Claire’s bids farewell to UK high street

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Claire’s closes its final stores in the UK today, bringing its 30-year presence on the high street to an end. Although it has been a rite of passage for teenage piercings, it has struggled to contend with online retailers when it comes to jewellery and other accessories. The American company will maintain its concessions in third-party locations such as Asda, and continues to operate hundreds of stores in the US. But its future is uncertain, having filed for bankruptcy twice in seven years. Administrators at Kroll said in March that it didn’t expect to pay out the £10m owed to unsecured creditors such as suppliers, landlords and staff.