High street retailer Claire’s has closed all of its UK and Ireland stores after the chain collapsed into administration twice in nine months.
According to administrator Kroll, 154 stores have now been shut, although its 350 concessions will remain open.
Owner Modella Capital acquired more than half of the Claire’s business last September, after the brand’s former owner, Claire’s Holdings, entered Chapter 11 proceedings in the US.
However, the chain collapsed into administration again in January, with Modella blaming a combination of poor Christmas trading, cost inflation and “highly adverse government fiscal policies”.
Kroll said: “As of 27 April, all Claire’s standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading. All store employees have been advised of redundancy.”
However, the move does not affect the retailer’s 356 concessions, many of which are located within Asda stores, nor its head office operations.
Kroll added: “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.”
Claire’s, founded in 1961, has long been considered a staple of the British high street. Its demise follows a series of high-profile high street retailer collapses in recent years, including Ted Baker, Wilko and Carpetright.
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