Category: newsXpress difference

Expansion of Business Development Team in Queensland

jeff8.jpgJeff Walsh is moving from a merchandise role to a Business Development role with newsXpress in Queensland. Jeff brings a wealth of experience in the stationery and related categories to this new role. He suggested the move after spending the last six months working in the field with newsXpress members on planagrams for several key newsXpress stationery offers.

Jeff will retain a watching brief in the merchandise role, ensuring that the group leverages his excellent industry contacts and knowledge for newsXpress members nationally.

Jeff joins Belinda Adshead in sharing Business Development Manager responsibilities for our large Queensland member base. This means we will be able to get to members more regularly. These visits by our Business Development Managers provide members with practical help in building healthier businesses.

Best of all, the regular visits by newsXpress Business Development Managers are free – part of the newsXpress deliverables.

Newsagent networking opportunity

The newsXpress member meetings which we are hosting in April will have a strong networking component – there will be excellent opportunity for newsagents to share ideas with each other and learn from each other. Our role is to provide the environment and the open discussion between colleagues.

We have several discussion starter topics we will bring to the meetings to get people sharing their approach to issues newsagents face. Our goal is to focus discussion on parts of newsagencies which local management can change.

Newsagents considering joining newsXpress are welcome to ask for an invitation to a member meeting – or book directly online at our website.

Ron Thorpe guides newsXpress members on greeting cards

ron_thorpe.jpgAs National Business Development Manager for Hallmark Cards, Ron Thorpe developed an excellent reputation for his formidable knowledge about greeting cards and how newsagents can configure their businesses for optimum competition in this category. In his role with newsXpress, Ron guides the group on greeting card strategy.  Our access to Ron’s insights and knowledge is a key point of difference in the newsXpress offer.  Ron is also available as a resource to members on store-specific card issues.

newsXpress has assembled a team of experts to help in various parts of member businesses. Thanks to the expertise of Ron Thorpe and the rest of the team, newsXpress is able to help newsXpress newsagents lead the channel on year-on-year growth.

Customers responding to newsXpress coupons

nx_coupons.jpgnewsXpress members are reporting a good response to the call to action coupons on the latest HOT Ink! flyer.  Redeeming the coupons, customers are able to go beyond the very competitive pricing on the flyer.  This is another way newsXpress is positioning the brand with a differentiating value proposition.

We understand that we need to keep innovating to find new customers for our members.  This month’s coupon offer will evolve in the next HOT Ink! flyer.  What will not change is our commitment to brand – in this marketplace, brand is important as it represents value in the minds of consumers.  This is why we boldly support HP, Canon, Epson and brother.

newsXpress baskets make shopping easy

nx_shop_bag.JPGThe newsXpress branded basket makes shopping easier in our stores while reinforcing our brand at the same time. The quality of the basket itself speaks to the quality of the newsXpress brand.  These baskets are another opportunity for our members to anchor their businesses around the newsXpress brand and distance themselves from the more generic and vague newsagency shingle.

We understand the importance of shoppers knowing where they are – knowing the name of the business helps being them back to us based on the experience.

The baskets, our newsXpress branded bags, staff uniforms, name badges and other in-store tools professionally represent the newsXpress brand and the shopping experience.  Attention to these details is as important as is attention to having the right mix of products sourced for the right price.

Local area marketing workshop

newsXpress is hosting an online workshop on Local Area Marketing next week, on Tuesday March 24. 

How to grow your sales using Local Area Marketing will be facilitated by Trent Shields, our National Marketing Manager.  This is set to be an informative session and is sure to deliver tools newsXpress members can use to grow their businesses.  Crucially, the session will connect members from various states in a discussion abut local marketing – it is networking like this which newsXpress members love.

Bookings are via the members area of the newsXpress website.

Transparency with newsXpress members

As part of our commitment to transparency, newsXpress has provided six pages of notes from the recent round of member meetings.  This keeps those unable to attend in the loop on what was discussed and opens opportunities for further discussion on the many topics covered.  The notes also hold newsXpress accountable to its members on responses to issues and other deliverables.

