The agency, which additionally providers automobiles and bikes and affords MOTs, stated it was struggling to recruit sufficient expert technicians to fulfill larger ranges of demand.
Chief govt Graham Stapleton stated the agency was having to take a look at its employees pay and versatile working insurance policies as a result of “people want to work less, and more flexibly”.
He additionally stated it will focus within the quick time period on recruiting expert staff from rival motor service centres.
It comes amid a push to turn into a services-led enterprise, with its autocentres enterprise now making up practically half of gross sales throughout the group following “unprecedented” demand.
Halfords is about to make a revenue of virtually £54 million for the newest full 12 months, based on a consensus of analysts.
It compares with a revenue of practically £100 million final 12 months, and marks a downgrade from earlier market steerage, which predicted its pre-tax revenue would sit someplace between £65 million and £75 million.
The revenue warning despatched Halford’s share worth tumbling by greater than a fifth.
It recovered, however shares have declined by about 7% to date this 12 months.
The London-listed enterprise can also be anticipated to report gross sales of round £1.6 billion for the total 12 months.
Looking additional forward, Halfords predicted its pre-tax revenue will swell to greater than £100 million because the difficult buying and selling situations enhance.
Investors might be zoning in on the shorter-term outlook, notably for wages and different value inflation, in addition to checking how demand is holding up
The retailer additionally flagged a droop in gross sales of higher-priced gadgets in its retail enterprise, as tighter budgets have led folks to tighten their belts.
Some shoppers are deciding to delay shopping for bikes due to weaker confidence, which is impacting the enterprise, Halfords revealed.
Furthermore, it has been knocked by a “massively declining” client tyre market, however stated it might begin to get well within the first half of the brand new monetary 12 months.
Shareholders might be hoping to obtain an replace on client demand and the energy of the tyre market when it reveals its monetary outcomes on Thursday.
Derren Nathan, head of fairness analysis for Hargreaves Lansdown , stated: “The company’s recent update focused on the medium-term outlook over which the board expects to grow pre-tax profits towards £100 million.
“Forecasts don’t suggest any progress towards this target in the current financial year. So, investors will be zoning in on the shorter-term outlook, particularly for wages and other cost inflation, as well as checking how demand is holding up.”
