Retail News July /August 2014 (news)

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4|Retail News|July/August 2014|www.retailnews.ie

News

Irish Publishers Charged Fee for Airport Listing IRISH publishers have described as is unaffordable. “outrageous” a plan to charge them “We are a small independent £500 [€630] per title, per annum, to publisher and don’t get involved in the stock magazines in WH Smith airport politics of magazine publishing,” said stores in Ireland. Nick Maxwell, who owns Wordwell Retail News has been given access Publishing. “We have three titles: to an email, sent last month, which History Ireland, Archaeology Ireland stated “as and from 21st July 2014 your and Books Ireland. They are looking for title will be delisted - unless [you] come £500 per title. That’s a total of £1500 to an agreement with WHS to get your [€1890] every year. We simply can’t title ranged for your next issue.” afford it.” According to the letter from WH According to the letter, publishers Smith, “The promotional fee for being cannot distribute to WH Smith listed in the airports is £500, which Stores “unless you have a commercial ensures a listing for a 12-month agreement and obtained an period. This is by ‘authorisation code’ week commencing from WHS, in advance”. 21st July any Maxwell contacted titles that do not Lucid Direct, the UK have a commercial company that supplies agreement with WH Smith’s airport WHS will be delisted planograms but received (sic).” “no offer of agreement”. The apparently He continued: “We are compulsory effectively delisted. I “promotional fee” have written to them pertains to seven complaining about this. WH Smith stores Lucid got back with an in Dublin airports offer to meet, but after and one in Shannon. the deadline of July 21, For some Irish and so there is no offer Nick Maxwell, owner, Wordwell publishers, the cost Publishing. on the fee issue. So we

are still delisted.” Easons originally held the contract for shops at Dublin Airport before WH Smith took over a year ago. However, this is the first time publishers have been charged “promotional fees” for listings. According to Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenient Stores and Newsagents Association, the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, which will pave the way for a grocery watchdog, does not provide for newspaper or magazine distribution. Jennings said: “Sinn Fein Deputy Peadar Tóibín, at our request, sought to have an amendment to the Competition and Consumer Bill, providing for an extension of products sold within grocery shops, such as electrical materials, potted plants, newspapers, magazines, telephones, etc. It’s a misnomer to suggest a grocery store only stocks grocery products. We got no satisfaction from the Minister, who has limited it only to grocery products.” Most publishers Retail News spoke to wished to remain anonymous. Some publishers have agreed to pay the fee; others have not. The Competition Authority confirmed they had been notified about the letter, but declined to comment.


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Retail News July /August 2014 (news) by Retail News - Issuu