Newsagency management tip: take care how you price items
With more and more collectibles being sold in newsagencies, it is important that the value of the collectible is maintained. This means not writing prices on boxes and not using stickers with an adhesive that leaves a hard to remove residue.
People who purchase collectibles will stop purchasing fro you if the items they collect are damaged in a way that compromises the value of an item.
Yu have to think like them.
Why Afterpay is rejecting newsagents as merchants
Plenty of newsagents who have applied to to offer Afterpay in their businesses have been rejected early in the application process.
Afterpay is rejecting these businesses on the basis they sell three product categories that are not permitted under its terms: gambling, tobacco and porn.
While I have made representations on the rejections of which I am aware and explained how problematic products can be fenced off from being paid for through Afterpay, the rejection remains on foot.
The terms established by Afterpay reflect their own business terms and, I suspect, terms imposed by financiers and others with a stake in the Afterpay business. Others in this lending space have similar terms.
Newsagency businesses that are not agents and not convenience focussed have a better chance of overcoming the Afterpay ban.
This all matters because of the commercial value to retailers on the buy now pay later model. Through my work with newsxpress I see plenty of business being won by newsXpress members selling items,ms today that shoppers will pay for over time. This is business that would have gone to other retailers.
There are stores winning click and collect business from shoppers repaired to drive an hour or so to pick up something paid for through Oxipay (like Afterpay), which they could have bought locally but COD or on LayBy.
Once a purchase decision has been made people often want the item(s) immediately. Hence the value of offering this buy now take it now pay later service. This is why the Afterpay rejection needs work.
Politicians in Australia to small business retailers: don’t do as I do, do as I say
The federal parliamentarian dual citizenship mess in which we have found ourselves here in Australia for months now shows how politicians treat themselves as elite, special, compared to common folk, the voters who vote them in.
While we in small business are highly regulated, subject to audit and penalised for even simple honest oversight, politicians refuse to permit themselves to be subject to the same.
While individuals are highly regulated, subject to audit and penalised for even simple honest oversight, politicians refuse to permit themselves to be subject to the same.
The moment the first dual citizenship question was raised, an ethical leader keen for democracy would have ordered an immediate full audit of the status of all politicians.
We are bereft of leadership for everyday Australians in Australia.
For months major party politicians have spun their wheels on the issue of dual citizenship and refused to agree to the type of audit that is regular for us in small business. For months they have said politicians should self regulate on this issue while at the same time imposing challenging and enforced regulation on small businesses and on individuals.
Shame on us for allowing your politicians to get away with them setting a standard for their own behaviour that is lower than standards they vote to impose on regular people.
The one party that has provided leadership on this issue is the Greens. From the outset they called for an audit. The are right. Yet their call has been mocked, especially by the government side of the parliament. This side of the parliament that is in control, in leadership, has eschewed leadership and instead engaged in puerile games.
They must think we are fools.
There ought be an audit of all federal politicians immediately, no matter the disruption or the cost.
Section 44 of the Constitution is not new. Its provision have been known for decades. It is easy for anyone to determine their status. Whether they do this comes down to how they see themselves compared to how they see the peril they serve.
We the people deserve honest leadership, leadership that is transparent and for all people, leadership that submits itself to the same standards and level of regulation as they impose on those they serve. We do not have this in Australia at the moment.
Every day, we see small business retailers squeezed by regulation, while at the same time, right now, seeing politicians refuse even basic regulation. This double standard has to stop, for the good of our country and democracy.
Are you paying family members properly?
I received a call from the child of a newsagency owner recently wanting to know how to handle them not being paid appropriately.
Their parents pay them in cash for a full time role. No tax. No super. No leave entitlements.
While this seemed like a good idea at the time, now that they are considering a home loan they have no employment records on which to base the application.
Family members who are not shareholders need to be paid according to the award, m accurately and on the books.
Pitching cards on social media
We love the reaction to this social media post pitching a card. It’s the type of post I was referring to when I wrote abut Facebook recently. It connects emotionally with Facebook users.
The more we pitch our businesses with a look that is unexpected for a newsagency the more people will not identify use as a newsagency.
Pitching a sugar-free Christmas
We have the New Idea Sugar-Free Christmas one-shot off-location so more shoppers see it. We have it in an easily moved free standing unit, midway in the shop near cards and gifts. It taps into the high level of interest right now in all things sugar-free. It is the kind of title people will purchase on impulse – hence the off-location placement.
Terrific video promoting Scream magazine
I love this video from then publisher of Scream. I’d like to see more publishers provide clever and entertaining videos that we can use.
Make your #Halloween go with a SCREEEAM! Get the Scream! and Misty Special from all good newsagents and @Tesco Extra stores now! pic.twitter.com/3gd9bF2UKB
— 2000 AD (@2000AD) October 31, 2017
Good campaign by Oxfam on corporate tax avoidance
I support the campaign by Oxfam calling on companies to pay their fair share of tax. While it is the campaign against online sales that is getting media attention, there are plenty of businesses, big businesses not paying their fair share of tax. News Corp. in Australia has come under fire on this as have others.
While the Oxfam campaign focusses on the impact on poor countries, Australia would be a better country if big businesses here paid their fare share of tax and if they did not receive the handouts they receive.
Small business does more heavy lifting as a percentage of turnover than big business. That needs to change. It will only change when we have politicians on all sides who stand up to big business.
Facebook community growth is as important as shopper traffic growth
Growth in the number of likes for your business Facebook page(s) is as important as growth in shopper traffic through your front door.
I see a direct correlation between the two, if you use Facebook well. Of course, if is the important word in that statement.
I have been actively using Facebook for business for many years. It is an excellent platform of reaching new customers and talking with existing customers. It is an important tool in business growth.
HOW DO YOU GET MORE LIKES ON FACEBOOK?
This is simple, provide good content, content that gives people what they come to Facebook for – entertainment, inspiration, a laugh. The more you do this the more your post will be liked and shared. The more likes and shoes the more people you reach.
Growth in likes for your page begins with your content. If your page likes are not growing, look at your content.
While you can ask people to like your Facebook page, resulting likes may not be as valuable as those who like your page of their own accord.
You can also buy likes. That, however, is a waste of money.
HOW DOES A BUSINESS USE FACEBOOK WELL?
Businesses that use Facebook well entertain. This can be by making people laugh, smile, feel emotional or be happy overall. They do it by being human, real and engaged. They do it by not trying to sell. They do it y not being commercial.
Photos are real, not studio shots, showing products in use more so than on the shelves. They show customers, happy customers.
They share something of themselves.
A newsagency uses Facebook well by not writing about products newsagents sell.
HOW DO MORE LIKES OF YOUR BUSINESS TRANSLATE INTO MORE SALES?
Someone engaging with your business Facebook page is similar to someone browsing your shop. Both can lead to sales.
People being on your page and engaging with your page brings them close to you and proximity = sales.
The more people who like your business Facebook page the more people you can pitch and offer to or reach out with an event or product announcement, them more people who will hear what you have to say.
Take Facebook seriously as a key business tool. The benefits are real and valuable.