Category: Advice for retailers

Walk into a busy newsagency or gift shop on a Tuesday morning, and AI is not the first thing on the owner’s mind. The till is the first thing. The supplier delivery is the second. The rostered casual who has not turned up is somewhere in the top five.

But sit with that owner at four o’clock, and the conversation has shifted. The Facebook post for tomorrow has not been written. The end-of-week stock review has not been done. The Google review from the angry customer last Friday has not been replied to.

This is where AI is genuinely working for independent retailers in 2026. Not in the headlines. In the four o’clock list.

The simplest way to think about AI

The most useful framing we have found for retailers who are AI-curious but cautious is this: AI is a fast, helpful colleague who has never been to your shop.

It can write. It can think through a problem. It can save you time on admin. It cannot replace your judgement, and it does not know your specific shop, your customers or your local community unless you tell it.

That single shift in framing — from “complicated technology” to “helpful colleague” — is what unlocks daily use for most owners.

Where it is working

The retailers we work with at newsXpress are getting the most value from AI in three areas:

• Writing — social media posts, customer review replies, supplier emails, gift guides, in-store signage and staff notices. Tasks that used to take 30 minutes can take three.
• Thinking through a problem  pasting a sales report into AI and asking what to buy more of, what to cut, and what is coming up seasonally. Pasting a competitor’s price into AI and asking how to respond. Pasting a difficult customer message into AI and asking for a professional reply.
• Time-saving on the daily grind  the end-of-week review that used to never get done, the new staff member checklist that used to be hand-written from scratch, the Mother’s Day display copy that used to be improvised on the day.

Each task on its own saves five to thirty minutes. Done weekly, it adds up to hours every month that go back into the shop instead of into the back office.

Where AI is not the answer

There are limits, and being honest about them matters.

• AI does not know your customers. You have to brief it.
• AI can be confidently wrong. Always read the output before you use it.
• AI cannot make the decision for you. It gives you a starting point.
• AI does not replace the conversation with the supplier, the customer, or the staff member. It just helps you prepare for it.

A retailer who treats AI as a starting point usually gets value. A retailer who treats it as the answer usually gets caught out.

What we are doing at newsXpress

We have been helping our members work with AI for more than two years. Our approach has three parts.

A members-only AI toolkit. We have built and published an exclusive toolkit of nineteen ready-to-use AI tasks, written in plain English, designed specifically for independent retailers in our network. The toolkit covers the everyday work — social posts, customer replies, sales analysis, supplier emails, weekly reviews — and it is free for our members. The detailed prompts and approach are intellectual property we keep for our members.

Super prompts on member data. For specific situations, we run more detailed AI work on member business data they share with us. This is not generic advice — it is evidence-based output from your actual numbers.

Member meetings to share what is working. We host regular AI-focused member meetings where retailers share their own stories — what they tried, what worked, what did not. This is how the practice gets better. Retailers learning from retailers.

The combined effect is that our members are making better business decisions, faster business decisions, seeing opportunities they had not seen before, and creating new revenue streams. AI is genuinely a game-changer for those leaning in.

How to start tomorrow morning

If you have never used AI in your shop, the most useful starting move is small.

• Pick one task you do every week that you find tedious. Writing the social post. Replying to the Friday review. Drafting the supplier chase-up email.
• Open one of the free AI tools (claude.ai, chat.openai.com, gemini.google.com or copilot.microsoft.com).
• Tell it the name of your shop, your suburb, who your customers are, and what you want.
• Read the output. Edit it. Use it.

Five minutes invested. One job ticked off. The next time it takes three minutes. The time after that, two.

That is the starting point. Everything else builds from there.

What this means for your shop

The retailers who are leaning into AI are not the retailers with technical skills. They are the retailers who are willing to spend five minutes on something new on a Tuesday morning. The ones who do not are watching their competitors get faster.

If you would like help making the starting move, we are happy to talk.

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Mark Fletcher  0418 321 338  mark@newsxpress.com.au Michael Elvey — 0400 331 055  michael@newsxpress.com.au www.newsxpress.com.au

A regional newsXpress shop ran a Mother’s Day prize giveaway last year. The prize was $350 worth of beautiful Mother’s Day product, displayed on a feature table at the front of the shop. Customers entered by spending in store. The prize was funded centrally by newsXpress, including the marketing collateral.

The shop reported a 20% lift in greeting card sales over the promotion period. New customers walked in. Local people talked about the shop. Existing customers came back twice instead of once.

