Claire's, the tween jewellery and ear-piercing retailer, has filed for bankruptcy in the United States for the second time in seven years, citing a slowdown in consumer spending and the shift to online shopping. The company, which operates more than 2,700 stores across 17 countries including the UK and France, disclosed debts of between $1bn and $10bn in court documents filed in Delaware.
The retailer faces uncertainty over a nearly $500m (£375m) loan due in December 2026, compounded by concerns about Donald Trump's tariff policies. Chief executive Chris Cramer described the bankruptcy filing as a difficult but necessary step, pointing to increased competition, changing consumer trends, and the decline of brick-and-mortar retail.
In the UK, Claire's has appointed advisers from Interpath to explore options including a sale or insolvency process, which could lead to widespread store closures. The company's UK arm employs over 1,600 people and reported a pre-tax loss of £4m on sales of £136m in the year to February 2024, according to Companies House filings. Its French division, with 239 stores, entered receivership last month.
Claire's faces growing competition from rivals such as Superdrug, which now offers ear-piercing services. Other mall-based retailers have also struggled, with Forever 21 filing for bankruptcy in March and Macy's closing over 60 stores in 2025. The parent company of Claire's is controlled by former creditors Elliott Management and Monarch Alternative Capital after a previous bankruptcy in 2018.
