Few homes have been without the iconic Argos catalogue over the last 47 years, with more than one billion copies printed since its launch. However, the huge book will no longer be printed as the retailer is switching over to a more digital shopping experience. Argos has revealed that by January 2021 the encyclopedia-like catalogues will be gone from its stores.
Mark Given, Chief Marketing Officer at Sainsbury’s, said: “Over the decades the Argos catalogue has charted the nation’s changing tastes and trends in everything from must-have toys to the latest gadgets and devices.
“Today, popular products include wireless earphones, gaming consoles and lots and lots of LEGO. In 1973, when the catalogue launched it was point-and-shoot cameras and space hoppers.
“Just as our customers’ tastes have changed over the years, so have their shopping habits.
“We’re seeing an increasing shift towards digital shopping, using our mobile app, website and in-store browsers.
“Closing the book on the catalogue will help us focus on delivering exciting and inspiring digital shopping experiences to meet the changing needs of our customers, both in-store and online.”
“So farewell then, Laminated Book of Dreams, Wipe-Clean Almanac of Aspirations, Sanitised Lexicon of Possibility. I, like so many others, will briefly mourn your passing before instantly kowtowing to our new Touch-Screen Overlords,” Bill Bailey posted on Twitter as the news was announced.
Others posted fond memories of looking through the book as a child.
“The laminated book of dreams is going, that was my childhood,” posted one Twitter user.
“RIP the Argos Catalogue. Christmas will never be the same again,” said another.
However, others have praised the store for saving on paper and moving with the times.