Oliver Luft writing at journalism.co.uk seems to think so. He writes about colour e-paper Fujitsu previewed at a conference in London a couple of weeks ago.
Here we (newsagents) are fighting about who should sell newspapers, home delivery fees and all manner of print product issues and on the other side of the world attention is on the technology which could ultimately replace the print product.
If you’re coming late to the discussion on e-paper then check out the Wikipedia entry for homework.
Mark, it is unfortunate, but the real issues that the industry are going to have to face will undoutably be ignored by far too many newsagents.
Realistically, e-paper (and e-magazine) technology will not become the norm for quiet some time. Once it is developed to that potential, then adopted by the publishers, then trialed, then outlayed on a larger scale (most likely in the US or UK), then taken up by the rest of the world … a fairly large space of time will have passed between now and then. BUT, newsagents need to take steps now to combat the issue they face. By taking steps i don’t mean jumping up and down screaming and fighting the inevidable.
Practical steps need to be taken to ensure newsagencies are viable in the future. Make no mistake … newsagencies in ten years from now WILL NOT be the same. Whether it be industry wide investment into the growing electronic media market, or diversification into less (very less) traditional retail products found in newsagencies, or other innovative ways that newsagents find to survive. The simple fact is that it needs to happen. And it need to have happened yesterday.
I dont feel sorry for those newsagents who will die off because they fail to take action to ensure their survival. If they are not inclined to do something, then that is their problem. But those newsagents who are inclined to take on the challenges faced in the future should make the most of it by sticking together. Challenges of this scale are best faced in numbers and wasting time trying to accomodate or look after those who choose not to look after themselves will only drag the rest of us down.
Long term plans need to be developed and put into motion to offset the effects of e-papers and e-magazines (among other things), both for the industry and for individual newsagents.
I hope all proactive newsagents, by the end of this year, have looked at how advances such as this new technology will impact their business and have begun to work on a long term plan to combat them. Even better, i hope they have started to take action in implementing their plan. Of course any plan will change as developments occur, the important thing is to have one and to start preparing for the future now.
Jarryd, Some newsagents are considering these matters but most are not. The more you and that small group comment here and in every other possible forum the better. For my money, we need to be chasing habit based products. They leverage off our skills and provide efficient business. Mark
Habit based products whether paper or consumable is correct.
Any Newsagent that does not have a drink fridge near the POS is losing valuable income. Coke, energy drinks are popular. Top 20 CD’s & DVD’s
Who says you have to have 3 magazine distributors in the future? will there be 3 magazines distributors in the future?
What makes you money & what drains your money? dont cut the rust out and bog it, get a new panel.