Hallmark Father’s Day Cards Shine at newsXpress Knox City

fathers-cards-giftss.jpgnewsXpress Knox City is promoting the entire Hallmark Father’s Day card range across four stands with this display facing out into the Knox City Shopping Centre mall as well as back into the shop.

Bordering this particular Father’s Day display, the cards share the limelight with the Cadbury Tool Kit Father’s Day gift which is a feature of the newsXpress campaign.

The newsXpress Knox City team is having a terrific Father’s Day 2011 thanks to innovative products from the newsXpress preferred supplier mix and the excellent range of Hallmark Father’s Day cards.

Optus Mobile Phone and SIM card Offers at newsXpress Sunbury Square

optus-sunbury.JPGnewsXpress Sunbury Square is promoting its Optus mobile phone and SIM card offers at the sales counter.

They have kicked the traditional dump bin approach ip a notch with the sign detailing offers available.  This is an excellent move as it pitches the offer at eye level … thereby increasing the opportunity for shopper awareness.

newsXpress knows from member feedback that mobile phones and SIM cards can be purchased on impulse at the counter – hence our placement recommendation.

Thanks to our partnership with Optus and Jenlist, we have delivered a 100% boost in Optus mobile phone recharge commission earned by newsXpress members.

Mother’s Day at newsXpress Emerald

mothers-emerald.jpgnewsXpress Emerald has Mother’s Day covered from the front of the shop through to the sales counter with team members dressed for the season and displays promoting a wonderful range of gifts and cards.  Customers are loving the look of the shop.  the photo shows the display from behind the counter where a terrific range of gifts is displayed.  As the photo shows, they are making good use of newsXpress and Hallmark marketing collateral.

Great plush range in Mildura

korimco-mildura.JPGnewsXpress Mildura has a wall of plush from newsXpress preferred suppliers, plush for all occasions and at all prices, serving every need.  Mildura shoppers are sure to find what they are looking for with this excellent range of plush on show.  The photo shows part of the extensive plush range from Korimco, a newsXpress preferred supplier.  newsXpress Mildura is the go to place in Mildura for plush thanks to their extensive range and excellent merchandising.

newsXpress provides access to plush through a range of suppliers through our preferred supplier program.  The range covers respected brands through to economy offerings.  It covers plush for just about all gift giving occasions – perfect for adding to greeting card sales.

newsXpress members have access to preferred terms which usually deliver a discount off invoice – this is much better than after the event rebate.

Christmas campaign almost finalised

newsXpress has presented the Christmas marketing campaign and products to all members at the recent round of member meetings which concluded yesterday in Perth.  Thanks to supplier generosity we were able to show off all of the catalogue items as well as some other exciting non catalogue items for Christmas 2010.

newsXpress members have placed their orders and this data is being used to finesse the marketing materials being used to drive traffic and sales.

Having our Christmas 2010 plans finalised before the end of July, five months ahead of Christmas, leaves newsXpress members time now to concentrate on tactical opportunities in their businesses.

newsXpress welcomes Fellowes as preferred supplier

newsXpress is pleased to announce Fellowes as a new preferred supplier for newsXpress members.

Fellowes is a global leading brand in shredding, laminating, binding and office accessories. Fellowes products are available as a turnover order through GNS nationally or direct to Fellowes who can turn over the order.

Rob Henderson our National Merchandise Manager continues to attract brand-name suppliers to newsXpress to strengthen our range and store level trading terms.

Great timing on STOCKTAKE SALE

stockatke_sale_great.jpgTiming is everything as they say.  Our STOCKTAKE SALE running right now is a great offer at the right time.  The right time because of the $90 million Oz Lotto jackpot.  The right time, too, because of school holidays.  These are great opportunities to move stock and many of our members engaged with the STOCKTAKE SALE strategy are having a wonderful time with this.  At our our last round of member meetings, which ended last week in Brisbane, we heard stories of success from members engaged with the STOCKTAKE SALE.

Great ink campaign from newsXpress

newsxpress_hot_inkxx.JPGThe typical newsXpress HOT Ink! campaign is full on.  Consumer flyers, in-store posters, shelf labels, shelf talkers, plan a gram advice and product information sheets combine to offer newsXpress members everything necessary to drive tremendous business outcomes.  Members who embrace all that HOT Ink! offers report excellent results – not only in the ink category but elsewhere since HOT Ink! marketing pitches the newsagency as a great place to shop.

The pack in the photo was sent to every newsXpress member participating in our latest HOT Ink! promotion.  (Click for a larger version.)  Everything was provided free of charge except for the brochures – these were subsidied by newsXpress.

Driving better goodwill in newsagencies

nx_flag.jpgGoodwill is important when a newsagents decides to sell their business as it represents the value of the business after the current owner leaves. Belonging to a marketing group like newsXpress can add to the goodwill of a newsagency.

Business goodwill is that portion of a business’ value associated with the business itself. It includes things like footprint, brand recognition, supplier relationships, training, support, marketing, market share etc. Business goodwill is transferable from one owner to another, it is sellable.

The other part of Goodwill is personal goodwill this is the portion of a business’ value associated directly with its owner. Things like the owner’s name, reputation, contacts, skills, and abilities. For many Newsagencies the majority of their value is tied up in personal goodwill. Unfortunately, personal goodwill only has value to the current owner, and is therefore difficult to sell.

