NDD has announced today the winding down of its business:
As a consequence of a recent significant reduction of distribution volumes, IPMG (NDD’s parent company and shareholder) has reluctantly taken the decision to wind down the NDD business.
It is NDD’s intention to manage the process in an orderly fashion as magazine product in the system works its way through the retail channel. newsagents and supermarkets have been advised of the decision today.
We would like to assure you that NDD and its parent company IPMG, will continue to collectretail sales proceeds on your behalf and will guarantee any publisher payment liabilities in accordance with contracted terms.
We make the commitment that all NDD distributed magazines will be delivered in accordance with on sale schedules until a completion date is determined and notified. This will ensure the timely reconciliation and finalisation of your trading account with NDD.
No mention of newsagents or returns credits?
Well didnt see that coming…..NOT
now we are at the hands of the BIG 2
Surprise, surprise.
Seen that coming since they ditched us. Good thing, too.
No response to correspondence, no care.
Toodles to NDD.
I expected this would happen. Thanks for keeping us informed Mark. I get more news here than anywhere else.
We all received an eamil to this tonight
It will be an orderly shutdown with credits paid.
As an independent publisher with our magazine handled by NDD this is concerning news. Any thoughts on G&G’s and Network’s abilities to scale up to take on previously NDD ranged titles? How much marketshare did they have after they lost the News Magazines business? I feel for the NDD staff who no doubt have to hit the jobs market now too.
Great blog, thanks!
Gerard, the performance magazine distributors ebbs and flows over time. Right now I am seeing bad behaviour and it concerns me.
You and newsagents make money off of sales. Distributors make money moving stock in and out. They need to a model where they are paid on sales. This will focus their minds in a way we have never seen.
Gerard, we’ve noticed an increasing return of NDD titles via Network, Fairfax and G&G over the last few months. Particularly in recent weeks. We now have many titles back, which we were happy to carry before.
I feel bad for the jobs lost, too. However NDD have had plenty of time to work on their performance over the last year or two. Their inflexibility, inaccessibility and very poor customer service have contributed to this situation, and they have known about these issues for some time.
u could see it happening a mile away , i don’t know why they even botherd to change there return process at the stage the did . personally i am staying 1 month behind in my monthly bill untill all credits are given . trust no business that is shutting its doors
“How very disappointing that NDD is to close. NDD’s initiatives to drive value into the channel has been fantastic for our newspaper wrap business. Their eCampaigns allowed newsagents genuinely interested in a more efficient and customer friendly quality plastic wrap to order online. As a result of NDD’s endeavours, Scientex is an established and recognizable brand in the channel, we’ve had exposure in The Australian, and on Radio. We’d like to wish NDD’s employees the best wishes possible for the future”.
Regards
Mark Hackett
It is very sad that NDD is closing. It was the leading distributor 5 – 10 years ago having improved and shaped the industry in innovative ways (particularly in technology). Sadly it has been in decline ever since. Increasing the concentration of distributors is bad for independent publishers and bad for newsagents. How can the managers of such a simple business model fail? I feel for the employees.