are asking all participants in our industry like yourselves to get behind the initiative and to support it, to help those members of our industry who normally support us through their businesses and who are currently in need.

VANA Chairman Chris Pecora said: “Our industry nationally is united in purpose, in this time of need.”

Details:

ALNA has collaborated with Rural Business Tasmania Inc (ABN 43 790 148 538) to establish the News & Lottery Agents Fire Assistance Support Fund. Rural Business Tasmania is a registered charity and is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), so all donations will be covered as a tax-deductible donation to the News & Lottery Agents Fire Assistance Support Fund.

Affected businesses will be able to apply for funds, and a process coordinated by ALNA will determine the distribution of funds to those businesses that have demonstrated impact by fires. The running of the fund and the administration of financial assistance to affected businesses will be coordinated by ALNA, and in addition to a donation by ALNA, suppliers and fellow newsagents and lottery agents are also being asked to support it with donations where you have the capacity.

ALNA has created a charitable GoFundMe payment gateway for online donations to the fund, (to avoid leaving a tip to GoFundMe, please change this to other and enter $0) .

We are developing the application form to be available on our website soon for applications for assistance.

Tax deductible donations can also be made direct to:

News & Lottery Agents Fire Assistance Support Fund.
ANZ Bank
BSB:  017 542
Account No: 474 134 297

For your donation to be tax-deductible, please include your name as reference.

Please email firesupport@alna.net.au to request a tax-deductible receipt for your donation.

Katy Koala is being made by Ty Inc as a fundraising tool in a truly global campaign to raise money for koala rescue and recovery following the devastating bushfires in Australia.

Ty Inc and their their Australian distributor, Big Balloon, are donating 100% of profits. newsXpress corporate is Alsop donating 100% of profits as are the corporate newsXpress stores. I anticipate many locally owned newsXpress stores and other Beanie Boo retailers will do the same to maximise the fundraising.

Here is a more complete release announcing this unique global campaign:

“PLEASE SAVE THE KOALAS,” URGES TY WARNER, RELEASING NEW BEANIE BOO TO AID AUSTRALIA

All profits from Katy Koala donated to organization that saves Australian wildlife

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Ty Warner has created Katy Koala to help the endangered Australian wildlife. 100% of all profits from the original sale will be donated to WIRES.

“Hopefully, this special Beanie Boo will raise awareness around the world about these devastating fires raging through Australia and will provide help to all wildlife affected by the tragedy,” said Ty Warner, CEO and founder of Ty Inc. About Ty Inc. Ty Inc. is the largest manufacturer of plush in the world. Katy Koala will be available worldwide. For more information, visit Ty.com

About WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) WIRES is Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation and has been rescuing and caring for native animals since 1985. It officially launched as a not-for-profit organisation in March 1986 with its mission to actively rehabilitate and preserve Australian wildlife and inspire others to do the same. WIRES has 28 branches and over 2500 volunteers who are involved in the rescue and  care of wildlife in NSW and they assist many thousands of sick, orphaned, injured and displaced animals every year. The WIRES Rescue Office operates 365 days a year so the community can report sightings of native animals in distress.

Wires are supporting the relief network Nationally.  While a focus is NSW as that is their home, they have done national work so for some time, and are the largest wildlife relief NGO in Australia.  They have over 2,500 volunteers working around the country.

Below is a link of the statement from their CEO. Wires is supporting wildlife nationally. Below is a link to a statement from their CEO recently: https://www.facebook.com/164290389749/posts/10158332029059750/?substory_index=0

Also, as some background why Big Balloon and Ty chose WIRES, we contacted the Koala Foundation and number of other wildlife non-profit organisations.  They all recommended WIRES purely because they have the greatest national reach and resource, which a lot of the other state bases right now can’t handle due to the enormity of the situation.

Important notes:

1. Ty Inc globally will donate 100% of profits from the original sale of Katy Koala.
2. Big Balloon will donate 100% of its profits from the sale of Katy.
3. newsXpress corporately will donate 100% of its profits.
4. We urge all newsXpress members to do this, thereby enabling a clear statement to consumers.

