Argos corporate news
Argos offers safe and secure Christmas Club to new savers
27 March 2007
Argos is launching its new, market leading, Christmas Club tomorrow, Wednesday 28 March, offering customers a convenient, safe and secure way to save up to £500 for the 2007 festive period.
The Argos Christmas Club will offer customers the best combination of savings security and bonus incentives in the UK. Savers will benefit from a 'first payment' bonus following their first deposit, regular payment incentives and could reach a 'top up' bonus of over 5% when savings reach £250*.
Customers register before they start saving, after which they receive a unique account number, regular statements on their savings balance, a helpline number for any queries, as well as reassurance about levels of protection should their card be lost or stolen.
Sara Weller, managing director at Argos, said: "As the number one gift retailer for Christmas and the number one redeemer of existing multi-retail vouchers, Argos is by far the most obvious retailer to offer customers the best Christmas savings club on the market."
She added: "We know that the security of any savings scheme is of paramount importance to our customers and that is why we have made our scheme different. Argos is one of the high street’s most trusted retailers; we already run one of the UK's most successful storecards so we have valuable experience in handling customers' financial needs. This makes us ideally placed to ensure maximum security of our customers’ savings."
The new initiative will trial in 100 Argos stores, with a view to launching nationwide in 2008. Savers can register for the Argos Christmas Club from Wednesday 28 March in stores across Greater Manchester, the north west and north east of England. Once registered, customers can add to their savings using their Argos Christmas Club card at any participating PayPoint outlet until 31 October 2007, after which they can use their savings to buy any product at any UK Argos store.
Mike Igoe, PayPoint's retail director, commented: "PayPoint is delighted to be an exclusive partner with the Argos Christmas Club and on a wider scale, part of a scheme that offers consumers a trustworthy option for Christmas saving."
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Mechanics
Registration leaflets are available from any of the 100 Argos stores participating in the trial. On registration, customers will receive a Christmas Club card, with which savings payments can be made at any participating PayPoint outlets in convenience stores, newsagents, supermarkets and petrol stations across the country.
* The 5.2% maximum bonus amount is available dependent on whether customers have earned the monthly bonus. The first savings payment of £5 or over earns the customer a one-off £1 bonus. Thereafter, if a customer makes savings payments of £25 or more with their card each calendar month, they earn a £1 bonus. If £250 has been saved by the closing date (31 October 2007), a further £5 will be added to the Christmas Club card. Maximum bonus is £13.
Once savings are complete, customers can make their purchases at any Argos store across the UK, using their Christmas Club card. Cards will be activated from 11 November 2007.
