MEMBERSHIP MAGAZINE FOR INDEPENDENT RETAILERS
ISSUE 17 Restitution rewards A very important Stay, stay, stay JULY 2021 New NFRN victory as newspaper community Make the most of the sales publishers enhance restitution Find out more about our new opportunities as Britain holidays when they cause late deliveries exclusive Facebook page at home this summer
Membership numbers rising: 3 clear reasons WHY Don’t forget, as a member you have access to all these benefits, resources and support.
Average Generate an Free legal annual savings extra advice saves £1,417 £1,000 £1,480
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EMF BUSINESS TRANSFER AGENTS NFRN LEGAL Selling your business? Qualified legal professionals 24 hours We offer 10 per cent off sales commission a day, 365 days of the year. fees (Minimum £500). Cover to the value of £100,000.
MEMBER2MEMBER Introduce fellow retailers into the NFRN SCAN NOW for more See pages 56-57 information on the and you will receive £75. for more details. legal support your Recruit as many members as you want. membership provides.
BIONIC See pages 28-29 CHARITABLE FUNDS Business energy, broadband, phone and for more details. Access to confidential support, grants finance. Switching business energy alone and benefits when you need them most. could save you £1,305 a year.
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E: [email protected] W: TheFedOnline.com Contents
ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 CONTENTS | What’s in this issue
LATEST FEATURES
Brought to you by the NFRN, 4 | A word from the 56 | Thinking about selling The Fed is packed with advice, National President your store? success stories and industry news to help you increase your 5 | Latest NFRN news 58 | The NFRN Awards profits and make the most of are open Future-proofing your your store. 9 | business 63 | Diversify your store Summer is here at last, and with foreign travel currently off limits, we 10 | Your view look at how you can make the most of staycations. 12 | Staycation, staycation, staycation Find out how you can boost your profits by tapping into the growing market 16 | A very important of pet food and pet care products and community improving your offering to customers by introducing new services. And don’t 20 | A real Booker bonanza forget - you can earn £75 by introducing a new member to the Federation. 22 | Pets can be a retailer’s PRO-PRINT best friend Enjoy the issue! | How Newspro and 27 | Covid-19 hardship fund 44 National President and Editor in chief: Store2Door can Stuart Reddish | Spread the word and deliver success Editor: Anne Bingham 28 receive £75 0207 017 8887 [email protected] 46 | NFRN Connect works with Advertising: Mike Baillie wholesalers to improve 07908 777908 30 | Earning cash from Camelot rewards complaints response rates Design and production: Monitor Creative 0161 743 0980 www.monitorcreative.co.uk 32 | Retailer profile 48 | New cricket trading cards
72 | Diary dates 50 | Get sticky this summer
Bede House, Belmont Business Park, Durham DH1 1TW 74 | Meet our Elite Partners 52 | Earn through i subscriptions
Freephone number: 0800 121 6376* (select option 1) Calling from a mobile: 020 7017 8880 Calling from ROI: 01 453 5822 DISTRICT DIGEST 35| Your pull-out guide *Free from UK landline phones only. Charges may apply to activity around when calling from abroad or from a mobile phone. the districts [email protected] Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy 36 | West Midlands of information contained in this publication, no guarantee is given that the information provided is correct, complete, East Midlands and/or up-to-date. The materials contained in this publication 39 | are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal or other professional advice on any 40 | Yorkshire subject matter. The NFRN and the publisher do not accept any responsibility for any loss which may arise from reliance on information contained in this publication. 42 | Eastern Counties Produced by Monitor Creative and printed in England.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 3 | Latest National President’s Welcome
Stuart Reddish A word from the NFRN National President Recent editions of The Fed and my and our Barclaycard deal, coupled opportunities, is it any wonder that National President Talks podcasts with our invaluable services such as independent retailers are so keen to have - quite rightly - focused on NFRN Connect and NFRN Legal, join the NFRN? the exciting news that independent your Federation today provides one retailers are joining the Federation in of the best-value packages of any As a member you can play a part too. record numbers to take advantage of trade association. Who better to promote the benefits the many benefits of membership. of joining the NFRN than existing Using all the help and support members? Read more about our This means that for the first time in available or even by just picking and Member2Member scheme on pages decades, your NFRN is in net growth, mixing, NFRN membership can help 28-29 and receive £75 for every new so I make no apologies for returning you to exploit opportunities to trade retailer that you recruit. to this topic in this month’s welcome. more efficiently, find ways to save on operating costs and develop new Your NFRN will continue to strive Seeing membership rising, given sources of sales and profits. to improve further on these excellent that we are still emerging from some services and deals to satisfy your of the toughest trading conditions A reminder of the unrivalled benefits, needs and, to do that, we welcome ever encountered, is a remarkable resources and support available can your feedback. Tell us how our achievement, but as more of you are be found on page 2 of this issue. deals and benefits are helping you discovering for yourself, accessing our Taking advantage of them all could run more successful shops. Send list of services and support really can save you a whopping £3,897. us photographs and we would love make a difference to your bottom line. your suggestions as to how we can With membership such a profitable continue to boost our offering to Through our formidable package of proposition, thanks to our clear make you money, save you money strong commercial offers, such as the commercial focus and ability to and help you find easier ways of recent Booker voucher promotion deliver strong and relevant profit doing business.
| 4 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest News
The latest news For latest news, deals and views go to: TheFedOnline.com
Newspaper publishers increase restitution rates NFRN when they are at fault for late deliveries VICTORY
In yet another major coup for the NFRN, newspaper publishers have agreed to increase the amount of restitution they pay to retailers when they are responsible for papers being late.
The News Media Association, which represents national, regional and local newspapers, has agreed that with immediate effect, retailers offering home news delivery who lose sales Confirming the improved restitution, which is easier to use, now fit for because their newspaper supplies are the chairman of the NMA’s circulation purpose and better reflects the late will be reimbursed the retail executive Ayk Tahir said: “As part of needs of news retailers in today’s margin plus 43p per HND copy the recent Press Distribution Charter marketplace. As part of the revamp, impacted. The minimum award will update, the NMA circulation executive the payment of restitution has been now be £6. has revisited the restitution process speeded up. The NFRN and members for retailers via the PDC process. The paid a pivotal role in this review. Where HND copies are not affected, restitution rates will now be revised the retailer will receive the retail to reflect retail margin, at publication This year the NFRN also persuaded margin on lost counter sales. The level, on lost sales, and takes home news wholesalers Smiths News, minimum pay out to retailers in these news delivered copy into account. Menzies Distribution and News UK to circumstances will be £5.50. The decision to move away from suspend any reviews of their carriage a generic blended rate makes the charges. And, in further welcome news The restitution rates were improved methodology more transparent for members, Smiths News ceased its after the NMA’s circulation executive which is in line with what the Press policy of recharging magazine claims reviewed the Press Distribution Distribution Charter promotes. in April. Charter (PDC) which details the minimum service standards that “Whilst problems will occur from time Meanwhile, cover price increases on the retailers should receive from their to time, we will continue to work with Daily Mail, Guardian and Sun have all news wholesaler and a complaints our supply chain partners to keep them been accompanied by pro-rata terms. process when service levels fail. at a minimum. We would like to take this opportunity to again thank retailers Welcoming the enhanced rates, for the important work they do.” National President Stuart Reddish said: “This is another step in the right The NFRN will now be urging the Any member who is suffering direction for retailers who suffer from Professional Publishers Association, from issues regarding late service failings and shows, yet again, which represents magazines and delivery can contact the NFRN what can be achieved when different periodicals, to follow suit. Connect team on 0800 121 6376 parts of the news industry work or email [email protected]. together. In an ideal world, retailers do This latest announcement is another The team can assist in resolving not want their supplies to be late, but at huge step forward for the supply issues and in helping affected least when these problems occur now, chain. It follows the recent formal members apply for restitution. the improved rates will mean that they review and revamp of the PDC, do not lose out financially.” resulting in a complaints process
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 5 | Latest News
For latest news, deals and views go to: TheFedOnline.com Don’t be caught out by scam calls and texts
A warning for retailers to be on their guard has been issued contributions had been stopped and that she would be fined by the NFRN after several members received scam calls unless she acted straight away. claiming to be from various authorities. Judith said: “I also had a text just the other day that said: NFRN trustee Nilesh Patel, from Ilford, had a call from a ‘Census 21. We haven’t received your census form and you man who said he was from his local Redbridge Council. The could be fined up to £1,000’ - with a link to click on. bogus caller told Nilesh that he had an outstanding bill of £400 for unpaid business rates and that he must make the “It sometimes can be hard to tell whether some of these texts payment immediately over the phone. and emails are genuine or not, but my way of thinking is to treat them all as suspicious.” Nilesh said: “I told him I had not received anything about this from the council and that, if he sent me an official letter, Scam dos and don’ts I would happily pay it. The man then hung up. I contacted Redbridge Council and they said there was no such Do hang up immediately if you are suspicious about outstanding bill.” any call that you receive. Do block the number that the call came from. In another example, Maidenhead member Hetal Patel told The Fed he had taken calls from people claiming to be from Do report suspicious text messages to the free HMRC, the DVLA and the Post Office. number 7726. Do report any calls to the organisation the caller He said: “The calls are always from a mobile number and claims to be from. usually a recorded message. I always just hang up straight away and, although I block the numbers, I still get the same Don’t give out any personal details such as bank calls from different numbers. accounts numbers. Don’t click on links or attachments in texts or emails. “You should never press any buttons on your keypad and always block the numbers in your phone.” And always remember, official organisations such as HMRC, DVLA, banks, the police and local authorities Northern Ireland retailer Judith Mercer added that she had will never cold call you. received a number of texts saying her national insurance
Workers deserve fair pay but increasing the national minimum wage will lead to job losses
Increasing the national minimum wage will seriously National President Stuart Reddish said: “Our members harm smaller businesses looking to recover from financial believe that those who work in retail should be paid a fair difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. wage for their work. However, recent increases in wage rates have cost jobs in the retail sector, as businesses have In our response to a consultation with the Low Pay struggled to absorb the increases in their wage bill. Commission, the NFRN said that although news and convenience retail were classified as “essential” and permitted “The result has been business owners, who are not subject to remain open, the closure of non-essential stores had a to the minimum wage, have sought to cut costs by taking devastating impact on members in high street locations and on additional hours themselves. Many now effectively pay transport hubs, as footfall disappeared overnight. themselves less an hour than they pay their staff.
At its peak, around 8 per cent of our membership was forced “The NFRN therefore calls for the Commission to give to close due to lack of customers, staff shortages or concern retail a chance to recover from the pandemic by limiting about the risks of infection. Some of these stores have still any recommendation of a rise in the national living wage not reopened. to not more than the increase in the rate of inflation.”
| 6 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 7 | Latest News
Annual Conference to go ahead in person in October
The NFRN’s flagship event, Annual Conference, is to take these achievements, as well as introducing members to place in person between October 4 and 6 2021. even more opportunities to make sales and money.”
It will be the Federation’s first conference since 2019 as There will also be high-quality debates on key trade last year’s event, which was due to take place in June, was issues, expert speakers from our trade partners on latest cancelled because of Covid-19. trends and new sales opportunities, and elections for key senior positions, including National President, vice This year, delegates will be travelling to the south coast, president and deputy vice president. with the 2021 conference taking place at Bournemouth’s International Centre. After the national executive committee (NEC) and national council took the decision to cancel last year’s conference, National President Stuart Reddish said: “With no Mr Reddish said: “This is an unprecedented step and conference last year, this year’s agenda will be jam-packed, it wasn’t taken lightly. However, the health of officials, which is why we are extending it to a third day. delegates, staff, suppliers and guests is our top priority.”
“We were so disappointed not to have a conference in Looking forward to welcoming delegates in person in 2020, so we will be working hard to deliver one that Bournemouth this year, Mr Reddish added: “Plans are is twice as good! The past year has thrown up many progressing well for the event, and delegates, staff and challenges for members, but being an NFRN member suppliers can be assured that we will be creating a safe, means not being alone, and over the three days of annual worry-free environment.” conference we will be showcasing the many and varied ways in which the Federation and key partners can help. Look out for an eight page pull out supplement in the “Despite the pandemic, the NFRN has made great strides August edition of The Fed detailing everything you in helping members develop their businesses by making need to know about our 2021 Annual Conference. money, saving money and finding easier ways to trade. Annual conference gives us the opportunity to showcase
And the NFRN Awards are back!
