The popular high-street jewellery and ear-piercing retailer Claire’s is set to close its Salford Quays store in Salford, Greater Manchester, on Saturday, 8 November, as part of a wider series of shop closures affecting the longstanding brand. Claire’s entered administration in August, following the bankruptcy of its US parent company for the second time in seven years. While investment group Modella Capital purchased and saved 156 stores across the UK and Ireland, 145 locations, including the Salford Quays branch, were excluded from the deal and are now set to close for good.
The company recorded a £4 million loss before tax on £137 million revenue in the year to February 2024. The stores not included in the Modella acquisition are conducting final clearance sales, offering discounts of up to 20%, as they prepare for permanent closure.
Sandra Moran, the manager of The Card Factory, located next door to the Claire’s shop, expressed her sadness upon learning of the Claire’s store closure.
She told Salford Now: “We are devastated that it’s closing down, they are a very popular brand.
“The people who go in there, come in here, so our business will be affected by the closure of Claire’s, and we are gutted for all the staff.”
Claire’s will close stores across the UK, including locations in major shopping centres such as Arndale Centre in Luton, The Cascades Centre in Portsmouth, The Sovereign Shopping Centre in Weston-super-Mare, West Orchards in Coventry, and Oxford Street in central London, as well as in towns including Grimsby, Barnstaple, Basildon, Falkirk, and Newquay.
Closures will also take place in Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Killarney, and Kilkenny, affecting both shopping centres and retail parks.
Joe Price, Modella’s Managing Director, said: “As a firm, we strongly believe that this much-loved brand deserves the chance to remain on the High Street in the UK and Ireland.
“The issues that Claire’s is facing are significant, and we will need to work collaboratively with all interested parties if our proposed rescue plan is to succeed.”
Administrators at Interpath confirmed that they are actively working to keep the remaining Claire’s stores operational while securing their long-term future.
Will Wright, Interpath’s UK chief executive and joint administrator, said: “Our intention is to continue to trade the remaining portfolio of stores for as long as we can, while we explore the options available.”
