Argos is set to shutter 100 stores in the UK over the next year as it closes more locations starting next month.
The retailer‘s high street branches are being replaced by concessions inside owner Sainsbury’s.
Locations in Cardiff and Newport will be the next to go, alongside branches in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe, according to The Sun.
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The closures are part of the chain’s plan to move away from the central business district and focus on expanding its presence in supermarkets.
It aims to “make shopping more convenient for customers” allowing them to “buy thousands of tech products, home appliances and toys from Argos while picking up items.”
25 new branches have recently opened inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets, with plans for 30 more, leaving Argos with around 180 standalone stores.
An Argos spokesperson told the title: “To make shopping more convenient for customers and to enable us to invest where it matters most, we are relocating many of our standalone Argos stores to Sainsbury’s – this includes our Grimsby Alexandra Dock and Scunthorpe Argos stores.
“Brand new Argos stores will open inside Sainsbury’s Grimsby and Sainsbury’s Scunthorpe next month, enabling customers to purchase thousands of technology, home and toy products from Argos while picking up their groceries.”
Sainsbury’s, which owns both Argos and Habitat, is also closing all standalone Habitat branches.
Back in February this year Sainsbury’s revealed it would be closing two Argos depots over the next three years, putting 1,400 jobs at risk.
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It’s not more convenient at all. 90% of the time when I look for something it’s not available until after 4pm or the following day. These supermarket stores are tiny in comparison to the high street units and hold very little stock. Before, I wouldn’t have minded paying a little more to get it when I needed it but now I have to wait, I’ll order from Amazon and get it next day at a cheaper price. Argos will not survive in its new form as there is no point of difference anymore.
Genuinely didn’t realise there were any Argos branches left! What a mighty fall from grace orchestrated by Sainos.
I’m all up for the business being more profitable etc but why don’t we cut out a director or two and achieve the same goal and can save over 1000 peoples jobs!?
Sainsbury’s have gone from having a non-food offer prior to Habitat and Argos that has been replaced by two out of date retailers. I wonder how much ebit is incrementally washing through.
Argos has become completely redundant while habitat has become tut.
I really don’t see the point of difference either makes or, what Sainsbury’s has vs Aldi etc. My local Sainsbury’s has a very low breadth and depth in store and it feels like a wasteland despite it being only two years old and a medium size store. They also treat it like a convenience store with higher prices and fewer deals. It’s also boring and feels like you’re in a Staples as it’s so bereft of any personality or choice.
Going by our local ‘rants’ page on Facebook, it’s pretty doomed here with the smaller local Tesco being busier and having far greater choice.
Really,you can not wait a day for something. Real 1st World issue.Ah well,at least you are not in a war zone.Poor Chris.
Closing Argos stores is not about customer care. It’s about saving a few quid on rent in the high street. Not all of us shop in Sainsbury’s! Maybe the money they save on rent , they will give the workers at Argos a better pay rise! Jus saying!
Reminds me of the saying:
How do you make a small fortune?
Start with a large one.
Argos has been a great marketing and logistics concept copied by many (Screwfix for example) and admired by many as well. Just needed a lick of paint and good for another 5 years.