Calendar sales are up 11% in newsagencies in September / October 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 according to the latest sales benchmark study.
The results are based on data from newsagencies with a commitment to calendars as a specialist department for more than twelve months. This is a subset of 65% of newsagencies participating in the Tower Systems newsagent benchmark study.
Calendars are an important part of the newsagent product mix from August to early in the new year. Smart newsagents are achieving a margin in excess of 60% from most calendars sold. 75% of calendar sales include at least one other item in the basket. This demonstrates the basket efficiency and margin benefit of a strong commitment to calendars.
The most common reason newsagents do not take control of calendars in their newsagencies is space. This is a nonsense barrier given the terrific margin.