Car parts and bicycles retailer Halfords is rolling out the sale of mobility products after a trial over the past year.
The 29 line mobility range, including scooters, wheelchairs and walking frames, is presently in 76 stores and will roll out to more of its 455 shops this year. It started as a six-store trial in 2008 and has been expanded since then. The range is also available online.
Last week, Halfords chief executive David Wild told the Retail Week Conference that the mobility category was “very Halfords”.
He said: “Mobility is a natural fit for us. There is an ageing demographic in the UK. Older people want to remain active but are finding it hard to find the right product.”
The mobility market is worth £500m and retailers B&Q and Asda have already waded into the sector.
Wild described the present mobility market as “fragmented” and said Halfords would have an advantage because most of its stores are located on retail parks, giving easier access for customers.
He said: “We are growing this very methodically and plan to roll it out further. It is an area of the market that is not well looked after, and there is a big demand for it.”
Wild said customers need “expert advice” on buying mobility products and that Halfords had built up a reputation in the field.
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