John Davis sharpens up to 600 knives a week.

He services everyday kitchen knives as well as the more unusual — like those used by a local sword swallower, and one for an upcoming TV series he was asked to make look "aged".

And he does all this from behind the counter of his Rozelle newsagency in Sydney's inner west.

Beside the Lotteries cash register, and between the walls lined with gift cards, magazines, local flyers and newspapers, Mr Davis's knife-sharpening skills are helping keep his business afloat.

"I'm saddle-maker by trade," he said.

"I was sharpening knives for a neighbour some years ago in his newsagency, and people were coming in and saying, 'Can you do my knives', and it literally grew from there.

"We now do butcher shops, restaurants ... people come from all over."

Independent newsagencies will struggle to survive unless they expand their services. ( ABC Sydney: Amanda Hoh )

More than magazines and bus tickets

Mr Davis has owned the newsagency for 12 years; he started out with two licensed newsagencies and a bus stop outlet in the local area.

However, high rental costs and falling newspaper and magazine sales forced him to downsize to one boutique store.

"To only rely on newspapers is foolish," he said.

"In this particular age, if you can't be bigger or better, which we can't, then it's better to be different."

Mr Davis runs the shop like those typically found in small country towns.

Having grown up in rural NSW, he said he loved how local store owners remembered most people by name, were happy to have a chat, and offered more than just cards.

He also cuts keys, takes courier parcels, offers a bottle swap service and receives people's charity offerings to resell — like a couple of science beakers and a lolly dispenser that sit among other knick-knacks on a table in the centre of the store.

John Davis has been operating the newsagency for 12 years. ( ABC Sydney: Amanda Hoh )

Rozelle resident Cathie, who brought her Japanese kitchen knives for sharpening this week, said she had known Mr Davis for years.

"I always shop locally, so it's good to do it in house, so to speak," she said.

Celebrating newsagents

This week is the inaugural National Newsagent Week, launched by the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association (ALNA).

A recent survey showed 79 per cent of Australians still visited newsagencies, but that their survival relied on stores offering a variety of services.

ALNA chief executive Ben Kearney told ABC Sydney the week was a chance to "celebrate what we love" about newsagents who are struggling in the retail market.

"Like all retail, it's tough and you have to adapt," he said.

"It's been surprisingly resilient over the years.

"They're changing their businesses, they're diversifying into other products, and just concentrating on supplying what their local communities want."

Mr Davis grew up in country NSW and worked as a saddle-maker. ( ABC Sydney: Amanda Hoh )

Many independent newsagencies had expanded their services to include coffee shops, florists, books and art supplies, he added.

"I remember a newsagent I used to do business with in the late '70s. Aside from newspapers, his biggest sellers were cigarettes and Bex powders. How times have changed." — Craig

"Our local newsagent in Oatley West sells Ugg boots." — Meg

While traditional newsagency products and Lotto still provided between 30 and 80 per cent of their revenue, Mr Kearney said, it should not be relied on entirely.

It's a strategy Mr Davis has adopted with much success.

"I chase the business, not the money, and hopefully the money follows," he said.

"The future, though, is uncharted waters."