Argos corporate news
Argos announces plans to double number of stores and launch new offer in the Republic of Ireland
31 May 2005
Argos is continuing its investment within the Republic of Ireland with news that it will launch Argos Extra at the end of July and double its presence to around 40 stores by 2009.
The news, which was announced in GUS plc’s annual results statement on May 25, 2005, revealed that Argos will continue to develop and implement its expansion plans over the next four years and bring to the country around 500 new jobs.
Retail Director for the ROI, Jeff Fagan, said the expansion was great news: “The Republic of Ireland is a very important location for Argos and we’re delighted to be able to expand our presence here. The first two stores of this financial year will be opening in Cavan on 2 June and Wexford on 9 June, and plans have been confirmed for new stores in Drogheda, Killarney and Navan during the next year.
“It really is an exciting time for Argos Ireland as we will be able to offer even more choice, value and convenience for customers and some great career opportunities for our current and new employees. We are already one of the largest retail employers in the country with around 1,000 employees and opening these stores will bring us to about 1,500.”
And, to ensure that customers are offered an unrivalled choice in Irish retailing, a new catalogue called Argos Extra will be available to all customers in all stores from the end of July.
“Argos Extra has been trialled in a select number of stores for a number of months and now is the right time for us to launch it in the Republic of Ireland,” added Jeff. “It offers customers a major increase in choice through new and extended ranges, offering an additional 4,000 products to the usual 13,000 available in a traditional Argos store. Extra ranges include sport and leisure products such as golf and fishing as well as arts and crafts.”
The new Argos Extra catalogue will launch on July 30, 2005 and approximately seven stores will stock-in the additional lines, with the remaining stores offering a special customer order service where customers can order the additional products into the store for collection.
“It’s important to us that we ensure that our Irish customers really do receive an unrivalled product offering,” added Jeff. “We are focusing on and investing in new initiatives all the time and we have some great developments planned, including introducing text message notification for customers when their products are available in-store for collection.”
