subject: The Australian News Agency - A Distinctive Retail Business [print this page] The Australian News Agency - A Distinctive Retail Business
The Australian newsagency could be a distinctive business. Every of the four,five hundred newsagency businesses across Australia incorporates an analogous product mix, possession structure and client service ethos. But every could be a small variation on the others within the channel - such is that the freelance nature of newsagencies.
The primary newsagency was opened in Australia, among the state of Victoria, in the 1800s in the center of the gold rush. It had been created by a publisher to sold a distribution problem - hence the term agent.
Up to this day, suppliers play a key role within the newsagency channel, imposing many rules on the product combine, how product are merchandised, worth and even operating hours.
A typical Australian newsagency will have a broad mix of merchandise:
Magazines. The typical title vary in between 1,000 and one,five hundred different magazine titles. Additionally to a broad vary of Australian magazine titles, there are tiles from the US and UK. They are laid out on unique racking and created obtainable for open browsing by shoppers.
Newspapers. Additionally to the native daily newspaper, newsagencies additionally carry a broad vary of foreign language newspapers and a alternative of international titles.
Greeting cards. between 800 and 1,5 hundred completely different greeting card designs are offered in a mean newsagency. Most are provided by the key brands like Hallmark and John Sands (Yankee Greetings).
Stationery. The stationery vary is broad, sometimes made of between one,five hundred and 5000 utterly completely different items. Most are home and small workplace items. The standard newsagent stationery offer is based around convenience.
Lottery products. Most newsagents provide products from the native lottery company.
Transport tickets. Bus, train and tram tickets are sold in several newsagencies
Business services. Photocopy, faxing and laminating services conjointly are offered by most newsagents.
Newspaper distribution. Around sixty five% of newsagents are contracted to home deliver the daily newspapers. Through this they additionally distribute newspapers to supermarkets and different retailers.
The everyday newsagency business is open from 0.5-dozen am through to 6pm Monday through Wednesday, to 9pm Thursday and Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. These are long hours for any retail business. Newsagents give the service as a community focal point. This community connection could be a key purpose of difference.
Australian newsagencies offer a distinctive geographic footprint that several suppliers leverage for distributing product nationally that they can not get into the national stores. Whereas the freelance possession has its challenges, it conjointly presents suppliers with glorious opportunities.
The foremost necessary role for newsagents isn't business, it's their community connection. Newsagencies are places where folks gather and share stories and connect. Newsagents understand their role within the community and are happy to serve throughout this way. While the newsagency business model might seem unfashionable, it's a necessity among the Australian retail landscape.
