Great printer ink deals at newsXpress

hotink-14.JPGHOT Ink! #14 flyers have hit close to 1 million homes across Australia offering excellent deals in printer ink and printer toner. Based on respected brands HP, Canon, Brother, Epson and Lexmark, the newsXpress HOT Ink! #14 flyer offers HOT prices for quality brand name product. No compatibles, just brands from the original manufacturers which shoppers can trust.

To support HOT Ink! #14, stores have been sent marketing collateral kits including the shelf talkers shown in the photo. These help present the product professional and drive sales efficiently.

Proud to support the QNF

newsXpress is proud to support the Queensland Newsagents’ Federation as a Platinum Sponsor of their State Conference today in Brisbane. As a sponsor of many years standing, newsXpress respects the work of the QNF and is grateful for an opportunity to once again put something back into this body which so well helps newsagents.

In addition to financial support, newsXpress will have a full contingent at today’s conference including senior management and our on the ground Business Development team – those working at the coal face helping newsXpress members transform their businesses.

Four creative winners at Yarram

yarram-winners.JPGThe four winners of the Easter colouring competition were happy to be photographed outside newsXpress Yarram (VIC) when they came in to collect their prizes. The extent of entries can be seen in the background with artwork covering the windows – there is considerably more than in the photo. What a terrific result for newsXpress Yarram, and the fine young artists in their midst.

Awards like those at Yarram were made across the country as newsXpress members heaped praise on winners in local easter colouring competitions.

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 collateral from newsXpress

mothers_day.jpgnewsXpress shipped Mother’s Day marketing collateral to all member locations several weeks ago.  The newsXpress exclusive A1 double-sided posters reflect the bright and love-centred sentiment of the season.  The artwork is a reminder for shoppers without getting in the way of other Mother’s Day collateral.

Our artwork has been carefully designed by our marketing and design teams to compliment artwork from core suppliers.

This artwork, like that for all seasons supported by newsXpress, has been provided without additional cost to members.

Another happy newsXpress winner

hamperwinner.jpgCailin Wright is the happy winner of our Easter colouring competition at newsXpress Knox in Victoria.  She was happy to come in and collect her prize hamper of chocolates, plush and other gifts.

Cailin was one of many entrants in newsXpress colouring competitions run around Australia in newsXpress stores this Easter.  Our members used the opportunity to promote customer and community engagement as well as having fun.

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.

Appreciation from Lighthouse Foundation

newsxpress-lighthouse.JPGnewsXpress received heartfelt appreciation from the Lighthouse Foundation last week for the funds we raised in our Father’s Day campaign last year.  In a newsXpress exclusive promotion, every pack of Dad’s Nuts bags from Morish Nuts raised funds for Lighthouse.  This is another part of our commitment to social responsibility – connecting newsXpress and member businesses with community organisations.

newsXpress thanks all members for participating in this promotion and helping to make a difference to the work Lighthouse dows in the community.

Top Gear at newsXpress Wetherill Park

15032010023.jpgThe newsXpress Merchandise team delivered a terrific product opportunity to member stores capitalising on the on going success of the original UK Top Gear and the launch of the TV show on Channel 9 this year.

newsXpress Wetherill Park are always early adopters of merchandise opportunities and supported this new range with a superb display on a prominent aisle end that showcased the full range of: Stig Pens, watches, clocks, USB Drives, key chains, mini torches, Boxed mugs and journals.

New look newsXpress Robina

newsxpress-robina.JPGThe new shopfit just completed by Rowe shopfitters for newsXpress Robina (QLD) looks stunning.  It makes a bold brand-based statement from the front of the shop and throughout.  Professionalism like this is crucial in a competitive retail environment.  The new fit does Chris and Tony McNamara and the newsXpress brand proud.  Click on the image to see a larger version of this photo.

Easter at newsXpress Salamander Bay

salamander-bay-one.jpgnewsXpress Salamander Bay has promoted the success of their newsXpress Easter colouring in competition by incorporating the fantastic entries into their in-store merchandising display. The use of the colorful bunnies to dress the merchandising display was an inspirational decision by Fiona Matthews and her team that has paid off brilliantly as the photo attests.

A concerted effort to branch out into gifts this Easter is resulting in great rewards for newsXpress stores, and the timing of the ABW Easter Book promotion has driven even more traffic and sales.

newsXpress launches ‘Retail Training Academy’

newsXpress has launched the newsXpress Retail Training Academy. In partnership with Ganador Management Solutions (the Registered Training Organisation = RTO), newsXpress has created the industry’s first training program specifically designed around a newsagency marketing group and its principles.

“As a marketing group newsXpress has procured the services of a progressive RTO to develop and customise the training material to simultaneously meet government standards and meet specific, practical requirements of its members.” Opined Dr Dennis Price, CEO Ganador Management Solutions.

The training program is underpinned by government subsidies for eligible employees making it cost neutral for all small businesses to participate and at completion of the course the trainee will gain a nationally recognised Retail Certificate Level 3.

