Between four and 10 stores could be reopened starting from June.
Find out below all the details regarding the brand’s upcoming comeback (Image: Getty Images)
Claire’s Accessories is set to make a shock comeback to the UK high street. It comes just days after the struggling brand closed down all of its stores, leaving thousands of staff out of a job.
The beloved chain officially ceased trading on April 27 following its collapse into administration in January. However, a French entrepreneur plans to reopen 50 UK stores, with a promise to bring back “fair prices”.
Julian Jarjoura, owner of jewellery company Une Ligne, which sells online and to the iconic Louvre Museum, has officially been given permission by Claire’s’ US Owner Ames Watson to bring back shops. It comes just weeks after we reported that the businessman was “in discussions” to save the brand.
The deal will see Jarjoura, who is now signing leases with UK landlords, aim to reopen between four and 10 stores a week starting from as early as June. He also plans to “reposition” the brand for the British market, but has confirmed it might take some time for customers to come back.
Julian Jarjoura told the Guardian: “I feel so sad when I see such a nice business going down. The brand was basically dead and we’re bringing it back to life.
“A lot of people think Claire’s is a British brand. It is extremely famous in the UK and there is no way it is going away.”
Mr Jarjoura has said that the high street retailer “suffered from a lack of investment in stores”. He also advised that the products had become “too expensive” for the UK, especially with customers getting used to heavy discounts and offers.
In a bid to win back customers, the entrepreneur doesn’t just plan to reopen shops. He will also be revamping stores, bringing back the iconic ear-piercing service, alongside a host of new jewellery and accessories, with prices running from £1.90 to as high as £100.
He also added that the Claire’s brand had become “damaged” in the UK and that it could take a while to win back customers who had gotten used to heavy discounts, such as the “buy three get four offers”. He added: “We are not a discount store but we like to sell stuff at a fair price.”
Mr Jarjoura, who already owns 240 Claire’s shops across Europe, has also brought back some of Claire’s former UK executives and expects to reopen a selection of its 356 UK concessions. However, the head office in Birmingham, alongside old stock from Kroll administrators were not included in the purchase.
In a bid to reinvest in the brand and keep it debt-free, the entrepreneur will be self-funding Claire’s UK return and does not expect to immediately make a profit. He is also said to not be deterred by industry concerns, such as business rate and employment costs, adding: “We are not unrealistic in terms of getting benefits from this company for three to five years.”
The shock return for Claire’s comes just after the struggling brand closed down all of its 154 UK and Ireland stores, with 15 of them based in Scotland. It is said to have resulted in a total of 1,300 job losses.
It came after its collapse into administration back in January, alongside discount brand The Original Factory Shop that has also disappeared from the high street after closing down all of its 137 UK stores by early April.
Founded in Chicago in 1961, Claire’s Accessories has become a staple on the UK high street for over three decades, becoming a hit with young girls and teenagers. However, it has suffered from a lack of investment, leading to a decline in sales.
The UK-side of the tween-focused accessories brand fell into administration in July, as it faced a looming deadline worth $480million (£355million) that was due to be repaid in December 2026.
The move came just days after its US parent company filed for bankruptcy on August 7, with the American side of the business since being sold to a new owner, securing 950 stores in the country.
