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

Book Sale takes off in Gympie

nx_gympie_books.jpgnewsXpress Gympie is one of many newsXpress stores participating in our latest book sale.  The sale is based around an excellent range of titles, all at competitive prices.  newsXpress locations are competing with major book retailers head-on with our book strategy.  Excellent marketing collateral is used to generate new traffic by promoting the compelling offer outside the store.

Books are an excellent add-on to a greeting card and wrap purchase.  Done well, as is the case at Gympie, customers visiting to purchase  a magazine or lottery ticket find one or two upcoming birthday requirements taken care off – thanks to this great newsXpress deal.

newsXpress member meetings for August

newsXpress has announced dates for its next round of exclusive member meetings.  The dates are:

Brisbane 18/8/2009

Melbourne 20/8/2009

Sydney 25/8/2009

Perth 27/8/2009.

These member meetings provide an excellent opportunity for networking among newsXpress members, meeting with key suppliers and discussing newsXpress exclusive strategy.

Newsagency for sale opportunities

A newsagency for sale is an opportunity to bring new skills and energy into the newsagency channel.  Often, new newsagents make quick decisions which do not serve their needs or the needs of the newsagency for the long term.  This is why newsXpress offers help for people looking to buy a newsagency.  Rather than rushing to get a contract signed, we prefer to help those looking for a newsagency for sale to understand the opportunity and consider what is right for their needs.

Buying a newsagency and joining the right newsagency marketing or franchise group are long term decisions which need time to get right.  We are happy to provide as much time and assistance as necessary to show why newsXpress is the premier newsagency brand in Australia.

We have brokers we trust, tenancy advocacy services, retail designers who understand the needs of the newsagency of the future and suppliers who deliver excellent margin opportunities for growing the business today.  These are all factors in building healthier newsagencies from the core out – for the long term.

There is a considerable difference between newsagency brands in terms of costs, contract terms, business rewards and personal rewards.  Looking at a newsagency for sale is more than looking at what may appear easy or looking for a quick decision.  newsXpress welcomes and, indeed, encourages comparison.

Creative magazine merchandising from newsXpress

nx_marie.JPGOur newsXpress corporate store is experimenting with a new corporate style of magazine display, at the front of the shop, as a lure to bring passers-by into the newsagency.  This strategy is working well.  Magazine sales in our Watergardens (VIC) store continue to track significantly against the trend in many other newsagencies.

By using a mixture of publisher supplied material, in-store creativity and our own materials, these displays present a unique message and demonstrate our point of difference.

We are enjoying success from bring new customers to our business and proving that growth is achievable in the magazine category.

Gift fairs present excellent opportunities

newsXpress is guiding its members in Brisbane and Sydney to visit with our preferred suppliers at gift trade shows this weekend. The REED Gift Fair at the Brisbane Exhibition Convention & Centre features several preferred suppliers as does the GHA Home & Giving Fair this weekend at the Sydney Showgrounds, Olympic Park.

With gifts a high growth area in newsXpress newsagencies, both fairs represent excellent opportunities for our members to grow this high margin feel-good department. We are grateful to our suppliers for the offers they will have available for our members.

newsXpress has a range of categories like gifts which are important to the evolution of the newsagency model. Like Rome, the newsagency of the future will not be built in a day.  The key is to have a plan.  Gifts, relevant and good margin gifts, are part of that.

Advice on buying a newsagency

Buying a newsagency can be a daunting, especially if it is your first newsagency.  newsXpress offers to act as a sounding board for anyone considering buying a newsagency.  What we provide is a sounding board – more so than formal advice.  In our team we have former newsagents and newsagent suppliers with years of experience in leasing, stationery, newspapwers, magazines, gifts and other areas of interest to those buying a newsagency. newsXpress is happy to help by making its resources available.

newsXpress is a newsagency marketing group with member newsagents in each state.  We are a full service group going beyond providing great product deals and providing assistance deep into the newsagency to help get processes right  so that a healthier bottom line is sustained for the long term.  This is how profitable newsagencies are made.

Help for new newsagents

newsXpress has an excellent track record of helping new newsagents, people new to the newsagency industry.  This has been on show recently when we were able to help a new newsagent turn around challenges they faced and save at least $10,000 immediately.  newsXpress often provides this assistance on a pro bono basis to newsagents in need.  It shows-off our commitment to individuals and to the health channel.

In our team we have many years of experience in specialist areas such as stationery and magazines as well as overall newsagency management experience.

New newsXpress location opportunity

newsXpress has an opportunity for a new location in an AAA shopping centre in the eastern suburbs. This new location is outside a supermarket, next to a major pharmacy and in an entrance/exit traffic arm to a large car park. Under 150 square metres, the location is in excellent positioning to leverage newsXpress benefits. We have an application on foot for Tattersalls with the landlord’s support. If you are interested in taking up this opportunity, please make contact with Mark Fletcher or Graham Randall through the newsXpress website.

