Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in | Become a Member - no adverts Manage My Membership | Log out
Menu
  • News
    • Business
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Changing times as Argos officially opens at Sainsbury’s Pontllanfraith

News | Richard Gurner | Published: 16:27, Friday April 30th, 2021.
Last updated: 16:27, Friday April 30th, 2021

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £3 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Boxer Kody Davies cuts the ribbon to open the new Argos store at Sainsburys Pontllanfraith
Boxer Kody Davies cuts the ribbon to open the new Argos store at Sainsburys Pontllanfraith

Argos has opened a concession at Sainsbury’s Pontlanfraith to replace its closed store in Blackwood town centre.

The retailer, which is owned by Sainsbury’s, confirmed the closure of its High Street store in November last year. It closed at the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 and did not reopen.

Markham boxer Kody Davies had the honour of opening the new store within a store alongside staff members who transferred over – including manager Deb Duggan.

Mrs Duggan, who had worked at the Argos in Blackwood for 25 years, said there had been no job losses with some staff redeployed to work in the supermarket.

At the time of the closure announcement in February last year, Blackwood independent councillor Kevin Etheridge said he had contacted Sainsbury’s over fears the store could close.

In correspondence with the firm, he explained he had been contacted by elderly residents who used the branch and do not have internet access to items online.

Cllr Etheridge described the confirmation as a “very sad day for staff and shoppers”.

Sainsbury’s confirms Argos closure in Blackwood

Changing times

Argos is a much-loved British brand – a staple of town centres up and down the country. But consumer habits change. Argos, like other retailers face hard competition from internet-only firms like Amazon, who do not have the overhead cost of physical shops.

Being owned by a supermarket gives Argos an opportunity to close its high street shops but still retain a physical presence for same-day collection of online orders and a place for customers to go to browse and buy items (albeit on a screen and not from a laminated catalogue).

With a Sainsbury’s store already operating over Caerphilly Mountain in Thornhill, Sainsbury’s has also confirmed the closure of its Caerphilly branch. Why pay for multiple buildings when you can consolidate your offering in single premises with high footfall?

The closure of Argos stores in Blackwood and Caerphilly will be seen as a blow to the traditional high street, but businesses have to react to changing times to keep people employed and to survive.

What we need to do now is to redefine our town centres. Are they purely a place for commerce or something else?

Sign up to our daily newsletter


Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £3 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

Caerphilly Media

Latest News

  • Help wanted in library vandalism caseFriday, June 9, 2023
  • Damage at Attlee Road playground, Blackwood
    Playground set on fire and vandalised during school holidaysFriday, June 9, 2023
  • Photography exhibition shows Wales’ mining legacy and lasting community impactFriday, June 9, 2023
  • Gerwyn Price and Johnny Clayton have won the World Cup of Darts for Wales
    Price and Clayton to start World Cup in second round as Wales seededFriday, June 9, 2023
  • Ffiliffest is held in Caerphilly every year
    Get ready for a celebration of Welsh culture as Ffiliffest returnsFriday, June 9, 2023
  • New images showing how the new 'Ffos Caerffili' could look
    Three developments set to be decided by council planning committeeFriday, June 9, 2023
© 2009-2022 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Britannia House, Caerphilly Business Park, Van Road, Caerphilly, CF83 3GG. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.