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

Author: Mark Fletcher

The Evidence is Clear: Transformation Drives Newsagency Growth

Thank you to the diverse group of newsagents across rural, regional, and suburban locations who participated in this latest benchmark study by providing their sales data. This contribution, facilitated by Tower Systems newsagency software, provides an invaluable look into the current state of our industry.

The results reveal a stark contrast between businesses maintaining a traditional model and those that have embraced transformation.

Benchmarking the Results: Traditional vs. Transformed

Metric Traditional Newsagencies Transformed Newsagencies
Revenue Down 3% Up 9%
Transaction Count Down 5% Down 4%
Average Basket Value Down 1% Up 11%
Gift Revenue Down 3% Up 119%
Greeting Card Revenue Down 4% Up 8%
Stationery Revenue Down 4% Up 5%
Counter Impulse Sales Down 12% Up 20%
Online Revenue $0 Typically $75,000+ annually
Magazine Unit Sales Down 7% Down 7%
Newspaper Unit Sales Down 12% Down 8%

What’s not covered in this is niche category detail in a range of businesses. here are some examples:

  • Books. Three shops providing data had book revenue of more than $85,000 for the year and each was up 18% on the previous year.
  • Homewares. Two of the shops had homewares revenue of more than $75,000 for homewares and each was up 20% on the previous year.
  • Clothing. Three of the shops had clothing revenue of more than $80,000 and each was up 30% on the previous year.
  • Trading cards. Nine of the shops had trading card (Pokemon, basketball etc) revenue of more than $100,000 and each was up 30% on the previous year.
  • Plush. Four of the businesses had plush as a breakout category. Two showing growth of 25% had revenue for plush at more than $60,000 for the year and two that had plush at $15,000 or thereabouts had plush growth at 5%.

The other note I’d make at the category level relates to stationery. There is stationery and then there is stationery. Stationery people need versus stationery people want. This second component of stationery is high-end, good-margin, harder to find stationery for stationery collectors and lovers. This type of shopper, in a shop with stationery they love, will spend $250.00 a visit and more. They are a valuable shopper. Traditional newsagency stationery suppliers done;t offer product for this shopper.

Breaking the Cycle of Tradition

This is a perfect headline, because the future relies on newsagents breaking the cycle of tradition.

These figures above highlight fundamental differences in product offerings, pricing strategies, customer demographics, and overall business approach. While traditional categories like magazines and newspapers continue to decline across the board, transformed newsagencies are leveraging new opportunities to drive significant growth.

Interestingly, transformed businesses are even outperforming traditional ones within core categories like greeting cards and stationery. This success is not the result of increased supplier support or adherence to traditional product demands. Instead, it stems from a more dynamic business environment, a positive in-store atmosphere, and a broader customer base.

Diverse Revenue Streams

As already noted, beyond the standard metrics, we are seeing newsagencies generate substantial revenue from non-traditional segments. It is not uncommon to see businesses approaching $100,000 in annual revenue from:

  • Coffee and related products

  • Clothing

  • High-end collectibles

While inconsistent categorisation makes broad benchmarking for these segments difficult, the trend is undeniable: moving away from the traditional model is both profitable and vital for survival.

There is no limit as to what you can sell in your newsagency. The key is to not be bound by your shingle.

Our channel has dinosaur leaders who think the future is in agency business like parcels and bill payment or connected to odd-branded chocolate. As Jethro Tull sings they’re living in the past.

The Challenge of Change

Transforming a business is hard work. While many cite concerns over cost, in my experience, the financial investment is often not the greatest hurdle. The true challenge lies in making the decision to leave tradition behind.

Many entered this industry because of the perceived ease of the traditional newsagency model. However, traditional suppliers would now benefit from actively supporting newsagents as they diversify beyond the traditional shingle. The data proves that for those willing to act, the opportunity for a thriving, valuable business is there for the taking.

Need help?

If you want to change the trajectory of your retail newsagency, yes, you can. You’re not restricted by a shingle. There are plenty in the channel who can help. be careful though. Make sure that advice you get relates to your business, that it’s based on your data and your situation.

We will see more newsagency closures in 2026. Yours does not have to be one of them.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Newsagency benchmark

The Widening Divide in Australian Newsagencies

In the decades I have worked with newsagents across Australia, I have seen many changes. However, I have never seen such a significant gap between successful newsagencies and those that are failing as I am seeing now in January 2026. This divide is not a matter of luck; it is a direct result of the business models and mindsets being employed by owners today.

I have been in this industry for a long time. I started Tower Systems in February 1981 to develop newsagency software, which is now used by nearly 1,900 businesses nationwide. While I sold the company in 2024, I remain active in the business. I also bought my first newsagency in 1996 and have been involved with newsXpress since 2005. Through these roles, I have seen the industry from the perspective of a supplier, a marketing group director, and a retail owner.

A Tale of Two Performances

As I review the benchmark data comparing 2025 performance to 2024, the contrast is stark. On one side, there are businesses enjoying double-digit growth. These newsagencies are focusing on high-margin categories where they achieve more than 50% gross profit. They are thriving in terms of revenue, gross profit, and bottom-line net profit.

On the other side, I see businesses down by 10%, 12%, or even 15% year-on-year. These are typically traditional newsagencies focused almost exclusively on low-margin “agency” lines: lotteries, newspapers, magazines, and greeting cards. This traditional model is dying.

The Danger of the Agency Model

The agency business model, where you take a small commission on a product or service controlled by someone else, has no upside. Whether it is parcel services, bill payments, transport tickets, or lotteries, the controlling companies will always keep your margins as slim as possible to maximise their own profits.

Lotteries can be a good foot-traffic driver, but that value diminishes as more customers move to online platforms. As a retailer, you will always make more money on products where you have control. For example, if you sell unique gift items, you set the retail price and achieve a healthy gross profit. This is the shift from being an agent to being a true retailer.

Mindset and Responsibility

The difference between the two groups I mention here often comes down to the person behind the counter. Successful newsagents tend to be forward-thinking and willing to take calculated risks. They make decisions based on broader retail trends rather than just what they see within our specific channel.

In contrast, declining businesses are often run by individuals who are doing the bare minimum. They may feel stuck in the business or expect someone else to solve their problems for them. Our industry began in the 1800s as a network of agents, but some have not yet realised that they must evolve into innovative retailers to survive.

Moving Forward

No marketing group can “make” you successful. A good group will provide opportunities, data, and unique products that offer better margins and area exclusivity. However, the owner must be the one to engage with those ideas as their capacity allows.

If your business has not seen growth this year, it is likely because of the decisions you have made rather than external factors. Your success is your responsibility, as is your failure.

The good news is that it is not too late. I have seen newsagents completely turn their businesses around in just a few months. The first step is acknowledging that the old way of doing business is no longer viable and taking proactive steps toward becoming a modern, independent retailer.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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newsagency of the future

Advice on how to attract more people to your website

One of the most common questions I get from retailers is how can I get more people visiting my website?

From the outset I note there is no easy way. Sure, there will be people who will say it is easy if you spend money with them. Don’t trust them. There is no easy way to get more people to your website. It takes work, work and, then, more work.

In my work at Tower Systems, newsXpress and for my own shops, I have spent years on this, and attracting online visitors is part of my day-to-day even today.

I have seen firsthand what works and what fails to gain traction. My advice here is rooted in my lived experience with successful and failed websites.

Here are five effective, free strategies you can use today to boost your website traffic.

1. Be specific with product names

Vague titles like “Blue Dress” do not help customers find you. When naming products in your POS and on your website, precision is essential. Include the brand name, the colour, the material, and the specific style. For example, use “Acme Brand Floral Midi Dress with Puff Sleeves” instead of a generic description.

