Greetings card chain placed in administration

Around 2,100 jobs were today at risk in the UK after the birthdays greetings card business was placed into administration.

Clinton Cards, which owns the 332-store chain, said it had taken the “difficult decision” that it could “no longer continue to provide funding to its loss making subsidiary”.

The deterioration in the economy had added to birthdays’ already struggling business and Clintons said 50% of all the brand’s stores are now loss making.

Administrators Zolfo Cooper will “explore all options available to secure the future of the birthdays’ business” and it will continue to trade as normal.