Trinity Mirror Consolidates Regional Sales Into Amra

As predicted the recently-merged Trinity Mirror group has consolidated the remainder of its regional newspaper sales into the Amra sales house (see Trinity And Mirror Expected To Merge Sales). Amra, which is owned by Trinity (see Trinity Acquires Amra), is to take over from the Mirror Group’s regional sales operation by handling Trinity Mirror’s 45 titles in the Midlands. The titles will officially move over to Amra representation in January.

Trinity Mirror’s Midlands newspapers include the Coventry Evening Telegraph, Birmingham Post and recently-launched Birmingham Metro News (see Three More Metros Hit Britain). The new business increases Amra’s share of the regional press sales market from 20.7% to 27.0%; Amra now covers 67.5% of regional sales in the Midlands region.

Mike McCormack, chief executive at Amra, says: “The need for strong centralised sales operations for all media has bever been more important as the industry continues to undergo tremendous change and face new challenges.”

Last month Amra was appointed to represent the Glaswegian, the largest free weekly newspaper in Scotland and the second biggest in the UK after the Manchester Evening News’ Metro. The company has also launched the first cross-publisher steering group designed to agree the standardisation of industry practices, covering issues such as national rate reviews, advertising positions, voucher copy management and credit control (see Amra Sets Up Regional Press Industry Board).

“The additional titles give us the critical mass to tackle the issues facing the medium as a whole, which, with the Amra steering group initiative and with our relationships with other parties, we are intent on addressing,” adds McCormack.

Trinity Mirror: 0171 293 3000 Amra: 0171 820 1000