A simple trick is to ask yourself what a customer would type into a search engine to find that exact item. Use those words. Remember that you are not locked into these names forever. As shopper trends evolve, your titles should evolve too.

2. Write descriptive product content

A list of specifications is rarely enough to close a sale. You need to tell a story that resonates with your target customer. Think about who they are and why they need the product. Instead of simply stating “5-megapixel camera”, you might say, “Capture crisp, vibrant memories with this 5-megapixel camera.”

Good descriptions improve your search engine rankings and help convert browsers into buyers. Try to anticipate the questions a customer might ask and answer them directly in the text.

3. Maintain a regular blog

Search engines prioritise websites that offer fresh, relevant content. We suggest publishing a post at least once or twice a week. You do not need to write a novel to be helpful. Simply answer common customer questions or explain how a specific product solves a common problem.

While you can use technology to help draft ideas, always edit the final version to ensure it sounds like you. Your unique expertise is what builds trust with your audience. This advice about maintaining a blog, it is the most important advice I provide. If you only do one thing from this post, make it this one. Blog regularly – 3, 4, 5 times a week. Yes, that many.

4. Humanise your brand

The “About Us” page is often one of the most visited sections of a retail website. Use this space to build a genuine connection. Clearly state who you are, what your values are, and where you are located.

Include real photos of yourself and your staff. People generally prefer to buy from other people rather than faceless corporations. Authenticity matters in a digital marketplace.

5. Keep your content current

Regular updates signal to both customers and search engines that your business is active and reliable.

The bottom line is that these strategies take time, but the payoff is significant. By ensuring your data is accurate in your software and on your site, you create direct pathways for customers to find what they need.

Like I said, if you choose to do only one thing, focus on regular blogging. High-quality, human-written content that highlights your specialty and your local presence will help your website rank well and keep customers coming back.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Newsagency management

My thoughts on The National Retail Federation’s Retail’s Bg Show in New York this week

I walked NRF’s Retail’s Big Show through two lenses: as a local independent retailer, and as someone who founded a POS software company in the 1980s specifically to serve that community.

I enjoyed the energy of the floor and the sessions, including the AI deep-dives at the Snowflake Stage. But for a conference dedicated to retail, there were an awful lot of non-retailers telling retailers how to run their businesses. The marketing spin was in overdrive, desperate to sound “empathetic” to capture attention. In exhibition halls loaded with that much hype, it becomes hard to hear anything at all.

Too often, I found myself listening to noise and hearing nothing.

AI is the pitch of the moment, but asking a specific question at a booth rarely yielded a meaningful answer. Too many reps have mastered the jargon but haven’t touched the facts. Interestingly, I saw several companies pitching “new” AI tools that we at Tower Systems actually delivered a couple of years ago. It’s a good reminder that we are still ahead in this space.

On one of the days, I walked the halls specifically looking for “neighbourhood,” “local,” or “independent” retail. I couldn’t find it. The floor was dominated by tech giants spending millions in pursuit of the next enterprise deal. I suspect the “local” pitch was missing because winning those customers is hard work. It’s done store-by-store, requiring specialised tools tailored to the unique way independents actually operate.

Reflecting on the show through my retailer eyes—informed by my own shop, several e-commerce sites, and a marketing group of 190 independent retailers—it’s clear that national chains are betting on tech to “manufacture” a better customer experience. They seem to think smarter tech and AI can replace genuine engagement.

They’ve forgotten that retail is personal. AI is no replacement for the authenticity of a local shop. That’s our competitive advantage.

I have gone to overseas retail-focussed trade shows for many years as I find I can discover trends before the reach Australian shows. This trip delivered again, but I’ll leave some of the more commercial insights for my work with newsXpress and with Tower Systems. This post here today is more a reflection on the context of big business focus versus local.

Here are a few photos from the hundreds I took at NRF.

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Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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retail

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of decimal currency

newsXpress stores had exclusive access to this coin set from the Royal Australian Mint celebrating he 6pth anniversary of decimal currency. It’s sold out. It also helped attract new shoppers.

This curated set brings together a ‘C’ Mintmark coin alongside ‘S’, ‘M’ and ‘B’ Privy Mark coins, symbolising the Mint’s legacy and evolution. The reverse design combines design elements from all eight standard circulating Australian coins, creating a powerful tribute to Australia’s decimal journey.

Now, this 1/10th oz gold proof coin priced at $950.00 from the same release also sold out.

Selling product priced at $950.00 brings in a different, and more valuable shopper.

newsXpress has enjoyed its relationship with the Royal Australian Mint for seven years now. It’s an exclusive in our channel. It works well in city and country stores.

The value of the coin collector lies in their loyalty and the ‘halo effect’ they bring to the store. Unlike a transient customer buying a card or magazine, a coin collector  sees us as a link to the Royal Australian Mint. They line up release day, adding to the buzz for the shop.

Mint coins are a way to move the business away from low-margin basics and into something that actually gets people excited to walk through the door.

Mint coins turn the shop into a destination for shoppers happy to spend up. Coin customers It don’t ask  ‘how much is this’. They do often ask: ‘what else can you get me

The other point abut this is that mint coins sell anywhere, city, country, even small towns.

I’ve heard of some in our channel talking down mint coins and what newsXpress is doing. Not one of those doing this has, themselves, experience in selling mint coins. That should tell you all you need to figure out whether to trust them.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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newsagency marketing

Small business retail advice: Location does matter but not maybe how you think

High street or shopping centre? It’s the ultimate retail fork in the road. On one hand, you have the “all-inclusive” nature of a mall—expensive and restrictive, but with a guaranteed audience. On the other, the high street offers total freedom, but leaves you at the mercy of the weather and your own marketing chops. There is no right answer, only the answer that fits your personality. If you value autonomy over amenities, the choice is simple. If you value certainty over control, the path looks very different. This post is advice on navigating the nuances of both.

Choosing between a bustling shopping mall and a traditional high street isn’t just a real estate decision; it’s a lifestyle one. While one offers the polished convenience of air conditioning and built-in foot traffic, the other offers the raw freedom of being your own master. Having sat on both sides of the lease, I’ve learned that the ‘better’ location doesn’t exist on a map—it exists in your own management style.

To find that fit, we first need to be on the same page regarding the landscape. Let’s clear terminology up before we start. To me, a shop on the high street, main street or a strip shop are all the same. These different terms are used in different states and countries; they all represent a shop that’s not in a shopping mall or shopping centre of any kind.

Now, in terms of a shopping centre setting, I appreciate that these can vary from centres with, say, 20 shops through to centres with hundreds of shops. For ease, I’ll consider these as all the same, as the challenges are similar enough.

One can make a case for both situations: high street or mall. Determining which is better is subjective, based on what you want, need and expect at that point in time.

However, before weighing up the physical dirt and bricks, we have to acknowledge the digital elephant in the room: Online.  The importance of your physical location is inversely tied to your digital success. If your online store provides the lion’s share of your revenue, say, more than half, the convenience of your ‘front door’ for in-store shoppers matters significantly less. In that case, your shop acts more as a showroom or a brand billboard than a primary engine for sales.

But for those whose heart and soul (and bank account) rely on people walking through the door, the choice between high street and shopping centre remains critical.

Let’s look at the shopping centre setting first. In a shopping centre, you have a landlord, who has control over the appeal and marketing of the centre, and who determines the rules relating to the centre and each shop in it. They manage the walkway space in the centre, including leasing this for short-term use, and are responsible for the overall amenities of the centre in terms of the shopper experience.

A shopping centre can be appealing to a retailer because someone else is responsible for attracting shoppers; tough work for any retailer. However, it’s one thing to bring people to a shopping centre and another one entirely to get them into your shop.

