The Australian newsagency is really a unique business. All the 4,500 newsagency businesses across Australia has a similar product mix, ownership structure and customer service ethos. Yet each is really a slight variation on others in the channel - such could be the independent nature of newsagencies.The first newsagency was opened in Australia, in their state of Victoria, in the 1800s in the center of the gold rush. It had been produced by a publisher to sold a distribution problem - hence the definition of agent. Up to this day, suppliers play a vital role in the newsagency channel, imposing many rules on the item mix, how goods are merchandised, price and even operating hours.
An average Australian newsagency could have a wide mixture of products:
Magazines. The common title range among 1,000 and 1,500 different magazine titles. Along with a wide range of Australian magazine titles, there are tiles from the US and UK. They are laid from unique racking and made available for open browsing by shoppers.
Newspapers. Along with the area daily newspaper, newsagencies also carry a wide range of spanish newspapers along with a selection of international titles Australian news. Greeting cards. between 800 and 1,500 different greeting card designs are given in an average newsagency. The majority are given by the major brands such as Hallmark and John Sands (American Greetings).
Stationery. The stationery range is broad, usually comprised of between 1,500 and 5000 different items. The majority are home and small office items. The normal newsagent stationery offer is situated around convenience. Lottery products. Most newsagents offer products from the area lottery company. Transport tickets. Bus, train and tram tickets can be purchased in lots of newsagencies Business services. Photocopy, faxing and laminating services may also be made available from most newsagents.
Newspaper distribution. Around 65% of newsagents may also be contracted to home deliver the daily newspapers. Through this in addition they distribute newspapers to supermarkets and other retailers. The normal newsagency business is open from 6 am to 6pm Monday through Wednesday, to 9pm Thursday and Friday and all day long Saturday and Sunday. These are long hours for just about any retail business. Newsagents provide the service as a residential area focal point. This community connection is really a key point of difference.
Australian newsagencies provide a unique geographic footprint which many suppliers leverage for distributing product nationally that they cannot get into the national stores. While the independent ownership has its challenges, it also presents suppliers with excellent opportunities.
The most crucial role for newsagents is not commercial, it is their community connection. Newsagencies are places where people gather and share stories and connect. Newsagents understand their role in the neighborhood and are happy to serve in this way. While the newsagency enterprize model may seem outdated, it is important in the Australian retail landscape.
