On the radio this morning I just heard a report of some new research into Valentine’s Day saying that more women will not purchase a Valentine’s Day gift this year and that the value of gifts purchased will be lower. seriously? How is such a speculative item news, especially given that we retailers will know by the end of today how tyne season has gone for us.
This type of research frustrates me, especially where it has findings which are contrary to my experience and where the news of the research itself could guide consumer behaviour.
Media outlets should stick to reporting news rather than speculation.
Yesterday was a huge day for us in the Valetines market. By the look of whats left in the shop this morning i think Valentines will be a sell out…..WOOO HOOOO !!!!
Will comment tomorrow about any sales lift.
All thiese so called research polls are doing is hurting consumer confidence and in turn spending, be it on rates, pollies or retail. Not that long ago research polls were not the news they are today but someone has decided they are the flavour of the month. Will Kev knife Julia, will rates go up or down, will the sun rise in the east?
Last week we had a great start to the week but as soon as the RBA didn’t act and then the speculation about a rates increase started we saw customers reduce spending. NOTHING CHANGED PEOPLE but because they were unsure they stopped spending.
We are about on par with last year and we have today to go, we always get the rush on the ady as well as tomorrow, go figure?
Tomorrow Luke is for the guys looking for Brownie points because they forgot, or spent the day at the pub !!!
Ah well on a positive note, well done to Bevan at the Aspley Nigh and Day Newsagency up here is sunny QLD… He got probabaly the best plug on MMM this morning on his upselling techniques to one of the breakfat radio hosts…
I think his Newsagency, and Newsagency’s in general would have been mentioned probabaly about 30times in a 20minuts slot as a place to go to buy valentine day gifts… dont know if they paid for the spot, but well done…
Don’t be so sexist Allen, just as many women buy cards tomorrow as men, but the look of desperation an their faces is worth it. Have a great day guys
I agree with you Luke and news outlets appear to be obsessed with them.
and here we are talking about it suppose thats what they want
This highlights ANOTHER advantage of subscribing to NEWSAGENTS ON-AIR. the radio station for newsagents. (for those that read the blog entry about the breaking of the Whitney story on Sunday). Corporate Radio prepare and present hourly news bulletins IN HOUSE, meaning only POSITIVE news on the retail sector goes to air. Blue ‘big box’ competitor ads AREN’T heard in your store either- just products that you sell that are in arms reach of purchase. Call to action prompts for shoppers to ‘come back tomorrow’ is another feature. As great as the station sounds and it’s suitability of news and music for your retail environment INCREASED stock turns is the main game.
So the Whitney story was positive? don’t answer I’m just kidding
Doom & Gloom ?????
Cards up 82%
Gifts up 72%
Scratchies up 52% ($15 promtion)
Mags up 23%
If that is Doom & Gloom, then i look forward to when things get better……as Oliver said….”please Sir, may i have some more” ?
Geez, very nice result Allan !
Having a very mixed month here atm.
Cards and scratchies are down, both for the first time in 19 months, (by sales scratchies are up but everyone seems to be buying more of the two and one dollar ones !) but gifts and stationery in general are up over 48%. Most gratifying after doing a partial redo of the magazine relay is an 18% increase in magazine sales by dollar value. Will be interesting to see what a full redo of the relay brings once the mag shelving is reduced to provide for the bigger gift range.
Thanks Paul,
Your results sound pretty good too. The way i see it Paul is if we are showing growth no matter our small we are a long way in front of a lot of businesses out there. You sound pro active and i firmly believe that it will be the pro active newsagents that come through bigger and better than those who sit about listening to the doom and gloom stories………well done to you.
Cheers
Al
We are well up on 2011 as well, but I thought it was largely because Vday was on a Sunday in 2011. better during the week so school and workmates get into it i think.
We are up about 40% in cards and well up in gifts and mags as well. Scratchies also were great.
We too had a fun day!