Working in Head Office

Supporting every aspect of our stores, and ultimately our customers who shop in our stores, involves many different areas of knowledge and expertise. In the Head Office our functions have direct responsibility for providing support in specific areas of our business and are divided into four key divisions.

Support

Our Support functions encompass the following:

• Finance
• IT
• Central Retail Operations
• Supply Chain
• Property
• HR

These key departments, provide specialist support across the business, including stores and all of our Watford Head Office departments.

Commercial

Our Commercial functions encompass the following:

• Buying
• Merchandising
• Product Marketing
• Design
• Technology
• Sourcing

Our buying, merchandising, design and marketing teams are responsible for developing products and buying competitive ranges across all of our product categories which meet the needs and aspirations of our customers worldwide.

They also work closely with our Sourcing and Technical teams to ensure that our quality standards across all of our product ranges and the Company's legal and safety requirements are met.

Strategy and e-Commerce

Our Strategy and e-Commerce division, encompasses our Direct business. We have an industry leading website www.mothercare.com, where customers can select from an extended range of products in the comfort of their home, or from within our stores, and have the products delivered to their door. Our website also provides customers with valuable resources and information for parents and parents-to-be.

Our Direct business grows from strength to strength and we have ambitious growth plans for this key channel, which includes Nursery Plan and Gift Lists. These key services provide added value for our customer.

Our Customer Service Centre based at our Watford Head Office provides a telephone ordering, and customer service support to customers when they want to contact us, and is available 7 days per week.

International

The key aim of International is for Mothercare to truly become a global brand and develop our overseas business, through effective relationships with franchise partners.

Our teams interact with colleagues across all divisions of the business and provide a professional and beneficial support to our franchise partners to ensure that our financial plans are achieved.

Our team encompasses operations, merchandising, buying, IT and finance, which are based at our Watford Head Office.

Whilst our franchise partners are responsible for the operation of their stores on a day to day basis, and employ their own store management and teams, our international team work closely with them to ensure that our brand is professionally presented in all of our international markets and countries.

There are sometimes exciting secondment opportunities for members of our retail teams to support store opening in new countries.