Newsagents continued to face challenges in 2021 brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst there was some relief from natural disasters, some Newsagents suffered storm and flood damage but thankfully not to the extent as in 2020. Newsagents have also faced personal and family challenges – whether they be financial or on the health front.
Throughout the problems faced, and despite threats to their business and own wellbeing, Newsagents continued to trade providing essential services to their local communities, supporting those who needed information, news and basic supplies. Newsagents moved from being essential to critical businesses, demonstrating their importance to Governments and the communities they serve.
Governments at all levels continued to rise to the challenges faced by small and family businesses.
What 2022 will bring is uncertain. The ACT and NSW are facing new challenges due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant. How the latest threat plays out will largely determine how Newsagents prosper throughout 2022 and beyond.
We believe the focus on local rather than interstate and international travel will continue to allow Newsagents to leverage off the “staycationers” and hopefully maximise sales in the remaining days before Christmas, well into the New Year and traditional school and family holiday period.
NANA, as a representative organisation has come through 2021 in a better place than where we were at the start of the year. Our levels of service continue to broaden and our emphasis on supporting Members – individually and as an important industry comprised of small and family businesses, will always be NANA’s focus. Our staff resources have remained strong, financial sustainability is assured and our influence has been maintained at the highest levels.
Daily, NANA represents Members, as individual businesses and as a group to politicians, regulators, publishers, suppliers and other industry participants. NANA achieves “cut through” which often isn’t available to individual Newsagents. NANA utilises that ability to get to the right person at the right time to assist Members and put them in a better position.
NANA has continued to take the leading role in advocacy in industrial relations for the industry. Through cooperation rather than competition, NANA has continued to work with ALNA to project a unified voice to the Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Ombudsman and similar agencies. Whilst pragmatic, this approach continues to deliver better outcomes for the whole industry.
NANA’s Board, comprised of Phuong Nguyen, Keith Kearney, Peter Watt, Chris Genders and Rohan Rees all contribute to the day to day and ongoing governance of your industry association. Their roles and contributions are not diminished by their volunteer status as they always bring professionalism, industry knowledge and fairness to the Board table.
NANA’s staff – Dianne Murphy, Alan Price and Ian Booth are dedicated to the Newsagency cause. Dianne, Alan and Ian are known to many of you. We are fortunate to have them on the team to ensure Newsagents get the attention they deserve. NANA also utilises a range of consultants to assist Members with expert advice – so the team is larger than what it appears on the surface. Importantly, NANA Members have the benefit of the experience of other NANA Members. Whilst each problem may be unique, there is always another Newsagent who has been through a similar experience. NANA has the ability and is fortunate to be able to plug-in to that network of experienced professional Newsagents.
On behalf of NANA’s Board and staff, we wish you every happiness for Christmas and the New Year with the added hope that 2022 will not contain too many surprises.
Brian Woods
NANA President
