Argos to open Midlands' first digital store in Walsall

The retail giant is to move into a unit at the Crown Wharf in February, following the closure of its current site at the Saddlers Shopping Centre.

Tablets will replace traditional catalogues and paper forms at the planned store in Wolverhampton Street.

Staff at the existing outlet will be offered the chance to transfer to the retail park site, opposite the Walsall Waterfront which is under going millions of pounds of investment.

Argos, which was founded in the early 1970s, has more than 730 stores and 340 million websites visits a year.

A statement from the firm said: "Argos can confirm that it is opening its first digital store in the West Midlands at Crown Wharf Shopping Park, Walsall in February 2015, following the closure of our current store in the Saddlers Shopping Centre in the same month.

"Colleagues at our store in the Saddlers Shopping Centre have been informed, and will have the option to transfer across to our new store.

"The digital store will have a fresh and contemporary look, where tables of tablets will replace Argos' traditional laminated catalogues, paper slips and pencils, meaning shoppers will be able to take advantage of the speed and convenience of online shopping in their local store."

Argos had been earmarked to open on the Bescot Retail Park near Walsall Football Club, along with Aldi several years ago.

But a planning inspector was forced to rule on the proposals in 2010 after the council put forward concerns they would have a negative impact on the town centre - with the borough already well-served by such stores.

Despite getting the go-ahead from the government inspector the stores have failed to open at the park.

The new-look Argos comes as work on a £12 million cinema and leisure development at the Waterfront is now under way.

An eight-screen Light cinema and four restaurants - a Chiquito, Pizza Express, Bella Italia and Hungry Horse - form part of the scheme which is due to be finished by next winter.

More than 200 jobs are to be created and further retail space will be made available during the second phase of the development.

It also emerged earlier this week that Poundland is the second big brand to sign up for the multi-million pound St Matthews Quarter in the town centre.

The Willenhall-based firm will join homeware store B&M who have also struck a deal to form part of the planned sure with 11 units in Digbeth.