NewsstandProposal
One accountable team for newsstand growth.
Game Informer has already secured real distribution footholds — confirmed placement in Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, a growing international footprint, and an engaged reader base. But newsstand distribution outside the core domestic accounts runs on informal tracking and unoptimized international economics, leaving meaningful volume and margin on the table.
NPS proposes full newsstand management across domestic and international markets — from wholesaler and retailer relationships to store-level data that closes distribution gaps, and the local-printing strategy that converts international markets into higher-volume, better-margin "domestic" distribution.
This is a single point of accountability with clear monthly deliverables and no guesswork on cost. Total monthly retainer is $750, with any out-of-scope consulting billed separately and transparently.
What we'll achieve together.
Expand newsstand presence internationally, particularly throughout Europe and Australia
Provide location-level visibility into exactly where the magazine is stocked — and give Game Informer influence over store, chain, and quantity selection
Review the current Comag arrangement and pursue lower-cost or more favorable distribution terms where appropriate
Identify and negotiate retailer launch opportunities and paid promotional placements
Deliver international pricing transparency — who sets local retail prices, the full pricing structure, and where Game Informer can influence them
Maintain USPS Statement of Ownership compliance (due each October)
Newsstand management, end to end.
NPS will manage Game Informer's newsstand program as a single coordinated workstream — store-level data, wholesaler and retailer relationships, and international economics all tied back to circulation growth.
Newsstand Management — Domestic & International
Full newsstand ownership across both markets — from wholesaler and retailer relationships to the store-level data that closes distribution gaps and the local-printing strategy that resets international economics.
- —Meetings and conferences with publisher; meetings with national distributor and wholesalers
- —Manage print orders; prepare and regulate galleys
- —Monthly sales report and B&N POS report
- —Monthly CMG bulk reports will display covers with corresponding sales data
- —Provide newsstand sales data to assist in preparation of newsstand budgets
- —Ongoing utilization of MagNet data to manage distributions at retail — location-level visibility into where the magazine is stocked, with Game Informer input on store, chain, and quantity selection
- —Advise on promotions with key classes of trade; identify and negotiate retailer launch opportunities and paid promotional placements
- —Competitive sales analysis, market insights, and custom reports on an ad hoc basis
- —Review of the current Comag arrangement, with lower-cost or more favorable distribution alternatives pursued where appropriate
- —International expansion across Europe and Australia, including local-printing strategy and pricing transparency — who sets local retail prices, the pricing structure, and where Game Informer can influence them
- —Wholesaler negotiations for deeper volume discounts (with CMG International)
- —Statement of Ownership preparation
Investment.
Postage & phone calls — covered by NPS, except for mass mailings and any phone surveys performed on behalf of and at the request of Game Informer.
Travel — meetings with Game Informer are NPS's responsibility. For wholesaler/retailer trips shared with other NPS clients, Game Informer pays a proportionate share, only with prior approval.
Any other expenses incurred by NPS on behalf of Game Informer are billed only upon mutual agreement.
A twelve-month engagement.
We propose a twelve (12) month term for the retainer services, starting immediately upon signing. Monthly invoicing, Net 15. Newsstand data pull begins in week one.
Let's get started.
Review and approve this proposal
Execute agreement — NPS sends contract for newsstand services
Onboarding kickoff — newsstand team loop-in; UK print specs shared with Gary via Ricky at Sheridan
Begin work immediately — newsstand data pull in week one
Confirmed placement.An engaged audience.The coordination to grow both.
Game Informer has what most relaunches don't: confirmed retail placement, an engaged audience, and real international demand signals. What's missing is coordination — turning informal tracking into store-level data, and turning inflated international print costs into domestic-equivalent pricing.
NPS brings newsstand relationships and international distribution expertise together under one accountable team, with transparent monthly reporting. We're looking forward to building this with you, Sarah.