Savvy shoppers race to Claire's for ‘closing down' sales where earrings cost a PENNY as company file for administration
Following the news that Claire's has collapsed into administration, a frenzy of viral videos shows customers swarming stores to grab heavily discounted items.
2
One such shopper, TikToker Shivani Khosla, who is known as ' khoslaa ', shared a video of her rushing over to the high-street store, which was a staple for many Brits growing up.
While explaining how she got her ears pierced at Claire's when she was five-years-old she filmed the inside of her local Claire's and challenged herself to see what she can get for £10.
Shivani discovered that "right now, there is a sale. If you buy three items, you get the fourth one completely free."
Her video gained 597.1k views and 491 comments after just two days of being shared.
One person wrote: "Guys we need to save Claire's."
Another TikToker who is known as ' toosexc4diswrld ' revealed that they even got a pair of earrings for a penny.
Her video gained 2.6 million views and 866 comments after three days of being shared.
One person wrote: "I'm going to miss this store."
Nostalgic 90's retailer files for bankruptcy after chain misses rent payments for June and July
The beloved high-street brand officially collapsed into administration, but all 306 stores across the UK and Ireland are set to remain open, with no jobs lost under the current plans.
However, a number of changes will impact shoppers directly.
Online orders have been suspended, and any outstanding orders that have not yet been shipped will be cancelled.
Customers who placed these orders can expect to receive a refund.
Meanwhile, orders that have already been dispatched will arrive as usual.
In a further blow to customers, Claire's is no longer processing refunds for returns.
Shoppers who have items to return may need to contact their credit or debit card provider to see if they can obtain a refund.
Consultancy firm Interpath has appointed Will Wright and Chris Pole as joint administrators to manage the struggling company.
2
Mr Wright said: "Claire's has long been a popular brand across the UK, known not only for its trend-led accessories but also as the go-to destination for ear piercing.
"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."
The current situation follows the Claire's parent company's second bankruptcy filing in the US this month, having previously declared itself bust over unpaid loans in 2018.
Global presence
Although Claire's has a global presence with 2,750 stores across 17 countries, reports suggest that the UK branch is not expected to find a buyer.
A senior insolvency expert noted that potential buyers, such as Hilco Capital, have recently withdrawn their offers upon realising the severity of the chain's financial issues.
Claire's UK division has faced financial difficulties, incurring losses of £25 million over the last three years.
In the year ending March 2024, the company recorded a loss of £4.7 million, a slight improvement from the £5 million loss reported the year before.
During the same period, its turnover declined to £137 million.
How to look chic on a budget
Fashion stylist Gemma Rose Breger, and beauty journalist Samantha Silver revealed how you can make your outfits elevated without spending hundreds of pounds.
Don't ever spend on designer denim: River Island ''always has such a great selection of fashion-forward jeans that follow the current trends''. The high street retailer offers a great range of sizes to fit UK 6 - UK 18, and three leg lengths - and prices start from an affordable £25.
There are no rules for jewels: ''Pick up something at a car boot sale, or charity shop, scroll on Vinted & eBay, snap up something from the clothing section in your local supermarket when doing the food shop or check out high street clothing stores.''
