I was disappointed to read a report in Brand Republic four days ago claiming that some UK publishers are offering steep discounts to counter a slide in retail sales.
To any Australian publishers contemplating such a move I would suggest active engagement with the newsagency channel. I am certain that better terms for newsagents where they get a customer to commit to a subscription of six or twelve months wold result in good sales growth.
Newsagents play an important role in promoting magazines. Subscriptions sales are often only achieved thanks to the promotional effort of newsagents. To cut them out of the subscription loop is unfair and is another reason can newsagents feel shafted by publishers.