Birthdays, which sold cards and gifts, ceased trading after administrators failed to find a buyer for the popular shop – making six people redundant in the process.
Clintons Cards bought Birthdays for £46 million in 2004, giving it a fifth of the UK’s greeting cards market, but after feeling the bite of the recession the card giant could no longer support Birthdays’ losses.
Manager Liz Shelvey said: “We were told last Wednesday and trading was stopped on Sunday - which gave us five days. We believe around 100 of the 335 stores are closing and we were one of the few who were not purchased. I am absolutely devastated for me and my girls.
“We have no idea why we have been chosen to close – the customers, who I wish to thank for all their support, are devastated as well.”
Having fallen into administration the joint administrators Peter Saville, Alastair Beveridge and Stuart Mackellar confirmed an offer had been accepted for the purchase of 201 stores – but Bridgnorth was not one of them. Peter Saville, partner at Zolfo Cooper Europe, said: “We will be implementing a closure programme with inmediate effect. Regrettably around 800 jobs will be made redundant across the group.”
Bridgnorth Business Association chairman Steve Mitra said it was terrible the store had closed, but it was now time for local public to turn the things around.
“Just as we get one retailer taking over the old Woolworths store, another one closes. We are very lucky we have a very active tourist trade,”he said. “Maybe if people started supporting their local shops some would not have to close, I would urge people to stop using the big chain supermarkets and return to the High Street – if you do not support it, you will lose it.”
Bridgnorth Mayor Councillor Mac Griffiths said: “It’s very sad we are losing trade in the town centre and we really can’t afford to lose any more – it was a very popular shop,” he said.
The Thornton’s store, which operated within Birthdays’ premises, has also stopped trading.
A spokesperson said: “The recent announcement of the closures of Birthdays stores will unfortunately affect some of those stores in which Thornton’s is represented. Where closures occur Thornton’s will endeavour to find a suitable replacement at the earliest opportunity.”
