Argos has commissioned The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to create a piece of music using a selection of electrical appliances in place of instruments. From a bassoonist playing a Dyson V10 vacuum to a harpist playing an Oral-B iO4 electric toothbrush, the ensemble of eight musicians performed to one of their own recordings, Blue Danube Waltz, as a backing track.
The music has been created following research from Argos, which found that more than ever, people are looking to use Black Friday as an opportunity to spread the cost of the festive season. 41% plan to use Black Friday to buy the gift items they already have in mind for less.
Benjamin Pope, Guest Conductor at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, said: “Our musicians are always up for an interesting challenge, so creating music using household gadgets and appliances provided just that! We wanted to capture that uplifting feeling you get when you get a great deal on something you really wanted. It’s a gleeful feeling I think we can all relate to, and we hope we’ve captured with this unusual piece.”
Matt Leeser, Trading Director at Argos, said: “We’ve seen the rise in popularity of people making music with everyday household objects on social media, so we thought it would be an interesting challenge to see what the experts - the Royal Philharmonic - could do with some of our top Black Friday products to bring our best deals to life.
“It's never been more important to our customers to save money, and we’re seeing them plan more carefully than ever, buying items on their list only when the best deals are available. Working with the British institution that is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a wonderful opportunity to present our deals in a unique way.”
Black Friday is Argos’s biggest day of the year for sales and searches, with the retailer expecting to send out over three million products from its key distribution centres in Kettering, Barton, Basildon and Heywood. Over 2,400 employees will be working at these sites on Black Friday alone, servicing just under 2,000 Argos stores and collection points inside Sainsbury’s locations.
Argos’s top product deals played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra include:
- Russell Hobbs Nutri Boost 0.7L Plastic Jug Blender, originally £100.00, now £40.00, SAVING £60.00
- Remington D5901 Coconut Smooth Hair Dryer with Diffuser, originally £32.00, now £18.00, SAVING £14.00
- XBOX Series S Console, originally £249.99, now £199.99, SAVING £50.00
- Dyson V10 Absolute Detangling Cordless Vacuum Cleaner originally £430.00, now £325.00, SAVING £105.00
- Oral-B iO4 Electric Toothbrush originally £180.00, now £90.00, SAVING £90.00
- Philips Series 5000 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver originally £75.00, now £55.00, SAVING £20.00
- Black + Decker Cordless Hammer Drill & Mouse with Batteries originally £125.00, now £75.00, SAVING £50.00
- Ring doorbell originally £89.00, now £59.99, SAVING £29.01