Two of our team last Saturday completed a grueling seven day trip from cairns down, visiting with newsXpress members in scheduled sessions on strategies for building the business and presenting a better retail story.  This face to face contact, even for remote newsagents, is a key point of difference delivered by newsXpress to its members.

Newsagents can almost bank the results of these practical visits through increased sales, better processes and more a more motivated team.  from Visual merchandising advice to better buying to handling staff issues, our members have access to professional advice in-store to help build a healthier business.

In addition to the benefits delivered through training and practical in-store work, there is a tremendous benefit from sharing stories from other newsagencies along the way.  The sharing of these stories is an important function of our on the road team – connecting newsagents who, usually for distance, are not able to get out of their businesses.

We think this contact and the sharing of business success stories is another reason newsXpress newsagents are more up-beat and proactive.

newsXpress Bairnsdale proprietors David and Gina Brakey have left no stone unturned in their pursuit of advertising their newsXpress store opening. In a competitive market with several newsagents in a small town, the team at Bairnsdale stand proudly on a pedestal by their pro-active and enthusiastic approach.

Already embracing HOT ink! and developing an innovative signage solution for their display, they have also commissioned this enterprising newspaper advertisement and radio ad: 3380-newsxpress-aug11.mp3

Newsagents relying on “old money revenue” streams may be experiencing a sharp decline in sales as consumer confidence dips.

newsXpress continues to lead the market with innovative new money drivers. None better than our HOT ink! program. It’s a complete marketing and merchandise strategy which continues to evolve.

Proprietors within the group continue to come forward with amazing stories.

“I can’t believe how much our traditional stationery sales have grown since introducing HOT ink!”

“I am about to break out our Ink and technology sales from Stationery as it is growing so fast”

“Ink & Technology will be my number 1 dept soon exceeding greeting card sales”

“Technology products which are mostly ink now represent 40% of my stationery sales”

“The advertising is what is bringing new people through my door”

“Customers can’t believe we are more competitive than the bigger stores”

“With everything done for me, all I have to do is order the stock put it on the shelf and concentrate on serving my customers, how easy is that?”

“HOT ink! Has helped restore my faith in my newsagency”

Innovation, marketing and ramping up advertising is the key to building market share. The retailers that do this come out the other end bigger and better than ever! With HOT ink! 8 about to hit the streets nationally, HOT ink! 9 & 10 are not far behind. Watch this space for more innovation from newsXpress in the technology area.

Manni Ribeiro is an enthusiastic newsXpress proprietor. Eumundi is a small market and to excel in a retail business you need to show energy, a point of difference and an ability to adapt to changing needs and tastes.

The following photos show Manni’s store with three concurrent promotions. While some might say this can detract from each event, others will point out that he is trying to maximise exposure and interest in three very different categories. This can not only generate new sales but also encourage multiple purchases across his entire range.

Photos depict the following promotions:

• ABW Mid-Year Book Promotion
• Create ART Mid-Year Promotion
• Care & Friendship Month

The new newsXpress store at Crows Nest in Sydney is full of new innovation.
It’s worth traveling to, so you can check it out with plenty of new money revenue  products on hand. In its first week of trading sales are very strong with new products introduced doing particularly.

Features include: HOT ink!, gifts built into magazine tierage, full face card area, large gift assortments, and an excellent use of space.

With some more refinement, everything should be completed by the end of the month.

In an exclusive partnership with 3M, the internationally renowned world-wide brand, newsXpress will be rolling out nationally the 3M Innovation Center. In working with 3M, the newsXpress merchandise team has negotiated an exclusive package for the newsXpress national network of stores. Having trialled the planogram at seven stores it was given a huge tick of approval by the participating proprietors, because of the awesome sales.

The partnership involves:

• newsXpress-3M planogram
  
• Exclusive marketing and promotions
  
• Exclusive supply chain access
• much much more…

Another stellar example of newsXpress providing its network with the very best, and working with national brands.

Its amazing what you can learn from your proprietors. Mike Caffery from newsXpress Albany Creek talks about new money versus old money, a phrase that newsXpress has adopted and which is now it has now turned into a strategy which we are relentlessly pursuing. Have a look at what a difference some clever merchandising has made at newsXpress Wagga Wagga. Yes they still sell newspapers but have been located in a part area of the store.