Halfords enlists Wunderman Thompson Commerce for digital boost and e-commerce growth

Halfords, a UK-based provider of motoring and cycling services and products, has appointed Wunderman Thompson Commerce as its strategic commerce partner.

In a press release, Wunderman Thompson Commerce says that it will help Halfords “reduce costs, increase sales, and harness the power in its Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform, as it looks to adapt to this latest approach while accelerating digital growth, alongside the e-commerce experts”.

Ten teams and approximately 100 experts will be based both nearshore and in the UK to ensure collaboration. Made up of management, delivery and support, they will deliver several projects over the next three years to boost customers’ online experience.

A particular focus will be on Halfords’ Motoring Club loyalty scheme with its 1.2 million members, the retailer’s core proposition and project and programme enhancements, with the aim of delivering better connected journeys for customers, as well as maximising retention and revenue.

Halfords states that it is already benefitting from the introduction of new monitoring tools to track performance and online delivery as well as a new payment system provided by ACI Worldwide to offer customers the latest in-store, online and mobile purchase options.

Neil Holden, Chief Information Officer, says: “We’re excited to be working with Wunderman Thompson Commerce once again, as we transform our digital operation and modernise our customers’ online experience.”

“They not only offer unrivalled inspiration across various industries, but bring broad commerce expertise outside of just platform build and technology. The know-how to help us trade the site better and reduce costs is especially important during the difficult cost-of-living crisis.”

“We look forward to working with them as we continue to push the boundaries and deliver a better experience for our loyal customers.”

Neil Stewart, CEO at Wunderman Thompson Commerce, comments: “Gearing up to scale one of Europe’s biggest motoring and leisure brands is no mean feat.”

“What’s more, taking the lead in transforming them into a service led business, supporting new efficiencies and helping them to unlock their growth potential, during a period when the industry faces great uncertainty, is a challenge we look forward to delivering, together.”

Simon Wherry

Late last year, Halfords announced the appointment of Simon Wherry as Delivery Director. 

He joined from management consultancy firm, CapGemini, where he was a Programme Director working in the defence manufacturing arena. 

Prior to this, Wherry held numerous roles in which he has worked with or for major retailers across Europe. 

This includes Kingfisher, owner of B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, Brico Depot and Woolworths where he held multiple transformational change delivery roles, most recently as Portfolio & Governance Director. 

Whilst at Kingfisher, he was responsible for a multi-year programme to deploy common ways of working underpinned by a unified technology stack across the group. 

In a consulting capacity, he has also previously worked at BP Convenience Retail (US) and Smyths Toys.