Halfords reopens 34 more shops and garages across the UK
HALFORDS has reopened a further 34 sites across the UK, including 22 of its garages and 12 stores - but shops remain closed for browsing.
In total, it now has 346 of its 446 stores open.
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But customers aren't allowed into stores, and physical interaction is limited where possible.
Instead, they can drive to a collection point or collect goods at the store entrance.
Halfords qualifies to remain trading because both cycle shops and garages are considered essential services.
The majority of Halfords stores and autocentres have been open since the government said only essential retailers could stay open in March.
But Halfords is now slowly reopening the shops which initially closed after making sure they are safe to trade.
The bikes and motoring retailer said it has put a number of measures in place to protect staff and customers, such as social distancing measures, a range of PPE and new drive-in services.
Halfords adds that it has “fundamentally changed the way its garages and stores operate” in order to comply with new safety measures.
The retailer no longer takes cash payments, and is operating a zero contact policy.
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You can order items online and pick them up, but you have to collect them from the store entrance rather than go in.
Click and collect is free - but if you want something delivered to your home it costs £3.99, or is free for orders worth more than £40.
At garages, only one customer is allowed to enter the reception area at a time, and the company is allowing at least five minutes of ventilation before moving cars into the service area.
It also uses plastic wrap on steering wheels and gear levers on repair and service jobs.
It is still offering services such as windscreen chip repair, wiper blade fitting, number plate fitting, roof boxes and bars fitted for cars - although some less essential services are suspended.
For example, you cannot currently get a car stereo fitted.
Similarly for bikes, stores will service your brakes and gears, replace tyres or change brake pads.
However, it isn't doing spoke replacement or any electric bike trials, among other things.
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A number of other retailers have also begun opening its doors again, including Wickes.
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Homebase also reopened all of its stores this weekend.
Here's a full list of retailers now open.