More than 2,150 jobs are hanging in the balance this week as Claire’s, the iconic accessories and ear-piercing retailer, has entered administration in the UK and Ireland. The move, confirmed on August 13, 2025, follows hot on the heels of bankruptcy filings by the company’s US and Canadian arms earlier this month, marking yet another blow to a brand that once dominated shopping malls and high streets across the globe.
Administrators Will Wright and Chris Pole from Interpath Advisory have been appointed to oversee Claire’s Accessories UK Ltd, Claire’s European Services Limited, and Claire’s European Distribution Limited. According to Reuters, Interpath’s immediate aim is to keep all 306 UK and Irish stores trading while they weigh up the best options for the future—including, perhaps, a sale of the business as a going concern. But with speculation swirling that up to a third of UK stores may need to close and potential buyers expressing caution, the path forward is anything but certain.
“Taking this step will allow us to continue to trade the business while we explore the best possible path forward. We are deeply grateful to our employees, partners and customers during this challenging period,” said Claire’s chief executive Chris Cramer, as quoted by multiple outlets including BBC and FashionNetwork.com. Cramer described the decision as “difficult,” but stressed it was necessary to protect the long-term value of Claire’s across all markets.
Founded in Chicago in 1961, Claire’s has long been a rite of passage for tweens and teens, especially for those seeking their first ear piercing or a splash of glittery jewelry. At its peak, the brand operated over 2,750 stores in 17 countries, including 278 in the UK and 28 in Ireland. The UK and European businesses together employ around 5,000 people, with 2,150 jobs now specifically at risk in Britain and Ireland.
But the last decade has been anything but kind to the retailer. As The Guardian and Sky News report, Claire’s has struggled to keep up with shifting consumer habits. The rise of online shopping—particularly from fast-fashion giants like Shein and Temu, and even social media-driven shops on TikTok and Instagram—has eaten away at the company’s traditional customer base. “The chain is now faced with stiff competition from TikTok and Insta shops, and by cheap accessories sold by fast fashion giants like Shein and Temu,” Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, told BBC. “Having so many stores across the UK used to be great for brand recognition; now names are recognized from social media feeds not building fascia.”
Falling footfall in retail centres has only made things worse. “Claire’s attraction has waned, with its high street stores failing to pull in the business they used to,” Streeter added. “While they may still be a beacon for younger girls, families aren’t heading out on so many shopping trips, with footfall in retail centres falling.”
Financial pressures have also mounted. The UK operation has been loss-making for the past three years, racking up losses of £25 million, including a £4.7 million loss in the 12 months ending March last year. A massive loan of over £350 million is due to be repaid by the end of 2026, while the parent company is saddled with $690 million (about £508 million) in debt. The company’s US operation previously declared bankruptcy in 2018, only to recover after eliminating $1.9 billion in debt, as reported by Sky News and The Guardian.
It’s not just the digital revolution and mounting debts that have hurt Claire’s. Retail analysts point to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on goods imported from China and neighbouring countries, which hit accessory chains like Claire’s especially hard. “A lot of that category is sourced from Asia, and any increase in import costs hits hard when your price points are low and margins are tight,” retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth told BBC at the time of Claire’s US bankruptcy filing.
Attempts to sell the UK and European business as a going concern have so far fallen flat. Potential buyers, including Hilco Capital (the owner of Lakeland), have reportedly backed away, wary of the company’s deep financial woes and the daunting prospect of inheriting hundreds of stores and thousands of staff. As FashionNetwork.com notes, “Anyone buying the brand will find their job a lot easier without the need to take on the full store estate and thousands of staff.”
Despite all this, administrators and management are keen to keep the lights on while they explore every possible option. “Over the coming weeks, we will endeavour to continue to operate all stores as a going concern for as long as we can, while we assess options for the company. This includes exploring the possibility of a sale which would secure a future for this well-loved brand,” said Will Wright, Interpath’s UK CEO, as quoted by Reuters and The Guardian.
For customers, the immediate impact is already being felt. Claire’s has stopped issuing refunds and is no longer accepting online orders or delivering pending ones. The company says customers are only charged when items are dispatched, so those with outstanding online orders should not be out of pocket. In cases where refunds are not possible, Claire’s has advised customers to check with their card issuer for alternative solutions.
The news has sparked a wave of nostalgia and sadness among loyal shoppers. Caitlin, 21, and Amy, 16, from Oxfordshire, told BBC they were “quite sad because people have been going there since they were little.” Caitlin recalled, “It’s a part of my childhood personally. I used to go a lot when I was around 11 years old. It’s aimed towards younger people and I don’t know that there’s something else on the market that does that. It’s like a rainbow of things in there and I don’t think a kid’s going to be doing online shopping.”
Claire’s is owned by a group of investment firms, including US hedge fund Elliott Management and Monarch Alternative Capital. Alongside the main Claire’s chain, it also operates the Icing jewellery and cosmetics brand. The company’s headquarters in the UK is in Birmingham, central England.
While the administrators work to secure a future for Claire’s, the broader story is one that echoes across the high street: beloved brands, once fixtures of family shopping trips, are struggling to adapt to a world where shopping is just a tap away. Whether Claire’s can reinvent itself or become another casualty of the digital age remains to be seen. For now, though, the stores remain open, and the search for a buyer—and a viable future—continues.
