Claire’s, the jewellery and accessories chain, has closed its remaining UK stores with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs, ending three decades on British high streets. Administrators at Kroll confirmed that all remaining shops ceased trading on Monday and that “all store employees have been advised of redundancy”.
The retailer had 154 stores when it collapsed into administration in January, just months after Modella Capital rescued about half of the chain in August, saving around 1,300 jobs at the time. The 145 branches not bought by Modella 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 move does not affect Claire’s 356 concessions, including many in Asda stores, or its head office. Talks are thought to be 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 involved. The future of the brand in the UK remains unclear, and the Claire’s UK website has been “paused”.
The UK arm struggled as sales fell in the face of competition from online retailers such as Amazon and the rise of social media platforms like TikTok. Claire’s, which arrived in the UK in 1996 through the acquisition of Bow Jangles, saw its difficulties increase after its US and Canadian parent filed for bankruptcy for the second time in seven years.
According to a Kroll report published in March, unsecured creditors, including suppliers, landlords and staff, are collectively owed £10.6m, with no payout expected. Modella, which has secured debts of £5.5m, is likely to receive at least some cash.
Separately, Modella is expected to launch a major restructure of TG Jones, the former high street division of WH Smith, by mid-May. Sources said up to 100 of TG Jones’s 456 stores could close under a “cram down” insolvency procedure, with stores containing Post Offices likely to be relatively protected.
