Halfords has declared that all its stores will be shut on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year. The automotive retailer aims to provide its UK staff with a well-deserved break to enjoy time with family and friends. While Halfords stores will be closed on Christmas Day as well, they will operate as usual on all other days during the festive season.
Henry Birch, the CEO of Halfords, emphasized the dedication of their employees throughout the year, often working tirelessly to keep the country moving. Recognizing their hard work, Halfords has decided to close stores on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as a gesture of appreciation, allowing the teams to rejuvenate for the upcoming year.
The decision to close on these public holidays follows Halfords’ positive financial performance in the previous half-year. The cycling segment saw a 9% increase in sales compared to the same period last year, contributing to a 3.3% rise in total revenues to £893.3 million. Additionally, motoring revenues and autocentres showed respective like-for-like growth of 1.1% and 4.3%.
Apart from Halfords, Home Bargains is also joining the trend by keeping its stores closed on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, continuing a practice from previous years. Similarly, Aldi will shut its doors on December 26, offering extended hours leading up to Christmas to accommodate customer needs.
Rebecca Heley, the Communications Director at Aldi UK, highlighted the importance of enabling colleagues to enjoy the holiday season with their loved ones. This decision to close on Boxing Day is a token of appreciation for the hard work put in by Aldi staff to deliver a memorable Christmas experience for customers.
