Australian Newsagency Blog

The photo shows the bag wall at one of my newsagencies.  The range has recently been refreshed and there has been a good sales kick as a result.  We know from industry sales data that newsagents underperform in terms of bag and wrap sales.  This is usually because newsagents hide the product behind cards.
Newsagencies where […]

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Our team at Forest Hill relayed our wrap wall to refresh the offer.  This is on the wall bordering our card department.  While is is too early to say if it will result in a sales kick, there is anecdotal evidence suggesting it is attracting more shopper attention.
The work on the walls reflects a mission […]

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We are introducing the new Hallmark baby card, gift and packaging range with a display at our counter rather than across in our card and gift department.  This front-of-shop corner location has more foot traffic so it makes sense to show the new range off to more shoppers.
I like the decision our team made to […]

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Click on the photo to see a larger version of an experimental wall of Hallmark packaging options.  While still a work in progress, the customer reaction we have seen is positive, especially with purchases of wrap or a bag and other wrap related items. 
Gift packaging, like everything in retail, needs to keep changing if we are […]

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The Christmas edition of Better Homes and Gardens which has been out for over a month and is still selling has free wrapping paper.  It was only when a customer pointed it out to me that I realised this was part of a Christina Re promotion.  We and many other newsagents sell Christina Re papers.  Had […]

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The paper cutter we have placed next to roll wrap is selling well.  Supermarkets and other retailers place a product from one department in another department regularly.  It is smart retail.  The paper cutter is a perfect fit with wrap.  As is tape and wrist band tape dispensers - which we also have nearby.  Making […]

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Market research shows that while newsagents have around 37% of greeting card sales in Australia, we account for only 21% of packaging (wrap, bags and boxes). The newsagents doing well in packaging are those who actively promote the wrap category. Current best practice is to locate the cards and wrap department at the […]

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We are launching a TV commercial on channels Seven and Ten in Melbourne next week to launch our expanded Sophie Randall card and gift shops. The commercial has been created to reflect a warm and personal style associated with Sophie. Click on the image below to see a copy of the ad as […]

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Further to my post yesterday about strong greeting card sales, newsagents underperform in the gift packaging area.  Newsagents have around 20% market share.  Compare this to our close to 40% market share on cards and you can see that something is wrong. 
Card company people I have spoken with suggest that our poor performance with […]

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The movie Kung Fu Panda is getting plenty of press here even though it does not open until June 26.  Hallmark cards has the licence so there is an excellent promotional tie-in for many newsagents.  The gift bag featuring the panda character is fantastic - when you open the flap at the front the panda […]

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In our Frankston newsagency the team has created a display of funky boxes and bags for packaging Mother’s Day gifts.
In the middle of the dance floor, the bright display is drawing attention to our offer and showing a range people would not often see in a newsagency.
As with any retail display, the key is an […]

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It was a real team effort Thursday, relaying the wrap category at Forest Hill.  We moved it from the front of the card area to the rear, next to flat wrap.  The change was part of our commitment to keep moving categories within the store.  What you see in the photo will change in the […]

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