Milton Keynes, UK, 2014-9-1 — /EPR Retail News/ — Local residents in Kensington can now take advantage of the speed and convenience of online shopping on their local high street, thanks to Argos which has given its Kensington store a ‘digital makeover’.
The store, located on Kensington High Street, was selected from more than 700 Argos stores across the UK, and embraces online shopping while retaining the convenience of a physical store.
Research commissioned by Argos found that nearly half of London shoppers believe that one of the biggest benefits of online shopping is that it offers more choice. However, 65 per cent revealed that they still shop on the high street.1
The revamped ‘paperless’ store has a fresh and contemporary look, with tables of tablets replacing Argos’ traditional laminated catalogues, paper slips and pencils. Customers can use the tablets to browse for products to add to their digital shopping trolley, and access lots of extra product information, including extended ranges, videos, photography and customer reviews.
West End shoppers can benefit from new services such as the ability to browse and pay for goods online at home or on the move for speedy collection from a special Fast Track collection point in store.
Store staff have undergone special training to provide more help to customers on the shop floor using technology. New digital display screens and complimentary WiFi complete the digital transformation.
Argos has been committed to serving customers in Kensington for almost 20 years, having opened the local store in 1995. It employs 25 workers in the Kensington store.
Domica Thompson, Argos Store Manager for Kensington, said: “Shoppers’ expectations are changing and they want products quickly and easily. We are proud to say that we can give our customers in the local Kensington area access to the things they want in an instant.
“Our local customers have been really positive about the fresh, modern look of the new store, and the introduction of the tablets and digital screens. Our store team have also welcomed the opportunity to learn new skills and be involved with the digital changes.”
Argos found that the changing expectations of customers in London mean value for money is more important than ever, with 71 per cent of shoppers saying they are savvier now than they were five years ago. In addition, 54 per cent admitted to checking the price of an item online before purchasing it.¹
The new digital stores equip Argos for the online revolution, as shoppers increasingly browse and buy online via PCs, tablets and other mobile devices, while still wanting the immediacy of a local store to pick up their purchases. Around 44 per cent of Argos’ total sales now start online. Sales from mobile phones and tablets represent 18 per cent of the total sales. ²
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
1Research conduced on behalf of Argos by Opinion Matters in July 2014.
2Home Retail Group Annual Report 2014
For more information, please contact the Argos Press Office on 0845 120 4365 or email: media.relations@argos.co.uk. Follow us on Twitter at @argos_PR.
View details about Kensington High Street Argos opening times here: http://www.argos.co.uk/stores/Kensington-High-Street
AboutArgos
Argosis a leadingUKdigital retailer, offering around 43,000 products through www.argos.co.uk, its growing mobile channels, stores and over the telephone.
Argoscontinues to be theUK’s largest high street retailer online with around 123m customer transactions a year and 738 million website and app visits in the 12 months to February 2014. Customers can take advantage of Argos’ convenient Check & Reserve service available through its network of 734 stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
In the financial year to February 2014,Argossales were £4.1 billion and it employed some 29,000 people across the business.
Argos is part of Home Retail Group, theUK’s leading home and general merchandise retailer.
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