Claire’s is making a comeback to the retail scene by planning to open 50 new stores following the closure of all 154 of its UK locations. The closure announcement by administrators at Kroll resulted in approximately 1,300 job losses. However, Claire’s 356 concessions and its head office remained unaffected.
According to a report by The Guardian, Claire’s is expected to gradually reopen four to 10 stores each week starting from June. Julien Jarjoura, the operator of 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 stores will undergo a revamp and feature new jewelry and accessories ranging from £1.90 to over £100.
Speaking to The Guardian, Jarjoura expressed his commitment to reviving the Claire’s brand, describing it as previously dormant but now being brought back to life. Founded in the US and launched in the UK in 1996, Claire’s has faced challenges from online competitors in recent times.
After experiencing weak Christmas trading, private equity owner Modella Capital enlisted Kroll to manage the administration earlier this year. This marked the second administration for Claire’s, which was acquired by Modella from administration in September last year.
During the previous administration, Claire’s had closed 145 stores, resulting in around 1,000 job losses. Kroll’s spokesman confirmed the closure of all standalone Claire’s stores in the UK and Ireland as of April 27, with affected employees being informed about redundancies.
Consumers who have pending orders with Claire’s were advised by consumer expert Kat Cereda on potential avenues for recourse in case of issues with their purchases. Options include seeking refunds through credit card issuers under relevant consumer protection acts or submitting claims to Claire’s administrators.
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