A blog on issues affecting Australia's newsagents, media and small business generally. More ...

Month: October 2020

A fraud alert issued by epay this afternoon

The following notice was issued with this advice: We’ve again become aware of heightened fraudulent activity across our retailer base, where fraudsters are contacting sites pretending to be epay representatives (or sometimes a product vendor, the ATO or other Government Department) and requesting that they print vouchers for predominantly cash products such as VPAY, FlexePIN, Paysafe or Neosurf and to read the PIN code over the phone to them or suggesting they need to provide payment for upgrading their terminal or service with epay – other MO’s include advising retailers they’re paying more for the transactions than they should or that there had been ‘issues’ with some products and they need to print some out to verify if it have been fixed. We’ve also had instances where a retailer was convinced that epay and/or Neosurf was closing down, so they’d been tasked with retrieving all unused vouchers (by getting them to print and read the details overs the phone) so they could be deactivated – these scammers change their story often, so past scenarios are not necessarily a good indicator of future ones.

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Social responsibility

Rent relief extended for retailers in Victoria

Newsagents in Victoria need to know that the Covid rent relief measures put in place through the national cabinet earlier this year have been extended.

Click here to access the details of this scheme.

As has been the case since March this year, independent landlords are more likely to be on top of this and providing relief, often beyond what is required, without many barriers. It is the big business landlords, the major shopping centre landlord businesses, that are problematic, late and providing considerable stress for small business retailers.

While the extension of arrangements by the Victorian government are welcome, it would have been helpful for there to be penalties for landlords who stalled the process.

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Retail tenancy

Saturday lotto changes a bit ho hum

I’ve seen sales data from the Tabcorp states for the modified Saturday lottery game and they are flat. While the the dividing 1 prize value has gone up and ticket purchase price has gone up, sales volume was flat.

A newsagent asked me today to mention this here in case others commented. They had expected a sales bump and did not achieve it. They are wondering if they are alone.

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Lotteries

Beware scammers

Several newsagents have told me this week of calls they have received from someone saying there is an issue with phone cards or some other product from their business. They ask to be logged into the computer in the business to fix the issue.

Do not agree to this. It is a scam.

Verify the identify of anyone asking to log into your computer. This is easy to do. Ask for their phone number and say you will call them back. Most will drop off at this point.

Please, tell everyone working in your business. The cost if the scammer getting through could be tens of thousands of dollars.

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theft

Discussing POS software for newsagents

I’m grateful for the opportunity last week to talk with Nathan from my newsagency software company, Tower Systems, about newsagency software and the role it is playing in the evolution of newsagency businesses.

Here is the 31 minute video of the discussion from last week, which looks at some of the software functions as well as newsagency software connected websites newsagents are using to sell online.

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Newsagency management

JobKeeper encourages businesses to keep poor performing employees

A retailer contacted me yesterday with this scenario: three of their casuals are poor performers, too often unwilling to work, making many mistakes at work and disinterested in engaging with shoppers despite encouragement to do so.

The retailer would like to replace them with new employees, three of the many who have dropped their resumes off, keen for a job.

The challenge for the business is JobKeeper. Getting rid of the three poor performers would see the business lose JobKeeper for them and not have access to JobKeeper for three new hires.

The owner has spoken with Fairwork and the answers there are not black and white.

I suggested they performance manage the three dud employees, putting them through a documented process to seek improvement or to at least provide a documented and lawful pathway for their exit from the business.

That employees are able to be paid JobKeeper regardless off whether they actually work is a flaw in the system that needs addressing.

The additional workload and stress on small business retailers because of JobKeeper is an unintendended consequence for sure, but disappointing.

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Social responsibility

Banks closing branches, removing ATMs, hurting small business retail in Australia

Under the cover of Covid, banks are closing branches in Australia and removing ATMs in a shrinking of banking access. There is no consultation with customers, just an announcement or a sign on a front door.

Local bank branch closures are adding considerable cost to small business retailers in Australia.

