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

Author: Mark Fletcher

Your local newsagent is the best place to buy Father’s Day cards this year and here’s why

For Father’s Day this year, the best place to find your card and gift is your local newsagent. The reasons are simple: better product range, better shopping experience, and best choice for your community.

Your local newsagency is where you are likely to find Australian made Father’s Day cards and Australian made matters to anyone who wants local jobs. If you’re not sure, turn the card over and check where it is made. And, while you’re there, check any charity your Father’s Day card purchase will support – that is usually listed on the back of the card

Buying a Father’s Day card from your local newsagency is a direct investment in your community. When you shop at your local newsagent, your money stays local. These are Australian-owned small businesses, often run by families in your suburb. They are the shops that give local kids their first jobs and support local community clubs and groups. Supporting them keeps your local shopping strip alive.

You’ll find a better card. Newsagents do have the best range of cards, better than supermarkets for sure.

  • More designs: They stock cards from multiple companies, giving you a wider variety of styles to choose from.
  • Specific captions: If you need a card for “Grandpa,” “Pop,” “Uncle,” a mentor or a step-dad, you are far more likely to find it at a newsagent.
  • Higher quality: You can feel the difference. The cardstock is often better and the finishes are superior. You can be proud to give a card that feels special.
  • Australian made: Newsagents are the number one supporters of Australian-designed and made cards that capture our unique sense of humour and style.

In my own newsagency we are grateful to sell cards from Henderson Greetings, an Australian company that makes the cards here in Australia.

Henderson Greetings has helped Australians celebrate life’s special events through beautiful, quality products for over 70 years. Our commitment to quality drives both great product and trusted relationships with our customers. Our Head Office is based in Melbourne. Our products and Sales representatives reach leading retailers and newsagents in every state of Australia.

Buying a Henderson Greetings Father’s Day card supports the wonderful work of the McGrath Foundation, a trusted and beloved organisation.

For almost 20 years we’ve supported families through cancer. McGrath Cancer Care Nurses have a proven positive impact on the lives of people experiencing cancer and their families. Learn more about how we’ve supported over 161,000 people and their families right across Australia.

The shopping experience for a Father’s Day card at your local newsagency is simpler You can browse the cards at your leisure in a calm environment. The staff are there to help if you need it, but they won’t pressure you. Many also offer genuine value through loyalty programs. For convenience, you can often find gift bundles ready to go, making it a quick and easy stop.

A Father’s Day card is a lasting memory A great card is more than just a piece of paper; it’s a keepsake. It’s something Dad can look back on for years to come, a tangible memory of the day. Choosing a quality card makes that memory even more special.

To find the best Father’s Day card selection, be sure to shop early. Do a quick search for “newsagency near me” and you’ll find one of the 2,800 local stores around the country, ready to help you find the perfect thing for Dad.

Where can you find the best Father’s Day cards this year: your local newsagency of course!

…
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.

7 likes
Greeting Cards

How can I reduce the rent I pay for my local shop? Advice for small business retailers

You’d think that rent would be flat or declining considering the number empty shops around. Rent is not always set based on a traditional supply and demand model.

Some landlords have their funding arrangements set based on the value of the property, which is tied to the rent they are asking. Reducing the rent reduces the value of the property and this can negatively impact the funding they have in place.

I talk to many retailers who ask for advice on how to negotiate to pay less rent. These conversations can be frustrating when the retailer has been told by someone that they can get a rent reduction for them, often for a negotiation fee. Leasing brokers and some others who negotiate rent for retailers usually charge a fee for their services with the fee not tied to a successful negotiation.

My advice on how to negotiate a rent reduction is always the same:

Ensure your business is appealing to the landlord: that it attracts traffic to the location, you pay your rent on time, you’re a low maintenance tenant and other retailers in the centre (if you’re in a centre) would not want you to leave.

Gather evidence supporting your case: your P&L, comparative rent for similar nearby shops, details of what you have done to improve the business and details of what makes your business  unique – for example, the lack of control you may have over the price you can change for much of what you sell. In this process you may discover that your results don’t support a reduction in rent.

Have a plan b: another location from where you can operate if you had to. The old adage of location location location is not as relevant today with plenty of revenue for a god shop coming from online. Relying less on a perfect location that delivers traffic to you gives you options. Having another location in mind also depends on you configuring your business to be one that is sought out – that people will come to you. Keep and plan b you develop to yourself.

Make your case early: write to the landlord, in a professional and nun emotive tone. Be clear in your ask. Don’t waffle. Make your pitch compelling. There has to be something in your pitch for the landlord. This pitch best comes from you as you’re the person who has the most on the line – a leasing broker is paid to spend time on your behalf.

The most common mistake I see a retailer make us believing that they should play less rent because they think they should. This is a dangerous mistake.

Another mistake is that the business is declining and less able to pay the rent. A business declining is the responsibility of the retailer to resolve and not the landlord to fix by reducing rent.

There is no common trajectory in terms of rent for retail locations in Australia. The situation varies by state and region, type of location and more. In Perth and Brisbane, for example, CBD retail vacancy rates of 21.7% and 18.3% respectively. There is no national trend on which you can rely.

Recent data from the first half of 2025 indicates that the national CBD retail vacancy rate has decreased to 11.1%, the lowest it has been since the first half of 2021.

How can you reduce the rent you pay for your local shop? The answer is to start planning early and to take responsibility yourself for working what is one of the highest operating costs in your 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.

