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

Preorder the official Michael Jackson calendar from newsXpress

michael_jackson_calendar.jpgnewsXpress has demonstrated the value it adds by sending out forms for taking pre-orders for copies of the Official Michael Jackson 2010 calendar.  The order forms are in newsXpress newsagencies now and ready for customers to complete to secure their copy of what is expected to be a popular calendar.

This calendar offer is the newsXpress difference on show.  We devised the idea, created the marketing collateral and provided this to our members in a very quick turnaround.

Our research suggests that we are the only retail group in Australia currently offering pre-orders for the  Official Michael Jackson 2010 calendar.  newsXpress members have an opportunity to lock in good business.

Newsagents ask why they should join one marketing group over another.  What newsXpress has done with the Michael Jackson calendar is an excellent example of why they should join newsXpress.  It demontstrates our ability to create an opportunity out of nothing (selling the calendars well before they arrive), our commitment to pursuing opportunities for our members and our focus on pursuing the newsXpress difference.  The marketing collateral itself demonstrates our creativity at pitching to the consumer.

Importantly, our development of this opportunity demonstrates the newsXpress commitment to calendars and our calendarXpress sub-brand.

Some members have plans to distribute the order form as a flyer to attract new traffic.

This is another in-house project for newsXpress.  As you might get from this blog post – we’re proud of another blue ocean opportunity for newsXpress members.

$200,000 Intralot win at newsXpress Yarram

Colin & Sharon from newsXpress Yarram sold a winning $5 Intralot scratch ticket and their lucky customer won $200,000!  A cheque presentation was held in-store with the folks from Intralot late last week and good media coverage achieved.

A scratch ticket win like this, especially in a country town, can boost sales.  newsXpress Yarram will make the most of the opportunity.

Opportunity to start a newsagency

newsXpress has been presented with three opportunities to create new newsagency businesses.  Two in Sydney and one in Melbourne.  The new Melbourne,location we blogged about two weeks ago has been picked up.  We now have another – in an outer eastern centre where you would be alongside Dan Murphy, Aldi and Chemmart.  The two Sydney locations are equally compelling and present excellent opportunities to anyone wanting to start a newsagency and connect with newsXpress, the marketing group committed to helping newsagents grow their businesses.

In each case, the landlord has approached newsXpress with the opportunity to create these businesses.  We extended the offer to our members earlier this week and not make it more public for expressions of interest.

newsXpress launches $80 million Powerball Syndicate

nx_powerball_80million.jpgnewsXpress Queensland members have got together to support a newsXpress exclusive Powerball Syndicate for the $80 million up for grabs this Thursday.  Based on two System 10 Powerhit tickets, the syndicate represents 22,680 games.  Proactive newsXpress members quickly jumped on board for the opportunity.  Tickets are already selling.

The buzz around this $80 million Powerball Jackpot is excellent in retail.  newsXpress members are already having fun promoting and making the most of the unique opportunity.

For Arts Sake continues as preferred supplier

newsXpress welcomes For Arts Sake as a renewing preferred greeting card supplier to its group of 160 newsagencies.

The extended For Arts Sake newsXpress relationship wills see For Arts Sake cards, gifts and social stationery represented in more newsXpress retail locations.

“The unique range of For Arts Sake cards and other lines are a important in many newsXpress locations around Australia.” commented Graham Randall, Managing Director of newsXpress. “We are pleased to renew this relationship with For Arts Sake”

As a preferred supplier, For Arts Sake will be actively considered by newsXpress members in greeting card and related categories. The new relationship also provides For Arts Sake with access to newsXpress members at member meetings, Market Fairs and our National Conference in Melbourne in October.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with such a proactive group of newsagents as we find at newsXpress. We are confident that our range will serve their businesses and their customer well.” said Richard McGilvray, General manager Sales For Arts Sake.

The newsXpress and For Arts Sake teams will start communicating details of the confidential offer to newsXpress members in the next week.

For Arts Sake distributes to over 5000 retail stores through out Australia and New Zealand and employs over 150 people. For Arts Sake is widely recognised as the largest Australian owned Greeting Card and Gift Company. In addition to its comprehensive Everyday card range For Arts Sake has a significant lifestyle range of cards and a comprehensive range of gift lines.

A brighter future for newsagents

nx_conference_1.jpgnewsXpress is hosting a conference for all newsagents in Melbourne in October.  We are bringing in WORLD CLASS SPEAKERS who will present newsagents attending with practical immediate-benefit ideas as well as strategic, longer-term benefit, ideas.  There wiill be PRACTICAL WORKSHOPS and many opportunities for BRILLIANT NETWORKING.

The conference agenda pays particular attention to helping newsagents navigate to a bright future out of the considerable change we see today.  Speakers have been carefully selected to present opportunities which speak to newasgents.

Newsagents wanting to grow their businesses, network with proactive colleagues and connect with retail visionaries should consider attending this conference in Melbourne.  Click here for a copy of the promotional fax we are sending today.

Deals on Epson ink at newsXpress

nx_epson_promotion.JPGEpson is one of the brands we support at newsXpress as part of our HOT Ink! offer. We offer excellent prices on Epson branded ink.  This is backed by good in-store product knowledge.  Thanks to our professional shelf labels and hero product shelf talkers, we make shopping for Epson and other ink easy at newsXpress locations.  Our holistic approach to ink makes in a successful category for our members who choose to engage.