While many bank branches closed under the first Covid lockdown back in March, plenty of these have since subsequently closed permanently.

In one of my own retail situations, in suburban Melbourne, our local bank branch, which is in walking distance, is closing. We face a 10 minute car drive, which means a roster change to deal with takings banking and disruption if we encounter a change shortage.

The closure of local bank branches makes going cashless more appealing to retailers. Maybe this is what the banks want. The retail network is expensive to maintain in terms of real estate and labour I guess.

While the closure of bank branches in March made sense, the continued closure after that lockdown ended was the first indication that banks were reconsidering their retail engagement.

Adding to the considerable number of bank branches that have closed in Australia, the closure of ATMs is impacting the shopper experience as well as the business owner experience. In another part of suburban Melbourne, one busy shopping street has seen five ATMs ripped out by banks.

Again, in my own experience, a local ATM at which we banked cheques, which are still a thing, has been removed, necessitating a drive as opposed to what was a short walk.

I get that all businesses are reassessing the infrastructure that is appropriate in a Covid and post-Covid (if it ever happens) world and that it makes sense that banks do this too. However, banks provide key services to Australians and local small businesses. They have a social responsibility to maintain these services. The extent of local bank branch closures in Australia will impact small businesses.

Again, in our own situation, for one of our shops, we are opening an account with a bank we have previously not dealt with as they have a branch a few minutes walk away and that is appealing compared to having to drive. It’s not ideal, but it is better than adding to our labour cost.

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Social responsibility

Pop Vinyls continue to deliver terrific new traffic in-store and online

The Funko Pop! Vinyl 2020 Fall Convention Limited Edition range released from embargo Saturday morning has worked a treat, thanks in part of cool social media content, which we made ourselves.

Pop culture is not category that is not for everyone. It requires constant work and has big business competitors. However, it is worth it, especially for the new traffic.

Yes, this is a long-standing newsXpress opportunity – not mandatory though.

What I like about the pop culture category is the diversity of the shoppers, their preparedness to travel to purchase and their happiness to also purchase online. Oh, and their shop efficiency – baskets often contain more than just Pop! Vinyls.

I’ve spoken with newsagents who say they don’t have these shoppers in their area. They cannot know that until they try and find them. It’s impossible to tell who may be a pop culture customer by looking at them.

For this category, it all depends on whether you want new traffic.

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newsagency marketing

Kevin Rudd launches a petition for a Royal Commission into media diversity

Here is the official notice re this petition calling for a Royal Commission into media diversity, which could be called a Royal Commission into News Corp., which was launched by Kevin Rudd half an hour ago:

Petition EN1938 – Royal Commission to ensure a strong, diverse Australian news media

Petition Reason
Our democracy depends on diverse sources of reliable, accurate and independent news. But media ownership is becoming more concentrated alongside new business models that encourage deliberately polarising and politically manipulated news. We are especially concerned that Australia’s print media is overwhelmingly controlled by News Corporation, founded by Fox News billionaire Rupert Murdoch, with around two-thirds of daily newspaper readership. This power is routinely used to attack opponents in business and politics by blending editorial opinion with news reporting. Australians who hold contrary views have felt intimidated into silence. These facts chill free speech and undermine public debate. Powerful monopolies are also emerging online, including Facebook and Google. We are deeply concerned by: mass-sackings of news journalists; digital platforms impacting on media diversity and viability; Nine Entertainment’s takeover of the Melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald; News Corp’s acquisition (and then closure) of more than 200 smaller newspapers, undermining regional and local news; attempts to replace AAP Newswire with News Corp’s alternative; and relentless attacks on the ABC’s independence and funding. Professional journalists further have legitimate concerns around unjust searches, potential prosecution, whistle-blower protection, official secrecy and dispute resolution that should be comprehensively addressed. Only a Royal Commission would have the powers and independence to investigate threats to media diversity, and recommend policies to ensure optimal diversity across all platforms to help guarantee our nation’s democratic future.

