High profile newsagency owner puts different spin on national promotion. 

 

While many newsagencies across Australia have jumped aboard this week’s National Newsagent Week campaign (19-26 September), one of the industry’s key players has decided to opt out.

 

Mark Fletcher, multi-newsagency owner and director of the newsXpress group, last week declared on his Newsagency Blog that he was not supporting National Newsagent Week in his shops.

 

“While I think there is merit in shining a light on locally-owned and run businesses - like newsagencies - this campaign misses the mark,” Fletcher wrote.

 

“Take the collateral, it feels like something from the 1980s. It’s not an image relevant to 2020.

 

“If I was running this campaign, I’d have led with COVID and the response from newsagents and the gratefulness felt by newsagents for the support of their local communities. I’d have included iso (sic) resources people could use along with other support materials that support the essential nature of newsagency businesses through COVID,” he added.

 

“2020 has been the year of the newsagent”, according to Fletcher, who listed the following high points for the sector:

The week-long promotion, an initiative of the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA), is being supported by several channel suppliers, including Bauer Media, News Life Media, John Sands and ANCOL.