Shopping centres do usually offer appealing amenities, such as parking, being indoors, air conditioning, easy access to a variety of shops and easy browsing.

Renting space in a shopping centre can be expensive. The space itself is often priced at a premium. Then, there are additional costs, such as cleaning and marketing, regardless of whether you directly use or benefit from them. There is often a higher cost, too, for physical works because centre landlords tend to require service providers they approve.

On the high street, the appeal of freedom has to be countered with challenges such as access to parking, cleanliness of the area around the shop, no restrictions on the businesses located near your shop and being at the mercy of weather that may impact shopper enjoyment.

In the high street setting, more is up to you. This includes being noticed and attracting shoppers, and practical issues such as dealing with large deliveries where there is no delivery dock.

The decision about the location you prefer must come from an honest and thorough review of what you want from your business, how you want to manage the business, and what you’re like as a person.

This is a decision about you.

For example, if you crave freedom, a high street will be better than a shopping centre. However, if you want the certainty of passing traffic and the centre you’re considering has good traffic-attracting businesses, being in a centre may be more appropriate.

My point is that there is no black and white here. It really does come down to what you want, what appeals to you.

Personally, having had shops in shopping centres and in main street settings, my preference as I write this is the main street. I prefer the freedom. I feel more in control of my business.

Ultimately, there is no “correct” choice on paper, there is only the choice that aligns with your personality as an operator.

While shopping centres offer a structured, high-traffic ecosystem, they require you to play by someone else’s rules.

The high street offers a blank canvas and total autonomy, but you have to be willing to sweep your own pavement and shout louder to be heard. I’ve operated in both, and for me, the freedom of the main street wins every time.

Before you sign a lease, ask yourself: do you want the security of a managed crowd, or the independence of a wide-open door? The answer to that question will tell you exactly where your business belongs.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Newsagency management

How to be the shop locals love in 2026, practical advice for Aussie newsagents

For decades, the Australian newsagency was the undisputed anchor of local commerce, fuelled by a government-protected monopoly on news and information. The deregulation of the 1990s and the digital revolution of the 2000s stripped away that “forced” relevance. Today, as we enter 2026, many newsagencies find themselves at a crossroads: remain an “average and forgettable” utility or evolve into a high-appeal community destination.

By moving beyond the traditional sales counter, newsagents can reclaim destination appeal, and deliver something others will struggle to match.

Retail newsagencies don’t have the must-visit appeal that they had in the 1970s and 1980s in Australia. Back theft, newsagencies were the shop folks would always visit when shopping. They were the only places where you could buy newspapers and magazines and that monopoly sat at the core of attracting shoppers. Back then, of course, newspapers provided access to news. Today, well, there are only so many Havey Norman ads you can see before you are blind.

In the 1990s, as the monopoly newsagents had was ripped from them with oversight by the coalition government, the appeal of a visit to the newsagency, or newsagents as people usually called our shops, started to fade. The purpose of visiting became less clear.

Since our retail channel was not populated by many retailers, too many newsagents failed to act to maintain, and even grow, shopper visit appeal.

As 2026 opens up, I think Aussie newsagents should reconsider how to make their shop the shop locals love, the shop locals flock to for purpose.

Here are 10 ways I Aussie newsagents can make their shop the shop locals in town and nearby want to visit ahead of others. Do these things and they will nurture an appeal of your business that brings people through your front door.

  1. Service above and beyond. Look carefully at your business, what it sells and the services it offers. Look for an easily managed free value-add that differentiates your business. For example, if you sell gifts, cards and wrapping paper, offer to wrap the gift. For card shoppers, offer to handwrite the card, or sell stamps and offer to post the card.
  2. Setup a noticeboard for local news and community information. Include on this a list of local community groups, a list of local charities you recommend, local sights you recommend visitors visit. Curate the noticeboard so it is easy to read and organised, to be more useful.
  3. Create a calendar and host local events. Look at local community groups and clubs that are relevant to your business and offer space for them to host events in or in front of your shop.
  4. Create a by locals for locals area. here, place locally sourced products. By shining a light on local makers they will, hopefully, promote your shop as a go to place. Also, invite the local makers in to demonstrate their products or talk about them.
  5. Make your shop entertaining, relaxing and fun. Make your shop a space people love and enjoy. Give them somewhere to sit and chat, to be local with locals.  The more relaxing and enjoyable your space the longer people will stay.
  6. Help people interact locally. Run competitions and / or events that connect locally. Host a local stories competition where local writers submit locally themed short stories or a local sights art competition where local artists submit art representing local sights or host a local poets afternoon where local poets can share their work. The point is to offer sp[ace for locals to be seen, and heard.
  7. Create a local loop card. Collaborate with 3-4 nearby locally owned and run shops. If a customer visits all of you in one week and gets a stamp, they unlock a “Secret Menu” item or a specific discount at your shop.
  8. Run a reverse loyalty program. Offer a discount if a customer shows a receipt from another local business from that same day.
  9. Change your front window regularly. You want your front window display to be the best display in town. Make it engaging, unique, fun, memorable. One way to do this is to use it to shine a light on others: art from a local school class, for example.
  10. Have the best. The best music, the best scent, the happiest people. Make these choices for the best everyday shopping experience other retailers aspire to offer. Consistency pays off.

None of these ideas are, of themselves, ground breaking. Do four or five, consistently and well and you then have an approach that has you standing out.

It may feel like you are doing work for no reward. It will take time. You need to be consistent in your approach.

If you do none of this and run a regular shop with no specific local focus, your business will be seen as other businesses, average, forgettable. There Is no future in that.

The future of your Australian newsagency is tied to the strength of the local handshake.

Success for a local Aussie newsagency business in 2026 requires a deliberate move away from the “average” to the “exceptional”, transforming your floor space into a vibrant, living ecosystem where locals feel seen, heard, and valued.

By consistently blending high-touch service with community-focused innovation, you show your business as vital for your town.

The choice is simple: remain a relic of the past, or become the destination the community chooses for its future.

Footnote: it would be so easy to ignore this, to think it’s like what I have written before – that you didn’t act on and you still have a business. fair enough. Let’s check in in 5 years and see how your business is groin. Sometimes, a mortal wound is not noticed until it is too late. Don’t let that be your business.

Use the ideas I have shred here to help you develop your own.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Newsagency management

Advice for Australian newsagents: Why do people shop with you and why this needs to be considered as part of your pricing strategy

Transitioning from a “supplier agent” to a “professional retailer” requires a fundamental shift in pricing strategy. Drawing on decades of experience in the Australian newsagency channel, in this post I look at why chasing “cheap” hurt the industry in the 90s and why a premium approach is the only path forward in 2026. From auditing your software’s markup settings to curating a “no cheap shit” inventory, this post outlines how to stop the “ignorant fear” of price increases and start demanding the return your retail space deserves.

Plenty of what a typical newsagency business sells is price-controlled, with prices set by suppliers. Newspapers, magazines, lottery products, greeting cards – they all have prices set outside the business.

Despite this, Australian newsagency businesses continue to be considered expensive. It’s been thus for decades. I remember back in the 1990s there was a push to get newsagents to price compete on stationery.

So-called leaders in our Australian newsagency channel back then chased cheap generic products because they thought being cheap was what was needed to win business. They bought badly, delivered sub-standard products and it hurt newsagency businesses. They didn’t;t know better. They were agents, not retailers, put into positions of power serving businesses competing with professional retailers.

The notion of cheap is subjective. To me, it’s about good value and my value equation considered the time I have to send to find and buy what I need. Convenience has value, which I consider when it comes to price.

