newsXpress Blog

Melbourne Market Fair brings suppliers and proprietors together

Another great outcome from the most recent newsXpress Market Fair held in Melbourne was the opportunity for proprietors and other newsXpressers to meet with supply partners.

This face to face interaction is often taken for granted, but with a great number of our newsagents being located in regional areas this benefit is proving invaluable.

The Hallmark display complete with exclusive newsXpress Alliance promotion Care & Friendship POS.

Robyn, Neil & Leonie from newsXpress Whittlesea are impressed with the great range of plush products from Jasnor

Janine & Jason from newsXpress Shoreline in deep discussion with Marilyn& Dean from Diddl.

Phil Johnson from newsXpress Keysborough and Tim Batt from Tower Systems go through the finer points of the programs operation.

Jim O’Toole and his daughter Ainslie from newsXpress Rutherglen spend a few minutes catching up with newsXpress Chairman Graham Randall and Ashley Horne from Canson.

newsXpress launch Pre-Paid cards

newsXpress are elated to announce the launch of the SCX Global range of Pre-Paid cards through the Tower System eziPass platform and available to all newsXpress members.

To read the entire press release: scx-ezipass-newsxpress-launch.pdf

newsxpress NATIONAL CONFERENCE IS ATTRACTING THE RIGHT SPONSORS

We are pleased to announce that ACP Magazines and Network Services Company have both agreed to be sponsors of the inaugural newsXpress National Conference at Conrad Jupiter’s in September. It is pleasing that both companies have agreed to partner in this event.

Melbourne Market Fair finesses Sydney success

The second newsXpress exclusive Market Fair was held at the Brighton Savoy in Melbourne today with over 45 newsXpressers from Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania in attendance.

Once again 25+ suppliers presented their wares, upcoming ranges and fair offers to the delight of the large newsXpress contingent. The third fair takes place at the Greek Club in Brisbane on Thursday.

The colorful and exceptionally popular Canson Creative Christmas Promotion.

newsXpressers interact with supply partners in the intimate surrounds.

newsXpress members listen intently to presentations from Mark Nagy, newsXpress CEO, Canson, 3M & Hallmark.

EVOLUTION IN MARKETING

newsXpress continues to innovate and grow its marketing to reflect this which no other group in the channel does. The newsXpress offer is equally sophisticated and effective in what it puts together for it’s National network of stores and this is where the point of difference becomes apparent.

Care & Friendship is a fantastic example of an idea that came from a newsXpress member and then embraced by the group and has grown to the point where strategic partner Hallmark wanted to get involved and make it an exclusive Alliance program for newsXpress.

This perfectly illustrates the level of faith and belief that Hallmark, Australia’s largest Greeting Card supplier has in newsXpress.

The evolution of Care & Friendship – history-of-the-care-friendship-promotion-2008.pdf

newsXpress appoints National Merchandise Manager

newsXpress last week announced the appointment of Ben Kay as National Merchandise Manager.

Ben has had a tremendous grounding in retail and the Newsagency channel and has a wealth of knowledge in technology, retailing, product development and selection gained over many years in serving this channel and newsXpress in a wide range of senior roles.

Ben can be contacted through merchandise@newsxpress.com.au

To read the full press release: newsxpress-pr-ben-kay.pdf

EXCLUSIVE ALLIANCE PROMOTION WITH HALLMARK

In recognition of the massive volumes of Hallmark merchandise being driven by the newsXpress group of stores, Hallmark have decided to provide an exclusive Alliance promotion for newsXpress.

The Care & Friendship promotion is a newsXpress exclusive which has been running for a few years originally initiated by newsXpress proprietor Terry Augustine. Hallmark have seized the chance to partner in this promotion and the creative is nothing short of brilliant. Look out for some huge sales at newsXpress stores in July.

newsXpress gives back to its stores by providing the Hallmark Alliance program free of charge to its members. Hallmark Alliance Program

Trade advertisement for the newsXpress exclusive Care & Friendship promotion in conjunction with the Hallmark Alliance Program as featured in the June edition of National Newsagent.

SYDNEY MARKET FAIR IS BETTER THAN EXPECTED

Yesterday we held our very first newsXpress market fair at Castle Hill RSL in Sydney’s North/Western suburbs. It would be fair to say we did not know what to expect.