Here is Rudd’s tweet, which includes a video explainer:

It’s a bold move to take on Murdoch as plenty have found. Personally, I’d like to see the proposed Royal Commission happen. I think it could be helpful for our democracy.

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Social responsibility

Newsagents promoted by publisher of Official Bathurst Program

The publisher of the official Bathurst program has been promoting newsagents on social media, which is terrific to see…

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magazines

2021 Toy Fair to be 100% digital

The Melbourne Toy Fair slated for March 2021, usually a huge event, will be 100% digital next year. It’s good to see this announcement made early, so folks can plan.

This trade show has historically been critical for setting up the year for suppliers, harvesting plenty of forward orders. It has been a perfect opportunity for retailers to learn from first-hand contact about many new products.

This news about the 2021 Toy Fair, coupled with news of redundancies in other areas of trade show world, 2021 looks like a lean year for in person trade show events.

The suppliers who have pivoted to digital trade events and interactive digital catalogues are best positioned to benefit from the uncertainty of face to face trade shows.

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Newsagent suppliers

AC/DC coin set from the Royal Australian Mint driving traffic for the newsagency

At 8:30am yesterday the embargo on the new AC/DC boxed coin set was lifted and by this morning, in 24 hours, we had sold $2,750 worth of the set from one store. This, like other collectible coin sets is another net new traffic driver for the newsagency. 37% GP is good, especially where you can for sure turn all your stock a month before you have to settle the account.

Yes, this is a newsXpress sourced opportunity with access to a quarantined allocation, negotiated months ago, special pricing and terrific background information. The keys to success have been social media videos and photos, like:

And this one:

And photos like these:

Net new traffic is vital for our businesses. This is achieved through understanding. I know of newsagents who will say I don’t have coin collectors in my area. Thanks to a relationship with the Mint, I can for certainty say this is not true. mapping coin buyers by location is revealing. Also, people other than coin collectors buy sets like this.

A common response from newsXpress members getting into coins is that they are surprised at who purchases them.Besides lovers of coin magazines, newspaper customers are common purchasers of coin sets.

This AC/DC coin set is a success as it’s only been out a day. It will sell out.

And … here’s the pitch – this is a newsXpress success story. Driving net new traffic and delivering bankable profit for a safe outlay. Great news in 2020!

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newsagency marketing

Some newsagents are yet to be advised about a price increase for The Australian, which kicked off Oct. 5

Communication from News Corp. has failed again with plenty of newsagents telling me they are yet to be advised of a price rise for The Australian and The Weekend Australia that started October 5. Here is part of the letter from September 28 I was sent by a newsagent yesterday.

The poor communication has cost some newsagents money given the poor approach to product data handling by the company.

This would never have happened 10 or 15 years ago. Back then, News Corp., folks made sure newsagents knew in advance as well as software companies – so that newsagents had the current advice a week before any cover price change. Now, with so much institutional knowledge lost in News Corp. it is no wonder newsagents who were not informed last week are furious.

News Corp. like to tell Australians how to live their lives. If only they sorted their mess out first.

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Newspaper distribution

Shopping centres in the firing live over covid

Chadstone shopping centre in Melbourne has been the top of the news over the last week following a cluster outbreak from a business in that centre. yesterday, NSW Health issues this notice:

This notice lists more shopping centres. These notices must play into shopper confidence that the centres are safe to visit, which impacts visitror numbers as well as shopping time while in a store.

The notifications remind retailers of the need to run Covid safe businesses and to do this with discipline.

 

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Social responsibility

Ensure you are on top of JobKeeper 2.0 requirements

With JobKeeper 2.0 now in play, it is critical that anyone with employees reviews the JobKeeper business eligibility requirements as well as employee entitlements as to the appropriate tier. This is critical to ensure people are paid correctly and to ensure that you have the necessary information to better inform rostering decisions.

