Retailers have hit out at a daily newspaper’s “disturbing” cover price after it increased by 10 pence.
The National Federation of Retail Newsagents says it is seeking an urgent meeting with Irish News managing director Dominic Fitzpatrick after the price rose from 80p to 90p.
The NFRN says the News has the reduced the retail margin by 2pc following the increase, which is its first in two years.
The federation claims one leading retailer in Northern Ireland has already delisted the Belfast-based title and removed copies of it from their shelves.
NFRN chief executive Paul Baxter said: “What makes this move particularly disturbing is that it has come completely out of the blue. No doubt when we challenge the publisher it will claim that its costs are increasing while its advertising revenue is dropping but overheads for independent retailers are rising too.
“As well as the introduction of the national living wage earlier this year and new minimum wage rates last month members are having to contend with additional costs associated with auto enrolment along with carriage charges that go up on a yearly basis.
“Every time this happens our members question their loyalty and commitment to the newspaper category and news products are given less prominence and effort than before.
“It is deeply disappointing that our members’ takings are being further depleted by this unexpected, unnecessary and arrogant cut in margin and this is a move that the NFRN will not be taking lightly.”
He added: “The Irish News’ penny pinching could have some dire consequences as we already know that it has been delisted by one leading multiple while others are seriously considering withdrawing their support.”
HTFP has asked the Irish News for a comment.
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Covert cover price increases are common in the regionals and are usually a last throw of the dice for an ailing title and a clear sign of the paper having lost its audience of both readers and advertisers, hardly an encouraging sign when trying to woo people to buy it.
The folly of charging more for less appears to be lost on those making the decisions to increase the cover price and it’s worrying that having driven more readers and revenue away than it’s attracted when increased in the past,they continue to do it, hardly a positive sign of the papers worth and value is it?
If people are no longer buying a paper at one price they sure as anything won’t be buying it at a higher price,this tactic will only penalise loyal buyers who will have to pay more or make them consider whether the paper is worth the extra money.
Expect copy sales to fall and revenues to drop
with another price rise further down the line as a result.
And so the circle continues and those making these panic measure decisions remain
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That’s nothing compared to what JP are doing. Trying to drive papers out of existence with death by 1000 cuts. I’ve heard that in some areas non JP papers from the next town are sending photographers in to take pics that Jp tell customers they cant afford to cover! Going many miles outta their way to get a foothold while JP stand by broke and helpless! You couldnt write it!!
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