Mothercare moves away from high street
Mothercare, which also owns Early Learning Centre, is moving away from the high street and consolidating its stores in larger premises in out of town shopping centres according to a report in the Financial Times.
Last week, the retailer announced that it was to open a combined 11,750 sq ft Mothercare and Early Centre store in Peterborough’s Serpentine Green shopping centre in May. In the same week, it was reported that Asda’s Mike Logue had been recruited to the role of UK Director for Mothercare and ELC.
Mothercare has suffered during the downturn as it faces increasing competition from the supermarkets in the UK and last month issued a profit warning. However international sales were buoyant with the retailer reporting a 12% increase. Ben Gordon, Mothercare’s chief executive, said that the retailer was planning to open 150 stores overseas next year but expected the consumer environment in the UK to be challenging and was therefore “planning accordingly”.