11 likes
Newsagency management

Digital plays a key role in performance of The Lottery Corporation

The Lottery Corporation released its full year results this morning. Digital continues to play an important role for the performance of the business. The digital share of Lotteries turnover grew to 41.8% in FY25, up from 40.9% in the previous year.  Here are a couple of quotes from their results documentation:

Note: higher margin in this second quote. This slide from their deck speaks to the value of digital for their business.

Lotteries remains a vital offering for many newsagents. If you have it in your shop, ensure you are not reliant on it to remain open – attract shoppers for other product categories. Just as TLC appreciated better margin from its growing online sales, you should chase better GP from products far away from lotteries.

I wish TLC would ease its requirements on retailers for prime position into which no other products can be promoted. While I get their focus on store within a store  format to provide identity under The Lott brand”, their approach is, in my opinion, unfair on small business retailers in my opinion – especially considering their focus on driving digital.

5 likes
Lotteries

An unfair burden: Why the RBA’s payments review fails Australia’s small businesses

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s recent consultation paper on merchant payment costs was a critical opportunity for reform. Instead, it signals a profound disconnect from the realities faced by small businesses, threatening to entrench an inequitable system dominated by major banks and multinational payment organisations.

A month ago, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released its Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging Consultation Paper. While sounding procedural, its implications could be serious for small businesses, especially small business retailers, like newsagents.

Are you paying attention?

The paper’s proposals, or lack thereof, fail to address the fundamental unfairness baked into the Australia’s payment systems, leaving small businesses, what we are told regularly is the backbone of our economy, vulnerable while protecting the interests of powerful incumbents.

The RBA’s review overlooks the core issues and, if its current direction holds, could force small business retailers into an impossible choice: absorb unsustainable costs or lose competitiveness.

The are three critical flaws in the current system.

1. Least-cost routing (LCR): savings left on the table. Least-cost routing is a simple and powerful mechanism. It automatically processes a customer’s tap-and-go debit payment through the cheapest available network, typically eftpos. The RBA’s own data suggest that merchants with LCR enabled enjoy debit card transaction costs nearly 20% lower than those without.

Yet, LCR is not the default. The RBA is merely considering a formal mandate. This hesitation leaves significant, achievable savings out of reach for small businesses who are often unaware the option even exists. In a landscape of rising operational costs, withholding a straightforward tool for cost reduction is inexcusable.

2. Interchange fees: A system rigged for the big business. An inequity exists in the structure of interchange fees, the fees paid between banks for the acceptance of card-based transactions. Big businesses leverage their bargaining power to negotiate substantially lower rates than small, independent businesses for the exact same transaction. The cost to the provider is identical, but the price for the small business owner is artificially inflated.

The RBA acknowledges this gap and says it is exploring measures to address it. This issue does not require exploration; it requires regulation. A fair system would establish a level playing field where the cost of a transaction is not determined by the size of the business processing it.

3. The surcharging ban: treating the symptom, not the disease. Perhaps the most alarming proposal is a potential ban on surcharging, promoted as a $1.2 billion saving for Australian consumers. This figure is a mirage. Banning surcharges does not eliminate the cost; it simply transfers the full burden onto the business owner.

Without first mandating LCR and legislating fair interchange fees, a ban on surcharging would be a dumb. Small businesses would be forced to either absorb these costs  or raise their prices. This punishes customers, makes small businesses less competitive, and ignores the problem. The surcharge is a symptom of excessive costs, not the cause.

What you can do now

While we must demand the government and RBA work in tandem to fix this broken system, waiting is not an option. Small business owners can take immediate, proactive steps to mitigate these unfair costs.

1. Mandate least-cost routing on your terminals. Do not assume it is active. Contact your bank or payment provider (e.g., your bank, Tyro, ANZ, Suncorp) and state clearly: I am calling to ensure that Least-Cost Routing is enabled on my payment terminal(s). I want all eligible debit card transactions to be processed through the cheapest network. This single phone call can reduce your debit transaction fees by 15-20% at no cost to you.

2. Scrutinise your merchant statements. Analyse your most recent statement to understand your true cost of acceptance. Calculate your “blended rate” by dividing the total fees paid by your total card sales for the month. This will give you a clear percentage. If you pay $150 in fees on $10,000 of sales, your blended rate is 1.5%. You must know this figure to effectively negotiate.

3. Leverage a competitive market. Armed with your blended rate, shop around. Contact other payment providers, from traditional banks to modern fintech companies. Ask them directly: My current blended rate is X%. Can you offer a better rate? What are your terminal rental fees and is there a lock-in contract? Loyalty to a single provider can be expensive; in a competitive market, providers must earn your business.

Politicians from all parties laud small businesses as the engine room of the Australian economy, now is the time for them to act. Without decisive intervention to create a fair, transparent, and equitable payment system, our nation’s retailers are about to be dealt a significant financial blow. It’s time for policy to match the rhetoric.

I have written about this again today to put in front of newsagents again. Complaining later will not be as powerful as acting now.

…
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
Newsagency management

Crossword sales up in the newsagency

I’m not sure if this is widespread but I’ve seen data indicating a sweet rise in crossword sales in recent months. The store sample size is small, not enough to say it’s a channel-wide trend.

That said, for the newsagencies for which I have seen data, sales of crosswords are up between 7% and 18% un terms of unit sakes in recent months. For one store, sales of crossword titles rose from 157 to 189 in July.

Crosswords typically account for between 5% and 8% of total magazine sales. Growth for this segment is a nice gain for the magazine department that is challenges in other segments.

The common features of newsagencies achieving growth in crossword sales is consistent placement, easy customer access, location near newspapers and co-location of some titles occasionally at the counter.

Crosswords are an easy gift, especially if you are located near hospitals, retirement villages and/or nursing homes.

