UK retailer Argos has announced that it will take part in the Facebook Deals programme, which launches in the UK today, and which will offer customers discounts and promotions when they check-in to shops and restaurants using Facebook Places.

Argos is running a Facebook Charity Deal, with all proceeds going to Argos’ national charity partner Teenage Cancer Trust. Argos will donate £1 to Teenage Cancer Trust for the first 10,000 customers that use Facebook Deals to check in at an Argos store this week, starting today. Shoppers can check-in via the most recent version of the Facebook app or via www.facebook.com on their mobile, to claim the Deal. 

Argos is an enthusiastic advocate of mobile, social and online media. 150m people visited the Argos website between September and New Year’s Day, with £1 in every three coming through Check & Reserve, the company’s online reservation and in-store collection service. 70 per cent of these customers choose to receive mobile SMS reservation updates, resulting in over £350m of sales. Argos also has an iPhone app that has been downloaded 1.2m times, and generated £3m worth of sales during Christmas Week last year.

The latest version of the Argos catalogue is also the first to incorporate the retailer’s official Facebook page. Over the Argos catalogue launch weekend, the company saw its Facebook fans almost double to over 60,000.

“Argos is committed to social media, and our adoption of Facebook Deals is a way to engage customers and receive timely insight and feedback,” says Jim Clear, Argos gigital brand development manager. “The size and reach of Argos made us a natural launch participator for Facebook Deals in the UK. We are excited to use this important new UK social media platform to enhance our partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust in a way that speaks to our Facebook fans and Teenage Cancer Trust supporters.”