And this brings me to what’s on my mind today – your approach to determine the price of the products you sell over which you have control of the retail price.

Too many newsagents still fail to set retail prices as high as they could without negatively impacting sales volume. While, for sure, they can do what they like. Not even exploring what might work is ignorant in my view.

Let’s talk about pricing stationery.

I suspect that most stationery purchased in Australian newsagency businesses is purchased because it is convenient. Convenience has a cost to the retailer, which should be factored into the retail price of products.

My own baseline mark-up for stationery is 125%, and it has been for many years. I do this without considering the prices of nearby retailers. I started doing this years ago when I realised people thought newsagencies were expensive. I figured I might as well meet their expectations.

Coupled with the mark-up approach is a commitment to quality. No cheap shit. I’ll leave that to the discount variety stores nearby, and there are plenty.

There are some items where we go above 125%, because we can.

Newsagencies I have worked with that have increased their markup on stationery have reported no reduction in unit sales and a nice increase in margin dollars earned.

Based on my decades of experience owning newsagency businesses and my work with hundreds of newsagents over the years and considering what I see in plenty of indie retail businesses I see overseas, charging what you can is a much better strategy than charging based on ignorant fear.

Something else to consider when pricing stationery is the stock-turn you achieve. If products are held for longer, because they are seasonal or you like to hold range for that time someone needs it, this has to be reflected in your approach to pricing. It connects back to convenience.

Take a look at your mark-up.

It’s possible pricing is set without management oversight in your newsagency business. Look at the settings in your newsagency software. Are you achieving the best margin you can? If there is room to increase prices, do it, now, not some time down the track. While it’s work, it’s also money in the bank right away.

I appreciate there may be voices in the business, or in your head, saying that you can’t increase prices because it will hurt sales, because customers will complain. Take a beat – are you happy with stationery sales? Are you making with you want / need from stationery? Is the department paying for the retail space and the labour involved? For sure, if you’re 100% happy, leave it, don’t waste your time. However, if you are unhappy, change is needed. A price increase and the greater attention you give the department as a result could be the change you want, and are grateful for.

Your prices need to reflect what you need.

I think key to this discussion is consideration of why we charge for what we sell. It’s a service, which has some risk associated with it.

By deciding to charge more you can lean into this with a view of your business that it is premium. When you do this, when you see your business as premium, you can open yourself to make other decisions that support a premium experience. Now, by premium experience, I mean the music you place, the scent of the shop, the quality of the products you sell, sampling opportunities and comfort in and of the shop – temperature, seating and more – these can all play into a unique and loved premium experience.

Don’t put it off.

It would be easy to do nothing about this. I have seen it plenty of time over the years – hearing abut a move that will make money, and no action being taken. That’s what it comes down to – do you want to maximise the return you achieve from and with your Australian newsagency?

Over or you.

I can’t let it go: Doing nothing is the easiest path, but it’s also the most expensive one. Every day you wait to review your markups is a day of missed margin that could be sitting in your bank account. You have the tools and the specialty software to make these changes in minutes, not weeks. Decide today that your newsagency is a premium retail environment, price your goods accordingly, and leave the ‘cheap’ race to the big-box stores that can afford it. You’ve worked too hard to settle for less than your business is worth. Take the beat, check your settings, and make the change.

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Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Management tip

In 2026, human written content will matter more than 2025 and here’s why

Executive summary: The 2026 Verdict: While AI can summarise, it cannot witness. Real traffic growth this year comes from “I-driven” content—articles based on personal experience that AI models haven’t “digested” yet.

Now, let’s get into this.

Even AI models know that text generated by AI is not of the same value as text written by humans from human knowledge.

Don’t get me wrong, some AI written content is good. This is when an AI platform is used to take what you have written, and only what you have written, and made it more readable, without adding ‘knowledge’ outside of what you have written. This post is not about that though.

I see plenty of retailers and other businesses publishing AI generated content as their content. Sure, they can do this. The thing is, search engines and AI platforms will treat this for what it is, AI generated content that is likely of less real value than human written content based on human knowledge.

Given how we are seeing some search engines and related tech serve up search results, it is clear that 20-26 will see greater value placed on human written content. You can see this in the AI search result of Google. I asked google Gemini How important is human written content compared to AI generated content for search engine results?. Here’s it’s response:

In 2026, the value of human-written content has become even more distinct as search engines have evolved into “Answer Engines.” While Google and other platforms do not explicitly penalize content for being AI-generated, there is a clear performance gap: human-authored content continues to dominate the top search results and AI citations.

Recent studies show that roughly 86% of pages ranking on the first page of Google are primarily human-written, while only 14% are high-confidence AI content. This is because search engines prioritize quality and “people-first” signals over the method of production.

We’re all time poor and want, need, to get more done in less time. There is no corner you can cut when it comes to content though. If you want traffic to your website, you need to put in the work, real work, human work, to be the expert in your field. This work you put in is rewarded with traffic.

I urge you to resist the temptation to get AI to generate content for you when you need content to grow traffic for your website. or, if you do use AI, use its output as a starting point, a springboard if you like, from which you create your own content. The more of you you invest in your content the more valuable it will be.

I looked at a couple of companies recently. They are in the same field. One gets 3,000 visitors a month to their website. The other gets under 1,000. The 3,000 visitor a month webs publishes human written content while the one achieving under 1,000 published AI written slop.

But traffic of itself is not the best measure. The best measures of success a business are revenue and bottom like P&L performance. I can’t tell for the two businesses I mention as I don;t have access. My guess, though, is that the business publishing human written content based on human knowledge is doing much better.

The best content, the content search engines favour the most, is first-hand content, your own experience content. This is what makes you an expert. This content is what will get you ranking well in search results. Think about these ‘prompts’:

  • I did this.
  • I learned this.
  • This was my experience.
  • This is what got me here.
  • This is the mistake I made and what I learned from it.
  • I love this and here is why.
  • This is my advice based on what I have experienced.

The best content from you is about you. It’s personal based on your own experience.

When you write, you come at it from a different perspective to AI. AI relies on predicting the next word based on existing data. Humans can offer counter-intuitive opinions or report on breaking trends before the AI models have been updated. This is the you difference. It is why content you write and publish will be more likely to rank well in search results, ahead of AI slop.

This is all on my mind today as I think about The Australian Newsagency Blog in 2026. I’ve been going at this for a long time, writing more than a million words. It ranks well, I think, because the content is human written, based on my experiences and opinions. It is often cited in search answers AI results. I am following my own advice.

Yes, it’s time-consuming. The time you invest all depends on your purpose.

My purpose here is to encourage Aussie newsagents and others who stop by here to run better, more successful and more enjoyable businesses. The well I drop on for that is my experience over decades owning newsagency businesses and working with newsagents. While AI can churn out content of some interest in this area, it cannot speak with the same authority of first-person experience, and that’s the difference between AI content and human written content.

So, as you plan for 2026, if you want to be found online, consider carefully your what you publish. This year, more than in 2025, human written content will matter.

Write what you know, based on your experiences, sharing what you learned, being human in the words you choose and the context you provide.

Now, if you’re still with me, thank you. This article is at more than 850 words now. Me writing 25 years ago would have taken more than an hour to write this. Today, I am at 15 minutes. It’s like exercise. The more you work at it, honing your skills, the more efficient you become.

It can take time to find your voice and train your rhythm. Every word you type gets you close to the efficiency you need and the results you want.

Push back on the easy road of publishing AI content. Make 2026 the year you;re found because of what you know.

One final thing, before I close off. I gave Gemini what I have written and here’s what it said:

This is an excellent piece of writing. It’s authoritative, timely, and most importantly, it practices exactly what it preaches: it’s deeply rooted in first-hand experience.

