The once go-to place to buy high quality cards and gifts, Clintons Cards, which has been a firm fixture in the Gloucester retail landscape since the 1990s, will be closing its doors for good next month.
Last week, they announced their closure on 1st April, which at first customers thought was a cruel April fool’s joke. Unfortunately for them, and the seven strong team at the Kings Walk branch, it was all too real.
Store Manager, Natalia Conner-Smith, has been working at the shop for 13 years and has seen lots of trends come and go over this time. She says “Post Covid, people’s buying habits have definitely changed. Saturday is no longer the busiest day for us anymore. People are choosing to buy more online and with the cost of energy prices surging, along with increases in rent, it’s unfortunately just not sustainable to continue.”
The decision, made by head office, comes after closing their Cheltenham high street store earlier last year. The nearest store now will be in Cabots Circus in Bristol, which is over 30 miles away.
Natalia continues, “since we put the notice up that we were closing, we’ve had people coming in and offering us jobs. Most of us have something lined up for after we close, but we are trying to help the few that haven’t been so lucky yet.”
“We’ve made some wonderful friendships working here in Gloucester. We’ve enjoyed our time here and would like to thank everyone for their custom and support over the years. We’ll be sad leave and say goodbye to everyone.”
Their last trading day is Saturday 1st April. There is a large range of cards and gifts for all occasions. Please do consider visiting Natalia and her team over the next few weeks, stock up and wish them all the very best!
