Clinton initiatives on the cards
Clinton Cards has announced that sales at newly acquired chain Birthdays were down 2.3 per cent for the first 16 weeks of the financial year to January 30, compared with last year. However, it said sales since were improving.

Sales at eponymous Clinton Cards stores were flat during the period, compared with the same period last year.

Clinton Cards acquired Birthdays last November, in a deal reported to be worth£90 million. At yesterday's annual general meeting, Clinton Cards chairman Don Lewin said: 'Actions and initiatives are already under way taking the Birthdays business forward, including re-stocking and refurbishing the Birthdays stores, which commenced earlier in the year and will be rolled out over the next few months.'

As part of the ongoing review of the two businesses, Clintons has so far disposed of 15 stores, with a further 30 disposals contracted for across both brands.