Category: newsXpress difference

The traditional newsagency is changing. newsXpress helps you lead that change. We don’t just offer supplier discounts; we provide personalised, local strategies to help you find new customers, increase spend, and build a business that is both profitable and enjoyable to run.

• The newsagency is dead. Long live your new business.
• Stop running a shop from the past. Start building a business for the future.
• More than a name, more than a newsagency.

newsXpress offers help for Australian small business newsagents keen to improve the performance of their business.

Owning any kind of local retail shop is challenging. It’s lovely, hard work and confronting and you wade through regulation, money complexities, supplier shifts and the need to be ear present for customers.

That’s all before we look at what’s happening with online and with some categories of products moving away from physical retail, like newspapers, magazines and lotteries.

All in though, an Aussie newsagency is a good business to run, as long as you don’t look at as a traditional newsagency. The only part of an Aussie newsagency business that may have any connection to the history of newsagency shops is the business name. The rest, in our view, is up for grabs.

newsXpress helps newsagents transform their businesses. We do this personally, for each business that wants this engagement. Our advice and support is tuned to each business and the needs locally and of the owners. There is no one size fits all approach.

We all know the story of newsagency businesses so far.

You’ve been the cornerstones of your communities.

Our focus is on future, recognising that the spirit of the local newsagent, the community focus, can help us navigate to success.

Think about the opportunities.

People crave connection, convenience, and unique local experiences.

You are perfectly positioned to tap into these needs. newsXpress is configured to help with that.

Join us here at newsXpress and we’ll explore growing together, valuably. We’ll talk about decluttering, making money online, new traffic, and at how we can collectively shape the next chapter of the Australian newsagency.

The world is changing, and change brings opportunity. Your localness and adaptability are superpowers. We bring a process success mindset of innovation, collaboration, and proactive growth.

Let’s work together to make your business worth more.

But wait: If you are looking at joining newsXpress solely for supplier discounts. we’re not the group for you. While we have these, you’ll make more money from everything else we do.

We can help you find new customers.

We can help you guide shoppers to spend more each visit.

We can help you love your business more.

We can help you attract good staff.

We can help you leave the business when you’re ready.

We can help you make more money.

This is what newsXpress does. We help local Aussie newsagents create and run thriving businesses, businesses they enjoy.

There is no single easy fix to achieving any or all of these. What we do with and for each newsXpress member varies by business. Active collaboration is the key to how much we engage with each member.

Whether your shop is small or large, in the city or deep in the country, in a shopping centre or on a suburban street, you are welcome at newsXpress.

We bring decades of physical and online retail experience.

What we seek in prospective members is a desire to run a valuable and enjoyable business.

newsXpress is not your typical newsagency group. We are not a franchise. We are not average or basic.

What we are is 100% focussed on the success of our member businesses.

Email: help@newsxpress.com.au or call Mark on 0418 321 338 or Michael on 0400 331 055.

P.S. We’re serious about the “no one size fits all” rule. When you call Mark or Michael, you won’t get a cookie-cutter sales presentation. You’ll get a real conversation about your specific shop, your local competition, and how we can personally help you put more money in the bank.

The retail landscape for newsagencies is undergoing a significant transition as we approach the end of 2025. Recent data shows that while traditional categories like newspapers and stationery are facing challenges, there is strong growth in areas that offer higher value and specialized interest. For example, greeting card sales have seen a notable increase, particularly when retailers focus on higher price point cards and seasonal offerings. This shift highlights a broader trend where businesses are moving away from high-volume, low-commission items toward products that drive a higher average transaction value.

Magazines are also showing unexpected resilience, with unit sales seeing a modest increase compared to the declines of previous years. This growth is most prominent in stores that carry a wide range of special interest titles, such as motoring, crosswords, and hobbyist publications. By focusing on these niche categories, newsagencies can achieve a better return on their shelf space, even if they choose to condense their overall magazine display.

