newsXpress Blog

newsXpress/Hallmark Alliance providing great market data for members

newsXpress Ballarat is a shopping centre based member with significant competition. Their efforts of embracing our strong supplier alliance has shown an almost 18% increase in Valentine’s Day sales over last year.

And how do they know? Simple really. Within 7 days of Valentine’s Day, Hallmark had completed a review of the store sales and determined that newsXpress Ballarat has increased it’s Valentine’s Day sales by 17.94% over last year. Additionally, Hallmark used store photos in their recent sales meeting.

Whilst the store visits might have caused Ballarat to get very quick results, Hallmark will provide valuable feedback of sales performance to every member and then work to ensure these great sales increases are continued.

LOCAL MEMBER MEETINGS & SHARING INFORMATION

As a part of our member meeting in NSW/ACT we had a store visit to newsXpress Glendale. The learnings for our members were tremendous. The networking opportunity even more valuable.

NSW/ACT newsXpress members meeting 11/03/08

NSW/ACT meeting in Newcastle was held on Tuesday to allow members to cross-pollinate, share ideas and have ideas to take back to stores to be implemented. newsXpress continually holds regular local member meetings in each state to get members together and drive their business due north.

Display solutions at newsXpress Glendale

As written earlier in this blog, newsXpress Glendale commissioned an innovative refit last year. Among the great designs is this solution to your A5 Teenage magazines display dilemmas.

newsXpressers at play

newsXpress believes in the importance of a work/life balance, taking time out of your business to work on it not in it.
These 2 photos are of two different networking functions that are held at different times of the year…the Ballarat Race Day in November and the Fraser Island Getaway in February.

Both these annual events give business owners the opportunity to escape the everyday grind enabling them to network with other like minded, positive retailers in a relaxed environment. These getaways are open to all newsXpresser’s, Newsagents, Industry partners, Suppliers and friends.

The importance of stepping outside your business can provide benefits in many ways:

A break from the insular stress of your own four walls
An opportunity to look upon other retail businesses with fresh eyes
A clear message of independence and responsibility to your team
The realisation that the world goes on without you (while this can provide a kick to your ego, it is just about the most important message to learn in business).
A chance to live your life and indulge in your outside interests and passions
Spend more time with family & friends
Renewed vigour and focus when you are at work
And many more…

If anyone is interested in joining in on the next event, please do not hesitate to contact us at nxpcommcentre@newsxpress.com.au

newsXpress Canning Vale leverage local resource

One of newsXpress‘ newest members, Canning Vale in Western Australia were given an opportunity to submit an A5 advertisement in their local paper due to a strong relationship with their centre management.

Consulting newsXpress Phil & Shelley were given access to a template which has been designed to produce maximum impact. The De Giorgio’s populated the template with the information they wanted to highlight and now have a very professional advertisement for their local market.

Gifts to the nth degree

Phil & Wendy Banks from newsXpress Glendale in Newcastle completed a shop fit 18 months ago. They introduced a number of innovations at this time, one such was by building a gift wall. This has worked so well that they recently made some more changes to the shop to extend the gift wall.

With margins of over 50% and a great lay buy strategy which allows them to sell gifts in excess of $300 they have created a great new money stream for the store.

Photos above depict the majestic ‘Gift Wall’ and the team behind the innovation.

Good Health magazine display at newsXpress Indooroopilly.

Note the clever use of point of sale giving the background a 3D effect.
Use of Forever friends Bears to spell the message ” Happy Birthday”, and carefully constructed cake with candles.

Who could resist buying this magazine with such a stunning display? Well done to the team at newsXpress Indooroopilly.

WORK YOUR STORE HARD TO REAP REWARDS

At first glance you’ll notice that newsXpress Reservoir is not the flashiest of shops, however, with a new shop fit coming up in the not too distant future Chris, Helen and their team work the shop hard.

They have recently introduced books and a prodigious amount of gifts, and also scented candles to the store, which are working well and bringing new money streams to their business.

newsXpress members don’t rest on their laurels, they work the store hard every day driving sales. Its about day to day operational profit not just waiting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. New money strategies as well as our soon to be launched Project XLR program, are just the tip of the iceberg at newsXpress.