It’s best to not rely on the destination crossword shopper for growth. In my own experience the easiest growth comes from suggesting crosswords as a gift. They work in many situations. They are also easily posted.

Yes, our GP is only 25%, which sucks. That said, any magazine segment delivering growth is something to lean into, I think.

5 likes
crosswords

How we are using AI in our local newsagency in Malvern, Victoria

I’ve been in retail since 1996, and I’ve never seen anything with the potential of AI. Join me as I take you inside my small business and reveal the AI-powered tools I’m using to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll be surprised at how accessible and affordable these game-changing technologies really are. I shot this video on the weekend:

The term ‘AI’ gets thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean for a local shop on the high street,for a newsagency? In this video, I cut through the hype and show you the real-world results. Forget complex theories; I’m talking about practical tools that automate our invoicing, optimise our pricing against nearby competitors, and even help us write compelling product descriptions for our website. If you’re a small business owner who’s curious but unsure where to begin with AI, this is for you.

In retail, standing still means falling behind. The tools we use today are just the beginning of the AI revolution. I’ll not only cover what’s working for my business right now but also share my thoughts on where this is all heading—from AI-driven reports that offer growth plans instead of just data, to insights that will help us serve our customers better than ever. Watch this video to understand the steps you can take today to future-proof your business for tomorrow.

Now if you’re from the camp that says it’s all too hard – it’s not.

If you’re scared of AI and what it will do, that’s healthy, it’s nit a reason to learn how to use it, and use it properly.

By this time next year we will look back is some business practices today and wonder how we did what we did. Ai will have that much of an impact – for those businesses that do embrace the opportunity and use it.

The key is to learn the tools and figure out how to best leverage them for your 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.

13 likes
Newsagency management

Does AI scare you as a retailer?

This is a question we put to local small business retailers using the Tower Systems software. That led to us hosting a free workshop last Friday in which we explored the question and plenty more about AI and its use today in POS software in retail.

In the discussion we talk about how retailers, including newsagents, are using AI in their businesses and we show several examples of this.

POS software embedded AI tools absolutely help you save time, cut mistakes and make more profitable business decisions. I know because I use them myself.

AI use in business, especially small business, is a hot topic. Thursday I recorded an interview for the ABC Am program and Friday I recorded an episode of a podcast for a specific channel of small business retailers in Australia (not newsagents), in which AI was a hot topic.

There is no avoiding it. The smart move is to learn and embrace. The video of the discussion Friday shares insights around protecting your IP and some easy to access tools that can enhance your business performance.

I know of plenty of newsagents using AI tools today to save time, support better business decisions and to provide business performance insights that otherwise might have taken hours or days to do the old way.

I know of newsagents who have cut external accountant and consultant fees by using AI to do the analysis work for them, to find weaknesses in the business performance data, to lay out a pathway for improving the business.

These are real uses of AI tools in Aussie newsagency businesses today. Anyone can access them. The Tower software has terrific AI tools embedded in the software. You can also use excellent AI tools outside of any software.

Personally, I think we are in an exciting moment in time with AI. It’s scary too, for sure, given the bad than can be done with AI. I have no control over that though, and it cannot be regulated now. My interest is in what I can do today to run a more successful business. AI tools are key here. The video I share in this post is barely a start in the conversation about what you can do in your newsagency with AI tools.

Our goal in the discussion Friday was  to transparently discuss and answer questions as part of our mission to help small business retailers be aware of AI tools for retail and to show how AI may not be what they think of it as being.

Are retailers using AI today? for sure!

Is AI safe? Yes, as safe as any tool used properly.

Can small businesses use AI to compete? Yes, AI tools help small business retailers do more with less and to more quickly analyse their performance in ways that big businesses only used be able to.

Is AI changing? Yes, rapidly. What our POS software with AI today is very different to just a few months ago.

For small business retailers who are hesitant about using AI, this discussion directly addresses common fears and misconceptions. We transparently answer questions and show how AI can be a powerful, safe tool.

…
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.

5 likes
newsagency of the future

Lotterywest offers WA retailers access to free online counselling

It is terrific seeing Lotterywest offer Western Australian retailers access to PeopleSense, a free professional and confidential counselling delivered by psychologists.

The service aims to help retailers gain practical skills to help with personal or work-related challenges. PeopleSense has been around for 22 years.

PeopleSense directly employs over 170 psychologists and 30 wellbeing experts, as well as working with a network of clinicians across the country. Access a team that works in unison to develop and implement the highest standards of care. We use modern best-practices and adapt our care plans to your unique needs. And our clinical governance continues to show real and meaningful improvements in care outcomes.

This is service that could help retailers facing challenging situations that are negatively impacting their own wellbeing.

I am not aware of any other suppliers offering a similar service.

3 likes
Newsagency opportunities

Are Direct rolling out weekly daytime magazine deliveries

Are Direct conducted an 8-week trial in part of Victoria metro in May/June 2025 with a weekly daytime delivery with proof of delivery.

The trial results in terms of sales performance and newsagent feedback, including labour and time savings managing the category only once a week.

I think this is a good move. It’s also an expected move as engagement with print media evolves. Newsagents should not be worried about this. I think they should take the move as a reason to work on their business in the context of traffic drivers – for the sustainability of the business.

Below are more details provided by Are Direct and their plans for rolling out the weekly daytime deliveries (Mon, Tues, Wed).:

NSW country has been split into different areas as we have multiple contractors here.