Other standout performers in recent months include toys, books, and high-quality plush brands. Categories like toys and books have seen double-digit growth, indicating that customers are increasingly turning to their local newsagency for curated gifts and entertainment. Even though the total number of transactions across the industry has dipped slightly, the average value of each sale has risen significantly. This means that while fewer people may be walking through the door, those who do are spending more on items they find personally meaningful or useful.

For retailers, these trends provide a valuable benchmark for their own performance. Comparing your current sales data to the previous year can reveal whether your business is keeping pace with these industry shifts. If your growth in categories like cards or gifts isn’t meeting these averages, it may be time to reconsider your product range or how you are presenting those items to your customers.

The newsagency channel remains a vibrant part of the retail community for those willing to adapt. By moving beyond traditional expectations and embracing new product opportunities, you can set your business up for a successful year ahead. Whether you are looking at your data through the Tower Systems POS software or simply observing your daily sales, focusing on higher value transactions and specialized inventory is a practical path to long term profitability.

newsXpress is grateful for the opportunity of exclusive access to this 1g gold ingot featuring SpongeBob. This will be another new shopper traffic driver, another win for local newsXpress stores.

The reserve bank announces this week that it has delayed its decision on payments surcharges.

The Reserve Bank has received 174 written submissions from consumers, small businesses, corporations, government entities, banks and the payments industry.

newsXpress members were represented in a comprehensive and professionally prepared submission.

A week ago, RBA governor Michele Bullock also noted the bank was “going to take the time to get these changes right”.

The bank also noted “To give due consideration to this substantial body of information and the policy implications, the RBA has decided to extend the time for concluding the Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging until March 2026,” .

Our view here at newsXpress is that a surcharging ban would be acceptable only if significant reforms were made to the whole system, eliminating the huge gap in costs between small and large businesses. We need to see the splitting of debit & credit card fees, removal of blended rates, and the implementation of dynamic least-cost routing from all payment providers.

This issue is a test for politicians of all sides. During election campaigns they say how important small businesses are to Australia. On this issue they can demonstrate actions to support their  claimed position, they can lobby and call for arrangements to be put in place that support small businesses.

The current arrangements for card processing fees is unfair, placing a considerable burden on small businesses retailers and unfairly advantaging big businesses.

It is time for all politicians to be clear and loud about this, it is time for them to actively support small business retailers.

The surcharges themselves are a distraction from the core issue: small businesses being charged more per transaction than big business competitors even though the costs are the same to those providing payment services in small and big businesses.

The current arrangements are a tax against small businesses.

This delay to March 2026, while presented by the RBA as necessary for “getting it right,” unfortunately provides no immediate relief for the very small businesses being hurt by these inequities. It effectively locks in this unfair “tax” for a longer period, forcing independent retailers to continue subsidising the operations of their largest competitors and the profits of payment providers. This extension only heightens the urgency for political action.

Small businesses cannot afford to wait over a year for fairness, in fairness comes at all; they need politicians to intervene now and demand the structural reforms, like transparency and the removal of blended rates—that will level the playing field immediately.

newsXpress is a financial supporter of the Independent Payments Forum, a body made up of retail business representatives, a body working for equity and fairness for small businesses, local independent businesses. The work of the IPF is professional and backed by excellent quality research.

newsXpress is proud to support them.

newsXpress stores are helping Aussies celebrate teachers with a wonderful range of thank you teacher cards out now.

 

Wow, what a 24 hours. newsXpress stores across Australia had lines out the front as Aussies sought to get their hands on Bluey Christmas coins released yesterday. newsXpress bright the opportunity members.

newsXpress supports the RSPCA with charity boxed Christmas cards.

That’s right, we are offering the Women’s Weekly $1 coin set folder and tube with a BONUS $2 coin already placed in the folder for you. Shop now ad we ship right away – everything is in stock right now.

Wow, what a coin: 30 YEARS OF THE TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER FLAG 2025 $2 C MINTMARK COLOURED UNCIRCULATED COIN and we are so grateful to offer this at newsXpress.

Check your change at your local newsXpress.

Yes, plenty of newsXpress newsagents sell Pokemon cards.

@ newsXpress Malvern, 114 Glenferrie Road. We’ll exchange $50 cash for a sachet of coins – worth $50.