It is a year and a half since ACP Magazines went direct into key petrol and convenience outlets so I thought it was time to see how the move was traveling. I have visited six key petrol outlets in suburban Melbourne this week. I know four locations well and in particular how the local newsagent used to range magazines and newspapers.
Today, a year and a half on, in each case, 20% of magazine pockets were empty, category segments were not being respected (car magazines mixed with women’s magazines); and, newspapers were either out of stock or messy.
Whereas newsagents used to visit these stores at least once and often twice a day to re-stock and merchandise, now the outlets are left to do this for themselves and from the five stores I have just visited it’s clear they are failing. In each of these same five stores, their confectionery displays were excellent – well stocked, tidy and better located in relation to traffic flow. I wonder if this has something to do with margin.