Newsagency management

Yesterday for Tower Systems I hosted a discussion about websites for retailers and how to get more traffic. Here is a video of that session. It offers up practical advice any newsagent with a website could leverage. https://youtu.be/E2GlTLAmeuQ

Is Your Website Actually Working for Your Retail Business?

For independent retailers like newsagents, a website is a vital tool for survival and growth. But there is a big difference between having a website and having a website that drives success.

This is a video of a deep-dive session on how local, specialty retailers can bridge the gap between their physical counter and the digital world. If you’ve been wondering how to compete with the “big guys” without losing your local soul, this video is for you.

Why Watch?

Retail in Australia has changed. Online plays a more important role than ever. In this session, I cover:

• The “Curated” Advantage: Why being small is actually your biggest strength online.

• Choosing Your Platform: Why we advocate for Shopify as the “bang for buck” leader for independent stores.

• Local SEO: How to make sure you appear when someone nearby searches for your products.

• Closing the Sale: Practical tips to turn website visitors into loyal customers.

Seamless Integration is the Key

Online and in-store operations should talk to each other. You need one source of truth when it comes to your stock data. POS-integrated websites are key here.

Why Shopify

Shopify is my e-commerce platform of choice because it’s easy to setup, easy to manage and easy to change. I use it for all the e-commerce sites in ym businesses. As of right now, I have 4 e-commerce sites with a fifth to launch today or Monday.

• https://mintcoinshop.com.au/
• https://hugsandlove.com.au/
• https://beanieboosaustralia.com/
• https://myornaments.com.au/

I mention these to show that the advice I cover in the website session comes from a place of personal engagement. there are too many web developers and web consultants out there who tell you what to do without having the experience themselves. This can be okay, but it can also be problematic.

Shopify is a good platform, and it connects to the Tower Systems POS software, which for me makes sense, of course.

Anyway, I’ve loaded the video here for anyone to watch without and gatekeeping. I hope you find it worthwhile.

Hungry beast

The final point I’d make on this is that a website is a hungry beast. If you don’t care for it and feed it, it will fail. The feeding and caring is the work I discuss during the session. Anyone who says a website will work right away once it’s created is kidding you.

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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.

I am grateful to ALNA for the opportunity to participate in a webinar for newsagents focussed on AI tomorrow, Tuesday March 17 at 1pm AEDT. This will be plain English and readily accessible session. We have plenty to share in this rapidly moving space, practical advice and insights you can use today in your newsagency business.

This session offers a good step towards AI literacy for anyone new to this space.

Here is the announcement from ALNA.

Don’t Get Left Behind — Join Our AI Webinar Next Tuesday

When we surveyed members in January, 65% of you told us you wanted support adopting AI in your business, so we’re delivering.

Next Tuesday 17 March at 1:00 PM AEDT, ALNA CEO Ben Kearney hosts a free 30-minute Business Boost Live webinar with Tower Systems’ Mark Fletcher and Gavin Williams to cut through the hype and explore what AI can practically do for your newsagency right now.

This isn’t a tech lecture. We’ll be tackling the real questions on your mind: How many newsagents are already using AI? What are the risks? What if you’re not a tech person? And critically, what happens if you don’t engage at all?

Whether it’s saving time on everyday tasks or finding new ways to generate revenue, this session focuses on what’s achievable today without specialist skills and on a tight budget.

AI is evolving fast and the retailers who start exploring now will be the ones best positioned for what’s ahead. This is your chance to get practical, jargon-free guidance in under 30 minutes.

REGISTER NOW — your future self might thank you. Email: events@alna.net.au

Plenty of newsagents are using Ai already in their businesses, saving time, making better business decisions.

From the practical to the strategic, AI is provide got be a valuable business tool.

Tower Systems is well positioned in this space thanks to its work in the area for more than 3 years and having delivered the first embedded AI solution in newsagency software for Australian newsagents.

Join us tomorrow for what I think will be a good session for newsagents.

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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.

How many times do you wonder why shoppers haven’t seen a sign right in front of them? We often get frustrated when customers can’t find products we think are easy to find, or when they ask for items we have never stocked.

“Shopper blindness” is a common complaint among local small business retailers in Australia. However, I don’t believe the shoppers are the problem. The issue is usually that we overwhelm them with too much information, too many colours, and cluttered displays.