Entries are now open for the return receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the an individual who has demonstrated of the NFRN Awards, and we are glittering awards ceremony which, once commitment, enthusiasm, delighted to announce Booker as our again, is taking place at the Royal entrepreneurial flair and hard work first sponsor for the event. Lancaster Hotel in London on Tuesday in going out of their way to support January 25 2022. fellow members, the Federation and Altogether, there are 10 retail categories the industry as a whole. to choose from and we would like you Booker is sponsoring the special Member to put yourselves forward, together of the Year award. “Everyone at Booker looks forward with deserving members of staff. The to recognising the outstanding deadline for entries is 4pm on Friday Colm Johnson, managing director of achievements of one unique October 15. Application forms can Booker Group - Retail, said: “Booker is Federation member and is looking be downloaded from the NFRN’s proud of our longstanding relationship with forward to continuing to work website, TheFedOnline.com. the NFRN and delighted to be sponsoring together closely to grow every the NFRN Member of the Year award. member’s business.” A panel of judges from across the industry will review the applications. “As the most prestigious and coveted For more details about the 2022 Finalists from each category will accolade at the awards, it recognises NFRN Awards turn to pages 58 and 59.
| 8 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Legislation
For latest news, deals and views go to: TheFedOnline.com Future-proofing your business NFRN cautiously backs All you need to know about the latest legislation so you and your UK DRS scheme for 2024 business are compliant.
Now in place Carrier bag charge Small shops in England must now charge 10p for single-use carrier bags.
Business rates relief extended From June 30 and for the remaining nine months of the financial year, rates are discounted to one-third of the normal charge in England. Coming up July 3: Sales of products with single-use plastic straws banned The NFRN has confirmed its support for a deposit You must no longer sell drinks products with single-use plastic return scheme (DRS) for the whole of the UK in its straws attached with the packaging in England. response to a government consultation. August 24: Safety of retail workers in Scotland However, it has also warned that whether DRS can be The Protection of Workers Retail and Age-Restricted Goods and delivered across the UK, excluding Scotland, in 2024 Services (Scotland) Act 2020 becomes law. It is now an offence depends on a number of factors. in Scotland for a person to assault, threaten or abuse another person who is a retail worker and who is engaged in retail work Key amongst these are the speed at which the UK at the time of the offence. government gets parliamentary approval for the legislative framework, and how quickly an official September 30: Furlough scheme ends administrator is then appointed to put the scheme The furlough scheme to protect the incomes of people unable in place. to work because of Covid-19 is set to end.
The other factor in delivering the scheme in 2024 is October 1: Natasha’s Law takes effect the closeness of the UK scheme to that being All food produced and packed for sale at the same premises developed in Scotland. Interoperable schemes are must be individually labelled with a full list of ingredients. desirable from the perspective of fraud prevention Called Natasha’s Law, this new legislation follows the tragic and an efficient supply chain. death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who was allergic to sesame and who suffered a fatal reaction after The closer the structure and operation of the two eating a baguette that did not specify it contained the allergen. schemes are, the more the experience and lessons gained in implementing the Scottish scheme can be Autumn 2021: Offensive Weapons Act used to speed up the introduction of DRS in the rest Changes to the handling of parcels containing bladed items are of the UK. due to take effect from this autumn.
National President Stuart Reddish said: “The NFRN was the first retail trade association to support the introduction of DRS and we are keen to see it reach its maximum potential.
“Deposit return schemes will be at their most effective and efficient when the public understands them. Differences between schemes in different countries For more information on all these new laws and to find within the single trading area of the UK will serve only out more about our campaigning work visit: www. to cause confusion, particularly in the border areas, TheFedOnline.com/campaigning-for-you. and drive down return rates.”
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 9 | This is your letters page. The Fed wants to hear Your view your views and issues! Read the latest letters to Send your letters to: [email protected] arrive in the NFRN mailbag
Extending cut-off times into news wholesalers is “out of order”
I started to read the article about cut-off times Why is the south west being penalised? There is no (Newspapers’ cut-off extensions - a step too far?) explanation in your article. What is the difference to in the June edition of The Fed with interest as Scotland and the south west? It is out of order as far we are one of the businesses in the south west as I am concerned. Saturdays have become a complete that has been more than struggling with late nightmare for us; to the point that I've nearly had enough. deliveries. Unfortunately, as I continued to read the piece all I saw was that the south west is at a I can categorically say that in the last two months I have severe disadvantage. had no notifications of extensions.
This year we have lost HND customers because I think the south west is being treated very badly. we have had to put back the Saturday pick up times for our paper boys and girls. Customers are Fiona Logie now receiving their papers an hour later than they Yealmpton Stores did in 2020. Yealmpton, Devon
The Fed put Fiona Logie’s comments to Roger Clapham, chairman of the News Media Association’s supply chain committee.
He replied: “Cut-off extensions sometimes have to be targeted to the south west as it's the furthest away from any of our print sites in the UK.
“In Scotland we have print sites in Glasgow and the central belt from which, under normal circumstances, deliveries can reach the rest of the country within the expected timeframes.
“In southern England, any events that delay our production mean deliveries to locations in the south west - which are the furthest away from our print sites in the south east - may be later than usual simply due to distance.
“The south west is a constant focus for publishers and our distribution is never planned to be late, however major news/ sport events - and the numerous roadworks and delays that affect the routes into the region - can affect our arrival times.”
Thanks for getting me back in the saddle Copy of a letter from a paperboy who received money from the Carl Bridgewater Fund to replace a stolen bike.
Thank you so much for the money. I really appreciate the help you’ve given me in getting a new bike. It was very unexpected, and I am overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness you have shown to me.
Thank you again.
Name and address supplied
| 10 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Letters
This is your letters page. Building a sustainable retail Booker vouchers give my business a The Fed wants to hear your views and issues! sector together good boost Send your letters to: Copy of a letter to the NFRN Thank you for the Booker vouchers. At a time when [email protected] things are still very slow for my shop, this has given my Responsibility for retail policy has been added stock a good boost. to my portfolio. Retail is an important sector of There are a lot of vouchers I can use and have already done so. our economy and I am keen at the outset of my appointment to embed a robust cross-policy, Again, thank you very much. This is a very nice touch when collaborative approach throughout my portfolio businesses are all still struggling. Well done! of responsibilities. I believe that this approach is needed if we are to develop and deliver the carefully Morag Campbell considered policy responses that are necessary M & T Campbell Ltd to ensure the ongoing recovery, growth and Irvine sustainability of the retail sector.
I would be delighted to meet with you to discuss in more detail the particular issues raised in your A boot full of goodies! letter and to consider how we can effectively work Plenty of goodies at Booker Makro; a boot full of goodies. together to address areas that are of concern to your members. Many thanks NFRN for this - it will be greatly appreciated.
Tom Arthur MSP Ali Seedat Minister for public finance, planning and community wealth Fountain Street News Edinburgh Morley, Leeds
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 11 | Staycation, staycation, staycation
With all the uncertainty about international travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of people are expected to holiday at home this year. Join us for a whistle-stop tour around some of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations to find out how our members are planning to take advantage of a surge in business.
Environment secretary George Eustice recently said that “My advice to people would be holiday at home,” he said. Britons should forget about holidaying abroad because of “We’ve got some great places here.” the threat posed by Covid-19 variants.
“We also sell beach toys and will be getting in more comics for the kids, just in case the weather isn’t great and they’re stuck inside"
| 12 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Staycations
Simon Johnston Owen Church Kettlewell, North Yorkshire Hemsby, Norfolk
With his shop and Post Office near the Norfolk Broads and close to Great Yarmouth, Owen Church is hoping for a boost in sales from British holidaymakers in the ever- popular area.
He said: “The weather has improved lately and holiday bookings are up, so we are expecting more business as the summer progresses. I think there will be a lot of people coming to the area this year.” Situated in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounded by scenic walks, Kettlewell, near Skipton, is also famous for its scarecrow festival, held in August. Marcus Hartnell Simon Johnston, who owns Kettlewell Village Store, Seaton, Devon said: “The campsites are where we expect to see an influx of visitors, and we are already ordering in extra stock. We had a run on ice cream during the recent heatwave, which caught us out a bit, but we are Staycation, staycation, staycation stocking up again. “We are still running our ordering service online, so people can order things before they come on holiday.
“From what I’m hearing from the holiday cottage companies, they are completely rammed all the way though until October, so I’m quietly confident that we will have an even better summer than normal.” New Look News and Post Office, in the south coast seaside town of Seaton, East Devon, is gearing up for a busy summer, particularly as a supplier to local campsites. Jon Healings Mumbles Owner Marcus Hartnell said: “We sell wholesale to campsites and a beach shop in the area, so it is all The headland seaside town of about making sure we have enough stock to cater Mumbles, in Swansea Bay, for demand. is home to Lewis News, owned by Jon Healings. “Supplies are a bit erratic at the moment, so we are stocking up when we can on items such as cold Jon said: “We do a lot of Welsh memorabilia for tourists, drinks and stationery. We are just planning ahead such as fridge magnets and other little mementoes, and we for the summer holidays and making sure we’ve got have extended our range for the summer. We also sell beach things on the shelves. toys and will be getting in more comics for the kids, just in case the weather isn’t great and they’re stuck inside. “Things are picking up from a tourist point of view and we are seeing a lot of day trippers. Newspapers “All the Airbnb properties in the area are fully booked up are doing very well, particularly with the campsites, until September, and have been for months, so we are and we are pretty optimistic for the holidays ahead.” expecting a really good summer.”
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 13 | Latest Staycations Want to snap up some summer sales? Collectables and cards are another great add-on line, according to Mr Hayes, with the Euros, Premier League Here is The Fed’s guide on what to stock to capitalise on Adrenalyn and Pokemon battle style cards all expected to customers staying at home: sell well during the summer months.
What to stock Other sales opportunities
These will come as many people will be camping or Ice cream caravanning for the first time, and likely to be taking up outdoor activities while staying in the countryside. Cold soft drinks The leisure sector has already started to see an uplift in Sun creams and after sun sales, with customers keen to get their hands on practical magazines focusing on camping and motorhomes, to BBQ foods and accessories publications specialising in activities such as mountain biking, walking, and bird watching. In coastal areas, surfing Picnic foods and water skiing magazines are worth stocking.
Buckets and spades What to stock Maps and guides Camping magazine
Postcards Caravan magazine
MMM Motorcaravan & Motorhome Sell more magazines Mountain biking According to the NFRN’s Newspro development manager MBR Mountain Bike Rider Jerry Hayes, with more people holidaying at home the sales opportunities within the magazine sectors are massive. Trail “Keeping the youngsters occupied during Britain’s Country Walking possibly inclement weather can always be a challenge for your customers, but children’s magazines could be the TGO (The Great Outdoors) answer. Currently performing well with 32 per cent of the top 100 titles coming from this category, children’s Carve magazines comprise the pre-school, primary boys and girls and pre-teen sectors and represent a great opportunity to add to a store’s bottom line.” Staying at home
With some of your customers choosing to stay at home Top 3 childrens' magazine titles: and tackling those all-important tasks such as getting to grips with the garden, BBC Gardeners World or Garden Answers are likely to be popular. Pre school: Peppa Pig Bag of Fun, Paw Patrol, CBeebies Weekly If the weather is fine, people may want a barbeque or to dine outside and there are a host of ideas from cookery Primary boys: Pokemon, Lego Ninjago, magazines, such as BBC Good Food, Delicious, or Olive. Lego Star Wars Meanwhile, puzzle magazines provide an ideal opportunity Primary girls: Frozen, Disney Princess, to occupy the mind while relaxing in the garden. LOL Surprise Preteen: Top of the Pops, Toxic, Go Girl “Whatever the area of staycation, and no matter if the weather is good or bad, the opportunities for extra magazine sales are plentiful,” Mr Hayes added.
| 14 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 15 | WhySponsored by Coca-Cola you should become part of a Very Important Community
As your Federation, we are always looking at new ways to communicate with you so we can quickly and easily tell you what’s going on and how we can help make you money, save you money and find you easier ways to do business. So, find out more about our VIP members’ Facebook group.
