Transforming your newsagency

newsXpress has published a two page newsletter to newsagents sharing insights into embracing change.  Called Transformations, the newsletter shares some newsXpress success stories as well as some of the value newsXpress brings to the newsagency businesses with which it partners.  To see a copy of the newsletter, please click here.

Margaret River 2010 Cow Parade

mr-cow-parade.jpgMargaret River are currently hosting the famed 2010 Cow Parade and newsXpress Margeret River have created a simple colouring in competition for kids to take advantage of the interest , tourists and theatre in town.

Colouring In competitions are an easy way to engage wiht customers as kids will often dictate their parents buying behavoiur – a good experience for the children will almost certainly ensure repeat custom frm the parents.

Well done to Andrew and Tanya and the team for identifying and benefiting from a local opportunity.

State of Origin ‘Fever’ at newsXpress Sarina

sarina-1.jpgThe major event on the NRL Calendar kicks off this Wednesday in 3D for those with the technology. This series is far and away the most hotly anticipated clash of the season and some extra impetus this year has been added by a desperate NSW Cockroach team hell-bent on preventing the QLD Maroons from claiming a record equalling fifth consecutive series win.

A number of newsXpress stores in the Northern states create great theatre in-store to capitalise on rabid interest from patriotic fans. newsXpress Sarina have built a multi-location display in their newsagency, highlighted by the QLD Shrine featured in the photo to the left. Merchandise and supporter gear have been coupled with the newsXpress posters to create a magnificent homage to the game.

World Cup at newsXpress Maryborough

maryborough_world-cup.JPGThe team at newsXpress Maryborough (VIC) has created a terrific display promoting the 2010 World Cup using the newsXpress supplied marketing collateral along with some material they created themselves.

Cheering on the Socceroos, the window is sure to encourage pride in the local community.

newsXpress is 100% behind the World Cup and is leading the way for newsagents in supporting this international sporting event.

Exclusive Mother’s Day flyer from newsXpress

newsxpress-mothers-day.jpgnewsXpress published a Mother’s Day flyer for newsXpress members to use to promote this important season in the retail sales calendar. Connecting with the newsXpress marketing collateral (posters and shelf talkers already provided), the A4 flyer promotes a range of Mother’s Day products.

By all reports, the flyer worked a treat!

The flyer was designed to be used outside the store – in letterboxes and through other channels to reach people who may not usually visit the store. Such external marketing is a key part of the newsXpress approach to business marketing. New traffic is important to any retail business and newsXpress has a structured approach to driving such new traffic for its members.

The newsXpress Mother’s Day flyer promoted the Hallmark sound cards, gifts and books. It also offers a value proposition: 25% off a card purchase with any gift purchase over $10.00.

What is really clever about the brochure is that newsXpress members were able to personalise this.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Chippindalls Downtown

newsxpress-bundaberg.jpgThe team newsXpress Chippindalls Downtown in Bundaberg has created a truly stand out Mother’s Day display offering Hallmark Mother’s Day cards, gifts and flowers.  While they have made excellent use of Hallmark and newsXpress collateral, is if their enhancement of this with local creativity which makes the display look so sompelling and commercially successful.  Well done to everyone involved!

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Maryborough (QLD)

newsxpress-maryborough-qld.jpgCapping two aisles, the team at newsXpress Maryborough (QLD) has made a strong pitch for Mother’s Day to shoppers who enter the store.

They are using the Hallmark marketing collateral and the prize offer to draw attention to greeting cards and the newsXpress collateral to dress other parts of the store where they have other products on offer.

On the right of the photo you can see good use of packaging products which connect with the Mother’s Day theme.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Bargara

newsxpress-bargara.jpgOn the dance floor, just inside the door, newsXpress Bargara (QLD) offers a terrific range of gifts and Hallmark Mother’s Day cards.

The team made good use of the newsXpress Mother’s Day marketing collateral by skirting their table.

The display and all off the other displays here show a wonderful consistency across newsXpress stores which is driven by the Hallmark offer, gifts from newsXpress suppliers and the newsXpress marketing collateral.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Maryborough

maryborough-mothers-day.JPGFrom the dance floor through the middle of the store, newsXpress Maryborough (VIC) is offering a compelling Mother’s Day offer of gifts and cards.  Their Mother’s Day products are beautifully displayed, delivering a wonderful warmth to the shop.

Their display is another excellent example of the blending of the newsXpress marketing collateral along with Hallmark marketing collateral.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Middle Park

nx_middle-park.JPGnewsXpress Middle Park is using the newsXpress Mother’s Day marketing collateral to anchor their terrific and comprehensive Mother’s Day greeting card selection which features Hallmark and For Arts Sake Mother’s Day cards.