When we give them too much to look at, they end up seeing nothing at all. To improve your sales and the customer experience, you need to edit your shop. Reducing visual noise will focus your customers—and your staff—on what matters most.

The Power of Editing Your Space

I recommend that every newsagent regularly performs a visual audit. Stand at the front of your shop and review every sign, notice, and placard. If it isn’t essential to a sale or a legal requirement, remove it.

Here are my key strategies for cleaning up the visual “noise” in your business:

1. Consolidate Your Housekeeping

We all have necessary notices regarding store policies, trading hours, or payment methods. Instead of scattering these across the front window and counter, place all customer notices in one unobtrusive place. This keeps the entrance clean and welcoming.

2. Simplify Call-to-Action Signs

If you have items on sale or heavily discounted, don’t spread them throughout the aisles. Place all clearance items in one dedicated location with clear signage. This creates a “treasure hunt” feel for the bargain hunter without cluttering your full-price displays.

3. Professional Product Signage

Inconsistent signs make a shop look messy. Use a neat, lean, and consistent format for all product signs. Ensure they are placed in the same relative position next to the products. This creates a visual rhythm that is easier for the brain to process.

4. Utilise Colour Blocking

Group your products by colour where possible. Colour-blocked shelves are significantly more appealing to the eye. They look organised and professional rather than noisy. A shopper is much more likely to stop and browse a shelf that looks intentional.

5. Clear the Counter

The counter is your most valuable real estate, yet it is often the most cluttered. Edit your counter space to focus only on the messages and products that matter right now. If a customer is overwhelmed at the point of purchase, they are less likely to engage with your high-margin impulse items.

Keep It Simple

The goal is to make the shopping experience effortless. When you reduce the “noise” in your shop, you highlight your best products and your most important messages.

A cleaner shop is a more profitable shop. It creates a better environment for your team to work in and a more relaxed atmosphere for your customers to spend money in.

Keep. It. Simple.

Keep. It. Simple.

Newsagency Visual Audit Checklist

Use this checklist to walk through your shop from a customer’s perspective. Aim to complete this audit once a month to ensure your store remains easy to navigate and free of “shopper blindness.”

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Pro Tip: The 10-Second Rule
Walk into your shop and look around for exactly ten seconds. Close your eyes. What is the one thing you remember seeing?

If you can’t remember a specific product or offer because there was too much “noise,” your customers can’t either. Go back to the Keep It Simple rule and start removing items until your key message stands out.

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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.

Negotiating rent is one of the most stressful tasks a newsagent, or any local and independent retailer, faces. Many of us look at the number of empty shops in our local high streets or centres and assume rent should be falling. However, the reality of the Australian commercial property market is rarely that simple.

If you want to reduce the rent you pay for your shop, you must make a compelling, fact-based business case. Simply wanting a reduction because “times are tough” is not enough. You are dealing with a landlord who often has their own financial pressures tied to the valuation of the building.

Understanding the Landlord’s Perspective

Rent is not always set based on a traditional supply and demand model. Many landlords have funding arrangements based on the value of the property. Because property value is directly tied to the rent roll, reducing your rent can actually decrease the building’s valuation. This can negatively impact the landlord’s bank covenants or funding.

When you understand this, you realise that a rent reduction is a significant request. You aren’t just asking for a discount; you are asking them to potentially devalue their asset.

Why You Should Do It Yourself

I have negotiated for myself many times. I have also used professional lease negotiators on three occasions. In my experience, I was always more satisfied when I did it myself.

While professional negotiators can be friendly and professional, I was never truly certain they put my needs ahead of their relationship with the landlord. In one instance, with hindsight, I think I paid a fee to someone who “softened me up” to agree to terms I later regretted.

Be wary of leasing brokers who charge a flat negotiation fee regardless of the outcome. My advice is to take the lead. You are the person with the most on the line.

How to Build Your Case

Your pitch must be professional, non-emotive and clear. Here is what I suggest retailers prepare:

• Financial Evidence: Provide your Profit and Loss statement. Compare the most recent year or quarter to the same period a year earlier.

