Regional and rural outlets out-performing city counterparts.

 

Stationery sales at high street newsagencies have continued to grow in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

According to a regular quarterly survey by newsagency owner and industry commentator Mark Fletcher, total revenue in June for high street newsagencies was up 27 per cent with stationery sales up again by 13 per cent. The corresponding figures for April were six per cent and 13 per cent.

 

June revenue for shopping mall newsagencies in survey was down 36 per cent while stationery sales were down 11 per cent. The corresponding figures for April were -38 per cent and -42 per cent.

 

They survey found regional and rural high street and mall newsagencies performed better than their metropolitan counterparts.

 

Fletcher commented that consumers felt “safer” about shopping at a high street store rather than a shopping mall and that “shopping local” has become the norm for many consumers during the pandemic.

 

The latest survey included responses from 137 newsagencies.