Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
National
Ben Reid

Mothercare to shut all of its 79 stores on Sunday after 59 years on the high street

Collapsed retailer Mothercare will disappear from the high street after decades in the business.

The health, beauty and baby product chain will see all 79 of its stores closed by Sunday, January 12 with 2,500 jobs lost across the country.

Since the start of December, Mothercare has slashed prices on products with special offers including a baby stroller selling at £69.99, down from £334.95, with an antique wardrobe initially sold for £270 dropped by 70 percent to £81.00.

Customers were unable to access the company's website but were urged to visit their nearest store for up to 80 percent off on other selected items, with 37 of the 79 still remaining open on Saturday, January 11.

After 59 years in the business, Mothercare, which has a store at the Castle Marina retail park, went into administration last year after struggling to compete with online shopping.

In May 2018 it secured a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) restructuring deal which it said would lead to the closure of just 50 stores and affect 800 jobs.

But after a struggle in keeping up with rent and cheaper competitors, the parent business announced in November 2019 it would file a notice to appoint administrators as it could no longer "satisfy the cash needs" to keep it afloat.

Nelson Blackley, retail research associate at Nottingham Business School previously told Nottinghamshire Live: "Mothercare lacked sufficient authority in any core product area and has failed to build the service offering that a specialist needs to distance itself from generalists.

"The need to cut costs stopped any in-store investment, which in turn leads to a progressively shrinking business.

"Mothercare faced stiff competition from supermarkets that sell their own brand childrenswear such as Asda through its George range and Tesco.

"Fashion retailers such as Next fashion retailers Primark and H&M both sell babywear ranges, and Amazon continues to dominate the toys market."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.