• The “Unique” Factor: Highlight the constraints of our industry. We have little to no control over the prices of many core products we sell. This is a vital point to make.

• Market Data: Gather evidence of comparative rents for similar nearby shops.

• Be an Ideal Tenant: Show that you are low-maintenance, pay on time and attract foot traffic that benefits other retailers.

The Importance of Plan B

The old adage of “location, location, location” is less relevant today. A good newsagency now generates significant revenue from online channels. This gives you power.

You also need  a viable Plan B, beyond online, another location where you could operate if you had to. I have personally pivoted to retail locations outside of major shopping centres. This move resulted in less stress, lower occupancy costs and higher profit.

Keep your Plan B to yourself during negotiations, but let it inform your confidence. If you aren’t 100% happy with the deal on the table, you must be prepared to walk away.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

The most dangerous mistake a retailer can make is believing they should pay less rent simply because they feel they deserve it. Another common error is using a declining business as an excuse. A declining business is usually the responsibility of the retailer to fix, not the landlord.

The retail landscape in Australia is fragmented. While national CBD vacancy rates dropped to 11.1% in the first half of 2025, cities like Perth and Brisbane have seen rates increase. There is no single national trend you can rely on. You must know your local data.

Final Thoughts

Major shopping centres aren’t configured for newsagency related businesses. Once you add in marketing fees and other mandatory overheads, the cost of shopper acquisition in a shopping centre is high.

Start your planning early.

Take responsibility for the negotiation yourself.

By having appealing options outside of your current lease, you allow yourself to be more circumspect and achieve a better result for your business value.
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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.

“Green shoots” are good news opportunities that are breaking through and otherwise crust of not so good news, a feeling of uncertainty. They are opportunities you might leverage to improve business, or your outlook on business.

To move from a feeling of uncertainty to a clear strategy, you need to look past the bottom-line figure and find the specific areas where growth is still possible in your retail business. That’s what my advice is about today.

Here is a practical checklist to help you review your Profit & Loss (P&L) statement and your sales data to identify those “green shoots” of opportunity.

1. Identify high-margin winners

Review your Gross Profit (GP) by department rather than looking at the total shop average. Which specific categories currently deliver a GP higher than 45%? Can you give these products more prominent floor space or “prime real estate” near the entrance or counter? Are there products related to these that you could place with them. In a newsagency, greeting cards fall into this space yet too many newsagents leave managing cards to the card suppliers, abrogating their responsibility as the business owner.

2. Spot the “quiet” growth

Compare your current year’s sales to the previous year, specifically by category. Is there a niche category (e.g., specific gifts, high-end stationery, or hobby items) that has grown by 10% or more, even if the total volume is currently small? These are your “green shoots.” Consider redirecting a portion of your low-margin stock budget into these growing areas. Lean into growth opportunities.

3. Review labour efficiency

Labour is usually your highest cost. Look at your sales-to-labour ratio across different times of the week. Are there specific hours where the cost of keeping the doors open exceeds the GP generated? History should not dictate when you open, profitability should. Adjust your roster or opening hours slightly. Reinvest those saved hours into “retail” activities, like refreshing displays or managing social media, rather than just standing behind the counter.

4. Isolate “Agent” vs. “Retail” income

Distinguish between the income you receive as an agent (e.g., lotteries, transport cards) and your retail sales (e.g., gifts, cards, magazines). Track what else agency customers purchase when in-store.

What is the actual net profit of your agency services after you subtract the specific labour costs required to run them? If an agency service is barely breaking even, it is “noise.” Focus your energy on the retail side where you have control over the margin and the brand.

5. Audit occupancy costs

Look at your rent and outgoings as a percentage of your total GP. Is your occupancy cost exceeding 20% of your Gross Profit? If it is higher, you must either increase your GP through higher-margin products or prepare to negotiate your lease based on the reality of your data. In a newsagency today, the suggested target occupancy cost is 11%.

6. Search for dead capital

Review your inventory turnover. How much stock has not moved in the last 6 months? This is cash tied up on your shelves. Clear it out, even at or below cost, to provide the funds needed to invest in a new, traffic-generating product category.

Manage by evidence. Be dispassionate about it.

When you look at the data this way, the “fog” often lifts. You stop seeing a failing business and start seeing a collection of assets—some of which are working, and some of which are not.
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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.

