Halfords has revealed its decision to shut down all its stores on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day this year. The motoring retailer aims to provide its UK staff with a well-deserved break to spend time with their loved ones. While Halfords stores will be closed on Christmas Day as well, they will maintain regular opening hours on other days throughout the festive season.
Henry Birch, the CEO of Halfords, expressed gratitude towards the staff for their hard work throughout the year, emphasizing the importance of allowing them to relax and enjoy quality time with family and friends. Birch stated that closing the stores on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day is a meaningful gesture to show appreciation and ensure the team returns refreshed for the upcoming year.
The decision follows Halfords’ positive financial performance in the past six months, with a 9% increase in cycling business sales and a 3.3% rise in total revenues to £893.3 million. Additionally, the group observed a 1.1% growth in like-for-like motoring revenues and a 4.3% increase in autocentres business revenues.
Apart from Halfords, Home Bargains has also chosen to keep its stores closed on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, continuing a tradition from previous years. Similarly, Aldi will shut its doors on these two days to allow its employees to relax and enjoy the festive period with their families.
Both Home Bargains and Aldi have expressed gratitude towards their staff for their dedication and hard work, emphasizing the importance of providing them with an opportunity to unwind during the holiday season. Aldi will operate extended hours leading up to Christmas to accommodate customer needs before the holiday.
In conclusion, the decision to close stores on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day reflects a growing trend among retailers to prioritize the well-being of their employees and acknowledge their contributions throughout the year.