Claire’s is planning a comeback to the retail scene by aiming to launch 50 new stores shortly after shutting down all 154 of its UK locations. Kroll administrators recently disclosed the closures, leading to approximately 1,300 job losses. However, Claire’s 356 concessions in various outlets like Asda stores and its headquarters were unaffected by the closures.
According to reports from The Guardian, Claire’s is gearing up to reopen four to 10 stores per week starting from June. Julien Jarjoura, the operator of Claire’s stores in several European countries, is in the process of securing new leases with landlords in the UK to make this happen.
Jarjoura plans to self-finance the new stores, which will continue to offer ear-piercing services. The revamped stores will feature a range of new jewelry and accessories, with prices starting from £1.90 and potentially exceeding £100.
Jarjoura, who oversees around 240 Claire’s stores in Europe and attempted to acquire the brand earlier this year, expressed optimism about reviving the brand’s fortunes, citing that it was previously at a standstill.
Established in the US and introduced to the UK market in 1996, Claire’s has faced tough competition from online rivals in recent times. The brand’s private equity owner, Modella Capital, enlisted Kroll to manage the administration following challenging Christmas trading.
This marks the second instance of Claire’s facing administration in a short span, following its acquisition by Modella from administration in September of the previous year. During the previous administration, Claire’s had already closed 145 stores, resulting in the loss of around 1,000 jobs.
Kroll’s spokesperson confirmed the closure of all Claire’s standalone stores in the UK and Ireland as of April 27, with employees being informed of redundancies. The spokesperson also mentioned ongoing discussions with potential parties interested in taking up new leases for some of the closed sites.
For customers with outstanding orders at Claire’s, consumer expert Kat Cereda advised exploring options like claiming through credit card issuers under the Consumer Credit Act or chargeback for lower-cost items. Submitting claims to Claire’s administrators is also an avenue, although results are not guaranteed and the process can be lengthy.