The uphill struggle may be over

Baby-care group Mothercare announced in May that it had turned the corner after a torrid year of profit warnings, new leadership and warehouse chaos.

Chief executive Ben Gordon, who took the helm in December, said recent figures for the past 15 weeks offered hope that the worst was indeed over.

Underlying sales in the period to 11 July rose 3.4% and the group said less discounting had boosted profit margins.

"It is very encouraging that we have had this start, but it is still early days," Mr Gordon said.

"The brand is incredibly strong and our customers have been sympathetic to the changes we have made so far."

'Watershed' year

The outdoor clothing and leisure group Blacks Leisure has also reported a lift in sales for the past 19 weeks to 12 July, but its recovery showed signs of slowing.

Sales were up 4.2% in stores open for more than a year. But a year ago, its sales growth in the same period was 19%.

Blacks is adding to its boarding products

Blacks runs the Milletts, O'Neill and Free Spirit chains, and strengthened its snowboarding offering earlier this month by acquiring the Just Add Water chain - a surf, snowboard, and skateboard clothing and equipment retailer.

Chairman David Bernstein said at the time that the past year had been a "watershed" for the group, after it sold its sport and fashion business to concentrate on outdoor clothing and equipment.

Both Mothercare and Blacks have seen their share prices almost double since the start of the year and their rise continued on Friday morning.

Mothercare added another 3p or almost 2% to 165p on the back of its recent performance. The company's shares started the year at 85p.