I was surprised to see a discount retailer charing fifty cents with their $2.00 Bartel calendars. These are envelopes the retailer purchases for twenty cents each with the calendars or less. Fifty cents is a bit rich for a discount variety store that claims to sell for less. 60% GP is excellent for the retailer and unfair for the shopper.
Newsagents have an opportunity to compete in this situation as we are more likely to have a market for the calendar envelopes beyond calendar season.
I think a better approach would be to offer free envelopes in return for purchasing three or more calendars in a purchase. That said, I got out of this low end calendar space when the Reject Shop next door started promoting them.
In my view it is rare that a deep discount or discount variety store offers the level of value they claim.
We charge 40c. Dont sell many envelopes in a ratio to all the calendars we sell.
We give envelopes away if people request them with calendars. As only a small percentage ask and we make on average $10 per calendar sold (average calendar is $20) I factor the small cost as a good PR exercise. Hopefully another USP that sets my store apart from others. Even Ese2C calendars get an envelope as the customers who purchase these are repeat customers who remain loyal.
On a side note: how is everyone’s Christmas going?
Chris I like your approach. On Christmas, I’ll open a separate topic on this.
Why not just charge $2.50 for the calendar with or without the envelope?
Quite honestly. Why would you bother selling $2 calendars anyway?
Carol I agree on both your points. The challenge can be tough in a city location where you are surrounded by these discount variety stores.
No more barrel calendar for me,customers complaining that the pictures are the same year after year
Stopped dealing with Bartel a couple of years ago.
We have strong sale with Brown Trout as our main supplier and retail starting at $12.95 and rising to almost $40.00 the high range calendars. We have charged our normal rate for envelopes but I like Chris’s approach and will do the same in future.
As a side note, don’t you love the customer who comes in with a card they purchased elsewhere and try to get a free envelope for it because they messed up!!! If they bought it from us we’ll usually help out.
the envelopes that comes with australiana calendars from Browntrouts do not fit at all. customers are not happy!
We’ve been taking the envelopes out of last years calendars Eric. It’s a PITA.