This is another way newsXpress demonstrates its difference in the newsagency marketing group space.

newsXpress supports Queensland newsagents

newsXpress is proud to be able to demonstrate practical support for newsagents by being a major sponsor of the Queensland Newsagents State Conference next week.  Our newsXpress Gold sponsorship and a Bronze sponsorship by Newspower are the only newsagent marketing group support for the conference.  Other marketing groups have passed on the opportunity to show their support not only for the QNF but for newsagents more broadly.

newsXpress urges all marketing groups to proactively support newsagents and events like next week’s conference for it is these events which strengthen the channel which is important to us.

Chocolatier eggs for Easter

nx_choco.jpgnewsXpress has partnered with the respected Chocolatier brand for premium Easter chocolate products.  From single eggs to gift packs, newsXpress newsagents are able to source an excellent range of Easter chocolate products.  We are especially pleased to have available the Pink Ribbon related Easter range – the sale of which raises funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

The relationship with Chocolatier is part of the new national confectionery strategy announced earlier this year – this strategy unlocks an excellent range of confectionery products for newsXpress members at competitive prices.

Mother’s Day offers for newsXpress members

newsXpress last week advised member newsagents of Mother’s Day offers from seven suppliers.  Our merchandise team has negotiated a range of offers which will help our members have well-priced gifts and associated lines with which to celebrate Mother’s Day this year.  This is another season through which we can expand the gift offer.

In developing our seasonal plans, our merchandise experts meet with many suppliers, attend Gift Fairs and talk with newsXpress members strong in the gift space.  This information is considered and the final selection developed through the year.

By releasing Mother’s Day in mid-March, our members are able to plan and have stock available immediately after Easter.

Exclusive Select AFL cards promotion

nx_select.jpgnewsXpress members in Victoria are participating in an exclusive marketing campaign around the Select AFL Champions cards.  In addition to receiving premium promotional material, newsXpress members have access to an exclusive competition based on in-store marketing of the cards.

This promotion is timely in AFL-mad Victoria where the Select cards usually sell out.  newsXpress locations are well positioned to drive tremendous success from this opportunity and be known as the go-to retailer for the Select AFL Champions cards.

newsXpress member meetings

newsXpress has announced the next round of member meetings.  The agenda for these meetings includes: new great deal product opportunities, merchandise plans for Q3 2009, talk about brand compliance, year to date group financials and an update on our magazine project.

Brisbane: April 21, 10am
Brisbane Technology Park, Eight Mile Plains

Melbourne: April 23, 10am
Malvern Valley Golf & Reception Centre (Arlington)

Sydney: April 28, 10am
The Lakes Golf Club, Eastlakes NSW

Perth: May 5
Online

newsXpress will be represented by the Directors and senior management.  Each meeting will include an open forum as well as networking opportunities.  Booking is via the members area of the newsXpress website.

Prospective newsXpress members who would like to attend should make contact with us on availability.

More than the deals

12th-march-002.jpgWhile newsXpress negotiates exclusive deals on products for its members, it is at the back end of the business that we deliver tremendous benefit for our members. Deals will not sell unless you pull new people in with professional marketing. Deals will not sell unless you present them professionally. Deals will not sell unless you provide training and product knowledge for staff which helps them leverage them.

Troy and the team at newsXpress Wagga Wagga understand this and embrace all that newsXpress offers – right down to our branded sale table cover as shown in the photo from their store this week.

By promoting the brand of the store along with a hot deal around art, newsXpress Wagga Wagga is pitching true value of customers walking past their newsagency. Pitching the brand even in this subtle way is important because now, more than ever before, the difference in newsagencies is obvious.

From table cloths, to uniforms, to name badges to shop signage, newsXpress offers a branding solution to enable members to be proud of their newsXpress membership and to let customers know where they can experience the newsXpress difference.

