Small publishers ponder a direct relationship with newsagents
The question independent small publishers most often ask is what alternative do they have to the current magazine distribution model in Australia.  The reasons they give for wanting an alternative are: A disconnect between them and their retail partners (newsagents). Untimely sales data - they can wait months. Cash flow challenges - i.e. when they get paid. Fees - the various fees they pay for distribution and returns. Product mix - where their products fit compared to others distributed by their magazine distributor. It is interesting comparing their concerns with concerns often voiced by newsagents.  Newsagents and indepe

XchangeIT compliance advice
Tower Systems has published its XchangeIT compliance video at yahoo to make it more widely available. With more than 100 downloads, the video by EDI expert gavin Williams is popular. XchangeIT Compliance @ Yahoo!7 Video While this training video was developed for the 1,600 newsagents using software from Tower, the content will be useful to other newsagents.

Co-location strategy for AWW drives sales
The photo shows our use of the back of the ACP Magazines basket builder stand to promote Australian Women’s Weekly to shoppers as they leave the women’s magazine aisle.  This is the third location promoting AWW - the others are at the

Chelsea Lately and reinventing Australian newsagencies
I was fortunate to be in the audience at Fox Television Studios in Sydney last night for the taping of Chelsea Lately, a hit US late night talk show. Star Chelsea Handler, and a team of comedians, writers and producers have been in Sydney

Is the ANF to announce a deal with Corporate Express?
I have heard from several sources over the last few weeks that the ANF is close to announcing a partnership relationship with Corporate Express – the company now owned by Staples, the US stationery retailer with 1,500 outlets. While I am certain that the ANF has been in negotiation with Corporate Express, I am not aware of how far they have got. Newsagents own Group Newsagency Supplies (GNS) and the majority of Australian newsagents purchase their stationery from GNS. I would have thought that a closer relationship between the ANF and GNS would be good for the newsagency channel rather than working with a competitor. While nothing has been announced, I’d expect to