I was talking with a newsagent yesterday who was asking what I had against parcel pick-up in newsagency businesses. My opinion is my opinion for my own business. Everyone should make their own decision based on their circumstances and capacity.

For me, though, parcel pickup does not make sense and here’s why:

• It doesn’t pay its way. Accounting for the space and time, and considering the average volume, it’s unlikely you’ll read even let alone make any profit.
• Parcel collectors are not your shoppers. I’ve not seen any evidence of parcel collectors buying other items during the visit.
• Parcel collectors bring their baggage. I’m talking here about emotional baggage: frustration with parking, frustration about the supplier they bought from.
• Parcel collectors tend to not be patient. They are there for one thing only, which they think should take a couple of seconds and, often, think they should be served ahead of real paying customers.

Someone spending $150.00 on a gift in the shop delivers $50.00 in gross profit. They will, more often than not, buy other items during the visit and, more often than not, come back and buy more. The gift customer is stickier with your business, more valuable.

You’d have to serve between 75 and 100 parcel collections to achieve the equivalent of the $75.00 in gross profit from the gift sale.

Parcel collection in the Aussie newsagency channel is rooted in the days of newsagents being agents, making cents in the dollar for providing a local service over which we have little control and that relies on minimal business skill. Now I know some newsagents like the simplicity of it, that it does not require business skill.

Successfully selling gifts requires skill. Get it right and you can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to you business gross profit performance. yes, there are newsagents doing this. I doubt there are people achieving the same from parcel collection.

The other factor to consider about parcel collection is where the money is made. There are some spruiking parcel collection in the newsagency channel who are making money from it, a commission if you like. They are incentivised to talk it up to newsagents.

What’s more valuable, making a few cents from a parcel pick-up or $75 in gross profit from selling a gift? The gift sale, of course.

I have no skin in whatever decision you make. What I have written here is designed to give you more information to think about, so you have more to consider.

Ultimately, my focus is on long-term viability over short-term foot traffic. While the simplicity of parcel collection appeals to some, I prefer to invest my floor space and energy into high-margin categories that reward actual retail skill. Every square meter of your shop should be working to build your bank balance, not just a delivery driver’s efficiency.

You have to decide if you want to be an agent or a retailer, because in a competitive market, you can’t afford to let “busy-ness” get in the way of real business.

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

Yes, here we are again. I’ve written about this before and will likely write about it again. It’s important, and urgent.

The newsagencies most likely to close are those who ignore this advice or advice similar to it. Now, let’s get into it.

The Australian and New Zealand retail landscape is shifting beneath your feet. For the local newsagent, the message from the 2025 data is blunt: the traditional model is failing. We will see more newsagency closures in 2026. Your business does not have to be one of them, but survival now requires a radical departure from “business as usual”.

Data Doesn’t Lie

My recent benchmark study of newsagencies across rural, regional, and suburban locations reveals a widening gap between two types of businesses. The traditional newsagency is in a state of managed decline. Revenue is down 3%, and transaction counts have fallen by 5%. Core categories like magazines and newspapers continue to drop by double digits.

In contrast, transformed newsagencies are thriving. These businesses have seen revenue grow by 9% and average basket value surge by 11%. They are not waiting for foot traffic to return to dying categories. They are actively hunting for growth in areas where customers are actually spending.

Look at your data. Don’t hide it from yourself. Ignorance is not bliss. Let me know if you’d like help: mark@newsxpress.com.au.

Growth is Hiding

While traditional stationery revenue is down, “want” stationery—high-end, collectable items for enthusiasts—is driving transactions of $250 or more. Transformed stores have seen gift revenue jump by 119% and greeting card revenue rise by 8%.

The most successful retailers are no longer bound by their shingle. They are generating substantial annual revenue from non-traditional segments:

• Trading Cards: Revenue exceeding $100,000 with 30% growth.
• Books and Homewares: Contributing over $75,000 each to the bottom line.
• Clothing: Generating $80,000+ in annual sales.
• Toys and Games: Seeing year-on-year increases of up to 18%.

