THE NEWSAGENTS DON NOT PORTRAY THE BEST APPEARANCE IN THE RETAIL MARKET. As one retail expert said , Cross over the road and look at your shop and ask yourself “Would you like to visit that shop” It is an acid test and I wonder how many Newsagents would be true to themselves and say “yes”.

Whether we like it or not multiples like Tesco and Sainsbury pride themselves on presentations and up-date their shops every few years. How many Newsagents do that.

I have seen some Newagents and I wonder if he is open. Their windows are covered with small notices, posters lost cats and everything under the planet and you can hardly see the shop. I went to one shop in north London and could not find the door. The windows should act as an adverisement for your shop so that the customers feels compelled to come in.

I am sorry if this sounds bit blunt but it is honest and constructive suggestion to ” Improve your Appearance and improve your profits”

Unfortunaltely this practice has been going on for years and was pointed out by the Cruickshanks Commission which stated that banks were guilty of overcharging the SME sector by £5-6 billion. A report due by the OFT will also say that the banks are overcharging a hefty fee of £35 for services like a bounced cheque when a fair fee is circa £10. Overdraft rates are nearly 20% when the base rate is 0.5%. Imagine you buying a product at 50p and selling at £20. WOW.

But will banks listen and the Government could not care less. It is high time Lord Mendleson looks into this specially when some of the big banks are owned by the taxpayer.

So Please let us have some action and specially before the election. Join me in a comapign to curtail bank charges.

Since my post I was at Clapham station where the cafe has three metres of WHSmith magazine racks – which I guess is another example of IT allowing two outlets to share a small, expensive space.

As you have illustrated, IT is important for the future of local shops.

Computers have been used in my business for more than 25 years. Th information and control that they allow me is one of the key reasons why we have succeeded in our village community while the other shop keepers have failed. My son has a sound and growing internet based retail business and we have many Post Office customers who post their E-Bay packages through us. So we know that the internet is there to be used.

But, it is the over baring, big brother government that I detest and their no choice demand that you will do as you are told or be fined that get up my nose.

Gahhhhh.

Steve

The real worry of your observation is that the past 13 years has been a period of relatively low inflation. The kick up in price increases that last weeks government statistics suggest means that the next 12 months as the VAT rise and further fall in Sterling against the US Dollar work their way through is going to be very challenging for us all.

Steve

Using this page (http://www.watsonwyatt.com/europe/pubs/statistics/render2.asp?ID=1), using the Retail Prices Index, it appears that prices have risen by just under 45% since 1997, which means that that year’s estimated retail margins, in “2010 money” are as follows:

Daily Mail – £264,439
The Sun – £369,006
Daily Telegraph – £172,593
Daily Mirror – £247,736
Times – £114,698
Guardian – £65,315
Daily Express – £149,977
Daily Star – £68,083
FT – £81,861
Independent – £36,320

…which means that the only titles to have offered in a *true* increase in retail margin over that time period are The Times and The Guardian – and some, like The FT and the Daily Express, have experienced a massive decline.

Try this simple marketing tool. When a customer comes to pay, just ask him” Would you like any thing John”. You will be surprised how many people will say ” Oh yes I wanted polo or a packet of chewing gums etc.”

And never compromise on quality. As the RN reported this week 60% of shoppers complained on the quality of products in their local shops. Quality always pays. look at waitrose. they might be bit more expensive but everyone praises the quality of their merchandise. If you sell quality, customers will come back.

It is also a myth that local shops are expensive. I have seen some products cheaper in my local shop as compared to the supermarket. Just compare say half a dozen products and say Tesco or sainsbury price £0.00 and our price £0.00. If you cannot beat them at least match their prices. That is what they do, take some products and compare and create a perception in the minds of customers. It is a marketing tool.

Steve