Argos is getting a makeover - but can it attract new shoppers?
By Daniel Thomas BBC News Published 8 hours ago Do you still shop at Argos? And if so, what do you think of it? The chain has been a fixture of the British High Street for more than 50 years and is still used by around half of all UK households. But it has struggled to thrive in recent years amid fierce competition from online giants like Amazon, with sales stagnating. Its owner Sainsbury's recently announced it was selling the chain for a lot less than it paid for it just 10 years ago. But the new owners say they see "real opportunities" for growth, including opening new standalone shops. Can they succeed where Sainsbury's did not? Image caption, Enrico has fond memories of using Argos's now-discontinued print catalogue When the BBC spoke to shoppers in central London this week, the retailer seemed to divide opinion. Some, like Enrico, 28, said they loved the convenience of same-day collection, and felt nostalgic towards a brand which unlocked fond childhood memories. "It was a great way of doing your Christmas shopping," he told the BBC. "We'd go into our local Argos and we'd get the massive print catalogue." For others, though, Argos has not moved with the times and is at odds with the seemingly endless online choice. "I feel Amazon is a lot easier because it gets delivered straight to your door with Prime," said Emily, 22, adding that she only used Argos to buy appliances, not "day to day" items. Jack Cunningham, 26, from Kent often uses Argos to pick up things when he's at work in London. The scientist said the big draw was convenience: "If I need something in the moment and can't wait for delivery, normally I'll get it in Argos. "You can order something really cheap on Amazon, and it might come and be the wrong size, " he added. For years, commentators have asked whether Argos could build a business to take on Amazon, the biggest online seller in the UK. But while Argos has invested a lot in digital, it never quite happened. It made 4.1bn of sales last year, compared with 32bn for Amazon in the UK. 'Remind people it exists' Image source, Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images Image caption, Argos has around 200 standalone shops, down from 845 in 2016 Argos does, however, offer something its online rivals don't - a large network of stores, concessions in Sainsbury's shops, and collection points that mean customers can click and collect on the same day, free of charge. Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth thinks Argos could capitalise on this, along with its reputation as a trusted British brand. However, she thinks it needs to improve its app so it can compete with online players like Amazon, Shein and Temu. "I think if you asked people to name five High Street retailers, they wouldn't name Argos," she added. "It's almost about reminding people it exists." To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in...
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