  • Part of Vic Metro (roughly the Western side of Melbourne) rolled out 5 May
  • Regional QLD rolled out 7 July
  • Next:
    • 25 August – Balance VIC Metro
    • 25 August – NSW Country (Newcastle, Greater Newcastle)
    • 1 September – VIC Country
    • 8 September – NSW Country (Central Coast, Goulburn, Blue Mountains)
    • 15 September – SA Metro
    • 22 September – NSW Country (Wagga)
    • 22 September – NSW Country (South Coast, Illawarra, Canberra)
    • 30 September (at the latest) – SA Country
    • 13 October – TAS
    • 3 November – QLD Metro
    • NSW Metro – Feb 2026 TBC

Newsagents are being communicated on the changes 4 weeks in-advance of the change and these comms include the FAQ’s that I attach for reference. These are very similar to what was shared when we ran the Vic metro trial. We are also supplying A2/A4 posters prior to the delivery change to help stores communicate the delivery change to their customers.

By the end of this year approx. 70% of retailers will be on the new weekly daytime delivery model. We are planning to complete NSW metro in Q1 2026, and this will just leave WA although we have weekly deliveries in remote areas already.

This information above provided by Are Direct is terrific, and straightforward. The company has also provided terrific FAQ details:

 Why are you having to change the on-sale days of magazines? 

Magazine distribution continues to be challenged with volumes decreasing by 10% a year and with warehousing and transport costs increasing well above inflation, we need to look at ways of building a sustainable future for all our businesses. 

Why are you changing from deliveries overnight to daytime? 

Content, even in weekly titles, is becoming less time sensitive to consumers and sales are now more spread through the day. Most newsagents are also opening later than they used to when they were managing newspaper home deliveries and the number of sub-agents for magazines has been decreasing. 

Daytime deliveries allow us to ensure magazines and TheMarketHub stock is safely delivered during opening hours with proof of delivery like many other suppliers you deal with. Later this will also allow us to offer our services to other suppliers delivering direct to your store and aggregate stock. 

We conducted an 8 week trial in part of Victoria metro in May/June 2025 and after some initial impact from customers getting used to the new on-sale pattern, we now see trial stores weekly sales performance in line with non-trial store performance. General feedback received has also been positive now the delivery time is becoming more consistent, and there are labour and time savings managing the category only once a week. 

What magazine days will be part of the weekly delivery? 

The weekly delivery will combine the delivery you would normally have received separately on Monday and Thursday for that week. 

Will all retailers in the same area receive magazine deliveries on the same day? 

Working closely with our distribution partner NDS we have mapped all delivery runs and tried to ensure all retailers in the same geographical area receive their magazines on the same day. The delivery days for magazines will move to Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. As you would expect in some areas there will be some borderline overlaps, and we will continue to review these. 

As you receive your new magazine delivery, you are encouraged to place new copies on shelf to maximise sales for your store. 

What time will I receive my magazine delivery? 

Deliveries will commence from 7am and will be completed by the afternoon of your confirmed delivery day. Your store will be in a set position every delivery based on location. We expect the delivery time to become more consistent as the service beds in. We know this is important so you can roster staff appropriately for the larger single delivery volume. 

When magazine deliveries fall on a public holiday (Monday-Wednesday) then all deliveries will move back 24 hours. i.e. Public holiday falls on a Monday; deliveries will be Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday for all retailers. 

Will I still have 48 hours to claim shortages/short deliveries for magazines and TheMarketHub product? 

Yes, nothing will change from the current process. We would ask that magazine stock is checked after it is delivered so new products can be put on the shelf for customers and old products taken off show. 

Will the weekly returns form still be available on the Are Direct website from Wednesday for unsold products to be returned? 

Yes, the weekly returns form will continue to be made available on the website from Wednesday to process on-time returns. 

Will my XchangeIT files be available to me for my new delivery day? 

Yes, your delivery files for the single weekly delivery will be available from Friday afternoon/evening when we have completed the packing of your weekly delivery at our Sydney warehouse. All invoice header’s will now all show a Thursday on sale date. 

How do I view my proof of delivery photo showing my delivery was made? 

You will be able to view your proof of delivery photos that will be date and time stamped via the Are Direct website. In the Retailers menu under ‘My Documents’, you will now have a new tab for “Proof of Delivery” images. We have proved an updated user guide with step-by-step instructions on how to access this new website feature. 

How will you help us communicate with customers on the new delivery day? 

We will provide your store with A3 and A4 poster to display to your customers your new delivery date for magazines. This will arrive with your first consolidated delivery. We would also ask if you could also communicate the change to your regular weekly magazine customers in advance of the change in on-sale delivery. This should include the weekly Are Media titles That’s Life and Take 5 that will now be delivered earlier. 

As I noted, this move is good I think. It makes sense. Newsagents need to consider this in the context of their businesses and consider other changes they could make for a more sustainable retail business.

7 likes
magazine distribution

Small business retail advice: the battlefield is customer experience, not price

In today’s world of huge online retailers and national retail chains chasing business, the local retail business advantage is in creating memorable, human-centric experiences. This is where retail businesses, like newsagencies, shine.

I was in Japan in business a few weeks ago and visiting retail there reinforced the importance of the in-store experience. Retail staff are grateful you are shopping with them. Their engagement is gentle. They take pride in serving. Their attention to detail is excellent.

The service we provide in our shops is a key and valuable differentiator to online and big business competitors. It is the best place to start if you want to differentiate your business from them.

Double down on in-store service. Train your staff to be genuine experts and consultants. Remember customers’ names and preferences. Offer a level of personalised service and product knowledge that an algorithm cannot replicate. Create a welcoming physical atmosphere that makes people want to visit.

Anyone making the effort to shop in-store versus online needs to feel welcome. We need to remember they could be looking for more than just the product.

