They’ve printed more than one billion of them since 1973.

It’s the end of the road for the Argos Catalogue, however; the company has admitted that online shopping now offers “greater convenience”, meaning the hefty tome of gym equipment, furniture, toys and kitchen essentials is now a thing of the past.

The latest issue, 3.9m of which were distributed in January, will be the company’s last.

In an email sent to employees, the Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s (which owns Argos) Simon Roberts explained: “As most customers are now browsing and ordering online, we have decided that the time is right to stop printing the Argos catalogue.

“Removing the printed catalogue helps us to flex our range and offers and to be more competitive on price.”

Instead, Cork shoppers can visit the store online or drop into a store at Mahon Retail Park or Blackpool.

Argos vacated its Cork city base in the former Queen’s Old Castle department store on Grand Parade last year after more than 20 years at the address.