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Clinton Cards goes into administation

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Bungle73

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18002413

Shame to see yet another high street retailer closing, but I don't think anyone wouldn't have seen it coming. Why would I into Clinton's and spend £2-4 or more on a greetings card when I can go next door into Card Factory and buy one for 89p? Greetings cards have been vastly over-priced for years. Since a Card Factory shop opened locally I always go there for cards.
 
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transportphoto

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I echo it, with the price of stamps as well, less and less people are buying cards, let alone £2-3 ones! Why buy a card at Clinton prices when you can buy just as good cards from Card Factory for under a pound?

The only time I have given transactions to Clinton is when they have Christmas cards (and the like) reduced down to rock bottom prices post event. OK I feel sorry for the staff but I'm happy to see it go.

TP
 

Chew Chew

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Killed by the supermarkets who can offer the things they sell at a much cheaper price.
 

LE Greys

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Well, it's hard enough to get a decent card these days anyway - Smith's tend to do the least-'kitsch' ones. Still, it's never good to see another major brand going to the wall. My sympathy goes to the staff.
 

DavidBrown

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Killed by the supermarkets who can offer the things they sell at a much cheaper price.

Not the case with Clintons, as they supply a large amount of cards to supermarkets, so they can't really blame that side of things. If anything, their supplying to supermarkets has meant the impact of administration is less than the likes of GAME - no mass store closures are immediately forthcoming (though some will inevitably close), and no job losses have yet been announced.
 

trentside

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I've never been that keen on Clintons, but it's still a shame to see another well known name in trouble. I tend to buy my cards at W H Smiths or one of the nicer local shops we're lucky enough to have in Lincoln - I just find the stock in these to be better quality, I'm afraid.
 

Chew Chew

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Equally committed suicide, because they do not seem to have evolved to meet new market conditions.

Maybe they reached the point where their own retail arm couldn't sell things any more cheaply as they had rent and wages to cover and they didn't want to expand what they stocked incase that didn't sell and left them further in the mire?

Not the case with Clintons, as they supply a large amount of cards to supermarkets, so they can't really blame that side of things.

Every day is indeed a school day, I didn't know that.

In general terms I still feel it is a fair point though. The supermarkets and internet shopping are killing off quite a few high street and independent shops.
 

2Dogbox

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I used to quite like their cards. I could always find a nice card depicting puppies, fluffy kittens or cupcakes for those occasions when I needed to buy one.
 

Peter Mugridge

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I'm surprised. Whenever I have been in one it has always been quite busy.

Just because a shop is full of people doesn't mean it's doing well; how many of those people came in, looked round, saw the prices and hot footed it elsewhere?

That's what killed off Woolworths; virtually everything they sold you could get elsewhere cheaper. I remember just after Woolworths sank and they were doing that 75% off sale ( or whatever percentage it was ) in the final days, I went into our local branch to see if there was anything worth buying. There wasn't. Even at those big discounts the remaining stock was still priced higher than the exact same items at Wilkinsons less than two minute's walk away...
 

Crossover

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Just because a shop is full of people doesn't mean it's doing well; how many of those people came in, looked round, saw the prices and hot footed it elsewhere?

That's what killed off Woolworths; virtually everything they sold you could get elsewhere cheaper. I remember just after Woolworths sank and they were doing that 75% off sale ( or whatever percentage it was ) in the final days, I went into our local branch to see if there was anything worth buying. There wasn't. Even at those big discounts the remaining stock was still priced higher than the exact same items at Wilkinsons less than two minute's walk away...

I echo this completely. I have had such discussions with people before...a business cannot survive on footfall if that footfall are purely browsing and not buying.

I think it is an unfortunate sign of the times, and in a market which is set to become a lot tougher with the recent hike in postage costs.

I have to say, look back at what the high street was and it is virtually unrecogniseable, and I reckon in a similar period again, it will have changed as much again, to the point there may pretty much not be one. I don't think it is much secret that many other businesses are not in a great way (though I don't think some of them help themselves much necessarily)
 

MidnightFlyer

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To me, Clinton's only ever seems to sell hideously expensive cards that feature either flowers, teddy bears, or 'adorable' pets only on them. I always, always end up in Card Factory or WH Smith, who actually aren't bad for cards.
 

SS4

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Damn it. Where can I buy a commiseration's card for a Blues fan I know !

Cards are yesterday's news. Tangerines are perfect for commiserations these days <D

What appears to have happened is that two of the banks who Clinton's owed money to sold it to American Greetings who demanded repayments that Clinton's could not meet [on purpose? You decide :roll:] and hence put them into administration whereby the debt virtually vanishes with creditors only getting cents in the dollar and a "phoenix" company is formed debt-free whereas the poor staff get laid off.

The joys of modern banking <(
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Clinton's are expensive though, you could get cheap stuff elsewhere
 
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Xenophon PCDGS

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Was anyone surprised by the actual total number of stores that bear the Clinton name?

Not many comments so far on this thread about the online card companies such as moonpig.com who seem to have a sizeable budget for television advertising.
 

