Clinton Cards

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Clinton Cards PLC
Type	Retail (LSE: THT)
Founded	1968
Headquarters	Loughton, Essex, England
Website	www.clintoncards.co.uk

Clinton Cards is a chain of stores in the UK founded in 1968 by Don Lewin. Mainly selling greeting cards, the chain claims (2004) to be "the largest specialist retailer of greetings cards, plush merchandise (soft toys) and related products in the UK with over 700 shops and concessions within Debenhams stores". The chain also includes a few service station shops shared with Thorntons the chocolate specialist chain.

[edit] History

Clinton Cards was founded in 1968 when Don Lewin OBE, the present Chairman, opened his first shop in Epping, Essex. The business grew to 77 shops by 1988 and was then successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange. This enabled the company to increase its rate of growth and by the summer of 1994 the business comprised 277 shops. In October 1994 Clintons acquired 83 shops from Hallmark Cards and in September 1995 acquired 112 shops from Carlton Cards. In October 1998, the entire share capital of GSG Holdings Limited was purchased, adding a further 211 shops to the portfolio. These two important transactions and continuing organic growth were financed without recourse to shareholders.

Clinton Cards operate shops ranging in size from its typical 1,600 square feet (150 m²) shop to its largest shop situated in White Rose Centre, Leeds. The Leeds shop contains 10,750 square feet (999 m²) of floor space over two floors and features a coffee shop with toilets and babychanging facilities, disabled access and a lift between the ground and first floor. The size of the shop means that it can offer a large selection of greetings cards and gifts as well as wide aisles and the space required to allow a higher volume of customers to fill the store. This shop also has a seating area from which customers can view and order Wedding Stationery.[1]

Referenced in the recent documentary featuring "Great British Institutions", Clinton Cards is supposedly synonymous with over-priced cards and soft toys and gifts manufactured in China.