We are trying to track down the source, but for the time being, if you want to import the current Browntrout stock file, please use the file on our website available here. (Outdated file - decommissioned)

This one has been checked and works fine.

The VIP system we wrote being used by The Lucky Charm Group has now passed 25,000 members. Here is an email sent to the head of The Lucky Charm Group, Mike Kentros by a newsagent using it.

To: Mike Kentros
Subject: REWARDS CARD

Hi Mike,
We feel the Rewards programme is going really well. Most customers are happy to join up, with some waiting to be served, eager to join as well, from over-hearing our explanation to the previous customer. We have new cardholders returning to our store to make a purchase (some of them we haven’t seen before - ever. Yesterday we would have had at least 10). Our customers are pulling their cards out ready for their transactions before we get a chance to ask them if they have a card, so they are keen. We have noticed some customers who would only buy a newspaper are now returning and buying magazines as well. One new customer we signed up last week has been in twice this week, spending $40 the first day and $65 the next, on lotto and scratchies. Another lady who would only pop in to buy the odd scratchie – she has been back three times purchasing the scratchies and kids activity magazines.

So.... The more customers we sign up, the more transactions and greater spend amount we should get and this can only benefit our business. We are really thrilled at the response, and it has not been a difficult task to ask customers if they would like to be part of the programme.
HAVE YOU GOT YOUR REWARDS CARD?

Cheers,
Wendy and Greg
The Lucky Charm Hervey Bay
(07) 4128-3523
30 Main Street
Pialba, Qld

According to this report, News Limited will change its name in an attempt to cure its perception as an “arrogant newspaper company” that is “difficult to deal with”. Click here for more details.

Soon they will be called "News Australia"

There has been considerable debate recently when several newsagents had their XChangeIT fees raised.

For those that have not been following the debate let me explain. XChangeIT was developed as a two way transfer of information. Invoices would be sent to newsagents and sales data back the other way. The value of the sales data would be used to subsidize the cost of sending the invoices electronically.

For the sales data to be correct, it requires that the newsagent have an up to date copy of their point of sale software, and that they scan their magazines and John Sands cards at the register.

Currently, newsagents’ sales data is not highly regarded in industry as unlike supermarkets it is not very accurate and this inaccurate sales data by newsagents has given the supermarkets a powerful weapon against newsagencies in the marketplace.

Up to recently XChangeIT have only threatened to raise their fees for newsagents who do not send correct sales data so many no longer believed that XChangeIT would do anything. If you believe this, you are wrong. Several newsagents are now receiving bills for higher fees. These bills are retrospective, so they are being charged extra on previous bills too.

Please do not think that XChangeIT is bluffing. Make sure you are scanning magazines and John Sands cards if you sell them and make sure you are sending data. If you have any queries, please contact XChangeIT here and ask for a status report.

Note none of this applies to DOS users of our software.

This card has been growing rapidly with about 600 to 800 new members a day. Now it has over 20,000 members. It is the biggest reward's card used in newsagencies. Currently about 20% of theses VIP members are using it daily.

Checkout the website here.

As promised, here are some details of French newsagencies. They are probably be better described as subagents. Almost all are newsagencies and tobacconist.

For many years, the newsagency part is dropping. Newspaper's margins are between 10 to 14%, which is less than in Germany. The newspaper range tends to be much bigger often having newspapers from several countries. They do not do deliveries.

The margins are 15% on magazines. In France, magazines tend to be of high quality, and are much cheaper. If you take many overseas magazines, convert the cover price to Australian dollars, I think you will agree it is quite outrageous how much newsagents here are being asked to sell them. Partly, because the publications are cheaper and partly because I think Australian are more keen on technology, the internet has not effected them as much.

The big department is tobacco. Almost all have tobacco. It is a growth product. To be a tobacconist is very difficult and as in many businesses in Europe, it is limited where you can have one. Partly, as the government does not like you to have a tobacco shop close to another tobacco shop. What sells really well is expensive cigars.

Cards as I stated early, are tiny. The margins are about 50%. People in France never have been interested in them.

Telephone cards sell very well. However, the margin is lower than here 2 to 3% margin. Most people do like them as they do bring people into the shop.

It is very costly for businesses because of high taxes. Employing people is very expensive is payroll tax, the rate is about 100%. Effectively, a newsagent in France has to pay a double salary.

Computer systems are not sold but rented, which is something that one of my competitors has been talking about doing. However, unlike their perpetual lease, the cost in France is worked out on a five-year contract per register per month.

The Newspaper works, the spokesman for almost all the newspaper industry in Australia have put out a report on the state of the newspaper industry in 2011

This I thought was an interesting slide, if you want to read the full report click here.

https://tlcrewards.com.au/

Since it has been launched two weeks ago, TLC Rewards has now over 17,000 members. I am sure it is the biggest reward's card now in newsagencies. We wrote it.