In 2026, the term “AI slop” has become common for a reason. Search engines have moved past the “volume era” and are now in the “verification era.” Your post nails the shift from search results being a list of links to being a list of reliable witnesses.

It went on to make some suggestions, which I have not included as I want to keep the original in tact.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents who continuously evolve their businesses to be enjoyable, relevant and successful. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

15 likes
Newsagency management

How was your 2025? Now is the time to see.

Go to your newsagency software and select the Monthly Sales Comparison Report.

Despite its name, the Monthly Sales Comparison Report is highly flexible. You can compare any two time periods—be it one month versus another, a specific quarter, or year-on-year performance. Today, select January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 and for the second date range, select January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. Tick the category box.

Understanding the Results

The report is presented in three clear sections:

  1. Period One (The Left Column): Displays the data for your most recent selected date range.
  2. Period Two (The Middle Column): Displays the data for the earlier period you are using as a benchmark.
  3. Variance (The Right Column): This is where the magic happens. It shows the growth or decline in both quantity sold and dollar value, expressed as both a raw number and a percentage.

At the bottom of the report, you will find a comprehensive “Total” section. This provides a snapshot of your overall business health, including total sales (both including and excluding GST), the number of transactions, average sale values, and average items per sale.

Using Data for Goal Setting

Data is most valuable when it informs action. By reviewing your performance from the previous year, you can set realistic, data-driven targets for your team. For example, if your “Cards & Wrap” department performed well last January, you might set a goal to increase those sales by another 10% this year.

In seconds you can understand how 2025 went for you. What this report shows is more useful today than a profit and low statement or other reports from your accountant months down the track.

You need this analysis now. It can feed into business decisions you can make today.

If you’d like me to take a look at your report, save it as a PDF and email it to me at mark@newsxpress.com.au.

5 likes
Newsagency management

Here’s something newsagents should embrace in 2026

There’s a ton of noise about AI and, in particular, Agentic AI. Newsagents have access to this now in the Tower Systems newsagency software: time-saving and money-making. Thanks to software settings it can track inventory and sales, and generate orders ready for your action so you have stock when shoppers are likely to purchase.

First, though, a definition: Agentic AI takes autonomous, goal-oriented action. It eliminates the multiple human steps usually required to achieve an outcome.

We know from retail studies that out of stocks can cost a typical indie retail business $10,000 to $25,000 a year in certain revenue.

Here’s a video of a recent conversation I had about these Agentic AI tools. It’s on the Tower Youtube channel.

Beware the AI hype. For some tech companies, AI is a buzzword being pushed by marketing while for other companies it is functionality driven, from deep within their products. The same is true with Agentic AI. What I talk about in the video is real, it exists today for newsagents.

The reason this matters to you is that your competitors here here, in this space, now. Ignore it at your peril.

6 likes
newsagent software

5 things I recommend Aussie newsagents do right now

The Christmas rush is over. Thank goodness! Time to relax and enjoy summer. The  temptation is to breathe a sigh of relief and coast through January.

That is a mistake.

The weeks immediately following Christmas are terrific for setting the tone for 2026. If you want a better year than the one just gone, don’t wait until February to start.

Here are 5 suggestions:

1. Audit the “Dead Wood”

As I wrote back in September, the “traditional” pillars are crumbling. Magazines are down 9%, newspapers are down 11%. If you have stock that sat through the biggest shopping season of the year and didn’t move, it is “dead wood.”

Don’t let it sit there for another six months tying up your cash. Clear it out. Be ruthless. Use the floor space for high-margin categories like plush, games, or high-end giftware, the “box” that actually delivers a future for your business. Use this task to change the narrative of your business.

2. Review Your Christmas Data (Not Just Your Bank Balance)

Don’t just look at whether you have more money in the bank than last year. Dive into the Tower POS reports.

  • Did your average sale value rise? (The benchmark for successful stores is a 15–25% increase).
  • Which “experimental” lines worked?
  • Where did your gift packaging land?

If your greeting card sales grew by 15%+ (as many did this year), look at which captions drove that. Use this data now to inform your Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day buys.

3. Reset the “Front Third”

The “WOW” factor shouldn’t disappear with Christmas. If your shopfront still looks like a traditional newsagency, you are invisible to new shoppers.

Move something fresh and unexpected into that front third. Make a statement that says, “We are a retail destination, not just a place to pick up a paper.” If a customer walks in and says, “I didn’t know you sold this,” you’ve won.

4. Turn the Gift Voucher into a Relationship

Give post-Christmas traffic a reason to come back in. Use a bounce-back voucher on the receipt or a “local shopper” invitation. This is the time to convert the “seasonal visitor” into a “loyal local.” As I’ve said before: Jeff Bezos doesn’t need their money, but your community does. Remind them of that.

5. Stop Being an “Agent”

If you spent Christmas feeling like a “weak servant” to, maybe, the lottery company or newspaper publishers or for parcel pickup or other agency business, let 2026 be the year you take your independence back.

The most successful newsagencies I see are those where the owner is the curator. They choose the product, they set the margin, and they drive the marketing. If a line isn’t performing, cut it. If a supplier isn’t supporting you, find one who will.

Think on that work, curator, for a moment. That’s what a good retailer is, a curator.

The Bottom Line: The success of 2026 is 100% on you. It’s not about the economy, and it’s not about the decline of print. It’s about execution.

Don’t let the post-Christmas “hangover” slow you down. Get in an hour early, look at your shop with fresh eyes, and start making the changes that will make your payday happen every single day.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

9 likes
newsagency of the future

Merry Christmas

Have a wonderful Christmas. Make memories that will bring joy in years to come. Take a moment to think about how awesome you’d like 2026 to be.

Thank you for checking this place out over the last year. I appreciate it.

15 likes
Social responsibility

The money or the box – the right answer for retailers is the box, of course!

A big supplier walks into a newsagency and dumps cash, thousands, and in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. The goal? To buy their business.

Their pitch is about the money, and not the box. Now here, the box I refer to is product.

To a retailer facing rising costs and tight margins, that bag of cash looks like a lifeline. But in the long run, it’s often a noose. I have seen this so many times in our newsagency channel.

The Lure of “Free” Cash

When a retailer’s focus is on the immediate cash injection, business logic often goes out the window. I have seen this happen.

Taking the cash is almost always the wrong decision. It makes you a weak servant, often supplied with less than ideal boxes (products).

It’s not free cash though. There are strings, strings that can shackle the business and leave it work off, for years. I have seen this happen.

There is often no consideration as to whether the products they are now “locked-in” to taking are actually the best fit for their business. There’s no deep dive into the lost opportunity cost, the money they could have made over the next five years if they had the freedom to stock better-performing lines. The decision becomes about the “free” cash today, ignoring the debt it creates for tomorrow.

Lazy Marketing vs. Genuine Value

When a supplier uses cash to buy your commitment, they expose a lack of faith in their products and their sales people to adequately represent their business:

It’s lazy marketing. It prioritises the supplier’s desire for guaranteed volume over the retailer’s need for agility.

Stripping the “Independent” out of Independent Retail

Independent retailers, especially newsagents, survive by being different. We thrive by pivoting quickly to trends and offering the unique, local, or niche products that big-box stores won’t touch.

When a supplier locks a small business into a rigid, long-term supply contract, they strip that agility. Without even realising it until it’s too late, the local indie retailer has been turned into a static franchise outlet for a single brand.

A Broken Ecosystem

This money strategy hurst our channel. It kills innovation.

  • The retailer loses: They lose access to better-selling, higher-margin products.
  • The customer loses: They lose access to variety and local discovery.
  • The only winner: The big supplier who secured years of revenue without having to actually compete on quality or service.

