Claire’s to close remaining UK stores on Tuesday with more than 1,000 job losses

Sources say staff have been asked to pack up final stock and equipment after waves of closuresJewellery chain Claire’s is closing its final UK stores on Tuesday, cutting about 1,000 jobs months after falling into administration.Sources said staff at Claire’s, which collapsed in January, had been asked to pack up the final stock and equipment with the remaining outlets to formally close on Tuesday after successive waves of closures in recent weeks.Administrators at Kroll confirmed that all stores ceased trading on Monday and “all store employees have been advised of redundancy”. More than 100 shops are understood to be closing.Claire’s collapsed into administration in January just a few months after about half the chain – 154 stores – had been rescued by Modella Capital.The August deal saved about 1,300 jobs at the time, with 145 branches not bought by Modella closed by administrators in late November last year. About 10 stores had since closed, leaving the future of 135 uncertain.According to local paper reports, stores that closed in recent weeks included Cheshire Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Stockport, Watford and Bangor, while Swindon closed last weekend. Stores in Romford and Chester were also reported to be plastered in closing down signs.The jewellery and ear-piercing retailer’s UK arm called in administrators after sales fell in the face of competition from online retailers such as Amazon as well as the rise of sales via social media such as TikTok.Its UK arm’s difficulties increased after Claire’s in the US and Canada filed for bankruptcy for the second time in seven years.Founded in 1961 in Chicago, Claire’s has become staple in British shopping centres and high streets. The group, which operated more than 2,750 stores across 17 countries in North America and Europe, has been particularly popular among teenagers.