Here at the NFRN we are constantly looking for ways to help improve business for you, our members. That’s why this month we are launching an unmatched and private online group, The Fed VIP community.
Here you’ll get exclusive access to premium content, news, and a community of forward-thinking retailers. By joining today, you will also become a part of private discussions and have your say on all industry, political and NFRN news.
Through The Fed VIP community, you will have access to all the essential tools needed to boost your business and help it survive within today’s highly challenging and its challenges - and that’s why we have created this trading environment, including access to exclusive community of like-minded retailers. supplier deals. “Members of this group will have priority and exclusive The community will bring an unparalleled experience access to supplier deals and updates, creating a truly to NFRN members by opening the door for you to lead unparalleled platform that will help you make money, save conversations and connect with like-minded retailers money and find easier ways to do business. to find out current industry trends, tips, and tricks of the trade. There will also be an opportunity to celebrate “I look forward to seeing and communicating with you all success stories. within this group.”
Introducing The Fed VIP community, National President Stuart Reddish said: “I am thrilled to announce the NFRN’s first official private group, which is yet another service that will help our members to boost “Members of this group will have their business. priority and exclusive access to “We understand that it is essential for our retailers supplier deals and updates” to communicate with one another easily - to gain a greater insight of the industry, its requirements
| 16 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest VIP Community
How to join
1. Log in to Facebook and search ‘The Fed VIP Admins will check all requests to join this group. community’ in the search bar, or search www. If you are not an NFRN member, or not following facebook.com/groups/thefedvipcommunity. @TheFedOnline Facebook page, your request will be declined. 2. Click ‘join’. 3. You will then be asked two membership questions. Rules for using the site can be found on 4. Please provide your name, store name and the ‘about’ section of the VIP Community address or store number within the relevant Facebook page. membership question. If you have any issues joining the Facebook 5. If you have liked and are following group, other than waiting to be accepted, @TheFedOnline Facebook page, type ‘yes’ please contact NFRN Connect on 0800 121 6376 in the second question. or email [email protected].
Spread the word and win big!
To celebrate the launch of our new VIP community, we are holding a very special competition with a fantastic prize!
To enter, simply recommend the VIP community to your fellow NFRN members.
When they first sign up to the group, they will be asked if anyone referred them to join. If they submit your name, then you will automatically be entered into the prize draw. Each referral will be classed as one entry.
There is no cap on the number of entries, so be sure to refer all the members you know. Not only will they help you win this amazing prize, they will also benefit from all the VIP community has to offer. The more times your name is mentioned, the more likely you are to win!
The winner will be drawn at random by our National President.
Spread the word and win big with the VIP community!
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 17 | | 18 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 19 | A real Booker bonanza
Photographs of members taking full advantage of our biggest ever voucher promotion with Booker have been flooding into the NFRN’s head office. We are delighted that so many of you have taken the opportunity to boost your bottom lines by hundreds of pounds. Remember, the offers close on July 6.
| 20 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Booker Vouchers
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 21 | Pets can be a retailer’s best friend
With the number of people owning pets increasing rapidly, there has never been a better time for retailers to sell pet food and pet care products. The Fed spoke to an industry insider and a Federation member to find out more about recent trends, and for advice and tips on how to make the most of this growing category.
Adrian Thompson, who owns Filby He said: “As well as all the Post Office, near Great Yarmouth, straightforward pre-packed stuff and Latest facts and figures has a dedicated pet food and pet care canned food, we have also seen more section in his store. demand for wild bird food, duck food 9 million dogs in 25 per cent and even hedgehog food has become of UK households a big seller. 7.5 million cats in 17 per cent “People are starting to think more of households about the environment and are definitely feeding more birds and 600,000 rabbits looking after wild animals. It’s certainly a growing market. 400,000 guinea pigs
“We sell 25kg bags of bird and dog More than 500,000 food, as customers seem to prefer household birds to buy in bulk. We also do bedding, including hay, straw and wood shavings.” All in all, 12 million homes, or 40 per cent of UK households, benefit from pet ownership “People are starting to think more about the * Data based on PFMA 2019 Petcare environment and are definitely feeding more birds” data reports.
| 22 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Pet Food
“A huge, if not potentially the biggest sales opportunity for the convenience sector, is the wild bird food category. This category is worth over £235 million a year”
Su-Bridge Pet Supplies, a family- Ms Hopwood added: “The dog owned business based in Norfolk, breed population has seen huge has been supplying pet shops, garden changes, with a move away from centres, vets and the convenience large breed dogs to smaller mixed- sector for over 40 years, and breed or toy dogs, and this has supplying Nisa stores for over 25 driven the resurgence of high meat years, with its Extra Select range. content wet food cans and trays or raw dog feeding, such as Forthglade Extra Select is a comprehensive and Nature Menu.” selection of high-quality foods, chews and treats for dogs, hay and straw The third most popular pets in the for small animals, pond and fish UK are rabbits, and the small animal pellets, wild bird food and feeders, category is not to be ignored by all of which can drive sales through retailers. Just one shelf dedicated to improved range and customer choice. bedding, hay, straw and food will see sales from this sub-category. Lynne Hopwood, national sales manager at Su-Bridge, said: “With the Ms Hopwood continued: “A huge, humanisation of pets over the last 10 if not potentially the biggest sales years, and more people living on their opportunity for the convenience own longer and preferring a cat or sector, is the wild bird food dog as a companion, the pet trade has category. This category is worth seen major changes in trends. over £235 million a year, and a 2020 PFMA survey showed that 41 “As owners have become more per cent of people with outdoor educated about improving their own space feed birds and enjoy seeing health and diets, they want to provide them in their gardens by providing the same quality for their pets.” supplementary foods.
These changes have seen a decline in “By introducing a range of wild bird traditional grocery cat food cans and food products and an improved multipack pouches, such as Whiskas range of natural dog treats, toys, and Go Cat, with customers seeking health accessories such as wormers more premium single pouch or can and flea treatment, dog harnesses formats like Lilly’s Kitchen, Applaws and poop bags, store owners can and Sheba - brands that are delivering increase sales and, more importantly, choice in variety and texture. margins in their pet category.”
Su-Bridge has a national sales merchandising team that offers support with range recommendations, ordering and store set ups. For any enquiries or to request a grocery catalogue and price list, please contact Lynne Hopwood on 07500 905739 or email [email protected].
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 23 | | 24 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 25 | | 26 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Hardship Fund
In need of financial help? There is still time to apply to the NFRN’s Covid-19 Hardship Fund Support is still available for members whose businesses have been hit by Covid-19. The Fed explains more.
While many members may often seek to solve problems that they may have by themselves, being part of the NFRN means that while you may be independent, you are not alone.
If your business is struggling financially as a result of the pandemic, then please do not hesitate to ring NFRN Connect on 0800 121 6376 or email it at [email protected] to see if you are eligible for assistance from the Federation’s own Covid-19 How to apply Hardship Fund. To apply to the NFRN Covid-19 Hardship Fund you must complete the application form that can This was created at the start of the first lockdown, be found on our website and send it to us with ALL thanks to the generous support of several industry- these supporting documents: leading NFRN partners, including Booker, Camelot, Coca Cola, JTI, Warburtons, Newtrade Media, Mail • Bank statements for January, February, Newspapers, JPI Media, Reposs, Just Employment and March 2020 and the last three current Law and News UK. NFRN districts and branches also statements prior to the date of application. gave generously and, within the short space of just • Any outstanding bills/invoices. three weeks, a grand total of £250,000 was raised. • If you received the Small Business Grant please attach a statement showing the payment you To date, 144 members have received a grant from received and how much, for example, £10,000 or our Hardship Fund, with nearly £180,000 paid out. £25,000. Some members have even benefitted twice as they • Dates of the shop closures if any. did not receive the maximum award on their first • A short testimonial of your current financial application. Beneficiaries have used the funding they and business situation, such as a lack of footfall have received to pay outstanding bills or to replace affecting trade. shop equipment. Each of these documents must be included for Launching the fund last year, National President your application to be considered. To speed up Stuart Reddish said: “The impact of Covid-19 on the application process, please send all supporting the lives and businesses of some independent documentation at the same time. retailers has been unprecedented. We are acutely aware that some members are facing significant Applications can be emailed to: day to day financial challenges and that the help [email protected]. and support that we already provide to them needs to be boosted.” Alternatively, they can be posted to: C19 Hardship Fund, NFRN, East Suite, Ground If you are a member in the West Midlands district Floor, Bede House, Belmont Business Park, and you pay into its Voluntary fund, the district will Durham, DH1 1TW. match the amount you receive if your application to the Covid-19 Hardship Fund is successful.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 27 | Spread the word and receive £75
Through an innovative rewards scheme, members can earn £75 for every independent retailer they recruit into the NFRN. The Fed finds out more.
Our Member2Member referral scheme is important as not only does it spread the word of the NFRN, but the more members we have, the more we can do for you. Increasing the size of our membership will make our voice louder, ensuring we can continue to promote independent retailers at both industry and parliamentary level.
The Member2Member scheme is also uncapped, meaning you can recruit as many retailers as you want and still earn £75 every time!
To learn more, The Fed talked to two members who have taken advantage of this amazing offer.
Omparkash Sharma has been a member of the NFRN for almost 40 years with his shop, Howard News Centre, in Mansfield, Nottingham.
He told The Fed: “I know someone who has just recently opened a very good shop. He bought the freehold property and got all new equipment. Seeing his shop made me feel like I should do some alterations!
“He asked me some questions and I told him that joining the NFRN was the best thing to do. He agreed to join and said he’d leave it to me.
“He gave me his details and I rang the NFRN. I told the woman who answered the phone that I wanted to sign someone else up. I gave her all the information and that was it.
“I’m hoping to sign some more people up in the near future. The Member2Member scheme will definitely encourage me to get some more people on board.”
| 28 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Member Benefit
Spread the word and Networking
Bhavesh Patel is another member who has used the receive £75 scheme to recruit new members, earning himself money at the same time!
A member of the national executive committee (NEC) and with the NFRN for 15 years, Bhavesh said: “There were many reasons why I first joined, but we mainly wanted to join for the networking opportunities with other retailers - meeting people with similar businesses so we can get new ideas for our own shop.
“Before Covid-19, I used to go to lots of different trade things that the Federation can do for them to help shows and meetings which were great for generating resolve any issues they may have. new ideas and networking.” “I like to listen to what the non-members are On signing up new members, Bhavesh, who has saying, what their concerns and problems are, and recently sold his shop in Horley, Surrey, said: “I try to then I see if there’s any way the NFRN can help to understand the problems that a person who is yet to rectify them. Then I convince them that joining join might face. I make people aware of the different will help them out.”
Get recruiting! Some top recruitment tips! On the Member2Member scheme, National President Stuart Reddish said: “Who better is there to explain Keep it brief the benefits of being in membership than you, our existing members? Don’t bombard the potential member with too much information. Stick to a few key member “Start recruiting your friends and colleagues today benefits, such as NFRN Connect, NFRN Legal, and you’ll strengthen the NFRN - and receive or one of our many exclusive partnerships with financial recognition for your efforts!” the industry’s leading brands.
Member2Member recruitment material is available via Listen the benefits page on the NFRN website,TheFedOnline. com. Simply download the application form, add the As Bhavesh says, pay attention to what the other details of the new member, and post it to our office in person has to say and let them know how the Durham. The address is Bede House, Belmont Industrial NFRN would work for them. Estate, Durham, DH1 1TW. Talk about yourself and your own Alternatively, you can call the NFRN Connect team personal experience on 0800 121 6376 and they will be more than happy to assist you. This is the best way to convince someone to join the NFRN. Real examples of how membership has You will qualify for the recruitment payment after the helped you will show them that the NFRN is serious new member has paid three months of full membership about what we do and that we can aid retailers with fees. Benefiting from the Member2Member scheme any issue they may have. could not be easier!
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 29 | It could be you… earning cash from Camelot rewards
Join the thousands of members signed up to The National Lottery Retailer Hub and start earning rewards through Site, Stock, Sell Online today!
