Family newsagency reopens
Two businesses merge to become one-stop shop
EXTRA! Extra! Read all about it... there are some big changes in store for a family newsagency business.
Toowoomba father Trent Donovan has spent his life in newsagencies.
Almost 20 years ago his father Ian and wife Helen Patterson bought Pigotts Casket in the old Pigott’s Building, as well as Market News in Market Place, which is now JB Hi-Fi on Margaret St.
Market News eventually moved a couple of doors down to became Central City News, which closed late last year.
Pigotts Casket also moved to become Ruthven Street News next to Premier Cane.
Almost four years ago Mr Donovan and wife Lindal took over the two businesses.
They also went on to own nextra in Grand Central.
Now the family has revealed some big changes for the businesses.
Today is Ruthven Street News’ final day of trading.
It will merge with the former Central City News site to reopen as news extra Central City tomorrow.
A failure in flooring caused Central City News to close permanently in October last year so loyal customers visited Ruthven Street News instead.
❝This is a newsagency that will be relevant to our customers for the next 20 years — Trent Donovan
“There was an accumulation in moisture and it started popping the flooring,” Mr Donovan recalled.
“We didn’t want it to close urgently. We thought it would take a couple of days to fix but as it transpired they had to rip up our whole store.”
In December a new slab of concrete was installed and plans for news extra Central City were under way.
“The stores (on Margaret and Ruthven Sts) are very similar,” Mr Donovan said.
“It makes sense to me from a business perspective to have one really good store. Most of our customers know us and will follow us.
“They followed us around to Ruthven St when we had to close Central City News and they’re all very excited to follow us back.”
Mr Donovan said he was constantly inspired by the evolving industry.
“This is a newsagency that will be relevant to our customers for the next 20 years,” he said.
“Newsagencies have changed.
“They’re not what they used to be when we bought them 20 years ago.
“You (once) made all your money out of magazines, newspapers and lotto. We now have a new focus on cards, giftware, stationery and we’ll even be like a convenience store.”
The couple also picked up the 2017 nextra Member of the Year Award.