Nationwide auto centre Halfords have said that their sales have grown massively over a 10 week period leading up to May 9th. This came as a shock to the giant chain as they had predicted a decrease in sales over the time period.
The company warned on its profit outlook in April that customers held back on spending due to the current financial climate. Yesterday a spokesperson for the company released a statement saying that sales were up 0.9 per cent, compared to a huge fall in sales of 2.3 per cent in January and February.
Halfords, who took over the auto centres in February 2010, said that it was leaving its full year’s earnings guidance for the business unchanged at a figure of around £7 million.
By 2012 the company aims to open up 30 new auto centres all over the UK to service and repair cars. This will generate the business a start up loss of around £1 million. Halfords have re-branded their entire central network as well as the new Halfords Auto Centre website which was completed in February.
After doing this Halfords then launched a massive TV ad campaign due to the re-branding of the business. The group has since released a statement saying that the weekly online bookings had increased a staggering 93% year on year in the post launch period, against a rise of 21 per cent in January and February. Next year a £5 million investment is required to open the 30 new auto centres nationwide.