Halfords sales ride higher on the trend for staycations

This summer’s staycation trend boosted Halfords’ sales, with the retailer doing a strong trade in camping equipment, roof boxes and cycle carriers.

Halfords capitalised on the fashion for holidaying in the UK as Brits were put off going to Europe by the higher costs caused by the weakness in the pound.

Chief executive Jill McDonald said customer spending stood up well to increased pressure on consumers, since car parts and bike repairs were largely not discretionary.

Same-store sales in the first 20 weeks of the year rose by 2.7% as the retailer continued to tap into growing interest in cycling thanks to the exploits of top sports names such as Victoria Pendleton and introduced a range of new services for drivers.

Star performers were cycling ranges and camping equipment.

McDonald leaves Halfords for Marks & Spencer this autumn but her successor has yet to be announced.

E-bikes and dashcams are two areas where the retailer is seeing triple-digit growth, albeit from a low basis.

McDonald said that e-bikes – which cost between £700 and £2000 — were being bought both by commuters and leisure cyclists, including mountain bikers who wanted “more of the fun” and to avoid the uphill slog.