Farewell Argos Book

[Peter C]

There was always something about the Argos catalogue that was interesting and exciting. Loads of stuff, all in one book and all available from the local branch. Only bad point was breaking your arms trying to pick it up!

-Peter

 

[skyhigh]

I also suspect Argos will be another name that will slowly disappear from our town centres & retail parks, as they are swollowed up by their parent company Sainsburys.

There is an Argos 'Click & Collect' inside my local Sainsburys store. The independent branch of Argos, that is two miles down the road has not reopened yet, despite the easing of Covid restrictions, and I suspect there might be a question mark over it's future.

I'm not necessarily suggesting the Argos name will go completely, but like many other businesses - they will focus on Internet buying & home delivery services which might see the company streamlining their stores.

CJ

How does the Argos business model work? Do they aim to have one unit of each listed item in stock at each location at the start of every trading day (maybe a few more for faster selling items, and home delivery only for bulky items) and then replenish same overnight if the item(s) get sold?

It's a "hub and spoke" system, so without a major shake up the independent stores will still be needed as these are the delivery hubs. Argos-in-Sainsbury's generally hold the post popular items, and you're able to order online to collect there either the same or next day. When I used to work there, it was 2 deliveries from the hub daily. I'm pretty sure there's some background algorithm with the website that tries to move stock around based on where people are looking at it - i.e. if my closest store was in Sainsbury's and I looked at an item a few times, it'd get it moved to the store in case I wanted it. It was pretty common to move an item out to a store only to move it back again a few days later!

If the item was only at a spoke it was possible to order it for delivery, meaning it'd go back to the hub then out again for delivery the same day where possible. It sounds a lot but it's pretty efficient.

Seems to me like the company is doing pretty well though - our store used to have 2 vans making 3x trips a day but it's up to 5 vans making 4x trips a day right now.

 

[nlogax]

There was always something about the Argos catalogue that was interesting and exciting. Loads of stuff, all in one book and all available from the local branch. Only bad point was breaking your arms trying to pick it up!

-Peter

Whaaaat? Are you sure you're not thinking of a Freemans or a Littlewoods tome? Argos ones were relatively pamphlet-like compared to those..

 

[Peter C]

Whaaaat? Are you sure you're not thinking of a Freemans or a Littlewoods tome? Argos ones were relatively pamphlet-like compared to those..

I'll be honest and say I've never heard of either of those
In comparison to most books I've held, the Argos catalogue is probably the largest!

-Peter

 

[nlogax]

I'll be honest and say I've never heard of either of those

That'll be me being behind the times and at the same time beyond paper catalogues. Just googled a recent Argos example and yikes, that's enormous compared to the ones I recall reading! As for the other ones I mentioned, folks here who were kids in the 80s will tell you about how heavy those things were

 

[Peter C]

That'll be me being behind the times and at the same time beyond paper catalogues. Just googled a recent Argos example and yikes, that's enormous compared to the ones I recall reading! As for the other ones I mentioned, folks here who were kids in the 80s will tell you about how heavy those things were

Haha!
I remember carrying seemingly tonnes worth of Argos products in book form when we went last. I'll miss it when it's gone.

-Peter

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Remember when the first Next catalogue came out, if I rightly recall it was full of sample swatches of various cloths and fabrics.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Showing your age if you do remember Green Shield Stamps!

I do remember Green Shield Stamps clearly. I saved them and bought a few items for myself and one year at secondary school, there was a competition for about the 6 pupils who collected and handed in as many full Green Shield Stamp books as possible and also to sell as many programmes for the summer fete. The Green Shield Stamp books were then used to purchase raffle and tombola prizes. I was one of the winning 6 pupils and we were taken by one of the science master's to Bognor Regis for the day in the second hand school minibus. We thought that was great and did not have to wear school uniform that day.

 

[MP33]

On Bullseye, the prizes on Bully's prize board appeared to have photos lifted straight from the Argos book.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

On Bullseye, the prizes on Bully's prize board appeared to have photos lifted straight from the Argos book.

Could you get a speedboat from Argos / by redeeming Green Shield Stamps?

 

[MP33]

The speedboat, car or in the later years a holiday in a particularly common overseas resort was a secret only made public at the end.

