Claire's Accessories and Accessorize - what other competitors are there in the UK and are they any good?

[Anna8888]

Need this info urgently for Monday - PLEASE

And do they cater to children/teens/adults?

I can't think of any others, sorry
there's a gap in the market there, isn't there? something between cheap and tacky and overpriced and sophisticated

cant think of any either

i'm sure your dh can buy this from mintel

They are both in France, but Claire's seems to cater about 50% to pre-teens whereas Accessorize seems to be for post-pubescent and adults. Is that the case in the UK too?

yep, sounds about right

Thanks

i think most clothes shops seem to do their own jewellery now eg.
M&S - adults
Next - teens/adults
even Asda (George) & Tesco!

Whizzz - and do any of those do children's jewellery/make-up/hair accessories, or is is adults only?

Asda & Tesco stock kids hair stuff & I think I've seen kids type jewellery in Asda - I can't recall any in Tesco.
M&S - I don't think they have kids stuff
Next - tend to have a few bits & bobs for kids but not that much in our local shops.

Try having a look on their websites maybe

Thanks . Will take a look but am very interested in opinions of Mummies With Little Girls

There are loads of places to get jewelery, hair accessories and bits for little girls tbh

I have 2 girls, 7 and 9 and we use claires, asda, tesco, sainsburys, next, M&S tbh anywhere you can buy kids clothes have accessories. It really depends what you are looking for but IMHO Ther is not a massive gap to be filled. Claires maybe cheap, but is fab, Accessorise is very pretty but is special occassion only

What gap are you trying to find???

Claire's Accessories was set up by a bloke whose little sister Claire couldn't find cheap and sparkly jewellery. It is very firmly aimed at teenagers (and younger ones at that). I think Accessorize is middle-aged a lot of the time

No, I'm not looking for a gap - just want to know what shops cater to this market.

Thanks, spicemonster. Accessorize seems to be totally in sync with Monsoon and its customers (so Mummies and older) whereas Claire's is about 50% little girls and 50% older?

I hate claire's, its cheap tat. I had to take back a watch after 9 days use because all the pattern came off the watch strap and the clasp broke.

Same for headbands.

I won't go in there anymore.

I hate shops that market pre-teens to use all the packet money on complete rubbish.

Try Mark One, or DP's or other clothes shops like Top Shop.

pocket money

H&M does a lot of children's accessories - if there was something I was looking for I'd try there next after Claire's (which is always my first place).

Accessorize does an "Angels" range for pre-teens - quite nice - most outlets it's just a little corner, but eg Regent St outlet has an entire floor of it.

Woolworth's too.

I ran into this issue a while back when dd's very pretty flower hairband (from Johnny Loves Rosie - not specifically a child's one, by the way - which might, incidentally, be part of the picture you're looking at) blew off the top of the Eiffel Tower. It proved impossible to find a replacement.

Snora - we were there this afternoon and my daughter (3.7) thought it was fab - especially when the sales girl gave her a basket that she could put anything she chose in.

It was hard work explaining that we would only pay for one thing (we got away with two...)

tamy girl in BHS

Anna, please don't let her go again.
Nearly 4 - is too young to be recruited into the ethos of shopping for sparkly pointless items that if you buy 3 you got 2 free (which will remain in her drawer as hidden treasure). I also hate that at the till, the say things like " oh you've spent over £5 do you want this purse for £1.50? and you know its worth 10p.

I'm intrigued! Are you writing a thesis on "Little Girls & Sparkly Things" or just very good at planning your shopping route!?

Snora - rest assured, all we got was a plastic tiara (to replace the two broken ones she has and loves) and a small "mobile phone" lipgloss set (to replace one she was given in a shoe shop in Milan a year ago)

Bink - very interesting about the Accessorize Angels range - thanks

Haven't seen a hat like the one you are after yet btw (despite extensive girly shopping trip today)

I'm delighted to be able to share that entirely useless piece of information somewhere I always thought it was really sweet that he called it Claire's. God I'm so ridiculously sentimental ...

Yes it is cheap tat in there but it is dirt cheap. Accessorize is expensive tat

phewww