Driving Profitability in Your Newsagency: how newsXpress helps

In the world of small business retail, profitability is paramount. It’s not just about making money today; it’s also about building a strong foundation for future growth and value. At newsXpress, we understand the importance of profit and how it directly impacts the value of your newsagency.

Why Profit Matters

  • Immediate Financial Gain: Profit puts money in your bank account now, providing you with the resources to invest in your business, pay bills, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
  • Future Value: A profitable business is more attractive to potential buyers. When you’re ready to sell, a strong profit record can significantly increase the value of your newsagency.

How newsXpress Can Help

At newsXpress, we’re committed to helping you maximise your profitability. We focus on various aspects of your business, from inventory management to customer engagement. Here’s how we can support your success:

  • Inventory Management: We help you optimise your inventory by analysing product turnover rates and identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
  • Supplier Relationships: Our network of 130+ preferred suppliers offers competitive pricing, exclusive products,and first-to-market opportunities.
  • Central Billing: Our central billing program provides you with delayed billing terms, improving your cash flow.
  • Training and Guidance: Our shop floor tactical training and guidance can help you increase inventory turnover,improve return on investment, optimise floor space, and enhance labor productivity.

The Benefits of Partnering with newsXpress

By partnering with newsXpress, you can enjoy the following benefits:

  • Increased Profitability: Our strategies and resources are designed to help you boost your bottom line.
  • Enhanced Business Value: A profitable newsagency is more valuable when it comes time to sell.
  • Access to Exclusive Opportunities: Our network of preferred suppliers provides you with unique products and early access to new offerings.
  • Improved Efficiency: Our training and guidance can help you streamline your operations and reduce costs.

Profitability is essential for the success and sustainability of your newsagency. By working with newsXpress, you can gain access to the tools, resources, and support you need to drive profit and maximise the value of your business.

Nothing newsXpress pitches is mandatory. You are always in control of every decision in and for your local retail business.

Newsagency retail transformation advice for the first three metres of your shop

The first three metres of your shop, from the front windows and door, represent your headline. If you want to transform your newsagency and create a new perception of your business, focus on dramatically changing this space. Leave nothing as it was.

It’s these initial three metres that customers will see and use to decide the type of shop you run. This is your opportunity to defy expectations and create disruption. Don’t give them what they anticipate.

Products and fixtures are open to change. If your counter is in this area, it also requires a dramatic overhaul.

To achieve this, close your shop one day and remove everything from the first three metres, starting with a clean slate.Commit to not returning any original items to this space. It will be challenging, and you’ll likely feel the urge to reinstate familiar elements. Resist this temptation.

The ultimate goal is for customers to express surprise at discovering products they knew you stocked but only noticed due to the changes in the first three metres.

Here are four principles to guide the transformation of your shop’s entrance:

Declutter and Create a Visual Feast

As you introduce new products, maintain a clutter-free entrance. Prioritise visual appeal. Avoid traditional retail fixtures and opt for clean lines, engaging displays, and well-maintained equipment.

Sensory Experience

Consider incorporating subtle elements that stimulate the senses. Play familiar, upbeat music at the shop’s front.Showcase beautifully scented products to create an inviting atmosphere aligned with your business.

Storytelling Through Displays

Instead of simply displaying products, craft a narrative. Develop themed displays that demonstrate how products can be used or benefit customers. Avoid overcrowding displays; focus on showcasing variety rather than quantity to effectively tell your story.

Interactive Elements

Encourage customer engagement by making products easily accessible to touch and smell. Traditional boxed displays are outdated. Present products openly to invite interaction.

The first three metres of your shop hold immense potential. By effectively utilising this space, you can take control, set the tone, make a statement, and continually evolve your business.

An easy way to start transforming your newsagency business

f you recognise that your newsagency needs a transformation and your business data isn’t in great shape, there are practical steps you can take within your store to drive change.

Often, businesses in this situation have a traditional shop layout. The advice below is designed to challenge your current setup. It’s radical and straightforward, intended to shake things up and help you see new possibilities.

Remember, change is ongoing. Implement these suggestions, observe the results, learn, and adapt. Your store needs to constantly evolve.

Step One: Reconsider the Newspaper and Magazine Unit

If you have a traditional magazine fixture dominating your store with newspapers facing customers as they enter, remove it entirely. Don’t overthink it; take it out. This prime retail space should showcase higher-margin products.

