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Claire’s Shuts All UK and Ireland Stores After Administration

A European operator says he is negotiating new leases to reopen dozens of sites from June.

Overview

  • Administrators at Kroll said all standalone shops have ceased trading and about 1,300 store staff have been told they are redundant.
  • The shutdown does not cover 356 concessions, including many inside Asda supermarkets, and the head office remains open.
  • Media reports cite Julien Jarjoura, who runs Claire’s in parts of Europe, as negotiating UK leases and targeting four to ten reopenings a week from June, a plan not confirmed by the administrators.
  • Owner Modella Capital put the chain into insolvency after very weak Christmas trading, only months after a prior administration that had already closed 145 stores and cut around 1,000 jobs.
  • Which? advises customers that refunds depend on how they paid, with Section 75 covering credit-card purchases over £100 and chargeback possible for smaller card payments, while claims to administrators can be slow and uncertain.