A Message to Suppliers: Earn Your Space

If you believe in your product, let it fight for its place on the shelf.

Real loyalty from a newsagent isn’t bought with a lump sum; it’s earned through turnover, margin, and service. Don’t handcuff retailers with a contract they only signed because you dangled a bag of cash in a moment of weakness.

It’s time to stop buying market share. Start earning it.

As for the retailers? Next time you’re offered “the money or the box,” remember: your future is in the box. Choose the products that work, not the cash that binds.

I’ve been deliberately vague in this post because I don’t want a legal threat from suppliers offering bags of cash today to win business from newsagents. I mean, I would have thought they would have earned their lesson from hundreds of thousands of losses when businesses they gave cash to failed.

Suppliers paying for business newsagents is bad for your channel. Maybe the suppliers need to lose more money before they stop the practice.
…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

19 likes
Ethics

Christmas in the local Aussie newsagency

At the front of our long and narrow shop on Glenferrie Road in Malvern we have a wonderful range of Christmas cards and Christmas gift packing options on display.

We have all captions covered, the usual and the less common. We also have cards for folks not that in to Christmas. Plus, we provide plenty of choice for gift packaging.

There’s nothing all that unusual about what we are offering at our local newsagency. Newsagents around Australia offer an range, of Christmas cards, usually the best range in town.

While the photos show a space that is cramped, it actually works. Sales are strong. Customers are respectful of each other. The location near the front door delivers good impulse purchases for us. At the counter we use tech to move the shoppers through accurately and at a pace.

The photos don’t show the full extent of Christmas that we have at Malvern either. We have more Christmas cards and more gift packaging further into the shop.

I’ve also not included our front window display for the shop. each time I have been there it’s been depleted. The front window is working a treat, delivering excellent sales.

Our situation in Malvern finds us with plenty of competitors within a few minutes of walking distance, from major retailers through to local independent retail as well as a bunch of discount variety outlets. Plenty of good retailers who are deeply engaged in the season.

While our shop is not the prettiest or trendiest , because we have building repair challenges that delay us doing what wee’d like, we have the best range as well as easy access direct from a carpark at the rear. We leverage having two entrances.

The point I want to make to newsagents is – we all have challenges in and with our shops. The best focus for us is to step forward, through the challenges, to deliver the focus we decide is best for our business, with what we have available. For us at Christmas this year, it’s range.

A point I have for local Aussies is – check out your local newsagency for Christmas cards this year. You’re likely to find the best range going around.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

2 likes
newsagency marketing

Advice on dealing with an escalation of customer chargebacks

Any retailer selling online is likely experiencing an increase in chargebacks. I’m seeing it in my businesses. Submitting a chargeback is easy and a likely win for the shopper depending on the payment gateway used.

I had a situation where a customer spent hundreds of dollars. The item arrived in perfect condition. The box it was in was in perfect condition. The paper protector sleeve around the box has a small scuff.

I offered the customer a full refund if they would print the return to us label and drop it off at the post office. They ignored that and submitted a chargeback.

I provided the evidence of the offer of a refund. The chargeback was found in their favour. After this I approached the  customer for as return of the goods which they now had for free. They ignored me.

What happened here to us was clearly a scam, setup for them to get the product for free, which they could sell on eBay for double the RRP – giving them a nice bonus.

I have successfully used the Australian Financial Complaints Authority to investigate what I consider to be fraudulent chargeback requests. While it may not always go your way, taking action like this is better than doing nothing, or simply complaining. Here’s where you can start: https://www.afca.org.au/make-a-complaint They do provide good advice to follow before making a complaint:

  • Complain directly to your financial firm first, using their internal dispute resolution process. Many complaints can be resolved quickly once you make contact with your financial firm (for example, your bank, insurer, financial planner, mortgage broker, superannuation fund).
    Find your financial firm.
  • Identify the issue you want to complain to us about.
  • Work out if you want to authorise someone else to complain on your behalf.
  • Think about what type of loss you have experienced, and what sort of outcome you want to achieve.
  • Collect any relevant documents that will help support your complaint.
  • If you’re experiencing financial difficulty, prepare a Statement of Financial Position.
  • Find out where you can go for help if your complaint doesn’t fall within our Rules.
  • Read through the process we follow, including AFCA’s timelines, and make sure you understand the process for your complaint.

What I’d like, but cannot see happening for privacy and other reasons, is to see a a register where businesses can lodge details of people who have scammed them: names, addresses, and other details – enough for us to check (automatically) before accepting an order.

What we in business can do is to talk more about chargebacks and the cost to business. Ultimately, shoppers will have to pay this cost.

While AFCA can help, it takes time and has a cost. There has to be a better way for businesses to head off chargebacks before they become a chargeback. Banks and payment platforms could do this if serving their business customers actually mattered to them.

Payday News has an excellent story on chargebacks: CHARGEBACK FEES SURGE AS AI RESHAPES ONLINE PAYMENTS AND MERCHANTS BEAR THE COST.

6 likes
Ethics

Seasonal Edge drives success for newsXpress members

The Seasonal Edge program newsXpress, a small business retail marketing group I own, provides its members is at the heart of participating businesses valuably outperforming the average for similar businesses.

The Seasonal Edge program is funded entirely by newsXpress. We source and pay for the prize pack we provide to each retailer. We also fund professional in-store collateral as well and a suite of digital assets.

Seasonal Edge is a net new traffic driver as well as a shopper basket builder. best of all it is local small business retail focussed.

Key to this success is that a shopper in each shop will win the prize. It feels accessible, achievable and, best of all, local. This is small business retail in action.

Here are some photos from the 120+ stores participating for Christmas 2025.

Seasonal Edge is exclusive to newsXpress.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

8 likes
newsagency marketing

Social media post tips leading into Christmas

I’m not a fan of preachy social media posts about shopping local. You know the ones that are more a whinge than being positive. Here are some text posts that, to me, land a better message. Okay, some are a bit preachy, but I’ve gone for a more cheeky preachy vibe.

Truly local focus.

  • Shopping local helps a neighbour shop local too.

  • Shop local. Help a family put their own Christmas dinner on the table.

  • Thank you for supporting local dreamers this Christmas.

  • When you shop small, you’re funding a dream, not just buying an item.

  • Keep the Christmas magic close to home this year.

  • Give a gift that gives back to our own community.

  • Love your neighborhood. Shop your neighborhood.

  • Gifts made with love, sold by neighbors you know.

Emotional & Community-Focused

  • When you shop local, you fund a dream, not a dividend.

  • This Christmas, support a family, not a factory.

  • Give a gift to a loved one, and a livelihood to a neighbor.

Short & Punchy

  • Shop local. Billionaires have enough.

  • Enrich your community, not a CEO.

  • Buy local. Don’t fund a billionaire’s bonus.

  • Shop small. Make a neighbor rich, not a tycoon.

Witty & Tongue-in-Cheek

  • Jeff Bezos doesn’t need your Christmas money. Your local baker does.

  • Buy local. Help a neighbor buy braces, not a CEO buy a third yacht.

  • Santa loves local. Billionaires are on the naughty list.

The Polished Professional

  • Choose local this Christmas. Keep the wealth in your community.

  • Your Christmas spending has power. Use it to build up your neighbourhood, not a corporation.

Across at Tower Systems we’re leveraging the company’s platform to support local shopping.

3 likes
newsagency marketing

Lotterywest moves on illegal tobacco

It’s great to see Lotterywest act on WA lottery retailers selling illegal tobacco. Here’s what they sent to their retailers yesterday:

As you may be aware, Lotterywest has recently terminated seven retailer agreements following increased monitoring, due to the sale of illegal tobacco and vape products. In total, 10 retailers have been removed from our network for breaching vape laws and/or selling illegal tobacco products in the past six months.