Don't forget the pre-loved sites: With a rising number of second-hand sites, such as Vinted and Depop, there's no excuse for not buying - or selling - pre-loved garments. Gemma, for instance, has managed to get her hands on chic Chanel sunnies for a mere £17.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Teen bricklayer's message to unemployed young Brits as thousands urged to learn skills for the housing trade
BRICKLAYER Brooke Knight has a message for nearly one million young Brits currently out of work: Get a skill and get a life. The 18-year-old is no stranger to hard graft and started training in her job two years ago. 6 6 Since then, she has qualified and seen her salary soar. And now she is urging other young people to take her lead and lay the foundations of their own career in construction. She said: ''There are so many jobs up for grabs. It gives a skill for life, there are no college fees and you can earn thousands a week after tax. 'For those who didn't get the A-level results they wanted — or didn't take them in the first place — construction could be a brilliant option.' Brooke got her first job thanks to The Sun on Sunday's Builder Better Britain campaign, which we launched to highlight the need for more British workers instead of hiring migrants to do jobs. After reading our bumper apprenticeship vacancies list, she applied for a role and started work at 16. This week, Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson welcomed our campaign, saying a shortage of workers in the building trade is making the housing crisis worse. 'Like a big family' And she announced ten new Construction Technical Excellence Colleges to teach homegrown talent to build the homes, schools and hospitals that Britain is crying out for. The learning hubs will help train some of the 12.5 per cent of all 16 to 24-year-olds — around one million youngsters — known as NEETs, meaning they are not in education, employment or training. Brooke said: 'I always wanted a practical role, but after reading your vacancies pullout, I finally had a breakthrough and was over the moon to land the job. I'm a hands-on person and the construction industry runs in my family, so I thought, 'Why not give it a go?'. 'I can't thank The Sun on Sunday enough. And I would urge others to do what I did. I think it's really important for British people to apply for the jobs out there. 'There are already lots of foreign workers filling positions, but why shouldn't they go to people already living here if we can train them up properly? 'On my site, we are struggling for good bricklayers. People do not want to work in this trade because they feel like they can't be bothered and it will be too much hard work. 'But it's a job. You can apply straight out of school and then keep working in until you retire. I would 100 per cent recommend it.' Highlighting the financial benefits, Brooke added: 'As an apprentice, you start off on about £80 a day, but that can go up to £130 a day once you qualify. You could end up taking home thousands a week after tax if you play your cards right. 'Yes, there are tough days, but you learn a bit of everything, whether it's bricklaying or plumbing or insulation, and I enjoy working on site. The lads look out for me. We're like a big family, really.' Brooke from Swindon, thrives on the variety her job brings. She said: 'You are always moving around taking on different jobs. Plus, we build a house from the base and it's great being able to see the work in progress and, once you finish, you're like, 'Wow, I built all that'.' Toby Gouldson won his civil engineering apprenticeship at Alan Wood And Partners in Yorkshire with help from The Sun on Sunday. The 18-year-old, from Brough, said at the time: 'The Sun on Sunday's pullout was a massive help. 'I'm not sure I would have landed a job without it.' The £100million in funding for the new technical colleges will train 40,000 brickies, roofers and electricians by 2029. Revealing the plans, Bridget Phillipson said: 'If you're an out-of-work young person or someone looking for a new career, get up, get skills and get building.' Construction boss Ian Hodgkinson, from TV show DIY SOS, is angry there are so many NEETs. He said: 'The reality is we're paying for NEETs — unemployment benefits, Universal Credit, housing support, even the knock-on costs of poor health and crime prevention. 'Don't have to be butch' 'Flip it and the same funding could be invested in practical, skills-based training that turns NEETs into productive, tax-paying tradespeople.' Emma Hulme, 39, is so passionate about getting women into the male-dominated building industry that she gives school talks championing the trade to young girls. She became a bricklayer in 2019 after being a physiotherapist for 14 years. Emma, who now runs the Builder Girl firm in Northwich, Cheshire, said: 'I got divorced and I was doing up my own four-bedroom house as I got let down by trade after trade. Typical story. 'I did a few odd jobs and, from word of mouth, it got a little busy. 6 6 6 'A few people started calling me 'builder girl', which I thought was pretty cool, and I handed in my notice and I haven't looked back.' Now, the mum-of-one has a team of 25, but is still the only woman. She said: 'It's the stereotypical thing, but ladies football has changed and I hope that when people see my van on the road, they might think, 'Oh, maybe I can do that if she does'. "There is very good money in the building industry. If you want to have a physical job, it's fantastic. You don't have to be that stereotypical butch female builder. 