Leadership urgently needed from Tatts on the year of mixed messages

Tatts agents are justifiably confused by the changing messages from the organisation over the last year.

The company’s position on fit-out requirements, digital screen requirements, audit standards and more have been changing, with businesses in some locations pressured and penalised while others in other locations are let through for lesser breaches or refusal to act.

The actions of Tatts represent a failure of leadership. Worse, they represent a disregard for small business retail.

I know of plenty who were bullied into undertaking the new fit out and digital platform installation without any business plan put by Tatts. Now, they find out that others who have not done the work yet may have a lower cost for what is to be done.

If I was a retailer who had completed the refit and installed digital screens prior to now I would be contemplating a compensation request. Part of the pitch from Tatts reps, I am told, was there is no getting out of this, everyone will have to do it. It turns out that statement was not true, given the position of Tatts today.

People yet to do the refit and yet to install the digital screen(s) are at a commercial advantage to those who have gone before them.

Tatts need to communicate clearly from the top down and ensure that all within the organisation communicate a consistent message. Localised bullying has to stoop. Localised miscommunication has to stop. Communication needs to be only in writing, for training purposes, of course.

Newsagents meeting with Tatts reps may want to consider openly recording conversations.

Newsagents are at where they are at as a result of poor leadership within Tatts. Shame on the company for the bullying. Shame on the company for the mixed visual images around the country. Shame on the company for the lack of a business plan at the retail outlet level.

Tatts has only itself to blame for this mess.