Jewellery and accessories chain Claire’s has closed its final UK stores, resulting in over 1,000 job losses and ending three decades on British high streets. The retailer, which had 154 outlets when it collapsed in January, shut the remaining shops after successive waves of closures in recent weeks.
Administrators at Kroll confirmed that all remaining stores ceased trading on Monday. Staff have been asked to pack up final stock and equipment, and all store employees have been advised of redundancy. The closures do not affect the retailer’s 356 concessions, including many in Asda stores, or its head office.
Talks are continuing to find a new owner for the Claire’s brand in the UK, with French entrepreneur Julien Jarjoura, who controls the brand in several mainland European countries, said to be interested. The future of the brand remains unclear after the UK website was paused.
Claire’s collapsed into administration in January, just months after about half the chain – 154 stores – had been rescued by Modella Capital in August. The deal had saved about 1,300 jobs at the time, but the remaining 145 branches were closed by administrators in late November. In March, Kroll said 15 of the remaining 154 stores had closed, cutting more than 100 jobs.
The jewellery and ear-piercing retailer’s UK arm struggled as sales fell in the face of competition from online retailers such as Amazon and the rise of social media sales. Claire’s arrived in the UK in 1996 through the acquisition of accessories chain Bow Jangles. Its difficulties increased after Claire’s in the US and Canada filed for bankruptcy for the second time in seven years.