Women’s Health Woman Newsagent of the Year

newsxpress_winner.jpgPictured are, from left, Jane McIllhatton, National Merchandising manager for Pacific Magazines, Debra Wachorn of newsXpress Leongatha and Felicity Percival, editor of Women’s Health magazine at the dinner last night in Sydney where Debra was announced Woman Newsagent of the Year.

Debra has every reason to look proud and happy at winning this award.  The business in which she is a partner is a credit to everyone involved.  That Debra balances her involvement with a busy family life is a credit to her.

This is the second year in a row that a newsXpress member has won this prestigious award.

Congratulations on Woman Newsagent of the Year

Congratulations to Debra Wachorn from newsXpress Leongatha on being named the Woman’s Health Woman Newsagent of the Year at the National Awards tonight at the Marriott Hotel in Sydney.  This award us recognition for the key role Debra plays as a partner in the vibrant and community-connected newsXpress Leongatha business.

The 2009 Women’s Health Woman Newsagent of the Year Award aims to:

  • promote awareness of the extraordinary contribution women make to the newsagency industry;
  • acknowledge the exceptional performance by female newsagency owners and managers; and
  • reward the efforts required to maintain the balance between business, personal and community success.

Great timing on STOCKTAKE SALE

stockatke_sale_great.jpgTiming is everything as they say.  Our STOCKTAKE SALE running right now is a great offer at the right time.  The right time because of the $90 million Oz Lotto jackpot.  The right time, too, because of school holidays.  These are great opportunities to move stock and many of our members engaged with the STOCKTAKE SALE strategy are having a wonderful time with this.  At our our last round of member meetings, which ended last week in Brisbane, we heard stories of success from members engaged with the STOCKTAKE SALE.

newsXpress embraces $90 million Oz Lotto jackpot

90_million.jpgThe four newsXpress syndicates for the $90 million Oz Lotto jackpot are close to selling out.  Two additional syndicates have been added this morning.  Due to lottery software restrictions and regulastions, these are currently only available through newsXpress Queensland stores.  Syndicate #5 has 10 System 12 tickets and Syndicate #6 has 1 System 16 ticket.  Based on performance of newsXpres members over the last four days, we would expect these to sell quickly.

Ink offer features in STOCKTAKE SALE catalogue

stocktake_hotink.jpgOur STOCKTAKE SALE brochure includes a one page promotion of excellent deals from our HOT Ink! offer.  Using the STOCKTAKE SALE in this way to support ink sales extends the appeal of the sale by providing access to brand name product at good prices – reinforcing that newsXpress is a great place to shop for good deals.  newsXpress was able to negotiate a favourable situation to combat a price rise in ink which applied to many other retailers.

Members participating in the STOCKTAKE SALE are reporting excellent results across the various categories including the ink offer.

Developing newsagency management skills

nx_businessdevel_mtg.jpgnewsXpress has brought its Business Development Manager team together in Queensland this week for a two day workshop.  Part of yesterday’s agenda was to visit a newsXpress store and discuss practical issues and opportunities in the context of the newsXpress offer.  With six full-time Business Development Managers on the road and working exclusively on behalf of newsXpress members, workshops such as this are crucial to team development and consistency.

newsXpress is the only newsagency marketing and support group to offer regular in-store visits as part of the regular monthly member fee from what we are told.  The visits focus on helping the business owners and employees drive better commercial outcomes from their businesses and to derive greater enjoyment along the way.

Great ink campaign from newsXpress

newsxpress_hot_inkxx.JPGThe typical newsXpress HOT Ink! campaign is full on.  Consumer flyers, in-store posters, shelf labels, shelf talkers, plan a gram advice and product information sheets combine to offer newsXpress members everything necessary to drive tremendous business outcomes.  Members who embrace all that HOT Ink! offers report excellent results – not only in the ink category but elsewhere since HOT Ink! marketing pitches the newsagency as a great place to shop.

The pack in the photo was sent to every newsXpress member participating in our latest HOT Ink! promotion.  (Click for a larger version.)  Everything was provided free of charge except for the brochures – these were subsidied by newsXpress.

newsXpress Market Fair in Brisbane a success

nx_brisbane_marketfair.jpgThe newsXpress Market Fair in Brisbane yesterday was a great success with members bagging some excellent deals from a room full of preferred suppliers keen to add value to the newsXpress community.  From stationery to gifts to business services, the Market Fair floor was packed with excellent opportunities for newsXpress members.  The Market Fair was preceeded by a newsXpress member meeting where plans for the next quarter were discussed along with 2009 so far.