Argos chooses Manchester for first digital store in the north
Argos has opened its first new digital store in the north of England in Manchester.
Situated at the Manchester Fort Shopping Park, the new ‘paperless’ store features tables of tablets which have replaced the retailer’s traditional laminated paper catalogues, stock checkers and pencils.
It also offers customers access to new services such as the ability to prepay online for Fast Track store collection, free WiFi and a free ‘charge bar’ for mobile phones and tablets.
Research commissioned by Argos in Manchester has revealed that around 85% of people have shopped online using a computer, laptop or tablet. It also shows that one in three Mancunians have shopped on their mobile phones although 90% of people polled said they still shopped on the high street.
Steve Farndale, Argos regional general manager for the north, said: “We’ve been committed to the Manchester Fort area for the last ten years and it’s fantastic for our local customers that this store was selected for a digital makeover.
“We’ve had really positive feedback from customers on the bright new modern look of the store, and the tablets and digital media screens. They have told us that they can really see the benefit of being able to pay online and collect quickly using the new Fast Track service. The revamped store holds 40% more products now, meaning that we can provide even more choice, more quickly, to our customers.”
Dr Amna Kahn, senior lecturer in consumer behaviour and retailing at Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, added: “Manchester consumers use online and mobile technologies to shop but they also enjoy the retail shopping experience. Argos’ new digital store in the Manchester Fort Shopping Park, is perfect for their changing consumer needs.”
Argos said more than 50% of its total sales now start online with revenue from mobile phones and tablets representing 18% of total sales.