  1. Personal is your differentiator: Online (Amazon) can’t compete with the feeling of walking into a welcoming space. No matter how much they try, they can’t offer a friendly, face-to-face conversation, a curated sensory environment, or the immediate satisfaction of discovering something unique. Your physical experience is your moat against online giants.
  2. Personal builds emotional loyalty: A transaction is forgettable. An experience is not. Positive experiences create emotional connections that build genuine loyalty. Loyal customers are less price-sensitive, they recommend you to others, and they choose to support you because they want you to succeed.
  3. Personal supports your price point: A customer who has a wonderful experience in your shop is less likely to go home and search for the same item to save a few dollars online. The personal experience you provide become part of the value they take away. The experience itself makes the purchase feel more worthwhile.
  4. Personal creates a “third place”: Retail experts talk of in0store shoppers looking for a “third place”, somewhere that isn’t home (first place) or work (second place) where they can feel comfortable. Your shop can be that place.

Here are some tips for pursuing these points:

  1. Welcome every visitor.
  2. Help when needed.
  3. Provide a warm experience: fewer bright lights, for example.
  4. Ensure the shop always smells good with scents that appeal.
  5. Ensure the shop sounds good with music people hum along to.
  6. Add value every time you can: like how to use a product or when giving something as a gift is best.
  7. Thank them for stopping by.
  8. Support local in every way you are able.

The path to success against online giants isn’t about competing on their terms of price and scale, but by mastering the one area they can’t touch: the in-store experience. By offering a welcoming atmosphere, fostering genuine human connections, and embedding your shop in the local community, you  build a loyal following and create a memorable destination that customers will choose to support, ensuring your business not only survives but thrives.

In local small business retail we can complain all we like about online and big retailers, or we can provide in ur own a shop an experience that sets us apart and demonstrates in every contact the value of shopping local.

…
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
Management tip

Good first day at Reed Melbourne Gift Fair

Yesterday was a good first day at the Melbourne gift fair with a diverse mix of retailers attending and most keen to do business.

Whereas five or so years ago this trade show would be dominated by gift shop owners and staff, now the retail channel mix is broad. yesterday I saw folks from jeweller, garden centre, pet and newsagency businesses, as well as gift.

There were plenty with online only businesses. There were also several over from New Zealand for the trade show.

While I think Reed is running for show one or two days too long, day one augurs well for the value of the event for the suppliers who have stumped up big money to be there.

1 likes
Newsagency opportunities

Promoting jigsaws in Winter in the local newsagency

newsXpress stores are running an in-store promotion around the jigsaw category. Each store has been provided access to product deals with bonus gross profit, a terrific good-value prize for one lucky local shopper along with collateral for promoting the competition.

This type of local store promotion with a local winner is successful for local retailers. It’s part of the exclusive newsXpress Seasonal Edge promotion series, which costs nothing for participating retailers.

Here is a small sample showing in-store activation with the promotion.










The proof of the campaign is in sales, and they are up.

Simple and local campaigns like this work well, especially when thoughtfully timed for the right season, which Winter is for jigsaws.

…
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.

5 likes
newsagency marketing

Have your say on card payments

The Independent Payments Forum, a lobby group of which ALNA and newsXpress are paying members, is working on the RBA and politicians in relation to merchant. They’d like input from small business retailers, like you. This quick survey is anonymous. Your response will strengthen small business representation.

Here is a link to the survey: https://forms.gle/nhpzXd1GN7ncTjZp9

If you are concerned about the costs of payments in your shop, spent a minute or so and complete the survey, please.

5 likes
Newsagency management

Ignorant op. ed. by Dave Sharma in the AFR

Liberal senator Dave Sharma penned an op. ed. for The Australian Financial Review claiming the RBA position on card surcharges is a considered way forward toward a more modern and competitive system.

The opening line of his piece sets up up for his ignorant take.

Paying a fee in order to spend your own money is a strange state of affairs.

Does he not understand business, that businesses have costs and the costs are reflected in the costs of products. With the current approach to surcharging, retailers are advising consumers the cost of this part of their business. I would not, however, that some lazy retailers go for a high cost payments option in the knowledge that they can pass that on. I think this is poor form by these retailers when there are payments costs well under 1% readily available. But, I digress.

The currently published position by the RBA if implemented fails small business retailers.

Sharma goes on to write:

The abolition of card surcharges would bring card payments in line with cash and be of immediate benefit to consumers and households, saving them a collective $1.2 billion. Mandating the reduction of wholesale fees linked to card use will benefit merchants, and particularly small businesses.

It seems like Sharma has not read the RBA consultation paper.

My concern is that small business retailers like newsagents are ignoring what’s is being discussed here and that they will only arc-up when it is too late.

Right now is when we need to be approaching our local federal politicians so they understand the risk to small business retail of the flawed RBA position on surcharges. The RBA claim to eliminate the cost of surcharges on consumers is nonsense unless small business retailers are given payments costs that match the sweetheart deals given to big business.

Dave Sharma needs to do better research before writing next in the big business mouthpiece, the AFR.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has retained a zero debit interchange option, continued card surcharging and reduced other interchange fees for businesses accepting Visa and Mastercard payments. Hmm, what is it with politicians and their lack of apparent understanding of business.

10 likes
Social responsibility

Free offer: for newsagents with a website and those considering one

I’ve been deeply immersed in the world of online retail for over a decade. From building websites for my own newsagency businesses – individual shops, online-only stores, and multi-shop single-category sites – to guiding the web development efforts at Tower Systems, the software company I founded, I’ve gained extensive experience. Through my work at Tower, I constantly leverage search, traffic, and other data to help retailers attract more shoppers online. I also have access to insightful, paywalled data on website traffic and keywords, giving me a unique edge.