'I'm a normal woman and yes, you do have to be fit, but you don't need to be all big and scary and muscly.' Jermaine Lucas, 17, from Hull, admits he didn't like school and quit without taking his exams. I've always wanted a practical role, but after reading your vacancies pullout, I had a breakthrough and was over the moon to land the job. I can't thank The Sun on Sunday enough Brooke Knight But he loves learning on the job and, since March, has been an apprentice bricklayer after taking a course at Orchard Training Education. He said: 'I struggled at school, so they offered me the alternative of going twice a week to learn joinery and bricklaying. 'I enjoyed bricklaying and I got pretty good at it, so I thought I'd go for that. I didn't like sitting in a classroom. Doing this, I learn something new every day. 'We've just built seven houses and a bungalow, and we're about to start building another bungalow, so we're busy. 'We mainly build private houses for people who have just retired, and it's nice to think that you're not just helping them out, you're giving them a roof over their head and have built their dream home. 'I'm on £264 a week, a good wage when you're 17, and once I qualify, I could be on about £200 a day. I've had a lot of friends looking at me, because I dropped out of school, who are now desperate to work. So to anyone thinking of taking up a trade, I say go for it. 'It's 100 per cent better than sitting at home watching TV.' TIME TO DO US PROUD By Bridget Phillipson, Women and Equalities Minister OVER the summer, our heroic Lionesses showed us yet again how women can smash down barriers and defy stereotypes to do Britain proud. To get this country back on track, we need to give our young people the skills to succeed. That means action, not more empty words. That's why I announced our new state-of-the-art Construction Technical Excellence Colleges. This is investment in home-grown talent, ending our reliance on imported labour. It means skills, jobs and homes for Brits, and growth for the economy. The Sun on Sunday's fantastic Builder Better Britain campaign is just what we need. Brooke and Emma are leading the way for women, but we need more of them. Whether it's playing football or laying bricks, we can't just leave it to the boys.
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Bosses blast glitch-riddled Government ID overhaul
Baffled business owners have vented their frustration after trying to complete a glitch-hit identity check system being rolled out by Companies House. It comes as Government officials admitted the new checks would not allow some to complete the process and that they would need to resort to old-fashioned methods, such as visiting a Post Office. They also acknowledged the system did not comply with cybersecurity standards, which one expert claimed put users at 'significant risk' of a data breach. Under new rules, six million registered company directors must undergo checks within three months or be unable to file accounts with Companies House. Only 300,000 have done so. Many have found the process – which involves linking existing '. accounts with a new app called One Login – fraught with difficulties. Users reported Kafkaesque problems ranging from digital codes failing to appear, an 'infinite loop' of login screens, and the system failing to recognise documents as evidence. Tom Maddocks, head of Media Training Associates, is pausing his verification 'until they've sorted out all the wrinkles'. He told The Mail on Sunday: 'It's a chunk of my life I won't get back.' Officials admitted 'essential security features' can affect the process, and conceded that One Login did not meet all standards. A spokesman said of users of other services: 'The vast majority have no issue with One Login, with more than 10 million proving their identity successfully. 'There are quick, alternative routes, and users can get support. Protecting the security and privacy of Government services is paramount.'
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Treasury refuses to scrap hated tourist tax
Retailers were furious last night after it was revealed the Treasury had dismissed calls to review the hated tourist tax at the upcoming Budget. Businesses have said the lack of VAT-free shopping has damaged economic growth at a time when firms are grappling with higher costs. A Treasury source told The Mail on Sunday there were no plans to make mention of the tax in the Budget, despite the lobbying efforts of hundreds of businesses. Politicians and major household names slammed Chancellor Rachel Reeves for her stubborn refusal to even review the policy. They said it was a 'no-brainer' to take a second look at Rishi Sunak's much-loathed 2021 move as Chancellor to scrap VAT-free shopping for travellers. And others said it was 'odd' for Reeves not to heed the calls of businesses, given she is scrambling to find ways to boost economic growth. It is believed Labour think it is a bad look to offer tax cuts to foreign visitors, despite many firms arguing it would benefit the wider economy. More than 500 business leaders have backed The Mail on Sunday's campaign to bring back the refund scheme, arguing it would encourage tourists to visit the UK.
