Babycare retailer finalises sales deal with Boots

BABYCARE GROUP Mothercare has announced a new business model after talks with franchisees as it also finalised a deal with Boots to sell goods across the chain in time for the autumn season.

The firm, which last year put its UK stores into administration with all 79 shops closing and 2,500 jobs lost, said the new franchise arrangements would ensure a more sustainable and less capital-intensive business model.

It will also see the group’s franchise partners pay for products directly to manufacturers.

The group said it had finally completed the deal with Boots to become its UK and Ireland franchise partner, which will see it sell Mothercare-branded clothing from this autumn and goods including pushchairs and car seats in larger stores and online.

The Boots deal had suffered a series of delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On the new franchise plans, Mothercare said: “We believe this new way of working will ultimately have the added benefits of improving pricing for franchise partners, which in turn should better incentivise retail sales growth and assist our manufacturing partners in reinstating credit insurance for future seasons.”

As well as the 10-year Boots deal, Mothercare said it had also struck a new 20-year franchise arrangement with Alshaya Group, its main franchise partner.

Mothercare said that it still expects to take a £10m hit from the UK stores’ administration last November.

The administration left Mothercare refocused on simply providing branded products to retailers.

In June, the group was also dealt a blow when temporary boss, Glyn Hughes, said he did not want the job on a permanent basis. He quit in June, leaving the chief operating officer and chief financial officer in charge.