It is time to decide if I want my newsagency to continue to try and be a retailer, wholesales and distributor or to specialise in one of these areas. My delivery run is a reasonable size but not of the scale to justify the capital investment for the coming flat wrap push so if I want to stay in home delivery I will need to purchase additional territories. My retail business is strong and growing. The nature of that business is that I have more control (despite my complaints here from time to time) and I get a faster return on capital invested. What I do know is that I cannot continue to operate the traditional newsagency: retail, home delivery and supplying sub agents. News and Fairfax tell me those days are over and I’m okay with that.
My dilemma is shared by thousands of newsagents across the country It was a natural consequence of the deregulation brought about by the Howard government in 1999. Unfortunately, newsagents are not farmers, auto workers or miners in Beaconsfield Tasmania. There is no deregulation assistance or support. We’re having to navigate the issues alone including weathering any write-down.
I expect to make a final decision sometime next week.