New ways to gain and retain readers will be discussed by major players in the regional press meet in Bristol later this month.

Sales initiatives, home delivery, re-branding, promotions and new pricing strategies are on the agenda of the Newspaper Society Sales and Promotions Conference & Exhibition 2002.

The conference sponsored by ABC is aimed at people involved in developing sales and promotions at regional press companies.

Some 250 delegates will be addressed by – among others – Mike Newman, circulation director of the Daily Mail, who will present the Office of Fair Trading review of newspaper distribution; Richard Marks divisional director of media at Taylor Nelson Sofres, who will talk about the Home Delivery II Report; Tony Coad, director of a database management company, who will speak about new subscriptions. The keynote speaker will be Watt Nicoll, author of Twisted Knickers & Stolen Scones and expert in personal reinvention.

Conference chairman Bill Moss, newspaper sales manager of KM Group, said; “The programme is both varied and interesting and features some of the most experienced speakers on a host of important issues.”

The gala dinner at the end of the conference will be hosted by Steve Walker, circulation director of the Western Mail & Echo, with awards presented by Edwin Boorman, chairman of the Kent Messenger Group, and president of the Newspaper Society.

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