Month: April 2010

newsXpress members targeted by The Lucky Charm

newsXpress members are being targeted by The Lucky Charm trying to convince them to swap brands. The Lucky Charm team is out pushing because we have excellent members in our group and because newsXpress does not force members to stay through a long term contract. NewsXpress members stay with us because they want to where TLC members do not have the luxury of freedom until their five year iron-clad contract comes to an end.

One member approached by TLC told us they are happy to stay with newsXpress over The Lucky Charm because of how newsXpress is helping them transform their business with new traffic, better margin and greater sales efficiency. A check of the card rebate showed them how much better off they are staying with newsXpress.

Newsagents joining The Lucky Charm are, in our view, handcuffed to the group. A read of the franchise agreement by a lawyer will help prospective members of The Lucky Charm to understand the extent of the handcuff. There is the five year term as well as constraints surrounding the sale of the business. This makes getting out near impossible.

newsXpress does not believe in handcuffing members to the group for a long period and through a complex contract. Rather, we want members to stay with us because they want to stay. This is a newsXpress difference.

While we are flattered that The Lucky Charm is aggressively targeting newsXpress members, we felt it appropriate to encourage greater transparency around core elements of their pitch.

newsXpress Albany (WA) respects Anzac Day

anzac-day-014.jpgThe team at newsXpress Albany in Western Australia has created an excellent window display respecting Anzac Day.  It is an excellent example of connecting with the local community around a solemn occasion. Their use of the lyrics of the song And the band played Waltzing Matilda is inspirational.  Click here to hear the song.

The Anzac Day display covers several windows – beyond the one shown in the photo to the left.  Everyone involved at newsXpress Albany ought to be proud of what they have created.

Mother’s Day collateral from newsXpress

mothers_day.jpgnewsXpress shipped Mother’s Day marketing collateral to all member locations several weeks ago.  The newsXpress exclusive A1 double-sided posters reflect the bright and love-centred sentiment of the season.  The artwork is a reminder for shoppers without getting in the way of other Mother’s Day collateral.

Our artwork has been carefully designed by our marketing and design teams to compliment artwork from core suppliers.

This artwork, like that for all seasons supported by newsXpress, has been provided without additional cost to members.

Another happy newsXpress winner

hamperwinner.jpgCailin Wright is the happy winner of our Easter colouring competition at newsXpress Knox in Victoria.  She was happy to come in and collect her prize hamper of chocolates, plush and other gifts.

Cailin was one of many entrants in newsXpress colouring competitions run around Australia in newsXpress stores this Easter.  Our members used the opportunity to promote customer and community engagement as well as having fun.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Eli Waters

eli-waters-mothersday.jpgThe team at newsXpress Eli Waters has setup their first Mother’s Day display for the 2010 season.  They are using gifts from the newsXpress range and newsXpress Mother’s Day marketing collateral provided free to newsXpress members.

the offer will expand as Mother’s Day approaches.

There is good evidence to suggest that going out early with a season like Mother’s Day, right after Easter, is appreciated by shoppers.  newsXpress and partner suppliers support this with early access to product and collateral.

Appreciation from Lighthouse Foundation

newsxpress-lighthouse.JPGnewsXpress received heartfelt appreciation from the Lighthouse Foundation last week for the funds we raised in our Father’s Day campaign last year.  In a newsXpress exclusive promotion, every pack of Dad’s Nuts bags from Morish Nuts raised funds for Lighthouse.  This is another part of our commitment to social responsibility – connecting newsXpress and member businesses with community organisations.

newsXpress thanks all members for participating in this promotion and helping to make a difference to the work Lighthouse dows in the community.

Easter at newsXpress Deception Bay

deception_bay_window.jpgThe window display at newsXpress Deception Bay reflects the colour and excitement of Easter.  It is a real feature of the centre and a draw-card for the business.

While in-store the newsXpress collateral is used to full advantage, the window display is used to create wonderful retail theatre.  The display is a wonderful of excellent visual merchandising.

Top Gear at newsXpress Wetherill Park

15032010023.jpgThe newsXpress Merchandise team delivered a terrific product opportunity to member stores capitalising on the on going success of the original UK Top Gear and the launch of the TV show on Channel 9 this year.

newsXpress Wetherill Park are always early adopters of merchandise opportunities and supported this new range with a superb display on a prominent aisle end that showcased the full range of: Stig Pens, watches, clocks, USB Drives, key chains, mini torches, Boxed mugs and journals.

Easter colouring competition at newsXpress Milsons Point

milsons-point-easter.jpgEntrants for the Easter colouring competition at newsXpress Milsons Point have their artwork on display in the window for friends, family and the locals to see and admire.

There has been no shortage of entries for this popular competition.  The friendly team at newsXpress Milsons Point have made the most of the opportunity to better connect with their local community and to show off the newsXpress difference.

newsXpress encourages members to show off the art in the window as it gives the artists an audience and it shows the community that the business cares.

Happy Holidays

newsXpress wishes Roger and Lesley Bortfield, our NSW/ACT Business Development Managers and Rob Henderson, our National Merchandise Manager, happy and safe travels as they head overseas to far away places for their respective vacations.  Roger and Lesley will be in the USA and canada and Rob will be in the UK.

newsXpress Wetherill Park lottery win in the news

newsXpress Wetherill Park featured in the news against this weeks thanks to a $1.8 million lottery win and a wonderful story about a soon to be married customer not knowing they had won.  here is part of the story from the Fairfield Advance:

FOR five weeks, a bride-to-be had no idea the Lotto ticket she bought at Wetherill Park was worth $1.8 million.

The woman, 30, is planning her dream wedding after winning the top prize in the Valentine’s Day Lotto draw.

“I’ve been working overtime to pay for my wedding, which will be later in the year,” she said. “Normally I check my tickets regularly but I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance.

“I opened up my wallet last week and the ticket fell out and I thought I’d better get it checked. I still can’t believe it.”

Sisters Antonella Difranco and Ginella Postaj, who own NewsExpress at Wetherill Park, couldn’t be happier for their lucky customer.

Easter at newsXpress Mortdale

mortdale-easter.jpgThe team at newsXpress Mortdale (NSW) has a delicious selection of Easter eggs and chocolates on display along with newsXpress marketing collateral at the front of the business.  The display looks stunning and is attracting plenty of attention and sales from happy customers.

The energy and focus of the team at newsXpress Mortdale, a new member of the newsXpress family is terrific to see and experience.