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Source: Daily Mail, LondonOct.mini storage 24--The laminated plastic catalogue that has been a feature of Argos stores since 1973 may soon fall victim to the digital revolution.Home Retail Group, which posted strong half-year sales, said it had tested a new Argos format in Camden, North London, replacing the catalogue with iPads.Following the success of this test, it has expanded the trial to a further six new digital stores and may ditch the laminated catalogues across all stores if successful. It will still retain paper catalogues for customers to take away.While underlying sales increased for both its Argos stores, up 2.3pc, and its Homebase DIY chain, up 5.9pc, pre-tax profit for Home Retail was hit by a one?ff charge.This crashed to pounds sterling 14.2m for the year to August 31 from pounds sterling 46.7m but much of that was due to a pounds sterling 35m exceptional gain the previous year linked to a pension credit. The firm took an unexpected pounds sterling 12.6m hit, which finance director Richard Ashton initially儲存attributed to a shift to a new technology system. However spokesman Chris Wermann later said that this was only a portion of that charge and the company did not wish to specify what was behind the remainder.The shares rose 7.8p to 192.1p following the best performance at Homebase since 2002.Strong sales of barbeques during the hot summer lifted sales as the firm introduced a new format for Homebase which is on test in London's Ruislip and Battersea stores.Sales have already increased 15pc to 20pc and there are plans to revamp ten more over the second half and a further 25 next year.Brands such as Laura Ashley and Habitat have seen sales lift from 18pc to 30pc but chief executive Terry Duddy said he is looking to create or buy a medium-tier furniture and homewear brand.At Argos 43pc of sales were made online. The interim dividend was flat at 1p a share.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 Daily Mail (London, ) Visit the Daily Mail (London, ) at .dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