Author: mark

I am a Director of newsXpress, a marketing group for newsagents keen for a bright future. You can reach me on +61 418 321 338 or mark[at]towersystems.com.au

newsXpress members launching Hallmark Itty Bitty

ittybittyCustomers are loving the Itty Bitty product launched last week by newsagency marketing group newsXpress and Hallmark. Available in many newsXpress stores, the Itty Bitty is a fun soft toy that makes an ideal gift between friends as well as a give to a child or a grandchild.

Displayed in a clever display unit as well as elsewhere in-store, the Itty Bitty is a welcome addition to the newsXpress range.

newsXpress has developed exclusive elements to the Itty Bitty offer, separating newsXpress members from other retailers with these items.

New ink offer for newsagency marketing group members

Screen Shot 2014-05-08 at 10.41.42 amnewsXpress has finalized a new HOT ink! Offer for newsXpress newsagency marketing group members with the new catalogue being printed this week ready for wide letterbox distribution. This latest ink offer provides customers with the opportunity of winning a beautiful canon PIXIMA printer that will be given away in each of the participating HOT ink! Stores. This is an excellent opportunity for newsXpress members to drive ink traffic as well as engage with more business customers.

Jeweller offer for newsagency marketing group members

newsXpress last week launched an exclusive high-margin jewellery offer for members of its newsagency marketing group. Sourced directly from the manufacturer, this jewellery offer is exclusive for newsXpress members and is sure to drive traffic and deliver excellent basket-building results.

This new range of jewellery is unlike any offered currently by a newsXpress supplier – hence the move by the group to import directly and create new business development opportunities for newsXpress members.

newsXpress newsagents embrace AFL opportunities

aflnewsXpress newsagents are embracing licenced AFL product opportunities across Australia thanks to engaged suppliers. The photo shops the excellent display at newsXpress Kadina promoting AFL product in-store. Talk about owning the AFL fan opportunity in kaduna South Australia. Kudos to the team who sourced and put together this excellent display of AFL licenced products!

newsXpress newsagents – $50,000 in Mother’s Day prizes

alavunewsXpress newsagents are offering in excess of $50,000 worth of prizes for Mother’s Day 2014. Participating locations are each offering an Alavu jewellery set valued at close to $500. newsXpress has arranged the prizes in partnership with Hallmark at no cost to newsXpress members. This price is another way newsXpress members can drive valuable incremental shopper engagement for major seasons like Mother’s Day.

Enjoying your newsagency business

Running a newsagency business can be tough – demanding on your time and resources. newsXpress members have access to a deep well of ideas, in-store help and advice and valuable insights than can help you enjoy your business more.

Not only do we help newsagents make more money in their businesses, we also help them find greater enjoyment. Key to greater enjoyment is networking opportunities with like-minded newsagents. newsXpress offers plenty such opportunities locally, state-wide and nationally. It also leverages technology to connect those who may not otherwise be able to easily connect with colleagues.

newsXpress newsagents connect with TV campaigns

astvnewsXpress newsagents have several opportunities for connecting with high-profile commercial free-to-air TV campaigns right now thanks to engaged preferred supplier relationships. With two new TV campaigns starting in the last week, newsXpress members have been given information that helps them make the most of immediate brand awareness opportunities.

Not only does newsXpress help members buy better, it also helps them turn good buying into cash through timely information, advice and insights.

newsXpress newsagents to benefit from Hong Kong buying trip

hkfThe newsXpress team had a busy time at the Hong Kong Gift Fair last week meeting with Australian suppliers also at the fair, checking out possible new products, connecting with potential new suppliers from Australia as well as taking in the vibrant retail scene in Hong Kong. It was a busy few days packed with meetings, trade show time and opportunities.

With more than 4,000 businesses at the trade show and plenty of trade halls to visit, the newsXpress team walked, on average, 12 km a day.

newsXpress members are also hearing about results with opportunities already under development.

We are excited for what will start arriving soon to help newsXpress newsagents further expand the appeal of their businesses.

newsXpress newsagents reporting magazine sales growth

newsXpress members are reporting magazine sales results that buck the trend in the rest of the Australian newsagency channel, especially in the all-important and highly competitive women’s weeklies magazine category. Whereas your average newsagent is reporting a year on year decline of 8% and more, some newsXpress newsagents are reporting net year on year growth. The average growth for this category alone is 4% – giving hess newsXpress businesses a twelve-point difference over the newsagencies in decline in this category.