We have newsXpress members achieving ink and toner sales equal to 30% of total stationery business – often in locations where the newsagent originally thought that ink would not work for them.  Our complete strategy and back-end support help make this success achievable.

We understand that ink is not for all newsagents and so leave the ultimate decision on whether to participate to each newsXpress members.

HOT Ink! s an exclusive sub-brand to newsXpress and another way we add measurable financial value to newsXpress businesses.

newsXpress welcomes O’Bon as a preferred supplier

nx_obon1.jpgFollowing the successful inrtoduction of the O’BON range in newsXpress newsagencies several months ago, we are pleased to formally announce that O’Bon is a newsXpress preferred supplier.  O’BON offers a high quality new range of stationery, note books made from Sugarcane paper, pencils made from old newspapers, fantastic colours and designs, brighten up any home or office whilst helping the environment.  Theirs is a truly new range of products for newsgents and they are working with newsXpress to roll this out.

This is an excellent opportunity for newsXpress members.

newsXpress Pall mall wins sales award

Congratulations to the team at newsXpress Pall Mall (Bendigo, Victoria) for achieving the greatest sales lift of Girlfriend, K-Zone and Total Girl from Pacific Magazines. The camping run over the Easter period by pacific is part of their Youth Sales Club initiative. Pacific reports that YSC participants performed 6.2% better than non-YSC participants.

This is an excellent story for newsXpress Pall Mall as they win $1,000 in prize money. It is also a reminder of the importance of engagement as a sales lift is valuable for the long-term health of the newsagency.

Bic joins newsXpress as preferred supplier

Bic Australia, represenitng one of the World’s leading brands of writing and correction products, has joined the newsXpress community as a preferred supplier.  Bic offers pens, markers and correction products as well as a large “Back to School” range and primary arts and crafts products.

The newsXpress / Bic relationship will deliver excellent opportunities for newsXpress members.

Jenlist now a preferred supplier to newsXpress

newsXpress is pleased to announce the signing of Jenlist as a preferred supplier to newsXpress members.  Jenlist supplies OPTUS, VIRGIN and BOOST mobile pre paid handsets, Recharge cards and mobile phone accessories, including chargers for the car and home, Mocks for phone protection, ear pieces and much more.  Jenlist also supplies branded “OPTUS” Point of sale.

The Jenlist relationship provides newsXpress members with an excellent range of technology products at good prices and backed by professional marketing collateral.

Mid Year Report to newsXpress members

newsXpress members yesterday received a Mid Year Report from the Directors of newsXpress which reviewed the year so far and previewed the run up to Christmas.  The report further demonstrates our commitment to transparency, accountability and open communication with newsXpress members.

While some of the content of the report has been presented at recent member meetings, the report provides members an opportunity to share the details with business partners and other key team members.

newsXpress participating in GNS Market Fairs

newsXpress is grateful for the opportunity of participating in the GNS Market Fairs to be held in August and September.  Here are the dates:

Melbourne. GNS Market Fair. For Newsagents. August 8-9
Sydney. GNS Market Fair. For Newsagents. August 15-16
Perth. GNS Market Fair. For Newsagents. August 30
Brisbane. GNS Market Fair. For Newsagents. September 12-13

Our stand will offer something of value to every newsagent and present the newsXpress difference.

New range exclusive to newsXpress

newsXpress and one of our preferred suppliers last month released a new home office range exclusively to newsXpress members at our member meetings around the counter.  This new range has been very popular with our members – many ordered planogrammed displays.

newsXpress is proud that the supplier chose to launch in partnership with us, based on the success we have had with their general lines over the last year.

Having a point of difference is crucial for newsagencies and this new range will help newsXpress members reinforce their point of difference over other newsagencies.

We are not publishing details here because of the exclusive nature of the relationship between newsXpress, newsXpress members and the supplier.

More good results for book strategy

30th-april-004.jpgnewsXpress Castle Towers is another outlet achieving good book sales with the newsXpress preferred supplier arrangements.  Through our in-store and outpost book events, smart newsagency managers like the Castle Towers team leverage excellent new traffic and new, good margin, money through the cash registers.  newsXpress has recently negotiated better terms for the supply of books, making the category even more valuable for members.

Kudos for Shelley Peterson of newsXpress Sarina

Shelley Peterson of newsXpress Sarina has received good and deserved coverage in the Daily Mercury for being announced runner-up Women’s Health Woman Newsagent of the Year.  Shelley has every reason to be proud of her achievements in the busines, with family and in the community.

newsXpress is proud to have proactive and community spirited members like Shellly Peterson and Debra Wachorn of newsXpress Leongatha, who won the award, on our team and helping build the newsXpress brand.

Absolute Formals – exclusive to newsXpress

absolute_formals.jpgnewsXpress locations on the Gold Coast exclusively offer Absolute Formals, a 100 page practical A-Z guide to formals. Backed by local radio advertising promoting newsXpress, this magazine is an excellent example of local promotions newsXpress develops for its members to drive traffic and to drive sales.  In addition to exclusivity for Absolute Formals, newsXpress has negotiated book margin for its members on this product – making it considerably more valuable than a magazine.  This is another good example of the newsXpress difference.