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Claire’s will reportedly return to British high streets as part of a revival plan led by its existing European franchise operator, Julien Jarjoura, with approximately 50 shops from June onwards, according to The Guardian.
News of Claire’s return follows the closure of its final UK locations in late April, which resulted in the loss of more than 1,000 jobs.
It is understood that Jarjoura secured an agreement with the American brand owner, Ames Watson, to manage UK operations for the new venture. According to Jarjoura, he is currently finalising new lease agreements with landlords.
While Jarjoura intends to open between four and 10 stores each week, the expansion will not include the previous Birmingham head office or existing inventory managed by administrators at Kroll. The new UK entity will operate independently and debt-free, with self-funded investment.
The retailer aims to move away from the heavy discounting strategy that previously defined its UK presence. The new product range will feature items starting at £1.90, with some premium jewellery exceeding £100.
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.
“There will definitely be some brand repositioning. We are not a discount store but we like to sell stuff at a fair price.”
He added: “We need to invest in the business. We are not unrealistic in terms of getting benefits from this company for three to five years. Nothing is easy but you can’t always be blaming someone else for your own faults.”