Katy will be in store in March.

Here is the full announcement:

Tabcorp to donate more than $1.5 million to bushfire relief

Monday 13th January: Tabcorp has announced that it will donate more than $1.5 million to bushfire recovery on behalf of its brands TAB, Sky Racing, the Lott, MAX and Keno.

All of Tabcorp’s proceeds from the regular Saturday Lotto draw on 25 January will be donated to the bushfire relief effort, which is expected to be in excess of $1.5 million. The draw will be known as the Bushfire Benefit Draw.

“We offer our deepest sympathies to the many Australians that have lost loved ones, homes or their livelihood during this national crisis,” said Tabcorp CEO David Attenborough.

“The Australian spirit has been truly inspirational throughout this ordeal and the Tabcorp Group is pleased to play its part in supporting the recovery effort.”

Tabcorp has also provided financial relief to hotels and clubs that have been directly impacted by bushfires and relief operations.

This comes in addition to the $100,000 donation made by Tabcorp’s Keno brand to assist Team Rubicon in late 2019 in their efforts to clean and rebuild bushfire affected communities, particularly those who have lost property in Northern New South Wales.

Tabcorp is also dollar matching donations made to bushfire relief charities by its 5,000 employees, as well as amending its existing volunteering policy to provide open-ended paid leave for volunteer firefighters and reservists throughout this time.

“Many of our own people have been deeply impacted by these bushfires. We have partners in pubs, clubs, newsagents and retail outlets across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia that have been devastated and we’re committed to providing as much support as we can during this difficult time,” Mr Attenborough said.

Tickets in the Saturday Lotto Bushfire Benefit Draw, Saturday Lotto draw 4019 on Saturday 25 January 2020, are available at the Lott outlets across Australia (excluding Western Australia), online at thelott.com or via the Lott app.

ENDS

This is terrific news.

$1 from every copy of OK! out today goes to bushfire relief. This is a perfect reason for placing this at the counter and pitching the opportunity to customers. Celeste Barber on the cover makes it interesting in the fundraising context. I also recommend pitching this issue on your business social media.

There is a pharmacist in a fire affected area filling prescriptions for free while a petrol / convenience outlet in another fire affected area is selling six bottles of water for $48.00.

The devastation wreaked on families, property, businesses and infrastructure across Australia, especially regional Australia, over the last week, and even before, has been extraordinary.

Watching and listening to the excellent comprehensive coverage on ABC TV and Radio I heard towns and smaller communities mentioned where I knew of businesses.

Through my POS software company, I have reached out to all customers with an offer of help. I have put the same offer to the newsXpress community. From help with an insurance claim, help restoring a backup to fast-tracking replacing hardware to establishing urgent alternative comms to be connected when the phone lines are down. Our people will help as much as possible.

I’ll also use connections with suppliers to help with inventory issues reported where appropriate.

None of this, of course, helps with the deep personal pain of the devastation. It is something though.

Getting help starts with a call or email. I have let our team know to prioritise fire related calls for help.

CLIMATE CHANGE.
While bushfire season is an annual ‘event’ in our country, what we are seeing, and experiencing, is recent weeks is different.

I accept the science, that climate change is real, human caused and that the earth is facing an urgent existential crisis.

I am tired of those who say now, during the bushfires, is not the time to discuss and confront this. They are, in my mind, ignorant fools. The politicians in this camp are worse, they are criminal in their neglect, especially since 2013.

I am tired of the politicians passing legislation for their mates and ignoring the needs of everyday Australians.

I am tired of those who say Australia is too small to make a difference. Such statements are ignorant and selfish.

We urgent action to reduce carbon emissions.

The bushfires will impact an already slowing economy. The best response is stimulus. The best stimulus in my view is cash in the hands of those who will spend it. In economic terms, this should be an urgent focus of the government. My November 11 post lists valuable and economically stimulating investments the government should consider.

If you are going to comment here denying climate change, don’t bother as you are wrong.