CAREERS: Company CV - Halfords

Halfords is the UK's largest retailer of car parts, car

accessories, cycles and cycle accessories. It was founded in 1896 by FW

Rushbrooke and then registered in 1907 as the Halford Cycle Company,

named after the first warehouse/shop in Halford Street, Leicester. It

has been part of the Boots Group of Companies since 1989.

Recent marketing activity has included the opening of new format

stores.

Some of these were an attempt to draw in customers by greater focus on

specialist interests, such as the Bikehut store in Hampshire. In 1999,

Halfords also launched its own tyre range and announced that it was

joining forces with Granada Hotel Group to open 14 new roadside

stores.

Halfords is continuing to relocate from high street stores to

superstores and to expand brand ranges. In the year to March 31, 2000,

Halfords opened four new superstores, bringing the total to 317. Its web

site was also launched in 2000.

In April 2001, Daewoo closed its 32 car dealer outlets in Halford stores

across the UK. In July, Halfords announced the sale of its garage

servicing and repair business to the AA for £5.75m. The AA bought

all 129 service centres, the UK's largest full-service chain, and 1200

staff members will transfer from Halfords to the AA, which is part of

the Centrica group.

Turnover: £508.5m

Operating profit: £37m

Employees: c10, 000

(Year to 31 March 2001)

Advertising agency

Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO

Media buyer

MindShare

DM agency

Triangle Communications

Adspend (Year to October 2001)

Press £5,325,221

TV £684,437

Radio £184,481

Direct mail £16,653

Total £6,210,792

Source: ACNielsenMMS

UK headquarters

Ickenfield Street Drive, Washford West, Redditch, Worcs B98 0DE

Tel: 01527 517601

Fax: 01527 513201

Web site: www.halfords.com

This article was first published on Marketing