Halfords to buy and sell second hand bikes in Xchange platform

Halfords has announced that it will begin buying, fixing and selling on second hand bikes as part of an Xchange branded service.

Joining only around 12% of the bike retail marketplace found by CI.N’s market research to be involved in refurbishing and selling on second hand bikes, the decision has been prompted by the industry’s known struggles on securing bike stock in the face of challenges both in the completion of some models set for showrooms, but also in delays to shipping.

Halfords’ action is designed to address the 7 million bikes estimated to be sat in UK garages and sheds idle. Up to £250 will be offered, depending on the bike’s model and state. The scheme covers adult’s and children’s bikes.

“With demand for bikes so high, well-publicised supply chain constraints, and a cost-of-living crisis on the horizon, it can’t be right that so many perfectly good bicycles are being left to gather dust in sheds and garages,” said Graham Stapleton, Chief Executive of Halfords.

“Even if people don’t want to trade in their old bike for a new one, they can do their wallet a power of good by taking advantage of the Halfords Xchange. Just as important, they’re giving somebody who might not otherwise be able to afford it the chance to own a properly serviced, quality assured bike.”

Every 100,000 bikes sold via the Halfords Xchange would save 16,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, believes the retail group. Halfords asked world-renowned sustainability expert Mike Berners-Lee and his team at Small World Consulting (SWC) to estimate the carbon benefit of bringing the second-hand bikes back into service, on the assumption that they would be purchased in preference to 100,000 new bikes.

SWC considered only the benefits arising from extending the life of a used bike versus the manufacture of a new bike.  They did not consider the potential additional benefits that may arise from people who buy second-hand bikes switching away from more carbon intensive forms of transport, nor the health benefits related to having access to a bike.

The UK bike market grew hugely during the pandemic, prompting supply and demand imbalances that have only complicated since in the face of pressures applied by Covid shutdowns at production and shipping sources, among other factors. The UK market was valued at £2.31 billion in 2020, according to the Bicycle Association, an increase of 45% versus 2019 pre-pandemic trading.

“There is a clear role for a trusted brand to get good bikes back on the road, helping more people access one of the greenest and healthiest forms of transport there is,” said Graham Stapleton. “The government says it wants to usher in a new golden age of cycling. Getting unused bikes back on the road is one small contribution to achieving that goal.”

In June 2021 Halfords reported cycling revenues up 54.1% compared with the previous year.