It’s been the coldest summer for 18 years and already shops are getting ready for this winter’s big freeze, with Halfords taking early delivery of enough sledges to stretch end to end to the top of Mount Everest.*
The retailer is preparing for the worst with everything from snow chains, shovels and metal spiked-shoe covers heading for the high street.
But the 10,000 sleds that have just been shipped in are a reminder that the latest predictions of heavy snowfalls this winter are not bad news for everyone.
Louise Robinson, product manager at Halfords, said: “We want to ensure that our shelves are full of everything our customers will need and everything they might want, to both stay safe if they are on the roads and to enjoy any snowfalls in their free time.”
The car accessories and leisure retailer has ordered ‘significantly more’ tow ropes, snow shovels, and tyre snow socks for driving in severe weather and other winter product lines, as well as stocking fun items like the Sno Slinger, which designed to throw a snow ball much further; and a snow brick maker to help with construction of the kids’ igloo you always wanted to build.
Britain forecasters are predicting that violent storms will hit Britain with severe frosts as early as November – and, while white-outs bring fun for many, they cause misery for others. Last year much of the country came to a standstill with roads and railways paralysed amid record low temperatures and arctic conditions.
Halfords is urging motorists to prepare in advance and ensure they stock up on antifreeze, de-icers, screen wash, scrapers, salt for the drive and winter survival kits designed to keep motorists moving when the weather hits.
For severe conditions, items such as snow chains are invaluable.
The company is also offering free ‘five point checks’ to ensure cars are ready for winter, as part of its We Fit service; and garage chain Halfords Autocentres is advising drivers to fit winter tyres, which perform better on icy and snow bound roads.
Halfords winter driving expert Mark Dolphin added: “We are ready to meet all conditions and we want to make sure all our customers are too.”
Via EPR Network
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