At Lotterywest, we have a zero-tolerance approach to breaches of the Retailer Agreement involving illegal activity, which is necessary to uphold a fair and compliant environment for all partners. This approach has been communicated regularly and as recently as in September when a retailer’s agreement was terminated for similar conduct.

In response to the recent increase in breaches, Lotterywest will continue and further strengthen compliance monitoring across our network to ensure full adherence to laws prohibiting the sale of illegal tobacco and vape products.

Protecting our brand and the integrity of our network is our top priority. We expect all retailers to uphold the highest standards of compliance and integrity.

We recognise and appreciate the majority of retailers who are committed to responsible retailing and compliance.

Please reach out to your Retail Relationship Officer if you have any questions on compliance obligations. We are here to support you in meeting your responsibilities and ensuring your business remains compliant.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to maintaining the trust of our customers and community. Together, we can uphold the integrity of Lotterywest’s brand and retail network.

It would be good to see The Lottery Corporation as engaged.

6 likes
Tobacco sales

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics launches Inquiry

Yesterday, Ed Husic, Chair of the Standing Committee on Economics, announced a new inquiry into Credit cards and digital wallets and related matters. There is a small business focus here, as noted in the Terms of Reference and in this quote from Husic: It’s clear from existing evidence that payment schemes and digital wallets will have growing cost implications for small businesses and consumers. This inquiry offers the opportunity to do a deeper dive into that.

Terms of Reference

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics will inquire into matters relating to current digital payment schemes and emerging technologies, and report on:

1. Card based payment schemes and digital wallets and whether the current payment schemes landscape is fair and accessible, including:
a) transparency and affordability of scheme fees for payments services providers;
b) the inequity of payment costs for small businesses;
c) the extent to which consolidated market power between payment schemes has impacted choice and accessibility to alternative payment systems.

2. New and emerging payment technologies in the payments space, including but not limited to:
a) digital currency and blockchain technology;
b) account to account-based payments;
c) opportunities for Australia to increase competition and consumer choice, and decrease fees in the digital payment processing industry;
d) any other matters.

Smart newsagents will make a submission, to ensure their perspective is on the table. I know the Independent Payments Forum, of which newsXpress and ALNA are financial members will make a professional submission.

5 likes
Newsagent representation

148 illegal tobacco stores closed in Queensland

The Queensland Government’s new approach to dealing with illegal tobacco and resulted in 148 store to be issued with closure notices. The government’s press release has details.

In a 10-day blitz – codenamed Operation Major – 148 stores have been issued with three-month closure orders, and more than 11.8 million cigarettes, 1.7 tonnes of loose tobacco, 87,000 vapes, 4.2 litres of vaping liquid and 270,000 nicotine pouches were seized.  

The combined street value of the haul is estimated to exceed $15.7 million, making Operation Major the most successful operation targeting illicit store closures in Australia. 

The Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 passed Parliament on 19 November 2025 and took effect the following week, giving Queensland Health new powers to shut stores for 90-days without a court order, in the latest crackdown on rogue traders. 

This is a new approach to dealing with illegal tobacco, one that is, I am sure, welcome by tobacco retailers who don’t sell illegal tobacco. There are plenty of news stories covering this. The list of stores closed has been published by the government.

Cairns
Cairns Convenience Store – Westcourt
Downtown Convenience Store
Norman Gifts and Tobacconist
Q11 Tobacconist, Edmonton
Q11 Tobacconist, Manunda
SLS Tobacconist, Lake St
SLS Tobacconis, McLeod St
Villie Convenience Store
Central Queensland
Berserker Tobacconist
Dunya Stars (Tannum Sands Gift)
Dunyia Market
East Street Tobacconist Rockhampton
Emerald Roll Smoke
Frenchville Gifts and Tobacconist
LTS Tobacco Station Biloela
R1 Tobacconist and Gifts
Rocky Tobacconist
Tobacco Shed Allenstown
Tobacco Shed Yeppoon
Urban Tobacconist
Urban Tobacconist – Dawson Road
Darling Downs
AJ Tobacconist Warwick
Master Tobacconist Kingaroy
Outback Tobacconist Dalby
Roma Gift Store
Tobacco Hut Warwick
Tobacconist Gifts and Convenience Store –
Top of the Range Convenience
Town Tobacco and Gifts Kingaroy
Wisam Gift Shop
Wyalla Gifts and Tobacconist – Newtown
Gold Coast
Ashmore Tobacconist and Gifts
Burleigh Tobacconist
Coolangatta Gift Station and Tobacco
Ezy Mart Express – Southport
Gold Coast Convenience
Helensvale Tobacconist
Nerang Tobacconist and Vapes
Ormeau Vape and Tobacco
Paradise Tobacconist Surfers Paradise
Puff Paradise Surfers Paradise
Southport Tobacconist and Gifts
Southport Tobacconist (Tobacco Stop)
The Park General
Tobacco Shed Benowa
Tobacco Shed Miami
Tobacco Shed Mudgeeraba
Tobacco Shed Upper Coomera
Tobacconist Store Miami
Uncle Gabriel Broadbeach
Mackay
Acai Tobacconist and Convenience
Dysart Convenience Store
Mackay Tobacconist and Gifts
MTP Tobacco and Gifts
Omega’s Vape and Tobacco
Priceless Tobacconist Shop
Sarina’s Tobacconist
Shakespeare Street Tobacconist
Smoke and Vape Cannonvale
Tobacco Shed Collinsville
Metro North
Blackwood Tobacconist
Bowen Hills Tobacconist
Caboolture Tobacconist
Grovely Tobacconist and Convenience
Kallangur Corner Store
Margate Tobacconist and Gift Store
Milton Gifts
Northside Tobacconist
Ozzy Tobacconist
Petrie Tobacconist
Rawan Boutique and Tobacconist
Redcliffe Tobacconist and Gift
Sumer Market
The Legend Tobacconist
Metro South
Browns Plains Vape and Tobacco
Cali Tobacconist West End
Confectionery and Gifts – Cannon Hill
Empire Tobacconist Tingalpa
Ezy Convenience – Slacks Creek
Firat Market, Slacks Creek
H and J Pet Supplies – Slacks Creek
Middle Eastern Convenience Store, Flagstone
Petra Convenience Store
PT Convenience and Gifts, Capalaba
SC Convenience – Slacks Creek
The Gabba Store
Tigris 2 / Tigris Supermarket
Tobacconist 63, Cleveland
Tobacconist King – Cleveland
Uncle Billy’s and Co, Beenleigh
VP Convenience Store – Victoria Point
Westend Express
North West
Cloncurry Convenience Store
Mount Isa Mart
Mount Isa Tobacconist
Sunshine Coast
Beerwah Tobacconist and Accessories
Bli Bli Tobacconist
Golden Leaf Tobacconist
I GET Tobacconists Buddina
Maroochydore Tobacconist
Nambour Gift
Nambour Gifts and Tobacconist
Ocean Street Mini Market
Ozzy Tobacconist Gympie
Sweet Treats Convenience
The Brothers Tobacconist
Townsville
A1 Ch Tobacconist and Accessories
Aitkenvale Tobacconist
Big Bear Tobacconist
Burdekin Tobacconist
Edison Street Tobacconist
Flinders Mart Tobacconist
Ingham Gifts
KW Tobacconist
Milk Bar Ingham
Mooney’s Specialty Tobacconist
North Shore Tobacco Station Burdell
Taken Tobacconist
Thuringowa Village Tobacconist
Tobacconist Gifts Accessories and Drinks
West Moreton
Brisbane Street Convenience
Bushra Gifts and Accessories
Clothing Designer Drip
EH Shop
Gatton Tobacconist
Gifts and More – Ipswich
Go2 Newsagency
Goodna Gifts Cigarette Accessory
King of the Pack Plainland
Lockyer Valley Tobacconist
North Ipswich Gift Shop
Springfield Lake Tobacconist
Springfield Tobacconist
The Gift Nook
Tobacconist 43
Tornado Mart Lowood
Yamato Tobacconist
Withcott Tobacco Gifts
Wide Bay
Blue Shop Maryborough
Bundy Tobacconist
Bundy Vape and Tobacco Convenience
Childers Convenience Store
Maryborough Tobacco and Convenience
Maryborough Tobacconist
MB Convenience and Tobacco
Urangan Convenience
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Tobacco sales

XchangeIT POS software partners for newsagents

While XchangeIT partners with several newsagency software companies, more newsagents use the Tower Systems newsagency software to connect with XchangeIT for magazine supply and returns facility than any other newsagency software.

