As part of what Mothercare plc (MTC.L) describe as a “Transformation and Growth Strategy”, the company will shut down a further 36 nursery stores and 75 Early Learning Centre (ELC) shops over the next three years.

These newly announced store closures are in addition to the 3 Mothercare stores and 59 ELC shops closed down in the past year. This will reduce the current number of UK branches from 311 to 200 by March 2015; leaving a total of 173 Mothercare and 27 ELC stores. The company believes that the further store closures will add around £13 million to its bottom-line by March 2015.

Jobs are also under threat at the company’s UK head office in Watford, where 98 staff are all ready in consultation – and together with as many as 750 of store employees  - are at risk of redundancy.Continue Reading

Many have enquired within The Toy Detective Agency about how many Early Learning Centre (ELC) shops have or will be closed-down since it was bought-out by Mothercare in 2007. Almost five years on, we’ve assigned a detective to compare ELC stores listed at the back of its 2007 Christmas catalogue with what remains on the high street.

Some stores in the following list may be still trading, however, in such cases they are either conducting a closing-down sale or are about to close down.Continue Reading

Mothercare (MTC.L), according to a report in the Financial Times, is expected to announce further store closures when it reports its full-year earning in May. An even leaner version the of baby equipment, clothing and toy retailer could have no more than 200 stores.

The company had all ready stated, in May 2011, that it intended to close 110 stores (including around 80 branches of its Early Learning Centre chain of toy shops), leaving 266 high street and out-of-town locations.Continue Reading