Key Christmas on cards for Clinton

CARDS with built-in snow-globe glitter bubbles will be tempting shoppers to part with their cash at Clinton Cards this Christmas.

Managing director Clinton Lewin, the man who brought the singing card to the High Street, is also hoping the group's new flock wrapping paper will prove a hit with customers.

Clinton, with 700 stores, is set fair for the key festive season after a near-24% surge in interim profits, to £2.19m. Sales for the six months to 3 August rose by 9.4% to £168.1m, with a like-for-like increase of 3.6%, advancing to 3.9% in the first seven weeks of the second half.

Expansion of the chain continues, with another 30 new outlets to be opened in the next few months. The group operates 40 concessions in Debenhams and will be selling Christmas products in more than 100 Debenhams stores this year.