Increasing footfall into Post Office / Newsagents

[mrbounce]

I'm in the process of purchasing a Post Office with Newsagents which also has lottery/Pay Point Services.

At the moment we currently have Newspaper Rounds, which other nearby shops dont offer in the area.

Opposite we have a couple of Off Liceence / Convenience stores which are very busy.

The way I see it, local residents, use the Post Office and if they only need to buy general confectionary, newspapers/magazines they do everything in our shop and then go home..

On the other hand, some people use the Post Office and if they need their general convenience products, i.e bread/milk or alcohol - they go accross the road to the shops opposite.

I know i've kind of answered my own question, and that would be to increase the product range to stoke convenience products and put in an Off Licence, but any other ideas to increase footfall, which would therefore help to increase Post Office income and/or shop takings....?

[Wessex]

Greetings cards and small gifts including novelty items
Photo processing
Photocopier
dry cleaning ( as agent)
Postcard /ads in window or customised frame outside shop
Football pools
range of small tourist items if in tourist area
hot drinks machine
cold drinks machine (slush puppy type)
Stationery items /pens

[subbie]

Have the PO spoken to you about the Pay Point terminal, they tend not to like them and generally ask for their removal.

Subbie

[mrbounce]

Have the PO spoken to you about the Pay Point terminal, they tend not to like them and generally ask for their removal.

Subbie

nope the pay point terminal is there on the newsagents side, they've not said anything about removing it, well not as of yet as not taken over yet, but pay point are sending out paperwork for it to be transferred to me when I take over...

[mrbounce]

Greetings cards and small gifts including novelty items
Photo processing
Photocopier
dry cleaning ( as agent)
Postcard /ads in window or customised frame outside shop
Football pools
range of small tourist items if in tourist area
hot drinks machine
cold drinks machine (slush puppy type)
Stationery items /pens

Photo processing, is this as an agency? What are the commissions/profits like?

There is already, photocopier, stationery items, pens etc...

[subbie]

Mr Bounce

Have you had your interview yet? I think your appointment as Postmaster will be dependant upon you signing to agree to apply for a POL waiver to use this Pay Point machine for certain non POL transactions ONLY!

Might take the shine off things, mate, in fact you need to ask about waivers for other things as well, and about what sort of contract it is you will be taking on, for example this PO Local concept often gets dropped in at the last minute.

dont sign the Pay Point paperwork until you have passed the POl interview and have received your letter of appointment.

Subbie

[goggins69]

I worked in a sub office which charged to send and receive fax's for customers. It all helps. Good luck

[mrbounce]

Mr Bounce

Have you had your interview yet? I think your appointment as Postmaster will be dependant upon you signing to agree to apply for a POL waiver to use this Pay Point machine for certain non POL transactions ONLY!

Might take the shine off things, mate, in fact you need to ask about waivers for other things as well, and about what sort of contract it is you will be taking on, for example this PO Local concept often gets dropped in at the last minute.

dont sign the Pay Point paperwork until you have passed the POl interview and have received your letter of appointment.

Subbie

Hi

I passed the interview in December and went through training in January..

Due to delays on the sellers part we havent taken over yet, but hopefully takeover in 4 - 6 weeks..

I wasn't informed of anything at interview..

[subbie]

You must therefore have what is known as a letter of appointment, in that letter will be all the things POL want you to do either prior to or following take over. Applying for waivers etc would be mentioned in the appointment letter.

You also should be talking to your accountant as you will need to apply for a NT Tax code or POL HR Payroll will take tax on a month 1 emergency basis.

Subbie

[mrbounce]

You must therefore have what is known as a letter of appointment, in that letter will be all the things POL want you to do either prior to or following take over. Applying for waivers etc would be mentioned in the appointment letter.

You also should be talking to your accountant as you will need to apply for a NT Tax code or POL HR Payroll will take tax on a month 1 emergency basis.

Subbie

oh ok, i'll have a look.

The paypoint terminal is on the Newsagents side of the shop, therefore this should still be ok to use for transactions which cannot be done through the Post Office right?

[subbie]

yup thats right, but you need the waiver in place to allow you to do that.

Subbie

[Wessex]

Greetings cards and small gifts including novelty items
Photo processing
Photocopier
dry cleaning ( as agent)
Postcard /ads in window or customised frame outside shop
Football pools
range of small tourist items if in tourist area
hot drinks machine
cold drinks machine (slush puppy type)
Stationery items /pens

mr bounce these are things I noticed over the years I worked in spdo 's as postie.Photos can be as agency or if you have room you can do your own processing I believe.

[bluerose]

I'm in the process of purchasing a Post Office with Newsagents which also has lottery/Pay Point Services.

At the moment we currently have Newspaper Rounds, which other nearby shops dont offer in the area.

Opposite we have a couple of Off Liceence / Convenience stores which are very busy.

The way I see it, local residents, use the Post Office and if they only need to buy general confectionary, newspapers/magazines they do everything in our shop and then go home..

On the other hand, some people use the Post Office and if they need their general convenience products, i.e bread/milk or alcohol - they go accross the road to the shops opposite.

I know i've kind of answered my own question, and that would be to increase the product range to stoke convenience products and put in an Off Licence, but any other ideas to increase footfall, which would therefore help to increase Post Office income and/or shop takings....?

Fresh Food like sarnies and the like.