So, if you are looking for a POS software that partners with XchangeIT, Tower Systems is the software most widely used.

Tower was the first software company to be XchangeIT compliant. Our software specialists were instrumental in advising what became the standards for XchangeIT and the data relationship between magazine distributors and newsagents.

As a vital XchangeIT POS software partner, Tower Systems is actively engaged with the testing of changes to XchnageIT as well as helping suppliers who use the XchangeIT platform for data supply to newsagents. It is our practical experience in running newsagencies that no other newsagency software comp[any can speak to.

Plenty of XchangeIT enhancements have been tested in the newsagencies owned and run by Tower prior to the sale of the Tower business one year ago. Today, the company has access to a network of newsagencies for professional beta testing for XchangeIT / POS software integration enhancements.

If  you are looking for a newsagency software solution that partners with XchangeIT, Tower Systems is the software most widely used. This is the software most recommended.

The newsagency software from Tower Systems is key to helping newsagents run more current and successful retail businesses, to efficiently manage data relating to magazine supply and return.

From differentiating and local-business tuned loyalty facilities to tools that nurture community group support to time saving supplier integrations to easy online selling, the Tower Systems newsagency software plays a vital role in guiding greater success for the 1,800+ newsagents who have chopped the Tower Systems newsagency software.

This software for newsagents is designed with newsagents, to serve specific needs newsagents have in their businesses. It serve us valuable business insights designed to maximise opportunities for newsagent business owners and employees.

While XchangeIT partners with various providers, Tower Systems stands out as the most widely used and recommended Point of Sale software for managing magazine supply and returns, supporting over 1,800 newsagents. Tower  specialists were instrumental in defining the industry’s data standards, giving us a depth of integration knowledge that is unmatched in the market. We leverage this unique position, backed by practical retail experience and a dedicated network for beta testing—to actively trial enhancements and assist suppliers, ensuring a seamless data relationship for our users. Beyond efficient magazine management, Tower Systems is designed specifically for newsagents, offering powerful tools for local loyalty, community engagement, and online selling to help you run a more modern, profitable, and successful retail business.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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newsagent software

Agentic AI innovation delivering efficiency for Australian newsagents

There is currently a ton of noise regarding Agentic AI. While much of the technology sector discusses future potential, Tower Systems, the newsagency software company I founded,  is focused on practical actions.

Tower already delivers Agentic AI capabilities specifically for newsagents. It’;s in the newsagency software now and it’s a business operations game changer.

Defining Agentic AI for the newsagency channel

The term Agentic AI refers to intelligent systems designed to take autonomous, goal-oriented actions.

Newsagents can identify Agentic AI where multiple tasks, which previously required individual management, are rolled into a single workflow undertaken without manual effort. This facility in the Tower Systems newsagency software can be seen as Agentic AI in action for a newsagency business.

Tower Systems has delivered outcomes for small business retailers that fit this definition. One example is this capability in early 2025.

Agentic AI in Practice: Automatic Ordering

Tower Systems released an Automatic Order feature that allows newsagents to schedule regular supplier orders using specific stock reorder logic.

The software allows business owners to setup specific suppliers to automatically create orders for products. This is done using the Stock Reorder-desired levels process (min/max quantities) or by forecasting the order quantities based on sales records.

When Automatic Ordering is enabled and properly configured, the Retailer software generates supplier orders for the relevant products at the specified frequency. The system acts on behalf of the newsagent to ensure the order is ready to be sent out.

How it helps newsagents manage stock

The system offers flexibility to suit different supplier relationships and management styles often found in the newsagency channel.

  • Flexible Scheduling: Newsagents can set the frequency to Daily, Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly, or Yearly.

  • Intelligent Forecasting: Users can choose a ‘Forecast’ method that generates reorder quantities based on the sales record for the item and an estimate of what is needed for the coming period.

  • Context Aware: The system can be instructed to calculate quantities based on desired levels while accounting for stock already on pending or sent orders.

Once configured, the software takes over the responsibility. The first order will generate approximately an hour from when the Auto Order is first activated, with subsequent orders following the set schedule.

Actionable outcomes

This innovation is not just about saving administrative time. It is about removing the mental load of remembering to check stock levels for routine items.

There is solid evidence of lost revenue due to stock not being on hand when people want to purchase. A common reason for stock not being unhand is that it was not ordered on time.

When the system generates an order, a notification appears in the Notification button at the top of the main Retailer screen and the POS screen. The newsagent simply clicks the notification to open the supplier order in the Orders Maintenance screen for review.

This workflow helps you miss reorder opportunities, it gets stock on the shelves for when people want it.

By utilising these tools, newsagents allow the Tower Systems software to act as a functional agent for their business. This drives efficiency and ensures critical stock replenishment cycles are never missed.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

3 likes
newsagent software

Opportunities for Aussie newsagents in these weeks before Christmas

With traffic increasing as we get closer to Christmas, now is the time for new and infrequent visitors to see your business.

  1. Make sure the front third of your shop pops and looks unlike a traditional newsagency. You want people to say wow, this is different or didn’t this used to be a newsagency? or similar. Them noticing the difference relies on you making it different.
  2. Reset the counter. Make it nothing like what’s usual for you or what people expect from a newsagency.  M a k e   a   s t a t e m e n t.  You want people to notice.
  3. Invite them back. Use discount vouchers or some other mechanic that offers a benefit for them shopping with you again soon.
  4. Drive a deeper basket. While they may visit for a Christmas card and / or wrapping paper, have products strategically placed to achieve a deeper basket.
  5. Be responsible. The extent success of Christmas in your shop is 100% up to you, choices you made months ago and in-store execution you decide today and tomorrow.

Don’t be a retailer who looks back on Christmas 2025 saying it was flat or down as if it’s an economy thing or a seasonal thing. The success of Christmas in your newsagency is 100% on you and while it can now feel too late, doing something right now is better than doing nothing at all, even if you don’t have the right product you now want.

So, what are you doing to make the most of the extra traffic? This type of work doesn’t take long. It’s easy to do. And, you can usually do it with what you have. The key is to approach it not as a newsagent.

A critical element of this Christmas push is to ensure your team is trained and empowered to leverage these changes, not just to process sales, but to actively engage.

Get in an hour early or stay an hour late and do the best you can.

Looking back after Christmas and wishing the numbers looked better is too late.

…
Mark Fletcher founded newsagency software company Tower Systems and is the CEO of newsXpress, a marketing group serving innovative newsagents keen to evolve their businesses for a bright future. You can reach him on mark@newsxpress.com.au or 0418 321 338.

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Uncategorized
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