Another blow for retail in Leamington as Argos confirms closure of its town centre branch

The site was listed online as being temporarily closed during lockdown but the company's signage has now been removed from the front of site in Guy Street and the permanent closure of the site has now been confirmed
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The Courier has been told that major retailer Argos has permanently closed its branch in Leamington town centre.

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The site, in Guy Street, was listed online as being temporarily closed but unlike many other shops in the town centre and across the country it did not re-open when Coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased in April.

The site of the former Argos branch in Guy Street, Leamington.The site of the former Argos branch in Guy Street, Leamington.
The site of the former Argos branch in Guy Street, Leamington.

A spokeswoman for Argos said: “Our Leamington Spa, Guy Street Argos store has now closed and colleagues were offered opportunities to redeploy to alternative roles within Sainsbury’s.

"Customers can continue to shop with us at our nearby stores, including our Argos at the Sainsbury’s Leamington Spa store.”

Last year, Argos shared plans to open 350 more Argos stores in Sainsbury’s and Argos collection points in supermarkets and convenience stores by March 2024.

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As a result of this the company said it no longer needed as many Argos standalone stores and will close around 420 branches.

Argos is closing hundreds of its standalone stores across the UK.Argos is closing hundreds of its standalone stores across the UK.
Argos is closing hundreds of its standalone stores across the UK.

In a strategy update given in September 2020 Simon Roberts, the chief executive of J Sainsbury plc which owns Argos, said: “Our other brands - Argos, Habitat, Tu, Nectar and Sainsbury’s Bank - must deliver for their customers and for our shareholders in their own right.

"Argos sales have been strong over the past six months and we have gained almost two million new customers as people have re-connected with Argos.

"Over the next three years we will make Argos a simpler, more efficient and more profitable business while still offering customers great convenience and value and improving availability.

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"We will also make Habitat more widely available in Sainsbury’s and Argos, giving customers access to stylish home and furniture products at more affordable prices.

"We are talking to colleagues today about where the changes we are announcing in Argos standalone stores and food counters impact their roles.

"We will work really hard to find alternative roles for as many of these colleagues as possible and expect to be able to offer alternative roles for the majority of impacted colleagues.

“Given the unprecedented circumstances of this year and the challenges facing our colleagues, including the changes we are announcing today, I have informed the Board that if a bonus is payable, I will waive any bonus entitlement for this financial year.

“We are raising our ambitions.

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"By delivering improvements in value and quality and simplifying this business, we will do a better job for our customers and deliver an improved financial performance and stronger shareholder returns.

“Right here and now I and all the team are focused on supporting and delivering for our customers in the days and weeks ahead.”

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