The former owners of Paperplay Inverloch were early adopters of change their then, years ago, newsagency business. While the business did have lotteries, it relied on newspapers, magazines and other newsagency lines seeing the folks of Inverloch, Victoria.
The shift in the business was gradual, driven through product purchasing. As the range of products diversified, some traditional lines remained, but took a back seat. Midway through the journey of change, the business changed names, to reflect the non traditional offering. Bu this time, books had become an important part of the business.
Locals embraced the change. Covid propelled that further as Paperplay Inverloch offered locked down locals easy access to products you usually find in the city hours away.
While these photos are from a year and more ago, they reflect part of the diversity of offering of Paperplay Inverloch.
This series came about because journalists and news outlets prefer a narrative that the local Aussie newsagency is rooted in the past. They are wrong for many ‘newsagency’ businesses. Paperplay Inverloch is a good example of that. It plays against the ignorant narrative media outlets run.
We need better journalism when it comes to reporting about our channel.
It’s not too late for any newsagent tom embrace change and tradition. There are plenty of people in our channel ready to help. It starts with you asking the question.
Every newsagent, every retailer, needs to find their own way. In my experience. the best pathway to this is product choices. Playing outside the usual walls for a newsagency is a start. but, remember, in retail we need to find a need and fill it, and, we are not our customers.