Halfords Digital Commitment
Halfords will stop selling analogue only radios within two years providing a major boost to the proposed switchover to digital, CEO Matt Davies announced today.
From 2015 the leading supplier of car audio products will offer only digital receivers and fit them into customers’ vehicles.
The move comes amid increasing interest from motorists and growing demand for digital radios. Over four in ten new cars have digital radio fitted as standard, a figure that will grow as more manufacturers announce they are joining the digital revolution.
Mr Davies, addressing the Go Digital Conference in London, said: “Halfords is committed to a digital future and I am pleased to announce today that we are planning for our audio offer to be 100% digital by 2015.”
The move came as Government Minster Ed Vaizey declared that digital was the future for radio in the UK and announced a series of initiatives that will help drive the spread of digital listening.
Mr Davies added: “We welcome Government commitment to digital radio’s future. Our customers tell us that they want more certainty on when the switchover will happen. This announcement will help.”
To meet the demand for fitting audio products, Halfords has trained 1800 store colleagues to Institute of Motor Industry standards in its 466 stores.
Last year Halfords carried out 4 million fitting jobs in its stores of which 130,000 were audio installations.
Mr Davies said the industry approved “digital tick standard” would be incorporated into the training schedule. “We are looking forward to working very closely with the digital industry as we approach switchover and beyond.”
Halfords offers “while you wait” radio fitting, where customers book a slot at a local store.
Halfords has developed its own exclusive brand of products and is offering digital converter kits. Prices start from £49 and fitting costs £29.99.
To celebrate the Digital Radio event and the progress digital radio is making - Halfords is offering 10% of all digital stereo car radios and adaptors from today online and tomorrow in store - until the 23rd December.
ENDS
Media contacts:
James Dale, PR Administrator
T: 01527 513315
E: james.dale@halfords.co.uk
Notes to editors
About Halfords Group plc
The Group is the UK's leading retailer of automotive, leisure and cycling products and through Halfords Autocentres also one of the UK's leading independent car servicing and repair operator. Halfords customers shop at 466 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland and at halfords.com for pick-up at their local store or direct home delivery. Halfords Autocentres operates from over 295 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership-quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at affordable prices.
Halfords employs approximately 12,000 colleagues and sells around 10,000 product lines in stores, increasing to around 30,000 lines online. The product offering encompasses significant ranges in car parts, cycles, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment. Halfords own brands include Apollo and Carrera cycles, augmented by exclusive UK distribution rights for the premium-ranged Boardman cycles and accessories. In outdoor leisure, we sell a premium range of camping equipment including brands such as Outwell. Halfords offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called "wefit" for car parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and a "werepair" service for cycles.
