VANA and GNS issued the following joint statement this afternoon which I am sure will interest newsagents:
Newsagents today face an industry in waiting. Publishers are looking at different models to shape the industry of the future and newsagents are facing many months of uncertainty as well as dealing with the ever changing ways of the retail market. Similarly many wholesalers are seeing the industry changing with retailers looking for new forms of product to fill the void of this changing retail market. Their challenge is to remain relevant to their existing client base.
History has it that Associations have always tried to look after their members to the best of their ability, with suppliers and industry partners often locking horns with associations over “who’s job is it to do what”. With both believing strongly in their reason and efforts, often the member, in this case, the newsagent, risks missing the opportunity of establishing their real power to the consumer.
For this reason, VANA and GNS have begun discussions in an effort to help the newsagency industry strengthen its place in the retail market. Together, VANA and GNS, will be working on ways to get the best out of both organisations in order that the newsagent is able to refocus themself as the dominating retailer it is.
Initial discussions have included:-
• Development opportunity of the N-Branded product
• Better communications between both organisations
• Training opportunities for newsagents
• Collective development of on-line opportunities for newsagents.
• GNS Market fair developing an “industry feel” for all newsagents.
• N-Stock opportunities
• Re-enforcement of the stationery category in newsagents
• Promoting the need for marketing by all newsagentsAs both organisations are challenged with the retail environment today we need to always remained focused on the reason for our existence …. To support and create opportunities for the newsagency industry to move forward successfully.
The time has come to make sure actions by both organisations remain focused on this success of the Newsagency industry as a whole. We look forward to keeping you updated … as our successful working relationship that will be reflected into our industries’ success.
Regards,
E J Rogan
Chairman of the Board
Gerard Munday
VANA Chairman
For the good of the industry, I hope both parties are able to live up to this statement.
VANA costs us over $180 per month. We’ve found the employee management information from the FWA hotline to be more credible and useful than the VANA support. They don’t seem to be having much say in the distribution discussions that are going on (at least from what they’re communicating). N-Stock stationary is interesting but if we support GNS that will no longer apply. From the outside VANA seems to be an umbrella under which a host of service providers to the industry lunch off. Actually we think that they are struggling for relevance and we are wondering why we should pay them $2k per year.
Ricky
I wonder the same thing every time I get my bill from the magazine distributors who abuse newsagents with oversupply. I was also asking myself what use was VANA when I received the letter from HWT authorising a 1 cent a day delivery fee increase.
All I ever get from VANA is a golf day or conference invitation.
If anybody knows of any major accomplishments made by VANA I would love to hear them.