Clinton Cards
Encyclopedia
Clinton Cards is a chain of stores in the UK founded in 1968 by Don Lewin
. Mostly selling greeting cards, as the name suggests, 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." They used to be represented by concessions within Debenhams
stores but pulled out in 2004. The chain also includes a few service station shops shared with Thorntons
the chocolate specialist chain, as well as Birthdays
, the party shop. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index
.
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 1600 square feet (148.6 m²) shop to its largest shop situated in White Rose Centre
, Leeds
. The Leeds shop contains 10750 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.http://www.clintoncards.co.uk
Don Lewin
Don Lewin OBE is the chairman and founder of Clinton Cards, a chain of greeting cards shops in the United Kingdom. He and his family were estimated to be worth £139 million in 2008....
. Mostly selling greeting cards, as the name suggests, 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." They used to be represented by concessions within Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
stores but pulled out in 2004. The chain also includes a few service station shops shared with Thorntons
Thorntons
Thorntons is a UK chocolate company established by Joseph William Thornton in 1911. Thorntons today is a £180 million turnover company with nearly 400 shops and cafes and around 200 franchises together with internet, mail order and commercial services...
the chocolate specialist chain, as well as Birthdays
Birthdays (retailer)
Birthdays is a British High Street greeting cards retailer. From its beginning in 1966, Ron Wood Greeting Cards operated as a wholesaler of greeting cards and gift wrap in Bury, Greater Manchester. In the mid 1970s three card shops were opened and soon the number had increased to thirty...
, the party shop. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index
FTSE Fledgling Index
The FTSE Fledgling Index consists of under 200 UK companies outside of the FTSE All-Share Index.This Index is calculated in real-time and published every minute.-Current constituents of the FTSE Fledgling Index:*AEA Technology*AXA Property Trust Ld...
.
History
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. The business grew to 77 shops by 1988 and was then successfully floated on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
. 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
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....
and in September 1995 acquired 112 shops from Carlton Cards
Carlton Cards
Carlton Cards Limited is a Canadan greeting card company. Their lines of cards include Carlton, Gibson and Tender Thoughts. They also distribute the American Greetings line of cards in Canada. This is not to be confused with Carlton Cards Retail, Inc.....
. 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 1600 square feet (148.6 m²) shop to its largest shop situated in White Rose Centre
White Rose Centre
The White Rose Centre is a shopping centre in the Churwell area of the City of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It spans two floors and is linked to the M621 motorway. It takes its name from the White Rose of York, the traditional symbol of Yorkshire. The Upper Level houses the Centre's 'Upper...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. The Leeds shop contains 10750 square feet (999 m²) of floor space over two floors and features a coffee shop
Coffeehouse
A coffeehouse or coffee shop is an establishment which primarily serves prepared coffee or other hot beverages. It shares some of the characteristics of a bar, and some of the characteristics of a restaurant, but it is different from a cafeteria. As the name suggests, coffeehouses focus on...
with toilets and babychanging facilities, disabled access and a lift
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
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.http://www.clintoncards.co.uk