Mothercare hails new website as it boosts its sales 4.5%

The babycare chain saw like-for-like sales across the UK rise by 4.5 per cent in its final quarter to March 25 thanks to a 13.6 per cent jump in online sales.

It marked a sharp rise on the 1 per cent growth seen in its Christmas quarter and its highest sales hike since the second quarter of 2015/16.

Mothercare said it had seen a good response to its new website, with online sales now accounting for around 41 per cent of UK sales, while it added spring/summer ranges had been well-received.

The group is also seeing the fruits of a store revamp plan, having refurbished 70 per cent of its UK shops in the past two years.

A boost from the Brexit-hit pound on its overseas earnings offset ongoing tough trading in international markets, where sales surged 15.4 per cent in the 11 weeks to March 25 but fell 1.7 per cent on a constant currency basis.

The group said sales were strong across China, Indonesia and Russia, helped by exchange rates, though it said economic conditions in the Middle East were still “challenging”.

Mark Newton-Jones, chief executive of Mothercare, said it had been a “solid” quarter for the group.

He added: “We have made further progress in the period, with the UK performing particularly well on a like-for-like basis. Customers’ response to our spring/summer ranges has been positive, as has the feedback on the new website and our new store environment.”

Mothercare has nine stores across Yorkshire. It returned to sales growth over its festive quarter, following difficult conditions earlier in 2016.