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

Stunning Lovatts crossword display

nx_waterg_lovatts.jpgOur talented team at newsXpress Watergardens, our corporate store in Victoria, has created a stunning front-of-store display promoting Lovatts crossword products.

By following a less is more principle, the display stands out to people passing the shop in the mall.  Too often displays at the front of newsagencies are cluttered and project mixed messages.  We have seen customers react by walking to the display and engaging with the Lovatts products on offer.

Part of our visual merchandising strategy is to guide our members to promote ranges which differentiate their businesses from others nearby – especially in the magazine space.  This Lovatts display does exactly that.  The supermarket near us does not have this range.

The key with any investment in real-estate and time is the return – we track this and change our approach as necessary.

New location available in Melbourne

Anyone looking to buy a newsagency in Melbourne should make contact with newsXpress.  We have just signed an agreement with a landlord to create a new outlet in a sought-after A class shopping centre.

This is a greenfield location, an opportunity to develop the business from the ground up, around the successful principles and strategies of newsXpress.

Local area marketing workshop this week

newsXpress is hosting another Local area marketing workshop. How to grow your sales using Local Area Marketing will be held Thursday, April 16 at 10.00am EST. Our National Marketing Manager Trent Shields will provide some tools you can take back and use in your store and faacilitate a discussion between participants on local marketing experiences. Each newsXpress member who signs up will receive some pre-reading and instruction of information to bring to the meeting.

This is another free training initiative from newsXpress dexsigned to help our members grow stronger and more successful businesses.

Resolution close in newspaper distribution issues in W.A.

newsXpress members in Western Australia are pleased to see their efforts with West Australian Newspapers over many months close to paying off with resolution in site in a long running battle over distribution arrangements.

newsXpress is pleased to have helped encourage its members to fight for their rights in pursuit of more equitable arrangements on this core area of their businesses. newsXpress will support any members involved in disputes and negotiations with suppliers where members feel we can add to their voice.

Welcome newsXpress Leongatha!

newsxpress_leongatha.jpgThe team at newsXpress Leongatha put on a great show for their opening this morning.  From the owners, Peter, Debra and Dean through to the retail team, everyone was in uniform and pumped for a great day.  There were showbags packed with goodies for customers, the Hallmark Bear, special deals from Darrell Lea and other suppliers, a sausage sizzle and plenty of smiles.

The shop itself felt great and looked a treat from an excellent range of cards to one of the best ranges of stationery you could find in a newsagency to a full book department to a broad range of magazines – newsXpress Leongatha is an excellent business.

Everyone at newsXpress welcomes newsXpress Leongatha to the family.

newsXpress launches 2009 national newsagent conference

newsXpress is proud to announce pre registration details for our national confercen for 2009. We are planning an exciting agenda packed with valuable learning and networking opportunities for newsagents and their staff from newsagencies of all size.

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Watch for the pre registration link at our website.

Ben Kay appointed General Manager of newsXpress

ben_kay.JPGnewsXpress is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Kay to the newly created role of General Manager.

In this new role, Ben will have management responsibility of all operational aspects of the newsXpress business and oversight of all newsXpress employees in addition to participating in developing future strategies within the group.

Ben Kay brings twenty years of Australian newsagency experience to the role, most recently as National Merchandise Manager for newsXpress.

“Ben has made an excellent contribution to our merchandise strategy over the last year, bringing on board new suppliers and negotiating better trading terms for our members.” said Graham Randall, Managing Director of newsXpress Pty Ltd. “In this new role we will be able to turn his mind to the broader operation of the group and help newsXpress newsagents achieve greater success.”

“I am excited to have the opportunity to broaden my role with newsXpress and help strengthen the disciplines within our newsagency marketing group.” said Ben Kay. “Now, more than ever, the need to show our differences and discipline across the group is crucial.”

newsXpress is looking to recruit a new National Merchandise Manager to replace Ben who served in that role.

The new General Manager role and associated structural changes within the company will strengthen the capacity of newsXpress to grow member numbers and, more importantly, grown grow newsXpress member business.

newsXpress understands the importance of growing sales for newsXpress members for it is this which justifies being part of the premium group.

Christmas shopping in April

The newsXpress merchandise team is in the middle of reviewing new products from existing and potential preferred suppliers for the 2009 Christmas season.  This annual process is exciting and challenging because we get to see many new products from which to build our recommended core range for the season.  While some products were on show at recent gift fairs, most are available only for private viewings such as those our team has been invited to.

Calendar workshop a hit

The online 2010 calendar workshop held today for newsXpress members was a success with members reviewing the 2010 range and discussing plans for ordering stock.  Most newsXpress members will finalise calendar orders within the next week.  The beauty of our online workshop program is that it brings members together who would otherwise not connect with each other and this challenges traditional ideas.  New opportunities are always uncovered.

Thanks for bushfire support

yea_young.jpgnewsXpress received thanks last week for supplying eight pallets of stationery to students in Yea affected by the recent bushfires in Victoria.  Our contribution was driven and co-ordinated through Ted Loader of newsXpress Young and was instigated by the students of Young High School.  Roger and Lesley Bortfield, newsXpress Business Development Managers for NSW drove our involvement and support.