While the ATO website contradicts itself, click here for what I am told is the correct tier eligibility requirements.

Here are the key dates for JobKeeper 2.0:

  • September 28: start paying eligible employees under the second phase two-tier system, based on their hours worked in the comparison period.
  • October 1–14: complete your October JobKeeper monthly business declarations.
  • October 1–31: prepare and submit your business turnover decline to the ATO.
  • Before October 31: ensure you’ve met the wage condition for all JobKeeper eligible employees from the fortnight starting September 28.
  • From November 1: complete your monthly business declaration and confirm payment tiers you are claiming for each eligible worker.
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Newsagency management

The Paperboy website

The Paperboy website provides access to the front pages of newspapers from around the world. The site gets around 1,200 visitors a day from Australia and around 46,000 a day worldwide currently.

I don’t see it as a threat to over the counter sales.

A newsagent contacted me yesterday about the site, worried that it was another risk point. The reality is The Paperboy has been around for 2 decades.

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Newspapers

Masks will be here until there is a COVID-19 vaccine

The mask requirement in Victoria got off to a shaky start with some nasty scenes in retail. As time has gone on, it’s become easier to manager, shoppers have been more engaged with the requirement.

Thinking about this and the now clear value in mask wearing, it is a good time to consider how we in retail can better manage the mask requirement – for the safety of everyone in our shops, especially for those to whom it is a work place.

This tweet about mask and temperature checking in Thailand shows a smart and efficient way to handle masks as the entrance to the shop.

If you scroll down the tweet thread, you can see this video from a school in Scotland:

We are using social media to appreciate people wearing masks.

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Social responsibility

Tabcorp (Tatts) Terminal connect released for newsagents

Following acceptance testing and beta testing, the Tabcorp (Tatts) Terminal connect facility is released in the Tower newsagency software, offering retailers the ability to call up lottery terminal sales into the POS software.

This is in a new release of the Tower software out today. It will be interesting to see how much newsagents use the facility.

The process is simple:

Sell By Scanning Customer Trans. Receipt Barcode

Once you have completed the sale on your lottery terminal go to your POS Register

Locate the Customer Transaction Receipt. It should look similar to the example opposite.

Scan the barcode on the bottom of the Ticket.

Your POS screen will then be filled with the ticket included in the sale.

This text above is part of the broader, more complete, documentation released by Tower. I am sure other newsagency software companies will publish their connectivity advice.

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Lotteries

Stationery sales stalled in newsagencies?

I’m currently collecting data for a July – September 2020 newsagency sales benchmark study. While the process is in its early days, with data from 30 businesses in so far, already I am seeing concerning data for stationery with sales down, against an overall trend for the businesses.

I have data for one business where overall revenue is up 13% while stationery revenue is down 9%. In another case I can see revenue up 9% but stationery revenue down 12%.

While stationery has been challenged in the channel for a few years, these results are worse than the trend. It’s concerning.

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Stationery

Newsagency sales benchmark study launched

Yesterday, I launched a new sales benchmark study to newsagents. This study looks at the Q3 2020 results.

I am collating data for a new benchmark study, looking at sales July through September 2020 versus 2019.

How to participate.

  1. Please run a Monthly Sales Comparison Report for 01/07/2020 – 30/09/2020 compared to 01/07/2019 – 30/09/2019.
  2. Tick the category box. IMPORTANT.
  3. Tick to exclude home delivery and sub agent data.
  4. DO NOT tick the supplier box.
  5. Preview the report on the screen. Save as a PDF.
  6. Email these reports direct to me at mark@towersystems.com.au.
  7. Read the report yourself and see what it shows you about your business.

I will email the results to all participating newsagents and publish the results on theAustralian Newsagency Blog as a service for all newsagents.

I own and run three newsagencies. Over the years I have had three others. I own newsXpress, the newsagency marketing group.

I am grateful that Tower Systems has added 30 newsagents as customers in the last year as customers of our newsagency software,

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Newsagency benchmark