Relaunched last summer, the National Lottery Retailer Hub is SITE, STOCK, SELL ONLINE REWARDS proving to be a great resource for National Lottery retailers. Earning cash rewards with the National Lottery’s Site, And the online version of Site, Stock, Sell - which launched Stock, Sell Online programme is simple. You’ll earn £10 for in July last year - gives National Lottery retailers the scoring eight or more out of 10 in each monthly burst by opportunity to continue earning cash rewards simply by simply uploading four pictures of The National Lottery in self-scoring against the 10 questions that make up the Site, your store. What’s more, with our Site, Stock, Sell Online Stock, Sell programme. Bonus, you will earn an extra £20 if you enter the three bursts listed below and score eight or more each time - this means you could earn up to £50 per store in the space of three months!
A summer of cash rewards is around the corner:
• July Burst Score 8, 9 or 10 - earn £10. • August Burst Score 8, 9 or 10 - earn £10. • September Burst Score 8, 9 or 10 - earn £10. • Score 8 or more in all three months to earn an extra £20 bonus!
Eligibility for the next £20 Site, Stock, Sell Online bonus will open in October.
| 30 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest The National Lottery
Making money
The exciting Money Maker Event £10,000. Ten lucky winners will win continues into 2021, giving National £1,000 each, while one lucky retailer Lottery retailers the chance to win a will take home the huge £10,000 Coming soon share of the massive £20,000 prize prize! Each time eligible National An exclusive Money Maker pot. Score eight or more out of 10 on Lottery retailers score eight or Event just for NFRN members Site, Stock, Sell Online and you’ll be more, you will gain an entry into this signed up to The Retailer Hub! automatically entered into the new quarterly prize draw, meaning you Look out for more information. Money Maker Event quarterly prize have three opportunities across the draw for the chance to win £1,000 or three bursts to enter.
“The exciting Money Maker Event continues into 2021, giving National Lottery retailers the chance to win a share of the massive £20,000 prize pot”
One hub and a range of benefits Site, Stock and Sell Own more than one store? With the multi-store retailer Here is a reminder of the importance of following tool, you can have all of your eligible stores under one login. Site, Stock, Sell in store: This means one password, one rewards account and one Mastercard. To find out more, head to the Customer Service SITE Portal or contact [email protected] to get you set up.
Always display all items of POS material as Easily access current POS material and information about soon as you receive them, to advertise and make all National Lottery games and e-learning. There’s also a the most of sales-driving events and campaigns. customer services self-serve tool and help section for any Making sure POS material is well-sited helps grab additional rewards queries. your shoppers’ attention and provides an effective, visual cue to purchase a ticket. The Retailer Hub is the quickest way to access sales STOCK information for your store. Under ‘My Account’ in the menu bar, find out how much your store has raised for Keeping your scratchcard dispenser fully stocked Good Causes since April 2021, view your average weekly is really important to offer your customers a full sales and much more. range of National Lottery games. It’s good practice to check your dispenser each morning using your planogram - which you can print via your terminal - to ensure it matches. Monitoring your stock allows you to be prepared by keeping new stock close to hand so that you can quickly and easily fill up an empty window to avoid missing out on sales.
SELL Want to be a National Lottery retailer? If your store doesn’t currently sell National Lottery Don’t underestimate the value of reminding products and you would like to be considered, visit the shoppers to play while they’re in store. This can be really beneficial to your sales when there’s a National Lottery Retailer Hub (www.tnlretailerhub. special event, such as a Lotto ‘Must Be Won’, a big co.uk) and click on the ‘BECOME A RETAILER’ EuroMillions rollover or a new Scratchcard being button. You will then be able to fill out your details supported - a prompt at point of purchase can help and submit your application.* drive extra sales. * Please note that this applies to stores that haven’t applied in the last six months.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 31 | A refit well worth waiting for
Store Profile 276 Station Rd, Lockdown may have delayed one Cheshire Winsford CW7 3DG couple’s plans to update their store but, as
Opening Hours: The Fed found out, they are now delighted Monday - Saturday 05:00 - 18.00 with the outcome. Sunday 05:00 - 13.00 When Cheshire husband and wife Hemalata and Dhiru Patel decided to give their store a makeover little did they know it would take more than a year to complete.
But almost immediately after work got underway, with a new ceiling and energy-saving lighting installed, Covid-19 took hold in the UK and the couple were forced to put the blocks on any further changes until lockdown eased.
Come June 2021, however, the project was back on track and it took less than a week for the remaining work and new equipment to be completed.
Hemalata, who has run K&L Newsagents in Winsford, Cheshire with Dhiru for nearly 40 years, said: “It was so frustrating. We had decided to go ahead with a refit and the work was underway and then Covid-19 struck, so we had no option but to call a halt as we had no idea what lay ahead.
“Little did we know then that it would be more than a year before we could get the project started again.”
“Little did we know then that it would be more than a year before we could get the project started again”
| 32 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest Member Spotlight
“With social distancing still on everyone’s minds, customers have welcomed the fact that there is more room to move around and they will not bump into one another or get in each other’s way”
Shop transformed in double quick time
This time around, though, there was no messing about, and the refit was completed in less than a week.
To complement the new lighting and ceiling, new flooring was laid, and outdated, unwieldy fridges were replaced with new slimline and energy-saving versions.
“Previously, the old fridges were very deep and difficult to keep clean. I couldn’t get my hands in far enough! The new fridges are much slimmer and taller,” Hemalata explained.
The new refrigeration has enabled the couple to offer a wider range of cold drinks. Their food-to-go selection has also been extended and the alcohol display is now more than 5ft longer.
Playing their cards right
Also narrower in size is the greetings card rack, but like the fridges, this has more height, allowing 21 rows of cards to be displayed.
“This was made specially for us and though it is slimmer than the one we had previously, we can display a wider selection of cards,” Hemalata explained.
“The slimmer equipment means the shop is far roomier than before,” she added. “With social distancing still on everyone’s minds, customers have welcomed the fact that there is more room to move around and they will not bump into one another or get in each other’s way.”
Initially, the couple had agreed a budget of £15,000 for the refit, so they were delighted to discover that when the work was complete, that they had actually spent just £8,000.
“We bought most of the equipment ourselves but got tradespeople in to carry out the physical work,” Hemalata said.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 33 | Latest Member Spotlight
“They ring me up in the morning and tell me what they want, and in the afternoon either Dhiru or I will deliver it. It’s not something that we added because of Covid-19. It’s something that we have always done”
Situated on a busy bus route, the customer base for “They ring me up in the morning and tell me what K&L Newsagents comprises a mix of local and passers-by. they want, and in the afternoon either Dhiru or I will It is open from 5am every day and closes at 6pm on deliver it. Mondays through to Saturday and at 1pm on Sundays. “It’s not something that we added because of Covid-19. Hemalata admits that Covid-19 and competition from a It’s something that we have always done.” new store opening nearby has hit trade. The couple like to support local businesses. They source “We don’t employ any staff now. It is just me and Dhiru eggs, bread, bakery products and potatoes and vegetables working in the shop seven days a week. A lot of our from local suppliers. customers came from a local factory but that shut down during the pandemic. With more people working from “These are very popular with the customers and sell home, there are also more cars out in the street, so it is very well.” difficult for passing customers to park.” It’s only the second time that the pair have made over K&L Newsagents offers a home news delivery service the shop and both Hemalata and Dhiru are delighted and currently has six rounds. Hemalata and Dhiru with the results. Equally important, of course, is what will also delivery groceries to their elderly and the customer think. A smiling Hemalata said: “They love vulnerable customers. it. They say it is beautiful.”
| 34 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM District Digest Your local news and activity from around the districts
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM July 2021 West Midlands
New district president champions charity work
Julie Kaur is not satisfied with simply being district president, a mum of three and running an independent business. She is also a keen fundraiser, raising money for many different local charities and causes. “I think it’s very important to
In an interview with the NFRN just after being elected, put something back into the she said: “I am a keen runner and a keen fundraiser.” community. We earn every day In May, Julie ran 10K to raise money for Shropshire and we’ve been very lucky to Telford & Wrekin Age UK. She managed to raise £650 for the charity and she is not stopping there. This 10K run get through Covid-19” is one of the many fundraisers Julie has taken part in or organised to raise money for local charities and give back to the community around her.
In March, Julie held a raffle in aid of Sports For Noah, a Julie told The Fed: “I think it’s very important to put local charity that aimed to raise enough money to afford something back into the community. We earn every day a powered wheelchair for the then three-year-old Noah and we’ve been very lucky to get through Covid-19. who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The raffle, which was revealed by the Mayor of Telford “Not everyone’s a runner or into their fitness. I get it. and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, raised £1,800, But everybody is capable of doing a raffle or something surpassing their goal of £1,000. along those lines. It’s not rocket science.”
“I like to bring in officials and dignitaries as I’ve found it really helps to get the word out,” Julie continued. “If you’re not that good at social media, someone else will be. So, if you pull people like this in, they will write about it, take pictures, or post about it on their socials. It really escalates from there.
“We can all complain about Smiths News’ carriage charges and the electric bill going up and deliveries being late. We can all do that, but let’s think positive!
“I want to be active and proactive. I’d also like to see more retailers getting involved, not just in the West Midlands. I want everyone to go out there and support local causes.”
On the day of the interview, Julie was hoping to organise a charity climb of Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales. You can keep up to date with her latest charitable ventures on the Jules Convenience Facebook page.
| 36 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM District West Midlands Sam lends a helping hand
Manjit Samra, who owns Samra Supermarket, in Smethwick, is another West Midlands member who does good work in the community - this time by helping those who have fallen on hard times.
Sam, as he is better known, said: “When lockdown happened last year, a local Sikh temple started preparing and distributing hot food to elderly and vulnerable people in the community. I went along with my paying their bills they’ve got no can get help and make him feel son and daughter on a daily basis to money left for food.” human again. help prepare and give out the food, because sometimes that is the only Having seen the plight of so many “A lot of people are scared to approach hot meal these people get every day.” homeless people firsthand, Sam a homeless person, but just going was moved to help one man in up to them and saying hello can be This involvement led Sam and particular who he found sleeping on a overwhelming for them. They are his 17-year-old son to become canal bench. normal people who have, for one reason volunteers at a food bank in or another, been abandoned by society - Birmingham city centre. “We took him to one of our vacant usually through no fault of their own.” properties so he could have a shower Sam explained: “We come down and he was so grateful. The sad He added: “Independent retailers are by the train station and we help thing is, he is an ex-soldier who among the most generous with their distribute bread, tinned food and fought for his country in two Afghan time and helping their communities, whatever else has been donated. wars. Now he has PTSD and he’s without expecting anything back. You see all walks of life in the just been abandoned. I would encourage them to help queue and they haven’t got the people as much as they can. means to feed themselves. “We housed him in one of our properties, and we arranged for a “If you can help someone you should. “These people are always very support worker who helps him Apart from making a difference to grateful. They are one pay cheque and gave him the numbers of other people’s lives, it also has a very away from homelessness, and after different organisations where he positive effect on yourself.”
Mutual benefits
Former district president Julia Bywater is encouraging another product with them, they gave me another 10 members to get in touch with The Retail Mutual, per cent off. after saving a whopping two thirds on her landlord insurance renewal. “We have shop insurance with the Retail Mutual as well, so when that comes up for renewal, I will be giving them Julia explained: “When I received my landlord another call to get a further 10 per cent discount. insurance renewal quote, I thought it was very expensive, so I decided to give the Retail Mutual “As retailers we are busy people and we don’t always have a call. time, so we just automatically renew our insurance policies. But it’s worth taking a bit of time to see what you can save. “They quoted me a price that was 60 per cent lower than my other provider and, because I already had “As my mother always said: If you don’t ask, you don’t get!”
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 37 | District West Midlands West Midlands members go football crazy, football mad during the Euros!
When it comes to supporting England’s football team, members in the West Midlands have gone all out to score extra sales during the Euros, with some amazing retail displays.
At One Stop Mount Nod in Coventry an in-store football pitch has been created, with match essentials playing in a 4-4-2 formation. There is also an eye-catching display featuring Jordan Pickford enjoying a well-deserved beer.
Amrit Singh at H & Jodie’s Nisa Local in Walsall clearly thinks football’s coming home this year with England flags fluttering outside the shop.
Completing a hat-trick of stunning displays is Sunder Sandher of One Stop Royal in Leamington Spa. In our special Euros Fed Talks, Sunder had promised that he would be going all out to back England in the tournament - and he wasn’t kidding!
Having kicked off on Friday, June 11, the Euros tournament continues through to July 11, with the final taking place at Wembley.
