Mothercare has announced yet another decline in the performance of its UK stores, in its third quarter trading update. Like-for-like sales in UK stores fell by 3.0%, during the 13 week period ending on 7th January 2012. Overall sales on home soil dropped by 6.9%; in part due to the company’s plan to close-down 110 shops within a three year period.
These disappointing UK trading figures follow a poor 2011, which the firm blamed on snow during December.
The fifty-year-old nursery goods and clothing retailer (which also owns toddler toy shop chain Early Learning Centre) continues to fare better aboard. Having opened its 1,000th store overseas, the company reported a 15.0% rise in international sales.
Alan Parker, Executive Chairman of Mothercare, said: “Worldwide network sales increased by 3.0%, as a result of continuing strong growth in our profitable and cash-generative International business. We have opened our 1,000th store outside the UK and also launched in four new countries – Chile, Colombia, Iraq and Morocco.
“In the UK, the better like-for-like sales performance was achieved in an increasingly competitive consumer environment. Additional promotional activity was successful in driving a 5% like-for-like sales increase in December…”
Mothercare may also face a new threat from rival firm Kiddicare (owned by supermarket chain Morrisons), as it eyes-up eleven out-of-town retail “sheds” that have been occupied by electrical goods brand Best Buy.
Group Performance : Third Quarter
- Worldwide network sales up 3.0%
- Total group sales down 1.2%
- International retail sales up 15.0% (up 18.5% at constant exchange rates)
- UK like-for-like sales down 3.0%
- Total UK sales down 6.9% mainly due to planned store closures
- UK Direct in Home sales down 2.2%
Group Performance : Year-to-Date
- Worldwide network sales up 4.5%
- Total group sales up 2.0%
- International retail sales up 15.5%
- UK like-for-like sales down 5.4%
- Total UK sales down 5.3%
- UK Direct in Home sales down 3.4%
In the clearest sign yet that Early Learning Centre has all but given-up on trading on the British high street, The Toy Detectives have become aware that Peterkin UK Ltd are now a wholesaler of the baby and pre-school brand of toys.
All ready this year, ELC toys have become available from Argos, Woolworths and Amazon; and there have been long standing wholesale agreements with Boots and Debenhams. Now independent toy shop owners can take advantage of the many recent and forthcoming closures of ELC stores; and may once again experience a little “Woolies bounce” that was most welcome on 2007 and 2008.
Peterkin, which was established in 1948, supplies toy shop staples such as Dolls World, Motor Zone, Nikko and World Peacekeepers. The inclusion of ELC products currently adds 99 products to its line-up. Items from ELC’s puzzles, music, baby, Happyland and Blossom Farm ranges are included in the selection available to the trade.
Reaction to the news from the toy trade has been rather mixed, British toy shop directory website ToyShopUK.co.uk asked traders if they were considering stocking ELC products, here’s what they had to say.
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Half Price Salein-store and online at Early Learning Centre
HALF PRICE SALE
NOW ON
Offer ends: Unknown, however, the best deals sell-out fast.
Early Learning Centre start its Half Price Sale with over two week left before Christmas. An ideal opportunity to find some bargain presents.
The sale offers are available online, in-store and in selected Mothercare stores. There are deals on a wide selection of toys, craft kits, books and even some children’s bicycles.
Highlights include:
- DOLLS SHOP MALL
- 12″ RASCAL BICYCLE
- 12″ GLITTERBUG BICYCLE
- WONDERLAND PALACE
- CITY TRAIN SET
- NEW WOODEN GARAGE
- WOODEN GARAGE
- KIDIZOOM JR PLUS
- ROSEBUD TREEDHOUSE
- Giant Keyboard
- ELECTRIC DRUM KIT
- ZZ ZING PLAYSET
- SIT AND SCOOT
- JCB CHUNKY TRUCKS
- WOODEN FORT
- 85 PIECE RED TUB (PROMO)
- FT RETRO ROBOT
[Caps lock off please, ELC]
]]>Brambledale Farmavailable to buy from Early Learning Centre
Was £45, NOW ONLY
£22.50
Offer ends: Unknown, but don’t expect deals to last long at ELC.
Retailer’s Description
Brambledale play farm has five different buildings, and is the perfect setting for your child to enjoy fun farming adventures. Brambledale Farm is full of inspiring details, such as a winch on the barn and a pond in the farmyard. This realistic wooden farm set includes a slot-together barn, cowshed, chicken coop, stable, sty and pen, plus a farmyard base, which can be set in a square or ‘L’ shape. The clever play farm design means the smaller buildings nest inside the barn so the farm stores away quickly and easily. The barn and stable buildings have plastic feet to hold them together. This wooden farm is great inspiration for classic imaginative play.
Product Specifications
Recommend age: 3 years and older
Assembly requirements: Adult assembly required, slots together – no tools needed
Battery requirements: n/a
Packaged item weight: 2.9 kg
Dimensions:
Manufacturer/Supplier: Early Learning Centre
Manufacturer/Supplier no.: 130257
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Tower of Doomavailable to buy from Early Learning Centre
Was £80, NOW ONLY
£40
Offer ends: Unknown, but don’t expect deals to last long at ELC
Retailer’s Description
The Tower of Doom is a brilliant battle site to fire your child’s imagination. Your child can explore the dungeons, drawbridge and towering turrets, and invent their own exciting stories of knights, monsters and rescues. This brilliantly well-designed toy castle is lavishly detailed and full of fun touches to inspire your child to enjoy rewarding pretend play. The dark Tower of Doom includes a drawbridge, trap door, balconies, dungeon, bridge, turrets, scary details on the walls, and boiling lava flowing by.