Replace it with basic shelving. Place magazines on the back wall and newspapers on a bottom shelf. Discard any newspaper or magazine posters as they don’t boost sales.

Step Two: Fill the Empty Space

Use old tables or boxes to create display areas and tell product stories. Bring products to the forefront that customers might overlook. Consider inexpensive options like op shops, your garage, or discount stores. Avoid using spinners in this new space.

Include products you’re proud of, as well as items you think might not work. This helps you understand your customers better. Be prepared to adjust displays weekly if needed.

Step Three: Observe and Adapt

The changes might not work initially. That’s okay. Keep experimenting until you see positive results. If you find early success, build on it.

Given the traditional layout of many newsagencies, I anticipate positive outcomes. One newsagent I know even celebrated the removal of their old magazine unit with a sausage sizzle and chainsaw!

The main goal is to challenge your perspective. Disrupting your store will force you to think differently. These changes can be personally rewarding, even if the business benefits aren’t immediate.

Have fun with the process.

Advice for newsagents keen to transform their retail business

If you’re looking to change your retail newsagency, whether it’s a traditional business or one that’s already undergone some transformation, understanding your current position is crucial. This starts with your data.

Knowing where your business stands is the foundation for future steps. This involves examining your business from different perspectives.

  • An up-to-date profit and loss statement
  • Current debtors and creditors reports
  • A list of all money owed to the business, both formal and informal
  • A stock listing with total value
  • A dead stock listing (items unsold for six months or more) with total value
  • A floor plan showing gross profit percentage by product department or category and floor space allocation
  • Total rostered hours per week, including owners, and revenue per hour
  • A revenue comparison by category for the past six months compared to the previous year

It’s not enough to simply desire change; you need to understand your business’s current state and capacity for change. The information above will highlight immediate opportunities and your ability to invest in changes. This is the starting point for any business I work with on transformation.

Reviewing this data, I recommend focusing on quick wins to build momentum. For example, if you have $10,000 or more in dead stock that’s already paid for, clear it out. Releasing this cash and space will benefit your business. Create a clearance area and apply a consistent discount, such as 50%.

While addressing dead stock, analyse the rest of your data to understand current performance and identify potential opportunities within existing categories. This can guide your initial steps.

As you explore the data, create a list of ideas and action items. You might discover previously overlooked opportunities.

Some retailers seek advice from accountants or business consultants. While this can be helpful, it’s essential they have current, hands-on retail experience in your specific industry.

Remember, it’s your business. You’re the one driving change and transformation. Take ownership of the process.

Start by gathering data, streamlining your business, and building a strong foundation. This will position you for more significant changes in the future.

Newsagency management advice: Boosting Business and Community Spirit

Free management advice from newsxpress for all newsagents.

This strategy offers a mutually beneficial approach to increasing customer base, supporting local communities, and enhancing brand reputation. By partnering with a well-regarded community group, businesses can tap into a new customer demographic while contributing to a worthy cause.

Identify a local community group that enjoys widespread support and has a membership base that overlaps minimally with your existing customer profile. Propose a partnership where the business offers a percentage of each purchase made by group members and their families to the organisation. In return, members receive a discount on their purchases.

Careful consideration should be given to the financial implications of the offer, ensuring it aligns with profit margins and anticipated sales increases. A trial period can help assess the campaign’s effectiveness and allow for adjustments as needed.

Leveraging point-of-sale software can streamline the process, allowing for easy tracking of discounts and donations through dedicated member cards. These cards can become a sought-after symbol of membership and community involvement.

The primary objective of this campaign is to attract new customers and generate additional revenue. While offering a discount may reduce profit margins on individual sales, it is justifiable as an acquisition cost for new business.

To maximise the campaign’s impact, actively engage with the community group to encourage member participation.Celebrate the partnership through public events, social media, and storytelling to foster a strong sense of community and mutual support.

This collaborative approach embodies the spirit of local commerce, where businesses and residents work together to create a thriving community. By utilising point-of-sale technology, businesses can effectively manage the campaign and measure its success.

newsXpress provides more comprehensive advice than covered here. It’s proprietary so we’d not going into the full details for obvious reasons.

The strategy outlined here benefits the business and community group but can also enhance brand reputation.

By aligning with a valued local organisation, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and strengthen their connection with the community. Positive word-of-mouth generated by satisfied customers and the community group can significantly boost brand awareness and loyalty.