We invited 25 supply partners and service providers in line with newsXpress‘ long term goal of streamlining its supply chain to drive increased margins and eliminate unnecessary costs for its members and supply partners. What was planned to be a low key affair turned into something special with a wide cross section of national brand suppliers and service providers being involved.

newsXpress wanted it to be a low cost event so that suppliers could concentrate on delivering for the members. A number of suppliers commented on how inexpensive this fair was to attend in comparison to others. By developing long term supply partnerships everyone benefits.

Next week we do it all again in Melbourne & Brisbane and then the following week in Perth as we want to make sure every store in our network can benefit.

Proud: newsXpress Castle Towers proprietor Geoff Hilder and newsXpress Chairman Graham Randall

Networking: newsXpress CEO Mark Nagy, Nici Wceszniak & Shirley from newsXpress Castle Towers

Purchase Opportunity: Vinay Soni, proprietor of newsXpress Roselands buying books from Ross Morris of Australian Book Wholesalers (ABW)
Pens, Glorious Pens: Terry & Rosalie from newsXpress Northgate perusing the Pentel exhibit
Say it with a card: Maureen & Paul Blunden, newsXpress Orange talking Christmas Card orders with Lynn Mason from Cardpac

Art made easy: newsXpress Wagga Wagga proprietors, Dean Sutherland (left) & Troy Sutherland (far right) with Ashley Horne from Canson

Ecstatic: A very happy Phil Banks from newsXpress Glendale mills around the 3M display

Intimate: A wide shot of the interaction between suppliers and members at Castle Hill RSL for the Sydney Market Fair

Atmosphere: With over 25 suppliers and 40 newsXpress representatives in attendance the fair was a hive of activity for the four hour duration.

Hallmark Alliance: Nici, Geoff, Shirley (newsXpress Castle Towers), Graeme Baker (newsXpress McArthur), with Julie-Anne and Christine from Hallmark

Smile for the camera: Vinay (newsXpress Roselands) & Hallmark ladies Julie-Anne & Christine

Bright, bold, beautiful: Karen Sutton & the crew from newsXpress Singleton Heights listening to a presentation from hiPP

Gifts for everyone: newsXpressers Ben Kay & Lesley Bortfield enjoying the fair alongside Scott & Steven Brooker from Care and Share

Work & Play: Anthony & Nicky McCormack of newsXpress Woden with their Pentel representative

Rollerboy: Sandy Burke of newsXpress Wauchope, with a senior team member discussing stationery requirements with Pentel’s Rob Henderson

All the fun of the fair: Paul Waite & Karen Sutton

Going well: Graham Randall & Ben Kay

Catch Up: Roger & Lesley Bortfield, newsXpress NSW/ACT/NT Business Development Managers spending some time with their QLD/WA counterpart Karen Sutton

Worth the wait: Maureen Blunden from newsXpress Orange & Karen Sutton

newsXpress National Conference

newsXpress has announced it will be holding its inaugural national conference at Conrad’s Jupiter’s on the Gold Coast starting on the 17th September.

The proprietors have been asking for a couple of years now, so in keeping with only having the best people possible working with newsXpress, Paul Waite has agreed to join the newsXpress team to look after the conference. Paul is well known in the industry as a former CEO of the ANF and NANA and has exceptional skills in event management.

Paul’s brief is to put together something different drawing on his experience and using his knowledge to build not only an event that is relevant, but to focus on the development of newsagents to retailers. Paul can be contacted at paulw@newsxpress.com.au

Doing it the newsXpress way

One from the archives – newsXpress Albany opened in Western Australia in December 2006, building their ‘Gala Event’ from the newsXpress store opening template.

A simple but very effective store opening was organised by the team at newsXpress Albany…Hamish arranged to have an Outside broadcast with the local Radio West station and effective advertising in the local Newspaper…

The first 500 customers all received a newsXpress Red environmental bag filled with goodies from industry suppliers…and free balloons were also handed out to all, while the Hallmark Forever Friends Bear was also a great crowd puller as always!!!!

Newsagent’s at Play…

Hallmark Sponsored ANF Golf Day

A great day was had by Newsagents, Suppliers and Industry partners who took part in the Hallmark Sponsored Golf Day at ‘The Colonial Golf Club’ on the Gold Coast.

