High street stores Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop (sometimes known at TOFS) could be set to close, risking more than 2,000 jobs, according to a report by Sky News.
The broadcaster said the two chains “are understood to be filing notices of intention to appoint administrators just days after the conclusion of the crucial Christmas trading period”.
The two retailers are owned by investment firm Modella Capital. They have around 300 stores and about 2,500 staff.
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Once a staple in UK shopping centres, Claire’s faced growing financial pressure, having posted a pre-tax loss of £4m in the year to February 2024.
In August 2025, the business appointed Interpath’s Will Wright and Chris Pole as joint administrators for its UK and European Services businesses after failing to secure a buyer for the chain.
Interpath confirmed in September, Modella Capital agreed to buy most of Claire’s UK.
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1 Comment. Leave new
It looks as if the end is fast approaching for Claire’s Accessories. This will have implications for suppliers which have supplied goods and not retained title.
Unfortunately it is a familiar situation. It arises either because:
1. a commercial view has been taken to accept a retailer’s terms and, as a consequence, accept the implicit risk of not getting paid. Possibly OK if either or both of:
1.1 credit insurance is in place; and
1.2 shareholders are on board with the cost or risk (if such insurance is not in place).
OR
2. A supplier’s terms are simply inadequate. For example, AI has been used to “borrow” the terms of another supplier without adequate consideration being given as to whether such “borrowed” terms are appropriate for the new user.
What is harder to justify is where either:
(i) a supplier’s terms are satisfactory, but a problem arises as the terms are not properly incorporated into the contract with the retailer; or
(ii) management has given the whole issue inadequate consideration.
Happy New Year as we await other retailers to fall over.