The high-street card retailer said the performance was worse than expected, although the recently acquired Birthdays brand helped overall group sales. Birthdays' like-for-likes for the year were up 1.4 per cent, compared with a 2.7 per cent drop at Clinton Cards.
In a statement, the group said trading had been 'subdued' in the second half of the year and added that the Christmas period had been the most challenging for some time.
Clinton chairman Don Lewin said: 'The trading environment remains difficult. In view of this, particular attention has been paid to reducing costs where appropriate, both in-store and centrally.'
Trading remains weak at the Clinton Cards fascia, with like-for-like sales falling by 1.5 per cent for the 12 weeks to April 23. However, like-for likes for the period were up 2.2 per cent at Birthdays.
Clinton's total store numbers dropped from 1,265 to 1,206 last year. The group has 748 Clinton Cards stores and 458 Birthdays stores nationwide.
Birthdays managing director Stuart Mckay has announced he is retiring from the board with immediate effect. He will be replaced by Stuart Houlston, who is a director responsible for the retailer's property portfolio. Houlston left Hallmark Cards to join Birthdays' board in 1994.
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