Newsstand owners hope mail service will deliver for them
Print Edition
CITY newsstands have begun offering mail services in an effort to diversify as sales of newspapers and magazines decline.
Passers-by can buy prepaid envelopes and boxes, and drop off mail for delivery at around 100 stands owned by the Shanghai Oriental Newsstand Co.
Parcels and letters are collected by Shanghai Post Co for delivery. Currently, the service is only available for deliveries within the city.
The newsstands offer five kinds of envelopes — including waterproof packages and boxes taking up to 5 kilograms, said Shanghai Post Co.
Each delivery is priced between 6 yuan (98 US cents) and 20 yuan depending on weight.
Shanghai Post Co said newsstand owners can earn up to 25 percent on the sale for prepaid envelopes and 1.5 yuan for each delivery.
The initiative is proving popular among newsstand owners, with 100 signing up to offer the service, said the postal company.
It will be expanded to 700 newsstands in the future, added Shanghai Post Co.
Liu Xu, 55, a newsstand owner on Baoding Road, said he changed his mind to close or rent out his stand after learning about the delivery service.
“I think it’s a chance to make some money because logistics is a rising sector in China,” Liu said.
“It will be much better than selling just newspapers and magazines.”
Liu said newsstand owners have found business increasingly difficult in recent years as people move to reading online.
Now, there are about 2,120 newsstands across the city, although a number are not in operation, according to an employee of Oriental Newsstand.
Earlier this month, Shanghai Daily reported the uncertain future of the iconic red framed newsstands in the digital age.
Many readers have written to Shanghai Daily on the subject, expressing hopes that the newsstands can be retained and offering advice on how to revive their fortunes.
Shanghai Daily has forwarded all the advice to Oriental Newsstands.
Readers’ advice
Zhang Yiyi, a PR employee, suggested the newsstands become a point where people can pick up online deliveries.
Xu Chengyue, the mother of a 5-year-old boy, suggested the newsstand expand its services, targeting children by selling more toys and comic books.
“My son is a true loyal fan of newsstands,” Xu wrote.
Other readers offered ideas ranging from setting up cellphone charging stations, introducing coffee machines and selling ice cream.
One reader suggested they should sell lottery tickets.
Oriental Newsstand said it will meet with government officials to explore business options for newsstands.
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