I will be speaking at the Publisher’s Australia conference next month and have planned the following topic.
The future of the Australian newsagency channel
A health check on the newsagency channel and tips on how publishers can more successfully engage with newsagents to sell more magazines and drive the value of this channel for your Australian titles.
This is a good time to be engaging with Australian publishers and I hope to show more how they can engage with us as a genuine value proposition compared to other retailers.
The only credible ‘health check’ (properly resourced and independently conducted research), should be obtained by the likes of Ray Morgan, AC Neilsen, AUScan or IBIS World.
Darren, the sales benchmark studies I do have been shown to be accurate when compared with circulation audits and supplier sales data.
Mark, once again I applaud the fact that
you are, once again, presenting facts about our industry to the most pertinent people – the publishers.
If they can understand the distribution
dilemmas that occur they may be in a position to fix it.
I think I remember you saying once, that maybe we should be dealing “directly” with the publishers.
That would penalize the small ones who sometimes have a good product but maybe the publishers themselves need to
rationalize and make it a proposition for us
to deal online with orders and a higher percentage for the newsagent but with no returns.
Win win in my opinion.
It could be the answer to rationalizing an industry that is “famous” for its “dumping procedures”.
Good luck Mark and thank you once again
You are singlehandedly trying to keep our
industry afloat, and I know you will hate me saying that but it is true.
This is a great opportunity for the community. Thanks for taking it on.
Please do not undersell the importance and criticalness of home delivery.
While we recognize that our future is a nimble, adaptable retailer, the fact is that for many newsagents (espcially rural and strip shop) our customer relationship and core of our floor traffic is underwritten by the special relationship we have through home delivery.
This continues to be a special and important part of our business model.
This so-called research or benchmark sales data analysis that you refer to does not offer any insight or any other significant finding that the publishers do not already know.
How can any publisher take this information seriously?
http://www.newsagencyblog.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/report_benchmark_aprjun2011.pdf
By having 100-130 newsagents send you a .pdf of sales data and you collate this into a one-pager with no inference to anything profound, should not be construed as ‘research’.
If your analysis stands up as you believe, why is it not published in depth and released outside the channel?
Let go of it Darren, your miss-placed and long-held prejudices are showing through. The high level one-pager is but part of the total project.
Kevin, it is terrific seeing publishers talking more with newsagents.
Darren – might I suggest from your comments your interest here is in direct contrast to newsagents’ best intentions. What planet are you from – Uranus?
I think you will not hold back, I guess you can be articulate about it however the medium to longterm future of Publishers are also in the balance if they do not work with “Newsagents”
I think this year has seen positive changes than any other year that you have been blogging, good on you for chipping at it. Ps. I think June likes you!
The 100 or so agents who provided the raw data should feel short-changed to receive a one page synopsis for their efforts.
No detailed analysis.
No inference for any emerging trends.
No recommendations.
Why isn’t this benchmark study published in it’s entirety?
Darren, as a POS Solutions users you would have no idea what is provided to benchmark study participants or the total numbers involved.
On the numbers, the latest study, as with many in the past, has many more than 100 participants.
Darren
Everyone is entitled to an opinion.
This is why we as a Channel have not moved forward with fluency in the past, you talk alot but have produced little.
One who loves power looks after themselves, one who looks after others does not seek Power.
What’s wrong Darren -feeling a little left out are we?
Perhaps the Tribal influence is on the wane eh?
Perhaps feeling just a tad envious that 100 or so newsagents using quality systems can produce a quality analysis that guys in your boat never will be able to?
Stick to the golf old son – bombasticity and a good swing will get you a lot further there than it will in this game!
Darren,
Why do you feel it necessary to knock someone that is trying to help his fellow Newsagents?
I would have thought that with the challenges our industry faces on a daily basis that we all should appreciate any help we can get.
I dont know your situation nor that of your relationship with Mark….but it does sound like you have an axe to grind. How about letting everybody know once and for all what that axe is all about?
Then we might be able to move forward…..what do you say Darren ?????
All I am asking is to see the research in full document.
Does anyone have page 2 and beyond?
First time you’ve asked for that Darren. Since you have not participated, not shared your data and have a track record of not helping the broader newsagency channel I am not inclined to share anything further with you.
Dodging the the hard questions again Darren ????
OK. I’ll assume it doesn’t exist.
Think what you like Darren. I don;t care for your agenda or that run by your Dad.
As for what I have published publicly, many find the numbers helpful as a benchmark against their own results.
darren,
So are telling me that Ray Morgan, AC Neilsen, AUScan & IBIS World would collate information from over 10% of the population and publish the results to the general public for free.
Please explain???