First Steps: Start With Your Numbers

Transformation is not a matter of guesswork. It begins with financial accountability. You must have a clear picture of your business health right now. Use this checklist to assess your standing:

• Up-to-date profit and loss statement.
• Current debtors and creditors reports.
• A dead stock listing for items with zero sales in six months.
• Floor map showing gross profit contribution by category versus space allocation.
• Revenue per rostered hour calculation.

If you have $10,000 in dead stock sitting on your shelves, it is poisoning your cash flow. Clear it immediately. Set up a clearance table, apply a 50% discount, and turn that stagnant inventory into working capital.

Disrupt Your Layout

If your data is not up to scratch but you feel the urgency to move, start on the shop floor. Disrupt your current setup to force a fresh perspective. Take the traditional magazine fixture out of the centre of the shop. Move newspapers to the back.

Remove cold, clinical retail fixtures and replace them with tables or unique items from secondhand marketplaces. Add a rug. Make the space warm and inviting. Stock one or two categories you would never usually consider. This radical approach breaks the cycle of tradition and signals to your customers that something has changed.

Be a Retailer Not an Agent

For too long, newsagents have acted as “agents” for suppliers. It is time to become a retailer again. This means taking control of your store, curating your own product selection, and creating an experience.

The true hurdle is not the cost of investment. It is the decision to leave tradition behind. There is no limit to what you can sell. The future belongs to those who stop living in the past and start engaging with the passionate communities of consumers eager to spend.

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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.

I am grateful for the opportunity to visit the Christmasworld trade show in Frankfurt this week and see first-hand an approach to Christmas that is different and beyond what we traditionally see in Australia. Plenty of new products. Plenty of inspiration.

With too many websites loaded with AI slop and this slop being ranked down by AI platforms themselves, now more than ever your voice being represented in your content matters. Here’s a video is a tip I shared a couple of weeks ago with newsXpress members and last week with Tower Systems customers.

This is easy to follow advice that results in content that reads as human written. Since it comes direct from you and with the boundary setting prompt, you can rely on it.

Don’t publish AI slop – it’s soon enough seen for what it is.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

In my work with Tower Systems, I am often asked this question by small business retailers: What’s the best website platform for a small retail business Wix, Shopify, Woo Commerce or Squarespace?

I  years of experience using websites in my shops and advising Tower customers about  websites using Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce and WooCommerce. Recently, I’ve had more questions asking to compare Wix, Shopify, Woo Commerce or Squarespace.

Below are my thoughts, which I wrote this morning for the Tower Systems POS software blog. This advice is relevant to newsagents considering a website for their business. Now, here is the advice:

The advice we provide in this article is based on our years of experience serving thousands of small business retailers.

The best e-commerce platform for your business will depend on your technical experience, your budget, your position in your online journey and the goals you have for your website. Each of these platforms offers different benefits. from the outset, though, in our experience, Shopify is the best solution for easy of use, ease of change without technical skills, the ability to scale and ease of winning shoppers from the already considerable Shopify customer ecosystem.

Wix offers easy drag and drop, which can see like a big time saver for the novice. In reality, Wix websites can often become messy, overloaded. It can be a good platform to figure out what you want but our experience is that it’s not ideal once you are up and running and building your online business. We think it’s unlikely you’ll find hero websites for small business retailers based on Wix. If you need a site up in an hour and want total freedom to drag things around the screen, Wix could be a good choice today.

WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress. It’s made for use by technically skilled people. You do the work, and once you;’ve done that you will tend to have to do more work. This tech work can distract you from running your retail business. Woo is terrifically flexible, which comes as a labour cost for you or for the web developer you hire. If you already have a WordPress site and want to avoid monthly subscription fees, this offers the most freedom, provided you have the technical skills and truckloads of time to manage it.

Squarespace is offers beautiful looking websites with an easy to use back end for adjustment. It’s heavily image-focused. You can’t “break” a Squarespace site as easily as a Wix site because the editor forces you to stay within a grid. Squarspace lacks some of the finesse of Shopiufy for businesses that need more, especially when it comes to shipping flexibility. fI selling “the vibe” is as important as selling the product, Squarespace might be your answer.