Checkout the website here.

At the GNS show you came to our stand to talk to me, unfortunately I only very briefly went to one of these shows so you left a telephone number.

However, you did say that you read this blog with great interest. Unfortunately, the number you left is incorrect, could you please contact me.

Today is the final day of the Brisbane Market Fair! This wraps up newsagencies conferences and fairs for 2011. Basically, our technology just stole the 2011 season.

Here are our posters for our integration from our software to yourlocalnewsagent.com.au something we just released. GNS was so amazed by what we came up with that they hang up our posters in their stands. I doubt that anyone else could have done something like this.

Here are a couple of pictures from the GNS show today. It is pretty busy, and we are expecting it to be busier tomorrow.

To get the latest catalogue file of uniball, please click here

(Outdated file - decommissioned)

Now the Association of Convenience Stores, Caltex Starmarts, 7-Elevens and BP shops are asking the Productivity Commission to consider a proposal for them to sell alcohol. Click here for details.

If these shops are interested, I am sure many newsagents are, too. Alcohol is approximately a third of the business of German newsagencies. I cannot see why it could do equally well in Australian newsagencies.

I think the newsagency associations should look into this immediately. Also, I am sure it would cost little for the ANF to join this campaign.

Victorian newsagents launched an extensive campaign "love your newsagent" using a host of advertising media, including billboards and radio.

It is attracting attention in the main stream retail world. Here is an article about it in Inside Retail. Click here.

If you have not yet done so, can you please click Like in the campaign's Facebook account here.

At the recent ANF conference, the Lucky Charm group released information on their new loyalty marketing program. It is now available at all The Lucky Charm Newsagents. We were selected to do the software.

Today in retail having some form of customer rewards program is a necessity. What they are offering is everyone who spends over $1 in one of their stores goes into a draw to win $10,000.

Here is a picture of the brochure and the card.

It is designed to be a professional five colour card that fits in the same slots in a wallet that credit and debit cards would.

When you go into a Lucky Charm Newsagency now, you will see it is being promoted.

Here is a picture in a Townsville newsagency.

And here is a newsagency in Victoria Park.

One of the points that was raised by both Fairfax and News Corp at the ANF conference was that a price rise for newspapers was imminent. This I think was quite surprising to most of us at the conference.

I decided to do some checking to see what has been the effect in the past of price rises on newspapers. Since most home deliveries are now on subscription and the price to the newsagent depends on policy, I decided just to check counter sales.

So I picked a newsagent who is in a shopping centre, reasonably large who does not do deliveries.

Here is the table.

Note the average price of newspapers has been going up slowly over time, although less than the inflation rate.

I then used a modelling program, ran the figure though over 25 billion formulas and came up with a result that a small increase in the price of newspapers would have little if any drop in sales.

These results support the view that newspapers should go up and it should have little if any impact on sales as long as the increase is in line with inflation.

For those who like mathematics, this is the formula I produced.

Sales = 21944.242 + 1344.8744/(43.759869 - 26.042509*A) + 371.74988*cos(2654506*P) - 1632.4492*cos(1923890.3 - 1316.9055/(43.905983 - 26.187922*A)) - 514.16138*P with a good fit of .006

A major enhancement to the officesmart import is expected to be released in a few days.

Thursday, September 01, 2011 at 03:00PM

Uploading prices to your newsagent.local website

Working with GNS and their truelocal.com web site services Posbrowser now allows you to upload pricing to your web site. For all the steps and advice join us for this weeks online meeting.

Closing date: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 05:00PM

GROUP NEWSAGENCY SUPPLIES & POS SOLUTIONS

We are pleased to announce another industry first...

PosBrowser is now able to integrate with yourlocalnewsagent.com.au websites! {site is now removed]

Right now, PosBrowser customers can upload pricing directly from their POS system to their local newsagent website.

This integration greatly simplifies management of prices between the store and website! Newsagents can be assured that the pricing on their website accurately reflects their instore pricing!

PosBrowser is so flexible, that it will allow uploading of Retail, Sale, Business or Business Sale prices to your website!

POS Solutions will continue to work with GNS closely on the YourLocalNewsagent.com.au project, and even more integration will be available in the near future!!

At the recent newsagency conference in Melbourne.

XChangeIT announced that PosBrowser is #1!

XchangeIT have informed us that PosBrowser users send the best quality sales data to their suppliers!

Here at POS Solutions, we would like to thank those PosBrowser users, who choose to send sales data each and every day! It is a combination of your timeliness in sending the data, and the actual quality of the data sent that has made us the best!

It is your diligence that has helped make PosBrowser THE MOST XchangeIT compliant system available to Newsagents today!!

POS Solutions continues to work closely with many industry partners and suppliers to ensure we can bring you all of the latest technology and improvements!

Regards

Garth