The interesting part is what the shop did not have to do. It did not discount any product. It did not match a competitor’s offer. It did not train shoppers to wait for the next sale.

This is the story of how Seasonal Edge works, and why it consistently outperforms the discount alternative.

Why discounting is the easy answer that costs you twice

Every retailer feels the pull of a discount when foot traffic slows. It feels active. It feels like you are doing something. The problem is that discounting trains shoppers to wait for the next sale, and it shrinks the gross profit on every transaction during the period.

For most independent retailers, a 20% discount roughly halves the gross profit on the discounted line. To recover the cash you lost on the discount, you have to sell almost double the volume. That rarely happens.

A prize giveaway works differently. The cost is fixed and external. The gross profit on every transaction stays intact. The customer’s reason to engage is the prize, not a markdown.

What Seasonal Edge actually is

Seasonal Edge is a newsXpress promotion run for our members at every major retail season — Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas and other key calendar moments.

The mechanics are simple:

• newsXpress funds a $350 (or higher value) prize pack for each member shop, made up of beautiful product relevant to the season.
• newsXpress designs and prints the marketing collateral — in-store posters, entry forms, social media assets.
• The shop displays the prize, runs the promotion, collects entries from spending customers, and draws a local winner.
• The winning customer is local. The talk about the shop is local. The new customers are local.

In 2025, newsXpress spent more than $1,500 per member on funding prizes and marketing across the seasons. The cost to the member retailer is nothing.

Why it works

There are a few reasons the format consistently outperforms a discount.

The prize is concrete and visual. A 20% sign on the window is invisible in a busy strip. A beautiful prize display draws the eye and pulls people through the door.

The shop becomes a destination. Locals tell other locals about the prize. The shop becomes the place to enter. The conversation in the suburb shifts.

The promotion brings in new customers. Not just regulars buying more. People who would not have walked in otherwise come in to enter the draw, and many of them spend.

The bonus is the discovery effect. Each member shop tries product on the prize table that they may not have stocked before. Some of those products turn out to be sleepers — strong sellers that get added to the permanent range. The promotion pays once at the till and a second time on the buying plan for the next quarter.

And there is one more effect worth naming. newsXpress members share their displays with each other privately. Photos go up. People see what other shops have done. Ideas travel. The next promotion is better than the last one, because the network is collectively learning.

What you need in place to run a promotion like this

A prize giveaway is not complicated, but it does need a few things to work well:

• A visible front-of-shop space for the prize display.
• Entry forms or a digital entry option that captures customer details for follow-up.
• Staff briefed on how to mention the promotion at the till.
• A modest social media presence to amplify the prize before and during the promotion.
• A clear plan for the post-promotion follow-up: a thank-you to entrants, a small offer to keep them returning.

Each of these is achievable for any small shop. None of them require capital investment.

What it would mean for your shop

If your shop is currently relying on discounts to drive traffic at season time, the result is usually flat sales and shrinking margin. Seasonal Edge is one of the simplest ways to break that loop.

It is exclusive to newsXpress members. It costs the member nothing. It puts money in the bank.

Without the guidance and support of newsXpress, in particular the last twelve months, I’m not sure where we would have ended up. The head office team is continually trying to help us improve our businesses.

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Barb Shanahan, newsXpress Lara, VIC

If you would like to know how Seasonal Edge would look in your shop, we are happy to walk you through it.

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Mark Fletcher  0418 321 338  mark@newsxpress.com.au Michael Elvey  0400 331 055  michael@newsxpress.com.au www.newsxpress.com.au

newsXpress has provided its members with an AI acceptable use policy for members to consider applying within their businesses.

This is on the back of training for newsXpress members in the use of AI everyday in their businesses, and support for members on various AI platforms and advice on to make the most of the opportunities.

In the small business retail space the use of AI is a bit all over the place at the moment and this guidance from newsXpress for its members helps provide focus and structure from which the businesses can benefit.

A Framework for Responsible Innovation

The core of this policy is designed to ensure that while we embrace the future, we do so ethically and securely. Key pillars of the newsXpress guidance include:

• The “Golden Rule” of Data Privacy: Protecting sensitive information is paramount. Members are advised never to input customer data, financial figures, or proprietary business strategies into public AI tools.
• Human-in-the-Loop: While AI can assist with drafting and research, it is not infallible. All generated output must be fact-checked by a human, edited for brand voice, and personally owned by the staff member responsible.
• Operational Security: The policy encourages the use of business-owned devices and specific privacy settings—such as “Temporary Chat” modes—to ensure business data is not used to train public models.
• Transparency & Bias Checks: We believe in being open with our customers. Significant AI-assisted work should be disclosed, and all outputs must be reviewed to ensure they do not reflect or amplify social biases.