Product Specifications
Recommend age: 3 years and older
Assembly requirements: Adult assembly required, slots together – no tools needed
Battery requirements: n/a
Dimensions: height 110 cm, width 67 cm, depth 67 cm
Manufacturer/Supplier: Early Learning Centre
Manufacturer/Supplier no.: 120892
Dolls’ Mansion Department Storeavailable to buy from Early Learning Centre
Was £140, NOW ONLY
£70
Offer ends: Unknown, but don’t expect deals to last long at ELC
Retailer’s Description
Your child can enjoy helping their dolls shop in this fantastic large-scale Dolls’ Mansion Department Store. There are three floors in the dolls’ shopping centre and lots to play with, including a toy shop, sweet shop, hair salon, café and clothes boutique with changing room. The dolls’ department store also has an escalator, lift and cash machine. This toy shopping centre is a perfect inspiration for imaginative play and great for playing with friends too.
From the Case Files
This toy is perfect for fashion dolls, such as, Barbie, Moxie, Bratz, Liv and others that are around 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The Dolls’ Mansion Department Store is an ELC packaged version of Kidkraft’s Dolls’ Shopping Center [sic], so expect similar quality. The steps on the escalator do not move. John.
Product Specifications
Recommend age: 3 years and older
Assembly requirements: Adult assembly required, using screwdriver and pliers
Battery requirements: n/a
Dimensions: height 109 cm, width 82 cm, depth 34 cm
Manufacturer/Supplier: Kidkraft / Early Learning Centre
Manufacturer/Supplier no.: 131145
Giant Keyboardavailable to buy from Early Learning Centre
Was £40, NOW ONLY
£20
Offer ends: Unknown, but don’t expect deals to last long at ELC.
Retailer’s Description
Fantastic 2.5m long keyboard with 24 keys and seven different instrument sounds, so your child can step, press and dance to make music. Saves and plays back performances. Comes complete with a volume control and an MP3 player dock.
Product Specifications
Recommend age: 3 years and older
Battery requirements: 4 x AA (not included)
Packaged item weight: 3.46 Kg
Manufacturer/Supplier: Early Learning Centre
Manufacturer/Supplier no.: 130604
Super Sounds Electronic Drum Kitavailable to buy from Early Learning Centre
Was £40, NOW ONLY
£20
Offer ends: Unknown, but don’t expect deals to last long at ELC.
Retailer’s Description
Electronic cymbal, tom-tom, snare and [acoustic] bass drum, plus stool and sticks. With music to play along to, fun sounds and flashing lights too. Great for coordination and musical development.
From the Case Files
Young children love to play this drum kit. There’s no volume control, however, it’s not too loud – if that’s a concern of yours. John.
Product Specifications
Recommend age: 3 years and older
Battery requirements: 3 x AA (not included)
Packaged item weight: 4.6 Kg
Manufacturer/Supplier: Early Learning Centre
Manufacturer/Supplier no.: 130452
Early Learning Centre has its own ecommerce website, however, with the toy seller taking seven working days for standard delivery (surely, sub-standard), an audacious charge of £4.95 for the “service” and a lack of an in-store collection facility, many customers may only place orders as a last resort.
So, if you cannot stay indoors for as many as ten days waiting for a parcel to arrive, then you’ll be pleased to know that Amazon.co.uk have added over 600 ELC products to its own vast online selection.
Amazon provide standard delivery free of charge on orders over £30 and if you’re in a hurry the online retailer offers express delivery, including delivery on Saturdays.
The Toy Detectives expect Amazon to eventually stock the entire range of ELC’s own brand products. Recently Woolworths and Argos started stocking a select range from the Early Learning Centre; and there has also been longstanding wholesale agreements with Debenhams and Boots.
These recents deals could be evidence that a strategy is firmly in place to remove the ailing chain of shops from the British high street. Leaving the 37 year-old toy brand to concentrate on being a supplier (of re-branded Red Box, Unimax, Lissi & others) and exist as a concession within large Mothercare stores (the current owners of ELC).
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Debenhams are currently hosting one of their Christmas Spectacular events, where shoppers can fing offers of up to 40% off (and sometimes more) throughout the department stores and online.
A few half-price toy lines have caught the eye of The Toy Detectives:
VTech My Laptop – was £25 NOW ONLY £12.50
VTech Kiddizoom Twist Digital Camera – was £55 NOW ONLY £27.50
ELC Happyland Fairy Treehouse – was £50 NOW ONLY £25.00
ELC Happyland Busy Construction Work Site – was £50 NOW ONLY £25.00
There’s plenty of more good stuff on sale at Debenhams; notably Octonauts, Fireman Sam and Peppa Pig among many more are all in stock with 20% off.
Other departments at the chain of stores are offering up to 40% off, while fragrance and beauty products are being discounted by 10%.
Online shopper can also get a further 10% off reduction by using discount voucher code LM93 when purchasing on the website.
Up To 40% Off Christmas Spectacular
at Debenhams
Offer Ends: Sunday, 20th November 2011