This is great news!

newsXpress newsagents love the MKR cookbook

mkrnewsXpress newsagents have been actively supporting the launch of the new My Kitchen Rules cookbook, ensuring all visitors to these best-practice newsagency businesses know about the cookbook and the delicious food that awaits once they engage with the recipes from the popular TV series. Through terrific displays, tactical placement and other promotion, this is another magazine success for many newsXpress members.

New products generate new newsagency traffic

animalsnewsXpress launched a new outdoors range more than a month ago and newsXpress members are reporting terrific sales as well as new traffic thanks to this innovative range.

Newsagents wanting to be challenged into growing into new areas that are aligned with existing traffic generators ought to look at the strategic supplier decisions being made by newsXpress.

Helping newsagency marketing group members to harvest customer details

Screen Shot 2014-04-23 at 8.33.13 amnewsXpress has a multi-layered approach to helping members to harvest customer details. One way we help members is through a cloud-based entry process whereby customers can scan a QR code and access a facility for entering details.

newsXpress members have access to this and similar tools for free – all part of the newsXpress service.

newsXpress also provides free access to promotional collateral for supporting this campaign in-store.

Hong Kong gift fair supplier trip

With the Hong Kong Gift Fair drawing to a close, the newsXpress delegation is exhausted after many meetings with a broad range of Australian and other suppliers. This has been by far our best trip to the Hong Kong Gift Fair ever with plenty of opportunities explored and new relationships opened for exploration.

newsXpress appreciates the support of its suppliers in helping to make this visit brim with opportunity.

newsXpress launches marketing seminars

newsXpress is hosting marketing seminars for newsagents over the next few weeks in most capital cities. At these events newsagents and suppliers can learn more about newsXpress: the services we offer, the deals available and the opportunities of membership.

Leveraging already excellent membership growth achieved this year these new sessions will help more newsagents connect with the newsXpress story of opportunity and to feel personally the optimism at the heart of the newsXpress model.

newsXpress helps newsagents explore opportunities appropriate to their local needs.

newsXpress leadership in Kansas City

hmkusThe newsXpress leadership team spend a week in Kansas City at the headquarters of Hallmark, a strategic partner of newsXpress. In meetings, product presentations, store inspections and  business insights, the newsXpress team was able to tap deep into the Hallmark organisation to find product and other opportunities for newsXpress members. Of particular value was next season product insights.

We are grateful to Hallmark for their generosity of time and support leading up to and through this ground-breaking visit.

Newsagents selling edible bouquets for Mother’s Day

etbnewsXpress newsagency marketing group members are set for training in new and exclusive Eat The Bouquet products for our Mother’s Day 2014 offer. ETB is a retail concept launched by newsXpress last year and embraced by many members to drive traffic and margin dollars. It is proving to be an excellent way to drive seasonal sales. Mother’s Day training starts this week.

Newsagency marketing group newsXpress adds another supplier

Newsagency marketing group newsXpress last week announced details of another new supplier to members of the group. This supplier is providing access to an excellent range of unique products that play into a valuable point of difference for newsXpress members.

2014 is proving to be an excellent year for expanding the supplier suite range for newsXpress members.

We’re excited and our members are loving access to even more products.

Newsagents selling kinetic sand & kids love it!

ksandnewsXpress newsagents are selling out of the kinetic sand products newsXpress sourced through excellent supplier deals. Our supplier friends have been quick to respond with assistance on new stock, helping newsXpress businesses gain access to the high-margin and very fun sand products through the school holiday period.

newsXpress sourced the sand, provided advice and retail context to members and helped ensure a beneficial supply arrangement.

It is this practical newsX-ress exclusive help that helps newsXpress members do better with traffic generating products opportunities like this sand.

Smart newsagents promote My Kitchen Rules cookbook

10255899_685711908140992_3344737196650606993_onewsXpress Sunbury Square is promoting the My Kitchen Rules cookbook with this excellent display. This cookbook leverages these excellent MKR brand and pitches the product to all shoppers as they enter the store. All newsXpress members have been encouraged to embrace the MKR fun and opportunity because of the proves success to this terrific brand for us in the past.