Claire’s is gearing up for a comeback on the high street by planning to open 50 new stores, shortly after shutting down all 154 of its UK locations. Kroll administrators recently announced the closures, resulting in approximately 1,300 job losses. However, this closure did not impact Claire’s 356 concessions, which include locations in Asda stores, and its headquarters.
In an update today, the Guardian revealed that Claire’s may start reopening four to 10 stores per week from June onward. Julien Jarjoura, who operates Claire’s shops in several European countries, is in the process of securing new leases with UK landlords to facilitate this expansion.
Jarjoura will personally finance the new stores, which will continue to offer ear-piercing services. The revamped stores will feature new jewelry and accessories priced from £1.90, with some items exceeding £100.
Jarjoura expressed optimism about reviving the brand, stating, “The brand was basically dead, and we’re bringing it back to life.” Claire’s, originally established in the US and introduced in the UK in 1996, has faced challenges from online competitors in recent years.
Following a disappointing Christmas trading period, private equity owner Modella Capital enlisted Kroll earlier this year to oversee administration. This marked the second administration for Claire’s under Modella’s ownership, with the first occurring in September of the previous year.
The closure of 145 stores and loss of around 1,000 jobs had already occurred during the prior administration. Kroll confirmed the cessation of trading for all standalone Claire’s stores in the UK and Ireland as of April 27, with employees being notified of redundancy.
Consumers with outstanding orders at Claire’s were advised by consumer expert Kat Cereda on potential recourse options. These include seeking compensation through credit card issuer protections like section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases over £100 or chargeback for lower-priced items paid by credit or debit card. Alternatively, submitting a claim to Claire’s administrators is an option, albeit with uncertain outcomes and potential delays.
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