Halfords had its best ever day for sales during the Christmas period

REDDITCH-based leisure products and auto parts retailer Halfords has revealed that it enjoyed its best ever day for sales on December 23rd and its best in online sales terms over the Black Friday weekend.

The positive news came amongst an otherwise flattish trading statement covering the company’s Q3 trading period.

Total revenue was up by 0.4% over the quarter and 1.3% year to date while retail was down 0.3% in the quarter and up 0.8% year to date.

Better news came from the firm’s Autocentres car repair business which saw revenue growth of 4.1% over the quarter and 4.4% year to date.

Halfords said that in its cycling department growth in sales of bikes and cycle repair more than offset a small decline in parts, accessories and clothing while in motoring car maintenance sales were impacted by the warm weather but were partially offset by a strong performance in sales of wiper blades and bulbs, and continued growth in fitting services.

·Autocentres increased service, maintenance and repair revenue, but was impacted by lower tyre prices.

Halfords said there is no change in its expectations of group profit before tax for the full year, which we expect to be in the range of £78-82m.
 
Chief executive Jill McDonald said: “We are pleased with the group’s performance, given the unprecedented weather conditions. Particularly pleasing was the strong growth in service-related sales and a return to LFL growth in cycling.

“We achieved a record day online over the Black Friday weekend, our highest ever day for total sales on 23rd December and further improvements in customer service metrics.”