Now, I’m extending that expertise to you. My goal is simple: to help more newsagents make money online. This starts with creating websites that are easily found, trusted, and enjoyed by visitors. Data play a vital role in achieving these goals, and thankfully, there’s plenty of good data available to inform actionable advice.

Here is what I offer, for free:

1. If you already have a website:

Email me your website URL at mark@newsxpress.com.au. I’ll review your current traffic data, analyse your website’s performance, and examine your social media presence. I’ll also take a look at some of your competitors’ online strategies.

What you’ll receive is a clear, actionable “To-Do” list of steps you can take yourself to improve traffic and convert more visitors into paying customers, ultimately growing your online revenue.

2. If you’re considering a website (or don’t know where to start):

Email me at mark@newsxpress.com.au with your initial ideas for a website. I’ll research relevant keywords and analyse the traffic potential your competitors are already getting.

You’ll receive valuable evidence and insights to help you make informed decisions about the type of website that’s right for your business. If you’re completely new to this and have no idea where to begin, feel free to email me about that too – just tell me a bit about your shop.

Also, know that your website does not have to be connected in any way with what you sell in your newsagency today. In fact, I’d encourage that.

Why am I offering this for free? 

This service is genuinely free. I am not trying to sell you anything. I’ve offered similar analyses to Tower Systems customers, most of whom are outside the newsagency channel. Each project has broadened my own knowledge and helped me refine this service.

So, why the free offer? The health of the Australian newsagency channel matters deeply to me. I care about our industry, and this free service is simply another way I can give back and help newsagents run thriving retail businesses in today’s digital landscape.

The more newsagents selling online with successful websites the better.

A Word of warning: The Truth Matters

What I’ll share with you will be the unvarnished truth. I won’t sugarcoat it. If you’re serious about making money online, understanding the real picture is crucial.

Please email me at mark@newsxpress.com.au.

Footnote: Each analysis takes time. Plus I have a day job. I will get to your request as soon as I can.

18 likes
Newsagency management

More ATM providers remove ATMs from tobacco retailers

It is good to see more ATM providers removing ATMs from tobacco shops.

One of Australia’s largest private ATM suppliers, Macquarie Group-backed Next Payments, is removing more than 40 of its machines from suspected illegal tobacco stores.

Next Payments chief executive Tim Wildash announced the move after an ABC investigation found ATM companies were cutting deals with tobacco criminals and installing their machines in high turnover illegal cigarette shops.

Mr Wildash said he had not been aware of the extent of the issue until the ABC’s reporting, and he was insisting the company remove ATMs from the outlets.

A large number of illegal tobacco retailers use card payments terminals provided by banks and fintechs to sell illegal products according to multiple news reports. So, this latest move. by Macquarie, is a good step against this support for illegal tobacco retailers.

The latest move is on the back of this story from the ABC.

Tobacco shop ATMs can do triple the business

The ABC has obtained court documents from a legal action sparked by the turf war between the ATM suppliers over Al Deleymi’s business.

The documents reveal the normally secret returns generated by ATMs in tobacco shops, including how in some cases such machines do triple the business of a normal ATM.

…

Transaction rate dwarfs typical ATMs

To prove how much revenue was lost, atm2go offered up details of how fee deals for private ATMs are structured.

Atm2go stated it charged customers $2.50 for each cash withdrawal and that Al Deleymi would earn a cut of each transaction fee of up to $1.30.

One machine at a Caboolture tobacco store recorded 165 transactions daily throughout May 2022, while a second racked up 155. Together, they reaped daily average fees of $408.79.

This transaction rate dwarfs that of typical Australian ATMs, which record an average of only 38 cash withdrawals a day, according to Reserve Bank of Australia figures.

This high transaction rate came despite the presence of other ATMs nearby.

With tobacco products present in around 20% of retail newsagencies, this story is one of interest for our channel.

It is good to see action on illegal tobacco.

5 likes
Social responsibility

Why parcel pickup is not a good service for Australian newsagents to offer

Before I get into this I note that by parcel pickup service I do not mean Australia Post parcel services through a Licensed Post Office. I happen to think an LPO in the right location inside a newsagency can be a good move.

No, here I am writing about agency business, where a newsagent acts as an agent for a parcel pick up or drop off service.

The financial compensation is low. You get paid peanuts, often not reflecting the time involved.

The time spent can be considerable. Customer queries and more can take up too much time.

Customer anger can be high. Having to wait while you serve people buying products tends to frustrate parcel people who want immediate service. Product customers can be angry too when you serve parcel pickup customers ahead of them.

Space requirements at a premium location in store can be high. And it can vary based on volume.

Distraction from high margin retail can cost profit. The time spent dealing with parcels is time spent not being a retailer.

These are the key reasons why I think offering a parcel pickup and drop off service is hot good for an Australian. newsagency business.

A core argument for these services, that they generate valuable foot traffic, is often a myth in my experience, looking at plenty of business performance data from newsagencies over the years.

The parcel customer is typically a destination visitor, not a shopper prepared to browse.  Their goal is speed and efficiency. Any delay, whether waiting for you to finish with a retail customer or seeing you serve someone else, creates friction, not a sales opportunity.

Newsagents offering parcel pickup and drop off services are absorbing the courier company’s final-mile delivery costs. These newsagents are often seen as the face of service failures. When a parcel is late, damaged, or missing, it is the newsagent who can cop the customer’s frustration.

