Argos and Habitat open within Winchester Homebase

TWO household business names are opening stalls inside a Hampshire DIY store bringing 15 new jobs to the region.

Leading UK digital retailer Argos and furniture store Habitat will be opening businesses inside Winchester’s Homebase store.

Using the latest technology customers will be able to access all the products that the firms have to offer with an Argos digital store and a Mini Habitat at the Easton Lane shop in Winnall.

Homebase store manager, Paul Ovenden, said: “We have been proud to be a part of the local community for 20 years and it’s really exciting that local people now have access to both Argos and Habitat products from inside our store.

“Customers love the fact they can now get even more choice all under one roof.”

The new Mini Habitat store features a range of furniture, lighting, accessories, textiles and table furniture.

Customers can also browse the entire Habitat collection via in-store tablets from which they can order additional products for collection at a later date.

Winchester Mini Habitat store manager, Laura Benson, said: “The reaction from local customers that Habitat has come to Winchester has been fantastic.

“People are now able to interact with our products more conveniently in-store with customers rediscovering us in our new location and being really excited about the collection. I hope everyone will enjoy having us in the local area.”

Argos’s new “paperless” digital store uses tablets to replace their traditional laminated catalogues, paper slips and pencils.

Customers can browse up to 20,000 products from technology to toys, all available for same- or next-day pick up. They can also benefit from new services such as the ability to browse and pay for goods online at home or on the move for speedy collection from a Fast Track collection point in the store.

Staff will be on hand to provide personal service.

A spokesman from Winchester’s Argos store said: “It’s been an exciting first week at the store and it’s fantastic that we can bring digital shopping to local people in Winchester.

“We’ve had so many positive comments from customers about the new look of the store and people have enjoyed using the tablets to browse and shop.”

Source : Ed Stillaird - Daily Echo
www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/13615614.Argos_and_Habitat_to_bring_more_jobs_to_Hampshire/