UK Retailer Mothercare Says Festive Internet Sales Fell

Baby products retailer Mothercare said group home delivery sales from its website fell after it cut back on internet discounts.


In what must be a first for a British retailer - or an extreme rarity at the very least - sales declined 1 per cent in the 12 weeks to January 4. The retailer said that compared to a 6.4 per cent rise in the 40 week period to the same day.

The retailer said in a statement yesterday that the decline related to a promotion at its Early Learning Centre website which gave a one-off boost last year but was not repeated this year.

'Our decision not to repeat last year’s free delivery offer combined with a weak toy market impacted Elc.co.uk sales, which resulted in Direct in Home experiencing a reduction during the quarter,' it said.

Mothercare said, when the decline at ELC was ignored, its main website grew sales by 15 per cent and said click-and-collect business 'continued to perform well.'

However, like-for-like sales at Mothercare's UK business fell 9.9 per cent in the 12 weeks, an acceleration on the 40 week decline in the year so far of 8.3 per cent.

Total sales in the festive 12 weeks fell 6.1 per cent compared to an overall 40 week decline to 3.4 per cent.