The newsXpress Mother’s Day collateral has been a huge success this year – we have received excellent feedback from members and suppliers who like how it connects with collateral from other suppliers.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Robina

nx-robina-mday.JPGThe team at newsXpress Robina has created an enticing Mother’s Day story right across the front of the shop.  Wiht the Hallmark Mother’s Day cards as the centrepiece, their Mother’s Day range includes the full Darrell Lea range and a terrific selection of gifts.  Their approach shows what can be done to create the same value you would usually see in an outpost but in-store.  It would be hard to walk past the store in the mall and not be drawn to the excellent display.

newsXpress members targeted by The Lucky Charm

newsXpress members are being targeted by The Lucky Charm trying to convince them to swap brands. The Lucky Charm team is out pushing because we have excellent members in our group and because newsXpress does not force members to stay through a long term contract. NewsXpress members stay with us because they want to where TLC members do not have the luxury of freedom until their five year iron-clad contract comes to an end.

One member approached by TLC told us they are happy to stay with newsXpress over The Lucky Charm because of how newsXpress is helping them transform their business with new traffic, better margin and greater sales efficiency. A check of the card rebate showed them how much better off they are staying with newsXpress.

Newsagents joining The Lucky Charm are, in our view, handcuffed to the group. A read of the franchise agreement by a lawyer will help prospective members of The Lucky Charm to understand the extent of the handcuff. There is the five year term as well as constraints surrounding the sale of the business. This makes getting out near impossible.

newsXpress does not believe in handcuffing members to the group for a long period and through a complex contract. Rather, we want members to stay with us because they want to stay. This is a newsXpress difference.

While we are flattered that The Lucky Charm is aggressively targeting newsXpress members, we felt it appropriate to encourage greater transparency around core elements of their pitch.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Eli Waters

eli-waters-mothersday.jpgThe team at newsXpress Eli Waters has setup their first Mother’s Day display for the 2010 season.  They are using gifts from the newsXpress range and newsXpress Mother’s Day marketing collateral provided free to newsXpress members.

the offer will expand as Mother’s Day approaches.

There is good evidence to suggest that going out early with a season like Mother’s Day, right after Easter, is appreciated by shoppers.  newsXpress and partner suppliers support this with early access to product and collateral.

Easter colouring competition at newsXpress Milsons Point

milsons-point-easter.jpgEntrants for the Easter colouring competition at newsXpress Milsons Point have their artwork on display in the window for friends, family and the locals to see and admire.

There has been no shortage of entries for this popular competition.  The friendly team at newsXpress Milsons Point have made the most of the opportunity to better connect with their local community and to show off the newsXpress difference.

newsXpress encourages members to show off the art in the window as it gives the artists an audience and it shows the community that the business cares.

Easter at newsXpress Mortdale

mortdale-easter.jpgThe team at newsXpress Mortdale (NSW) has a delicious selection of Easter eggs and chocolates on display along with newsXpress marketing collateral at the front of the business.  The display looks stunning and is attracting plenty of attention and sales from happy customers.

The energy and focus of the team at newsXpress Mortdale, a new member of the newsXpress family is terrific to see and experience.

Easter colouring competition entries coming in

easter_colour.JPGnewsXpress members are reporting receiving good numbers of entries in the 2010 Easter Colouring Competition.  With wonderful local prizes up for grabs, newsXpress members are taking the opportunity to promote their community connection with this event. They are doing this by promoting through schools, clubs and other community groups.  Entries are being put =on display (without breaching privacy) and showing shoppers the works of art.

newsXpress has provided collateral to support the competition with members deciding the rules and prizes which best suit their situation.

Ernest Hillier eggs at Knox City (VIC)

knox_easter.jpgnewsXpress Knox (VIC) is promoting part of its Ernest Hillier Easter egg range on the dance floor at the front of the shop.  This terrific looking display has been up for two days and is already drawing good interest and sales.  We have selected a range of Easter products on the display spanning all ages.  This approach will drive a more efficient basket for the store.

In addition to our Easter colouring competition, we are running a Hallmark sponsored promotion giving away  a Crayola hamper to one lucky customer buying a hallmark licensed card.  This promotion is part of the newsXpress / Hallmark relationship.

newsXpress members working together

back_to_school.JPGThree newsXpress members on the Gold Coast worked together last month to promote their newsXpress Back to School offer.  The full page colour advertisement in the Back to School supplement of the Gold Coast Bulletin worked well in driving traffic and building brand recognition.

The newsXpress marketing team welcomes opportunities to work with members who want to work together on promotions such as this.  Our design and marketing people have a range of collateral opportunities for each promotion.

Win an iPhone, shop at newsXpress

iphone.jpgThanks to Optus and Jenlist, newsXpress has five Optus 8GB Apple iPhones to giveaway as prizes in a sales based competition.  Every customer recharging their Optus mobile phone at newsXpress has an opportunity to win.  newsXpress members have been sent marketing collateral to support this promotion.  While it is early days, the promotion is proving to be a hit with newsXpress customers.

Back to Work at newsXpress Scott’s Lismore

scottslismore_btw.jpgThe team at newsXpress Scott’s Lismore is promoting Back to Work at three locations in-store including inside the front door as shown in the photo.  They are using this promotion to push brand name office supplies and high-end products.  They are reporting excellent success and call Back to Work a winner.

While the promotion is called Back to Work, this promotion is working in a variety of situations including many which are not known for selling office supplies.

At newsXpress Scott’s Lismore, they are promotion the opportunity to win a Toyota Yaris by guiding customers to the newsXpress website to complete a competition entry.