For over 40 years, Argos has been innovating. Learn more about how we began and where we’re headed.
Sir Terence Conran opens the first Habitat store, bringing contemporary design at affordable prices to the UK.
The first Argos stores open, introducing the concept of catalogue retail to the UK. The brainchild of Richard Tompkins (who came up with the idea while holidaying in the Greek town of Argos) they are an instant hit with the public.
Argos goes from strength to strength. By 1980, the chain has 91 stores and a turnover of £112million. It also moves into jewellery for the first time with Elizabeth Duke, named after one of our director’s wives. Within two years, it becomes the UK’s fourth biggest jewellery retailer.
‘Argos takes care of it’ was our slogan of the time. And fittingly enough, we break our own sales records this year, with revenues topping £1billion.
In a taste of what’s to come, we launch our first website in 1995 – the same year that other big online retailers, Amazon and eBay, also launch.
Argos is purchased by home shopping giant, GUS plc – sowing the seeds for the future.
Argos stakes its claims as one of the giants of online retail. Our online sales pass £1billion for the first time.
The iconic Habitat brand, including its transactional website and three London stores, is bought by Home Retail Group.
Argos announces its plan to become a digital retail leader. Heavy investment leads to new apps, web services and our Fast Track collection and home delivery services. The company also opens its first digital concept stores.
Argos becomes the first UK retailer to hit £1billion sales from mobile devices.
Sainsbury’s acquires Home Retail Group, including Argos and Habitat. Together, they form one of the UK’s largest food and non-food retailers, offering customers over 90,000 products in over 2,000 stores and across market-leading digital channels.