District welcomes re-election of Birmingham MP as APPG chairman
The district was delighted to hear At both a national and district level, business owner should have to stand that local Labour MP Steve McCabe the NFRN looks forward to working helplessly by as the same old faces has been re-elected as chairman of closely with Mr McCabe to continue to steal from their stores. The APPG for the All-Party Parliamentary Group push in parliament the concerns, not retail crime will continue to fight to for Retail Crime. just of our members, but of the whole get retailers the protection they have independent sector on retail crime. the right to expect.” Mr McCabe, MP for Selly Oak, has been chairman of the cross-party Mr McCabe told The Fed: “Working group since November 2018. with the group’s secretariat, provided by the NFRN, the group has been Under his chairmanship, the APPG able to significantly raise the profile has made real progress in making of retail crime with MPs and, in the government more aware of the particular, with ministers. true impact that retail crime has on independent retailers and in the “No-one should have to face abuse or communities in which they serve. assault just for doing their job and no
| 38 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM District East Midlands
East Midlands
Aid for India - helping those in need East Midlands member Narendra Patel has helped to raise £1,001 for a charity that sends money and aid to poorer communities and villages in India that have been badly hit by Covid-19.
LPSUK is a UK registered charity that is run by volunteers and aims to support families of the Hindu community hailing from South Gujarat’s Surat, Navsari and Valsad districts. Collectively, the community has raised £50,000 and transported 12 pallets of essential PPE from London to Life member Narendra is the UK secretary for Pinsad Gujarat. They have also helped to set up a new Covid-19 gaam, a collective of people from the Pinsad village located emergency unit in a hospital, more than doubling the in Navsari Tehsil of Navsari district in Gujarat, India. number of ICU beds, from 20 to 50.
Of the charity, Narendra said: “All the people from our They are now helping to provide education to children village meet biannually, kind of like the NFRN annual who have sadly lost both parents due to the pandemic. conference. Over the years we have sent money to India if there are any natural disasters. For example, there’s been Bhumi Patel, the London vice-treasurer of the charity, a couple of bad floods, so we’ve sent a fair bit of money for said: “During the devastating Covid-19 crisis in India, the water filters and other essentials. impact in these rural communities was much more than anticipated, especially for those from lower socioeconomic “A lot of the villages have their electricity cut off for a backgrounds who rely on the capacity of government few hours in the day so we’ve also sent generators. If hospitals, which are overrun during ‘normal’ times, let someone ill from Covid-19 needs assistance and oxygen, alone during this pandemic. The strain and demand this they can provide that as, at the moment, there’s no room outbreak has on these smaller hospitals, which offer in the hospitals.” healthcare free of charge, well surpasses their capacity.”
Connect gets the job done
The NFRN Connect team took up In another recent example, the the matter with our member’s news NFRN Connect team was able to wholesaler, Smiths News, and the resolve a problem for a Federation retailer was quickly reimbursed in full. member regarding returned tote boxes. The member had been charged for Once again, our NFRN Connect team Thanking the team, the satisfied member three tote boxes which had already came to the fore after a member in said: “We constantly have issues with been returned and scanned. Boston, Lincolnshire was having receiving credits. We only ever get it trouble receiving credits for returned pushed through when Connect chases After NFRN Connect’s intervention, copies of the Daily Mail and several the issue for us. This week alone they Smiths News agreed to remove the local titles. have saved us around £80.” charges on his next invoice.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 39 | Yorkshire
Retailer pens poem about the help for independent retailers from the NFRN
Outside of running Mellors News in Barnsley, owner NFRN: we are there to help in your time of need Gordon Bird is a prolific poet, with his latest poem reminding fellow members of the help and support Now is the time to reflect and think available from the NFRN. Fellow members on the brink Remember words from long ago Now is the time that we can show whereever a man can help another Mr Bird said: “During my many years as a district official, This is the time to gain a brother I have come across members who are finding that times are tough and are struggling in silence. Not to judge or try to blame Finding fault or causing shame “I hope this poem will reassure them that, as a member Remember all the good that you could do Now is the time they may depend on you of the NFRN, they are not alone.” To help those in their time of need
Not only words or kindly deeds Funds are there for those in need Reminding members who are in desperate need Gordon told The Fed: “If you require Newsagents here newsagents there newsagents nearly everywhere help or know of a fellow member To help you in your hour of need who also needs assistance, NFRN Now is the time Connect is there to help. Simply call For you to ask 0800 121 6376 or email connect@ Remember you are one of us nfrn.org.uk.” Now is the time to get in touch We all want to help so much
Huddersfield MP and South Yorkshire PCC call for more action to tackle retail crime One of our local MPs has spoken passionately line workers, who have been key in the about the importance of small shops and the first wave of fighting against Covid-19, so I need for people working in retail to be better want them to be protected; I want them to protected from abuse, threats and violence. be looked after, whether in a big store or a small store. Barry Sheerness, the Labour Co-op MP for Huddersfield, was speaking at a “I want to change the culture. This is not Westminster Hall debate, which came as about every consumer, but about a small a parliamentary petition seeking to protect minority of people who do not like obeying retail staff from violence, threats and abuse, the laws that we pass in this parliament. gained 104,354 signatures. “They do not like the fact that there are age Mr Sheerness said: “The small shop is restrictions on buying alcohol, restrictions absolutely central to our communities. on buying tobacco, or the special Workers in small neighbourhood facilities restrictions on buying too many items of should be as well protected as workers in one good that were introduced during the the large stores. These are designated front Covid-19 epidemic.”
| 40 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM District Yorkshire East Yorkshire retailers score with Hull City Champions publication As a keen Hull City football supporter, NFRN member Andrew Taylor was over the moon to see his beloved team promoted to the Championship. And he has been equally happy to net plenty of sales from a special publication produced to commemorate the occasion.
Andrew, who owns Taylors Today in the city, said copies NFRN: we are there to help in your time of need of the glossy Hull City Champions 20/21 publication, produced by Hull Daily Mail owner Reach in association with Bishop Burton College, had been flying off the shelves since it went on sale on May 20.
Priced £2, it contains 64 pages that look back on a football season like no other before, with exclusive interviews, To promote it, there was a poster in the shop window and analysis, opinions, and photographs and reports from all copies were displayed on the newspaper shelves and in a the matches. secondary position, together with football magazines.
Andrew told The Fed: “It has sold really well in my “But we also told customers about it and word of mouth shop and in shops, not just in Hull and surrounding has worked really well. Fans want the publication as a areas such as Goole, but also in places like Scarborough keepsake - something to save and look at in years to come. and Bridlington. It’s a bit like football programmes.”
“The content is really good, and fans have been keen to Now Hull has been promoted to the Championships, buy it because they have missed out on not being able to Andrew is hoping that sales of the Hull Daily Mail go to the matches.” will increase.
As a Hull City fan for more than 50 years, attending “When Hull play well, sales of the paper on Monday always both home and away matches, Andrew was always going to go well. It gives everyone a feel-good factor! It’s great that give the commemorative publication his full backing. the club has been promoted.”
Huddersfield MP and South Yorkshire PCC call for more action to tackle retail crime Mr Sheerness called for customers to speak out when commissioner has also called for more protection for incidents of verbal abuse or any abuse in local stores or retailers and their employees. supermarkets occurred. Writing on his website, Dr Alan Billings, who has agreed “Let us work together to change culture: let us make sure to meet with National President Stuart Reddish, said: “Over that we drive out the antisocial behaviour, whether verbal the last year or so, retail workers have been on the frontline or physical abuse, that is becoming far too common. of the national effort in keeping shops open, shelves stocked, and vital food and supplies available for all. “As I have walked through my lovely constituency of Huddersfield, I have talked to many workers who have “Despite this, instances of violence, threats and abuse of not only been in fear during working hours, but fear being shop staff has rocketed, particularly around the enforcement followed home and having stones thrown through their of statutory age restrictions, with few prosecutions. windows. This is a real problem for many workers. We need better laws and better police regulation and response, but “I believe retail workers deserve better protection and we also need a changed culture.” the support of everyone across the many communities of South Yorkshire. I urge all our local MPs to support The newly elected South Yorkshire police and crime them in the parliamentary debates.”
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Eastern Counties
Newsagents welcome new Archant CEO’s vow to protect the printed word
Norfolk members have welcomed every decision I make will be about Stephen Mitchell, pictured below, of comments from Archant’s new protecting local journalism and making S & S Mitchell newsagents in Blofield, chief executive officer Lorna Willis, sure that, when I’m older, I’m not talking Norfolk, added: “We welcome the news that confirming her determination to save to some youngster who’s asking me: Archant is going to support local titles. We and protect local news titles. ‘What’s a regional newspaper?’” do get involved with their promotions and welcome any support they can give us.” Ms Willis took over the reins at Owen Church, who owns Hemsby the Norwich-based publisher in March Post Office, near Great Yarmouth, was 2021, with a mission to turn around the pleased to hear Ms Willis’ comments company’s fortunes while protecting regarding local news titles. the future of the printed word. He said: “I’m glad to hear that’s her In a recent interview with the trade view, because it’s not the view of some magazine Press Gazette, she said: “I publishers in other areas of the country don’t want to be the CEO that shuts to promote local titles. titles - that would be very upsetting to me. “The relationship with Archant has always been as close as possible, and I’ve “I’m going to make some tough always done as much as I can to promote decisions, but I can tell you local titles.”
“Retail crime is on my radar,” says Norfolk’s new police and crime commissioner
Norfolk’s new police and crime Responding, the new PCC wrote: “Thank commissioner (PCC) Giles Orpen- you for your letter and your kind words Smellie has agreed to meet with about my election. local NFRN members to hear first- hand their concerns and issues “Retail crime is on my ‘radar’ and so I surrounding retail crime. would welcome the opportunity to hear the NFRN’s views.” The promise came in an email to the NFRN’s National President Mr Orpen-Smellie, a former soldier with the after Stuart Reddish wrote to parachute regiment, was elected as PCC on Mr Orpen-Smellie congratulating May 6. He will hold the post for three years. him on his election on May 6 and urging him to make tackling One of his first duties was to meet with retail crime a priority in his senior officers from Norfolk Constabulary business plan. to discuss making the county safer.
| 42 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 43 | Pro Print How Newspro and Store2Door can deliver success
As the popularity and demand for home news delivery (HND) continues to grow, and with the NFRN’s popular Store2Door initiative merging with Newspro, The Fed spoke to a successful retailer and his store manager to discover how they are delivering profits for their business.
Ian Hunter owns two newsagents - Peggs News and He said: “HND is the lifeblood of the business. About Cooke’s News - in the market town of Hexham, in 75 per cent of our news trade is through HND, and since Northumberland. Between the two stores, he has Covid-19 we have seen a massive 20 per cent increase 23 delivery rounds from Monday to Saturday, with a in demand from new customers.” further 16 rounds on Sundays, delivering to around 700 customers. Promotion is key to attracting new customers, and the business uses a number of streams to advertise its service. Ian said: “I’ve been in this business for 27 years and started off with hardly any HND. But over the years, Edd said: “We advertise every week in the local paper, other shops in the town have closed and we are now the Hexham Courant, and we regularly flyer drop. When the only two independent newsagents left. As a result, Covid-19 started, Ian and I went out and hand delivered our HND has grown and grown and we now deliver flyers to all the local housing estates. to the whole of Hexham and the neighbouring village of Acomb. “We sponsor one of the local rugby teams in Corbridge and give out free copies of the Courant at home games and “HND is a huge profit centre for the business, and I also sponsor events at the club, such as raffles and other can’t stress its importance highly enough. Apart from fundraisers.” giving a superb service to customers and profitability for the business in itself, it also increases footfall into the shops.
“When people come into the shop to pay their paper bill, they are more likely to also pick up things such as a lottery ticket or other impulse buys.”
HND has always been an important part of the news trade, but since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, more and more retailers are seeing an increase in demand for home deliveries. Store manager Edd Green confirmed that Covid-19 restrictions had contributed to a surge in requests for HND.
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“For many newsagents, HND is the backbone of their business and it’s no wonder, as simply delivering to just 30 customers each day - normally one delivery round - is worth a staggering £2,500 a year”
Under one umbrella
The NFRN launched its Store2Door initiative with the aim of helping members to improve their HND service or seriously consider introducing one. Store2Door now comes under our Newspro umbrella.