Clip

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Was anyone surprised by the actual total number of stores that bear the Clinton name?

Not many comments so far on this thread about the online card companies such as moonpig.com who seem to have a sizeable budget for television advertising.

I neve rknew they had so many either Paul. And I was about to mention moonpig and Funk Pigeon who can let you have a personalised card and postage for about £4 or something posted.

Cant compete with that. Mind you Clintons put Birthdays into admin a few years back after aquiring it which seemed(buying it) a daft thing to do and not just merging it. Maybe they have repaed what they have sown
 

Mojo

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I quite like Clinton Cards as they did a few good cards for same-sex couples.

I know they launched a 'value' range of cheaper cards around 75p - £1.50 a few years ago and I bought a few of these cards, but they don't even compete with Card Factory who sell similar cards for less, or other shops like M&S or Supermarkets where you can buy similar cards around the same price along with your weekly shop.

As for the tacky gifts they sold alongside the cards (ie. mugs with your name on it); who even bought them?!
 

ralphchadkirk

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As for the tacky gifts they sold alongside the cards (ie. mugs with your name on it); who even bought them?!

Well, they are good when it's Christmas Eve and you might have hypothetically forgotten to do some Christmas shopping... :oops:
 

Greenback

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Sadly Clinton Cards seem to be the latest victim of the trend towards internet shopping, and the economic slowdown. They have also, a bit like Woolworths, failed to keep up with the competition.

I think many more established names could be in trouble soon. I'm sure that a lot of people enjoy browsing in the shops then going home to buy things online.
 

Peter Mugridge

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Clintons put Birthdays into admin a few years back after aquiring it which seemed (buying it) a daft thing to do and not just merging it. Maybe they have reaped what they have sown

The same point was made in the Daily Telegraph today. It appears that Clintons put Birthdays through the administration process as a deliberate way of getting out of paying the Birthdays debts. The comment in the paper was that they can't really complain now that their owners are doing exactly the same thing with them.
 

jon0844

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Do the younger generation send cards at all? Say happy birthday to someone on Facebook and Tweet Happy Christmas to everyone...

The older generation might still send cards but I think it will gradually die out. The exception perhaps being for special occasions like a wedding, valentines day, a new job etc. Many of which won't go through the postal system.
 

Blindtraveler

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i feel for staff but my view is why go to Clintons when im already going to £land and ASDA The same day?
Agree with Mojo that there range for same sex cupples is good and about the only thing I ever went there for.
 

All Line Rover

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Do the younger generation send cards at all? Say happy birthday to someone on Facebook and Tweet Happy Christmas to everyone...

The older generation might still send cards but I think it will gradually die out. The exception perhaps being for special occasions like a wedding, valentines day, a new job etc. Many of which won't go through the postal system.

I agree. I can't remember the last time I purchased a physical card. It's possible to make some very nice PDF cards that you can send as an e-mail attachment. I like them as they are extremely customisable.

Even for those who prefer to send cards through the post, why on earth would you visit a SHOP to buy one? You can print your own cards using readily available, free software, or alternatively you can order a personalised card from a company such as www.moonpig.com who will send it to you in the post. (This option is also MUCH more environmentally friendly than having to drive to a shop, seeing as post for hundreds of people is in just one van!).
 

MidnightFlyer

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I've got to be honest, I don't mind not receiving cards anyway, if no-one bought me one for my birthday or Christmas, I genuinely wouldn't be bothered, I'd actually prefer it if they saved their money for something else. A verbal 'happy <event>' is enough for me, you don't have to give me something written on a card to the same effect.
 
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SS4

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I've got to be honest, I don't mind not receiving cards anyway, if no-one bought me one for my birthday or Christmas, I genuinely wouldn't be bothered, I'd actually prefer it if they saved their money for something else. A verbal 'happy <event>' is enough for me, you don't have to give me something written on a card to the same effect.

Agreed. Additionally receiving cards also gives an obligation for you to send one back at the appriopriate time
 

trentside

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I stopped Christmas cards a few years ago, and most people I know did the same. With my friends, I always see them before Christmas and we often meet for a meal or go to the pub together to catch up, and that's the opportunity to say happy Christmas. Sending cards isn't necessary. I still send cards to family members I don't see often and to close family.

I only do birthday cards for a select few people, but most just get a text or Facebook (urgh, the only thing I use it for!) message. I certainly don't expect cards, and am happy for people just to send a message - it saves them money, and creates no obligation as far as I'm concerned.
 

Xenophon PCDGS

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I've got to be honest, I don't mind not receiving cards anyway, if no-one bought me one for my birthday or Christmas, I genuinely wouldn't be bothered, I'd actually prefer it if they saved their money for something else. A verbal 'happy <event>' is enough for me, you don't have to give me something written on a card to the same effect.

I suppose this is something that has entered the realms of "tradition". Does anyone really care anymore as to the "real meaning of Christmas" rather than the event it is now used for by the retail industry.
 
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