newsXpressers have embraced this offer from TNW for Easter. Some stores are already on their second order.
Category: Gifts
Valentine’s Day – Victoria
Again the creative benefit of the newsXpress structure comes through in these photos. Firstly you can see newsXpress Melton have placed their Hallmark/Alliance Forever Friends Bear on a swing as the centrepiece in the store. The effectiveness of this classic less is more is clear to see with over 150 entries in the Valentine’s day competition.
newsXpress Reservoir are soon to undertake a refit but have done a magnificent job to transform their front window using both the newsXpress and Hallmark marketing materials.
All seasons great and small – Valentine’s Day across newsXpress
One of the greatest strengths of the newsXpress network is our diversity. Size, background, opinion and style are a few of many attributes which contribute to make newsXpress the progressive group that is challenging deep seated ideas and guiding small business into the 21st century and beyond.
Below is a visual example of how the differences at each store become strengths across the group. Each store have access to the newsXpress Marketing, the Hallmark Alliance material’s, and various supplier deals. How they interpret that for their market and how they present their unique stores each contribute to building the group.
newsXpress Garden City – outpost extra-ordinnaire
newsXpress Harbour Town – destination shopping
newsXpress Upper Coomera – Bold, in your face merchandising
newsXpress Eumundi – Gift store style suiting the locality
newsXpress Kin Kora – outposting Valentine’s Day
newsXpress Kin Kora have reported what most stores are experiencing – a very busy Valentine’s Day promotion!
They have sold a $500 Forever Friends Hallmark Bear in their first ever attempt at outposting – a great result!
Sarah also would like to espouse the benefits of going that one little extra step. In this case cello-ing plush gifts. Cello attracts a great margin, along with the ribbon and staff hours you can make a stunning profit.
These have been selling well along with small gift boxes packed with 4 or 5 chocolates and gift wrapped. A little effort goes a long way – 20 sales in one morning at $4.95 a piece.
It’s always worth the effort!
On occasion time and circumstance conspire to prevent you doing everything you can. newsXpress Deception Bay have overcome this by following the rules of masic visula merchandising.
Simple props using red tulle and newsXpress Balloons have created this eye
catching display.
Two Hearts are better than One…
To complement the Hallmark promotional Hearts, newsXpress Kallangur team members have cut out smaller silver and red hearts which hang and swing around the front of the store. The newsXpress Valentine posters hang scattered throughout the store. Gift and novelty ware is situated in the promotional area.
Valentines Day Display at newsXpress Albany Creek
Four Display areas are used for Valentines Day, the window, 2 power ends, plus the very front display area next to the greeting cards, where the Forever Friends Bear give away sits with the large poster behind him.
Chocolate Gems are a big hit, as are the giftware and plush offering.
The Displays are fresh and colour co-ordinated.
Be my Valentine!
newsXpress Sun Valley & newsXpress Kin Kora are leading the way with merchandising standards and creating theatre within their stores. This Valentine’s Day has given them another chance to show their wares and we thank Ian Chapman and Sarah Coombs for their exceptional photos and feedback on specific products.
The Sun Valley Photos (below) feature an aromatic product range from Cooee Brands (Australian Flower Therapy) which is selling really well. Heart beat lollies are given out with each customer purchase along with ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’ wishes. The newsXpress Floor Decals are also hitting the mark with a couple of cheeky male customers inquiring as to whether they may indeed ‘steal’ a kiss!
Meanwhile newsXpress Kin Kora (below) have highlighted the Chocolate Gems range which has filled the holes in their Darrell Lea offer and in most cases requires very little work to be saleable. The Hallmark product is selling very well and in particular the Forever Friends ‘Marry Me’ Bear which comes with a free Darrell Lea Love Heart Lollypop.
Sales are going well and everyone is having fun with the season, an outpost will be introduced over the weekend to capitalise on the peak periods – Love is really in the Air!!
