Category: About us

New store opens today

nx_knox.JPGIn three hours newsXpress Knox opens for business.  No fanfare, no grand opening.  The hoarding comes down and we start trading.  Given the proximity of Christmas and that we’re waiting for more magazine and some other stock, this will be a soft opening.  We will not be ready for visitors until the New Year.  This is a fresh approach to newsagency design and layout, product mix and floorspace usage.  We need some time to play.

This store has been created by the newsXpress Head Office team.  Some have worked extraordinary hours as if this is their own business.   Their commitment has done newsXpress proud.

newsXpress does not endorse News To Business

newsXpress is disappointed that News To Business is paying to come up in Google searches for newsXpress.  This morning, if you type in newsXpress to a Google search, a sponsored link for News To Business comes up.

News To Business competes with newsXpress.  Our view is that they would be better off winning customers on their own merits rather than trying to ride off our coattails.

HOT Ink! trademark approved

newsXpress has received approval for the HOT Ink! TM trademark.  This is an important recognition for this unique brand under which newsXpress members sell branded ink and toner at highly competitive prices.

Gaining trademark approval was an important part of our plans for the future use of this sub brand within our retail network. It is also evidence of our attention to detail around our assets.

the next HOT Ink! campaign is coming soon.  This will provide newsXpress members with another opportunity to compete with national retailers in the ink and toner space and drive additional traffic to newsXpress locations.

What does newsXpress stand for?

The most common question newsagents of a marketing group they are considering joining is what does the group stand for, what is its mission?  here at newsXpress, the answer is clear:

Our mission is to make newsXpress newsagencies the most successful and sought after newsagencies in Australia.

Simple.  To the point.  This mission defines every decision we make, every supplier relationship we negotiate, every marketing startegy we develop and every contact we have.  It goes to the heart of the newsXpress difference.

We back our mission by not locking members into long contracts.

newsXpress appoints National Merchandise Manager

nx_kay_henderson.JPGnewsXpress is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Henderson to the role of National Merchandise Manager. Robert brings years of stationery supplier experience to this key role, most recently as National Sales & Marketing Manager for the Pentel Group. In this role, Robert directly managed national retailer accounts and managed the team which worked with newsagents.

“This appointment completes a planned and strategic extension of the merchandise strategy for our 168 member newsagency marketing group.” commented Graham Randall, Managing Director of newsXpress. “newsXpress is leading newsagents to a strong future.”

As National Merchandise Manager for newsXpress, Robert will be responsible for developing merchandise strategy, establishing new supplier relationships and enhancing existing arrangements.

“I look forward to bringing to newsXpress members excellent opportunities from the kinds of supplier relationships you deserve when you have a retail network of 168 proactive retail locations.” said Robert Henderson.

“Enhancing the strategic management of our merchandise offer has been in the planning since last year” said Ben Kay, General Manager of newsXpress Pty Ltd. “Robert will provide newsXpress and its members with strategy and offers which will excite the channel”.

Robert Henderson commences his new role with newsXpress mid May.

newsXpress has a merchandise team with expertise in stationery, calendars, gifts, electronic services and circulation product. This rounded representation ensures that the company provides its members with strategy which reflects the history of the channel yet is focused on the future.

PHOTO: Ben Kay, newsXpress General Manager left and Robert Henderson, new National Merchandise Manager right.

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.

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.

The team behind newsXpress

nx_team_jan28_09.jpgWe brought the newsXpress team together yesterday to discuss plans for 2009, standards around our brand and look at several soon to be released member offers.  From marketing to merchandise, newsagency business development to board level, the day was an excellent opportunity to continue to evolve the culture of newsXpress and remind ourselves of our commitment to deliver measureable value and rewards to the newsagents and newsagencies which we serve.

We have a skilled and committed team working for newsXpress from the front line through to back office processes.  This team is a tremendous point of difference for newsXpress and what it can achieve with member newsagents.

Lucky newsXpress

newsXpress Parap in the Northern Territory, newsXpress Kellicar Lane in New South Wales and newsXpress Collie in Western Australia are the latest in a string of newsXpress outlets to sell a first division lottery prize.  Both sold First division Saturday.  While we don’t control who wins, we do make sure that through excellent customer service every lottery customer at newsXpress is a winner.

newsXpress stores in Queensland in 2008 sold close to twenty major lottery prizes of close to $100,000.