Newspro development manager Jerry Hayes said: “For many newsagents, HND is the backbone of their business and it’s no wonder, as simply delivering to just 30 customers each day - normally one delivery round - is worth a staggering £2,500 a year.
“HND gives independent news members manage the magazine retailers a fantastic opportunity to category more easily and profitably. increase the profitability of their business. Like Ian and Edd, we would It has 1,000 members who love to hear from other Store2Door consistently outperform the market members on how they expanded their in terms of sales. HND service, so please contact us Joining is easy by phone or drop us an email via the On hand seven days a week to Email [email protected], address on the right.” support all your needs, and with phone 0800 121 6376 or visit supplier interest growing, there TheFedOnline.com to start What is Newspro? has never been a better time for enjoying the benefits now. specialist HND retailers to join to Newspro is the NFRN’s free category grow and develop your newspaper management benefit which helps and magazines business.
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NFRN NFRN Connect works VICTORY with wholesalers to improve complaints response rates
Of late, and through working with the Federation, news wholesalers are responding more quickly to members’ issues raised by NFRN Connect. The Fed finds out why and how.
NFRN Connect handles around 300 calls per week from members relating to issues and problems they have experienced with their news wholesaler. Centrally, these are named as cascades and our role is to work with your news supplier to:
• Resolve the concern raised. • Prevent a repeat. • Ensure you gain an adequate response. • Advise you of your options should you remain dissatisfied with your supplier.
Cascades typically cover late deliveries, short deliveries, lost or missing credits for vouchers and unsold credit issues, to name just a few.
Once a cascade has been raised by the member, NFRN Connect sends each cascade on to the relevant wholesaler. The wholesaler must follow agreed industry guidelines of 48 hours to respond to the cascade with an appropriate answer, or advise on what action will be taken to remedy the situation.
This process has been in place for decades, enhanced when the Connect service was moved in house in 2014, and is continually assessed to ensure robustness and compliance by the NFRN news operations team. This is to ensure that meaningful responses are received back from the wholesaler within the set deadline.
Recently, building on the close working relationship with Smiths News, the process was modified. Previously, the cascade was forwarded to the individual depot, where a number of people could have received it, often resulting in a less than desired response rate and outcome.
The cascade is now sent to one single point within the Smiths News network, so the onus is now on Smiths News to allocate the said cascade directly to the correct person within the organisation to respond to.
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This is usually the designated person at the hub, spoke, allocations or returns department. These people are obliged ALL WHOLESALER REPOSNSE RATES TO CASCADES to feedback to the initial Smiths contact, who then in turn 2018 responds back to NFRN Connect. Averages 56.6 % 2019 This new format has made the process more transparent and Averages 77.2 % quicker, which means that the member receives an earlier 2020 update to their query. Averages 78.4 %
2021 The Smiths News response rate went from an average of Averages 98.5 % 65 per cent to the end of June 2020, up to 91 per cent for the second half of the year. The week ending March 27, 2021 should be recorded as an Following on from the success of this new way of working, the historic date, as all three news wholesalers - Smiths News, News Operations team implemented the same process with News UK DTR and Menzies Distribution - achieved Menzies Distribution in March 2021, which again is showing 100 per cent within 48 hours. some really positive results. NFRN news operations manager Pete Williamson confirmed Prior to the new process being introduced, Menzies to The Fed: “These excellent results and speedier responses Distribution was achieving 66 per cent responses within from news wholesalers are a testament to the working 48 hours. Since implementing the new process, it is achieving relationships we have been building with them over the past an average response rate of 96 per cent. few years. It also highlights that the majority of mistakes made and reported on are now corrected in the set timeframe.” News UK’s DTR service has worked with a similar process for some time. However, some modifications to the process Please remember, NFRN Connect is there for ALL to ensure all wholesalers work to the same system has members, not just for news service issues but all aspects of also seen beneficial results, so much so that News UK has your business. Help is just a phone call or email away. achieved a 100 per cent rate for 16 out of the 22 weeks, at the time of writing. Call free on 0800 121 6376 or email [email protected].
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Having been delayed for a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the eagerly awaited The Hundred Cricket Attax trading cards collection will reach stores on July 15. The Fed found out more.
Howzat! Topps and The Hundred have teamed up to offer limited edition card, an A2 game mat and A2 game guide young cricket fans a new trading card game around an with a checklist and rules. exciting new competition which starts later this month. According to Jonathan Marsh, national accounts Originally planned to launch last summer but delayed manager for Topps, stores stocking the Cricket Attax for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, The Hundred is a cards should position the counter units prominently professional 100-ball cricket tournament in England and and near to the till to capitalise on the impulsive pocket Wales featuring eight city-based women’s and men’s teams. money spend. He added that in cricket hot spots, sales It will run from the end of July to the end of August. could easily exceed £220 per store.
Designed to appeal to youngsters aged eight to 11, the Cricket Attax collection comprises of 226 cards to collect which come in two SKUs. The first is a counter display unit containing 24 retail packets. Each packet retails at £2 and has 12 cards. The second SKU contains game packs which retail at £10 each and include four packets containing 12 cards, with a guarantee of one
“Full of energy and optimism, it is a sporting revolution that invites everyone to fall in love with the game at its intense, incredible best”
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New Cricket Attax trading game Don’t be stumped this summer To maximise sales of Cricket Attax cards: aims to bowl independent • Don’t early return, as all trading cards are available on four weeks’ deferred credit. • Display Cricket Attax cards prominently retailers over! by the counter. • Word of mouth sells so tell your customers about the collection. • Use your website and social media to promote the cards. • If near a local cricket club, work with it to promote internally. • Utilise any POS material that may be available. • Display, display, display! • Keep track of sales - don’t get caught out by selling out.
Mr Marsh told The Fed: “The Hundred competition is the first of its kind in the world that is fit for the digital era and throws open cricket’s doors to all. Full of energy and optimism, it is a sporting revolution that invites everyone to fall in love with the game at its intense, incredible best.
“The format is 10 x 10 white ball overs where every single one counts. Over the course of five weeks from late July, eight regional men’s and women’s teams will be competing. The Hundred is all about speed of ball, of bat, of reaction, of excitement. It means big risks, heart stopping hits and sky-high drama. Expect everything… expect it fast!”
To encourage boys and girls aged between eight and 11 to have fun and fall in love with cricket, the England and Wales cricket board has launched Dynamos. To get youngsters to collect and complete the new Cricket Attax trading card collection, product sampling has been arranged at Dynamos events this summer. Influential youtubers and celebrity cricket fans will be endorsing the collection, while digital competitions will also drive awareness.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 49 | Pro Print Get sticky this summer Panini has launched two new sticker collections featuring characters and scenes from the blockbuster movie Frozen 2 and the latest Disney and Pixar release, Luca.
Luca is set to become this summer’s box office smash hit with children. Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides.
Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface.
Panini’s new sticker collection has a total of 230 stickers and cards to collect. Each album comes with a Frozen 2 is set three years after the first Frozen film and cardholder for collectors to store their cards. follows Elsa the Snow Queen and her sister Anna, as they embark on an adventure far away from their beloved There are special holographic stickers to look out for, kingdom of Arendelle. as well as a pull-out poster inside the album. Elsa has been warned of a threat to Arendelle, so they Starter packs contain an album, 22 stickers, four cards set out on a voyage to save their lands, where they also and a card holder. discover how Elsa gained her magical powers.
The collection went on sale from June 17. Panini’s brand-new sticker collection features a 36-page album, 192 stickers and 50 cards, where fans can relive the best moments of the movie.
The collection includes 48 special stickers with magical glittering effects and a folder with fun activities to complete.
Starter packs include an album, 22 stickers, four cards and a card holder, and went on sale from June 10.
Panini also has some promotional albums to give out to retailers that they can give away in store to stimulate sales.
RRPs for the Luca and Frozen collections are:
Starter Packs: £3.99 Sticker Packets (4 stickers and 1 card Multi-sets (17 packets) £14.99 per pack): £0.90
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i’m On Your Side once again this summer
Following success with previous subscription campaigns, the i is looking for NFRN members to take part in a new sales initiative. Read on to find out more.
Subscriptions have proved invaluable to the trade - Readers were offered the i for just £1.99 per week for particularly over the past year - by locking in customers three months compared to the full price of £4.45 - a despite changing habits and/or circumstances. Giving loyal whopping 55 per cent discount - and members’ invoices customers a good deal and protecting valuable revenue for were credited with £5 for every subscription gained. news retailers, news wholesalers and publishers. Paul Bacon, key account manager at i, told The Fed Over the past year - and in association with the NFRN that he was not surprised that the power of newsagents’ - the i newspaper has run several print subscription influence on their customers was proved, with a wave campaigns in-paper and has been rewarding members of new subscriptions being registered, contributing to who successfully recruit new subscribers. the title’s year-on-year recovery.
For example, as a follow on from the successful i’m On He said: “i has always benefitted from word of mouth Your Side campaign which was conceived in 2019 as a as newsagents recognised the title as being impartial, way for retailers to use their knowledge of their own trusted and engaging and were able to suggest it to lapsed customers to upsell to occasional purchasers, April and disengaged newspaper readers. In April the i’m On this year saw the tabloid giving 200 NFRN members Your Side offer was amended for members to directly an exclusive offer to help grow subscriptions. target new subscriptions and the take-up rate reflected the influence newsagents clearly have on their customers.
“At i, we use various methods and mediums to communicate our brand values and offers to the public, but our voice is always loud when the message comes via actual newsagents as customers know they can be trusted.”
i is planning another subscription campaign in mid-July and, this time round, is looking to work with more NFRN members. Anyone interested in getting promotional material should email [email protected].
“It would be great to get more stores involved as we know the strong offer will appeal to both i readers and retailers alike,” Mr Bacon said.
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As part of a new business partnership, members using business transfer agents EMF to sell their shops will be offered a 10 per cent discount. EMF director Michael Taylor takes a look at the property market for The Fed.
Throughout the pandemic, convenience stores, village store sector, with demand across the country currently shops and newsagents have been incredibly well supported outstripping supply for both leasehold and freehold by the local population, having put themselves on the front opportunities, with and without accommodation. line to serve their communities. In many instances, this support has resulted in record trading results for many of With the first national lockdown back in March 2020, these businesses, with every indication that people will and the roads empty, the telephones continued to ring continue to shop locally even as restrictions are lifted. at EMF. The retail/convenience store sector continued Customers are realising their local independent can offer to be hugely successful, both in respect of the numbers just as good a selection of retail lines at competitive of new enquiries received and the volume of sales being prices as many national operators. achieved, with many clients actively looking for their perfect retail business. Who would have thought a worldwide pandemic would spark a property boom here in the UK? The same can be The type of buyer differs considerably, ranging from said for businesses, in particular the retail/convenience those perusing their first business venture to those
| 56 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Member Benefit EMF
looking to expand their existing portfolio of stores, having That project is now winding down as completions take place. reaped the benefits of a bumper trading period. A number of buyers have chosen to relocate, having re-evaluated their When considering selling your business, it pays to seek lifestyle and the change in working practices. the advice of an experienced business transfer agent. EMF Group has been successfully selling retail businesses for over Even with restrictions in place, EMF, along with 55 years and has extensive experience and knowledge within solicitors working from their homes, were able to progress this, backed up with comparable evidence which can assist and complete on a number of transactions across the when setting the marketing price. country. These ranged from Bere Alston Stores in the Tamar Valley, to Mary Tavy Post Office and Stores on Up to date financial information confirming the trading Dartmoor; Lyme Convenience Stores in the desirable performance of the store is key to arriving at the right seaside town of Lyme Regis on the Dorset coast and Sandy marketing price and to getting a successful sale. This News in Eastleigh, a short drive from the New Forest. is something that is being asked for more and more, in There was also Boden’s Newsagents in Staffordshire, one particular if finance is needed. of Stoke-on-Trent’s best known newsagents; High Kelling Post Office and Stores in Norfolk; and Hengoed Post Office With offices throughout England and Wales, wherever and Stores in Mid Glamorgan. your business is, there is an EMF office near you. So, whatever your reason for selling - be it retirement, a These were just a few of the many owner operator change in family circumstances or that you are just ready transactions to reach completion, and were in addition to for a new venture - EMF will guide you through the process a successful Martin McColl store disposal project, whereby and help you every step of the way, starting with a free, no EMF successfully found buyers for in excess of 200 stores. obligation market appraisal.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 57 | Shine a spotlight on your business Entries are now being accepted for the 2022 NFRN Awards and we want to hear from you.
