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Claire's and The Original Factory Shop Enter Administration, Putting About 2,500 Jobs at Risk

Administrators aim to keep stores trading during sale talks.

Overview

  • Interpath Advisory was appointed on January 28 to The Original Factory Shop, placing 137 stores and roughly 1,180 staff at risk, with shops trading and online operations taken offline.
  • Kroll was appointed on January 26 to Claire’s UK & Ireland, putting around 150 stores and more than 1,000 roles at risk, with trading continuing during the process.
  • Modella Capital, which acquired both retailers in 2025, said administration was the only option after rescue efforts and funding failed.
  • Administrators and insiders cite high cost inflation, fragile consumer confidence, rising labour costs linked to government policies, landlord pressures and, for TOFS, logistics issues.
  • Combined, the collapses threaten nearly 300 stores across the UK and Ireland as administrators assess sales or restructuring options under the insolvency moratorium.