Post updated January 11, 2009.

Meeting on Gold Coast to plan 2009

nx_qldteam.JPGSome of our team met on the Gold Coast yesterday to discuss 2008 and continue our planning discussions for 2009.  Group planning and reviews such as this are crucial to developing the strategy which is proving so successful for newsXpress members.  Around the table in the photo is Jeff Walsh from our merchandise team, Karen Sutton our National Sales Manager, Lesley Bortfield one of NSW Business Development Managers, Ben Kay our National Merchandise Manager, Mark Fletcher newsXpress Director, Sonia Ruhland our Group Administration Co-Ordinator, Graham Randall newsXpress Director., Roger Bortfield another of our NSW Business Development Managers and Belinda Adshead our Queensland Business Development Manager.

newsXpress has a strong professional team including several not in the photo.  This team is key to the strength of our group and the success being achieved by our members.

Christmas sale at newsXpress

img_0096.JPGThe team at our newsXpress corporate store at Watergardens has created a bold Christmas sale display right at the front of the shop.  The display featured items from several of the newsXpress Christmas offers including art, puzzle, gift and other categories.  It includes several newsXpress exclusive lines.     The display has been placed on the lease line facing directly into the mall and is drawing new visitors to our shop.

Our Watergardens store was opened mid 2007 and is used by newsXpress as a place where we experiment with new retail concepts and product categories.  We work closely with suppliers in pursuit of new opportunities exclusively for newsXpress newsagents.

From time to time we arrange tours of the business. If you would like to go behind the scenes on newsXpress Watergardens please let us know.

Flexibility for newsXpress members

newsXpress members get to choose which promotions and offers from the group they take up in their newsagencies.  No promotion is mandatory.  No product offer take-up is required.  While many members embrace our offers, because of the traffic generated and or excellent margin, we do not force anyone.

We mention this here today because there is a bit of noise in the newsagency marketplace that we do force members to take up offers.

newsXpress announces WA expansion

nx_grahamnjarad.JPGnewsXpress yesterday introduced its Western Australian members to Jarrad Zanich, our new Business Development Manager working full time for newsXpress from mid January 2009. Jarrad is reluctantly leaving a successful role with Hallmark to join newsXpress. He will be responsible for growing our representation in Western Australia and helping our members derive greater success from their businesses. Here is the text of a press release issued today announcing Jarrad’s appointment.

 

NEWSXPRESS EXPANDS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

newsXpress, the premier marketing group for Australian newsagents, has announced expansion in Western Australia with the appointment of Jarrad Zanich in a new role for the group as West Australian Business Development Manager.

Jarrad brings three years experience with Hallmark Cards as a successful Account Manager and prior to that, three years with Coca Cola Amatil as a Senior Business Development representative.

 “Jarrad provides newsXpress with an excellent on-the-ground business development resource exclusive for our West Australian members.”  said Graham Randall, founding Director of newsXpress.  “his passion for newsagents and his proven business skills will help our business and the businesses of members excel”.

 “I am excited to be joining the best newsagency marking group in Australia.”  Jarrad Zanich commented.  “To be able to walk into a newsagency and provide excellent business building resources is something is my passion.”

newsXpress Business Development Managers work very closely with newsXpress  members in their businesses on newsXpress exclusive strategies.  It is through this in-the-field connection with its members that newsXpress is able to outperform other marketing groups.

Jarrad will work with newsXpress full time covering all of Western Australia and assisted by others from the newsXpress national team.   

The photo shows Jarrad with newsXpress founding Director Graham Randall.

Protecting the newsXpress brand

As newsXpress grows across Australia, more newsagents, suppliers and other stakeholders are relying on the broader newsXpress community to protect our brand.  This is why we have standards for newsagencies trading under our brand.  Newsagents who are unwilling to meet these minimum standards over a reasonable period of time are invited to find a home elsewhere for their business.

While this approach may seem harsh, there is no point in building and promoting a brand if it does not stand for something unique and valuable.