After a Covid-19 enforced break, the NFRN Awards are A panel of judges from across the industry will review the back and are now open for enties, with the ceremony applications and, if previous years are anything to go by, it taking place on Tuesday January 25 2022. will have a tough job in whittling down the entries to the finalists and eventual winners. Once again, we want to hear about the amazing achievements of our fantastic members and their Finalists from each category will receive an all-expenses- staff when it comes to their work and dedication to paid trip to next year’s awards ceremony which, once again, their communities and customers, especially over is taking place at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. the past year and amid the coronavirus pandemic. Besides experiencing the pleasure of being shortlisted or Through our NFRN Awards we acknowledge and winning an NFRN Award, previous successful members reward commitment, determination and innovation and their staff have enjoyed significant local and national within the independent retail sector, shining a press coverage. spotlight on retailers who have adapted their stores in response to local needs or who offer the fantastic As always, the Awards are exclusive to NFRN members, levels of customer service that only an independent entry is free, and we would encourage you to apply in as retailer can. many categories as you would like. You can nominate your retail friends and colleagues too! We also want to find news deliverers who have demonstrated acts of bravery or heroism, or can show that they go above and beyond the call of duty.
Altogether, there are 10 retail categories to choose from and we would like you to put yourselves forward, together with deserving members of staff. The deadline for entries is 4pm on Friday October 15. Application forms can be downloaded from the NFRN’s website, TheFedOnline.com.
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Announcing the cancellation of the 2021 NFRN Awards unprecedented challenges we have all faced over the past ceremony, which was due to take place on January 12 at the 17 months. Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, National President Stuart Reddish said: “Obviously we are very disappointed, but we “In spite of all the difficulties and personal risk presented have been monitoring developments concerning Covid-19 by the pandemic, thousands of retailers have continued and, given the social distancing regulations and safety rules to go above and beyond to serve their communities - imposed by the government it was becoming increasingly making sure their customers were watered and fed, that apparent that the NFRN Awards could go not ahead. access was available to all the services required, and, most of all, that everyone was safe. “This was not a decision that was taken lightly but it was the right one, as the safety and health of our members, awards “I am extremely proud of the Federation and our members for finalists, sponsors and staff must come first.” the way we have all pulled together throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and I look forward to reading through the entries.” Opening entries and revealing the date for the 2022 Awards, Mr Reddish said: “After an enforced break we So, don’t delay! Take a look at the award categories below are excited to announce that the NFRN Awards are back. and decide which ones you will be entering. We look This 2022 event will be even more special, given the forward to receiving your applications.
2022 award categories Key dates Special awards
Responsible Retailer of the Year July 1: Entries open In addition to our 12 categories, there will be three special awards. Customer Service Retailer of the Year October 15: Entries close We be announcing the overall Shop Best Use of Technology January 25 2022: Awards Local, Shop Little Hero and will Food to Go Retailer of the Year ceremony at the Royal also be recognising not one but Sustainable Retailer of the Year Lancaster Hotel in London two Members of the Year. Independent Convenience Retailer of the Year The first award will recognise Symbol Convenience Retailer of a member demonstrating the Year outstanding service to both the Store2Door Deliverer of the Year Federation and to members in Newsagent of the Year terms of commitment, passion, professionalism, and dedication Community Champion during 2020. The second will Product of the Year reward a member for displaying Supplier of the Year all these attributes during 2021.
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Diversify your store
Shopping behaviour changed drastically during the pandemic. Customers wanted to shop locally and support their local businesses but also wanted to reduce the amount of time they spent outside to stop the spread of Covid-19. The increase in customers’ expectations of their local independent retailers means that shops should strive to offer more services to meet the demand.
According to Barclaycard’s “Lockdown Legacies” survey, almost two-thirds of shoppers have been choosing to shop closer to home, to support the local community. This is a trend that is set to continue as 91 per cent of the Brits who have been shopping locally throughout the pandemic say they will keep doing this to support smaller and independent businesses even after all restrictions end.
Adding a new retail service can not only keep the new customers you gained during lockdown but also increase your profits. They set your shop apart from different retailers and help your business become the ultimate one-stop-shop.
“Adding a new retail service can not only keep the new customers you gained during lockdown but also increase your profits”
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 63 | Win with the lottery
National Lottery operator Camelot has a network of Special event draws, such as EuroMillions Super more than 44,000 retail partners selling its products and Jackpot draws and Lotto ‘Must Be Won’ draws, drive helping to raise more than £30 million every week for impulse play and also lead to increased footfall. Camelot Good Cause projects across the UK. With many shoppers statistics comparing the sales uplift for a Euromillions only visiting a store to buy their National Lottery tickets, Super Jackpot with base sales on Friday September 4 this also drives footfall and boosts basket spend. 2020 reveal that such an event could boost a retailer’s EuroMillions sales by 73 per cent. Retailers earn 5 per cent commission for each National Lottery draw-based game sold and 6 per cent on each Camelot is working in partnership with the NFRN this Scratchcard they sell - as well as 1 per cent on certain year to drive awareness of special events and to support prizes paid out in store. the promotion of Healthy Play in store. In addition, Camelot will be offering a bespoke quarterly prize draw Camelot’s sales data reveals that on average, NFRN for members signed up to the Retailer Hub. members that trade with The National Lottery earned over £5,000 in commission per store last year. If your store doesn’t currently sell National Lottery According to Hall & Partners research, an added products and you would like to be considered, you advantage of selling The National Lottery is that 72 can visit the National Lottery Retailer Hub per cent of players claim their winnings in the same (www.tnlretailerhub.co.uk) and click on the store they buy their tickets from - earning additional ‘BECOME A RETAILER’ button. You will then be able commission for the retailer - and 65 per cent of Lotto to fill out your details and submit your application. winners reinvest their winnings in-store.
Hitesh Modi runs a Costcutter in Chesham and in 2019 was crowned NFRN National Lottery Retailer of the Year.
“One of the main things I like might cross-sell and encourage them about the Lottery is that it supports to buy something else. charities, so part of what the customer spends goes to good “I’m often surprised that a lot of people causes. I also think that having a who do have it, don’t actually make use national lottery in-store increases of it. We make sure our display is always footfall. You’ve got big mega full and, if there’s a big jackpot, we will draws, EuroMillions, Set For Life, print out a put a poster and we talk to these different games are exciting customers about it. When they find out for customers, young and old. So they could win a big prize, they typically yeah, for me it’s great! It brings in ask for four tickets rather than two to more footfall and more business. double their chances of winning. It’s a If someone buys a lottery ticket, I good way to upsell.”
| 64 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Feature Retail Services
Take bill payments
Payzone, which is part of the Post Office Group, is one of the UK's leading bill payments providers, with more than 30 years of experience in the sector. It works with a wide “Offering additional services is key for range of popular suppliers offering a variety of different convenience stores. Over the last few services and holds exclusive contracts with British Gas, years, we have expanded the number of ScottishPower Smart Metering, Jersey Electricity and services that our retailers can access United Utilities. through Payzone by forming partnerships “Offering additional services is key for convenience with different types of suppliers” stores,” Payzone’s commercial director Simon Lambert told The Fed. “Over the last few years, we have expanded the number of services that our retailers can access through Payzone by forming partnerships with different Offices or Payzone stores. That way it can ensure existing types of suppliers, such as One4all gift cards.” retailers benefit from store footfall and increased basket spend. Retailers also need an active Wi-Fi connection for the Payzone Plus device to work and must pass the usual credit checks.
Learn more about Payzone and the new Payzone Plus bundle and visit its website: www.payzone. co.uk/retailers/.
Matthew Watkins manages Tring Newsagents in Tring, Hertfordshire.
“Retail services like Payzone are important Payzone has recently launched its brand-new device, because it’s what the customer wants. They want Payzone Plus, which combines both bill payments and to be able to go somewhere to top up their phone card acceptance functionality. With card transactions and pay their gas bills. accounting for more than half of all payments made in the UK, Payzone’s new product offering provides even “We noticed an increase in footfall when more value to retailers. Payzone took on British Gas. A lot more of their customers started coming into the shop. Then The joining process is quick and simple. Retailers can we also have our regular people who come in and sign up and start transactions within five days. buy their newspapers or their shopping. They’ll also come here to top up their gas card or key.” Before joining, Payzone likes to make sure retailers are not already in a saturated area or to0 close to other Post
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 65 | The stamp of success
The Post Office has over 11,500 branches across the UK. foreign currency; travel insurance; Local Collect, Drop Of these, 97 per cent are run with retail partners on an and Go mail services and much more. agency or franchise basis. According to its website, 99.7 per cent of the population live within three miles of a In addition, its Everyday Banking services mean customers Post Office and 93 per cent live within one mile. It is the can access their high street bank account at their local biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches Post Office branch including withdrawals, deposits, than all the banks and building societies combined. change, cheques and balance enquiries.
The Post Office vows to continue developing a new range of products to make sure it has new ways to reinvest in its business, to keep it as relevant tomorrow as it is today.
It also says it will be a key part of the physical infrastructure that the digital world requires and help make sure everyone can benefit from changing technology.
“Having a Post Office really goes
The Post Office offers more than 170 different products hand in glove with the retail side, and services, spanning financial services including plus it gives you extra footfall” savings, loans, insurance, mortgages and credit cards; government services; broadband and home phone;
Adrian Thompson of Filby Post Office in Filby, Great Yarmouth.
“Having a Post Office really goes morning till 9pm at night, seven hand in glove with the retail side, days a week. If you’re going to put plus it gives you extra footfall. If a post office in, you’ve got to open I was just a grocery shop, I don’t the hours that will attract business. think I would get the footfall I get If you want to do half days and early without the post office. closes, that won’t work. I would definitely recommend adding the “You only get out of something service to your shop, as it will certainly what you put into it. My post benefit your retail business. But you office is open from 6am in the have got to put the hours in.”
| 66 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Feature Retail Services
Delivering convenience
Many service providers helped retailers expand their offers shopping and paying for goods. Providing services like to customers, yet added so many fees on top, making Jisp gives retailers a level playing field, allowing them to it extremely hard for retailers to keep their margins, compete with supermarkets and online grocery companies and having to inflate prices or raise delivery costs for in these unprecedented times. Shoppers have continuously customers. Jisp offers no commission or transaction fees been falling back in love with their local stores, so services on basket spend, charging only 30p (max £1.50 per week) like Jisp can take the pain-points of business management on fund transfer fees, which means retailers receive profits away, allowing retailers to focus on what they love and of exactly what they sell without price inflations and efficiently serving their local communities. extortionate service fees.
The beauty of Jisp solutions is that they can fit any store and any requirements that the store might have. Jisp is a ‘Swiss army knife’ for the retail industry, offering everything from home delivery to Click & Collect to Scan & Go. Retailers can pick and choose which services they wish to provide, and Jisp is continuously improving and expanding its offers to suit every business need.
With Covid-19 forever changing our lifestyles, it is likely that consumers will never go back to traditional ways of
Susan Connolly of SPAR Pennings Road, Tidworth, Wiltshire.
“There’s a huge difference in the they’ve had a drink in the garden, are basket spend on Jisp compared calling us out to deliver some more to a customer walking in the alcohol and things like that. store. We currently don’t run any promotions on Jisp, so if you want “I think this is a huge opportunity to walk to the store you will get for retailers. At the moment, we are discounts and offers, but we don’t currently working with Jisp to master run that on Jisp so it has increased what we do on the app. It’s something our margins as well as our sales. the supermarkets won’t be able to do for a long time and it gives us another “From what I can gather from USP. It makes us relevant. Places like my customers, it is mainly Tesco are way off from providing people wanting something more this sort of service. They can’t do convenient. In the hot weather, deliveries the same week, never mind we’re finding that people, after deliveries in an hour.”
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 67 | Feature Retail Services
Have you heard about…?
Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is the world’s number one app for fighting food waste, where you can sell food that would otherwise be thrown away. Each year, a third of food produced in the world goes to waste, and it is responsible for 8 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Being on the app means retailers can access a base of millions of new consumers while also recovering sunk costs that would have otherwise been lost when the food was thrown away.