And Mark, thanks again for your efforts.
Darren,
I, and I assume every other newsagent who participates in Mark’s studies, appreciate the information collated by Mark. It does exactly what it should, it enables me to benchmark my business against others willing to participate in the studies.
Ray Morgan, AC Neilson etc. etc. etc, would not do as good a job and I for one would not entrust the detailed information I happily provide to Mark to these organisations.
This blog is contributing to improvements in the industry of late and your critisism is baffling and unwarranted.
So by benchmarking, you would have data on:
Sales / m2
GP / m2
Stock $ / m2
and are comparing these measurements to store type, whether it be shopping centre, strip shops and metro vs. rural.
The IBIS report for example has benchmarks across major retail sectors. It would be interesting to see how your benchmarking data compares with this.
It is not only newsagent against each other, but comparative against the competition in various retail sectors is where this channel should rate itself against World’s best practice.
Darren,
What is it that you want from the bloke? Mark is purely and simply reporting on a few numbers that i am sure EVERY NEWSAGENT could compare against his or her own business in a quick and time efficient manner.
I am bewildered by why you have to take aim…….i will ask AGAIN…….”What is the axe that you have to grind”?
Please enlighten me.
Al
The best way to handle people like Darren (and others who are in between Prozac prescriptions) is to ignore them. They’re just baiting you. Don’t rise to it
Ricky,
You and I both know that, but i think its high time Darren came clean on his agendas. If he doesnt have one then well and good but if he does, why not share it?
The ratios mentioned are key retail industry benchmarks on performance.
Darren you should get your software provider of your marketing group to help you get the data. My post here is about the good news of publishers engaging more with newsagents.
Darren – you may not realise it however you are embarrassing yourself, you unfourtunately do not realise that the baggage you are carrying from being outed is coming through loud in clear.
I did not know their was any other software providers, would not be suprised if Darren’s software provider is also behind this immature approach to what should be enlightning to the participants at the conference. Darren we want to engage, you want to disengage and so does your software provider.
This channel wants to move ahead, close the gap particular with publishers to work together hopefully to consolate each of our business’s.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
This same sort of jealousy and nastiness
came through when it was revealed that
Mark F was so intelllectually superior to
the other directors on the ANF Board at
the time, that he was disliked for it. Instead of harnessing his intellect they
abused and accused and it was quite nasty.
I, personally, applaud and wish to use Mark’s intellect to help our industry.
He doesn’t care whether you like him or not and he will continue to do his absolute
best for all of us (including you POS users)
just because that’s what he does. HIS BEST.
He can’t be blamed if his “best” is soooooo
much better than most people’s “best”.
Yes, I will go to bat for him at all times because I know him and I know what he has done at great financial cost to himself
and his company to try to underpin our
industry.
Sorry Mark, I know you just hate me saying this stuff but I can’t allow anyone
to treat you so badly when I know exactly
what you have done for all of us.
I have enormous respect for you and I know you are still trying to unite this industry. Let’s hope the ANF knows that
you are our “high flier” and they behave
toward you appropriately.
As for the people who think it is ok to be
nasty on this site, I think you should be
ashamed of yourselves.
Some people have trouble with an inferiority complex when they meet people
like Mark – just embrace the fact that he is
better than most at what he does.
Darren,
You have reached put-up or shut-up stage!
Given your self-professed knowledge of newsagencys and industry-based benchmarking, is it fair to assume that you have data for all of the measures you mention in post #22. If so, why don’t you share it with us or, if that’s beneath you, compare it with your mates at POS Solutions and then share it with us.
Most of us don’t have your “protected species” attitude or share your pompous arrogance but then most of us have had to work our butts off to get into business and then stay there despite the hammering we take from magazine distributors and newspaper publishers on a tri-weekly basis. If you were fair dinkum, then rather than having your strings pulled by the faceless Moorabbin mob, you could apply all of your efforts and supposed industry knowledge into assisting those who are proactive about trying to have problems rectified. I guess it’s much easier to ride on Dad’s coat-tails.
As I said – put up or shut up – the reflection off your jealousy-driven green complexion is blinding us.
Have a good one!!
I don’t reply to those who hide behind monikers.
Have the brass to use your real name.
You havent replied to my question yet Darren………
Darren,
You don’t reply to people who do use “real” names so what is the difference.
As in previous blogs, you jump in and criticise because the expressed views don’t match your agenda or viewpoints of the Tribe family then you beat around the bush when challenged.
Put up or shut up!
I would not even bother waiting on the reply , what type of peson knocks someone else down for helping ? if you don’t like the info Mark puts out why read it . go and get someone else to do it it may have more info and you can also pay for it .