A NEW greeting card shop selling cards, gifts and party items has opened in Basildon at the site of the former Clintons which recently closed after three decades in the town.
Cards Direct officially opened at unit 31, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Basildon on Saturday, after a rapid turnaround to replace the former Clintons which closed on November 8.
The new store is as a family owned retailer specialising in high quality greeting cards, gifts, gift packaging, balloons and partyware, with more than 80 stores across the UK.
Lee Spencer, Eastgate Centre director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Cards Direct to Basildon Eastgate Shopping Centre, another fantastic edition with more to come.
"The shop fit team and staff have been really pushing hard to get open before the Christmas rush and have pulled it off."
The company is continuing to expand, recently voted in the Top 100 Most Loved Retail Brands in the UK, and partnering with Cancer Research UK to raise money to help beat cancer.
Cards Direct trade a wide range of products from wrapping paper and gift bags to balloons and candles, priding itself on good value with all products sold direct from factory prices.
Launching with a limited time offer, the first guests over opening weekend experienced a buy one get one free deal on all cards.
Jessica Power, councillor for regeneration, jobs and skills, said: "It's great news that we are seeing empty units filled so quickly, and new shops offering variety and choice to the thriving shopping centre.
"There's a lot of exciting additions coming up at the Eastgate Centre just in time for Christmas, ensuring Basildon remains a great place to shop."
The new store marks the second in south Essex, with the existing store at 82 High Street, Southend being the closest before the new store opened.
Cards Direct had less than one month to prepare the store for opening, having replaced the former longstanding Clintons, which first opened in the town during the 1990s.
Read more
- LOOK INSIDE: New attraction at former Basildon Debenhams takes shape ahead of opening
- Dozens join protest against development as 1,695 homes planned for south Essex town
- 'Death trap' e-scooters could be banned across all of south Essex borough
- Worries for new south Essex supermarket and homes as 'nothing has been done'
The departure of the former Clintons came amid a swoop of store closures, including Stacks Discount Store and others hosting closing down sales.
While Clintons' closure came as a blow to the centre, a range of exciting new arrivals have debuted including KFC opening at the food court, and an independent toy store called Toytown.
More new arrivals are set to follow later this month, including a huge soft play centre FunParx and the new health centre, both inside the former Debenhams store, and a Lifestyle and Mobility store.
Share