Good luck and enjoy your local community.

Newsagency management advice: Back to Basics: Elevating Customer Service in Your Newsagency

This week, we have been delving into fundamental aspects of newsagency operations that can significantly impact business performance and customer satisfaction. By focusing on these core elements, we can differentiate ourselves from competitors and foster a loyal customer base.

This is free advice from newsXpress as we encourage all Aussie newsagents too run more relevant and loved local retail businesses.

Customer service is often hailed as a key point of difference for newsagencies. However, is it truly setting us apart? While many of us pride ourselves on our community connections and customer care, the reality is that the bar for service is continually rising.

Basic service standards, once considered exceptional, are now becoming commonplace. Greeting customers, rewarding loyalty, and offering additional services like gift wrapping are no longer optional but essential. The question is: what extra steps can we take to truly distinguish ourselves?

Consider how you respond to customer inquiries. Do you simply tell them what you have, or do you go the extra mile by showing them? Are you bringing back-office challenges into the customer-facing environment? These actions can greatly influence a customer’s perception of your business.

Moreover, providing product information and care instructions, especially for gift items, is becoming increasingly important. It demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction and can build trust.

  1. Do you greet shoppers? More and more of our competitors are doping this. While traffic, labour cost and average spend may challenge the financial model of a greeter, the service is a customer service benchmark.
  2. Do you reward loyalty? If not, you’re not meeting today’s minimum customer service standard.
  3. Do you offer a gift wrapping service?
  4. When a customer asks if you have something do you tell or do you show?
  5. Do you bring back-office challenges to the shop floor?
  6. Do you provide product service and care info? If you sell gifts this is becoming essential to good customer service.
  7. What’s better about what you do compared to those who compete with you?

Ultimately, the key to superior customer service lies in answering this question: What sets your newsagency apart from competitors? We all sell similar products, so it’s how we deliver those products and interact with customers that will make a difference.

By consistently exceeding customer expectations, we can drive repeat business and foster a strong reputation. Remember,every interaction is an opportunity to build loyalty. It’s time to challenge ourselves to reach new heights in customer service and reap the rewards.

Newsagency management advice: maximising card sales in your newsagency

Australian newsagents hold a significant position in the greeting card market, accounting for nearly 35% of all card sales nationally. As the largest retail channel for cards and with impressive gross profit margins of 50-70%, it’s clear that cards are a cornerstone of the newsagency business.

However, while cards are undeniably important, are we optimising their potential? Many newsagents delegate card management to staff without sufficient oversight. This is a missed opportunity.

To maximise card sales, consider the following strategies:

  • Take control of your card department. Avoid relying solely on merchandisers. Gain a deeper understanding of your product range to better assist customers. Empower all staff to engage with customers about cards.
  • Refresh your card selection regularly. Collaborate with your primary card supplier to update your range at least annually.
  • Prioritise seasonal cards without neglecting everyday options. Ensure seasonal cards are prominently displayed without compromising sales of popular everyday and lifestyle cards.
  • Leverage licensed characters. Cards featuring popular characters often sell well. Explore opportunities to stock these items.
  • Create a strong card and gift connection. Cards and gifts complement each other. Optimise product placement and promotions to encourage combined purchases.
  • Implement a loyalty program. Reward repeat customers to foster long-term loyalty.
  • Enhance card department visibility. Position your card department at the front of the store and ensure it is well-lit to attract attention.

By implementing these strategies, newsagents can significantly boost card sales and strengthen their overall business performance. Neglecting this crucial product category risks losing customers to competitors.

This advice is part of a series on basic Newsagency management advice rom newsXpress, a marketing group that helps newsagents run more valuable and enjoyable local retail businesses.

Beyond the core strategies we have shared above, several other factors can contribute to the success of your card department. Firstly, data analysis can provide valuable insights into customer preferences and purchasing behaviour. By tracking card sales, you can identify popular ranges, seasonal trends, and customer demographics. This information can be used to refine your product selection and marketing efforts.

Secondly, staff training is essential for maximising card sales. Ensure your team understands the importance of the card department and can effectively engage with customers. Providing product knowledge and sales techniques can significantly impact customer satisfaction and purchase decisions. By investing in your staff, you’ll create a more knowledgeable and confident salesforce.

Newsagency management advice: how to do a magazine relay in your newsagency

A well-executed magazine relay can significantly boost sales in a relatively short timeframe.

