Argos primed to face Amazon, says director

HENRY SAKER-CLARK

ARGOS is “well positioned” to face up to the challenge of Amazon and other online retail giants, according to bosses at parent firm Sainsbury’s.

Paula Nickolds, the boss of the grocery giant’s general merchandise business including Argos, said the retail brand has maintained its “strong emotional bond with customers” despite changes to its operations amid shifting consumer habits.

It comes as the high street stalwart marks 50 years since it was founded by Richard Thompson in July 1973. The originally catalogue-oriented retailer rapidly grew across the UK to become one of the UK’s most recognisable high street brands.

Argos was taken over by Sainsbury’s, the UK’s second largest supermarket chain in 2016, as part of its £1.4bn takeover of Home Retail Group.

Three years ago, Argos announced it would discontinue production of its recognisable printed catalogue, blaming weaker demand.

Nickolds said the retailer has reinvented parts of its business over the years in order to keep up with what customers want.

When asked whether

The catalogue-famed retailer said customers held nostalgia for the firm changes will help Argos against the challenge of industry titan Amazon, Nickolds said: “Everything we’ve been doing recently means we are very wellposition to face that challenge.

“The breadth of our business gives us a unique position when it comes to next day delivery and collection across the country.”

Strikes by Aslef this week follow last week’s strike by members of the RMT union