It's rough out there - but the magazine industry can keep its head above water if it works together. This was the consensus at a seminar held at Magazines and Business Media 2008, the PPA's annual conference, which saw representatives of all stages of the supply chain giving their views on the future of the market.
David Morton, strategic development director at Menzies Distribution, highlighted the benefits of industry collaboration from a supply chain perspective. "In white water conditions we have more chance of survival by pulling together as an industry," he said, adding that improving efficiency in the supply chain would not only provide a better service to retail, but improve the category's carbon footprint and 'green credentials'.
Morton also outlined projects which demonstrate how the industry collaborates via the Joint Industry Group (JIG), including the Unsolds Challenge, the Group's key focus for 2008.
Frontline's sales director Martin Knowles and Patrick King of MMC explained that the PPA's Retail Marketing Group (RMG) is committed to promoting the benefits of the magazine category to retail. In the year ahead it will inform and educate the retail trade and encourage retailers to take part in Magazine Week 2008, a consumer campaign running in September.
Adam Leyland, editor of Convenience Store's sister publication The Grocer, told delegates: "Competition for shelf space is higher than ever. It's not magazine against magazine, but magazines against other FMCG products." He also said that a streamlining of magazine ranges in larger stores had contributed to a loss of space for the magazine category.