Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
A brand new Argos digital store opened last Friday (August 26) inside the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Hazel Grove, on the outskirts of Stockport in Greater Manchester.
The new digital store has created 20 local jobs and follows the success of the 10 stores opened within Sainsbury’s supermarkets during 2015.
This smaller, new format Argos store offers the most popular products that customers want for immediate pick up with about 20,000 products available for store collection within a few hours, ranging from toys to tablets to tables.
Simon Perry, manager of the Sainsbury’s store, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome the Argos team to our store, and we’re looking forward to feedback from customers about the increased range and offer. It’s a great, complementary product offer and provides the convenience that our customers are looking for.”
Argos store manager Aaron Youd added: “Over the last few weeks passers-by have been trying to get a sneak peek of the store, and they’ve all said ‘wow’. It’s a really convenient addition for local shoppers and will allow them to have access to an extended range of non-food items.”
The new store is equipped for shopping in the digital age, with tablets that mirror the online shopping experience and staff on hand to help. Around half of Argos’ total sales now start online, but 80% of customers will visit one of 842 stores to pick up their goods.
Argos claims to be the UK’s largest high street retailer online with around 120m customer transactions a year through its stores and over 975 million website and app visits in the 12 months to February 2016. Customers can take advantage of Argos’ convenient Check & Reserve service available through its network of 842 stores and concessions across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
In the financial year to February 2016, Argos sales were £4.1 billion and it employed some 30,000 people across the business. It is part of Home Retail Group.
