Claire's. Nostalgia doesn't pay the rent.
Claire's, where you got your ears pierced, has gone into administration, closing 145 stores. The ones that survive are in the best locations.
THE GIST ON CLAIRE'S: "First jewellery"
What happened to Claire's?
The chain went into administration after posting millions of pounds worth of losses. At its peak it had 300 stores and employed over 2,000 people. Modella Capital, which owns Hobbycraft, has stepped in to buy 156 stores, but nearly half are shutting down.
Why did it fall?
Rising rents, higher running costs and customers moving online made the high street model completely unsustainable. For many, Claire's is where you got your first jewellery, but nostalgia doesn't pay the rent.
What is the new retail reality?
The stores that survive are the ones with the best locations: highest footfall, cheapest rent. The rest vanish. Physical shops only last in premium spots, otherwise the brand lives or dies online.
Huw says the loss is culture too. Teenagers lose one of the few affordable spaces to experiment in real life, and every closure means more empty units and fewer reasons to visit town centres.
Will you miss Claire's if it goes?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
How many Claire's stores are closing?
145 stores, according to Huw.
Who is buying part of Claire's?
Modella Capital, owner of Hobbycraft, is buying 156 stores.
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