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Jobs are axed as card store closes
A card shop will shut at midday today just over a month after the company went into administration.
Staff at Birthdays in Rushden High Street have faced uncertainty over the future since the company was put into liquidation on May 20 by its owners, Clinton Cards.
Negotiations are under way on offers which have been made for 199 of the 332 Birthdays outlets nationwide but staff in Rushden were told on Tuesday that their store would close.
Yesterday the administrators, Zolfo Cooper Europe, were unable to confirm details about any Birthday stores, including the branch in Corporation Street, Corby, and added that a separate offer for the purchase of 11 stores had been withdrawn.
Zolfo Cooper Europe partner Peter Saville said: "We are disappointed at this development and understand the impact it will have on the employees working in the affected stores.
"We had hoped to sell these stores last week but, due to the current turbulence in the economy, and particularly in the retail sector, regrettably this hasn't been possible.
"We are continuing to keep employees informed of developments as they arise, and thank them for the support they have shown over the past few weeks.
"We are hopeful that we will have positive news on the remaining business in the coming days."
Nationwide, Birthdays employs 2,100 people and the closures are expected to result in the loss of 800 jobs.
Its store in Rushden was one of the Birthdays branches which contained a Thorntons outlet.
Rushden chamber of trade chairman John Wills said: "It is very disappointing to see another shop closing in the town.
"However, the old Woolworths store filled up quickly with Heron Frozen Foods and the chamber of trade and Rushden Town Council are both doing what we can to promote the town through organising events and setting up a committee to encourage visitors here.
"The Birthdays store is a modern unit in a good position.
"With everyone here working so hard to attract shoppers hopefully it won't be too long until this store is being used again."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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