800 more Clinton Cards jobs to go

Nearly 900 people will lose their jobs next week after another wave
of store closures at collapsed retailer Clinton Cards was announced.

The group, the UK's biggest specialist cards retailer, fell into administration last month, although 397 of its stores were sold to Ohio-based American Greetings, saving 4,500 jobs.

Administrators at Zolfo Cooper today announced the closure of a further 122 stores not included in the deal, leading to around 880 redundancies and leaving 122 stores under its control.

Zolfo said it was still looking for a buyer for the remaining stores, which will continue to operate as normal.

The ailing high street retailer, which operated the Clintons and Birthdays brands, had nearly 800 stores and employed more than 8,000 staff in total.

The chain collapsed into administration after its biggest supplier, American Greetings, called in a £35 million debt, putting it in pole position to buy the chain by making it a preferential creditor.

The US company's UK Greetings operation, which is based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, has the brands Camden Graphics, Hanson White, Forget Me Not and Xpressions and supplies outlets including major supermarkets.

Clinton Cards was founded by chairman Don Lewin in Epping, Essex, in 1968.

Its collapse served as another blow to the high street after recent high-profile casualties including video games retailer Game Group, fashion chain Peacocks and outdoor specialist Blacks Leisure.

PA