• Q1 group like-for-likes up 1.2%
  • Cycling LFLs rise 1.9%
  • Motoring LFLs up 0.6%

Halfords has posted a 1.2% rise in like-for-like sales over the summer as warm weather and the Olympics boosted sales in its cycling division.

The retailer said same-store sales in its retail division – including cycling and motoring – climbed 1.1% in the 20 weeks to August 19.

Cycling like-for-likes in the period rose 1.9%, while motoring comparable sales increased 0.6%.

Boss Jill McDonald said its cycling performance was “supported by new ranges, strong promotional activity, good weather and the success of Halfords’ Olympic cycling heroes”.

Earlier this year Halfords launched a new range of children’s bikes with Sir Bradley Wiggins, and a women’s range with Laura Trott, both of whom won gold medals in the Rio velodrome last month.

Total cycling sales rose 11%, helped by the opening of new Cycle Republic stores and its acquisition of online specialists Tredz and Wheelies, the retailer said today.

McDonald also said Halfords was driving sales by getting to know their customers more through offering e-receipts.

“We’ve been offering our customers who spend £10 in our shops an e-receipt, which enabes us to capture their email address and start to build up an understanding of their pattern of purchase,” she said. 

”It’s early days but I expect to continue to see sales grow off the back of that.”

In its motoring division, Halfords said dash cam sales remained “strong”, but were offset by an ongoing fall in sat nav sales.

Like-for-likes rose 1.8% within its Autocentres arm, driven by growth in servicing and tyres.

Total group sales in the 20-week period rose 4.8%.

 

 

 

 

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