Chief exec aims to grow international presence
Mothercare can become a global brand with a powerful private-label offer, said chief executive Ben Gordon at the Retail Week Conference today.

Detailing the company's recovery from the doldrums, he said he wants to turn Mothercare from 'an iconic UK brand with a growing overseas operation' into a 'global brand with a market-leading UK presence'.

Mothercare has 247 stores outside the UK and has built a strong store base in a number of markets, particularly the Middle East. It is also poised to open five stores in India.

'When you look at the original 1950s vision for Mothercare, there was a real clarity,' said Gordon. 'It was about making pregnancy stylish in an era when pregnancy wasn't much talked about. We have brought that back and have restored the iconic trust in the brand and I see no reason why that can't be built up internationally.'

Gordon said Mothercare is increasing its design and innovation work and is developing more own-brand products in hardware areas such as buggies. He also cited the internet as an increasingly important aspect of the retailer's sales mix.

'In-store internet access enables customers to use our high street stores to select products not available in our smaller units,' he said, emphasising that he believes high street outlets will remain an important element of Mothercare's store portfolio.