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Newsagent

Do you want to become a Newsagent? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Newsagents sell newspapers and magazines - and almost all sell sweets and cigarettes as well. They may sell other goods such as food, stationery or toys.

• Bundles of newspapers arrive from the wholesaler very early in the morning, which newsagents sort out and arrange on display shelves.
• If the shop offers newspaper delivery, newsagents get the papers ready for the rounds and supervise the newspaper delivery team.
• The rest of the day is spent serving customers, operating the till, taking money and giving change.
• Newsagents also arrange stock and re-fill shelves.
• At the end of the day, they parcel up unsold newspapers for the wholesaler to collect in the morning.

Newsagents work long hours. Most shops open every day of the year except Christmas Day.

Earnings are likely to be between:

• £11,000 and
• £35,000

Newsagents should be:

• able to run a business and cope with the pressures
• self-motivated, disciplined and well-organised
• cheerful, polite and helpful with customers.

Most people starting as newsagents are adults. Retail or business experience is an advantage.

There are around 55,000 CTNs (confectioners, newsagents, tobacconists) in the UK, including about 35,000 independent newsagents and 20,000 other newspaper outlets.

Newsagents have been hard hit by the growth of supermarkets, which also sell newspapers and magazines. As a result, newsagents are increasingly moving into other areas of business - perhaps opening a sub post-office or a convenience store to boost their earnings.

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