I was surprised to see this stack of the free daily newspaper mX in front of a newsagency in Sydney this afternoon. There was another stack right in front of the newspapers. Some newsagents have asked me whether newsagents are involved in distributing the free papers. Based on this I’d say yes, some are. I’m not sure of the financial arrangements but I would expect something to be flowing back to the newsagent.
I was fascinated by the energy of some of the mX distribution folk, particularly down by circular quay. I saw one hand out 50 copies in a minute – he was really enjoying his job. Admittedly it was peak hour but 50 is great going. Even the best people I saw in London last year didn’t get close to that.
My office is not in the city and I have not seen the mX distribution process first hand until today. This afternoon was an eye-opener. Many commuters really do want want their free paper. mX is clearly well established in Sydney. One surprise, however, was lack of distribution points at the major bus stops I saw. There were over 100 people and no mX copies in sight.
Hi,
Thanks for the info on mX. am an advertising manager of a free sheet in Nairobi-Kenya, and we have a distribution strategy that ensures we reach a blanket market of 0ver 50,000 readers.I intend to redesign my distribution style and am looking for some help. Any Guru’s on distribution?
I’m not involved and cannot comment. I suggest you contact the circulation folk at News Ltd – the Australian subsidiary of News Corporation.
Hi Victor,
if you need a free papers guru, you surely need one on circulation. Contrary to common knowlegde, free dailies depend less on content than on distribution. Distribution is the key. Important question concern where (demographics of people recieving the paper, commuter places), when (for how long), who (hawkers, racks), and how much (avoiding waste). Free papers in this world ar distributed on more than two dozens different ways, public transport is the most obvious, but really not the only way.
Mark this may be of interest to you – http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Development/DAsOnExhibition/00929A.asp
unfortunately i’ve never found any feature on MX regarding to the colleges in CBD that are closing down without placing existing students to another college, is there nobody to monitor these problems created by colleges ? SIC is just an example of such colleges that closed down on 5th of December this year without placing students to another provider, without refunding fees to the students that was paid to them for completing the course? How easily people are violating the laws in sydney! When these colleges will stop cheating on students???? How long will students be loosing their money, time for nothing?