Christmas shopping in high gear in Manchester compared to Australia
I have been in Manchester in the UK, population 500,000, for the last day and a half and have been surprised by the Christmas shopping traffic. Retailers I have spoken with tell me the traffic will not peak for at least two more weeks. So, this video I shot at one intersection does not reflect peak traffic. I’d love traffic like passing my door this time of the year.
And we thought vinyl was dead
Ten years ago few could imagine the resurgence vinyl records would have. Within a couple of minutes of each other I found three shops yesterday in Manchester in the UK. Each has a point of difference yet overall serves people with a common interest. I share the photos to show that what may be losing interest today for many businesses could be successful in the future for fewer businesses.
Selling magazine subscriptions in the newsagency
WH Smith stores in the UK sell magazine subscriptions like this now. Years ago, they were in a box on a spinner. Now, they are placed with gift cards, taking up less space and better located in-store. That they still offer subscriptions today suggests there is money in it for them. There have been several goes at newsagents selling magazine subscriptions like this in-store in Australia over the years. None has worked I think because it has not been more than one or two titles.
Has News Corp sought to modify your General Store Agreement?
I am aware of News Corp. contacting a newsagent with four pages of amendments to the General Store Agreement. I am curious if any other newsagents have been approached and if so what did you do about it? I’m happy to receive an email response rather than commenting publicly here. mark@towersystems.com.au.
A terrific window display sure to attract shoppers
I love this Christmas window display from the team at newsXpress Bairnsdale for it pitches the business outside of what people might expect from this shop, it is fin and inspiring.
This is what the front window is all about, especially for retail businesses in high street situations country towns where attracting impulse visits depends on the window display.
This window display says come on in, this is a fun place to shop. Most important, the window appeals to kids and anyone who buys for kids and this time of the year that is most important.
The best place to start to redefine any retail business is from the front window. Start there, set your messaging and then work this into the business. Of course, any strategic change should start deep within the business, however, starting with the front window can unlock inspiration that demands to be addressed in the business itself.
This window display at newsXpress Bairnsdale is excellent, a proud representation of optimistic retail.
I hope it inspires plenty of newsagents to work on their window.
Why I am at Slush 2016 in Helsinki
Our world has changed forever. By our world I mean the newsagency world. Changes are not stopping either. Indeed, I think the pace of change has picked up.
One of the best places to see beyond changes we are confronted by today is a place focussed on the future. That is what Slush 2016 is – a gathering of 17,000+ people talking about start-ups. There is no better place to contemplate the future than in an environment dedicated to the future.
While many of the start-ups have nothing directly to do with what newsagents do, plenty relate to changes we can contemplate – such as changing tracks to serve how people will consume in the future compared to how they consume today.
Slush 2016 is proving to be a good place to think about these things, to contemplate change, the urgency of change and what our businesses may look like. I get that some like the traditional newsagency. Nostalgia is something to appreciate. However, it may not pay the bills – not for enough newsagents at least.
There is nothing like this back in Australia. If we see a story on TV or in a newspaper about change it is already old. It is at start-up events like Slush where you hear about the idea while it is still fresh.
To set the scene, here is a brief clip from the amazing opening:
This blog is not the place for me to share specific takeaways, of which there are many – personal and business.
Here are some photos from the event.
This session on dying was extraordinary.
Low-cost for lottery retailers in Finland
I checked out plenty of lottery outlets in Helsinki today. The only fit out apparent was the stands you see in the photo. Low key and low cost. The burden on Aussie newsagents of the fit out requirements is extraordinary. It is made worse by the double standards with small business having a what looks like higher cost obligation than big business. In Finland all look the same and all are low cost.
Bauer to close print edition of Dolly magazine
The December 5 issue of Dolly magazine will be the last. The masthead will continue online but for print, this is the end.
This move was only a matter of time. In 2012, Dolly was selling 90,000+ copies an issue. This year, it has been selling 30,000.
The announcement by Bauer Media to close the print edition of Dolly comes just after Pacific Magazines announced the closure of the print edition of Girlfriend.
It is a tough time to be a magazine publisher. 2016 has been a difficult year. The sales and closures have been necessary as publishers tune their businesses for changed circumstances.
The demographic served by Dolly and Girlfriend consumes information differently today than in 2012 when Dolly’s circulation was three times what it is today. In addition to this, the product brands that supported the print product back then now have their own direct to consumer channels that mean they are less reliant on the magazine brands that ‘owned’ the channel to the consumer back then.
This is digital disruption in several levels – the delivery of access to news and curated content and the disruption from brands owning and running their own direct to consumer channels.
The question for newsagents is what have you done to ensure your business attracts the Dolly / Girlfriend shopper?
The closure of the titles will not cause a significant drop-off as that has happened since 2012. What have you been doing to appear to these shoppers as you need them given the ageing population – you need new people in your pipeline?
While the closures are confronting, there are launches of more long-tail titles that present us with opportunities in specialisation. I have received three submissions this week from Australian publishers launching new niche titles into the marketplace, publishers only relying on the newsagency channel to reach their prospective readers, publishers with little or no focus on subscriptions.
While the low margin on magazines is a major challenge for gaining newsagent interest, the opportunity to be a specialist, and through that to attract new traffic, is appealing. Magazines are important to our businesses. We should welcome launches and help those titles find readers, especially the titles that sell exclusively in the newsagency channel.
Footnote: For an excellent article on the Dolly move, read Miranda Ward’s article at Mumbrella.