Franchise Activity

Did you know that In fact, more than 80 percent of the Australian population visits a newsagency at least once a week.!!!!!
And that a typical Supanews store will serve 4,800 customers a week

Supanews is Australia's leading Newsagency retailer and Australia's first and currently the only franchise business model for the newsagency industry. As such, Supanews offers franchisees the advantage of a quick start up business in this unique industry.

How We Started

Adrian Gaskin and his family have owned and operated newsagencies for over 37 years.

In the early 1990s the Gaskins identified an opportunity within the newsagency industry to create a brand focused on customer service and shopping experience. Thus, the Supanews concept was born.

Supanews opened its first store in Aspley, in 1992. Customers flocked to the store, confirming that this new approach gave the public what they wanted. Supanews spread throughout the Brisbane CBD and select suburban sites, becoming an integral part of the retail landscape for the Brisbane public. The family chain grew quickly from these humble beginnings and by 2004 they owned 23 stores, 19 of which were newsagencies, throughout Queensland and NSW.

The desire existed to grow the chain further, but the business was restricted by the limited family resources. Franchising was investigated as a potential vehicle for growth. Under the guidance of Deacons, the business developed quickly and Supanews is now the leading national retailer of Newsagencies and the only organisation offering a full franchise business model for the newsagency industry.

Always looking to improve the business, the decision was made in late 2006 Supanews to establish a joint venture with the A&R Whitcoulls Group to form Supanews Retail. The A&R Whitcoulls Group has close to 300 stores with brands such as Angus & Robertson (170 stores in Australia), Whitcoulls (70 stores in New Zealand), Calendar Club and more recently the Borders book store chain in New Zealand, Australia and Singapore. This joint venture gives Supanews Retail greater buying and negotiating power along with the added synergies of books. The new Supanews group has retained the close knit "family" feel under the direction of Managing Director Adrian Gaskin and his family.

Supanews Retail now has 50 stores in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT and Victoria. The group has plans to grow to 100 stores by the end of 2009 through acquisition and the development of Greenfield sites. A 200 store target by 2010 has been set, which would see Supanews serve more than 150 million customers a year.

In 2008 a new growth plan was put in place, which focused on the purchases of existing businesses. This ensured that Supanews could continue its growth strategy by selecting only the best newsagencies. "Another advantage is that incoming franchisees are able to rely on historical figures," Gaskin says. "We believe that this helps ensure that franchisees and their advisers are better able to make appropriate business decisions".

Key points of the new 2008 Supanews Growth Plan include;

1. No Initial Franchise Fee - Supanews has temporarily waived the initial franchise fee of $50,00 for all new franchisees.
2. Assured Profit - Supanews selects quality newsagencies and conducts complete due diligence, ensuring the profit.
3. Don't pay too much - Supanews negotiates the purchase paying a commercial multiple of the verified profit.
4. Free shopfit - Supanews takes over the store and at its own cost will partially shopfits and implements its systems, spending between $100,000 and $250,000. (On average $170,000 per store is spent)
5. Value for Money - Supanews franchises the newsagency to the successful candidate on the same multiple they initially paid for the store.
6. Ongoing support - Supanews provides full business support which includes dedicated operational field support, centralised accounts, marketing, systems and buying power.
7. Inordinate growth potential - The historical figures, the business is sold on, will not take into consideration potential growth in turnover and profit the business may sustain by bringing it up to the Supanews' standards or for the implementation of new Supanews product lines.
8. Monthly Rebates - As part of our group purchase power we have been able to negotiate additional cash rebates for our franchisee from some of our key suppliers. Why would you run the risk of investing in an independent newsagency when you can have the security of a newly fitted-out Supanews for less and become part of a 300 store group".

contact

John Watt
Group Manager - Network Development
Supanews Retail Pty Ltd
PHONE: (07) 3221 0211
FAX: (07) 3221 0822
ADDRESS: Level 23 Lennon's Plaza
Brisbane, QLD, 4000
EMAIL: john.watt@supanews.com.au
WEBSITE: www.supanews.com.au