For Beth Searby, a teenage Saturday was synonymous with trips to Claire’s alongside her friend.
However, this youthful rite of passage faces uncertainty as the future of the retail chain hangs in the balance.
Beth recalls spending her pocket money in the late 2000s on magnetic earrings, badges, and toe rings from the accessories retailer.
“You never left empty-handed,” says Beth, now 30.
She characterizes shopping there as akin to an “analogue Temu,” referencing the popular online marketplace.
“With just the spare change left over from McDonald’s or Burger King, you could snag a pair of earrings, a necklace, or a badge for your school bag for as little as 50p, £1, or £2.”
Claire’s has appointed administrators in the UK and Ireland amid declining sales and increased competition.
The company stated that its 278 UK and 28 Irish stores would remain open while it explored “the best possible path forward,” though online sales have been suspended.
Originating in the US, Claire’s debuted its first UK store in the mid-1990s and quickly became a go-to destination for tweens seeking affordable hair accessories, glittery butterfly clips, matching friendship necklaces, and lip gloss.
“It was the ultimate shop for young people,” says Ella Clancy, 29.
She remembers using her pocket money to purchase earrings, scrunchies, and Lip Smacker lip balms from Claire’s during her teenage years.
Particularly memorable are the “nerd glasses” – non-prescription glasses with thick, dark frames – she and her friends acquired there.
The shops were invariably “super pink, colourful, and girly,” she notes.
“When you’re a little girl, it’s like heaven,” says Vianne Tinsley-Gardener, 23.
She frequented Claire’s stores in Braintree, Essex, to buy keyrings, earrings, and stationery.
The shops were filled with “unique little knick-knacks,” she says.
Its lucky dip bags – offering unknown surprises – and multi-buy deals, such as five items for £10, transformed shopping into a treasure hunt and catered to the budgets of young customers.
Claire’s was also a popular choice for young people getting their ears pierced, often with special promotions.
However, many Claire’s shoppers found that at some point during their secondary school years, the brand lost its appeal.
They began to favor retailers such as Accessorize, Topshop, and Primark instead.
This was the experience of Ceara Silvano, 23, who recalls that the brand became too “kiddish” around the age of 13, prompting her to switch to Primark.
“You simply grow out of things like that,” Ceara says, though she later returned to Claire’s to have her ears pierced.
Al Thomann appreciated Claire’s during their youth for its vibrant colors, glitter, and floral designs.
But as they matured, they also began to perceive the brand as “childish” and discontinued shopping there.
“You begin to feel like a young adult, and most of the adults around me weren’t shopping at Claire’s,” says Al, now 25.
“Aspiring to be an adult meant rejecting that sort of childlike, colourful, rainbow, unicorn whimsy.”
In the 2000s and 2010s, young people bought items based on personal preference rather than prevailing trends, according to Constance Richardson, owner of the personal styling business By Constance Rose.
However, with the proliferation of social media, young people now stay abreast of online trends.
“Shein can identify a trend on TikTok and have it available within days, often at a significantly lower price” than Claire’s, says Georgia Wright, a reporter at Retail Gazette.
Shein, a Chinese online fast-fashion giant, offers a vast array of items, including clothing, accessories, and stationery, at budget-friendly prices.
In contrast, Claire’s is slower to capitalize on trends, Ms. Wright notes.
Moreover, it struggles to compete on price, Miss Richardson adds. “They’re still selling novelty products at a non-novelty price.”
Another factor is that young people are frequently influenced by social media creators who are older and do not shop at Claire’s.
“Kids are growing up faster than ever,” says Ms. Wright. “You have 11-year-olds with five-step skincare routines.”
As an alternative to Shein, they are gravitating towards more premium brands such as Sephora, Space NK, and Astrid & Miyu, she observes.
Claire’s “simply doesn’t provide the same level of excitement,” Ms. Wright concludes.
Nevertheless, the brand retains a special place in the hearts of many.
Ceara expresses nostalgia for her Claire’s shopping experiences and regrets not keeping some items as keepsakes.
Whenever Ella passes a Claire’s store, “it brings a little smile to my face.”
And some individuals report that they still enjoy shopping at the brand.
“As I entered university and began to explore my sexuality and gender identity and how I wanted to present myself, the types of items that Claire’s sold once again became relevant,” Al says.
“All of the beautiful, unique earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and flower crowns served as instruments to express my identity in a visible way.”
Claire’s has appointed administrators in the UK and Ireland, but its shops will stay open as it considers a possible sale.
A survey shows people back changing the layout, with a central court being the most popular idea.
The council tells the owners of the Unity shop to pay full business rates.
Becky Ottery’s business will move across the town centre this month after 10 years in Union Street.
“This is not a dream or a distant plan – it’s happening now,” the leader of Harlow Council says.