A prospective newsagency buyer will usually look for a newsagency with a higher business goodwill. From the buyer’s perspective, a newsagency with more business goodwill is worth more of a premium price as the business is more likely to remain profitable once it has changed hands.

newsXpress provides its members with strategies, product offers and regular in-business support to help build business goodwill and thereby make the business more value. This is a key aspect of our mission and a key point of difference of newsXpress.

newsXpress at QLD State Conference

20090324_0143.jpgnewsXpress had an excellent contingent at the QNF Queensland State Conference yesterday in Brisbane. The conference provided a range of stimulating speakers and some excellent opportunities for networking with newsagents and suppliers. newsXpress is proud to have been a key financial supporter of the event and to have had another opportunity through which to demonstrate practical support for all newsagents. Kudos to the QNF for excellent organisation.

Newsagents and long term franchise agreements

newsXpress does not lock members into long term franchise agreements.  We prefer member newsagents to stay with us because they want to stay and not because of a legal threat.  This is a hot issue among newsagents today. We find it being raised more and more by newsagents who enquire about joining newsXpress.  Two other newsagent franchise groups lock newsagents into long agreements, usually five years.

We have had newsagents recently tell us they have heard of legal action against other newsagents to force them to stay with a group.  Legal action is expensive, intimidating and takes you away from running your newsagency.  If a relationship is not working, why litigate or threaten litigation to force the union to remain?

Our view here at newsXpress is that we prefer to be kept focused by the knowledge that our members stay because they like what we do.  We also think it is fair to NOT lock the current newsagents and future prospective purchasers of the business into a long agreement.

Networking is the key

Networking among like-minded proactive newsagents has been key to the success of newsXpress since the group began seven years ago.  Every three months, the group hosts member meetings in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.  At these meetings, members learn about new products and strategies, discuss business development initiatives and network with colleagues.

Politics and many day to day issues are left at the door as we work proactively as a group on improving our businesses and the newsXpress network more widely.  The meetings are lively and exciting.  They are a great way for anyone considering joining a marketing group to assess newsXpress and see our operation first-hand.

Our next Brisbane member meeting is on November 11, Sydney on November 13 and Perth on November 18.  If you are contemplating joining a newsagency marketing group and want to find out more about newsXpress, consider coming along to one of these meetings and see our team in action for yourself.

STORE DESIGN & FITOUT ARE KEY TO MAXIMUM RETAIL PERFORMANCE

If your shop looks like Dave & Grace Sullivan run it, maybe its time you embraced a modern flexible store design concentrating on new money revenue streams. newsXpress works predominantly with three companies in this space, Interfit Retail, Rowes & Zone Design. If you look at the difference of a newsXpress store over you average Newsagency you’ll see why newsXpress leads the way not just in sales but in adaptabilty and fitting in more new money revenue. Let your store do the work for you, and allow it to be the upsell mechanism.

A well-planned retail store layout allows a retailer to maximize the sales for each square meter of allocated selling space within the store. In your new store design plan your store layout, atmosphere, and create irresistible visual merchandising displays, as well as using special lighting techniques to accent your products.

CARE & FRIENDSHIP MONTH – EXCLUSIVE TO newsXpress

A few years ago Terry Augustine at newsXpress Browns Plains came up with an in between seasons campaign to bolster greeting card sales. It has since evolved into a major campaign for newsXpress so much so that it is an exclusive Hallmark – newsXpress Alliance promotion.

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Mr Hallmark joins newsXpress!…….

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ron Thorpe as the newsXpress retail groups Director of Greeting Card Strategy.

Ron comes to us with over 40 years of experience working for Hallmark cards. Ron will work part-time out of the Melbourne office and will be responsible for developing exclusive strategies for newsXpress members in the greeting card space.

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Ron with ‘Mr newsXpress‘ and group Chariman Graham Randall & Mark Nagy CEO

Never too late – VALENTINE’S DAY – newsXpress Riverlink

Jayson and Belinda from newsXpress Riverlink sourced 14 dozen single red roses for their Valentine Outpost, which came sleeved, and had a red bow. These completely sold out in 2 days, complementing the plush and other gift ware.

Both Wednesday and Thursday were equally strong in retail sales. As this was the first year for their outpost they will be using their data when purchasing for next year.

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newsXpress Riverlink – special signage was commissioned advertising the rose offer to tie in with the newsXpress creative. While team members proudly show their selling skills in the spirit of Valentine’s Day.

newsXpress Indooroopilly gets a perfect score in Mystery Shopping

 

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newsXpress regularly mystery shops its network of stores country wide, and for the first time one of our members has come in with a perfect 100%. Congratulations to Brett and Ellen Deans from newsXpress Indooroopilly for setting the standard. Even better still they were mystery shopped whilst Brett & Ellen were on holidays. Shows that when high standards are instilled they are maintained.

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newsXpress launches into 2008

The newsXpress Support Team gathered in Melbourne last week to launch 2008.

A renewed energy and focus on growing the member base and building the business of existing members has been made the clear direction. This is evidenced by the announcement of inaugural newsXpresser and Director, Graham Randall taking up the role of Director of Business Development. Graham’s experience and reputation will be invaluable with nurturing relationships and continuing to improve the industry.

newsXpress Team 2008

From top right: Mark Nagy, Trent Shields, Ian Urquhart, Mark Fletcher, Graham Randall, Sonia Ruhland.
From bottom right: Roger Bortfield, Mary McNeil, Keith Sonerson, Karen Sutton, Lesley Bortfield, Michelle Caia.