I heard from a newsagent who was “told off” for moving newspapers away from near the entrance to the business to the rear of the business.
The newsagent made the move based on the return on floor space being achieved and based on the trajectory. I am aware of the numbers. The move was the right one in my opinion.
The newspaper publisher rep was having none of the logic. I am told there was a threat to pull newspapers from the business.
I am not aware of any decline in newspaper sales in a business that has moved newspapers from the front of the business to the rear. Without such evidence, any claim or demand from a newspaper publisher rep is without any evidentiary basis.
Here are five reasons why moving newspapers to the back of the shop can be a good move:
- Newspaper readers have more room to read. This provides better customer service.
- There is more space for the volume of papers on busy days. Better space management.
- Store traffic flow is better, less cluttered at the front during busy newspaper times. This benefits all shoppers,
- More money is made by better use of the old newspaper space and this gives the business better overall prospects. Retail 101.
- The newsagent is thinking like a retailer and that is to be cheered. Cheer!!!
Newspaper publishers have no rights over where papers are in a business. I say this even if some have a contract with requirements. Good luck finding a court to uphold a requirement on a small business retailer that commercially harms the business.
Newspapers fit well at the back of the shop. Sales are not affected. Sure one or two complain – tell them the exercise would be good for them.
Newspapers play an important role in newsagencies. For this to continue we need to leverage ways that reduce operating costs – like publishers themselves have done in recent years in the running of their businesses. The best way for us to do this is to stop these low margin products from us making what we could make from front of store high value retail space.