Argos to launch marketplace as it seeks to maximise strengths

The Argos marketplace will go live within the next 12 months, and the retailer has appointed an expert in the field to lead the new venture.

Timo Scherbaum is joining Argos as director of marketplace, bringing experience from international electricals retailer MediaMarkt where he held several senior marketplace roles.

The initiative comes as Argos drives forward a transformation plan led by managing director Graham Biggart, who is also chief strategy officer of Argos’ owner Sainsbury’s. 

The introduction of a marketplace is designed to more fully exploit Argos’ technology and supply chain prowess and the retailer is partnering with specialist technology provider Mirakl on the project. The Argos site is the UK’s third most visited and about half of the country’s households shop on it annually. It has also pioneered services such as rapid delivery and click-and-collect. Such strengths, combined with the reputational heft of the Argos brand, create an opportunity for other businesses to benefit from a marketplace proposition.

Marketplaces have been growing fast, prompting retailers including Tesco and B&Q to launch their own. Argos will introduce a curated range of partners in its existing categories as well as complementary ones, offering customers an enhanced range and partners greater scale.

Biggart said: “Introducing a marketplace within the next year marks an exciting next step in Argos’ multi‑year transformation. It reflects what we know customers want – more choice, more convenience and more reasons to shop with confidence. With over 1 billion visits to our website each year and a brand built on value, trust and quality, we see a real opportunity to offer an even wider range of products that complements our core ranges and the highly valued suppliers we work with today.”

Sainsbury’s considered selling Argos last year, as it focuses on its core food business. However talks with Chinese powerhouse JD.com, which had also been interested in buying electricals retailer Currys, failed to progress. JD.com, which is acquiring MediaMarkt owner Ceconomy, intends to launch its own grocery and general merchandise site in the UK next month.