Mothercare to close more UK stores

Reports today are developing into the closure of some 60 plus Mothercare stores throughout the UK. The iconic British mother and baby store has been trading since 1971 and sadly due to a management restructure in November of last year the store has struggled to cope after reports shown a drop in sales by 6.2% in 2011/12.

Mothercare stock many of the top mother and baby brands from across the globe, including Mama’s and Papa’s, Baby K and Silvercross. The niche company has struggled in recent years with the introduction of online retailers selling stock at a considerably lower cost. It’s a sign of the times; consumers are becoming ‘savvy shoppers’, looking for the best deal and avoiding well known stockists, opting instead, for a cheaper alternative stockist of the same product.

Of course, it’s not all bad news for Mothercare. The company have seen some phenomenal growth in their overseas market, so plans to open more international stores are on the agenda for the future.

Our client, Mama Beach has seen a fantastic growth in their clothing over the past year. The brand which started as high end luxury swimwear from pregnant women expanded into children’s swimwear and has now adapted the range to women’s loungewear. The brand, that stocked their range in Mothercare some years ago, made a conscious decision to move their brand to an online e-commerce site late last year. The growth has meant the brand has had to adapt and the new e-commerce site is due to launch this summer.

A spokesperson for the brand said “It’s always sad to hear that a British store is making cuts, especially for the staff that will lose their jobs, that is always tough to hear. However consumers are putting more effort into their shopping. They research their products and no longer panic buy. They look for the best deal and want quality for their money. The Mama Beach range is made from some of the best Italian fabric and is internationally made. I believe it’s the quality of our product that has allowed us to grow considerably.”

Mama Beach are constantly striving to perfect their brand and their products and conduct a lot of market research on social media sites. The international sites allow the brand to understand their global market, ask questions and answer concerns. Mama Beach have found having an open approach to their audience has allowed for return business again and again.

To find out more details on Mama Beach and to be added to their database for news on the brand contact Amy@Freerpr.com.