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

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.

Helping shoppers save on ink and toner

hot_ink_pricing.JPGnewsXpress offers comprehensive support to newsXpress newsagencies to drive ink and toner sales.  From external marketing to in-store messages, we offer a consistent pitch.  Take the shelf talkers, pictured.  Placed above our hero products, our HOT Ink! shelf talkers catch the eye and guide the shopper with certainty about price and brand.  They also reinforce the newsXpress brand.  The shelf talkers are provided free by newsXpress.

newsXpress members achieving the most from our ink offer embrace each touch-point: brochures, posters, shelf-talkers, range, plan a grams and staff training.

Great ink deals at newsXpress

hot_ink_brochure.JPGnewsXpress members are enjong excellent results from the latest HOT ink! promotion.  From brochures delivered to homes and offices around newsXpress locations to brochures displayed in-store (as in the photo), ink is selling well.  The key to success with ink is to engage with all aspects of the category.  newsXpress supports this with in-store marketing collateral, brochures, shelf talkers, exclusive product deals, VM strategies, product management advice and other help.

Small things matter, like having the HOT ink! brochure on display in the ink department.  This shows browsers the professionalism backing the product, products you may not have on the shelves and provides another pitch that you are competitive on price.

Ink (the newsXpress way) is proving to be an excellent trojan horse category.  One which, if executed well and consistently, attracts new customers who come back again and again.

HOT ink! is exclusive to newsXpress.

newsXpress Scott’s Lismore drive the STOCKTAKE SALE

scotts_lismore.jpgnewsXpress Scott’s Lismore on Woodlark Street Lismore are using the newsXpress STOCKTAKE SALE to good advantage by quitting stock in their Lismore store. Their customers have access to excellent bargains as the business prepares space for the second half of the year.

newsXpress is proud to have provided members with a comprehensive STOCKTAKE SALE strategy backed by professional collateral. We are equally proud to have the folks at Scott’s who embrace opportunities like this.

This is a newsXpress exclusive promotion.

Spirit cards joins newsXpress as a preferred supplier

We are pleased to welcome Spirit cards to newsXpress preferred supplier community. Spirit has a range of cards which compliment the ranges already carried in newsXpress outlets. The appointment as preferred supplier reflects a desire from newsXpress members to strategically expand the range of card suppliers with which newsXpress and its members interacts.

newsXpress superdraw syndicates set to sell out

The $20 million lotto superdraw syndicates for tonight’s bumper draw are set to sell out today.  newsXpress Golden Casket outlets have had an excellent week with great sales.  These newsXpress exclusive syndicates  are another way newsXpress members are networking otgether to work with Golden Casket and boost sales.

Good buying at newsXpress NSW Market Fair

nx_market_fair_syd.JPGOur NSW Market Fair and members meeting at Randwick Racecourse yesterday was another excellent buying and networking opportunity for newsXpress members. newsXpress suppliers have gone all out to pitch offers exclusive to newsXpress, offers which demonstrate the value they see in our newsagency group.

From shopfitters to stationery suppliers to card companies, newsXpress members had access to an excellent range of supplier offers – all connected with the newsXpress business development opportunity.

The Market Fair was preceded by a members meeting at which newsXpress outlined marketing and merchandise plans for the next quarter.

Sensational STOCKTAKE SALE collateral

nx_stocktakesale_coll.JPGnewsXpress has provided excellent marketing collateral for the 2009 STOCKTAKE SALE.

In addition to a pack of 24 double sided posters, newsXpress members have been provided with four page brochures and an implementation strategy.

Posters were provided free to newsXpress members.  Brochures had a small cost – newsXpress contributed to the cost of these as well.

The reaction from newsXpress newsagents to the STOCKTAKE SALE marketing collateral has been excellent.  They love the professionalism of the material and the direct and clear pitch being made.

The STOCKTAKE SALE provides newsXpress members with an excellent opportunity to move old stock and other stock purchased in especially for the event.   Packaged in with the event is several offers which enhance the value offered by our stores.  These range from free resume printing, to discounts on magazines and free wrap with a qualifying greeting card purchase.

This STOCKTAKE SALE is further evidence of newsXpress pursuing non-traditional and exciting opportunities for newsagents.  While we continue to support traditional seasons, we are more and more creating new opportunities for newsagents.

newsXpress newsagents are busy promoting their businesses and refusing to get sidetracked by stories of doom and gloom.

If you want to grow your newsagency, consider joining newsXpress.  We are always keen to talk with proactive newsagents who want to grow their businesses and network with a community of like-minded newsagents.

newsXpress Market Fair in Perth a hit with newsagents

nx_west_marketfair.jpgOur newsXpress Market Fair in Perth yesterday was a terrific success with great deals from suppliers on show to our members and a select group of prospective members.  The Market Fair was preceeded by a members meeting where we outlined plans for the next three months, discussed member feedback and heard presentations from six suppliers with very special offers for newsXpress members.

This is our third members meeting in Perth this year.  These meetings and our full time on the ground presence in Western Australia demonstrate our commitment to this vibrant marketplace.