Mon, 05 Jan 2026

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 Claire's and The Original Factory Shop to enter administration

The firms' owner said "alarming" low Christmas trading left both in a "vulnerable" position

* Claire's has 154 stores and 1,355 staff
* The Original Factory Shop has 140 stores and 1,220 staff
* Modella Capital, the owners of both chains, said they were seeking a new buyer through insolvency proceedings in the UK and Ireland
* The administration is expected to give them "breathing space" to find a new buyer, but neither chain has a realistic possibility of trading profitably again, according to Modella
* The decision was made due to tough trading conditions, low Christmas sales, and challenges such as climate change on the high street
* Modella blamed government policy for the struggling retailers, including tax hikes and increased employer National Insurance contributions
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