 

[trebor79]

I hadn't used Argos in years but probably about two years ago noticed that they have quite a lot of choices of furniture and home goods, much of which is quite stylish and well-priced. Certainly nicer designs and much more user friendly than Ikea.

Don't but furniture from Argos, it's absolute trash
Some of it does look nice (assuming the drawers aren't wonky etc) but it's all of such poor quality that it doesn't last. We once bought a bed and matching bedside cabinets. The bed was stained and varnished pine. The cabinets turned out to be chipboard covered in a plastic film printed to look like stained wood. So they didn't match, looked horrendous. I refused to fit the rubbish plastic handles and bought some.metal handles.
The bed was poorly designed so it was almost impossible to get a spanner into the recesses to tighten the bolts.
It collapsed a few years later and the whole lot went in a skip.

We've had other such that from Argos such that I will not even consider furniture from there now.

Useful for other stuff.

 

[Mojo]

Don't but furniture from Argos, it's absolute trash
Some of it does look nice (assuming the drawers aren't wonky etc) but it's all of such poor quality that it doesn't last. We once bought a bed and matching bedside cabinets. The bed was stained and varnished pine. The cabinets turned out to be chipboard covered in a plastic film printed to look like stained wood. So they didn't match, looked horrendous. I refused to fit the rubbish plastic handles and bought some.metal handles.
The bed was poorly designed so it was almost impossible to get a spanner into the recesses to tighten the bolts.
It collapsed a few years later and the whole lot went in a skip.

We've had other such that from Argos such that I will not even consider furniture from there now.

Useful for other stuff.

How long ago was this? If you say pine I’m guessing not recent?

I would say the quality of flat pack furniture has increased somewhat in recent years. Also it’s a classic case if you pay what you get for as flat pack will probably never be as good as a proper one delivered whole.

Most of our furniture is from Argos, the majority of which was delivered whole (with the exception of knobs and handles which were fitted on the inside and just needed unscrewing and fitting on the front). We did however get some flat pack wardrobes, chests of drawers and bedside tables, all of which are fine and as expected.

 

[Journeyman]

Does anyone remember Index, their short-lived competitor? I seem to remember Littlewoods being behind that venture. Various friends of mine had Saturday jobs in there.

 

[nlogax]

Does anyone remember Index, their short-lived competitor? I seem to remember Littlewoods being behind that venture. Various friends of mine had Saturday jobs in there.

Yes, that's a blast from the past! I'd completely forgotten about Index.

 

[Journeyman]

Yes, that's a blast from the past! I'd completely forgotten about Index.

I seem to remember them coming and going within a couple of years. Their logo was very late 80s/early 90s!

Edit: they lasted from 1985 to 2005! That surprised me.

 

[gswindale]

I seem to remember them coming and going within a couple of years. Their logo was very late 80s/early 90s!

Edit: they lasted from 1985 to 2005! That surprised me.

And what I hadn't realised was that Argos purchased some stores and the rights to the name & website from Littlewoods.

 

[GusB]

I remember Index. The one in Aberdeen was located within the Littlewoods store.

 

[james60059]

Does anyone remember Index, their short-lived competitor? I seem to remember Littlewoods being behind that venture. Various friends of mine had Saturday jobs in there.

Flipping hell, now you're making me feel old, didn't realise it was as long ago as 2005 they disappeared.

 

[thejuggler]

Ever wondered about the logisitics of preparing a catalogue? Of course every item needs to be photographed. Quite a few years ago all the photography of the items for Argos was done in the former hangers of RAF Finningley, now Doncaster Airport.

I visited the week after they had finished a summer catalogue and it had been chaotic. They were photographing larger items such as household furniture, garden furniture, children swings, trampolines, slides etc and the hanger had been fitted out with sets for all the items which had been sent to site.

One of those jobs which gets done, but few understand how.

 

[Ianno87]

Ever wondered about the logisitics of preparing a catalogue? Of course every item needs to be photographed. Quite a few years ago all the photography of the items for Argos was done in the former hangers of RAF Finningley, now Doncaster Airport.

I visited the week after they had finished a summer catalogue and it had been chaotic. They were photographing larger items such as household furniture, garden furniture, children swings, trampolines, slides etc and the hanger had been fitted out with sets for all the items which had been sent to site.

One of those jobs which gets done, but few understand how.

Wow.

TBH, never even considered *how* it was done...until reading your post!