Shopify is the best solution for local small business retailers in our experience. Shopify themes make it easy for you to change the look and feel of your website without hiring a web developer. Shopify integrates with terrific local shipping options (Sendle, My Post Business etc) and Shopify validates Australian addresses incredibly well at checkout, which saves you money on “return to sender” errors. It is the industry standard for a reason. If your goal is to grow, Shopify handles the “boring” stuff (hosting, security, checkout compliance) better than anyone in our experience.

We have years of experience using Shopify ourselves – when we offer advice to retailers on e-commerce, it comes from a place of personal experience as well as extensive technical experience and years building Shopify websites for so many different retailers.

Now, we’re not saying Wix, Squarespace and WooCommerce are bad. What you choose for your business needs to be what you want/need.

What we are saying is do your research – choose the ecommerce platform that serves your technical skills, budget, business plans and how you see your business living online.

Low cost websites may be low cost because of the work you have to do to manage and modify them.

Fast to setup websites may be fast because they don’t go as deep within your business.

Key to success is you knowing what it is that you want / need for yourself and for your business. Saying you want a website is not enough. What do you want from it?

Take your time. Figure out what you need, want and can afford. Look at examples of websites for your type of business. Consider web developers local to you, people who understand your business, people you can speak with. Ask why they recommend what they recommend.

We recommend Shopify for speed to launch, ease of change, non technical back end management, ease of scale, wonderful integrations and access to a huge ecosystem of shoppers. It’s what we use and what many of our local small business retail customers use.

Web development is unregulated. Be careful. There are some who know the words to say to dazzle less technically literate folks into spending money with them only to never deliver what the business wants / needs. Get any promises in writing – including delivery timing and website functionality.

Be sure you know the business you are dealing with. Often, we developers are not local as they may pitch.

Do your due diligence before you sign any contract or pay any money. We’ll say again: take your time.

This decision rests entirely on your business’s ultimate ambition. If you view your online store as a serious, scalable retail channel, one that you need to easily manage alongside your physical operations, integrates effortlessly with local logistics, and provides a reliable, secure foundation that won’t require a developer every time you want to make a change, then Shopify is our recommended investment.

While Wix and Squarespace offer beautiful simplicity for the start-up, and WooCommerce offers technical control, Shopify is purpose-built for the commercial rigor of a growing retail business, offering the best balance of ease-of-use, power, and a vast ecosystem of apps and support designed to help Australian retailers move more stock with less technical overhead.

Shopify is a good small business e-commerce solution, which can grow as you grow. We had one customer using Shopify go from $50,000 in their launch year to $2.5 million by year four. The growth came from their smart business decisions. Shopify made it easy to manage the growth.

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If you are considering a website for your retail business, consider Tower Systems. Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. If we feel we are not right for you, we will say so.

A supplier rep told retailers they visited how awesome a new product they were pitching was. There said other retailers had found it successful. retailers bought up. The product failed. The rep doubled down, suggesting that the retailers failed and not the product.

Retailers listened to the rep because of the origin story they always pitched on the first meeting – years of local small business retail experience.

I get it, supplier reps have one job to do to sell the products they represent. The thing is they will fail if they sell products that fail.

The rep in the story above did have retail experience, from more than twenty years earlier, for a couple of years when they were in high school. The way they told the story is sounded more recent, and more significant than part time counter sales.

Unless someone has current retail experience relevant to you, be skeptical about their advice. Do your research. Check their claims. get any promises in writing. And, if you encounter a rep giving bad advice, discretely tell fellow retailers so they don’t get caught.

Thoughtful Verification: Key Steps for Supplier Due Diligence

1. Seek Peer Confirmation: Ask the representative for the names of a few other retailers who have been successfully selling the product for some time and have placed multiple restock orders.
2. Request Performance Clarity: Request documented figures for the typical sell-through rate experienced by new customers in their first few months. This turns success stories into a predictable, quantifiable expectation.
3. Establish a Protective Agreement: For a new product, formally agree upon a buy-back or stock credit option for a portion of initial inventory if the item does not move as projected within the first six months.
4. Confirm Commitments: Ensure that any agreed-upon details, including promised support or performance metrics, are confirmed in writing (an email is sufficient) to provide clarity and mutual understanding.

Now I know what I’ve written here is vague. That’s deliberate. I am not in the mood for a legal letter or worse. It’s happened before. I have a theory, those misbehaving tend to be quick to fire legal shots.