Building AI Literacy Together

AI is a powerful tool for brainstorming and content drafting, but its true value is unlocked through collaboration. By providing this structured policy, newsXpress is helping members move beyond a “hit-or-miss” approach toward a culture of AI literacy.

newsXpress encourages all members to use this policy as a starting point to craft their own internal guidelines, ensuring their teams remain at the cutting edge of retail technology while maintaining the highest professional standards.

All newsagents need this

All newsagents, all small business retailers, all businesses, need an AI policy, to set the ground rules, to establish processes. This is at the core of driving outcomes that are safe and right for the business.

This area of AI is another where newsXpress leads the channel.

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newsXpress is a marketing group that supports small local independent retailers to thrive. Find out more at help@newsxpress.com.au.

Sometimes the path ahead in your business can seem overwhelmingly obstructed. The air can feel thick with uncertainty, making it difficult to see a clear way forward. We understand this, and have experience with it ourselves.  The situation can feel helpless, leaving you exhausted and simply wanting the struggle to be over.

If this describes your current state of mind, please know that you are not alone. There are many within the newsagency channel and the broader retail community who can help. Talking to someone provides clarity and eases the burden, even if they only listen. You are welcome to call us anytime on 0418 321 338. Our advice is simple: do not walk through this alone.

Why Today Matters
We are sharing this message today because we know 2026 has started off with some challenges.

If you are at a point where closing your newsagency feels like the only viable option, we urge you to seek a second opinion. Many in our community are willing to offer a perspective based on your business data. This includes your sales figures, Profit & Loss statements, and local economic facts.

Often, the evidence within your data holds hidden opportunities. These can become obscured by the noise of perceived obstacles and the fog of exhaustion. By sticking to the facts rather than the emotion, we can often find a way through.

Strategies for a Turnaround
Moving away from the idea that closing is your only option usually requires a combination of four specific strategies:

• Attracting new shoppers.
• Encouraging existing shoppers to purchase more.
• Increasing profitability on current sales.
• Reducing operating costs.

While these points seem straightforward, the difficulty lies in the execution.

Attracting New Shoppers

The most effective way to bring in new customers is to introduce a completely new product category. You must represent this well in-store and promote it actively on social media. Your existing suppliers may not have helpful advice here, as their focus is on what you already sell. Look outside your current pool of influencers. Choose a category that is fun, appealing, and generates foot traffic. Ideally, it should be something not easily found locally that also interests you personally.

Increasing Basket Value and Profit

To get existing customers to spend more, implement a smart loyalty program and ensure your shop is an environment people genuinely enjoy visiting. To increase profitability, you may need to charge more, secure better purchasing terms, or both. Even a modest increase in your gross profit percentage can make a significant difference to the bottom line.

Managing Costs

Reducing costs is a common tactic, but in my experience, it is rarely enough to save a business on its own. A well-run business has usually trimmed its costs already. While cost-cutting should be part of the mix, it is seldom the sole solution.

Looking Over the Horizon
A successful turnaround requires addressing issues early. It is vital for business owners to look well ahead and cultivate assets that can be deployed when change is needed. If you feel stuck, it may be because your business is too deeply rooted in the past of the newsagency channel.

Our inspiration comes from looking far outside our industry. We look at trade shows for other channels, different types of retailers, and online trends. We must have the courage to play outside the limitations of our traditional “newsagent” shingle.

Practical Steps to Take Now
If you are contemplating closing, please consider these steps first:

• Analyse your data: Look for “green shoots” of good news that you can grow.
• Stop unprofitable activities: If a service or product does not make money, stop doing it.
• Be a retailer, not an agent: Take control of your floor space and your margins.
• Diversify: Find products that generate traffic in your specific location.
• Seek outside help: Join a marketing group or partner with an outside force that will challenge your perspective and open you to new opportunities.

Complaining is not a management activity. Action is the only way forward. Many newsagents are currently enjoying good results and feeling optimistic about the future. There is no reason why you cannot be one of them.

