Browsers in the shop
I have a relaxed view of browsers in my newsagency. That we welcome people to visit and read to their heart’s desire is part of our appeal. Regulars and first timers are welcome equally. It is especially enjoyable to see dads on a Saturday introducing their children to the tradition. Occasionally, however, browsers cross the line. When that happens we take a firm view.
If they photocopy something from a magazine, we make them buy the magazine or newspaper. If they tear out a page, we make them buy it. If they start to write a recipe or something else from a magazine, we ask them to buy it or leave.
While it is easier to do nothing and thereby avoid confrontation, action is essential – we’re in business after all.
The grey area is the regulars, the customers who come in, read the newspaper – even taking sections apart – and put it back on the rack for sale. They can be a barrier for other shoppers. They also damage product. At the moment, while we don’t stop them, we do work around them and demonstrate that they are in the way. Sometimes it works but mostly it does not. We know we need to tackle this as there are three or four customers who spend nothing and help themselves daily.
I am not a fan of spinners as they impact sight lines and generally clutter the store. They can also cause customers to trip over.
It is VTAC Guide (a book listing tertiary courses) season in Victoria so we are using part of the dance floor to promote them.
I’ve written here before about the frustration of some magazine freebies which are poorly stuck on covers and do more harm than good – the Boost Bar with Alpha ladst month was like this, falling off everywhere.
Since we promote the sale of ink and toner products inside and outside our newsagency, a complimentary recycle service is essential.
We moved one of our Darrell Lea stands to the front counter and sales jumped significantly. While this is not the preferred location, so we are told, the sales speak for themselves.
For two years we have offered a good selection of art supplies which we have sourced from Queensland based Mega Shed. Sales have been good and we’re nicely in the art space.
This is the brochure form GNS to which I referred yesterday.
I would be shocked if the August issue of the Australian Women’s Weekly (out yesterday) is not a sell out. It is one of the classiest magazines I have ever seen. The cover is sensational and the free DVD attached of Diana is excellent value.
Many newsagents across Australia are angry this week on discovering that supplies of the Harry Potter chess set partworks have been cut and they cannot get enough stock to satisfy customer demand.
This graph, published in the 
Pacific magazines has a good promotion running this week supporting Famous and New Idea with the free Bueno chocolate. The chocolate promotion provides an opportunity to push New Idea sales and pull Famous along too.
I felt special to receive this Fortune Privilege Card – until I realised the card itself gave me nothing. It is a bit of froth to make me feel special enough to sign up for 68% off the cover price of purchasing Fortune at a newsagency.