Category: social responsibility

newsXpress supports Hallmark fundraising

hallmark_cards.JPGnewsXpress is proudly supporting Hallmark Cards and their fundraising efforts for the National Breast Cancer Foundation this Mother’s Day through their Cards For Cure campaign.

Hallmark has been supporting the NBCF since 2001 and have been recognised by the organisation for their commitment.

newsXpress locations across Australia have a full range of these fund raising Hallmark Mother’s Day cards on display as well as promotional material supporting the important work of the NBCF.

In buying a Hallmark card this Mother’s Day you support breast cancer research and show that together we can make a difference.

newsXpress engages government on environmental strategy

newsXpress has written to the Minister for the Environment to outline the challenges for small business retailers under carbon trading arrangements and today’s environmental situation more generally. While our submission is on behalf of newsXpress member newsagents, it usefully opens a discussion which could benefit all newsagents.

newsXpress is committed to helping its member newsagents operate successful best practice businesses. Our engagement with the Federal Government on environmental matters pursues that goal.

Important bushfire disaster recovery project

Robyn Ritchie of newsXpress Whittlesea, along with a group of Whittlesea women, is involved in an important bushfire recovery project focusing on two areas of recovery:

The Phoenix Group Project. A project which aims to replace treasured photos that were lost in the tragic events of Saturday the 7th February 2009. Anyone connected with someone affected by the bushfires – former neighbours from years ago, old boyfriends and girlfriends, past workmates etc. – is asked to look through old photo albums and find any pictures that feature, or would be of special significance to, the fire affected families. The website has details of how to pass these photos on securely.

The Disaster help Site. A furniture register website which aims to meet immediate needs of the fire affected families as they move into temporary accommodation. All items should be in good condition, clean and fully functional. Ideally, the items remain with you until required, but if storage is a problem, collection can be arranged.

    More practical support for Victorian bushfire victims

    newsXpress has shipped a range of stationery for by among schools in fire ravaged areas. We heard about the need through one of members who is a fireman and gladly joined the project to help get school materials so that classes have materials so that learning can get under way.  This project has been co-ordinated by several of our members working together to ensure that we understand what is needed and that it gets to the right place.

    newsXpress Seymour raises $2,600 for bushfire relief

    Vaughan Lawrence and the team at newsXpress Seymour raised $2,600 in five days for the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.  Customers have been encouraged to donate direct to the Red Cross at their website and leave their change in the bucket at the counter.  This is a campaign newsXpress developed with the Red Cross immediately after the fires.  The money has been deposited into the Red Cross account and the receipt put on display for customers as recommended by newsXpress.

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    The support from the people shopping at newsXpress Seymour has been exceptional.  $2,600 given in just five days shows heartfelt concern for bushfire victims.

    The photo was taken after the first deposit.

    Notice the challenge on the sign – let’s get another $3,000.

    Dealing with the aftermath of the bushfires

    whittlesea-002.jpgNeil and Robyn Ritchie at newsXpress Whittlesea have had an extraordinary ten days in their newsagency – but they can still manage a smile for customers and a quick photo.

    Besides the challenge of a huge influx in the population of the town – it is a major holding area and contact point for bushfire relief in the area – they have customers, employees and friends directly affected.

    In the tradition of newsagents of years gone by, Neil and Robyn are working very long days behind the counter of their newsagency in the heart of town and doing newspaper deliveries early in the morning as they have a driver off because his house was burnt to the ground. Their home is a resting place for many they know who have been affected.

    Valentine’s Day and what would usually have been an excellent trading period came and went without notice as the sole focus of everyone in town is to understand the extent of the personal and property losses.

    This Friday is Robyn’s birthday and an opportunity to celebrate even if only briefly because of the work waiting to be done the next day.

    Our thoughts are with Neil, Robyn and all newsagents affected by the bushfires.

    newsXpress Silver Sands raises funds for Victorian Bushfire Appeal

    dscn0103.jpgTo raise funds for the victims of the bushfires in Victoria, the team at newsXpress Silver Sands in Western Australia rallied together with local business to raise funds.  Touched by the stories of survival and the desire to help staff member Angela, the dedicated team at newsXpress Silver Sands and proprietor Phillip Foo in just a little over 4 hours, raised over $1000.00. This was a direct result of a sausage sizzle, raffles and of course the open generosity of the numerous shoppers passing by and dropping their donations in the tin. The store also donated a HP printer.  The local pharmacy donated perfumes, Poolwerx a $100 voucher for the raffles, IGA the sausages, the bakery bread rolls, the local pub donated the can drinks and newsXpress Silver Sands’ own insurance broker ths one-off public liability.

    The photo shows Jeannie, Angela(organiser, and staff member), Phillip Foo, and Amanda

    Bushfire support and stories

    newsXpress members are sharing stories with us about how their customers are reacting to our invitation for them to leave their loose change as a donation to the bushfire appeal. Across the counter, with the donations, come stories of family members and friends touched by the tragedy in Victoria. Listening to each story and providing another way to support the Red Cross appeal helps newsXpress newsagents to demonstrate their community connection.

    Our members also give out the Red Cross direct donation access point details for customers who whist to make a more considerable donation than loose change from a sale.

