Argos is launching a marketplace to take on Amazon and eBay in the UK
Argos, the iconic British retailer owned by Sainsbury’s, is set to challenge the dominance of Amazon and eBay in the UK online market by launching its own third-party marketplace within the next year.
The new platform will allow carefully selected third-party sellers to list and sell products directly on the Argos website and app, dramatically expanding the range of goods available to customers.
Argos currently offers around 60,000 products, with thousands more added recently through its stockless, supplier-fulfilled model. The marketplace aims to multiply that selection “many times over,” complementing core categories like electricals, toys, and home goods while venturing into new, complementary areas.
Unlike fully open platforms, Argos said that its marketplace will be curated, with a focus on maintaining high standards for safety, reliability, and alignment with customer expectations. This selective approach differentiates it from the broader, sometimes unregulated inventories on Amazon and eBay.
The initiative leverages Argos’ formidable digital footprint. The site is the UK’s third most-visited retail website, attracting over one billion visits annually.
Around half of UK households shop with Argos each year, drawn by its multichannel strengths, including Click & Collect available across more than 90% of UK postcodes seven days a week, Fast Track delivery options, and services like Argos Pay (flexible credit) and Argos Plus (a £40 annual pass for enhanced delivery).
To power the marketplace, Argos said it has partnered with Mirakl, a leading global marketplace technology provider known for enabling scalable, intelligent commerce solutions.
“Introducing a marketplace within the next year marks an exciting next step in Argos’ multi-year transformation. It reflects what we know customers want – more choice, more convenience and more reasons to shop with confidence,” said Graham Biggart, Managing Director of Argos (and Sainsbury’s Chief Strategy Officer).
“With over one billion visits to our website each year and a brand built on value, trust and quality, we see a real opportunity to offer an even wider range of products that complements our core ranges and the highly valued suppliers we work with today.”
The launch comes amid broader efforts to boost Argos’ relevance in a competitive landscape. Sainsbury’s ‘Next Level'”‘ strategy, outlined in 2024, targets growth in frequency and spend through improved range, convenience, and value at Argos.
The marketplace builds on recent enhancements, including AI-driven personalisation (with app scale nearly doubling by year-end), expanded own-label brands like Habitat and Chad Valley, store automation, and fulfilment network upgrades.
Sellers interested in participating can register early interest via a dedicated questionnaire on the Argos site.
While the exact launch date remains within the next 12 months, potentially into early 2027, the announcement signals Argos’ intent to evolve from a traditional catalogue-turned-digital retailer into a more comprehensive e-commerce destination.
In doing so, it positions itself as a trusted British alternative that combines familiar convenience with the vast choice typically associated with global giants like Amazon and eBay.
