Wiggins joins Halfords to help boost sales?

[Stevec047]

Just seen a news story on sky news.

http://news.sky.com/story/1586340/wiggins-joins-halfords-as-profits-drop-a-gear

Could this be a good thing or a bad thing for him and the nation.

I understand the reason behind halfords wanting a top class sports person to front the brand but it won't make the service or quality of the products any better which I think many people have an issue with?

 

[albion]

Bardman is still a decent brand, and that wi,l certainly help prevent the Halfraud top brass destroying the brand image like they do with their other own brand bike stuff.

Good move.

 

[Stevec047]

[QUOTE 4000906, member: 259"]Being associated with Chris Boardman hasn't done them any harm.[/QUOTE]
No you are right but obviously it hasn't helped as sales are down.

The issue i see is over priced products which can be sourced at any LBS inexperienced staff and poor service.

I personally think they should save their money getting a top name in cycling on board and invest it into training the staff and reevaluating their pricing stratagy and product range bringing it more in line with the LBS and some of their direct competitors. Just my opinion.

They have huge cost involved in the real estate of the business through rent and business rates which don't help matters but trufully if you needed a part for your bike where would you go? LBS or Halfords?

 

[MontyVeda]

maybe if they start selling bikes with WIGGINS stamped on the down tube, sales of their Apollo range might pick up?

@Stevec047 ...I've had plenty of bad advice from several LBSs in these parts, making Halfords nowhere near the worst or most expensive.

 

[Stevec047]

Bardman is still a decent brand, and that wi,l certainly help prevent the Halfraud top brass destroying the brand image like they do with their other own brand bike stuff.

Good move.

Boardman have been very wise with their strategy in the way they supply branded bikes exclusive to halfords whilst keeping their brand intact with high end bikes sold online and through premium partners.

You will see alot of companies do this not just in the bike world. I gives them a much larger audience from budget to top end.

 

[Stevec047]

maybe if they start selling bikes with WIGGINS stamped on the down tube, sales of their Apollo range might pick up?

@Stevec047 ...I've had plenty of bad advice from several LBSs in these parts, making Halfords nowhere near the worst or most expensive.

Far point but from past experience not only for bike bits but in general my experience hasn't been the best.

In terms of Wiggins joining I think it's a nice move to keep the whole British bike scene at the forfront of people's minds. Halford sponsor and do a huge amount for the sport so having a big name up front will only be a good thing.

 

[Drago]

Which branches will Wiggo be working in?

 

[screenman]

[QUOTE 4000971, member: 45"]Pendleton bikes are rubbish. Not sure about Hoy.[/QUOTE]

That is an interesting statement, my wife is very happy with hers. It has done about a 1,000 faultless miles so far and still looks like new.

 

[biggs682]

i am sure he will be making some £ out of it

 

[Jayaly]

I know little about bike sales in general, but I do know that I recently went out with Tallest Boy to test ride budget hybrids for his school commuter. He was allowed to ride the Boardmans and the Carreras up and down a short aisle in Halfords, when there weren't people standing in them anyway. Likewise Cycles UK let him ride a Trek and a Specialized up and down the aisle but not outside. The Giant people let him take an Escape out to ride up and down the street outside. He rode back with a smile that you needed sunglasses to look at directly. Guess which one he chose?

 

[screenman]

I know little about bike sales in general, but I do know that I recently went out with Tallest Boy to test ride budget hybrids for his school commuter. He was allowed to ride the Boardmans and the Carreras up and down a short aisle in Halfords, when there weren't people standing in them anyway. Likewise Cycles UK let him ride a Trek and a Specialized up and down the aisle but not outside. The Giant people let him take an Escape out to ride up and down the street outside. He rode back with a smile that you needed sunglasses to look at directly. Guess which one he chose?

Raleigh

 

[ianrauk]

[QUOTE 4000999, member: 45"]That may be, but they're not on a par with Boardman. They sit somewhere in between Apollo and Carrera.

Unfortunately they bank on the pastel shades selling them.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. A friend's wife bought one.. I thought with all the hoohaa at the launch and with all the heavy advertising they would be fair decent bikes. They are just ok clunkers. Nothing more. There are certainly much better similar bikes out there.

 

[screenman]

[QUOTE 4000999, member: 45"]That may be, but they're not on a par with Boardman. They sit somewhere in between Apollo and Carrera.

Unfortunately they bank on the pastel shades selling them.[/QUOTE]

So possibly that could be good value for money for a somebody like my wife that only does 20 miles rides at 14mph average. I think we paid about £220 for it, good value in my book. But then I suppose if you had not done as many miles as I have cycling beside her whilst she pedals away you might not know.

 

[screenman]

Agreed. A friend's wife bought one.. I thought with all the hoohaa at the launch and with all the heavy advertising they would be fair decent bikes. They are just ok clunkers. Nothing more. There are certainly much better similar bikes out there.

What exactly would you have suggested for the £220 mI paid for the wife's bike.

 

[ianrauk]

What exactly would you have suggested for the £220 mI paid for the wife's bike.

As I said, they are just ok.