Having access to the cash you need when you need it’s critical in business. Survey after survey of small business retailers ranks cash flow as the biggest challenge they face.

Cash flow will be a challenge where the business has spent more than it can afford to, revenue is too low, or money is leaving the business in some way. A cash flow challenge could be a combination of any or all three.

The business owner is responsible for any cash flow challenge. They decide what is spent and when it’s spent. Ownership of the challenge is vital to resolving it.

Here are some obvious and often forgotten management principles designed to help improve the cashflow position of a business:

1. Borrow as little as possible. Capital that has an interest cost associated with it’s expensive to the business.
2. Turn stock as quickly as possible. The longer a product sits on your shelves, the higher the cost to the business.
   1. Make shopping easy.
   2. Display products to encourage purchase.
   3. Carry little or no back-room stock. Instead, rely on suppliers to supply just in time.
   4. Buy new stock based on what your data indicates works in the business.
   5. Stock more products like your top sellers and less products that are your bottom sellers.
3. Keep your labour cost as low as is practical.
4. Carefully consider what you expect to make from every business expense before making the expense.
5. Check to see if there are lower cost alternatives before paying overheads such as business insurance or utilities.
6. Set your prices to maximise the opportunity, balancing maximising margin with expected shelf time.
7. Where you can, pay suppliers to access a settlement discount and bank the additional margin on those products.
8. Sell online so the business is trading 24 hours a day and not restricted by the physical shop’s opening hours.
9. Don’t provide customer credit unless it’s essential.
10. Pay bills early if you have the cash.
11. Don’t spend money on anything in or for the business that you cannot measure. Measurement is critical to understanding if the spend has delivered financial value for the business.
12. Have appropriate shopper and employee theft mitigation steps in place.
13. Set aside an amount each week via an automated transfer into a rainy day account. This is to build a buffer should something unexpected happen within the business.

You’re very much in control of whether cash flow will be a problem in your business. Acting ahead of a problem is more important than being in a position where you need to react.

Data is key to cash flow comfort, data about business performance transactionally through to data as represented in the financial statements for the business. The more in control you’re of your business data and the better you understand it, the less likely you’re to encounter a cash flow problem.

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newsXpress is a marketing group that supports small local independent retailers to thrive. Find out more at help@newsxpress.com.au.

The idea of these questions is to put the needs of your business front and centre. Having this list can make it less confronting for you when you ask the suppliers. Think about the answers from your potential suppliers and whether they serve your needs.

1. What is unique about your business?
2. Where are your products made?
3. Do you provide sample products?
4. Will you supply other retailers near my shop?
5. Can I sell your products online?
6. What are your freight charges?
7. What level of inventory do you hold, and how quickly can you supply?
8. Do you provide electronic invoices?
9. Can I order directly online with you?
10. What is your settlement discount?
11. Can you do better on price?

Asking each potential supplier the same questions guides a consistent approach to evaluating suppliers. This should provide you with more consistent results in terms of supplier performance.

Evaluate the Partnership, Not Just the Price

While the answers to logistical questions like freight and discounts are vital for your margins, pay close attention to the quality of communication during this process. A supplier who is transparent about their inventory levels and responsive to your inquiries is likely to be a reliable partner when challenges arise, such as shipping delays or product defects. Remember, you aren’t just buying stock; you are entering into a professional relationship. A supplier whose values and pace align with your own will contribute significantly to the long-term stability and reputation of your retail brand.

Review and Refine Regularly

The retail landscape is constantly shifting, and a supplier that met your needs three years ago might no longer be the best fit today. Use these questions as part of an annual or bi-annual audit of your current partnerships to ensure they remain competitive. If a long-term supplier has slipped on delivery times or ceased offering settlement discounts, having this consistent data allows you to have a constructive, evidence-based conversation with them. Maintaining a high standard for your suppliers ensures that your shop remains agile, profitable, and stocked with the best possible products for your customers.

Your relationship with your suppliers is one of the most significant levers you can pull to control the health of your retail business.

By moving from passive ordering to active, inquiry-based sourcing, you shift the power dynamic in your favour and ensure that every item on your shelves earns its keep. Treat these questions not as a one-time hurdle, but as the foundation of a professional standard that protects your margins and guarantees the quality your customers expect.

When you put your business needs front and centre, you aren’t just buying products, you’re building a resilient, profitable future.

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newsXpress is a marketing group that supports small local independent retailers to thrive. Find out more at help@newsxpress.com.au.