    We are grateful to the Red Cross for their help in ensuring that the advice we provide is accurate and best suited to their wonderful efforts.

    Bushfire appeal advice sent to newsXpress members

    Following further advice from the Red Cross, newsXpress today published guidelines for our member newsagents on how to collect change from customers to be on-forwarded to the red Cross.  At the same time, we have provided material for our members to use to encourage their customers to donate direct to the Red Cross.  Below is a copy of one of the notices we have provided to our members.

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    newsXpress has members in Victoria directly affected and we have offered practical assistance to these businesses.

    newsXpress supports bushfire appeal

    newsXpress has had discussions with the Red Cross today about how its members and their customers can support the Red Cross Victorian Bushfilre Appeal.  The Red Cross has asked that for the moment all donations are made direct – this provides appropriate tracking and receipting.  newsXpress is due to talk with the red cross tomorrow following further discussions within the Red Cross on how we and others may be able to more practically assist.

    Sourcing low cost China product

    Smart newsagents balance their respected brand offers with timely special value deals.  newsXpress has announced a new supplier relationship this week which makes selected China product available to members on good terms.  This will enable our members to supplement their existing brand strategy with special offers and through this build a healthier shopping basket.

    newsXpress is constantly looking for opportunities for members in a variety of situations and product categories.  Solutions like the China product offer announced this week are not mandatory on members.

    ‘Green’ Idea at newsXpress Nambour

    Lisa the store manager at newsXpress Nambour recently asked the newsXpress marketing department for a copy of the ‘say NO to plastic bags’ artwork.

    Little did we know what they had in store for it! As you can see from the photos a very creative mind has transformed our branded re-usable bags into cute little turtles to tie into the environmental message we have been supporting.

    Great innovation often is often the result of good ideas and enthusiasm as shown in this example.

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    Environmental Education continues at newsXpress

    A national display competition and a genuine sense of social responsibility has led to newsXpress trailblazing the environmental cause amongst small businesses Australia wide. A branded and reusable red bag is not only a great marketing tool for your business but also a commendable alternative to plastic bags.

    newsXpress Scott’s Lismore – Use a large red container and fill it with bags, placing it next to the front door. It is sharing space with the HOT ink! and proving a smash with customers.

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    newsXpress Ballarat have merchandised their red bags on a double sided display at the front of the store. It has been put together this way to give a different message depending on whether the customer is entering or exiting the store.

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    newsXpress Thornlie Square have appealed to the emotive side of their customers by asking if they ‘love their environment’.

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    Saying ‘NO’ to plastic bags

    Newsagents’ have been labeled as wasteful by groups such as Planet Ark. newsXpressers are changing this perception by committing themselves to driving our environmental strategy which involves our cartridge rescue plan and also selling our red environmental bags for 70c. We’re sure groups such as Planet Ark and Clean Up Australia will get behind our network of stores and give us their full support.

    newsXpress Laidley are leading the way with this stellar display and making their customers aware. Education is key in changing customers perceptions about the impact of plastic bags on the environment.

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    This photo is a prime example of how our newsXpress members are embracing the environmental message and including it in their regular promotional program. Congratulations to Helen & Russell Kirk and their team.

    newsXpress Arana Hills are having great success with the ‘new money’ category of Ink & Toner.

    Brett and Kaylene Connelly offered this testimonial:

    “We have had Ink & Toner in our store for about 11 months.

    We got into the product because we wanted something new and with ink we saw enormous growth potential. To accommodate the space required for the cartridges we moved Darrell Lea and exposed a perfect area near the front counter that was highly visible and secure. As soon as we installed some hang sell fixtures we were up and running.

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    We have participated in each of the five newsXpress HOT ink! promotions. We have found that the sales do spike during the on-sale periods, but pleasingly sales remain strong once the promotion ends.

    We have identified a further opportunity for extra sales with associated products and look forward to the merchandising challenge to create a full technological offer.

    The catalogues are distributed to the homes in the suburbs surrounding Arana Hills by a letterbox drop company with the remainder being used as bag stuffers in store.

    Our advice to any store starting out in this exciting category is to only stock the products suggested and advertised by newsXpress, and even then watch the sales and adjust orders to suit your market”.

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    Ink & Toner at newsXpress Arana Hills, featured in this photo is the unique Cartridge Rescue recycling bin.


    newsXpress Gympie and Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors

    Warrick Hosking at newsXpress Gympie is passionate about everything in his business. Last year when it was encouraged to charge retail customers 10c per plastic bag and to donate the money to a charity Warrick showed no hesitation in running this program and advertising his support for the Wildlife Warriors.

    The Wildlife Warriors continue the great work of their founder Steve Irwin in pursuing conservation projects from their base at Australia Zoo.

    Warrick and his team raised the princely sum of $611.95 last year and the photos below show the presentation of the cheque at Australia Zoo.

    We strongly encourage newsXpress members to decrease their plastic bag usage and to support worthwhile local charitable organisations to better connect within their community.

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    Warrick has also arranged four separate collection boxes for his shop with co-branding of newsXpress to feature alongside the Wildlife Warriors logo.