A major card chain with 160 stores across the UK has launched a devastating closing down sale as it shuts more shops. Beloved brand Clintons is a staple across many high streets with the chain opening its first store in 1968 in Epping, Essex.
Renowned for selling greeting cards the chain has struggled in recent years, with Clintons saying rising costs driven by labour tax hikes and the increasing minimum wage has continued to make some of its stores financially unsustainable. The retailer is now set to pull down the shutters on its branch in the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool, in a matter of weeks. The announcement comes despite the closure of 38 of the company’s stores, resulting in the loss of more than 300 jobs, in the last financial year.
Clintons in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre will wave goodbye in just two weeks time on August 16, according to an employee.
The branch has reportedly launched a closing down sale with up to 30% off its stock, perfect for shoppers on the hunt for a bargain.
Shoppers and locals reacting to the closure on Facebook have labelled Hartlepool a “ghost town”. Its upcoming closure comes just weeks after Fashion Chain River Island announced its departure from the town.
Reacting to the closure one local said on Facebook: “It’s a ghost town nothing in Hartlepool but charity shops.”
Online shopping is killing it, Especially since covid. Sadly this is happening all over, not just Hartlepool”, said a second.
Holland & Barrett, the popular health food and supplements chain, is also pulling out of Hartlepool’s Middleton Grange amid a sweeping national downsizing strategy.
Why is Clintons closing down?
The closures come even after a financial turnaround that saw it return to profit.
Clintons said that rising costs driven by labour tax hikes and the increasing minimum wage continued to make some of its stores financially unviable. The retailer announced a pre-tax profit of £8 million for the financial year ending 29 June 2024.
It was a notable turnaround from the previous financial year which saw a £5.3 million pre-tax loss.
In March 2024, the company was acquired by Pillarbox Designs.
A statement from Clintons read: “The company has continued to close loss-making stores and the portfolio of retail stores is now down to approximately 170 stores.
The high street continues to be unpredictable and the company is seeing reduced footfall in the stores year on year.
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.”