In our experience, the return on investment for a few hours of dedicated effort is substantial and typically realised within a month. So, why is a magazine relay so effective? Fundamentally, it drives increased sales.

The Mechanics of a Magazine Relay

A typical relay two or less hours.

While it’s possible to delegate this task, taking ownership of the process is highly recommended. A hands-on approach reinforces your leadership and allows for a more streamlined operation without the complexities of team management. It’s essential to remember that a magazine relay is an ongoing process, not a one-off event. Regular adjustments to the magazine layout are crucial for maintaining sales momentum.

Optimising Magazine Placement

Ideally, magazines should be displayed on a dedicated wall space rather than occupying valuable centre fixture real estate typically reserved for higher-margin products.

The visual impact of magazine covers can be diluted by excessive clutter. To maximise their appeal, avoid using product headers.

Full facing, where 100% of the magazine cover is visible, generally delivers optimal results. This is particularly effective for smaller assortments of under 500 titles. For larger assortments, consider tiered fixtures with one title per pocket.However, in some cases, accommodating two or three low-volume, specialised titles within a single pocket can be beneficial.

Leveraging Beacon Branding

Highlighting specific magazine categories through beacon branding can effectively attract customer attention. Dedicate the top two or three pockets to a single title to create a visual focal point.

The Relay Process

When undertaking a magazine relay, focus on creating an engaging and visually appealing display. Work systematically,removing and rebuilding sections of the fixture while maintaining clear spaces to avoid confusion. Continuously assess your progress and consider how each placement contributes to the overall narrative.

The Art of Adjacency

Experimentation is key to discovering the most effective product adjacencies. While there are general guidelines, the ideal arrangement can vary depending on customer behaviour and preferences. For example, consider whether grouping titles by brand or by interest category drives better sales.

Some potential adjacency combinations include: cricket, golf, and swimming; wrestling, boxing, and fitness; and creative arts (painting, writing, craft). However, it’s essential to avoid mixing unrelated titles such as soccer and rugby.

Customer Considerations

When designing the magazine display, prioritise customer ease and comfort. Avoid placing titles aimed at older customers in difficult-to-reach locations.

Post-Relay Actions

Once the relay is complete, share your vision with the team and encourage feedback. Monitor customer behaviour and sales performance closely. The insights gained from these observations can inform future adjustments to the magazine layout.

By following these guidelines and maintaining a focus on customer needs, you can significantly enhance your magazine sales through effective merchandising.

newsXpress helps newsagents run more valuable and enjoyable businesses.

How does the newsXpress newsagency marketing group help newsagents?

newsXpress is an Australian owned marketing group that serves Australian newsagents.

newsXpress is not a franchise or anything like a franchise, it does not fall under the franchise code of conduct.

newsXpress is a marketing group created to help local independent retail newsagents run more enjoyable and profitable businesses. For a modest monthly fee, newsXpress helps newsagents in many different ways.

Here is how newsXpress helps Australian newsagents:

  1. It leverages the common ownership of Tower Systems (the most widely used software in the newsagency channel) and newsXpress for evidence based guidance to more profitable business decisions. Through this, it also offers half price websites.
  2. It offers innovative pricing for EFTPOS, lower cost than least cost routing.
  3. newsXpress offers bias-free data-based card performance analysis that typically results in an increase in card sales of 15% or more.
  4. Member businesses benefit from an exclusive $1,000+ a year per store in-store marketing campaign – provided at no cost to the members.
  5. newsXpress runs a national in person conference with free accommodation for 2 nights and all meals covered.
  6. newsXpress helps newsagents with practical business advice, in-store support, awesome supplier deals and plenty of new traffic generating exclusive products.
  7. newsXpress directly owns and runs shops as testing grounds for innovation, sharing results with members.
  8. newsXpress direct imports good margin products.
  9. newsXpress is the only group to have authorised account access to four different Mints for access to new coin releases.
  10. newsXpress has suppliers who otherwise will not supply newsagents.
  11. newsXpress provides in-store visits from a business development manager.
  12. newsXpress provides visual merchandising materials including posters and on-location call-outs for all major seasons.
  13. newsXpress have access to a member only portal with a fully populated knowledge base and extensive business development resources.
  14. newsXpress members have access to a digital collateral library and cloud based resources for easy store level customisation.
  15. newsXpress members have access to a full video library of social media collateral and easy access to store level customisation.
  16. newsXpress offers signage and graphic design services at no cost.
  17. Rather than access to an Are Media account manager we provide a whole of magazine category problem resolution service. For free.
  18. Rather than a free postage for Christmas cards offer we provide free exclusive high-quality cards for Christmas for captions not covered by card companies.
  19. Each member has access to a dedicated and retail experienced business development manager.
  20. newsXpress helps with Google Business, Bing, and various maps profile setup and maintenance.

