February, 2008 | newsXpress Blog

Driving Magazine Growth

newsXpress continues to have the largest growth in the magazine category in the Newsagency channel. With its unique magazine strategy of beacon branding, header cards, the magazine club card and just in book marks, newsXpress leads the channel in growth by combining its great relationships with ACP, Network, Pacific and Gordon & Gotch.

To have the highest growth in the country exceeding all others by a long way is no mean feat. Its testament to the hard work by newsXpressers in driving the category and the unique IP of the newsXpress support team.

newsXpress has a no fuss attitude with magazines. We believe in working with suppliers and distributors to drive the category, and getting on with business and not being stuck in the past.

Changing the way they do business for the better!

Since joining newsXpress, Jim Manifis and his team from Whitfords City have seen a new level of service, marketing and business support they have not experienced before. The team is going through a rebranding strategy ay the moment. Working in with the Lottery West livery, newsXpress is working with the team to bring a whole new look and feel to the shop. With temporary signage up and the team in uniform the brand transition is well under way to taking this great Newsagency to the next level. We can’t wait till the shop is finished the plans look fabulous.

Happy Customers at newsXpress

These guys could not wait to pose for a photo at newsXpress Ocean Keys. They are the target demographic on Valentines Day!

With a great range of Valentines Day product the newsXpress network of stores produced huge sales during this fantastic promotion.

Quality product drives new Business

Since installing the new Canson range, The team at newsXpress Cleveland don’t sell cheap cardboard any more. They used to sell the cheap stuff for 90c now they sell it for $1.80 and have not lost a sale. Shows that quality cardboard sells and not one customer has complained. It has actually driven more sales with artists now coming into the shop to buy this fabulous range.

Co-Location drives Puzzle titles

newsXpress believes in co-locating puzzles magazines to drive sales in this fabulous category. By placing your puzzles titles close to women’s interest and also having a traditional section in your main deck of magazines you will drive add on sales in this category. Have a look at how newsXpress GPO does it.

newsXpress Eastland create a display fit for ‘the King’

What do you do with half a pallet of Partworks? And such a compelling title as Elvis?

Well at newsXpress Eastland, you put them all out on the dance floor.

With the TV advertising yet to start, five copies were sold whilst the display was being put up!

This space has been very effective as a promotional area with Valentine’s Day generating double the previous years card sales. It is also adjacent to the wall of HOT OUT NOW magazines.

Valentine’s Day – Victoria

Again the creative benefit of the newsXpress structure comes through in these photos. Firstly you can see newsXpress Melton have placed their Hallmark/Alliance Forever Friends Bear on a swing as the centrepiece in the store. The effectiveness of this classic less is more is clear to see with over 150 entries in the Valentine’s day competition.

newsXpress Reservoir are soon to undertake a refit but have done a magnificent job to transform their front window using both the newsXpress and Hallmark marketing materials.

Business is booming with the HALLMARK/newsXpress Strategic Partnership

newsXpress Ocean keys which is located in a dynamic and growing northern Perth suburb, joined newsXpress last year and swapped greeting card companies. The result is a massive 41% increase in greeting card sales since they joined and they are absolutely thrilled with the result. This store is one of many who are enjoying excellent growth with the newsXpress-Hallmark strategic partnership and there are many other stories within the group of stores who have swapped to Hallmark and have struck a rich vein of gold.

All seasons great and small – Valentine’s Day across newsXpress

One of the greatest strengths of the newsXpress network is our diversity. Size, background, opinion and style are a few of many attributes which contribute to make newsXpress the progressive group that is challenging deep seated ideas and guiding small business into the 21st century and beyond.

Below is a visual example of how the differences at each store become strengths across the group. Each store have access to the newsXpress Marketing, the Hallmark Alliance material’s, and various supplier deals. How they interpret that for their market and how they present their unique stores each contribute to building the group.

newsXpress Garden City – outpost extra-ordinnaire

newsXpress Harbour Town – destination shopping

newsXpress Upper Coomera – Bold, in your face merchandising

newsXpress Eumundi – Gift store style suiting the locality

newsXpress Kin Kora – outposting Valentine’s Day

newsXpress Kin Kora have reported what most stores are experiencing – a very busy Valentine’s Day promotion!

They have sold a $500 Forever Friends Hallmark Bear in their first ever attempt at outposting – a great result!

Sarah also would like to espouse the benefits of going that one little extra step. In this case cello-ing plush gifts. Cello attracts a great margin, along with the ribbon and staff hours you can make a stunning profit.

These have been selling well along with small gift boxes packed with 4 or 5 chocolates and gift wrapped. A little effort goes a long way – 20 sales in one morning at $4.95 a piece.

It’s always worth the effort!

On occasion time and circumstance conspire to prevent you doing everything you can. newsXpress Deception Bay have overcome this by following the rules of masic visula merchandising.

Simple props using red tulle and newsXpress Balloons have created this eye
catching display.

Valentine’s Day is all in the marketing

Check out newsXpress Gateway in Perth. This is a new shop to the network which has been built to ensure flexibility which we believe will future proof the business. The layout has been created to accept new money ranges which are constantly being developed by newsXpress. Have a look how the newsXpress Valentines Day marketing works in with the latest in shop fit designs by Interfit Retail. A rolling stone gathers no moss!

More ‘New Money’

Artee Supplies are working with newsXpress to drive new money sales in the group. DIY invitations are a blue ocean category for newsagents and many newsXpress retailers have embraced some of the great ranges on offer.

Canson driving massive sales in the newsXpress group

The recent retail partnership with Canson is providing interesting data to the group. Not only are sales going north, customers are happy with the quality of the cardboard and happy to pay more for a superior product. National brands drive sales and the Canson/newsXpress partnership is proof of this.

Two Hearts are better than One…

To complement the Hallmark promotional Hearts, newsXpress Kallangur team members have cut out smaller silver and red hearts which hang and swing around the front of the store. The newsXpress Valentine posters hang scattered throughout the store. Gift and novelty ware is situated in the promotional area.

Valentine’s Day – newsXpress Arana Hills style!

Kaylene and Cassie have used this year and last year’s newsXpress point of sale with great effect to build their Valentine’s Display. Still to be added for the last 2 days are a range of helium balloons (for sale and display).

Simple is effective!

This new sign directs customers into the newsXpress Albany Creek Copy Centre area where the Ink and Toner display is.
Can’t miss it!!

Valentines Day Display at newsXpress Albany Creek

Four Display areas are used for Valentines Day, the window, 2 power ends, plus the very front display area next to the greeting cards, where the Forever Friends Bear give away sits with the large poster behind him.
Chocolate Gems are a big hit, as are the giftware and plush offering.
The Displays are fresh and colour co-ordinated.

The Model of Flexibility

When you stroll into newsXpress Spencer St, the first thing you’ll notice is how long the store is. Having been built across Coles largest store in Melbourne’s CBD as part of the Spencer St redevelopment it’s a credit to the design and owners Tony, Veronica and Kitch who have re-entered the industry after a short absence with newsXpress. Flexibility is key in a modern retail newsagency and newsXpress Spencer St is just that. Wait till you see the front windows especially at night time, you’ll be in for a real treat.

HOT ink! Driving New Money

The Carson Group which has five stores under the newsXpress banner on the Sunshine coast have participated in all HOT ink! promotions. Not only have they found a new money stream for their stores they have driven more customers into their businesses through the HOT ink! brochures being widely distributed in their stores catchment areas. As progressive retailers not just newsagents the Carson Group is a model for all newsagents Australia wide in the way they embrace new money categories and drive their businesses to the limit to not only increase their good will but extract operational profit everyday.