Argos stops printing The Bible

PostArgos stops printing The Bible by KK » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:05 am

The Guardian wrote:Argos to stop printing 'laminated book of dreams' catalogue after almost 50 years

Move towards online shopping sounds death knell for catalogue once found in three-quarters of UK homes

Argos is to stop printing its catalogue after almost 50 years as the buying bible once found in three-quarters of British homes is claimed by the inexorable move to online shopping.

Over 1bn copies of the bi-annual catalogue have been printed since its launch in 1973, and at its height it was Europe’s most widely-printed publication, with only the bible in more homes across the UK.

But now Argos is to close regular printing of the title, with the retailer saying that online shopping offers “greater convenience” than flicking through its print catalogue.

Coronavirus has hammered the publishing industry and seen numerous titles closed, but the company said the pandemic was not responsible for the decision to cease printing.

The catalogue has had its celebrity moments over the years. The comedian Alan Carr chose it as the one book he would take when he appeared on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, and stars from Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tess Daly to Holly Willoughby and Emma Bunton have plugged products in its pages.

However, the popularity of the catalogue has been in decline in recent years as the internet increasingly gains sway over shoppers’ buying habits.

Over the last decade the number of printed copies of each editionhas dropped from about 10m to about 3m. The most recent one, printed in January before the coronavirus pandemic hit, ran to 3.9m.

“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,” said Mark Given, chief marketing officer at Sainsbury’s, which owns Argos.

“Just as our customers’ tastes have changed over the years, so have their shopping habits. We are 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.”

Argos said it would continue to produce its Christmas Gift Guide, which will still be available in all stores this year.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... t-50-years

As a kid I always favoured Great Universal, for the graphic pornography, but a SAD DAY nevertheless. Let us mourn.

Very annoyed by this, i've always enjoyed browsing their catalogues, online only just isn't the same.

Christmas is now ruined for every child from this day forward :cry:

Oh they joy of looking over the toy section in the run up to Christmas. The Lego pages in particular were always great.

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by KK » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:26 am

1999:

My son loves flicking through and circling everything he sees

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by **Errkal** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:28 am

Good, must be bloody expensive and is a massive waste of paper.

KK wrote:1999:

Those prices are incredible!

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by **Moggy** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:32 am

Errkal wrote:Good, must be bloody expensive and is a massive waste of paper.

Pretty much this. I loved the Argos catalogue as a kid but it seems like a relic now.

KK wrote:1999:

What the... I would swear there was never a time you could buy a new N64 with GoldenEye for £94.99?!?! That has to go down as the bargain of the (last) millennium!

Prince was right, rest his soul, no wonder he always wanted to party like it was 1999 :cry:

.

£19.99 for new PlayStations games, those were the days

Dreamcast

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by **Preezy** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:39 am

Might as well fire the planet into the Sun now and be done with it :cry:

Preezy wrote:Might as well fire the planet into the Sun now and be done with it

Speaking of wastes of paper

I genuinely assumed they had stopped printing these years ago, I can’t imagine many people bother getting one anymore.

It was always fun looking through the book of dreams as a kid though, thinking how amazing it would be to get all of those wonderful things!

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by KK » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:50 am

2001 and Dreamcast games are now down to £10

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by **rinks** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:55 am

Victor Mildew wrote:£19.99 for new PlayStations games, those were the days

Those games were two or three years old by 1999.

Corazon de Leon

Christ. That was the time to get a collection going on the Dreamcast.

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by **Tomous** » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:56 am

Errkal wrote:Good, must be bloody expensive and is a massive waste of paper.

In fairness they use to make it as environmentally sound as they could I believe

PostRe: Argos stops printing The Bible by KK » Thu Jul 30, 2020 9:59 am

Kitchen, child, and free cleaning trolley for only £17.99!

Argos stops printing The Bible

Who is online

Affiliates