Newsagents should read the report yesterday at Press Gazette about accusations by UK newsagents that The Guardian is trying to steal their customers.
The spat between newsagents and The Guardian has rumbled on after the newspaper was accused of stealing customers from local retailers in London.
Trade body the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) has condemned The Guardian’s decision to print a loose insert into a copy of last week’s paper offering direct delivery subscriptions to readers within the M25.
The NFRN claimed it was a direct attack on newsagents providing home delivery services.
It claims The Guardian is trying to “steal” customers through “unfair competition” by offering consumers free delivery, guaranteed delivery before 7am (8.30am on Sundays) and by giving subscribers a free gift worth £60.
This report is timely given the state of play of newspaper home delivery in Australia. It reinforces an understanding of the challenges being faced globally around the newspaper home delivery function.