Administrators close more Clintons stores

THE administrators of the Clinton Cards business have closed 43 of the 397 stores which were not picked up by American Greetings Corporation through its Lakeshore Lending business last week.

Zolfo Cooper closed the stores – including branches in Blackpool (Upper Church St), Chorley (Chapel St), Liverpool (Lord St) and Wrexham (Regent St) – on Friday.

In a statement, the firm said its joint administrators “will now focus their efforts on the store portfolio identified as part of the closure programme announced on 16 May 2012.”

It added that it was seeking offers from buyers looking to take on some – or all – of the remaining estate.

American Greeting Corporation’s purchase of almost 400 Clinton Cards stores across the UK saw it acquire 40 branches in North West England and three in North Wales in a deal announced last Thursday, preserving the jobs of more than 400 members of staff.