Halfords has launched its new online Marketplace as the bicycle and car accessories retailer looks to test ecommerce trends.
Halfords has already made significant progress with e-commerce – its Halfords.com website had 90m visits last year and 25% of all bike sales were made online – but it believes that the new Halfords Marketplace will allow it to innovate further and offer a wider range.
Working with approved partners, Halfords plans to feature up to 40,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) and the marketplace model will mean that new products can be included on the site within weeks in response to customer demand.
Among the sellers on Halfords Marketplace are Toolsave, Ghostbikes.com, E-bikes Direct, Frame Discounts and Kiddi Moto.
Halfords said the site, powered by Mirakl, will also allow it to “anticipate and react to trends and customer’s buying behaviour”.
It is the latest new digital platform launch for the retailer, following its click-and-collect offer and eBay store.
Halfords Marketplace Trading Manager Nina Morris said, “This launch means we can react faster than ever to the needs of our customers, with more choice and access to more brands. Our sector-leading innovation also means we will be able to target new customers who may not have shopped with Halfords before.”
Morris added: “From bikes to scooters, drones to kayaks – we’ll be able to offer our customers all the latest summer must-haves and everything for family journeys with the convenience of home or work place delivery.”
The new Halfords Marketplace website is powered by Mirakl, which also provides marketplace platforms for Best Buy, GAME and Les Galeries Lafayette.