Love is in the air at newsXpress
Further examples of the ‘big deal’ newsagents make out of Valentine’s Day. This is a perfect opportunity to engage with their customers in a personal way which the promotion lends itself to.
newsXpress Goulburn is right into Valentine’s Day with even introducing special wallpaper in their Parker pen stand.
newsXpress Erindale have gone all out for Valentine’s Day with Chocolate displays and large signs to help promote their message. Notice the colour theme in the photo? This is done to relate as possible with the traditional colour of the season and attract additional customers.
newsXpress Jamison get creative and prove it is never too early to start a promotion. Darrell Lea sent Easter out a little early so instead of waiting Connie and Dominic have combined their Valentine’s Day and Easter. Already they have received significant orders in large quantities from local businesses for the Easter Product, Hundreds & Thousands eggs.
Hallmark recognition for hardworking newsXpress Windsor
newsXpress Windsor have received the fantastic news that they will be promoted into a higher rebate classification in their Hallmark account. This has occurred due to the hard work of Kam and his team to promote the brand through cards, gift & wrap and an increase in sales. A greater emphasis on merchandising, add on sales and range has led Hallmark to recognise these results and provide backdated rebates through 2007.
The ability to work closely with key account managers and the ever present incentive to improve your return has proved an on-going win/win relationship for newsXpress and Hallmark.
Kam Wong pictured with Karen Sutton at newsXpress Windsor.
Valentine’s Day at newsXpress
With two catchphrases in use this Valentine’s Day:
- Love is a gift! &
- Steal a Kiss!
newsXpress members have been given greater freedom to create a promotion that is traditional or a little bit cheeky as per the marketing materials provided. Below are a cross section of store displays across the network:
newsXpress Noosaville are using the ‘Steal a Kiss’ floor decals to direct traffic to their Valentine’s Day display which contains cards, gifts & confectionery.
newsXpress Caboolture have introduced simple cane baskets into their merchandising to better display their wide range of Valentine’s Day themed plush.
newsXpress Toowong are strongly promoting the Valentine’s day range of the Hallmark classic Wellington Bear. The newsXpress posters in the background complete the scene.
newsXpress Castle Towers maximise their exposure by setting up camp in a prominent outpost position in their centre. The use of sell-able product as part of the merchandising is most effective.
Valentine’s Day at newsXpress Scott’s Lismore
newsXpress Scott’s Lismore have gone all out to stamp themselves as the premier retailer in town.
Their Valentine’s Day set up is a great example of how they have gone about this. Giving the promotion prime real estate at the front and centre of the store. They are hoping this produces a good sales result and to show their initiative even further have introduced an opportunity for customers to win their money back with the purchase of any Hallmark Bear.
Embracing the newsXpress/Hallmark Strategic Partnership
Since joining the newsXpress group and swapping card suppliers from John Sands to Hallmark, Jim O’Toole at newsXpress Rutherglen has seen his card sales go through the roof.
Marketing is what drives sales and that’s what newsXpress and the Hallmark Alliance partnership does for newsXpress stores, turning newsagents into savvy retailers.
Embracing gifts – newsXpress Orange
newsXpress stores are embracing giftware in a big way. Not only for the margin opportunities but for the point of difference it gives our network.
newsXpress Watergardens continues to innovate – new giftware tables
Not being content with the fit out of the store newsXpress Watergardens has invested for the future by adding some new giftware tables. These learning’s have come from outside the traditional newsagency business and preliminary results are very positive.
Valentine’s Day Merchandising at newsXpress Watergardens
newsXpress Watergardens is approaching Valentines Day as most other retailers would with passion and vigor utilising gift ware that suits this season and embracing the support of the Hallmark-newsXpress strategic partnership.
Valentine’s Day at newsXpress
Valentine’s Day is traditionally one of the biggest promotions in the year for newsagents whose wide range of cards and gifts attract customers from near and far who wish to express their love to those in their lives.
newsXpress Forest Hill have created a display utilising the newsXpress and Hallmark marketing materials to wonderful effect in their front window and through the store. The giant Hallmark Forever Friends Bear is the prize in the Hallmark Alliance promotion. All newsXpress members receive free access to this program as part of their newsXpress membership.
Below is a feature picture from newsXpress Eumundi displaying the Valentine’s Day range of gifts from Chocolate Gems.
