Date revealed for closure of Lancaster high street card shop

A major name in cards and gifts will close its high street shop in Lancaster next month.

Clintons on Penny Street is due to close on July 21, staff have said.

A 30 per cent off 'store closing - everything must go' offer is being advertised in the store ahead of the closure.

Clintons was acquired by Cardzone owner Pillarbox Designs in 2024.

The company returned to profit under its new owner, following a programme of store closures.

It posted a pre-tax profit of £8m in the year to June 29 2024, up from a loss of £5.3m the previous year. This was despite a 14 per cent drop in sales, from £96.5m to £82.6m.

In a statement in April, Clintons said it was dealing with "significant cost pressure" and had continued to close 'loss-making stores'.

It said its store portfolio now stood at around 170, having been around 1,000 stores in its heyday, and it had shuttered 38 stores and axed over 300 jobs, taking its staff count to 1,415, during the previous financial year.

An insolvency court had approved a restructuring plan to help keep the retailer on its feet. 

"The high street continues to be unpredictable and the company is seeing reduced footfall in the stores year on year," said the statement.

"The company continues to monitor the performance of the existing estate and to close the poor performing stores, which, whilst impacting on turnover, should improve profitability moving forwards."

Beyond Radio has contacted Clintons for comment.