Retailers do not need to fit any specific criteria to use Too Good To Go, just have food that goes to waste - that's it. It also does not need to be a regular thing; you can set up your account and just use it as and when you have food waste.
“Being on the app means retailers can access a base of millions of new consumers while also recovering sunk costs that would have otherwise been lost when the food was thrown away”
Joining Too Good To Go means you can feel good about not wasting food and help the planet, at the same time as attracting new consumers and recovering sunk costs. To find out more information on Too Good To Go and to sign up go to toogoodtogo.co.uk/nfrn.
| 68 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Feature Retail Mutual Have a stronger business for a stronger future
The Retail Mutual tells The Fed how going digital can help small businesses build closer relationships with customers.
Over the past year, businesses have faced significant challenges, from This guide includes government restrictions and enforced closures to changes in consumer information about: shopping habits reducing footfall in brick-and-mortar stores. As we emerge from lockdown, the high street is changing, with more vacant premises 1. SEO - How to improve your website appearing as big brands leave bricks-and-mortar behind. But like a post- so that it has a better chance of being apocalyptic movie, the dust will settle, the sun will rise and people will found online. venture out. There is now a real opportunity for independent businesses to let their customers know that they have made it through lockdown unscathed. 2. Google My Business - A free way for your local community to find your So, if you are one of these fortunate businesses, do customers know you are business online. open? Do they know where you are? Do they even know you exist? 3. Social media - How to make the most of social media for your business.
4. Paid search - What it is and how paid search can work for your business.
5. Paid social - How advertising on social media can help you find new customers.
6. Video - Using video to promote your business and engage your customers. The Retail Mutual’s new “Stronger Business, Stronger Future” campaign will help independent businesses utilise digital marketing to attract more 7. eCommerce - How to use your customers and increase on and offline sales. But even if you do have an online website to sell your products. presence, are you making the most of it? What are you doing to encourage customers into your business? Is your business in the best shape it can be? 8. Reporting and monitoring - Understanding if your marketing is We have collaborated with Wonderful Creative Agency to create an in-depth working from measuring data. marketing promotion guide. The purpose of this guide is to help business 9. Bringing offline online - Using owners - like you - get the most out of your digital marketing. traditional marketing to drive online sales.
What’s more, we have produced a Call. Quote. Covered. series of complementary blogs giving If you want a stronger business for a stronger future, choose The Retail additional information about how Mutual as your business cover provider. Since its inception in 1999, The you can improve and strengthen your Retail Mutual has grown to provide cover to over 100 different trade business. Don’t miss a single blog by types, including retail, hair salons, barber shops and catering businesses. signing up for our newsletter. It is jam packed with valuable tips to help busy Why not see what we can do for your business by getting a free no- business owners like yourself. obligation quote from us? Talk to one of our team by calling 033 2127 263 or start your quote journey at www.theretailmutual.com. The Retail Visit www.theretailmutual.com / Mutual is in your corner. downloadable-marketing-guide to download your free marketing guide.
WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 69 | | 70 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 71 | To include your event please email: Diary dates [email protected]
Opportunities
JUL 2021 Olympics SEP Little Heroes SEP Chelsea Flower Show 23 14 Luncheon 21
July 2021 August 2021 September 2021
01 North West district executive 01 London Landmarks Half Marathon 01 Eastern Counties district council meeting 02 Northern district council meeting meeting* Yorkshire district council meeting Wales Air Show, Swansea North West district council 06 Summer Bank Holiday, Scotland Round the Island Yacht Race, meeting* East Midlands district council Isle of Wight 03 02 East Midlands district council meeting meeting* 07 NEC meeting Ireland district council meeting Scotland district council meeting* Northern Ireland district council Joint NEC/NFC meeting 07 NEC meeting NFC meeting meeting NEC meeting World Chocolate Day 04 NEC meeting 08 Wales district council meeting Joint NEC/NFC Meeting 08 Goodwood Festival of Speed West Midlands district council NFC Meeting 11 Wimbledon Tennis Men’s Final meeting 11 Last Night of the Proms Euro 2020 Final Cricket - England v India five test 12 Great North Run series starts 15 CLOSING DATE for final agenda 13 Independent Retail Month 05 South West district council meeting 16 Standing Orders committee 15 15-18 The Open, Royal St George’s 06 Edinburgh International Festival meeting Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo England v Pakistan T20s 17 Standing Orders committee 16 09 South East district council meeting meeting 17 Rugby League Challenge Cup 10 London district council meeting 18 Rugby World Cup starts Final, Wembley 11 Scotland district council meeting Northern district council meeting** North West district council meeting 20 18 British Formula 1 Grand Prix 20-26 Recycle Week 17 CLOSING DATE Preliminary Agenda 21 East Midlands district council 19 19-23 Eid al-Adha 18 NEC Meeting meeting** Standing Orders committee meeting NEC meeting North West district council meeting** 22 Standing Orders committee meeting Joint NEC/NFC meeting 19 Ireland district council meeting** Women’s British Open Gold NFC meeting Northern Ireland district council Championships, Carnoustie meeting** 2021 Olympics 23 24 Northern district council meeting* 43rd Ryder Cup Yorkshire district council meeting* National Council Liverpool 21-26 Chelsea Flower Show 26 Ireland district council meeting* NEC National Council Liverpool Northern Ireland district council 22 27 West Midlands district council meeting* Eastern Counties district 30 Paralympic Games start meeting** council meeting Scotland district council meeting** 25 West Midlands district council 31 Cowes Week meeting* 23 Eastern Counties district council London district council meeting* meeting** Wales district council meeting* 24 Macmillan coffee morning South West district council meeting* Yorkshire district executive meeting** The meeting dates were correct 26 27 South East district council meeting** at the time of going to press. 27 Reading Festival Leeds Festival 28 London district council meeting** For more information 30 Bank Holiday Wales district council meeting** about each event visit: 31 South East district council meeting* 30 South West district council meeting**
TheFedOnline.com *Discussing the preliminary agenda. *Discussing the preliminary agenda. **Pre conference unless otherwise stated.
| 72 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 73 | Elite Partners The go-to-source of information for independent Get the best deals and offers retailers. Thier print publications - including RN and Retail Express - are filled with advice, exclusive news with our elite partners and industry insights to help you grow sales and profits. T: 020 7689 3384 www.betterretailing.com
The perfect payment experience needs a trusted An award winning delivery network, averaging 98 per partner - barclaycard can help you take payments cent availability, extensive product range and strong in-store, on the go and online. own-label brand - including over 2,400 Co-op own brand products - means unrivalled service and support. T: NFRN Connect on 0800 121 6376 T: 0800 542 7490 www.join-nisa.co.uk E: [email protected] www.barclaycard.co.uk
With the biggest and best trading card and stickers As the UK’s leading food & drink wholesaler, collections, Panini is proud to be an Elite Partner of the Booker's commitment to customers is to improve biggest independent retail group in the world. choice, price and service to drive footfall, sales and profits in your business. T: NFRN Connect on 0800 121 63761 Visit www.booker.co.uk to find your local branch. E: [email protected]
Boost Drinks is a functional beverage brand operating Reach understands the importance and value of home across four key soft drinks categories; energy, sport, news delivery (HND), working tirelessly at industry protein and iced coffee. Boost is also the only soft drinks brand exclusive to the independent convenience channel. level and directly with the NFRN on projects to help build and support new and existing distribution services. T: 0113 240 3666 E: [email protected] www.boostdrinks.com/boost-trade/ E: [email protected]
Operating the National Lottery, Camelot raises billions Red Bull is the UK’s number one energy drink and one each year for the public good. Its overall objective is of the most revered consumer brands worldwide. Now available in over 170 countries, over 75 billion cans of to maximise returns to good causes through selling Red Bull have been consumed since the brand’s inception products in an efficient and socially responsible way. in 1987, helping to give wings to people and ideas. T: 0800 840 5060 www.retailerhub.co.uk T: 020 3117 2000 www.redbull.com
With zero per cent commission, zero transaction Over 20 years providing independent retailers with an fees and 500 per cent sales increases, Jisp empowers alternative to insurance. Offering an extended portfolio independent businesses and convenience stores of products to protect your home, family, staff and any to provide free home delivery and click & collect landlord properties you may have. services to their local communities. T: 0333 2127 263 E: [email protected] T: 01400 222 667 www.jisp.com/sign-up www.theretailmutual.com
Nestlé’s wholesale and convenience team covers many Smiths News is the UK’s largest newspaper and iconic brands, including Nescafé, Maggi, Carnation magazine wholesaler, distributing a huge range of print and Nesquik. Its focus is winning in drinks-to-go. media to 24,000 customers, from large general retailers T: 07884 547511 to smaller independent newsagents. E: [email protected] T: 0345 121 2235 www.smithsnews.co.uk www.nescafe.com
Nestlé Professional operates successfully in an SBF GB&I was formed in 2014 as Lucozade Ribena enormous marketplace, providing branded, creative Suntory, and is part of Suntory Beverage & Food Europe. solutions that help customers develop their businesses, Its much-loved soft drinks brands include Lucozade ultimately driving footfall and increasing their profit. Energy, Lucozade Sport, Lucozade Revive, Ribena, Orangina and MayTea. E: [email protected] www.coffeetogo.co.uk www.lrsuntory.com
NFRN Connect is your membership helpline
The team is here seven days a week to provide support and assistance on all aspects of your business and membership.
Call today on 0800 121 6376 or 020 7017 8880 to see what we can do for you.
| 74 ISSUE 17 JULY 2021 WWW.THEFEDONLINE.COM Latest NFRN Elite Partners
JTI is looking forward to partnering with the NFRN for the year ahead and offering retailers support with everything from innovative products through to staff training, and top tips for merchandising and displays.
A key focus for JTI is to continue the progress we’ve already made with our 100 per cent tobacco-free nicotine pouch brand, Nordic Spirit. We’ve come a long way since launch and are proud to be the UK’s No.1 nicotine pouch brand and to be able to offer a range of different flavours and strengths to the market.
The tobacco market has been faced with many challenges, but it continues to be a key profit driver for many retailers. To keep up with current trends, we’ve already launched some exciting new products this year, including two additions to the Sterling family; Sterling Dual Capsule Leaf Wrapped 20s and Sterling Rolling Tobacco Essential 30g.
We look forward to supporting NFRN members throughout the year, ensuring they make the most of every must-stock to help drive sales for them and their store.
Tel: 0800 163503 Website: www.jti.com/europe/united-kingdom
IRi Market Place, Volume Share, Nicotine Pouch Category, Total UK, YTD Mar-21. For more information or to verify comparison contact Nordic Spirit on Facebook or Instagram: @nordicspirit_uk or using our details at nordicspirit.co.uk/contact.
Partnering with the NFRN, Telegraph Media Group is promoting our Subscriptions First message, helping you drive subscriptions and reap the rewards.
We are making good progress towards our strategic goal of delivering one million subscribers by 2023. In March 2021 we surpassed the milestone of 600,000 subscribers.
This success has enabled the ongoing investment in our award-winning journalism, with quality journalism being the foundation of everything we produce.
We listened when you told us that winning and retaining newspaper customers remains vital and we will work with you to: • Drive print subscriptions, helping support your business and sustain circulation; • Help you retain regular casual customers and increase their frequency of purchase; • Maximise revenue from sales of the Telegraph newspaper; • Support both the printed product and newspaper category; • Converting just one Telegraph casual sale customer into a seven-day subscriber earns you £50 and will return you circa £300 annually in retail profit and delivery service charges*. You can convert your casual sales customers to a subscription at any time. All your casual sale customers are potential subscribers.
Our fantastic ‘Summer of Sport’ pack provides advice on growing Telegraph sales and subscriptions.
Order your pack from NFRN Connect 0800 121 6376 or direct from *where home news delivery is carried out. The Telegraph at [email protected].
Coming next time... • Daniel Johnson MSP writes an article for The Fed about a new law in Scotland that will make it an offence to threaten, abuse or attack anyone working in retail and why it is important that similar legislation is passed by other UK parliaments. • Preparations are well underway for this year’s Annual Conference in Bournemouth in October. In a special eight-page pull-out supplement we provide the low down on the hot topics and the candidates standing for election. • Plus all the usual news, views and opinions.
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