Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
eBay and Argos have joined forces to offer a Click & Collect service, enabling shoppers to purchase products from selected eBay merchants and pick them up at Argos stores throughout the UK.
At least 50 eBay merchants will participate in this trial, enabling a wide range of merchandise to be readily available for collection by customers from around 150 Argos stores in primary locations nationally.
eBay Marketplaces president Devin Wenig said: “The distinction between offline and online shopping continues to blur. At eBay we continue to find new ways to connect buyers and sellers. Traditional retail isn’t going away; it is transforming. Smart retailers are innovating, reimagining the store and what it means to shop.
“We’re proud to join Argos on this journey. Their unique store network and operating model is fit for serving customers in a digital future. This exciting pilot takes us one step nearer to our goal of offering customers an inspired and seamless shopping experience.”
Argos managing director John Walden added: “With the continuing growth of online shopping, customers increasingly expect faster, cheaper and more convenient fulfilment of their orders. Few companies move as many products as effectively as Argos through a national network of local stores, served by friendly and well-trained colleagues.
“Having pioneered Click & Collect in the year 2000, it now accounts for around a third of our sales and continues to grow. eBay, an innovator in digital and leading online marketplace, connecting sellers and consumers, is already a strong partner with Argos and a logical partner for the trial.
“We look forward to assessing the opportunity for Argos to provide fulfilment for eBay’s merchants, including the operational requirements, attractiveness to sellers and consumers, and opportunity for increased customer footfall.”
eBay has also announced that all of its retail partners who have an existing Click & Collect capability will soon (Q4) be able to offer this service to their eBay customers. Founded in 1995 and opening in the UK in 1999, eBay has more than 18 million active users in the UK. Around 70% of listings are for new, fixed-price items and the UK site is home to more than 100 top brands and retailers.
Argos is a leading UK digital retailer, offering around 29,000 products through www.argos.co.uk, its growing mobile channels, stores and over the telephone.
With 635 million website and app visits in the 12 months to February, Argos serves around 124 million customers a year through its network of around 735 stores.
In the financial year to February 2013, Argos sales were £3.9 billion and it employed some 30,000 people across the business. Argos is part of Home Retail Group, the UK’s leading home and general merchandise retailer.
