Halfords: Without better infrastructure, bike shops will struggle

Probably worth a reminder here that Halfords now have an expanding premium storefront in the form of Cycle Republic, which is where you will find the high end Boardmans as well as other brands and kit. 

The statement that the cycle market is fragmented is very true but, as the market evolves, there will be those that survive and those that fail.

With its immense buying power and distribution network, Halfords will be able to survive. There are loads of LBS that survive because of their self- belief that they are better than Halfords which, to some extent, is correct but they still operate on low volumes and tight margins. It will only take a conscious change in attitude from Halfords to raise staff pay (cycle products are specialist retail and require knowledgeable, skilled staff. It is not comparable to supermarket retail), poach some good buyers, employ some staff trainers and there will be a huge shift in their product offerings and service that would threaten lots of LBS. There are too many LBS that are fortunate that Halfords have not realised this. Likewise, Halfords are reluctant to invest fully in this market but, if they did, they could increase their market share.

The statement that the cycle market is fragmented is very true but, as the market evolves, there will be those that survive and those that fail.

With its immense buying power and distribution network, Halfords will be able to survive. There are loads of LBS that survive because of their self- belief that they are better than Halfords which, to some extent, is correct but they still operate on low volumes and tight margins. It will only take a conscious change in attitude from Halfords to raise staff pay (cycle products are specialist retail and require knowledgeable, skilled staff. It is not comparable to supermarket retail), poach some good buyers, employ some staff trainers and there will be a huge shift in their product offerings and service that would threaten lots of LBS. There are too many LBS that are fortunate that Halfords have not realised this. Likewise, Halfords are reluctant to invest fully in this market but, if they did, they could increase their market share.

I think back 5 years or so to when I decided that I'd like to try road cycling to keep myself fit in retirement.

I went to my LBS and was, rather sniffily,  offered a machine for around £700 as their cheapest option, I also found the place intimidating with wiry guys in lycra leaning on the counter discussing the gear ratios they used to climb the Horseshoe Pass.

So I moved on to Halfords and bought a Carrerra TdF for £260 which served me well for a couple of years until I felt confident enough to return to the LBS - now wiry(ish) and lycra clad.

Who cares what they think, they mostly sell kids bikes and heavy low group-set stuff anyhow. The few decent bikes they have (Boardman) would be better off being sold directly by Chris online. Get them out of the hands of their clueless, arrogant staff.

The day Halfords close, I will clap my hands.

Many years ago, I decided that I would start cycling to work. Went to Halfords and had a look, then to my local bike shop. As someone who at that time knew nothing about bikes, just went with the £100 Raleigh mountain bike from Halfords rather than the £500 cheapest bike from the LBS, after all they looked the same to me.

There's also the C2W scheme involvement - my company is just offering it, having been asked to do so for ages, and the HR director preferred the simplicity of signing up to the Halfords offering.

I've had a wide range of service from our local Halfords.  At the one end there's the 'mechanic' who thought every pedal has a right-hand thread and at the other there's the lovely guy who expertly trued my wheel and wouldn't charge for his ten minutes labour.  It's not all bad news and, as somebody just said, the Boardmans are wonderful.

Boardman bikes seem good, but Halfords no longer stock some of the nicer bikes they used to sell.

I went to my LBS because I could afford the marginal extra cost and would rather pay for knowledgeable staff. Perhaps I have just had a bad experience with my local Halfords (all 6 that I've tried).

Ratfink, just ask them to match their own web price. I do and they always agree.

I pop into a halfords i pass every so often and buy the odd bits and pieces, I find it bizarre though that i can save money by walking outside the shop ordering what i've just seen inside the shop on my phone for click and collect and walk back into the shop and pick it up.

tbh I havent seen Halfords undercutting anyone - let me know where they do it so I can take advantage

Are LBS struggling because monolithic organisations like Halfords can undercut them?

"Join us. Your retail distinctiveness will be added to our own. You will be assimilated."