Bike boom powers Halfords to £1bn sales

[DEFENDER01]

Interesting.
Every time i have visited my local Branch the cycle department has always been busy.
I have found them to be very helpful and they carry a good stock.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/05/cycling-boom-powers-halfords-to-1bn-pound-sales

 

[Racing roadkill]

Interesting.
Every time i have visited my local Branch the cycle department has always been busy.
I have found them to be very helpful and they carry a good stock.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jun/05/cycling-boom-powers-halfords-to-1bn-pound-sales

That's not a huge surprise, judging by the amount of people I see in there buying bikes, and bike stuff of late. Fair play to them

 

[screenman]

Turnover for vanity, profit for sanity.

I think they are very good at selling, often the wrong product to the customer. Now if only they could improve customer service across the whole network and stop hammering a 27.2 into a 27 that would be even better.

 

[nickyboy]

Turnover for vanity, profit for sanity.

I think they are very good at selling, often the wrong product to the customer. Now if only they could improve customer service across the whole network and stop hammering a 27.2 into a 27 that would be even better.

If you looked at the numbers you would see that total profits up 11.4% to £81.1m, faster than the increase in revenues

 

[furball]

I'm sure they've done well out the bike to schemes.

 

[screenman]

If you looked at the numbers you would see that total profits up 11.4% to £81.1m, faster than the increase in revenues

I know that but £1billion sounds very impressive.

 

[nickyboy]

I'm sure they've done well out the bike to schemes.

I'm sure that's a factor. I suspect the main reason is that they offer a nice, non-intimidating, retail experience for folk buying a bike for probably the first time. To be increasing profits (and producing good profit margins for a retailer) faced with all that internet-based competition shows they're doing it right too

 

[mustang1]

I'm sure that's a factor. I suspect the main reason is that they offer a nice, non-intimidating, retail experience for folk buying a bike for probably the first time. To be increasing profits (and producing good profit margins for a retailer) faced with all that internet-based competition shows they're doing it right too

I see and agree with what you say about first time buyers. My experience is different though. After buying bikes from LBSes and other chain bike shops, I now also look at halfords for value bikes since I know what I'm doing maintenance wise.

The last bike I bought from them however the headset was incorrectly adjusted. But the price was great.

 

[DEFENDER01]

I see and agree with what you say about first time buyers. My experience is different though. After buying bikes from LBSes and other chain bike shops, I now also look at halfords for value bikes since I know what I'm doing maintenance wise.
The last bike I bought from them however the headset was incorrectly adjusted. But the price was great.

I think it all depends on the branch as to how good the service service is.
As for prices i think they have some good deals going only recently they had a buy 2 get 3rd free offer on many items which i took advantage of.
Their own brand Carrera cycles are very good and get very good reviews.
I recently got a second hand Carrera Vengeance and am very happy with it.

 

[pclay]

The fact that they open on Sunday's and till 8pm every other night is a bonus.

 

[jarlrmai]

Yeah they are he go to place for emergency tubes etc when the LBS are out on a club run.

 

[andyfraser]

The fact that they open on Sunday's and till 8pm every other night is a bonus.

What's with the Sunday thing? If I'm going to a bike shop Sunday is the best day for me. Only Hargroves (who are so bad now I won't go there) and Halfords are open in my area.

 

[Dave 123]

I wonder how much they make from fitting windscreen wipers...?
Bought some yesterday and was asked if I'd like them fitted, so I asked how much~ 3 quid! It took me 10 seconds.

 

[andyfraser]

I wonder how much they make from fitting windscreen wipers...?
Bought some yesterday and was asked if I'd like them fitted, so I asked how much~ 3 quid! It took me 10 seconds.

They're catering to those who don't feel able to do things for themselves.

I was in Halfords one Sunday lunchtime. There was a couple in there with a bike wheel begging the staff to do a job for them as they needed the bike the next day. The staff said they were very busy but agreed to fit the couple in. It was a puncture and cost £9.

 

[DEFENDER01]

They're catering to those who don't feel able to do things for themselves.

I was in Halfords one Sunday lunchtime. There was a couple in there with a bike wheel begging the staff to do a job for them as they needed the bike the next day. The staff said they were very busy but agreed to fit the couple in. It was a puncture and cost £9.

At least they managed to fit them in on one of their busy days i know many L.B.S. that would simply say they couldnt do it that day.
£9 isn't bad if you dont have the tools / knowhow to do the job yourself.