Argos has opened its first self-service store in a Sainsbury's outlet, in Dulwich, in south London, offering a checkout-free shopping experience to consumers.
The retailer has installed 'Pay@Browse' areas, which allow customers to pay from the same tablet that they use for browsing the Argos catalogue and pick up their orders from collection pods.
'Innovative New Formats'
Commenting on the launch, Sainsbury’s Argos chief executive John Rogers said, "We’re continuing to test innovative new formats, and with the launch of our first self-service digital store, we’re offering shoppers a speedier way to pay and giving our colleagues more time to serve and help customers."
The 'Pay@Browse' areas will also include tills, to support customers who wish to pay with cash or cards, Sainsbury's reported.
Online Sales
Argos has generated sales worth more than £2 billion (€2.32 billion) through its smartphone and tablet platforms.
It was one of the first UK retailers to reach £1 billion (€1.16 billion) in sales from mobile devices.
Presently, online sales comprise the fastest-growing channel for Argos, with more than 70% of its customers opting for online shopping.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
