Does anyone know why the shares have fallen today despite Christmas coming, past year's increased trading and new stores opened?

Clinton buy a total of 196 stores from Birthdays, acting by its
administrators, Zolfo Cooper. GBP3.25m of the GBP3.5m consideration will
be discharged by way of a reduction in the amount owed by Birthdays to Clintons.The successful purchase of a large proportion of the Birthdays stores
thereby ensuring employment for 1,450 people.

Since the Interim Management Statement on 13 May 2010 the Group has experienced weaker trading. Total sales are expected to be about 2% behind the Board's previous expectations, impacted by the disproportionately poor performance in 13 stores trading in Southern Ireland.

As a result, the Board now expects that the Group adjusted operating profit for
continuing operations will be similar to last year.

However, we continue to work with significant headroom across all of our
banking covenants.

==========================

So, less than 2 months on from their last statement they are having to chop their expectations. Doesn't say much for management awareness. Not surprising that the share price lurches around month by month.

FWIW, I think this stock is held by a family so the management is somewhat blinkered from the Market gnerally. They will believe things will return soon and that "everyone has a birthday"
However, as folk lose jobs there will be fewer office leaving do's and fewer birthday collections etc (every office has an organiser), put that with the oversupply of cheaper cards in the High Street and you have dead stock on shelves.
Clinton has expensive shops to maintain and their cards aren't cheap either.
Indeed I'm surprised it's this high with little to drive UK plc into profit for the next 3-4 years....What do others see...?
EDIT -(7Jy10)-Skinny, yes and I recall seeing two "Card Factory" shops at each end of at least one High Street - don't let's forget that small shops can sometime negotiate very low rents, to "tidy-up" the area.

With the likes of the Card Factory, I can't believe these are still around.

XMAS IS ON IT WAY THIS COULD BE THE BOTTOM. 30p

Profit warning.

I'm not buying this till March.

"I'm not buying this till March."

I'm not buying Mitzy -):

lol Stan..

Chimp share to buy.

For a banana ? :-)

lol skinny.

last time it eas 5p it hit 50p within 12 months.

Off again when will it finish.

As I said in post 37 - I can't believe they are still around!

I may buy @5p whether they can go to 50p again its 50/50.

Big faller today.

Bad results this morning. Having to buy in cards (many from Hallmark), while rivals design and print their own, makes it impossible for Clinton to compete.

I'm surprised that sales only fell 2.9% - they are an 80's throw back.