While we are only a few weeks in, I am seeing data indicating that shopping centre newsagents are less likely to experience a negative affect from the recent magazine distribution changes which saw Wednesday and Friday deliveries combined to a Thursday delivery. High street newsagents, however, appear to have lost some sales.
Looking at sales by day reports I have looked at sales on Thursdays and Fridays in particular and they show a difference between shopping centre and high street businesses.
I did check a couple of rural / regional newsagencies and there was no discernable change.
Not all shopping centre newsagents have benefited from those I looked at. It’s clear that how one engages with magazines is a factor. Guiding shoppers to change their habit is important given the risk of losing sales to supermarkets on Thursday especially.
I’d like to see the major magazine publishers more fully research the impact of the magazine distribution change. If they do not want supermarkets to significantly grow magazine sales at the cost of newsagent sales they will need a plan to support our channel.
Wednesdays used to be the best magazine day for our store, accounting for 20% of weekly sales. Wednesday Sales are down 50% since changeover. Yes we have picked up Thursday and Friday, but not enough to cover the loss on Wednesday. Tomoroow being the first major Powerball draw since the changeover, I hope this positively effects magazine sales, not negatively.
Saturday sales remain unchanged. I suspect this is because we have an Aldi store located less than 1km up the road. They attract a good crowd for their Saturday Specials and have dragged consumers away from our centre.
Rather than focus on the day of the week I have just run a weekly report more magazine sales and allowing for normal fluctuations they do not seem to have been adversly affected. More interesting and important is that our Stationery sales have maintained their usual sales and gifts and card have significantly improved on Wednesdays. It’s great news if higher margin sales improve permanently and I suspect we are attracting a different shopper now on Wednesdays.
Wed sales have dropped off for sure. Wed is now becoming our slowest day of the week.
Being a high street type newsagency. Many customers have commented that they will now pick up their magazines at the supermarket when doing their weekly shop. Have seen drastic reduction of Wednesday traffic even though it is the day of our local papers and has resulted in the loss of our casual on wednesday.
Yes Thursdays are busier but overall we are seeing our sales shift elsewhere. We were always cautious when we were told that magazines were now coming on the “busier” days of the week.
One change that would benefit we think, would be a change to on sale of Take 5, and Thats life to Mondays.
One positive is that the smaller volume Monday weeklys like famous & NW seem to be travelling better. Also loving the extra days sleepin!!!!
David you have to promote a point of difference. This is where the discount vouchers can work a treat.
Did I catch Sunrise Promoting Thats Life for there Cash competition.
As on Sale today make sure you go into
David said Newsagency
Natalie had to corect and say just buy it at the supermarket with your shopping its far easier.
Plus there are pushing the on sale day still as Wednesday GG need to send Sunrise there delivery changes e-mail 😀