Cheeky: newsXpress Director of Greeting Card Strategy, Ron Thorpe showing off his Big Bertha…

Fun Times: Carolyn Doherty, Ron Thorpe, Rob Hunt & Chris from Springwood Newsagency, NSW

Big decision: Jits from newsXpress Thornlie Square, WA contemplates which club to use.

Thumbs Up: Phil Kobelt, newsXpress Parap, NT

Smiles all round: newsXpress Chairman, Graham Randall after winning nearest the pin – first time for everything!

Great Day: Paul Martin from newsXpress Toowong Village, QLD.

SYMPLY TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

Annette & Bill Sym from ‘Symply Too Good To Be True‘ have always been great supporters of newsXpress, and the newsXpress network continues to sell a huge amount of the ‘Symply Too Good To Be True’ range as a result.

CONNECTING WITH YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

The team at newsXpress Glendale have chosen to connect with the local community by sponsoring a local sporting team, it shows that the store is putting back into the community that supports the store.

NEWSPAPERS HAVE A NEW PLACE IN newsXpress STORES

In evolving the newsXpress offer, the team at newsXpress Jamison in the ACT have chosen to provide space for newspapers in a part of the store that is not a traditional spot for newspapers.

Tradition is good but selling space is configured to what drives profit, in this case newspapers have made way for new money revenue drivers and have been located in sub prime space, not at the front of the store as in traditional shop fits.

EXPLORE DORA TO MAKE THE PART WORK!

It’s the simple things that sells product. A DVD/TV showing the product. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a great retailer. newsXpress Browns Plains sell a mountain of Dora DVD’s.

CREATING SALES WITH NEW MONEY

The Canson partnership is working a treat. No matter the type of store, the demographic or the proprietor, the Canson product with it’s great quality, price and brand is selling like crazy.

Consistency through the newsXpress network and great supplier support is ensuring Canson and newsXpress are reaping the rewards.

The following photos are from newsXpress Westpoint one of over 70 stores who have already installed the exclusive Canson Creative Centre.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

When you are at the top of your game, how do you keep getting better?

These three stores just get better and better – Amazing. In Japan the word Kaizen means continuous improvement. Well the team at newsXpress Indooroopilly show you how the Kaizen Blitz works and how to bring the extraordinary benefits of this approach to continually improve what already is a stunning operation.

VISIONARY RETAIL LEADERSHIP

The team at newsXpress Toowong has a great General by the name of Scott. He is a visionary as well as a completer-finisher. The store is perpetual motion allowing the owner Paul to work on the business not in it. The photos say it all.

State of origin is only but one of the promotions on at the moment, with HOT ink! 6 churning and burning and financial year diaries also in play, all parts of the store are working.

BRIDGING THE GAP – NO STRESS AT newsXpress

The team at newsXpress The Gap are quiet achievers, low maintenance and get the job done! Rob and Matt and the team work all parts of the store and are the model of consistency. Incremental growth always adding a new string to the bow and growing nicely as a result.

newsXpress Bairnsdale embraces HOT ink!

newsXpress Bairnsdale proprietors Dave and Gina have firmly embraced HOT ink! since joining our network. Prior to their introduction to newsXpress, they ran with another Ink group, enjoying reasonable success, but since introducing HOT ink! their results have been phenomenal.

They gleefully accepted advice to install their range in the front window and subsequently cleared the formerly cluttered windows to realy highlight the stock. There is still some work ot do but the transformation has been amazing. The display will be completed by the use of the square modules for additional promotional stock.

The highlight of their endeavors so far however is undoubtedly the massive window signage – boldly proclaiming HOT ink! The signs were created locally but are definitely the brainchild of Dave and Gina. The signs are made of the same material as ‘L’ and ‘P’ plates used in motor vehicles and was easily installed by Dave and Victorian State Business Manager, Ian Urquhart in under 10 minutes.

The effect of this commitment to their ink category has been felt almost immediately with several customers over heard musing they didn’t even know the store sold ink despite it being a permanent fixture for over two years. The new lease of life and especially the signage will ensure this mistake won’t be made again!

The newsXpress Bairnsdale window before HOT ink!