What newsXpress does for each member depends on their situation and what they want from from their engagement with newsXpress. Every business is different. Every business owner has different needs.

While all newsXpress members have access to our preferred suppliers, network wide connected websites, seasonal collateral, digital assets and networking opportunities, it is in our personal, business-specific, help where value can be found for plenty of newsXpress members.

We assess your business data as we prefer to offer advice based on evidence. Often when we do this we discover opportunities missed, low hanging fruit to be picked.

The approach is whole of business, considering location, product mix, financial resources, people resources and what you want and need from the business.

While we have members who prefer to do this work for themselves, we have others who appreciate a more engaged approach.

How much or little newsXpress members and our head office team members work together is entirely under control of each newsXpress member.

Nothing is required or mandatory.

When it comes to in-store retail though, we help you with the everyday:

  • Buy price. We help you buy better.
  • Stock turn. We help you sell products sooner.
  • We help you reduce the cost of theft.
  • We help you cast your business differently, to help improve shopper stickiness.
  • New traffic. We help you attract people not shopping with you today.
  • We help you tame them.

We help you make things happen by being actively engaged.

So what does newsXpress do for newsagents? It does all of this and much more, and it’s been doing it since 2001.

newsXpress is making things happen for newsagents in 2024

At the start of 2024 we set this year’s theme as MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

It was a commitment to action, growth, success and enjoyment for newsXpress members.

Mid way through this year we are seeing terrific results.

We have helped members attract new shoppers with several exclusive new product ranges.

We have newsXpress members recording double-digit card sales growth because of our exclusive store specific card performance data project.

We have helped stores recalibrate their commitment to magazines to make this low margin category work, freeing high value space for better margin product.

Our retail insights trip to Berlin and London was a terrific success with excellent in-store initiatives flowing as a result.

This is what MAKING THINGS HAPPEN is about.

Nothing we pitch is mandatory. We are not a franchise.

We’d love to help if you are keen for it.

Retail transformation: newsXpress Mount Waverley

newsXpress Mount Waverley is a corporate store, it’s one of our own shops where we experiment with tech and retail. It’s a shop we run on a tight budget.

In this video, Anthony from our newsXpress head office and Mark Fletcher our CEO discuss the transformation of the Mount Waverley business from 2018 to today. We also cover how this business spawned a second business, and online business, that outgrew the shop, and how it’s just launched its second online business – www.hugsandlove.com.au.

While the business identifies as a newsagency, it’s far removed from what Aussies consider to be a newsagency. It’s a gift shop, a haven for collectors and a place to shop for young kids.

This video shows how to go about changing a local high street shop on a small budget and the importance of being flexible to pivot when the world presents opportunities.

We are grateful for the opportunity to take you behind the scenes of one of our corporate stores, to show the value we harvest from being a POS software company that owns and runs retail businesses.

Newsagency software from Tower Systems Helps Newsagents Harvest Success

In today’s competitive retail landscape, local small business newsagents need every advantage they can get to thrive. Tower Systems, a leading provider of Australian-made POS software for newsagents, understands the unique challenges faced by newsagents and is dedicated to offering solutions that empower them to succeed.

Their newsagency software is specifically designed to address the needs of newsagents, offering a comprehensive suite of features that streamline operations, boost efficiency, and drive sales.

The Tower Systems newsagency software is helping many newsagents transform their retail businesses from the traditional to the innovative, attracting new shoppers, selling online, and more.

