In a note published last month, Merriman said a deal with Sainsbury's would mean Argos stores could move into spare space in its new owner's supermarkets.
As an undergraduate at Columbia University in the early 1960's, Robert K. Kraft sought spiritual and cultural solace at the campus Jewish Office, which was crammed into spare space in the basement of an academic building.
She said a deal with Sainsbury's would mean Argos stores could move into spare space in its supermarkets but she added: "We have long argued that Home Retail face significant structural challenges at Argos and that like-for-like sales growth is not ensured.
One has to wonder what these people made of the place, with its accompanying doll museum, 250-seat theater with showpiece organ, artwork by local artists displayed incongruously in any spare space, snack stand with pretzels, fudge, and Nathan's hot dogs, and a gift shop selling enough Thomas the Tank Engine accessories to keep toddlers in heaven.
* The practice of moving from one acquaintance, friend or relative's house to another, sleeping in whatever spare space is available, floor or sofa, for a night or up to a few days before moving on to the next house.
Parties at his house on East Eighty-first Street (parties of thirty or thirty-five, assembled in the large spare space on the second floor, seated in the dining room on the first floor, spread out over the house after the meal); parties at home in Southampton; parties in London and in New Orleans.
Up and down the country, particularly in the previously unfashionable areas of densely populated cities, in the spare spaces of pubs, clubs and restaurants, in arts centres and at micro-festivals, a new breed of literary event is flourishing.
They have a spare space in their car.
Argos outlets will also provide a useful filler for spare space in Sainsbury's largest outlets.
Anyone with spare space — in their basement, driveway, garage, closet — could rent it out to those in need.