INNOVATION, INNOVATION, INNOVATION

At the newsXpress laboratory at the Watergardens Town Centre in Taylors Lakes, Ben and the team continue to experiment and innovate with new product, fixtures and fittings. Not only are the learning’s from the Sophie Randall card and gift business being translated into the store with new style gift tables and displays. The Moorish range of product suggested by Bradley Dean from newsXpress GPO in Brisbane has been introduced with great effect. We take learning’s from our interstate members, cross pollinate with one another and implement new money strategies into our network of stores.
Its only through sharing ideas and expressing our views that the group grows. By only having quality members, regular state and cluster meetings combined with the newly introduced One on One Business Development sessions, we get to share. That’s what makes our group strong.

To be sure, to be sure – newsXpress The Gap

There is something lucky about a four leaf clover, and newsXpress The Gap have decorated their lottery area with an attractive display just before St Patrick’s Day, gaining mileage from a “One day Promotion”.

newsXpress promote and provide marketing materials and ideas for smaller events such as St. Patricks Day to cater to their customer base and differentiate themselves from other retailers.

newsXpress Albany Creek Gift category

Giftware sales at newsXpress Albany Creek is a “new money” category, generated by existing customers (traffic flow) purchasing the beautifully presented giftware in the window area.
To further grow sales, Michael and Wendy had new fixtures made, pushed the existing card fixtures back to create a bigger dance floor, and sales have accelerated. Customers appreciate the extra “space” in which to browse the new gift ranges.

Light at the end of the tunnel – newsXpress The Pines

newsXpress The Pines has just under gone extensive refurbishments and a shop-fit in the last fortnight, things are still progressing and moving forward nicely… A job well done to the team at newsXpress The Pines for all their hard work and efforts through this hectic time of transition…
Lyndall and her newsXpress team will continue to work on the transformation of this store to cater for all the newsXpress key strategies to drive new business…

The photos show the new front of the store layout with a strong Easter presence, the Beacon Branding of the weekly magazines and the Diddl display.

VANA BALL – OH WHAT A NIGHT!

newsXpress loves supporting industry events all around the country, both at national and state level. Not only did we have a large number of newsXpress members there on the night it was a great way for all to mix on a social occasion and get to know the who’s who in the industry.

Pictured here is Vaughan Lawrence from newsXpress Beechworth with celebrity, journalist, TV and radio personality and host for the night Beverley O’Connor.

Modern Easter at newsXpress Deception Bay

The team at newsXpress Deception Bay went left field this year – and have gone searching for Easter Brides!

They sold two magazines while setting up the display and customer reaction has been extremely high. They have also capitalised on this interest by including complimentary products such as photo albums, horse-shoes, white tape for the limo and assorted gifts.

The window has been decorated in a more traditional manner with a strong focus on kids and bunnies.

Basket of Easter Goodies at newsXpress Kin Kora

newsXpress Kin Kora started their Easter promotion early – you won’t see any pictures of their plush here (they sold out!).

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.

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.

Easter Displays at newsXpress

As Australians prepare to eat record quantities of chocolate this Easter, these beautiful displays of Easter related product are already selling to astute customers. By displaying your stock early, and with style, you will achieve maximum sell through.

The Displays are from newsXpress Caboolture, and newsXpress Deception Bay.

PARTWORKS Magazine Display

To make a display look aesthetically pleasing is a matter of organising merchandise into a cohesive shape. The triangle is used more than any other shape. Merchandise arranged in this way gives the display more weight at the base, giving a stable appearance. It is easy for the eye to take in the whole thing.

Alex from newsXpress Deception Bay has used the best hot spot in her store to present this 4 sided display capturing customers coming from all directions. She has combined 2 different partwork magazine launches to make a display which has sold through very quickly.

JUST IN – newsXpress Deception Bay

newsXpress Deception Bay owner Brett places ‘Just In‘ Bookmarks on new monthly magazines, and also specialty niche titles when he knows customers are waiting anxiously for the issue to arrive. This ensures an easy shopping experience for his customers!