All Claire's standalone stores in the UK and Ireland have stopped trading after the accessories chain's financial woes saw it fall into administration twice in a year. Administrators Kroll said 154 stores have shut and more than 1,300 staff have been "notified of redundancy", though its 350 concessions will remain open. Known for its colourful shop fronts and racks of jewellery, bracelets and its ear piercing services, the brand's bright purple branding was a familiar sight for millions of teens during a Saturday shop. But it suffered in the face of competition from cheaper, online brands such as Shein and Temu. Changing consumer tastes also spelled the death knell for the retailer, which has struggled like many High Street firms. It also blamed the climate on the High Street, which it said "remains extremely challenging", adding that government policy had caused a tough trading environment by raising staffing costs such as National Insurance Contributions.Claire's was not only facing competition from online - other bricks-and-mortar competitors ate into its space too. Primark and Superdrug compete heavily with Claire's value offering, says retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth. Plus, she added, young people had more places to spend their money, including spending on desserts, coffee, matcha and bubble tea.
BBQ - What did you think was the main reason for Claire's closing down?