Reinventing the newsagency ink offer

hotink7.jpgnewsXpress has evolved its Hot Ink! offer to keep its 160 newsagent members ahead of the pack when it comes to ink, toner and related products.  While previous Hot Ink! offers have worked very well for us and our members, we knew we could not rest on our laurels.  Hence changes which include four supplier-funded offers.  Two of these offers are exclusive to newsXpress newsagencies.

The two-page brochure, distributed to hundreds of thousands of homes around Australia, is the first of its kind in the newsagency channel in that it promotes coupons, cashbacks and bonuses is a way never used by newsagents.

Historically, newsagents have promoted ink around price using catalogues that look like price lists.  Our goal was to create a professional and compelling offer which separated us from this me-too marketing approach and which worked as a call to action.

Beyond the marketing support, newsXpress helps with ranging, merchandising and staff training.

Local area marketing workshop

How to use local area marketing is another free online workshop from newsXpress to help its members enhance business skills and network with other newsXpress members on business building topics.  Hosted by our National Marketing Manager, Trent Shields, this workshop will cover the newsXpress range of resources available for Local area marketing and explore how newsXpress members have successfully marketed their businesses in their local community.

newsXpress supports Lovatts Brain Awareness Week initiative

newsXpress is proud to partner with Lovatts, Australia’s premier crossword and puzzle publisher, to support Brain Awareness Week.

Brain Awareness Week is an international enterprise organised by the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives to advance public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research. This year Brain Awareness Week will be held between 16-22 March.

There is a strong correlation between remaining brain active and restricting the onset of brain health issues so it is appropriate that newsXpress partners with Lovatts to support this cause.

Thanks to Lovatts, newsXpress stores have a great value offer for customers.  Holiday Collections Issue 68 will come bagged with a Cryptic Collections A4 puzzle book and a handy How to do Cryptic Crosswords booklet, total value of over $16 for just $9.50.

Great printer ink deals in Mackay

nx_mackay_hotink.JPGnewsXpress Village in Mackay, Queensland is promoting the latest Hot Ink! offer with a full page advertisement in the Daily Mercury newspaper.  newsXpress has worked with newsXpress Village on the creative for the ad, developing a variation to our successful two-page flyer.  Developing creative like this is part of how we help newsXpress members promote locally and do so in a way which connects with national campaigns.

Landlords invite newsXpress into their centres

shopfront.jpgnewsXpress is receiving more and more invitations to consider locations in existing and new shopping centres around Australia.

With a footprint of close to 160 locations nationally, attractive businesses, a commitment to professional retailing, national TV and print advertising and good compliance principles, landlords see newsXpress as a national brand they want in their centres.

In response to approaches, newsXpress has developed a set of principles and guidelines for handling invitations from landlords.

  • We do not approach landlords in centres where there is an existing newsagent.
  • We only consider locations which are on the open market.
  • There are instances where we have helped existing newsagents lift their businesses and stay in a centre by providing support services and other guidance to lift their offer and retain their business.
  • We ensure that a newsagent already serving the centre is given the opportunity to open the newsXpress location offered to us by the landlord – we have helped existing newsagents expand in this way.
  • Using our professional lease negotiator, we pursue the best possible terms for the business.
  • We invite existing newsXpress members to consider taking up available tenancy offers.
  • next, we invite non newsXpress newsagents to take up the new tenancy offer.
  • If these steps do not uncover a good candidate, we may market the opportunity more widely or invite the landlord to see suitable tenants directly.

newsXpress goes to extraordinary lengths to ensure newsagents covering an existing location and first bite at a new opportunity. There are excellent instances in our history where this has worked well for the newsagent and the landlord.

2010 calendar workshop for newsagents

newsXpress is hosting an online workshop on 2010 calendar opportunities for for newsXpress newsagents.  This workshop will be held on March 10 and will cover the 2010 range, guidelines on what to order and other opportunities to pursue now in order to make the most of the lucrative season.

This is a terrific learning opportunity from newsXpress – we are committed to helping our newsagent members have access to the best resources and advice.

This workshop is another cross-border networking opportunity for newsXpress members.