Gifts | newsXpress Blog

Gifts to the nth degree

Phil & Wendy Banks from newsXpress Glendale in Newcastle completed a shop fit 18 months ago. They introduced a number of innovations at this time, one such was by building a gift wall. This has worked so well that they recently made some more changes to the shop to extend the gift wall.

With margins of over 50% and a great lay buy strategy which allows them to sell gifts in excess of $300 they have created a great new money stream for the store.

Photos above depict the majestic ‘Gift Wall’ and the team behind the innovation.

WORK YOUR STORE HARD TO REAP REWARDS

At first glance you’ll notice that newsXpress Reservoir is not the flashiest of shops, however, with a new shop fit coming up in the not too distant future Chris, Helen and their team work the shop hard.

They have recently introduced books and a prodigious amount of gifts, and also scented candles to the store, which are working well and bringing new money streams to their business.

newsXpress members don’t rest on their laurels, they work the store hard every day driving sales. Its about day to day operational profit not just waiting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. New money strategies as well as our soon to be launched Project XLR program, are just the tip of the iceberg at newsXpress.

INNOVATION, INNOVATION, INNOVATION

At the newsXpress laboratory at the Watergardens Town Centre in Taylors Lakes, Ben and the team continue to experiment and innovate with new product, fixtures and fittings. Not only are the learning’s from the Sophie Randall card and gift business being translated into the store with new style gift tables and displays. The Moorish range of product suggested by Bradley Dean from newsXpress GPO in Brisbane has been introduced with great effect. We take learning’s from our interstate members, cross pollinate with one another and implement new money strategies into our network of stores.
Its only through sharing ideas and expressing our views that the group grows. By only having quality members, regular state and cluster meetings combined with the newly introduced One on One Business Development sessions, we get to share. That’s what makes our group strong.

newsXpress Albany Creek Gift category

Giftware sales at newsXpress Albany Creek is a “new money” category, generated by existing customers (traffic flow) purchasing the beautifully presented giftware in the window area.
To further grow sales, Michael and Wendy had new fixtures made, pushed the existing card fixtures back to create a bigger dance floor, and sales have accelerated. Customers appreciate the extra “space” in which to browse the new gift ranges.

Light at the end of the tunnel – newsXpress The Pines

newsXpress The Pines has just under gone extensive refurbishments and a shop-fit in the last fortnight, things are still progressing and moving forward nicely… A job well done to the team at newsXpress The Pines for all their hard work and efforts through this hectic time of transition…
Lyndall and her newsXpress team will continue to work on the transformation of this store to cater for all the newsXpress key strategies to drive new business…

The photos show the new front of the store layout with a strong Easter presence, the Beacon Branding of the weekly magazines and the Diddl display.

Modern Easter at newsXpress Deception Bay

The team at newsXpress Deception Bay went left field this year – and have gone searching for Easter Brides!

They sold two magazines while setting up the display and customer reaction has been extremely high. They have also capitalised on this interest by including complimentary products such as photo albums, horse-shoes, white tape for the limo and assorted gifts.

The window has been decorated in a more traditional manner with a strong focus on kids and bunnies.

Basket of Easter Goodies at newsXpress Kin Kora

newsXpress Kin Kora started their Easter promotion early – you won’t see any pictures of their plush here (they sold out!).

Never too late – VALENTINE’S DAY – newsXpress Riverlink

Jayson and Belinda from newsXpress Riverlink sourced 14 dozen single red roses for their Valentine Outpost, which came sleeved, and had a red bow. These completely sold out in 2 days, complementing the plush and other gift ware.

Both Wednesday and Thursday were equally strong in retail sales. As this was the first year for their outpost they will be using their data when purchasing for next year.

newsXpress Riverlink – special signage was commissioned advertising the rose offer to tie in with the newsXpress creative. While team members proudly show their selling skills in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

Easter Displays at newsXpress

As Australians prepare to eat record quantities of chocolate this Easter, these beautiful displays of Easter related product are already selling to astute customers. By displaying your stock early, and with style, you will achieve maximum sell through.

The Displays are from newsXpress Caboolture, and newsXpress Deception Bay.

Using promotional ends to make money not just look good

newsXpress Castle Towers are retailers not just newsagents. By devoting ends to product that sells not just promote, they are making more money. Whilst magazine promotions look good, we are in business to use every square inch of the shop for profit not promotion. Magazines can be promoted in other ways and newsXpress is forging forward by selling magazines and promoting them well, yet using real estate in more profitable ways. We love magazines but we are also promoting other parts of the retail offer to add more dimension to our stores.

This approach is certainly embraced by our customers as the results prove.

newsXpress Castle Towers promoting (and selling) diaries and plush gifts where magazines have traditionally been the sole occupant.

Easter with a TNW twist

newsXpressers have embraced this offer from TNW for Easter. Some stores are already on their second order.

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.

Category: Gifts