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.
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.
newsXpress Gladstone Park are proof that you can run two marketing campaigns at once. They are currently running the “no stress at newsXpress“ Back to School marketing in conjunction with the newsXpress-Hallmark Valentines Day seasonal marketing. Working multiple parts of the store at once is paying dividends for them with great sales across multiple categories.
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.
Photo from the 2007 Hallmark Tour to North America – newsXpress stores have supported these study trips for the past 3 years, the (2007) newsXpress stores were:
With the learning’s from the seminars and retail visits newsXpress stores come back and implement what they have learnt which is one of the reasons the newsXpress group is recognised as the leaders in the industry. newsXpress representatives also
identify product in the US which is then brought in exclusively for the group. This study tour and the opportunities it presents for networking, information sharing and product identification is part of the reason why newsXpress entered a strategic partnership with Hallmark. The massive growth in sales proves the arrangement is mutually beneficial! The 2008 tour is planned for July and official invitations will be sent in the next month.
David is President of Hallmark Cards Personal Expression Group and grandson of J.C Hall founder of Hallmark Cards.
Thanks to our work with Hallmark, newsXpress is rolling out a new approach to the merchandising of bags across its network of 120+ retail locations. Here is one example of a store to receive the new treatment:
We know from our work in a variety of test stores that the results are excellent. In addition to increased sales, there is always positive feedback from customers who enjoy the shopping experience more.
With bags replacing traditional wrapping paper sales it is important for newsagents to get their range and display right to demonstrate relevance to consumers. This is where newsXpress helps its members grow their businesses.
newsXpress members have started receiving marketing kits as part of the new Hallmark Alliance Program. newsXpress is funding the $1,250 annual cost of Hallmark Alliance for its members. The first program many members are running with is a free card offer – based on rewarding loyal customers. This program is tied in with the newsXpress Care and Friendship Month.
The newsXpress Hallmark relationship is unique in the newsagency channel in that it goes beyond rebates and promotions. Hallmark and newsXpress share research and other data to the mutual benefit of their stakeholders. This is one reason newsXpress stores are seeing excellent sales growth in the greeting card category.
Here is part o the campaign support for Care and Friendship Month – a greeting card and gift promotion developed and run exclusively for newsXpress newsagencies. All to often in our busy lives we do not take time to say thank you to those who help us: teachers, doctors, priests, friends. We created Care and Friendship Month o focus on saying Thank You. It is designed to help people find the right cards and the right words to show appreciation.
Having started some years ago, this campaign has built a strong following among newsXpress members. They like that they are able to focus attention on cards at a time of the year when card sales are flat. Bu this is not purely a commercial pitch. care and Friendship is also a reminded to our members to appreciate co-workers, family and friends. It reminds us to take a moment out of our busy schedules to show that we care too. For that reminder alone, this newsXpress exclusive program is worthwhile.
Care and Friendship month starts July 1, 2007.
newsXpress, the premier marketing group for Australian newsagents, has announced free membership of the coveted Hallmark Alliance marketing program exclusively for its members.
Valued at $1,250 per store per year, the decision by newsXpress invests an additional $137,500 into the marketing of newsXpress newsagencies, taking the total annual marketing investment on behalf of newsXpress members to beyond $500,000 in value.
“This decision demonstrates our commitment to professional group-wide brand-based marketing” said Graham Randall, founding Director of newsXpress. “It is another reason newsXpress stores outperform other newsagencies”.
Through the Hallmark Alliance program, newsXpress members will have access to professional seasonal promotions, additional local area marketing and newsXpress exclusive value added marketing support.
“Never before has a group of newsagents had access to such a comprehensive and valuable national marketing campaign built around key seasons.” Randall commented.
The first season for which this program will operate is Father’s Day in September.
CONTACT: Mark Nagy – CEO (03)9524 8080 or 0409 880 526.