We know now that at least one supermarket chain makes 16% from each Vodafone recharge and that newsagents have just been cut to 5% commission for the same product. In return for this 37.5% hit by Vodafone you have newsagents like me continuing to promote Vodafone recharge from the front of my shop as this photo shows.
And here’s a shot of window promotion for Vodafone.
Down at the two supermarkets in my centre today I could not find any Vodafone material.
Maybe I’m stupid for giving my real-estate over to a brand which does not support my business. I’d guess that at least 1,500 newsagents promote the Vodafone brand outside and inside their stores. Not any more. Vodafone needs to demonstrate that it values this small business channel.