UK card chain to shut another high street store in string of closures as it launches 20%-off closing down sale

A UK card chain is to shut down another of its high street stores in a string of recent closures. The Card Centre on Newport’s high street has launched a closing down sale with 20% off all its stock as it prepares to shut its doors for good. The Card Centre is owned by Cardzone, which has been closing several branches in recent years It comes as its owner, greetings card giant Cardzone, is slashing the number of stores it operates across the UK. An exact closing date for the Newport store, which has been on the Commercial Street for many years, has not yet been confirmed. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Following the closure, the nearest Cardzone store for locals will be the Card Centre at Caerphilly’s Castle Court Shopping Centre. The Card Centre became part of Cardzone in 2014 when the business took over 14 stores across Wales. Several Cardzone branches have been shut down around the country since 2023 as high street businesses suffer from higher costs and a dip in footfall. Its branch in the Didcot Shopping Centre shut down on January 10 this year. Other stores that have closed include those in Beeston, Kirkby in Ashfield, Reigate, Stroud, King’s Lynn, Scunthorpe, Blackpool and Chesterfield. The company has cited challenges with leaseholds as a factor for the closures. Most read in Money In its latest financial statements the company said: “The business leases the majority of its locations, which comes with inherent risks. “Most stores operate under leases lasting less than five years and there are no guarantees that lease renegotiations will be successful.” Cardzone was contacted by The Sun for comment. Comment now