Here are just a few of the ways Tower Systems’ newsagency software helps newsagents harvest success:

  • Easy and accurate selling: The software simplifies the sales process, ensuring smooth transactions and minimizing errors.
  • Money-making business insights: Gain valuable insights into sales trends, inventory levels, and customer behaviour to make informed business decisions.
  • Time-saving supplier links: Automate tasks and eliminate manual data entry with seamless integration with suppliers.
  • Sales-winning loyalty tools: Implement loyalty programs to strengthen customer relationships and encourage repeat business.
  • Awesome roster integration: Simplify staff scheduling and management with integrated rostering tools.
  • Trusted theft reduction tools: Combat theft and shrinkage with advanced security features.
  • Free EFTPOS links: Integrate with popular EFTPOS solutions for effortless payment processing.
  • Magazine management for profit: Optimise magazine management to maximize profitability.
  • Personal training: Receive personalized training and support to ensure you get the most out of the software.
  • 24/7 support: Enjoy peace of mind with 24/7 access to support whenever you need it.

Tower Systems goes beyond simply providing software. They are committed to the success of newsagents and offer a range of additional resources, including marketing advice, theft mitigation strategies, and other valuable support services.

By partnering with Tower Systems, newsagents can gain the tools and support they need to streamline operations, improve profitability, and thrive in the competitive retail environment.

newsXpress members tap into additional benefits as Tower Systems customers thanks to the common ownership of both businesses.

If you’re a newsagent looking to take your business to the next level, Tower Systems’ newsagency software is a valuable investment and newsXpress is a valuable business partner to help you leverage that investment to the max.

Whether you need new software for your newsagency, a website to sell online or access to fresh business insights, the newsXpress and Tower Systems partnership can help regardless of size or location. The two businesses, each with their own team members, work together to help newsagents run more enj9yable, and valuable businesses. They work together to help newsagents attract new shoppers and to grow in an efficient and enjoyable way.

This is what growth in 2024 looks like for newsagents – evidence supported actions to find success for this retail channel that has served in Australia since the 1800s. Here is 2024, the local Aussie newsagency can be relevant, fun and successful, leading local towns to help create vibrant high street settings for other retailers too.

newsXpress and Tower, through common ownership, are grateful to serve Aussie newsagents.

newsXpress offers half-price POS software connected Shopify websites to newsagents

Online is the biggest opportunity of 2024 without a doubt. The latest benchmark for Aussie retail reports online as 10% of total business revenue.

In the Aussie newsagency channel, the average figure for those with a website is under 5%.

If you don’t have a website, what would a 5% bump in revenue feel like?

We have businesses we have helped achieve a 20% bump in revenue in a year from online.

We leverage our Tower Systems experience and our newsXpress experience exclusively to help you be open 24/7, serve new shoppers and add valuable net profit in using existing overheads. Our skillset is unique, our experience backed by plenty of success.

newsXpress exclusive. We offer access to a half price, fixed price, beautiful Shopify website connected to your Tower POS software. We back this with advice and mentorship to help you find a profitable niche you like.

If you can’t increase local physical shopper traffic, online is a smart move to improve business reach and profitability.

One newsXpress member launched a website with us last year and added $50,000 in good margin revenue in six months.

Another newsXpress member used their website to pitch an entirely new product category and found a profitable second business as a result, using existing labour and facilities in the shop.

We showed another newsXpress member how to expand the reach of their website and within two months they achieved thousands in additional good margin revenue.

It’s easy to say no to a website if you don’t have one because you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s also easy if you had one in the past and it failed.

Most websites don’t work. Smart people use a failure to do better next time.

Core to website success is filling needs and wants. While needs and wants are quite different, they compel good online business.

Here are the top reasons why we think every retail business needs a website:

  1. Capture sales when you are closed. Typically, more than 50% of online purchases are then the brick and mortar business is closed.
  2. Engage when you are closed. Use chat to answer questions from anywhere, or you geek-out and have an AI chatbot do this.
  3. Reach people not currently shopping with you. Typically, 75% of sales are from people located nowhere near your shop.
  4. Have a second outlet for quitting stock.
  5. Have a place where you can experiment.
  6. Playing with a plan Bin case your shop finds itself in choppy waters.
  7. To learn. A website, especially your first website, teaches you so much: What people want. What they could pay. Haw awful some people are.
  8. To get you out of a rut. If you’ve been in your shop for ages and are mailing it in each day, a website could put a spring in your step.
  9. To make your shop more valuable. Having a website can make your shop more appealing when you decide to sell.
  10. To find a secondary brand. Could be the first step in a shop rebrand.
  11. To drive traffic to the shop. People will find products on your website and visit as a result, for sure.
  12. To give you another source of revenue that is completely unrelated to anything you do in your shop.
  13. To harvest email addresses. Email marketing from Shopify is a breeze.

