Argos challenges the market by becoming the first retailer to offer same day delivery across the UK, up to 10pm, seven days a week, 364 days a year.
The new Argos store-based Fast Track home delivery service, which is available to households across the UK for just £3.95, has seen the retailer create nearly 3,300 driver jobs - of which up to 1,000 are currently being recruited for the upcoming Christmas season.

The service offers four home delivery slots on around 20,000 products, available seven days a week: 7am-10am, 10am-1pm, 2pm-6pm and 7pm-10pm. It means that customers can order by 6pm to get an item delivered by 10pm the same day. Orders placed before midnight will be delivered between 7am-10am, or 10am-1pm the following day.

Also under the Fast Track service is a new national free-of-charge 60 second in-store collection offer, available across the 800-strong store network, with special Fast Track Collection counters having been created in store for shoppers who have pre-paid online for immediate pick up. When shopping online, customers will be able to see which products can be Fast Tracked, allowing them to check stock, pay online and have their purchase ready and waiting at the collection counter when they come to pick it up - meaning they can have the product in their hands as quickly as 60 seconds after being served.

As the Christmas season approaches, Argos has said it believes the new service will be "vital".

Home Retail Group chief executive John Walden said: "Argos led the way with click & collect 15 years ago - and customers can continue to shop with us in the traditional ways if they choose to. But we believe Fast Track is the next big innovation and brings shopping into the digital age for customers, allowing them to get up to 20,000 products in their hands faster than ever before. No other retailer can offer the breadth of products immediately or at that speed."

Mr Walden added: "We can do this because we are a different type of retailer. We know where every product is in our network and for customers who shop across digital channels - online and mobile - that means they can get what they want faster and with certainty. It's the best of Argos coming together whether you choose to shop online or on the high street."

The 3,300 new team members, who are employed directly by Home Retail Group chain Argos, will be based at local stores and have a focus on customer service at the door. In filling the roles, Argos said it deliberately sought people who "love being out and about in the local community".

Argos said customer reaction to the new home delivery service during testing was very positive, with one customer tweeting: "...the fact that Argos do same day delivery on a Sunday makes me so happy." Another said she found the service "amazing" when her TV broke at 5pm and she was watching her new one by 8.30pm the same day.

Bryan Roberts, senior vice-president & knowledge officer for EMEA at Kantar Retail, said: "Delivery has emerged as one of the key battlegrounds for UK retailers, as customers increasingly look for multiple delivery slots that allow them to shop how and when they want on the same day.

"In terms of customers being able to order online as late as 6pm and receive products on their doorstep that evening, Argos is showing its rivals a clean pair of heels with this new speedy nationwide service. While having the right offer at the right price will be crucial as ever this Christmas, there will also be a sprint finish on the nation's roads to deliver the goods the same or next day."

Interested applicants for customer fulfilment drivers or seasonal jobs in Argos stores should apply as soon as possible at www.argoscareers.com