The key to surviving in modern retail is to be the best you can be every day and exceed your customers’ expectations.  To do this effectively requires innovation, a desire to learn and improve and a support network.  Being a member of nextra™, engaging with other likeminded members and the suppliers that support the nextra group provides us with the support network we need to make this happen.  From head office leasing support, which I rate as second to none in the country, to the marketing support and the BDM support, nextra™ are there to assist at every stage.  Then there is Laura (BDM), the Energiser Bunny whose eye for detail and merchandising skills help to ease the stress of opening a new shop with the look we wanted to achieve.  Her help and advice was invaluable and was key to the successful re-opening of our renovated store.  Not only is everyone in nextra™ so good at what they do and genuinely interested in making a difference for their members, they are also great people.  Becoming part of the nextra™ family 12 years ago was the best decision we have made to help future proof our business.

I like the energy around nextra™, the level of customer service and the focus on moving with the times.

I feel that it goes beyond support 9 – 5 like most other groups. (They) all clearly believe in the service they offer and of course provide… (The team) all deserve a pat on the back – I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend (the nextra™) services…

Having recently been forced to relocate within our centre and then do a new shop fit we have had the opportunity to access all services provided by our partners nextra™. We left our lease negotiations in the very capable hands of Greg (CEO) which was a great relief for us as we could concentrate on running our business. Greg achieved a great result and the process was stress free. In planning our shop fit Laura (BDM) provided us with some great ideas on the layout and when it came to stocking the new store she came and helped us. The finished product looked fantastic and our customers are continually commenting on how great things look. We have seen increase in our sales particularly in gifts and cards. Danielle (GM) has developed a Preferred Suppliers list that enables us to source all sorts of different products that add value to our store. In using these suppliers we are billed centrally with nextra™ and have access to discounts on goods purchased which adds to our profitability. nextra™ marketing are great and have promotions throughout the year which creates interest in our store. The nextra™ Crew are always helpful and easy to deal with. Our partnership with nextra™ is great for our business.

With their large range of products and marketing expertise, nextra™ creates a better environment for both the store and our customers. Being part of nextra™ is like belonging to a family of professionals…

With the knowledge of industry insight, retail trends and vast lease negotiation experiences, Greg Campbell (CEO of nextra™) has assisted our business to renew lease a couple of times. Despite operating a few newsagency businesses for almost 20 years, either independently run businesses or part of other franchise / marketing group business models, Greg’s capability to negotiate, advise and assist us to navigate through the lease renewal process still amazes and surprises me. Being the largest expense of a business, the lease term is the most significant factor of a brick & mortar retail store. It determines the survival, sustainability and profitability of the business. This experience, added to the extra rebates, supplier benefits and group marketing opportunities that would otherwise be lost to us, our membership is so valuable to our business.

With the support of the nextra™ team we had the confidence to make changes that were necessary in our new business. The positive comments from our customers and increased sales are affirmation to how successful our nextra™ partnership is.

…We feel that the Head Office team’s input was invaluable and I would like to thank Laura (local BDM) for the help she gave to us. Giftware is outperforming our expectations, as are greeting cards. As to Greg (CEO), I can’t offer enough praise for the manner in which he guided our negotiating period. His advice was welcome and invariably proved ‘on the money’… Greg was successful in obtaining a better outcome for us than we ever initially imagined was possible.

When I am asked why I enjoy being part of nextra™ I always answer that it is because of the people. The nextra™ people at head office, the nextra™ people on the road supporting us in our stores, the nextra™ store owners and the nextra™ preferred suppliers. Everyone is so supportive and it feels like we are part of a team. A team that is highly professional and always strives to improve and to be the best. A team who supports and encourages the best to keep getting better but also provides support and encouragement to the new members to help them learn what us required to be successful. Support, that is what nextra™ do.

My wife and I couldn’t be happier; we had visions of how the store would look but Laura (local BDM) and the entire nextra™ team has taken our visions to the next level.