Another 900 axed as card stores close

The group, the UK’s biggest specialist cards retailer, fell into administration last month, although 397 of its stores were sold to Ohio-based American Greetings, saving 4,500 jobs.

Administrators at Zolfo Cooper yesterday announced the closure of a further 122 stores not included in the deal, leading to around 880 redundancies and leaving 122 stores under its control.

Zolfo said it was still looking for a buyer for the remaining stores, which will continue to operate as normal.

The ailing high street retailer, which operated the Clintons and Birthdays brands, had nearly 800 stores and employed more than 8,000 staff in total.

The chain collapsed into administration after its biggest supplier, American Greetings, called in a £35m debt. The US company’s UK Greetings operationis based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.