Halfords set to reopen Ipswich and Colchester stores
Halfords in Ransomes Europark which is reopening Picture: GOOGLEMAP - Credit: Archant
A number of Halfords stores are set to reopen in East Anglia as the chain named 53 sites where customers will be allowed back in.
The bike and car parts retailer said it had seen a surge in bike sales since the government relaxed lockdown rules and encouraged commuting which avoids public transport.
It now plans to open up its stores at Ipswich Euro, Colchester, Braintree and Norwich.
MORE – Discount chain QD reopens six more storesHalfords was allowed to remain open throughout the coronavirus lockdown as it is classed as an “essential” business but chose to close sites and operate a model where customers could only make purchased from outside or online. A total of 335 of its 446 retail stores have been run according to its “retail lite” model.
New rules include reduced customers, queuing marshals, safety notices and floor markings, sneeze screen visors for staff and instructions to customers not to handle or try on products.
Chief executive Graham Stapleton said: “There has been a big surge in demand for our bike products and services as people have taken to cycling during the lockdown, both for commuting and for fun.
You may also want to watch:
“We are also anticipating a similar level of demand for our motoring products and services in the coming days, as people begin to use vehicles again that in some cases will have been off the road for many weeks.”
As well as its retail stores, Halfords has 346 of its 373 garages and 77 vans operating under a contactless model.
Subscribe to our daily coronavirus newsletter, with all the latest from where you live. Or visit our Facebook page or link to our daily podcast here
Most Read
- 1 Covid vaccines cancelled at four Suffolk centres today – this is why
- 2 Good Inside cafe opens for 'real food' takeaways in Ipswich town centre
- 3 What was unearthed during the BBC's Antiques Roadshow Ipswich episode?
- 4 Three fined for breaching Covid rules at 'gathering' after reports of loud music
- 5 Murder probe launched after woman in 20s dies in Colchester
- 6 Man 'moved on' for eating sausage roll on Ipswich park bench
- 7 Ipswich child rapist gets 21 years for 'despicable' crimes
- 8 Warning after distraction thefts at supermarkets
- 9 Huge numbers of Covid vaccine bookings in Suffolk
- 10 Proposal for 73 park homes on former business park site