Having a website gives people a landing page from your Facebook, Instagram and TikTok posts. This is important.

Online is the biggest opportunity for Aussie newsagents in 2024 and newsXpress can help

Online is the biggest opportunity of 2024 without a doubt. The latest benchmark for Aussie retail reports online as 10% of total business revenue.

In the Aussie newsagency channel, the average figure for those with a website is under 5%.

If you don’t have a website, what would a 5% bump in revenue feel like?

We have businesses we have helped achieve a 20% bump in revenue in a year from online.

We leverage our Tower Systems experience and our newsXpress experience exclusively to help you be open 24/7, serve new shoppers and add valuable net profit in using existing overheads. Our skillset is unique, our experience backed by plenty of success.

newsXpress exclusive. We offer access to a half price, fixed price, beautiful Shopify website connected to your Tower POS software. We back this with advice and mentorship to help you find a profitable niche you like.

If you can’t increase local physical shopper traffic, online is a smart move to improve business reach and profitability.

One newsXpress member launched a website with us last year and added $50,000 in good margin revenue in six months.

Another newsXpress member used their website to pitch an entirely new product category and found a profitable second business as a result, using existing labour and facilities in the shop.

We showed another newsXpress member how to expand the reach of their website and within two months they achieved thousands in additional good margin revenue.

We’d love to connect you with some of these retailers so you can hear for yourself what is achievable.

Helping newsagents create a bright future

Value is important in every business, especially so in local indie retail like a local newsXpress business – what you make today and what you will make when you decide to sell.

The newsagency channel was created in the 1880s to distribute a magazine through the goldfields of Victoria. Some of the agency arrangements put in place then can be seen in business arrangements today.

While we understand and respect the history of the channel, the future for our shops is the future. It’s nothing like those goldfield days.

Making the most of the opportunities of the future is about what we talk about in this document.

What you sell. How you sell. When you sell. The customers you sell to. It’s all up for grabs, there for the taking. It starts with the narrative of your business, how you pitch yourself.

How far you go is up to you. We pitch ideas and opportunities. What you do with them is up to you. Once you decide, we can help with practical steps.

While we understand that for plenty, old-school products and services are valuable, their value isdeclining.

You’re not alone. We help you, work with you, hold your hand and encourage you – as much or as little as you want.

Newsagency software from Tower Systems helps newsagents run healthier and happier retail businesses

The newsagency software from Tower Systems is key to helping newsagents, including newsXpress members, to run more current and successful retail businesses.

From differentiating and local-business tuned loyalty facilities to tools that nurture community group support to time saving supplier integrations to easy online selling, the Tower Systems newsagency software plays a vital role in guiding greater success for the 1,700+ newsagents who use the software.

This software for newsagents is designed with newsagents, to serve specific needs newsagents have in their businesses. It serve us valuable business insights designed to maximise opportunities for newsagent business owners and employees.

It is not your usual POS Solutions software. This is newsagency specific POS software.

This newsagency software is packed with benefits, including:

  • Connect with Slyp for digital receipts.
  • Connect with Deputy, Tanda or Planday for easy roster management.
  • Connect with suppliers – this software is XchangeIT compliant.
  • Connect with other suppliers – we accept many different electronic invoices.
  • Leverage you. If your knowledge is a differentiator, offer it through structured opportunities in the software.
  • Save time with each management of magazine putaways.
  • Cut bad debts with strong customer and sub agent account management.
  • Replace LayBy with easier buy now pay later where you are paid right away.
  • Ensure compliance with structured age checking for tobacco products.
  • Easily handle special customer orders. Bring product in for a specific customer and have them notified automatically by email or text when the goods are in and ready.
  • Business differentiating loyalty. Stand out from the crowd. Have customers coming back to you for this.
  • Maximise the basket with easy to use one-time shopper loyalty tools.
  • School and club pricing profiles. Set pricing rules based on customer type.
  • Pre-orders – Easily pre-sell a delivery so that when the stock arrives you can manage distribution and billing efficiently.
  • Differentiate with informative receipts. These can include product care, use and safety information based on what customers buy.
  • Differentiate with bundles. Selling items bundled together makes price comparison hard.
  • Market to customers based on past purchases.
  • Save time by importing electronic invoices.
  • Sell more with a direct connect to buy now pay later services.
  • Cut mistakes with integrated EFTPOS.
  • Cut accounting and bookkeeping fees with integration to Xero and others.
  • Easily sell online with a direct to Shopify / Magento or WooCommerce link from your POS software.