Regulars here would know I am not a fan of agency business as it is not good retail, it is not you investing in your business. Parcel services are that – not you working on and in your business for your profit.

…
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.

10 likes
Newsagency management

Kudos to ALNA for their strong position on the RBA surcharge position

ALNA issued a good and strong response to the RBA position on payments surcharges:

RBA Surcharge Ban Fails Small Business
The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA) has expressed disgust at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s proposed surcharge ban, condemning it as a bureaucratic failure that demonstrates a shocking lack of understanding of how small businesses operate.

ALNA CEO Ben Kearney slammed the RBA’s consultation paper on merchant card payment costs, describing the proposed surcharge ban as “adding insult to injury” during an unprecedented cost-of-doing-business crisis. “The RBA’s payment costs paper represents a fundamental failure to understand the realities facing small businesses,” Kearney said.

ALNA prepared a detailed submission HERE to the consultation so far and will continue to advocate strongly through the next phase of the RBA consultation.

ALNA also put out a media release on the proposed ban HERE. In the release ALNA highlighted the brutal mathematics facing our members, where newsagencies and lottery retailers processing an average of 1,000 daily transactions worth just $15.20 are selling fixed-price lottery tickets with regulated pricing and earning just 10-11.3% commission, losing surcharging rights means payment costs will consume around 7% or more of the entire profit margin.

ALNA is particularly disgusted by the RBA’s lack of courage to take on more courageous cost reduction reforms, our impression is that the real culprits are the card schemes whose huge profits are protected by complex regulations, the RBA are protecting the status quo while small businesses paying 300-400% higher card fees than large retailers, may effectively subsidise the low rates negotiated by giants like Coles and Woolworths.

“Small businesses currently bear the lion’s share of processing fees charged by banks, payment service providers and card schemes,” Kearney explained. “The RBA’s proposed interchange reductions are modest improvements that don’t address the core problem of cross-subsidisation.”

The association demands the RBA show real guts by implementing genuine structural reforms including mandatory least cost routing, deeper interchange cuts, and scheme fee caps. Instead of protecting big business interests, the RBA should deliver cost relief to small businesses fighting through the toughest operating environment in decades

ALNA is part of the Independent Payments Forum, which is lobbying on behalf of small business retailers. newsXpress is part of the IPF as well.

The ALNA statement is more emotive than the IPF statement. This is a good move by ALNA.

11 likes
Newsagent representation

Thanks Mediaweek of covering the sale of Are Media

I am grateful to Mediaweek for their interest in the impact of a possible sale of Are Media for local small business newsagents.

Magazine health check: What the industry has to say about the current state of mags

by
Posted on

Campsie newsagency

With Are Media for sale, Mediaweek spoke with Mark Fletcher, Jackie Frank, and Nate Vella to consider the health of the local magazine industry.

Fifteen years ago, Mark Fletcher predicted that magazine publishing in Australia would face such a steep and sustained decline that newsagents would need to diversify quickly or risk shutting down altogether.

Fletcher, who is the CEO of newsagency marketing group NewsXpress and has been at the coal face of what he describes as print’s “slow and steady decline”, was anything but surprised when Are Media officially went up for sale last week.

With prospective buyers now kicking the tires on Are Media, Mediaweek took the opportunity to consider the health of the local magazine industry. Along with Fletcher, Mediaweek also spoke with Bench Media Head of Strategy Nate Vella and the vocal Jackie Frank, founding editor of marie claire Australia.

Unit sales continue downward trend

According to Fletcher, overall magazine sales in newsagents have dropped significantly in 2025.

“What we’re seeing so far in 2025 is that we’re sitting at around a 10% unit sale decline across the board. A lot of that decline is occurring in high-volume weeklies and monthlies.”

While many mass-market titles are losing ground, he says niche and puzzle magazines are proving more resilient.

“Special interest titles, such as Victorian Railroad Lines or Model Railway, are selling well… crossword year-on-year decline is sitting at around 2% or 3%.”

TikTok and portfolio overlap among key pressures

Fletcher sees digital platforms—particularly TikTok—as a major challenge to general-interest and entertainment-led print brands.

“Because Are Media is producing mass titles, they’re facing the challenge because that’s where you’ve got the biggest competition from TikTok and elsewhere.”

He also highlights a misalignment between Are Media’s focus and the categories showing the most growth:

“Special interest titles generally account for 20 to 25% of all magazines sold… women’s weeklies… account for about 8% now. 20 years ago, they would have accounted for easily 35 to 40%.”

He argues Are’s current magazine portfolio is too crowded: “Part of the challenge for the portfolio is how do they rationalise the portfolio rather than creating so much content that’s similar across different mastheads?”

“Right now, in terms of weeklies, you’ve got New Idea, Woman’s Day and Who, and for our marketplace, that’s probably at least one too many titles.”

Format stability and retail strategy shifts

Fletcher contrasts the volatility of lifestyle magazines with the reliability of formats like puzzles and established brands.

“You’ve got a tentpole product like Women’s Weekly, which is fantastic… but it’s so much cover-dependent.”

Meanwhile, puzzle publications attract steady buyers: “If people enjoy doing crosswords daily, they’ll likely continue… They can use their backpack, handbag, or whatever, and just do it whenever they’re on the train, tram, or road.”

Newsagents are adapting by shifting store layouts and diversifying offerings.

“Previously, a typical news agency would have prime real estate taken up by magazines and newspapers. Now that prime real estate is for gifts and homewares.”

“Magazine customers are still satisfied, and the news agency can diversify… Intelligent news agents have adapted their businesses… less competent news agents have ended up closing as a result.”

Reps from our channel are not always heard on matters like this. Mediaweek listened.

