Clinton Cards takes on Funky Pigeon and Moonpig with internet site

EMBATTLED retailer Clinton Cards yesterday promised to unveil its new website next week as the company steps up efforts to reverse falling sales.

The site will allow customers to personalise cards with their own pictures and messages, while a smartphone application is expected to follow soon after.

The retailer, which has some 8,500 staff, has been struggling in recent months as it competes against the internet and supermarkets, while consumer confidence has been hit as wages fail to keep pace with inflation.

Internet rivals Funky Pigeon and Moonpig have invested heavily in television marketing campaigns, especially around key dates such as Valentine's day and Mothering Sunday.

In a busy day for the retail sector, Nick Bubb - an analyst at Arden - said: "If you wanted to bury bad news on a busy day, it's been a good day for Clinton Cards to slip out a weak update."

The company also hopes to launch a loyalty card and kiosks to allow customers to print off personalised cards in-store by the autumn.

Clinton has also added more affordable cards, including some that sell for as little as 1, to attract value conscious consumers, he added.

News of the latest initiatives came as Clinton posted a 3 per cent fall in like-for-like sales during the 40 weeks to 8 May. The decline has accelerated since the firm's interim results.

The group owns both the Clinton Cards and Birthdays chains, with sales falling most steeply at its 645 eponymous branches, where the decline accelerated from 2.7 per cent at the half-year stage to 3.4 per cent in the first nine months of its financial year.

But Clinton said early trading had been encouraging at the first four re-designed stores featuring a new layout, colour scheme and signs.

Its 157 Birthdays shops posted a better result, with sales flat in the 40 weeks to 8 May, recovering from a 0.4 per cent fall at the half-year stage.

Finance director Paul Salador said: "The current sales figures are down to the conditions on the high street, with consumers being strapped of cash.

"Until they start to feel better, conditions will continue to be challenging.

"In the meantime we hope our initiatives can help us to win back some of their sales."