This is an excellent story for all involved.  It shows heartfelt concern by one group of high school students for another and how one town can rally around that concern to help another community in need.  The returned thanks is also recognition of the effort of all involved.

newsXpress is pleased to have had an opportunity to be part of the community effort.  We serve in communities across Australia and appreciate opportunities to help in practical ways.

New Business Development Manager appointed in Victoria

michael_elvey.jpgnewsXpress has appointed Michael Elvey to the role of Business Development Manager of Victoria and Tasmania.

Michael brings more than twelve years experience working in newsagencies in an operational capacity and helping newsagencies in a senior management role with Tower Systems.

“I have had the privilege of working with Michael in newsXpress newsagencies over the last two weeks in NSW and Victoria and have seen his expertise first-hand. His knowledge and approach to helping our members will help newsXpress grow in Victoria and Tasmania.” said Roger Bortfield, NSW/ACT Business Development Manager.

In the business development role, Michael will help newsXpress members develop more successful businesses around the exclusive strategies offered by newsXpress nationally through regular in-store meetings with newsXpress members.

“Michael has the knowledge and discipline necessary to helping newsXpress members and newsXpress as a company maintain its position as the strongest newsagency retail group in Australia. He is a welcome addition to our team.” said Graham Randall, Managing Director of newsXpress Pty Ltd.

Michael Elvey commenced his new role with newsXpress today.

Training in how to make money from calendars

newsXpress is hosting an online training session for members tomorrow, April 7 at 10am, on Making The Most from 2010 Calendars.  This free online session training is in addition to face to face and over the phone assistance provided to newsXpress members who want to maximise their calendar opportunity in the 2010 calendar season.

By hosting an online session we are able to bring members together from various states and thereby facilitate a broader cross-section of views on calendar opportunities.

We have members who have increased the bottom line contribution from calendars from $1,000 to more than $10,000 in one year by following our advice from ordering toprice management to retail display.  The advice from our calendar expert, Michelle Caia, is a keyfactor of the success of our members in the calendar category.

newsXpress Leongatha opens this Saturday

newsXpress Leongatha opens this Saturday, April 11. Located at 30 Bair St, Leongatha.  Peter, Debra and the team are putting on a great day of fun and offers as they bring the newsXpress brand to this beautiful part of Gippsland.  There will be prizes, specials and a sausage sizzle for the local CFA.  If you find yourself in Gippsland on Saturday, drop in and say g’day and meet some happy newsXpressers.

Teamwork at newsXpress Weatherill Park

downloaded-270109-041.jpgAntonella & Ginella, owners of newsXpress Wetherill Park in New South Wales, understand the importance of the team. They brought them along to the NANA Awards dinner ten days ago as the business had been nominated for the Retail Award. newsXpress likes to see members engaging with their team in this way. We understand that newsagency businesses would be nothing but for the efforts of the team behind the counter, in the back room and at home.

newsXpress is demonstrating practical support for team member and owner engagement by introducing special low pricing for team members to attend our National Conference in Melbourne later this year.  Newsagents will be able to bring members of their front line along to participate in an excellent learning and motivating event.  We will provide workshops specifically for team members.

We will announce pre-registration details for the conference in the next few days.

newsXpress strategies drive growth

newsXpress is reviewing the performance of several newsagencies which joined our group in the last three months of 2008 and which have embraced newsXpress exclusive offers. The results are staggering.

In one store we are seeing an improvement in gross profit of 20% in the first three months of 2009. Most of this is from new categories we have introduced to the business.

Another new newsXpress member is reporting increasing gross profit from around $1,000 to close to $10,000 in a category they previously ran in the traditional way. Last year, newsXpress introduced new suppliers and significantly better margin – driving the reported improvement in profit contribution.

The key to achieving such excellent results is engagement. We have several key product category offers backed by management strategies which will be successful. The key message we repeat around these offers is trust the process. Those who do trust the process have more money in the bank as a result.

This is another example of the newsXpress difference. We are happy to share specific location details, with permission, with prospective newsXpress members.

Choosing a marketing group for your newsagency

newsXpress has published updated advice for newsagents searching for a marketing group.  Choosing the right marketing group for your newsagency provides guidelines on factors to consider. Not all marketing groups are the same and it is important to be certain of what is important to your newsagency.

The lucky charms which enhance newsagency sales

the_lucky_charm.jpgnewsXpress members are enjoying success with the lucky charms in the photo and others of similar style.  These are an ideal add on for a card purchase, a good way to extend the shopping basket.  They are especiaally popular with women.  newsXpress regularly works with suppliers on a range of basket extension opportunities.  Products like the lucky charms are easy to try and locate within a busy shop.  What can make them work well is the retail expertise newsXpress offers from being able to draw on the success of 160 stores.

Book Sale goes off at newsXpress Scott’s Lismore

nx_scotts_books.jpgLuke Scott and the team are making a good impact with their book sale at newsXpress Scotts Lismore.  In addition to great deals on books, they are promoting the popular book seat as part of their Book Sale. Cross category promotion like this is an excellent way to deepen the shopping basket – something newsXpress encourages.

If you are in Lismore and like a good deal then get to newsXpress 49-51 Woodlark Street, Lismore. Luke and his cheerful team will take excellent care of you.

newsXpress has negotiated favourable rates for the book sale.  We are supporting this with an excellent brochure which is being delivered to homes around participating newsXpress outlets.  Easter is historically an excellent time for book sales in Australia.