6 likes
magazines

The Reserve Bank of Australia fails small business retailers in its Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging Consultation Paper

The Reserve Bank of Australia has released its Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging Consultation Paper.

The RBA consultation paper proposed no changes that support or protect small businesses from the absolute dominance of the payments space by the big four banks in Australia and multi national corporations that put offshore profits ahead of Aussie consumers and small business owners.

The RBA could have taken a clearer position. What the Governor wrote in a OpEd in News Corp papers today reflects breathtaking ignorance on surcharges, the costs businesses, especially small businesses, face and how banks and others behave in relation to small business retailers.

Least cost routing (LCR). The RBA is considering whether a formal mandate for LCR is necessary, particularly for in-person and online transactions. For small businesses, wider adoption of LCR could lead to significant savings on merchant fees. Evidence indicates that merchants with LCR enabled have nearly 20% lower debit card transaction costs.

Interchange fees. A huge gap exists between the interchange fees paid by large and small businesses yet each transaction for each business has the same costs for the providers. The RBA says it is exploring measures to address this, which could include setting a floor on interchange rates or introducing lower caps on these fees for transactions at small businesses. While I’m no expert, I don’t see what has to be explored: regulate so everyone is on the same playing field.

Ban on surcharging. Without fixing the above to be fair for small businesses, a ban on surcharging will not save $1.2B for Aussies as the cost will still be there. Without corresponding reductions in underlying costs, could force small businesses to either absorb losses or increase prices, potentially making them less competitive.

A ban on surcharging without fairness on interchange fees and mandated least cost routing would be unfair to small business retailers.

The RBA may say they need to do their thing in isolation. They con’t. They and the government need to work hand in hand to fix the current broken and fundamentally unfair system.

If small business retailers really are as important to Australia as politicians from all parties tell us we are, right now is the time for them to step up for as things look, small business retailers are about to be fed a turd sandwich.

If you are a small business retailer here is what you can do today in addition to lobbying your local federal member and senators.

  1. Activate Least-Cost Routing:
    • What to do: Call the merchant services number for your bank or payment provider (e.g., your bank, Tyro, ANZ, Suncorp etc).
    • What to say: “I am calling to ensure that Least-Cost Routing is enabled on my payment terminal(s). I want all eligible debit card transactions to be processed through the cheapest network, which is typically eftpos.”
    • Why: LCR is not always enabled by default. Activating it can immediately reduce your fees on debit card tap-and-go payments by 15-20% without changing anything else. There is generally no cost to enable it.
  2. Audit Your Current Merchant Fees:
    • What to do: Find your most recent merchant statement. Don’t just look at the total fee. Look for the different rates you’re being charged for different cards (e.g., Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit, eftpos, Visa Credit, Amex).
    • Why: You need to understand your “blended rate” or your true average cost. Calculate it by dividing your total fees by your total card sales for that month. A rate of 1.5% means you pay $1.50 for every $100 in sales. Your figure should be considerably less than this.
  3. Shop Around for a Better Deal:
    • What to do: Armed with your true cost from the audit, contact other payment providers. Get quotes from both traditional banks and newer fintech providers.
    • What to ask: “My current blended rate for card acceptance is X%. Can you offer a better rate? What are your terminal rental fees? Is there a lock-in contract?”
    • Why: The payments market is competitive. Your loyalty to one provider could be costing you money. Providers are often willing to negotiate to win your business.

If small business retailers really are as important to Australia as politicians from all parties tell us we are, right now is the time for them to step up for as things look, small business retailers are about to be fed a turd sandwich.

29 likes
Newsagency management

Beware consultants and others offering AI training, workshops, retreats and more

Sheesh there are some shonks out there offering workshops, retreats and consulting packages in using AI.

My advice is don’t pay anything. Instead, take a step, and then another, and another. Fall over. Learn. Get up. Take another step. Pretty soon, you’ll be running.

Where AI is at today is not a destination. We are barely at the first stop on a long journey into a future and no one today is an expert on that future.

Anyone who tells you they have the secret sauce is just selling you a bottle of their own snake oil. The real secret is there is no secret. Just the graft. Just the curiosity.

The “gurus” selling you a weekend workshop are probably only a few chapters ahead of you. The landscape is changing so fast that any manual they print is out of date by the time the ink is dry. Don’t buy their map. Draw your own. It’ll be a mess, for sure. But it’ll be yours, and it’ll lead somewhere far more interesting.

So go on, be curious. Muck around. Break things. That’s how you’ll get good, not by lining someone else’s pockets. Give it a report, a business challenge, a question on your mind, a copy of your business plan, and ask what do you think?

The more you use it, the more you learn, and the more useful it becomes.

Do all this for free.

Don’t pay for a course, a workshop or a retreat. I saw one AI retreat in Australia promoted recently costing thousands for content and context that is available for free. Nice work if you can get it.

Beware. There are people making a ton of cash because AI feels so far removed what many know and understand. Clever marketers are leveraging ignorance for their own profit. Don’t do it!

Go on, try ChatGPT or Google Gemini now for free. Once you have played with them there are other tools you can use, plenty are free, and worth it.

…

Footnote: yes I have written a bit here about the AI tools embedded in the Tower Systems newsagency software. That’s different. It’s built in, included, ready for immediate use without the need for training, a course, a workshop or a retreat, no need to pay extra.

13 likes
Ethics
Trending Articles

Fairfax changes approach to TV Guide, disrespects newsagents

Published on April 20, 2011

What do you think of the Powerball changes?

Published on February 16, 2018

IPS releases new magazine contracts

Published on June 21, 2011