Argos's Slogans & Taglines

Argos is a pioneering British catalogue retailer founded in 1972 by Richard Tompkins as an offshoot of Green Shield Stamps. Rebranded and launched in 1973 with the slogan “Buy it at Argos and pocket the difference,” it introduced the revolutionary catalogue-showroom model: customers browsed a thick colour catalogue, placed orders at a counter, and collected goods from a warehouse-style store. The model offered branded products at prices roughly 30% below traditional high-street retailers. Core product categories span electronics, jewellery (including the Elizabeth Duke line), toys, homewares, and furniture. Acquired by BAT Industries in 1979 and later returned to independence via a management buyout in 1990, Argos entered the FTSE 100 by 1995. Its positioning evolved from a pure catalogue showroom to a multi-channel retailer, later captured by the ethos of “choice, value and convenience.” In 2016, supermarket giant Sainsbury’s acquired Argos, integrating its digital and store network into a nationwide click-and-collect ecosystem. Today, Argos operates hundreds of stores and a thriving online platform, remaining a cornerstone of British value retail.