‘We understand an interested party is in discussion with a number of landlords’
‘As of 27th April, all Claire’s standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading’(Image: Google Maps)
Accessories chain Claire’s has shut down all 154 of their UK and Ireland stores, including two in West Lothian. The move will see approximately 1,300 job losses, according to administrators, Kroll.
They confirmed that every store has stopped trading, and staff have been ‘notified of redundancy’. Concession outlets and its European stores are set to remain open for the time being.
Kroll said: “As of 27th April, all Claire’s standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading. All store employees have been advised of redundancy. We understand an interested party is in discussion with a number of landlords with a view to taking new leases for some of the sites.”
Mayfair-based investment firm Modella Capital, which previously took over WH Smith’s high street division, snapped up 156 Claire’s stores across the UK and Ireland back in September last year. At the time, it stated: “Although it is inevitable this acquisition will result in some store closures and job losses, this intervention offers the potential to save over 1,000 jobs in the UK and Ireland that would otherwise be lost.”
Scottish stores closing
- Aberdeen (St Nicholas)
- Ayr
- Clydebank
- Dumfries
- East Kilbride
- Elgin
- Falkirk
- Glasgow (Buchanan Galleries & Sauchiehall St)
- Glenrothes
- Kirkcaldy
- Livingston (two locations)
- Perth
- Stirling
- Tillicoultry
Just months later, in January this year, the UK operation collapsed into administration. Modella had previously warned that challenging retail conditions, including those driven by government policies, were causing British businesses like Claire’s to “suffer badly”, reports the Mirror.
The news comes amid mounting concern for TJ Jones – the name WH Smith’s high street business was rebranded to – with reports suggesting it is bracing itself for a critical restructuring that could see a significant number of store closures. The widespread closures do not affect Claire’s 356 concessions, including numerous outlets within Asda stores, nor its head office.
Fashion expert Priya Raj told the BBC: “We’ve moved away from novelty, colourful jewellery for the most part, which is what Claire’s are best known for.
“If we think about teens today, they’re looking at social media for influence on what to buy, rather than their local High Street or shopping centre.
“So naturally their tastes are evolving into what’s mainstream right now – minimal jewellery, sometimes chunky, sometimes with a more curated look – basically not the cutesy, juvenile look that Claire’s is known for.”
Several Claire’s locations are understood to have shut their doors in recent weeks, amongst them Cheshire Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Stockport, Watford and Bangor.
