Argos to close TV shopping channel
Argos is to close its TV shopping channel as part of plans to reposition the retailer as a digitally-led business.
Launched in June 2011 on BSkyB, Argos TV showcased more than 1,000 products a week. Products included Argos exclusives as well as a number of celebrity ranges such as Davina McCall’s health and fitness products and jewellery collections by Colleen Rooney and Alesha Dixon.
A spokesperson for Argos said: “As Argos works towards delivering its ambition to become a digital retail leader, the business has to focus its resources on priority programmes to deliver the key milestones announced to the City in October 2012.
“Through the process, the future of the Argos TV trials has been assessed and the proposal is to cease operations. This has been a difficult decision to make, since Argos TV has been performing well both for customers and financially. However, we do have to make tough decision to ensure our resources are focused on what will make the biggest difference to our newly announced strategy.”
Argos owner Home Retail Group announced last October that it would be closing or relocating 75 stores over the next five years as the retailer looks to transform itself from a catalogue business to a leading digital retailer.
Home Retail Group is aiming to generate £4.5 billion of sales for Argos by 2018 and plans to invest £100 million a year in the business over the next three years.