“Newsagents are undergoing tremendous change, one of the cornerstone strategies for dealing with change, is developing people and equipping them to add value at a higher level.” commented Graham Randall, Managing Director of newsXpress. “Whilst there are many training options out there, this particular approach is unique because it is specifically customised just like enterprise RTOs (Woolworths and other large retailers) but has been outsourced and separately funded by newsXpress to give small business (and their staff) access to the same opportunities as the big guns of retail. Additionally it is commercially relevant because of material customisation of the content, whilst meeting and exceeding the nationally accredited standards.”

This training program ensures the long term future of newsXpress staff members as they will have been trained on the newsXpress system. The benefits of the training will roll through the business from the staff member to the owner and the business itself.

The program is delivered as a ’blended solution’ which includes face-to-face workshops, in-store training and assessment and e-learning.

“The program is aimed at the staff employed in small businesses, often in rural areas, and lacking many opportunities for training and development.” said Ben Kay, newsXpress General Manager. “newsXpress feels it has a corporate social responsibility to support its members and their staff to access the right training that is relevant to the individual and the business. newsXpress is committed to this program and our staff are being trained to be able to formally facilitate the program”.

Employees working in newsXpress locations are already expressing interest in the new training on offer.

Four regional newsXpress meetings next month

newsXpress is pleased to announce dates for four regional meetings next month to provide newsXpress members an opportunity to talk about business and to also let others see the newsXpress difference. Art these meetings we will share an newsXpress developed strategy which shows how to grow traffic, efficiency and margin. Running from 10am to 1pm, the sessions are open to newsXpress members and newsagent colleagues. The dates are:

MACKAY, QLD – Tuesday April 20.
TORONTO, NSW Central Coast – Tuesday April 27.
SUNSHINE COAST, QLD – Thursday April 29
GOLD COAST – Friday April 30

Click here to book.

newsXpress Knox attracting strong interest

newsxpress_knox.JPGOur new newsXpress corporate store at Knox City in Victoria is drawing plenty of attention from others.

Newsagents, suppliers and others regularly visit to see the flexible shopfitting system from Interfit and other innovations we have delivered in this business.

Many visitors are taken with the innovative tables we have at the front of the business.  These are now the fourth generation of a newsXpress exclusive development we started over three years ago.  Having the right and flexible fixtures are vital to retail success.  These latest units can be seen working for books as well as Easter eggs and other Easter product.

newsXpress is committed to investing in the development of more useful and financially rewarding fixtures and fitting for newsXpress businesses.  We back this innovation with on the ground support in how fixtures can be best used.

The result of our work is excitement about the future not only for our group but for others who are taking a keen interest in what we are doing.

The photo was taken this morning at newsXpress Knox.

Great Easter competition entries at newsXpress Yarram

yarram_easter_entries.JPGThe front window is ablaze with colour at newsXpress Yarram (VIC) as they have entries for their easter colouring competition on display.  Click on the image to see the extent of the entries they have received – the entries stretch across three windows and easter is still more than a week away.  Engagement like this in a local campaign is terrific for the local community as well as newsXpress Yarram.

newsXpress gives away 5 iPhones

newsXpress has drawn five lucky customers at random from many entries submitted to determine the winners of iPhones which were offered as part of our Back to Work campaign.

Each lucky customer was thrilled when called with news of their win. We are playing the phonecalls with the winners on newsXpress radio.

We are grateful to Optus for their support of this campaign.

Our iPhone giveaway campaign was another way newsXpress was demonstrating its difference to our members and to our customers.

Easter at newsXpress Mountain Creek

mountaincreek_easter.jpgnewsXpress Mountain Creek (QLD) has a terrific Easter display on their dance floor, promoting Easter chocolates as well as other items. At Mountain Creek and in newsXpress locations across Australia, Easter is a high-profile season promoting excellent margin product and mixing this with good traffic generating product.

The newsXpress offer is unique thanks to product range, margin, external marketing and marketing collateral supplied to drive business.

newsXpress has an excellent range of suppliers offering product across sveeral categories supporting the Easter this year.

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.

Easter at newsXpress Castle Towers

castle_towers_easter.jpgAnnie, Hans and the team at newsXpress Castle Towers (NSW) are showing a strong and creative commitment to Easter in their large newsXpress store at Castle Towers Shopping centre in Sydney – as the photo shows.

At the front of the shop they have a wonderful display of delicious Darrell Lea chocolate products. They also have a brilliant display of Easter cards as well as a good range of gifts.

Capping the Easter display, running the length of the shop, is the newsXpress Easter collateral.

The newsXpress Castle Towers team provides an excellent shopping experience and a strong representation of what newsXpress stands for – as their Easter display shows.

Book Sale at newsXpress Maryborough (VIC)

maryborough_books.JPGnewsXpress Maryborough (VIC) is promoting their newsXpress Easter Book Sale on the dance floor right at the front of the business. They are promoting an excellent range of Children’s books through a terrific display to shoppers as they enter the store.  The book sale has stock across a range of categories and each store can choose the category they promote to main traffic.  Maryborough chose children’s books for the front of their display because it works for them.

newsXpress Maryborough is also using the book sale to attract new traffic through a catalogue based program organised with newsXpress. They are also using it to drive additional business from people who visit for another purchase.

The Book Sale is part of the newsXpress sales efficiency strategy – this drives more sales from existing traffic.