Mothercare is offering 40% off stock in a last ditch effort to save stores.

Mothercare is offering 40% off stock in a last ditch effort to save stores. Photo: Rob Homer



Mothercare has announced an ''administrations sale'' in a last bid attempt to rescue the embattled baby clothing and accessories retailer.


The 43 Mothercare, Early Learning Centre and Kids Central stores went into voluntary liquidation following the collapse of its sale to the Myer family company and 18 stores have closed since late January.


Disgruntled customers have contacted Fairfax Media after losing money when their gift cards were rejected by the administrators.


Bonny Humphries from Newcastle, was unable to use a $200 gift voucher she had bought one day before the company went into voluntary administration.


''I was furious,'' she said. ''They have my money and I have nothing to show for it.''


Staff who worked at the 18 stores that have been closed and couldn't be relocated have been terminated and their redundancy packages ''frozen in line with voluntary administration procedures'', a spokesman for BRI Ferrier, the administrator for the retailer said. There are up to 400 staff who are at risk of losing their jobs.


The sale, announced on Friday night, will offer up to 40 per cent off stock. ''The stock sale campaign will run in conjunction with the Administrators' continuing efforts in negotiating a sale of the business as a going concern,'' the administrators from BRI Ferrier said in a statement.


Stores now closed in NSW include Bondi Junction, Artarmon, Erina and Penrith.