Claire’s Accessories goes under - blaming Rachel Reeves for the 1,300 jobs lost

[ProudAmberTurtle]

Claire’s Accessories has just gone bust - and over 1,300 people have lost their jobs.

I know it’s overpriced plastic and the piercing guns were always a bit controversial, but it’s been a total rite of passage for many girls. First earrings, birthday parties and that excitement of spending their pocket money on some glittery rubbish... it feels like another bit of childhood nostalgia is being wiped out.

But what’s really grating is why. According to the owner, the final nail in the coffin was the massive hike in National Insurance contributions from Rachel Reeves. It wasn't the only factor obviously - the high street is doing very badly, but it was the decisive factor.

How can a business that relies on young, part-time staff survive when their overheads have just been hiked through the roof? It’s not just the big brands; it’s the independent shops too. We’re going to be left with nothing but vape shops and empty units at this rate.

There was a report yesterday that Starmer will sack Reeves if the local elections go badly for him. Why can't they both go whatever the result?

Grow up, what a foolish post! national insurance contributions have nothing to do with it

I’m in my 20s and Claire’s Accessories have not been relevant for about 20 years. The whole social media era arrived and has been established for over a decade, yet Claire’s was left in the dust. Never do I hear anyone going to Claire’s accessories, not even by the time I was in secondary school. The downfall of this business is just down to the owner’s inability to adapt to the market.

Also I don’t think Claire’s accessories is a rite of passage for girls at all.

if the UK can survive without Topshop, I am sure we will be totally fine without Clare’s accessories of all things.

Oh @ProudAmberTurtle how many Labour bashing threads have you created? You are dedicated, I must say!

There was a report yesterday that Starmer will sack Reeves if the local elections go badly for him.

@ProudAmberTurtle what report was this?

Top shop is a concession in JL

It is Starmer's fault for not backing Trump's illegal war, I expect.

Only recently. I had a look the other day. The quality is awful.

It’s INSANELY expensive.

It wasn’t much in the 70s and 80s either iirc

Agree

Maybe it’s not corporation tax @Itsmetheflamingovut they are certainly making use of the various loop holes with shipments under £135 so they don’t pay duty and I believe they were alleged to have put substantial sales through an Irish holding company, therefore further reducing taxes owed.

its not a fair playing field against high street retailers, particularly when selling low value goods

Odd place to lie the blame. Temu is the first place I’d point a finger to.
Agree their piercing was awful and should’ve been banned a long time ago - but not really point of post

About time it went under. Hugely over inflated prices ripping kids off for a load of cheap nasty tat. Kids and parents have realised they can get all that rubbish from showing for at least 90% less. Glad to see it gone.

This

I bought quite a lot fron TS in the 2000s. The quality was much better. But clothing quality has gone downhill generally.

It probably can’t compete with Temu etc because they have to pay staff here. More businesses going under won’t help young people get jobs.

It went through a sweet spot from about the late 90s through the 00s as I recall.

Their parent has already gone bust and is us based - they blaming the government for that too - try overleverage , high rents poor sales

You can’t keep a defunct business open just to avoid job losses. It is very basic economics.

We have known that Claire’s was going under for months. Those working there should’ve have jumped ship sooner.

Claire’s Accessories has been ripping off teens for years. It went under because of they can get exactly the same tat on Shein or Temu now for a fraction of the cost. Im only surprised they were still going - I thought they’d gone bust years ago.

https://x.com/i/status/2048152502181269984

Since COVID, the quality of every has diminished (clothing, food, poor service when dining out) but prices have increased) and it’s just going to get worse before it gets better.

Sure lump it on the retail staff for not jumping ship. Agree with @Katypptoo much moralising when it’ll just be bought from China with no job upside here instead.

Yes it did.

I know someone who runs a business and is very happy to pay the rise in national insurance. She has recently expanded her business. Was extremely upset about Brexit, but motered on. I would class her as an exceptional business model.