Editor Lewis Eckett
LEADER
Publisher in chief: Malcolm Naish
n the face of it Clinton Cards dramatic
targeting
malcolm@lemapublishing.co.uk
O
fall in pre-tax profits by almost half, over
locations
Publisher: Mark Naish
the same period as last year, is proof that
where they
have more
mark@lemapublishing.co.uk
the greetings card industry is not immune
than one unit.
Editor: Lewis Eckett
from the effects of recession.
In fact you could be forgiven for thinking the
Not
lewis@lemapublishing.co.uk
mantra: ‘greetings cards are last into a recession and first
only is this a
Editorial assistant: Jo Cooper
out’ is starting to look a little like wishful thinking.
positive step
jo@lemapublishing.co.uk
However, one thing that Clintons’ results prove is
for Clintons but also good news for the smaller retailer
Advertisement manager: John Furlong
that it is still possible to make a profit in this market
who can see very real benefits from less competition on
jfurlong@lemapublishing.co.uk
– a glimmer of hope for the thousands of independent
the high street.
Production director: Paul Naish
retailers out there who rely on the sale of greetings cards
Nowhere is this more apparent than in our news
paul@lemapublishing.co.uk
for their living.
report on the reopening of a former Card Warehouse
Circulation manager Jo Wilkinson
In the circumstances then Clintons’ results are pretty
store in Gloucester by its enterprising former manager,
jo.w@lemapublishing.co.uk
impressive. Trading flat in this environment is no mean
David Jones.
Circulation Assistant: Sharon Cruz
feat. It also proves that there are still customers out there
Despite competition from two Clinton Cards and a
sharon@lemapublishing.co.uk
looking to buy cards. And lets not forget, these latest
Card Factory plus two independents, David is happy to
Layout/Design: Richard Vickers
figures from the nation’s largest independent retailer
give it a go and carve out a retail niche for himself in the
rick@lemapublishing.co.uk of greetings cards does not include final figures for city centre.
Graeme Thomas Valentines or indeed Mothers Day.
I wish him every success.
graeme@lemapublishing.co.uk In that respect there’s no denying that Clintons’
Contributors: Terry Harvey operation, although not everyone’s cup of tea, is
Oh Darling!
Gill Davies
certainly effective. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that
Once again, the Chancellor, Alistair Darling has
Clinton Cards is an independent retailer too – albeit one
acted at the last minute to throw retail a bit of a bone.
with around 1,000 shops and that it forms an important
This time it’s on business rates with the news that
part of our industry. Moreover, it is also facing the same
3% of the intended 5% increase about to come into
Subscription per annum:
pressure from supermarkets and other discount retailers
effect from April 1st will be spread out over the next two
UK £45, Europe £55 (surface),
as regular high street independents.
years. It sounds a good thing and don’t get me wrong,
£65 (airmail)
Clintons’ results are good news for the retail sector
lower business rates has to be good news for any retailer.
as a whole too.
But you can’t help worrying if it’s another barely-
Instead of fears of it posting losses and missing its
thought-out decision on a par with lowering VAT less
rental payments, the retailer has released better than
than a month before Christmas.
expected figures and announced that it has renegotiated
These deferred amounts will run into the next major
Lema
its banking deals and loan payments until 2012. You
valuation period due in April 2010, which makes me
PUBLISHING LTD.
don’t often hear a high street retailer saying that these
wonder how it’s going to be worked out, bearing in mind
days.
that most local council rates departments struggle to
The sting in the tail is that the business will have
work out transitional rates relief as it is!
Published by:
to pay extra interest for the privilege of extending its
Why didn’t he just scrap the increase full stop - it
Lema Publishing Ltd
banking facilities, meaning it will take longer to repay its
would have been the easier thing to do surely?
1 Churchgates, The Wilderness,
Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2UB
loans and credit facilities in a business environment that
Telephone: 01442 289930
can only be described as ‘tough’.
Fax: 01442 289950 Nevertheless, the news from Clintons is still positive,
Email: info@lemapublishing.co.uk not least for the shareholders and investors and the share
Editor’s favourite
It was my birthday last month (yep, I’m a Pisces with
price, which enjoyed an immediate boost.
Aries rising if you’re into that sort of thing) and I enjoyed
The views of the Contributors expressed in Coupled with some equally stirring results from the
the usual mixed bag of cards from friends and family.
this journal are not necessarily those of the likes of M&S, these types of stories give retail a more
I’ve come to realise that one of the hazards of this
publisher. Comments, letters and criticism
confident glow in the face of pretty dire predictions
job is taking a quick glance at the design on the front
are welcome.
about the state of the UK and global economy.
before flicking it over to see the publisher’s details on the
I’m not for a moment suggesting that Clintons’
back.
results are any proof that the
I won’t recount the entire list, but suffice to say
mythical green shoots of
I received the full gamut of designs from dull to
recovery are actually here but it
downright rude (thanks Mum!).
should give other independent
My favourite – from my wife of course – was
retailers the realisation that there this effort from 1973’s The Good Life range. It
is business to be done out there. came with the backhanded compliment that: “It
In particular is the view that reminded me of you!”.
Member of the Audit Bureau of
Clintons has benefited from the What I liked was a simple, clean design,
Circulation.
demise of both Celebrations
striking humorous image and strong use of colour,
ABC audited circulation: 6,138
and Woolworths. Clintons too
while the recycled board was wonderfully tactile.
(audit May 2008).
is in the process of lowering the
Of course it looks nothing like me – look it’s
number of stores in its portfolio
even smiling!
by getting rid of not just under-
Above all though I thought it was fun and
performing outlets but also
quirky, which as far as I’m concerned is spot on.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54