This newsagency software is packed with plenty more.

All these featured and the backing of an awesome help desk team are the reason more newsagents in Australia use this software than all other newsagency software products combined.

The other huge differentiator for Tower Systems is that it owns and runs newsagency businesses and has done since February 1996. Walking in. the shoes of its customers has proved to be invaluable in terms of newsagency software innovation.

This software offers:

  1. Exclusive greeting card reporting Embedded in our software is category / segment level reporting that newsagents are using to grow card sales 25% and more. That’s money in the bank.
  2. You can bank on loyalty. Our fresh and successful approach to loyalty can help you drive a deeper basket and bring people back sooner.
  3. Safe decisions make for a better P&L. From data feeds from suppliers through to Xero, we help you nurture data for the safe decisions.
  4. Not every shopper will walk past your door. A seamless connection between your software and a beautiful website can help you sell to people you will never meet. We develop websites for newsagents.
  5. Easily accessed personal service. A key reason 4 times more newsagents have chosen Tower than any other software is customer service. We are here for you, with you, every day.
  6. Current software. Current technology. Fresh, current design.

Not all newsagency software is the same. See for yourself.

Your future in your newsagency is yours to make

Value is important in every business, especially so in local indie retail like a local newsXpress business – what you make today and what you will make when you decide to sell.

The newsagency channel was created in the 1880s to distribute a magazine through the goldfields of Victoria. Some of the agency arrangements put in place then can be seen in business arrangements today.

While we understand and respect the history of the channel, the future for our shops is the future. It’s nothing like those goldfield days.

Making the most of the opportunities of the future is about what we talk about in this document.

What you sell. How you sell. When you sell. The customers you sell to. It’s all up for grabs, there for the taking. It starts with the narrative of your business, how you pitch yourself.

How far you go is up to you. We pitch ideas and opportunities. What you do with them is up to you. Once you decide, we can help with practical steps.

While we understand that for plenty, old-school products and services are valuable, their value isdeclining.

You’re not alone. We help you, work with you, hold your hand and encourage you – as much or as little as you want.

newsXpress advice for retailers on choosing card companies

For decades, major card companies in Australia won new business by offering a rebate on purchases, and we all loved it.

Newsagents would change card companies because of a bigger rebate offer. Oh, that and ‘interest free’ loans we could draw based on anticipated rebates.

What many of us soon realised is that the rebate is worthless unless you sell the cards as it is only when you sell something that you bought at a discount off wholesale, which is, after all, what a rebate from a card company is, that you bank the rebate value.

Switching to a new card company because of rebate could be a mistake unless their cards sell as well as or better than what you have today.

The main reason to switch card companies in my view is to sell more cards.

It’s only when you sell cards that you make money.

Already in 2023 we have seen enough trading to consider 12% year on year growth in card sales as a reasonable benchmark against which to compare your newsagency business.

If a card company’s main pitch is the quantum of the rebate, my advice is question why they pitch this ahead of the actual products.

What you want, and need, is cards that drive new traffic and more purchases in each visit, you want product that perform above average. This is about card company choice and about how your in-store range is managed – two quite different things.

Cards are the best margin products in our businesses. They deserve our active management attention.

My advice is check your year to date performance against 2022. Are you up 12%? If not, think about what you might do about that, and consider it in the context of any rebate pitch put to you.

This has been on my mind because of conversations with some newsagents recently where rebate was the topic.

One stuck out – they said they would not switch unless a card company matched their current rebate. Their card sales are down 9% year on year. That decline is twice the overall business decline, meaning there is a problem with card range. They refused to look at any other supplier, thereby =not considering that range might be the issue.

I see any rebate as a pot I can draw from to help drive card sales, and I do that to fund a loyalty program, and more. each month I am seeing terrific results, like for April.

Yes, that’s 19% growth in 2023 over 2022. If I compare back to 2019, cards in this business are more than 50% up.

I know that if I get the card story right in-store and in socials pitches not only does that department benefit but the whole shop benefits because of card shopper dwell time. And, all that flows to margin dollars banked, which are far more value than the promise of a rebate in the hope of selling something.

This post is not about any specific card company. I am not suggesting you switch to any specific card company. My advice is that you make your business decisions on what you bank, and that spends solely on sales.