London, UK (PRWEB) February 5, 2011
Argos, the UK's most visited online high street retailer, was one of a few exclusive high street brands in the UK to launch a Facebook Deal this week. Argos is proud to confirm they have chosen a Facebook Charity Deal as their first promotion, giving customers out shopping this week for anything from an iPod touch to a kettle in Argos the chance to donate £1 to their national charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, without paying a penny!
Facebook Deals launched in the UK on Monday 31 January, offering customers special discounts and promotions when they access Facebook on their mobile phone, open 'Places' and then choose the 'Check In' option to reveal surrounding locations offering a Facebook Deal.
As part of Home Retail Group, Argos and Teenage Cancer Trust have been working towards a £2 million fundraising target over a two year partnership that began in July 2010. Teenage Cancer Trust has built 17 units to date and Home Retail Group aims to support Teenage Cancer Trust achieve their goal of building further units across the UK, so that all young people needing hospital treatment for cancer have access to the dedicated and specialist support they provide.
Ceri Wootton, Community Affairs Manager for Argos, confirms why Argos has given their customers the chance to be one of the first to take part in a Facebook Charity Deal: "Social media plays an increasingly important role in our lives and more people are using it outside of the home through their mobile phones. Having raised over £750,000 in just seven months of partnership fundraising, it's important to try out new fundraising methods that engage our customers that enjoy socialising through Facebook."
With 96% of people in the UK living within 10 minutes of an Argos store that sells products ranging from sofas to laptops, Argos was a natural choice for the launch of Facebook Deals in the UK. There are also over 60,000 Argos Facebook fans on http://www.facebook.com/argos making it the largest Facebook community among general merchandise retailers in the UK.* Teenage Cancer Trust also has a very active Facebook community on http://www.facebook.com/teenagecancertrust, for people to get involved with others by sharing their experiences, stories and photos of fundraising activities and key events.
Note to News Editors:
Joanna Shields, VP EMEA, Facebook, commented: "Facebook is built around people and sharing personal experiences and Deals is a great extension of this. By bringing valuable and relevant offers to you wherever and whenever you want them, Deals delivers a powerful experience that combines technology and location in a way that a pure online or offline experience could never deliver."
For more information on Argos, contact Iris PR, tel: 0207 922 8111
For more information on Facebook, you can view the note on Facebook UK, visit http://www.facebook.com/deals or contact facebook(at)nelsonbostock(dot)com
*Based on Argos research undertaken on Friday 28 January 2011.
About Argos
Argos is a unique retailer recognised for choice, value and convenience. It sells general merchandise and products for the home from over 750 stores throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland, online and over the telephone. In the last financial year, Argos sales were £4.3 billion.
Argos serves over 135 million customers a year through its stores. On average, 17 million UK households, or around two thirds of the population, have an Argos catalogue at home at any time. Argos expects to add around 10 stores this year and its internet site, http://www.argos.co.uk, was the most visited high street retailer online in the UK in 2009.
Home Retail Group has been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard which certifies that we have genuinely reduced our carbon footprint. We call our responsible approach 'the basis of good business'. Find out more at: http://www.thebasisofgoodbusiness.com
Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.
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