Fact sold in Götaland lost 28 percent of its sales at the beginning of the pandemic, but managed to reverse the trend.
Situation Stockholm still sells about 19 percent fewer newspapers.
- Our salespeople's workplace is the public space.
There are much fewer people in subways and shopping centers, says Jenny Lindroth, operations manager at Situation Sthlm.
"People are scared"
- People are scared, more isolated, alone, and indoors, says Situation Sthlm salesman Allan Johansson.
He sees that some are more afraid to come forward and buy the newspaper.
- But I have started to use the mask more.
I have noticed that it is easier then.
In addition to lower incomes, the corona pandemic means fewer chances for a warm coffee room when Situation sthlm is forced to corona secure its premises.
- Usually we have an open café which is a place where our sales people can come, now we run distribution through the door: coffee, sandwich, mouth guard, says Jenny Lindroth.
"There is nothing more important"
Both Faktum and Situation Sthlm have introduced measures such as swish payment and digital editions to buy from home.
That Faktum has managed to reverse the downward trend, but not Situation Stockholm, Faktum's CEO Peter Kronvall believes is due to the pandemic hitting the capital harder.
- The community did not shut down as hard here, I think, we could still keep certain parts open and the sellers decided to be there, he says.
Many of the newspaper sellers are themselves in risk groups and some have chosen to quit.
But for Allan Johansson, it is precisely the meeting with the customer that makes him want to continue selling.
- There is nothing more important, nothing bigger for me.