The document discusses Argos' gadget trade-in programme, which allows customers to exchange old mobile phones and tablets for an Argos gift voucher. The products are then responsibly refurbished or recycled, extending their lifespans and keeping resources in use. By offering this service, Argos hoped customers would trade in old devices when buying new ones, and potentially expand to other devices like laptops and cameras. Key aspects included using external data to support the idea, socializing it throughout the company, and piloting the model to gain operational insights before a national rollout. The programme aims to benefit both the environment and Argos' business through increased customer loyalty, footfall, and spending.

1. Gerrard Fisher
Special Advisor
WRAP UK
How to Drive Business Model Transformation
Inside a Company
Zoë Arden | @zoearden
Director
SustainAbility
Coleen Chapman
VP, Global Responsibility & Public Policy
Starbucks
Megan Kitchen
Environmental & Ethical Affairs Manager
Home Retail Group

3. • We look to exploit opportunities to develop and deliver business growth within a more circular
economy.
• We recognise that the environmental benefits as well as the business benefits from resource
efficient business models are significant. Re-thinking how we use our resources can benefit not
only our environmental credentials but can also go hand in hand with increasing customer loyalty,
footfall and spend.
• We partner with customers to enable sustainability to become a part of their daily lives through
the relevant products and services that we offer.
WHY SUSTAINABILITY IS
IMPORTANT TO ARGOS

4. THE ARGOS GADGET TRADE-IN
PROGRAMME
• The Argos gadget trade-in programme enables customers to bring their old and unused
mobile phones and tablets into any UK Argos store, have it valued and exchange it for an
Argos gift voucher
• The products will then be responsibly refurbished or recycled, extending their lifetime, keeping
them out of the waste stream and keeping the resources in play for as long as possible
• As the only UK high street retailer to offer this service we could see the potential that
customers would come to Argos and trade in their old devices at the same time they were
buying a new one and that we could extend the offer to other devices such a lap tops and
cameras

5. KEY MOMENTS ON THE WAY
• Having access to external data and research to support the idea undoubtedly ensured that the
project was given appropriate consideration by the relevant teams
• Internally socialise the idea …again and again ! A programme like this can’t be delivered by one
team – this needs all areas of the business to be engaged
• Agreeing to pilot the trade-in model gave us scope to operationally test the initiative in a safe
environment which gave us valuable insight to have the confidence to roll out nationally
• Fundamentally it needs to make commercial sense with the environmental credentials playing a
supporting role